Tertiary institutions must join this fight!
Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024
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
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!
Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024
Who will sponsor us? Kindly message us!#FreeTheCitzens pic.twitter.com/BVjXRCiUvd
We are so proud to set the stage running to demonstrate to safeguard our future.
Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 25, 2024
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
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!
Katanga Fellowood (@KatangaFellows) September 26, 2024
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
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
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 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 Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has described the two-week remand of the Democracy Hub protesters as 'high-handed'. Thirty-nine (39) participants from the Democracy Hub protests have been remanded into custody by an Accra Circuit Court. They face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime (specifically unlawful assembly), unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to a breach of peace, assault on a public officer, and defacement of public property. The case has been adjourned until October 8, 2024. Reacting to this in a tweet on X, Mahama said the "Draconian judicial decisions such as this" wont stop Ghanaians from speaking out. Mahama's tweet read: High-handedness! We must balance our need to maintain law and order with protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for two 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 on 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. High-handedness! 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 John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) September 26, 2024 Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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 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 Ukraine will soon receive long-range Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) glide bombs from the United States. These munitions can hit a target at a distance of up to 150 km and weigh up to 500 kg. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the White House press service. US President Joe Biden announced the decision, emphasizing that it is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's capabilities to conduct long-range attacks. "To enhance Ukraines long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition," Joe Biden said. In addition, Biden instructed the U.S. Department of Defense to repair and transfer to Ukraine another Patriot air defense battery along with additional missiles for this system. The decision is part of a broader strategy that will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year to better protect cities and civilians. "This builds on my decision earlier this year to divert U.S. air defense exports to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year and will help Ukraine defend its cities and its people," Biden emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT The US President also emphasized the expansion of the training program for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, in particular by training 18 more pilots in 2025. What we know about JSOW The AGM-154 JSOW is a gride bomb developed for use by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. It is designed to provide high-precision strikes against protected targets beyond the reach of standard air defense, increasing the chances of aircraft survival and reducing battlefield losses. The basic version, the AGM-154A, was first deployed in Iraq during the 2003-2011 war and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In total, more than 400 JSOW bombs have been used, of which about 300 were in Iraq. The JSOW has a guidance system based on GPS, inertial navigation (INS) and an infrared sensor (only for the C model). The bomb is 4.06 meters long, 33 cm in diameter, weighs 483 kg and has a wingspan of 2.7 meters. The JSOW is compatible with a variety of aircraft, such as the F/A-18, F-16, B-1B, B-2A, B-52H, F-15E, F-35A/C and JAS 39 Gripen. The range of its use varies from 22 km when launched from a low altitude to 130 km from a high altitude, and with an engine (JSOW-ER) - up to 560 km. ADVERTISIMENT The JSOW is an important tool for modern military operations, ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of air strikes. According to the Defence Express, the transfer of the new bombs is a "strange decision" because "the Ukrainian Air Force is unable to use high-altitude flight due to the threat of Russian long-range SAMs and the superiority of fighter jets." As a result, Ukrainian pilots are forced to launch bombs during low-altitude flights. This means that the previously delivered JDAM-ER bombs could only be launched at a distance of 40 km. Defense Express predicts that the performance of the AGM-154 JSOW will be similar, although these bombs cost ten times more than JDAM-ER. ADVERTISIMENT 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 Russia. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! One candidate in the 2024 presidential race has the edge when it comes to six battleground states that could determine the election. A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, released Thursday, found Vice President Harris narrowly leading former President Trump in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. She is tied with Trump in the battleground state of Georgia. Harriss biggest lead is in Nevada, where she has a 7-point lead over the former president with 52% of support compared to 45%. Her second largest lead is in Pennsylvania, which is seen as a must-win state for Democrats. She leads Trump by 5 points in the state with 51% of support. Her support echoes other recent Pennsylvania polls that found Harris leading in the state. She also has a 3-point lead over Trump in each of the swing states of Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin. She has a 2-point lead in North Carolina, which President Biden narrowly lost to Trump in 2020. The election will likely come down to the battleground states due to the Electoral College system. Across all swing states, Harris is leading by 3 percentage points, according to the poll. The poll surveyed 6,165 registered voters across seven swing states Sept. 19-25. This comes as Harris travels to the border in Arizona on Friday to court voters. Immigration and border security are top issues in Arizona, the only battleground state that borders Mexico and one that contended with a record influx of asylum seekers last year. Trump has an edge with voters on migration, and Harris has gone on offense to improve her standing on the issue and defuse a key line of political attack for Trump. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Democratic challenger running for state treasurer is calling for more transparency from her Republican incumbent opponent while being accused of creating conspiracy theories and unable to accurately complete a campaign finance report. The race to be custodian of the commonwealths money is heating up as the Nov. 5 general election nears. The two major party candidates incumbent GOP Stacy Garrity and Democrat Erin McClelland engaged in some political sparring this week. McClelland said she wants to participate in a public debate with Garrity to air out issues that involve the state Treasury. But she said Garrity refused the two televised debate requests making it seem like the only person in the race for treasurer she believes should be held accountable is me. Garritys campaign spokesman Dennis Roddy responded, When Erin McClelland can get her own house in order then we can talk about a conversation in public. At this point, shes not a serious candidate. She is at most a serious nuisance. He was referring to a discrepancy that was noticed in McClellands latest campaign finance filing that has Garritys campaign considering calling for an audit. It noticed McClellands campaign finance filing included two $10,000 contributions from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 5s political action committee, both of which were dated July 9. McClelland said one of those checks came in shortly after the April primary but it wasnt deposited in her campaign account until July when a second $10,000 contribution from that same PAC was received. She reported the first $10,000 contribution in her post-primary filing submitted in May but upon advice from her financial advisers, decided to include it in her most recent filing to reflect the date she deposited the money in her account. She then amended her earlier filing to reflect that change. I think it reflects on my ability to handle records meticulously to the point that we were willing to say everything else was reported on predominantly a cash basis and this one check went in on an accrual basis and we corrected that, McClelland said. There was never any misinformation. The donation was reported. We simply moved it to the cycle in which it was deposited instead of when it was received. The Department of State advises candidates to report contributions when they are received, said department spokesman Matt Heckel. McClellands explanation doesnt square with Roddy but besides that, he said it means McClelland possessed a $10,000 uncashed check for two months. If she is leaving $10,000 checks laying around uncashed, people ought to worry about the idea of her watching the Treasury, he said. This isnt the first time McClelland has found herself in disputes over her campaign finance filings. Democratic party supporters accused McClelland of demonstrating a pattern of campaign violations in her prior runs for other public offices. However, investigations into those claims by the state attorney generals office and the Department of State resulted in no charges being filed. McClelland accuses Garritys campaign of making accusations of campaign finance impropriety in order to deflect attention from her alarming foreign investments of taxpayer dollars. In a campaign video on social media, McClelland blasts her opponent for investing commonwealth funds, specifically school employees pension dollars, in the Saudi Arabian Stock Exchange. That is not what we should be doing with our state dollars, she said in the ad. Officials from the Public School Employees Retirement System, the State Employees Retirement System and the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System said their plans have no direct investment in the Saudi stock exchange but have limited indirect exposure to Saudi Arabia through commingled investment of funds. McClelland isnt convinced. She shared a custodial agreement with the Bank of New York Mellon to invest pension funds in the Saudi stock exchange that Garrity, among others signed. She said she wants to know more about that contract, why it exists, and if any pension funds are invested in Aramco, the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia that supports its crown prince who had a role in killing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Garritys campaign manager Jim Tkacik said, Erin McClellands Saudi conspiracy theory is further evidence that she has no idea how the states pension boards work, nor how treasury functions. The Saudi Prince theory is the conclusive proof. Stacy Garrity gets her information from experienced financial experts from both sides of the political aisle. Erin McClelland seems to get hers from internet conspiracy sites. McClelland said she has other issues shed like to vet in a debate and looks forward to her Republican opponent agreeing to one. Other candidates vying for the treasurers post are Constitution Party candidate Troy Bowman, Libertarian Nickolas Mark Ciesielski, and Forward Party candidate Christopher Foster. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy. The Bureau du Champagne, USA, earlier this week announced its annual list of the Top 10 bars and restaurants where Champagne plays a starring role. The list, now in its third year, recognizes establishments that elevate and celebrate the uniqueness of the sparkling wine that comes only from Champagne, France. Released ahead of Champagne Day 2024 on Oct. 25, the list showcases Champagne standouts in every U.S. region. It recognizes restaurants and bars that take special care to offer Champagnes from a wide variety of producers, list them properly on their menus, and serve them with enthusiasm. We received nominations for spectacular bars and restaurants across the country, and selected from them a list of destinations that embody the spirit of Champagne, Lori Russo, director of the Bureau du Champagne, USA, said in a press release. While these restaurants and bars differ in style, spanning the spectrum from fine dining to fried chicken, they all have one thing in common: they understand what makes Champagne special. For that, we couldnt be prouder to raise a glass to them on Champagne Day and the rest of the year. The full list of this years featured bars and restaurants can be found below in alphabetical order: Apero , Washington, DC: Aperos list of more than 700 wines places special emphasis on Champagne. The intimate setting in DCs popular Georgetown neighborhood is an ideal spot to explore an extensive list of Champagnes smartly organized by style. Be Bubbly , Napa, Calif.: In the heart of California wine country, Be Bubbly takes care to showcase Champagne with a menu that includes a map of the regions five wine-producing districts and a philosophy of Champagne as a celebration of life. Boiler Room , Omaha: The wine list at this terroir-focused restaurant, originally conceived by a Master Sommelier, offers a broad range of Champagnes at varying price points so everyone can join in the celebration. Charleston , Baltimore: The wine program at Charleston emphasizes the special relationship between wine and food. The Champagne list, which spans three pages of its menu, explains the magic of Champagne along with a diversity of tasting profiles. Coqodaq , New York: Proving the versatility of Champagne, Coqodaq pairs the sparkling wine with both caviar and its signature bucket of Korean fried chicken. Coupes , Dallas: Coupes bills itself as a bar for Champagne. True to its name, its vast menu of Champagnes explains that Champagne is a sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wines are Champagne. Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar , Sacramento, Calif.: Fizz believes in celebrating everyday triumphs with Champagne. Its menus and events elevate Champagne from France and distinguish it from other sparkling wines. La Vie, Waikiki, Hawaii: La Vies emphasizes farm-to-table dining with French flair, so its large selection of vintage and non-vintage Champagnes creates the perfect complement, and the view is special, too. Pops for Champagne , Chicago: Known for its special events, tastings, Champagne education and a vast list of Champagnes of every style, Pops has been dazzling Chicago with Champagne since 1982. Sexy Fish , Miami: The extraordinary interior of this Brickell restaurant is matched only by its extensive list of Champagnes both accessible and rare. To find an event near you marking Champagne Day, click on this link. More events will be added in the near future. In less than 100 days, Pennsylvanias largest indoor agricultural event kicks off in Harrisburg. During a visit in Lancaster County on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Secretary of Community and Economic Development Rick Siger shared details about the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Powering Pennsylvania is the theme for the Farm Show scheduled for Jan. 4-11 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. Redding shared the news while visiting Oregon Dairy Farmstead in Manheim Township. Agriculture powers Pennsylvania, Redding said. He added that thousands of farm families throughout the state power the economy, noting the $132.5 million industry supports about 593,000 jobs. Oregon Dairy is an example of the Farm Show theme, Redding said, adding it is a family-run agritourism destination, green-energy producer and community economic driver. The Farm Show is the Keystone States largest agricultural event and similar to a state fair. It attracts more than half a million people for eight sensory-filled days. Visitors encounter the sights, smells and tastes, from baby animals to tractor square dancing to gooey fried cheese cubes and batter-dipped vegetables. Fan favorites such as a 1,000-pound butter sculpture, famous food court and sheep-shearing competitions are on tap to return. NEW COLUMBIA A Dauphin County firms $58 million investment on what two years ago was a 173-acre farm in central Pennsylvania is ready to pay dividends. Country View Family Farms (CVFF) of Middletown on Friday held the ceremonial opening for its mill in Union County that is capable of producing 8,000 tons of finished feed a week. 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. By Kate Payne and Heather Hollingsworth, The Associated Press CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warned that the enormous system could create a nightmare storm surge and bring dangerous winds and rain across much of the southeastern U.S. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Helene roared ashore around 11:10 p.m. EDT near the mouth of the Aucilla River in the Big Bend area of Floridas Gulf Coast. It had maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 mph ( 225 kph). Helene prompted hurricane and flash flood warnings extending far beyond the coast up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina. Before it made landfall, strong winds had already cut power to nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in Florida, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. The governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas and Virginia all declared emergencies in their states. 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. When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, were going to be waking up to a state where very likely theres been additional loss of life and certainly theres going to be loss of property, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Thursday night. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee had issued an extreme wind warning for the Big Bend as the eyewall approached: Treat this warning like a tornado warning, it said in a post on X. Take shelter in the most interior room and hunker down! Helene arrived barely a year since Hurricane Idalia slammed into Floridas Big Bend and caused widespread damage. Idalia became a Category 4 in the Gulf of Mexico but made landfall as a Category 3 near Keaton Beach, with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph (205 kph). Camryn Frick, left, and Jillian Sternick, both 22, and of Tampa, hold hands as they cross a flooded street together along Bayshore Boulevard on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)AP The storms wrath was felt widely, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts along Floridas 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 (25 centimeters) 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. Heavy rains began falling and winds were picking up earlier Thursday in Valdosta, Georgia, near the Florida state line. The weather service said more than a dozen Georgia counties could see hurricane-force winds exceeding 110 mph. In south Georgia, two people were killed when a possible tornado struck a mobile home on Thursday night, Wheeler County Sheriff Randy Rigdon told WMAZ-TV. The damage was reported as heavy thunderstorms raked much of the state. Wheeler County is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Macon. Forecaster Dylan Lusk said the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Wheeler County at 8:47 p.m. on Thursday. He said its one of 12 tornado warnings the office near Atlanta issued for parts of Georgia between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. The storm made landfall in the sparsely-populated Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where Floridas Panhandle and peninsula meet. 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 sheriffs 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. Still, Philip Tooke, a commercial fisherman who took over the business his father founded near the regions Apalachee Bay, planned to ride out this storm like he did during Hurricane Michael and the others on his boat. If I lose that, I dont have anything, Tooke said. Michael, a Category 5 storm, all but destroyed one town, fractured thousands of homes and businesses and caused some $25 billion in damage when it struck the Florida Panhandle in 2018. A man in a kayak uses a makeshift paddle Thursday as he travels through a street flooded in the passing of Hurricane Helene in Batabano, Mayabeque province, Cuba.(Ramon Espinosa, Associated Press) 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. Among them was Sharonda Davis, one of several gathered at a Tallahassee shelter worried their mobile homes wouldnt withstand the winds. She said the hurricanes size is scarier than anything because its the aftermath that were going to have to face. Federal authorities were staging search-and-rescue teams as the weather service forecast storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly catastrophic and unsurvivable in Apalachee Bay. Please, please, please take any evacuation orders seriously! the office said, describing the surge scenario as a nightmare. This stretch of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast has been largely spared by the widespread condo development and commercialization that dominates so many of Floridas beach communities. The region is loved for its natural wonders the vast stretches of salt marshes, tidal pools and barrier islands. You live down here, you run the risk of losing everything to a bad storm, said Anthony Godwin, 20, who lives about a half-mile (800 meters) from the water in the coastal town of Panacea, as he stopped for gas before heading west toward his sisters house in Pensacola. This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow). The orange circle indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone.National Hurricane Center 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. While Helene will likely weaken as it moves inland, damaging winds and heavy rain were expected to extend to the southern Appalachian Mountains, where landslides were possible, forecasters said. The hurricane center warned that much of the region could experience prolonged power outages and flooding. Tennessee was among the states expected to get drenched. 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. In western Cuba, Helene knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as it brushed past the island. 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 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding.National Hurricane Center Areas 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of the Georgia-Florida line expected hurricane conditions. The state opened its parks to evacuees and their pets, including horses. Overnight curfews were imposed in many cities and counties in south Georgia. This is one of the biggest storms weve ever had, said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. 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. 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. Officials said its swells and winds could affect parts of Bermuda and eventually the Azores by the weekend. The St. Pete Pier is pictured Thursday among high winds and waves as Hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle.(Martha Asencio-Rhine, Tampa Bay Times via AP) In the Pacific, former Hurricane John reformed Wednesday as a tropical storm and strengthened Thursday back into a hurricane as it threatened areas of Mexicos western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador raised Johns death toll to five as communities along the countrys Pacific coast prepared for the storm to make a second landfall. 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. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's new threats to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear countries will not change the European Union's support of Ukraine. The nuclear rhetoric of the president of the aggressor country once again demonstrates his irresponsible behavior. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by the EU External Action Service Spokesperson Peter Stano during a briefing in Brussels on Thursday, September 26. This is how he answered the question of how the EU will respond to the Kremlin's expansion of the list of "threats" that could result in the use of nuclear weapons. The European diplomat reminded that this is not the first time Putin has relied on his nuclear "gamble." "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 does not 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 said. The diplomat reminded that Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, an organization whose duty is to maintain peace in the world, but which Putin openly undermines. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, the Kremlin admitted that it had decided to change its nuclear doctrine in order to threaten Western countries. According to Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia is "warning" the West of the consequences in the event of an attack. At the same time, he made it clear that it does not necessarily mean nuclear weapons. On September 25, at a meeting of the Russian Security Council on nuclear deterrence, Putin said that Russia was adjusting its nuclear doctrine to make "clarifications" regarding the necessary preconditions for the use of such weapons. As reported, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken once again criticized Russian dictator Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons. Washington considers the Kremlin leader's rhetoric irresponsible. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Poland seeks to resolve painful issues in the history of relations with Ukraine, first of all, it wants to dot the i's and cross the t's regarding the Volyn tragedy. At the same time, official Warsaw prefers to resolve these issues through negotiations rather than by blackmailing Ukraine with EU membership. ADVERTISIMENT At least, this was stated by Polish President Andrzej Duda in an interview with the Polish TV channel Polsat News. He said that he hopes to achieve a diplomatic "breakthrough" in the exhumation of Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy by the end of his presidential term. Duda said that during his last meeting with Zelenskyy in the United States, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he did not raise the issue of the Volyn tragedy: instead of controversial historical events, the two presidents focused on the present, which united Poland and Ukraine. "We met at the UN headquarters. We exchanged a few words. We talked about frontline issues and how the situation looks today," Duda said. However, the topic of the Volyn tragedy comes up regularly in contacts between Kyiv and Poland, and Duda has discussed it with Zelenskyy more than once. ADVERTISIMENT "The result of these talks and my slow progress on this issue, because these are delicate and difficult issues, was the presence of Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Lutsk Cathedral, where we gathered together on the anniversary of the Volyn massacre. It was an important symbol," the President of Poland is convinced. In particular, Duda raised the issue of exhumation of the Poles killed in Volyn during those tragic events during his visit to Ukraine on August 24 this year, on Ukraine's Independence Day. And, according to the Polish president, the two countries will eventually be able to reach an understanding, but only through diplomacy. "I hope that by the end of my presidency there will be some kind of breakthrough in this matter. But I would not want this to be done through scandalous blackmail, which, in my opinion, will not bring good results," Duda emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion seems to be shared by not all representatives of the Polish government. A number of Polish politicians, including National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, have indeed made statements resembling blackmail: they insist that without clarifying the past, Ukraine's accession to the European Union is "out of the question." However, Duda, according to him, opposes this position. He is convinced that "this issue needs to be resolved in a different way, not by threatening to block Ukraine's integration with the West." "Blocking Ukraine's integration with the West is one of the reasons why Putin attacked Ukraine. Therefore, to enter into relations with Ukraine in this way is to follow Putin's path," the Polish president emphasized. As a reminder, during his visit to Ukraine on Independence Day, Duda spoke out against the intention to block Ukraine's accession to the EU because of the Volyn tragedy. At that time, he also compared the actions of politicians who advocate such a way of resolving controversial issues to the actions of the Kremlin dictator. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! US President Joe Biden said that Russia will not win this war. He clearly and confidently said that Ukraine will win, and that the United States will support and strengthen Ukraine "in this battle" and help it in the long run. ADVERTISIMENT Biden said this at the beginning of his meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House. The US President also announced a new military aid package and a discussion of a plan for Ukraine's victory. "You have already presented us with a rough plan for winning this war. And that's exactly what we're going to discuss today so that you can win this conflict," Biden said. According to him, the first task is to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield. "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. The Department of Defense will also allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds by the end of this year. This will strengthen Ukraine too," he said. ADVERTISIMENT "Second, we look ahead to help Ukraine succeed in the long term," the US President added. He noted that Ukraine should be supported on its path to EU and NATO membership and emphasized that Kyiv should be provided with sufficient capacity to defend itself against future Russian aggression. "So Im proud of the steps weve taken in our partnership on these fronts," Biden said. In this context, he mentioned the signing of security treaties 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," Joe Biden said. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, September 26, to present his victory plan. As reported, on the same day, Zelenskyy met with delegations from the US Senate and House of Representatives in the Capitol. He showed them the key points of the plan. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Play with PokerNews Podcast Hosts in Resorts World Meet-Up Game Ahead of NAPT Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. Copy link Want to have some fun with the hosts of the PokerNews Podcast and Life Outside Poker? Well, now is your chance. A PokerNews meet-up game will take place on Saturday, October 12 at Resorts World Las Vegas in anticipation of its hosting of next month's North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Las Vegas festival. PokerNews Podcast co-hosts Chad Holloway, Kyna England and Mike Holtz will attend, as will Life Outside Poker host Connor Richards, not to mention any poker friends they may rope into making an appearance. PokerNews Podcast co-hosts Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz and Kyna England Starting at 7 p.m. local time, the PokerNews meet-up game will kick off with a $200 buy-in nightly tournament. There will also be multiple cash game tables running $1/$3 and $2/$5 games and a similar Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) game. Find Out More About PokerNews Podcasts! Win a $10,000 Gold Pass to NAPT Las Vegas The Saturday meet-up game will take place on the tail end of a giveaway courtesy of PokerStars that will see one lucky podcast listener winning a $10,000 Gold Pass to NAPT Las Vegas. Simply listen to six episodes, note the keyword in each episode, and then put them together to spell out a six-word phrase. The first keyword appears in an already aired episode of Life Outside Poker with Scottish poker pro and Triple Crown winner Niall Farrell, while the sixth and final keyword will appear in an Oct. 11 episode of the PokerNews Podcast. The meet-up game is the perfect opportunity to ask the hosts more about the Gold Pass giveaway, and they may even offer up the key phrase. Get more information about the giveaway here. Podcast Schedule Date Show Tuesday, Sept. 17 Life Outside Poker w/ guest Niall Farrell Friday, Sept. 20 PokerNews Podcast Friday, Sept. 27 PokerNews Podcast Tuesday, Oct. 1 Life Outside Poker w/ guest Maria Konnikova Friday, Oct. 4 PokerNews Podcast Friday, Oct. 11 PokerNews Podcast Win an NAPT Gold Pass By Listening to PokerNews Podcasts! Gear Up for PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas The meet-up game at Resorts World is the perfect way to gear up for NAPT Las Vegas taking place Nov. 1-10. Last year, the luxurious casino hosted the first major NAPT festival in 12 years. Poker dealer Sami Bechahed took down the $1,650 Main Event for $268,945, while other festival winners included Jesse Lonis and Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra. This year's Main Event will be a $5,300 buy-in tournament after the success of last year's festival. Once again, PokerStars will shoot a season of The Big Game on Tour during the festival. Find Out More About NAPT Las Vegas! Share this article For the second time in the RunGood Poker Series history, the tour has made its home at Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri this week. This triumphant return sees a total of 11 ring events, the largest being the$800 Main Event that boasts a $200,000 guarantee. This is the second stop on RunGood Poker Series Resort tour after a successful destination at the Horseshoe in Tunica, Mississippi and the Hollywood Casino is ready to pull out all of the stops. This event looks to be a big draw for many big names around the Midwest. RGPS Ambassadors Preston McEwen, Cody Stanford, Daniel Lowery, and Craig Welko are all here and going to play. Iman Alsaden 2024 RGPS Destination RunGood St. Louis Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Iman Alsaden Kansas City, MO $77,192 2 Michael Chilton Paduca, MS $51,548 3 Phil Youngclaus St. Louis, MO $37,915 4 Jeff Riebeling Columbia, IL $28,252 5 Paul Fehlig St. Louis, MO $21,292 6 Chris Audrain St. Louis, MO $16,233 7 Mike Hurley St. Louis, MO $12,521 8 Brian Jones St. Louis, MO $9,773 9 Jesse Watson Canton, IL $7,719 Players will begin the tournament with 30,000 in chips with blinds beginning at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante. Levels will last 30 minutes each with a 10-minute break occurring after every four until Level 8. After Level 8, registration will close and the levels will be upped to 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break occurring after every three levels. Play will conclude once the field has shrunk to 12.5% remaining. Players will bag after that with the intention to return to play on Day 2 on Sunday, September 29 at 12 p.m. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series. Long before the problematic dynamics of 50 Shades of Grey, the Twilight-driven vampire craze of the 2010s, or the sheer radiance of Harry Styles in a skirt, there was Mr. Darcy. The male protagonist of 1813's Pride and Prejudice and a literary heartthrob for more than 200 years, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of Jane Austen's most enduring characters. As it turns out, the sullen sad boy trope was alive and well even in Georgian England (thanks a lot, Lord Byron), during which time Austen wrote at least 13 novels and mostly published in secret. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife," beginsPride and Prejudice and introduces us to the timeless will-they/won't-they dance of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The Myth of Jane Austen But what do we actually know about Jane Austen? We know little, but we assume much. Born on December 16, 1775 to a prominent family in Steventon, Hampshire, Jane Austen lived a quiet and unmarried life, gaining little attention for her work. Much of her public image that of a private gentlewoman who didn't think of herself as an author and didn't care if her work was published or her genius was recognized, as she didn't recognize it herself is now known to be a false projection created by her brother Henry. To be a female author, after all to criticize British society, express political dissent, and project the female gaze onto male characters was patently dangerous. As one female writer of the time, Mary Hays, noted: "The penalties and discouragements attending the profession of an author fall upon women with a double weight." She wrote that society would scrutinize all female authors "not merely as writers, but as women, their characters, their conduct," using "malignant ingenuity" to uncover "their errors and exposing their foibles." Portrait of Jane Austen, believed to be sketched by sister Cassandra Austen National Portrait Gallery One thing we do know is that Jane Austen found inspiration in her own desires and unmet longings; there's a reason most of her novels are variations of the same themes: the emptiness of social mores, family duty vs. individual desire, the triumph of unlikely love. So, really, it's no wonder that Mr. Darcy is such an enduring character; perhaps Jane Austen isn't so much reflected in Elizabeth Bennet as Mr. Darcy: an individual plagued by misunderstandings and presumptions and burdened with a wealth of love that isn't safe to express. Mr. Darcy On-screen When it comes to adapting Jane Austen's work to film, well... sometimes Mr. Darcy is depicted as a complex character with human flaws and a redeeming desire to live an authentic life, sometimes he's portrayed using the familiar sad-boy trope, and sometimes he's a veritable Magic Mike background dancer in a thin white shirt wet. Jane Austen's female gaze helped lay the foundation for feminist writers for centuries to come, sure; but she also imbued her characters with natural desires, not just conflicted plot points. As Megan Garber at The Atlantic wrote, "But while Austen may be, today, most readily associated with drawing rooms and dainty dances, she was also an impressively early champion of that quintessentially feminist perspective. She looked at men, and saw not just marriage and family and financial security, but also, simply, sex." So on Jane Austen's 245th birthday, we pause to remember the top five Mr. Darcys to ever grace the screen for all our modern female/male/non-binary gazes to enjoy. Who's your favorite Mr. Darcy? Tell us at @Popdust. 5. David Rintoul in "Pride & Prejudice" (1980) PBS's miniseries brought a Jane Austen TV adaptation to US audiences for the first time...That's about the best part of the otherwise dull production. David Rintoul seems to think that a frozen face conveyed the complexities of Mr. Darcy's character. 4. Colin Firth in "Pride & Prejudice" (1995) If your favorite Mr. Darcy is the BBC's 1995 adaptation, then die-hard Austenites might have a bone to pick with you. Some of the most cinematic and memorable scenes, like Colin Firth in virtually a wet t-shirt, misconstrued what Austen was trying to convey about romance: It's ugly. "Diving Darcy, the criticism goes, celebrates Pride and Prejudice less for its adjacency to Romanticism, the period, and more for its adjacency to romance, the genre," as Megan Garber wrote in The Atlantic. 3. Laurence Olivier in "Pride & Prejudice" (1940) Olivier's performance in 1940 set the bar for every Mr. Darcy to come. He plays Darcy as an unnerved elitist who's earnestly surprised that his social status won't win him Elizabeth's love, which ultimately drives his character to grow. 2. Matthew Macfadyen in "Pride & Prejudice" (2005) Pretty much everyone loved Matthew Macfayden's performance as Mr. Darcy in 2005, from Roger Ebert giving the award-nominated film four stars to literally anyone who's seen Macfayden walk through mist. South Carolinas tech sector produces an almost $52 billion annual economic impact, according to new research released this fall. North Augusta hosted the SC Decoded tech conference Sept. 10-11, and it was during this conference that it was revealed just how much and just how quickly South Carolinas tech sector has grown since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. About 6.5% of South Carolinas employment base can be traced back to tech. For another metric, employment in South Carolina's tech firms has grown twice as fast as total employment in the past decade, according to data compiled in SC Competes 2024 Economic Impact of SC Tech study. Weve seen dramatic growth in recent years, and the tech cluster overall is continuing to expand its footprint in South Carolina, Dr. Joey Von Nessen said. Von Nessen is a research economist at University of South Carolinas Darla Moore School of Business and author of the SC Competes study. The 2024 study presented in North Augusta as part of SC Decoded is only the second of its kind, the original research having been published in 2020 and using data that only went up to 2019. In other words, using data that didnt capture the impacts of the pandemic on the tech industry in South Carolina. This is a fairly new cluster; its one thats evolving and its one of those exciting ones to really look at because it is new and evolving, Von Nessen said. Von Nessen contrasted tech with South Carolinas already well-established industries, notably manufacturing, agribusiness and tourism. These industries, he said, arent evolving in the way that tech is. Except in ways that trace back to tech: agriculture in South Carolina saw the largest annual percent increase in its reliance on tech during the 2019-2022 period, according to the study, with this industry being 27% more reliant on tech each of those four years versus the annual 8% of the preceding decade. As we mark National Newspaper Week 2024, it is crucial to reflect on the role newspapers play in our democracy. Despite the digital revolution and a fast-changing media landscape, newspapers continue to provide the foundation for reliable, well-researched and accountable journalism. This wee Read moreCelebrating trust, accountability and the power of newspapers Wits End Comedy Club and Lounge in North Charleston, the newest fixture in the regions comedy scene, recently played host to a national tour spotlighting Black voices. The neighborhood lounge on Rivers Avenue was a packed house on Sept. 21 when the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour took over for the evening. Charleston native Rossi Brown joined the lineup that night to deliver his from-the-heart humor. To be from Charleston and be part of a show that is all about people of color is amazing, Brown told The Post and Courier. The national tour features headlining comedians Wills Maxell and Jordan Centry from North Carolina and Brandi Augustus from Tennessee, who are joined by different comedians in every city. Maxwell founded the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour in 2022 to highlight Black comedians and create lasting connections. In the United States, 73 percent of comedians are White and 11 percent of comedians are Black, according to 2019 statistics from CareerExplorer. Some of the biggest names in the industry, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, performed in Charleston last year. Many Black comics have a harder time rising through the ranks in their local scenes, Centry said, So teaming up to do the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour is our way of taking our careers into our own hands. As my tourmate Brandi Augustus says, We make the path by walking. Wits End is carrying on what The Sparrow, a former bar that hosted regular comedy shows in Park Circle, started by giving local comedians a chance to perform with nationally known names, said Brown, the Charleston comic. The new space is supplying comedy lovers with a diverse slate of performers from all over the country. Getting older is a gift, says Jessica Miller, reflecting on what it means to still be working as a model at 40 after having worked for brands such as Chanel and Marc Jacobs. Miller who was born in Las Vegas, Nevada is the face of Chloes New Era, led by its new creative director, Chemena Kamali. Its an opportunity she considers one of the greatest honors of her career. When her agency asks her for recent photographs, she has extra help at home: her husband, Lars Ulrich, drummer and co-founder of the iconic heavy metal band Metallica, who takes the snapshots. Ive never felt that before with anyone, not even with family: its unconditional love. Yesterday he took a ferry to come here, he brought all my bags Hes the sweetest man in the world! We have been married for almost 10 years and I love him even more now, because we have been through a lot, she says with a sparkle in her eyes. Embroidered net halter dress and fur coat, by TOM FORD, and underwear by CALZEDONIA. NICO BUSTOS Question. You have just turned 40, and you are still working for the fashion giants. Do you feel that you are an exception, or that is this becoming more and more common? Answer. At 22, I was called an old model, which was nice for my self-esteem I would say that I enjoy the fashion industry a lot more now that Im older because I feel more and more confident. I know that Im very lucky to have the job that I have, but its not as easy a job as people think. At 14, I had to learn to travel constantly and work with new people every day, so it was hard for me to appreciate the creativity of the job and the clothes because I struggled to adapt to the logistics of being a model and having the right tools to emotionally deal with it. Now I can see how blessed I am and I know how to deal with the ups and downs in a healthier way. Printed chiffon shirt, skirt and pants with boa and leather sandals, all from ETRO. NICO BUSTOS Q. You were called an old model at 22, but before that, you were called fat A. Thats a thing that I struggle with still a little bit. When the #MeToo movement came about, I was asked a lot about stories of abuse, but the truth is that Ive only had bad stories with women. When I was 16, in Paris, a stylist told me to my face: Youre fat. I feel that thanks to this movement, the fashion industry is kinder. For example, I notice that models now celebrate each other a lot more, something I didnt experience when I was 20. But were human, so were always going to be terrible to each other. The model with cape and long dress, ring and D-Pepite necklace in antiqued metal, all from DIOR. NICO BUSTOS Q. After hearing phrases like that, do you have a healthy relationship with food? A. Its definitely something Ive struggled with, as most women have too. During this photo shoot, I had something on that was particularly tight, and I realized that if I had been faced with a situation like this 10 years ago, I would have been very upset. When I became vegan, I gained weight from eating fake burgers that, although they have no cholesterol, are high in fat, and it was when I started doing therapy that I realized that I had to eat what really made me feel good. I used to be in the gym every day, but it was something I didnt like. Now I feel fit and healthy. When I exercise, I dont think about calories. I dont train anymore: I move. Its not a struggle anymore. I used to torture myself, and now it all seems easier. Jessica Miller wears wool knit sweater and ruffle pants by CAROLINA HERRERA NEW YORK. NICO BUSTOS Q. And does getting older bother you? A. No, and I thought that it would. I was happy to turn 40 in February. I love my job, my husband, my family There is so much to be grateful for that I dont worry about age, because aging is a journey. I didnt feel that way before, so I guess its because of the work Ive done in therapy. I know how to set boundaries now. Plus, I think the fashion industry is starting to celebrate age. Bodi con escote en uve profundo y falda lapiz, ambos en gasa de seda; cinturon de piel; pendientes y brazaletes de resina, medias de cristal y sandalias de saten de seda, todo de SAINT LAURENT x ANTHONY VACCARELLO. NICO BUSTOS Q. Do you think diversity is more of a marketing tool? A. I have never seen diversity in the fashion world when it comes to sizes. Although fortunately there are now models of different sizes, I dont think that everyone can gain weight whenever they want. In fact, I dont know if I would work as much as I do if I gained five kilos. Although I have to applaud the way the industry is starting to celebrate age, I think that in terms of weight, there is still a lot to do. Q. Did you feel pressure being the first model to sign an exclusive contract with Calvin Klein after Kate Moss? A. I remember riding the subway and knowing that my life was going to change. I felt like what I had worked for was finally paying off. It was an iconic campaign. My dad always thought modeling was pointless, but when I signed that contract and there was an article in The New York Times, he said, Now you have a real job! Inez & Vinoodh, who I now consider my aunt and uncle, were the photographers, and I learned how to model by working with them. On the shoot, I also worked with the choreographer Stephen Galloway, and I really came into my body. It put extra pressure on my career, so the highs and lows were much higher and much lower, but I feel Iike those ads is when I like really came into my body and taught me how to be a good model. Q. What did it feel like to attend your first Metallica concert, when you were 12 years old? A. My mom took me to the show because I was a huge fan of the band, and since we were so far away from the stage, we had binoculars. My friends and I loved Metallica, which is crazy when you look at it from the present. Every now and then, Ill watch my husband play and think, What the hell is going on here? I was a fan of the band! I spent every day of my 13 years listening to the Master of Puppets album. There are times when Ill watch them play and say, Did I marry Lars? Printed wool coat, high leather boots and leather belt, all from ALAIA. NICO BUSTOS Q. But it wasnt love at first sight, was it? A. We were in a relationship! We were friends. I remember always being shocked by how nice he was, but I was so in love with my boyfriend. I met Lars at a concert when I was newly single. He appeared out of nowhere, came up to me, and I saw him in a different way. Hes such an incredible partner. Q. Would he say that you are his muse, a somewhat controversial term? A. Ive never heard him say it. I think we balance each other out. He wakes up and can make calls, while I have to have my coffee and clear my head. Even though were opposites, we balance each other out, and when things get crazy, he helps me look at things from a different angle. Ive heard him say something similar from a business perspective or creatively, but Ive yet to hear him say that Im his muse Ill have to ask him! Coat with leather trim and knitted dress, both by HERMES. NICO BUSTOS Q. Why do you think its so common for models to end up with musicians? A. I cant imagine dating someone who doesnt travel for work or have the ability to work in remote locations because its hard. I guess understanding each others schedules is essential. Travel is amazing; were both dedicated to our jobs and were aware that when we travel were traveling for work, but I think it can be hard to be in a relationship with someone whos waiting for you at home. I can imagine how stressed that person might get thinking about what the other person might be doing. Lars and I have always understood each other because the nature of our jobs is similar in some ways. LOEWE draped dress. NICO BUSTOS Q. You have said that your parents had problems with addictions, but you always speak positively about your childhood. Why? A. They both tried to do the best they could and thankfully there was no abuse whatsoever, but they werent always present. I have an older sister and a younger sister, so we were always together. One time, my father was driving under the influence and we were in the car with him. We got pulled over by the police and because my mother was out, we were sent to an orphanage for two nights. Ive always known they loved us and now I feel sorry for them. When we couldnt wake my father because he had too much to drink, we had each other. I cant imagine what it would have been like to go through that alone. My father had a liver transplant in 2010, and I put my life on hold for a year. He now has more energy than anyone else. Q. And then you got into fashion, where addictions are the order of the day, and ended up with a musician A. With so much traveling and meeting so many people every day, alcohol, which is everywhere, became an easy tool to get out of it all. Drinking became an excuse and although I would never hope for Covid, it happened just when I was at a point where I was sick of self-medicating. I knew I didnt want to drink that way. I struggled with alcohol and in 2020 I started going to therapy. There was a point where I was seeing three different therapists at once. The one I saw daily, which I still see today, I felt like I needed another specialist to delve into the traumas and help me feel them in my body, and then I had a DBT [Dialectical Behavioral Therapy] therapist, with whom I analyzed how I communicated with people and who helped me to have healthy conversations. Leopard print fur coat by DOLCE & GABBANA; crocodile effect leather boots by GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI and crystal tights and underwear by CALZEDONIA. NICO BUSTOS Q. Youre on the board of directors of the farm animal sanctuary Animal Place, do you think the world will go vegan? A. I volunteered with them seven years ago and they have changed my life. Being able to work with farm animals has helped me understand humans in a more organic way. I feel like I am kinder and more willing to listen. Vegans will kill me for saying this, but I think we are not made to be vegan. What I wonder is if the climate situation will force us to end the commitment to farm animals. I am completely vegan and I do not buy leather, but if I were in the middle of nowhere and starving, I would eat meat. We are made to survive. I have never said that I am the perfect vegan, and if I refused to wear leather in photos, I dont think I would work. I love my job too much and I think I am doing the best I can. Q. What do you think of Chemena Kamalis work at Chloe? A. Her passion is contagious. After her first show at the helm of the brand last February, she and her team burst into tears of joy, something I had never seen before during my career. That says a lot about what Chemena feels and evokes. I feel like I am part of something personal when I wear her designs. Team Model Jessica Miller (Next Managemet Madrid) Styling Juan Cebrian Make-up Manuela Pane (Kasteel Artist Management) for Dior Hair Jordi Fontanals (Ana Prado) for Aveda and GHD Production Cristina Serrano Digital assistant Lorenzo Profilio Photography assistants Marta Paba and Anna Perez Styling assistant Diego Serna Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition BEAUFORT The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority wants customers to limit water usage to essential needs due to widespread power outages caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The authority is still able to provide water, according to spokesperson Jeff La Rue, but two-thirds of their water and wastewater system pump stations are without power. The authority has generators operating, but officials expect the issue to last multiple days. "It's the worst damage our system has seen since Hurricane Matthew in 2016," La Rue said. Area residents are asked to: Suspend all non-essential water use, including irrigation; Keep stormwater out of sanitary sewers; Stay out of floodwaters that may contain dangerous organisms and wildlife; and Do not pile storm debris near water meter shutoff valves or fire hydrants. Downed trees and widespread power outages were left in Helene's wake as the massive storm's outer bands lashed the Lowcountry the evening of Sept. 26 into early Sept. 27. Thousands of Beaufort County residents were without power as crews with Dominion Energy and the Palmetto Electric Cooperative worked through high winds. As of 10 a.m., nearly 55,000 residents or more than a quarter of the county's population were among the more than 1.3 million statewide without power. The Beaufort County School District held an e-learning day and canceled after-school events for Sept. 27 due to power outages at multiple schools. Road blockages have caused delays to the county's Emergency Medical Services, according to spokesperson Virginia Marshall, who urged patience from 911 callers. Helene has caused minimal delays for travelers in the area, according to Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport spokesperson Lori Lynah. The handful of delays and cancellations were caused by flights unable to land as the storm passed through or by destinations experiencing bad weather. Top officials from multiple federal agencies came together Sept. 27 for an update on Helene, describing the enormous storm's destruction as well as recovery efforts underway. Among the biggest area of concern was the western Carolinas, where rainfall in excess of two feet in some areas is prompting landslides and flash floods. Rainfall of 9 to 11 inches was widely reported in the western portions of South Carolina, said National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. Saturated ground could also loosen up thousands of local and privately owned earthen dams, making them vulnerable to failure, said Brig. Gen. Daniel H. Hibner of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' South Atlantic Division. Corps-controlled reservoirs such as Hartwell Lake are not at risk, Hibner said, pointing out that many were already in semi-drought conditions going into the week's weather. Graham urged residents to keep channels of communication open, including radios and smart phones, in case smaller, privately controlled levies or dams do start to fail. The National Weather Service, he said, would be the quickest to issue alerts in such an event. The NWS office for the Greenville-Spartanburg area just before noon posted warnings to social media about the imminent failure of Lake Lure Dam just across the state line in Rutherford County, N.C. "RESIDENTS BELOW THE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY!," part of the X post read. The Helene-related death toll in South Carolina is climbing, with two confirmed in Anderson County, another three reported in Spartanburg County and four each confirmed dead in Aiken and Greenville counties. 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 Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. In a decision with unpredictable consequences, the Israeli army attempted to assassinate Hezbollahs top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, on Friday by dropping bombs weighing up to a ton on residential buildings, according to Israeli media. At around 6:00 p.m. local time, F-35 jets launched at least eight projectiles, which left four buildings in Dahiye, Hezbollahs stronghold south of Beirut, in ruins, shortly after a belligerent speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the United Nations General Assembly that ruled out any form of negotiation over a ceasefire agreement. A large cloud of smoke rose over the suburbs of the capital and, a few minutes later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged an attack against Hezbollahs main headquarters, which it said was located under residential buildings in Dahiye. The official Iranian news agency, Tasnim, stated that Nasrallah is safe. The militia has not yet commented on the strike. At least four buildings have been reduced to rubble and the wounded started arriving at hospitals. Images show a large crater and buildings completely razed to the ground or blown off their foundations by the power of the explosion. It was the largest bombing in Beirut in a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, using missiles used to penetrate bunkers, according to Israeli public television. Netanyahus office released a photo of him on the phone from New York. He then brought forward his return to Israel from Saturday to Friday night. Smoke billows south of Beirut following Israeli airstrikes on Friday. Mohamed Azakir (REUTERS) According to Israeli state television, Israel informed its American allies of the operation minutes beforehand, but the Pentagon has denied this. The United States was not involved in this operation and was not warned in advance, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. Earlier, in his speech at the UN, Netanyahu said that Israel would not stop until the Lebanese militia had been defeated, including Hezbollah in what he termed as an axis of curse, led by Iran, facing one of blessing, in which Israel is included, underlining his point with the use of maps he displayed from the podium. On the one hand, a bright blessing a future of hope. On the other hand, a dark future of despair [...] As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, said Netanyahu, after five days of bombings that have killed more than 600 people in Lebanon. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 11:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 896 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / AI Financial Education Foundation Ltd (AFEF) is a private foundation focused on investor education, established in the United States in September 2018. AFEF is committed to helping investors improve their financial knowledge, develop rational investment concepts, and identify financial fraud through professional investment education services.Notably, AFEF recently announced a deep collaboration with Blockchain Technology company Sylth Blockchain Technology Co., Ltd. (Sylth Exchange). The AFEF token has been successfully listed on the Sylth Exchange, marking a strategic alliance between the two companies in the investment education sector.The AFEF team consists of a number of senior CFA holders and NAIFA members with extensive experience in financial markets. The Foundation has independently developed the fifth-generation intelligent investment education system FBDR, which provides investors with personalized portfolio analysis and advice. The system integrates cutting-edge technologies such as big data and machine learning to help investors make more intelligent and accurate investment decisions.In addition,AFEF is supported by relevant tax incentives, which can help investors significantly reduce investment costs. In the coming year,AFEF will also carry out investment education and training activities covering stocks, foreign exchange, options, cryptocurrencies and other fields through a combination of online and offline methods.The head of AFEF said that through the cooperation with Sylth Exchange, the foundation's investment education services will be further extended to the blockchain field, providing more rich and intelligent financial knowledge training for global investors. In the future, AFEF will continue to deepen its layout in the domestic market of the United States, and actively explore the global market, committed to promoting the sustainable development of the capital market.In addition, AFEF has set clear development goals and a global vision: Short-term goal: In the next year,AFEF plans to provide high-quality investment education services to 100,000 investors, helping them increase their investment returns by 100-300%.Medium-term goal: Within 3 years,AFEF plans to become the leading investment education institution in the United States with more than 1 million investors, creating a cumulative wealth appreciation of more than $10 billion.Long-term vision: AFEF is committed to establishing a nationwide investment education service network, and actively exploring the global market, helping investors establish scientific and rational investment concepts, and promoting the sustainable development of the U.S. and global capital markets.It is worth noting that in order to ensure the sustainable development of the Foundation,AFEF has established a comprehensive risk control mechanism. It regularly trains the investment education team to ensure continuous improvement in service quality. At the same time,AFEF will continue to strengthen technology investment and market analysis, pay close attention to financial policy changes, and flexibly adjust operational strategies to help investors avoid market risks and achieve safe investment.In addition, AFEF will carry out online and offline investment and education activities through various channels in the coming year to meet the needs of investors at different levels. Online activities include live courses, investment and education salons, smart investment practice, etc., while offline activities include live lectures, expert discussions and investor experience days. Through these activities, investors will not only be able to learn the latest investment theories, but also experience the personalized investment advice provided by the intelligent AI system in practical operation.In addition, AFEF is stepping up its branding efforts globally. The Foundation will further enhance brand awareness and market influence through content marketing, search engine advertising, social media engagement, and participation in industry conferences. Through these measures, the foundation will not only be able to steadily develop in the domestic market, but also attract more investors around the world to join and promote the internationalization of the brand.AFEF's future growth strategy is not only focused on the U.S. market, but also looks globally. Through cooperation with Sylth Exchange, AFEF tokens have successfully entered the blockchain space, laying a solid foundation for the foundation's global expansion. At the same time, the foundation will continue to improve the technical level of intelligent AI systems, combined with the needs of the global market, to provide investors with more intelligent and personalized services.In order to ensure the sustainable development of the Foundation, AFEF has also established a comprehensive risk control mechanism. The Foundation regularly conducts training for the investment and education team to ensure the continuous improvement of service quality. At the same time, AFEF will continue to strengthen technology investment and market analysis, pay close attention to financial policy changes, and flexibly adjust operational strategies to help investors avoid market risks and achieve safe investment.In general,AFEF is striving to become a trusted education partner for global investors with its professional investment education team, advanced intelligent investment systems, and deep cooperation with Sylth Exchange. Whether individual investors or institutional clients,AFEF will provide intelligent investment education services to help them make informed decisions and achieve wealth growth goals in a complex and volatile market environment. Whether you are an individual investor or an institutional client, AFEF wants to help you make informed decisions in a complex market, grow your wealth and realize your investment dreams through intelligent investment education services.Source link:Media ContactOrganization: Sylth ExchangeContact Person Name: Alice WatsonWebsite: https://www.sylthbtc.com Email: service@ sylthbtc.com City: DenverCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Sylth Exchange PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 13:45:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / A new report from activist short seller Viceroy Research has intensified scrutiny on Arbor Realty (NYSE:ABR), a prominent player in structured finance. Viceroy's latest report, "Arbor - September 2024 CLO Update," paints a bleak picture of the company's financial health, alleging widespread distress within its loan portfolio.Hagens Berman urges Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: May 7, 2021 - July 11, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/ABRContact the Firm Now:ABR@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 Viceroy's September 19 ReportViceroy's latest report details a series of troubling indicators. Despite significant modifications to its CLO book, Arbor's loans remain deeply troubled, with debt service coverage ratios (DSCRs) plummeting to 0.48x. The report contends that federal rate cuts will provide little relief, as even a 200 basis point reduction would only marginally improve underlying investment losses, according to Viceroy.Moreover, Viceroy claims Arbor's net interest spread is under threat due to declining cash interest income rates and the growing prevalence of interest-only loans. Viceroy further points out that the company's origination activity has also slowed to an all-time low, while it continues to pay dividends using principal repayments from its distressed loan book.Arbor's troubles have not gone unnoticed by regulators. According to Bloomberg, Arbor is under investigation by both the DOJ and FBI, and Viceroy claims that the SEC denied its Freedom of Information Act requests on the basis that their release may interfere with enforcement proceedings.Arbor Realty Securities Class ActionThe mounting scrutiny has led to a class-action lawsuit against Arbor Realty. Investors who purchased or acquired Arbor Realty Trust securities between May 7, 2021, and July 11, 2024, are alleging that the company misled them about the health of its loan portfolio. The lawsuit seeks to represent the interests of these investors and is currently pending in the Eastern District of New York.These serious allegations prompted prominent shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman to launch an investigation into potential securities fraud. Reed Kathrein, a partner at Hagens Berman, stated, "We are investigating whether Arbor Realty may have misrepresented the quality of its loan book." If you invested in Arbor and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Arbor case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Arbor should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email ABR@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 04:50:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 453 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until September 30, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("ABR" or the "Company") (NYSE:ABR), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 7, 2021 and July 11, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of ABR and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-abr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court bySeptember 30, 2024 .About the LawsuitArbor Realty and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On March 14, 2023, NINGI Research reported that "ABR has been hiding a toxic real estate portfolio of mobile homes with a complex web of real and fake holdings companies for more than a decade." On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $12.99 per share on March 13, 2023, to $12.12 per share on March 14, 2023, and then $11.53 per share on March 15, 2023. Then, on July 12, 2024, Bloomberg reported that the Company was the subject of a probe by federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York that were "inquiring about lending practices and the company's claims about the performance of their loan book." On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $15.53 per share on July 11, 2024, to $12.89 per share on July 12, 2024.The case is Martin v. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., No. 24-cv-05347.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 21:16:39 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 27, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 09:00:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 501 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Business Kitz, a leader in AI-assisted document and data management, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest platform update, featuring both an advanced digital signature feature and a new AI-assisted workflow. These updates are designed to streamline how businesses create, sign, and manage their documents, providing greater efficiency, security, and compliance.BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / The new AI-assisted workflow allows users to upload documents in any format, and Business Kitz's AI will automatically extract key data such as important dates, clauses, and essential information. This new feature provides a summarized overview, helping businesses process their paperwork faster and with greater accuracy. It eliminates the need for manual document review, enabling users to focus on the most important tasks while improving overall productivity.Business Kitz logoComprehensive Digital Signature SolutionIn addition to the AI workflow, Business Kitz is also introducing a digital signature feature aimed at businesses that need a fast, secure, and legally compliant way to sign documents on the go. With this feature, users can not only easily sign and share documents but also reap the benefits of AI-assisted intelligent storage features, which will be released soon.Key Highlights of the Update:- AI Workflow for Document Processing: Upload any document, and the AI will extract key data points, providing a summary of essential clauses, deadlines, and more.- Seamless Digital Signatures: Track the status of signatures with a full audit log and digital certificate for each signed document.- Global Legal Compliance: Business Kitz's digital signature meets key global standards such as eIDAS Level 1, UETA, and ESIGN (pending final verification).- User-Friendly and Secure: Both features are designed to be easy to use with built-in guidance and the highest level of encryption, ensuring full data protection.Streamlining Document Management for All BusinessesThis platform update is designed for businesses of all sizes that need a smarter, faster way to manage documents. From contracts to compliance paperwork, Business Kitz's new AI-assisted workflow and digital signature feature empower users to handle critical tasks more efficiently, while minimizing errors and ensuring long-term compliance.Supporting Business Kitz's Mission and Future GrowthThe release of these new features supports Business Kitz's vision of becoming the go-to platform for AI-assisted business document management. The company is committed to solving real problems that businesses face in managing back-office operations and has exciting plans to enhance these features further with storage, cryptographic signatures, and more integrations.Availability and PricingThe new AI-assisted workflow and digital signature features are now available. They are included as part of the Business Kitz subscription plan, which starts at $14/month, with users receiving seven free signed documents per month.After closing an oversubscribed $3.3M pre-seed round and launching its global product, the company is now opening its seed round. Visit businesskitz.com.au to create a free account or get involved in the seed funding round by contacting us.Contact InformationMarlise LachatHead of Marketingmarlise.lachat@businesskitz.com.au + 34 651 337 440SOURCE: Business KitzView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 14:00:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 535 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WESCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP , with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., is proud to announce its 20th anniversary as one of New York's premier law firms. Over the past two decades, the firm has demonstrated its commitment to seniors and their families through expert legal guidance in elder law, Medicaid planning, guardianships, and wills, trusts & estates. This anniversary highlights not only the firm's legal accomplishments, but also its long-standing commitment to giving back to the community.To commemorate their 20-year milestone, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP will participate in several charitable initiatives in the coming months, including their sponsorship of the 2024 Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer's. The Walk, taking place at Westchester Community College on Sunday, October 6th at noon, will see the firm's team, including partners and staff, unite to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Attendees are encouraged to visit their exhibitor booth before and after the event."Alzheimer's affects many of our clients and their families, making it a cause close to our hearts," said Anthony J. Enea, Esq., managing partner of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. "For several years, our firm has proudly supported the Walk to End Alzheimer's. This year, our participation is especially meaningful as we celebrate 20 years of service. It reflects our firm's ongoing commitment to helping those in need." The Alzheimer's Association estimates that over six million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, a number expected to rise significantly in the coming years. By sponsoring and participating in the Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer's, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP supports critical research and services for families affected by dementia."Reaching 20 years is a celebration not just of our accomplishments, but of the many relationships we've built with our clients and community partners," said Enea. "We look forward to continuing our efforts both as legal advocates and active participants in community causes." Since its inception, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP has grown in both size and scope. Today, the firm is comprised of six full-time attorneys supported by a dedicated team of paralegals and administrative staff. Over the past year, the firm's partners and associates have presented over 75 educational programs and are regularly recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for their excellence in elder law and estate planning.Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914-948-1500 or visitwww.esslawfirm.com About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent-rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online atwww.esslawfirm.com Press Contact Kelly LeeCo-Communications914-666-0066 x107klee@ cocommunications.com SOURCE: Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 03:00:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 895 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 /Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. ("Final Bell" or the "Company"), a premier cannabis hardware and packaging manufacturer, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its rights offering. The rights offering, which expired on September 10, 2024, resulted in the issuance of 89,261,454 Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (the "SV Shares") at US$0.015 per share, and 1,627,771 Class B Proportionate Voting Shares (the "PV Shares") at US$1.50 per share, for approximately US$3,780,600 in aggregate proceeds raised, including certain debt settlements.Of the securities sold, 3,308,369 SV Shares and 108,725 PV Shares were issued under the basic subscription privilege, and 707,785 PV Shares under the additional subscription privilege, to insiders of the Company. The foregoing subscriptions include settlement of US$375,000 of indebtedness owing to insiders. Non-insiders of the Company purchased an aggregate of 31,000,230 SV Shares and 597,621 PV Shares under the basic subscription privilege, and 54,952,855 SV Shares and 213,640 PV Shares under the additional subscription privilege. The foregoing subscriptions include settlement of US$500,000 of indebtedness owing to non-insiders. To the knowledge of the Company, no shareholders became insiders as a result of their participation in the Rights Offering. The offering did not feature a stand-by commitment. As at the closing date, the Company has 186,202,234 SV Shares and 4,201,846 PV Shares issued and outstanding, representing an aggregate of 606,386,834 voting shares on an as-converted basis to SV Shares."We are incredibly proud of the trust our shareholders have placed in us, and we see this majority subscribed rights offering as a strong endorsement of our strategic direction," commented Robert Meyer, CEO of Final Bell. "The rights offering was met with robust participation from our shareholders, with a significant percentage taking part, reflecting solid confidence in our growth potential and strategic initiatives. This rights offering signifies a pivotal moment for Final Bell and underscores our shareholders' commitment to the Company's vision. The capital raised will enable us to accelerate our strategic plans and continue delivering outstanding value to our customers and stakeholders." The proceeds raised will be used for funding debt service requirements and professional fees and expenses, and is expected to further empower Final Bell's product innovation, enhance its "cannabis as a service" model, and support the expansion of its subsidiary, 14th Round, a leader in cannabis vaporization devices in North America.Final Bell continues to lead the way in the cannabis industry, offering comprehensive solutions that span device manufacturing, supply chain management, and the licensing of top-tier cannabis brands.About Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. Final Bell operates at the cutting edge of the regulated cannabis industry. Pioneering the "Cannabis as a Service" business model, Final Bell's operations span product innovation, device & hardware manufacturing, supply chain management, facility management, and brand development. Final Bell's subsidiary, 14th Round, is the leading cannabis vaporization device company in the United States and Canada. 14th Round also provides child resistant packaging solutions for cannabis vaporizers, edibles, and related products.For further information please contact:Kiarash HessamiDirector of Business Analytics and IR604-365-6099 IR@ finalbell.com Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward- looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding: the use of proceeds from the rights offering, anticipated benefits from same and future business plans. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and expectations and is based on information currently available to Final Bell and on assumptions Final Bell believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the Company's financial condition remaining constant and the success of Final Bell's business strategy. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Final Bell to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business uncertainties; general capital market conditions; the actual results of future operations; changes in legislation, including health or cannabis legislation; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; sustaining expected growth trajectory; the continued acceptable and success of the Company's brands and strategic initiatives; and those risks described in the Company's other filings with the securities regulatory authorities which have been filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive, and should not 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. The Company does not intend, nor undertakes any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law.SOURCE: Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. Without alluding to possible pressure from Washington, Israel has softened it objection to a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Thursday, Israel had roundly opposed the plan which is backed by the United States and France , but on Friday, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli authorities were discussing the initiative. Israel shares the aims of the U.S.-led initiative of enabling people along our northern border to return safely and securely to their homes, the statement from Netanyahus office read. Israel appreciates the U.S. efforts in this regard because the U.S. role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region. The statement refers to the 60,000 Israelis evacuated from around the border with Lebanon, who have been living for months in hotels, rented houses or hosted by relatives in different regions of the country. It comes after Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen Friday morning, when sirens were activated in Tel Aviv. The change in tone coincides with Netanyahus arrival in New York, where he will address the United Nations General Assembly. Pro-Palestine rallies were held outside his hotel ahead of his speech on Friday. The conciliatory statement is in stark contrast to his comments on Thursday, when he said that he had not responded to the ceasefire proposal and had instructed the IDF to continue fighting with full force. Fridays statement reveals that while Netanyahu was publicly slamming the diplomatic initiative, his aides were meeting on Thursday to push it forward. Earlier this week, the United States shared with Israel its intention to put forward, together with other international and regional partners, a ceasefire proposal in Lebanon. Our teams met [on Thursday, September 26] to discuss the U.S. initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days, the statement from Netanyahus office added. Both the U.S. and France were unwilling to abandon the proposal, despite the difficulty involved in deescalating the tensions. White House security spokesperson John Kirby said that Israel had been fully informed and fully aware of every word of the truce proposal. For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said: I think it would be a mistake for the [Israeli] prime minister to refuse it because he would have to take responsibility for a regional escalation far beyond what anyone could control. The statement from Netanyahus office says that Israel wanted to clarify its position on the ceasefire proposal due to the vast amount of misinformation that had been spread. This appears to be an allusion to the international uproar that was sparked after Israel dismissed the plan while hinting the IDF was preparing for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon. Indeed, the IDF announced that thousands of troops from Gaza were being deployed to the north and that it was launching airstrikes against Lebanon to prepare the ground for a possible entry into the neighboring country. Hezbollah, for its part, continues to fire dozens of rockets at different regions of Israel, most of which are intercepted after triggering warning sirens. A ground incursion into Lebanese territory would greatly complicate the plans for a ceasefire and raise many questions. Once Israeli troops enter Lebanon: how and when will they leave? The IDF entered Gaza on October 27, three weeks after the war began. Almost a year later, with more than 41,000 dead in Gaza, there is no sign that Israel has any plans to withdraw from the territory. Meanwhile, the Houthi militia has launched a new long-range missile at Israel. This time, unlike in previous occasions, Israeli anti-aircraft defenses specifically the Arrow system intercepted the missile before it reached Israeli airspace, the army reported in a statement. The target, as shown by the alarm map activated by authorities, was an area near Tel Aviv, a large city on the Mediterranean coast. No victims were reported, and operations at Ben Gurion Airport were not affected. Israel is defended by a multi-tiered air defense system. The lowest tier, in terms of altitude, is the Iron Dome, which has been in operation since 2011. It intercepts short-range rockets and artillery, such as those frequently fired by Hamas and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, or Hezbollah from southern Lebanon. The mid-tier is the so-called Davids Sling, which has been in operation since 2017 and is designed to stop ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as medium- and long-range rockets. The top tier is the Arrow system, which has also been in operation since 2017. It intercepts missiles that fly outside the atmosphere. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 18:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 584 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / Maple Leaf Critical Minerals 2024-II Enhanced Flow-Through Limited Partnership (the "Partnership") is pleased to announce that it has filed a final prospectus (the "Prospectus") dated September 25, 2024 with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the Provinces of Canada relating to the initial public offering of units of the Partnership. The books will close on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 12 noon (EST) for its initial closing on Friday, October 4, 2024.Partnership Objectives & Benefits - National Class UnitsThe Partnership is designed to provide holders of National Class Units ("National Class Limited Partners") with an investment in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares of Resource Companies incurring Eligible Expenditures (as those terms are defined in the Prospectus) across Canada with a view to maximizing the tax benefits of an investment in National Class Units and achieving capital appreciation and/or income for National Class Limited Partners. National Class Limited Partners must be residents of Canada or liable to pay Canadian income tax.Investors are expected to receive tax deductions for 2024 of approximately 144%-152% of the amount invested based on and subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus.Partnership Objectives & Benefits - Quebec Class UnitsThe Partnership is designed to provide holders of Quebec Class Units ("Quebec Class Limited Partners") with an investment in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares of Resource Companies incurring Eligible Expenditures principally in the Province of Quebec with a view to maximizing the tax benefits of an investment in Quebec Class Units and achieving capital appreciation and/or income for Quebec Class Limited Partners. Quebec Class Units are most suitable for investors who reside in the Province of Quebec or are liable to pay income tax in Quebec.Investors are expected to receive tax deductions for 2024 of up to approximately 154% of the amount invested based on and subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus.Liquidity EventThe investment portfolios of both the National and Quebec Class Units will be actively managed in such a way as to preserve the ability to undertake a future liquidity event, such as a rollover into a mutual fund corporation.The SyndicateThe syndicate of agents for the offering is being led by Scotia Capital Inc. and includes National Bank Financial Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., Manulife Wealth Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Ventum Financial Corp. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. A copy of the Prospectus can be obtained from any agent.Offering JurisdictionsEach of the Provinces of Canada.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACTHugh Cartwright, ChairmanMAPLE LEAF SHORT DURATION FLOW-THROUGH PROGRAMS Tel: 1-866-688-5750Email: info@ mapleleaffunds.ca Web: www.MapleLeafFunds.ca A final prospectus dated September 25, 2024 relating to these securities has been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the Provinces of Canada. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities. This release is provided for information purposes only. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment funds. Please read the Prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Prospectus.SOURCE: Maple Leaf Funds PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 08:45:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1066 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GODALMING, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / Condor Gold plc ("Condor Gold", "Condor", the "Group" or the "Company"), (AIM:CNR)(TSX:COG) presents its unaudited interim financial report for the six-month periods to 30 June 2024. It has been posted on the Company's websites www.condorgold.com and ca.condorgold.com . It is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com Highlights for six months to 30 June 2024There continues to be significant interest in the sale of the Company's assets.The Company remains in discussion with a number of interested parties, both longer term and more recent, with several new parties having expressed an interest, been given access to the data room and indicating a wish to conduct site visits.The "Geological setting of gold-silver mineralisation in the La India mining district, Nicaragua" by English, L.T.P., Galvan, V.H. and Pullinger, C.R. was published in the first edition of open-access online journal Naturalis Scientias .Land acquisition continued at the La India open pit and associated mine site infrastructure. To date, 99.6% of the core areas have been purchased.Site clearance of 14 hectares has been completed for the processing plant location, including areas for offices, warehouses, a stockpile, and a buffer zone.On 23 May the Company announced it had raised 500,000 via the exercise of warrants by Galloway Limited, a company wholly owned by Burnbrae Group Limited, which is, in turn, wholly owned by Jim Mellon, Condor's Chairman, increasing Galloway's shareholding to 26.13% of Condor Gold.Post Period HighlightsOn 15 July 2024 the Company raised 220,000 via the exercise of options, The proceeds came from Galloway Limited, a company wholly owned by Burnbrae Group Limited, which is, in turn, wholly owned by Jim Mellon, Condor's Chairman, increasing Galloway's shareholding to 26.12%, Mark Child, the CEO, increasing his shareholding to 2.38% of the Company, Dave Crawford the CTO and other employee option holders.On 31 July 2024 the Company provided an update on the sales process.The significantly higher gold price has resulted in more interest in the acquisition of the Company's assets.Chairman's Statement for the Six Months to 30 June 2024Dear Shareholder,I continue to be impressed by the executive team's dedication to getting our project shovel ready. This has elicited considerable interest in the current sales process, which has been aided by a 35% increase in the gold price since the lows of 2023.The focus during the 6-month period to 30 June 2024 has been on the sale of the Company's assets in Nicaragua. On 22 November 2022, the Company announced a strategy update and informed the market that it had appointed an advisor to sell its assets. The Board carefully reviewed the Company's options as the Project is "construction ready" with an 18-month construction timeline. Such options included going through a financing and construction phase but, as a single asset, single jurisdiction company without an experienced mine building team and without gold production from other mines, the Board formed the view that this would not be in the Company's best interests, and concluded that it was in the best interests of the Company and all stakeholders to sell the assets of the Company to a gold producer with mine building expertise, thus ensuring a new mine at La India and significant investment in the local area, which will regenerate the local communities. The focus for 2024 is to execute a successful sale of the assets while maintaining a social licence to operate at the fully permitted La India Project.By way of an update on the sales process as at 26 th September 2024 there are currently eight companies under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), five non-binding offers received and three site visits completed. Although none of the non-binding offers have progressed to firm proposals to date, the Company is in discussions with several gold producers. The Board is optimistic that a sale will be concluded in the near future.Wholly owned, fully permitted, construction ready gold mines, with a Feasibility Study completed, with potential production of 150,000 oz gold per annum, in major Gold Districts, with the land acquired and a new SAG Mill package purchased are rare and in demand by gold producers replenishing depleting reserves. We are very aware of the value of our assets and will not allow them to go at anything other than a fair price.Turning to the financial results for the 2024 6-month period, the Group's loss for the period was 518,217 (2023: 965,815). The net cash balance of the Group at 30 June 2024 was 1,084,498 (2023: 584,837). During the period, there was a 1,379,784 foreign exchange gain (2023 2,294,117 loss). This is as a result of significant changes in USD against GBP. The Board is aware of currency fluctuations and is working to mitigate any further losses.I would also like to draw your attention to the Corporate Governance Report on Pages 26 - 30 which details how we comply with the QCA Code.Finally, it remains for me to thank our executive and also our team on the ground in Nicaragua for their unstinting efforts in continuing to maintain and develop our Project.Jim MellonChairmanCEO'S Report for the Six Months to 30 June 2024Dear Shareholder,I am pleased to present Condor Gold Plc's ("Condor", the "Company" or the "Group") report for the 6-month financial period to 30 June 2024.The Chairman has provided an update on the sales process. I would like to add that it has been a difficult period for Condor Gold shareholders. At the time of writing our shares are broadly unchanged since the 1 st January 2024, while the gold price have increased from US$2,043 oz gold to US$2,665 oz gold or 30.4% and gold related equity indices are up significantly. Nevertheless, by almost any measure, Condor Gold's assets are considerably more attractive than at any time in the past, a fact that is clearly demonstrated in the tables below, which compare a Feasibility Study and PEAs conducted at US$1,600 oz gold and US$1,550 oz gold respectively with a US$2,400 oz gold price. In all 3 scenarios, NPVs increase 3 to 4 fold to a maximum of US$907 million, IRRs average 100%, the payback period reduces in 2 cases to only 6 months and the EBITDA more than doubles, in one scenario to US$2.3Bn. In my view, the extremely attractive project economics will lead to a successful sale of the assets particularly as advanced exploration work indicates La India Project has the potential to host a major gold district. The engineering studies in the Feasibility Study demonstrate th PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 18:15:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 639 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / MasterWord is honored to announce its partnership with UNESCO, within its actions linked to multilingualism online (2003 Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace) and theInternational Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032) , in advancing the preservation of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Mayan speakers through the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project. This partnership aims to preserve, revitalize, digitize and promote Mayan languages by leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering community-driven solutions, in support of UNESCO's global mission to protect and promote multilingualism online and indigenous languages worldwide.Ludmila Golovine and Winston Scott at the UNESCO Meeting on Multilingualism, Paris, France Two individuals are standing together in front of a blue background featuring UNESCO logos and the United Nations flag. The individual on the right is wearing a black jacket and a long green skirt, and the individual on the left is dressed in a suit."The partnership with UNESCO allows us to share what we're learning with a global network," said Ludmila Golovine, CEO of MasterWord. "By fostering collaboration between indigenous communities and linguistic experts, we are building a practical roadmap for digitizing and preserving these vital languages, ensuring that future generations can have digital access and continue their rich traditions." Launched in May 2023, the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project is an open-source initiative dedicated to safeguarding Mayan languages, spoken by over seven million people in Guatemala and across North and Central America. The project provides innovative digital tools, including talking glossaries, a universal Mayan language keyboard, and community-driven resources to ensure that Mayan language speakers have equitable digital access. "By preserving Mayan languages and creating digital spaces for indigenous languages to thrive, we seek to increase educational and economic opportunities for millions of people through a grass-roots effort," explains project director, Dr. Winston Scott.Notable Achievements of the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project:28 talking glossaries created for cultural understanding, including terms related to kinship, nature, and professions.Over 2 million words collected and documented in 11 Mayan languages.200+ hours of audio content uploaded, preserving spoken records of Mayan languages.Development of a universal Mayan language keyboard, a first step in bringing Mayan text to digital devices.Developing a Roadmap for Language DigitizationThe project is currently developing a technical document that outlines a practical roadmap to digitization, building on both existing knowledge and available resources and new insights gained along the way. This roadmap can serve as a resource for replication for other communities globally.Thanks to the partnership with UNESCO and its global reach, the Mayan project will be able to both learn from the work done by other Indigenous communities and share the practical roadmap and lessons learned through IDIL 2022-2032, accelerating the impact on language preservation and digitization efforts worldwide.Support for UNESCO's IDIL 2022-2032 GoalsThrough this partnership, MasterWord and the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project are actively supporting the Global Action Plan of the IDIL 2022-2032, including:Fostering multilingualism and digital empowerment for indigenous languages.Empowering Indigenous communities by providing equitable access to information, education, public services, and economic opportunities.Promoting cultural diversity and heritage through the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages.By aligning with these goals, the Mayan project is contributing to a broader global mission of empowering communities through the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages.About MasterWord: MasterWord is a language services company that is committed to supporting language access, digitization, and preservation for the world's indigenous languages. Through partnerships and impact-driven projects, MasterWord advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering multilingualism and promoting linguistic rights.For more information on the Mayan Languages Preservation and Digitization Project, visit: mayanlanguagepreservation.org Contact InformationRyan FoleyDirector of Communicationsrfoley@ masterword.com 346-744-7158SOURCE: MasterWordView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 13:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1068 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 UPPSALA, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / The shareholders in Senzime AB (publ)(STO:SEZI)(OTCQX:SNZZF) corp. reg. no 556565-5734 (the "Company") are hereby convened to an extraordinary general meeting on 23 October 2024 at 10.00 at Advokatfirman Lindahl's premises on Vaksalagatan 10 in Uppsala.Notice etc.Shareholders who wish to participate in the general meeting must:- be registered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday 15 October 2024 (the record date), and- notify his or her intention to attend the general meeting to the Company no later than Friday 18 October 2024, by mail to Advokatfirman Lindahl KB, Att: Michaela Larsson, Box 1203, 751 42 Uppsala stating "general meeting" or by e-mail to michaela.larsson@lindahl.se Such notification shall include the shareholder's name, personal identification number or corporate registration number, address and telephone number, number of shares, details on advisors (no more than two), if any, and, where applicable, details of representatives or proxies.Nominee-registered shares Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee through a bank or other trustee must, in addition to notify his or her intention to attend the general meeting, register their shares in their own name so that the shareholder is included in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden on 15 October 2024. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting rights registration) and shall be requested by shareholders in such time and in accordance with the routines that the nominee determines. Voting rights registrations that have been completed by the nominee no later than 17October 2024 will be considered in the preparation of the share register.Proxy Shareholders represented by proxy must submit a dated power of attorney. If the power of attorney is executed by a legal person, a certified copy of the certificate of registration or equivalent must be attached. The power of attorney may not be valid for a period exceeding five years from its issuance. The original power of attorney and certificate of registration should be submitted to the Company by mail at the address mentioned above in due time prior to the general meeting. Alternatively, the original power of attorney and certificate of registration may be brought and presented at the general meeting. The Company provides a power of attorney form at request and on the Company's website, www.senzime.com Number of shares and votes As of the date of this notice, there are a total of 119,705,523 shares and votes in the Company.Proposed agenda 1. Opening of the general meeting and election of chairman of the general meeting2. Preparation and approval of the voting list3. Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes4. Approval of the agenda5. Determination as to whether the meeting has been duly convened6. Resolution on the approval of the board of directors' resolution on a directed share issue7. Closing of the general meetingProposals to resolutionsItem 1 - Election of chairman of the general meeting The nomination committee proposes that Mattias Prage, lawyer at Advokatfirman Lindahl KB, is elected as chairman of the general meeting or, in his absence, the person otherwise appointed by the board of directors.Item 6 - Resolution on the approval of the board of directors' resolution on a directed share issueOn 27 September 2024 the board resolved, subject to approval by the general meeting, on a directed share issue on the terms and conditions set out below (in italics). The board proposes that the general meeting approves the board's resolution.Subject to approval by the extraordinary general meeting, the board of directors of Senzime AB (publ), corp. reg. no. 556565-5734 (the "Company") resolves to carry out a directed issue of maximum 1,104,000 new shares, entailing an increase in the share capital of maximum SEK 138,000. The resolution shall further be governed by the following terms and conditions.The right to subscribe for new shares shall, with deviation from the shareholders pre-emption rights, belong only to the following persons and in accordance with the specified allocationNameNumber of sharesAdam Dahlberg700,000Sorin J. Brull404,000The reasons for deviating from the shareholders' preferential rights are that the board of directors has assessed that it would not be doable to in a time- and cost-effective manner successfully carry out rights issue on terms favorable to the Company, at the same time as the Company is in need of capital. The board of directors considers it favorable for the Company and the shareholders to take advantage of the opportunity to inject new capital from strong and reputable investors on attractive terms and in a time and cost-effective manner. The board of directors' overall assessment is that the reasons for carrying out the new share issue with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights overweigh the principal rule that new share issues shall be carried out with preferential rights for existing shareholders, and that a new issue with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights is therefore in the interest of the Company and its shareholders.Subscription of shares shall be made either by payment or on a subscription list not later than October28, 2024. The board of directors shall have the right to extend the subscription period.Payment for subscribed shares shall be made not later than October 28, 2024 (same date as the subscription). The board of directors shall have the right to extend the payment period.The new shares are issued at a price of SEK 6.20 per share. At full subscription, the Company will thus receive SEK 6,844,800 (before issuing costs). The share premium shall be transferred to the unrestricted premium reserve.The subscription price corresponds to the price used at re-transfer to investors pursuant to the resolution to issueshares in Appendix 3. The board of director's assessment is that the price is at market terms, since it is based on the market price at the time of the board's resolution.The new shares entitle to dividends for the first time on the first record date for dividend that take place after the issue of new shares has been registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and been recorded in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB.The Managing Director is entitled to make any minor changes necessary for the registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and Euroclear Sweden AB.Majority requirements A Resolution in accordance with item 6 above requires, for its validity, support from shareholders holding not less than nine-tenths of both the shares voted and of the shares represented at the general PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 15:31:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 542 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 / On September 17th, World Patient Safety Day (WPSD), the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions to improve patient and workforce safety during a White House Healthcare Safety Forum. These actions include commitments made by Patients for Patient Safety US (PFPS US) and others in government and private sector organizations, rounding out a year of federal leadership actions recognizing patient safety as a systemic, pervasive public health challenge. Earlier initiatives include transformative recommendations in a September 2023 report by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and the adoption of a Patient Safety Structural Measure by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that goes into effect on October 1st."We established PFPS US in 2021 to call for federal leadership to prioritize patient safety," said Carole Hemmelgarn, PFPS US Board Chair. "We are excited to see the Biden-Harris Administration do just that." Commemorating WPSD, PFPS US launched a commitment acknowledged by the White House: Project PIVOT (Patients Involved in deVeloping Outcomes Together) at our WPSD Summit. The launch convened diverse stakeholders in an immersive workshop hosted by Johns Hopkins University to begin a process of identifying and prioritizing patient-reported experience to address patient safety events such as missed or delayed diagnoses as well as bias and discrimination. "Measuring patient-reported harm, missed or delayed diagnoses, and experiences of bias and discrimination were a key recommendation by PCAST. We are excited to advance this patient-developed and patient-led initiative," said Sue Sheridan, PFPS US President and CEO.Alongside the White House event, PFPS US organized a march to the US Capitol and remembrance ceremony on the Capitol lawn highlighting patient safety as the third largest cause of preventable death in the United States, and a Leadership Briefing connecting federal agency leaders with patient safety advocates.One in four patients in U.S. hospitals have experienced harm events and that rate isn't improving, according to Office of the Inspector General reports highlighted at the Leadership Briefing. "Patients today face the same systemic risks of sepsis and inappropriate care that led to the death of my son, Josh, in 2006. Reduction in central line infections and urinary tract infections are an encouraging step, but not enough," said Armando Nahum, PFPS US co-founder.More than 40 PFPS US Champions - including sepsis survivors, persons who lost children, spouses or parents to medical error, patients who experienced missed or delayed diagnoses, and wrong site surgery victims - also visited their lawmakers at the US Capitol during the WPSD events. "We asked Congress to use its levers to track harm events: if we can't see it, we can't fix it. We also want Congress to expand patient reporting options, close loopholes that hide patient harm, and to stop paying for unsafe care," said Beth Daley Ullem, PFPS US co-founder and Hill visit organizer.About PFPS USWe work to make healthcare safer. Learn more: www.pfps.us Media contact: Martin Hatlie, mhatlie@ pfps.us Contact Information:Martin HatlieFounding Member / Executive Leadershipmhatlie@ pfps.us 312-543-5658Sue SheridanFounding Member / Executive Leadershipssheridan@ pfps.us 208-867-3479Armando NahumFounding Member / Executive Leadershipanahum@ pfps.us 404-510-8787SOURCE: Patients for Patient Safety USView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 20:01:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 604 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BUFFALO, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 /POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO), a Buffalo, NY-based biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce the publication of positive findings in a peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of Medical Virology entitled " Interim safety and immunogenicity analysis of the EuCorVac-19 COVID-19 vaccine in a Phase 3 randomized, observer-blind, immunobridging trial in the Philippines ".EuCorVac-19 EuCorVac-19, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by EuBiologics and POP BiotechnologiesDeveloped by POP BIO's partner EuBiologics of South Korea, the COVID-19 vaccine, EuCorVac-19 (ECV-19), demonstrated promising safety and immunogenicity in a large-scale Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in the Philippines. Developed as a recombinant vaccine displaying the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on immunogenic liposomes, ECV-19 is designed to generate an immune response targeted against the RBD while maintaining a favorable safety profile. The vaccine utilizes POP BIO's spontaneous nanoliposome antigen particle (POP BIO SNAP) technology to display the RBD on the surface of nanoparticles, thereby enhancing vaccine efficacy.The study, involving 2,600 participants, compared ECV-19 to the COVISHIELD adenoviral-vectored vaccine. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either vaccine, following a two-dose regimen spaced four weeks apart. Interim results indicate that ECV-19 not only produced significantly higher levels of neutralizing antibodies but also showed a reduced incidence of mild side effects after the first dose."ECV-19 elicited a strong immune response, with a higher seroresponse rate and greater neutralizing antibody levels against both the original Wuhan strain and the Omicron variant," said lead author Jonathan Lovell, a cofounder of POP BIO and a professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University at Buffalo. "These findings suggest that ECV-19 could be a tool in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 but also establish proof of principle for the underlying liposome-display of protein antigens." The interim analysis also highlighted that ECV-19 maintained a favorable safety profile, with fewer reported cases of localized and systemic side effects compared to the CS vaccine after the initial dose.A EuBiologics official said: "Based on the clinical results, the process for registration is currently underway in the Philippines. Moving forward, we can update the COVID-19 vaccine by simply replacing the antigen, depending on strategic decisions. With the platform technology now validated, we expect to accelerate the development of vaccines not only for COVID-19 but also for other indications, including RSV and HZV, both in Phase 1 testing, as well as Alzheimer's Disease." Further analysis will provide additional insights into the long-term protection offered by ECV-19. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT05572879 ).About POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO): POP Biotechnologies is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the research and development of novel therapeutics and vaccines employing its proprietary porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome technologies. POP Biotechnologies has been granted the exclusive license to the PoP platform from the State University of New York Research Foundation.About POP BIO SNAP: POP BIO SNAP technology enables the rapid development and manufacturing of highly immunogenic particle-based vaccines and immunotherapies directed against infectious disease and cancer through the rapid and seamless generation of stable particle formation and liposome display of protein and peptide antigens, resulting in substantial improvements in immune responses.About EuBiologics : EuBiologics is a South Korean Biotechnology company that is advancing the EuHZV vaccine and other vaccine products. EuBiologics has two main animal-based bioreactors (1,000L) to produce recombinant protein antigens at Chuncheon Plant 1(C-Plant) and EcML(Monophosphoryl Lipid A), which is an adjuvant at Chuncheon Plant 2(V-Plant). The total capacity of Eubiologics facilities is currently in the hundreds of millions of doses per year.Contact InformationJonathan SmythPresidentjrsmyth@ popbiotech.com +13152200087SOURCE: POP Biotechnologies, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 04:50:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 414 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilOctober 15, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 15, 2024 to July 24, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Stellantis and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-stla/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byOctober 15, 2024 .About the LawsuitStellantis and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 25, 2024, the Company announced its first half 2024 financial results, disclosing disappointing news, including "[n]et revenues of 85.0 billion, down 14% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to the decline in volume and mix; net profit of 5.6 billion, down 48% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to lower volume and mix, headwinds from foreign exchange and restructuring costs; adjusted operating income of 8.5 billion, down 5.7 billion compared to H1 2023, primarily due to decreases in North America." On this news, the price of Stellantis' shares fell from a closing price of $19.60 per share on July 24, 2024 to $17.66 per share on July 26, 2024.The case is Long v. Stellantis N.V., et al., No. 24-cv-06196.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-09-27 09:16:03 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 499 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 - TEC achieves 50,000 Members, reflecting its exceptional workspace solutions- Celebrating 30 years of innovation and excellence in the industry- TEC continues to enhance Member experiences through premium servicesHONG KONG, Sept 27, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - The Executive Centre (TEC), Asias leading premium flexible workspace provider, is proud to announce that it has signed up 50,000 Members within its global network of premium flexible workspaces, coinciding with the celebration of its 30th Anniversary. This extraordinary milestone not only marks a significant moment in the company's history but also underscores its enduring commitment to redefining the future of work.Since its inception in 1994, The Executive Centre has been at the forefront of the flexible workspace revolution, adapting to the changing dynamics of the modern workforce. The growth to 50,000 Members reflects the trust and loyalty of TECs diverse clientele with 83% of its client portfolio being multinational companies (MNCs) and the balance being high-net-worth small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) all seeking the premium, versatile workspace solutions that TEC provides.We are thrilled to welcome our 50,000th Member into The Executive Centre community, said Paul Salnikow, Founder and CEO of The Executive Centre. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we remain committed to enhancing the Member experience, supporting our vibrant community, continuously growing with our Members and providing exceptional work environments that foster collaboration and innovation. In the past three decades, The Executive Centre has grown to become one of the largest flexible workspace providers in Asia-Pacific, boasting an expansive portfolio of over 220 locations, generating USD 315 million in annual revenue, and an annual compounded growth rate of 18%.As TEC looks to the future, the company is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the premium workspace sector. TEC is committed to delivering best-in-class services that empower Members to succeed while fostering a thriving community for innovation, connection, collaboration, and growth.About The Executive CentreThe Executive Centre (TEC) is Asias premium flexible workspace provider, opened its doors in Hong Kong in 1994 and today boasts over 220+ Centres in 36 cities and 16 markets. It is the third largest serviced office business in Asia.The Executive Centre caters to ambitious professionals and industry leaders looking for more than just an office space - they are looking for a place for their organisation to thrive. TEC has cultivated an environment designed for success with a global network spanning Greater China, Southeast Asia, North Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, with sights to go further and grow faster. Each Executive Centre offers a prestigious address with the advanced infrastructure to pre-empt, meet, and exceed the needs of its Members. Walking with Members through every milestone and achievement, The Executive Centre empowers ambitious professionals and organisations to succeed.Privately owned and headquartered in Hong Kong, TEC provides first class Private and Shared Workspaces, Business Concierge Services, and Meeting & Events facilities to suit any business' needs.Press EnquiriesFGS GlobalKitty Lam Kitty.Lam@fgsglobal.com / +852 6306 8851The Executive CentrePebble LeePebble_lee@ executivecentre.com / +852 3951 9888 The chairman of top-tier banking group FBN Holdings, Femi Otedola, has purchased 534.1 million shares in recent deals in the Lagos-quoted financial institution. A regulatory filing from FBN Holdings, whose principal operating company, First Bank, is Nigerias oldest commercial lender, indicated the multi-sector investor acquired the shares in separate transactions within 23 and 25 September at a cost averaging N30 per unit. Mr Otedola is the corporations top shareholder, at the same time the holder of the controlling interest of Geregu Power, an electricity-generating public company backed by Kigali-based Fund for Export Development in Africa. The transactions put Mr Otedolas latest spending on additional stakes in the group at over N16 billion. However, the data provided on the website of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), where the financial services groups shares are listed, shows the shares traded by FBN Holdings in the three days the transactions were said to have been conducted totalled 144.3 million. That is far less than the 534.1 million units the businessman acquired during the period, suggesting a gap in the records kept by the NGX. The NGX did not immediately respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry seeking clarification on the discrepancy. 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 billionaire magnate has actively been in the hunt in the market this year for new shares to firm up his status as the corporations prime shareholder after toppling its closest contender Barbican Capital Limited in June. Barbican Capital has FBN Holdings Ex-chairman Oba Otudeko as its beneficial owner. Spending on 1.67 billion units in new shares earlier in the year came to N36.2 billion taking his stake in the holding company to 11.6 per cent. With his latest acquisition of shares, Mr Otedolas holdings now stand at 13.16 per cent. FBN Holdings shares have added 25.3 per cent this year, outpacing the NGX Banking Index, the industry index that monitors the progress of the performance of the most capitalised and liquid stocks in the banking sector, which has advanced 4.5 per cent so far. FBN Holdings profit for the first half of the year roughly doubled to N360.3 billion, helped by a major boost to the interest charged on loans. Total assets for the period jumped 38.3 per cent to N23.4 trillion, compared to the end of last year, according to its latest earnings report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print March 2022 was the month of unforgettable slaps. Hollywood actor Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for mocking his wife, Jada, during the Oscars in Los Angeles; a similar showdown happened in Nigeria, catching everyone off guard, between two influential women. The showdown was between Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Ebelechukwu Obiano, the wife of the then-outgoing Governor Willie Obiano, during the inauguration of Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo on 17 March 2022. What was meant to be a political celebration transformed into a dramatic scene when Bianca slapped Mrs Obiano in front of numerous dignitaries and attendees. The incident became historic, not only for its political significance but also for an unexpected clash between the two influential women, a moment that will be remembered in the annals of Nigerian politics. The drama The incident unfolded during the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Awka. Mrs Obiano arrived late and made her way to where Bianca was seated. Bianca later explained what happened precisely, stating that she initially believed the ex-governors wife was approaching to greet her, but it was a confrontation. The ex-beauty queen stated, She (Mrs Obiano) verbally attacked me with her voice raised, taunting me and asking me what I was there to do and using unprintable vile language. Then she kept aggressively putting her hands on my shoulders and shouting. While I ignored her verbal onslaught, as advised by those sitting around me, I requested twice that she refrain from touching me with her hands. She proceeded to do so again and grabbed my head tie, which she attempted unsuccessfully to remove. As she made towards me, I then pulled away her wig. She held her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me. This very act is considered a sacrilege to a titled matriarch such as myself in Igbo culture. It was at this point that I stood up to defend myself and gave her a dirty slap to stop her from attacking me. 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 Separation The altercation disrupted the ceremony and drew the attention of security personnel and other guests, who rushed in to separate the two women. Governor Soludo, however, continued with the event, maintaining his composure despite the unexpected drama. Bianca, a former Nigerian ambassador to Spain, revealed that Mrs Obianos return to her seat required the intervention of the former national Chairperson of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh. Meanwhile, Mr Obiano reportedly sat through the ordeal without saying a word, only to leave soon after the incident with his wife. Bianca later described the episode as highly embarrassing for the former governor, who seemed unable to control the situation. History of tension The slap went viral almost immediately, sparking widespread commentary on social media. Many speculated that the confrontation stemmed from long-standing tension between the two women. Bianca has been openly critical of Governor Obianos administration. Just hours before the inauguration, she posted a celebratory message on Facebook and expressed joy over the end of Obianos tenure. A month later, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Bianca shared a clearer video of the altercation titled Zero Tolerance for Executive Bullies, The Raw Facts on her official Facebook page. The video, posted on 11 April, revealed Mrs Obiano approaching Bianca and hitting her on the shoulder, which prompted Bianca to respond by reaching for her headgear. Onlookers intervened, but not before Mrs Obianos headgear fell off. During the exchange, Mrs Obiano allegedly mocked Bianca by saying, I thought you said we would never be governor, with a derogatory term, b**ch, heard in the background. However, it remained unclear who said it. Apology In the aftermath, Governor Soludo reportedly apologised for the incident. In response to the incident, Mrs Obiano, through her media aide, Chidiebele Obika, expressed shock, stating she only approached Bianca for their usual friendly banter, only to be slapped and pushed. On 31 March 2022, Mrs Obiano announced her intention to contest in the Anambra North Senatorial District election and apologised to Mr Soludo over her spat with Bianca. Many netizens supported Biancas action, while others criticised the women for causing such a disturbance at a formal event. Netizens described it humorously as the Festival of Slaps, suggesting that it could become an annual event. The inauguration slap will be remembered as one of the most talked-about moments in Anambras political history. Though both women are highly respected figures in Nigerian society, their public confrontation showed how deep-seated rivalries can erupt even in the most unlikely settings. You can listen to PREMIUM TIMES podcast of how the slap match went down Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A belligerent Benjamin Netanyahu has torn up the weak and contradictory signals that Israel was willing to accept a U.S. and French ceasefire proposal to stop the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, he stated. The Israeli prime ministers speech to the United Nations General Assembly, interrupted several times by boos and discreet applause to the point that the diplomat presiding the session had to call the room to order twice, was a repetition of his governments arguments throughout the Gaza war and his defiant tone was the same as that displayed in his message to the U.S. Congress at the end of July. It was a rhetorical and geopolitical flight forward, in a forum where most countries have demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, but also in Lebanon. Netanyahu lashed out in several directions: against the legitimacy of institutions such as the UN and the International Criminal Court, whose accusations against Israel he termed absurd, and the forum that hosted him, which he accused of being anti-Semitic. Netanyahu assured that the war against Hezbollah would not stop until the 60,000 displaced Israelis from the north of the country could return to their homes. There were more protagonists in his speech than just Hamas, which has become almost a footnote in the face of his frequent references to Iran as a global sponsor of terrorism and the pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli demonstrations that have swept the world since the war in Gaza began. Although the Israeli prime ministers office had in recent hours given signals of considering the ceasefire proposal to halt its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Netanyahus tone on the speakers platform silenced them. Brandishing a school-style map, simple and striking, which in his opinion exemplarily reflects the only two options for the future that the Middle East, and by extension the world, has the axis of good and the axis of evil, in his words, literally, that of blessing versus that of curse he again leveled accusations against Iran. On the one hand, a bright blessing a future of hope. On the other hand, a dark future of despair, he said, accusing Tehran of trying to impose its radicalism well beyond the Middle East. I didnt intend to come here this year [to the UN]. My country is at war, fighting for its life. But after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight [...] And heres the truth: Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again. Yet we face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, and we must defend ourselves against them, an emboldened Netanyahu said to open his speech, despite the notable absence of numerous delegations and resounding boos. Among those not in attendance were diplomats from Saudi Arabia, to whom Netanyahu has extended his hand to, with the help of the U.S., advance his particular regional map after the alliances forged by his country with other Arab nations in recent years. As he has done since the beginning of the Gaza war, Netanyahu lashed out at the United Nations itself, accusing it of blatant anti-Semitism and double standards that condemn Israel exponentially more than the entire world combined, alluding to the resolutions issued by the Security Council and the Assembly. All the hostility directed at Israel this year its not about Gaza; its about Israel. Its always been about Israel. About Israels very existence. And I say to you, until Israel, until the Jewish state, is treated like other nations, until this antisemitic swamp is drained, the UN will be viewed by fair-minded people everywhere as nothing more than a contemptuous farce, the Israeli prime minister said, calling the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court pure antisemitism. Much of his speech was directed against Iran, as was his delivery to the U.S. Congress earlier in the year. Netanyahu boasted that Israeli actions a veiled but clear allusion to the attacks on several scientists had succeeded in delaying Tehrans nuclear program by at least 10 years, but that was not enough, he said, to avert what he presented as a threat not only to the region, but to the world. I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: If you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place there is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And thats true of the entire Middle East [] And I have another message for this assembly and for the world outside this hall: We are winning. As Israel defends itself against Iran in this seven-front war, the lines separating the blessing and the curse could not be more clear. Netanyahus long-awaited speech at the UN, especially given its predictable allusions to the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon, ended almost at the same time as the first clouds of smoke appeared in the sky over Beirut from the impact of Israeli strikes. Netanyahu made it clear: not a single mention of the truce advocated by the U.S. and France; on the contrary, a resounding no to any form of compromise with Hezbollah. Enough is enough, he said. We wont rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes. We will not accept a terror army perched on our northern border, able to perpetrate another October 7-style massacre. As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and thats exactly what were doing. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Actor and movie producer Fred Amata has criticised his ex-wife, Agatha Amata, famous for her talk show, Inside Out with Agatha, for giving their daughters hand in marriage without his consent. Agatha, the CEO of RaveTV Lagos and Trend FM100.9, Asaba, divorced the famous actor in 2005. The divorce was reportedly amicable, and they have two children, Oreva and Stephanie. Three years after their divorce, her ex-husband welcomed a daughter, Zino, with actress and ex-beauty queen Ibinabo Fiberisima. Amata, absent at their daughters wedding in the UK, reunited with his ex-wife for their son Orevas traditional wedding in Lagos in June 2023. However, he was absent at the white wedding held in the United States in May of the same year. Amatas latest allegations have brought their past issues back into the spotlight. On Wednesday, Agatha announced on her Instagram page the marriage of her daughter, Stephanie and wished her a blissful union, sharing a video from the wedding ceremony. In the video, she could be seen walking her down the aisle, a tradition that fathers or males typically carry out. Reacting to the marriage in a post on his social media accounts, the actor Fred Amata expressed his shock and disbelief at his ex-wifes action, describing it as a grave injustice in their culture. 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: Abomination, embrace taboo, stare Africa in the eyes to manipulate my daughter and her husband, hoodwink the lovebirds, and walk my daughter down the aisle to give Stephanie away to a husband. I cant keep quiet anymore. Its time to speak up. This is an abomination. This is taboo. Nowhere in the world, nowhere in Africa, nowhere in Delta State, and the lands where we come from can a woman give away her child in marriage, especially when the father is alive. Especially when the father is willing and able. Worse still, when the father is in the same city. What malice would drive a woman, in an attempt to rubbish her ex-husband, to lead his daughter to marriage? What manipulation would warrant concealing the date and time from a father who has already given his blessing? Even if the daughter forgets when the father and daughter are in the same city of London, is it not the place of The Good Wife? Heartbroken father The 61-year-old questioned his ex-wifes audacity to give their daughters hand in marriage without his knowledge. Amata, who rose to fame in 1986 for his role in Legacy, sought advice from Nigerians and well-wishers on what to do next. He stated that a good wife would never do such a thing simply to make a man look bad. Good people, netizens, well-wishers, haters, and influencers. What options are left to this heartbroken father? How do you throw away the baby with the bathwater? Do you cast away the ones you will forever love because a good wife has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardise the fathers blessings on his daughter? They came to me in London; Aaron brought drinks as kola to me, the father, as the pictures show. Do you throw away the baby with the bathwater? Do you cast away the ones you will forever love because a good wife has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardise the fathers blessings on his daughter? What kind of good wife does a thing like this simply to make a man look bad? Tarnished image The actor also alleged that his ex-wife had tarnished his reputation, belittled his achievements, and exploited his name for her selfish gain since their divorce. He said he had remained silent and refrained from commenting on their failed marriage, hoping that the wounds would heal and reconciliation might be possible. He said, It was over 25 years ago that I came up with the unique idea of Inside-Out with Agatha, a talk show with six informed and opposing points of view represented by a person with oratorial skills, now male, now female. We had seen a talk show by Regina Askia, and Agatha wanted to be a host. I told her not to worry: I will come up with something; it will make you like Oprah Winfrey, and I did it ingeniously. I was the dedicated creator, throwing in flesh, blood, and sweat to create and deliver a concept that had never before been done in Nigeria, save for a similar, perhaps less engaging, six episodes of a programme called MEE to You, or something like that, by the late May Ellen Ezekiel, who was married to RMD. A programme that could stand the test of time and put bread on the table of the young marriagea programme so versatile it is still relevant today. Inside Out with Agatha my idea Fred Amata Amata further revealed that his ex-wife had leveraged his programme, Inside Out with Agatha, which has been recognised as Nigerias longest-running television talk show, airing for over twenty years, against him. He added that he sacrificed his initial bid for the presidency of the Directors Guild of Nigeria in favour of Inside Out with Agatha, which ultimately became a runaway hit. However, he said he did not realise the programmes success would threaten his marriage. He said the concept and vision he introduced in Inside Out with Agatha were unprecedented in Nigeria. Inside Out with Agatha was an instant hit. The genius of the angle, the production values, the directorial approach, the lighting, and the production design were so engaging that it was irresistible. I was at the height of my directorial rendezvous and had gathered a production crew of the best technical hands in what is now early Nollywood. TV soaps were the biggest things because we dared to stand out from the emerging crowd of Nollywood directors. Kingsley Ogoro, my friend, brother, and nemesis, would lead a high. I co-opted Nollywood greats: Zack Orji, Okey Bakassi, Sunny McDon, Francis Onwochei, Emeka Ossai, Zik Zulu Okafor, Francis Duru, Prince Jide Kosoko, and numerous friends who looked up to me. I asked for their support for the first episodes, and soon everybody who was anybody wanted to be part of Inside Out. I staked every resourcefriends, favours, loyalties, family, extended family, and links. I was involved in the creme de la creme of big productions and studios: Tunde Kelani, Wale Fanu, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Oloyede, Pat Nebo, Uzor Okpeche, Simi Opeoluwa, Opa Williams, the late Chico Ejiro, and numerous othersto ensure no failure of the programme. He described the program as one that could endure over time and provide financial stability for young couples. Fred Amata on Marriage resolution He stated that during a resolution meeting to their marital crisis, the families (his and his ex-wifes) agreed that Inside Out with Agatha proceeds would continue to support the children. He said they permitted Agatha to continue the programme because she was the marketing representative. He alleged that she changed after Inside Out with Agatha became the financial backbone of his ex-wife, whom he described as the Good Wife. With the influence it wielded and the contacts and connections it gathered, The Good Wife soon built an empire with no emperor. She employed maligning my name to acquire favours and contracts. Inside Out is the source of all the Good Wifes wealth. My genius, my sweat, my vision, and for 20 years, I swallowed it. My reputation diminished as the Good Wifes gathered momentum. So today, the Good Wife, using my brainchild, has become a billionaireno credit to me. No compensation, no royalty. But the Good Wife is good; let raising the children be my royalty. Buoyed by her success without recourse to the creator, the Ebu Delta State-born Good Wife has gathered a litany of resentment. She has registered a new company to own the programme, discarding the company we set up. She has sued for and obtained a divorce, and 20 years on, she still carries bitterness and will go to extremes to tarnish my image, he added. He says everything his ex-wife owns directly results from his programme, Inside Out with Agatha. But understand this, Good Wife Agatha: everything you have ever owned and will ever own is because of Inside Out. It is my brainchild, my intellectual property. You have yet to bury me with your silence and indifference to the billions you have reaped while remaining oblivious to your extravagant wealth. This so-called Good Wife dares defy tradition, challenge societal norms, and embrace taboos. She dares to confront Africa, attempting to manipulate my daughter and her husband, to deceive the lovebirds and lead my daughter down the aisle to give Stephanie to her husband. Agatha hasnt responded to her ex-husbands allegations as of press time. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print World leaders have committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), setting a target of reducing deaths by 10 per cent by 2030. This 2030 goal was set at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, where countries agreed to tackle the growing threat of AMR. The 15-page political declaration obtained by PREMIUM TIMES was approved Friday and signed by 193 member states to scale up action to address the looming threat that AMR poses to global health, food security and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to the medicines used to treat infections, making these medicines ineffective. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR is the third leading cause of mortality in the world, with over one million deaths directly linked to bacterial AMR, and five million deaths indirectly. WHO projected that AMR will cause 39 million deaths worldwide over the next 25 years, equivalent to over three deaths every minute. Key commitments to 2030 goal In the political declaration, the member states committed to strengthening governance mechanisms for the response to AMR, using a One Health approach, which involves addressing AMR in human, animal and plant health. 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 They committed to increasing sustainable investments at national, regional and global levels to strengthen national capacities for the AMR response. The document also stated that they will ensure equitable and timely access to antimicrobials, vaccines and diagnostics in developing countries, especially in low- and middle-income countries. They committed to strengthening national infection prevention and control programmes in health-care facilities, and to promote innovative financing mechanisms for multisectoral health research and development. Among other commitments, the declaration recognises the leading roles of the WHO, United Nations Environment Programme, World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, as the Quadripartite organisations, and the work of the standing Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR. Reacting to the development on his LinkedIn account, WHOs Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: The irony of AMR is that its fuelled by the overuse of antibiotics yet more people die from lack of access to antibiotics. World Health Organization welcomes the target set by countries to reduce annual global deaths associated with bacterial AMR by 10 per cent by 2030. Together, we can protect these powerful medicines and the people whose lives depend on them, now and in the future. Nigerias efforts Speaking Monday at a side event on AMR at the UNGA79, organised by the Management Science for Health (MSH), the NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, warned that AMR threatens the food system and national health security. Mr Idris said AMR is part of Nigerias broader health sector reforms. He said: Our four-point agenda reflects this commitment were investing in modernising healthcare facilities to enhance AMR surveillance and treatment capabilities, improving diagnostics and integrating data systems for better tracking of resistance patterns. Enhancing laboratory capacity for surveillance is one of the cornerstones of an effective AMR response because surveillance is critical for understanding the spread of antimicrobial resistance and informing evidenced based policies. He added that through the NCDC, Nigeria has made significant strides in improving diagnostic laboratory networks across the country to enhance the ability to track and monitor AMR, and also improve early detection of outbreaks. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has distributed 31 fibreglass boats to riverine communities in its member states. The distribution, which coincided with the World Maritime Day celebration, took place at the N-HYPPADEC Headquarters in Minna on Thursday. The managing director of N-HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa, said the distribution was part of the Commissions broader vision to revolutionise marine transportation in the states. Mr Yelwa said the boats are a significant improvement over the traditional wooden boats as they are more durable, safer and offer superior performance in navigating rivers using minimal human labour, which would reduce risks associated with human error. The official said one of the primary goals of the agency is to enhance marine transportation and reduce boat mishaps that have caused loss of lives and livelihoods. Mr Yelwa expressed hope that the initiative would prompt state governments to recognise the importance of water transportation and invest in it as a vital component of the national transport infrastructure. Niger State received eight boats, Kebbi six, Kwara and Kogi four each, while Benue got two. 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 Taraba and Nasarawa also got two each while Gombe and Kaduna got one each. Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, said the boats will facilitate the movement of goods and services, strengthen trade networks, and enhance community connectivity. Represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, the governor said the N-HYPPADEC gesture will not only save lives but give a sense of belonging to riverine communities. While recounting the loss of lives and livelihoods, as well as challenges faced by the communities over the years, the governor said his government will continue to partner with N-HYPPADEC and other stakeholders to develop the riverine communities. Also speaking, the Chairman of the Niger State Association of Boat Operators, Attahiru Isah, thanked N-HYPADDEC for the intervention and called for the establishment of water and rescue marshals to complement the activities of water marshals. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian police have summoned a human rights lawyer, Funke Adeoye, over her post on X concerning the detention of a 26-year-old photographer. Ms Adeoye, the founder of Hope Behind Bars, a nonprofit organisation, a criminal justice reforms-oriented nonprofit organisation, is currently in the United States for work purposes. The organisation shared via its X account a statement about the police invitation on Friday. The post said Ms Adeoye received the police invitation on Friday, stating that she is being investigated for defamation of character, conspiracy and cyber bully. She would honour the invitation of the police today through her lawyers as she is currently out of the country on a work trip. We will update the public as soon as we get more details about the case at hand, the statement stated. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Emmanuel Okorie, a lawyer and Edo State lead of the organisation, said that the invitation stemmed from Ms Adeoyes post on social media. From studio to police custody Ms Adeoye shared the post that triggered the police summon on X on 27 August. The post was about the ordeal of a 26-year-old graduate, identified as Nicholas, who was detained for months after he resigned from a studio where he worked as a photographer and keyboardist. 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 Sometime in October 2023, Nicholas sent a text message to his boss resigning his role as a photographer in the photo studio. His boss was angry at the content of the text message & got him arrested, Ms Adeoye wrote. She said Nicholas spent two days in police detention and was charged with intentional insult. According to her, he was then locked up at a prison in Keffi, Nasarawa State, because he could not afford the initial bail sum of N100,000, and later N50,000. He remained there even after the said boss, a politician in the current administration & owner of a popular photography studio in FCT, wrote a letter to the court withdrawing the charge, the post read further. She wrote that her organisation intervened in his case after his case was reported to it sometime in August. The N50,000 bail sum was then donated anonymously, Ms Adeoye said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the Saudi authorities will, from the 2025 Hajj, take charge of feeding and accommodation of Pilgrims in Mecca and Medina. The commission stated this in a statement by its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, on Friday. Mrs Usara said the arrangement was agreed on during a virtual meeting between the commission and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. She said as preparations for the 2025 Hajj advanced, the commission convened a crucial meeting with the Executive Secretaries (ES) of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards (MPWB) on Monday, 23 September. The spokesperson said during the meeting with the ES, NAHCON Commissioner of Operation, Anofi Olanrewaju-Elegushi, provided updates on recent developments from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU). She quoted Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi as saying that the Saudi Companies of Pilgrims Establishments, known as muassasa under the supervision of MoHU, would henceforth be responsible for the feeding and accommodation of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, similar to the current practices in Mashair, Arafat and Muna. This policy, which impacts all countries participating in Hajj, will be implemented starting with the 2025 pilgrimage. It is noteworthy that MoHU had previously proposed taking over feeding in Mashair in 2022, which was subsequently put into action that year, she 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 Olanrewaju-Elegushi, according to the statement, reiterated NAHCONs commitment to align with Saudi Arabias Hajj calendar and emphasised the need for cooperation among all stakeholders. He praised the state executive secretaries for their proactive approach in announcing the minimum Hajj deposits. He urged them to collect their letters regarding slot allocations and the 2025 Hajj licence. Furthermore, he provided an update on the pending refunds from the 2024 Hajj, which are still awaiting resolution from the Saudi authorities. Responding, Idris Almakura, the chairperson of the Forum of States (FoS) and executive secretary of the Nasarawa State Pilgrims Board, commended NAHCON for its efforts and urged the commission to sustain the tempo. The FoS called on NAHCON to address specific issues of concern to the members, including the Hajj Savings Scheme, policy regarding the National Medical Team, and matters of pilgrims refunds, among others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin, has said over 70 per cent of insurance businesses recorded annually were contributed by insurance brokers. Mr Omosehin, also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), said this in a statement made available on Friday in Lagos. He was presenting the outcome of a courtesy visit by a delegation of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) led by its President, Babatunde Oguntade, to the commissioner recently. He said the visit underscored the pivotal place insurance brokers occupied in the nations insurance ecosystem. According to him, this necessitated the commissions intention to further strengthen and support its regulatory body so that it could effectively discharge its self-regulatory functions. Mr Omosehin said that the commission was ready to maximise the brokers vantage points and drive the desired industry growth initiatives under its new leadership. The NAICOM boss said the insurance industry had the potential to play a catalytic role in buoying the nations economy. 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 that the industrys current contributions to the nations Gross Domestic Product must be enhanced to earn the industry its desired position within the nations financial ecosystem. Mr Omosehin said that the commission had been restructured into new directorates to meet the need for effective regulation of the ever-evolving insurance industry. The commission regulates professionals who operate in the private sector, and as such must adapt itself to the dynamism and dynamics of the sector for effective regulation, he said. Responding, the NCRIB President, Babatunde Oguntade, applauded the new leadership and management of NAICOM. Mr Oguntade said that the council was in tune with the innovative and progressive initiatives being berthed in the commission to deepen insurance growth in the country. He pledged NCRIBs support in mobilising insurance brokers contributions to improve the insurance industrys performance. According to him, this is also in compliance with Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing Terrorism (AMCFT) law, with a view to removing the country from the unenviable gray list. Mr Oguntade stated that the council had strengthened its internal disciplinary organs to ensure the enforcement of required high ethical standards and discipline amongst its members. He said that by so doing, NCRIB would play up its self-regulatory roles to complement the efforts of NAICOM in ensuring sanity in the insurance market. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended the opening of the UK visa application centre in the state. Mr Mbah, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said the opening of the visa centre in Enugu will benefit residents of South-east and South-south Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the British High Commission in Nigeria, in September 2023, announced the opening of the facility in the South-eastern state. Im impressed by the prompt and courteous services being rendered at the UK Visa Application Centre in Enugu, the governor wrote on the microblogging platform on Thursday, hours after visiting the facility. No more long trips in search of visa Mr Mbah said the visa centre will benefit the people of South-east and South-south Nigeria. Having this centre domiciled in Coal City means that our people in the South-east and South-south no longer have to travel long distances to Lagos or Abuja for their UK visa applications. I encourage everyone in these regions to take full advantage of this facility, and I also invite Nigerians from other parts of the country to do the same, 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 Coal City is a nickname for Enugu because of its abundant coal deposits. Set up your consular services in Enugu, Mbah woos US, China Mr Mbah urged the US and Chinese governments and other foreign governments to join the UK in setting up their consular services in the Enugu State. Our state, with its rich history and large population, remains central to economic activities and travel in the South-east and South-south, he boasted. The governor expressed happiness that the state has continued to grow as a hub of opportunities and service delivery. He assured that his administration will remain committed to making life easier and more convenient for our people. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, says the Nigerian government is investing in dry season farming to address nutrition and food insecurity in the country. Part of the measures to curtail the ravaging food crisis in the country, the minister, said include making available to farmers improved seedlings and fertilisers to boost farm productivity. Mr Kyari said this at a one-day workshop for stakeholders on policies for food and nutrition security, on Thursday in Abuja. The workshop was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with Joint Research Centre (JRC), an agency of the European Commission. Represented by Nuhu Kilishi, the director, nutrition and food safety, the minister called for a stakeholders partnership to address food insecurity in the country,saying food security requires a multisectoral approach rather than a one-industry approach. He said that within the available budget, the ministry was investing more in dry season farming by providing access to irrigation facilities, improved seeds and agro chemicals for farmers. He said the 11 Global Food Security Index published last year showed Nigeria ranked 107 out of the 113 countries globally. According to him, this suggests that about 12.9 per cent of the globally poor people are found in Nigeria as at 2022 to date. 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 minister said the high level of poverty made it difficult for people to access nutritious and healthy food, and for them to perform both economically and socially. Mr Kyari, who blamed the situation on insecurity, climate change, herder/farmer crisis, said that measures were being put in place to address it. No fewer than 35 million Nigerians under 85 million are severely malnourished, 12 million stunted, three million wasted, 23.5 million anemic, then 7.7 million almost going hungry on daily basis. This is not good for us, and therefore we have to tighten up our belt to make sure that we are able to get out of this. It is making us to have a lot of issues, and it is important for us to, therefore, gather together and put our heads together to solve this, he said. The Director-General of the NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, said that government spending in the food and nutrition sector had increased over the years, adding that the nutrition capture in the budgets remained a concern. He said that with less than seven years to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set date, it was clear that Nigeria needed to do more to address its food and nutrition challenges. Mr Sulaiman, a professor, said there was need to close the funding gap required to enable the country to return to a steady trajectory for food and nutrition security. This workshop, therefore, offers an opportunity for the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and NILDS to share findings and experience with stakeholders on how best to tackle food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria. I believe this will also include ways on how to curtail the external shocks that worsen Nigerias food and nutrition security, such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis and other concerns from the global economy, he said. In her remarks, Lara Cockx, a scientific officer in JRC, said the mission of the commission was to support evidence based policy-making, not only in Europe, but also in African. She said the centre was keen to have a fruitful collaboration with NILDS, saying that the nutrition workshop was the second project implemented by the centre and NILDS. It is to look at these very important issues for Nigeria, and we will look forward to a very fruitful workshop and hear all your inputs to address these important issues and do research that is actually useful for the policy makers and for the different stakeholders, she said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has called on the Edo Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, to prioritise the development of Edo State. The president assured Mr Okpebholo of the full support of the federal government and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). President Tinubu said this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress party (APC), where the Edo governor-elect and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, presented their certificates of return. President Tinubu emphasised the importance of good governance and delivering results to the people of Edo. Governor-elect, you can now face the task of development. We are here to work with you. You have seen the progressive governors of APC. They are truly progressive. Work with them. Learn the ropes, and I believe you are up to the task, he said. Acknowledging the challenges of democracy, particularly in emerging economies like Nigeria, the president added, You have earned the victory. Democracy is difficult, particularly in emerging democracies and economies like ours. 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 you hear complaints from places like America, you know how difficult it is to navigate democracy. But it remains the best form of government. Mr Tinubu congratulated Mr Okpebholo and his deputy, and described them as a good symbol of people ordained by God to work together. You started as rivals and ended as partners. You are a symbol of good understanding in politics; the man at our partys helm has been through it before, he said. Mr Tinubu acknowledged the role played by former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the progressive governors and the APC leadership in the APC success in the Edo election. I saw Adams Oshiomhole radiating in joy. Sincerely, the governors showed up in Edo, they impressed me. They defended the party. They worked hard for the party, he stated. The President also commended INEC and the security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and organised election, with no reports of violence or disturbances. I must thank the security agencies. There was no bloodshed, no riot, people voted and went back to their houses in peace, and the fears dissipated instantly, he said. He urged the party leadership and membership to remain united and focused on achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda. Never mind the noise makers. I do a lot of statistical sampling and results. When you hear politicians saying all politics is local, you must respect that notion. When you see the stability in the Edo North Senatorial District, we see a man that won the Central Senatorial District and a candidate who has won a seat in the south senatorial district; we did a match, which turned out to be a winning match, he said. President Tinubu also commented on the heavy rainfall on the Election Day in Edo and the electorates commitment to voting in the rain without using an umbrella. It is a very punching illustration, the president said, referring to remarks made by the National Chairperson of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, about the election day rainfall in Edo. In his remarks, Mr Ganduje commended the leadership and support of the president, the governors, and all stakeholders. On the day of the election, there was an exciting scenario: it was raining heavily, yet people came out to vote without using an umbrella. The people were convinced that our party is the party to be voted for, and we won the election, he told Mr Tinubu. Mr Ganduje said that the partys next focus was securing victories in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo and Anambra states. The election in Anambra is part of our programme, political de-marginalisation of (the) South-east geopolitical zone. Having only two states in the South-east as APC is too small for us. We need more states from the South-east geo-political zone, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has suspended its political campaign for local elections in the state following the death of the Akwa Ibom First Lady, Patience Eno. Local elections in Akwa Ibom will be held on 26 October. Mrs Eno died on Thursday in a hospital following an undisclosed illness, according to a statement issued on Friday morning by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Akwa Ibom, Ini Emembong. She passed away peacefully at the hospital on 26th September 2024, in the presence of her family, Mr Ememobong said in the statement. The PDP spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, Edwin Ebiese, who announced the suspension of the partys campaign in a statement on Friday morning, said, This devastating news has left our party, and indeed the entire state, in a state of mourning. As we struggle to come to terms with this immense loss, we are compelled to pause our campaign activities as a mark of respect for the departed First Lady. Mr Ebiese said the PDP regrets the inconvenience the suspension of the campaign may cause and appealed for understanding from the party supporters and the general public during this difficult time. 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 extend our heartfelt condolences to Pastor Umo Eno, Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and his immediate family, the government, and the people of Akwa Ibom State. May God grant the family of the deceased and our state the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, the statement added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Spain formally protested Mexicos decision not to invite King Felipe VI to the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexicos first female president. On Tuesday the same day that EL PAIS revealed that Mexico had not sent the King of Spain an invitation the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry sent a formal complaint to the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Foreign Affairs Ministrys note verbale as it is called in diplomatic language, although it is actually a written text stated that King Felipe is the head of state and, as such, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish state in international relations. After stressing that the intensity of bilateral relations between the two countries makes it advisable for institutional relations to be developed at the highest level and that Felipe VI has attended previous inaugurations, including that of the current president, Andres Lopez Obrador in 2018, it concluded that, in an act of such importance for the people of Mexico, Spain must be represented by its head of state. Despite the friendly tone of the official message, it ended by saying that, having exhausted all channels to respectfully convey the level of representation that corresponds to Spain, [] there will be no representation of the Kingdom of Spain at the Transfer of Federal Executive Power in Mexico City, on October 1. The message was delivered in two ways: the Mexican ambassador in Madrid was summoned to the headquarters of Spains Foreign Affairs Ministry; while the Spanish ambassador in Mexico went to the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry to deliver it personally. Spain's King Felipe. Juan Medina (AP) That same day, the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement which described King Felipes exclusion from the inauguration of the Mexican president as unacceptable and announced that Spain would not participate at any level. The following day, in New York, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez expressed his great sadness that two brother nations because of the political interest of some cannot have the best relations between peoples and between two progressive governments that share values and probably policies. The note verbale in protest of Mexicos decision was the culmination of a tug-of-war that began on July 22, when Mexican authorities invited Sanchez to Sheinbaums inauguration, but not Felipe de Borbon, who has been present at more than 80 inaugurations throughout Latin America, first as Prince of Asturias and then as King. In response, the Spanish government marked Sanchezs invitation as not received and began a series of diplomatic efforts to try to convince the Mexican authorities to address the invitation to the king. The last of these efforts was a personal call from Sanchez to the president-elect of Mexico, which also did not achieve results. On Wednesday, Sheinbaum made public a statement in which she justified her decision not to invite the King of Spain to her inauguration. In the missive, she confirmed that she did not invite Spains King Felipe because he did not respond to a 2019 letter sent by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which demanded an apology for the harm caused by the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Regrettably, this letter [sent by Lopez Obrador] did not merit any direct response, as would have corresponded to the best diplomatic practice of bilateral relations, said Sheinbaum, who will assume the presidency on October 1. The president-elect, however, expressed confidence that this difference will also be a starting point for Spain and Mexico to improve their bilateral relations. While no representative from the Spanish state will be president at Sheinbaums inauguration on Tuesday, several Spanish politicians will be in attendance, including Gerardo Pisarello, Jon Inarritu, Ana Ponton and Irene Montero. The secretary general of the left-wing Podemos party, Ione Belarra, has described Sanchezs decision not to attend the ceremony as an unbearable exercise in monarchical servility. On the other hand, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), described the Spanish governments response as logical in the face of what he called an unacceptable provocation. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Enugu State Government has summoned traditional rulers and the president-generals of the communities in Nsukka where Oriokpa masqueraders attacks resulted in two deaths. The state government also ordered an investigation into the activities of the Oriokpa masquerade groups in the area and vowed to prosecute the perpetrators. This is contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Okey Ogbodo, in Enugu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports violence, which occurred earlier this week, follows a history of alleged misconduct by the Oriokpa masquerades, who were also involved in a widely condemned attack on a female nurse in April. NAN reports that on 19 September, hundreds of women from Eha-Alumona, a community in Nsukka Council Area of Enugu State, took to the streets to protest the constant attacks and harassment by masquerades in their community. Mr Ogbodo said the Enugu State Government received reports on the untoward activities of Oriokpa masqueraders in some parts of Nsukka Council Area, which had reportedly caused pandemonium, bodily harm, and deaths in the area. Consequently, and following the express directive of Governor Peter Mbah, traditional rulers and Presidents-General of the town unions of the affected communities are hereby invited to meet with me on Friday. 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 venue is my office and the time is 1 p.m. prompt. The affected communities are Nguru, Isiakpu, Echara, Nru, Edem-Ezema, Iheagu, Ihe, Owere, and Umuoyo. Furthermore, the governor has equally directed the Commissioner of Police to immediately institute a full-scale investigation into the incidents. The investigation includes the reported fatalities resulting from the activities of the said masquerade groups with a view to bringing whoever is culpable to book, Mr Ogbodo said. While commiserating with families of those said to have lost their lives in circumstances connected with the activities of the masquerades, the commissioner said the government had also warned that it would not condone any further excesses by any persons or groups. Our people should never be made to live in fear, as the rights and security of our women, children, youth, and indeed every citizen and resident of Enugu State must be guaranteed at all times. Consequently, any such excesses by the Oriokpa masqueraders or any group for that matter will be met with the commensurate sanctions by the government, Mr Ogbodo added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, granted bail to Isaac Bristol, who was arrested in connection with online activities of PIDOM Nigeria on X, in the sum of N5 million with one surety. Mr Bristol denied being PIDOM as widely claimed in his statement to the police. In a ruling on the defendants bail application moved by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, the judge, Emeka Nwite, held that the bail is a constitutional right. Mr Nwite said he was inclined to grant Mr Bristol bail except where there was reasonable ground to believe that the defendant might evade trial or attempt to destroy evidence. He said that all factors must be considered in granting bail, especially since criminal justice provides safeguards for both prosecution and defence. The judge held that based on the submissions of counsel, he would grant the defendant bail in the interest of justice. He subsequently granted him N5 million bail. 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 directed that Mr Bristol must provide one surety in like sum, who must be a reasonable citizen, whose tax clearance certificate and address must be verified by the court. He also ordered that the defendant must deposit his international passport with the court. Mr Nwite warned that if the defendant fails to comply with the conditions, his bail would be revoked. The judge, who said Mr Bristol should be remanded in the correctional service pending the perfection of his bail, adjourned the matter until 5 November for trial. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bristol was arrested by the police on Aug. 5 in his hotel room in Rivers. The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced his arrest, alleging he committed serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations. He was arraigned on 3 September on nine charges filed against him by Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police. He was alleged to have unlawfully obtained and distributed classified government documents, destroying evidence, and contravening relevant money laundering and cybercrime laws. Police counsel, Mr Lough, contended that the defendant shared documents alleging that President Bola Tinubu released N24.1 billion to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) through Vice President Kashim Shettimas office. He was accused of later claiming that the fund was increased to N90 billion. Mr Bristol, however, denied the allegations. Mr Bristols lawyer, Mr Adeyanju, then applied for bail on liberal terms, stating that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court. Mr Lough opposed the bail application, insisting that the nature of the offence does not warrant bail. He expressed concern about the high likelihood of the defendant evading trial. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, and charged him with misappropriation of more than N27 billion belonging to the state government. EFCC filed the indictment with 15 counts against Mr Ishaku and a co-defendant at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Thursday. The co-defendant is a former Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero. EFCC alleged that, at various times, Mr Ishaku, diverted billions of naira from the contingency funds belonging to the states Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and certain local governments of the states into their private uses. The total amounts allegedly diverted summed up to N27 billion. The commission alleged that the defendants committed the offences of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation while Mr Ishaku served as governor from 2015 to May 2023. At the time, Mr Yero was also said to be the Permanent Secretary of the states Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Friday that Mr Ishaku was arrested by the EFCC on Wednesday, and has since spent three days in custody of the commission in Abuja, sources familiar with the development but were not authorised to speak on the matter told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. This comes ahead of the scheduled arraignment of the defendants, which PREMIUM TIMES learned, was already scheduled for Monday (30 September). 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 When contacted over the development on, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale said, Yes, former Governor Ishaku is in our custody, confirming his arrest. He, however, declined further comments on the matter. Before becoming governor in 2015, Mr Ishaku, 70 years old, was at various times the supervising minister for power, supervising minister for environment and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs. He won his first governorship election in 2015 and a second term in 2019. He completed his second and final four-year term in 2023. IN 2022, he won his party, the People Democratic Partys ticket to represent the Taraba South Senatorial District. But, in 2023, he was defeated in the senatorial election by a political newcomer David Jimkuta. Mr Jimkuta polled 85,415 votes to defeat the then outgoing governor Mr Ishaku who scored 45,708 votes. Read the 15 charges in full here. COUNT 1 DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU BELLO YERO CHARGES That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 25th August, 2015 and 21st March, 2016 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 010, 000, 000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Aul, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 2 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 25th August, 2015 and 21st March, 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 010, 000, 000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under section 309 of the same Act. COUNT 3 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71 (One Billion, One Hundred a n d Thirty-Eight Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Ninety- Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 4 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71 (One Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Ninety-Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under section 309 of the same Act. COUNT 5 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 6th January, 2019 and 29th April, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N193, 030, 0 0 0 (One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Thirty Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Donga Local Government Council in Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 6 That you DARIUS DICKSON I S H A K whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 6th January, 2019 and 29th April, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N650, 686, 369.99 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira, Ninety-Nine Kobo, which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Gassol Local Government Council committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws o f the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 7 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 6th January, 2019 and 29th April, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N170, 549, 842.00 (One Hundred and Seventy Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-Two Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Gashaka Local Government Council committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 8 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 6th January, 2019 and 29th April, 2021 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N201, 917, 450.73 (Two Hundred a n d One Million, Nine hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Naira, Seventy Three Koo), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy! Affairs, Taraba State and Ardo Kola Local Government Council committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Acc, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 9 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 6th of January, 2019 and 29th April, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominic over c e r t a i n property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N132,113,750.34 (One h u n d r e d and Thirty-Two Million, One hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira, Thirty-Four Kobo), which s u m formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Yorro Local Government Council : committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 10 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 19th July, 2019 and 5th February, 2021 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N3,348,942,411.15 (Three Billion, Three Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Eleven Naira, Fifteen Kobo), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you thereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 11 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 19th July, 2019 and 5th February, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N639,435,000.00 (Six Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government: and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State andLocal Government Councils in Taraba State, and you thereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when. you dishonestly diverted the said sum t o your own use and you thereby committed a n offence contrary to Section 3 1 5 of the Penal Code Act, C a p 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 12 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between 30th September, 2016 and 23rd February, 2021 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N993,102,053.63 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-Three Million, One Hundred and Two Thousand, Fifty-Three Naira and Sixty-Three Kobo, which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you thereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 13 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between May, * =9 2015 and December, 2015 ni Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N90, 000, 000 (Ninety Million Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 14 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State on or before 19th October, 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N23,200,000 (Twenty Three Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils in Taraba State and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use to buy a Duplex property known as Apo 3, Abuja from Brains and Hammers Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. COUNT 15 That you DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU whilst being the Governor of Taraba State between 3rd September, 2015 and 29th January, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N761,301,000 (Seven Hundred and Sixty One Million, Three Hundred and One Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils in Taraba State and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to defray the loan of One Billion Naira granted by Zenith Bank Plc. to your company, Worthy Construction Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The legal team of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), of blocking the teams access to the IPOB leader. Mr Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges, has been in detention since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 under controversial circumstances. Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Mr Kanu, disclosed this in a video clip uploaded on his X handle on Friday. Mr Ejimakor said the alleged action by the SSS was in violation of court orders and the Nigerian Constitution which provided for the IPOB leaders freedom to meet with his lawyers. The special counsel, who was flanked by three other members of the legal team, said the clip was recorded within the SSS premises in Abuja on Friday. He identified the three others in the clip as Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Patrick Agaezi and Mandela Umegbogu all lawyers. All four of us came to the premises of the SSS to meet with our client (Kanu) today, Mr Ejimakor said in the clip. 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 lawyer said they were at the SSS facility to discuss with Mr Kanu the next line of action following the withdrawal of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja from his trial. But we were not allowed by the SSS to meet with our client. We came by a few minutes before 2 p.m. and till now that I am speaking to you, which is a few minutes before 5 p.m., we have not been allowed to meet with our client. Our suspicion, which is credible, is that the SSS and the federal government of Nigeria are not happy that our client requested the judge handling this matter to withdraw from handling his case, he said. It appears that the SSS has cancelled all future visitations to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a retaliation against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for chasing away Justice Binta Nyako from the case and causing her embarrassment, the lawyer wrote on X. Mr Ejimakor said the latest development was similar to previous actions by the SSS and the Nigerian government which has now complicated the IPOB leaders trial. He argued that such actions were responsible for Mr Kanus growing frustration with the trial and eventual loss of confidence in Mrs Nyakos handling of the case. What this means is that the SSS, acting on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, has unlawfully isolated Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from his lawyers, thus making his solitary confinement absolute, Mr Ejimakor further wrote. I dont know when next, if ever, it may be possible to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu again. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately get a response from the SSS. The secret police recently redeployed its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, without announcing a replacement. Background This is not the first time the SSS would prevent lawyers from meeting with Mr Kanu. The secret police, for instance, allegedly prevented some lawyers from seeing the IPOB leader in 2021. A similar incident reoccurred in 2022, about a year later. Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October 2022, ruled that the IPOB leader was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights. The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the facility of the SSS. But the government refused to release the IPOB leader, insisting that he (Kanu) could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released, and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east, where he comes from. The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order from the Supreme Court staying its execution. Delivering judgement on the appeal on 15 December 2023, the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal granted to Mr Kanu by the lower court and consequently ordered continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Ebonyi State Government says the death toll from the cholera outbreak in Ndibokote Village in Ezza-Inyimegu Community has hit 15. The Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, confirmed the number of deaths from the epidemic in the locality to reporters in Abakaliki on Friday. Mr Ekuma said that three emergency centres had been designated for the treatment of patients. Meanwhile, Steven Nwankpa, the chairperson of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi, has warned the people of the affected community to desist from open defecation practices and other unhealthy lifestyles. Mr Nwankpa issued the warning, while monitoring the extent of the epidemic in the community and sensitising the natives on the dangers of open defecation. He said that ending the unwholesome practice would help to check the spread of the disease in the area. He said that the warning became necessary following the increasing number of cases and deaths from the scourge. 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 Nwankpa said, The number of death has risen to 15 since Wednesday, when the epidemic broke out in the Ndibokote Village in Ezza-Inyimegu Community. He described the incident as shocking and appealed to the community to avoid holding burial ceremonies until the scourge had been controlled. Ensure that you maintain proper personal hygiene, the chairperson said. A community leader, Stephen Nwamkpuma, linked the outbreak to some natives, who allegedly brought home some pieces of beef from a burial ceremony. After eating the meat, the people started vomiting, resulting in the spread of the disease, Mr Nwamkpuma said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print To the man whose ministry has been of immense blessing, not only to me and my family, but millions of others across the world; to the man who is an epitome of what it means to walk by faith, live by the word and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit; to the man who has made the Bible as real as ever, teaching and leading by example; to the man, who I am ever proud to call a father in the Lord, and many more, this is wishing you a very happy platinum celebration. Your target is 120. You will live it in health, strength and grace if the Lord tarries, in the name of Jesus. Dr David Olaniyi Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and Presiding Bishop of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State turns 70 years old today. The name, David Oyedepo, registers differently in different peoples minds. To some, he is that controversial and flamboyant prosperity preacher with arrays of vehicles, properties home and abroad, and multiples of aircraft. To others, he is seen as a strong voice in Nigerias Christian charismatic movement. And to many, Oyedepo, a PhD holder in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States, is a revolutionist, especially in Nigerias educational system, where he championed the establishment of Covenant University, a leading educational institution in Nigeria, and Landmark University, in Omu Aran, where a new form of agricultural revolution is being rebirthed in Nigeria. It is no longer news that Covenant university, in barely two decades of existence, is ranked above most federal and state universities in Nigeria. It was ranked the seventh best university in Sub-Saharan Africa during the first Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings 2023. The university has consistently ranked among the best 800-1000 universities in the world between 2019 and 2024, according to Times Higher Education. His impact in the educational sector is not limited to universities alone, as the church also runs a network of primary and secondary schools known as Kingdom Heritage Model School and Faith Academy, not only in Nigeria but outside its shores. Yet, to many others, Bishop David Oyedepo, who incidentally was born inside the church, although his father, Ibrahim, was a Muslim, but his mother, Dorcas, was a member of the Holy Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (C&S), is that bold preacher who speaks to power without any iota of intimidation. He received lots of flak from some quarters for his position on the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when authorities failed to reopen churches, despite the re-opening of other institutions. But his continuous interventions led to the reopening of churches, with regulations put in place to curb the spread of the deadly virus. His voice was also loud during the plan of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to introduce Ruga, a settlement scheme for the Fulani across Nigeria. He spoke against Boko Haram and openly prayed that God would give former President Goodluck Jonathan the heart of a lion to tackle the issue frontally during his administration. While the above summations and much more could aptly describe Bishop David Oyedepo, those who really know him will describe him as a consummate lover of God and an insatiable hunter for souls. Only real WINNERS the moniker for members of the Living Faith Church worldwide can tell you the extent of his love for God and how he drives them to win souls, which, according to him, is the true proof of the believers love for God. He will tell you, if you love God, you will love what he loves, God so loved the world that he gave his son. Prove your love for him by ensuring that you bring one soul to church next Sunday. To show the extent of his passion for souls, he boldly announced that church members should not bother to give him any gift for his platinum celebration; all he wants from them is just one soul per person for Christ. Dont give me gifts, I dont need them, dont bother to give me cake, I dont eat it. Give me souls. Make that your birthday gifts to me. Thats all I want from you, he had announced. To press this home, a week preceding his birthday was declared, A week of Sacrifice For Soul. Trust him, he will always do what he asks the church members to do. So, in fulfilment of his own sacrifice for souls, he still went out a week to his birthday to haunt for souls for Christ and he got 177 souls, according to his testimony shared on the pulpit. The bishop still goes on the streets of Ota and environ to haunt for souls for the kingdom. He has his target for every year and he always delivers beyond his target. Thousands of souls in the church today are his direct converts and he nurtures them to remain in the faith, as any would like to nurture a new believer. This is a total assignment asides his pastoral roles. You may think his passion for souls is just an avenue to keep the church growing, which ordinarily isnt even a bad idea if you ask me, but the bishop has always been a consuming lover of God. Imagine this. As a teenager, in less than three months, he singlehandedly built a church in a village where he had gone to work, from the scratch to the finish. He practically led the villagers to Christ one by one. The villagers gave him a bush lamp as a gift and told him that the light he brought to them would shine across the world. That is exactly what is happening now. The light is shining across the world. The Living Faith Church has its network of churches in 147 countries across the continents. The church has 38,000 house fellowship centres in Lagos alone. Although his ambition was to be a businessman supporting the works of God, fate had another assignment for him. You dont have to be close to the bishop to know that everything about God moves him. He demonstrates this in different ways. I cant tell the number of churches the bishop and his family have built. Only him and his family would have the details but going by his testimonies, they must be in thousands. These churches are also not necessarily branches of the Living Faith Church; they could be for other denominations. He is simply a very keen kingdom promoter. 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 have been a member of the Living Faith Church for over two decades now and I still wonder where outsiders get this impression that the only thing preached in Winners is the prosperity message. Is Bishop David Oyedepo rich? The answer is a capital Yes. He was named as Nigerias wealthiest pastor by Forbes magazine in 2011, with over $150 million in net worth, but the bishop will dispute this figure and tell you that his wealth is underestimated. His point is that he is worth everything in God by redemption. In other words, such wealth is unquantifiable. Are Winners rich? The answer is also in the affirmative. But does the bishop pursue prosperity? The answer is No. Every living Winner knows the scripture that rules the bishops life. It is in Mathew 6:33 which says Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things (that men are dying to have) shall be added unto you. I am not sure I have attended any service in my last over 20 something years in Winners where this scripture is not quoted by the bishop. And by extension, this has become the mantra of every Winner. It works like fire. Winners dont pursue wealth. They simply obey the covenant of prosperity, obey scriptures and God pours His blessings in unimaginable and undeniable ways on them. Mind you, this wealth is not measured in monetary terms only, they are riches that are all encompassing. In Winners, it doesnt matter what you do, you will prosper, albeit everyone at their own level. That is basically the secret behind the wealth of Bishop David Oyedepo and members of the church who are truly committed to his teachings and walk by them. I have seen and heard countless testimonies from ordinary church members, of exploits that are not shared on the pulpit people doing marvelously well in their chosen fields. The bishop describes such testimonies as though noiseless but undeniable. The secrets of men are in their stories. The Bible says if you see a man who is diligent in his work, he will stand before kings, and not mere men. Bishop David Oyedepo is an epitome of diligence. It is impossible for a man as diligent as him not to be wealthy, even if he is a pure water seller. He prepares for every service as if it is his first sermon. He works a minimum of 16-18 hours daily. I once attended a vigil where the bishop flew in from outside the country and came straight to the pulpit to preach. He once laid hands on people from morning till evening standing on his feet for more than 10 hours. The bishop is a workaholic, if Im permitted to use that word. He takes his assignment with every sense of commitment and seriousness. He quotes scriptures effortlessly. As editor of the Saturday PUNCH title, I once asked the bishop during an interview how he was able to do this. Was he cramming the scriptures, I wanted to know. To my dismay, he said, I dont read scriptures, I eat them. For those who dont know, the bishop does not go to bed until he reads certain chapters of scriptures. To him, he does this to cleanse any debris that might have entered him in the course of the day. Such is the level of his diligence in taking care of himself, as well as the congregants. Let me share this interesting story here. My family moved from our previous place of abode in Lagos to another area and we joined the Winners zonal centre in our new area as newcomers. Soon, we interacted with other members and my husband discovered that one of the pastors in the zone was unusually meticulous, organised and, of course, prosperous. We found out that the pastor, Mike Ewewie, was Bishop Oyedepos personal assistant for 17 years. That is how contagious the bishops organisational prowess is. In the Living Faith Church, time is precious. Service starts by 6 a.m. Nobody waits for anyone. And that has been the order of the church since inception, even when they were less than four members in church. Bishop David Oyedepo is also bold and audacious. The church planted 10,000 churches during the COVID-19 lockdown. At the beginning of the year, the bishop had announced that God told him that the church would plant 10,000 churches. When the lockdown came unexpectedly, one would have thought that it was impossible for this to happen again. But alas, the church planted 10,400 churches amidst the lockdown. We do not do anything unless it is commanded, and whatever He commands, He creates, he always says. That also explains the movement of the church from town to a so-called wilderness now known as Canaan land. And not just that, it was responsible for the audacious declaration of building a 50,000-seater auditorium within one year the first of its kind in world history. Today, Bishop David Oyedepo and, by extension, the Living Faith Church, is fulfilling prophecy. The things that were told of God and documented more than 40 years ago are seen coming to pass. It is easy to refer to past prophecies and confirm them in the present. God spoke about the 50,0000-capacity auditorium, aircraft, global connectivity and many other prophecies at the inception of the ministry. It is indeed gratifying seeing these prophecies fulfilled word for word. The church has four aircraft and those who know how expensive it is to maintain an aircraft will tell you this is no cheap feat. For those who think the bishop flies around the world in jets, let me shock you. The bishop has not stepped out of Nigeria not even to Togo or Benin Republic, which is very close to Ota in the last five years. Why? God says so. It is impossible to share all I know about Bishop David Oyedepo. But let me say a little bit about his giving lifestyle. His family started giving scholarships to students in 1992. He doesnt even know most beneficiaries of his scholarships. In 2016, he gave all first-class graduates of Covenant University scholarships to pursue their Masters programme. My son was a beneficiary of that slot. We didnt even know. We had paid his tuition. We got our money refunded. Till date, he has a scholarship fund for the indigent and beneficiaries dont have to be Winners members. To the man whose ministry has been of immense blessing, not only to me and my family, but millions of others across the world; to the man who is an epitome of what it means to walk by faith, live by the word and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit; to the man who has made the Bible as real as ever, teaching and leading by example; to the man, who I am ever proud to call a father in the Lord, and many more, this is wishing you a very happy platinum celebration. Your target is 120. You will live it in health, strength and grace if the Lord tarries, in the name of Jesus. Happy 70th Birthday, Bishop David Oyedepo. We love you. Olabisi Deji-Folutile is the publisher of franktalknow.com and director at AF24News. Email bisideji@yahoo.co.uk Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The book is a clarion call for policy makers, educational institutions, students, and job seekers to embrace this new paradigm of skills-based education. Pantami insists that degrees still matter; however, the future shall be fully left in the court of those who have the ability to adapt, learn new skills, and apply them in continuously changing and dynamic environments. Arguably one of the most widely discussed Nigerian books in recent times, Skills Rather Than Just Degrees generated a lot of discourse in circles of academics, readers, policymakers, and other industry experts. But people failed to understand that Mr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the author, never dispelled the importance of degrees. He understands their importance; how they serve as ingredients for success and how they are just metrics for determining whether one passes through stipulated training. Skill Rather Than Just Degrees delves into one of the most pressing issues facing modern education and employment the growing disparity between academic qualifications and practical skills. The book highlights the increasing importance of skills over JUST qualifications in the 21st century, where employers and industries are prioritising individuals with demonstrable competencies that meet current market demands. At the bottom of Pantamis crusade against the acquisition of just degrees lies a triangle of wisdom: education, knowledge, and skills. Professor Isa Ali Pantami, a multidisciplinary figure in Nigerias tech and academic sectors, argues that skills acquisition and practical experience are critical to bridging the gap between education and the real-world workforce. By focusing on skills, both in technical and non-technical areas, individuals can enhance their chances of success in a competitive, technology-driven economy. The title of the book, Skill Rather Than Just Degrees, generated widespread controversy in the Nigerian social media space, with some quarters insinuating that he denigrated degrees, especially in a country where school enrollment is abysmally low. Even with numerous clarifications from several quarters, these conversations resurface once in a while and brings a fresh bout of arguments and debates, especially on Facebook and X (formally known as Twitter). The central theme of Pantamis work revolves around the concept that while degrees still hold value, they are not sufficient on their own to guarantee employability or entrepreneurial success. Pantami has always been critical of the system of education that places an emphasis on rote learning, memorisation, and accumulation of academic certificates with no complementary practical training, innovation, and problem-solving skills. He says that many graduates leave universities with only theoretical knowledge but not necessarily with what it takes to tackle the actual demands of the work environment. 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 book, he urged for a revolution in education to have curricula that incorporate practical skills into academic learning and an overhaul in the educational system. It further advocates that technical and vocational training is not to be regarded with a view inferior from formal education but rather a complementary pathway which can result in equal, if not greater success, in the job market. The book also emphasises that, given the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the current demand of the time is digital literacy and technological preparedness. Most of the industries require workers who can work with modern tools, emerging programming languages, data analytics, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity, says Pantami. For this, he calls on governments, education systems, and individuals to invest in training for digital skills, coding, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Different examples show how those countries and organisations embracing this shift are faring much better globally in regard to economic growth and employments. The other important aspect that Pantami looks into is the role of entrepreneurship. With the challenges of unemployment growing, especially in developing countries, the book calls for a mind of entrepreneurship at early childhood. Pantami insists that white-collar jobs are no longer an option for most, and people have to be able to make their own opportunities through innovation and entrepreneurship. He believes that skills development in technology, craftsmanship, agriculture, or service sectors can provide the foundation for self-reliance and avenues to financial independence. Entrepreneurship is a method to utilise these skills to solve local-level problems, create jobs, and contribute to a countrys economic growth. Another neglected aspect that Professor Pantami harps on is the importance of mentorship and reading, urging every young person to be versatile, diverse and practice self-development through research, mentorship and other conventional and unconventional methods. The book is a clarion call for policy makers, educational institutions, students, and job seekers to embrace this new paradigm of skills-based education. Pantami insists that degrees still matter; however, the future shall be fully left in the court of those who have the ability to adapt, learn new skills, and apply them in continuously changing and dynamic environments. In Skills Rather Than Just Degrees, Professor Pantami provides an argument on the need for reforming both education and employment policies in this modern century. It is thus an appeal to divert effort to build a generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and skilled professionals who can actually face the brunt of challenges in todays fast-moving world. Salim Yunusa is a PRNigeria Young Communications Fellow. He can be reached at syunusa@gmail.com and writes from Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As far as Islamic Shariah is concerned, Prophet Muhammads name is not sacred, rather it is an honourable, highly respectable name. As for us, Muslims, we highly respect our Prophets name as well as all the names of Allahs Prophets (Peace be upon them all). As it is an honourable name, a Muslim is not allowed to name a teddy/toy or the like with any of the names of Allahs Prophets. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. May His blessings and benedictions be upon the Messenger, his household and companions. Dear brothers and sisters! Recently, a photo showing His Highness the Emir of Kano, Khalifah, Dr Muhammad Sanusi II, sitting beside a rug engraved with his name, The Emir of Kano Khalifah Muhammad Sanusi II, has generated controversy in Nigeria, especially in northern Nigeria. Some Islamic clerics, and the Emirs enemies have wrongly accused him of disrespecting Prophets name and a religious creed through his actions. However, the emir and we his supporters have responded to the allegations, saying that actions are judged according to intention. After citing some references, we insisted that the Emir was not wrong because his intention was not to disrespect the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), which is very true. The clerics who accused the Emir of wrongdoing probably did not understand him. His Highness would accept any superior argument over his own in the debate. Disrespecting the name of Allah or any Prophet among the Prophets of Allah by directly making reference to them is what is considered an offence in Islam. 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 Emir Sanusis intention was never to disrespect the name because the carpet only bore his name, not that of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Respected brothers and sisters! We want the Muslim Ummah to understand that the name Muhammad is not sacred as Islamic scholars explained. Allah the Almighty says in the Quran: Say [O Prophet]: I am but a mortal man like all of you. [Quran, 18:110] And Allah the Most High says: Say [O Prophet]: I am but a mortal like you. It has been revealed to me that your Lord is the One Lord. [Quran, 41:6] Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is, as the Quran clearly states, a mortal like us and his name is like our names, in principle. Sacred Names are only for Allah Almighty. This means that the names of Allahs attributes are names that no one and nothing else should be named. Allah the Almighty says in the Quran: The Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Worship, then, Him alone, and remain steadfast in His worship. Do you know any whose name is similar? [Quran, 19:65] Thus, it is forbidden to call somebody Allah, God, or any of the rest of the names for Allahs attributes, which are well-known, such as Ar-Rahman (The All-Compassionate), Ar-Rahim (The All-Merciful), Al-Malik (The Absolute Ruler), Al-Quddus (The Pure One), Al-Jabbar (The Compeller), Al-Mutakabbir (The Greatest), Al-Khaliq (The Creator), and so on. No one and nothing should be given or called by these names, except with clear distinction from Allah. For example, someone could be called creative or merciful, but not The Creator or The Most Merciful, and so on. Thus, the name Muhammad can and is used for human beings other than the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Having said that, I would like to assert that some social and political correctness should be observed when one uses the name Muhammad for an inanimate object since Muslim have a strong filial association with that name. Social and political correctness is something that clearly is relative to each society. Each society establishes traditions and the amount of popular respect or disrespect associated with a certain person or object. For example, referring to the 2007 incident where the school teacher in Sudan allowed students to name their teddy/toy bears Muhammad, my humble opinion is that it is a story that belongs to a certain political propaganda and has nothing to do with Islamic law. Thus, it is not a matter of whether the name Muhammad is a sacred name or not. The issue is that we are dealing with: 1. Repressed societies needing any non-anti-government story to allow them to sound their frustrations and depressions without fear of persecution. 2. Media agencies spreading Islamophobia, inhibiting cross-cultural communication and cooperation, and promoting the clash of civilisation theories. 3. A lack of cross-culture dialogue and mutual learning on all sides. As far as Islamic Shariah is concerned, Prophet Muhammads name is not sacred, rather it is an honourable, highly respectable name. As for us, Muslims, we highly respect our Prophets name as well as all the names of Allahs Prophets (Peace be upon them all). As it is an honourable name, a Muslim is not allowed to name a teddy/toy or the like with any of the names of Allahs Prophets. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas, states: The name of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is not sacred but it is honourable and highly respected. Therefore, we should show the utmost respect for the Prophet (Peace be upon him). That is why we should not name a teddy/toy or the like Muhammad because this contradicts the respect we owe to the Prophet (Peace be upon him). To know more about the veneration we ought to show to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), please lets refer to the beginning of Chapter 49 in the Quran (Surah Al-Hujurat). Moreover, Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh, a prominent Azhar University scholar, adds: The name Muhammad in itself is not sacred. It was known in Jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic period of ignorance), and Muslims in millions are named Muhammad despite the fact that some of them do not act in accordance with the kind of responsibility such a name implicates. So, the name itself is not sacred. Only the Names of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) are sacred; therefore, when a person misuses a certain name of Allah, then he or she is included in the meaning of the Quranic verse: Allahs are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them And leave the company of those who blaspheme His names. They will be requited what they do. [Quran, 7:180] Having stated the above, naming a teddy/toy or the like Muhammad bears some sort of insult to the Prophet (Peace be upon him). This ruling is not only confined to Prophet Muhammads name (Peace be upon him). Rather, it applies to all the names of all Prophets (Peace be upon them all). So, this is a general human legislation that includes all Prophets names: Whoever insults or humiliates Muhammads name has the same ruling of one who insults or humiliates any of Allahs Prophets. This is one of the virtues and characteristics of Shariah that is humane, general, and not limited to a certain nation or country. Furthermore, Sheikh Abdul Khaliq Hassan Ash-Shareef, an Egypt-based renowned Islamic scholar and Daiyah, states: Muhammad is a human name that is honourable and respected. Many people are called Muhammad; had the name been sacred, no human would have been named Muhammad. As it is an honourable name, it is not allowed to name a teddy/toy or the like with it as it may lead to some sort of humiliation and degradation to the Prophets name. No one would be content to associate anything, even remotely, humiliating to his or her name or that of his or her parent. If this is the case with ones own name or that of a parent, what would it be with the Prophets name? Respected servants of Allah! No doubt, it is prohibited to throw a paper containing the name of a Prophet from the Prophets, into impurity, or to throw it in a manner of insult and belittlement in other than impurity, and this act is considered disbelief. It is stated in Al-Mawsuah Al-Fiqhiyyah, volume 14, page 59: It is obligatory to protect the books of Tafsir (exegesis), Hadith, and Islamic sciences from being treated with disrespect. Whoever throws a paper containing something from Islamic knowledge, or containing the Name of Allah, or the name of a Prophet, or an angel into impurity, or smears it with impurity even if it is overlooked (a small quantity) is judged as a disbeliever, if it is proven that he intended to insult the Shariah. It is prohibited to show disrespect (to the name) if the intention is to refer to the Prophet by the name, such as by accompanying it with Peace be upon him, or if the context of the speech indicates that intention. However, if the name refers to a person other than the Prophet, then it is not prohibited to disrespect it, such as if the persons name is Isa (Jesus) or Muhammad or Ibrahim. Sheikh Ad-Dusuqi said: Like throwing the Quran, which is apostasy: throwing the Names of Allah, etc., and the names of the Prophets, if that is with the intention of belittling and making light of them; by way of throwing them because they are the name of a Prophet. And his saying: and the names of the Prophets means: those accompanied by what indicates that, such as: Peace and blessings be upon him. [See Hashiyat Ad-Dusuqi, volume 4, page 301] And Sheikh As-Sawi said: His saying: [and the Names of Allah]: meaning: and the names of the Prophets if it is with the intention of belittling and making light of them, where they are specified with a description that distinguishes them, like Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, or accompanied by prayer. [See Hashiyat As-Sawi on Ash-Sharh As-Saghir, volume 4, page 433] Ibn Al-Hajj Al-Maliki, (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is common among some craftsmen in this time that they use paper without knowing what is in it. And this is not permissible; because it may contain the Noble Quran, or a Hadith of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) or a name from the names of the angels or the Prophets (peace be upon them). Whatever is of that nature, it is not permissible to use it, nor to disrespect it; out of sanctity for it and reverence for its status. If it (paper) contains the names of scholars or the righteous predecessors may Allah be pleased with them or the Islamic sciences, then it is disliked, and it does not reach the level of prohibition like the one before it. [See Al-Madkhal, volume 4, page 89] Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Barrak (may Allah preserve him) was asked about throwing papers in the trash while they contain the name of a Companion and he said: If the intention is not to insult: then it is not prohibited. Dear brothers and sisters! This is the Islamic rulings pertaining to this matter. And alhamdulillah, I learned that lastly the rug have been removed, but not because His Highness the Emir Sanusi was wrong, or he committed any offence in Islam, but it has been removed for peace to reign. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761. This Friday sermon (Jumuah Khutbah) was prepared for delivery today Friday, 24 Rabiul Awwal, 1446 AH (September 27, 2024). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu Youth Network (TYN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to seize the opportunity of his planned cabinet reshuffle to offload the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle from his cabinet and order his investigation over alleged misappropriation of public funds and ties with bandits in Zamfara State. Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Kaduna, the Secretary General of the group, Yusuf Muhammad said there were so many allegations bordering on insecurity against Mr the Matawalle to justify his removal from the presidents ministerial team. Mr Matawalle was governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023. The TYN stated that the welfare and security of the people of Zamfara State should be treated as paramount by the federal government. The group claimed to have made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the leaders of the ruling APC regarding the allegations made by the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, against his predecessor, Mr Matawalle. Mr Lawal had in a recent interview with Channels Television claimed, among others, that a staggering N250 billion funds belonging to Zamfara state government was unaccounted for during Mr Matawalles tenure. The allegation was later denied by the former governor. The TYN drew attention to various allegations of misappropriation of state funds and alleged link with bandits leveled against the former governor by his successor, Mr Lawal describing them as grave. The group stated further: These are serious matters that strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State and should not be handled lightly. We consider it our responsibility as youth to seek a thorough investigation into these serious claims to uphold the integrity of our party and our esteemed leader, the president. Failing to address these issues could hurt our party in the future. We want to emphasize that the issues at stake here are not just political problems. They encompass matters of life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara State, the Northwest, and Nigeria as a whole. This is why we are urging our esteemed leader, the President, to launch an investigation into the numerous allegations levelled against the state minister for Defence, Bello Matawalle. 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 must be concerned as loyal party members about these issues. Serious challenges and campaigns are underway across the country, targeting the hard-earned reputation of our leader, the president. Part of this is caused by the previous actions of people such as Bello Matawalle. The investigation we want our leader, the president, to conduct is not to castigate the State Minister for Defence, Bello Matawalle, but to safeguard the integrity of the All Progressives Congress and the presidents good image. It is imperative that Bello Matawalle be removed from his position and an investigative panel be formed to investigate the allegations. The state minister for Defence should clarify his connections with dangerous individual bandits. Kachalla Auwalun Daudawa is a bandit who abducted the Kankara students in 2020. There are heavy allegations that Matawalle bought a house for him in the Damba area of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. These are not abstract concerns. They represent actual, tangible violations of the rights of Zamfaras citizens the right to education, healthcare, economic security, and to live free from the constant threat of banditry and violence. It is precisely these issues that should be at the forefront of any reasonable Nigerian who means well for the country and our dear party. The claim that Matawalle remains loyal to President Bola Tinubu and has the full trust of the administration is quite concerning. Since when has loyalty to a sitting president become a measure by which an individual accused of associating with dangerous bandits should be unquestionably protected? Bello Matawalle is not the only minister in our government. Why is he the only one with so many questionable pasts and heavily surrounded by allegations? Why is it that nobody is accusing the substantive and senior Defence Minister, His Excellency Badaru, of involvement with bandits or any killer group? Any sensible person who has our party at heart must be worried. The Tinubu Youth Network (TYN) believes that where there is smoke, there is fire. In the interest of upholding transparency and fairness, we strongly urge Bello Matawalle to step down from his position and subject himself to a thorough investigation. This is imperative to ensure accountability and maintain the integrity of his person as a parent and a member of the biggest and greatest political party in Africa, the APC. Muhammad said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The food industry is a vital component of the global economy, projected to reach a staggering value of $8.9 trillion by 2026. This sector encompasses various segments, including retail, manufacturing, and food service, and employs millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, the grocery industry generated revenues of approximately $660.6 billion in 2018, with grocery stores holding a dominant market share of 92.4% in traditional food sales. As consumer preferences evolve, companies must continuously innovate to remain competitive and relevant in this dynamic landscape. One such company that has successfully navigated these challenges is GBFoods. GBFoods, a prominent player in the food industry, has established a strong presence in over 50 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana. With a rich history dating back to 1937, the company has built a portfolio of well-known brands such as Gino, Bama, and Jago. GBFoods is dedicated to Celebrating local flavours, which reflects its commitment to understanding and integrating the culinary traditions of the regions it serves. By focusing on local tastes and preferences, the brand has developed a range of innovative products that resonate with consumers, ensuring its continued relevance and dominance in the competitive food landscape. For decades, GBFoods has maintained a formidable presence in the food industry, becoming a household name across Nigeria and beyond. Their ability to consistently deliver quality products that resonate with the diverse taste preferences of their target audience has solidified their position as a market leader. The key to this success lies in its innovative approach to product development and its deep understanding of consumer needs. The Business has maintained its dominance in the food industry through a combination of innovative products, a strong commitment to local flavours, and strategic growth initiatives. In 2023, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary, a milestone achievement that reiterated its commitment to continuing to invest in Africa with its partners to create a delicious future for the continent. GBFoods has always placed innovation at the heart of its product offerings. By continually refining and expanding their product range, they have ensured that their products remain relevant and appealing to consumers. A prime example of this is Gino Tomato Paste, one of their flagship products. Recognising the varied culinary preferences across Nigeria, the company has introduced multiple variants of Gino Tomato Paste, each catering to different tastes and cooking styles. This ability to adapt and innovate has allowed the brand to stay ahead of the competition. Innovative Product Range The brand boasts a diverse range of products that cater to the Nigerian palate, each designed to enhance culinary experiences. Notable products include: Gino Tomato Paste: This product has become a staple in many Nigerian households. Its various innovative variants, Gino tomato paste, Gino Peppe and Onions and Gino Party Jollof cater to different cooking styles and preferences, making it a versatile choice for consumers. Bama and Jago Mayonnaise: These mayonnaise brands have gained popularity for their quality and taste, appealing to a growing market that values convenience and flavour in meal preparation. 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 Gino Curry and Seasoning Cubes: Ginos curry and seasoning cubes are designed to enhance traditional Nigerian dishes, providing authentic flavours that resonate with local cooking practices. The various ranges of seasoning cubes, from beef to chicken, allow for customisation in flavour profiles, catering to diverse consumer preferences. Strategic Growth and Recognition GBFoods growth strategy includes mergers and acquisitions that enhance its market presence. For instance, the joint venture with Helios has enabled the company to expand its footprint across Africa, acquiring assets that bolster its product offerings and operational capabilities. The companys commitment to innovation and quality has not gone unnoticed. GBFoods Ghana has received multiple awards, including Culinary Brand of the Year for Gino Tomato Mix and Innovative Company of the Year at various industry awards. These accolades reflect the companys focus on delivering exceptional products and its leadership in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Building Trust Through Consistency A significant factor in GBFoods dominance is the trust they have built with their consumers. This trust is born out of a consistent commitment to quality. GBFoods ensures that every product that carries its name meets the highest standards of quality and taste. This consistency has fostered strong brand loyalty, with consumers returning to its products time and again. Continuous Improvement and Community Engagement GBFoods has also invested in local production capabilities, such as the recent opening of a state-of-the-art tomato processing plant in Kebbi, Nigeria. This facility not only reduces reliance on imported goods but also creates job opportunities for the local community, further solidifying its role as a responsible corporate citizen. As the company continues to evolve and adapt to changing consumer preferences, it remains a trusted partner for families seeking quality and authentic culinary experiences. Their deep understanding of the market, coupled with their commitment to quality and innovation, positions them well for future success. As they continue to cater to the evolving tastes and preferences of their target audience, GBFoods is set to remain a trusted and beloved brand for generations to come. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Space is populated by countless objects. And when one of them gets trapped by Earths gravity, we have a new lower-case moon, although only temporarily. The 2024 PT5, a rock the size of a truck, is such a mini moon and will hang around for the next two months, according to calculations made by researchers. When an object that passes close to the Earth, known as NEO, is drawn in by the Earths gravity, it moves in an elliptical orbit around us and is referred to by scientists as a mini moon. The term mini moon was invented by my former supervisor Robert Jedicke of the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii, explains astronomer Peter Veres of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Minor Planet Center. Five temporary mini moons have been recognized so far. The first one, 2006 RH120, was the size of a small car, and circled the Earth four times between 2006 and 2007. It was followed by 2020 CD3, which stayed with us for about three years. These objects remain in a chaotic orbit near Earth for days or weeks; their orbits are wildly affected by the Moon, and they are eventually ejected from the Earth-Moon system, Veres says. Two other objects, 1991 VG and 2022 NX1, did not stay long enough to complete an orbit, so some scientists dispute their status as mini moons. This is also the case for the new 2024 PT5, an asteroid of about 11 meters discovered in August 2024 by the ATLAS project through its Sutherland telescope in South Africa. ATLAS co-director John Tonry of the University of Hawaii explains that it is the only telescope system that is spread out around the planet, so it is always looking at the whole sky. Once 2024 PT5 was discovered, the calculation of its trajectory was left in the hands of Carlos and Raul de la Fuente Marcos, research brothers at Madrids Complutense University who are globally recognized experts in orbital dynamics. According to their study, which has just been published by the American Astronomical Society, the 2024 PT5 turns out to be a mini moon pulled into Earths gravity that will draw a loop around us from September 29 to November 25, before emerging from Earths gravitational pull and spinning back off into space. Uncertain origin As for the origin of 2024 PT5, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos explains that it belongs to the Arjunas, a small secondary belt of asteroids that follows an orbital path similar to that of the Earth. The Arjunas can come from the main asteroid belt, or from lunar material ejected during the kind of impacts that create craters, or they could come from the region of the Solar System inside the Earths orbit. According to De la Fuente, in the case of our new mini moon, a lunar origin would seem to be the most reasonable working hypothesis, according to the evidence. So, does Earth have only one moon, or more than 170 million? According to the European Space Agency (ESA), 170 million is the approximate number of space junk pieces larger than one millimeter orbiting the Earth. As Ian Whittaker, an astrophysicist at Nottingham Trent University, wrote: While the term planet has a clear definition, there is no strict definition of a moon. According to NASA, only naturally formed bodies count as moons, which rules out space junk. But when it comes to naturally formed objects, the Moon is not the only one that hovers near us. At the end of the last century, an asteroid called 3753 Cruithne, discovered in 1986, was presented by some media outlets as the Earths second moon. In reality, this rock, measuring about 3 miles, does not revolve around the Earth but around the Sun, yet it follows a path similar to ours a horseshoe-shaped trajectory with respect to us. Several naturally formed objects are known to be co-orbital with the Earth; some are called quasi-satellites because they seem to revolve around the Earth when, in fact, theirs is a non-elliptical orbit as they are really going around the Sun in our vicinity. But even if none of these objects stay with us for long, they often return. They are temporary because the conditions that contribute to their stability an absence of disturbers are not present, explains De la Fuente Marcos. The calculations of the orbits make it possible to know when the asteroids will come back; 2024 PT5 will do so in 2055. Monitoring NEO trajectories is vital to predicting possible impacts. Projects such as ATLAS, and Pan-STARRS in Hawaii, are dedicated to monitoring these risks: the acronym ATLAS stands for Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. Veres, who participated in the discovery of thousands of minor planets while working on the Pan-STARRS project, also got to work on ATLAS, and adds that this latter system, while smaller than Pan-STARRS, has a field of vision much larger and it can cover much more of the night sky every night. Thus, ATLAS is today the best choice for detecting small objects that pass us almost in the blink of an eye. If an asteroid is visible only a day or two before colliding with us, ATLAS has the best chance of seeing it, Tonry says. According to Tonry, the risk of threatening space objects is often misunderstood: The probability of a serious impact is low, but the chance of a person dying from an asteroid impact is greater than from a shark attack or a plane crash, he says. In other words, it is not a constant threat, but if there is a collision, its consequences can be disastrous. However, Tonry points out that the good thing about an asteroid collision, compared to other natural hazards, is that it can be seen to be coming and is one hundred percent predictable. Tonry explains this system could warn of an event like the one in 2013 in Chelyabinsk, Russia one day in advance, and of a major one like the one in 1908 in Tunguska, Siberia one week in advance, while a civilization-destroying event could be detected years in advance. New observatories such as Vera C. Rubin or LSST, which will start operating in Chile in 2025, and NASAs future NEOSM space telescope, will improve the chances of predicting potential space threats. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Prudential plc has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares of Prudential Zenith Life Insurance Limited (PZL), its joint venture business in Nigeria. PZL has existing bancassurance partnerships with Zenith Bank in Nigeria and Ghana. Zenith Bank is a leading bank headquartered in Nigeria, with a network of over 400 branches and approximately 29 million customers across the region. The increase in ownership of the PZL business is a further step in executing Prudentials focus in Africa on deploying capital in its existing operations that have the greatest potential. Prudential originally purchased a 51% stake in Zenith Life Insurance Limited in Nigeria in 2017, which benefited from an existing bancassurance partnership with Zenith Bank. The consideration for this transaction will be payable in cash and includes a performance-based element. Commenting on the deal, Solmaz Altin, Managing Director, Strategic Business Group, Prudential said: We are delighted to take full ownership of the business and have the opportunity to better serve the needs of our customers and create long-term value for our shareholders. Acquiring the remaining stake is consistent with our new strategy to build a sustainable multi-channel growth platform, through targeted investment in structural growth markets across Asia and Africa. We see substantial long-term opportunities in Nigeria and plan to build on our existing agents, bancassurance partnerships and direct distribution capabilities. PZL is a great business and one we know well, and our relationship with Zenith Bank further strengthens our distribution capabilities in the region. Emmanuel Aryee Mokobi, CEO, Africa, Prudential said: This transaction increases our participation in an attractive market with significant growth potential. 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 Insurance penetration remains low in Nigeria (less than 0.2% of GDP) and there is a significant growth runway. Nigerias life insurance market is the fifth largest African market with a gross written premium of US$770 million, and we have an established presence there. Prudential Africas strategy is to focus on building its presence and investing in growth and scale in our chosen insurance markets in Africa. The Nigerian business is profitable, and the acquisition of the remaining stake will allow us to realise the full potential of the platform by implementing initiatives in areas such as customer, technology-powered distribution and health. Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of US$477 billion as at 2022[1] and a population of 218 million people. Its population is fast growing and is expected to increase to over 370 million by 2050[2], by which time Nigeria is expected to be the third most populous country in the world (currently 6th). The transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent for completion. Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. Prudential Zenith Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as Zenith Life Insurance, was established in 2006 as a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc. In 2017, Prudential Group UK acquired a 51% stake in Zenith Life Insurance, leading to the formation of Prudential Zenith Life Insurance Ltd. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) says it would not use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), for the Local Government elections on 28 September. Anthony Nnalue, the commissioner in charge of Information and Logistics, ANSIEC, made the disclosure at a sensitisation programme organised by the International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), on Thursday in Awka. The programme was organised for accredited election observers and media personnel. Mr Nnalue said that the BVAS was unreliable after the devices disappointing performance in previous elections in the country. He said the commission would deploy manual accreditation, saying it was more reliable. We will not use BVAS but manual. BVAS is not reliable; it has distorted the electoral process in Nigeria. We do not want a situation where election results are tampered with, he said. Mr Nnalue also assured of the early arrival of election materials, saying the era of delayed arrival of material was over 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 He said that non-sensitive materials were already on their way to the local government councils, and 5,720 ad-hoc staff had been trained to conduct the elections across the states polling units. We are fully prepared for Saturdays election in terms of security, materials, and other logistics. Elections will not be held in Nnewi South, Orumba South and Idemili South. Voters from those areas will be voting at the council headquarters. We do not want to risk the lives of both officers and voters. We urge the electorate to come out en masse and vote, your vote will count, he said. Also speaking, Chris Azor, the coordinator of IPCRC, urged politicians and the electorate to be vigilant and shun vote buying, violence, gender discrimination, and over-voting. Mr Azor called on security agencies to maintain neutrality while respecting human rights and the rule of law. READ ALSO: Labour Party NWC supports boycott of Anambra local elections He also announced that the organisation would establish a Situation Room in Awka for real-time coordination and reporting. As accredited observers, we are committed to ensuring a free, fair, credible, and peaceful local government election in Anambra state, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has sent condolences to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State on the passing of his dear wife, Patience. Mrs Eno, a pastor, died on Thursday in a hospital following an undisclosed illness, according to a statement issued on Friday morning by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Akwa Ibom, Ini Emembong. In a statement from his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the death of the Akwa Ibom first lady as shocking. On behalf of the Federal Government, the President commiserates with the Eno family, the government, and the people of Akwa Ibom state during this grim time. The President joins them in mourning the painful and profound loss of the states First Lady, who has supported Governor Enos administration, the statement said. Mr Tinubu said Mr Eno is a visionary governor and that the late wife embodied humility, resilience, and loyalty. Through her Golden Initiative for All, she demonstrated her passion for serving the people and residents of Akwa Ibom State with love, honesty, and dedication, leaving a positive impact that will continue to inspire future generations. 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 (Tinubu) trusts that her selfless service to improve the lives of women, children, and the vulnerable will forever remain an important part of Akwa Iboms history, a legacy that will continue to inspire and be appreciated by future generations. The president prays to God to comfort the family, friends, and relatives of the departed first lady. Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Enobong Uwah, has directed that the Nigerian flags be flown at half-mast in government buildings and facilities across the state as a symbol of our collective grief and mourning. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state has suspended its campaign for local elections because of the passing of the first lady. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Nigeria have arrested four Nigerians for allegedly blackmailing an unnamed Croatian man with his nude photographs. The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, said operatives from the National Cybercrime Center (NCC) of the Nigerian police arrested the suspects. The spokesperson said the arrested suspects included Abodunrin Rasheed, Abodunrin Tunde, and Abodunrin Rokeeb. He did not mention the name of the fourth suspect. How it happened Mr Adejobi said the suspects met the Croatian on a dating app where they pretended to be a woman to extort him. He said the suspects continued chatting with the victim on Instagram and WhatsApp, where the Croatian, apparently thinking the suspects were a woman, agreed to an intimate relationship. 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 Croatian was deceived into sending nude pictures of himself through the dating app. The suspects subsequently conspired and pressured him (the Croatian) to pay ransom or have his pictures sent to his family and friends, he said. Arrest of the suspects Mr Adejobi said the suspects were arrested following receipt of a report through the police cybercrime centres electronic reporting portal. The operatives of the NPF-NCCC conducted a due investigation, following the obtained information from the report, which led to the apprehension of the suspects, he said. The force spokesperson said further investigations showed that the suspects had previously engaged in similar cybercriminal activities in the past where they allegedly defrauded and extorted numerous victims globally. The proceeds of these crimes were primarily received through gift cards like the iTunes gift cards, steam gift cards etc., he stated. The suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigations. Six iPhones, two Android mobile phones Techno and Samsung and a Lexus car were recovered from the suspects, according to the police. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged Nigerians to be careful about the activities of online fraudsters, Mr Adejobi said. Mr Egbetokun also warned individuals and groups involved in similar cybercriminal activities to desist immediately. The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in its fight against all sorts of crime and criminality, he vowed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed stressed the value of humanitarian efforts and charitable initiatives aimed at providing support to the unwell and those in need worldwide, which leads to the launch of several philanthropic projects, such as establishing hospitals, providing care and support to patients, and setting up drinking water networks globally. He stated that the United Arab Emirates, particularly the Emirate of Sharjah, is committed to this duty through the guidance and vision of wise leadership, which aims to provide everyone with a stable, secure, and healthy life. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council noted that the establishment of the clinic, which will feature a range of medical specializations, as well as repairs to the drinking water system in October Village, Kyrgyzstan, is part of the charitable initiatives that got underway in Aswan, Egypt, in July, which aims to help the greatest number of sick and destitute people worldwide. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed confirmed that the humanitarian medical campaigns would go on in other countries. According to Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed, the purpose of these humanitarian medical campaigns is to offer healthcare and treatment services to those in need who are unable to pay the expenses and treatment costs. The initiatives also aim to use formal channels in the country to distribute donations and philanthropic aid from generous individuals to those in need. The Chairman of Sharjah Media Council expressed his heartfelt thanks to the donors and contributors to the various charitable campaigns and programs, who are part of the medical support provided by hospitals to those in need through their generous donations via charitable initiatives such as "Pain and Hope" and " Al Reeh Al Mursala," which highlight humanitarian cases. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed prayed to God Almighty to accept their contributions, bless their work, and grant swift healing to every patient. Upon his arrival, the Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council planted saplings at the site of the Al Reeh Al Mursala Clinic, laying the foundation stone for the clinic. He then visited the accompanying exhibition, which includes plans and information about the new building, covering a total area of 350 square meters. The clinic will include various specialties, such as general medicine, consulting physicians, and radiology, as well as maternity clinics and medical laboratories. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed listened to a detailed explanation about the steps involved in establishing the new clinic building, which will serve 14,000 beneficiaries from the local population and surrounding areas. He learned about the processes of renovation and expansion, as well as the increase in capacity and the number of departments and medical specialties, all aimed at providing healthcare, meeting the needs of the community, and offering various specialized medical services to save time and costs. The Governor of October Village delivered a speech welcoming the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, expressing his gratitude and appreciation to the Emirate of Sharjah for its charitable efforts and support for those in need around the world. He explained that the residents of the area had to travel long distances to access medical services due to the limited capabilities of the clinic and the lack of specialized medical fields. He noted that with the establishment of the Al Reeh Al Mursala Clinic, it would be easier for all residents in nearby areas to receive medical services. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed then moved to the site of the drinking water network in October Village, which aims to cover the entire area, as well as reduce the spread of diseases caused by contaminated water and alleviate the residents' struggles in fetching drinking water from distant locations. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah laid the foundation stone for the new drinking water network, which includes a water distribution system with an artesian well spanning 15,000 meters and a water tank with a capacity of 21,000 gallons. Additionally, modern extensions will be established for 700 homes, benefiting 4,000 people, along with two distribution points serving those passing through the area. The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, received commemorative gifts from the delegation of the Kyrgyz October Village and took group photos with them. The radio program " Al Reeh Al Mursala" is broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan each year, in collaboration with the Sharjah Charity International (SCI) . The program highlights various charitable and humanitarian projects and campaigns, aiming to encourage generous individuals to contribute to funding and providing a range of goodwill and benevolence in remote areas of the countries covered by the SCI's work and projects, which reach 110 countries worldwide. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of the Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, along 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/2517540/Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_1.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517541/Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_2.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517542/Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_3.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517543/Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_4.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517544/Sharjah_Government_Media_Bureau_5.jpg KUNSHAN, China, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: For Jiang Yuqin, head of a community in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, also a deputy to Suzhou People's Congress, listening to people's ideas, providing a voice for them, and helping them solve difficulties in their work and life are her major jobs. How do deputies fulfill their duties? And why they can serve as a bridge between the people and country? Click this video to find out more. Video SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn TAIPEI, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Tang Prize Award Ceremony was grandly held this afternoon, September 27th, at the Globe Playhouse of the Taipei Performing Arts Center. The ceremony commenced with the majestic sounds of the "Tang Prize Overture," bringing together the 2024 Tang Prize Laureates, hailing from countries including the United States, Denmark, and Ireland, both in person and virtually. Dr. Chao-Han Liu, Dr. Wen-Chang Chang, Dr. Der-Wei Wang, and Professor Jiunn-rong Yeh, serving as chairs for the respective Tang Prize categories, introduced the laureates and presented the awards. Over 800 international guests and representatives from industry, government, and academia witnessed this glorious event. 2024 Tang Prize Award Ceremony The second half of the ceremony featured captivating performances by the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, including Beethoven's vibrant "Overture" to Fidelio, Bao Yuan-Kai's whimsical "Sketches of Taiwan," and the first movement of Schubert's majestic Symphony No. 9, delighting the Tang Prize Laureates and guests. The ceremony was also live-streamed globally, sharing this international event with the world. The six recipients of the 2024 Tang Prize include Omar M. Yaghi for Sustainable Development; Joel F. Habener, Svetlana Mojsov, and Jens Juul Holst for Biopharmaceutical Science; Hsu Cho-yun for Sinology; and Mary Robinson for Rule of Law. Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern, CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation, commenced by extending a warm welcome and marking the 12th anniversary of the foundation's establishment. He spoke on behalf of the founder, Dr. Samuel Yin. In June, the 2024 Tang Prize Laureates were announced, bringing the total number of laureates honored over six ceremonies to 39 (including 3 NGOs). A series of Tang Prize Week events have also been meticulously planned. Dr. Chern expressed his distinct honor in hosting this grand award ceremony to recognize the six distinguished laureates. He believes that the laureates' groundbreaking achievements and profound insights will chart a course through these turbulent times in an era fraught with global challenges such as the misuse of energy and resources,accelerating climate change, and frequent conflicts. Dr. Shu Chien, President of the Tang Prize Selection Committee, stated that the Tang Prize, established in 2012, has become a globally recognized and prestigious international award. Each category is evaluated by an independent selection committee composed of renowned experts, ensuring an objective, fair, and professional selection process regardless of race, gender, or nationality. He further extended his heartfelt congratulations to the six outstanding 2024 Tang Prize laureates, whose extraordinary achievements have made substantial contributions to human health, science, and society. Upon receiving the Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, Professor Yaghi expressed immense gratitude to the founder, Dr. Yin. He was deeply moved and inspired by Dr. Yin's vision of establishing the Tang Prize to make the world a better place. Growing up in an impoverished environment, Yaghi keenly felt that waiting for ideal conditions often meant stagnation, and that the most remarkable achievements usually stemmed from the humblest beginnings. At the age of 10, he stumbled upon a book in the school library and was captivated by the beautiful molecular structures within, sparking a lifelong passion for chemistry. "As I stand here today, accepting this award," said Yaghi, born into a refugee family, "I do so not just for myself, but for everyone who has ever felt that their beginnings were too humble to make a difference. My journey is proof that remarkable things can emerge from the most unremarkable starts." Professor Habener is deeply honored to be chosen as one of the three recipients of the 2024 Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science. He finds it immensely rewarding to have his lifelong dedication to GLP-1 research acknowledged in this way. Witnessing the positive impact of his contributions in alleviating the suffering of individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity worldwide brings him immense satisfaction. Professor Mojsov is privileged to receive the Tang Prize for her contribution to the discovery of GLP-1. Her curiosity about peptides' impact on glucose metabolism and their therapeutic applications ignited during her graduate studies in the 1970s. Under the mentorship of Professor Bruce Merrifield at Rockefeller University, she delved into glucagon and solid-phase synthesis. This expertise laid the foundation for her groundbreaking identification of the bioactive GLP-1 (7-37), comprising 31 amino acids, leading to the collaboration with Professor Joel Habener to showcase its promise in combating type 2 diabetes. This achievement accomplished her four-decade-long scientific journey that commenced at the Endocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Fellow Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science Laureate, Professor Holst also shared his 50-year journey in discovering GLP-1, a path that began with his interest in incretins as a gastroenterological surgeon. Key milestones included his observation of the change in patients' blood sugar levels after surgeries, exploring the biosynthetic precursor of glucagon from gut cell molecules, predicting its structure, and confirming its role in stimulating insulin secretion. This is how GLP-1 was brought to Copenhagen. With the support of the pharmaceutical industry, GLP-1 therapies have now benefited millions, effectively treating obesity and type 2 diabetes while also decreasing related complications and premature deaths, an outcome that Professor Holst finds deeply gratifying. Professor Hsu expresses his gratitude to the Tang Prize Foundation, emphasizing the distinct mission of the Sinology award compared to the other three categories. While the other awards focus on solving contemporary global issues, Professor Hsu believes the Sinology award seeks to identify the position of Chinese civilization within the broader tapestry of world history - past, present, and future. This resonates deeply with his own lifelong pursuit: dedicating his early career to studying Chinese history and his later years to extracting wisdom from Chinese culture to address global challenges. While humbled by this prestigious honor, he embraces the responsibility it entails. Professor Robinson expressed her profound honor and gratitude to be recognized by the Tang Prize Foundation and the Selection Committee in the name of the rule of law. She acknowledged the remarkable contributions of previous laureates who have championed human rights and the rule of law globally, emphasizing the ongoing tasks and shared responsibility to uphold these principles, a theme she intends to explore further in her Laureate's Lecture. Professor Robinson is acutely aware that despite its crucial importance, the rule of law has faced increasing challenges and threats in recent decades. She recognizes the concerted efforts of authoritarian and nationalist leaders to erode the foundations of legal and ethical norms, making the defense of the rule of law an increasingly complex endeavor. Yet, she remains steadfast in her commitment and champions human rights and the rule of law. SOURCE The Tang Prize Foundation - Teliso-V is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for patients with previously treated nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with c-Met protein overexpression. - Biologics License Application (BLA) submission for accelerated approval is supported by data from the Phase 2 LUMINOSITY trial (M14-239). Review of the BLA will be conducted under FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) program. - There are currently no approved anti-cancer therapies specifically for c-Met overexpressing NSCLC and if approved Teliso-V would be the first-in-class therapy for this patient population. NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for accelerated approval of telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V) in adult patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild type, nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with c-Met protein overexpression. Approximately 85% of lung cancers are classified as NSCLC1 and despite advances in treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths throughout the world.2 The c-Met protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase found to be overexpressed in approximately 25% of advanced EGFR wild type, nonsquamous NSCLC patients3 and is associated with a poor prognosis.4,5,6 Teliso-V is being evaluated within this patient population who currently have very limited treatment options. "Patients with non-small cell lung cancer have unmet medical needs and oncologists are looking for new treatment options for these patients who unfortunately have a poor prognosis," said Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "We are hopeful that Teliso-V will be a differentiated treatment for certain patients as we look to elevate the standards of care in oncology." In December 2021, Teliso-V was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA. The BLA submission is supported by data from Phase 2 LUMINOSITY trial (Study M14-239), an ongoing study designed to characterize the safety and efficacy of Teliso-V in c-Met overexpressing NSCLC populations. Data from the LUMINOSITY study were recently presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology congress and topline data from this trial were shared in 2023. Teliso-V is being further evaluated as a monotherapy in patients with previously treated c-Met overexpressing NSCLC in the randomized Phase 3 confirmatory global study TeliMET NSCLC-01. Enrollment in the study is underway and continues across global clinical trial sites. Additional information on clinical trials for Teliso-V is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov. About Telisotuzumab Vedotin (Teliso-V) Teliso-V is an investigational, first-in-class, c-Met protein directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to target c-Met overexpressing tumors. c-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase that can be overexpressed in many solid tumors including NSCLC. Further information on clinical trials for Teliso-V is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Teliso-V is not approved by any health regulatory authority. About the LUMINOSITY Trial The LUMINOSITY trial (M14-239), is an ongoing Phase 2 study designed to identify the target NSCLC populations that overexpress c-Met best suited for Teliso-V monotherapy in the second-line or third-line setting, and then to expand the groups to further evaluate efficacy in the selected populations. The endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) per independent central review (ICR) as well as overall survival (OS). About AbbVie in Oncology At AbbVie, we are committed to transforming standards of care for patients living with difficult-to-treat cancers. We are advancing a dynamic pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of cancer types in both blood cancers and solid tumors. We are focusing on creating targeted medicines that either impede the reproduction of cancer cells or enable their elimination. We achieve this through various, targeted treatment modalities including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), immuno-oncology, bi-specific antibody and CAR-T platforms. Our dedicated and experienced team joins forces with innovative partners to accelerate the delivery of potential breakthrough medicines. Today, our expansive oncology portfolio comprises approved and investigational treatments for a wide range of blood and solid tumors. We are evaluating more than 20 investigational medicines in multiple clinical trials across some of the world's most widespread and debilitating cancers. As we work to have a remarkable impact on people's lives, we are committed to exploring solutions to help patients obtain access to our cancer medicines. For more information, please visit http://www.abbvie.com/oncology. About AbbVie AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statements Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions and uses of future or conditional verbs, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines, to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law. References: 1 National Cancer Institute. Non-small cell lung cancer treatment health professional version. https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/non-small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq#_37_toc. Accessed December 8, 2021. 2 Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2024;74(3):229-63. 3 Ansell PJ, Baijal S, Liede A, et al. Prevalence and Characterization of c-METOverexpressing Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Across Clinical Trial Samples and Real-world Patient Cohorts From the City of Hope National Medical Center. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) - Lung Cancer Conference; Manchester, UK2022. 4 Liang H, Wang M. MET Oncogene in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Mechanism of MET Dysregulation and Agents Targeting the HGF/c-Met Axis. Onco Targets Ther. 2020;13:2491-510. 5 Park S, Choi YL, Sung CO, et al. High MET copy number and MET overexpression: poor outcome in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Histol Histopathol. 2012;27(2):197-207. 6 Guo B, Cen H, Tan X, et al. Prognostic value of MET gene copy number and protein expression in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of published literatures. PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e99399. SOURCE AbbVie A person holds an American flag and is splashed by a breaking wave as Hurricane Helene intensifies ahead of its expected landfall in Florida's Big Bend, at Alligator Point, Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall just after 11:00 p.m. (local time) in Florida as a Category 4 storm. After quickly strengthening from tropical storm to hurricane on Wednesday, Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds, warned the U.S. National Hurricane Center, which described the situation as extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida, as did the governor of Georgia and South Carolina. U.S. President Joe Biden warned Americans to take Hurricane Helene extremely seriously. On Thursday, he issued two emergency declarations for the states of Alabama and South Carolina. Authorities have asked citizens to remain in their homes or stay in the shelters that have been set up. So far, one death was reported in Tampa after a highway sign hit a car, and two other people died due to the effects of a tornado in Georgia. Both events occurred before Helene made landfall on the Florida coast. Florida is hurricane country, but even though hurricane season hits the south-east of the country every year, the winds and storm surges never fail to be terrifying and devastating. Comparisons are commonly used to understand the scale of the disaster. And there is a long history to draw from. Amid the threat of Helene, meteorologists have reached back more than a century, citing the historic flooding of Asheville, North Carolina, in 1916 and the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Hugo in Charlotte, NC, in 1989 relevant comparisons given Helenes potential to severely impact inland areas. But there is no need to go that far back, more recent hurricanes are still fresh in peoples memories: Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023. These two hurricanes followed relatively similar paths to Helene, moving from the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico, where they strengthened over the warming waters, before making landfall in Florida. At the time, Ian was at the third-costliest weather disaster in U.S. records, causing an estimated $113 billion in damages, and, killing 161 people the highest death toll since the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Beginning off the coast of West Africa, Ian crossed the tropical Atlantic and entered the Caribbean past Trinidad and Tobago. A few days later, it hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, causing severe flooding and power outages nationwide. Although Ian lost some strength after passing over the island, it quickly regained strength over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 160 mph moments before making landfall in southwest Florida. Given this force, Ian tied several other storms to become the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the continental United States. After moving inland, it quickly weakened to a tropical storm before moving back out into the Atlantic. There it strengthened again into a hurricane before making landfall in South Carolina. Damaged homes and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach. Wilfredo Lee (AP) Idalia, on the other hand, had an even more similar path to Helenes. It formed near the coast of Yucatan as a tropical storm, before entering the Gulf of Mexico where it quickly intensified, becoming a Category 4 hurricane before hitting the Big Bend region of Florida precisely where Helene made landfall on Thursday night. As it moved north, Idalia remained a hurricane, as Helene is expected to do, until it crossed the border with Georgia, finally downgrading to a tropical storm as it entered the Carolinas. Idalia caused significant damage to thousands of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure as it moved inland, primarily in Florida, which was the hardest hit by the winds and flooding. Its storm surge was record-breaking from the Big Bend region south to Tampa Bay. Roads in Tampa Bay were flooded and hundreds of cars were submerged. The system also triggered a tornado outbreak, with about 12 tornadoes confirmed in states north of Florida. This year, the Caribbean hurricane season has been unusual. In June, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm on record, but August and September were unusually calm despite Francine hitting the Louisiana coast. But now Helene is one of the largest storms ever recorded, at 420 miles (675 km) in diameter. This is different from strength, which is measured by the intensity of the winds at the epicenter. Weather experts have pointed to unusually warm water in the Gulf of Mexico. Simply put, warmer water evaporates more easily, and the rising plumes of warm, moist air from that evaporation are what drive hurricanes and their rapid intensification. Helene is threatening homes and lives across a triangle of the southern United States stretching from southern Florida, north along the coast of South Carolina, to eastern Arkansas. Hurricane-force winds are forecast for the Atlanta area, the sixth-most populous metropolitan area in the country, tornadoes are forecast for the Carolinas border area, and historic flooding is possible for virtually all of the southeastern states, especially along the triple border of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Accruit Private Client Group is proud to recognize attorneys specializing in real estate who have been named to the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America through a collaboration with Best Lawyers. DENVER, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Accruit Private Client Group, a boutique 1031 Exchange group within Accruit, is proud to help recognize numerous attorneys specializing in real estate who have been named to the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America through a collaboration with Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review research and publication company in the legal profession. For over four decades, Best Lawyers has been recognized for its rigorous peer review process, where tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Recognition by Best Lawyers is regarded as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by their peers. Best Lawyers' founding principles align with Accruit Private Client Group's commitment to providing tailored and expert solutions in the field of 1031 Qualified Intermediary services. Accruit Private Client Group is dedicated to offering specialized 1031 Exchange services. Their collaborative approach involves coordinating with a client's trusted team of professional advisors, including CPAs, attorneys, and financial planners to develop a unified strategy. Accruit's initiative with Best Lawyers underscores their dedication to trusted expertise and strategic planning. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Best Lawyers to further recognize numerous real estate lawyers across 12 states that were newly named to the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America," said Brent Abrahm, Chief Executive Officer at Accruit Private Client Group. "Best Lawyers not only recognizes the top legal professionals in real estate but also aligns with our mission to provide unparalleled service and expertise to our clients." The award recipients of the 2025 The Best Lawyers in America recognition for Real Estate Law were selected based on comprehensive peer reviews and were recognized for their excellence and contributions to the legal profession. About Accruit Accruit, an Inspira Financial Solution, is a leading full service Qualified Intermediary and developer of the industry's only patented 1031 Exchange technology. Founded in 2000 and acquired by Inspira Financial in 2023, Accruit has gained the trust of thousands of clients and become a leader in the industry through its highly credentialed experts, consistent delivery of service, innovative technologies, robust security protocols and financial strength. About Best Lawyers Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review research and marketing company in the legal profession. Best Lawyers compiles extensive recognitions by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate the work of their fellow legal professionals within their local market and specialty. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. For more information, visit www.bestlawyers.com. Press Contact: Karlee Kilbey 3038657321 http://www.accruit.com/pcg SOURCE Accruit This is the Company's third annual sustainability report, which discloses progress against its environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics in 2023 BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancion Corporation ("Advancion" or "Company"), one of the world's largest suppliers of life science buffers and other proprietary ingredients, today released its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report. This is the Company's third annual public report, which is available through the Advancion website at https://www.advancionsciences.com/sustainability . The theme of this year's report, "Empowering Impact: Driving Sustainable Progress with Purpose," focuses on the positive contributions Advancion's ingredients and people are making to improve the environment, society and the economy. Advancion's 2023 Sustainability Report highlights the Company's progress against its environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, including: Overview of the essential ways that Advancion's ingredients and specialized knowledge is enabling and enhancing the performance, efficiency and sustainability of end products and industries critical to modern life. Reduction of Advancion's Total Recordable Case (TRC) injury rate from 0.65 in 2022 to 0.42 in 2023, including zero injuries across the Company's major manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and administrative facilities. Expansion of the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions data to include the Sterlington and Ibbenburen manufacturing facilities, the Buffalo Grove Corporate Office and R&D Center, and the Expression Systems manufacturing and research site in Davis, California . . Overall reduction in energy and water consumption, and waste generated during the year, as well as the positive increase in total hazardous waste diverted to beneficial reuse and energy recovery. Updates on the Company's progress in further integrating sustainability into its core business strategy with the launch of new products developed from renewable raw material sources. Reporting prepared in accordance with the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards 2021, as well as other standards issued by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). "We are proud to share our latest sustainability report, which not only highlights our significant progress but also reflects the core values that guide every decision we make at Advancion," said David Neuberger, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As a leading global producer of specialty ingredients, we recognize our responsibility extends beyond delivering innovative solutionswe must also address the environmental, social and economic challenges of our time. This report underscores our progress and our dedication to driving positive changes across the markets and communities we serve. Our goal is clear: to deliver long-term value for our customers, employees and communities while safeguarding the health of our planet. We remain focused on accountability, transparency and continuous improvement as we work toward a more sustainable future for all our stakeholders." For more information about Advancion's sustainability platform and to download the 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, visit advancionsciences.com/sustainability . ABOUT ADVANCION Advancion, formerly ANGUS Chemical Company, is a leading global producer of specialty ingredients and consumables for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, and other consumer-oriented and industrial markets. The Company is one of the world's largest producers of life sciences buffers and other proprietary ingredients, providing high-performance products, best-in-class quality and guaranteed supply security for more than 80 years. Through Expression Systems, an Advancion company, the Company produces innovative cell culture media formulations, cell lines, molecular tools and reagents used in the development and commercial manufacturing of advanced therapies. Advancion operates three manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Germany and serves its global customers through six regional Customer Application Centers located in Chicago, Illinois; Paris, France; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Singapore; Shanghai, China; and Mumbai, India. The Company is privately owned by Ardian and Golden Gate Capital, and is headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. For more information, visit advancionsciences.com. Follow Advancion on LinkedIn . FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Advancion Media Relations Scott C. Johnson +1 847-808-3769 [email protected] SOURCE Advancion Corporation MONTEBELLO, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello celebrated its 100th surgery utilizing the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, a medical milestone that has helped patients in the community achieve better outcomes with minimally invasive surgery procedures. Nani Gelvezon (center, black scrubs), DO, General Surgeon, Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello, with the Surgery team. Dr. Gelvezon completed the hospitals 100th robotic surgery procedure. "Adventist Health White Memorial is pleased to bring the advanced technology of the da Vinci Xi system to the patients and surgeons of Montebello. Also known as "robotic surgery" the minimally invasive procedures performed with the Da Vinci system allow more patients to get the best surgery to meet their needs without leaving their community," said Mark Dumais, MD, Medical Officer, Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello. Surgeons at Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello began offering robotic surgery for our community in April of this year. Already 100 patients have benefited from this technology. The da Vinci Xi surgical system can be used across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures and may result in smaller incisions, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays when compared to traditional open surgical procedures. The surgeons at Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello are leaders in this field and look forward to continually bringing advanced minimally invasive surgical options to their community. About Adventist Health White Memorial: Keeping communities healthy has been our mission ever since our Los Angeles hospital was founded in 1913. Today, Adventist Health White Memorial boasts two sites: Los Angeles is an inner-city safety net medical center with a 353-bed acute care hospital, providing a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and diagnostic services. Embracing our legacy as a teaching hospital, we continue to pioneer physician and nurse residency programs, shaping the future of healthcare professionals. We recently acquired our Montebello facility, established in 1949, to expand our reach. Comprising a 192-bed hospital equipped with emergency services, a wound care clinic, and medical offices, we extend our commitment to quality medical care and community service. As part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit health system, we serve over 100 communities across the West Coast and Hawaii through more than 440 sites of care, including 28 acute care facilities. SOURCE Adventist Health White Memorial Springfield, OR - Fri Oct 4: Richard E. Wildish Community Theater, 6pm Eugene, OR - Sat Oct 5: University of Oregon - Beall Concert Hall, 12pm For more information and to reserve FREE tickets please visit www.afbandconcerts.com. About The U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West Clarinet Quartet The Clarinet Quartet is part of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West from Travis Air Force Base, California. Providing musical support to Air Mobility Command, sustaining community relations and engaging in school outreach in a five-state area of responsibility; Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and California. This ensemble supports a wide variety of musical events, ranging from military ceremonies and educational programs to recitals debuting new works that push the boundaries of the traditional clarinet quartet medium. As part of the Band of the Golden West, the mission of the Clarinet Quartet is to Honor, Inspire, and Connect through musical excellence. About the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West is dedicated to telling the Air Force story, honoring military heritage, and enhancing the morale of service members and civilians. The Band of the Golden West is proud to represent Air Mobility Command and the 680,000 Airmen in over 130 career fields serving around the world. These concerts are our way of saying thank you for your continued support to the men and women of the Armed Forces, at home and abroad. For more information, go to www.afbandconcerts.com. "Such talented musicians and vocalists. Touched my soul and brought tears to my eyes. Makes me proud to have served my country in the United States Air Force! Thank you for an extraordinary musical performance!!" Concertgoer, December 2023 Shareable media including pictures, videos, and recordings is available here. Media Contact: Andrew Payton; [email protected] SOURCE Air Force Band of the Golden West WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amen Clinics, a renowned leader in brain and mental health care, is proud to celebrate its 35th anniversary with an open-house event at its Reston, VA clinic. Amen Clinics has been providing cutting-edge services to individuals seeking improved brain health and wellness since its inception in 1989. The mental health practice, founded by double-board certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, is dedicated to revolutionizing mental health treatment by integrating state-of-the-art brain SPECT imaging technology with personalized, integrative care plans. This commitment to innovation and patient-centered care has made Amen Clinics a trusted name in the field for over three decades. The public is invited to attend this free, in-person celebration where Dr. Amen will be speaking. This anniversary celebration promises to be an exciting opportunity for individuals to learn more about the transformative work of Amen Clinics. Attendees will have the chance to meet the physicians and staff at the Reston facility, which features the latest advancements in diagnostic imaging and integrative treatments. "We are thrilled to mark 35 years of serving people in need," said Dr. Amen. "This milestone is a testament to our enduring commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives." For details about the event, see below: Event: Amen Clinics 35th Anniversary Celebration Date/Time: Wed., Oct. 9 at 6pm ET Location: Amen Clinics, 10701 Parkridge Blvd., Suite 110, Reston, VA 20191 Notes: Brain-healthy hors d'oeuvres will be served. RSVP required. Seats are limited. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amen-clinics-35th-anniversary-celebration-registration-984106999527?aff=oddtdtcreator ABOUT AMEN CLINICS Amen Clinics, Inc. was established in 1989 by Daniel G. Amen, MD, who is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and 12-time New York Times bestselling author. Amen Clinics has the world's largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior, totaling over 250,000 scans on patients from 155 countries. Press Contact: Natalie Buchoz [email protected] SOURCE Amen Clinics, Inc. TAIPEI, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anbogen, a clinical-stage biotech company, today announced a drug supply collaboration to evaluate the combination of Anbogen's HDAC inhibitor, ABT-301, with BeiGene's anti-PD-1 antibody tislelizumab, in patients with mismatch repairproficient (pMMR) or microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a global Phase II trial. Under the terms of the agreement, BeiGene will supply tislelizumab to Anbogen for the study. In 2020, over 1.9 million new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed globally. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a primary treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). However, this innovative therapy benefits only a small fraction of patients, as less than 5% of mCRC cases exhibit dMMR/MSI-H. Consequently, there remains a significant unmet need for the 95% of patients with pMMR/MSS tumors, who do not respond to ICIs. ABT-301, a novel HDAC inhibitor, has shown promising safety and pharmacokinetic profiles in a prior Phase 1 study as a single agent. Preclinical studies indicate that ABT-301 enhances the effectiveness of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 therapies by increasing CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and decreasing monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells within both the tumor and circulation, and inhibiting angiogenesis. These immune response enhancements may broaden the efficacy of ICIs in colorectal cancer patients. The upcoming Phase II study will investigate the effectiveness of treatment regimens combining ABT-301 and tislelizumab, with and without Bevacizumab, in pMMR/MSS mCRC patients with significant unmet needs. "We are excited to partner with BeiGene to investigate this promising combination therapy," said John Hsu, CEO of Anbogen. "ABT-301 has shown potential in preclinical studies, and we believe that combining it with tislelizumab could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with colorectal cancer." The clinical trial will be conducted in multiple centers and will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of the combination therapy in patients with advanced MSS CRC. The study is expected to begin enrollment in the first quarter of 2025. About Anbogen Anbogen is a clinical-stage biotech company that completed a US$20M Series A in 2024. We are dedicated to developing precision anti-cancer drugs and are committed to R&D innovations to improve the lives of cancer patients around the world. The company was founded by Dr. Joe Shih in response to national science and technology policy. The team has years of experience in new drug development while working at the National Health Research Institutes and in the biopharma industry. Currently, there are two clinical-stage assets being developed. ABT-101 is being investigated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who harbor HER2 exon20 insertion mutations, and ABT-301 and being investigated in pMMR/MSS mCRC patients in combination with anti-PD-1. For more information, please visit www.anbogen.com. SOURCE Anbogen Therapeutics GREEN BAY, Wis., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it expects to release third quarter 2024 financial results on Thursday, October 24, 2024, after market close. The Company also expects to host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp third quarter 2024 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation are expected to be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast is expected to be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over. ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $42 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from nearly 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The Company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements made in this presentation which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "should," "intend," "target," "outlook," "project," "guidance," "forecast," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs and other SEC filings, and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Investor Contact: Ben McCarville Vice President | Director of Investor Relations 920-491-7059 | [email protected] Media Contact: Andrea Kozek Senior Manager, Public Relations 920-491-7518 | [email protected] SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Over the long course of human history, 75 years is just a fleeting moment in time. But during this time in China, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has united and led the Chinese people to write an epic exploring the development of socialism, and draw a majestic picture in the history of human advancement. A state system must be established when founding a country It has guided the people in establishing and improving the Chinese socialist system, in forming and developing systems for Party leadership, politics, economy, culture, society, eco-civilization, the military and foreign affairs, and in enhancing state governance. The Chinese nation has stood up, achieved higher quality of life and become stronger. "A state system must be established when founding a country." On October 31, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted this ancient proverb in his speech at the second full assembly of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. He stressed that a well-founded system is a country's biggest strength, and competition in terms of systems is the most essential rivalry between countries. A country cannot remain stable without a sound system in place. The quote derives from the Book of Lord Shang (Shang Jun Shu) of the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). It expressed the view that rules and regulations must be clear when establishing and consolidating state power. A sound system ensures the country's effective governance. Since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, China has created a rare miracle of rapid economic growth. It has achieved a degree of industrialization that took developed countries several centuries to reach, becoming the world's second largest economy, and its leading manufacturer and trader in goods. Today, it also has the world's largest foreign exchange reserves. China has maintained social harmony and stability for a long time, with people living happy and stable lives, and has been recognized as one of the countries whose residents enjoy a strong sense of security. It is a multi-ethnic country where 56 ethnic groups live together in harmony. The Party and the Central Government consistently uphold and fine-tune the system of regional ethnic autonomy, focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and ensure that all ethnic groups work together toward common development and prosperity. For instance, Dulongjiang Township in Yunnan Province, southwest China, once one of the country's poorest areas, has achieved 5G coverage and developed industries with local features. The Dulong ethnic group, who had been living an almost primitive life before 1949, have vanquished absolute poverty, and now enjoy moderately prosperous lives, just like other ethnic groups nationwide. In Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the horse industry, ice-snow economy, talent cultivation, tourism and folk customs are deeply integrated, culminating in unique industries and tourist destinations. From the east to the west, from the south to the north, projects for ensuring and improving people's well-being have been conducted, enabling residents from all ethnic groups to share more fully and fairly in the benefits of national development. Today, all 56 ethnic groups jointly promote Chinese modernization with full enthusiasm, and are closer than ever in history to realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The closer we get to our goals, the more we need to leverage the political strengths of the Party's leadership and the institutional strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Guided by a well-founded system, the Chinese people are striving to, by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, develop their country into a great, modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful. TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cachinachic/video/7419225117999353118?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7227134149436605995 X https://x.com/BeijingReview/status/1839568564954739021 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=467231026278337 YouTube https://youtu.be/zgw4csxw1NA Weibo https://weibo.com/1719349955/OyVrfDAbc Website https://www.bjreview.com/Multimedia/Video/Wisdom_Without_Borders/202409/t20240927_800378900.html SOURCE Beijing Review BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam's aromatic Trung Nguyen coffee, Malaysia's Musang King durian, Thailand's fragrant jasmine rice and Laos' refreshing beerwhat do they all have in common? The answer is they've all made an entrance into the vast Chinese market through the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), earning rave reviews from delighted consumers. On September 24, the 21st CAEXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit kicked off in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Like a foodie's fantasy come true and a business bonanza wrapped into one, the expo promised not just to tantalize taste buds but also to turbocharge trade ties between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. In addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said interactions between China and ASEAN have served as the most successful and dynamic model of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and are a vivid example of the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Along with the flourishing ties, the expo has become an important supplement to the 10 Plus One cooperation framework between China and ASEAN, providing strong support for regional high-quality development, Luo Yongkun, Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast Asia and Oceania Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told Beijing Review. The expo has been standing as a testament to the enduring friendship, cooperation and shared prosperity between China and ASEAN countries over the years, Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN, said at the opening ceremony, adding that since its inception in 2004, the event has evolved into an important platform for dialogue, cooperation and development, covering sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, technology, education and tourism. "China considers ASEAN a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation," Ding said. "ASEAN countries, on their part, see in China a trustworthy and close partner." The shared values of peace, cooperation and mutual respect between China and ASEAN form the foundation of their partnership, Vongsey Vissoth, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, said, adding he believes that the two sides can achieve more fruitful results through their cooperation in trade and economy, with the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area bringing new opportunities. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's top trading partner since 2020. The cumulative two-way investment has exceeded $400 billion, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. The CAEXPO has made important contributions to the economic integration between ASEAN and China, facilitating investment flows and cross-border economic opportunities, laying the foundation for building a more connected, resilient and dynamic region, Kao said. In 2010, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was officially launched, opening a channel for ASEAN enterprises to gain more efficient and convenient access to the Chinese market. China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei said mutually beneficial cooperation between China and ASEAN countries has reached new levels. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has continued to upgrade over the years, with positive progress achieved in negotiations for version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, he added. As early as 2015, China and ASEAN initiated the construction of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor to cultivate new drivers of economic development. Today, nearly 20 projects across nine ASEAN countries in fields such as digital government, digital industries and new communications have been conducted under the framework, Luo said. "We need to leverage the harbor to promote digital connectivity and information sharing, and work for a digital Silk Road," Ding said in his speech. At this year's CAEXPO, a new section was conducted to highlight strategic emerging industries, showcasing the latest progresses and technologies in fields such as digital technology, new energy and intelligent connected vehicles. Leading Chinese green technology companies are also working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative and locally adapted products, contributing to ASEAN's green transition. The ongoing efforts to advance the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 will lead to a broader opening up in investment and services trade, Lei Xiaohua, a researcher with the Southeast Asia Research Institute at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, said, adding that the CAEXPO will be endowed with a new mission in future regional industrial and supply chain cooperation. SOURCE Beijing Review MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced it has received Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency (PMDA) approval in Japan for the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System. The FARAPULSE PFA System, which is indicated for the isolation of pulmonary veins in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), is a novel alternative to standard-of-care thermal ablation treatment. "The FARAPULSE PFA System is the most clinically studied PFA system and its use in treating more than 125,000 patients globally to date continues to reinforce its strong safety, efficacy and efficiency profile," said Nick Spadea-Anello, president, Electrophysiology, Boston Scientific. "The rapid adoption of the FARAPULSE PFA System, which is now approved in more than 65 countries, indicates a paradigm shift for the treatment of paroxysmal AF one that has clinical benefits to both physicians and patients and we look forward to bringing this differentiated technology to Japan." AF can lead to increased risk of death, stroke and heart failure1 and affects more than one million people in Japan,2 while worldwide AF prevalence is conservatively estimated to impact 38 million individuals.3 Unlike traditional thermal ablation, which uses extreme heat or cold to ablate cardiac tissue associated with AF, the FARAPULSE PFA System uses non-thermal electrical fields that avoid damage to surrounding structures. "Clinical evidence and extensive real-world use have demonstrated the FARAPULSE PFA System to be an efficient and more predictable procedure than traditional thermal ablation and a proven safe technology," said Kazuhiro Satomi, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Department of Cardiology and director, Heart Rhythm Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital. "This technology has the potential to rapidly advance clinical practice and improve outcomes and is anticipated to further expand the range of treatment options for AF that can be tailored to each patient's condition." Adding to its robust body of clinical evidence for the FARAPULSE PFA System, Boston Scientific expects to initiate the OPTION-A clinical trial in Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in early 2025 to study the safety and efficacy of concomitant procedures using the FARAPULSE PFA System for cardiac ablation and the WATCHMAN FLX Pro Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device. Boston Scientific plans to launch the FARAPULSE PFA System in Japan in the coming weeks, following reimbursement approval. More information on the FARAPULSE PFA System is available here. About Boston Scientific Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 45 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of health care. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and connect on LinkedIn and X, formerly Twitter. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans, clinical trials, and product launches, performance and impact. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; variations in outcomes of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document. CONTACTS: Becca Johnson Media Relations [email protected] Jon Monson Investor Relations +1 (508) 683-5450 [email protected] 1 Bordignon S, Chiara Corti M, Bilato C. Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Heart Failure, Stroke and Mortality. J Atr Fibrillation. 2012 Jun 15;5(1):467. doi: 10.4022/jafib.467. PMID: 28496747; PMCID: PMC5153082. 2 Ohsawa M, Okayama A, Sakata K, Kato K, Itai K, Onoda T, Ueshima H. Rapid increase in estimated number of persons with atrial fibrillation in Japan: an analysis from national surveys on cardiovascular diseases in 1980, 1990 and 2000. J Epidemiol. 2005 Sep;15(5):194-6. doi: 10.2188/jea.15.194. PMID: 16195640; PMCID: PMC7904304. 3 Lippi G, Sanchis-Gomar F., et al. Global epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: An increasing epidemic and public health challenge. Int J Stroke. 2021; Feb 16:217-221. SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation Hurricane Helene has weakened as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico toward the northwest coast of Florida. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that the storm, which hit the state as a Category 4 hurricane, has been downgraded to a tropical storm. The center warned, however, that the front remains dangerous and that it expects catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding, as well as landslides and burst river banks. Below are the key points about this natural phenomenon and the precautions that residents of the southeast coast of the United States should take. Helene has wreaked havoc across nearly 800 miles, from South Florida to the Appalachian Mountains, as it moved inland with devastating consequences. Coming ashore as one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Florida, Helene brought intense winds and powerful surf that inundated neighborhoods in the densely populated Tampa Bay area, leaving behind scenes of destruction and despair. Recovery efforts are focused on clearing debris and fallen trees, particularly in the Big Bend region, where residents reported extensive damage reminiscent of the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. Emergency services in Pinellas County received an unprecedented volume of 911 calls, conducting hundreds of rescues in response to the flooding. As Helene continues its path north, the storm has left an estimated 4.5 million people without power across multiple states, exacerbating the risks of heat-related illness as temperatures rise. Flash flood emergencies have been declared in parts of North Carolina, with mandatory evacuations ordered due to dangerously high river levels. Where could Hurricane Helene impact? The NHC has reported that Helene is now a tropical storm after hitting the coast of Florida on Thursday night. During the early hours of Friday morning it will advance to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, where power outages affecting more than two million people have already been reported. The state of emergency has also been extended to Virginia and Alabama. Authorities had issued warnings for coastal areas, urging residents to complete necessary preparations and evacuate if instructed to do so. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency and has ordered response teams to restore power services after the storm passed. What rank is Helene and what rank could she reach? Helene is currently a tropical storm; forecasters had warned Thursday that Helene would reach Category 4 status and bring heavy rain and destructive winds along its path. It made landfall Thursday along the Big Bend coast, an area that has experienced several severe weather events in the past year, including Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Debby. It was downgraded Friday, but maintained damaging wind gusts, with maximums of 110 kilometers (68 miles) per hour. A man covers the windows of a business with wood to protect them from the arrival of Helene in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Joe Raedle (Getty Images) Hurricane victims At least 19 people have died as a result of the passage of Helene: Seven in Florida, 11 in Georgia and one in South Carolina. One person died and another was injured in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a tree fell on a house. In Tampa, Florida, one fatality was also reported when a fence hit a vehicle that was on a highway. In Georgia, there were two deaths due to a tornado. A landslide has affected four homes near the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, and the residents have reportedly not yet been found. Authorities say workers are still searching for the residents, but have had not yet located them. Preparations and alerts for the arrival of Helene Authorities had issued evacuation orders in several areas, especially in Big Bend, where the storm surge was potentially deadly, covering areas with enough water to submerge two-storey homes. The state government had urged residents to seek shelter on higher ground and avoid long drives. Hours before the hurricane made landfall, the NHC noted that Helene had such a wide wind field that up to 60 of Floridas 67 counties would experience gusts exceeding 39 miles per hour, with the exception of the western Panhandle. Residents on Floridas west coast also prepared for the storm, filling sandbags and protecting their properties. In North Carolina, local officials ordered mandatory evacuations along the Swannanoa River due to expectations that it would reach its highest level ever recorded. A flash flood emergency was issued for Asheville, North Carolina, as forecasters warned of a high risk in the area. In Georgia, the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency initially warned of the threat of high winds, but later lifted that warning while continuing to urge residents to avoid travel until conditions improved. The region experienced significant rainfall prior to Helenes landfall, making it more susceptible to flooding. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: It's hard to imagine that Mohamed Jihad, a young man from Egypt, could perform a traditional Chinese tongue twister in such an articulate way. Learning Chinese When Mohamed was choosing his university major, he initially intended to apply to the English department. His mother, however, offered him different advice: "You've known English since you were young." "Look, everything, including what we buy, is made in China, so choosing the Chinese language should be helpful for you." Thanks to his mother's wisdom, Mohamed embarked on his journey of learning Chinese. Mohamed graduated from Ain Shams University in Egypt with a degree in Chinese in September 2019, and then pursued his master's degree in broadcasting and anchoring from the Communication University of China. When Mohamed first began studying broadcasting and anchoring in Chinese, he often found himself confused what is the lower abdomen (dantian)? How does one sink qi to the dantian (abdomen)? During that time, Mohamed practiced how to open his voice, reciting tongue twisters, and even performing xiangsheng (cross-talk comedy) and reciting guankou (rapid-fire storytelling). After a while, his classmates were astonished to find that he had become the best Chinese speaker in the class. After graduating from the Communication University of China, Mohamed became a foreign expert at the China International Communication Group, focusing on the dissemination of Chinese culture. He says that, in the past, he used to strive for every word and pronunciation to be standard, but now he rarely considers pronunciation: "Because what people want to hear is not how standard the pronunciation is, they want to hear if the story is true and if it can attract them." Explaining China to the world After learning the operating model of shared bikes in China, Mohamed shared his thoughts on how Egypt could emulate this on his Facebook account, tagging the Egyptian Minister of Transport. Two days later, he saw the official account of the Egyptian Ministry of Transport reposting his thoughts, commenting, "Great idea, looking forward to implementation." A year later, Egypt's capital began implementing the "Cairo Bike" sharing project as a pilot for addressing traffic congestion issues. "We learn a lot of things from China. The power of humanity lies in its unity," Mohamed says. "I think China can really set a very good example for the whole world in this respect." During his studies in China, Mohamed says he could feel the friendliness of the Chinese people towards Egypt and their enthusiasm for learning about foreign cultures. In July 2023, when Mohamed graduated from the Communication University, he wore Egyptian pharaoh attire to receive his certificate on stage. The photo of him wearing the pharaoh attire soon went viral. Many Chinese people began to learn about Egypt and pharaoh clothing. This gave Mohamed the opportunity to tell Egyptian stories to Chinese audiences and he subsequently changed the name of his Chinese social media account to the "Egyptian Pharaoh." Mohamed says he is continuously working to build a bridge that allows his Egyptian friends to better understand China: "If I can be this bridge, it would be a great honor; truly, a very, very significant one." SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn C3's 29th Dispensary Nationwide Offers Exceptional Value, Deals, and Customer Service to Cannabis Consumers in Metropolis and Surrounding Areas ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- C3 Industries ("C3" or "the Company"), a leading multi-state cannabis company dedicated to crafting premium cannabis experiences for consumers, announced the opening of High Profile Metropolis; the Company's third retail location in Illinois and 29th nationwide. C3 Industries Opens Third Illinois Dispensary with Launch of High Profile Metropolis IL Post this High Profile Cannabis Shop Dispensary Metropolis High Profile Metropolis is located at 1801 E. 5th St., Metropolis, IL 62960 , the new dispensary is now open and serving cannabis consumers 21 and older in-store and through online pre-order services starting today, with a grand opening celebration where shoppers can take advantage of 25% off the entire store, 9/27 - 9/29. "High Profile Metropolis broadens our retail presence in Illinois, enabling us to connect with a wider customer base through our exceptional customer care, diverse product range, and competitive pricing," said Ankur Rungta, CEO and cofounder of C3 Industries. "We are thrilled to bring the full C3 experience to the Metropolis community, from our high-quality cannabis to our commitment to exceptional customer service. Our new location provides a welcoming environment for both new and experienced consumers to discover premium products at great prices." Famously known as the "Home of Superman," Metropolis is well-positioned for the growth of C3's retail expansion in Illinois. With Kentucky located right across the Ohio River, and Paducah just 15 miles away, High Profile Metropolis is strategically located to serve communities in southern Illinois and surrounding areas. "High Profile Metropolis represents an important milestone in our continued expansion across Illinois and the Midwest," added Vishal Rungta, President and cofounder of C3 Industries. "By establishing a strong presence in southern Illinois, we are able to better serve the broader region and contribute to the growth of the state's cannabis industry. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Metropolis community and offering residents a premier cannabis shopping experience." The new dispensary boasts a knowledgeable, friendly staff dedicated to providing personalized recommendations and educational insights to both seasoned cannabis enthusiasts and first-time consumers. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., High Profile Metropolis features a variety of value offers, including: Pre-Packed Eighths: $79 (Quarter Oz) / $149 (Half Oz) / $279 (1 Oz) $79 (Quarter Oz) / (Half Oz) / (1 Oz) Carts: 2 for $85 / 4 for $159 2 for / 4 for Pre-Rolls: 3 for $29 / 6 for $57 / 15 for $139 3 for / 6 for / 15 for Edibles: 2 for $25 / 5 for $59 New customers can also take advantage of a tiered discount program, saving $10 off their first two visits with a minimum purchase. In addition to these deals, High Profile Metropolis offers everyday discounts, including: Medical Patient Discount: 25% off 25% off Veterans, Wisdom (55+), and Industry Professionals: 10% off (with valid ID, not stackable) High Profile Metropolis offers customers the opportunity to join the High Roller Loyalty program with the ability to earn points on every dollar, with the option to redeem points for discounts and reduce cannabis pricing. High Roller members also have the ability to earn points upon signing up, along with early access to special events and offers, referral perks, double points on select days and members-only bonus discounts. For more information or to place an online order, visit highprofilecannabis.com or download the High Profile Cannabis Shop mobile app . About C3 Industries C3 Industries is a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with multiple product brands including the award-winning Cloud Cover Cannabis and Galactic Cannabis, and a retail network, High Profile Cannabis Shop. The Company, through its subsidiaries, retails high-quality cannabis products at its High Profile locations in Michigan, Missouri, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Additional High Profile retail locations are scheduled to open throughout 2024 in New Jersey, Missouri and Connecticut. C3 currently operates almost 220,000 sq. ft. of total cultivation and processing facilities, with 125,000 sq. ft in Michigan, 37,000 sq. ft. in Massachusetts, 55,000 sq. ft. in Missouri. The company also has a 55,000 sq. ft. expansion nearing completion in Missouri and a 58,000 sq. ft. Connecticut facility in development. For more information about C3, visit www.c3industries.com . Additional information about High Profile Cannabis Shop can be found by signing up for the company's newsletters at www.highprofilecannabis.com and on Instagram at @highprofileofficial. Additional information on Cloud Cover Cannabis can be found at www.cloudcovercannabis.com and @cloudcovercannabis on Instagram. Additional information on Galactic Cannabis can be found at www.galacticcannabis.com and @galactic.cannabis on Instagram. Media Contact: Scott Franco VP Marketing, C3 Industries [email protected] SOURCE C3 Industries ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Helene brings devastating, life-threatening conditions to communities across the Southeast, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign. All funds raised will assist those displaced or suffering because of the storm. To make a gift today in support of families and individuals whose lives have been upended by Hurricane Helene, please visit the CCUSA Hurricane Helene relief donation page. One hundred percent of all donations will be allocated to local Catholic Charities agencies, which will provide critical relief including shelter, food and other humanitarian aid to members of their communities. Gifts can also be made by texting "Hurricane" to 20406. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, and the storm continues to wreak havoc as it moves north. Dangerously powerful winds and record storm surges have driven thousands from their homes, and millions have lost power. Tragically, at least three people have died. CCUSA and its member agencies around the country have a long history of rapidly mobilizing following disasters not only to meet the immediate needs but also to provide critical, long-term support to communities as they rebuild. Every year, thanks to the generosity of thousands of concerned donors, the Catholic Charities network responds to roughly 60 disasters, from hurricanes and tornadoes to fires and floods. "Hurricane Helene is one of the most dangerous storms to hit the United States in years, and we won't know the full extent of the damage for some time," CCUSA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson said. "As always, the staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities agencies are springing into action to bring comfort and hope to their neighbors in need. Please join us in providing critical support to the immediate and long-term relief efforts." To support survivors of Hurricane Helene, make a gift today. A member of Caritas Internationalis, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the membership office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. CCUSA's members provide help and create hope for more than 15 million people a year regardless of religious, social or economic backgrounds. To learn more about CCUSA, please visit our website at CatholicCharitiesUSA.org or contact Kevin Brennan, Vice President for Media Relations and Executive Communications, at [email protected]. SOURCE Catholic Charities USA BEIJING, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fan Zaixuan, an expert in mural restoration, still vividly remembers the moment he first arrived at the Mogao Grottoes in the city of Dunhuang on the night of March 31, 1981. "I could only hear the sound of the wind chimes from the Nine-story Building, which was very mysterious, and I was so excited that I didn't sleep for the whole night." The Mogao Grottoes is the world's largest and best-preserved Buddhist cave art site, with 735 caves spanning a cliff face 1,700 meters long, containing over 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 polychrome sculptures. Fan, who is now in his 60s, has been working to restore the murals in the Mogao Grottoes for more than 40 years. "So far, I have restored an area that's probably the size of a large cave in the Mogao Grottoes," he told CGTN. Fan knows better than anyone that restoring ancient artwork requires continuous and meticulous work from generation to generation. He developed his skills with the help of older preservers, such as Li Yunhe, who is in his 10th decade. Li was the Dunhuang Academy's first full-time cultural heritage restorer. He has been dedicated to the cause since 1956. Now, Fan is the mentor, passing down his knowledge and experience to students. He hopes the younger generation will, in turn, continue the "Mogao spirit." Dai Chuan, one of Fan's students, was born in the 1990s. However, he has already spent over a decade working to protect the murals in the Mogao Grottoes. "I am also willing to make the inheritance of Dunhuang culture my lifelong endeavor," Dai said with determination. Chinese President Xi Jinping made the Mogao Grottoes the first stop on his inspection tour to northwest China's Gansu Province in August 2019. He hailed Dunhuang culture as "a bright pearl in the long river of world civilization, and precious historical material for the study of the politics, economy, military, culture and art of various ethnic groups in ancient China." By the end of 2022, the academy had compiled a digital data collection on 278 caves, image processing for 164 of them, and the 3D reconstruction of 145 painted sculptures and seven ruins while delivering a panoramic tour program for 162 caves. 'Preserving the roots' An old Chinese proverb goes, "All things in the world have their laws for survival and development, but they know how to preserve their roots." President Xi has echoed this sentiment, often emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage. He believes that the longevity of Chinese civilization is due to this fundamental understanding of its roots. "Because of this sense of roots, Chinese civilization has grown and flourished till today." Over the past decade, China has enhanced its systems and policies for protecting cultural heritage. By the end of 2021, there were 108 million sets of state-owned movable cultural relics and about 767,000 immovable ones in China. To date, China has 59 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, ranking second globally. It also has 43 items on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, making it the country with the most listings in the world. Initiated by China and joined by over 20 Asian countries, the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) was established in 2023, putting a spotlight on promoting Asian cultural heritage conservation cooperation and inheriting and developing Asian civilizations in various forms. Under the framework of the ACHA, China has been involved in 33 joint archaeological projects in 19 Asian countries and participated in conservation projects at 11 historical monuments in six Asian countries. The establishment of the ACHA is a major part of the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, which called for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Over the years, China has stayed committed to and taken concrete actions toward the harmonious coexistence of various civilizations in the world. The country has signed cooperation agreements with 157 countries in the fields of culture, cultural heritage and tourism. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-23/What-is-China-doing-to-preserve-pass-on-and-share-its-culture--1x87ZjqBig0/p.html SOURCE CGTN Chinese and Russian Influence Rising, US and Europe in Decline African Youth Survey 2024 Coinciding with UN General Assembly and Summit of the Future Africa's youth reveal which foreign powers will be the Most Influential Partners in Africa's Future African youth urging their leaders to play a stronger role on global affairs By 2030, one in three youth on the planet will be African a critical demographic in shaping the world's future Youth want Change Now findings of African Youth Survey across 16 African nations NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As world leaders are meeting in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, findings of the African Youth Survey 2024, the most comprehensive research into Africa's youth, reveals that China and Russia are winning the war for the hearts and minds of Africa's youth, a critical demographic for the future of the planet, as Africa is increasingly finding itself as a proxy for conflict between East and Western powers. Published by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a leading African NGO, the recently launched African Youth Survey 2024, provide unparalleled insights on how Africa's youth regard the role of global powers, in view of Africa's growing global significance and the reinforcement of multiple poles of power in the world order that have diversified Africa's pool of potential international partners. The findings arrive as a clarion call to the UNGA's 'Pact For The Future,' serving as a critical input to the Summit of the Future's quest for groundbreaking interventions. With a laser focus on the Global South and the urgent necessity to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa's youth are unapologetically asserting their influence, demanding that their continent's leaders seize the reins of their own destiny. "Africa's youth are no longer content to be bystanders in global discourse. They are ready to rewrite the narrative, and they have every intention of wielding the pen themselves," said Ivor Ichikowitz, Founder and Chairman of the Ichikowitz Foundation. "The world must pay attention to Africa's emerging force the youth. As the fastest-growing demographic, they are the heartbeat of the future. But will they rise as architects of a new era, or be relegated to passive spectators? Our African Youth Survey 2024 reveals that they are sounding the alarm, urging politicians and decision-makers across the region and globally to importantly navigate modern foreign influence with caution. The West can no longer afford to ignore the reality: disengagement and disregard for Africa's youth will have far-reaching consequences. This is not a plea for attention; it's a demand for action." "The historic disparities in influence are clear - Our continent represents nearly 30% of votes as the largest regional bloc in the U.N, yet not one of our countries holds a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council. But we have in New York City a landmark opportunity for African voices to be heard by leadership at home and abroad - and for global action to be taken in response to them". Foreign Influences The Survey reveals that China has been ultimately seen as the most influential global power, and in fact, the most beneficial global power (76 percent say it has influence while 82 percent call the character of that influence positive), followed then by the United States (70 percent influential: 79 percent positive influence). The EU's influence has declined from 72% (2020) to 59%, the United Kingdom is down from 64% in 2020 to 56% and France has dropped from 58% (2020) to 51%. 72 percent of youth polled suggest concern today about foreign influence on their countries and Africa as a whole, reflecting a greater awareness of Russia's rising role. Ukraine-Russia War In The Eyes Of African Youth Russia's influence in Africa has risen since 2020, with 41% suggesting it is a leading foreign influencer on the continent, and 68% suggesting that influence is positive. Indeed perceptions of Russian influence have spiked markedly in several African states since 2022 notably in Malawi, where it rose from 14 to 49 percent, and in South Africa, where it grew from 34 to 57 percent in the same two-year period. Directly or indirectly, these shifts trace back to its war against Ukraine, as more than half (57 percent) of those who have a positive view of Russia say it is because they are providing grain and fertilizer, and this is an area in which it has forcibly displaced Ukraine a historic supplier to Africa. The question of who is to blame for the Russian-Ukrainian War is also mixed, as more than two-thirds 68 percent of respondents believe Russia's war in Ukraine could have been avoided, yet surprisingly, nearly a third (32 percent) lay blame for the war at the feet of the U.S., NATO and the EU. Only 23 percent specifically say that Russia is to blame (another 21 percent say all actors share blame). "Let's be clearRussia's influence campaign is not only deliberate but effective. Africa is now the frontline of a struggle for global influence, and the youth are the prize," warned Ichikowitz. "Our leaders must wake up to this reality and protect the sovereignty of the next generation. This is not just about land or resources; it's a battle for the very soul of the continent." Yet despite high levels of concern about the influence of foreign powers, African youth do not want their leaders to shy away from the global platform - When asked what the main priority for national leaders should be, youth are looking to their leaders to balance both international and domestic issues nearly half want the focus to be on addressing domestic matters (45%), while the other half are split between increasing their country's regional influence (23%) and expanding their country's influence on the global stage (29%). However, regardless of where youth want their leaders to focus attention, there is clear confidence in the ability of African leaders to influence issues on the global stage with two-thirds (64%) agreeing. "The African Youth Survey is a vital pulse check on the hopes, fears, and demands of Africa's next generation. As the world convenes in New York, it is clear: Africa's youth are not just participants in this storythey are its protagonists. The question is no longer whether they will be heard, but whether the world will finally listen." NOTES TO EDITORS: Fielded across 16 African countries, the African Youth Survey offers an unprecedented sounding on how Africa's rising generation sees their current situation, and is now in its third iteration since its launch in 2020. Over this period, the one-of-a-kind, multi-country poll has identified trends across a range of issues of importance to young Africans. Conducted by PSB Insights, a global leader in public opinion research, to-date there is no comparable barometer of the opinions of African youth in size or scope - The African Youth Survey is widely recognized as one of the most important research studies on young people living, learning, and working across Africa. Six new countries have been included in the 2024 Survey: Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania, and Namibia. The ten other countries surveyed are Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia. This brings the total number of countries polled to 25, with almost 15,000 interviews having been conducted since the inception of the African Youth Survey in 2020. SOURCE Ichikowitz Family Foundation Firm's staff has grown by 20% in 2024, prepared to deploy significant capital NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinFund , one of the world's oldest and most experienced cryptonative investment firms and a registered investment adviser, today announced the growth of its Investment Team with three new hires. In addition, the firm announced the internal appointment of a new Head of Business Development and Investor Relations. The moves reflect CoinFund's deep conviction in the investment potential of the new internet, and ensures the firm is well-positioned to continue to deploy significant seed and early venture stage capital. Across its current $157M Seed IV (2023) and $320M Ventures I (2022) funds, CoinFund invests in early stage crypto, blockchain and web3 companies, working to champion and back the leaders of the new internet. The firm partners with visionary founders throughout the lifecycle of their companies to assist them to become category leaders in emerging sectors. The CoinFund portfolio spans a nearly a decade of investments in the crypto ecosystem, including such areas as developer infrastructure, DeFi, fintech and real world assets, DePIN, DeAI, a variety of consumer services, as well as major base layer blockchains themselves. Growing the Team as Crypto Adoption Continues, More Hires Expected The global cryptocurrency market has evolved through 2024 with a wave of developments, signaling an environment ripe for new projects and emerging sectors. This year has brought a sharper focus on regulatory clarity, alongside the introduction of ETFs in the U.S. that directly invest in Bitcoin and Ether, marking significant milestones toward the industry's pursuit of institutional adoption. As of September 18, 2024, DeFi total value locked has once again grown to nearly $80B , up from a high of $54B in 2023, signaling onchain activity is slowly trending back toward prior cycle highs. Globally, crypto market capitalization has surpassed $2.14 trillion as of September 18, 2024; in March of this year, Bitcoin set a record high of $73,750 and continues to outperform the S&P on an annualized basis. These developments contribute to the firm's positive long-term outlook for blockchain and digital asset adoption worldwide. David Pakman, Managing Partner and Head of Venture Investments at CoinFund commented: "As digital assets continue to become a globally accepted investment category, CoinFund believes the best investing performance requires deep specialization in the crypto and blockchain ecosystems. The blockchain investment landscape is expanding: by geography, with more fruitful sub-sectors, more credible baselayers and a more mature developer stack, made more interesting as we get closer to regulatory clarity in the most critical regions. All of this is leading to more users onchain, more use cases for crypto and more and more developers building on decentralized platforms. To maintain our edge, we are excited to add to our investment team, enhancing our ability to identify and capitalize on the most promising high-growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape." Seasoned blockchain investor Bobby Beniers joins CoinFund as a Principal Investor focused on opportunities from Seed to Series A. He brings deep crypto infrastructure expertise and a passion for disruptive use cases like DePIN and DeAI. Before CoinFund, he served as an Investment Partner at Polychain Capital where he made a number of high quality investments including Movement Labs (Series A), Rio Network (Seed, acquired), and others. Beniers began his investing career at the tiger-cub hedge fund Matrix Capital covering crypto and software. Prior to becoming an investor, Beniers developed his passion for technology as a software engineer. Beniers holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Economics from Williams College. Beniers commented: "Since 2015, CoinFund has managed to remain on the bleeding-edge of crypto innovation while molding an organization that, today, is purpose-built to amplify the efforts of founders. I'm thrilled to join them for my next chapter and look forward to support the mission to produce extraordinary outcomes for our LPs." CoinFund also announced the addition of two Associates for its Seed and Venture investment strategies: George Christopher has joined CoinFund as a Senior Associate, applying his experience evaluating, investing in, and supporting best-in-class technology companies. Christopher was formerly at Battery Ventures where he focused on investments in growth-stage software. Prior to Battery, he worked as an investment banking analyst at AGC Partners. Christopher graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. The firm welcomes Jonathan Rotbard as an Associate. Rotbard brings more than four years of expertise analyzing and investing in the digital asset landscape. Prior to CoinFund, Rotbard served as a Venture Investor at Corner Ventures where he focused on both private and liquid crypto investments. He began his career in blockchain as an Investment Banking Analyst at Moelis where he worked on deals across the crypto ecosystem, including the Voyager and BlockFi bankruptcies. Rotbard holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. All three hires will bolster the Seed and Ventures Investment team led by Pakman, Alex Felix and Jake Brukhman. CoinFund expects to continue hiring investors in addition to subject matter experts across the organization. Pakman added: "Achieving outstanding returns for our LPs is our true north star. I believe we've honed an approach over nearly ten years that challenges our investors to think long-term, encourages non-consensus thinking and mixes individual responsibility with the value of a seasoned and proven investing team. It has never been more important to invest in and nurture a free and decentralized internet. CoinFund is an exceptional place to advance your investing career and build a better future." Institutional-Grade Service CoinFund's staff has grown by 20% in 2024, with the addition of four subject matter specialists previously announced in July. Equally important to its culture, CoinFund strives to promote from within; the firm shares that Abbey Hamstra has been promoted to Head of Business Development and Investor Relations. Hamstra joined CoinFund in November 2021 as an Associate and has held roles of increasing responsibility since, most recently serving as Director of Business Development and Investor Relations. "As CoinFund continues to scale its investments in blockchain and digital assets, we've seen more established and long term institutional backers seeking manager relationships," commented Alex Felix, cofounder and Chief Investment Officer, CoinFund. "The ongoing maturation of the industry represents one of the most compelling mega-trends of our time. Abbey has a seasoned view and proven ability to help our partners understand this unique opportunity and we're proud to announce her appointment." Founded in 2015 at a Brooklyn kitchen table by Highbridge Capital Management and Amazon alum Jake Brukhman, and later joined by co-founder and American Capital alum Felix, CoinFund is now supported by a world class interdisciplinary global team of 30 people with more than 100 investments across six investment vehicles. Some of the firm's recent seed and venture fund investments include liquid restaking platform Ether.fi ; the onchain open professional network Icebreaker ; global compute resource platform Prime Intellect ; blockchain climate technology company Raad Labs ; smart account module innovator Rhinestone ; and STON.fi , leading decentralized exchange in the TON ecosystem. More detail on CoinFund's portfolio companies can be found at https://coinfund.io/portfolio/. CoinFund is committed to supporting the development of the decentralized ecosystem and leveraging the potential of blockchain innovation to drive long-term value creation. About CoinFund CoinFund is one of the world's first cryptonative investment firms and a registered investment adviser founded in 2015. The firm champions the leaders of the new internet, powered by foresight as active investors to achieve extraordinary outcomes. CoinFund invests in seed, venture, and liquid opportunities within the blockchain sector with a focus on digital assets, decentralization technologies, and key enabling infrastructure. For more information, visit www.coinfund.io, LinkedIn or join us on X. SOURCE CoinFund TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - ContactMonkey is pleased to announce it has ranked No. 163 on the 2024 Report on Business magazine's ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies. Canada's Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. ContactMonkey earned its spot with three-year growth of 279%. In 2023, while still fully bootstrapped and profitable, ContactMonkey surpassed $10 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) leading to its recognition as one of Canada's top-growing companies for three consecutive years. This is a milestone revenue achievement that less than 0.4% of B2B SaaS companies ever realize. Further, the company ranked 47th in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 program (2023), secured $55M in Series A funding from Updata Partners, and was accepted into the C100 Growth Program - all while maintaining its growth trajectory. "ContactMonkey is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of internal communicators. Our global clients struggle to reach employees across languages and time zones. This is why we launched our multi-language email feature that allows organizations to send and measure campaigns in multiple languages. We operate with a deep curiosity and bias for action which helps us anticipate and act on market demandI attribute this to our growth," says Scott Pielsticker, founder and CEO of ContactMonkey." Canada's Top Growing Companies is an editorial ranking that was launched in 2019 to celebrate the achievements of innovative businesses in Canada. To qualify for this voluntary program, companies had to complete an in-depth application process and fulfill revenue requirements. In total, 417 companies earned a spot on this year's ranking. The full list of 2024 winners along with editorial coverage is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazine. The list is out now and online here . "Our annual ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies reflects the sector-spanning ingenuity of this country's entrepreneurs and corporate leaders," says Dawn Calleja, Editor of Report on Business magazine. "And we think it's important to tell their stories, to help inspire the next generation of up-and-comers across the country." "The Globe and Mail congratulates this year's Canada's Top Growing Companies' winners for achieving exceptional growth and resilience in facing business challenges," says Andrew Saunders, CEO of The Globe and Mail. "It is a testament to dedication, strategic vision, and innovative drive." About The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail is Canada's foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.2 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.9 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family. About ContactMonkey ContactMonkey is an internal communications platform that integrates with Outlook, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, HRIS platforms, and SMS to streamline employee engagement. With a powerful email builder and advanced analytics, it enables communicators to create, send, and measure engaging employee emails. ContactMonkey also offers data-driven insights through click maps, real-time surveys, and comprehensive metrics to help organizations optimize their internal communications and boost productivity. To learn more, visit www.contactmonkey.com . SOURCE ContactMonkey Minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity rate of 10-5 more than doubled by 12 months with DARZALEX FASPRO in maintenance therapy compared to lenalidomide alone, resulting in improvement in 30-month progression-free survival RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced data from three studies highlighting clinical efficacy of DARZALEX (daratumumab) and DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in maintenance regimens. Data from the Phase 3 AURIGA study show DARZALEX FASPRO plus lenalidomide (D-R) maintenance therapy following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) significantly increases MRD-negative conversion rates at 12 months compared to lenalidomide (R) maintenance alone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). DARZALEX FASPRO plus lenalidomide maintenance therapy also demonstrated a potential benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) with no new safety concerns.1 Data were featured in an oral presentation at the 2024 International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting (Abstract #OA 45). "The significant improvement in MRD-negative conversion rates and the promising progression-free survival data suggest that this maintenance regimen has the potential to improve longer-term outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are transplant-eligible," said Dr. Ashraf Badros, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the Multiple Myeloma Service at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center within University of Maryland Medical Center in Maryland.* "Combining DARZALEX FASPRO with lenalidomide in the maintenance setting offers an advantage over lenalidomide alone for patients who are newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma and anti-CD38 naive." In the AURIGA study, the D-R arm demonstrated a higher MRD-negative (10-5) conversion rate by 12 months compared to the R arm (50.5 percent vs 18.8 percent, odds ratio [OR] 4.51, P<0.0001) and a superior > 6-month sustained MRD-negative rate (35.4 percent vs 13.9 percent, OR 3.40, P=0.0005). Complete response (CR) or better rates were also higher with D-R: 75.8 percent vs 61.4 percent (P=0.0255). The increased MRD-negative conversion rate resulted in a PFS favoring D-R (hazard ratio 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29-0.97) with an estimated 30-month rate of 82.7 percent compared to 66.4 percent for the R arm.1 "MRD-negativity is an important predictor of long-term progression-free survival for patients with multiple myeloma, and the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee emphasized the value of this when it unanimously decided that MRD could be used as a primary endpoint in multiple myeloma clinical trials as a surrogate for PFS," said Imran Khan, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Hematology, Innovative Medicine, Johnson & Johnson. "These results, along with the data being presented from the Phase 3 CEPHEUS study, further underscore the promising potential of DARZALEX FASPRO for newly diagnosed patients, regardless of their transplant status." Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 74 percent of patients treated with D-R and 67.3 percent of patients treated with R; infections (18.8 percent and 13.3 percent) and neutropenia (46.9 percent and 41.8 percent) were most common.1 Additional data from Phase 3 PERSEUS study demonstrate benefit of DARZALEX FASPRO-based induction, consolidation and maintenance regimens across cytogenetic risk populations Expanded analyses of the Phase 3 PERSEUS study show that DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) in induction/consolidation followed by a maintenance regimen of D-R induced deep and sustained MRD-negativity compared to VRd regardless of disease stage based on the second revised International Staging System (R2-ISS). In the revised high-risk subgroup, treatment with D-VRd followed by D-R maintenance results in higher rates of overall MRD-negativity at 10-6 with complete response or better compared to VRd (63.1 percent vs 32.4 percent; P<0.0001) with sustained MRD-negativity status for at least 12 months (42.3 percent vs 15.5 percent; P=0.0007).2 These data, including high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs), including gain(1q21) and amp(1q21), will be presented in an oral presentation at IMS (Abstract #OA 48). Phase 3 CASSIOPEIA MRD update shows deep and durable responses with DARZALEX in maintenance therapy Updated MRD data from the Phase 3 CASSIOPEIA study demonstrate that including DARZALEX in both induction/consolidation and maintenance regimens resulted in deeper and more durable MRD-negative responses at 10-5 level vs bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone (VTd) and observation: 77 percent vs 71 percent (P=0.0417). The benefit of DARZALEX monotherapy maintenance was demonstrated in both patients who received VTd induction and consolidation, as well as those who received DARZALEX and VTd. DARZALEX maintenance reduced the risk of progression or death by 24% in patients who received DARZALEX and VTd as induction and consolidation. These results will be presented in an oral presentation at IMS (Abstract #OA 47).3 In the AURIGA, PERSEUS and CASSIOPEIA studies, the safety profiles were consistent with the known safety profiles for DARZALEX and DARZALEX FASPRO. About the AURIGA Study The randomized study (NCT03901963) included 200 patients aged 18-79 years with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive after frontline autologous stem cell transplant. Patients received 1800 milligram (mg) daratumumab by subcutaneous (SC) injection in combination with lenalidomide (orally) as maintenance therapy for a maximum of 36 cycles. Each cycle is 28 days. Patients in the comparative arm will receive lenalidomide (orally) alone as maintenance therapy for a maximum of 36 cycles. Each cycle is 28 days.4 About the CEPHEUS Study CEPHEUS (NCT03652064) is an ongoing, multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of D-VRd vs VRd in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are transplant-ineligible or for whom transplant is not intended as initial therapy. Primary endpoint is MRD-negativity rate at 10-5 sensitivity threshold. Secondary endpoints include PFS, MRD-negative rate at 1 year, durable MRD negativity, ORR, time to and duration of response, PFS on next line of therapy, overall survival and safety. The trial has enrolled 396 patients in 13 countries. About the PERSEUS Study The PERSEUS study (NCT03710603) is being conducted in collaboration with the European Myeloma Network as the sponsor. PERSEUS is an ongoing, randomized, open-label, Phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX FASPRO -VRd during induction and consolidation versus VRd during induction and consolidation in patients with NDMM eligible for ASCT. Following consolidation, patients received an investigational treatment regimen for maintenance that included DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with lenalidomide or lenalidomide alone. The trial was not designed to isolate the effect of DARZALEX FASPRO in the maintenance phase of treatment. The efficacy of DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with lenalidomide for maintenance has not been established. The primary endpoint is PFS, and secondary endpoints include overall CR or better rate, and overall MRD-negativity (in patients with CR or better). The median age is 61.0 (range, 32-70) years for patients in the D-VRd arm and 59.0 (range, 31-70) years for patients in the VRd arm.5 The study is being conducted in 14 countries in Europe and Australia. About the CASSIOPEIA Study The randomized, open-label, multicenter, Phase 3 (NCT02541383) study is sponsored by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology and Janssen Research & Development, LLC. This Phase 3 study included 1,085 newly diagnosed patients with previously untreated, symptomatic multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Part one of the study compared DARZALEX (D) in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone (VTd) versus VTd induction and consolidation therapy in patients with NDMM who were eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and demonstrated that D-VTd yielded deeper responses and improved PFS. Part two of the study compared D-maintenance therapy given every 8 weeks (at a reduced frequency treatment schedule compared to the standard long-term dosing frequency of every 4 weeks) versus observation. The primary endpoint in this part of the study is the proportion of patients who achieve a stringent complete response (sCR) 100 days after transplant. In the second part of the study, which is ongoing, patients who achieved a partial response or better in part one will undergo a second randomization to receive maintenance treatment with DARZALEX 16 mg/kg every eight weeks for up to two years or will be observed with no further treatment. The primary endpoint in this part of the study is PFS.6 About Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow.7 In multiple myeloma, these malignant plasma cells proliferate and replace normal cells in the bone marrow.8 Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide and remains an incurable disease.9 In 2024, it is estimated that more than 35,000 people will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the U.S. and more than 12,000 will die from the disease. People with multiple myeloma have a 5-year survival rate of 59.8 percent.10 While some people diagnosed with multiple myeloma initially have no symptoms, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone fracture or pain, low red blood cell counts, tiredness, high calcium levels, kidney problems or infections.11,12 About DARZALEX FASPRO and DARZALEX DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) received U.S. FDA approval in May 2020 and is approved for nine indications in multiple myeloma, four of which are for frontline treatment in newly diagnosed patients who are transplant eligible or ineligible.14 It is the only subcutaneous CD38-directed antibody approved to treat patients with MM. DARZALEX FASPRO is co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20), Halozyme's ENHANZE drug delivery technology. DARZALEX (daratumumab) received U.S. FDA approval in November 2015 and is approved in eight indications, three of which are in the frontline setting, including newly diagnosed patients who are transplant-eligible and ineligible.6 DARZALEX is the first CD38-directed antibody approved to treat multiple myeloma.6 DARZALEX-based regimens have been used in the treatment of more than 518,000 patients worldwide and more than 68,000 patients in the U.S. alone. In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab. Since 2020, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recommended daratumumab-based combination regimens for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. For newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in non-transplant candidates, the NCCN guidelines recommend daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone as a Category 1 preferred regimen; daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone as another recommended Category 1 regimen; and daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone as another recommended Category 2A regimen. For newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in transplant candidates, the NCCN guidelines recommend daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone as another recommended Category 2A regimen; daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as a Category 2A regimen useful in certain circumstances; daratumumab in combination with carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone as a Category 2A regimen useful in certain circumstances; and daratumumab in combination with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone as a Category 2A regimen useful in certain circumstances. For maintenance in transplant candidates, the NCCN guidelines recommend daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide as useful in certain circumstances. In relapsed/refractory myeloma, four daratumumab regimens are listed as Category 1 preferred regimens for early relapses (1-3 prior therapies): daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone; daratumumab in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone; daratumumab in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone; and daratumumab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone [after one prior therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI)]. The NCCN also recommends daratumumab in combination with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone as another Category 2A regimen for early relapses (1-3 prior therapies) and as monotherapy as a Category 2A regimen useful in certain circumstances for early relapse patients after at least three prior therapies, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or for patients who are double refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent. For more information, visit www.DARZALEX.com. DARZALEX INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INDICATIONS DARZALEX (daratumumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma: In combination with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant In combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant and in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy In combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant In combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor In combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy As monotherapy in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent CONTRAINDICATIONS DARZALEX is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity (eg, anaphylactic reactions) to daratumumab or any of the components of the formulation. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Infusion-Related Reactions DARZALEX can cause severe and/or serious infusion-related reactions including anaphylactic reactions. These reactions can be lifethreatening, and fatal outcomes have been reported. In clinical trials (monotherapy and combination: N=2066), infusion-related reactions occurred in 37% of patients with the Week 1 (16 mg/kg) infusion, 2% with the Week 2 infusion, and cumulatively 6% with subsequent infusions. Less than 1% of patients had a Grade 3/4 infusion-related reaction at Week 2 or subsequent infusions. The median time to onset was 1.5 hours (range: 0 to 73 hours). Nearly all reactions occurred during infusion or within 4 hours of completing DARZALEX. Severe reactions have occurred, including bronchospasm, hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, headache, laryngeal edema, pulmonary edema, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma. Signs and symptoms may include respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, as well as chills, vomiting, and nausea. Less common signs and symptoms were wheezing, allergic rhinitis, pyrexia, chest discomfort, pruritus, hypotension and blurred vision. When DARZALEX dosing was interrupted in the setting of ASCT (CASSIOPEIA) for a median of 3.75 months (range: 2.4 to 6.9 months), upon re-initiation of DARZALEX, the incidence of infusion-related reactions was 11% for the first infusion following ASCT. Infusion-related reactions occurring at re-initiation of DARZALEX following ASCT were consistent in terms of symptoms and severity (Grade 3 or 4: <1%) with those reported in previous studies at Week 2 or subsequent infusions. In EQUULEUS, patients receiving combination treatment (n=97) were administered the first 16 mg/kg dose at Week 1 split over two days, ie, 8 mg/kg on Day 1 and Day 2, respectively. The incidence of any grade infusion-related reactions was 42%, with 36% of patients experiencing infusion-related reactions on Day 1 of Week 1, 4% on Day 2 of Week 1, and 8% with subsequent infusions. Pre-medicate patients with antihistamines, antipyretics, and corticosteroids. Frequently monitor patients during the entire infusion. Interrupt DARZALEX infusion for reactions of any severity and institute medical management as needed. Permanently discontinue DARZALEX therapy if an anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) reaction occurs and institute appropriate emergency care. For patients with Grade 1, 2, or 3 reactions, reduce the infusion rate when re-starting the infusion. To reduce the risk of delayed infusion-related reactions, administer oral corticosteroids to all patients following DARZALEX infusions. Patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may require additional post-infusion medications to manage respiratory complications. Consider prescribing short- and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with DARZALEX infusion. If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX infusion and seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation prior to restarting DARZALEX. Interference With Serological Testing Daratumumab binds to CD38 on red blood cells (RBCs) and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test). Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last daratumumab infusion. Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient's serum. The determination of a patient's ABO and Rh blood type is not impacted. Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX. Type and screen patients prior to starting DARZALEX. Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia DARZALEX may increase neutropenia and thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection. Consider withholding DARZALEX until recovery of neutrophils or for recovery of platelets. Interference With Determination of Complete Response Daratumumab is a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation (IFE) assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M-protein. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. DARZALEX may cause depletion of fetal immune cells and decreased bone density. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with DARZALEX and for 3 months after the last dose. The combination of DARZALEX with lenalidomide, pomalidomide, or thalidomide is contraindicated in pregnant women because lenalidomide, pomalidomide, and thalidomide may cause birth defects and death of the unborn child. Refer to the lenalidomide, pomalidomide, or thalidomide prescribing information on use during pregnancy. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most frequently reported adverse reactions (incidence 20%) were: upper respiratory infection, neutropenia, infusionrelated reactions, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, constipation, anemia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, peripheral edema, nausea, cough, pyrexia, dyspnea, and asthenia. The most common hematologic laboratory abnormalities (40%) with DARZALEX are: neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and anemia. Please click here to see the full Prescribing Information. DARZALEX FASPRO INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INDICATIONS DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma: In combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for induction and consolidation in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant In combination with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant In combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant and in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy In combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant In combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI) In combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy As monotherapy in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATIONS DARZALEX FASPRO is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to daratumumab, hyaluronidase, or any of the components of the formulation. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hypersensitivity and Other Administration Reactions Both systemic administration-related reactions, including severe or life-threatening reactions, and local injection-site reactions can occur with DARZALEX FASPRO. Fatal reactions have been reported with daratumumab-containing products, including DARZALEX FASPRO. Systemic Reactions In a pooled safety population of 1249 patients with multiple myeloma (N=1056) or light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=193) who received DARZALEX FASPRO as monotherapy or in combination, 7% of patients experienced a systemic administration-related reaction (Grade 2: 3.2%, Grade 3: 0.7%, Grade 4: 0.1%). Systemic administration-related reactions occurred in 7% of patients with the first injection, 0.2% with the second injection, and cumulatively 1% with subsequent injections. The median time to onset was 2.9 hours (range: 5 minutes to 3.5 days). Of the 165 systemic administration-related reactions that occurred in 93 patients, 144 (87%) occurred on the day of DARZALEX FASPRO administration. Delayed systemic administration-related reactions have occurred in 1% of the patients. Severe reactions included hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma. Other signs and symptoms of systemic administration-related reactions may include respiratory symptoms, such as bronchospasm, nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, allergic rhinitis, and wheezing, as well as anaphylactic reaction, pyrexia, chest pain, pruritus, chills, vomiting, nausea, hypotension, and blurred vision. Pre-medicate patients with histamine-1 receptor antagonist, acetaminophen, and corticosteroids. Monitor patients for systemic administration-related reactions, especially following the first and second injections. For anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) administration-related reactions, immediately and permanently discontinue DARZALEX FASPRO. Consider administering corticosteroids and other medications after the administration of DARZALEX FASPRO depending on dosing regimen and medical history to minimize the risk of delayed (defined as occurring the day after administration) systemic administration-related reactions. Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with daratumumab-containing products. If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX FASPRO and seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation prior to restarting DARZALEX FASPRO. Local Reactions In this pooled safety population, injection-site reactions occurred in 7% of patients, including Grade 2 reactions in 0.8%. The most frequent (>1%) injection-site reaction was injection-site erythema. These local reactions occurred a median of 5 minutes (range: 0 minutes to 6.5 days) after starting administration of DARZALEX FASPRO. Monitor for local reactions and consider symptomatic management. Neutropenia Daratumumab may increase neutropenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection. Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO until recovery of neutrophils. In lower body weight patients receiving DARZALEX FASPRO, higher rates of Grade 3-4 neutropenia were observed. Thrombocytopenia Daratumumab may increase thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO until recovery of platelets. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX FASPRO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. DARZALEX FASPRO may cause depletion of fetal immune cells and decreased bone density. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with DARZALEX FASPRO and for 3 months after the last dose. The combination of DARZALEX FASPRO with lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide is contraindicated in pregnant women because lenalidomide, thalidomide, and pomalidomide may cause birth defects and death of the unborn child. Refer to the lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide prescribing information on use during pregnancy. Interference With Serological Testing Daratumumab binds to CD38 on red blood cells (RBCs) and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test). Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last daratumumab administration. Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient's serum. The determination of a patient's ABO and Rh blood type are not impacted. Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX FASPRO. Type and screen patients prior to starting DARZALEX FASPRO. Interference With Determination of Complete Response Daratumumab is a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation (IFE) assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M-protein. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some DARZALEX FASPRO-treated patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein. ADVERSE REACTIONS In multiple myeloma, the most common adverse reaction (20%) with DARZALEX FASPRO monotherapy is upper respiratory tract infection. The most common adverse reactions with combination therapy (20% for any combination) include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dyspnea, insomnia, headache, pyrexia, cough, muscle spasms, back pain, vomiting, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral sensory neuropathy, constipation, pneumonia, and peripheral edema. The most common hematology laboratory abnormalities (40%) with DARZALEX FASPRO are decreased leukocytes, decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased platelets, and decreased hemoglobin. Please click here to see the full Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO. About Johnson & Johnson At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at www.janssen.com/johnson-johnson-innovative-medicine . Follow us at @JanssenUS and @JNJInnovMed . Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC and Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC are Johnson & Johnson companies. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of DARZALEX and DARZALEX FASPRO. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc. Janssen Global Services, LLC, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. Source: Johnson & Johnson * Dr. Ashraf Badros, University of Maryland Medical Center in Maryland has provided consulting, advisory, and speaking services to Johnson & Johnson; he has not been paid for any media work. The NCCN Content does not constitute medical advice and should not be used in place of seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by licensed practitioners. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. See the NCCN Guidelines for detailed recommendations, including other treatment options. 1 Badros, A., et al. Subcutaneous Daratumumab Plus Lenalidomide Versus Lenalidomide Alone as Maintenance Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma After Transplant: Primary Results from the Phase 3 AURIGA Study. IMS 2024. September 27, 2024. 2 Dimopoulos, M., et al. Daratumumab (DARA)/Bortezomib/Lenalidomide/ Dexamethasone (D-VRd) With D-R Maintenance (Maint) in Transplant-eligible (TE) Newly Diagnosed Myeloma (NDMM): PERSEUS Cytogenetic Risk Analysis. IMS 2024. September 27, 2024. 3 Corre, J., et al. Daratumumab (DARA) + Bortezomib/Thalidomide/ Dexamethasone (D-VTd) and DARA Maintenance in Transplanteligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM): CASSIOPEIA Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Update. IMS 2024. September 27, 2024. 4 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03901963. Accessed August 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03901963 5 Pieter Sonneveld, Dimopoulos MA, Boccadoro M, et al. Daratumumab, Bortezomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone for Multiple Myeloma. The New England Journal of Medicine. Accessed August 2024. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312054 6 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02541383. Accessed August 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02541383 7 Rajkumar SV. Multiple Myeloma: 2020 Update on Diagnosis, Risk-Stratification and Management. Am J Hematol. 2020;95(5):548-5672020;95(5):548-567. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32212178 8 National Cancer Institute. Plasma Cell Neoplasms. Accessed August 2024. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/myeloma/patient/myeloma-treatment-pdq 9 Multiple Myeloma. City of Hope, 2022. Multiple Myeloma: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments. Accessed August 2024. Available at: https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma 10 American Cancer Society. Myeloma Cancer Statistics. Accessed August 2024. Available at: https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/types/myeloma 11 American Cancer Society. What is Multiple Myeloma? Accessed August 2024. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html 12 American Cancer Society. Multiple Myeloma Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. Accessed August 2024. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/multiple-myeloma/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html SOURCE Johnson & Johnson VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company"; (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with The Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") that will benefit both parties by promoting a collaborative and strategic approach to help strengthen the rare earth element ("REE") supply chain within Canada. Guy de Selliers, Executive Chairman of Defense Metals, commented: "We are excited to collaborate with The Saskatchewan Research Council, a recognized leader in rare earth processing and technology development. This MOU represents a significant step forward in our goal of becoming part of a secure and sustainable supply chain for rare earth elements in North America. By working together with SRC, we believe we can make substantial progress toward closing the rare earth supply chain loop and ensuring the availability of these critical materials for green energy and defence applications that are essential for national security." The MOU outlines a framework for Defense Metals and SRC to leverage their respective capabilities and interests in the supply and processing of rare earth materials that are especially critical to the production of rare earth magnets. The proposed objectives of this collaboration include: Exploring potential collaborations using each Participant's respective capabilities and interests in the process and supply of rare earth products used in the rare earths magnet value chain; Enabling discussions in connection with the separation of the Defense Metal's mixed rare earth carbonates into separated rare earth oxides employing SRC's separation technology design, installation, and operational expertise; and Facilitating negotiations of a long-term agreement with SRC for the sale and purchase of Defense Metal's mixed rare earth carbonate. This collaboration aligns with the broader Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, which is focused on developing a domestic industry, reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals and bolstering national security. Furthermore, it supports broader North American goals for economic competitiveness and technological innovation in clean energy and defence technologies. About The Saskatchewan Research Council SRC is Canada's second-largest research and technology organization, providing services and products to its 1,400 clients in 22 countries around the world for more than 77 years Since 2020, SRC's Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatoon has received $71 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, as well as $30 million in combined funding from the Government of Canada. This funding has been instrumental in helping SRC construct a vertically and laterally integrated "minerals to metals" facility equipped with state-of-the-art, proprietary technology developed by SRC. Development of the facility continues ahead of schedule, producing rare earth metals at a commercial scale in the summer of 2024 making Saskatchewan the first and only jurisdiction to do so in North America. About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Deposit Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned Wicheeda REE deposit, for which a mineral resource estimate was reported in 2023 in a Technical Report prepared in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), which is available for review on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.defensemetals.com. The 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda Project, located approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads. Nearby, superior infrastructure includes hydro power transmission lines, gas pipelines, the Canadian National Railway and major highways that allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia. Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca. For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact: Alex Heath Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Interim CFO Tel: +1 604-354-2491 Email: [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Notice Regarding the Wicheeda REE Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate The mineral resource estimate for the Wicheeda rare earth element (REE) deposit is disclosed in a Technical Report dated October 27, 2023, effective August 28, 2023, entitled "Technical Report on the Wicheeda Property, British Columbia, Canada", which was prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. The results of the 2023 MRE were previously disclosed in summary form in the Company's news release dated September 12, 2023. The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available for review on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.defensemetals.com. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions, and exclusions. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca/). While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical, engineering and pricing assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, officers or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. SOURCE Defense Metals Corp. Communicators from Bloomberg, Chobani, Paramount, Boston Consulting Group, and more celebrated at High Profile NYC Event NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diversity Action Alliance (DAA), a coalition of public relations and communications leaders, announced this year's G.E.M.S. at an honoree ceremony hosted by Omnicom PR Group in New York City. The prestigious honor, 'Growth in Equity as a Measure of Sustainability' (G.E.M.S.), recognized 50 Public Relations and Communication leaders from across the U.S. who are elevating leadership, innovation, and excellence in communication, significantly contributing to the industry and who identify as racially or ethnically diverse. The Top Five Honorees include: Diversity Action Alliance logo Omnicom PR Group logo Kelli Hammersmith , Chief Communications Officer, Advantage Solutions , Chief Communications Officer, Advantage Solutions Nisa Horwitz , Senior Vice President, Zeno Group , Senior Vice President, Claudine Moore , Managing Director, Allison Worldwide , Managing Director, Arielle Patrick , Chief Communications Officer, Ariel Investments , Chief Communications Officer, Jeff Wilson , APR, Vice President of Social Impact, Padilla Adding to the night's prestige, seven Industry Legends were honored for enduring contributions to the profession and unwavering advocacy for underrepresented groups: Dr. Rochelle Ford , RTillery Communications , RTillery Communications Bill Imada , IW Group , IW Group Andrew McCaskill , LinkedIn , LinkedIn Soon Mee Kim , Omnicom CCN , Omnicom CCN Torod Neptune, Medtronic Patrice Tanaka , Joyful Planet , Joyful Planet Dr. Natalie Tindall , University of Texas Austin The ceremony started with a moving opening address from DAA Board Chair Soon Mee Kim, who poignantly redefined 'DEI': Defend against Exclusion and Ignorance Develop Emotional Intelligence Drive Economic Impact Deliver Excellence and Innovation Definitely Earned It Programming commenced with an engaging fireside chat between Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom PR Group, and Doug Melville, CEO of Jodie AI, discussing their career journeys, and emerging business and communications trends. In a private pre-ceremony Town Hall, DAA unveiled the results of its Equity and Inclusion Survey: Voices of Impact, highlighting the evolving workplace experiences of people of color. Panelists Sabrina Browne, Citibank; Jen Cho, Creator Deck; Denise Penagos, Egami Group; and Eric Winkfield, M Booth, shared expert reflections in a lively panel moderated by Lauren Strayhorn of Notedd. Researchscape International and Notedd sponsored the programming and report. Further driving the conversation, the Alliance Roundtable assembled leading trade and advocacy organization leaders to glean expert perspectives, insights and solutions based on the industry's latest developments regarding equity, representation, inclusion. A report of the findings will be issued in a publication authored by researchers from Howard University and the University of Texas at Austin. "This year's G.E.M.S. honorees are shaping the future of communications, breaking barriers and setting new standards for industry leadership and recognition," said Carmella Glover, President of the DAA. "Their work and presence exemplify the benefits of commitment to equity and belonging that we at the DAA champion every day." To become a sponsor, signatory, or partner of the DAA, visit https://www.diversityactionalliance.org/joindaa About the Diversity Action Alliance The Diversity Action Alliance (DAA) is the Public Relations and Strategic Communication profession's only industrywide non-profit coalition combatting the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the field as measured by recruitment, retention and representation at all levels. Bringing together leaders and organizations to drive and support transformative change toward shared workforce representation and inclusion goals, the primary focus of DAA is those most harmed by racial exclusion. For more information, visit the website and follow the DAA on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. About Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) is the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising, language strategy, global health strategy and organizational transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom Group Inc. www.TeamOPRG.com. SOURCE Diversity Action Alliance The anti-immigrant discourse of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has reached worrying levels. Not content with promising the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, Trump is now threatening to expel 1.3 million immigrants who have arrived legally in the country in the last two years thanks to Biden administration programs such as humanitarian parole (created in 2022 for Venezuelan immigrants and extended to citizens of Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua the following year) and CBP One, the cellphone application that allows asylum seekers to request asylum at eight ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. Figures from the Customs and Border Protection Office indicate that between January 2023 and August 2024, around 800,000 immigrants arrived in the United States thanks to CBP One and another 530,000 on humanitarian flights. I would revoke it and they get out. And, the app is bad, but the worst is is the flights (parole) because they tried to say we are going to toughen up the border a little bit, they have planes flying over the border loaded up with illegal migrants, people that shouldnt be in our country, going to the Midwest, going to all places because everything now is a border state, he said in a telephone interview with FOX News, sending this message to migrants who have been paroled in the U.S.: Get ready to leave, especially quickly if theyre criminals. Get ready to leave because youre going to be going out real fast. The statements have especially alarmed immigrants granted humanitarian parole, who are uncertain about their future after the November 5 elections. Trumps comments come after his running mate, J.D. Vance, questioned the legality of the 20,000 Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio falsely accused by Trump of eating locals pets who received temporary protected status from the Obama administration based on the 1990 law, which allows foreigners who have had to flee their homes due to natural disasters to work and live in the United States. Thousands of Haitians were living illegally in the United States after the January 2010 earthquake that devastated the island. 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 earlier this month. An illegal action by Kamala Harris does not make an alien legal. When asked by reporter Bill Melugin about the Republicans attacks against the CBP One cell phone app and humanitarian flights, Mia Ehrenberg the spokesperson for the Kamala Harris campaign replied: As a prosecutor for over 20 years, Vice President Harris has spent her career putting criminals behind bars and upholding the rule of law in this country [...] As vice president, she supported the bipartisan border security bill, the strongest reform in decades to deliver needed resources for greater border security. As president, she will sign that bill and will fight for tough, smart solutions to secure the border, keep communities safe, and reform our broken immigration system. With this statement, the Democratic campaign is not sending a reassuring message to the immigrants who arrived in the U.S. thanks to the two programs promoted by the Biden-Harris administration. Instead, it is a defense of the bipartisan border security bill, which is not the great immigration reform the U.S. has been in need of for years. The Democratic Party has gone completely to the right with this project, immigration lawyer Ezequiel Hernandez told EL PAIS. It is a taxing, punitive, exclusionary law that only seeks money to stop the flow of immigrants, and leaves out the 15 million illegal immigrants that we already have here. It also does not talk about the Dreamers, she said, in reference to the individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children. Hernandez added: Harris is not at all popular among undocumented immigrants who have American children and pay taxes and dont have a work permit, and see others arrive with the possibility of requesting one without having to do anything. The lawyer dismisses Trumps threats against humanitarian parole, arguing it is not a feasible move. He could eliminate both programs upon entering the White House, but the people who arrived with parole have power because they are legally here even if Trump says otherwise, said Hernandez. These immigrants could go to court to protect themselves, but if they have exceeded the time stipulated by the program [two years] and have not requested asylum or some other option for immigration relief, they are at risk of deportation. Those who entered with CBP One would also be protected. Both programs were designed to prevent immigrants from being exposed to the risks of the Darien crossing and other dangerous migration route, and to reduce illegal crossings. The truth is that parole is a very generous program because you can come with just a sponsor, there is no filter to see if you really qualify for asylum. There are 30,000 people per month from four nationalities, which is not a lot, and the truth is that few people will be affected if this shut down, said Hernandez. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Company restored more than 380,000 customer outages as of 4 p.m. Approximately 1.34 million customers, mostly in western N.C. and the Upstate of S.C., remain without power and should prepare for potential multiday outages About 11,000 workers working quickly and safely on repairs, including additional crews from 19 states and Canada Customers urged to be cautious of damaged equipment, rising lake levels along the Catawba-Wateree River Basin CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy lineworkers, tree trimmers and other storm support workers have begun to assess damage and restore power following Helene's historic destruction in the Carolinas. Wind damage, flooding, adverse road conditions and power outages are particularly widespread across the western portions of North Carolina and South Carolina. As of 4 p.m.: Approximately 1.34 million Duke Energy customers in the Carolinas are without power. This includes nearly 703,000 customers in North Carolina and about 639,000 customers in South Carolina . and about 639,000 customers in . Duke Energy has already restored more than 380,000 customer outages in the Carolinas, including roughly 281,000 in North Carolina and 99,000 in South Carolina . Duke Energy also reports that the effects of flooding and road closures will impede efforts to restore power, especially in western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, where outages are most prevalent. As workers continue performing damage assessments, Duke Energy said it plans to communicate additional information regarding restoration times to customers through dukeenergyupdates.com, Outage Alerts and its Outage Map. "Helene's winds were powerful and destructive and its rains were historic," said Jason Hollifield, storm director for Duke Energy in the Carolinas. "We started monitoring Helene when it was first identified and prepared well in advance for its impact. Even so, the damage is extensive and it could take days to restore power to all customers. "We have over 11,000 storm workers who are committed to doing everything possible to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. We're also bringing in thousands of additional resources to help with power restorations in the hardest hit areas." Reporting a power outage Duke Energy advises customers to report power outages via the Duke Energy app or website, by texting OUT to 57801 or by calling 800.POWERON (800.769.3766). Power restoration process Workers must assess the extent of storm damage before being able to restore most power outages. This process can take 24 hours or more and is necessary to determine what types of workers, equipment and supplies are needed to repair a particular outage. Duke Energy focuses on restoring power as safely and quickly as possible and in a sequence that begins with public health and safety facilities, while also considering how to impact the greatest number of customers. Learn more about how Duke Energy restores power. Thousands of workers from U.S. and Canada In advance of the storm, Duke Energy strategically staged equipment and approximately 11,000 workers power line technicians, damage assessors and vegetation workers at strategic locations across the Carolinas. The workforce includes Duke Energy employees and contractors normally based in the Carolinas and individuals from other electric companies in 19 U.S. states and Canada. Safety recommendations for customers Duke Energy asks customers to stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from state and local emergency management officials. The company also offered these safety tips and reminders: Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines. If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. When using a power generator, always follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure safe and proper operation. This includes operating the generator outside in a well-ventilated area and never inside a building or garage. Please watch for utility crews and turn the generator off when crews are in your area. The electrical load on the power lines can be hazardous for crews making repairs. If rising water threatens your home or if you evacuate your home turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box. Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over or stand near downed power lines. Downed lines may be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path. If your home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a licensed electrician. If there is damage, an electrician will need to make repairs and obtain verification from your local building inspection authority before power can be restored. Potential flooding due to rising lake levels Lake levels continue to rise sharply as heavy precipitation from Helene adds to the many inches of rain the region already received this week. This is especially true for the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, which is composed of a chain of 11 lakes and 12 hydroelectric stations connected by the Catawba River. Duke Energy manages the lakes' water levels while balancing inflows, including from events such as this. The company does this by moving water through its generating units and, where possible, operating spillway gates and flood gates. Because water management in one lake often impacts others, Duke Energy manages the river basins as an entire system. The company began aggressively moving water through the Catawba-Wateree River Basin earlier this week in anticipation of Helene's arrival as well as a separate weather system that dumped heavy rains in the region. Rainfall over the past 48 hours, however, has exceeded initial national and global forecasts. So, even with Duke Energy's aggressive preparations, lake levels have risen sharply and will likely continue to rise, some to historic levels. This has increased major flooding risks in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. The high-water conditions can also create dangerous conditions such as floating debris and electrical hazards. Those living along lakes and rivers should move loose objects away from the shoreline to prevent additional hazards and contact local law enforcement to report dangerous situations involving floating debris. Duke Energy encourages communities along the Catawba-Wateree River Basin to use caution, stay informed and pay close attention to changing streamflow conditions. In addition, the company advises residents to follow the directions of state and county emergency management and watch for emergency notification messages on their mobile phones. Company representatives are actively collaborating with local emergency management officials to ensure they are informed of any changes in water levels. Local authorities will notify residents should evacuations, road closures or electrical disconnects be necessary. Real-time lake level information is available at duke-energy.com/lakes or by calling 800.829.LAKE (5253). Updates are also available through the Duke Energy Lake View mobile app, which is available from the App Store and Google Play. 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. 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 SOURCE Duke Energy Euziel's General Manager Kong Yi opened the celebration by thanking the company's partners for their crucial support. He reviewed Euziel's journey, emphasizing its key role in logistics and warehousing for SONGMICS HOME. To date, Euziel has achieved seamless control over product development, design, sourcing, sales, warehousing, logistics, and supply chain management, ensuring consistent premium home furnishings for consumers globally. The Company's rapid growth in Germany and across Europe in recent years has garnered widespread attention and praise from multiple sectors. Six key partners took the stage to relate their experiences with Euziel. Notably, Markus Bangen, Chairman of Duisburger Hafen AG, affirmed, " We look forward to further fruitful endeavors at the port of Duisburg and wish them continued success and rising customer satisfaction in Europe." Recently, SONGMICS HOME has introduced an innovative serialization concept in product development, significantly enhancing user experiences. The company has launched multiple product collections with unique styles. Peter Lee, Vice President of Product, highlighted the effectiveness of the concept, noting, "Brand serialization is a potent strategy. By unifying product design elements materials, craftsmanship, and colors we enhance product recognition and ensure consistency in user experience, providing a strong foundation for our long-term growth." Additionally, guests were invited to the display area to explore the company's latest TOOLLESS technology. The innovation offers a quick and easy furniture assembly process, which garnered applause from the audience. Euziel's event ended with a guided tour of the new warehouse, showcasing a significant expansion aimed at reducing delivery costs and boosting consumer satisfaction. In 12 years, SONGMICS HOME has transformed the group company into a significant international enterprise. Europe is where the company started its business in. Looking forward, the company plans to enhance its trio of core competenciesproducts, supply chain, and salesproviding families worldwide with stylish, valuable home furnishing solutions with efficient experience, helping everyone to create their ideal living spaces. About SONGMICS HOME SONGMICS HOME was officially established in 2010. We own 3 major product brands including SONGMICS for home furnishings, VASAGLE for stylish furniture, and Feandrea for pet supplies. With the mission of "Complete Your Dream Home", we strive to provide global consumers with stylish and valuable furnishing products. Together with an efficient experience, we are enabling everyone to effortlessly create their dream homes. To date, our products have successfully entered more than 70 countries and regions, including Europe, North and Central America, and Asia, serving over 20 million families worldwide. [email protected] Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517486/11.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515117/DSCF9596.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515118/DSCF9619.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515119/DSCF9766.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515120/DSC05808.jpg WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GiGi's Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest Playhouse in Portland, OR, on Saturday, September 28. The Portland Playhouse marks GiGi's first brick-and-mortar location in Oregon and the organization's 61st Playhouse. The journey to bring a GiGi's to Portland began in 2017 and involved over 50 dedicated community members. The Portland Start-up team's efforts gained new momentum when Brad Johnston joined as Start-up Lead in 2022. Brad and his wife Niki are proud grandparents to nine incredible grandchildren, including Jack, who was born in 2019 and has Down syndrome. With 40 years of experience leading companies, Brad applied his expertise to Portland's Start-up team, helping raise more than $500,000, propelling the Portland Playhouse to open its doors. "I'm thrilled to welcome GiGi's Playhouse Portland as our 61st Playhouse," said Nancy Gianni, Founder and Chief Belief Officer. "The GiGi's Portland team has worked so hard, and now, all of Portland gets to experience our lifetime commitment and free programming!" Nancy and her daughter, GiGi Gianni, the namesake and inspiration of GiGi's Playhouse, will attend the Portland grand opening to usher the new Playhouse into the community. The Portland Playhouse marks a significant expansion since the organization's inception in 2003. After her daughter GiGi was born with Down syndrome, Nancy Gianni was determined to change how the world views Down syndrome. With that in mind, she opened the very first GiGi's Playhouse in Hoffman Estates, IL. In addition to celebrating Down syndrome, GiGi's Playhouse provides free therapeutic, educational, and career programming to individuals with Down syndrome and their families. GiGi's free programming model has expanded to over 61 locations, as well as GiGi's Virtual Playhouse. Portland is the latest city to welcome a GiGi's Playhouse to its community and exemplifies the GiGi's entrepreneurial model created by Nancy Gianni. About GiGi's Playhouse: GiGi's Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers dedicated to providing free therapeutic, educational, and career programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. With over 61 locations across the United States and Mexico, GiGi's Playhouse offers a lifetime commitment while providing individuals with Down syndrome the opportunity to maximize their potential to further grow acceptance, inclusion, and empowerment. For more information, visit here. Contact: Kevin O'Brien, [email protected] SOURCE GiGis Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers Rebel Wilson, Hiroshi Fujiwara Confirmed to Attend Critically Acclaimed MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS Show at Milan Fashion Week Has Garnered 10M Views on YouTube Paris Event Follows YOSHIKI's Performance Honoring Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, at Global Citizen Awards in NY LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anticipation continues to mount for the debut of MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS at Paris Fashion Week, where global superstar YOSHIKI will present his latest ready-to-wear collection on September 30 at Palais de Chaillot. YOSHIKI has already solidified his reputation for pushing boundaries with his genderless style and breathtaking presentations. Celebrities including actress Rebel Wilson and streetwear legend Hiroshi Fujiwara are confirmed to attend. Global superstar YOSHIKI will present his high-fashion line MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS at Paris Fashion Week on September 30 at Palais de Chaillot. The YouTube video of the brand's premiere at Milan Fashion Week has garnered over 10 million views. YOSHIKI stunned the worlds of fashion and rock music after he debuted MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year. The debut received overwhelming attention from major fashion media around the world including Vogue who said, "At MAISON YOSHIKI, modern tailoring and hard-edge details make perfect harmony." FAB UK called it "cutting-edge", and Rain Magazine dubbed the collection "a new era in fashion" and "a beacon of innovation and elegance." The video of the dramatic runway show in Milan is still garnering attention and has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube. VIDEO: MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS at Milan Fashion Week 24/25 (Full Show) https://youtu.be/gVBknbEPi3Y YOSHIKI's upcoming Paris Fashion Week show is the latest event in his whirlwind schedule, including a series of sold-out dinner shows in Japan last month and recording sessions in his L.A. studio for several upcoming releases, like the highly anticipated international theme song to celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary. Earlier this week, YOSHIKI was also invited to perform at the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Awards in NY, as a special guest of honoree Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, who is credited with playing a significant role in elevating the international influence of Korean culture including serving as the Executive Producer of the Academy Award winning film Parasite and Academy-Award nominated film Past Lives. YOSHIKI gave a solo piano performance of his chart-topping X JAPAN song "Endless Rain" to an audience of the world's top industry and government leaders, including co-founder of DreamWorks SKG Jeffrey Katzenberg and Pachinko author Min Jin Lee. The prestigious event, which was held during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly, will be broadcast starting Thursday, October 3, at 9:00am ET at https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/global-citizen-awards/ ABOUT YOSHIKI YOSHIKI is a composer, classically trained pianist, rock drummer, and the leader of the rock group X Japan. YOSHIKI was named "one of the most influential musicians and composers in Japanese history" by Consequence and is described by Billboard as "a musical innovator". In addition to MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS, the multi-faceted creator has introduced a new collection of crystal stemware in collaboration with French crystal maker Baccarat. YOSHIKI's collaboration with Baccarat began in 2021 when he was selected as one of the designers to commemorate Baccarat's 180th anniversary in 2021.This project also stems from YOSHIKI's creation of Y by YOSHIKI wine with the Mondavi family in Napa, California, and the establishment of YOSHIKI's own premiere Champagne brand with renowned French house POMMERY. YOSHIKI launched Yoshikimono in 2009 as a fusion of tradition and innovation. Yoshikimono was chosen to be displayed at the prestigious V&A Museum in London and at the Musee du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac in Paris alongside works from other prominent fashion designers Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and John Galliano. YOSHIKIMONO has headlined Tokyo Fashion Week multiple times since 2015, and he is the first Japanese male talent to be featured on the cover of Vogue Japan. In 2023, YOSHIKI's directorial debut feature film YOSHIKI: Under the Sky premiered in New York, Tokyo, London, and Los Angeles, followed by showings in over 130 theaters in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS Official Website: https://www.maisonyoshikiparis.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maisonyoshiki/ YOSHIKI Official Website: https://www.yoshiki.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/yoshiki SOURCE YOSHIKI NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Guild Garage Group ("Guild"), a newly formed alliance of residential garage door service companies focused on replacement, repair and installation, has announced the completion of its strategic partnership with A Plus Garage Doors ("A Plus"), a portfolio company of Salt Lake City-based investment firm Asilia Partners ("Asilia"). Under the terms of the agreement, Asilia principals will serve on Guild's advisory board to support Guild's founders and management team in executing its buy-and-build strategy. Guild Garage Group has announced the completion of its strategic partnership with A Plus Garage Doors. Post this A Plus Garage Doors is a locally owned and operated garage door services business established in 2005. The business is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. A Plus Garage Doors offers a range of services related to garage doors, including repair options, garage door replacement, and installation. More information about A Plus can be found at https://utahgaragedoors.net/. The strategic partnership combines Guild's eight existing service brands with A Plus, whose more than 140 employees and 80 service trucks make it one of the largest and most profitable standalone garage door service companies in the United States. "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome A Plus to the Guild team. A Plus' scale and sophistication are second to none, and being able to share best practices with and learn from Carrie and the rest of the A Plus team will enable us to maximize the full potential of each of our incredible brands," said Tim O'Reilly, CEO of Guild. Carrie Kelsch, Co-Founder and CEO of A Plus, noted, "We are excited about the growth opportunity that Guild's unique partner model provides, and we are looking forward to working with like-minded companies who share our commitment to providing top-level service. I believe that through our collective partnership, we can be successful in continuing to grow A Plus, while preserving the core attributes of the company that make it so special and distinctive." A Plus' COO, Parker Kelsch, added: "This is a pivotal moment for us. Joining forces with Guild not only expands our capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to providing top notch garage door services to our customers. Together, we are set to redefine excellence in the garage door industry." "This strategic partnership with A Plus marks a significant milestone in Guild's early history," said Jordan Dubin, Co-Founder of Guild. "Carrie is truly an industry icon, and I am honored to call her and the rest of the A Plus team partners." Jordan continued, "Additionally, Asilia's experience building HVAC and other technician services platforms will be an invaluable asset to our leadership team. I could not be more excited for the future of Guild." Blake Boardman, Managing Partner at Asilia, said "We are excited to partner with Guild to help build the market-leading garage door service platform. We have continued to be impressed by how the Guild Team has established themselves as preferred partners to the leading owner operators in the industry. Furthermore, we believe the addition of A Plus to Guild's already dominant group of brands will further establish Guild as the partner of choice within the industry and create an unparallelled opportunity for business owners to unlock the embedded value of their businesses." Guild is actively looking for leading garage door service businesses across the country. Founders and advisors interested in learning more should contact Jordan Dubin at [email protected] . About Guild Garage Group Guild Garage Group is a newly formed alliance of residential garage door service companies and is actively looking to partner with owners of industry-leading companies. Guild is guided by the vision of being the preferred partner to business owners through a "made for you" brand positioning and invests in companies with strong management teams and cultures to create unmatched growth opportunities for them. Guild allows owners to take chips off the table while retaining "unit level ownership" so they continue to benefit from annual distributions and an eventual full exit as their business grows. Guild retains the employees and management teams of the companies it partners with and provides them with the resources and processes they need to better serve their customers, employees, and communities. More information about Guild can be found at https://www.guildgaragegroup.com/ . About A Plus Garage Doors A Plus Garage Doors is a locally owned and operated garage door services business established in 2005. The business is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company boasts over 18,000 positive Google reviews and maintains an A+ Rating by BBB and 5.0 Stars on Google, making it the preferred choice for garage door replacement and repair in Utah. A Plus Garage Doors offers a range of services related to garage doors, including repair options, garage door replacement, and installation. More information about A Plus can be found at https://utahgaragedoors.net/ . About Asilia Partners Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Asilia Partners is a private investment firm that provides flexible equity and debt capital to middle market businesses primarily in the residential and business services sectors. Asilia partners with family- and entrepreneur-owned companies and seeks to create value by focusing on organizational health and using data, technology, and capital resources to grow and improve operations. Its nimble organization and investor base enable it to offer non-traditional capital and business solutions, over short or long hold periods, and across all market cycles. More information about Asilia Partners can be found at https://www.asiliainvestments.com/. SOURCE Guild Garage Group BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hair Club for Men, Ltd., Inc. ("HairClub"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Aderans Co. Ltd., the world's leading provider of total hair loss solutions, partnered with Girls and Boys Club of America to give free haircuts to kids for back-to-school. At HairClub, we help people step into confidence with the hair they envision for themselves. Our stylists understand every appointment has the potential to change someone's life, and we approach each session with this belief in mind. That's why we're thrilled to announce that during August and September, select HairClub centers partnered with local Boys & Girls Clubs chapters to offer free haircuts to kids in need so they can start the school year with enthusiasm. Our commitment to changing lives has always been extended to people of all ages. After a few successful years of partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs, we are proud to continue this relationship, giving back to communities and making a tangible difference in the lives of young students. This isn't "just" a free haircut. To the kids of the Boys & Girls Clubs, it means facing the new school year with a strengthened sense of self-esteem, ready to take on any challenge. When children feel proud of their appearance, it sets a positive tone for their academic and social success. This aligns with both HairClub's mission and the goals of the Boys & Girls Clubsto uplift, empower, and provide opportunities for growth. We're committed to making this difference in our communities. With nearly 50 years of experience, HairClub is a leader in understanding the deep personal connection people have with their hair and how their hair impacts their confidence and self-esteem. While we primarily focus on providing solutions for hair loss, we also believe in offering support to all members of the community. That's why this initiative is especially important to us. As we continue to partner with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we remain committed to serving our communities with care, passion, and gratitude. "A heartfelt thank you to HairClub Stylists for their incredible support and generosity to offer their time and skills to Boys and Girls Club. They made a lasting impact and should inspire us all", says Michele Avis, VP of Human Resources. About HairClub Founded in 1976, HairClub is North America's leading provider of proven hair loss prevention and regrowth, hair replacement, and hair restoration solutions. For nearly 50 years, HairClub has helped hundreds of thousands restore their hair and transform their lives. Today, HairClub has over 100 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Aderans Co. Ltd., the world's leading provider of total hair loss solutions. For more information, visit hairclub.com . SOURCE HairClub New York fashion brand, HIROMI ASAI, develops men's wears all made of Japanese Kimono textiles since 2017. HIROMI ASAI presents Spring/Summer 2025 collection in Paris during Paris Fashion Week at 4pm CET on September 30th, 2024. NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New York based fashion brand, HIROMI ASAI, (www.hiromiasainy.com) has been trying to revive the essence of Japanese Kimono for modern luxury fashion. The designer, Hiromi Asai, first presented authentic Kimonos on the runway at New York Fashion Week in 2016. Subsequently, HIROMI ASAI has been developing men's wears made of Japanese Kimono textiles, which were presented at Pitti Uomo, New York, Miami, and Paris Fashion Weeks every season since 2017. HIROMI ASAI gets international acclaims for its unique styles and concepts, and outstanding qualities. HIROMI ASAI returns to Paris Fashion Week for SS25 collection, following to the presentation at New York Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week HIROMI ASAI returns to Paris Fashion Week for SS25 collection, following to the presentation at New York Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week Following the successful presentation at New York Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week, HIROMI ASAI returns to Paris Fashion Week and presents Spring/Summer 2025 (SS25) collection on the runway in Paris, starting at 4pm CET on September 30, 2024. The show is held with Flying Solo designers. The collection title is "TRANSITIONING SEASONS," which represents the sequence of seasons and unveils once-in-a-lifetime encounter clothing. This collection features patchworks and vivid colors. Japanese traditional motifs are excellently integrated in this collection, which implies the course of nature during the transitional seasons. HIROMI ASAI always respects Japanese tradition and evolves traditional Japanese textiles to worldwide high fashion by progressive forms with all details inspired by Kimono. Japanese craftsmen, who usually manufacture textiles for authentic Kimono, and Hiromi Asai developed new textiles for this collection. The collection was tailored by Japanese unparalleled techniques. HIROMI ASAI collection should be recognized as treasures created by Japanese artisanship. "I am excited to present my new collection in Paris again. On this collection I feature a variety of colors, which represents the transitioning seasons. I am truly inspired by beauty of the transitional reasons which can be seen in Japan." Ms. Hiromi Asai said. "The essence of Kimono stays in the fabrics rather than in its forms. We continue evolving Japanese traditional textiles to luxury high fashion for all over the world." After this presentation, SS25 collection will be available at the boutique and showroom in New York; Flying Solo (flyingsolo.nyc) or its online store (flyingsolo.nyc/designer/hiromi-asai). In addition, it will also appear at Maison Privee in West Hollywood, California (www.instagram.com/maisonpriveepr_la). DETAILED INFORMATION OF THE RUNWAY SHOW HIROMI ASAI @ Flying Solo Spring/Summer 2025, Flying Solo Paris Fashion Week Show Date and Time: Monday, September 30, 2024; 4:00pm CET (Central European Time) Location: La Galerie Bourbon - 79 bis Av. Marceau, 75116 Paris, France (Only by invitation) DETAILED INFORMATION OF SALES and SHOWROOM For Sales Flying Solo, The Store 420 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA 646-982 1133 https://flyingsolo.nyc Also available at Online Store https://flyingsolo.nyc/designer/hiromi-asai For PR and Showroom Flying Solo PR - The Copper Room 419 Broome St, New York, NY 10013, USA https://www.instagram.com/flyingsolo_pr Maison Privee 8285 Sunset Blvd. Suite #1, West Hollywood, CA 90046 https://www.maisonpriveepr.com HIROMI ASAI WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA HP: https://www.hiromiasainy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiromi.asai Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modeandclassic Media Contact: Hiromi Asai +1-646-242-4156 [email protected] SOURCE HIROMI ASAI - Mode & Classic LLC CHANGCHUN, China, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- October 14th - 20th, HONGQI, the "World's New Luxury" automotive brand, will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show 2024, introducing its latest electric vehicles: the EH7 sedan and the EHS7 SUV. Both models will be available for open orders in Europe during the event, marking a significant milestone in HONGQI's expansion into the European market. HONGQI The two all-electric models, the EH7 and EHS7, showcased at this event blend Chinese craftsmanship with cutting-edge engineering. Built on the "TianGong" Electric Platform, these vehicles seamlessly integrate "beyong driving", "beyong comfort" and "beyong technology" reflecting HONGQI's vision for the future of mobility. HONGQI's new models aim to deliver a powerful yet smooth driving experience, showcasing exceptional driving dynamics and comfort. Both the EH7 and EHS7 are equipped with a 22,500 RPM electric motor, allowing for top speeds of up to 200 km/h. The EHS7 achieves 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.9 seconds, while the EH7 reaches the same speed in a remarkable 3.5 seconds, offering supercar-level performance. The rear-wheel steering and advanced braking system (with a braking distance of just 36 meters from 100 km/h) further enhance precise handling, ensuring a thrilling and responsive driving experience. Inside the cabin, the vehicle offers a world of comfort and luxury. With hand-stitched NAPPA leather seats, passengers can enjoy the utmost comfort on any journey. The premium finishes, on par with top-tier luxury vehicles, exude an air of prestige and elegance throughout. Additionally, the advanced "iDCS Self-Adjusting Continuous Damping Shock Absorbers" easily adapt to various terrains, providing a smooth driving experience. Both models feature dual-screen displays and a 63-inch AR-HUD, alongside comprehensive driver assistance. Fast-charging capabilities enable a 10% to 80% charge in just 20 minutes, ideal for long-distance travel. Their sleek, nature-inspired exterior combines power and elegance, while impressive range capabilitiesup to 655 km for the EH7 and 600 km for the EHS7ensure sustainability without compromising on performance, positioning HONGQI's new models at the forefront of luxury electric vehicle technology. In addition to delivering world-class electric mobility solutions, HONGQI has established a robust after-sales network across multiple European countries, offering customers comprehensive service and support. HONGQI invites European users to explore open order options and experience the future of driving at the Paris Motor Show 2024. Website: https://www.hongqi-auto.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2517869/HONGQI.jpg HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision made a significant impact at the ITS World Congress in Dubai with its captivating theme, "Embrace AIoT for safer, smarter, and greener mobility." Its booth became a hub of innovation, where visitors explored AIoT solutions that are reshaping the transportation landscape, sparking deep conversations on the future of urban mobility. Road safety revolution: harnessing AIoT for secure transportation How AIoT shapes the future of mobility: Hikvision at ITS World Congress 2024 Hikvision's commitment to road safety was on full display at its booth through the impressive array of AIoT solutions designed to create secure and reliable traffic environments. The company's technology provides 24/7 traffic monitoring, ensuring continuous oversight of motor vehicles, non-motorized vehicles, pedestrians and environmental factors. This comprehensive, real-time information collection enables traffic managers to prevent accidents and enhance road safety. Among the showcased products was the 20 MP IR ANPR Checkpoint Capture Unit, renowned for its high-definition capture capabilities, bolstering traffic safety measures. A standout innovation was the integration of advanced radar and camera technologies, ensuring uninterrupted, comprehensive detection even in adverse weather conditions. The Radar-Video Fusion Incident Detection Cameras, featured prominently in the product experience area, enable early detection and warning of potential hazards. They are particularly effective in challenging situations such as curved roads, blind spots at intersections, and obstacles beyond visual range. Attendees also engaged with onboard monitoring products on the simulated bus, including dome network cameras, which is designed to enhance passenger safety. Driving assistance products, such as the Driver Status Monitor (DSM), were demonstrated to mitigate unsafe driving behaviors and ensure safer journeys. Urban mobility redefined: smart traffic innovations In the realm of smarter mobility, Hikvision showcased its multidimensional sensing technology, which integrates visible light sensors, infrared sensors, radar, and sonar. This technology expands perception capabilities, significantly improving traffic management and situational awareness. The use of AI-powered comprehensive sensing elevates incident monitoring and violation detection to unprecedented levels of accuracy and efficiency. A major attraction was the Radar-Video Fusion TandemVu PTZ Camera, which integrates millimeter-wave radar with high-resolution cameras for extensive traffic detection and data analysis. AI-based algorithms combine these two systems to enhance target information, detecting up to 16 types of incidents. This leads to the development of a large-scale fusion model that merges spatial physical data with image semantic information. The result is ultra-long-range perception, achieving over 95% accuracy in vehicle trajectory detection. This robust system improves traffic violation management and optimizes traffic flow, significantly enhancing road efficiency. At the simulated bus station, visitors observed how AI-assisted people counting automated the collection of passenger flow statistics at peak stop hours and bus line frequency during busy periods. Paired with smart bus stop digital signage, the solution improves bus service quality, operational efficiency, passenger experience, and overall public transport effectiveness. Sustainable transportation: leading the charge for greener cities Hikvision's commitment to sustainable urban mobility was evident through its innovative green wave technology and eco-friendly checkpoint solutions. Green wave technology efficiently manages traffic flow to reduce congestion and lower carbon emissions, aligning with global sustainability goals. Visitors were particularly impressed by a case study showcasing a green wave solution implemented in Zhoushan, China. Over a stretch of 21 kilometers and 34 intersections, this main road cut travel times by 50%. The use of DarkFighterX technology in checkpoint cameras also received significant attention. This technology senses both visible and invisible light, resulting in more accurate and realistic images. It enhances traffic violation enforcement efficiency while minimizing the need for high ambient light levels, thus reducing light pollution. The 9M DarkfightX ANPR Checkpoint Camera exemplified this dedication to environmental stewardship. Frank Zhang, President of Hikvision MEA, remarked, "Hikvision supports sustainable urban planning by empowering traffic departments to address congestion and transportation challenges." He further emphasized, "Our system's openness fosters a secure and reliable platform for developing smart and green cities. Additionally, our solar technology is extensively utilized in remote areas, while our smart street lighting solutions reduce energy consumption by 20-30%, promoting intelligent urban transportation and advancing global sustainability objectives." Hikvision's presence at the ITS World Congress in Dubai underscored its leadership in integrating AIoT technologies to drive safer, smarter, and greener mobility solutions. The engaging presentations and advanced product demonstrations captured significant attention from industry partners and customers, reaffirming the company's role as a pioneer in shaping the future of urban transportation. As the world moves towards more intelligent and sustainable transportation systems, Hikvision remains at the forefront, embracing AIoT to create a safer, smarter, and greener future for all. To find out more about Hikvision's advanced traffic and public transport solutions, please explore the Hikvision official website. SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn about how people in Kubuqi, China's seventh-largest desert, utilize high technology to create green miracle concerning both desert greening and green energy development. How China turned the 'Sea of Death' into a solar oasis The Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest desert, is nestled in the northern part of the Ordos Plateau in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was once called the "Sea of Death" because of its harsh conditions. For generations, local people battled the expanding desert, and this harsh environment shaped their lives. As the dunes grew, many were forced to abandon their homes. But today, something amazing is happening here a green revolution! The Dalad Photovoltaic Power Base in Ordos is the first PV power project in the Kubuqi Desert. It started construction in 2017, with full capacity grid connection achieved by the end of 2019. The project has a capacity of 1 million kilowatts, covering a total area of 50,000 mu (around 3,333.33 hectares). It generates approximately 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which can meet the yearly electricity needs of 300,000 to 400,000 urban residents. The solar panels and their supports do more than just generate power. They also help stop sand dunes from moving and keep moisture in the soil, which fights against the spread of the desert. There is an innovative model: generating power above, restoring land below, and cultivating crops between panels. This approach has helped reclaim 50,000 mu of desert land. Besides growing grass, what other new possibilities are there under the solar panels? During our visit to a 2-million-kW photovoltaic sand control project in Hanggin Banner, Ordos, we discovered some exciting new developments. It's not just fruits and vegetables; there are chickens, too! In the Kubuqi Desert, once one of China's driest areas, people are leveraging solar power not just for energy, but as a tool to help care for the environment. Ordos has changed a lot. Before, the desert was taking over the land where people lived. Now, plants are growing back and covering the area again. Local people are feeling hopeful; young folks are choosing to stay and explore the treasures of their hometown. The two PV power bases in Dalad and Hanggin banners are part of Ordos' efforts to build a "Great Wall of Solar Panels" across the Kubuqi Desert. This project aims to create a "Great Wall" that promotes ecological conservation, green energy production, industrial growth, innovation, and shared prosperity for the local people. Ordos, once known as the "coal capital," is now embracing a cleaner future. The city is building a new system that combines different types of green energy. This system works like this: Wind turbines and solar panels generate clean energy. The power is then stored in batteries or converted to hydrogen fuel. Finally, eco-friendly trucks use this green energy to run. All parts of this process work together seamlessly. And the story of green development in Ordos is just getting started. Official: http://www.china.org.cn/china/2024-09/24/content_117446966.htm SOURCE China.org.cn KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 13:22 | All, World The U.S. government on Friday quadrupled the tariff rate on Chinese electric vehicles to 100 percent and sharply raised tariffs on Chinese goods in other areas of strategic importance, such as steel and solar products. With China only hinting so far about the possibility of countermeasures, the steep U.S. tariff hikes have come into effect. The rate on steel and aluminum products was lifted to 25 percent from the previous range of zero to 7.5 percent, while duties on solar cells and semiconductors were doubled to 50 percent. The hikes were first announced by President Joe Biden in May, about two months before he ended his reelection campaign, amid an intensifying race with his predecessor Donald Trump for the White House. Biden has criticized China for flooding global markets with products made through massive governmental subsidies and sold at unfairly low prices. He has said the raising of tariffs is aimed at preventing China from threatening U.S. manufacturing jobs. Many other Western countries have also stepped up pressure on China, criticizing its overcapacity for potentially distorting global prices and impacting their workers. The European Commission has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 36.3 percent on Chinese-made electric cars. Canada is due to impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese EV imports starting next month. But when it comes to the new U.S. rate on Chinese EVs, it is widely seen as a symbolic step ahead of the November presidential election in which Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, now faces the Republican Trump. Unlike in Europe, where many low-priced Chinese EVs are sold, there are hardly any driven in the United States. The U.S. market was also largely shielded from them by the duty imposed by Trump during his term in the White House. All the concerned tariffs fall under Section 301 of the U.S. 1974 trade law, which authorizes the use of levies against a foreign country's allegedly unfair practices. The section was a favorite tool of Trump in justifying the imposition of higher duties on Chinese imports when he started a trade war with Beijing in 2018. Related coverage: Biden hits Chinese EVs, other key goods with much higher tariffs HandicapMD.com Offers Easy Online Certification for Disabled Parking Permits in California SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Navigating the process of obtaining a handicap parking placard in California just became simpler and more accessible, thanks to HandicapMD.com, the state's premier resource for disabled parking permits. Whether due to a temporary injury, pregnancy, or a permanent disability, Californians can now secure disabled parking permits through a HIPAA-compliant online platform. What Is a Handicap Placard and Why Is It Important? A handicap placard allows individuals with qualifying disabilities to park in designated accessible parking spaces, improving access to closer parking. HandicapMD.com simplifies this process by providing the required medical certification from licensed professionals, all from the convenience of your home. Simplifying the Process for a Disabled Parking Permit in California California requires medical documentation to verify an individual's eligibility for a disabled parking placard. This is where HandicapMD.com steps in, offering convenient telemedicine evaluations by experienced doctors who specialize in ADA eligibility guidelines. The service is available for both permanent and temporary disabilities, including conditions like arthritis, heart disease, mobility impairments, and post-surgical recovery. Here's how to get a California handicap placard through HandicapMD: Sign up on the HandicapMD.com website. Schedule a video consultation with one of HandicapMD's licensed medical professionals. Once approved, receive your completed DMV form, ready for submission. Why Choose HandicapMD.com? HandicapMD stands out as a trusted resource for obtaining disabled parking permits in California. By utilizing this online platform, patients save time, avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor's office. With a growing demand for telemedicine services, HandicapMD.com is proud to provide this service for California, as well as Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York. Georgia, & most states About HandicapMD.com HandicapMD.com is an innovative telemedicine platform that offers certified medical evaluations for individuals seeking online disabled parking permits. Fully compliant with state and federal guidelines, HandicapMD specializes in providing expert consultations for handicap placard. For more information on how to get a handicap parking permit in California, visit HandicapMD.com. Contact: Ena D [email protected] (833) DMV-3825 Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13040588 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE HandicapMD CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- North Park University proudly hosted its annual Service Day this month, uniting 230 students, faculty, and staff in a shared commitment to community engagement and social responsibility. University Ministries (UMin) organized the event under the joint leadership of Ben Swihart, coordinator of global partnerships and community outreach, and third-year student Davianna Schuh. They began planning months ago, organizing lists of local volunteer sites, recruiting volunteers, and communicating with local aldermen and community groups. "The groups we landed on took inspiration from the climate survey," Schuh said, referring to the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments Survey conducted spring 2023. "Across all demographic backgrounds, students felt they wished they had more opportunities give back to their communities." Many North Parkers are commuter students from nearby neighborhoods, so Swihart and Schuh chose organizations primarily on the North and West Sides. Volunteers could choose from sites such as Concordia Place, Nourishing Hope, and Sarah's Circle, a women's shelter with multiple locations on the North Side. "Everyone has something they can feel excited about helping with," Swihart said. Several students addressed their concern for the disadvantaged by aiding refugees and the homeless, while the environmentally minded cleaned the Chicago River. Swihart said he hopes this year's event is the first of many and that North Park continues to build long-term relationships with its partner organizations. "The idea is for them to get to know us, to say, 'Oh, this North Parker came and built this shelving unit for us last year, or painted this room,' and they trust us and what we do," he said, adding he hopes the service also leads to internships and other opportunities for students. Service is a core pillar of NPU's mission, which is to foster a culture of empathy and civic responsibility that encourages the campus community to engage with local organizations, thus enhancing our students' educational experiences and making a tangible impact on the neighborhoods we serve. North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st-century America. SOURCE North Park University Revolutionary Solution for Smoother Healing and Significantly Reduced Scar Visibility MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BRIJ Medical is excited to announce the launch of Brijjit Scar Therapy, a game-changing solution that allows surgeons to grow their practice and helps patients take proactive control over scar prevention from the second the incision is closed throughout all of the key stages of wound healing. Tissue Bridge Technology BRIJ Medical Launches Brijjit Scar Therapy - Help Prevent Bad Scars Before They Start Powered by Brijjit Force Modulating Tissue Bridges, this groundbreaking approach tackles scar formation from the outset, unlike traditional treatments that focus on scars after they form. Brijjit addresses the issue right at the source by relieving tension on the incision immediately after surgery. Proven in a randomized clinical trial with UT Southwestern Medical Center and a study led by Dr. Holly Wall, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Brijjit has been shown to reduce scar area by 38% and decrease wound breakdown by 90%. By eliminating up to 100% of tension on the incision, Brijjit empowers patients with greater control over their recovery and scar outcomes. "Scarring is a major concern for surgical patients, something I encountered firsthand as a plastic surgeon. It's what inspired the creation of Brijjit," said Dr. Monte Eaves, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of BRIJ Medical. "Brijjit Scar Therapy is a true game changerhelping surgeons achieve better scar outcomes while empowering patients to take an active role in their recovery." As featured in the recent New York Times article, "The Power of a Smaller Breast," there is a growing trend of patients opting for breast reduction surgery, even if it means accepting the potential for scars. Now, surgeons can offer a comprehensive solution that addresses both wound breakdown and scar therapyall in a single device. Dr. Killeen, the surgeon featured in the article, uses Brijjit devices to Relieve the Tension on her breast surgeries, including with Cheyenne, the patient featured in the article. Program Details By offering Brijjit Scar Therapy direct to patients, surgeons can improve patient outcomes, grow their practice, and empower patients to take control of their scar healing through every stage of post-surgical recovery. BRIJ Medical now offers a detailed guide with best practices and a step-by-step implementation guide to streamline the integration of Brijjit Scar Therapy into their practice. For more information, visit BRIJmedical.com and discover how the Brijjit Scar Therapy Program is transforming post-surgical care and patient healing. About BRIJ Medical Our flagship product, the Brijjit Force Modulating Tissue Bridge, is clinically proven in multiple studies, including a randomized clinical trial, to reduce wound breakdown by 90% and reduce scar area by 38%. It eliminates up to 100% of tension on incisions and healing wounds, while also saving surgeons time (up to 9x faster than sutures), and is a cost-effective solution for practices, ASCs and hospitals alike. At BRIJ, we provide enhanced control and confidence at every step of the healing journey. For more information, visit BRIJmedical.com. SOURCE BRIJ Medical The brand's latest innovation includes the SENSONIC Toothbrush that cleans deep in hard-to-reach areas with contoured bristles that hug tooth surfaces plus three (3) cleaning modes: clean, stain removal, and gum care. Alongside the SENSONIC Toothbrush, the WATERPIK water flosser comes with five (5) specialty flossing tips, 360-degree tip rotation to reach the whole mouth, and ten (10) water pressure settings, delivering a truly customizable experience. The five (5) flossing tips include: two (2) Precision Tips for general use, one (1) Orthodontic Tip for braces and orthodontics, one (1) Plaque Seeker Tip for crowns and bridges, and one (1) Implant Denture Tip for implant retained dentures. Each tip is specially designed to address the most common dental needs. "WATERPIK'S latest innovation is a true testament to the brand's commitment to developing personalized oral care solutions that allow consumers to truly take control of their oral health," said Charisse Winecki, WATERPIK Vice President of Global Marketing. "Harnessing the power of water, SENSONIC Complete Care combines two of the brand's fan-favorite products into one device, making it easy to improve oral health at home." SENSONIC Complete Care transforms the power of water with PRECISIONPULSE technology, proven to deliver an effective combination of water pressure and pulsations removing up to 99.9% of plaque bacteria2 that can cause gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath. When the WATERPIK water flosser and SENSONIC Toothbrush are used together as directed, SENSONIC Complete Care is up to 3X as effective as manual brushing for improving gum health. The new WATERPIK SENSONIC Complete Care is now available for purchase at Amazon and Walmart.com. For more information, visit waterpik.com. About The Waterpik Brand WATERPIK is the #1 water flosser brand recommended by dental professionals in the U.S.1 and are proudly engineered in Colorado, USA. The company, founded in 1962 by a dentist and hydraulic engineer, has a rich history of innovation and design, engineering their products to deliver the wellness benefits of water in multiple new-to-the world products including the iconic original WATER FLOSSER and the world's first flossing toothbrush SONIC FUSION. Water Pik, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. 1 Professional AAU, 400 Dental Professionals, October 2023. 2 From treated areas. In vitro, data on file. Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE Waterpik LISBON, Portugal, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotbit Hedge Fund , a leading performance-focused market maker, participated at TOKEN2049 Singapore , one of the world's most famous crypto events. TOKEN2049 Singapore, which took place from September 18th to 20th, attracted over 20,000 participants from 7,000+ companies in 150+ countries. The event brought together leading entrepreneurs, investors, and media representatives, creating a unique platform for fostering collaboration in the crypto economy. With its own booth and an exclusive party, Gotbit Hedge Fund participated in high-level networking and presented its industry insights to attendees. The company's booth attracted over 2,000 visitors, and they hosted over 500 meetings. Gotbit Hedge Fund raffled off 2,000 boxes of company merch, containing t-shirts, power banks, and water bottles. As a gold sponsor, they also participated in Memecon and co-hosted the Triangle's " Accelerating Telegram & TON " event. Gotbit Hedge Fund had 10 representatives at the event, including Founder & CEO Alex Andryunin, COO Mark Strelchik, CBDO Grant Khalapian, and others. Moreover, Gotbit's Hedge Fund's exclusive OG party, known for bringing together top industry leaders, hosted over 700 guests. With 5,000 requests for tickets to the party, their event further cemented its reputation as one of the top networking hubs. "Our participation in TOKEN2049 Singapore allowed us to interact with key industry players and gain valuable insights. The main narratives of the event highlighted the early potential of meme tokenswith Binance listing memes twice a week, investors are eager to discover new opportunities in the 2050 million range. We will use these insights and connections to further strengthen our influence in the crypto market," said Alex Andryunin, Founder & CEO of Gotbit Hedge Fund. About Gotbit Hedge Fund Gotbit Hedge Fund a leading performance-focused market maker. The company's team includes 200+ experts who come from top financial and mathematical institutions, as well as former employees of leading traditional financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, PwC, and McKinsey. Gotbit Hedge Fund, with a proven track record of over 500 successful use cases, has provided market-making services for leading projects such as GT protocol, ChainGPT, Powerpool, Walken, Scallop, and others. As for the meme field, notable token cases include Myro, Ponke, Bonk, MUMU, and BEER. SOURCE Gotbit Hedge Fund RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LandGate, a leading provider of comprehensive data and analysis in the real estate and energy sectors, has released a groundbreaking white paper for the state of Virginia on data center development. This in-depth report offers a detailed examination of Virginia's pivotal role in the burgeoning data center market, positioning it as a crucial pillar in the ongoing digital revolution. In today's rapidly evolving digital economy, data centers serve as the backbone for diverse industries, facilitating essential data storage, processing, and management. LandGate's analysis reveals that the data center market is poised for significant growth, with power capacity expected to double by 2029, reflecting an impressive growth rate of 51.4% over the next decade. "Ashburn is often dubbed as the 'Data Center Alley.' Virginia has established itself as a major hub for data centers across the United States. The state's wealth of land, robust infrastructure, reliable power supply, and favorable economic conditions continue to attract numerous data centers annually," says Yoann Hispa, CEO of LandGate. LandGate's data highlights Virginia's dominance, hosting over 420 data centers across colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise projects. Remarkably, Virginia accounts for over 35% of all known hyperscale data center projects worldwide, underscoring its leadership in data storage resources across the nation. The white paper is an essential resource for investors and developers looking to capitalize on this thriving market. It provides valuable insights into the factors driving Virginia's growth, the state's competitive advantages, and the future opportunities within the data center sector. Key Highlights Include: Virginia's role as a major data center hub within the United States . role as a major data center hub within . Projected growth of data center power capacity in Virginia , doubling by 2029. , doubling by 2029. Factors contributing to Virginia's dominance, including land availability, infrastructure, and economic conditions. Click here to download the full white paper. About LandGate LandGate is the leading provider of data solutions for site selection, origination, development, financing, and market analysis of US renewable energy and infrastructure projects: solar, data centers, EV's, energy storage, wind, carbon, and CCS. SOURCE LandGate NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of Pre-IPO shares through funds issued by Late Stage Asset Management, LLC between March 2019 and March 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 30, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased Pre-IPO shares through funds issued by Late Stage Asset Management, LLC between March 2019 and March 2023, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Late Stage class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=27548 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 30, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the complaint, during the Class Period, the defendants orchestrated a scheme whereby a network of unregistered sales agents fraudulently offered and sold retail investors purportedly "no-fee" unregistered securities in private (Pre-IPO) companies, which turned out to have artificial prices inflated with fees that the defendants took as profit. The complaint further alleges that the defendants made numerous false and misleading statements during the sale of these illegal, unregistered securities in violation of the federal securities laws. To join the Late Stage class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=27548 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced seven presentations on investigational ND0612 in Parkinson's disease (PD) will be shared at the 2024 International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS), being held September 27-October 1 in Philadelphia, Pa. ND0612 is being evaluated as a continuous, 24 hours/day subcutaneous infusion of liquid levodopa/carbidopa. "We're looking forward to showcasing an exciting array of Parkinson's disease research from our Phase 2 and 3 studies at MDS, including one-year outcomes from the open-label extension period of our pivotal Phase 3 BouNDless trial, whose 12-week results were published earlier this year," said Gustavo A. Suarez Zambrano, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs, MTPA. "These data presentations reinforce our dedication to the ongoing evaluation of investigational ND0612 and commitment to learning more about Parkinson's disease that nearly one-million people are living with in the U.S."1 MTPA's posters will be presented in Exhibit Hall A on September 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET: Presentation Details: Presentations include a range of data from the pivotal Phase 3 BouNDless trial (NCT04006210) evaluating ND0612 in people with PD experiencing motor fluctuations, utilizing data derived from patient-reported outcomes assessing quality of life and motor experiences of daily living, among other findings. Additionally, one-year outcomes from the ongoing open-label extension phase of the BouNDless trial will be presented. Quality of Life with 24-hour Subcutaneous Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612): PDQ-39 Results from a Phase 3 Randomized, Active-Controlled Study Abstract #: 648 Efficacy of Continuous Subcutaneous Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) on Motor Signs of PD and Experiences of Daily Living Abstract #: 685 Impact of 24-hour Subcutaneous Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) on Motor State Transitions Throughout the Day Abstract #: 683 Subgroup Analyses of a Phase 3, Randomized Study of Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) for Parkinson's Patients Abstract #: 666 Long-Term Efficacy of 24-hour Subcutaneous Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) for Motor Fluctuations in Parkinson's Disease Abstract #: 653 Additional presentations will highlight findings from analyses of Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies evaluating treatment outcomes from a 24-hour regimen of ND0612, including the characterization of infusion site reactions in patients reported as adverse events (AEs) and the characterization of dopaminergic treatment-emergent AEs reported in patients. Characterization of Infusion Site Reactions With 24-hour Subcutaneous Infusion of ND0612 Abstract #: 665 Dopaminergic Adverse Events With 24-hour Subcutaneous Infusion of ND0612 Abstract #: 684 MTPA will also host an educational disease awareness discussion on PD during the Corporate Therapeutic Symposium on September 29, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. About ND0612 ND0612 is an investigational drug-device combination therapy a 24-hours/day, continuous subcutaneous (SC) infusion of liquid levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) for the treatment of motor fluctuations in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Development of investigational ND0612 is being led by NeuroDerm, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). It was established by MTPC to develop and advance our pipeline as well as commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook and LinkedIn . About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), the pharma arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, founded in 1678. MTPC is headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. MCG has positioned health care as its strategic focus in its management policy, "Forging the future". MTPC sets the MISSION of "Creating hope for all facing illness". To that end, MTPC is working on the disease areas of central nervous system, immuno-inflammation, diabetes and kidney, and cancer. MTPC is focusing on "precision medicine" to provide drugs with high treatment satisfaction and additionally working to develop "around the pill solutions" to address specific patient concerns based on therapeutic medicine, including prevention of diseases, pre-symptomatic disease care, prevention of aggravation and prognosis. For more information, go to https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/ . About NeuroDerm, Ltd. NeuroDerm, Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), based in Israel, inspired to reduce disease burden and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through innovative drug-device combination therapies and technologies. NeuroDerm is an integrated pharmaceutical and medical technology company developing central nervous system (CNS) product candidates. For additional information, please visit NeuroDerm's website at www.neuroderm.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn . Media inquiries: [email protected] 1 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parkinson's Disease: Challenges, Progress and Promise. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/current-research/focus-disorders/parkinsons-disease-research/parkinsons-disease-challenges-progress-and-promise#:~:text=Approximately%20500%2C000%20Americans%20are%20diagnosed,1%20million%20Americans%20have%20PD. Accessed August 2024. SOURCE Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America HOI AN, Vietnam, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Namia River Retreat, the only 5-star villa resort in the heart of Hoi An is set to welcome guests from 15 December 2024, just in time for the festive holiday season. Located on a tranquil islet overlooking the Thu Bon River, the resort is just a short bicycle ride from the UNESCO Heritage Town of Hoi An. Here, visitors can explore vibrant streets adorned with colourful facades and lanterns, relax in quaint cafes serving authentic Vietnamese coffee, and witness local artists beautifully capturing daily Vietnamese life on canvas. Namia River Retreat - Hoi An's Newest Cultural Wellness Resort Opening December 2024 Namia River Retreat elevates the concept of luxury, with 60 spacious villas, each equipped with a private pool that ensures privacy and tranquillity. Guests can indulge in traditional wellness therapies and take part in authentic cultural activities that draw inspiration from the rich heritage of the ancient town. During their stay, guests are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture through unique experiences. Options include a bamboo bicycle ride through the lush Nipa Forest, encounters with local artisans, or a serene sunset riverboat cruise. Namia River Retreat promises an unforgettable experience that combines luxury with cultural immersion, making it a perfect destination for relaxation and exploration. Daily rates will start from USD700 ++ and include: Pool Villa on an islet in Thu Bon River (with either Nipa Palm Forest or River Views) All-Day Breakfast and complimentary mini-bar excluding alcohol for two guests Daily Wellness Journey per person, per night (herbal steam & traditional spa therapy for 90 minutes) Complimentary Cultural Experiences (bamboo bicycle trail & sundowner cruise) Personalised 'Meet a Local 'in Hoi An (craft your own story - via APP or in-person) DESIGNED WITH NATURE Each of the resort's 60 pool villas is designed with elegance and comfort in mind, drawing inspiration from the lush Nipa palm forest that envelops the resort. The open-plan living area invites guests to relax and unwind, while the outdoor terrace provides a perfect spot to take in the breathtaking views of either the verdant forest or the serene Thu Bon River. Inside, the spacious bedroom serves as a private retreat, featuring a sunken bathtub with picturesque views of the private pool. The en-suite bathroom is thoughtfully designed with a refreshing shower, ensuring every aspect is geared toward relaxation. CULINARY DELIGHTS INSPIRED BY LOCAL FLAVOURS Culinary delights await at the poolside restaurant and bar, Nam Eatery, which serves an all-day menu inspired by the local fishing culture. At Mia Dining, guests are immersed in a culinary journey that celebrates the rich flavours and vibrant ingredients of Hoi An. The chefs skilfully draw upon the area's local spices and farm-to-table fresh produce to craft distinctive Vietnamese dishes that cater to the tastes of discerning palates. For those seeking an unforgettable experience, a leisurely riverboat dinner cruise offers a romantic setting to savour these culinary delights while enjoying the picturesque scenery of the waterway. To enhance the experience further, visitors can also explore a thoughtfully curated market display featuring locally sourced spices, artisanal coffee, and unique handicrafts. WELLBEING AND MINDFULNESS Staying at Namia River Retreat offers guests an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in a uniquely crafted wellness journey tailored to individual needs. Each stay includes a complimentary 90-minute daily well-being experience including a 30-minute herbal hammam, followed by a 60-minute traditional therapy session. In addition to these experiences, the retreat features an on-site apothecary that draws from ancient healing methods. Guests can participate in traditional Duong Sinh (a morning movement practice that harmonises the body and mind), Xong Hoi (a folk remedy steam prescription), and Dien Chan (oriental facial reflexology) for a comprehensive and nourishing wellness journey. To enhance their stay, guests are encouraged to partake in daily mindful rituals such as a silent meditation walk, a lantern lighting ceremony, or visiting the wishing tree. These experiences allow guests to connect deeply with themselves and the serene surroundings of Namia River Retreat. Here, wellness transcends the physical, inviting guests to embark on a holistic journey of renewal and peace. AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE EXPERIENCES Namia River Retreat isn't just a place to stay; it's a gateway to the rich culture and vibrant traditions of Hoi An. The resort's immersive mini tours are designed to deepen guests' connection to the region, where every experience, from engaging with skilled artisans to embarking on bamboo bicycle rides through the lush Nipa Forest or enjoying a sunset river cruise, reveals the essence of local life. Moreover, the resort's commitment to responsible tourism is reflected in every aspect of its operations. By integrating sustainable practices into daily routines, Namia River Retreat is not only minimising its environmental impact but also enhancing guests' experiences. Namia River Retreat is now a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH)'s Considerate Collection, a bespoke booking service featuring hotels that prioritise their local communities and celebrate their unique cultures and environments. SLH is one of the most desirable communities of independently minded travellers and spirited hotels in the world, and is renowned for its carefully curated selection of independent hotels across 90 countries. Namia River Retreat is deeply committed to caring for our community and pioneering modern hospitality rooted in rich cultural traditions. As part of SLH, the wellness-inclusive resort aligns with a network of independently minded hotels across the world, all dedicated to providing the highest standards of luxury and guest wellbeing. Soft Opening and taking bookings from: 15 December 2024 Grand Opening event celebrations on: 19 February 2025 Visit our website on www.namiariverretreat.com To make a booking: Email: [email protected] For media enquiries or interview requests: To download the press kit, fact sheet, and our latest image gallery, visit HERE Find the teaser video of the resort HERE To stay up to date with Namia River Retreat news, follow us on social media: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/namiahoian Instagram https://www.instagram.com/namiariverretreat LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/namia-river-retreat/ Address - 252 Tran Nhan Tong, Cam Chau, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam For further information: Owning Company HG Holdings & Bhaya Cruises: www.bhayacruises.com Management Company Lumina Wellbeing: www.lumina-wellbeing.com ABOUT NAMIA RIVER RETREAT Nestled on the Con Ba Xa Islet in Hoi An, Namia River Retreat is thoughtfully crafted with genuine cultural journeys and wellness-inclusive therapies inspired by Vietnamese herbology. With 60 private pool villas, locally inspired dining experiences and stunning pools with Thu Bon River views, the resort opens new ways to explore and connect with the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An. SOURCE Namia River Retreat Colorado Springs, CO claims the overall top spot as the most neighborly city LEHI, Utah, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Neighbor Day (September 28), Neighbor.comthe leading peer-to-peer storage and parking marketplaceunveils the results of its fifth annual " Most Neighborly Cities in America " ranking. To establish the grading criteria, Neighbor surveyed 1,000 individuals on how they define neighborliness. The most common factors included charitable contributions, volunteer participation, and community engagement. Map of the 25 Most Neighborly Cities In addition to an overall winner, Neighbor added subcategories by population. After all, community engagement and spirit thrive across cities of all sizes. Claiming the top spots as the "Most Neighborly City in America" by metro area are: Seattle, WA (Large City). Seattle's high charitable giving, voter turnout, and innovative community programs propelled it to the top of the large cities category. Despite recent narratives, Seattle's violent crime rate is middle of the pack for large cities which led to only a small impact on its overall ranking. high charitable giving, voter turnout, and innovative community programs propelled it to the top of the large cities category. Despite recent narratives, violent crime rate is middle of the pack for large cities which led to only a small impact on its overall ranking. Colorado Springs, CO (Medium City). Taking the top overall winner and medium-sized metro for 2024. Colorado Springs stands out for its packed community event calendar as well as its high rankings in both volunteerism and voter turnout. Taking the top overall winner and medium-sized metro for 2024. stands out for its packed community event calendar as well as its high rankings in both volunteerism and voter turnout. Provo, UT (Small City). The winner for small cities. Provo's strong commitment to the community is clear from its emphatic support of local businesses and volunteer programs. "In a time where social media often amplifies our differences, real-world neighborliness is making a surprising comeback," said Joseph Woodbury, CEO of Neighbor. "Our data shows that despite the divisive narratives we often hear, Americans are actually craving and creating stronger local communities. This is especially crucial during this polarizing election season when loneliness and division seem to be on the rise. At Neighbor, we're all about building a network of community thinkers who are willing to help their neighbors in small and meaningful ways." Top 5 Most Neighborly Large Cities: Seattle, WA Phoenix, AZ Tampa, FL El Paso, TX Portland, OR Top 5 Most Neighborly Medium Cities: Colorado Springs, CO Madison, WI Virginia Beach, VA Des Moines, IA Richmond, VA Top 5 Most Neighborly Small Cities: Provo, UT Ogden, UT Rochester, NY Harrisburg, PA Augusta, GA 2024's Overall Most Neighborly Cities in America Colorado Springs, CO Madison, WI Virginia Beach, VA Des Moines, IA Provo, UT Ogden, UT Rochester, NY Seattle, WA Richmond, VA Minneapolis, MN Mayor Yemi of Colorado Springs said, "I'm incredibly proud and honored that Colorado Springs has been ranked the most neighborly city in the United States. Strong communities are built on the foundation of connectedness, where neighbors get to know, uplift, and support each other. One way we've promoted the spirit of neighborliness is our 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative, where we challenged residents to connect in meaningful wayswhether through lively block parties or casual hangouts. This initiative is about connecting and activating our community, all in the spirit of addressing loneliness. We are on a mission to build a city of great neighbors." Neighbor also surveyed 1,000 Americans on what they consider "neighborly"turns out people have stronger connections with their neighbors than you might think: Importance of Community: 60% of Americans rated living in a neighborly community as either "very high" or "high" priority when choosing where to live, emphasizing that people still highly value close-knit connections. 60% of Americans rated living in a neighborly community as either "very high" or "high" priority when choosing where to live, emphasizing that people still highly value close-knit connections. Supportive Networks: Nearly 65% of people feel they can rely on their neighbors for help when needed. About Neighbor Founded in 2017, Neighbor is a community marketplace based in Silicon Slopes, Utah. The company connects people with unused space in their garages, basements, and driveways to renters looking for closer and more affordable self-storage or parking. One neighbor saves money, while the other is able to earn thousands of dollars per year from their unused space. Neighbor is the first storage provider in history to serve renters in all 50 states, with availability across cities, suburbs and rural areas. Neighbor's investors include leaders in real estate and marketplaces, including Andreessen Horowitz, Fifth Wall, and the CEOs of marketplace businesses DoorDash, Uber, Overstock and StockX. Contact: Casey Schow 8017538114 [email protected] SOURCE Neighbor.com KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 20:31 | World, All, Japan China reiterated its opposition to Japanese politicians' visits to Taiwan on Friday after Shigeru Ishiba, the former defense minister who visited the self-ruled island in August, won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters that China hopes for stable ties with Japan but declined to comment on the result of the election, calling it an internal affair. Lin also said Japan should "establish an objective and correct perception of China, and seek a positive and rational policy toward China." In August, Ishiba as the co-head of a Japanese lawmakers' delegation to Taiwan met its leader Lai Ching-te. Beijing views the self-ruled island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry congratulated Ishiba over his election win and expressed hope in a statement that the LDP will "continue to deepen its cooperation with Taiwan" and "jointly safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." Touching on Ishiba's August trip to the island, the ministry said LDP lawmakers "actively promote cooperation and exchanges" between Taiwan and Japan and take concrete actions to deepen bilateral "value diplomacy." Meanwhile, South Korea, whose ties with Japan have improved since President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in 2022, said it will maintain "positive momentum" by communicating with the next Japanese government, set to be led by Ishiba. A senior official of the presidential office stressed South Korea and Japan are close neighbors and cooperative partners, saying "Our government expects both countries to make joint efforts...for the development of future-oriented relations." In late August, Yoon told reporters that he will continue to work for the future of relations with Japan regardless of who succeeds Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Related coverage: Taiwan lifts Fukushima-related restrictions on Japanese food imports Japan defense force ship sails through Taiwan Strait for 1st time APHRS: New data confirm robust long-term durability and highly efficient procedure performed without fluoroscopy Successful launch in Japan follows recent reimbursement approval follows recent reimbursement approval Approvals across APAC including China and Australia broaden reach for patients GALWAY, Ireland and SYDNEY, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced the presentation of clinical study results demonstrating a high rate of durable lesion formation for the PulseSelect Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System in treating atrial fibrillation (Afib). Invasive remapping conducted approximately two months post-ablation with the PulseSelect PFA System demonstrated durable isolation in 98% of pulmonary veins (PV) and 96% of patients had all veins isolated. Results were presented as a late breaking clinical trial at the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) meeting in Sydney, Australia. "Real-world evidence on chronic lesion formation and durability is critical as use of PFA for the treatment of Afib rapidly increases, making these results impactful and timely for the electrophysiology community," said Devi Nair, M.D., FHRS, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology & Research, St. Bernard's Medical Center & Arrhythmia Research Group, Jonesboro, Arkansas. "Our research shows that treatment with PulseSelect results in durable lesion formation, which is the cornerstone of successful pulmonary vein isolation and an important addition to previous evidence establishing the safety and effectiveness of this technology." About the Study A total of 25 AFib patients with persistent or paroxysmal AFib (56% paroxysmal, 52% male, 699 years) undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with the PulseSelect PFA System were evaluated. Invasive remapping conducted in all patients (579 days post-ablation) demonstrated durable isolation in 98% of PVs (102/104), and 96% of patients (24/25) had all veins isolated. All index ablation procedures were conducted using intracardiac echocardiography and electroanatomical mapping (EAM) without fluoroscopy. General anesthesia was used in 24 of 25 patients, and all patients were discharged on the same day. Average skin-to-skin procedure time was 36 minutes. Acute PV isolation was achieved in 100% of patients. There were no complications during an average follow-up of 74 days. PulseSelect Global Expansion Broad adoption of PulseSelect continues globally, with more than 10,000 cases performed worldwide. In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, milestones include regulatory approvals in China and Australia and launch in Japan following reimbursement approval. Prof. Hiroshi Tada, Professor of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Japan, and President of the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society, said "PulseSelect is the first PFA catheter to receive reimbursement approval in Japan based on clinical trial results that include Japanese patients. We believe that the future widespread availability of this breakthrough technology under insurance coverage will be of great significance in the history of arrhythmia treatment in Japan." "These important results clearly address the durability question and add to the real-world evidence for PulseSelect," said Rebecca Seidel, president, Cardiac Ablations Solutions business, which is part of the Cardiovascular Portfolio at Medtronic. "With expansion in new markets across the Asia Pacific region, physicians around the world are experiencing the benefits of PulseSelect, including proven safety, efficacy, efficiency and now durability as well. We are thrilled to provide this important tool to physicians for the treatment of patients with AFib." AFib is one of the most common and undertreated heart rhythm disorders, affecting more than 60 million people worldwide.1 Afib is a progressive disease, often beginning as paroxysmal AFib (presents intermittently) and progressing to persistent (lasts for more than 7+ days without stopping). As the disease progresses, the risk of serious complications including heart failure, stroke and risk of death increases.2-5 For more information on PulseSelect, visit Medtronic.com. About Medtronic Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. References Roth GA, Mensah GA, Johnson CO et al. Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors, 1990-2019: Update From the GBD 2019 Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020;76:2982-3021. Miyasaka Y, Barnes ME, Bailey KR, et al. Mortality trends in patients diagnosed with first atrial fibrillation: a 21-year community-based study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;49:986-92. Hindricks G, Potpara T, Dagres N, et al. 2020 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J 2020. Wolf PA , Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke: the Framingham Study. Stroke 1991;22:983-8. Lubitz SA, Moser C, Sullivan L, et al. Atrial fibrillation patterns and risks of subsequent stroke, heart failure, or death in the community. J Am Heart Assoc 2013;2:e000126. Contacts: Leslie Williamson Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-612-227-5099 +1-763-505-4626 SOURCE Medtronic plc A project, backed by climate tech fund, Regeneration.VC, to cut 120,000 tonnes of microfibre pollution and save millions of kilowatt-hours (KWh) of electricity a year at textile manufacturing sites has launched at New York Climate Week today. NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bristol based Matter and leading textile manufacturer, Paradise Textiles have announced a groundbreaking collaborative project to bring Matter's Regen. for Textile Production to market, a pioneering technology to stop microfibres from textile production from entering waterways. Regen. for Textile Production could reduce carbon emissions by over 2000 tonnes annually per manufacturing site, reduce chemical use, prolong the life of water reuse systems and significantly cut operating costs. The global fashion industry is responsible for around 120,000 tonnes of pre-consumer microfibre emissions per year, resulting from production, dyeing and washing. Unveiling Regen. for Textile Production during Regeneration.VC's Annual Meeting in New York, Matter and Paradise Textiles launched a groundbreaking collaborative project to implement the technology at Paradise Textiles' new state-of-the-art low impact fabric mill in Egypt. Once operational, it will serve as a showcase for manufacturers and brands around the world to adopt the new filtration device. The two companies say the solution could reduce microfibre pollution across all 150,000 global textile factories. Powered by Matter's patented self-cleaning filtration technology Regen. for Textile Production is a low energy, low cost microfibre capture solution that offers effective wastewater filtration without the carbon impact. This announcement builds on the launch of Matter's successful microfibre filter for home laundry systems with BSH, under the brands Bosch and Siemens. The British company raised $10 million in their Series A funding round in 2023, and is backed by investors including S2G Ventures, SOUNDwaves, and Regeneration.VC, the climate tech fund backed by Leonardo DiCaprio. Microfibre shedding is a major contributor to microplastic pollution in water, air, soil and food sources. Scientific studies have revealed alarming evidence that microplastics infiltrate the human body and have been linked to serious health concerns, including cardiovascular issues and chronic conditions. Adam Root, Founder and CEO of Matter, said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Paradise Textiles on this groundbreaking project. It will show the fashion industry that a viable solution to this colossal problem of microplastic pollution is within reach. As this technology scales, there will be no reason and no excuse for letting microfibre pollution continue." The collaboration between Matter and Paradise Textiles has been instrumental in advancing Matter's industrial programme for textile manufacturing. Leveraging their expertise in textiles and fibre pollution mitigation, Paradise Textiles, part of the Alpine Group, collaborated closely with Matter to explore how this innovation could be adapted and scaled within textile manufacturing, setting the stage for this groundbreaking collaboration. Over the last 2.5 years, they have provided insights into textile processes, funded early research, and helped shape Matter's Microfibre Assessment Program (MAP) to establish a service model and maximize fibre capture across Alpine Group's facilities. Alpine Group is a major producer of materials and apparel, and manufactures for brands including The North Face, Lululemon, American Eagle Outfitters and Puma. With over 15 facilities worldwide, Alpine represents the breadth of the apparel industry. Lewis Shuler, Head of Innovation at Paradise Textiles, said: "At Paradise we are committed to collaborating with industry innovators and brands to make a material difference for the future of the fashion and textile industry." "Matter's Microfibre filter presents us with an effective way to reduce the environmental impact of the textile and apparel manufacturing process, whilst also reducing operational costs, which is a real game-changer for the industry. "We look forward to continuing to drive this exciting project forward and exploring new ways to implement sustainable technologies that can transform the industry at scale." For more information about Matter, visit https://matter.industries/ . Assets: BFA Imagery Credit: Yvonne TNT/BFA.com, Benicia King/BFA.com SOURCE Matter and Paradise Textiles Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D. will be inaugurated Oct. 4. Celebratory activities to be held Oct. 3-5. CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) will celebrate the inauguration of its eighth president, Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D., with three days of activities from Oct. 3-5, 2024. The theme of the inauguration festivities is "Education, Excellence and Empowerment." "We invite our University community, alumni, neighbors and friends to join us for this inspiring celebration of the next chapter in the history of Northeastern," said Michelle Morales, Vice Chair of Northeastern's Board of Trustees. "We are delighted to come together in acknowledging President Bell-Jordan, a distinguished leader who will undoubtedly strengthen our unwavering dedication to providing the excellence that NEIU students rightfully deserve." Dr. Katrina E. Bell-Jordan Northeastern Illinois University Main Campus Bell-Jordan joined Northeastern in 1997 as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT). Since then, she has held various leadership roles, including serving as CMT department chair, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in March 2020 and served for one year as interim president of Northeastern prior to becoming president on Aug. 1, 2024. Inauguration Events (free and open to the public) Peacefire Ceremony, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. on the Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. at on the Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. CMT Expo, Oct. 3 at 12:15 p.m. on the Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. at on the Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. Oktoberfest, Oct. 3 , various times across University locations , various times across University locations Day of Service, Oct. 5 , various times across University locations Inauguration Ceremony (free and open to the public) WHEN: Friday, Oct. 4, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. WHERE: Northeastern Illinois University, Main Campus, University Commons, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. in Chicago PARKING: Parking will be available in Lot L. (Handicapped parking will be available in Lot J.) See the Parking Map for directions. RSVP: Members of the public are asked to RSVP to attend the ceremony by Friday, Sept. 27. Inauguration Celebration (Semi-Formal) WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 5 beginning at 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Northeastern Illinois University, Main Campus, Alumni Hall, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. in Chicago COST: $100 per person. PARKING: Parking will be available in Lot F. See the Parking Map for directions. RSVP: RSVP to attend the celebration is required by Friday, Sep. 27. Visit neiu.edu/2024inauguration for complete details and to RSVP for the Inauguration ceremony or celebration. ABOUT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County. SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University BROOKVILLE, Pa. and KILGORE, Texas, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OCI, LLC, a manufacturer of custom-built foundation drilling components for the infrastructure and construction end markets, today announced that it has acquired DRILLTOOLS, an industry-leading domestic manufacturer of rotary drilling tools and excavation products. Since its founding in 2010, DRILLTOOLS has established itself as a trusted partner to many large infrastructure, utility, and commercial contractors with an extensive line of drilling products and flexible, agile manufacturing processes that enable the business to support a diverse suite of unique production needs. The company's core products include a wide range of auger systems, drill bits, material removal tools, rock boring tools, conveying tools, formed steel plates, replaceable wear products, and consumables that can be customized for specific customer use cases. DRILLTOOLS's products are engineered and produced in-house and supported by a domestic supply chain with a reputation for quality designs, exceptional lead times, proven reliability, and superior customer service across the full drilling products lifecycle. DRILLTOOLS will continue to serve customers primarily out of its Texas headquarters. "We are excited about the partnership with DRILLTOOLS and the opportunity to expand our product suite, manufacturing capabilities, and technical expertise to better serve our collective customer base. DRILLTOOLS has built a reputation for world-class customer service, and a culture that aligns well with OCI," said Tim Lautermilch, CEO of OCI. "We look forward to working alongside DRILLTOOLS founders Bo, Chris, Karl and the entire DRILLTOOLS team to continue to grow our industry-leading presence and provide our customers a more complete solution." "Over the past 15 years, we've built a best-in-class business with a differentiated suite of customizable, mission critical products, all domestically manufactured and sourced," said Bo Steding, Co-founder of DRILLTOOLS. "In OCI, we found a partner with a complimentary product line and a shared vision for how to best serve the industry. We are excited about the prospects for joint growth in the years to come alongside OCI." About OCI: OCI is a market leader in supplying a wide range of equipment to geotechnical service companies and drilling contractors including micropile casing, drill string, hammers and bits, augers, core barrels, swivels, and other customized products. Founded in 1998, the company is headquartered in Brookville, PA. For more information, visit www.ocidivision.com. About DRILLTOOLS: DRILLTOOLS is the leading domestic manufacturer of quality drilling & excavating products, utilizing the finest materials and high production standards. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in Kilgore, TX. For more information, visit www.drilltoolsinc.com . SOURCE OCI, LLC OSLO, Norway, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, announces that it entered into an agreement with Equity Pharmaceuticals PTY Limited, part of the Clinigen group, in September, to initiate a Named Patient Program (NPP) enabling bladder cancer patients in South Africa to receive blue light cystoscopy (BLC) with Hexvix. Named Patient Programs (NPPs) provide access to medicines in response to requests by physicians on behalf of specific, or 'named,' patients when those medicines are not licensed or available in the patients' home country. Photocure's NPP with Equity Pharmaceuticals is designed to ensure that physicians can request Hexvix on behalf of individual patients residing in South Africa, with suspected or recurring bladder tumors. Hexvix blue light cystoscopy is indicated as adjunct to standard white light cystoscopy to contribute to the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer in patients with known or high suspicion of bladder cancer. Equity Pharmaceuticals will administer the NPP, and product sales are anticipated to begin in Q4 2024. "Without this NPP, BLC with Hexvix would not otherwise be available to bladder cancer patients in South Africa. Photocure is committed to ensuring global access to Hexvix as part of its sustainability goals," said Dan Schneider, President and CEO of Photocure. "We see this program as a stepstone to trialing various ways in which Hexvix can be made available to patients and urologists in countries where BLC equipment is already accessible." Note to editors: All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA. This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin. About Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer ranks as the 8th most common cancer worldwide the 5th most common in men with 1,949,000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 6,14,000 new cases and more than 2,20,000 deaths in 2022.1b Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with up to 61% in year one and up to 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4 1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [February 2024]. 2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657 3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295300 4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder, making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview, compared to standard white light cystoscopy alone, improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors, and better management decisions. Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners. About Photocure ASA Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com. About Clinigen Clinigen is a global, specialist pharmaceutical services company focused on providing ethical access to medicines. Its mission is to accelerate access to medicines for patients in every corner of the globe. The Group supports pharmaceutical and biotech companies across the medical product lifecycle, from clinical through to commercial and operates from sites in North America, Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific. Clinigen has more than 1,000 employees across five continents in 15 countries and provides access in more than 130 countries every year. For more information on Clinigen, please visit http://www.clinigengroup.com. For further information, please contact: Dan Schneider President and CEO Photocure ASA Email: [email protected] Erik Dahl CFO Photocure ASA Tel: +4745055000 Email: [email protected] David Moskowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Photocure ASA Tel: +1 202 280 0888 Email: [email protected] Media and IR enquiries: Geir Bjrlo Corporate Communications (Norway) Tel: +47 91540000 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-establishes-named-patient-program-to-provide-access-to-hexvix-in-south-africa,c4043607 The following files are available for download: SHANGHAI, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 26, 2024, Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited ("Ping An Good Doctor", "Ping An Health", or "the Company", Stock Code: 1833.HK), China's leading healthcare ecosystem platform, saw its share price surge by nearly 10% during the trading session, peaking at HK$12.08. The U.S. Federal Reserve's recent announcement of a 50 basis point decrease in the federal funds rate target has further boosted liquidity, fueling the rally of internet healthcare stocks in the Hong Kong market. Additionally, on September 23, the State Council Information Office held a press conference focused on "Promoting High-Quality Development." According to publicly available data, as of the end of 2023, China's population aged 60 and above had reached 297 million. During the press conference, the Ministry of Civil Affairs emphasized that effective measures would be taken to address the challenge, including the development and implementation of an effective senior care service system tailored to China's needs. Since 2024, the term "silver economy" has emerged as one of the most talked-about topics in China, with the senior care industry experiencing rapid growth and presenting immense opportunities. In response to this demographic shift, Ping An Health has intensified its investments in the sector in line with its proactive growth strategy. Over recent years, the Company has intensified its efforts to develop a comprehensive "3-in-1" senior care concierge system integrating smart concierges, daily life concierges, and doctor concierges. By providing personalized and comprehensive senior care services, the Company aims to meet the diverse needs of the senior population while expanding the company's service boundaries and revenue streams. Currently, the Company's home-based senior care benefits are available in 64 cities across China, up by 10 cities from 31 December 2023. Ping An Health 2024 interim report showed that in the first half of the year, the Company's revenue reached RMB2.09 billion, turning a profit for the first time with earnings exceeding RMB60 million and an adjusted net profit nearing RMB90 million. Following optimization of its business structure, coupled with steady performance in F-end (insurance and financial service customers) and rapid growth in B-end (corporate clients) operations, the Company achieved profitability for the first time, marking a milestone and further showcasing the growth and the development potential of its Strategy 2.0. The core business model of Ping An Health's Strategy 2.0 is to act for three main payers, including integrated finance business (F-end), corporate clients (B-end) and individual customers (C-end), and integrate providers. By focusing on the development of family doctors and senior care concierges, the Company aims to provide customers with high-quality, cost-effective health care and senior care services. Corporate health management is a pivotal element within the Company's Strategy 2.0 Continuum and a key engine of its long-term growth. During the first six months of 2024, the Company's B-end strategic business revenue reached RMB710 million, a year-on-year increase of 58.8%. By the end of June 2024, the total number of corporate clients served by the Company grew 46% year-on-year to 1,748, consolidating its leadership within the sector. During the reporting period, Ping An Health consistently improves its "Enterprise EZHealth" corporate health management product portfolio, including "Health Management +" and "Health Checkup +". These enhancements aim to establish a more competitive and differentiated product service matrix to meet the diverse needs of corporate clients. Looking ahead, the strong foundation of China's economy and the sustained momentum of its recovery bode well for Ping An Health. As the flagship and sole online platform for Ping An Group's healthcare and senior care ecosystem, Ping An Health will continue to further develop a Chinese "managed care model", in alignment with the group's strategy of "integrated finance + health and senior care". SOURCE Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited 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: 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 [email protected] or visit www.relativity.com for more information. SOURCE Relativity LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, announced the three winning small business owners of its 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition held on Sept. 26 at The Kimpton Everly Hotel in Los Angeles, one of the host cities of the nationwide event. The competition is an avenue for small business owners to showcase their presentation and selling skills to industry experts, win funding and gain valuable knowledge and mentorship, all at no cost. More than 2,200 small business owners applied to participate. Winners of SCOREs 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition in Los Angeles: Brice Sokolowski - Vaucluse Gear LLC; Diana Jarrar - Magic Dates; and Jon Mowl - Play With ASL. The three winning businesses in the Los Angeles pitch event are: First Place: Diana Jarrar - Magic Dates (Los Angeles, CA) Magic Dates, LLC offers innovative snack bites made from dates and other nutritious ingredients, such as walnuts and cacao. Inspired by Diana's Syrian heritage, the products are designed to be healthy alternatives to traditional snacks, being plant-based, paleo, gluten-free and grain-free, with no added sugars. Popular flavors include Triple Choco Crunch and Salted Walnut Brownie. Diana earned the top prize of $20,000 for her pitch. She plans to use her prize to enhance inventory and production, establish affiliate influencer partnerships, fund pay-per-click campaigns on Amazon, and refresh the website with new imagery. Second Place: Jon Mowl - Play With ASL (Riverside, CA) Play With ASL is an innovative mobile application designed to make learning American Sign Language (ASL) engaging and accessible through gamification. Founded by a Deaf entrepreneur, the platform addresses gaps in existing ASL education by combining fun gaming elements with structured language learning, catering to diverse learning needs. Jon earned $10,000 for his pitch, which he plans to use to enhance the app's capabilities by developing additional educational games, integrating Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standards for use in educational institutions, and improving user experience. Funds will also support marketing efforts and expand the app's availability to Android devices, broadening its user base. Third Place: Brice Sokolowski - Vaucluse Gear LLC (Scottsdale, AZ) Vaucluse Gear LLC specializes in innovative backpack ventilation solutions, including attachable ventilation frames, mesh sleeves and ultralight framed backpacks. The company aims to enhance comfort for backpackers by reducing sweating and increasing airflow, all while ensuring quality through American-made products. Brice received $5,000 for his pitch. He will use the prize to support the company's research and development to advance the next version of their ventilation frames, helping accelerate the design process by six months. The funding will also aid in building brand awareness. "Congratulations to the winners of our 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition event in Los Angeles," said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. "It takes ingenuity, passion and dedication for small business owners to succeed. SCORE is honored to provide mentorship and resources to our pitch contestants, just as we have for more than 17 million entrepreneurs over the past 60 years." As part of the pitch competition, contestants were matched with one of SCORE's free, expert business mentors to guide them to prepare and deliver a compelling pitch. Judging criteria included the effectiveness of the presentation, brand identification, uniqueness and viability of the product or service, the thoroughness of the business plan, scalability and any sustainability or social impact. Financials were also assessed on overall potential. Shellie Peters, Head of Benefits and Charitable Giving at Global Atlantic, said "Global Atlantic is thrilled to support SCORE's pitch competition and is committed to fostering the growth of small businesses that contribute to the economic landscape of this dynamic city. We applaud all participants for their creativity and determination and look forward to seeing their positive impact on the Los Angeles community." The 10 finalists from the Los Angeles event also included: Donna Lee - R- YOLO ( Harvard, MA ) R- ( ) Max Goldberg - Shuki ( Los Angeles, CA ) - Shuki ( ) Alejandra Garcia - Moon & Milk ( Los Angeles, CA ) Moon & Milk ( ) Melody Brown - L&M Hair Company ( Portland, OR ) L&M Hair Company ( ) Chris Sward - LA Cleaning LLC ( Lawndale, CA ) LA Cleaning LLC ( ) Danika Frandsen - Baby Steps Concierge Nursing ( Camarillo, CA ) - Baby Steps Concierge Nursing ( ) Anastasia Miles - The City Loo ( Kirkland, WA ) In addition to Los Angeles, regional contests were held in Philadelphia on Aug. 28 and in Des Moines on Sept. 12. A nationwide virtual competition took place Sept. 17-19. The final event in the series will be held on Oct. 3 in Houston. In total, SCORE's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition will award $175,000 to 15 winning small businesses. For more information or to download photos of the Los Angeles event, click here for the press kit. To schedule interviews with winners of SCORE's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition, finalists, mentors, or representatives from SCORE, please contact [email protected]. To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit score.org. About SCORE Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at score.org. Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Media Contact Maria Coder, SCORE, 954-379-2115, [email protected] SOURCE SCORE TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 26, 2024, SOUEAST Motor hosted the Global Brand Launching Ceremony in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This conference unveiled the brand's new strategy, along with the new products: the Smart Premium D-class SUV S09 and the Urban Intelligent C-class SUV S07, starting a new chapter in SOUEAST's global expansion. New Proposition Leading an EASE Lifestyle During the Conference, SOUEAST introduced its new brand slogan, "EASE YOUR LIFE," which represents SOUEAST's commitment to integrating a relaxed and carefree lifestyle into every detail of its products and services. SOUEAST also announced the development of a new product and service system centered around three Product DNA: STYLISHCOMFORT and WARM-TECH, providing urban youth with an EASE experience amidst their fast-paced lives. Strategic Plan: Expanding to 80+ Markets in Five Years SOUEAST has fully integrated top-tier international suppliers, a global R&D system, smart manufacturing technology, laying a solid foundation for its global strategy. Mr. Ke, Vice President of SOUEAST Motor, said, "We are establishing 3 manufacturing centers and 10 KD plants globally and currently have 10 global R&D centers. In the next five years, SOUEAST plans to enter over 80 global markets, establish more than 1,500 outlets." Dual Models for Pre-sale: Unveiling the Urban Premium Series S09 is the flagship SUV, focusing on the daily commuting and family outdoor traveling needs of new urban elite users. It focuses on luxurious appearance, comfortable 7-seat space, and excellent driving ability. The hybrid version: S09DM was released at the same time. S07 offering both five-seat and seven-seat optionsfocusing on trendy design and intelligent technology, aiming to bring comfortable and trendy traveling experience to the new young users. Mr. Dai, Executive Vice President of SOUEAST Motor, pointed out that"S09 and S07 is just the beginning, officially marks SOUEAST's entry into the Uzbekistan market, and means a new chapter for the brand globally. Over the next 5 yearswe plan to launch eleven products in two segments and four categories, including SUVs and sedans. The SUV lineup will cover B, C, and D segments. These products will include ICE, PHEV, and even BEV models for the future." Starting from Uzbekistan, SOUEAST has officially taken its first step towards globalization. With its leading products and services, SOUEAST will continue to exceed customer expectations, delivering a relaxed and enjoyable driving experience. SOURCE SOUEAST Motor Missouri Court of Appeals Affirms $28.4 Million Jury Verdict for Missouri Policyholders, Increasing Total Recovery to $47.2 Million After Pre-Judgment Interest KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the full $28.4 million jury verdict obtained by Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP and co-counsel Schirger Feierabend LLC on behalf of policyholders of the Defendant Kansas City Life Insurance Co. Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP logo In the fall of 2019, Stueve Siegel Hanson and Schirger Feierabend filed the lawsuit on behalf of Missouri policyholders of certain universal life insurance products issued by the Defendant. The jury reached a verdict in their favor on December 9, 2022. The decision on appeal reflects the culmination of a long fight that has resulted in Stueve Siegel Hanson obtaining full damages for the Missouri policyholders caused by Defendant's 40-years-long breach of contract. In its decision, the Missouri Court of Appeals found that the policyholders suffered lower cash accounts "than they should have been because more was deducted for the cost of insurance than the Policies permitted" Kansas City Life to deduct. The Court rejected Kansas City Life's numerous arguments seeking to have the verdict set aside, finding that the unambiguous provisions of the Policies did not permit Kansas City Life to make the deductions it had taken for over 40 years. The Court also rejected Kansas City Life's challenges to the order certifying the class and the testimony of the policyholders' actuary who calculated damages. In a significant further victory for the policyholders, the Court concluded that the policyholders were entitled to pre-judgment interest on the $28.4 million award, increasing the judgment to the policyholders by approximately $14.6 million dollars. With post-judgment interest also accruing, the total damages recovered for Missouri policyholders stands at approximately $47.2 million. "We are continuing to fight the good fight for our Missouri policyholders. To date, our efforts to settle with KCL have been unsuccessful but hopefully this complete victory on appeal will help finally get policyholders the relief they deserve," said lead trial counsel Patrick Stueve of Stueve Siegel Hanson. Stueve Siegel Hanson and Schirger Feierabend are currently defending two other judgments against Kansas City Life on appeal, including one that was argued to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on the same day that the Missouri Court of Appeals issued its decision. The firms are also prosecuting cases at the trial level on behalf of California and Maryland policyholders. And they continue to investigate claims on behalf of Kansas City Life policyholders in other states and claims against other insurance companies for improper Cost of Insurance charges. This class-action trial and appeal represents one of many wins secured by Stueve Siegel Hanson's Class Trials & Appeals team. The Class Trials & Appeals team consists of attorneys with experience winning class-action jury trials and successfully defending the verdicts on appeal in cases in federal and state appellate courts across the country. Stueve Siegel Hanson handles high-stakes appeals, like this case, on a contingent-fee basis. SOURCE Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 12:14 | All, Japan Bereaved families and local officials on Friday marked the 10th anniversary of the Mt. Ontake eruption, Japan's deadliest postwar volcanic disaster, in a ceremony in central Japan, as efforts continue to keep the memory of the tragedy alive. In a memorial service held in the village of Otaki at the foot of the 3,067-meter mountain straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures, attendees observed a moment of silence at 11:52 a.m., the time of the eruption, which claimed 58 lives and left five others unaccounted for. Before the ceremony, nine members of a group of victims' families handed out keychains with safety messages to hikers at the trailhead. Among them, 66-year-old Hiromi Noguchi, who lost her husband in the disaster, told reporters, "I want people to evacuate immediately if they sense danger." Eight hikers who survived the eruption issued a statement. "We must not let the disaster fade and be forgotten amid disasters that occur almost every year and allow another eruption to claim many lives," it said. Following the eruption, the government has strengthened disaster prevention measures, including improving information-sharing and promoting volcanic research. Nagano Prefecture has also mandated climbers to submit hiking plans. Individual efforts are also under way to prevent the disaster from fading from public memory. Kiyokazu Tokoro, a 62-year-old from Aichi Prefecture, whose son Yuki Tokoro, 26, and his fiance Yuki Niwa, 24, died in the eruption, has been organizing educational hikes and talks for local children, sometimes showing his son's ash-covered belongings. "I will continue these activities as long as my strength allows," he said, adding, "This is my way of honoring my son and his fiance." The eruption occurred on Sept. 27, 2014, when the alert level for the volcano was at 1, the lowest on a scale of five. The current alert level for Mt. Ontake remains at 1, indicating hikers should be aware of its status as an active volcano. Related coverage: Japan eyes steps to limit ash fall damage in event Mt. Fuji erupts Indonesian volcano erupts again, local residents evacuated SUWON, South Korea, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Systems announced the successful conclusion of the NANOscientific Symposium SE Asia 2024. The event was held at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 6-7. It brought together leading experts, researchers, and scientists from around the globe. This year's symposium was a vibrant hub for discussing the latest advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology, further solidifying its reputation as a premier platform for innovation and collaboration in the field. Assoc. Prof. Charusluk Viphavakit NANOscientific Asia highlights & Interview Highlights from the NANOscientific Symposium SE Asia 2024 The symposium featured distinguished speakers, including experts from Chulalongkorn University, Nanyang Technological University, TMEC-NECTEC, IISER TVM, and Park Systems Corp. Discussions covered a range of topics, with a focus on scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry (ISE) in various applications. Speeches highlighted advancements such as an optical fiber sensor for detecting diabetes biomarkers and nanomechanical mapping of viral proteins. Cutting-edge AFM techniques like scanning microwave impedance microscopy and 3D-AFM were showcased for nanoscale imaging. Other topics included improvements in piezoelectric nanogenerators, scalable perovskite solar cell processes, and light-responsive nanoparticles for drug delivery. A poster session featured innovative research from Asia, with Kankan Swargiary from Chulalongkorn University winning the best poster award for a cost-effective method of growing ZnO nanostructures on optical fibers. Participants also experienced live demonstrations of Park's advanced AFM technologies at the Nano-Engineering Innovative Design Center, gaining hands-on insights into nanotechnology applications. The event fostered collaboration and networking among academics, industry professionals, and researchers, with attendees praising its impact on their work. Looking Ahead: The 2024 NANOscientific Symposiums Building on the success of the NSS SE Asia symposium, Park Systems announced the upcoming schedule for the 2024 NANOscientific Symposiums, set to take place in major global regions. These events, known for uniting thousands of international attendees and promoting rich discussions and collaborations in nanoscience, will be held as follows: Japan : Tokyo Institute of Technology October 18 : Tokyo Institute of Technology China : SINANO, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou October 25-26 Europe : Fraunhofer EMFT, Munich, Germany October 29-31 : Fraunhofer EMFT, Americas : Arizona State University , Phoenix, Arizona November 13-14 : , Korea: Paradise Hotel, Busan November 21 Each symposium will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including electrical properties in semiconductors, 2D materials, surface science, and molecular biology, with a special emphasis on the practical applications of nanoscience in both industry and academia. Researchers worldwide are encouraged to submit their papers and posters for consideration, with prizes awarded for outstanding presentations. For more information on the regional symposiums, including registration details, please visit NANOscientific.org/nss2024. Updates on symposium topics, keynote speakers, and other event details will be progressively announced on the website. About NANOscientific Symposiums The NANOscientific Symposiums are a series of events sponsored by Park Systems that bring together the global nanoscience community to share research, foster collaboration, and explore the latest innovations in nanotechnology. Since their inception, these symposiums have grown into a key platform for advancing the field of nanoscience, connecting researchers, and inspiring the next generation of scientific breakthroughs. About Park Systems Corp. (KOSDAQ: 140860) Park Systems is a leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano metrology systems, catering to researchers and engineers in diverse fields such as materials science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, semiconductors, and data storage. The company's mission is to drive nanoscale innovations that address global challenges and advance scientific discoveries. Park Systems's clients include top semiconductor companies and research universities worldwide. With headquarters in Suwon, Korea, and regional offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Park Systems is publicly traded on the Korea Stock Exchange. Learn more at www.parksystems.com. SOURCE Park Systems Corp. ROSEVILLE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Denise R. Bogard, MD, FAARFM, ABAARM is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for her contributions in Anti-Aging and Integrative Medicine. Denise R. Bogard Dr. Denise R. Bogard, MD, FAARFM, ABAARM, is a renowned figure in the field of anti-aging and integrative medicine, dedicated to enhancing wellness through personalized treatments. As the founder and lead practitioner at her acclaimed medical practice, Dr. Bogard offers a comprehensive range of services including weight management support, IV therapy, nutrition counseling, peptide therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and specialized testing tailored to individual needs. With a holistic approach to wellness, Dr. Bogard combines her expertise in anti-aging medicine with a commitment to patient-centered care. Her qualifications include a Registered Nurse (RN) background, an MD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and completion of an Anesthesiology Residency at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She is certified in biofeedback and holds fellowships in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Dr. Bogard's dedication to excellence has been recognized through numerous accolades, including being honored as a Best Doctor and her practice being named the Best Medical Clinic in the region for four consecutive years. Her career journey began as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and she later transitioned to specialize in integrative and anti-aging medicine, impacting the lives of thousands of patients. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Bogard enjoys activities such as softball, pickleball, and traveling, with a particular fondness for Hawaii. She attributes much of her success to the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Pam Smith, and holds dear the memory of her son Jerry Bogard. Dr. Bogard's guiding philosophy in patient care is encapsulated in the principle of "Do no harm," ensuring that her treatments prioritize patient safety and well-being above all else. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle Local 251 Members Prepare to Strike Amid Stalled Contract Negotiations PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After several months of negotiations with Transdev for a first contract, members of Teamsters Local 251 have voted to authorize a strike and are prepared to act if necessary to secure a fair and equitable agreement. These 51 workers provide bus and transportation services for Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and Rhode Island College (RIC) and are integral to the Providence student community. "We see our vote to authorize a strike as a signal to Transdev of our solidarity in the fight for fair compensation and safe working conditions," said Robin Cox, a shuttle bus driver at Transdev. "We love our jobs and the students we service. We have no desire to strike, but we will exercise our right to withhold our labor if necessary. We are moving forward with the hope that Transdev will now, with this vote, view us with the strength that we see in ourselves." Teamsters are demanding that Transdev offer a strong first contract that includes a fair wage, improved health care coverage, and retirement benefits. These workers voted overwhelmingly to join Local 251 in November 2023 in the face of low wages, poor benefits, and concerns over job security and have been working toward a first contract. "Money talksand we want fair pay," said Tarsa Lockley, a dispatcher and shuttle bus driver at Transdev. "We can only overcome these challenges if we stand together." "Transdev Teamsters are determined to get the strongest possible first contractand they aren't afraid to strike to get it," said Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251 and Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. "Transdev needs to skip this song and dance of undercutting their workers because we have made it clear to them that the Teamsters across the nation won't stand for it. We look forward to securing these workers their first Teamsters contract and getting them what they deserve." Negotiations will continue next week with a federal mediator. Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,300 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit teamsterslocal251.org. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 251 This time, immerse yourself in the music, live for live NEWARK, Calif., Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TRIBIT, a global audio brand, targets the mid-October launch of the upgraded StormBox Blast 2 portable Bluetooth speaker. Following on from the success of its predecessor, StormBox Blast, the StormBox Blast 2 now has upgraded features including a higher IP67 waterproof rating, Bluetooth 5.4 and a huge 200W output power. Explosive 200W* Output TRIBIT StormBox Blast 2 Bluetooth speaker is scheduled for release in mid-October. Featuring an 80W subwoofer with diamond reinforcement ribs, dual 45W mid-range drivers, and two 15W silk dome tweeters, the StormBox Blast 2 delivers precise beats and notes. Its 2.1 channel design, powered by two advanced Ti amplifiers, ensures balanced and dynamic sound, while dual large passive radiators enhance the bass for deeper resonance. *AC Power: 200W; Battery Power: 180W Fun & Interactive Karaoke Host a karaoke party with the TRIBIT speaker which boasts the professional-grade karaoke function with an adjustable Reverb effect! Supporting dual wired or wireless microphone connections, this party speaker enables you to sing solo or in a duet. Better still, state-of-the-art Bluetooth 5.4 ensures an optimal listening experience with TWS connectivity. What's more fun than getting friends or family together for a good old sing song? Customized Dynamic Lighting The StormBox Blast 2 also features customizable dynamic lighting for a fantastic light show! The speaker can be synced to the pulse and rhythm of the song playing or users can pick a favorite color in the TRIBIT App to add a stunning touch to bars, weddings, festivals, and everything in between. Unstoppable 30hrs Playtime Worried about the tunes suddenly stopping mid-event? The StormBox Blast 2 has a 30-hour playtime to ensure there's enough power to keep party goers dancing into the night! Thanks to the colossal battery capacity, the speaker can also be used to charge phones or other electric gadgets to be certain nothing will run out of juice! About TRIBIT: Back in 2017, TRIBIT was born with one singular focus: to inspire outdoor exploration while embracing the beauty of nature and the magic of sound. Just like stepping into a journey where melodies of innovation resonate with your soul, TRIBIT decodes the music mystery with the notes of "do re mi". We strive to make high-quality audio accessible to all, orchestrating auditory brilliance. So now turn up the volume on your TRIBIT and treat yourself with better beats! Contact: Miriam Lin [email protected] SOURCE TRIBIT National Citizens Panel finds that contempt continues to pervade political speech and damage national unity SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITE, the non-profit founded by Tim Shriver to ease the country's political divisions, today released its Dignity Index scores on campaign fundraising appeals. The 80-member National Citizens bipartisan panel, which has been using The Dignity Index to score political speech since March of this year, continues to find that contempt dominates political language. In response to a PAC-sponsored fundraising appeal, a 33-year-old white conservative woman from the South wrote, "Donation bits like these are so exhausting because of the major strings they try to pull to make you feel the need to give something even if you have nothing but prayers for the country as a whole." One liberal panelist responded to an appeal by writing, "Hatred and anger, accusations without any proof. This is just getting old. I expect better from someone asking me to let them run things." On the positive side, one fundraising appeal that 87 percent of the panelists scored on the dignity side was greeted with praise, "Almost refreshing to hear from a campaign that does not denigrate the other side but just shares the vision the candidate has for the country." Another wrote: "Finally, a quote that isn't attacking the other side." A third panelist wrote: "I am glad to hear this. It makes me feel like there is still hope for this country." Dignity Index co-creator Tim Shriver has been calling on candidates to adopt a "dignity strategy" in the final weeks of the campaign to improve their chances of winning over crucial swing voters. "Every candidate in a tight race faces the same question," said Shriver. "How do you win over the voters who are sick of division?" "The answer is not complicated," he said. "Contempt has made them turn away from politics. Dignity gives us a chance to bring them back." SCORES Panelists score by matching language from the speech passage with descriptions in the Dignity Index scoring guide, which is available here . The first half of North Carolina Democratic Candidate for Governor Josh Stein's Campaign Fundraising Email: "If you're not 100% ready to donate, can I remind you what we're fighting for? Protecting reproductive rights and blocking a TOTAL ban on abortion here in North Carolina . Ensuring every North Carolinian has access to affordable, quality healthcare. Supporting our public schools and teachers. Defending democracy and protecting voting rights." 72% of panelists agree that this was dignity The most frequently chosen score was a FIVE The reasons given the most were "speaks openly, explaining their views, but never with contempt" and "I share my views with no contempt, so they're easier for others to hear" 64% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of FIVE The Conservative average score was 4.381, and the Liberal average score was 5.417 The second half of North Carolina Democratic Candidate for Governor Josh Stein's Campaign Fundraising Email: "To help us win this toss-up race and keep delivering for North Carolina , will you chip in $15 or any amount now? While we fight for progress, my opponent, Mark Robinson , is busy promoting far-right extremism and undermining North Carolina values. He's made it no secret that he plans to ban abortion with no exceptions, reject more than $1 billion of our own federal tax dollars intended for North Carolina public schools, and undermine our democracy. His vision is dangerous and reckless, but he has a real shot at winning this whole thing. National Republicans are pouring in millions of dollars to see this seat flip red and support his radical agenda it's up to our grassroots team to stop him." 89% of panelists agree that this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a THREE The reasons given the most were "makes a personal attack on the other, targeting performance, competence, appearance, background, character or morals." and "Ascribes all the good qualities to 'us' and all the bad qualities to 'them.'" 88% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of THREE The Conservative average score was 2.857, and the Liberal average score was 3.417 Four More Years PAC raising money for Trump: "We must fight the big money pouring in to elect lunatic liberals like Harris and Walz who want to turn our entire country into San Francisco . Without your help today, we could be looking at a true disaster in November with big money and the media doing everything they can to elect Harris. There's no sugarcoating it: this next election will be the fight for the very soul of our nation. We need every dollar possible to combat the radical left while we still can. Do your part and help now before it's too late." 97% of panelists agreed that this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a THREE The reasons given the most were "makes a personal attack on the other, targeting performance, competence, appearance, background, character or morals." and "those are bad people trying to hurt us" 93% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of THREE The Conservative average score was 2.857, and the Liberal average score was 2.833 Trump - Vance Campaign requesting donations: "THE ELECTION IS BEING RIGGED AGAINST OUR MOVEMENT. But I don't want you to lose hope. We're going to SAVE AMERICA from total destruction, and it will all be because of YOUR support. If you can, and only if you can, please chip in any amount today to help us WIN!" 83% of panelists agree this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a TWO The reason most given was "Those people are evil. They're going to ruin our country if we let them. It's us or them." and "Those people are a danger to everything we value." 60% of panelists scored it within +1 or -1 of a TWO The Conservative average score was a 3.619, and the Liberal average score was 3 Jamie Raskin Campaign asking for support: "...while Lincoln's party of "liberty and Union" becomes Trump's cult of chaos and disunion, Democrats will continue fighting hard to make democracy deliver for the American people, just as we always have. Every bit of support makes a big difference and I am grateful for any amount you can give." 86% of panelists agree this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a THREE The reasons most given were "We're the good people; they're the bad people. It's us versus them." and "makes a personal attack on the other, targeting performance, competence, appearance, background, character or morals." 80% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of a THREE The Conservative average score was 3.238, and the Liberal average score was 3.625 Mike Rogers Campaign Fundraising email: " Mike Rogers is a Trump-endorsed former law enforcement officer who's proud to be running to represent the people of the great state of Michigan in the US Senate. He will work day-in and day-out to fight to secure our border, squash the threat of China , and bring our economy back under control, while upholding the values of Michiganders from all across the Great Lake State. So, after reading all of that, would you consider chipping in today to help Mike forge his path to victory this November?" 87% of panelists agree this was dignity The most frequently chosen score was a FIVE The reasons given the most were "speaks openly, explaining their views, but never with contempt" and "I share my views with no contempt, so they're easier for others to hear" 83% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of FIVE The Conservative average score was 5, and the Liberal average score was 4.917 Kamala Harris Campaign's donation request: " $25 . That is the donation we are asking you to make to Kamala Harris' campaign today. We know what you are thinking and we get it: How is it that $25 can make a difference against all that money being spent by Trump's allies? The answer is simple: because while a few super wealthy people try to buy this election for Trump, we are running a people-powered campaign. Made up of lots and lots of people." 66% of panelists agree that this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a FOUR The reasons most given were "They're working for those people, not for us" and "We're better than those people. They don't really belong. They don't really share our values." 63% of panelists scored within -1 the score of FOUR The Conservative average score was 3.762, and the Liberal average score was 4.708 Kari Lake Campaign asking for donations: "The left has willingly let in millions of migrants and illegal immigrants, letting THOUSANDS OF POUNDS of illegal drugs through our porous border as a consequence. They're willing to sacrifice this entire nation for their woke, radical agenda. Securing the border means kicking out the people who have caused this disaster, AKA Ruben Gallego and his friends. I will bring some common sense to Washington D.C. I'm in this fight for ALL OF US. Click HERE to donate & join the fight and help take back America." 93% of panelists agree that this was contempt The most frequently chosen score was a TWO The reasons given the most were "Those people are a danger to everything we value." and "Tells stories that 'prove' the evil of the other side." 75% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of TWO The Conservative average score was 3.143, and Liberal average score was 2.667 For more information about The Dignity Index and to access the complete analysis please visit www.dignity.us. Contact: Nicole Tidei Phone: 203.376.1192 SOURCE Project UNITE, Inc. Vendasta places No. 235 on The Globe and Mail's sixth annual ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies. SASKATOON, SK, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vendasta is pleased to announce it has ranked No. 235 on the 2024 Report on Business magazine's ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies. Canada's Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. Vendasta earned its spot with a three-year growth of 178%. "We're thrilled to once again be named among Canada's Top Growing Companies," said Vendasta CEO Brendan King. "Our AI-powered platform enables businesses to unlock the power of their data, boosting productivity by 10x and giving them a competitive edge. This recognition is a testament to the technical innovation and dedication of our incredible team." Vendasta's continued growth is driven by its comprehensive platform, empowering businesses to efficiently market, sell, and support their customers using AI and automation. With a global network of channel partners and cutting-edge solutions, Vendasta remains at the forefront of digital transformation, meeting the evolving needs of businesses worldwide. Canada's Top Growing Companies is an editorial ranking that was launched in 2019 to celebrate the achievements of innovative businesses in Canada. To qualify for this voluntary program, companies had to complete an in-depth application process and fulfill revenue requirements. In total, 417 companies earned a spot on this year's ranking. The full list of 2024 winners along with editorial coverage is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazine. "Our annual ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies reflects the sector-spanning ingenuity of this country's entrepreneurs and corporate leaders," says Dawn Calleja, Editor of Report on Business magazine. "And we think it's important to tell their stories, to help inspire the next generation of up-and-comers across the country." "The Globe and Mail congratulates this year's Canada's Top Growing Companies' winners for achieving exceptional growth and resilience in facing business challenges," says Andrew Saunders, CEO of The Globe and Mail. "It is a testament to dedication, strategic vision, and innovative drive." About Vendasta Vendasta is a global leader in AI-powered digital solutions, helping businesses thrive in today's competitive marketplace. Headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, Vendasta's end-to-end commerce platform enables businesses to market, sell, bill, and fulfill digital solutions with unmatched efficiency. Trusted by a global network of channel partners and direct brands, Vendasta is recognized for its rapid growth and commitment to innovation. With offices in Saskatoon, Boca Raton, and Chennai, and a team of over 700 passionate professionals, Vendasta continues to expand its global footprint, driving business success through cutting-edge technology. Learn more at www.vendasta.com . About The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail is Canada's foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics, and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.2 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.9 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family. SOURCE Vendasta Technologies Inc. "Our Bodies, Our Votes", the third installment in Her Campus's award-winning editorial project, is a collection of stories, underpinned by original data, that amplifies the voices of Gen Z around reproductive rights as the 2024 presidential election draws near. BOSTON, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Her Campus, the leading media brand for college women with chapters at hundreds of colleges, is proud to launch Our Bodies, Our Votes , the third iteration of its award-winning editorial project. With an exclusive foreword penned by Vice President Kamala Harris, this initiative explores the intersection of the 2024 election and reproductive freedom, underscoring the high stakes of this year's presidential election for women across the United States through the eyes of Gen Z. In her foreword, Vice President Harris highlights the pivotal role young voters have played in shaping the political landscape: Vice President Kamala Harris pens exclusive foreword for Her Campus's "Our Bodies, Our Votes" Project. Post this "Young people have always been at the forefront of change. In 2020, young voters elected me the first woman Vice President in the history of our country. In 2022, young voters turned out in historic numbers to protect abortion rights in states from Michigan to Kentucky. And this November, it will be young people again who lead the fight to restore reproductive freedom across our nation." Her message is a clear call to action, urging young people to recognize that, "Your vote is your voice and your voice is your power." Our Bodies, Our Votes is a comprehensive editorial project that delves into the concerns and perspectives of Gen Z voters, with a specific focus on reproductive rights, which has emerged as the number one issue in the election for this demographic, according to Her Campus surveys conducted in 2024. This project will release Her Campus's original data that highlights the overwhelming concern young people have regarding threats to reproductive freedom, particularly around women's right to make their own healthcare decisions. In addition to data-driven insights, Our Bodies, Our Votes shares powerful and personal stories from young women courageously speaking out about their experiences with reproductive rights, including prominent reproductive rights activist Hadley Duvall . " Our Bodies, Our Votes is about amplifying the voices of Gen Z around this critical issue in the lead-up to this historic election," said Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-founder & CEO of Her Campus Media. "Through hard data that is then brought to life through deeply personal narratives, we aim to inform, empower, and galvanize Gen Zers to take action and ensure their voices are heard by voting." This latest installment follows the success of previous editions in the series: Our Bodies, Our Rules (published in 2017 after the election of Donald Trump) and Our Bodies, Our Rights (published after the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022). Both were met with widespread acclaim and received industry awards for their impactful data-driven storytelling and relevance. To read the Vice President's foreword and the courageous stories, and learn more about the data and Gen Z's priorities for this election, visit hercampus.com/ourbodiesourvotes . About Her Campus Media: Her Campus Media is the #1 Gen Z media and marketing ecosystem, reaching this generation better than anyone else across its family of media brands and communities, including Her Campus, College Fashionista, InfluenceHer Collective, Spoon University, and Generation Hired, with a highly curated community of 50,000+ creators, influencers, ambassadors, and student journalists across 2,000+ colleges. Her Campus Media provides award-winning integrated marketing programs that drive consumer engagement and loyalty for the world's leading brands. Her Campus has been named to Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies, Adweek's Campaign of the Year, and Entrepreneur magazine's Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America among other accolades. SOURCE Her Campus Media KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 10:13 | All, Japan Japan's next prime minister is set to face growing pressure from the LGBT community and courts to do more to protect sexual minorities, including legalizing same-sex marriage, but most candidates for the post have remained low-key on the issue. Among the nine running in Friday's presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, only Digital Minister Taro Kono supports allowing same-sex marriage, according to a survey by the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will approach the issue by taking into consideration relevant court rulings, while former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi refrained from answering, citing what he said was an instruction from the party. The remaining six candidates did not give responses by the Sept. 18 deadline. "It is extremely regrettable that many did not respond," said Yuichi Kamiya, secretary general of the group, which is seeking to remove social barriers based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The survey results contrasted with the responses from the four candidates in the leadership race of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, with all supporting legalizing same-sex marriage ahead of Monday's election won by former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. "The endorsement by the four CDPJ candidates was encouraging," said Gon Matsunaga, director for Marriage For All Japan, a group working to realize same-sex marriage. He said that for those who did not give responses, their lack of an answer "mirrors their awareness" on the issue. "I want people who are in the position to legislate to provide a remedy for human rights" violations, Matsunaga said. Japan remains the only Group of Seven major industrialized country that has not legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions, despite growing pressure from the LGBT community and its supporters. Japanese courts have also questioned the country's lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage, with a high court in March calling the current provisions unconstitutional as they violate the right to equality. The court also said the provisions violate Article 24 that says marriage shall only be by mutual consent of "both sexes," arguing that this can be understood as also guaranteeing marriage between individuals of the same sex. In the lawsuits, the government has argued that the Constitution presumes marriage is only between heterosexual couples. The Japanese parliament in June last year enacted legislation to promote understanding of sexual minorities and to eliminate "unfair discrimination" of people based on their sexual orientation. But conservative LDP lawmakers, who hope to maintain what they consider are traditional family values, opposed the bill. Regarding whether to permit separate surnames for married couples, a hot-button issue in Japan, Koizumi and Kono have endorsed the proposal, which also has the backing of Japan's largest business lobby. Ishiba has also said he "personally agrees" with the idea but has called for gathering opinions, while conservative candidates such as Sanae Takaichi have voiced opposition. In Japan, the Civil Code requires that married couples share the same surname, resulting in the overwhelming majority choosing the husband's name. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, a U.N. rights watchdog, has said the law forcing married Japanese couples to have the same surname is discriminatory against women. Related coverage: Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional Japanese court approves nonsterilized trans man's gender change Japan firm nixes translation of U.S. book questioning trans surgery KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 19:55 | All, World, Japan The Japanese government said Friday it will dispatch Self-Defense Forces airplanes to prepare for a possible evacuation of its citizens in Lebanon amid fears of the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah escalating. Upon the request of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara instructed the SDF to send transport aircraft to Jordan and Greece, where they will be placed on standby. Earlier in the day, Kihara told a press conference that SDF planes, including C2 transport aircraft, were already on standby in Japan in case its citizens need to be evacuated from Israel, and added that the government will "appropriately deal with the situation" depending on how events unfold. According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, about 50 Japanese nationals are living or working in Lebanon. Israeli air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, Iran's proxy, have intensified lately after the militant group began firing rockets into Israel in an unprovoked attack the day after the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise assault by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The United States and its allies have called for a 21-day cease-fire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent a further escalation of violence. Related coverage: Exploding walkie-talkies in Lebanon may be product of Japanese firm 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 United Nations, Sep 27 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a long round of applause as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), insisting that "we will not leave, Palestine is our homeland," and "if anyone were to leave it would be the occupier". He proceeded to accuse Israel of perpetrating a "full-scale war of genocide," dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Israel didn't kill civilians in Gaza. "I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children?" he said on Thursday. "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," Abbas said. During his speech, Abbas called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel and also its exclusion from the United Nations following the "genocide in Gaza". "We call for sanctions against Israel. Israel does not deserve to be part of this organisation. I don't know how the US can insist on depriving us of our rights," the Palestinian President said. He also touched upon the situation with settlers in the West Bank, specifying that 600,000 settlers currently live there. "We want ICJ (the International Court of Justice) ruling on Israel to be implemented," he noted. "Palestine will be free, despite anyone who objects. Our people will live in the land of their fathers and grandfathers... The occupation will end," Abbas concluded. Meanwhile, Netanyahu instructed his military to keep fighting "with full force" on Thursday, as a high-stakes international diplomatic effort was underway to pause the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Netanyahu is heading to New York for the UNGA, even as members of his government dismissed a ceasefire proposal that the US, European allies and several Arab nations put forward. Israel's military carried out new strikes in Lebanon, including one in Beirut, the capital, that targeted the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit. The UNGA adopted a resolution on May 10 supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member and recommending that the Security Council "reconsider the matter favourably". The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favour and nine against, including the US and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution. The resolution states, "The State of Palestine... should therefore be admitted to membership" and "recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favourably". New York, Sep 27 : Eric Adams, the outspoken Mayor of the largest US city, has been charged with bribery and campaign financing irregularities by Federal prosecutors, and one of the allegations relates to a trip he took to India. The charges released on Thursday said that after he purchased economy class tickets for himself and his domestic partner to India in 2016 on Turkish Airlines he accepted upgrades to business class, which prosecutors assert was valued at nearly $13,000 that he did not disclose receiving it in his official filings. The prosecutors put the amounts he illegally benefitted from at $100,000. No one connected to India is mentioned in the indictment which centres on his alleged ties to Turkey. Most of the allegations, including that about the trip to India, relate to the period he was the President of the city's Brooklyn borough before he became Mayor in 2022. Adams, who is African-American -- only the second from the community of the city's 110 Mayors -- and is a Democrat. However, he has been at odds with the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, criticising their border policies that let in more than 12 million illegal immigrants overwhelming New York and other cities. In a statement professing his innocence, he cited his criticism of the Federal government's inaction on "its broken immigration policies". On a day he was on his way to Washington to lead a group of Mayors in a protest over the fallout of illegal immigration, Federal agents launched a search of the house of his campaign finance official causing him to abandon the protest and turn back to New York. A former police captain, he has also been tough on crime, drawing criticism from the party's Left and at variance to some of the lenient policies that Harris had once advocated. The Turkish government, businesses, educational institutions, and local administrations allegedly gave him free hospitality and funneled campaign contributions illegally to him through third parties. Besides his trip to India, he is alleged to have received free tickets, upgrades, or hospitality for visits to Turkey, China, Hungary, and Sri Lanka In return, among other things, he helped the 36-storey Turkish Consulate tower get a fire department clearance, according to the indictment. The charges against him were unveiled two days after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan severely criticised the West in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The city of 8.25 million people has been in turmoil for several weeks with several top officials, including the Police Commissioner and the schools Chancellor resigning after they came under investigations. The Federal prosecutors have been going after foreign interference in US politics occurring in the New York area. Earlier this month, Linda Sun, a former senior aide to Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested and charged with secretly wporking for China. In May, Bob Menendez, a powerful Senator who headed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was convicted on bribery charges relating to his illegal collaborations with Egypt and Qatar. At a flag-hoisting ceremony honouring India's Independence last month, he recalled his visit to the country. He said, "I recall in my trip to India, and the most significant part of that trip that I remember, I remember watching the last footsteps of our leader, Gandhi, and where the assassin took his life, and how we have a responsibility and obligation to continue those footsteps." New York, Sep 27 : Former US President Donald Trump has said that he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York on Friday one day after the White House hopeful slammed Ukraine's leader for refusing to strike a deal with Russia over the war. "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 told reporters in New York on Thursday. "And it's a shame what's happening in Ukraine. So many deaths, so much destruction. It's a horrible thing." Trump spoke hours after the Ukrainian President met with his US counterpart Joe Biden and Trump's November election rival Kamala Harris at the White House. Zelensky is in the US this week participating in the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump said: "I look forward to seeing him tomorrow." But the Republican 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". When asked about Zelensky's comments by a reporter at the press conference, Trump said: "I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn't know me." "I believe I will be able to make a deal" to end the war, Trump added, repeating a longstanding claim that he would swiftly bring about an end to the conflict which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trump has frequently claimed that he would be able to end the war in Ukraine quickly, in as little as "a day". Trump has been highly critical of funding to Ukraine and at times, Zelensky -- an uneasy relationship that was made even less comfortable after the Ukrainian President announced a visit to an ammunition plant in battleground state Pennsylvania. Trump frequently says Russia "would have never attacked Ukraine" if he was President. Trump has frequently claimed that he would be able to end the war in Ukraine quickly, in as little as "a day." "I don't want to tell you what that looks like," he responded. He said of Ukraine that Russian leader Vladimir Putin "told me often it's the apple of his eye". Trump claimed he warned against invading Ukraine and said, "'Vladimir, don't even think about doing it.'" Trump also told reporters of his meeting with Zelensky, "We'll see what happens, but I believe I can work that out." Asked whether Ukraine should cede land to Russia to end the war, Trump did not answer directly. "Let's get some peace," he said. "We need peace. We need to stop the death and destruction. Don't you think? Wouldn't that be nice?" Earlier on Thursday, Trump posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, a message purportedly from Zelensky requesting a face-to-face meeting with Trump while Zelensky would already be in New York. Trump's announcement that he would meet with Zelensky came shortly after that post. United Nations, Sep 27 : The Foreign Ministers of BRICS met here on Thursday ahead of next month's summit in Kazan in Russia. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on X the meeting "underlined its significance for multi-polarity and global diversity". Sharing a post on X, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Just concluded the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of UNGA79. Underlined its significance for multi-polarity and global diversity. Focused on reforming multilateralism and strengthening development." He added that they "focused on reforming multilateralism and strengthening development" and also "discussed achieving SDG (UN Sustainable Development Goals) targets, addressing debt, promoting fair trade, and overcoming poverty". "Thank FM Mauro Vieira for convening and chairing the meeting," the post on X added. Meanwhile, in a series of other tweets, EAM Jaishankar posted pictures of his meetings with several foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA. In a post, he wrote, "Happy to see FM Tim Kabba of Sierra Leone on the sidelines of UNGA79. Appreciate their leadership on reformed multilateralism." In another post, he wrote, "Good to meet the new Egyptian FM Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of UNGA 79." "With FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi of Iran ahead of the BRICS meeting," another post on X by EAM Jaishankar said. Meanwhile, EAM 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, EAM 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 statement. Created as an economy-focused group by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, it has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and evolved to also consider geopolitical issues.. With BRICS emerging as a new point of focus in a multipolar world, several more countries are seeking membership. This week, Afghanistan's Taliban regime asked to attend the summit meeting in Kazan. United Nations, Sep 27 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday met with the top leaders of the world organisation, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang, who expressed appreciation for India's global role. At their meeting, Guterres "expressed appreciation for India's cooperation with the UN," according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. "They discussed the Summit of the Future and its implementation, climate change, Artificial Intelligence, and geopolitical developments," he added. The Summit earlier this week adopted the Pact for the Future setting the course for the UN and for collectively dealing with the looming crises for the world. Yang said on X that he "appreciated India's role in advancing the interests of the Global South". "We discussed the priorities and key issues for #UNGA79 (current General Assembly session), and building on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future," he added. EAM Jaishankar posted on X that he "assured him of India's full support to his vision of Unity in Diversity, Peace, Human Sustainability, and Dignity for everyone everywhere". The Minister met several other leaders on the sidelines of the General Assembly's high-level meeting. EAM Jaishankar wrote on X that at his meeting with Sierra Leone Foreign Minister Tim Kabba, he expressed appreciation for that country's leadership on reformed multilateralism. Sierra Leone as President of the Security Council last month brought Security Council reform to the fore. EAM Jaishankar posted on X that he and Belarus Foreign Minister Makshim Ryzhenkov "discussed possibilities in health, education, technology, and deepening economic linkages". Romania's Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu and he "took stock of our growing bilateral engagements in tourism, defence and mobility" and "exchanged perspectives on Ukraine," EAM Jaishankar reported on X. He posted on X that he had a "good first meeting" with Maria Stenergard and they spoke "about deepening our bilateral relationship in fields of sustainable development, investments, and skilled workers' mobility". They also exchanged perspectives on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, he added. With Jordan Deputy Prime MInister Ayman Safadi his "discussions revolved around the ongoing situation in West Asia," he wrote on X. He also met Foreign Ministers Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Seyed Abbas Araghchi of Iran, Albert Shingiro of Burundi, and Kamina J Smith of Jamaica. Tel Aviv, Sep 27 : Israel has said it has killed another top Hezbollah commander -- Muhammad Hussein Srour, the commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command -- in a "precise" strike on Beirut. 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 on Thursday. 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". Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, "Eliminated: Commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command, Muhammad Hussein Srour, in a precise IAF strike in Beirut." The IDF further said that Srour was responsible for advancing numerous aerial terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians. "Srour advanced and directed numerous aerial terrorist attacks aimed at Israeli civilians. During the "Iron Swords" war, he executed several terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers using UAVs and explosive devices," the post said. "In recent years, Srour led the manufacturing project of UAVs in southern Lebanon and established UAV manufacturing and intelligence gathering sites in Lebanon, located adjacent to civilian infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon," the post added. The IDF also said that Srour's role extended to the commander of the surface-to-air missile unit, as well as the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force. It said, "He was also the commander in the surface-to-air missile unit, commander in the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force and Hezbollah's emissary to Yemen and the Houthi terrorist regime's Aerial Command." 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 on 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. Netanyahu shot down the possibility of a cease-fire that could end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon after the US 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. Despite the proposal on the table, all signs point to Israel preparing for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon. US 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 on Thursday. The President was returning from the UN 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. The Israel Ministry of Defence secured a $8.7 billion US 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 defence systems, according to the Ministry of Defence. Israel has said it is attacking Hezbollah in order to allow residents to return to the north. 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 Abbas Araqchi said in comments to reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He also warned Israel's "crimes will not go unpunished," and said the Middle East region "risks full-scale conflict" if the UN 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," Araqchi said on 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. Washington, Sep 27 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Joe Biden at the White House to present his wartime "victory plan," after Biden announced an $8 billion surge in military aid for Kyiv's fight against Russia. "Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way," Biden said on Thursday as he hosted Zelensky in the Oval Office, after thanking him for presenting the so-called victory plan. Dressed in his trademark military-style outfit, Zelensky replied that "we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side". But Zelensky's visit was clouded by a blazing row with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how November's US election could upend the support that Kyiv receives from its biggest backer. Zelensky 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 Biden's Vice-President Kamala Harris against firebrand Trump. The Democrat pledged nearly $8 billion in military aid in his announcement on Thursday, including $5.5 billion to be authorised before it expires at the end of the US fiscal year on Monday. Biden said in a statement that the "surge in security assistance for Ukraine" would "help Ukraine win this war". Biden also announced Washington would provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition and called a summit of allies in Germany in October. The White House however played down Ukraine's hopes that Zelensky's visit would achieve his long-held goal of getting permission to fire long-range Western-made missiles into Russian territory. "I'm not expecting there to be any new announcements on this particular action or a decision coming out of this meeting," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. Harris was due to meet Zelensky separately at the White House on Thursday. Zelensky also visited the US Congress -- where his government said he had also presented his victory plan -- and gave a defiant address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. But Zelensky's visit has prompted fresh nuclear saber rattling from Moscow, which has repeatedly warned the West against giving Ukraine long-range arms. Russian President Vladimir 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. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the nuclear threat "totally irresponsible" while EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said Putin was making a "gamble with his nuclear arsenal". Kyiv faces an increasingly difficult battlefield situation two and a half years into Russia's invasion, with Russian forces continuing to push into eastern Ukraine. But the US presidential election means Washington's support now hangs on the balance -- and with Zelensky apparently at odds with Trump and the Republicans. Trump had also been due to meet Zelensky during his US visit, but their talks now appear to be on ice. Trump 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. At an election rally on Wednesday, the Republican called the Ukrainian President "probably the greatest salesman on Earth". Republicans were livid after Zelensky visited an arms factory in Biden's hometown in the battleground state of Pennsylvania earlier this week, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling for the Ukrainian ambassador to be sacked. Zelensky also sparked fury in Republican ranks when he told The New Yorker magazine this week that Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance did not understand the war's complexity. Trump has echoed many of Putin's talking points about previous US policy being to blame for the Russian invasion, and has been critical of Zelensky for years. The US has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine during the war, despite frequent opposition from Republicans. KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 14:03 | All, Japan Special permission to stay in Japan has been granted to 212 foreign minors and their family members who did not have residence status and could have been deported, the immigration agency said Friday. The humanitarian measure at the justice minister's discretion was applied to minors under 18, born and attending school in Japan, and with parents without criminal histories. Calls have been rising for consideration for such foreign children, many of whom only speak Japanese. The measure, which also extends to 183 of their family members, was described as a one-time provision by then-Justice Minister Ken Saito when announcing it in August 2023. However, the Immigration Services Agency has said it could make extraordinary recognitions in future cases. As of June 10, when the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act came into effect, there were 263 children who were without visas and facing the risk of being deported, the agency said. The revised legislation allows individuals to apply for special permission when previously it was only possible once deportation proceedings began. Of the children who did not receive special permission, 11 returned to their home countries of their own volition, while 40 were not granted it due to factors including their parents entering Japan illegally and not reaching school age, the agency said. Among the 212 minors, 155 received student visas, 29 were granted designated activities visas, and 23 received long-term resident visas. Amid wider issues over groups wishing to stay due to difficulties in their home countries, the agency also said it will tighten from October its review process on Myanmar nationals changing residence status from technical intern, which limits them to the same employer for three years, to designated activities, which has no such restriction. Japan has been allowing the switch as an emergency measure after a military coup in Myanmar in 2021 but decided on the policy change following a recent surge in people terminating the training program midway through. The agency said the number of technical intern visa holders from Myanmar disappearing from their workplaces rose to 1,765 in 2023, up roughly 1,100 from the previous year, with 1,739 of them later switching to designated activities visas. Related coverage: Japan to address issue of foreign trainees quitting in record numbers Court grants Japan nationality to Afghan refugees' child in rare move United Nations, Sep 26 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday voiced strong support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), along with permanent African representation, Brazil, Japan and Germany and more seats for elected members as well. "If we want the system to deliver for the poorest and most vulnerable then their voices must be heard. We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most. So we will make the case not just for fairer outcomes, but fairer representation in how we reach them. And this also applies to the Security Council. It has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act -- not paralysed by politics. We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well," Starmer said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York early Friday, India time. Earlier on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron had 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. United Nations, Sep 27 : While most of the leaders speaking at the General Assembly's high-level meeting have called for reforming the Security Council, three countries, specifically, said that India should get a permanent seat. The Council, struggling to tackle major security and peace issues, highlights the need for a comprehensive reform, Micronesia's President Wesley Simina said on Thursday. "It is time for permanent membership of the Security Council to be expanded to include Japan, India, Germany, Brazil, and representation from the African continent," he said. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed support for two countries with which Lisbon has historical ties, India and Brazil, getting permanent seats. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced strong support for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), along with permanent African representation, Brazil, Japan and Germany and more seats for elected members as well. "If we want the system to deliver for the poorest and most vulnerable then their voices must be heard. We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most. So we will make the case not just for fairer outcomes, but fairer representation in how we reach them. And this also applies to the Security Council. It has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act -- not paralysed by politics. We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well," Starmer said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. In earlier sessions this week, Chile's President Gabriel Boric Font and France's President Emmanuel Macron backed India's quest for a permanent seat on the Council. Two other permanent members of the Council, the US, and Russia, are also backing India. Mumbai, Sep 27 : Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar-headed Election Commission of India (ECI) team will hold two-day discussions starting from Friday with various stakeholders, and also review the preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. The team, which was welcomed by the state chief electoral officer S. Chockalingam on Thursday night, will hold discussions with the political parties, state government officers, enforcement agencies, district collectors and Superintendents of Police from 10 a.m. onwards on Friday and Saturday. The CEC along with two Election Commissioners, Ganesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, will address the media on Saturday. The ECI team on Friday will meet political parties to seek their views. During the day, it will have discussions with the state Chief Electoral Officer, enforcement agencies, the state chief secretary, the director general of police and other administrative secretaries and senior police officers with regard to the deployment of the necessary manpower and law and order situation. On September 28, the ECI team will hold an interactive meeting with the district collectors and superintendents of police to take stock of the ground-level preparations. Thereafter, CEC will address the press conference. The ECI teamas visit is important as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had recently said that the Assembly election may take place in the second week of November. The term of the present Assembly ends on November 26. The ECIas visit comes after the state CEO on September 12 and 13 met the deputy district election officers, district collectors and chief district election officers and reviewed the preparations for the elections in 288 Assembly constituencies. The CEO reviewed the status of electronic voting machines, the updated votersa list, the status of polling material and district-level poll management, especially, the availability of the required number of staff and security arrangements for free and fair elections. Further, the CEO also took stock of the situation of the district-level preparedness for conducting counting smoothly. He also reviewed the plan to start polling stations in high-rise buildings and cooperative societies with over 200 families. Maharashtra has added 2.4 million new voters during the special drive conducted between August 6 and 20. In view of this, the number of total voters in the state rose to 95.4 million, up from 92.94 million at the end of the Lok Sabha election. Over 2.08 million applications for voter addition and 370,000 applications for name deletion due to death or duplication were received by the Election Commission of India during the special drive. Jammu, Sep 27 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday was raiding seven places in Jammu and Kashmir as part of its probe into the deadly terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district in June. Officials said the local police and the CRPF were assisting the NIA during the raids. "These raids are being carried out in connection with the Reasi bus attack by the terrorists," the officials said, adding that the locations under investigation are connected to hybrid terrorists and over-ground workers (OGWs). Officials said that multiple teams from the NIA have been conducting searches in the Rajouri and Reasi districts since this morning. On June 9, terrorists targeted a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple to Katra town, the base camp town of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu division. The attack was carried out at Teryath village in the Poni area of the Reasi district. Terrorists provided with logistics support by OGWs fired at the driver of the bus after which the bus dropped into a gorge. The terrorists continued firing at the overturned bus carrying men, women and children. Nine pilgrims were killed and 40 others injured in this dastardly terrorist attack. The Resistance Front (TRF) took responsibility for the attack, but J&K Police said the attack was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit. The TRF is a front outfit meant to own responsibility for terror attacks to divert the attention of the security forces from the actual perpetrators of these terror attacks. A total of 50 suspects were detained by J&K Police in connection with the investigation of this terror attack. The investigation of the terrorist attack was handed over to the NIA on June 17. Mexico City, Sep 27 : At least five people were killed after Hurricane John lashed Mexico's Guerrero state, the government said on Friday. "There are five deaths so far," Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters at his usual daily press conference at the National Palace, Xinhua news agency reported. "There was not much material damage" to the Pacific Coast state, with reports of some "700 homes damaged," he added. The eye of the hurricane made landfall in Guerrero Monday night as a category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour and gusts of 220 kilometres per hour, according to authorities. On Wednesday, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado reported an initial two deaths from the hurricane, which was downgraded to a tropical storm. Authorities, however, warned that John regained strength as a category 1 hurricane, and was expected to dump substantial rain in west and south Mexico. Beirut, Sep 27 : The death toll from 115 Israeli airstrikes on various regions in Lebanon rose to 60, the Health Ministry reported on Friday. Israel conducted attacks across Lebanon on Thursday, the ministry noted, adding the large-scale airstrikes, which started on Monday and have been focused on the south and east of Lebanon, have now spread to include regions in the Mount Lebanon Governorate on its fourth day, Xinhua news agency reported. As of Thursday, the death toll from the Israel-Hezbollah clashes since October 8, reached 1,540, with injuries totalling 5,410, the ministry added. 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. 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 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that it launched three missiles in "an intelligence-guided attack" on Mohammed Hussein Sarour, commander of Hezbollah's air unit, claiming he was killed in the strike. The military stated that Sarour was responsible for multiple drone and missile attacks against Israel. So far, Hezbollah has not commented on the attack nor confirmed Sarour's death. Additionally, the IDF announced that its 7th Armored Brigade concluded a military drill a few kilometres from the Lebanese border, simulating a ground operation in Lebanon. The drill trained troops in "manoeuvring and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain," the IDF said in a statement, adding that the exercises enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front. This drill followed a proposal by France at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, in collaboration with the United States "to allow for negotiations." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the proposal; however, Israel denied earlier on Thursday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah or Lebanese political parties. 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 in the past 72 hours. 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. Islamabad, Sep 27 : Eight people were injured in an explosion inside a police station in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rescuers said. The accident happened in the Swabi district of the province where a fire broke out before the explosion, severely damaging a room in the police station and reducing it to rubble, Bilal Faizi, spokesperson of the state-owned rescue organisation Rescue 1122, told Xinhua news agency. He said that the fire erupted inside the room where explosive materials, recovered from terrorists during separate operations, were stored. Faizi said the fire was caused by a short circuit, ultimately triggering the explosion. He added that the injured people had been shifted to a nearby hospital, where two of them were in critical condition. An investigation into the accident is underway. Sonipat, Sep 27 : The Jindal India Institute (JII) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) hosted 31 foreign diplomats, foreign correspondents and defence attaches from 20 embassies, high commissions, international organisations and new agencies at the third edition of its one-day certificate course on 'Understanding India's Foreign and Security Policy' in New Delhi. The countries and institutions represented in this training event were Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, Finland, Kenya, Lithuania, Norway, Russia Today (RT), Rossiyskaya Gazeta, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, the UK, the US, Zimbabwe and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The day-long engagement has six modules delivered by expert practitioners and academicians in international and defence matters. They provided a nuanced understanding of India's foreign policy objectives and security strategies in an increasingly complex international landscape. Sreeram Chaulia, Professor and Director General of JII, kick-started the discussion by providing a comprehensive overview of the essentials of India's foreign policy. He discussed how Indiaas foreign policy strategies are informed by its rich strategic heritage, ranging from Kautilyaas realpolitik to the idealism of the Upanishads. He focused on the intent and purpose behind core concepts like strategic autonomy, non-alignment, multi-alignment, net security provider, first responder, Vishwa Mitra and Vishwa Guru and showed how India is extracting maximum benefits from foreign engagements to enable its rise as a aleading powera in the world. The first half of the day also featured a session explaining the detailed organisational structure, functioning and processes of Indiaas Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharya, Professor of Diplomatic Practice at the Jindal School of International Affairs, amalgamated theoretical knowledge with practical insights to address various queries by the participants on the roles, responsibilities and divisions of the MEA. Hindol Sengupta, Professor and Director of JII, delivered an address on India's changing worldview that has closely shaped its foreign policy since independence. He provided a balanced view of the country's transforming approach to the world under different Prime Ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, highlighting the potential and success of major foreign initiatives under each of them. Building upon this foundation, Ambassador Mohan Kumar, Professor and Senior Fellow of JII, shed light on the unique aspects of Indiaas economic diplomacy, including trade negotiations and investment strategies. He stressed on the country's participation in multilateral forums and the strong regional component in its connectivity projects. The session closed with comments from a participating diplomat stating, "India is the future. Africa sees India as the hope for a better world order." India's security architecture was the main focus of the second half of the course. Swasti Rao, Associate Fellow of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, explored the country's defence partnerships with Western powers. She explained key agreements, collaborative technological advancements and joint military exercises with Europe and the US. Her in-depth analysis of strategic motivations and expertise in weaponry and shifting patterns in Indiaas defence diplomacy enriched the foreign audienceas understanding of India's critical strategic partnerships. India's emerging role in the Indo-Pacific was covered by Pooja Bhatt, Associate Professor of the Jindal School of International Affairs. Using an array of maps, satellite imagery, and flowcharts, she offered a detailed examination of Indiaas strategic priorities such as regional connectivity, maritime security and economic cooperation. The day concluded on a dynamic note with a special address by Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd., Indian Air Force), who talked about the Indian military's vital contributions to national security and the main ethos and doctrines which have guided Indiaas armed forces as they remain prepared to tackle Indiaas main external adversaries. In the context of this one-day event, C. Raj Kumar, the President of JII and Vice Chancellor of JGU, commented that "as India takes on a more prominent role in global affairs, initiatives like this certificate course can foster deeper understanding between India and the international community. The Jindal India Institute aims to deliver comprehensive expert-led training programmes that spread international awareness of and support for Indiaas extraordinary accomplishments and potential." "Our mission is to enhance Indiaas leadership role in the world through thought-provoking and educative courses such as these, which can open the eyes of the international community and win more friends for India globally," Raj Kumar said. New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Supreme Court on Monday deferred hearing on Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari's plea seeking bail in connection with an unlawful jail visit case. New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday deferred hearing on Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansarias plea seeking bail in connection with an unlawful jail visit case. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan decided to defer the hearing on a request made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on Abbas Ansarias behalf. The apex court posted the matter for hearing on October 14, along with the plea filed by Abbas Ansari, the elder son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, seeking quashing of the Gangsters Act case. Abbas Ansari, when lodged at Chitrakoot jail, was caught meeting his wife Nikhat illegally in the jail in connivance with prison officials. Earlier in May, the Allahabad High Court had declined to grant bail to Abbas Ansari, considering his "profile, background and family antecedents". A bench of Justice Jaspreet Singh said: "The applicant is a Member of Legislative Assembly. He is a person who holds a responsible position and is a representative of the public. His conduct has to be of a higher standard than other common persons of the society. The members of the Legislative Assembly are also the lawmakers and in juxtaposition, it is not appropriate that a lawmaker may be seen as a lawbreaker." In February last year, Nikhat Bano visited her husband inside the Chitrakoot Jail and was found in possession of two mobile phones and Rs 21,000 cash along with 12 Saudi Riyals, during a raid conducted by the district administration. She, among others, was arrested for "illegally meeting" her husband in jail in contravention of prison rules. Abbas Ansari was subsequently transferred to Kasganj Jail by the Uttar Pradesh government. The state police had also arrested prison officials who allegedly facilitated meetings between the husband and wife in exchange for cash. Mumbai, Sep 27 : The makers of the Vikrant Massey-starrer biographical film "12th Fail" recently hosted a special screening at the Supreme Court of India. The screening served as a unique opportunity to engage with an audience that deeply resonates with the film's powerful message, showcasing the journey of those who strive to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. The screening was attended by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, along with judges and 600 plus officials of the Supreme court and their families. Directed, produced and written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film is based on the 2019 non-fiction book by Anurag Pathak about Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame extreme poverty to become an Indian Police Service officer. The screening was followed by an exclusive interaction between CJI and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, along with IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS Officer Shraddha Joshi, lead actors Vikrant and Medha Shankar. In conversation with the team of the movie, Justice Chandrachud said: "Where we all seek inspiration, our society flourishes on hope, and each one of you has provided that-- not just for this evening but for the whole nation. We need stories of real people who have shown exemplary motivation by rising above their circumstances, and these stories must be conveyed to society at large. I believe every member of our staff family will be truly inspired to encourage their sons, daughters, friends, and mentors them to lead the nation to new heights." "Such films enable and inspire us to do something better every day of our lives for people around us. My compliments to Vidhu for the way he has transformed this real-life story on the screen. Both Vikrant and Medha have done a brilliant job. They have fully embodied the lives and environments of their characters and made it such a part of their existence while doing the film. I could feel that," he said. "There were moments in the movie when I thought I'd need a hanky as my eyes were moist. This film conveys such a strong message of hope. On behalf of the entire staff and my colleagues at the Supreme Court, Iad like to thank the team of '12th Fail' for taking the time to spend the evening with us," he concluded. Vidhu Vinod Chopra commented: "This was one of the most pleasant evenings of my life. Because I was watching the film sitting next to a man (Dr Chandrachud) who understood everything I tried to say in the film. He made me feel that spending five years of my life on this film was worth it. I am grateful to all the esteemed judges and members of the Supreme Court who found time to join us. It was a magical evening." The film also stars Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar and Priyanshu Chatterjee in pivotal roles. It was released theatrically on October 27, 2023. By Yuka Matsunaga, KYODO NEWS - Sep 27, 2024 - 10:24 | Feature, All, Japan Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor lauded for its groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment, marked its 10th anniversary this month since its release by Ono Pharmaceutical Co. under the brand name Opdivo. But while it is highly effective in treating multiple types of cancer, its extremely high price has reignited the debate over how best to deal with expensive drugs, balancing the financial burden on the healthcare system and patients with the need for pharmaceutical firms to have the incentive to produce life-saving new drugs. "If there had been even the slightest delay in approval (of Opdivo) I would have died," said Koichi Shimizu, 47, a labor and social insurance consultant in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. Shimizu had come to terms many times with the prospect of dying after the lung cancer found in 2012 spread to his brain and spinal fluid. He received a dose of Opdivo in 2016, when it had just been approved for lung cancer therapy, and the tumor quickly shrank. He is thankful that the drug was approved "just in time to save my life." Opdivo was developed based on research by Tasuku Honjo, distinguished professor at Kyoto University who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. Unlike conventional anti-cancer drugs, Opdivo uses the body's own immune system to kill cancer cells. In 2014, Opdivo was launched for the treatment of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The application of the medication has since spread to 13 types of cancer, including lung and stomach cancers. An estimated 190,000 patients have been administered the drug. But Opdivo is extremely costly. For the treatment of lung cancer, it was initially said to cost some 35 million yen ($243,000) a year. Since public insurance programs, such as the high-cost medical reimbursement system, cover patients' co-payments, Shimizu needed to pay only about 25,000 yen per month in real terms. Ballooning overall national medical expenditures, however, have squeezed public finances. As a result, Opdivo has seen its price reduced in price six times, and is now less than one-fifth the original cost. Lately, a number of high-cost drugs have been introduced by Japanese pharmaceutical companies, such as Eisai Co.'s Lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. According to the health ministry, national healthcare expenditures in fiscal 2021 hit a record above 45 trillion yen, and the estimate is that the figure will continue to rise over the following fiscal years and beyond. Although a price cannot be put on a person's life, public expenditures other than insurance premiums and patient co-payments have reached 17 trillion yen, leaving little room for further expansion. Drug makers are aware of the situation. Gyo Sagara, chairman of Ono Pharmaceutical, said, "Holding pharmaceutical prices in check to some extent is unavoidable to maintain universal health insurance." However, if prices are lowered simply on the impression that they are too expensive, investment decisions on new drug development will be affected. If price reductions are imposed on the market, there is also the fear drugs from overseas pharmaceutical companies for rare diseases may stop being available in Japan. Shimizu, who was administered Opdivo for about eight months, is concerned for future cancer patients. "It would be unfortunate for future patients if good drugs are no longer available," he said. It is a difficult issue, but he hopes that a way forward can be forged through broad discussion, including among patients themselves. Related coverage: Japan researchers identify fat-burning proteins Japan halts gene research of athletes amid privacy concerns Government to equalize medical support for Nagasaki A-bomb survivors Abu Dhabi, Sep 27 : Star Rana Daggubati, who is gearing up to share the silver screen with cinematic legends Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth in the Tamil action drama "Vettaiyan," expressed his excitement, calling it a thrilling privilege that also brings a rush of nerves. Abu Dhabi, Sep 27 (IANS) Star Rana Daggubati, who is gearing up to share the silver screen with cinematic legends Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth in the Tamil action drama "Vettaiyan," expressed his excitement, calling it a thrilling privilege that also brings a rush of nerves. Talking to IANS exclusively on the sidelines of IIFA, Rana said: "Working with icons like Mr. Bachchan and Rajinikanth sir is nothing short of a timeless opportunity. It is a privilege that comes with a bundle of nerves, but more than that, it is exciting." "It is a chance to learn, to understand what it takes to reach the zenith of artistic excellence." With such an amazing cast for the film, which also stars Fahadh Faasil, does he agree it is a perfect recipe for a blockbuster? "I am incredibly excited, and yes, the anticipation is palpable. The film boasts an ensemble of immensely talented individuals, and it has the potential to be something special. But it is the audience's verdict that matters most. I truly hope they embrace it with the same enthusiasm we have poured into making it." Over the years, pan-India films such as the "KGF", "Baahubali," and "Pushpa" franchises have not just broken records but also reshaped the box-office landscape, giving strong competition to Hindi films. Along with enchanting the Indian audiences, pan India films have proved that regional storytelling can resonate on a grand scale. Talking about what makes pan India films so popular, the 39-year-old star said: "Cinema is universal, we're just divided by languages just the way the country is - but to the audience, it's an emotion, an excitement, and a story. When you tell stories that touch hearts, language, and region become irrelevant." "The success of "Baahubali," "Minnal Murali" "Hanuman," and "Manjummel Boys" are classic examples of cinema that reverberated globally," added the actor, who made his Hindi film debut in 2011 with "Dum Maaro Dum". Why did it take so long to call Hindi and regional films simply 'Indian films'? Rana, who is hosting IIFA Utsavam, said: "India means unity in diversity - that is our strength. We are able to create more, and more regional power with stories to tell, and only cinema that cuts across five or more states or languages should even be called Indian Films." "The rest I think, will keep identity with language as it is a simple way for audiences." The actor says IIFA Utsavam is all about celebrating the magic of cinema, and he plans to bring a blend of fun, laughter, and a bit of behind-the-scenes magic to the viewers. "It is not just about handing out awards; it is about sharing stories, exploring the passion that makes cinema, truly an incredible medium that we all love, it is a dream, and celebrating the brilliance of those who make it happen. I want the audience to feel that they are a part of this celebration not just watching it." He calls hosting an adventure. "It is all about spontaneity, wit, and the challenge of holding the audience's attention. It keeps me on my toes! I love the interaction, the instant connection with the audience, an exchange that brings the whole event to life." New Delhi, Sep 27 : BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday lauded the country's achievement as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refrained from mentioning the Kashmir issue in his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Chandrasekhar said that the world has now come to know that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is an integral part of India. "After the revocation of Article 370, J&K is witnessing a festival of democracy through the elections. The voter turnout in J&K is quite high as people are participating in voting in good numbers. People have now understood that the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dynasties were running propaganda for more than 60 years in which they were calling J&K a disputed territory. It has now become history," Chandrasekhar told IANS. He asserted that J&K has now seen rapid development since it was made a Union Territory. "Today, J&K is becoming a prosperous Union Territory, where there will be opportunities and investments for the youth. Youths from J&K will also take part in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047," he asserted. This year, speaking at the UNGA in New York on Tuesday, Erdogan marked a significant departure from his usual stance, where he has consistently raised the issue of J&K, particularly after India abrogated Article 370 and removed the Special Status of the region. Erdogan's comments were seen as unwarranted interference in India's internal matters, and New Delhi repeatedly dismissed them as such. Since 2019, Erdogan has used his UNGA platform to criticise India's policy in J&K, claiming that peace, prosperity, and stability were lacking in the Valley. Shortly after India's decision to revoke Article 370, Erdogan had stated at the UNGA, "In order for the Kashmiri people to look at a safe future together with their Pakistani and Indian neighbours, it is imperative to solve the problem through dialogue and on the basis of justice and equity, not through clashes." Erdogan this year focussed primarily on the Israel-Gaza conflict, sharply criticising the UN for what he described as turning the Palestinian territory into the "world's largest cemetery." His decision to avoid mentioning Kashmir was notable, though the reasons were not clear. India's global standing might have influenced Erdogan's choice and his softened stance on Kashmir could be a diplomatic move to foster better relations with the country. New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, presently in Delhi, on Friday, dismissed all the allegations levelled by Independent legislator P.V. Anvar over the ADGP Ajith Kumar and political secretary P. Sasi matter. "Anvar before also had levelled allegations and we had doubts about them, but we did not dismiss them, instead we took steps for a probe by a top official since a legislator was saying so," said CM Vijayan. "Yesterday he said he is not happy and now it's become very clear that he is against the party, Left and the government. He has aired what the political opponents of the party often say, and it's now clear as he said he will not attend the party legislative meeting, which means we all know where he is heading," said CM Vijayan. "I am dismissing all the statements of Anvar as baseless but the already announced probe will go forward. I will meet again in detail at a later date," said CM Vijayan while walking away. Anvar has accused Ajith Kumar of holding secret meetings with the leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and also alleged that the CM was in the know of this. Anvar has also alleged that CM's political secretary P.Sasi was engaged in numerous nefarious activities. The Kerala unit of the CPI(M) has also slammed Anvar. Anvar has also attacked State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, who is CM Vijayan's son-in-law. State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian and a very close aide of CM Vijayan said: "He was standing with the Left and has now turned a traitor. There is no ideological thing that is guiding him, instead, he is going forward with a vested interest and that is now becoming more and more evident. His actions are becoming fodder for those who are against our party." "Anvar has raised issues and is being looked into by both the party and the government and instead of waiting for its outcome, he is continuing his attack, which in no way is acceptable," added Cherian. Kannur strongman and veteran CPI(M) leader P.Jayarajan said Anvar has become a pawn in the hands of those against the CPI(M). The youth wing of the party said Anvar is merely saying what the right-wing media has been saying against the CPI(M). On Friday, unfazed by the remarks of the CPI(M), Anvar said, "I am the least scared or worried about what I have said and I will continue to reveal more and more." Meanwhile, all the state party leaders are in Delhi. CM Vijayan and State party secretary M.V. Govindan held a closed-door meeting and the latter will be meeting the media to outline the party's stand on Anvar. Veteran party central committee member A.K. Balan said Anvar revealed all this based on a conspiracy hatched to target CM Vijayan and his family. "We are not worried as we expected things like this since our 24th Party Congress is around the corner. It is now clear that the Congress is ready to welcome back Anvar from the statements of a few Congress leaders," said Balan. Tehran, Sep 27 : Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the country and the European signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal have discussed the agreement's revival and removal of sanctions on Tehran. He made the remarks upon arrival in the Iranian capital Tehran from his trip to New York, where he attended the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and held several bilateral meetings, including with his foreign counterparts, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the official news agency IRNA. "Talks were held about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). We shared our concerns with the European states, and it was decided that (our) foreign ministers follow up on the issue," Pezeshkian said. He described the trip to New York as fruitful, noting he held bilateral meetings with the neighbouring countries' presidents and prime ministers and decided to reach agreements. Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The US, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal. The talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite several rounds of talks, no significant breakthrough has been achieved since the end of the last round in August 2022. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, who traveled to the US as a member of Pezeshkian's accompanying team, said earlier that Tehran was ready for the start of a new round of negotiations on the JCPOA's revival in New York provided that the other sides were also willing. Jaipur/Jodhpur, Sep 27 : Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday slammed former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot saying that the latter never had the intention to seek justice for the victims of Sanjivani Credit Co-operative Society. The Minister accused Gehlot of doing politics on this issue even today. "Now when he sees himself trapped in defamation, he remembers the respect of my late mother," said Shekhawat. Shekhawat got a clean chit in the Sanjivani case from the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday. Soon after, Gehlot said in a post on Thursday, "After the change of power in the state, SOG took a U-turn in the High Court. The investigating officer (IO) of this case was also removed and the government lawyers nominated by the BJP government also sided with the Union Minister. Despite all this, the High Court has not quashed the FIR as per the petition of the minister. The High Court said that further action can be taken by taking permission from the trial court." Reacting to a statement of the former Chief Minister, Shekhawat said, "Ashok Gehlot is upset with the clean chit I got from the High Court in the Sanjivani case. As long as he was in power, he kept trying to trap me by misusing the resources of the government. He spent Rs 40 crore from the government fund on lawyers to trap me, but the public responded by ousting him from power." Shekhawat said, "It is surprising that he is now remembering the respect for my late mother. When he made baseless statements about my late mother, why did he not have such respect then? Now that the defamation case against him in the court has become stronger, he is afraid of the law." The Union Minister said that Ashok Gehlot has no faith in government agencies at all. Shekhawat said," I have full faith in the Constitution of India and the judicial system. The former Chief Minister will soon be punished for the conspiracy he hatched against his opponents with malice. This has become more clear from his statement in his defence." A day before, Gehlot referred to the letter number SOG/SFIU/INV/2023/220 written to the Government Advocate on April 12, 2023, and said that the SOG had sent a factual report on which it was written that Shekhawat and his family members were involved in the crime and considered them accused. "It was written in this report that Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has a direct connection with the companies which are involved in the Sanjivani scam." He further mentioned Shekhawat's late mother and said, "Shekhawat also mentioned the allegations against his late mother in his statements yesterday. I have full respect for his late mother, but as the Home Minister of the state, it was my duty to present the facts brought before me before the victims and the public," said Gehlot and added, "Now after the change of government in the state, the BJP government put pressure on SOG, due to which SOG took a U-turn in the court and did not consider them accused". "My demand is that for a fair investigation, an SIT should be formed under the chairmanship of a retired High Court judge and this case should be investigated so that it can be known whether the wrong investigation was done by SOG during the Congress rule or whether the SOG has prepared a wrong report under pressure now. During the Congress government, SOG had even conducted a forensic audit of this case. My aim is to ensure justice to lakhs of victims and get their life's hard-earned money back to them," the Minister said. Ottawa, Sep 27 : Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya, a vocal critic of the Justin Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements in the country, has slammed a new petition initiated by Liberal Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal relating to the Air India Kanishka bombings of June 23, 1985, that left 329 people dead and was the worst tragedy in the history of aviation terror before the 9/11 attacks. The petition, which is available on the Canadian parliament portal, called upon the Government of Canada to order a fresh inquiry into the Air India episode to determine whether any foreign intelligence was involved in the crime. It mentions that the Sikhs in Canada widely believe that the bombings was the "handiwork of a foreign intelligence to discredit their political activism and undermine their advocacy work for human rights in India". Severely criticising the petition, Arya, who is of Indian origin, made a statement in the Parliament early Friday (India time), calling it as an attempt by the Khalistani extremists to promote new conspiracy theories. "39 years back Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistan extremists. It killed 329 people and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. Even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada," Arya said in his statement. "Two Canadian public inquiries found Khalistan extremists responsible for the bombing of Air India flight. Now there is a petition on parliament portal asking for a new enquiry promoting conspiracy theories promoted by Khalistan extremists," he added. The Canadian MP then quoted Bal Gupta, whose wife Rama was killed in the attack, telling the Globe and Mail: "It's deeply frustrating. It opens up old wounds all over again. It's all garbage. Itas an attempt to gain publicity and support for terrorist activities". In July, as another Hindu temple in Alberta's capital Edmonton was vandalised with hateful graffiti, Arya had emphasised the urgent need to rein in radicals before it was too late. "The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia and other places in Canada have been vandalized with hateful graffiti. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India," the Indian-origin Canadian MP wrote on X. Be it publicly celebrating in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi or brandishing images of deadly weapons, Arya said that Khalistani extremists seem to "get away with ease" with their public rhetoric of hate and violence in Canada. "Again, let me put it on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned. Like a broken record, I again call on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu-Canadians," he said. During his visit to India last month, Arya had held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and even called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the Canada-India relationship remains "very important" for both countries. India has repeatedly asserted that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada. "Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be... A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada's freedom laws for years. But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank," said Jaishankar a few months ago while speaking at the 'Vishwabandhu Bharat' interaction in Maharashtra's Nashik. "Our relations have been spoiled today because of the activities of these people who are even threatening our Ambassador and various diplomats posted in the country. They threw smoke bombs inside the High Commission and, at one time, our diplomats were facing great difficulty to get out of the building. People who supported terror activities against India have been given refuge in Canada. The government there should have a relook at the entire situation," the EAM had added. Guwahati, Sep 27 : Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sharply reacted to Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge's criticism over the setting up of semiconductor manufacturing units in Assam and Gujarat by the Centre saying that the grand old party has an agenda to oppose the development of the northeastern state. CM Sarma wrote on his X handle on Friday, "Once again, Congress shows its true colors by opposing Assam's development. A Karnataka minister, who is also the son of the Congress national president, claims that Assam has no right to host a semiconductor industry! I urge Assam Congress leaders to reject this divisive thinking and stand up for Assam's rightful growth and progress." Earlier, Priyank Kharge posted on his social media handle, "Five semicon manufacturing units, four are in Gujarat, and one is in Assam, but they don't have an ecosystem of skills there. They don't have an ecosystem of research there. They don't have an ecosystem of incubation. They don't have a system of ecosystem of innovationswhen 70% of the chip designing talent lies in Karnataka, I don't understand why the government wants to push to another state by using political clout. That is unfair." In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for four semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The facilities inaugurated include three semiconductor facilities in Gujarat and one in Assam's Morigaon. Chief Minister Sarma then expressed gratitude towards PM Modi for allotting one semiconductor plant in Assam. He said, "Development of the northeast is the top most priority of the Prime Minister. This semiconductor facility once comes up in the state, will provide a huge boost to the growth of industries here." According to CM Sarma, this plant would give job opportunities to at least 30,000 youths in Assam. More than 27,000 crore are to be invested to build the semiconductor facility here. "This is just the beginning. Assam will create history in the industrial sector in the coming days," he had said then. Manila, Sep 27 : Two people have been killed and another critically injured after a sedan crashed into a motorcycle in Palawan province, Philippine police said on Friday. According to the police, the accident happened on Thursday at 11:25 p.m. local time along a highway in Puerto Princesa City, Xinhua news agency reported. Police rushed to the scene and said that the 19-year-old male sedan driver lost control of the speeding vehicle, swerved to the opposite side of the road, and collided with the motorcycle. The motorcycle riders were thrown onto the road, resulting in the deaths of the 21-year-old male motorcycle driver and one of his two passengers, a 68-year-old female. The driver's 20-year-old partner was also critically injured. Police did not say if the sedan driver escaped the accident unscathed. A police investigation is underway. Rewari : , Sep 27 (IANS) Slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for spreading misinformation, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the land of Haryana "is the land of sacrifice and bravery" and added that "it is the BJP's responsibility to ensure jobs for Agniveers from Haryana." Rewari (Haryana), Sep 27 (IANS) Slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for spreading misinformation, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the land of Haryana "is the land of sacrifice and bravery" and added that "it is the BJP's responsibility to ensure jobs for Agniveers from Haryana." Saying that the people have decided to give the BJP a chance to serve once again, HM Shah, while delivering a power-packed speech in Rewari, said, "About Agniveer, Rahul baba is misguiding the youths. I am firm in what I say, and today I make a promise that none of the Agniveers of Haryana will be left without a pensionable job. The Central government and the Haryana government will provide them with a job having pension facility." The BJP-led Union government on June 14, 2022, introduced short-term induction of personnel in the armed forces. Hitting out at the Congress by saying it "always insults the Army", he said the BJP undertook equitable development in Haryana. He added, "Corruption has been finished in the last ten years. The middlemen are waiting for the Congress to come to power in Haryana, I want to ask the people, would you want to give Haryana in the hands of middlemen?" Slamming leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, he said, "The Congress cannot do overall development of Haryana. Some people have gone against the party discipline and are contesting as Independent candidates. I appeal to the public to vote only for those who have the BJP's Lotus symbol." "Rahul (Gandhi) baba has no work other than spreading rumours, which is why Haryana has lagged so much," he professed. "During the Congress' rule, whenever a CM came, only one district would benefit, and corruption and hooliganism would increase. But when the BJP came to power, it worked for entire Haryana and ensured the development of all 36 communities. In these ten years, the BJP has wiped out every trace of corruption from Haryana. Under the Congress, the government ran on cuts, commissions, and corruption," he said. "From Indira Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi, for 40 years they did not fulfill their promise. Then, in 2015, our PM Modi implemented 'One Rank, One Pension'. The Congress has always disrespected the Army. This is the same Congress that dared to call the Army chief a goon", he added. Slamming the Congress, HM Shah said, "Not just you, even your coming generations can't bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir." Wooing the growers, the HM said the farmers would harvest what they have sown and it will be the BJP government that will buy it. He said the BJP government in the state has been purchasing 24 crops under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. "This land of Haryana is the land of knowledge, spirituality and the Bhagavad Gita. This land of Haryana is the land of power and prosperity. Today the borders of the country are safe, Jammu and Kashmir is safe, and this includes the sacrifice, bravery and courage of the soldiers of Haryana," he said while seeking votes for the party. Haryana will go to polls for the 90-member Assembly on October 5 with the ballot count on October 8. Mumbai, Sep 27 : In a remarkable medical feat, a teenage Mumbai schoolgirl has become the youngest in the world to undergo an arm transplant from the shoulder level at a private hospital with a donated arm flown by a special flight from Surat, officials said here on Friday. The successful transplant operation with a donated arm of a 9-year-old 'brain dead' girl from Surat -- was performed on Anamta Aqeel Ahmad, 15, of Goregaon (Mumbai suburb) by a team of surgeons led by a specialist Dr Nilesh G. Satbhai. "This a historic set of events The donor was the youngest ever in India, the recipient (Anamta) is the youngest in the world to undergo such an arm transplant from her shoulder level, after a complicated 12-hour long surgery," Dr Satbhai told IANS. Then 13 years old, Anamta's ordeal started in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) when she was playing with her cousins on the terrace of their home. She accidentally happened to touch a live 11-KV electric wire, resulting in a massive shock with significant burns, screamed and collapsed, as her family members rushed her to a local hospital for treatment. However, her right hand soon developed gangrene and had to be amputated, while her left arm was also badly injured with critical wounds and poor functioning. The distraught Anamta and her family did not lose hope as she recovered and tried to restart her broken life, relearning various skills, while choosing to remain absolutely independent by tackling all her personal needs and responsibilities. "She even learnt afresh to write with her left hand and went to score 92 per cent in her SSC examinations, including a staggering score of 98 marks in Hindi in school last year She never despaired, always maintained an optimistic and cheerful outlook throughout despite her handicap at a tender age," said her father, Aqeel Ahmad, a filmmaker. Meanwhile, her anxious family hunted for solutions/options to help her out of the difficult situation and soon realized that a hand transplant could be the only practical way to secure Anamta's future. They scoured several hospitals all over India plus in Thailand and Singapore, but were mostly refused since the amputation was at a very high (shoulder) level, and finally, they met Dr Satbhai at the Gleneagles Hospital in Mumbai, which specializes in such surgeries. "My daughter underwent a detailed pre-operative checkup and was listed for a hand transplantation. After over a year, we got an alert about a suitable hand donor, a small girl declared 'brain dead' from Surat (Gujarat) after battling a brain tumour," Ahmad said. Dr Satbhai said that after counselling by a local NGO, the deceased girl's family readily agreed to donate her arm and prompt arrangements were made to bring it safely by chartered flight from Surat to Mumbai. Describing the procedures, he said hand transplantation is a very complex procedure, a proper assessment of the recipient since the original injury often results in severe scarring of the skin or damage to blood vessels and nerves. "Besides, transplantation at a higher level with bone fixations is another challenge with many technicalities involved. In Anamta's case, who was injured almost at the shoulder level, we had to repair blood vessels and nerves at a very high level under the collar bone (clavicle)," explained Dr Satbhai. A major factor was to restore the blood circulation in the donor's hand within six hours to ensure it survives and functions well without any health risks to the beneficiary (Anamta), hence the donated organ was airlifted to Mumbai. The surgery went on for nearly 12 hours with a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, immunologists and intensive care physicians for its successful and long-term outcome. "The patient has recovered well and is in ICU for observation and shall be discharged in a fortnight. She will be on life-long immunosuppression and soon start physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions. It can usually take 9-12 months for near-normal functional recovery after such proximal transplant," said Dr Satbhai. "Our daughter's tragedy was a wrenching experience for the whole family, and Anamta was going through a tough time for the past two years till we got the donor. She was crying with joy and relief, and now looks forward to returning to school and living a full life," Ahmad said gratefully. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com) BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the People's Republic of China approaches its 75th birthday, Xinhua News Agency holds a special photo exhibition in Beijing, celebrating the nation's incredible journey. Join us in this visual dialogue and immerse yourself in the great stories of China! A Xinhua News Agency Production Seoul, Sep 27 : North Korea has increased the number of criminal charges subject to the death penalty to 16 from 11 by revising the penal code several times between 2022 and 2023, as per a report on Friday. According to the report by Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), since revising the criminal law in May 2022, North Korea has further amended it three times, including the latest revision in December 2023, Yonhap news agency reported. North Korea newly added five criminal charges that could lead to the death penalty as a maximum sentence, when compared with the revisions in the penal code between May 2022 and December 2023, according to the report. Anti-state propaganda and agitation acts, as well as illegal manufacturing, use and transfer of weapons, ammunition and explosives, fall under such charges. The report said that North Korea seems to be strengthening state control and punishment over the management of ammunition and explosives in a bid to help fulfil the country's five-year weapons development project and better protect the North's leader Kim Jong-un and his family. "North Korea has revised the criminal law in a way that bolsters the regime's security," it said, adding that the move points to instability in the North Korean regime. Meanwhile, KINU said that North Korea had erased unification-related clauses in the penal code even before a key party meeting in December 2023, when Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as those between "two states hostile to each other." At a year-end party meeting, Kim said that there was no point seeking reconciliation and unification with South Korea, calling for removing unification references. Thrissur, Sep 27 : In what's believed to be the biggest serial ATM robbery in Kerala, the Tamil Nadu Police shot dead one criminal in Namakkal and took five others into custody on Friday. The serial ATM robbery that began at 2.10 a.m. in Thrissur ended when the gang of six all from Haryana decamped with Rs 65 lakh from three ATMs of State Bank of India in a radius of 17 km. While the first ATM was broken open at 2.10 a.m., the second one took place at 3.40 a.m. and the last one close to 4 a.m. The gang came in a car and after carrying out the ATM robbery took the route towards Tamil Nadu. However, by the time they hit the road, the alarm system in the ATMs sounded the alert and the Kerala Police were on their heels. Incidentally, in Namakkal, the Tamil Nadu police started following a container lorry which was being driven at high speed. In a close encounter, the Tamil Nadu police opened fire and killed one of the gang members, while another person was shot in his leg. Two members of the police team also suffered injuries when the gang attacked them with knives. The police were surprised to see the car, which the gangsters used to travel while they looted the three ATMs, was hidden inside the container lorry. The Tamil Nadu police after overpowering the gang have recovered weapons, including guns, from the thieves. The car used in the robbery has been seized. Gas cutters and other similar equipment were also found in the container. The accused looted three ATMs on Mapranam, Kolazhi and Shornur Road in Thrissur. Amaravati, Sep 27 : Ahead of former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's visit to Tirumala temple amid the raging row over alleged adulteration of laddu prasadam, CM N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday appealed to pilgrims visiting the temple to follow the conventions and traditions. Amaravati, Sep 27 (IANS) Ahead of former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddyas visit to Tirumala temple amid the raging row over alleged adulteration of laddu prasadam, CM N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday appealed to pilgrims visiting the temple to follow the conventions and traditions. Hours before the arrival of the YSR Congress Party chief in Tirumala for darshan on Saturday, the Chief Minister issued a statement, making an appeal to the pilgrims. This comes amid the demand by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jana Sena that Jagan Mohan Reddy should give a declaration of his faith before entering the Sri Venkateswara temple. Both BJP and Jana Sena are partners in the coalition government headed by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). CM Naidu has already slammed Jagan Mohan Reddy for visiting the Tirumala temple during his tenure as the chief minister without signing the declaration of faith which is mandatory for all non-Hindus visiting the temple. Stating that the Tirumala temple is the largest shrine in the world for the Hindus, CM Naidu said on Friday that the people of Andhra Pradesh are fortunate enough to have such a divine place in the state. "My government accords the highest priority to safeguard the sanctity of the Lord of the Seven Hills and to preserve the sentiments of the devotees. Each pilgrim who visits Tirumala for the darshan of the Lord takes utmost care to follow the conventions and traditions to offer prayers to the Lord," the Chief Minister said in a statement. Maintaining that each pilgrim has the bounden responsibility to protect the sanctity of this world-famous pilgrim centre, the Chief Minister stated that he makes a fervent appeal to every devotee to rigidly follow the temple norms, traditions of Agama Sastra and the TTD guidelines. "My sincere request to all pilgrims is that no devotee should act against the sentiments and temple rituals," CM Chandrababu Naidu said. Earlier, BJP state president and MP Daggubati Purandeswari demanded that Jagan Mohan Reddy should give a declaration of his faith before entering the temple. She stated that the practice of declaring one's faith has been in vogue for decades in Tirumala. CM Naidu had last week alleged that ghee used for making laddu prasadam of the famous hill shrine during the YSRCP rule had animal fat in it. The YSRCP denied the allegations and accused CM Naidu of hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees. The YSRCP has called for puja in temples across the state on September 28 to restore the sanctity of Tirumala temple, which it alleged was tarnished by CM Naidu with his false allegations. CM Chandrababu Naidu had earlier questioned Jagan Mohan Reddy why he did not sign an affidavit while visiting Tirumala temple that he was a believer of Lord Venkateswara. The Chief Minister recalled that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had signed such affidavits while visiting the temple. Bengaluru, Sep 27 : Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that in the event of an FIR being filed against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah there would be no embarrassment to the party. He said this in response to a question by the media just some time before the Karnataka Lokayukta filed an FIR against CM Siddaramaiah on Friday in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. Dwelling on the state government's decision to curb the CBI's free rein on investigations, he said, "The authority granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for unrestricted investigations has been withdrawn to prevent it from becoming a tool for politics of hatred." Speaking to the media near his residence in Sadashivanagar on Friday, he explained, "If at any point we feel that our officials are not suitable for investigating serious cases, we will then consider handing them over to the CBI." "Everyone knows what former PM Deve Gowda and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had to say about the CBI earlier. The BJP themselves once called the CBI the 'Congress Bureau of Investigation.' What cases were handed over to the CBI? What happened to those cases? I won't get into a discussion about the IMA case," he said. When asked about allegations that the decision was made to protect Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and to block a CBI investigation, he responded, "Let the Opposition talk. We'll discuss this at another time." Regarding the decision to respond to the Governor's letters seeking information only after getting Cabinet approval, he said, "Can decisions be made without bringing many issues to the attention of the Chief Minister and the Cabinet? That is why we decided that the Governor's letter should be answered after obtaining approval from the Cabinet. "I have some understanding of rules and regulations. While I may not be highly educated or intelligent, I do have awareness. There are rules for everything. Responses to the Governor's Office must go through the Chief Secretary." "A few days ago, a file related to denotification or redoing came to my office. My secretary sent it to me. To that, I replied, 'I cannot respond to this. As previously decided in the Cabinet, a subcommittee has been formed for such matters. Send it to them,'" he explained. When asked about the BJP's allegations of information leaks from Raj Bhavan, he said, "This is an internal matter of the Raj Bhavan. I have no information on this. I also have no information on what is happening in the Lokayukta office." When asked if an FIR against the Chief Minister would embarrass the party, he briefly replied, "There will be no embarrassment." Kolkata, Sep 27 : Landslides have been reported from a number of places in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in northern Bengal, following heavy showers in the entire zone since last night. the state government sources said that following the landslides, several pockets around National High 10 had been cut off from the mainland. The water level at Teesta river has almost reached the danger mark and is rising following constant rains. Those residing on the banks of river Teesta have already been alerted by the local administration. The situation has been reported to be quite critical following massive waterlogging in the plains of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts. "A number of houses have been damaged at Mirik, Ghoom, and Sukhia Pokhari area in Darjeeling district because of the landslide. The residents of these houses have been relocated to safe places. We are trying our best to remove the debris from the National Highways as early as possible so that traffic movement can start there," said a district administration official. As per the prediction, rainfall is expected to continue till Saturday, especially in the districts of north Bengal. However, the situation as on Friday afternoon is slightly better than in north Bengal. Although there had been some rainfall in certain districts in southern Bengal, it did not affect normal life in those districts to that extent. Water levels in the flooded areas in south Bengal districts like Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore and West Midnapore have also started declining. With no prediction of heavy showers in the coming two days in south Bengal the situation is expected to normalise in this zone soon. Recently, the rift between the state government and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) over the flood situation reached its peak with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announcing to withdraw the state government's representation in the Damodar Valley River Regulation Committee (DVRRC). The state government has accused DVC of releasing huge quantities of flood water at one go and that too without informing the state government. The DVC authorities and the Union government have, however, refuted the allegations. Patna, Sep 27 : A bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur district collapsed due to a strong water flow on Friday, causing disruptions to road traffic for the locals. The structure, constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) two years ago, was located in Chaukhandi village in Pirpaiti block. According to the villagers, the bridge had shown signs of damage on Thursday, with one side appearing bent. By Friday morning, the entire structure fell into the water. The collapse has severed the connection between the block headquarters and the district, impacting the movement of about 1,00,000 people from six Panchayats. Despite the critical situation, no administrative officials had arrived at the scene, leading to accusations of negligence from the affected villagers. The collapse of the bridge highlights a growing concern over infrastructure stability amid severe flooding in Bihar. The bridge, which broke from the middle and fell into the water due to the powerful flood currents, raises questions about the quality of its construction and the adequacy of flood-resistant measures. An investigation will likely be conducted to identify the reasons for the collapse, including possible structural flaws or oversight during construction. The situation is dire across Bhagalpur, with floodwaters submerging roads and putting other bridges and infrastructure at risk. This marks the third such incident in Bihar within a week. Before the Bhagalpur bridge collapse, a bridge in Munger was submerged in floodwaters on September 23, and a portion of an under-construction four-lane bridge between Bakhtiyarpur in Patna and Tajpur in Samastipur also collapsed. Following the collapse of the Chaukhandi bridge on Friday, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, criticized the Nitish Kumar-led government, sharing a video of the incident on the social media platform X. In his post, Yadav accused the government of rampant corruption, stating, "In Nitish Kumar's regime, the roots of corruption are as deep as the pillars of the bridge are shallow. In the last 2-3 months, hundreds of bridgesboth completed and under constructionworth thousands of crores of rupees have collapsed across Bihar." Tejashwi Yadav also questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's silence on the issue, suggesting that the government has failed to address or take action against the major culprits behind the alleged corruption. He further said, "Have you ever heard the Chief Minister make any statement on the corruption of these falling bridges or has he ever taken any action against the big whale of corruption? After all, how will he do it? He is the one who has made those small restless fishes into whales by feeding them." Mumbai, Sep 27 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday skipped the rally to promote the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana at Shirdi following an eye surgery. "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has undergone eye surgery. So the doctor has advised him to take rest and special care. In the wake of the doctor's advice, the Chief Minister has decided to take a break by cancelling the promotion program of Ladki Bahin Yojana under the Women Empowerment Campaign in Shirdi and the foundation laying ceremony of Onion Mahabank in Rahuri and all other scheduled programs today. However, the media is requested not to make any other arguments in this regard," said the Chief Minister's Office in a release. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the function at Shirdi while another Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party national president Ajit Pawar skipped it due to his Jansanman Yatra scheduled earlier in Kolhapur district. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and two DCMs have been travelling across Maharashtra to promote the Ladki Bahin Yojana and other welfare and development schemes ahead of the upcoming assembly election. The Chief Minister two days ago said that the state government has so far directly deposited Rs 1,500 each for the months of July and August under the Ladki Bahin Yojana in the bank account of over 1.60 crore eligible women beneficiaries. He further announced that the government will deposit the third instalment for the month of September by September 29. Shinde has reiterated that the government will increase the monthly financial aid to Rs 3,000 from the present level of Rs 1,500 after the MahaYuti government comes back to power. Both Fadnavis and Pawar have criticised the opposition for criticising the Ladki Bahin Yojana saying that the scheme will not be closed but will be implemented in the next five years. Pawar said that the government hopes to provide financial aid under the Ladki Bahin Yojana to 2.50 core eligible women beneficiaries across the state. New Delhi, Sep 27 : Vinod Bansal, the spokesperson for Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), criticised the Sadar Bazar Eidgah Committee on Friday for claiming ownership over a park near the Shahi Eidgah in Delhi. "The mindset of forcibly taking over the holy land was something practised by the Mughals and the British, and now these people want to implement that in independent India. This agenda will not succeed," Bansal told IANS. He added that the land belongs to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). However, the Waqf Board is trying to interfere. "The DDA owns the land, yet the Waqf Board claims it as their own. For instance, on Rani Laxmibai Road, a flyover was planned to ease traffic, and for that, a statue was relocated. That land still belongs to the DDA. Now, the Waqf Board is suddenly claiming that the land is theirs as if just a mosque on a piece of land makes everything their property," he added. Bansal said that the Delhi High Court has also reprimanded the people for making such claims, but they remain undeterred. "These tactics are part of a larger extremist agenda aimed at hindering development. They challenge justice at every step. If they don't trust the justice system, why do they go to the High Court? First, they go to a single bench, then a double bench, and after losing, they continue to protest. This kind of extremist mentality cannot be allowed to rule in the capital of the country," he said. He added that the recent actions by the Waqf Board further justify the need for the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. The misuse of authority by such groups mirrors the mindset of the Mughals and British colonisers, who forcibly occupied land. "This agenda of blocking progress cannot continue. Their confrontation is with Rani Laxmibai, a heroic figure who played a crucial role in India's independence. They should be ashamed and at least show respect to our national heroes like Rani Laxmibai," Bansal said. Earlier, the statue of Rani Laxmibai was being installed in a park opposite the Shahi Eidgah in Sadar Bazar, Delhi. However, the Eidgah Committee claimed ownership of the park but the Delhi High Court strongly rejected their claim. During the hearing, the court noted that Rani Laxmibai is a national hero, above all religious boundaries. "The Eidgah Committeeas petition promotes communal politics. The park is not part of the Eidgah property, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the DDA," the court observed. New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Indian textiles industry is estimated to grow to $350 billion by 2030, generating 4.5-6 crore jobs, the government said on Friday. Setting a target of 50,000 metric tonne silk production and employment generation of 1 crore by 2030, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said cultivation of silk is linked to employment generation of farmers. The minister further said that the Eri Sericulture Promotional Project launched in Gujarat will be expanded across the country benefitting castor farmers. He informed that under PM MITRA (Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park, a total of Rs 70,000 crore investment is expected, resulting in the creation of 21 lakh jobs. "Bharat Tex is a huge platform that will help India attract foreign investment in the textile sector and will help India achieve 4S style, scale, skill and sustainability," the minister added. As part of the government's transformative vision for the textiles sector, the ministry has taken several initiatives during the first 100 days, covering all segments of textile sector (infrastructure, technical textiles, research and development, startups, empowering artisans/weavers, strengthening natural fibre sectors like silk and jute). The minister further said that there is huge potential for technical textile in the country as it is used in all sectors and set an export target of $10 billion by 2030. The global trade of technical textiles is around $300 billion while India's domestic market size stands at $25 billion with an export of $2.6 billion. Highlighting handloom and handicraft, Minister Singh said that 1 crore artisans are connected and there are efforts to organize craft village initiatives in tourist places in the country. The ministry has approved 11 startup proposals under the component for Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) initiative under National Technical Textiles Mission. Support up to Rs 50 lakh per startup is provided under the scheme. Agartala, Sep 27 : Ahead of the festive season, the Tripura government would provide flour, semolina (suji) and sugar to 9.83 lakh ration cardholder families free of cost in view of catastrophic floods in the state last month. Announcing the decision on Friday, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government would give two kg of flour, one kg of sugar and 500 grams of semolina (suji) freely to 9.83 lakh ration cardholders ahead of the Durga Puja festival. In his social media posts, the Chief Minister said that these flour, sugar, and semolina would be provided through the Public Distribution Systems (PDS). Earlier the state government sold these items along with other essentials at subsidised rates but this time in view of the catastrophic floods, these three items would be given to the ration card holders for free. "In view of the upcoming Sharadotsav (Durga puja), the state government has decided to provide two kg flour, one kg sugar and 500 grams semolina to people across the state. These three items would be provided free of cost," Saha said in his different social media posts. Food and Civil Supplies and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that the government would spend Rs 6.84 crore to provide 492 MT of semolina, 1968 MT of flour and 984 MT of sugar-free of cost to 9.84 lakh ration cardholder families. He told the media that the Tripura government took this decision in view of the severely affected catastrophic floods last month killing at least 36 men, women and children and affecting 17 lakh people across the state. Chowdhury, who is also the spokesperson of the Tripura government, said that the state government has extended various reliefs for the flood-affected people of the state. He said that 10 kg of rice per ration cardholder per month was distributed free of cost to the 9.84 lakh ration cardholders for two months to further ensure the food security of the flood-affected and homeless people. The Minister announced that the Food and Civil Supplies department would replace existing old paper ration cards with PVC ration cards starting September 30. He said that the state cabinet in its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on Thursday approved the direct recruitment proposal for filling up 1,265 posts in various departments, including Police, Forest, Education and Revenue. BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At 93, Li Zhensheng, an esteemed academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has visited more wheat fields than he could ever count, having enjoyed a 70-year career in wheat breeding. Throughout his life, he has remained devoted to one mission -- ensuring that the Chinese people have enough to eat, and that they eat well. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Li was awarded the prestigious Medal of the Republic, honoring his decades-long contributions to agriculture and food security. Born in 1931 in Zibo, east China's Shandong Province, Li's early life was shaped by hardship. He was a teenager during the great famine of the 1940s, witnessing first-hand the devastating effects of food shortages. Determined to eradicate hunger in China, Li pursued his passion for agriculture. He was enrolled at Shandong Agricultural College and later joined the CAS. In 1956, he answered the government's call to support the northwestern region, and went to work in Yangling in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. At the time, wheat stripe rust, a destructive wheat disease, was ravaging the Yellow River Basin, slashing annual wheat yields by more than 5 million tonnes. Scientists were struggling to develop disease-resistant wheat varieties, which often took eight years of breeding efforts but lost resistance in five and a half years on average. However, Li sought a novel solution. Inspired by his research on pasture grass, which exhibits strong disease resistance, Li proposed an unconventional idea: hybridizing pasture grass with wheat to produce a disease-resistant strain. The challenge was immense. Crossbreeding such distant relatives posed numerous scientific hurdles. Yet, undeterred, Li and his team toiled relentlessly, walking 10 km each day to monitor their test fields, and braving harsh weather to plant and harvest wheat. After more than two decades of research, their perseverance paid off. Li and his team developed the high-yield and disease-resistant "Xiaoyan" series. Among them, "Xiaoyan No. 6" stood out, resisting eight types of stripe rust while significantly boosting wheat yields. By 2003, over 20 million hectares of "Xiaoyan" wheat had been planted nationwide, increasing wheat production by more than 7.5 million tonnes. Li's breakthroughs didn't stop there. He further revolutionized the wheat breeding system by using chromosome engineering, reducing the timeline for developing hybrid wheat varieties from decades to just three years. Beyond his work in the field, Li also mulled over new solutions for increasing grain output. In 1987, as vice president of the CAS, he proposed a comprehensive plan to revitalize low-yield farmland in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. The project, lasting over six years, added about 25 million tonnes to China's grain production. Li's contributions extended into the 1990s and the 21st century, when he pushed for bold initiatives to boost grain output amid stagnation. In 2011, well into his eighties, Li spearheaded the "Bohai grain silo" project, transforming saline land into productive farmland. The project was launched in 2013, boosting grain production in the Bohai rim region by more than 10 million tonnes over five years. Even at 90, Li proposed the creation of a "coastal grass belt" to enhance China's feed-grain security. "Chinese people feed themselves," Li said. With his actions, he responded to international concerns about who would feed China's massive population. Now in his nineties, Li is unable to visit the fields, but he remains engaged in scientific research, mentoring a new generation of agricultural scientists. "There is a limit to what one can achieve in a lifetime, so the goal must be clear and focused," Li told his students. "Follow the needs of the country and choose wisely what you wish to pursue," he said. Bengaluru, Sep 27 : A city court here on Friday adjourned the bail petition of the jailed Kannada superstar Darshan till September 30 in the fan murder case. The court passed the order after the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) submitted objections to the bail petition of Darshan. However, the SPP said that he needed more time to submit objections against other accused in the case. Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda and 15 others are jailed in the case. The counsel for Darshan will place his arguments on Monday seeking his bail. Kannada actor Darshan, who was arrested in the murder case of his fan Renukaswamy and is presently lodged in Ballari district prison, has said in his bail petition that he is innocent and has been framed. Darshanas bail petition further said that he has been "fixed" in the case. "Barring the major injury on the head, no major injuries were found on the body of Renukaswamy. There is no clarity on his exact time of death. There are contradictions between the statements before the court and the medical reports. There is no evidence to prove that Darshan has committed the crime of murder. The authorities have created evidence against Darshan in the case, the bail petition states. Further, the bail petition states that superstar Darshan has a fan following in Karnataka and other countries. The details of movable and immovable properties have also been mentioned in the petition. Sources confirmed that arrangements are being made by his wife Vijayalaxmi to bring Darshan to Bengaluru from Ballary by helicopter if the court accepts his bail petition. 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 June 11. All the accused are currently in jail and are under judicial custody. After 102 days of arrest, Darshan had, last Saturday, submitted a bail petition through his counsel at the court. His counsel had also pleaded for an emergency hearing on the matter. Meanwhile, Darshan was grilled at the Ballary prison by Income Tax sleuths in connection with money transactions between the accused linked to the brutal murder of his fan Renukaswamy. Darshan is also facing cases in connection with receiving royal treatment at the Central Prison in Bengaluru. Nine officers attached to the prison department were suspended and three FIRs were lodged against Darshan and others in the case. Kannada actor Darshan admitted to assaulting Renukaswamy -- his fan allegedly killed by him and his aides for sending obscene messages to his partner Pavithra Gowda, but claimed that he was informed about the victim's death later, according to his 20-page statement mentioned in the charge sheet filed by the police probing the case. In the 3,991-page charge sheet submitted to the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (ACMM) court on September 4, Darshan has provided graphic details of how he attacked Renukaswamy who was kidnapped and kept in captivity by his gang. The charge sheet also revealed that Renukaswamy chatted with Pavithra Gowda by creating a fake ID on Instagram under the name Gowtham. He also claimed that he was better than Darshan, the charge sheet stated. Islamabad, Sep 27 : A minor dispute between two families over sowing of crops has turned into massive sectarian tribal clashes, leaving at least 46 dead and more than 80 injured within a span of eight days in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province's Kurram tribal district bordering Afghanistan. The district has been one of the most sensitive regions in the Pakistani province, not only in terms of spread of terrorism and militant groups, but also for land claim disputes between rival groups fighting against each other for decades now. "The district administration, police, military and the local tribal elders are putting their best foot forward to convince the warring factions that a ceasefire would be in everyone's best interest," said Javedullah Mehsud, Deputy Commissioner of Kurram. A ceasefire agreement was reached on Wednesday but armed clashes continued in the upper, lower and central tehsils of the Kurram district. Locals of the area said that the claimed number of casualties on both sides will certainly be much higher. "The death toll is much higher than it is being reported. At least 80 people have already been injured. We are still not sure how long this fight will continue because both sides have severe rivalry against each other on not only land claims but also on sectarian terms as one party is from Sunni and the other from Shia sect," said a local. The severity of the conflict is so high that the Parachinar-Peshawar main road and the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border has been closed. Reports from the area also suggest that due to the blockade of routes, there is a fast-growing shortage of food, fuel and medicines. All educational institutions in the area have also been closed for the past six days. Local sources in the area confirmed that severe clashes are still underway in areas including Baliskhel, Kharkalay, Bagki, Gram Pada, Kunj Alizai, Muqbal, and Pewar Tari Mengal. "These families have been fighting each other for decades. Both have military grade weapons and they do not need support or attention from the government or the military to fight each other. There is a serious sectarian divide here, and we have seen in the past that even the most respected means of dispute resolution through the Tribal Jirgas (councils) have miserably failed to end the conflict," said another local. People in the region complain that missiles are also being fired towards the Parachinar city, leaving the whole population at risk. A Sunni and Shia tribal war is no surprise in Kurram district as Parachinar has been the epicentre of sectarian clashes, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides for a long time now. Vadodara, Sep 27 : A debate about free entry to Garba events during the upcoming Navratri festival has surfaced in Vadodara. The City Congress President Rutvij Joshi has suggested allowing free access to garba while the Vadodara BJP President Vijay Shah has voiced his objections citing financial and cultural reasons. The Garba event will take place from 3rd to 11th October. Navratri approaches, Joshi's called for free Garba entry was aimed at helping citizens affected by the floods, as many families are still struggling to restore their daily lives. However, Vijay Shah, representing the BJP, released a statement firmly opposing the move. Shah highlighted Vadodara's status as Gujarat's cultural capital, noting that the city's Garba events hold a unique and prestigious reputation. He pointed out that in earlier times, when Garba participation was lower, the events were conducted at minimal cost, allowing free entry. Over time, as Garba became more popular, costs rose, leading to the introduction of entry passes - initially for men and eventually for women. Shah emphasised that Vadodara's Garba is incomparable to those held in other cities. He noted that the events are often organised through charitable trusts, with a substantial portion of the funds raised from entry passes going toward social initiatives in the city. He also cited the city's growing international reputation, with the recent visit of ambassadors from over 62 countries and their families to experience the festival. While Shah acknowledged the need for event organisers to assist those facing financial difficulties, he clearly did not support the idea of making Garba entry free of charge. "Free entry is not the solution, and I believe Garba organisers should help individuals in need," he said. In 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially recognized Gujarat's iconic Garba dance by adding it to the prestigious Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. The announcement was made during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee held in Botswana. Garba is now India's 15th cultural heritage element to be included in UNESCO's esteemed list. The last Indian addition was Kolkata's Durga Puja, which gained recognition in 2021. New Delhi, Sep 27 : Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Priyank Kanoongo on Friday expressed concern over the safety of schoolchildren over the Hathras incident and called it "horrible and unforgivable." In Hathras, an 11-year-old boy, Kritarth Kushwaha, was brutally murdered in what police have described as a case of human sacrifice. This incident took place in a residential school in Rasgawan village under the Sahapau police station area, Hathras. Investigations have revealed that the killing was orchestrated as part of a tantric ritual, purportedly to bring success and fame to the school. Speaking to IANS, Kanoongo said, "NCPCR has taken cognisance of the Hathras matter. I have spoken to the Chairman of the State Child Commission and we are sending a team from here which will investigate this entire matter. Then, we will also give recommendations to the government according to the report of the team." "I would also like to mention that the Government of India made a guideline in 2021 to fix the accountability of schools which will ensure that there is no negligence in schools regarding the safety of children. Even before this matter, the Supreme Court directed all the states to follow this guideline. However, some states are not following this and I would like to remind them all again to follow these guidelines sincerely. Also, I want to know who has given the order to the Hathras school to open it. The officials who allowed such people to open the school are also culprits," he stated. On September 23, the boy's father, Krishna Kumar had filed a complaint, on the basis of which police started the investigation. Meanwhile, the police have arrested the director Dinesh Baghel and his father Jasodhan Singh, along with three teachers Ramprakash Solanki, Veerpal Singh and Laxman Singh who were accused of orchestrating the boy's murder as a ritual sacrifice. Bengaluru, Sep 27 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to face an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with his alleged involvement in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case, while wondering why the senior Congress leader has to fear if is honest. Addressing the media in Bengaluru, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi on Friday said that "Siddaramaiah's public life is not clean". "He is a criminal... a corrupt politician who engages in pre-planned corruption. He also ensures that his wrongdoings are not exposed. Over 65 complaints have been filed against CM Siddaramaiah. In order to prevent these cases from coming to light, he weakened the Lokayukta and formed the ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau), and obtained a clean chit in more than 15 cases under its jurisdiction. Over 50 cases remain uninvestigated," Ravi said. The BJP leader claimed that Siddaramaiah, by pretending to be honest, has taken steps to prevent any investigation. "Yesterday, the Cabinet revoked the CBI's authority to conduct free investigations. If you are honest, why are you afraid of a CBI investigation? Your action clearly indicates that you and your government are deeply corrupt," C.T. Ravi said. He further said that out of fear that his corruption would be exposed, Siddaramaiah made the unconstitutional decision to withdraw the CBI's investigative powers, a move only a corrupt person would make. He criticised the decision, stating that merely responding to the Governor's letter with a Cabinet decision is laughable. Ravi said "the Congress came to power under the pretense of 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan' (a store of love), but now there is only a shopping mall of corruption". He also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress party of being in a state of fear, acting against democracy and the Constitution to prevent their corruption from being exposed. "Court orders have revealed the stains of their corrupt administration on their public image. The governor's approval for prosecution led to demeaning criticism," Ravi said, slamming the Congress leaders, while warning of (possible) protests similar to those witnessed in Bangladesh. "This behaviour reflects arrogance and the belief that they are above the law," he slammed. Ravi emphasised that the High Court had upheld the Governor's order to open a probe, affirming that in the eyes of the law, Siddaramaiah and others are equal. He also said that Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and other Congress leaders should apologise to the Governor. Shimla, Sep 27 : Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday slammed the state government led by Sukhvinder Sukhu for first ordering the implementation of the street vendor policy and then revoking it. He said the government has bowed down to the pressure of the Congress high command. "This rule is being opposed because it is the (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi model. It is condemnable that the Sukhu government is withdrawing the action. This rule has been in place since the previous government. "Under the street vendor policy, provisions were made for verification of all shopkeepers, registration and various types of regulations, which were stopped by the Sukhu government as soon as it came to power. It is the government's job to protect the interests of the state and its people, but the Sukhu government is working to protect the interests of the Congress." Leader of Opposition Thakur said the government is working against the public sentiment and the law, keeping in mind the political intentions of its high command. "This is not in the interest of the state in any way. Do the regulatory bodies and the people of the state not have the right to know about the people who set up shops and sell various types of products in the state? Will the state be run according to the political intentions of the Delhi high command instead of being run according to the rules?" The Leader of the Opposition said that some Congress leaders put forward their views after understanding the public sentiment, but as soon as the high command showed its anger, they got disturbed and retracted their statements. "A minister of the Congress government backtracks from his statement in the House due to fear of losing his chair, while another minister posts on social media and informs about the implementation of the Yogi model, after which he says that the Uttar Pradesh model has been implemented keeping in mind the interests of Himachal, and retracts as soon as he receives a call from Delhi," Thakur added. A day after Urban Development Minister 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 state government on Thursday clarified that no decision to display nameplates by the vendors had 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, adding the government was committed to addressing 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. Kolkata, Sep 27 : A staffer at the office of Trinamool Congress' general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee has filed an extortion complaint against the officer on special duty (OSD) to the Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. The complaint has been filed against OSD Kalicharan Bandopadhyay by one Ayan Ghosh Dastidar, who is attached to the office of the MP at Camac Street in Kolkata. The complaint has been filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station. Although the OSD concerned was not available for his comments, Hakim said that he got information about the complaint from the media persons only. "I could have been informed about the allegations. In that case, I could have initiated a departmental probe into the matter. I was not aware of the complaint," Hakim said. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that everyone in the ruling party was aware of the extortions being carried out by the OSD concerned. "Even I had flagged this issue before. I also highlighted before about the OSD's huge assets disproportionate to his income. He owns seven residential flats. His property is more that of the former state education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee," the Leader of the Opposition said. However, Kolkata Police officials are maintaining silence on the entire issue. Meanwhile, a senior leader of the party, on condition of anonymity, said that the entire development caused embarrassment for the leadership. "The opposition parties have got yet another chance to attack the ruling party on the issue," he said. Recently, Banerjee's 11-year-old daughter was given a rape threat by one of the agitators protesting against the August 9 incident. A junior doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Islamabad, Sep 27 : The targeted terror attack on the convoy of dozen foreign ambassadors in Swat district on Monday has become a serious bone of contention between the Pakistan Foreign Office in Islamabad and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, both surprisingly claiming that they were not aware of the visit of foreign diplomats to the region. One security official was killed as the convoy carrying diplomats from several countries - including Russia, Portugal, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina - was attacked by a planted roadside bomb on Malam Jabba Road in Swat district on September 23. During a weekly press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said that the foreign office had no idea about the travel plan of foreign diplomats to the tourist spot of Malam Jabba for an event organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). "With regards to this particular incident of 23rd of September, this was a trip which was organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and not by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any other government institution. We have taken a serious note of the lapses which were made by the concerned individuals, including their failure to inform the Ministry about such a high profile visit," said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. The statement by the foreign office spokesperson came as a big surprise to all as foreign diplomats are required to inform the country's foreign office about their travel plans within the country for proper protocol and security arrangements. Baloch claimed that the information regarding travel of certain ambassadors, who had contacted the Pakistan Foreign Office, was shared with the KP government in writing, adding that she had documentary evidence for that as well. "We have undertaken an internal investigation and have come to the conclusion that as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, all protocols were followed. This includes information regarding the travel of ambassadors who contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs individually regarding their travel to the KP province," she said. "The fact that there would be so many ambassadors traveling together for a particular event was not shared... We are in the process of discussions and internal deliberations on how to rectify what has happened and how to fix this for the future," the spokesperson added. However, the KP government led by PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur rejected foreign office's claim, stating that it was kept in the dark about the visit of foreign diplomats to the region. Everyone agrees though that it was a major security lapse on part of the authorities as lives of at least 12 diplomats were put at risk. While the security forces are investigating the incident and collecting evidence, the KP government too is not ready to take responsibility for the security lapse for the Swat incident. The Pakistan Foreign Office also claims that it follows proper security protocols for all diplomats present in the country, the Swat incident and the startling revelations by the foreign office of it being unaware that so many ambassadors were traveling together for a particular event, has raised serious questions over the coordination between Islamabad and provincial governments. Experts say that the Swat attack has exposed the major differences between the Shehbaz Sharif led federal government and the PTI's provincial regime. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been a hotbed of terrorism and unrest with Swat district being one of the many regions used by the militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to regain its control. New Delhi, Sep 27 : In the Ernakulam district of Kerala, the Waqf Board has claimed ownership over the land where Christian families have lived for generations in the villages of Cherai and Munambam. This issue has stirred up a major controversy, and on Friday, BJP MLA Anoop Antony Joseph criticised the Waqf Board for its actions. While speaking to IANS, Joseph said, "While the country is discussing the Waqf Bill, people must be aware of the injustice happening in Kerala." Joseph further explained, "In Kochi, near Ernakulam, a conspiracy is being hatched to force Christian families out of their homes under the pretext of Waqf claims. Around 600 families, who have been living there for generations with proper documentation, suddenly faced claims from the Waqf Board a few years ago, stating that the land belongs to them. Is this not an injustice?" "These families, who have lived there for nearly 100 years, are being told that their land is not theirs and that all their documents are invalid. The situation has worsened to the point that even Kerala's Syro-Malabar Church and Latin Catholic Church have had to take to the streets in protest. From priests to poor families, everyone is fighting to protect their land," Joseph added. He emphasised that Christians in Kerala are now in favour of amending the Waqf Bill because they have experienced this injustice first-hand. Joseph also criticised the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) government, which often speaks about equality and justice, but stays silent to protect its vote bank when real justice is needed. The BJP MLA added, "In the area where this is happening, the local MP belongs to the Congress, and instead of taking a strong stand for his people, he has done nothing. As a result, the BJP has had to step in to support the poor and fishermen of Munambam, and it is now our responsibility to bring this issue to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The BJP will go to any lengths to ensure justice for the people of Munambam." The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has written to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, suggesting changes to the Waqf Act of 1995. In a letter dated September 10, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, President of the Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission, stated that the Waqf Board has illegally claimed ownership of several properties belonging to Christian families in Cherai and Munambam villages in Ernakulam. The issue has gained significant attention, and many are calling for action to address the alleged misuse of power by the Waqf Board in these areas. Kolkata, Sep 27 : In a major crackdown against cattle smuggling, the Border Security Force (BSF) nabbed five smugglers, including two Bangladeshis, and recovered 32 heads of cattle along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in West Bengal's Malda district on Friday. The smugglers were attempting to take the cattle across the River Ganga, which flows as a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh in Malda when they were arrested. "The incidents occurred at Baishnabnagar and Aradhpur in Malda where the IBB is riverine and unfenced. The smugglers were attempting to use the rising water level of the Ganga to move the cattle to Bangladesh. They even attacked the BSF jawans with sharp weapons but retreated after the border guards opened fire in self-defence. The first incident took place around 3.10 am on Friday when troops of the 88 Bn BSF from the Kedaripara Border Outpost spotted 5-6 smugglers moving cattle near the Dalla village, about 500 metres from the IBB. After the shots were fired, the smugglers took advantage of the darkness and tried to flee. Two of them were arrested though, with six heads of cattle. Both of them are Bangladeshis," a senior official of the South Bengal Frontier, BSF, said. In another incident, troops of the 115 Bn BSF from the Nimtita Border Outpost, who were out on a patrol in a speedboat, managed to nab three Indian smugglers and recovered six more heads of cattle. Twenty more heads of cattle were recovered by troops of the Bajitapur, Taltoli, Kathakali, and Sowapur Border Outposts, the official claimed. The Indian smugglers are from Lohpur in the Murshidabad district and Sowapur in Malda. During interrogation, they claimed that they were offered Rs 1,500 for every head of cattle that they managed to take across into Bangladesh. The Bangladeshis, identified as Mohammad Rubel and Amanurla, from border villages Dwarpal and Jugidanga in the Naugaon district in Bangladesh were apparently offered 4,000 Bangladeshi Takas for each head of cattle. All five have been handed over to the police. The rescued cattle will be handed over to the Dhyan Foundation after e-tagging. 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) JERUSALEM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said its air force carried out 220 airstrikes in Lebanon on Thursday, claiming that all targets were linked to Hezbollah. According to a statement released by the military, among the targets that were struck were Hezbollah infrastructure sites, launchers from which projectiles were fired toward Israeli territory, and weapons storage facilities. The army also struck Hezbollah militants. The military said it was "continuing to operate to degrade and dismantle Hezbollah's terrorist capabilities and infrastructure." Since Monday, Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in over 650 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin noted on Wednesday that the bombardment has displaced more than 150,000 residents this week. Displaced people from southern Lebanon are seen 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) People transfer aid to the displaced people from southern Lebanon 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) Boys displaced from southern Lebanon are seen 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) A woman prepares food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) People prepare food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) A man prepares food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) A woman prepares food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) People deliver food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) People prepare food for the displaced people from southern Lebanon in Tripoli, 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. 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/Khaled Habashiti) Kochi, Sep 27 : On World Tourism Day, Kerala state's Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative received two national awards for the Best RT Village and the Best Agri Tourism Village for the schemes it implemented at Kadalundi and Kumarakom respectively. This is the second consecutive year that Kerala has received top honours of Tourism Village Awards instituted by the Union Ministry of Tourism after Kanthalloor in the Idukki district bagged the Gold Award last year. The awards were presented by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the presence of the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission (KRTM) Society has implemented a slew of initiatives as part of its STREET (Sustainable Tangible Responsible Experiential Ethnic Tourism) project at Kadalundi in Kozhikode district in collaboration with the Grama Panchayat. The famed backwater destination Kumarakom in Kottayam district adjudged as the Best Agri Tourism Village, has been turned into a major farm-tourism destination through the schemes initiated by KRTM in partnership with the village panchayat. "These awards clearly acknowledge that Kerala has set a successful model before the entire nation on how tourism is to be promoted by complying with sustainable and inclusive goals, which have become all the more relevant now," said Kerala Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas. The RT initiatives in Kadalundi are being implemented as part of the comprehensive tourism project planned around Beypore. A number of schemes to turn the area into a major Green Destination have been implemented at Kadalundi, which is one of the 10 STREET destinations across the state. The projects were conceived and implemented with the participation of the local community, starting with the convening of the 'special tourism grama sabha.' This was followed by an awareness campaign, resource mapping, preparation of a resource directory and formulation of village life experience packages. Globally renowned for its stunning scenic charm, lake-side Kumarakom has been one of the first RT destinations of Kerala. A traditional agricultural belt with a vast expanse of paddy fields crisscrossed by canals, the farm tourism potential of the area has been tapped fully by the RT Mission by carrying out projects in a systematic fashion. Visitors to Kumarakom are treated to a range of enjoyments such as a fishing experience, a farming experience and a day with a farmer, complete with a stroll through the green paddy fields. Deesa, Sep 27 : The 14th edition of Gujarat's Garib Kalyan Mela has been launched to distribute over Rs 4,568 crore in financial assistance to more than 12 lakh beneficiaries. Deesa, Sep 27 (IANS) The 14th edition of Gujaratas Garib Kalyan Mela has been launched to distribute over Rs 4,568 crore in financial assistance to more than 12 lakh beneficiaries. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Deesa, Banaskantha, the melas aim to empower the underprivileged by delivering direct benefits from various government schemes. On the first day alone, over 1 lakh people received assistance worth Rs. 318 crore, marking a significant step in the governmentas ongoing efforts to uplift economically disadvantaged communities. At the event, the Chief Minister emphasised that the Garib Kalyan Melas, which began under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in 2009-10, have become a public movement to empower the poor. He noted that the Prime Ministeras welfare schemes, like the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, have provided a new chapter of economic and social empowerment for the underprivileged. During the Deesa event, Chief Minister Patel distributed Rs 45 crore in aid to over 11,000 beneficiaries. Simultaneously, Garib Kalyan Melas, held across Gujaratas 33 districts, assisted more than 1 lakh beneficiaries, amounting to over Rs 318 crore in financial support. This phase of the melas is expected to benefit 12 lakh people, with a total of Rs 4,568 crore earmarked for the initiative. Patel stressed that the stateas welfare schemes focus on the poor, youth, farmers, and women, as these pillars are vital to building a developed India. Water Resources Minister Kunwarji Bawaliya highlighted a significant group water supply scheme for Banaskantha, benefiting 156 villages in Disa, Lakhani, and Amirgarh talukas. Based on the Narmada Main Canal, the multi-phase project is expected to improve water supply and overall development in the region. Nearly one-third of Gujaratas population, amounting to over 31 lakh families, lives below the poverty line (BPL). The poverty threshold is Rs 816 per capita per month in rural areas and Rs 1,000 per capita per month in urban areas - equating to Rs 32 per day for rural areas and Rs 26 for urban areas. Responding to a query from Congress MLA Tushar Chaudhary on September 14, 2023, State Minister for Rural Development Bachubhai Maganbhai Khabad revealed that 31,61,310 BPL families have been identified in Gujarat. Of these, 16,28,744 families are categorised as extremely poor, while 15,32,566 are classified as poor. The data also shows a trend: in 2020-21, 1,047 families fell into the BPL category, while only 14 families rose above it. In 2021-22, 1,751 families entered the BPL list, with only two families escaping poverty. In 2022-23, 303 additional families were added to the BPL category, but only one family managed to exit. Mumbai, Sep 27 : Maharashtra political parties on Friday made various demands before the Chief Election Commission Rajiv Kumar including polling in a single phase instead of multiple phases, increase in expenses, immediate action against those spreading fake news on social media and providing facilities to the voters at the polling stations. The Election Commission of India (ECI) team is in Mumbai to meet various stakeholders to review the preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. The Shiv Sena UBT delegation comprising veteran leader Subhash Desai and party MP Anil Desai pleaded that the ECI should not go for polling in multiple phases but instead conduct it in one phase while citing past instances. The duo demanded that the staff on election duty should properly manage the votersa queues so that they can exercise their votes early and the staff should undergo training for time management if the ECI expects 60 per cent or more voting. The Shiv Sena delegation led by former MP Rahul Shewale pressed for voting in a single phase and demanded that the voters should be provided with various amenities at the polling stations to increase the voting percentage and complete the polling in a hassle-free manner. A delegation of NCP SP led by party general secretary Ravindra Pawar demanded that the ECI should increase the present expenditure limit of Rs 40 lakh per candidate. Incidentally, the Ajit Pawar faction delegation comprising minister Anil Patil and general secretary Shivajirao Garje also made a similar demand. Both NCP factions argued that the rise in expenses is also required as the candidates have to spend Rs 10 to 15 lakh in releasing the commercial advertisement for giving details with regard to criminal cases. They pointed out that it would not be possible for a candidate to contest the election in a balance of Rs 25 lakh and therefore reiterated that an increase in polling expenditure is necessary. Both factions also made a case for ECI to take immediate action against those spreading fake news on social media. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar demanded that the polling day should not fall on consecutive holidays and if the polling will be held in November considering the hot weather during the Lok Sabha elections the voters standing in long queues should be provided facilities such as sheds, fans and drinking water. Shelar said that as per the ECI rules the voters are prohibited from carrying mobile phones and bags. However, he pointed out that due to this condition some people avoid going to the polling stations to cast their votes. Therefore, he demanded that a token facility be provided to the voters at the polling stations to keep their mobiles and bags at a given place till they exercise their voting rights. He further demanded that the ECI should carve out a booth to accommodate a smaller number of voters than its present norm of 1,500 voters. He said this is needed to avoid crowding at the polling stations. The Congress opposed the ECIas move to open polling stations in cooperative societies saying that it may lead to bogus voting. The Congress delegation comprising general secretary Munaf Hakim and senior leader Gajanan Desai also pressed for the removal of the state Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla from her post to safeguard the democratic process and ensure that the forthcoming elections are conducted in a fair, free, and transparent manner. Further, the Congress also demanded that the state government staff from the level of clerks up to senior officers working in the same posts for many years should be immediately transferred for free and fair election. (Sanjay Jog can be reached at sanjay.j@ians.in) Chandigarh, Sep 27 : The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which is in an alliance with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), on Friday promised to launch the Jannayak Fasal Suraksha Bima Yojana for the prosperity of farmers, if the combine forms the government in Haryana. Under this scheme, the government will bear the insurance premium of each farmer, JJP national President Ajay Singh Chautala said during an election campaign in Cheeka and Kalayat. Chautala said the JJP has worked continuously for the empowerment of farmers and due to the JJP, the number of crop procurement centres in the state has increased. He said the JJP has not only created a better procurement system for crops, but also made a system of making direct payment to the farmersa accounts within 48 hours. He said during the JJP's participation in the government, compensation was also given on time for the losses incurred due to any natural calamity. Chautala said on Friday that farmers have to understand who can take them forward by implementing new schemes in their interest and who deceives them by telling lies. He said that for the last 20 years, only the Congress and the BJP were running the government in Haryana and both the national parties have deceived the farmers. After the alliance was announced, former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said it would take Haryana on the path of progress and both parties would fight for the poor, farmers, and labourers together. Stating that the alliance has infused enthusiasm among the youth across the state, Dushyant Chautala said this time a triangular contest would be seen in the Assembly elections in which the JJP-ASP alliance would play an important role. Eyeing the Dalit voters who constitute 21 per cent of the state's population, out of the total 90 seats, the JJP, an offshoot of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), will contest 70 seats while the Azad Samaj Party will field candidates in the remaining 20 seats. Interestingly, the INLD has already stitched an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to woo the Dalits with leaders of both parties agreeing to project INLD legislator Abhay Singh Chautala as the chief ministerial face. As per the alliance, the INLD will contest 53 seats, while the BSP will field candidates on 37 seats. At the launch of the JJP-ASP alliance, both Dushyant Chautala and Chandra Shekhar Azad, who are both 36-years-old, promised to fight for the rights and welfare of the farmers and to form a "government of the youth". The BJP, which is in power in the state, is eyeing a third-consecutive term in the polls scheduled on October 5. Results will be declared on October 8. New Delhi, Sep 27 : Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who is on an official visit to Greece, met VAdm Dimitrios E Kataras, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff on Friday. An official said that during this maiden visit by an Indian Navy CNS to Greece. "Both the Chiefs held discussions on strengthening navy to navy partnership by augmenting operational interactions, maritime security cooperation and streamlining shared goals for a stable and secure maritime environment," the official added. He said that the discussions focussed on the criticality of open sea trade routes, laying the groundwork for advancing Indo-Greek defence collaboration with a focus on strategic naval opportunities, capacity building, shared training initiatives, and enhancing interoperability. Collaboration in niche technologies and defence industry opportunities were also deliberated. "Avenues of furthering training cooperation were also explored along with laying emphasis towards enhancing interoperability and capacity-building, during this meet," officials added. He said that the CNS also met Ioannis Kefalogiannis, Deputy Minister of Defence, Greece and VAdm Christos Sasiakos, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, marking a significant step in deepening defence ties and fostering a robust strategic partnership towards enhancing maritime security in the Mediterranean and the IOR. "On arrival in Greece, Adm Tripathi was received by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Papagos Camp, Athens. Admiral Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), is on a for-day official visit to Greece from 26 to 29 September. This visit is part of ongoing efforts to further consolidate bilateral defence relations between India and Greece, with a focus on enhancing the Naval Corporation," he said. The official added that the discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of defence cooperation areas, particularly maritime security, joint training initiatives, and exploring avenues for future operational collaboration between the two navies. New Delhi, Sep 27 : In the first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, 1,005 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have earned certification by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav said on Friday. Prataprao Jadhav said this in a media briefing on Friday, while highlighting the major achievements of the Ministry of Ayush in the first 100 days of the government. "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry has made remarkable progress in promoting traditional Indian systems of medicine and strengthening Ayush in the field of international cooperation," Prataprao Jadhav said. The Ayush Minister stated the Ministry convened a review meeting to incorporate about 170 Ayurvedic packages under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to incorporate Ayush treatment into mainstream healthcare. It has also established a Strategic Purchasing Committee to finalise cost structures and guarantee the affordability of Ayush treatments under the programme. Stressing the importance of the health of each and every citizen, Jadhav said a special drive has also been initiated to have Prakriti Parikshan for the citizens. Key achievements of Ayush in the 100 days include NABH evaluation of 1,489 Ayushman Arogya Mandir, of which more than 1,000 secured certification; donor agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO); MoU with Vietnam, Malaysia; and special medical stores for Ayush medicines, among others. According to the report received from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), the evaluation of 1,489 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) has been completed, and 1005 of these AAM (Ayush) have been certified for Ayush Entry Level Certification (AELC). "Certification from NABH is an important step in ensuring quality healthcare services under the National Ayush Mission," said Secretary Ayush Vd. Rajesh Kotecha. The Ministry signed a donor agreement with the WHO in July, demonstrating India's dedication to working with international health organisations and improving the integration of Ayush systems into the global healthcare system. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam centered on cooperation in medicinal plants. The MoU with Malaysia on Ayurveda will promote research, knowledge exchange, and the creation of Ayurvedic treatment regimens. Further, the Ministry also promoted the "One Herb, One Standard" initiative to standardise herbal medications, and improve the quality of medicine in the sector. Special medical stores have also been set for Ayush Medicines at every tehsil level. "Access to a variety of herbal and traditional medicines will be made possible by these stores, improving public healthcare in both urban and rural areas," Kotecha said. The ministry also undertook major campaigns and initiatives, including "Har Ghar AyurYog", "Bharat Ka Prakriti Parikshan", Ayush camps for the elderly population, Centers of Excellence in Ayush in partnership with esteemed establishments like IISc Bangalore, IIT Delhi, TMC Mumbai, and JNU New Delhi. "In the first 100 days of the current government, we have laid a solid foundation for the advancement of traditional medicine both domestically and internationally," Prataprao Jadhav said. "These programmes are significant steps in the direction of creating a healthier and wealthier India," he added. Galle, Sep 27 : Kamindu Mendis scored an unbeaten 182 as he became the fastest Asian batter to complete 1000 Test runs on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at Galle International Stadium here on Friday. Mendis scored his fifth Test century along with Kusal Mendis, who compiled the third century of the innings for the hosts, powering Sri Lanka to a monumental 602/5 before declaring in the final session. Kamindu reached his 1000 Test runs in 13 innings, equalling Don Bradman as the joint second-quickest to the feat. Kamindu reached the milestone during his 200-run partnership with Kusal for the sixth wicket before Dhananjaya de Silva called them back to the pavilion. Kamindu might have missed the opportunity to score his first Test double-century but he reached his highest score in the format with a knock of 182 including 16 fours and four sixes. Overnight batters, Angelo Mathews and Kamindu added just 28 runs to the scoreboard before the former was removed by Glenn Phillips while playing a sweep early in the day. Mathews departed after scoring 88 with the help of seven fours. However, the support from the other end didn't stop for Kamindu as he went on to stitch partnerships of 74 and 200 with Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal, respectively. During the process, Kusal smashed his 10th Test hundred to add to the hosts' batting dominance. The other wicket of De Silva (44) was bagged by Phillips while attempting a similar shot in the opening session of the day. However, as the pitch began to offer more turn, Kamindu and Kusal took control. Facing a tiring attack, Kusal's aggressive approach found the perfect rhythm. Kamindu capitalised on every chance for a lofted shot, smashing four sixes, and his growing confidence began to influence Kusal. Kusal reached his half-century in style, hitting Phillips for 4, 6, and 4 in quick succession, effectively dismantling the off-spinner's lengths. This contrasted sharply with how Kamindu started his day following Mathews' early departure. He adopted a cautious approach in his partnership with De Silva, who, in contrast, began assertively. De Silva's intent was clear from the start with a six off Phillips, and he repeatedly employed the sweep shot to find boundaries. At one point, he even encouraged Kamindu to attempt a reverse sweep. However, just as they were beginning to solidify their partnership, De Silva fell as Phillips claimed his second wicket of the day. After the break, Kamindu reached his fifth Test century in only his eighth match. He survived a few close calls, including an LBW review, a missed stumping, and an overturned-caught decision as the spinners started to extract more from the surface. But with Sri Lanka already in a commanding position, both he and Kusal turned the pressure back on the spinners. Phillips, who had been a consistent threat during the first session with occasional drift troubling the right-handers, was later dominated by the duo, posing little danger. In stark contrast, Sri Lanka's spinners found a significant turn when they got their opportunity, raising puffs of dust from the pitch. Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed Devon Conway at slip, while earlier, New Zealand had already been on the back foot with the loss of Tom Latham, who edged Asitha Fernando to the slips. By the end of the day, New Zealand was in a precarious position of 22/2, trailing by 580 runs. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 602/5 decl. in 163.4 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 116, Kamindu Mendis 182*, Kusal Mendis 106*; Glenn Phillips 3-141) lead New Zealand 22/2 in 14 overs (Asitha Fernando 1-5, Prabath Jayasuriya 1-3) by 580 runs. Chennai, Sep 27 : As the strike by more than 1,000 workers at Samsung India's plant in Sriperumbudur entered its third week, the South Korean electronics major on Friday said the management is willing to negotiate with the workers directly for an amicable resolution of the dispute. A Samsung India lawyer, representing the company in Madras High Court as well as the Kanchipuram District Court, said in a statement that workers at the factory in Tamil Nadu get all statutory benefits and their wages are far higher than what is prescribed by the government for the electronics industry. "I want to inform you that the ongoing strike is illegal because, the conciliation process regarding the demands made by workers is in progress and the workers' union is unregistered till today," the lawyer said. He further stated that under such circumstances, the management of Samsung India is justified in imposing appropriate action on the striking workers. "However, Samsung India management has been patient and is willing to negotiate with the workers directly for an amicable resolution of the dispute. Samsung India management is willing to sit down with the workers, in the presence of officials of the labour department," said the lawyer. The workers have been on strike since September 9 to get their demands implemented, including wage hike, union recognition and 8-hour work. The strike at the factory has hit the production of consumer goods such as televisions, refrigerators and washing machines initially. According to the lawyer, the management has conveyed its willingness to sign a long-term wage settlement with the workers. "However, Samsung India management will negotiate only with our workers and not with a third party. On behalf of Samsung India management, I am requesting the workers to call off the illegal strike, return to work, and come forward for negotiations with the objective of resolving all the differences in an amicable manner at the earliest," the lawyer maintained. New Delhi, Sep 27 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "Khatakhat" scheme created significant headlines during the Lok Sabha elections, and discussions around it continue to echo on political platforms. After the Lok Sabha elections were over, crowds even gathered outside Congress offices across the country, eager to receive the promised a8,500 monthly instalment that was promised under the "Khatakhat" scheme. New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "Khatakhat" scheme created significant headlines during the Lok Sabha elections, and discussions around it continue to echo on political platforms. After the Lok Sabha elections were over, crowds even gathered outside Congress offices across the country, eager to receive the promised 8,500 monthly instalment that was promised under the "Khatakhat" scheme. However, Congress leaders have repeatedly explained that they could not fulfil these promises because their government was not in power at the Centre. Despite this, Congress and various opposition parties are presenting populist promises as they campaign for upcoming Assembly elections in several states. These parties seem to be less concerned about the impact on the government's finances. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered a strong counter to Congress' "Khatakhat scheme." While the public is still waiting for the benefits of Congress' scheme, PM Modi has made a decision that will bring a significant gift to the country's workers just before Diwali, with monthly payments of 26,000. While Congress has opened a box of guarantees, PM Modi has made a masterstroke. The Modi government has amended the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for workers, announcing an increase in the minimum wage to 1,035 per day. The government has made a substantial increase in minimum wage rates, aiming to help workers cope with rising living costs. For unskilled workers in Sector A, the minimum wage has been set at 783 per day, amounting to 20,358 per month. For semi-skilled workers, the minimum wage is now 868 per day, leading to monthly earnings of 22,568. Skilled workers, such as clerks or those performing unarmed tasks, will earn a minimum wage of 954 per day, which translates to 24,804 per month. Highly skilled workers will receive 1,035 per day, totalling 26,910 per month. This new minimum wage rate is set to be implemented with the VDA amendment. These minimum wage rates will take effect from October 1, and the government has also decided that workers will start receiving the benefits retroactively from April 2024, meaning any pending amounts will be paid from that month. This amendment was also made in April earlier this year. ULAN BATOR, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The final of the seventh edition of a Chinese speech contest for middle school students took place in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, on Friday. Titled "China-Mongolia Friendship: Promising Youths," the contest was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia and the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia. A total of 59 students from 14 schools across Mongolia participated in the final round. Ganbat Bulgantamir, an 11th-grade student from the Confucius Classroom at Yucai Chinese School in Ulan Bator, took first place with her speech titled "China Through My Eyes." Rajkot, Sep 27 : Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani has backed the proposal to name Rajkot's newly constructed airport at Hirasar after former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel. Nathwani took to social media to express his endorsement, saying, aI support Bharat Patel's proposal to rename Rajkot Hirasar Airport after the late Shri Keshubhai Patel. Keshubhai Patel was a distinguished leader from Saurashtra and served as Gujarat's Chief Minister. It would be a matter of pride to honour his legacy by naming the airport after him." The naming of Hirasar Airport has been a topic of discussion ever since its construction, following controversies over land issues, the commencement of international flights, and the collapse of a canopy during the monsoon. The focus has shifted to the name, with increasing support for honouring Keshubhai Patel. The proposal to name the airport after the former CM was initially put forward by his son, Bharat Patel, and has now received strong backing from Parimal Nathwani. This development has further intensified the ongoing discussions about the airportas official name. Keshubhai Patel was an Indian politician from Gujarat and a key leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Born on July 24, 1928, in Visavadar, Gujarat, Patel served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat twice -- first in 1995 and again from 1998 to 2001. He played a crucial role in the political rise of the BJP in Gujarat and was known for his focus on rural development, agriculture, and welfare programmes. Keshubhai Patel was deeply respected in Saurashtra, where he had a political base. He was often referred to as a leader of the farming community. During his tenure, efforts were made to improve irrigation systems, strengthen the agricultural sector, and promote infrastructure development in rural areas. In 2001, Patel was succeeded by Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, marking a significant shift in the state's politics. Although he later distanced himself from the BJP and briefly formed his own party, the Gujarat Parivartan Party, he remained influential in Gujaratas political landscape. Jaipur, Sep 27 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will lead a delegation to Delhi for the investors' meet and outreach programme from September 30 to exhort the business community to make investments in the state. Jaipur, Sep 27 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will lead a delegation to Delhi for the investorsa meet and outreach programme from September 30 to exhort the business community to make investments in the state. An official said that the investor meet and outreach will also be attended by State Industry and Commerce Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, Principal Secretary (Industries) Ajitabh Sharma and other senior officials of the state government. The Delhi investorsa meet and one-on-one meetings of delegation with the CEOs of select business groups have been organised on day one of this outreach programme. The state governmentas delegation shall participate in two other programmes a" CPSEs Conclave and Ambassadorsa Roundtable a" on the second day, to network with the business leaders from public and private sectors and seek help from diplomats of different countries to attract foreign investment in the state. Officials said that the two-day Delhi investors roadshow and outreach is part of the state governmentas efforts to invite the business and investor community, the corporate world and national and international agencies to explore the opportunities available and making investments in the state and is part of aRising Rajasthana Global Investment Summit 2024, which is scheduled for 9th-10th-11th December in capital Jaipur. During the Ambassadorsa Roundtable, the delegation members will apprise the ambassadors and diplomats of different countries about the instrumental policy changes being ushered in by the government and the series of fiscal/non-fiscal incentives across sectors that are being offered to the investors. The ambassadors/diplomats of several leading countries, including that of the U.S.A, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Australia, the UAE, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Qatar, South Africa etc. have been invited to attend the event. On the same day, the delegation will partake in the Central PSEsa roundtable and interact with the Chairman and other senior officials of the Union government-owned Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and invite them to work on new projects in the state or explore further collaboration opportunities. A large number of CPSEs such as HPCL, NHAI, NTPC, GAIL and DMRC etc. already operate across sectors in the state. The delegation will impress upon the officials of the CPSEs about new avenues and nodes of growth in the state across sectors like agriculture, renewable, education and skilling, auto and EV, infrastructure, chemical and petrochemical, tourism, startups, mining and ESDM/IT and IteS among others. Rajasthan government is undertaking an extensive domestic and global outreach for the aRising Rajasthana Global Investment Summit 2024 scheduled to be held under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on 9th, 10th and 11th December in Jaipur and march towards attaining the dream of aViksit Rajasthana. A number of high-level investor meets, and one-on-one business meetings have been organised in the last month at Mumbai, Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Doha (Qatar), so as to attract investor attention, connect with the business community around the world and apprise them of the investor-friendly policies and opportunities available in the state. The state government had signed investment proposals (MoUs) worth over INR 4.5 lakh crore during the Mumbai investorsa meeting, which was held on August 30, 2024. Kolkata, Sep 27 : Senior doctors participating in a mass convention organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum on Friday, called for a bigger platform involving people from all walks of life to clean up the health system in the state. The mass convention comes amid the protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital last month. While emphasising on the need to carry on the movement, veteran medical practitioner Dr Arnab Goswami said that there is a need for a bigger and joint platform for that purpose, involving not just representatives from the medical fraternity but people from different walks of life. "The joint platform is necessary to prolong the movement," he said. Describing junior doctors as the pillar of the medical system, the Director of the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital Manimoy Bandyopadhyay said that the macabre tragedy at R.G Kar was unimaginable. "All those who are directly and indirectly involved in it should be identified and punished," he said. Medical teacher, writer and documentary film- maker Tirthankar Guha Thakurta said the recent 'threat culture' in medical colleges is a matter of concern. "We were brought up being rebuked by our teachers. That was a different thing. But the trend of passing people in examinations against money is simply unacceptable. At the same time both male and female students should be protected from being victims of sexual exploitation," he said. Also invited as a speaker at the mass convention was the noted film director Kaushik Ganguly. According to him, when the junior doctors have to come out on the streets in support of their demands, it is clear that nothing is right in the system. "I want to assure the protesting junior doctors that this is not just their movement. People like former R.G. Kar principal Sandip Ghosh are there everywhere. It is time to wipe them out of the system completely. I will ask the junior doctors to have patience and continue their movement," he said. Amaravati, Sep 27 : Forced to drop his planned visit to Tirumala temple following demands from his political rivals for declaration of faith, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said that humanity is his religion. "Humanity is my religion. If you want to have a declaration on that please go ahead and have it as mine," he told a news conference while announcing that he is postponing his visit to Tirumala temple as he does not want to allow Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to divert the issue as he was exposed with his lies on adulteration of laddu prasadam. Questioning the silence of the BJP, the YSR Congress Party chief said if the BJP was sincere as the representatives of Hindutva values, it should publicly reprimand Chandrababu Naidu and send him to jail for bringing down the reputation of Lord Venkateswara Swamy and prasadam for political gains by spreading lies. "I tell those people who want to know my religion. Everybody in Andhra Pradesh knows who I am. Everybody in this country knows who I am and who my father is. Everybody also knows how many times I have been to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam before and after becoming the chief minister," he said. Recalling that he accompanied the Prime Minister, the President and the Chief Justice of India to the temple and offered clothes to Lord Venkateswara on Brahmotsavam for five years, he asked why nobody then asked him about his faith. "If somebody were to ask what my religion is, I once again reiterate to everybody. Between the four walls of my house, I read the Bible. When I go out of the house, I am a Hindu, I am a Muslim and I am also a Sikh. I practise their religions. I respect their religions," he said. Reading out the preamble of the Constitution of India, the YSRCP leader said everyone should seriously start contemplating where they stand on secularism. "A person visiting a temple needs to disclose his religion before he is permitted to enter the temple. What kind of secularism is this? What kind of secular country are we living in?" he asked. "If a former chief minister and someone who visited Tirumala not once but 10 times before is being given these kinds of notices for political reasons, barring him from entering temples what about the poor, what about Dalits? Can they enter these temples? What kind of message we are sending? What is BJP doing? Is this what they stand for?" Jagan Mohan Reddy asked while displaying notices served on YSRCP leaders and cadres. He slammed the BJP for allowing a person like Chandrababu Naidu who was misusing power and bringing down the reputation of the temple and prasadam and lying for political gains was allowed to go scot-free. "Because he is a part of NDA, is he at liberty to spread these kinds of lies? How can BJP support such a person instead of sending him to jail," he asked. "Why is the BJP sitting silent? The worst thing is BJP has joined the party bandwagon. BJP leaders from Hyderabad have come down to Tirupati. They are trying to cover up Naidu's crime and deviate the issue from laddu to my declaration," he said. New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to respond to a petition challenging the lack of transparency in the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance (NEET)-PG 2024 examination. A bench presided over by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud was apprised by senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, representing the petitioners, that the Union Health Ministry has failed to appear before the court despite due notice. At this, CJI Chandrachud-led Bench asked advocate-on-record Parul Shukla to inform the office of the Solicitor General, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, and posted the matter for hearing September 30 since NEET-PG counselling has already commenced. The NEET-PG exam was conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) on August 11 and the results were announced on August 23. Last week, the Bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, agreed to examine the plea and sought the response of the NBE and the Union government in the matter. In their plea, NEET-PG aspirants claimed that the introduction of two shifts, normalisation method, and change in the tie-breaker criterion just three days before the examination affected the students adversely. The petitioners contended before the SC that the NEET-PG information bulletin could be amended at the whims and fancy of the authorities and no rules or regulations existed governing the conduct of examinations. The plea challenged the NBE's practice of not disclosing question papers, answer keys, or response sheets of candidates for the exam this year. The plea said that there was a clear lack of transparency in the conduct of the examination since none of the documents allowed students to check their performance, adding that neither the question paper, nor the response sheet filled in by candidates, nor an answer key was supplied to the students, and merely a scorecard had been provided. The petition, filed by advocate Shukla, highlighted that unlike previous years where the candidate used to receive their total score along with the number of correctly attempted questions and the number of incorrectly attempted questions, the results released on August 23 did not provide the total score of the candidate. "The method/manner in which examination under the NEET PG 2024 is conducted by the Respondents (authorities) is manifestly arbitrary and against the principles of transparency and fairness in state action as enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India," it added. The plea said that NEET-PG had never been held in two shifts before and had always remained a single-shift and single-day examination to ensure a uniform examination standard and fairness of the national exam. It highlighted a "serious patent defect in the conduct of the examination", requiring redressal in order to achieve a clean, transparent and effective system of examination which gives the best candidates. "The NEET-PG being a multidisciplinary exam where oneas rank also determines their ability to opt for the course and field of their choice. Any slight variation in marks would bar several candidates from specialising in their field of interest," it added. Kolkata, Sep 27 : After Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the MV Ganga Vilas from Varanasi last year, Antara Cruises is all set to launch service from Kolkata to Varanasi. Antara Cruises, owners of the MV Ganga Vilas, promoted by the Ministry of Tourism and Incredible India, announced the launch of a 19-night, 20-day journey from Kolkata to Varanasi on the recently refurbished vessel MV Bengal Ganga. "Guests would get a feel of Kolkata's bustling flower market at Mullick Ghat, just next to the iconic Rabindra Setu or Howrah Bridge. There will be stops at key destinations like Kalna, Matiari, Murshidabad, Bateshwarthan, Sultanganj, Munger, Simaria, Patna, Buxar and Ghazipur," said Annapurna Garimella, Director, Antara Cruises while promising to deliver an immersive river cruising experience, steeped in India's rich culture, history and luxury. Annapurna Garimella added that the guests will get to explore the terracotta temples at Kalna and the Katra mosque in Murshidabad, among other things. "Throughout the cruise, guests will have the opportunity to engage with local traditions, arts and spirituality, witnessing the vibrant crafts and culture of the region," Garimella said. The MV Ganga Vilas from Varanasi which was flagged off by the Prime Minister in January last year created history by covering 3,200 km to Dibrugarh, Assam, in 51 days. During this voyage, the cruise liner passed through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh. This was recorded as the longest river trip by a single river ship in the world. The experience became extremely popular, particularly among foreign tourists. Annapurna Garimella said that the MV Bengal Ganga has 20 suites with all modern amenities. "There are three categories to cater to all, from solo adventurers to families, hence the suites are between 145 sq feet to 290 sq feet in area, depending on the requirements of guests. The dining room, on the main deck, will serve Satvik (vegetarian) Indian dishes and international cuisine. Guests can also unwind at the lounge bar on the upper deck," said Garimella. Garimella said that once the MV Bengal Ganga anchors mid-river at Varanasi, guests can opt for short-time river cruises. "They can watch the awe-inspiring Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. They can also visit the world-famous Buddhist centre at Sarnath." A senior official in the Ministry of Tourism said that the government plans to utilise the National Waterways to promote tourism. "A lot of effort is on to make these routes navigable for cruise liners. There is immense potential. It is good that this initiative has been taken," the official said. Phnom Penh, Sep 27 : Cambodia received 4.29 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2024, up 22.5 per cent from 3.5 million over the same period last year, said a Ministry of Tourism's report released on Friday. Thailand still topped the chart among the international tourist arrivals to the Southeast Asian country during the January-August period this year, followed by Vietnam and China, the report said. About 1.34 million Thais traveled to Cambodia, up 13 per cent, the report said, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the report, 35.8 per cent of the total international tourists reached Cambodia by air, and 64.2 per cent by land and waterways. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a message to mark the World Tourism Day that tourism is the kingdom's "green gold," importantly contributing to boosting socio-economic development. He said the country is expected to "attract nearly 6 million international tourists in 2024 and up to 7 million in 2026." He is confident that the Chinese-invested 4E-level Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which commenced commercial operations in November 2023, and the 4F-class Techo International Airport, which is expected to be put into use in the first half of 2025, will play an important role in serving tourists in the long run. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting the country's economy. The sector made a gross revenue of 3.08 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, creating some 450,000 direct jobs, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Nairobi, Sep 27 : Kenya on Friday launched nine regional tourism circuits as part of a market diversification strategy aimed at attracting both foreign and domestic tourists. Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano announced that these circuits, spread across the country, are designed to revitalize Kenya's tourism industry by catering to current demands and emerging trends while aligning with conservation priorities. "We have incorporated emerging niches such as adventure, sports, culture, eco-tourism and wellness tourism. Each region offers a unique reason to visit, and we encourage travelers to savor the diverse experiences," she said in a release from Kenya's lakeside city of Kisumu, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya's tourism sector experienced significant growth in 2023, with arrivals reaching 2 million, up from 1.48 million in 2022. The East African nation aims to welcome 3 million tourists by the end of 2024, with plans to reach 5 million visitors within the next two to three years. Miano said that the newly unveiled circuits are part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to reimagine tourism experiences by showcasing hidden gems, which aim to boost both domestic and international travel. She noted that the ministry will invest in targeted marketing campaigns to promote the circuits as part of the broader Tembea Kenya agenda, the flagship program for boosting domestic tourism. "We invite Kenyans to share and showcase the best of their regions through a photo contest," she announced during the Kenya Tourism Week celebrations in the city of Kisumu. The week-long festivities included various events, activations, and showcases of Kisumu's unique tourist attractions. Each of the nine circuits -- Nairobi Circuit, Central Kenya Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Northern Circuit, Western Circuit, Southern Circuit, North Rift Circuit, South Rift Circuit and Eastern Circuit -- highlights some of the most iconic attractions within its region, supporting the ministry's efforts to diversify and enhance the visitor experience. Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) June Chepkemei said that the KTB will market the circuits to showcase Kenya's diverse attractions, playing a pivotal role in ensuring tourism opportunities reach every county, driving inclusive growth, and solidifying Kenya's status as a must-visit destination. Kolkata, Sep 27 : West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF), which is spearheading the movement against the brutal rape and murder of the trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, will stage a mega rally on October 2. The rally will coincide with the twin occasions of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday and Mahalaya Amavasya (A significant day in Hinduism for performing rituals to honour ancestors). The decision was taken at a mass convention organised by the forum at the auditorium of state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata on Friday evening. The rally will be followed by a meeting at Esplanade in Central Kolkata. At the same time, a symbolic statue representing a "woman in pain" will also be placed at R.G Kar in memory of the victim, said a WBJDF representative. Before that on September 29, the protesting junior doctors will be organising protests at their respective localities associating with the local people. The unique protest programme on September 29 has been christened as "Parai thkachi eksath, Utsave Noi Protibade" (Together at locality, but in protest and not celebrating festival). "We are not in a mental state to celebrate the festival on the occasion of the forthcoming Durga Puja. We are not asking anybody to be away from the festival. But enjoying the festival is simply not possible for us this year," said a forum representative. Noted social activist Bolan Gangopadhyay, who was present at the mass convention as a speaker, said that only spontaneous mass protests can send a message to the judicial system that people want quick justice in this case. "Common people are no longer relying on political parties to spearhead the movement," she said. A crucial hearing on the rape and murder case is scheduled at the Supreme Court on September 30. Originally the hearing was scheduled on September 27 but it was postponed to September 30, following a plea from the state government. Chandigarh, Sep 27 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been undergoing some heart-related tests and examination, the results of which are still awaited, the hospital said on Friday. "Due to an increase in pressure in the Chief Minister's pulmonary artery, there was pressure on his heart, leading to irregular blood pressure. Currently, all vitals of the Chief Minister are completely stable," Fortis Hospital in Mohali said in a medical bulletin. "The doctor will make further decisions only after the results of the heart tests and examinations are available. The Chief Minister is responding well to treatment, and it is hoped that his condition will improve soon," it added. Mann was admitted to the hospital late Wednesday night. "The Chief Minister has been hospitalised as heas undergoing a thorough examination," a senior AAP leader said. He refused to reveal Mann's ailment, adding the Chief Ministeras 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. 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 Mannas condition. Opposition parties, like the Akali Dal and the Congress, had fired salvos at CM Mann and the AAP over the matter, 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. CHONGQING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Business leaders from Fortune 500 and multinational corporations convened in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday to discuss opening-up and development strategies with local government officials. A total of 17 attendees contributed insights during the 18th Annual Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council, addressing key issues such as enhancing smart manufacturing capabilities, exploring green industrial development, expanding market access, and fostering the exchange of leading technologies. This year, the council announced the addition of two new advisory members. Since its inception in 2006, the council has grown to include 38 overseas companies spanning such sectors as commerce and trade, energy supply, finance, insurance, and information technology. "Chongqing listens to global voices through this channel, while we contribute ideas and suggestions for the city's social, economic and industrial development," Wu Shengbo, vice president of Ford Motor Company, said during the meeting. He noted that the municipal government has translated the council's suggestions into policies and measures that boost social vitality, and that this approach has strengthened the confidence and commitment of companies in their development in Chongqing. Over the past 18 years, the advisory panel has submitted more than 1,000 recommendations to the local government, helping to address issues that foreign investors face in the local market. Islamabad, Sep 27 : A United Nations (UN) expert has called on Pakistan and Kenya to step up efforts to fully probe and investigate the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and prosecute those responsible. Sharif, a well-known Pakistani investigative journalist, was forced to leave Pakistan after allegedly being on the hit list of some terror outfit. He later moved to Kenya and was shot dead by the Kenyan police - claimed as a case of mistaken identity - on October 23, 2022. The journalist's autopsy revealed that he was subjected to brutal torture, leading to suspicions that the shooting incident may have been used as a cover-up. Arshad Sharif's family claimed involvement of Pakistani intelligence agencies in the murder, naming then Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the then Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Nadeem Anjum for the "targetted, premeditated, planned and well-coordinated" murder. The Kenyan High Court on July 8, this year, also termed the killing as unlawful, arbitrary and disproportionate in a landmark judgement. However, the probe seems to have been kept on the back burner by both the countries. "It is now almost two years since Arshad Sharif's death and several months since the Kenyan High Court delivered a historic judgment ruling his killing as arbitrary, disproportionate and unlawful. None of the police officers linked to the shooting has been arrested and no charges have been filed by prosecutors in Kenya yet," said UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan. "I am deeply concerned that neither the Kenyan authorities, nor the Pakistani government has stepped up their efforts to fully investigate the case," she added. Khan acknowledged that the Kenyan High Court judgment is an important victory for Sharif's family, who had filed a civil suit. "But, its real impact will only be felt if the two governments bring the perpetrators of Sharif's murder to justice. I urge the Kenyan and Pakistani government to muster the political will to ensure full accountability and bring to justice all those responsible for Arshad Sharif's murder, so that this case can become a landmark reference in the fight against impunity for the killing of journalists," said Irene Khan. In October 2023, UN experts wrote to Kenyan and Pakistani authorities demanding investigations into the killing and the charges that led to Sharif's exile from Pakistan. An investigation committee was formed and a fact-finding team was sent to Kenya to investigate the case even as the victim's family directly blamed Pakistan's former army chief and the former ISI boss for being the main culprits behind the murder. "Justice for Mr. Sharif and his family will not be done until the circumstances behind his murder are fully clarified, including whether it was a transnational crime, and all responsible actors are identified, prosecuted and punished in Kenya and Pakistan," said Khan. London, Sep 27 : Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) on Friday fined Meta 91 million euros (around $101.5 million) for 2019 breach that exposed hundreds of millions of Facebook passwords. The Irish regulator announced its final decision following an inquiry into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (MPIL) which was launched in April 2019, after meta said it had inadvertently stored certain passwords of social media users in 'plaintext' on its internal systems (without cryptographic protection or encryption). "It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data," said Graham Doyle, deputy commissioner at the DPC. "It must be borne in mind, that the passwords the subject of consideration in this case, are particularly sensitive, as they would enable access to users' social media accounts," Doyle added. Meta had published information regarding this incident in March 2019. These passwords were not made available to external parties. "This decision of the DPC concerns the GDPR principles of integrity and confidentiality. The GDPR requires data controllers to implement appropriate security measures when processing personal data, taking into account factors such as the risks to service users and the nature of the data processing," said the Irish regulator. In order to maintain security, data controllers should evaluate the risks inherent in the processing and implement measures to mitigate those risks. This decision emphasises the need to take such measures when storing user passwords, it added. The penalty is bigger than a 17 million euro fine the DPC placed to Meta in March 2022 over a 2018 security breach. Meta's earlier security lapses affected up to 30 million Facebook users compared to the hundreds of millions whose passwords were exposed as a result of its failure to secure passwords in 2019. New Delhi, Sep 27 : The country has seen two significant purification ceremonies that have sparked discussions about corruption and religious sanctity. The first took place at the renowned Tirupati Temple in the wake of allegations of adulteration in its famous laddus. The second occurred at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, where a BJP MLA aimed to "cleanse" the civic body of corruption. These events have ignited a debate, with many arguing that purification rituals highlight broader concerns regarding trust and accountability in society. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) conducted a purification ritual on September 23 in response to claims that the ghee used in the preparation of the renowned Tirupati laddus contained beef tallow. This controversy erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The TTD admitted to the use of adulterated ghee and organised a "Shanti Homam", a purification ceremony aimed at rectifying this perceived wrongdoing. TTD officials reported that panchagavya -- five sacred products derived from cows -- was utilised in the purification process, and all temple premises were cleansed accordingly. In a separate yet equally contentious event, BJP MLA from Hawa Mahal seat in Rajasthan, Balmukund Acharya conducted a purification ceremony at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage (JMCH) office. This ceremony aimed to cleanse the civic body of corruption and coincided with the welcoming of Congress councillors into the BJP fold. Acharya, who is also the mahant of the Hathoj Dham temple, sprinkled a mixture of Gangajal (holy water from the Ganges) and gomutra (cow urine) on councillors and officials, asserting that it would eliminate corruption. During the ceremony, Acharya emphasised that the cleansing process would create an environment of purity within the JMCH. He claimed that the act of sprinkling the mixture symbolically purified the officials and councillors, and even encouraged them to partake in the concoction. His statements about carrying the mixture with him daily underscored his belief in its sanctifying properties. The BJP recently removed the sitting JMCH Mayor amid corruption allegations, replacing her with Kusum Yadav, who secured a majority with the support of turncoat seven Congress councillors and one independent. Observers are of the view that the purification ceremony could be seen as both a religious and political manoeuvre, aiming to present a united front against corruption while attracting new party members. The controversies surrounding the laddus and the JMCH ceremony also highlight a broader societal dialogue about corruption and moral integrity within public institutions. As public trust wanes, such events may serve as attempts to restore faith, albeit in ways that can provoke further scrutiny and debate, say analysts. Bhopal, Sep 27 : Two days after the violence between two groups turned out to be fatal in Shajapur, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh on Thursday accused the Superintendent of Police (SP) of being 'biased' in taking action. Digvijaya Singh said the tension between the two groups had started three days before the deadly violence occurred, and Maksi police station and Shajapur SP were informed with written complaints. However, neither the Maksi police station nor SP acted on those complaints. "A group of persons opened fire for two conservative days and when the police were informed in writing, Maksi police station did not file a case. SP (Yashpal Singh Rajput) was also informed but didn't take action. How can an SP, who is the head of district police, be silent when firing incidents were going on for two days," Singh asked. He demanded that an independent inquiry should be conducted into the matter and SP's role should also be examined. "I would hold Shajapur SP and Maksi police station responsible for this deadly violence. It could have been averted had they acted swiftly after receiving complaints," Digvijaya Singh said after visiting Amjad Khan, who died in violence. Singh also said, "Today, when I asked Shajapur SP that what action he has taken in the matter, he said the investigation is under process. It seems SP is under pressure from the ruling BJP. It is a matter between two persons but the BJP trying to give it a Hindu-Muslim angle and the police are acting accordingly." The deceased family had lodged written complaints at Maksi police station on September 23 and also to SP Yashpal Singh Rajput on September 24. "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 Khan, a woman from the deceased family told the police in her complaint. A day after, the deadly violence occurred when two groups pelted stones at each other late on September 25 and fired shots, during which, Amjad Khan died of bullet injuries, and one minor child (Junaid Khan) received bullet injuries and was admitted at a hospital in Indore, as police have stated after the incident. At least 10 people were injured in the violence. Police have arrested Amjad's (deceased) brother Aneesh Khan, who had a personal enmity with Mahendra Patel and Sameer Khan (who allegedly fired shots outside Tabassum's home for two days before deadly violence). United Nations, Sep 27 : Totally isolated at the world organisation in trying to raise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a sabre-rattling speech at the General Assembly, on Friday threatened a decisive response to a "limited war" by India that he made up. He made up the claim that India's "war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang" to capture the Kashmir territory it occupies "Let me state in no uncertain terms that Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian negation," he said of the imagined threat in a bid to get attention to Pakistan's version of the Kashmir issue. It takes an ominous tone because on at least three occasions Pakistan launched invasions of India under various pretenses, leading to two wars and a more limited conflict. Sharif asserted that "thoughtlessly, India has spurned Pakistan's proposals for a mutual, strategic, restrained regime" and "its leadership has often threatened to cross the line of control and take over territories it occupies". Sharif set revoking the changes made in August 2019 a condition for a dialogue. India's condition for talks, on the other hand, is an end terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In setting the condition, Sharif was referring to India ending the special status Kashmir had under Article 370 of the Constitution and integrating Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country. He said: "To secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people." However, in fact, Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, requires the Pakistani government to first withdraw all its troops and infiltrators from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. That resolution also requires Islamabad not to fund or arm terrorists who continue attacks in Kashmir, an element Pakistan ignores. None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir a" not even Turkey, which had made an anodyne reference last year. Given the isolation, Sharif tried to link the Kashmir issue to Palestine, which has roused widespread attention. "Like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination," he asserted. The leader of the Islamic Republic that denies equal rights to non-Muslim minorities, also tried to link the wider concerns over Islamaphobia to India. He claimed that the "Hindu supremacist agenda in India" foments Islamaphobia and "aggressively seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims and the obliteration of India's Islamic heritage". He said that Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation "will work with the UN Secretary General and a special envoy to implement a plan of action to combat the scourge". While Pakistan exports terror, Sharif played the victim of terrorism, rattling of a string of names of terrorist organisations like ISIL-K, al-Qaeda, and TTP. He also spoke of the "90,000" Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, what he said were human rights violations there, and attempts to turn Muslims into a minority there. Bhopal, Sep 27 : At least two persons were reported dead and four injured after a wall of a school located adjacent to Mahakal temple in Ujjain collapsed on Friday evening. The incident occurred at gate number 4 of the Mahakal Lok Corridor. Senior officials and police reached the spot and rescued the persons trapped under debris and they were rushed to a nearby hospital. Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma confirmed the report, saying that two bodies were recovered. He also informed that injured persons are being treated in different hospitals. One minor girl, who received severe injuries, has been referred to Indore. Preliminary information received from local residents suggested that the wall collapsed due to heavy rain in Ujjain. Maharajwada School, which is located near gate number 4 of the Mahakal Lok Corridor, was being renovated and a portion of the wall collapsed. Construction for the second phase of the Mahakal Lok Corridor is also underway, and the renovation of the school was carried out to give it a new look as it is located near the religious site. Notably, the first phase of Mahakal Lok Corridor was completed and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2022. The project - Ujjain Mahakal Corridor - has been divided into two phases in which the temple complex will be expanded nearly eight times its present size from 2.82 hectares to 20.23 hectares by August 2023. --IANS pd/dan Mumbai, Sep 27 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has expressed serious displeasure over non-compliance by the Maharashtra government with regard to the transfer of officials ahead of the upcoming Assembly election. The ECI in its letter had sought an explanation from the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to explain the circumstances as to why the compliance reports have not been furnished even after the lapse of the stipulated time limit despite the reminders in the matter. The issue was discussed during the meeting between the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar led the ECI team and the state government officials comprising the Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, and DGP Rashmi Shukla and other senior bureaucrats. Sources said that the ECI was not happy over the state governmentas non-compliance with its directives relating to the transfer of officials who have completed their three-year tenure and continue in the same posts. ECI during the Lok Sabha elections had sent reminders asking the state government to transfer some of the officers accordingly the state government had shifted the BrihanMumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Chahal, additional commissioner Ashwini Bhind and a couple of others. However, the ECI was reportedly not happy for not complying with its directives regarding the transfer of other officers. ECI had sent three reminders but there was reportedly no response from the state government. Further, sources said that at todayas meeting the ECI also expressed displeasure over the inconvenience caused to the voters at the polling stations especially in Mumbai during the Lok Sabha elections. ECI instructed the state government to ensure minimum amenities such as benches, fans, drinking water and sheds to protect from the sub at the polling stations. However, the ECI pointed out that despite its advisories such facilities were missing at many polling stations during the Lok Sabha elections. ECI hinted at strict action on complaints with regard to inconvenience to the voters on the polling day. Sources said that the ECI also ordered proper management of queues at the polling stations and asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that the vacancies of assistant returning officers, which have been pending for a long time, are filled up soon. The CEC emphasised the need for conducting the election in a free and fair manner. Meanwhile, the state Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam in his presentation told the ECI team that as of September 22, there are 9.59 crore voters comprising 4.95 crore male and 4.64 crore female voters in the state. The number of total polling stations will be 52,789 comprising 39,048 in rural areas and 13,741 in urban areas. Bhopal, Sep 27 : The Madhya Pradesh government received an investment proposal worth over Rs 23,000 crore in the regional industry conclave held in Sagar district on Friday. The proposed investment, which involves the establishment of industrial units in several parts of the Sagar division, will pave the way for employment for over 27,000 youths, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said. He emphasised that the implementation of the Ken-Betwa project, which has been approved by the Centre, will boost irrigation capacity across 2.5 lakh hectares in Bundelkhand, significantly transforming the region. "Additionally, the construction of an airport in Sagar will open new opportunities in the aviation sector," the Chief Minister said while addressing the inaugural session of the regional industry conclave in Sagar on Friday. During the conclave, Chief Minister Yadav issued letters of intent for 96 industrial units. About 240 acres of land are to be allotted to these units. With this, it is proposed to make a capital investment of Rs. 1,560 crore, the MP government said in a statement. Meanwhile, he inaugurated the investment facilitation centre in six districts of the Sagar division - Sagar, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Chhatarpur, and Damoh. Along with this, Chief Minister Yadav also virtually inaugurated the office of MPIDC in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). "On this occasion, an MoU was also signed between Municipal Corporation Sagar and MPIDC for the supply of treated water from the industrial area to Sindhgawan," the MP government said. It was the fourth regional industry conclave organised after Mohan Yadav became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh after the BJP returned to power with absolute majority in the assembly elections held in November-December last year. Previously, the regional industry conclaves were held in Jabalpur, Indore, Ujjain and Gwalior while the next two conclaves scheduled in Rewa and Shahdol divisions in October. United Nations, Sep 27 : Supporters of imprisoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan held a protest demanding his freedom on Friday while Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was speaking inside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Gathering behind a huge flag with a picture of Khan, the participants in the protest organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sympathisers demanded Khan's release and an end to crackdown on the opposition. Separated from them by a group of yellow-clad anti-Beijing regime protesters from the Falun Gong movement, a bigger group gathered to show their support to Muhammad Yunus, the de facto prime minister of Bangladesh. Wearing teeshirts proclaiming their allegiance to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, they waved Bangladesh flags and held aloft posters with pictures of the party's leader Khaleda Zia and Yunus welcoming the interim leader. Sharif spoke before Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launching a vicious attack on him and his country. Sharif's motorcade took a route far from the protesters, which he could not see. Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Yunus spoke later in the morning session. Imran Khan is in prison after his conviction on corruption and state secrets violation charges. Several members of his party are also in detention, either convicted, on trial or as a preventive measure. Imran Khan was banned from contesting the February elections. The protesters demanded scrapping the election results as it was "rigged". New Delhi, Sep 27 : More than 67 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, marking the third anniversary of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The ABHA service, a key feature under the ABDM, provides citizens with unique digital health IDs for secure access and sharing of health records. More than 42 crore health records have also been linked to ABHA, enabling seamless access to medical histories and enhancing healthcare delivery, the Ministry said. The ABDM was launched on September 27 to establish a robust digital health infrastructure. "ABDM has embarked on a transformative three-year journey with the aim to revolutionise the nation's digital healthcare ecosystem to enhance healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and transparency," the Ministry said. It has made significant progress by involving major private and public players in the digital health ecosystem since its launch. The Ministry said that more than 236 private entities including labs, pharmacies, and digital solution companies have integrated with the ABDM ecosystem, joining hands to achieve interoperability. "The public sector, institutions such as AIIMS Delhi and AIIMS Bhopal and many more have emerged as top performers in generating Scan and Share OPD registrations," the Ministry said. Currently, over 1.3 lakh facilities are ABDM-enabled, including more than 17,000 private facilities, it added. ABDM works by creating a single source via registries like ABHA, Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR), and Health Facility Registries (HFR). With ABDM patients can scan the QR code of the hospital and share their demographic details to register, minimising the long queues at the registration counter and reducing the risk of incomplete and inaccurate data. "It has recorded over 5 crore OPD tokens, significantly reducing waiting times from one hour to half an hour, further saving 2.5 crore man-hours," the Ministry said. Further, to encourage the adoption and implementation of digital health practices, the ABDM also gives the opportunity to earn incentives of up to 4 crores and has gained significant traction among private and public players. The mission has made significant progress by involving major private and public players in the digital health ecosystem since its launch, the Ministry said. DAMASCUS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-three Syrian refugees, mostly women and children, were killed on Thursday in an airstrike on Lebanon's Younine area, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the airstrike was launched just hours before Israeli forces struck the Matrabah border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, injuring several refugees fleeing the violence. The statement accused Israel of deliberately targeting innocent civilians, including refugees seeking safety. It condemned Israel's "blatant disregard" for international law, humanitarian law, and human rights, saying that Israel's actions reflect its long-standing indifference to human lives. The ministry urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its repeated violations of international law and to prevent further escalation of violence in the region. Bengaluru, Sep 27 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Friday criticised Congress after an FIR was lodged against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. "Where is Rahul Gandhi, let him come to Karnataka. Let him come here and deliver a speech that his Congress government is corruption-free. No one is opening their mouths after the lodging of FIR," he said. He added that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge being a senior leader is also tight-lipped like Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. "Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has gone missing. It is proved that there is a corrupt government in Karnataka," he said. He said that the Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court have upheld decisions against CM Siddaramaiah and ordered FIR, adding that the Lokayukta has lodged cases under various sections including 420. "There is no reason as such for Siddaramaiah not to tender his resignation," Ashoka stated. "We are demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He controls all departments and how can investigations be conducted against him by those who are under him? The Chief Minister has powers to transfer and post senior police officers. The Home Minister can only transfer and post officers of the rank of police inspectors and below. The Lokayukta SP in Mysuru who is probing the case is posted by the Chief Minister," he pointed out. He said that in the history of Karnataka, no Chief Minister has continued in their positions after such allegations. "Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa submitted resignation when the Lokayukta filed an FIR against him", Ashoka stated. He added that the Late CM Ramkrishna Hegde submitted his resignation merely after surfacing allegations against him before the filing of the FIR. "We can't draw a parallel to Delhi's former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," Ashoka stated. "Our state has got higher standards. The chief ministers of this state have resigned after the surfacing of allegations against them traditionally. The Lokayukta after dilly-dallying for three days have finally lodged the FIR against Siddaramaiah. The complainant Snehamayi Krishna has openly expressed his displeasure over the response of the Lokayukta even after the court judgement," Ashoka stated. He said that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi criticised us as a 40 per cent government during the election campaign. "They maintained that if the Congress government is formed, they will deliver a corruption-free administration. What happened now," Ashoka questioned. He also said that in the last 14 months, a minister has resigned in the Rs 187 crore scam, "Now, the case has been lodged against the Chief Minister and his entire family. This is peculiar. What Rahul Gandhi is going to speak in other states while delivering speeches." He said that they came to power after branding us as corrupt. "No charges have been proved against us in the last 14 months. It is also proved that 40 per cent of allegations against us are also false. The person from the Karnataka Contractors' Association who made a 40 per cent corruption allegation against us, had announced that the Congress is an 80 per cent corrupt government," he stated. Srinagar, Sep 27 : Jammu and Kashmir Police at Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district arrested six terrorist associates and recovered IEDs, arms and ammunition and other incriminating materials from their possession, a police statement said on Friday. "Awantipora police got specific input that a Pakistan-based Kashmiri terrorist of JeM outfit was into the process of identification of youth who can be motivated to join terror ranks and after finding such youth, arms/ammunition/explosives was being delivered to these youth to commit terror acts before their formal joining into terror ranks," police said. Police added that upon this information, an FIR was registered at Police Station Tral, adding that during the investigation, the youth who were part of this module were identified. "It came to fore that Pakistan-based terrorists with the assistance of an OGW in jail identified many youth who were motivated by them to join terror ranks in the Tral area of Awantipora and Kulgam district," police said. Police added that the youth so identified were provided pistols, grenades, IEDs and other explosive materials to facilitate their joining into terror ranks. Before inducting them into terror ranks, they were instructed to do some terror activity either by target killing, throwing grenades on SFs /Public places, non-local labourers and laying and detonating IEDs. Police said during investigations, it also came to fore that Pakistan based terrorist handler had chosen some places for planting of IEDs with the assistance of these youth. The terrorist handler has also pumped in some money to carry out the tasks and to procure material for fabrication of more IEDs. So far six terrorist associates have been arrested in the case and from possession and upon disclosures of these accused persons, large quantity of arms /ammunition and explosives including five IEDs with remotes, 30 Detonators, 17 Batteries for IEDs, two Pistols, three Pistol Magazines, 25 live rounds of Pistol, four Hand grenades and Cash amount of Rs 20000 have been recovered. Police said that the investigation of the case is underway and more arrests and recoveries are likely in the case. Bengaluru, Sep 27 : In a major development, Karnataka Lokayukta Police has filed an FIR against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, sources confirmed. In the FIR, CM Siddaramaiah has been named accused number one, his wife Parvathy the second accused and his brother-in-law Mallikarjun Swamy the third accused. The FIR copy mentions the period of occurrence of offence as between October 27, 1968, to October 9, 2023. The Mysuru Lokayukta Superintendent of Police (SP), T. J. Udesh, filed the FIR against CM Siddaramaiah and others at 1.15 p.m. and launched an investigation officially. The FIR is lodged under the IPC Sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy); 166 (disobey of law by public servant); 403 (dishonest appropriation of property); 406 (criminal breach of trust); 420 (cheating); 426 (mischief); 465 (forgery); 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating); 340 (wrongful confinement); 351 (intentional use of force or threat of force against another person without their consent). The FIR also mentions that the accused are booked under the Sections 9 and 13 of the Prevention of the Corruption Act; Section 3, 53 and 54 of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, and Sections 3, 4 of Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (75) is named as the prime accused; his wife Parvathy (65) is second accused; his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy (68) is third accused. Devaraju J alias Javara (70) is named as the fourth accused. The roles of others have also been registered. The FIR document has been submitted to the court. The Special Court for MLAs/MPs had directed the Mysuru Lokayukta to register the case under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) against Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam. The court had pronounced the order on Wednesday. The copy of the order further said: "Acting under Section 153 (6) 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 three months from today." "Further, the office is directed to communicate the above orders of the court forthwith to the aforementioned jurisdictional police," the order said. The matter will be heard before the court on December 24, 2024." MUDA scam case petitioner and RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna has registered a complaint naming CM Siddaramaiah and others. United Nations, Sep 27 : Defying calls for a ceasefire and the harsh criticism from many world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday vowed to continue the military campaign against Hezbollah and Hamas till there is "total victory". "Enough is enough," he said at the high-level General Assembly meeting. "Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely. And that's exactly what we're doing. Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year," he said, defending the campaign against Hamas and Hezbollah. Netanyahu also gave a stern warning to Iran, which he accused of being behind the attacks on his country: "If you strike us, we will strike you." His defiant stance raised the threat of the continuing attacks on Lebanon-based Hezbollah turning into a broader conflict and the hopes of a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza receding. On Thursday, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib gave his own warning. "From this rostrum we warn against this aggression and the propensity to play with fire," he said, "will set aflame the entire Middle East". Most speakers so far at the UN session called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the campaign against Hezbollah, while some like Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who preceded him made vitriolic attacks on Israel. The Gaza war, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people, most of them civilians, and the attacks on Hezbollah, which recently resulted in booby-trapped pagers exploding in Lebanon killing or maiming several people, including children, were mentioned by several of the speakers. Netanyahu said that he did not intend to come to the UN, but "after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight". He recounted the terrorist attack by Hamas almost a year ago on Israel that resulted in about 1,200 deaths and about 250 kidnappings. Nearly 100 of the hostages are still held by Hamas or other terror groups, while some have died and others have been released on escape. "This war can come to an end now," he said, adding: "All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages." Netanyahu used maps to illustrate his point that Tehran's campaign against Israel stretched in an arc from Yemen to Lebanon. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that is true of the entire Middle East,"he warned. Hyderabad, Sep 27 : Industrial houses have come forward to restore and preserve the ancient stepwells in Hyderabad and promote them as tourist spots. Telangana's Tourism Department signed an agreement with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in this regard on Friday. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao. According to an official release, Infosys has taken responsibility for the renovation of the Mahalaka stepwell at Osmania University. Sai Life adopted Manchirevula stepwell while Bharat Biotech will restore the Salar Jung and Ammapalli wells. Adikmet stepwell will be renovated by Dodla Dairy while Falaknuma stepwell will be restored by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation. Koti Women's College will restore the Residency stepwell. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the historic buildings located along the Musi River will be developed as tourist spots. He appealed to the industrialists to come forward for the preservation of buildings that reflect the culture of Hyderabad. The CM said that the government is committed to promoting the tourism sector along with making Telangana a welfare state. Revanth Reddy said that the government has taken up the Musi Riverfront development project ambitiously. He criticised the previous government for neglecting the numerous historical buildings which have reached the dilapidated stage. The Chief Minister said the state government has taken up the renovation of the Old Assembly building and the state Legislative Council will be shifted to the renovated building soon. The famous Jubilee Hall, which is currently being used for the Legislative Council, has historical significance. The CM observed that the building was built with special technology, and it needs to be preserved in the future. He suggested CII adopt and preserve the historical Jubilee Hall. The Chief Minister said preservation of the old Osmania Hospital was also being taken up and a new building for the hospital will be constructed at Goshamahal Stadium soon. He emphasised the need for protection of the High Court building. He mentioned that the government has already allocated 100 acres of land for the construction of a new High Court building at Rajendra Nagar. There is also a need to preserve historical structures like Puranapool along with the Hyderabad City College building, the CM said, adding the Charminar conservation project was already under progress. The Chief Minister also stated that students studying in government schools are being provided an opportunity to visit tourist and historical places in the state free of cost. For this, the government launched the Telangana Darshini program and a government order has already been issued. Jaipur, Sep 27 : Deputy Rajasthan Chief Minister Diya Kumari on Friday said that the role of youth is important in promoting tourism. She was addressing a cultural programme on the occasion of World Tourism Day on Friday. The programme was organised by the Tourism Department at Albert Hall where Diya Kumar was the chief guest. While congratulating all on World Tourism Day, the Deputy Chief Minister said that "we are proud of the tourism, art and culture of Rajasthan". "We will make Rajasthan a leader in tourism and will make Rajasthan number one in tourism in the whole world. Social media influencers will play an important role in this endeavour," she added. Diya Kumari said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brought Jaipur's global brand image into the limelight by getting the French President to visit Jaipur. She said that when the head of state of a country or any other big personality visits a tourist spot and gets photographed, the common people of that country become more curious about that place, eventually increasing tourism at the same place. Diya Kumari further said that "today is the era of social media". "Through social media, influencers are able to promote tourism at any place. Social media influencers click photos and shoot videos of any tourist spot and share them with common people," she said. She called upon the youth to promote "the tourist spots in the state as ambassadors of our Rajasthan tourism". Diya Kumari also honoured social media content creators on this occasion. Earlier, she also inaugurated the Marwar Hall of RTDC Jodhpur. She said that the contribution of tourism in the economy of Rajasthan is about 15 per cent of the state GDP. She said that along with our palaces, forts, stepwells, historical monuments, we also have many opportunities for rural tourism, wildlife tourism and many more The Deputy Chief Minister said that the theme of World Tourism Day this year in 2024 is Tourism and Peace. She said that the development of tourism is possible only with peace in the world. Diya Kumari said that Rising Rajasthan this year and IIFA Award in March 2025 next year will also prove to be a milestone for the tourism of Rajasthan. Investors can participate enthusiastically in the upcoming Rising Rajasthan Summit and become a part of the economic success story of the state. Similarly, IIFA Awards will develop tourism in the state. The walled city of Jaipur is our heritage, a UNESCO heritage site. As responsible citizens, we should preserve the heritage of our walled city and save it from being defaced, she added. New York, Sep 28 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request for a meeting with former US President Donald Trump materialised on Friday, during which he said Kyiv counts on US support to defeat Russia regardless of who occupies the White House after the November 5 US presidential election. "It's very important to share, to share all the plan, all our steps, how we can strengthen Ukraine," Zelensky said while standing next to Trump in New York. "And of course, we have to decide it now, because after November, we don't know who is, only Americans decide who will be the President, but we understand that till November, we can't stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. We have to do it. We will try on the battlefield with our heroic soldiers. But we understand that after November, we have to decide, and we hope that the strengths of the US will be very strong, and we count on it. That's why I decided to meet with both candidates," the Ukrainian President added. Trump, for his part, said the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on for more than two years now, has to end, Xinhua news agency reported. "At some point, it has to end," he added. The Trump-Zelensky meeting, which was held at Trump Tower in New York and confirmed by Trump only one day prior -- making Zelensky to change his itinerary and stay for an extra day in the US -- came on the heel of the Ukrainian leader's respective meetings on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, who's also the Democratic presidential nominee running against Trump. Both Biden and Harris vowed continued US support for Ukraine. Ahead of his meeting at the White House with Zelensky, Biden announced additional military assistance worth a total of $7.9 billion. He directed the Department of Defence to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of his presidential term in January. Harris, while meeting Zelensky, grasped the opportunity to slash Trump for the latter's criticism over what he said was Zelensky's lack of willingness to negotiate a peace deal with the Russians. "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 in remarks alongside Zelensky on Thursday, in what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Trump. During a speech at a campaign rally in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump gave what was his most explicit criticism of Zelensky's handling of Ukraine's conflict with Russia. "Those cities are gone, they're 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 wouldn't 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. At Thursday's press conference in the Trump Tower lobby, the former President was asked whether Ukraine will have to give up any of its sovereign territory in order to reach a deal with Russia that brings an end to the conflict. "We'll see what happens," Trump said in response. New York, Sep 28 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's met with former US President Donald Trump on Friday, during which he said Kyiv counts on US support to defeat Russia regardless of who is elected to the White House after the November 5 US presidential election. "It's very important to share, to share all the plan, all our steps, how we can strengthen Ukraine," Zelensky said while standing next to Trump in New York. "And of course, we have to decide it now, because after November, we don't know who is, only Americans decide who will be the President, but we understand that till November, we can't stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. We have to do it. We will try on the battlefield with our heroic soldiers. But we understand that after November, we have to decide, and we hope that the strengths of the US will be very strong, and we count on it. That's why I decided to meet with both candidates," the Ukrainian President added. Trump, for his part, said the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on for more than two years now, has to end, Xinhua news agency reported. "At some point, it has to end," he added. The Trump-Zelensky meeting, which was held at Trump Tower in New York and confirmed by Trump only one day prior -- making Zelensky to change his itinerary and stay for an extra day in the US -- came on the heel of the Ukrainian leader's respective meetings on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, who's also the Democratic presidential nominee running against Trump. Both Biden and Harris vowed continued US support for Ukraine. Ahead of his meeting at the White House with Zelensky, Biden announced additional military assistance worth a total of $7.9 billion. He directed the Department of Defence to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of his presidential term in January. Harris, while meeting Zelensky, grasped the opportunity to slash Trump for the latter's criticism over what he said was Zelensky's lack of willingness to negotiate a peace deal with the Russians. "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 in remarks alongside Zelensky on Thursday, in what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Trump. During a speech at a campaign rally in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump gave what was his most explicit criticism of Zelensky's handling of Ukraine's conflict with Russia. "Those cities are gone, they're 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 wouldn't 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. At Thursday's press conference in the Trump Tower lobby, the former President was asked whether Ukraine will have to give up any of its sovereign territory in order to reach a deal with Russia that brings an end to the conflict. "We'll see what happens," Trump said in response. Washington, Sep 28 : The US has announced an agreement with the Iraqi government to end the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group by next year. But the Biden administration refused to provide details on how many of the nearly 2,500 US troops still serving in Iraq will remain there or acknowledge it will mark a full withdrawal from the country. "I think it's fair to say that, you know, our footprint is going to be changing within the country," Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Friday without providing specifics. The announcement comes at a particularly contentious time for the Middle East, with escalating conflict between Israel and two Iranian-backed militant groups a" Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza a" threatening a broader regional war. Bases housing US forces and contractors have been regularly targeted by Iran-backed militias over the last several years, and those attacks intensified late last year and early this spring after the Israel-Hamas war broke out nearly a year ago. For years, Iraqi officials have periodically called for a withdrawal of coalition forces, and formal talks to wind down the US presence in the country have been going on for months. US officials who briefed reporters on Friday said the agreement will bring about a two-phase transition in the troops assigned to Iraq that began this month. In the first phase, which runs through September 2025, the coalition mission against ISIS will end and forces will leave some longstanding bases. Following the November election, American forces will start departing from Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and from Baghdad International Airport, according to Iraqi government officials who spoke to media on the condition of anonymity. Those forces will be moved to Hareer base in Erbil, in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region. In the second phase, the US will continue to operate from Iraq through 2026 to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria, a senior Biden administration official and a senior defence official said on the condition of anonymity on a call with reporters to provide details ahead of the announcement. Ultimately, the US military mission would transition to a bilateral security relationship, the US officials said, but they did not indicate what that might mean for the number of American troops who remain in Iraq in the future. The Iraqi officials said some American troops may stay at Hareer base after 2026 because the Kurdistan regional government would like them to stay. "We have taken an important step in resolving the issue of the international coalition to fight ISIS," Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani said in a speech this month. He noted "the government's belief in the capabilities of our security forces that defeated the remnants of ISIS". The continued presence of US troops has been a political vulnerability for Sudani, whose government is under increased influence from Iran. Iraq has long struggled to balance its ties with the US and Iran, both allies of the Iraqi government but regional archenemies. "We thank the government for its position to expel the international coalition forces," Qais Khazali, founder of Asaib Ahl al-Haq a" an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militia that has conducted attacks against US forces in Iraq a" said last week. The agreement marks the third time in the last two decades that the US has announced a formal transition of the military's role there. The US invaded Iraq in March 2003 in what it called a massive "shock and awe" bombing campaign that lit up the skies, laid waste to large sections of the country and paved the way for American ground troops to converge on Baghdad. The invasion was based on what turned out to be faulty claims that Saddam Hussein had secretly stashed weapons of mass destruction. The US presence grew to more than 170,000 troops at the peak of counterinsurgency operations in 2007. The Obama administration negotiated the drawdown of forces, and in December 2011, the final combat troops departed, leaving only a small number of military personnel behind to staff an office of security assistance and a detachment of Marines to guard the embassy compound. In 2014, the rise of the Islamic State group and its rapid capture of a wide swath across Iraq and Syria brought US and partner nation forces back at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help rebuild and retrain police and military units that had fallen apart and fled. After ISIS lost its hold on the territory it once claimed, coalition military operations ended in 2021. An enduring US presence of about 2,500 troops stayed in Iraq to maintain training and conduct partnered counter-ISIS operations with Iraq's military. In the years since, the US has maintained that presence to pressure Iranian-backed militias active in Iraq and Syria. The presence of American forces in Iraq also makes it more difficult for Iran to move weapons across Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, for use by its proxies, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, against Israel. United Nations, Sep 28 : Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus said that his government will uphold its bilateral treaties and is open to friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect. Speaking in Bengali at the high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, the de-facto Prime Minister, said, "I wish to assure that our government shall adhere to all international, regional and bilateral instruments that Bangladesh is party to." "Bangladesh is open to nurture friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect, upholding our dignity and pride and shared interests," he said. The Nobel Prize-winner and microfinance pioneer holds the title of Chief Adviser of the interim government and functions as the de-facto Prime Minister. Yunus, who was invited by President Mohammed Shahabuddin to head the interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as a wave of protests swept Bangladesh, said the Armed Forces backed the "Monsoon Revolution" by "standing firmly with the people". "During the recent revolution, our valiant armed forces have once again shown their commitment to peace by standing firmly with the people in fulfilling their aspirations for freedom during a most difficult time in our history," he added. Yunus called the protests in July and August the "Monsoon Revolution" that "primarily brought together people who were long left (out) in politics and development". "The people aspired for a just, inclusive, and functioning democracy for which our new generations made supreme sacrifice," he said. "We believe, the "Monsoon Revolution" that the world witnessed in Bangladesh in the span of few weeks, may inspire many across communities and countries, to stand for freedom and justice," he added. He asserted that when he took over, "justice, ethics and morality, almost at every level, reached a low". Oligarchs took over businesses and corruption was endemic, he said. "We are committed to promote and protect the fundamental rights -- for people to speak in freedom, to assemble without fear or inhibition, to vote whosoever they choose, to uphold the independence of the judiciary and freedom of press, including in the cyber domain," Yunus added. But he did not mention freedom of religion given that the country has seen a paroxysm of violence against Hindus and other minorities. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a remote meeting held by the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national political advisors suggested improving relevant land, fiscal, tax and financial policies to support the country's urban renewal and transformation, at a remote meeting held Friday in Beijing. The seminar, held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Speaking at the meeting, Wang called on political advisors to participate in research and investigations on new urbanization and provide targeted advice regarding the topic. He also encouraged political advisors to help improve the public's understanding of urban renewal and respond to their concerns about the project. The attendees to the meeting advised better reconstruction of existing buildings, as well as renovation of old communities and urban infrastructure. They also called for efforts to improve urban ecosystems and promote the protection and adaptive reuse of historic buildings and blocks. The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has awarded Januskevic Publishing House, the Belarusian publisher now headquartered operating in Poland, its 2024 International Freedom to Publish Award. The annual award recognizes a publisher operating outside of the United States that has demonstrated "courage and fortitude" in defending the freedom of expression. "We are honored to accept AAPs Freedom to Publish Award, and we are thankful for the acknowledgment of our work in Belarus and in exile," said Andrej Januskevic, founder of Januskevic Publishing House, in a statement. "The Belarusian language illuminates our culture and heritage, and together with our friends and colleagues at other houses that have seen their licenses revoked... We vow to keep that light alive in hopes that it may serve as a beacon, giving comfort to citizens of our homeland, and hope to those who must live in exile." Januskevic launched in 2014, publishing fiction and nonfiction in the endangered Belarusian language. It has found itself increasingly under fire from the Belarusian government over the past decade, as the heavily contested administration of Alyaksandr Lukashenkawhose sixth term, which began in 2020, is not recognized by the European parliament or the governments of the U.S., U.K., or Canada, among othersbecame ever more characterized by Russian influence. In 2022, founder Januskevic was arrested for selling books and imprisoned for 28 days, forcing Januskevic to flee to Poland. There, the publishing house continued to publish materials for the Belarusian market until 2023, when Belarus revoked its publishing license, which the Belarusian government requires publishing houses to obtain in order to publish in the country. (Other independent publishers whose licenses have been revoked by the Belarusian Ministry of Information include Haliyafy, Knihazbor, Limaryus, Medysont, and Zmicier Kolas.) "This year we recognize a publishing house of extraordinary persistence and courage," said Maria A. Pallante, president and CEO of the AAP, in a statement. "The leaders of Januskevic Publishing House have braved censorship, suffered incarceration, and endured exile, all in service of their mission to provide readers with literature in the Belarusian language. Together, the Board, membership, and staff of the AAP applaud Januskevic for preserving and celebrating a language that has long been under attack, and for demonstrating why the freedom to publish is an essential element of democratic society." Januskevic continues to publish physical books and e-books in the Belarusian from Poland. Among its titles deemed "extremist" by the Belarusian government are The Dogs of Europe by Alhierd Bacharevic and the illustrated childrens book The Ballad of the Little Tugboat by Joseph Brodsky. Following an August 9 ruling by the Eighth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, a coalition of publishers, authors, and advocates this week filed a new complaint seeking to strike down the sweeping book ban provision in Iowas controversial law, SF 496. The new filing features an expanded roster of plaintiffs, including all of the Big Five publishers and the Authors Guild, as well as the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), four authors (Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoult), two educators, and a high school student. And, according to a release by the plaintiffs, it narrows the suits claims to focus exclusively on the prohibition against any books containing sexual content. First signed by Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023, SF 496, among its provisions, bans books and materials with depictions of sex from school libraries. In response, various Iowa school districts have reportedly pulled hundreds of titles from their shelvesmore than 3,400, according to one study by the Des Moines Register. Following two lawsuits filed in November 2023, judge Stephen Locher blocked key provisions of the law on December 29, 2023. On appeal, however, the Eighth Circuit in August vacated the injunction and remanded the case back to Locher for a more thorough analysis of whether the plaintiffs' "facial challenge" to the lawa legal term that applies to claims that a government policy is unconstitutional as writtenwas proper at this juncture. But in vacating the injunction, the appeals court also handed the plaintiffs a significant legal victory, rejecting the states core legal defensethat the placement and removal of books from public school libraries and classrooms is government speech, and thus not subject to First Amendment claims. We must continue to stand togetheralongside educators, librarians, students, authors, and readersto protect the freedom to read... The government speech doctrine holds that the First Amendment does not impose a requirement of viewpoint-neutrality on speech undertaken by the government. The renewed action in Iowa comes after lawyers for Llano County pressed a similar government speech argument this week, before the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, in another closely-watched book banning case. In their arguments, lawyers for Llano County urged the Fifth Circuit to respectfully disagree with the Eighth Circuits decision. In addition, on August 29, the publisher plaintiffs, along with Sourcebooks and other advocates, filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida challenging what the suit alleges is an unconstitutional book removal provision in Florida House Bill 1069. In a September 12 report, PEN America found that book bans in school libraries have surged from 3,362 in the 2022-2023 school year to more than 10,000 in the 2023-2024 school year. Some 8,000 of those bans came in Iowa and Florida following the enactment of new legislation. We must continue to stand togetheralongside educators, librarians, students, authors, and readersto protect the freedom to read and fight against the unconstitutional censorship measures being imposed by the state of Iowa, reads a joint statement issued by the plaintiffs. We will do everything we can to strike down SF 496s remaining book ban provision and defend the fundamental rights of Iowans to read, think, and learn freely. Washington State University Press, which had been slated for closure after university officials voted to eliminate its $300,000 annual funding, has been granted a second chance. WSU provost Chris Riley-Tillman, who joined the university on July 1, has committed funds from central administration for the press, and were going to be collaborating on different kinds of in-kind support, interim dean of libraries Trevor Bond told PW. As of September 1, WSUP is being managed under the umbrella of the libraries, with our fiscal officer providing support, Bond said, and the main goal will be to reduce expenses while maintaining revenue. Because the press is a nonprofit, we're not trying to make money, he explained. Were just trying to meet our production costs. Editor-in-chief Linda Bathgate and marketing manager Caryn Lawton will continue to lead the press, which was founded in 1928 and has published more than 260 titles. WSUPs offices will move into the library building on the main campus in Pullman, Wash., and, although the press and library will continue to function as separate entities, this affiliation gives the press access to a development director. Im looking forward to learning a lot about fundraising and working with donors, Bathgate said. Bond looks forward to working side by side with WSUP. One of the realities of the library is that weve shrunk our staff about 40 percent, he said. Im excited about the intellectual energy that the press generates, and the chance for the library to become a little more entrepreneurial as well. WSUPs threatened closure was not without its consequences. One full-time WSUP staffer was let go, and a half-time position was returned to the campus design and printing office when the budget cuts were announced. Bathgate said she and Lawton were given six months notice, with the objective that we would disassemble the press, get to work on returning rights to authors, and get rid of inventory by the end of December. Even when the provost saved the presswith encouragement from alums, donors, and WSUP authorsbudgetary limitations made it impossible to bring back the lost position. Now, Bathgate and Lawton continue to process orders and returns in addition to their regular work of acquisitions and marketing, because WSUP has its own warehouse and does much of its paperback printing and binding on-site. This means were doing all of our distribution ourselves, Bathgate said. We do use Ingram and Baker & Taylor as our wholesalers, but everything comes out of our warehouse. So its been a real challenge. She and Bond are discussing how student employees might help maintain the business part of the press until we either find an outside distributor or enough funds to support a staff. The temporary pause also interrupted the publishing timeline. We had a list of seven titles for the fall, and the catalog had gone out, Bathgate said. We were never instructed to stop production, so we kept moving forward. Once the new arrangement with the library was in place, Bathgate talked with Bond about how to space out that fall list and move some books into the spring season, to manage our expenses and keep things more sustainable. Current and forthcoming titles include Thomas Bancroft's Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist's View of Wild Alaska, Dennis Crockett's Northwest history Becoming Walla Walla, Tony Tekaroniake Evans's Believing in Indians (Nov.), and Bruce A. Ramsey's Seattle in the Great Depression (Jan. 2025). In the near future, the central WSUP brand will be Bathgates top priority, because it involves peer-reviewed, editorial boardapproved scholarship. Yet WSUP remains committed to its imprints, the regionally focused Basalt Books and collaborative venture Pines Press. Pines Press is a new imprint, and a lot of the editorial work is done through Whitworth University in Spokane, Bathgate explained. So were providing the marketing and production expertise to help Whitworth have a publishing arm and plan one book per year. WSUP also serves as distributor for Spokane independent poetry publisher Lost Horse Press, which focuses on Ukrainian poetry. WSUP has come through a rocky year, and its restoration is a dream come true, Bathgate said. Were turning 100 in four years, so its nice to think we can plan for our 100-year anniversary. This weekends Mancunian trip between Manchester and Bridgnorth will raise money for Maggies charity. Maggies offer emotional and practical support to those with cancer and their loved ones. The train will run on the 28th of September, with the locomotive starting as LMS Black 5 No. 44871. 44871 will head from Manchester Piccadilly (departing at 07:26) to Kidderminster (arrival at 11:39), passing through places like Stockport (07:38), Stoke-on-Trent (08:29), Stafford (08:56), Penkridge (10:10) and Rowley Regis at 11:09. On arrival at Kidderminster, 44871 will make way for 45596 Bahamas for the trip to Bridgnorth. The tour is close to the hearts of those working for 45596s owners, the Bahamas Locomotive Society, as Maggies supported long-serving volunteer, Steve Peach. 41241, 4079 and 45596 at Haworth Sheds, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway // Credit: RailAdvent The tour runs in memory of Peachy, who Keith Whitmore, BLS Chairman, says was one of the backbone of the BLS loco team. 45596 Bahamas will take the train from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and return, before swapping back to 44871 at Kidderminster for the return to Manchester Victoria (not Piccadilly). The return trip will depart Kidderminster at 16:45 and will head back to Manchester via Bescot Stadium (17:34), Stafford (18:16), Macclesfield (19:55), Stockport (20:36), Denton (20:50), Guide Bridge (21:25 train reverses here, diesel hauled to Manchester Victoria), and Manchester Victoria at 21:54. Would you like to know if 44871 is due to pass through your local station? As a RailAdvent Plus member, you can do just that with our Station News And Tours page! To view the train times, please click here. Peachy was one the backbone of our loco team, and the support provided by Maggies brought great comfort to him and his family when needed most. I would like to thank the Railway Touring Company for continued desire to operate the train, and also the Severn Valley Railway for their willingness to accept an unusual request for assistance at short notice. Keith Whitmore, BLS Chairman If you do go out and see 44871 or 45596, why not sign up to LocoStop. This is our free-to-join railway community, and allows you to share your photos from your adventures! Click here to share your railway pictures. As always, please respect the dangers of the railway. Please do not trespass on the railway to see this iconic locomotive stay to public access spots. The death sentences keep coming from Branch 26 of Tehrans Revolutionary Court. In July, the courts presiding judge, Iman Afshari, pronounced the dreaded verdict for Pakhshan Azizi, a prominent Iranian womens rights activist and social worker, who had already spent the previous year in prison. The trumped-up charge: Rebellion against the Islamic Republic. The reality: She had angered the theocracy with peaceful activism for human rights. For Judge Afshari, it was a routine day in court. In his six years on the job, he has repeatedly imposed draconian sentences including capital punishment, lengthy prison terms, exile, and even lashes for the crime of expressing disagreement with the clerical dictatorship. His cruelty has drawn the attention of Western nations like Canada and the United Kingdom, both of which sanctioned the judge in 2022 as part of a name-and-shame campaign. However, while the United States has previously attempted to apply diplomatic pressure on Tehran by sanctioning other Iranian judges, it has yet to target Afshari. It should. Irans judiciary purports to consist of independent and impartial courts of law that dispense justice. Theyre anything but. The very existence of the Revolutionary Court system a parallel judicial body, separate from the countrys criminal and civil courts, that tries political prisoners and dissidents, among others reflects Tehrans ideological agenda, which seeks to enforce the laws and norms of radical Shiite Islam. In a 2023 human rights report, the U.S. State Department noted that the Revolutionary Courts were responsible for routinely holding grossly unfair trials without due process, handing down predetermined verdicts, and rubberstamping executions for political purposes. Afshari helps perpetuate this system. According to the California-based nonprofit United for Iran, the judge has issued more than 330 sentences over the course of his tenure, imposing a combined total of some 1,060 years of prison terms. He has targeted dissidents, human rights activists, artists, journalists, and ethnic and religious minorities. He has directed particular ire at women who defy the regimes mandate to wear the hijab, or headscarf, in public. For example, in 2019, the judge sentenced Saba Kord Afshari (the two are not related), at the time only 20 years old, to 24 years in jail for a range of charges that included protesting the hijab laws or, as the court put it, inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution by promoting unveiling. In a rare stroke of good luck, however, the regime ultimately released her in 2023 as part of a general amnesty for hundreds of prisoners to mark the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. In another prominent case, Afshari sentenced two Bahai women, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, in 2022 to 10-year prison terms for their leadership roles in their religious community. Their trial lasted only one hour. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom condemned the ruling, noting that the Islamic Republic has subjected the Bahai to systematic religious discrimination for decades. Most jarringly, both Sabet and Kamalabadi previously served a decade-long prison sentence between 2008 and 2017 for their religious activities. That didnt stop Afshari from imposing another one. Christians in Iran havent fared any better. For example, in February 2024, Afshari sentenced Hakop Gochumyan, an Armenian Christian, to 10 years in prison for allegedly engaging in deviant proselytizing activity that contradicts the sacred law of Islam. In March, Afshari sentenced Laleh Saati, a Christian convert, to a two-year jail term for allegedly acting against national security through association with Zionist Christian organizations. Score of other Christians have received prison sentences in recent years merely for practicing their faith. Afsharis fabricated charges often lack any meaningful evidence. In January 2024, Tehran hanged four ethnic Kurds, after 18 months in prison, for allegedly plotting with Israels Mossad intelligence agency to blow up a missile and weapons factory belonging to Irans defense ministry. Tellingly, the court announced the sentence only after a brief, secret trial devoid of due process. The regime even broadcast the four defendants forced confessions, extracted through torture, on state television. In another case with implausible charges, Afshari sentenced Iranian-Swedish dual national Saeed Azizi to five years in jail in January 2024 for alleged assembly and collusion against national security. In a trial beginning in December 2023, Afshari also advanced spurious charges of espionage and corruption on earth against Swedish diplomat Johan Floderus, whom Tehran had imprisoned in 2022. In reality, the regime and Afshari were apparently working together to use both men as bargaining chips to secure the release of a former Iranian official from a Swedish jail. Tehrans scheme succeeded. In June 2024, before Afshari could announce Floderuss sentence, Iran traded the two Swedes for Hamid Nouri, whom Stockholm had previously sentenced to life in prison for his role in Irans 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners. Afsharis victims are legion, and they deserve support from Washington. While U.S. sanctions are unlikely to exert any significant economic impact on Afshari, naming and shaming him would send a powerful message to the Iranian people that America stands with them in the face of severe domestic repression. Its long past time for the Biden administration to act. Tzvi Kahn is a research fellow and senior editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow him on X @TzviKahn. ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish forces have "neutralized" 22 "terrorists" in operations in northern Iraq and northern Syria, the country's Defense Ministry said on Friday. Twenty-one members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were "neutralized" in the Gara and Asos regions of northern Iraq, the ministry said in a statement, adding one more "terrorist" belonging to the PKK's Syrian branch, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), was killed in northern Syria's "Operation Euphrates Shield" region. The ministry did not specify the exact dates of the operations. The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along the Turkish border within the neighboring country. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/26/2024 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Annie Suwan and David Toborowsky have revealed the sex of their first child together."We are having a baby girl! So humbled by all the love and support that we've received throughout this journey with IVF," Annie and David said in a statement posted on 's official Instagram page."We really experienced taking the impossible to reality. I'm so happy I get to experience the feeling of being a mom. We are over the moon."The couple added, "We can't wait for the newest 90 Day arrival!"While Annie is "so happy" to become a mom, David already has two daughters, Ashley and Brittani, and a son Jacob from a previous relationship.Annie and David announced in early July that Annie is pregnant following an IVF journey.Annie had a successful embryo transfer procedure done on June 26, and she took to Instagram on July 5 to share her big news with the world."The test results said I'm pregnant !!!!" Annie wrote in her caption at the time, along with a handful of red heart and smiling emojis.In the video, Annie said, "Hi everyone! I just want to update you. I got the news. David just got an email [from the doctor]. Come on, tell them!"David proceeded to enter the room, showing off his phone."We got a phone call, and Annie is pregnant," David shared in the clip alongside an ecstatic and smiling Annie."Thank you all for the prayers, and your support has been overwhelming."Annie added, "Thank you everyone! Thank you so much. Thank you for your love and support. I can't wait... and keep sending prayers because I still need it. I'm so excited!"David also wrote in the comments of Annie's post, "I am so happy my love you are going to be an amazing Mom. I love so proud of you."David was a 48-year-old from Louisville, KY, and Annie was a 24-year-old from Bueng Kan, Thailand when she arrived in America on a K-1 visa.After originally appearing on Season 5 of , David and Annie -- who met in a bar in Thailand -- also returned for Season 3 of : Happily Ever After?.David struggled financially, especially when it came to impressing and receiving approval from Annie's parents. And despite allegations against David of substance abuse and infidelity, Annie still married him.In 2019, David was working a part-time job teaching English as a Second Language classes to adults in the Lexington area, but the couple was still living in an apartment above a storage facility owned by David's friend Chris that Annie hated.Once Annie received her travel and work permits after waiting over five months for her paperwork to be processed, she and David moved out of their apartment and began traveling the country and staying with family and friends.In August 2019, the couple -- who have also continued to make appearances on TLC's : Pillow Talk commentary show -- announced they had decided to settle in Arizona and were living in an apartment in Scottsdale.At the time, David was making money by teaching online classes.During a September 2020 episode of : Pillow Talk, David and Annie were shown celebrating their move to a new home in Fountain Hills, AZ.David and Annie then starred on two seasons of David & Annie: After the 90 Days, which aired from 2022 to 2023.The series showed the couple returning to Thailand to attempt to bring Annie's teenage brother Jordan and cousin Amber to America. It also documented David's weight-loss journey and the couple as they navigated marriage.Annie said in late 2022 that she and David try to stay positive during challenging times and have fun given "life is not easy.""Life is not perfect, [often] being too up and down," Annie explained at the time."But, you know, at the end of the day, I appreciate everybody who [has been] on my side no matter what I want to do, what I want to be and accept that the un-perfect part of myself and be my friend [or] my family and my husband."Annie officially became a U.S. citizen in February 2024.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/26/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Artem Chigvintsev has spoken out about his domestic violence arrest and estranged wife Nikki " Nikki Bella " Garcia's divorce filing.Artem, 42, was arrested on a felony domestic battery charge in Yountville, CA on August 29 and released on $25,000 bail that same day, but it's unclear whether Nikki was involved in the incident that led to Artem's arrest."I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped," Artem, 42, wrote via Instagram Stories on Wednesday.Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley shared on September 24 that charges will not be filed against Artem following a "thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA's Office," according to E! News."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," Haley added in her statement."If the available evidence doesn't rise to this level of proof, then we cannot ethically file charges."About two weeks after Artem's arrest, Nikki filed for divorce from Artem on September 12 and requested joint custody of their four-year-old son Matteo.Artem reportedly responded on September 13 by asking for joint legal and physical custody of Matteo, in addition to spousal support from Nikki."This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed," Artem continued in his Instagram statement.The former pro went on to explain how Matteo, who was born in July 2020, will remain his No. 1 priority going forward."My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo. He is my world, and being his father is the greatest blessing in my life," Artem wrote."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's lawyer Ilona Antonyan told Us Weekly that the pro dancer and choreographer was not the "primary aggressor" in the August domestic violence incident for which very few details have been publicly released."We can now focus on negotiating a shared 50/50 custody schedule. Fortunately, Artem has been able to spend time with Matteo almost every day since 8/29/2024 incident," Antonyan told the magazine on Wednesday."He is a very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent. My understanding of the facts surrounding the 8/29/24 incident have led me to believe that Artem was not the primary aggressor."Antonyan continued, "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."Antonyan added that Artem has a "strong support group of loving family and friends" by his side in the aftermath of Nikki's divorce filing."I am confident he will move forward from this situation with strength and dignity. Artem is fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex," Antonyan concluded."Divorce is never easy, but once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve."Napa Valley Sheriff PIO Henry Wofford told Us after Artem's arrest that the pro dancer was "not fighting or combative" with police and was taken into custody "without incident."While Artem was arrested on the grounds of allegedly injuring a spouse, cohabitant or fellow parent, officials have refused to confirm anything about the victim in question.The alleged victim reportedly "requested complete confidentiality" and so prosecutors will not be sharing details about the case. However, the case may be revisited if the court learns of other incidents or facts not previously known.Nikki's representative told Us the day after Artem's arrest, "This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."TMZ recently obtained a 911 dispatch recording in which Artem can be heard asking for medical attention after Nikki -- a former WWE wrestler under the name Nikki Bella -- allegedly threw shoes at him.However, Artem reportedly called the police back shortly afterward and said he no longer needed assistance.Nikki and Artem, who got married in 2022, were celebrating their second wedding anniversary in Napa just days before Artem was taken into custody.Nikki and Artem's relationship appeared to be thriving as recently as August 27, when Nikki gushed on Instagram, "I'll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast."Alongside a clip from their wedding day, Nikki continued, "And then this song ['Can't Help Falling in Love'] came on. And that's when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be."Artem, for his part, posted a carousel of photos from his wedding day, and he wrote alongside them, "Happy anniversary my love, can't see my life without you. You are my everything."Nikki and the pro dancer met when they were partnered together for ' 25th season in Fall 2017.At the time of Nikki's stint, she was engaged to her now ex-fiance John Cena However, after Nikki and John called it quits on their six-year romance in April 2018, Nikki began dating Artem and John seemed happy for them.The former Total Divas star and Artem were eliminated from during a double elimination on Season 25's Halloween-themed broadcast.Nikki announced her engagement to Artem in January 2020 after the pair had dated for less than one year. Artem popped the question in November 2019 during a trip to France.Artem and the former Total Bellas star then revealed they were expecting their first child together.Two years after Matteo's Summer 2020 birth, the couple tied the knot in France for a wedding special that aired on E!.Artem is not competing on ' currently-airing 33rd season, but he did make it to the finals and finish the reality dancing competition in fourth place with The Bachelorette alum Charity Lawson last season. Disney/Eric McCandless By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/26/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. pro Ezra Sosa has reacted to his celebrity partner Anna Delvey's "nothing" remarkEzra, 23, took to Instagram Stories on Wednesday and wrote of Anna's "nothing" comment, which has since gone viral, "I think she was referring to taking anything away 'physically.'"But earlier this week, Ezra suggested that Anna was taking a shot at and didn't really care how her remark would be perceived by the public."I knew she was going to say something very iconic and something very Anna Delvey with her exit," Ezra told Extra on Tuesday, September 24."Of course, she has to. It's very typical. We would expect nothing less of her."After Anna, a convicted felon, and reality TV star Tori Spelling were both eliminated during ' Season 33 episode on Tuesday night, Tori happily called her short-lived experience on the show "unbelievable."But when co-host Julianne Hough asked Anna to share her takeaway, Anna replied, "Nothing," as Ezra shook his head and smiled."There you have it! Absolutely nothing," Julianne said with a laugh, before host Alfonso Ribeiro quipped to Anna, "You had fun, stop it."But Ezra revealed to Extra that Anna was actually very kind and gracious to him behind the scenes.In fact, Anna allegedly felt guilty about Ezra's early ouster from his debut season."She honestly kept on apologizing to me," Ezra shared. "She felt super sorry that my first season was cut short."Ezra said he wishes that he and Anna could have "stayed longer" in the competition."I honestly wanted to stay longer for my partner. I really wanted to give her a chance to really grow on camera and let America really see who she really is," Ezra said.The pro dancer and choreographer insisted that Anna is actually "incredibly sweet" and so she's "misunderstood" in the eyes of viewers."I really tried my best to see her for the person she is outside the persona," Ezra added.But Anna has faced a lot of backlash and criticism for appearing on after spending time in jail.Former pro and guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy even called Anna "a professional liar" and a flat out "sh-tty dancer" who doesn't really deserve anyone's respect.According to a TikTok video Ezra posted earlier this week, he found Anna crying in the bathroom and it "broke [his] heart" to see that."Anna is a tough cookie, so seeing her in that state really shocked me and made me sad. In that moment, I just grabbed her hands and told her, 'When you are in the competition with me, whatever you are going through, I am going through with you,'" Ezra recalled.When looking back on his self-described "memorable" experience on , Ezra wrote on Instagram how he feels the "deepest gratitude" to Anna."Yes, she's been controversial," he wrote, "but working with her gave me the chance to see a different side -- one filled with her hard work, determination, and resilience."Ezra went on to thank the family as well as friends and fans."[Anna], I want to thank you for dancing with me and for opening up. You allowed me to see a side of you that not many have, and I'm grateful for that," Ezra concluded in his post."I truly hope that one day, America gets to meet that side of you too. They will love her just as much as I do. Wishing you the best and can't wait to hangout and make TikToks soon. xx #dwts."The day after Anna's departure from in the special double elimination, Anna appeared to stand by her cutting comment when she reposted praise from her friend and publicist Kelly Cutrone via Instagram Stories."Loving the real of @theannadelvey. I could give 2 fks flex," Kelly wrote on Wednesday.Maksim didn't hesitate to slam Anna when discussing her casting on the September 23 episode of the "TMZ Podcast.""If you want an ankle [bracelet] and sort of this, 'Damn, this is going to draw attention,' and the scandalousness of it all -- I mean, man, there's so many other people you can choose from," Maksim complained.Maksim confessed he was "absolutely not" a fan of Anna and he couldn't believe a word that she said.Maksim went on to critique Anna's first cha cha performance with Ezra for which she had bedazzled her ankle monitor."She wasn't great. She was very kind of standoffish in a lot of things," Maksim explained."You can blame the nerves and say, 'Hey, everybody's human and this person is not used to that stage.' Bullsh-t. Hold on a second -- didn't she con people into believing she was, like, fully fashion this and special like that?"Maksim said fooling the world "takes a lot of guts" and so he wasn't buying that Anna was "nervous" to be on TV either."She's just a sh-tty dancer, and her personality is not really going to help her in this competition," Maksim said.When asked to share how many weeks he thought Anna would remain in the competition, Maksim responded, "I don't care."The pro dancer and dad admitted, "She's not somebody I'd tune in to watch. I feel for [Ezra], he's got an uphill climb -- just even the dancing part of it."Maksim concluded, "You're going to have to do a lot more to win somebody like me over after everything that you were accused of. But now you get to [serve] your time by bedazzling your ankle brace and being on national TV? I'm not about that."On ' premiere , Anna had chosen "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter as her anthem. She and Ezra ended up in a three-way tie for eighth place on the judges' leaderboard after receiving a total of 18 out 30 possible points from Derek Hough Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli Following their performance, Carrie Ann asked viewers to give Anna a chance because she could tell the studio audience wasn't very supportive or receptive of her.Anna was arrested in 2017 and indicted on multiple counts of grand larceny and misdemeanor theft.Anna was released from prison on parole in 2021. Her story about fraudulently posing as a wealthy German heiress was developed into the 2022 miniseries Inventing Anna on Netflix.On ' latest broadcast, Anna and Ezra only received 17 points for their quickstep performance to "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall. BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, on Friday claimed responsibility for several drone and missile attacks on Israeli targets. The group said in separate statements that its fighters fired at dawn an al-Arqab upgraded cruise missile at a vital Israeli site in the "occupied (Palestinian) territories" and launched two drone attacks on two other sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The statements did not provide further details about the attacked sites or report any casualties. Since the onset of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has executed numerous attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets in the region to support Palestinians in Gaza. The group escalated its attacks on Israel following the recent flare-up between Israel and Hezbollah. Georgia Power is warning that Hurricane Helene is expected to bring strong rains, hail and excessive lightning across the state Thursday through Friday. This weather may cause power outages. In case this happens, the University of Georgia Enterprise Information Technology Services suggests following these tips. As an English and journalism double major at the University of Georgia, Ive read my fair share of controversial and interesting texts for various courses. I was even more shocked to discover that some of the books Ive read have found their spots on the ALAs banned and challenged books list. In honor of last weeks celebration, I decided to compile a list of my top five banned and challenged titles. Following up on the Texas Roadhouse donations to the Barrow Community Foundation, the restaurant located in Athens donated $3,000 towards the organization from their fundraiser that took place from 3-10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23. In total, locations across Georgia raised $48,000 for the cause. Concerned over the fallout of the Red Sea crisis and severe shortage of containers against the backdrop of a steep decline in merchandise exports in August, the Union government is pulling out all the stops to find a solution. Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters To begin with, the government has devised a strategy aimed at boosting container supply and supporting exporters. An inter-ministerial meeting chaired by trade minister Piyush Goyal decided that the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will start operating a large container ship and purchase five additional second-hand container vessels apart from reducing loading and handling cost of empty containers by the Container Corporation of India (Concor). A simultaneous container scanning will also begin at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) for faster clearances and reduction in turnaround time. "I am confident that it (decisions taken today) will result in bringing down the shipping cost, improve the availability of empty containers, help faster evacuation of export consignments, and significantly reduce the congestion at ports", Goyal told reporters during a briefing. Average price cargo-worthy container up sharply in September. The meeting, chaired by Goyal, was attended by officials from shipping, railways, civil aviation, finance and commerce & industry. One of the major issues that was pointed out was that foreign shipping lines are not giving us slots. So one problem we have been facing is the lack of Indian container lines. Now SCI has started this ship and we will operate it regularly. Every three-four days we will be able to use it. SCI will purchase containers on a regular basis, then the stock of containers available with SCI will increase and therefore handling capacity will also increase, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Secretary TK Ramachandran told reporters. The next meeting, scheduled for October, will review and assess the impact of the latest decisions. Industry officials expect these decisions to show results in two to three months. The top level meeting comes within days of the commerce ministry data showing 9.3 per cent contraction of merchandise exports in August. Earlier, the fresh attacks by Houthi rebels at the Red Sea resulted in diversion of ships to longer routes. The impending tariff hikes by the US on a host of Chinese products have also caused frontloading of shipments by China, adding to the container shortage for other countries. The average price of a cargo-worthy 20 ft container in India rose to $1,113 in September from $1,010 in August, according to Container XChange, an online container leasing platform. While average prices for 40 ft high cube cargo-worthy containers ranged between $1200-$1500 across major Indian ports like Mundra, Nhava Sheva, and Chennai in the June quarter, these prices have surged to an average of $2000 - $2600 in August, reflecting sustained demand and capacity constraints. Aniket Dani, director, research at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, explained that there's a global shortage of containers, mainly due to the logistical inefficiencies like port congestion in South-East Asia and Red Sea disruption. Consequently, freighters must take a detour and opt for a longer route around the Cape of Good Hope. This detour has increased not only the shipping costs but also delivery time, further exacerbating the challenges, Dani said. Addition of new vessels is expected to reduce the time for exports and raise the container capacity by 10-12 per cent. Currently, India's container capacity is 40,000-45,000 TEU. Officials from the Railway Board and CONCOR said that empty containers can now be stored at the yard at zero cost for 90 days. The charges of Rs 3,000, that is being levied beyond 90 days, are now halved to Rs 1,500. Further, the storage and handling rates will be reduced for containers from Rs 9,000 to Rs 2,000 (for a 40 ft container) and from Rs 6,000 to Rs 1,000 (for a 20 ft container). That apart, shipping lines assured that all charges such as container transportation and lift-on-lift-off at yards would be embedded in the delivery order given to shippers. Goyal said that he expects shipping and transportation costs for Indian exports to fall over the next few months. Prominent ports such as Adani-owned Mundra Port have been experiencing major backlogs, sector watchers say. Ajay Sahai, director general and chief executive officer at the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), however, said that there is no shortage of containers per se, but a specific variety of container may be in short supply. The real problem is lack of space on the ship because of which there's a perception of container shortage because once the shipping line allocates space, they can allocate containers, Sahai said. According to Delhi-based think tank GTRI, India can lower its risk of global supply chain disruptions by boosting domestic container production, encouraging the use of locally made containers, and increasing the use of Indian shipping companies for transporting goods. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) may extend the deadline to whitelist URLs (Uniform Resource Locators), APKs (Android Package Kit), or OTT (Over The Top) links through which it intends to curb their misuse is likely to be extended by 30 days as only over 3,000 registered senders (businesses) have complied, officials indicated. According to Trai officials, over 3,000 registered senders have whitelisted more than 70,000 links, but many more (thousands of others) are yet to comply with the directive as the mandatory norms are set to come into effect from October 1. As a result, the order may be postponed by another 30 days, Trai officials indicated to Business Standard on Wednesday. The telecom regulator had mandated the whitelisting, or registration, of internet links, APKs, and call back numbers sent through text messages by September 1, which was extended by a month. An URL is essentially the link for a website, or the address of a unique resource on the internet while an APK is an executable file that contains all the data needed to install and run an Android App. On Thursday, TRAI again asked the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCOR) which includes the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), various sector regulators, and government agencies to implement the mandatory whitelisting by October 1. The decision is billed to have a major impact on curbing spam, and potential frauds given that many users unknowingly click on links which act as phishing tools for data hackers. But it has also sparked concerns that consumers of banks, financial institutions, and e-commerce companies may face interruptions in receiving service and transactional messages and especially One Time Passwords (OTPs). At present, the telcos get the headers and the templates from the businesses. However, now they will also require the content to be submitted. This will then be verified by the telcos and only then will be sent to the customers. 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. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters 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. "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. A Singapore court on Thursday granted a four-month moratorium to Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX, a period which the embattled firm will use to restructure its business without worrying about legal proceedings. IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Alesia Kozik/Pexels.com A moratorium offers applicant temporary relief from legal proceedings. WazirX, Indias biggest crypto exchange, suffered a major hacking attack in July this year losing close to $230 million. Since then, it has been trying to deal with the crisis. It had asked for a six-month moratorium, but the Singapore court gave it four months. And with conditions. The crypto exchange is required to make wallet addresses public via a court affidavit, respond to user queries raised in the courtroom, release financial information, and ensure future voting for court applications is scrutinised by independent parties. We are thankful for the courts decision, which allows us to focus on our path to resolution, recovery and restructuring, said Nischal Shetty, co-founder, WazirX. Zettai, which operates WazirX in India has an overseas jurisdiction in Singapore. Following the heist, the company approached a Singapore court for restructuring on August 23. Earlier this month, WazirX had said customers affected by the cyberattack will not be able to recover their full funds even as the firm looks to restructure. At a virtual press conference earlier this month, the firms advisors had explained that the company might look to return 55-57 per cent of the capital. The crypto exchange platform said it was restructuring and as part of that it was looking for a white knight to provide capital and pursue partnership and collaboration. This entails implementation of revenue-generating products and mechanisms to share profit with users, tracing and recovering stolen crypto assets, and/or allowing users who need liquidity urgently to withdraw crypto assets more quickly and exit restructuring. The company had blamed its third party wallet service provider Liminal Custody for the security breach. Liminal has denied the charge. 'Will President Dissanayake calibrate his foreign policy taking into account India's immediate security concerns? We need to watch.' IMAGE: Anura Kumara Dissanayake takes oath as the 9th executive president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presence of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the presidential secretariat, Colombo, September 23, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy Anura Kumara Dissanayake/X "There are several ways how the Chinese capture the political elites in society, and the JVP is already inclined towards China. Therefore, I'm 100% certain that India is concerned," says Asanga Abeyagoonasekera author of Teardrop Diplomacy, China's Sri Lanka Foray, and three other books on Sri Lanka. Abeyagoonasekera is a security, geopolitical analyst and strategic advisor from Sri Lanka. He is a senior fellow and executive director of the South Asia Foresight Network at the Millennium Project in Washington DC, and a technical advisor to the International Monetary Fund where he contributed to Sri Lanka's IMF Governance Diagnostic Report 2023. In a phone interview with Rediff.com's Archana Masih from Washington, DC, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera discusses the Dissanayake-led JVP's Marxist ideological inclination towards China and what it means for India. Part I of a multi-part interview: Indian observers are wary of President Dissanayake's ideological origins and suspect he will lean more towards China than even the Rajapaksas. Do you see this presidency becoming hostile towards India? That is a factor that we will have to see in the months to come. Dissanayake comes from a Marxist-leaning party which means it has a close connection to China. In the past, his party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, JVP, has stood against Indian policy. They took up arms against the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1988 because they saw it as a threat to the sovereignty of the country. They have projected India as a huge threat in the past. I hope he will navigate through these challenges because this is a different era and we are not in the 1980s any more. India's security concerns must be understood by this leadership. The JVP maintains that it has taken a reformist turn and has moved away from the past. Anura Kumar has said that he would execute a balanced policy, but the concern is that during his campaign he spoke about cancelling a major Indian project, the Adani wind power project. That's not a good sign. The JVP has concerns about transparency and the process that was followed to sign that agreement. We have highlighted in our report that the process can always be corrected rather than scrapping the project. Previous regimes have also suspended and reinstated certain projects which have resulted in a loss for Sri Lanka. In the past Sri Lanka has received political funding from countries which has come in the way of adopting a balanced foreign policy. A good example was Gotabaya Rajapaksa'S statement that Sri Lankans need to move out of the existing market-oriented model, and move closer to a Chinese development model. I have highlighted this in my book that this is a danger point because it means moving away from liberal, democratic values. There's a huge concern because of this past orientation. For example, there's a moratorium on Chinese research vessels in Sri Lanka. Will Dissanayake continue with that, or not -- is to be seen. Will he calibrate his foreign policy taking into account India's immediate security concerns? We need to watch. IMAGE: India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha called on Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake soon after his election, September 22, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy India in Sri Lanka/X Does he want the Adani project to be cancelled because he wants to portray himself as the custodian of Sri Lankan national interest? The JVP's stance towards such foreign projects comes from the Marxist ideology that we can do everything ourselves and don't need assistance. This is an inward looking approach. The danger lies in Sri Lanka moving towards subsidisation and a closed economy like it was in the 1970s. Some of their comments indicate a renegotiation on the IMF terms. Sri Lanka is not in a position to do these experiments. IMAGE: The Indian Navy's INS Mumbai in Colombo, September 1, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Does India have to be concerned about the new president and his policies, especially towards China? Of course, China is the main concern and it has been documented in many research reports as well. How Dissanayake navigates China is going to be a concern for India because of India's own security interests. Former presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena are clear indications of that failure. They followed a China-tilted policy towards the latter part of their presidencies. They started with India and ended with China -- that's what I say in my book Teardrop Diplomacy, China's Sri Lanka Foray. There are several ways how the Chinese capture the political elites in society, and the JVP is already inclined towards China. Therefore, I'm 100% certain that India is concerned, but India probably is looking at the positive things, like their new reformist agenda and liberal values. On hearing Dissanayake's comments about the cancellation of the Adani project, few of our researchers did see a pattern similar to the India Out campaign in Maldives and Bangladesh which started in a similar manner. There is a possibility of such a campaign happening in Sri Lanka in the long run and we have to keep an eye out for that, but we'll be able to give a clear picture after the general election. Part 2 of the Interview: 'Cancelling Adani Project Not Good Sign' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'The other panelists (Praniti Shinde and Priyanka Chaturvedi) were misbehaving with me.' 'Despite that I kept quiet because I have witnessed many such scenes in the 25 years of my public life and debates.' 'Amid all the ruckus, when I heard Praniti calling me out for 'cheap behaviour' I couldn't take such misbehaviour anymore.' IMAGE: A screen grab of the video of the India Today conclave debate shows Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam, third from left, along with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, India Today's Preeti Choudhry, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar and Congress MP Praniti Shinde. Photograph: Screen grab of the video from X Former Shiv Sena and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam, who has now joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, explains why he got agitated during the India Today conclave debate where he had heated arguments with Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray's Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and the Congress's Solapur Lok Sabha MP Praniti Shinde. The clip of the video (external link to X) where Nirupam is seen walking up to the anchor and the two women MPs has since gone viral on social media and Nirupam is being trolled for showing disrespect to women. "I believe that in a democracy every individual has the right to express herself fearlessly and without being heckled. I believe in getting the same treatment when I am speaking," Nirupam tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com. What happened at the India Today conclave? You were seen leaving your seat and moving towards Priyanka Chaturvedi and Praniti Shinde and having a heated argument with them? Nothing big happened. It was a debate and everybody wanted to express their views. Wasn't it bad optics for you? Social media is abuzz that you were disrespecting the women MPs. I did not show any disrespect towards anybody. My only contention was that I would rather walk out if some fellow panelist felt that my behaviour was 'cheap'. Is there anything wrong in what I said? You were seen getting up from your seat and moving towards them... No. That is not what happened. That is what one can see in the video that has now gone viral on social media... I was seated, but when there was a ruckus being created I went to the anchor (India Today editor Preeti Choudhry) and said 'If my behaviour is so cheap, I'd rather walk out.' What upset you? There was nothing much in what happened. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to make it an issue. It has already become an issue with many social media handles levelling the charge that you misbehaved with and disrespected Praniti Shinde and Priyanka Chaturvedi, As I see it, we were having a debate and I was expressing my point which they were objecting to. First, Priyanka Chaturvedi objected; she did not let me speak. Then the anchor asked me to sit next to Sahil (Joshi, one of the India Today editors who were on the dais) and I sat next to him. After this, I was being called out for cheap behaviour to which I objected to because I did not indulge in any such behaviour. On the contrary, I was being heckled when I was trying to put forth my views. If I was indulging in cheap behaviour, then I didn't deserve to be there. So, I decided that I should walk out. For me it is not a big deal because such heated exchanges are quite normal and one has to understand that everybody on the stage is trying to express their views through such heated exchanges. In a live democracy, each one of us has the right to freely express ourselves. Do you regret that you should not have stood up from your seat and walked towards the anchor and the two MPs even as you made your point to walk out? This is what everybody is objecting to... Is it written somewhere that I cannot stand up from my seat and speak to the anchor during a live debate? If I am sitting across at some distance and I get to repetitively hear that my behaviour is cheap, then I have all the right to walk towards the anchor, who invited me to this debate, that I'd rather walk out if somebody has any problem with what I am saying. One can clearly see in the video that first you walked towards the anchor and then towards Praniti Shinde and later towards Priyanka Chaturvedi and gesticulated at her even as you exchanged a few heated words with her... you looked quite worked up If I were to keep repeatedly haranguing you that you are indulging in cheap behaviour, then you would also get worked up. Wasn't this the first time you got so agitated and worked up during a live debate? Let me apologise to you because you saw me so agitated during a debate for the first time. Would you like to say anything to the two women MPs who felt that you misbehaved with them? These things are routine. Mutual respect for each other is very important and I respect both Priyanka Chaturvedi and Praniti Shinde. They should also respect their seniors and I have never ever insulted any woman. I strongly believe in respecting women. That is my culture, our culture, and I have breathed in that culture all my life. During any debate there is limited time for every panelist in which he or she has to express their views. Having a heated argument is not tantamount to insulting somebody. Do you regret that you should not have stood up from your seat and walked up to the two women MPs? How can standing up from my seat be seen as disrespect for somebody? If I stand up and walk towards the anchor because she was also sitting in that direction then how does it become disrespecting somebody. Praniti toh mere liye beti ki tarah hai (Praniti is like a daughter to me). Sushilkumar Shinde mere dost hai aur woh unki beti hai. Agar aap apne pitaji ki umr ki kisi vyakti ke liye kah rahi hai ki woh cheap behaviour hai toh woh mere liye sharmnak hai (Sushilkumar Shinde is my a friend and Praniti is his daughter. If you are charging someone your father's age that he is indulging in cheap behaviour then it is very shameful for me). I was just expressing an argument and putting forth an argument in a debate cannot be equated with cheap behaviour. When you were making your point and walked towards the anchor and Praniti Shinde, Priyanka Chaturvedi was heard telling you 'We all know how good your behaviour is', that you don't respect women and that your voice was raised and you were wagging your hands... This kind of words can always be used (to malign somebody). I didn't stop anybody from making their point. I was heckled while I was speaking. If you are going to disallow me to speak then I am going to retaliate. Is this -- disallowing somebody from making his point -- not disrespect? Did I stop anybody from speaking? I didn't. I believe that in a democracy every individual has the right to express herself fearlessly and without being heckled. I believe in getting the same treatment when I am speaking. The two anchors, who were also visibly disturbed because of my heckling, are witness to it. Both the anchors were saying that I should be allowed to speak. Then I was asked to change my seat and sit next to Sahil Joshi, which I did without politely. If you look at it objectivelym then I was being misbehaved with. When I am not allowed to speak up without being shouted at then I am being misbehaved with. The other panelists (Shinde and Chaturvedi) were misbehaving with me. Despite that I kept quiet because I have witnessed many such scenes in the 25 years of my public life and debates. You can put forward your point, and then you can either agree or disagree with my point of view and put forward your arguments, but why should I not be allowed to speak without any heckling? I was already hurt with this behaviour. To top it all, amid all the ruckus, when I heard Praniti calling me out for 'cheap behaviour' I couldn't take such misbehaviour anymore and couldn't hold myself back. I then decided to stand up, walk up to the anchor and told her that I'd rather walk out of the debate. My point was if they thought I was indulging in cheap behaviour then I didn't deserve to be there. I should walk out from there. Do you regret that whatever happened during that debate should not have happened the way it happened? India is a democratic country and in this democratic set up everybody has the right to express their views freely. When each one of us express our views passionately such sparks are only natural to fly. We must accept it gracefully. Was your behaviour graceful to walk up to the anchor, to the two women MPs and say that you would rather walk out? You are now trying to act smart as well as speak like a fool. I have already told you at least three times that I walked up to the anchor. Is it a sin or crime to stand up from one's seat and walk towards the anchor? Was I going to attack anybody? So, you don't think that you charged at them? I have told you more than 10 times now I stood up and walked up towards the anchor to tell her that I was feeling like walking out if somebody felt that my behaviour was cheap. But you have been asking me the same question again and again. What's the point of asking me the same question again and again? Do you have an agenda? Will I not lose my temper, if you ask me the same question sixth time, after having already answered the same question five times before? I am also a human being. I am not god. What's the point of so much heckling? I have myself worked as a journalist for 25 years; I have edited a very popular newspaper (Dopahar Ka Saamna). I would never heckle anybody. You have a right to ask question. You must ask questions. That is the duty of a journalist. My duty is to answer your questions. To end this interview, let me reiterate my points: I take it gracefully when heated debates take place. That is not a big deal. I believe in respecting women and I have always respected women. I was being intimidated by the two women MP fellow panelists When I was being heckled and asked to take another seat I did that politely, but after that when I was charged with 'cheap behaviour' I got hurt. I have a right to get hurt and at that very moment I got up from my seat, walked up to the anchor and told her that I would rather leave the debate if somebody felt my behaviour is cheap and I don't deserve to be on the stage. Did you speak with Praniti Shinde and Priyanka Chaturvedi after the debate got over? No. I was very hungry so I went straight to eat food. And since it were raining heavily and I was worried it would take me another 90 minutes to reach home; I decided to go home and have my food. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to support Cyprus in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. China and Cyprus should work together to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, closely coordinate and cooperate on multilateral occasions, and safeguard multilateralism and international fairness and justice, Wang said. For his part, Christodoulides said that Cyprus is committed to deepening cooperation with China and firmly upholds the one-China principle. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Balmukund Acharya performed a "purification ceremony" at the municipal corporation here to convert Congress councillors who crossed over to his party into "Sanatanis" and cleanse the civic body of "corruption". IMAGE: BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya. Photograph: @BMacharyaBJP/X Acharya, who is also the mahant of the Hathoj Dham temple, said 'Gangajal' and 'gaumutra' was sprinkled on officials and councillors of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage (JMCH) as part of the ceremony on Wednesday since they were had been forced to "indulge in corruption". The move follows the ousting of former JMCH Mayor Munesh Gurjar, who was removed after facing allegations of corruption. In her place, the BJP appointed as the mayor Kusum Yadav who received support from seven Congress councillors and one independent. All eight councillors have joined the BJP. Before Yadav formally assumed office at the JMCH office on Wednesday, the BJP MLA performed the "purification ceremony" for the councillors, and officials. "We have purified the corporation with 'Gangajal', removing all impurities," said Acharya, who led the ceremony with Vedic mantras and chants. "Now, with the new mayor taking charge, we will work in an environment of purity," he said. During the ceremony, Acharya sprinkled a mix of 'Gangajal' and gaumutra on the Congress councillors who joined the BJP, claiming that this transformed them into "Sanatanis". "They have been cleansed of any impurity or corruption," Acharya said. The BJP leader said even the the officials of the municipal corporation were subjected to the purification process as "they were under the influence of impurity" and were "forced to indulge in corruption". "But now, after this ceremony, they have been cleansed and will work with honesty and integrity," Acharya said. The unusual ceremony raised some eyebrows, but the councillors who made the switch to BJP said the ceremony was intended to rid the corporation of corruption and negativity. "It's a normal practice in Hindu culture to use 'Gangajal' and 'gaumutra' for purification," councillor Manoj Mudgal said. Paras Jain, another councillor, echoed the sentiment, adding, "Acharya ji was performing a ritual to cleanse the office of corruption." Councillor Sushila Devi clarified that the intention was not to label anyone as corrupt. "He was purifying the entire premises, not just us," Devi said. Acharya, speaking to reporters, emphasised that the ceremony symbolised a new beginning for the JMCH. "From today, this corporation is corruption-free," he claimed. Reacting to the "purification ceremony", Congress state general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said that it is strange that all those who defect from the Congress to join the BJP "get absolved of all their sins". "BJP leaders in the state and Centre first accuse Congress leaders of corruption. They are threatened by the investigating agencies like ED, IT and CBI, but when they join the BJP they get absolved of their crimes," Chaturvedi said. Poet, writer and former IPS officer Keki N Daruwalla, whose magic with words gained him national and international repute, has died at a Delhi hospital after prolonged illness and a spell of pneumonia. He was 87. IMAGE: Keki N Daruwalla. Photograph: ANI Photo Daruwalla, one of India's best known writers in English, died on Thursday night. "He had a stroke a year ago and hadn't been keeping well since. There were stroke related complications. But it wasn't a stroke this time, he basically died of pneumonia," his daughter Anaheita Kapadia told PTI. Daruwalla, also known for his short stories, is survived by Anaheita and his other daughter Rookvain, sons-in-law and four grandchildren. Born in Lahore in 1937, Daruwalla studied at Government College in Ludhiana. He joined the Indian Police Services (Uttar Pradesh cadre) in 1958 and rose through the ranks to becoming special assistant on international affairs to then prime minister Charan Singh. He later joined the Research and Analysis Wing where he was promoted to the rank of secretary, R&AW. Even though he led a successful career in police and later at R&AW, it was his literary acumen that was most recognised. Daruwalla's first book of poetry, Under Orion, was published in 1970. Two years later, he received the Uttar Pradesh state award for his second book, Apparition in April. He also won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984 for his poetry collection, The Keeper of the Dead, which he returned in October 2015 in protest against Sahitya Akademi's failure 'to speak out against ideological collectives that have used physical violence against authors'. Daruwalla was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2014. His latest book of poetry, Landfall: Poems, was published in 2023. Earlier this year, the Sahitya Akademi published A House of Words- Festschrift: In Honour of Keki N Daruwalla to celebrate a life dedicated to the written word. Messages of condolence poured in on X as writers and readers paid homage to the poet for the 'uncompromising truthfulness of his words' and 'the most intense visually dramatic and fascinating poetry'. Writer Namita Gokhale saluted Daruwalla for the 'tenderness of his vision'. '...for the unrelenting, uncompromising truthfulness of his words, for the creative genius of his imagination,' Gokhale said. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh aremembered Daruwalla as a 'man of great compassion and empathy'. 'Keki Daruwalla, one of the most delightful persons I have known, has just passed away. He was a distinguished IPS officer of the 1958 batch and had spent much time in India's intelligence establishment, including R&AW. 'Keki was also a very well known poet and fiction writer. He had won prestigious awards for his works, which have been translated into different languages. Tremendously witty and always with a smile, he spoke truth to power at all times. A man of great compassion and empathy, he reflected all that is noble in our syncretic culture,' Ramesh said. Rajya Sabha MP and author Sagarika Ghose said Daruwalla was an old friend of the family who wrote the 'most intense visually dramatic and fascinating poetry and was at the same time a policeman and a RAW officer! Who says cops don't make great poets?' Some also remembered Daruwalla's short story collection Love Across the Salt Desert that 'overturned the tragedy of Laila-Majnu'. 'I'm not very familiar with Keki N. Daruwalla's poetry, but I fondly recollect our excitement when Love Across the Salt Desert was taught in the English course at school (CBSE, early 80s, Assam). Najab taking Fatemah home as it rained, overturned the tragedy of Laila-Majnu. RIP,' Manash Firaq wrote in a post. Historian Samyak Ghosh said the story made him think about 'borderlands as a distinct place'. 'I was in 9th standard when I read an exquisite story about border crossers in the Rann of Kutch. It made me think about borderlands as a distinct place, always made in difference. An early lesson that I remain indebted to. Rest in power, Keki N. Daruwalla,' Ghosh said. Writer Nilanjana Roy shared a few lines from Daruwalla's poem Notes From Underground. 'I think I am at peace now,/he said, for my dreams/move like the thinnest/veil of mist over water.' ~ Keki Daruwalla, Notes from the Underground. (24 January 1937 - 27 September 2024). Go gently, and thank you for the words, the heart, that conscience,' Roy posted on X. In a significant blow to Hezbollah, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of Muhammad Hussein Srour, Commander of the organisation's Aerial Command, in a precision airstrike in Beirut. IMAGE: Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon September 26, 2024. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, "Eliminated: Commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command, Muhammad Hussein Srour, in a precise IAF strike in Beirut." The IDF further said that Srour was responsible for advancing numerous aerial terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians. "Srour advanced and directed numerous aerial terrorist attacks aimed at Israeli civilians. During the "Iron Swords" war, he executed several terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers using UAVs and explosive devices," the post said. "In recent years, Srour led the manufacturing project of UAVs in southern Lebanon and established UAV manufacturing and intelligence gathering sites in Lebanon, located adjacent to civilian infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon," the post added. The IDF also said that Srour's role extended to the commander of the surface-to-air missile unit, as well as the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force. It said, "He was also the commander in the surface-to-air missile unit, commander in the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force and Hezbollah's emissary to Yemen and the Houthi terrorist regime's Aerial Command." Meanwhile, amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, the United States has called for a 21 day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent an escalation of war and give diplomacy a chance there and in Gaza. Voicing their support for this plan are US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III, British Defence Secretary John Healey, and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who met in London on Thursday at the AUKUS defense ministerial meeting, the Pentagon said in a press release. "The situation in Lebanon and northern Israel is deeply troubling. Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, began firing rockets into Israel in an unprovoked attack the day after the October 7, 2023, terrorist assault by Hamas, Austin said. "Hezbollah has not stopped since. Like any other state, Israel has a right to defend itself. And almost a year later, tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese civilians still cannot safely return home, and we now face the risk of an all-out war, another full-scale war, which could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, he added. Austin further said that 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," he said. Calling for an immediate ceasefire, Austin said, "An immediate 21-day ceasefire will provide time for the diplomacy needed to achieve a durable arrangement that will allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes. This time can also be used to conclude and implement a deal to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and to bring all of the hostages home." Opposition YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said he has indefinitely postponed his planned trip to the Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara Temple, coming in the midst of the Laddu controversy, while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said no one stopped the opposition leader from visiting the shrine. IMAGE: Sanskriti Bachao Manch supporters protest against Andhra Pradesh ex-CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over the alleged use of 'Animal Fat' in the preparation of laddoos (prasad) of Tirupati Balaji temple, in Bhopal, September 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Jagan's decision came amid growing demand by NDA allies in Andhra Pradesh to declare his faith before entering the temple. Reacting to Reddy's decision, Naidu, while maintaining that no person is above traditions and customs, also said no one prevented the former CM from going to the temple. All he was asked, was to follow temple rules. The former CM's much hyped Tirumala tour was announced as part of the YSRCP's call for prayers in temples to atone for Telugu Desam Party supremo Naidu's 'sin' through his allegations on the quality of Tirupati laddus. Addressing a press conference, Jagan said he could not go to Tirupati as his party leaders and workers were issued notices by police warning them not to participate in his temple visit. Hours after Jagan's announcement, Naidu in a press conference appealed that every visitor to Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple must follow the rules and refrain from hurting devotees' sentiments. According to rules, non-Hindu pilgrims should declare their reverence for Lord Venkateswara to have a darshan of the presiding deity at the hill shrine. They, requesting the temple authority to give permission for admission, should declare their religion on a printed form available at the temple. Dubbing Chandrababu Naidu's rule as "Rakshasa Rajyam" (kingdom of demons), Jagan also attacked BJP for turning a blind eye on the laddu issue. Naidu had last week alleged the use of substandard ghee and presence of animal fat in the famous Tirupati laddus during the previous YSRCP regime. Jagan reiterated the ghee which was rejected by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on account of quality issues was never used in making the Laddu Prasadam (consecrated food, sweet in this case). "On one side, all our people are being issued notices threatening that they (police) will file cases. On the other side they are bringing BJP people from the neighbouring state to create a law and order problem and a religious issue to cover up Chandrababu's misdeed," he said. "As a person who respects and loves Venkateswara Swamy, I do not want to go there and divert the topic. So I am postponing my tour," he said without announcing any fresh date of the visit. Dismissing Jagan's allegations, Naidu said he does not know for what reason the opposition leader had to avoid his Tirumala tour. "He was saying as if he was prevented and issued notices. I am asking you directly--have you been given any notices? Did anybody ask you not to go there?," the CM asked. Further, the CM said Jagan's stand of him having earlier visited the Tirumala shrine by not 'signing the declaration' form affirming his faith in the presiding deity does not entitle him to repeat it. Naidu further said there were reports that YSRCP was spreading information to mobilise people for Jagan's visit, forcing police to clampdown restrictions. "Traditions and customs should be respected. No person is greater than the traditions and customs," he asserte. Earlier, sources close to Jagan Mohan Reddy said he had cancelled his scheduled Tirumala temple plan. Reddy said everyone in the country knows his religion and he has visited Tirumala temple several times even before becoming the CM. "They are saying I cannot go to Tirupati because of my religion. They are asking what my religion is. My religion is humanity. If you want to write it in the declaration, write it," he said. He said though he reads the Bible within four walls, he respects Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. He said TV channels were showing thousands of police personnel being deployed in Tirupati to prevent his leaders from going to the temple. "In order to divert the failures of his (Chandrababu Naidu) 100 days rule and to divert attention, Chandrababu Naidu brought up the Laddu issue. To cover up his failures on the Laddu issue, he came up with the faith declaration issue. He intentionally planted seeds of doubts on the Laddu quality," Reddy said. "I had the opportunity to offer silk robes to Lord Venkateswara Swamy for five years (while as CM). I can understand it. It is not my first time (Tirumala visit)," he said. According to the earlier itinerary of Reddy's two-day visit to Tirumala, the former CM was supposed to depart from Gannavaram Airport for Renigunta at 4 pm on Friday and from there to Tirumala and visit the temple on Saturday morning. National Democratic Alliance constituents--ruling TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been raising the faith declaration issue, vis-a-vis Jagan over the past two days. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has denied having an "India Out" agenda, asserting that the island nation had a "serious problem" with the presence of foreign military on its soil. IMAGE: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Photograph: Maldivian President's Office on Facebook Muizzu, who is in the United States to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, made the remarks on Thursday while responding to a question at Princeton University's Dean's Leadership Series. "We have never been against any one country at any point. It's not India Out. Maldives faced a serious problem with foreign military presence on this soil," Maldivian news portal adhadhu.com quoted him as saying. "The people of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country," Muizzu said. The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since November last year when Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge as Maldivian president. Muizzu had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms gifted by the country. India withdrew its military personnel by May 10 and replaced them with civilian personnel to operate a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters. Muizzu further stressed he had taken action against deputy ministers for insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. "No one should say such a thing. I took action against it. I will not accept insulting anyone like that, whether he is a leader or an ordinary person. Every human being has a reputation," the report quoted him as saying. Earlier this year, deputy ministers in Maldives' youth ministry were suspended for derogatory social media posts against Prime Minister Modi following a backlash, with New Delhi strongly raising the matter with Male. The deputy ministers criticised Modi for his post on 'X' following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. Prime Minister Modi was in Lakshadweep on January 2 and 3 to inaugurate several projects. Turkish President Recap Tayyip Erdogan did not mention Kashmir in his address at the United Nations General Assembly this year, the first time he has skipped the issues since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. IMAGE: Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US on September 24, 2024. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters The focus of his 35-minute speech this year was the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 40,000 people have died in Israeli attacks against Hamas. After India scrapped the special status Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed under the Constitution in 2019, Erdogan has referred to Kashmir every year in his address to world leaders at the UNGA session in New York, while advocating talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. This time, on September 24, Erdogan drew the international community's attention to the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, accusing the UN of failing to stop the deaths of civilians. "The world is bigger than five," he repeated his well-known remark, about the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. "Gaza has become the largest cemetery for children and women in the world", he said, urging Western countries, including the US and major European Union countries to act to stop the killings. Erdogan's skipping of the Kashmir reference is being seen as an apparent shift in Turkiye's stance and comes at a time when the country is trying to become a member of the BRICS grouping to forge alliances beyond the West. Former Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi, who has also served as her country's ambassador to the UN, commented on the apparent shift in Turkiye's stance. "Unlike the last 5 years, President Erdogan did not mention Kashmir in his speech to the UN General Assembly. He did that in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023," she posted on X. Erdogan, an ally of Pakistan, has repeatedly in the past raked up the Kashmir issue, causing a strain in relations between India and Turkiye. "Another development that will pave the way for regional peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia will be the establishment of a just and lasting peace in Kashmir through dialogue and cooperation between India and Pakistan," Erdogan had said in his address during the General Debate at the UN last year. India in the past has termed his remarks as "completely unacceptable", saying Turkiye should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its policies more deeply. The Aaditya Thackeray-led Yuva Sena, youth wing of the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, on Friday won eight of the ten seats in the senate election of the University of Mumbai, and was set to win the remaining two seats, an official said. IMAGE: A view of the University of Mumbai. Photograph: Courtesy MU Online The results of the two seats were not yet announced as counting was underway, the varsity official added. The much-delayed election for ten seats was held on September 24 following a Bombay high court directive. The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad too had fielded ten candidates, while the student wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena contested one seat. Nearly 55 percent turnout was recorded in the election held on Tuesday. The senate is the highest elected decision-making body and watchdog of Mumbai University. It has representatives of teachers, principals and college managements as well as registered graduates, and is empowered to pass the varsity's budget. There is a ban on students' council polls in Maharashtra. Senate elections of the University of Mumbai are unlike the students' union polls of Delhi University or Jawaharlal Nehru University where those contesting polls have to be students of the respective varsities. The Bombay high court had last week directed that the senate elections be held on September 24 after staying a state government circular postponing them. A student of class 2 was killed in an alleged "sacrificial ritual" performed by the owners of his school in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras to make it more "prosperous", police said on Friday. Image only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay.com Besides the owner and director of the school, the principal and two teachers were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing on Monday, they said. Police said the postmortem report of the class two student revealed that he was strangled. DL Public School owner Jasodhan Singh, who is said to believe in 'tantrik rituals', asked his son Dinesh Baghel, the director of the school, to sacrifice a child for the "prosperity" of the school and his family. Principal Laxman Singh and two teachers -- Ramprakash Solanki and Veerpal Singh -- have also been held by police. Police has lodged an FIR against them under the section 103 (1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 against five of them and they have been sent to jail. "The student has been identified as Kritarth studying in class 2 of DL Public school," Ashok Kumar Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Hathras told PTI. "On September 23, the student was abducted from the school's hostel by teacher Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel and school owner Jasodhan Singh. Jasodhan Singh believes in 'tantra' practice and asked his son to sacrifice a child for the prosperity of school and his family," he said. They took the student to a secluded place for the sacrifice but the student woke up and began crying, the officer said. "After that he was strangulated. Another teacher Veerpal Singh and school principal Laxman Singh were also present at the spot and were guarding the place," he said. Police further said that the accused told the child's parents that Kritarth was not well as was being taken to a hospital in Baghel's car. Family members of the child, however, stopped the car and informed police about Kritarth's death, police said. Later, postmortem report showed that he died due to strangulation. In the police investigation, the accused informed police that the student was killed for 'sacrifice' for the prosperity of school and the owner's family, the ASP said. Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has praised Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader has changed people's perception about him by working hard on himself. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi waves during an election rally for the Haryana assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo At the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024 on Thursday evening, the actor said he likes a politician who is brave and honest. Asked about the politician, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is brave and can lead India into the future, Khan said they are all "brave politicians". Khan then praised Gandhi and said he used to be disrespected for the things he used to do and say. "I think what Rahul Gandhi has done has also been very impressive because there was a point where people were disrespecting things he was saying and things he was doing. And I think he's turned that around by working very hard, in a very interesting way," the 54-year-old actor said. "Beyond that I don't want to get into a thing of who I support and what my politics is because I want to be apolitical in my outlook. And I think the country has spoken quite clearly. I'm happy about one thing. That democracy is alive and thriving in India," he added. Khan also said he has no intention of joining politics. "I'm not a politician. I don't really want to be a politician. And if I had strong views, I think I would become one and then share them in that way," he said. "I mean, you guys (journalists) are really brave and much braver than me. I'm not looking for that kind of heat. But if I was, then I would go all the way and become. And join a political party. But I'm not ready to do that yet," he added. Bangladesh's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus introduced to an American audience in New York the brains behind the "meticulously designed" protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power. IMAGE: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being received by Muktesh Pardeshi, secretary (CPV & OIA), as she arrives to attend Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, in New Delhi, June 8, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Introducing the students at Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting on Tuesday, where Yunus was welcomed by former US president Bill Clinton, the Nobel laureate suggested the protests against then prime minister Hasina and her Awami League were planned. "These are known to be the brains behind the whole revolution. They look like any other young person, you will not recognise them. But when you see them in action, when you hear them speak, you will be shaking. They shook the whole country," said the 84-year-old Nobel laureate while introducing Bangladeshi student leaders. Yunus specifically pointed towards student activist "Mahfuj Abdullah", and called him the "brains behind the whole revolution". "He denies it repeatedly, he said not me many others. But that's how he is recognised, that he is the brain behind the whole thing," Yunus said. "It was a meticulously designed thing. It just did not suddenly come. Very well-designed. Even the leadership did not know (him) so they could not catch him," Yunus said about the protests in Bangladesh that left more than 600 persons dead. "This is the Bangladesh. They are the ones creating the new version of Bangladesh," Yunus said of the student activists. The leader said the protesting students "courageously stood against bullets" when the previous government acted against them. Suddenly all the young people of Bangladesh got together and said, Enough is Enough.' We are not going to take it anymore. And they didn't, Yunus said, adding that everyone in the country supported the "new Bangladesh". The economist was appointed as the country's chief advisor in August after the bloody student-led movement led to the resignation of Hasina and her escape to India. "Conspiracies are still on to carve a new country out of Bangladesh, like East Timor," Hasina had said in an earlier interview, raising concerns the protests were hijacked by external forces. Hasina had claimed she was approached by a "white man" for a smooth re-election in the 2024 general elections boycotted by the opposition parties in return for an airbase in the country. The Awami League supremo also said the "white man" was also targeting several other nations with his offers. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the world marks the 10th International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly about rising global tensions and the resurgence of nuclear arms proliferation. In his message, Guterres highlighted the growing geopolitical divisions and mistrust, which have escalated tensions and spurred a new nuclear arms race, saying that "instead of dialogue and diplomacy being deployed to end the nuclear threat, another nuclear arms race is taking shape, and saber-rattling is re-emerging as a tactic of coercion." The secretary-general called on the international community to deliver a united and resolute message: the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat is to eliminate nuclear weapons. He stressed the interconnectedness of disarmament and non-proliferation, noting that progress in one area encourages advancement in the other. "States must pursue both as a matter of urgency," Guterres stated. Addressing the responsibilities of nuclear-armed nations, Guterres urged them to lead by example by honoring disarmament obligations and committing to never use nuclear weapons, nor threaten to use them. He also emphasized the need to strengthen and adapt existing treaties and instruments aimed at preventing the spread and testing of nuclear weapons, particularly in light of technological advancements that could heighten the threat. Guterres noted the recent Summit of the Future, where global leaders recommitted to revitalizing the disarmament regime through the Pact for the Future. This new global agreement, according to Guterres, is a critical step toward bringing the world closer to achieving the total elimination of nuclear weapons. "Our future hangs in the balance," the secretary-general warned. "Let's eliminate these weapons from our world for good." The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed annually on Sept. 26, serves as a reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the urgent need for their complete elimination. The General Assembly declared the International Day in December 2013 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on Sept. 26, 2013, in New York. A land-owning class, the Jats are a powerful community and account for 28 per cent of Haryana's population. The time, they believe, has now come for them to take revenge. IMAGE: Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda being garlanded at an election meeting in Nilokheri. Photograph: ANI Photo The residents of the premier Haryana constituency with the tongue twisting nomenclature of Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi (GSK) in Rohtak district are on an all-time high. If the constituents of Julana have no hesitation in declaring that their candidate, woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat is not merely an MLA candidate but the future minister of sports, the 300,000 voters at GSK have dubbed Bhupinder Singh Hooda the chief minister elect. Sixty-year old Savita Devi from the village of Bakheta in GSK speaks with a sense of pride when she declares, "We are voting for the next chief minister, we are not voting for a mere vidhayak (MLA)." She lives with her daughter-in-law and her two young children. Her son works as a bus conductor and is away at work. Why does she admire Hooda so much? Her smile becomes even broader. "He may be 77 years of age but he once told us, 'I am never tired. I will never retire.' He has promised all us old people a pension of Rs 6,000 every year that can meet some of my daily needs. He has also promised free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakhs and a legally binding MSP to our farmers. Obviously, we will support him." This new found confidence is this septuagenarian, who has registered four consecutive victories from here in 2005 by poll, 2009, 2014 and 2019, is understandable because he is poised to achieve a record-breaking victory. He was elected chief minister in 2005 and completed his second term in 2014 after which the baton of chief ministership passed on to Manohar Kal Khattar, a Punjabi, who on taking over the reins of government did his best to break the Jat dominance by giving prominence to Punjabi and non-Jat leaders. The Jats have never forgiven Khattar for refusing to defend their demand to be given a ten per cent quota in jobs. Their demand was set aside by the Supreme Court. Hooda has bestowed his trust in the people of GSK and informed them that while he is not going to personally come and seek their vote, as he is spending his time travelling to other constituencies, each one of them must work towards ensuring his victory. The public are living up to this trust because in several interactions people speak highly of many of his transformative projects such as the Metro-Lane extension to Bahadurgarh and Gurugram, and also the 'Padak Lao, Pad Pad Pao' (Bring a medal, get a government job) which proved a big incentive for youngsters. A land-owning class, the Jats are a powerful community and account for 28 per cent of Haryana's population. The time, they believe, has now come for them to take revenge. In a chaupal in the village of Atail, where grey-haired elders sit on their charpois smoking hookahs and playing cards, the only topic of discussion is politics and how the time has come to make a Badlao (Change). The village of Atail, like all semi-urbanised villages across Haryana is a mix of concrete houses built around courtyards on one side of which have been tied buffaloes that provide an income as also help meet each family's need for milk. Anything extra is sold. An elderly Jat looked up from his cards and said, 'Ab to roti badlein gae (A colloquial to state the time for change has come).' A largely farming community, the average Haryanvi is in no mood to forgive the Khattar government for its mishandling of the entire MSP crisis. To show their anger towards the state government, farmers bodies including the Bharatiya Kisan Naujiwan Union and the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur have been camping at Shambu border along with farmers from Punjab from the month of February. "How many of our have brothers died? And when they gathered at the Shambu border earlier this year, this Khattar ordered tear gas to be fired at them. He put up concertina wires and broke up the roads and iron barricades treating them like criminals," said Pahalwan Singh inhaling the smoke from his hookah with great relish. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Narendra D Modi and Nayab Singh Saini during a public meeting for the Haryana assembly elections in Sonipat, September 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo His words meet with the approval of his hookah smoking mates. Amar Singh, a white-haired farmer sitting to his right, nods in agreement. "They have destroyed the future of thousands of young boys who used to join the army every year with that hare-brained Agnipath scheme," said Amar Singh. "From the time the scheme has been introduced, only 500 boys have been taken from our state. After four years, what will these boys do once they leave the army -- they will not get jobs even as peons? The Jat regiments are the pride of the Indian army. They have ground our honour to the dust," stated Amar Singh. He speaks for his community and because this is a refrain heard throughout the state across all communities. The mishandling of the women wrestlers' protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment also continues to find a resonance across the state. 'Hamari betien se cher char kari hai or hamare mukhya mantri kahte hein ki ye shuroo se ek political saajish thi,' remarked another oldie. Hooda and the Congress party in the state are taking advantage of this sentiment. 'During my regime, Haryana was known for empowering farmers, jawan (youths) and pehlwans (sportspersons) but this government has attacked them by using batons when they were seeking their rights," Hooda repeats in speech after speech. He assures the public that once the Congress forms the government, each senior citizen will be given Rs 6,000 pension, 200,000 vacant posts in government departments will be filled up and gas cylinders will be sold at Rs 500 each, there will be a legal guarantee on the MSP, and they will receive free medical treatment of Rs 25 lakh. IMAGE: Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and other Indian wrestlers take part in a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, January 19, 2023. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters A resident of Bohar village in GSK says "The BJP has ignored Rohtak district in the last ten years and they are responsible for dividing out society along caste lines. Haryana was never known to be a casteist society, but this saffron party by its very nature is divisive." "During Hooda's regime, two universities, Indian Institute of Management and many other projects were completed but the BJP has not brought a single big project to our state,' he said. What is a matter of distress for the public at large is that a small state like Haryana suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the country at a staggering 38 per cent which is 4.5 times more than the national average. The Opposition parties have gone to town on these alarming figures. Hooda points out that instead of providing 'permanent jobs to the youth, the government is hiring contractual employees through the Employment Corporation.' Another complaint being frequently expressed in the state is how the government has set up 40 portals which the public must use to apply for Aadhar card, ration card, house tax, property tax, old age pension and other amenities. A large cross section of people, especially those in rural parts, do not possess Android phones. Many remain unlettered. Said one 40-year-old fruit seller, "I have been going week after week to try and get a health card made, but each time, I am told to bring some additional certificate. From where am I expected to produce it?" IMAGE: Farmer Union members hold a protest against the central government over their various demands at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana border). Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters Some critics including a former sarpanch believes that whatever Hooda's mistakes may have been in the past, and there were many, for he was charged with favouring the Jat community as also of allegedly amassing huge sums of money in land deals, there is no doubt that he has emerged as the tallest leader of Haryana. No other leader can match the goodwill he enjoys today across all communities. Badan Singh, a farmer, says with a sense of pride that Hooda is responsible for putting Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi on the world map. Elaborating on his unhappiness with the BJP regime, Singh said, "We farmers are still waiting to get compensation for our damaged crops during the last two years. During the Congress regime, we received better rates for our crops. Our electricity bills had been waived off and canals were full of water. The BJP government has worked to push us backward," he added. This is the language being spoken across the state. The Jat community is known to be dominant in 37 constituencies from which 30 are located in the Rohtak and Hisar divisions. Interestingly these elections are witnessing the decline of the three powerful families of Devi Lal, Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal who had dominated Haryana politics from the time of its inception. The only exception to this trend is the Hooda family which has succeeded in maintaining a significant political presence not just in Rohtak and Sonepat but across Jhind, Sirsa, Panipat and Jhajjar. IMAGE: Bhupinder Singh Hooda during the election campaign in Rohtak. Photograph: ANI Photo The extent of Khattar's unpopularity can be gauged from the fact that just two months before the Lok Sabha election, he was removed and Nayab Singh Saini was brought in the hope that he would help the party win the OBC vote bank since OBCs comprise 40 per cent of the state's population. Sadly, Saini was been given no say in ticket distribution resulting in several old timers being denied a ticket. The result several old timers claim the BJP has gone on to reward many new entrants and turncoats with tickets while ignoring those who have been working for years. The powerful BJP leader Rao Inderjit Singh went public on Saini's selection as chief minister stating that 'even today people wish that I had become CM', he stated. Not that Congress has not seen its share of revolts with Sirsa MP Kumari Selja staying away from campaigning for over two weeks resulting in rumours that she was switching over to the BJP. Selja has also been nurturing chief ministerial ambitions and was unhappy that the Hooda camp had succeeded in bagging a lion's share of the assembly tickets. The problem is that in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, as is the habit with the Congress, ticket distribution was done just four weeks before voting. Hooda, who had used his last ten years to create networks across the state, used all his skills to ensure that his camp succeeded in securing victories in four key parliamentary constituencies namely Sonepat, Rohtak, Ambala and Hisar. The Congress won five seats while the BJP had to settle for five. IMAGE: Congress leader Deepender Hooda addresses a public meeting in support of party candidate Balram Dangi from the Meham assembly at Lakhan Majra village in Rohtak, September 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Hooda is pitted against BJP candidate Manju Hooda who is the daughter of a retired deputy superintendent of police. She is at the receiving end of much internal bickering as the party ignored senior leaders like Satish N and former MLA Krishan Murti Hooda. Hooda is being helped by his son Deepender Singh Hooda under whose leadership, the Haryana Congress has launched a state wide 'Haryana Mange Hisaab' Yatra to highlight key issues such as unemployment, irregularities in the Parivar Pehchan Patra, Agniveer recruitment, drug addiction, and corruption scandals in the past decade of BJP governance. With voting a mere ten days away, the Haryana public are convinced the time is ripe for a change of leadership and hopefully of better governance. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Brian Robertshaw, owner of Beadniks on Main Street in Brattleboro, talks on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 about the water damage that his business Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A few clouds. Low 42F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 42F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. This screenshot shows the short video posted by British TikTok influencer, the Hutchinsons, demonstrating their first experience of drone delivery service in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. By Liu He "China is already in 2030!" said the Hutchinsons, a British family who owns almost 200,000 followers on TikTok, when they experienced their first drone delivery service in Shenzhen. So far, this vlog has topped all of their posts, gaining an eye-catching 7.8 million views. The rapid development of smart technologies in China has amazed many foreign visitors as they flock to China after its launch of the 144-hour visa-free policy. For instance, videos of a robot delivering food to the corresponding hotel room have swept across social media and gained lots of likes. Allison Paige, a travel vlogger, shared her video showing a robot delivering food to her hotel room with just several taps on her mobile. "This is just so great and convenient. This is something I absolutely love about staying in hotels here," she said. After "China Travel" went viral, the hashtag "China Hotel" has also become a hit on many social media and video platforms overseas. This increasingly intelligent travel experience is a result of China's accelerated efforts to build smart cities over the years. A nationwide network of integrated intelligent vehicles, smart roads, and real-time cloud technologies is being rolled out. Visitors can even enjoy the high-tech facilities one step ahead of the public. In late June, passengers traveling between Beijing Daxing International Airport and Yizhuang were able to choose the services provided by driverless robotaxis with advanced reservations on mobile. Although these robotaxis are operating under the supervision of safety drivers behind for security concerns, this breakthrough in self-driving technology marks a significant step for China's intelligent transportation. "Driverless taxi in China" is also among the popular searches on social media. Italian influencer Andrea posted a video on Tiktok of himself taking a driverless taxi in Guangzhou. The built-in screen showed the surrounding situation to him as the taxi went. After a short yet smooth ride, Andrea got to his destination and waved goodbye to this taxi. "This is mindblowing," said Andrea. His video got over 121,500 views within half a month. In May, China unveiled a guideline on promoting the development of smart cities and urban digital transformation to make urban management smarter. By 2027, China expects to see significant progress in the digital transformation of urban areas and will have built a number of smart cities that are more livable and resilient, according to the guidelines. This screenshot shows the short videos posted by influencers on TikTok, showing their experiences of driverless taxis in China. An autonomous driving taxi, operated by Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai, runs on a road in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) Staff members check an unmanned aerial vehicle at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) NAIROBI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 42nd edition of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) World Conference will be held in Beijing, China, in September 2025, organizers announced Friday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The Chinese delegation led by Ma Jun, deputy mayor of Beijing Municipality, graced the flag handover ceremony to host the conference during the conclusion of the 41st IASP World Conference, which began on Tuesday in Nairobi. Ma said delegates will have an opportunity to attend sub-forums at the foot of the Great Wall, visit specialized industrial parks and leading companies, and have a taste of famous cuisine in Beijing. Kenya hosted the four-day conference that attracted more than 1,500 participants from 400 science parks and innovation hubs. In addition to exhibitions, the conference featured side events that discussed opportunities in the fintech industry, fostering the growth of youth-led startups and the future of work amid technological disruption. Lena Miranda, board president of the IASP, said next year's conference in China will offer an opportunity for players in the digital space to reconnect and witness the technological advances the Asian country has made, impacting the entire globe. According to Miranda, China has emerged as a major player in helping countries in the Global South, especially Africa, leapfrog to a knowledge-based economy that promises jobs, enhanced connectivity, and inclusive growth. John Paul Okwiri, chief executive officer of Konza Technopolis, Kenya's envisioned smart city located about 70 km southeast of Nairobi, said China has excelled in innovations and emerging technologies, hence earning the privilege of hosting next year's IASP World Conference. Okwiri added that a partnership with the Chinese government and firms has been pivotal in advancing Kenya's digitization agenda that has addressed youth unemployment while improving service delivery. Australian data and analytics consultancy Altis Consulting has appointed Nick Yager as its New Zealand regional leader. Yager joins Altis from CyberCX where he director of AWS solutions. He previously worked for Consegna and Sky New Zealand. The potential to drive real-world impact with data is immense, and Im looking forward to being part of a team thats helping clients change the way they see and understand their business, Yager said. He will report to Altis chief commercial officer Katrina Pilcher. Were really excited about the energy, experience and strategic vision Nick brings to drive our New Zealand business forward, Pilcher said. Auckland-based Altis NZ has been operating locally since 2002 and counts Partners Life and SmartParking among its customers. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, Secretary of State Colin Powell gave assurances that America would deal with the tragedy by bringing those responsible to justice while protecting the world's democracies. "They will never be allowed to kill the spirit of democracy," Powell said. "They cannot destroy our society. They cannot destroy our belief in the democratic way." President George W. Bush, who won office in 2000 as a candidate who would be cautious about committing U.S. troops to foreign wars, quickly made fighting global terrorism a top policy, and set about establishing an international "coalition of the willing" to carry out the mission. The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan had the primary goal of punishing the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, which had been given refuge in Afghanistan and carried out the deadly 9/11 attacks. And once on Afghan soil, Washington quickly ousted the Taliban regime accused of sheltering Al-Qaeda from power. Costly Campaign But the U.S. experience in Afghanistan ultimately ended in failure, and with the hard-line Taliban group back in power. The nearly 20-year war ended with immense costs in terms of lives lost and money spent. And it made the U.S. public and politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington reluctant to get involved in "forever wars" that could not be won. "More than $2 trillion spent in Afghanistan," U.S. President Joe Biden said on August 31, 2021, in announcing the official end of the United States' longest-ever war. "20,744 American servicemen and women injured, and the loss of 2,461 American personnel." In explaining to the U.S. public that he was "not going to extend this forever war," Biden did not mention the estimated 70,000 deaths among Afghan security forces, more than 46,000 Afghan civilian deaths, and the deaths of more than 4,000 allied troops and U.S. contractors. The withdrawal under Biden has become a lightning rod for debate ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has blasted Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump, for the "humiliation in Afghanistan," with much of the criticism centered on the chaotic last days of the withdrawal, when 13 U.S. soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians died in a bombing by the Islamic State-Khorasan extremist group. Harris's campaign, meanwhile, has highlighted Trump's role as president in signing the 2020 deal with the Taliban that paved the way for the withdrawal and provided a "virtually impossible" deadline. But experts who spoke to RFE/RL stressed that multiple U.S. administrations, beginning with Democratic President Barack Obama's from 2009 to 2017 -- had come to the realization that what had begun as a fight against terrorism had become an overly costly and potentially "forever" endeavor. "It was an extremely expensive war in a place that was probably least important to the United States," said Vali Nasr, a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. "It was a war that the United States started to destroy Al-Qaeda, which it did very quickly, then to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan, which it did, and then it became something much bigger, like how to establish a democracy and a functioning government in Afghanistan and sustain it." The question asked by Obama, who initiated an exit strategy by reducing the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and later Trump, was whether there was a compelling reason to stay. The United States "was becoming committed to a forever war, or a forever presence at the tune of billions of dollars a year and tens of thousands of troops, in a condition that the threat from Afghanistan had declined and the strategic value of the country was declining," Nasr said. And the economy and civil society established under the protection of the U.S. military, he says, was not something Afghanistan could sustain on its own. "What the United States created is like a tree that never grew roots," Nasr said. "So, at some point you're going to say, 'I'm going to stop watering it, and I'm going to take my hand off from trying to forcibly keep it upright.'" No Good Outcome Rajan Menon, an emeritus professor of international relations at the City College of New York and director of the Grand Strategy Program at Defense Priorities, said that "no matter how long [the United States] had stayed, I don't see what a good ending could have been." The minimal good outcome, Menon says, would have been "a stable country with a government that may not have been democratic, but which could be counted upon not to serve as a platform for terror and which would have a positive relationship with the United States." But in attempting to realize that goal, what you are essentially "trying to do is engage in nation-building," Menon said. Even a "very, very powerful military machine" like the United States has difficulties pulling that off, he said, and there "are no pretty exits." To avoid the chaotic type of withdrawal that took place in Afghanistan, Menon said, "you have to build institutions, political and military and civic in nature." Without that, "once you leave and remove the military protection, the institutions will start crumbling, and that is exactly what happened." U.S. wars and democracy-building efforts were not isolated to Afghanistan during its nearly 20-year campaign there. There were others -- most notably the costly war in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 -- that former Secretary of State Powell argued was necessitated by an alleged Iraqi program to build weapons of mass destruction that was later determined to be nonexistent. Prior to his death in 2021 just six weeks after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Powell said that his arguments before the UN Security Council "was a great intelligence failure." Baghdad and the United States, which sent troops back to Iraq in 2014 to help fight the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, are still trying to repair relations. According to the Soufan Center think tank on September 9, the two sides reportedly have reached an agreement to transition from the United States leading the effort against IS to a bilateral partnership. 'Forever' Ending? So is the U.S. era of "forever wars" over? Many of the unique circumstances that accompanied the Afghan invasion -- a direct attack on U.S. soil, counterterrorism becoming a focal point of U.S. policy, and the idea that nation-building is an effective solution -- are unlikely to repeat themselves, Nasr says. And the mood in the United States amid a hotly contested election campaign could indicate that it will at least think twice. With both Trump and Harris there is "a little bit of a backlash against the so-called forever wars...and I think the American public probably will be much less supportive" of involvement in them in the future," Menon said. But Madiha Afzal, a fellow in the foreign policy program at Brookings, said in written comments that while "some of the lessons from the Afghanistan war" had started being discussed, particularly in the last couple of years of the conflict, "the disaster of the withdrawal...really focused the conversation in America on Afghanistan to be just about the withdrawal." The larger discussion about the war, Afzal said, "has been entirely obscured," with much of the conversation becoming intensely partisan. "I fear that the larger lessons of the 20-year war have been lost along the way," Afzal concluded. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here. I'm Abubakar Siddique, a senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead. The Key Issue The Taliban has imposed new restrictions on Afghan broadcasters, banning live broadcasts of political shows and on-air criticism of its policies. Afghan broadcasters must now prerecord their shows, obtain prior approval of their guest lists, and remove criticism of the Talibans laws. Media outlets and individual media workers will face consequences for failing to adhere to the new rules. Afghan and international media watchdogs have condemned the new restrictions. The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on September 24 called on the Taliban to immediately reverse its draconian media restrictions and stop dragging Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. [It is yet] another attempt to further weaken and suppress free media in the country, the Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC) said in a September 23 statement. Why It's Important: The new rules are the latest setback to Afghanistans once vibrant media scene. Since the Taliban seized power, it has waged a brutal crackdown on dissent, including beating, detaining, and jailing dozens of journalists. The hard-line Islamist group has forcibly shut down independent media outlets and prohibited virtually any critical reporting about its unrecognized government. These new restrictions signal the end of fundamental media freedoms in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is attempting to transform the press into a propaganda tool, said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. AFJC said the Taliban wants media organizations to remove weak points, sensitive topics, and criticisms of its government and leaders. According to the organization, the Taliban has issued at least 21 directives to the media in recent years that have significantly limited press freedom in the country. What's Next: Despite local and international criticism, the Taliban is unlikely to halt its war against the free press. The extremist group is likely to keep targeting journalists and others who are critical of its brutal rule. What To Keep An Eye On Some Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have proposed new legislation that would halt all aid to Afghanistan until the Taliban frees three American citizens. Fox News on September 25 published a draft of The No Funding Without Freedom Act, which if passed would require the State Department to regularly update Congress about U.S. citizens detained in Afghanistan regularly. The United States has provided over $2.5 billion to Afghanistan in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations and other NGOs since American military forces withdrew from the country in 2021. The Taliban has held three American citizens since 2022. They are aid worker Ryan Corbett, tourist George Glezmann, and Mahmood Shah Habibi, who led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous Afghan government. Why It's Important: The suspension of American aid to Afghanistan would be a significant blow to more than 23 million Afghans currently in need of humanitarian assistance. While the Taliban benefits from U.S. aid dollars pouring into the country, the most vulnerable Afghans will be hit the hardest as they reel from the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org Until next time, Abubakar Siddique If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. 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 One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history. In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group. Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war. RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack? Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences. There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings. Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good. RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis? Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months. RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices? Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term." So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire. Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home? One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective. RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families? Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular. At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families. Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen. RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas? Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk. It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important. Why? For a couple of reasons. First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005. RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future? Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent. I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term. Israel's military widened its attacks on Iran-backed militant groups, striking the Yemeni port city of Hodeida that is held by Tehran-allied Huthi rebels, even as it intensified air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon, raising fears among global leaders of an all-out Middle East war. "In a large-scale air operation today, dozens of air-force aircraft, including fighter jets, refueling planes, and reconnaissance aircraft, attacked military-use targets of the Huthi terrorist regime in the Ras Issa and Hodeida areas of Yemen," military spokesman Captain David Avraham told AFP on September 29. The military said the air strikes targeted a Huthi-operated power plant and seaport used to import oil and to allegedly receive Iranian weapons. Israel has previously attacked the port, most recently in July. Yemen has endured a civil war since 2014, when Huthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting Saudi-led forces to intervene in support of the internationally recognized government and leading to a massive humanitarian disaster in the country of some 40 million people on the southern Arabian Peninsula. The vast majority of humanitarian aid arrives through Hodeida's deep-water port, although much of that has been disrupted since the Huthis seized the facility. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on September 29 that Israel would strike at foes no matter the distance. Yemen's Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza are considered to be Iranian proxies in the region. The Huthi rebels have been targeting ships in the Persian Gulf and launching missiles toward Israel over the past year, claiming it is in support of Hamas fighters in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. The European Union also designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, as it does Hezbollah's armed wing but not its political party. Israel's continued aerial attacks on Lebanon and now in Yemen come amid mounting calls from the United Nations and major powers including close ally Washington -- for an easing of hostilities. France announced that Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had arrived in Beirut late on September 29 after Barrot spoke by phone with caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Paris also called for "an immediate halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon." Mikati said in a televised speech earlier in the day that Lebanon had "no option but the diplomatic option." U.S. President Joe Biden on September 29 told reporters that he would soon being speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although he didn't give a date. Asked if an all-out war in the Middle East could still be prevented, he said: "It has to be. We really have to avoid it." U.S. national-security spokesman John Kirby earlier warned that all-out war would not help Israel safely return people to their homes in the north of the country near the Lebanese border, where many thousands have been evacuated. "An all-out war with Hezbollah, certainly with Iran, is not the way to do that. If you want to get those folks back home safely and sustainably, we believe that a diplomatic path is the right course," Kirby told CNN. Kirby also said Washington was talking to Israeli leaders about what the best next measures in Lebanon might be and reiterated that U.S. support for Israels security was "iron-clad." But he added that "we have made no bones about the fact that we don't necessarily see the tactical execution the same way that they do in terms of protection [of civilians]." Iran has vowed a response for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive Israeli air strike in Beirut on September 27 and has signaled continuing support for groups confronting Israel, but it is also seeking an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Israel's defense forces said on September 29 that they had conducted a "precise strike" on Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold. Mikati has warned that the fighting could be displacing as many as 1 million Lebanese civilians. Hezbollah confirmed that Israel's attacks killed the seventh of its leaders to die since mid-September, when Nabil Kaouk died on September 28. Hezbollah also confirmed Israel's earlier assertion that another of its senior commanders, southern forces commander Ali Karaki, had died in the strike that killed Nasrallah. WATCH: Police in Pakistan's biggest city, Karachi, fired tear gas and warning shots after protesters rallying against the death of Hassan Nasrallah threw stones and tried to cross barriers blocking access to the U.S. Consulate. In response to the Israeli assault on Lebanon, Hezbollah has intensified its strikes on Israel, firing several hundred missiles a day, causing some injuries and property damage, although most have been intercepted by Israeli defense systems. Netanyahu described the assassination of Nasrallah as a necessary move toward "changing the balance of power in the region for years to come." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was quoted by the official Fars news agency as saying in New York that "Everyone should be aware that the situation is extremely explosive, and that everything is possible...even war." He said that "this horrible crime...will not go unanswered." But with analysts expressing doubt about Tehran's willingness to risk a direct conflict with Israel or its ally the United States, he also signaled a diplomatic push. "The diplomatic apparatus will also use all its political, diplomatic, legal, and international capacities to pursue the criminals and their supporters," Araqchi said. UN Security Council permanent members the United States and China urged de-escalation, while Russia warned of "fraught" and "dramatic" consequences for the region. In his first statement since Israeli forces and Hezbollah confirmed the death of Nasrallah in massive air strikes in Beirut, Netanyahu said "Nasrallah was not a terrorist, he was the terrorist." AFP and Reuters, both citing sources, reported on September 29 that Nasrallah's body had been recovered in Lebanon but that no date had been set for a funeral. The Lebanese escalation comes as Israel's war in Gaza nears the one-year mark since U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group Hamas launched a cross-border attack that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, many of them civilians. There are fears of a rapidly expanding conflict that could include an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon and eventually draw Iran and the United States directly into the fighting. Israeli officials have said that a ground invasion of Lebanon is among their potential options. Iranian media reported that Israel's September 27 attacks in Beirut had also killed a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). On September 28, Iran's mission to the United Nations reportedly called in a letter for an emergency meeting of the 15-member Security Council. Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani is said to have accused Israel of committing "a flagrant act of terrorist aggression against residential areas in Beirut, using U.S.-supplied thousand-pound bunker busters." On September 29, official media quoted the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as pledging ongoing Iranian support for groups that "resist" Israel. "We will not hesitate to go to any level in order to help the resistance," Qalibaf said, adding an accusation that the United States was "complicit" and "has to accept the repercussions." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "gravely concerned" by the "dramatic escalation" in Lebanon. "This cycle of violence must stop now, and all sides must step back from the brink," Guterres said in a statement. "The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, as well as the wider region, cannot afford an all-out war." Security Council member Russia has condemned the killing of Nasrallah as "yet another political assassination" that is "fraught with even greater dramatic consequences for Lebanon and the entire Middle East." On September 29, China's Foreign Ministry urged all parties, but especially Israel, to act to de-escalate the situation. Pope Francis appealed to all parties involved in the ongoing violence "to cease fire immediately in Lebanon, in Gaza, in the rest of Palestine, and in Israel." With reporting by Reuters and dpa In the latest grim uptick of Russia's nuclear weapons policy, President Vladimir Putin suggested on September 25 that the Kremlin could use nuclear weapons against any state attacking Russia if that country was supported by a nuclear power. If Russia were to launch a massive nuclear strike on Ukraine or Western Europe, there is not much the continent could do to stop it. Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), is widely considered to be the world's leading Western expert on Russia's nuclear weapons. He says there is no indication such a catastrophe is anywhere close to becoming a reality, but he paints a bleak picture of how a nuclear strike on Europe would unfold. "If there were to be some kind of a massive launch -- or several [Russian] missiles have been launched -- then it's pretty much impossible to guarantee that everything will be intercepted," he said. NATO's internal calculations reportedly predict that in the event of an all-out attack from Russia, the military bloc has "less than 5 percent" of the air defenses needed. Russia is believed to hold some 1,700 nuclear warheads inside more than 500 missiles able to be launched within minutes from silos, mobile launchers, submarines, and aircraft. The United States would probably be the primary target, but many of those missiles are known to be intended for Europe. But if missile barrages are effectively unstoppable, what should civilians do in the event of a nuclear strike? Some European capitals maintain Cold War-era nuclear shelters that are quietly being refreshed. In Kyiv, a nuclear bunker was recently reopened and made available for use. In Prague, a network of Cold War bunkers has seen a spike in interest from locals since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The bunkers "are still functional since the fall of socialism and can be activated if necessary," Jan Mikes, the head of the mayor's crisis management department in the district of Prague 2, confirmed to RFE/RL. A spokeswoman from the Czech Republic's Fire Rescue Service told RFE/RL that, beginning in 2023, the service began updating "requirements for the shelter system and the shelters themselves," without elaborating further. In Germany's Ahr Valley, near Bonn, Heike Hollunder, the director of a nuclear bomb shelter that now operates as a museum, reported a significant recent jump in visitors. "The interest increased, especially from younger people, because of the war in Ukraine," she told RFE/RL. "Could the bunker still be used? Is there a nuclear bunker for the government in Berlin? These are the main questions." But such drastic precautions are probably futile. Podvig says a Russian nuclear strike would offer precious little time to escape to a hardened shelter. From launch to impact over a target in Central Europe, Podvig estimated, "would be in the order of 10 minutes or so." The United States maintains a network of satellites able to instantly spot the plume of a rocket being launched, but that system would probably be useless to countries close to Russia. "The United States has all these sorts of warning systems -- the satellites and all that. But I would doubt that this information could be shared very quickly or at all with U.S. allies in the European states," Podvig said. Models of what modern nuclear weapons would do to cities make for bleak reading. A single Russian Topol-M missile would explode into a kilometer-wide ball of fire that would incinerate every living thing it touched. Within a 7 kilometer radius, countless civilians would die from severe burns and be crushed under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the shock wave. Then would come radiation that would saturate the blast site and poison air and water. British military historian Basil Liddel Hart was witness to a 1955 war game in which NATO ran through a scenario of full-scale nuclear war with the Soviet Union. NATO won the exchange, but as the hypothetical dust settled, nearly every treasure of the Western world lay in ruins. Hart later described the experience as "very disturbing." Victory, he wrote, "had lost its point." Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev is reported to have said that after all-out nuclear war, "the living will envy the dead." UNIDIR's Podvig is cautious about revealing his own calculations. "I just try not to think about it because I know some catastrophic scenarios that are pretty bad," he said. As at the height of the Cold War, the only hard deterrent today is the mutually assured destruction that the West's own stockpiles of hundreds of nuclear missiles ensure, along with a controversial policy of launch on warning (LOW). The LOW posture allows for the United States to launch retaliatory strikes if incoming missiles are detected, before any impact on U.S. soil. The policy would prevent America's own nuclear weapons from being destroyed in situ, but leaves open the possibility of a civilization-ending error. Chinese Ambassador to Slovenia Wang Shunqing speaks at a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) LJUBLJANA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Slovenia held a reception here on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the event, which was attended by more than 200 people, a short film about Ferdinand Augustin Hallerstein, a Slovenian scientist who lived some 300 years ago and spent most of his working years in China, was screened. Chinese Ambassador to Slovenia Wang Shunqing said at the reception that the story of Hallerstein, whose Chinese name was Liu Songling, demonstrates the history of friendly exchanges between China and Slovenia. Noting that China has achieved remarkable development over the past 75 years, Wang said China stands ready to make joint efforts for the common development of the world. Musicians also played distinctive melodies such as the Chinese "Jasmine Flower" at the reception. Slovenian musicians perform at a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sept. 26, 2024.(Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) WASHINGTON -- In 2020, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was dragged into the U.S. presidential election campaign. This time, just weeks before a vote that could have a massive influence on Kyiv's defense against the Russian invasion, he walked right into it. On September 22, Zelenskiy toured a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that makes ammunition for his armed forces, thanking workers and signing one of the 155 mm shells that are crucial for Kyiv's war effort. He was joined by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and two members of the House of Representatives, all Democrats. Had Zelenskiy visited the plant during any of his four previous trips to the United States since Russia launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022, it might have been long forgotten by now. Instead, it has turned into a flashpoint for Republicans, creating controversy that marred his the nearly weeklong visit to the United States, Ukraine's biggest backer, at a time when Russia is making gains on the battlefield, decimating Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter approaches, and counting on Western support for Kyiv to wither. Battleground Scranton is President Joe Biden's hometown. Pennsylvania is a crucial battleground state whose voters could end up deciding the November 5 election between Republican former President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. For Zelenskiy, the factory tour was meant "to demonstrate and showthat the assistance to Ukraine is beneficial to the United States itself, because this assistance makes it possible to create new jobs," Alyona Getmanchuk, director of the Ukrainian think tank New Europe Center and a nonresident senior fellow at the U.S.-based Atlantic Council Eurasia Center, told RFE/RL in Kyiv. Trump, she said, apparently "perceived this as an attempt toinfluence the electoral balance, which is very fragile in the state of Pennsylvania. That is, he saw it exclusively in the context of the election." As Zelenskiy's U.S. trip continued with speeches at the United Nations and meetings with Biden and Harris at the White House, Republicans lashed out over the factory tour. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, called it "a partisan campaign event" and demanded Zelenskiy "immediately fire" his ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. Charles Kupchan, an analyst at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, said the munitions plant visit "backfired." "It's more an indication of the polarized debate between Democrats and Republicans than it is about any missteps taken by Zelenskiy," he told RFE/RL. 'Much More Difficult' Mykola Byelyeskov, an analyst at the Ukrainian government-backed National Institute for Strategic Studies in Kyiv, suggested the U.S. election campaign makes navigating ties with Kyiv's most crucial backer particularly tricky. "Zelenskiy is doing his best" on the U.S. trip, Byelyeskov told RFE/RL. "We see some results. I'm sure that we'll see more results. And we need to deal with every single faction in U.S. politics. And we are trying to do this. And it's much more difficult during the election season." For Biden, it's also "very difficult to take radical steps that in his mind might bring the issue of escalation closer. Because all the surveys in the U.S., domestic ones, they say that the American population is indeed concerned with hypothetical nuclear escalation," he said. "That's why it makes it more difficult for Ukraine to argue for various things that we need." During the visit, Zelenskiy did not secure a public promise that the United States would permit Kyiv to strike deeper into Russia with U.S. long-range missiles. A group of Republicans in the House held up $61 billion in mostly military aid for Ukraine for six months, leading to a deficit of ammunition on the battlefield, in part on the grounds that the money could be better spent at home. The United States spends the majority of the aid money at home on restocking arms and equipment sent to Ukraine, and the trip to Scranton highlighted that fact. Johnson had been instrumental in eventually getting the package through; his public ire over the plant visit signaled goodwill over that development is gone. Kurt Volker, a Pennsylvania native who served as a special envoy to Ukraine under Trump in 2017-2019, called the timing of the factory tour "a huge mistake." "It is a very sensitive time, a sensitive issue, a sensitive state -- like, the key swing state. It is just playing with fire, and Ukraine should do everything possible to avoid being a political subject in our election," said Volker, who is now an analyst at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington. Way Back When Lucian Kim, senior Ukraine analyst for the Crisis Group, called the visit a "misstep" on Zelenskiy's part that opened him up for criticism from opponents of aid for Ukraine within the Republican Party faction known as MAGA Republicans for their unyielding support for Trump and his policies. "Bilateral U.S. support has been one of the foundations of Ukrainian foreign policy," Kim said. "That level of bipartisan support now seems to be in question. The MAGA wing, which is unsympathetic to Ukraine, is increasingly defining the Republican party." The Pennsylvania plant visit was at last one factor raising doubts about an expected meeting between Zelenskiy and Trump -- whose relationship has been colored for years by a phone call in 2019, just months after the Ukrainian leader's election, that led to Trump's impeachment -- would take place. Trump was impeached by the then-Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December 2019 over the phone call in which he was accused of pressuring Zelenskiy to dig up dirt on the Biden family's activities in Ukraine. He was acquitted by the Senate, then controlled by the Republicans, in February 2020. Trump took aim at Zelenskiy several times. At a campaign stop on September 25, he repeated his description of the Ukrainian president as "the greatest salesman in the world" -- a reference to the tens of billions of dollars in aid lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have approved since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. 'Proposals For Surrender' He also repeated his argument that Kyiv should have reached an agreement with Russia to stave off or end the invasion. "Any deal -- the worst deal -- would've been better than what we have now," he asserted. "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." Trump has said he would bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine quickly if he is elected, several times saying it would happen even before the inauguration in January -- a claim he made again when he and Zelenskiy met in New York on September 27. He has not said how he would accomplish this, but his comments have raised concerns his efforts would involve exhorting Ukraine to hand territory to Russia. On the main purposes of Zelenskiy's U.S. trip was to present Biden and others with a "victory plan" for the war against the Russian invasion, though details have not been released. Trump, in his debate against Harris on September 10, declined to answer directly when asked whether he wants Ukraine to win, saying, "I want the war to stop." On September 26, Harris said suggestions that Kyiv should cede territory for the sake of peace are "dangerous and unacceptable." Such calls are "proposals for surrender," she said. A Meeting In New York In an interview with The New Yorker ahead of his U.S. visit, Zelenskiy said, "Trump doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how." He also said JD Vance, Trump's running mate, is "too radical" and has suggested he wants Ukraine "to give up our territories." The atmosphere seemed warmer when Zelenskiy and Trump held talks at the Trump Tower in New York, with Trump praising Zelenskiy for his conduct during the impeachment process -- "he was a piece of steel" -- but there was no sign of a change in Trump's attitude toward the Russian invasion. Trump again offered no details on how he would seek an end to the war, saying he believes that "we're going to get it resolved very quickly" if he wins the presidency. "If we have a win, I think long before January 20we can work out something that's good for both sides this time," Trump said before the two sat down for the meeting. "It's a shame but this is a war that should have never happened, and we'll get it solved," Trump said after the meeting. "It is a complicated puzzle.... Too many people dead." In a Telegram post after what he called a very meaningful meeting, Zelenskiy said that he had presented his victory plan to Trump and that they discussed used many details. "We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. Putin cannot win. The Ukrainians must win," he said. Whether Zelenskiy's visit will affect the outcome of the U.S. election is an open question. "Foreign policy issues in general don't determine [U.S.] electoral outcomes. People vote on the economy, on immigration, on crime, what's on their radar screen on a day-to-day basis," Kupchan said. And exactly how a win for Trump or for Harris might change the course of the war is also unclear. Kupchan said that despite Trump's rhetoric, he will struggle to cut a deal with Putin if elected and likely end up approving aid for Ukraine. "Trump would not want to be the American president who lost Ukraine. And so even if he gets elected and tries to negotiate an end game, he too is going to end up having to send support to Ukraine," he said. Prince reported from Washington, Palikot from Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had "very meaningful" discussions with former U.S. leader Donald Trump amid tensions over what critics call the ex-president's pro-Russia stance. "A very meaningful meeting with Donald Trump," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram following the September 27 talks at Trump Tower in New York. "I presented him with the Victory Plan. It set out in detail the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of the war for our people. We discussed many details." "We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin cannot win. The Ukrainians must win," Zelenskiy added. Standing next to Zelenskiy prior to the talks, Trump said that if elected in November, "We're going to work with both parties" to end the war in Ukraine. "[I] have a very good relationship [with Zelenskiy], and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin," Trump said. 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. "I think if we win [in November], I think we're going to get it resolved very quickly," he added. Prior to the meeting, U.S. media had speculated the session might not take place after Trump took offense to Zelenskiy's comments in a magazine interview that stated Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war." "The fact that were even together today is a very good sign," Trump said as the two arrived at a conference room at Trump Tower. Zelenskiy met with Trump after holding talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Washington as Russia keeps pounding Ukraine with deadly strikes. Relations between Zelenskiy, who is looking to shore up support for his war effort, and Trump are cool, and the meeting comes after the former U.S. president and current Republican presidential candidate reiterated his doubts that Ukraine can repel Russia's unprovoked invasion and win the war. In a debate with Harris, Trump refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. Trump has also said that Ukraine should cut a deal to end the war and suggested that Kyiv should have made concessions to Russia in the months before Moscow's invasion, saying that "any deal -- the worst deal -- wouldve been better than what we have now." On September 26, Biden welcomed Zelenskiy to the White House on September 26 after announcing billions in military aid for Kyiv and 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. Few details are known about the "victory plan" put together by Zelenskiy, who has been on an intensive diplomatic mission since he arrived in the United States for the annual UN General Assembly earlier this week. Zelenskiy has indicated he would 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. "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. Zelenskiy later shared his "victory plan" with Harris at the White House. Harris told Zelenskiy that her support for the people of Ukraine was unwavering. Harris also took a swipe at her opponent in the upcoming presidential elections, saying that Trump's suggestions about Ukraine cutting a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war were not proposals for peace but "proposals for surrender." 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." 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). 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 also met with U.S. lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol. After the meeting, Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) said the Ukrainian president asked for only one thing: permission to use U.S. weapons to strike "legitimate military targets" deep inside Russia. Zelenskiy told senators he planned to hit specific targets, including air bases, that the Russian military uses in its attacks on Ukraine. In the latest massive Russian drone attack on September 27, three people were killed and another 11, including a child, were wounded in Ukraine's Danube port of Izmayil, Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported. Izmayil is a critical hub for Ukraine's grain exports located on the border with NATO member Romania, and has been repeatedly targeted by Russian strikes. Romanian authorities in the Tulcea region just across the border from Izmayil issued an alert for the public, warning that drones had been located close to the frontier. Later, Romania's Defense Ministry said in statement that its national airspace was likely breached for under 3 minutes by a Russian drone. The ministry said it had scrambled two F-16 fighters belonging to the Romanian Air Force, which were later joined by two F-18 warplanes belonging to fellow NATO member Spain. All four fighter planes returned safely to their air bases in southeastern Romania, the ministry said. SGPC Backs Diljit Dosanjh's Film "Punjab 95" Amid Censor Board Controversy SGPC's endorsement has amplified attention to the film and its significance in portraying Khalra's life and fight for human rights. Diljit Dosanjh Jaswant Singh Khalra Biopic Punjab 95 CBFC Obstacle in Release: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has extended its full support to Diljit Dosanjh's upcoming film Punjab 95, a biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film has been embroiled in controversy due to objections from the Censor Board, which has called for 120 cuts, a title change, and alterations to the portrayal of Khalras character. The board has suggested renaming the film to Satluj. Advertisement The SGPC's endorsement has amplified attention to the film and its significance in portraying Khalra's life and fight for human rights. The organization's support highlights the ongoing debate over creative freedom in Indian cinema, particularly when it comes to telling real-life stories that carry historical and social weight. The SGPC has firmly opposed the Censor Board's demands, advocating for the film to retain its original title and content. Advertisement The controversy has sparked broader conversations about the challenges faced by filmmakers in addressing sensitive subjects while maintaining artistic integrity. (For more news apart from Diljit Dosanjh Jaswant Singh Khalra Biopic Punjab 95 CBFC Obstacle in Release Controversy, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Malaysia's national news agency Bernama Chairman Wong Chun Wai speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A modern and seamless system to welcome travelers combined with favorable policies including visa free travel for Malaysians entering China are boosting people-to-people ties between the two nations by enabling increased tourism and interactions, a Malaysian expert has said. Having traveled to China extensively especially in 2024 in conjunction with official duties related to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China as well as in his personal capacity, Malaysia's national news agency Bernama Chairman Wong Chun Wai told Xinhua in a recent interview. Wong said that free travel to China was impressive, and it was easy to find steps taken by Chinese authorities in welcoming travelers, from automatic entry gates at airports which relay instructions in different languages to the welcoming attitude of local officials. He was amazed by the service at the immigration. "I can't speak Chinese. You don't even need to speak Chinese because you put your passport on the machine and they know you're from Malaysia, and the voice from the machine says 'Welcome to China' in Bahasa Malaysia," he said. Wong also spoke highly of China's railway transport infrastructure, which allowed easy rapid travel from Hangzhou to Shanghai via high speed railway. "I wish that the world could see more of this technology advance in transportation which is carried out by China ... the advancement of technology in transport is really amazing for me. That to me is number one thing that hits me the most every time I go to China," he said. "I will say that, China's biggest eye opener for me is the transformation of the railway network. The railway network is really, really amazing. I think it's the most extensive in the world in terms of high-speed railway," he said. On the significance of the 50th anniversary milestone, Wong said that while a lot have already been accomplished, there is even more to look forward to going forward particularly in economic cooperation as the nature of Malaysia and indeed the whole Southeast Asian region is undergoing a rapid transformation, buoyed by China's economic success. "While Malaysia is small, but we have a big middle-class market. That means there's good purchasing power. So, it's really good that (Chinese automaker) Geely and Proton have come together to work in Malaysia," he said. "It's not just for the Malaysian market but to use it as a leaping hub to send to other countries. But I would really love to see Malaysia and China working together more on technology, and also transportation, I'd say, because there's so much to learn from China in terms of technological advancement," he added. For the upcoming China's National Day, Wong gave his best wishes. "On behalf of Bernama, the Malaysian national news agency, I wish the people of China, the government of China, every success and prosperity in the years to come," he said, hoping that Malaysia and China could go further in terms of people-to-people friendship. Malaysia's national news agency Bernama Chairman Wong Chun Wai speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) Haryana Farmers Organize Training Sessions to Confront BJP Leaders Ahead of Polls BJP candidates have faced angry crowds during recent campaign efforts. Haryana Farmers Ahead of Assembly Elections 2024: In the lead-up to the October 5 Haryana elections, farmers in the state have been organizing "training sessions" to prepare for confrontations with BJP leaders during their campaigns. On Wednesday, Amarjeet Singh Mohri, a 44-year-old local farm leader, held one such session at a gurdwara in Mardon Sahib village, Ambala district, where around 100 farmers gathered to listen. Mohri, who established the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) in 2022, aims to arm farmers with questions to challenge BJP candidates about the government's handling of the Dilli Chalo protests earlier this year. The strategy appears to be working, as BJP candidates have faced angry crowds during recent campaign efforts. Advertisement On September 22, Naraingarh candidate Pawan Sainis convoy was surrounded by farmers on tractors in Fatehgarh village, Ambala, as they demanded answers. Other BJP leaders, including former state Home Minister Anil Vij, Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, and several other candidates, have faced similar pushback from farmers across the region. Farmers anger is rooted in the police response during the protests, where authorities sealed the Haryana-Punjab border to prevent demonstrators from reaching Delhi. The government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was accused of using tear gas, pellet guns, and drones against the farmers, though the police deny the use of anything beyond tear gas. The death of protester Shubhkaran Singh has further fueled resentment, with farmers determined to hold BJP leaders accountable during the election campaign. Advertisement (For more news apart from Haryana Farmers Ahead of Assembly Elections 2024, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Bengaluru Mahalakshmi murder case: Killers Diary Reveals Chilling Confession Police recovered a notebook in which Ray detailed the gruesome murder. Bengaluru Mahalakshmi murder case latest news: In a shocking development in the Mahalakshmi murder case, the prime suspect, Mukti Ranjan Ray, reportedly confessed to the crime in a diary entry and to his mother before taking his own life near his home in Dhusuri, Odisha. Police recovered a notebook in which Ray detailed the gruesome murder, writing in both Odia and English. He claimed that Mahalakshmi, with whom he was in a relationship, had physically assaulted him multiple times for refusing to marry her. Ray also alleged that Mahalakshmi exploited him financially and had planned to kill him, which led him to murder her. Advertisement Ray's mother confirmed that he had confessed to her as well. "He was disturbed because Mahalakshmi was exploiting him. She even took his gold chain and ring," she stated. Ray and Mahalakshmi, who worked together at a garment store in a Bengaluru mall, had been in a troubled relationship. Tensions escalated when Mahalakshmi, who had separated from her husband, pressured Ray for marriage. According to police, fearing arrest as they tracked him down in Odisha, Ray committed suicide. His brother, Satya, revealed that Ray had strangled Mahalakshmi on September 3 during a fight, dismembered her body, and stored the remains in a refrigerator, with plans to dispose of them months later. Advertisement (For more news apart from Bengaluru Mahalakshmi murder case latest news, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Ladowal Toll Plaza Reopens After Employees' Strike Ends It is estimated that over 70,000 vehicles pass through the Ladowal toll plaza daily. Ladowal toll plaza News: The Ladowal toll plaza, one of Punjab's busiest and most expensive tolls, resumed operations on Friday after a brief closure due to an employee strike. Toll workers had shut down the plaza earlier in the day to press for their demands, but the strike was called off following successful negotiations with the management. The employees of the toll plaza had stopped collecting toll fees, but after the company's assurance to meet their demands, they returned to work, and toll collection has since resumed. (Ladowal toll plaza) Advertisement It is estimated that over 70,000 vehicles pass through the Ladowal toll plaza daily, with a revenue of approximately Rs 70 lakh per day. Strike Details Bachittar Singh, President of the Toll Plaza Employees Union District, confirmed that the toll remained closed for about an hour. Punjab Police officials mediated a meeting between the union and the company, leading to an agreement that addressed the workers' concerns. After the agreement, toll collection resumed, and the strike was officially called off. Advertisement Employee Grievances Union leader Darshan Singh Ladi had earlier raised concerns over the lack of basic employee benefits at the toll plaza. Workers were reportedly denied government holidays, PF contributions, and access to welfare schemes like ESI. The toll plaza workers' union had initially announced an indefinite closure starting September 27 but ended the strike after reaching a settlement with the management. With operations back to normal, vehicles are once again being charged toll fees, bringing the brief disruption to an end. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Hospitalized with Artery Inflammation, Still Under Observation The state government initially described his hospital visit as a routine check-up and tests. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Health Update: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was rushed to the emergency ward of a private hospital in Sector 62, Mohali, around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Chief Minister is currently under observation after being admitted due to health concerns. The state government initially described his hospital visit as a routine check-up and tests, with further updates provided later in the day. Advertisement In an official statement, the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) confirmed that various tests were being conducted to assess Mann's condition. "Doctors have found signs of inflammation in one of the arteries in his lungs, which is exerting pressure on his heart, causing fluctuations in his blood pressure," the CMO reported. Additional tests and blood work have been conducted, and Mann is expected to remain under observation overnight. A decision regarding his discharge will be made based on test results expected by Friday morning. This hospital visit follows recent health concerns, as the Chief Minister has fainted three times in the past few days. Most recently, on September 17, Mann fainted after de-boarding a chartered flight at Chandigarh airport, citing low blood pressure. After initial medical attention at his residence, he was advised to fly to a private hospital in Delhi for further evaluation. Sources report that Mann, who arrived at the hospital around midnight, is in stable condition and recovering on the second floor of the Mohali facility. Advertisement (For more news apart from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Health Update, stay tuned to Rozana Spoksesman) Via Danubiana A trail along the Romanian segment of river Danube is about to be created Via Danubiana Eugen Nasta, 27.09.2024, 14:00 Work is in progress, in Romania, for an ecotourism route, meant to provide the explorer with one-of-a-kind experiences, ranging from the natural and cultural heritage to the landscapes, unique in Europe. The Danube Gorges, the Iron Gates, the islands and islets the river forms in its course, the Danube Delta or the spectacular areas where the river flows into the Black Sea, all these are but a few of the Danubes attraction points. The project has been developed by the Greener Association. With more on the association itself, here is its PR director, Alexandra Damian. We have been developing projects in several fields since 2008, when the Association was founded. We seek to build a culture of responsibility and of the volunteering for people and nature, in Romania. We plant trees, we get involved in combatting river Danubes pollution with plastic, we have a large-scale program With Clean Water, where we carry activities of sanitation on banks of the Danube and its tributaries. We installed several floating dams in a bid to stem the flow of waste that are carried by the course of the river and its tributaries, and, basically, we promote the natural areas that can be found in Romania, so we somehow get closer to nature in a way we have forgotten to that, sort of, as of late. Through the creation of a wide-scope ecotourism route along the Danube, tourists who love natural areas will discover the tremendous potential the area offers. Also, the local community will benefit from a sustainable economic development. With details on that here is the Greener Associations PR director, Alexandra Damian. But how the idea of the Via Danubiana came about? The idea of the project has laid dormant for a couple of years now, with us, it existed in a drawer. We very much wanted to create this ecotourism route since we all know the Danube offers unique experiences. From the point where it enters Romania and all the way to the point where if flows into the Black Sea, we come across many beautiful places, a natural and cultural heritage, landscapes which are unique in Europe, reason enough for us to bring to the fore one of Romanias less-promoted areas. In the region, a series of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites have been identified, while the trail crosses forest areas along the shore, islands, canals and islets. As we speak, these are not accessible to the lay public because of the lack of infrastructure and poor promotion. We continue to map the more than one thousand kilometres river Danube flows in Romania. Were speaking about the mapping of the natural objectives, of the cultural and historical assets, of the local cuisine, all that can be found along the river. In the initial stage, we marked the segment flowing through Giurgiu County along a distance or around 100 kilometers, a zone which is rich in protected areas, in Natura 2000 sites, in cultural and historical objectives, which are very important yet very little promoted. The route we have mapped also goes through shore forests, islands, canals, islets lovers of nature will definitely want to discover. In September we placed the first milestone in Giurgiu Countys commune of Gaujani, at the Youth Educational Centre. It is one of the milestone points along the route. Were next going to place two other milestones, in two other strategic points along the route. The route offers a great many ways to spend your leisure time, only one hours drive from Bucharest. For the lovers of nature, the area benefits from an attractive list of species and can become the perfect place for birdwatching and the observation of the fauna and flora that are typical for river Danube. Along the route, we come across several natural protected areas, with more than 300 species of extremely rich flora and fauna, with very important invertebrate species, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. From a cultural and historical point of view, there are several points of interest, which are nonetheless unbeknownst to the lay public and hitherto un-signalled, such as the ruins of Mircea the Elders fortress in Giurgiu, a period half-buried house or the range of bunkers in Slobozia. Also, for those who love the local cuisine, some of the culinary traditions can be revitalized, such as the pies that are specific for the Romanian-Bulgarian space, riparian to the Danube Delta, the pepper salads or the salads prepared with aubergines baked on glowing embers, or the goose thick soup. All the details needed for the journey along the Danube have already been published in a Travellers Guide you can access at viadanubiana.ro. We have already launched the site. There we have GPS coordinates for those who want to walk along the trail, at viadanubiana.ro. Weve also published a Travellers Guide in Giurgiu County. We very much want those who love nature, those who are into outdoor walks, those who love the Danube and the Delta, we want them to come join us. Given that, as we speak, we only map a segment, 100 out of the 1,000 kilometres, they can get involved in all sorts of ways so that we can extend the route, so we can map just as weve mapped Giurgiu County and the other regions along the Danube. Also, donations are welcome, products can be bought in the shop that has especially been created for Via Danubiana. They can obviously get involved as volunteers in the activities we are going to stage and can of course become ambassador of the new route. At vianubiana.ro you can access the whole range of options for the lovers of nature to get involved, in a bid to support the project. So far, appeals to volunteering have been successful, said Greener Associations PR director, Alexandra Damian. Volunteers from outside Romania have also joined in. Weve had, were open and, of course, we shall continue to have volunteers from many countries, especially along the river. We had volunteers from Germany, Austria, Ukraine who helped us in the activities we have staged so far. Thats for sure, we wait them to join us in the future as well. Who has walked a segment along the Danube at least once, theyre sure to have unforgettable memories, related to the impressive landscape offered by the river in certain areas, or to the historical vestiges people come across along the route or to the traditional food carefully prepared by the locals. Added to that are the species of birds and animals that are typical for the region and which, on the banks of the river, they can find food, resting or nesting areas. Furthermore, the Danubes Romanian segment flows through 11 of Romanias main 28 protected areas. Romania, increasingly attractive for immigrants Romania attracts an increasing number of foreign workers, who come to the country for higher salaries and better working conditions. Photo: pixabay.com Mihai Pelin, 27.09.2024, 13:50 Romania is becoming increasingly attractive for foreign workers, according to a study carried out by the Civil Society Development Foundation. In recent years, the labor market has seen a significant increase in the number of foreign employees, exceeding the 200,000 threshold in 2023. This trend reflects an increasing diversification of the workforce, at a time when the country is facing a crisis of human resources in certain sectors. There are several reasons why Romania is becoming a favorite destination for foreign workers. First, the wages offered are often higher compared to those in their home countries, especially for Asian workers. In addition, many Romanian and international companies operating in Romania face a shortage of skilled labor, and bringing in workers from abroad becomes an attractive solution. Although foreign workers contribute to economic growth, they also deal with many challenges, such as abuse by employers. According to the study, the countries of origin of most foreign workers in Romania are Nepal, Turkey, Italy, the Republic of Moldova, Sri Lanka and India. Foreign labor force is hired mostly in sectors like constructions, hospitality and retail. Data from the General Inspectorate for Immigration show that 80% of them do unskilled work. The integration of foreign workers is not easy, but it is important for Romanias economic growth, says Ramona Chiriac, head of the European Union Representation in Romania. Ramona Chiriac: The FDSC study will highlight the language barriers, the ill-adjusted legislation regarding social insurance, in some cases a limited access of workers to quality public services, the various abuses by employers, all of which require new appropriate public policies to transform this phenomenon in a success story, both for Romania and for those who come to Romania. On her part, Victoria Stoiciu, state counsellor with the Prime Ministers Chancellery, said that the representatives of several ministries are working jointly on a legislative framework to help immigrants. This would mean strengthening state control institutions, such as the Labor Inspectorate and ensuring decent working conditions, good wages and protection against human trafficking for immigrants. Hiring foreign workers is a win-win situation, increasing companies efficiency and productivity, while workers enjoy better working and living conditions. Cultural and linguistic differences can, however, create communication barriers, and the working and living conditions for these workers are not always optimal. However, many of them say they are satisfied with the opportunities found in Romania, appreciating both the stability of their jobs and the possibility of sending money home to support their families. After Boris Ashley comes The weather will be getting significantly cooler in Romania starting Sunday due to Ashley Storm, which is expected to arrive here from the Mediterranean Photo: eyeonicimages / pixabay.com Corina Cristea, 27.09.2024, 14:00 Never before had Central Europe seen such heavy rainfalls as those registered over September 12th and 16th when Storm Boris struck Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Austria, Czechia, Italy and Germany, killing 24 and causing significant material damage. Thousands had to leave their houses after their buildings had been affected, bridges collapsed and local infrastructure deteriorated. Effects have not been removed yet and a cyclone from the Mediterranean called Ashley is already visible in Western Europe heading for Romania, whose weather is going to radically change starting Sunday. Authorities are bracing themselves for potential extreme weather phenomena, with highs sharply dropping from 34 down to 15 degrees Celsius, 22 on Sunday and Monday when heavy rainfalls are being expected to hit 90 liters in the countrys south and part of the Carpathians. An exchange of air masses are expected to cause a series of extreme weather phenomena, which require attention in the following period, the head of the National Meteorological Administration, Elena Mateescu says. According to her, we are speaking about significant weather instability, mainly in the west, north-west, of code yellow alerts with the quantities of precipitations estimated at 30-40 liters/square meters, after which we are going to have yellow and orange code alerts all over the country. Code red alerts cannot be excluded if the expected rainfalls are going to hit 100 liters per square meter in 24 hours. Additional intervention forces are to be deployed to the areas the authorities consider of higher risk. The city halls in the aforementioned areas are to take all the necessary measures and get ready to evacuate the vulnerable persons in time. They must also be keeping in touch with the Emergency situation inspectorates. (bill) German automotive parts supplier HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (HLKHF), called FORVIA HELLA, said it cut its fiscal year 2024 outlook due to lower-than-expected production volumes, customer-related postponements of series launches, and effects from customer and product mix. The company now expects annual currency and portfolio-adjusted sales to be in the range of around 7.9 billion euros to 8.1 billion euros, compared to the previous estimate of the lower half of the range of about 8.1 billion euros to 8.6 billion euros. The company now projects an operating income margin for fiscal year 2024 to be between around 5.5% and 6.0%, compared to the previous outlook of the lower half of the range of approximately 6.0% to 7.0%. The company now anticipates a net cash flow in relation to reported sales for the year to be between around 2.2 and 2.7 percent compared to the earlier estimation of at approximately 3 percent. FORVIA HELLA said it decided to expand activities in the American and Asian markets. On the other hand, cost structures are to be further improved overall and the competitiveness program for Europe launched in February of this year is to be accelerated. The company expects positive effects from this as early as 2025. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's broadcasting, television and online audio-visual service industry generated total revenue of 668.3 billion yuan (95.3 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2024, representing 7 percent year-on-year growth. The development of cable TV networks and 5G is progressing in tandem, with over 28 million users now on the broadcasting 5G network, said Zhu Yonglei, deputy head of the National Radio and Television Administration, at a press conference Friday. Official figures show that online audio-visual services continue to thrive -- boasting a user base of 1.07 billion. Zhu emphasized that China has become a major player in the production of broadcasting, TV and online video content, with excellent works produced in various genres. From January to August this year, 148 TV dramas and web series were approved for release. Notably, variety shows have gained immense popularity among viewers. After a flat start, the Indian stocks moved up a bit Friday morning, lifting the benchmark indexes Sensex and the Nifty50 to fresh record highs, but changed course and kept drifting lower as the day progressed as investors chose to take some profits amid a lack of any significant triggers. The BSE benchmark Sensex, which hit a new all-time high at 85,978.25, ended the day with a loss of 264.27 points or 0.31% at 85,571.85, while the broader Nifty50 index of the National Stock Exchange settled with a loss of 37.10 points or 0.14% at 26,178.95, after hitting a new high at 26,277.35. Power Grid Corporation lost about 3%. ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank and Larsen & Toubro lost 1.4 to 2%. Adani Ports ended down 1.1%, while Larsen & Toubro and Hind Unilever closed moderately lower. HeroMotoCorp, Ultratech Cement, Tata Consumer Products and Nestle Industries also closed weak. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries climbed about 2.7%, and index heavyweight Reliance Indutries gained 1.72%. Titan, HCL Technologies, Asian Paints, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys gained 0.4 to 1.5%. BPCL jumped about 6.25%. Cipla gained 3.25% and Divi's Laboratories ended 2.4% up. Eicher Motors, Grasim Industries, Hindalco and Apollo Hospitals Enterprises advanced 1.1 to 1.4%. Shares of Zee Media Corporation soared 10% after the company's board approved issue of up to 13.33 crore warrants worth Rs 200 crore. The market breadth was neutral. On BSE, 1,979 stocks closed higher, while 1,957 stocks ended weak. 124 stocks settled flat. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis President Joe Biden has announced a huge military aid package totaling $7.9 billion to Ukraine. Announcing the biggest U.S. military assistance to Ukraine so far, Biden said that to enhance Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities, he has decided to provide Washington's ally with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition with a range of up to 130 kilometers, which are compatible with F-16 fighters. The AGM-154 JSOW is a glide bomb that deploys a standardized medium range precision guided weapon, especially for engagement of defended targets from outside the range of standard anti-aircraft defenses. The US president also directed the Department of Defense to allocate all of its remaining $5.5 billion security assistance funding that was approved by Congress last fall. This aid expires on September 30, but Biden authorized it under Presidential Drawdown Authority to ensure the funds can be used until the end of his term in office. Additionally, the Pentagon is announcing $2.4 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine's defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. To further strengthen Ukraine's air defenses against Russian missile attacks, Biden directed the Department of Defense to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery and Patriot missiles. This builds on Biden's decision earlier this year to divert U.S. air defense exports to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year and help its security forces defend its cities. Biden said he directed the Department of Defense to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots. American experts will support the training of an additional 18 pilots next year. Biden announced the assistance after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House Thursday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Concord Medical Services Holdings Ltd. (CCM), a Chinese diagnostic imaging centers company, on Friday reported a wider net loss for the first-half, amidst wider foreign exchange loss, negative change in fair value of derivative liability, decline in income from equity investments, and above all, a drop in revenue. For the six-month period to June 30, Concord Medical posted net loss of RMB172.258 million or RMB1.31 per share, wider than RMB90.985 million or RMB0.69 per share, registered for the same period last year. Pre-tax loss stood at RMB337.382 million as against RMB233.761 million in 2023. Foreign exchange loss soared to RMB30.269 million from the prior year's RMB2.444 million. Change in the fair value of derivative liability was negative RMB108.777 million, compared with zero change in fair value of derivative liability a year ago. Operating loss, however, narrowed to RMB197.744 million from last year's RMB214.025 million. Revenue for the first half was RMB218.810 million, down from last year's RMB284.513 million. Revenue from the Hospital segment decreased to RMB137.772 million from RMB158.707 million in 2023. The company said this is due to downsizing certain of its hospital with lower profit margin. The network segment revenue declined to RMB81.038 million from last year's RMB125.806 million. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. Biden outlined his decision to surge U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, and his Ukrainian counterpart presented his plan to achieve victory over Russia. The two leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of Zelensky's plan and tasked their teams to engage in intensive consultations regarding next steps. In her meeting with Zelensky, the U.S. Vice President expressed her unwavering commitment to stand with Ukraine. The two leaders discussed the latest developments on the battlefield, and ongoing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. Harris welcomed continued progress by Ukraine on rule of law reforms and anti-corruption efforts. The two leaders discussed continued U.S. support for bolstering Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure after renewed attacks from Russia. In a read out about the meetings, the White House announced that on October 12, President Biden will host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany. There, Biden and Zelenskyy will review progress on the consultations they had on Thursday, and coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News In Outagamie County, Wisconsin, the Public Health Division has reported a concerning increase in whooping cough (pertussis) cases, with seven confirmed cases since August, bringing the total for 2024 to eight, all involving children. This surge is particularly alarming as the last confirmed case of pertussis in Outagamie County was in 2020, with a total of four cases reported then. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has issued a warning, urging vaccinations due to a significant twelve-fold rise in cases across the state. Sharon Rink, a pediatric physician with ThedaCare in Darboy, highlighted the symptoms of whooping cough. She explained that the initial symptoms include a runny nose, cough, low-grade fever, and feeling unwell. However, about a week or two into the illness, the cough takes a turn for the worst, becoming very frequent and harsh. In severe cases, the coughing fits can lead to gagging, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, often accompanied by the characteristic "whooping" sound. Rink emphasized that while anyone can contract pertussis, infants are especially at risk. She stressed the importance of vaccination as the most effective way to prevent infection. She advised seeking treatment at any stage of the illness to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the disease to others. Pertussis can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and can be fatal, particularly for very young children. Without appropriate treatment, an infected person can spread the disease for up to three weeks after the onset of the cough, as it easily spreads through airborne droplets during talking, sneezing, or coughing. Health officials are urging parents to ensure their children receive the pertussis vaccine. It is recommended that children receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine between the ages of 2 months and 6 years, followed by a dose of the Tdap vaccine at ages 11 or 12. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Health News An article from The Wall Street Journal reports that Google has made a substantial investment of $2.7 billion to bring back Noam Shazeer, the 48-year-old co-founder of Character.AI. Shazeer, who had previously worked at Google, left the company in 2021 to pursue his own entrepreneurial ambitions after Google decided against launching a chatbot he had developed in collaboration with his colleague Daniel De Freitas. This decision led Shazeer and De Freitas to establish Character.AI, which quickly gained traction as a leading AI startup in Silicon Valley, achieving a remarkable valuation of $1 billion just last year. The $2.7 billion deal is not merely a financial transaction; it encompasses a licensing agreement that allows Google to leverage Character.AI's innovative while simultaneously facilitating the return of Shazeer, De Freitas, and several key members of their research team to Google's AI division, DeepMind. This strategic move, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, is designed to enhance Google's capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Rather than pursuing a full acquisition of Character.AI, which would have involved lengthy regulatory processes and potential delays, Google opted for this licensing arrangement. This approach enables the tech giant to access and utilize Character.AI's intellectual property more swiftly and efficiently, thereby accelerating its AI development initiatives. Shazeer's return to Google is seen as a pivotal element of this agreement, with many insiders at the company expressing optimism about the potential impact of his expertise. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has publicly voiced his confidence in Shazeer's abilities, suggesting that he possesses the talent and vision necessary to create an AI model that could exhibit human-like intelligence. "If there's anybody I can think of in the world who's likely to do it, it's going to be him," Schmidt was quoted as saying of Shazeer during a talk at Stanford University in 2015. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The new Maruti Swift CNG variants commands the highest mileage (fuel efficiency) in its segment at 32.85 km/kg The 2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift premium hatchback, launched in May this year, is a consistent top ranker in its segment after the WagonR. To add further impetus to this model, the company has introduced the S-CNG version earlier this month. The Swift CNG is Maruti Suzukis latest CNG powered vehicle for the Indian markets and initial models have started moving into showrooms. Maruti Swift CNG Reach Showrooms Presented in 3 variants of VXi, VXi (O) and ZXi, the new Maruti Swift S-CNG is priced from Rs 8.19-9.19 lakh (ex-showroom), a premium of Rs 90,000 over its petrol counterpart. Maruti Suzuki is also offering buyers of the new Swift CNG via the subscription program. This allows buyers to use the car at a monthly fee from Rs 21,628 that includes registration, insurance, maintenance, etc. Though priced higher than its arch rivals such as the Tata Tiago CNG and Grand i10 Nio CNG, the Maruti Swift does bring more to the table. This is not only in terms of features, technology and safety but more particularly where its claimed fuel efficiency is concerned. Fuel efficiency is ranked highest in its segment at 32.85 km/kg. In contrast, the Tata Tiago CNG offers 26.49 km/kg while the Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS offers 27 km/kg. The new CNG powered Swift hatchback retains its sporty stance but gets added features lower variants in the form if Smart Play Pro infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. As seen in the video by sansCARi sumit, Maruti Suzuki has added an external CNG filler with 4th Gen Swift S-CNG, which needs manual locking and unlocking. Previous gen model had it integrated in the petrol filler cap, which was internally operated. Also, the CNG cylinder is still a single-piece unit, unlike immediate rivals offering vastly more convenient twin-cylinder setup. Maruti Suzuki Swift S-CNG Engine Specs Maruti Swift S-CNG is powered by a 1.2 liter, 3 cylinder, Z Series petrol engine that offers 80 hp power and 112 Nm torque in standard mode. In CNG model this output decreases to 69 hp power and 102 Nm torque. The engine is mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox with significantly higher fuel efficiency at 32.85 km/kg. However, fuel efficiency can vary depending on the driving conditions, driving skills, and various other factors. In contrast, the earlier 3rd-gen Swift CNG model offered fuel efficiency at 30.9 km/kg. Apart from improved mileage, Maruti also claims that the new Swift S-CNG offers around 6% lower CO2 emissions as compared to its earlier model. With the new Maruti Swift S-CNG having been moved into company showrooms, deliveries are set to commence from this weekend. Deliveries are being initiated in Gujarat first and will be followed in states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Deliveries will subsequently commence in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. CONAKRY, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Guinean presidency on Thursday officially denied rumors of gunfire in the commune of Kaloum, home to the presidential palace. "On the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, a wild rumor of alleged gunfire at the Presidency of the Republic was spread in the city and abroad," said General Amara Camara, the spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic, in an official statement. He noted that this misinformation caused panic in places in the commune of Kaloum and throughout Conakry. In response, he reassured both national and international audiences that these rumors are "false and fabricated," as outlined in the statement. The spokesperson urged the people of Conakry to "continue to freely go about their daily business." However, unofficial sources indicated that gunfire was reported in the vicinity of the Mohammed V Palace, which is located in the Boulbinet district near a military camp of the presidential guard. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday that China is ready to work with Denmark to plan for the next stage of high-level exchanges and guide the development of bilateral relations. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He also noted that next year will mark the 75th anniversary of China-Denmark diplomatic ties. China, Wang said, is committed to the path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Denmark and other European countries in green transformation. For his part, Rasmussen said Denmark adheres to the one-China policy. He also said that his country, whose development has benefited from free trade, will continue to stick to free trade and promote economic globalization, adding he hopes that the EU and China can find a proper way to handle trade frictions. Maria's job involves extensive driving, but not just around the block. She drives BEV buses across Europe to test them in different weather conditions, road types, traffic situations and charging stations. She has driven BEV buses and trucks for over 20,000 km across Europe and charged heavy-duty BEVs at more than 70 different stations. Maria meticulously prepares each vehicle with the latest software and hardware and ensures compliance with testing regulations. Accompanied by a team of two to three persons, they measure the energy consumption, the driveline performance, the gear-changing capability, the temperature control and other parameters. She leverages apps for navigation and truck charging stations, while also evaluating the drivers impact on vehicle performance. Because the work is unpredictable, her ability to adapt is crucial. She is prepared for unexpected delays, setbacks, and even public applause. Post-trips, Maria's analyses lead to actionable improvements, collaborating across teams to enhance vehicle software and hardware. BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Driven by a surge in demand for cross-border tourism, China is projected to see 1.75 million inbound and outbound trips per day during the upcoming National Day holiday period, up 18.5 percent year on year, authorities said on Friday. Traffic peaks are expected to fall on Oct. 1 and Oct. 6, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said, adding that passenger flow is climbing at major international airports, while remaining high at land ports adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao. The NIA has asked border officers to strengthen their monitoring of traffic and port operations and to release traffic updates early to help travelers plan their trips. Additionally, guidance and organization will be enhanced, with sufficient personnel deployed and extra inspection lanes opened to accommodate the surge, according to the NIA. China celebrates its National Day on Oct. 1. The holiday runs from Oct. 1 to Oct. 7. GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is making steady progress thanks to higher spending in education and the country's vast talent pool, with a three-place increase in the 2024 World Talent Ranking, an expert from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has said. The 2024 World Talent Ranking report, released by the IMD on Sept. 19, combines survey data from the IMD's World Competitiveness Center (WCC) with external sources and sets both in the context of findings from the International Labour Organization (ILO). China increased by three positions in the ranking this year, from 41st to 38th place, said Professor Arturo Bris, director of IMD's WCC. "The strength of China lies in the country's ability to tap the talent that they need. The country is so big, and the talent pool is so large that they find the skills that they are looking for," Bris told Xinhua in a virtual interview. "China needs to employ a lot of people ... China has the ability to invest in education. This is what we call internal development, and here you see significant improvement," he added. "This year is an important year because of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology on jobs, on talent, and on the competitiveness of countries," Bris said. "We need to realize that there are two different forces. The first force is that AI is going to replace jobs and eliminate certain tasks. This can be detrimental to the competitiveness of countries," he said. "But on the other hand, AI is going to make countries more productive and competitive. The result of this technology will be going in one direction or the other," Bris said. He added that the most developed economies will suffer the most from jobs being replaced by AI as "5 percent of jobs in developed economies are in danger, while only 0.6 percent of jobs in developing economies are in danger." The report also emphasized how much AI is seen to enhance tasks in different economies, the likelihood of men's versus women's employment to be affected by automation, and how talent competitiveness requires a reassessment of educational systems and corporate training programs. "For countries to be talent-competitive, governments need to take a very important stance on their education systems," Bris said, stressing the need to make sure that education systems incorporate technology and AI into the skills of both students and employees. HANGZHOU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- East China's Zhejiang Province is becoming friendlier to newlyweds after it moved to extend marriage leave. On Friday, the Standing Committee of the 14th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, the local legislature, passed a regulation extending paid marriage leave from three to thirteen days. The regulation took effect the same day. Economic and social development and increased population mobility have led to a higher proportion of inter-city and inter-provincial marriages, accounting for about one-sixth and one-ninth, respectively, said Wang Renyuan, director of the Zhejiang provincial health commission. As a result, the current three-day marriage leave is difficult to meet the time needed for pre-marital examination, marriage registration, wedding banquet, traveling between hometown and workplace, and honeymoon trip, Wang said. Nationwide, 24 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have extended marriage leave with local regulations, Wang said. In the Yangtze River Delta region, marriage leave is ten days in Shanghai and 13 days in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. China's provincial-level regions have the autonomy to determine the length of marriage leave, often influenced by local customs and demographic policies. Some regions have introduced generous benefits to encourage marriage and childbirth in response to demographic challenges. Shanxi Province, for example, offers newlywed couples 30 days of paid marriage leave. "Since 2016, especially since 2023, there have been more public calls for the extension of marriage leave," Wang said. "Many provincial people's congress deputies and political advisors also have put forward relevant suggestions and proposals." Local authorities in Zhejiang also hope to encourage marriage and childbirth by extending marriage leave. In recent years, the province has seen a decline in the number of marriages, while people are also marrying at an older age. Local data showed that Zhejiang recorded 301,000 registered marriages in 2023, sharply down from 442,000 in 2012. Meanwhile, the average age of first marriage for women rose from 24.2 to 27.5. Under the new regulation, employees who register their marriage under the law are entitled to 13 days of paid marriage leave within one year of registering their marriage. Holidays and weekends are not counted. With the employer's consent, the validity date for marriage leave could be extended by half a year. Trade unions at all levels should fully participate in the consultation and effectively safeguard employees' and employers' rights and interests, said Lyu Zhiliang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress. Couples may take their marriage leave in one go or in stages after consulting with their employer. People who married less than a year before the new regulation was adopted are still entitled to extended leave. Extending marriage leave will not necessarily increase the birth rate, but such policies, including longer marriage leave and maternity leave, could have some impact on the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to Xu Ming'en, another member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress. SMEs should be watched over the implementation of the regulation, and efforts should be made to protect the rights and interests of employees while taking into account their actual situation, as they often have a small number of employees, Xu said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a meeting of foreign ministers of BRICS countries at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The BRICS countries should contribute to the promotion of an equal and orderly multi-polar world and economic globalization that benefits all, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting of foreign ministers of BRICS countries. Common security must be advocated to achieve lasting peace, Wang said. No country has the right to control the global security agenda, let alone to build its own security over the insecurity of others, he added. Wang said the BRICS countries must give priority to development and solve development problems, focus on the urgent needs of developing countries in poverty reduction, development financing, energy and food security, and seize the opportunities of technological revolution and industrial transformation. The BRICS countries should practice multilateralism and improve global governance, support the full participation of the Global South countries in international economic decision-making, governance and rule-making, and enhance their voice and representation. On the same day, during a meeting among the Committee of Ten (C10) Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform and foreign ministers of five UN Security Council permanent members, Wang called for continuously increasing representation and voice of developing countries. He said it is necessary to anchor the reform path that gives priority to special arrangements for Africa. President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Brazilian Ambassador to China Marcos Galvao in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua on Friday met with Brazilian Ambassador to China Marcos Galvao in Beijing. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, Fu said that Xinhua is willing to work with Brazilian media organizations to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, continue promoting people-to-people exchange between the two nations, and make contributions to the next "50 golden years" of bilateral relations. Noting that Brazil will host this year's G20 Leaders' Summit, Fu said that Xinhua will leverage its advantage of global presence to cover the event, making contributions to the modernization of the Global South. Galvao said that the Brazilian embassy in China is willing to facilitate exchange and cooperation between Xinhua and people from all walks of life in Brazil, help enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, and promote further development of the Brazil-China friendship. DAMASCUS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Around 42,000 people have entered Syria to flee the Israeli offensive in Lebanon between Tuesday and midday Thursday, according to a Syrian official. The arrivals, via the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing, include 31,000 Syrians and 11,000 Lebanese nationals. Jassem Al-Mahmoud, a local deputy governor, said that the Lebanese arrivals have been accommodated in shelters prepared by the governorate, including three hotels in south of Damascus and centers in rural Damascus. Shelters have been erected throughout the province, and all necessary services are being provided to those staying in the centers, as authorities work to manage the growing number of arrivals, the deputy governor added. The surge in crossings followed days of Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, prompting a mass exodus of families seeking refuge in Syria. Syria and Lebanon share some 375 km of border, with the Jdeidat Yabous crossing, also known as the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon, being one of five major routes between the two countries. London stocks were set to rise at the open on Friday following gains on Wall Street, as investors eyed the release of the Federal Reserves favourite gauge of inflation. The FTSE 100 was called to open around 10 points higher. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said the core PCE index for August is expected to remain unchanged at 0.2% on a monthly basis and print a small uptick - from 2.6% to 2.7% - on a yearly basis. "Additionally, the personal income may have risen faster, but personal spending a bit slower than the previous month. A set of data in line with expectations will certainly keep the soft-landing vibes in play and secure a 43rd record high for the S&P 500 before the weekly closing bell," she said. "But a stronger-than-expected PCE read, God forbid, could bring the idea that the Fed and the dovish Fed expectations may have gone ahead of themselves and call for some correction. Yesterdays robust GDP read brough the probability of 50bp cut at the November meeting slightly below 50%, but the chances are still very close to a coin toss." In corporate news, food producer Cranswick said it expected annual results to be at the upper end of expectations after first-half trading came in ahead of the previous year. The company said it was still cautious about current market and wider economic and geopolitical conditions, but noted that trading since the end of the first quarter has been stronger than previously expected, underpinned by continued robust volume growth in our core UK food business (and) a positive ongoing contribution from our expanding pig farming operations. Market expectations for adjusted pre-tax profit at 27 September 2024 between 179.2m and 191.7m. Clinical-stage biotherapeutics company PureTech Health announced that the schizophrenia treatment it developed, which was later sold to Bristol Myers Squibb, has been approved by US regulators, triggering a $29m payment and unlocking potential future royalties. 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 Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China held for foreign experts in various fields at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China was held for foreign experts in various fields on Friday evening at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the reception and, on behalf of the Chinese government and President Xi Jinping, conveyed thanks and regards to foreign experts and China's international friends for their support of China's reform, opening-up and modernization drive. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China's progress over the past 75 years has been a result of the unremitting efforts of Chinese people of all ethnic groups and the hard work of foreign experts in various fields. "Over the past 75 years, groups of foreign experts have made indelible contributions to the construction of China's socialist modernization, which the Chinese people will always remember," Ding said. He noted that the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic arrangements for the deepening of reform on all fronts, and for the promotion of Chinese modernization. China adheres to a more active, open and effective talent policy, which will provide greater convenience, improved services and a better environment for foreign experts living and working in China, he said. It is hoped that the vast number of foreign experts in China will continue to care for and support China's development, and be good builders of Chinese modernization, good bridges for exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and good non-governmental ambassadors to enhance friendship, Ding said. China also hopes that foreign experts in the country will make new, greater contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, he added. India signs treaty to conserve marine biodiversity in high seas. External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar signed Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction(BBNJ) Agreement know as 'High Seas Treaty', the treaty is aimed to improve its strategic presence in areas beyond its normal Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) for a step towards ensuring that the marine life and the entities associated with it remain healthy and resilient. The BBNJ Agreement, or the 'High Seas Treaty' is an international treaty under the United Nations Conservation on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).It marks a significant step towards the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond EEZ in the global common oceans open to all international lawful activities. The goals of the treaty allies with protection of marine biodiversity in high seas by all a coordinated effort aiming to improve marine health. All Parties who signs the treaty cannot claim or exercise rights over marine resources sourced from high seas. Bodies of United Nations will administrate the ocean bodies and conduct environmental impact due to the treaty, In hopes to bring about collaborative permanent positive change for a harmonious future. The coworking industry of India is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and MySoho, co-founded by Tushar Mittal, Ashu Kapoor, and Navneet Gill is at the forefront of this shift. Born in 2020, MySoho offers premium, private office solutions in Indias Tier-II cities, attracting businesses seeking flexible, fully serviced workspaces. With an asset-light model and a focus on growth, MySoho is making waves in the Indian real estate and coworking sectors. The Rise of Coworking: Indias Next Big Business Revolution Coworking, once perceived as a niche market, has become a game-changer in the global workspace industry now. These are shared spaces that offer businesses the opportunity to rent short-term office spaces with premium amenities, minus the cost and commitment of long-term office leases. Traditionally, coworking spaces were designed as community-driven environments where freelancers, startups, and small businesses could work flexibly. However, the sector has since evolved into a mainstream solution offering private offices, conference rooms, and even virtual office services. India has been experiencing a boom in coworking since 2015 in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. According to industry reports, Indias coworking market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15-20%. With businesses increasingly adopting hybrid work models and seeking cost-effective office solutions, coworking has quickly become the preferred choice for new-age enterprises. Tier-II Cities of India: The Explosive Growth Hubs for Coworking Although the coworking wave started in India's major Tier-I cities, Tier-II cities are quickly becoming the next hotspots for expansion. Especially Since the 2020 pandemic, talent has returned home, prompting businesses to prioritize local infrastructure improvements in these so-called small towns. Cities like Chandigarh, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, and Indore are witnessing a seismic hike in demand for flexible workspaces. But why are these cities so attractive for coworking expansion? Lower Costs: Office spaces in Tier-II cities are significantly more affordable than their Tier-I counterparts. This allows coworking operators to offer premium services at a fraction of the cost. Office spaces in Tier-II cities are significantly more affordable than their Tier-I counterparts. This allows coworking operators to offer premium services at a fraction of the cost. Rising Business Opportunities: With improved infrastructure and government initiatives focused on regional development, businesses are increasingly setting up operations in these smaller cities. The availability of skilled talent in these regions is also expanding, creating a demand for office spaces. With improved infrastructure and government initiatives focused on regional development, businesses are increasingly setting up operations in these smaller cities. The availability of skilled talent in these regions is also expanding, creating a demand for office spaces. Growing Office Space Market: According to a report, flexible workspace absorption in Tier-II cities reached 1.6 million sq. ft. by September 2023, with coworking operators actively seeking to expand in cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Chandigarh. Tier-II cities now offer modern office parks that rival those found in larger metros, attracting more businesses and professionals. MySoho: Leading the Charge in the Coworking Revolution Among the many coworking players in India, MySoho has carved out a unique position for itself. Unlike traditional coworking models that emphasize open spaces and community-driven work environments, MySoho offers fully serviced, private offices tailored to businesses specific needs. Tailor-Made Solutions: MySoho provides aesthetically designed, customizable office layouts, from open seating to private cubicles, allowing businesses to build their workspace according to their preferences. MySoho provides aesthetically designed, customizable office layouts, from open seating to private cubicles, allowing businesses to build their workspace according to their preferences. One-cheque solution: From administrative tasks to managing resources and equipment, MySoho ensures smooth operations, all included in a simple monthly rent payment. As MySoho co-founder Navneet Gill says, MySoho is fully committed to delivering operational excellence. We don't just offer office spaceswe deliver a complete ecosystem with end-to-end office solutions at transparent pricing. At MySoho, our mission is to empower businesses to focus solely on their growth, while we handle everything else. Client-Centric Experience: The company focuses heavily on offering an exceptional client experience, bearing the burden of entire office operations management, along with services like boardrooms on-demand and flexible lease terms. MySohos focus on Tier-II cities gives it an edge. By tapping into underserved markets, the company has been able to offer high-quality, affordable office solutions. We designed essential features in Tier-II towns that enable businesses to set up, scale, or downsize effortlessly. This flexibility has been the driving force behind MySoho's rapid expansion across multiple cities, says co-founder Tushar Mittal. Why MySoho is Set to Dominate Coworkings Future MySohos innovative business model, focus on high-growth markets, and efficient cost structure make it a compelling investment opportunity. EBITDA-Positive Business: MySoho has demonstrated a strong financial performance, maintaining profitability while expanding rapidly. Their asset-light model ensures scalability without the heavy capital investments typical in real estate. MySoho has demonstrated a strong financial performance, maintaining profitability while expanding rapidly. Their asset-light model ensures scalability without the heavy capital investments typical in real estate. Capex-Lite Model: MySohos asset-light approach means the company does not own the properties it manages. Instead, they lease and customize spaces, sharing revenue with landlords. This allows for rapid expansion without the capital-intensive requirements of traditional office real estate. MySohos asset-light approach means the company does not own the properties it manages. Instead, they lease and customize spaces, sharing revenue with landlords. This allows for rapid expansion without the capital-intensive requirements of traditional office real estate. Strategic Expansion into High-Growth Markets: With a clear focus on Tier-II cities, MySoho is positioned to capture a significant share of the coworking market in emerging regions. With a clear focus on Tier-II cities, MySoho is positioned to capture a significant share of the coworking market in emerging regions. Proven Market Opportunity: The coworking market in India is poised for exponential growth. Mittal highlights, "The market potential in Tier-II towns is immense, valued at 9,000 to 10,000 crores. MySoho is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this opportunity." MySohos Vision: Scaling New Heights Co-founder Ashu Kapoor explains, MySoho is already thriving in key locations like Chandigarh Tricity, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala, and Bhopal. But this is only the beginning. Over the next two years, we plan to expand nationally into 25 Tier-II cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, and Gurgaon. Each new location will deliver over 25,000 square feet of premium, flexible workspacedriving growth for businesses across Indias most dynamic markets. By targeting Central Business Districts, and ensuring accessibility and compliance, the company is strategically positioned for sustainable growth. With demand for coworking spaces surging in Indias Tier-II cities, MySoho stands out for its growth potential, scalability, and profitability. As a pioneering force in this evolving market, they offer investors a prime opportunity to shape the future of workspaces in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the leadership team of Tata Sons and Taiwan-based Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC), where they discussed progress on semiconductor manufacturing projects in India. PSMC expressed keen interest in expanding its presence in the country. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, 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. The Government of India previously approved a proposal from Tata Electronics to establish a large semiconductor fabrication facility (Fab) in Dholera, Gujarat, in collaboration with PSMC. The Fab, with an investment of up to Rs 91,000 crores (around USD 11 billion), is expected to create over 20,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs in the region. This marks Tata Electronics' entry into the global semiconductor market. Tata Electronics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, is collaborating with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) to construct Indias first AI-enabled, state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication facility. This Fab will have a production capacity of up to 50,000 wafers per month and will feature advanced factory automation using data analytics and machine learning to achieve industry-leading efficiency. Stocks to Watch, Friday, September 27, 2024: Indian equity benchmark indices are poised for a positive start on Friday, following gains in the US markets and rising trends in Asia. This upward movement is reflected in GIFT Nifty futures, which were trading at 26,349 at 7:10 AM, indicating an increase of approximately 40 points from the last close of Nifty futures. Most markets in the Asia-Pacific region saw upward movement, spurred by gains in Chinese stocks. In Hong Kong, futures for the Hang Seng index reached 20,575, suggesting an opening gain of over 3 percent compared to the previous close of 19,924.58. HDFC Bank: HDFC Bank Ltd. has divested a housing loan portfolio valued at Rs 60 billion ($717 million) as part of its strategy to lessen credit exposure in response to increasing regulatory pressures. The portfolio was sold through private transactions to approximately six state-owned banks, as per sources familiar with the situation. Furthermore, the bank also securitized a separate pool of car loans amounting to Rs 90.6 billion, which was structured into pass-through certificates. Godrej Properties: Godrej Properties has announced plans to explore fundraising options, with the board meeting set for October 1 to consider various methods. According to a regulatory filing, options include issuing equity shares and other securities via public offerings, private placements, or rights issues. IT Stocks: Major IT companies such as Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech, and Tech Mahindra are likely to attract attention following Accenture's positive revision of its revenue guidance for FY25. The IT consulting and services leader has raised its projected growth rate for FY25 to between 3% and 6%, despite falling short of its FY24 target of 1.5% to 2.5%. Accenture, which operates on a SeptemberAugust fiscal year, also announced a $4 billion share buyback and surpassed quarterly earnings expectations. This strong performance was largely fueled by robust demand for services related to generative AI technologies, which assist businesses in improving their operational efficiency. RITES: RITES Limited, a government-owned engineering consultancy, has been selected as the lowest bidder for a competitive tender issued by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC). The contract, valued at Rs 87.58 crore, was announced in a recent exchange filing. Leading the consortium, RITES will undertake the project, enhancing its presence in the urban transport sector. Indian Bank: The board of Indian Bank has sanctioned the raising of Rs 5,000 crore through long-term infrastructure bonds to finance projects across multiple sectors. This issuance adds to the Rs 5,000 crore the bank has already secured in FY25, underscoring its commitment to supporting long-term infrastructure development. Prataap Snacks: Authum Investment and Infrastructure, in partnership with Mahi Madhusudan Kela, has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Prataap Snacks Ltd., as per an exchange filing. The agreement involves acquiring a 46.85% stake from the company's private equity promoters. Upon completion of the deal, Authum will hold a 42.31% stake in the snack manufacturer. The total transaction is valued at Rs 846.6 crore, with shares being purchased at Rs 746 each. NIFTY Rejig: The NIFTY50 index is set to undergo a semi-annual rejig, with Tata Group's retail subsidiary Trent and state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) being added to the index. They will replace Divi's Laboratories and IT company LTIMindtree, resulting in a change to the index's composition. Railtel: Railtel Corporation has recently obtained a significant work order worth Rs 155 crore from the Rural Development Department of Mantralaya, Maharashtra. This order pertains to the operationalization of the ASSK-GP project in areas such as Konkan, Pune, and Nashik. Renowned for its telecom infrastructure services, Railtel will oversee the project's implementation, which includes a substantial technological upgrade. Reliance Power: has announced that its subsidiary, Rosa Power, has repaid Rs 850 crore of its outstanding debt to Singapore-based lender Varde Partners. This repayment is a major milestone in Rosa Power's aim to become debt-free. The company anticipates settling the remaining debt in the next quarter, with plans for full repayment before the conclusion of the current fiscal year. Reliance Power has announced that its subsidiary, Rosa Power, has repaid Rs 850 crore of its outstanding debt to Singapore-based lender Varde Partners. This repayment is a major milestone in Rosa Power's aim to become debt-free. The company anticipates settling the remaining debt in the next quarter, with plans for full repayment before the conclusion of the current fiscal year. Torrent Pharmaceuticals: Torrent Pharmaceuticals has categorically denied allegations that its Shelcal 500 product did not pass a quality test conducted by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO). In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the company stated that the claims relate to a single batch of Shelcal 500, which was marked as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ) in CDSCOs monthly drug alert for August 2024. Torrent asserts that Shelcal 500 continues to comply with all necessary quality standards. People are seen at Waterloo Station in London, Britain, on May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying) 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. LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- 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. Passengers walk past a notice of industrial action at Waterloo Station in London, Britain, on May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying) The company said a full investigation is underway. The incident follows a similar cyberattack in early September that targeted Transport for London, comprising personal details of some 5,000 customers. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaged in discussions with key United Nations leaders, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang, who commended India's influential role on the global stage. During their meeting, Guterres expressed gratitude for India's collaboration with the UN, as noted by his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. The trio discussed various pressing issues, including the Summit of the Future and its implementation, climate change, advancements in Artificial Intelligence, and current geopolitical developments. This Summit recently adopted the Pact for the Future, which sets a strategic direction for the UN in addressing looming global crises. Yang acknowledged Indias significant contributions to advancing the interests of the Global South. He mentioned their discussions regarding the priorities for the ongoing 79th session of the General Assembly (UNGA79) and building upon the Summit's outcomes. EAM Jaishankar affirmed India's commitment to supporting Yang's vision of "Unity in Diversity, Peace, Human Sustainability, and Dignity for everyone everywhere", through a post on X (formerly Twitter). In addition to these high-level discussions, EAM Jaishankar met with several other leaders on the sidelines of the General Assemblys high-level meeting. He noted a productive conversation with Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Tim Kabba, praising Sierra Leone's leadership in promoting reformed multilateralism. As the President of the Security Council, Sierra Leone has highlighted the need for reform in recent discussions. Jaishankar also spoke with Belarus Foreign Minister Makshim Ryzhenkov about potential collaborations in health, education, technology, and enhancing economic ties. He and Romania's Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu reviewed their growing bilateral engagements in tourism, defense, and mobility, while also exchanging views on the situation in Ukraine. bilateral relationships in sustainable development, investment, and the mobility of skilled workers, alongside perspectives on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, Jaishankar shared that he had a 'good first meeting' with Maria Stenergard, discussing the deepening ofinvestment, and the mobility of skilled workers, alongside perspectives on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region. Finally, he met with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi, focusing their discussions on the ongoing situation in West Asia, and engaged with other Foreign Ministers, including Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Seyed Abbas Araghchi of Iran, Albert Shingiro of Burundi, and Kamina J Smith of Jamaica. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The $111 million Living Breakwaters project off the Tottenville coast is officially complete, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday. New York is leading the nation in combatting the climate crisis and building resilient communities, Hochul said. As we have experienced several historic storms this summer, extreme weather is the new normal and it is vital that we adapt to our changing climate. Living Breakwaters exemplifies our long-term strategy to lessen the impact of storms, improve our shorelines and protect homes and businesses for generations to come. The project, which has been underway for the past few years, is made up of a series of eight separate in-water structures spanning 2,400 linear feet off the South Shore of Staten Island. They are designed to break turbulent wave energy that swings into the shore of Tottenville during serious storms, so that the resulting waves that pass through the gaps arent as vicious. Using a combination of engineering, massive stones and ecologically-enhanced concrete, the effort is expected to reduce the impact of waves, foster habitat for marine life and mitigate beach erosion. At a May beach walk and kayaking event, Pippa Brashear, resilience principal and partner at SCAPE Landscape Architecture passed around Styrofoam information boards that depicted different parts of the Living Breakwaters, including 800 horseshoe-shaped tide pools made of ECOncrete, which helps build up local marine life, supporting the food chain for top predators, like seals, and mitigate climate change by storing carbon in calcitic organisms like oysters,according to the ECOncrete website. Pippa Brashear of SCAPE Landscape Architecture speaks about the Living Breakwaters project on May 19, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney) Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney Live oysters are expected to be given homes in the Breakwaters, with their installation being in the early permitting phase, and is expected to be completed by 2027, according to a written statement from the governors office. Brashear had discussed the need for the project, which was sparked after the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Multiple lives and homes were lost in Tottenville, including 13-year-old Angela Dresch and her father, George. Through conversations with residents and stakeholderswalling off the beach here wasnt really something that was feasible. But how do you take the risk and damage of what happened during Sandy out of the equation? Brashear explained. What came out of this was the Living Breakwaters, which are designed to break waves. One of the final stages of the project included a sand restoration project to help rebuild the lost coastline that was taken by Hurricane Sandy. From January 2024 to April 2024, 22,000 tons of sand were trucked in from New Jerseys North American Aggregates in Perth Amboy. Thats approximately 35 truckloads of sand being brought in daily while the zone was active. But will the breakwaters truly help stop flooding and rising tides when it comes down to it? Construction equipment is seen near a breakwater on May 19, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney) Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanographer William Sweet, who holds a doctorate degree, isnt convinced. Thats really for more of a storm surge, right? Waves and surge, lets slow it down. .. Thats not going to do much just [for] the high tides as they just creep in and out. The tides are going to go wherever they want to go; nothings going stop them. You might put a storm surge gate up. Thats what theyre talking about for New York City and Boston Lets put these giants storm surge gates up, we gotta protect ourselves and the surges of the future. But those arent meant to shut during high tides. These are meant to shut maybe once a year, [with] the amount of money it cost to shut them and operate them but its not going to feed navigation, he said in an interview earlier this summer. As sea levels rise and high tides, full moon tides, prevailing wind tides, start hitting up against the coast, its not necessarily violent. These Breakwaters are going to do nothing. Water is just going to go right by them and its just going to flood the coast. There are some shared solution spaces with storm surge and rough waters and sea level rise, but theyre not one in the same, Sweet explained. Broken and downed construction fencing is pictured at the end of Manhattan Street in Tottenville as another part of the Living Breakwaters project is seen in the water on April 16, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney)Staten Island Advance/Jillian Delaney The projects cost bounced around prior to and throughout its construction, with predictions ranging from $107 million to $114 million. In the final breakdown, the project was funded by $97 million of HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding and by $14 million from a direct capital allocation in the FY 2022 state budget, the written statement detailed. It was administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewals (HCR) Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, a permanent office which assumed the portfolio of the Governors Office of Storm Recovery in 2022. The governors announcement comes during Climate Week, which is an annual gathering of leaders from across the world to champion climate action. Americans can once again order free, at-home coronavirus (COVID-19) tests from the federal government. Every household in the country can now place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests capable of detecting current variants from COVIDTests.gov. The tests will be delivered directly to your home, with shipments starting Monday, Sept. 30. And if you already have at-home tests, make sure to check if expiration dates have been extended before you throw them away. Rapid antigen tests can be self-administered. Results are available within 15 to 30 minutes. How do you order the rapid at-home kits? Americans can order a test online at COVIDTests.gov or go directly to the United States Postal Service (USPS) at special.usps.com/testkits. The program will limit the number of tests sent to each household to four. Do you need to pay? Orders will ship free and will be delivered by USPS through First Class Package Service, with shipments to Alaska, Hawaii and the United States Territories and APO/FPO/DPO addresses sent through Priority Mail. Once your order is shipped, you will receive an email with an estimated delivery date and a tracking number. You can track the status of your delivery on USPS.com. What if you dont have access to the website? People who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Do you need health insurance? The four tests will be provided free via the website, and health insurance is not required. What if the tests arrive with expired dates? Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may be able to use your COVID-19 tests after the expiration date that is printed on the box, according to the federal government. To find out if your test has an extended expiration date, check the FDAs list of extended expiration dates. When should I test for COVID-19? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you have symptoms, test immediately. If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least five full days after exposure before testing. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result. You may also consider testing before contact with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19. How do I know if I have COVID-19? People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness, the CDC states. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure, and anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Symptoms include: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Clifton man found guilty this past May in the shooting death of a Staten Island grandmother was sentenced in state Supreme Court, St. George on Wednesday. Shaheem Chavis, 46, received life without parole for first degree murder and was handed an additional 35 years for attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the 2022 slaying that played out inside 260 Park Hill Ave. in his community. The victim, 61-year-old Nadine Davis Russell, was found shot execution style in her apartment in the early morning hours of Sept. 21, 2022. Another man, reportedly a longtime friend of Russells and who was shot twice that day testified as a witness in the case. Chavis testified at trial he was in the middle of using Russells bathroom on the morning of the slaying when he heard two loud bangs and emerged to find Russells male friend pointing a gun at him. The two bullet holes in the other man, Chavis claimed, were the result of a violent struggle between the two, and that it was the other man who killed Russell. But prosecutors contended it was the other man who dialed 911 and remained at the scene. That call was played multiple times for the jury. When Executive Assistant District Attorney Adam Silberlight asked if he noticed Russells lifeless body on the floor in what one detective described as a large pool of blood and brain matter in a narrow hallway, Chavis said he did not. I was out of my mind, he said. I needed to get the hell out of there. Prosecutors contended that following the shooting, Chavis was tracked by cameras throughout the Park Hill apartment complex running home to his own building where he was living with his mother, and that the gun used to kill Russell was taken from the scene by Chavis and placed inside a meter room in his own building, which he claimed was for safe keeping until he could relay his side of things to his parole officer, whom he claimed he trusted more than police. Skin cell DNA from Chavis was ultimately found on the bottom of the guns magazine, while the other mans blood was found on the top of the gun. As the only defense witness to take the stand, Chavis also admitted to tossing the clothes he was wearing down a garbage chute in his own apartment building, saying he didnt want to be falsely accused of something he didnt do, but also wanted to erase any memory of what happened for his own psyche. According to Chavis, Russell, who had grown up with his mother and whom he referred to as big sis, wanted to bail her boyfriend out of jail, but didnt have the $500 to do so. He told three different stories, said Silberlight at trial, referring to interviews with detectives, then his grand jury testimony and finally what he stated on the witness stand. In the days leading up to the slaying, a series of texts and conversations between Chavis and Russell about a domestic incident with her boyfriend and her then trying to bail the boyfriend out of jail, show the defendant saw an opportunity to get cash, pills or both from the victim while her boyfriend was not around, suggested Silberlight. He intended to blow her head off so he could go ahead and take what he wanted, Silberlight said. Prior homicide sentence In this 1993 photo, Shaheem Chavis, left, is escorted into the NYPD's 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George by a detective following an armed-robbery turned homicide in Clifton. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance The 2022 shooting wasnt Chavis first violent brush with the law, as he was previously sentenced in 1995 to 25 years to life for a botched robbery that turned into a fatal shooting in Clifton. The 45-year-old victim, Mahmoud Addelrehiem, who was found shot twice in the back of the head at point-blank-range, was a husband and father of three who prior to immigrating to the U.S. was an officer in the Egyptian army. At a 2021 parole hearing, Chavis explained his actions in the November 1993 shooting, his experiences while incarcerated and plans following his release coupled with letters from third parties and a message of apology he had sent to the victims family. The parole board would go on to deem him rehabilitated and capable of rejoining society without posing a threat to the public. Brutal and senseless Two years ago this week, Shaheem Chavis committed a brutal and senseless act of gun violence inside of a Park Hill apartment. Fatally shooting Nadine Russell, a 61-year-old grandmother, and seriously injuring a second victim, this defendants vicious actions warranted nothing short of a lifetime behind bars, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said in a statement. I commend our partners in the NYPD for their expert investigative work throughout the course of this case and Executive Assistant District Attorney Adam Silberlight and Assistant District Attorney Melanie Sommer for securing a significant prison sentence which holds this dangerous defendant fully accountable and for their relentless commitment to securing justice for the Russell family and all involved in this harrowing case, McMahon added. An attorney for Chavis could not be immediately reached for comment. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Richmond County District Attorneys Office was awarded a $500,000 federal grant to establish a cold case unit on the borough. The grant will supply the office with the funding needed to establish the unit and dedicate more time to investigating violent cold cases that already have suspect DNA profiles. The money was administered through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and awarded under the FY24 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant program. The funding was announced Thursday in a press release by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. The money will help the office close an estimated 100 violent crime cold cases where DNA forensic evidence exists, the release states. DNA analysis is a powerful tool that enables law enforcement to catch and prosecute violent perpetrators, especially in long-unsolved cold cases where crucial evidence has been awaiting testing, said Malliotakis. I am proud to have supported District Attorney McMahon in pursuit of this grant and happy it was awarded. By using advanced DNA technology, prosecutors will have the ability to efficiently re-examine violent cold cases and bring justice to victims while also putting violent offenders behind bars. McMahon added that he is dedicated to making sure that all victims of violent crime and their families receive justice no matter how old the case. Whether recent or decades-old, unresolved crime cases have a devastating impact on our community, robbing victims and their families of closure and preventing the perpetrators of these crimes from ever being held accountable in the courtroom, said McMahon in the statement. Cold case crime victims and their families are no less deserving of justice. McMahon went on to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and Malliotakis for their efforts in realizing the grant and the opportunity it provides to help enhance his offices ability to better serve victims families. A couple has been permanently banned by a major airline following a heated spat about seat-reclining etiquette, according to CNN. Cathay Pacific, a Hong Kong-based airline, has banned two passengers from its flights, following a Sept. 17 incident during a flight from Hong Kong to London, with a female passenger from mainland China posting a video of the experience onto Xiaohongshu, Chinas version of Instagram. According to her Xiaohongshu account, the incident unfolded when the woman seated behind her requested that she return her seat to an upright position, because it was obstructing her husbands view of the in-flight television. The passenger politely declined, which provoked an aggressive reaction from the woman behind her. She started stretching her feet onto my armrest, kicking my arm, and cursing at me like crazy, the passenger said. A flight attendant then tried to intervene, suggesting the woman raise her seat, but woman wouldnt budge. When she realized my Cantonese wasnt so great, she started throwing around some nasty comments, calling me a Mainland girl and using other derogatory language, the passenger said. In video footage of the incident, a voice in Mandarin can be heard criticizing the older woman, saying, Youre old enough why are you bullying a young girl? The exchange underscored cultural and linguistic differences, as Cantonese is predominantly spoken in Hong Kong, while Mandarin is the primary language in mainland China. The situation worsened when the husband of the aggressive passenger became involved, reportedly shoving his hand on the armrest of the reclining passenger and shaking it. I felt my personal space had been completely violated, she expressed. A Cathay Pacific airplane taxis at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vernon Yuen)AP As the situation escalated, other passengers chimed in, voicing their support for the reclining passenger. Some shouted in Cantonese, Youre embarrassing us Hongkongers! and Stop saying youre from Hong Kong! Eventually, after receiving support from fellow passengers, the flight attendant permitted the reclining passenger to switch seats. In a statement released on Saturday, Cathay Pacific expressed its sincere apologies for the unpleasant experience, emphasizing that it upholds a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior that violates aviation safety regulations or disrespects fellow customers. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior that violates aviation safety regulations or disrespects the rights of other customers, the statement read. We will deny future travel on any Cathay Group flights to the two customers involved in this incident. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - After serving Staten Islanders for more than a century, the Visiting Nurse Association of Staten Island (VNASI) has shut down, laid off its nurses and sold its remaining assets. It was just a very unfortunate situation. We were all very happy and then it was very sudden, said one of the 15 nurses who was let go, and spoke to the Advance/SILive.com on the condition of anonymity. I wish there was a little bit more transparency to what was going on because it felt very blindsiding. VNASI, a non-profit agency, had been providing in-home health care to the community since 1917. Staffed by registered nurses, the agency assessed patients home health needs and, according to their website, provided high-quality therapeutic, supportive and preventive health care services outside of the hospital setting. The agencys former building was located in Mariners Harbor, which was then transitioned to Randall Manor. As of today, the non-profit agency is no longer active, but for years it was an important part of the community. VNA is known as part of the fabric of Staten Island health care and my career has come full circle as a Staten Islander returning to service my own community, Hope Iliceto, a registered nurse who became president and CEO of VNASI in 2020, told The Advance/Silive.com. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNASI also played a vital role in supporting the recovery of discharged COVID-19 patients. Lisa Mandell, a Registered Nurse with the Visiting Nurse Association of Staten Island (VNA) checking the lungs of a patient recovering at home from the COVID-19 virus in 2020. It was not immediately clear why the agency was shuttered, or what precipitated the move, but VNASI was officially operating under Richmond University Medical Centers (RUMC) umbrella since 2022 before it was sold this year, according to the hospitals spokesperson Alex Lutz. Prime Home Health Services, LLC has acquired some of the remaining assets of VNASI, said Lutz. Prime Home Health Services is a Brooklyn-based Certified Home Care Agency serving New York City and Long island. The agency did not respond to multiple requests for comment. All of VNASIs staff and patients were given a 30-day notice, according to the nurse who spoke with the Advance/SILive.com. And 30 days may seem like a long time, but it is not a very long time, especially since we were union employees and it was difficult to find comparable employment, the nurse said. All the nurses received severance packages based on their years of service, capped at four weeks, according to the source. As for all the patients, the source said they were transferred to other agencies and informed that VNASI was closing. When youre with patients for that long, they obviously get accustomed to you and your agency even if theyre on and off service. They get used to you, the nurse explained. I dont know if it was specifically because the agency closed or because they were losing their nurse that they had become accustomed to, but it was hard for them. As VNASI prepared to shutter, the staffs caseloads gradually decreased. At their peak, however, the nurses were seeing an average of up to 30 patients each, the source recalled. According to the source, most of the patients were elderly, and they would receive care for periods of up to 60 days. Many were repeat patients if they went back into the hospital for any reason because they had built strong relationships over the years. They all loved us, the source added. According to the source, many staff members were taken aback by the short notice about the agencys closure. We are extremely grateful to the entire VNASI staff for their commitment to upholding the strong tradition and outstanding reputation of VNASI, Lutz said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. Stephanie Marie Orr, 47, a lifelong Staten Island resident, passed away on Sept. 15, 2024. Born on Sept. 17, 1976, she was the beloved daughter, sister, fiancee, and aunt. An alumna of St. Joseph Hill Academy and MBCC, Stephanie worked at Staten Island University Hospital and the NYS Court System, never losing her beautiful smile and personality despite facing illness and injuries. Read the full obituary on SILive. Georgiana DiMauro, 91, founder of the Staten Island Chamber Music Players, passed away. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she settled in Charleston in 1962. A graduate of Tulsa University and Wichita State University, Mrs. DiMauro had an early career as a French Hornist in New York City. She founded the Staten Island Chamber Music Players in 1972, directing and performing with them for over 35 years. Mrs. DiMauro was a 1991 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement and received numerous awards for her community service through the arts. Read the full obituary on SILive. Maria M. Hernandez, 83, passed away on Sept. 22, 2024. Born on July 22, 1941, Maria was known for her strong-willed nature, deep faith, and creativity expressed through sewing, knitting, and arts and crafts. She was an active member of her local Pentecostal Church. Maria is survived by her sons Antonio and Wilfred Hernandez, and granddaughters Tabitha and Lauriann (Zoe) Hernandez. Read the full obituary on SILive. Robert Lombardi, 71, passed away on Sept. 11, 2024. Raised on Staten Island, Robert became a successful builder in both New York and New Jersey. A passionate musician, martial artist, and dog lover, Robert devoted himself to his varied interests and family. He is lovingly remembered by his three children, Kim, Blake and Sara. Read the full obituary on SILive. Dr. Michael A. Paglia, 95, a distinguished surgical oncologist who practiced medicine for over 40 years in New York City, died June 27. He was a beloved father, grandfather and family member, a dedicated physician and a friend to many. Read the full obituary on SILive. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Staten Island Live staff. Travelers, be forewarned about your upcoming travel plans. In recent weeks, the United States has issued, revised, or reissued multiple travel advisories, including warnings for popular European destinations like Italy and the United Kingdom, now classified under the exercise increased caution or Level 2 alert category, with Level 4 being the highest level of warning. In addition, travel advisories to Denmark, Lesotho, and Haiti, were updated last week, with Haiti being classified as a Level 4: Do not travel. The U.S. has released three new travel advisories including a Level 2, a Level 3, and a Level 4: Do not travel warnings. On Sept. 23, the U.S. issued a Level 2: Excercise increased caution advisory for Panama, recommending increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk, including theft, pickpocketing and purse snatching, in tourist areas. On Sept. 10, the U.S. issued a Level 3: Reconsider travel advisory to Pakistan, due to terrorism. Travelers are advised to not avoid travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism. On Sept. 24, U.S. issued a Level 4: Do not travel advisory for Venezuela, due to the high risk of wrongful detentions, terrorism, kidnapping, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure. The warning for Venezuela highlights high levels of violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking. Political rallies and demonstrations are frequent and often occur without warning. Authorities have responded to anti-Maduro protests with harsh crackdowns, which sometimes escalate into looting and vandalism. Additionally, Colombian terrorist groups are active in Venezuelas border regions with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. Widespread shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies persist throughout much of the country. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for periods of up to five years. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File)AP If you are considering travel to Venezuela: 1. Avoid all travel to Venezuela, including through land border crossings, due to significant risks. 2. Nighttime travel between cities or from Simon Bolivar International Airport to Caracas is especially unsafe. 3. Entering Venezuela without a valid visa can result in indefinite detention without access to consular support. 4. U.S. citizens should draft a will and update insurance beneficiaries and power of attorney. 5. Establish a communication plan with family, employers, or host organizations, including a proof of life protocol in case of kidnapping to verify safety and avoid hoaxes. 6. Do not rely on U.S. government assistance in Venezuela; they cannot help replace lost or expired travel documents. 7. Avoid using unregulated taxis and ATMs around Simon Bolivar International Airport due to increased risks. 8. Consider hiring a professional security organization while in Venezuela. 9. Over-the-counter and prescription medications are scarce for U.S. citizens in Venezuela. 10. The U.S. government cannot assist in the event of a medical emergency; consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Soon all New York City residents, including Staten Islanders, will be required to separate their organic waste from the rest of their trash as part of a mandatory, citywide residential curbside composting program. The new initiative, billed as the nations largest compost collection program, is just one of many new efforts in Mayor Eric Adams push to modernize trash collection across the five boroughs. Were saying loud and clear that this city deserves better, and taking steps incrementally in each area that feeds our trash problem and our landfills is what we are focusing on, Adams said when announcing the citywide program in February. Starting Oct. 6, owners of all residential buildings in the five boroughs, including single-family home owners, will have to begin separating organic waste from the rest of their trash. So what exactly is organic waste? It includes yard waste, like plants, leaves, twigs and grass, as well as food waste, like meat, bones, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Food-soiled paper products like napkins, tea bags, paper plates and pizza boxes will also need to be separated. Non-soiled paper products should remain with traditionally-recycled materials. Items like wrappers, pet waste, medical waste, diapers, foam and hygiene products should remain in the traditional trash, according to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). DSNY is offering free composting bins for Staten Island, Manhattan and Bronx residents, which can be ordered through the departments website. Additional official 21-gallon New York City composting bins are available for purchase through a private vendor for $43.47. New Yorkers can also use their own bins, so long as they are 55 gallons or less, have a secure lid and are labeled with a free composting bin decal. Curbside collection of organics will mirror that of traditional recyclable materials. When the curbside compost program starts, residents should put their organic items out the same day and time they do for their recyclables. The city will have a three-month grace period for yard waste, like leaves and grass trimmings. There will also be a grace period through next spring for food waste and food-soiled materials like paper plates. Once the grace periods have expired, residential penalties for non-compliance with the new organic waste rules will be the same as recyclable violations. Residential buildings with fewer than nine units will be charged $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $100 for subsequent offenses. Larger residential buildings face fines of $100 for first offenses, $200 for second offenses and $400 for subsequent offenses in a six-month period. Most organic waste collected citywide gets anaerobically processed at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. On Staten Island, the organic materials will be transported to a DSNY compost facility located on part of the former Freshkills Landfill. Waste processed at the Newtown Creek facility is broken down into gases, mainly methane. The process is similar to what would happen at a landfill, but instead, the city collects that natural gas to be used as a resource. The Staten Island facility, which saw an expansion earlier this year, will turn the organic waste into compost. The city will sell 60% of that compost to landscapers while distributing the remainder to city parks, community groups and residents. CHANGSHA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- When someone with an emotional issue or mental illness struggles with the idea of seeing a therapist in person, there is now another option: speaking to an artificial intelligence (AI) therapist through a WeChat mini program. The AI therapist can answer questions about mental health, conduct mental health assessments and judge a person's emotional state by capturing facial expressions with the camera on the mobile phone. It was presented at the two-day 2024 World Computing Conference held this week in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province. "The AI therapist will reply accordingly with its diagnosis and recommendations, speaking in an appropriate tone that should help comfort the person," said Yu Min, executive dean of the innovation research institute of Hunan Trasen Science & Technology Corp., Ltd., developer of the AI medical system. People can also reach out to an AI doctor that can diagnose users after they describe their symptoms. It can also carry out traditional Chinese medicine tongue diagnosis and provide recipes and exercise recommendations to achieve improved balance and harmony within the body. "Traditional models cannot meet the need to develop such systems in medical services, which require a high level of accuracy. However, fast-developing computing power has provided us with strong support to develop this medical system in a more accurate way," Yu said. According to Pan Yunhe, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, new models are expected to help us become more knowledgeable and work toward preventive treatments for diseases in the coming years if data gathered from physical examinations, disease cases, families and regions is combined. With extreme weather events increasing in frequency, computing power also has a huge role to play in the prevention and control of natural disasters. Thanks to a disaster monitoring and early warning platform, six households in Dayingang Village, Hunan's Changde City, were able to relocate before a landslide occurred due to a week of rainfall in June. The platform, developed by Hunan BDS Micro-chipset Data Technology Co., Ltd., is able to capture subtle changes in mountains by deploying high-precision monitoring equipment and sensors based on the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, said Long Pengyu, the company's deputy general manager. "The platform can analyze the monitoring data to determine the mountain's status and predict natural disasters such as mudslides and landslides more than three hours in advance of their occurrence," he said. The prevention of geological disasters such as landslides is an important task during the flood season in Hunan. Landslides develop quickly in extreme weather, and early warnings can now be sent via radio and text messages to help residents relocate in advance to avoid deaths, injuries and financial losses, Long added. To date, the monitoring and early warning platform has been applied in more than 10 provinces in China. "With accelerating technological innovation and algorithm improvement, we now have better warning results and accuracy levels. As a developer, we're also making efforts to reduce costs so that the platform can be used over a wider range and benefit more residents," he said. The scale of China's computing industry reached 2.6 trillion yuan (about 370 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, according to official statistics. JD Vance shares the GOP ticket with former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race for the White House. But the U.S. senator from Ohio and veep candidate wasnt always enamored of the presidential performance of the man who could be his boss in a couple of months. Vance during Trumps re-election campaign in 2020 said that Trump had thoroughly failed to deliver on the economy and would probably lose the election, the Washington Post reported. Vance made the comments in February 2020 while writing a direct message to an unnamed user on Twitter. The messages were obtained by the Post. Vance wrote, Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism (excepting a disjointed China policy.) In June of that year, Vance wrote to the same user, I think Trump will probably lose the race for re-election. Vance also suggested that he had refused an offer to serve in the first Trump administration, writing that he turned down my appointment from the emperor. Vance spokesman William Martin told the Post that Vances criticism of Trumps economic policies was not meant to be a condemnation of the former president. Martin suggested the comment was aimed at establishment Republicans who thwarted much of Trumps populist economic agenda. Vance had also been critical of Trump in 2016, according to Axios, saying that he had the potential to be Americas Hitler and that Trump was like cultural heroin. Vance after joining the ticket has said that he had changed his mind about Trump and that his earlier judgments of the former president shouldnt be held against him. Trump lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. Vance on Tuesday is set to debate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate for vice president. NEW YORK CITY -- Mayor Eric Adams is due to appear in a Manhattan courtroom Friday to face charges of years-long bribery, illegal foreign campaign contributions and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors unsealed a 57-page grand jury indictment against Mayor Eric Adams Thursday making him the first New York City mayor charged with crimes in the modern era. According to published reports, Adams is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker, and will have to again appear next Friday for an initial conference. He is expected to be arrested, booked and fingerprinted ahead of his appearance before the judge, according to ABC.com. It is not yet clear of the location where he is expected to turn himself in to federal authorities. Adams attorney initially requested a Sept. 27 court date, but later asked for an extension until Monday, which appears to have been denied, the report said. 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. Federal prosecutors alleged Adams received lavish travel perks from the Turkish government and some of its nationals that date back nearly 10 years. The indictment alleged that the mayor took bribes from Turkish nationals that included trips to Turkey, Hungary, France, China, India and Ghana. Alleged gifts Adams received 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. Graphic showing Eric Adams' alleged undisclosed travel benefits. (Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice)Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice 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. 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. Will Adams Step Down? 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 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. What Happens Adams Resigns? But if Adams were to resign, or be removed from office by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a Democrat who has served in his role since 2019, would temporarily replace him. 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. A 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. NEW YORK (AP) New York Citys embattled mayor, Eric Adams, arrived at a federal courthouse Friday morning to be arraigned on charges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and free overseas trips from people looking to buy his influence in city government. Adams gave a thumbs up but did not pause to speak to reporters as he headed into the Manhattan court, flanked by his own police security. He was scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at noon. RELATED: STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE/SILIVE.COM CALLS FOR ERIC ADAMS TO STEP DOWN >> An indictment unsealed Thursday accused the Democrat of taking a variety of improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including free hotel stays and deeply discounted airline tickets to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, Ghana and Turkey. In return, prosecutors said, Adams did favors for his patrons. That included helping Turkey get fire department approvals to open a new diplomatic tower in Manhattan, despite concerns about its fire safety system, prosecutors said. New York City mayor Eric Adams arrives at Manhattan federal court, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)AP Adams says he is innocent. His lawyer has said it was neither unusual nor improper for a government official to accept some travel perks. The mayor has denied ever knowingly accepting an illegal campaign contribution and said any help he gave people navigating city bureaucracy was just part of doing his job. It was unclear how the mechanics of Adams trip through the courthouse might unfold. Many people charged with federal crimes are arrested at their homes early in the morning, booked, and then brought before a judge after spending hours or even days in detention. But that isnt always the case and it didnt happen with Adams. When former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, of New Jersey, was arraigned on corruption charges in the same courthouse a year ago, he also arrived as a free person in the morning, had a short appearance before a judge and walked out after around 4 hours in the building. He was never seen in handcuffs. RELATED: STATEN ISLAND COUNCILMAN EYES RUN IF MAYOR STEPS DOWN >> The Lower Manhattan courthouse is less than two blocks from the one where former President Donald Trump was tried and convicted of falsifying business records, and the same court where a jury found Trump civilly liable for sexually assaulting the writer E. Jean Carroll in 1996. Other prominent cases there now include the sex trafficking case against hip-hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs. The mayor tried to project a sense on his daily schedule that hes continuing to go about the citys business. He listed meetings at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with senior city officials and staff. He also planned afternoon meetings, starting with one at 3:30 p.m. with the Mayors Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, a committee that screens candidates for judicial appointments a reminder that Adams even while under indictment retains all of his official powers, including the ability to appoint certain judges. Adams faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on Thursday said that several businesspeople and a Turkish diplomat had engaged in a multiyear scheme to buy favor from Adams. In public remarks Thursday, Adams asked New Yorkers to avoid making any judgments until they heard his defense. His lawyer, Spiro, told reporters the travel perks and seat upgrades Adams accepted were commonly offered to VIPs and members of Congress. Thats what airlines do, he said, noting that many of the charges relate to trips Adams took years ago when he was Brooklyn borough president. It was unclear whether this weeks indictment was the last word on federal investigations involving the administration. Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides and relatives of those aides. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted Adams confidants. In the last two weeks alone, the police commissioner resigned and the schools chancellor announced he would retire. Neither has been charged with a crime or been publicly accused of wrongdoing. CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Georgia governor says at least 11 people in his state have been killed and dozens are still trapped in homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Gov. Brian Kemp made the statement Friday at a news conference. He said authorities believe there are 115 structures with people trapped inside. The storm made landfall late Thursday in Floridas sparsely populated Big Bend area, which is home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways. Its where the Panhandle and peninsula meet. A Citrus County Firefigher carries 11-year- old, Michael Cribbins, while conducting rescues from floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)AP THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) Emergency crews rushed Friday to rescue people trapped in flooded homes after Helene roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane in Florida, generating a massive storm surge and knocking out power to millions of customers in several states. At least six people were reported dead. The storm made landfall late Thursday in a sparsely populated region with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) in the rural Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where Floridas Panhandle and peninsula meet. But the damage extended hundreds of miles to the north, with flooding as far away as North Carolina, where a lake used in scenes from the movie Dirty Dancing overtopped a dam. Multiple hospitals in southern Georgia were without power. Thank God were both alive to tell about it, Rhonda Bell said after a towering oak tree outside her home in Valdosta, Georgia, smashed through the roof. Jamir Lewis wades through floodwaters with his two daughters, Nylah and Aria, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)AP 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, and many communities established curfews. Its really heartbreaking, said Stephen Tucker, after the hurricane peeled off the brand-new roof at her church in Perry, Florida. It had to be replaced after last years Hurricane Idalia, and the congregation was just weeks away from moving back into the newly renovated sanctuary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the damage from Helene in the area appears to be greater than the combined damage of Idalia and Debby last August. Its demoralizing, he said. President Joe Biden said he was praying for survivors as the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency headed to the area. The agency has deployed more than 1,500 workers, and they helped with 400 rescues by late morning. Workers remove debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP County officials immediately launched boats to reach stranded people, warning that the water could contain live wires, sewage, sharp objects and other debris. If you are trapped and need help please call for rescuers DO NOT TRY TO TREAD FLOODWATERS YOURSELF, the sheriffs office in Citrus County, Florida, warned in a Facebook post, while raising concerns that the tide could bring another surge of up to 10 feet (3.05 meters). Rescuers in Tampa also used boats to reach stranded residents. Flooding was what we had warned everyone about, Mayor Jane Castor said. Thomas Chaves, left, and Vinny Almeida walk through floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in an attempt to reach Chaves's mother's house in the Shore Acres neighborhood Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)AP More than 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. A vehicle is submerged outside a home near Peachtree Creek in Atlanta Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)AP As the hurricanes eye passed near Valdosta, a city of 55,000 near the Florida line, dozens of people huddled early Friday in a darkened hotel lobby. As the wind howled outside, water dripped from light fixtures in the lobby dining area. 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. 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. Workers clear debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP Soon after it crossed over land, Helene weakened to a tropical storm, with its maximum sustained winds falling to 70 mph (110 kph). At 11 a.m. Friday, the storm was about 105 miles (165 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta, moving north at 32 mph (52 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph), 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 storms wrath was felt widely, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts along Floridas west coast. Officials begged residents 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 sheriffs office in mostly rural Taylor County, Florida, warned those who chose not to evacuate in a Facebook post. The dire advice was similar to what other officials have dolled out during past hurricanes. Beyond Florida, up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) 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. Evacuations were underway in several areas of the state, and the sheriffs office in Haywood County declared all roads closed. School districts and multiple universities canceled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater were closed Thursday, and 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 (160 kilometers) north of the Georgia-Florida line. Overnight curfews were imposed in many cities and counties in south Georgia. 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. 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. Want to bet on MLB? See the best NYC Sports Betting sites 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. The author of this article is a Staten Island Academy student who participates in the Advance/SILive.com High School Journalism Immersion program. The initiative is designed to help young people explore the world of community journalism. Editors note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On Sunday, Sept. 29, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will host a Staten Island Out of the Darkness Community Walk to help raise awareness around suicide prevention. Registration begins at noon, and the event is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Stone House at Clove Lakes Park. The walk itself is an amazing opportunity to bring together the community to fight against this leading cause of death. We hope to continue our work in advocacy, education and funding research to help save lives and bring hope to those impacted by suicide, said Felicia Gambino, an organizer of the event, which is being held in partnership with Richmond University Medical Center and Reflective Lily, an organization promoting self-expression and self-healing. The event is aimed at honoring those who have passed away by suicide and showing support for individuals who struggle or have struggled with lived experiences. Donations from the walk will support AFSP and its ongoing mental health advocacy efforts. After the event, there will be an after-party at Flagship Brewery, Tompkinsville, from 4 to 8 p.m. This drink-to-donate event, featuring music and raffles, will also support AFSP. Those interested in registering for the walk can go to the event page on the AFSP website. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre Tinoco on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday that China is willing to work with Costa Rica to maintain the momentum of development of bilateral relations. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre Tinoco on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He also said that the fruitful cooperation between the two countries should be cherished, which fully demonstrates that the development of bilateral ties conforms to the common interests of both sides and the trend of the times. For his part, Andre said Costa Rica will undoubtedly continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle and maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations, adding that his country welcomes more Chinese investment in Costa Rica. People visit an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) HAIKOU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea kicked off on Friday afternoon in Qionghai, a city in the island province of Hainan in southern China. These artifacts, which had been submerged in the sea for over 500 years at a depth of more than 1,500 meters, are being showcased for the first time. Located at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea, the exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. The most eye-catching exhibit is Fahua-colored porcelain, with 13 pieces (sets) on display. The archaeological discovery of Fahua-colored porcelain is very rare, and it is the first discovery in a shipwreck. These archaeological discoveries prove that Jingdezhen colored porcelain was exported in the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), providing facts for finding the kiln sites. The exhibition also features one red and green bowl with the mark "made in the year of Bingyin." This confirms that the sunken ship belonged to the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, which is of great value and contributes to the study of trade routes in the South China Sea. Further investigation of the two shipwrecks will be conducted, so the exhibition will adopt a dynamic update mode and update the cultural relics on display according to the new archaeological findings. The exhibition also sets up a special zone for the protection of cultural relics, presenting cultural preservation work via multimedia to allow the audience to understand its process and significance. These two ancient shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty were discovered near the northwest continental slope in the South China Sea in October 2022. More than 900 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved from the two ancient shipwrecks during three investigations from 2023 to 2024. Xin Lixue, curator of the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea, said this collection of high-grade cultural relics is substantial in size, diverse in variety, and well-preserved. "Through this exhibition, we hope to show the social and economic development in the middle of the Ming Dynasty and inform the audience about the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road in ancient China and the exchanges between Chinese and foreign civilizations," said Xin. The exhibition will officially open to the public starting on Saturday. This photo shows an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) A visitor looks at an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Visitors look at an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows an exhibit at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Visitors view an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows the opening ceremony of an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows exhibits at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo shows exhibits at an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) A visitor views an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) A visitor views an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) People visit an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The exhibition covers an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. A total of 408 artifacts from the two ancient shipwrecks are on display, along with 34 borrowed artifacts from the Palace Museum and other museums, bringing the total number of exhibits to 442. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Federal police have quietly dropped a years-long investigation into an Australian mining company once accused of bribing government officials in the Republic of Congo. Sundance Resources was under investigation following revelations in this masthead almost a decade ago that the firm may have bribed the countrys president, as well as the mines and geology minister, to progress an iron ore venture that was set to be one of the biggest projects in Africa. The Mbalam-Nabeba project was set to be the biggest iron ore venture in Africa. Credit: Sundance Resources During Operation Downton, AFP investigators encountered several difficulties in gathering evidence that would be admissible during criminal proceedings in Australia regarding the alleged historical offending, an AFP spokeswoman said. This included identifying, accessing and obtaining historical records and data, and the deaths of several potential witnesses/persons of interest in a plane crash in June 2010, prior to the start of the AFPs investigation. This investigation did not establish sufficient, admissible evidence to refer a brief of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Renters in Melbourne are being given more choice than their Sydney counterparts as the build-to-rent sector takes off in the southern state, leaving the rest of the country to play catch-up. While traditional high-density development is in the doldrums, build-to-rent apartments have almost doubled in the past year, swelling to more than 40,000. Build-to-rent projects could account for a sizeable proportion of much-needed apartment projects. Credit: Darrian Traynor Well over half (58 per cent) are under development in Melbourne, JLL research suggests. Brisbane and then Sydney make up the majority of the remainder. If enough projects finish this year, they will make up about 10 per cent of an average years new apartment supply. Australias housing crunch is putting pressure on all levels of government. Investors have wiped more than $500 million off the value of the Star Entertainment Group in a brutal trading session, after the companys shares emerged from a near month-long suspension and new boss Steve McCann this week warned it faced more financial and regulatory hurdles. Shares in the casino operator plummeted 44 per cent to 25 on Friday, the first time that shares in the Star have traded on the ASX since late August, when the company sought a trading halt. The Stars CEO Steven McCann. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer In early September, the ASX suspended Star shares after it failed to release its full-year results within the required period, and this Thursday the company finally reported it had made a full-year loss of $1.7 billion. Fridays plunge in Stars share price means the companys market value has tumbled from about $1.3 billion to less than $750 million. Homes and businesses in eastern Australia are running dangerously short of gas as supplies tighten ahead of next winter, prompting the consumer watchdog to launch an appeal for gas exporters to consider increasing deliveries to the local market instead of their customers overseas. Despite Australia ranking as one of the worlds biggest natural gas shippers, homes and businesses in Australias most populous south-eastern states are heading for a gas shortage within as little as three years, warns the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Australias enduring reliance on gas has come into sharper focus as governments step up commitments to decarbonise. Credit: Getty Images Surging demand on cold winter days when many households crank up their heaters at once could lead to shortages hitting even sooner, the watchdog says. The ACCCs warnings underscore a deepening challenge for state and federal political leaders who are being forced to balance efforts to slash emissions with the need to shore up traditional energy supplies for homes and businesses that depend on them. Governments are heeding the warnings, and are increasingly promoting projects to boost supplies of the fuel. In Victoria, Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio, who has overseen the countrys most aggressive plans to curb gas usage, recently shifted the state governments tone on the future of the fuel, and opened the door to new projects to store gas in depleted reservoirs beneath the sea. The Albanese government on Friday awarded two permits to tap more offshore gas for the domestic market from Victorias Otway Basin. 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 After 18 years on US network television, where he clocked up 173 episodes on the medical drama House, and then another 205 episodes on Chicago Fire, Jesse Spencer knew he was home in Australia when he turned up for work late one day, and no one blinked. In the States, its such a factory mindset, and youve got to be there on time, and if youre not on time, theyre calling up the production office, and calls go around if youre five minutes late and everybody knows, says Spencer. So I come in with this [US mindset] you show up, early, preferably, and if youre on time, youre late but I showed up once, like, 10 minutes late to the set, and I was panicking, How did this happen? And I walked in, and the crew looked at me, shocked that I was even there. Jesse Spencer and Radha Mitchel play Tony and Judy Bissett in 1979 Perth in Last Days of the Space Age. And they said, Well, do you want to get a coffee? I thought it was going to be like, Hey, go get into make-up, now. We gotta go here. I had to learn to undo that production-line [mentality]. I had to learn to lay back. The 45-year-old actor was back home for the retro Disney+ series, Last Days of the Space Age. Its Spencers first starring role on Australian television in more than 20 years, where he became a household name in Neighbours as Billy Kennedy, the spunky youngest son of Karl and Susan Kennedy, boyfriend of Anne Wilkinson and all-round teen heart-throb. I was looking for an Australian production, probably since 2004, says Spencer over Zoom from his home in Boston. We have this hiatus, but network TV, the schedule of it sometimes I had six weeks off, sometimes a little more but to make a production work is really difficult. Once youre in [network TV], its very hard to get out of. Advertisement So when Spencer left Chicago Fire in 2020 (hes been back since in a guest role), he jumped at Last Days of the Space Age and the opportunity to return to Australia. Did he realise he was coming, well, semi-circle, playing a dad who lives in a cul-de-sac? Its Neighbours on steroids, he says, laughing. [Reading the scripts], I never saw it as a cul-de-sac. And then when we showed up, Radha Mitchell, who plays Judy, my wife we never really worked together on Neighbours, but we met on Neighbours we were just going, Oh my god, are we Neighbours in the 70s? The Kennedy family (clockwise from top left): Malcolm (Benjamin McNair), Susan (Jackie Woodburne), Karl (Alan Fletcher), Billy (Jesse Spencer) and Libby (Kym Valentine). Theyre not. Im pretty sure Neighbours has never touched on industrial disputes, Aboriginal land rights or the Miss Universe pageant, as Last Days of the Space Age does. This ones a little edgier, says Spencer. We could take this project in different directions that they probably cant do on Neighbours. Set over six weeks in 1979, it follows the Bissett family dad Tony, mum Judy and their teenage daughters Mia (Emily Grant) and Tilly (Mackenzie Mazur) who live in Perths beachside suburb of Scarborough, as well as their neighbours, relatives and friends. Created by Australian-Welsh writer David Chidlow, it also stars Deborah Mailman as their neighbour Eileen Wilberforce, Scottish actor Iain Glenn, as Judys dad Bob, Jacek Koman as the handler of the Russian Miss Universe entrant and Heartbreak Highs Thomas Weatherall as Eileens grandson Bilya. Tony Bissett (Jesse Spencer) leads striking power plant workers in Last Days of the Space Age. Although everything about their lives screams 1970s the gloriously yellow and brown interiors, the Tupperware parties and the school careers counsellor who suggests working in a department store is the best career a girl can hope for change is happening. And while some cope with it better than others, Spencers character, who is leading workers on strike at the local power plant, struggles to find a place for himself in the coming new world order. Advertisement Hes got his family and hes got his job and hes got to keep those workers together, says Spencer. In the meantime, his wife is working for the company, so technically, shes crossed the picket line, and its a fracture in their relationship. And then as we go on in the series, things get worse for Tony, his pride is kicked, and his wife has a coming-of-age, almost. As a housewife, she just wanted a stable family and for everything to be normal, and shes propelled into this rise where she finds the potential in herself is brought forwards and she starts to believe in herself. Jesse Spencer (second from right) with the cast of House (from left) Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard and Lisa Edelstein. Spencer then wonders if he can say audiences will be rooting for the families in the show. Since hes been in the US for the last 20 years, Ill allow it. That ones stuck in my craw, and I dont know why I cant get rid of it, he says, shaking his head. Stuck in my craw! That is a very American expression. Hes fully gone to the other side. Advertisement Its terrible, Ill tell you, he says. OK, we are barracking for these families, how about that? That Spencer slips in the odd Americanism he later struggles to pronounce the Sydney suburb of Kirribilli, but puts that down to being raised in Melbourne more than anything else is no great surprise. When he left Neighbours after more than 400 episodes in 2000 (Billy was sent to the place from which characters rarely return, Queensland), Spencer spent a few years in the UK, before a call from his manager changed his career. I wasnt sure if I was going to quit acting, he says. I was in my fourth year in the UK, I got a place at Monash [University in Melbourne], and I was like, Yeah, Im working occasionally I did a film in New York, and even did [the Geoffrey Rush/Judy Davis film] Swimming Upstream but I was like, Im not feeling like Im actually getting anywhere or going in the direction I really wanted. Jesse Spencer as Captain Matthew Casey in Chicago Fire. And then House came along, and I think thats why I got it because Id sort of given up and I didnt [want to] go in for that audition because I was like, well, Im not going to get it. And my agent was like, Jesse, what else are you doing today? I was like, Im going to the pub. She went, Just do me a favour. So I ended up flying over to the States, I bought my own ticket it was 800, probably the best 800 Ive spent one way over to LA to audition in front of the network. The medical drama, which starred Hugh Laurie as the shows irascible namesake, was an international hit, picking up Emmys, Golden Globes and a Peabody award. In 2008, it was named the most watched show in the world. Apart from Laurie, Spencer was the only cast member to stay with the show for its entire eight-season run. He then jumped straight into Chicago Fire, cementing a career thats quite unusual for many actors unless youre on Neighbours or Home and Away 18 years of steady employment. Advertisement It taught me a lot, he says of the experience of working in the US. The long days that we used to do on network TV, sometimes we used to do 16, I think the max was an 18-hour day. I was driving home at 6am or 7am, going, I probably shouldnt be driving right now, I feel a bit weird, but I think Im gonna be OK. Its this work ethic in the States, they work so hard here [in the US], and its driven into them quite early. I dont mind doing that, but I was glad to step away from that because after 20 years, network TV can burn you out. Spencer still gets recognised from his Neighbours days and has made a couple of video cameos since he left, including in a message for the shows final episode on Ten in 2022 (it has since been resurrected on Amazon Prime Video). A 40-something British friend, who watched the show religiously after school, was in raptures when I told him I was interviewing Spencer. No way, he said. I was so Team Billy when he and Anne were in a love triangle with Fanto. Loading Ive been in the industry 30-plus years, so you see different generations that react to different things, he says. So, any Brit around my age, it will all be Neighbours. With House, its a different set [of fans]. House is a weird thing because its still got academics and physicians that watch it now, so it covers a really wide range, but a lot of intellectual types and people in academia who are more brainy and they like that sort of stuff. And then Chicago Fire, whenever Im in Chicago, any Midwestern family knows me. They have no idea what Neighbours is. Advertisement TikTok is rife with scandal. Whether its someone exposing their ex-partner for alleged abusive behaviour, or a mother hand-making sunscreen for her children, controversy litters the platform. But while they are plentiful, TikTok scandals generally dont have much of a shelf-life, as users bore of them and move on to the next juicy titbit quickly. But one scandal seems to have beaten these odds: #MomTok. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives may have been inspired by a TikTok scandal, but it has become so much more. Credit: Disney/Ashley Rose Ramirez On the surface, #MomTok is a group of Utah-based Mormon women who create viral TikTok content about being modern, religious mothers (this usually involves lots of dancing and an array of sponsorships). However, following a TikTok Live in 2022, salacious gossip about the group was unearthed. It was so salacious, in fact, that American streamer Hulu decided to transform it into a reality TV show: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The China Coast Guard (CCG) has monitored the whole process of a supply mission conducted by a civilian Philippine vessel at the waters of China's Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea. The supply of daily necessities to the illegally grounded Philippine warship at Ren'ai Jiao on Thursday was a temporary arrangement agreed upon by the Chinese and Philippine sides, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said on Friday. Liu urged the Philippines to honor its commitment and work with China to manage the maritime situation well. He said the CCG will continue its law enforcement activities in China's Nansha Qundao and the surrounding waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. When we lived in Glen Waverley in the 1970s, my mum Helene was a Tupperware dealer. By night, shed head off in a suede midi skirt for buzzing Tupperware parties in suburban homes, and by day shed rope in my brother and me to be part of the empire. Pre-schoolers, wed help Mum pack orders (two Shape O Balls please, and there should be a Jifi Sifter somewhere) then drive around suburbia in the maroon Datsun 180B to drop them off. Sammy and I could have spruiked the products on street corners if need be. We knew our Tupperware. One fantastic day, we pulled up at Tupperware HQ and Mums name was up in lights as dealer of the month. Even then, to a little girl it had an air of glamour about it. Which I now recognise was probably empowerment, independence and social connection. At a time when many women were homemakers with limited career opportunities, Tupperware let them earn money, build a small business and network. Five decades on, Helene still has plenty of the original products. Open her pantry, and youll find a square container loaded with a pumpkin fruit cake, rice and flour in their dedicated storers, some with fantastic old labels. The 1980s square containers with the pop lids. A former Commonwealth Bank manager convicted of pocketing almost $US2 million in kickbacks for facilitating business deals with his employer has been jailed for his role in the scam. NSW District Court Judge Phillip Mahony said it was unlikely Jon Waldron would be able to obtain employment in any position of trust in the future as he sentenced him in Sydney on Friday to a maximum of six years and eight months in prison with a non-parole period of four years. Jon Waldron, second from left, outside the Downing Centre District Court last month. Credit: Kate Geraghty The offender has continued to protest his innocence and has appealed his convictions, Mahony said. Thus he has shown no remorse for his offending conduct and has made no progress in his rehabilitation. They are critical minerals needed for renewable technologies, but a plan to dig them up in Victorias food bowl has been met with fierce resistance from farmers who fear it will kick up radioactive dust and damage the landscape. But mining company VHM Limited insists its proposal is safe and the mineral sands and rare earths it intends to extract are crucial for the development of technologies used in renewable energy projects. Farmland near the proposed mine site. Credit: Jason South VHM wants to build the 1534 hectare Goschen Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project about 25 kilometres south-west of Swan Hill, about 300 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. It intends to mine and process 5 million tonnes of heavy mineral sands annually. The company is on a collision course with some farmers who argue contaminated dust from the project may drift across their crops and onto the rooftops that provide their drinking water. Opponents are also concerned the project will drive a wedge in the community between those who support it and those who dont. 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 The pitch was compelling, if not a little familiar. Standing surrounded by three small dogs, two ministers and a rental commissioner at the Domain in Sydney CBD on Monday, Premier Chris Minns trumpeted a raft of renter-friendly policies, signalling the next stage of his governments housing reforms. Pets would be allowed in rentals, tenants would have to be offered a fee-free means of paying rent, and no-grounds evictions barring landlords from punting renters during their leases without reasonable cause would proceed to parliament. But after the election commitment was rolled out at Labor state conference in July, Mondays announcement felt like Groundhog Day to some MPs, with one Labor backbencher musing: I woke up, read the media release and thought: Whats new here? Moreover, Minns initial plans to pass the legislation in September would now be kicked back to October. The government has landed some reforms but other aspects have remained elusive. Credit: Peter Rae The case for reform No-fault or no-grounds evictions has become NSW Labors forever policy, documented in an archive of media releases stretching back four successive leaders to Luke Foley. Advertisement Addressing the housing crisis is a central part of the Minns governments narrative: renters rights will sit alongside changes to antiquated development policies to deal with the states anaemic housing supply. The groundwork for change has been laid: the governments End of Tenancy survey shows around 10 per cent of the 320,000 tenancies that end in NSW each year are no-grounds evictions. And despite having the nations largest rental market, NSW remains one of only three jurisdictions without some form of no-grounds policy. Loading Yet, for reasons insiders cant explain, the state governments appetite for reform appears to have ebbed and flowed in the 18 months since Labor took office, despite Minns consistently articulating the magnitude of the housing crisis. While the Minns government has landed some of its promised reforms transferring rental bonds from one property to another, and appointing Trina Jones as a rental commissioner other aspects have remained elusive. They started the consultation [on no-grounds evictions] in late July or August 2023. Then came a report over summer. It is fair to say theres been periods of time when it wasnt clear work was happening to progress the reform, Tenants Union of NSW chief executive Leo Patterson Ross says. I can only assume its because the government decided there were other priorities. Advertisement Whats the hold up? The wait, according to one senior Labor source speaking anonymously to discuss confidential party matters, is primarily a consequence of a tortured effort to reach consensus by Anoulack Chanthivong, the minister with carriage of rental reforms. According to insiders, Chanthivong has been wringing his hands over whether all leases should be included, or just periodic leases, as is the position of the Coalition. Loading Periodic leases are where theres no agreed amount of time covered by the rental agreement, usually where a fixed-term lease has lapsed, and the lease is running month to month. In NSW, you can be evicted for no reason from a fixed-term lease at the end of the lease, and at any time for no reason with 90 days notice during a month-to-month lease. Another MP said the no-grounds legislation had been written ages ago, and the delays seemed to have faced some sort of external pushback. The legislation passed through cabinet shortly before Minns speech at Labor state conference. With five portfolios building, better regulation and fair trading, industry and trade, innovations, science and technology and corrections, two of which are legislatively demanding MPs acknowledge Chanthivong has been lumped with a mountain of work. Advertisement Exacerbating the workload, one former Coalition staffer notes, is a lack of resources: the Macquarie Fields MP has to manage more portfolios with fewer staff than his predecessors the manifestation of Minns ministerial staffing budgets cuts. Premier Chris Minns was forced to drop a key plank of his rental reform bill after experts warned it would drive up prices. Credit: Rhett Wyman Even so, Labor sources question why the substantive consultative work underpinning the policy had not already been done, particularly given the commitment ahead of the 2019 and 2023 state elections. It should have been done nine months before Julys state conference. It was starting to lose us a lot of credibility among renters and young people, one source says. But nailing no-grounds has not been Chanthivongs only rental headache. The party was forced to abandon ending secret rent bidding in June last year after pushback from the Greens and Coalition over concerns it would inadvertently cause rental prices to increase. Nor have the problems been confined to rental reform. On August 19, an alliance of furious peak bodies went over the ministers head, writing directly to the premier about Chanthivongs reform of building regulation, the Building Bill 2024. The extremely tight consultation timeframe will mean there is insufficient time to properly test the proposed reforms, stated the August 19 letter, whose nine signatories included the Australian Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia, and Property Council of Australia. Advertisement Therefore there is a significant risk that the reforms may severely hamper industrys ability to deliver the governments housing targets. In response to questions, a spokesman for Chanthivong said his approach to rental reforms had been informed by extensive engagement with industry and the community, and he wanted to take the time to get this right. Of course there will be a range of views on such significant reforms, he said. The key political players The other issue at play, one Labor source suggests, is the premiers natural caution. Already facing a scrap over rezonings around transport development sites, Minns and his office have been reluctant to open up another front with landlords without the Coalition backing him in. Wanting bipartisan support is probably fair dinkum, the Labor insider suggests. He would genuinely be afraid of backlash. Hes trying to hold off long enough to force the Coalition to back them in, while Libs are trying to hold off long enough to force him to go it alone. Advertisement Sydney publican Ben May has had a busy 12 months expanding his hospitality empire, but he has also found the time to dabble in residential property. The co-owner of Joeys, which is the born-again Barrenjoey Boatshed in Palm Beach, and the proposed beachside mega-venue Terrigal Pavilion on the central coast, is looking for a buyer for his Tamarama pad that comes with an asking price of $16 million. The Tamarama home is a stones throw away from the beach. Since it was last purchased, the five-bedroom home has had a full renovation designed by architect Kelvin Ho of Akin Atelier, who has worked on the likes of Merivale venues and Camilla and Marc stores, turning it into a quintessential designer beach pad. May bought the 386-square-metre home in 2020 for $5.45 million from producer Jonathan Shteinman, who has worked on films like Rabbit-Proof Fence. In the countdown to todays AFL season-decider, catch up on the best of our up-to-the-minute coverage. The last time the Swans did an AFL grand final parade they were so far away from the people who came to see them that they may as well have been floating down Sydney Harbour, not the Yarra. Indeed, the return to land-based vehicles has been warmly welcomed by all concerned. Im glad theyve got rid of the boats, said Sydney forward Will Hayward. Much happier to be sitting in the car; I get seasick. I think its good to be back to how its always been. Sort of. Another year, another tweak to the parade route: on Friday it snaked through the Melbourne Park precinct, avoiding the CBD entirely before spilling out into the footy festival in Yarra Park, just in front of the MCG, where both teams and their coaches were presented to the masses on a perfect afternoon. Emergency crews rushed to rescue people trapped in flooded homes after Helene generated a massive storm surge and knocked out power to millions of customers in several states. Governor Brian Kemp said at least 11 people in his state of Georgia were killed and dozens were still trapped in homes damaged by Helene. At least six others died in Florida and the Carolinas. A vehicle is submerged outside a home near Peachtree Creek in Atlanta on Friday. Credit: AP More than 1.2 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, more than 190,000 in Georgia and more than 30,000 in the Carolinas, according to the poweroutage.us tracking site. The governors of those states and Alabama and Virginia have all declared emergencies. 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. When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, were going to be waking up to a state where very likely theres been additional loss of life and certainly theres going to be loss of property, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference. Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico moving towards Florida on Thursday. Credit: NOAA/AP Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are now pushing into southern Georgia, the hurricane centre said in an update. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. Even before landfall, the storms wrath was felt widely, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts along Floridas 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 25 centimetres of rain had fallen in the North Carolina mountains, with up to 36 centimetres more possible before the deluge ends, setting the stage for flooding that forecasters warned could be worse than anything seen in the past century. The St. Pete Pier is pictured among high winds and waves as hurricane Helene makes its way toward the Florida panhandle, passing west of Tampa Bay. Credit: AP In south Georgia, two people were killed when a possible tornado struck a mobile home, Wheeler County Sheriff Randy Rigdon told WMAZ-TV. The storm made landfall in the sparsely populated Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where Floridas Panhandle and peninsula meet. 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 sheriffs 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 issued during past hurricanes. Still, Philip Tooke, a commercial fisherman who took over the business his father founded near the regions Apalachee Bay, planned to ride out this storm like he did during Hurricane Michael and the others on his boat. If I lose that, I dont have anything, Tooke said. Michael, a Category 5 storm, all but destroyed one town, fractured thousands of homes and businesses and caused some $US25 billion ($36 billion) in damage when it struck the Florida Panhandle in 2018. Charles Starling, a lineman with Team Fishel, is pelted with rain as he walks by a row of electrical line trucks in a field in The Villages, Florida, in preparation for damage from Hurricane Helene. Credit: AP 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. Among them were Cindy Waymon and her husband, who went to a shelter in Tallahassee after securing their home and packing medications, snacks and drinks. They wanted to stay safe given the magnitude of the storm, she said. This is the first time weve actually come to a shelter, because of the complexities of the storm and the uncertainties, she said. A petrol station employee wraps fuel pumps ahead of hurricane Helene. Credit: AP Federal authorities deployed search-and-rescue teams as the weather service forecast storm surges of up to six metres and warned they could be particularly catastrophic and unsurvivable in Apalachee Bay. Please, please, please take any evacuation orders seriously! the office said, describing the surge scenario as a nightmare. Rescue crews assist residents after conducting door-to-door wellness checks, in coastal areas of Florida. Credit: AP This stretch of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast has been largely spared by the widespread condo development and commercialisation that dominates so many of Floridas beach communities. The region is loved for its natural wonders the vast stretches of salt marshes, tidal pools and barrier islands. You live down here, you run the risk of losing everything to a bad storm, said Anthony Godwin, who lives about 800 metres from the water in the coastal town of Panacea, as he stopped for gas before heading west toward his sisters house in Pensacola. School districts and multiple universities cancelled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater were closed, while cancellations were widespread elsewhere in Florida and beyond. Loading This is one of the biggest storms weve ever had, said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. 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. September 27, 2024 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands;--- Since 2015, when it launched its Regional Internship Programme, CCRIF has been providing internships to recent university graduates and postgraduate students from the Caribbean, who have earned degrees in areas such as disaster risk management, environmental management, geography, civil engineering, or climate studies, at regional and national organizations. This year, CCRIF has placed 27 interns in 10 organizations across the Caribbean. CCRIF has invested over US$530,000 to support 198 internships over the last nine years. Host organizations for CCRIF interns this year include among others: the Anguilla Department of Disaster Management, Office of Disaster Preparedness Trinidad and Tobago (ODPM TT), Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), CCRIF, and various departments and centres from The University of the West Indies. Since 2023, CCRIF has been collaborating with non-governmental organizations that CCRIF has worked with under its Small Grants Programme. Two NGOs from Trinidad and Tobago Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CZITT) and IAMovement are part of the Internship Programme this year. This is the 2nd year that IAMovement has been participating in the programme. Some 24 organizations (and 12 centres and departments at The UWI) have participated in the programme over the years. Interns are placed in host organizations for 10 weeks between July and December each year. CCRIF provides these interns with monthly stipends as well as accommodation, travel insurance and return airfare to those that travel to host organizations outside their home country. Today, CCRIFs Regional Internship Programme is one of the largest internship programmes in the Caribbean for areas related to disaster risk management, meteorology, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptation. CCRIFs internships are designed as a core component of students academic and professional journeys, acting as the intersection of the two. Through internships, students become actively engaged with the concepts and theories that they learn in the classroom, which they can put into practice in a professional setting. All CCRIF interns, along with several other young persons in the region, also benefit from a CCRIF-UWI online summer course in disaster risk financing, for which they receive an official certificate and 2 continuing education units. The 2024 interns are working on a range of projects, including among others: Conducting research and development activities to support the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Severe Weather Forecasting Programme for the Eastern Caribbean at the Caribbean Meteorological Organization. Supporting the development of an e-learning platform focused on climate-smart agriculture to provide resources for farmers and other stakeholders at CZITT. Evaluating infrastructure to ensure that urban planning and development contribute to the overall resilience of cities against climate-related hazards at ODPM TT. Designing and implementing Automated Public Weather Forecast Templates to reduce the time required to produce accurate and informative forecasts at TCIAA. Supporting the update of the Special Needs Database and Implementation Plan and assisting with the execution of plans for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction at TEMA. Assessing rain gauge measurements in comparison to satellite-derived precipitation estimates over the island of Jamaica at The UWI Department of Geography and Geology, Mona. Conducting a feasibility study on developing a consortium of all English-speaking universities in the region that offer postgraduate programmes related to the built environment at the University of Technology, Jamaica. The CCRIF Regional Internship Programme is part of CCRIFs wider Technical Assistance (TA) Programme which was launched in 2010 three years after the Facility was established and operates as the Facilitys corporate social responsibility programme, further underscoring its value proposition as a development insurance company. For more information on the CCRIF TA Programme and to see how you can benefit, please visit: https://www.ccrif.org/ta-programme. About CCRIF SPC: CCRIF SPC is a segregated portfolio company, owned, operated, and registered in the Caribbean. It limits the financial impact of catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, and excess rainfall events to Caribbean and Central American governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a parametric insurance policy is triggered. It is the worlds first regional fund utilising parametric insurance, giving member governments the unique opportunity to purchase earthquake, hurricane and excess rainfall catastrophe coverage with lowest possible pricing. CCRIF offers parametric insurance policies to Caribbean and Central American governments for tropical cyclones, earthquakes, excess rainfall and fisheries and also to electric and water utility companies in the Caribbean. CCRIF was developed under the technical leadership of the World Bank and with a grant from the Government of Japan. It was capitalized through contributions to a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) by the Government of Canada, the European Union, the World Bank, the governments of the UK and France, the Caribbean Development Bank and the governments of Ireland and Bermuda, as well as through membership fees paid by participating governments. In 2014, the Central America and Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Program (CACCRIP) MDTF was established by the World Bank to support the development of CCRIF SPCs new products for current and potential members and facilitate the entry of Central American countries and additional Caribbean countries. The MDTF currently channels funds from various donors, including Canada, through Global Affairs Canada; the United States, through the Department of the Treasury; the European Union, through the European Commission, and Germany, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW. Additional financing has been provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), with resources provided by Mexico; the Government of Ireland; and the European Union through its Regional Resilience Building Facility managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank. In 2024, CCRIF received funding from CDB, through the Canada-CARICOM Climate Adaptation Fund, to enable seven CCRIF members to increase their coverage and make their national social protection systems more shock responsive. For more information about CCRIF SPC: Website: www.ccrif.org | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The dynamic Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has continuously enhanced the construction of "blue granary," providing a model for realizing high-quality development of the marine economy. In the Nansha Fishery Industrial Park in Guangzhou, monitoring of water quality index data, collection of fish production data and optimization of the breeding process are part of intelligent aquaculture. The Guangzhou Nansha SCAU Fishery Research Institute has established a marine ranching technology R&D center to conduct in-depth research. In Donghai Island, Zhanjiang, deep-sea farming is redefining the future of aquaculture. Intelligent and green aquaculture is boosting the sustainable development of fishery production. UK govt buys semiconductor facility key to defence London, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 The UK government announced on Friday that it had acquired a key semiconductor factory after fears its imminent closure would hamper a crucial supply chain to Britain's armed forces. The facility at Newton Aycliffe in northeast England is the only secure site in Britain with the capability to produce gallium arsenide chips, used in electronic devices. The semiconductors are used in a number of military platforms, including to boost fighter jet capabilities. "Semiconductors are at the forefront of the technology we rely upon today, and will be crucial in securing our military's capabilities for tomorrow," said Defence Secretary John Healey. "This acquisition is a clear signal that our government will back British defence production," he added in a statement released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The government has bought the factory from US company Coherent Inc and will be named Octric Semiconductors UK, the MoD said. The ministry did not specify how much the government had paid but a source close to the matter told AFP it was around pound20 million ($27 million). The purchase will secure up to 100 jobs, according to the ministry. The Telegraph newspaper reported in August that its future had been jeopardised by the end of a major contract with US tech giant Apple. Italian aerospace company Leonardo was among Coherent's customers, but did not have any outstanding orders with it, the paper added. More than a trillion semiconductors are manufactured each year, with the global semiconductor market forecast to reach a total market size of $1 trillion by 2030, according to the UK government. Used in smartphones, cars and weapons, semiconductors are indispensable to modern economies and have become a major source of competition between the United States and China. They are also crucial to future technologies, such as artificial intelligence and 6G wireless networks. ode/zap/pdh/phz/gv NANNING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At Youyiguan, or Friendship Pass, on the China-Vietnam border, trucks loaded with Vietnamese durians are entering China one after another. This bustling scene at the border port, located in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, mirrors the growing popularity of Vietnamese durians among Chinese consumers. Guan Caixia, a fruit wholesaler in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, testified to the existence of durian fever. Vietnamese Kanyao durians have become a top seller at her stall, often selling out by the afternoon. "Many consumers and retailers return for more after tasting Vietnamese durians for the first time," she said. The rise of Vietnamese durians in China is a recent phenomenon. Fresh Vietnamese durians didn't enter the Chinese market until 2022, but they have quickly captured the palates of Chinese consumers. Last year, some 493,000 tonnes of fresh Vietnamese durians were sold to China. China is the world's largest importer and consumer of durians, and its demand for this thorny fruit has continued to soar, with data showing its durian imports surging over 70 percent year on year to about 1.43 million tonnes in 2023. This rapid growth presents a golden opportunity for durian exporters, especially those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). China's continuous efforts to facilitate trade with ASEAN countries, including the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), have further opened up its door to durian producers. In June, China greenlighted fresh durian imports from Malaysia, making that country the fourth Southeast Asian nation to gain access to the lucrative Chinese market -- following Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Analysts believe that the influx of more durian varieties is set to reshape China's market landscape and predicted that the battle for market share would get more intense down the road. Ye Hongxiang, a fruit dealer from Pingxiang, has businesses in both Thailand and Vietnam. According to Ye, weather conditions this year have affected the quality and yield of durians in Thailand's orchards, making high-quality Vietnamese durians a more attractive option for buyers. "Chinese customers are more familiar with Thai durians as they were the first to enter the market. However, with the introduction of Vietnamese durians, I believe more domestic consumers will come to appreciate their high quality thanks to promotions via channels such as e-commerce," Ye said. Facing increasing competition, Niti Pratoomvongsa, director of the commercial office of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Nanning, sees both opportunities and challenges for Thai durians. Thailand plans to continuously improve product packaging, preservation and transportation while also holding events like durian festivals to build brand awareness among Chinese customers, and to develop more products made from durians to win over the Chinese market, the director said. DSR Taiko Berhad, a major Malaysian fruit producer, debuted at this year's China-ASEAN Expo with its signature products made from Musang King durian, the priciest cultivar known for its richness and smooth texture, as well as diverse downstream products like durian pizza, Musang King coffee and Musang King milk tea. Recognizing the vast potential of the Chinese market, with a population of over 1.4 billion, Ng Lian Poh, the company's CEO, said he is targeting the high-end market. Their newly opened durian-themed restaurant in east China's Zhejiang Province has received fantastic feedback. Ng believes that Malaysian durians "are more on quality than quantity," while adding that this is "one of the advantages of Malaysia's durians." "In recent years, Chinese consumers' acceptance and appreciation of durians and durian-related products have steadily increased, and the durian consumption market in China has continued to expand," said Lei Xiaohua, a researcher with the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences. For durian-exporting countries, maintaining price competitiveness while ensuring consistent and reliable product quality is crucial for sustainable growth, Lei added. Iran shows 'willingness' to re-engage on nuclear issue: IAEA chief to AFP United Nations, United States, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 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. Marshall Islands demands UN apology for nuclear tests United Nations, United States, Sept 26 (AFP) Sep 26, 2024 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. Israel strike kills 5 Syrian soldiers near Lebanon: state media Damascus, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 An Israeli air strike on Friday killed five Syrian soldiers near the border with Lebanon, the official news agency SANA reported, citing a military source. "The Israeli enemy carried out an aerial attack... on one of our military positions near Kfar Yabus on the Syrian-Lebanese border," SANA quoted the source as saying, adding that five Syrian soldiers were killed and one was wounded. The raid came a day after the Israeli army said its warplanes struck "infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said Israeli warplanes targeted a crossing that links Syria's Qusayr area to Lebanon, causing "a number of wounded". The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources on the ground, said it was the first such strike on Syria since Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon's Hezbollah this week. Myanmar junta bombs opposition-held town hours after talks offer Yangon, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Myanmar's junta carried out fresh air strikes on an opposition-held town Friday, hours after issuing an unprecedented invitation to its enemies for talks on the country's civil war. Thursday's surprise call for discussions is likely a sop to main ally China and a nudge towards controversial fresh elections, analysts say, and two prominent armed groups swiftly dismissed it. The offer came with the junta reeling from 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. The groups have seized several lucrative border crossings and last month took Lashio, a city of 150,000 people -- the biggest urban centre to fall to rebels since 1962. The call was "the first time that the regime has expressed a willingness to have a dialogue with the post-coup resistance forces", said Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has long spoken of "annihilating" the groups, he pointed out. Hours after the offer, military jets bombed Lashio, in northern Shan state, now in the hands of fighters from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). "I heard two explosions," a resident told AFP, asking for anonymity for security reasons. "I heard five people were killed and a lot of people were wounded." One Yangon-based diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the junta's offer: "So far I haven't seen the inclination towards serious reconciliation." - 'No change' - AFP has contacted for comment the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), ethnic armed groups that hold territory in the north. The MNDAA could not be reached. The Karen National Union, which has fought for decades for autonomy along the Thai border, said talks were only possible if the military agreed to "common political objectives". That included the military staying out of politics, accepting a new, federal constitution, and being held accountable for "war crimes and crimes against humanity", spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee said. "If they don't agree with it, then nothing will happen... We will keep putting pressure on them politically, militarily," he told AFP. The military is highly unlikely to agree to such terms. A spokesperson for the "Mandalay PDF" which has seized territory in the hills around second city Mandalay also dismissed the offer. "This invitation won't make any changes to our way," said Osmond, who goes by a pseudonym. "We will keep doing what we have to do." - 'Divide and rule' - But even if nothing comes of the invitation, just issuing it could still have value for the regime, said Horsey. "It would allow them to portray themselves -- for example to China, which is pushing for a deal -- as wanting peace, even while they continue with their campaign of indiscriminate airstrikes." China is a major ally and arms supplier to the isolated junta and its sprawling Belt and Road Initiative includes key projects in Myanmar. Last month Beijing's foreign minister said it supported the junta's plan to hold fresh polls and return the conflict-torn country to a "democratic transition". AFP has asked China's embassy in Yangon for comment. Independent analyst David Mathieson said that as well as Beijing, the offer was likely aimed at neighbouring countries and some western diplomats who may see elections as a "vehicle to reduce violence and pursue a process of de-escalation", despite their inevitable flaws. The military, which justified its coup with unsubstantiated allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party, has long pledged to hold fresh polls when conditions permit. It has since dissolved Suu Kyi's popular National League for Democracy (NLD) and introduced tough new rules governing political parties. Census takers are due to start collecting data in early October in preparation for possible polls in 2025, but analysts say any vote would be a sham and would likely be targeted by the military's opponents. "Hovering above all of this is the Myanmar military's tried and tested divide and rule strategy," said Mathieson, adding it "may be soiled and strained but still effective". Sweden to start building new nuclear reactor by 2026: PM Stockholm, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Sweden will begin construction on a new nuclear reactor before the country's next legislative election in 2026, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in an interview published on Friday. His right-wing coalition government, propped up by the far-right Sweden Democrats, has vowed to massively ramp up nuclear energy in Sweden but a formal decision on the type of reactor to be built has yet to be taken. The government said in November 2023 it wanted to increase nuclear power production equivalent to two nuclear reactors by 2035, with a "massive expansion" to follow by 2045. State-owned utility Vattenfall is in the process of conducting a feasibility study on the construction of at least two small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Ringhals nuclear power station in the southwest of the country. It aims to put the first one into commission in the first half of the 2030s. It has begun acquiring land in the area but has not yet applied for environmental permits. Asked by daily Dagens Nyheter if construction would begin before the next general election, Kristersson replied: "Yes, it will." "The decisions required to build new nuclear power will have been taken. And hopefully that will be combined with a physical spade in the ground," he said. "We are totally committed. If we are going to succeed at electrification then we need to double electricity production, and nuclear power is an integral part of that." SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts of electricity per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of a traditional nuclear power reactor. They are relatively simple to build, as their systems and components can be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation, which also makes them more affordable than large power reactors. Sweden currently has six reactors at three nuclear power plants, which generated about 30 percent of the electricity used in the country. Finland to place NATO base near Russian border Helsinki, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Finland will place a key NATO base less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from its border with Russia, "sending a message" to its eastern neighbour, the defence ministry said Friday. Finland became a NATO member last year, dropping decades of military non-alignment after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said NATO's new headquarters for the Northern European land command unit will be in Mikkeli, one of the closest cities to Finland's 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia. "Finland is sending a message to Russia that we are a full member of NATO and that NATO has a very strong role also in Finland's defence", Hakkanen told a press conference. The Finnish defence forces' army command is already located at the site of the future base. "By combining the locations, we achieve the best possible synergy between national defence management and NATO defence management", Hakkanen said. The military alliance's Multi Corps Land Component Command will operate under NATO's Norfolk command in the United States, which oversees the Atlantic and Arctic regions. Hakkanen said the headquarters would be staffed by a few dozen people from different NATO countries. In June, NATO defence ministers gave the green light for Finland to host the Multi Corps Land Component Command as well as the Forward Land Forces (FLF). Details about the FLF -- NATO's rotating, multinational ground forces based in several countries on NATO's eastern front -- will be announced at a later stage, Hakkanen said. China, Brazil urge against nuclear threats over Ukraine United Nations, United States, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 China and Brazil led a joint call Friday against any use or threat of nuclear weapons over Ukraine, in a thinly veiled criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin's saber-rattling. "We call on refraining from the use or the threat of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and chemical and biological weapons," said a joint statement issued at the United Nations that was also signed by South Africa and Turkey. Putin this week threatened to use nuclear weapons in the event of a major attack on Russian soil as Ukraine, which his forces invaded in 2022, seeks Western weapons to strike deeper across the border. Two days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a UN address accused Russia of planning to attack his country's nuclear reactors, China, Brazil and the other emerging powers said: "Civilian infrastructures, including peaceful nuclear facilities and other energy facilities, should not be the targets of military operation." China, itself a nuclear power, and Brazil have led calls for mediation to resolve the conflict. Zelensky criticized them by name in his UN address, saying that forcing Ukraine to accept a peace deal was akin to colonialism. The emerging powers on Friday reiterated "the importance of peaceful solutions for all international conflicts." "We call for support for a comprehensive and lasting settlement by the parties to the conflict through inclusive diplomacy and political means based on the UN Charter," they said. Other signatories to the statement were Algeria, Bolivia, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya and Zambia. NEW DELHI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three Naxal commanders were killed in a five-day-long fierce gunfight with government forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Friday. The gunfight between Naxals and joint contingents of the paramilitary and police began on Sept. 22, according to police. The government forces have not suffered any damage in the gunbattle, the police said, adding that one AK-47, two SLR rifles, and other arms and ammunition have also been recovered. Reports said since the beginning of this year, 160 Naxals have been killed in separate gunfights with government forces in the state. Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India. Israel says strikes Hezbollah HQ in Beirut Beirut, Lebanon, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Israel carried out air strikes on the south of Lebanon's capital Beirut on Friday that it said targeted Hezbollah's headquarters, moments after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep fighting the militant group. The strikes, heard across the city, sent huge clouds of smoke soaring above the densely populated south of Beirut, the main bastion of Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the strike targeted "the central headquarters" of Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of the city. While Israel has carried out several strikes on south Beirut this week, Friday's attack was by far the largest in scale. There was no immediate information on any casualties, though a source close to the group said the strikes had levelled six buildings. The source also said Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was unharmed in the strikes, after Israeli television networks reported he was the target. The bombing came moments after Netanyahu concluded his address to UN General Assembly delegates in New York, at which he vowed to keep up strikes against Hezbollah and fight "until victory" against Hamas. Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in a deadly exchange of cross-border fire since the group's Palestinian ally, Hamas, attacked Israel on October 7. Israel's aerial bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed around 700 people this week alone, according to the health ministry, but a US-led bid for a ceasefire has failed to take hold. Israel has carried out several strikes on south Beirut this week, but Friday's was by far the largest. "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safe," Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly, adding that operations against the Iran-backed militant group will "continue until we meet our objectives." Nearly a year into the war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel shifted its focus to its northern front with Lebanon, with its wave of aerial bombardment sparking an exodus of around 118,000 people. Earlier Friday, Hezbollah fired rockets into the northern Israeli city of Tiberias, saying it was responding to "savage" strikes on Lebanese towns and villages. - 'Deadliest in a generation' - "Everything is collapsing around us," said Lebanese businessman Anis Rubeiz, 55. "People are tired mentally... I don't see (hope) on the horizon... or even a ray of light." The UN children's agency condemned the violence, saying the attacks on Lebanon were killing children "at a frightening rate". "We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation, and many express their fear that this is just the beginning," the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, said. In Israel, too, many were weary of the violence. "It is incredibly exhausting to be in this situation. We don't really know what's going to happen, there's talk of a ground offensive or a major operation," said Lital Shmuelovich, a physiotherapy student. Netanyahu also addressed the war in Gaza, saying that Israel's military would continue to fight Hamas until the Islamist movement was crushed. "If Hamas stays in power, it will regroup... and attack Israel again and again and again... So Hamas has got to go," Netanyahu said, vowing to fight the group until "total victory". Diplomats have said efforts to end the war in Gaza were key to halting the fighting in Lebanon and bringing the region back from the brink of all-out war. But despite months of mediation efforts, a Gaza ceasefire remains elusive. Hamas's 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. 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. After the Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel's history, Netanyahu vowed to bring the hostages home and to crush Hamas. This month, he said securing Israel's border with Lebanon was also a war objective, to allow residents of northern Israel who have had to flee the area to return to their homes. - 'We will strike you' - The Lebanon violence has raised fears of wider turmoil in the Middle East, with Iran-backed militants across the region vowing to keep up their fight with Israel. On Thursday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen. The leader of Yemen's Huthi rebels, Abdul Malik al-Huthi, said in a televised address Thursday that the Iran-backed group would "not hesitate to support Lebanon and Hezbollah". An Israeli air strike on Lebanon's border with Syria killed five Syrian soldiers, according to state news agency SANA. Iran is a key ally of Syria, where it has helped prop up President Bashar al-Assad since the start of the civil war in 2011. Netanyahu also took aim at Iran in his UN General Assembly address, saying: "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you." He added: "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East." Analysts say Iran will try to resist being dragged into the conflict but it is walking a tightrope trying to support Hezbollah without getting dragged into a full-blown war and playing into its enemy's hands. burs-ser/kir US says it did not receive advanced warning about Israeli strike in Beirut Washington, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Washington was not informed in advance about a huge air strike in Beirut's southern suburbs that Israel says targeted Hezbollah's headquarters, US officials said Friday. "The United States was not involved in this operation, and we had no advanced warning," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told journalists. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin -- who is returning from a trip to London -- spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant "as the operation was already underway," she said. "We're still pulling for more details and trying to understand the operation itself," Singh added. President Joe Biden later confirmed that "the United States had no knowledge of or participation in the (Israeli) action," adding in remarks to reporters that, "We're gathering information." The Israeli military said it carried out "a precise strike on the central headquarters" of Hezbollah on Friday, while leading Israeli television networks reported that the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target. "Sayyed Nasrallah is fine," a source close to Hezbollah said. Since last week, a series of Israeli strikes have hit the southern Beirut suburbs, targeting senior Hezbollah commanders. Anti-jihadist coalition mission in Iraq ending in 2025 Washington, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 The international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group will end its decade-long military mission in Iraq within a year, Washington and Baghdad said on Friday. The announcement follows months of talks between Washington and Baghdad on the future of the coalition, which was established in 2014 to help local forces retake swathes of territory seized by the jihadists in Iraq and neighboring Syria. The coalition's military mission in Iraq will conclude "no later than the end of September 2025," a joint US-Iraqi statement said. A senior US administration official said the two sides have agreed on a "two-phase transition plan," the first of which lasts until September next year and will involve "ending the presence of coalition forces in certain locations in Iraq." The coalition will continue its military operation in Syria, with international troops permitted to support anti-IS operations there from Iraq through the second phase of the plan, which runs until September 2026, the official said. But neither the joint statement nor US officials shed light on the key question of the future number of US troops in Iraq, where there are about 2,500 American personnel deployed as part of the coalition. A senior defense official said that "we're not going to speak to our plans concerning specific base locations or troop numbers," adding: "We have been and will continue to be in active dialog with the government of Iraq about how our bilateral relationship will evolve." The joint statement says that "Iraq continues to engage with the United States and other members of the coalition to establish bilateral security relations where appropriate." Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbassi said earlier this month that the coalition would pull out of bases in Baghdad and other parts of federal Iraq by September 2025 and from the autonomous northern Kurdistan region by September 2026. Abbassi told pan-Arab television channel Al-Hadath that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said two years was not enough to complete the process, but that "we refused his proposal regarding an (extra) third year." Coalition forces have been targeted scores of times with drones and rocket fire in both Iraq and Syria, as violence related to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza since early October 2023 drew in Iran-backed armed groups across the Middle East. US forces have carried out multiple retaliatory strikes against these groups in both countries. IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, but jihadist fighters continue to operate in remote desert areas although they no longer control territory. Israel army says to strike three south Beirut buildings 'in short while' Jerusalem, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 The Israeli military said late Friday it would strike three buildings in south Beirut "in a short while" where the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah had stored weapons, and called on residents to evacuate them. "In a short while, we will attack the weapons under these buildings. The force of the explosions as a result of the missiles which are under the buildings may cause damage to the buildings and even their collapse," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a televised briefing. Hagari said Hezbollah had constructed three buldings in the south Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh with designated underground spaces for "storing strategic weapons, with the buildings above acting as a shield". "The way the missiles are stored in these buildings allows them to be moved and launched outside of the buildings within minutes." In new toll, Lebanon says 6 dead, 91 wounded in Israeli strikes on south Beirut Beirut, Lebanon, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Lebanon's health ministry said early Saturday that Israeli air strikes in Beirut's densely populated southern suburbs killed six people and wounded 91, adding the toll was provisional. The strikes Friday "on Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs led to the death... of six people and the wounding of 91", a ministry statement said, raising an earlier toll of two dead and 76 wounded. "Rubble is still being removed" from the site, it added. Hezbollah's Al-Manar television said late Friday that the amount of rubble was hampering efforts to find survivors. The Israeli military said it "carried out a precise strike on the central headquarters" of Hezbollah, which it said was "located under residential buildings in the heart of Dahiyeh", referring to Beirut's southern suburbs. Al-Manar said seven residential buildings were destroyed in the targeted area, while Hezbollah cordoned off the site and told journalists to move away. Israel army says striking Hezbollah weapons in south Beirut Jerusalem, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 The Israeli military said Saturday that it was conducting strikes targeting Hezbollah weapons stored beneath residential buildings in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. "The IDF (military) is currently conducting targeted strikes on weapons belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation that were stored beneath civilian buildings" in a southern suburb of Beirut, the military said in a statement. A source close to Hezbollah, requesting anonymity, said that "a new Israeli strike" hit south Beirut's Laylaki neighbourhood. The Israeli army had earlier said it would attack the area and warned residents to evacuate. burs/jj Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango (1st R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing (1st L) visit a photo exhibition in Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) LUSAKA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. The reception was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing, Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango, government officials and members of the Chinese community. The occasion featured vibrant cultural displays, including dance, music and traditional Chinese kung fu. In his remarks, Han said the past 75 years have been an epic journey for the Chinese people, transitioning from poverty to prosperity while achieving rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. "When China began engaging in the global modernization process led by the West in the late 19th century, it was not by choice; it was a traumatic experience marked by injustice. However, through strong leadership, determination and hard work, China has embarked on a modernization drive that aims to build a great modern country capable of sharing experiences and opportunities with the rest of the world," Han said. He expressed China's willingness to offer support to other developing countries striving for modernization and reaffirmed China's commitment to peaceful development and promoting a shared future for humanity. Regarding relations with Zambia, the ambassador said that the two countries have supported each other's core interests. He said that since elevating their relationship to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership last year, political trust and practical cooperation have deepened significantly. Underlining the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents during the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Han said that both countries will work to translate these agreements into actionable initiatives. Nalumango reflected on the shared history between the two countries, expressing gratitude to their founding leaders for establishing a lasting friendship. She said that over the past 60 years, Zambia and China have nurtured a partnership built on mutual respect and shared goals of freedom and prosperity. Highlighting major projects between the two sides, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), Nalumango said it is important to revitalize TAZARA, which not only exemplifies the enduring relationship with China but also fosters regional connectivity and trade in southern Africa. She further said that the recent FOCAC summit reaffirmed the commitment to advancing sustainable development between China and Africa. Vernon Mwaanga, Zambia's former ambassador to the United Nations when Zambia was pushing for the adoption of a resolution to restore China's lawful seat in the world body, praised China's economic transformation over the past 75 years as historic and inspiring for developing countries. Having visited China 19 times, he commended successive Chinese leaders for their vision and hard work, saying that China has set development standards that should serve as a model for many nations worldwide. A martial art master (1st R, front) and students from the Zambia Shaolin Temple cultural center perform Chinese Kung Fu at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, in Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2024, The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) Vernon Mwaanga, Zambia's former ambassador to the United Nations, addresses a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, in Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2024, The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing addresses a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, in Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2024, The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango addresses a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, in Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted a reception on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This event also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia. 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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. And he added: Telling an English judge we have political prisoners in this jurisdiction when you think of people suffering in dungeons under tyranny across the world...what you are doing is what many people would regard as an offensive comparison. SANAA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthis said on Friday in a statement that they had fired "a ballistic missile and a drone" deep into Israel. "In support of Palestine and Lebanon, we carried out a military operation against an Israeli target in the Jaffa area, Tel Aviv, using a ballistic missile, and launched a drone attack on another vital Israeli target in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon," the statement, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. "The two operations achieved their goals successfully," Sarea noted. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed earlier in a statement that militants in Yemen launched at least one missile toward Israel overnight between Thursday and Friday, setting off air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv. The army said the missile was "successfully" intercepted and that the details were still under review, reporting no casualties. The presidential candidate added praise for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. He said: I think Nigel is great, Ive 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. They acknowledged that he won but for some reason you have a strange system over there, you might win them but you dont get them. SANAA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthis said on Friday in a statement that they had fired "a ballistic missile and a drone" deep into Israel. "In support of Palestine and Lebanon, we carried out a military operation against an Israeli target in the Jaffa area, Tel Aviv, using a ballistic missile, and launched a drone attack on another vital Israeli target in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon," the statement, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. The two operations, occurring on Thursday night, "achieved their goals successfully," Sarea noted, vowing to continue strikes against Israeli targets to support the resistance of "brothers in Palestine and Lebanon." Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed earlier in a statement that militants in Yemen launched at least one missile toward Israel overnight between Thursday and Friday, setting off air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv. The army said the missile was "successfully" intercepted and that the details were still under review, reporting no casualties. This latest Houthi attack on Tel Aviv follows two previous ones targeting central Israel -- a drone attack in July that killed one person and a missile attack earlier this month that caused a fire in an empty area in Kfar Daniel, another location in the region, according to Israeli media outlets. The Houthi group, which controls large swathes of northern Yemen, has been attacking "Israeli-linked" shipping near the country's coastline since November 2023, allegedly to support Palestinians in their conflict with Israelis. The group is aligned with the anti-Israel "axis of resistance," which also includes Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and militant groups in Iraq and Syria, among others. The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) issued, on the night of Thursday to Friday, a RO-ALERT message for the population in the northern area of far eastern Tulcea County after which, the structures with the role of defense and monitoring of the border airspace spotted a group of UAVs (drones) heading towards targets on the Ukrainian territory on the border with Romania, informs Agerpres. The RO-ALERT message was sent around 2:00 a.m. and was followed shortly after by the specific noises of airplanes flying over Romanian airspace. "There were two calls to the 112 dispatch center in Tulcea, one to ask for information, and the second to report that they heard explosions in the northern area on Ukrainian territory," the Delta Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) mentioned. The message sent to the population by IGSU appeals to calmness, and in case objects fall from the airspace, to respect the shelter and self-protection recommendations sent by the RO-ALERT message. "The areas targeted by the attacks of the Russian Federation are on Ukrainian territory, a short distance from the border with Romania, and thus there is a possibility that certain objects, following the response of the Ukrainian army, will fall on Romanian territory. Once again we announce the people in the northern Tulcea County, but also those who arrive in the respective area as tourists, that no targets or areas on the territory of Romania are targeted," the ISU Delta announcement also mentions. China adheres to a high-level opening up and welcomes more high-quality Romanian products to enter the Chinese market, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, during talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, Xinhua reports. China hopes that Romania will uphold the principles of free trade and provide a fair, non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, Wang said. For her part, Odobescu said Romania is committed to promoting cooperation, strengthening economic and trade ties with China and hopes to increase agricultural exports to the Asian country. Romania stands ready to facilitate dialogue between Europe and China to properly address trade disputes, the Romanian official added HONG KONG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The outlook for RMB internationalization remains promising supported by a combination of cyclical as well as structural factors, said Eddie Yue, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Friday. In the near to medium term, the accommodative monetary policy environment on the Chinese mainland is expected to continue, and this will incentivize banks and corporates to use RMB as a funding currency, Yue said in a keynote speech at the Treasury Markets Summit 2024 held in Hong Kong. Yue went on to expound on an array of favorable factors in the longer term. More mainland companies in the real economy are seeking overseas expansion as the global supply chain continues to reconfigure. RMB-based activities in sectors of the real economy will further increase demand for RMB products, treasury management, longer-term investment and risk management. Hong Kong, as the premier offshore RMB hub, is uniquely placed to serve as the go-to platform that serves different stakeholders while enabling its financial sector to capture the ever-growing opportunities, he said. To foster Hong Kong's offshore RMB business, Yue said the HKMA is studying possible ways to enhance the availability of RMB liquidity to banks and will work with fellow regulators to keep expanding the suite of connectivity schemes between the capital markets of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. A truck loaded with 20 tons of goods from Belgium and declared in documents as second-hand products, such as agricultural machinery, tires or metal profiles, turned out to be waste, so the authorities did not allow the transport to enter the country, the Arad Border Police informed on Friday, informs Agerpres. The truck, driven by a Romanian, was checked at the Nadlac II Border Crossing Point. The authorities ordered that the goods be returned to the sender in Belgium. More than 15 tons of waste and approximately 1.5 tons of used oil were made unavailable as part of an action in an integrated system, the spokesperson of the Gorj County Police Inspectorate (IPJ), Miruna Prejbeanu, reports on Friday. Waste and used oil were discovered at several commercial companies in a number of communes in Gorj county, the source says. In all cases, criminal files were drawn up in which investigations are carried out under the aspect of committing the crimes of not taking or not complying with the mandatory measures in carrying out the activities of collection, treatment, transport, valorization and disposal of hazardous waste and the disposal, possession, keeping of waste outside the authorized premises. Romania will host the headquarters of the European Competence Center (ECCC) in Bucharest, in accordance with an Agreement that was signed on Friday at Victoria Palace (headquarters of the Romanian Government), informs Agerpres. The document was signed, on behalf of the Government of Romania, by the head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, and on behalf of the European Center of Competences in the Industrial, Technological and Research Fields of Cyber Security by Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the Center. The Romanian official emphasized, on this occasion, the importance of establishing the seat of the European Competence Center in the field of cyber security in Bucharest, the first EU structure that our country hosts as a member state. "Hosting the headquarters of the European Competence Center in Bucharest is a major achievement for Romania. It is the first time that our country hosts a European agency, a fact that reconfirms the increasingly important role of Romania in strengthening European cyber security, especially in the current international context marked of numerous security challenges," said the head of the Prime Minister's Office, according to a Government press release. The event was attended by representatives of the General Secretariat of the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the National Cyberint Center and the National Directorate for Cyber Security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) condemns the fact that Russia opened investigations against three journalists, stressing that media representatives must be protected and not silenced. "We strongly condemn Russia's decision to open criminal cases against journalists, including Mircea Barbu for reporting from Kursk. This is a blatant attack against press freedom and fundamental rights. Journalists must be protected, not silenced", the Romanian ministry transmitted on the X online platform. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened criminal investigations against three journalists, two Americans and one Romanian, who allegedly "illegally" crossed the Russian border from Ukraine to report in the occupied part of the Kursk region, Russian news agencies announced on Friday, taken over by AFP. The two Americans, Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung, work for the Australian ABC channel, while the Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu works for HotNews.ro, according to Russian news agencies. They are accused by the Russian authorities of having "illegally crossed the border of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region", announced the FSB, in a release taken over by news agencies. On August 6, the Ukrainian army launched a surprise offensive in this border region, the first by a foreign army in Russia since World War II. Russian forces have since launched a counteroffensive and claim to have recaptured ground. However, Ukraine still claims that it has control over about a hundred localities and about 1,000 square kilometers, and several foreign media have made reports in the area occupied by the forces of Kiev. In total, investigations were launched against "12 foreign journalists" for accusations of this type, starting from August 17, stated the FSB, quoted by the RIA Novosti agency. Proceedings were launched including against some journalists of the American television channel CNN, the Italian channel RAI or the German Deutsche Welle. The journalists targeted by these investigations do not seem to be in Russia, but there they risk up to five years in prison, according to the Russian Criminal Code. President Klaus Iohannis announced on Friday that he will not run for the December elections for the future Legislature. "As I have stated on several occasions, I will end my mandate as president of Romania on time and I will not resign from my position. I will not run for the parliamentary elections in December, regardless of the decision that the Central Electoral Bureau will adopt today. No I supported and do not support the amendment of the electoral legislation in favor of a single person," said the head of state. Iohannis said on Wednesday, in New York, about the amendment of the law that would have allowed him to run for the Senate, that he did not want a law for him and that he will make sure that it does not exist. "I didn't want a law for myself, I don't want a law for myself and I can tell you with certainty that I will make sure that this law does not exist. It is not possible to make a law for a person and then I think that I- I expressed it very clearly. In short, this law will not exist and I do not want it to exist", he assured in a statement given to journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Central Electoral Bureau should, on Friday, give a point of view in the case of the request of the liberals regarding the candidacy of the head of state in the parliamentary elections. National Liberal Party (PNL) parliamentarians Daniel Fenechiu and Gabriel Andronache submitted, last week, to Parliament, a legislative proposal that provides that the Romanian president can run as an independent on the lists of a party or alliance in the parliamentary elections, in the last three months of the mandate. The project modifies, in this sense, article 52 of the law on the election of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies The Iranian film "My Favorite Cake" directed by Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha will be presented in the national premiere, in Romania, on Sunday, during the closing evening of the 20th edition of the Bucharest International Film Festival - BIFF, inform the organizers in a statement sent to AGERPRES on Friday. On the same evening, the BIFF Awards Gala will take place, at which the outstanding films entered in this year's competition will be awarded. During the same event, the renowned French director of Romanian origin Radu Mihaileanu will receive the BIFF 2024 Excellence Award - XX edition. The honorary president of the BIFF XX anniversary edition is the film critic Irina-Margareta Nistor, and the BIFF 2024 International Jury was formed by Canadian director and screenwriter Philippe Lesage, president, Paul Cozighian, French-Romanian independent director and journalist, actress Ana Ularu, director , screenwriter and actor Valeriu Andriuta and Lithuanian film producer Marija Razgute. Tickets for BIFF can be purchased from www.eventbook.ro (https://eventbook.ro/festival/bucharest-international-film-festival). Also, tickets can be purchased, subject to availability, from the ticket offices of the cinemas that will host the BIFF 2024 screenings. Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF), a cultural project financed by the Ministry of Culture, is organized by the Charter Foundation and Grigore Vasiliu Birlic Cultural Association and under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania. BIFF is the only international film festival in Bucharest that has a documentary and historical film section to honor the King Michael Centenary in 2021, 100 years after his birth, initiated by Dan Draghicescu. The National Press Agency AGERPRES is the media partner of the event. AGERPRES special corespondent Cristian Lupascu reports: The Republic of Moldova will never be isolated again, declared on Friday the President of the Parliament in Chisinau, Igor Grosu, after signing the contract on the design and construction of the bridge over the Prut, between Iasi and Ungheni. He specifies that the new road bridge will facilitate access to the highway network of the European Union, but also to the highway lot that will connect Ungheni with Chisinau. "Today we witnessed a moment that Ungheni and the entire Republic of Moldova have been waiting for since the Flower Bridge in the '90s. (...) If our parents' generation, 34 years ago, built a flower bridge, we will be the generation that builds bridges to facilitate our connection between the two banks of the Prut. Access to the highway network of the European Union will be facilitated, as well as to the highway lot that will connect Ungheni with Chisinau. These are steps that prove to us that we are part of the great European family and that our place is in the European Union. With Romania's help and being part of this family, we will thus ensure that the Republic of Moldova will never be isolated again and that our citizens will have the same standard of living, income and freedom of movement as all the citizens of the European Union", stated Grosu. The contract for the construction of the new bridge over the Prut was signed on Friday. It stipulates that the design will be done within six months, and the works will be executed in 24 months. The value of the investment is 151.6 million RON. AGERPRES special corespondent, Cristian Lupascu, reports: Romania will donate 100,000 books to the Republic of Moldova, announced, on Thursday evening, at the opening of the International Festival of Literature and Translation, the state secretary of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova (DRRM), Adrian Dupu. According to him, the books will arrive in the Republic of Moldova at the beginning of October, and will be distributed in all libraries in this country. "In all these years, the Department and I have supported everything that means Romanian literature, reading in the Romanian language. (...) At the beginning of October, the DRRM will bring a donation of approximately 100,000 books for the libraries of the Republic of Moldova, which represents the biggest donation of books that Romania is suddenly making in the Republic of Moldova. Through this, we want to encourage reading," said Dupu. The International Festival of Literature and Translation - FILIT is organized for the second consecutive year in Chisinau, being an extension of the festival hosted for 11 years in Iasi. With Germany ramping up border controls earlier this month and other EU countries contemplating stricter migration rules, the Schengen zone of free movement - and no internal border checks - seems to be crumbling, informs Agerpres. In mid-September, Germany expanded border controls to the frontiers with all its nine neighbours in hopes of curbing the flow of irregular migrants, addressing threats from Islamist terrorist groups and cross-border criminal organisations. The move has sparked protests from other EU members. Germany lies at the heart of Europe and of the visa-free Schengen zone, which is designed to allow the free movement of people and goods, long a core idea of the European project. After deadly knife attacks in the German cities of Mannheim and Solingen causing outrage and horror, long-standing debates over how to handle migrants seeking asylum in Germany have intensified in recent weeks. The suspected attacker in Solingen, a Syrian citizen, had evaded an order to be deported from Germany to Bulgaria, where he first entered the EU. Poland, Austria and Greece have been among countries to complain about the introduction of border checks, which are set to last an initial six months. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the move as 'unacceptable' and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Talk Radio that an 'unilateral abolition of Schengen' was not the answer. The Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakuan said that he does not expect any change at the Czech-German border. Border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland were already in place before and have been expanded to the borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. With national elections looming in Germany next year, the attacks in the country put intense political pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to toughen its stance on migrants and asylum seekers. But this is not exclusive to Germany: The success of far-right parties in elections in key European countries is prompting even centrist and left-wing governments to tighten policies on migration, creating cracks in European unity and sparking concern among activists. Experts: Border checks won't curb illegal migration The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the German daily Stuttgarter Zeitung there were 'alternatives to restrictive measures' such as turning migrants back at the border. 'A fixation on border controls will not deter the truly desperate,' Grandi said. 'The reintroduction of temporary internal border controls in the Schengen area is almost the automatic consequence of the lack of a common understanding of who is allowed to enter and for what purpose', Jean-Louis De Brouwer, director for European affairs at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, told Romanian news agency AGERPRES. In his opinion, the reintroduction of internal border controls in Schengen would, in one way or another, 'be detrimental to the internal market'. He believes that very soon - it could be at the next European Council - the member states will have to answer a very difficult question: whether they want to keep Schengen or not. Migration researcher Gerald Knaus does not expect the extension of border controls to all German land borders to lead to a noticeable decrease in the number of asylum seekers. 'Anyone who expects border controls to lead to a reduction in irregular migration is creating an expectation that is unrealisable,' he said on Deutschlandfunk radio. Border controls were also not a means of preventing Islamist terrorism, for example, as many of the perpetrators became radicalised in Germany, the researcher further said. What is Schengen and who's part of it? The border-free Schengen area allows free movement for more than 425 million EU citizens and non-EU citizens who legally live, work, travel or study in the European Union. Named after a small village in Luxembourg, the Schengen zone started as an intergovernmental project with five countries in 1985: Luxembourg, Germany, France, Belgium and Netherlands. In waves, the Schengen zone grew and now incorporates most EU countries - except Cyprus and Ireland - as well as non-EU states Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Today, it is the biggest zone of free movement in the world. According to the Council of the European Union, 3.5 million people cross internal borders every day. Even though Germany's decision has sparked controversy, it's not the only Schengen member having border checks in place. Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden also have temporary measures in place. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in 2022 that a Member State can only extend temporary border controls if it is faced with a new threat affecting its public policy or its internal security that is different from the threat initially identified. Bulgaria and Romania: Half in, half out? As of March 31, 2024, Bulgaria and Romania have partially joined the Schengen area. Controls for internal sea and air travel have been lifted while controls at land borders remain. EU officials expect a decision on full Schengen membership until the end of the year. In December last year, Austria was the only EU country that did not support a complete abolition of border checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders. Countries such as Spain and Slovakia are in favour of Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of the Schengen zone. 'I am very pleased that in 2024 internal air and sea controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the other Schengen countries will become a thing of the past, after twelve years of negotiations,' said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska last year during Spain's presidency of the Council of the European Union. Visiting Austria, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini stated that the Schengen accession of the two countries is 'important' for investments and also for the effective protection of the EU's external borders. The Head of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria, Yordanka Chobanova said, on Tuesday in Sofia a decision about Bulgaria's and Romania's entry into the Schengen area by land is expected by the end of this year. In July, a report by the Institute of Economic Research with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences showed that the direct losses for Bulgaria from the delay of full accession to Schengen amounted to over 400 million Euro. Schengen and Migration: Austria's veto and its new migration portfolio Austria will no longer be able to use the migration problem as a pretext to block Bulgaria and Romania from Schengen, Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan, who is a Vice-President of the European People's Party (EPP), said in a BTA interview in Strasbourg last week. 'Austria has been given the portfolio of Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, so it has the tool it needs to solve migration problems. The solution to this problem will depend on their own commissioner,' Muresan said. Austria's EU commissioner-designate is Finance Minister Magnus Brunner who is a member of the Austrian People's Party (OVP). The OVP belongs to the EPP, a centre-right group in the European Parliament. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to give the migration portfolio to Brunner has stirred some controversy in Brussels as he has little experience on the subject. Taking Austria's opposition of the Romanian and Bulgarian Schengen accession and the fact that the migration and internal affairs portfolio has been assigned to an Austrian into account, a Commission spokesperson said that Commissioners do not represent their Member State of origin, but work to contribute to the EU project, in the interest of all European citizens. The President of the European Movement Austria (EBO), Christoph Leitl, said: 'This is an opportunity for Austria, namely to turn criticism into participation!' The new European Commissioners are yet to pass their 'grilling' by the European Parliament before the new Commission can be finally confirmed. Historically, not all candidates pass which means their countries need to nominate a new person. The content is based on news by agencies participating in the European Newsroom (enr, a cooperation project between news agencies from all over Europe) - in this case AFP, AGERPRES, APA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, STA. TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Shigeru Ishiba on Friday won the presidential election of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The 67-year-old lawmaker, set to become Japan's next prime minister, has mainly worked on security issues and the revival of Japan's rural communities in his 38 years of political life. Ishiba served as the country's minister of defense from 2007 to 2008, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries from 2008 to 2009, and minister in charge of countryside revitalization from 2014 to 2016. The veteran politician was also the LDP's Policy Research Council chairman from 2009 to 2011 and its secretary-general from 2012 to 2014. A long-time aspirant for the top job, Ishiba previously ran in four LDP leadership contests in 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2020, never winning. Making his fifth bid this time, he called the race his "last political battle." Originally from Yazu in the western Japan prefecture of Tottori, Ishiba has been elected 12 times to the House of Representatives from Tottori's 1st district. He was first elected to the lower house in 1986 after a short banking career. Born on Feb. 4, 1957, Ishiba is married and has two daughters. Editor's note: This story has been updated to note that the Schnarr's Hardware building has been purchased, not the business itself. ST. LOUIS The Hoffmann Family of Cos. said Friday that its real estate branch is buying the building that's home to Schnarrs Hardware in Ladue. Greg Hoffmann, principal and CEO of Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, said in a statement that the company is looking forward to continuing to invest in the area. We are excited to welcome 9800 Clayton Road to our portfolio, he said in a press release. This is a prime property cherished by the local community. The Hoffmann Family of Cos. has not purchased the Schnarr's Hardware business, which has been owned by Frank Blair since 1995. Commercial real estate website LoopNet lists the property at 12,400 square feet. Earlier this month, the firm announced that it is under contract to acquire the Pierre Laclede Center in Clayton. It also owns nearby buildings at 100 South Brentwood Boulevard. And the real estate branch of the company is headquartered at 8000 Maryland Avenue, though its lender, Wells Fargo, sought court action to foreclose on the property. The Hoffmanns said they are nearing a deal with the loan servicer that would enable them to keep the building. The Hoffmann Family of Cos. owns businesses and properties across the country. In Missouri, the firm has attempted to create a Napa Valley-esque wine country in the Augusta area. And though theyve had to cut back on plans and sell some properties, they say the plan is still in place. ST. LOUIS Police on Friday morning identified the man who was shot and killed by officers after he wandered into a St. Louis office building and began stabbing himself and his puppy. Investigators said Gregory Maxwell was staying at a hotel near the office building in the 5700 block of Oakland Avenue, in the citys Cheltenham neighborhood. About 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police the man had come into the private offices of Renaissance Financial and refused to leave. Police said Maxwell was on the third floor of the office building and appeared to be having a mental health crisis." When officers arrived, the man grabbed a pair of scissors and began stabbing his pit bull puppy. Eventually, officers opened fire and struck Maxwell. He later died at a hospital. The puppy was being treated and is expected to survive, the Human Society of Missouri said in a social media post on Thursday. CARACAS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least two people died and four others are missing after a service barge used in the maintenance of oil wells sank in Lake Maracaibo, in western Venezuela's Zulia state, state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) said Thursday. In a statement, the firm said the incident was caused by "bad weather conditions that affected the area at the time of the accident," and said the barge named "Chantase G" belongs to SOSCA, the firm currently providing oil well maintenance services. "Search and rescue work continues in conjunction with public safety organizations," the company said, adding a PDVSA High-Level Investigation Committee will look into the matter to definitively determine the causes of the accident and support will be provided to the relatives of the victims. The state-run company offered its condolences to the families of the deceased. JEFFERSON CITY After three days of battling over scientific papers and expert testimony, the trial of a lawsuit challenging Missouris restrictions on gender-affirming treatments on Thursday turned to the impact the law has on patients and providers. Nicole Carr, a nurse practitioner at Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis, said anxiety, fear and depression first increased in transgender patients when Attorney General Andrew Bailey published an emergency rule that established barriers to care in April 2023. No one thinks about how these laws affect the actual people they are supposed to protect and they are supposed to serve, she said. Patients were crying in the clinic in fear, she testified. Im trying to give them hope that they dont have to fear being in Missouri, that they dont have to fear coming to me as a provider, that they can move past this, Carr said. Its sad because Im referring a lot of people to therapy that, before these rules, were fine. She worries about youth in foster care, which she worked with frequently in a previous position. Transgender teenagers in foster care often must wait until they turn 18 to go to the doctor alone for assessment to obtain hormone-replacement therapy. But if they are on Medicaid, as most are soon after foster care, Missouri wont pay for the treatment. (The law) has impacted the quality of care I can give my patients when I know the solution to their problem is out there and I cant do anything about it, she said. Carr and Southampton Community Healthcare are among 11 plaintiffs hoping to block enforcement of a 2023 law banning gender-affirming medical treatments for minors. Other plaintiffs include parents of transgender children, transgender adolescents, other medical care providers and organizations supporting gender-affirming care. Their attorneys began putting witnesses on the stand Monday in the Cole County Circuit Court trial scheduled to continue through next week. The lawsuit asks Judge Craig Carter, assigned to the case from Wright County, to declare the law unconstitutional, alleging violations of equal protection, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution. Although the law does not ban counseling or the continuation of treatments begun before it passed, several providers ceased all gender-affirming treatments for minors soon after it took effect on Aug. 28, 2023. First University of Missouri Health, then Washington University in St. Louis, ended their programs, citing the threat of future litigation allowed in the law. Neither provider is a party to the lawsuit. Over the first three days of the trial, assistant attorneys general defending the law have repeatedly sought to discredit plaintiffs expert witnesses. The painstaking cross examinations have slowed the pace of the trial to two experts per day and led to a late recess on Wednesday. Carter, however, has declined to limit the cross-examination, despite arguments from plaintiffs attorneys that it means the trial will exceed the time allotted to complete it. During cross-examination, members of the defense team have read scientific articles, news articles and editorials on gender-affirming care. Almost invariably, that leads to objections that the exhibits are new. Carter has allowed reading as a way to challenge the credibility of witnesses by showing deficiencies in their testimony, such as bias or poor memory. They seem to be reading a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of opinion pieces, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, an attorney for plaintiffs, told reporters. If they wanted to introduce the opinion of some random person in the United Kingdom, they could have called them. During one question to Dr. Armand Matheny Antommaria from Solicitor General Joshua Divine, plaintiffs attorney Nora Huppert objected, arguing that it was as if Divine was testifying himself. It came as Antommaria, a pediatric hospitalist and bioethicist at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, answered questions slowly, often with a yes sir or no sir, correcting Divines questions. If you go to the key findings, the statement youve pulled out is not part of the key findings, he said, after a question in which Divine asked about a singular sentence of a scientific article. The context is important, Antommaria told him, saying the overall report was the opposite of Divines characterization. Divine also asked if Antommarias religious beliefs or divinity degree should disqualify him as an expert. Given the nature of that particular degree, that does not disqualify myself, he said. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, an adolescent medicine physician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and medical director of the hospitals center for transgender youth health and development, testified about her research linking distress about breast development to depression and anxiety. She also discussed benefits of gender-affirming care she has seen in her clinical experience. Hal Frampton, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, brought one of the 11 three-ring binders prepared for the Olson-Kennedy testimony to the podium. He flipped through the approximately three-inch binder, presenting studies and articles to question Olson-Kennedys research and concluding with videos from talks she gave years ago. In one talk, she said people get worked up about certain surgical procedures that are part of gender-affirming care. Frampton asked if she doesnt like people that get worked up. Olson-Kennedy said she was emphasizing the difference between gender-affirming surgeries. The seriousness of getting a sterilizing surgery is more severe than someone who needs a chest surgery, she said. He also asked about an interview she gave in which she spoke about being involved in social justice efforts. People being able to get access to medically necessary care is an advocacy issue, she responded. The defense is scheduled to begin arguments Monday, with a scheduled final day of Oct. 4. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. Little ladies of America, put down your sewing kits and listen up: Donald Trump and the Republican Party have your cute little backs. Theyre going to protect you from making your own choices about reproduction, from deciding whether to own a cat, maybe even from traveling between states. Heck, girls, todays GOP will even protect you from the burden of thinking! WOMEN WILL BE HAPPY, HEALTHY, CONFIDENT AND FREE! YOU WILL NO LONGER BE THINKING ABOUT ABORTION! the former president recently posted helpfully putting it in all-caps so even female readers can understand it. I WILL PROTECT WOMEN AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. Of course, youve already sampled Trumps idea of protection, in the form of abortion bans in half the country that have now been officially confirmed to have cost womens lives. Trump who is more singularly responsible for those bans than any other individual in America, thanks to his three Supreme Court appointments knows how grateful you are to him. But its not just Trump for whom you should be knitting scarves of gratitude, ladies. Other Republican luminaries these days are also offering invaluable advice on how the fairer sex can be happy, healthy and compliant. Theres JD Vance, Trumps running mate. When recently confronted with a 2021 interview in which he derided childless cat ladies who want to make the rest of the country miserable too, he doubled down, snarking: Ive got nothing against cats. Its hard to believe this duo is trailing among women by double digits in polls. Dont you chicks know whats good for you? Vance has also suggested that parents should have more votes in elections than non-parents, and that women who dont have their own kids arent qualified to teach in schools. Setting aside what generations of nuns might think of that suggestion, its a useful reminder, ladies, that to todays Republican leaders, you are, first and foremost, incubators reproductive systems that also happen to be capable of speech. Arent you honored? Speaking of reproductive systems: All girls should watch that educational 2022 video that recently surfaced of Mark Robinson, the North Carolina Republican gubernatorial nominee, waving his hand around his groin area and declaring that one of the biggest problems in society today is that women need to just get this under control. (How to do that? In the immortal words of Trump himself, Grab them by the Yknow.) Then theres Bernie Moreno, the GOPs Senate nominee in Ohio, who recently derided those single-issue voters meaning, women who have the gall to vote in the interest of their own bodily autonomy. He declared it crazy that women over 50 would care about reproductive rights. Im thinking to myself: I dont think thats an issue for you. Hmm. Not to overload your female brains here, but is Mr. Moreno suggesting that anyone who cant get pregnant should keep their damned noses out of other peoples reproductive decisions? What an unintentionally intriguing concept! Discuss among yourselves, girls. But dont discuss too much. Todays Republican Party which, remember, is protecting you wants to ensure that you dont have access to information that isnt good for you. For example, Missouris Republican lawmakers have considered outlawing billboards and websites that might provide you with dangerous information about out-of-state abortion options. (Sorry, honey, the First Amendment is only for men.) In Texas, theyve even tried to prevent women from driving to other states for abortion services. Women behind the wheel is generally a bad idea anyway, are we right? So come Nov. 5, ladies, you should walk to the polling places and vote to protect yourselves. Displaced people from southern Lebanon are seen in Tripoli, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. This week's violence in Lebanon has forced more than 90,000 people from their homes, with 70,000 cramming into 400 schools and other sites, UN humanitarians said on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled Habashiti/Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- This week's violence in Lebanon has forced more than 90,000 people from their homes, with 70,000 cramming into 400 schools and other sites, UN humanitarians said on Thursday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tallied the number of displacements since Monday with data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which reported it expects the numbers to increase. OCHA said it is gravely concerned over the safety of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Syria estimated that more than 10,000 people -- both Lebanese and Syrians -- have crossed from Lebanon into Syria due to the hostilities. The office said the world body and its partners provide food, water, mattresses and hygiene kits. The recent escalation of violence is also affecting education, health and other vital civilian facilities in Lebanon. OCHA said Lebanon's Ministry of Education postponed the start of the school year until Oct. 14, which affects thousands of students nationwide. The office said Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday damaged four more water stations, bringing the total number of such facilities impacted since October 2023 to 24, affecting access to clean water for more than 250,000 people. OCHA said the fighting forced 18 primary healthcare centers to close on Thursday. The UN Population Fund said it provides productive health and dignity kits to displaced women and girls. At the same time, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, delivered essential supplies, including water, blankets, and hygiene kits, to collective shelters. The World Food Programme reported pre-positioning enough food to support 250,000 people for five days, with the UN relief agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, and IOM also providing mattresses, blankets and additional supplies to support displaced people. OCHA said that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners need additional resources to sustain the response to urgent needs. On the margins of the annual General Debate in the great General Assembly Hall, a ministerial-level meeting was held on UNRWA, its funding and the situation in Gaza, where the current hostilities began on Oct. 7, 2023, before spilling over into the West Bank and Lebanon. "We have failed the people of Gaza," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the meeting. "They are in a living hell that somehow gets even worse by the day." Yet, he said, if there is any outpost of hope in the hellscape, it is UNRWA. He defended the agency mandated to support Palestinians whether in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or the West Bank. After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the Israeli government accused staff members of UNRWA of participating in the deadly raid and donor contributions for the agency plummeted. "In the face of the catastrophic conditions, UNRWA perseveres," Guterres said, adding that donations are recovering. "This is a tribute to the resilience of the women and men of UNRWA." He voiced complete confidence in UNRWA's continued commitment "to upholding the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and humanity." An 80th Fighter Squadron pilot lands an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 8, 2019. (Joshua Edwards/U.S. Air Force) SEOUL, South Korea The crash of an Air Force fighter jet off South Koreas western coast last year was due to the loss of instrumentation and poor weather, according to a 7th Air Force news release Friday. The F-16C Fighting Falcon was over the Yellow Sea on Dec. 11 when it crashed due to loss of primary flight and navigation instruments during adverse weather conditions, the release states. The fighter belonged to the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, 115 miles south of Seoul. The pilot survived the crash although the aircraft was a total loss, according to 7th Air Force. The Accident Investigation Board found that the F-16s loss of flight and navigation instruments was prompted by the failure of an embedded GPS inertial navigation system. That systems failure, along with the unidentified pilots reliance on other indicators that showed inaccurate readings, led to spatial disorientation, according to the release. Weather conditions, including dense cloud coverage 13 minutes after takeoff, exacerbated problems that popped up during the flight, the release said. Guided by navigation and altitude information from a wingman, the pilot attempted to fly at a lower altitude to find a cloud-free sky. However, the mismatch in data between the standby indicator and the wingmans cues resulted in further spatial disorientation and prompted the pilots decision to eject over water at 1,730 feet, according to the release. The pilot was later rescued by the South Korean navy and coast guard and airlifted to Kunsan by a South Korean air force helicopter, 7th Air Force said at the time. Another F-16 assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing crashed into the Yellow Sea on Jan. 31. The investigation into that crash is ongoing. Preliminary findings indicate the two crashes are unrelated, the release said. A Kunsan-based F-16 crashed into a farm field near Osan Air Base during a routine flight on May 6, 2023. That crash was caused by power loss and adverse weather conditions, according to the Accident Investigation Board report. The pilot suffered minor injuries. Air Force Uniform Office members 1st Lt. Avery Thomson and 2nd Lt. Maverick Wilhite model updated versions of the Air Force physical training uniform at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. 25, 2021. (Jim Varhegyi/U.S. Air Force) After a two-year delay, the Air Force anticipates the new gender-specific uniform for physical training to be available on a limited basis in November. The PT uniform short-sleeve shirt, running shorts, all-purpose shorts and warm-up suit was originally scheduled for release in 2022, Air Force spokeswoman Ciara Travis told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday. The uniform is now expected in November at select Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations in the continental United States, she said. When the Air Force announced the new uniform back in 2021, it planned on a four-year transition before it became mandatory wear. Travis did not say when the new workout clothing would be available at bases overseas. Some optional items, including a long-sleeve shirt and sweatshirt, are in development and will be available later, she said. That process took longer than expected, she said. Fielding the new uniform required time to find mandatory government sources and collaborate with domestic fabric manufacturers to meet technical requirements for the materials, Travis said. The Berry Amendment and Buy American Act require certain products purchased by the Department of Defense to be manufactured and purchased within the United States. The Space Force launched its new physical training uniforms in March for basic trainees; the Air Force followed shortly thereafter. The Air Force began providing the new AF PT uniform to Airmen in basic training as of July 2024, Travis said. The items issued included the short-sleeve shirt, running shorts, all-purpose shorts and track suit. The Space Force PT uniform is based on the latest Air Force PT uniform designs, the Defense Logistics Agency announced in June. The outfit will have improved fabrics that include soft, quick-drying material with antimicrobial technology that helps with moisture and odor control, and fabric that minimizes noise. The 10-piece gender-specific PT uniform five pieces each for men and women replaces a four-piece unisex uniform, according to the agency release. Adding additional production lines to the already fragile industry base came with challenges, David James, clothing and textiles customer operations cell chief for Air Force and Space Force clothing, said in the release. The Myrtle Hazard, one of three Guam-based Coast Guard fast-response cutters, is pictured near the island on May 13, 2024. (Sara Muir/U.S. Coast Guard) The Coast Guard will double its Guam fleet to six cutters but doesnt plan to accompany the Philippine coast guard as it struggles to maintain territorial claims in the South China Sea, the services Pacific-area commander said Friday. The service is part of the U.S. military expansion on Guam, Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson said during a video call from Japan with news reporters. Billions are already invested in building a new Marine Corps base and improving Andersen Air Force Base on the island. We are also expanding our footprint in Guam, Tiongson said, adding that funding is already secured for three more Sentinel-class fast-response cutters to be homeported on the island. The Coast Guard will not escort Philippine resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship garrisoned by Filipino troops at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, according to Tiongson. No, he answered succinctly when asked during the call. Three fast-response cutters have been stationed at Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam since July 2021. Each of the 154-foot-long vessels has a crew of 24 and is equipped with advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, according to the Coast Guards website. The cutters can move faster than 28 knots and cover 2,500 nautical miles during a five-day patrol. They are armed with a stabilized 25-mm machine gun mount and four crew-served .50-caliber machine guns, the website states. The Coast Guard exercised a $113.1 million contract option May 8 with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., for two more Sentinel-class cutters. Sixty-seven are planned. Fifty-five FRCs are in operational service, operating out of 13 homeports located across the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam, the service said in a May 16 news release. The fast-response cutters are ideal for the Pacific, Tiongson said. A lot of our partners dont have big navies, but they have patrol vessels like that 150-foot cutter, he said. The cutters are outfitted for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Tiongson didnt say when the new cutters would arrive on Guam, but said the Harriet Lane, a medium-endurance cutter homeported since December at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, patrols the Western Pacific. Its possible we may get another Indo-Pacific support cutter, he said. The Harriet Lane visited Australia in March. And one of the Guam-based cutters, the Frederick Hatch, went to the Philippines last fall. The service is looking for a port in Japan or Australia where cutters can routinely replenish and allow crew some time ashore, Tiongson said. A Coast Guard patrol is planned for next year in the West Philippine Sea, with observers aboard from Australia, India and Japan, Tiongson said. The four nations leaders agreed to the patrol on Sept. 21 in Delaware. Tiongson said he anticipates no aggression aimed at U.S. cutters by either Chinese or Russian vessels. The Philippines has clashed repeatedly this year with the Chinese coast guard in disputed territory in the South China Sea. The Philippines has not asked for escorts, Tiongson said. We do advise, and we do assist, he said. We provide what we would do in this situation. A sailor welds metal to the deck onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in Newport News, Va., in October 2023. (Curtis Burdick/U.S. Navy) Newport News Shipbuilding has notified the Navy and Department of Justice that welding done on some submarines and aircraft carriers at its shipyard was defective, according to a report Thursday by USNI News. The faulty welds, which may have been done intentionally, were made on noncritical components on in-service subs and carriers, the report states. Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the sole maker of carriers for the Navy and one of only two firms that make submarines. Huntington Ingalls told the Navy that welding not following proper procedure was discovered on new construction and submarines and on Ford-class aircraft carriers now in service, USNI reported. The report cited a memo from Nickolas Guertin, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti. The memo said welders did not follow proper methods in welding certain joints, and it appeared that the faulty work was done intentionally, USNI reported. The shipbuilder informed the Department of Justice of its findings, the report said. In a statement to USNI on Thursday, Newport News said its internal reporting discovered that some welds did not meet its quality standards. Upon this discovery, we took immediate action to communicate with our customers and regulators, investigate, determine root cause, bound these matters and insert immediate corrective actions to prevent any recurrence of these issues, the statement read. HIIs Newport News Shipbuilding is committed to building the highest-quality aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy, the statement continued. We do not tolerate any conduct that compromises our companys values and our mission of delivering ships that safeguard our nation and its sailors. The Navy said in a statement to USNI Thursday that a thorough evaluation is underway to determine the scope of the problem. The safety of our Sailors and our ships is of paramount importance, the statement read. We are working closely with industry partners to address this situation and will provide additional information when available. Americas shipyards have been grappling for years with a shortage of workers, a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Del Toro, while speaking in April at the Stimson Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said supply-chain issues arising from the pandemic had hindered shipyards ability to meet delivery schedules for ships. A bigger problem, however, was the lack of blue-collar workers that we have in this country, Del Toro said. M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (Moses Sawasawa/AP) KINSHASA, Congo Rwandas army and a militia it backs shelled camps for displaced people in eastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said. It also accused Congo of abuses against civilians. A report by the group released Thursday said that since the beginning of the year, Rwandas army and the M23 rebel armed group, which it supports, have indiscriminately shelled camps in eastern Congo where tens of thousands of people are sheltering. Congos army, meanwhile, has put displaced people at increased risk by deploying artillery near the camps, the report said. Both sides have killed camp residents, committed rapes and obstructed aid, it said. Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as more than 120 armed 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, rapes and other human rights violations. The violence has displaced some 6 million people in the east. The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a rebel military group mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis that broke away from the Congolese army just over a decade ago. They staged a large offensive in 2012 and took over the provincial capital of Goma near the border with Rwanda, the same city they are threatening again. Congo alleges that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the east and U.S. and U.N. experts accuse it of giving military backing to M23. Rwanda denies the claim, but in February admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border. In July, U.N. experts estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwanda government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23 armed group, which has been making major advances. On Thursday, a regional court in East Africa opened proceedings in a case filed by Congo against Rwanda, accusing it of violating Congos sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending troops to help rebels in the countrys east. Earlier this week, Congos President Felix Tshisekedi called for sanctions on neighboring Rwanda for its alleged support of the M23 in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly. McMakin reported from Dakar, Senegal A hypersonic glide body launches from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, March 19, 2020, during a Department of Defense flight experiment. (U.S. Navy) FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Navy intends to significantly increase the level of training on Kauai and an uninhabited island that would exponentially step up the tempo of missile and rocket launches, amphibious and drone operations and airport use by helicopters by the joint force. The Navy laid out its plans for the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai in a draft environmental assessment issued in August. The plan would increase the frequency of 13 types of training and testing activities that take place on the Barking Sands installation on Kauai and on Kaula, an uninhabited Hawaiian island to the southwest. Barking Sands lies on a coastal strip on the west side of Kauai and is part of a missile range with an operational area that includes more than 1,100 square miles of underwater range and more than 42,000 square miles of controlled airspace, according to the Navy. The range is capable of simultaneously supporting surface, underwater, air and space operations. The Missile Defense Agency routinely uses the range for testing ballistic missile prototypes. Under its proposed plan, the Navy would continue using the range as it has in the past but increase training and testing conducted by the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and the Missile Defense Agency. Training and testing activities may also include the participation of foreign militaries under U.S. sponsorship and oversight, the draft assessment states. The assessment concludes that the added activities would not significantly affect air quality, climate change and greenhouse gases, noise, public health and safety and biological and cultural resources, The Navy is not proposing new types of training or testing at Barking Sands or Kaula, a 135-acre crescent-shaped isle about 55 miles southwest of Kauai. Kaula would see increases in air-to-ground bombing exercises, and air-to-ground gunnery exercises. About 11 acres in the south of the island is used for those exercises. Live fire is prohibited on Kaula. The number of bombing exercises, which involve training of strike fighter aircraft delivering inert ordnance on the island, would increase from 12 to 31. In gunnery drills, strike fighters and helicopter crews use guns and inert rockets to attack the island. Those exercises would increase from 14 to 24 per year. Some activities on Kauai would increase far more dramatically, in certain cases by more than 2,100%. Among the plans expected annual increases for activities are: Drone and counter-drone operations, from two to 45, a 2,150% increase. Movements by units over land to new locations, from one to 22, a 2,100% increase. Helicopter and Osprey landing-zone operations at airport, from one to 12, a 1,100% increase. Establishing and operating tactical field command posts, communication systems, radar tracking and surveillance systems, optical tracking systems and electronic warfare equipment, from nine to 70, a 678% increase. Amphibious operations, from four to 26, a 550% increase. Launches of missile, rockets and aerial-target drones, from 25 to 35. Non-live fire missile or rocket system launch preparations, from one to six. Establishing and operating forward arming and refueling points for fighter jets, helicopters, cargo planes and Ospreys, from one to 20. The Navys plan was developed with the joint services and the MDA to identify training and testing activities that were not being supported at other locations and for which [the missile range] was already supporting due to the availability of facilities and range assets, the assessment states. Then, taking into consideration factors such as safety, range capability and test scheduling, the Navy determined the tempo of training and testing activities the range could support into the reasonably foreseeable future, the assessment states. The draft assessment is posted at www.pmrf-kpgo-eis.com/media/2lspojsq/pmrflbtdraftenvironmentalassessmentaugust2024.pdf. A final environmental impact statement is expected to be released next year for public review and comment. 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. (May James/AP ) HONG KONG 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 Thursdays 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. A member of the public stands outside the District Court in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, ahead of a sentencing hearing for two former Stand News editors convicted of sedition, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (May James/AP) 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 defenses 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 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. 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 Thursdays sentencing. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said the sentences reflect the ongoing decline of press freedom and the real dangers faced by journalists. Patrick Lam, the former acting editor-in-chief of Hong Kong's now shuttered pro-democracy news outlet Stand News gestures to the gathered media as he leaves the Wanchai District Court after the final sentencing of Stand News sedition case in Wan Chai district court in Hong Kong on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (May James/AP ) 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 Beijings 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. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, watches a missile launch alongside military officials in this image released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 19, 2024. (KCNA) SEOUL, South Korea Pyongyang could test a nuclear weapon or launch an intercontinental ballistic missile on the heels of the U.S. presidential election, South Koreas spy agency recently told lawmakers, according to a local media report. The National Intelligence Service believes North Korea has 154 pounds of plutonium and an unspecified amount of highly enriched uranium to craft nuclear weapons, according to the Yonhap News report, which cited South Korean lawmakers reportedly briefed by the agency. A show of force by North Korea could be an attempt to boost confidence among the population amid the extremely dire economic situation, Rep. Lee Seong-Kweun of the ruling People Power Party said in the report. South Korean national security adviser Shin Won Sik, during a separate televised interview with Yonhap on Monday, said it was entirely possible that Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test around the time of the U.S. presidential election. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can conduct a nuclear test at a time of his choosing, Shin said, adding the dictator would likely do so after considering its strategic advantages. A Sept. 13 report by the Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency unveiled a purported uranium enrichment facility at an undisclosed location. Kim at the time said increasing the production of nuclear materials was necessary for the manufacture of tactical nuclear weapons, according to KCNA. North Korea has detonated six underground nuclear devices since 2006. The regime last tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb in 2017. It has also fired more than 40 ballistic missiles in 10 separate days of testing so far this year. The communist regime last fired several short-range ballistic missiles on Sept. 18 that flew northeast roughly 250 miles from South Pyongan province, according to the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff. Those short-range ballistic missiles were upgraded to carry a 4.5-ton warhead, KCNA reported the following day. Locals lead a multinational force of service members to unexploded ordnance in Ringgi Cove, Kolombangara, Solomon Islands, Sept. 9, 2024. (Kassie McDole/U.S. Marine Corps) Explosive ordnance technicians from six countries helped remove more than 3,200 World War II-era bombs, shells and bullets from the Solomon Islands this month. Sixty-five U.S. soldiers and Marines supported the largest iteration of Operation Render Safe in the islands, Army 1st Lt. Joe Gardner, who led American troops during the mission, said by phone Friday. The operation, in its 20th year, is an annual Australian-led mission to clear World War II ordnance from the Pacific, according to the Australian Defence Force website. Troops from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea also took part in the mission. The Allies liberated the Solomons from the Japanese during the war. More than 7,000 Marines died during the seven-month Battle of Guadalcanal. However, U.S. and Australian officials were stunned when Solomon Islands announced in early 2022 that it was entering into a security agreement with China, opening the possibility that Beijing could use the nation to bolster its military presence in the region. Marine Corps Sgt. William Barker, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Marine Rotational Force Darwin, uncovers a World War II-era shell in Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Sept. 9, 2024. (Juan Torres/U.S. Marine Corps) China has no such long-serving commitment as Render Safe in the region nor do Chinese troops have the experience that previous bomb disposal projects have brought to American, Australiana and New Zealand teams, New Zealand-based security expert Paul Buchanan said by email Friday. This and previous exercises of the kind simply reaffirm the WW2 allies commitment to the people of the Solomons and elsewhere in Melanesia that they will continue to do their part in making regional landscapes safe again, he said. If that helps off-set or balance PRC [Peoples Republic of Chinas] diplomatic efforts in the region, then as far as the WW2 allies are concerned, that is an added bonus. U.S. personnel involved in Render Safe included bomb technicians from U.S. Army Pacific and Marine Rotational Force Darwin, which will soon wrap a six-month mission in Australia, said Gardner, an explosive ordnance disposal officer with 303rd EOD Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. Explosive ordnance disposal teams worked on three small islands in the Solomons with an aviation component based in the capital, Honiara, 217 miles to the east, the Australian Defence Force said in a Sept. 19 statement. Soldiers and Marines encountered numerous battle remnants, from rusting helmets to downed aircraft, in the jungle and underwater during the mission, Gardner said. With the vegetation, a lot of stuff is relatively untouched, he said. Divers saw a bomber with its wings attached underwater. Disposing of conventional munitions is the core mission of explosive ordnance troops, Gardner said. In recent years, the technicians have been focused on that mission after years of dealing with improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said. This (work in the Solomons) is the same job we would be doing downrange, he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to press during a joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Israel, April 12, 2021. (Jackie Sanders/U.S. Air Force) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to hold talks on a U.S.-proposed cease-fire in Lebanon aimed at averting a major war, appearing to soften his stance after earlier pushing back on the plan amid domestic opposition. Israel will take part in deliberations on the proposal for a three-week truce with Hezbollah in the coming days, Netanyahus office said in an overnight statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer have already held talks on the matter, according to the White House. Israel appreciates the U.S. efforts in this regard because the U.S. role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region, the statement from Netanyahus office said. The U.S.-led diplomatic push is seen as a last-ditch attempt to prevent this weeks escalation of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah from spiraling into a full-scale conflict. Israel has said its preparing to stage a potential ground invasion of neighboring Lebanon, which would risk dragging in key ally Washington as well as Hezbollahs sponsor Iran. Israel has been targeting the militant group with intensive air strikes since Monday, killing more than 600 people, including at least 50 children, according to Lebanese officials. Tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled the bombardment in the countrys south. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel in response including its first-ever attempt to target Tel Aviv in the worst violence between the two sides since a 2006 war. Netanyahu who is in New York to address the annual United Nations General Assembly later Friday had earlier vowed the military would maintain its bombardment of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon until all Israels objectives have been achieved. Chief among those is the return of Israels northern residents to their homes, the Israeli premier said, and thats likely to be achieved only if Hezbollah is persuaded to stop firing missiles permanently and moves its fighters back from the border. Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted on X that there will be no cease-fire, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the aim of the armed forces is to keep throwing Hezbollah off balance and deepening their loss. The statements by Israels top ministers appeared to block attempts led by U.S. President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to secure a halt to the fighting. Washington has previously been unable to clinch a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, where Israel has been at war with Palestinian group Hamas for almost a year, despite repeated attempts alongside Egypt and Qatar. U.S. officials expressed some frustration. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the Biden administration had coordinated the truce initiative with Israel. We wouldnt have made that statement, we wouldnt have worked on that if we didnt have reason to believe that the conversations that we were having with the Israelis in particular were supportive of the goal there, he told reporters. Netanyahu initially made verbal commitments to support the Lebanon cease-fire proposal but backtracked after mounting political pressure inside Israel, Haaretz newspaper reported, citing unidentified diplomats familiar with the matter. One of his far-right allies, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, threatened to quit the ruling coalition if a permanent truce is reached. Such a move has the potential to bring down the government, which depends on the support of various factions for its majority. Netanyahus domestic critics have long accused him of sustaining the Gaza war to ensure political survival, though Hamas has taken a similarly uncompromising line, despite the destruction of much of its military capability. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging rocket fire since the start of the war in Gaza, and the militant group has long said it would 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 U.S., although Hezbollah is considered much more powerful. The U.S., European states and Arab powers including Saudi Arabia and Qatar unveiled the proposed truce on Wednesday, saying it would allow time for negotiations on a broader agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. The United Arab Emirates urged the U.S. not to shy away from exercising its influence over Israel to push for a halt in hostilities. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in London, told reporters Thursday that another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon. He said 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. In the past week, Israel has killed top Hezbollah commanders with strikes, and many members were maimed in an operation in which thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies exploded. Hezbollah and Iran blamed Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. Israel says it has destroyed a significant part of Hezbollahs missile arsenal. Overnight, Israel said it intercepted a missile from Yemen outside its territory. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles and drones at Israel in solidarity with Hamas amid the almost year-long war with the Israeli military in Gaza. PHNOM PENH, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia received 4.29 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2024, up 22.5 percent from 3.5 million over the same period last year, said a Ministry of Tourism's report released on Friday. Thailand still topped the chart among the international tourist arrivals to the Southeast Asian country during the January-August period this year, followed by Vietnam and China, the report said. About 1.34 million Thais traveled to Cambodia, up 13 percent, the report said. According to the report, 35.8 percent of the total international tourists reached Cambodia by air, and 64.2 percent by land and waterways. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a message to mark the World Tourism Day that tourism is the kingdom's "green gold," importantly contributing to boosting socio-economic development. He said the country is expected to "attract nearly 6 million international tourists in 2024 and up to 7 million in 2026." He is confident that the Chinese-invested 4E-level Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which commenced commercial operations in November 2023, and the 4F-class Techo International Airport, which is expected to be put into use in the first half of 2025, will play an important role in serving tourists in the long run. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting the country's economy. The sector made a gross revenue of 3.08 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, creating some 450,000 direct jobs, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Navy ships shot down a barrage of missiles and drones launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen at the shipping lanes of the Red Sea, the Pentagon said Sept. 27, 2024. (Daniel Kimmelman/U.S. Navy) Navy ships intercepted a Houthi barrage of missiles and drones launched from Yemen at the shipping lanes of the Red Sea, the Pentagon confirmed Friday, while also denying reports that any ships were hit in the attack. We did see a complex attack launched from the Houthis that ranged from cruise missiles and [unmanned aerial vehicles], said Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary for the Defense Department. The Iran-backed Houthi claimed Friday to have damaged three U.S. Navy warships in a bombardment of 23 missiles and bomber drones. The Navy destroyers, the Houthis military spokesperson said in a televised speech, were targeted as they transited the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen. My understanding is that those were either engaged and shot down or failed, Singh said, referring to the Houthi missiles and drones. No U.S. military ships were struck, and there were no injuries to U.S. service members, she also said. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group are in the region. The strike group includes three destroyers: USS Spruance, USS Stockdale, and USS OKane. Singh on Friday declined to say whether the destroyers were the intended targets of the Houthi missiles. We did what we had to do to protect our forces, and at the end of the day, no ship was hit -- no damage and no injuries to our personnel, she said. U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for military assets across the Middle East, and the Navy Office of Information confirmed the sea service intercepted the missiles but referred additional questions back to the Pentagon. U.S. soldiers with the 630th Ordinance Company, assisted by French troops, conduct a controlled detonation at al Asad Air Base in Iraq on Dec. 29, 2023. (Quince Lanford/U.S. Army) WASHINGTON U.S. troops will remain in Iraq as the two countries agree to a two-phased transition of the American-led mission to defeat the Islamic State, U.S. officials said Friday. To be clear, the United States is not withdrawing from Iraq, a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told reporters. This announcement comes after a decade of success from extraordinary international cooperation between coalition partners, Iraqi security forces and the U.S. military in territorially defeating ISIS in the core regions of Iraq and Syria. The first phase will conclude the anti-ISIS coalitions military mission in Iraq and end the deployment of coalition forces in certain locations in Iraq by September 2025, the U.S. official said. Officials did not say how many troops will remain in Iraq or where they will be stationed. Were not going to speak to our plans concerning specific base locations or troop numbers, said a defense official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. For now, that remains in a planning process and under review. But U.S. and Iraq officials have agreed to allow coalition troops to continue to support anti-ISIS operations in Syria from Iraq through the second phase of the transition until at least September 2026. For 10 years, U.S.-led coalition forces have battled ISIS, since the terrorist group launched a blitzkrieg across eastern Syria and into Iraq, capturing massive swaths of both countries, including about one-third of Iraq. Then-President Barack Obama amassed the coalition to launch an air campaign against ISIS. Later that year, the U.S. began sending forces back into Iraq to train and advise Iraqi military forces to fight off the group. That campaign has continued, despite ISIS fighters having lost almost all their land in Iraq by 2017. The U.S. declared an end to its combat portion of the anti-ISIS mission in 2021 but retained about 2,500 troops in Iraq, saying they would remain indefinitely in a support role. There are also about 900 troops in Syria. A defense official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said were not going to speak to our plans concerning specific base locations or troop numbers. Iraqi Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbassi earlier this month told Saudi news channel Al-Hadath that the coalition would pull out from bases in Baghdad and other parts of federal Iraq by September 2025 and from the autonomous northern Kurdistan region by September 2026, Agence France-Presse reported. He also said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said in a meeting that two years were not enough to carry out the withdrawal. The justifications are no longer there, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Sept. 15 in an interview with Bloomberg. There is no need for a coalition. We have moved on from wars to stability. ISIS is not really representing a challenge. The two countries agreed to form a Higher Military Commission last August for discussions about the U.S.-led military coalitions next phase in its mission to defeat ISIS. The U.S. and Iraq began formal conversations in January about ending the coalition. A defense official at the time said the High Military Commission meeting was not a negotiation about the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. U.S. bases in the region have been prone to attacks. After the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel, Iran-linked groups launched some 175 rocket and drone strikes on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The announcement follows a recent increase of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon as fighting in the Middle East continues to intensify. The U.S. has expanded its forces in the region in the last several months to help defend Israel, as well as protect American and allied personnel and assets. Army Maj. Michael Stockin, 38, is a doctor charged with molesting soldiers and veterans during medical appointments at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. He faces 47 counts of abusive sexual contact. (Abner Guzman/U.S. Air Force) An Army doctor charged in one of the militarys largest sexual abuse cases is expected to plead guilty during a hearing scheduled for early next year, according to the service. Maj. Michael Stockin, 38, is charged with molesting 41 soldiers and veterans during medical appointments at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. He faces 47 counts of abusive sexual contact and five for wrongfully viewing another persons private area. The guilty plea was posted on the Armys online court docket. But the court listing does not state to which charges Stockin will plead guilty, and his attorney and Army officials declined to provide further details. Robert Capovilla, Stockins attorney, confirmed Friday that a plea agreement had been reached between Stockin and the Army. He had previously said his client would fight all accusations before a jury. A court-martial for Stockin is scheduled to begin Jan. 7 and will be held with only military judge, according to the docket. Military Judge Col. Larry Babin has overseen the case since Stockins arraignment in February. If convicted of all charges, Stockin could face a maximum penalty of more than 300 years in jail effectively a life sentence. Stockin, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, arrived at Lewis-McChord in June 2019 and the charges accuse him of criminal behavior that began three months later. Patients told investigators that Stockin would touch their private areas under the guise of medical necessity. Army Maj. Michael Stockin, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., in June 2019. (MDedge News) Stockin is also locked in civilian court case with his former wife, who filed for divorce in 2022. She also requested a protective order last year to block Stockin from their children, according to Pierce County, Wash., court records. She has accused Stockin of having a problem with alcohol and a history of physical and sexual abuse to his family. Eighteen service members and veterans have also filed administrative claims seeking in total $90 million against the Army, accusing the service of not doing enough to prevent Stockin from harming patients. The Army did not remove him from treating patients immediately upon receiving complaints in February 2022, according to the filings. The administrative claims, all filed under pseudonyms by the law firm Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, state Stockin abused more than 100 patients and more could be out there who have not chosen to come forward. Stockin holds medical licenses in Nebraska and Washington and both appear in good standing, according to online state records. He attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and graduated in 2013 the same year he joined the Army. He deployed to Iraq from October 2020 to February 2021. Other assignments include Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu from June 2013 to July 2014 and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from July 2014 to July 2019. Stars and Stripes reporter Gary Warner contributed to this report. An F-35B Lightning II idles on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli during night flight operations Jan. 19, 2022. (Peter Burghart/U.S. Navy) (Tribune News Service) Two former employees are suing an Oregon-based aerospace company, alleging it supplied substandard parts to defense contractors for installation in the U.S. militarys F-35 fighter jets. Selmet Inc. in Albany allegedly falsified records and shipped improperly inspected and poorly finished plane parts to customers to meet production quotas and deadlines, the ex-employees say in the federal suit filed in Eugene. The company fired one of the two workers and pushed the other out by offering him a lower-level job after they both repeatedly reported the alleged fraud to their supervisors, the suit alleges. The F-35s are built with stealth technology for bombing and strafing ground targets and reconnaissance. Selmet is the major subcontractor for engine exhaust nozzle parts and Pratt & Whitney is the governments primary contractor for the engines, according to court records. Imagine a pilot going in to drop bombs and his thrusters go out because we didnt do our work properly, former inspector Stephen Cardwell would frequently say in front of co-workers when raising concerns internally, according to the suit. A judge recently unsealed the whistleblower complaint against Selmet. It was originally filed in 2020. The U.S. government is continuing to investigate the claims and last month notified the court that it hasnt yet decided whether to intervene on behalf of the two whistleblowers, according to court documents. The complaint accuses the manufacturer of violating the False Claims Act. False Claims Act litigants can sue on behalf of the government and be rewarded up to 25% of any settlement if the government intervenes and up to 30% if the government decides not to intervene. Success rates greatly improve when the government signs on to a case. Its typical for the government to seek the sealing of a complaint during its investigation in such cases. The federal act was enacted in 1863 in response to defense contractor fraud during the Civil War. We look forward to litigating the case, said attorney Patrick S. Almonrode, who represents the former employees. Selmet officials and an attorney who represented them in the past didnt respond to email or phone messages seeking comment. John LaPlant of Albany joined the company in October 2017 and was eventually promoted to be a night supervisor in an area of the plant where parts underwent final inspections, testing and finishing steps before shipping, according to the complaint. He was fired July 31, 2019. Cardwell was an inspector on the evening shift from March 2019 until about October 2019, when he was pressured to leave, the complaint says. Selmet, which produces cast titanium parts for the aerospace industry, makes flaps for the exhaust nozzles on the F-35s. Pratt & Whitney buys the flaps from Selmet using U.S. Department of Defense funds. Selmet is expected to put the exhaust nozzle parts through multiple inspection steps before shipping them to customers for installation in military and other civilian planes. At various stages, the part may be welded, ground, heat-treated and subjected to a chemical bath to ensure it fits and functions properly when installed, the suit says. According to the two whistleblowers, Selmet supervisors typically encouraged line workers to cut corners and skip some of these steps or perform them in a slipshod manner to meet production demands. The two defect-detection processes most frequently skipped were liquid-penetrant testing and visual/dimensional inspections using the human eye, X-ray and measurements of a part, according to the suit. The workplace culture at Selmet valued throughput above all other metrics and supervisors typically encouraged workers to ignore flags or inadequate attempts to fix flaws to meet production deadlines, the complaint alleges. The supervisors falsified documents or required workers to falsify documents showing that work had been performed when it had not, and that parts were ready to ship when they were not, the suit says. Pratt & Whitney and other government contractors returned many parts to Selmet, including the exhaust nozzle parts for the F-35 as unserviceable, but the company would sneak them back into the production line with paperwork that didnt show a customer had rejected them, according to the former employees. LaPlant and Cardwell believe that many substandard parts were installed in F-35s and other military planes, according to their complaint. When LaPlant raised concerns, supervisors told him that he was worrying about things that were not part of his job, that he had to pick his battles, and he needed to do things, the Selmet way, according to the suit. When LaPlant was called into a supervisors office on July 31, 2019, he was told he was being fired for not responding to work emails promptly what he contends was a pretext for getting rid of him because of his concerns. Cardwell alleged that supervisors frequently overrode his rejection of parts that failed his inspection and falsified paperwork to be able to ship them, the suit says. In some cases, someone else at the company put his employee number on the paperwork to indicate he had cleared the parts, the suit alleges. In October 2019, Cardwell was given the choice of taking a lower-level job or moving to day shift as an inspector but report to two supervisors who had already demeaned and mocked him whenever he complained, according to the suit. The complaint seeks a civil penalty against Selmet, as well as a court order directing the company to cease its alleged fraud, help the government and contractors find and remove any faulty parts on military aircraft and replace them at Selmets expense. The two former employees are also seeking reinstatement to their jobs and back pay. The F-35 was one of the most expensive weapons systems ever developed, with each jet costing between $89 and $115 million, according to the complaint. Its production came under harsh criticism years ago because the Pentagon, along with Lockheed Martin, planned to test the jets during production and fix problems on the assembly line as they were found to get more of the jets in the air faster, according to an ABC News report in 2012. In 2020, Oregon OSHA fined Selmet $27,500 for violating safety rules after an Aug. 15, 2019, furnace explosion at the foundry injured two workers. The blast blew the roof off part of the building and left one worker with multiple burns to his head, neck, arms, and chest. The force of the blast threw another worker into a parts table. The investigation identified three serious violations, including problems with the plants layout and design and inadequate work clothing and equipment, according to OSHA. 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. JD Vance speaks during a campaign event in Asheboro, N.C., on Aug. 21, 2024. (Chuck Burton/AP) Elon Musks X suspended an independent journalist on Thursday for sharing an unverified dossier on vice presidential candidate JD Vance containing his personal information, with the billionaire CEO calling the spread of the document one of the most egregious, evil doxing actions weve ever seen. The incident hearkened to another moment, just weeks before the 2020 election, when the social media platform took the unusual step of restricting a news article based on documents purported to be lifted from the laptop of President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden. The company, then Twitter, initially cited its policies against sharing hacked materials in doing so but later similarly blamed the publication behind it for disclosing private information. Musks reaction to that episode was notably different. Top Republicans and the tech billionaire railed against the decision regarding Hunter Bidens laptop as an attempt to suppress a potentially compromising story and alter the campaign. The mogul later bought the company in a bid partly to prevent such acts, vowing that he would run the company as a free speech absolutist. But content moderation experts said the two incidents bear a striking resemblance, highlighting the thorny calls social networks have been forced to make when facing dubiously sourced or potentially revealing materials in a polarized political environment. Thursdays incident unfolded after reporter Ken Klippenstein shared the 271-page dossier in a newsletter posted on X, claiming the contents were a vetting document on Vance purportedly created by former president Donald Trumps campaign. Several news organizations, including The Washington Post, reported being offered in August what appears to have been a version of the Vance dossier by an anonymous source, and the Justice Department on Friday charged three men with carrying out the alleged hack and leak against the Trump campaign on behalf of the Iranian government. Within a few hours of Klippenstein posting the dossier, X suspended his account. Some other users reported having their accounts locked after sharing his newsletter. In an emailed statement, an X spokesman said 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. The company declined to confirm whether it was blocking users from sharing links to the newsletter. Klippenstein disputed Xs rationale for the suspension in a blog post, saying that he never published any private information directly on X only links to the document and that the information contained in the dossier is readily available to anyone to buy. Klippenstein also jabbed Musk for the decision to boot him, despite Musks claim to be a free speech warrior. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, confirmed Friday that it would also block users from sharing Klippensteins newsletter as well as other sources containing the Vance dossier. But unlike X, the company cited its policies against foreign meddling and the sharing of hacked materials as its rationale. Our policies do not allow content from hacked sources or content leaked as part of a foreign government operation to influence US elections, the company said in a statement. We will be blocking such materials from being shared on our apps under our Community Standards. For years, Musk and top Republicans torched Twitters leadership for its decision to temporarily block users from sharing a controversial New York Post article on Hunter Biden during the 2020 campaign. The episode continues to spark outrage on the right, prompting numerous congressional hearings during which the companys former leadership was grilled about the saga. The veracity of the report, which centered on Bidens purported laptop, has been heavily scrutinized. In 2022, The Washington Post verified the authenticity of thousands of emails purportedly taken from the laptop, but found that they made up a small fraction of the data the New York Post story was based on. Just weeks before the 2020 election, the social network took the rare step of locking the New York Posts account and barring users from posting links to the story over concerns it was based on hacked materials, amid concerns over a potential foreign hack-and-leak operation. Facebook, since renamed Meta, also temporarily limited the storys circulation pending a fact-checking review but later lifted the restriction. Twitter soon reversed its decision but continued to block users from sharing the report under a separate rule prohibiting users from publishing private user information the same principle X is now citing to suspend Klippenstein. The story featured screenshots and documents containing peoples email addresses. Twitter ultimately relented and allowed users to share the New York Post story ahead of the election, saying the personal information contained in the story had become readily available and public, and lifted a suspension against the New York Posts account. While Twitter pointed to its policies at the time, worries about a repeat of the Russian hack against Democratic officials during the 2016 campaign loomed over the ordeal. But both companies later said the actions were a mistake, with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey apologizing for blocking the story and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying they were wrong to demote the article. Conservatives criticized the companies for blocking the New York Post article while allowing some other publications to publish stories based on leaked or hacked materials or that include private information. Musk himself has been a vocal critic of those moves, calling it free speech suppression and questioning whether those who suppressed the story should face jail time. After acquiring the company in October 2022, Musk released internal company communications dubbed the Twitter Files to a Substack writer and announced in a series of threads that they would tell the tale of what really happened with the Hunter Biden story suppression. The threads contained screenshots of messages by Twitter employees including their email addresses discussing various content moderation calls internally and externally. One exchange with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who was critical of Twitters handling of the Hunter Biden story, also contained his email address. Given that history, Evelyn Douek, an assistant professor at Stanford Law School, said the companys decision to restrict the Vance dossier looks like a hypocritical move. Xs blocking of the Hunter Biden laptop story is a cause celebre on the right and the go-to example for them of platform overreach. Here, the information is about not a relative of a political candidate, but a candidate themselves, Douek said. You would think that this is exactly what a free speech platform would protect. Still, Douek said, Xs action appears to follow the spirit of its rules banning users from publishing or posting other peoples private information without their express authorization and permission. Two physical addresses are listed in the vetting document, and both were already public: Vances Washington address is listed on a deed for the home, and the address for his property in Ohio appears in a listing for Kentuckys legal bar. Vance separately owns a home in Alexandria, Va., but the address is not listed in the dossier. The vetting document also contains Vances partial Social Security number, with the last four digits obscured; its not clear whether that had previously been made public. A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not return a request for comment. Quinta Jurecic, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said that after taking a more aggressive posture toward content moderation in 2020, social media companies have largely taken a U-turn in 2024 due in large part to the backlash over the Hunter Biden story. Nonetheless, she said, Twitter/X now seems to have decided to take that approach anyway as to this specific piece of content. Will Oremus and Aaron Schaffer contributed to this report. Cameron Coyne (26) was now working with an addiction support team. Judge David McHugh convicted and fined Coyne 350. A father of two caught with cocaine after gardai stopped the car he was in had been battling an addiction to the drug, a court heard. Cameron Coyne (26) was now working with an addiction support team. Judge David McHugh convicted and fined Coyne 350. The defendant, with an address at Kilbreena Crescent, Dunboyne, Co Meath, admitted possession of cocaine for the purposes of sale or supply. Garda Declan Bambrick told Blanchardstown District Court that he was on mobile patrol at Nangor Road in Clondalkin on July 22, 2022, when he stopped and searched a vehicle. Gda Bambrick said Coyne was a front-seat passenger in the car. He tried to run from the vehicle and evade gardai, but he was stopped and taken back to Clondalkin garda station, where cocaine, with a street value of 900, was found. The court heard that Coyne had no previous drug-related convictions. Defence lawyer Mark McMahon said that Coyne, who was an unemployed father of two, was battling an addiction to cocaine at the time of this incident. Mr McMahon said the defendant was working with the Finglas Addiction Support Team (Fast) and was focused on keeping clean. Police said Stella Doyle-Daly had travelled from Thailand via Doha and Heathrow airport. Photograph of the cannabis seizure at Belfast Airport. Photo: NCA A Dublin teenager has been charged after more than 1.1 million worth of cannabis was seized at Belfast Airport. Stella Doyle-Daly (18), from Hanover Street, Dublin, was arrested by officers from the UKs National Crime Agency after she was stopped at the airport on Tuesday. Police said she had travelled from Thailand via Doha and Heathrow airport. A search of two suitcases by Border Force officers found almost 48 kilos of cannabis. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than 1.1 million (956,000). Ms Doyle-Daly was interviewed by NCA officers yesterday and charged with drugs importation offences. She appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court this morning and was remanded in custody until a bail hearing on Tuesday. NCA Belfast Branch Commander David Cunningham said: "The NCA continues in our work to prevent drugs from reaching the streets of Northern Ireland. "We will pursue the organised crime groups behind importations and the couriers paid to transport the drugs across the border. "The gangs behind these smuggling attempts are only interested in making money. Their couriers, who are likely to be arrested and prosecuted, are expendable. "We would appeal to those thinking of getting involved drug smuggling on behalf of these gangs to think about the consequences of their actions you will be identified and prosecuted." The Taicang High-tech Zone (Rhein-Neckar) Innovation Center is officially unveiled at the Taicang Day event held in Hamburg, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024. The Taicang Day event was held Thursday in the northern German city of Hamburg, with participants highlighting the broad prospects for continued win-win cooperation between China and Germany. Neighboring Shanghai, the city of Taicang, spanning approximately 800 square kilometers, is known as the "hometown of German enterprises" in China, with over 530 German enterprises flocking here. Nearly 200 representatives attended the Taicang Day event, including those from Chinese and German business sectors, leaders of German companies and project stakeholders. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Taicang Day event was held Thursday in the northern German city of Hamburg, with participants highlighting the broad prospects for continued win-win cooperation between China and Germany. Neighboring Shanghai, the city of Taicang, spanning approximately 800 square kilometers, is known as the "hometown of German enterprises" in China, with over 530 German enterprises flocking here. Nearly 200 representatives attended the Taicang Day event, including those from Chinese and German business sectors, leaders of German companies and project stakeholders. Zhai Qian, minister of economic and commercial affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Germany, noted that the Taicang story perfectly exemplifies the win-win nature of China-Germany economic and trade cooperation. "As China accelerates the development of new quality productive forces, there is significant potential for expanding China-Germany cooperation in emerging fields such as scientific and technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, clean energy, the circular economy, and the digital economy," he said. Hans-Peter Friedrich, a member of Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, said in a video address that Taicang symbolizes the progress of China-Germany economic relations and serves as a hub for exploring new drivers of economic growth. "German companies have found strong partners in Taicang, partners who bring both expertise and openness to new ideas," said Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade. "Whether in industrial manufacturing, the automotive sector, environmental technology, or renewable energy, the potential for mutual benefit is immense. This cooperation not only fosters job creation and economic growth in both countries but also drives technological advancements and innovations that are crucial in addressing the global challenges of our time," he said. Kersten Janik, president of VAST LLC, told Xinhua, "We are in Taicang because we believe it offers the best opportunities for us to tap into the Chinese auto market." "I first worked in China in 1990, and since then, I've witnessed the tremendous development in the country's industry and society. I deeply appreciate this progress, and I believe China is a perfect partner for Germany," he said. Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, addresses the Taicang Day event held in Hamburg, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024. The Taicang Day event was held Thursday in the northern German city of Hamburg, with participants highlighting the broad prospects for continued win-win cooperation between China and Germany. Neighboring Shanghai, the city of Taicang, spanning approximately 800 square kilometers, is known as the "hometown of German enterprises" in China, with over 530 German enterprises flocking here. Nearly 200 representatives attended the Taicang Day event, including those from Chinese and German business sectors, leaders of German companies and project stakeholders. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Guests attend a signing ceremony of related industrial cooperation projects at the Taicang Day event held in Hamburg, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024. The Taicang Day event was held Thursday in the northern German city of Hamburg, with participants highlighting the broad prospects for continued win-win cooperation between China and Germany. Neighboring Shanghai, the city of Taicang, spanning approximately 800 square kilometers, is known as the "hometown of German enterprises" in China, with over 530 German enterprises flocking here. Nearly 200 representatives attended the Taicang Day event, including those from Chinese and German business sectors, leaders of German companies and project stakeholders. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Guests attend a discussion at the Taicang Day event held in Hamburg, Germany, Sept. 26, 2024. The Taicang Day event was held Thursday in the northern German city of Hamburg, with participants highlighting the broad prospects for continued win-win cooperation between China and Germany. Neighboring Shanghai, the city of Taicang, spanning approximately 800 square kilometers, is known as the "hometown of German enterprises" in China, with over 530 German enterprises flocking here. Nearly 200 representatives attended the Taicang Day event, including those from Chinese and German business sectors, leaders of German companies and project stakeholders. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Killian McNay (39) rented the truck, bought the trailer and hired a driver to transport the drugs from the Netherlands to Ireland, gardai alleged AN OUT-of-work haulier has been accused of orchestrating the importation of 2.8m worth of cocaine that was found in a truck in Dublin Port. Killian McNay (39) rented the truck, bought the trailer and hired a driver to transport the drugs from the Netherlands to Ireland, gardai alleged. Judge Bryan Smyth granted the father-of-four bail at Dublin District Court but set it at 101,000 and remanded him in custody until he is able to take it up. Mr McNay, with an address at Ardilaun Green, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, appeared in court today charged with importation of cocaine and possession of more than 13,000 worth of the drug with intent to sell or supply. The seizure took place at Dublin Port last Sunday, September 22. Detective Garda Philip Walsh told Judge Smyth he arrested the accused for the purpose of charging him at Store Street station at 10pm last night. Mr McNay made no reply after caution and was handed copies of the charge sheets, the court heard. Objecting to bail, the garda said 40kg of cocaine was seized at the port with an estimated street value of 2.8m. Det Gda Walsh said it was alleged Mr McNay bought the trailer and rented the Scania truck that was used in the importation of the drugs. According to the prosecution, Mr McNay hired a co-accused to drive the truck from Holland to Dublin for monetary gain. It was alleged Mr McNay orchestrated the importation and delivery of the drugs and that he had been identified by the examination of digital media. The garda said the charges carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment. A full investigation file was being prepared and would be submitted to the DPP, he said. Applying for bail, defence barrister Ciara Murray said it was accepted that the charges were very serious. Mr McNay was previously a man in business, having had a haulage company that went bust. He is now considerably in debt as a consequence, and was on social welfare, Ms Murray said. The accused, who had a partner and four children, had strong ties to the community and a permanent address. Judge Smyth set bail in the accuseds own bond of 1,000, with an independent surety of 100,000. Half of the surety is to be lodged in cash. Under conditions, the accused is to surrender his passport, not apply for any new travel documents, keep a night time curfew, sign on daily at Mullingar garda station and be contactable by phone at all times. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear in Cloverhill District Court on October 2. Mr McNay, who has not yet entered pleas to the charges, is the second man to be arrested as part of the investigation. Yesterday, Noel Smullen (57) of Silverdale, Clara, Co. Offaly, appeared in court charged with the same offences. He made no bail application and was remanded in custody to next week. Sam Walker has become a TikTok star in recent years telling stories from his days in Liverpools criminal underworld. A self-confessed gangster has been attacked in Dublin while livestreaming on TikTok - just hours after walking free from court on a contempt charge. In the video clip, career criminal Sam Walker can be seen walking near Busarus in Dublins north-inner city and talking into his camera phone last night when he is attacked by a man, who he claims was carrying a knife. Walker has become a TikTok star in recent years where he describes his days in Liverpools criminal underworld. The 41-year-old, who has more than 400,000 followers on the social media site, has spent most of his adult life behind bars as a result of amassing more than 130 convictions. On Thursday, Walker was given a suspended sentence after he was caught live-streaming his court case for driving offences in Dublin District Court. But just hours after walking out of court, Walker was attacked while livestreaming in Dublin city centre. In the TikTok clip, Walker can be seen talking to the camera while a young man wearing a hoodie comes up behind him and launches an attack. Walker then falls to the ground while the man runs off. The UK crime figure can then be heard shouting at his attacker, calling on him to retrurn saying: "Gowan, gowan you s**tbag. Let's have it, why are you running away you s**tbag." Sam Walker outside Dublin District Court In a follow up TikTok video posted later last night, Walker again accuses his attacker of being a coward. He said: "I have respect for all the people in Dublin, all the lads, I don't give a s**t what gang you are from...I don't care about anything like that - everyone of you have treated me good. "But this person who pulled a knife on me last night.My son was watching my 'live' when you pulled that knife on me "For that alone, I want you to back your f**kin mouth up tonight cause all of your mates are laughing at you because you went running. "Back your mouth up lad because I am going to be live, as I said, for another half hour." He then adds: "But when you pull a knife on me on a 'live' and try and stab me and my son gets to see it it's a different kind of f**kin' thing. In court this week, Judge Gerard Jones gave Walker 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. Sam Walker The case had been put back to 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. Sam Walker 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. There has been turmoil in the area in response to the Government's decision to use the disused Crown Paints factory to accommodate hundreds of international protection applicant Gardai outside the proposed accommodation centre in Coolock in July A FATHER of two accused of taking part in violence and a "scuffle" with a journalist at an immigration protest outside the former Crown Paints site in Dublin has been sent forward for trial. Christopher Byrne, 27, of Marigold Crescent in Darndale, Dublin, was accused of violent disorder with others on the same occasion at the disused factory on Malahide Road in Coolock on April 6 last. There has been turmoil in the area in response to the Government's decision to use the disused factory to accommodate hundreds of international protection applicants. The landscape and construction worker was denied bail. He appeared again at Cloverhill District Court to be served with the prosecution's book of evidence. Judge Mark O'Connell noted the DPP directed the case to be dealt with on indictment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has broader sentencing powers. He agreed to grant a return-for-trial order and told the accused the case would be listed on November 21 next. Legal aid has been granted to Mr Byrne, who was warned to notify prosecutors if he will rely on alibi evidence in his defence. Gardai must also hand over copies of video evidence to his legal representatives. Earlier, Detective Garda Katie Lennon objected to bail, telling the court the journalist went to Coolock Garda station on April 6 to report the theft of his phone. She alleged footage appeared on social media of a person "in a scuffle with the Newstalk journalist". Gardai also obtained CCTV footage, the court heard. The offences carry a maximum sentence of ten years, but Mr Byrne has yet to indicate a plea, and the case will go to a jury trial if he contests the charges. I The badly beaten and burned body of the 23-year-old nursing assistant was discovered outside flats on Edward Street in Lurgan on December 3 last year A woman who had been charged with removing the body of Odhran Kelly has been charged with his murder. The badly beaten and burned body of the 23-year-old nursing assistant was discovered outside flats on Edward Street in Lurgan on December 3 last year. Andrea Catherine Stevenson was later charged with assisting an offender by removing his body. Her case was listed at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, with court papers confirming the 43-year-old now faces a murder charge. Five people - two men and three women - are currently facing charges in relation to the killing of Mr Kelly. Lurgan men Shane Harte, from Garland Avenue, and Gary Damien Scullion, from Edward Street both aged 32 are in custody charged with the murder, while Stephanie McClelland (36) and Crystal Angela Redden (30) also face charges arising from the death. McClelland, from Shan Slieve in Lurgan, faces a single charge of assisting an offender by assisting in the removal and destruction of Odhran Kelly's body. Redden, from Fort Mhaoilir, Raheen, Athenry, Co Galway, is accused of perverting the course of justice in that on December 7 last year, she made and signed a false statement of evidence to police investigating the murder. Previous courts have heard claims that Mr Kelly was subjected to a prolonged violent assault using weapons and in circumstances where he was unable to defend himself. Officers investigating the murder found a machete in the shower of the flat opposite the property where he was assaulted. During an earlier bail application by one of the alleged killers, the court heard that while police found a horrific scene in one flat, including large amounts of congealed blood and blood spatters on the walls and ceilings, in the flat opposite a machete was found in the shower. One of the investigators previously described how police discovered the badly burnt body of Mr Kelly after they were called to a burning car on Edward Street just after 4am on December 3. Officers called at the last registered address of the vehicle, which was Stevensons flat on Edward Street. However, on their way to her flat, they spotted a large amount of blood on the door of Scullions flat opposite and when they went inside officers discovered parts of the floor saturated in blood, blood-covered beer bottles, a significant amount of congealed blood, drug paraphernalia, a large amount of cash and disposal gloves with blood on them. When officers went into Stevensons flat, there was a strong smell of bleach and they found Scullion dressed in just his boxer shorts, sitting in the kitchen. There was also clothing and blood-stained washing in the washing machine and the machete was in the shower cubicle. According to the police case, Scullion, Stevenson and McClelland were captured on CCTV carrying the body from Scullions flat. The day after the killing, Harte and his girlfriend Redden travelled to Galway, booking a hotel while en route, with Harte stopping to buy 120 of clothes at a shopping centre. The case against the five defendants had been scheduled for a preliminary enquiry on Friday, which, if it had gone ahead, would have seen the case elevated to the Crown Court, but Stevensons defence counsel Gavin Cairns said that with the new, more serious charge now levied against his client, he was seeking an adjournment. Lawyers for her co-defendants confirmed they had been put on notice of the adjournment application and with no objections raised, District Judge Michael Ranaghan put the case back to October 11. Gary Byrne (19) had no explanation for having the tool after gardai spoke to him. A would-be thief was caught with a screwdriver after he was overheard on train station CCTV cameras telling two other men he planned to break into cars and steal, a court heard. Gary Byrne (19) had no explanation for having the tool after gardai spoke to him. Judge Gerard Jones ordered Byrne to enter into a peace bond for 12 months. The defendant, of Curragh West, Naul, Co Dublin, admitted possession of a screwdriver for use in a theft at Balbriggan train station on March 13 last year. Read more Pictured: Man accused of hijacking car with baby girl inside in Dublin Sergeant Shane Griffin told Swords District Court that Byrne was caught on CCTV cameras at the train station in possession of a screwdriver. Sgt Griffin said the CCTV was audio as well as visual, and Byrne was seen meeting up with two other men, and telling him that his intention was to travel to Malahide and break into cars and steal. The court heard Byrne had seven previous convictions. Defence lawyer Deirdre Flannery said the defendant was hanging around with a bad crowd at the time of this offence. Ms Flannery said Byrne was born with foetal alcohol syndrome, and there were addiction issues in his childhood home. Byrne was currently doing a course to learn independent living skills, and was completing a pre-apprenticeship course. Ms Flannery also said Byrnes partner was pregnant, and that he was focused on staying out of trouble and being a good father to his child. She asked the judge to be as lenient as possible, saying Byrne was doing well and now had direction in this life. The eight, aged in their 20s, 30s, 50s and a teenager are being held as part of an investigation into the alleged false imprisonment of a female at a property on Bolton Street Seven men and a teenager have been arrested after a woman was held captive and reportedly beaten in Dublin last night. The eight, aged in their 20s, 30s, 50s and a teenager are being held as part of an investigation into the alleged false imprisonment of a female at a property on Bolton Street, Dublin 7 on Thursday evening. The woman, in her 30s, is being treated in hospital for serious injuries, it has been reported. "Gardai in Bridewell arrested eight males in relation to an investigation into alleged false imprisonment of a female, aged in her 30s at a property in Bolton Street, Dublin 7 on the evening of Thursday 26th September 26, a spokesperson said this afternoon. Eight males, (aged in their 20s, 30s , 50s and one juvenile) are all currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Garda stations in the Dublin region. Investigations ongoing. Weir, from the New Road in Hillsborough, confessed to offences of cultivating cannabis, using criminal property and converting criminal property. A Co. Down farmer today admitted involvement in a massive cannabis factory uncovered on his land as well offences of laundering thousands of pounds. Standing in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court, 56-year-old Clive Weir was re-arraigned on three of the four charges against him, all committed between 14 January 2022 and 2 February 2023. Weir, from the New Road in Hillsborough, confessed to offences of cultivating cannabis, using criminal property and converting criminal property. The charges outline that Weir used criminal property, namely funds in the sum of 184,536.66 for the purchase of fuel from Victor Walker Fuels and also that he converted criminal property by lodging 41,495 into a Bank of Ireland account and by lodging 132,571.50 into a Clear Bank bank account. Following Weirs admissions, prosecution counsel Ian Tannahill asked Judge Donna McColgan KC to mark as left on the books a second offence of converting criminal property and she so ordered. Defence KC Michael Chambers revealed that according to Weir, who at one time before he was charged complained to the press about how long the police were taking to investigate the case, his gain was about 42,000 while the prosecution contend his profit was around 100,000. He does not accept the figure of 100,000, said the senior barrister who conceded the court may need to conduct a Newton hearing. A Newtown hearing is held when a defendant accepts their guilt but not the full extent of criminality alleged by the PPS so each side has to call evidence and potentially witnesses for a judge to decide where the criminality lies. Mr Chambers told Judge McColgan if there was to be a Newton hearing, he would be calling not just the defendant but also his accountant and a number of other witnesses. Mr Tannahill highlighted however that the ultimate figure of Weirs criminal proceeds and laundering may not materially affect the sentence as the headline offence is the cannabis cultivation. Yes absolutely, the judge declared but she ordered each side to lodge written submissions on the issue. The charges arise following the discovery of a sophisticated cannabis factory on land belonging to Weir who has close ties to the DUP and Free Presbyterian Church. Speaking at the time the cannabis factory was uncovered, Detective Inspector Kelly said: "This is a large and sophisticated cannabis farm, which required searches by specialist police teams due to the size and set up. "It is clearly a well organised operation which bears the hallmarks of an organised criminal gang. The closure of this operation will likely cause massive disruption to the criminals involved. Charged alongside Weir in relation to cultivating cannabis are Vietnamese brothers 39-year-old Quy Nguyen and Anh Nguyen (35), also from the New Road in Hillsborough. The brothers entered guilty pleas to cultivating cannabis at an earlier hearing. In court today Judge McColgan adjourned the case until Wednesday when she will tell the lawyers whether she feels it necessary to have a Newton hearing. While she freed Weir on continuing bail, she warned him that is no indication [of the sentence] as Im sure you know. Parole system is retraumatising families sentencing group SAVE QUADRUPLE killer John Geary, who stabbed his former partner, their daughter, her son and her friend to death, has had his second bid for freedom denied. The murders by John Geary in County Limerick 14 years ago shocked the nation and in 2013, the killer was given four concurrent life sentences. He pleaded guilty to the murder of his ex-partner, Sarah Hines (25), their five month old daughter Amy at Hazelgrove, Newcastle West, on November 15, 2010. The court heard he carried out the murders after Ms Hines had left him out of jealousy and control. He also fatally stabbed Ms Hines son, Reece (4), and her friend Alicia Brough (20), after they arrived on the scene. Alicia was killed just days before her 21st birthday as she tried to save Amy from the attack by Geary. She had just returned to the house with Reece and both were attacked. Their four bodies were not discovered until the following day. The Central Criminal Court was told his motive for the murders was most likely jealousy that his former girlfriend had started a new relationship. Five weapons were used in killings, including two knives and a screwdriver. In a letter read out in court prior to his sentencing, he said he was truly sorry. He received four concurrent life sentences. At an inquest into the deaths, the coroners court heard that all four victims were stabbed multiple times. Following the inquest, the coroner, Brendan Nix, said the deaths of the children along with people they loved and trusted, was difficult to comprehend. He also said two blameless women and the children were done to death in a most awful and violent way. After a previous bid for parole was unsuccessful, Geary became eligible to again for parole late last year. But it has now emerged this appeal too has failed. Chairperson of SAVE (Sentencing and Victim Equality) John Whelan, whose own sister Sharon and her two daughters Zara and Nadia were murdered by Brian Hennessy, said the current system of parole is retraumatising families and urgently needs reform. It is retraumatising families as it stands because it allows the person who has murdered their loved one to apply for parole after 12 years and then again every two years after that time, he said. Families dont have time to recover after one parole appeal is refused before they have to start preparing for the next. And if they engage with the parole board, they feel they are leaving their loved one down by not fighting for them. We are still calling for changes to the system and we have heard a lot of positive rumblings from the Department of Justice about tariffs and set sentences for murder. Theyre saying judges can make a recommendation of a minimum sentence but that the parole board wouldnt necessarily have to follow that up. Were hoping to change that and I know its being considered because Simon Harris, the Justice Minister and some judges themselves have spoken about it. All along, we were told set tariffs would require a change to the Constitution but we argued that is not the case. We already have mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offences and for murders involving for example a member of An Garda Siochana. "I still feel the panic go through my body when I think about it Mandy is begging the Irish authorities to help get her children back Mandy Kelly holding pictures of her sons Kareem and Zayn, who are in Egypt. Photo: Mark Condren An Irish mother, who hasnt seen her children in nearly three years after they were abducted by their Egyptian father, is begging Irish authorities to help get her kids back. Mandy Kellys boys; six year old Zayn and three year old Kareem were taken by their father Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed after a family holiday in 2022 turned into a kidnap nightmare. Despite the fact that Egyptian courts have given full custody to Mandy, the children remain on the run with their father somewhere in Cairo, a city of 11 million people. My two sons are actually being held as hostagesI havent seen them since they were three years old and 18 months, Mandy says. I have to put my faith in Egyptian police to find them. Mandys story however, began long before the custody battle. In 2009, she moved to Dubai, where, in September 2013 she met her future husband. A year later she went to Egypt to meet his family. By 2017 the couple moved to Ireland and she quickly found herself pregnant with Zayn. Looking back, I could have been more wary of his motives she says. It started with a phase of love bombing, then slowly he devalued and degraded me.If the abuse was everyday, you would leave, but when you get sprinkles of kindness, it can be very difficultthey distort your reality. Mandy is begging the Irish authorities to help get her children back Once Zayn was born, Mandy says her husband became even more controlling. He knew he had me she explained, I had a very young baby at the time, I just wanted to keep the peace. In Ireland Mandy found herself trapped in a cycle of control despite being the breadwinner and primary caregiver. There were incredibly aggressive outbursts and he used disgusting, manipulative tactics, preventing me from socializing and isolating me from my family, so I had to rely on him, she said. During her second pregnancy in the COVID-19 lockdown Mandy says spells of isolation and lockdown only gave Ramy more power but when travel opened up in March of 2022 she agreed to travel to Egypt so his family could meet the new addition to their family; baby Kareem. I hoped the trip would help him destress and return to Ireland in a much better place, she said during a recent interview for the Crime World podcast. It was ultimately one of the worst decisions I have ever made. The day of their planned return, the 12th of March 2022, the kidnapping nightmare began. As they prepared to leave, Rami suddenly declared he didnt want to go back and, more shockingly, that their two sons would not be returning with her. "I still feel the panic go through my body when I think about it," Mandy recalls, her voice trembling. In a frantic bid to prevent their departure, Rami refused to take a COVID test required for their flight, fled to their apartment, and then made his way to another city, leaving Mandy with a heart-wrenching ultimatum: she might never see [her] children again. Since then Mandy has been using the legal systems in both Ireland and Egypt in the hope that she can have her children returned to her. Orders have been made in the Irish High Court for their immediate return while Egyptian courts have granted her full custody. Her husband, however, remains in hiding with the boys in the vast city of Cairo. "Hes threatened to physically hurt me," she revealed. "He even said the only way Id see my boys again was if I went back to Ireland, sold the family home, and returned My sons are being held for ransom. While police in Cairo are actively seeking her children, Mandy says Ramy moves from place to place and has refused to comply with court orders. Mandy has tried everything, including mediation through Egyptian Islamic clerics, but all offers have been ignored. Ive been very reasonable throughout the whole process, she said. I offered to have both his Irish arrest warrant and a European arrest warrant dropped, in exchange for my children. But that was also ignored.And all the while I know my children are in the hands of people that dont really care. Theyre just using them as pawns. While Mandy is grateful for the efforts of the Irish government so far, she believes the quiet diplomatic approach is no longer enough. She has made the brave decision to go public with her story, hoping it will spark action. Ive been told by someone within the Egyptian legal system that being a nuisance is the only way. For now Mandy's main hope is that the Irish and Egyptian governments, and anyone who can, will step in to bring her nightmare to an end. She can be contacted on her social media accounts. You can hear Mandys story here on Nicola Tallants Crime World podcast The collision occurred on the coast road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13 in the early hours of July 17 Gardai today announced that a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the collision 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. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, opens the 2024 China International Confucius Cultural Festival in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 27, 2024. The 2024 China International Confucius Cultural Festival kicked off on Friday in Qufu, Shandong Province, the birthplace of Confucius. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) JINAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 China International Confucius Cultural Festival kicked off on Friday in Qufu, Shandong Province, the birthplace of Confucius. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, opened the festival. Guests from home and abroad attending the event said that Confucianism has profoundly influenced China's development and played a positive role in advancing human civilization. The festival is an effective platform for the implementation of the China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative and deepened cultural exchange. It is making increasing contributions to promoting global dialogue on civilization, and to fostering friendship between peoples of various nations, guests said. This year's festival, themed "conversation with Confucius, mutual learning among civilizations," was launched by the provincial government of Shandong, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO. Robert Deegan from Kildare was killed on the front line while fighting for the Ukrainian special forces in the ongoing war against Russia A fundraiser launched to bring the body of an Irish soldier killed fighting in Ukraine back home to Ireland has raised over 21,000 is less than 24 hours. Robert Deegan (29), from Newbridge in Co Kildare died fighting for the Ukrainian special forces while on the front line earlier this month. Mr Deegan was a highly skilled and dedicated soldier who had formerly served in the Army Ranger Wing and the Engineers Unit of the Defence Forces Training Centre. He joined the Ukrainian effort fighting against the Russian invasion in 2022, shortly after the start of the war. Later that year, he was medically evacuated back home to Ireland after losing an eye in a bomb attack. Following his recovery, he returned to Ukraine for a second time to continue the fight, but tragically died in combat. In a statement issued following his death, Mr Deegan's family said he died like a warrior as he protected his fellow soldiers. To help the family with the costs of bringing Mr Deegan home to his family and friends in Ireland, a former colleague, Rossa ODonnell, has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the repatriation costs. "I am part of a community who knows the Deegan family through shared time in the Irish Defence Forces as well as being from the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, said Rossa. "On behalf of the Deegan family and with their permission, we are raising funds for the repatriation costs of their son Robert, who was killed tragically in battle while fighting for Ukraine as part of the ongoing war." Rossa continued: Any funds raised will be used to help Robert and his family. Support has poured in for the Deegan family with a considerable amount of money already raised, despite the fundraiser only being set up less than 24 hours ago. To donate to the fundraiser please click here Domestic abuse victims speak out in the hope it will encourage others to come forward A victim of domestic violence has told about the moment she thought her partner was going to kill her. Chelsea Hamilton (32) was subject to three years of coercive control and physical abuse by north Belfast man Samuel Tufts (32). She waived her right to anonymity in an attempt to encourage other women to seek justice. I really thought I was going to die, said Chelsea. I was like: This is it, Im actually going to die here. Wed got into the relationship really quickly, we moved away together, and during Covid we came back to Belfast and things got really, really bad from there. When she tried to leave him, she was shot at with a crossbow, the bolt narrowly missing her. Her former partner inflicted hours of physical abuse, including choking her until she was unconscious. He was just in my ear, he was saying: Im going to kill you, Im going to kill you, shut up. And while he was saying that I was starting to pass out, she recalled. He was training to become a professional MMA fighter at the time, and left her with multiple injuries one of them that hindered her ability to control her bladder for a number of months. She added: I felt so alone and I never thought anyone would believe me or understand what was happening to me, and that was why I never reported it. When Chelsea finally went to the PSNI, the support she received was invaluable. She explained: I was so afraid of reporting anything because I generally didnt think the police would take it seriously. But the police could see how much of a bad person he was... it was just so reassuring. Last October Tufts, originally from Carrickfergus, was convicted of assault, threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, with an extended licence period of three years due to being deemed a dangerous offender. While in jail, he was sentenced to a further two years for stabbing Chelsea. She was also granted a five-year restraining order from the date of his release. She said: It took a really long time for me to feel like a normal person again. Now that I got through all that time and got court out of the way I can finally start being me. I never knew who that was when I was in that relationship. I got to a point where I almost died because I didnt speak out. You need to realise that, yes, its hard leaving but its harder staying. Jane, a survivor of stalking Jane (not her real name), who is a survivor of stalking, also shared her story in an effort to encourage other victims to come forward. The 23-year-old said: My message is: get the help you need, there is support out there. It might not seem like a big deal, but once you get speaking to the right people they realise what a big deal it is. Jane joined a band in the summer of 2022. One of the members was a 50-year-old man who, without ever even speaking to Jane, developed a serious fixation for her. For the next six months he persistently contacted her online, followed her and her family members, gave her unwanted gifts, and threatened to kill himself if she didnt speak to him. The man told Jane he believed she was an angel sent to him. She added: I listened to other people who told me: Aww, there might be something wrong with him, he has no friends. It doesnt matter, he didnt have the right to do that to someone. After a period of time she decided to contact the PSNI. She said: I couldnt praise the police higher. The two investigating officers I had are two real gentlemen, they were so amazing, nothing was a bother. If I had a problem at one oclock in the morning they would have been out within 10 minutes. In January this year the man was arrested and charged with stalking. He was later sentenced to 10 months in jail. Earlier this month the PSNI also successfully secured a stalking protection order. This means if the man makes contact with or comes near Jane again, he would go to jail for the maximum term of five years. I feel like I have got my whole life back; because of this legislation I can now go outside my house and know that if he even so much as looks in my direction, Im safe, she said. Anyone that even suspects someone is texting them a wee bit too much or being a bit creepy, or they notice anyone hanging outside their place of work or home, just report it, dont wait. I waited six months. Both women spoke out as the PSNI launched the next phase of its Tackling Violence against Women and Girls action plan. The revised framework, which covers the next five years, is the latest step in ensuring policing is focused on outcomes that make a real difference to tackling the epidemic of violence against women. In February 2023 the Home Secretary included tackling violence against women within the strategic policing requirement, meaning it should be treated as importantly as terrorism and serious and organised crime. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony McNally, the PSNIs lead in the action plan, said: Violence against women and girls and femicide across Northern Ireland, and indeed the world, is an epidemic. It would be remiss of us as a police service to not fully acknowledge and appropriately respond to that. The investiture of Taurangas Dan Allen-Gordon, along with other NZ honours recipients, took place at Government House in Auckland. Allen-Gordon, who was made a Companion of the Kings Service Order in this years Kings Birthday Honours, attended the ceremony with family on Thursday. I have brought my wife Josie, my daughter Larissa, son Sam, Carter my grandson, and my brother Heemi Allen, Allen-Gordon said. It was such a moving experience meeting her excellency Dame Cindi Kiro. She has such mana and is so genuine. Twice a year, the Governor-General, on behalf of King Charles, holds investiture ceremonies at Government House in Wellington and Government House in Auckland for the people named in the New Year and Kings Birthday honours lists. Honours recipients travel to these ceremonies from throughout the country. Each recipient brings close family or friends. At the ceremony, the citations for the honours recipients are read out, and the Governor-General presents their insignia, medal or decoration to them. Dame Cindi Kiro with Dan Allen-Gordon at the investiture ceremony. Photo: Supplied. Allen-Gordon, who received his Companion of the Kings Service Order for services to youth and charitable governance, said of his award in June that he felt quite blessed to be able to help our young people in our long-term programmes and to continue long after theyve graduated. As Bay of Plenty regional manager and top regional manager for the Graeme Dingle Foundation nationwide, Allen-Gordon has raised about $14 million, which has helped more than 49,000 young people in long-term programmes across the Western Bay. He joined the Graeme Dingle Foundation, then known as the Project K Trust, in 2002, initially as a fundraiser in Auckland before establishing the Graeme Dingle Foundation Bay of Plenty in 2004. After becoming chairman of the Bay of Plenty Kiwi Can Charitable Trust in 2002, he introduced the Kiwi Can programme into the region in 2005. It is now taught in 10 Western Bay of Plenty schools. He also runs the Mount Maunganui Project K programme and has a skilled and dedicated team delivering the Foundations Kiwi Can, Project K, Stars and Career Navigator programmes. His team delivers these programmes to nearly 4000 young people in the Western Bay of Plenty annually, empowering them at a personal level to succeed in their lives under difficult circumstances, empower them to succeed no matter what the world throws at them. What made it possible is having a family that supports me to do it. He said what he does is his lifes work. Ill never stop doing work for the trust. There is such a growing need for what we do for young people, and I wish I had another 20-odd years to do it, or find more people to do it. He personally mentors young people, often after the programmes are over, to ensure the young person is on the right track. Informetric research completed this year has found there is a $10.50 return for every $1 invested in the Graeme Dingle Foundations Youth Development programmes. With a 30-year history, the foundations programmes have long made an impact on youth, enhancing wellbeing, engagement, and commitment to society through increased aspirations, positive trajectories and pipelines to the workforce - ultimately benefiting our countrys economy. With a return of $10.50 for every dollar invested, supporters of the foundation and its programmes know that, for example, for $100,000 invested, their organisation is providing over $1,000,000 return to New Zealands economy. Allen-Gordon works to reduce at-risk behaviours such as truancy, bullying, suicidal ideation and other risks to help young people to succeed. We see change every day, Allen-Gordon said. I feel honoured to have received this KSO for the very thing I love, along with my team making Aotearoa a better place for our young people. Since the full reopening of Aotearoas borders on 31 July 2022, Immigration New Zealand has decided upon over one million visitor visas. This milestone highlights the significant effort made by our team and their commitment to delivering timely decisions for our customers, Immigration New Zealands Visa Director, Jock Gilray, said. More than 914,000 were approved, and around 114,000 applications were declined, with an average wait time of seven weeks. Demand from people wanting to visit New Zealand is strong. Nearly 350,000 visitor visas have been approved already in 2024, with the busiest months of the year yet to come," Gilray said. Christmas is the peak processing time when visitor visa applications surge as families and friends connect during the Kiwi summer holidays. "While we are well prepared to manage the surge, we encourage people to submit their applications as early as possible to give themselves the best possible chance of having their application decided in time for them to plan their trips with confidence, Gilray said. In addition to submitting applications well in advance, Immigration New Zealand strongly encourages travellers to provide complete applications with all necessary documentation, which helps speed up application processing. Anyone wanting to spend Christmas in New Zealand should submit their visitor visa application no later than 15 October 2024. Those hoping to ring in the New Year, including the Lunar New Year, in New Zealand should submit their applications by 15 November 2024." Bay of Plenty exports are set to grow following the signing of a trade agreement with the UAE, said Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford. New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement, which will grow and embed economic opportunities for Bay of Plenty exporters and create stronger supply chains with one of New Zealands most important trading partners in the Gulf region. This trade agreement was concluded in record time, in just over four months and is already being welcomed by our growers across the Bay of Plenty. The trade agreement is the most trade liberalising of any of the UAEs CEPAs to date. Our Government is fully committed to opening doors, embedding market access and continuing to grow our presence as a supplier of safe, healthy food to the Gulf region. This trade agreement is a really positive step towards achieving this and helping us double our exports by value in ten years - which creates more jobs and opportunities in our region. Rutherford said. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE will eliminate duties on 98.5 per cent of New Zealands exports immediately on entry into force, rising to 99 per cent within three years. This will create new opportunities for New Zealand businesses in the dynamic UAE market. Our horticulture exports to the UAE currently sit at $44 million. The increased engagement and market opportunity this agreement will secure will see this number increase as UAE citizens seek our high quality, safe produce. The UAE is a key export destination and hub in the Gulf region. In the year to June 2024, two-way trade was valued at NZ$1.3 billion. The UAE is one of our largest markets in the Middle East, and a top 20 export market overall. New Zealand dairy exports to the UAE amounted to $718 million, industrial products $237 million, red meat $46 million, horticulture $44 million, and tourism $31 million. The Bay of Plenty relies on horticulture. Our whole region feeds off this sector. The more we can grow horticulture, the more we will grow our local economy. I am so excited to see our Bay of Plenty exporters benefit from this Trade Agreement with the UAE. The CEPA also includes chapters on intellectual property, sustainable development, labour, sustainable agriculture, climate, and on indigenous trade. We have also secured New Zealands Treaty of Waitangi exception to allow us to meet treaty obligations. David Seymour is urging parents and teachers to tell students not to attend todays climate strike Seymour says striking counts towards students 15-day absence allowance and learning science is more important He confirmed students attending the strike would be marked with an unjustified absence The Government is urging parents and teachers to tell students not to attend todays climate strike because it will count towards their new 15-day allowance for absences. Associate Education Minister David Seymour says learning about science is more important than striking and it could have waited. In announcing the new truancy policy yesterday, Seymour said it would be mandatory for schools from 2026. The protest organised by School Strike 4 Climate NZ (SS4C) is set to take place in seven cities nationwide. Seymour told Newstalk ZBs Mike Hosking he would urge teachers to mark students as having an unjustified absence if they attended todays climate strike. I know some schools in the past have tried to say going on this school strike for climate is somehow a useful academic exercise. He said this worried him because students needed to be in class to learn the science that would improve their living standards. He confirmed if students attended a strike, it would count towards the 15-day allowance for absences. On the new policy announced yesterday, Seymour said students, teachers the Government and the school played a part in accountability. Ultimately, we just get the data. He urged schools to take this seriously. The strikes will take place in Christchurch starting at 1pm, Auckland starting at 3pm, Otago at noon, Gisborne at 1pm, Whanganui at noon, New Plymouth at 1.45pm and Wellington at noon. School Strike 4 Climate protesters marching down Lambton Quay in Wellington in April. Photo / Mark Mitchell. Yesterday, SS4C spokesperson Kereama Allen told the Herald it motivated students more to strike. I would say that this just goes to show that this Government does not care about rangatahis (young people) voice in Aotearoa New Zealand. It shows that they have no intention to listen to us. Now is a crucial time to strike because if we want results with this new Government, we need to push as hard as possible to better our future. Seymour announced a new policy yesterday the Stepped Attendance Response scheme or Star which would be mandatory for all schools from the beginning of the 2026 school year. He said it would place obligations on the school and parents to ensure their children were attending classes regularly. Seymour provided examples of how the scheme could work: Five days absent : The school gets in touch with the parents/guardians to determine the reasons for absence and to set expectations. : The school gets in touch with the parents/guardians to determine the reasons for absence and to set expectations. 10 days absent : The school leadership meets with the parents/guardian and the student to identify barriers to attendance and develop plans to address this. : The school leadership meets with the parents/guardian and the student to identify barriers to attendance and develop plans to address this. 15 days absent: Escalating the response to the ministry and steps to initiate prosecution of parents could be considered as a valid intervention. -NZ Herald In a significant and historic step, His Majesty King Charles III has approved a recommendation to award 22 First World War battle honours to Te Hokowhitu a Tu - the New Zealand Maori Contingent and New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion. The award of these battle honours will add to the korero of the actions of Te Hokowhitu a Tu at Gallipoli and the Western Front in the First World War, and of their courageous service and sacrifice. They are a source of pride for all of those who have and continue to serve in Ngati Tumatauenga, the New Zealand Army, said Chief of Army Major General Rose King. The tradition of awarding battle honours in Commonwealth countries dates back to the 18th Century, when they were sewn onto the flags of infantry battalions (colours) and cavalry regiments (guidons) to recognise feats of courage and steadfastness on the battlefield. Although colours and guidons are no longer carried into battle, they continue to represent the spirit, history, service, and sacrifice of the units which carry them. The New Zealand Maori Contingent at No 1 Outpost in Gallipoli, Turkey. Credit: Alexander Turnbull Library natlib.govt.nz/records/22330949. Earlier this year, a battle honours committee of senior serving and retired New Zealand Army personnel, chaired by former Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones CNZM, considered New Zealand Defence Force historians research regarding the failure to award battle honours to the New Zealand Maori Contingent and the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion. The units served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front during the First World War and were disbanded in 1919. The research identified the main failing was in trying to adapt the historic British Army tradition of awarding battle honours to the New Zealand Armys post-war structure. The two units were considered to have no direct links to the post-war Army, and therefore no successor units which could carry their battle honours. Because of this, no battle honours were ever awarded to them, despite the fact that their entitlement had been clearly established and a list of eligible battle honours placed on a file, said Major General King. The New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion being inspected while over in England Credit: Alexander Turnbull Library natlib.govt.nz/records/22690188. The committee recommended that a total of 22 battle honours be granted to the New Zealand Maori Contingent and the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion. The Army then formally sought approval for the award of these battle honours, and this was supported by the Minister of Defence and recommended by the Prime Minister for approval by The King. Major General King particularly acknowledged the work of her predecessor, Major General John Boswell, who instigated this kaupapa, and the contributions made by leaders from the wider Army whanau. Two of the 22 honours awarded to the New Zealand Maori Contingent and the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion are unique to those battalions, which means they were not awarded to any other New Zealand infantry unit. The New Zealand Maori Contingent is the only New Zealand infantry battalion to be awarded the Gallipoli battle honour Hill 60 (Anzac), and the battle honour Delville Wood (an engagement fought during the 1916 Battle of the Somme) is unique to the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion. This recognition restores to our tupuna and to all who have served their rightful place in our shared history. "It is a moment to reflect on the enduring spirit of those who served, Major General King said. The New Zealand Maori Contingent on parade. Credit: Auckland War Memorial Museum PH-ALB-382-p23-5. The New Zealand Maori Contingent at Gallipoli has also joined other New Zealand infantry units in holding the battle honour Sari Bair, which was awarded to those who fought at Chunuk Bair in August 1915. It was on the eve of this battle, the Contingents first, that Chaplain Henare Wainohu delivered an emotional and now famous address to the men encamped at the Maori Pah: "Fellow members of a brave family you are the descendants of warlike ancestors, a handful of warriors amongst the many thousands of men here. "The name and honour of the Maori people lies in your hands today. "Therefore, my brothers, you will by your noble deeds light such a fire on the mountains that it can never be quenched. "Ahakoa iti te Kopara, kai takirikiri ana i runga i te Kahikatea. "Accordingly, I desire you to reach the top of those mountains. The group of English-speakers at the Palma familys home near Almachar, with raisins drying in the background. Jennie Rhodes Axarquia Friday, 27 September 2024, 11:30 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads While the Axarquia at this time of year might be synonymous with the height of the mango harvest season and avocado trees beginning to bulge with fruit almost ripe for picking, the sight of raisins drying in the sun at the end of the grape harvest or 'vendimia' shouldn't be overlooked. The 'vendimia' traditionally started in early to mid-August but has been getting under way earlier in recent years due to increasing temperatures and more frequent heat waves, due to climate change and this year it started at the end of July. Although climate change and soaring temperatures is a challenge for the sector, the heavy rainfall in March this year has meant around a 30 per cent increase in this year's harvest compared to last year. "We can be happy because production in the Axarquia has increased by 30 per cent compared with last year" While visiting one of the main Muscat of Alexandria (or Malaga grape) growing villages in the Axarquia, El Borge, in September, the Junta de Andalucia's agriculture spokesman Fernando Fernandez explained that the rain had "been fundamental for the productive potential of the vines". He added, "This season we can be happy because production in the Axarquia has increased by 30 per cent compared to last year." A number of villages in the Axarquia have recently celebrated the grape harvest, as they do every year, with probably the most well-known festivity being 'La Noche del Vino' (wine night) in Competa which took place on 15 August. Between mid-August and mid-September other villages including El Borge, La Vinuela, Iznate and Moclinejo all have a day dedicated to the grape (uva Moscatel), raisin (pasa) or the people who go out into the vineyards to pick the grapes (vineros). Now the 'route of the vineyards of Al-Andalus', part of the Innova Experiencia Andalusi project launched by the Spanish tourism ministry with Next Generation EU funds and in the Axarquia the Mancomunidad association of town halls, has been offering a number of tours to different sectors involved in tourism. On Friday 13 September a group of English-speaking residents and visitors got the opportunity to part in the project. Guided tour In partnership with Elena Sanchis Sanz from Plan A Malaga tour company, the group visited a vineyard near Moclinejo, which is the home to the family-run Antonio Munoz Cabrera bodega. They also went to Almachar which has a museum dedicated to the Malaga grape and the raisin and sweet wine-making process. Just outside Almachar the group visited a vineyard where the Palma family continues to dry grapes and produce raisins and sweet wines as part of the Ucopaxa cooperative, using the traditional methods which in 2018 was recognised by the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). Traditional, manual technologies are still used today in the cultivation, harvesting and drying process. This 'low-tech agriculture' and way of life has been handed down through generations, with the entire process done by hand using centuries-old methods. Families will soon tell you that it is more a labour of love, steeped in tradition, that keeps them doing it. Many have also turned to the subtropical 'cash cows' of the Axarquia to support the traditional grape and raisin sector. Now authorities in the Axarquia are looking at ways to promote this important heritage as a way of encouraging tourists to visit the inland villages of the Axarquia and tackle the issue of depopulation. The president of the Mancomunidad, Jorge Martin Perez, explained that professionals from the tourism sector and the general public have been able to "enjoy the experience of participating in the process and traditional techniques related to the raisin and its production". The idea is that the tours will culminate in information available online and with the possibility of running other tours in the future. There are a number of bodegas that can be visited along the wine route to learn more about the process and the different kinds of wines that are produced, not only with the Muscat of Alexandria grape, but with other varieties. Bodegas Bentomiz in Sayalonga is one of them and is owned by Dutch couple Clara Verheij and Andre Both. They have previously told SUR in English that they would like to see the authorities promote the area's traditional crops, which would also help to tackle the drought crisis. They have called for "more support for viticulture and for people who are focusing on native species". As well as the Munoz Cabrera bodega, there's also Sedella Vinos in the village of the same name and a new bodega has recently opened in Torrox, Vinedos de la Axarquia. As autumn commences and Malaga province looks to the skies for the much-needed rain, it is the ideal time to sample some local homegrown raisins and sweet wine and find out more about the Axarquia's important, traditional agricultural heritage. A Chinese contestant competes in a water technology contest during the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, Sept. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yu) "The strength of China lies in the country's ability to tap the talent that they need. The country is so big, and the talent pool is so large that they find the skills that they are looking for," said a professor at the International Institute for Management Development. GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is making steady progress thanks to higher spending in education and the country's vast talent pool, with a three-place increase in the 2024 World Talent Ranking, an expert from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has said. The 2024 World Talent Ranking report, released by the IMD on Sept. 19, combines survey data from the IMD's World Competitiveness Center (WCC) with external sources and sets both in the context of findings from the International Labour Organization (ILO). China increased by three positions in the ranking this year, from 41st to 38th place, said Professor Arturo Bris, director of IMD's WCC. "The strength of China lies in the country's ability to tap the talent that they need. The country is so big, and the talent pool is so large that they find the skills that they are looking for," Bris told Xinhua in a virtual interview. "China needs to employ a lot of people ... China has the ability to invest in education. This is what we call internal development, and here you see significant improvement," he added. "This year is an important year because of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology on jobs, on talent, and on the competitiveness of countries," Bris said. Visitors watch an AI-powered orthopedic surgical robot during the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) "We need to realize that there are two different forces. The first force is that AI is going to replace jobs and eliminate certain tasks. This can be detrimental to the competitiveness of countries," he said. "But on the other hand, AI is going to make countries more productive and competitive. The result of this technology will be going in one direction or the other," Bris said. He added that the most developed economies will suffer the most from jobs being replaced by AI as "5 percent of jobs in developed economies are in danger, while only 0.6 percent of jobs in developing economies are in danger." The report also emphasized how much AI is seen to enhance tasks in different economies, the likelihood of men's versus women's employment to be affected by automation, and how talent competitiveness requires a reassessment of educational systems and corporate training programs. "For countries to be talent-competitive, governments need to take a very important stance on their education systems," Bris said, stressing the need to make sure that education systems incorporate technology and AI into the skills of both students and employees. Irene Quirante Malaga Friday, 27 September 2024, 13:24 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads Tamara Navarro's family had been waiting for months for this day to arrive. Today she was supposed to board a plane at Malaga Airport to enjoy a trip to Disneyland Paris, but this trip, which her daughter and her two little nieces were so excited about, has been cancelled at the last minute."We have been struggling for four years with my brother's illness and after he got better, we finally decided to go, as we had promised the girls," she explained. She is one of the victims of the alleged scam of the Florin travel agency in Malaga, in front of which she stood yesterday along with other affected people. Like hers, there are at least twenty other families who entrusted their savings to this company, which they have denounced for fraud. In Tamara's case, she says, they finished paying the costs of the trip in August. The tickets were supposed to arrive in two weeks, but they never did. In total they paid about 5,500 euros, she says. National Police officers have arrested five people, including the owners and staff of the agency, which has premises in Malaga city and another in Alhaurin de la Torre. The investigators of the case estimate that the suspects have illegally taken around 40,000 euros, although they believe that the amount could be higher, as they assume that there will be victims who are not yet aware of the alleged scam. Tamara learned from her brother that the agency had closed its doors a fortnight ago, although she never imagined what it would mean for them. "I thought something had happened, but I didn't think the worst," she said. According to him, it was the wholesaler itself that confirmed to him a few days ago that absolutely nothing had been paid for. Not the tickets, not the hotel, not the insurance, nothing. "We found out last Thursday out of the blue and it has been a real blow," she said. Above all, she stressed, because of the disappointment that the girls have felt. "My daughter, the poor thing, cried when I told her; she even blamed me for having given the money to bad people... she is too young to understand what has happened," she explained. Jorge and his wife had also promised their eight-year-old daughter that, if she got good grades, they would go to Disney, which was her dream. They were supposed to take a flight on 7 September, but they discovered that the reservation had been cancelled. They found out on 15 August, just two days after they had finished paying for the entire trip, which amounted to 3,395 euros. Faced with this situation, and having received no response from the owner of the agency, Jorge went to the police to file a complaint, which was one of many that they have received recently. "We still don't know why they have acted like this," he said. The hardest thing for him was also giving the bad news to his eight-year-old daughter. "She spent two days crying," he added. Sergio Rosas is also in this situation: he explained that he and his wife had planned to enjoy an idyllic Mediterranean cruise with his brother and his wife. "We had the illusion of going on holiday, even if it was only for a week, but this has ruined it," he explained. According to him, they made a first payment of 400 euros in May and in August they called him from the agency to settle what was left to be paid. "I was surprised because there was still quite a lot left, but they told me it was to get things moving," he said. So they paid out the remaining 5,080 euros. "On 18 September, my brother told me that the travel agency had closed; I tried to call all the phones, but they were all switched off," he said. That same afternoon, he filed a complaint with the police. In the case of Juan Carlos Fernandez, as he tells it, he and his wife arranged a trip to see northern Italy for which they first gave a deposit of 900 euros and, later, another 1,500. "The departure was on 4 October, and when my wife went to pay the balance, she found that the agency office was closed." Surprised, they returned to the area to ask around the nearby shops and, in the absence of explanations, they turned to social media, again in search of answers. "We found that there were more people with the same problem," he said. Regina Sotorrio Friday, 27 September 2024, 13:08 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads It was called the Grand Tour, a trip for young British aristocrats to Europe to visit other royal courts, their many palaces and their art. They were eager to discover the world and they travelled with pockets full of money. For this reason, at each stop along the Grand Tour, artists, merchants, booksellers and musicians awaited them with pieces that would later decorate the enormous state rooms and libraries of many a British stately home. I am sending the painting on a very safe ship, one of these travellers wrote in a letter to his father. He was right. Up to fourteen insurers and bankers had guaranteed the cargo on board the Westmorland with all the souvenirs that one such band of merry young men had acquired en route. Sadly, it never reached its destination. Two French warships captured the frigate at sea, a few miles from Malaga, and offloaded the dozens of bundles it had stored in its hold. It was 8 January 1779. Two and a half centuries later, some of these unique and valuable souvenirs of these mens travels return to Malaga to bring to life this part of the history of the Westmorland. The Unicaja foundation and the San Fernando royal academy of fine art of Madrid (where a large part of the goods bought by Charles III at the behest of his prime minister, the Count of Floridablanca, ended up) have brought together the marble pieces, watercolours, books and even the sheet music that the British frigate was carrying, all now back at the Unicaja foundation cultural centre in Malaga city where the Grand Tour came to a less grand end. Perhaps above all the exhibition entitled The Westmorland in Malaga is here to remind us of a little-known historical event that speaks of a time of great political turmoil. Only months after the seizure of this cargo, Spain would also enter into war with Great Britain. Both countries had their own high society with exquisite taste and this can be seen in the exhibition. It does so through works that contextualise the event with press cuttings, notarised documents from the provincial archive of Malaga, even an oil painting with a view of Malaga port in the 18th century brought directly from the royal palace El Pardo in Madrid, with paintings and sculptures that put faces to the distinguished travellers on this Grand Tour and with pieces that reveal their individual artistic interests. The exhibition, curated by the archaeologist, researcher and member of San Fernando, Jose Maria Luzon, can be visited until 12 January at the cultural centre in Plaza del Obispo. Here's an unusual recommendation for an exhibition of a historical event: keep your mobile phone handy. "Technology is a fundamental ally" in this wander through the treasures of the ship, as indicated by Rafael Valentin Lopez, head of the plastic arts department at the Unicaja Foundation (the team that oversees and catalogues the foundation's art collection). Through QR codes, the exhibition allows visitors to circle a sculpture, turn the pages of a book or listen to the sheet music found on the Westmorland. Zoom Institutional representatives and organisers at the opening of the exhibition. Nito Salas The identity of the owners For years, the identity of the owners of the Westmorland shipment was a mystery. But a small detail, a very unusual acronym on one of the packages, revealed to researchers at the San Fernando academy that the letters on the wrappings were in fact the initials of their owners. The main clue was in the letters 'H.R.H.D.G': His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, the brother of King George III. So from there they went on to discover that, along with this member of the royal household, there travelled aristocrats such as Francis Basset (future Baron of Dunstanville), George Legge (Viscount of Lewisham and future Earl of Dartmouth) and John Henderson (son of the owner of Scotland's coal mines), among others. The portraits that Francis Basset and George Legge had painted of them in Pompeo Batoni's studio in Rome as souvenirs of their Grand Tour are on display in Malaga on loan from El Prado museum. Unfortuantely the Museo del Prado had kept them for decades under erroneous titles or names and even had marked them as "anonymous". In the background are elements of what they saw on their travels, such as Roman architecture in the case of Basset and a recently discovered bust of Faustina Minor in Legge's portrait. Classical-style works of art in marble Zoom Sculptures from the atelier of Bartolomeo Cavaceppi. Nito Salas It was one of the favourite souvenirs of King George III's brother, who owned most of the classical and Renaissance sculptures aboard the Westmorland. An elegant and beautiful Head of the Medici Venus stands out, together with two delicately-embracing couples, Bacchus and Ariadne then Eros and Psyche, from the atelier of Bartolomeo Cavaceppi. Also in marble are a Roman funerary urn, which reflects the interest in archaeology of British high society at the time, and another very similar one from the 18th century, which ended up in Spain's National Archaeological Museum. Watercolours and gouaches of monuments and sites Zoom Watercolours by John Robert Cozens. Nito Salas They functioned as travel postcards for the aristocracy, the only way to capture the places and monuments that had bedazzled them along the way. The watercolours by John Robert Cozens bought by the young Francis Basset are worth mentioning, not only because of the artist - the great watercolourist of the period - but also because of the fantastic state of preservation of these pieces. "When the specialists saw these, they almost fainted: the colour was intact because the light had never hit them", explains Jose Maria Luzon, who then reveals his favourite: Lago Albano, from the Galleria di Sopra (Lake Albano is a volcanic crater lake just south-east of Rome). Another room displays numerous gouaches handmade in Giovanni Battista Piranesi's atelier, with a view of the Arch of Titus, the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Temple of Vesta. The books and music of the youth of the 18th century Travellers on the Grand Tour carried books and sheet music to liven up their trip, but they also acquired new material along the way. "There were more than 40 books on board," says Luzon. Titles like Campi Phlegraei by the erudite British antiquarian William Hamilton and the artist Pietro Fabris, or the volume with 116 etchings from Piranesi's workshop bound in parchment with a gold border. A small book published by Thomas Jenkins, an antiques dealer who acted as a go-between for the British clientele on the Grand Tour, is of particular interest. This copy was intended as publicity to sell the product that appears on the cover, which is an antique vase. Besides books, the Westmorland haul also provided an insight into the music in vogue among the youth of the time. Composers sold their most recent creations to these young Brits. These unpublished scores can now be heard in the exhibition using a QR code. Copies of masterpieces Zoom Copy of The Cardsharps by Caravaggio. Nito Salas But the young travellers could not take everything they liked home with them, so they commissioned copyists to reproduce the works that had made the greatest impact on them. In the hold of the British frigate were packed copies of The Cardsharps by Caravaggio, The Madonna della Seggiola by Raphael, The Callipygian Venus by Cavaliere D'Arpino and Aurora (Dawn) by Guido Reni. Particularly beautiful is the replica on silk of one of the first paintings found in the buried ruins of Pompeii in what is known as the House of Cicero. The Westmorland in Malaga exhibition can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 7pm, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2pm. Admission to the centre is a donation of 3 euros, the proceeds of which will go entirely to the social work of the Ciudad de los Ninos project in Malaga. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Buffalo, N.Y. Taylor Tomlinson is paying a visit to the City of Good Neighbors. The After Midnight host and popular TikTok comedian is kicking off her Save Me tour on Oct. 4 at the iconic Sheas Buffalo Theatre in Buffalo. And before she heads to Western New York, Tomlinson has a question for her fans: What should she do in Buffalo and the other 14 cities on her tour? To help, the comedian offered examples of what she does (and doesnt) enjoy. I am not fun. I am not cool. I am not what you would call a free spirit, Tomlinson said in a video posted on TikTok and Instagram. I dont really drink. I do not dance. This is important information. Tomlinson told her fans she likes bookstores, museums, hiking trails and cool coffee shops that offer unsweetened matcha. Unless they have a very weird, fun theme, she said bars are out. Again, anything too cool or fun, she said, pausing to shake her head, its not going to work for me. Tomlinson asked, and her fans happily delivered dropping a heap of ideas in the comments suggesting how she should spend her free time in Buffalo and beyond. Here are the top four activities fans told Tomlinson to put on her Buffalo itinerary: The Buffalo AKG Art Museum's Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building as viewed from the portico of the Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers Building in Buffalo, N.Y. Photo by Marco Cappelletti and courtesy of Buffalo AKG Art Museum, OMA, and Cooper RobertsonPhoto by Marco Cappelletti and courtesy of Buffalo AKG Art Museum, OMA, and Cooper Robertson Go to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum At Tomlinsons mention of museums, her Buffalo fans had one unanimous suggestion: the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Housed in Delaware Park overlooking Hoyt Lake, Buffalo AKG has an impressive collection that includes works by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Georgia OKeefe. The sprawling museum formerly called the Albright-Knox Art Gallery reopened with a new name in 2023 after workers completed a years-long expansion. Fans on TikTok and Instagram repeatedly mentioned the Buffalo AKG. For museums definitely check out the AKG, one person commented on TikTok. It is amazing. The restaurant inside is also super good. Duff's Famous Wings, at 3651 Sheridan Drive in Amherst, N.Y., is one of the stops on the Buffalo Wing Trail a food trail that was just named one of the top food and drink trails in America by Time Out. Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.comKatrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.com Get wings in the birthplace of wings Buffalonians agreed Tomlinson should treat herself to wings when she visits Buffalo, the birthplace of Buffalo chicken wings. Just eat wings the whole time, one person joked on TikTok. Just consume as many wings as possible. But the consensus stopped when fans debated which Buffalo restaurant serves the best wings. Some directed Tomlinson to Anchor Bar, where Buffalo wings were invented, and Duffs Famous Wings. Others urged her to avoid the classic spots and instead head to Adolfs Old First Ward Tavern or Bar-Bill. Fans also urged the comedian to try other Upstate New York specialties like garbage plates, Paulas Donuts and cider doughnuts. Grab a drink and a new read at a quirky bookstore Bookish fans readily responded to Tomlinsons request for Buffalo bookstore recommendations. On both TikTok and Instagram, commenters repeatedly mentioned Talking Leaves...Books, an independent shop on Elmwood Avenue. Afterglow Books, an Allentown shop specializing in romance reads, also got a few shout-outs. Fans also followed through on suggesting coffee shops. Buffalo recs from a fellow non-bar goer with anxiety: Pennys Coffee Shop (they have matcha, havent confirmed its unsweetened but the vibes here are so peaceful), wrote one commenter on Instagram. A view of Niagara Falls, NY at the bottom of Wildplay's zipline in Niagara Falls, CA. Joed Viera | nyup.com Take a hike at Niagara Falls Tomlinson, a California native, has visited the famous Niagara Falls. When she announced her 2024-2025 tour, Tomlinson took to social media to describe what she love about each city shes visiting starting with Buffalo. I went to Niagara Falls last time I performed in Buffalo, and, oh my God, changed my life, she said on TikTok. So much water and you can see it from so many different angles if youre willing to spend a little extra money, which I was. Still, fans encouraged the comedian to hike at Niagara Falls during her upcoming Buffalo trip highlighting Devils Hole as a particularly good trail. Delaware Park is the largest park in Buffalo and was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted. This is a view of Hoyt Lake and the Marcy Casino. Matthew Digati for NYup.com SYR Eating wings and hiking at Niagara Falls were far from the only suggestions Western New Yorkers had for Tomlinson. Buffalonians encouraged the comedian to do everything from exploring Panama Rocks and seeing fall foliage at Delaware Park to paying a visit to The Merry Shelley, a literary-themed Romantic horror bar, and driving to charming East Aurora. Looking to catch Tomlinson during her Save Me tour? Seats are still available in Buffalo and beyond. Tickets to her Buffalo shows on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or secondary market platforms like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and StubHub. Update: Central NY high school girl charged with making threat on social media to shoot up school Original article Central Square, N.Y. The Central Square School District was on a brief lock out on Friday after it was notified of a threat made in a social media post. On Friday afternoon, State Police spoke to the student suspected of making a threat and determined it was not credible, according to a letter the districts Superintendent Thomas Colabufo sent to parents. The district was notified of the threat around 12:10 p.m. by an FBI hotline, Colabufo wrote. The threat was allegedly made by a high school student in the district in a Snapchat post, he said. State Police quickly responded to the school and headed to the students home, according to the letter. The student had already left school for an early dismissal, it said. Three of the schools were on a lock out while troopers worked to find the student, Colabufo wrote. No one was able to go in or out of the schools unless it was through a locked vestibule where police were stationed, he wrote. The three schools impacted were Paul V. Moore High School, Millard Hawk Elementary and Central Square Intermediate School, Colabufo said. All three schools are located on the districts main campus. Colabufo informed parents that the district believed the threat was a hoax but would be taking it seriously until the student could be located, according to the letter. Your children are all safe, he wrote in the initial letter to parents. After the student was located around 1:10 p.m., Colabufo sent another letter to parents updating them on the situation. He said that troopers spoke to the student and deemed the threat not credible. The student told troopers that they were only joking with another friend in a private chat group, he wrote. Colabufo urged parents to speak to their kids about the serious nature of posting threats online. It is not perceived as a joke by law enforcement and it created needless concern and frustration for students, staff and the greater community, he wrote. The student will face school disciplinary action, he said. Central Square, with about 3,400 students, is the second largest district in Oswego County and the 10th largest district in Central New York. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Fulton, N.Y. Funeral arrangements have been set for Oswego County deputy Cailee Campbell, who died in a car crash Wednesday. The crash happened at about 6:42 a.m. when Campbell, 33, was driving east on Rowlee Road in a 2016 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, according to the sheriffs office. Campbells car had its lights and sirens on and was responding to a call about a vehicle off the road, deputies said. A man driving a 2023 Toyota Highlander south on Route 176 T-boned Campbells car which had crossed into the intersection of the two roads, deputies said. The driver, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, deputies said. Campbell was with the Oswego County Sheriffs Office for 17 months and before that worked for the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office. Her funeral will be held noon Tuesday at Fulton Alliance Church at 1044 State Route 48 in Fulton, according to a news release from the Oswego sheriffs office. A reception for family, friends and law enforcement will follow the funeral. Calling hours will be private, at the request of Campbells family. Anyone seeking information about refreshment donations should call the Dispatch Desk at 315-349-3411. Flowers and other memorial gifts can be arranged with Thomas J. Pirro Jr. Funeral Home at 315-451-9500. Donations can be made to Deputy Campbells Memorial Fund with the Oswego County Deputies Association. 16 1 / 16 Police, firefighters pay tribute to Oswego County deputy killed in crash Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Update: Charles Soriano, 2, has been found and is safe and well, the Owego Police Department said. "Thank you to everyone who shared this post and provided information, police wrote on Facebook. We are always grateful for the support of this community! No additional information was immediately provided. Owego, N.Y. Police have asked the public for help finding a missing 2-year-old boy in Upstate New York. Charles J. Soriano went missing Wednesday evening in Owego, a village in the Southern Tiers Tioga County. He is believed to be endangered and was last seen with his mother, Lauren Danvers, the state Division of Criminal Justice Services reported in a missing child alert. Charles was last seen at 6:14 p.m. Wednesday on Adeline Street in Owego, the state said. Investigators said Charles mother, Danvers, does not have custody of him. They are traveling in a 2018 black Honda CRV with New York plates numbered KSY-4729, the state said. Police are searching for Charles J. Soriano, a 2-year-old boy investigators say was last seen in Owego, N.Y. with his mother, Lauren Danvers, who does not have custody of him. This photo shows Lauren Danvers, 29.Provided Here is how the state described Charles: 3 feet tall and 27 pounds Blonde hair and brown eyes Last seen wearing a white shirt and black pants Here is how the state described Danvers, Charles mother: 29 years old 5 feet 3 inches tall and 120 pounds Blonde hair and hazel eyes Last seen wearing a black sweatshirt The state asked anyone with information to call 911 or the Owego Village Police Department at (607) 687-2233. As of 4:15 p.m., there were no active Amber Alerts listed in New York state. Amber Alerts are generally issued in New York when a child has been abducted and is considered in danger of serious bodily harm and/or death., according to criteria listed by the state. by Raheela Nazir ISLAMABAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over the last few decades, China has made remarkable achievements, serving as a model for countries around the globe including Pakistan, Pakistani officials said here on Thursday during a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The visionary leadership of China played a vital role in initiating a new era of development for China, transforming it to a thriving society while sharing the dividends with the world, said officials and experts from the country's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Speaking at the event, Babar Saleem Swati, speaker of the provincial assembly of KP, said that Pakistan has a lot to learn from China in pursuit of shared economic prosperity and development, highlighting the importance of further deepening ties between the two friendly countries. Acknowledging the significant role of China in Pakistan's development, Swati said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, has brought socio-economic benefits to the people of Pakistan, including KP. He also called for deepening parliamentary connections and dialogues between Pakistan and China to foster meaningful connections, enhancing the already exemplary relations. "It is a joint responsibility of leaders of both countries to foster and pass on the resilient ties between Pakistan and China to the coming generations, guaranteeing sustainable development for both nations." Talking about the cooperation between China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Pakistan's KP province, Arshad Ayub Khan, provincial minister for local government, elections and rural development, said that the two regions need to further promote economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts. Under CPEC, special economic zones are being established in the province, opening new avenues of prosperity for Pakistan by spurring economic activities and promoting industrialization in the country, especially in KP. Launched in 2013, CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while the new phase expands to fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others. Skaneateles, N.Y. A man is in critical condition after a crash in the town of Skaneateles on Thursday night, deputies said. At 9:27 p.m. a man in his 70s driving a pickup truck crashed into a telephone pole on East Genesee Street, said Tom Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office. The crash was visible from the Skan-Ellus Drive In parking lot. Dispatchers said that the man was in full arrest when they arrived and asked the ambulance to make their best time getting to the crash, according to dispatches from the Onondaga County 911 Center. The man was taken to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition, Newton said. Deputies are still working to determine a cause, he said. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Montour, N.Y. A town justice from Schuyler County has resigned after being notified that he was under investigation for attending the Jan. 6 rally in Washington D.C., among other misconduct allegations. Donald R. Spaccio, a justice for the Montour Falls Village Court and the Montour Town Court, submitted his resignation letter on Sept. 4, according to a news release from the state Commission on Judicial Conduct on Friday. In April, the commission notified Spaccio that they were investigating the following: His attendance at the Jan. 6 rally. An incident where he is accused of yelling at police and invoking his office when officers asked him to remove a propane cannon from the roof of his building. Propane cannons can be used to scare away wildlife by causing a loud sound. An incident where he is accused of yelling at a Montour code enforcer during a dispute. Spaccio, who is not an attorney, had been a justice in Montour Falls since 2001 and a judge for Montour Town Court since 2005. His current terms would have expired in March 2026 and December 2025. As part of his resignation, he agreed to never hold a judicial office at any point in the future. He will officially leave office on Oct. 7, according to the commission. One of the primary concerns the commission had was Spaccios attendance of the Jan. 6 rallies in Washington, D.C. It was determined he did not participate in the assault of the Capitol building later that morning. Judges in New York state are not allowed to engage in any political activities outside a brief window of campaigning according to the commission. Spaccio told the New York Law Journal that he doesnt regret his actions. He said that he went to Trumps rally because he feels there are a lot of things wrong with the country. Judges may not engage in political activity except for a limited time when running for office, and even then there are constraints on what they may do, Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said. Whether or not a judge was a candidate, attending the rally in Washington on January 6, 2021, was impermissible. Tembeckjian said judges are also barred from invoking their office when involved in personal disputes. Spaccio told the Law Journal that he was shouting at police because they were threatening to arrest him. He said that the propane canon was to scare off birds and made just as much noise as a neighbors vacuum. He also said that he was told the village did not have a noise ordinance. He told the Law Journal that he decided to resign rather than pay for a lawyer to mount a defense. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. By Josephine Stratman | New York Daily News NYC Mayor Adams said he wont step down amid growing pressure for him to resign on Thursday following his indictment on charges he raked in $10 million in illegal campaign donations as part of a scheme in which he received flight upgrades and travel perks in exchange for carrying out favors for the Turkish government. The escalating calls for the mayor to resign began flooding in on Wednesday when news of the indictment first broke. On Thursday evening, Gov. Hochul who has the power to remove Adams from office called the indictment the latest in a disturbing pattern of events but did not call for him to step down. My focus is on protecting the people of New York and ensuring stability in the city, she said in a statement. 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. Several New York City elected officials called for his resignation earlier Thursday, including Antonio Reynoso, Adams successor as Brooklyn borough president. The mayor cannot lead this city, nor can he in good faith ask the public to put their trust in him, he said. The City Councils Progressive Caucus 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. City comptroller and mayoral challenger Brad Lander also called for the mayor to resign, saying that while everyone deserves the presumption of innocence the charges pose too much of a distraction for Adams to effectively do his job. These arent small charges, and its going to take his and his lawyers a lot of attention, Lander said outside City Hall. And New Yorkers need the mayors attention, the leaders attention on the critical problems that the citys facing, and right now they just dont have it. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who has often butted heads with the mayor, did not say he should step down but said there are major questions about his ability to govern given the 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 at a Thursday press conference. New Yorks congressional leaders also stopped short of saying Adams needs to step aside. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said 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. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said no one is above the law, including the mayor of New York City, adding that the charges are serious, and the legal process should now play out speedily and fairly. 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. State Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime Adams supporter, did not issue a statement until Thursday afternoon. She did not call for his resignation. The allegations outlined in the indictment are serious and troubling, James said. The foundation of our justice system presumes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and we will continue to follow the facts of this case as they become available. I am focused on working with my fellow leaders to ensure our city continues to operate for all New Yorkers who depend on it. 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. - At a raucous press conference outside Gracie Mansion early Thursday, hecklers shouted over the mayor, calling him disgrace to this city and an embarrassment to black people, 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. With Anusha Bayya, Graham Rayman and Evan Simko-Bednarski 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. By Maria M. Silva | Times Union, Albany Kingston, N.Y. The arrival of more than 100,000 asylum-seekers in the state over the last year and a half has left local officials looking for ways to meet their needs. Enter the Ellis Island Initiative, a bipartisan coalition of statewide leaders and advocacy groups that seeks to help communities realize the potential migrants present to stimulate the local economy. On Wednesday, the coalition brought that message to a group of 30 local elected officials and labor, nonprofit and business leaders in a gathering at Kingstons Good Work Institute to discuss how to welcome new immigrants. Among the participants of the two-hour convening were state Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers, Ulster County Chief Diversity Officer Esi Lewis, New York State Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Jeff Williams and RUPCOs Vice President of Real Estate Development Timothy Allred. Attendees split into two groups to discuss current obstacles and possible solutions and strategies to help asylum-seekers revitalize local economies, including filling open jobs in industries like home care, providing housing, legal assistance, child care, and language access as well as utilizing existing skills that migrants have to benefit the workforce. Maria Espinal, a caseworker at Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, a Kingston-based nonprofit that assists immigrants with household needs, rent, utilities, legal support and transportation, said the organization has discussed the possibility of creating a buddy system to connect immigrants with residents and employers. In addition to those resources, Espinal said a mindset change needs to happen in local communities. The narrative has to be changed so that what is not predominant in the media is the story of cats and dogs being eaten by immigrants, Espinal said, referring to the false claims, spread by far-right figures, that Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Ohio. We need to make the narrative be ... on the numbers: jobs that need to be built, an economic base that needs to be tapped into. That needs to be the narrative and not, Theyre taking something away from me because theyre coming. Theyre giving. This population is going to infuse a life into the community. The busing of migrants upstate in 2023 and subsequent attempts by local governments to stop them renewed concerns about the U.S. immigration system and the countrys ability to handle the influx of migrants arriving at the Southern border issues that have grown increasingly contentious, particularly in the months leading up to the presidential election. The Ellis Island Initiative was created last fall in response to the New York City Mayor Eric Adams administration sending busloads of asylum-seekers upstate and the political backlash and the fear that ensued, said the coalitions Lead Strategist Steven Choi. One of the goals of the convenings is to bring people together in a nonpartisan way focused on what Choi described as common sense solutions. When you get past the political headlines and the way this issue has been polarized, there are so many local leaders who recognize that asylum-seekers can be super helpful to local communities, upstate communities across New York state, said Choi, the former executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition. They can help stem population loss. They can fill the 500,000 job openings that exist across the state, and they can really catapult these communities to the next level of economic prosperity if we figure out the right common sense solutions. Choi highlighted the need to educate employers who are interested in hiring migrants once they receive work authorization to foster longstanding relationships as well as strengthen the pipeline between migrants and the workforce on a local and statewide level. Choi said employment has to go hand-in-hand with access to transportation, childcare, affordable housing, and language support to migrants services that would also benefit domestic workers as they face the same challenges, he said. The Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation lauds the efforts of the Ellis Island Initiative to shift the narrative surrounding immigration in New York State, Sparrow Tobin, president of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation, said in an emailed statement. We must combat the disgusting and demonizing messaging that is normalized via mass media, as showcased at the recent presidential debate. The labor movement is stronger because of generations of immigrant workers, and with other stakeholders, we will fight to ensure that all workers including recent arrivals can fulfill the American dream by getting good union jobs. The next steps for the Ellis Island Initiative will be bringing together key participants from the six regions it has toured and elevating the findings and solutions from sessions like Kingstons to the state as the Legislature enters the next session, Choi said. The state and the city have spent billions of dollars providing some of these emergency needs, like shelter, housing, and food for the 100,000-plus asylum-seekers who have come here. I think the big challenge for the state is, whats the next step? Choi said. How do we take the next step and really integrate them in ways that are going to help our state go to the next level? ___ (c)2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com By Dave Goldiner | New York Daily News Former President Trump was 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, submitted 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, a spokesperson said. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan did not immediately rule 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 might also 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. _____ 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows the rubble of buildings damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on various regions in Lebanon on Thursday reached 60, with injuries rising to 81, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. Israel conducted 115 attacks across Lebanon on Thursday, the ministry noted, adding the large-scale airstrikes, which started on Monday and have been focused on the south and east of Lebanon, have now spread to include regions in the Mount Lebanon Governorate on its fourth day. As of Thursday, the total death toll from the Israel-Hezbollah clashes since October 8, 2023, reached 1,540, with injuries totaling 5,410, the ministry added. 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. 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 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that it launched three missiles in "an intelligence-guided attack" on Mohammed Hussein Sarour, commander of Hezbollah's air unit, claiming he was killed in the strike. The military stated that Sarour was responsible for multiple drone and missile attacks against Israel. So far, Hezbollah has not commented on the attack nor confirmed Sarour's death. Additionally, the IDF announced that its 7th Armored Brigade concluded a military drill a few kilometers from the Lebanese border, simulating a ground operation in Lebanon. The drill trained troops in "maneuvering and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain," the IDF said in a statement, adding that the exercises enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front. This drill followed a proposal by France at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, in collaboration with the United States "to allow for negotiations." Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the proposal; however, Israel denied earlier on Thursday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah or Lebanese political parties. 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 in the past 72 hours. 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. People search among the rubble in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) A man holding a picture is seen among the rubble in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows the rubble of buildings damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) A man is seen in a building damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows the rubble of a building damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows vehicles damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows the rubble of a building damaged in Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh, South Lebanon. 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. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference A major Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference will take place in county Wexford, Ireland on 16th and 17th October. Teagasc with the support of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and ABP are hosting this Technical Conference in Ireland focusing on the production of beef from the dairy herd. This conference will provide the latest information and new innovations to promote sustainability within the sector and to underpin the future viability of dairy and beef sectors. A major Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference will take place in county Wexford, Ireland, on 16th and 17th October. The conference is organised by Teagasc with the support of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and ABP. Pictured launching the conference were (l-r): Dr David Kenny, President of the BSAS; Dr Ellen Fitzpatrick, Teagasc Research Technologist in Livestock Systems; Professor Frank OMara, Teagasc Director and Kevin Cahill, Managing Director of ABP Ireland & Poland. Photo: Finbarr ORourke, Photographer Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference In recent years there has been a major increase in research efforts to address challenges around the production of beef from the dairy herd, including the development of a number of large-scale joint initiatives with industry partners. The latest results from these studies, as well as updates on state of the art technological advances in dairy-beef production, internationally will be communicated at this two day conference. Leading national and international scientists from Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark and Spain will present the latest science. Speaking in advance of the conference, Teagasc Director Professor Frank O Mara said; I am looking forward to hearing about the latest innovations in the sector and the efforts to promote sustainability within the dairy-beef sector. Leading national and international scientists will compare intensive concentrate-based and pasture-based dairy-beef systems and their impact on financial and environmental sustainability; the impact of new developments in beef cattle genetics targeted for use in the dairy herd; nutrition of dairy-beef calves in early life; health of dairy-beef calves in intensive and pasture-based systems, as well as measures to support better vertical integration of the dairy-beef industry. Kevin Cahill, Managing Director of ABP Ireland & Poland said: ABP is delighted to partner with and support Teagasc and the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) at the upcoming Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference. This innovative event has the opportunity to provide insights into the economic and environmental sustainability of beef production in Ireland and across the world. As a beef processor, evidence-based research is an integral part of our operation. ABP has a long-standing relationship with Teagasc on key dairy beef projects. In 2014, we developed the dairy beef breeding programme in collaboration with Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), and in 2015, we established the ABP Trial Farm, providing industry-leading research to inform our Advantage Beef Program which supports Irish farming families. President of the BSAS, Dr David Kenny said ; BSAS is delighted to partner with Teagasc and ABP in the delivery of this exciting, timely and hugely warranted technical conference. As the leading society in the UK and Ireland, for the dissemination of livestock science, BSAS is acutely aware of the requirement for an objective scientific forum to discuss state-of-the-art science based best practice in the breeding, nutrition and health management of dairy origin beef cattle. Dr Ellen Fitzpatrick, Teagasc Research Technologist in Livestock Systems said; This conference will give a platform to leading national and international scientists to give their prospective on optimising dairy-beef production. The topics that will be covered over the two day event include; dairy-beef production systems, animal health and welfare, calf nutrition, a session on vertical integration, and breeding and reproduction. Delegates will also get the opportunity to visit the Teagasc dairy-beef research herd at Johnstown Castle and the ABP demonstration farm. View the programme and register here In a nutshell: After refreshing the Evo line of NVMe SSDs earlier this year, Samsung is now introducing another upgrade for storage-hungry customers: the 990 Evo Plus drives. Samsung assures that these drives are not only very fast but also reliable and power efficient. There's a new Samsung SSD in town that nearly matches the maximum data throughput provided by the PCI Express 4.0 interface. The new 990 Evo Plus solid-state drives are said to be 50 percent faster than the previously introduced 990 Evo models, although they utilize the same PCIe Gen 4 (x4) or Gen 5 (x2) interface within a traditional M.2 (2280) form factor. The 990 Evo Plus SSDs offer sequential read speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,300 MB/s. Samsung states that the 50 percent performance improvement compared to the 990 Evo is made possible by the latest 8th generation V-NAND (3-bit TLC) technology used in the drives, along with an in-house controller manufactured on a 5-nm process. The 4TB model of the 990 Evo Plus delivers best-in-class random input/output operations per second (IOPS), achieving 1,050K IOPS for random read and 1,400K IOPS for random write speeds, according to the South Korean giant. The company touts this "remarkable feat," which nearly rivals the performance of SSDs that use DRAM memory chips, despite the 990 Evo Plus not employing any DRAM-based cache at all. The new 990 Evo Plus would be an ideal hardware purchase for customers interested in gaming, AI tasks, and other applications requiring high storage performance, according to Samsung. James Fishler, SVP of Samsung Electronics America, stated that the average user now produces more than 100 megabytes of data every minute while capturing new photos, editing videos, or gaming on dedicated consoles. In addition to performance, the 990 Evo Plus line of SSDs features a novel nickel-coated heat shield designed to minimize overheating issues, thereby improving data transfer performance over extended periods. Samsung noted that the new heat shield delivers 73 percent greater power efficiency compared to the 990 Evo drives. While not entirely new, the line includes support for Samsung TurboWrite 2.0, which was first introduced with the SSD 980 NVMe drives and has now been revamped for maximized performance. This technology can accelerate transfer speeds and reduce lag, improving data management when handling larger files. The 990 Evo Plus SSD line includes 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB drives, all backed by a five-year limited warranty. Full-disk data encryption is achieved through an AES 256-bit algorithm, while Samsung's Magician Software provides additional tools for managing the drives. MSRPs range from $110 for the 1TB model to $345 for the 4TB model. Something to look forward to: TeamGroup aims to "push the boundaries" of memory technology with new DDR5 kits that deliver overclocking performance on both Intel and AMD motherboards. While this solution isn't entirely new, it is expected to gain broader adoption from more chip manufacturers in the future. Taiwanese manufacturer TeamGroup recently introduced its new "dual-mode" DDR5 memory modules, designed to support one-click overclocking on both Intel and AMD systems. The DDR5 modules will be available through the company's gaming brand, T-Force, as well as the T-Create line, which targets creators. TeamGroup, known for its DDR kits, solid-state drives, and other memory-related products, offers these new DRAM modules to either prioritize top performance (T-Force) or ensure stable and efficient speeds (T-Create). The DDR5 kits are fully compatible with Intel XMP 3.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) and AMD EXPO (Extended Profiles for Overclocking) standards. Both XMP and EXPO simplify overclocking by allowing users to bypass manual timing adjustments in the motherboard firmware, offering an easier way to optimize memory performance. TeamGroup recommends pairing the new DDR5 kits with the latest AMD X870E and Intel Z790 platforms, suggesting Intel 14th Gen and AMD Zen 5 processors will be required to maximize performance. The dual-mode modules will be available in eight different speeds, ranging from 6,400 MHz to 8,000 MHz. TeamGroup offers two "capacity options" with kits that include either 2 x 16 GB or 2 x 24 GB modules. The company suggests that the 24 GB sticks are better suited for memory-intensive applications like DaVinci Resolve or Google Chrome. As a result, users dealing with larger computing workloads are encouraged to choose the bigger kit for smoother performance. TeamGroup has confirmed that dual-mode overclocking support will be featured in six T-Force kits: Xtreem ARGB DDR5, Xtreem DDR5, Delta RGB DDR5, Delta RGB DDR5, Vulcan DDR5, and Vulcan DDR5. The T-Create Expert DDR5 modules will also support dual-mode overclocking. Additionally, the company is collaborating with major motherboard manufacturers (ASRock, Asus, Biostar, Gigabyte, MSI) to validate QVL (Qualified Vendor List) compatibility, ensuring that the DDR5 dual-mode kits work seamlessly across a wide range of motherboards. The QVL includes memory kits that have been successfully tested for compatibility with specific motherboard models. TeamGroup has not yet announced when the DDR5 kits will be available for purchase or how much they will cost. Dual-mode memory kits, supporting both XMP and EXPO, were introduced by Corsair earlier this year, and there's hope that this technology will become more common among memory manufacturers as DDR5 adoption continues to grow. X may be all about free speech, but it recently suspended a journalist's account, particularly with the incident brought by Ken Klippenstein when he posted sensitive personal information of a U.S. politician. More particularly, Klippenstein was said to have included on his post-Senator J.D. Vance's physical address and other private personal information, hence the strike. This took place after Senator Vance's recent dossier was leaked by unknown hackers and shared with several news outlets, with the Republican presidential candidate previously blaming Iran for the illegal access. X Suspends Ken Klippenstein After Posting Sen. J.D. Vance's Personal Info Ken Klippenstein's X account is now suspended by the platform after the journalist posted Senator J.D. Vance's personal information online, with X claiming that the account violated its rules. In a follow-up statement made by X Safety, the social media denounces Klippenstein's act, which further shared Sen. Vance's 'unredacted' private information, which was evident on the post. Klippenstein was regarded to be among the journalists who received the leaked copy of the dossier of Republican candidate J.D. Vance, who was subjected to a recent hack where their files were stolen. It was revealed by Engadget that other news outlets avoided sharing his personal information online, but Klippenstein posted it, claiming it was 'newsworthy.' Read Also: Why Did DeportElonMusk Trend on X? Musk Deletes Harris-Biden Assassination Joke 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) September 26, 2024 Dossier Leak: Trump Accuses Iran Of 'Hacking' Their Files Vance's dossier leak contained his physical address and the last four numbers of his social security number, with the other parts of it being redacted by Klippenstein. It was revealed that Trump previously accused the Iranian government of hacking into their files and leaking the dossier last June. With X suspending him, Klippenstein posted Vance's dossier on his Substack and other social media accounts. X's Account Suspensions and Content Moderation Since 2022, Elon Musk faced massive controversies when he took over Twitter (now X) because of his massive beliefs in free speech and was said to be leaning into far-right ideologies for the platform. Musk and X were heavily criticized for their lackluster content moderation, which allowed its users to exercise their freedom, which led to infamously losing advertisers because of anti-semitic propaganda. However, to regain the lost partner companies advertising on X, Elon Musk and the company looked into expanding its content moderation efforts in the platform earlier this year, beginning with a hiring spree for monitoring the social media. That being said, the tech billionaire and his social media platform also gained a notorious status with Brazil earlier this year when it ignored Justice Alexandre de Moraes' order to block certain accounts, upholding the Brazilian's rights to free speech. In this latest development, X is turning to a new light for its content moderation and account suspensions with the recent suspension of the journalist responsible for leaking sensitive information on its platform. X shows that it does not tolerate leaking personal information online despite being released as news, especially for a prominent personality running for the Vice Presidential office. Related Article: X Transparency Report Details Content Moderation, Suspensions; The First Since Musk's Takeover Typically, note-taking applications are intended to ensure maximum productivity and allow individuals to capture ideas to enable minimal brainstorming but excellent organization of all thoughts. Napkin takes this one step forward by shifting its focus from productivity to mindfulness and self-reflection. It presents itself as a companion to journaling--more thoughtful regarding capturing and re-capturing ideas. Napkin's Approach to Note-Taking with Mindfulness In 2022, the app's co-founders, David Felsmann and Fabian Wittel, collaborated further on an app they had begun to develop in the innovation department at BMW. The first web-based prototype of Napkin was meant to order and outline thoughts about a given subject; however, when more users began using it as a space for mindfulness and reflection, the founders opted to adapt the app for that purpose. Now, Napkin is designed as a service that is supposed to facilitate mindful pause among its users by providing an outlet to reflect on ideas significant to them. The shift in focus led the company to concentrate on health and fitness in the App Store rather than productiveness or utility as its core market. Read Also: #TechTimesLifeHack: How to Use YouTube Like a Pro Using These Essential Keyboard Shortcuts How Does Napkin Work? With Napkin, users can develop ideas in various wayssnapping pictures of quotes they find in books or, alternatively, typing the thoughts directly into the application. The software will classify these ideas according to auto-generated tags so that users are on top and revisit themes they have run through. Ideas curated for initial sessions are also included in the user library, contributing to a more personalized experience. According to TechCrunch, a great feature of the application is that users can easily archive their reflected ideas, and subsequently, these would no longer appear with corresponding flags. The app supports many languages, including Spanish and German, but it is significantly better optimized for use in the English language. Non-Obtrusive Experience Based on Coherence Perhaps the most crucial feature differentiating Napkin from other apps is its sense of coherence model, which lets users build a holistic mental model of the world. Instead of drowning users with notifications and nudges, the app lets self-reflection quietly occur in the background. As co-founder Felsmann pointed out, "We do not want to add more noise to users' lives. We want to be a quiet place for retention and reflection.". Many users have Napkin as the first thing they open in the morning, with its calming alternative to social media. Therefore, this routine gives them ample time for reflection on valuable thoughts rather than catapulting into the noise of the digital world. How Much is Napkin? Napkin is now available in the App Store, and a working subscription will cost $6 a month or as little as $50 a year. The app also features a free seven-day test period. The company has not raised institutional funding yet, but it has raised about $150,000 from believers and backers through convertible loan agreements. Napkin has around 4,000 paying subscribers. To continue scaling, the company said it would not consider funding or adding more features until its user base expands to 10,000 subscribers. At that point, the company said it would release integrations with popular journaling apps and services including Amazon Kindle to make capturing ideas easier and journaling about them. Journaling Companion, Not a Replacement However, rather than replacing traditional journaling applications, Napkin sees itself as a complement. Napkin focuses on mindful reflection, and the experience it offers people who want to build into their journaling habits or add some self-reflection into their lives will be great. Related Article: Top 5 Best AI Note Tools in 2024 Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong plant a tree together at the Karuma dam site in Kiryandongo, Uganda, Sept. 26, 2024. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the Chinese-built 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station and the Karuma Interconnection Project in the midwestern Ugandan district of Kiryandongo. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) KARUMA, Uganda, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the Chinese-built 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station and the Karuma Interconnection Project in the midwestern Ugandan district of Kiryandongo. A special ceremony was held Thursday to mark the occasion, which was also attended by Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alupo, ministers, senior officials, and development partners among others. Museveni thanked China for financing the construction of the hydropower project, noting that access to adequate and affordable electricity is one of the key factors that can fast-track his country's economy. "I am very grateful that our Chinese friends came in, they said not only can we do it technically (construction), but we can co-fund it. That is how we have been able to build this wonderful facility," the president said. The president hailed China for its announcement at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing early this month, where the Asian country gave all the least developed countries it has diplomatic relations with, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. Museveni said China by opening up its market would benefit African countries. The hydropower project, constructed both on the surface and underground River Nile, the world's longest river, was jointly financed by the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of China and the Ugandan government. The project, believed to be Uganda's largest of the kind, cost 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. Ugandan Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa said the project would be a vital part of Uganda's electricity infrastructure to supply power to different parts of the country and the region. She said the commissioning of the Karuma project is also a signal of Uganda's transition to green energy. Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong said the commissioning of the hydropower project represented a milestone in the cooperation between China and Uganda. "Karuma Hydropower Project would not only connect millions of households with affordable electricity, supply power for some of the most dynamic industrial areas in Uganda, and promote its green economic transformation, but also give the Pearl of Africa a huge boost as the regional electricity hub and contribute to sustainable clean energy for East African development," said Zhang. China's state-owned engineering and construction company Sinohydro Corporation Limited started the construction of the hydropower project in 2013, employing more than 50,000 workers. Karuma is the second power plant financed by China after the 183-megawatt Isimba Hydropower Plant, which was commissioned in 2019. This photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows the Karuma dam at the Karuma Hydropower Station in Kiryandongo, Uganda. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the Chinese-built 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station and the Karuma Interconnection Project in the midwestern Ugandan district of Kiryandongo. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (in white) is briefed during the commissioning of the Chinese-built 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station in Kiryandongo, Uganda, Sept. 26, 2024. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the Chinese-built 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station and the Karuma Interconnection Project in the midwestern Ugandan district of Kiryandongo. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) As you scroll through Instagram, you should likely have seen the viral warning about Meta's new AI features. Users, including celebrities like James McAvoy and Tom Brady, share the "Goodbye Meta AI" message regarding their discontent with the tech giant's data usage in training AI models. Beware: it's a new privacy hoax to avoid. Is that virus notice legally adequate? No, and here is why. Meta's AI Features and What is Scaring People Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently rolled out some artificial intelligence features. Some of the new AI features released include an AI chatbot meant to answer users' questions, digital stickers, and photo editing services. While these improving user experiences are excitedly embraced, data behind the new features concerns most people. According to a report from Meta, public posts on both Instagram and Facebook are used to update its generative AI models. The Guardian spotted that a public notice about these revelations has increased anxiety among users so much that it has been shared everywhere. It is a "Goodbye Meta AI" message that claims Meta does not have permission to use personal data as part of training AI. However, the notice has no legal standing. Read Also: Deepfake Scam: AI-Generated Video Call Deceives Arup Employee into Sending 20 Million to Criminals Reality About Meta's Terms of Service The problem here is that users registering on Instagram and Facebook accept the terms of service of Meta. Under these terms, Meta has wide rights in using, distributing, and modifying content contributed by users. According to assistant professor of digital media technology at The University of Alabama, Jessica Maddox, via Huff Post, "Just posting it is not going to be enough because you have already agreed to it by having created your account.". More precisely, when logging in and using the company's various platforms, you've given Meta permission to use the content you upload in all the ways it currently uses, which includes training its AI. That means posts going back as far as 2007, according to Meta's lawyer during an Australian Senate inquiry. The 'Goodbye Meta AI' Message: A Modern Chain Letter The "Goodbye Meta AI" meme is similar to the old-school chain email of the '90s -- ones in which users were supposed to send the message to avoid some bad luck. As Maddox says, such a viral posting spreads when people start thinking that others must also have a reason for doing that. Just like those chain emails, this Instagram trend holds no real power. While the message could resonate with real fears over privacy, simply posting a statement on your Instagram story won't override the terms of service you've already agreed to. How to Protect Your Data from AI Training While reposting the "Goodbye Meta AI" notice won't stop Meta from using your data, there are legitimate steps you can take to protect your privacy. Meta claims to use only public posts as material for training its AI, so making your posts private could constrain how your data is used. Meta also publishes a form users can use to request the deletion of personal information it may use for its AI training. However, proof that your data was used is required and is subject to local laws. AI and Data Privacy Concerns Are Real Although the viral notice itself is an ineffective tool, the issues it raises are not illegitimate. As Meta and others in the tech industry continue to develop their AI technologies, many people feel uncomfortable regarding how personal data are being used without explicit permission. In places like the European Union, tighter regulations around privacy exist, thus better safeguarding against such practices. However, for US-based users, fewer protections exist at the legal level, and more procedures are needed to opt out when using AI-related data collection. Related Article: Mark Zuckerberg's Meta AI Update Overshadowed by Viral Fake Image WELLINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A tourist safe-driving week was launched on Thursday in New Zealand by the Chinese embassy and consulates and Zuzuche, a global self-driving tour platform, to promote safety awareness among self-driving tourists. At the launching ceremony, the Chinese embassy and consulates in New Zealand, together with more than 30 leading car rental companies operating in New Zealand, released two initiatives to promote industry responsibilities and self-driving tour safety. Chinese Consul General in Christchurch He Ying told the online launching ceremony that in recent years, an increasing number of Chinese tourists have chosen to travel in New Zealand by self-driving, which raises higher safety requirements for travel. The two initiatives have been launched to create a safer and more orderly self-driving environment for Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand, as well as further establish a good cooperation and communication mechanism among car rental platforms, rental companies, travel agencies, and tourists, He said. Since January 2023, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to New Zealand has rapidly increased, with a significant surge in self-driving tourists. Plan to overturn commercial whaling moratorium sinks in Peru Lima, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 A four-decade-old moratorium on commercial whaling will remain in force after a proposal to overturn it was withdrawn Thursday at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Peru's capital Lima. Another proposal to declare whaling a source of global food security was also abandoned in a plenary session after failing to gain consensus among delegates from 60 countries. "We are relieved that the dark and dangerous resolution to resume commercial whaling has been withdrawn," said Grettel Delgadillo, Latin America representative for Human Society International (HSI). The first proposal was submitted by Antigua and Barbuda, which is not a whaling nation but has said it would pursue the matter at the next IWC meeting in Australia in 2026. Delgadillo said pro-whaling stances by countries that do not consume whale meat "demonstrates how Japan continues to influence the IWC despite not being a member anymore." The food security proposal, in turn, was submitted by a host of African countries which also have no whaling tradition but are allies of Japan, according to NGOs. Japan is one of three countries to continue whale hunting, along with Norway and Iceland. It continued the practice for "scientific" purposes after the moratorium was introduced in 1986, killing hundreds of whales in the Antarctic and North Pacific. After years of tensions took a toll on its international reputation, Japan quit the IWC in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling inside its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). An estimated 1,200 whales are killed by hunters every year. Climate change is another threat to the creatures, with whale numbers in the North Pacific decreasing 20 percent between 2012 and 2021 due to a shortage in their main food source, plankton, according to an Australian study. In the 20th century, nearly three million cetaceans were harpooned by humans, according to figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and several species became threatened. On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues Potamos Antikythiron, Greece, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Gently holding a blackcap warbler in his palm, ornithologist Christos Barboutis blew on its feathers to reveal the size of its belly: a good indicator of how far the bird can migrate. Acutely vulnerable to climate change, migratory birds offer valuable clues to scientists about how our warming planet is affecting wildlife: from their shifting migration patterns to their body weight. "Observing them warns us if something is changing or going wrong," said Barboutis, a researcher at the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Birds "are among the first to be affected by climate change such as drought, which poses a big problem for their distant travel," he told AFP at an observation station on the small Aegean island of Antikythera. At the crack of dawn, the researcher and his colleagues lay out nets to capture and ring the birds. The tiny island in the eastern Mediterranean lies on a popular corridor for birds migrating from northern Europe to Africa in the autumn, and in the opposite direction in springtime. Barboutis came to the sparsely populated rock between the Peloponnese and the western tip of Crete some 15 years ago. His team have seen and observed a variety of birds: from turtle doves and warblers to colourful bee-eaters and buzzards. The rare Eleonora's falcon with its distinctive, elegant wings often nests on the cliffs of the island. Greece becomes host to around 80 percent of the bird's population during their breeding season. - 'State of nature' - At sunrise, volunteers Nefeli Marinou, a 21-year-old biology student, and Jennifer Evans, a 25-year-old environmentalist from Canada, scour the deployed nets for trapped birds and carefully place them in small bags. A metal ring placed on a bird's finger bears a unique identification number. In a book, Marinou notes the species, age, sex, date and time. "From this number we deduce how long it took the bird to get here, whether the population is declining or stable," Evans said. Around 40 birds were ringed in a day's work. The bird capturing programme began 20 years ago, Barboutis said, although he cautioned it was a scientifically short period to make long-term conclusions about the impacts of climate change. From the top of a rock, student volunteer Nikolas Promponas, using a telescope and binoculars, watched for falcons and white-headed vultures, a species whose numbers are declining in Europe. Many species of birds including birds of prey need coastlines and ridges to gain height before taking off, he said, a resource that is abundant on Antikythera. Unlike the nearby tourist islands of Kythera and Crete, rugged Antikythera has just two restaurant-cafes and can only handle around forty tourists in summer. Like other islands in the southern Mediterranean, Antikythera serves as a vital stopover point where migratory birds can replenish ahead of their long journey. It is part of the EU Natura network of nature protection areas due to its biodiversity. Declining insect populations have made it harder for some species to find food, while human activity, intense droughts and wildfires worsened by climate change have contributed to the loss of their habitat. Forest fires, the use of pesticides, and urban expansion are also factors that affect their population. This year, Greece experienced its warmest winter and warmest summer since detailed records began in 1960. Less greenery means less food. "If there are fewer birds feeding on insects, it probably means that insects are also in decline," Evans said. "Whatever the case, birds are a very good indicator of the state of nature." 15 dead, dozens missing after landslide at illegal Indonesia mine Jakarta, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 A landslide at an illegal gold mine in western Indonesia has killed at least 15 people and buried dozens of others in the abandoned pit with rescue workers struggling to locate the missing, officials said Friday. Unlicensed mines are common across the mineral-rich Southeast Asian archipelago, where abandoned sites attract locals who hunt for leftover gold ore without proper safety equipment. The landslide hit a remote site in West Sumatra province on Sumatra island Thursday evening after heavy rains in the area, provincial disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Ilham Wahab told AFP. "The information we can provide was that a landslide occurred at a gold mine last night, causing several people to be buried. Efforts to search for the victims are ongoing," he said. Ilhan added that 15 people were killed and three injured, with rescuers searching for 25 others. Footage seen by AFP showed rescuers loading one of the dead into an ambulance near the disaster site in the district of Solok. The Solok district disaster agency said in a statement sent to AFP that the landslide took place at an abandoned "illegal" mine. "The landslide location is on an old mining pit that had been abandoned by previous miners," it said. Ilham said all activities at the site had been halted as search efforts for the missing were ongoing. - Arduous search effort - Search efforts were being hindered by the remote location, with rescuers including police officers, soldiers and civilians having to walk for hours from the nearest village to reach the area, Ilham said. "The location is quite far, the terrain is tough. This has hampered evacuation efforts but people are helping so that this evacuation process can be carried out quickly," he said. The Solok district disaster agency said in its statement that the area had no mobile phone signal, making it hard for rescuers to communicate with each other. Agency official Irwan Effendy said "the victims include people who conducted manual gold mining activities". Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season, typically between November and April, but some disasters caused by adverse weather have taken place outside that season in recent years. In July, at least 27 people were killed after a landslide struck near an illegal gold mine on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi. In May, at least 15 people died after landslides and flooding in South Sulawesi province swept away dozens of houses and damaged roads. A landslide in the same province a month before killed 20 people. US officials warn weakening storm Helene still 'dangerous' Tallahassee, United States, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Helene weakened to a tropical storm Friday hours after it made landfall as a powerful hurricane in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the deadly storm remained "dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving flooded roads and homes in its wake. The storm tore a destructive path through Florida into neighbouring Georgia, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, warning residents to stay sheltered "through the passage of these life-threatening conditions." "Helene continues to produce hurricane force winds that are moving further into Georgia," the center said in a recent bulletin. "Life-threatening storm surge, winds, and heavy rains continue." Three people had died from conditions caused by Helene as of early Friday -- one in Florida and two in Georgia -- the states' respective governors said. One person was killed when a sign fell on a highway in coastal Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis said. Two people were killed in Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp said, with local media reporting the man and woman were killed when their trailer was picked up by a tornado. Images on US media showed ripped billboard signs whipping in high winds and sparks flying from power lines, as more than two million people were without power across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of "catastrophic and life-threatening flash/urban flooding, including landslides," across swathes of the region many miles inland from the coast. The agency had warned the region could be hit extremely hard, with floods not seen in more than a century. "This will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era," it said. The warnings came even as the storm had weakened to a Category 1 on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale and then to a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour, having slammed into the southeastern US coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 140 miles per hour. - 'Biggest flood' - The storm flooded homes and roads in Florida, where residents had been warned of "unsurvivable" storm surge. Tampa Bay resident Matt Heller told CNN his home had been submerged in four feet (1.2 metres) of water within a half hour of the storm hitting, as he took refuge in a kayak in his flooded living room. "This is definitely the biggest biggest flood we've ever had," he said. US President Joe Biden and state authorities had urged people to heed official evacuation warnings before Helene hit, though some chose stay in their homes to wait out the storm. "I am going to hunker down" and ride out the hurricane, said Patrick Riickert, as he did in 2018 when deadly Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 mega storm, blew through the Florida panhandle. He had refused to budge from his small wooden house in Crawfordville, a town of 5,000 people a few miles inland. Most residents had bolted, but Riickert, his wife and five grandchildren were "not going anywhere," the 58-year-old told AFP. In Taylor County, officials had asked residents who did not act on mandatory evacuation warnings to write their names on their bodies with permanent marker, to aid in identification if they are killed. - 'Remain vigilant' - Rescue workers were deployed in Lee County on Florida's coast, the sheriff said on X, sharing videos of men in high-vis gear battling against high winds to launch a rescue boat. DeSantis had mobilized the National Guard and ordered thousands of personnel to ready for search and rescue operations, urging residents to take precautions. "We can't control how strong this hurricane is going to get. We can't control the track of the hurricane, but what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way that's going to be safe," DeSantis said. Georgia's Kemp, in a message of condolences for the two killed by the tornado, urged "all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant, and pray for all those affected" in a post on X. Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on. gma-mlm-hg/aha/sw/rsc UK watchdog bans Naomi Campbell from running charity over 'misconduct' London, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from running a charity after an inquiry found funds raised by an organisation she founded was spent on spa treatment and room service charges. The inquiry into Fashion for Relief, released on Thursday, identified "multiple instances of misconduct", including use of charity money to pay for a five-star hotel stay for Campbell in the south of France. The finding by the UK Charity Commission means Campbell, 54, has now been disqualified from running a charity for five years. Two other trustees also received bans. The watchdog probe found that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5 percent of Fashion for Relief's overall expenditure went on grants to charities. Campbell, who in 1987 became the first black model to feature on the cover of UK Vogue in 20 years, achieved worldwide fame in the 1990s and remains a highly influential figure in the industry. In June, an exhibition dedicated to her opened at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Speaking in Paris on Thursday after receiving an honour from the French government, the British celebrity denied any responsibility for the mishandling of donations. "I was not in control of my charity. I put the control in the hands of a lawyer," she told reporters after she was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. The model added that she was "investigating to find out what and how -- as everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities". - Star-studded events - Campbell's charity held a string of glitzy, star-studded events to raise funds for good causes in London and Cannes. These were said to include projects ranging from supporting child refugees, to helping victims of the Ebola crisis and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. One event in the French Riviera resort in 2017 was attended by over 1,000 guests including stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda and Uma Thurman. A three-night hotel stay for a similar event in 2018 cost pound7,800 ($10,400). The Charity Commission said it saw no evidence the trustees had made sure that such costs were "reasonable". The regulator also looked at additional expenses totalling pound6,600 for Campbell's hotel stay, including spa treatments, room service and the purchase of cigarettes. It said the trustees had argued hotel costs were usually met by a donor but failed to provide any supporting evidence. "The commission concluded that there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity by the trustees since it was established," the report said. Fashion for Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. Set up in 2005, it described itself as "dedicated to improving the lives of those living in adversity by uniting the fashion industry as a force for good". Turkey jails builder of quake-razed apartments for 865 years Istanbul, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Turkey on Friday handed 865 years in prison to a man behind the construction of a building which collapsed during a powerful 2023 earthquake, killing 96, state media said. The 14-storey apartment block in the southern Turkish city of Adana was destroyed by a massive 7.8-magnitude quake in February 2023 that killed more than 53,500 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in neighbouring Syria. Only one of the building's residents survived. Built in 1975, the building's collapse immediately aroused suspicions as Adana, located less than 200 kilometres (about 120 miles) from the earthquake's epicentre, was largely spared from the violent tremors. The man in the dock, Hasan Alpargun, was convicted on Friday of "having caused the death and injury of more than one person with possible intent", according to the official Anadolu news agency. Alpargun is reported to have fled to Turkish-backed Northern Cyprus on the day of the quake, before turning himself over to police a week later. During the trial experts pointed to serious deficiencies in the construction of the building's support columns, as well as the quality of concrete used. Alpargun defended himself by stating that the construction was approved by the authorities. More than 260 people involved in the construction of buildings that collapsed during the February 2023 earthquake were arrested in the aftermath, some while trying to flee Turkey. The trials of several of these entrepreneurs have opened this year. Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' targeted again with soup in UK after activists jailed London, Sept 27 (AFP) Sep 27, 2024 Three climate activists on Friday threw soup over two Vincent van Gogh paintings at the National Gallery in London, just hours after two others were jailed for committing the same act two years ago. The gallery said "a soup-like substance" had been thrown over "Sunflowers" (1888) and "Sunflowers" (1889) and that three people had been arrested. The Just Stop Oil group (JSO) said it had staged the "sign of defiance" after two of its activists were jailed earlier Friday for throwing soup at the "Sunflowers" (1888) painting in October 2022. The attacks are the latest in a series of protests by the group, which seeks an end to the extraction and burning of oil, coal and gas, that have prompted an increasingly hard line by the authorities. Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, were convicted in July of criminal damage after pouring tomato soup over the screen protecting the still life masterpiece. Plummer was on Friday jailed for two years and Holland for 20 months. Both had pleaded not guilty. Greenpeace UK's co-executive director, Will McCallum, called the sentence "a draconian and disproportionate punishment for a protest that caused minor damage to a picture frame". Sentencing the pair, Judge Christopher Hehir said the painting could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed". "Soup might have seeped through the glass. You couldn't have cared less if the painting was damaged or not," he added. "You had no right to do what you did to 'Sunflowers'." Supporters of the pair gathered outside Southwark Crown Court in south London, holding banners calling them "political prisoners". But Hehir dismissed the argument. "You think your beliefs entitle you to do anything," he told Plummer. "The suggestion that you and others like you in a democracy are political prisoners is ludicrous, offensive and idiotic." - 'Grim milestone' - The National Gallery said the jailed protesters caused around pound10,000 ($13,420) in damage to the frame but the painting itself was protected by a screen and was unharmed. Holland and Plummer also glued themselves to the gallery wall during their protest. Plummer has already spent 58 days on remand in prison for another protest at London's Heathrow Airport in July. Greenpeace UK's McCallum called the sentencing "another grim milestone in the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protest". "Protest is by its nature inconvenient and occasionally messy. These defendants do not deserve to spend years behind bars for standing up for a liveable planet." Holland said before she was sentenced that they would not be deterred by prison sentences. JSO named the supporters in Friday's incident as Phil Green, 24, Ludi Simpson, 71, and Mary Patricia Somerville, 77, confirming they had thrown soup on the art works. "We will be held accountable for our actions today, and we will face the full force of the law," said Simpson. "When will the fossil fuel executives and the politicians they've bought be held accountable for the criminal damage that they are imposing on every living thing?" she asked. - Paintings 'unharmed' - The gallery said the incident occurred at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT) and that the paintings were found to be unharmed after being examined by a conservator. "We are aiming to reopen the exhibition as soon as possible," it added. Just Stop Oil has staged a number of high-profile stunts in recent years. In July 2022, protesters glued themselves to the frame of John Constable's pastoral masterpiece "The Hay Wain", also in the National Gallery. Five activists, including the climate group's founder, were given between four and five years in jail in June for conspiring to plan protests that blocked the M25 motorway surrounding London. JSO activists were also arrested as they intended to protest at King Charles III's coronation in May last year. The group called the detentions "massive authoritarian overreach". A child clicks on an electronic screen to color an opera mask at the interactive experience space of a museum dedicated to local operas in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenqian) NANJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- In Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, the melodies of Kunqu Opera, one of China's most ancient and treasured art forms, are not confined to the stages of grand theaters, but ring out in unexpected scenes - school bells, fitness routines and even bus stop illustrations where lively cartoon figures greet passersby every day. Kunshan is the birthplace of Kunqu, which blends poetry, music, intricate costumes and graceful performances. The 600-year-old Chinese tradition earned its place on UNESCO's list of World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. But Kunqu is far from a relic. In the bustling streets of Kunshan, this ancient art form continues to find new life, delicately balancing between preserving its timeless beauty and embracing the demands of modernity. For performers like You Tengteng, an actress at the Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theater, the act is both a challenge and a passion. After a long day of rehearsal, You and her colleagues discussed their latest performance strategies, not in a traditional theater but on Douyin, a Chinese video-sharing platform. In partnership with the platform, You and seven other performers livestream their Kunqu shows for at least 20 hours each month. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to reach a new generation of audiences who might hesitate to sit through two or three hours-long performance in an opera house. One of the challenges for them is interpretation - not from language to language, but from centuries-old art to the flickering screens of smartphones. To draw audiences in the digital age, the performers have condensed the intricate art form into digestible one-hour segments, inviting viewers to experience Kunqu in more relaxed settings, whether over tea at a cafe or within the walls of a museum. The strategy seems to be working, particularly among Chinese youth. After performances, it is not uncommon to see young fans eagerly lining up for selfies and autographs with the performers, their newfound enthusiasm for this ancient art is a testament to its evolving relevance. You was not so surprised to see the heartening trend. "The aesthetics of Chinese culture, ancient and modern, are continuous," she said. "What we strive to inherit is not just the technique, but the pursuit of beauty that has always existed." "And Kunqu is a reflection of societal values, many of which were born in the feudal era. This tension between the past and present is where we find space for innovation, reimagining the stories of old to resonate with modern audiences," she added. One such innovation was seen in the Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theater's production of The Story of Washing Gauze, a play originally written in the 16th century. The story centers on Xi Shi, a legendary beauty from ancient China, who sacrifices her personal happiness to serve her country. In the original ending, after years of separation and war, Xi Shi reunites with her lover and they live happily ever after. However, the modern production altered the ending, leaving it open and tinged with sorrow. The reimagining struck a chord with audiences, many of whom praised the new ending for its emotional depth and realism, noting that it made Xi Shi's character more relatable to modern viewers. Kunshan's commitment to preserving and promoting Kunqu goes beyond the stage. Over the last few years, the Kunshan Kunqu theater has held more than 2,500 performances and tours, drawing over 20 million visitors from China and abroad. In addition, the local government has invested 177 million yuan (about 25.2 million U.S. dollars) to fund new productions, support rehearsal spaces, and subsidize performances since 2018. Kunshan's commitment extends to preserving not only Kunqu but the diverse operatic traditions of China. Since 2018, the annual Chinese Opera Gala (Kunshan) has been hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and provincial government. The gala showcases 348 traditional operas, including puppetry and shadow plays, bringing these art forms - many of which are endangered - into the spotlight and providing a platform for artistic exchange. Wang Wei, an actor of Liuzi Opera from Shandong Province, performed the role of General Zhang Fei to the gala, who is a famous character from the classic Chinese novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms." To play the role more impressively, Wang often learns from other versions of this character to enrich his performance and finally he creates a brave and lovable General Zhang Fei. "This gala is such a good opportunity to learn from each other, I am very glad to stand on this stage to let more people know our Liuzi Opera," Wang said. In addition to performances, the gala includes training workshops for performers of minor or endangered operatic forms. Xu Min, a composer and performer of tea-picking opera from Jiangxi Province, has attended these workshops for years. "If you focus only on your own art, you become isolated," she said. "But here, I'm exposed to so many different plays, rhythms, and techniques. I feel like a sponge, absorbing everything." Kunshan's role as the birthplace of Kunqu Opera has positioned the city as a guardian of traditional Chinese opera, said Zhou Wei, Party chief of Kunshan. Through the construction of a museum dedicated to local operas and the host of annual national event, Kunshan endeavors to offer a space for art exchange and growth. "We want to create a broad stage for different operas to flourish and to integrate traditional culture with the modern world," Zhou said. You Tengteng, an actress at the Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theater, performs during "The Story of Washing Gauze" in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 17, 2021. (Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theater/Handout via Xinhua) Wang Wei (C), an actor of Liuzi Opera from Shandong Province, performs the role of General Zhang Fei, who is a famous character from the classic Chinese novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," during the annual Chinese Opera Gala (Kunshan) at a Kunqu theater in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 9, 2024. (Liuzi Opera from Shandong Province/Handout via Xinhua) Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng addresses a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Pretoria, South Africa, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in South Africa held a reception on Thursday in Pretoria, the country's administrative capital, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). In his welcoming speech, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said that although China and South Africa are separated by oceans, the friendship between the two peoples dates back a long time and has grown stronger over the years. He said that during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's state visit to China in early September, the two countries agreed to elevate their bilateral ties to an "all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era," marking another significant step forward in their relations. "China stands ready to take the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state as an opportunity, join hands with South Africa in the pursuit of modernization, and work together to build a higher level of a China-South Africa community with a shared future, benefiting both of our countries and peoples," said Wu. Mmamoloko Kubayi, South Africa's minister of human settlements, who attended the reception, said that the bilateral relationship between South Africa and China has continued to grow since the establishment of diplomatic relations. President Ramaphosa's recent visit to China has set the stage for enhanced cooperation not only between South Africa and China but also between China and the entire African continent, Kubayi said. "South Africa looks forward to continuing close cooperation with China. We appreciate China's commitment to supporting our G20 presidency objectives next year, as the two countries work closely to advance the legitimate interests and views of the Global South in addressing economic development and inequality," Kubayi added. The event was attended by over 600 guests, including South Africa's Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga, Treasurer General of the African National Congress Gwen Ramokgopa, as well as various government officials, diplomats and representatives of Chinese businesses. Guests attend a reception held by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Pretoria, South Africa, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua) Tully, who also has a senior role at the Bureau of Meteorology, said the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987, and tightened progressively. It took until 2000 for the ozone layer to start healing, and until 2018 for scientists to be sure of the recovery trend. Its often called the most successful international environmental agreement, and it certainly shows what can be achieved if governments, scientists and industry work together, he said. We still need to keep carefully monitoring ozone to make sure it is recovering as we expected, and to keep measuring ozone-depleting substances to make sure that all countries are keeping to their commitments. In recent years there was some illegal production in China, and they were using it for styrofoam. The ozone hole worsened rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, Tully said, while the recovery was much slower. It took a long time for the ozone-depleting substances to travel to the stratosphere, and they would remain and cause damage every year until they deteriorated. At this rate, the hole is expected to recover to 1980 levels by about 2066 for the hole over Antarctica, by 2045 for the smaller hole over the Arctic, and by 2040 for the thinning over the rest of the world, including Australia. Professor Sharon Robinson, a climate change biologist and Antarctic researcher at the University of Wollongong, warned that mega bushfires and increased space activity such as rocket launches for civilian satellites could set back the long-term recovery. The Montreal Protocol is an amazing treaty, and it has banned all those CFCs and also HCFCs, but there are new threats, which we need to be aware of, Robinson said. Why did the ozone hole form late this year? The hole normally forms in late winter and early spring, and closes by summer. Dr Martin Jucker, an atmospheric dynamics and climatology expert at the University of NSW, explains this is because it needs to be very cold to form stratospheric polar clouds, which act as the catalyst for the chemical reactions that destroy ozone. If its warmer, there are [fewer] clouds, and therefore less ozone destruction, Jucker said. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service attributed the delay to disruptions in the polar vortex, after two episodes of sudden stratospheric warming in July. Loading Tully said the polar vortex was a high-altitude wind - much higher even than the jet streams - that swirls above Antarctica. This year, in July, there was quite a disturbance to the polar vortex, and the temperature in the stratosphere jumped up by more than 15 degrees, roughly, Tully said. Thats had an effect on the ozone hole this year it got off to a slow start because of that disturbance but the connection to weather on the ground is less clear. Jucker said the disturbance was probably caused by warm ocean temperatures and melting sea ice having a ripple effect in the stratosphere. The polar vortex usually stays in a circle over Antarctica, but this year it was pushed into an elongated elliptical orbit. Jucker said the altered path took in part of Australia, and was the likely cause of the freezing, unsettled weather in the south of the continent in early August. He noted the southern annular mode a climate driver for rainfall and temperatures was extremely negative at the time. The disturbance in the stratospheric polar vortex over Antarctica in early August 2024. The colours show the air temperature at 10hPa, from less than -75 Celsius (black) to more than 35 degrees (yellow). Credit: NASA Earth Observatory I think theres a relationship there, Jucker said. It was just a few days, but it looked like it was a reaction from the stratosphere being disturbed. Jucker said the stratospheric disturbances were concerning, and while it was tempting to think of the delayed ozone hole formation as a silver lining, it was only a reprieve of a few weeks and would not have a long-term benefit. Robinson said the ozone hole normally disappeared in November, but for the past four summers in a row it had persisted into December because of bushfires and volcanic activity. This put flora and fauna at risk of sunburn because the lower ozone protection coincided with more direct UV rays and less protection from sea ice and snow cover, she said. Loading Associate Adjunct Professor Craig Sinclair, a skin cancer expert from Cancer Council Victoria, said Australians had the highest rates of skin cancer of almost anywhere in the world, but the ozone recovery meant this should not get worse. It did not take long for Magistrate Sally McLaughlin to realise the modest third courtroom at Albury Local Court would not be big enough to accommodate the family and friends of Ken Toll. Five years after his death, they were here for answers. They wanted to know how the beloved husband, father and grandfather went to hospital for what they believed was a routine knee replacement surgery and never came home. A coronial inquest is examining how Kenneth Toll, 62, died following bilateral knee replacement surgery five years ago. The unexpected passing of Ken has left a huge hole in our family that will never be filled or repaired, the Toll family said in a statement read to the court on Friday. As a family, we have all suffered some level of mental illness following Kens passing [his death] is so vivid in our memory it haunts us every day. The 62-year-old army veteran collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at Albury Wodonga Private Hospital on July 20, 2019, three days after surgery to replace both his knees. The court heard Toll suffered a pulmonary embolism as a result of developing deep vein thrombosis. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that his country has been making efforts to promote tourism to build bridges of understanding and contribute towards a more peaceful and interconnected world. "Tourism serves as a powerful bridge that connects nations and promotes understanding among people from diverse cultures around the globe. As tourists explore different countries, they come across diverse cultures and traditions that help promote peace, harmony, and goodwill worldwide," the president said in a message to celebrate World Tourism Day, which is annually marked on Sept. 27. He said that Pakistan has enormous tourism potential as it is blessed with spectacular landscapes, majestic mountains and peaks, vast deserts, and beautiful coastlines, adding that the country is home to the Indus and Gandhara civilizations, making Pakistan an attractive destination for spiritual exploration and cultural discovery. Highlighting the need to further boost tourism in the country for economic uplift, Zardari said that tourism is a significant source of revenue, and to maximize its potential, the country would prioritize the development of roads and tourism infrastructure. "Enhancing essential facilities for tourists will encourage and motivate them to explore our landscape and religious sites. By creating a more accessible and welcoming environment, Pakistan can attract more tourists which would greatly contribute towards improving the national economy," he said. The president also reaffirmed the commitment to making Pakistan a global hub for tourism, where tourists from all over the world can experience not just enchanting landscapes and historical and religious sites but also the warm hospitality of local people. An indelible impression The path from being a boy in the 1970s inner west to homicide squad commander at NSW Police started for Doherty with early interactions with police as a child. He grew up in a loving and musical household, but one marred by violence. His father would lash out, and Doherty grew to see police officers as positive influences who protected his mum. Theres a perception from young wannabe gangsters they see the bling. That comes crashing down when they end up in a gutter with a bullet in their head. Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty It left an indelible impression, but I also only have happy thoughts about home I know thats mixed messaging, but I felt safe because my family made me feel safe, then those interactions with police were positive. We had the somewhat unprecedented double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies [allegedly] by a certain police officer, Doherty said. That was pretty strange, and that was a very challenging time for investigators. Not in his wildest dreams did Doherty think one of his leading investigators would be tasked with interrogating a serving police officer. That was pretty daunting and obviously that pressure just multiplied. Doherty was among the senior police officers, including Commissioner Karen Webb, who faced the media almost daily with updates about the case as public scrutiny piled on. Webb, Dohertys boss, made headlines for all the wrong reasons when she called the incident a crime of passion. But as tough as that time was, in Dohertys mind it pales in comparison with the pressure the police were under during the height of Sydneys gang wars just a few years ago. It doesnt sit right That has something to do with the double murder he nominates when I ask him which is the unsolved case he would love to crack the most. He talks about Amneh Amy al-Hazouri and Lametta Fadlallah, two women who were gunned down in what police suspect was a premeditated shooting in Panania in 2022. No arrests have been made. Police allege that Fadlallah had underworld connections. It was a difficult time for police because we had just been through all the organised crime murders and, right at the tail end of all that, two women get shot dead in a targeted attack, which is just abhorrent, Doherty said. Amy was a hairdresser there to visit Lametta with two kids, a 16 and 20-year-old in front, it just doesnt sit right with me. Doherty addresses the media after the alleged underworld-connected murders of two women. Credit: Dean Sewell The press conference that came after those murders was one of the most difficult of Dohertys life, and a rare instance where he says he lost his cool. The police force was facing sustained criticism as the bodies kept piling up in Sydneys cocaine fuelled gang wars, prompting the question had police lost control of the streets? What those watching at home didnt know was that the police force had just days earlier farewelled one of their own. One of Dohertys colleagues, Detective Sergeant Adam Child, took his own life at Ermington police station while on duty. We were getting all this criticism at the same time [as] we lost one of our own and then the double murder happened. That was a tough weekend. It was so sad, and it really knocked us for six. It was one of the few times Ive been a bit more cranky. Doherty believes one of the greatest challenges in policing is trying to steer young people away from crime gangs involved in the drug trade, as Sydneys love of cocaine shows no sign of slowing. Theres a perception from young wannabe gangsters they see the bling, they say I want to be that person and we do see them drawn into that area from an early age, and they get attracted by the money, the cash, the power and the identity of it all, he said. That comes crashing down when they end up in a gutter with a bullet in their head. Unsolved cases Throughout his career, Doherty has stayed in touch with several victims of crime, mostly in connection with unsolved cases. Paul White, who found his wife Lynettes body in their Coogee apartment in 1973, has remained hopeful that police will one day solve his wifes murder. Loading The case is one that weighs on Doherty. White was a key advocate in getting the unsolved homicide playing cards program off the ground; a unique initiative which involves printing the names and pictures of homicide victims on playing cards distributed in prisons with the aim of triggering a memory in those behind bars. Lynette White is the Queen of Hearts. We had a lot of things against us, Doherty says of the White murder. Because of the age and issues around witnesses and exhibits, and he [Paul] was quite understandably upset with things that had happened so thats one Id really love to solve, we got to know him and hes actually a really decent man, a really tremendous fellow. So how does Sydneys top homicide detective relax with decades worth of unsolved murders on his mind? For Doherty, ideally, the shop talk finishes at the end of his commute home with his wife from the Curtis Cheng Police Centre. His wife just happens to be Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, commander of the NSW sex crimes squad. The pair have been together for around 30 years after meeting at, you guessed it, a horrific crime. A woman was abducted and sexually assaulted, and the pair clicked as fellow investigators on the case. The bill for lunch at Arc Cafe. Credit: When we drive back, we do all our exhaling then and then venting, and then when we get home its back to being husband and wife, mum and dad being just normal. Its not a hard and fast rule, however: I think you need to vent anytime you need to vent, especially as our jobs are quite high stress. Another way Doherty deals with the pressure is through music. The detective plays guitar and sings in a band think the great Aussie classics like AC/DC and The Angels. By the time he was incarcerated, prison was a fate then-30-year-old Richard Brooking had been tempting for more than a decade. Born in New Zealand, he moved to Mount Tamborine on the Gold Coast with his mum when he was a child. We left the family. Part of it was [because] my father was in jail. And my mum was quite young and from a rough area, so she had her ups and downs, he said. Sunshine Coast local Richard Brooking will travel to over 10 states in the USA in early 2025 to research lived-experience programs and their benefit for at-risk youth. Credit: Churchill Fellowship Like many young individuals affected by intergenerational trauma and instability, Brooking searched for a sense of community and found it in the wrong place, which is how he became involved in drugs. Top earners are among the most likely to have at least one negatively geared property, with more than one in five surgeons and anaesthetists being negatively geared investors, opening up debate about the distribution of benefits from tax concessions. Nurses and accountants comprise the largest number of people with negatively geared investment properties according to data from the Australian Taxation Office for the 2021-22 period. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out changes to negative gearing. Credit: Chris Hopkins This masthead revealed on Wednesday that the Albanese government has asked Treasury for expert advice on possible changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. While the Liberals have warned changes would hit mum and dad investors, the Greens have demanded a phasing out of both practices, which they say amount to billions of dollars in lost tax revenue with the benefits flowing to wealthy property investors. Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. AFL GRAND FINAL While Australia does not have an officially designated national sport, as the country prepares for an all-interstate AFL grand final, it would seem that football does take this mantle for at least a distinct season this spring. We have always punched above our weight in cricket and swimming, two of our other de facto national sports, yet there is something distinctly Australian about the footy which only really works within our unique social context. There are apparently AFL teams in more than 60 countries, and despite the admirable efforts in the past to stir up enthusiasm in overseas cities such as Los Angeles and Shanghai, unlike other team sports, the oval ball game remains unique and ubiquitous within Terra Australis. This is something to take pride in, rather than seek to expand. Furthermore, regardless of who gets their hands on the cherished premiership trophy, it is worth us collectively giving thanks for the fact that unlike other countries, there will be no need for MCG security personnel to carry loaded weapons; riot police squads wont be needed at nearby railway stations; and the barrackers of the losing side wont resort to field invasion and physical assault of opposition players. Perhaps it is starry-eyed, but in such a current global climate of animosity, we should celebrate the sensory solidarity that the pure enjoyment of sport will bring to not just the 100,000 people assembled at one ground, but all throughout this contest-loving nation. Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn Strange days for celebration Public holidays are great, and more would be better than fewer, but having a holiday the day before a sporting event is a little absurd. And yet, this is probably only the fourth-most strange holiday we have. The birthday of a foreign monarch when it isnt their birthday, the day the harbour in Sydney was forcibly occupied, and the running of a horse race are all worth reconsidering. A community-based review seems in order and could well come up with more worthwhile suggestions spaced better across the year. Celebrating International Womens Day, or democracy, or nature, or children could be far more popular. Peter Allan, Brunswick West Reactions to yesterdays announcement that design work would begin on a new $100 million youth justice facility next to Banksia Hill Detention Centre have trickled in overnight and the responses have been lukewarm to say the least. Artist impression of the new $100 million high-risk youth justice facility. Police Minister Paul Papalia announced $11.5 million would be spent on design and forward works on the 30-bed facility for the states highest-risk youth detainees. The purpose-built facility would replace the one at Casuarina Prison known as Unit 18. Whilst saying he wanted the notorious Unit 18 to close as soon as possible, Papalia was unable to provide a firm timeframe. The Law Society of WA cautiously welcomed the announcement, but president Paula Wilkinson said the timeline was obscure. The allocated funding is for design planning only and the chosen site still needs state and federal environmental approvals, so any new facility is a long way off, Wilkinson said. Long-term, it all sounds promising but the issue is the length of time it will take to be up and running. Also, the children at the new facility will have access to the same facilities as Banksia Hill which have proven to be inadequate. Wilkinson urged the government to conduct an independent review into the states whole youth justice system. Greens MP Brad Pettitt took his criticism further. You can read more below. The union representing youth custodial officers, the CPSU/CSA welcomed the announcement. Thanks in no small part to the tireless advocacy of union delegates and members, the youth justice system in WA is turning a corner, into a system that is adequately staffed, better supported and a growing culture of workplace health and safety, acting branch assistant secretary, Ness Brett said. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When John Pesutto realised there was a narrative building within the Liberal Party that he wasnt negotiating in good faith with Moira Deeming, he decided to set the record straight. He provided details of the mediation attempts to senior Liberal figures, including former premier Jeff Kennett, in the hope it would reassure them he was doing everything he could to stop the messy saga reaching court. To borrow a phrase from Pesuttos barrister, Dr Matthew Collins, KC: Politics is a brutal game. Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Thursday. Credit: AAP Over three days of cross-examination in the Federal Court defamation case, Pesutto the Victorian opposition leader hasnt always answered like a man who is trying to win a high-stakes and potentially costly court case. Sue Chrysanthou, SC, who is representing ousted Liberal Moira Deeming, accused him of giving speeches in his political interest instead of answering her questions. Observing Pesutto over three days, his responses and demeanour have shifted between his two realities. The first as a father of three from Hawthorn fighting a costly civil suit, and the second as a senior politician trying to hang on to his job. Advertisement Away from of the courtroom, the Victorian Liberal Party remains split about what the parliamentary team will look like on October 15 when its 30 MPs will meet on Spring Street for their regular sitting-week meeting. By that time, about a quarter of Liberal MPs will have faced cross-examination and many of those remaining will have had their text messages, private comments and opinions aired in courtroom 6K. Pesutto has repeatedly tried to explain the realities of his position to Justice David OCallaghan, whose decision will have more of a sway on the Liberal leaders future than any of his colleagues. Moira Deeming. Credit: Simon Schluter Admitting he had shared the mediation details to maintain the confidence of his colleagues, Pesutto told the court: I felt it was necessary, given my role. Pesutto has provided a similar justification for his decision to urgently respond to Deemings attendance at the Let Women Speak Rally in March 2023, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis last year. He insists he was acting to protect the broader opposition. He couldnt, as the alternative premier, be forever responding to questions from journalists about her views and associates. Advertisement It would derail what we were trying to achieve. The court has heard that his response to push for Deemings expulsion ultimately split the party and resulted in some of his own MPs, including former treasurer Kim Wells, giving damaging evidence against him. If this was his own decision, it showed a dreadful lack of political judgment, Wells said in his affidavit. Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick, left, and Opposition Leader John Pesutto. Credit: The Age Deeming has told the court she helped organise the rally on the steps of the Victorian parliament and alleges Pesutto defamed her as a Nazi sympathiser, which he rejects. The court heard Pesutto was already considering whether to expel Deeming from his party room by the evening after the rally, egged on by former MP Louise Staley and former leader Matthew Guy, who offered to move the motion against her. The next day, Pesutto began drafting a statement on a possible resignation for the Upper House MP, before the leadership team hauled her into a meeting and eventually told her they would seek her expulsion. Advertisement Pesutto described this as dealing with a hypothetical, but its the sort of admission that will make his political aspirations to lead the party much more difficult. Liberals, above most things, dont enjoy being pre-empted or told what to do. Deeming was suspended for nine months in a last-minute compromise, but was ultimately expelled weeks later after threatening to bring in lawyers. Loading Early next week, deputy Liberal leader David Southwick, who secretly recorded that 70-minute meeting with Deeming and the leadership team, will face cross-examination. His actions have also soured the mood among Liberal MPs who have questioned his trustworthiness and whether he can remain in the leadership role. Pesutto told the court he was surprised, but not shocked, to learn of the audios existence after his deputy had kept it from him for about nine months. Pesutto was challenged by Chrysanthou on Southwicks loyalty, but so far, has refused to waver. We are about to learn if such loyalty goes both ways. Advertisement The court is also yet to hear from upper house leader Georgie Crozier or her former deputy Dr Matthew Bach. Few of those who have provided evidence in the past nine days have left unscathed. That includes Eastern Victoria MP Renee Heath, who admitted she shared draft minutes from the meeting in which Deeming was suspended with three MPs. Moira Deeming addresses the Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne on March 18, 2023. Credit: Youtube The trial has also sought to rake over old ground that the Liberals would rather forget. Its dredged up Guys lobster with a mobster dinner and Pesuttos comments on the so-called African gangs debate from 2018. Pesutto was also challenged on whether the Hamas October 7 attack was a legitimate form of resistance. At times, its been difficult to see how these questions some historical, others outright hypothetical relate to the defamation claim, but if Deemings aim is to destroy Pesuttos chance of leading the party to the election, then they are proving effective. From the start, Pesutto a moderate was never going to be embraced by the conservative side of the party, despite, as he told the court, approaching Sky News anchor and Liberal operative Peta Credlin in the early days of his leadership for help setting up his office. Advertisement Most people visit Todos Santos on a day trip from Cabo San Lucas, the fashionable resort city on the southern tip of Mexicos Baja California Sur. Busloads of visitors make the one-hour drive north to spend a few hours exploring the towns picturesque squares and bunting-festooned backstreets, browsing its art galleries and boutiques, and just generally having a break from the manicured luxury of Cabos high-rise resorts. Then, at 5pm, they leave, and the town all but shuts down, allowing its 7000 or so residents to savour the tranquillity that probably lured them there in the first place. Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico. Credit: Getty Images I can attest to this firsthand because Im one of the few visitors that has remained, choosing to spend two nights at the swish new Todos Santos Boutique Hotel. Housed in a handsome 19th-century brick building that was originally a hacienda for a Spanish countess, the 10-suite hotel is the towns first centrally located luxury accommodation. Gorgeously decorated with rich fabrics, antiques and hand-painted murals, its also home to La Copa, an elegant speakeasy-style bar serving innovative cocktails, and 1890, an intimate French restaurant overseen by English chef Gaz Herbert, who worked at Michelin-starred London eateries Ikoyi and River Cafe. Todos Santos Boutique Hotel is housed in a handsome 19th-century brick building that was originally a hacienda for a Spanish countess. From these agreeable surrounds, Im ideally placed to explore the town and learn why in 2006 the Mexican government deemed it so enchanting that it was awarded Pueblo Magico status. 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 youngest candidate at 43, Koizumi has vowed that in his first year as prime minister, he would pass a law allowing married couples to retain separate surnames. Koizumi, who made waves when he took a short paternity leave after the birth of his first child in 2020, is the only candidate who has promised to overturn the law. The leading conservative candidate, Sanae Takaichi, 63, would become Japans first female prime minister. She has said that while she supports married couples use of different surnames in professional settings, the naming law should remain in place to preserve family unity and protect future offspring from confusion. Both Shigeru Ishiba, 67, a four-time contender for the prime ministers seat and a leading candidate in public opinion polls, and Yoko Kamikawa, 71, the current foreign minister and the other woman in the race, have said that more discussion is needed. Kamikawa said she recognised the risk of division over the issue. For three decades, reformers both inside the party and from the opposition have proposed changes to the law. Two cases made it to Japans Supreme Court, with the justices ruling that Parliament ultimately must decide the matter. A third case is being heard before district courts in Tokyo and Sapporo. Yukari Uchiyama, 56, a high school teacher and plaintiff in the current lawsuit on the issue, raised three children and is legally divorced from her husband, Yukio Koike, so that she can keep her original surname on legal documents. She said that giving up her surname made her feel as if my very existence, which is the very foundation of my rights as a human being, is being ignored, or cut off from the roots. When even something as simple as this doesnt pass, she said, I think that various gender issues that are being raised are not acknowledged. Japanese media polls indicate that about two-thirds of the public supports a change in the naming law. This year, Japans largest business group issued a statement calling for the government to allow married people to keep their birth names in the official family registry. Citing an issue that invokes gender equality helps a candidate like Koizumi define himself as breaking with the partys traditional patriarchal leadership, said Mireya Solis, director of the Centre for Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington. This is why this is really touching a nerve, she said. Its an issue that signals an appetite for change. For Takaichi, taking the opposite tack is a way to signal her hard-line bona fides to the partys small but powerful right wing. While the debate is unlikely to sway the election on its own, it highlights a generational divide inside the party, with older voters supporting the status quo. I think a lot of senior politicians believe this in their bones, said Kenneth McElwain, a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo and a visiting professor at Columbia University. They are representing people in their 60s-plus for whom this is crucial. In the past, candidates for prime minister were likely to tussle most visibly over matters like defence and national security. Liberals and conservatives were defined by how hawkish and dovish they were on foreign policy, Solis said. But that doesnt seem to be the cleavage any more, she added. Even politicians previously considered doves like Kishida have come to support an expansion of the Japanese defence budget and increased militarisation. Takaichi has invoked some nationalist tropes that could spook Japans Asian neighbours, such as promising to visit Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from World War II are enshrined. But her basic foreign and defence policies do not differ markedly from those of her more progressive rivals. Votes are counted during the Liberal Democratic Partys (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday. Credit: Bloomberg The candidates have discussed other policy positions, such as how to change the rigid labour market and whether to restart nuclear reactors that have been shut down since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown. But they have been almost uniformly vague in addressing the scandals that have led to high voter dissatisfaction and declining trust in the governing party. After the assassination of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, in 2022, the news media unearthed extensive ties between the fringe Unification Church and a group of conservative politicians. The killer had been angered by Abes ties to the church. LDP MPs scurried to contain the political fallout, but party leaders have failed to persuade voters that they have fully purged the churchs influence. Loading Since late last year, the party has also been contending with a financial scandal in which some LDP MPs were accused of taking kickbacks from sales of tickets to political fundraisers. With none of the candidates offering clear plans to address the public discontent, the LDP election represents further stagnation, said Chiyako Sato, an editorial writer with The Mainichi Shimbun, a centrist newspaper. The Liberal Democrats, she told reporters last week, are simply changing faces to simulate a change in government. In later years, she further cemented herself in popular affection as imperiousness personified playing Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in ITVs stately-home drama Downton Abbey, though she revealed that she never watched the series and was relieved when it finished. Although her performances in the theatre were inevitably passing wonders fading from shared cultural memory as generations have gone by she may perhaps be best remembered for playing the part of Miss Mary Shepherd, the elderly, cantankerous down-and-out who ended up living in a battered van on the Camden driveway of playwright Alan Bennett for 15 years. Bennetts memoir-play The Lady in the Van opened to a blaze of glowing reviews at the Queens Theatre in late 1999. Her comic timing is irresistible, her vocal delivery lethal in its precision, the Telegraph raved. Better still, there are sudden moments when Smith seems to peer deep within, capturing a terrifying sense of anguish and fear. A performance that again proved she could inhabit lower-class characters with the same ease as she did the aristocracy, it was immortalised in a popular 2015 film version, directed by Nicholas Hytner. The youngest of three children, Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28 1934; she had identical twin brothers, six years her senior. When she was four the family moved to the outskirts of Oxford, where her Newcastle-born father, Nathaniel, was employed as a lab technician at the Dunn School of Pathology. Her biographer Michael Coveney characterised her early years as Spartan, though certainly not deprived. According to her brother Ian, however, it was a very rigid, inflexible upbringing and a humourless childhood. That Maggie managed to break out of it as she did is all the more remarkable. She was educated at Oxford High School for Girls, but left aged 16 to train for the stage at the Oxford Playhouse Theatre School. After jobs with the repertory company at Oxford Playhouse, she made her stage debut aged 18 as Viola in Twelfth Night for the Oxford University Dramatic Society and her professional debut, in New York, in the revue New Faces of 56. Following other revues at the Edinburgh Festival and the Watergate Theatre, London, she found herself as the leading comedienne opposite Kenneth Williams in Bamber Gascoignes revue Share My Lettuce (Lyric, Hammersmith, and Comedy, 1957). After a small (but typically telling) part in Warren Chetham-Strodes The Stepmother (St Martins), she joined the Old Vic Company. As Lady Plyant in Congreves The Double Dealer, Celia in As You Like It (to Barbara Jeffords Rosalind), the Queen to John Justins Richard II, Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Maggie in What Every Woman Knows, she proved more than just another revue actress trying to go straight. In 1960 she replaced Joan Plowright in Ionescos Rhinoceros when it transferred to the West End from the Royal Court. Later that year she was cast as the talkative blonde mistress of a Home Office baronet in Beverley Crosss second play, a nuclear-warning farce, Strip the Willow, which folded at Golders Green on its pre-West End run. She was to marry the author some 15 years later. Her first major West End success and it glittered came as Lucile in Jean Anouilhs The Rehearsal (Globe, Queens and Apollo, 1961), a Bristol Old Vic production in which she played a young girl employed to care for orphans in a chateau who is callously seduced by the debauched hero. The Daily Mail hailed the seduction scene as one of the most affecting things to be seen in London at the moment, while Harold Hobson in The Sunday Times found her touching, sincere and sometimes devastating. Soon afterwards came Peter Shaffers equally popular double-bill, The Private Ear and The Public Eye (Globe). In the first, she played Doreen, an office typist on a first date; in the second, the young wife of a jealous accountant who sets a peculiar private detective on to her the latter part bringing her face to face again with her old revue sparring partner, Kenneth Williams. According to the director Peter Wood: They were like greyhounds, the speed at which they could bat and ball it. For the double-bill the Evening Standard judged her Best Actress of 1962, the first of five ES awards. The next season brought another prize, from the Variety Club, as best actress for her performance in Jean Kerrs Mary, Mary (Queens, 1963), after which she joined Laurence Oliviers first National Theatre season at the Old Vic. As Silvia to Robert Stephenss Captain Plume in The Recruiting Officer in 1963 she gave the first of many performances with that actor (whom she married in 1967), though as a Restoration actress in her own right her talent was exceptional. In his autobiography, Knight Errant, Stephens recalled their early encounters: She impressed me then as being a miserable, rather forlorn creature. But she struck across my bows in those opening months of the National like a salt-sprayed sea breeze. A stagehand is said to have warned him: Watch out for her, she drinks like a fish and swears like a trooper. A publicity still from Othello, in 1965, showing Maggie Smith as Desdemona. Credit: BFA / Eagle Films / Alamy Stock Photo Maggie Smiths Desdemona to Oliviers Othello was surprisingly moving for an actress of such natural, comic instinct; the celluloid incarnation earned her an Oscar nomination. Her stave-carrying, head-scarved Hilde Wangel in The Master Builder, and her vampish Myra (to Stephenss Sandy Tyrell) in Noel Cowards production of Hay Fever at the Old Vic in 1964, reminded everyone of her range beyond the favoured smart snarl or drawling put-down. In her third season with the new National Theatre, in 1965, she confirmed her serious-mindedness, first with an elegantly superior Beatrice to Stephenss battling Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, then with a thoroughly modern Clea in Shaffers Black Comedy, and lastly as Strindbergs Miss Julie, these two one-act dramas forming a double-bill at Chichester Festival which transferred to the Old Vic in 1966. Her elder son Christopher was born in 1967; her younger, Toby, arrived two years later. In the midst of this came one of her biggest triumphs, as the Edinburgh schoolmistress Jean Brodie in the Ronald Neame-directed adaptation of Muriel Sparks novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which resulted in her first Oscar. After repeatedly stealing other peoples pictures, she now becomes a star in her own right, said the Mail. Coveney argues that she modelled the anti-heroine in part on the icy temperament and brusque organisational manner of her Scottish Presbyterian mother Meg (Margaret). In a scene from Tea with the Dames. As Margery Pinchwife in Wycherleys The Country Wife at Chichester in 1969 she seemed as much at home as ever in Restoration comedy. Encouraged, she returned to the Old Vic in 1970 as Mrs Sullen (to Stephenss Archer) in William Gaskills revival of Farquhars The Beaux Stratagem. As a London beauty bored by rustic tedium, she made the treasurable most of her disastrous marriage to a drunken squire. When she came to advise a countrywoman to treat her husbands sore leg by boning, seasoning and baking it, her deadpan delivery enriched the line with sly spite. In Ingmar Bergmans revival for the National Theatre of Ibsens Hedda Gabler (Cambridge, 1970, with Stephens as Loevborg), she created as chilly a heroine as any could recall, a glacial malice glittering beneath her politeness. She won the Variety Club award for best actress as the acidic divorcee Amanda in Cowards Private Lives (Queens, and Globe), playing opposite her husband, Stephens; their success, however, was piquant, drawing on the disintegration of their marriage. As Stephens recalled in his memoir: It was just how we talked to each other at home. He claimed that the couples malaise had set in during the filming of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, when she took an amphetamine called Drinamyl, making her intolerable to live with, but his affairs at one point he had three women on the go, one of them their secretary took a major toll. A year later, in 1973, ever keen to demonstrate versatility, she played, without a trace of snideness, the title role in Peter Pan (Coliseum), and then Connie Hudson in the sex comedy Snap! (Vaudeville, 1974), a flop that coincided with her final break-up with Stephens; their divorce went through in April 1975, and in June she married the playwright Beverley Cross. Then, determined to have a damned good try at a lot of things that I would probably never be cast for in England, she spent three classical seasons at Stratford, Ontario. There she played Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra; Millamant in Congreves The Way of the World; Masha in Chekhovs Three Sisters; Titania and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Nights Dream; Queen Elizabeth in Richard III; Rosalind in As You Like It; and Lady Macbeth. Bolstered by these experiences, back in London in 1979 she took over from Diana Rigg in Tom Stoppards Night and Day (Phoenix), returning to Stratford, Ontario, to play Virginia Woolf in Edna OBriens Virginia (seen later at the Haymarket, London), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and Masha in The Three Sisters. In the 1980s her London stage performances indicated a marked preference for modern character rather than for classical acting, starting with Ronald Harwoods Interpreters (1985). As a refugee from Warsaw in Stephen Poliakoffs Coming in to Land (1986) the actress showed National Theatre audiences a sterner and refreshing side to her talent. In Lettice and Lovage (1987), Shaffers satire about a stately-home tour guide who embellishes her descriptions with fictions to keep the punters engaged, and gets found out, she revelled in a subversive, eccentric role specially written for her. Maggie Smith stands her ground as The Lady in the Van. Credit: Lindy Percival If some pointed out that the performance restored some of the semaphoring tricks and vocal mannerisms from earlier days, they were widely welcomed, all the same, and when the show crossed the Atlantic she won a 1990 Tony Award further proof, if proof were needed, that she excelled at isolated characters whose strangeness generated a funny-peculiar charm. In 1988, she was diagnosed with Graves disease, for which she had radiotherapy treatment and optical surgery. Her stage appearances became less frequent in the ensuing decades, but made no less impact for that. She triumphed, as expected, as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (1993, Aldwych), then starred in a string of major Edward Albee productions. In Three Tall Women (1994) at Wyndhams, she played an autocratic but bedbound elderly woman and then a slightly less aged version of her, joining with two younger incarnations to survey her life. Ten years later, she proved her theatrical powers remained undimmed as the mysterious titular character in Albees The Lady From Dubuque. With more than 50 film credits to her name, only a handful can be mentioned. She first drew praise (and a Bafta nomination) for the crime film Nowhere to Go (1958). She was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of the flamboyant Aunt Augusta in Travels with My Aunt (1973). In 1978 she appeared with Alan Alda, Michael Caine and Jane Fonda in California Suite (1977), in which her performance as an actress who loses out on Oscar night secured her a second Academy Award after The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (for best supporting actress). She was also nominated for Oscars for her roles as Charlotte Bartlett, the chaperone of Helena Bonham Carter in A Room with a View (1986), and as Lady Trentham in Robert Altmans Gosford Park (2002). Other notable successes included Oh! What a Lovely War (1968); Death on the Nile (1978); Clash of the Titans (1981); Quartet (1981); Evil Under the Sun (1982); The Missionary (1982); A Private Function (1984); The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1989); Hook (1991); Sister Act (1992); and Tea with Mussolini (1999). In the popular The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) and its sequel, she joined an illustrious older cast, playing an enterprising former family-help who gets cured of her racism when she is packed off to India for a hip replacement. In My Old Lady (2014) she played a refined elderly sitting tenant in a Parisian apartment whose young American owner grows to admire and like her. Her television performances included playing a resentful vicars wife in A Bed Among the Lentils (part of Alan Bennetts Talking Heads series), Much Ado About Nothing, Man and Superman, On Approval and Home and Beauty. She was nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield (1999) opposite the future Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. Loading I think there is an accepted way that a face should be, and Im not like that, she once said, but audiences begged to differ. A somewhat reluctant celebrity, and seldom enthusiastic newspaper interviewee, she published no diaries or memoir. According to her son, Chris Larkin, she was almost terrifyingly sanguine about critics, success, failure. She doesnt worry at all and simply says you can only do what you do. It can be accounted one of her undersung successes that despite being in the public eye for more than six decades, she retained an essential, almost regal, mystique to the last. She was appointed Commander of the British Empire in 1970, made a Dame in 1990 and a Companion of Honour in 2014 . A man visits the booth of China Railway during the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans 2024) in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) The biennial expo has seen a growing presence of Chinese companies, according to Messe Berlin, the event organizer. BERLIN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Around 200 Chinese companies are showcasing their latest innovations in transport technology this week at the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans) in Berlin, the world's leading transport expo, with a focus on sustainability, intelligence and digitalization. The biennial expo, featuring over 2,900 exhibitors from 59 countries and regions this year, has seen a growing presence of Chinese companies, according to Messe Berlin, the event organizer. "For example, as the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, the CRRC Corporation Limited is an important exhibitor at global trade shows such as InnoTrans," a Messe Berlin spokesperson told Xinhua. At the expo, CRRC unveiled its hydrogen-powered train, the "CINOVA H2," which can reach a speed of up to 200 km per hour. The train generates electricity through a hydrogen-oxygen reaction, producing only water as a byproduct, said Liang Caiguo, a CRRC technical expert. This zero-emission train can travel up to 1,200 km on a full hydrogen tank at a cruising speed of 160 km per hour, carrying over 1,000 passengers. People visit the booth of CRRC during the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans 2024) in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) The "CINOVA H2," with a hydrogen consumption of less than 0.3 grams per passenger per kilometer, is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 730 tonnes annually, based on an estimated operating distance of 300,000 km each year, Liang added. Another major highlight from CRRC is its newly launched Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle. This new transit system is medium-capacity and eco-friendly, combining the advantages of rail and road transport. The system runs on rubber tires along virtual tracks, eliminating the need for physical rails or overhead power lines. Currently, nine ART lines are operational in China, serving a cumulative total of 35 million passengers. The system has also been introduced in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. A man tries his hands on simulated driving of a Fuxing high-speed train at the booth of China Railway during the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans 2024) in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) "Through ongoing technological innovation, we aim to offer a diverse range of rail transit solutions to the world," CRRC's General Manager Ma Yunshuang said, underlining the company's commitment to sustainability and the shift toward intelligent and green rail transport. Huawei also attended this year's InnoTrans. The global leader in telecommunications and technology focuses on solutions for the intelligent and digital transformation of rail transport, showcasing applications integrated with its flagship technologies, including the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), AI, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. Wang Guoyu, vice president of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU, told Xinhua that Huawei's rail digitalization solutions have been deployed on more than 300 urban rail lines across over 70 cities worldwide, covering over 180,000 km of track. Wang noted that the global rail industry is under transition from large-scale construction to a focus on operations and maintenance, leading to new characteristics of cloud-based, broadband-enabled, and intelligent systems. A staff member (L) of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited introduces a model of a train for comprehensive testing to a visitor during the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans 2024) in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) "By leveraging our expertise in digitalization and intelligent transportation, we provide tailored solutions for various scenarios, helping rail operators build safer, smarter and more efficient digital infrastructures to support the global transformation of rail transit," he said. In a 500-square meter hall, the China State Railway Group showcased its smart high-speed trains, which can reach a speed of 350 km per hour, along with equipment used for China-Europe freight trains. Visitors can enjoy an immersive driving simulator modeled after the nose of a Chinese Fuxing high-speed train, allowing them to operate this technological marvel. Shi Tianyun, deputy chief engineer of the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited, emphasized that China's high-speed trains and other technological advancements demonstrate the country's continued progress in independent innovation and technological self-reliance in the rail industry. People visit InnoTrans, a railway industry trade fair, in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Making its debut at InnoTrans, Chinese automaker BYD presented its lineup of electric buses, featuring its self-developed blade battery and rapid charging systems. According to BYD staff at the expo, the company has delivered more than 82,000 electric buses globally since 2011, with over 6,000 currently in service or on order in Europe. Washington: Former US president Donald Trump, running for the presidency against a strong and confident woman, is facing a historic gender gap. And as he tries to dig himself out of this 21-point hole, he is flailing and likely making his problems much worse. He has turned to all-caps screeds on social media, painting a dystopic present that he alone can undo. At rallies, he makes his appeal to the great women of our country who he claims are more stressed and depressed and unhappy and are less optimistic and confident in the future than they were four years ago. He is here to save them. Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump at a campaign event, in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Credit: AP I believe I will fix all of that and fast and at long last, this national nightmare will end. It will end. We gotta end this national nightmare because I am your protector. I wanna be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector, he said at a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Monday. You will no longer be abandoned, lonely or scared. You will no longer be in danger. 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. (Yes, Beyonce has a song called Protector on her excellent Cowboy Carter album where she sings to her children, I will be your protector, born to be your protector. ) 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. You searched for Toyota . Here are your results. Copyright 1996 The Auto Channel. Send your questions, comments, and suggestions to info@theautochannel.com. Submit press releases or news stories to submit@theautochannel.com. Place copy in body of email, NO attachments please. by Xinhua writer Shi Hao BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over the past three months, Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd. has been racing against time to make solar modules for a gigantic photovoltaic project in China's Xinjiang. These 1.8-gigawatt modules using advanced heterojunction technology will be installed at a 4-gigawatt solar power plant, which is located on the edge of China's largest desert, the Taklimakan. "For Chinese companies in the photovoltaic industry more than 20 years ago, raw materials, technologies and markets relied heavily on foreign countries and regions. But now, the tide has totally turned," Huasun's chairman Xu Xiaohua said. In east China's Anhui Province, where Xu's company is based, the photovoltaic industry has snowballed in the past five years. The number of companies in the business with an annual revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan (about 1.43 billion U.S. dollars) rose to 11 in 2023. The boom, which is also recorded beyond Anhui, is underpinned by China's vigorous efforts to expedite a comprehensive transition to green growth as tasks remain daunting. China aims to raise the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption to around 25 percent of total energy consumption by 2030, which means the country must make every effort to increase the ratio by one percentage point annually in the next few years. "The proportion of coal consumption in China's total energy consumption stood at 55.3 percent in 2023, and thus the potential for green and low-carbon energy transition is great," said Li Zheng, director of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University. China is already revving up the transition to green energy. Official data released this week showed that the installed capacity of solar power came in at approximately 750 million kilowatts in the first eight months of 2024, rocketing 48.8 percent year on year, and the installed capacity of wind power grew 19.9 percent to some 470 million kilowatts. Pan Huimin, deputy head of the National Energy Administration's new and renewable energy department, said the rapid development of the new energy sector in recent years resulted from full market competition, a sound business environment, constant tech innovation and a complete industrial chain. To meet the requirement of exports and foster green industrial and supply chains, Chinese enterprises' demand for clean electricity is experiencing "explosive growth," Pan said in the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk platform hosted by Xinhua. The new episode was broadcast Friday. A key challenge is fully harnessing unstable wind and sunlight and transmitting power to users, often hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. Last month, users in Beijing started receiving solar and wind power generated in the northwestern province of Gansu after the energy was delivered via extra-high-voltage transmission lines, benefiting Gansu companies in the business and meeting the Chinese capital's demand for green energy. China unveiled an action plan last month to speed up building a "new electricity system." According to the document, Chinese authorities will use advanced power generation, regulation and control technologies to increase the transmission of clean electricity through the grid. Local governments and enterprises should seize opportunities and vigorously exploit wind and solar power in line with local resources and with the capabilities of the grid to absorb the generated electricity, Pan said. KIEV, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 11 others injured in a Russian drone strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Izmail on Friday morning, Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said. The attack damaged private residences, apartment buildings and other structures. Several fires broke out after the strike, but were later extinguished. The Russian forces launched three missiles and 32 Shahed drones at Ukraine in the latest attack, said the Ukrainian Air Force. People search among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Nine people were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement that the Israeli raids in the past 24 hours on towns and villages in southern Lebanon have killed 49 people and wounded 80 others. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that an Israeli warplane fired two air-to-ground missiles on Friday at around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) on a house in the southeastern town of Shebaa. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said the raid killed nine people from one family and destroyed their house. The Lebanese Red Cross have transferred their bodies to Hasbaya Governmental Hospital. They added that Israeli warplanes carried out 39 airstrikes on southern Lebanon and 30 airstrikes on eastern Lebanon at dawn and in the morning, destroying about 80 homes and a fuel station and damaging the electricity network. For its part, the official National News Agency reported that the Israeli warplanes carried out a wide-scale air raid starting at midnight focused on the city of Nabatieh, especially the vicinity of the cemetery in the Al-Masha'a and the Al-Bayad neighborhoods. Confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated after the latter announced the expansion of its strike targets against Hamas into Lebanon to allow the return of settlers to northern Israel who were displaced, while Hezbollah announced its entry into a new phase in the battle to support Gaza. Since Oct. 8, 2023, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border amid fears of a broader conflict as the clashes between Hamas and Israel continue in the Gaza Strip. People search among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Nine people were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) People search among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Nine people were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) People search among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Nine people were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows smoke rising following an Israeli airstrike around the town of Mashghara, Lebanon. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua Friday that Israeli warplanes carried out 39 airstrikes on southern Lebanon and 30 airstrikes on eastern Lebanon at dawn and in the morning, destroying about 80 homes and a fuel station and damaging the electricity network. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows smoke rising following an Israeli airstrike around the town of Mashghara, Lebanon. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua Friday that Israeli warplanes carried out 39 airstrikes on southern Lebanon and 30 airstrikes on eastern Lebanon at dawn and in the morning, destroying about 80 homes and a fuel station and damaging the electricity network. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) Glencairn designs bespoke decanters for East Asia Whisky Company Independent bottler East Asia Whisky Company has announced the limited release of three Macallan single malt Scotch whiskies. East Asia collaborated with Glencairn Crystal, Scottish glassware company, for the hand-crafted decanters in which the whiskies are presented. Macallan Mizunara 33 Years Old 1990 Komorebi Edition is the third and final whisky in the bottlers Macallan Mizunara series, last released in 2022. Distilled in 1990, the whisky matured in an ex-bourbon cask for 31 years before a finishing period in Japanese mizunara oak. Just 100 bottles will be made available. The inspiration behind the release was the Japanese term komorebi, meaning sunlight filtering through trees. The bespoke Glencairn decanter also draws on the concept, with an infilled engraving of a silver oak blossom branch. The design has featured on the previous two decanters in the series each release seeing it grow a little around the bottle. The Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition will be launched via Bonhams Finest Whisky & Spirits online sale from 23rd September3rd October, before release via selecter retailers from mid-October. Price is available upon request. As well as the Komorebi Edition, East Asia Whisky Company will release a limited edition pair of 33-year-old single malts also from the Macallan. The duo, named Macallan 33 Years Old Origins, is made in partnership with Ephemerus Concepts. Distilled at Macallan, the two whiskies began life in the same sherry cask. Half was then split into a mizumara cask for an almost two-year finish. The project is a study in oak, exploring the differing result between the sherry- and mizunara-cask whiskies. The twinned whiskies are presented in matching crystal handmade Glencairn decanters. Engravings on the bottles a Pictish crescent with an arrow, and a Japanese fan with cherry blossoms speak to the heritage behind each bottling. Macallan 33 Years Old Origins will be launched as a set at Bonhams in late October. Scott Davidson, Glencairn Crystals new product development director said: It has been a privilege to be a part of the journey of these incredible whiskies. The design and creation of these striking decanters has challenged our design team and craftspeople to push beyond their creative limits and the end products are beautiful pieces of art - something to be very proud of. 27 September 2024 - Lucy Schofield Explore the unexplored in Vidarbha Intricate carvings on the pillars of the Hemadpanthi Shiva temple at Neri, in Chimur taluka in Chandrapur district. By Kunal Badge : Vidarbha, often relegated to the shadows in Maharashtra's tourism landscape, is a realm of unbridled beauty and historical significance. The majestic Pench Tiger Reserve, inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, beckons wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. The sacred Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, stands as a testament to the region's pivotal role in shaping India's social fabric. Every mile explored, every monument visited, and every local encounter reveals a new facet of Vidarbha. September 27 is celebrated as World Tourism Day and this year it is celebrated on the theme Tourism and Peace. With a great legacy of Deekshabhoomi propagating peaceful Buddha dhamma and Sewagram ashram symbolising one of the biggest idols of peace and non-Violence, Mahatma Gandhi, it is important for Vidarbha as a region to embrace its historic, cultural and natural monuments. Vidarbha is famous for its Eco-tourism. Known for Tiger popullation in Tiger reserves of the region, Nagpur city is also called the Tiger Capital of the country. Kunghada Caves near Nagbhid. These Tiger reserves are main attraction that brings approximately 25 lakh tourists annually to the region. Still, it makes mere 15% of Maharashtras total tourist share. Vidarbhas tourism sector is heavily dependent on Eco-tourism which has a limit. This limit is already saturated at most of the tiger reserves and national parks in Vidarbha. Indias tourism sector is expected to grow at around 6.8% in near future. To take advantage of this progress,Vidarbha needs to develop new, unexplored, hidden destinations to attract more tourists to the region. Beyond the well-trodden paths, Vidarbha's hidden treasures await discovery. The town of Amravati, with its intricately carved temples and vibrant markets, is a cultural enthusiast's paradise. The imposing forts of Gadchiroli, nestled deep within the verdant forests, appeal adventure enthusiast. The serene Wainganga River, which cradles the region's fertile landscape, offers a soothing respite from the chaos of urban life. And unseen, untouched gems of Vidarbha offer humongous potential for development, job generation and growth through tourism. One such example is the Kunghada Caves. Situated just 1 km from state highway connecting Nagpur to Nagbhid, 88 km from Nagpur, lie the Kunghada Caves, a group of five caves, echoing the ancient splendor of Madhya Pradesh's Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The five cave complex is built by cutting through a single rock. These caves dates back to second to third century CE. The caves feature engravings on walls and floors which are believed to be some ancient games. As Bhimbetka draws tourists worldwide, Kunghada Caves remain an uncharted territory. Another potential tourist magnet is Hemadpanthi temple in Neri near Chimur. It is situated at a distance of 94 km from Nagpur. This temple, locally known as Rakshsache Mandir, dates back to 11th century. The temples intricate carved pillars and grand Mandapa reminds of temples of Hampi. Despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, Vidarbha's tourism potential remains untapped. Places like Kunghada and Neri are not on any tourism map and are not developed. Not many people know wonders like these are so close to them. This lack of awareness and development is hampering Vidarbhas tourism industry. Dr Priyadarshi Khobragade, Head, Department of Travel and Tourism, RTMNU cited the dominance of eco-tourism in Vidarbha for ignorance of other monuments by tourists. Vidarbha has always been advertised as land of Tigers and tourists only turn towards Vidarbha when they think of Jungle safaris. Even the local population is not aware of these places. These places need to protected, developed, advertised and projected as alternative tourist destinations, he said. Prashant Sawai, Deputy Director, Directorate of Tourism informed The Hitavada that the government is actively working towards developing other tourist attractions in Vidarbha. He listed examples of Navegaon-Nagzira; Saras bird watching facility in Gothangaon in Gondia district; Koka wildlife sanctuary; Ashok time stupas near Paoni; and newly constructed Ambhora bridge as some examples of their efforts. Left-Wing extremists seeking to overthrow Govt with overseas funding: FATF on India By Kartik Lokhande : The Hitavada Research & Analysis A TTEMPTS are on to destabilise India from within, and the funding for this is coming from outside India. The latest report of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reveals that the most frequent and significant source of terror financing in four of the six theatres of conflicts of India comes from outside the borders of India. And, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is among these six theatres identified in the report. Apart from other areas of concern, the latest FATF report on India flags the threat of LWE, which is referred to as Naxalism or Maoism in India. Pointing out a disparate range of terrorism threats categorised into six different theatres, the FATF report listsLeft-Wing extremist groups seeking to overthrow the Government as one of these six. A few days ago, the FATF released its Mutual Evaluation Report for India on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures. Apart from other things reported by media earlier, the FATF report states, India faces a disparate range of terrorism threats, categorised into six different theatres. These can be summarised as theatres associated with ISIL or Al Qaeda (AQ) linked extremist groups active in and around Jammu and Kashmir, whether directly or via proxies or affiliates, as well as other separatist movements in the region; other ISIL or AQ cells, their affiliates, or radicalised individuals in India; regional insurgencies in the North-East and North of India; and Left-wing extremist groups seeking to overthrow the government. As per the report, the most significant terrorism threats appear to relate to groups linked to ISIL or AQ active in and around Jammu and Kashmir. The terror financing risk assessmentidentifies various modes of terrorist funding. These include through sources outside India, organisedcriminalgangs,extortion, non-profit organisations (NPOs), fake Indian currency notes (FICN), narcotics financing, virtual assets, and illicit arms trafficking. AspertheFATFreport,each demonstrates differing magnitudedependingonthe theatre.Thereport citesexample too. The most frequent and significant source of terror financing in four of the six theatres of conflicts of India comes from outside the borders of India, while extortion is a major source of funds for terrorist groups in the NorthEastandareasaffectedbyLeft Wing Terrorism, it states. TheissueofNPOs hasbeen on radar of the Indian agencies. Stating that India has identified 7,500NPOs ashigh risk,theFATFreportalsonotes instances of abuse of NPOs with links to terrorist organisations and radicalisation, havingreceivedfundingfrom foreigncountriesdisguisedas fundsforcharitableactivities. The authorities have noted theuse ofvirtual assets to be an emerging trend for terror financingmore generallydue to the difficulties faced in tracking the funds flow. Since amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA in 2019, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) hasincreasinglyusedthepower given to the Director General to grant approval to seize property acquired from proceeds of terrorism anywhere in India without having to seek permission from therespectiveStatePolice.The actions taken include seizure of both moveable and immoveable property. The largejumpinamounts frozen inthefirsthalfof2023isattributable to one case relating to Left Wing Extremism which resultedintheseizureofproperty as well as over 150 accounts,FATFreportstates. Thespecificmentionofthe case dates back to March 3, 2023, when the NIA attached over Rs 20 crore inacase involving the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist). In the said action, morethan153bankaccounts, mutual fund accounts were attached,anditwasthelargest amount ever to be attached by the NIA in an LWE case. These accounts were earlier frozenundertheprovisionsof CriminalProcedure Codebut had been found to be proceeds of terrorism during investigations warranting their attachment under the UAPA. As per the NIA press release issued back then, the NIA investigations had revealed that the accused MrutyunjayKumarSinghalias Sonu Singh, one of the partners of M/s Santosh Construction, had a close nexus with top CPI (Maoist) cadres.Hehadprovidedcash funds to Maoist cadre Ravindra Ganjhu, a Regional Committee Member of CPI (Maoist) for furtherance of Maoist activities, it had stated.These things had come to lightduring investigationof a casedatingbackto2020when a vehicle of Chandwa police station was attacked killing four police personnel and their arms, ammunition etc looted at Lokaiya More in LatehardistrictofJharkhand. CPI(Maoist)armedcadresled byGanjhuhadcarriedoutthe attack. Naag River Pollution Abatement Project Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari exchanging the agreement documents with B R Parthasarthy, Senior VP, Tata Consultancy Engineers Ltd for the Naag River Pollution Abatement Project. Staff Reporter : TCEL bags contract worth Rs 1,927 cr The start of Naag River Pollution Abatement Project inched a step further with formal signing of agreement between Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and M/s Tata Consultancy Engineers Ltd. (TCEL) on Thursday at civic headquarters. The consortium led by Tata was shortlisted and later ratified by National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) to act as Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the nearly Rs 1,927 crore project. A period of five-years is envisaged by NMC for completion of the project even though as per agreement a 8-year time is mentioned. The main focus of pollution abatement is on erecting sewage treatment plants (STPs) with plan to treat 72 million litres of water before same is released in the river. Nag river confluence with Kanhan and that in turn drains into Wainganga river on which Gosikhurd Dam is constructed. Due to pollution in Nag River the water in dam was getting polluted and hence urgent need for starting the work relating to pollution abatement project. PMC task is quite crucial as they need to draw-up execution plan for successful implementation of the project which also involves survey and design of new sewage network in Northern and Central Zones of the city. Thereafter the would also have to guide NMC in preparing tenders for the work. Finally PMC would be responsible for day to day supervision of laying of new trunk lines, its integration with existing and new STPs. Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari from NMC and B R Parthasarthy, Sr Vice President, signed on the dotted lines along with officials of NRCD. With completion of formalities, the Tata led consortium would start work on drawing-up roadmap for executing the pollution abatement project that took quite a long to work out. The project has received funding from Japanese Government agency, JICA, and for the same Central Government shared will be 60 per cent, State Government is contributing 25 per cent while NMC will bear 15 per cent of project cost. During this year's Union Budget about Rs 500 crores are kept aside. It may be remembered that NRCD on September 3, 2024, conveyed to NMC its approval to acceptance of bid of Tata led consortium which also includes M/s NJS Engineers India Pvt Ltd., Mumbai; M/s CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd., Japan, and M/s EPTISA Servicios de Ingenireria, Bengaluru, to act as PMC. Dr Shweta Banerjee, Superintending Engineer, Public Health Engineering (PHC); Rajesh Dufare, Deputy Engineer; Ravi Mange, Assistant Engineer; Mohd. Israel, Technical Advisor; G H Virupaksha, Association Vice-President and Sudil Mani, Deputy General Manager, both from Tata Consultancy Engineers Ltd., were also present during the signing of agreement at Commissioner's office. The process to appoint PMC started from January 2024 and it took nearly nine months to wrap it up showcasing the speed with which the Government machinery works. This being inter-Government project, the clearances takes time. Niranjan Bhata The longest brinjal growing in Cgarh By Mukesh S Singh : Raipur/Dhamtari, In an innovation in agriculturalo field, Chhattisgarhs progressive farmer Leela Ram Sahu has achieved a monumental milestone with the development of Niranjan Bhata, Indias longest Brinjal or eggplant variety. Sahus brinjal not only reinforces the power of local knowledge but also places India on the global agricultural map. This indigenous variety, cultivated in the fields of Dhamtari, measures an astounding 36.92 cm on average, making it the longest brinjal in the country and a potential contender for the worlds largest brinjal. With its groundbreaking registration under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), this achievement serves as a testament to the innovative spirit of Indian farmers. Talking to The Hitavada, Dr Deepak Sharma, Professor and Head, and Nodal Officer, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, remarked, The recognition of Niranjan Bhata is not just a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh but also a significant moment for Indian agriculture. The brinjals unprecedented size and nutritional value reflect the potential that local varieties hold, and this fits perfectly into the narrative of self-reliance and innovation that is being promoted at a national level. The Plant Variety Registration Certificate for Niranjan Bhata was issued on 14th August 2024, after a detailed process that began in August 2017. Sahu, who has been preserving this indigenous variety for generations, now holds the exclusive rights to produce, sell, and distribute the brinjal for the next six years. This legal protection under the PPV&FRA, 2001, safeguards the crops unique genetic lineage and reinforces its importance within the countrys agricultural landscape. Sahus journey began in 2010, when he meticulously selected and refined traditional brinjal strains to create what is now known as Niranjan Bhata. The variety is distinguished not just by its size, but also by its taste and nutritional benefits, making it a standout among other long brinjal varieties like Ankur Vinayak (23.80 cm) and the Pusa Purple Long variety (25-30 cm). With lower water content, fewer seeds, and high fibre, it is known for its sweet flavour and is highly favoured in South Indian cuisine, particularly in sambhar. Sahu expressed his gratitude for the support of the scientific community, especially Dr Deepak Sharma and Dr Dhananjay Sharma, Principal Scientist in the Vegetable Science Department at IGKV, Raipur. The registration of Niranjan Bhata is a moment of immense pride for Chhattisgarhs farming community. It shows that indigenous varieties, when nurtured with dedication, have the potential to compete on the world stage, thus contributing to the vision of self-reliance in Indian agriculture, he said. The recognition of Niranjan Bhata is part of a larger initiative led by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, chaired by Dr Trilochan Mahapatra, to protect and promote indigenous crop varieties across the country. Chhattisgarh, with 561 registered crop varieties, is now poised to become the state with the highest number of registered varieties in India, once ongoing applications are processed. Vice-Chancellor of IGKV, Dr Girish Chandel, lauded this as a revolutionary step in the agricultural sector, stating, In line with the nations vision for self-reliance, the success of Niranjan Bhata highlights how local innovations can transform the agricultural economy. It is a source of inspiration for future advancements. Sahus success goes beyond brinjal, as he also cultivates crops like rice, chickpea, tomato, and mustard. His work has earned him multiple prestigious awards, including the Plant Genome Saviour Award, presented by the Union Minister of Agriculture, and the Innovation Farmer Award from former President Pranab Mukherjee. No more adjournments, says SC on Godhratrain burning case; next hearing on Jan 15 New Delhi : THE Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear on January 15 the appeals filed by the Gujarat Government and several other convicts inthe 2002Godhra train burning case. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal made it clear that no adjournment will be given in the matter on the next date of hearing. On February 27, 2002, 59 peoplewerekilledwhentheS-6coach of Sabarmati Express was burnt at Gujarats Godhra,triggering riots in the State. Several appeals have been filed in the apex court challenging the October 2017 verdict ofthe Gujarat High Court which had upheld conviction of several convicts and commutedthedeathpenaltiesof 11 to life term. The Gujarat Government had inFebruary last yeartoldtheapex court thatitwillbe seeking award of death penalty to the 11 convicts whose sentences in the case were commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court. The batch of pleas came up for hearing on Thursday before the top court. Gujarat Governments counsel Swati Ghildiyal requested the bench to post the matter for hearing on some other day as she was to argue before another benchoftheapex court in adeath penalty-related matter. We have to first understand what are the cases of individuals. What is the prosecutions case. Then we have to ascertain the roles, the bench observed, adding that hearing in the matter will take at least three days. Now we will not adjourn it on the next date, the bench said. At the request of Swati Ghildiyal, counsel appearing for theStateofGujarat,listonJanuary 15, 2025, it said. President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, director-general of the national media office of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also acting director-general of the Emirates News Agency, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, director-general of the national media office of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Beijing on Friday. Fu said that under the guidance of the two heads of state, China-UAE relations have developed in an all-round, rapid and in-depth way. Xinhua is willing to work with the Emirates News Agency to strengthen cooperation on news reporting and personnel exchanges, among other areas, and to report stories of China-UAE friendly exchanges and the efforts to jointly build the Belt and Road, Fu said. Fu hopes the two sides will strengthen coordination and cooperation under multilateral mechanisms such as the World Media Summit, and jointly play a positive role in solidifying and deepening the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership. Kaabi, also acting director-general of the Emirates News Agency, said that the UAE side is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with Xinhua and jointly tell the stories of friendship to help boost the development of bilateral relations. OVATION THE observation by Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Rajiv Kumar that long voters queues in Kashmir meant a standing ovation to democracy, stood endorsed even by diplomats from as many as sixteen countries visiting Jammu and Kashmir during the second phase of legislative elections in the Union Territory. The visiting diplomats found that free and fair elections were being held in Kashmir -- much in contradiction of the picture Congress leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi had sought to paint on most of his trips abroad, the recent one being to the United States. The CEC captured the spirit in apt words when he insisted that history was in the making in Jammu and Kashmir (where earlier elections had seen only marginal voter turn-out). This is a welcome sign -- whose importance can be understood against the background of negative propaganda some elements had launched against the developments in Kashmir in the past five years. It was essential that the world saw the happy reality of changing Kashmir. Hence the presence of the diplomats from as many as 16 countries to watch the electoral exercise on scales that were not imagined in J&K. The world knows that this positive difference came about only after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India. Though the Opposition and Left-liberal intellectuals criticised that move, Modi Government at the Centre went ahead with the decision to scrap special status to Kashmir. The legislative elections first two phases showcase the success of the idea. That the common people defied the fears of terrorism and queued up for casting of their votes in numbers that could not be imagined before, was seen and noticed by the foreign diplomats -- a fact that they would report to their respective Governments. Of course, India does not have any validation or endorsement of the factual success of operational democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, when diplomats from responsible countries see for themselves a successful working of a democratic exercise, then they become ambassadors of goodwill for India. This move by the Government to invite representatives of sixteen countries, therefore, will pay rich dividends in time to come. There is something positive to report on this count. Even as Kashmir is electing its legislative representation, there is a surprising quiet on the Pakistani front in that regard. Previously, Pakistan expended much of its energies in deriding any and every democratic exercise in Kashmir. This time, no such noise is being heard in a big way. That is due to the fact that the Modi Government handled the transformation in Kashmir -- abrogation of Special Status -- in the most tactful and truthful manner. Each of the moves the Government made in that regard has proved to be worthy of praise because everything was achieved in a peaceful manner and in consonance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution of India. The world has not missed taking note of this fact. And inside the country, the Opposition is totally isolated on the issue just because it is indulging in senseless propaganda against the Modi Government. Nobody believes the Opposition that everything is being done in Kashmir only to defile the Constitution. The common people in the streets of India are aware fully that whatever the Government has done in Kashmir has served a good purpose for the country. Of course, all such moves have long term implications -- whose good impact gets to be known only much later. Yet, the people have not missed the fact that Kashmir is far better integrated into the mainstream than ever before. PWD Minister Rakesh honoured with Green Ribbon Champions 2024 Staff Reporter : The minister was awarded in New Delhi for his contribution in water conservation State Public Works Department Minister, Rakesh Singh was honoured for his outstanding contributions to water conservation at the Green Ribbon Champions 2024 event held in New Delhi. The programme was organised to felicitate people from across the country who have made significant efforts in the fields of environment and water conservation. Addressing a huge gathering, State PWD Minister Singh said viewing water and environmental conservation as solely a social responsibility can lead to distancing ourselves from the issue. He stressed that until we recognize these efforts as a personal responsibility, we will not be able to protect our natural heritage. He said when we think of it as a collective responsibility we often feel that our role is minor, which leads us to gradually shirk that duty. Singh shared the story of "Paniya Kuan" (well) in his maternal aunt's village, which had provided water to the entire village for 70-80 years before drying up. Despite, the villagers were indifferent. This deeply concerned him and motivated his resolve to work towards preserving natural water resources. He even led a 20-day, 480-kilometer-long "Jal Raksha Yatra" in Jabalpur parliamentary constituency during the scorching summer months. Singh highlighted his efforts to restore and preserve historic stepwells. After informing Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these efforts, PM Modi, known for his deep commitment to water conservation and extensive knowledge, suggested that once the restoration is complete these stepwells should be named "Jal Mandir" (Water Temple). Singh and his team worked on two stepwells, including those from the era of Rani Durgavati, which had fallen into disrepair. Today, these restored "Jal Mandirs" have become beautiful landmarks. The water from them is not only safe for drinking, but the locations have also gained popularity as scenic spots for pre-wedding photo shoots. Singh dedicated the honor he received to all the volunteers and workers who stood by him in his efforts, contributing through labor donations during the "Jal Raksha Yatra" and in the restoration of ponds and stepwells. CARACAS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Latin American regional bloc, Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), agreed on Thursday to strengthen cooperation and oppose foreign military bases in the region. During the Political Council meeting in New York, representatives from the bloc's 10 member states committed to advancing their Development Cooperation Agency and planned an extraordinary summit of heads of state for December. Venezuelan Jorge Arreaza, the executive secretary of ALBA-TCP, read out the agreed-upon document, highlighting the political principles of the bloc. "It reaffirms the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and opposes the establishment of military bases on our continent," he said. Members of the bloc also condemned the U.S. sanctions on Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stressed the bloc's willingness to advance agricultural cooperation projects and initiatives to combat climate change. AutoNation (NYSE:AN Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a $200.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $145.00. Morgan Stanleys price objective suggests a potential upside of 12.29% from the companys current price. Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on AutoNation from $160.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. Stephens began coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. They set an overweight rating and a $210.00 price objective for the company. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of AutoNation from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, June 10th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of AutoNation from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of AutoNation from $164.00 to $187.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $201.75. Get AutoNation alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on AutoNation AutoNation Stock Performance AN opened at $178.11 on Wednesday. AutoNation has a twelve month low of $123.81 and a twelve month high of $197.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.17 billion, a PE ratio of 8.45, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The firms 50-day moving average price is $172.82 and its 200 day moving average price is $166.52. AutoNation (NYSE:AN Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.99 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.31 by ($0.32). AutoNation had a return on equity of 36.50% and a net margin of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.29 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that AutoNation will post 17.67 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 39,194 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.43, for a total transaction of $7,189,355.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,786,144 shares in the company, valued at approximately $694,492,393.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 39,194 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.43, for a total transaction of $7,189,355.42. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,786,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $694,492,393.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 53,562 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $193.45, for a total transaction of $10,361,568.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,825,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $740,108,361.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 216,959 shares of company stock worth $39,346,744 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new position in shares of AutoNation in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in AutoNation by 90.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 202 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co purchased a new position in AutoNation in the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in AutoNation during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Denali Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of AutoNation by 79.7% in the 1st quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 248 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. 94.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. AutoNation Company Profile (Get Free Report) AutoNation, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AutoNation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoNation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bausch + Lomb (NYSE:BLCO Free Report) had its target price lifted by Stifel Nicolaus from $16.00 to $19.00 in a research note released on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the stock. BLCO has been the topic of a number of other research reports. HC Wainwright lowered their price objective on Bausch + Lomb from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 5th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Bausch + Lomb from $15.00 to $15.50 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Bausch + Lomb in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Bausch + Lomb from $14.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a hold rating on shares of Bausch + Lomb in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.14. Get Bausch + Lomb alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BLCO Bausch + Lomb Stock Performance Shares of BLCO stock opened at $19.04 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.70 billion, a PE ratio of -19.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.46. Bausch + Lomb has a 52-week low of $13.16 and a 52-week high of $21.00. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $16.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Bausch + Lomb (NYSE:BLCO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.13. Bausch + Lomb had a positive return on equity of 3.36% and a negative net margin of 10.15%. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.18 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Bausch + Lomb will post 0.6 EPS for the current year. Insider Transactions at Bausch + Lomb In other Bausch + Lomb news, CEO Brent L. Saunders acquired 32,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $15.66 per share, for a total transaction of $505,035.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 595,169 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,320,346.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Institutional Trading of Bausch + Lomb Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Bausch + Lomb by 14,052.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 3,232 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bausch + Lomb during the 2nd quarter valued at $173,000. Fore Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bausch + Lomb during the 1st quarter valued at $384,000. Renaissance Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bausch + Lomb by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Capital LLC now owns 23,076 shares of the companys stock valued at $399,000 after acquiring an additional 669 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bausch + Lomb during the 2nd quarter valued at $580,000. 11.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Bausch + Lomb Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bausch + Lomb Corporation operates as an eye health company in the United States, Puerto Rico, China, France, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Vision Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Surgical. The Vision Care segment provides contact lens that covers the spectrum of wearing modalities, including daily disposable and frequently replaced contact lenses; and contact lens care products comprising over-the-counter eye drops, eye vitamins, and mineral supplements that address various conditions, such as eye allergies, conjunctivitis, dry eye, and redness relief. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bausch + Lomb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bausch + Lomb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for consolidating and developing the unity of the Chinese nation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at a grand meeting in Beijing to honor role models for ethnic unity and progress. He urged efforts to advance the building of the community for the Chinese nation. Premier Li Qiang presided over the meeting. Top political advisor Wang Huning announced the central authorities' decision to award the models. Senior leaders Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the event. A total of 352 groups and 368 individuals were honored. Xi and other senior leaders presented the awards to representatives of the models. Addressing the meeting, Xi said the CPC has always attached great importance to ethnic affairs. Over the past more than a century, it has blazed a correct path of handling ethnic affairs with a distinctively Chinese approach. Along this path, Xi said, the CPC has made new advances in developing ethnic relations of equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony, and promoted economic and social development of ethnic areas and the lives of ethnic minority groups to register unprecedented progress. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has taken fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the focus of its work related to ethnic affairs, and achieved new historic success, he said. Atlas Arteria Limited (ASX:ALX Get Free Report) insider Kiernan Bell bought 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of A$4.94 ($3.38) per share, for a total transaction of A$14,820.00 ($10,150.68). Atlas Arteria Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 2.26, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.24. Get Atlas Arteria alerts: Atlas Arteria Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 6th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, October 6th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 23rd. Atlas Arterias dividend payout ratio is presently 190.48%. Atlas Arteria Company Profile Atlas Arteria Limited owns, develops, and operates toll roads. It holds a 31.14% of interest in the APRR and A79 and 31.17% interest in the ADELAC located in France; 100% interest in the Warnow Tunnel located in Rostock, Germany; 66.67% interest in the Chicago Skyway situated in Chicago and 100% interest in the Dulles Greenway located in Virginia, United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Atlas Arteria Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atlas Arteria and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Penske Automotive Group (NYSE:PAG Get Free Report) was upgraded by Morgan Stanley from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage presently has a $180.00 price objective on the stock, up from their prior price objective of $115.00. Morgan Stanleys target price would suggest a potential upside of 11.20% from the companys previous close. PAG has been the topic of several other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Penske Automotive Group from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. Stephens started coverage on shares of Penske Automotive Group in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They set an equal weight rating and a $161.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Penske Automotive Group from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Penske Automotive Group has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $175.40. Get Penske Automotive Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Penske Automotive Group Penske Automotive Group Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of PAG stock opened at $161.87 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market cap of $10.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.26 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a 50 day moving average of $161.71 and a 200-day moving average of $155.73. Penske Automotive Group has a 12-month low of $137.95 and a 12-month high of $179.72. Penske Automotive Group (NYSE:PAG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.39 by $0.22. Penske Automotive Group had a return on equity of 19.82% and a net margin of 3.05%. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.59 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.41 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Penske Automotive Group will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity In other news, Director John Barr sold 716 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.71, for a total transaction of $122,228.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 51.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Penske Automotive Group Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PAG. Gabelli Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Penske Automotive Group by 6.2% in the first quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 85,500 shares of the companys stock worth $13,850,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Penske Automotive Group by 15.4% in the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 30,466 shares of the companys stock worth $4,935,000 after buying an additional 4,057 shares during the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Penske Automotive Group in the 2nd quarter worth $1,516,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Penske Automotive Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $3,742,000. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP lifted its holdings in shares of Penske Automotive Group by 321.8% during the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 26,675 shares of the companys stock worth $4,282,000 after acquiring an additional 20,351 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.08% of the companys stock. About Penske Automotive Group (Get Free Report) Penske Automotive Group, Inc, a diversified transportation services company, operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, Other, and Non-Automotive Investments. It operates dealerships under franchise agreements with various automotive manufacturers and distributors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Penske Automotive Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Penske Automotive Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sappi Limited (OTCMKTS:SPPJY Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 66.7% from the August 31st total of 300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Sappi Stock Performance SPPJY stock remained flat at $2.81 during midday trading on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $2.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Sappi has a twelve month low of $1.99 and a twelve month high of $3.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.57 billion, a PE ratio of 3.12, a PEG ratio of 0.27 and a beta of 1.07. Get Sappi alerts: Sappi (OTCMKTS:SPPJY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The basic materials company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.37 billion during the quarter. Sappi had a negative net margin of 1.60% and a positive return on equity of 6.21%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Sappi will post 0.36 earnings per share for the current year. About Sappi Sappi Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of materials made from woodfiber-based renewable resources in Europe, North America, and South Africa. The company manufacture and sells dissolving pulp, and wood and paper pulp; graphic papers, coated and uncoated papers, and casting and release papers; and packaging and specialty papers, including packaging and specialty papers, including flexible packaging papers, label papers, functional paper packaging products, containerboards, paperboards, silicone base papers, and dye sublimation papers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sappi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sappi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Acorn Energy, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ACFN Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 90.0% from the August 31st total of 1,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Acorn Energy Stock Down 1.3 % ACFN stock opened at $9.62 on Friday. Acorn Energy has a 52 week low of $4.50 and a 52 week high of $11.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.93 million, a P/E ratio of 139.29 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.13. Get Acorn Energy alerts: Acorn Energy (OTCMKTS:ACFN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The technology company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.28 million for the quarter. Acorn Energy had a negative return on equity of 61.26% and a net margin of 5.08%. About Acorn Energy Acorn Energy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops and markets wireless remote monitoring and control systems for various markets in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Power Generation (PG) Monitoring and Cathodic Protection (CP) Monitoring. The PG segment provides wireless remote monitoring and control systems, and services for critical assets, which include stand-by power generators, pumps, pumpjacks, light towers, turbines, compressors, fire pumps, and other industrial equipment; and Internet of Things applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Acorn Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Acorn Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AstraZeneca PLC (OTCMKTS:AZNCF Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 42,100 shares, an increase of 352.7% from the August 31st total of 9,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 15.0 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On AstraZeneca A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in AstraZeneca stock. Kennedy Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca PLC (OTCMKTS:AZNCF Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 37,554 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,068,000. 40.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get AstraZeneca alerts: AstraZeneca Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS AZNCF opened at $153.30 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $162.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $152.89. AstraZeneca has a 1 year low of $118.16 and a 1 year high of $175.00. AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend About AstraZeneca The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th were paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 7th. AstraZenecas dividend payout ratio is presently 343.14%. (Get Free Report) AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for AstraZeneca Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AstraZeneca and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Smartsheet Inc (NYSE:SMAR Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday after Barclays raised their price target on the stock from $50.00 to $56.50. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Approximately 3,134,250 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 86% from the previous sessions volume of 1,687,042 shares.The stock last traded at $55.44 and had previously closed at $55.46. Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $56.50 price target (down previously from $60.00) on shares of Smartsheet in a research report on Tuesday. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $57.00 target price on shares of Smartsheet in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $57.00 price target on shares of Smartsheet in a report on Tuesday. Truist Financial reissued a hold rating and set a $56.50 price target (down from $60.00) on shares of Smartsheet in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Smartsheet from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $56.21. Get Smartsheet alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Smartsheet Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other news, insider Jolene Lau Marshall sold 3,994 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.11, for a total transaction of $172,181.34. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 16,567 shares of the companys stock, valued at $714,203.37. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other Smartsheet news, CEO Mark Patrick Mader sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.78, for a total transaction of $1,035,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 588,762 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,486,096.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, insider Jolene Lau Marshall sold 3,994 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.11, for a total value of $172,181.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 16,567 shares in the company, valued at approximately $714,203.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 35,157 shares of company stock worth $1,762,763. 4.52% of the stock is owned by company insiders. A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SMAR. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Smartsheet during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in Smartsheet during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in Smartsheet during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in Smartsheet by 37.5% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 894 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Plato Investment Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of Smartsheet in the first quarter valued at $35,000. 90.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Smartsheet Price Performance The company has a market cap of $7.69 billion, a P/E ratio of -89.24 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $43.43. Smartsheet (NYSE:SMAR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, September 5th. The company reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $276.41 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $274.23 million. Smartsheet had a negative return on equity of 4.29% and a negative net margin of 4.07%. Smartsheets revenue was up 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.23) earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Smartsheet Inc will post -0.05 EPS for the current year. Smartsheet declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, September 5th that permits the company to buyback $150.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Smartsheet Company Profile (Get Free Report) Smartsheet, Inc engages in managing and automating collaborative work. Its platform provides solutions that eliminate the obstacles to capturing information, including a familiar and intuitive spreadsheet interface as well as easily customizable forms. The company was founded by W. Eric Browne, Maria Colacurcio, John D. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Smartsheet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smartsheet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A report on the navigation and overflight situation in the South China Sea was released Friday by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), an international research network. The report has been worked out as a response to the misunderstanding and fake narrative concerning navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, said the SCSPI at a news briefing held in Beijing. It elaborates on topics including rules and regulations for navigation on the sea under international law, navigation and overflight of civilian ships and aircraft, as well as activities of warships and military aircraft. Overall, freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea is fully guaranteed for both military and civilian vessels and aircraft, and the impact of widely discussed geopolitical factors such as major powers competition and maritime disputes is very limited, according to the report. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, held talks with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, on Friday in Beijing. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China and Uzbekistan are trusted friends and mutual-achievement partners. No matter how the international situation changes, China supports Uzbekistan firmly in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and believes that Uzbekistan will, as always, provide firm, strong support for China on issues involving China's core interests, Zhao said. He noted that China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to expand cooperation in such fields as the economy, trade, investment, green energy and new quality productive forces, and accelerate the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The two sides should deepen exchange in such fields as culture, tourism and education, Zhao said. He called for the construction of a strong security barrier, opposition to external interference, and the joint safeguarding of the peace, security and stability of the two countries and broader region. China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and to make the global governance system more just and equitable, Zhao added. The NPC of China is ready to work with Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, give full play to the characteristics and advantages of their legislative bodies, maintain the good momentum of high-level visits, and deepen exchange, he said. He called on the two sides to undertake dialogue and exchange on such topics as the rule of law, economic development and livelihood improvement. The two sides need to approve and revise legal documents conducive to the development of bilateral relations in a timely manner, Zhao said, adding that both sides should expand people-to-people and subnational cooperation to consolidate the social and public support for the China-Uzbekistan friendship. He also provided relevant information on the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee. He noted that China is willing to strengthen exchange and mutual learning on reform and opening-up with Uzbekistan, share development opportunities, and achieve win-win results. With the personal commitments of the two heads of state, the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era between China and Uzbekistan has been developing continuously, Narbayeva said. She expressed her congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and said that Uzbekistan adheres firmly to the one-China principle and supports China's core interests firmly. The country stands ready to launch the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, strengthen the synergy of development strategies with China, and deepen cooperation in fields such as the economy, interconnectivity, security, and people-to-people and cultural exchange. Uzbekistan's senate hopes to strengthen its friendly exchange and legislative cooperation with the NPC of China, and to contribute to the construction of an Uzbekistan-China community with a shared future, Narbayeva added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) TEHRAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut, as a "flagrant and unconceivable war crime." In a message carried by Iran's official news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian said Israel's actions against the Palestinian and Lebanese people underscore the international community's failure to halt what he termed the "state terrorism's machine," characterizing Israel as the "biggest threat" to regional and global peace and security. He urged all nations, particularly Muslim states, to strongly condemn the attacks, stating that the airstrikes further revealed the nature of Israel's "state terrorism." The Iranian president extended condolences to the victims' families and vowed that the Iranian government would pursue accountability for the "crime," affirming support for the Lebanese people and the broader resistance movement. Pezeshkian's message followed powerful airstrikes earlier that day, which aimed at Hezbollah's headquarters, resulting in at least six fatalities and injuring 91 others. NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request for a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump materialized Friday, during which he said Kiev counts on U.S. support to defeat Russia regardless of who occupies the White House after the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. "It's very important to share, to share all the plan, all our steps, how we can strengthen Ukraine," Zelensky said while standing next to Trump in New York. "And of course, we have to decide it now, because after November, we don't know who is, only Americans decide who will be the president, but we understand that till November, we can't stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. We have to do it. We will try on the battlefield with our heroic soldiers. But we understand that after November, we have to decide, and we hope that the strengths of the United States will be very strong, and we count on it. That's why I decided to meet with both candidates," Zelensky said. Trump, for his part, said the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on for more than two years now, has to end. "At some point, it has to end," he added in repetition. The Trump-Zelensky meeting, which was held at Trump Tower in New York and confirmed by Trump only one day prior -- making Zelensky to change his itinerary and stay for an extra day in the United States -- came on the heel of the Ukrainian leader's respective meetings Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who's also the Democratic presidential nominee running against Trump. Both Biden and Harris vowed continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Ahead of his meeting at the White House with Zelensky, Biden announced additional military assistance worth a total of 7.9 billion U.S. dollars. He directed the Department of Defense to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of his presidential term in January. Harris, while meeting Zelensky, grasped the opportunity to slash Trump for the latter's criticism over what he said was Zelensky's lack of willingness to negotiate a peace deal with the Russians. "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 in remarks alongside Zelensky on Thursday, in what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Trump. During a speech at a campaign rally in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump gave what was his most explicit criticism of Zelensky's handling of Ukraine's conflict with Russia. "Those cities are gone, they're 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 wouldn't 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. At Thursday's press conference in the Trump Tower lobby, the former president was asked whether Ukraine will have to give up any of its sovereign territory in order to reach a deal with Russia that brings an end to the conflict. "We'll see what happens," Trump said in response. Around 30 tonnes (30,000 kg) of Bangladeshi hilsa landed at Petrapole border in North 24-Parganas today, leaded in five trucks, a day after the interim government in the country on Wednesday approved its 49 agencies to export 2420 tonnes freshwater fish from Padma to India. The commerce ministry on Wednesday decided to bring down the quantity to 2420 tonnes from 3000 tonnes, announced earlier. With the gradual increase in supply of hilsa from Padma river in the state, its prices will also come down in the city and the districts, felt fish importers. Advertisement The entire consignment of Bangladeshi hilsa will be exported to India by 12 October. Today, the first consignment of 30,000 kg in five trucks landed at Petrapole in North 24-Parganas. Initially the price of a single piece of hilsa weighing a kilo would be around Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600. The price will come down to Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 of the same size as supply flow will go up, said Sayeed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of Fish Importers Association (FIA) in the city. At a time when the Union jal shakti ministry and the West Bengal government are engaging in a war of words over release of water from dams in Jharkhand, the management of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has decided to donate the salary of one day of its employees to the chief ministers relief fund in wake of the recent floods in the state. Rajesh Kumar, senior general manager of DVC has issued an internal notification on 23 September urging its employees to donate the basic pay of one days salary to the CM Relief Fund. If any employee is unwilling to donate then he or she has to inform the concerned authority by today. The donation will be tax free, under the 80 G section of Income Tax Act, the notification states. Advertisement CM Mamata Banerjee has held the Centre responsible for releasing huge quantities of water to Bengal without seeking consent from the dams and reservoirs of Jharkhand. She even claimed that the heavy rainfall and subsequent water release from Jharkhand is responsible for floods in 10 districts of south Bengal and not the rivers and dams of the state. Already, two top officials of the West Bengal government, power secretary from the DVC board and the chief engineer, irrigation and waterways (west) have resigned from the DVRRC five-member committee. The DVRRC is responsible for water release from DVC dams and consists of members of West Bengal & Jharkhand governments, CWC and DVC. The DVC was set up in 1948 under a special act of parliament and is the first multipurpose river valley project in Independent India with the purpose of soil conservation, flood control, irrigation, fish cultivation and hydel power generation. The DVC Karmachari Sangha has appealed to the Bengal government to reconsider its decision of withdrawing two state top officials from DVC board and DVRRC committee. The DVC had reduced its water discharge from the Maithon and Panchet dams after the resignation of the two top officials. A three-day expo to address the growing refrigeration and cold chain needs of East India will be held in Kolkata from October 3 to 5. Indias refrigeration and cold chain industry is evolving rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for temperature-sensitive products in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and e-commerce. Kolkata is the gateway to East India which is a huge belt for refrigeration and cold chain applications, covering seafood, agriculture, dairy, floriculture, horticulture, pharma, hospitality, and healthcare. The Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) in partnership with Informa Markets in India, will be organising the 7th edition of REFCOLD India 2024, which is making its debut in Kolkata. Advertisement This expo that showcases innovations in refrigeration and cold chain solutions, to be held at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Kolkata, is set to host over 130 exhibitors and attract more than 10,000 visitors, including innovators and professionals from diverse sectors such as the seafood industry, pharmaceutical industry, cold chain logistics, and food processing industry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 27, 2024. Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Xinhua/Li Rui) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. "We face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, and we must defend ourselves against these savage murderers, (who) seek not only to destroy us but also destroy our common civilization and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror," he said. "Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that's exactly what we're doing ... we'll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met," added Netanyahu. Meanwhile, he used a large portion of his speech to warn of threats by -- and to threaten -- Iran, suggesting that Israel has had to defend itself on fronts of conflict organized by Tehran. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that is true of the entire Middle East," he said. "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: If you strike us we will strike you." Israel has increased the scope of its conflict with Lebanon over the past week, launching attacks against Hezbollah that have taken out top leaders of the militant group and led to more than 600 deaths in Lebanon, according to the country's Health Ministry. The Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire overnight and Friday as casualties mounted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (at the podium and on the screens) delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 27, 2024. Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Front) delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 27, 2024. Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Xinhua/Li Rui) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen at a staging area near the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said at the United Nations General Assembly that there would be no immediate truce in his country's rapidly escalating conflict with Lebanon. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Union minister of state for education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar will be the chief guest and will deliver the annual convocation address of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Joshi, deputy chief executive officer (CEO), BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited will be the guest of honour and will also deliver a convocation address. The BrahMos Aerospace is an Indo-Russian multinational aerospace and defense corporation, with core manufacturing concentrations in cruise missiles. Headquartered in New Delhi, it was founded as a joint venture between Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia. Advertisement The company is responsible for designing, developing, producing and marketing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Joshi, has over two decades of experience as a senior defence scientist. He is also technology advisor to the secretary DDR&D, and chairman DRDO. Professor Arvind Choubey, director of National Institute of Technology (Durgapur) has informed that the 19th convocation of NIT Durgapur will be held on Saturday in Durgapur. Indias tourism sector is poised to create approximately 39.5 million jobs by the end of year which is likely to rise to 42.3 million employment opportunities by 2025, a report showed on Thursday. Direct employment will account for 31 per cent of these roles, including positions like tour guides, hotel staff, and tour operators, according to NLB Services, a technology and digital talent solutions provider. Meanwhile, indirect employment will make up 69 per cent with jobs in areas such as local artisans, logistics and transport operators, supply chain workers, IT support for online booking, data analysis, and landscape maintenance, said Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services. Advertisement The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts an annual GDP growth of 7.1 per cent for Indias travel and tourism sector over the next decade. The industry significantly impacts the economy, contributing approximately $199.6 billion to the GDP. In the Union Budget, the government allocated Rs 2,479 crore for tourism in FY25 which will further give a push to the sector. The tourism sector has a strong multiplier effect as each direct job in this field is expected to generate multiple indirect jobs, Alug added. Emerging tourism trends highlight a growing interest in adventure and wellness tourism, along with culinary tourism, as travellers seek to experience local flavours. Spiritual tourism remains a major draw, attracting both domestic and international visitors to cities such as Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Bodh Gaya. Additionally, India ranks 10th globally on the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) for 2020-2021 and is expected to rise in the coming years, leading to projected increases in the number of nurses by 12 per cent, doctors by 10 per cent and other healthcare staff by 15 per cent. According to the report, another significant trend is the growth of the backpacker hostel market which caters to young travellers seeking budget-friendly and socialising options. This segment will create opportunities for hostel managers, event coordinators, and digital marketers, contributing an additional 5 per cent to overall employment in tourism, said Alug. At the Regional Industry Conclave in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh has received investment proposals worth Rs. 23,181 crore, which would help create 27,375 job opportunities. A silver cluster will be developed in Sagar, while Khajuraho will be developed as a film city. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, while addressing the inaugural session of the Regional Industry Conclave in Sagar, announced that his government will support silver craftsmen, bidi, and agarbatti industries in the region. A silver cluster will be developed in Sagar, and Khajuraho will be developed as a film city, he said, adding that the future of Bundelkhand will now be a developed Bundelkhand. Advertisement The state government will provide full support to even the smallest entrepreneurs. The implementation of the Ken-Betwa project will increase the irrigation capacity in 2.5 lakh hectares of Bundelkhand, changing the regions landscape. An airport will be built in Sagar, increasing aviation opportunities and employment, he further informed. The Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the MPIIDC office in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and issued letters of intent to 96 industrial units, allocating 240 acres of land. This will bring an investment of Rs 1,560 crores and employment to over 5,900 people. Foreign dignitaries, including Mongolias Ambassador Ganbold Dambajav, TW CEO Ingo Soeller, and Thailands Consul General Donnawit Poolsawat attended the conclave. Some key investment proposals announced include Pacific Meta-Steels Rs 3,200 crore integrated steel plant in Nivadi, employing 10,000 people, Bansal Groups Rs 1,350 crore investment in super-specialty hospitals, a five-star hotel, and energy sector, Sagar Groups Rs 1,400 crore investment in dyeing and processing, creating employment opportunities and Madhya Bharat Agros Rs 500 crore investment in Sagars Banda area, said a state government spokesman here today. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the election to the lone vacant seat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhis 18-member Standing Committee unopposed on Friday as the councillors of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had boycotted the elections while Congress councilors had abstained. BJP candidate Sunder Singh got all 115 votes of the partys councillors while AAPs Nirmala Kumari did not receive any votes. This vacancy arose due to the resignation of Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who was elected to the Lok Sabha. Advertisement Despite objections from the AAP, the election was held with Additional Commissioner Jitendra Yadav acting as the presiding officer in the absence of the mayor and deputy mayor. Earlier in the day, Mayor Shelly Oberoi wrote to the MCD commissioner to hold the election for the sixth member of the Standing Committee on October 5. She expressed her concern over the MCD commissioners recent order scheduling the election for September 27, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. The mayor stated that the Lieutenant Governor should not have the power to interfere in the Houses functioning and claimed she was forced to adjourn the House because her orders were not being followed. The Standing Committee plays a vital role in the MCD, making crucial decisions on finances, policies, and key issues. Comprising 18 members, this influential committee oversees the corporations financial management. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Friday slammed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he inspected a road in the capital and called it a political stunt. Referring to the AAP supremos inspection of the city roads for the second consecutive day, he said, After resigning as Delhi chief minister, Kejriwal is very concerned about the broken roads and other problems facing the people. This is a political stunt as he had not shown any such concern when he paralysed governance by clinging on to the post of chief minister after he was sent to jail in connection with the liquor scam, which was a gross misuse of the office of the chief minister. Kejriwal is still enjoying the facilities of the chief minister by roaming around with dummy chief minister Atishi. He is still staying in the palatial chief ministers residence at Civil Lines, even after resigning from the top post, the city Congress chief remarked. Advertisement Accusing Kejriwal of neglecting Delhis development, Yadav said, Kejriwal should first tell the people of Delhi why he had totally neglected the development of the Capital over the past 10 years ? He destroyed the public infrastructure as his government gave no attention to the proper maintenance of roads, cleaning of drains and sewers, ensuring potable drinking water to people, upkeep of the hospitals and schools, improving the DTC services, removing garbage, and other such issues. On waterlogging issues, he said, When the capital got waterlogged, over 40 people died due to drowning in flooded streets and electrocution, Kejriwal did not show any concern as he was busy writing letters to the LG, suggesting the name of Atishi for the flag hoisting on Independence day, and not in solving the problems of the people. He alleged that the main roads and arterial roads were broken, pot-holed kicking up dust to contribute to the toxic air, and after sunset, the entire city plunges into darkness as the street lights rarely function, with the DISCOMs showing total disregard in the maintenance and upkeep of street lights. In an apparent reference to the upcoming 2025 state Assembly elections, he said, The people of Delhi have now realised that only when Congress was in power for 15 years, the capital witnessed unprecedented development and progress. The people want the Congress back in Government again, as both BJP and AAP have failed in governing the city Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has officially arrived in Abu Dhabi, ready to host the highly anticipated IIFA Awards 2024. His presence has already created a buzz among fans, who eagerly await the grand event. The International Indian Film Academy Awards, known for celebrating excellence in Indian cinema, will be held from September 27 to 29 at Yas Island. Shah Rukh Khans arrival in Abu Dhabi was celebrated with a series of photos shared on IIFAs official Instagram page. The actor looked effortlessly stylish in a casual yet chic outfit, drawing widespread admiration. The caption on the post read, The King has arrived! We cant keep calmthe Badshah looks absolutely dashing! Its clear that excitement is building for the three-day extravaganza, with Shah Rukh Khan at the center of attention. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by IIFA Awards (@iifa) Earlier, the actor was spotted at Mumbai airport, where he was greeted by a massive crowd of enthusiastic fans as he departed for Abu Dhabi. Despite the chaos, SRK maintained his signature cool demeanor, dressed casually in a black hoodie, sunglasses, and a cap. Accompanied by his bodyguard and manager Pooja Dadlani, he smiled and waved at fans while making his way through the crowd. The IIFA Awards 2024 promises a star-studded lineup of performances and moments. The event kicks off with IIFA Utsavam, a celebration of Southern cinema, honoring legends like megastar Chiranjeevi. On the second day, Shah Rukh Khan will join other stars, including Vicky Kaushal and Karan Johar, to host the main awards night. The fun between SRK and Karan Johar was evident recently at a pre-IIFA event in Mumbai, where Shah Rukh teased Karan about hosting too many chat shows and focusing less on filmmaking. Karan humorously agreed, acknowledging that he should be dedicating more time to making movies. Their playful banter added to the anticipation for their hosting stint at IIFA. The grand finale of the event, IIFA Rocks, is going to be an exclusive, invite-only affair featuring live performances by artists such as Honey Singh, Shilpa Rao, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. With Shah Rukh Khan at the helm, IIFA 2024 is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of Indian cinema. Actress and dancer Nora Fatehi is currently in the spotlight as behind-the-scenes (BTS) images from her upcoming film, Matka, have surfaced online, with her in an exquisite white floral saree. The actress effortlessly embodies elegance in this traditional attire, and her stunning look has garnered a wave of admiration from fans across social media platforms. The photos feature her alongside co-star Varun Tej and various crew members. Fans are buzzing with excitement, eager to learn more about Noras character in the film. This comes on the heels of a challenging period for the actress, who recently faced a significant setback due to a leg injury sustained while filming in Hyderabad. Doctors had recommended a two-month recovery and rehabilitation process, but Nora has gotten back to work! Advertisement Despite her recent struggles, Nora is back in action, actively participating in another filming schedule for Matka. In addition to her film commitments, she is also gearing up for a high-energy performance at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) 2024, marking her third consecutive appearance at the event. Popular for her dynamic stage presence, Nora will light up the stage with hits from her music career, including her widely acclaimed singles like Light The Sky, featured in the FIFA anthem, and Pepeta. She is also anticipating the release of her upcoming single with international artist CKay. Previously, Nora made headlines in the music industry with her Arabic rendition of Dilbar and her single titled Nora. One of her standout tracks, Dirty Little Secret, has amassed over 33 million streams. BJP State President Dr. Rajiv Bindal slammed the Congress government in Himachal for allegedly ignoring public sentiment and internal contradictions. In a statement issued here on Friday, he raised objections to the governments decision to allocate land belonging to the Palampur Agricultural University for tourism development. Claiming that the move is being met with widespread disapproval from the people of Himachal Pradesh, Bindal said despite heavy opposition, Bindal said the government seems unwilling to reconsider its stance. Advertisement The government is ignoring the crucial role the Agricultural University plays in preparing future scientists for the agricultural sector, which is vital for the states farmers, he said. We have many other places that could be developed for tourism. Why focus on land that is essential for agricultural research and education, he asked. The disagreement over this issue is not limited to public opposition but is creating contradictions within the state government itself, he said. Bindal pointed out that Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar has publicly opposed the use of the universitys land for tourism purposes. When even the Agriculture Minister is against this, why is the government pushing forward? This shows a lack of coherence in their decisions, Bindal questioned. He pointed out that there have been repeated contradictions within the Congress government due to inconsistent policy statements by different ministers. He referred to a recent incident where a state minister suggested adopting the Uttar Pradesh model for managing street vendors, only to backtrack after facing internal pressure. A minister says we should follow the Uttar Pradesh model, and the very next day a chief parliamentary secretary gives a contradictory statement. This government is stuck between its own contradictions, he charged. Another similar inconsistency was exhibited by the Education Minister, who initially advocated following the Uttar Pradesh model in education but later retracted his statement. These flip-flops show that the government is confused and is not serving the interests of the people of Himachal Pradesh, he remarked. He further accused the government of playing the victim card to avoid accountability for its decisions, stating that the people of the state are bearing the brunt of this mismanagement. This government has proved to be the most ineffective in the states history, constantly increasing the burden on the people while failing to deliver results, he alleged. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has successfully met its ambitious goal of planting 80 crore seedlings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign by September 2024. The target was achieved on September 25, five days ahead of the deadline. The achievement was made possible through collaborative efforts from government agencies, local communities, and various stakeholders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign on the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June, 2024, in a unique initiative combining environmental responsibility and a heartfelt tribute to mothers. He planted a Peepal tree at Buddha Jayanti Park to launch the campaign in the capital. He said collective efforts were needed to improve the environment, and referred to increasing forest cover in the country over the past decade. The campaign aligned with the nations quest for sustainable development, he said. The essence of Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is planting a tree in the name of ones mother. This simple act serves a dual purpose: honouring the role of mothers in nurturing life and contributing to the health of the planet. Trees are life-sustaining, and just like mothers, they provide sustenance, protection, and a future for the next generation.Through this initiative, participants can create a lasting memory, planting a tree as a living tribute to their mothers, while also addressing the pressing need for environmental preservation. Advertisement On September 22, the 128 Infantry Battalion and Ecological Task Force of the Territorial Army, a unit under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), achieved a remarkable feat by planting over five lakh saplings in just one hour. The achievement, carried out under the Special Plantation Drive in Jaisalmer, as part of the Prime Ministers campaign, and the Territorial Armys outreach initiative, Bhagidari & Zimmedari, aimed at promoting ecological restoration and raising environmental awareness among local communities. In fact, the Territorial Army units efforts were recognized by the World Book of Records, London, with several provisional world records, including Most saplings planted by a team in one hour, Most saplings planted by a team of women in one hour, and Largest number of people planting saplings simultaneously at a single venue. In line with the Prime Ministers call, various Ministries also ntook part in the campaign enthusiastically. Each ministry and department has made substantial contributions to this initiative, demonstrating a collective commitment towards sustainability, green cover enhancement, and fostering public engagement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) said on Friday. Among the Ministries, the Ministry of Defence announced a nationwide initiative to plant 15 lakh trees on the Independence Day under the banner of this campaign. The effort was carried out through the Indian Armed Forces, Defence PSUs, NCC, and other associated bodies, contributing to a greener and healthier India. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched its own plantation drive, planting about 7,000 trees across urban and rural locations nationwide. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav actively participated by planting an Amla sapling in memory of his mother. To support the initiative, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, launched the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam app. This innovative platform allows users to plant and dedicate a tree in honour of their mothers, with features such as easy image uploads, location tagging, and carbon credit tracking. The app even enables users to monitor the growth of their tree over time, offering a personal way to stay engaged in environmental protection. 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 Modis recent visit to the United States was very successful, very transformational. In an interview with ANI, Aghi said that takeaways from PM Modis 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. Advertisement 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 its become very, very structured. When you look at the economies of four countries, its USD 35 trillion. Theyre looking at collaborating on AI, looking at collaborating on secure supply chain, theyre looking at collaborating on sharing intelligence data. So, I think its become a much more, more, I would say, a non-announced alliances than anything else. Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countriesAustralia, 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 its 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 its 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 youre 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. ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni civil war has hit a grim milestone, persisting for a decade, with prospects for peace remaining distant despite international mediation efforts. The protracted war, which erupted in late 2014 between the Houthis and the internationally-recognized Yemeni government, has not only crippled the nation's infrastructure and economy but also led to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, which, according to UN estimates, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and pushed millions to the brink of starvation. When addressing the nation to mark the 62nd anniversary of the country's Sept. 26 Revolution Day, Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi accused the Houthis of "imposing war when everyone turns towards peace." On Friday, Al-Alimi reaffirmed the Yemeni government's openness to various peace initiatives for ending the civil war, in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, Al-Alimi praised the UN for its efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and emphasized the crucial roles of Saudi Arabia and Oman in facilitating a UN-sponsored political process. Relevant diplomatic initiatives proposed over the years culminated in a UN-brokered roadmap released late last year. The proposal, announced by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg after extensive talks in Saudi Arabia and Oman, includes implementing a nationwide ceasefire, paying public sector salaries, resuming oil exports, and easing restrictions on airports and seaports. However, the implementation of the roadmap remains elusive. Since the path to peace remains fraught with formidable obstacles, some observers perceive the current situation as intractable, while others maintain cautious optimism that diplomatic efforts and growing awareness of the humanitarian crisis will eventually catalyze a resolution. Yemeni political analyst Rashad Sharabi told Xinhua that peace is "out of reach," citing the ongoing military preparations and inflammatory rhetoric by the Houthis. "The group's philosophy is fundamentally rooted in violence and war, making a peaceful transition of power unlikely," Sharabi said. Conversely, a figure close to the Houthis offered a more optimistic view. Abdul-Hafeez Moajab, a member of the Houthi media delegation in peace negotiations, told Xinhua that "peace options are currently available and the peace process is proceeding along two tracks: one between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, and the other between internal Yemeni parties." Despite that recent developments in the Gaza Strip and the Red Sea have hindered the peace process between Sanaa and Riyadh, significant progress has been made before these escalations, with negotiations reaching a stage resembling a road map for addressing the conflict. Regarding Yemeni internal negotiations, Moajab revealed that "all factions have come to recognize that military victory is unattainable, and establishing peace and partnership is the only viable solution." Sharing a similar sentiment, Yemeni politician Anwar Khaled Shaab said that "a peaceful resolution is still possible," as the international community's awareness of Yemen's humanitarian plight plays a positive role. Furthermore, Shaab highlighted that "mounting public pressure within Yemen is pushing all parties towards ending the war." He argued that "a just and comprehensive peace would benefit all Yemenis, not just specific factions." "Achieving peace in Yemen primarily requires strong political will from all parties involved, with the interests of the Yemeni people prioritized over all other considerations," the politician said. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of much of northern Yemen, forcing the government out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to support the Yemeni government in the conflict. The country has remained in a fragile calm since Oct. 2, 2022, when the UN announced the failure of the two conflicting parties to extend and expand a six-month truce that had been in place. India has signed a bilateral agreement with Uzbekistan at Tashkent assuring appropriate protection to investors of the central Asian nation in India and Indian investors in that country. The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) was signed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Khodjayev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan. The BIT between India and Uzbekistan assures appropriate protection to Uzbekistan investors in India and Indian investors in the former Soviet Republic, in light of relevant international precedents and practices, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Advertisement It will increase the comfort level and boost the confidence of investors by assuring a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination, while providing for an independent forum for dispute settlement through arbitration, it said. The BIT also provides for protection to investments from expropriation, provides for transparency, transfers and compensation for losses. However, while providing such investor and investment protection, balance has been maintained with regard to States right to regulate and thereby provides adequate policy space. The signing of the BIT reflects both nations shared commitment towards enhancing economic cooperation and creating a more robust and resilient investment environment. The Ministry of Finance said the BIT is expected to pave the way for increased bilateral investments, benefiting businesses and economies in both countries. Notable investments by Indian companies include those in the pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components, and hospitality industries. A day after CPI-M-backed independent MLA PV Anvar unleashed a blistering attack against him and the Left government, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dismissed all allegations against the party and the government. The Chief Minister said Anvars departure was expected. His allegations and responses only confirm the partys suspicions, he said. Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi, who had come to attend the CPI-M Politburo meeting, Pinarayi Vijayan said Anvars statements targeted the government, the front and the party. Advertisement Stating that actions have already been taken on Anvars complaints, CM Vijayan said he will respond to all allegations in due time. Anvars claims have been directed against the party, front and the government. Furthermore, his comments are similar to the ones used by the enemies of the LDF. The intention is clear, as Anvar himself has stated that he is distancing himself from the LDF and will not attend parliamentary party meetings. I categorically reject all of Anvars allegations, CM Vijayan said. Pinarayi Vijayan, however, made it clear that Anvars remarks would not in any manner affect the ongoing probes and inquiries into the various complaints and allegations made by him. Virtually ending his association with the ruling LDF, Anvar on Thursday lashed out at CM Vijayan, accusing him of misleading the public and demanding that he give up the charge of the Home department. Anvar, who was the most loyal of his own camp, has unleashed harsh words that Pinarayi Vijayan had never heard even during the height of sectarianism when the VS Achuthanandan faction was at the helm of affairs in the party. Anvar said the issues faced by the ordinary party workers in Kerala have never been the concern of the party bosses. He reiterated that he has been airing the sentiments of the party workers and hundreds of the relatives of the martyrs. Alleging that Pinarayi might have asked ADGP Ajithkumar to disrupt ThrissurPooram to benefit the BJP, Anvar asked the media to find out the truth behind the incident. He alleged that the vested interests in the party totally surrendered before the RSS and the BJP. It was the image of the Chief Minister that helped the LDF return to power in the last assembly elections, but the image has suffered a huge fall since, Anvar said and even alleged that the illegal gold seizures made by the Malappuram police had the blessings of Pinarayi Vijayan. Anvar alleged that Chief Minister Vijayan is being controlled by a coterie led by ADGP Ajith Kumar and CMs political secretary P Sasi. He even scoffed that if things continue this way, Pinarayi Vijayan would be the last Communist Chief Minister of Kerala. If this continues, Pinarayi Vijayan will be the last communist Chief Minister of Kerala. The Chief Ministers office stands over a volcano; it could erupt at any moment, Anvar said. Pinarayi Vijayan, the shining Sun in Kerala, has been extinguished, and the Chief Ministers graph has dropped from 100 to zero, said Anvar. The Kerala High Court on Friday quashed the case registered against Zara Michele Shilansky, an Australian tourist of Jewish origin for allegedly destroying pro-Palestine banners and boards erected by the Students Islamic Organisation, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, in Fort Kochi in April this year. Quashing the case registered against Zara Michele Shilansky, a single bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said the posters did not bear the name of any organization, nor was any permission obtained for their display. Since the posters were admittedly put up without any legal authority and did not contain the name of any organization responsible for them, the act of removing or tearing down the posters cannot be considered illegal or capable of provoking a riot. Therefore, prosecuting the petitioner for an offense under Section 153 of the IPC constitutes an abuse of the process of law, and the proceedings are liable to be quashed, the court said. Advertisement As per the First Information Report (FIR), the foreign woman tourist vandalised the pro Palestine banners, placed in front of jankar jetty protesting against the genocide of Palestine nationals by the Israel, with the intention to incite riot. The court noted that the final report did not suggest that the posters were torn down to provoke, or with the knowledge that it would incite a riot. Kerala has confirmed its second Mpox (monkeypox) case, with a 26-year-old youth from Ernakulam testing positive for the virus. The patient, who recently returned from the UAE, is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. His samples were tested at the National Institute of Virology lab in Alappuzha. The samples have been sent for genomic sequencing at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. This is the second Mpox case in the state and third in the country this year. Earlier, a 38-year-old man from Edavanna in Malappuram, who had travelled from the UAE, was tested positive of the disease on September 18. Later it was found that his infection was due to the Clade 1b strain of the virus. Advertisement With two cases now reported in Kerala, health authorities are on high alert, monitoring potential contacts and implementing measures to prevent further transmission. Initially, Mpox was a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans. However, it has now evolved into a disease that can spread directly between humans. Although its severity is lower, monkeypox shares symptoms with smallpox, caused by the orthopoxvirus, which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday inaugurated the 21st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Zone III Conference at the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Complex in Aizawl. The conference brought together key parliamentary leaders from the northeastern region, including Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma. The event was also attended by nine presiding officers from the legislatures of the northeastern states. Themed Fostering Legislative Sanctity, the conference is set to focus on maintaining the decorum, integrity, and transparency of legislative bodies, which are essential pillars for a functioning democracy. Advertisement Key sub-themes on the agenda include the integration of the Northeast region into the India-ASEAN Vision for Trade and Cooperation and strategic planning through the potential merger of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) with the North Eastern Council (NEC). Addressing the conference, Birla emphasised the role of legislative bodies in addressing public expectations and fostering socio-economic change through dialogue and productive lawmaking. Our legislative institutions need to be people-centric, result-driven, and future-oriented. Leveraging digital technology and increasing public participation will help create impactful policies for the welfare of the people, he said. The conference is part of an ongoing series aimed at strengthening democratic governance in the Northeast. This year marks the 21st such regional conference organised by CPA Zone III, continuing efforts since 1997 to deepen democratic processes in the region. Since its inception in 1911, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has worked to uphold democratic governance across the Commonwealth, with over 180 member legislatures. CPA Zone III, covering the Northeastern states of India, has been instrumental in fostering democratic dialogue and legislative engagement. The conference also highlighted the Act East Policy, which aims to position the Northeast as a strategic trade centre, further aligning with Indias foreign policy ambitions to strengthen economic ties with ASEAN countries. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, launched earlier this year, Lucknow has emerged as the frontrunner by installing the highest number of rooftop solar panels in Uttar Pradesh in just seven months. Following closely are Varanasi, Kanpur, Agra, and Kanpur Nagar, which make up the top five districts in that order. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself is closely monitoring the progress of this scheme. The initiative to permanently resolve the issue of electricity availability in the country through solar energy and provide nearly free power to the public is making rapid strides in the state with the CM setting district-specific targets for all 75 districts to install solar rooftop panels on residential buildings. Officials here on Friday said that recently, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh conducted a review of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. During the review, it was reported that 11,435 solar rooftop panels have been made operational in Lucknow, the highest in the state. Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ranks second with 4,088 installations. In Kanpur, 1,909 panels have been installed, while Agra and Prayagraj have seen 1,364 and 1,349 installations, respectively. The campaign is being accelerated in other districts as well, with the Chief Secretary directing the Electricity Department to expedite the work. Sources said over 17.75 lakh registrations have been completed in the state under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana so far, with solar rooftop panels installed on more than 32,000 homes. Under this scheme, a subsidy of Rs 30,000 is provided by the Central Government and another Rs 15,000 by the State Government, totaling Rs 45,000 for a 1-kilowatt rooftop installation. Similarly, for a 2-kilowatt installation, a combined subsidy of Rs 90,000 is available, with Rs 60,000 from the Center and Rs 30,000 from the State. For installations of 3 kilowatts and above, a total subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh is provided, comprising Rs 78,000 from the Central Government and Rs 30,000 from the State. Launched by Mr Modi on February 15, 2024, the PM Surya Ghar Yojana aims to harness solar energy by installing rooftop panels on one crore homes across the country by 2027. UP has set an ambitious target to install solar panels on 25 lakh homes in the state. To achieve this, specific targets have been assigned to all seven DISCOMs and each district. In view of the advancing winter and annual feature of stubble burning by the farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh generating smoke that chokes the national capital every year, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take steps to ensure that farmers use alternatives equipment to remove the rice crop residue instead of usual stubble burning at grassroot level. Noting that the Commission for Air Quality Management has taken certain steps, a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih exhorted the Commission to be more active to ensure that its efforts and directions actually translate into reducing the problem of pollution. The bench further said that the Commission must ensure that the equipment provided by the Central government for avoiding stubble burning are actually used by the farmers at the ground level. Advertisement We are of the view that though the Commission has taken steps, it needs to be more active. The Commission must ensure that its efforts and directions issued actually translate into reducing the problem of pollution, said the bench. Expressing its displeasure over CAQMs failure to curb air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh and asking it to be more active in its approach, the bench directed Commission to file a better compliance report and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday-October 3, 2024. The court underlined the need for the CAQM to exercise its power under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021. The Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, apprised the court about the steps taken including issuing advisories and guidelines, to control stubble burning. Not satisfied with the steps that have been taken by the Commission, the bench said, It is all in the air, nothing has been shown regarding what has been done in the National Capital Region (NCR) states. Chairman of the CAQM for NCT of Delhi, Rajesh Verma, who was present virtually during the hearing, told the court that he has held meetings with the deputy commissioners of Punjab and Haryana where incidents of stubble-burning have been reported. Asking the Commission to pull-up its socks, the bench in its order stated, We would like to know from the Commission about the subcommittee meetings and decisions issued thereunder. It must ensure that the equipment to avoid stubble burning are actually used by the farmers. This apart from certain other methods suggested by Commission that must place on records details of meetings held and decisions taken therein. On September 24, the top court had asked the CAQM i to explain the steps being taken to curb air pollution caused by crop residue burning in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. It had noted that stubble burning was one of the causes for a spike in air pollution in Delhi-NCR during winters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda, on a one-day visit to Chhattisgarh, urged the states youth to join the party and contribute to shaping Indias future. Addressing students at Raipurs Nalanda Campus, he emphasized the crucial role young people can play in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a developed India. He highlighted the partys commitment to empowering youth and fostering inclusive growth. The youth have immense potential. I invite them to join the BJP and be part of our mission to build a strong, prosperous India, Nadda said. He stressed that young professionals with fresh perspectives are vital to bring positive change in politics. Prime Minister Modi wants young minds to enter politics with new ideas, and that will pave the way for a stronger nation, he said. He also took aim at opposition parties, accusing them of misleading the youth for their own political gains, without naming specific parties. During his visit, Nadda raised the partys membership target for Chhattisgarh from 5 million to 6 million, as part of a broader strategy to expand its base. He emphasized that growing the partys presence at the grassroots is essential for fulfilling its long-term objectives in the state and across the nation.The senior BJP leader also welcomed former Rajya Sabha MP Gopal Vyas back into the party. Vyas rejoined the BJP in a ceremony presided over by Nadda, further highlighting the partys focus on expanding its membership and leadership ranks. Advertisement Prior to reviewing the membership campaign, the BJP chief held a confidential meeting with a group of senior party leaders. The meeting was attended by the state Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, partys state in-charge Nitin Nabin, state BJP president Kiran Singh Deo, and MP Brijmohan Agrawal. Discussions reportedly covered the functioning of the state government and upcoming appointments to important posts within corporations and commissions. Sources suggest that while some names have been finalized, further appointments may hinge on the performance of the membership drive. The closed-door discussions also touched on potential candidates for the South Assembly seat, which became vacant following Brijmohan Agrawals election as an MP. The party is keen on fielding a strong candidate, particularly as it seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the elections. In fact, Naddas call for the youth to join the party has set the tone for a more aggressive push to meet the heightened membership target, as the BJP gears up for the next electoral battle. His emphasis on youth participation and professional engagement in politics underlines the partys vision of securing a dynamic and forward-looking leadership base. The Odisha Government has extended maternity and paternity leave to State Government employees opting for surrogacy parenthood, an official of the Finance department said. Maternity leave of 180 days to female government employees and paternity leave of 15 days to the male government employees has been extended by the State Government , an office memorandum issued by the state finance department said Thursday. A State Government female employee, having less than two surviving children, who becomes a surrogate mother, shall be eligible for maternity leave of 180 days, it said. Advertisement Proposal for grant of maternity and paternity leave to State Government employees in case of attainment of parenthood by surrogacy has been under active consideration of the State Government for the past some time. The Central Government has in the meanwhile extended maternity and paternity leave benefits to the Central Government employees attaining parenthood by surrogacy. Government of India, has extended maternity leave and paternity leave benefits to Central Government employees attaining parenthood by surrogacy. In view of this, the State Government extended maternity leave and paternity leave benefits to State Government employees, attaining parenthood by surrogacy, the memo added. A State Government female employee, having less than two surviving children who becomes a commissioning mother shall also be eligible for 180-day the maternity leave. The male State Government employee upon attaining surrogate father and commissioning father will be entitled to get 15-day leave. Commissioning mother means a biological mother who uses her eggs to create an embryo implanted in any other woman. If both the surrogate mother and the commissioning mother are state government employees, both will be eligible for 180 days of maternity leave each. Agreement on surrogacy made between the surrogate mother and commissioning parents along with supporting medical documents from either registered doctors or hospitals shall be produced for claiming maternity and paternity leave, it added. Since childhood, weve been singing the lines Bina Sindhu ke Hind kahan hai, Ravi bin Punjab nahi, Ganga aakhir khush ho kaise, jab tak sang Chenab nahi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said during an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir. He further said, While ordering a review of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, the Government of India said in clear terms that water and terrorism dont flow together. Until now, Pakistan has been holding a begging bowl, but soon it will be desperate for every single drop of water. CM Yogi campaigned for BJP candidates for the second day in the state for the upcoming assembly elections. He urged voters to support BJP candidates, including Sunil Bhardwaj from Ramnagar, Ranveer Singh Pathania from Udhampur East, Bharat Bhushan from Kathua, and Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar. His rallies drew large crowds with the participants eager to see and hear him speak. Advertisement Highlighting Pakistans current troubles, the CM stated, Pakistan is suffering for two reasons: first, it is facing the consequences of its own actions. Balochistan no longer wishes to remain part of Pakistan because its government treats them as foreigners. Similarly, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is rejecting Pakistans rule, expressing a preference to join Jammu and Kashmir and contribute to realisation of the vision of Akhand Bharat, rather than dying of starvation. He issued a stern warning to those spreading terror at Pakistans behest, stating they would neither have a shroud to cover themselves nor land for burial. Pakistan-backed terrorists know the cost of their actions, and soon Pakistan will be divided into three parts, ceasing to exist as it is known today. CM Yogi stated that the effectiveness of the double-engine government is evident in Uttar Pradesh, where Ram Lalla was finally enthroned in Ayodhya Dham after 500 years. Some claimed that building the Ram Mandir would lead to rivers of blood. We asserted that in New India, rivers of blood do not flow; instead, it knows how to protect itself, he remarked. The CM further noted that in the past seven and a half years, Uttar Pradesh has not witnessed a single riot. He said that UP, Jammu and Kashmir deserves development. Yogi Adityanath accused Congress, the PDP, and the National Conference of exploiting the public by transforming the paradise on Earth into a warehouse of the sin of religious fanaticism. These parties fostered terrorism and corruption for their political gain, but with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, development has surged in Jammu and Kashmir. The region has shifted from being a terrorist state to a tourism destination. The countrys largest and highest bridge is currently under construction in Jammu and Kashmir, and a world-class train service like Vande Bharat has begun operations from Jammu to Delhi. While the NC, Congress, and PDP armed the youth with guns, the BJP government under PM Modi is providing employment opportunities by equipping them with tablets, he added. In a scathing attack on the Opposition, CM Yogi said those who claim to restore Article 370 if they come to power are essentially seeking to bring back an era of terrorism, nepotism, and corruption. He emphasized that these individuals do not prioritize peace, harmony, and development; instead, they desire power. There is no room for these three parties here. The public has decided to say goodbye to this trio. When in power, the leaders of Congress, NC, and PDP spent eight months a year in Europe and England and three months in Delhi. With such limited engagement, how can Jammu possibly develop in just one month? Yogi Adityanath stated, The people from the Bakarwal, Gujjar, Dalit, and Valmiki communities have been deprived of their rights for far too long. In contrast, the BJP is effecting positive change in their lives under the leadership of PM Modi. The Ayodhya International Airport in Uttar Pradesh has been named after Maharishi Valmiki, reflecting our commitment to honoring our heritage. Meanwhile, under PM Modis leadership, 80 crore people in India are receiving free rations, while Pakistan finds itself begging for assistance. CM Yogi Adityanath said while Congress claims Haath badlega haalat the reality is that their leadership has only worsened the situation. He urged the public to support the formation of a double-engine BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure security and development, and to realize Atal jis vision of Akhand Bharat. He said Kathua is historically significant as the district where Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, faced brutal treatment in 1952 for his democratic protest against the inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution, which contradicted the sentiments of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. He pointed out that the voices of the people were suppressed by the Congress government. CM Yogi emphasised that Article 370 is at the root of the Congress partys sins, leading to the suffering of Jammu and Kashmir through partition, terrorism, migration, and neglect. He stated that under PM Modis leadership, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjees vision has come to fruition. BJP and Jana Sangh workers have long chanted the slogan, Jahan hue balidan Mukherjee, woh Kashmir humara hai (the Kashmir where Mukherjee sacrificed his life is ours). He said since the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has rejoined the path of development. Today, instead of violence, the region hosts G-20 conferences, with opportunities for work for every individual and access to water for every field. Union Minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh, who was present with CM Yogi, remarked that Yogi Adityanath is not mere the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; he is the Chief Minister of Uttam Pradesh. He emphasised that CM Yogi has transformed the state into an exemplary model, enhancing law and order to a level that serves as a benchmark for all of India. Yogi Adityanath has become an ideal for millions of Indians, Singh stated, adding that he communicates with the people in a way that resonates with their understanding. He embodies the qualities of a Maharaj, chanting mantras, and taking decisive action against land encroachments with a bulldozer. Despite bad weather, CM Yogi fulfilled his promise and came here. Such personalities have come here who have got the Ram temple constructed under the guidance of PM Modi. Scholars from China and Tunisia attend a forum in Tunis, Tunisia, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Chinese-Tunisian Forum on Humanities Exchanges kicked off here on Thursday, focusing on cultural cooperation and exchanges. (Xinhua/Huang Ling) TUNIS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-Tunisian Forum on Humanities Exchanges kicked off here on Thursday, focusing on cultural cooperation and exchanges. During the three-day forum, hundreds of officials, scholars and local students, will discuss topics including the mutual learning between Chinese and Arab civilizations, literary translation, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. "The Carthage University began cultural exchanges with China half a century ago," said Nadia Mzoughi, president of Tunisia's Carthage University, at the opening ceremony. "Our Higher Institute of Languages of Tunis has been engaged in Chinese teaching for decades and accepts Chinese students who come to study the Arabic language every year," Mzoughi added. Wan Li, Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia, said that more and more Chinese universities have launched student exchange programs and research cooperation with Tunisian higher education institutions. Wan added that cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Tunisia in such fields as culture, education, science, technology, and tourism have played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust between the people of the two countries. Tunisia is among the first Arab and African countries to offer Chinese language majors at its universities. Currently, Chinese language courses are available in 26 high schools across the country, and China is preparing to establish the second Confucius Institute in Tunisia, according to Wan. He stressed that China is ready to work together with African countries to launch a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV, and audio and visual programs, to promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The forum was hosted by Carthage University and the Confucius Institute at the university. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the High-Performance Computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research, acquired by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The ambitious project represents an investment of Rs 850 crore, marking a significant leap in Indias computational capabilities for more reliable and accurate weather and climate forecasting, particularly extreme events. It is located at two key sitesthe Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida. The IITM system is equipped with an impressive capacity of 11.77 Peta FLOPS and 33 petabytes of storage, while the NCMRWF facility features 8.24 Peta FLOPS with 24 petabytes of storage. Additionally, there is a dedicated standalone system for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications with a capacity of 1.9 Peta FLOPS. Advertisement With this augmentation, the Ministry of Earth Sciences will enhance its total computing power to 22 Peta FLOPS, a substantial increase from the previous capacity of 6.8 Peta FLOPS, an official release said Friday. In keeping with tradition, these state-of-the-art systems have been named after celestial entities connected to the sun. Previous systems were named Aditya, Bhaskara, Pratyush, and Mihir. The new HPC systems are aptly named Arka and Arunika, reflecting their connection to Suryathe sun, the primary energy source for the Earth system. The enhanced computational framework will enable the development of sophisticated models leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, thereby significantly improving the last-mile services rendered to various stakeholders. The enhanced computational capabilities provided by the HPC System will allow the Ministry of Earth Sciences to further improve existing data assimilation capabilities and refine physics and dynamics of its global weather prediction models at higher horizontal resolution. Furthermore, regional models will achieve finer resolutions of 1 km or less over select Indian domains. These high-resolution models will significantly enhance the accuracy and lead time of predictions related to tropical cyclones, heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, hailstorms, heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather phenomena. Leveraging these advanced HPC Systems, the Ministry of Earth Sciences aims to significantly improve the precision and reliability of weather forecasts, ensuring better preparedness and response to the challenges posed by climate variability and extreme weather events. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) of the Punjab on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Turku, Finland for sending teachers to attend educational workshops for better exposure to its teachers. The MoU was signed at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi in the presence of Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains and Ambassador of Finland to India Kimmo Lahdevirta. As part of the agreement, elementary school teachers and school heads from the government schools will participate in a three-week professional training programme at the University of Turku focusing on primary education. Advertisement During the training, the teachers will also visit the schools of Finland to gain valuable insights into the new teaching methods and integration of technology in teaching. Speaking at the Manish Sisodia stated, Teachers in Punjab receiving world-class training marks another step toward a brighter future for the children studying in the state government schools. The AAP leader also praised Finlands teacher training system as the best in the world and stated, When principals and teachers of Delhi schools were sent there, the knowledge they gained was amazing and those who were trained there are doing a great job here today. I am sure that the teachers attending this three-week training program will learn even more and help make the future of Punjab and India safe, educated, and bright, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, I am very happy that today MoU has been signed with Finland, which will strengthen the primary education structure in the state of Punjab, besides strengthening the cultural exchange between India and Finland. On the occasion of World Tourism Day today, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Incredible India Content Hub on the revamped Incredible India digital portal (www.incredibleindia.gov.in). The Incredible India Content Hub is a comprehensive digital repository, featuring a rich collection of high-quality images, films, brochures, and newsletters related to tourism in India. This repository is intended for the use of a diverse range of stakeholders, including tour operators, journalists, students, researchers, film makers, authors, influencers, content creators, government officials, and ambassadors. The Content Hub, which is part of the new Incredible India digital portal intends to make it easy and convenient for travel trade (travel media, tour operators, travel agents) across the globe to access everything they might need on Incredible India at one place, so that they can amplify Incredible India in all their marketing and promotional efforts. The Content Hub has around 5,000 content assets currently. Advertisement The content available on the repository is a product of a collaborative effort by multiple organisations, including the Ministry of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture and others. The Incredible India Digital Portal is a tourist-centric, one-stop digital solution designed to enhance the travel experience for visitors to India. The revamped portal offers essential information and services to travellers at every stage of their journey, from discovery and research to planning, booking, travelling, and return. A press release said the revamped portal offers a wealth of information on destinations, attractions, crafts, festivals, travel diaries, itineraries, and more, utilising multimedia content such as videos, images, and digital maps. The platforms Book Your Travel feature provides booking facility for flights, hotels, cabs, buses, and monuments, thereby enhancing accessibility for travellers. Additionally, an AI-powered chatbot functions as a virtual assistant to answer queries and provide real-time information to travellers. Other features include weather information, tour operator details, currency converter, airport information, visa-guide, and more. The Ministry of Tourism will continue to improve and develop the portal to include new features, add additional content through crowdsourcing, and partner with relevant organisations and institutions to make the digital portal a continual source of inspiration for all those who search and seek Incredible India, the press release added. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his best wishes to the people of Uttar Pradesh, highlighting that the state is now drawing tourists across the world. The state is a hub for religious, spiritual, heritage, and eco-tourism, drawing visitors from around the world. In 2023 alone, more than 46 crore tourists visited the state, the CM stated Friday. Speaking at his official residence on Friday, the Chief Minister expressed optimism that the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025, to be held in Prayagraj from Makar Sankranti to February 26, will attract over 40 crore devotees. Advertisement Reflecting on Uttar Pradeshs tourism achievements, CM Adityanath credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for driving the states development. Uttar Pradesh, at the heart of Indias spiritual and religious tradition, has succeeded in drawing tourists from all corners of the globe, he remarked. He further highlighted that tourism not only boosts the states cultural heritage but also plays a crucial role in generating employment opportunities. In terms of spiritual tourism, we have the Ramayana Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, and Jain Circuit, among others. Today, Baba Vishwanath Dham in Kashi is attracting crores of devotees, while Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Barsana have become global tourist hotspots, Yogi added. The CM emphasised Uttar Pradeshs growing prominence as a global tourist destination, particularly in the realms of Buddhist, Jain, heritage, and eco-tourism. He said that sites such as Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kaushambi, and Sankisa are drawing Buddhist devotees from across the world. He also noted the significant opportunities for Jain tourism in the state, with Ayodhya being the birthplace of many Jain Tirthankaras, and Kushinagar remaining a revered site for Jain pilgrims. In addition to spiritual tourism, the CM underscored the rich heritage tourism offerings in the state, from the Lakshmibai Fort in Jhansi and Kalinjar Fort in Banda to Forts in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and the Imambara in Lucknow. The forts of Prayagraj, Ramnagar Varanasi, and Chunar in Mirzapur further contribute to the states historical significance, he said. Eco-tourism is another area of growth, with destinations such as Dudhwa, Chuka, Katarniaghat, Hastinapur, and Okhla Bird Sanctuary attracting nature lovers, the CM mentioned. The Chief Minister further emphasised that under the double engine government, Uttar Pradesh is fully committed to enhancing tourist convenience and promoting the states interests. He highlighted UPs impressive infrastructure, noting the states road, rail, water, and air connectivity, which is further boosting its appeal as a tourism hub. CM Adityanath also looked forward to the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, where more than 40 crore devotees from across the globe are expected to participate, showcasing Uttar Pradeshs spiritual and cultural heritage on the world stage. Confident in the states future, he expressed his belief that, under PM Modis vision, Uttar Pradesh will continue to thrive as a premier tourism destination, attracting visitors from both the country and around the globe. Bharat Chamber of Commerce in association with the Indian Council of Arbitration organised a symposium on Legal Reforms for Sustainable Growth, which was addressed by Guest-in-Chief Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India where Mr Meghwal observed, The purpose of the Indian Penal Code, enacted by the British in 1860, was not to ensure justice but to give punishment. The criminal laws have been reformed with the objectives of justice, equality, and fairness, added Mr Meghwal. Along with Mr Meghwal, the symposium was also addressed by Mr N. G. Khaitan, President of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (ICA), who, in his opening speech, congratulated Mr Meghwal for the introduction of three new laws, setting a new path of administration of criminal justice. Khaitan emphasised further simplification of land acquisition processes and of bringing greater clarity on compensation rules while balancing the rights of landowners and promoting industrial projects. In the course of the discussions, Mr Meghwal assured that the rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act will be released soon. He further added that digital integration in the legal framework through e-Prisons, e-Forensics, e-Prosecution and e-Courts implemented by the Government of India has ensured seamless transfer of data and information among different pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories, from one unified platform. During the pandemic, the Indian judicial system worked effortlessly with the support of the strong digital infrastructure, added Shri Meghwal. Advertisement In the context of Ease of doing business, Mr Meghwal emphasised that the introduction of the Jan Vishwas Bill marks a milestone in the Indian judicial system as it aims to decriminalise 183 provisions in 42 legislations, including over half a dozen colonial-era laws. Punishments for small and minor offences have been done away with community service, and this has been a critical reform in the legal system, observed Mr Meghwal. The symposium was also addressed by Shri Arun Chawla, Director General, ICA and Principal Advisor. Mr Chawla, in his opening address, underscored the importance of the Mediation Act 2023 in promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Chawla stated that settlements for domestic and international disputes through mediation in India now have the same legal standing as a court decree or arbitral award. This legal recognition not only boosts the credibility of mediation but also makes it a reliable and efficient option for resolving disputes, he added. Speaking on the scope of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Mr Chawla observed that recent rulings of the court have reinforced the emergence of arbitration awards, providing quicker relief in urgent cases, and recognised third-party funding, making arbitration more accessible to businesses of all categories by easing the financial burden of pursuing claims. Earlier in his welcome address, in the context of the Arbitration Amendment Act 2019, Khaitan asserted that an autonomous Council should be established with representation from various stakeholders to make the arbitration architecture in India functional as a legal entity. 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. Advertisement 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. Several teams of the Enforcement Directorate Friday conducted raids at the properties of Telangana minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy. A total of 16 teams comprising ED officials conducted raids simultaneously at several locations in Hyderabad and Khammam, including his residences, offices in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills as well as in some properties belonging to his relatives. The raids are said to be over money laundering linked with the customs duty evasion case against the ministers son Harsha who allegedly purchased two luxury watches worth Rs 1.7 crore. The watches, a Patek Philipe 5740 and a Breguet 2759, were seized from Mohammed Mubeen who was apparently acting as a courier, when he was returning from Singapore. The raids began early morning and CISF provided security to the ED teams. Advertisement An MLA from Palair in Khammam, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy holds several portfolios including revenue, housing, information and public relations. He was initially with the YSRCP and represented Khammam as MP but then switched to BRS. After failing to secure a ticket from BRS in 2019 he turned a rebel and finally joined the Congress last year. Even last year, ahead of Assembly elections in the state, ED and IT officials raided his residences in Hyderabad and Khammam as well as the office of his infrastructure firm. The 8th meeting of the India-Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was hosted by India at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting was aimed to discuss the potential areas of cooperation to drive mutual growth between the two countries. Both the parties conversed about the focus sectors like Shipping, Textile, Health, Indian Pharmacopoeia, Power, Transport and Connectivity, ICT, 5G Telecom Stack and MSME Sector as key avenues for collaboration. The discussion also touched on how this cooperation could lead to long-term benefits, helping both the countries to achieve their goals more effectively while fostering a spirit of mutual support and collaboration. Advertisement India also welcomed the creation of the Rupee-Kyat trade Settlement Mechanism and anticipated fostering increased bilateral commerce with Myanmar in local currencies following its implementation. The meeting reiterated the commitment of completion of review of ASEAN- India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in an expeditious manner to make it simple, mutually beneficial, user-friendly and trade-facilitative for businesses. Notably, Myanmar is the 7th largest trading partner of India within ASEAN. The total bilateral trade in 2023-24 was 1.75 USD Billion. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Siddharth Mahajan and Director General, Department of Trade, Myanmar, Myint Thura. The representatives of stakeholder Ministries also participated in the meeting. 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. Advertisement 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. Sri Lankas 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 Lankas 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. Advertisement 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 Wickremesinghes 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. TRIPOLI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the Libyan High Council of State and the House of Representatives on Thursday signed an agreement, sponsored by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), to end a crisis related to the central bank governance. According to Stephanie Koury, UNSMIL officer-in-charge, the agreement provides for consultations by the High Council of State and appointment of the governor and deputy governor by the House of Representatives within one week from the signing of the agreement, and a board of directors to be appointed within two weeks from the appointment of the governor. The agreement also includes provisions on good governance, transparency, and independence concerning the central bank. "Despite the complex challenges associated with this crisis, this agreement could mark a new beginning for future agreements that the Libyan people aspire to and that Libya urgently requires," said Koury during the agreement signing ceremony. Koury called on all parties to constructively engage and collaborate to address outstanding issues through inclusive and meaningful dialogue, paving the way for the unification of institutions and restoring their legitimacy. "I also want to emphasize the urgent need to end the closure of oil fields and disruption of oil production and export," Koury said. The Tripoli-based Presidency Council recently announced the decision to replace the central bank governor. However, the Eastern-based House of Representatives rejected this decision, calling it outside the Presidency Council's authority. In retaliation to the Presidency Council's decision, the Eastern-based government announced closing the country's oil ports and fields. Since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has been struggling with fragmentation. The country is now divided between two main rival administrations: the eastern-based government, backed by the House of Representatives, and the western-based government in Tripoli, supported by the Presidency Council. The divide has led to frequent clashes, competing claims of legitimacy, and struggles over control of resources, including oil. Thailands foreign film production incentives have generated over 2.87 billion baht (about 88.32 million US dollars) in revenue in the 2024 fiscal year, official data showed on Thursday. According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), 15 international films have benefited from the cash rebate incentive programme during the fiscal year ending in September, creating more than 43,000 jobs across the Southeast Asian countrys film and related industries. In 2017, Thailand introduced its cash rebate incentive program, which allows filmmakers that spend at least 50 million baht (about 1.53 million dollars) in the kingdom to receive up to 20 percent in rebates, with a cap of 150 million baht (about 4.61 million dollars) per production. Advertisement DOT Director-General Jaturon Phakdeewanit said that over 22 additional film and television productions have applied for the rebate, with projections indicating that these large-scale productions could bring in over 7.05 billion baht (about 217 million dollars) in revenue, underscoring Thailands growing reputation as a major hub for international film production in the region, Xinhua news agency reported. Thailand remains committed to enhancing the nations competitive edge in the global film industry, boosting the local economy, generating employment and promoting its cultural heritage and tourist destinations to a global audience, Jaturon said in a statement. ACCRA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A charity project to extend free surgical treatment in Ghana was relaunched on Wednesday by the Chinese medical team with the support of some Chinese enterprises and charity organizations. Under the project titled "Minimally Invasive Surgery in Ghana & Seeing the Beautiful World," the 13th batch of the Chinese medical team will continue to provide free surgical treatment for cataract patients, in addition to free laparoscopic surgeries at the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital, also known as the LEKMA Hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa said during the project's relaunch that medical and health care are two of the most important parts of the China-Ghana cooperation. For that reason, China has been actively supporting the development of Ghana's health system for many years. Tong said China has, therefore, been taking various steps to help Ghana improve access to and quality of healthcare. "China has been upgrading Ghana's healthcare infrastructure, including funding and building the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital, helping build the capacity of local ophthalmologists, and sponsoring cataract surgeries for Ghanaians for years." The ambassador noted that over the past 15 years, China has sent 13 batches of medical teams with more than 100 highly skilled doctors from various specialties to Ghana, and part of their focus has been free cataract surgeries. "By providing free surgeries for local cataract patients, Chinese medical teams have helped many Ghanaians restore vision and improved their quality of life," Tong added. Hafiz Adam Taher, director of external health cooperation at the Technical Coordinating Department of Ghana's Ministry of Health, thanked Chinese doctors for bringing hope to Ghanaians through their interventions. "This initiative represents not only the advancement of medical technology in Ghana but also the power of cooperation between nations and institutions for the greater good," Taher said. Akua Gyimah-Asante, medical superintendent of the LEKMA Hospital, noted that minimally invasive surgery is the cornerstone of modern medicine, providing patients with safer, faster, and more efficient surgical care. Gyimah-Asante said the initiative by the Chinese medical team has enabled patients to heal faster, reduce their risk of complications, and return to their daily activities sooner. Since December 2022, the Chinese medical teams have conducted 94 free successful cataract surgeries and 25 free laparoscopic surgeries for Ghanaians under the charity project. ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 32,407 cases of mpox, including 6,441 confirmed cases and 840 deaths, have been reported across the African continent since the start of this year, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). During an online media briefing on the multi-country mpox outbreak in Africa Thursday evening, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the continent reported 2,910 new cases in the past week alone, including 436 confirmed cases and 16 deaths, bringing the total number of cases this year to 32,407. Kaseya warned that mpox cases in Africa are steadily increasing across all affected countries, saying that gaps and challenges are hindering the continent's response efforts, such as limited surveillance, contact tracing, follow-up, and poor data quality. According to Africa CDC data, less than 4 percent of contact tracing is being conducted in affected countries, while more than 68 percent of cases lack an epidemiological link. Citing gaps in case identification and clinical diagnosis, Kaseya called for an urgent need to enhance mpox surveillance, contact tracing, and laboratory testing. The Africa CDC reported a 194 percent increase in mpox cases this year compared to the same period in 2023, with the Central African region accounting for 90 percent of all reported cases. In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Soon after, the World Health Organization also declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest level of global alert for the second time in two years. Job Title: Manager Bids Organisation: MTN Uganda Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Senior Manager Large Enterprises About the Company: MTN Uganda is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a multinational Telco operating in Africa and Middle East, with over 280milllion subscribers, making it the largest in Africa Job Summary: To scan for business opportunities especially in Large Enterprises business segment and Public Sector to position the company for effective and competitive bid response. The bidding process has become so competitive and complex especially with the increased number players in the telecom industry. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Overseeing and managing the end-to-end bid process, from identifying opportunities, understanding of customer requirements, submitting winning proposals through to contract renewal strategy. Formulating effective strategies for the bidding process, managing resources and ensuring compliance with client requirements. Define potential partnerships needed for effective bids response. Qualify opportunity and customer context, including incumbent provider(s) and competitive landscape to the bids Profile customers including key decision maker mapping. Present estimated deal value and fit with MTN strategy, capabilities and business objectives. Manage virtual bid teams and inputs from key stakeholders, typically engaging with sales, marketing, product teams, finance, commercial, legal and project management / delivery. Work with the Sales lead to develop a clear win strategy for each bid and ensure win themes are clear and compelling. Understand and resolve complex technical, strategic and business issues. Review potential discretionary discounts applied to the client and confirm final pricing and margins. Prepare and review the commercial aspects of the bid, ensuring all products / services are included in the final price to the customer. Risk tracking and management throughout the bid process. Contributing to the written proposal both in terms of content and presentation (such as providing guidance around the executive summary). Ensure timescales are achieved at each step of the bid process, including all internal governance, while taking the initiative in setting realistic deadlines. Co-ordinate and plan all client presentations required as part of the bid submission. Ensure in-time submission of compliant and commercially sound bids. Provide initial go/ no go decision and final approval to the bid response document. Drive continuous improvement, through post-bid reviews, both internally and with customers. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Education: Bachelors degree in Business Management/ Engineering or computer Science Experience: 3-5 years of relevant experience Management in a busy a large commercial enterprise Analytical skills Management Skills Skills / Competencies / Attributes Required Good negotiations and presentation skills Financial deal analysis calculations Identify Partnership opportunities. Computer proficiency and excellent analytical skills. Good communication and excellent interpersonal skills Commitment to quality, customer service and high performance Good planning and organization skills Leadership / Managerial Tasks Manage and ensure adherence to turnaround Time in responding to bids Taking Initiative to drive results. Review documentation submitted to understand customer requirements. Engage other stakeholders for better quality submissions of bids. Manage customer relationships in terms of service level delivery. Knowledge, Skills and Competencies: Exercise excellent judgement, integrity and discretion at all times. Organized, self-motivated and should have initiative. Results orientation Pro-activity Objectivity Team player Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Note: In compliance to the Data Protection & Privacy Laws of Uganda, MTN Uganda will use your application documents for purposes for which they were intended for. How to Apply: All candidates who wish to join MTN Uganda in this capacity should apply online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 6th 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 2024-08-28T12:39 Valid Through 2024-09-07T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization MTN Group Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs August 28, 2024, was one of those days that caught me off guard. It began like any other with my routine uphill run, my 44th consecutive day at it. But something had felt off for a whileshortness of breath, a lingering weakness that wasnt part of the usual exertion. My GP, Dr Cinzia, had wisely sent me for a battery of tests, and by the time I saw the cardiologist in Piano di Coreglia, the news wasnt great. My heart wasnt functioning as it should be. The ECG showed irregularitiesa leaky tricuspid valve, delays on the right side of my heart. The GPs immediate text was clear: I needed to head to Castelnuovo Hospitals Emergency Department. It was surreal. One moment I was enjoying lunch, overhearing an Englishman trying to convince an Italian of the virtues of Brexit and Trumpism, and the next, I was preparing to get my heart checked in a hospital that looked like a sanatorium out of a movie. I walked in, expecting perhaps some sympathetic smiles from fellow expats who saw me as a picture of health, an avid runner. But when I explained that I was there for heart issues, their jaws dropped. It was a reminder that appearances arent always what they seem. After a round of testsmore ECGs, blood work, X-raysI found myself in a side room, waiting. Sitting in a wheelchair for the first time after having just been on a mountain run was sobering. Here I was, facing an undeniable truth: I was vulnerable. It was a far cry from the days spent trekking across Argentina or battling jet lag in India. Yet, through it all, I couldnt help but reflect on the small blessingshow efficient the Italian healthcare system is compared to the NHS. In moments like these, you realise youve made some good life choices, like leaving England for Italy. Still, I wasnt about to wallow in self-pity. Sure, life had thrown a curveball, but thats the nature of life, isnt it? It twists and turns, and sometimes, all we can do is ride the wave and adapt. I was admitted for overnight monitoring. Debora, my lifesaver, rushed over with my essentialschargers, clothes, toothbrushensuring Id be comfortable. Geetha and friends from around the world texted, offering encouragement and love. It was a reminder that even in moments of solitude, were never truly alone. The night passed in a blur of reflections. My lawyers mind kicked inI needed to draft a will pronto. I wasnt getting any younger, and procrastination wasnt going to protect me from the inevitable. But more than that, I realised that lifeour greatest giftdemands resilience. Setbacks will come, whether in the form of health issues or something else. But that doesnt mean we stop. We adjust, we recalibrate, and most importantly, we keep going. Ive always believed in facing adversity head-on, whether in the courtroom or on a treacherous hiking trail in Patagonia. Its not the obstacle that defines us, but how we choose to respond to it. As the hospital stay stretched into the night, I tuned into Coronation Street, a show Ive followed since 1973. It was a comforting escape from the harsh reality of medical charts and slow heartbeats. But even in that moment of escape, my mind wandered back to the essentials of life: how, even in this hospital room, my spirit remained unbroken. The next morning, with my heart still monitored by Wi-Fi-linked devices, I was eager to get back to San Romano, to feel the fresh mountain air and to challenge myself once more. I imagined hopping back into my car and daring the universe to stop me from running again. But maybe not right awayno wild leaps while on blood thinners. Im reckless but not stupid after all. Life has a funny way of reminding us of our mortality, but it doesnt mean we have to retreat into a shell. Im not planning to wrap myself in bubble wrap. My advice? Stay informed, engage with your health, and trust that setbacks are just a part of the journey. Whether its learning from doctors or debating lifes big questions with friends, the key is to stay active in the dialogue. Its easy to let illness or adversity define you, but why should it? Theres so much life to liveso many adventures left to embark on, even if theyre a bit slower-paced. My journey may now include more mindful decisions, like taking my time with household chores, learning a new language, or jogging up hills instead of running up them. But thats life, isnt it? Full of surprises, some pleasant and some challenging. And as long as we face them with an open mind and an indomitable spirit, nothingnot even a leaky valvecan truly hold us back. Life goes on. China suffered a major embarrassment as various reports revealed that its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sunk in port during sea trials even as Beijing is in the process of ramping up its maritime might. The Zhou class vessel may have sank in May or June and China apparently tried to cover up the incident that happened at Wuchang shipyard near Wuhan. Satellite imagery showed that the submarine sank alongside a pier while under construction. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, analysed by The Associated Press, show what appears to be a submarine docked at the Shuangliu shipyard on the Yangtze River before the incident. READ MORE: China flexes naval power: All three aircraft carriers at sea for first time in history. What does it mean? An image taken June 15 appears to show the submarine either fully or partially submerged just under the river's surface, with rescue equipment and cranes surrounding it. Booms surround it to prevent any oil or other leaks from the vessel. A satellite image taken August 25 shows a submarine back at the same dock as the submerged vessel. It is not clear if it was the same one. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said said they are not aware of the situation. "We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide," Reuters quoted the Chinese official as saying. A US official said it was not surprising that China's navy would hide it. "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," the official has been quoted as saying. ALSO READ: Understanding 'Project 33', the US Navy's ambitious plan to outpace China by 2027 Some media reports suggested that the vessel may have been carrying nuclear fuel when it was sunk. The setback comes even as Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international trade. As of 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, a Pentagon report on China's military claimed. The Bombay High Court on Friday directed Maharashtra police to find a secluded spot to bury the body of Akshay Shinde, the accused in Badlapur sexual assault case who was gunned down by the police. The High Court was hearing a plea moved by Shindes father Anna Shinde saying he couldnt find a burial ground for his son. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and M.M. Sathaye directed the police to inform Shindes family once the spot has been identified so that the burial rituals could be done. Though the state government argued there was no such custom of burial in Shinde community, the High Court rejected those arguments and said the community would not decide what the parents want. Nobody has the right to decide. It is the parents' choice, HC said. Shindes family informed the Court that they were facing threats and bench directed them to file a police complaint. The High Court had posed tough questions to police while hearing Anna Shindes earlier plea demanding SIT probe into his sons alleged fake encounter. Akshay Shinde (24), who was accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, was shot dead in a police shootout on Monday. Shinde was being taken from Taloja Jail to Badlapur in connection with a case registered against him on a complaint by his second wife. Shinde allegedly snatched the pistol of a police officer and opened fire. Shinde was killed near Mumbra bypass and he was killed in retaliatory firing, police claimed. With only three days left before the final phase of elections, the BJP has launched an aggressive campaign to corner the Congress in the Jammu province, where polling will take place for 24 Assembly seats. As the last phase is scheduled for October 1, the BJP is going all out to mobilise support and finish the election on a strong note. In this phase, 40 seats are up for grabs16 in Kashmir and 24 in Jammu, across districts of Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Jammu, known as the Dogra heartland. These Hindu-majority districts are critical for the BJP's goal of emerging as the single largest party. In the previous elections, the BJP won 19 seats in these districts and six more in other parts of Jammu, including the Muslim-majority Chenab region, thanks to a divided Muslim vote. Recognising the importance of preventing Congress from gaining ground, the BJP has ramped up its campaign in the Dogra heartland. Union Minister Amit Shah led a series of rallies on September 26, spanning constituencies from Bani to Marh in Udhampur district. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, one of BJP's star campaigners, addressed public meetings in Jammu and Samba districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited Jammu and Kashmir twice for the campaign, and he is scheduled to arrive again on Saturday for a major rally at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu. This rally is seen as a critical moment for the BJP as it aims to secure 35 out of 43 seats in Jammu. Preparations for the event are in full swing, with local BJP leaders and workers actively shoring support. Throughout their campaign, the BJP has focused on attacking the NC-Congress alliance and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), blaming them for decades of misrule and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In his speeches, Amit Shah targeted the Congress for backing the National Conferences separatist agenda, particularly its support for the restoration of Article 370. Political observers believe that if Congress manages to secure a significant number of seats in this phase, it could weaken BJPs chances of emerging stronger in the final tally. Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has expressed frustration with the Congress's efforts in Jammu and has urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intensify the party's campaign in the region. I hope after Rahul wraps up campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he turns his attention to Jammu. Ultimately, Congresss actions in Kashmir arent what matters most; its what happens in Jammu that counts. Ultimately, what the Congress does in Kashmir is not that important, but what the Congress does in Jammu is important, he said in reaction to Gandhi's address to a rally in Sopore on September 25. Former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh was denied bail by a designated CBI court, which observed that the nature and gravity of the accusation against him is "grave" to attract capital punishment if proven. It granted the CBI's request for his judicial custody of Ghosh and co-accused Abhijit Mondal till September 30, Monday. It was Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S Dey who observed that the nature and gravity of the accusations against Dr Sandip Ghosh qualify to fall under the rarest of rare cases category. The judge added that the court is of the opinion that it would be injustice flouting the principle of equity to release the accused on bail, PTI said in a report. READ HERE | Kolkata doctor rape-murder: CBI detains former RG Kar Medical College principal as demand for justice grows louder Ghosh's counsel claimed before the judge that he was falsely implicated in the case, and that there was no act on his part to commit the crime as alleged. However, the court disagreed and observed in its order that a person may commit an offence with the help of other/s, and there is no need to be present for the other accused at the place of occurrence. READ HERE | Kolkata rape-murder: CBI arrests former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh The court also rejected the bail prayer of Abhijit Mondal, the former officer in-charge of Tala police station. Mondal is accused of allegedly tampering with evidence and delay in filing of FIR in the rape and murder of a doctor at the state-run hospital on August 9. Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case A postgraduate trainee's body was found with severe injuries in the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The horrifying crime resulted in state-wide protests by trainee doctors against the West Bengal government that remain unresolved fully to this day. Sanjay Roy, a Kolkata Police civic volunteer, was arrested in connection with the case and said to be the only accused in the rape and murder of the lady doctor. Ghosh resigned from his post days after the incident, taking moral responsibility, but within hours the West Bengal government appointed him as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The governments move sparked a fresh wave of protests, prompting the Calcutta High Court to intervene and send him on long leave. The hospital's former deputy superintendent Dr Akhtar Ali had lodged complaints of financial irregularities on multiple counts at the establishment during Ghosh's tenure as principal. West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF), the collective under which junior medicos across West Bengal built their movement in the aftermath of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, held a mass convention in Kolkata on Friday to decide the future course of their movement. In the convention held in the auditorium of IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, a proposal to place a symbolic statue of an oppressed woman in RG Kar premises was passed. Junior doctors also announced that there would be a rally and a mass gathering in the Esplanade area on October 2, the day of Mahalaya which marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities. ALSO READ | 'Abhaya Clinics': West Bengal junior doctors provide medical care to flood victims while keeping movement alive The doctors made it clear that they would continue their movement unless all of their five demands were met. The convention was attended by doctors from RG Kar MCH and other state-government medical colleges and hospitals along with people from other sections of life, including film personalities and social activists. Dr. Aniket Mahato of RG Kar, a leading face of the junior doctors movement said, People generally dont get justice thats why they have joined our movement. We must not let this fire go off. We dont seek anything but justice. Everyone must understand why we want justice. Dr. Mahato questioned the delay in the investigation, emphasising that the junior doctors' decision to end their strike and resume work should not be mistaken as a sign of weakness. ALSO READ | Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Medical services affected, patients suffer as doctors continue protests Dr. Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, the director of IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, hoped everyone involved with the heinous crime would be convicted. It is unimaginable that such a heinous incident could happen in any hospital. All those who are directly or indirectly connected with it should be identified, he said at the convention. Doctors demanded that the system of intimidation and threats by the politically powerful be eliminated from hospitals. They also raised questions about why some developments about the CBI investigation were not being made public. ALSO READ | Ex RG Kar Medical College Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh may get death penalty if found guilty: CBI Court The Chief Justice was distressed upon reviewing the contents of the envelope provided by the CBI, which contained details about the death. Had he spoken for just three to four minutes about what was inside, it might have eased the concerns of the 10 crore people in West Bengal, Dr. Diptendra Sarkar, a senior surgeon in Kolkata, said at the convention. Director Kaushik Ganguly demanded the removal of people like Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar who has been arrested by the CBI, from all sections of the society and urged junior doctors and others at the convention to keep faith in the judicial system for justice. Justice will take time but we must be patient, he said. KHARTOUM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 8 people were killed and 95 others injured in an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Friday in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan, a local official stated. "The RSF shelling targeted the Souq Al-Mawashi (livestock) market, south of El Fasher, which was crowded with civilians," Ibrahim Khatir, director-general of North Darfur State's health ministry, told Xinhua. The RSF has not yet commented on the attack. Since May 10, fierce clashes have raged in El Fasher between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. According to UN estimates, El Fasher is home to about 1.5 million people, 800,000 of whom are internally displaced persons. Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a violent conflict between the SAF and the RSF. The conflict has resulted in approximately 20,000 deaths, thousands of injuries, and the displacement of millions of people, according to the most recent estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the last vacant seat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's 18-member standing committee on Friday. BJP won the seat unopposed as the ruling AAP and Congress boycotted the election. The BJP's candidate Sunder Singh got all 115 votes of the party's councillors while the AAP's Nirmala Kumari did not receive any votes. The standing committee is the highest decision-making body of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. STORY | Voting for MCD standing committee polls begins; AAP, Cong councillors absent READ: https://t.co/pWR5o69Xve VIDEO: #MCD #DelhiNews (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/SIdyQd5FNd Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 27, 2024 ALSO READ | Delhi civic body polls to be held today after L-G overturns Mayor's decision in a dramatic turn With this poll result, the BJP now has 10 members in the panel while the ruling AAP has only eight. While hitting out at the BJP, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said it is "hooliganism". "Is this election?" he said. "BJP wrongly overpowered MCD, stole mandate," he added. "As per the rule, a notice has to be sent to every councillor 72 hours before the meeting, but it was not followed," Kejriwal was quoted by PTI. The seat had fallen vacant after BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected as the Lok Sabha MP from West Delhi. Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi had termed the election as "unconstitutional". Kejriwal also added that as per rules, only the mayor can convene a meeting of the MCD House but the lieutenant governor changed it and directed an additional commissioner of the civic body to do it. Meanwhile, Sunder Singh thanked the top leadership and said AAP might not had any trust in their own councillors, so they ran away from the election. They were given opportunities multiple times...everybody was given time of 1 pm today but they did not show up...the Presiding Officer conducted the election free and fair...I won, Tanwar told ANI. Lokayukta police on Friday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case, following the court order. Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, came to Siddaramaiah's defence, stating that the party is standing with him and will support him. Siddaramaiah, who began his three-day visit to his home district of Mysuru, claimed that he was being targeted in the MUDA issue as the opposition is "scared" of him and said it's the first such "political case" against him. He also reiterated that he won't resign following the court ordering a probe against him in the case as he has done no wrong and asserted that he would fight the case legally. While Siddaramaiah is accused number one (A1) in the case, his wife B. M. Parvathi (A2), brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy (A3), Devaraju (A4) -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are named in the FIR registered by Lokayukta police in Mysuru. A Special Court in Bengaluru on Wednesday ordered a Lokayukta police probe against Siddaramaiah in the case, setting the stage for filing an FIR against him. 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 by the 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. "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 had said. Accordingly, the FIR has been registered 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 had 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. Snehamayi Krishna, expressing displeasure over "delay" on the part of Lokayukta SP, Mysuru, Udesha T J, in filing of the FIR, said this is another victory for his fight. He said he will be approaching the High Court seeking handing over the case to the CBI. "At the initial stage during the filing of FIR itself there is a delay...can it be believed that there will be an honest probe against the Chief Minister? No. So we will fight to get this case handed over to the CBI." Siddaramaiah arrived in Mysuru on a three-day visit to a rousing welcome by party workers and supporters in a show of strength and support. The opposition BJP staged a protest demanding his resignation; many of the saffron party workers were whisked away by the police as they tried to march towards the venue of the meeting that the CM was attending. Regarding BJP holding protests demanding his resignation, the CM said, "why should I resign? If one has committed wrong he has to resign, when we are saying that no wrong was done, where is the question of resigning?" Kharge too rejected BJP's demand for Siddaramaiah's resignation, as he noted that "neither a chargesheet is filed, nor he is convicted," and said, "let the law take its own course, and when a situation comes, the party will examine." "When the Godhra incident happened, whether (Narendra) Modi ji had resigned (as the then Gujarat CM)? Several cases were also pending against him at that time, even against Mr Shah (Union Home Minister Amit Shah)," Kharge said in response to a question on BJP questioning CM's moral right to continue, with FIR registered against him. Let the law take its own course, and when a situation comes, the party will examine it at that time, he further said. "Now nothing is there, (but) every day I'm seeing that MUDA, MUDA. Crores of rupees (have been) swallowed by industrialists, Rs 16 lakh crore of their debt have been written off, and now you are taking one small issue and fighting. That too neither chargesheet is filed, nor he is convicted. Every day this is news. I'm fed up seeing all these things." 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 MUDA. Odishas new BJP government has toed the Centre's line by extending maternity leave and paternity leave benefits to state government employees attaining parenthood by surrogacy. An official memorandum by the state Finance department says: "A maternity leave of 180 days to female government employees and paternity leave of 15 days to male government employees have been extended by the state government. The proposal for grant of maternity and paternity leave to state government employees in case of attainment of parenthood by surrogacy has been under active consideration of state government for some time past. The Government of India has extended maternity leave and paternity leave benefits to central government employees attaining surrogacy. In view of this, the state government extended maternity leave benefits to state government employees attaining parenthood by surrogacy." It added that the key conditions are a state government female employee, having less than two surviving children who becomes 'surrogate mother' shall be eligible for maternity leave of 180 days. A surrogate mother is a woman who agrees to bear a child and who is genetically related to the intending couple or intending woman through surrogacy from the implantation of the embryo in her womb and fulfils the conditions as provided in the law in the 2021 Surrogacy Act. A state government female employee, having less than two surviving children who becomes a commissioning mother shall be eligible for maternity leave of 180 days. A commissioning mother is a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in any other woman. A state government male employee having less than two surviving children, who becomes a commissioning father shall be eligible for paternity leave of 15 days within the period of six months from the date of delivery of the child. A commissioning father is the biological father of the child born through surrogacy. If both the surrogate mother and commissioning mother are state government employees both will be eligible for 180 days of maternity leave each. The surrogacy agreement made between the mother and commissioning parents along with supporting documents from registered doctors or hospitals shall be produced for claiming maternity/paternity leave. In a shocking incident, a class 2 student studying at a private school in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh was sacrificed in a black magic ritual for fame and prosperity. Hathras police said five persons including DL Public Schools director have been arrested in connection with the murder. The incident came to light after the boy was found dead under mysterious circumstances by his father, Krishan Kushwaha, an IT professional working in Delhi. According to police, school authorities have reportedly informed Kushwaha that the student had fallen ill on Monday. VIDEO | A class 2 student at a private school died under mysterious circumstances in Hathras. The body of the student was recovered from school director Dinesh Baghel's car, the police said. The family of the child has alleged that he was killed as part of 'black magic' rituals. pic.twitter.com/MqbnbgIoiw Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 27, 2024 On reaching the school, Kushwaha was told school director Dinesh Baghel has rushed the boy to the hospital in his car, police said. However, Kushwaha later recovered his sons body from Baghels car, police said. Hathras police said post-mortem was conducted and the boy was allegedly strangulated to death. Nipun Agarwal, Hathras Superintendent of Police told News 18, The child was strangled with the intent to bring prosperity to the school and secure its future. The reports claimed that the accused strangled the child to death on September 22. According to police, DL Public School Director Dinesh Baghels father, Jashodhan Singh, believed in black magic, and together with his son and three teachers, they planned to sacrifice a child to bring them fame, the publication reported. The gang had initially planned to murder the boy near a tube well outside the school, however, they strangled him to death after he resisted. Police also recovered items related to black magic from the school premises. Reportedly, the accused had earlier planned to conduct the ritual on September 6. However, it got foiled after the child became suspicious. The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji in a case related to cash-for-jobs scam. Balaji was arrested in June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate on allegations of money laundering in the cash-for-jobs scam. The Supreme Court had reserved its judgment in the case on August 12 flagging delay in trial. A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed his bail plea considering the delay in trial. Stringent bail provisions and delay in trial cannot go together, Justice Oka observed while pronouncing the verdict. With the Supreme Court pronouncing his bail, Balaji walked out from the Puzhal prison late in the evening, after 471 days of incarceration. He a surety for Rs 25 lakh as ordered by the Supreme Court. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam organising secretary R.S. Bharathi and several thousands of cadres accorded him a grand welcome. While Balaji still has a long legal battle ahead to fight the three cases filed by the ED, the cadres in his hometown Karur celebrated by bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Who is Senthil Balaji? Balaji was the minister for electricity, excise and prohibition in the M.K. Stalin government. Hailing from Karur, he is considered to be the face of the DMK in western Tamil Nadu. A master strategist, Balaji was behind the DMKs idea of appointing polling agents for the party, ahead of the 2024 polls, across the state. The work to appoint the polling agents began as early as January 2023. Balajis idea of appointing the agents and training them to do election work on the ground got him high in the line among the seniors in the party. #WATCH | Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji leaves from the hotel he is staying in, in Chennai. He is going to the ED office to sign documents. He was released from Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai yesterday after SC granted him bail in a money laundering pic.twitter.com/UNhtrxNlF6 ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2024 Senthil Balaji was once the blue-eyed boy of Jayalalithaa, during her term as chief minister from 2011 to 2016. He was the transport minister in her cabinet. It was the time when Jayalalithaa was on a spree promoting the brand Amma. She launched Amma Unavagams aka Amma eateries, Amma salt and Amma water. As the transport minister, Balaji recommended that the Amma water be packed in pet bottles and sold in all the government bus stations. He worked on designing a water bottle that will be easy to carry for the travellers. This got him close to Jayalalithaa. However, Balaji fell from the good books of Jayalalithaa following allegations of corruption and intra-party politics. In 2016, the assembly election in the Aravakurichi constituency was countermanded allegedly due to cash for votes. But when Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, Balaji won from the same Aravakurichi constituency only to go with T.T.V. Dhinakaran who had walked out of AIADMK against Edappadi Palanisami. Later in 2018, when Dhinakaran launched his own party, Balaji went to join the DMK under M.K. Stalin. The case and why was he arrested? Balaji was arrested by the ED after a daylong closed-door enquiry and searches in his official residence, on June 14, 2023. Balaji is accused in a money laundering case involving a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the transport minister in Jayalalithaas cabinet. He is accused of working out a scheme with his personal assistants and brother Ashok Kumar to collect money from job seekers for the posts of drivers, conductors and other posts in the Tamil Nadu transport department when he was the minister. He is accused of taking several crores of money for offering the jobs. The ED has also said that he had a deposit of Rs1.34 crore in his bank account from 2013 and 2021. While Balaji argued that the money was his MLA salary and agricultural income, the ED allegedly attributed the money to proceeds of crime. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for ED in the Supreme Court, earlier argued that Rs. 1.34 crore in cash deposits had no connection to his MLA salary or agricultural income as MLA salary is usually deposited by the government directly into the bank account. The ED also said that a pen drive seized during the search had a file named csac.xlsx" with the details of the amounts allegedly received through the job scam. However, in the past few months, while hearing the bail plea, the Supreme Court had raised questions about the proceeding with the trial in the PMLA case without the completion of the trial in the predicate offence. According to the ED, the predicate offence involves more than 2,000 accused. The Court observed that the ED must either rely on a complete trial of all three predicate offences in the money laundering case against Balaji or let go of some of the cases. Stalins praise for Balaji As soon as the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in his message on social media platform X hailed Balaji as a martyr. Even during the Emergency, the duration of imprisonment was not this long... You have made a huge sacrifice and have emerged even stronger, though they tried to weaken you. I welcome you, he wrote, before leaving for Delhi to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek financial assistance for various schemes in Tamil Nadu. Stalin described the Supreme Courts decision to release the former minister a triumph over a prolonged political conspiracy designed to crush his spirit. What next for Balaji? Balaji is likely to be re-inducted into the Tamil Nadu cabinet soon. Sources say that Stalin, for the past two months had put on hold his cabinet reshuffle plans awaiting Balaji's release. Two days ago, during an event in Chennai, on a question on cabinet reshuffle and Udhayanidhi Stalins elevation as deputy chief minister, he hinted saying, There will be change and no disappointments. In fact, the party insiders say that he will discuss about cabinet reshuffle, about Udhayanidhi and Balaji, during his meeting with Modi. Incidentally, the electricity and excise and prohibition portfolios once held by Balaji have been allotted as additional portfolios with Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Housing Minister P. Muthusamy. Sources say that the state government had already sought time with the governor for a swearing-in ceremony on Monday. But the governor had reportedly not obliged. So the government has proposed October 2 for swearing-in. The BJP assuming power in the states of Odisha and Chhatisgarh has generated the hope that the long-standing Mahanadi river water-sharing dispute will finally be solved. Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil, during his visit to Odisha, assured on Thursday that the issue would be resolved soon. Mahanadi is a major river in India with a length of 900 km. It originates from a pool at Farsiya village in the Dhamtari district of Chhatisgarh and ends in the Bay of Bengal in Odisha, covering both states. It drains an area of around 132,100 sq. km. and is the oldest river in East-Central India. Besides major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, the catchment area of its basin also extends to Jharkhand, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh. The basin receives about 90% of its rainfall during the monsoon season. The average annual rainfall of Mahanadi is 66.9 billion cubic metres. Out of the total length of Mahanadi from origin to outfall, 357 km lies in Chhatisgarh and 494 km in Odisha. Mahanadi is more known for Hirakud Dam in western Odisha which was the first major multi-purpose river valley project after Indias independence in 1947. It provides irrigation and generates hydel power besides meeting the water needs of industries set up in nearby areas. Lately, it has been helping tourism besides fish production through cage culture. It has also been proposed to produce solar power by spreading solar panels upon vast tracts of the reservoir. During the last few years particularly after the formation of the new Chhattisgarh state, the issue of the Mahanadi water dispute has arisen. Sharing of Mahanadi river water has been a bone of contention between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The main complaint of Odisha is that the Chhatisgarh government has been building dams and barrages on the upper stream of Mahanadi, and in the process, reduced the flow of water into the Odisha part of Mahanadi, especially during the lean season. The earlier Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha filed a complaint before the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) under the inter-state River-Water Disputes Act. The state requested the centre to constitute a Tribunal under the act for adjudication of the water disputes over river Mahanadi and its basin between the riparian states of Odisha and Chhatisgarh and refer the complaint to the tribunal. The Government of India constituted a negotiation committee for the settlement of the dispute through negotiations. As it did not serve the purpose, the central government constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on March 12, 2018. The matter is under adjudication of the Tribunal. The Tribunals time has been extended ever since citing reasons, including Covid. Now its tenure has further been extended up to April 13, 2026. The government of Odisha approached the Centre because the many upstream projects built by Chhatisgarh will have long-term effects on the flow downstream, especially during the lean period. While it will affect the ecologically sensitive coastal and delta area of Mahanadi, the projects upstream of Hirakud will also impact the long-term flows downstream in Odisha. That prompted Odisha, at one point, to demand that Chhatisgarh stop all construction works for a few months. Chhatisgarh said 52.9% of the catchment of Mahanadi and 89.9% of the catchment up to Hirakud lie in their state and they had a right to use the water of Mahanadi. The state pointed out that Odisha had also started certain major and medium projects without informing them as an upper riparian state. In 2016, the Union Water Resources Minister held two meetings with the Chief Ministers of both states where some decisions were taken. The issue, however, could not be settled, resulting in the formation of the Tribunal. Now that Naveen Patnaik has been replaced by the BJP government led by Mohan Charan Majhi, hopes are that the dispute will be amicably settled since the party also rules Chhattisgarh. Patil told media on Thursday that the Tribunal is leaving no stone unturned to resolve the matter as soon as possible. "We are committed to finding a fair and equitable solution that benefits both states." But, how the solution will satisfy the people of Odisha, mainly the public in western districts bordering Chhatisgarh, is to be seen. When the dispute arose, the BJD, which was in power in Odisha, had made it a political issue. Now, the BJD is the main opposition party with very good strength in the state assembly. The party has already taken an aggressive approach against BJP, particularly the state government. If the Mahanadi solution doesnt satisfy it, then the issue will likely remain. After French President Emmanuel Macron, it was the turn of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support Indias bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Starmer, speaking at the UN General Assembly, said it was important that the Security Council changes to become a more representative body which is not paralysed by politics. "We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well, he said. Starmer's statement comes a day after Macron advocated the expansion of the UN body, stating that the current UNSC is blocked. "Let's make the UN more efficient. That's why 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 said. Earlier, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken too had vocalised US's endorsement for permanent seats in the council for India, Japan and Germany. "The United States believes that this should include two permanent seats for Africa, one rotating seat for Small Island Developing States, and permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to the permanent seats for countries, we've long endorsed Germany, Japan, and India," he said. Speaking at Summit of the Future at the @UN. https://t.co/lxhOQEWEC8 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2024 This comes as Prime Minister, during his recent visit to the United Nations, called for reforms in the United Nations. He had earlier too slammed the skewed geographical representation in the UNSC. "How can we talk of it as a primary organ of a global body, when entire continents of Africa and Latin America are ignored? How can it claim to speak for the world when its most populous country, and its largest democracy, is not a permanent member," Modi asked. However, experts believe despite the push, it is unlikely that India would win a permanent seat at the UNSC, the major reason being China's opposition. All five permanent security council members, except China, have endorsed India's candidature in the past, including Russia. However, China refuses to follow suit, considering it is a close competitor of India in regional and international politics and the current border disputes between the countries. Not just India, even Japan might find China's opposition a hindrance for its bid for a permanent seat. Experts add though there were propositions from Groups that India could be added as a member without a veto power, India is not reportedly happy with this proposition. Even the US would want to protect its veto power, and though has endorsed India gaining a permanent seat in principle, it won't do so in practice. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said in 2008 that the country would want to preserve the veto and "do not want to extend a veto to new permanent members." Many also suggest India's foreign policy- non-commital stance Western interests, including in Russia-Ukraine conflict, could be a reason for the Western nations to adopt such a stance in principle. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has said it has killed a senior Hezbollah leader in an air strike on Beiruts southern suburbs. This comes as Israel rejected global calls on Thursday for a ceasefire. The airstrike in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh targeted and eliminated Mohammed Srur, who is said to be "the commander of Hezbollah's air unit". The militant group too confirmed Srurs death in a statement released early Friday. The IDF also sent a warplane to the edges of the capital Beirut, killing two people and wounding 15, bringing the death toll to over 600 since Monday. The slain leader was considered one of the top advisors of the group who allegedly directed various aerial attacks on Israel, including explosive-laden drones and cruise missiles. He is also said to led Hezbollahs drone manufacturing and establish sites in Lebanon. He was recently sent by Hezbollah to Yemen to train the country's Huthi rebels. Both Hezbollah and Houthis are backed by Iran. This is the fourth attack on Hezbollah's top leadership in recent days. The IDF had recently killed missile chief Ibrahim Qubaisi and Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollahs military operations. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi confirmed the killing and said they will continue to strike the Hezbollah. "We need to continue attacking Hezbollah. We have been waiting for this opportunity for years, Halevi said. "We have constantly working to make achievements, to eliminate more senior officials, to thwart the transfer of weapons, to [destroy] Hezbollahs firepower [capabilities], and to attack it in all of Lebanon," he added. Israel said its warplanes targeted 220 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Thursday. Hezbollah too fired over 175 rockets at northern Israeli cities. The IDF also added that it intercepted a missile that was fired from Yemen after sirens and explosions were heard early on Friday. "Following the sirens that sounded in central Israel, the surface-to-surface missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted by an 'Arrow' interceptor outside of Israeli territory," the army said in a statement. "There is currently no change to the IDF Defensive guidelines," it said. Yemen's Houthi militants have also targeted Israel repeatedly since the Gaza war began. In July, the Houthis fired a drone at Tel Aviv for the first time, killing a man and wounding four people. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said that Israel is seeking peace despite fighting for its life. My country is at war, fighting for its life, stressed Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu said he did not plan to come to the UN as his country is at war. "I decided to come to UN to set the record straight." As Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu came to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, many delegations walked out in protest. pic.twitter.com/xZ2R99ND7P Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 27, 2024 Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Tel Aviv has been fighting with the aim to 'destroy' the Hamas group. Tensions in the Middle East intensified sine the Israel-Hamas war. Netanyahu said that if Hamas stays in power in Gaza, it will regroup, rearm and attack Israel again. "We must defend ourselves against these savage murderers. Our enemies seek not only to destroy us, they seek to destroy our common civilization and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror, he added. Amid the rising tensions in the Middle East, Netanyahu added that there is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. Its true of the entire Middle East, he added. While calling for an end to the appeasement of Iran, Netanyahu said Israel is winning the war. Earlier, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had vowed 'harsh punishment' for Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hamas's senior leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Netanyahu called on the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Iran to ensure it does not get nuclear weapons. Israel will do everything in its power to make sure Iran doesn't get nuclear weapons, he said. Amid the ongoing Gaza war, Netanyahu said the Israel military has killed or captured more than half of Hamas' 40,000 fighters and destroyed 90 per cent of Hamas rockets. While addressing the world leaders at the UN, Netanyahu said Israel will continue to 'degrade' Hezbollah until it achieves its goals along the Lebanon border. "Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns ... How long would the American government tolerate that?" he said, shaking his fist in emphasis. Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, I've come here today to say: Enough is enough," said Netanyahu. Since the Israel-Hamas war, tensions along the cross-borders with Lebanon also increased with Tel Aviv and Hezbollah exchanging strikes almost every day. Amid India-Maldives tense relations, president Mohamed Muizzu denied having an 'India Out' agenda. Muizzu stressed that New Delhi was asked to withdraw its military personnel as the nation wanted to avoid the 'problem' with the presence of foreign military on its soil. Muizzu made his remarks at Princeton University's Dean's Leadership Series in the United States. Maldives president is currently in the US to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "We have never been against any one country at any point. It's not India Out. Maldives faced a serious problem with foreign military presence on this soil," Muizzu was quoted by Maldivian news portal adhadhu.com. People of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country, Muizzu added. Also, reportedly, Muizzu is likely to travel to India in October in an attempt to reset bilateral ties after tensions in the relations. Muizzu had visited India on June 9 during Modi's swearing-in ceremony. He is likely to hold bilateral talks with Modi. This will be Muizzu's first bilateral trip to India since he became president in November 2023 on the back of an 'India Out' campaign. While speaking at the event, Muizzu also said that his government had taken action against deputy ministers for insulting PM Modi on social media. "No one should say such a thing. I took action against it. I will not accept insulting anyone like that, whether he is a leader or an ordinary person. Every human being has a reputation," he said. Deputy ministers in Maldives' youth ministry were suspended for derogatory social media posts against PM Modi after his Lakshadweep visit. KIGALI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's Ministry of Health has called for heightened preventive measures following reports of confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the country. In a statement released Friday, the ministry outlined ongoing efforts to contain the spread of MVD, which has resulted in the hospitalization of a few patients. With investigations underway to determine the source of the infection, authorities have implemented enhanced preventive protocols across all health facilities, including rigorous contact tracing, and the affected patients have been isolated for treatment. The health ministry explained that MVD is transmitted through contact with the blood or body fluids of visibly sick individuals, adding that the virus is not believed to spread through the air. Members of the public experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, vomiting, muscle pain, or stomach aches are urged to contact the Rwanda Biomedical Center or visit their nearest health facility, according to the statement. While monitoring the situation closely, the Ministry of Health suggested that the public should remain calm and maintain their regular activities, provided they follow heightened hygiene and safety practices. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's much-awaited speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday was pure political theatre. It was particularly aimed at addressing the constituencies in the US and Israel, making it clear to them that Israel was not going to end the war against Hamas unless its objectives were met. Netanyahu had vowed to destroy Hamas. He said that if Hamas retook political power in Gaza, it would regain its military strength, too, and would attack Israel again, a risk he did not want to take. Netanyahus speech conveyed the sense that he was not yet prepared for negotiations. There have been efforts by Egypt, the United States and Qatar to put an end to the war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. But Netanyahu, it seems, wants to finish off Hamas once and for all. "Israeli forces have destroyed 90% of Hamas' rockets and killed or captured half of its forces," he said. Peace will be back in Gaza only after Hamas is destroyed completely, he said. The only other way to end the war, in his view, was for Hamas to surrender unconditionally and return all the remaining hostages. While Netanyahu sounded uncompromising on Hamas, he did not rule out negotiations completely regarding the ongoing operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, Hezbollah has been attacking Israel, using rockets and missiles. "Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, I've come here today to say: Enough is enough," Netanyahu said. It has forced nearly 70,000 Israelis in the northern parts of the country bordering Lebanon to evacuate. Israel vowed to continue the attacks against Hezbollah till its citizens can return safely to their homes. As Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu came to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, many delegations walked out in protest. pic.twitter.com/xZ2R99ND7P Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 27, 2024 Moreover, compared with the Gaza war, the attacks on Hezbollah enjoy Israeli public support as well. So those attacks, too, could continue. However, it appears that negotiation is possible at least when it comes to Hezbollah once the primary Israeli objectives are met, given it's a more powerful entity, unlike Hamas. It is not easy for Israel to wage another long, sustained and large-scale war with Hezbollah at this point. Netanyahu will not forget the fact that Israel had to end its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, as Hezbollah proved a tough nut to crack. Later, in 2006, Hezbollah fought a war against Israel and the result was a stalemate. So it was not surprising that Netanyahu's speech hinted that he was not completely against the 21-day ceasefire proposal put forward by France and the US on Wednesday. There are also domestic political reasons why Netanyahu wants to continue with the war. He faces corruption charges and other legitimacy issues, and staying on as prime minister offers him immunity from arrest and jail. The moment the war ends, the anti-Netanyahu factions within Israeli politics and the existing public sentiment against him could force him out. So Netanyahu is keeping his far-right wing coalition happy, which does not want any sort of compromise with Hamas or Hezbollah. The upcoming US elections also play a role in Netanyahus calculations. Till the elections end, the Biden administration is unlikely to put any significant pressure on Netanyahu to make compromises as it would be detrimental to Kamala Harriss chances. And if Trump wins on November 5, it will be a win-win situation for Netanyahu. So, in a sense, he is also playing for time. Netanyahus speech, meanwhile, was not all threats and bluster. He also tried to appear like a statesman by speaking about peace and prosperity in the wider Middle East, displaying two maps, which he titled the Curse and the Blessing. One showed the India-Middle East Europe economic corridor that will pass through Israel and Saudi Arabia--it was pitched as a great civilisational linkage between the continents and a major economic opportunity. On the other hand, he pointed out how Iran had created an arc of terrorism and uncertainty in the region. In this context, he pitched hard to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia and stressed taking forward the Abraham Accords. While he threatened Iran with destruction, he literally spoke like a salesman while addressing the Saudi leadership, imploring them for a normalisation of relations and mutual diplomatic recognition. Even as Netanyahu was speaking at the UN, Israeli warplanes targeted several residential buildings south of Beirut in an attempt to kill Hezbollah supreme leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was reportedly holding a leadership meeting in an underground headquarters. Based on the scale of the ammunition used and the information collected from within Hezbollah, Israeli intelligence thinks that Nasrallah has been killed. If it is indeed true, it could be another major turning point in the turbulent Middle East politics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders at the United Nations on Friday that his nation will continue degrading Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran until it achieves its goals. Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday was a clear hint that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) may bnot come around for a cease-fire despite Lebanon suffering heavy losses in the war. FULL REPORT | Israel seeks peace but fights for life: Netanyahu declares at UN General Assembly Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Tel Aviv has been fighting with the aim to 'destroy' the Hamas group. Tensions in the Middle East intensified since the Israel-Hamas war. Netanyahu said that if Hamas stays in power in Gaza, it will regroup, rearm and attack Israel again. Here are five notable parts from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East: 1. On war with Hezbollah: Ive come here to say, enough is enough... We wont rest until our citizens return safely to our homes. ALSO READ | Why Hezbollah chose to fire 'Qader-1', a ballistic missile with a 500-kg warhead and a range of 190 km, to Tel Aviv For 18 years Hezbollah brazenly refuses to implement UNSC resolution 1701, and puts a missile in every kitchen, a rocket in every garage, endangering their own people. Israel has every right to return its citizens safely and we will continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met, he said. 2. On war with Hamas in Gaza: According to the Israel PM, Hamas has got to go. because, If Hamas stays in power, it will regroup and rearm and attack Israel again and again and again as it has vowed to do. Elaborating on his plans for Tel Aviv's relationship with Gaza, Netanyahu said Israel will support any local civil administration in Gaza that is committed to coexistence, 3. On Israel-Saudi relations: Netanyahu hit a tone of positivity when he said that this country must achieve a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. What a blessing such a peace with Saudi Arabia would bring... It would be a true pivot of history, he said. According to him, a reconciliation between Mecca and Jerusalem could bring a boon to tourism, trade, energy, AI, and much more. 4. On Israel-Iran relations: He launched a scathing attack against Tehran, he said, "For too long, the world has appeased Iran," and that appeasement must end. If you strike us, we will strike you... We dont want to see a single innocent person die, thats always a tragedy... Yes we are defending ourselves, but we are also defending ourselves against a common enemy, he said. 5. Criticises UN for backing Israel's foes: "...This UN house of darkness... In this swamp of antisemitic bile, there is a majority willing to dehumanise the Jewish state" he said. Netanyahu told the House that in the last decade, there have been more resolutions passed against Israel than against the entire world combined. The real war criminals are in Iran, Gaza, Syria and Lebanon, he said. "What hypocrisy. What a double standard. What a joke." World Tourism Day has been celebrated annually on September 27 since 1980. An initiative by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the aim of the celebration has been to focus on looking at tourism from a global scale beyond economic impact and more in line with fostering socio-political as well as cultural dialogue, exchange and harmony. Culture is one of the primary motivations for travelling. Be it nationally or internationally. In India, we are fortunate to have historic marvels in every nook and corner. Places of religious worship, archaeological sites, monuments, forts and palaces. Sadly, many of these are either poorly preserved and maintained or simply not marketed and promoted. For the financial year of 2024-2025, the Union Budget allocated Rs 2,479 crore with the hope of improving infrastructure and marketing tourist destinations. The budget allocation also led to a direct increase in travel and tourism stocks. Despite this, the recent events at Taj Mahal make me wonder if the celebration of World Tourism Day serves a larger, deeper impact or is it merely a day to inundate social media with travel photographs and videos? Does allocating large budgets materialise in good practice conservation or mass tourism? Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and receives an approximate of eight million visitors annually. Overtourism and visitor numbers had surged to the point where the authorities were forced to charge a fine to people lingering for longer than three hours. Despite these growing numbers, the positive economic impact and hefty revenue the monument generates for all of Agra, the historic marvels condition is dismal at present. There is vegetation cutting into ornate marble work and cracks developing in the walls. A lone peepal tree has sprouted on the grand dome of the magnificent structure as water leaks on the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz, the eternal love story that the Taj is an ode to. To add to the sorry state of affairs is water flooding around the monument. A testament to poor city planning and unplanned development, which is a growing concern with cities across India. Is this really the way a UNESCO World Heritage site should be preserved? Does having a single day to celebrate world tourism make a difference? While it does encourage dialogues on nurturing peaceful coexistence and mutual cultural appreciation globally, I am not certain of the onground impact such celebrations make. The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the Taj is now left with the arduous task to build the trust back of locals and tourists who rely on the national bodys expertise in preservation and maintenance of the monument. It must also respond to the rising questions of corruption and mismanagement of funds. There is also the larger question of a clash of political ideologies as the possible cause of neglect. Could the Mughal history of the monument be the reason for the lack of attention and preservation? Historically, politics and religion have heavily influenced the commissioning of a building. Be it the temples of ancient India or Taj Mahal of Mughal India. However, we do live in a democracy with a culturally diverse landscape. The historic sites, the broad range of languages and dialects, the regional cuisines, crafts, arts. The list is endless. If we subtract politics and religion from this equation, heritage, cultural marvels can be preserved for the power they have. To be meeting points for cultural diversity and to bring together communities in peace and harmony. Saudi Tourism for example, has recently launched a week long exhibition titled Spectacular Saudi in Mumbai. The event, inaugurated on September 24 aims to give the cultural connoisseur a taste of Saudi. Thus, not only luring and intriguing more tourists to visit Saudi Arabia but also encouraging cross-cultural dialogues, which foster good socio-political relations. True to this year's theme for World Tourism Day of Tourism and Peace. There is a 6.54 per cent projected growth rate in the global cultural tourism market by 2030 and the Indian tourism ministry reports suggest that almost 40 per cent of tourists who arrived in India last year could be categorised as cultural tourists. Should these figures not be a compelling enough reason to preserve cultural heritage sites not just on World Tourism Day, irrespective of religious and political divides? Immersive experiences are captivating audiences globally. For almost a decade now, the way we view and experience art has drastically changed with the influence and emergence of cutting-edge technology. VR, AR, AI...the list of sophisticated technology is long and tedious. But are these experiences anything more than an Instagram trending bubble waiting to burst? Similar to the viral cafes with floral decor and beautifully presented brunch food where meals are photographed more than consumed, art consumers too may be slowly losing their appetite and attention span for authentic art. Housed in museums and galleries, works of art take years of continuous research and documentation to be vetted and displayed. Even after being displayed, there is a range of conservation methods, temperature temperature-controlled facilities that allow these artworks to continue being displayed for decades at a stretch. There are curatorial and programming teams, working tirelessly to continue making these collections relatable and relevant year after year. In comparison, immersive art experiences put together in a matter of a few months or years seem to have visitors flocking in thousands. I too am one of those visitors who has had many splendid experiences at immersive shows. There was a sense of excitement in watching a painting of Claude Monets Water Lilies consume an entire wall. The painting would slowly dissolve into smithereens and then the screen would be overwhelmed by his magnificent work of art, Bridge over a Pond of Waterlilies. What a sensory delight to see these artworks in such grandeur! However, as momentarily exciting as the experience was, I knew nothing of the painting, the artist, or the influences that led him to create this piece of art. Nor did I learn anything about impressionism, the art movement Monet is connected witha movement and style of art that continues to inspire artists for its delicate brush strokes, nature and play of light. Definitely, no intellectual stimulation or in-depth analysis here. Immersive exhibitions of deceased Masters such as Vincent Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali, have made their way to India as well. The Vincent Van Gogh immersive exhibition took place in various cities across India from Mumbai and Delhi to Pune and Bangalore. With tickets selling out in minutes, the exhibition invited people from all age groups to see up close the works of Van Gogh. Yes, these immersive experiences do democratise art, allowing audiences to access art they would not normally have the opportunity. They also build for a community experience, tapping into a new way of experiencing art. However, with expensive tickets ranging from 20 to 40 pounds and Rs 1000 to Rs 2500, are these really democratising art? A museum in India costs an average of Rs 100 while in countries such as the United Kingdom national museums are free of charge. If funds of this scale were allotted to museums and institutions that house priceless works of art, they may perhaps be able to create experiences revolving around their collections. Invigorating the audience with similar technology but the visitor may leave learning a thing or two in the process or be inspired by the said artist. These are historic landmarks that need funding to keep their buildings and collections in pristine condition. I was not creatively inspired or awed after visiting the Van Gogh immersive exhibition. Nor did I learn anything about the artist. Immersive experiences do have their advantages and perks when planned effectively. But travel shows such as these are simply a sad reflection of the way we are viewing art. Art, which is supposed to touch the soul and not just exist simply as an Instagrammable moment. Keeping artistic integrity in mind and prioritising art history perhaps it is time museums and galleries do more to captivate an audience and combat the gimmick of commercially benefiting immersive experiences. Perhaps then art would be consumed in its purest form and may perhaps be freed from the shackles of technology. The visitor left to dissect and disseminate, to ponder and reflect. Viewed of 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. A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that its not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that mounting research points to an unreasonable risk that it could be. He ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but didnt say what those measures should be. Its the first time a federal judge has made a determination about the neurodevelopmental risks to children of the recommended U.S. water fluoride level, said Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who has studied the effect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women. She called it the most historic ruling in the U.S. fluoridation debate that weve ever seen. The judges ruling is another striking dissent to a practice that has been hailed as one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last month, a federal agency determined with moderate confidence that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. The National Toxicology Program based its conclusion on studies involving fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water. The EPA a defendant in the lawsuit argued that it wasnt clear what impact fluoride exposure might have at lower levels. But the agency is required to make sure there is a margin between the hazard level and exposure level. And if there is an insufficient margin, then the chemical poses a risk, Chen wrote in his 80-page ruling Tuesday. Simply put, the risk to health at exposure levels in United States drinking water is sufficiently high to trigger regulatory response by the EPA under federal law, he wrote. An EPA spokesperson, Jeff Landis, said the agency was reviewing the decision but offered no further comment. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and they continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market several years later. Fluoride can come from a number of sources, but drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population currently gets fluoridated drinking water, according to CDC data. Since 2015, federal health officials have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water. For five decades before that, the recommended upper range was 1.2. The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5. Separately, the EPA has a longstanding requirement that water systems cannot have more than 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. That standard is designed to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a potentially crippling disorder which causes weaker bones, stiffness and pain. But in the last two decades, studies have suggested a different problem: a link between fluoride and brain development. Researchers wondered about the impact on developing fetuses and very young children who might ingest water with baby formula. Studies in animals showed fluoride could impact neurochemistry cell function in brain regions responsible for learning, memory, executive function and behavior. The court case, argued in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, started in 2017. The lead plaintiff was Food & Water Watch, a not-for-profit environmental advocacy organization. Chen paused the proceedings in 2020 to await the results of the National Toxicology Program report, but he heard lawyers arguments about the case earlier this year. In our view, the only effective way to eliminate the risk from adding fluoride chemicals to water is to stop adding them, said Michael Connett, the plaintiffs lead attorney, in an email Wednesday. (AP) ISLAMABAD, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were injured in an explosion inside a police station in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday night, rescuers said. The accident happened in Swabi district of the province where a fire broke out prior to the explosion, severely damaging a room in the police station and reducing it to rubble, Bilal Faizi, spokesperson of the state-owned rescue organization Rescue 1122, told Xinhua. He said that the fire erupted inside the room where explosive materials, recovered from terrorists during separate operations, were stored. The fire was apparently caused by a short circuit, ultimately triggering the explosion, Faizi said. The injured people have been shifted to a nearby hospital, where two of them were in critical condition, he added. An investigation into the accident was underway. 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. (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 Ukraines 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. (AP) A CNN report showcased the political opinions of fourth graders across New Jersey, Texas, and Arizona, as they shared their candid thoughts on Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The report, introduced by CNNs Kasie Hunt, was created in partnership with a Stanford political scientist and an Arizona State University psychologist. When asked what came to mind when seeing a picture of Harris, one boy quickly responded, Liar. Meanwhile, another girl described Trump as pure evil and added, I feel like all he does is complain and, like, yell. Despite some of the harsh criticisms, there were also positive comments. One girl praised Trump, saying, Donald Trump, hes given his life and his heart. The boy who called Harris a liar then made a sharp comparison between the two candidates, asking, Convicted felon against a liar, who do I pick? The interviews also touched on Harriss potential to make history. One girl said she believed Harris would help inspire kids, and CNNs data found that two-thirds of the children interviewed felt the country was ready for a black woman president. CNNs analysis indicated that Democrat-supporting kids drove polarization, while children supporting Trump were more likely to repeat misinformation. One girl expressed that while Harris becoming president would be historic, she still supported Trump. Itd be good for us to have a black woman as president for the first time in history, she said, but my votes kind of still on Trump. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime murderous radical Islamist leader of the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist organization, is dead, the IDF confirmed on Motzei Shabbos. Nasrallah was killed along with other senior Hezbollah officials. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi said: Nasrallah indiscriminately murdered Israeli civilians and intended to end this war with the destruction of the State of Israel. We made sure that did not occur. We eliminated him and we will continue to grow stronger. Hezbollah has murdered innocent people worldwide, hiding weapons under the homes of families, women and children and turning them into human shields. As we have shown, we will not allow such a threat to our citizens. We are determined to continue destroying Hezbollah and keep fighting. On Friday, Israeli Air Force jets rained over 80 tons of bunker-buster bombs on a massive, high-rise civilian building complex in southern Beirut that housed Hezbollahs primary headquarters deep underground. The resultant explosions leveled at least six large buildings and left a gaping crater at the site, with almost no chance of survival for anyone inside or below. Irans state-sponsored media and Hezbollah sources at first claimed that Nasrallah is safe, but have since retracted the claim eerily reminiscent of when they did the same when the IDF assassinated top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, and following the helicopter crash that killed former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. Nasrallahs death is the heaviest blow against terrorists since the war began on October 7. Since September 17 the day that Hezbollah pagers mysteriously began exploding, wounding and maiming thousands of terrorists Israel has effectively wiped out the entire leadership of the terrorist organization. On September 18th, Hezbollah walkie-talkies exploded, and on September 22nd, the IDF launched a blist.ring succession of bombings and targeted airstrikes across southern Lebanon that have decimated the terrorist force. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus team says that there are ongoing efforts to advance negotiations for the release of hostages, with Mossad chief David Barnea frequently traveling to move talks forward. There are attempts all the time, the official said, adding that the current focus is on resolving less contentious issues to create momentum, such as exchanging hostages for Palestinian security prisoners. However, communication has hit a significant roadblock, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar being out of touch for weeks, according to the official. Despite Israel requesting assistance from Egypt and Qatar to reach Hamas, there has been no response. While Sinwars status remains uncertain, the official stated that Israel does not currently believe he is dead but noted that if he were killed, we believe it will help us reach a deal. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) As Operation Northern Arrows continues, Hezbollah on Friday fired multiple rocket barrages at northern Israel, Haifa and Tiveria. Beginning early Friday morning, Hezbollah fired a missile at the Tiveria area. The missile fell in the Kinneret and bChasdei Hashem, there were no casualties. Tiveria Mayor Yossi Neveah called the first missile that fell in the sea a Rosh Hashanah neis, saying: The missile fell 20 meters from the shore its a Rosh Hashanah neis for Tiveria residents. Rocket interceptions over Tiveria: Later in the morning, Hezbollah fired another barrage of about 10 rockets at the Haifa area and nearby cities and yishuvim. A number of rocket hit sites were reported. Shrapnel fell near several private homes, on a car, and in a forest. BChasdei Hashem no one was injured by shrapnel but two people were lightly injured as they ran to shelters. Another barrage was later fired at the Tiveria area and nearby areas in the Lower Galil. A construction worker was moderately to severely wounded by shrapnel from one of the rockets. The other rockets were intercepted or fell into the sea. Later on Friday morning, Hezbollah fired four suicide drones at the coastal area of Rosh HaNikra. All the drones were intercepted. Overnight Thursday, a missile fired by the Houthis was intercepted over Tel Aviv. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Time for change: Chancellor Rachel Reeves Labour has an uphill task fulfilling its growth mission. The bible of 'Mission Economics' was written by University College of London professor Mariana Mazzucato. She took as her blueprint John F Kennedy's race to the moon amid fears that the old Soviet Union's Sputnik programme was winning in space. The US eventually triumphed by incorporating the mission into every relevant part of government, from the Treasury to the Pentagon and university research programmes. Growth is a much more nebulous concept, and in the past has left many government efforts sinking in the treacle of bureaucracy. Harold Wilson's 1960s vision of an economy propelled by the 'white heat of technology' ended in failure. A newly created Department of Economic Affairs was gobbled up by the Treasury. British Leyland effectively sank the ambitions of the National Enterprise Board. There has been a perpetual struggle between the UK's vulnerability on global markets and efforts to power up output. Wilson was defeated by a trade deficit and a run on the pound. George Osborne's austerity was the result of the 2008 great financial crisis. Liz Truss's supply side zeal was crushed in the gilts market. Rachel Reeves' dismal narrative stems from concerns that the new Labour Government could be smashed by borrowing and debt. Much of what Reeves has done, or is planning so far, is anti-growth. Policies such as closing loopholes on North Sea oil exploration, the threats of increases in capital gains, inheritance and pension taxes all run counter to endeavour and enterprise. Nevertheless, the Chancellor is not totally immune to pressure, as her willingness to dilute plans to close non-domiciled loopholes suggests. Similarly, she and the Treasury are set to change fiscal rules, which guide budgetary policy, to create as much space as possible for investment. If the growth mission is to have any real chance of lift-off, the Chancellor will need buy-in from the City and asset managers. Both former chancellor Jeremy Hunt and now Reeves are striving to unlock pension fund cash for investment in start-ups, infrastructure, green energy and equity investment. The fall in pension fund investment in UK equities to less just 3pc on some measures is usually ascribed to Gordon Brown's removal of the tax relief which was received on dividends. There also is a body of opinion in the Square Mile and Whitehall, which now thinks that Osborne's post-financial crisis reform of City regulation has played a big role in suppressing animal spirits. After the supervisory laxity of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Bank of England in the run-up to the banking implosion, which began with Northern Rock in 2007, City regulation was turned on its head. It moved from its traditional principles based regime, which offered flexibility, to a cumbersome rules based system. Banks, insurers and pension funds were compelled or required to hold vast amounts of capital, much of it tied up in government bonds. The separation of 'casino' style investment banking from commercial and consumer banking, led to most of the High Street banks becoming risk averse, shedding trading and broking activities. Only Barclays, with the help of gung-ho former chief executive Bob Diamond, stuck with the riskier mandate. The malfunctioning FSA was replaced by the Financial Conduct Authority, which has ladled on layers of ever more complex rules. Even the most simple tasks, such as winning approval for lowly executives to be approved persons, became doggedly bureaucratic. The hopelessly intrusive rules and disclosure requirements governing company listing on the London Stock Exchange sent many promising new and established companies off to New York and Amsterdam. The only flourishing areas were the wholesale markets, such as foreign exchange and derivatives. They are so large, established and powerful that they were effectively uncontrollable. The ultimate irony would be the sight of a Labour government sweeping the rule-based system put in place by the Tory dominated coalition into the sea. Under Nikhil Rathi, the FCA rapidly has sought to simplify enforcement and make listings easier. Reeves is set to formally remind the FCA and the Bank of England's rigid Prudential Regulatory Administration of the 'growth' mission at the time of the budget. Lighter touch regulation is to make a comeback. An Australian property giant owned by Rupert Murdoch was told last night it needs to offer at least 7billion for Rightmove to be in with a chance of a deal. It came after Rea Group made a fourth bid for the British home listings giant, which valued the company at 6.2billion. Rightmove said yesterday that it will consider the latest proposal, having already rejected three earlier bids worth 5.6billion, 5.9billion and 6.1billion. And the FTSE 100 property website group did not grant Rea's request to extend the bid deadline from 5pm on Monday. Shares in Rightmove rose 0.5 per cent, or 3.6p, to 668.6p yesterday, still languishing below the 781p offer price in a sign that investors do not believe an agreement will be reached. No deal: Rupert Murdoch's Rea Group was told it needs to offer at least 7billion for Rightmove to be in with a chance of a deal Rea said it was 'disappointed' that Rightmove's board, led by chairman Andrew Fisher, had not yet engaged in takeover talks. The Melbourne-based group's chief executive Owen Wilson flew to London yesterday in the hope of meeting Rightmove directors. He joined Rea chairman Hamish McLennan, who jetted in earlier this week to meet Rightmove shareholders. They will hold further talks with Rightmove shareholders over the weekend, urging them to pressure the firm's board to engage. 'Rea has repeatedly requested meetings with Rightmove but no meetings have taken place and as such there has been no substantive engagement beyond cursory procedural telephone calls with the Rightmove chairman,' a Rea spokesman said. Several investors including Axa have broken cover to say Rightmove directors should come to the table. But others said the property platform should hold its nerve. 'The Rightmove board should be in no rush, if at all, to engage with Rea based on its slightly sweetened offer,' a spokesman for Sanford DeLand Asset Management, which holds a 16m stake in the firm, told the Mail. 'We do not share Rea's logic that a combination will realise value given it has no existing operations in the UK.' He said there was 'zero appeal' in 'exchanging 100 per cent of what is a great British organic growth story for part cash and part paper in Rea which has been assembled largely through M&A'. 'It would take nothing short of a knockout bid with full cash alternative to change our view,' he added. Peel Hunt analysts Jessica Pok and Melanie Yang said the new offer was 'not strong enough' and cast doubt on Rea's ability to increase its bid further. They said Rightmove is worth at least 7billion. 'If Rightmove agrees to extend the deadline for a formal bid, it opens the possibility for Rea to increase its offer,' they said. 'However, we do not believe Rea can significantly increase the bid price.' Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'Rea doesn't seem to get the message. To really get this deal over the line, Rea needs to consider an all-cash offer. Shareholders know they are holding a unique asset for the UK stock market and the UK market leader for property portals. They aren't going to give that up unless Rea pays a premium price.' Suggesting Rea would need to pay over 800p a share, he added: 'It needs to dig a lot deeper or walk away.' Rea offered 781p per Rightmove share, including a special dividend of 6p. It has committed to a secondary listing in London that would allow British investors to own Rightmove shares. Titanic shipmaker Harland & Wolff has fallen into administration for the second time in five years putting 66 jobs at risk. The Belfast-based company warned such a move was imminent after a review found that its holding company, Harland & Wolff Group, was insolvent. Harland & Wolff is best known for building the ill-fated Titanic in Belfast and also runs the historic Appledore shipyard in Devon and two more sites in Scotland. The 163-year-old firm has been hunting for cash in recent months as it struggles to keep up with competitors and deal with its debts. The group said it has appointed Gavin Park and Matt Cowlishaw of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited as joint administrators. Uncertain times: Harland & Wolff is best known for building the ill-fated Titanic in Belfast It warned there would be job losses but did not disclose how many of its 66 employees would be affected. The insolvency process does not include subsidiaries in Northern Ireland and Scotland or Devon. Another London-listed company looks set to fall prey to private equity predators from the United States. Learning Technologies, which provides software to help businesses recruit and train employees, said it has been approached by buyout company General Atlantic about a takeover worth 100p a share or 800m. The company said it was likely to recommend a formal bid at that price to shareholders. Shares soared 28.2 per cent, or 21.1p, to 96p, but the stock is still trading below its peak of 236p in September 2021. Learning Technologies said the proposal, which follows earlier approaches, includes an option for its shareholders to co-invest in General Atlantic's unlisted acquisition vehicle. In demand: Learning Technologies has been approached by buyout company General Atlantic about a takeover worth 100p a share or 800m The US private equity firm has until October 25 to announce whether it wants to make an official offer or walk away. Green energy firm Ceres Power more than doubled its revenues after landing a major deal. Sales rose to 28.5m in the six months to the end of June, up from 11.7m during the same period in 2023. The group also reported record orders worth 46.9m in the first half, taking the total to 103.3m since the start of 2024. The gains were driven by a major manufacturing licensing deal announced in January with Taiwan's Delta Electronics. Ceres will share and licence its hydrogen technology to Delta, which wants to start making fuel cells by the end of 2026 that can be used to power its products. The London-listed firm landed a similar contract with Japan's Denso in July. As a result, Ceres reiterated its upgraded annual forecast for revenues of 50m to 60m in 2024. Shares surged 26.6 per cent, or 53.2p, to 253.4p. Clean Power Hydrogen's losses widened from 1.6m to 2.3m in the first half of 2024. The results came a day after the firm reported its 'most significant milestone' as new test results paved the way for the commercial roll-out of its technology. Shares, which soared 28 per cent on Thursday, fell 4.9 per cent, or 0.55p, to 10.65p. On the wider market, the FTSE 100 rose 0.4 per cent, or 35.85 points, to 8320.76 and the FTSE 250 added 1.1 per cent, or 230.12 points, to 21240.56. Prudential has signed a partnership with the sixth largest bank in Indonesia. The London-listed firm will become the life insurance provider of Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), which has more than 20m customers and more than 1,000 bank branches, from early next year. Shares gained 2.7 per cent, or 18.4p, to 700p. Health care group Haleon is to pay 500m to increase its stake in Tianjin Pharmaceutical (TSKF), its joint business in China, from 55 per cent to 88 per cent. Haleon will also have an option to buy the remaining 12 per cent stake in TSKF. Shares rose 1.7 per cent, or 6.5p, to 396.6p. Tech firm Big Technologies launched its maiden share buyback. It will purchase nearly 6m worth of shares from investors. Shares rose 6.8 per cent, or 8p, to 125p. By Xinhua writer Tang Binhui LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- "The Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) is a very good project and I hope China will further engage such projects in Pakistan," said Safdar Husain, an advocate at Lahore High Court, who is a frequent commuter of the metro service. The Orange Line subway project was jointly constructed by China Railway Group Corporation and China North Industries Corporation under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's east Lahore city. It was put into operation on Oct. 25, 2020. Syed Sana, a student of Lahore College for Women University, told Xinhua that before the introduction of the OLMT, she relied on public transportation, which was time-consuming and very expensive. "After its completion, traveling within Lahore has become incredibly easy, affordable and comfortable. As a female, I appreciate the security and convenience it offers," said Sana. She added that it efficiently connects one end of Lahore to the other, reducing the need for personal vehicles and consequently decreasing pollution. Talking to Xinhua, Adnan, an employee working at a private office near the OLMT route, said he used to go to work by motorcycle, regardless of winter, summer, or rainy days. "Now my difficulties are gone and all sorts of people, like blue workers, students and professionals, are using the metro train service," Adnan said. According to the project staff, the Orange Line has been operating safely for 47 months, with train punctuality and fulfillment rates at the industry's leading level. The total passenger flow exceeded 10 million on March 12, 2021, and exceeded 200 million in September 2024. "Due to the construction of this massive project, there are a lot of business activities going on in this area," Husain said. The train also passes by some of the cultural and historical sites of the city, helping tourists to get there easily and promoting tourism of the millennium-old city known as the cultural hub of Pakistan. Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking the Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, and expands to areas such as agriculture and livelihood in the new phase. Electron Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 220.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,041,594 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 716,816 shares during the period. Digital Realty Trust makes up about 3.6% of Electron Capital Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Electron Capital Partners LLC owned about 0.33% of Digital Realty Trust worth $158,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. APG Asset Management N.V. increased its position in Digital Realty Trust by 226.1% during the second quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 36,634 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,197,000 after acquiring an additional 25,400 shares during the period. AXA S.A. increased its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 23.6% in the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 335,564 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $51,023,000 after buying an additional 64,017 shares during the period. Trinity Legacy Partners LLC increased its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Trinity Legacy Partners LLC now owns 23,089 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,511,000 after buying an additional 286 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC increased its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 87.0% in the 2nd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 7,035 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,070,000 after buying an additional 3,273 shares during the period. Finally, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 65.4% in the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 59,815 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $9,095,000 after purchasing an additional 23,657 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.71% of the companys stock. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on DLR shares. Mizuho assumed coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. They issued an outperform rating and a $170.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $143.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $122.00 to $120.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 26th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Digital Realty Trust from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $144.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Digital Realty Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $154.00. Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance NYSE:DLR opened at $162.90 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $53.34 billion, a PE ratio of 45.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.14 and a beta of 0.60. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $113.94 and a fifty-two week high of $165.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 1.78. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $152.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $147.46. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by ($1.43). Digital Realty Trust had a return on equity of 5.93% and a net margin of 20.58%. The business had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.68 EPS. The businesss revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 6.65 earnings per share for the current year. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a dividend of $1.22 per share. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 135.56%. Insider Buying and Selling at Digital Realty Trust In other news, Director Jean F. H. P. Mandeville sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.26, for a total transaction of $90,156.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,055 shares in the company, valued at $1,360,604.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Digital Realty Trust Company Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Frederick County Bancorp (MD) (OTCMKTS:FCBI Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $36.00 and traded as low as $36.00. Frederick County Bancorp (MD) shares last traded at $36.00, with a volume of 600 shares traded. Frederick County Bancorp (MD) Price Performance The company has a market cap of $57.85 million, a P/E ratio of 25.35 and a beta of 0.34. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $36.00 and a 200 day moving average of $36.00. About Frederick County Bancorp (MD) (Get Free Report) Frederick County Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Frederick County Bank that provides various banking services to individuals and commercial enterprises in the Frederick County, Maryland. It offers deposit products, including personal checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, and health savings accounts; and business checking accounts, savings and money market accounts, and certificates of deposits. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Frederick County Bancorp (MD) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Frederick County Bancorp (MD) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco High Income Trust II (NYSE:VLT Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 14,600 shares, a decrease of 60.5% from the August 31st total of 37,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 27,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Institutional Trading of Invesco High Income Trust II An institutional investor recently raised its position in Invesco High Income Trust II stock. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its stake in Invesco High Income Trust II (NYSE:VLT Free Report) by 4.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 67,370 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,595 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC owned about 1.04% of Invesco High Income Trust II worth $723,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 21.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Invesco High Income Trust II alerts: Invesco High Income Trust II Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSE:VLT traded up $0.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting $11.49. 15,878 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 22,188. Invesco High Income Trust II has a 1-year low of $9.29 and a 1-year high of $11.50. The businesss 50 day moving average is $11.08 and its 200-day moving average is $10.76. Invesco High Income Trust II Announces Dividend Invesco High Income Trust II Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 17th will be issued a $0.0964 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 17th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.07%. (Get Free Report) Invesco High Income Trust II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Invesco High Income Trust II Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco High Income Trust II and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Colombia ETF (NYSEARCA:ICOL Get Free Report)s stock price fell 0.2% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $9.00 and last traded at $9.02. 4,100 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 89% from the average session volume of 36,905 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.04. iShares MSCI Colombia ETF Stock Down 0.2 % The firm has a fifty day moving average of $9.02 and a 200 day moving average of $9.02. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Colombia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Colombia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Switzerland ETF (NYSEARCA:HEWL Get Free Report) were down 0.1% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $30.02 and last traded at $30.02. Approximately 700 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 54% from the average daily volume of 1,519 shares. The stock had previously closed at $30.04. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Switzerland ETF Trading Down 0.1 % The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $30.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.02. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Switzerland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Switzerland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:EUMV Get Free Report) shares dropped 0.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $25.89 and last traded at $25.90. Approximately 74,000 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 299% from the average daily volume of 18,565 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.92. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF Trading Down 0.1 % The firms 50-day moving average is $25.90 and its 200-day moving average is $25.90. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:AXJV Get Free Report)s share price fell 0.4% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $33.63 and last traded at $33.67. 600 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 3,339 shares. The stock had previously closed at $33.80. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Stock Down 0.4 % The stocks fifty day moving average price is $33.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.67. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Ireland Group plc (LON:BIRG Get Free Report) shot up 4.6% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 10.74 ($0.14) and last traded at GBX 10.71 ($0.14). 50,869 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 440,827 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 10.24 ($0.14). Bank of Ireland Group Stock Up 4.6 % The firm has a market capitalization of 108.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.29 and a beta of 1.15. The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 10.06 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 9.94. Bank of Ireland Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of Ireland Group plc provides various banking and financial products and services. It provides current and savings accounts, and business deposits and accounts; personal, car, home improvement, graduate, motor finance, and student loans, as well as overdrafts; and business and farming loans, green business, insurance premium finance, invoice finance, hire purchase, and leasing services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) Equities research analysts at Raymond James boosted their Q3 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Newmont in a report released on Monday, September 23rd. Raymond James analyst B. Macarthur now forecasts that the basic materials company will earn $0.88 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.73. The consensus estimate for Newmonts current full-year earnings is $2.88 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Newmonts Q4 2024 earnings at $0.96 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $0.91 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.95 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.97 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.97 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $3.80 EPS. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The basic materials company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $4.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.13 billion. Newmont had a negative net margin of 13.16% and a positive return on equity of 8.35%. The firms revenue was up 64.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.33 earnings per share. Several other brokerages have also commented on NEM. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Newmont from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Newmont from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 8th. CIBC upgraded shares of Newmont from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $46.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Newmont from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $48.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Newmont from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Newmont has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.62. View Our Latest Analysis on NEM Newmont Price Performance NYSE:NEM opened at $55.54 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Newmont has a 52 week low of $29.42 and a 52 week high of $56.30. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $50.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $43.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.05 billion, a PE ratio of -20.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 0.49. Newmont Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 5th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. Newmonts payout ratio is -37.45%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Newmont news, EVP Peter Toth sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.47, for a total value of $157,410.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,596 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,963,452.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Peter Toth sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.47, for a total value of $157,410.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 94,596 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,963,452.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 20,000 shares of Newmont stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.51, for a total transaction of $990,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 311,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,420,830.19. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 56,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,744,700. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Newmont Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in Newmont in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Newmont in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Newmont during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in Newmont by 1,310.4% in the 1st quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 945 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 878 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Newmont in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 68.85% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Newmont Company Profile (Get Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IAMGOLD Co. (NYSE:IAG Free Report) (TSE:IMG) Stock analysts at Raymond James increased their Q3 2024 earnings estimates for IAMGOLD in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, September 23rd. Raymond James analyst F. Hamed now anticipates that the mining company will post earnings per share of $0.18 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.10. The consensus estimate for IAMGOLDs current full-year earnings is $0.45 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for IAMGOLDs Q4 2024 earnings at $0.18 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $0.63 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $0.24 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.24 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.24 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.24 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.97 EPS. Get IAMGOLD alerts: Several other research firms have also weighed in on IAG. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $5.00 price objective on shares of IAMGOLD in a research note on Thursday, June 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of IAMGOLD from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 17th. Scotiabank raised their target price on IAMGOLD from $4.75 to $5.50 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Finally, CIBC upped their price target on IAMGOLD from $4.90 to $5.40 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, IAMGOLD presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $4.73. IAMGOLD Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of IAMGOLD stock opened at $5.51 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $3.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.68 and a beta of 1.58. The stocks 50-day moving average is $4.72 and its 200 day moving average is $4.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 0.90. IAMGOLD has a one year low of $1.99 and a one year high of $5.60. IAMGOLD (NYSE:IAG Get Free Report) (TSE:IMG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The mining company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.08. IAMGOLD had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 6.70%. The firm had revenue of $385.30 million for the quarter. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.01) EPS. Institutional Trading of IAMGOLD Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in IAMGOLD by 8.2% during the first quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 52,053,035 shares of the mining companys stock worth $173,340,000 after buying an additional 3,935,250 shares in the last quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. raised its holdings in shares of IAMGOLD by 0.8% in the first quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 36,077,268 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $120,137,000 after purchasing an additional 298,959 shares during the last quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd raised its holdings in shares of IAMGOLD by 250.5% in the first quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd now owns 32,861,554 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $109,429,000 after purchasing an additional 23,485,183 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of IAMGOLD by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,678,843 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $58,871,000 after purchasing an additional 168,302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Polunin Capital Partners Ltd boosted its holdings in IAMGOLD by 12.1% during the first quarter. Polunin Capital Partners Ltd now owns 8,995,059 shares of the mining companys stock worth $29,954,000 after purchasing an additional 968,104 shares during the last quarter. 47.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About IAMGOLD (Get Free Report) IAMGOLD Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an intermediate gold producer and developer in Canada and Burkina Faso. It owns 100% interest in the Westwood project that covers an area of 1,925 hectare and located in Quebec; a 60% interest in the Cote gold project, which covers an area of 596 square kilometer located in Ontario, Canada; and a 90% interests in the Essakane project that covers an area of 274,000 square kilometer situated in Burkina Faso. Read More Receive News & Ratings for IAMGOLD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IAMGOLD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JAKARTA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote political dialogue between the two countries' parliaments. The MoU was signed during a bilateral meeting between Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani and Speaker of the Papua New Guinea Parliament Job Pomat in Jakarta. "This allows both countries to discuss various issues, including parliamentary cooperation, economic collaboration, and border cooperation," said Puan. She hopes the MoU will maintain good relations and enhance cooperation between the neighboring countries in all fields, including trade and security. Centerra Gold Inc. (NYSE:CGAU Free Report) Raymond James increased their Q3 2024 earnings per share estimates for Centerra Gold in a report released on Monday, September 23rd. Raymond James analyst B. Macarthur now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.20 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.16. The consensus estimate for Centerra Golds current full-year earnings is $0.82 per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Centerra Golds Q1 2025 earnings at $0.12 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.12 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.12 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.12 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.49 EPS. Get Centerra Gold alerts: Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on CGAU. Cibc World Mkts cut shares of Centerra Gold from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. CIBC reissued a neutral rating and issued a $13.00 target price (up previously from $11.00) on shares of Centerra Gold in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Centerra Gold presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.00. Centerra Gold Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CGAU opened at $7.79 on Thursday. Centerra Gold has a 1 year low of $4.47 and a 1 year high of $7.82. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $6.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.61. The firm has a market cap of $1.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.83 and a beta of 0.98. Centerra Gold (NYSE:CGAU Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $282.31 million for the quarter. Centerra Gold had a net margin of 10.68% and a return on equity of 10.72%. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.20) EPS. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in Centerra Gold by 111.3% during the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,493,717 shares of the companys stock worth $10,046,000 after acquiring an additional 786,688 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in Centerra Gold by 1.2% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 178,489 shares of the companys stock worth $1,199,000 after purchasing an additional 2,120 shares during the period. AXA S.A. bought a new position in Centerra Gold in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,096,000. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its stake in Centerra Gold by 184.6% during the 2nd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 27,614 shares of the companys stock valued at $186,000 after buying an additional 17,912 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in shares of Centerra Gold by 94.6% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,037,839 shares of the companys stock worth $6,974,000 after buying an additional 504,636 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 55.40% of the companys stock. Centerra Gold Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th were given a $0.051 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.62%. Centerra Golds dividend payout ratio is presently 74.07%. Centerra Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) Centerra Gold Inc, a gold mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of gold and copper properties in North America, Turkey, and internationally. The company explores for gold, copper, and molybdenum deposits. Its flagship projects are the 100% owned Mount Milligan gold-copper mine located in British Columbia, Canada; and the Oksut gold mine located in Turkey. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Centerra Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centerra Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spruce Power (NYSE:SPRU Get Free Report) and Fortis (NYSE:FTS Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and earnings. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Spruce Power and Fortiss gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Spruce Power alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Spruce Power $79.72 million 0.63 -$65.83 million ($2.68) -1.01 Fortis $8.53 billion 2.63 $1.17 billion $2.32 19.56 Fortis has higher revenue and earnings than Spruce Power. Spruce Power is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Fortis, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Spruce Power 0 0 0 0 N/A Fortis 3 1 0 0 1.25 This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Spruce Power and Fortis, as provided by MarketBeat. Fortis has a consensus price target of $61.00, suggesting a potential upside of 34.42%. Given Fortis higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Fortis is more favorable than Spruce Power. Volatility & Risk Spruce Power has a beta of 1.2, indicating that its stock price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fortis has a beta of 0.47, indicating that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Spruce Power and Fortis net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Spruce Power -76.20% -10.61% -2.61% Fortis 13.90% 7.04% 2.34% Insider and Institutional Ownership 20.8% of Spruce Power shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 57.8% of Fortis shares are held by institutional investors. 9.6% of Spruce Power shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Fortis beats Spruce Power on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Spruce Power (Get Free Report) Spruce Power Holding Corporation owns and operates distributed solar energy assets in the United States. The company provides subscription-based services for homeowners and businesses to own and maintain rooftop solar and battery storage. It offers its subscription-based services to approximately 75,000 customers. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. About Fortis (Get Free Report) Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 447,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 103,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,408 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,087,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 592,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns four hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 145 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 90 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 69,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 275,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 34,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 17,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. It also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 90,500 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 51,600 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Spruce Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spruce Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heartland BancCorp (OTCMKTS:HLAN Get Free Report) and Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and risk. Dividends Heartland BancCorp pays an annual dividend of $3.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Shinhan Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $1.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Heartland BancCorp pays out 30.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Shinhan Financial Group pays out 19.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Shinhan Financial Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get Heartland BancCorp alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Heartland BancCorp and Shinhan Financial Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Heartland BancCorp $104.83 million 2.77 $19.52 million $9.94 14.49 Shinhan Financial Group $19,510.39 billion 0.00 $3.49 billion $6.07 7.32 Institutional & Insider Ownership Shinhan Financial Group has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland BancCorp. Shinhan Financial Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Heartland BancCorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. 7.5% of Heartland BancCorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 7.8% of Shinhan Financial Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 22.7% of Heartland BancCorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of Shinhan Financial Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility and Risk Heartland BancCorp has a beta of 0.41, indicating that its share price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Shinhan Financial Group has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its share price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Heartland BancCorp and Shinhan Financial Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Heartland BancCorp 0 1 1 0 2.50 Shinhan Financial Group 0 0 1 0 3.00 Heartland BancCorp currently has a consensus price target of $122.50, suggesting a potential downside of 14.93%. Given Heartland BancCorps higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Heartland BancCorp is more favorable than Shinhan Financial Group. Profitability This table compares Heartland BancCorp and Shinhan Financial Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Heartland BancCorp 17.89% N/A N/A Shinhan Financial Group 12.23% 7.16% 0.58% Summary Shinhan Financial Group beats Heartland BancCorp on 9 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About Heartland BancCorp (Get Free Report) Heartland BancCorp operates as the bank holding company for Heartland Bank that provides various banking and financial services to individual and corporate customers. The company offers personal and business checking and savings accounts. It also provides various lending solutions comprising agricultural loans, commercial and business lending, home and personal loans, and title services. In addition, the company offers online banking, treasury management, credit and debit card, and mobile wallet services. Further, it provides education planning, insurance, wealth management, and retirement planning services. Heartland BancCorp was founded in 1911 and is based in Whitehall, Ohio. About Shinhan Financial Group (Get Free Report) Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. provides financial products and services in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through six segments: Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Insurance, Credit, and Others. It offers retail banking services, including demand, savings, and fixed deposit-taking; checking accounts; mortgage and home equity, and retail lending; electronic banking and automatic teller machines (ATM); and bill paying, payroll and check-cashing, currency exchange, and wire fund transfer services. The company also provides corporate banking services, such as investment banking, real estate financing, overseas real estate and development project financing, infrastructure and structured financing, equity/venture investments, mergers and acquisitions consulting; securitization and derivatives services comprising securities and derivative products, and foreign exchange trading; business expansion financing and consulting services; and working capital loans and facilities loans. In addition, it is involved in treasury and investment activities in international capital markets consisting of foreign currency-denominated securities trading, foreign exchange trading and services, trade-related financial services, international factoring services, and foreign banking operations. Further, the company offers real estate trust, investment advisory, venture business investment, life and non-life insurance, trust account management, securities brokerage, and asset management services, as well as leasing and equipment financing, savings banking, loan collection and credit reporting, collective investment administration, private equity investment, and financial system development services. Additionally, it provides transaction history inquiries and fund transfers, opening letters of credit, trade finance, payment and collection management, sales and acquisition settlement, business-to-business settlement, sweeping, pooling, ERP interface, host-to-host banking, SWIFT SCORE, and cash and liquidity management service. Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Receive News & Ratings for Heartland BancCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Heartland BancCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSE:TMQ Free Report) Equities researchers at Raymond James issued their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Trilogy Metals in a note issued to investors on Monday, September 23rd. Raymond James analyst B. Macarthur anticipates that the company will earn ($0.01) per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Trilogy Metals current full-year earnings is ($0.07) per share. Get Trilogy Metals alerts: Trilogy Metals (TSE:TMQ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 10th. The company reported C($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of C($0.01). Separately, TD Securities lowered Trilogy Metals from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$0.75 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Read Our Latest Stock Report on TMQ Trilogy Metals Price Performance Shares of TSE:TMQ opened at C$0.66 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of C$105.96 million, a P/E ratio of -6.00 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.69. Trilogy Metals has a 52 week low of C$0.34 and a 52 week high of C$0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 5.25, a current ratio of 30.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. About Trilogy Metals (Get Free Report) Trilogy Metals Inc, a base metals exploration company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in the United States. The company explores for copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, gold, and silver properties. It principally holds interests in the Upper Kobuk mineral projects that include the Arctic, which contains polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits; and Bornite that contains carbonate-hosted copper cobalt deposits covering an area of approximately 448,217 acres located in the Ambler mining district in Northwest Alaska. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Trilogy Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trilogy Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the twenty research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $647.78. Several analysts have recently weighed in on TMO shares. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $670.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $767.00 target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Bank of America raised their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $600.00 to $675.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $655.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $600.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TMO Insider Activity Institutional Investors Weigh In On Thermo Fisher Scientific In other news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.85, for a total transaction of $1,201,700.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,083 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,860,920.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.85, for a total transaction of $1,201,700.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,083 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,860,920.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $617.21, for a total value of $6,172,100.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 123,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,420,473.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 23,084 shares of company stock valued at $14,094,292. Insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 318.2% during the second quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 46 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. LifeSteps Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 1st quarter worth $31,000. New Millennium Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the second quarter worth $29,000. Stephens Consulting LLC boosted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 116.0% in the 2nd quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 54 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1,275.0% during the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 55 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.23% of the companys stock. Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 3.3 % NYSE:TMO opened at $619.45 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $602.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $581.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Thermo Fisher Scientific has a 12 month low of $415.60 and a 12 month high of $627.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $236.63 billion, a PE ratio of 39.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.78. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The medical research company reported $5.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.13 by $0.24. The company had revenue of $10.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.50 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 18.22% and a net margin of 14.69%. The firms revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $5.15 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific will post 21.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.25%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.01%. About Thermo Fisher Scientific (Get Free Report Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY Free Report) by 10.3% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 567,743 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 65,523 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Infosys were worth $10,571,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Infosys by 22.6% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,931 shares of the technology companys stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 541 shares in the last quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Infosys by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 14,724 shares of the technology companys stock worth $274,000 after acquiring an additional 584 shares in the last quarter. Somerset Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Infosys by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Somerset Trust Co now owns 15,140 shares of the technology companys stock worth $282,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. Seed Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Infosys by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Seed Wealth Management Inc. now owns 18,260 shares of the technology companys stock worth $340,000 after acquiring an additional 970 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop National Bank raised its position in shares of Infosys by 50.8% during the second quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 2,979 shares of the technology companys stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 1,004 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 10.89% of the companys stock. Get Infosys alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on INFY shares. Erste Group Bank raised Infosys from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 11th. Macquarie raised shares of Infosys from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 19th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Infosys from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, September 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $19.27. Infosys Price Performance Shares of INFY opened at $22.96 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $22.36 and its 200-day moving average is $19.47. The company has a market capitalization of $95.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.99. Infosys Limited has a fifty-two week low of $16.04 and a fifty-two week high of $23.48. Infosys (NYSE:INFY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 18th. The technology company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.18. The firm had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.67 billion. Infosys had a net margin of 17.18% and a return on equity of 32.01%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.17 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Infosys Limited will post 0.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Infosys Profile (Free Report) Infosys Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, technology, outsourcing, and next-generation digital services in North America, Europe, India, and internationally. It provides digital marketing and digital workplace, digital commerce, digital experience and interactions, metaverse, data analytics and AI, applied AI, generative AI, sustainability, blockchain, engineering, Internet of Things, enterprise agile DevOps, application modernization, cloud, digital process automation, digital supply chain, Microsoft business application and cloud business, service experience transformation, energy transition, cyber security, and quality engineering solutions; Oracle, SAP, and Saleforce solutions; API economy and microservices; and Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions, and platforms using generative AI technologies. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INFY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Infosys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Infosys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF (BATS:JMST Free Report) by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 210,206 shares of the companys stock after selling 33,759 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc.s holdings in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF were worth $10,667,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in JMST. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF by 325.3% during the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 395,478 shares of the companys stock worth $20,069,000 after buying an additional 302,492 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its stake in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF by 58.0% in the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 493,838 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,057,000 after buying an additional 181,337 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF by 10.9% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,757,832 shares of the companys stock worth $89,201,000 after purchasing an additional 172,347 shares during the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF by 22.5% in the 2nd quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 892,834 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,307,000 after acquiring an additional 163,699 shares during the period. Finally, Quotient Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $7,871,000. Get JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF alerts: JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF Stock Up 0.0 % BATS:JMST opened at $50.94 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $50.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.74. JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF Increases Dividend JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were paid a $0.1451 dividend. This is a boost from JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETFs previous dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. (Free Report) The JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal Income ETF (JMST) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed portfolio of US municipal bonds with a weighted average maturity of two years or less. JMST was launched on Oct 16, 2018 and is managed by JPMorgan Chase. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JMST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF (BATS:JMST Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. (OTCMKTS:KCDMF Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,321,300 shares, a growth of 53.0% from the August 31st total of 863,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently ? days. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. Trading Down 2.4 % OTCMKTS:KCDMF traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $1.63. 1,001 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,336. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1.70 and a 200 day moving average of $1.92. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. has a twelve month low of $1.63 and a twelve month high of $2.34. Get Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. alerts: About Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets disposable products in Mexico. The company offers baby diapers, training pants, swim pants, wet wipes, shampoos, creams, bar soaps, and feeding products. It also provides toilet papers, napkins, facial tissues, paper towels, feminine pads, panty liners, tampons, intimate wipes, and menstrual cups. Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Greece S.A. (OTCMKTS:NBGIF Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,186,400 shares, a growth of 53.1% from the August 31st total of 774,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 439.4 days. National Bank of Greece Trading Up 3.0 % NBGIF stock traded up $0.26 during trading on Friday, reaching $8.80. 550 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,225. National Bank of Greece has a 1-year low of $5.37 and a 1-year high of $9.30. The companys fifty day moving average price is $8.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.40. Get National Bank of Greece alerts: About National Bank of Greece (Get Free Report) Read More National Bank of Greece SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services primarily in Greece, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It operates through Retail Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Trouble Assets Unit & Specialized Asset Solutions, Global Markets and Asset Management, Insurance, International Banking Operations, and Other segments. Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Greece Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Greece and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intertek Group plc (LON:ITRK Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 5,155 ($69.03) and last traded at GBX 5,155 ($69.03), with a volume of 714868 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 5,130 ($68.69). Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on ITRK shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 5,200 ($69.63) price target on shares of Intertek Group in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 5,500 ($73.65) price target on shares of Intertek Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Intertek Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 5,351 ($71.65). Get Intertek Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ITRK Intertek Group Stock Up 0.1 % Intertek Group Cuts Dividend The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 4,864.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 4,872.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 100.41, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market capitalization of 8.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,731.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.63. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 12th will be issued a GBX 53.90 ($0.72) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 12th. Intertek Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 6,736.84%. About Intertek Group (Get Free Report) Intertek Group plc engages in the provision of quality assurance solutions to various industries in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Australia, and internationally. The company operates in five segments: Consumer Products, Corporate Assurance, Health and Safety, Industry and Infrastructure, and World of Energy. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Intertek Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intertek Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VIENTIANE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hosted the first Forum on Carbon Markets to foster Laos' participation in international carbon markets. The forum, held in Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday, gathered around 150 participants from the Lao government, civil society, development partners, and the private sector. The forum provided the Lao government with an opportunity to share important updates on its policy landscape and strategic directions with project developers and international partners, Lao National Radio reported on Friday. It facilitated discussions among partners on strategies for international carbon trading in alignment with the Paris Agreement. Laos has been working to align its laws and policies with international standards to engage in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, while also improving the efficiency and integrity of voluntary carbon markets. "As of September 2024, the Lao government has progressed on an advanced draft of the Decree on Carbon Credits, which establishes a comprehensive framework for carbon project development and trading," Amphayvanh Oudomdeth, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change under Laos' Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said at the forum. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) by 19.4% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 32,737 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 5,326 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in Unum Group were worth $1,673,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Unum Group by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,071 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $165,000 after buying an additional 204 shares during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its holdings in Unum Group by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 10,126 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Unum Group by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,786 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $654,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the period. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Unum Group by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,457 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $78,000 after buying an additional 247 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia increased its holdings in Unum Group by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 9,193 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $416,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Unum Group alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group In other Unum Group news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 67,795 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.98, for a total value of $3,727,369.10. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,065,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,601,422.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 67,795 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.98, for a total transaction of $3,727,369.10. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,065,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,601,422.64. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.11, for a total value of $541,100.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 64,821 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,507,464.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Unum Group Price Performance Unum Group stock opened at $58.12 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $54.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $52.85. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $41.75 and a 1 year high of $58.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $3.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.23 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 10.40% and a return on equity of 15.55%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.06 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Unum Group declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Unum Group Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 26th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 26th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.89%. This is a positive change from Unum Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.96%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNM. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.90. View Our Latest Stock Report on Unum Group About Unum Group (Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT Free Report) by 17.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,706 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,043 shares during the quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in Essent Group were worth $1,501,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Essent Group by 3.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,917,819 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $709,229,000 after purchasing an additional 440,385 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,680,074 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $262,973,000 after purchasing an additional 445,853 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Essent Group by 10.7% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,247,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $74,220,000 after buying an additional 120,881 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 94.1% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 739,688 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $44,019,000 after buying an additional 358,621 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Essent Group by 31.2% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 650,270 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,295,000 after buying an additional 154,591 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.00% of the companys stock. Get Essent Group alerts: Essent Group Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:ESNT opened at $63.35 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $62.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $58.17. Essent Group Ltd. has a 52-week low of $45.63 and a 52-week high of $65.33. The company has a market capitalization of $6.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.12. Essent Group Announces Dividend Essent Group ( NYSE:ESNT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.23. Essent Group had a net margin of 61.31% and a return on equity of 14.40%. The business had revenue of $272.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $308.33 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.61 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Essent Group Ltd. will post 7.02 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Essent Groups payout ratio is 16.94%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Essent Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $65.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Barclays boosted their target price on Essent Group from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Essent Group from $61.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Essent Group from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Finally, BTIG Research raised their target price on shares of Essent Group from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $64.33. Read Our Latest Analysis on Essent Group Insider Buying and Selling In other Essent Group news, CFO David B. Weinstock sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.59, for a total transaction of $127,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 25,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,616,203.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Vijay Bhasin sold 11,188 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.14, for a total transaction of $672,846.32. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 199,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,989,450.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO David B. Weinstock sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.59, for a total value of $127,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 25,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,616,203.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 18,188 shares of company stock worth $1,094,076. 2.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Essent Group Profile (Free Report) Essent Group Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance for mortgages secured by residential properties located in the United States. Its mortgage insurance products include primary, pool, and master policy. The company also provides information technology maintenance and development services; customer support-related services; underwriting consulting; and contract underwriting services, as well as risk management products and title insurance and settlement services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ESNT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Essent Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essent Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT Free Report) by 14.3% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,242 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after buying an additional 656 shares during the quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in Waters were worth $1,521,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Waters in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Riverview Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Waters during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Waters by 190.2% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 119 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. grew its stake in Waters by 19,900.0% during the 2nd quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 200 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new stake in Waters in the second quarter valued at about $59,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.01% of the companys stock. Get Waters alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WAT shares. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Waters from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Waters to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Waters from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Waters in a research report on Monday, June 3rd. They issued a hold rating and a $320.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partners raised Waters from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $325.00 to $375.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Waters presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $318.50. Waters Trading Up 4.6 % Waters stock opened at $355.73 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $21.12 billion, a PE ratio of 34.91, a P/E/G ratio of 5.96 and a beta of 0.95. Waters Co. has a 12 month low of $231.90 and a 12 month high of $367.21. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $332.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $324.32. The company has a current ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Waters (NYSE:WAT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.55 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $709.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $700.09 million. Waters had a net margin of 20.71% and a return on equity of 56.81%. The firms revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.80 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Waters Co. will post 11.6 earnings per share for the current year. Waters Company Profile (Free Report) Waters Corporation provides analytical workflow solutions in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. It operates through two segments: Waters and TA. The company designs, manufactures, sells, and services high and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, as well as mass spectrometry (MS) technology systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products, and post-warranty service plans. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waters Co. (NYSE:WAT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Waters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First County Bank CT decreased its stake in shares of Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR Free Report) by 13.9% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 6,474 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 1,042 shares during the quarter. First County Bank CTs holdings in Entergy were worth $693,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ETR. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 461,175 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $49,346,000 after buying an additional 18,422 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Entergy by 185.5% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,876,672 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $200,804,000 after acquiring an additional 1,219,419 shares during the period. MBB Public Markets I LLC bought a new position in Entergy in the second quarter valued at about $1,637,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Entergy by 122.0% during the 2nd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 6,887 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $737,000 after purchasing an additional 3,785 shares during the period. Finally, Decade Renewable Partners LP increased its position in shares of Entergy by 45.0% during the 2nd quarter. Decade Renewable Partners LP now owns 115,118 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $12,318,000 after purchasing an additional 35,716 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.07% of the companys stock. Get Entergy alerts: Entergy Price Performance Shares of NYSE:ETR opened at $129.58 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.94. The firm has a market cap of $27.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.73. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $120.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $111.56. Entergy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $87.10 and a fifty-two week high of $131.03. Entergy Dividend Announcement Entergy ( NYSE:ETR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.16. Entergy had a return on equity of 10.10% and a net margin of 14.75%. The firm had revenue of $2.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.98 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.84 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 13th were issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 13th. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.49%. Entergys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.34%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on ETR shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Entergy from $124.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reissued a neutral rating and set a $109.50 price target (down previously from $117.00) on shares of Entergy in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Entergy from $118.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Entergy from $107.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Entergy from $135.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Entergy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.81. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ETR Insider Activity In related news, COO Peter S. Norgeot, Jr. sold 7,922 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,029,860.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 34,993 shares in the company, valued at $4,549,090. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, COO Peter S. Norgeot, Jr. sold 7,922 shares of Entergy stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,029,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 34,993 shares in the company, valued at $4,549,090. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Peter S. Norgeot, Jr. sold 3,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.56, for a total value of $398,320.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 34,993 shares in the company, valued at $4,288,742.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 50,810 shares of company stock worth $6,140,626. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Entergy Company Profile (Free Report) Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ETR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Entergy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Entergy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWS Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 792,831 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 86% from the previous sessions volume of 426,385 shares.The stock last traded at $130.69 and had previously closed at $131.42. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Stock Up 0.5 % The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $127.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $123.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.15 and a beta of 0.97. Get iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Able Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Kimelman & Baird LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, LifeSteps Financial Inc. bought a new position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $38,000. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Company Profile iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Value Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Marshall Wace LLP trimmed its stake in The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM Free Report) by 26.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 100,623 shares of the companys stock after selling 36,892 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned about 0.84% of Boston Beer worth $30,695,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Boston Beer during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Beer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Boston Beer during the second quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Sachetta LLC raised its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 1,533.3% in the second quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 245 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its position in Boston Beer by 61.3% in the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 250 shares of the companys stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.13% of the companys stock. Get Boston Beer alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on SAM shares. Roth Mkm dropped their price objective on shares of Boston Beer from $395.00 to $389.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Boston Beer from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $290.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Boston Beer from $332.00 to $318.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Boston Beer from $273.00 to $283.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Boston Beer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Boston Beer has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $326.92. Boston Beer Stock Up 2.3 % Boston Beer stock opened at $276.96 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $275.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $284.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.05. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. has a 12-month low of $254.40 and a 12-month high of $395.52. Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $4.39 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.99 by ($0.60). Boston Beer had a return on equity of 9.69% and a net margin of 4.39%. The company had revenue of $579.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $597.33 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.72 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year. Boston Beer Profile (Free Report) The Boston Beer Company, Inc produces and sells alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, and Coney Island brand names. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boston Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its position in MasterBrand, Inc. (NYSE:MBC Free Report) by 7.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 279,389 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 19,558 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Boards holdings in MasterBrand were worth $4,101,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MBC. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in MasterBrand by 71.4% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,596 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 665 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of MasterBrand by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 35,554 shares of the companys stock valued at $522,000 after buying an additional 717 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of MasterBrand by 51.2% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,208 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 748 shares in the last quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC grew its holdings in MasterBrand by 1.5% during the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 63,799 shares of the companys stock worth $937,000 after acquiring an additional 942 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its position in MasterBrand by 1.8% in the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 63,900 shares of the companys stock worth $938,000 after acquiring an additional 1,100 shares in the last quarter. 87.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get MasterBrand alerts: Insider Transactions at MasterBrand In related news, Director Ann F. Hackett sold 17,589 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.95, for a total value of $280,544.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 45,520 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $726,044. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other MasterBrand news, CAO Mark A. Young sold 4,715 shares of MasterBrand stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.33, for a total transaction of $76,995.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 45,148 shares in the company, valued at $737,266.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ann F. Hackett sold 17,589 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.95, for a total transaction of $280,544.55. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 45,520 shares in the company, valued at $726,044. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,806 shares of company stock valued at $365,567 in the last quarter. 1.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. MasterBrand Price Performance Shares of NYSE MBC opened at $17.74 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 2.24. MasterBrand, Inc. has a one year low of $10.53 and a one year high of $19.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.49 and a beta of 1.49. The companys fifty day moving average is $16.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.57. MasterBrand (NYSE:MBC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.04. MasterBrand had a net margin of 6.69% and a return on equity of 16.58%. The firm had revenue of $676.50 million for the quarter. MasterBrand Profile (Free Report) MasterBrand, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of residential cabinets in the United States and Canada. The company offers a range of residential cabinetry products for the kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of the home. It sells its products to remodeling and new construction markets through dealers, retailers, and builders. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MBC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MasterBrand, Inc. (NYSE:MBC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for MasterBrand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MasterBrand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scientech Research LLC boosted its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 635.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,003 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 10,370 shares during the period. Travelers Companies comprises 0.5% of Scientech Research LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Scientech Research LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $2,441,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRV. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new position in Travelers Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 74.2% during the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 155 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $45,000. 82.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.44, for a total value of $2,114,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,798 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,820,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.1 % NYSE TRV opened at $236.10 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $54.07 billion, a PE ratio of 17.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a fifty day moving average of $222.96 and a 200 day moving average of $218.07. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $157.33 and a 1 year high of $243.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 19th. The insurance provider reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.23 by ($0.72). The business had revenue of $11.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.35 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 8.37% and a return on equity of 15.90%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.06 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.19 earnings per share for the current year. Travelers Companies Announces Dividend 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 issued a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.78%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 31.20%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on TRV shares. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. They set an overweight rating and a $286.00 price objective on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $221.00 to $234.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $213.00 to $207.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Travelers Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $227.05. Get Our Latest Report on Travelers Companies Travelers Companies Profile (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. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Cushman & Wakefield plc (NYSE:CWK Free Report) by 98.7% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,252,780 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,119,141 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLPs holdings in Cushman & Wakefield were worth $23,429,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of CWK. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Cushman & Wakefield by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,788,309 shares of the companys stock worth $301,126,000 after buying an additional 1,110,076 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 31.2% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,395,027 shares of the companys stock worth $108,108,000 after acquiring an additional 2,469,831 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Cushman & Wakefield by 23.1% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 10,173,171 shares of the companys stock worth $105,802,000 after acquiring an additional 1,910,212 shares in the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. increased its stake in Cushman & Wakefield by 12.7% in the second quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 6,208,780 shares of the companys stock valued at $64,571,000 after acquiring an additional 697,890 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its position in Cushman & Wakefield by 18.8% during the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 4,400,751 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,032,000 after purchasing an additional 695,005 shares in the last quarter. 95.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Cushman & Wakefield alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Cushman & Wakefield from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Cushman & Wakefield from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Cushman & Wakefield presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.80. Cushman & Wakefield Trading Up 2.1 % NYSE CWK opened at $13.81 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.17 billion, a PE ratio of 345.25 and a beta of 1.31. Cushman & Wakefield plc has a 1-year low of $6.24 and a 1-year high of $13.99. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $12.90 and a 200-day moving average of $11.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE:CWK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 29th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.01. Cushman & Wakefield had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 0.22%. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.22 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Cushman & Wakefield plc will post 0.87 EPS for the current year. About Cushman & Wakefield (Free Report) Cushman & Wakefield plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial real estate services under the Cushman & Wakefield brand in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CWK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cushman & Wakefield plc (NYSE:CWK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cushman & Wakefield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cushman & Wakefield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Marshall Wace LLP reduced its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE Free Report) by 14.5% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 228,232 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 38,704 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLPs holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities were worth $26,696,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 132.8% during the second quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 270 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the second quarter worth $33,000. Riverview Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the first quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the second quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors own 96.54% of the companys stock. Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: Alexandria Real Estate Equities Price Performance Shares of ARE opened at $121.54 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $118.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $119.80. The firm has a market cap of $21.26 billion, a PE ratio of 113.59, a P/E/G ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 1-year low of $90.73 and a 1-year high of $135.45. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement Alexandria Real Estate Equities ( NYSE:ARE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by ($2.09). The firm had revenue of $766.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $775.03 million. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 5.09% and a return on equity of 0.68%. The firms revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.24 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 9.47 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th will be given 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 4.28%. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 485.98%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ARE. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $126.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 28th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Citigroup cut shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $130.00 to $125.00 in a report on Friday, September 13th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the company from $136.00 to $127.00 in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $151.00 to $126.00 in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $130.70. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Alexandria Real Estate Equities Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile (Free Report) Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE Free Report). 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. KHARTOUM, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's army launched a significant offensive on Thursday against rival paramilitary forces in the capital, Khartoum, marking its most substantial effort in months to regain control of the city, according to military sources and witnesses. Heavy fighting was reported in central Khartoum and its neighboring cities of Omdurman and Bahri, with eyewitnesses noting air strikes, artillery fire, and clashes involving light and medium weapons. The army targeted several areas controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in central, western, and southern Khartoum, a military source said on condition of anonymity. "Today, the army launched a ground attack on strategic areas in central Khartoum, marking the largest and most extensive assault of its kind to expel the militia from key locations," the source told Xinhua. Witnesses reported violent explosions near the army's General Command, the General Intelligence Service headquarters, and Khartoum International Airport. The army has not issued an official comment regarding the operations. Meanwhile, RSF advisor El Basha Tabig denied any army advances, claiming on social media platform X that RSF forces had destroyed an army unit attempting to cross the El Fitihab bridge toward Khartoum. Video clips purportedly showing army units entering the Al Souq Al-Arabi Market in central Khartoum, identified as an RSF stronghold, circulated on social media. The civil war that erupted on April 15 last year has wreaked havoc on Khartoum and other urban areas. Previous ceasefire agreements have failed to halt the conflict, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, leaving aid agencies struggling to deliver essential supplies amid ongoing fighting. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is focusing on strengthening economic cooperation and enhancing connectivity in the region and beyond, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. Commenting on the upcoming prime ministers' meeting of the SCO in Islamabad, spokesperson of Pakistan's Foreign Office Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that subjects pertaining to the economy, trade, finance, investment, trade facilitation and economic collaboration, as mentioned in Astana Declaration, will be further elaborated. Highlighting joint building of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as mentioned during the SCO Astana Summit, the spokesperson said that Pakistan has been supporting initiatives in the SCO that foster connectivity and establish new linkages among member states. "Pakistan fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative, which is also an important connectivity project for the region and Pakistan. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI, is critical for Pakistan's economic prosperity and development," she said. Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while in the new phase expands to the fields of agriculture and livelihood. The jury is out on whether the new UK Government will live up to the commitments of the Good Friday Agreement, Michelle ONeill has said. Sinn Feins vice president also told her partys Ard Fheis that it is ready to fight the general election in Ireland, pointing to its historic success in emerging as the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Ard Fheis is taking place in Athlone amid increased speculation that Irelands coalition Government could be poised to call a Dail election. As it attempts to recover from a recent slide in the polls in Ireland, Sinn Fein will focus over the next two days on housing and supporting workers and families. Delivering her keynote speech, Ms ONeill said things can ebb and flow in politics. She said: In the lead-up to the (Northern Ireland) Assembly election, with many challenges and unpredictability, the political situation was very uncertain. We refused to be defined by that. We rallied our support and communicated our vision. And a few weeks later we witnessed historic success at the polls. This demonstrates that Sinn Fein can reaffirm our mission and that change can happen. Sinn Fein is the catalyst for change across this island. We are going into our Ard Fheis ready to fight the general election. Ms ONeill pointed to her position as the first nationalist First Minister at Stormont. She said: My election was a moment of equality and progress. For the first time in the history of the north, an Irish nationalist, a republican, is First Minister. What was unthinkable to my parents and grandparents generation is now a reality. The Sinn Fein vice president said the Stormont powersharing Executive is committed to delivering an ambitious agenda for change. She added: Over the past eight months I have been working across key sectors and with local communities from Pomeroy to the Shankill Road, from Newcastle to the Bogside, to ensure their voices are heard in the corridors of power and that the Executive responds to their needs. The four Executive parties are working with a unity of purpose. We are determined to deliver the public services, good governance, economic growth and strong communities that we all depend on. Our work aims to improve lives, build prosperity and create hope and opportunity. Ms ONeill said the change of government in London offered an opportunity in Irish-British relations. She added: However, the jury is out on how this new British Government will live up to commitments set out in the Good Friday Agreement. Their initial actions demonstrate more of the same: failed austerity and broken promises. This is simply not good enough. Cutting winter fuel payments for older people is wrong and the Executive is united against it. We will continue fighting for investment in public services decimated by 14 years of British austerity. She said financial limitations restricted the Executives ability to act, adding: Further financial powers are required. Only through governing ourselves can we build a better future. All powers and all decisions should be taken here on this island. Ms ONeill repeated her insistence that Casement Park in Belfast would be rebuilt and said the Legacy Act must be repealed in full. The Sinn Fein vice president also referenced a rise in racist incidents. She said: Over the summer, there were racist attacks and intimidation on our streets. This is totally unacceptable. As political leaders we will continue to face down division, sectarianism and racism and will not be deterred from building an inclusive future for all who live here. Hope will always win over hate. TASHKENT, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Chen Wenqing, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official here on Thursday. 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, highlighted that China and Uzbekistan are sincere friends, partners in mutual development and brothers who support each other. He said that in January and July this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met twice with President Mirziyoyev, during which they outlined a new blueprint for advancing the China-Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era and building a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future. Noting that law enforcement and security cooperation is a key component of the bilateral relationship, Chen said that China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and give full play to the role of China-Uzbekistan law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism. China is also ready to strengthen exchanges between law enforcement and security departments of the two sides, and deepen cooperation in counterterrorism, anti-interference and counter-infiltration, so as to provide solid security guarantees for the development of both countries, he said. Mirziyoyev, for his part, said that the relationship between Uzbekistan and China serves as a model for inter-state relations in the region. Uzbekistan is firmly committed to combating any actions that threaten the sovereignty, security and development interests of both countries and resolutely opposes the "three forces," he said. Mirziyoyev expressed Uzbekistan's willingness to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation at all levels with China to effectively maintain the prosperity, stability and peace of both nations. Chen and Viktor Makhmudov, secretary of the security council under the president of Uzbekistan, co-chaired the first meeting of China-Uzbekistan law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism and signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing the mechanism. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has received a Special Drawing Right (SDR) of around 1.03 billion U.S. dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Friday. The inflows will be reflected in the SBP's liquid reserves, which will be released on Oct. 3, the bank said in a statement. A day earlier, the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for the IMF's technical assistance and capacity-building programs, which have helped to strengthen the country's institutions and improve its economic management, in a meeting with Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities reached the staff-level agreement on a 37-month Extended Fund Facility Arrangement (EFF) of about 7 billion dollars in July this year, according to the lender. The new program aims to support the Pakistani authorities' efforts to cement macroeconomic stability and create conditions for stronger, more inclusive and resilient growth, the IMF said. People visit the exhibition area of the "Robotics Strategy Forum 2024" in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sept. 26, 2024. The event was held on Thursday at Sofia Tech Park for the sixth consecutive year, continuing its mission to boost innovation in robotics and autonomous technologies. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) A woman fine-tunes a product at the exhibition area of the "Robotics Strategy Forum 2024" in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sept. 26, 2024. The event was held on Thursday at Sofia Tech Park for the sixth consecutive year, continuing its mission to boost innovation in robotics and autonomous technologies. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) People visit the exhibition area of the "Robotics Strategy Forum 2024" in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sept. 26, 2024. The event was held on Thursday at Sofia Tech Park for the sixth consecutive year, continuing its mission to boost innovation in robotics and autonomous technologies. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the sidelines 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 Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. China attaches great importance to China-Poland relations and is ready to work with Poland to uphold the core of China-Poland friendship based on mutual respect, equality, mutually beneficial cooperation, and mutual learning, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Expressing hope that Poland will provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, Wang urged both sides to promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations. Sikorski said that Poland adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to developing constructive bilateral relations with China. Poland is willing to provide a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises, Sikorski said, noting that keeping trade between Europe and China open serves the interests of both sides. 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) Bangen described 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. DUISBURG, Germany, Sept. 27 (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. Markus Bangen, chief executive officer of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), receives an interview with Xinhua in Duisburg, Germany, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) The CRE now complements shipping and maritime transport, strengthening connections between China's inland and major European hubs. Bangen described 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. This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) 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. This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) 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. Aerial photo taken on June 23, 2022 shows a cargo train, which marks the 10,000th trip made by China-Europe freight trains operated by the China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing), waiting for departure at Tuanjie Village Central Railway Station in Chongqing, southwest China. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Laszlo Kover, the speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, delivers a speech at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 26, 2024. The reception was held here on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) BUDAPEST, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved a level of development that the world admires, the speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly said here on Thursday. Laszlo Kover made the remarks on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. Underlining the importance of China's contribution to world peace and progress, Kover told Xinhua that "China is playing a significant role in making the world safer and better through its international cooperation." Kover said that China is Hungary's most important trading partner outside Europe and ranks ninth overall, adding that Chinese investment in Hungary has also been substantial. "We also see that the connections between people, whether in the fields of science, student exchanges, or tourism, are growing, and these opportunities for cooperation are expanding, which is undoubtedly advantageous for Hungary," he said. "We can set an example for others in terms of the credibility of our cooperation and mutual respect," he said, expressing optimism about the development of bilateral relations. Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao addresses a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 26, 2024. The reception was held here on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Dancers perform at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 26, 2024. The reception was held here on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) A reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary is held in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 26, 2024. The reception was held here on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) The latest note from the Kansas legal maverick puts a national medical association on notice and signals scrutiny of "best practices" for youngsters going forward. Here's the word sent that www.TonysKansasCity.com readers might fight instructive . . . Kobach, AG coalition question pediatrics academy on possible violations of gender care recommendations TOPEKA - (September 26, 2024) - Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and a coalition of 20 state attorneys general are putting the American Academy of Pediatrics on notice for possible violations of state consumer protection laws over the AAPs recommendation that puberty blockers are safe and reversible for children. The letter, led by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, demands that the AAP retract a policy statement that calls puberty blockers reversible. Parents should be able to trust that guidance from the AAP and its member pediatricians is rooted in safety and reality and not in woke gender ideology, Kobach said. A child changing his or her gender identity has long-term major medical and psychological ramifications." The letter requests detailed information from the AAP regarding its communications and practices related to youth gender dysphoria and substantiation of the Academys claims regarding the safety and reversibility of puberty blockers. Telling parents and children that puberty blockers are reversible at the very least conveys assurance that no permanent harm or change will occur, but that claim cannot be made in the face of the unstudied and novel use of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria, the letter reads. In addition to Idaho and Kansas, other states joining the letter include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Arizona Legislature. ### Developing . . . Lots to consider for our most loyal readers who enjoy this selection of EXCEPTIONAL crime reporting along with updates on police action, court cases and community outreach. Of special note . . . Tonight we're starting out with an important short Kansas City documentary on the very real protocols for coping with the aftermath of tragedy. Check TKC news gathering . . . Behind the Scenes of Crime Scene Cleanup Jeremy Cumberford of Crime Scene Cleaners shares the methodology of remediation after tragedies such as homicides, suicides, and unattended deaths. Pedestrian on scooter killed in Kansas City crash by speeding vehicle A pedestrian operating a motorized scooter was struck and killed by a speeding car at 51st and Troost in Kansas City on Thursday. Scooter driver killed after being hit by car near 51st, Troost Avenue in Kansas City One person was killed after being hit while on a motorized scooter in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, police said. Woman stabbed in KCK hopes sentencing brings relief John Eugene McGriff is set to be sentenced on Wednesday after reaching a plea deal. Scene is safe after Independence Police Department bomb squad investigates suspicious package The scene is safe after the Independence Police Department investigated a suspicious package. Police said the package was just filled with paper. Kansas Turnpike Authority warns of new text scam asking to pay for tolls It involves "smishing" - text messages that ask you to pay for tolls, but the texts come from a scammer. Two children almost died at a Kansas foster care office One child cut their arm and neck with glass. Another found muscle relaxants. The two children almost died at a foster care office. What if Missouri got it wrong and executed an innocent man? Abolish the death penalty | Opinion Missouri executes Marcellus 'Khaliifah' Williams despite doubts about his guilt. Is the death penalty inhumane and prone to errors? From Toriano Porter: Kansas City, Kansas, man sentenced in father's death, woman's stabbing John McGriff will serve just under 14 years without parole in the fatal stabbing of his father, Samuel, 72, and a knife attack on Stephanie Perez in July 2023. Independence police looking for suspects in hit-and-run that injured man and dog The victim is still in the ICU at a local hospital. The victim's dog suffered a broken spine and had to be put down by a vet. Kansas City leaders answer illegal street racing concerns by installing rumble strips The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council is warning dangerous drivers who attempt the illegal sideshow spin-outs and racing that have been plaguing the Crossroads Art District. Suspect arrested for 2018 killing of teen outside Cascone's Restaurant Erick Estrada, an employee of Cascone's Restaurant on North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri, was shot and killed on March 25, 2018 Public safety concerns linger in Platte County 1 month after voters rejected jail expansion Platte County leaders are trying to figure out next steps after voters rejected a proposal to build a new jail in the county. Police attempt to identify woman who may be involved in KCK robbery, shooting Police in Kansas City have called on the public to help identify the woman behind a robbery who may also have information about a shooting. At vigil for homicide victims, KC nonprofits encourage families to seek help Friends and family of those lost to homicide in Kansas City united in grief Wednesday to mark National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims. Good Samaritans detain man accused of break-in, vehicle fires in Kansas City A group of Good Samaritans detained a man accused of a break-in and two vehicle fires which led to his arrest in Kansas City. KCPD wants to shatter the stigma and promote mental health in law enforcement September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. KCPD is highlighting resources available to officers and their families to support mental health. Developing . . . Once again we share our late night reading for late night & early morning readers as we hope (but don't promise) to share another update before the crack of noon. For now . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . Show Must Go On . . . Starlight's 2025 Broadway Series Is All Debuts - IN Kansas City Magazine The Starlight Theatre announced its 2025 Broadway series lineup last week, and each production will be appearing on the Starlight stage for the first time. The 2025 AdventHealth Broadway Series-which consists of Mean Girls, School of Rock, Ain't Too Proud, Disney's Frozen, and Life of Pi-marks the theater's 75th anniversary in Kansas City. Community Support Endures After Tragedy 'We will do whatever we can': KCK farm, local chef host fundraiser for family of Shaun Brady The Kurlbaum family and chef Stephanie Cashion, owner of The Glass Cat, used comfort food to raise money for Shaun Brady's family. Background On Another Local Loss Aviation leaders mourn loss of airport mechanic after fatal medical emergency Kansas City aviation leaders are mourning the loss of a dedicated airport maintenance mechanic after he suffered a fatal medical emergency at work. Transit Budget Debated 'A tremendous blow': What bus route cuts could mean for Wyandotte County neighborhoods Two fixed routes are being eyed for elimination in 2025 to fill a $2.4 million budget shortfall. Tribute To Troops Heartland Honor Flight gives KC-area veterans homecoming they didn't get more than 50 years ago Community members gave Kansas City-area Vietnam War veterans a warm welcome home from their Heartland Honor Flight at KCI Thursday afternoon. Progress Toward Post Season Adam Frazier and the bullpen saves the day in 7-4 win. Kansas City's magic number is two Our Favorite Brit Stays Winning Elizabeth Hurley Celebrated Bring Crowned No. 1 World's Sexiest Woman for Maxim With a Stripped-Down Photoshoot Elizabeth Hurley is oh-so stunning, and now, Maxim has crowned her the world's sexiest woman. In case you missed it, Hurley posted the newest Maxim cover, featuring her looking as radiant as can be. She shared the photo to her Instagram with the caption reading, "Thank you @maximmag for making me your No 1 ... Fighting Against Future Tech Biden and Harris unveil measure to tackle gun violence amid Trump clash Executive order aims to crack down on conversion devices and 3D guns as Harris and Trump spar on campaign trail MAGA Campaigns For Time Trump promotes watches branded with his name Former President Donald Trump promoted watches branded with his name, his latest involvement in business endeavors as he campaigns for the White House. Holy Land War Promise Israel's Netanyahu says troops will keep fighting Hezbollah "with full force" as U.S., France propose cease-fire President Biden and his French counterpart say an Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire is needed now to avoid a potentially "much broader conflict." Show-Me Local Solidarity U.S. Mo. Senator Josh Hawley states he fully supports Israel during the ongoing conflict with Hamas U.S. Mo. Senator Josh Hawley states he fully supports Israel during the ongoing conflict with Hamas Last Picture Show Honored Boulevard Drive-In announce passing of longtime owner Wes Neal The Boulevard Drive-In Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas announced Thursday the passing of longtime owner Samuel Wesley (Wes) Neal. Plans For Last Remaining People Who Aren't Couch Potatoes Fourteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, September 26-29 here are fourteen things to do n KC this weekend, September 26-29, including: Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Two Door Cinema Club and Dionne Warwick. Buzz On Autumn 2024 . . . Kansas City weather: Pleasant weather through the weekend Mostly clear skies and warm conditions are expected Thursday evening, with lows dropping into the 50s. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. A recent local report noted threats targeting local schools coming from overseas. Actually . . . There's a very good chance that it could be tech savvy students who know how to use a VPN or have experience with IP spoofing . . . It's not exactly rocket science but good enough to trick some lower level security personnel. In the meantime . . . Fears about safety for students and the exorbitant cost to address security fears persist at the outset of the school year . . . Check-it: A report by TDR Technology Solutions found that 16 million students have been impacted by school threats, costing taxpayers over $1 billion in the last two years. Just 5 years ago, they averaged 29 threats a month. Last year, that number jumped to 785 threats a month. These types of threats usually come from one of three sources: a student who attends the school, a person associated with a national group that attacks schools nationwide, or foreign actors. The latter was the case for the shooting reported here in Kansas City. That's really scary," said John, a resident. "Crazy it came from overseas. I wonder what their agenda was. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Unfounded threats cause frustration among Northland residents Two school shooting threats reported in Missouri Thursday turned out to be just a hoax but as swatting calls continue to increase across the country, so does the emotional and financial impact. Threats against Kansas City-area schools could cost districts hundreds of thousands of dollars Missouri State Highway Patrol has received 102 tips about school shooting threats since July 1. Schools around the Kansas City area have increased security in response to a wave of threats. Developing . . . BERLIN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and German rail transit companies have expressed their intention to collaborate at a transport fair here on Friday. During the 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, known as InnoTrans, Chinese transportation technology enterprises showcased their low-carbon, intelligent, and digital credentials. They also demonstrated their latest progress in equipment manufacturing, solutions, and international cooperation. Zhongguancun Science Park Fengtai Park Management Committee from Beijing, which took part in the event for the first time, brought its 13 rail transit enterprises, focusing on the latest scientific and technological achievements in the planning and design, equipment development, operation and maintenance management of rail transit. The Committee signed strategic cooperation agreements with Steinbeis Transfer Center Smart Electronic Systems for Industry Medical Technology, MM China Link e.K., Automotive BerlinBrandenburg e.V., and other German institutions to foster a new ecology for industrial collaboration. The Committee also signed agreements with companies from other countries regarding procurement, service, and technical cooperation. Liu Jingquan, Deputy director of the Committee, told Xinhua that he is optimistic about the potential for more foreign rail transit enterprises to cooperate with Chinese enterprises and jointly promote the development of the global rail transit industry. Chinese and German enterprises also held extensive exchanges at the Sino-German Rail Transit Industry Cooperation Forum, reaching various cooperation intentions and jointly drawing up a blueprint for further collaboration. CargoBeamer AG, a rail transportation enterprise from Germany, showcased its latest technology with its Chinese counterparts. "China is a very important market player. We have a good understanding of the quality of Chinese products and the capabilities of Chinese companies, and our technology can help rail transit logistics companies improve transfer rates and reduce transportation costs. We believe that good cooperation with Chinese enterprises can keep China's rail transit logistics transportation speed at the top of the world," Anna Muller, project manager for Strategy and Business Development at CargoBeamer AG, told Xinhua. Harald Bleimeister, chairman of the board of directors at Automotive BerlinBrandenburg e.V., said the association has been working with Chinese companies for more than four years to build a motor vehicle network. As China is the technology leader in electric vehicles, German companies need to cooperate with Chinese companies if they wish to remain competitive in the international market, he added. "We hope to have more communication and cooperation with Chinese companies to promote the development of science and technology," he told Xinhua. "I see the positive attitude of Chinese companies to cooperate. Our technology to cooperate with the Chinese side, it will be a win-win situation," said Benjamin Schreiber, head of the China Department of the Steinbeis Transfer Center Smart Electronic Systems for Industry Medical Technology. China's universities and research institutes are rich in transportation talent. Further communication and trade between China and Germany will bring more development opportunities for both sides, Schreiber added. More than 2,900 exhibitors from 59 countries and regions attended the event, which ended on Friday. CARACAS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States has relied mainly on "psychological warfare" to attack Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday. "The hybrid, multidimensional war against Venezuela, directed by the United States of America and the imperial power of the United States, has psychological warfare as its main element," the president said in a speech marking the 19th anniversary of the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. Today psychological warfare "has greater firepower because it has social media," in addition to traditional media, he said. As part of its campaign, Washington imposes its narrative globally, but there is still "an immense majority" of people and governments worldwide that support Venezuela, said Maduro. He also denounced the ongoing "electrical war" against Venezuela. "We have suffered electrical attacks on the transmission systems in recent days, which have been immediately replaced by the heroic work of the country's electrical workers," he said. Canada and France will jointly help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression in cyberspace. As Ukrinform reports, this is stated in the joint French-Canadian declaration adopted during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Canada. "Our armed forces will continue to deepen their strategic cooperation in the field of cyber defence in support of Ukraine. We are determined to work with Ukraine and our partners to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, independence and its territorial integrity against Russian aggression, both in the traditional domains and in cyberspace," the statement reads. It is noted that Canada and France will also strengthen cooperation in the area of military equipment support to Ukraine and training as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein group. Paris and Ottawa also promised to continue efforts to ensure the return of the Ukrainian children deported to Russia. "Canada and France will support Ukraine for as long as it takes to thwart Russias war of aggression, which is a flagrant violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Our support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders is unwavering," the document emphasizes. Note that French President Emmanuel Macron is currently on a two-day visit to Canada, where he arrived after participating in the UN General Assembly. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Slovakia General Daniel Zmeko have agreed on further joint efforts to deepen the development of Ukrainian-Slovak military cooperation. According to Ukrinform, Syrskyi posted this on Facebook. During the meeting, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also informed Zmeko about the course of hostilities in various areas of the front and the current needs of the Defense Forces. He emphasized the violation of international humanitarian law by the Russian military and their war crimes. This is the third personal visit of General Daniel Zmeko during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. I am grateful to the government and people of Slovakia for the military and technical assistance provided to the Ukrainian army, noted Syrskyi. The Commander-in-Chief noted the effectiveness of the combat use of the weapons provided by Slovakia and emphasized that he appreciates the country's assistance in training the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine has offered Slovakia to sign a bilateral security agreement. Photo: Oleksandr Syrskyi / Facebook NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hurricane Helene has led to the death of more than 30 people in the United States though it has weakened to a tropical storm after landfall. The death toll has reached at least 35 across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, including the death of at least 17 people in South Carolina, according to a report by The Associated Press on Friday. Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend area Thursday night as a Category 4, but its impact carried far beyond into the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Once expected to reach eight feet of rainfall, Florida's Big Bend area received more than 15 feet. Near 4 million people have had their power lines cut due to the storm and are without power, according to PowerOutage.US., which tracks and records power outages across the country. There is no news on when the outages will be restored. In Georgia, around 115 buildings have been made structurally unsound, as officials rush to rescue those trapped inside. It has been reported that 50 Tennessee citizens are stuck on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital due to rising floodwaters. In North Carolina, 290 roads have been closed due to severe flooding and landslides. The state received close to 30 inches of rain due to the hurricane. Currently, efforts are underway to free people trapped in buildings and areas inaccessible by foot. State patrols are sending out boats and choppers as part of their water rescue teams. The National Guard has deployed teams to Florida to help with any requests for assistance. U.S. President Joe Biden has approved emergency declarations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama prior to the landfall of Hurricane Helene. The international community must not turn a blind eye to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, otherwise similar wars may start all over the world. This was stated by Prime Minister Robert Golob of Slovenia, who spoke at the the general debate within the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. "What we are witnessing in Ukraine is aggression of a stronger and powerful neighbor into a smaller and weaker one. This is clearly a blatant violation of the UN Charter. If we are to let this aggression pass, we open doors to many similar wars across the globe," he said. The head of government emphasized the need to reform the UN Security Council, whose work is effectively blocked because the five permanent members misuse the right of veto and put national interests first. "We urgently need a Council that is a true representation of the international community. A Council that is fit for the world of today. We need to ensure that the distribution of seats is fair.The Council needs stronger voices of the regions that have been underrepresented, such as the African continent. Reform of Council's composition needs to be accompanied with the reform of the veto powers," said Golob. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, stated that a peaceful settlement in Ukraine should be based on the UN Charter, and not on Moscows dictates. Also, he believes there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine. WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led international mission formed a decade ago to combat the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq will cease to exist by September 2025, said a joint statement issued Friday by the U.S. and Iraqi governments. There will be, however, a "transitioning to bilateral security partnerships in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS," said the statement, which on the U.S. part was carried by the State Department's website, using the abbreviation of an alternative name of the Islamic State known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The coalition's military mission in neighboring Syria, where the Islamic State also operates, "will continue until September 2026," the statement said. The statement provided few details as to what, if any, number of U.S. troops will leave Iraq as a result of the end of the mission. "I just want to foot stomp the fact that this is not a withdrawal. This is a transition. It's a transition from a coalition military mission to an expanded U.S.-Iraqi bilateral security relationship," a senior U.S. official told reporters during a briefing Friday. The United States has some 2,500 military personnel in Iraq and roughly 900 troops in Syria, tasked with the mission of fighting Islamic State militants while also serving as trainers and advisors to local security forces. Full-time Arizona State University students will see a $350 hike in their tuition bills next semester, as the school looks to overcome budget shortfalls. The recent state budget passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Katie Hobbes reduced the school's budget by $11 million, as well as funding for the Arizona Teachers Academy and the Arizona Promise Scholarship Program, "pushing the estimated real ASU impact from the budget reductions to about $24 million when compared with the prior year," the university said in a Monday statement. Part-time ASU students will also see a proportionate tuition increase. "We have to consider our options to advance the university in a financially sound way," ASU President Michael M. Crow said. "For whatever reason, state leaders want the public universities to be tuition-driven, independently funded and to advance on their own." ASU officials noted that more than 2,600 Arizona resident students could be impacted by the expected decrease in funding for its scholarship program, which typically ensures all tuition and fees are covered at Arizona's public universities for eligible residents. The university also plans to close its Lake Havasu Center in the summer of 2025. Its discontinuation will affect approximately 225 students and 20 employees. "These necessary actions reflect the continuing lack of public investment from state government for higher education in Arizona,'' Crow said. "ASU simply cannot be asked to fund the expansion of higher education across the state without state investment as a part of the financial structure to do so." According to University Provost Nancy Gonzales, the school will meet with current Lake Havasu students and create personalized plans to ensure that they finish their degrees online or at one of the ASU campuses. "It's disappointing that state leaders do not see the value of higher education in places like Lake Havasu City," Gonzales added. "ASU will continue to do all that it can to serve that portion of the state through ASU Online and agreements with our community college partners." Brandeis University President Ronald D. Liebowitz will resign, effective Nov. 1, following a $2 million budget deficit revealed over the summer and a narrow no-confidence vote by the university's faculty this week. The motion passed with 159 votes in favor, 149 against and 26 abstentions, with over 75% of eligible voters casting ballots, according to Boston.com. "This reveals what our multiple faculty conversations and debates on it made clear: while faculty are united in their care for Brandeis and their great desire for it to flourish, they are divided on this motion," professor and Faculty Senate Chair Jeffrey Lenowitz told the outlet. According to the Justice, the Brandeis student newspaper, faculty have been in talks about a no-confidence vote since May, and criticized Liebowitz for "badly handled budget shortfalls, failures of fundraising, excessive responses to student protests, indifference to faculty motions, and the recent damaging staff layoffs." The budget shortfall led to plans to eliminate 60 positions at the institution, and over the past five years, Brandeis has seen a roughly 9% drop in overall enrollment. A pro-Palestinian protest last fall, which led to the arrest of seven individuals, and the banning of Students for Justice in Palestine at Brandeis after it reportedly expressed open support for Hamas, also drew criticism. Leibowtiz's resignation makes him the latest major university president to resign following controversial responses to campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war. In a Wednesday announcement to the school community, the Board of Trustees expressed gratitude toward Liebowitz for the role he played last year in speaking against antisemitism on college campuses. Approximately one-third of Brandeis' student population is Jewish. "He has continually reminded us that we are animated by Jewish values and identity, including a reverence for knowledge, a commitment to repairing the world, and openness to all," board Chair Lisa R. Kranc said. Arthur Levine, a Brandeis graduate and former president of Teachers College at Columbia University, will take on the role of interim president. In his letter to the Brandeis community, Leibowtiz said leaving the university would provide him a "valuable moment" to create new pathways for innovation and reform in higher education. "It has been gratifying to advance the university's unusual mission of providing an undergraduate liberal arts education of excellence along with first-rate doctoral programs and world class scientific research," he said. During suspected University of Idaho quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger's first appearance in a Boise courtroom Thursday, the defense revealed they've suffered a major setback as they prepare to go to trial. "We had an expert that we were working with, and that expert passed away," defense attorney Anne Taylor told Ada County Judge Steven Hippler during the hearing, as she hinted toward moving the trial further away from its anticipated June 2025 start date. "We have been able to refill that role, to have a new expert to do the work that that expert was hired to do, but we are not progressed to the point that I'd hoped to be, through no fault of the new expert." Taylor declined to go into specifics regarding the type of expert, only describing them as a "very necessary expert for us to have on board." She agreed to an ex-parte hearing with Judge Hippler following the court's adjournment, after he also suggested either moving the trial's start date to either May or September, citing his concern over potential jurors' summer plans. Earlier this month, Judge John Judge sided with the defense when he granted their motion for a change of venue over fears Kohberger would be denied a fair trial in Latah County. Kohberger allegedly stabbed University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, to death in their off-campus apartment in November 2022. Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle were roommates at the Moscow, Idaho residence, and Chapin Kernodle's boyfriend was spending the night, when they were slaughtered in their sleep, authorities determined. Kohberger was arrested for the murders six weeks later, after DNA evidence, surveillance video and cell phone records allegedly tied him to the scene of the crime. He was taken into custody while visiting his parents in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022. Kohberger pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in the college students' slayings. A motive remains under investigation. Originally published on Lawyer Herald. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) In a crucial meeting led by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, stakeholders from Pakistan's tourism and hospitality sector highlighted the vast potential of tourism in increasing foreign exchange and driving trade enhancement. The meeting took place on World Tourism Day, a day dedicated globally to recognizing the importance of tourism in fostering international understanding, economic growth, and cultural exchange, according to press release issued by commerce ministry. Acknowledging the opportunities in this sector, Jam Kamal assured full support from the Ministry of Commerce, including the provision of Export Development Fund (EDF) for tourism-related export initiatives. The meeting was attended by high-level officials, including Nawabzada Mir Zarain Khan Magsi, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Culture, secretaries from all four provincial tourism departments, the Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, and representatives from the public and private sectors. The gathering sought to address challenges in the tourism sector and explore avenues for exponential growth. In a presentation, Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director of PTDC said that Pakistan was blessed with a diverse range of tourism attractions, including natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, adventure tourism opportunities, and religious tourism. Despite this wealth of resources, the tourism sector contributes only 5.8% to Pakistan's GDP, amounting to PKR 5.59 trillion, with domestic tourism spending at PKR 3.85 trillion and 2.2 million international visitors in 2023. Jam Kamal Khan emphasized that few countries in the world have the level of tourism potential that Pakistan possesses, remarking that the sector, connected with various industries, can significantly boost revenue streams. He lauded the new visa policy, which grants visa-free entry to citizens of 126 countries, positioning Pakistan as a competitive global destination. The recent relaxation in Pakistans visa regime, which waives fees for citizens of 126 countries, has rapidly increased tourist arrivals. According to PTDC data, domestic tourism is also on the rise, with 10 million Pakistanis visiting the northern areas in 2023 alone. However, the council members called for the removal of post-visa hurdles to further facilitate foreign tourism. Despite the progress, stakeholders believe there is potential for even greater growth. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana projected that with the removal of policy impediments and improved tourism infrastructure, Pakistan could earn up to $6 billion from tourism. Key recommendations included developing 30 countries as friendly tourist destinations and improving direct flight connections to attract more international visitors. Nawabzada Mir Zarain Magsi highlighted the untapped potential in Balochistan, a region with vast opportunities for coastal and religious tourism. He emphasized that Balochistan's beautiful beaches and deserts, coupled with religious heritage sites, could attract more tourists with better collaboration between the federal and provincial governments. The minister pointed to Islamabad's strategic importance as a gateway for international tourists. He revealed that 12 to 13 major hotel chains are planning to establish themselves in the capital, further boosting Islamabad's appeal as a prime tourist destination. MD PTDC said to overcome the barriers, the PTDC is working on restructuring its governance, introducing a National E-Portal, and launching a branding campaign to promote Pakistan as a tourist destination globally. The governments efforts to revive the tourism sector post-COVID, including participation in international expos and fairs, have already begun to yield positive results. However, stakeholders stress that sustainable tourism development, with a focus on preserving Pakistan's natural and cultural heritage, will be key to ensuring long-term growth. With the backing of the Ministry of Commerce and new initiatives aimed at making tourism a major contributor to Pakistans economy, the countrys tourism sector is set for a transformative phase, potentially bringing in billions in revenue and positioning Pakistan as a top global destination. (@Abdulla99267510) Test, held on 22 September, is a prerequisite for admissions into medical and dental colleges LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Sept 27th, 2024) The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore announced the results of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2024 on Friday. The test, held on 22 September, is a prerequisite for admissions into medical and dental colleges. A total of 56,519 candidates appeared for the MDCAT in Punjab, out of which 48,051 secured more than 55% marks, while 51,018 candidates achieved over 50%. The highest score recorded was 199 out of 200, equivalent to 99.50%. The top position was jointly secured by two female students, Zainab Munir, daughter of Munir Ahmad Qadir, and Iqra, daughter of Muhammad Azam, both appeared from Lahore, who scored 199 marks each. According to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regulations, the minimum passing marks for medical admissions are set at 55%, while for dental college admissions, candidates must score at least 50%. The results are available on the UHS website at www.uhs.edu.pk. Prior to the announcement of the results, UHS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, expressed his gratitude to the university staff for successfully conducting the MDCAT. In his address, Prof. Rathore emphasized that UHS managed the examination with transparency and in a peaceful environment, thanking Allah Almighty for this achievement. He praised the dedication and teamwork of the faculty, staff, and students and announced an honorarium for the university staff in recognition of their efforts. Geneva, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) More than 3,600 people have been killed this year in the "senseless" gang violence ravaging Haiti, the United Nations said on Friday. The Western Hemisphere's poorest country has plunged into virtual anarchy, with gangs taking over the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the security and health systems collapsing. About 600,000 people were displaced in the first six months of 2024 and 1,280 were injured in gang violence, including 295 women and 63 children, the UN rights office (OHCHR) said in a report. In that period, at least 893 individuals, including 25 children, were kidnapped and held for ransom by criminal groups, who are vying for power in a vacuum left by a political crisis and weak state authority. "Latest figures documented by the UN Human Rights Office indicate that at least 3,661 people have been killed since January this year, maintaining the high levels of violence seen in 2023," the rights office said. "No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality," said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The OHCHR urged the Haitian authorities and the international community to do more to protect people on the Caribbean island. It said the gangs had changed their modus operandi this year. While some victims were struck by random gunfire, others were executed in broad daylight for allegedly informing the authorities or opposing gang activities. "Some of those victims had their bodies mutilated with machetes and then burned. "Gangs filmed the scenes and shared them widely on social media to instill fear and control the population," the report said. The report said gangs had continued to use sexual violence "to punish, spread fear and subjugate populations". It said that at least 860 people were killed and 393 injured during police operations and patrols across Port-au-Prince, including at least 36 children, in what could constitute use of unnecessary and disproportionate force. The gangs have also recruited large numbers of children into their ranks, it added. An estimated 1.6 million people in Haiti face emergency-level food insecurity. In October 2023, the UN Security Council gave the green light to send a multinational stabilisation force, led by Kenya, to assist the Haitian police. Kenyan President William Ruto told the UN General Assembly on Thursday his country would complete the deployment of the 2,500-strong Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) by January. rjm-nl/gil (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) Secretary Tourism Punjab Farid Ahmad Tarar marked World Tourism Day by urging tourists to embrace tolerance, underscoring the government's dedication to transforming Pakistan into a premier tourist destination. This vision aligns with the global "Tourism and Peace" theme, highlighting tourism's potential to foster international understanding and cooperation, he highlighted in an Interview with a private news channel. The Secretary of Punjab is encouraging neighboring countries to explore the state's rich cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of tolerance and cultural exchange. The Secretary highlighted the need to preserve the state's cultural heritage, which is a unique blend of various civilizations, and to share it with the world. Secretary Tarar emphasized, tourism has the power to bridge cultural divides, and Punjab is committed to creating a welcoming environment for visitors from around the world. The Punjab government is taking concrete steps to promote eco-tourism under the vision of the Chief Minister, he mentioned, adding, this includes promoting half-timber houses and minimizing unplanned constructions to preserve the natural beauty of the region. The government's eco-tourism policy aims to provide a framework for sustainable tourism growth, balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations, he added. Pakistan is gearing up to showcase its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to the world. The government is promoting Lahore's diversity, the historic Hiran Minar monument, and Kotli Sattian's breathtaking tourist spots to boost tourism, he highlighted. The government is also promoting Desert Safari car rallies, which promises to be an adrenaline-packed adventure, he added. These initiatives aim to position Pakistan as a premier tourist destination, showcasing its unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, he said, adding, with enhanced infrastructure and promotional efforts, Pakistan is set to welcome more visitors in the coming year. Secretary Tourism Punjab Farid Ahmad Tarar announced that Murree, Changa manga forest, kallar kahar and Cholistan will become major tourist hotspots, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural experiences. Murree, a popular hill station will showcase its breathtaking views, vibrant marketplace, and thrilling chairlift rides to tourists, he added. Changa Manga and KalarKahar, unexplored gems, will reveal their hidden treasures, while Cholistan' s majestic desert landscapes will provide an unforgettable desert safari adventure. These destinations will position Punjab as a premier tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world and boosting the local economy, he concluded. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Lidia Brito, met with Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik to discuss Pakistans innovative approach to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Paris. The meeting emphasized Pakistans DRR model, recognized globally as a best practice, integrating science, technology, and data-driven methodologies for risk management, a news release on Friday said. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) emerged as key components of modern DRR strategies, underscoring their role in predictive analytics and enhancing early warning systems. The Chairman NDMA stressed the importance of a regional approach to collaboration for effective disaster management. He introduced Disaster Impact Reduction (DIR) as an innovative concept aimed at minimizing the aftermath of disasters through timely action and resource allocation. Both leaders emphasized the need for credible early warning systems, stating that timely information-sharing and resource allocation are vital to prevent unnecessary losses. Lt. Gen. Malik also highlighted the importance of simplifying complex scientific data to make it accessible to at-risk communities and decision-makers. Lidia Brito lauded Pakistans efforts in DRR and its integration of early warning systems. She emphasized that Scientific data including AI and ML will play a critical role in mitigating disaster impacts globally. This meeting marks a significant step forward in global cooperation for disaster risk reduction and resilience-building, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Parc Zoologique dAmneville Luminescences (Janine Rodriguez) The Amneville Zoo in France hosts a yearly Luminescences festival during the winter months. This beautiful nighttime display features thousands of light installations and lanterns along a 1.4km trail. Stars and Stripes reader Janine Rodriguez visited the display last year and sent us this incredible image. In 2024, the display will begin on Oct. 19 and runs through the end of January. This year the them is Magic Indies and includes illuminated lanterns from all over southeast Asia. Roughly one and half hours from the KMC area and two hours from Spangdahlem, the Amneville Zoo features over 1500 animals in habitats from around the world. There are also immersive experiences like farm animal visits, raptor shows and wallaby feeding. Visit the Amneville Zoo website for tickets to the animal displays and the Luminescences festival. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) 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. (@FahadShabbir) Galle, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) Middle-order marvel Kamindu Mendis's record fifth Test century propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding 519-5 against New Zealand at tea on day two against New Zealand in Galle. The 25-year-old resumed from overnight after making his world record eighth consecutive fifty from eight Test appearances since his debut against Australia at the same venue two years ago. He was an unbeaten 135 at the second break alongside Kusal Mendis, who became the fourth batsman to make a half-century in the innings with his 70, in the third century-plus partnership of the match so far. Kamindu's five centuries from 13 innings makes him third-fastest to the milestone, tied with Australian great Donald Bradman and George Headley of the West Indies. Kamindu was also the only batsman from either team to make a century in the first Test. He has been in excellent form this year and was also Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in their last two series against Bangladesh and England. Kamindu's overnight partner Angelo Mathews departed for 88 when Glen Phillips got him caught at square leg by rookie quick Will O'Rourke. Phillips then sent back Dhananjaya de Silva for 44 when the skipper swept a delivery into the gloves of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. It was Phillips's third wicket for the innings after he bowled Dinesh Chandimal 116 on the last session of the opening day. O'Rourke had impressed in the first Test with his second five-wicket haul in three matches, but has toiled without result in the innings so far, conceding 81 runs without reward. Sri Lanka won the opening match of the two-Test series by 63 runs and are eyeing their first Test series win against the Kiwis since 2009. Friday was the first time Sri Lanka surpassed 500 against New Zealand from 40 matches. New Zealand have not won any of their five previous Tests at Galle. Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) Pope Francis said Friday that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" for the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the clergy's dark past looms large. In a speech to political and civil society leaders beginning his three-day visit, Francis denounced the "tragic instances of child abuse" as a stain on the Church's legacy. "It is our shame and our humiliation," Francis told the gathering at the Laeken Palace royal residency. "The Church must be ashamed and must seek forgiveness," he said. The 87-year-old pontiff was to meet with clerical sexual assault victims in Brussels as part of his stay in the European nation tarred by decades of scandals and cover-ups. The meeting with around 15 victims at the Vatican's diplomatic mission, was being held on Friday with the "utmost discretion", according to the Belgian church. It was arranged after a hard-hitting documentary last year put Belgium's abuse scandal back on the front pages, prompting new victims to come forward. In an open letter this month, some demanded the pope address paedophilia and set up a process for financial reparations. "Words alone are not enough. Concrete measures must also be taken," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a preamble to the pope's speech. The pontiff said the abuse was "a scourge that the Church is addressing firmly and decisively by listening to and accompanying those who have been wounded, and by implementing a prevention programme throughout the world". - Forced adoptions - Francis has made combatting sexual assault in the Church a main mission of his papacy, and insisted on a "zero tolerance" policy after wide-reaching abuse scandals around the world. He has lifted papal secrecy on sexual abuse by clergy and obliged both clergy and lay people to report all cases to their superiors. During his speech, Francis said he was "saddened" to learn about a forced adoptions scandal in Belgium that saw institutions run by nuns give up the babies of thousands of underage girls and unmarried women. "We see how the bitter fruit of wrongdoing and criminality was mixed in with what was unfortunately the prevailing view in all parts of society at that time," he said. Belgium's HLN news site estimates that up to 30,000 children were taken from their mothers in Belgium between 1945 and the 1980s. Bishops in Belgium apologised in 2023 and requested an independent investigation after fresh testimonies emerged from women and people claiming to have been "sold" by the Catholic Church to adoptive families. Child sexual abuse and forced adoptions have "badly damaged trust" between the Church and society, De Croo said. In a sign of the work yet to be done, the programme of an open-air mass concluding Francis's trip on Sunday had to be changed at the last minute after it emerged that the closing hymn was composed by a priest accused of sexual abuse. The blunder prompted the head of the Belgian bishops' conference, Archbishop Luc Terlinden, to admit that the Church needed to better monitor cases and perpetrators. - On the wane - The Argentinian pope arrived in Belgium Thursday evening after a day in neighbouring Luxembourg, where he made a plea for international diplomacy amid flaring conflicts across the globe. He was welcomed by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Francis later met with academics at the Catholic university of Leuven in Dutch-speaking Flanders -- whose 600th anniversary next year is the official reason for his visit -- and called for refugees to be welcomed. On Saturday, during his 46th trip abroad, Francis will meet the clergy at the vast Basilica of the Sacred Heart before holding discussions with students at Louvain-la-Neuve in French-speaking Wallonia, notably on climate issues. The last papal visit to Brussels was in 1995, when John Paul II attended the beatification of Saint Damien, who dedicated his life to lepers. Nearly 65 percent of Belgium's population is Christian, including 58 percent who are Catholic, according to Louvain university figures. But their numbers are on the wane, reflecting a decline across Europe. During his weekly general audience, Francis said he hoped his visit could be "the opportunity for a new impetus of faith". (@FahadShabbir) Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Sep, 2024) Shigeru Ishiba, who will be Japan's next prime minister after winning his party's leadership vote on Friday, is a seasoned lawmaker known for his in-depth security policy knowledge. A former defence minister, Ishiba's push to boost the military and call for the creation of an Asian NATO could rile Beijing, but he is careful with his words concerning China. He argues that Japan's military should be able to take a stronger response when territorial airspace or waters are breached. Currently a warning shot is the only option, and China is "well aware" of that, he has said. Although he is relatively popular with the public, Ishiba has had four failed bids to lead his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including a 2012 try against his arch-rival Shinzo Abe before prevailing this time against a nationalist. For a long time Ishiba alienated party heavyweights with his "outspoken criticism of LDP policies under Abe", said Yu Uchiyama, a politics professor at the University of Tokyo. But recently he has been "vocal about the need for the LDP to turn over a new leaf when it comes to the funding scandal and other issues", which may have worked in his favour. He has also proposed creating a government agency in charge of disaster prevention in the earthquake-prone country that is also frequently hit by typhoons and heavy rains. "My life's work is security, disaster prevention, and the revitalisation of rural regions," Ishiba said in a recent interview with the Mainichi Shimbun daily, pledging to focus on these issues as prime minister. 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. In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 unhealthiest countries in Latin America. You can also skip our detailed analysis on the topic and directly head to the 5 Unhealthiest Countries in Latin America. Global and Latin American Trends in Healthcare Market The healthcare services market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%, or $9.8 trillion, through 2027. The global healthcare market is divided into several segments, including hospitals, digital health, and healthcare services. The hospital market alone is predicted to grow by 4.18% a year between 2024 and 2029, reaching a market volume of $5.19 trillion by that point. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), at least half of the world's population lacks access to basic medical care. The healthcare industry in the United States is one of the largest and most complex in the world, accounting for around 20% of the country's GDP. In 2021, patient care brought in 65% of the total revenue for the US health sector. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe financial downturn, with the US healthcare system's revenue plummeting by almost 50% in 2020. Latin America's healthcare market is witnessing substantial growth driven by demographic shifts and increasing demand for healthcare services. The region's healthcare expenditure is rising, with Brazil and Mexico leading in current healthcare spending. In 2023, the home healthcare market in Latin America was valued at USD 28.08 billion and is projected to reach USD 46.12 billion by 2029, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.43%. According to a report by McKinsey, a significant portion of healthcare costs in Latin America is borne out-of-pocket, averaging about 24% of total healthcare costs, compared to 14% in the European Union and 10% in the United States. Accessibility and affordability remain major barriers, with 62% of surveyed individuals deferring medical care due to these issues. The prevalence of chronic diseases is also increasing, necessitating more healthcare resources. The region is experiencing a demographic shift with an aging population, projected to reach 193 million people over 60 by 2050. Key Players in the Global Healthcare Market Key players like AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV), Humana Inc., and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), among others, have been at the forefront of the healthcare market. For example, AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a prominent global biopharmaceutical company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing drugs for the treatment of chronic and complex diseases. In July 2024, AbbVie received approval from the European Commission for SKYRIZI to treat adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Additionally, the company submitted applications to the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency for a new indication of upadacitinib (RINVOQ) to treat adult patients with giant cell arteritis. Recently, in August, the company acquired Cerevel Therapeutics, which is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company. Financially, AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) reported revenues of $14.462 billion for the second quarter, which is up from $13.865 billion in the same period last year. Total operating costs and expenses for the quarter were $10.464 billion, compared to $9.352 billion the previous year. Operating earnings were $3.998 billion, down from $4.513 billion in Q2 2023. AbbVie's net earnings for the quarter were $1.373 billion, down from $2.027 billion in the same quarter the previous year. Net earnings attributable to AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) were $1.370 billion. The immunology segment delivered total revenues of approximately $7 billion, with strong performance from Skyrizi and Rinvoq. On the other hand, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is also one of the biggest healthcare companies in the world. UnitedHealthcare has announced plans to offer individual and family plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace in 26 states for 2024, focusing on affordable coverage and access to care. The company has invested $180,000 in the United Disabilities Services Foundation to support aging and disability services in Pennsylvania. Financially, UnitedHealth Group reported total revenues of $98.9 billion in Q2 2024, marking a 6.4% increase year-over-year which is driven primarily by robust performance in its Optum and UnitedHealthcare divisions. The Optum segment generated revenues of $62.9 billion, reflecting an 11.7% year-over-year growth. This growth was supported by strong contributions from Optum Health and Optum Rx, with Optum Health nearing 5 million patients in value-based care arrangements by year-end. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.80 in the same period, which exceeded analysts' expectations and represented a 10.7% increase from the previous year. However, GAAP earnings per share were impacted by the cyberattack, coming in at $4.54. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) updated its full-year net EPS guidance to a range of $15.95 to $16.40 per share, while reaffirming its adjusted EPS outlook of $27.50 to $28.00. The company remains optimistic about its growth prospects, particularly in the Medicare Advantage sector. AUNA, a Latin American Health Company, Makes its Debut in Global Equity Market In March, 2024, Auna S.A. (NYSE:AUNA) became the first Latin American health company to be listed in the US stock exchange. Auna operates in Mexico, Columbia and Peru. It raised $300 million in gross proceeds after issuing 30 million Class-A shares. The company is primarily focused on prevention and treatment of high-complexity diseases in the region. Auna S.A. (NYSE:AUNA)'s 2023 revenues were US$1.05 billion and Adjusted EBITDA was US$223 million, representing year-over-year increases of 58% and 90%, respectively. Auna S.A. (NYSE:AUNA) is likely to benefit a lot from a healthcare market of US$313 billion in Spanish-speaking South American countries, it is estimated to grow further to reach US$469 billion by the end of 2028. While we acknowledge the potential of AUNA 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 time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ ALSO: Top 20 Largest Publicly Traded Healthcare Companies and 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy Under $20. 15 Unhealthiest Countries in Latin America Pixabay/Public Domain Our Methodology For our list, we looked at two indexes: the GHS index of 2021 and the health pillar of the Legatum Prosperity index of 2023. The 2021 Global Health Security (GHS) Index assesses 195 countries' preparedness for epidemics and pandemics across six categories. The global average score is 38.9, indicating weak international readiness despite COVID-19 efforts. Similarly, The Health pillar of the 2023 Legatum Prosperity Index assesses health outcomes, systems, risk factors, and mortality rates, highlighting the importance of physical and mental health and access to effective healthcare services for individual and national prosperity. Hence, we averaged the scores of GHS, and the health pillar's from Legatum index and the final rankings in our list were adjusted according to the post-normalization average rankings we obtained from our two sources. We call these Insider-Monkey Scores. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with 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). Here is our list of the 15 unhealthiest countries in Latin America. 15. Brazil Insider Monkey Score: 13.5 The life expectancy at birth in Brazil is around 76 years, which is five years lower than the OECD average of 81 years. Women in Brazil have a life expectancy of 80 years, while men have a life expectancy of 72 years. In 2023, Brazil allocated 10.7% of its GDP to healthcare, approximately $161 billion. This is a high rate compared to Latin America but still a lot of work needs to be done. Per capita spending was about $1,258. 14. Nicaragua Insider Monkey Score: 13.5 The life expectancy in Nicaragua, as of 2023, is 74.8 years, which is lower than the average for Latin America. This reflects the broader health challenges faced by the country, including high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes. For instance, 32.1% of adult women and 20.6% of adult men are living with obesity, and diabetes affects 12.5% of adult women and 10.5% of adult men, according to data from the Global Nutrition Report. 13. Mexico Insider Monkey Score: 12.5 The life expectancy in Mexico is approximately 75 years, which is six years lower than the OECD average of 81 years. Women in Mexico tend to live longer than men, with a life expectancy of 78 years compared to 72 years for men. However, Mexican women spend more years in poor health conditions compared to men, with an estimated 11.8 years spent with some disease or disability. In 2022, Mexico's health spending per capita was $1,181, less than half of Chile's and below the OECD's recommended 6% of GDP, with Mexico spending 5.5%. Medication was the largest household health expense at 43%, followed by hospital services at 15%. The Mexican health system faces challenges like obesity, diabetes, and health inequity, with 14% of the population lacking financial protection. Nearly 70% were covered by public health insurance in 2020, and the System of Social Protection in Health (SPSS) provides care for those not covered by Social Security. 12. Paraguay Insider Monkey Score: 11.5 The prevalence of obesity is a huge concern in Paraguay, with a national obesity rate of 15.1% and even higher rates in certain areas, such as Limpio, where it reaches 26.5%. In 2021, Paraguay's health spending reached 8% of GDP, the highest in a decade, but dropped to $0 in 2022. Public health expenditure was 4.12% of GDP in 2020, with out-of-pocket spending at 38.37%. The healthcare system faces challenges such as access gaps, discrimination, and shortages. Rising healthcare costs and a growing middle class have increased demand for affordable health insurance. By 2024, average spending per capita in Paraguay's health insurance market is expected to be $50.86, with the market volume projected to reach $412.10 million by 2028. 11. Dominican Republic Insider Monkey Score: 9.5 As of 2024, the life expectancy at birth in the Dominican Republic is estimated to be 72.6 years for the total population, with 71 years for males and 74.4 years for females. This is lower than the average life expectancy for the Americas. In 2021, 23.9% of the population lived in poverty, and 3.1% lived in extreme poverty, indicating a slight increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 10. Ecuador Insider Monkey Score: 9.5 Ecuador stands tenth among the unhealthiest countries in Latin America. Since 2021, Ecuador's health spending has ranged from 68% of GDP, with public spending at 4.97% of GDP in 2020 and out-of-pocket costs at 33.83% of total health expenditure. Ecuador's publicly funded healthcare system provides free care to all residents, but access remains limited, especially in rural areas and among indigenous populations. Ecuador spends significantly less on healthcare per capita than the U.S., with fewer hospital beds and doctors. Health spending is projected to increase by $3.2 billion between 2024 and 2029, reaching $13.85 billion in 2029. 9. Belize Insider Monkey Score: 8 The life expectancy in Belize was 74.9 years as of 2021, which is lower than the average for the Region of the Americas. In 2021, Belize's healthcare spending was 5% of GDP, consistent since 2014. Per capita health expenditure rose to $310 from $173 in 2002. Out-of-pocket spending reached $28 million, 5% of total health expenditure, continuing its rise since 2010. Government health spending has also increased, covering 71.8% of total health spending in 2020, reducing the financial burden on individuals. 8. Suriname Insider Monkey Score: 8 The prevalence of obesity is notably high in Suriname, with 36.7% of adult women and 21.5% of adult men being classified as obese. Diabetes is also prevalent, which affects 15.4% of adult women and 12.5% of adult men, contributing to the country's health burden. The life expectancy in Suriname is 72.8 years as of 2023, which is lower than the average for the Region of the Americas but has improved by 7.3 years since 2000. In 2021, Suriname's health spending was about 5% of GDP, reflecting a general increase since 2002. In 2020, public health spending was 4.38% of GDP, with out-of-pocket costs making up 20.52% of total health spending. 7. Guyana Insider Monkey Score: 7 Guyana stands seventh among the unhealthiest countries in Latin America. The Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese populations, which form the majority, experience high rates of hypertension and diabetes, particularly among those over 50 years old. In 2021, Guyana's health spending was 5% of GDP, down from 6% in 2020, with public health spending at 4.02% of GDP. In 2024, Guyana allocated $620.86 million to health, aiming to improve standards and resources. The World Bank prioritized health in its 2023-2026 engagement with Guyana, focusing on public health preparedness. 6. Venezuela Insider Monkey Score: 6.5 The Venezuelan healthcare system has faced a collapse due to ongoing political and economic crises which has led to a resurgence of communicable diseases that were previously under control, such as measles, malaria, and diphtheria. In 2021, Venezuela's healthcare spending was 4% of GDP, down from 7% earlier in the decade, below the WHO's 5% recommendation. Public health spending was 1.68% of GDP, with out-of-pocket costs rising to 28% of total health spending. The healthcare system struggles with shortages of surgical supplies, food insecurity, and water shortages, worsening conditions for patients, particularly children under two. 5. El Salvador Insider Monkey Score: 6.5 Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease are the most common in El Salvador. For instance, there are approximately 487,875 cases of diabetes mellitus, 1,446,381 cases of hypertension, and 459,114 cases of chronic kidney disease nationwide. In 2021, El Salvador's health spending was 10% of GDP, well above the regional average of 3.8%. In 2022, the health budget was $1.09 billion, mainly funded by the government, with contributions from foreign loans and donations. The government also relied on international aid and loans to manage the pandemic. 4. Honduras Insider Monkey Score: 5 Honduras is a low-middle-income country with over 60% of its population living in poverty. The country experiences a double burden of malnutrition, with 23% of children under five experiencing stunting due to chronic malnutrition, while 51% of women of reproductive age are overweight or obese, according to USAID data. There are only 3.9 physicians per 10,000 individuals in the country, far below the World Health Organization's recommended 25 per 10,000. As of May 31, 2024, Honduras's health expenditure was 9.2% of GDP, up from 9.1% in 2021, the highest since 2010, which marks a two-percentage-point increase since 2017 when it was nearly 7%. 3. Guatemala Insider Monkey Score: 4 Life expectancy in Guatemala is relatively low compared to other Latin American countries. As of 2024, the life expectancy at birth is estimated at 73.5 years, with males having a life expectancy of 71.5 years and females 75.6 years. A significant portion of the population lacks access to basic health and nutrition services, with more than six million people, or about 35% of the population, affected, per figures from USAID. In 2023, Guatemala's Ministry of Health allocated $6.4 million to UNICEF for health and nutrition programs. In 2021, household out-of-pocket health spending reached $3.66 billion, with per capita health expenditure rising to $341 from $107 in 2002. 2. Bolivia Insider Monkey Score: 4 Malnutrition is a significant issue in Bolivia, with 7% of children under five and 23% of the population suffering from malnutrition. Additionally, less than 10% of rural Bolivians have access to improved sanitation facilities. Bolivia ranks poorly in reproductive health, fulfilling only 58% of what is expected based on its income. The country has a high fertility rate of approximately three children per woman, sustained by limited access to family planning services. Contraceptive use is low, with only 35% of married women using modern methods, according to PRB.org. 1. Haiti Insider Monkey Score: 1 Haiti tops the list for being the unhealthiest country in Latin America. Haiti faces numerous health challenges, including low access to primary and preventive healthcare, high infant and maternal mortality rates, and a lack of vaccination coverage. Only 68% of children under 24 months have received vaccines for diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, according to the World Bank. The average life expectancy in Haiti is approximately 50 years, which is significantly lower than the regional average. In 2023, Haiti's health spending is $1.07 billion, or $93.87 per capita, making up 7% of GDP. This is relatively low compared to other low-income countries, where average spending is around $13 per person. More than half of Haiti's health budget is spent on curative rather than preventive care. Health spending as a percentage of GDP has decreased from 4% in 2019 to 3% in 2021, though international aid and private funds can raise this percentage. 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: The 15 Unhealthiest Countries in Latin America is originally published on Insider Monkey. We bring you the story of President Bidens final address in NY at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Plus, we report on the potential shifts in foreign policy and what they might look like after Americans vote in their presidential election this coming November. This week on The Inside Story: USA VOTES 2024. Israels prime minister told the U.N. General Assembly Friday that Israel is winning in its fight against terrorists and their patrons in Iran who perpetrated the October 7 terror attacks on his country. I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran, Benjamin Netanyahu said. If you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place there is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that's true of the entire Middle East. He said Israels soldiers have fought with incredible courage and with heroic sacrifice for the past 11 months. And I have another message for this assembly and for the world outside this hall: We are winning, said Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister took the stage to a mix of boos and cheers from the gallery, where some visitors are permitted. A stream of diplomats rose from their seats and left the hall as he strode onto the stage. But Netanyahu was not fazed. He said Hamas must go, and he would not accept their participation in any post-war Gaza governing structure. Just imagine, for those who say, well, Hamas has to stay, it has to be part of a post-war Gaza. Imagine in a post-war situation in World War II. Imagine allowing the defeated Nazis in 1945 to rebuild Germany, he told the U.N. General Assembly. It's inconceivable. It's ridiculous. It didn't happen then, it's not going to happen now. Lebanon escalation Turning to Lebanon, where there has been a dangerous and deadly escalation between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in the past week, Netanyahu said Israel must also defeat them so thousands of Israeli citizens can return to their homes in northern Israel. I've come here today to say enough is enough! he said. We wont rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes. We will not accept a terror army perched on our northern border able to perpetrate another October 7-style massacre. Shortly after Netanyahu spoke, the Israel Defense Forces hit what they said is Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs. At least six buildings were flattened. The fate of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was not immediately clear. Arab ministers at the U.N. condemned the escalation, saying it is pushing the region closer to a full-scale war. "It is time to face the truth, and the truth is unless Netanyahu is stopped, unless this government is stopped, war will encompass all of us," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters. "We need this cease-fire now," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said of an American and French proposal for a 21-day truce to calm the situation in Lebanon. "We cannot afford endless negotiations, as we have on Gaza," Guterres said. "We must avoid a regional war at all costs." Talk of peace Despite his hard line, the Israeli prime minister told the General Assembly that his government wants peace. He did not, however, refer to the American and French cease-fire proposal for Lebanon or one for Gaza, or a two-state solution. Instead, he pointed to the success of the 2020 Trump-brokered Abraham Accords that led to normalization of relations with the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan. While landmark agreements, they are all nations Israel has never fought a war with. Netanyahu said he still hopes to achieve normalization with Saudi Arabia, which had been a real possibility before the October 7 attacks. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told reporters that a Palestinian state is the key to normalization between Israel and Arab states, including his own. "And that will indeed open up the horizon, not just for normalization, but also for integration, for cooperation," he said. "It offers huge potential for all of us in the region, but again, without addressing the issue of the Palestinians, this is not going to happen." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the assembly the day before Netanyahu and called for an end to his peoples suffering. Shortly before Netanyahu spoke on Friday, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob called on the Israeli leader to end the suffering in Gaza. "I want to say this out loud and clear to the Israeli government: Stop the bloodshed! Stop the suffering! Bring the hostages home and end the occupation!" Golob said to loud applause in the General Assembly hall. "Mr. Netanyahu, stop this war now!" he said, slamming his hand on the podium. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The war in Gaza returned to center stage at Thursdays United Nations General Assembly, with a speech from the Palestinian president. VOA's U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer has more. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This meeting between the countries top diplomats comes amid growing U.S. concerns over Chinese firms supplying chips and drones to Moscow, which have significantly bolstered Russia's battlefield capabilities in its war against Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has told the Congress that China's material support for Russia's war effort "comes from the very top." Blinkens talks with Wang will take place ahead of a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, expected later this fall. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.N. General Assembly that Ukraine would never accept a deal imposed by other nations to end Russias 31-month invasion, questioning the motives of China and Brazil in pushing for negotiations with Moscow. For months, U.S. officials have accused China of actively aiding Russia's war effort. Washington has sanctioned Chinese firms providing crucial components to Russia's defense industry. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller recently told VOA that the U.S. openly discusses its differences with China to ensure that both countries "at least understand where the other is coming from, even if we cant reach an agreement." He added that Washington is managing its relationship with China to prevent it from "veering from competition into conflict." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to talk with the opposition about the country's disputed presidential election. Such engagement must lead to "a peaceful return to democracy," Blinken said on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. "The United States and its partners stand fully ready to support this process." Maduro claimed victory in Venezuela's July 28 election over opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. Venezuela's electoral authority, which declared Maduro the winner of the vote within hours of the polls closing, reported that the president won more than half the votes, without publishing any results. Maduro remains in power, and his claim to a third six-year term was backed by the Supreme Court, which includes Maduro loyalists. The opposition, however, contends Gonzalez won the election in a landslide. It backed its claims with voting tallies it said had been gathered from 80% of the country's 30,000 voting booths showing that Gonzalez won by a ratio of more than 2 to 1. "After Venezuelans turned out to vote in historic numbers, the regime refused to release detailed electoral tallies," Blinken said. "It tampered with election results. It falsely declared Maduro the winner. It cracked down brutally on peaceful protesters, political opponents. It unjustly issued a warrant for the arrest of the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez." Gonzalez sought asylum in Spain earlier this month after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes. Blinken said there has been extensive and impartial documentation of Maduro's repressive actions by nongovernmental organizations, human rights groups, journalists, citizens and others. "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. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Ethnic Chin refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia are accusing the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR of abuse and of not providing necessary protection, potentially putting lives at risk. Hundreds of members of the Alliance of Chin Refugees held a demonstration Thursday outside the UNHCR office in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur. Chins, most of whom are Christians, are an ethnic and religious minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar who face repression that has led to violent conflicts there. In recent decades, waves of ethnic Chins have fled the country, many to Malaysia. U.N. figures from last month show there are about 27,250 ethnic Chin refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia registered with UNHCR. But James Bawl Thang Bik, chairman of the Alliance of Chin Refugees, told VOA on Thursday there are tens of thousands more who are not registered. He also said the UNHCR takes too long to make decisions for asylum-seekers who have applied for refugee status. The process can take years, he said. VOA asked UNHCR Malaysia how long it typically takes for an applicant to get a decision on their case but did not receive an immediate answer. Further complicating matters, Malaysia has not signed the United Nations refugee convention and does not officially recognize refugees, viewing them as illegal immigrants. UNHCR registration provides some protection that typically prevents arrest, but the refugees are still not allowed to attend government schools or work legally although many take off-the-books jobs, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by employers, according to migrant rights groups. James Bawl Thang Bik said that after Myanmars 2021 coup approximately 50 ethnic Chin Myanmar soldiers and police officers fled to Malaysia because they refused to fight for Myanmar's military. He said some of them have been arrested and are in detention in Malaysia because they lack UNHCR documentation. If these former soldiers and policemen get sent back to Myanmar their lives could be in danger, he said. UNHCR needs to prioritize these types of cases and register them quickly. UNHCR documentation also gives refugees access to medical care at public hospitals for lower prices than what foreigners typically pay but the Alliance of Chin Refugees said asylum-seekers without UNHCR documentation frequently need medical treatment but cannot get it. The UNHCR needs to meet with these people immediately and give them the necessary status and documentation, Bik said, mentioning cases of people with broken bones and serious infections. Responding to media inquiries after Thursdays demonstration, the United Nations refugee agency released a written statement that said: UNHCR wishes to emphasize that we recognize the frustration felt by many refugee communities living in the complex protection environment in Malaysia where they lack legal status, are unable to access legal work or formal education. UNHCR is doing its utmost to protect and assist refugees. This includes prioritizing protection and assistance interventions for highly vulnerable refugees. Additionally, Bik said he has received reports about security guards outside the UNHCR office punching and kicking ethnic Chins trying to get in without appointments. UNHCR responded in its written statement saying it has zero tolerance for this type of treatment but also said: At this time, we have not received any reports of abuse by security personnel from any individual refugee from the Chin Community. The alliance chairman dismissed the UNHCRs response as false. We have told them about mistreatment many times, he said. Among those in New York City for the 79th United Nations General Assembly is exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. On Monday, Tsikhanouskaya and Evgenia Kara-Murza, the Russian human rights activist and wife of former political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza, received the annual human rights prize awarded by the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, founded by the late Tom Lantos, who was the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress. Addressing the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that same day via video link, Tsikhanouskaya said she was speaking on behalf of the more than 1,400 Belarusians imprisoned for political reasons by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkos government. Many of them are held in complete isolation, incommunicado no letters, no phone calls, no contact with the outside world, she said. My husband, Syarhei, has been cut off for over a year. I do not know if he is alive. Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed in New York by Victoria Kupchinetsky of Voice of Americas Russian Service. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. VOA: What is the purpose of you coming here to New York to the General Assembly? Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: The U.N. is a good platform where you can meet not only your allies, but also the countries who might be useful to your cause. We are, as Belarusians ... fighting for the restoration of democracy in Belarus, for the release of our political prisoners. And we are looking for world leaders who can somehow assist us with these questions. People in Belarusian prisons are dying. This is the most painful topic for us in the democratic movement. And I think that countries who still have some relationship with this [Lukashenko] regime, they can assist us in solving the humanitarian crisis. VOA: Why do you think Lukashenko released those dozens of political prisoners? Do you know if there are any negotiations about an exchange similar to the recent prisoner exchange with Russia? Tsikhanouskaya: Lukashenko wants to sell the release of about 100 people as an act of humanity. But it has nothing in common with this. I think this release is connected with the pressure that is imposed on Lukashenkos regime. They want to have the sanctions lifted, they want to be relevant in the political world, but they are not. Our task is to make sure that the policy of our democratic allies will not change toward Belarus. And, of course, putting pressure on the regime, strengthening Belarusian civil society, agents of democratic forces. We are looking for venues how we can release political prisoners [for] humanitarian reasons. People are dying. We are looking for countries, for organizations, that can be mediators on this issue. VOA: Are you collecting materials, evidence, against Lukashenko to present in The Hague, at the international tribunal? Tsikhanouskaya: Im totally sure that in the world, justice has to be restored, and Lukashenko has a long list of crimes crimes against humanity, crimes of the deportation of Belarusians, crimes of the abduction of Ukrainian children, the immigration crisis, the hijacking of airplanes, bringing our country into the war [against Ukraine], and so on and so forth. And, of course, for years we have been collecting evidence of these crimes, and we want to use international mechanisms the ICC [International Criminal Court], ICJ [International Court of Justice, aka World Court] [words indistinct] to bring Lukashenko and his cronies to account, though these instruments are rather slow, honestly speaking. But we are consistent in our approach, and hopefully very soon will start a special investigation against the crimes. VOA: What is the ultimate goal of your struggle to actually remove Lukashenko from power or something else? Tsikhanouskaya: Our goal is to restore justice in Belarus, hold free and fair elections in my homeland, but I understand that we cant do this while Lukashenko is there. So, our ultimate goal is to release political prisoners, hold free and fair elections, but before this, of course, we have to weaken the regime as much as possible and strengthen national identity, civil society, democratic forces, to have a smooth and fast transition period. And of course, we want Belarus to return to the family of European countries. The challenge the United States faces in confronting China on the global stage is "almost overwhelming" and exceeds some of the worst historical crises the country has ever encountered, former Trump administration national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien said during an appearance Thursday in Washington. "I'm not sure America has faced a threat like Communist China in our history," O'Brien said in a conversation hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank. "Maybe the Revolutionary War, when we fought the British who were the leading superpower in the world at the time?" he said. "I think that the threat that we face from China is far more serious than we faced against the Soviet Union in the Cold War." O'Brien said he believes China's ultimate plan is to force the country's "Marxist-Leninist" ideology on the rest of the world. "They have an ideology that they believe they can use to organize, to govern the world," he said. "So it's a danger to all of us, to our kids and grandkids. It's a danger to everyone around the world, because they see themselves as being able to govern the entire world based on their ideology." Future US-China policy O'Brien's remarks come at a time when experts are trying to parse what U.S. relations with China will look like in the next presidential administration, whether it is a second Trump term or a first term for current vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. In a report issued Thursday morning, Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggested that future U.S. policies toward China will likely trend in the same direction regardless of who wins the election. "U.S. policy toward the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan is likely to maintain its broad contours under a Harris or a Trump administration," Lin wrote."The Harris and Trump teams share the view that China challenges and threatens the established international order, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and the United States. 'Managing' China or 'winning' against China will be a top priority for the next U.S. administration, as intense U.S. competition with China will likely continue." However, Lin pointed out several areas where a Trump administration might differ, including by implementing harsher trade policies and imposing more far-reaching crackdowns on Chinese influence operations in the U.S. What is unclear, she said, is the degree to which Trump would continue to nurture some of the Indo-Pacific region alliances that the Biden administration has been working to strengthen, and whether he would continue U.S. support of Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own. In his remarks Thursday, O'Brien touched on all of those subjects. Not speaking for Trump O'Brien served in the administration of former President Donald Trump first as a special envoy for hostage affairs, and then as national security adviser from September 2019 until January 2021. During the 90-minute appearance on Thursday, O'Brien made clear he was not speaking for the former president. "Anyone who says they're speaking for Donald Trump, whether it's on personnel or policy, is not speaking for Donald Trump," he said. "Donald Trump is going to speak for Donald Trump." However, his observations about China might provide some insight into the mindset of people likely to populate a second Trump administration, should the former president win reelection in November. O'Brien said that a future Trump administration would be focused on signaling American economic, diplomatic and military strength to China and combating what the former president sees as China's unfair practices. Those include theft of intellectual property, flooding Western economies with Chinese goods subsidized by Beijing, and keeping the value of the Chinese yuan artificially low. "President Trump has said what he's going to do," O'Brien said. "He's going to raise tariffs on the Chinese and send a strong message that we're not going to tolerate intellectual property theft any longer. We're not going to tolerate the dumping, we're not going to tolerate the currency manipulation, and we're going to have an incentive for American manufacturers to come home." China's 'relentless' aggression O'Brien said that when he was in the White House, he saw that China is tireless in its effort to expand Beijing's influence, whether by using its military to harass its neighbors in the Indo-Pacific region or by engaging in espionage and influence operations. "Every time we fought them somewhere espionage at a Confucianist institute that we got closed, if it was a cyber intrusion, if it was some sort of military action against our allies every time you shut that down, they popped up somewhere else. I mean, they operate across every spectrum. They're in space, they're in the air, they're in the sea, they're on the land," he said. "They just operate in every sector. They're attempting to wear down the free world, and they've done a pretty good job of it." AK-47s in Taiwan Earlier this year, O'Brien sparked an angry reaction from Beijing when he suggested arming every military-aged male in Taiwan with an AK-47 in order to resist a potential Chinese invasion. On Thursday, he repeated the suggestion, saying, "Every military-aged male should have an AK-47 and two [ammunition magazines]. Make sure they're interoperable so you can get your follow-on ammunition from the patrols that you ambush and kill when they invade your country." The object, he said, is to "strike a little fear into the hearts" of China's leadership. "You may invade, but every time you walk down the street, every window's going to have an AK-47 pointed out." He went on to say that under the first Trump administration, "China did not harass Taiwan the way that they're doing it now." He said that under a Harris administration, "You're not going to see the kind of strength that you get from President Trump that will keep Taiwan free." US alliances O'Brien said that in his view, it is essential that the U.S. continues to cultivate close alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. The "good news," he said, is that those alliances are strong. "You take the combination of the 'Quad' with India, Australia, the U.S. and Japan; you take the Japan-South Korea-America trilateral alliance; you take a look at AUKUS, with the U.K. and Australia and the U.S.; and the treaty alliances with Thailand and with the Philippines," he said. "Those alliances scare the Chinese, because they see us operating together," he said. "And together, we can contain, and we can push back against the Chinese. When they drive wedges between us, that's where they get the big advantage." Return to nuclear competition O'Brien said it is becoming increasingly important for the U.S. to revitalize its nuclear "triad" the combined capacity to launch missiles from air, land and sea because in addition to the threat the country faces from Russia, China's nuclear capacity is surging. "If we don't take steps soon to both modernize our triad and expand our capabilities, we're going to be in real trouble, because you have the Russians with 1,250 or 1,500 strategic weapons. They've got about another 2,500 tactical nukes that they can deploy. And the Chinese are going to have 1,500 strategic weapons pointed at us, and who knows how many tactical weapons. "That's going to be a 2- or 3-to-1 overmatch on us, and that's not a recipe for deterrence," he said. "We've got to get back in the nuclear game," he said. "It's unfortunate, because we thought that was a day that was gone that we were past that. But our adversaries have decided that they're going to still play it. It would be nice to say, 'Yeah, we don't want to play that game.' But we have to have an effective deterrence." The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. With violent gangs controlling most of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, calls for a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission are growing. The countrys prime minister says the current international effort lacks resources, manpower and the capability to face the gangs. Celia Mendoza reports. This week at U.N. meetings in New York, the United States said that two African countries should have permanent seats on one of the worlds major decision-making bodies, the United Nations Security Council. For years, numerous African leaders have called for the continent to have representation on the U.N. Security Council, which since World War II has had just five permanent members: the U.S., France, the UK, Russia and China. This week, the top representative of one of those permanent seats, U.S. President Joe Biden, threw his weight behind the idea. However, there was one major caveat, which Kenyan analyst Cliff Mboya said is not going over well on the continent. The new African members would not have veto power on decisions. Weve already seeing a lot of backlash like this is a big joke, the question is what is the point in joining the Security Council if you dont have veto powers, what are you going to do there? asked Mboya. That could play in Chinas favor, as it has long positioned itself as a fellow developing country and leader of whats become known as the Global South, while disparaging the West for its colonial past, said Mboya, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. So I dont think this helps the U.S. and the West in terms of perception and narratives, and it will only embolden African countries to lean more to the East because it just speaks to the hypocrisy," he said. "Chinas been able to, you know, build this coalition of emerging and developing countries against the U.S. and Western-led world order. But Paul Nantulya, a research associate with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said he thought the announcement was a win for U.S. diplomacy and would mostly be welcomed by African nations as it opens the door to further negotiations. Regarding China, China has been very, you know, kind of like sitting on the fence. So rhetorically China has said all the right things, supporting Africas, what it calls Africas legitimate interests in the United Nations, including the United Nations Security Council, he said. But its plan for that has been hazy, he added. When it comes to specific details, in terms of whether China supports permanent African representation on the council with veto power, when it comes to that China has not articulated a position. Among those in New York this week calling for U.N. reform was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He said, quote: Africa and its 1.4 billion people remain excluded from its key decision-making structures. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for reform, saying the UNSC hasnt kept up with a changing world and Africa is underrepresented. Some African countries want veto power in the Security Council dispensed with entirely. If there is reform, and Africa gets the two seats on the Security Council that the U.S. proposes, key contenders could include the continents largest economy, South Africa; most populous country, Nigeria; or North African heavyweight Egypt, Nantulya told VOA. However, analysts say any future process of adding African countries as permanent members is likely to face hurdles, as there will be problems reaching consensus. Nantulya said some African politicians think it could even drive a wedge between countries on the continent. There are also concerns the U.S. statement could just be rhetoric and so far no timeline has been given regarding the next steps. Under U.N. rules, any change to Security Council membership would need approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly, including all five permanent members. In this article, we will look at the 20 geopolitical events with highest impact on S&P 500. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, go directly to the 5 Geopolitical Events with Highest Impact on S&P 500. The Significance of Geopolitical Events The geopolitical events impact the financial markets across the world depending on the nature of the event. The assassination attempt on former US President Donald J. Trump is the latest geopolitical event investors have had to grapple with in recent years, alongside two major wars including Russia-Ukraine and ongoing Israels aggression on Gaza. Wars have far-reaching effects such as an impact on financial markets, in addition to enormous human toll. Geopolitics events that affect the economy drastically caution investors to look for safe haven investments or be out of the market until the situation comes to normal. According to JP Morgan Private Banks recent client survey, 34% of the investors were potentially worried about geopolitical risks, while 29% of investors were bothered by potential recession fears in 2024. Whereas, almost 90% of the geopolitical events have not changed the direction of the world economy, as per Citigroup Inc.s Global Wealth Report 2024. Geopolitical events mostly have short-term impacts on global asset prices. However, World War II and the 1973 OPEC Oil Embargo had the gravest impact on the financial markets. The 1973 oil shock did have a lasting impact on equity returns. During the first 90 days, the S&P 500 plunged by nearly 13.04%, the highest among geopolitical events since 1940. The oil supply was limited for an extended period, leading to a macro state of stagflation. In simple terms, high oil prices essentially stopped the economy from operating efficiently in the 1970s. On the other side, Russias invasion of Ukraine shocked global energy markets in 2022. However, additional oil supply limited the economic and market impact compared to its 1970s counterpart. Today, the US has a more secure oil supply compared to its heavy reliance on the Middle East. In recent times, the rising conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war have had major consequences. The US has been aiding Ukraine and Israel with military assistance. According to the US State Department, the US government has provided more than $55.7 billion in military assistance to Ukraine to fight against Russian invasion since the war began in February 2022. Whereas, the US government has supported Israel through legislation providing at least $12.5 billion in military aid, as of April 2024. Story continues It has been a see-saw year for the global economies. The intensified conflict in the Middle East may impact oil prices with a potential disruption in regional supply. As of September 23, oil prices have been high as the conflicts soar, and due to last week's outsized US interest rate cut expectations. As reported by Reuters, Yeap Jun Rong, the market strategist at IG International, said: Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have edged up a notch between Israel and Hezbollah, which could leave oil prices well-supported on the risks of a wider regional conflict." Brent crude futures for November were up $0.60, or 0.8% at $75.09 per barrel, while the US crude futures for November were up $0.64, or 0.9%, at $71.64, as of September 23. In addition, both oil benchmarks soared over 4% last week due to the US rate cut, weaker demand sentiment in top oil importer China is capping the upswing, reported Reuters. READ ALSO: 30 Least Peaceful Countries in the World and 12 Countries With Best Moodys Credit Rating For Sovereign Bonds. A Leader in Oil and Gas Sector Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the leading American multinationals in the oil and gas sector. The company engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas both domestically and internationally. Exxon Mobil Corporation recently signed a MOU with an EV maker SK On. The oil and gas company has agreed to provide 100,000 metric tons of MobilTMLithium from its first planned project in Arkansas. This deal will help ExxonMobils goal of supplying lithium for almost 1 million EV batteries annually by 2030 and support the build-out of a US EV supply chain. For the second quarter of 2024, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) surpassed earnings estimates, reporting an EPS of $2.14, up by 6.51% compared to anticipated earnings of $2.02 per share. Exxon Mobil posted $9.2 billion in earnings, making its second-best Q2 performance in the past decade. The company achieved this feat following record production in Guyana and the Permian Basin, where the output reached 1.2 million barrels per day. The companys revenue came in at $93.06 billion, exceeding estimated revenue of $89.68 billion. Alongside strong operational results, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) gave back $9.5 billion to shareholders, including $4.3 billion in dividends. XOM has more than 40 years of consistent dividend growth and averaged a 2.20% yield over the past five years. In addition, Exxon Mobil plans to invest between $20 billion and $25 billion annually in capital expenditures through 2027. With strong hedge fund sentiment, XOM is one of the 10 Best Affordable Stocks To Buy Right Now. Hedge fund interest in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) soared from 81 in Q1 2024 to 92 in Q2 2024. Madison Dividend Income Fund pointed out regarding XOM in the Q1 2024 investor letter: Our thesis on XOM is that it will grow production volumes of oil and gas moderately over the next few years, while limiting excessive capital investment that plagued the industry from 2014-2020. Production growth will come from its 2023 acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, which is the largest producer in the Permian basin. XOM plans to double its Permian output by 2027, to 2 million barrels per day. Capital spending will be limited to $20-25 billion per yearthrough 2027, which should allow for significant amounts of cash to be returned to shareholders including a $35 billion share repurchase program and continued dividend increases. Higher oil prices would provide a tailwind to our thesis but are not necessary. We think XOM can grow earnings and cash flow if oil prices remain above $60 per barrel (Click here to read the full text) While we acknowledge the potential of XOM 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 time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Now, lets take a look at the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 20 Geopolitical Events with Highest Impact on S&P 500 Our Methodology To compile the data for 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500, we gathered the data from Citigroup Inc.s Global Wealth Report 2024. We have ranked the 20 geopolitical events in descending order of the highest average impact on the S&P 500, which includes initial impact, 30-day impact, and 90-day impact. At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with 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). 20 Geopolitical Events with Highest Impact on S&P 500 20. Cuban Missile Crisis (10/19/1962) Initial Impact: -3.78% 30-days Impact: 7.61% 90-days Impact: 17.16% Average impact: 6.99% The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This was one of the moments two superpowers came close to nuclear conflict. The initial impact of this event was critical and the S&P 500 dropped by almost 3.78%. In the next 30 days and 90 days, the S&P 500 recovered and surged by 7.61% and 17.16%, respectively. The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most significant geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 19. US Invasion of Iraq (3/20/2003) Initial Impact: 2.49% 30-days Impact: 2.06% 90-days Impact: 15.57% Average impact: 6.70% In March 2003, the US forces invaded Iraq to destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. Today, the Iraqi government is asking the US government to withdraw the left troops from their soil. The US invasion of Iraq did not hurt the market and the average impact was on the S&P 500 index was a rise of nearly 6.70%. The US invasion of Iraq ranks among the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 18. JFK Assassination (11/21/1963) Initial Impact: -2.81% 30-days Impact: 3.06% 90-days Impact: 8.28% Average impact: 2.84% The assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who served as the 35th US President, was one of the biggest events in modern history and had a far-reaching impact on US politics. JFK assassination slowed the market and the average impact was around 2.84% of growth. JFK's assassination ranks 18th among the geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 17. Gulf War (12/24/1990) Initial Impact: -4.16% 30-days Impact: 0.09% 90-days Impact: 12.1% Average impact: 2.67% The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the US. The initial impact of the Gulf War on the S&P 500 index was quite notable with the market dropping by more than 4%. However, within three months the market had recovered but the war had an intense impact on the market during the initial period. The Gulf War ranks among the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 16. Brexit (6/23/2016) Initial Impact: -2.30% 30-days Impact: 4.30% 90-days Impact: 3.72% Average impact: 1.91% Brexit is one of the biggest events in Europe in recent times. Brexit is a portmanteau of the words British and exit, referring to the UKs referendum to leave the European Union (EU) on June 23, 2016. Brexit is one of the recent geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 15. 2017 Escalation (8/7/2017) Initial Impact: -0.24% 30-days Impact: -0.64% 90-days Impact: 4.44% Average impact: 1.19% The 2017 escalation began with North Koreas testing of ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan. This event was of grave concern to the US government. The 2017 escalation negatively impacted the market during its initial 30-day period. 14. World Trade Center Bombing (2/26/1993) Initial Impact: -0.31% 30-days Impact: 1.67% 90-days Impact: 2.04% Average impact: 1.13% Before the 9/11 event, the World Trade Center suffered from a bombing terrorist attack. The market slowed down during the initial days of the event. The World Trade Center bombing ranks among the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 13. US Bombs Libya (4/15/1986) Initial Impact: 2.95% 30-days Impact: -1.39% 90-days Impact: 0.16% Average impact: 0.57% The US government under President Ronald Reagan carried out air strikes, code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon, against Libya on 15 April 1986. The air strikes were carried out in retaliation for the West Berlin discotheque bombing 10 days earlier, which the Reagan regime blamed on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The US bombing of Libya had a negative impact during the first month after the air strikes and overall the market slowed down with an average of 0.57% increase in the S&P 500 index. This event ranks 13th among the geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 12. 2016 Nuclear Test (9/9/2016) Initial Impact: -2.55% 30-days Impact: -0.81% 90-days Impact: 2.97% Average impact: 0.13% In September 2016, North Korea claimed that it successfully conducted what the world was worried about - a miniaturized hydrogen bomb that could be loaded onto a long-range missile. The 2016 Nuclear tests impacted the market as it was one of the major geopolitical developments of the decade. The 2016 Nuclear test ranks among the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 11. USSR Invades Afghanistan (12/24/1979) Initial Impact: -2.27% 30-days Impact: 5.37% 90-days Impact: -7.78% Average impact: -1.56% The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 and the war ended after 9 years, breaking the backbone of the USSR. The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan was one of the turning events in the region and ranks among the geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 10. Operation Paul Bunyan (8/18/1976) Initial Impact: -3.15% 30-days Impact: 1.64% 90-days Impact: -4.32% Average impact: -1.94% Operation Paul Bunyan was carried out by the US in collaboration with South Korea to revenge the murder of two United Nations Command Officers, Captain Arthur Bonifas and First Lieutenant Mark Barrett, by North Korean soldiers on August 18, 1976. Operation Paul Bunyan ranks 10th among the geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 9. September 11 Attacks (11/9/2001) Initial Impact: -11.6% 30-days Impact: 0.45% 90-days Impact: 4.34% Average impact: -2.27% The September 11 Attacks famously known as 9/11 were plane hijacking terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. These attacks had one of the devasting impacts on the market initially, causing a $1.4 trillion loss in market value. The S&P 500 plunged over 14% after the first week of attacks. The September 11 Attacks were one of the biggest geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 8. US Invades Panama (12/15/1989) Initial Impact: -2.06% 30-days Impact: -3.73% 90-days Impact: -3.43% Average impact: -3.07% The US invaded Panama during the presidency of George H. W. Bush in mid-December 1989. The US invasion of Panama was one of the biggest geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 7. 2009 Nuclear Test (4/25/2009) Initial Impact: -1.28% 30-days Impact: 5.09% 90-days Impact: -13.05% Average impact: -3.08% The 2009 Nuclear test was one of the initial tests carried out by North Korea. The market reaction to the 2009 Nuclear tests was intense. This makes the 2009 Nuclear test one of the major geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 6. Clinton Intern Scandal (8/20/1998) Initial Impact: -12.3% 30-days Impact: -6.20% 90-days Impact: 5.59% Average impact: -4.30% US President Bill Clinton was involved in a sex scandal with his intern Monica Lewinsky. This event impacted the market quite hard and the S&P 500 index dropped over 6% in the first month after the sex scandal leaked. 5. Nixon/Watergate (3/15/1974) Initial Impact: -1.72% 30-days Impact: -7.28% 90-days Impact: -8.04% Average impact: -5.68% The Nixon/Watergate scandal was a major political controversy in the US during the presidency of Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974. This event ended with the resignation of Richard Nixon, the President of the US. The Nixon/Watergate scandal was one of the biggest geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 4. Korean War (6/23/1950) Initial Impact: -12.8% 30-days Impact: -8.67% 90-days Impact: 1.20% Average impact: -6.76% The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea and their allies on the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War had a devasting impact on the market and on average the S&P 500 fell by nearly 6.76%. The Korean War ranks fourth among the 20 geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 3. Pearl Harbor (12/7/1941) Initial Impact: -6.87% 30-days Impact: -2.90% 90-days Impact: -12.02% Average impact: -7.26% The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service surprised the US. The Pearl Harbor event was the beginning of the World War II. The Pearl Harbor attack is one of the major geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. 2. US Bombs Cambodia (4/29/1970) Initial Impact: -15.3% 30-days Impact: -6.43% 90-days Impact: -4.94% Average impact: -8.89% The US bombing of Cambodia was one of the biggest geopolitical events with the highest impact on the S&P 500. The Operation Menu was a covert US Strategic Air Command tactical bombing campaign conducted as part of both the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Civil War. 1. Arab Oil Embargo (10/18/1973) Initial Impact: -16.23% 30-days Impact: -8.45% 90-days Impact: -13.04% Average impact: -12.57% The Arab oil embargo is the most significant geopolitical event with the highest impact on the S&P 500. The Arab oil embargo was a temporary cessation of oil shipments from the Middle East to the US. The OPEC ceased oil supply to the US due to its support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War. 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. Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, an LGBTQ advocacy group, was denied registration by authorities in 2019, and even after seeking relief from the Supreme Court, which had ruled the group must be registered, its efforts have been unsuccessful. Human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said the harsh legal environment for LGBTQ individuals in the southern African kingdom causes significant problems. There is denial that they exist, so they do not have any form of protection as a group," Nhlabatsi said. "They only rely on protection from the law or enjoyment of any rights from the law as human beings under Chapter 3 of our Bill of Rights of our Constitution. So I can say its quite challenging, because theres no instrument that seeks to protect them. Theres no instrument that seeks to recognize them as a group of people that exist. I dont think theres any progress that has been made. Besides the lack of legal recognition, LGBTQ individuals in Eswatini often face discrimination in gaining access to services, high rates of intimate partner violence, and exclusion from public discussions. Sisanda Mavimbela, executive director of Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, said the idea of LGBTQ rights is considered contradictory to traditional African values and religious beliefs, perpetuating a climate of exclusion and marginalization. The community cannot equally enjoy rights like all Swazis do, as per their birthright," Mavimbela said. ESGM has been denied "a right to associate, which is a right to all Swazis as per the Constitution." Eswatini is also known by its former official name, Swaziland. In the LGBTQ community, "justice comes hard and sometimes is not reached at all," for what are usually quoted as "non-African, unreligious or cultural reasons, Mavimbela said. Colonial-era laws In refusing to register Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, the government cited the countrys colonial-era laws, which still have a profound influence on the countrys legal framework. Registration of the group would allow it to operate as a nonprofit organization with the ability to, among other things, open a bank account and receive international funding. If the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry continues to refuse to register ESGM despite the Supreme Court ruling, the court could issue a mandamus order requiring the government to carry out the action. However, no such order has been issued, and it remains to be seen if the court will do so. The ESGM case reached the Supreme Court after the group appealed a ruling by the High Court, a lower-level body. The appellants argued that the High Court had erred in law, and in fact, by stating that the applicants sought to create rights that don't exist. On June 16, 2023, a five-panel bench of the Supreme Court set aside the High Courts decision to dismiss ESGMs application to register as a nonprofit organization. But on September 27, 2023, the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry ordered the Registrar of Companies not to register ESGM, citing the organizations name and objectives and asserting that it offends the customs and principles of Eswatini. Despite the opposition to LGBTQ rights in Eswatini, Bishop Zwanini Shabalala, the former secretary-general of the Council of Swaziland Churches, has called for understanding and acceptance of the LGBTQ community without discrimination. This is an area that still needs more and more dialogue in churches and in society. ... Our position as the church is that we should welcome everyone who comes to church and also advocate for access to services that are rendered by the country from government to all other institutions," Shabalala said. LGBTQ citizens "should also be treated like anyone else, without looking at their sexual orientation. With little to no local support, the LGBTQ community finds solace and support in the Eswatini offices of the European Union and the U.N. Development Program. The EU and the U.S. Embassy to Eswatini backed LGBTQ residents throughout the court battle, and the development program continues to run dialogue sessions and workshops. The situation remains dire, however, as the community faces a lack of recognition, acceptance and equal rights. The United Nations General Assembly continues on Friday with an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this follows Thursdays speech my Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations continue on the conference's sidelines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is still in the US, he meets with presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday, he met with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Thursday, all as Russian shelling continues. And the mayor New York, the USs most populous city, is under federal indictment. On September 24, the United States charged Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old American citizen, with plotting to assassinate former U.S. President and Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump. Routh is known as an outspoken supporter of Ukraine's self-defense against the Russian aggression, The Associated Press reported. In Russia and in the U.S., pro-Kremlin sources leveraged Routh's history of supporting Ukraine to claim he acted on Kyiv's behalf. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggested in his September 16 post on X that Ukraine "hired" Routh to assassinate Trump. The fact-checking outlet News Guard's Reality Check debunked Medvedev's claim as "baseless." A U.S. conservative commentator, Tim Pool, accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of receiving $100,000 from the Russian government for each of his podcast videos, advanced a similar claim, saying in his September 17 podcast: "We must investigate Ukrainian involvement in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump." Other state media and officials in Russia, including Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, repeated that narrative. "Having analyzed the social media of the detained Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, journalists came to the conclusion that representatives of the Kiev regime most likely involved him in recruiting foreigners, including from Afghanistan, to replenish the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine." The claim is unsubstantiated. Neither the Russian authorities nor the Kremlin-aligned social media influencers provided evidence connecting the Ukrainian government to Routh. Kyiv denied any collaboration with him. The FBI Miami special agent in charge, Jeffrey Veltri, said on September 16 that Routh had "an active online presence, and we are going through what he posted," analyzing "media reports and public statements he made that he wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers and others to fight for Ukraine." Veltri said the investigation was in its early stages and the information obtained "at present" suggests that Routh acted alone. In several interviews for news outlets and on his social media accounts, Routh claimed that he had been trying to recruit foreign soldiers to fight for Ukraine. But there is no evidence that his attempts to recruit volunteers into the Ukrainian army were successful. Contrary to the Russian claims, Routh expressed frustration with the Ukrainian state for ignoring his repeated communication attempts. In a June 2022 interview with Newsweek Romania, Routh stated that he had recently traveled to Ukraine to join the army but was turned away due to his age, being in his mid-50s, and lack of military experience, making him "not an ideal candidate" for combat. In a March 2023 interview with The New York Times, Routh said he was in Washington and claimed to have spent "some time" in Ukraine. He again acknowledged he had never fought in the war with Russia, citing his age and lack of military experience. After his rejection, Routh began attempting to recruit volunteer soldiers for Ukraine's International Legion, a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In a March 7, 2023, interview with the news site Semafor, Routh said Ukraine was reluctant to admit foreign fighters, including Afghan commandos. He criticized Ukraine for being difficult to work with, claiming it feared foreign volunteers might be Russian spies. Chelsea Walsh, a nurse and aid worker in Kyiv during the early days of the Russian invasion, told The Associated Press that Routh was unsuccessfully attempting to recruit foreign soldiers. The failures made him "increasingly angry and unhinged." Upon returning to the U.S. in June 2022, Walsh warned U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents that Routh was "a ticking time bomb" and later shared her concerns with the FBI and Interpol. Evelyn Aschenbrenner, a U.S. citizen who worked with the Ukrainian International Legion for two years, described Routh as "delusional and a liar" in a Newsweek interview. She warned on social media that Routh was "not, and never has been, associated with the International Legion or the Ukrainian Armed Forces at all." Oleksandr Shahuri of the Foreigners Coordination Department of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command stated that Routh never served in the Ukrainian army or collaborated with its military. Shahuri told the New York Post that Routh visited Kyiv in 2022 and periodically approached the International Legion of Ukraine with "nonsensical ideas" that "can best be described as delusional." On September 16, Ukraine's International Legion told the BBC that Routh had "never been part of, associated with or linked" with the legion ... in any capacity." Ukrainian military intelligence stated on the same day that Routh "has never served in the International Legion of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and has no connection to the unit." Sudans de facto ruler said Thursday that he wants to end the war in his country, but he said he will not sit with his rival general unless he withdraws his fighters. "We are keen on stopping the war and restoring peace and security, without any pre-conditions," Army Chief Abdel-Fattah al Burhan told reporters in New York, where he was attending U.N. General Assembly meetings. However, he stated several conditions for talks to start. "We will never sit with Hemedti unless his forces pull out, and unless they implement what we agreed to," he said referring to his rival, the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti." Once allies in Sudan's transitional government following a 2021 coup, the two generals have turned into bitter rivals for power. On April 15, 2023, fighting erupted between their forces in the capital, Khartoum. It has since spread across Sudan, resulting in widespread atrocities and killing. Burhan was asked about new fighting that erupted between his forces and the RSF in Khartoum on Thursday, but did not offer any new details. Earlier Thursday, Burhan addressed the U.N. General Assembly annual debate. He used most of his speech to talk about the war in his country. Not to be outdone, his rival, Hemedti, issued a "General Assembly speech" of his own, on the social media platform X. Ten million people have been displaced and half of Sudans population, 26 million people, are struggling with crisis levels of food insecurity. Famine was confirmed in August in Sudans Darfur region, which has seen heavy fighting. At least 14 other areas of Sudan are considered at risk of famine in the coming months. "The food gap is there, but it hasnt reached the level of famine yet," Burhan told reporters. Regarding efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to bring the parties to the negotiating table in Switzerland in August, the army chief said it didnt happen because "external parties interfered" with the process. The Sudanese military accuses the United Arab Emirates of arming and equipping the RSF. The UAE was invited to a meeting in Switzerland in August and Burhan did not attend. He said he was also not happy with how the invitation was sent to him in his personal capacity, not as head of state. He added that any peace process should be purely Sudanese-led. Asked about a July phone call he had with the leader of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Burhan said he told the Emirati that the RSF has received either direct or indirect assistance from the UAE in the forms of weapons and training. He said MBZ, as the UAE leader is known, "promised to reconsider the situation." A report by a U.N. panel of experts earlier this year said there was substance to media reports that cargo planes originating in the UAE capital had landed in eastern Chad with arms, ammunition and medical equipment destined for the RSF. Publicly, the UAE denies that it arms the RSF and says it has only sent humanitarian aid to Sudan. Former U.S. President Donald Trump met Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, where Trump repeated claims that he would be able to end the war in Ukraine by making a deal with Russia. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report. Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Friday, promising that he "can work out something that's good for both sides" to end the Russia-Ukraine war, if elected. In response to VOA's question, the Republican presidential nominee repeated his claim he will quickly end the fighting that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. And I think if we win, I think we're going to get it resolved very quickly." It's a significant meeting for Zelenskyy as he works for assurances that Washington will continue to support his war efforts no matter who wins in U.S. presidential election in November. "We have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped, and Putin can't win," Zelenskyy said as he stood next to Trump. Trump has repeatedly said he wants the Russia-Ukraine war to end but has not stated whether he wants Kyiv to win or keep all its territories. "We'll see what happens," he said Thursday in response to a question about whether Ukraine should turn over some of its own land to Russia to end the war. Zelenskyy admitted he cannot win against Russia before the tightly contested presidential election. "We understand that after November we have to decide, and we hope that the friends of [the] United States will be very strong, and we count on it," he said. "That's why I decided to meet with both candidates, with all honor to them." Trump is virtually tied in the polls with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. Zelenskyy with Harris in Washington on Thursday, following a separate meeting with President Joe Biden. Unlike Trump, who is pushing for Kyiv to strike a deal with Moscow, Harris underscored that it's up to Ukraine to decide how the war will end. "I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war," she vowed. Without mentioning names, Harris criticized Trump by denouncing calls for Ukraine to end the war by ceding territory to Russia, focusing on a proposal from Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance that would mean Ukraine is left with less land and no path to an alliance with the West. 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. "These proposals are the same as those of 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." "It's not a surrender," Trump responded Thursday. "What my strategy is, to save lives." Tension between Trump and Zelenskyy Tension has been brewing between the two leaders. During a campaign event in North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump slammed Zelenskyy for making "little, nasty aspersions" toward him. He appeared to be referring to Zelenskyy's comments in a recent New Yorker magazine article that Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how." Trump suggested the Ukrainian leader together with the Biden administration are at fault for prolonging the war that followed Moscow's 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 is now "in rubble" and in no position to negotiate the war's end. Zelenskyy, who has been in the United States since Sunday to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, was scheduled to depart Thursday but extended his visit as Trump announced the meeting. Trump complains of impeachment Trump spent a significant part of the open-to-press portion of his Friday meeting with Zelenskyy complaining about his 2019 impeachment by Democrats in Congress. The impeachment was triggered by a phone call he had with Zelenskyy in July of that year in which Trump, who was president at the time, asked the Ukrainian leader to start an investigation into Biden then his Democratic presidential rival and his son Hunter Biden. "It was a hoax, just a Democrat hoax, which we won," said Trump, who was acquitted by the Republican-majority Senate at that time. Trump praised Zelenskyy for being "like a piece of steel" in supporting his claim that he did nothing wrong during their phone call. Zelenskyy did not respond to Trump's remarks related to the impeachment. Zelenskyy is also dealing with attacks from congressional Republicans loyal to Trump demanding that the Ukrainian leader fire his ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, over Zelenskyy's visit earlier this week 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 on Wednesday said the visit to the factory that makes munitions for Ukraine was a "partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats," that amounts to "election interference." The White House called Johnson's letter a "political stunt" and pointed out that Zelenskyy recently met Republican Governor of Utah Spencer Cox in a "similar event." Ahead of Zelenskyy's visit, the U.S. administration announced $8 billion in new aid for Ukraine. In a statement, Biden said the aid includes 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 White House said no announcement is imminent regarding Ukraine's request for weapons donors to allow Ukrainian forces to use the weapons to strike targets deeper inside Russia. Iuliia Iarmolenko, Tatiana Koprowicz and Iryna Solomko Bonenberger contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the overwhelming majority of countries at the U.N. Security Council meeting this week condemned Russias brutal war of conquest on Ukraine and called for a just and lasting peace on the basis of the United Nations Charter. Crucial to that lasting peace, Blinken said, is pressing Iran, North Korea and China, a permanent member of the council, to stop providing weapons, artillery, machinery and other support [that Russian President Vladimir] Putin is using to devastate Ukrainian homes, energy grids and ports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is in the U.S. to meet with President Joe Biden and presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, said in his daily address Friday that Ukraines plan for victory has been presented to America. The Ukrainian leader said key items discussed included long-range capabilities, the defense package, sanctions against Russia [and] steps on Russian assets. It is important for Ukraine that America has a direct understanding of Ukraine. And it absolutely does, Zelenskyy said. This Russian war must be stopped, and it must be stopped with fairness, so that no aggressor will ever do what Russia is doing. Russian attacks Regional officials in Ukraine reported eight people killed and dozens injured Thursday and Friday by Russian attacks on the country. The Ukrainian air force reported that it shot down 24 of 32 Iranian-made Shahed drones. On its Telegram social media account, the Ukrainian air force reported another attacking drone was lost in Romanian airspace, and still another was "lost in location" because of Ukraine defense forces countermeasures. The air force statement said Russia fired a North Korean-made Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile from occupied Crimea and two Kh-22 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 bombers from the Black Sea, all which were shot down by anti-aircraft missile forces, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units. In southern Odesa Oblast, Governor Oleh Kiper reported from his Telegram account the Russian drone strikes hit the town of Izmail early Friday, killing three people and injuring at least 11. He said the drone strikes damaged homes, residential buildings and other structures, as well as cars. Video released by the Odesa regional emergency service showed firefighters battling fires and searching the rubble of buildings. In Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported four people killed and 11 injured Thursday, adding that there were additional deaths and injuries in attacks on Mariupol and Volnovakha without providing figures. A Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv injured three women and two men, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Three men aged 77, 74 and 46 suffered injuries after Russian attacks on Kupiansk, Vuzlovyi, Vovchansk and Ivashky in Kharkiv Oblast. In Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported Russian forces Thursday targeted 24 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. He said one person was killed and 19 were injured, while residential high-rises, homes, and critical infrastructure including a school were damaged. Also Thursday, the Ukrainian military reported that a Ukrainian drone strike battalion foiled a Russian armored assault near the village of Pishchane in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Commander of the Achilles drone strike battalion, Yuriy Fedorenko, reported Russian forces had attempted to advance in the area, using around 50 armored vehicles and troops. Video released by Fedorenko showed repeated drone strikes on what he reported were Russian vehicles. The commander reported that the drone strikes damaged or destroyed 40 Russian vehicles. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The global coalition to ensure the defeat of the Islamic State terror group is set to wind down its military mission in Iraq, part of a two-phased plan that U.S. officials say will not hinder counter-IS operations elsewhere in the region. Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Friday that the mission would be changing to a bilateral security partnership with the Iraqi government. "The U.S. is not withdrawing from Iraq," Singh told reporters in response to a VOA question at the briefing. "I cannot get into more details on what that front footprint is going to look like." The first phase of the agreement, set to start immediately, will see coalition forces wrap up their efforts in Iraq no later than a year from now, senior U.S. officials said Friday. The second phase, they said, will start next September and will last at least one year, allowing a remnant of coalition forces to remain in Iraq for the sole purpose of supporting anti-IS efforts in neighboring Syria. The U.S. officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, declined to say what impact the two-phased agreement would have on the 2,500 U.S. forces in Iraq and the 900 troops in Syria, but, like Singh, rejected characterizations of the agreement as a U.S. pullout. "This is an evolution of the military mission in Iraq," the official added. "We are moving toward the type of productive, long-term security relationship the United States has with partners around the world." Other officials said that despite a broad agreement on ending the coalition's military role in Iraq, key details have yet to be decided. The number of U.S troops in Iraq and the fate of U.S. bases "remains in a planning process and under review," said a senior U.S. defense official, emphasizing that no matter what changes are ultimately implemented in the first phase of the transition, it will not adversely affect support for U.S. forces helping to counter IS in Syria. "Our footprint is going to be changing," said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, briefing reporters Friday. She said the U.S. relationship with Iraq remains crucial, however, even if the threat from IS in Iraq is not as dire as it once was. "The strongholds that they had in Iraq, they don't have those anymore, or not what they used to," she said in response to a question from VOA. Friday's long-awaited announcement comes 10 years after the U.S. and dozens of other countries joined forces to help roll back IS' self-declared caliphate, which at its peak covered nearly one-third of Iraq and Syria. It also comes more than a year after the U.S. and Iraq first proposed talks to wind down the counter-IS mission and following rocket and drone attacks on U.S. troops, including by Iraqi militias backed by Iran. The U.S. officials said under the transition agreement, the Iraqi government will remain responsible for protecting U.S. and coalition forces from attacks from Iranian-backed militias, though that will not stop U.S. forces from responding. "We've made it clear also that [the U.S.] will not hesitate to take all appropriate actions to protect our personnel," said the senior administration official. "Attacks against the U.S. and the coalition service members, as well as Iraqi security service members, undermine Iraq's sovereignty and security and stability." Some public statements from Iraqi officials, including Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi, have stressed that the deal would see most of the U.S. troops in Iraq leave within the next two years. In an interview with Al-Hadath television earlier this month, al-Abbasi said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had pushed for a longer transition period, but that Iraq said no. "We refused his proposal regarding a third year," said Abbasi. U.S. officials said they view the agreement to end the coalition military mission in Iraq not as an end, but a transition to a potentially stronger relationship with Baghdad. "The government of Iraq has expressed continual willingness and interest to solidify and expand that partnership, including on counterterrorism cooperation," said the senior U.S. defense official. "We're very confident that we have a good partner in Iraq, in the government of Iraq." The defense official also said the two-phase agreement to end the coalition military mission does not preclude cooperation between U.S. and Iraqi security forces against IS, like a joint operation earlier this month which killed a senior IS commander in Iraq's western Anbar province. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also seemed to leave open the possibility of continued cooperation with U.S. forces despite a desire for counter-IS coalition forces to leave. "We celebrate the coalition," al-Sudani told a conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, adding, "this mission is finished." "We hope we will have a wider relationship, a more profound relationship with the United States," he said. "It's a strategic relationship." Singh called the United States' military partnership with Iraq "crucial." "We are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, and our partnership has led to the success of diminishing ISIS from what it was 10 years ago to where it is today," she told reporters Friday, using an acronym for the terror group. Despite statements by Iraqi officials downplaying the need for coalition forces in Iraq to combat IS, some U.S. officials and independent analysts have expressed growing concern that the terror group is rebounding. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces across the Middle East, warned in July that IS in Iraq and Syria "was on pace to more than double the total number of attacks they claimed in 2023." The warning noted that beyond reconstituting its operations in Iraq and Syria, IS officials appear to be expanding their efforts to plan and carry out attacks elsewhere in the world. Charles Lister, the director of the Countering Terrorism and Extremism Program at the Middle East Institute, has tracked about 500 IS attacks this year and warned that an IS rebuild, years in the making, in the central Syrian desert has been flowing across the Euphrates River since January. "That spillover across the river is now a very real reality," he said, pointing to a "huge surge" in Islamic State attacks in both Syrian regime-held areas and in areas held by U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces. "It's more than predictable that the next phase of this recovery will be a spillover into Iraq," Lister said. A recent United Nations report, based on intelligence from member states, estimated IS has between 1,500 and 3,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. It said the majority of the terror group's senior leaders remain in hiding in Syria. U.S. intelligence officials have put the number of IS fighters in Iraq and Syria at about 2,500. Some information from Agence France Presse was used in this article. The U.S. State Department announced a $20 million reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the alleged Iranian mastermind behind a plot to assassinate former White House official John Bolton. U.S. officials said in August 2022 that they had uncovered a plot by Shahram Poursafi, a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to kill Bolton, who served as national security adviser to former President Donald Trump. The State Department's Rewards for Justice program "is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction" of Poursafi, a notice said Thursday. The move came as Trump, 78, who is running for a new White House term, claimed there were "big threats" on his life by Iran. Bolton, considered a foreign policy hawk, is a fierce critic of Iran and advocated that Trump unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Poursafi allegedly offered an unidentified person inside the United States $300,000 to kill Bolton in the capital area. The plan was likely set in motion after the U.S. killing of top IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in January 2020, the Justice Department said at the time. But it never made headway because the ostensible assassin became an informant of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Iranian authorities have dismissed the allegations as "fiction." The United States designated the entire IRGC a "foreign terrorist organization" in 2019, after previously designating its external operation, the Quds Force. Tension remains high in Tanzania days after officials arrested eight prominent figures of the opposition, including leaders of the CHADEMA party on Monday, releasing them in the evening, The Associated Press reported. The main opposition party, CHADEMA, earlier called for nationwide rallies against what they say is the state-orchestrated abduction of opposition members. Among those arrested was former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu. Tanzania will be holding elections in October 2025. Key party figure Ali Kibao was found dead September 7 after he was abducted from a bus in broad daylight by people suspected of being state security agents. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu condemned his killing and ordered a thorough investigation while claiming she leads a democratic government that does not tolerate political assassinations. The United States Embassy in Tanzania, along with the European ambassadors, called for an independent, transparent and prompt investigation into the ongoing abductions and the murder of Ali Kibao. In response to criticism, Suluhu cited the assassination attempts in a developed country, which observers interpreted as a reference to the attempts on the life of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is the Republican Party nominee for president in the November 5 election. Suluhu went on to accuse Western envoys of interfering with Tanzanian domestic affairs by calling for investigations of human rights violations. Tanzania has "never directed its ambassadors to interfere in other nations' internal affairs. ... The statements that have been made, instructing us to do one, two, three we know what to do as Tanzanians and as a country, she said. That is misleading. The Tanzanian president appealed to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, arguing that it prohibits diplomats from making statements about the domestic politics in the countries of deployment. However, the convention does not prevent the envoys from advocating for the rights of the host country's citizens. In fact, the international law drafted in 1948 calls for the protection of human rights regardless of the persons political parties and nationalities. Suluhu claimed that the statements made were not the directive of the heads of state from where they [envoys] came. That claim is also misleading: The convention specifies that one of the functions of the diplomats is protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law. According to the U.S. State Department, an ambassador is the president's highest-ranking representative to a country or international organization abroad and issues statements on behalf of the United States government," and the main goal of U.S. foreign policy abroad is to advance democracy, human rights, and other global interests. Responding to the accusations, U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Michael Battle said on September 19 that the U.S. is not immune to challenges and imperfections but remains true to an obligation for fundamental and paramount human dignity and human respect. The United States has been the single largest bilateral donor to Tanzania for the last six decades, contributing over $7.5 billion in aid. That aid will now depend on respect for democracy and human rights, Battle said earlier in an address to a democracy conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As long as we remain Tanzanias partner, we will speak openly and honestly about these principles, he said. The September 23 arrest of the opposition leader Tundu Lissu and other members of the CHADEMA party is the second in the last month. Notably, protesting is a civil right guaranteed by Tanzanian constitution. In August, the police arrested Lissu and 520 young men and women who had planned to protest bad governance on International Youth Day, accusing them of planning to cause violence. The abduction and arrests taint Suluhus public image: She had been seen as a reformist after lifting a ban on opposition rallies put in place by her predecessor, the hardliner John Magufuli, who died in office in 2021. Eyewitness accounts and investigations by international human rights organizations have detailed dozens of abductions and, in some cases, killings of innocent civilians allegedly by the Tanzanian security agencies. The New York-based Human Rights Foundation said at least three opposition figures remain missing weeks after suspected security agents abducted them. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Irish Continental Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 7 shareholders own 52% of the company Insider ownership in Irish Continental Group is 19% A look at the shareholders of Irish Continental Group plc (LON:ICGC) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 41% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Irish Continental Group. View our latest analysis for Irish Continental Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Irish Continental Group? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Irish Continental Group. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Irish Continental Group, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. It looks like hedge funds own 5.7% of Irish Continental Group shares. That catches my attention because hedge funds sometimes try to influence management, or bring about changes that will create near term value for shareholders. The company's CEO Eamonn Rothwell is the largest shareholder with 19% of shares outstanding. Wellington Management Group LLP is the second largest shareholder owning 10% of common stock, and Kinney Asset Management, LLC. holds about 5.7% of the company stock. We did some more digging and found that 7 of the top shareholders account for roughly 52% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat. Story continues While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Irish Continental Group The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Irish Continental Group plc. Insiders own UK148m worth of shares in the UK760m company. That's quite meaningful. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 33% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Irish Continental Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Irish Continental Group 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. Amos Hochstein, in his capacity as President Joe Bidens special representative and not as an Israeli officer, suggested to French President Emmanuel Macron to propose a peace initiative for Lebanon. Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron immediately issued a statement: "It is time to reach a settlement on the Israeli-Lebanese border that guarantees security and allows civilians to return to their homes. The exchanges of fire that have taken place since 7 October, and particularly in the last two weeks, threaten to widen the conflict and harm civilians. That is why we have been working together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations on both sides of the border. This declaration was approved within the hour by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Qatar. Washington and Paris hope to negotiate a ceasefire or a three-week truce, during which Amos Hochstein will shuttle diplomatically between Lebanon and Israel, until a comprehensive agreement is reached, similar to what happened in 2022 when a deal on the delimitation of the maritime border between the two countries was reached. Of course, Israel rejected this proposal, as it did the one for peace in Gaza. All this fuss on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly was nothing more than a show to allow the IDF to continue its war while world leaders took turns at the podium. The Israeli-Lebanese maritime border agreement provided for the distribution of areas for the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources. It subsequently turned out that the data available at the time was false and that the part allocated to Lebanon is far less abundant than previously thought. Amos Hochstein is a world-renowned expert in oil development. It is important to recall that during the five weeks following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (October 7, 2023), the IDF shelled the extreme south of Lebanon to prevent any incursion by Hezbollah. The latter reacted only after the displacement of about 100,000 Lebanese, the murder of a Reuters photographer and the wounding of six other journalists. When the international press refused to cover this dangerous front, Hezbollah decided to retaliate and cause the displacement of 100,000 Israelis. There is no doubt, therefore, that Israel is solely responsible for the ongoing conflict. On September 17 and 18, the Mossad launched an operation to detonate the pagers and walkie-talkies of Hezbollahs civil security service (cf. VIN 1964). This equipment was not used by Hezbollah fighters, but by its security service, equivalent to the municipal police in the towns where Hezbollah won the elections. This operation constitutes a violation of Article 7 of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (known as the Geneva Convention of 10 October 1989). It has been unanimously condemned by all UN member states and has not been publicly claimed by Israel. Immediately thereafter, the IDF began bombing many Lebanese cities and targeted assassinations of Hezbollah commanders, while Hezbollah fought back. These operations correspond to a declaration by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, on 23 September, before the Israeli High Court, acknowledging that it had lost to Hamas in Gaza (cf. VIN 2000) Photo: Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Chris Sanders has spent his career making movies about outcasts building new families. His first feature, co-directed with Dean DeBlois, was Disneys Lilo & Stitch (2002), maybe the ultimate animated film about the power of finding your people in an unexpected place. (Sanders also did the voice of Stitch in the film and, indeed, continues to do the voice to this day in Stitchs many iterations, including the upcoming live-action remake.) His latest, The Wild Robot, could give that Disney classic a run for its money. Its the story of a robot, Rozzum Unit 7134 (voiced by Lupita Nyongo), who finds herself lost in the middle of a forest and struggles to assimilate into the animal world, which rejects her. As the robot, nicknamed Roz, tries to care for a young orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor), she continues to deal with the woodland creatures who see her only as a monster. If that sounds like a tearjerker, youre right: It is. But the film is devastating precisely because its not cloying; its striking visual design merges computer animation with rough, almost Impressionistic hand-painted characters and backgrounds, and both the sharp screenplay and the irreverent voice performances avoid fuzzy cliches at every turn. And although The Wild Robot is based on a childrens book by Peter Brown, Sanders admits that it carried some surprising personal resonances even he wasnt aware of at first echoes that reach all the way back to the Disney movie that put him on the map in the first place. Your original idea for Lilo & Stitch, long before you made that movie, had Stitch landing in a forest and living among the animals. That concept obviously evolved and changed dramatically. But seeing The Wild Robot, I realized it was very similar to that. Did that resemblance ever strike you? Heres the weird thing: I didnt even make that connection until about two weeks ago. I went over to visit Dean DeBlois, my co-director on Lilo & Stitch, who is in the midst of working on the How to Train Your Dragon live-action reboot. And he pointed that out! He said, Its kind of like you went full circle and went back to the film that you were trying to make before you moved Lilo & Stitch into the human world. The thing that Tom Schumacher at Disney said to me at the time was The animal world is, in a sense, alien to us, so were not going to get the greatest contrast with an alien among animals. We should maybe consider moving it into the human world. So this is really the same thing but the opposite, where we do want Roz to be in an alien world. The animation style in The Wild Robot is unique. The textures of the characters and the environments look like brushstrokes from a painting. How did that develop? As I read the original book, imagery was flooding into my imagination. I knew that, given the nature of the story, it could skew unintentionally young if we didnt have a sophisticated look. So I asked our production designer, Raymond Zibach, for something more in the realm of Bambi. We were already creating some color sketches, explorations for what this film might look like. Several images were looking very, very loose and painterly because people are just doing these very quickly. I loved that look. I always bemoan the loss of that kind of spontaneity in animation, as things are formalized and cleaned up and imagery is perfected. So I asked Raymond, Would it be possible for the finished film to be indiscernible from these rough sketches? And he said, Lets go for it! Ever since CG came into the picture, we have all been struggling as filmmakers to make our worlds look more handmade, because thats where you get this emotional resonance. Usually, we battle this by wrapping geometry with textures. So backgrounds, rocks, trees they have geometry inside them, just like our characters do. But in the case of The Wild Robot, we no longer have geometry under the background, under the trees. As far as its art direction is concerned, for the very first time we have 100 percent painted environments; from the sky to the ground, to trees, to bushes, everything is hand-painted. In order for the characters to fuse and to wed with the rest of the world, they too needed to be hand-painted. The birds feathers, the fur for the animals, are simply not there its just brushstrokes that are rough. Its like when you go to a gallery and you see a beautiful painting, but then you happen to get real close to it and all of a sudden it just becomes these blobs of color that dont make a lot of sense. Thats what our characters are like. If you get very, very close to them, its just these rough brushstrokes. So there are no individual hairs that are represented. An exception to that would be that Fink, the fox, has these whiskers but if you look at the whiskers, those are also brushstrokes. But then, into this beautiful painted environment. Roz deliberately arrives on the island as a CG element. We did not give her surface a painted texture in the beginning. As Roz spends more time on the island, we replace her CG surface with a painted surface. And by the middle of the film, by the beginning of the third act, she is now a 100 percent hand-painted-surface character, just like the animals are. She literally begins to fuse with the island as she adapts and becomes a resident. You just mentioned that animators have been trying to make their work look more handmade. Obviously, in the U.S. particularly, computer animation has taken over everything. But even now, 30 years into the revolution, filmmakers are trying to get back to that hand-drawn style? Yeah, its because back in the day, changing the style of your film was relatively easy and exciting. We would always have different styles, depending on the kind of film that we were making. But when CG came along, we were gravitationally obligated to this particular look, just because the technology wouldnt let us escape. Everybody has struggled with that because we lost that ability to be as dynamic and as surprising visually as we used to be. When we saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, that was a revelation. Somebody finally escaped that gravitational field, that gravitational pull! And at DreamWorks, they followed up with Bad Guys and with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. So wed already gone a certain distance down that amazing road leading away from CG looks. I was really asking, How much further can we go? And I will say the entire crew adopted this film in a way that I have never seen before. For example, with our animation crew, usually well launch a scene: Ill sit down and talk to an animator after all, they are our actors and say, Well, this is what the scene is about, and well have a long discussion before they go off to animate it. In the case of The Wild Robot, I would come into some of those sessions, I would begin to describe a moment, and the animator would say, Actually, I already animated it! And I would say, Excuse me what? And they had broken into the database, removed the scene, and had gone ahead and just they did it. They animated it! Its funny artificial intelligence really became a thing in the news as we were making this film. And oddly enough, The Wild Robot is more human-made than anything Ive worked on since CG started. Again, we go back to the hand-painted surfaces and the analog warmth that we get from a hand-painted sky. Theres no replacement for that. But theres also no replacement for the interaction we have with humans on our crew. You could never have typed in enough commands to make this film with AI. You have to sit with people, and you have to debate things. I have a head of story named Heidi Jo Gilbert, and she would push back on things and disagree with me. Our editor, Mary Blee, very same thing. When I come into editorial, its not just What do you want, Chris? Its human interaction that created this film. Director Chris Sanders. Photo: KC Armstrong/Deadline via Getty Images You made the transition from hand-drawn animation to CG animation back with How to Train Your Dragon. Was that a challenge to go from one format to another? How to Train Your Dragon was a crash course for me in all things CG. By the time I arrived on that film, they had already been working on it for some time. The characters were designed, rigged, finalized, a lot of the environments were finished, and we only had a certain amount of time to make some changes based on what Dean and I decided needed to be done. One exciting thing was the ability to move the camera in space. Its something that we dont talk enough about. Of all the gifts that we got that came along with this whole CG phenomenon was the ability to finally use a camera like you would on a live-action set. You can change lenses; you can move the camera; you can push; you can pull. Theres a gigantic emotional component that comes from that it cannot be understated. Of course, some people went a little bit too far, and theyd zoom through coffee-cup handles for no reason whatsoever. In Lilo & Stitch, there was one scene where we had a jet flying straight down a main street in Honolulu. And we wanted that dimensional push with the camera, which means it wasnt just a zoom. We had to move things in dimension to get the feeling that the cameras pushing forward. But it was traditional animation, so we started to work on that shot very early in the process. It was the longest-running shot in production. And we eventually had to cut the scene because of 9/11! Its not in the movie. But with CG, you can do all that much more easily. Also, in Lilo & Stitch, the original design for Nani had a little coffee cup drawn on her shirt. And in traditional animation, there comes a day when people sit down with you and say, Okay, that coffee cup is going to increase our production time by three months. We couldnt have that coffee cup. (At the very end of the movie, in the last title sequence, Stitch picks up a shirt, turns it backward, and it has the coffee cup on it; they did that as a freebie just for me, because they knew it was sad for me to lose the coffee cup.) But they would actually have people sit with stopwatches and time the colorists on how long it took to color each of the characters and then they would do these serious calculations to see if they could hit their deadline how long it takes to clean up a character, how long it takes to color a character. I actually learned about this while we were making Aladdin. I was in the Ink & Paint department. Someone came in and said, Okay, were going to have to lose three colors off of Jasmine! They said, literally, We will miss our deadline for the film by four weeks if we dont take three colors off of Jasmine. She had maybe 15 different-colored lines, and they had to maybe take it down to ten. Now, suddenly, with CG, we had all these textures and we had reflections and all these amazing things. And you could change things much easier. That was another big plus. But we also lost the squash and stretch that just came along with the party as youre doing a hand-drawn character. One of the things we were battling in CG was this weird sort of puppet feel with the characters, particularly in their shoulders and their elbows and their arms. They had this strange marionette quality to them. Writing software that would allow the animators to change the exterior shapes was a huge goal for us in animation to try to make the characters look easier on the eyes, to get some of that life back. Now, I feel like weve finally come out of this tunnel and anything is possible again. Stylistically, we are much freer to maneuver than we ever have been before. I feel like what Lupita Nyongo does in The Wild Robot is really fascinating. She has to portray a robot voice and then slowly the voice changes but without ever really going overboard with the shift. She never entirely stops being a robot. Its incredibly moving. I think Lupita shares more in common with Roz than I wouldve known at first. She has a very thoughtful process of understanding the character and understanding the story. She takes things very seriously, in the best way possible. We would typically start our recording sessions with an hourlong discussion about just whats up with Roz, and what are her motivations throughout the sequences were looking at? Trying to find Rozs voice, we began in a more robotic place. Rozs delivery was never I. Am. A. Robot. What. Is. Going It was never that 1950s sort of robot. However, trying to find the angle at which we would enter the story with Roz took a lot of work, and Lupita was the key in finding that. We realized, when she begins the story, Roz should have enthusiasm but also some emotional availability, because we need to connect with her as a character. Shes in a sympathetic position as an outsider who is lost and overwhelmed by this situation. And when she is rejected by the animals around her, she does react not in a big, huge way but in a very tangible way. When shes following this deer and trying to strike up a conversation and the deer simply kicks her in the face and her head sinks into her shoulders, theres a kind of sound. Shes discouraged, and that helps us connect to her as a character. One of the first things we did was call Peter Brown, the author, and just have a chat. And in our very first conversation, Peter said something that we never forgot, which is that the guiding principle going through his head as he wrote the book was that kindness can be a survival skill. He never memorialized that in the pages of the book, but we were very grateful that he revealed that to us. This is never a mission statement for Roz, but she has an unrelenting kindness that begins to change the culture of the island and the animals around her. In terms of Lupita manipulating her voice, I would visualize it as, like, taking a guitar string and tightening it slightly. The voice that Roz presents at the beginning of the movie is a more tensioned voice. Its like if youre walking to a party and youre nervous about making a good impression, you might be like, Hello, my name is Chris. Hows it going? Its this higher register that she creates when she says, Hello, my name is Roz. Do you need assistance? But as the movie continues, Roz relaxes her voice and she starts using contractions, and she starts sounding more down to earth and more human. People sometimes look down on voice performances these never get honored during awards season but in cases like this, you realize how much genuine acting skill is required to pull off a part like this. There is this tired trope that actors like to do animated films because they can show up to recording sessions in their pajamas. And its a lot more work than that, both emotionally and physically. Lupita would go into a recording session and she would work four hours nonstop. And because of the number of takes, the number of iterations, by the end of the session she would be almost voiceless. So physically, its very demanding. And Lupita, in particular, had the largest task of any of our voices because Roz has no facial articulation save for her lenses. That was something that I insisted upon. I think that robots work best when they dont have a lot of articulation on their faces. We, as an audience, tend to project emotions onto things, and I think the only robot with facial articulation that was truly effective was the robot from The Iron Giant. In all the other cases, C-3PO, R2-D2, the Forbidden Planet robot they dont have any articulation on their faces, and, boy, do they work great. But it means that Lupita carried 100 percent of the burden of the emotional transmission for Roz through her voice. Photo: Walt Disney/Everett Collection I see that youre still doing the voice of Stitch in the live-action Lilo & Stitch. Is it weird to be involved in that way in a new version of something that you originally created? As a matter of fact, Im going in this afternoon for a four-hour recording session. Being a voice on a version of the film that I did not write or direct is not new to me. After Lilo & Stitch was finished, they came to me and said, We want to play some voices for you. And they played people trying to sound like me, and I was confused. Im like, Why am I listening to these? They said, Oh, well, were going to replace you, because going forward, there will be many, many needs for Stitch voice recordings. And I immediately said, Oh, no, no, no, no! This is my guy! I will be the voice. That was one of the best decisions I think Ive ever made in my career because its kept me close to a character that I created in a way that means I get to check in and see him in these different things. During a year, I will routinely come into a recording studio and record for toys, for parades, for ice shows. I even did a thing for a TikTok voice, which was one of the most amazing recording sessions Ive ever been in. Its hard to even describe that recording session. So Im not a stranger to being just a voice actor in these situations. The difference here is that I know this particular movie pretty well, so I might see a couple shots and Im like, Oh, I know where this is from. Have they consulted with you at all on the new movie? Not really. I would say that I had a lovely conversation with director Dean Fleischer Camp very early, before they began shooting. He gave me a call and asked if I wanted to return as the voice. I had yet to meet him in person, but we spoke until the battery on my phone gave out. He seemed to have a great enthusiasm for the project and seemed like a thoughtful guy. I only knew him from his film Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Had I not been deeply embroiled in The Wild Robot, I may have tried to fly out there and visit the set or something. But this was their baby. Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic The Menendez brothers have made it quite clear that the new Ryan Murphy joint about them is not their favorite thing, calling the portrayals of them vile and appalling. But the distain is not mutual. Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez on Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, is still speaking very lovingly about the men who called his show disheartening slander. Koch told Variety on September 27 that he has talked to Erik twice now once during a previously reported visit to the prison with Kim Kardashian, and once previously, on the night before the shows September 19 premiere, over the phone. I did everything I could as an actor to advocate for him and portray him as authentically as possible, Koch says he told Erik on the phone call, adding that, I think the show does a really good job of representing him. Once the show actually premiered, Eriks wife, Tammi, put out a statement from Erik on X criticizing the show. Koch got to talk to Erik again, in person, following the familys statement. They hugged it out and he told them that he understands their critiques. I cant imagine what it would be like to have the worst part of your life, such a traumatic and tragic thing, be televised for millions of people to see in a dramatized Hollywood TV way, Koch told Variety. I just said, I understand, I get it, and I stand with you. Describing his talk with the brothers, Koch takes on the position that sounds kind of like a fanboy meeting a pop star. I always knew I wanted to meet them, he said. I always knew I wanted to tell them that I believe them and that I want to be an advocate for them. So then when it happened, it felt weirdly normal. Normal is definitely the word wed use here. Photo: Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) Dame Maggie Smith, an iconic actress for multiple generations, is dead at 89. Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, said she died peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday, 27th September, per a statement to the BBC. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end, they added. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother. A two-time Oscar winner, Smith was one of the most celebrated actresses of the 20th century and became known to younger generations through her portrayals of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and Lady Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey. Smith was born in Essex in 1934 to a pathologist father, Nathaniel, and a pathologist mother, Margaret, known as Nat and Meg. The family moved to Oxford when Smith was 4. Smith enrolled in a local drama school at 16 after a teacher recommended it, despite never having acted before. What did the teacher see? I think I was just very odd, Smith told The Guardian in 2004. Smith made her Broadway debut in 1956, as part of the revue New Faces of 56, and joined the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic in 1962, at the behest of Laurence Olivier. She won her first Academy Award for her leading role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 she starred in the film alongside her then-husband Robert Stephens, father to both her children. The two separated in 73 and she married playwright Beverley Cross in 75. She won her second Academy Award for California Suite in 1979. Smith was made a dame in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II. She was nominated for four Academy Awards, six Olivier Awards, and three Tony Awards, winning one for Lettice and Lovage in 1990. In 2001, she joined the Harry Potter franchise as the stern but intelligent Professor Minerva McGonagall, a role that would endear her to audiences in an entirely new way. A lot of very small people used to say hello to me, and that was nice, Smith told The Graham Norton Show when asked how the films changed her life. Another iconic role arrived in Lady Violet on Downton Abbey, which earned her three Emmy Awards, making her a Triple Crown of Acting. Her character died at the end of the second Downton Abbey film adaptation, Downton Abbey: A New Era, in 2022. As she dies, she admonishes her ladys maid: Stop crying, Denker. I cant hear myself die. (Bloomberg) -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., JD.com Inc. and Meituan enjoyed their best trading days in years after the Chinese government announced measures to stimulate the troubled domestic economy. Most Read from Bloomberg Consumer tech firms were swept up in a buying spree that extended across sectors on bets that Beijings wide-ranging new policies will have the desired effect. Meituan and JD rose more than 20% in Hong Kong trading across Thursday and Friday, marking each firms best two-day performance since 2022, while Alibaba rose as much as 15% over the period. The Chinese government surprised many with the breadth of its stimulus actions, offering support for the ailing property sector, cash handouts to residents facing hardship and more social security benefits for unemployed graduates. The announcements helped ease concern about the debt-ridden property market and high youth unemployment figures, boosting consumer and internet firms. Cash-rich tech firms like Hangzhou-based Alibaba are leading a surge in repurchases of shares listed in Hong Kong this year. Returns from Chinas biggest tech stocks are surpassing those of global rivals, with Alibabas shareholder yield at more than 8% at the start of this month, more than double that of any company in the Magnificent Seven in the US. Up until this week, the repurchases had largely been a defensive move to staunch stock declines as doubts about economic weakness persisted, though together with the new announcements from Beijing, the buyback spree is helping revive interest in Chinas embattled tech firms. What Bloomberg Economics Says Together with the Peoples Bank of Chinas surprise stimulus Tuesday, and the strong statement of intent from the Politburo Thursday to use fiscal and monetary measures to support growth, the program suggests policymakers are getting more serious about reviving the recovery, stabilizing employment and maintaining social stability. Given the growing policy momentum, more support in other areas looks likely especially steps focusing on stabilizing the job market and lifting consumption demand. Eric Zhu, Bloomberg economist Click here for the full analysis Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. What the hell happened to Catherine Fox? Yes, shes always been a manipulator, but remember when she was a manipulator with trailblazing hot-surgeon energy and a libido to match? Now shes a Scrooge-like money-grubbing villain whose gratuitous corporate cheapness feels a little too close to home in these layoff-ridden times. Not only has she fired half her staff, but during this weeks season 21 premiere, she decides to do the unthinkable and call Miranda Bailey the Miranda Bailey replaceable. This used to be a woman with vision and va-va-voom; now shes the kind of person wholl admit that she only kept her (excellent) intern class around to save her government funding. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Wheres George Union Guy OMalley when we need him? Can we resurrect his spirit to kick Catherines cheap butt around Grey Sloan until she sees the light? We open this week on Bailey dreaming about slapping Catherine in the face (great work if you can get it). As if waking up from that beautiful dream isnt rough enough, our surgeons also get stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to work, thanks to some pesky climate protesters who shut down the bridge. Of course, one of those protesters a grandmother named Wanda becomes our Problem Patient of the Week when she decides to crawl into the ceiling to avoid arrest and then collapses. Sigh. As if thats not enough drama, one of the protests bungee jumpers (why were there bungee jumpers again?!) decides to make like Hilary Bankss ill-fated fiance in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and go splat thanks to a defective cable. Unlike that fiance, however, this guy crashes into a windshield, so the panicked teenage driver promptly races him to Grey Sloan for life-saving care right after Webber tells Winston that hes thinking of giving up the surgical gloves for good this time. If anyone needed confirmation that Greys is so back, look no further than Windshield Guy pulling up right after Webber says, Im not scrubbing in on complex procedures. Welp! All of this honestly feels secondary to the interpersonal drama unfolding up and down every hallway in the hospital. Catherine is burying Meredith and her research project in cease-and-desist letters, effectively killing her funding. And if any of us thought that the return of Jackson might introduce a little sanity, think again; he might know his mom is being petty, but hes here to back her up and tell Meredith to apologize. (I know Jackson has fully stepped into running the foundation mode, but did anyone else find his corporate-stooge routine a little disappointing?) Meanwhile, Adams is still thinking over that residency offer in Chicago, and Griffith is doing her best not to interfere, even though she is clearly dying inside at the thought. Mika and Jules spend the episode trying to act like they didnt almost kiss during last seasons finale, and Kwan is reeling from seeing his ex-fiancee, who drove away from him after a fight only to get into a car accident that destroyed her memory rendering him a stranger. And in perhaps the most comical turn of events, Link has yet another baby on the way from yet another mother who has yet to tell him that hes going to be a father. This poor guy will always be the last to know. Worthy as these struggles might be, they all pale in comparison to this weeks emotional albatross: Bailey getting replaced by the one, the only, the absurdly annoying Sydney Heron. As if being called replaceable to her face was not bad enough, now Baileys archnemesis has returned from Florida to take her job and probably do worse at it. Did you see how devastated Bailey looked when Heron shooed her away after she freed Wanda from inside the hospital wall? How much more heartbreak can we be expected to take? Theres nothing worse than getting replaced by a person whose biggest claim to fame might just be going on one passionless date with McDreamy way back when. Thank God Bailey decides by the end of the episode to fight for her job and you know shes serious, because she takes off her earrings when she says it. By the end of the episode, most of our favorite surgeons have found at least some catharsis. Adams shows up at Griffiths doorstep and makes our dreams come true by saying hes not taking the job and sealing the deal with a kiss. (Thank GOD.) Mika tries to give Jules a just friends handshake, only for Jules to twirl her around and make out with her against a locker. (First of all, !!!! but wait, isnt Midori Francis on her way out? Damn it!) Kwans ex-fiancee recognizes him from their old photos and basically tells him that she thinks hes the piece thats been missing from her life ever since she pieced it back together, which almost made me ugly cry into my Doritos, and Link figures out Jo is pregnant when she turns down a glass of wine, and hes totally cool with it. Alls well that ends well. Except, maybe, for Meredith, who approaches Catherine to apologize (well, apologize) for using foundation funds for unsanctioned research only to watch her collapse. Her only reward for saving her boss? Some good old-fashioned blackmail: Catherine swears Meredith to secrecy about the return of her sinister secret spinal tumor and refuses the interventions that Meredith recommends. She also swears that if Meredith tells Richard or Jackson about her tumors progression, she and her colleagues will never get their jobs back. By the end of the episode, Meredith confirms that everyone can have their jobs back except, it seems, for her. While Amelia and others can return to work in Seattle and the cease-and-desists will stop, Meredith says, the research will just go in a different direction. Huh? Im guessing well get more clarity on this next week, but for now, what the hell? Greys mightve hit a(nother) slump for a season or two, but ever since this new intern class joined the team, its been pure magic again. Not MAGIC magic, but pretty damn close. I just wish that some of these characters cough, like Catherine felt a little less two-dimensional. As much as I love Meredith, even she could use a quick sit-down from someone about just how ridiculous it is to flout black-and-white contracts and expect to get away with it just because youre researching a worthy cause. Jackson, if youre listening, this could be your time to shine. The OR Board Is it just me or is When was the last time you actually stepped into an OR? the most brutal insult anyone can hurl on this show? I swear, when Miranda lobbed that one at Catherine in her dream, I gasped louder than when she slapped her. I love that Baileys interns immediately miss her yelling at them when Heron takes over. And what the hell was that Get to Know You game about? Will knowing what novel her residents have always wanted to write really make them better doctors? I didnt think so. (That said, I firmly believe that theres a nonzero chance that Jules writes vampire fiction.) Which specialty do we think Schmitt will finally pick? Because it sure wont be peds. Theres no way he becomes an ortho god, right? Right now, it seems most likely hell go the way of Meredith Grey and stick with general surgery, but who knows! To extend the quidditch metaphor Link uses with him this week, maybe itll just take a little more time for Schmitt to find that golden snitch of inspiration. VULTURE NEWSLETTER Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! 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. Photo: Joseph Okpako/Getty Images for ABA/WireImage Is Lana Del Rey dating a swamp-tour-giving, fanboat-driving good ol boy from Louisiana? Read on for the latest on Lana and her maybe-hubby Jeremy Dufrene. A country boy for her country album August 29, 2024: Nobody is doing it like Lana Del Rey. And by it, we mean America. Remember when she did a music video that positioned her as both Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy, with A$AP Rocky as JFK? Her mind. Lana has announced that her next album will be country, and shes apparently going Method by dating a country boy. Lana Del Rey may be seeing an airboat captain/swamp-tour guide. Del Rey was spotted holding hands with Jeremy Dufrene before her set at Leeds Festival. They met in 2019 which is several (???) love interests ago for Lana when he let her steer his boat through the bayou. It sounds like a double entendre, but we assure you its a factual account of events that transpired on planet Earth. In the five years since first meeting, the pair appear to have taken their relationship on land. Lana recently made an IG post where she called Dufrene my guy. And in a recent performance of Chemtrails Over the Country Club, she changed the line Hes born in December, Im born in June to Hes born in March. Dufrenes birth month? Well, it aint December. Weirdly, both Dufrene and Del Rey are cuspers on the zodiac Del Rey between Gemini and Cancer, and Dufrene between Pisces and Aries. | Lana Del Reys lyric change, performing Chemtrails Over The Country Club Hes born in March, and Im born in June pic.twitter.com/OCSenCAt2I Season Of Lana (@SeasonOfLana) August 21, 2024 Lana says lol, no September 1, 2024: Lana Del Rey has officially denied a relationship with alligator boat captain Jeremy Dufrene. No, she commented on thejustnlifes IG post about the alleged affair. Also, thats not his daughter on Twitter, she added, referring to someone who had been on Elons site claiming to be Dufrenes daughter. GHIS IS HOW I FIDN OUT MY DAD IS DATING LANA DEL REY?(!2!;? HELLO??????? they wrote on Twitter. The poster kept up the facade for a while, then reposted Pop Bases debunking of their claim. Lana says I do ??? September 26, 2024: Did you know that theres a wedding at the bayou? After several reports that the two received a marriage license, it looks like Lana mightve said I do to alligator-boat captain Jeremy Dufrene. People confirmed that the pair did, in fact, pick up a marriage license, and on Thursday, September 26, they may have gotten married. Vulture has reached out to Del Reys reps for comment. Daily Mail posted several photos of what looked like a wedding in a bayou in Des Allemandes, Louisiana, where Dufrene conducts his swamp-boat tours. Del Rey was seen wearing a white dress, and her father walked her down an aisle; her sister, Caroline, also attended the event. Time to keep an eye on the Instagram comment section for another statement. Confirmation in the comments section October 2, 2024: LDR once again speaking through the comments section on IG. Replying to @lanaboards.ig, Lana Del Rey said Jeremy Dufrene is the one and only for her. And amazing. And were very happy. The only snag in their newfound happiness is, per Lana, the Nawlins paparazzi. Unfortunately, a local couple from Houma wont stop flying drones into our windows every morning and following us with a tracker, she wrote. She also asked for a local pap to stop switching vehicles following the family- and stop following us around remote parts of the country and photo shopping my wedding ring into a pearl- I know we would feel a lot safer. Page Six did have recent pap shots of the Del Dufrenes, with a ring they said has a pearl setting rather than being just a pearl. The film is a vibrant story of gentrification and generational divides in Miamis Little Haiti, brought to life by tremendous performances. Photo: Music Box Films In his 1976 book-length essay The Devil Finds Work, James Baldwin wrote of film stars, One does not go to see them act: one goes to watch them be. One does not go to see Humphrey Bogart, as Sam Spade: one goes to see Sam Spade, as Humphrey Bogart. Ive never fully agreed with Baldwins reading of the movie-star persona as wholly separate from the pleasures of watching acting as a craft, but its an instructive thought. Dont we all want to watch a performance that transcends from acting to being? The kind of performance that feels seamless, as if the actor slipped into the skin of another and brought their soul from the ether to embody them? Acting, at its most divine, is simply being. This idea bubbled to the surface of my mind when I watched Mountains and the whisper-still, evocative lead performance of Atibon Nazaire as Xavier, a middle-aged Haitian immigrant construction worker in his adopted home of Miamis Little Haiti neighborhood. Mountains begins with a Haitian proverb set against a black background that translates to Behind mountains are mountains. Xavier is watching gentrification pick apart his second home like a vulture gorging on a carcass. Little Haiti isnt dead, but its changing. Rapidly. The film, meanwhile, unfurls at the languid, gentle pace established in its opening moments. Homes demolished. Yellow hard hats dotting the eyeline. Xavier eating mango with his hands on a brief work break. The verdant expanse of the yard, with palm trees, octopus trees, live oaks, interrupted by the machinery of demolition. As Xavier heads home his drives are often set to the sounds of a Haitian radio program (voiced by Henri Claude Douze) that updates him on the flowing political and social change of his first home the blue real-estate signs that punctuate the lawns start to feel oppressive. Houses up for sale. A neighborhood in the midst of erosion. Xavier returns to the squat one-story pale terra-cotta home he shares with his wife, Esperance (Sheila Anozier), and 20-something son, Junior (Chris Renois). This is director Monica Sorelles feature debut (alongside her co-writer Robert Colom, a Miami-born Cuban film producer and artist) and a vision of Miami rarely seen onscreen. When a film is particularly geographically piquant, a compliment soon follows that the city itself feels like a character. But every film should treat its setting as a character. Geography is identity. This isnt the Miami of South Beach denizens, transplants dripping in wealth, taut young bodies supine in the brilliant sunlight. This is the Miami of Haitian Creole spoken with loving reverence. This is the Miami of sos pwa served over rice at the family dinner table, of griot brought to the communion party of a young relative. This is Miami at the pitch of a life you can imagine, of a worker you pass on the street. The Black South is eroding because of the swirling forces of racism, gentrification, and climate disaster the same forces that encroach on the doorstep of Xavier and his kin. Sorelle and Colom build out a truthful vision of these characters lives, touching on the people and neighbors who populate their existence. But the film is most intrigued by how this family functions and what remains unspoken between them. Xavier sees a nicer one-story home in the neighborhood that he imagines as a great fit for his family, a place with more and softer space to lay your head. When Esperance and Xavier attend an open-house tour, theres a sense that theyre trying on a new future. Xavier encourages them both to dream about what life could be like in a home like this. But its evident theyre not regarded as attractive homeowners, not like the white people inhabiting the background of the scene. Sorelle crafts a Miami that is both naturally gorgeous and politically fraught in a way that is stitched into the fabric of these characters lives. An intriguing tension occurs when Xaviers Black co-worker Daniel (Roscoe B. Thicke III) is derided with the N-word by a Latino co-worker who is related to the boss. Xavier understands the precarity of their situation as Black men in such a world and holds Daniel back from rightfully stomping on this man. Things go askew when Xavier overhears the boss tell his relative-underling in Spanish, Dont you know we have a contract with the county and the Blacks need to be here? Dont let the Black stench get to you. Sorelle doesnt mine this moment for melodrama or neat racial lessons. There are no dramatic disagreements, no fatalistic ruptures, no grand pronouncements in this film. Movies are rarely close to the rhythms of life, but this ones strength is in finding beauty and meaning in the minor key. Mountains demonstrates two exceedingly great strengths in Sorelles work. The first is undoubtedly how she directs actors. She grants them the space to breathe life and complication into the gestures, expressions, and postures of their characters. Anozier gives Esperance a knowing posture. When I watched her sew clothes a side job alongside her main one as a school crossing guard I thought you can find the divine anywhere. And what is more holy on this Earth than the calloused hands of a loving mother? Renois limns quite impactfully the contradictions and yearnings that come with being the son of Haitian immigrants, trying to balance his desires with their expectations of him. Nazaire brings Xavier to life with a sense of history always flowing around him in a performance that is humble yet extraordinary in its physical detail. This is a man who has lived. Theres a scene in which he sits on the bed, his unclothed back to the camera, and I could see in his tense stretching a lifetime of a back burdened by more than it should have to carry. In many ways, Mountains reminds me of director Charles Burnetts study of the beauty and complication of the Black quotidian in films like My Brothers Wedding (1983) and my personal favorite, To Sleep With Anger (1990). Sorelles second strength is her keen eye. When her camera enters into the family home, I was immediately bowled over by the production design from Helen Pena, the art direction by Nadia Wolff, and the set decoration by Dezray Smith, all of which Sorelle and cinematographer Javier Labrador Deulofeu frame with structured, angled grace. Walls are painted a carmine red and pale peach. Black art marks them. The sewing corner where Esperance holds court is festooned with pattern after pattern, an array of colors for the eyes to feast upon. Sorelles gaze is gentle in how she brings Miami to life, but under that naturalism is a sharp understanding of how to frame a Black body in motion. There are certain shots so powerful in their use of color, blocking, framing, and physical truth when I rewatched the film a second time for this review, I would pause to drink in the imagery. Sun-kissed lens flares. Xavier nestled in the crook of a tree at a Communion party, framed by brilliant green leaves that complement the amber liquor he swirls in his glass. Esperance at her crossing-guard job. A triangular archway frames her and a friend conversing near the center. Laughter overlaying the score. Aqua-green light streaming into the bedroom, brightening Xaviers skin as he talks to his son about his relationship to their homeland, a country that has been suffering for hundreds of years for daring to enact a slave rebellion that proved so successful it continues to shake the foundations of the world order. This is why Haiti suffers for daring to fight back brutally against western powers like the United States and France in favor of Black life and safety. Black futures are explicitly possible and imaginable because of the Haitian people. One intelligent ripple in the film I noticed fairly early on is that Junior doesnt speak Haitian Creole with his parents. When they speak to him, he responds in English, not because he cant speak their language but, for some reason, he chooses not to. The lack of alignment between father and son ebbs into the background until about 44 minutes into the film, when the son comes into better focus, the story no longer content to leave him in the background as a foil. The sequence that reveals more about Junior occurs at a stand-up comedy event. Its Junior onstage, aware that his parents regard him as a failure. He has a lanky, easygoing charm up there. Why you listen to your dreams? Youre sleeping, he says, mocking his mothers voice and demeanor. His cousin Farrell (Farley Louis), who recorded the set for Junior, makes an astute point: You said nothing about us. That us means Haitians. Theres no specificity in Juniors set. His parents are broadly defined as Black immigrants, but nothing about the place or the rhythms of who they are and where theyre from comes into focus. This allows the film to be a bit more emotionally revealing, even bruising, building to a crucial scene at the end between father and son. The last 15 or so minutes distill its strengths with elegance the lived-in performances, the revealing understanding of Miami, the precise yet lush framing and use of color that dances on dark-brown skin, the writing that feels revelatory in how it molds its themes, and the rhythmic editing of Jonathan Cuartas, which reflects Sorelles strengths as an artist spearheading this project. When Esperance says, You dont own anything in this country, I was pierced by the truth of that statement. The film leaves us with no easy answers, no sense of finality about this family and the project of gentrification that is rewriting the culture of Miami. Mountains is a film smart enough to forgo simplistic melodrama or narrative neatness. Its the kind that dares us to look back and consider what it means to create a home away from the shores where you were born, in a country hostile not just to your betterment but to your very survival. Mountains arrived in theaters last month and is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video now. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios In finding a new way to adapt Colson Whiteheads Pulitzer Prizewinning novel Nickel Boys, director RaMell Ross changes the way we perceive the world itself. The directors previous feature, the Oscar-nominated 2018 documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening, was a lightning-strike cinematic discovery. With its fragmented, intimate lyricism, it immersed us in the details of Black life in a small Alabama town, gradually centering on a few years in the lives of two teens. Hale County was an outgrowth of Rosss work as a photographer, but as a moving picture it was revelatory: The directors intense focus on mundane but lovingly captured details allowed us to imagine a whole world beyond the frame in all its wonder and sadness. Ive never seen anything like it, before or since. Until now. The opening-night picture of the New York Film Festival, Nickel Boys takes that formal effort even further, despite being a period piece and a scripted literary adaptation. Telling the stories of two Black teens confined to a brutal Florida reform school, Ross almost entirely adopts a subjective camera, shooting from the point of view of his protagonists. Its a huge swing, partly because others have tried it in titles as varied as Lady in the Lake (1947) and Hardcore Henry (2015) and failed. Usually, a movie shot like this is either a curio or a catastrophe, too practiced and deliberate to ever be spontaneous or convincing. But in Rosss hands, the conceit never feels like a gimmick, or a flourish. Because hes fused it with the impressionistic sensibility of Hale County, it is now organic, immersive, essential. Anyone whos read Whiteheads novel can tell you that its a sad and infuriating work. It starts off as the story of Elwood Curtis (played as a youngster by Ethan Cole Sharp), a precocious, kind introvert growing up in the Jim Crowera South in the Frenchtown neighborhood of Tallahassee, Florida. Raised by his doting but world-weary grandmother (a very touching Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), the boy is infinitely curious about all he sees. He winds up at Nickel Academy after he hitches a ride with the wrong man on what would have been his first day taking classes at a nearby college. Even after he arrives at this so-called reform school modeled after the real-life Dozier School for Boys, a monstrously abusive institution from whose grounds nearly a hundred burials have been discovered in recent years Elwood retains some semblance of optimism and innocence. Hes determined to excel and graduate, returning to the world outside and to his beloved grandmother. Then, he meets the laid-back cynic Turner (Brandon Wilson), a Houston native whos on his second stint at Nickel and has few illusions about anyones chances of getting out of this nightmare through official means. Like the novel, the film begins from young Elwoods perspective, as we see delicate glimpses of a child discovering the world around him. An orange hangs from a tree. A deck of cards is riffle-shuffled. A bare knee lounges in a tub. Ross finds images and sounds that are warm, textured, and evocative: Voices drift, faces pass, hands dance in ways both familiar and beautiful to us as viewers. Christmas trees and imagined family talismans. Subtly, we imagine Elwood through the filter of our own lives. As a result, his gathering tragedy starts to feel like our own. When Turner enters the picture, Rosss camera begins to shift between the two characters points of view, and suddenly, we get to see Elwood onscreen, played now by the actor Ethan Herisse. Before, we had only caught brief glances of him as a child, his face reflected in steam irons and shop windows. Now, we witness him as the awkward, hesitant, head-down young man that he is and its like weve known him for years. One could almost view it as a cinematic corollary of the mirror stage of a childs psychological development, when an infant recognizes itself in a reflection and begins to conceive of itself as a person: When we, as viewers, finally see Elwood, he becomes agonizingly real to us. Its one of the most breathtaking things Ive ever experienced in a film. This unique form of identification is at the heart of Rosss picture. In fact, its been at the heart of his entire project as a filmmaker. Back in 2018, Hale County served as a gentle rebuke to the totalizing, omniscient approach of so many au courant and supposedly objective longitudinal documentaries, movies shot over years that purported to examine and explain the lives of marginalized people. Running just 76 minutes, Hale County contained more humanity and understanding in its slim margins than plenty of longer, more acclaimed efforts. With Nickel Boys, Ross takes the accumulation of lived-in detail that made the earlier film so bracing and turns it into something more collagelike and formally daring but without sacrificing narrative power. The switch in perspective between Elwood and Turner inaugurates a formal shift as if the movie were slipping our perceptual bonds, drifting in unexpected directions. As these young mens lives become more distressed and precarious, we start to see visions of an older Elwood (played in his later years by Daveed Diggs) doing archival research into what happened at Nickel Academy. And so we experience the movie as Elwood, as Turner, as an older Elwood, as an outside observer, in the present tense and the past, within and without, each perspective informing and subtly undercutting the others. And the closer we get to the truth of these lives, the more we understand that we may never fully know them the great paradox of human interaction. Nickel Boys is the kind of story that probably could have been adapted in more conventional fashion. It could have jerked easy tears from us earned tears, to be sure, prompted by our horror at what wed be seeing onscreen and everything it implied. But theres something truer and more unshakable about what Ross has given us. In refusing a conventional, objective (and objectified) approach to suffering, he resists easy attempts at pathos. What he achieves here is more powerful and complex. When were finally wrenched out of this film, we sense that something very real has been taken away from us. Greetings and welcome back to The Great British Copyright Infringement. The wonderful thing about this show is that it is classic, timeless, and unanchored by time but very obviously in a space. (That space is the tent and also whatever planet Noel is from.) I was a little saddened by the Barbie-themed opening sketch. I dont like them tying the show too closely to pop culture, especially when Barbie was the vibe of summer 2023. Everyone, including Kamala Harris, knows that summer 2024 was Brat Summer. We didnt need a hot pink tent; we needed a neon green one. The other wild thing about life in the tent is that, for the first time, people are complaining about how cold it is. Usually, theyre all winging that their chocolate is melting or their jams wont set because of the heat. Not this year. I joke that the U.K. is 50 degrees and raining every day from October to March. Its not much of a joke because its true. This year, it was 50 degrees, and it rained from October until June. Summer didnt properly start until July this year. The weather was so bad that even English people were complaining about it. Do you know how bad something has to be for an English person to complain? And do you know how bad the weather has to be for these waterlogged people to pipe up about it? Yeah, it was that bad, so have a bit of sympathy for our bakers. Speaking of which, we get to go around and meet them all during the signature challenge, which is to make an elevated version of their signature loaf cake. I love this new Baking Show where the concepts are down to earth, no one has to have a degree in architecture to complete the brief, and were back to basics in the best way. The first one is Illiyin from Norfolk, who is making a cinnamon-roll cake. Will it or will it not get out of the pan safely? This was a good week, so you know it did! Next is Gill, pronounced Jill, and she loves to play boules (which is what English people call bocce) with her mother; shes making a chocolate-and-orange loaf because the only thing the English love more than not having screen windows for some reason is a chocolate-and-orange flavor combination. John is from the West Midlands, just like Allison. They are called Brummies, which comes from the old English name of Birmingham. Every time I meet someone from Birmingham, I say, Ive never been! and to a person, they reply, Dont. John, whose eyes are so blue Paul Hollywood says he will never make him star baker, is making a chocolate-cherry loaf. Andy, who is this years working-class man with a pencil behind his ear, is from Essex because, as we all know, that is the only way. Mike is a gay farmer, and I need to know everything about his life and I will probably follow him on Instagram because every gay in the U.K. already follows that one hot gay farmer, so we should all follow the less hot ones who can also bake, right? Mike uses eggs from his farm to make lemon-and-linseed loaf. Georgie is a yummy mummy from the Welsh countryside, and though she is not a farmer, she does have a lot of animals, including a chicken named Fanny. In the U.K., fanny is a cute way of saying vagina. Its like if she lived in Nebraska and had a chicken named Vajayjay. Georgie is working on a chocolate marble loaf that looks sure to be disgusting. Sumayah is this years precocious 18-year-old who is way better at baking than she should be. Shes also making a loaf with halwa, a carrot-based sweet, in the middle. I feel like shes already made the final three. Next up is Jeff, who you can tell is American because hes not Geoff. I believe that this is the first American ever on the show, which makes me a little sad that its not me. He was born in the Bronx and now lives in Yorkshire, which is like the Bronx of England. Its up north, its a little rough, and they have a crazy accent. Basically the same place. And Yorkshire is named for York, and the Bronx is in New York, and that, my friends, is how colonialism works. Jeff is making a raspberry, lemon, and almond sponge, and Im a little disappointed hes not making a Betty Crocker pound cake from a box. Thats the American way. Nellie is from Slovakia. Shes making a coconut loaf cake, and shes making her love for Noel her whole personality. I would have gone with Allison, personally, but she and John are already sitting around talking about the Aston Villa squad so I guess shes taken. Dylan is this years certified hottie, and I didnt hear anything he said because I was staring into his eyes and thinking about how much hotter hed be without the man bun. Then they cut away to him at home in Buckinghamshire saying hes a skateboarder, but all we do is watch him fall. It is the meanest Baking Show has ever been, and I am here for it. I dont remember what Dylan is making because I was too busy thinking about the buns I want him to put in my oven. Christiaan with two As is Dutch, which I believe means he only pays for himself on dates. Hes making some kind of apple cake with miso in it and it sounds disgusting, so hes not going to get an A+ from me. Finally, we meet Hazel, this years bless-her-heart-shes-71-and-will-be-gone-by-episode-three contestant. I also love that the only humans currently named Hazel are pensioners from Kent and babies born to hipster parents in Brooklyn. When Paul and Prue come around and inspect all the loaves (should we call this spreading the loaf around?), Christiaans is just as bad as I thought. Not only did Paul hate the miso, it was also overbaked. Also doing terribly was our countryman Andy, whose loaf was messier than Paul Hollywoods divorce, and Georgie, whose loaf looked like someone pinched it. Yeah, it looked like a turd. Sorry, Georgie. The stars of this first round are Nelly, whose coconut loaf looks like a monochrome outfit from The Row, Sumayah, whose halwa fully wows everyone, and Iliyin, whose perfect cinnamon-roll loaf earns her a handshake. A handshake? In the first episode? Are we back to the days when Paul was giving them out like free matchbooks at the bar? The technical challenge is a first. The bakers have to eat a mini Battenberg and then replicate it based on taste without a recipe. I dont think they even need to make the bakers taste these because everyone in England knows what they are: Mr Kiplings, which is like the Little Debbie of the U.K., makes an excellent one. Its a checkerboard sponge with buttercream and apricot jam wrapped in marzipan. These are also all elements that the bakers should know how to bake without a recipe, so I think this fits perfectly: something that is both challenging and attainable. I would say that is like having sex with me, but there is nothing at all challenging about that. I give it out like Paul Hollywood gives out handshakes these days. At the bottom (no I am not still talking about my sex life) is Mike, Hazel, and the formerly fantastic Sumayah. At the top are John and both Christiaan and Georgie, redeeming themselves from their horrible loaves. Jeff had to leave the tent because he wasnt feeling well and will be back next week. Everyone who has ever watched a season of this show now knows that no one will be going home this week cause thats how they roll. Usually, I would say I hate this, because why watch an episode without an elimination? Its like spinning your wheels and getting nowhere. But I dont mind if no one goes home the first episode, something they do regularly on RuPauls Drag Race. Everyone worked really hard to get here; give us two episodes to get to know them before someone gets the boot. Also, this way they can just randomly kick off two people during an upcoming episode and well be shocked. The showstopper is now a regular feature on the show: Make an illusion cake. Its like Is This Cake, but we all know its cake because its a baking show. Everyone seems to be doing shockingly well, including my lover Dylan, who is making a sesame-flavored Canopic jar, which is a very odd choice but I will not question him because we are deeply in one-sided love. The only person who is a mess is Georgie, who is making a real-life version of her chicken Fanny. Her cake looks kind of like an old boot with a pencil for a beak. She also made 300 individual feathers to go on her, and that is best part of the whole bird. When she presents her creation, Allison watches the judges try the lemon curd and elderflower-buttercream cake and then asks, How does Fanny taste? and I cant believe that this show is working so blue! I also love it. Loving Allison is now my entire personality. Mike makes a stack of books that look absolutely amazing, and theyre all separate so the judges can pick them up and open the covers. Thats pretty rad. They also love the chocolate cake and butterscotch frosting even though I think butterscotch tastes like fanny. Andy makes an excellent-looking overnight bag and its not even leath-ah. (I said that last bit in my Joan Cusack Working Girl accent.) Georgie somehow ends up in the race to be Star Baker along with Sumayah, who made a cake model of her duck Pato, which is Spanish for duck. I mean, this thing looked like a plastic model. This could have been on Is It Cake and I would have been like, Do not kill that adorable duck. John is also in contention for Star Baker because he has good genes that gave him blue eyes and good jeans made out of cake. John is awarded Star Baker, and I am very happy for him and hope he dresses as Paul Hollywood for Halloween. In the bottom are Hazel, who made a cake handbag that she carried by the strap to the judges table and it was cool as shit but the cake looked like it was made out of sponges used to clean a prison shower for 20 years. Christiaans sewing machine looked super-realistic and could even be threaded, but inside it was drier than an AA meeting in Salt Lake City. They would have been in danger of going home, but once again, an American saved all of these British peoples asses. Its just like WWII but with way more butter. Youre all welcome. USA. USA. USA. Photo: FX Spoilers follow for The Old Man through episode XI, which premiered on FX on September 26. In its second season, The Old Man is less a show about old spies getting their spook on and more about those old spies realizing the personal impact of their imperialist shenanigans. That shift in perspective drives the action of episode X, in which American intelligence agents Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) and Harold Harper (Jeff Lithgow) reunite with their daughter figure Emily/Angela (Alia Shawkat) in Afghanistan and find that shes bonded with her biological father, Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), the man Chase and Harper told her was an evil warlord. And it underscores the final good-bye in XI between Hamzad and Emily/Angela, now going by her birth name, Parwana. Weeks before, theyd tried to kill each other. But on his deathbed, Hamzad tells Parwana that she belongs among her Afghan family and is accepted by them, an emotional moment that Negahban says both he and Shawkat who previously played father and daughter in the 2013 film The Moment felt on set. People who have left home and theyre coming back, it doesnt matter where in the world they are, theres a sense of belonging, Negahban says of the inclusion Parwana feels through Hamzad. We all want to be part of something. And that realization is the moment of levitating you, giving you what you have been searching for your entire life. Negahban played the misunderstood and principled Hamzad with dignity and gravitas that came through whether he was singing along to a lullaby he used to entertain a young Parwana or smirking at a Taliban spys threats; he was always as foreboding or as vulnerable as a scene required. That emotional range comes from decades of experience; if youve watched a project set in or about the Middle East in the past couple decades, chances are Negahban was in it. The prolific Iranian American actor is getting into writing and directing with his short film, The Apple Tree, inspired by a fable told to him by his great-grandmother, and a completed script for a feature called Tosca Tehran, about an Iranian theater group performing the opera as an act of resistance against the government. Both his acting and his filmmaking are shaped by his past as a refugee after leaving Iran during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. That journey, with lots of ups and downs, it allows me to delve deeper into characters and discover more and look at all these different perspectives and corners. In season one, all we hear from Chase and Harper is that Hamzad is a warlord, but when we meet your version of the character, it becomes clear how much his daughter being stolen from him by Chase and his wife affected who he was. And then in season two, we see him standing up to the Taliban and protecting women and young boys. How much of that storyline did you know when you signed on? I knew enough about it. The way that John [Steinberg, series creator] was describing the character to me, he feels betrayed by his best friend, by someone who he considered a brother. I was familiar with that relationship. I left Iran during the war and I was a refugee in Germany. Along the way, you are meeting people; you leave your family and you are on your own and youre kind of isolated and youre not connecting with anyone. You want to create a family for yourself, and sometimes along the way, you feel betrayed, and thats just because of your expectations. Jeffs character, in his mind, hes doing the right thing. Hes protecting the woman and hes protecting the child. But hes not realizing or considering that, by thinking he is protecting them, he is betraying his friend. The characters, the relationship, and the way that theyre dealing with each other, that was very intriguing. When my father left Iran, he was in Austria for six months. He would say there are people that you meet when youre waiting that you create this really tight relationship with, and then you just might never see them again. Yeah. I was in a refugee camp in Germany for about five, six months. I was transferred to Kaiserslautern, and from that group of people in the camp, Im in touch with only three of them. We bonded and we stayed friends. We became one when none of us had anything, when all of us were struggling, and we didnt know what the future will bring us. We were stuck in limbo, and we didnt know where we were going. That was scary. You didnt know if youre getting accepted, if you are being returned, if you are being sent somewhere else. I think that struggle, it helped to shape me to become who I am, and at the same time, Im using it. Hamzad has different motivations than Alia Shawkats character expects. How did he feel compared with other characters youve played? I dont judge my characters when I play them. I just play the man. Each character has different nuances. Have I played characters who were struggling to achieve a better life or achieve a better future for their families or for their environment? Yes. Have I ever played a character that has such a complex relationship with his daughter? No, that was something new. And the way that I was seeing Faraz is that he is really in search of a better life for himself, his people, his family. For his environment, he might have been too advanced, too far ahead. He was dreaming of something bigger and better for his people, and thats sometimes scary for lots of people. I mean, see what happened to Iran, and what happened to the Shah. You can find lots of similarities there. How did you and Alia build that relationship? It starts very combative, and then it really goes to a place with more understanding. Alia was on another project where she was playing my daughter, The Moment, so we already had some kind of relationship. And on this set, we tried to avoid each other we tried to stay truthful to the story. For me, it was important to rediscover her. The funny thing was that I knew her, and then we lost touch, and now Im reconnecting with her. That dynamic was very helpful. The physical altercation between the two of you really lays out the resentment and baggage youre both initially bringing to this relationship. How did you approach that? It was a struggle. On one side, Hamzad has the emotions of a father-daughter relationship, and on the other side, he feels betrayed by his daughter, because shes an FBI agent and she came to kill him. Shooting that scene, for me, it was a struggle to find the motivation behind it, and that helped with my frustration in the moment. The scene was about these two people discovering each other. They go at each other. Theyre very close to killing each other. But at the same time, at the last minute, there is a love. There is anger, rage, but at the same time, How can I do that? How can I hurt you? I love you. It was frustration, rage, anger, disappointment, love. Everything was mixed together. In the span of an episode and a half, we get Hamzad outside the room where hes holding her captive, singing along to the lullaby he used to sing to her as a child, and then hes holding a gun to her head, and then hes crying after trying to kill her. Thats a real emotional roller coaster that you have to play. Partially its Johns sick mind that is doing that. [Laughs.] He was putting us through hell emotionally. But it was good. The conversations that we had, he was very invested in those moments and he wanted to create something very rich. He gave us a very nice playground to play in. Hamzad comes back to his family compound to make a last stand against the Taliban. Before he goes, he says to Chase, Who are you to have an opinion about what is best for me, and the people I lead? How did you react to that turn for Hamzad? I always saw Hamzad as willing to sacrifice himself for his people. Thats all he lives for. There are people who live for themselves and there are people who live for others happiness; others joys, it becomes your joy. It was a moment that hes finally able to really show who he is. I think even Dan realizes what he has done to Hamzad in that moment. Him coming down is his legacy. And Parwana following him and having that moment where she says, I am Parwana Hamzad, thats his gift, thats his reward. This is all he wanted his entire life, to have his daughter, and now he has it. Its a real passing-of-the-torch moment. Thats exactly what it was. The moment that was very precious to me was the final touch, when theyre holding each others hands, when hes in the bed. That was very emotional for me, the way that theyre connecting with each other. Shes becoming him, hes transferring everything he has to her. We felt it in the room, and we both felt it when we were holding each others hands. We had one season where her two American dads, Chase and Harper, are very important to her life. And now we have Hamzad, the Afghan father who is giving her what she needed. That was beautiful. When we are standing by the horse and we are trying to get back, and all three of us are standing there, the way that John, Jeff, and I were going at each other like, No, she is mine. No, she is mine. No, I know better. No, I know better. It was a funny moment. Photo: Hopper Stone Saturday Night director Jason Reitmans dramatized retelling of the 90 minutes leading up to Saturday Night Lives October 11th, 1975 premiere episode is often, quite literally, a portrait of insanity. There are llamas, a stage catches fire, you see meltdowns and fistfights and crying and a lot of fake blood. That Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) survived that night (let alone 50 more years worth of similar Saturday nights at Studio 8H) feels like, well, something a movie might make up. So we went and compared some of the films key plot points to a few of the definitive SNL texts, including Tom Shales and James Andrew Millers Live From New York and Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrads Saturday Night, to see whats real history, whats fiction, and what falls somewhere in between. After the shows disastrous dress rehearsal, NBC exec David Tebet nearly pulled Saturday Night Live right before it was about it air. HALF TRUE: The movie suggests that, until the last possible second, network hands hovered over a button that would throw on a Johnny Carson rerun in place of the first SNL episode. While that detail is fictionalized, the reality of whether the show would air did go pretty much go down to the wire: there was a disastrous dress rehearsal, the stage was still in progress (yes, the production team spent that first night laying real bricks), and NBC fretted about what might come out of George Carlins mouth. According to Live From New York, Tebet was mostly concerned with Carlin his casual attire, his foul mouth and not what would become SNL itself. As portrayed by Willem Dafoe in the film, Tebet lingers around like a threat, eager to sniff out blood and throw the show out if it cant live up to expectations. John Belushi refused to sign his contract. TRUE: John Belushi (played in the film by Matt Wood) put off signing his contract, skeptical not only about the enterprise of SNL but of being on TV in general. Per Live From New York, an oral history of the show, Belushi finally signed his contract five minutes before the show was due to air, and only because Bernie Brillstein, who soon after became Belushis manager, lied and said hed written it himself. Belushi wasnt the only contract skeptic, though; Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith) never signed a performer contract, only one for a head writer. No one could decide how Rosie Shuster should be credited. NOT TRUE: Michaels and Michaelss then-wife Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott) waffle on how to credit her as a writer on the opening show, specifically whether they should use her last name or his. Theres no mention of this in Live From New York or anywhere else; Shuster appears to only ever have been credited with her own name. Dan Aykroyd was hooking up with everyone. TRUE: The Canadian comedian was everyones favorite cast member, per both the movie Saturday Night and the shows core texts. Ever-flirtatious and obviously funny, Aykroyd (Dylan OBrien) struts around the office with easy-going sex appeal. During the run-up to the first episode and during the early years of the show, Aykroyd was dating Shuster (who was still married, at least on paper, to Michaels), but he was also briefly involved with Laraine Newman (Emily Fairn). Though Saturday Nights take on Newman makes her out to be something of a doe-eyed yearner, waiting for Aykroyd to throw her a bone, their relationship IRL was much more laid back. In Live From New York, Newman describes him as adorable and irresistible, which makes OBriens casting perhaps all the more apt. Lorne was maybe supposed to do Weekend Update himself. NOT TRUE: Weekend Update was always a Chevy Chase joke vehicle. Lornes sweaty take on the segment seems to have been invented for the film, in order to make Chases take seem all the funnier by contrast not that he needed the help. The malevolent Milton Berle stalked around Studio 8H being an asshole ahead of the premiere. NOT TRUE: Berle or Mr. Television was one of SNLs early hosts in the 1970s and proved himself so unpleasant to most of the cast and crew that Michaels banned him for years after. But he didnt actually stalk around the studio, waiting for the show to fail on opening night. (He did flash SNL writer Alan Zweibel during his hosting gig, not Chevy Chase, as the movie suggests.) The cast didnt want to do product placement. NOT TRUE: Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman) runs around Studio 8H trying, against Michaelss wishes, to get a cast member to hold a Polaroid camera in one of the sketches. While the matter of product placement doesnt come up in Live From New York, the original cast seemed otherwise game to do commercials. Belushi did them because he wanted that money, and fast, said producer Craig Killem. The sketches Wolverines, Trojan Horse Home Security, Hard Hats, The French Chef, and the bee costumes all made it to air. MOSTLY TRUE: The shows first-ever sketch which starred Belushi and writer Michael ODonoghue (Tommy Dewey) involved a language lesson known as Wolverines, and the shows core members cast did frequently appear in bee costumes for early parts of the first season to differentiate them from guests and hosts. We see the cast in rehearsal for what would become Trojan Horse Home Security, which also aired that first night. But Hard Hats, in which the female cast catcalled Aykroyd, didnt happen until Lily Tomlin hosted a few weeks later. We also get a glimpse of writers Al Franken and Tom Davis figuring out the physics of fake blood for what would eventually become The French Chef, a sketch in which Dan Aykroyd played Julia Child having a workplace accident. Backstage easter eggs like the llama, showgirls, and Abe Lincoln were never part of sketches that made it to air so much as they were a running gag that started with Eric Idle-hosted episodes in the late 70s. Garrett Morris had an identity crisis. KINDA TRUE: Per Live From New York, Morris (Lamorne Morris) struggled to find his place among the early SNL cast because he came from the world of theater and not underground comedy. That was more of an ongoing struggle than it was a night-of meltdown, though. The SNL writers hung Big Bird. KINDA TRUE: In the movie, Jim Henson (Nicholas Braun) pulls Lorne aside to complain: not only did the SNL writers neglect to write him a sketch for the Muppets, but they also hung a Big Bird plushie in the writers room. This did happen but not before opening night. In general, the SNL writers didnt like writing for the Muppets due to Hensons protectiveness over what his fuzzy friends would (or more likely, wouldnt) say on television. Lorne met and hired Alan Zweibel at a bar. KINDA TRUE: In the film, as the minutes tick down ahead of the premiere, Michaels takes himself for a walk and pops into a bar to see a bad older comic (Brad Garrett) stumbling through otherwise strong material written by a nebbish comedian named Alan Zweibel, whom Michaels hires on the spot. This did more or less happen Michaels saw Zweibel himself tanking, not another comedian using his one-liners but long before the show went to air. Neil Levy got too high. KINDA TRUE: Michaelss cousin Neil Levy (Andrew Barth Feldman) helped out in production on the early seasons of the show, and in the film, smokes too potent a joint and gets so high he panics and locks himself in a room. This also did happen, according to Levy per Live From New York, just not the night of the films premiere. It was Aykroyd, ever the mensch, who got Levy to come out of the room, easing his paranoia with a couple of good jokes. Overview of Altium Capital's Recent Investment On September 23, 2024, Altium Capital Management LP (Trades, Portfolio) marked a significant portfolio addition by purchasing 1,257,519 shares of Elevai Labs Inc (NASDAQ:ELAB). This transaction introduced a new holding for the firm, reflecting a strategic investment move. The shares were acquired at a price of $0.1064 each, summing up to a modest portfolio impact of 0.05%. This acquisition not only diversifies Altium Capital's investment portfolio but also underscores its interest in the biotechnology sector. Altium Capital Management LP (Trades, Portfolio), based in New York, is a prominent investment firm with a keen focus on the healthcare sector. The firm manages an equity portfolio worth approximately $245 million, with significant positions in companies like ADMA Biologics Inc (NASDAQ:ADMA) and Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SRPT). Altium Capital is known for its strategic investments in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, aiming to capitalize on transformative health solutions. Altium Capital Management LP Acquires New Stake in Elevai Labs Inc About Elevai Labs Inc Elevai Labs Inc, headquartered in California, operates within the biotechnology industry, focusing on advanced skincare solutions. Since its IPO on November 21, 2023, Elevai has been dedicated to the development and distribution of its flagship ELEVAI Exosomes products. Despite its innovative approach, the company faces significant market challenges, reflected in its current market capitalization of just $1.852 million and a substantial decline in its stock price since the IPO. Financial Health and Market Performance of Elevai Labs Elevai Labs Inc's financial metrics reveal a challenging landscape. The company's stock price has plummeted by 95.29% year-to-date, with a current price of $0.089, significantly below the initial trading price. The firm's profitability and growth ranks are alarmingly low, with a GF Score of 19/100, indicating poor future performance potential. Furthermore, the company's Altman Z score of -4.70 suggests a high risk of financial distress. Altium Capital Management LP Acquires New Stake in Elevai Labs Inc Strategic Implications of Altium's Investment in Elevai The decision by Altium Capital to invest in Elevai Labs may seem counterintuitive given the latter's current financial health. However, this could be a strategic move to leverage potential turnaround opportunities within the biotech sector. Altium's expertise in healthcare investments might provide the necessary oversight to steer Elevai towards profitability. Story continues Biotechnology Sector Analysis The biotechnology sector is known for its high volatility and significant investment risks, but it also offers substantial rewards for successful innovations. Elevai Labs operates in a niche market of skincare biotechnology, which presents unique growth opportunities despite the current financial downturns observed in its performance metrics. Risks and Considerations Investors considering following Altium Capital's lead into Elevai Labs should be wary of the company's low profitability, growth, and Profitability Rank. The high risk of bankruptcy indicated by its negative Altman Z score and the overall downward trend in its stock price are significant concerns that need careful evaluation. Conclusion Altium Capital Management LP (Trades, Portfolio)'s recent acquisition of shares in Elevai Labs Inc represents a calculated risk in a sector known for its potential high returns. This move could either signal a potential upside seen by Altium's analysts or a strategic play within their broader investment portfolio in the healthcare sector. Investors should monitor Elevai's upcoming financial reports and market performance closely, considering the high-risk nature of this investment. 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. Salvini slams "shameful" move to challenge new name of Milan airport. Milan's city council has voted to appeal against the Italian government's controversial decision to rename Malpensa airport after the late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. The move, announced by Milan's centre-left mayor Beppe Sala on Friday, is set to be backed by other municipalities in the vicinity of Malpensa. The appeal will be filed with the Lombardy regional administrative court (TAR), possibly as early as next week, to challenge the decision by the transport ministry to name the airport after the three-time premier and media mogul who died last year aged 86. The appeal will reportedly centre on the rushed manner of the renaming procedure, with Sala alleging that the approval from civil aviation authority ENAC was given without consulting SEA, the company that runs Milan's airports, Malpensa and Linate, or the administrations of neighbouring municipalities. On 11 July the transport ministry announced that Malpensa was "officially named after Silvio Berlusconi", stating that the ordinance established by ENAC took "immediate effect". The airport's renaming after Berlusconi went ahead despite major opposition, particularly from within Sala's centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party. The move sparked a wave of indignation on social media, with more than 170,000 people signing an online petition calling on Italian premier Giorgia Meloni to stop the airport from being named after "such a divisive and controversial figure". Anche dopo la sua scomparsa non si fermano lodio e il rancore nei confronti di Silvio Berlusconi, proprio dalla sua Milano, al cui benessere - e a quello di tutta Italia - ha contribuito con tanto amore e passione, al di la delle appartenenze politiche. Vergogna! Silvio, sei e pic.twitter.com/0Z9JkNmPMJ Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) September 27, 2024 Italy's transport minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini, who launched the renaming bid, on Friday slammed the appeal to challenge the airport's new name. "Even after his death, the hatred and resentment towards Silvio Berlusconi does not stop, right from his hometown of Milan, to whose well-being - and that of all of Italy - he contributed with so much love and passion, beyond political affiliations" - Salvini wrote on X - "Shame! Silvio, you are and will always remain in our hearts." Photo credit: Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com. (Bloomberg) -- Aster DM Healthcare Ltd.s newly-hived off Gulf entity is considering acquiring assets worth as much as $250 million in a bid to expand its footprint in Saudi Arabia. Most Read from Bloomberg The deals are likely to be for medical centers and hospitals and completed in the next three to five years, said Alisha Moopen, managing director and group chief executive officer of Asters Gulf Cooperation Council unit. We have a very solid lineup of acquisitions that we are evaluating right now, she said in an interview. We are not only doubling down, we are tripling down on Saudi Arabia. Health care is one of the main focus areas of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans trillion-dollar Vision 2030 plan, as the government makes a push to draw in expatriates to the biggest Middle Eastern economy. Aster aims to have more than 1,000 hospital beds, 180 pharmacies and more than two dozen medical centers across Saudi Arabia in the next three to five years. It currently operates one hospital in Riyadh and expects to run about 20 pharmacies in the next few months. Get the Mideast Money newsletter, a weekly look at the intersection of wealth and power in the region. The United Arab Emirates-based firm, which is listed in India, agreed last year to sell a majority stake in its Gulf business for $1 billion. A spin off of the unit, which now operates as a private entity, was completed in April. Its a good time to build before we take the company public, but the end goal is in the next few years to look at a listing, Moopen said. She declined to comment on where in the GCC Aster may pursue a public offering but shes closely watching companies including Lulu Group International, which Bloomberg News reported is eying a dual listing in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Also Read: Asters $1.5 Billion India Unit Draws BPEA EQT, OTPP Interest The Saudi health-care sector has seen some listing activity of late, with Dr. Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital Co. raising $763 million in the countrys biggest IPO of the year. Meanwhile, the Saudi wealth fund is preparing to list the kingdoms largest medical procurement firm, Bloomberg News has reported. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Waterford Forest Owners Group visited the farm of Patrick Trihy recently, where they saw Patricks forest of 23-year-old conifers, which have been thinned twice. The trees all straight and standing showed the importance of good plants on day one. Item which were discussed included the cost of the roadway and turn table. All figures were available, and those gathered were shown good drain maintenance. The foresters also learned something new and interesting on the night how to use Google Chrome to identify trees and plants. Irelands Woodlands Show takes place at the JFK Arboretum outside New Ross on Friday and Saturday, October 4-5, opening at 10am both days and closing at 3.30pm. A Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded event, the show will demonstrate the benefits of planting trees, with 4,500 different species of trees in JFK Arboretum, a beautiful location. For any queries contact Tom Hickey, Secretary, on 087 9386209. A controversial podcast is appearing at Glencomeragh House Retreat Centre in Co. Waterford next month. 'Catholic Unscripted' have garnered scrutiny for their criticism of Pope Francis and praise of far-right agitators like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson). The group are holding a retreat at the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore-owned house, for a a weekend of talks, conversations, reflections, prayers and fellowship. In July 2024, a picture of Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan standing with the hosts was published on the podcast's Twitter, captioned: "Fantastic meeting with Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan to discuss our October retreat in Ireland." According to the event page, the weekend will see the podcast group covering subject matter, including "return of the dark gods/spiritual warfare", "the antidote to feminism", "feminism - its history and devastating impact" and "recovering lost femininity". In recent times, the UK-based podcast, hosted by Gavin Ashenden, Katherine Bennett and Mark Lambert, alleged that Pope Francis had "deserted Jesus". In July 2024, a picture of Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan standing with the hosts was published on the podcast's Twitter, captioned: "Fantastic meeting with Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan to discuss our October retreat in Ireland." A statement from the Diocese read: "The Diocese does not endorse the views expressed in these podcast episodes, particularly those that are critical of Pope Francis. We were not aware of any such comments made by this podcaster until they were brought to our attention through your query. The Diocese wholeheartedly supports the Holy Father and his teachings, which are fundamental to our faith and mission as Catholics." It continued: "Additionally, it is worth noting that Glencomeragh House serves as a retreat centre for a diverse range of groups, including Catholics, non-Catholics, and secular organisations. The management of Glencomeragh House provides excellent facilities for all who wish to use them for retreats and gatherings. "However, it is neither feasible nor appropriate for the management to scrutinise every interview or statement made by potential speakers who utilise these facilities. Our focus remains on fostering an environment conducive to spiritual growth and dialogue among various groups." The statement ended: "We wish to reaffirm our support for Pope Francis and clarify that the Diocese does not align with the alleged views expressed in the mentioned podcast episodes. We remain committed to promoting unity within the Church and encouraging respectful discourse among all members of our community. The subject of social housing and landbanks arose at the recent meeting of the Comeragh District. Councillor Liam Brazil (Fine Gael) asked the Executive: "Have we got any land in our villages, the likes of Leamybrien, Stradbally, and all other villages throughout the area? I do believe that if we had landbanks there, the Government would give money to build houses on these banks." Cllr Declan Clune (Independent) said: "In terms of landbanks, we're actually waiting a year this month to get this report on any available landbanks in the Comeragh district." Cllr Clune also asked about the potential of Government funding for housing on landbanks. "Is there funding available; if there was, for example, residentially zoned sites in a town or village that have not currently been developed? He added: "Is there funding available just for the council to approach those developers and potentially buy that zoned land off them to either sell as affordable sites or to put some housing on them." Social Housing Cllr Clune referenced Council landbanks in Coolfin and Beechwood Drive in Portlaw that could be appropriate locations for the development of social housing. He said: "Now, I totally accept that social housing isn't the answer to everything. There has to be a private element to it as well. But we do have a considerable amount of local people that are on the social housing waiting list, and there's little or no social housing units coming available in Portlaw." He went on: "Obviously, there's been huge focus in the bigger areas in the last few years, like Waterford City, Dungarvan and Tramore, but I think we need to see a bit more focus now on the rural areas because no matter where you look in the city there's houses being built, but there's been little or no development over the last 10 years in the Comeragh district, except for a couple of houses in Kilmac and the 12 houses in Portlaw." Cllr John O'Leary (Fianna Fail) inquired into the current state of derelict sites, and their potential for social housing. He asked: "What is the potential in the Comeraghs in relation to derelict sites? Will it be satisfactory? Can we recoup or can they be turned into livable accommodation?" A member of the Executive responded: "I am working with the Chief Executive at the moment to pull together all the information in terms of where the landbanks are, what's the housing need and what are the funding opportunities available." "I would hope to come back to the October meeting with the report on that; if it's not ready I will commit to it being by the November meeting, because it's certainly information I'm pulling together." A status yellow rain warning has been issued for Waterford on Sunday by Met Eireann. The national weather service is warning that heavy, persistent rain is predicted to hit Waterford, Cork and Wexford over the weekend. Met Eireann is warning that localised flooding is possible all day on Sunday with poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions also forecasted. Off the coast, a small craft warning is active on Friday, September 27, which will continue into the weekend with winds forecast to reach force 6 or higher. On Sunday, while a status yellow weather warning is in place on shore, a status yellow gale wind warning is in place from Howth Head in Dublin all along the southern and western coast to Galway. Winds could reach gale force 8 during this period. Speaking to Waterford News & Star, Met Eireann meteorologist Rebecca Cantwell said that the weather conditions have been caused by a "low pressure system moving the south coat moving eastwards throughout Sunday. The warning we have out at the moment is a status yellow rain warning for the entire day on Sunday." "The rain is going to start in the morning and will be fairly persistent through the day. It will be heavy at times, with heavy rain bursts so we are expecting heavy rain throughout the counties of Cork, Waterford and Wexford." The Met Eireann meteorologist warned that strong winds are expected on Sunday in addition to the rainy conditions, "a mixture of rain and wind is going to make for a very unpleasant day on Sunday". Met Eireann have urged drivers to be especially careful in the rainy conditions over the weekend, "with the heavy rain there is going to be poor visibility which will make for difficult travelling conditions, possibly with some delays and obstructions to travel". The national weather service has warned that spot flooding is expected on roads in the south east due to the "intensity of rain that is going to be falling which will make driving conditions very hazardous". Met Eireann has urged people in Waterford to keep an eye on their website to keep up to date on the latest weather warnings. The Arts & Library Service of Waterford City and County Council have announced the programme for the Waterford Writers Weekend taking place from October 24 to 27. Waterford Writers Weekend announce full programme for 2024. There is a broad range of events and workshops to suit writers and readers alike of all ages. This year, the festival will continue the West Waterford programme in Dungarvan, in addition to the usual city offerings. Thursday, October 24 The festival is introducing their Schools Outreach programme, which takes childrens authors and illustrators into libraries across the county, celebrating writing and literature through creative experiences. Authors appearing include Olivia Hope, Niamh Donnellan and Brian Gallagher. Also on Thursday there will be a Mor Artists Collective: Spoken Word Seminar, supporting artists living and working in rural East Cork and West Waterford. In Dungarvan at 7pm, author Sylvia Cullen will present Outlasting, a quartet of new short stories written and read by Sylvia. Centered around the theme of overcoming, this new body of work will be inspired by the people of Waterford and their stories of prevailing over adversity. Friday, October 25 The Writing Life, A Facilitated Gathering, will bring together members of WORD and other professional writers in a facilitated discussion about the writing life at Waterford Gallery of Art from 3-5pm. Also on Friday, SpeakEasy will host an open mic night with guest writer Danielle McLaughlin at 8pm Upstairs in Phil Grimes, with music plus the usual open mic to showcase the talents of Waterford poets and writers, and those from the region. At Town Hall Theatre in Dungarvan, Dr. Marie Cassidy will be in conversation with Damien Tiernan. Saturday, October 26 Saturday will feature various workshops alongside acclaimed authors and poets, including short story writer Danielle McLaughlin, Lismore poet Molly Twomey, Poet in Residence with Poetry Ireland Anne Tannam and wellbeing artist Lucy Hyland. Acclaimed fictional author Claire Keegan will also be in conversation with Mary Conway. Sunday, October 27 The weekend's closing event will be the journal launch of Waxed Lemon, a dynamic literary journal from Waterford, which publishes poetry, fiction, art and piosai as Gaeilge freisin. Join editors Joanne McCarthy and Derek Flynn at Waterford Gallery of Art for the launch of their 8th edition with readings, coffee, sweet treats and chat. This event will incorporate the announcement of the winners of the national Waterford Poetry Prize 2024 by writer and adjudicator Colm Keegan. Additional info and booking is available at waterfordarts.com London: Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969 and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, has died. She was 89. The news was confirmed by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens who said in a statement: She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother. Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. Credit: Actors who worked with Maggie Smith paid tribute to the award-winning actor, including Hugh Bonneville who starred alongside Smith in Downton Abbey. Theres a popular and trusted adage that is often used to discount the contributions of young people and forgive them for their mistakes. It has been cited in government recommendations, gun ownership discourse and sentencing laws. It has featured as an explanation for school shootings and as an argument against lowering the voting age. The human brain does not reach full developments at the age of 25. Credit: Getty Images It has also formed the longstanding basis of my mothers reluctance to let me ride a motorbike. You might have heard it: The human brain does not develop fully until 25. Semiconductor stocks have been soaring, led by Nvidia. But that's been far from the only winner -- other popular names like Taiwan Semiconductor, Advanced Micro Devices, and Broadcom have all surged since the start of 2023, shortly after ChatGPT was launched. If you want exposure to a group of stocks, a smart way to do so is through an exchange-traded fund (ETF). These funds trade like stocks but hold a range of companies instead of just one. An ETF is the easiest way to quickly diversify your holdings across a sector like semiconductors. The two largest semiconductor ETFs are the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH) and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX). Let's compare the two to see which one is the better option. Image source: Getty Images. A choice of two types of semiconductor ETFs You might think the composition of these two ETFs would be the same, but that's not the case. Unlike rival index funds, which have similar compositions due to tracking the same underlying index, these two ETFs are based on different indexes. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF tracks the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, while the iShares version follows the NYSE Semiconductor Index. As a result, there are significant differences between their five biggest holdings, as you can see from this chart. VanEck ETF iShares ETF Nvidia:19.5% Broadcom: 8.7% Taiwan Semiconductor: 12.5% Advanced Micro Devices: 8.7% Broadcom: 8.1% Nvidia: 8% Texas Instruments: 5.1% Qualcomm: 6.2% Advanced Micro Devices: 4.9% Texas Instruments: 6.1% Source: company websites. Data as of 9/20/24. The VanEck ETF has more than double the exposure to Nvidia that the iShares ETF does. Importantly, the iShares ETF doesn't own foreign stocks, such as Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) and the Netherlands-based ASML, two of the top semiconductor stocks. Arguably, that gives the VanEck ETF an advantage. While TSMC is the second-largest holding in the VanEck fund, ASML is the sixth-largest. The VanEck ETF holds 26 stocks, while the iShares ETF owns 30. The performance comparison Based on the chart above, it probably won't surprise you that the VanEck Semiconductor ETF has outperformed the iShares Semiconductor ETF recently since it has greater exposure to Nvidia. In the 10 years before the start of the generative AI boom at the beginning of 2023, the iShares ETF outperformed the VanEck, as you can see from the chart below. SMH Chart But since then, the VanEck ETF has dominated, dating back to 2013. SMH Chart Since the beginning of 2023, the difference between the two funds is even clearer. SMH Chart Based on recent performance, it seems like the VanEck ETF has the edge here. Story continues Other metrics to consider While current holdings and past performance are probably the two most important factors for judging an ETF to buy, other key metrics are worth considering. First, the expense ratio, which measures the cost of holding an ETF, is always important when investing in them. The VanEck ETF and the iShares ETF have the same ratio: 0.35%. Semiconductor stocks aren't typically known for high yields, but dividends can make a difference to some investors. Here, the VanEck ETF has a 0.49% 30-day yield, an estimate of annual dividends, while the iShares ETF's yield is 0.62%. Lastly, the VanEck ETF is the bigger of the two funds by net assets ($23 billion), showing it has attracted more investment than the iShares ETF ($15.3 billion). Which ETF is the winner? Based on its recent performance as well as its holdings, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF has the edge over the iShares Semiconductor ETF. The increased exposure to Nvidia should continue to be an advantage because that company is dominating the market for AI chips, and the exposure to foreign companies like TSMC and ASML is a plus since those two stocks are well-positioned for growth. Both ETFs are good candidates to outperform, but the VanEck is the better bet right now. Should you invest $1,000 in VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF right now? Before you buy stock in VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF, 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 VanEck ETF Trust - VanEck Semiconductor ETF 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 $756,882!* 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 Jeremy Bowman has positions in Broadcom. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Texas Instruments, and iShares Trust-iShares Semiconductor ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Best ETF to Buy: VanEck Semiconductor ETF vs. iShares Semiconductor ETF was originally published by The Motley Fool Grant Halverson / Stringer / Getty Images David Tepper, founder of Appaloosa Management. Key Takeaways Billionaire David Tepper, in an interview with CNBC Thursday, said that following China's massive stimulus effort announced Tuesday, it's time to invest in the country. The Appaloosa Management founder said he would buy everything in China. ETFs, I would do futures. Everything, said Tepper, who also owns the Carolina Panthers. Tepper said many Chinese companies were attractive because they had low price-to-earnings multiples and good growth prospects. Billionaire hedge-fund manager David Tepper has an ambitious call: Go big on China. In an interview with CNBC Thursday, the founder of Appaloosa Management said that following China's massive stimulus effort announced Tuesday, it's time to pile in. "It has implications in bonds, currencies, and stocks," said Tepper. After Beijing's stimulus announcement, Tepper said, he would invest in ETFs, I would do futures, Everything." Tepper, who earlier this year doubled his stake in e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (BABA), Chinese ISP Baidu (BIDU), and online agriculture retailer PDD Holdings (PDD), also owns the Carolina Panthers. The renowned investor said he favored many large Chinese companies because they had "single-digit [price-to-earnings] multiples with double-digit growth." Tepper added that Beijing's push to allow stock buybacks also made them attractive. Tepper said he'd made a similar call in 2010, a period that followed huge growth in Chinese stocks before a crackdown by Beijing on its tech giants and the country's slowing economy started a downward spiral in shares. Bank of America Sees Fiscal Measures Coming in Next Few Weeks Still, most economists and analysts were disappointed with Tuesday's swath of measures, noting that a big fiscal push rather than monetary measures is what's needed to boost the countrys weak domestic demand levels. In a note Wednesday, Bank of America analysts said they expect China to announce a fiscal package in the coming weeks, including "demand-boosting stimulus on consumption and investment, as well as further enhancement of social security, healthcare, and pro-birth measures." Read the original article on Investopedia. Total Revenue: $145 million, exceeding the upper end of the guidance range of $144 million. IoT Revenue: $55 million, representing 12% year-over-year growth and 4% sequential growth. Cybersecurity Revenue: $87 million, 10% year-over-year growth. Gross Margin: Improved by 1 percentage point sequentially to 82% for IoT; total company gross margin consistent year on year at 66%. Operating Expenses: Decreased to $99 million, 24% lower than the $130 million baseline. Non-GAAP Operating Loss: $4 million. Adjusted EBITDA: Breakeven for the quarter, $22 million better year-on-year. Non-GAAP EPS: Breakeven. Operating Cash Usage: Improved by $2 million sequentially to $13 million, $43 million better than Q2 last year. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): Flat year over year at $279 million. Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate (DBNRR): Improved year on year by 7 percentage points to 88%. Licensing Revenue: $3 million, gross margins at 67%. Release Date: September 26, 2024 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Both IoT and cybersecurity divisions delivered solid year-over-year and sequential revenue growth. Gross margin improved by 1 percentage point sequentially to 82% due to favorable product mix. Secured significant design wins in automotive and other sectors, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and digital cockpit solutions. Achieved breakeven ahead of plan for non-GAAP EPS and adjusted EBITDA. Cash used by operations came in better than expected, improving by $2 million sequentially to $13 million. Negative Points Development seat revenue remained subdued due to delays in automaker software development programs. Cylance endpoint security business experienced churn in its customer base, leading to a year-over-year decline in revenue. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the cybersecurity division remained flat year over year at $279 million. Dollar-based net retention rate (DBNRR) for the cybersecurity division, although improving, is still not at desired levels. IVY auto software program delays have impacted potential revenue, with no material revenue expected in the near term. Q & A Highlights Q: What magnitude of opportunity does QNX containers and the HaleyTek integration and launch open up on that side of the business? How can we think about new product unlocking design wins? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) Containers are part of the ongoing expansion of the TAM. As we move QNX towards the cloud, safety-certified containers are a natural evolution. The traction from the cloud side and the productization of what we did with Stellantis are significant. HaleyTek's integration of QNX Sound into their digital cockpit architecture is another step in expanding QNX content in vehicles. Q: The Q3 guidance implies a modest sequential increase for cyber before a sharper increase in Q4. Is there anything specific to consider this year? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) At the midpoint, it's a continuation of the trend. Traditionally, Q4 is strongest for us from a billing standpoint. Sequential growth is expected through Q3 and Q4. Q: Can you reconcile the EBITDA progression with the full-year guidance being maintained at breakeven to $10 million? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) We're being prudent with our guidance. Q1 was negative 7%, and we achieved breakeven ahead of schedule in Q2. Sequential improvements are expected from Q2 into Q3 and Q3 into Q4. Q: Can you elaborate on the organizational changes in IVY and integrating it more into the QNX organization? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) We invested heavily in IVY and reached a point where operational efficiencies could be gained by integrating the team with QNX. This leverages synergies in sales and R&D while maintaining progress on the platform. Q: Could you provide an update on the separation process and what's remaining from an operational perspective? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) We've made significant progress in aligning resources to the BUs. Some components within networking and cyber protection solutions are more intertwined and take longer to unravel. We're balancing operational agility with cost efficiency. Q: Are there structural differences in profitability between the two organizations as you untangle them? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) The separation process has allowed us to take a fresh look. More details on divisional profitability will be provided at the Investor Day on October 16. Q: Was the higher mix of license revenue a major driver of the upside relative to guidance in cyber? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) It was a combination of license and hardware, particularly from Secusmart and German customers. The durability of the UEM business and ad hoc business also contributed to the broad-based achievement. Q: Any potential impact from the proposed ban of Chinese auto software and hardware? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) We're watching closely. QNX is well-diversified geographically and industrially. Being a Canadian company puts us in a more neutral position, but China remains an important market. Q: How should we think about the impact of delayed or canceled design programs on potential royalty revenue? A: (Tim Foote, CFO) The work has not gone away; it's a question of timing. The secular trends are still there, and we have $850 million in backlog. We're confident that the industry trends will continue to drive progress. Q: What changed over the last three months to reverse the momentum in ARR for cybersecurity? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) The year-over-year ARR was relatively flat. The variability is likely due to Cylance churn, offset by positive trends in UEM and ad hoc. Long-term stability is improving. Q: Is the improvement in net revenue retention due to better upsell and cross-sell or reduced churn? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) It's a combination of both. Good upsell in ad hoc and UEM, offset by some Cylance churn. The overall trend is stabilizing and moving in the right direction. Q: Can you elaborate on the adoption of managed services in Cylance and its impact on revenue? A: (John Giamatteo, CEO) The product-only segment of Cylance has seen sluggishness, but the managed services (MDR) segment has shown good pipeline and conversions. The shift to MDR is offsetting some of the product-only segment's weakness. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit A Mayo town has been left horrified after a criminal damage spree saw homes, cars, and community buildings targeted. A man in his 30s has been arrested following a criminal damage rampage in the St John's Place area of Westport. It is believed that the suspect was wielding a hammer when the carnage occurred. In the early hours of this morning, 21 windows in the Order of Malta building were broken. Damage was caused to multiple parked vehicles with motorists waking up to smashed windows and windscreens. A HSE residential home for people with additional needs was also targeted and a window in the local library was broken. There were no attempts made to enter any premises. Broken windows from the Order of Malta at St John's place. Photo: Conor McKeown Eamon Berry, of Westport Order of Malta, told the Western People that he was left incensed when he learned of what happened. This is a quiet area in an old established part of town. Its absolutely shocking what has happened. We have 21 windows broken but what Im absolutely horrified by is what happened to our neighbours across the road where there is sheltered housing for very vulnerable people, said Mr Berry. He said It does not bear thinking about what was going on in the mind of the person responsible. Im not often lost for words but I am about this, said Mr Berry. He said it was shocking for their neighbours in local houses to wake up and see the windows of their vehicles completely smashed. It is understood some of the incidents will have been captured on CCTV. The amount of damage that has been done is incredible, said Mr Berry but he is concerned that the fear and psychological damage caused will be even greater. A Garda statement said: "Gardai are investigating a criminal damage incident that occurred in Westport, Co. Mayo this morning, Friday 27th September 2024 at approximately 3am during which a number of vehicles and properties had their windows broken. "A man (aged in his 30s) was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Western Region. "Investigations are ongoing." Caseys Londis, Castlebar has been shortlisted for two awards at the National Checkout National Grocery Retail Awards 2024. The National Grocery Retail Awards annually highlight best-in-class performance in retailing and honour the companies and suppliers that help Irelands pioneering stores and retail chains achieve levels of service and product excellence that set them apart from their competitors. Caseys Londis has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Fresh Food Retailing in a Forecourt Store category and in Ireland's Best Food-to-Go Offering category. Complimenting the team in Caseys Londis, Londis Sales Director Conor Hayes said, I want to offer my wholehearted congratulations to Gerry Casey and David Tarrant and all the team in Caseys Londis Castlebar on being shortlisted for two awards. The whole team is so very deserving of this acknowledgement and they are great champions for the Londis brand. The National Grocery Retail Awards are one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Irish grocery retail calendar and those honoured are recognised as being true industry standard bearers. It tells you plenty of where Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are at - and where they see themselves - that they have each only put two candidates forward at their selection conventions for the next general election in Mayo. Its only 13 years since Fine Gael won four out of the five seats on offer in Mayo in the 2011 election. That was a big reversal from the traditional Fianna Fail dominance in the county. In every general election from 1977 to 1992 (thats seven elections), Fianna Fail returned four out of the six TDs in Mayo two in West Mayo and two in East Mayo. It was a spectacular run of dominance. Now, where once either party could reflect on having four TDs in Mayo in the not-too-distant past, it appears four between them is the most they can hope for. It is perhaps telling of a general fall in support for both the main parties but you have to think it is also instructive on how many politicians are unwilling to stand in Mayo. Because, make no mistake about it, both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael would run at least three candidates if they could get people of serious calibre willing to stand. Indeed, it is far from impossible that Fine Gael might have a third candidate put forward by party HQ. But for now, we have to go on the basis of what came through the selection conventions. Weve spoken here in the past about concerns of the quality of people putting themselves forward for political office in Mayo, both for Mayo County Council and Leinster House. Thats no slight on any one general politician; more so an across-the-board observation. Now a five-seater constituency again, never has Mayo been as wide open. But you also get the feeling it will be a long time since Mayo had such a weak overall list of candidates. The county with the part of south Mayo which was marooned in Galway West now back in its natural political habitat has been bumped from a four-seater to a five-seater. That means there was always one extra seat on offer. There are at least two now with the retirement of Fine Gael maestro Michael Ring. Of course, that doesnt mean the three outgoing TDs Rose Conway-Walsh, Dara Calleary and Alan Dillon are assured of anything. The seats are there to be decided by the electorate. But when there are just three outgoing TDs in a five-seater, they are in a most advantageous position. Typically Mayo has been a hornets nest for outgoing TDs with plenty of high profile losses over the years. In 1997, outgoing TDs Seamus Hughes and PJ Morley lost their seats. Tom Moffatt and Jim Higgins suffered a similar fate in 2002. That was the election where Enda Kenny famously had his political obituary written and in his suit pocket ahead of expecting to lose his seat but for an unexpected transfer of votes from Frank Chambers which saw Kenny leapfrog party colleague Higgins. Two more outgoing TDs lost their seats in 2007 Jerry Cowley, who was first past the post in 2002 only to get less than half of that vote five years later, and John Carty. Michelle Mulherin lost her seat in 2016 and Lisa Chambers was unseated in 2020 which means the only time no TD lost their seat in Mayo since it became a countywide four or five-seater was in 2011. The retirement of Beverley Flynn saw her replaced by Michelle Mulherin and the other four outgoing TDs were returned. The next General Election looks odds on being a repeat of that. So, if we take it that the three outgoing TDs will be returned for the purposes of my next point, that means there are a minimum of two seats on offer. It represents the perfect opportunity for anyone who may have been waiting to time their run for the opportune moment to do so. The only one who seems to be an illustration of that is Cllr Patsy OBrien, whose strong electoral showings at county council level have always hinted at a possible run. Now that he is Independent having been expelled from Fine Gael three years ago in circumstances that have never been published he is free to declare without needing the partys imprimatur. He also has a large area free from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael candidates. Sinn Feins Gerry Murray is another man who may well strike while the iron is hot. Though he was the only Sinn Fein candidate elected to Mayo County Council this year, the party may try to take two seats here. It would be incredible to get just one out of 30 council seats and two out of five Dail seats but you could not rule it out. Overall though, plenty have ruled out running. Witness Michelle Mulherin herself a TD from 2011 to 2016 and the Fianna Fail trio of Paul McNamara, Brendan Mulroy and Damien Ryan. They are all county councillors who were nominated for the selection convention but withdrew for a variety of reasons. Keira Keogh is running for Fine Gael after a reasonable, if ultimately unsuccessful maiden run in the local elections this year. She will be hoping to capitalise on the giant Michael Ring-shaped gap in Mayo politics. Ring is supporting her too which is a vital boost. Chris Maxwell is running for Independent Ireland after topping the poll in the Westport Electoral Area. There isnt room for two TDs from the general Westport area. It remains to be seen if theres room for one or if Keogh and Maxwell may cut across each other and leave the area with no TD for the first time since 1987 (Castlebars Enda Kenny and Padraig Flynn and Achills Denis Gallagher were the three elected to West Mayo). Rose Conway-Walshs sensational performance for Sinn Fein in 2020 was the first time a party from the broad left had a TD elected in Mayo in modern times. You could make an argument for Jerry Cowley, who subsequently ran for Labour, but he was elected in 2002 as an Independent. Labour have never had a strong presence in the county, save for the enduring career of the great Johnny Mee, whose vote was far more a personal vote than a sign of the party getting a grip in the county. Newer parties like the Social Democrats, Greens and PeopleBeforeProfit have not gained any meaningful foothold in Mayo yet either. Independent Irelands Maxwell and Paul Lawless of Aontu both already elected this year could be interesting propositions. But while every candidate declared so far has plenty to offer, you get the sense not enough of our brightest and best are interested in standing for politics these days. It is very hard work, time-consuming and not very compatible with family life dont let anyone convince you otherwise. And thats before you consider the shocking abuse (not criticism, theres a big difference) politicians are subjected to on social media these days and, increasingly commonly, on streets as well. One of the most common refrains Ive heard when people are talking about potential candidates who withdrew is could you blame them? Not for a second. But where will this all leave us a few elections down the road? A meeting of Brics foreign ministers in New York on Thursday ended without a joint statement for the first time since the group's founding, reflecting difficulties reaching a consensus with the addition of new members last year. The meeting convened on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and was expected to produce a 52-paragraph text on several issues, including the Middle East conflict, plans for a common currency and preliminary talks on the accession of more Brics countries to the summit slated for October in Kazan, Russia. But according to reports from Brazilian news portal UOL, independently confirmed by the Post, the meeting ended in a stalemate. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. One condition set by Indian and Brazilian diplomats for the bloc's expansion last year was that the new members support the aspirations of India, Brazil and South Africa for permanent seats on the UN Security Council, the Brazilian website added. The meeting on Thursday ended in an impasse with no joint Brics statement issued. Photo: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on X alt=The meeting on Thursday ended in an impasse with no joint Brics statement issued. Photo: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on X> However, at Thursday's meeting, Egypt and Ethiopia refused to sign the communique mentioning the issue on the grounds no consensus had been reached as to which country should be Africa's representative on the UN's highest body. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who chaired Thursday's meeting, argued that both countries understood the condition under which they had been accepted into Brics last year. In view of the Egyptians' and Ethiopians' stance, he decided to end the meeting. Joel Souza Pinto Sampaio, who leads Vieira's communications team, confirmed the impasse in New York but refrained from elaborating on the meeting's specifics. "There was no consensus here," Sampaio told the Post. "Our sherpas will continue working to reach a consensus until the summit in Kazan next month." Sherpas are diplomats responsible for negotiating details ahead of major international summits or conferences. Another person familiar with the matter described the situation as a "serious disagreement". The Chinese and Indian missions in New York did not immediately respond to questions about the stalemate. Story continues Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (centre) attends a Brics meeting in New York on Thursday. Photo: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on X alt=Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (centre) attends a Brics meeting in New York on Thursday. Photo: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on X> Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, New Delhi's foreign minister, refrained from mentioning it when after the meeting he posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying the ministers "focused on reforming multilateralism and strengthening development". Created as Bric in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India and China as its founding members, Brics came into being after South Africa joined the bloc in 2010. Last year, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were invited to become members with effect from January 1, 2024. Riyadh has yet to confirm its membership. The Brics leaders' summit, taking place from October 22 to 24, will be only the second since the group's expansion in January. Reaching consensus on issues, however, could prove more elusive as the group of non-Western countries adds to its ranks. Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in St. Petersburg in June said 34 countries had shown interest in joining the bloc "in one form or another". Putin at the time said Russia wanted to address this "growing interest" and discuss how new members could participate. Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey are among the countries that have now formally applied for full Brics membership. Ankara sent observers to a Brics summit in South Africa in 2018 and its application is expected to be considered at the coming summit in October. If approved, Turkey would be the first Nato member to join Brics. Following Thursday's Brics meeting, Russia and Turkey were expected to meet separately with Egypt and Ethiopia. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Hurricane Helene roared ashore in a sparsely populated region of Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm, peeling the siding off buildings, trapping residents in rising floodwaters and knocking out power to millions of customers. At least four people were reported dead. Details with Axelle Simon and Emerald Maxwell. An overpass above a swollen and rushing Peachtree Creek, the site of a major Civil War battle, is seen overflowing its lower banks after Hurricane Helene passed the area on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ron Harris) Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter? Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Alaska Air Group (ALK). Alaska Air currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.50, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 12 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.50 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy. Of the 12 recommendations that derive the current ABR, nine are Strong Buy, representing 75% of all recommendations. Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ALK Broker Rating Breakdown Chart for ALK Check price target & stock forecast for Alaska Air here>>> While the ABR calls for buying Alaska Air, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential. Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations. This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements. Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision. ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks Rank Although both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1-5, they are different measures altogether. Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5. Story continues Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide. In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research. Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns. There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices. Is ALK Worth Investing In? Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Alaska Air, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 15.2% over the past month to $4.70. Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Alaska Air. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Alaska Air may serve as a useful guide for investors. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Quite a few insiders have dramatically grown their holdings in Indiana Resources Limited (ASX:IDA) over the past 12 months. An insider's optimism about the company's prospects is a positive sign. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for Indiana Resources The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Indiana Resources The insider Peter Koller made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$800k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.058 each. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of AU$0.097. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 20.82m shares worth AU$1.2m. But insiders sold 11.65m shares worth AU$737k. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Indiana Resources insiders. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Indiana Resources is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying. Insiders At Indiana Resources Have Bought Stock Recently Over the last three months, we've seen significantly more insider buying, than insider selling, at Indiana Resources. In total, three insiders bought AU$940k worth of shares in that time. But we did see insider Peter Koller sell shares worth AU$737k. We think insiders may be optimistic about the future, since insiders have been net buyers of shares. Does Indiana Resources Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 26% of Indiana Resources shares, worth about AU$16m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Indiana Resources Insiders? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Indiana Resources we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Indiana Resources (1 is significant) you should be aware of. Story continues But note: Indiana Resources may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. 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. Image source: Getty Images Fueling up for less is one of the ways people save money at Costco (even if it occasionally means waiting in a line of cars to do so). On average, Costco gas is less expensive than area competitors. What keeps this perk so exclusive, however, is that you're required to scan your membership card at the pump. This can be your physical card or a digital card through the Costco app. Either way, no card, no gas. This is where the scam starts. Oh, no, I forgot my membership card! "Darn it, my phone died and I can't scan my membership card. Can you scan your membership for me so I can fuel up and go charge my phone?" The request could seem innocent enough. We've all had our phones die at the wrong moment or forgotten our wallets without realizing it until we're at the register. Unfortunately, extending a kind gesture could get you into a bit of hot water if the person on the receiving end is up to no good -- such as trying to milk every potential dollar out of stolen credit cards. (According to online lore, the core of this scam is that Costco doesn't require ZIP codes to use a credit card, unlike other gas stations. It also helps muddy the waters, since the police have an easy line right to you.) Your purchases are tied to your account Part of scanning your card for access means that each time you fuel up at a Costco gas station, that purchase is tied to your Costco account. This includes information about the payment method you use. Stolen credit cards get reported, and then authorities track down the purchases made. If your Costco account is tied to purchases made from a stolen credit card, you'll likely have some serious explaining to do. At best, you get charged for the stolen gas and the cops don't show up. At worst, you're having to prove you didn't steal the credit card in the first place. But even if you wind up with the best-case scenario here, you still have to admit to Costco that you broke the terms of your membership agreement. Costco can (and does) close accounts for breaking rules The Costco membership rules are very clear about not letting other people use your membership card. Moreover, Costco has been very vocally cracking down on membership sharing over the last year. If you're caught sharing your membership -- and yes, scanning your card that one time for that one person counts -- Costco can, and likely will, close your account and cancel your membership. Costco has every right to prohibit you from ever joining again, too. And then you'd never have another Costco hot dog. Story continues How to properly share your membership Costco's rules are pretty strict, but there are still a few ways you can share the Costco love with your friends and family. If you're the Primary Member (or Account Manager), you can assign one free membership card to a member of your household. Each cardholder can bring up to two guests to the store on a trip. However, only the member can make purchases. Members can purchase Costco Shop cards, which are gift cards for Costco. A Shop card gives non-members entrance into Costco and the ability to shop, but they'll need to use the Shop card to pay. What to do if you're approached at the pump Never scan your membership card for someone else to make a purchase. Instead, you can advise the struggling person to contact the station attendant. If the person is really a member and having an actual issue, the attendant can help them. If the person isn't a member, they'll likely scurry away. It's great to want to help our neighbors, but let's not forget common sense, too. Fueling up at Costco is rarely life or death, so the person can head home for their card or head to another gas station. You don't need to put your membership at risk. Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!) We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America's favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco. Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it's no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card. Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends! We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Buy Gas at Costco? Watch Out for This Scam was originally published by The Motley Fool Agricultural Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:ACGBY Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 14,800 shares, a decline of 55.8% from the August 31st total of 33,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 12,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days. Agricultural Bank of China Price Performance Shares of ACGBY opened at $13.08 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.04. The stock has a market cap of $183.11 billion, a PE ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.09. Agricultural Bank of China has a 1-year low of $8.76 and a 1-year high of $13.08. Get Agricultural Bank of China alerts: Agricultural Bank of China (OTCMKTS:ACGBY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 30th. The company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $25 billion for the quarter. Agricultural Bank of China had a return on equity of 9.30% and a net margin of 19.55%. About Agricultural Bank of China Agricultural Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It offers demand, personal call, foreign currency call, time or demand optional, foreign exchange call, foreign exchange time, savings, agreed term, and negotiated deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and loans, including housing, consumer, business, fixed asset, working capital, real estate, and entrusted syndicated loans, as well as trade finances, guarantees and commitments, and loans with custody of export rebates accounts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Agricultural Bank of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agricultural Bank of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the six research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $104.50. A number of research firms have issued reports on NBR. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $114.00 target price on shares of Nabors Industries in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Nabors Industries from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $110.00 to $75.00 in a report on Friday, September 13th. Get Nabors Industries alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on NBR Institutional Trading of Nabors Industries Nabors Industries Price Performance Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NBR. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in Nabors Industries by 202.4% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 750 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 502 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Nabors Industries by 2,022.2% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 764 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $67,000 after acquiring an additional 728 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Nabors Industries by 29.1% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,474 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $159,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in Nabors Industries by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 3,567 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $254,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.92% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE:NBR opened at $60.95 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $582.07 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.41 and a beta of 2.12. Nabors Industries has a 1 year low of $59.67 and a 1 year high of $129.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.01. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.06. Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The oil and gas company reported ($4.29) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($1.77) by ($2.52). The firm had revenue of $742.98 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $737.91 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 28.10% and a negative net margin of 4.73%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned ($2.26) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Nabors Industries will post -12.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Nabors Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running services, including casing and tubing running, and torque monitoring; managed pressure drilling services; and drilling-bit steering systems and rig instrumentation software. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nabors Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nabors Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, September 25th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be paid a dividend of 0.15 per share by the real estate investment trust on Thursday, October 24th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.08%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 9th. Brandywine Realty Trust has decreased its dividend by an average of 1.8% per year over the last three years. Brandywine Realty Trust has a payout ratio of -181.8% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect Brandywine Realty Trust to earn $0.97 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.60 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 61.9%. Get Brandywine Realty Trust alerts: Brandywine Realty Trust Price Performance Shares of BDN stock opened at $5.42 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $5.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.73. The stock has a market cap of $935.01 million, a PE ratio of -4.44 and a beta of 1.33. Brandywine Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $3.62 and a 52-week high of $5.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a current ratio of 2.07. Analysts Set New Price Targets Brandywine Realty Trust ( NYSE:BDN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $125.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $119.47 million. Brandywine Realty Trust had a negative return on equity of 12.16% and a negative net margin of 32.27%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.29 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Brandywine Realty Trust will post 0.93 EPS for the current year. Several brokerages have issued reports on BDN. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Brandywine Realty Trust from $5.50 to $6.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. StockNews.com upgraded Brandywine Realty Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Get Our Latest Research Report on BDN About Brandywine Realty Trust (Get Free Report) Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in the Philadelphia and Austin markets. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 160 properties and 22.6 million square feet as of September 30, 2023 which excludes assets held for sale. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Brandywine Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brandywine Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 8.350-8.660 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 8.500. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Up 1.6 % BR stock opened at $211.70 on Friday. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a 12 month low of $166.73 and a 12 month high of $223.81. The firms 50-day moving average is $210.67 and its 200 day moving average is $203.54. The company has a market capitalization of $24.71 billion, a PE ratio of 36.13 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.08. Get Broadridge Financial Solutions alerts: Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The business services provider reported $3.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.49 by $0.01. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 10.73% and a return on equity of 42.77%. The business had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.96 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.21 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Broadridge Financial Solutions will post 8.51 EPS for the current year. Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 12th will be given a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 12th. This is a positive change from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is 60.07%. Several brokerages have recently commented on BR. StockNews.com upgraded Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $239.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research report on Tuesday, June 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $224.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Broadridge Financial Solutions currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $213.33. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BR Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions In related news, CEO Timothy C. Gokey sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.11, for a total transaction of $5,227,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 200,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,963,149.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, VP Laura Matlin sold 673 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.00, for a total value of $145,368.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,194,480. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Timothy C. Gokey sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.11, for a total transaction of $5,227,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 200,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $41,963,149.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 134,386 shares of company stock valued at $28,112,824. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile (Get Free Report) Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCMKTS:HGTXU Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,200 shares, a growth of 550.0% from the August 31st total of 800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 30,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Hugoton Royalty Trust Trading Up 1.6 % Shares of OTCMKTS HGTXU traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $0.50. The company had a trading volume of 15,287 shares, compared to its average volume of 32,754. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $0.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.51. Hugoton Royalty Trust has a 1 year low of $0.42 and a 1 year high of $0.78. The stock has a market cap of $19.92 million, a P/E ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.17. Get Hugoton Royalty Trust alerts: Hugoton Royalty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Hugoton Royalty Trust operates as an express trust in the United States. It holds 80% net profits interests in various natural gas producing working interest properties in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming under conveyances. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Hugoton Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hugoton Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Morgan Stanley from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a $310.00 price objective on the stock, up from their previous price objective of $225.00. Morgan Stanleys price objective suggests a potential downside of 1.63% from the stocks previous close. Several other brokerages also recently commented on LAD. Stephens began coverage on Lithia Motors in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. They issued an overweight rating and a $360.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Lithia Motors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Guggenheim upgraded shares of Lithia Motors from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $338.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $315.00 to $375.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $334.00. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LAD Lithia Motors Price Performance NYSE LAD opened at $315.14 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $8.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.30, a P/E/G ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.64. Lithia Motors has a 1 year low of $231.36 and a 1 year high of $331.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $283.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $271.86. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $7.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.09 by $0.78. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 13.84% and a net margin of 2.52%. The company had revenue of $9.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.29 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $10.91 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Lithia Motors will post 28.78 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Sidney B. Deboer sold 10,777 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.93, for a total value of $2,973,697.61. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 35,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,754,677.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Sidney B. Deboer sold 10,777 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.93, for a total transaction of $2,973,697.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 35,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,754,677.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Shauna Mcintyre sold 306 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.65, for a total value of $88,632.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,922 shares in the company, valued at $556,707.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 23,021 shares of company stock valued at $6,534,617 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.79% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lithia Motors A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Point72 DIFC Ltd acquired a new position in Lithia Motors in the second quarter valued at about $143,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Lithia Motors in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $80,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 119,963 shares of the companys stock worth $30,285,000 after acquiring an additional 2,638 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in Lithia Motors by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 3,862 shares of the companys stock valued at $975,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Lithia Motors by 23.8% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 8,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,217,000 after purchasing an additional 1,688 shares in the last quarter. About Lithia Motors (Get Free Report) Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Vehicle Operations and Financing Operations. The companys Vehicle Operations segment sells new and used vehicles; provides parts, repair, and maintenance services; vehicle finance; and insurance products. Its Financing Operations segment provides financing to customers buying and leasing retail vehicles. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Lithia Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithia Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Susquehanna started coverage on shares of Valaris (NYSE:VAL Free Report) in a report published on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. The firm issued a neutral rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. VAL has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Valaris from $95.00 to $71.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Valaris from $98.00 to $91.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Pickering Energy Partners lowered shares of Valaris from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $90.00 price target on shares of Valaris in a research note on Monday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Valaris currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.50. Get Valaris alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on VAL Valaris Stock Performance NYSE:VAL opened at $53.77 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.70 and a beta of 1.17. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $63.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.50. Valaris has a twelve month low of $53.06 and a twelve month high of $84.20. Valaris (NYSE:VAL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $1.07. Valaris had a net margin of 49.33% and a return on equity of 12.58%. The firm had revenue of $610.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $545.00 million. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Valaris will post 4.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, COO Gilles Luca sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.86, for a total transaction of $1,705,800.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 108,342 shares in the company, valued at $6,160,326.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Valaris news, SVP Davor Vukadin sold 15,403 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.64, for a total value of $872,425.92. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 13,334 shares in the company, valued at approximately $755,237.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Gilles Luca sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.86, for a total transaction of $1,705,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 108,342 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,160,326.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Valaris Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VAL. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Valaris by 180.8% in the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 365 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in Valaris by 88.3% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,747 shares of the companys stock worth $120,000 after purchasing an additional 819 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Valaris in the 1st quarter worth $149,000. Choreo LLC bought a new position in shares of Valaris during the 2nd quarter worth about $204,000. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Valaris during the 2nd quarter worth about $204,000. 96.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Valaris (Get Free Report) Valaris Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore contract drilling services Gulf of Mexico, South America, North Sea, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through four segments: Floaters, Jackups, ARO, and Other. It owns an offshore drilling rig fleet, which include drillships, dynamically positioned semisubmersible rigs, moored semisubmersible rig, and jackup rigs. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Valaris Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valaris and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cathie Wood is the head of Ark Investment Management, which operates a family of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on innovative technology stocks. Last year, Wood said software companies could be the next big opportunity in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. She predicts they will eventually generate $8 in revenue for every $1 they spend on AI data center chips from suppliers like Nvidia. And Wood has put her money where her mouth is. Since making that call, she has piled into AI software companies like xAI, Anthropic, and OpenAI through the private Ark Venture Fund. Plus, Ark's ETFs hold several AI software stocks, including Tesla, Palantir, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. If Wood is ultimately right about AI software companies, here's why Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) could be among the biggest winners. Image source: Alphabet. Alphabet is transforming Google Search using AI Alphabet is a tech conglomerate that is home to Google, YouTube, self-driving vehicle company Waymo, and a host of other businesses. Google Search accounted for more than half of Alphabet's $84.7 billion in revenue during the second quarter of 2024, driven by its 90% market share in the internet search industry. But that dominance faces its greatest-ever test because of AI. AI chatbots, like OpenAI's ChatGPT, provide direct responses to users' queries, giving them rapid access to information on almost any topic. Google, on the other hand, requires users to sift through web pages to find the information they need and generates revenue by charging businesses money to promote their websites in the search results. As a result, the traditional search model is very important for Alphabet. But rather than defend what could eventually become obsolete, Alphabet decided to make drastic changes. In many cases, users who run Google Search queries will now receive AI-generated, text-based responses above the web search results to give them faster access to information. Google also launched AI Overviews earlier this year, taking that concept a step further. Overviews incorporate text, images, and links to third-party websites to provide more complete answers to prompts within Search. Plus, with the click of a button, the user can simplify or break down responses to gain a better understanding of the content. Alphabet has already discovered that links within Overviews receive more clicks compared to the same links in the traditional search format, so this new feature could be a big driver of advertising revenue in the future. On top of that, Alphabet now offers its own family of AI models called Gemini (and a chatbot with the same name), which can answer complex questions and generate content like text and images. For an additional fee, Gemini is already available as an add-on in Google Workspace, which is home to productivity apps such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more. As a result, it could become a powerful driver of subscription-based revenue over time. Story continues Google Cloud is Alphabet's fastest-growing business Search might be Alphabet's largest business, but Google Cloud is growing at twice the pace. It generated a record $10.3 billion in revenue during the 2024 second quarter, a 29% increase from the year-ago period -- compared to 13.7% growth in Search. Google Cloud provides a portfolio of services to help businesses succeed in the digital age, such as data storage, web hosting, and software development tools, among others. However, the platform has also become a leading provider of AI services. Developers can access the computing power they need to create AI software through Google Cloud's data centers. To accelerate their progress, they can even use the latest ready-made large language models (LLMs). That includes Gemini and over 130 others from leading start-ups and third-party developers. Google Cloud is also designing its own data center chips to give AI software developers more choices, which helps differentiate the platform from other cloud providers that rely primarily on suppliers like Nvidia. Google recently launched its sixth-generation tensor processing unit (TPU) called Trillium, which achieves almost five times the peak computing performance of the previous generation. Most AI developers pay for computing capacity by the minute, so faster chips can substantially reduce costs. Plus, circling back to Wood's forecast, if Google makes its own chips at scale, the payoff could be significantly larger when it uses them to create software -- or leases them to other developers -- because it won't have to send billions of dollars to suppliers like Nvidia. Alphabet stock is cheap, but there is one big caveat Alphabet generated $6.97 in earnings per share during the past four quarters, and based on its stock price of $161.85 as of this writing, it trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.2. That makes Alphabet the cheapest of all the U.S. technology companies valued at $1 trillion or more: NVDA PE Ratio Chart But there is one glaring problem, and it has nothing to do with the company's growth or its position as an AI powerhouse. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet in 2020, alleging the company engaged in monopolistic practices by paying Apple as much as $20 billion a year to make Google the default search engine on its devices. Unfortunately for Alphabet, the judge in the case handed down a decision last month and sided with the DOJ. It's unclear what the consequences will be. Alphabet might have to pay a financial penalty, or the government could force a breakup of the entire company. The latter would create significant uncertainty for investors because Alphabet would likely have to sell certain parts of its business to satisfy the DOJ that it won't engage in anti-competitive behavior in the future. Many Wall Street analysts say a breakup would be an extreme and unlikely outcome. Technology analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities thinks Alphabet will reach a settlement with the DOJ within the next 18 months to bring the matter to a close. That could involve a financial penalty and some changes to how Alphabet structures deals with its partners. Absent a settlement, it could take years to reach a final resolution while Alphabet appeals the judge's decision, so the status-quo should prevail for now. Therefore, Alphabet stock looks like a great value at the current price, and if the company does emerge from this regulatory situation intact, it could look like an absolute bargain, considering Cathie Wood's AI software forecast. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, 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 Alphabet 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 $756,882!* 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 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Tesla. 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. Cathie Wood Says Software Is the Next Big AI Opportunity -- 1 Spectacular Stock You'll Regret Not Buying if She's Right was originally published by The Motley Fool Tourists take photos of citizens practicing Tai Chi at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2024. [Xinhua/Ju Huanzong] 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. (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. Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Dumps Palantir Shares Amidst S&P 500 Inclusion And Extended AI Alliance Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. On Wednesday, the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made a notable move by selling a significant portion of its stake in Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR). The Palantir Trade: The ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKK) offloaded 62,809 shares of Palantir. The sale came just days after Palantirs inclusion in the S&P 500 index, replacing American Airlines Group, Inc. This inclusion could potentially boost Palantirs stock as it gains wider exposure to investors and as shares are accumulated to be included in index funds that mirror the S&P 500. Despite the positive news, Ark Invest decided to reduce its exposure to the company. Dont Miss: A billion-dollar investment strategy with minimums as low as $10 you can become part of the next big real estate boom today . This is a paid advertisement. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. Your biggest returns may not come from the stock market. Invest the way colleges, pension funds, and the 1% do. Get started investing in commercial real estate today. Moreover, the sale occurred on the same day Palantir announced a multi-million-dollar extension of its deal with APA Corporation. The deal, which builds on three years of collaboration, introduces new AI capabilities through Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) software. Despite these developments, Ark Invests move suggests a strategic shift in its investment approach towards Palantir. The value of the trade, based on Palantirs closing price of $37.12 on the same day, is approximately $2.33 million. Trending: This billion-dollar fund has invested in the next big real estate boom, here's how you can join for $10. This is a paid advertisement. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. Other Key Trades: Ark Invests ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG) sold shares of Veeva Systems Inc (VEEV) and shares of Butterfly Network Inc (BFLY). The ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) sold shares of Materialise NV (MTLS) and also shares of Vuzix Corp (VUZI). The ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) sold shares of Roku Inc (ROKU). The ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) bought shares of Blade Air Mobility Inc (BLDE) and sold shares of Mynaric AG (MYNA). Story continues Wondering if your investments can get you to a $5,000,000 nest egg? Speak to a financial advisor today. SmartAssets free tool matches you up with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. Keep Reading: Fractional real estate is the next big opportunity for building passive income get started for just $100 . With returns as high as 300%, its no wonder this asset is the investment choice of many billionaires. Uncover the secret. This article Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Dumps Palantir Shares Amidst S&P 500 Inclusion And Extended AI Alliance originally appeared on Benzinga.com HMS Dragon granted Freedom of Wrexham with minor debate if it is an inanimate object A Royal Navy ship has been awarded the freedom of landlocked Wrexham despite a group of councillors questioning the logic of the move. HMS Dragon became the first warship to be affiliated with Wrexham since World War Two following a ceremony held in Portsmouth in April. The majority of politicians supported giving the top civic honour to the Type 45 air defence destroyer at a full council meeting at the citys Guildhall on Wednesday. Beverley Parry-Jones, the local authoritys armed forces champion, said the award would pay tribute to the Royal Navys contribution to the county borough. However, Plaid Cymru councillor Carrie Harper said her party would be abstaining due to their unease at the accolade being given to an object. Previous recipients of the award include Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who were recognised in April 2023 for their work to boost the areas profile, as well as the Royal Welsh army regiment and the RAF. Speaking at the start of the meeting, Cllr Parry-Jones (Cons) said: The Royal Navy has recently affiliated its ship HMS Dragon, one of the advanced Type 45 air defence destroyers, to Wrexham in a ceremony at her home port of Portsmouth. All major Royal Navy ships have affiliations as part of a long-standing custom that binds their crews to the land via a network of relationships which spread across the United Kingdom. It is the first time since the Second World War that a Royal Navy warship will be affiliated to Wrexham. I am recommending that the council invites the Royal Navy to accept the honorary freedom of the county borough for HMS Dragon to formally recognise its contribution to the county borough. HMS Dragon is currently undergoing a refit in Portsmouth, including upgrades to its engines, sensors and weapons system. The vessel has more than 200 crew members and its main purpose is to defend other ships using its anti-air missile system. The ship was previously affiliated with Cardiff but the association was taken on by Wrexham earlier this year due to the creation of a new Type 26 frigate named HMS Cardiff. While most councillors supported the move to give the freedom of Wrexham to the HMS Dragon, Cllr Harper said the Plaid group was not happy with the reasoning. She said: Weve had quite a discussion about this as a group. We dont feel we can support the recommendation on the basis that were just not comfortable with the idea of awarding freedom of the borough to an inanimate object. Were happy to consider freedom of the borough for individuals and organisations. Its not a comment on the affiliation, but just the technicality around it. However, Cllr Hugh Jones (Cons) said he believed the honour would be well received by Royal Navy personnel and their families. He said: Its not an inanimate object. It is a ship containing a huge number of serving officers and men. The families of the officers and men who serve on these ships benefit greatly from having this type of association, so I fully support this motion. Cllr Jeremy Kent (Cons) also said he supported the award, despite joking that he did not expect to see the ship being sailed down a local river. He said: Whilst we might have the Royal Welsh parading through the streets or the RAF on their flight paths, I doubt were going to have HMS Dragon coming up the River Gwenfro. But its really important that we acknowledge this affiliation by offering them the freedom of the borough. HMS Dragon is the fourth ship to be associated with Wrexham after the HMS Veteran, HMS Begonia and HMS Anemone were adopted during World War Two. The decision to honour it with the freedom of Wrexham was approved, with 37 councillors voting in favour and three abstentions. A formal ceremony will be arranged to confer the award upon the Royal Navy at a later date. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter Senedd hears of four-week wait in Cheshire and a three-year wait in Wrexham for glaucoma operations Cross border working, and a comparison of wait times in England and Wales has been raised in the Senedd. Sam Rowlands MS asked the Health Minister, The First Minister has said that shes ready to use the private sector in the Welsh NHS. Are you ready? The Minister Jeremy Miles replied, The Welsh Government has made use of private sector capacity for the common good, if you like, for many years. We recognise that the priority that the Government attaches to reducing waiting lists means that we will have to look at whatever options are available. Rowlands pushed back at a section the Ministers answer, noting for glaucoma operations in Wrexham at the moment, patients there are waiting three years on a waiting list for a disease that clearly has a massive impact on their daily lives. If you live in Cheshire, its a four-week wait, just across the border, because the health trust there has a partnership arrangement with a private sector company to deliver those operations. A four-week wait in Cheshire, a three-year wait in Wrexham. So, there are huge opportunities. In terms of those targets that we mentioned, as well, it is disappointing that it seems as though many of the targets that are in place are not worth the paper that theyre written on. And the consequences of those targets not being met seem to pretty weak, to say the very least. And it is remarkable, as we heard again yesterday from the First Minister about this collaboration between the Welsh and UK Governments on cutting waiting lists and working together, it is remarkable that it was so light on the detail of what the collaboration should look like, because you would agree, Im sure, that cutting waiting lists is surely one of your top priorities here in Walesits what the people of Wales want to see. So, why is it that there does not seem to be a concrete plan for cutting those waiting lists? The Minister replied, I think there is a plan for cutting those waiting lists. The point that the First Minister was making yesterday reflects the point that I have just made to the Member in my reply now, which is how important it is for the health service to look to best practice both within other parts of the organisation and also further afield, just as all the public services that were responsible for here in Wales take inspiration from best practice wherever that is. The point that the First Minister was making was that where we have seen, in parts of NHS England in this particular case, successful strategies for supporting reductions in waiting listsand, absolutely, targets arent being met in England either, but there are elements of progressthe question is how we can work together to learn from that. Some of those will work, perhaps, for us in Wales, and some of them will not, but I think having that collaborative approach, where we can learn from things that have worked, is just sensible. Wrexham digital bank CEO stepping down after almost 10 years The chief executive of a digital bank in Wrexham is stepping down after almost 10 years in the role. Andy Mielczarek co-founded Chetwood Financial in 2016. He will be replaced by Paul Noble, subject to regulatory approval. The Wrexham-based digital bank received a restricted banking licence in late 2017 before being granted a full UK banking licence in December 2018. Since 2019, more than 3.5 billion has been deposited with Chetwood Financials savings proposition SmartSave. Earlier in 2024, the company also entered the buy-to-let mortgage market with the acquisition of the specialist lender CHL Mortgages for Intermediaries from Barossa Asset Purchaser Sarl in May and will launch ModaMortgages in the near future. Mielczarek has been Chetwood Financials CEO since its inception. Before this he was the deputy head of HSBCs UK Retail Bank, having previously been Commercial Director and Head of Retail Products for HSBC Europe. Prior to that he held roles including CFO at M&S Bank, Head of Commercial Finance at MBNA, and Brokerage Operations Director at Charles Schwab. Mielczarek will leave the company at the end of this month. He is taking some time out before deciding on his next move. Paul Noble will join Chetwood Financial from JN Bank UK, where he was CEO of the banking outfit whose products and services include savings accounts, loans and mortgages. Noble has over 25 years experience in financial services, spanning startups and large banks. Before JN Bank, Noble spent six years at Pollen Street Capital, an asset manager focussed on financial services. There he led the investment into Tandem Bank which was complemented with additional business acquisitions. Noble previously co-founded 118 118 Money to provide an alternative for customers unable to borrow from their bank. Mielczarek said: What a journey its been. Starting a new bank was never going to be easy, and I am proud to see the progress Chetwood has made. From opening our first office in Wrexham and getting a banking licence, to taking billions of pounds in deposits and expanding into different markets, the company has gone from strength to strength over the years. Its a testament to the brilliant people who work here, and the unwavering focus on creating financial products that make people better off. After ten years, nows the right time for me to hand over the reins to someone new. There are such exciting, bold plans for Chetwood over the coming months and years, and nows a logical time for a change in leadership to inject fresh life into the business and guide it through the next stage of its journey Ive no doubt Paul is the right person to do just that, and I wish him and the entire organisation all the very best. Ian Lonergan, Group Chair of Chetwood Financial, added: Firstly, we must recognise what an incredible job Andy has done in building Chetwood Financial from just an idea to being a fully-fledged digital bank that delivers market-leading products. He has an inspiring level of drive, determination and vision, and he leaves the business in an extremely strong position. Were really excited to now welcome Paul as CEO given his vast experience and superb leadership skills, we have every confidence that he will steer us confidently through the next chapters of our story. Noble commented: I am delighted to join Chetwood Financial. Andy and the team have built a brilliant digital bank here, and the opportunity to now help drive the company forward was one that I simply had to grab with both hands. There are really exciting plans in place, and I cant wait to play my part. The emphasis will remain on delivering exceptional products and service to all our customers, but we have ambitions to enter new markets and fast-track our growth in the future. Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation has been awarded to more than 100 new candidates in Gaborone, Botswana. This took place at a convocation held by American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), together as The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. This recognition is expected to meet the growing demand for skilled accounting and finance professionals within the Botswana economy, reported Bizcommunity. The CGMA designation, established in 2012 by AICPA and CIMA, is claimed to be a verification to the high standard of quality and competence in the field of management accounting. It is designed to help professionals have necessary business, digital, people, and leadership skills to thrive in their careers in accounting, business, and finance. AICPA & CIMA Botswana country director Letus Chinyepi said: Our CGMA candidates and CIMA members are at the heart of everything we do, recognising and celebrating their achievements is always a significant moment for us. It is great to see how far they have come while studying for CIMAs CGMA Professional Qualification in order to earn the CGMA designation. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable, and we are proud to support them on their journey to becoming accounting, finance, and business leaders who will benefit the Botswana economy. This development follows closely on the heels of AICPA & CIMA's announcement of the Registered Apprenticeship for Accounting and Finance Associate earlier in September 2024. This programme is aimed at strengthening the accountancy talent pipeline through an earn and learn model. "CGMA designation awarded to more than 100 candidates in Botswana " was originally created and published by The Accountant, 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. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) proceeded Tuesday, September 17 with screenings of Russians at War in the face of an ongoing government-backed campaign to smear the film as Russian propaganda and prevent it from being shown. The far-right Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), backed by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and threats of violence by outright fascists, has sought to censor the film, because it portrays ordinary Russian soldiers in a humane mannerand not, as per western propaganda, rapists, child-killers and monsters. Due to have its first public screening in North America September 13, the film was suspended from the program by TIFF on September 12 after numerous anonymous threats of violence against festival organizers and visitors were made by fascists. The deluge of threats followed the announcement of a campaign against the film September 6 by the far-right UCC and a September 10 statement by Freeland declaring, Its not right for Canadian public money to be supporting the production and screening of a film like this. Both the film and TIFF received government funding. Several of those involved in making the film fielded questions following TIFF's screening of it on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 15, two days after the festival ended. "Russians at War" director Anastasia Trofimova is on the far right. Liberal Party MPs have made no bones about their collaboration with outright fascists in their effort to suppress the film, and have even publicly exulted about the impact of the fascists threats of violence on the world-renowned film festival and its attendees. Following TIFFs initial announcement suspending the screenings, Yvan Baker, the Liberal MP for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Centre, wrote on X, We did it! TVO will no longer be supporting or airing the film Russians at War. Thank you to everyone who worked and advocated to make this happen. No government representative so much as criticized or distanced themselves from the threats of violence. This open embrace of fascists should come as no surprise. The Trudeau Liberal government has worked tirelessly to whitewash the far-right character of the Kiev regime and Ukrainian fascism more broadly as part of its key role in supporting the US-NATO war on Russia. Following the fascist-spearheaded coup in 2014 that brought to power a pro-Western puppet regime in Kiev, the Canadian military was instrumental in integrating far-right militias, like the Azov Battalion, into the Ukrainian military. Since the US-instigated Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Canada has funneled billions of dollars in weaponry and over $10 billion of total aid to the Zelensky regime, which rules Ukraine with an iron fist and has detained opponents of the war like socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk. Canadas parliament applauds Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of the Waffen-SS. Canadas then Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre is on the far left. The Canadian state has enjoyed for more than three-quarters of a century close ties with Ukrainian Nazi collaborators and their political descendants. Freelands grandfather was the editor of a pro-Nazi Ukrainian newspaper, and the UCC has served for decades as the advocate for tens thousands of Ukrainian Nazis and Nazi collaborators who were given refuge in Canada after World War II. Members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, a fascist movement led by Stepan Bandera that participated in the Holocaust and other atrocities, were welcomed to Canada and received state backing to whitewash their crimes and promote their far-right nationalist ideology. The close relationship between these reactionary forces and the Canadian political establishment was summed up in September 2023, when the House of Commons rose as one to give a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a veteran of the 14th all-Ukrainian Grenadier Division of the Waffen-SS. Its members swore personal fealty to Adolf Hitler, and assisted in the Holocaust and the massacring of Slovak partisans. UCC organized protest against the screening of "Russians at War" The UCC and its far-right supporters organized protests outside and during the two screenings that went ahead September 17. A World Socialist Web Site correspondent in attendance at the 2 p.m. screening noted two attempts to disrupt the screening inside the theatre. The film provides a chronological review of Russian soldiers on the front lines, starting in late 2022. It begins with Ilya, an injured soldier on leave to see his family. Dressed in a Santa Claus costume, he is travelling home in Donetsk to celebrate the New Year. He explains that many children wont have a Christmas this year, and he wants to bring them any joy he can. The filmmaker asks several soldiers in the first part of the film what their reasons for fighting are. Some declare themselves to be Russian patriots, but almost as many explain they are there because they need the money or out of sheer desperation as there is nothing else for them to do. In the second portion of the film, Trofimova asks many of the same soldiers at the end of 2023 what their views are now in order to capture the change. None of those who previously expressed sympathy for the patriotic ideals put out by the Great Russian chauvinist regime of Putin, to justify the war, still advocate these positions. Anchar, one of the main characters, who was initially a patriotic supporter of the war, is seen pregnant towards the end on New Years Day 2024, stating that she will never talk to her child about war, because 90 percent of it is lies. Although the filmmaker did not intend to provide an historical analysis of the wars causes, a few moments capture the devastating consequences of the Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent US-led expansion of NATO up to Russias borders that triggered the conflict. One soldier observes, Ive always thought of Ukrainians as friendly my roots are from Ukraine, west Ukraine actually. In another scene, an enraged Russian soldier fires at a swastika displayed on the wall of a captured building. TIFFs courageous decision to screen the film in the face of a government-sponsored campaign of censorship and threats of violence provided Trofimova with the opportunity to defend her movie against the critics. She told the audience after the 2 p.m. screening on September 17 that she wanted to make a movie about the small man who is a cog in every war machine. She expanded on her view of the war in extended comments to the CBC podcast Front Burner, saying of the Russians fighting on the front lines: I think in a sense they are victims of this big geopolitical situation, which is the war. And so are the Ukrainians. And it is very unfortunate that what is happening now is happening. And you have people who just want to go home and just want for this war to be over. And thats what I hope for as well. And maybe, just maybe, this film could be the starting point for some sort of dialogue. Addressing those who denounced her for not toeing the pro-war line advanced by the Canadian government and UCC, Trofimova added: People believed that they were helping the Russian-speaking Eastern Ukrainian population of Donbas. People believed that they were fighting against the Western expansion of NATO For Russia, NATO is a pretty scary thing. It is the worlds biggest military alliance. It is expanding closer and closer to Russian borders. So for a lot of people, even in my grandmothers generation and my mothers generation, NATO was always this constant, big looming maybe not an active threat, but at least somewhere there. Israeli government officials delivered a uniform, savage rebuttal Thursday to the ceasefire proposal for the war with Lebanon proposed by 12 of Tel Avivs close allies, including the United States, UK and the European Union. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office announced bluntly: The news about a ceasefirenot 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. Touching down in the US, where he will speak at the United Nations, Netanyahu said, We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, which he claimed was the return of evacuated Israeli residents to the north of the country. A man carries pictures of his relatives standing at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Saksakieh, south Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. [AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari] No effort was made to suggest that Israel would consider future proposals. The line from the prime minister on down was that the war would continue as long as they wished. Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened, as he has over Gaza, to lead his Jewish Power party out of coalition with Netanyahu and collapse the government if a ceasefire were agreed. He said, according to Haaretz, Every day that this ceasefire is in effect and Israel does not fight in the northOtzma Yehudit [Jewish Power] is not committed to the coalition. His close political ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented, The campaign in the north should end in one scenariocrushing Hezbollah Surrender of Hezbollah or war, thats the only way. The sentiment of these two most openly fascist members of the Israeli cabinet is shared by them all. Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared, There will be no ceasefire in the north. 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. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed that the Israeli military would continue throwing Hezbollah off balance and deepening their loss, including by eliminating Hezbollah terrorists, dismantling Hezbollah's offensive infrastructure and destroying rockets and missiles. Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi was even more bloodthirsty: We need to continue attacking Hezbollah, we have been waiting for this opportunity for years. After Halevi said Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces were preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon, the IDF announced Thursday that it had carried out exercises simulating combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain, adding, During the exercise, the troops enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front. The belligerence of the Israeli government comes in the face of an extremely muted response from its target in Lebanon, Hezbollah. The organisation released a video Wednesday stating, We can escalate, but we are choosing to de-escalate at the moment. Israeli negotiators strung along the idea of de-escalation in pantomime ceasefire talks over the last few days. Jacob Magid, US bureau chief for the Times of Israel, wrote after speaking with a senior Western diplomat, Netanyahus conduct is extension of how he handled the Gaza hostage talks where he has privately agreed to show flexibility only to make public statement immediately afterward thwarting progress. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters that the statement endorsing the ceasefire US President Joe Biden had released with French President Emmanuel Macron was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side. Nevertheless, over Wednesday night and into Thursday, IDF airstrikes continued on scores of targets across Lebanon, and over the border with Syria. The worst was on a three-storey building in the Lebanese town of Younine, where 23 Syrians were killedmostly women and children. Sixty people were killed in total in the latest 24-hour period reported by the Lebanese authorities, and 81 injured, taking the total killed since Monday to more than 600, roughly a quarter of them women and children. These deaths bring the number slain in Lebanon since the genocide in Gaza and cross-border hostilities with Israel began to more than 1,500 people, plus over 5,400 injured. A new round of strikes began Thursday night. At least 200,000 people are now displaced in Lebanon, with more than 70,000 living in over 500 shelters around the country. Its interior minister, Bassam Mawlawi estimated that the real number of displaced is approaching half a million, in a country which hosts 1.5 million displaced Syrians and the largest number of refugees per capita and square kilometre anywhere in the world. Over 15,000 Syrian citizens have now fled back to Syria, alongside more than 16,000 Lebanese. Luna Hammad, medical coordinator in Lebanon for Doctors Without Borders, explained that the injuries and displacements were placing immense pressure on an already fragile health system, adding that Health facilities are operating with extremely limited capacity due to the shortages of fuel, supplies and staff People here are already facing immense hardship due to the economic crisis and this has deepened their suffering. The response from Israels imperialist backers has been to issue new ineffectual calls for a ceasefire. Lloyd Austin, the US secretary of defence, told reporters, A full-scale war between LH [Lebanese Hezbollah] and Israel could be devastating for both parties and it could lead to a larger conflict throughout the region. Thats not in the best interests of anyone. Asked if the US would withhold military support to Israel if the country refused a ceasefire and proceeded to a ground invasion, however, he answered that Washington had been committed from the very beginning to providing Israel with things that are necessary for them to be able to protect their sovereign territoryand that hasnt changed and wont change. Underscoring the point, Israel announced that it had secured an $8.7 billion military aid package from the US, including, according to Reuters, $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. Reuters added that Israels Defense 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. Confirming this ultimate target of US-backed Israeli aggression, the Jerusalem Post, sure of a warm audience, editorialised Thursday that the West and the US should not fall for new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who spoke at the UN that day, and grant any kind of relief to the country that is the source of so much of what ails the region. On Tuesday, October 1, the online meeting of the Volkswagen Action Committee will take place at 7 p.m. to discuss the announced attacks on plants and wages. To take part, send a message via Whatsapp to +491633378340 or register using the form below. Demonstration by VW workers in Hanover, 25.09.2024 Around 3,000 workers from German Volkswagen sites, including Emden, Zwickau, Braunschweig, Kassel-Baunatal, Wolfsburg, Salzgitter and Hanover, demonstrated in Hanover on Wednesday morning against the cutbacks recently announced by VW CEO Oliver Blume. The IG Metall trade union and the works council had called for the protest in front of Herrenhausen Palace, where negotiations with the management on a new contract and the announced mass layoffs began Wednesday morning. At the beginning of September, Blume had announced he would cut a large number of jobs and close at least two of the ten VW plants in Germany. To this end, the company has terminated the employment security agreement, which has been in force for 30 years and is supposed to prevent compulsory redundancies and site closures, effective the end of the year. Since that announcement, Blume has repeatedly stated that he will stick to his plan and implement the rigorous attacks on behalf of the shareholders. Demonstration by VW workers in Hanover, 25 September 2024 The works council, IG Metall and VW management immediately set about coordinating behind the scenes how they should proceed in order to implement these savings at the expense of the workforce. They are all pulling in the same direction. The report by the usually well-informed Manager Magazine that the VW board was discussing cutting 30,000 of the 130,000 jobs in Germany was first denied by Cavallo and the works council and then by the companys top management. At no time did Cavallo and her colleagues say that they did not know what the board was discussing. The works council in Wolfsburg only said: This figure has no basis in reality and is just nonsense. The works council did not reveal what figures are being discussed and on what basis. This already shows that the wage negotiations between VW management, the works council and IG Metall, which have been brought forward by a month because of the cuts announced by Blume, are pursuing a different goal from that of the protesting workers and apprentices, who on Wednesday made up a large proportion of the 3,000 participants who had travelled to Hanover. While Cavallo and her entourage, and IG Metall are negotiating how best to implement the savings, many of the employees are not willing to make any further concessions. Samed Benni has been working at the Braunschweig plant since 2010. If the companys top management gets its way with its demands, it will be very, very difficult for me, he said. Benni is part of the team for the battery cell and, along with many of his colleagues, has just spent nine months in China. He explained, None of us did it because we said, China is the country we really wanted to see. We did it for Volkswagen to get ahead because we realised that a transformation was taking place here and we could be part of it. Now we come back and hear, Oh by the way, your jobs are in jeopardy. Benni The mood among the workers is not the best right now, reports Benni. He took part in the demonstration because he wanted to fight for keeping our jobs and to continue to work for fair wages. And, of course, to be able to counteract the job cuts worldwide in solidarity. Many VW workers were visibly angry about the audacity with which management unilaterally demanded cuts from them, instead of saving where there really is something to save. VW made a profit of over 22 billion euros last year, said Nazim, who works at the commercial vehicles plant in Hanover. Now they were acting as if VW were destitute. But the money that is supposed to be saved will not benefit us, only the shareholders. The billionaires wanted more money, said Nazim, and he was not alone in this opinion. We always have to foot the bill, the bill for billions or millions that they [shareholders and managers] earn, said Tino, who works at the VW plant in Zwickau. Ive been with the company for 33 years, but weve never had a situation like this before. Tino This statement was underlined by a letter from the company via the internal communication platform 360 . In it, the 130,000 employees are once again informed why they are facing the closure of their plants and the loss of their jobs: Ten years agoin 2013the VW brand generated a margin of 2.9 percent, Stellantis 2.0 percent and Renault 1.3 percent. While VW was currently at a margin of 4.1 percent, Renault is now operating at a level of 6.9 percent, and Stellantis at 11.8 percent. This is the main reason why the board is announcing the jobs massacre. The return or margin goes exclusively to the shareholders in the form of dividends. All the talk about investing in the transformation to EVs and the production of low-priced affordable vehicles for a population hit by real wage cuts, is intended to distract from this. The shareholdersmainly the Porsche/Piech families (fortune: 42 billion), then the sheikdom of Qatar and the state of Lower Saxony led by Minister President Stephan Weil (Social Democrat, SPD), as well as, to a lesser extent, the large funds and stock corporationsare demanding more and more money. IG Metall and its VW works council are not proposing cutting the dividend, amounting to 4.5 billion this year. They have already suggested that costs could be reduced by introducing a four-day work week with corresponding wage cuts and various forms of socially acceptable job cuts. Similar cuts, for example in holiday and Christmas bonuses, were already part of the old employment security agreement, which has now been terminated by VW. As a result, the old collective bargaining conditions would apply at the beginning of 2025 and personnel costs would then even increase. The first meeting on Wednesday morning at the luxurious Herrenhausen Palace conference centre, the former residence of the Electors and Kings of Hanover and rebuilt by the VW Foundation, was aimed at preventing this. Hardly anything was said about it in public afterwards. Thorsten Groger, IG Metalls chief negotiator, said afterwards that possible plant closures and layoffs were not substantiated, but remained in general terms. The VW board rejected the demand of IG Metall for a 7 percent wage increase. Instead of cost pressure, we need cost relief, said VW negotiator Arne Meiswinkel. A new negotiation date has not yet been agreed. Groger hopes that this will take place before the end of November. By then it may be too late for one or another of the plants. Investment decisions, which are mostly made for a period of five years, will already have been taken. VWs financial director, Arno Antlitz, has already announced that investments will be cut by 10 billion, to 160 billion, in order to increase profit margins. All this shows that it is urgently necessary for the VW workforce to take action itself. IG Metall and its works council under Cavallo stand on the side of the company. They both share the view that savings must be made at the expense of the workforce. Members of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) distributed the founding appeal of the Volkswagen Action Committee to the VW workers. It begins with the urgent statement: Preparations must be made immediately to avert the threat of cutbacks at VW! Waiting is not an option. The call is addressed to all workers, whether union members or not, and urges them to join the rank-and-file action committee to organise independently of the IG Metall bureaucracy. The statement declares: All jobs at all locations must be defended in principle! No concessions on wages, pensions or other gains! The next online meeting of the action committee, at which these questions will be discussed, will take place on Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m. We call on all VW employees and their supporters to attend. Register via Whatsapp at +491633378340 and fill out the form below! Autoworkers: Join the fight against mass layoffs! Sign up to be contacted about getting involved in the Autoworkers Rank-and-file Committee Network by filling out the form below. The World Socialist Web Site recently held a conversation with a veteran worker from the Stellantis Warren Truck plant in suburban Detroit. On October 8, the company plans to lay off more than 2,500 workers at the factory, as part of its worldwide job cutting campaign. In Italy, Stellantis workers are set to strike on October 18 to oppose plans by the global automaker to cut as many as 12,000 jobs in the country. Stellantis workers at Warren Truck arrive for second shift on June 27, 2024 The labor agreement signed by the United Auto Workers bureaucracy in late 2023 provided Stellantis, General Motors and Ford with a green light to slash thousands of jobs and force workers to pay the costs of the riskier than expected transition to electric vehicles. On Tuesday, UAW Local 1700 sent out a notice to members at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant informing them that 177 supplemental or part-time workers were being terminated by September 28. In addition, 14 full-time workers will be laid off indefinitely at the plant, which is located a few miles from Warren Truck. GM also announced plans to lay off 250 temporary workers at its Fort Wayne, Indiana plant and to terminate 250 temps at its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. At Fairfax, GM is planning to temporarily lay off roughly 1,450 full-time workers between November and January as the company retools the plant for production of the Chevy Bolt EV and Cadillac XT4 on one assembly line. The company has stated it does not plan to recall workers from the temporary layoffs for one year, with production resuming between late 2025 and early 2026. This reporter held the following discussion with the Warren Truck worker who is using the pseudonym John to protect him from possible retaliation by the company and the UAW bureaucracy. WSWS: What is the present situation at the Warren Truck plant? John: We are coming to work in the morning, until October 8. But we dont know exactly what is going to happen. Nobody knows. Every week they add more names to the list of people being laid off. Only one shift is working now, theres no second shift. Last week, it was day shift working in the morning and second shift was laid off. They go weekly. The next week the second shift works but they start in the morning too. The only ones working afternoons are shipping and repair. WSWS: Does anybody know how many workers are transferring, and who is keeping their jobs? John: No. In the beginning they said everyone hired after June 24, 2018, would be laid off. This week they put out a new seniority list and more people are going to be out. The people, the union says, have the opportunity to go to SHAP [Sterling Heights Assembly Plant] or the Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio. But nothing is sure. Toledo is working on and off too. Nobody knows. At Warren Truck, you hear there is no future for this Wagoneer model. Its an expensive car. With the economy as it is, nobody is going to buy a car for $80,000 and up. How long Warren Truck will stay open, nobody knows. In the union contract, they promised job security and said they were going to reopen the Belvidere plant. Now, nobody is saying anything. Everything is coming to a head next month. WSWS: Nobody believes Shawn Fain when he talks about writing grievances, calling a strike and all the rest? John: No. Nobody trusts the union. Even the local. Before the layoff announcements, we had a steward who worked in chassis and told the people the truth about what was coming. They had a meeting and Local 140 President Eric Graham yelled at the steward, Why did you tell the people that? He shouted at him for telling the members about the job cuts that were coming. Even the local works against workers. Last week, at 1:00 p.m. management came around and told the workers they had to work nine hours. There was a big fight between the workers and management. The supervisors threatened the workers: If you walk off the line at 2:30 youre fired. Were supposed to be informed at least by lunchtime if they want us to stay an extra hour. They came at the last minute and people rejected that. Management threatened to fire us and the union did nothing. They write up and suspend people for small things. Fifteen people just got written up in shipping. They trick the workers. A supervisor looks at a car and says its okay to ship. When the audit comes back and they find a defect, they blame it on the workers. But we dont have the gauges and measurements management has. WSWS: Boeing workers on the picket lines told us they warned management about unsafe procedures, but they were ignored because all the company wanted was to get airplanes out the door. Thats how the door plug on the Boeing jet blew out. Management is under enormous pressure from the top shareholders to cut corners, and that led to hundreds dying. John: The companies dont care about quality, only about quantity. Ok, just ship it. They want to make money. They dont care. I support the Boeing workers 100 percent. They are on the right path. They have to fight because in the end if we dont stand together, were all going lose our jobs. A section of the picket line of Boeing machinists in Renton, WA. WSWS: The International Association of Machinists union bureaucracy have repeatedly extended their contracts, and workers havent had a real wage increase in over a decade. In 2014, the company, with the help of the IAM bureaucracy, blackmailed workers into giving up their pensions by threatening to ship their jobs to non-union plants in South Carolina. Now, the workers want their pensions back, and they want at least a 40 percent increase in wages because of the high cost of living. Boeing has refused. They have pointed to last years UAW contract, where workers only got a 25 percent raise over almost five years, to claim that Boeing workers are demanding too much. John: Its a game, brother. Its a game they use against the workers. Right now, the workers consider ourselves like middle class, but they want to destroy that. The corporations want more money and dont care about us. WSWS: Workers are learning they are the working class, not middle class. Were wage slaves who can be fired and stripped of our livelihoods if we dont fight. John: Yes. Where we work, we make this vehicle. Do you think we can afford one? No way. Under the contract, the company has a new lease program for workers. Okay, you get a car. But right now, people are getting laid off, they dont have the seniority and they are getting kicked out of the plant. What happened to those people who got a lease from Stellantis and lost their jobs? They got a letter in the mail telling them to send the truck back. They put pressure on people losing their jobs. They dont care. The only thing they care for is their business. WSWS: What is this doing to workers? They know that they may not be able to provide for their families. What is it doing to people? John: Yeah, if your name is on the list and you have bills, the first thing you think about is how your life is going to change. Do I sell my house? What things do I have to cancel to save on expenses? I have to find another job to put food on the table for my kids. Autoworkers arrive at the UAW Local 140 hall for a meeting on mass layoffs at Warren Truck, August 15, 2024. A lot of workers, especially the ladies, they have kids, and they are 22-23. I see them crying. One girl lived in Ohio and had a long drive to Warren Truck. So, she moved to Sterling Heights with her two kids. Right now, her dreams are gone. She asked me: What am I going to do? I left my family and moved here to start a new life. Now, I have to go back to Ohio and hopefully my family will open the door for me. You hear a lot of these sad stories. People are breaking apart. Hopefully, the union will do something. It would be a miracle if one day they would stand and work for the workers, not just sell us words and promises. But were getting nothing. WSWS: Well, thats the bitter truth. The unions which once defended workers have become instruments of the corporations and the government. The UAW has lost a million members since 1979, but its assets have risen to over $1 billion. John: Did you hear about the worker in Toledo who was killed? WSWS: Yes. His name was Antonio Gaston and he transferred to Toledo from Belvidere after the UAW did nothing to stop the plant closure. John: Yes, its horrible what Stellantis is doing. WSWS: It is not only Stellantis. Tywaun Long, a 46-year-old Ford worker at the Dearborn Truck Plant, died of a heart attack after he tried to get medical help. Its not just Stellantis, its capitalism. The global corporations are saying the industry is plagued with overcapacity because the transition to EVs has not been as quick and easy as they thought. Volkswagen is closing plants and planning permanent layoffs in Germany for the first time. The Stellantis workers in Italy are planning a strike on October 18 because of the threat to cut 12,000 jobs. So, its all the companies, and its worldwide. John: Yes, we live in a crazy world, and day after day there are more wars. What Israel is doing in Lebanon is just horrible. I have a co-worker from the Middle East who just lost three cousins in the bombing. He said they were working in a small tile-making factory that the Israelis blew up. If you watch the news, Israel dropped 3,000 bombs and missiles on Lebanon, including 2,000-pound bombs, and this is while they are still killing and starving people in Gaza. WSWS: Yes, and all these bombs and missiles are supplied by the US and the Biden-Harris administration. John: Yes, that is why we are disgusted that our tax money is paying for that. WSWS: These are imperialist wars. They want a war against Iran, against Russia, and China. Biden was in the UN talking about escalating the war against Russia even if it risks starting a nuclear war. Harris says the US will give Israel all the arms they need to fight Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, and that she is committed to making sure that the US has the strongest and most lethal military force in the world. John: If they were fighting these organizations, you might say it is a war. But this is not a fight between two armies. They killed 500 people in Lebanon on the first day. They are killing women and children. In Gaza, theyve already killed 51,000 people and injured 120,000. Tens of thousands more have not been recovered from the rubble. Its the civilian people who pay the price. WSWS: They want to fund these wars by cutting public education, Social Security, Medicare and cutting the wages and benefits of workers. Inside the aerospace and defense industry factories, they have ruthless exploitation. Workers are beginning to resist being forced to pay for these endless wars. The Boeing strike has halted the production and shipment of tankers to refuel Israeli fighter jets, and the Biden administration fears that the continuation of the strike will encourage 45,000 workers on the East Coast and Gulf ports to strike on October 1. That would disrupt military shipments to Israel and Ukraine and further disrupt corporate profits. John: That is good news. WSWS: In all these cases, the workers want to fight but are blocked by the trade union bureaucracies. UAW President Shawn Fain keeps referring to what the union did during World War II as the model for today. They banned strikes and worked with the companies and the government to transform the US economy for war, the so-called Arsenal of Democracy. To unite Boeing workers, port workers, autoworkers, it has to be done not from the top but from below, through building rank-and-file committees, workers organizing themselves. John: Right. I agree with every word you said. To the Boeing workers, I say dont give up. What you are doing right now is going to be for our future, our kids futures, for the generations to come. All workers have to be united. If we dont, it will be easy to break us. We have to stand together. We cant fight them if we are divided, and we wont be successful. But if we are united together, our voice is going to be louder, and the community in general will support us. And this is global, like you said. If the Italian Stellantis workers are going to strike, we should join them to save our jobs too. If something happens in Europe or South America, it is going to affect us here too. If people are losing their jobs anywhere, it affects us all. We are connected together and have to fight together. I know that its hard for workers, but we have to take the decision to determine our future. If we dont fight hard now and show them that we are together, they are going to take our jobs. If you have a job, you can pay your bills and take care of your family. If we dont strike to fight for all our jobs, its going to be, Hey, you know what, we dont need you anymore. That is not acceptable. We sacrifice. We leave our houses for 10 hours or more every day. We leave our families and work hard. Who makes the profits for the companies? The workers. We have to take the decision that we are going to protect our jobs. Otherwise, believe me, in the end they are going to close one plant after another and throw everybody in the streets. They dont care. Autoworkers: Join the fight against mass layoffs! Sign up to be contacted about getting involved in the Autoworkers Rank-and-file Committee Network by filling out the form below. HOUSTON (Reuters) -U.S. antitrust regulators will bar Hess CEO John Hess from taking a board seat as a condition of its go-ahead of oil producer Chevron's $53 billion purchase of Hess, people close to the matter said. The Federal Trade Commission's consent for the deal will not allow Hess to become a board member, the people said, without explaining why the ban was imposed. Chevron's proposed all-stock acquisition of Hess, first announced in October, was one of a string of multi-billion-dollar U.S. oil and gas industry deals that began with Exxon Mobil's purchase of Pioneer. In a crackdown on the megamergers, the FTC similarly barred Pioneer Natural Resources CEO Scott Sheffield from taking a seat on Exxon board as a condition of its approval earlier this year of their $60 billion merger. It was not immediately clear if Hess would be allowed to take another position at Chevron. He recently joined the board of financial firm Goldman Sachs. Neither Hess nor Chevron immediately replied to requests for comment. The FTC declined to comment. Hess and Chevron shares each fell 1% in midday trading. The expected go-ahead would leave Exxon's challenge to the Chevron-Hess deal as its final hurdle. Exxon and China's CNOOC Ltd have filed an arbitration case that could block the deal, claiming the merger is a ploy to gain Hess's lucrative Guyana assets. Hess owns 30% of Guyana's giant Stabroek offshore block, which has been the site of more than 30 oil and gas discoveries since 2015. Exxon, which is the operator of the block owns 45% and CNOOC owns 25%. Bloomberg News earlier reported the FTC would block Hess from taking a board seat on the combined company. In the Exxon merger, the FTC alleged that Sheffield had colluded with other U.S. oil firms and with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries "to keep production artificially low" and increase oil companies' profits. The FTC had pointed to meetings that shale and OPEC officials held over several years, including a series of private dinners at a Houston energy conference. (Reporting by Sourasis Bose and Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Anil, Krishna Chandra Eluri and Marguerita Choy) Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes address to the nation on Wednesday evening must serve as a warning to the working class. His Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) government will be a right-wing capitalist administration beholden to global capital and the Sri Lankan bourgeoisie. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addresses the nation, September 25, 2024 [Photo: Screenshot/Sri Lankan Presidenti's Media Division ] Dissanayake made clear that the first order of business will be to impose savage International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity. From start to finish, Dissanayakes speech was a nationalist diatribe that demanded all must work under the government in a disciplined society to build the nation. While claiming that the JVPs aim is to build a country where everyone can proudly say, We are Sri Lankan citizens, the speech was laced with Sinhala chauvinist appeals and pledges to uphold the unitary Sinhala-dominated capitalist state. Delivered against the background of giant national flags and an atmosphere of nationalistic Sinhala-Buddhist fervor, the speech was only broadcast in Sinhala, ignoring the more than 20 percent Tamil-speaking people across the country. Reassuring big business and international finance, Dissanayake emphasised his total commitment to debt repayments to foreign creditors and the IMFs austerity program. Achieving stability and confidence in the current economy is crucial. We plan to begin negotiations with the International Monetary Fund immediately and proceed with activities related to the extended credit facility, he declared. The next stage of the IMF program Dissanayake is committed to involves the mass privatisation of state-owned enterprises, the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the imposition of regressive tariffs and tax increases. Immediately following his election, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the islands most powerful business lobby group, congratulated Dissanayake with a ten-point slate of demands, including no disruption to IMF austerity. While the Colombo stock market and sovereign bond prices initially dipped on Monday, it rose again after Dissanayakes brief pro-business comments at the official poll declaration and his swearing-in ceremony on September 22 and 23 respectively. On Tuesday IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva wrote to Dissanayake stating: I look forward to deepening the mutually beneficial relationship between the IMF and Sri Lanka In his speech Dissanayake said it was necessary to dissolve parliament and hold national elections to implement his governments program. We require a parliament that accurately reflects the will of the people. The existing parliament does not represent that will, he claimed. But the will of the people is not the IMFs brutal social austerity measures. On the contrary, the millions of working people who voted for the JVP/NPP did so as part of the ongoing mass opposition to all the traditional parties of the political establishment that have imposed unprecedented social attacks. Months of mass protests and two general strikes in AprilJuly 2022 drove Gotabaya Rajapakse and his government from power. This movement has now voted out his replacement, Ranil Wickremesinghe and his administration. The real reason Dissanayake has called a snap election is to try and transform the initial groundswell of support for the JVP/NPP, which only had three MPs in the outgoing 225-member parliament, into a parliamentary majority before realisation sets in that the JVP is another political instrument of big business and international finance capital. Dissanayake and the JVP are desperately attempting to consolidate their power and move onto the next stage of IMF-dictated measures, which will involve suppressing the inevitable eruption of popular opposition by the working class. In a thinly veiled threat against political opponents, he declared, At this moment, I want to highlight the importance of engaging in politics with a collective focus on building our country. We are committed to providing that leadership Our doors are open to all who are genuinely and positively committed to the progress of our nation. In other words, Dissanayakes administration will not tolerate any dissent. These threats are directed against the tens of thousands of workers who protested and took strike action against the Wickremesinghe governments attacks. The JVP-controlled trade unions played a critical role in suppressing these struggles, telling workers that they should not strike but vote for Dissanayake and support the election of a JVP/NPP government which would ensure workers demands were granted. Dissanayakes reference to creating a law-abiding nation and fostering a disciplined society must be considered in this light. But what sort of laws is he referring to? Successive Sri Lankan governments have imposed a barrage of reactionary laws, including a new version of the prevention of terrorism act to detain opponents without charge and the Essential Public Services Act to punish striking workers with harsh prison sentences. Confronted with mass action against IMF austerity by the working class, Dissanayakes administration will not hesitate to use these repressive laws. But for all his declamations Dissanayakes administration has no popular support for the IMF measures it has promised to implement and faces deep skepticism, if not outright hostility amongst the Tamil masses. Almost at the very outset of his speech, Dissanayake, made a chilling declaration: We honour and remember the courageous men and women of previous generations who made sacrifices, some with their lives, for this victory. I see this victory and the prosperous nation we aim to build as a tribute to their legacy. This was a homage, not to the tens of thousands of rural youth killed by government security forces in two JVP-led armed uprisingsin 1971 and later in 198889. Rather it was a tribute to Rohana Wijeweera and other senior JVP leaders who were summarily executed by the Sri Lankan state in 1989, after they had colluded with the prime minister and later President Ranasinghe Premadasa in a rebellion against any weakening of the unity Sinhala-dominated state. The JVP targeted hundreds of leftists and leaders of worker organisations, including members of the Revolutionary Communist League, the forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party, in these fascistic attacks. The JVP has never repudiated its murderous attacks or the extreme Sinhalese chauvinism that motivated them, and, beginning with Wijeweera, routinely celebrates those who ordered them. Dissanayake cynically declared that his administration was launching a permanent program to build a unified Sri Lankan nation that respects diversity, fully ending the era of division based on race, religion, class, and caste. This claim is bogus. Translated into plain language this will mean the suppression of the rights of Tamils and other minorities. While appealing for votes in the majority Tamil north earlier this month, Dissanayake made a veiled threat, warning that the Tamils should not be seen as blocking the will of the people in the south for a new government. Please think, he said, what type of mentality could develop among southern people if you become opponents of change when people have lined up for change in the south. Would you like Jaffna [the principal city in the North] to be branded as opponents of that change? Do you want the north to be branded? In one of his first decisions as president, Dissanayake appointed an accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha as the new secretary of defence. He takes over the post from another accused war criminal Kamal Gunaratne. Thuyacontha was Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that fired almost 20,000 rockets, killing hundreds of Tamils in Puthukkudiyiruppu, an urban area, in April 2009. Dissanayakes demagogic assertions that his government is poised to build the nation are a pledge to big business that his administration will do whatever is necessary to squeeze out of the working class and the oppressed the necessary funds to pay international finance capital. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) warns the working class that the JVP/NPP is rapidly preparing to crush the ensuing struggles that will erupt against the new regimes imposition of the IMF demands. We call on workers to make the necessary political and organisational preparations to fight this onslaught. This means taking this fight into your own hands by building action committees of workers in every factory, workplace and in the plantations and neighborhoods, as well as among the rural poor, independent of all capitalist parties and union bureaucracies. What is required is the development of a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, based on democratically elected representatives of these action committees. Such a congress must discuss and fight for an independent political movement of the working class and an internationalist perspective, which rallies the rural poor, to overthrow capitalist rule and establishes a workers and peasants government to implement a socialist program. A CPKC rail yard is seen Wednesday, August 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. [AP Photo/Charlie Riedel] The Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) union has endorsed fascist senator from Missouri Josh Hawley for reelection this month. RealClearPolitics reported that SMART legislative director Greg Hynes sent a letter to Hawley on September 13 informing the senator of the unions support. Hawley is currently running for his second term as senator against Democrat Lucas Kunce. SMART also earlier endorsed Joe Biden, and then his replacement Kamala Harris, in the presidential election. SMART justified their endorsement of Hawley on the grounds of his dedication to enhancing rail safety and protecting railroad employees. The SMART bureaucracy, which controls over 200,000 members, is only the latest to throw in its lot with fascism. Earlier this month, the Teamsters announced they would not formally endorse a presidential candidate, a move universally acknowledged as de-facto endorsement of Trump. The move came after months of courtship between Teamsters General President Sean OBrien and Trump, culminating in OBriens appearance at the Republican National Convention. Hawley praised OBriens ultranationalist speech at the RNC in a fascistic op-ed blending criticism of corporations for outsourcing jobs overseas and for pushing the religion of the trans flag. OBrien, in turn, voiced his support for Hawleys statement on X/Twitter. In justifying its endorsement, SMART referenced Hawleys support for a federal bill that would have required railroad companies to maintain two-person crews. Union statements on Hawley in the past have also praised him for supporting legislation to provide railroaders with seven days of paid sick leave, while failing to note that the bill was part of a strike-breaking operation from Republicans and Democrats to prevent a national rail strike in late 2022. This justification is false to the core. The SMART bureaucracy has spent decades helping impose these exact same concessions. It has just released an agreement with BNSF to impose one-person crews. SMART, along with the other major rail unions, blocked a national strike in 2022 until it was pre-emptively banned by President Biden and Congress. The reality is that SMART has endorsed Hawley not in spite of, but because of his fascist, America-First politics. Hawleys politics Hawley is a leading figure in the Republican fascist right. He was a leading co-conspirator in Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election on January 6, 2021, has routinely attacked LGBTQ and trans people, opposes the right to abortion and is a supporter of Trumps vicious attacks on immigrants. Senator Josh Hawley raises his fist in support of insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol on January 6 [Photo: January 6 Committee] While supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza, he has used antisemitic rhetoric, criticizing what he called cosmopolitan elites for abandoning the American middle in the interests of a powerful upper class and their cosmopolitan priorities. The term cosmopolitan elites was used by the Nazis as an antisemitic code word for Jews. Hawleys remarks, given during a speech in 2019 at the National Conservatism Conference, laid out his fascistic views. He decried that The cosmopolitan elite look down on the common affections that once bound this nation together: things like place and national feeling and religious faith. They regard our inherited traditions as oppressive and our shared institutionslike family and neighborhood and churchas backwards. This conception of shared institutions returned in his response to OBriens speech. There was a time, he wrote, when Republicans knew that American strength depends squarely on American workersand their way of life: family, neighborhood, church, union hall. Right-wing populism With the Republican Party, Hawleys role in recent months has been to help craft a right-wing populist appeal, building up alliances in particular with sections of the union apparatus. Once a supporter of right-to-work and an opponent of raising the minimum wage, Hawley has over recent years embraced a number of reformist policies, including raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour for large corporations, capping insulin prices at $35, reversing the Citizens United ruling that allowed unlimited corporate money into elections, and rail safety legislation. Hawley has even gone so far as to call himself the most pro-labor Republican and has criticized members of his own party who supported corporate tax cuts and low barriers for corporate trade then watched those same corporations ship American jobs overseas, saying the Republicans should start prioritizing the working man. He even visited the picket lines of striking auto workers last fall. He has also made certain criticisms of the unpopular war in Ukraine, opposed bringing Ukraine into NATO, voted against bringing Finland and Sweden into NATO, and voiced opposition to US military operations in the Middle East. However, Hawley opposes the war in Ukraine mainly because he believes these resources would be better put to use in the upcoming war against China. American might is not limitless, said Hawley at the Center for a New American Security, nor are the lives and treasure of the American people. Now we must make hard choices and articulate clear priorities in order to meet the challenge before us. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken opposing plans to bring Ukraine into NATO just prior to the outbreak of war, Hawley argued that Ukrainian membership would not serve US interests. Instead, he argued, China could harness that regions resources to further propel its rise, while restricting U.S. access to many of the worlds most important markets. The bureaucracy and fascism As the WSWS earlier observed when OBrien spoke at the RNC, the union apparatus is a natural base of support for fascism. Because it is completely integrated with management, dependent on its ties with the state, the bureaucracy is deeply hostile to the working class. We continued: The unions are run as bureaucratic dictatorships, never hesitating to resort to fraud and even violence to overcome resistance from the rank and file. Politically, the bureaucracy is dominated by nationalism and anticommunism, which expresses its mortal fear of the revolutionary threat posed by the working class. The bureaucracy finds itself in agreement with the words of Mussolini: Fascism is likewise opposed to trade unionism as a class weapon. But when brought within the orbit of the State, Fascism recognizes the real needs which gave rise to ... trade unionism. Bureaucrats like OBrien and at SMART are treading the same path of Edmondo Rossoni, the Italian trade union leader who embraced fascism and became Mussolinis leader of the General Confederation of Fascist Syndical Corporations, the fascist-run trade unions. However, the Democratic Party, indifferent to and hostile to the needs of the working class and obsessed with the war in Ukraine, bears their own responsibility for this development. Bidens own trade union policy is aimed at using the apparatus to prepare the home front for war, summed up in his recent statement that the AFL-CIO is his domestic NATO. While Biden is not a fascist, this corporatist alliance bears more than a passing similarity with the policies under Mussolini. Their joining hands with Republicans in slandering all opposition to the Gaza genocide as antisemitic creates the conditions where genuine antisemites like Hawley, Trump and others can operate with virtual impunity. The turn of a section of the bureaucracy toward fascism is a serious warning. It raises the urgent necessity of an independent movement of the rank-and-file against the bureaucracy. This parasitic layer must be smashed, and power returned to the workers on the shop floor. Two years ago, railroad workers rebelled against the sellouts by the SMART apparatus and those of the other rail unions, organizing the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee to push for a national strike and to prepare workers for government intervention by Biden and Congress. The work of this committee must continue, directed against not only the railroads but against the entire rotten corporate political system. The RWRFC is part of a global movement, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, which includes striking Boeing workers, autoworkers, UPS workers and others. Only by leveraging the independent power of the working class can the danger of dictatorship and war be stopped. French police shot and killed two men in New Caledonia on September 19, further stoking tensions with pro-independence groups days ahead of the September 24 public holiday which marks Frances annexation of the Pacific archipelago in 1853. Police outside central police station in Noumea, New Caledonia, May 23, 2024 [AP Photo] The shootings bring the number of deaths to 13 since unrest erupted in May over the French governments changes to voting laws that extended the franchise to recent migrants. Indigenous Kanaks feared the move will further marginalise them politically as they face worsening economic and social conditions. The men were killed in a confrontation between French gendarmerie and Kanak protesters in the village of Saint Louis, a centre of the independence movement near the capital Noumea. The pro-independence Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) condemned the barbaric and humiliating methods used by police that resulted in summary execution and called for an independent investigation. The four-party FLNKS, which is part of the colonys political establishment, moved to defuse anger among the Kanak population. It issued a statement calling on the entire population not to give in to violence, despite their pain and facing provocations. Today, more than ever, peace and justice must guide our actions, with a view to preserving the stability of our country. Public prosecutor Yves Dupas said the police operation using armoured vehicles was to arrest suspects for the attempted murder of officers and armed robbery, with nearly 300 shots noted in recent months. The deceased were the subject of a search warrant among a total of 13 persons implicated, sought and located in the Saint Louis tribe, he said. Dupas claimed police came under fire from up to five people and had responded. Their first shot hit a man, aged 30, positioned as a lone gunman, in the right side of the abdomen, he said. The second shot hit a man, aged 29, in the chest. One died at the scene, while the other died at a local hospital. France is carrying out brutal military operations to maintain their colonial occupation against fierce resistance. French military units have previously deployed to Afghanistan, Kosovo, Cote dIvoire and the Indian Ocean dependency of Mayotte. Saint Louis itself has a long colonial history. After Kanak revolts in 1878, people fled to the area to escape military attacks, where their descendants still live. The crackdown had claimed its 10th victim on July 10 in an exchange of gunfire with militants holed up in a church in Saint Louis. The authorities blamed the victim, the nephew of prominent pro-independence politician and local Congress chairman Roch Wamytan, saying he had shot at the gendarmes, who then returned fire. The uprising is not subsiding. RNZ Pacific reported on September 10 that the Saint Denis Church of Balade, in Pouebo, on the northern tip of the main island of Grande Terre, had been destroyed by fire. The arson attack, the sixth in recent months, was symbolic: it was the first Catholic church, established ten years before France took formal possession of the colony. With the Saint Louis stronghold still firmly in the hands of armed militants, security forces constructed a concrete wall along the provincial road beside the village, cutting off the tribe. French police then began their operations the week before the fatal confrontation. Islands Business correspondent Nic Maclellan reported on X/Twitter that the gendarmes used tear gas during clashes. Speaking with La Voix du Caillou, French High Commissioner Louis Le France claimed the security situation had been much calmer for a month. He was forced to admit: In Noumea, we have recurring problems with the young who live in social housing and squats. Authorities have maintained a nightly curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., restricted alcohol sales, banned the transport of fuel and possession of firearms. Security was beefed up ahead of the public holiday with nearly 7,000 French troops and gendarmes now entrenched in the colony. Le Franc told local media: This has never been seen before, even during the toughest times of the events in 1984 and 1988we have never had this. He was referring to a Kanak revolt in the 1980s that only ended with the 1998 power-sharing Noumea Accord promising a series of independence referenda. The stalemate is likely to be exacerbated by French President Emmanuel Macrons move to install a far-right government in Paris following the July snap election. Prime Minister Michel Barnier has previously sided with pro-France Loyalists in the territory, who promptly applauded his appointment. During the election, fascistic Rassemblement National (RN) leader Marine Le Pen, who demands that Barnier accommodate the RN platform, bluntly declared that New Caledonia was French and would not see independence for 30 or 40 years. Macron has promised talks with New Caledonias politicians to restore dialogue to resolve the crisis and the territorys long-term future. Since the French National Assemblys dissolution in June and the subsequent general election, the Constitutional bill on New Caledonias electoral roll has been in limbo, with Macron declaring it was suspended, but not withdrawn. Indicating an ongoing repressive stance in the colony, the newly-appointed overseas minister is Francois Noel Buffet, a senator from the right-wing Les Republicains, which received just 7.25 percent of the popular vote. Unlike his direct predecessors who were delegate ministers under the minister of home affairs, Buffet is a full minister directly under the prime ministers office. A bipartisan delegation from New Caledonia is currently in Paris meeting with officials. It includes New Caledonian MPs in the French Senate and the National Assembly, two each from the pro-independence and Loyalist factions, as well as caucus leaders in the territorys Congress, the Chair of the customary Senate, a representative of the local government, and the Chair of the Economic and Social Council. On the agenda is the Congress reconstruction plan totaling 4.1 billion over five years, which leaders say is needed to rebuild New Caledonia. The estimate of material damage is 2.2 billion, over 800 businesses destroyed and 20,000 people who lost their jobs. Even if such payments eventuate, they will do nothing to address the grinding poverty, unemployment and social alienation that is the root cause of the rebellion. The crisis has now produced sharp shifts in the colonys political situation. In a surprise vote in late August, pro-independence Congress President Wamytan was replaced by Veylma Falaeo from the Eveil Oceanien (EO, Oceania Awakening) party. EO with only three members in Congress previously provided a majority for the pro-independence faction. But Falaeo won the support of the Loyalists to shift the paper-thin majority in their favour. EOs base is in the community from the neighbouring French territory of Wallis and Futuna, and ostensibly promotes a middle way between the contesting blocs. Following Falaeos victory the Loyalist parties declared their joy at the ending of Wamytans five-year presidency. The FLNKS is meanwhile embroiled in internal crisis. A congress called on the weekend of 31 August saw two of the four constituent partiesthe moderate Kanak Liberation Party (PALIKA) and Melanesian Progressive Union (UPM)refuse to attend. Splitting the organization in two, they said the priority for them was for violence to cease and all roadblocks to be lifted for normalcy to be restored. The leaders of PALIKA and UPM had previously voiced their opposition to the stance of the so-called hard-line faction of the Union Caledonienne (UC) and Rassemblement Democratique Oceanien (RDO). Beginning last year UC mobilised a series of protests coordinated by its CCAT (Field Action Coordinating Cell), which escalated into the months-long riots. The UC announced its intention before the congress to nominate CCAT leader Christian Tein for the post of FLNKS president and to formally integrate CCAT as the recognised mobilisation tool for FLNKS. Tein, who the authorities accuse of being the ringleader of the uprising, has been arrested and deported to pre-trial detention in a French jail. Despite the FLNKS radical posturing, spokeswoman Laurie Humuni told media following the truncated congress that it was willing to resume talks on New Caledonias political future, but only with the French State and not with opposing anti-independence parties. Beijing has this week unveiled a raft of measures to boost its ailing economy, which it has targeted to grow five percent this year (ADEK BERRY) China on Friday opened up over a hundred billion dollars in cash for its ailing economy, capping a week in which its leadership embark on one of their biggest drives in years to kickstart growth. The move by the People's Bank of China comes a day after President Xi Jinping and other top officials admitted to "new problems" in the world's second-largest economy and outlined plans to get it back on track. Beijing this week unveiled a raft of measures to boost the economy, which it has targeted to grow five percent this year -- an objective analysts say is optimistic given the many headwinds it faces. On Friday, it cut the reserve requirement ratio, which dictates how much lenders must hold in reserve. Previewing the move on Tuesday, central bank chief Pan Gongsheng said the move will inject around a trillion yuan ($141.7 billion) in "long-term liquidity" into the financial markets. The bank also trimmed the seven-day reverse repo rate -- the short-term interest paid by the central bank on loans from commercial lenders -- from 1.7 percent to 1.5 percent. Growth in China is being dragged down by a prolonged debt crisis in the property sector, sluggish domestic consumption and high youth unemployment. The ruling Communist Party convened Thursday a meeting of its top body, the Politburo, to "analyse and study the current economic situation". "Some new situations and problems have emerged in the current running of the economy," the Xinhua news agency reported after the gathering. "We must view the current economic situation comprehensively, objectively and calmly, face difficulties squarely, (and) strengthen confidence," it added. The need for action was evident on the streets of Shanghai on Thursday, where one business owner said he was feeling the pinch. "Doing business is even tougher this year than it was during the pandemic," Chang Guiyong told AFP as he stood in his empty hole-in-the-wall eatery in the economic powerhouse. "People no longer want to consume, even white-collar workers are bringing lunchboxes to eat at the office." - 'Bazooka stimulus' - The raft of measures unveiled by Beijing this week, including key rate cuts and policies intended to encourage home purchases, have been welcomed by investors, with stocks in Shanghai and Hong Kong up around 10 percent this week. "Beijing seems determined to roll out its bazooka stimulus in rapid succession," analysts at Nomura said in a note. "Beijing's recognition of the situation of the economy should be valued by markets," they said. Story continues "We believe more supportive measures will be announced in the next couple of weeks and months by various ministries and local governments," they added. And a Bloomberg report Thursday said officials were considering pumping more than $140 billion into the country's large state-run banks, marking the first major capital injection of its kind since the 2008 global financial crisis. The measure -- aimed at giving the banks more room to lend to businesses -- would be implemented mainly through the issuance of "new special sovereign bonds", the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter. The details have not yet been finalised, it added. Markets in Hong Kong rallied more than three percent Friday alone. - 'Too small and too late' - While more work is needed if leaders are to achieve their five percent growth goal, the recent announcements could mean they are increasingly willing to take bolder actions, analysts say. "Beijing seems finally determined to roll out its bazooka stimulus in rapid succession," Ting Lu, Chief China Economist at Nomura, said in a note. "Beijing's recognition of the severe situation of the economy and lack of success in a piecemeal approach should be valued by markets," Lu added. But others warned that the country could still miss its growth goal. "The authorities will likely unveil additional fiscal policy supports in the next few months," ANZ research said in a note. "The package is sufficient for our 4.9 percent GDP forecast this year," they said. "However, it remains too small and too late for the ongoing property woes." bur-oho/hmn China has slapped Three Sheep Group with a 69 million yuan (US$9.8 million) penalty after the company founded by one of the country's top-earning influencers was accused of falsely marketing mainland-made mooncakes as "made in Hong Kong". The market regulator of Hefei, capital of eastern Anhui province, on Thursday ordered the influencer agency to suspend its live-commerce operations, which sell products online through live-streamed sessions. Three Sheep apologised for "falsely advertising and misleading consumers" and vowed to "conduct thorough rectifications within the company", according to a statement published on Thursday on the company's official account on Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Founded by Zhang Qingyang - better known by his online name Crazy Little Brother Yang, or Crazy Xiaoyangge - Three Sheep has nurtured some of China's biggest short-video stars. In 2022, Zhang became the first influencer in the country to reach 100 million followers on Douyin. He earned an estimated 3.12 billion yuan last year, surpassing his peers, according to a list published by the Guangdong E-commerce Summit Forum. Zhang Qingyang, known as Crazy Xiaoyangge, presents mooncakes during a live-streaming sale. Photo: Weibo/ alt=Zhang Qingyang, known as Crazy Xiaoyangge, presents mooncakes during a live-streaming sale. Photo: Weibo/> The penalty handed down this week included a fine, as well as an undisclosed sum of seized illegal income, authorities said. Controversies around Zhang and his agency erupted earlier this month after he started promoting "Hong Kong Meisun Mooncakes", calling it a "high-end brand" from Hong Kong dating back to more than two decades ago. It later emerged that the maker of those mooncakes, Guangzhou Meisun Food Company, was not registered in Hong Kong. Neither were its products ever sold in the city. Mooncakes are traditionally consumed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. To boost sales, Zhang invited famous Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang Chi-wai to jointly host a live session. Tsang was appointed representative of Three Sheep's Hong Kong subsidiary, which opened last month, according to various local media reports citing Zhang's previous videos. Tsang did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his current relationship with Three Sheep. Story continues Mooncakes are typically consumed during Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: LightRocket via Getty Images alt=Mooncakes are typically consumed during Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: LightRocket via Getty Images> Hefei's market regulator also took issue with claims by Three Sheep influencers that the grain-fed beef they sold were raw cuts, even though they were in fact seasoned. Three Sheep promised to refund customers who bought the mooncakes and beef in question, and provide additional compensation as much as three times the product prices, according to an automated response generated by the agency's Douyin account. This is the latest product quality scandal involving the fast-growing live-streaming e-commerce sector. In late 2020, live streamer Xin Youzhi, or Xinba, incurred a fine of 900,000 yuan for selling fake bird's nests made with sugar and water. Real bird's nests, an expensive Chinese delicacy, are formed from the saliva of swiftlets. In the aftermath, Xin was blocked from hosting live-streaming sessions on short-video platform Kuaishou Technology for two months. In a separate incident, police in the Hefei High-tech Industry Development Zone said a widely circulated audio clip, which purportedly showed Three Sheep co-founder Lu Qingwen admitting to engaging in improper relationships with several female employees, was fake and created with artificial intelligence. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. (Bloomberg) -- Beijing is stepping up pressure on Chinese companies to buy locally produced artificial intelligence chips instead of Nvidia Corp. products, part of the nations effort to expand its semiconductor industry and counter US sanctions. Most Read from Bloomberg Chinese regulators have been discouraging companies from purchasing Nvidias H20 chips, which are used to develop and run AI models, according to people familiar with the matter. The policy has taken the form of guidance rather than an outright ban, as Beijing wants to avoid handicapping its own AI startups and escalating tensions with the US, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. The move is designed to help domestic Chinese AI chipmakers gain more market share while preparing local tech companies for any potential additional US restrictions, the people said. The countrys leading makers of AI processors include Cambricon Technologies Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co. Earlier this year, Beijing also told local electric-vehicle makers to procure more of their supplies from local chipmakers, part of its campaign to reach self-sufficiency in critical technologies. Nvidia shares fell as much as 3.9% to $119.26 on Friday, extending an earlier decline, after Bloomberg reported the news. The stock has more than doubled this year. The US government banned Nvidia from selling its most advanced AI processors to Chinese customers in 2022, part of an attempt to limit Beijings technological advances. Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, California, modified subsequent versions of the chips so they could be sold under US Commerce Department regulations. The H20 line fits that criteria. In recent months, several Chinese regulators, including the powerful Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued so-called window guidance instructions without the force of law to reduce the use of Nvidia, the people said. The notice was aimed at encouraging companies to rely on domestic vendors like Huawei and Cambricon, they added. Beijing also amplified the message via a local trade group, according to another. At the same time, Chinese officials want local companies to build the best AI systems possible. If that means they need to buy some foreign semiconductors over domestic alternatives, Beijing will still tolerate that, according to people familiar with Chinas AI policy. Story continues Nvidia declined to comment. Chinas Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Information and Technology, and Cyberspace Administration didnt respond to faxed requests for comment. Separately, Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said Friday that hes doing his best to serve customers in China and stay within the requirements of US government restrictions. The first thing we have to do is comply with whatever policies and regulations that are being imposed, he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. And, meanwhile, do the best we can to compete in the markets that we serve. We have a lot of customers there that depend on us, and well do our best to support them. Nvidia, the worlds most valuable chipmaker, has seen sales soar as data center operators across the globe scramble to buy more of its processors. China continues to be part of that growth, though trade restrictions have taken a toll. In the July quarter, it got 12% of its revenue, or about $3.7 billion, from the country, including Hong Kong. That was up more than 30% from a year earlier. Our data center revenue in China grew sequentially in Q2 and is a significant contributor to our data center revenue, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said during an earnings call in August. As a percentage of total data center revenue, it remains below levels seen prior to the imposition of export controls. We continue to expect the China market to be very competitive going forward. Why World Powers Are Sparring Over Computer Chips: QuickTake Nvidia chips are the gold standard for companies looking to develop artificial intelligence services. The likes of Meta Platforms Inc., OpenAI and Alphabet Inc. have been racing to scoop up its most cutting-edge products so they can build leading AI models. Several Chinese tech companies, including ByteDance Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd., stockpiled Nvidias chips before the export controls took effect. Chinese chip designers and manufacturers, meanwhile, are working to introduce alternatives to Nvidia. Beijing has offered billions in subsidies to the semiconductor sector, but local AI chips remain well behind Nvidias fare. China does have a burgeoning AI sector, though, despite the US restrictions. ByteDance and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have been investing aggressively, while a flock of startups are vying for leadership. There are six so-called tigers in developing large language models, the key technology behind generative AI: 01.AI, Baichuan, Moonshot, MiniMax, Stepfun and Zhipu. Some of the companies are turning a blind eye to the Chinese decree to avoid H20 chips and rushing to buy more of them before an anticipated sanction from the US by the end of this year, one of the people said, though they are also buying homemade Huawei chips to please Beijing. --With assistance from John Liu, Jessica Sui, Zheng Wu, Ian King and Tyler Kendall. (Updates with Nvidia shares in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Delaware scores Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White for late fall. Here's what to know Delawareans will have the chance to see one of TV's biggest superstars in person when Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White brings his new book to the Wilmington Public Library on Sunday, Nov. 17. This ticketed event that opens with brunch. Jamar Rahming, director of the Wilmington Public Library, said the library is partnering with Milk and Honey, a Black-owned coffeehouse in Wilmington, owned by Quincy Miller, for this event. Who is Jaleel White? Jaleel White (center) attends Netflix's 'Hustle' world premiere with his wife Nicoletta Ruhl (left) and daughter Samaya at Regency Village Theatre on June 01, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Actor Jaleel White, 47, is best known for starring as the lovable ultra-nerd Steve Urkel in the hit TV sitcom "Family Matters" (1989-1998). Urkel was the annoying next-door neighbor to the Winslow family, and he usually got on their last nerve while also managing to steal their hearts with his tenderness. People.com reported that White married executive Nicoletta Ruhl at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on May 4. Ruhl and White first met during the pandemic when they worked out at UCLA's track. The outlet said this is White's first marriage and he has a 14-year-old daughter named Samaya. Who is Steve Urkel? The star of "Family Matters" was Steve Urkel, a genius who was in love with the girl next-door: Laura Winslow. Urkel famously wore signature suspenders, big librarian glasses and high-watered pants. Although the character's appearance was memorable, his voice is just as legendary. Urkel was famous for his nasally, high-pitched voice and catchphrase: "Did I do that?" He would normally say the expression after accidentally damaging or destroying something. Watch Mojo ranked Urkel No. 28 on its list of "Top 100 Greatest TV Characters of All Time." That ranking puts Urkel ahead of TV darlings like Kermit the Frog (No. 36), Stewie Griffin (No. 42) and Will Smith (No. 51). The No. 1 spot on the list was claimed by Walter White from "Breaking Bad." But the impressive thing is Urkel is only eight places behind SpongeBob SquarePants, who ranked No. 20. Flavor Flav heads to Delaware this fall: He'll star in Hip Hop Summit What is Jaleel White's new book about? The upcoming book "Growing Up Urkel" releases Nov. 19. This memoir takes readers on a journey through the highs and lows White has endured over his acting career. He also reminds fans that he auditioned for Family Matters at age 12 and he was supposed to be in only one episode. But he ended up stealing the show and transforming into a mega child star. "After nine years on the popular sitcom 'Family Matters,' Jaleel is 21, a UCLA undergrad, and adjusting to a world and industry that sees him as the nasally nerd in high water pants, suspenders and coke bottle glasses," according to the book's summary on Amazon. "In this wise and witty memoir, 'Growing Up Urkel' takes you on a memorable journey through the peaks, valleys, and plateaus of fame and fortune." Kevin Hart slams Del State University: He said this during 'Fight Night' promo? Hackers attack Delaware libraries: They want a ransom, here's what we know When is Jaleel White coming to Delaware? White is coming to the Wilmington Public Library (10 E. 10th St., Wilmington) on Sunday, Nov. 17. Rahming said more information about tickets and registration will be announced soon. Visit facebook.com/WilmingtonLibraryDE, wilmington.lib.de.us or call (302) 571-7400 (This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. Books by Jaleel White will not be available in time for a booksigning on Nov. 17. The upcoming book "Growing Up Urkel" will be released on Nov. 19. ) If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Jaleel White coming to Delaware in fall. How to see Steve Urkel actor Africa, colonialism, the United Nations, the 1961 assassination of Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nikita Khrushchev, Tesla, iPhones, and jazz music come together in director Johan Grimonprezs Soundtrack to a Coup dEtat. The documentary feels like a concert with academic footnotes and references or performance art. It also investigates the filmmakers native Belgiums colonial history and complicity in stifling Congolese independence. The Hollywood Reporters review of the film, which had its world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation, called it riveting and propulsive, noting that the kinetic doc connects jazz, decolonization and the birth of the United Nations. More from The Hollywood Reporter Kino Lorber has partnered with specialist streamer Kanopy on the U.S. release of the film, which hits cinemas on Nov. 1. The filmmaker will next be honored at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November. As his latest film screens at the San Sebastian Film Festival, which wraps up on Saturday, Grimonprez spoke to THR about how Soundtrack to a Coup dEtat came about, the dark colonial history it explores, using music as a protagonist, why Khrushchev has become a recurring character in his films, and why humanity needs a shift from a paradigm of profit to a paradigm of kinship. I grew up in Austria, so I know some of the history of the United Nations, which has one of its four major office sites in Vienna. But I was really curious how much you knew about the history of the Congo and Belgiums role there as a colonial power and beyond. How much did you learn about that in school? The Congo was always called lempire du silence, the Empire of Silence. So in essence, we didnt hear much about it, especially the things that are talked about in the film, because thats a black page of our own history here in Belgium. We never learned about that. Even today, well, we have a Lumumba Square here in Brussels Im very close to it. Actually, all the avenues are built with rubber money, so you have to rename them all. In school, we didnt learn about this, definitely not about the murder and the complicity of my country. Is that why you wanted to make this movie? And am I right to assume that you do not see the film as solely a Belgian story but also a universal story, similar to your previous film Shadow World, which was an investigation into the multi-billion dollar international arms trade? Belgium is a small country. We have NATO, which you can actually call [U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturer] Lockheed [Martin] because its the same thing. They sell F-35s to all the NATO countries. But Belgium was not so much part of Shadow World, and I found it necessary to go back and dig into the history of my own country. Belgium really had a big impact at the beginning of the 60s when that [African] independence movement came about and the Global South was steering towards non-alignments. The way that was smothered was ground zero of how the West would deal with this independence and non-aligned movement was actually what happened in the Congo, the overthrow and the murder of Patrice Lumumba. That was just before the UN [General Assemby], and there was so much linked. I didnt know that was when [Soviet Communist leader] Nikita Khrushchev slammed his shoe [banging his UN delegate table with it]. Khrushchev has been very much prominent in my previous films, like in Double Take [which combines documentary and fictional elements to tell the story of a fictionalized version of Alfred Hitchcock], where hes functioning as a Hitchcock doppelganger. I did not know that that was because of the history of Belgium, our colonial history. So all these things are sort of intertwined. He had also invited all world leaders to a dialog about decolonization and demilitarization, and not to make Khrushchev into a saint but its interesting to hear him. Like Hitchcock said: The more you make your villain interesting, and the more handsome and more peculiar and strong character, the more the hero has to work. So I think hearing the story from the point of view of the villain is always more interesting. The music is so integrated into the movie. Talk a little bit about how you came up with the idea to merge the jazz element with the bigger world affairs story here. Well, yeah, the music is also a historical agent. Sifting through all the research and the archives, I knew that Louis Armstrong headed to the Congo twice. He did it during the third week of October and the third week of November 1960. And its exactly those moments. Its the moment that Patrice Lumumba was put in exile in his own country and his own house. On Sept. 14, [Army Colonel Joseph] Mobutu fires the whole parliament, and one week later is the shoe-banging talk. And just weeks later is the moment where Louis Armstrong arrived in the Congo because they had that program. It was the United States Information Agency sending musicians abroad, specifically a lot of Black jazz musicians, like Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone. Tracing what was going on with those jazz tours: When Louis Armstrong arrived in the Congo, a plot was being planned by the CIA to overthrow the government. When Duke Ellington arrived in Baghdad in 1963 this is not part of the film, but the same night of his concert there was a coup in the palace in Baghdad. So I was tracing the political parallel story of whats going on with those jazz ambassadors who were always sent to the trouble spots. Its like what the tour organizer says of the Dizzy Gillespie tour [in the film]: We were sent as the Black kamikaze band. Not everyone seemed to be happy about this all the time, right? But I liked that comparison That doesnt mean that theyre passive agents, right? So, for example, Louis Armstrong refused to go play for an Apartheid audience in South Africa. Or he would change his text. In the song Black & Blue? at one point he says, Im white inside. He changed the text to I am right inside, which is very subtle, but its a big difference in meaning. So they were used as a propaganda tool. But that doesnt mean that they were actually reduced to just being passive agents. Theres very much agency. They also went around the world. I also found in the Belgian archives this concert by the Max Roach Quartet, where Abbey Lincoln is screaming her head off. That album, We Insist!, was broadcast in its entirety on Belgian television in 1964. But 1964 is also the moment of the genocide. So this is the flip side again you have that wonderful concert on Belgian television where we were all glued to the television set watching jazz, but at the same time, in all silence, the genocide is happening in Congo. It was also Abbey Lincoln, together with Maya Angelou, who initiated that protest when Adlai Stevenson, the then-U.S. ambassador, announced to his colleagues that Patrice Lumumba had been murdered. So, Lincoln and 60 other protesters stand up and start screaming in the Security Council. And again, its musicians who initiated that protest. So for me, the music is very much a protagonist. Have you ever seen music used in a film in a similar way? Sort of. At IDFA, Im the guest of honor, and Im going to present my top 100 films. I joke about it because its not going to be top 10, as they announced. Its going to be the top 100. And theres a [Jean-Luc] Godard film, Sympathy for the Devil. Its Godard filming in the studio with the Rolling Stones, filming how they come to that song. And all over the film, hes juxtaposing this with political images of that era. And so its quite interesting. I thought the music was really crucial. You write in the editing and in the research [process]. You stumble onto moments that you cannot not include in the film, like the [Abbey Lincoln] scream. Also, the civil rights movement was also very much taking its inspiration from the independence movement. And this went back and forth, of course. Malcolm X makes that relationship very clear. The same is true for the music. The rumba, for example, comes actually from the transatlantic crossing of the slaves to Cuba. And theres a huge Congolese heritage in Cuba that became the conga that led to the cha-cha-cha that then came back. So its a back-and-forth. I thought that was interesting to explore. So if you listen well, just like elephants do every other hour, they stretch their ears, and they listen where theyre going to go next if you listen well to the archives and to the history, you cannot not include that. It was something that we had to take on. Soundtrack to a Coup dEtat producer Remi Grellety at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Your film runs for 150 minutes. It doesnt feel like it, but did you ever think about the length? Actually, a lot of people say: Wow, this was two hours and a half? It was over before we noticed. Its funny with music. If you add music, it accelerates things. You get really drawn in, it really gives an empathic feeling. Thats the emotional side to the film. While politics is all about divide-and-conquer, its the music that brings people together. But I think it also brings the audience together in the viewing of the film. It really takes you through. Its not only a historical agent, but its also an emotional agent that actually gives drama to the historical arc of what that film is about. So its like a two-and-a-half-hour music clip that actually gives you a lot of history at the same time, told through a true story, but as a PDF where you have all the academic notes and even pages of references in the film. Theres all these genres that are clashing. We really wanted to make it that thriller story. It starts off as sort of a comedy, and it leads to where the thriller element sinks in, and then the music takes you all the way to the end where you cannot not scream. But the thriller element was first. Lets make the story of the thriller as clear as possible. Who are the players? The mining industry, the big Western powers, the United Nations, the whole rift between East and West, the independence movement, the musicians. So it was trying to look for what makes this movie, what story makes the movie go forward and really stick to that. Do you think that much has changed in the world since 1960 and 1961 which the film focuses on? Well, it was ground zero, and what was set in motion then is very much whats going on today. Thats why the iPhone and Tesla commercials are actually in the film. And there are more references, such as the 80,000-plus women that are raped. Rape is used as a weapon of war. So all of that is whats going on today, and it has not changed at all if its not worse. Its still the mining industry that holds the strings. Its the same players. If you see Dennis Mukweges [2018] Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, I get tears in my eyes when he says whats still going on. If you put a map of the East Congo, a map of where the mining is and the statistics of how many women are raped, its one on one a complete correlation. So we wanted to allude to that at the very end of the film where [Belgian-Congolese writer] In Koli Jean Bofane says the minerals of all wars in the 20th century and the war in space all come from the Congo, but not even one Congolese is benefiting from it, except for the kleptocracy running the country. And its genocide after genocide after genocide. What will your next film focus on? It seems like every six, seven years, I get another film made. The previous one was on the defense industry. This one was digging into our own backyard and the black page in the history of my own country. But the film that Id love to explore next is what I call Tea With E.T. You could call it a multi-species parliament. Its about the unknown other, or the othering that is happening and our connection to the world. Its about trying to define consciousness. I also teach and lecture, and often my films grow out of that practice. I feel whats really at stake today, and that we have not defined, is consciousness and how our materialist vision of the world is completely obsolete. Matter has never been defined, and were all in relation to one another. And matter has made subject and object into a rift where we all feel separated from one another, and we feel separated from nature. And nature is called nature because then we can exploit it. But if you pollute the river, you pollute yourself. So its conceived as a bigger question: What is consciousness? Its a point of departure, but I dont know yet where it is going to head. Anything else youd like to share? The new territory that Im trying to explore thats so crucial is to get away from the paradigm of profit to the paradigm of connection, to the paradigm of kinship. Thats something that really keeps me busy. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke to Killer Heat stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley about the murder mystery movie. The duo discussed their characters, doing dialogue in Greek, and more. Directed by Phillipe Lacote, it is now streaming on Prime Video. A thrilling, contemporary mystery in classic noir style, Killer Heat follows private eye Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an American expat in Greece, hired to investigate the supposed accidental death of young shipping magnate Leo Vardakis (Richard Madden) on the island of Crete. The victims sister-in-law (Shailene Woodley) doesnt believe the official police report. But what exactly happened to Leo, and why? Despite the sun-drenched beauty of its exotic Mediterranean locale, Nick finds darkness at every turn: where the rich and powerful Vardakis family rule like gods, where jealousies run deep, and anyone could be a suspect, says the synopsis. Tyler Treese: Joseph, Killer Heat is based on this great short story and is the title tale of Jealousy Man. In the source text and in the movie, its this exploration of jealousy, not just in the mystery, but also within your character. What about that element really drew you in and made you wanna be in this project? Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Yeah. Those are my favorite detective movies, and it is when the mystery that the detective is solving runs parallel somehow to a mystery within the detective, him or herself. Thats when I feel like these stories can sort of transcend the genre and become about something more than just a murder. Something that we can all relate to whether or not were in the middle of a a murder case. This is a story about jealousy, and jealousy is a demon that human beings all over the world. No matter what country you go to or what time in history, everybody is a universal demon. Theres a story about someone whos succumbed to that monster in their head, telling them that theyre not good enough, that someone else is better, and turning it into a murder mystery. Yeah. I love how this movie ends and how it all comes together thematically. Shailene, I loved your performance in Killer Heat. Your character marries into this rich family, and theres just such a fun dynamic. Theyre all kind of miserable and dysfunctional. How is it acting out those toxic family moments in the film? Its very fun to see. Shailene Woodley: Yeah, I mean, it was fun. I think fun is the perfect word. I had a blast making this movie. Penelope, I felt for her a lot. It was really devastating to be in a situation that you feel stuck in, that you feel like you cant escape. We kind of see where that emotional stasis leads her and the extremes and the journey that she goes on to kind of understand how she can find an outlet to relieve herself of toxicity. But I think its a common thing that a lot of people experience not knowing how to leave a relationship, especially when there is a massive family dynamic around that kind of concretes this bond in a way that doesnt necessarily always lead from a place of love. Joseph, how was it brushing up on your Greek for Killer Heat? You sounded good to me. I dont know Greek, so Im not really the best judge, but you fooled me as you sounded great. Gordon-Levitt: Well, one thing Ive developed as an actor is a strong short-term memory. I can remember things for a few hours while Im shooting them, and unfortunately, I learned a whole bunch of Greek for this movie and I dont remember almost any of it. But we shot in Greece, so I was surrounded by people who could help me. When I was learning those Greek lines, I would just turn to the production assistant or whoever and say like, Will you say this again for me? Because I wanted to hear them say it with a proper accent. That made it fun. The post Killer Heat Interview: Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Shailene Woodley Talk Murder Mystery appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. The second installment of NOW PLAYING JAPAN, a conference and networking event held by Billboard Japan and Luminate on domestic and international music consumption trends and marketing, was held at Billboard Live Tokyo on Sept. 18. At this event, representatives from Billboard JAPAN and Luminate gave presentations on the latest music consumption trends in Japan and abroad. In addition, Tatsuya Hori of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry appeared as a guest speaker. Using the recently released Report on the Music Industrys Business Model for a New Era as a basis, Hori explained the current status and challenges for Japanese artists to expand overseas. The following is a report on the event. More from Billboard Presentation 1: Scott Ryan (Luminate) Scott Ryan, Executive Vice President of Luminate, took the stage first to introduce the latest trends in music streaming: In the first half of 2024, global on-demand audio streaming increased 15.1% compared to the previous year, which is equivalent to approximately 300 billion new streams. Among countries in the APAC + ANZ, Japan has displayed a steady increase of more than 10% in streaming, while several countries in Southeast Asia have shown growth of 20-30%. He also touched on listening trends that vary by country, including preferred genres (in Japan, jazz, rock, and soundtrack are over indexing compared to other Asian countries), the #1 source of music discovery (streaming in Indonesia, SNS in the Philippines, and TV in Japan), and differences in engagement with foreign content (95% in the Philippines, 74% in Singapore, and 57% in Japan). He also explained a snapshot of Japanese Gen Z music listeners: 44% of Gen Z listeners encounter music via streaming, are 1.4 times more likely to listen to music shared by friends on SNS than Japanese music listeners as a whole, and 27% less likely to listen to music from overseas. Ryan concluded his presentation by giving three key points: Streaming numbers are increasing globally, but the way people enjoy new content differs from country to country, so it is necessary to devise marketing plans and approaches accordingly; The way people encounter new music differs by region and generation, so for effective targeting, it is important to have smart information; and Streaming is still on the rise, and there are opportunities for growth on a global scale across regions. Presentation 2: Helena Kosinski (Luminate) Helena Kosinski, Luminates Global Vice President, presented the challenges and new solutions for the industry in assigning key music data identifiers and metadata, including ISNI, ISRC and ISWC, with examples from Japan. While the assignment of music data identifiers is becoming more widespread in the industry, the importance of ISNI is not yet fully understood. In addition, there are cases where incorrect information is linked due to duplication of artist names and song titles, and where multiple identifiers are registered for the same song. Furthermore, songs having identifiers that are unknown to the rights holders is also an issue. As a result, there are many recordings that are not linked to the correct rights holders (lyricists, composers, etc.), and royalties are not being accurately distributed. In fact, it appears that 16.25% (approximately $120 million) of the royalties that were due to be paid by the MLC in 2022 have still not been distributed as of 2024. As a solution to these issues, Luminate acquired Quansic, a service that collects multiple identifiers and consolidates them in one place, in February 2024 to improve the quality of metadata. Kosinski spoke about the importance and benefits of having correct metadata, with an explanation of this service. For labels, the benefits of having ISNI are increased visibility and clarity of content on DSPs, increased promotional opportunities such as additions to official playlists (as songs with more complete metadata are preferred), and getting paid quickly and correctly. In a test case conducted by Luminate, the number of streams also increased by 6-18%. Benefits for DSPs through Quansic included improved search accuracy on the platform, support for artist names in other languages, and the ability to distinguish duplicate artists by adding more than twice as many new identifiers. For music publishers, the benefits include securing royalties from all the songs and recordings they manage, automatic recognition of new releases in their catalogs, and better predictability of future revenues. A test case for a publisher showed a 3-18% increase in streaming numbers. Kosinski concluded by giving metadata is hard and fix the problem before you lose royalties as key points, and urged a free evaluation with Luminate. Presentation 3: Tatsuya Hori (METI) Tatsuya Hori, Consulting Fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), gave a presentation on The Potential of the Japanese Music Market based on the Report on the Music Industrys Business Model for a New Era, which was released in July 2024 and attracted wide attention both within and outside the industry. The content industry, which includes music, is growing remarkably on a global scale. In Japan, overseas sales are comparable in scale to exports from the steel and semiconductor industries, and the high economic ripple effect has led to the recognition that this industry could become a key industry in Japan and drive economic growth. Based on this premise and the data used in the report, he indicated that the characteristics of the Japanese music industry are the diversity and accumulation of music. He also noted that, since streaming has become the center of the global music industry, overseas expansion and digitalization are two sides of the same coin, and that it is essential for the music business to respond quickly to the digitalization of the industry. He also stressed the importance of creating an environment that facilitates the activities of creators who are engaged in production and distribution on their own. Presentation 4: Seiji Isozaki (Billboard Japan) Seiji Isozaki of Billboard Japan, gave a presentation on current trends in the world of Japanese music based on the Global chart data for the first half of 2024. In particular, he pointed out that compared to the first half of 2023, the share of Japanese music is increasing in the U.S. and South Korea, and that the share of new releases at the top of the charts is rising in line with the attention paid to anime and game releases. He explained the importance of understanding the market structure of each country and the importance of increasing resolution in order to create hits in Asia & globally. In the U.S. and South Korea, Artists who increased the number of streams per day and increased their market share and Artists who increased the number of streams per day and increased their market share in the corresponding countries were respectively presented in comparison to the previous year. Names such as Azumi Takahashi, known for her singing in the Persona game series, PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE, and eill were mentioned. Text: Haruki Saito, Maiko Murata Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. At NYs beloved Fall for Dance, highlights come from as far as Ukraine and as close as a few blocks NEW YORK (AP) The eclectic annual Fall for Dance festival is a beloved tradition among dance fans, not least for its $30 tickets still quite a deal in New York, even if they began at $10 two decades ago. But the best thing about it is still the variety it brings to the stage, with 15 acts over 11 days this year from artists around the world. This years highlights have come from as far as the Kyiv Opera House in Ukraine, and as close as a few blocks away. You could call it a veritable United Nations of dance which is exactly how the president of New York City Center, Michael Rosenberg, described it this week, introducing the third of five programs. He didnt explicitly refer to the ongoing U.N General Assembly happening a bit further east, wreaking its usual traffic chaos. There was a happier chaos happening onstage, a mishmash of extremely different styles of dance. As usual, the audience seemed to love it all especially the more out-there elements, like dancers stalking the stage on stilts in the first program, courtesy of choreographer Andrea Miller and her Brooklyn-based Gallim company. Fall for Dance has always lured a mix of known names some of them trying out something new with names unknown to most of the crowd. Among the familiar faces this year so far have been much-loved ballet stars Tiler Peck of New York City Ballet and Herman Cornejo of American Ballet Theatre, both choreographing this time (with Cornejo dancing, too). The emotional highlight, though, was the two-night appearance of the National Ballet of Ukraine, a troupe that has managed to remain operating in Kyiv despite huge hardship. In its first New York performance in decades, the company opened the festival with Wartime Elegy, an evocative piece by one of the worlds leading choreographers, Alexei Ratmansky. Currently an artist in residence at New York City Ballet, Ratmansky has a deep connection to the material. Born in St. Petersburg to a Russian mother and a Ukrainian father, he grew up in Kyiv. When he premiered Wartime Elegy at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle in 2022, he unfurled and held aloft a Ukrainian flag during curtain calls. In program notes for Fall for Dance, he joins the dancers in honoring their colleagues who have fallen in warfare. The piece, featuring four male and four female dancers, both began and ended on somber tones. But in the middle, men whod been dressed in black suddenly appeared in folk costumes. The moody (and gorgeous) piano and strings music by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov shifted to spirited tunes, and the men leaped into folk-style dancing with abandon. The audience laughed along. But soon the dancers' bodies seemed to be collapsing, as the choreography again reflected pain, not joy. The curtain closed with one woman standing in arabesque, leg raised behind her, as if to say, quite like the troupe itself, that she wasn't going anywhere. Peck, who has been starting to build an impressive choreographic resume as she continues to lead NYCB as one of its top ballerinas, presented one of three pieces commissioned by the festival: Piano Songs, a spirited solo for ABT dancer Aaron Bell, to the music of Meredith Monk. The 81-year-old composer delighted the crowd by appearing for a curtain call. The highlight of another program was The Specter of the Rose, by Cornejo, the Argentine dancer who recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with ABT. It was a reimagining of the short Fokine ballet about a young girl who returns from a ball in her gown and dreams of the spirit of the rose, who materializes to dance with her. Here, it was modernized, with Cornejo bare-chested and in jeans, and his partner, sprite-like ABT ballerina Skylar Brandt, in little jean shorts. The dancing was everything youd hope from two classical dancers at the top of their game, with Cornejo showing that the years have not diminished his high-flying leaps and turns even in denim. The festival continues through Sunday. BEIJING (Reuters) -China's industrial profits swung back to a sharp contraction in August for their biggest decline this year, official data showed on Friday, adding to a recent spate of bleak business readings that point to mounting pressure on the economy. Profits plunged 17.8% in August from a year earlier following a 4.1% increase in July, while earnings rose at slower 0.5% pace in the first eight months compared with 3.6% growth in the January-July period, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The slump in August was due to factors such as "the lack of effective market demand, the greater impact of natural disasters such as high temperatures, heavy rains, and floods in some areas," said NBS statistician Wei Ning. A high statistical base last year also magnified the reversal, with falling profits in the automobile and equipment manufacturing industries weighing on the outcome, said Zhou Maohua, a macroeconomic researcher at China Everbright Bank. A sluggish run of data earlier this month has exacerbated worries about an anaemic recovery, prompting global brokerages to revise down their 2024 China growth forecasts to below the official target of around 5%. Highlighting weak domestic demand, a key bottleneck for the economy amid job security anxiety and worsening slumps in property sales and investment, domestic dairy giant Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co posted a 40% fall in second-quarter net profit. "Domestic consumer demand remains weak while the external environment is complex and changeable," said NBS' Wei. To pump some much-needed optimism into the economy, China's central bank announced on Tuesday the most aggressive stimulus since the pandemic, including a 50 basis point cut on banks' reserve requirements. But analysts warned more demand-side easing, especially fiscal help, would be vital to restore confidence. Chinese leaders on Thursday vowed "necessary fiscal spending" to hit this year's economic growth target. China plans to issue $284 bln of sovereign debt this year as part of a fresh fiscal stimulus, with part of the proceeds raised via special bonds used to provide a monthly allowance of $114 per child to all households with two or more children, excluding the first child, Reuters reported. State-owned firms saw profits down 1.3% in January-August, foreign firms recorded a 6.9% rise, while private-sector companies posted a 2.6% increase, a breakdown of NBS data showed. Industrial profit numbers cover firms with annual revenues of at least 20 million yuan ($2.83 million) from their main operations. (Reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Ryan Woo; Editing by Sam Holmes and Shri Navaratnam) Few foods have such universal appeal as pasta. Historians believe the Chinese were making pasta as far back as 3,500 years ago, and that it spread from Asia to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Now you can find pasta on pretty much every continent and a vast array of recipes, including many that have become iconic dishes. Some of the classic pasta dishes we know and love have intriguing creation stories that go above and beyond someone simply combining pasta with sauce and other tasty ingredients. Have you ever wondered how certain pastas got their name or how they came to be? For example, why does pasta alla puttanesca translate to "prostitute-style pasta" and what does the Stroganoff mean in beef Stroganoff? Is mac and cheese as all-American as we make it out to be, and was Italian wedding soup really created specifically for weddings? These are just a few of the questions we set out to answer. By delving into the origin stories of popular pasta dishes, we discovered some fascinating facts that might surprise you. Read more: Air Fryer Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner Carbonara Pasta carbonara - Everyday Clicks/Shutterstock Nothing says comfort food like a bowl of carbonara pasta. A classic carbonara recipe includes only a few ingredients: pasta, raw eggs, guanciale (cured pork cheek), Pecorino or Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. The dish is often connected to Rome and the Lazio region in Italy, but the true origins of carbonara are hotly debated. There are several theories as to how this creamy, cheesy, pork-flecked pasta dish came to be. According to La Cucina Italiana, carbonara comes from the Italian word "carbonaro," which translates to "charcoal burner." This has caused many to speculate that the dish may have been invented by Italian charcoal workers. Others say the dish was created by American soldiers stationed in Italy at the end of World War II. The story suggests that the soldiers combined their rations of bacon and eggs with Italian cheese and pasta. Some also say that pasta carbonara could be an adaptation of a dish called pasta cacio e uova, which contains pasta tossed with eggs, cheese, and lard. Puttanesca Spaghetti puttanesca - Jacek Chabraszewski/Shutterstock If you're looking for a quick and easy way to jazz up store-bought tomato sauce for a pasta dish, puttanesca is a good way to go. This vibrant dish consists of pasta tossed in a sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, olives, capers, chili flakes, and fresh herbs like parsley and oregano. Some versions also include anchovies. It's fragrant and packed with briney, spicy, umami flavors. Just know though that some believe this pasta dish has a racy past. Pasta puttanesca translates loosely to "in the style of prostitutes." Most historians agree that pasta alla puttanesca was born in Naples and became popular around the 1960s. This reason for the name is up for debate though. Some believe the dish was invented in brothels as a quick and easy meal the ladies could eat in between clients. Another theory is that a man named Sandro Petti created the dish for hungry friends who implored him to throw together any old "puttanata," which is an Italian curse word. According to Gambero Rossi, Petti changed the name to puttanesca to make it slightly less vulgar. Beef Stroganoff Beef Stroganoff - The Washington Post/Getty Images Meaty, creamy, and delicious, beef Stroganoff is the perfect meal for a cold winter night. A typical beef Stroganoff recipe includes strips of sauteed steak, onions, and mushrooms in a sour cream-based sauce. Fancy additions could include cognac, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. The stew-like Stroganoff is often served on mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles. It's a Russian dish that was named after the aristocratic Stroganoff family. However, people are divided on which Stroganoff family member the dish should be attributed to. The theory that many people find the most plausible is that beef Stroganoff was created for Count Alexander Grigorievich Stroganoff. During the 19th century, the Count would invite people to "open table" dinners at his home in Odessa. Many believe his chef created beef Stroganoff because it was easy to make, appealed to many palates, and was easy to portion out. Another popular story is that an elder Stroganoff had trouble chewing, so his chef created beef Stroganoff because it was easier on the Count's teeth than a larger, tougher piece of meat. Some also say that the dish has French influences thanks to the French chefs who worked for the Stroganoff family. Fettuccine Alfredo Fettuccine Alfredo - SYED IBAD RM/Shutterstock It's easy to see why fettuccine Alfredo is a staple at so many Italian restaurants. This creamy pasta dish is so simple to make, but utterly decadent. A classic fettuccine Alfredo features fresh fettuccine noodles tossed with butter and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Common variations include the addition of cream, parsley, veggies like mushrooms, and protein like chicken. Many will tell you though that there is only one place to get a truly authentic fettuccine Alfredo and that's at its birthplace in Rome. The creator of fettuccine Alfredo was a Roman chef named Alfredo Di Lelio. In 1914, his wife had just given birth to their son and was feeling weak. He wanted to give her something hearty but easy to eat, so he whipped up the buttery, cheesy pasta dish. She loved it so much that he decided to put it on the menu. When Hollywood stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks tried the dish while in Rome on holiday, they were so impressed that they spread the word about fettucine Alfredo and the dish took off in the States. You can try the original version at Ristorante Alfredo alla Scrofa where it was created or Il Vero Alfredo, which is owned by Di Lelio's family. Mac And Cheese Mac and cheese - Tatiana Bralnina/Shutterstock When you think of classic American comfort food dishes, macaroni and cheese probably comes to mind. You may have grown up eating boxed mac and cheese made with fluorescent orange powdered cheese. Or if you were lucky, perhaps someone in your family made it from scratch with real cheese, butter, and milk. It's a staple at potlucks, celebrations, and barbecues and a dish that invokes fond memories of childhood meals and family gatherings for many people. But how American is mac and cheese really? Italians have been combining pasta and cheese for centuries, so it may not be surprising that one of the first recipes for mac and cheese comes from a 13th-century Italian cookbook. How it made its way to America is the more interesting part. In 1784, Thomas Jefferson was appointed Minister to France and brought his enslaved chef James Hemings to Paris with him. While in Europe, Jefferson fell in love with macaroni and cheese, so Hemings learned to master the dish and brought the recipe back to the United States. When dried pasta and processed cheese entered the picture at the beginning of the 20th century, mac and cheese exploded in popularity. Strozzapreti Strozzapreti with seafood - Filefluid/Shutterstock Most chefs will tell you that there is a world of difference between machine and handmade pasta. Pasta made by hand tends to taste fresher and has a better texture for soaking up sauce. If you're looking for an easy type of pasta to make by hand, strozzapreti should be on your radar. All you need to do is roll out your pasta dough, cut it into strips, and twist up the strips. The twisted pasta is perfect for dousing with cream sauce, tossing with meat and veggies, or smothering with ragu. Based on the name, it can also be used for something more sinister. Strozzapreti, also called strangolapreti, translates to "priest choker" or "priest strangler." There are a few different theories as to why this pasta has such a dark name. One is that Catholic priests in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy were known for being greedy and tyrannical. In response, angry housewives created this twisted pasta and cursed it, wishing death on any priests who would eat it. Some say the twisting motion of making the pasta represents strangling the priests. Others say the pasta simply looks like the collars priests wear. Spaghetti And Meatballs Spaghetti and meatballs - Watch And Rewatch/Shutterstock For many people, there's nothing more Italian than spaghetti and meatballs. The dish has classic Italian components like pasta, tomato sauce, meat, and Parmesan cheese. However, you might be shocked to know that spaghetti and meatballs is just one of many "Italian" foods that aren't Italian at all. This rustic dish was actually created in the United States. While it's become a wildly popular dish worldwide, it's not very common in Italy except at some restaurants that cater to tourists. That's not to say that Italians don't eat meatballs or spaghetti with tomato sauce. They just don't typically combine the two. Meatballs are called polpette in Italy and they can be made with anything from beef to turkey and fish. They're often eaten on their own or with a salad on the side. Spaghetti and meatballs came about because the dish combined ingredients that Italian immigrants in 19th and 20th-century America had easy access to and were affordable, namely ground meat, canned tomato sauce, and dried pasta. Pasta Primavera Pasta primavera - Boblin/Getty Images Pasta primavera certainly sounds Italian. Primavera means "spring" in Italian, which is a nod to the spring vegetables in the dish like peas, zucchini, and asparagus. The vegetables are tossed with butter, cream, and cheese for a luscious sauce that pulls everything together. It's colorful, creamy, and has a nice crunch from the veggies and a smattering of pine nuts. One thing it is not though is Italian. Pasta primavera was created in Nova Scotia, Canada. Legend has it that chefs Sirrio Maccioni and Jean Vergnes of Le Cirque restaurant in New York were vacationing at an estate in Nova Scotia with food writers for the New York Times. One day they put together a meal with leftovers they found in the fridge. They called the dish spaghetti primavera and it was a hit. Vergnes didn't want to put the dish on the menu at Le Cirque, so Maccioni included it as a special. That created a huge buzz, and soon the dish was majorly trending. Craig Claiborne of the New York Times even called it, "By far, the most talked-about dish in Manhattan." Cacio E Pepe Cacio e pepe pasta - Tayyab Rajput Bhatti/Shutterstock Sometimes it's the simple dishes that have the biggest impact and endure the longest. That's the case with cacio e pepe, a supremely tasty pasta that utilizes just three ingredients. It's basically just thin pasta like spaghetti tossed with Pecorino cheese and black pepper. A splash of leftover pasta water helps give the pasta a creamy consistency. It's a classic Roman dish that's steeped in history. Cacio e pepe, which translates to "cheese and pepper," was a staple for ancient shepherds in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. When the shepherds were on the move herding livestock, they needed food that would last a long time, keep them warm, and give them a calorie boost. The answer was dried pasta, hard Pecorino cheese, and black pepper. La Cucina Italiana reported that the pasta later became a staple in Roman taverns because the dryness of the pasta encouraged people to drink more. There are many variations of cacio e pepe. Some people use bucatini or other types of long noodles. Some add olive oil or butter to the dish to prevent it from sticking together. However, purists will tell you that less is more when it comes to this time-tested favorite. Lasagna Lasagna on a plate - Everyday Clicks/Shutterstock It's easy to see why so many people love lasagna. This iconic Italian dish features tender pasta noodles layered with hearty meat sauce (or veggies for the non-meat eaters) and gooey cheese. Baked until bubbling and golden on top, the dish offers a beautiful mix of textures and flavors. Another thing people love about lasagna is how versatile it is. From its early days in Greece -- yes, you read that right -- it's undergone countless iterations and can still be prepared in a myriad of ways to this day. Like several of the pasta dishes on this list, lasagna didn't originate in the country you probably think it did. It was likely inspired by a Greek dish named laganon, which included sheets of pasta dough layered with other ingredients like fish. The ancient Romans brought this cooking technique back to Italy where it became lasagne. Depending on where you are in Italy, you'll find the dish made differently. For example, in Bologna, the dish typically includes bechamel sauce, while southern Italians often make it with cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella. With that in mind, you don't have to worry too much about making mistakes with lasagna. Instead, you can have fun with it and add your own unique twists. Italian Wedding Soup Italian wedding soup - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock With a name like Italian wedding soup, you might think the dish originated out of the desire to create a decadent meal worthy of a joyous celebration. The truth is the soup started out more as a rustic peasant meal than an elaborate matrimonial dish. The version that you may be familiar with in the United States with meatballs, pasta, spinach, Parmesan, and herbs in a herbaceous broth isn't exactly what the dish looked like when it was first created. And it wasn't named for a wedding ceremony between two people. The Italian name for the soup is minestra maritata, which translates to "married soup." However, the name pertains to the marriage of veggies and meat. According to America Domani, it originated in southern Italy around the 15th century and it was originally a winter dish made with tough vegetables that grow year-round and scraps of meat left over from the annual pig slaughter. The broth was typically made with pork bones boiled down. When Italian immigrants made their way to the United States, they adapted the dish with ingredients that were readily available like ground beef, spinach, and pasta. Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti bolognese - OlgaBombologna/Shutterstock When many people want a comforting and familiar Italian pasta, they turn to spaghetti bolognese. A traditional "spag bol" usually features diced onions, carrots, and celery simmered in a savory tomato sauce with ground beef or pork. Some people jazz it up with ingredients like bacon, oregano, and cream. It's a dish that is widely considered an Italian classic, but one that you won't find on many menus in Italy. That's because the sauce is actually called ragu alla Bolognese and it's rarely served with spaghetti. The first records of ragu alla Bolognese can be traced back to a man named Alberto Alvisi who was the chef for the Cardinal of Imola in the 18th century. While the dish has been tweaked over the centuries, many agree that certain elements make the dish a classic and must be adhered to. The Accademia Italiana della Cucina says it must be made with ground beef, pancetta, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and wine. You can enhance it with chicken livers or porcini mushrooms, but bacon and garlic are absolute nos. And many will tell you it must be served on fresh tagliatelle. Tortellini Tortellini in a bowl - Watch And Rewatch/Shutterstock Italy has hundreds of different types of pasta, but only one of them has an origin story that involves a peeping Tom and a goddess. The town of Castelfranco Emilia claims to be the birthplace of tortellini. Local legend says the dish was created after the goddess Venus passed through town and stayed at a local inn. The story goes that the owner of the inn spied on the goddess through the keyhole in the door and was immediately inspired to create a pasta dish shaped like the goddess' naval. Whether or not you believe the origin story of tortellini, the truth is this pasta dish can be pretty divine. Flat egg noodles are rolled out until thin, cut into squares, and topped with fillings that often include meat and cheese. The pasta is then folded around the fillings to make circular parcels. In the Emilia-Romagna region where tortellini has been eaten since the 12th century, the pasta is typically served in broth. However, you can also find tortellini fried in butter and served with sauce. There are even sweet tortellini filled with cream and dusted with sugar. Cincinnati Chili Cincinnati chili - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock To outsiders who aren't from Cincinnati, the concept of adding chili to pasta and topping it with beans, onions, and cheese might seem a bit odd. However, locals are fiercely proud of the dish and consider it as worthy of recognition as Chicago-style hot dogs or hoagies. Like those iconic regional dishes, Cincinnati chili can be traced back to enterprising immigrants who took familiar flavors from their homeland and adapted them to American tastes. In 1920, brothers John and Tom Kiradjieff left Macedonia for the United States. Within a few years, they opened the Empress Chili Parlor. At that time, chili parlors were becoming popular throughout the United States. However, the brothers didn't serve Texas-style chili. They put their own twists on the meaty dish, using Mediterranean spices like nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. Locals loved it and requested variations that are now commonplace such as adding chili on top of spaghetti and getting it "five-way" with spaghetti, chili, diced onions, kidney beans, and shredded cheddar cheese. Oyster crackers are optional, but highly recommended. Read the original article on Chowhound. 5 signs someone will be a nightmare to divorce, according to a divorce lawyer A divorce lawyer said the person you marry is exactly who you'll divorce. If someone in the equation is even slightly unreasonable, divorce can get ugly, he said. He shared signs a partner will be vindictive and petty should you ever decide to divorce. When you consider marrying your partner, it makes sense to also think about getting divorced. More importantly, who you marry can predict if your divorce will be expensive, messy, and drawn-out. "You divorce exactly the person you married," James J. Sexton, a divorce attorney in New York City, told Business Insider. "If you're married to someone who's spiteful, conflict-oriented, vengeful, or extremely obsessed with money, then yeah, that's what they're going to be like in the divorce." Not all the signs are that obvious, though, and it doesn't take much to make divorce proceedings unbearable. "All you need is one unreasonable person in this equation and you're going to have an ugly divorce," Sexton said, whether it's your partner or the lawyer they hired. From his experience as a divorce attorney, Sexton shared some signs a partner will be unpleasant in divorce court. They're comfortable taking big risks Finance guys have had a moment in the dating scene, but the same thing that makes them wealthy might hint at a rough divorce: their high tolerance to risk. Sexton said that the clients he's represented who work in finance tend to be "very comfortable" with taking risks because it's often a core feature of their jobs. They might continue to fight over a clause, especially if they have the money to do so. Sexton has talked some of these clients down from playing games. For example, Sexton said he has one client who's worth $800 million. Theoretically, he could drop $50,000 to argue over the exact start times of the kids' Thanksgiving visitation days, he said, knowing his spouse won't be able to hold out. "For me, I would eat turkey another day. I'm not going to spend $50,000 arguing over that," Sexton said. They're confrontational If you identify as a people-pleaser or conflict-avoidant person, dating someone who's more confrontational can feel amazing at first, Sexton said. "They can be your champion," he said, being the person to call the super or negotiate better deals on your wedding. "But just remember when you divorce that person, they're not conflict-avoidant," he added. He's had conflict-avoidant clients worry about asking for more and risk upsetting their partner. "I often say to clients: 'You can't divorce someone and have them not notice.'" For those who have especially confrontational exes (but who shy away from conflict themselves), he recommends getting an aggressive lawyer to balance the dynamic out. They're vindictive, especially about money Divorce quickly gets expensive. "You could easily spend $10,000 arguing over a bank account worth $8,000," Sexton said. In his experience, a frugal person might feel incentivized to wrap up the divorce quickly to save money on legal fees. But someone who "will fight over the littlest amount of money" is a red flag. Sexton gave the example of getting a small accidental charge on a restaurant bill. Pointing out the error in a polite way is fine, but if they're rude and demanding to the staff, it shows they're willing to escalate things if they feel entitled to something. In divorce court, this can turn into pettiness over assets, even if (ironically) they financially lose more by prolonging the fight. Sexton has had clients express dismay at how vindictive their exes are. "I'm like, 'Oh, really? Was he not a vindictive person during the marriage?'" Almost always, the ex had those traits all throughout the relationship. They often jump to conclusions Sexton said one of the most important qualities to look for in a partner is how reactive they are. "In a divorce, there are a lot of opportunities to be paranoid, to get upset at somebody, to take something the wrong way," he said, especially if you're communicating through counsel. For instance, moving money into a separate bank account can arouse suspicion in the partner. Someone who goes "from 0 to 100 quick" will increase tensions every time they perceive wrongdoing. They can't take accountability Sexton said that people who struggle to see their own faults such as labeling all their exes as bad people are probably not going to change in divorce court. These people tend to be emotionally immature and bad at handling conflict in general. "When they're cornered, do they attack? Do they concede the possibility of their own error?" he said. If they're unable to apologize or acknowledge their own flaws, it can translate to trouble in divorce when they paint their ex as the villain. More than likely, their lack of self-awareness and inability to be wrong might be why they were served divorce papers in the first place. Read the original article on Business Insider A waterpark in Switzerland hosts an annual dog swim day at its waterslide adventures every year, and it's so cute to see the happy pups! On September 19, 2024, Zurich Restaurants, Bars, Events & Parties (@spazurich) shared a video of their annual dog swim day, and it looks like everyone had the absolute best time. Take a look! In a really fun video shared on Instagram, we get to live vicariously through a bunch of dogs who are having the best day at the waterpark! Related: Water-Loving Golden Retriever Hilariously Changes His Tune When Bath Time Rolls Around "Yearly dog swimming in Zurich, Switzerland," the text on the video reads as we follow a Golden Retriever and a Labradoodle into the waterpark. When the two dogs and their parents enter the park, we see just how many puppies were at the yearly dog swimming and how much fun they all looked to be having. Dogs had fun swimming in the pools and playing with the toys in the water. We watch a brave dog go down the waterslide, and the pup looks like they had the absolute best time! There was one Goldendoodle who looked like they tried the slide a few times and it looked like they were having the best time. Some of the silly dogs tried to climb up the slide, and it was also fun to watch them look like baby deer who were just figuring out how their legs worked. Another pup was getting some great speed, and once they all figured out the best method to get down the slide with speed, it was so fun to watch. In the comments, it's clear that people enjoyed watching the dogs have so much fun. Also, this looks like an event that is absolutely worth the trip if you're not local. One wrote, "Best swim ever! I don't have a dog... But I think I would come only to see this happy dogs!" Another shared, "So bummed I missed it. My lab wouldve loved this." Someone added, "Cutest thing ever. So sad Kitsune (Shiba Inu) doesnt like water." One joked, "Probably the only time the pool doesnt smell like pee." Someone wrote, "Happiest dogs ever." Important Water Safety Reminders for Dog Parents It's so much fun to play at the waterpark, and even though many dogs know how to swim and seem very comfortable, there are some water safety reminders that dog parents should always brush up on if they're planning to take their dogs out for some water fun. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, if you plan to have your dog in the pool, you should ensure there are safe ways to get in and out of the water. "A pet-friendly ramp or steps for pools are also important," they note. "Teaching your pet to use these can help them exit the water easily and safely, reducing the risk of panic or drowning if they become tired or disoriented." You should always be close to your dog when they're in the water and start slowly, even if they're seasoned swimmers. "Before letting your pet dive in, assess their swimming skills in a controlled environment. Start in shallow water and gradually increase the depth as they become more comfortable," the association suggests. "Regardless of your pets swimming prowess, always watch them closely when they are in or near water, as even experienced swimmers can become tired or encounter difficulties." Alpine-style teams in Nepal and Pakistan are setting up their base camps, making plans, and even sharing some details. Facing Jannu Benjamin Vedrines, Leo Billon, and Nicolas Jean have spent their first two nights above base camp, under the immense north face of Jannu East. It is really impressive, Vedrines said. They eyed a possible route and spent quite a tough night in heavy snowfall at 6,100m. They then descended for acclimatization purposes and to take shelter from the storm hitting Nepal. The monsoon has not yet retreated and they expect over a meter of fresh snow on the mountain. It will take some time for the snow to fall, settle, and then clear as the mountain shakes off the excess in the form of avalanches. Meanwhile in Pakistan Adam Bielecki and Louis Rousseau have set up Base Camp at the end of an isolated valley in Hunza. To get there, they trekked for days through glacial terrain, without trails or even cairns to mark the way. The pair have two peaks in mind, and both look large and difficult. There is no reasonable and therefore safe route to the lower peak [but] on the higher one we have spotted several potential climbing lines. They all look difficult but realistic, Bieleki told his home team. We have an idea of how to get up, but we dont yet have an idea of how to get down safely. Bielecki and Rousseau are acclimatizing while trying to find a suitable descent line. Finally, there is also news that Dean Steadman, Cody Winckler, and August Franzen made it safely back to the base of Yashkuk Sar. They just completed a first ascent. The post Himalaya Alpine Style: News from Bielecki and Vedrines appeared first on Explorersweb. Mickey Drexler, the former CEO and chairman of J.Crew, not only has great taste in fashion but also has a keen eye for real estate. The retail legend commissioned the late French architect Thierry Despont to design several personal properties for him over the last few decades, including a rustic alpine retreat in Idaho and a sophisticated 9,000-square-foot townhouse in New York City, and in 2010, the architect completed a beachfront home in The Bahamas for Drexler and his wife Peggy. Known as Zehava and in the hands of only its second owner, the trophy estate is now being offered for a whopping $42 million, a sky-high figure that makes it the islands most expensive single-family residential listing in The Bahamas. Nestled off the east coast of the island of Eleuthera, Zehava occupies three and a half acres within the prestigious Narrows enclave on Harbour Island, along what locals call Billionaires Beach, a pristine stretch of pale pink sand. Harbour Island has long been a somewhat under-the-radar hotspot for the worlds movers and shakers, including Taylor Swift, Tom Cruise, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, David Letterman, and duty-free tycoon Robert Miller. More from Robb Report Walls of windows give an intimate connection to the tropical surroundings. Zehava represents a rare and unparalleled opportunity, said broker Matthew Marco of Bond Bahamas. With Thierry Desponts visionary touch, this home blends timeless elegance with modern luxury, offering a living experience that is truly one-of-a-kind. Properties of this caliber, crafted by a master architect and located in such a coveted destination, seldom come to marketthis is truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a piece of architectural history in paradise. Sculpted from a combination of solid poured concrete, natural Brazilian hardwood, and cream-colored travertine stone, the 9,500-square-foot structure gains lightness thanks to a butterfly-style roofline that resembles lifted wings. Internally, the design makes the most of its waterfront vantage point with soaring high ceilings, dramatic expanses of glass, and foldable slatted wood walls that open to unite the indoor living spaces to the tropical landscape. A two-bedroom cottage for guests adds to the sense of privacy and retreat. Despite its ample size, the main residence comprises just two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a powder room. In the commodious living room, a floor-to-ceiling wall of sliding glass doors lets the ocean air sweep right in while providing direct access to a covered patio. Theres also a more intimate den, a spacious dining room alongside a serving kitchen, with a galley-style chefs kitchen clad in warm paneling off to one side. For visiting friends and family, theres a two-bedroom, one-bath guest cottage. The grounds encompass broad decks that step down to palm-dotted lawns that roll down to the beach, sheltered terraces for escaping the sun, and a sunken pickleball court. Bedrooms spill onto water-view decks. Before the Zehava mansion hit the market, the highest-priced offering in the Bahamas was a $40 million property in Old Fort Bay dubbed Aspara. The oceanfront pad, which sold in April for $39.49 million, came with its own dock, a boat lift, and a private beach. The real estate market in the Bahamas has evolved to rival the worlds most exclusive destinations, such as the Hamptons, Malibu, and Palm Beach, added Marco, who also represented the Aspara deal. The demand for luxury properties here has surged as more discerning buyers seek not only a smart investment but also a serene, breathtaking environment to call home. The Bahamas is now firmly on the map as one of the worlds premier luxury markets. Click here to see more photos of Zehava. zehava bahamas most expensive 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. Irish farmer finds near 60-pound slab of ancient bog butter on his land by pure luck A strange object with a "cheesy" smell turned out to be an ancient discovery, one of the largest of its kind in Ireland. Oftentimes, ancient discoveries come out of archaeological sites, but sometimes, they can be found right in your own backyard. That's how Micheal Boyle's story went. Boyle was conducting work on his farm in County Donegal, when he found what turned out to be an ancient slab of bog butter. While a farmer was working on his land, he came across an ancient chunk of bog butter by "pure luck." Mom, Son Dig Up Ancient Object Often Found Near Burial Grounds While Gardening In ancient times, dairy or animal fat was buried in bogs for preservation or put in a wooden container as an offering to gods or spirits, according to The Irish News. The slab of bog butter on Boyle's farm had a small piece of wood on the bottom, Boyle told the Irish Examiner. This likely indicates that the bog butter once lay in a wooden container that has since decomposed. Read On The Fox News App The unearthing of bog butter is fairly common in Ireland and in Scotland, with around 500 finds recorded in Ireland. This find was especially unique in its large size, and it could very well be "one of the biggest chunks of bog butter found in Ireland to date," according to Paula Harvey, an archaeologist who visited the site, according to The Irish News. Butter used to be preserved in bogs around Ireland. Archaeologists Find Several Rock Carvings Of Ancient Board Game Dating Back 4,000 Years Bog butter chunks are usually around the size of a mixing bowl. Harvey explained, but this one was between 22 kg and 25 kg (around 48 and 55 lbs.) in weight, according to The Irish Examiner. "It was just by pure luck that we came across it," Boyle said, per the Irish Examiner. Boyle explained to the outlet that he had seen something about a foot in the ground, and was quickly encompassed with a "cheesy smell." Right away, Boyle said he knew what he had discovered. It is hoped that the ancient bog butter slab will be displayed at the Kilclooney Doleman Centre in Donegal once research is complete. "It does taste like butter, an unsalted butter at that. I had a sliver, and Im still here to tell the tale," Harvey said of the find, according to The Irish News. Historians say that the ancient bog butter could date back to the Bronze Age, according to the Irish Examiner, but more research is being done at the National Museum of Ireland. It is hoped that once the analysis is complete, it will be displayed at the Kilclooney Dolmen Centre. "The slab of butter wouldnt mean anything to anybody visiting a national institution," Harvey explained, according to The Irish News, "but it certainly would mean an awful lot to the local community here in south west Donegal." Original article source: Irish farmer finds near 60-pound slab of ancient bog butter on his land by pure luck Biscuit was my first rescue dog. I will never forget the way he stretched before a walk, his shake after waking from a nap, the way he fell over effortlessly for a belly rub, the way he raised his paw and pressed it against my leg when he wanted more treats, and most of all, his smile. Before he came into my life, hed been found abandoned wandering rural back roads in North Carolina, terrified, drastically underweight, his fur coat matted and nonexistent in patches, and his rear legs permanently deformed probably because hed spent countless hours in a small wire cage. Biscuit was taken to a rescue in Maryland where he received veterinary care and treatment. When my husband and I adopted him, he began emerging from his shell. Over time, a dog that once cowered behind chairs and tables and avoided humans became a true companion, a best friend. With Biscuit as my inspiration, I began a decadelong project documenting the fate of nearly 60 other abandoned dogs. I photographed them prior to their adoption and learned their stories, then did it all again a year or so later. Sixty dogs are just a sliver of the overpopulation crisis. More than 3 million dogs entered shelters and rescue organizations in 2023; 2.2 million found homes, but 1 million did not. Many of those animals were euthanized. There are so many unwanted dogs in America that the shelters are overwhelmed. In May, some of the Los Angeles Animal Services' shelters were operating at more than double their capacity around 211% full. Biscuit died of a rare cancer in 2013. He rekindled my love of photography and changed my life in extraordinary ways. There are countless reasons why dogs are abandoned some cruel and trivial, some sadly unavoidable. Shelters and rescues do heroic, necessary rehabilitation, providing veterinary care, vaccines, spay and neutering, foster families, adoption services but they are way stations. Happy endings require humans to write them. Jack the english bulldog before and after being rescued. Jacks/Taco English bulldog Jacks was about 5 years old, underweight but sweet and loving when he was surrendered to a shelter and moved to a rescue organization in 2014. Fostered first, he was adopted by a family who had been searching for an English bulldog rescue and spotted him online. They renamed him Taco. Nothing is mundane to Taco, I was told, a year later. He gets excited about a car ride or a frozen yogurt; hes a constant reminder to enjoy the little things in life. Toby the hound shepard mix before and after being adopted. Toby hound/shepherd mix Toby was a senior dog 8 years old when his owner surrendered him to a shelter in 2013. It took three tries before an adoption worked out. All told, Toby spent 1,216 days in the rescue, a record for the dogs I followed on this project, most likely because, as the vets at the rescue put it, he had separation anxiety. In the end, Tobys adopters didnt mind the extra attention he needed: We just felt pulled to him. Treasure the chihuahua mix before and after being adopted. Treasure/Chessie Chihuahua/Chi mix Treasure, renamed Chessie when she was adopted, was rescued in 2014 from a puppy mill where she was probably a breed dog. Estimated to be 4 years old, Chessie was very untrusting, according to the veterinary team at the shelter that took her in, especially of men. Nonetheless, a couple made her their first-ever rescue dog after seeing her on Facebook. A year later Chessie was one of a gang of Chihuahuas, a joy but still skittish around men. Dagwood the golden retrier mix before and after being adopted. Dagwood golden retriever/Labrador mix Found locked in an empty house in Indiana in 2012, Dagwood landed at a rescue in Maryland with basic manners but anxiety and fear as well. After a volunteer took him on a field trip to a nursing home, the manager agreed to a trial-run adoption, and now Dagwood is a professional support dog adopted, unusually, by a business. He lights up the residents day just by being himself, I was told. Everyone loves Dagwood. Dreifuss the labrador mix before and after being adopted. Dreifuss/Dreyfuss orange Labrador mix Dreifuss name got a new spelling when he was adopted in 2014. Transferred to a Maryland rescue from Tennessee, his left front leg had been amputated and he was diagnosed with a condition that causes his limbs to deviate outward. But Dreyfuss compensates. Special needs animals arent the first to be claimed, but as his adopter says, Dreyfuss isnt a dog to feel sorry for. The missing leg? He doesnt seem to miss it. Katherine Carver is an attorney and photographer residing in the Washington, D.C., area. The photographs and text are adapted from her forthcoming book Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once-Forsaken Dogs. 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. This SC city is one of the few in US folks should visit ASAP, national magazine says. Heres why Charleston has added yet another best of to its ever growing mentions in national publications. This time, its House Beautifuls 35 most beautiful places in the United States. They also added these are places you need to visit ASAP. Charleston has benefited from all the publicity, registering a record tourism impact of $13.1 billion in 2023, according to The College of Charlestons Office of Tourism Analysis. That is a 2.2 % increase over 2022 and a dramatic increase since the COVID pandemic decimated the industry. In the spring of the pandemic, tourism declined by 50%. At the time, Micheal Tall, chairman of Explore Charlestons Board of Governors, called the losses staggering. But in 2023, 7.79 million people visited the Charleston area and area hotels experienced a 70.7% occupancy rate, according to the College of Charlestons report. Charleston has repeatedly been named No. 1 city by Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure, in the top 100 cities by Livability, 41 in best places to retire by IRAInvesting.com. The list goes on. The word repeatedly written is charming and comments typically revolve around how hospitable the people are. House Beautiful selected downtown Charleston as 19th. Charleston is a charming town and hands-down one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S, the magazine said. The magazine noted cobblestone streets, historic sites, seaside resorts and colorful buildings. This South Carolina area will leave you wondering if you should pack up and move after just one visit, House Beautiful said. No other South Carolina city was on the list. Deemed No. 1 best was New York City. You could say were biased since House Beautifuls headquarters is in NYC, but its no secret that the city is a hub of culture, architecture, and design, the magazine said. They said the city teems with beautiful parks, historic buildings, and curated design shops around every corner. And offered a pro tip: Get the perfect mix of natural and man made on the High Line along the Hudson River. PEMBROKE, N.C. (WBTW) One person was killed and another person was airlifted to a hospital after separate shootings in Pembroke on Wednesday, officials told News13. Pembroke police responded at 2:16 a.m. to the 500 block of Lowry Street for a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Keith Oxendine, 53, with a gunshot wound. He later died. A person of interest has been identified in that shooting, according to police. There is no immediate threat to the public. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at Pembroke Mini Mart on E. Third Street, police said. A woman was shot in the head and airlifted to an undisclosed hospital. She is currently in stable condition. Authorities identified a suspect in that shooting, which is believed to have been domestic-related. That persons name was not immediately available. Police said there is no current threat to the public. Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Pembroke police at 910-521-4333. Count on News13 for updates. * * * 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. GREENVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) The Greenville Police Department took a man into custody after a woman was found suffering from a gunshot wound. According to the police department, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Martin Street around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. At the scene, crews discovered a woman who had sustained a gunshot wound. They also determined that a person of interest had fled the area before their arrival, prompting police to establish a perimeter. Mother killed in backseat of car was an innocent bystander Life saving measures were undertaken on the woman, but she was pronounced deceased at 9:17 p.m. She was identified as Brianne Otley, 34, of Greenville. The man who officers were looking for was found at 10:27 p.m., several blocks north of where the shooting took place. The man, reported to be 25 years old, is in police custody on a preliminary charge of murder. The case remains under investigation and will be reviewed by the Darke County Prosecutors Office. The Greenville Police Department was assisted by Greenville Township Rescue, the City of Greenville Fire Department and CareFlight from Miami Valley 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 WDTN.com. By Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Commerzbank's designated CEO Bettina Orlopp met with bankers from UniCredit virtually on Friday morning, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as the German bank kicked off talks with its Italian suitor. Italy's no 2 bank is pressing for a tie-up after snapping up a stake earlier this month while Germany's no 2 bank is honing its defence as it pursues a strategy of independence. It was not immediately clear which executives from UniCredit were present. Orlopp, who was appointed the bank's new CEO earlier this week, told a financial conference in London on Thursday that the two banks would meet to "exchange views" now that UniCredit was a shareholder. UniCredit caught Commerzbank off guard when it scooped up a 9% stake, saying it planned to buy more shares if it got regulatory clearance while pressing for discussions to explore a tie-up. Shares of Commerzbank traded 0.5% higher in Frankfurt, after a nearly 7% gain on Thursday, while UniCredit was 0.8% lower after a nearly 5% gain on Thursday. Commerzbank's shares have risen around 30% since UniCredit disclosed its stake. UniCredit's move is the most ambitious attempt yet at a pan-European bank merger but it faces considerable political hurdles in Germany ahead of national elections. Commerzbank's management, employees and the nation's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, have all voiced opposition to a potential takeover, but at least one big investor and some business leaders favour talks. Orcel, who has long held an interest in a tie-up with Commerzbank, this week said that it would be the best outcome. Orlopp on Thursday said the bank was open-minded but that the speed of synergies and risks to executing any deal needed evaluation. "Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't make sense, and that is something we need to find out jointly," Orlopp said. Bloomberg first reported Orlopp's participation in the meeting. (Reporting by Tom Sims, writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Thomas Seythal, Elaine Hardcastle) The land was bought by Blackstone earlier this year [QTS/Northumberland County Council] A 10bn investment in a new artificial intelligence data centre will create about 4,000 jobs, the government has said. The site in Cambois, near Blyth, Northumberland, will become one of Europe's biggest AI data centres. The land was bought by private equity giant Blackstone earlier this year, after the collapse of Britishvolt which had planned to build an electric car battery factory on the site. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the investment showed that the UK was "open for business". Sir Keir said Blackstone's investment was a "huge vote of confidence in the UK" and proved Britain was back as a "major player on the global stage". The plan for the data centre was first revealed in April, before Sir Keir's election. Northumberland County Council official Richard Wearmouth said at the time the project would put north-east England "at the heart of the AI revolution". About 1,200 jobs would be dedicated to the project's construction, the government said. The council also previously said the data centre would create about 2,700 related jobs. Britishvolt's plans for a car factory had been slated to create about 8,000 jobs. Construction on the site is expected to start next year, the government said. 'Gamechanger' Blackstone head Jon Gray said the firm was "committed to Britain". The firm also confirmed it would put 110m into a fund for skills training and transport infrastructure for the region. Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said the investment was a "gamechanger" for the region and welcomed the prime minister throwing "his full support" behind it. "Just yesterday, I wrote to the prime minister inviting him to visit the site at Cambois to see for himself its enormous potential," he said. "I look forward to welcoming him to Northumberland and to discussing with him how further government investment in our infrastructure can unlock even more economic growth." Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. More stories from BBC North East and Cumbria Related internet links AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) Health advocates from around the state gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Western Massachusetts Health Equity Network. This network is dedicated to seeking strategies and opportunities to create conditions in which communities are able to attain the highest level of health and care. They believe that achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities. Thursdays showcase is designed as an open house, allowing people to drop in and learn about the resources available. Andrea Freeman, an Organizer with the Public Health Institute of Western Mass. told 22News, We wanted to bring together people in Western Mass who are doing advocacy and lobbying to advance public health and health equity. Lamont Scott, a Project Director at MOCHA said, A lot of folks really dont know about resources available to and throughout our community so we are coming to give this information. Bring it back and share it to educate them on what they have out here to utilize for themselves and for their families in our community. MOCHA, or men of color health awareness is just one of the nearly 300 health advocates present on Thursday. They work to empower men of color to play an active role in our health care through health education and wellness classes. 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. $11.9 million secured for revitalization of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Bakersfield BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The City of Bakersfield Recreation & Parks Department announced big funds going toward a park revitalization project on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Interior awarded $11.9 million to the Recreation & Parks Department on Sept. 25 for the revitalization of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, according to Joe Conroy, PIO for the City of Bakersfield. KCSO rescues intoxicated female in Frazier Park The MLK Park Revitalization project was just one of 15 projects selected in California for funding. Of all 54 projects selected nationally, the MLK Park Revitalization project received the second most amount of funds. Officials say this project will provide enhanced safety, more play opportunities, a community center and community programming to the 16.1-acre complex. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Eleven people died in Georgia, including a first responder, as Hurricane Helene passed through the state Thursday night into Friday morning, Georgia Gov. Kemp said in a press conference Friday. I would ask all Georgians, like the Kemp familys doing, to keep these folks and these communities in your thoughts and prayers, Kemp said. The governor reiterated how important it is for residents to heed warnings about staying off the road and to be patient as storm damages persist. Its because we are trying to get to people, he said. It is a very dangerous environment, and one of our finest has lost his life trying to save others. People trapped in Georgia homes The deadly storm entered the state as a Category 2 hurricane with Alma registering wind speeds around 100 mph, according to forecasters. Helene shifted its path east, going in a slightly different direction than predicted from Valdosta to Augusta, Kemp said. This meant communities in that path and to the east of the storm were hard hit, he said, while others on the western side of the state were spared from the brunt of the storm. Rescue teams from both in and out of Georgia, including the Maryland Search and Rescue team, are working to get into multiple structures with people inside who they cannot communicate with, Kemp said. Teams will have to cut their way inside these buildings, he said. Valdosta has identified 115 structures that are heavily damaged that we that we know there are multiple people trapped inside, Kemp said. Medical facilities that dont have power will be prioritized, he said, asking residents to be patient as agencies work to respond. A medical center in Valdosta lost power after a tree fell on its emergency generator. We and Georgia Power both responded with an emergency generator, Kemp said. And Georgia Power is working hard to get the power back on there. Hurricane Helene made its way through the state of Georgia throughout Thursday and into Friday morning. A large tree fell on part of a house and yard on Forestside Drive. Road closures, power outages all across GA The Georgia Department of Transportation reported 152 road closures across the state Friday. Interstate 16 in Laurens County and Interstate 20 outside of Augusta were closed. Crews are actively assessing the damage and working to restore access where its safe, Kemp said. Generators were being deployed, especially in Valdosta, to help power traffic signals. Bridges around the state are in good condition, Kemp said, and the port is operational, but limited. Officials are planning a water release out of Lake Raybun in Raybun County in northeast Georgia because of the flooding. We are evacuating folks downstream from that, Kemp said. So theyre not cut off from the rest of the community if they dont leave. 911 facilities experienced disruptions because of power outages, he said. Georgia has one million meters, and many more customers, that are without power, Kemp said. (Utility companies) started going in behind the storm as soon as day broke, he said. We remain in constant contact with our utility providers. Flooding concerns havent gone away The state has 17 shelters across the state housing 1,100 people. A Coffee County shelter lost its roof, Kemp said, and resources are being deployed to ensure the people there remain safe. The Red Cross has opened or supported more than 140 shelters for nearly 9,400 individuals across the Southeast in the past two days, Katie Zwerk, regional communications director for the American Red Cross of Georgia, told the Ledger-Enquirer. As deadly flooding continues and threatens additional communities, even more people will urgently need our support, Zwerk said. Red Cross teams managed 50 of these shelters overnight and supported more than 80 partner shelters with staff and supplies. Agriculturally, Helene flattened poultry houses and caused damage to crops and nut trees. Ahead of the storm, Kemp authorized 500 members of the Georgia Nation Guard and 250 were deployed before Helene made landfall. Another 250 members were deployed, and the governor authorized an additional 1,000 members Friday morning. We have 500 in the field as we speak, Kemp said. And well call the rest as needed and as requested. Chainsaw cut teams, heavy equipment teams and pods for supply distribution are being moved across the state, he said. Teams were working to free up roads and move resources. Officials were also assessing the damage by air, Kemp said, but it took some time to get helicopters and drones in the air because of the high winds. It is important for residents to stay off the roads to give responders space to move trucks, equipment and resources. People who want to volunteer to help are encouraged to reach out to their countys emergency management agency, which can help coordinate. This ensures rescue teams arent prevented from reaching people who may be trapped. For people in the metro area, it is still very dangerous out there, Kemp said. A lot of the loss of life has been caused by fallen trees because of the saturated ground. Even though the wind is dying down, trees were still falling Friday afternoon. One fell at the mansion across the driveway after we left this morning, Kemp said. The potential for flash flooding should still be a concern, he said, and water will continue to rise for the next 24 to 48 hours, especially in the northern part of the state. If youre out, you need to be weather aware, Kemp said. If you dont have to get out, I would just tell you to try to hunker down at the house or limit your activities if you can. The intersection of Forrest Road and Alta Vista Drive is blocked in Columbus on Sept. 27, 2024, as a crew works to restore power to the neighborhood after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. 11-month-old taken to Upstate Hospital after inhaling narcotic substance SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Syracuse police were called to a home at the 100 block of Knaul Street off Butternut Street for an 11-month-old baby who inhaled a narcotic substance around 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. Police say the baby was taken to Upstate Hospital and is in stable condition, police say. No charges have been filed. 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 WSYR. Editors note: This report has been updated to reflect the correct date of Youngs next court appearance. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Bond was set on Friday at $15,000 for a woman accused of almost slicing a mans finger off Wednesday. Ashley Young, 31, was arraigned in municipal court before Magistrate Meghan Brundege on charges of felonious assault, a second-degree felony and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. Young is expected to have a preliminary hearing on Oct. 4. 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. Authorities identified the victim of a deadly shooting in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood on Monday night. 19-year-old Quami J. Clark, of Boston, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the area of 277 Centre Street around 9:22 p.m., according to Boston Police. Clark was transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Edwin Vinales, 19, also of Boston, was arrested in connection to the shooting for allegedly discarding a semi-automatic gun with an extended magazine at the scnee. He was arraigned in Roxbury District Court for unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a large-capacity firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The shooting remains under investigation and anyone with information is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ADAMS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) Two people are in custody and two others are wanted after a shooting in Adams County. The shooting happened on Myrtle Drive on Thursday, September 26. Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said dispatch received a call about Emanual Jones shooting at Jeremy Stewart at the location. When deputies arrived at the scene, they said Jones had already fled the scene. Police in small Mississippi city discriminate against Black residents, Justice Department finds Deputies were able to locate Stewart, who had been shot at multiple times. During their investigation, deputies said they discovered that Jones and Stewart had argued about money earlier in the day in front of Jones home. After the argument, Stewart returned home. The sheriff said Jones showed up at Stewarts home and was accompanied by two other people. They got into a fight with Stewart. Patten said Jones fired multiple shots at Stewart, who was not struck, but he did sustain minor injuries when he fled the scene. Emanual Jones (Courtesy: Adams County Sheriffs Office) Jeremy Stewart (Courtesy: Adams County Sheriffs Office) Two people are in custody and two others are wanted after a shooting in Adams County. (Courtesy: Adams Co. Sheriffs Office) Two people are in custody and two others are wanted after a shooting in Adams County. (Courtesy: Adams Co. Sheriffs Office) Two people are in custody and two others are wanted after a shooting in Adams County. (Courtesy: Adams Co. Sheriffs Office) Investigators later arrested Jones after he turned himself in at the Adams County Sheriffs Office. He was charged with aggravated assault and shooting into a dwelling. Patten said Stewart was also arrested after it was discovered that he was wanted in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, for burglary of a business. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Adams County Sheriffs Office at 601-442-8333 or Southwest Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 888-442-5001. 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. 2 arrested after MS Coast chase ends with spike strips deployed at lighthouse, police say Biloxi Police arrested two suspects Thursday after they fled narcotics investigators who found one suspect in a car packaging alleged cocaine into bags, authorities said. Police said Errol Otis, 39, of Gulfport fled investigators who found him allegedly packing cocaine in parked car in the 100 block of Beach Boulevard. An investigator reached in through an open driver-side window and grabbed a bag of alleged cocaine from Otis lap, authorities said. Otis fled immediately. He drove west on Beach Boulevard with another suspect, Miranda Hannon-Mayer, 24, of Louisiana. Two children, ages 3 and 4, were in the backseat, police said. Police said Otis ran red lights and threw bags of alleged cocaine from his window. Officers spike stripped the car and stopped it at the Biloxi Lighthouse on Beach Boulevard and Porter Avenue. Police arrested Otis and Hannon-Mayer and removed the two children to safety, they said. Otis faces one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of felony eluding and two counts of child endangerment. Hannon-Mayer faces one count of possesion of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and two counts of child endangerment. Police took Otis and Hannon-Mayer to the Harrison County jail, where they are held on bonds of $175,000 and $125,000. 2 Brothers Spent Decades in Prison After Wisconsin Woman's Rape and Murder. DNA Shows It Was Someone Else David Bintz, 69, and his brother, Robert Bintz, 68, of Green Bay, were exonerated in the 1987 killing Wisconsin Department of Corrections (2) David Bintz and Robert Bintz's mugshots Two Wisconsin brothers who spent nearly 25 years in prison have been exonerated, thanks to genetic genealogy. In 2000, David Bintz, 69, and his brother, Robert Bintz, 68, both of Green Bay, were convicted of the 1987 murder of Sandra Lison. In early August 1987, Lison, a 44-year-old mother of two, vanished from her job as a bartender at Good Times in Green Bay, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports. Her remains were found shortly after in the Machickanee Forest in Oconto County, 30 miles away. She had been strangled, an autopsy found, local outlet WFRV reports. Authorities said they found evidence that she had been sexually assaulted before she was killed, the outlet reports. Police questioned the brothers, who were at the bar that night. David allegedly got into an argument with Lison over the bill, Fox 11 News reports. For years, the case went cold. Then, in 1998, when David was serving a sentence for another crime, his cellmate told authorities that David had confessed in his sleep to killing Lison, WFRV reports. Despite a lack of physical evidence linking the brothers to the crime, prosecutors said they had robbed Lison before killing her, WFVR reports. Related: 'People Magazine Investigate' s Chronicles How a Professor Helped a Wrongfully Imprisoned Man Get on with His Life In 2000, they were both sentenced to life in prison. Their luck changed in 2018, when the Great North Innocence Project of Minnesota began looking into the case. When local genealogists were unable to find evidence linking the brothers to the murder, Jim Mayer, the projects legal director, enlisted the help of Investigate Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College in New Jersey, Fox 11 reports. In 2023, IGG investigators formed a genetic profile of DNA found at the crime scene and uploaded that to consumer databases, such as GEDmatch, Fox 11 reports. Based on that information, they began looking for any relatives that matched the DNA sample. IGG narrowed the matches to three brothers from Green Bay. One of those brothers was William Hendricks, a convicted rapist who died in 2000. 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. In April, the IGG obtained a DNA sample from his disinterned remains and found that there was a one in 329 trillion chance that it belonged to anyone except Hendricks, Fox 11 reports. On Wednesday, Sept. 27, a judge granted a motion to set the two brothers free, NBC 26 reports. Today, Sandra Lison will rest in peace, because her true murderer is now known, Judge Donald Zuidmulder said, NBC 26 reports. It is therefore my bounded duty to exercise and follow the law, well satisfied that I will sign judgments vacating the convictions in both of these for both of these defendants and save them free. Asked how the brothers could have been sentenced to life in prison despite a lack of physical evidence, District Attorney David Lasee told NBC 26, The prosecutors and the law enforcement officers were handling this case at the outset, followed the evidence that they had at that time, and that conviction was sound. 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. SOPA Images/Getty Images A key US license allowing Russian yuan transactions is set to expire mid-October. That could make Chinese banks more hesitant to deal in Russia, worsening Moscow's yuan shortage. Russian banks have already nearly depleted their stash of yuan, Reuters reported last month. It may about to be way harder for Russia to get its hands on Chinese yuan. That's because a key license from the US Treasury that permits transactions from some of Russia's financial institutions is about to expire. The result could involve a worsening yuan shortage in the nation, with Chinese banks possibly completely refusing to process payments from Russia, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The license, which is set to expire on October 12, allows some transactions between the Moscow Exchange and the National Clearing Center to gradually wind down, as opposed to being completely halted. Dollar and euro trading on the Moscow Exchange have already been shut down with the latest round of Western sanctions. But once the Treasury license expires, all conversion transactions including those involving Chinese banks and their subsidiaries will be stopped, and their positions on the Moscow exchange will be closed, another source told the outlet. That spells trouble for Moscow, which has come to lean on China's currency heavily under Western trade restrictions. The yuan made up nearly 100% of all foreign-exchange transactions on the Moscow Exchange in June, according to one Bank of Russia review. But Russian banks have nearly run out of their yuan stash, thanks to Chinese firms being more hesitant to do business with the nation. Chinese banks have also held up billions of dollars worth of yuan payments intended for Russia, Reuters reported last month, which has also contributed to the yuan shortage. Read the original article on Business Insider Two men are facing criminal charges after police say they used tech support scam to steal $120,000 from an elderly resident on the South Shore. Shaoquin Liu, 27, and Shiwang Ning, 33, both of Brooklyn, New York, were arraigned Wednesday in Quincy District Court on charges of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses and two counts of conspiracy, according to the Quincy Police Department. Liu and Ning first contacted the victim with a fake Microsoft notification and informed them that there were suspicious activities on their bank account related to an online poker website, police said. The victim then called a phone number provided by the suspect and was tricked into believing that they were speaking with someone from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, according to police. They were subsequently talked into repeatedly withdrawing large sums of money from the bank. Someone would visit the victims home and pick up the cash each time they withdrew money, police said. As the scam unfolded, the suspects gained remote access to the victims computer, saw what financial institutions they used, and created false correspondence purporting to be from their financial services company, the FDIC, and the Social Security Administration, according to police. The victim ultimately became suspicious and alerted Quincy police. Officers on Tuesday were able to apprehend Liu and Ning when they visited the victim to pick up more cash. Quincy Police Chief Mark P. Kennedy commended the bravery of the victim for coming forward. I am happy that these two criminals were arrested by our detectives and our department will intensify our efforts to educate our citys senior population about these scams and web-based fraud, Kennedy said in a statement. Scams targeting seniors have resulted in losses of more than $12.5 billion in 2023, police noted. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) Two men wearing Halloween masks were arrested this week after reportedly breaking into a Murfreesboro comic bookstore and stealing thousands of dollars worth of collectible game cards. The alleged break-in happened on the night of Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Grand Adventures Comic and Games on Memorial Boulevard, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Authorities said two men, identified as 42-year-old Phillip Clodfelter and 64-year-old Kelly Garner, smashed the glass of the businesss front door to get inside. They then stole an estimated $8,000 worth of Magic: The Gathering cards. They went straight in there, cleared out the cases, manager Chris Pryor told News 2. The reason why I know they cased [the store] before is because, at the time, we had cards in both cases and I had recently changed that and I put snacks in them. They went right to that case. However, police said the two masked men didnt stop there. Clodfelter and Garner reportedly tried to break into Grand Slam Collectibles on Northwest Broad Street the same night but failed to get inside. (Courtesy: Murfreesboro Police Department) Surveillance footage from the business showed the two suspects wearing distinctive masks. According to Murfreesboro police, one resembled Michael Myers and the other a nun from the 2010 thriller, The Town. I checked the video and theres, of course, two burglars coming in, masked, Pryor said. They broke through the glass. Investigators said the video also identified their getaway car, a red Honda. After issuing a BOLO for the vehicle, Smyrna police reportedly spotted the Honda driving erratically and made a traffic stop. The masks were still in the car. The stuff they stole was still in the car Pryor said. Police try their best and they dont always get the bad guy, but when they do, its awesome. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Officers said they immediately recognized the masks and stolen collectible game cards, which were sitting in plain sight inside the car. Following further interviews with Murfreesboro detectives, the two men were arrested and charged with burglary, theft and vandalism. Garner and Clodfelter are also suspected of committing similar burglaries at comic stores in Brentwood and Nashville, detectives said. As of Friday, Sept. 27, both were being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on $48,000 bonds. If they dont want to work to get this stuff, thats pretty terrible on them, Pryor added. Thats them, not me. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Posing as one of the kids who had bought the hallucinogens, Colorado Springs police organized a fake mushroom sale to apprehend 21-year-old Damian Lee Solano Colorado Springs Police Department Damian Lee Solano. The school day was disrupted at a Colorado Middle School earlier this week after two students ingested psilocybin mushrooms they allegedly bought from a local dealer who is now behind bars. The two Fox Meadow middle schoolers were rushed to the hospital Tuesday, Sept. 24, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Damian Lee Solano, 21, was booked into El Paso County Jail and held on a $50,000 bond. He is charged with four felony counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, one felony count of an attempted sale and four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to police. Google Maps The King Soopers in Colorado Springs, where the kids allegedly met Damian Lee Solano in the parking lot and purchased magic mushrooms on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for District 2 Harrison Schools, confirms to PEOPLE that both students were treated and released to family with resources to support them, adding that the district is supporting the students and families as they return to school and learning. While the school disputed the characterization of it as an "overdose," claiming that the students "did not lose consciousness or become disoriented, Caitlin Ford of the police department tells PEOPLE that the students experienced "adverse health effects, which would be the technical definition of an over-dosage." Per the police blotter, during the "overdose drug investigation," detectives learned that four children ages 12 to 16 had allegedly purchased mushrooms from the adult dealer. The kids had allegedly contacted Solano through the Telegram phone app early Monday evening, and met up with Solano at the King Soopers grocery store parking lot, according to police, who say that the students later provided them with a general physical and vehicle description associated to the dealer. 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. Parents of one of the kids helped detectives recover the remaining mushrooms and provided the students phone to reinitiate communication with the alleged dealer, per police. Posing as one of the students, a detective began communicating with the alleged dealer and agreed to meet for another narcotics transaction, per police, who say they were able to draw out the dealer with active communication over Telegram during the undercover purchase. During the undercover operation, detectives allegedly spotted Solano, who they say matched the physical description given by the students. Solano was allegedly carrying about 2 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms as the detective had ordered on Telegram when he was detained, per police. Solano is slated to make his first appearance at El Paso County Courthouse at 10:45 a.m., Oct. 4, per his online court docket. It was not immediately clear if he had yet retained a lawyer. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Editors Note: The video above is previous coverage on the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter (CCAS) is responding to a surge in dog intakes by slashing adoption fees to $20 through Sunday, September 29. The reduced adoption fee, down from the standard $95, is intended to encourage community members to bring home a new pet. Adoption includes spay/neuter services, vaccines, a 2024 dog license, a microchip, and a current rabies tag. Watch for deer behaving abnormally in NE Ohio The flow of dogs coming into the shelter has really spiked in recent weeks, and we need the communitys helpeither by adopting or fostering a shelter dog, said Animal Shelter Administrator Mindy Naticchioni in a press release. The Fall Fur Me promotion covers all adult dogs. The shelter is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For a complete list of available pets, 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Jackson Walk for Diabetes is just around the corner, and theyre celebrating a milestone this year. The event is celebrating its 30th anniversary of raising money to help those with the disease and to find a cure. So, 30 years is a big deal. We think about birthdays, and thats why the whole thing is a birthday theme. That symbolizes 30 years just of Jacksons support, which is where were located, said Faith Ruchti, PR & Special Events Coordinator for Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. The 2024 walk has moved to a new location. This year, it will be held at LeFleurs Bluff Playground on Saturday, October 5. Diabetes in Mississippi: How the disease affects people Were just going to try it out this year. Dont get scared. Were just going to see how it goes. But with the location being changed, we also had to change the day. So, we changed it to something where it was more kid friendly, said Ruchti. This years honorary chair is Hayden Tucker. She was diagnosed with diabetes as a child. Tucker said its important to recognize the symptoms. So, I had a lot of the classic symptoms. My mom was actually a nurse practitioner, so she was able to recognize it a little bit sooner. Which was good, because I didnt hit any of the super major symptoms, but I just had the frequent, like, thirst. I was always thirsty, and I always had to go to the bathroom, and I was just having a difficult time, like at school with that, she said. Mississippi leads the nation with diabetes. The walk helps educate and support those living with the disease and their families. Th goal for this years walk is to raise $50,000. All of the proceeds will stay in Mississippi. Registration for the walk will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the walk will begin at 10:00 a.m. WJTV 12 News Byron Brown will be the emcee for the event. 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. (This story was updated to add photo and video, and to add new information.) 29 dogs and 8 cats were removed from a Pontiac home Friday as the Oakland County Sheriff's Department followed up on an animal neglect investigation. In a statement, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said the removal was done to follow up on "animal neglect charges" against the homeowner, Karmen Schooly, 47 of Pontiac, after obtaining a court order to execute the removal. The animals are being treated by Oakland County Animal Control. Of the cats, one cat will probably have to be euthanized, said Bob Gatt, director of Oakland County Animal Control. Schooly currently has an open case in Oakland County Circuit Court regarding her animal rescue operation, Tri-County Dog Rescue. She faces three charges: health practice-unauthorized practice, abandoning/cruelty to animals and unregistered animal shelters/pounds. An image taken from an Oakland County Sheriff's Officer shows several dogs in cages. The dogs were removed from the house on Friday by Oakland County officials during an investigation into animal neglect charges. Eminent Domain: Detroit files dozens of eminent domain lawsuits for solar neighborhoods project Schooly's home address where the removal took place is also registered online with Tri-County Dog Rescue. The shelter's Facebook page was active on Wednesday, advertising a litter of puppies for adoption. In an emailed statement, Oakland County officials said all animals had been removed from the premises and the City of Pontiac "condemned the home based on several violations." During a phone call, Schooly told the Free Press that the removal was "totally unexpected," adding that she recorded it all and will be getting an attorney involved. Schooly has previously been embroiled in animal-related legal troubles. In January, six sibling dogs brought to Michigan by Tri-County Dog Rescue were caught in legal limbo after they were turned over to Macomb County Animal Control by a separate foster home. The dogs were sick with parvo, a highly contagious canine disease, and Tri-County Dog Rescue refused to take them back. A judge eventually ruled that the dogs would remain with Macomb County Animal Control, and all six have since been adopted. Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com Bill Laytner contributed to this report. Editor's note: A previous version of this story had an inaccurate number of cats that were removed from the home, based on information provided by law enforcement. Eight cats were removed from the home. This story has been updated. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 29 dogs, 8 cats removed from Pontiac home Three people have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in Anaheim last month that police say was gang-related. Oscar Daniel Aguilar, 30, Daidar Martinez, 33, and an unidentified male teen were arrested for their alleged roles in the Aug. 12 killing of Christopher Monge. Monge, 26, was found in front of his home on the 900 block of North Siesta Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased. Oscar Daniel Aguilar, 30, and Daidar Martinez, 33, both of Anaheim, were arrested in connection with the Aug. 12, 2024 killing of 26-year-old Christopher Monge. (Anaheim Police Department) Homicide detectives from the Anaheim Police Department have spent the last several weeks investigating the deadly shooting, and last Friday, the three suspects were arrested and taken into custody. All three likely face charges for murder, police said. The Police Department said it would not be providing additional information about the killing of Christopher Monge due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. Anyone with information that may aid in the investigation is urged to contact Anaheim PD at 714-765-1900, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 3 AZ restaurants just got named best in the US. Here's why they're beloved Arizona restaurants continue to receive high praise from travelers as three one in Phoenix and two in popular tourist spots outside the Valley ranked high in Tripadvisor's 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards. The travel website recently issued its annual Best of the Best restaurants list, which recognizes the nation's top restaurants based on ratings and reviews by TripAdvisor users. This year's list is divided into nine categories: fine dining, date night, casual dining, hidden gems, quick bites, pet-friendly, vegan and vegetarian, outdoor dining and sustainable dining. Arizona's 2024 honorees include a long-running Italian restaurant in Sedona and a fried chicken restaurant in Page. Cocina Madrigal in Phoenix was named the No. 21 hidden gem restaurant. Tripadvisor users frequently lavish praise on Sedona and Page. Both were named among the best places to visit in 2023, and Sedona maintained the designation in 2024. Horseshoe Bend, the Instagram famous landmark near Page, was named the No. 14 U.S. attraction of 2024. Why TripAdvisor users love Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano in Sedona Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano, a farm-to-table Italian restaurant that has been part of Sedona's culinary scene for 26 years, was named the No. 7 date night restaurant in the U.S. TripAdvisor users mentioned the quality of the food along with the wine list, service and romantic ambiance - including a piano player - as highlights of their experiences. Most reviewers said they visited the restaurant to celebrate special occasions. Why TripAdvisor users love BirdHouse in Page The Page fried chicken emporium BirdHouse maintains its rank from Tripadvisor's 2023 awards as the No. 6 best quick bite restaurant in the U.S., continued validation of the restaurant's claim that they serve the "best tasting fried chicken in town." At BirdHouse, about 2 miles east of the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook along Lake Powell, people can order chicken breasts, thighs, legs, wings and tenders in original, spicy and honey butter varieties. They can pair their chicken with a wide selection of sauces and sides, as well as local craft beers. Tripadvisor users noted the restaurant has the ambiance of a fast food restaurant, but the quality of the food made up for it, with the chicken described as moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Tripadvisor is not the only national website that highly recommends BirdHouse. In August, Yelp named it the best fried chicken restaurant in Arizona. Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These Arizona restaurants were just named the best in the US SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) With the 2024 election in full swing, some ballot questions state that they could require judicial or legislative clarification. There are three ballot questions that state judicial or legislative clarification may be necessary IM 29, which would legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in the state of South Dakota, Amendment G, which would provide a state constitutional right to an abortion under a specific framework, and IM 28, which would begin the process to remove the sales tax from items meant for human consumption. One2 building in downtown Sioux Falls near completion South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, said its important to clarify the language of the measures. On several of them Ive indicated a concern there may be constitutional challenges or there will be additional work by either the legislature or the courts to further clarify what some of the language is by the sponsors, said Jackley. Emeritus USD Law School Professor, Roger Baron, said what it means for a ballot question to need additional clarification. Many times new provisions go into effect as a result of the referendum or popular vote of the people and invariably the new provisions will have to be interpreted, just as if the legislature passes a new statute and thats subject to being interpreted by the courts or being amended by the legislature the following year, this is something that happens on a regular basis, Baron said in an interview with KELOLAND News. Baron said while uncommon in South Dakota ballot measures, clarifications arent unprecedented. He said this isnt the first general election to have something like this happen. Baron said of the three ballot questions, Amendment G wont be able to be changed by the legislature and can only be amended by the court. On the abortion amendment its interesting to note his (Attorney General Marty Jackley) description there that it may be amended by the judicial clarification, if this is passed as a constitutional amendment the legislature cannot change that, Baron said. If thats enacted then its only going to be up to the courts to interpret. Be informed on the seven 2024 ballot measures Only IM 28 would require both judicial or legislative clarification according to the Final Attorney Generals Statement, while the remaining two may receive additional clarification if passed. Baron said an example of clarification that is required is how tobacco would apply to IM 28. Its not perfectly clear that this measure prohibiting taxes on anything sold for human consumption will apply to tobacco or not. If this measure is passed, the legislature could easily come back and say that this does not extend to tobacco, Baron said. The legislature can come back and clarify. Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, says tobacco and over-the-counter medications would be included among items for which the state could no longer collect sales taxes. Rick Weiland of Sioux Falls, who is the sponsor of Initiated Measure 28, says they are not included. Baron said the legislature can amend these ballot measures if they see the need for further clarification. The legislature can come back and anything thats enacted as a new statute by a vote of the people by the ballot measure can be amended by the legislature, Baron said. The next legislative session, the legislature could come along and basically totally undermine either one of these ballot measures if they are approved. Baron said he thinks the ballot boxes will be pretty full this year and says the election should provide a somewhat clear picture as to what the will of the people is. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Three men convicted of running an organized catalytic converter theft ring that spanned several counties across our region have been sentenced to prison. Christian Buie, Harold Wade and Antonio Johnson, all of Chicago, were sentenced to serve 5 to 15 years in prison. All three men were arrested in January of 2023 and pled guilty earlier this year. Investigators from North Huntingdon Township, State Police in Uniontown and Moon Township police worked collaboratively in this case. The suspects were utilizing two rental vehicles, one traced to Washington D.C., and staying at an Airbnb on Pittsburghs North Side, authorities said. Police said the men targeted car dealerships, towing services and citizens for weeks, overall impacting over 30 people and businesses and causing more than $300,000 in thefts and damages. During the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said this was one of the more sophisticated and extensive organized thefts weve had in Western Pennsylvania prosecuted at this level. Two of the men, Wade and Buie, were previously arrested for catalytic converter related thefts in January of 2015. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW NYU Sterns Abu Dhabi campus will host the schools 54-credit, one-year full-time MBA program beginning in January 2025. Stern photo It will be the only full-time MBA program brought by a top U.S. business school to the Middle East-North Africa region. It will serve as the key cog in a pipeline of young professionals who want to build their careers in the MENA region. After years of preparation and planning and especially the last year of intense work its almost ready to launch. The NYU Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, opens its one-year full-time MBA program in January. The last year has been an absolute whirlwind in a good way, says Robert Salomon, dean of NYU Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi. Ive never had this kind of experience in my career before of trying to put together an entirely new program, and in some sense a new business school. Raghu Sundaram, dean of NYU Stern School of Business, and Mariet Westermann, vice chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, at the 2023 announcement of the launch of the NYUAD one-year MBA program. Stern photo A UNIQUE INTERNSHIP That NYU Stern is the only major U.S. B-school to operate a full-time MBA program in the Middle East is not the only way in which its accelerated one-year MBA is unique. The January-to-December program will be 54 credits, making it comparable to a two-year program in scope but all the more intense for its compressed timeframe. comprised of half a dozen seven-week academic modules complemented with an orientation pre-module, the program is based in Campus Center on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, with a summer term spent learning in two Doing Business in New York City courses on Sterns hometown campus. Faced with the problem inherent to one-year MBAs the lack of a summer internship Stern came up with a unique solution: the Experiential Internship Course, a multi-part learning opportunity that extends across the four Abu Dhabi-based modules. In it, students working in small teams will partner with organizations in the UAE to address real-world business challenges. One of the things that we were very mindful of is that in having a one-year full-time MBA program that runs straight through with no break, there isnt a natural internship, Salomon tells Poets&Quants. Theres no, OK, youre going to go off and do an internship for a little while and then come back to school. So what weve done is, weve built it into the full-time MBA: Students will be doing what we refer to as the signature internship projects where they will be paired with local organizations that need help on specific issues, real-world issues that theyre facing at the moment. We already have 19 projects, which is more than enough that we need for the 50 or so students that well have, because well be working in groups on these projects. And the students will work on real problems with organizations from the get-go. Story continues Shorter and faster is the way of the future for MBA programs, Salomon agrees. I think thats the way the markets going, he says. If you ask me, I think 10, 15, 20 years from now, Id say half the programs will be one-year programs and half the programs will be two-year programs. COST & REWARD NYU Sterns Robert Salomon: Were looking for folks who are smart, yes, have emotional intelligence, yes, but also who have a desire to contribute to the region in whatever way, shape, or form Applications are still open for the first cohort of the NYUAD MBA that begins in January. They close in October. (Click here to learn more.) October also marks the beginning of the application period for the second cohort that will begin the program in January 2026. Tuition is $115,638, plus estimated living expenses of $38,724. Put together, that makes the program among the more expensive for a one-year program but not more so than some peer programs like the Cornell Johnson Tech MBA and the USC Marshall one-year program. And as in those programs, several merit-based scholarships are available to help offset the cost. Upon successful completion of the NYUAD MBA, students will graduate with a fully accredited New York University diploma, jointly conferred by NYU Stern School of Business and NYU Abu Dhabi. And then theyll look for work ideally staying in the region, Salomon says, which is bustling with jobs in industries that wants and need more MBA talent. Consistent with our tradition in New York and how we grew up as a school, obviously finance will be a big component of what we do. And Abu Dhabi is a financial hub, says Salomon, a professor of international management who is in his 20th year with NYU Stern. Its home to some of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. I think several of the top-10 largest sovereign wealth funds in the world are located in the UAE. Sophisticated financial institutions are located in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. So thats one. Another is consulting. Theres a huge amount of consulting. All the large consulting firms, the BCGs, the Bains, the McKinseys, the KPMGs, the Kearneys, the PwCs, they all have hubs in the UAE and they all have large offices in the UAE. Oil and gas has been a traditional industry there. But when I think about the UAE, theyre also one of the fastest-growing alternative energy markets in the world. For example, they have the largest solar farm in the world. So alternative energy is an industry thats growing and growing very quickly there. Their sustainability at large is growing very quickly there. Tech of all sorts. FinTech, EdTech theyre pioneers in both of those spaces. So there are lots of areas where were seeing interest among the students. And not only that, the employers in the region are very receptive to having a top U.S. business school in the market. A GLOBAL INSTITUTION THATS LOOKING TO ATTRACT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD NYU Stern already offers two one-year accelerated MBA programs, both geared to specific industries: Its Fashion & Luxury MBA and the Andre Koo Tech MBA. Stern also offers its two-year MBA, of course, which P&Q ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. and Bloomberg Businessweek ranks in the top 15. For obvious reasons, the NYUAD MBA will be different, with areas of interest to the MENA region built into the curriculum. One of the similarities between this program and the New York program is, were looking for the best and the brightest from anywhere in the world, Salomon says. Just like the New York program, were looking for people who are intelligent, have the IQ factor and also the EQ factor. That for us is very important. Were looking for folks, just like New York, who have 2 to, lets say, 10-plus years worth of experience commensurate with a full-time MBA program. But there is one difference. And the one difference is that we really are looking to identify people who are interested in building and developing their careers in the region, in Abu Dhabi, in Dubai, in the broader Middle East. And theres a couple of things that make that attractive. The first one is, if you look at the UAE and the Middle East as a region more broadly, its one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. One of the consistently growing regions in the world. There are people coming to the UAE from all over the world. And there is a real desire in the UAE to attract talent and not only attract talent, but keep talent there. And so were looking for folks who are smart, yes, have emotional intelligence, yes, but also who have a desire to contribute to the region in whatever way, shape, or form. So were not looking for local students to go to a local institution. This is going to be a global institution thats looking to attract students from all over the world but what they share in common is a desire to develop their careers in the region. Learn more about the NYU Abu Dhabi one-year MBA program. And see a Q&A with Dean Robert Salomon on the next page, edited for length and clarity. Robert Salomon, dean of NYUAD and professor of international management at NYU Stern: Consistent with our tradition in New York and how we grew up as a school, obviously finance will be a big component of what we do POETS&QUANTS Q&A WITH ROBERT SALOMON, DEAN OF NYU ABU DHABI P&Q: Where are things at right now in preparing for the first year of the NYU Abu Dhabi one-year MBA program, and what has the last year been like for you? Robert Salomon: The last year has been an absolute whirlwind in a good way. Ive never had this kind of experience in my career before of trying to put together an entirely new program, and in some sense a new business school. So weve spent the last year hiring staff, administrators. Weve spent the last year hiring faculty. Were already up to 14 faculty members in C2 (Campus Center), in Abu Dhabi. And were in the throes of the admissions process. So we went from when we announced it was, I think there were two people that were attached to the program at the time from a faculty and staff standpoint. Now were up to 32. And we have plans to grow that from there. The first classes begin in January. Did you receive the volume of applications youd hoped for? The volumes been excellent. We dont release numbers until after the class is admitted, but the class is shaping up really, really, really strong. Once the class arrives in January, well release all those data and class statistics. But just to provide some specificity, for this first class we said that we were looking to have a class of around 50 students in this first cohort. And like I said, the class is shaping up nicely. This program is unique in several ways, but Id like to hear you talk about them. Its fair to say that theres nobody doing quite what youre planning to be doing. Thats fair. I can talk about it on several dimensions. We can talk about it in terms of location, program structure, the composition of the class. Ill talk about all those things. The way in which this program is slightly different than most full-time MBA programs is that this is a one-year, intensive full-time MBA program that goes straight through. Its 12 months long, theres no break. It starts in January and it ends in December. So structurally, its a little bit different than many other programs that are out there. I mean, there are a few other programs that are one year in length, at some schools, at some of our competitor schools, in fact. But thats one thing that makes this unique. Another thing that makes this unique is that its off-cycle in some sense. Typically, were accustomed to programs that start in September and end in May. Thats sort of the classic school-year cycle. We are starting in January and ending in December, for a variety of reasons, but mostly because in the U.S. there is very much a hiring cycle. The hiring cycle starts in September. It usually starts with the financial institutions. Then in November, the consulting companies come by. Then in January you get the tech companies to come and interview. In other markets in Europe, in the Middle East, the hiring calendar isnt as structured as it is in the United States. So we thought to ourselves, Look, theres nothing that says that the program has to be September to May. We can have a program that starts in January and ends in December, and that might speak to a whole set of students for whom that calendaring works better than what a standard academic calendar might look like. So thats another unique aspect of it. And then there is the summer in New York. There you go. The summer in New York, that I think is one of the things that we have at NYU, which is a true advantage as a university: We have whats called the Global Network University with campuses in Shanghai, in Abu Dhabi, with study-away sites, with sites in London and Madrid and Accra, Ghana, and Buenos Aires, and Australia. So the nice thing is, we have the opportunity to bring the benefit of having that Network University to our students and allowing them to study in different places. So for this program, were doing Abu Dhabi for nine months and New York for three months eight and a half and three and a half, lets call it. So everybody in the program will come to New York. Where are you going to put them? Theyre going to all stay at my place. (laughs) One of the cool things about NYU too is that we have a fairly regular cycle. The students are here from September to May. So in the summer months when they leave the dorms, those dorm rooms are available and we will have capacity. So we will offer our students dorms, and there are even apartment-style dorms for graduate students that will be on offer for them as well, which is nice especially for older students, graduate students in an MBA program. We talked about target size for the cohort, but what about target student for the cohort? What are you looking for? Who are you looking for? So thats another thing that I was going to discuss as a difference maybe from this program versus, say, the New York program. One of the similarities between this program and the New York program is were looking for the best and the brightest from anywhere in the world. Just like the New York program, were looking for people who are intelligent, have the IQ factor and also the EQ factor. That for us is very important. Were looking for folks, just like New York, who have 2 to lets say 10-plus years worth of experience commensurate with a full-time MBA program. But there is one difference. And the one difference is that we really are looking to identify people who are interested in building and developing their careers in the region, in Abu Dhabi, in Dubai, in the broader Middle East. And theres a couple of things that make that attractive. The first one is, if you look at the UAE and the Middle East as a region more broadly, its one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. One of the consistently growing regions in the world. There are people coming to the UAE from all over the world. And there is a real desire in the UAE to attract talent and not only attract talent, but keep talent there. And so were looking for folks who are smart, yes, have emotional intelligence, yes, but also who have a desire to contribute to the region in whatever way, shape, or form. So were not looking for local students to go to a local institution. This is going to be a global institution thats looking to attract students from all over the world but what they share in common is a desire to develop their careers in the region. And stay after they graduate, right? Yeah, it would be great if they stayed after they graduated. I mean, you cant force anybody to stay anywhere. But yeah, it would be nice for us as an anchor institution in Abu Dhabi, to see our students graduate, stay, and flourish in the region. For you to become a sort of feeder institution to the local industries, if thats the way it works out. And there are many! There are a lot of industries there. When people think about that region, they probably think oil and gas first. But you also are going to have a focus on sustainability, right? Consistent with our tradition in New York and how we grew up as a school, obviously finance will be a big component of what we do. And Abu Dhabi is a financial hub. Its home to some of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. I think several of the top-10 largest sovereign wealth funds in the world are located in the UAE. Sophisticated financial institutions are located in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. So thats one. Another is consulting. Theres a huge amount of consulting. All the large consulting firms, the BCGs, the Bains, the McKinseys, the KPMGs, the Kearneys, the PwCs, they all have hubs in the UAE and they all have large offices in the UAE. You mentioned sustainability, and you mentioned oil and gas, and that has been a traditional industry there. But when I think about the UAE, theyre also one of the fastest-growing alternative energy markets in the world. For example, they have the largest solar farm in the world. So alternative energy is an industry thats growing and growing very quickly there. Their sustainability at large is growing very quickly there. Tech of all sorts. FinTech, EdTech theyre pioneers in both of those spaces. Biotech is another area. I would say that biotech is probably more aspirational. Theyre making investments in those areas. Its not like a Boston or a New York or a San Francisco when it comes to biotech. It would be foolish of me to make that kind of comparison. But they do have aspirations there. And its a burgeoning group of pharma-biotech companies that are starting to locate there. So there are lots of areas where were seeing interest among the students. And not only that, the employers in the region are very receptive to having a top U.S. business school in the market. What would you say for someone who may not necessarily be on a track but who is interested in entrepreneurship and doing their own thing after this program? What might interest them about coming to Abu Dhabi? Thats something that is another area that theyre very keen on in the UAE: entrepreneurship. And one of the things that NYU Abu Dhabi is extremely proud of is that on campus it has an accelerator called startAD. Students will be able to connect with this accelerator, and there will be collaborations between Stern and Abu Dhabi Stern and NYU Abu Dhabi and startAD and NYU Abu Dhabi to promote the entrepreneurial education of our students. We have an entrepreneurship track. Students can study entrepreneurship and in addition to studying it, they can also engage with startAD to work with ventures that are already in their accelerator to get help on with ventures that they themselves are thinking about forming. So its nice to have that there. Theres one other thing that I forgot to mention that maybe is slightly unique about the program. Its not a unique concept this concept has been around for a long time. But one of the things that we were very mindful of is that in having a one-year full-time MBA program that runs straight through with no break, there isnt a natural internship. Theres no, OK, youre going to go off and do an internship for a little while and then come back to school. So what weve done is, weve built it into the full-time MBA: Students will be doing what we refer to as the signature internship projects where they will be paired with local organizations that need help on specific issues, real-world issues that theyre facing at the moment. We already have 19 projects, which is more than enough that we need for the 50 or so students that well have, because well be working in groups on these projects. And the students will work on real problems with organizations from the get-go. So then the New York phase of the program will actually be a bit of a break. Right. There are two projects that theyll do during their time in the program. Signature Internship Project one, which is January to May, then a break in New York, and then they do another project: Signature Internship Project two, which runs from the end of August to the end of December. For an example of the kind of projects, one of the projects is that some student groups will be paired with startups: Those students who are interested in entrepreneurship can get paired with a startup for their project so that they help the startup. If you think about a two-year program and you take out all the breaks take out the summer, take out the six-week winter New Year break, take out the one week or two weeks that they get for spring break here and the days they get there, it actually turns into a 12, 13-month program. Thats exactly what an MBA is. So were just taking out all those breaks and helping people get it done. One thing I would say is that this also helps people stay out of the workforce for a shorter period of time. So theyre not out of the workforce for two years. Theyre only out of the workforce for one. So they get their MBA which is equivalent to an MBA that they might get at any other top institution, and they get it in a shorter period of time. And so they minimize the amount of time that theyre out of the office so they can get back to work and start building their careers again. Faster is what people want. I think thats the way the markets going. If you ask me, I think 10, 15, 20 years from now, Id say half the programs will be one-year programs and half the programs will be two-year programs. DONT MISS NYU STERN TO LAUNCH MIDDLE EAST-BASED ONE-YEAR MBA and THE TOP ONE-YEAR MBA PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES The post The Curtain Is About To Rise On NYU Sterns Big Mideast Venture: An Accelerated MBA In Abu Dhabi appeared first on Poets&Quants. 4 Browns players ruled out for Sunday with injuries BEREA, Ohio (WKBN) Four Cleveland Browns players have been ruled out for Sundays road game in Las Vegas. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., right tackle Jack Conklin, tight end David Njoku, and running back Pierre Strong Jr. will not play against the Raiders. Njoku, who practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, has not played since week one when he suffered an ankle injury. Wills sustained a knee injury in his season debut against the Giants in week 3. Conklin was working his way back from a knee injury suffered in 2023. Late last week he suffered a hamstring injury, which has kept him off the field. Strong is likewise nursing a hamstring injury that he suffered in week two in Jacksonville. The Browns and Raiders will kick off on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. on WKBN-27. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 tornado associated with Hurricane Helene, now a tropical depression, touched down in a Nash County city on Friday, Sept. 27, injuring several people. Around 1:30 p.m., the tornado struck two restaurants with people inside, and two other buildings near North Wesleyan Boulevard and Benvenue Road in Rocky Mount, emergency officials said. The damaged buildings include Hing Ta Restaurant, El Tapatio Mexican restaurant and the auto repair shop between the two. Weve had multiple injuries, with four of those being critical, Nash County communications director Jonathan Edwards said at 2:30 p.m. Edwards said EMS was triaging patients and taking those who required hospitalization to UNC Health Nash. He said they didnt have reports of other serious damage to share yet. Helene, which was downgraded to a tropical depression around 2 p.m. Sept. 27, brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to portions of North Carolina. Areas in the west of the state are dealing with flooding and dangerous road conditions in the wake of the storm. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Raleigh issued tornado warnings for many municipalities across the Triangle, including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Helene and its remnants also caused two deaths in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said during a morning briefing Sept. 27. One person died Thursday, Sept. 26, following a motor vehicle crash on a flooded road in Catawba County. Another died Sept. 27 when a tree fell on a house in Charlotte. Check Triangle power outages as Tropical Depression Helene moves through the state Tornado warnings across the Triangle as Helene moves through. Shelter in place urged Four young captive-bred California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are set to be released on Saturday September 28 at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona. The 28th annual event celebrating these endangered birds will also be live streamed via The Peregrine Funds YouTube channel, at 1 p.m. MDT/12 p.m. PDT. The young condors all hatched at The Peregrine Funds World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. The Peregrine Fund worked with the Oregon Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to bring them to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument to release the endangered birds into the wild. Condors are the largest bird species in North America and a crucial part of the ecosystem, but during the 1980s, the California condor population declined to just 22 individuals. The raptors faced a deadly combination of habitat loss, poaching, lead poisoning, accidents with power lines, the insecticide Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and most recently, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu. California condors are also considered sacred to many Indigenous cultures. The Yurok Tribe of the Pacific Northwest call California condors prey-go-neesh in Yurok, and the birds have been tied to the Yurok Hlkelonah, or the cultural and ecological landscape, since the beginning of time. The tribe has officially been a driving force on condor reintroduction since 2008. This work and the interdisciplinary California Condor Recovery Program has helped save them from the brink of extinction. [Related: CT scans look inside a California condor egg.] As of June 2024, there are 85 condors in the wild in the rugged canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah. The total world population of endangered California condors includes more than 560 individuals. Half of these are flying free in Arizona, Utah, California, and Mexico. The first condor release at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument was on December 12, 1996. The event was live streamed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, reaching over 10,000 viewers. Last year was the first year tha that release did not take place due to bird flu. The virus killed 21 condors in the Utah-Arizona flock and officials did not release any condors as a way to prevent additional infections. [Related: Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species.] During the recent HPAI outbreak, one female California condor nestling became a poster bird for resilience, after her mother died from HPAI and was raised by foster parents at The Peregrine Funds propagation facility. She is set to officially enter the wild during this years release event. This years condor release will be especially impactful given the losses we experienced in 2023 from HPAI and lead poisoning, The Peregrine Funds California condor program director Tim Hauck said in a statement. With only 85 condors remaining in the Utah-Arizona flock and lead poisoning still a prominent issue, the release of these four condors will have a significant impact on the recovery program. But the California condor release this year is not just a celebration of these four condors, it is a moment of triumph for the biologists, volunteers, wildlife rehabilitators, recovery partners, and supporters who persevered through the last year. [Related: Inside the Yurok Tribes mission to make critically endangered condors thrive.] The condor team cant predict exactly when the birds will decide to leave the release pen, so the live-stream event will have a picture-in-picture set up with a camera on the pen. It will also include videos and interviews with the condor biologists and conservationists who work with these special birds. This condor conservation effort is a cooperative program by federal, state, and private partners, including The Peregrine Fund, the Bureau of Land Managements Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and the Bureau of Land Management in Utah (BLM), Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Kaibab and Dixie National Forests, and tribes (Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians [Kaibab-Paiute Tribe] and Navajo Nation), among several other supporting groups and individuals. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield child was reunited with his family after walking around the neighborhood lost for more than two hours. According to the Springfield Police Department, on Sunday, September 1st, a resident found a 4-year-old boy who she didnt recognize walking around the neighborhood. The woman attempted to find the boys home but was unsuccessful. Child struck by car on Main Street in Holyoke Springfield Police Officers Lindsay Ruby, Ana Quiles, and Detective John Lopez were called to Commonwealth Ave to assist. The officers walked with the non-verbal child in hopes of finding his home and were also approached by Mayor Sarno. An AMR paramedic who was knocking on doors located the childs parents. He was brought to Baystate Health for evaluation. Mayor Sarno contacted Police Superintendent Akers to express his appreciation and thank the officers who showed compassion for this young boy. First of all thank you to everyone involved, from the neighbor who found this boy wandering and called the police, to the officers who cared for this boy and the paramedic who located his home. Without the Mayors message, I would not have known about our officers actions during this sensitive situation. Unfortunately, our officers respond to incidents like this far too often, but I can rest easy knowing that they do so in a professional manner. Thank you to Officers Ruby, Quiles and Detective Lopez for your work in making this boy feel comfortable on what must have been a traumatic day. Every interaction with the public makes a difference and want all our officers serving our community in the same manner that they bravely protect our community, said Superintendent Akers. 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. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Four Rhode Island men are accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of high-end vehicles from dealerships across several northeastern states, according to U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha. Belter Giron, 28, of North Providence, Alberto Rivera, 24, of Cranston, Richard Robinson, 32, and Onix Eduardo, 27, both of Providence, are charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property. Court documents allege the men burglarized a dozen dealerships between February and July of last year, stealing approximately 120 vehicles valued at around $5 million. The stolen cars included high-end brands like Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Land Rover. To date, prosecutors said 41 vehicles and 11 dirt bikes out of the near-120 allegedly stolen by the four men have been recovered. In addition, 19 Husqvarna motorcycles were stolen from a Pennsylvania dealership and 11 dirt bikes were taken from a Massachusetts dealership. The dirt bikes were allegedly stored at Girons home in North Providence. To date, law enforcement has recovered 41 vehicles and the 11 dirt bikes allegedly stolen by the four men. Report: MA, CT among top states seeing increase in car thefts According to the indictment, the group researched dealerships before traveling from Rhode Island to break into businesses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. The thefts, usually carried out in the early morning hours, involved stealing keys and driving the stolen vehicles back to Rhode Island. The men were reportedly interrupted by police multiple times, during which they drove recklessly and used their phones to coordinate escapes, the indictment states. After the thefts, they allegedly attempted to sell the stolen vehicles. Surveillance footage obtained by Providence police allegedly shows Giron and Robinson covering a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in a Providence driveway on March 13, 2023. The SUV, valued at $96,000, was one of four vehicles stolen from a New Hampshire dealership the previous day. Photo of reported stolen vehicle with alleged suspects // Court documents provided by R.I. U.S. Attorney's Office On July 10, 2023, at least one of the suspects allegedly stole two vehicles from a Somerset dealership, including a 2021 Dodge Ram TRX. The following day, a Westport dealership reported the theft of seven vehicles, titles, key fobs, and license plates, including a BMW 428xi recovered in Providence on July 12 and a Mercedes C-Class found in the Bronx, New York. The stolen TRX was also located in the Bronx on July 14, 2023. Giron is accused of selecting the dealerships to target, assembling the crews and brokering the sale of some stolen vehicles. He was arrested on Aug. 2, 2023, and his phone reportedly showed multiple web searches related to stolen vehicles and travel to a New York parking garage near where the TRX was found. In one case, a Range Rover stolen from New Hampshire on March 12, 2023, was found nearly two months later in a shipping container at a New Jersey dock, destined for Africa, according to the affidavit. Rivera and Giron first appeared in federal court in July, while Robinson appeared in August and Eduardo faced a U.S. Magistrate in September. Giron and Eduardo are currently in federal custody, while Rivera was returned to the ACI and Robinson was released on bond. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Three 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old were arrested in connection to an organized crime enterprise following an extensive investigation, according to Aurora police. On Friday, the Aurora Police Departments Crime Gun Intelligence Unit announced the arrests of: Lennon Melgares, 18, of Edgewater Xavier Chavez, 18, of Aurora Jayden Velarde, 18, of Morrison A 17-year-old from Lakewood The 17-year-old will not be identified because he is a minor. Police said Chavez was arrested on Sept. 5 by the Aurora SWAT Team, and Melgares, Velarde and the Lakewood teenager were arrested on Sept. 6 in Jefferson County. Videos show teen suspects using weapons The alleged gang members can be seen on videos shared by the Aurora Police Department. The group in the videos can be seen firing weapons while standing on a street. Another clip shows shots being fired from a moving vehicle. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Aurora Police say the teenagers seen in the videos had connections with various violent crimes. The four suspects face charges filed under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. Some of those charges include: Attempted first-degree murder Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder Aggravated intimidation of a victim or witness Felony menacing According to Aurora police, the charges stem from April when investigators were reviewing unsolved shooting cases. Investigators connected multiple shootings in Aurora to other unsolved cases in Wheat Ridge and Lakewood. Through the investigation, detectives said the four suspects were allegedly involved in activities that met Colorados definition of an organized criminal enterprise following weapon offenses through the Denver metro area. Xavier Chavez, 18, was arrested on state organized crime control charges stemming from cases in multiple Denver metro cities. (Aurora Police Department) Lennon Melgares, 18, was arrested on state organized crime control charges stemming from cases in multiple Denver metro cities. (Aurora Police Department) Jayden Velarde, 18, was arrested on state organized crime control charges stemming from cases in multiple Denver metro cities. (Aurora Police Department) Their crime sprees, police say, were becoming more dangerous. Police say three of the four people in the car were identified as having warrants out for their arrest. All four of them were working in concert together to perpetuate violence over and over again, APD Investigation Division Chief Mark Hildebrand said. In court records acquired by FOX31, investigators identified the teens as being members of a violent street gang. Aurora police confirmed the arrests are unrelated to the Tren de Aragua gang. Extensive investigation led to arrests The investigation involved multiple law enforcement officers in multiple jurisdictions. Criminals dont just isolate themselves into one jurisdiction, theyre gonna be all over the Denver area, says law enforcement expert James Allbee with Metro Intelligence agency. Body cam video also shows an arrest taking place after Aurora police focused on finding the suspects with the departments relatively new Crime Gun Intelligence Unit. So, when we recover that evidence, we are able to examine it and see if that firearm is being used in multiple events, Hildebrand said. Investigators say shell casings have markings that are like fingerprints, which can lead them to weapons and suspects. Aurora police say the unit can get results back on shell casings within 24 hours. Hildebrand says the department has identified 400 shell casing linked to other shootings so far this year. FOX31 was able to confirm at least two of the teenage suspects remain behind bars. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather Aurora police said the investigations are ongoing. Anyone who has information on the suspects or the crimes is asked to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) More than four years ago, 18-year-old Nascia Goodwin was shot and killed in Dayton. With her case still unsolved, Miami Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 cash reward to get the suspect behind bars. I agonize a lot of times. I cry. Its hard not to be, you know, emotional. I loved Cia. I love Cia so much, says Ester Goodwin, Nascias grandmother. The two shared a special bond. Nascia was Esters first granddaughter. She had a good heart, describes Ester. Shes very loving, very loving and kind. In the early hours of August 26, 2020, someone fatally shot Nascia. Her body was found in a grassy area at 926 Gard Avenue near Germantown Street. There are no suspects at this point. No, says Detective Elizabeth Alley. More than four years later, the Dayton Police Department Cold Case Unit is still working the case. These cases do get solved at times. They are definitely solved on tips that come in and thats why were hoping that someone can bring forth some information to bring some closure for the family, states Detective Alley. Thats why Crime Stoppers is stepping up to offer a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction in Nascias murder. Anything is super helpful, no matter how minor it is. It could be something to help solve the case, reiterates Detective Alley. Nascias grandmother is hoping the money will be enough for someone to come forward, helping give he peace. I hope it can be solved sooner. Really. Yes. Its been a long time. And theres a lot of people that I think know, says Ester. My closure is just knowing what happened to her actually. If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP. You can remain anonymous. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 5 things to know about the indictment against Eric Adams New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces a five-count criminal indictment stemming from a federal corruption investigation, charges fellow Democrats from New York to Washington have deemed serious. Adams, who has been charged with wire fraud, foreign contribution solicitation and bribery, denied allegations of wrongdoing in a press conference Thursday. He insisted he would not resign from office. Federal officials raided Gracie Mansion Adamss home as the citys top executive on Thursday morning as part of the investigation into improper use of campaign funds and particular connections to Turkey, which traced back to his 2021 bid for mayor of New York. In addressing part of the indictment that focused on Adamss alleged financial conflicts and luxurious travel benefits, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: These upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent-flyer or benefits program available to the general public. Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, is the citys second Black mayor and has been a key ally of President Biden, though the two have sparred throughout his tenure. Here are five things to know about the indictment: 1. Prosecutors say Adamss campaign illegally received $10M in public funds Prosecutors are pointing to Adams allegedly accepting money through a fund-matching program, which effectively matches individuals small-dollar donations with as much as eight times their contribution in public financing. The indictment states that Adamss mayoral campaign applied for matching funds based on known straw donations, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. It further claims that he and associates falsely certified compliance to give the appearance of adhering to current campaign finance laws. The move ultimately resulted in a total of $10 million in funds from the public, according to the indictment. 2. Adams urged FDNY to OK a new Turkish consulate, at Turkeys request A Turkish official pressed Adams in September 2021 to convince the the New York City Fire Department to allow a new Turkish consular building to open without the proper building inspection. The official wanted the opening before a widely anticipated visit from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the time, the building would have failed an FDNY inspection, the indictment reads. Adams, according to the court document, did as instructed, after accepting free travel and other travel related bribes in 2021 and 2022 arranged by the Turkish Official. The U.S. attorney said Thursday that 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. These are bright red lines, and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years, said Williams. That is the only reason we are here. 3. Turkish associates celebrated Adamss election victory Following Adamss win in the New York mayoral election, two Turkish individuals a businessman and a person the indictment lists only as a promoter expressed excitement over the results. The Turkish businessman asked if the elections had finished, to which the promoter responded that he received congratulations messages about Adamss success and predicted that he would be assigned as a representative. 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 promoter went on. The businessman responded positively to the news: That would be nice. 4. Adams told the FBI his phone was locked and he forgot his password The day after FBI agents attempted to search Adamss cellphone and other devices via a warrant, he said that he was not able to get into it because he forgot his password. Adams said, following a federal subpoena, that it was locked and that he had created a new password the prior day. In the indictment, Adams claimed that he deliberately changed the lock code to prevent members of his staff from inadvertently or intentionally deleting the contents of his phone as not to tamper with the current investigation. 5. A staffer left a meeting with the FBI to use the bathroom and deleted phone messaging software while there During a meeting with FBI agents that the indictment describes as voluntary, a staffer working for Adams got up from the interview to use the bathroom. The document states that during her time away from the meeting with FBI agents, ostensibly in the bathroom, she deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with ADAMS, the Promoter, the Turkish Official, the Airline Manager, and others. Ella Lee 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Six undercover Abilene police officers who assisted in rescuing a kidnapped baby earlier this year have been recognized for their heroic actions. FBI Dallas agents came to Abilene Friday to present the officers with FBI Director Certificates in connection to the arrest of a homicide suspect and successful rescue of a kidnapped infant in Abilene. The FBI contacted Abilene PD the evening of May 5 after learning murder suspect Alek Collins may have been hiding inside an Abilene home after fleeing the scene of a double homicide and kidnapping in Clovis, New Mexico. Abilene police take New Mexico double homicide suspect into custody, recover abducted baby Officers immediately jumped into action, helping with surveillance overnight before completing a successful but risky rescue and arrest after Collins left the residence with the kidnapped baby and attempted to flee. At great risk to themselves, the officers converged on the suspect and placed him under arrest. The infant was rescued from the vehicle and reunited with family members, a press release from the FBI explains. All officers involved in the rescue were awarded during a private ceremony at APD headquarters. Congratulations to each officer for their tremendous accomplishments during this difficult and dangerous investigation and the work you do each day to uphold your oaths of office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge McGuire proclaimed. Read more about the double homicide and kidnapping 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. More than 70,000 customers in York, Chester, and Lancaster counties remained without power Friday afternoon after Helene ripped through the Rock Hill region. Wind gusts that reached over 40 miles per hour from the dark hours through the early afternoon caused havoc as damage from the storm spread across upstate South Carolina and around the Charlotte area. Trees were down on roads in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and other areas from early Friday through the afternoon, although most main roads had been cleared by around 3 p.m. With schools closed but wind gusts still reaching above 30 MPH, emergency officials urged anyone who does not have to be on the roads to stay home until roads are cleared. Rock Hill had anywhere from five to seven inches of rain from Thursday morning until it stopped early Friday afternoon, city officials said. Fort Mill reported about 5.4 inches near Nation Ford High School, while Indian Land had around 4.25 inches, according to weather and emergency officials. SC and NC crews work Rock Hill rescue after tree falls on house Rock Hill, York County deputies and firefighters, and Charlotte Fire Department emergency workers from North Carolina rescued four people from a home on Poinsett Drive in Rock Hill near Celanese Road after a tree fell on the house, sheriffs deputies and Charlotte Fire said in social media postings. TREE DOWN: Deputies are assisting firefighters with rescuing 2 people trapped inside this house on Poinsett Dr. Rock Hill where a huge tree fell on it just around 6 am. #YCSONews pic.twitter.com/pbCyur5mrr York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) September 27, 2024 A man was pinned in the house before crews got him out, Charlotte Fire posted online. The extrication took over an hour. The man gave a thumbs up as he was taken out, the fire department reported. Charlotte Fire Assists York County with Rescue Effort This morning, Charlotte Fire responded to assist York County with the challenging extrication of an adult male pinned by a large tree that fell into a home on the 2000 block of Poinsett Dr. When our teams arrived, three of pic.twitter.com/cYGF3JDAvZ Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) September 27, 2024 In a separate incident, a Rock Hill woman was hit by a fallen tree from a neighbors property, deputy city manager Jimmy Bagley said Friday afternoon. The womans husband was able to take the woman to a hospital without the city having to respond, Bagley said. The woman may have a broken arm, he said. A large tree fell in Fort Mill from Helenes rains and wind, nearly hitting a home in the Dobys Bridge Road area. Power outages up from early Friday Outages stood at around 70,000 at 3 p.m. in the three counties, according to outage maps from Duke Energy, York Electric Cooperative, and the city of Rock Hill. The number rose from around 65,000 at 8 a.m. to about 95,000 at 10 a.m. before numbers dropped as repairs were made. Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, and Indian Land also were affected by widespread service disruptions in York and Lancaster counties. Western York County also had thousands of outages around York and west of Rock Hill. Rock Hill had around 3,900 customers without power as of 3 p.m, according to city statistics and Mayor John Gettys. However, that number had dropped considerably from almost 19,000 at 10 a.m., when almost half of the city was without service. Repairs in Rock Hill to restore all power could take a couple of days because some areas are harder to get to, Gettys said at news conference. The city had crews from the Charleston area and Alabama coming later Friday to assist city crews with repairs over the weekend, Gettys said. York Electric Cooperatives outage map showed over 23,000 York County customers without service as of 3 p.m. The co-op reported around another 1,800 outages for Lancaster and Chester customers. Repairs are ongoing but no timetable has yet to be released for customers to be back in service, cooperative vice-president Marc Howie said. Duke Energy reported about 24,000 outages in York County around 3 p.m., according to its outage map. Another 9,000 Duke customers in Lancaster County lost power, while Chester County had around 8,000 outages. Trees in roads, Catawba River levels, regional Helene effects No fatalities were reported in York, Chester or Lancaster counties as of 3 p.m., officials said. Catawba River headwaters could rise higher than they ever have before, due to heavy rain from Helene. Just before 11 a.m. Lake Wylie sat less than a foot below its full pond, or when a lake starts spilling. Four of six upstream lakes on the Catawba were above their full ponds, some by more than four feet. Law enforcement reported trees blocking parts of roads into the afternoon, but most were in the process of being cleared, according to the York County Sheriffs Office. York County Emergency Management was continuing with response and recovery efforts Friday afternoon after the rain cleared, director Chuck Haynes said. In Charlotte, one person died and another was seriously hurt when a tree fell on a house, The Charlotte Observer reported. Trees were reported on a few houses in Lancaster County but did not destroy those buildings, said Darren Player, emergency management director. High winds in southwestern Lancaster County near the Catawba River Friday morning knocked down several trees in a concentrated area off S.C. 200, Player said. Officials from the National Weather Service will likely look in coming days to see if that burst was straight line winds or possibly even a small tornado, Player said. Nearly a million people around South Carolina were without power Friday morning, The State reported. As of 3 p.m., there were over 1.2 million people statewide without service, according to Poweroutage.us, a site that aggregates outages nationwide. Helene was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm Friday. The NWS forecast for the area shows a continued flash flood warning through early next week. By Stefanie Eschenbacher and Shariq Khan (Reuters) - Mexico's Pemex this month shipped its first fuel export cargo from its new Olmeca refinery to India, a sign of progress after multiple delays and spiraling costs, according to shipping data and industry sources. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose term ends on Sept. 30, staked part of his legacy on the 340,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Dos Bocas by promising that it would wean Mexico off costly motor fuel imports. Pemex loaded around 112,000 barrels of petroleum coke from Olmeca on the vessel Ocean Royal at the port of Dos Bocas on Sept. 11, according to data from ship-tracking service Kpler. It then picked up a larger cargo of the same industrial fuel from Corpus Christi in Texas on Sept. 15, the data showed. Petroleum coke is used in power plants or in the manufacturing of various items such as glass or steel. Olmeca's cargo is heading for the port of Dahej, an industrial hub in India's west-coast state of Gujarat, home to chemical and petrochemical companies. The cargo should reach its destination by the end of October, according to Kpler. Neither the first exports from the new refinery nor the destination and volume of the deal have previously been reported. Pemex has done another deal to sell petroleum coke from Olmeca, one of the sources said, and is also producing fuel oil and asphalt there but no gasoline. Pemex did not respond to a request for comment. The exports offer an important milestone in efforts to start-up Olmeca, but fall short of government promises that the refinery would be working at full capacity by now. A photograph of the refinery control unit, shared with Reuters in late August, showed some plants at the refinery were working individually but facing issues with their interconnection. As of late September, the refinery is still trialing individual units and is in the process of ramping up its coker, a unit that processes residual oil into petroleum coke or feedstocks for motor fuels, two of the sources said. Some of the units have not reached optimal configuration and some are not yet working in sync with each other, they said. The outgoing president inaugurated Olmeca in July 2022 in his home state Tabasco, billing it as crucial to energy self-sufficiency for Mexico. Delays to the venture, whose costs have more than doubled to $16.8 billion, leave it to his successor Claudia Sheinbaum to turn that dream into reality. Olmeca began diesel production from crude oil in July, according to Pemex. But the output is yet to meet specifications for domestic or international sales, two sources close to the refinery said. Story continues Previously, Pemex had further processed ultra-low sulfur diesel from diesel that was already produced at another refinery. Pemex said in late August that the refinery had further processed 65,046 bpd of crude oil in July, producing 21,511 bpd of diesel and 8,775 bpd of petroleum coke. (Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher in Sao Paulo and Shariq Khan in New York; Additional reporting by Nicole Jao in New York; Editing by Simon Webb and Nick Zieminski) CHICAGO A crash involving a multi-passenger van on the citys South Side left at least eight people injured on Thursday afternoon. Officials from the Chicago Fire Department said the crash unfolded near East 98th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue, in Pullman, and appeared to have involved only one vehicle. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines WGNs SkyCam 9 was over the scene around 4:30 p.m. when the van, which appeared to have crashed into a tree in the area, could be seen surrounded by emergency personnel. South Side crash involving van draws heavy emergency response South Side crash involving van draws heavy emergency response South Side crash involving van draws heavy emergency response At least five ambulances and two firetrucks could also be seen from overhead following the incident. According to CFD, eight people were taken to the hospital following the crash and three of them were listed in critical condition. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities have not provided details on how many people were on board the van at the time of the incident, and it is currently unclear what led to the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Suppose you chat with anyone who grew up in Abilenes historic Barrio Sancudo. In that case, youll likely be regaled with memories of community gatherings, yearly reunions, and a childhood filled with close-knit neighborhood fun. Sandra Rodriguez no longer lives in Abilene but grew up there and holds deep roots in that historic neighborhood. My grandmother and my grandfather came to that neighborhood when there was no houses. And that was like in 1905. Rodriguez told KTAB/KRBC. Barrio Del Sancudo, which roughly translates to Neighborhood of the Mosquito, was well known for the large, pesky mosquitoes that thrived on the nearby creeks. However, the neighborhood is also known for being the only place Hispanic people could live for decades in Abilene. It was family; we were family, and we were all real good friends with the Herreras of Casa Herrera and Farolito restaurant. I grew up on Bois DArc Street. The Garcias and the Diaz down the street. I mean, everyone knew each other. We werent rich folks, but we were happy. Said Rodriguez. Women of the Barrio Sancudo in the 1950s, Credit: Abilene Public Librarys Hispanic Heritage Committee collection At the heart of that community was Sam Houston Elementary. Before it was constructed, many, like Rodriguezs mother, attended the Americanization school. Houston took over in 1949 as the only school Hispanic Abelonians could attend. It means a lot to a lot of us. I know it does. Our mothers made our cheerleading costumes and our little pom-poms. We had some good memories, said Rodriguez. She attended for six years, from 1961 through 1967. She says that at that young age, she was not aware of the segregation she was living through, but looking back, she is able to see just how different things were at that time. The other schools had a lot of privileges that we didnt get. Like the lunch room, for instance. Nowadays, I mean a school would not be without a lunchroom. We didnt have a cafeteria; we had a lunch lady that would make peanut butter, peanut butter, jelly, and sometimes ham sandwiches, and that was pretty much all. Rodriguez said. Houston Elementary 2nd grade class, Date unknown Credit: Abilene Public Librarys Hispanic Heritage Committee collection Integration officially came to Abilene in 1974, although some schools were desegregated before then. Rodriguez shares her memories of her first attendance at an integrated school. My teachers and students were all pretty nice. I remember the white students would sit together, and sometimes, I didnt have any Hispanic kids that I knew in my class, so I felt alone. It was sad. But I started making friends with some white friends, and were having our 50th reunion this weekend, and Im so excited, said Rodriguez. In 1979, the Houston school transitioned to an alternative campus known as the AISD Student Achievement Center. A State historical marker was placed on the grounds in 2019; however, in the 2010s, its doors were shuttered for good. Since then, little has been done to preserve the grounds, and they have fallen to the ravages of time. Houston school interior, 2017 Its sad. I hope they never tear it down. That is a landmark right there, a good historical place. Rodriguez said. She and so many others KTAB/KRBC spoke with in the Barrio Sancudo neighborhood were concerned about seeing the school and, with it, a piece of their history left to decay. It was obvious they had us over there in a little corner. And didnt do much for our school. And thats very important for our kids because they didnt see that. They might catch some kind of prejudice now and then, but not like it used to be. Maybe make it, like I said, a museum Because thats where it all started in that neighborhood. And that school should be very important to everyone. Said Rodriguez. She says the lessons of the past are so often the best teachers. Now, she says that if anything is going to be done to save the school, it might have to be that same family community that comes together to do 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Lesley Chavez, right, canvasser lead at Poder In Action, hands out neighborhood maps during a voter canvassing event Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) PHOENIX (AP) When Lesley Chavez found out she was pregnant at age 16, she saw her daughter as a blessing from God and never considered an abortion, a view reinforced by her devout Christian mother. If she could have voted at the time, Chavez would have opposed expanding abortion access. But 10 years later as she and other Arizona residents braced for a possible ban on nearly all abortions Chavez drove over 300 miles (480 kilometers) to California to help a friend get one. That experience with someone she knew who was struggling financially and couldn't support another child was the final push that changed Chavezs stance on the issue. I just kind of felt like, dang, if I didn't have nobody, I would want someone like me to be there. I would want someone that's not going to judge me and actually help, she said. Now, she helps deliver that message to other Latinos in Arizona, one of nine states that is considering constitutional amendments to enshrine abortion rights. As abortion-rights groups court Latino voters through door-knocking and Spanish-language ads, they say the fast-growing group could determine the outcome of abortion ballot measures across the U.S., particularly in states such as Arizona and Florida with large Latino populations. Like other Americans, Latinos have an array of personal feelings and connections to the issue that can be impacted by religion, culture, country of origin and other things, organizers say. But their views are often misunderstood and oversimplified by people who assume they are all Catholic and, therefore, anti-abortion, said Natasha Sutherland, communications director for Floridians Protecting Freedom, which is behind an abortion measure in that state. A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about two-thirds of Hispanic Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. About 4 in 10 U.S. Hispanics identify as Catholic, about one-third as Protestant or other Christian, and about one-quarter as religiously unaffiliated. Efforts to reach Latino voters often hinge on one-on-one conversations old-school, boots on the ground organizing, said Alex Berrios, co-founder of the grassroots Florida group Mi Vecino, or my neighbor. Overall, about 14.7% of eligible voters, or 36.2 million people, are Latino, according to the Pew Research Center. In Florida, 18% of registered voters are Hispanic, or 2.4 million people, according to an October 2023 analysis by the nonpartisan Latino advocacy organization NALEO Educational Fund. More than 855,000 Latinos are expected to cast ballots in Arizona for the November election, making up about 1 in 4 Arizona voters, according to NALEO. As a lead canvasser for the grassroots Arizona group Poder in Action, Chavez has knocked on the doors of ambivalent Latino voters, persuading them to support a measure that would guarantee access to abortion until fetal viability, a term used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Its generally considered to be around 23 or 24 weeks. Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, moved the measure to the top of its canvassing script because voters kept bringing up the issue. LUCHA campaigns to low-income Latino, Black and Indigenous voters. People initiated the conversation like, Oh yeah I just heard on the news what happened with the 1800 abortion ban," Abril Gallardo, chief of staff for LUCHA, said, referring to the 1864 abortion ban that the Arizona Supreme Court signaled in April the state could enforce but that lawmakers later repealed. Another group, Mi Familia Vota, has put $200,000 toward its efforts to mobilize Latino voters to support the measure. The official campaign against the proposal It Goes Too Far has enlisted Hispanic volunteers in its effort to sway voters. Abortion is one of the most important issues in the upcoming election to about 4 in 10 Hispanic voters, below the economy, crime, and health care, and about on par with immigration, according to the AP-NORC poll. In Florida, abortion is illegal after the first six weeks of pregnancy. The November ballot measure would legalize abortion until fetal viability. The Latino community is a huge part of any campaign in Florida, Sutherland said. We cant win this without Latinos, so Latino outreach is essential. Sutherland said her group uses bilingual phone banking and canvassing efforts, hosted a bilingual campaign launch rally, hired a Latino outreach manager and holds weekly Spanish-language meetings to discuss strategy. The opposing campaign has ads in Spanish and has a Spanish version of its website called Vota No En La 4. Berrios' group, Mi Vecino, has focused on Floridas 9th Congressional District, which includes Osceola County and Orlando and was the first majority Hispanic district to meet the signature requirement for putting abortion rights on the ballot. Berrios tells supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that they can vote for him and for abortion rights. We saw a need for a culturally competent nonpartisan effort to engage and educate Hispanic voters on reproductive freedom, Berrios said. For Latino men especially, it has been helpful to include messaging about limiting government decisions in family and health care decisions, several Florida organizers said. You need to have conversations that are tailored to the person in front of you. For folks in Florida, for example, who escaped communism in their own countries, theyre really moved by things having to do with freedom and the power to determine the conditions of their own lives. We try to be as nuanced as possible, said Lupe Rodriguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. Rocio Garcia, an assistant professor of sociology at Arizona State University, said that over time, Latinas, including those who are Catholic, have swung toward supporting abortion access, even if they would not get an abortion themselves. Alyssa Sanchez, a 23-year-old Mexican American who is Catholic, plans to vote for Arizona's measure. Her family members have been supportive of the issue as long as she could remember. You do still have to take Bibles, sayings, everything about the Catholic religion to your own interpretation," said Sanchez, a lifelong Arizona resident. And then battling that thought it just comes down to, I believe in peoples choice to their own bodies stronger than I believe in anything else. Sinsi Hernandez-Cancio, vice president for health justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families, said abortion-rights supporters cannot afford to assume Latino voters do not support abortion rights, especially in majority-Republican Florida, which requires 60% voter support to pass a constitutional amendment. If youre going to approach any voter with false assumptions, youre not going to be able to connect," she said. ___ Fernando reported from Chicago. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022 ended federal abortion rights. (Photo by 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. 7 States + 5 Issues That Will Swing the 2024 Election 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. 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. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 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. 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. 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) 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. You can find other stories in the series here. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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) 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 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. 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. 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) 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As America nears the home stretch before the Nov. 5 election, its time for those in the military community to make sure theyre squared away if voting by absentee ballot, officials say. If youve already registered to vote, requested your ballot and received your ballot, fill out that ballot and return it as soon as possible, said Scott Wiedmann, director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, or FVAP. Give it plenty of time to get back to your local election officials. About three-fourths of the 1.4 million active duty service members are eligible to vote by absentee ballot because they are stationed away from their voting residence, according to FVAP. In addition, their family members can vote by absentee ballot. Over the years, FVAP, postal officials, lawmakers, local and state election officials and others have worked to shore up the processes for getting absentee ballots to local election officials in time to be counted. Your voting residence is within your state of legal residence or domicile. For service members, it is typically the same address listed on your Leave and Earnings Statement. Check the deadline for your returned ballot based on your state. According to FVAP.gov, the Military Postal Service Agency also has recommended mailing dates for the Nov. 5 election, although officials recommend returning the voted ballot as soon as you receive from you election officials. Those recommended dates include: From a ship at sea: Oct. 1. From outside the United States: Oct. 24. Stateside: Oct. 31. And again this year, military members and eligible family members living overseas are able to use the free expedited mail service, using the Label 11-DoD at their military post office. Military absentee voters, whether voting from overseas or from another location in the U.S. when theyre away from their voting residence, have certain protections under federal law. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, commonly referred to as UOCAVA, applies to military members and their eligible family members who are away from their voting residence, as well as U.S. citizens living overseas. Among other things, UOCAVA requires states to transmit absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters who have requested them, no later than 45 days before a federal election. Need to register to vote? If you havent registered to vote, you still have time. The FVAP.gov site can help. Voting assistance offices at military installations can also provide specific information. The services also provide voting assistance officers at the unit level; if you cant find assistance locally, you can contact your service branch voting action officer. Military absentee voters can use the Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA, to both register to vote and to simultaneously request their absentee ballot from their local election jurisdiction. Some states allow voters to send their FPCA electronically. You can download the FCPA from the FVAP.gov site. Deadlines for requesting the ballot also vary depending on the state. Voters can find specifics on states deadlines on the FVAP site. Dont assume youll automatically receive an absentee ballot if you voted by absentee ballot in previous years. FVAP officials encourage military voters to send the FPCA every year and when they move. Voters can also request absentee ballots through state applications. However, officials encourage the use of the FPCA among military absentee voters and U.S. citizens living overseas. Returned ballots requested using the FPCA were counted by local election officials at a higher percentage than ballots requested through state applications, according to an analysis of the 2020 general election conducted by FVAP. Tips to help your vote get counted FVAP reminds absentee voters to provide a complete mailing address to their local election officials, whether they are overseas or stateside. States have reported that common reasons for ballots to be rejected are missed deadlines for ballot returns, and missing signatures on their voted absentee ballot package, Weidmann said. So FVAP encourages voters to stay up-to-date with their respective states deadlines, as well as the absentee voting requirements of their state. What if you dont receive your ballot in time? If voters havent been able to receive their requested state ballot by mail or electronically, Weidmann said, they should download a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, from FVAP.gov and submit it. If the state absentee ballot arrives after the FWAB has been sent, voters can fill out and mail that state official ballot, too. Only one ballot will be counted. On average, the number of FWAB downloads have been about 50% below the numbers from 2020 at this point in the election cycle, he said. More resources -Check the status of your registration and ballot through your state site at https://www.fvap.gov/links#verification -Check your states specific deadlines at https://www.fvap.gov/military-voter -Add election dates and reminders to your mobile calendar at https://www.fvap.gov/calendar-alerts -The non-partisan Overseas Vote Foundation also offers extensive information and assistance in the absentee voting process. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Dozens gathered around the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) on Thursday to peacefully protest the death of a New Haven man last week in an officer-involved shooting. A crowd of around 50 people were calling Justice for Jebrell. Jebrell Conley, 36, was shot and killed by police officers in West Haven at a car wash. Protesters said that they do not believe police claims that Jebrell Conley fired at police. They believe police instigated a violent conflict with him. Inspector General providing new details on incident that led to 3 officers shooting and killing a man in West Haven Police said Jebrell Conley shot at them, and they fired back. Earlier this week, body camera footage was released to show when shots were fired from police and Conley. Protestors claim the edited body camera video released by police does not show Conley firing a gun at police. New Havens chief said in a press conference earlier this week that you can see Conleys car window shatter when he did fire at police, and that is what caused two New Haven officers and a state police sergeant to return fire. According to the inspector generals office, Conley had an outstanding arrest warrant on robbery and firearm charges. On Sept. 19, the police department was told that Conley was at the Splash Car Wash on Boston Post Road in West Haven. When police arrived at the car wash, they allegedly tried to block Conleys car their patrol vehicles. Questions remain for family of man in fatal shooting involving police officers When police moved in attempts to arrest him, Conley allegedly fired one round that shattered the front driver side window of his car, according to the inspector generals office. The officers fired at Conley striking him multiple times until he fell out of the car and into the parking lot. Conley was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officers involved were placed on paid leave by the NHPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists have been jailed for throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers painting after they came close to "destroying" the masterpiece. Phoebe Plummer, 23 and Anna Holland, 22, were previously convicted of criminal damage after the contents of two tins of tomato soup were poured on to the priceless 1888 piece at the National Gallery in central London. They then glued their hands to the wall beneath it. The pair caused 10,000 worth of damage to the gold-coloured frame of the glass-covered painting in the October 2022 attack. Plummer received a two-year jail term at Southwark Crown Court, while Holland was handed 20 months. Outside the court, a number of JSO supporters gathered, some of whom held posters of historical figures jailed for activism. Staff at the gallery were worried the soup may have dripped through the protective glass and destroyed the painting, the court heard. It also heard that the damaged frame had been purchased by the gallery in 1999 and was valued at 28,000. 'No right to do what you did' Sentencing the women, Judge Christopher Hehir said the "cultural treasure" could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed". The judge, who previously jailed the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion for five years, added that "soup might have seeped through the glass". "You couldn't have cared less if the painting was damaged or not. You had no right to do what you did to Sunflowers," he said. Raj Chada, defending Holland, said the women "did check" that the painting was protected by a glass cover before throwing the soup. The pair were found guilty of criminal damage by a jury after three hours of deliberation in July. The judge told Plummer, who was also handed a criminal behaviour order: "You clearly think your beliefs give you the right to commit crimes when you feel like it. You do not." Plummer, representing herself, told the hearing: "My choice today is to accept whatever sentence I receive with a smile. "It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself." Plummer was also handed a three-month sentence for her part in a slow march which caused long tailbacks in west London in November 2023 and in July, just five days after her guilty verdict, Plummer was arrested for spraying paint on departure boards at Heathrow Airport. Painted in Arles in the south of France in August 1888, van Gogh's painting shows 15 sunflowers standing in a yellow pot against a yellow background. The work was the second from the National Gallery to be selected as a target for protest action by JSO in 2022. Two supporters glued themselves to John Constable's The Hay Wain in July of that year. 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 Related internet links The Scoop Vice President Kamala Harris campaign is out with a new advertisement pushing back against attack ads by the Trump campaign. Youve probably seen all these negative ads against me. Well, heres the deal. They are designed to tear us apart, Harris says in the direct-to-camera spot, which was shared first with Semafor and will air across battleground states beginning Thursday. Look, everyone is tired of the petty, destructive politics, she says. Lets turn the page and chart a new way forward. Harris goes on in the 30-second spot to tout her work as a prosecutor, saying she took on drug cartels and human traffickers to protect our communities. Titled Lifes Work, the ad is part of a $370 million buy that the Harris campaign announced in August. The script for the new ad resembles a similar moment from the debate earlier this month in which Harris also called on voters to turn the page on the Trump era, which the campaigns research found was among her best-testing clips especially among men. The new TV spot is designed to reach out directly to on-the-fence voters still forming a picture of Harris amid a barrage of competing ads. We have seen in our internal campaign research that the more voters hear directly from her in her voice, the more they like her and are drawn to her agenda, a Harris campaign official said. The Trump campaign has attacked Harris on immigration and sought to paint her as dangerously liberal in their own TV and digital commercials. The new battleground spot comes as Harris embarks on a much-watched trip to Arizona Friday, during which the vice president will try to shore up her vulnerabilities on border security. Notable Both the Harris and Trump campaigns have focused their ad spending mostly on defining Harris , NBC News Ben Kamisar reports, with each side assuming that perceptions of Trump are far harder to change at this point. Have Trumps attack ads worked? Harris is more popular than ever in national polls, according to 538, and often has a positive favorability rating in swing states as well. But likability may not be enough, Washington Post chief correspondent Dan Balz notes: Polls show a virtually tied race, even as Trump scores worse personal ratings. GAC Aion New Energy Automobile (GAC Aion), the main electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing unit of Chinese state owned automaker GAC Group, said it aims to begin vehicle production in Indonesia from early 2025. The company currently sells vehicles imported from China through local distributor Indomobil Group. It is currently building a plant in Cikampek in West Java with an initial production capacity of 30,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Andry Ciu, CEO of local subsidiary Aion Indonesia, said the plant will assemble Aions full range of BEVs mainly for the local market, adding: We will begin production early next year and aim to accelerate the local assembly process. The company said it aims to meet the 40% local content requirement by 2027 with a target to achieve 80% local content later on. Ciu said the first model to be produced at the plant will be the Y Plus, scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, followed by other models. "GAC Aion to begin production in Indonesia" 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. Afghanistan's embassy in London closed on Friday after Taliban authorities cut ties with diplomatic missions set up by the previous government in Kabul and fired its UK staff. An AFP reporter saw a notice hung on the gate to the consular section reading: "The embassy of the Republic of Afghanistan is closed." No one answered the door but the country's flag was still flying. Afghan ambassador to the UK Zalmai Rassoul announced on social media earlier this month that the embassy would close "at the official request of the host country" on September 27. The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) denied that it was behind the closure. "This decision was not made by the UK government," a spokesperson said. "The State of Afghanistan decided to close the Afghan Embassy in London and dismiss its staff. "We continue to support the people of Afghanistan and provide humanitarian assistance to those most in need." The FCDO has not indicated whether a new Afghan ambassador would be accredited in London. The UK does not recognise the Taliban government as legitimate and does not have formal diplomatic relations with the country. But in line with the United States and the European Union, London acknowledges that there is "no alternative to engaging pragmatically with the current administration of Afghanistan". The UK mission to Afghanistan is currently based in Doha. The Afghan embassy's consular section in London closed on September 20, according to its website. On Friday, Rassoul reposted an X post in which the German ambassador to the UK said it was a "pleasure" to work with his Afghan counterpart over the years and condemned the "appalling situation for women and girls under the Taliban". Over the past three years, the Taliban has imposed an austere interpretation of Islam and progressively driven women out of public spaces. Despite the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, embassies continued to operate with diplomatic staff loyal to the previous foreign-backed government. At the end of July, the Taliban foreign affairs ministry said it "bears no responsibility" for credentials including passports and visas issued by missions out of step with Kabul's new rulers. These include Afghan embassies in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and Australia. The Taliban government has said Afghans living abroad should deal instead with missions affiliated with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan -- its self-styled name for the country since taking over. The authorities have not been officially recognised by any country, but Pakistan, China and Russia are hosting Afghan embassies working on order from the Taliban government. Diplomats at the UK embassy have reportedly been advised to leave the UK or apply for political asylum, according to the BBC. alm-mhc-aks/phz/js S.African woman turns 118, among the oldest in the world South African Margaret Maritz celebrated her 118th birthday with a party at her care home (RODGER BOSCH) (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/AFP) A South African woman celebrated her 118th birthday Friday as one of the oldest people in the world with a small party at her care home. Margaret Maritz was born on September 27, 1906, according to a copy of her identity card shown to journalists by a charity that helped to organise the party in Touws River, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Cape Town. The document has not been independently verified but if confirmed would make Maritz older than Japanese national Tomiko Itooka who was born on May 23, 1908 and is listed by the US-based Gerontology Research Group as currently the world's oldest living person. Flanked by two of her 14 children, Maritz blew out a candle on a large pink birthday cake at the party in the small town of Touws River. "She talks about her life as a young woman, (saying) you must respect your mother and your father. She didnt drink, she didnt smoke," a senior nurse at the home, Gregory Elroy Adams, told AFP. "We must be grateful," said one of her daughters, Liza Daniels, 67. "I dont know if I will reach that age one day. But for me its a very, very big privilege to have a mother that reaches this age." According to the Guinness World Records website, the oldest verified person is French national Jeanne Calment, who died in August 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days. "Several people have been claimed to be older than Jeanne, but there has never been enough evidence to authenticate them," it says. The oldest known South African died in March 2023 just two months before turning 129. Johanna Mazibuko was born on May 11, 1894 according to her identity papers, although these were not confirmed as authentic by authorities. str-br/kjm These Are All the Airports Closed as Hurricane Helene Barrels Toward Landfall Hurricane Helene is traveling across the Gulf of Mexico and continues to strengthen before its imminent landfall in Florida's Big Bend. If you're flying to the region during the storm, you might want to check your flight status. "It seems likely that Helene will be at or very near Category 4 strength when it makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening," the National Hurricane Center warned the afternoon of Sept. 26, per USA Today. A handful of airports in the area have closed their doors in anticipation of Helene's arrival. See if your travel will be affected. Tampa International Airport (TPA) Tampa International Airport suspended operations at 2 a.m. on Sept. 26 and remains closed until further notice, according to an announcement on X. It also reiterated that "The airport is not a shelter" and shared a list of Hillsborough County shelters. TPA is suspending flight operations at 2 a.m. Thursday The Airport is not a shelter. Click here for a list of shelters and other County resources: https://t.co/yOIqJmsgiq Tampa International Airport (@FlyTPA) September 26, 2024 St. PeteClearwater International Airport (PIE) Nearby St. PeteClearwater International Airport also remains closed through Sept. 26. The airport plans to reopen Friday morning, Sept. 27. Flights operating Wednesday 9/25 as scheduled. Airport terminal closing after last flight arrival Wednesday and remain closed Thursday 9/26 . PIE plans to reopen Friday morning. Contact airlines for flight info https://t.co/nGpLkez9j1. Airport terminal is not a public shelter. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (@iflypie) September 25, 2024 Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) Florida's capital sits in Helene's direct path. Unsurprisingly, the Tallahassee airport shuttered its doors until further notice. "Operations at Tallahassee International Airport will be suspended Thursday, Sept. 26, and will resume as soon as it is safe to do so," the airport wrote on social media. Operations at Tallahassee International Airport will be suspended Thursday, Sept 26, and will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. For more City of Tallahassee updates, visit https://t.co/Cxr3icByaZ pic.twitter.com/VQWwNzOm6c Tallahassee International Airport (@TLHAirport) September 25, 2024 Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) Jacksonville International Airport is open for now, though the airport warned that "Helene will likely cause additional cancellations later today and into tomorrow." If you're traveling through JAX, check with your airline for the latest updates. The airport is open and operational, but #helene will likely cause additional cancellations later today and into tomorrow. If you have a flight, check with your airline for the most up-to-date information about your itinerary and for rebooking options. pic.twitter.com/Xnljf2gfOC JAXairport (@JAXairport) September 26, 2024 Miami International Airport (MIA) Miami International Airport, the biggest in the state, remains open as of Thursday afternoon. Still, make sure your flight isn't affected. "Due to potential severe weather as a result of Hurricane Helene there may be some cancellations and delays. If youre traveling, please check with your airline for the latest flight information," the airport said. #WeatherAdvisory (09/26/24) MIA is open, and were committed to ensuring your travel plans go smoothly. Due to potential severe weather as a result of Hurricane #Helene there may be some cancellations and delays. If youre traveling, please check with your airline for the pic.twitter.com/PEjhjIUglt Miami Int'l Airport (@iflymia) September 26, 2024 Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (FLL) Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport remains open for now. "We continue to monitor Hurricane Helene as it moves closer to Florida's Panhandle," the airport wrote on X. "FLL is open and operational, but if you're traveling today, check with your airline for updated flight status before coming out, as there are some cancellations and delays to affected regions." #WeatherAlert #2: We continue to monitor #HurricaneHelene as it moves closer to Florida's Panhandle. While @BrowardCounty is not in the storm's direct path, we could see some bad weather here. #FLL is open and operational, but if you're traveling today, check with your airline pic.twitter.com/hffJsUt5Kt Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport (FLL) (@FLLFlyer) September 26, 2024 Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) Palm Beach International is open as of Thursday afternoon, though a number of delays are currently affecting outbound flights, per PBI's website. Orlando International Airport (MCO) Orlando airport in central Florida doesn't look to be affected. "[MCO] remains open and operational," the airport said. "We're currently making preparations ahead of Hurricane Helene & will continue to monitor the storm. Please check with your airline directly for updates regarding your flight." Operational Update - Hurricane #Helene Our airport remains open and operational. We're currently making preparations ahead of Hurricane Helene & will continue to monitor the storm. Please check with your airline directly for updates regarding your flight.https://t.co/qaAAWSeMPO https://t.co/0pSi1JxyTW Orlando International Airport (@MCO) September 25, 2024 Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused by dozens of women of sexual abuse [Getty Images] Mohamed Al Fayed's son has said he is "horrified" by allegations of sexual abuse made against his late father, which have "thrown into question the loving memory I had of him". Dozens of women have accused the former Harrods owner - who died last year aged 94 - of multiple rapes and sexual assaults. Lawyers hoping to bring a case against the department store are now representing 60 women, after a BBC investigation revealed the claims of over 20 women last week. Omar Al Fayed said his father had been a "wonderful dad", but added that this "does not blind me from an objective assessment of circumstances". In a public statement, the 36-year-old environmental entrepreneur said: "The extent and explicit nature of the allegations are shocking and has thrown into question the loving memory I had of him. "How this matter could have been concealed for so long and in so many ways, raises further disturbing questions." He continued: "Throughout history, people in positions of power have all too often been shielded from the consequences of their actions, and justice has frequently been delayed or denied to those who have suffered... "I firmly believe that anyone found guilty of such reprehensible actions, including having had facilitated, enabled or helped cover up such actions, no matter their status, must be held accountable. He went on to say: "The alleged victims and public deserve full transparency and accountability." Omar Al Fayed expressed support for "any legitimate investigation into these allegations", adding: "I will continue to support the principles of truth, justice, accountability, and fairness, regardless of where that journey may lead. "No one is above the law, and all victims deserve their day in court." He also criticised the BBC for its extensive reporting on the allegations. Omar Al Fayed (left) said the allegations had "thrown into question the loving memory" of his father [Getty Images] Omar Al Fayed was appointed to the Harrods board of directors in 2006 and remained on it until his father sold the business in 2010. The department store's current owners have said they were "utterly appalled" by the allegations and have condemned his actions "in the strongest terms". They acknowledged that during the time Harrods was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, "as a business we failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise". They added: "The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do." Harrods said it has a compensation scheme for ex-employees who say they were attacked by Mohamed Al Fayed, and that it has already reached financial settlements with the majority of people who have approached it since 2023. Victims and former staff have said that he preyed on young women hired by the company, threatening them against speaking out about his behaviour. Lawyers representing many of them said the billionaire used surveillance in Harrods and intrusive medical checks to undertake "systematic abuse". They have also said that there was "credible evidence" of instances of abuse taking place at other businesses and properties once owned by Al Fayed. [BBC] A BBC investigation into allegations of rape and attempted rape by Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods. Did the luxury store protect a billionaire predator? Watch Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods on BBC iPlayer now [BBC] [BBC] Listen to World of Secrets, Season 4: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods on BBC Sounds. If youre outside the UK, you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. [BBC] A person on a computer with a screen message saying "Hello! I'm chatbot. How can I assist you today?" A person using an AI chatbot. An Alabama task force in Montgomery Thursday reviewed preliminary AI policy recommendations, including frameworks, risk management, and AI literacy ahead of a report due in November. (Getty Images) A state task force formed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in state government Thursday reviewed preliminary policy recommendations ahead of a report due in November. Task force members in four separate working groups outlined possible ways to better utilize AIs in government, including definitions of AI policy frameworks; improved risk management practices and enhanced AI literacy across state agencies. I think theres a lot of good ideas and frameworks. Obviously, you cant solve everything through this working group, but theres good, good strawman templates that we can provide for agencies, said task force chairman Daniel Urquhart, secretary of the Alabama Office of Information Technology. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Members of the task force often discussed Generative AI, or GenAI, a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images or audio, according to McKinsey, a management consulting firm. The policies and governance working group proposed developing a comprehensive set of definitions to standardize AI terminology within government. Mike Owens, who presented on behalf of the group, emphasized the importance of a risk management process designed for AI, proposing an oversight board that would ensure agency AI initiatives align with state regulations and promote compliance. Whether it be security systems administration or app development, have a corroboration of those skill sets in the assurance board, Owens said. Laura Crowler, also in the policies and governance working group, said they would not be proposing statutory changes but policy recommendations. The workforce, education and training group discussed efforts to build AI knowledge among state employees. Roger Bowman proposed the development of an introductory AI course developed in partnership with academic institutions and suggested professors who work in the area from the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Weve approached that in two ways: first of all, we have looked at some other introductory AI training courses that other states have put together the other area where were approaching educating the workforce is were looking for an option to spotlight some GenAI functionality and publish that somewhere where it can be consumed and users can test it and see how the capabilities work, Bowman said. A working group evaluating responsible data management proposed guidelines on data ownership and classifying data for use with AI systems that minimize risks of errors or bias. The group also proposed agencies develop a reference guide to ensure the ethical handling of sensitive or restricted information. We want to help make sure that when GenAI systems are used, citizen data, if used with GenAI data, is protected, said Aaron Wright, who presented for the working group. Willie Fields, presenting for the responsible and ethical use of AI group, discussed the need for privacy, bias monitoring and accountability in AI use. Fields also said they would not be proposing legislation, instead focusing on policy recommendations. Fields also pointed to accountability, particularly in determining who is responsible for AI-driven decisions. Who is responsible for the data that comes from these GenAI systems? Ultimately, its the head of the agency, but we need to help that person be prepared to sign off or authorize the system thats going production, Fields said. The task force is expected to finalize their recommendations in their next meeting in late October, with the report to be presented to Gov. Kay Ivey in November. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Alabama carries out second nitrogen gas execution in US Alan Eugene Miller is the second death row inmate in the US to be executed by nitrogen gas [Alabama Department of Corrections] The US state of Alabama has executed Alan Eugene Miller - the second American ever put to death by inhaling nitrogen gas. Miller, 59, was sentenced to death over the back-to-back workplace murders of Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy and Terry Lee Jarvis in 1999. His execution marks the fifth in the US within a one-week span - its greatest use of capital punishment in more than two decades. Also on Thursday, Emmanuel Littlejohn received a lethal injection in Oklahoma after the state's governor denied a last-minute clemency request. Miller's execution marks the 18th so far this year - and seven more are scheduled over the remaining three months of 2024. It also marks the 1,600th execution in the US since the nation's highest court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) non-profit. Freddie Owens was put to death last Friday in South Carolina, while Tuesday saw the executions of Marcellus Williams in Missouri and Travis Mullis in Texas. DPIC data also indicates that July 2003 was the last time so many inmates have received their death sentences within seven days. Experts have told US media that the timing is a mere coincidence, resulting from changes in execution scheduling as a result of previously botched executions and legal challenges. For years, executions were on the decline across the country. Thirty-five states have either abolished or not used the death penalty for at least the past decade, according to DPIC. But the number of executions has risen over the past three years, with Texas, Missouri, Alabama and Florida leading the way. Last year saw 24 people put to death, up from 18 in 2022 and 11 in 2021. Alan Eugene Miller Miller, 59, was sentenced to death over the back-to-back workplace murders of Holdbrooks, Yancy and Jarvis in 1999. Initially set to die in 2022, he was given a reprieve when officials struggled to connect an intravenous line that would administer his lethal injection. Earlier this year, the Alabama state Supreme Court cleared the way for Miller to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia, a method that involves an inmate inhaling nitrogen gas through a fitted mask until their body is deprived of oxygen. Alabama is one of only three states that sanctions this form of capital punishment and carried out its first such execution this past January. Kenneth Eugene Smith's nitrogen-induced killing was described by the state's attorney general as "textbook" but critics said it appeared painful and inhumane. "In Alabama, we will not deny justice to the victims of heinous murders," attorney general Steve Marshall said in a statement. "Tonight, despite misinformation campaigns by political activists, out-of-state lawyers, and biased media, the state proved once again that nitrogen hypoxia is both humane and effective." Emmanuel Littlejohn [Oklahoma Department of Corrections] Littlejohn, 52, was sentenced to death for his role in a 1992 robbery gone wrong that ended in the murder of convenience store owner Kenneth Meers. Both Littlejohn and his accomplice, Glenn Bethany, were charged and convicted over the incident, but Littlejohn's lawyers argued it was not him who fired the fatal shot and that jurors had been confused by their sentencing options. Littlejohn was 20 years old at the time of his crime and, his lawyers argued, a killing resulting from a robbery should not be subject to the death penalty Two jurors from his 1994 sentencing and 2000 re-sentencing provided sworn affidavits as part of his recent clemency petition, saying they did not believe he should be put to death. But prosecutors said two teenage witnesses claimed it was Littlejohn, not Bethany, who pulled the trigger and killed Meers. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 last month to spare Littlejohn's life and commute his sentence to life in prison without parole. Governor Kevin Stitt declined to grant the reprieve, saying: A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision. Littlejohn's mother, daughter and spiritual advisor all witnessed his lethal-injection execution. Alan Eugene Miller was convicted in 2000 of capital murder in the 1999 deaths of Lee Michael Holdbrooks, Christopher S. Yancy, and Terry Lee Jarvis. He was executed Thursday using nitrogen gas, the second time the state has used that method. (Alabama Department of Corrections) The state of Alabama Thursday executed Alan Eugene Miller by nitrogen gas, the second nitrogen execution carried out by the state this year and the fourth overall. Miller, 59, who was sentenced to death after being found guilty of a triple homicide in 1999, was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m., according to a news release from the governors office. I didnt do anything to be in here, he said before the execution, and asked family and friends witnessing the execution to take care of someone, which was inaudible. I didnt do anything to be on death row, Miller said again. Media witnesses reported that Miller shook for two minutes while strapped to the gurney. He then intermittently gasped for air for about six minutes. Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was executed by nitrogen gas in January, also shook and gasped while the gas was administered. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said in a news conference following the execution there were involuntary movements as Miller was deprived of oxygen. That was nothing that we did not expect, Hamm said. Gov. Kay Ivey issued a news release announcing Millers execution. Just as Alan Miller cowardly fled after he maliciously committed three calculated murders in 1999, he has attempted to escape justice for two decades, the statement said. Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate. 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. South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma have also conducted executions in the last week. A jury convicted Miller in 2000 of the murders of Lee Michael Holdbrooks, Christopher S. Yancy, and Terry Lee Jarvis, coworkers who Miller believed were spreading rumors about him. Millers attorneys argued in court that he suffered from mental illness, which contributed to his actions. Miller initially filed a lawsuit to delay his execution, arguing that execution by nitrogen violated his equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment as well as his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The Alabama Legislature authorized nitrogen gas executions in 2018. Former Sen. Tripp Pittman, R-Montrose, who sponsored the bill, said in an interview last year that he believed it would be a more humane way to die. No nitrogen gas execution had ever been carried out before this year. While it had been used in some animal euthanasia, the American Veterinary Medical Association generally discourages its use and recommends the administration of a sedative if employed. It is not clear if Alabamas protocol includes a sedative for the condemned inmate. The Alabama Attorney Generals Office announced in a news release last month that Miller had dropped his lawsuit after he and the state reached an agreement concerning his scheduled execution. Details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said at the time that the resolution of this case confirms that Alabamas nitrogen hypoxia system is reliable and humane. The state used nitrogen gas to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. Media witnesses reported that Smith convulsed for two minutes and went through seven minutes of heavy breathing as he took large breaths. Thursdays execution was the second time Miller had been in the death chamber. In September 2022, officials called off Millers scheduled execution by lethal injection after saying they could not find a vein to administer the drugs. Miller alleged that officials left him upside down on a gurney while bleeding for 20 minutes. It was the second of three botched executions that year. In July 2022, Joe Nathan James Jr.s execution was delayed by hours. A later autopsy found multiple puncture wounds on James body, which suggested that staff tried multiple times to find a vein. The Alabama Department of Corrections said it could not confirm if James was conscious prior to his execution. Miller was the fourth person executed by Alabama this year. After Smith, the state executed Jamie Ray Mills in May and Keith Edmund Gavin in July, both by lethal injection. Alabama is scheduled to execute Derrick Dearman by lethal injection in October and Carey Grayson by nitrogen gas in November. The six executions, if carried out, would be the most in Alabama since 2011. An Alabama man convicted of killing three people in separate workplace shootings was put to death Thursday using nitrogen gas, the second time the method has been used in the country. Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. local time at a south Alabama prison. He shook and trembled on the gurney for about two minutes with his body at times pulling against the restraints. What followed was about six minutes of periodic gasping breaths. "I didn't do anything to be in here," Miller said in his final words. Miller was convicted of killing three men Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy and Terry Jarvis, who he believed were gossiping about him. Missouri, Texas Execute 2 Inmtes Over Killings Of Woman, Infant As More Expected In Other States The state tried to execute him by lethal injection in 2022. Miller chose to die from nitrogen gas. Read On The Fox News App Miller was a delivery truck driver for Ferguson Enterprises when he killed the three men on Aug. 5, 1999, in the Birmingham suburb of Pelham. He walked into the company and fatally shot Holdbrooks, 32, and Yancy, 28, before driving 5 miles away to Post Airgas, where he had previously worked, and killing Jarvis, 39. "Youve been spreading rumors about me," Miller said before opening fire, according to a witness. "Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate, Alabama Gov. 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." South Carolina Inmate Dies By Lethal Injection, Ending State's 13-Year Pause On Executions A jury convicted Miller after only 20 minutes of deliberation. Efforts to execute him in 2022 were called after officials were unable to find a vein to connect an IV to him. Miller had initially challenged the nitrogen gas protocol but dropped his lawsuit after reaching an undisclosed settlement with the state. The method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the inmates face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma have also adopted the use of nitrogen gas for executions, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Alabama used the method for the first, and then-only, time earlier this year to execute Kenneth Smith. At the time, United Nations experts condemned Smith's execution, saying it "amounted to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Alabama executes inmate who killed 3 in separate workplace shootings by nitrogen gas Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was executed Thursday evening for killing three people in 1999. Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Corrections/Website Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Alabama conducted the United States' second execution with the use of nitrogen gas on Thursday evening, finally killing Alan Eugene Miller for the fatal 1999 workplace shooting of three people after the state failed to administer his sentence by lethal injection years earlier. Miller, 59, was executed by nitrogen hypoxia, beginning at 6:16 p.m. at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. The nitrogen gas flowed for about 15 minutes, prison officials said. Media witnesses reported that Miller, strapped to a gurney, was seen shaking for about two minutes straight, followed by about six minutes of him gasping for air. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m., the state's Department of Corrections confirmed to UPI in a statement. Commission John Hamm of the Alabama Department of Corrections told reporters during a press conference following the execution that it went as planned. "Just like in Smith, ... there's going to be involuntary body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen," he said. "So that was nothing we did not expect." Attorney General Steve Marshall explained Miller's shaking in a statement as "some agonal breaths" and "slight movements associated with dying process." Nitrogen hypoxia is a method of execution that deprives the brain of oxygen by forcing inmates to breath only nitrogen. Miller is the second person in the United States to have their sentence carried out by this method after Alabama executed Kenneth Smith with nitrogen gas on Jan. 25. The state originally tried to carry out Miller's execution by lethal injection in September 2022, but it was called off after prison officials failed to access his veins within protocol time limits to administer the injection. When the state originally tried to execute his sentence, Miller was fighting in court to be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia, a method Alabama has made available to death row inmates since 2018. Miller later sued to stop his execution but then later dropped his case, according to Marshall. Miller was convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of three people on Aug. 5, 1999. He killed two of his coworkers at Ferguson Enterprises, shooting them nine times, before killing a third as Post Airgas, a previous place of employment. The Alabama Department of Corrections told UPI that Miller refused breakfast on Thursday morning and had a final meal of hamburger steak, baked potato and French fries. "Justice has been served. After two decades, Alan Miller was finally put to death for a depraved murder spree that cruelly took the lives of three innocent men," Marshall said in a statement. "I ask the people of Alabama to join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims, that they might now find peace and closure." Alan Eugene Miller becomes 2nd inmate in US to be executed with nitrogen gas Alan Eugene Miller became the second death row inmate in the nation to be executed with nitrogen gas on Thursday evening, nearly 25 years after the shooting deaths of his three coworkers who he believed were spreading rumors about his sexuality. Miller, 59, was convicted of murdering Terry Jarvis, Lee Holdbrooks and Christopher Yancy in two workplace shootings on the morning of Aug. 5, 1999, in the suburban Birmingham city of Pelham. He was officially pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. CT, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. I didnt do anything to be here," Miller said before he was pronounced dead, reported the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network. Miller's next words were inaudible, but he seemed to have asked his family to take care of someone. Then: I didnt do anything to be on death row. Thank you." Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY that "justice has been served." "After two decades, Alan Miller was finally put to death for a depraved murder spree that cruelly took the lives of three innocent men," he said. "I ask the people of Alabama to join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims, that they might now find peace and closure." Miller's death makes him the fourth inmate to be executed in Alabama this year, the 18th in the nation in 2024 and the 1,600th of all time in the U.S. He is also among five men being executed in the U.S. in just a six-day period: South Carolina executed Freddie Owens on Friday, and on Tuesday, Missouri executed Marcellus Williams less than an hour before Texas executed Travis James Mullis. Miller previously survived the state's initial lethal injection attempt in September 2022, when staff could not find his veins for an IV line before his death warrant expired. Pictured is Alabama death row inmate Alan Eugene Miller. Alan Eugene Miller's final moments, meal The execution began at 6:18 p.m. with gas flow, reported Marty Roney, who was among the witnesses in his role as a reporter with the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network. Miller gasped and struggled against restraints for about two minutes until he lost consciousness at 6:19 p.m. He gasped several more times and then appeared to take his last breath at 6:26 p.m., Roney said. The curtain to the chamber closed at 6:32 p.m. On Wednesday, Miller had seven visitors and on Thursday he had nine, according to the Alabama corrections department. Miller' last meal was of a hamburger steak, baked potato and French fries. What was Alan Eugene Miller convicted of? Miller was found guilty by an Alabama jury for shooting Holdbrooks six times, Jarvis five times and Yancy three times. He first shot and killed Holdbrooks and Yancy, his coworkers at Ferguson Enterprises, before driving his truck to Post Airgas, a welding supply store, to murder Jarvis. Pelham police arrested Miller during a traffic stop on the same day of the murders. Once Miller was handcuffed, officers found a Glock lying on the driver's seat and an empty ammunition magazine on the passenger seat, according to court documents. Despite Miller being deemed "mentally ill" by a forensic psychiatrist during his sentencing hearing, the court ordered him to be executed for the shootings, finding that his condition did not meet the level of mania necessary to establish an insanity defense under Alabama law. "Miller suffered from a delusional disorder that substantially impaired his rational ability," according to the court document. "This delusional disorder coupled with Miller's history as a loner resulted in Miller's believing the people he worked with talked about him and that they had spread rumors about him. Miller believed that Terry Jarvis had told other employees at Post Airgas that Miller was a homosexual." How was Alan Eugene Miller executed? Miller was executed using nitrogen gas, the second time that method has been used in the U.S. after Kenneth Eugene Smith execution in January, which one witness described as "horrific." The Rev. Jeff Hood, a spiritual advisor who has witnessed more than a half dozen executions, was at Smith's and described it as being "horrific" and bringing society closer to a "moral apocalypse." "We're talking about minutes and minutes of thrashing and spitting," Hood told USA TODAY. "His head going up and down (and) back and forth. The (expletive) gurney that's bolted to the floor started shaking." With nitrogen hypoxia is used, the inmate breathes pure nitrogen through a mask that displaces oxygen in their system. Proponents claim it is an almost instant and painless method. Opponents, including Hood, claim it is largely untried and torturous. "Although the methods have changed over the years, it remains the judgment of the State of Alabama that some crimes are so horrific as to warrant the ultimate punishment," Attorney General Marshall said in his statement on Thursday. "In Alabama, we will not deny justice to the victims of heinous murders. Tonight, despite misinformation campaigns by political activists, out-of-state lawyers, and biased media, the State proved once again that nitrogen hypoxia is both humane and effective. Millers execution went as expected and without incident." Who were Terry Jarvis, Lee Holdbrooks and Christopher Yancy? Sherry Lawley called her brother, Terry Jarvis, the kindest and most generous person she knew. "He would give you the shirt off of his back if he could," said Lawley, a resident of Maylene in central Alabama. "He would do anything for anybody Terry was my baby brother, but at some point in life, it seemed like I became his baby sister because he took care of me." After Jarvis was killed, she said: "It was just like a piece of my heart was missing that I won't ever get back." Ahead of Miller's execution, she said she wasn't sure whether it would give her closure. "I know it needs to happen, and on one hand, I want it to happen, but I just don't know what to feel about it," she said. Yancy was a faith-driven father of two and a "big teddy bear type," according to the Rev. Chris Joiner, the pastor of the Alabama church that he and his family attended. "It was a strong family," Joiner told USA TODAY. "They were very loving and attentive to one another." Yancy's family suffered another tragedy following his murder when his wife, Kim, was killed at the age of 38 in a car accident in 2012, according to the Shelby County Reporter. USA TODAY could not reach Holdbrooks' family, but according to his obituary, he died a married man without any children. Pictured is Terry Lee Jarvis Alan Eugene Miller's execution commenced despite attorneys' request In March, Miller's attorneys filed for a preliminary injunction in federal court to stop the execution, arguing that it violated his rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. "Alabama is evidently unable to carry out a nitrogen hypoxia execution without cruelly super-adding pain and disgrace, and prolonging death," a federal complaint filed by Miller's attorneys says. Alan Eugene Miller is scheduled to be executed in the gas chamber in Alabama this evening. If the execution is carried out, Mr. Miller will become the 1600th person executed in America in modern days. That's why myself and others are gathering outside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. pic.twitter.com/G7XgyCzT45 Hayden (@AppalachianDem) September 26, 2024 Attorneys also said Miller was obese, had asthmatic bronchitis and received a diabetic food tray where was housed at Holman Correctional Facility, according to the complaint. Miller's attorneys and the state entered into a confidential agreement in August, thus OK'ing the execution, according to court documents. A judge dismissed the attorneys' request without prejudice following the agreement. Contributing: Marty Roney/ Montgomery Advertiser This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alan Eugene Miller executed with nitrogen gas; 2nd time ever in US Gamuda Berhad (KLSE:GAMUDA) Full Year 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: RM13.6b (up 66% from FY 2023). Net income: RM912.1m (up 12% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 6.7% (down from 9.9% in FY 2023). The decrease in margin was driven by higher expenses. EPS: RM0.33 (up from RM0.31 in FY 2023). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Gamuda Berhad Revenues Beat Expectations, EPS Falls Short Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 8.1%. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 6.9%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 8.7% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 14% growth forecast for the Construction industry in Malaysia. Performance of the Malaysian Construction industry. The company's shares are down 1.6% from a week ago. Risk Analysis You should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Gamuda Berhad. 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. The tundra in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is seen in the evening sun on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon) The tundra in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is seen in the evening sun on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon) The U.S. Justice Department has announced more than $86 million in grants for American Indian and Alaska Native communities to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking. Nearly $14 million of those dollars were awarded to Alaska tribes and tribal organizations. The news comes after Alaska lawmakers increased state funding to the states Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to make up for a decrease in one if its federal funding sources and as advocates have stressed the need for even more financial support. The grants come through the federal Violence Against Women Act, a law that funds the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, which had its 30th anniversary this month. The law established the federal Office of Violence Against Women within the Justice Department; its Tribal Affairs Division will administer the grants. Fourteen different tribes or tribal organizations in Alaska have been awarded grants so far and several of them received more than $1 million. The Organized Village of Kake was awarded $1.5 million to support Tribal jurisdiction over crimes committeed in the community, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. Bristol Bay Native Association Inc., Aleutian Pribilof Island Association Inc. and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe each received roughly $1.2 million to support the response to such crimes in the communities they serve. The Yupik Womens Coalition and the Healing Native Hearts Coalition each received more than $400,000 in grants to continue their work in the Yukon-Kuskokwim and Interior regions. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland weighed in on the awards. Tribal communities, and particularly American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have experienced disproportionately high levels of violence for too long, he said in a news release. This $86 million dollar investment represents the Justice Departments commitment to working in partnership with Tribal nations to address and prevent gender-based violence and provide safety and justice for survivors. The Office of Violence Against Women will have made all its grants by Sept. 30, a spokesperson said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHICAGO The City Council is signaling once more its commitment to keeping acoustic gunshot detection technology in Chicago, even if that effort continues to pit aldermen against Mayor Brandon Johnson. Aldermen who back the ShotSpotter technology Johnson decommissioned this week showed keen interest in the mayors plan to add a replacement tool for first responders during a City Council hearing Thursday. They are urging Johnson to quickly install new technology and even gearing up to try to force his hand if he does not. I dont know if ShotSpotter is the best thing. We need to look at everything. We need the best, Vice Mayor Ald. Walter Burnett said during the joint Public Safety Committee and Police and Fire Committee meeting. Its life or death. Some aldermen are more closely weighing the option of filing an unprecedented lawsuit against the city if Johnson does not come up with an effective replacement. The suit would seek to enforce two ordinances, passed with large majorities in May and last week, giving the City Council and police superintendent control over ShotSpotters future. Johnson has argued the ordinances are not legal because only he has power over such contracts. But Ald. Brian Hopkins said he and others are working with an attorney who could be retained to sue the city and wrest contracting control from Johnson. There are a variety of places to go for the lawyers, Hopkins said. There are a lot of things happening right now that really dont have any recent precedent, so you have to create it. Hopkins added that a compromise from Johnson could make such a lawsuit unnecessary. Johnson pledged to veto the ordinance passed in a 33-to-14 vote last week. Aldermen expect that veto to come in the next month. Burnett said Thursday that he will not join his colleagues in voting to overturn any mayoral veto. Thirty-four votes would be needed from the council to do so. But Johnson also said he will consider adding other gunshot detection technology. On Sunday, hours before ShotSpotter went offline, that new promise gained momentum as Johnsons administration took the first step in a procurement process for technologies that ensure quick response by law enforcement authorities in emergency situations. The request for information called for a technology with apparent similarities to ShotSpotter, which uses acoustic sensors mounted on light poles, mostly on the South and West sides, to quickly alert police about the location of suspected gunfire. Johnson has decried ShotSpotters cost and blasted its effectiveness, citing reports made by civic groups such as the MacArthur Justice Center and officials such as city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg. Answering aldermens questions Thursday, Witzburg largely stood behind her 2021 report, which found the technology rarely leads to evidence of crimes, investigatory steps or gun recoveries, while tainting officers interactions with residents of neighborhoods most affected by gun violence. But she also pointed out that the report did not focus on the question ShotSpotter supporters have recently argued should be at the forefront of the debate: Does the tool save lives? Youre not going to grade your star pitcher on their sliding percentage, Witzburg said. How successful something is depends an awful lot on what we are measuring for. The city is considering expediting its effort to start using new first responder technology by beginning with a pilot program, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Garien Gatewood told the Tribune Wednesday. Nothing is set in stone but we are looking at options, Gatewood said. Its something we might be willing to explore so long as it doesnt impact the RFI. Gatewood, who had planned to be out of town Thursday, was not present at the hearing, and no representative of Johnsons administration spoke in his place. The ShotSpotter divide has been a recurring point of contention in council meetings this year. As aldermen on either side bitterly disagreed Thursday, even two experts brought in to speak from different University of Chicago schools took opposite stances. Jens Ludwig, director of the University of Chicagos Crime Lab, estimated ShotSpotter saves 85 lives a year, citing a statistical analysis his lab did on the highly politicized issue that he wrote about in a Tribune op-ed last week. Moments later, University of Chicago sociology professor Robert Vargas struck a different tone. He compared the push to stay in Chicago by ShotSpotter parent company SoundThinking to the product defense efforts that industries like tobacco and opioids have used to combat the regulation of their harmful product. By continuing to change their narrative to fit their marketing strategy, ShotSpotter is trying to delay the inevitable scrutiny that comes with evidenced-based policy, he said. Burnett, who is often a close ally of Johnsons, but has supported ShotSpotter in recent months, pushed back. Have you ever lived on the West Side? Or the South Side? Where there is a high crime rate, high death rate, high murder rate? he asked. Vargas answered that he had lived in the areas and has written two books on communities in them. We live with this stuff every day, Burnett said later. Its different for us. ____ Her hair tied back in a ponytail, five-year-old Rayan Shuaib looked on solemnly through the fringe falling across her eyes as they buried her family on Friday. A little over 24 hours earlier she had been celebrating with them. It was her younger brother Alis birthday and their father was determined to celebrate it, despite the Israeli missiles that had upended normal life since the start of the week. The party, like any good Lebanese party, was still at its height at 1am on Thursday morning when at least one Israeli missile struck the building in which the Shuaib family lived in the Karak district of Zahle, the main city in eastern Lebanons Bekaa Valley. By the time the smoke cleared, Rayan was the only one still alive in the house. Her brother, father and mother had all died, along with 12 other members of the extended Shuaib family. Along with southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, much of the Bekaa Valley is a Hezbollah stronghold and has been repeatedly targeted by the Israeli military in recent days. With few of Bekaas towns and villages unspared, many civilians have either fled the valley altogether or made for the comparative safety of Zahle, perhaps believing that being in a predominantly Christian town would afford a degree of security. Zahle is hardly safe, though. Villages on its outskirts have been struck repeatedly, while districts in the more religiously mixed south-east of the city places such as Karak have also been targeted on several occasions. The Israeli Defense Forces have been sending text messages and voice recordings to residents in the Bekaa Valley warning them to leave dangerous areas and move into nearby schools. Whether in response to those messages or simply because they were terrified of the falling bombs, some 15,000 people have fled to Zahle in the past three days, according to Assad Zogaib, the towns Christian mayor. More than 3,000 of them have taken shelter in Zahles schools. Among them are 350 who have crowded into the Mixed Public School of Maalaka, where Rayans father, Haydar, was working as a volunteer to care for the newcomers. Why Haydar did not move his family to the relative safety of the school, a 10-minute walk from his home, is unclear. Perhaps he believed that his house, on the outskirts of Karak, was safe or that his family would have been in just as much danger at the school. Or he may have calculated that home was more comfortable than a place where many are sleeping on hard classroom floors without mattresses. All Alya Aboudeih, a local government official in charge of the Maalaka school shelter, knows is that her colleague set off home on Wednesday evening and never came back. He left a happy man, said Ms Aboudeih. He was proud that he was going to be able to host his sons birthday even at a time like this. And then, as they celebrated, the whole house was destroyed and three branches of his family were killed except the little girl. A total of 15 members of the Shuaib family died in the Israeli strike on Thursday morning Emotions at the school were perhaps unsurprisingly raw. Furious at the deaths of friends, forced out of their homes and still living in danger, those seeking shelter vented their fury at Britain and the United States, accusing both of complicity in Israels actions. People are very angry, Ms Aboudeih said as she sought to calm flaring tempers. Neither Arab countries nor Western ones are standing up to Israel or trying to help us. In Gaza they hit hospitals and schools just like this one and no one did anything about it. Now the same thing is happening here and no one cares. We will go to sleep tonight not having any idea if we will wake up tomorrow. Those at the school insisted that Haydar Shueib was not a member of Hezbollah. But Mr Zoghaib, the mayor, said we have no way of knowing if there were members of Hezbollah in the house. He said that he feared Hezbollah members were in the city, living among and therefore endangering the civilian population. We have been asking refugees to tell any members of Hezbollah to stay away, he said. If they want to fight Israel, thats up to them but let them stay away from civilian areas so that they can protect their families and their neighbours. For those living in and around Zahle, the past few days have been fearful ones for Muslims and Christians alike. As Mr Zoghaib spoke, smoke rose in the distance from an Israeli air strike on Masnaa, a town in the valley below that straddles the Syrian border, while reports came in of another attack on Bednayel nine miles to the north-east. Your legs turn to jelly Its not the explosions that I mind so much, it is the sound of the missiles going overhead because you dont know where they are going to land, said Moura, a Christian woman living in Ferzol, five miles outside Zahle. Every time it happens, your heart races and your legs turn to jelly. But for me what is worse is how terrifying this is for my eight-year-old daughter. Not only does Moura live in a place surrounded by villages targeted by Israeli forces, but she also has to drive around Karak every day to get to work in Zahle a once-routine commute that is now terrifying. I used to drive through Karak, she said. Now I take the highway around it and really put my foot to the floor when Im close to it. Lebanon, as it perhaps always has been, is a tale of two countries. In parts of it one can almost forget that the country is suffering one of the most intense bombardments anywhere in the world. Drive through the Christian resorts of the Mount Lebanon range and life still has a veneer of normality to it. But that veneer quickly vanishes as one drops down into the Bekaa Valley, where the traffic thins, shops and businesses are shuttered and smoke rises from air strikes in the distance. Im not scared The Maatam Hajji restaurant in the hillside village of Hezarta affords stunning views across the valley, but it was deserted on Friday. Sitting in the gloom, Amal, the elderly proprietress, ate lunch with her son and grandson, who have all chosen to remain at home despite the growing danger. There have been several attacks on the outskirts of Hezarta, including one on a farmstead along the road that killed the couple living there and two relatives who had fled southern Lebanon, assuming they would be safer there. It was a terrible miscalculation. Despite the dangers, Amal and her family have no intention of fleeing. Here at least, she said, pointing to the jars she fills daily with olives and dried cherries, she had something to eat and a bed to sleep on. Many of those sheltering in Zahles schools have no such luxuries. Mr Zoghaib says the catastrophic financial crisis that has devastated Lebanons economy and caused its currency to crash meant that the 30 million the mayors office had in its bank account was only 375,000 today not enough to deal with such a crisis as has now befallen the city. For Amal, that is all the more reason to stay put. Where would I go anyway? she said. Im not scared. When your time comes, it comes. If God wants you to live then you will live, even if the Israelis bomb you. 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. CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour is chastising former first lady Melania Trump over comments she made attacking the mainstream media in a recent interview. Mrs Trump is mistaken, political violence is not the fault of the mainstream media and I wish she would take back this false and dangerous accusation, Amanpour wrote in a social media post Friday morning. The CNN anchor was referencing an interview Trump gave on Fox News a day earlier. When asked about the recent assassination attempts against her husband, the former first lady called it really shocking that all this egregious violence goes against my husband. Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as a threat to democracy, calling him vile names, she said. They only fueling a toxic atmosphere and giving power all of these people that they want to do harm to him. This needs to stop. This needs to stop. The country needs to unite. Amanpours post was first highlighted by Mediaite. Trumps sit-down was the first interview she had granted to a major media outlet in more than two years, and it came as she was promoting a new book. Former President Trump and his allies regularly attack the mainstream media, singling out CNN in many cases as fake news and the enemy of the 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 The Hill. Amazon to expand electric vehicle fleet with new partnership: 'Enhancing the reliability of Amazon's delivery service' Amazon India and electric mobility solution provider Gentari Green Mobility India have just announced a new partnership that will greatly expand Amazon's already-impressive electric vehicle fleet for last-mile deliveries, the Hindu Business Line reported. Gentari helps procure and manage EVs, including offering vehicle leases, charging points, and parking. Amazon will put its services to use while making EVs available to its smaller delivery service partners. "As part of the partnership, Gentari aims to procure and mobilise EVs across key cities in India over the next three years. These EVs will be strategically deployed, with Gentari also offering comprehensive fleet management services to the DSPs to ensure the seamless operation and upkeep of the EV fleet, enhancing the reliability of Amazon's delivery service," Gentari said, per the Hindu Business Line. Amazon already has a fleet of 7,200 small, three-wheeled EVs used for last-mile deliveries, The Hindu Business Line revealed. They can travel up to 31 miles per hour and cover over 60 miles on a charge. With this new partnership, Amazon will expand its fleet to 10,000 vehicles across India by 2025. That's a win for India's cities, which are famously crowded with traffic and suffer from the drop in air quality that comes with internal combustion engines. Electric vehicles produce no air pollution, which is great for residents and visitors. It's also good for the planet, as heat-trapping air pollution is causing the Earth to overheat. This is also a chance for small businesses to work with Amazon to take over a portion of its last-mile deliveries, opening up opportunities for local entrepreneurs, the Hindu Business Line explained. Abhinav Singh, VP of operations at Amazon India, said: "Our partnership with Gentari will further strengthen Amazon's e-mobility progress in India. We aim to empower our delivery service partners by providing them access to the right electric vehicles, end-to-end vehicle life cycle management services, as well as charging and parking facilities." 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. DC police cancels AMBER Alert for 14-year-old girl after she was safely found UPDATE, 9/27, 3:08 p.m. D.C. police canceled the AMBER Alert after the girl was safely found. The case is still being investigated. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has issued an AMBER Alert for a teenage girl, who was last seen in Northwest on Sept. 26. MPD issued the alert early Friday morning for 14-year-old Nevaeha Orellana. According to D.C. police, Orellana was kidnapped in the 1300 block of Longfellow Street. She stands at 53 and weighs around 130 lbs. DC police looking for woman who was abducted in Southeast Police said she has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white shirt with pink pants and black sneakers. At this point in the investigation, MPD believes a Black Cadillac SUV and Silver Sedan with the Virginia Tag, 10992U are possibly involved. Anyone with more information is encouraged to call 911 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC. TOPEKA (KSNT) A woman convicted of causing a crash that resulted in the deaths of three Topeka children is seeking a new trial. In August, a jury found Amber Peery guilty of charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless aggravated battery and traffic infractions. Following that verdict, Peery filed a motion requesting new trial on grounds that evidence had allegedly been destroyed and graphic autopsy photos should not have been shown to jurors. Prosecutors have objected to the motion. In October of 2022, Peery was driving a vanload of Girl Scouts on the Kansas Turnpike near Auburn when she made an illegal U-turn through the gap of the highway barrier. The action resulted in a crash with a tractor-trailer that killed three children and seriously injured a fourth. Are common consumption areas coming to Manhattan? According to court documents, Peerys defense team argues that because of the gruesomeness of the victim photographs, they should not have been admissible in the original trial. Her team also claims the state destroyed two additional video recordings from the tractor-trailer which show the driver inside the cab at the time of the crash and the trucks dash camera in the minutes leading up to the crash. The state refuted those claims. Prosecutors reiterated their previous argument the photos were relevant to the case and were not unduly prejudicial or repetitious, as the defense claimed. The state also denied that it failed to preserve evidence, saying the additional video in question never existed. A judge will decide whether to grant Peerys motion for a new trial. 27 News will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as they become available. 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 Eric Adams Indictment Is Wild. Wait Till You Hear About the Rest of What Hes Done. New York City Mayor Eric Adamswho truly believes that God put him in that jobwas indicted this week on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, and accepting straw donations from foreign officials. The acts detailed in the nearly 60-page indictment from the Southern District of New York span a full decade of Adams political career, dating back to his tenure as Brooklyn borough president and extending up through his current mayoral reelection campaign. (He pleaded not guilty to the counts on Friday.) Despite being the only mayor in NYC history to be charged during his tenure, Adams is still doing what he does best: refusing to budge an inch and clumsily making his case before a city thats long tired of his shenanigans. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, he declared during a rainy Thursday morning press conference, sheltering under a pavilion with members of the citys Black clergy. 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. Eric Adams' press conference this morning ends with incredibly loud chants from the crowd of "RESIGN! RESIGN! RESIGN!!" pic.twitter.com/cDzMH7hll2 Read Abolish Rent (@JoshuaPHilll) September 26, 2024 It was another wild moment from a mayor who is perhaps best recognized outside the city for having a long history of wild moments. You know, like claiming his favorite concert experience was the 1990 Brooklyn live show where Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed, or downing two beers at a Midtown Irish pub before noon on St. Patricks Day and deeming himself Eric OAdams, or wearing a lettered bracelet sporting the word HUSTLE while visiting holy sites in Israel. Since he entered Gracie Mansion in 2022, Hizzoner has invited mass vitriol for slashing municipal public services while coddling the brutal, corrupt police department and demonizing the citys immigrants. But now, with the feds pursuing several probes into his inner circle and spurring some of his highest-ranking lieutenants to step down well, lets just say its difficult to imagine how even a mayor as defiant as this one manages to last in the political realm. Well probably learn a lot over the coming months about just how closely intertwined Adams was with Turkeys government, which will surely provide us with much more fodder in evaluating the mans legacy. But in the interim, lets enjoy a trek down memory lane with a highlight reel of his most ridiculous moments. Before Eric Adams entered politics, he served with the New York Police Department throughout the 1980s and 90s. Some highlights of his time on the beat: Adams put a poster with his headshot on a traffic-light pole that made an appearance in the video for Juicy, the rap classic from fellow Brooklynite the Notorious B.I.G. Has anyone noticed that an Eric Adams poster makes a cameo in the video for Biggie Smalls Juicy? (h/t: my son.) pic.twitter.com/xjDPU1LIIy Jesse Drucker (@JesseDrucker) October 22, 2021 He hung out with the Nation of Islam and its virulently antisemitic leader, Louis Farrakhan, while encouraging then-Mayor David Dinkins to place some of the controversial sects members on the citys payroll. He claimed that comptroller candidate Herman Badillo, a Puerto Rican, was not actually concerned about New Yorks Latino community because Badillo was married to a Jewish woman and not a Latina. Adams traveled to Indiana with other NYPD members to act as a police escort for Mike Tyson, who was serving time after being convicted on rape charges. He registered as a Republican and hobnobbed with his onetime ideological enemies before switching back to the Democratic Party on the advice of his political advisers. All very normal stuff, already. But Adams would not relent on the outrageous behavior even after getting elected to the New York state Senate in 2006. His four terms in Albany, throughout which he wore a thin mustache and enhanced his statewide profile, saw him take on some, well, extremely interesting campaigns. Even if you werent in New York at the time, you may recall the national coverage of his 2010 Stop the Sag campaign, a $2,000-dollar effort that saw Adams upload videos and put up billboards across Brooklyn encouraging the citys Black youth to forgo the often-tut-tutted practice of wearing jeans that sank below their waistline and revealed their underwear. The slogan: Raise Your Pants, Raise Your Image! That wouldnt be state Sen. Adams only foray into online virality. In 2011, he filmed a five-minute PSA ostensibly aimed at preventing gun violencebut really, he was offering local parents thorough instruction on how to profile their children at home. Over a soundtrack of drab violins, Adams taught concerned guardians how to IN-spect what you EX-pect, explaining that a gun could be hidden in a jewelry box or a pillow, a used crack pipe in a popular knapsack, bullets behind a picture frame, weed inside a baby doll, and cocaine on a bookshelf. The First Amendment does not apply to the right of parents to go through their homes, to remove contraband or any other unsafe item, he concluded. His time in the state Senate also included his first bout of legal trouble while in public office: He was named in a 2010 governmental probe into local lawmakers who accepted money from a company that wanted to build New Yorks first casino. Adams was, however, not formally charged. In 2013, Adams departed the New York Legislature and became Brooklyns first Black borough president, serving two terms. According to the new federal indictment, it was around this time that Adams allegedly began glad-handing with government officials from Turkey (a country to which he traveled a lot) and accepting funds in exchange for personal favors. During that time, Adams also fell under city investigation regarding allegations that he was funneling money earned renting out space at Brooklyn Borough Hall toward his nonprofit. (He denied the allegations and was not ultimately charged with a crime.) He also earned notoriety for granting unofficial parking spaces outside the hall to city employees whod racked up extensive records of traffic violations, and for telling city transplants to go back to Iowa and go back to Ohio. As borough president, he made a big show of sleeping at the Borough Hall in a makeshift bed and constructing a small gym to go along with it, and encouraged off-duty cops to carry their guns while attending church. Perhaps most notoriously, he presented the public with a rat bucket trap that could drown more than 100 rodentsand showed off the corpses to a crowd of shocked reporters and animal-rights activists. Nobody: Mayor Eric Adams: The rats may be listeninghttps://t.co/8KTT1egyCw pic.twitter.com/NFLOFjksJk Gothamist (@Gothamist) December 15, 2022 But the chaos really ramped up when his campaign for mayor kicked off in earnest. Where even to begin? The time he claimed that the Golan Heights are part of Israel, instead of Syria, and that he wished to retire there? The video where he stated that his favorite New York movie is Taxi Driver but only referred to it as Taxi? The victory lap he took at Claires after winning the Democratic primary, getting his ear pierced to fulfill a promise hed made to young New Yorkers on the campaign trail? Well, there was the point when people began to question whether he even lived in New York City, considering that he kept sleeping at Brooklyn Borough Hall while campaigning for a different position. None of the residents who lived near the Brooklyn properties registered in his name had ever seen him around, and he also owned a place in New Jersey with his partner, Tracey Collins. To clear things up, Adams granted a tour of his Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment to local reporters, although it appeared that his son resided there more often than he didthere was only one bed (??) and Adams never seemed to pick up any of his mail. There was also only one bed in the apartment so the implication was that yes Eric Adams and his 25 year old son slept in the same bed pic.twitter.com/RFzKd0FKTU Gina Raimondos Wins (@RaimondosWins) September 26, 2024 Eric Adams may not be a well-liked mayor, but hes certainly never been an uninteresting one. From Week One, he promised to bring back swagger to the citythen garnered controversy by dissing low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people and appointing a controversial deputy mayor who resigned just this week after being investigated by the feds. Adams kicked off his time as mayor with frequent stops to a Manhattan restaurant run by two convicted felons, dining with such upstanding characters as the now-imprisoned Sam Bankman-Fried. (One wonders whether that was the location of the table of success, where he claimed that all my haters become my waiters.) He partied at a club with Cara Delevingne and ASAP Rocky, suggested that Kansas doesnt have a brand, waxed poetic on the magical properties of crystals, received his first three mayoral paychecks in cryptocurrencies (losing a lot of actual monetary value in the process), and proclaimed himself the hip-hop mayor while demonizing the citys drill rappers (whose ranks include Adams own son). Cara Delevingne dances to ASAP Rocky next to New York City Mayor Eric Adams is a lot for a Monday night. pic.twitter.com/YVGhi2RiRG Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) March 29, 2022 And that was all just in 2022! The following year, he utilized city funds to launch an infrequently updated podcast titled the Get Stuff Done-Cast, awarded a key to the city to one Sean Diddy Combs (yikes!), and got exposed for mocking up a photo of a fake cop that he carried around in his wallet and presented to the public as a former NYPD colleague. He began rolling out robot cops in Times Square (an initiative that, thankfully, didnt last too long), got his phone snatched by the feds, and capped off 2023 with a real humdinger of an interview: When a PIX11 anchor asked Adams to sum up the year in one word, Adams responded, New York, and described it as a city where you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person whos celebrating a new business thats open. Mr. Mayor, describe 2023 in one word. "Ugh, New York. This is a place where everyday you wake up, you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person celebrating a new business that's open...And that's why it's the greatest city on the globe." pic.twitter.com/0jjv9DMzJ6 Just one person (@Newyorkist) December 18, 2023 That finally brings us up to 2024and you better believe Adams had a lot of weird shit to say even before he got indicted. This was the year when he told a schoolkid that betrayal motivated him to run for mayor; tossed a trash bag into a wheelie bin while Empire State of Mind blasted in the background; addressed the influx of immigrants into NYC by referring to the newcomers as excellent swimmers who should be lifeguards, and engaged in a heated, viral debate with criminal justice attorney Olayemi Olurin on The Breakfast Club, where he referred to himself by the third person pretty much nonstop. Adams also defended a city-funded A.I. chatbot that frequently told its users to break the law in myriad ways, touted faulty A.I.-powered gun-detection systems that police began rolling out in certain subway stations, and got baptized by Al Sharpton on Rikers Island. And Hizzoner kept on, for whatever reason, referring to New York as the Lima/Islamabad/Mexico City/Istanbul of America. Mayor Adams: New York City is the ___ of America pic.twitter.com/sXv3X4Gad5 Gothamist (@Gothamist) March 22, 2024 To take the cake: Earlier this month, as the FBI kept poking into members of his administration, Adams played a game of catch outside City Hall with a representative from 30 Catches in 30 Days, an initiative to raise awareness around prostate cancer. As part of the public campaign, he asked his catching partner if women get prostate cancer as often as men do. the tail end of the exchange here pic.twitter.com/uYFEwi9NbL katie honan (@katie_honan) September 18, 2024 Greatest city in the world, baby. By Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has drawn a "red line" for the United States and its allies by signalling that Moscow will consider responding with nuclear weapons if they allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with long-range Western missiles. But some in the West are asking: does he actually mean it? The question is critical to the course of the war. If Putin is bluffing, as Ukraine and some of its supporters believe, then the West may feel ready to deepen its military support for Kyiv regardless of Moscow's threats. If he is serious, there is a risk - repeatedly stated by Moscow and acknowledged by Washington - that the conflict could turn into World War Three. In the latest in a long series of warning signals, Putin on Wednesday extended the list of scenarios that could lead to Russia using nuclear weapons. It could do this, he said, in response to a major cross-border conventional attack involving aircraft, missiles or drones. A rival nuclear power that supported a country attacking Russia would be considered a party to that attack. Both those criteria apply directly to the situation that would arise if the West allows Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory with Western long-range missiles such as U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, something Putin has said would need Western satellite and targeting support. "It was a very clear message: 'Don't make a mistake - all these kind of things may mean nuclear war,'" said Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian diplomat. Bahram Ghiassee, a London-based nuclear analyst at the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, linked the timing of Putin's remarks to Ukraine's lobbying of the West for long-range missiles and the fact that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is making his case to U.S. President Joe Biden this week. "Putin is saying: just stop it right there," Ghiassee said. 'NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL' Reaction from Kyiv was swift, with Zelenskiy's chief of staff accusing Putin of "nuclear blackmail". "In my opinion, this is yet another bluff and demonstration of Putin's weakness. He will not dare to use nuclear weapons because that will make him a complete outcast," Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine's internal affairs minister, said on X. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Putin's warning was irresponsible and poorly timed, and that it was not the first time he had been "rattling the nuclear sabre". Andreas Umland, an analyst at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, accused Putin of playing mind games. "This is a psychological PR operation, by the Kremlin, without much substance. It is designed to scare leaders & voters of countries supporting Ukraine," he wrote. Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow and defence expert in Oslo, said he did not believe Putin's comments could be ignored, but that it was important not to overreact. "Russian nuclear use is not imminent," he said on X. "Concern is warranted only when Russia signals actual preparations." Hoffmann said next steps could be removing warheads from storage and pairing them with delivery vehicles for a tactical strike, before ratcheting up preparations for large-scale nuclear use by readying silos and putting bombers on alert - all of which U.S. intelligence agencies would detect. And Russia security expert Mark Galeotti wrote: "Talk is easy and has political impact, but evidence of actual willingness to use nuclear weapons is both absent and something we can detect if it ever happens." LOWER THRESHOLD Nevertheless, Putin was more specific than in the past about the circumstances that could prompt nuclear use. His spokesman said on Thursday that his comments were meant as a signal to Western countries that there would be serious consequences if they participated in attacks on Russia. At the same time, the announced changes fell short of what some hawkish commentators have been calling for. The best-known of them, Sergei Karaganov, has argued for a limited nuclear strike in Europe that would "sober up" Russia's enemies and make them take its nuclear deterrent seriously. In practical terms, the changes extend Russia's nuclear umbrella to cover neighbouring Belarus, a close ally. They lower the threshold for nuclear use by stating, for example, that it could happen in response to a conventional strike that posed a "critical threat to our sovereignty". Previously, the nuclear doctrine talked about a threat to "the very existence of the state". Putin made the announcement in a four-minute video in which he was seen addressing the nine members of a security council that meets twice-yearly to discuss nuclear deterrence. He said nuclear use was an extreme measure and Russia had always approached the issue responsibly. Ministers and intelligence chiefs listened intently, occasionally fidgeting or shuffling papers. One participant - Alexei Likhachev, head of state nuclear corporation Rosatom - took detailed notes. But the real addressees of Putin's message were in Kyiv, Washington and London. Yevgeny Minchenko, a Russian political consultant, said the thrust of the revised doctrine was a blunt message to Ukraine and the West not to escalate the war further into Russia. "If you try to kill us with your proxy's hands, we will kill both your proxy and you," was the message, he said. Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, said the changes opened the door to Russia using tactical nuclear battlefield weapons in certain scenarios, namely against Ukraine. "The threshold for the use of nuclear weapons has been lowered. Now it will be easier for Russia to use nuclear weapons," Markov said on his official blog. "The reason for changing the nuclear doctrine was the threat of a full escalation by the West. The West is sure that Russia will not use tactical nuclear weapons first. Russia is now saying it is ready to do so." Markov suggested Russia could use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, or air bases in Romania or Poland if Ukrainian warplanes flew sorties from there and if Kyiv - backed by U.S. or British satellite support - used the jets to strike Moscow itself or parts of central Russia. 'NO RESPECT' Igor Korotchenko, a military analyst who often appears on state TV, said the changes were necessary because the West had ignored a slew of previous warning signals against further escalation, including Russian exercises in the summer rehearsing the use of tactical nuclear arms. "We see that Western adversaries no longer respect any 'red lines', believing that any acts to arm Ukraine and Western-assisted strikes against facilities deep inside Russian territory will not be met with nuclear escalation," Korotchenko told the daily Izvestia newspaper. Vladimir Avatkov, who sits on an official body that offers advice to Putin on international relations, said announcing the changes to the doctrine had allowed Moscow to get ahead of any Western decision on missiles for Ukraine. "Let them think now," he said on Telegram. "This is an attempt to not just warn them, but to give them back the fear that they have completely lost. And perhaps even some strategic thinking." The changes were strongly welcomed by Russian nationalists and war bloggers, some of whom have long advocated Moscow use nuclear weapons to force a Ukrainian capitulation, and led to a discussion about what could trigger a nuclear response. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a former president, warned that Putin's words should give Ukraine and the West pause for thought. "The very change in the regulatory conditions for our country's use of nuclear components may cool the fervour of those opponents who have not yet lost their sense of self-preservation," he said in a statement. 'LIKE SMALL KIDS' Sokov, the former Russian diplomat, said there was a palpable sense of frustration in Moscow that the West appeared deaf to its many nuclear warnings. He said that when Russia staged three rounds of exercises this year to simulate preparations for the launch of tactical nuclear missiles, there were complaints in the media and among experts that Western countries were not paying attention. "So now they decided to strengthen the signal," Sokov said. "Putin decided the West is like small kids, and you have to explain every small thing because they just don't get it." Sokov said he was concerned about "loose talk" among politicians and commentators who argue that the West has crossed a series of Russian red lines with impunity - by supplying Ukraine with tanks and F-16 fighter jets, for example - and that Moscow's warnings can therefore be ignored. In fact, he said, the West had yet to breach two red lines that Russia had spelt out clearly: sending NATO troops to fight in Ukraine, and letting Ukraine fire Western long-range missiles into Russia. "How can we say how (Putin) is going to react, if so far we have not actually crossed any Russian red lines?" he said in a phone interview, arguing that such an approach was based on guesswork, not data."I'm really concerned about all the loose talk, precisely because we run head-on into a situation which is completely unfamiliar to us ... If you do not factor in the risks, you are likely to have a very unpleasant surprise." (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Osborn; Editing by David Clarke) (Bloomberg) -- Angola expects US President Joe Bidens visit next month to help bolster foreign investment, as the nation tries to diversify its economy away from oil and reduce its dependence on Chinese capital. Most Read from Bloomberg Tete Antonio, Angolas foreign affairs minister, said the trip is a very good indicator of the relationship between the two countries. Biden will travel to Germany and Angola from Oct. 10 to 15, in his first trip abroad since withdrawing from the US presidential race in July. It will attract attention to Angola, Antonio, said in an interview on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday. Many people will look at Angola as a destination to go to and to invest. For decades, Angola has relied on Chinese loans to rebuild roads, hospitals and public housing after it emerged from a devastating civil war in 2002. It owes China around $17 billion, mostly in the form of oil-backed loans. While Angolas relationship with China remains good, the minister said the country needs to turn to the private sector for growth. We believe that the private sector is really an engine for what the ambitions the country has for development, said Antonio. The US-backed Lobito corridor, a railway project that will haul critical minerals from central Africas copper belt to an Atlantic port in Angola, is expected to be one of the highlights of Bidens trip to Angola. The railway, stretching 1,300 kilometers, is seen as Washingtons answer to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in Africa. For Antonio, the multibillion project is an example of the type of investments African nations need to bolster trade, exports and create jobs. The minister said these projects will help Angola and other nations shift from just producing and exporting raw materials into manufacturing. Its a paradigm shift, said Antonio. It brings a lot of opportunities in different areas, not only for transportation, but also areas like agriculture and the transformation of the raw materials. Before the 1975-2022 civil war, Angola was a major exporter of coffee, sisal, corn, bananas and cotton, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Today, Africas second-biggest oil producer relies on crude for more than 90% of its exports and imports most of its goods from abroad. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Google paid $2.7 billion to rehire an artificial intelligence genius who left the tech giant in a huff three years ago to found his own startup, according to a report. Noam Shazeer, a 48-year-old software engineer who was first hired by Google as one of its first few hundred employees back in 2000, left the company in 2021 after it refused his request to release a chat bot that he had developed with a colleague, Daniel De Freitas. Shazeer and De Freitas went on to found Character.AI, which grew to become one of the hottest AI startups in Silicon Valley that would eventually reach a $1 billion valuation last year. Noam Shazeer agreed to return to Google after the company paid $2.7 billion to license the technology of his startup Character.AI. The Washington Post via Getty Images Last month, Google and Character.AI announced that Shazeer, De Freitas and certain members of Character.AIs research team would be joining Googles AI unit DeepMind. At the time of the deal, Character.AI said that it had more than 20 million monthly active users. Google paid Character.AI $2.7 billion to license its technology as well as to get Shazeer and his team to agree to work for the company, according to The Wall Street Journal. The licensing deal, which is short of a full-fledged acquisition, is a unique arrangement that allows Google to immediately access Character.AIs intellectual property without having to wait for the regulatory approvals and bureaucratic sign-offs that would have been required if the company was bought outright. Shazeers return to Google is widely viewed among company employees as the primary reason behind the acquisition of Character.AI, the Journal reported. Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, was reportedly impressed with Shazeer so much so that he was convinced he would be able to build an AI model that could operate with human-level intelligence, according to the Journal. If theres anybody I can think of in the world whos likely to do it, its going to be him, Schmidt was quoted as saying of Shazeer during a talk at Stanford University in 2015. Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas left Google in 2021 after it refused to release the chat bot they had jointly developed. The Washington Post via Getty Images In 2017, Shazeer and another Google colleague, De Freitas, teamed up to create Meena, a chat bot that could engage humans on a range of issues. According to the Journal, Shazeer was so confident of Meenas utility that he predicted it would one day replace Googles search engine. But Google executives thought it was too risky to release Meena due to concerns about safety and fairness, the Journal reported. Google tapped Shazeer, who netted hundreds of millions of dollars in the transaction, to be one of three people who will lead the companys efforts to build the next version of Gemini, Googles next-generation AI model that was built to compete with rivals such as OpenAIs ChatGPT. Story continues Earlier this year, Google temporarily suspended Geminis image-generating feature after it produced inaccurate woke depictions such as minority founding father and diverse popes. Last month, Google lifted the suspension and allowed users to create images using prompts after fixing the bugs. The steep price that Google paid to bring Shazeer and De Freitas back into the fold is indicative of the expensive race among Silicon Valley tech giants to hire the best talent during the AI era particularly in the wake of OpenAIs rollout of ChatGPT. The talent wars have heated up to the point where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google co-founder Sergey Brin personally wrote notes to recruits urging them to come aboard. Brin is reportedly the key figure in helping to persuade Shazeer to return to Google, according to the Journal. Companies like OpenAI pay prized recruits compensation packages ranging from $5 million to $10 million mostly in the form of stock. Meta has developed a reputation for being somewhat stingy, offering pay packages of between $1 million and $2 million, according to data unearthed by the tech-centric news site The Information. Veterans will get a cost-of-living bump in their benefits next year after Congress passed annual legislation this week to guarantee the increase keeps pace with Social Security rates. Before leaving town for an extended election-season break, the Senate approved the bill by voice vote Wednesday, sending the measure to President Joe Biden's desk for his expected signature. The House previously approved the bill by voice vote last week. "At a time when folks are struggling with rising costs, from housing to groceries, veterans deserve absolute certainty when it comes to providing for their families," Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., said in a statement Thursday. "Boosting veterans' hard-earned benefits to keep pace with the cost of living is a necessary cost of war, and I'm proud this bipartisan legislation will deliver a benefits increase to millions of disabled veterans and survivors nationwide -- including 30,000 in Montana." Read Next: Keesler Command Chief Sacked After Investigation Ordered by Training Wing Colonel The increase applies to disability benefits, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. The bill specifically ties the increase to the annual cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefits. The 2025 rate for Social Security won't be announced by federal officials until Oct. 10. But the advocacy group Senior Citizens League is projecting the cost-of-living increase will be 2.5%, the organization said in a news release earlier this month. That would be lower than recent years, but in line with historical norms. In 2023, beneficiaries saw their highest increase in decades at 8.7%. This year's increase was 3.2%. In 2010, 2011 and 2016, there was zero increase. While giving veterans an annual bump in their benefits is considered noncontroversial, Congress still must formally approve the increase every year and sometimes comes down to the wire in doing so. The official approval of the increase this year was applauded by lawmakers in both parties. "With the rising costs of goods and living expenses, many disabled veterans and their dependents, including survivors, rely on VA for essential financial support," Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement Thursday. "Making certain earned benefits stay on pace with rising prices will help provide veterans and their families with much-needed peace of mind." Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, a Navy SEAL veteran who sponsored the House version of the bill, said in a statement after the House passage that the vote was "a testament to our ongoing commitment to America's heroes and their families." Related: VA's Threat to Withhold Disability Checks over Decades-Old Separation Pay Surprises Vets (KRON) San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a final brief in the U.S. Supreme Court against the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, hoping to save San Franciscans from what he describes as massive bill increases. Millions of PG&E customers to receive credit next month The City could be forced to make at least $10 billion in capital expenditures that would cause water and sewer bills to skyrocket to nearly $9,000 annually per ratepayer over the next 15 years if the terms San Francisco is challenging are held lawful, Chiu said. San Francisco has had a massive sewage water problem so much so that the Environmental Protection Agency filed a complaint against the city in May, claiming that 1.8 billion gallons of sewage were dumped into the citys surrounding waters. Chiu and the city appealed that case, claiming the instructions given to SF needed to be clearer and more affordable. I have a duty to protect San Franciscans from utility rates that would drive many of them into poverty, as well as make sure San Francisco complies with our obligations to protect the environment, Chiu said. In July, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals argued the appeal, claiming federal and state water agencies have broad authority to impose limitations necessary. Chiu appealed the case again, which eventually led to the Supreme Court stepping in on Tuesday. In a statement concerning the brief, Chiu emphasized that this case does not challenge the Clean Water Acta federal bill keeping cities in check by regulating quality standards for surface watersbut rather asks the court to ensure the EPA follows the act by giving permit holders clear standards that actually prevent water pollution before it happens. Dennis Herrera, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the citys water, power and sewer utility, says San Francisco is facing a Catch-22 situation: The EPA is basically saying, You cant pollute too much, but we wont tell you what too much is until after youve already done it. Thats untenable. The financial hit to our customers could be so severe that it would drive more than 8,000 San Franciscans into poverty. Individual ratepayers are expected to pay nearly $9,000 annually in 2039, a tenfold increase from todays average yearly bills of $851, Chius office alleges. According to an analysis commissioned by SFPUC, thousands of San Franciscans would no longer be able to cover their basic needs and go into poverty. Between 8,100 and 10,600 more people would no longer earn enough to cover their basic needs and would be forced into poverty, the analysis reports. San Francisco remains fully committed to complying with the Clean Water Act. We are simply asking the EPA to tell us what the requirements are. Tell us the requirements, and well meet those requirements. Clean Water Act permits should say what they mean and mean what they say. KRON4 has reached out to the EPA for comment and has yet to hear back as of the publishing of 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 KRON4. The tumult of Eric Adamss indictment on federal charges as part of a long-running corruption case has much of New Yorks media and political classes already consumed by speculation around who will take over the mayoralty. But theyre also talking about another New Yorker who is far from likely to be seeking that job: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the rising progressive star of the New York congressional delegation. Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken backbencher in the Democratic House caucus, was one of the very first state electeds to call for Adams to resign as the feds closed in around him. Her call for the mayor to step down actually came just a few hours before the impending indictment hit the headlines. Absent any comment about the criminal charges themselves, her statement referred instead to the growing staff exodus from the Adams administration and the separate investigations into the mayors political allies. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration, she wrote on Twitter. For the good of the city, he should resign. Adams stands accused of taking illegal campaign contributions, defrauding the citys campaign fund, and even pressuring the New York Fire Department to open a consulate for the government of Turkey without following proper fire code protocols. The five-count indictment describes comical efforts to allegedly cover up the scheme, including an Adams aide reportedly excusing themself to the bathroom during an FBI interview, then deleting messages in the bathroom. Adams denies all the allegations. The impending political vacuum at the top of New York City politics is bound to shake up the political scene at a time when its widely speculated that 34-year-old Ocasio-Cortez is eyeing a greater role in her party. She delivered a primetime address at the Democratic National Convention in August the only backbencher Squad member to do so and received some of the loudest cheers of the night. Her willingness to figuratively stick her neck out on the issue of Adams presumably before knowing the indictment was coming is another sign that shes looking to take on a leadership role. The Independent reached out to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez as lawmakers were on Capitol Hill to pass a short-term funding bill this week. She declined to talk about her future plans, explaining that her focus was centered on House business. It remains to be seen when or if the congresswoman will pursue her political career beyond the 14th district. She very publicly declined to run for Senate this cycle in a statement last year, a move that likely triggered a few sighs of relief in the office of Senator Kristen Gillibrand, the Democratic incumbent up for re-election. That means shell be waiting until 2028 at least to make a bid for the upper chamber, unless a resignation occurs before then. Waiting is something the third-term congresswoman is good at and thats not a bartending joke. Unlike other progessives in New York politics, particularly in the city, Ocasio-Cortez is not a perennial campaigner. She hasnt sought an office yet besides the one she first won in 2018, declining two opportunities to run for Senate. Chuck Schumer was reported to have been worried about a primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez in 2022, when he was last up for re-election. His worries in and of themselves are notable, given that hes the senior-most Democratic leader in the entire state, as well as in Congress. If the congresswoman does mount a bid against Schumer in 2028, her decision not to seek a Senate seat in either of the past two cycles will likely play to her benefit. Under Joe Bidens presidency, Ocasio-Cortez has charted a difficult course. She and the progressive Squad of the Houses furthest-left members emerged as some of Bidens loudest allies in the House when it came to passing his signature Build Back Better legislation, which later died due to opposition in the Senate. At the same time, she has continued to stake out positions which keep her in line with her base of leftist supporters both in her district and online, including by being one of the first members of Congress to call the Israeli assault on Gaza a genocide and to support an arms embargo. Her true strength and the reason Schumer fears her possible statewide elected ambitions comes from her proven ability to expand her support beyond the progressive left. It was a failing that hamstrung Bernie Sanders during his two presidential bids, as he was unable to chip away at larger coalitions of voters within the Democratic Party. But Ocasio-Cortez frequently finds herself the target of praise from centrists and even some Trump-opposed Republicans. Such unlikely friends have become enamored with her eloquent remarks in interviews and around Capitol Hill, as well as the level of preparedness she has demonstrated at committee hearings like her grilling of Michael Cohen in 2019. Were still a long way out from AOC even theoretically having an opportunity or reason to make any national ambitions public. But if the Adams indictment reminds us of one thing, its that New York politics is never really very stable, and often throws ones planned political future for a spin. Its the Third World meets Bangkok. In "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs district in New York City, those who are described as scantily dressed migrant prostitutes line blocks of a long commercial strip during all hours of the day and night, brazenly soliciting sex to passersby while their pimps strike fear into local business owners, one of whom told Fox News Digital hes been threatened for speaking out and is on the verge of closing his store. The trash-filled streets of Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, which encompasses the migrant-heavy communities of Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, has become a veritable hotbed for one of the worlds oldest professions, and residents say that most elected officials and police are turning a blind eye to the neighborhood nightmare, which looks more like the famed brothel-filled red-light district streets of Bangkok than one of Americas biggest cities. Illegal vendors also overrun the sidewalks, plying their hustle in what residents have likened to "Third World" conditions, cooking hot food out in the open devoid of any health certifications or inspections as hungry birds swoop down in search of leftovers and leaving their droppings along the way. Aoc District Neighborhood Labeled 'Third World' As Migrants Clog Streets And Prostitutes Overrun Every Block Alleged prostitutes line a street in Queens, New York City. Known to locals as the "Avenue of the Sweethearts," this epicenter of vice is not some desolate area on the outskirts of a city but rather the heart of the borough of Queens underneath the areas main subway track that serves as a vital cog connecting Manhattan and its local schools to families, many of whom stream down the subway steps and are then inescapably met by armies of prowling solicitors. Read On The Fox News App Fox News Digital even recorded a man pushing his young son in a stroller past a group of five sex workers. Residents say that students pass prostitutes every day on their way to school or on their way to local taekwondo centers situated along the busy strip and that the situation has become the norm for their youthful eyes with the alleged sex workers, mostly composed of Asian and Hispanic women, filling the sidewalks. On Sept. 18, the NYPD raided a brothel just off Roosevelt Avenue and arrested three people. The following evening, Fox News Digital was conducting an interview in front of the raided premises when an alleged sex worker and her reported john casually walked out of the same building. On one block along Roosevelt Avenue, Fox News Digital cameras recorded a line of no less than 19 alleged sex workers on the sidewalk. Around the corner, there were at least seven more, and a woman on the next block was witnessed soliciting sex for $60. Nearby, vendors sell everything from used clothes to pots and pans or tools. More recently, female vendors have begun cutting hair and painting nails under canopies on the cluttered sidewalks, with all of these illegal vendors operating feet from legitimate brick-and-mortar stores whose owners rage they are being undercut in prices while also having to pay taxes, unlike the illegal vendors. Shoplifting and pick-pocketing is also widespread, business owners say, and theres a sense here that lawlessness is breeding more lawlessness. Nypd Sweeps Vendors Overrunning Aoc's District But Sellers Swarm The Streets Again, Selling Goods On Sept. 19, the day after the raid, Fox News Digital witnessed a man being arrested for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl as she walked down the subway steps. In police handcuffs, he denied the accusations to onlookers. The girl, who was being comforted by adults, looked visibly shaken. Ramses Frias, a local resident turned activist, is furious with the deterioration of his neighborhood and says "it feels like Bangkok with women outside locations and pulling men off the street." "This area has been run rampant with prostitution," he told Fox News Digital outside the raided brothel. "It's just been out of control and the lawlessness continues to happen." "This doesnt feel like my home. I've been here my whole life, and this feels like I'm a tourist in a Third World country. This is not how this is supposed to look, this is not how it's supposed to feel," he insisted. "This is a neighborhood and a community full of hardworking individuals, immigrants and second-generation Americans that worked really hard to be here and are facing all this evil and all these bad things. ... And it's just causing more issues daily and our quality of life just continues to drop." Seconds later, an alleged sex worker and her client emerged from the brothel. A neighboring business owner then ushered Fox News Digital into his store, warning that "pimps" were watching via CCTV. The store owner did not want to be named but said he had reported the cathouse to police and had been threatened by those involved with the brothel. "Im so scared, this is my business," he said, adding that his business is suffering because customers are avoiding the area and will likely have to close because of it. Several blocks in "Squad" member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs district in Queens are lined with scantily clad migrant women who reportedly offer illegal services. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a Republican candidate for mayor, says prostitution has exploded in the neighborhood after the pimps and sex workers were driven out of the nearby area of Flushing, well known for its Asian population. "It was never like this. It was a family area with a lot of retail," Sliwa told Fox News Digital of Roosevelt Avenue. "The Chinese community pushed it out [of Flushing] and Asian cops were getting busted because they were on the take, so they just decided, the madams, bring the girls over here and its open prostitution, 24/7. [It's] lawless. Anarchy. You get to do what you want when you want." Two NYPD officers were busted in 2006 on bribery charges relating to the protection of a brothel in Flushing, and there are similar cases stretching back further. Sliwa says the police and New York City Mayor Eric Adams are not doing enough to clamp down on the racket. In January, the NYPD raided six establishments allegedly engaged in prostitution, which were issued closing orders. The raid was well publicized, with Adams and local Democrat City Council member Francisco Moya present. However, it appears to have done little to curb the problem. A group of alleged sex workers on a corner on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, New York City. Sliwa slammed it as a "show raid" and said there were no arrests. "They didn't arrest the johns, prostitutes, madams; they never went after the landlords, and they were back in business the next day," said Sliwa, who joined Fox News Digital and Frias on a walking tour of the area. The Queens District Attorney's Office confirmed that no arrests were made, saying it was strictly carried out to serve court closure orders of nuisance abatement over which the NYPD has jurisdiction. "This would never be tolerated in Manhattan. They tolerate it because it's a poor and impoverished area in the eyes of many New Yorkers, but that doesn't give you a reason to allow this to exist," Sliwa said. "This is so unfair and the mayor is allowing a culture of corruption to exist. These police officers are on the take. It's the only way they could operate openly. They'll say, We deny that. Well, that's what happened in Flushing and that's why they pushed it over here." Adams' office did not respond to a request for comment. The NYPD confirmed the three arrests after the Sept. 18 raid but did not respond to a request for further comment. No police officers have been charged for being involved in prostitution in recent years. In 2018, seven NYPD officers three sergeants, two detectives and two officers were indicted in connection with an illegal prostitution and gambling ring in Brooklyn and Queens, which encompassed Roosevelt Avenue. Separately, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell told Fox News that it suspects members of the brutal Tren de Aragua are linked to prostitution in the area, trafficking women into the industry to pay off the debts the gang is owed for smuggling them into the country. A man asleep on a street surrounded by trash and clothes. Meanwhile, the Queens District Attorneys Office says it is working hard to stamp out prostitution and crime in the area, noting the office has "evicted 13 prostitution locations this year being used for illegal activity on or near Roosevelt Avenue." The office says it's in the process of permanently shutting down the raided brothel. Of Ocasio-Cortez, Frias said the socialist lawmaker has not been seen in the neighborhood since she took part in a rally there in August 2023, where she condemned a city crackdown on illegally operating vendors and called for the city to issue more permits to those vendors. "She does not visit this area; this is actually an area where she campaigned the hardest and a lot of people went out [to vote] for her, and she doesn't come over here. She has totally neglected us," Frias said, noting that other local elected officials are rarely seen in the area, which is only represented by Democrats. "So, we're totally neglected, we're here to fend for ourselves and this is what we have to do now. We're going to organize. We're going to have a rally coming up on Sept. 29, and we're going to let our voices be heard and make sure that the city understands that they need to come over here and do their job," he adds. Ocasio-Cortezs office did not respond to repeated requests for comment on this story or on a March story in which Fox News Digital brought attention to the neighborhoods plight, featuring the additional publication of a now-viral video provided by Frias showing an almost endless stream of vendors with piles of clothes stacked along the streets. Police swept the area days later and Frias a former Democrat who is running for City Council as a Republican next year said vendors have simply set up shop there again. Rep. Grace Meng, whose district also encompasses Roosevelt Avenue, said in a one-line statement, "Quality of life and safety issues need to always be addressed, and I remain in contact with the 110th precinct, Councilman Moya, our local community board and other local elected officials." 'Shark Tank's' Kevin O'leary Shreds Aoc Over Her District Looking Like A 'Third World Country' From left, Ramses Frias, Curtis Sliwa, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, City Council member Francisco Moya Frias also took aim at state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Democrat who represents the area and is running for mayor. She has previously labeled prostitution on the strip as "survival work" and in 2019 co-sponsored a series of bills that would have decriminalized sex work and vacated the records of people arrested or charged with prostitution or related offenses. Ramos told Fox News Digital she was happy to see the recent raid take place and pitted blame on the mayor for the unsavory situation, saying Adams' office has been sidetracked by scandals rather than addressing the concerns of the community. "No one wants to see people selling sex, especially when theyre being coerced by traffickers. Its unclear what took so long," Ramos said in a statement. "The underground economy has spiraled out of control," she added, referencing the illegal vendors. "Without work permits from the feds, migrants need honest work to provide for themselves. The fact is the migrants are here, and they want to work." Used clothes and other used items for sale are seen along a clogged sidewalk in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district in Queens. Meanwhile, Moya, who attended the January raid and has rallied alongside so-called "clean streets" advocates like Frias, said that his fellow Democrats are impeding efforts to shut down the brothels and illegal vendors. "Ive lived my entire life in this district, and Ive never seen it this bad," Moya said of the prostitution. "After COVID, the situation has worsened significantly. The influx of migrants plays a part in this issue, as many have no other means of survival. The federal government has turned a blind eye to the situation and theres only so much the city can do, since we dont have the authority to grant work permits or legal status to those in need." Moya said other elected officials have been calling up city agencies demanding that all enforcement stop. "Some elected officials dont see this as a problem, suggesting that work is work and we should let it be. I believe that if a state representative wants to legalize prostitution, it should be done with strict rules and regulations, in designated areas like the city of Amsterdam not in our community, especially near schools where children pass by and witness these activities daily," he insisted. "Im doing everything in my power to mitigate this issue, as you can see many have been investigated and shutdown but what I have been doing is being undermined by these leaders who dont recognize the urgent need for change. Yet, I assure you, I will not stop until significant change is made." Prostitutes at work in Queens, New York City, in "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs district. Original article source: AOC's 'red light' district overrun with prostitutes as locals call out MIA 'Squad' member Thomas Chaves, left, and Vinny Almeida walk through floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in an attempt to reach Chaves's mother's house in the Shore Acres neighborhood Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson) Tangled piles of nail-spiked lumber and displaced boats littered the streets. A house lay crushed under a fern-covered oak tree toppled by the winds. Residents waded or paddled through ruddy floodwaters, hoping to find their loved ones safe, and rescue crews used fan boats to evacuate stranded people in bathrobes or wrapped in blankets. Authorities on Friday were trying to get a handle on Hurricane Helene 's extreme swath of destruction, which stretched across Florida, Georgia and much of the southeastern U.S. on Friday, leaving at least 40 people dead in four states and millions without power. Helene was the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. The Category 4 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) and made landfall late Thursday where Florida's Panhandle and peninsula meet, a rural region home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways. Floodwaters inundated cars and buildings, and the winds ripped the roofs off businesses, houses and churches. Faith Cotto and her mother, Nancy, stood outside and mourned the loss of their brick home in St. Petersburg, Florida, to another fate: Amid so much water, it burned. A Coast Guard crew in a helicopter rescued a man and his dog after his sailboat became disabled 25 miles (40 kilometers) off southwestern Florida. Firefighters carried children across floodwaters in Crystal River, north of Tampa. But the damage reached much farther. In Atlanta on Friday, streets plunged into reddish-brown water. Hospitals in southern Georgia were left without electricity as officials warned of severe damage to the power grid. In Tennessee, dozens of people were rescued from a hospital roof, and authorities ordered the evacuation of downtown Newport, a city of about 7,000, due to the catastrophic failure of a dam. Fans attend the performance of Canadian singer Shawn Mendes at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Sept. 20-26, 2024 Rio de Janeiro hosted its annual rock music festival. Mexicans protested on the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students. Argentinas poverty rate jumped to 53% and Hurricane Helene flooded parts of Cuba. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. The selection was curated by AP photo editor Leslie Mazoch, based in Mexico City. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Archaeologists digging through a French cliffside located a 200-year-old message in a bottle. Amidst much speculation, the team opened it to find a message from another archaeologist digging at the site200 years ago. The archaeologist was the first to explore the ancient location, and was notable in the area for his work. The idea of a message in a bottle that you might toss out to sea or bury in the earth is an inherently romantic onea bid for connection with a far-off friend, whether that far-off be physical or temporal. A group of students recently experienced the latter, and connected with a 200-year-old predecessor via a recent discovery in France. The message and its vessel were discovered atop cliffs at an old Gaulish village near the port of Dieppe as a team of studentsvolunteering in an emergency effort as erosion chips away at the sites historydiscovered a small glass flask inside an earthenware pot. Inside the glass bottle was a note. It was an absolutely magic moment, said Guillaume Blondel, head of the town of Eus archaeological service, according to the BBC. We knew there had been excavations here in the past, but to find this message from 200 years ago it was a total surprise. After the team speculated about the potential of the notes contents, they carefully extracted the paper and found: P.J. Feret, a native of Dieppe, member of various intellectual societies, carried out excavations here in January 1825. He continues his investigations in this vast area known as the Cite de Limes or Caesars Camp. An archaeologists message to future archaeologists. Sometimes you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters when they build houses, Blondel said. But its very rare in archaeology. Most archaeologists prefer to think that there wont be anyone coming after them because theyve done all the work. Feret is credited as the first archaeologist to sift through the village. He wanted to dismantle an ancient theory which spoke of a Carolingian presence, said Blondel, according to a translation from French-language Actu. He was the first to excavate and discover elements attesting to the Gallic presence. The initial find was made by a history student in Caen named Pierre, Actu reported. Pierre saw the top of a strange object in a trench, and after the team ensured it wasnt a bomb from World War II, they removed the pot. This pot was covered with a small, glazed cup, Blondel said. And we saw a white glass object protruding from it. The glass bottle was a vial, like the kind women once wore around their necks filled with smelling salts. The note was inside, rolled and tied with string. Apart from the 200-year-old message, the students also discovered plenty of 2,000-year-old artifactsmostly pieces of potteryas they searched for evidence of Gallic occupation. Along the way, they found a love letter to their line of work. You Might Also Like An Argentine judge has ordered the publishers of a major Spanish dictionary to remove a pejorative definition of the word "Jewish" from its listing, local media reported late Thursday. The fifth and last definition of the word "Jewish" in the Dictionary of the Spanish Language, which is published by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), is of a person said to be "greedy or usurious". The dictionary cautions that this usage is "offensive or discriminatory". The other four definitions are "Hebrew", a person "who professes Judaism," a "native of Judea, a country in Asia Minor" and "belonging or relating to Judea or the Jews." Judge Ariel Lijo ordered the academy to "immediately remove the fifth definition of the word 'Jewish' for representing hate speech and incitement to discrimination on religious grounds," according to a ruling cited by the Infobae news portal. He also ordered that the link to the word on the dictionary's website be blocked in Argentina until it complied with the request. It was possible to still access it on Friday morning, however. The ruling stemmed from a complaint filed on August 28 by the heads of the Latin American Jewish Congress and the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations against the RAE and its director, Santiago Munoz Machado, Infobae said. The complaint cited a law banning the "justification or promotion of racial or religious discrimination in any form," a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. Jewish groups and rights groups have asked the RAE twice to remove the definition, but Munoz Machado refused, while agreeing to add the stipulation that the fifth definition given for Jewish is "offensive of discriminatory", according to Infobae. Lijo ruled that RAE's response was "unacceptable." Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America. The Jewish community in Buenos Aires was targeted in two major attacks in the 1990s, one on the Israeli Embassy in 1992, which killed 29 people, and another on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association in 1994, which left 85 people dead. mry/cb/md UPDATE: Authorities said Friday, Sept. 27, they have located the truck and interviewed the male subject. Cynthia McCoy is still missing. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 63-year-old woman from Golden Valley, Arizona, has been reported missing, and authorities are looking for a white truck in connection with the investigation. Cynthia Marie McCoy was reported missing on Aug. 22 and she was last seen in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 20. The Mohave County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) released a photo of McCoy and the truck on Thursday. McCoy is described as a white female, about 5 feet tall and 110 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue spaghetti-strap tank top and carrying a black purse with a Route 66 emblem on the side. Cynthia Marie McCoy of Golden Valley, Ariz., has been reported missing. Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding a white truck as they investigate her whereabouts. (Mohave County Sheriffs Office) Police said McCoy and a friend got a flat tire as they were returning home on Highway 66. A white truck driven by a male subject approached the women offering to help, according to information posted on MCSOs Facebook page. Cynthia left with the male subject and went back to the business looking for a spare tire. Approximately 30 minutes later, Cynthia returned to the friends vehicle, but left shortly after in the truck with the male subject. This was the last time Cynthia was seen. The truck is believed to be an early 2000 model Ford F-150 king-cab truck. The camper shell hangs over the tailgate by several inches. The driver-side rear tire is missing the center dust cover of the rim. The truck was last seen at the business between 7:40 and 7:45 a.m. traveling toward Highway 66 from the parking lot. It left the area in an unknown direction. The man driving the truck is described as an older male with long gray hair and a long gray beard. He was wearing a light blue t-shirt. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cynthia McCoy or the identity of the male subject is encouraged to contact MCSOs Detective Division at 928-753-0753 or 1-800-522-4312 and reference DR# 24-031983. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A sign prohibiting firearms is posted outside Little Rock City Hall on Sept. 26, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) Recommendations from a year-long study on firearm policies, including one that would allow adults in Arkansas to bring firearms to school bus stops, were posted online Friday for public review. Draft firearm legislation, posted Sept. 27 Lawmakers on the Arkansas Legislative Councils Game & Fish/State Police Subcommittee, which is co-chaired by Sen. Ricky Hill, R-Cabot, were tapped last year to conduct a study on the states existing gun laws. Their goal was clarity, and lawmakers are proposing nine bills for consideration during next years legislative session. Any resulting legislation will not be filed until the next session, Hill said. Some recommendations from the study may be turned into bills, while others may not. Additionally, information gathered during the study that is not included in the report could still be introduced as a bill during the session if a legislator chooses to pursue it. In addition to the proposal to remove school bus stops from the list of prohibited carry locations, the draft policy includes recommendations to repeal sections of existing law regarding hunting, implement clarity that carrying firearms is allowed in certain state buildings, and bar municipalities from enacting firearm requirements that are more restrictive than state law. Lawmakers also recommend setting penalties for carrying inside schools at $1,000 per offense, and moving to a single licensing scheme. Adoption of the final report of the study is expected at the subcommittees meeting on Oct. 3. The Arkansas Legislative Council would then consider the proposals at its Oct. 18 meeting. The proposed policies were expected to be published Sept. 26, to give the public a week to review the drafts, but the documents were delayed. Public comment was offered at meetings held over the last year as lawmakers parsed through the thousands of laws concerning firearms. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View said at a recent meeting that not many people came to share their thoughts. The committee has already considered and voted on member motions regarding changes to this study, Hill said While we welcome public comments at Thursdays meeting, the committee will be voting on the recommendations presented at that time, and no further changes will be made. Please keep in mind that this is just a study. At the subcommittees most recent meeting on Sept. 16, both firearm activists and gun-safety advocates spoke to lawmakers about the proposed legislation. While those who favored the draft rules praised lawmakers efforts, and in some cases recommended looser policies, those who opposed them shared worries about childrens safety. According to Everytown Research and Policy, an organization that advocates for stricter gun laws in the country through various groups like Moms Demand Action, Arkansas has the weakest gun laws in the country. Arkansas also tracks one of the highest gun violence rates of nearly 22 deaths per 100,000 residents; the national average rate is about 14 deaths. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Bloomberg) -- The Indonesian government aims to finalize a loan restructuring agreement between the nations biggest steelmaker PT Krakatau Steel and its lenders next month, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The state-owned company and its banks have been in talks recently about the master restructuring agreement, after a similar deal in previous years, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The total of rupiah-denominated and other loans to be restructured amounts to an equivalent of about $1.5 billion, one of the people said. Founded in 1970, Krakatau Steel once hosted industrialists from China eager to learn how their nation could accelerate its own output. Fast forward several decades and the Indonesian firm was suddenly having to grapple with cheaper imports from a rapidly growing China and elsewhere. It sought government support to protect the local industry as it completed an earlier $2 billion debt restructuring in 2020, after which President Joko Widodoor Jokowi, as hes popularly knowncalled for a cut in imports of low-quality steel. But a fire at one of Krakataus plants last year posed a further setback. After that, its finance director said that the company needed to restructure its loans. A media representative for Krakatau Steel couldnt immediately comment when reached by Bloomberg News. There was no response from a representative for the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry to text messages and phone calls. Debt strains have also beset Indonesias construction industry, after a push by President Jokowi to build new infrastructure like toll roads and railways. PT Waskita Karya and PT Wijaya Karya signed a combined $3 billion of debt restructuring deals with their lenders this year. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) Election day is Nov. 5. Whether its your first time at the ballots or youre an avid voter, it is good to stay informed on who and what will be on your ballot this election. Arkansas has a process for presidential candidates to be on the ballots. Candidates must meet the criteria of their party and have to turn in paperwork and payments to the state secretary for approval by a certain day. Due to this process, Arkansans do not have the chance to write in, a candidate., if they do, their write-in will not be counted for. Below is the approved list of presidential candidates in the Natural State: Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware; Green Party Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz; Democratic Party Donald J. Trump/JD Vance; Republic Party Peter Sonski, Lauren Onak; American Solidarity Party Michael Wood, John G Pietrowski; Prohibition Party Chase Oliver Mike ter Maat; Libertarian Party Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Nicole Shanahan; Independent On Sept. 13, the U.S. Eighth District Court of Appeals ruled that electronic signatures for voter registrations were invalid. If you registered to vote online it is imperative that you check your voter registration. You can call your county clerk or check here. The last day to register to vote in Arkansas for the November election is Oct. 7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This article was originally published in Arkansas Advocate. DUMAS The Dumas School Districts steep enrollment decline is feeding local residents frustration with district leadership and raising fears they will lose their schools. The district, which serves parts of Desha, Drew and Lincoln counties, counted 838 students as of Aug. 30, according to data provided by Superintendent Camille Sterrett. Thats a 13% drop from last school year and an 18% drop since 2021. Dwindling enrollment also means lost revenue more than $7,000 per student, according to the superintendent to a district already struggling financially. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter If [the district] loses students at the exponential rate its losing them, we will not have a school system in five years, local physician Dr. Sarah Franklin told the school board at its June 25 meeting. Franklin is among the many local residents alarmed at the precipitous enrollment decline which outpaces the citys population decline and what it portends for the future of the district and its students. Related Closing Campuses: How Much Money Does It Save School Districts, Anyway? Do you see that theres a problem? Franklins husband, AJ Franklin, asked district leadership at the June meeting. Or do yall just say, Well, every day of the week, this is just going to happen [and] inevitably Dumas is going to fade to nothing? We all see that problem, and that problem is discussed at school board meetings, Board President Alan Minor replied. Dumas residents fears are shared by families in small districts across Arkansas that face consolidation or state takeover when they cant find a way to survive. Arkansas rural schools struggle with a myriad of challenges, including attracting and retaining educators to regions with fewer economic opportunities and lower wages than more populous communities. Declining populations complicate district finances because most funding comes from the local tax base and per-student state funding. Dumas and the states southeast region have seen steady population declines for years, U.S. Census data shows, but changes in state law have also made it easier for parents to move their children to private schools and other public school districts. While some former Dumas students have gone to private schools or been homeschooled thanks to the school voucher program created through the LEARNS Act of 2023, several have transferred to other public school districts bordering Dumas, including DeWitt, McGehee and Star City. The LEARNS Act mostly eliminated a cap on public school transfers, which made it easier for families to put their children in school districts in which they do not live, Sterrett said. According to data from each district obtained via the states Freedom of Information Act, DeWitt, McGehee and Star City enrollment numbers are similar or slightly higher than Dumas, but none saw a triple-digit enrollment drop in one year in the past three school years, as Dumas did. Star City has gained students every year for the past three years. Enrollment declines also have made the Dumas district more racially segregated as white and Hispanic students have left while Black students remain, said Kitty Greenup, who was a paraprofessional in the district for 27 years before retiring this year. Greenup was appointed to the school board in July. The districts student population was 68% Black, 17% white and 13% Hispanic as of 2023. The remaining 2% were Asian, Native American and multiracial students, according to a district report. As of Aug. 30, the districts students were 75% Black and 23% white with Hispanic students in both populations, according to enrollment data. [Theres been] not only white flight, but weve had brain drain as well, where it seems like everybody who could get out of the district did, Greenup said. This has been going on in earnest for probably the last five years. In a written statement handed out at the June meeting in response to pre-submitted questions, Sterrett and the board said they have absolutely no control over parents decisions to send their children elsewhere. Such responses have not quelled public concern, especially in the wake of recent layoffs aimed at addressing funding shortfalls. A matter of time In April, the school board approved cutting 19% of district employees, closing its K-2 school (Central Elementary) and consolidating all elementary grades into Reed Elementary, which previously housed only grades 3-5. The reduction in force and school closure were recommended by Norman Hill, who until June 30 was interim director of the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative. The state Department of Education tapped him last year to review the Dumas districts finances. A comparison of the districts active contracts for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years shows a reduction of 39 positions, including 22 teachers, five paraprofessionals, four custodians and four food service workers. Staff cuts saved the district $1.2 million in salaries and fringe benefits, Hill said, and closing the lower elementary school saved about $150,000. He also said some of the positions had already been vacant due to resignations and retirements. Both elementary schools earned an F ranking from the state education department for the 2022-23 school year. The middle and high schools received a D. The school closure, employee cuts and poor rankings have prompted many Dumas residents to vent their frustration during board meetings and voice distrust of Sterrett, who became superintendent in July 2022. Sterrett has defended the cuts and said they had been building for at least a decade. There should have been a change years ago, she said in June. The cuts allowed the district to keep what remains of a $2 million private trust fund to use as needed, Hill said. Without the layoffs and school closure, the district would have drained the remaining $1.2 million from the fund, part of a deceased Dumas couples multimillion-dollar estate, and had no operating funds left by the end of the school year, he said. If we hadnt made the cuts, it would have been a matter of time before the state shut [the district] down because they didnt have the money, Hill said. Hill told the public at the Aug. 27 school board meeting that the trust fund was the sole reason the district did not close last year. Concerned citizen Lonzell Dodds said this was news to him. I dont know why thats been so hard to answer, he said. Blank check concerns In June, the board authorized Sterrett to transfer an unspecified amount of money from the districts building fund and the private trust fund into the net legal fund balance the fund that covers district operations, debt service and teacher salaries in order to balance district revenues and expenditures. Audience members voiced discomfort with the boards unanimous vote. The need for financial solvency doesnt mean boards should give administrators a blank check, Dr. Franklin said. Asked if the district has ever been audited other than by the annual required review by Arkansas Legislative Audit, Sterrett said, We do whats required. Allison Chambers, who taught high school science before resigning in May, stormed out of the meeting and later said she was upset that Sterrett and the board showed absolutely no interest in the publics concerns. They seemed to be more worried about controlling their narrative and what they wanted you to believe about this district than actually speaking truths, Chambers said. An Aug. 21 email sent by education department fiscal services employee Jason Miller noted a steady decline in the districts various funds since 2021. The districts building fund and net legal balance dropped by $1.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively, from June 2021 to June 2024, according to the email. Meanwhile, the student population fell by more than 200 students. Looks like they have been making transfers to simply operate, Miller wrote. Sterretts blank check closed a roughly $1.16 million hole in the districts budget, created when it spent that much more than it received last year, according to Hill. The superintendent transferred more than $357,000 from the building fund and about $800,000 from the trust fund to shore up the net legal fund balance, he said this month. More cuts? The LEARNS Act which raised the states minimum teacher pay to $50,000 a year and guaranteed minimum $2,000 raises to those already earning above that added to the Dumas districts financial strain in the 2023-24 school year, Hill said. The state helped districts pay for the salary increases, but it still wasnt enough to stave off Dumas layoffs and other spending cuts, he said. The Department of Education gave the Dumas district $1,075,667 for teacher salaries and benefits for the 2023-24 school year. Districts will receive the same amount for the 2024-25 school year they received the year prior. Hill said these amounts were based on the number of teachers in each district and their salaries before the mandatory raises: the less experienced a districts teachers were, the more money the state provided to meet the increases. Dumas was among the minority of districts that received more than $1 million, and Hill said this was because it had more early-career teachers. The LEARNS financial aid didnt alleviate the districts financial struggles last year, Hill said, but it should this year because the money now supplements fewer teachers salaries, allowing the declining state and local tax revenue to go toward operating expenses instead of salaries. The districts financial situation remains precarious but will become clearer as this school year progresses, Hill said. Its going to depend on two things: whether our figures were correct and whether they end up losing any more students If they keep losing students, theyll have to make more cuts, Hill said. The layoffs and other financial cuts came as a shock to employees and parents, Hill said, because the district didnt take the incremental steps needed to counter declining revenue and rising expenses during the eight-year tenure of Sterretts predecessor. Sterrett and the board have attributed the loss of students and consequent drop in per-pupil funds to the declining population of the Arkansas Delta region as a whole. Community members say the enrollment drop has outpaced the regional one and the comparison is not fair. U.S. Census data shows Desha County, where Dumas is the largest city, lost 12.4% of its population between 2010 and 2020, and Dumas lost 15% of its residents, leaving the city population just over 4,000. Population declines tend to come with fewer employment, leisure and health care resources, which further discourage people from moving to the area. Former school nurse Isierene Brown said Dumas citizens dont even have a Walmart to draw people in. Too much division All the explanations have done little to cool long-simmering discontent or lessen the disconnect felt by employees and parents, who cited a litany of complaints. Im still just reeling that Ive given 25 years of my life to this district and they can do me like this, said Brown, who was three years away from qualifying for retirement benefits when the district laid her off. Chambers and former high school English teacher Jala Patterson, who resigned in March, both said the district should have supported them enough to keep them from resigning. They said the district does not conduct monthly safety drills, which state law requires, and administrators do not observe teachers job performances. They also cited faulty intercom systems that jeopardize faculty and student safety. Patterson noted the district failed to provide enough textbooks for an Advanced Placement class until the school year was almost over. Were so concerned with raising test scores, but lacking essential resources, Patterson wrote in an October 2023 email to Arthur Tucker, executive director of curriculum and instruction. Please. Please help me help my students. District leadership has just written all of the kids off, Chambers said. When I started [teaching there], I was told, Most of these arent going to college, so dont expect a lot, she said. Instead of ensuring that kids are getting an education so that they can be productive members of society, with or without a degree, they are being dumbed down. The way the school board handles public comments at its meetings also feeds the dissatisfaction. AreOsha Bynum, a mother of a kindergartener, told Minor after the August meeting that the boards responses to public comment come off as shutting down and having an attitude and positioning themselves as against us instead of trying to help us. The school board requires audience questions to be submitted in advance. Some audience members responded negatively in June when Minor asked for public comment to be limited. We can do that, but if you want to get to the bottom of this and get this thing back on the right track, I think you need to listen, Dodds said. From the second row of the audience, Brown added, If you dont want to listen, get off the board. Dr. Franklin said frustrations with district leadership led her family to remove their children from the district and homeschool them. Dodds, Patterson and others have said Sterrett and the board dont seem to understand the gravity of the districts problems. Minor said frustrated meeting attendees dont seem to understand that not everyone can get their way. Theres too much division and not enough communication, Minor said after the August meeting. Sterrett declined an in-person interview about issues raised by others. She also did not answer an emailed list of questions. Dumas resident Onie Norman agreed that the areas overall decline is concerning, but unlike Brown, she said she believes Sterrett has done her job as best she can and the school district isnt responsible for retaining city residents. Theyre disappointed [in the district], but they dont stay and try to help improve it, Norman said. Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com. Follow Arkansas Advocate on Facebook and X. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A former police officer shared his struggle with mental health and suicide in honor of National Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. According to First Help, an organization that tracks first responder suicides, since 2023, nearly 190 law enforcement officials have died from suicide. Mother of Arkansas veteran aims to raise awareness for veteran suicides and mental health Also, police officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Stephen Wright with the Arkansas chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says in Arkansas, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 25 to 35. Wright is a former law enforcement officer himself and is passionate about his work because he too was in a dark place where he wanted to end his life. After serving in the army, Wright became a cop and, after serving for 15 years, Wright said he never dealt with any of the issues [he] experienced in combat. Couple that with all the issues I experienced when I was a law enforcement officer, I found myself later in life going down a very dark path mentally, Wright said. Painting a picture of what law enforcement officers go through every day, he says, law enforcement officers see the worst of the worst in humanity. With active ideations of suicide, and a plan to end his life, thankfully Wright found hope by finding someone to talk to. Thats when it kind of resonated with me that community really matters, he said. Arkansas Sen. John Boozman presses for broader, more robust approach to preventing veteran suicides Since joining the Arkansas chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Ive really been on this journey not just for myself but for others to be that listening ear for other men and women in blue who may be struggling. Im tired of seeing my friends die, he said. AFSP serves as a resource directory to help guide people to the services they need. We provide a lot of educational programs as well, said Wright. The Arkansas chapter of AFSP has partnered with Heroes Behind the Line which, provides immediate crisis response for officers in distress, and have therapists on staff. The Arkansas chapter of AFSP has also partnered with Survivors of Blue Suicide who help law enforcement officers and agencies after suicide. Sometimes coping with losing your buddy can be very difficult and cause problems in your own head, Wright said. In early August, Lieutenant Terry Wingard with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office committed suicide. Wright said theres a stigma against seeking help in law enforcement. A lot of cops dont talk about it because they are afraid of losing the gun and badge, he said. No matter if you serve and protect, or are just a regular citizen, help is there for you. It is okay to not be okay. Its not okay to let those go unaddressed, because you are not alone, Wright said. Arkansas Sen. John Boozman presses for broader, more robust approach to preventing veteran suicides To learn more about the Arkansas chapter of AFSP, go to ASPF.org/Chapter/Arkansas. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 988. If you dont want to talk, you can text or have an online chat. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Armed man killed by SWAT team after shooting at law enforcement in Vancouver The Clark County Sheriffs Office says a Vancouver police officer shot and killed an armed man Friday morning after an hours-long standoff. According to law enforcement, it all started with a 911 call around 11 p.m. Thursday about a man threatening a neighbor and using a knife to puncture several tires on the persons vehicle. 911 quickly began receiving other calls from concerned neighbors, saying the man started shooting a rifle into the air. Law enforcement first used a drone to get an overhead view of the man and his property. Because he was armed, they called in an armored vehicle for backup. Deputies were able to contact the man by phone, but he was uncooperative and made threats to shoot at them. Neighbors were told by loudspeakers to shelter in place and emergency alerts were sent out to people in the area. Around 12:45 a.m., the man came out of his home and fired off a round into the air. Phone contact was made with two women inside the mans home, who were able to escape. Deputies tried approaching the home again around 1:00 a.m. and were able to negotiate with him for about 20 minutes until they say he shot at their armored vehicle. A SWAT team arrived a brief time later. One of the SWAT officers, a member of the Vancouver Police Department, shot the man at 2:36 a.m. The man was later pronounced dead, according to the Clark County Sheriffs Office. No officers or deputies were injured. The shelter-in-place order was lifted at 2:58 a.m. The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team is handling the investigation into the shooting. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Its Thursday, September 29. Take a look at our top stories in news and weather with KELOLAND On The GO First@4. 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 Jason Jones, the man accused of murdering four people in the small northeast Nebraska town of Laurel, has been convicted on all charges by a jury. Jury finds Jason Jones guilty of murdering 4 people, arson It is another day that feels more like summer than it does fall. We continue to have above-average temperatures due to an upper-level ridge sliding off to the east. A trough will also shift east towards western South Dakota this afternoon and a cold front will follow with it, but that will not create much of a change for us. Storm Center PM Update: Dry and Warm Stretch Continues 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. What his team is saying: Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, told the Press Trust of India that there has been no bigger advocate for the AAPI community than President Trump, noting that he created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity and prosperity were afforded to everybody. Cheung claimed that anyone who says otherwise about Trump is disgustingly using the AAPI community to play political games for their own benefit. He also expressed confidence in their campaign, saying it harnesses the successes of Asian Americans during Trumps first term to propel him to another stint at the White House. What the community remembers: Despite Trumps claims of advocacy, the negative impact of his anti-Asian rhetoric during the COVID-19 pandemic remains felt to this day. Specifically, his use of terms like kung flu and Chinese virus have been widely criticized for contributing to a surge in anti-Asian incidents, many of which were violent. Trump has also been criticized for targeting Asian American figures like Elaine Chao with racially charged remarks. He doesnt seem to understand that, which says a whole lot more about him than it will ever say about Asian Americans, Chao told Politico last year. His continued mockery of public figures ethnic backgrounds, such as his attacks on Nikki Haleys birth name, has drawn parallels to his earlier birther attacks on Barack Obama, further demonstrating how his words continue to harmfully resonate within the community. An aspiring lawyer hasnt been seen since 2007. Broward jury says she was murdered It took less than an hour for a Broward jury to convict a man of killing a 22-year-old aspiring lawyer who vanished on a trip to South Florida 17 years ago. Kendrick Williams, now 49, was arrested in connection to Stepha Henrys murder in 2008, though it took almost two decades for the case to reach trial. Henry and her sister were visiting their aunt in Miami Gardens when Henry, a graduate of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, disappeared. The trial in which prosecutors proved that Henry was killed despite her body never being found began on Sept. 19, days before what would have been Henrys 40th birthday. I hope this verdict has finally given the family of Stepha Henry some sense of justice after a long and painful wait, Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, whose prosecutors tried the case, said in a statement Friday. I know that nothing, even this verdict, can ever replace the senseless loss of a young daughter whose life was so full of promise. READ MORE: 17 years ago, an aspiring lawyer vanished. A Broward jury will decide if she was murdered Kendrick Williams During the short trial, Williams defense attorney, Paul Donnelly, called no witnesses. In a brief opening statement, he told the jury that prosecutors had no direct evidence and that his client was an easy target for police. Williams will be sentenced on Nov. 8 and faces the possibility of life behind bars. Stepha Henrys disappearance In 2007, Henry traveled to South Florida hoping to surprise her 16-year-old sister for her birthday she gifted her a dream trip to Miami for Memorial Day weekend. Henry was in the midst of a gap year after graduating from college with plans to attend law school. During their trip, a friend invited Henry to a barbecue hosted by Williams wife. The couple shared two children but had been separated. Williams offered to take Henry and her friend to a nightclub at Peppers Cafe, 3828 N. University Dr. in Sunrise. Around 1 a.m. on May 29, 2007, Williams picked Henry up in an Acura Integra. Henry promised her aunt that she would make it back in time to get on her flight to New York. A camera crew taping a promotional video at the club captured footage of Henry and Williams together. But Williams, prosecutor Abbe Rifkin said during opening arguments, initially denied ever being at the club. He later told investigators that he left the club, but Henry had decided to stay. Stepha Henry, 22, disappeared on May 29, 2007, while vacationing in Miami. That night, there was no activity on Williams phones for a period of 6 hours on one and 3 hours on the another, Rifkin said, indicating that the phones might have been turned off. The evidence that Henry was killed, Rifkin said, is in the Acura. While the car had been thoroughly cleaned and reeked of chemicals, forensic tests revealed that there had been large amounts of blood inside. Whatever happened in that car was violent, and it led to her death... at the hands of the defendant, Rifkin said. Rundle, in her statement, stressed that the blood found inside the Acura was pivotal to the successful prosecution of Williams. Although Williams, charged with 2nd-Degree Murder in December 2007, denied having killed Ms. Henry, the DNA blood evidence found in the car he originally purchased in Brooklyn and later denied ever owning or driving, played an important role in the prosecution of this case. This was particularly true, since Stepha Henrys body has never been recovered, Rundle said. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Atmos Energy and the Salvation Army partnered on Thursday to assist metro area residents who are struggling to pay their natural gas bills. The Energy Assistance Blitz allocated more than $200,000 to help customers pay their bills. The event was held at the Salvation Army on Beasley Road in Jackson. Atmos Energy officials said they will host more assistance events as they enter the next fiscal year. 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. Assisted living resident dies after being left in sun for hours, Oregon officials say A resident died at an assisted living facility in Oregon after she was left outside in the sun for hours, officials said. The woman was found unresponsive in a courtyard Aug. 30 at Aspen Ridge Memory Care in Bend, according to documents from the Oregon Department of Human Services and KTVZ. McClatchy News obtained the documents Sept. 26. When medical responders got to the woman, she was hot to the touch and had an internal temperature of 105 degrees, officials said in the report. She was taken to a hospital where she died from hyperthermia, a heat-related illness, officials said. The resident had been left in the sun wearing a heavy winter fleece, pants, and a long-sleeved thin sweater under the fleece, according to the report. It reached a high of 97 degrees in Bend that day, according to AccuWeather. Aspen Ridge Memory Care did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on Sept. 27. What is being done to protect residents? The memory care facility was short-staffed that day after two caregivers called out sick, officials said. A med tech was left to take over resident care, officials said. The facility has 43 licensed beds, according to health officials. Ultimately, the facility failed to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, the report said. Health officials ordered a license condition and halted the facility from accepting new residents. Additionally, officials ordered the facility to ensure enough staff are scheduled at all times, the report says. The facility must also implement a checklist that tracks residents going to and from the courtyard, according to documents. Workers must also check on residents every 30 minutes when they are outside and document when they checked the resident, their condition and any interventions that happened with the resident. Officials said the facility must send written reports to the department every two weeks. Caregiver pleads guilty in death of 86-year-old left in heat for hours, CO officials say Caregiver stole from patients and faked stage 4 cancer to delay trial, officials say Man felt entitled to moms benefits after she died and stole thousands, feds say GLENDALE, Ariz. - An ASU West student walked into a classroom on campus and was stabbed by another student on Sept. 19. Luckily, there were others who intervened and helped the victim from further injury. Court documents tell the story of a 19-year-old student who planned an attack and chose the victim named Mara because she seemed like an "easier target." The quick actions of a witness named Matthew McCormick likely saved Mara's life. "I've never seen anything like this and I hope I never do again," McCormick said. McCormick, an ASU West sophomore, says he was settling in to class last Thursday when he heard his classmate Mara scream. That is when he realized she was being stabbed. "In that moment I didn't really have a thought going through my head I just knew that I felt compelled to do something" McCormick said. Police say fellow student, Kaci Sloan, stabbed Mara twice before McCormick was able to intervene. "As she was going for a third attack, I was able to grab her wrists and apprehend her before further damage could be done," he said. Mara was taken to Banner Thunderbird Hospital and underwent surgery for stab wounds to her tricep and her ribcage area, where the knife cut into her spleen. She's back home now, but has a long recovery ahead. McCormick says he was not the only person in the class to step in and help Mara. "It was a great job by everybody that was in that room; by the EMTs, the paramedics and police. Everybody responded really, really well. 9-1-1 calls were pretty instantaneous and everybody seemed pretty locked in and knew what to do," he said. Watch FOX 10 Phoenix live: McCormick says he hopes to meet Mara's family soon, but for now, hopes for a full recovery for his classmate. "We miss you. To you and your family, I pray for your return and I'm just so thankful that your family was able to remain whole through this tragedy," he said. Sloan is facing several charges in connection to the stabbing, including attempted murder in the first degree. At her first court appearance, the judge said that her actions were comparable to a school shooting, and her bond was set at $250,000 cash only. Mara's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical bills. (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia plans to install less wind power than envisaged under an international energy transition plan, a blow to those hoping for a bigger role for renewables in Southeast Asias top emitter. Most Read from Bloomberg The energy ministry is recommending adding 5 gigawatts of wind power by 2030, compared with 8 gigawatts proposed under Indonesias Just Energy Transition Partnership. By 2060, the ministry sees just 37 gigawatts of wind being installed, compared to 45 gigawatts by mid-century under the partnership plan. Indonesias JETP agreement was announced in 2022, with the aim of mobilizing about $20 billion in grants and loans from wealthy nations and international banks to accelerate the countrys energy transition. But progress has been held back by a reluctance to move away from coal, partially due to laws preventing losses on state-owned assets. Around 80% of the countrys electricity was generated from fossil fuels with coal accounting for the bulk of that in 2022, BloombergNEF data show. Solar and wind generated just 0.3% combined. If the country hits the 5 gigawatts target, that will take wind to around 2% of the total. While wind power is expected to play a relatively small role in Indonesias future energy mix compared to solar, the reduction of targets reflects growing skepticism in Jakarta of the ability to hit goals under JETP. The plan that was jointly authored by Indonesia and its international partners aimed to peak the countrys emissions by 2030, but that now appears to be unachievable. The government is in talks with state-owned electricity firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara to finalize its business plan, which will determine its planned energy additions over the next decade. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. 'Attack on Belarus is World War III,' Lukashenko claims amid calls for changes to Russian nuclear doctrine An attack on Belarus would lead to World War III, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed on Sept. 27, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to update Russia's nuclear doctrine, according to the Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta. Putin proposed a series of changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine on Sept. 25 during a Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence. He announced that Russia could respond to conventional missile strikes with nuclear weapons and indicated that Moscow would treat any attack backed by a nuclear-armed country as a coordinated assault. He also stated that Russia retains the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of an attack, including if an enemy using conventional weapons poses a critical threat to Russia and Belarus. "An attack on Belarus is World War III," Lukashenko said. "Putin recently confirmed this by amending the nuclear doctrine, that in an attack on Russia and Belarus, we use nuclear weapons," Lukashenko added, thanking his Russian counterpart for the recent move. The Belarusian dictator claimed that NATO countries had allegedly deployed troops on the border with Belarus, specifically in Poland. "The red line is the state border. If you step on it, there will be an immediate response. We are preparing for that," Lukashenko said. Russia's decision to modify its nuclear doctrine is a direct response to discussions in the U.S. and U.K. about whether to allow Ukraine to launch conventional Western missiles into Russian territory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sept. 26 that updates had been made to a document titled "The Foundations of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence." While Belarus doesn't have nuclear weapons of its own, Russia has allegedly moved some of its nuclear arsenal to Belarus. Read also: Is Russias new nuclear doctrine saber-rattling or a real threat? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Attending college in Wisconsin and unsure how to vote? Here's our Election 2024 student voter guide College students can play a pivotal role in a swing state like Wisconsin, where elections are often won by razor-thin margins. For most student voters, Nov. 5 will mark their first time casting a ballot in a presidential election. Voting rules can be confusing to navigate and even more so for college students, most of whom live at a new address each school year. Here's a guide on what to know, where to register and how to vote: Decide where to vote If you are going to college in a different city than your hometown, here are some factors the U.S. Election Assistance Commission offers for consideration when deciding where to vote: Which location is more convenient for you? Who is on the ballot in each place? Are there local policies or particular issues that are important to you in either place? Where you register to vote will not affect your federal financial aid, including FAFSA, Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans. It was cool to be able to vote finally so our voices are heard, said Ellyott Buettner, a Marquette University student who voted in the November 2022 election at Marquette. Determine your eligibility To vote in Wisconsin, you must: Be a U.S. citizen Be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day Have lived at your current Wisconsin address for at least 28 consecutive days before Election Day Not be currently serving a felony sentence, including probation or parole Determine if you need to register to vote You will need to register or re-register if any of the following situations apply: You are a first-time voter You have moved to a new address (or even changed apartment numbers) since the last time you voted You have changed your legal name since the last time you voted. Register to vote in Wisconsin There are several options for voter registration: By mail. Follow the instructions on myvote.wi.gov. Your voter registration form, along with proof of residence, must be postmarked to your municipal clerk no later than Oct. 16. Online at myvote.wi.gov, if you have a current valid Wisconsin driver's license or ID card, or your current name and ZIP code are in the DMV database. Update your information in the DMV database at bit.ly/WIDMVaddresschange. The deadline to register online is Oct. 16. Voter registration events hosted by some colleges and municipalities ahead of the election. Check your municipal clerk and college websites for information. At your municipal clerk's office during business hours. The deadline is Nov. 1. Find your municipal clerk's contact info at bit.ly/WImunicipalclerks. At your assigned polling place on Election Day. You can find your polling place at myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place. What documents do I need to prove Wisconsin residency for voter registration? If you have a Wisconsin's driver's license that shows your current address, you're all set. That's often not the case for college students, though. To prove residency, you will need one of the following forms of ID that shows your current name and address: An electronically displayed or printed Voter Enrollment Verification Letter from your university's Office of the Registrar A current residential lease (Note: This cannot be used as proof of address if registering by mail.) A university or college ID card with a photograph of the cardholder, accompanied by a fee statement for the current semester A printed copy of your current bursars statement A utility bill for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the election. A printed copy of an online bill is acceptable. So is showing the documents electronically on your phone. A paycheck A bank, credit union or credit card statements. A printed copy of an online statement is acceptable A check or other document issued by a unit of government An official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit An identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business, which has a photograph of the cardholder, but not a business card If you have a driver's license or ID card from another state, you will also need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. Get a voter ID OK, so you're registered to vote! Now you need a voter ID to bring to the polls. The address on the ID card doesn't matter. Its purpose is to prove your identity. Some acceptable forms of voter ID: Wisconsin driver's license or state ID U.S. passport U.S. Uniformed Services card Veterans Affairs ID Tribal ID Certificate of naturalization Campus-issued voter ID Can I use my college ID card to vote in Wisconsin? Yes, but there are caveats. It must include: Date the card was issued Student signature Expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance Some universities, such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have campus ID cards that do not meet these requirements but issue separate campus voter IDs that qualify. What if my college ID card has expired? You can still present your expired college ID at the polls if you also provide a separate document that proves current enrollment, such as a tuition fee receipt, enrollment verification letter or class schedule. Can I vote absentee? Yes. This might be a good option for Wisconsin students who want to vote using their home address but who are living on campus in a different municipality. Request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you at myvote.wi.gov. Once the absentee ballot arrives, complete it and return as soon as possible. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing it at least one week in advance of Election Day. Can I vote early in Wisconsin? Yes, in some places. Early voting, also called in-person absentee voting, begins Oct. 22 and run through Nov. 3. Times and locations for early voting vary by municipality. Check MyVote or contact your municipal clerk for early voting hours. Some universities publish this information on their own websites. It's Election Day, and I'm not registered to vote. Can I still vote? Yes! You can register to vote on Election Day. Make sure to bring documentation to the polls. You can only vote at your designated polling place. Find your Polling Place at myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Everyone in line at 8 p.m. gets to vote. Voting in your out-of-state hometown Even if youre away at school for most of the year, you may have the option to vote in your hometown. Other states' rules around voter registration and absentee voting vary, so it's best to consult your local election commission or secretary of state for more information. Some general guidelines: Register to vote using your permanent address in your hometown. Use your college address as your mailing address on your registration. Many states allow you to ask for a mail ballot if youre unable to vote in person. Some states mail every voter a ballot automatically. Each state has its own guidelines, so check to see what the rules are in your state or territory. You can have the mail ballot sent to your college address. If you will be in your hometown during the election, you may also have the option to vote in person. I'm studying abroad. Can I vote? Yes, but study abroad students should budget extra time needed to request, receive and mail your ballot. Wisconsin considers study abroad students to be temporary overseas citizens," which has a similar process to absentee voting by mail. Email your ballot request to your municipal clerk. Include your name, registration address, email address for the ballot to be sent and a copy of an acceptable photo ID. Find information on voter registration, deadlines and more The U.S. Election Assistance Commission is a helpful resource. Go to EAC.gov and scroll down to find a drop-down menu that allows you to look up registration and voting information for each state. For Wisconsin voting information and resources, visit myvote.wi.gov. For more resources and guidelines on voting as a college student, visit vote.gov/guide-to-voting/college-student. Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Election 2024: Where to vote, register for Wisconsin college students DENVER (KDVR) The Aurora Police Department said Thursday that one of the 10 Tren de Aragua members it had previously identified was arrested on outstanding warrants out of two Colorado district courts. Roiberth Daniel Mora-Marquez, 23, was arrested Wednesday night, according to police. The arrest was done by the Aurora Police Department Gang Intervention Unit. Aurora police identify 3 more suspects in viral apartment video According to police, Mora-Marquez has been charged in Adams District Court with aggravated first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault, and felony menacing. These charges are from an April 4 incident about unpaid rent money in the 1600 block of Lima Street. Aurora police said they arrested him on April 17 in connection to the investigation and he posted a $20,000 bond. Police said a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to show up for court for that case. Mora-Marquez also had an active warrant out of Arapahoe District Court on charges of felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, harassment and reckless endangerment. The charges were from a nonfatal shooting on June 28 in the 400 block of Nile Street. The arrest comes after the Aurora Police Department held a press conference regarding a viral video of men entering an Aurora apartment, saying that the individuals seen in the video are involved with any gang, specifically the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Many of the violent crime trends in Aurora have been falsely attributed to migrants, and the Aurora police said last week that it would not over police a population based upon their race or ethnicity, and instead rely on statistics and data of individuals causing the issues. Police said Mora-Marquez was in custody at the Aurora Detention Center on a no-bond hold as of Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information was urged to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Austin believes casualties in all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah could equal or exceed those in Gaza US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Friday of devastating consequences if Israel engages in an all-out war with Hezbollah, telling CNN in an exclusive interview that casualties would equal or exceed the number in Gaza. An all-out war between Lebanese, Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating for both Lebanon and Israel. And again, we anticipate that wed see a number of people displaced, casualties that, you know, equal or exceed what weve seen in Gaza, Austin told CNNs Wolf Blitzer. The defense secretary, reiterating the US desire for a diplomatic solution, also said a possible ground incursion by Israeli forces into Lebanon risks spiraling the situation into a regional conflict. The US and several prominent allies believed they had achieved a 21-day pause in fighting that would give time for diplomacy and could prevent a full-fledged war from breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said reports of an imminent deal were incorrect and vowed to continue to hit the Iran-backed militant group with all our might. Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations General Assembly Friday morning, where he vowed to continue Israels military efforts and warned that there is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. US-led efforts to secure a ceasefire appear to have failed, and CNN has reported that the Biden administration has all but paused a push for a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Asked by Blitzer if continued US aid to Israel undermines Washingtons efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, Austin on Friday reiterated the long-standing alliance. Weve been clear from the very beginning that that were going to support Israel in its efforts to defend itself, Austin said. Weve done that from the very beginning, and were going to continue to do that going forward. Recent hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began after Israel decided to make returning displaced residents to their homes near the northern border an official goal of its war aims. Tens of thousands of Israelis who live in the area were evacuated shortly after the October 2023 Hamas terrorist attack, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into the region. In recent days, Israel has launched a series of strikes that have targeted Hezbollahs leadership, and Israels military chief said earlier this week that the nation was preparing for a possible ground incursion into Lebanon. Austin also was asked by Blitzer about US support for Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelensky, met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday and is meeting with former President Donald Trump on Friday. Amid ongoing debates in Washington about continued aid to the eastern European nation especially if Trump, who has been skeptical about such support, is elected the US is under pressure to allow Ukraine to fire long-range weapons deep into Russia. Austin said US policy about the use and range of certain weapons has not changed but said the US cant dictate how Ukraine should use their weapons. What weve seen recently is that Ukraine has the ability to now produce its own weaponry in terms of (unmanned aerial vehicles) that are proving to be very, very effective in that fight, Austin said. And some of these UAVs can range out beyond 400 kilometers, which is beyond the range of (US-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems) or Storm Shadow or anything else that we would be able to provide them. He also declined to answer a question from Blitzer about whether US policy toward Ukraine has been irreversibly politicized in the wake of Republican reluctance to continue arming the US ally. Our focus will remain on making sure that were giving Ukraine everything that we can provide, that will prove effective in this fight, he said. This story has been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia and Britain said they would strike a bilateral treaty to produce a new class of nuclear-powered submarine, under the AUKUS partnership which also includes the United States. Australia will buy U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States in the next decade, with Britain and Australia later building a new class of AUKUS submarine at Barrow-in-Furness in Britain, and in South Australia, under the AUKUS pact announced in 2023. "We will be negotiating a treaty, a bilateral treaty, between Australia and the UK to enable our portion of AUKUS," Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters after a meeting with his British and U.S. counterparts on Thursday in London. "We will be operating the same class of submarine. So when you look at the industrial cooperation, the technology transfer, the way in which all of those mechanisms operate to do that, that is the subject of the treaty," he added. British Defence Secretary John Healey said the meeting of AUKUS defence ministers had also agreed to use British-made Stingray torpedoes in P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft which are used as submarine-hunting aircraft in the Indo Pacific region. U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the AUKUS partners had conducted significant experiments across the ground, undersea and electromagnetic spectrum to enhance warfighting capabilities as part of cooperation under the so-called AUKUS "Pillar Two". A joint statement said the AUKUS partners were increasing their ability to develop and deliver offensive and defensive hypersonic technologies, and will conduct a large scale drone exercise later this year. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Stephen Coates) By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia and China agreed to cooperate further on investment, trade and decarbonisation, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday during a rare visit to Beijing where he praised the recent stimulus packages announced by China. Chalmers said he met Zheng Shanjie, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's state planning agency, for over three hours on Thursday and discussed the raft of stimulus measures announced this week. "We are very pleased to see the Chinese authorities announce or signal the sorts of steps that we have been hearing about this week publicly and also in our private discussions with our counterparts," Chalmers told a news conference in Beijing, the first visit by an Australian treasurer for seven years. Australia's vast iron ore exports, most of which are sold to China and sensitive to changes in demand in the world's second-biggest economy, are an important source of government revenue. Chalmers said the two men also discussed trade, investment and closer collaboration on decarbonisation, including green steel. In a statement, the NDRC said discussions ranged over both countries' growth prospects, policy formulation and investment policies, with both committing to a transparent and efficient investment framework. Ties between the nations soured in 2017 after Australia accused China of meddling in its politics. An Australian call in 2020 for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 further infuriated China, which responded with blocks on various Australian imports. China has since lifted almost all trade curbs after an outreach from Australia's Labor government that won power in 2022. (Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Sydney and Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Clarence Fernandez) Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Secretary General of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP) Christian Stocker (R) speak at the final event of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP) election campaign. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa The conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer is holding out for a last-minute victory against its far-right challenger in parliamentary elections on Sunday. "From my point of view, we have now started to overtake after an enormous race to catch up," OVP General Secretary Christian Stocker said at a final campaign event on Friday about the race against the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO). It is clear that the parties were running neck-and-neck at this stage, Stocker said: "It will be a photo finish." Immigration has been a central topic of the campaign. The FPO led by Herbert Kickl intends to crack down on immigration with full force if it takes over government, and also accelerate the deportation of migrants to their home countries. OVP leader and Austrian Chancellor Nehammer on Friday reiterated his refusal to work together with Kickl. While the FPO as such remains a possible partner, Kickl personally does not fulfil the criteria for forming a responsible, viable government. "I have therefore ruled him out," said Nehammer. On Sunday, almost 6.4 million Austrians are eligible to elect a new parliament. The FPO's long clear lead in the polls has recently shrunk to two percentage points ahead of the OVP. Pollsters put voter support for the FPO at 27% and the OVP at 25%, while the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) is threatened with a record low of around 20%. The Greens, previously a coalition partner of the OVP, can expect around 9% of the vote, as can the liberal Neos. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer speaks at the final event of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP) election campaign. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer speaks at the final event of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP) election campaign. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa The conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer is holding out for a last-minute victory against its far-right challenger in parliamentary elections on Sunday. "From my point of view, we have now started to overtake after an enormous race to catch up," OVP General Secretary Christian Stocker said at a final campaign event on Friday about the race against the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO). It is clear that the parties were running neck-and-neck at this stage, Stocker said: "It will be a photo finish." Immigration has been a central topic of the campaign. The FPO led by Herbert Kickl intends to crack down on immigration with full force if it takes over government, and also accelerate the deportation of migrants to their home countries. OVP leader and Austrian Chancellor Nehammer on Friday reiterated his refusal to work together with Kickl. While the FPO as such remains a possible partner, Kickl personally does not fulfil the criteria for forming a responsible, viable government. "I have therefore ruled him out," said Nehammer. On Sunday, almost 6.4 million Austrians are eligible to elect a new parliament. The FPO's long clear lead in the polls has recently shrunk to two percentage points ahead of the OVP. Pollsters put voter support for the FPO at 27% and the OVP at 25%, while the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) is threatened with a record low of around 20%. The Greens, previously a coalition partner of the OVP, can expect around 9% of the vote, as can the liberal Neos. While the OVP organized its event shortly before election day on a small scale in front of supporters at the party headquarters in Vienna, the right-wing populists are looking for the big stage. Kickl is due to speak in front of a large crowd in front of the capital's St Stephen's Cathedral at the close of the election campaign in the evening. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer speaks at the final event of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP) election campaign. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa John Looney, Sr., owner of Bad Boy Bail Bonds, speak to the A Helena-based bail bonding service told Montanas Special Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform on Friday that not only was the business at risk of closing unless it withdrew a complaint against a sitting Bozeman municipal court judge, but that other counties had begun to refuse to accept its bonds. Additionally, the bonding service said a district court judge has sat on a request for an immediate injunction for more than week while the business loses at least $250,000 a month. Bad Boy Bail Bonds owner James Looney, Sr., told the members of the all-Republican committee that has been investigating changes to the Montana judicial system that a squabble that began more than four years ago now threatens to shut down the business, which has operated across the state. Looney is a veteran and former Gallatin County sheriffs deputy. The case has drawn national attention. At the hearing, a spokesperson for the National Association of Bail Agents told legislators the judicial abuse of power threatens the liberty of those accused of crimes. The issue stems from a bond that was issued by a different bail bonding company using the same name. An outstanding bail bond for $1,585 was issued and not paid, and Bozeman Municipal Judge Karolina Tierney said the court would not accept bail bonds until Looneys company paid the outstanding bond.Looney had purchased the rights to the name but not the bail bonding business, and insisted that the bond in question wasnt made by him, his staff or his company. Still, the municipal court refused to accept the bonds until the bail was paid. Looney then filed a complaint with the judicial standards commission, the states regulatory and oversight body for judicial discipline. Because of strict confidentiality rules, neither Looney nor his attorney, Matthew Monforton, could speak about the pending complaint before the commission, much to the frustration of lawmakers who, on Friday, saw it as a violation of First Amendment rights and vowed to change it. Looney told lawmakers on Friday that his business is losing out on from $250,000 to $350,000 in business every month by the decision not accept his bonds in Gallatin County, one of the states largest and busiest detention facilities. But on Friday, Looney and his attorney,who has led a number of successful civil rights suits, confirmed that the states largest county, Yellowstone, had also stopped accepting his bail bonds. After Looney became aware of the dispute, he originally tried to reason with the Bozeman Municipal Court that the business in question shared the same name, but wasnt the same. Then, Looney said he paid the bond because it made business sense so that he could continue operations. However, after paying the amount due, the municipal court still refused to take Looneys secured bonds, saying that it would not do so until the complaint at the Judicial Standards Commission was resolved or withdrawn. Even more surprising to Looney and Monforton was that the Bozeman Municipal Court also stopped an appeal to the Gallatin District Court, which would be the standard appeals process from the city court. The municipal court ordered the appeal stricken from the record, leaving Looney with no chance at recourse. Monforton filed a separate lawsuit in Gallatin District Court asking for a temporary injunction, which would allow Looney to continue to do business in Gallatin County, but that lawsuit was filed on Sept.18 and the judge has neither responded, nor made any orders. All sitting Gallatin County judges recused themselves from the case, and it was transferred to Park County District Judge Brenda Gilbert, where it remains. The Daily Montanan reached out Yellowstone County Detention Facility on Friday. Clerks and staff there said that Bad Boy Bail Bonds were still being accepted, but a bail bondsman told the publication that hed been there earlier in the week and saw a sign at the counter saying the bonds were not being accepted. He asked to take a picture of the sign and reasons for it, and said he was denied. His name is being withheld for fear of retribution. Courts should serve the public interest, not carry out a personal vendetta, Looney said. In Montana, bail bonding companies and bond professionals are licensed through the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. A check with that office shows that Bad Boy Bail Bonds is licensed and in good standing, something that was confirmed by Looney and Monforton. Looney told the legislative committee that after the incident started, the municipal judges tried to lodge a complaint against his license, but the CSI office, which has jurisdiction, dismissed the complaint. Members of the committee, including Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, wondered if judges even had the power to revoke a particular companys bond if they were licensed by another branch of government within the state. There is no way to force a jail or judge to accept my bond, even though I am licensed and insured, Looney said. Looney reported that since the problems with the courts, he has lost 85% of his business. A Gallatin County bail bonding company that spoke with the Daily Montanan on Friday said that it didnt want its name being used because it believed it would suffer the same fate as Looney for speaking out. Every word of that complaint is true. I have gotten part of his business, the bail bonding company said. Its ridiculous. I have never seen anything like it. That sentiment was shared by Michelle Esquenazi, the owner of the largest bail bonding company in New York, Empire Bail Bonds. Esquenazi is the president of the National Association of Bail Agents. She said in her career and experience, she had never seen something as egregious as the Looney situation, and said she called to testify to let lawmakers know how concerned the national organization is about what she described as a judicial abuse of power. This is a grave concern because it threatens bail and our offer of swift liberty to those accused. I have never witnessed such unprofessional conduct. This is not only punitive, but left unchecked, it threatens all bail professionals, Esquenazi said. The judicial system can be weaponized against those who file a complaint. Accountability must exist up to and including those who sit on the bench. This has enabled a judge to go awry and put someone out of business. Looney also testified that in addition to helping serve the publics constitutional right to bail, he helps with jail overcrowding, something that is a factor in both Gallatin and Yellowstone counties. However, he said that even if the judicial standards commission finds merit with the complaint, state law makes it nearly impossible to recoup the thousands of dollars hes lost in business. Judges enjoy immunity from lawsuits in their official capacities. The harm may be permanent and may felt for years. This is not a business dispute, Looney said. Meanwhile Monforton said that his client cannot continue to keep staff employed and keep the business operating for much longer and is concerned that he may have to close because of the hardship. I went to about 20 attorneys before Mr. Monforton and all of them said they had never seen anything like this, Looney told Montana lawmakers. But they all said they practice in the Bozeman Municipal Court, and they couldnt take it. Monforton said that the rules around the Judicial Standards Commission are strict and dire, and neither he nor Looney could speak about the case they had before it, not even able to confirm it involves this particular situation. We cannot speak on it unless and until the JSC has weighed in on it, Monforton said. Lawmakers questioned whether that was a violation of the First Amendment, and what punishment the JSC or Montana courts could mete out for talking about it. Monforton told the lawmakers that violating the rule could lead to disciplinary sanctions for attorneys and the court could hold a resident in contempt. Theres a bigger issue here other than the travails of my client, Monforton said. I dont think anyone filing a rationale JSC complaint should have to worry about retaliatory actions the courts are going to take. BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) Even before the cone of uncertainty became more certain, the call for help went out to Baldwin County utility companies. Crews in Foley, Summerdale and Daphne answered the call leaving for some of the hardest-hit areas on Friday. Foley Middle School evacuated after smell what officials say was the cause Millions were left without electricity after Helenes wind, rain and storm surge ripped through anything that stood in its way. But help is on the way. We sent crews from both our Daphne office and our Foley office to go help the city of Tallahassee with their restoration efforts, Riviera Utilities CEO and President Brian Skelton said. Fourteen linemen and two Riviera engineer technicians headed to Tallahassee where thousands have started the clean-up without electricity. Tracking Three Named Storms in the Atlantic Basin and Two Other Areas Twenty-two Baldwin EMC linemen and support staff are headed to Georgia where the co-op serves seven counties between Macon and Savannah without any idea what they will find. We just know every storm is different, Baldwin EMC District Operations Manager Buddy Miller said. There could be a lot of polls down or a lot of damage. We just plan for the worst case scenario. The rain has stopped, and the winds have died down but getting through the storm is just beginning and these guys will supply the power to jump start the 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 WKRG News 5. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Colliers Commercial Real Estate Intel has instructed a commercial real estate firm to sell its European headquarters in the UK. The purpose-built offices in Swindon became Intels Euro HQ in 1982 and consist of 187,000 square feet of office space on a 12.87-acre site, according to local media reports. An Intel spokesperson told the local newspaper that the iconic chip firm is shifting our global real estate strategy to focus on fewer, more populated locations and eliminate underutilized space. We arent surprised to see this move after Intels recent announcement that it will exit or reduce its global real estate footprint by two-thirds. However, the writing has been on the wall for this particular HQ for several months, with talk of Intel leaving Swindon first coming to light last year. At the time, it insisted it would retain a presence in the labs and office space, but no new premises were picked. Image 1 of 4 Intel Swindon Image 2 of 4 Intel Swindon Image 3 of 4 Intel Swindon Image 4 of 4 Intel Swindon Looking closer at the sale details, it seems like Intel and its approximately 1,000 local staff will continue to utilize the extensive office space in Swindon until at least 2025. While it sells the extensive commercial property and surrounding land for 9 million ($12 million), it wants to agree to a leaseback at 1.9 million per annum ($2.5 million a year) with any new owner. According to our understanding of the real estate terminology, it wants this agreement to last up to 18 months, with the option to vacate the premises at any date after January 31, 2025, after giving three months notice. Colliers, the estate agent managing the sale with rolling break leaseback, says the site offers numerous value-add development opportunities. The property is just half a mile south of the old town center and has great access to motorways, shops, cafes, and restaurants. The agency also highlights possibilities for the new owner, as it says the site has strong residential and alternative use potential. With Intels newfound dedication to (and need for) thrift, it might not continue to maintain premises for UK staff for long. Its Europe-based staff might be asked to go to Intels offices in Ireland or Germany if and when their physical presence is required. At the time of writing, the effect of property sales on Intels Swindon-based personnel remains to be seen. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) South Dakota voters have some homework to do before the November 5 election. There are seven ballot questions ranging from abortion to landowner rights. On this years statewide ballot, there are four Constitutional Amendments, two initiated measures and one referred law. It is up to the Attorney General to try to explain each side as fairly as possible. You can find these explanations on your ballot on election day, which is a lot of reading. Or you can access and even print sample ballots on the Secretary of States website. Attorney General Marty Jackley says he only gets 200 words to explain each issue, which can add to the challenge. That explanation has to be fair, not pick sides, talk about the legal affect and assist educating the voters on what they are looking at, said Jackley. DANR approves $24.4 million for SD environmental projects On this years ballot, you will notice on Constitutional Amendment G there is a note that reads Judicial Clarification of the amendment may be necessary. The Legislature cannot alter the provisions of a constitutional amendment. Jackley says his goal is to help the voter be as informed as possible. I felt the voters needed to know that whatever they are voting on may require some additional work either by the legislature or by the courts, said Jackley. Constitutional Amendment H and Initiated Measure 28 also have notes that further court or legislative action may be needed. This is going to be a busy ballot with significant life-changing issues that the voters are going to have to take a lot effort and time making sure they are making an informed decision on, said Jackley. You can find the Attorney Generals explanations about the Constitutional Amendments, the Initiated Measures and the Referred Law on the Secretary of States website along with printable sample ballots. Click here or 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 KELOLAND.com. Fee-nomenal Music is hosting Bass in Your Face event taking place at Uptown Jazz BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Fee-nomenal Music is hosting the Bass in Your Face event at Uptown Jazz on Friday. Bass in Your Face will feature musicians like Sean Michael Ray, Jay Mick, Alvin Garrett and other guests. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. This event, which first took place 10 years ago, highlights bass instruments in jazz, showcasing them as the foundation of jazz bands. More information and tickets 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 CBS 42. Lebanese Red Cross teams conducted search and rescue operations in the rubble of collapsed buildings following an Israeli army attack in Nabatieh province of southern Lebanon - Anadolu/Anadolu On todays episode of Battle Lines we speak to the Telegraphs Adrian Blomfield in Beirut, and photographer Heathcliff OMalley in Tel Aviv about the possibility of a ground war in Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces top general has told his troops to be ready to enter Lebanon to fight Hezbollah on their own turf for the first time since 2006. While American diplomats rush to broker a ceasefire, the Middle East stands on the brink of unlikely peace or an even bloodier war. Across the world, from Europe to Asia, from the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states as the traditional alliances and alignments evolve in the 21st century. This year sees war in Europe and the Middle East, and elections in major economies, from the US and the UK to Taiwan. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Myanmar, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure. Battle Lines, a new podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app. 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. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Sheriffs Officials are preparing to head to Franklin County and assist in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. We have a team of 20 deputies that are prepared to respond at first light tomorrow to Franklin County, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. Ford is the Chairman of the Florida Sheriffs Task Force. Hes been working with sheriffs across the state to devise emergency responses to areas severely impacted by Helene. Panhandle shelters available ahead of Hurricane Helene We are working those plans and have been all week to ensure that the sheriffs in these affected counties have the help that they need when the storm passes. I anticipate that to be a massive response, Ford said. The Bay County Sheriffs Emergency Response Team is leaving for Franklin County as soon as weather conditions allow, and theyre making sure they come prepared. Were packing up all the equipment that well take over there. Well need high water vehicles and ATVs and other equipment over there, as well as preparing those deputies to be self-sustaining for seven to ten days, Ford said. Ford said his heart goes out to those impacted by Helene, and Bay County is here to help in the aftermath. Panama City residents urged to report Hurricane Helene flood damages When youve gone through something like that together and see real unity and people looking out for each other and kind of see the best in humanity after something like this. There is a rainbow in the middle of the storm, Ford said. Sheriff Ford says he wants everyone to stay safe at home as well. He urges everyone who can stay off the roads and stay inside. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) swore in Beaver Dam mayor Paul Sandefur as the 2024-25 KLC first vice president during a ceremony Thursday night at the 2024 KLC Conference and Expo in Lexington. Officials say Mayor Sandefur will serve alongside newly elected KLC President Benton Mayor Rita Dotson and Second Vice President Pineville Mayor Scott Madon for the following year. Weird Al coming to the Beaver Dam Amphitheater According to KLC, Mayor Sandefur joined the KLC Board of Directors in 2015 and was appointed to the Executive Board in 2020. He has been an advocate for Kentucky cities, bringing his extensive experience and passion for local government to the organization. In his new role, he will work closely with the KLC leadership team to continue advancing the needs of cities across the commonwealth. Family of teen killed in Ohio County plane crash files lawsuit I am honored to serve as the first vice president of the Kentucky League of Cities, said Mayor Sandefur. It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated city officials over the years, and I am excited to continue supporting our cities and communities. I look forward to working with President Dotson, Second Vice President Madon, and the KLC team as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Officials explain the KLC represents more than 380 cities across the state and provides advocacy, training and resources to help local governments better serve their communities. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). BEIRUT (Reuters) - Chains of volunteers spoon rice and vegetables into meal containers while others stir huge pots of boiling rice, as a soup kitchen in Beirut struggles to keep up with demand from displaced people escaping Israeli strikes. Josephine Abu Abdo, a chef and one of the founders of Nation Station, said the kitchen is serving 700 meals a day and is at maximum capacity, but she then hears 1,000 meals are needed. "The challenge is that we can't keep up. We feel like we are just a drop in the ocean," Abu Abdo said, while a team of volunteers of different ages from all over Lebanon hurriedly packaged up food. Nation Station was founded to help victims of the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, growing from a team of five to a hundred over time. It serves some traditional Lebanese dishes, such as zucchini stuffed with rice and meat, bulgur and tomato, vegetable soup and cabbage salad. When the Israeli strikes across Lebanon intensified on Monday, forcing around 40,000 into shelters within days, the volunteers cooked more food without any funding, distributing it as an emergency response to the centres housing the displaced. "We worked from the small savings that we had for the first three days. Then, many people started donating," Abu Abdo said. "The donation that we receive will cover us for two or three days. We will see, one day at a time and we will make a decision," she added. Israeli attacks have killed more than 600 people in Lebanon since Monday, with the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah at its most intense in more than 18 years. Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel for almost a year in support of its ally Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have fled their homes and Israel has declared the safe return of its residents as one of its war aims. "We are all trying our hardest to make a little bit of a difference and to help out. It's like the least we can do and unfortunately we are used to this," May Ayash, a professional chef who volunteers at the kitchen said. (Reporting by Ahmad Al Kerdi and Emilie Madi, Writing by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Sharon Singleton) People in Beirut are stepping up to help tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced by Israel's aerial bombardment (Anwar AMRO) (Anwar AMRO/AFP/AFP) Beirut is buzzing with activity as volunteers scramble to aid the tens of thousands displaced by Israel's intense bombardment of Lebanon this week. Despite an economic crisis that has gripped the country for years, people in the capital are stepping up, finding shelter, cooking meals and gathering essentials. In a cramped soup kitchen, dozens of volunteers wearing aprons and hairnets stir steaming pots of tomato bulgur and pack hundreds of meals into plastic containers. "When people began fleeing the south, I had to help in any way possible," said Mehyeddine el Jawhary, a 33-year-old chef originally from Sidon. "The first thing that crossed my mind was to cook meals," said Jawhary, whose parents refused to leave the southern city despite nearby air strikes. Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that triggered a devastating war in Gaza. This week Israel dramatically intensified its attacks, mostly on Hezbollah's south Beirut and southern and eastern Lebanese strongholds, killing more than 700 people, according to the health ministry. - 'Help each other' - The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 118,000 people have been displaced by the flare-up in just the past week. Schools turned makeshift shelters are overflowing, and those who can afford it are renting apartments or staying with family. "Now's not the time to say, 'It's not my problem'," said Jawhary. "The state is unable to help us, so we have to help each other." His cooking crew delivered 1,800 meals in a single day, part of a grassroots network of community kitchens feeding those in need since the onset of the economic collapse in 2019. Lebanon's government, strapped for cash, is offering little assistance, forcing communities to organise their own aid. Social media is flooded with people offering free apartments or running donation drives for food and essentials. Engineer Ziad Abichaker has raised enough money for 600 mattresses and blankets and is pushing to reach 1,000. Helping was a "moral duty", he told AFP. - 'We could all become displaced' - In Beirut's Badaro district, a group of mothers collects clothes, blankets and baby formula at Teatrino, a pre-school turned donation hub. Sorting through piles of clothes inside the facility, paediatric dentist Mayssa Blaibel said she had stopped working at her clinic this week to become a full-time volunteer. "It's not easy because demand is very high. We're just ordinary people trying to help, but it seems the crisis will last," said the 36-year-old. "Because I have children, I feel it's my duty to do something. We cannot expect our society to be good if we're not giving a good example ourselves." More than 20 kilometres (12 miles) away, in the lush Shouf mountains, Hala Zeidan has been sharing her home free of charge since Monday with a displaced family of three. "This is our homeland and these are people who were displaced from their villages," said the 61-year-old teacher living in the Druze town of Baakline. "We could all become displaced... we should be compassionate and work hand in hand." aya/dv In a meeting with a top Russian militant, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko admits to a decade-long cooperation with occupied Donetsk and complicity in hosting abducted Ukrainian children. The U.S. condemns Belarusian state-owned TV channel for broadcasting repentance of U.S. citizen turned Belarusian political prisoner Yury Ziankovich. Far-right German politician Jorg Dornau accused of using jailed Belarusian activists for cheap labor at his onion plantation in Belarus. European Parliament adopts new resolution on Belarusian political prisoners, urges Serbia not to extradite the Belarusian activist at the Lukashenko regimes request. Austrias Raiffeisen Bank agrees to sell its stake in its Belarusian subsidiary to UAE investors, marking a full exit from the Belarusian market. International Chess Federation FIDE reaffirms the ban on the participation of Russia and Belarus in its tournaments. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Lukashenko admits years of cooperation with Russian-occupied Donetsk, defends hosting abducted Ukrainian children in meeting with Russian proxy leader Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has admitted to cooperating with the proxy authorities in Ukraines Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast for over a decade, also reaffirmed his complicity in hosting children abducted by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories. Lukashenko made the remarks during a meeting in Minsk on Sept. 19 with Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-installed leader of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. While Minsk hasnt formally recognized Russia's claim to have annexed the occupied territories of Ukraine, Lukashenko claimed that Belarus has always cooperated with occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast for the past ten years. The Belarusian dictator also admitted to hosting Ukrainian children abducted by the Russian authorities while claiming the abductions were for the purpose of recreation. We host your children for treatment and recreation, Lukashenkos press office quoted him as telling Pushilin. However, they threatened me with legal action for allegedly stealing your children. So I told both Ukraine and the United States, Please come and find at least one stolen child. It runs contrary to our principles. Ukraines Foreign Ministry condemned the meeting and Lukashenkos hypocritical rhetoric, underscoring the dependency of Belarus policies on the Kremlin. The stance of the current Belarus authorities with regard to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is being dictated exclusively by the Kremlin and has nothing to do either with international law or the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus, the Ukrainian ministrys statement reads. This was Pushilins third visit to Belarus. Following the previous meeting of the two on April 18, 2023, in Minsk, Ukraine recalled its Ambassador, Ihor Kyzym, for consultations. Kyzym did not return to the Belarusian capital and was appointed Ambassador-at-Large to support Kyivs dialogue with the Belarusian opposition in exile. Belarus, a close Kremlin ally, has been involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children from the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Belarus officials have repeatedly confirmed their participation in the abductions, while describing the deportations as recuperation trips. According to official estimates, Russia has abducted over 20,000 children from the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, although the true number is likely much higher. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Childrens Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their role in organizing the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. The European Parliament has called on the ICC to issue a similar arrest warrant against Lukashenko for his complicity in the crime. Several human rights organizations, including Freedom House, Ukraine's Regional Human Rights Center, and Ukraines Zmina Human Rights Center, have announced that they submitted to the ICC on Sept. 23 new evidence of the abduction, brainwashing, and militarizing of more than 2,219 children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Read also: What the fall of Vuhledar would mean for Russias war in Ukraine US condemns Belarusian TV for showing US citizen, jailed on political grounds, repenting The U.S. charge d'affaires at the embassy in Minsk, Peter Kaufman, has condemned a Belarusian state-owned TV channel's broadcasting of a documentary featuring U.S.-Belarusian citizen and political prisoner Yury Ziankovich. During the broadcast, Ziankovich was shown pleading for help from U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. I resolutely condemn the Belarusian regimes reprehensible showing of a detained U.S. citizen on state media for propaganda purposes, and refute the baseless claims made in the program, " reads a statement issued by Kaufman on Sep. 20. The regime's history of using coercive tactics to produce content like this strongly calls into question the voluntary nature of the U.S. citizen's participation. Kaufman reiterated the U.S. government's long-standing advice to U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Belarus. The statement was released after the airing on Sep. 19 of the film, titled Murderous Conspiracy, on Belarusian television. It shows U.S.-Belarusian citizen and lawyer, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison on trumped-up charges of conspiracy to seize power, appealing to Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko for a pardon, as well as pleading to candidates Harris and Trump to help him return to his family in Houston, Texas. Filmed in prison, Ziankovich is said to have lost a significant amount of weight. Likely under duress, in the film he confesses to conspiring to seize power and gives details of alleged plans to overthrow the Lukashenko regime. The documentary aired as 115 Belarusian political prisoners pardoned by Lukashenko were released. According to Belarusian political analyst Valer Karbalevich, the broadcast was a bargaining offer to Washington from Lukashenko, who is likely testing the West's readiness for negotiations with his regime. As Lukashenko signed the fourth round of pardons releasing dozens of Belarusian political prisoners, his propaganda mouthpiece, Yury Vaskrasenski, urged the West (to have) discussions so that the process could continue. Over 1,300 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus following Lukashenkos four-year-long crackdown on dissent after the 2020 presidential election, which he claimed to have won but which was condemned by observers as neither free nor fair. Read also: Kremlin says recent adjustments to Russias nuclear policy intended as a message to Western nations German lawmakers onion farm in Belarus used jailed activists for cheap labor Jorg Dornau, a member of Saxonys State Parliament from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), uses Belarusian convicts including those jailed on political charges as labor on his onion plantation in Belarus, the independent Belarusian news outlet Reform.by claimed on Sept. 24. According to the outlets investigation, Dornaus firm, Zybulka Bel, an agriculture company cultivating several hundred hectares planted with onions, signed a contract with the local Center for the Isolation of Offenders in Lida in western Belarus. As the Lukashenko regime ramped up the repressions against civil society following the disputed 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, the Centers for Isolation of Offenders have regularly held Belarusians sentenced to days of administrative arrest on politically motivated grounds. According to Human Rights Center Viasna, around 30,000 Belarusians underwent detention in 2020 alone. One of the laborers at Dornaus farm, sentenced to 15 days of arrest for liking an online post critical of the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, described the working conditions as harsh. For 5 euros ($5.60) per day, the detainees sorted onions in an underground warehouse in freezing temperatures. The working day commenced at 7 a.m. and finished at 6 p.m. with no breaks or meals provided. According to the report, the labor was not forced; Dornaus foreman collected signed consent forms for daily work and monitored the quality of the labor performed. The funds prisoners earned were reportedly used to cover the costs of their detention. As of 2023, the cost of administrative arrest that prisoners are obliged to pay is roughly $5.70 per day. Dornau himself is claimed to have inspected the work of the farm in person at least once, with one prisoner describing a visit by a tall, bald man similar to Dornau arriving in a German-registered car. Dornaus press office has declined to comment on Reform.bys report. Dornau established Zybulka Bels operations in Belarus in October 2020 while nationwide pro-democracy protests were still sweeping the streets of Belarus. His business relations with Belarus were not revealed until April 2024. While conducting business is not prohibited for members of parliament under Saxonys legislation, Dornau was fined 20,862 euros for failing to disclose his economic interests. The European Union has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Belarus for the Lukashenko regimes ongoing human rights violations and its complicity with Russias aggression against Ukraine. European Parliament urges Serbia not to extradite Belarusian activist The European Parliament issued a resolution on Belarusian political prisoners on Sept. 19, calling on Serbia to refrain from extraditing Belarusian activist Andrey Hnyot, and noting that the Belarusian regime was abusing Interpols arrest warrant system. Detained in October 2023 under an Interpol Red Notice international arrest warrant, Hnyot has for a year been battling in the Serbian courts to avoid being extradited to Belarus, where, he claims, he would face prison and torture. While the Serbian Appeals Court recently ordered a retrial, the risk of his eventual extradition remains. MEPs also expressed concern that the estimated 300,000 Belarusians who have fled Belarus since 2020 now risk political persecution in absentia. The EU parliament resolution, adopted with 549 votes in favor, 21 against, and 37 abstentions, demands that the Belarusian authorities unconditionally release all political prisoners, and provide lawyers, family members, and the Red Cross access to the most prominent political prisoners held incommunicado for over a year. It also calls for further sanctions against those involved in organizing repression in Belarus. Following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which Lukashenko claimed to have won by a landslide, mass protests erupted across Belarus. The protests were met by a violent government crackdown, leading to mass arrests and detentions of over 65,000 Belarusians. Human rights organizations say some 1,300 political prisoners are now behind bars, and around 300,000 Belarusians are in exile. Austrias Raiffeisen Bank agrees to sell its Belarusian subsidiary The logo of Raiffeisen Bank's OAO Priorbank sits above a building in Minsk, Belarus, on Wednesday, March 16, 2016.(Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Austrias Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has signed an agreement to sell its 87.74% stake in Priorbank, its Belarusian subsidiary, to United Arab Emirates investor Soven 1 Holding Limited, the banks press office announced on Sept. 20. The deal, reached after six months of negotiations and first announced on Feb. 14, is now subject to regulatory approval. Upon completion, the deal will mark RBIs full exit from the Belarusian market, reducing operational complexity in line with its risk mitigation strategy in Eastern Europe, as per a press release from the bank. RBI expects to suffer a loss of around EUR 300 million ($335 million), which it said essentially results from the difference between the purchase price and the book value of the equity of Priorbank. The last major Western bank remaining in Russia and Belarus the Kremlins accomplice in its aggressive war against Ukraine RBI has come under heavy criticism from Western institutions for continuing to do business in Russia and Belarus, and thus indirectly financing Russias war by paying taxes to those countries. Russia and Belarus to remain banned from FIDE chess events The General Assembly of the International Chess Federation FIDE voted on Sept. 22 to uphold a ban on chess teams from Russia and Belarus competing in international events. FIDE banned both countries from its events in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and prohibited holding any of its events on Russian and Belarusian territory. However, individual Russian and Belarusian players were allowed to participate under the neutral FIDE flag. During a meeting in Budapest, 21 delegates supported lifting the ban, whereas 41 countries voted not to admit players at all. With 66 votes in favor, the federation supported a last-minute proposal to consult the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow some Russian and Belarusian disabled and junior teams to participate in international chess events. The FIDE Council still has to approve the decision, although there is no expectation that it will be overturned. The proposal to reinstate Russia and Belarus participation in FIDE tournaments was made on June 5 by the Kyrgyz Chess Federation. It provided no arguments to support its proposal. Ahead of the General Assembly of the International Chess Federation, 13 Ukrainian chess players sent a letter to FIDE supporting the ban of Russian and Belarusian players from competitions due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. During FIDEs Greatest Of All Time award in Budapest, the awards winner, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, spoke against reinstating the Russian and Belarusian chess federations. Read also: Harris criticizes calls for concessions from Ukraine during joint press conference with Zelensky in Washington Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Belarusian leader claims he allegedly keeps in touch with Ukraine Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, has claimed that he allegedly maintains connection channels with Ukraine, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not react. Source: Belarusian state media outlet Belta with reference to Lukashenkos statement Details: Making a speech in front of the students of one of the Belarusian universities, Lukashenko spoke about the necessity of holding negotiations with Ukraine to end the war. Quote by Lukashenko: "I have openly said that we also maintain contacts with the Ukrainians through certain channels. You can also see our relations with Russians. And were trying to achieve good results by maintaining these contacts." Details: Lukashenko claims that the US pushes Ukraine to the war, and thats why Zelenskyy doesnt listen to him. Background: Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he had supposedly made an arrangement with Ukrainians not to "expose" the facts of drones flying into the territory of Belarus. Lukashenko claimed that "Americans told Kyiv, under certain circumstances, to attack Belarus infrastructure on its southern border". Nevertheless, Lukashenko decided to warn his "opponents" that an attack on his country "would mean World War III". Support UP or become our patron! Belarusian leader joins Putin in "intimidating" West with nuclear weapons and mentions "red lines" Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, has followed Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in threatening the West with nuclear weapons. Source: Belarusian state-owned news outlet BelTA, as reported by European Pravda Details: BelTA reported that Lukashenko expressed his gratitude to Putin for stating that he would use weapons of mass destruction if Belarus were attacked. "As soon as they [NATO] attack us, we use nuclear weapons. Russia will defend us," Lukashenko said. The Belarusian leader also claimed that Russia would deploy its entire nuclear arsenal in the event of a potential Western response, adding that such a scenario would lead to "a world war". He noted that Belarus's "red line" is the state border. "You step on it, we will respond immediately. We are preparing for this," he added. Background: On 25 September, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin made changes to Russia's nuclear deterrence doctrine. In response, the EU stated that Putin's latest threats to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states are yet another indication of his irresponsible behaviour and will not change the EU's stance on continuing to support Ukraine. 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! (Reuters) -Arm Holdings approached Intel about potentially acquiring the company's product division but was told that the business is not for sale, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The British chip firm did not express interest in Intel's manufacturing operations, the report added, citing a person familiar with the matter. The report did not mention any financial details, nor did it say whether the talks are still ongoing or have been abandoned. Arm and Intel declined to comment on the report. Once the dominant force in chipmaking, Intel ceded its manufacturing edge to Taiwanese rival TSMC and failed to produce a widely desired chip for the generative AI boom capitalized on by Nvidia and AMD. Qualcomm has also approached Intel to explore a potential acquisition of the troubled chipmaker, Reuters reported earlier this month, in what could be a transformational deal in the sector. Intel has been attempting to turn its business around by focusing on AI processors and creating a chip contract manufacturing business, known as a foundry. The company plans to pause construction on factories in Poland and Germany, and reduce its real estate holdings. (Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Savio D'Souza) Pope gets an earful from Belgian king and abuse victims over scandals and failures to respond ALTERNATIVE CROP OF GB112 - Pope Francis delivers his message during a meeting with the authorities and the civil society in the Grande Galerie of the Castle of Laeken, Brussels, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) BRUSSELS (AP) On a brutal day for the frail and aging Pope Francis, the king of Belgium, its prime minister and the rector of the Catholic university that invited him here all ripped into the institution he heads for a spectrum of sins: for covering up cases of clergy sex abuse and being far behind the times on embracing women and the LGBTQ+ community in the church. And that was all before Francis met with the people most harmed by the Catholic Church in Belgium the men and women who were raped and molested by priests as children. Seventeen abuse survivors spent two hours with Francis on Friday evening, telling him of their trauma, shame and pain and demanding reparations from the church. Through it all, Francis expressed his remorse, begged forgiveness and promised to do everything possible to make sure such abuses never occur again. This is our shame and humiliation, he said in his first public remarks on Belgian soil. Francis has visited countries with wretched legacies of church wrongdoing before. He made a sweeping apology to Irish abuse survivors in 2018 and traveled to Canada in 2022 to atone for the church-run residential schools that traumatized generations of Indigenous peoples. But it is hard to think of a single day where the leader of the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church had been subjected to such strong, public criticisms from a country's highest institutional figures royalty, government and academia over the churchs crimes and its seemingly tone deaf responses to the demands of todays Catholics. Luc Sels, the rector of Leuven Catholic University, the 600th anniversary of which was the official reason for Francis trip to Belgium, told the pope that the abuse scandals had so weakened the churchs moral authority that it would do well to reform if it wants to regain its credibility and relevance. Wouldnt the church be a warmer place if women were given a prominent place, the most prominent place, also in priesthood? Sells asked the pope. Wouldnt the church in our region gain moral authority if it were not so rigid in its approach to gender and diversity issues? And if it did, like the university does, open its arms more to the LGBTQ+ community? he asked. The comments certainly reflected the views of European social progressives. But they also reflected the reform-minded church that Francis has embraced, to a degree, in seeking to make the universal church more relevant and responsive to Catholics today. The day began with King Philippe welcoming Francis to Laeken Castle, the residence of Belgiums royal family, and citing the abuse and forced adoption scandals in demanding the church work incessantly to atone for the crimes and help victims heal. He was followed by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who was also allowed to speak in an exception to typical Vatican protocol. He used the opportunity of a face-to-face public encounter to demand concrete steps to come clean with the full extent of the abuse scandal and put victims interests over those of the church. Victims need to be heard. They need to be at the center. They have a right to truth. Misdeeds need to be recognized, he told the pope. When something goes wrong we cannot accept cover-ups, he said. To be able to look into the future, the church needs to come clean on its past. It was one of the most pointed welcome speeches ever directed at the pope during a foreign trip, where the genteel dictates of diplomatic protocol usually keep public remarks outrage-free. But the tone underscored just how raw the abuse scandal still is in Belgium, where two decades of revelations of abuse and systematic cover-ups have devastated the hierarchys credibility and contributed to an overall decline in Catholicism and the influence of the once-powerful church. Overall, victims welcomed the words from both church and state. Survivor Emmanuel Henckens said that to an extent they went to the crux of the evil. He said it was no longer possible to look the other way. But another abuse survivor, Koen Van Sumere, said it was now essential for the church to provide victims with substantial financial settlements. If you want to move toward forgiveness and reconciliation it is not sufficient to only say I am sorry but you have to bear the consequences it entails and you should compensate the damages, Van Sumere said. He said so far what the Belgian church had paid out amounted to alms and that the settlement he received for his abuse didnt even cover the costs of his therapy. The victims, 17 of whom met with Francis at the Vatican residence Friday evening, had penned an open letter to him demanding a universal system of church reparations for their traumas. In a statement after the meeting, the Vatican said Francis would study their requests. The pope was able to listen and get close to their suffering, expressed gratitude for their courage, and the feeling of shame for what they suffered as children because of the priests to whom they were entrusted, noting the requests made to him so that he could study them," said a statement from the Vatican spokesman. Revelations of Belgiums horrific abuse scandal have dribbled out in bits over a quarter-century, punctuated by a bombshell in 2010 when the countrys longest-serving bishop, Brugge Bishop Roger Vangheluwe, was allowed to resign without punishment after admitting he had sexually abused his nephew for 13 years. Francis only defrocked Vangheluwe earlier this year, in a move clearly designed to remove a lingering source of outrage among Belgians before his visit. In September 2010, the church released a 200-page report that said 507 people had come forward with stories of being molested by priests, including when they were as young as 2. It identified at least 13 suicides by victims and attempts by six more. Victims and advocates say those findings were just the tip of the iceberg and that the true scope of the scandal is far greater. In his remarks, Francis insisted that the church was addressing firmly and decisively the abuse problem by implementing prevention programs, listening to victims and accompanying them to heal. But after the astonishing dressing-down by the prime minister and king, Francis went off-script to express the shame of the church for the scandal and voice his commitment to ending it. The church must be ashamed and ask for forgiveness and try to resolve this situation with Christian humility and put all the possibilities in places so that this doesnt happen again, Francis said. But even if it were only one (victim), it is enough to be ashamed. The prime minister, king and pope also referred to a new church-related scandal rocking Belgium, over so-called forced adoptions, which echoed earlier revelations about Irelands so-called mother and baby homes. After World War II and through to the 1980s, many single mothers were forced by the Belgian church to offer their newborns up for adoption, with money changing hands. Francis said he was saddened to learn of these practices, but said such criminality was mixed in with what was unfortunately the prevailing view in all parts of society at this time. ___ 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. MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) A Manoa woman is looking for justice after her beloved dog was killed in August in what she describes as a vicious attack by a dangerous dog. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 She is hoping others will not be its next victim. Emogene Yoshimura was walking her 13-year-old Bichon, Kiki, on Saturday, Aug. 3 along East Manoa Road when she noticed a neighbors large dog loose on the street and charging toward them. Tips on encountering Hawaiis dangerous dogs So we turned to run. He knocked me over and then he grabbed her by her neck and bit down on her trachea, Yoshimura said. Her throat had a hole in it, when I took her to the animal emergency, they had to put her in an oxygen cage and her condition worsened. So, I had to have her euthanized. Bacon made from flowers? Its mind-blowing Experts said pet owners should avoid approaching dogs that look dangerous if possible, but it is not always that easy. Brown bears, you play dead. Black bears, you fight back. So dogs are a little different. You dont want to go aggressive. You dont want to act big and make a lot of noise, that can instigate them more. You want to stay calm, you dont want to make eye contact. One of the big things is, you know, stand up, make sure you dont fall down, said Oahu SPCA Veterinary and Shelter Operations director John LeBron said. HHS, HPD round up aggressive, stray dogs on bike path The owner of the large dog that killed Kiki was issued a dangerous dog citation from Honolulu police, but the case was dismissed without prejudice when it was heard in Circuit Court. Hawaii town ranks 95 out of 100 for this. Do you agree? It could have been a child! It could have been an adult. I think the next time this dog attacks someone, they die and its not taken seriously enough, Yoshimura said. I hope that people will take heed and if they are attacked, to always fall a report. Thats what the prosecutors office said they hope people would do. They told me Im very unusual that I filed a report and I said, Well, thats the only thing I could think of doing because its not going to bring back my dog, but it will make other people aware of the danger.' Emogene Yoshimura, Manoa resident Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news KHON2 reached out to the owner of the large dog but did not hear back. The case can be refiled in the future because it was initially dismissed without prejudice, but in the meantime the allegedly-dangerous dog remains in the neighborhood. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. READING, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania woman was convicted of killing her two young children, who were found hanging in the basement of their home five years ago. Lisa Snyder, 41, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of first-degree murder in the September 2019 deaths of 4-year-old Brinley and 8-year-old Conner, who were taken off life support and died three days after they were found in the home in Albany Township, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. The conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole. Snyder had told police her son was bullied and had threatened to take his life, but authorities said they found no evidence to support her claim. The boy displayed no signs of trouble that day on a school bus security video. An occupational therapist later said the child wasnt physically capable of causing that kind of harm to himself or his little sister. Police also cited the defendants online searches for information about suicide, death by hanging and how to kill someone as well as episodes of a documentary crime series called I Almost Got Away With It. A coroner said both children were killed by hanging and ruled the deaths homicides. The defense sought an acquittal, saying the case was based on speculation and guesswork. Snyder opted for a judge instead of a jury to hear the case. Berks County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Theresa Johnson took about an hour on Tuesday before issuing a guilty verdict. Snyder also was convicted of child endangerment and evidence tampering. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 17. Snyder had sought to plead no contest but mentally ill to two counts of third-degree murder, but Johnson rejected the plea agreement last year, saying it didnt serve the interests of 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 ABC27. Helene is expected to stall out over Kentucky this weekend as a post-tropical depression. (NOAA satellite image) Gov. Andy Beshear warned Kentuckians to avoid traveling on roads Friday and to be ready for a risk of flooding and power outages as remnants of Hurricane Helene impact Kentucky. Beshear said in a Friday morning briefing that state employees were being sent home early to get ahead of expected peak wind gusts from the storms remnants expected to be 40- 60 miles per hour throughout much of Central and Eastern Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service. The governor said such wind gusts, expected to pick up in most of the state starting around noon Eastern Time, could make driving in higher profile vehicles including tractor trailers more hazardous, especially on roads that run north to south. If youre out in the middle of this, we need your 100% attention while youre driving for your safety and for the safety of those around you, Beshear said. Certainly a chance for some minor flooding, a chance that we lose power, a chance that we have trees fall over roadways and create treacherous conditions. He said the number of Kentuckians without power is expected to fluctuate throughout the day. Tens of thousands of people mostly in Eastern Kentucky are without power as of Friday morning, according to a website that tracks and compiles power outage numbers from utilities. Most of Kentucky is also under a flood watch and has a slight risk for excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding. The National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky is warning that because soil is already saturated from previous rainfall, the incoming rain could runoff quickly. The National Hurricane Centers latest report states Tropical Storm Helene is currently located over western North Carolina as of Friday morning and is expected to stall out over Kentucky this weekend as a post-tropical depression. This is the remnants of a hurricane thats hitting us, and I believe that we all ought to be humble enough to know that this forecast can change and that we may need to get additional information out there as it goes, Beshear said. Bicyclist in serious condition after being struck by SUV in Hooper HOOPER, Utah (ABC4) A bicyclist is in serious condition after being struck by an SUV in Hooper Friday morning, according to the Weber County Sheriffs Office. At around 7:50 a.m. on Sept. 27, Weber County deputies responded to a report of a crash involving an SUV and a bicyclist in the area of 5100 West 4000 South in Hooper. Deputies arrived on scene and found a 62-year-old man with serious injuries. The man had reportedly been riding a bicycle eastbound on 4000 South when he was struck from behind by an SUV. Victims identified in tragic Price crash that left 5 dead The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the SUV remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. The case is under investigation at this time. The Weber County Sheriffs Office would like to remind the public that in vehicle-bicycle crashes, the cyclist is often the most vulnerable to injury, a press release from the sheriffs office states. Motorists and cyclists are encouraged to follow the rules of the road and remain vigilant to help prevent these types of accidents. To learn more about bicycle safety and how to prevent injuries, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations Bicycle Safety page 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 ABC4 Utah. US President Joe Biden will chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as Ramstein-format meetings) on 12 October in Germany. Source: statement by the White House after Biden's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Quote: "On 12 October 2024, President Biden will host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Germany, where the two leaders will review progress on these consultations and coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine. President Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win." Details: Biden also announced his decision to increase US security assistance to Ukraine, and Zelenskyy presented his plan to defeat Russia. The two leaders reportedly discussed the diplomatic, economic and military aspects of Zelenskyy's plan and instructed their teams to begin intensive consultations on the next steps. Background: On 26 September, Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan delegation of the US Senate and briefed them on the key points of the Victory Plan. 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. Support UP or become our patron! SCRANTON, Pa. President Biden made a trip to his hometown of Scranton on Friday to give an emotional eulogy at the funeral of his best childhood friend. The president returned to the Catholic church where he said he was baptized, St. Paul, to attend the funeral where he was surrounded by old, close friends to mark the life of Thomas Bell, who died on Sept. 18 at the age of 81. Biden called his late friend a man of immense character and recalled their childhood together, during which Bell found the ordinary was boring and the extraordinary was thrilling, Biden said. The president grew emotional twice during his remarks, speaking at the church he knew well and in front of friendly faces. I apologize; Im supposed to be the president and not get emotional, but Tommy brings out all the emotion in me. I could always count on Tommy and hope he knew he could always count on me as well, the president said. Biden recalled when he told Bell his intention to run for president, saying that Bell told him he could win. All the years later, no matter what was going on, I was his Joe and he was Tommy. Nothing changed in our relationship, Biden said. The president, in his typical form, cited Irish poets and spoke about loss, drawing from his own personal experience after the loss of a wife and children. Tommy was a , Biden said, pausing for several sections. All these years, we stayed close, it matters. I apologize for getting emotional. I thank you all for allowing me to participate, he added. After his eulogy, Biden was quickly back to presidential duties in the form of briefings on the Israeli strikes on a Beirut suburb and updates on Hurricane Helene that is ravaging the Southeast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- A trio of President Joe Bidens aides are meeting with representatives of ocean carriers and terminal operators Friday with the aim of averting a strike that could shutter every major container port on the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts while also signaling the White House wont intervene to force workers back to the docks if they walk out. Most Read from Bloomberg Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard are urging the United States Maritime Alliance to get to the bargaining table, according to a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail the discussions. The official didnt say who the officials are meeting with from the USMX, as the employer group is known, and said the Biden aides have also been in touch with the International Longshoremens Association this week to deliver the same message. The USMX has accused the dockworker union of engaging in unfair labor practices and has asked the National Labor Relations Board to require the union to resume bargaining in the final days before their contract expires on Sept. 30. ILA President Harold Daggett has been telling union members to prepare for a strike for months and has pledged that dockworkers will walk out on Oct. 1 if theres no deal on a new six-year contract. The USMX says the union has repeatedly refused to bargain since canceling negotiations earlier this summer. The Biden administration has no plans to invoke Taft-Hartley powers that could break a strike, the official said. Biden has never used the power and brands himself as the most pro-union president in American history. Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are both battling for rank-and-file union votes in their race for the White House. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. DOVER, Delaware (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday his opposition to Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel hadn't changed despite a decision by his administration to extend a national security review of the proposed tie-up. I havent changed my mind, he told reporters, when asked if the extension indicated a change of heart. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The remarks threw cold water on hopes by deal supporters that the proposed tie-up could get a green light from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign investments for national security risks. The proposed merger appeared set to be blocked when CFIUS alleged on Aug. 31 the transaction posed a risk to national security by threatening the steel supply chain for critical U.S. industries, as exclusively reported by Reuters. But a move reported by Reuters earlier this month to delay a decision on the politically sensitive merger until after the Nov. 5 presidential election gave hope to proponents of the tie-up that it might yet win approval. Biden, as well as his Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and Republican challenger Donald Trump, have said U.S. Steel should remain American-owned. The company is headquartered in Pennsylvania, a hotly contested swing state in the November presidential election. The United Steelworkers Union vehemently opposes the deal and both parties have sought to woo union voters. In response to CFIUS's finding of an alleged national security risk, Nippon Steel wrote a 100-page response letter pledging to invest billions of dollars in U.S. Steel facilities that otherwise would have been idled, "indisputably" allowing it to "maintain and potentially increase domestic steelmaking capacity in the United States." The company also reaffirmed a promise not to transfer any U.S. Steel production capacity or jobs outside the U.S. and said would not interfere in any of U.S. Steel's decisions on trade matters, including decisions to pursue trade measures under U.S. law against unfair trade practices. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Additional reporting and Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell) US President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Not Pictured) at the White House. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa US President Joe Biden's high-level meeting of some 50 countries that support Ukraine will be held at the US military's Ramstein Air Base in south-western Germany, the government in Berlin said on Friday. Biden announced this week that he would be in Germany from October 10 to October 12 and invited Ukraine's supporters to attend a meeting in the country during that time. But he did not name a location. Such meetings have frequently taken place in Ramstein since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but so far only at the level of defence ministers. The aim is to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine. Biden will also meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It is the outgoing US president's first bilateral visit to Germany in his nearly four years in office. 'Investor Horror Story in Florida' Warns Reventure CEO: Where Can You Actually Make Money Now? According to Reventure CEO Nick Gerli, the Florida real estate market is teaching investors who bought at the peak harsh lessons. In a thread posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Gerli pointed to a troubling, anecdotal case an investor who purchased a home for $325,000 in 2023, hoping to rent it for $3,800 monthly. Today, that property sits vacant despite rent cuts to $2,500 per month. Don't Miss: If rented, the owner would face an $8,300 annual loss after mortgage payments, according to Gerli. That isnt an isolated scenario. The Reventure CEO pointed to a surge in inventory across Florida, with some ZIP codes seeing listings double over the past year. Its a red flag for the markets health. Florida real estate is cyclical, Gerli said. Each boom theres people who think this time is different,' The area is transformed,' But in the downturn, they get reminded of the realities. Timing is critical in Floridas market. The real estate executive said investors who bought between 2010 and 2020 likely have positive returns. But those who entered during the 2005-2007 or recent boom cycles struggle. 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! Current market conditions are particularly challenging. Rents are stagnating or dropping while property taxes and insurance costs skyrocket. Gerli cites that the 2024 tax bill is $5,500 nearly two months rent. Insurance can add another $4,000 annually in some counties. Many investors overlook crucial details, like the loss of homestead exemptions, when converting owner-occupied homes to rentals. This can lead to dramatic tax increases. Add vacancy periods, maintenance, and management fees, and profit margins evaporate quickly. See Also: Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices? People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want. Its getting very hard to make money in Florida real estate as an investor, Gerli warns. Do the math carefully before diving in. But where are the opportunities for real estate investors looking to build wealth over the next decade? Several experts weighed in with GOBankingRates: Story continues Boise, Idaho: Jeff Tricoli of Keller Williams cites Boises 218% home appreciation over the past decade as a promising indicator. A growing job market and continued high demand make it attractive. Fort Wayne, Indiana: With median listing prices 102% below the national average, Fort Wayne offers an affordable entry point. Recent price dips could spell opportunity for long-term investors. Trending: Amid the ongoing EV revolution, previously overlooked low-income communities now harbor a huge investment opportunity at just $500. Las Vegas, Nevada: The city's economy and booming tourism industry create opportunities for growth. Median home prices are up 6.3% year over year and rental demand remains strong. Seattle, Washington: Mitchell G. David of Beach Life Premier Team points to Seattles tech-driven economy as a catalyst for long-term growth. Housing prices have doubled in five years, outpacing national averages. Denver, Colorado: Denvers surging population and expanding job market make it appealing. Its proximity to other major Colorado cities adds to its appeal. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: The Research Triangles diverse economy and prestigious universities create a stable base of high-earning renters and potential buyers. Trending: Unlock the hidden potential of commercial real estate This platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today! Austin, Texas: A young demographic and no state income tax make Austin attractive for residents and investors. Median listing prices are up 9.1% year-over-year. Charlotte, North Carolina: Real estate agent Fant Camak projects potential 145% price growth over the next decade, citing strong job growth and affordability. Phoenix, Arizona: Tech job growth and lifestyle amenities drive demand in Phoenix. Camak suggests that 130% price growth is possible in the coming years. Nashua, New Hampshire: Shaun MacDonald of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty sees an opportunity in Nashuas relative affordability compared to nearby Boston. He projects 25% to 50% gains over the next decade. While Floridas cautionary tale demonstrates the risks of poorly timed investments, alternative markets offer the potential for those willing to do their due diligence and take a long-term view. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Heres how you can earn passive income with just $100. This billion-dollar fund has invested in the next big real estate boom, here's how you can join for $10. 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 'Investor Horror Story in Florida' Warns Reventure CEO: Where Can You Actually Make Money Now? originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A hiker looks inside an ancient granary, part of the House on Fire ruins in the South Fork of Mule Canyon in the Bears Ears National Monument on May 12, 2017 outside Blanding, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images) This story originally appeared in Utah News Dispatch. BOULDER, Colo. Thursday was a big day for the future of Utahs Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, as attorneys argued for and against the legality of President Joe Bidens decision to reinstate the monuments after former President Trump reduced their original size. For about an hour, attorneys presented their oral arguments in two lawsuits challenging the monuments Garfield v. Biden and Dalton v. Biden which have now been consolidated into one case, before a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. The hearing took place at the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its unclear when or how the panel of judges will make a decision, but one thing is certain the legal challenge to the monuments is far from over. The key question Thursday was whether a court can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, a law passed by Congress in 1906 that gives the president authority to declare national monuments to protect areas of cultural, historical and scientific significance. Its how President Theodore Roosevelt issued protections for the Grand Canyon, and has been used by presidents since, including Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, who designated Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Barack Obama, who designated Bears Ears. In 2017, both monuments were drastically reduced in size by President Donald Trump, who cut Bears Ears from 1.36 million acres to 1 million acres, and Grand Staircase-Escalante from 1.35 million acres to just 229,000 acres. Then, in 2021, President Joe Biden restored the monuments to their original size, again using the Antiquities Act. That authority was promptly challenged by the state of Utah, which in 2022 joined forces with Garfield County to sue the Biden Administration in federal court. Another lawsuit was then filed by local landowners and the BlueRibbon Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor recreation and has repeatedly protested public land and conservation policies from the federal government. Those suits have now been consolidated. Scope of sovereign immunity The Antiquities Act, the states lawsuit argued, was not intended to enact sweeping, million-plus acre designations. But the suit was dismissed in August 2023 by U.S. District Judge David Nuffer, who wrote that the Antiquities Act grants discretionary authority to the U.S. president when it comes to monument designations. According to Stanford Purser with the Utah Attorney Generals Office, who argued the states case on Thursday, Nuffers decision was based on a lack of guidance guidance that the justices with the 10th Circuit should provide. The court can and should interpret these limits within the Antiquities Act to confirm that Utah and the counties have a stated claim that in turn will provide the guidance that the district court said he needs to proceed in this case, said Purser. He sort of just threw up his hands and said, I dont know what to do here. John Bies, who represented the United States, on the other hand argued that the Antiquities Act grants the president such broad authority that its not the courts responsibility to review monument designations. The judges pushed back, asking him a hypothetical question if Biden designated all federal land in Utah a national monument, should that be subjected to review? If they have a bona fide basis, they can designate any federal land, Bies said. Judge Joel Carson pressed him further. There are all sorts of historic sites and important species in Utah. Could they do it? Bies responded, Yes. But the justices skepticism extended to both sides on Thursday, with Carson pointing out that no matter whats in the monument proclamation, there will be elements of sovereign immunity the premise that the federal government can make certain decisions within its jurisdiction that cannot be challenged. Regardless of what Utah claims, sovereign immunity could stand in their way. Carson was also skeptical of the scope of the review Utah requested, which identifies protections for scores of objects in the monument that the state says are unwarranted. Do you expect that this court would go through your complaint and pass judgment on all 500 objects? he asked. Purser responded that the state has a case if theres even one object. Matthew Campbell, an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund who represented the tribal nations, echoed Bies, telling the court that the question of ultra vires the legal term that in this case refers to Biden going beyond his authority is not applicable. Campbell also pushed back on the states claim that some objects in the monuments dont warrant protection under the Antiquities Act. It identified dwellings, communal houses, burial grounds, he said. Many of the places within Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante were within the presidents jurisdiction to protect. Harry Graver, the attorney for BlueRibbon, boiled their argument down to a simple soundbite. The president has authority under the Antiquities Act to set aside land for A, B and C. Our contention is he set aside land for D, E, F, said Graver. Youre doing something you were never allowed to do. A long road to the U.S. Supreme Court Utah leaders have repeatedly said their goal is to present their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, evidenced by how Purser opened his argument on Thursday, citing U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who in 2021 said the Antiquities Act has somehow been transformed to have no limits. He hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would get a case where they can review these limits. This is that case, Purser said. Almost immediately, Judge Richard Federico asked Purser if any previous cases challenging the presidents authority have been successful. Purser acknowledged they have not, but said the arguments Utah is now presenting havent been raised in the past, telling the judges, Here we have a clear case of proclamations that exceed any reasonable interpretation of the Antiquities Act. It wasnt immediately clear how the court will rule, as justices pressed attorneys on both sides. Regardless, the path to the high court will be convoluted if the 10th Circuit rules in favor of the federal government and effectively dismisses Utahs lawsuit (which several attorneys after the hearing told Utah News Dispatch would be very unlikely) the state will have a clear path to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the appeal would be centered on how courts can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, not whether the monuments are lawful. If theres a remand, the case would go back to Nuffer, although its unclear if he would take it up again or defer to another judge. The legality of the monuments would then be left up to the district courts and its likely that any ruling would result in another appeal, until it gets to the Supreme Court. After the hearing, Steve Bloch with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental group, said he thinks the 10th Circuit judges will likely send the case back to a lower district but he doesnt expect that to help the state. Im not going to be surprised if theres a remand to the district court, said Bloch, whose organization has challenged multiple decisions from the state of Utah and the Trump administration in court. Were comfortable with that because what the president did here is within the wheelhouse of the Antiquities Act. Bloch said any kind of review ordered by the court will not be as comprehensive as what Utah hopes. Meanwhile Ben Burr, the executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, said hes hopeful the court will give them a path forward, providing attorneys representing his group and the state guidance on how challenges to the Antiquities Act should proceed. A good decision for us would be to just give us something to work with, he said. We believe theres an appetite in the Supreme Court, its just getting them the right case. Thats what we believe were doing through this process, but its definitely not a straight line. In a statement following the hearing, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes reiterated the states argument, while telling Utah News Dispatch the state is still seeking appropriate safeguards for the cherished lands in the heart of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante regions. Designations of this magnitude require resources, careful planning, and input from local stakeholders, Reyes said. We have eagerly awaited the opportunity to explain to the Tenth Circuit how the law and facts favor more reasonable-sized monuments. Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. Follow Utah News Dispatch on Facebook and X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The newly installed Bears Ears National Monument sign marking the boundary of Bears Ears National Monument during the sign unveiling on June 18, 2022. (Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management) Thursday was a big day for the future of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, as attorneys argued for and against the legality of President Joe Bidens decision to reinstate the monuments after former President Trump reduced their original size. For about an hour, attorneys presented their oral arguments in two lawsuits challenging the monuments Garfield v. Biden and Dalton v. Biden which have now been consolidated into one case, before a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. The hearing took place at the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School. Its unclear when or how the panel of judges will make a decision, but one thing is certain the legal challenge to the monuments is far from over. The key question Thursday was whether a court can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, a law passed by Congress in 1906 that gives the president authority to declare national monuments to protect areas of cultural, historical and scientific significance. Its how President Theodore Roosevelt issued protections for the Grand Canyon, and has been used by presidents since, including Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, who designated Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Barack Obama, who designated Bears Ears. In 2017, both monuments were drastically reduced in size by President Donald Trump, who cut Bears Ears from 1.36 million acres to 1 million acres, and Grand Staircase-Escalante from 1.35 million acres to just 229,000 acres. Then, in 2021, President Joe Biden restored the monuments to their original size, again using the Antiquities Act. That authority was promptly challenged by the state of Utah, which in 2022 joined forces with Garfield County to sue the Biden Administration in federal court. Another lawsuit was then filed by local landowners and the BlueRibbon Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor recreation and has repeatedly protested public land and conservation policies from the federal government. Those suits have now been consolidated. The Antiquities Act, the states lawsuit argued, was not intended to enact sweeping, million-plus acre designations. But the suit was dismissed in August 2023 by U.S. District Judge David Nuffer, who wrote that the Antiquities Act grants discretionary authority to the U.S. president when it comes to monument designations. According to Stanford Purser with the Utah Attorney Generals Office, who argued the states case on Thursday, Nuffers decision was based on a lack of guidance guidance that the justices with the 10th Circuit should provide. The court can and should interpret these limits within the Antiquities Act to confirm that Utah and the counties have a stated claim that in turn will provide the guidance that the district court said he needs to proceed in this case, said Purser. He sort of just threw up his hands and said, I dont know what to do here. John Bies, who represented the United States, on the other hand argued that the Antiquities Act grants the president such broad authority that its not the courts responsibility to review monument designations. The judges pushed back, asking him a hypothetical question if Biden designated all federal land in Utah a national monument, should that be subjected to review? If they have a bonafide basis, they can designate any federal land, Bies said. Judge Joel Carson pressed him further. There are all sorts of historic sites and important species in Utah. Could they do it? Bies responded, Yes. But the justices skepticism extended to both sides on Thursday, with Carson pointing out that no matter whats in the monument proclamation, there will be elements of sovereign immunity the premise that the federal government can make certain decisions within its jurisdiction that cannot be challenged. Regardless of what Utah claims, sovereign immunity could stand in their way. Carson was also skeptical of the scope of the review Utah requested, which identifies protections for scores of objects in the monument that the state says are unwarranted. Do you expect that this court would go through your complaint and pass judgment on all 500 objects? he asked. Purser responded that the state has a case if theres even one object. Matthew Campbell, an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund who represented the tribal nations, echoed Bies, telling the court that the question of ultra vires the legal term that in this case refers to Biden going beyond his authority is not applicable. Campbell also pushed back on the states claim that some objects in the monuments dont warrant protection under the Antiquities Act. It identified dwellings, communal houses, burial grounds, he said. Many of the places within Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante were within the presidents jurisdiction to protect. Harry Graver, the attorney for BlueRibbon, boiled their argument down to a simple soundbite. The president has authority under the Antiquities Act to set aside land for A, B and C. Our contention is he set aside land for D, E, F, said Graver. Youre doing something you were never allowed to do. A long road to the U.S. Supreme Court Utah leaders have repeatedly said their goal is to present their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, evidenced by how Purser opened his argument on Thursday, citing U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who in 2021 said the Antiquities Act has somehow been transformed to have no limits. He hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would get a case where they can review these limits. This is that case, Purser said. Almost immediately, Judge Richard Federico asked Purser if any previous cases challenging the presidents authority have been successful. Purser acknowledged they have not, but said the arguments Utah is now presenting havent been raised in the past, telling the judges, Here we have a clear case of proclamations that exceed any reasonable interpretation of the Antiquities Act. It wasnt immediately clear how the court will rule, as justices pressed attorneys on both sides. Regardless, the path to the high court will be convoluted if the 10th Circuit rules in favor of the federal government and effectively dismisses Utahs lawsuit (which several attorneys after the hearing told Utah News Dispatch would be very unlikely) the state will have a clear path to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the appeal would be centered on how courts can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, not whether the monuments are lawful. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX If theres a remand, the case would go back to Nuffer, although its unclear if he would take it up again or defer to another judge. The legality of the monuments would then be left up to the district courts and its likely that any ruling would result in another appeal, until it gets to the Supreme Court. After the hearing, Steve Bloch with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental group, said he thinks the 10th Circuit judges will likely send the case back to a lower district but he doesnt expect that to help the state. Im not going to be surprised if theres a remand to the district court, said Bloch, whose organization has challenged multiple decisions from the state of Utah and the Trump administration in court. Were comfortable with that because what the president did here is within the wheelhouse of the Antiquities Act. Bloch said any kind of review ordered by the court will not be as comprehensive as what Utah hopes. Meanwhile Ben Burr, the executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, said hes hopeful the court will give them a path forward, providing attorneys representing his group and the state guidance on how challenges to the Antiquities Act should proceed. A good decision for us would be to just give us something to work with, he said. We believe theres an appetite in the Supreme Court, its just getting them the right case. Thats what we believe were doing through this process, but its definitely not a straight line. In a statement following the hearing, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes reiterated the states argument, while telling Utah News Dispatch the state is still seeking appropriate safeguards for the cherished lands in the heart of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante regions. Designations of this magnitude require resources, careful planning, and input from local stakeholders, Reyes said. We have eagerly awaited the opportunity to explain to the Tenth Circuit how the law and facts favor more reasonable-sized monuments. Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. Follow Utah News Dispatch on Facebook and X. A hiker looks inside an ancient granary, part of the House on Fire ruins in the South Fork of Mule Canyon in the Bears Ears National Monument on May 12, 2017 outside Blanding, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) BOULDER, Colo. Thursday was a big day for the future of Utahs Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, as attorneys argued for and against the legality of President Joe Bidens decision to reinstate the monuments after former President Trump reduced their original size. For about an hour, attorneys presented their oral arguments in two lawsuits challenging the monuments Garfield v. Biden and Dalton v. Biden which have now been consolidated into one case, before a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. The hearing took place at the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School. Its unclear when or how the panel of judges will make a decision, but one thing is certain the legal challenge to the monuments is far from over. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The key question Thursday was whether a court can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, a law passed by Congress in 1906 that gives the president authority to declare national monuments to protect areas of cultural, historical and scientific significance. Its how President Theodore Roosevelt issued protections for the Grand Canyon, and has been used by presidents since, including Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, who designated Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Barack Obama, who designated Bears Ears. In 2017, both monuments were drastically reduced in size by President Donald Trump, who cut Bears Ears from 1.36 million acres to 1 million acres, and Grand Staircase-Escalante from 1.35 million acres to just 229,000 acres. Then, in 2021, President Joe Biden restored the monuments to their original size, again using the Antiquities Act. That authority was promptly challenged by the state of Utah, which in 2022 joined forces with Garfield County to sue the Biden Administration in federal court. Another lawsuit was then filed by local landowners and the BlueRibbon Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor recreation and has repeatedly protested public land and conservation policies from the federal government. Those suits have now been consolidated. The Antiquities Act, the states lawsuit argued, was not intended to enact sweeping, million-plus acre designations. But the suit was dismissed in August 2023 by U.S. District Judge David Nuffer, who wrote that the Antiquities Act grants discretionary authority to the U.S. president when it comes to monument designations. According to Stanford Purser with the Utah Attorney Generals Office, who argued the states case on Thursday, Nuffers decision was based on a lack of guidance guidance that the justices with the 10th Circuit should provide. The court can and should interpret these limits within the Antiquities Act to confirm that Utah and the counties have a stated claim that in turn will provide the guidance that the district court said he needs to proceed in this case, said Purser. He sort of just threw up his hands and said, I dont know what to do here. John Bies, who represented the United States, on the other hand argued that the Antiquities Act grants the president such broad authority that its not the courts responsibility to review monument designations. The judges pushed back, asking him a hypothetical question if Biden designated all federal land in Utah a national monument, should that be subjected to review? If they have a bonafide basis, they can designate any federal land, Bies said. Judge Joel Carson pressed him further. There are all sorts of historic sites and important species in Utah. Could they do it? Bies responded, Yes. But the justices skepticism extended to both sides on Thursday, with Carson pointing out that no matter whats in the monument proclamation, there will be elements of sovereign immunity the premise that the federal government can make certain decisions within its jurisdiction that cannot be challenged. Regardless of what Utah claims, sovereign immunity could stand in their way. Carson was also skeptical of the scope of the review Utah requested, which identifies protections for scores of objects in the monument that the state says are unwarranted. Do you expect that this court would go through your complaint and pass judgment on all 500 objects? he asked. Purser responded that the state has a case if theres even one object. Matthew Campbell, an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund who represented the tribal nations, echoed Bies, telling the court that the question of ultra vires the legal term that in this case refers to Biden going beyond his authority is not applicable. Campbell also pushed back on the states claim that some objects in the monuments dont warrant protection under the Antiquities Act. It identified dwellings, communal houses, burial grounds, he said. Many of the places within Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante were within the presidents jurisdiction to protect. Harry Graver, the attorney for BlueRibbon, boiled their argument down to a simple soundbite. The president has authority under the Antiquities Act to set aside land for A, B and C. Our contention is he set aside land for D, E, F, said Graver. Youre doing something you were never allowed to do. A long road to the U.S. Supreme Court Utah leaders have repeatedly said their goal is to present their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, evidenced by how Purser opened his argument on Thursday, citing U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who in 2021 said the Antiquities Act has somehow been transformed to have no limits. He hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would get a case where they can review these limits. This is that case, Purser said. Almost immediately, Judge Richard Federico asked Purser if any previous cases challenging the presidents authority have been successful. Purser acknowledged they have not, but said the arguments Utah is now presenting havent been raised in the past, telling the judges, Here we have a clear case of proclamations that exceed any reasonable interpretation of the Antiquities Act. It wasnt immediately clear how the court will rule, as justices pressed attorneys on both sides. Regardless, the path to the high court will be convoluted if the 10th Circuit rules in favor of the federal government and effectively dismisses Utahs lawsuit (which several attorneys after the hearing told Utah News Dispatch would be very unlikely) the state will have a clear path to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the appeal would be centered on how courts can review challenges to the Antiquities Act, not whether the monuments are lawful. Let us know what you think... If theres a remand, the case would go back to Nuffer, although its unclear if he would take it up again or defer to another judge. The legality of the monuments would then be left up to the district courts and its likely that any ruling would result in another appeal, until it gets to the Supreme Court. After the hearing, Steve Bloch with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental group, said he thinks the 10th Circuit judges will likely send the case back to a lower district but he doesnt expect that to help the state. Im not going to be surprised if theres a remand to the district court, said Bloch, whose organization has challenged multiple decisions from the state of Utah and the Trump administration in court. Were comfortable with that because what the president did here is within the wheelhouse of the Antiquities Act. Bloch said any kind of review ordered by the court will not be as comprehensive as what Utah hopes. Meanwhile Ben Burr, the executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, said hes hopeful the court will give them a path forward, providing attorneys representing his group and the state guidance on how challenges to the Antiquities Act should proceed. A good decision for us would be to just give us something to work with, he said. We believe theres an appetite in the Supreme Court, its just getting them the right case. Thats what we believe were doing through this process, but its definitely not a straight line. In a statement following the hearing, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes reiterated the states argument, while telling Utah News Dispatch the state is still seeking appropriate safeguards for the cherished lands in the heart of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante regions. Designations of this magnitude require resources, careful planning, and input from local stakeholders, Reyes said. We have eagerly awaited the opportunity to explain to the Tenth Circuit how the law and facts favor more reasonable-sized monuments. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A big rig containing lithium ion batteries overturned in San Pedro Thursday afternoon, sparking a fire that reportedly led at least one battery to explode. (KTLA) A hazardous fire broke out in San Pedro around noon on Thursday after a big rig carrying lithium ion batteries overturned, causing at least one battery to explode, authorities said. Los Angeles City Fire Department officials and a hazardous materials team were sent to 940 N. Seaside Ave. at 11:48 a.m. to combat the dangerous blaze, authorities said. The 47 Freeway was closed in both directions from the Southbound 710 to Harbor Boulevard, including a section of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, according to an LAFD spokesperson. There were no reports of injuries, evacuation orders or widespread hazardous warnings. However, significant traffic gridlock was expected in this major artery for trucks bringing goods to and from the harbor. Read more: Tesla big-rig battery ignites after crash, spewing fumes and shutting California freeway "Any incident that shuts down a highway is going to cause a large impact for the commuters, especially in this area of the port as the Port of Los Angeles is the second-largest port in the world," said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Daniel Keene. "Luckily, in this situation, there are alternative routes around the area." The freeway closure could last up to 24 or even 48 hours as officials deal with the hazardous materials, Keene added. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A bird that hadn't ever been photographed or recorded was finally documented this summer in the remote reaches of a small island in Oceania, one of the top bird-watching destinations in the world. The Mussau triller hadn't been spotted since 1979 when a group of birders set eyes on the multicolored cuckooshrike in June, Birds of the World reported. The adventurers took photos and recorded sounds of nine trillers in three flocks. The beautiful bird, native to Mussau Island of Papua New Guinea, has distinctive white streaks on its black wings and a chin, chest, and belly that is half white with a rust-color bottom. The group, led by Joshua Bergmark, was an envoy of the Search for Lost Birds project, a collaboration of the American Bird Conservancy, BirdLife International, and Re:wild. "Usually, you often hear these birds before you see them. In this case one of the clients saw it first before he heard anything," Bergmark told Birds of the World. "They were just moving around with the other birds and feeding, doing their own thing while we watched them." On a BirdGuides summary of the news, a commenter pointed out that a detailed description of what seemed to be a sighting of a dozen Mussau trillers was documented in 1999 and that the species was heard as well in 2016. Still, the bird had not been spotted for decades in part because it likes to hide. Its habitat is tall trees in the middle of the island's dense forest, and that has made it mostly inaccessible. But the triller is also losing that habitat to logging, with the forest cut back by 7.2% from 2020 to 2023; the birders were able to find the animal by traversing a logging road, Birds of the World reported. The outlet also noted the birding community's importance in the work of Search for Lost Birds, which found the dusky tetraka last year in Madagascar for the first time in 25 years. This and similar conservation efforts including a habitat restoration that led the Least Bell's Vireo to return to Los Angeles prove essential to understanding these magnificent creatures that can fly through the air. "It is vitally important to check up on island species, like the triller," John Mittermeier, the director of the Search for Lost Birds at ABC, told Birds of the World. "We don't know how a bird like this responds to these habitat changes caused by logging and invasive species. The fact that Josh and his group found the triller and confirmed its presence after so many years is stunning news." 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The City of Birmingham has announced the condemnation of Bankhead Towers, a high-rise apartment complex for residents age 62 and older. A notice to vacate was plastered on the front doors of the complex, urging residents to leave as soon as possible. Bankhead Towers was originally built as a hotel in 1926 but was subsequently converted to subsidized apartments in the mid-1970s. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin attends White House address on gun violence in wake of weekend mass shooting The notice reads as follows: Whereas, it has been determined by appropriate inspection that the building to which this order is attached does not comply with the provisions of ordinance No.15-164 of the general code of Birmingham, Alabama, SEC. 108.5 of the property maintenance code as codified in the city of Birmingham Technical Code, 2015. All persons are hereby warned that it is unlawful to rent, lease, occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of this building for human habitation or as a place of employment for humans, or to remove or deface this placard except as provided in section 108.4.1 of the property maintenance code for the city of Birmingham, 2015. Any person failing to comply with said notice shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor or civil infraction as determined by the local municipality and the violation shall be deemed as a strict liability offense which may impose fines up to $500.00 per day for each offense. City spokesperson Rick Journey confirmed that the city is working to determine residents next steps and making sure their well-being remains a top priority. No further information has been 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 CBS 42. Black women bear the brunt of violent crime, but are often overlooked. They see Kamala Harris as an ally. People attend the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2024. People attend the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Sway The Crowd) WASHINGTON, D.C. A march in the nations capital this week drew thousands of crime victims and their loved ones, capturing an often-ignored reality: Women of color bear the brunt of violent crime in the United States. The crowd that gathered near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday consisted of mostly Black women. Led by the nonprofit Alliance for Safety and Justice, the effort challenges the countrys prevailing law and order approach that has historically encouraged harsh criminal sentences and policing. Now, 30 years after the Violence Against Women Act was enacted, participants called for a new victims rights movement rooted in crime prevention, rehabilitation, economic mobility and trauma recovery over punitive measures that expand incarceration rates. But in conversations with The 19th, Black women both victims of violent crime and mothers of victims expressed more complicated feelings over how to balance seeking justice with prevention efforts. Their thoughts signal how this group is thinking about the stakes of the 2024 election, and how many see Vice President Kamala Harris a presidential candidate with a career in prosecution who centers victims, but also acknowledges harms of the system as an ally. Some people can be rehabilitated, some people are just mean and evil, said Karen Spencer-McGee, a 60-year-old survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault who lives in Memphis, Tennessee. So there are some things that should be punishable. But you cannot address crime without addressing poverty and the miseducation of Black and Brown people. In 2023, Black women faced the highest rates of victimization (27.2 violent crimes per 1,000 women), according to federal data. Despite this, Spencer-McGee and other Black women at the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington shared a common feeling that they were dismissed by police or treated as suspects after experiencing violence. Research bears this out, indicating that crimes committed against Black people are less likely to be solved by law enforcement and less likely to receive news coverage than crimes targeting White people. Marchers described finding community with women in similar circumstances and working together to advocate for themselves. Sabchilnata Parker, 53, from Eustis, Florida, lost her 21-year-old son Andrew Davon Jones after he was robbed and fatally shot outside a grocery store in 2016. Parker said over the years she has repeatedly tried to get updates from law enforcement, but feels shunned. The case is still open. Id go to talk to the police captain and I would get blown off, like this is just Black-on-Black on crime, and they shove it under the rug, Parker said. When asked her thoughts about incarceration, she said the real problem is access to guns, and that the country needs stricter gun regulations. For offenders who repeatedly commit serious crimes like murder, however, there needs to be more severe punishments like long-term incarceration, she said. Black voters and public officials have grappled with what role punishment should play in the criminal justice system for years. Three decades ago, the country was reeling from record high violent crimes rates that reached a peak in 1991. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known at the 1994 crime bill, was pushed by national political figures, including then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, as a way to solve the issue. Some Black lawmakers rejected the bill and demanded more attention to prevention, but more broadly, a 1994 Gallup survey indicates that 58 percent of Black Americans also supported the bill, compared with 49 percent of White Americans. Ultimately, the 1994 crime bill passed and has since faced wide criticism for expanding policing and harsh criminal punishments that fell hard on adults and children in Black communities. During peak incarceration levels in the early 2000s, Black people represented about 12 percent of the U.S. population but 38 percent of incarcerated people. Black voters are acutely aware of the harms of mass incarceration and data indicates they want systemic reforms to policing and a reduction in incarceration. The same is true for crime survivors, according to figures from the Alliance for Justice and Safety. A 2022 report by the organization found that most victims prefer crime responses that focus on rehabilitation and access to things like employment and housing over increasing arrests and time in prison. But without the political will from lawmakers to fund evidence-based prevention efforts, the communities most affected by crime are left to turn to existing forms of accountability. People attend the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Sway The Crowd) There is this recognition that something needs to be done about violent crime. So for communities that are feeling the brunt of that trauma, that harm, that fear of crime, the thing that is sort of routinely looked at in this country because we dont have a ton of alternatives is the police department, Jocelyn Fontaine, a senior fellow in the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute, told The 19th ahead of the march. In many ways, Harris attempt to toe the line between a tough on crime approach and criminal justice reform mirrors that conflict. Harris has said that her journey to becoming a prosecutor began in high school, after learning that her best friend was being molested by her father. It was a desire to protect people like her friend that sparked an interest in the law, Harris said. Early on in her career, Harris was assigned to work on child sexual abuse cases, an experience she carried to her roles as district attorney of San Francisco and California attorney general by setting up units to handle those issues. She has repeatedly positioned herself as a champion for victims and those who feel neglected by the system. It is a myth to say that African Americans dont want law enforcement. We do, Harris said at a 2006 panel when she was the San Francisco DA. We want our grandmothers to be able to walk to church and be safe. We want our babies to be able to walk to the park and be safe. What we dont want is racial profiling. What we dont want is excessive force. What we dont want is to have our civil liberties and civil rights be stripped. Harris went on to say that incarceration without robust reentry services to support people after leaving prison will lead to repeat offenses. Though Harris framing of the issue has evolved, the core message behind those 2006 remarks has remained. Her 2024 presidential campaign website celebrates the Biden-Harris administrations efforts to remove illegal guns and invest in local law enforcement and community safety programs. At the D.C. march, women survivors and mothers of crime victims pointed to similar priorities. I want to see from her more police action, more foot action from sergeants and detectives and homicide cases. I want to see more compassionate officers, said Andrelena Rosser, a Memphis resident who lost her 32-year-old son, DeAndre Rosser, who was a bystander in a shooting in April. Rosser said she supports Harris interest in community policing; she believes that officers taking the time to get to know a neighborhood can help build trust and a sense of safety. She also appeared frustrated when thinking about the harmful effects of policing and prisons. In particular, she was critical of long-term sentences for children, and emphasized that there should be government efforts to reach at-risk youth early on with educational or employment opportunities and mental health services. Its so hard, Rosser said. I know they have to be punished if they commit a crime, but give them something. A 15-year-old never having a chance or possibility of coming back home I hate to even think of that. Despite signs of some uncertainty over how best to navigate the issue, Black women at the march were resolute in their support for Harris. As women at the intersection of violent crime and mass incarceration, Harris legal background and public image as a voice for crime victims gives them hope that they wont continue to be overlooked. We gotta vote, Parker said. Once she steps in, I believe theres gonna be monumental change, especially for the Black women and what we stand for, because sometimes were not heard. The post Black women bear the brunt of violent crime, but are often overlooked. They see Kamala Harris as an ally. appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. By Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored strong U.S. concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base in talks on Friday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying Beijing's talk of peace in Ukraine "doesn't add up." In a meeting with Wang on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Blinken said he also raised China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea and discussed improving communication between their militaries. Blinken told a press conference he and Wang also discussed ways to disrupt the flow of drugs into the United States, and the risks posed by artificial intelligence. About 70 percent of the machine tools Russia is importing and 90 percent of the microelectronics come from China and Hong Kong, Blinken added. That was materially helping Moscow to produce the missiles, rockets, armored vehicles and munitions needed to perpetuate its war, he said. "So when Beijing says that, on the one hand, it wants peace, it wants to see an end to the conflict, but on the other hand, is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression, that doesn't add up." Wang said his country's position on the war in Ukraine had always emphasized the need for peace through talks, China's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The United States should stop smearing and planting evidence against China, imposing sanctions indiscriminately, and using this (conflict) ... to create and encourage confrontations between different camps," it cited Wang as saying. On Friday, China and Brazil pressed ahead with an effort to gather developing countries behind a Ukraine peace plan, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's dismissal of the initiative as serving Moscow's interests. The meeting of 17 nations was chaired by Wang and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim. Wang told reporters they discussed the need to prevent escalation, avoid use of weapons of mass destruction and prevent attacks on nuclear power plants. The White House and the European Union said this week they were deeply concerned by a Reuters report that Russia has set up a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for use in the war. Earlier on Friday, Wang declined to comment on the report, when queried by a reporter at the U.N. headquarters. Blinken said "pressing Iran, North Korea and China ... to stop providing weapons, artillery, machinery and other support" to Russia was crucial to achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine. China and the United States, the world's two biggest economies, are at odds on a wide range of issues such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, U.S. export curbs on advanced chip technology, trade tariffs, Taiwan and human rights. Beijing has repeatedly complained about U.S. ties and arms supplies to Taiwan. It has also urged the United States to scrap tariffs on its goods and denounced U.S. proposals to ban its software and hardware in vehicles due to national security concerns. Last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the challenges to the U.S. posed by China exceeded those of the Cold War Relations plummeted last year after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon, but both have since sought to keep open lines of communication to prevent, the U.S. says, competition from spiraling into conflict. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Chinese President Xi Jinping last month at the end of talks to ease frictions ahead of November's U.S. election. The White House said then a call was being planned soon between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden. Asked about this after meeting Wang, Blinken said he had nothing to announce, but the two officials had agreed on the importance of their leaders communicating and added: "I fully anticipate that we'll see that in the weeks and months ahead." (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing; Editing by Howard Goller and Alistair Bell) Blinken confirms over US$5bn in military aid for Ukraine in coming months US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed the intention to allocate US$5.55 billion under the presidential weapon stockpile reduction authority for weapons and equipment for Ukraine in the coming weeks and months. Source: European Pravda with reference to Blinken's statement Quote: "The Department notified Congress of the intent to direct the drawdown of up to approximately $5.55 billion in defence articles and services from DoD stocks for military assistance to Ukraine under Presidential Drawdown Authority." Details: This is in addition to the previously announced funds under the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act 2024, which expires on 30 September 2024. "We are taking this step to ensure this Authority does not expire and the United States can fully utilise the funding appropriated by Congress," Blinken explained. "By doing so, the United States will be able to continue to provide a surge in defence articles and services to Ukraine from DoD stocks under planned drawdowns in the weeks and months ahead," he added. Blinken said the United States is committed to supporting the Ukrainian military with the equipment necessary to strengthen their position on the battlefield, protect their territory and people from the brutal aggression of the Kremlin and achieve victory in this war to ensure a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. Background: The US Department of Defense has also announced a US$2.4 billion package for security assistance through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House. Before the meeting, Zelenskyy stated that they would discuss the details of the Victory Plan and coordinate further steps. 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. Support UP or become our patron! Blinken to hold talks with Chinese counterpart amid worries about China's drone assistance to Russia U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sept. 27 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This meeting between the top diplomats of both countries comes in response to increasing U.S. concerns regarding Chinese companies supplying chips and drones to Moscow, significantly enhancing Russia's military capabilities in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has informed Congress that China's material support for Russia's war effort "comes from the very top," the Voice of America (VOA) reported. Blinken's discussions with Wang will occur before a scheduled call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, anticipated later this fall. Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the U.N. General Assembly, asserting that Ukraine would never accept a deal imposed by other nations to conclude Russias 31-month invasion, and questioned the intentions of China and Brazil in advocating for negotiations with Moscow. For months, U.S. officials have accused China of actively supporting Russia's war effort. Washington has placed sanctions on Chinese firms supplying critical components to Russia's defense sector. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller recently told VOA that the U.S. openly discusses its "differences" with China to ensure both countries "at least understand where the other is coming from, even if we cant reach an agreement." Read also: Opinion: As Russia circumvents sanctions, Europe faces a strategic crossroads Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- Kenyas biggest phone company Safaricom Plc is in talks with Elon Musks Starlink and other satellite providers on potential future partnerships, its Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said. Most Read from Bloomberg From a satellite perspective, we have to partner with Starlink or other satellite providers in future to make sure that that technology plays right through, he said in an interview in New York. We have had some discussions, and we will continue to have those discussions to the extent that they complement what we are offering. While Musk, the worlds richest man, has won the hearts of consumers by launching satellites into low-Earth orbit to beam down broadband, internet and mobile companies that invested in local networks have raised concerns about whether the service complies with local laws. The governments of Taiwan and India have echoed those worries while the likes of Indonesia, Argentina and Ghana have changed or waived their regulations for the SpaceX unit. Sign up for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter for the latest business and economic news from the continent. Starlink has struck partnership agreements to distribute and provide internet services in remote areas in many parts of the world, shying away from equity or ownership deals. It has a license to operate in Kenya. An advocacy group in the East African nation has taken Safaricom to court, claiming the company is actively seeking to block Starlink, according a filing seen by Bloomberg. Ndegwa said during the interview that the company wasnt trying to hinder Starlink, but rather asking regulators for a level playing field. Theres a misconception about Safaricom getting in the way, Ndegwa said. We dont have the ability to prevent anyone from operating in Kenya. That is a regulatory decision. Safaricom sent a letter to regulators in July, asking that foreign satellite providers be required to take local telecommunications operators as partners when doing business in Kenya to boost investment and employment, and comply with local laws, according to advocacy group Kituo Cha Sherias law suit. The wireless operator also told officials that allowing services such as Starlink to operate on independent licenses could lead to security risks and lapses in regulatory oversight, due to the cross-border nature of satellite services, according to the groups court filing. Story continues The advocacy group said any restrictive action by Safaricom or Kenyan regulators would be anti-competitive as it would limit access to faster and cheaper internet. Ndegwa said Safaricom is successful because it invests between $300 million and $350 million to expand telecommunications infrastructure in Kenya each year. We are not worried about competition, well deal with it, Ndegwa said. You can follow Bloombergs reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here. --With assistance from Andre-Pierre Du Plessis. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday in New York City, the U.S. State Department said. Ties between the world's two biggest economies have been tense as they clash over U.S. export controls on advanced chip technology to China, trade tariffs, Taiwan, human rights and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The meeting between the two top diplomats will take place at 1330 ET (1730 GMT) on Friday, according to the State Department. The Chinese foreign minister is in the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly session. China this week urged the U.S. to "promptly" remove all additional tariffs on Chinese goods. The United States has expressed concern over Chinese ties with Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine while Beijing has repeatedly expressed worries over U.S. ties with Taiwan. The U.S. is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier even though Washington does not formally recognize its government, maintaining official relations only with Beijing. The challenges to the U.S. posed by China exceed those of the Cold War, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said this month. President Joe Biden's administration has been explicit that it is not seeking a cold war with China, but increasingly analysts and members of the U.S. Congress have said escalating global competition between the two superpowers resembled a new style of cold war. The two sides have kept lines of communication open in recent months. The White House said last month a call was being planned between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Biden soon. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (Heather Khalifa) (Heather Khalifa/POOL/AFP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday questioned China's sincerity in seeking peace in Ukraine as he directly pressed his counterpart over exports that boost Russia's military. Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the latest talks as the two powers look to dial down once-soaring tensions. While crediting the diplomacy with bringing progress, Blinken warned that the United States would not back down on concerns over China's exports to Russia and made clear that Washington could impose more sanctions. Blinken said that China is fueling the "war machine" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "When Beijing says that, on the one hand, that it wants peace, it wants to see an end to the conflict, but on the other hand is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression, that doesn't add up," Blinken told a news conference. "Our intent is not to decouple Russia from China. Their relationship is their business," he said. "But insofar as that relationship involves providing Russia what it needs to continue this war, that's a problem for us, and it's a problem for many other countries, notably in Europe," Blinken added. The top US diplomat said that China has provided 70 percent of machine tools and 90 percent of microelectronics needed by Russia for military production that includes rockets and armored vehicles. China counters that it has not directly provided weapons to Russia and draws a contrast with the United States, which has shipped billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion by Russia. Wang told a Security Council session on Tuesday that China "is not a creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor are we a party to it. China has all along stood on the side of peace." - Keeping up peace push - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a UN address criticized China and Brazil for promoting negotiations to end the war, saying that forcing Ukraine to accept a peace deal was akin to colonialism. The two countries kept up the drive on Friday, leading a statement with other emerging powers that calls for a "comprehensive and lasting settlement" through diplomacy. But in a thinly veiled criticism of Putin's recent saber-rattling, the emerging powers called on all sides to refrain "from the use or the threat of weapons of mass destruction." South Africa and Turkey were among the powers that also signed the statement. Putin this week threatened to use nuclear weapons in the event of a major attack on Russian soil as Ukraine, looking to hit back against the invasion, seeks Western weapons to strike deeper across the border. - Fruits of diplomacy - Since Blinken and Wang last met in July at a regional conference in Laos, China has pleased the United States by releasing an American pastor imprisoned for years, although other Americans are detained. Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a summit in November 2023 with counterpart Joe Biden, agreed to key US demands of restoring military communication between the two powers. He also agreed to taking action against producers of ingredients in fentanyl, the painkiller behind an overdose epidemic in the United States. But a wide range of disagreements remain. Blinken said he also warned Wang against Beijing's "dangerous, destabilizing actions" on the South China Sea, where tensions have risen sharply between China and US ally the Philippines. The latest meeting came ahead of the November 5 election in which Republican candidate Donald Trump has vowed to take a harder line on China. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump, have said that they seek dialogue to avoid conflict between the two powers, although their administration has also taken a hard line. Blinken's deputy, Kurt Campbell, recently told a congressional hearing that China posed a broader challenge to the United States than the Soviet Union did during the Cold War. sct/gw/bjt U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel on Thursday that further escalation to the conflict involving Lebanon will only make it harder for civilians to return home on both sides of the border, the State Department said. 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. "The Secretary discussed the importance of reaching an agreement on the 21 day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border," the State Department said in a statement referring to talks between Blinken and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. "He underscored that further escalation of the conflict will only make that objective (of civilian return) more difficult." The State Department added that Blinken also discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and steps that Israel needs to take to improve delivery of humanitarian assistance in the enclave where nearly the entire 2.3 million population is displaced and a hunger crisis exists. U.S. President Joe Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal for Gaza on May 31 but the deal has run into obstacles, mostly over Israeli demands to maintain presence in the Philadelphi corridor on Gaza's border with Egypt and specifics about exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Washington has faced mounting global and domestic criticism over its backing of Israel amid the escalation of conflict in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have killed hundreds in recent days. Critics say Washington has not leveraged its assistance to pressure Israel into accepting ceasefire calls. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. The latest bloodshed in the decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subequent military assault on Gaza has killed over 41,000, according to Palestinian health authorities. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech and Costas Pitas; Editing by Stephen Coates) Received a blue booklet in the mail? Heres what it cost to send them to Colorado voters DENVER (KDVR) Voters across Colorado have recently been sent a State Ballot Information Booklet, which includes information on measures that will appear on the ballot for the 2024 General Election on Nov. 5. These booklets are sent to every household with a registered voter in it and this year, around 2 million were sent out. When are ballots mailed out in Colorado? The Colorado Legislative Staff Council, which creates and sends out the booklets for statewide elections, told FOX31 that the booklets for the 2024 election cost around $3.65 million to produce. This does not include the staff costs for creating the material in the booklets. What are the booklets, and why are they sent out? According to the Colorado General Assembly, the booklets are created to provide voters with the text, title, and a fair and impartial analysis of each initiated or referred constitutional amendment, law, or question on the ballot. These include summaries of the measures, major arguments for and against each of them and what fiscal impact the measures may have. There are 14 statewide measures on the ballot in 2024, ranging from tax proposals to creating a ranked-choice voting system for statewide elections. 14 statewide initiatives included on Colorados November ballot The booklets also have performance evaluation information about judges who will appear on the ballot for retention. The state booklets have been sent out since 1954, and have historically been sent out on years when general elections are held in the state. These general elections are held every two years on even-numbered years. While this is usually the case, the booklets have been sent out every year since 2018, including years when general elections were not held. How to register to vote or update voter registration in Colorado The booklets are printed in both English and Spanish. In 2024, the booklets are 244 pages long, with 122 pages in English and 122 pages in Spanish. The booklets were sent out to voters starting Sept. 11, and ballots will be sent out starting Oct. 11. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bluefield Virginia Police Department advises against travel except in emergency situations BLUEFIELD, VA (WVNS) Due to the weather and multiple fallen trees, a local police department advised people to not travel in the town of Bluefield, Virginia except in emergency situations. According to a post on the Bluefield Virginia Police Departments Facebook page, members of the police department encouraged members of the community to stay home unless there is an emergency. StormTracker 59 Interactive Radar The Bluefield Virginia Police Department stated that there are fallen and actively falling trees, flooded roads, road closures, and downed power lines in town, and it is recommended for people to stay home. The fire department, police department, town crews are working to close and clear trees from roads. Stick with 59News and StormTracker 59 for the most up to date weather 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 WVNS. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from patients has lost his state license to practice addiction counseling or prevention services. The South Dakota Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals on Friday revoked the license of Earvin Archambeau. Treatment center counselor charged with embezzlement He decided to not attend and wasnt represented. Archambeau previously oversaw the residential program for patients at the Carroll Institute in Sioux Falls. He was terminated after an internal investigation. On December 28, a formal complaint against Archambeau was filed to state board. He filed a two-page response to the complaint. Exhibit-1-ComplaintDownload Sioux Falls police arrested Archambeau in April. On September 16, Archambeau responded to an email from the states assistant attorney general notifying him of the disciplinary hearing. Exhibit-2-ResponseDownload Archambeau wrote, I am unable to attend the hearing due to work training. I have no new information as far as my legal obligations and have no new testimony from what I sent in the response to the complaint. I accept the boards decision on this matter when the hearing is concluded. The board on Friday heard from one witness, Tiffany Butler, executive director at the Carroll Institute, who filed the complaint. Butler is president of the state Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. In her testimony, Butler explained that the Carroll Institutes residential patients place money they have with the institute for safekeeping and that Archambeau was the employee with access to the bank account. Butler said the institutes finance manager noticed last year that the institutes records didnt match the amounts on the bank statement for three deposits. Butler said she contacted Archambeau and that led to further disclosures. It became a much larger issue than just those three checks, Butler said. Butler said she had confirmed on Wednesday that the total unaccounted amount was $18,500. She acknowledged the possibility of human error and that other Carroll Institute employees have access to the records, but she said Archambeau was the only employee with access to the bank account. According to Butler, Archambeau raised the possibilities that other counselors had access to the institutes spreadsheet and the institutes 24/7 staff receives money and writes receipts. But, Butler said, He could have caught that immediately. She said Archambeau didnt note those discrepancies. Butler said Archambeau repeatedly told her that hes not an Excel expert, referring to a Microsoft software program. After Archambeau was fired, Butler said the institutes training manager and human-resources representative reviewed contents of his former office. Various deposit slips, receipts and a settled judgment for approximately $11,000 were found. Butler said it was later learned that one of the deposit slips contained a name of a woman who had been in a relationship with Archambeau. Butler said the woman told her that Archambeau would have the woman make deposits in her personal account and then use mobile payment systems to transfer the amounts to him. Erin Handke from the state Attorney Generals office asked Butler whether the $18,500 had been recovered. It has not, Butler replied. Handke then asked whether anyone else could have been responsible for the missing money. No, Butler answered. None of the boards members had any questions for Butler. They went into executive session to discuss possible actions against Archambeau. A hour-hour later, they returned to open session. The boards president, Jill Veidt of Pierre, called for Archambeaus license to be revoked. There was no public discussion and the vote to revoke was unanimous. Kristi Jacobsma, a board member employed by Carroll Institute, was recused from the executive session and the 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 KELOLAND.com. An aerial view of the Boar's Head processing plant that was tied to a deadly food poisoning outbreak Thursday Aug. 29, 2024, in Jarratt, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Boar's Head, the deli meat company at the center of a deadly listeria food poisoning outbreak, is being scrutinized by law enforcement officials, the U.S. Agriculture Department disclosed in response to government records requests. Officials with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service refused to share documents regarding the agency's inspections and enforcement at the Boar's Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, plus inspection reports from eight other company factories across the U.S. The records which FSIS acknowledged include dozens of pages of documentation were withheld because they were compiled for a law enforcement purpose, which includes both civil and criminal statutes, according to a letter sent Friday in response to Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by The Associated Press. Releasing the records could interfere with and hinder the government's investigation, the letter said. The AP asked for records regarding the listeria outbreak that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has killed 10 people and sickened at least 50 in 19 states since May. Listeria bacteria were initially detected in samples of Boar's Head liverwurst and later traced to illnesses in people. Previously released records revealed problems including mold, insects, dripping water and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment dating back at least two years. Boar's Head earlier recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat distributed to stores across the country. This month, the Sarasota, Florida-based company said it has closed the Virginia plant and permanently stopped making liverwurst. Boar's Head is facing several lawsuits filed by victims and their families. FSIS officials did not respond to AP's emails seeking additional comment about the records. Justice Department officials declined to comment on potential legal actions against Boar's Head. This week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro called on the Agriculture and Justice departments to work closely to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar's Head in connection with the crisis. In response, USDA's own internal investigators are reviewing the agency's work and will decide by the end of the year whether to open an inquiry, according to Blumenthal's office. Past food poisoning outbreaks have resulted in criminal and civil penalties. In 2020, Chipotle agreed to pay a record $25 million to resolve criminal charges over tainted food that sickened more than 1,100 people in outbreaks between 2015 and 2018. In 2015, former Peanut Corporation of America executive Stewart Parnell was sentenced to 28 years in prison after an outbreak of salmonella in his company's peanut butter killed nine people and sickened more than 700. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. From the G-File on The Dispatch Dear Reader (except for those of you body shaming the bears), Earlier this week Kamala Harris laid out her economic vision, or something. At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, she said: As president, I will be grounded in my fundamental values of fairness, dignity, and opportunity. 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. Now, Ill speak plainly. I dont believe her. But Ill get to that. First, lets discuss this bold, persistent experimentation thing. There are few supposedly glorious lines from American civic history that annoy me more than this. It comes from FDRs Oglethorpe University Commencement Address in 1932. Then-presidential candidate Roosevelt said: The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach. Now, as political boilerplate amid of a deep and lasting depression, I think this was forgivable campaign rhetoric. The problem is that progressives have made this bold, persistent experimentation thing into a kind of catechism for their governing philosophy. And its garbage. If a doctor were stumped about why you had a seething pain behind your right eye, I doubt you would be all that reassured if he said, Huh. Im out of ideas for what this could be. Lets try some bold persistent experimentation and see what works. Let me get my drill. The role of government is not to conduct a science experiment with peoples lives and livelihoods. The scientific method is great, but its great at science. Like in a lab, with petri dishes full of flan or lab animals. But citizensand, yeah, taxpayersarent spores or pink-eyed rats. Every dollar the government spends on one experiment that doesnt work is a dollar it could have spent on something that does work. Or a dollar it could have left in the pockets of the people who earned that money in the first place. Or a dollar it could have used to pay down the national debt. There are lots of better uses for dollars out there than bold experiments. Dont get me wrong, Im not a fanatic on this point. Of course theres room for some pilot programs and government investment. But that has never been the spirit in which that catechism is offered. FDR was famously borrowing language from American philosophical pragmatism. And that school of thought held that ideological constraints on the freedom of action of experts were folly. Why should the Constitution or the law restrain the government during a crisis? The experts know what to do better than the politicians, and if they dont know what to do, let them experiment! In other words this experimentation thing was always an argument for power, not principle. This is my lasting beef with philosophical pragmatism in a nutshell. (Im holding a nutshell full of beef right now, but you cant see it.) Pragmatists used their method to attack competing sources of authority and abstract or antique constraints on their power. Oh your fusty and dusty ideas about the Constitution or free-market principles are dogmatic and hidebound. Were willing to break with tradition. Dont tell us this has never been done or that it cant work! Were not ideologues! Were experimenting here! People know I am a fan of the ideanot coined by methat behind every double standard is an unspoken single standard. Well, the single standard behind all of the experimenters and pragmatists going back a century now is that all of the experiments should involve more government. If these guys were the open-minded, no idea is too crazy, freethinkers they claim to be, something close to half of their ideas would be about closing government agencies, privatizing various functions, cutting subsidies, and clearing away red tape. But it sure seems like the vast majority of these experimentsoutside of drug legalization and defunding the policealways involve more regulations, more government spending, more government workers. FDR was pro-union. But he thought unionizing government employees was a mad idea, calling them unthinkable and intolerable. Tell me, where is the spirit of boldness and the courage to think outside of the box when it comes to teachers unions? The most obvious way you can tell a lot of this stuff was simply an effort to clear the field of competing ideologies is to ask: Where are all of these frank admissions of failure I keep hearing about? If the point is to boldly experiment, then failureand admitting failureis essential. But we get a lot of Shatner-esque pronouncements about bold new initiatives and not very many frank admissions of failure. One explanation for this century-long failure to admit failures is that this was never really about experimentation. But there are a bunch of others. It turns out that even people who brag about their disinterested commitment to follow the facts and data with robot-like dedication are, in reality, human beings. And human beings dont like to admit their pet projects and ideological fixations are wrong. Intellectuals and activists become invested in their causes (for instance, I think it will be a while before, say, political adviser Oren Cass stops fighting with pretty much every economist out there over tariffs). The more human response from all of these fake pragmatists is to say, Real X was never tried! Or, If we only funded it properly it would have worked! And then theres politics. Even if this stupid analogy makes it sound like experimentation is cost-free and always beneficial, politicians actually know that Im right about the scarcity of resources. No politician wants to say, Well, we really thought this gazillion dollar high speed rail system would work. Oy, were we wrong. Oh well, lets move onto the next hugely expensive experiment paid for with your tax dollars! Every Democratic president since FDR has tried to cosplay FDR to one extent or another, and Im pretty sure theyve all quoted this bold, persistent experimentation line. Theyve certainly all invoked its spirit. Off the top of my head I can only recall two instances of Democratic presidents have come close to frankly admitting error: Bill Clinton declaring the era of big government is over and Barack Obama admitting to the New York Times that his whole shovel-ready jobs thing was wrong. I mean this sincerely: Good for Obama for admitting that. But tell me, how many Democrats have scratched the idea of shovel-ready jobs off their ideological lists, and how many have just scratched the slogan off their lists? I see no evidence that Joe BidenObamas vice presidentlearned any important lessons along these lines that he applied during his presidency. And I dont see any evidence that the Democratic Party has either, except again, for the need to avoid saying that phrase until people forget and they can try again. Thats why I dont believe Kamala Harris when she says her priority is to apply facts and metrics to her analysis and to stay loyal to the spirit of experimentation. Politicians have been saying this stuff for a century. And its always been bunk. Various & Sundry You may not know this, but there are six U.S. state capitals west of Los Angeles. But thats not important right now. What is important is that were running a program to provide subscriptions to The Dispatch for college students. Given all of the rage-click stuff out there on the left and the right, we think The Dispatch is a great resource and safe haven for reliable information and nonpartisan journalism. Sponsor a student subscription here. Canine Update: I dont have too much to report because Ive been away from home, where it sounds like things are going well. Zoe seemed to be getting better before I left. But she does have more low-energy days more often than we would like. Hopefully the fall weather will help. Zoe is taking her pack protection responsibilities more seriously these days (while Pippa is thinking deep thoughts). Gracie is a sweetheart. Chester is a pill. And Penny is a doll. Shes been interning at the Dispatch office and shes understandably very, very popular. The Dispawtch Owners Name: Sharon Peterson Why Im a Dispatch Member: Jonah and Steve have always been the ones I turned to for a reasonable take on whatever was going on. So when they created an island of sanity in a world gone crazy, I was in from the beginning. Kevin coming over was pure lagniappe. Thats why I joined. I stay because The Dispatch has assembled not just the most interesting and thought-provoking opinion writers anywhere, but also, with The Morning Dispatch, the most factual, well-informed news team in the business. Pets Name: Sam Pets Breed: Labrador Retriever Pets Age: 6 Gotcha Story: Several years ago, we retired to a small ranch in the Texas Hill Country, bringing with us our previous, mature, calm, well-trained Labrador Retriever. We lost him way too early and took a year to be ready for a new dog. Once we started looking, we quickly found that the fencing out here, designed for livestock, was a concern to the Lab rescues we spoke to. So in the end, we decided to get a puppy from a rural breeder and raise him as a ranch dog from the get-go. When the litter was a few weeks old, we went and picked the yellow male with the big feet and the white paper collar. While waiting for the pups to get old enough to go to their new homes, the breeder sent us periodic photo updates including a video of the whole litter in a play yard, chasing her young daughters back and forth. Eight puppies, run-stumbling across the yard, and one of them suddenly smashes head-first into a pole. We zoomed in for a closer inspection of that little paper collar, and yep! Thats our boy! Pets Likes: Food. Catching frisbees. Food. Chasing armadillos. Food. Pets Dislikes: Thunder, vultures, and things hitting the roof of the motor home we like to vacation in (we cannot park under oak trees). Pets Proudest Moment: The day he succeeded in getting two Kong toys and a deer antler in his mouth all at the same time. Moment Someone (Wrongly) Said Pet Was a Bad Dog: The day Sam snuggled up to my elderly mother for a pat and snatched the muffin off the plate on her tray. She wasnt wrong. ICYMI Bad guys Middle-brow moral authority Pager? I hardly know her! Invasion of the Body Snatchers II: Beltway Bros Much ado about everything Mr. Lonely Cooling your jets Now for the weird stuff The shred of Turin Stuff of nightmares The sexual ratvolution Gone rouge Ratatouilles world tour Partner in name only No, really, Ill sell you to the gypsies! Dual income, one cat General Bucky E. Beaver addresses troops 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. DENVER (KDVR) Boulder secured an agreement with the property owners of an off-campus residence known as the Ash House to return the building to approved conditions within two weeks, the city announced Thursday. However, the city is standing behind its original position that the property is currently presenting life-safety risks to residents. City officials issued notices to tenants of the building, located at 891 12th St., on Sept. 16. The city said the owner had created bedrooms in each apartment unit without city approval. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team The city had approved plans presented by the property owners, 891 12th St. LLC., to convert the building into 16 three-bedroom apartments, and all of the apartments were required to meet the citys current building code. The city said applications were submitted and approved to allow 48 students to live in the building. However, the city said the closure notices were going to displace approximately 60 student renters. A civil lawsuit was filed to prevent the displacement of those residents, and a hearing was held Friday. The city said the property owners had acknowledged the life-safety threats at the court hearing. A judge ruled that the residents would be allowed to stay in the Ash House as the city and LLC worked toward an agreement. On Thursday, the city said it secured such an agreement with the LLC wherein the property owners committed to addressing current life-safety issues and building code violations at the property and restore it to its approved condition within two weeks. The city has been proactively working with the property owners on a resolution. Our hope is to make this property safe for the students who are living there as quickly as possible, said Brad Mueller, director of Planning & Development Services, in a release. We know this has been a disruptive situation for the students and are committed to doing what we can to work toward a fast resolution with the property owners and bring certainty to tenants. There is another court hearing scheduled for Oct. 8, which the city said will be held if needed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) The Bowling Green Fire Department has announced the death of one of their first responders. The fire department said 29-year-old Stephen Rosie Rosebrook collapsed due to a severe cardiac event after running the Bowling Green Med Center 10K Classic on Sept. 14. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, it was announced Rosebrook had died. The Bowling Green Fire Department said Sten began his career with them in 2017 and started working as an engineer in 2021. They said he also served as a paramedic with the Medical Center EMS. Stephen was deeply committed to his community and always willing to lend a hand to his fellow firefighters. His passion for service and his generous spirit have left an indelible mark on all who knew him. Stephen leaves behind his loving parents, brother, fiance, and one daughter. His passing has created a tremendous void, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time, the department wrote on Facebook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Im 26 years old and bought a $1,500/month whole life policy surrendering will cost me $6,500. Did I get scammed? Whole life insurance is often marketed as a potential investment opportunity. You may be told that you get a death benefit to protect your loved ones and an investment vehicle that you can live off of tax-free as a retiree. Sadly, while these promises have some truth to them, the reality is that whole life insurance policies can be needlessly expensive, make accessing your funds cumbersome and offer a poor investment option compared to most others on the market. Don't miss For example, if you've been sold a whole life insurance policy at 26 that requires you to pay $1,500 a month for the foreseeable future, you're likely in a tough position. You may even want to consider cutting your losses and finding a policy thats more suitable for you. Here's why. Who benefits from a whole life insurance policy? Whole life insurance policies arent necessarily the best option for the vast majority of people. As financial radio host Dave Ramsey explains, these policies are "probably one of the worst financial products alive today." Ramsey is strongly against them because, as he said to a caller on The Ramsey Show, they can be 20 times more expensive than term life insurance policies while earning you an average investment return of about 1.2%. Ramsey isn't the only critic, either. Ramit Sethi, host of Netflixs How to Get Rich, has also called whole life policies "a scam," and a "waste of money" that "directs cash into the pockets of salespeople and insurance companies." Most people don't need life insurance coverage for their whole life, as family members stop depending on their income eventually. Unless you fall into one of a few valid exceptions, such as being the parent of a child living with a disability who needs lifelong support, you're likely better off buying a term life insurance policy offering coverage only for the period you need. You can invest the money you save on a term versus whole life insurance premium and put it in an S&P 500 fund that has historically produced an average annual return of 10% significantly higher than what a whole life policy tends to offer. Story continues Read more: These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. [https://moneywise.com/managing-money/how-to-earn-money/money-moves-to-make-right-now?throw=C2HALF_streamline) &placement_syn=placement_2&native_creative_id=295&targeting_group=284 Should you cash out? So, what happens if you bought a whole life policy and then discovered its not benefiting you? Unfortunately, these policies routinely include surrender fees and they're often larger if you cash out quickly. Insurers justify these fees because they claim it costs them money to set up and administer the policy. They're also partially designed to get you to keep the coverage. While it may be painful to pay a surrender fee, it could be more painful to keep paying $1,500 a month on a subpar investment for decades. Unfortunately, you likely wont break even on your cash value investment for the first few years of the policy. As a result, tens of thousands of dollars can go to waste in the process. The money you've already put in, and the surrender fees, may have to be a sunk cost. But its best not to throw good money after bad if the policy doesnt make sense for you. By finding an affordable term life insurance policy and putting the difference into the stock market, you can eventually make up for the lost funds over time by earning higher returns and end up better off in the end. What to read next Cost-of-living in America is still out of control use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what the US Fed does or says 'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett shares the 'best investment' you can make when battling rising costs take advantage today 82% of Americans are missing out on a savings account that pays over 10 times the national average This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Bradenton man pleads guilty after using pepper spray on officers in Jan. 6 Capitol riot A Bradenton man pleaded guilty to felony charges after he joined thousands of other rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors say Tom Vournas, 63, known as El Greco and Leonard The Riddler Lobianco, 53, of North Port, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that convened to count electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election. They joined other supporters of former President Donald Trump to dispute the official election certification, prosecutors say. Vournas pleaded guilty Thursday to felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury, while Lobianco pleaded guilty to civil disorder, according to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Prosecutors say Vournas and Lobianco were members of a local chapter of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, and traveled from Florida to Washington D.C. to participate in the events of Jan. 6, 2021. On the morning of Jan. 6, prosecutors say Vournas and Lobianco met a group of around 100 Proud Boys members that marched from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. Bradenton man pepper sprayed Capitol police, prosecutors say Once the Proud Boys arrived at the Peace Circle, a restricted portion of the Capitol grounds, prosecutors say the two men and other members of the crowd violently trampled metal barriers before surging past officers. Prosecutors say they then made their way toward the northwest stairs of the West Terrace of the Capitol, where police struggled to contain the mob while certain members of the Proud Boys assaulted and engaged with police, according to a news release. Prosecutors say Vournas sprayed pepper gel toward police officers, hitting a United States Capitol Police officer in the face and injuring them. Vournas and Lobianco entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door and took pictures inside before leaving a few minutes later, according to a news release. The Federal Bureau of Investigations arrested Vournas and Lobianco on Jan. 4, according to a news release. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth will sentence Vournas and Lobianco in January, according to a news release. Over 1,000 people have been charged after breaching the Capitol that day, according to the Department of Justice. Vournas is the fourth person with ties to the Bradenton area who has pleaded guilty to charges connected to the Jan. 6 riot. Fridays live updates: At least 17 deaths reported across South Carolina due to Helene Hurricane Helene punched the Midlands and South Carolina with high winds and heavy rain Friday, leaving 17 dead statewide, a mess of flooded streets, downed trees and millions of homes without power. Four deaths each have been reported in Aiken and Greenville counties, three in Spartanburg County and two in each of Anderson, Newberry and Saluda counties, the Associated Press tweeted Friday afternoon. Gov. Henry McMaster said at a press conference that two of those who died were Saluda County volunteer firefighters. The Aiken County Coroners Officer confirmed it is investigating four hurricane-related deaths, all of which were due to trees falling through the roofs of homes. The office was unable to provide additional details as of Friday afternoon. As of 2 p.m. Friday, 1.23 million customers were without power in South Carolina, according to PowerOutage.us. The outages were especially widespread across the Midlands and in the southeastern section of the state. More than 91,000 customers were without power in Richland County as of 2 p.m., while Lexington County had nearly 103,000 outages. Spartanburg County had 171,000 outages at that point, while Greenville County had more than 260,000 customers without power. 4:15 p.m. President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The presidential declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts in Palmetto State, opening up federal funding to assist in the Palmetto States recovery efforts. Two trees rest on a car on Trenholm Road near the intersection with Churchill Circle after Hurricane Helene hits Forest Acres, South Carolina on Friday, September 27, 2024. 3:31 p.m. One of the Midlands most noteworthy festivals, the Irmo Okra Strut, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled amid the damage from Helene. Due to the ongoing State of Emergency in South Carolina and the significant damage caused by the recent storm, the Town of Irmo has decided to cancel the Lexington Medical Center Irmo Okra Strut, including the parade and all festivities at Moore Park, the town said in a statement. With numerous fallen trees, widespread power outages, debris-strewn streets, and damaged traffic signals, prioritizing the safety of our community is paramount. Our public resources are fully dedicated to recovery efforts, ensuring the well-being of all residents. 3:20 p.m. South Carolina officials are watching the potential impacts of a dam failure in North Carolina. An evacuation order was issued Friday for residents near the Lake Lure dam in western North Carolina, TV station WCNC reported, as officials warned that water could begin spilling over the dam due to the amount of rainwater swelling the reservoir. Lake Lure feeds into the Broad River that connects to the Congaree River near Columbia. Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said hes monitoring the situation at Lake Lure, but said that many other dams would intervene before any spillage makes its way to the Midlands. Were already expecting pretty significant flooding on the Broad and Congaree, so it depends on how much water (overspills the dam) and when it arrives, Stangler said. Currently, the Congaree is expected to crest at 28 feet late on Sunday, Stangler said. Thats enough to put the river into moderate flood stage. Speaking at a press conference with the governor Friday afternoon, Department of Environmental Services Director Myra Reece said her department is monitoring the situation, but noted that Lake Lure is 53 miles upstream from South Carolina, and any water from a dam failure would take about 13 hours to reach the state. To be conservative, we are looking at structures on the Broad River in Cherokee County and well make notifications, Reece said. Fairfield County on the east side of the Broad north of Columbia called on citizens living near the river to be alert to any possible affects from a dam failure. We ask that everyone stay tuned to their televisions, radios, apps, etc for more information should it need to be disseminated to the public, the county said in a statement at 3 p.m. Trees that fell when Hurricane Helene hit Forest Acres, South Carolina, weigh down power lines near the intersection of Piedmont Drive and Claremont Drive on Friday, September 27, 2024. 2:45 p.m. Saluda County has implemented a countywide curfew beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday and lasting until 8 a.m. Saturday, the county announced in a Facebook post. The highways and secondary roads still have down trees and power lines blocking lanes and it is very unsafe for travel, the post said. For everyones safety, please make plans to be off the roads before 6:30 p.m. this evening. Saluda is the second Midlands county to implement a curfew because of the damage wrought by Hurricane Helene overnight. The Aiken County Sheriffs Office is also enforcing a curfew from 7:30 p.m. Friday to 7:30 a.m. Saturday. 2:21 p.m. Sumter County felt the impact of Helene on Friday, according to Sheriff Anthony Dennis office. Wind gusts were as high as 52 mph in the county at one point. As of 2 p.m., the Sumter County Sheriffs Office had received 75 reports of downed trees and 50 reports of downed power lines. Never go near downed power lines, Dennis said. They may appear to be inactive but could still be energized and can be deadly. Parents should educate their children on the danger of fallen power lines. If you see a tree downed across a road or power lines down, call 911 and report it. 1:50 p.m. For nearly 10 consecutive blocks on Sunset Blvd (378) in Lexington, traffic lights were out behind a massive power outage, leaving countless businesses, including gas stations, restaurants and retail stores, idle. Downtown Lexington was mostly a ghost town with few people walking out on the streets and multiple businesses and government buildings closed, including the Lexington County Court House. Streets were heavily littered with tree debris. In a residential neighborhood, two massive trees were down, blocking traffic from traveling on Mill Stream Road. Two downed trees block motorists on Mill Stream Road in Lexington from traveling in either direction. 1:19 p.m. Aiken County has issued a curfew for Friday night in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Sheriff Michael Hunt said the curfew will last from 7:30 p.m. Friday until 7:30 a.m. Saturday. This act is being used as a deterrence for anyone who would want to take advantage of our citizens who have been greatly impacted by the storm, Hunt said in a statement. We have a substantial interest in the safety and security of our communities. A release from Aiken County said that violators/looters will be arrested. Hunt issued the curfew under an emergency declaration that had been signed by Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker on Thursday night ahead of the storm. 12:55 p.m. The Newberry County Sheriffs office posted a message about the dire state of storm damage in that county north of Richland as of Friday afternoon. There is widespread damage, the sheriffs office posted to Facebook at about 12:45 Friday. Power is out everywhere. Please stay off roads. Power crews are working but it is all over. Please be patient. Emergency Services are overwhelmed with calls but are still responding. Please be patient. According to PowerOutage.us almost all of Newberry County was without power as of 12:45, with 15,800 outages among 16,000 customers. Meanwhile, in Lexington County, sheriffs department spokesman Adam Myrick said that 68% of the county remained without power as of Friday afternoon. 12:42 p.m. The Columbia Police Department warned residents to watch out for downed power lines across the city, noting there were lines down on Abingdon Road and Hillcrest Avenue, among other locations. Police said that Dominion Energy officials advise residents to stay at least 30 feet away from any downed lines, always assume the lines are energized, and contact the power company immediately. 11:30 a.m. The city of Columbia on Friday morning reopened portions of a pair of streets that had been closed because of significant rainfall from the storm. Whaley Street between Assembly Street and Sumter Street was reopened, as was Main Street between Catawba Street and Whaley Street. The city noted that if trees are down in the public right of way or blocking roadways, residents should call the customer care line at 803-545-3300. 11:25 a.m. The city of Columbia has confirmed a sanitary sewer overflow into Lake Murray Friday morning. The spill occurred near Sail Point Way and Sail Point Court due to a third-party equipment failure. Crews are on scene addressing the issue. 11:20 a.m. In the Midlands, the cities of Cayce, Irmo, Lexington and West Columbia are all closed, as is Richland County. Lexington County and the town of Chapin opened their offices after a two-hour delay Friday morning. The city of Columbia has limited operations on Friday. 11:15 a.m. The Columbia office of the National Weather Service reports that the highest wind gust recorded at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport was 67 mph at 6:12 a.m. That was right as Helenes remnant eye wall approached the area. Meteorologist Pierce Larkin said possible tornado strikes associated with the storm have been reported, but weather service agents have been unable to get out to confirm as of 11 a.m. due to dangerous road conditions around the area. He said the widespread power outages and storm damage were a consequence of the intensity with which Helene, then a Category 3, made landfall in Florida and then quickly pushed over the Southeast. Coupled with the heavy rainfall Thursday that seeped into the soil, the perfect conditions existed to bring down multiple trees. That was 12 hours ago now and its already in central Appalachia, so its been moving rapidly, Larkin said. Weve already had quite a bit of rainfall in northern half of the state, so with really intense winds and saturated soil, thats lead to a lot of the tree damage. Gills Creek is high after Hurricane Helene hit Forest Acres, South Carolina on Friday, September 27, 2024. 11 a.m. The Lexington County Sheriffs Department said first responders continue to assess storm damage and road closures there. Dozens of roads across the county are impassable due to downed trees, power lines and other debris, Public Information Officer Capt. Adam Myrick said. We have no reports of major injuries or deaths associated with the storm. 10:45 a.m. Officials with the Irmo Fire District reported that dozens of trees went down Friday morning, crashing into houses and across yards. No neighborhood was spared, the fire district posted, alongside a photo of a tree that crashed through a house. Stay home. The Irmo Fire District shared a photo Friday morning of a tree that crashed through a house in the town. 10:40 a.m. Dominion Energy said it will be opening a spill gate at Lake Murray, releasing more water into the Saluda River to deal with additional water brought on by Helene. In addition to flowing water through the Saluda Hydroelectric plants generators, Dominion Energy will open a spill gate at the Lake Murray dam around 11 a.m., said Matthew Long, who does media relations for Dominion. This will compensate for a unit at the plant that is out of service for scheduled maintenance. We will continue to monitor the storm and make any adjustments if needed. 10:25 a.m. The University of South Carolina has downed trees around campus, a spokesman said, including one on the Historic Horseshoe, known for its towering oaks. Awaiting info on whether we had any building damage. We have power currently, the spokesman said. The USC Board of Trustees meeting, which was scheduled to be held the systems Bluffton campus, was moved to its Hilton Head campus. The full board will meet, but committee meetings have been canceled. Tree uprooted on USC campus as hurricane blows through Columbia. More at https://t.co/rfKHCoXWsb pic.twitter.com/8GiRnVNEuP Sammy Fretwell (@sfretwell83) September 27, 2024 10:05 a.m. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is working to continue with flights Friday morning. We have had six delays and six cancellations so far, but we just had our [Dallas/Fort Worth] flight on American Airlines take off, so thats good that they were able to get out, said Kim Crafton, the airports vice president of marketing and air service development. Winds right now are just the biggest issue. As you can guess, the wind gusts make it really challenging for aircraft to take off or land. Currently, we have not had any arrivals this morning, so its just going to be a fluid situation for the next few hours or so, if not the majority of today. Gills Creek is high after Hurricane Helene hit Forest Acres, South Carolina on Friday, September 27, 2024. 10 a.m. Batesburg-Leesville, in the far west of Lexington County, reports a large number of downed trees and other impacts from the storm. The towns police chief, Darren Amick, said they are dealing with about 40 roads blocked by power lines and fallen trees. We have no fatalities, no stranded vehicles. The flooding issue wasnt near as bad as it was last time, Amick said, referring to a storm that caused major flooding issues in the town last summer. So all the roads would be passable, flooding wise, but we got trees everywhere and some roofs off. And of course, some people were stranded in some of their houses and their cars. And we got one family displaced right now thats staying up here at our police department. Impacted roadways include U.S. 1 near Leesville Methodist Church, which is completely blocked by a large tree, and U.S. 23 near Batesburg Baptist Church, which is also completely blocked. 9:48 a.m. City of Forest Acres spokeswoman Lynnsey Baker said the city had more than 30 trees down as of early Friday morning. The spokeswoman advised Forest Acres residents to call their insurance company if a tree is down in their yard, to call Forest Acres Police if a tree is down in a roadway, to contact Forest Acres Fire Department if a tree is on a house and people need to be rescued, and to call Dominion Energy if power lines are down in their yard. A tree toppled over on Juarez Street in Forest Acres on Friday, September 27, 2024. 9:30 a.m. Closed roads due to flooding and debris were widespread throughout Richland County, county spokesperson Susan OCain said Friday morning. Emergency management services across the county asked residents to avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary. Please stay off the roads, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. We are still experiencing trees and pwoer lines falling. Flooding is occurring throughout Richland County. Please be patient with first responders, they are out there working to protect your life. The county administration asked residents to avoid the following areas: Blythewood: Clamp Road, Roundtree Road, Wren Creek Drive Irmo: Alcorn and Olin Sites Roads, West Ashford Way, Jessie Stoudemayer Road Columbia: Heyward Brockington Court, Riley and Barnes Streets A spokesperson from the Richland County Sheriffs Department said that traffic was restricted along the following roads due to due to downed trees and power lines: Alpine Road, Blossom Street, Forest Drive, Huger Street, Killian Road, South Beltline and the intersection of Hardscrabble Road and Wilson Street. Deputies were working to clear tree limbs while waiting on crews from Dominion Energy to fix the power lines, said a sheriffs department spokesperson. Hurricane Helene uprooted this massive tree on Greene Street by the University of South Carolina campus early on Sept. 27, 2024. 9 a.m. The S.C. Department of Transportation reports that as of 8:52 a.m. the Blossom Street bridge remained closed, as was Kilbourne Road over Gills Creek and South Beltline Boulevard between Plowden Road and Shop Road. There was a lane closure on Two Notch Road between Bayview Drive and Shakespeare Road. Arcadia Lakes Drive was closed in two areas where it passes over water; by Coopers Pond and Arcadia Woods Road, and between Trenholm Road and Sandwood Drive. In the northeast all of Legrand Road between Rabon Road and North Grampian Hills has been closed, as well as Creekwood Drive and Overpond Road, and Alpine Road near Cardinal Newman over Jackson Creek. Killian Road and Killian Loop were closed all the way to Wilson Boulevard, as are Folk Road and Lorick Road between Wilson and View Drive. Forest Lake was overflowing even before Hurricane Helene socked Columbia on Friday Sept. 27, 2024. 7 a.m. In Forest Acres, just east of Columbia, a city spokeswoman said about 15 roads in the city were being affected by downed trees as of 6:53 a.m. Some of the Forest Acres streets and areas with trees down included Linbrook, Gamewell, Pecival near Overcreek, Trenholm and Churchill, Laurel Springs, Spring Lake, Landers Street, Crystakl Drive, Bethel Church and Storkland. Meanwhile, the bridge on Forest Drive over Gills Creek remained closed. Forest Acres officials were urging drivers to stay off city roads early Friday morning. A massive oak tree had fallen and blocked Greene Street on the University of South Carolina campus between Pickens and Laurens streets. The tree was uprooted and lay across multiple cars parked on the two-laned road that is known for its avenue of trees. Students stood near the tree, discussing the mess just after 8 a.m. I was up all night, I was absolutely so scared when we lost power, said USC sophomore Ella McGarrigan, standing outside her home on Greene Street. Hurricane Helene toppled this tree on Greene Street near the University of South Carolina campus early on Friday Sept. 27, 2024. It blocked the street and smashed cars parked there. Branches lay on the ground throughout the Five Points and Shandon areas in the downtown area of Columbia, including near USC. Gusty winds continued through the early morning. Five Points, known for flooding, was relatively dry in the morning. Fridays events followed a watery, flooded Thursday in which creeks overflowed their banks and multiple intersections flooded, including at Whaley and Main Street near USC. As of 7:17 a.m., there were a host of road closures across the town of Lexington, according to the Lexington Police Department. Those included 2400 Mineral Springs Road, 5700 Sunset Blvd/US-378, 4801 Sunset Blvd, South Church Street at Roberts Street, Satcher Road at Pond View Lane, and several streets in the Golden Hills neighborhood. Lexington County offices are operating on a two-hour delay, and the county administration building was without power as of 7 a.m., a county spokesperson said. Richland County offices are closed for the day Friday. The city of Columbia reports trees and power lines are down across roadways and encourages drivers to stay off the roads. This is a developing story. Check back for details. BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Have you received a Hello text from a stranger? A 31-year-old New York man is one of the people behind the scam, according to Branford police. Wenjie He, of Fresh Meadows, 31, worked as a courier as part of a criminal enterprise, according to police. He has been charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, first-degree telephone fraud and conspiracy to commit first-degree telephone fraud. He is being held on a $200,000 bond. The scam He was a part of starts off with a Hello text message, and then builds to try and fake friendships and romances with victims, according to police. From there, scammers try to convince the victims to invest in fake businesses or send them money. His involvement was allegedly to collect the money from the victims. He was arrested on Friday. Police said they plan to make other arrests. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sir Brian May said the RSPCAs Assured scheme had failed and was continuing to fail - EDDIE MULHOLLAND Sir Brian May has quit the RSPCA in the wake of an investigation into conditions at a flagship Marks & Spencer farm. The Queen guitarist, 77, announced his resignation as vice-president of the animal rights charity after more than 12 years in the role. In a statement released on Thursday night, Sir Brian cited the recent revelations about conditions in some farms as the reason he was stepping down. It comes after an undercover investigation at Charlie Langmeads dairy farm, an RSPCA-assured facility, revealed last week that employees were maltreating the animals. Footage from secret cameras planted by activist Joey Carbstrong showed cows being smacked, kicked and even stabbed with a sharp object at the farm, which has previously been used in M&S advertising. Sir Brian, an outspoken animal rights campaigner, shared a letter he wrote to the board members and trustees of the RSPCA on Instagram in the wake of the revelations. In it, he said: It is with profound sadness and not without massive soul-searching that today I have to offer my resignation as a vice-president of the RSPCA. You have kept me informed through the Save Me Trust of complaints that have been levelled in recent months at the RSPCA over appallingly bad standards of animal welfare in member farms of the RSPCA Assured scheme. The musician continued: I have understood that the RSPCA needed time to evaluate the evidence and make decisions on action to be taken. But as more and more evidence comes to light, I find the RSPCAs response completely inadequate. He added that the charitys Assured scheme had failed and was continuing to fail and urged for the only response to be a complete dismantling of it. In a damning remark, Sir Brian also accused the animal welfare charity of sacrificing their integrity by attempting to defend its position. The RSPCAs Assured scheme covers almost 4,000 farms in the country and its supermarket labels used on items such as chicken, eggs and sausages are intended to inform shoppers that the products have been produced to higher animal welfare standards. The charity has said that it has launched an investigation and wider review into one of the UKs largest food certification schemes by sending welfare inspectors to more than 200 member farms at random. It comes after activists exposed multiple breaches of legal standards at Assured farms earlier this year, including overcrowding, poor hygiene, physical abuse by farm workers in some cases as well as unacceptable health conditions. Sir Brian also announced that his and Anne Brummers wild animal protection charity, The Save Me Trust, has now endorsed the For Charlie campaign, which calls for the RSPCA to abandon its scheme. The campaign has also been backed by celebrity animal rights activists Dame Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais and Miriam Margoyles. It is named after Charlie the piglet, who was rescued by activist group Animal Rising from one of the RSPCA Assured pig farms they investigated. She was shown being rescued with a large abscess on her head and later filmed looking healthy and running happily through a grass field. The campaigners are accusing the charity of hiding disease, pain and suffering of the farm animals, stating in a letter: In the 200 years youve been in existence, youve failed to protect the largest group of animals who are suffering the most - animals who are farmed. They cited almost 100 investigations over the past 16 years showing shocking and heartbreaking levels of suffering in the farms and slaughterhouses endorsed by the charity. The RSPCA said that it is still analysing the findings of a comprehensive and independent review of the farms involved in the Assured scheme and will then take any robust action necessary. Sir Brians resignation as vice president comes after 12 years with the charity and decades of vocal animal rights campaigning. He founded the Save Me project in 2010 to promote animal welfare and work against the proposed repeal of the British fox hunting ban. His work in the field was described by an RSPCA spokesman as invaluable and devoted, citing issues he has campaigned on including the badger cull and hunting. Following Sir Brians resignation, a spokesman for the charity said: We have been very proud to have Sir Brian May, a passionate campaigner for animals, as our vice president and we share his desire to create a better world for all animals. We have different views from Sir Brian on how best to approach this complex challenge but we respect his views and understand his decision to step down. They added that improving standards for farmed animals is tough and that they agree with the musician that the rapid growth of low welfare industrial farming is the biggest welfare issue facing animals. Chris Packham, the president of the RSPCA, has previously called on the charity to suspend its Assured scheme, calling it utterly indefensible. Ayesha Smart, the former RSPCA prosecutor and specialist animal welfare barrister, reviewed the footage from Animal Rising and found a total of 280 breaches of the law, and a further 94 breaches of Defra regulations. She said: For the UKs most trusted animal charity to be assuring farms that do not even comply with basic legal requirements is not only misleading the public - it is fraudulent. It is clear the RSPCA Assured scheme cannot legitimately say that it ensures the welfare of its farmed animals and is no longer fit for purpose. 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 policeman in Quetta, Pakistan, shot and killed a man being held in a local police station on charges of blasphemy. The victim, Syed Khan, reportedly made derogatory remarks about Muhammad. The name of the police officer was not reported. The post Brickbat: Bad Words appeared first on Reason.com. Amon G. Carter was another of the larger-than-life figures who dominated Texas business in the early 20th Century. His efforts cemented Fort Worths attempts to become a major industrial and cultural center for the Southwest. Carter was born in 1879 near the small town of Crafton in Wise County. He quit school at the age of 11 to help support the family. In 1905, he settled in Fort Worth, where he soon found work as the advertising manager of the new Fort Worth Star newspaper. However, the newspaper quickly faltered. To save the paper, Carter in 1908 led an effort to raise money to buy the competing Fort Worth Telegram. On New Years Day 1909, he combined the two papers into the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, an extremely successful and profitable publication that became one of the dominant papers of West Texas. He quickly developed a reputation as a civic promoter and eventually made Fort Worths slogan Where the West Begins popular. In 1911, he arranged for the first airplane flight in city history, which began a long relationship between Carter and aviation. By the late 1920s, he was part owner of what became American Airlines and convinced other shareholders to move its headquarters to Fort Worth. In the late 1930s, he convinced what became General Dynamics to open a plant in the city and later attracted Bell Aviation to the area. In 1922, he opened the citys first radio station, WBAP, which for many years shared a frequency with Dallas station WFAA. He also played a role in convincing state leaders to open Texas Tech University in Lubbock in 1923. In the meantime, he bought land and invested heavily in oil exploration. Though Carter never held an elected office, he effectively served as an ambassador for Fort Worths business and cultural interests, becoming one of the most powerful figures in the city. From the 1930s through the 1950s, he nurtured a strong rivalry with Dallas. One story relayed for years was that he had such a dislike for Dallas that he would always bring a sack lunch to any meetings he had in Dallas rather than spend money in the city. Part of this was seen with the fight with Dallas over airports. Carter had supported the creation of Greater Southwest International Airport in the early 1950s, not far from the modern Dallas Fort Worth International Airport while Dallas continued to support its own Love Field. In 1945, he established the Amon G. Carter Foundation to fund cultural and education projects across the state. The foundation has helped fund museums, symphonies, and art projects for decades. It has also established scholarships and provided financing for medical research. After World War II, he expanded his media holdings into television. In 1948, WBAP became the first television station in the South (its call letters changed to KXAS in the 1970s). But after the war, Carter slowed down. His health declined and he suffered the first of several heart attacks in 1953. He died at the age of 76 in 1955. His tireless work for Texas was honored in many ways after his passing. Amon G. Carter Lake in Montague County, constructed in 1956, was named in his memory. In 1961, his daughter, Ruth Stevenson, opened the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, one of the most respected art museums in the state. At Carters request, much of his western art collection was included. The Carter BloodCare Center was founded through donations from the Carter Foundation in 1959 and is one of the largest in Texas, including locations in Bedford and Waco. Amon Carter Riverside High School in Fort Worth is also named in his honor. Buildings at Texas Tech, Texas A&M University, and Texas Christian University are also named after him. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bridges: Amon G. Carter's larger-than-life role in 20th Century Texas NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) A 36-year-old New Britain man could spend up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to repeatedly possessing child pornography. Joshua Glaeser was convicted in 2012 of possessing child pornography and spent two years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation. While on probation in 2022, authorities conducted a search warrant on his home, taking electronics that had more than 3,000 images and videos of child sex abuse material. He also used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to distribute the images to others. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, and up to 20 years, due to being a repeat offender. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. If you are a Southern Water customer this fjord freshwater could be coming to you, if the companys plan is approved - iStockphoto Southern Water has drawn up contingency plans to ship in water from Norwegian fjords to mitigate against potential supply shortages and drought. The water company, which serves 4.7 million customers, has proposed shipping 45 million litres of glacial water daily for six weeks from Scandinavia to Southampton in a scheme which would be paid for by customers bills. The plan comes after Ofwat, the sector regulator, provisionally agreed that Southern Water could raise bills by 44 per cent over the next five years from April. Southern Water has entered discussions with the UK private company Extreme Drought Resilience Service, according to the Financial Times. The Environment Agency is understood to be in contact with Norwegian regulators over the plan. The agency previously warned that Southern Waters over-reliance on freshwater had left the country more susceptible to droughts. Almost 70 per cent of the companys water supply is currently extracted from groundwater and chalk streams. An environmentally resilient solution Tim McMahon, Southerns managing director for water, described the shipping plans as a last-resort contingency measure that would only be used for a short period in the event of an extreme-drought emergency. Mr McMahon said Southern was working to take less water from its chalk streams and to build new reservoirs such as Havant Thicket in Hampshire, which it hopes to operate from 2034. Southern Water said: Weve adapted our plans to deliver an environmentally resilient solution that meets the requirements of the Environment Agencys abstraction licence reductions, which result in a shortfall of 166 million litres of water a day in Hampshire during a drought. Southern Water received a record fine of 90 million for sewage pollution in 2021, which left it teetering on the brink of collapse before it was taken over by Macquarie, the Australian investment manager, later that year. Water firms have been lobbying regulators to raise customers bills to fund infrastructure development, but campaigners argue consumers have already paid enough for upgrades which have not been undertaken. Parts of England came close to running out of water in the summer of 2022, which was recorded as one of the driest in England on record. Thames Water came within three-and-a-half weeks of exhausting water storage. Meanwhile, March of this year marked the wettest 18 months for England since records began in 1836. 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 News A memorial commemorating Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte that misspelled the literary sisters surname has been corrected after 85 years. The editor of the Bronte Society Gazette noticed that a plaque in Westminster Abbeys Poets Corner spelled their last name without the diaereses. She persuaded the abbey to correct the 1939 plaque to reflect Brontes pronunciation as if it rhymed with Monty, not font, The Guardian wrote. The dean of Westminster said he was grateful for the lively remembering of the writers. Memory is not a locked cupboard, but an active thing, he said. BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) Since Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach declared fentanyl a public health crisis in September 2022, officials approved a plan to use its opioid settlement funds to implement strategies surrounding raising awareness and addressing the opioid crisis. A key piece to the initiative was the assignment of two drug investigators from the Brown County Sheriffs Office to delve into accidental illicit drug overdoses, which has resulted in significant steps toward justice. Carjacking suspects arrested after shooting toward resident while trying to steal vehicle These investigators dont just look at the tragic event itself, they trace back the pathways of these drugs, says Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain. They work tirelessly to identify the sources of these illicit substances, unearthing the networks that supply them and bringing those responsible to justice. This rigorous approach sends a clear message: if you deal in dangerous drugs that often result in death, you will be held accountable. Since March of 2023, when these investigators started that role with the Brown County Drug Task Force, they have been the primary investigator of 24 illicit drug-related deaths. They have referred charges of first-degree reckless homicide on 12 individuals to the Brown County District Attorneys Office in connection with those 24 deaths. Additionally, two more individuals were charged in the Eastern District of Wisconsin Federal Court system. Over the past 18 months, 14 drug dealers who have distributed illicit drugs resulting in death have been charged. Many of these individuals have already been convicted, including the two in federal court who were sentenced to over 20 years. As a result of these investigations, the Brown County Sheriffs Office has made it more difficult for dangerous drugs to circulate within the community. This accountability not only serves justice but also acts as a deterrent to others who might consider bringing these dangerous drugs to sell in Brown County. Fewer dealers mean fewer drugs on the streets, creating a ripple effect that leads to fewer opportunities for individuals to fall victim to addiction or overdose, said Brown County Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt. The Brown County Drug Task Force seized 1,772.44 grams of fentanyl from Q1-Q3 in 2023. Over that time frame in 2024, the task force has seized 12,659.64 grams of fentanyl, a 614% increase year-over-year. Combating addiction requires a multi-faceted approach, one that includes resources for prevention, treatment, recovery programs, and community outreach; that is what the County Executive envisioned, says Delain. It is a collective effort, one that requires the involvement of all of us. Together, we can create safer, healthier communities and pave the way for a brighter future. In Q1-Q3 of 2023, there were 43 accidental illicit drug-related deaths in Brown County. So far, in Q1-Q3 of 2024, there have been 15 accidental illicit drug-related deaths. Thats a 65% decrease year-over-year. Wisconsin man arrested in connection to bomb threats targeting government buildings Brown County had 62 total drug overdose deaths in 2022, with 50 of those involving fentanyl. The following year saw 63 total drug overdose deaths, with 49 of those involving fentanyl. Now, as of September 10, 2024, Brown County has had just 17 total drug overdose deaths year-to-date, including 11 deaths that involve fentanyl. These numbers are closer to 2018, when Brown County had 24 total drug overdose deaths, with nine of those involving fentanyl. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The northern English city of Manchester on Friday opened the first phase of a 1.7 billion pound ($2.3 billion) hub for science and technology companies, part of a large-scale project driven by university and private sector investors. The 'Sister' innovation district on the University of Manchester's former city centre North Campus envisages 2 million square feet (186,000 square metres) of commercial space and 1,500 new homes, and aims to boost the city's status as a science and technology centre. University cities like Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester have been creating environments where investors can be on hand to partner with startup companies, a trend Britain's new Labour government wants to continue to attract more private investment to help upgrade the country's public services and infrastructure. The 15-year project Sister project is a joint venture between the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, a development company owned by property firm Bruntwood, Legal and General and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, and will see a total investment value on completion of 1.7 billion pounds. The first tenant, climate tech investment company Sustainable Ventures, moves into the site's Renold Building this November. "This is a significant moment for Manchester," said Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council. Sister forms part of the government-funded Greater Manchester Investment Zone, which uses 160 million pounds of public money to help attract businesses to the city over the next decade. Sister said it will announce plans for its first major development zone soon. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by Susan Fenton) Buckhannon liaison helps police connect with those struggling with addiction: It takes down some of those walls BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WBOY) According to the American Psychological Association, one out of every five police calls involves a person dealing with a substance use or mental health crisis, and while law enforcement officers are trained to provide help in these situations, the badge can sometimes be a barrier. Law enforcement is just a singular approach, Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory said. You certainly cannot arrest your way out of these types of issues. Six months ago, Gregorys department added peer liaison Erica Bennett to its staff through a state-funded grant and a partnership with Charleston-based nonprofit First Choice Services. My storys a little different from other peoples, said Bennett. Ive been in and out of jails and institutions. Bennett has been in recovery for five years. The last time she was incarcerated, she was offered treatment through the Drug Court Program. Thats the biggest thing, said Bennett. People are afraid to ask for help for fear of judgment and thats kind of where I come in. Why does fentanyl have such a hold on north central West Virginia? Each day, Bennett and her partner, Corporal Angel McCauley, walk a beat thats off the beaten path, checking in on the citys most vulnerable residents in encampments and known hang-outs. When I was solo, without Erica, seeing the badge, people immediately thought they were in trouble, said McCauley. So having someone whos not necessarily in uniform benefits us a lot because it takes down some of those walls. A 12 News reporter rode along on a recent patrol through the city and quickly encountered a man Bennett and McCauley had last seen in the grip of an overdose. Howve you been? asked McCauley. I just got out of jail, he replied. The focus quickly shifted to helping point the man toward resources for permanent housing. You guys dont have to come to the Buckhannon Police Department, Bennett said to the man. I can meet you out. I understand. I used to not feel comfortable there too. With each encounter, Bennett shares her phone number and email address and a reminder about resources for shelter and recovery services. Later on in the patrol, Bennett and McCauley took the reporter to a known encampment where unsheltered people were living. You know, you guys can call me if you need to go somewhere, Bennett said to an appreciative woman who has been struggling with health issues. In the programs first six months, Bennett has guided a dozen people to substance abuse treatment, according to First Choice Services. More stories about the fentanyl crisis A female that I had helped get into to treatment, she walked up and thanked me for helping her, said Bennett. Told me she had a couple of months put together without substances at that point in time. That was a really proud moment for me. I think having us together, not only does it show people that were doing more for the community, said McCauley. It kind of humanizes the badge and gives them the view that Im out there to help as well. When asked if she likes the job, Bennett replied, I do. I love it. Its very rewarding. First Choice Services also has an embedded peer liaison working with the Wheeling Police Department and is in talks with other West Virginia departments about expanding the program. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The first ballots of the November general election will go out to voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties this week as South Florida enters the final stretch leading up to Election Day. The Miami-Dade Elections Department is set to send out roughly 260,000 mail ballots on Monday to voters who have already requested one. In Broward, the first domestic vote-by-mail ballots more than 230,000 of them will go out on Tuesday, according to the countys elections department. While mail ballots were sent to overseas voters earlier this month, the coming deluge of domestic mail ballots will mark the official beginning of election season in South Florida, a roughly six-week stretch of voting, campaigning and organizing that will culminate with Election Day on Nov. 5. READ MORE: When can you vote by mail in South Florida? How do you get a ballot? Here are the steps At the top of the ballot is the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, who are vying to succeed President Joe Biden in the White House. But voters will also have the chance to weigh in on a handful of other important races. Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is seeking a second term in the Senate, and faces a challenge from Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who previously represented a South Florida congressional district until losing reelection to U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez in 2020. Theres also a handful of offices on the ballot that Miami-Dade and Broward residents have never voted on before. In Miami-Dade, voters will choose their county sheriff, tax collector and supervisor of elections. Those offices previously fell under the purview of the county mayor. Broward voters will have the chance to choose their tax collector a job that previously fell under the county governments responsibility. Voters who want to vote by mail, but havent requested a ballot yet, will have until 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 to do so. For those who arent registered to vote, the deadline to do so for the November election is Oct. 7 by 11:59 p.m. Theres still the option to vote early in person. Both Miami-Dade and Broward County will open up their early voting sites on Oct. 21, and voters will have until Nov. 3 to cast their ballots at an early voting center ahead of Election Day. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A South Dakota scholarship program is taking financial stress off college students and setting them up for success after graduation. The Build Dakota Scholarship allows a student entering a high-demand career to receive a full ride to a South Dakota technical college. This year, the scholarship celebrates its 10th anniversary. Recipients at Southeast Technical College are some of the students seeing positive impacts on their future careers. They come out without any debt, and theyre paired with an industry partner. So, at the beginning of their program, they know exactly where theyre going to be employed and have a job waiting for them when they graduate, Southeast Technical College President Corey Clasemann said. Mountain lion population could be decreased in SD For many students, that guarantee is reassuring. I know that Im set up financially and that I can go home, make my parents proud and have a job that I know Im going to like, Build Dakota Scholarship recipient Christopher Terry said. Its also the reason some students at Southeast Tech are able to attend higher education. Build Dakota is the only reason why Im in college, because my parents do not work. Theyre ill so Build Dakota has helped me a lot financially, second-year surgical technology student Dewas Gajmer said. Southeast Tech welcomed 164 new scholarship students this fall, a record high. Many of those high-demand jobs were demonstrated by students in a simulation on campus Thursday morning. The simulation involved a helicopter landing and students assisting patients involved in an accident. Airean Lange is in her second year at Southeast Tech and hopes to become a traveling surgical technician after school. She said being a Build Dakota scholar is helping her reach that goal. Its important because theres not many people in this career, so its very demanding and its helping to keep that going in the future, Lange said. Other students, like Ellison Hasert whos studying surgical technology, heard about the scholarship opportunity through her sister, who also applied. I always wanted to do this program, so it allowed me to actually focus on the program. And so when I applied for the scholarship, it kind of set in stone that this is what I wanted to do, Hasert said. Dirty Jobs TV personality Mike Rowe was also on campus to celebrate the anniversary and to acknowledge the importance of technical colleges. I think its fair to say, it exceeded everybodys expectations and nobody knew exactly what it was going to be when it got started. But you can tell just the amount of great foresight that went into it, Clasemann said. And the scholarship is only looking to empower more students in the next ten years. Students interested in receiving a Build Dakota Scholarship can apply starting January 1, 2025. A list of eligibility requirements and information on how to apply 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 KELOLAND.com. Devandre Williams A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in the fatal shootings of two Flagler Palm Coast High School students two years ago in Bunnell. Devandre Williams shot and killed Keymarion Hall on May 3, 2022, according to court records. In the other case, Williams was driving the car from which two other men fired guns, killing Noah Smith, Jan. 12, 2022, according to records. Neither Hall nor Smith were the intended targets; both were innocent bystanders. They were 16-year-old students at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Williams reached a plea agreement with prosecutors which called for him to face between 40 and 60 years for the killings. Circuit Judge Terence Perkins Wednesday sentenced Williams to 55 years in prison. Because Williams was 17 at the time of the crimes, he is entitled to have his sentenced reviewed after serving 15 years for Smiths killing and 25 for Halls. Williams pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder in the two cases. Tyrese Patterson was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm in Smiths killing. Patterson also reached a plea deal to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. Patterson was to be sentenced Wednesday, like Williams, but his sentencing was delayed. He faces between 25 to 50 years in prison. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man sentenced to 55 years in killing of 2 high school students Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, allegedly arrived with a homemade bomb at Santa Barbara Superior Court ahead of his arraignment in another case Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Nathaniel James McGuire. A 20-year-old man due in court for an arraignment in a firearms case allegedly bombed the California courthouse in an effort to kill court officials. Nathaniel James McGuire is charged with malicious damage to a building by means of an explosive, per the redacted federal complaint and corresponding affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, which alleges that he bombed the courthouse with the intention to kill the deputies working at the security desk, and that he also had plans to kill a judge. In a statement, Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, called the Wednesday incident a blatant act of violence, designed to do harm and avoid justice. Department of Justice Inside Santa Barbara Superior Court following the Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 bombing in Santa Maria, Calif. Related: Man Allegedly Throws Bag with Explosives Inside Calif. Courthouse on the Day of His Arraignment: Police Around 8:48 a.m. ahead of his Wednesday, Sept. 25, arraignment later that day the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office says they received a report of an explosion at Santa Barbara Superior Court, after McGuire allegedly threw a bag, which exploded in the hallway, at a screening station. At least five people were injured in the bombing, according to federal authorities. Three people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including burns, according to the sheriffs office, which said that all five people had been treated and released from the hospital later that day. A deputy allegedly saw McGuire enter the courthouse and yell, Liberty or Death, as he threw the bomb, per the affidavit, which claims that the 20-year-old fled on foot. 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 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. McGuire was detained by law enforcement as he was trying to access a red Ford Mustang outside the Courthouse, per the affidavit. Inside the sedan, the deputy allegedly saw ammunition, a flare gun and a box of fireworks, per the affidavit, which claims that McGuire yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise up and rebel. A later search of McGuires vehicle revealed a shotgun, rifle, ammunition and 10 Molotov cocktails, per the affidavit. Authorities also recovered a suspected improvised explosive device, which they described in the affidavit as a can wrapped in duct tape and containing a black powder with nails glued to the outside. McGuire allegedly later told authorities that he had purchased nails at a Home Depot that Monday, Sept. 23, per the affidavit, and that he had a list of grievances and goodbyes on his laptop. Inside his bedroom, the FBI found, per the affidavit an empty metal can with nails glued to the outside, a duffel bag containing matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks and papers that appeared to be recipes for explosive/energetic material. McGuire was wearing body armor under his jacket when he was apprehended, according to the sheriffs office, which released a mugshot featuring the 20-year-old with several gashes near his right eye. Santa Barbara deputies previously arrested and charged McGuire with possession of a loaded and concealed revolver that was not registered to him, according to the sheriffs office, which said Wednesday that they were working with local firefighters to explore if the suspect is associated with several recent arson fires. McGuire was initially booked into the Northern branch Santa Barbara County Jail on felony charges including attempted murder, manufacturing an explosive device and use of an explosive device for attempted murder, according to the sheriffs office. He is due for his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles Friday afternoon, according to federal prosecutors. His court docket was not available online Friday morning, and it was not immediately clear if he had retained a lawyer. If convicted, McGuire faces a mandatory sentence of between seven and 40 years in federal prison, per prosecutors. This defendants alleged misconduct was chilling, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. Not only did he injure five people and traumatize many more, but he possessed a cache of weapons that would have allowed him to wreak even greater destruction had he not been stopped. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Remember last year? When PlayStation tried to sneakily take away the content that users had already paid for? Or even in 2020, when Destiny 2 removed hoards of what was once paid content. These may sound unfounded, but its becoming increasingly the norm in a world shifting away from physical media. To combat this, California is introducing a new law to protect consumers. Sony Interactive Entertainment Today, most people buy media through some sort of digital means, leaving the consumer at the mercy of the distributor. Years ago, when you purchased a DVD, you owned it. Obviously. But with digital media, its completely different. No one can stop a DVD from functioning after youve already bought it. However, PlayStation tried to do just that with digital content from Discovery purchased via the PlayStation Store. The cherry on top? They did it entirely without refunds. After an outcry, Sony rolled back this decision. PlayStation In response to situations like this, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law to make the terms of digital purchases more transparent. Digital stores that sell media like films, games, and music will have to disclose to consumers that their purchase does not equate to owning the product. Instead, it is akin to getting a license for it. Digital stores cant use terms like buy or purchase unless they inform customers they dont fully own the product. If the rule is broken, it could invoke a fine for false advertising, as already existing laws state that its unlawful for any person doing business in California and advertising to consumers in California to make any false or misleading advertising claim. The law will go into effect next year. Irwins press release states that the legislation is in direct response to PlayStations situation but also came about as Ubisoft revoked licenses for the video game The Crew, as shown below. Therefore, it takes customers access away from a previously purchased game. California is the first state to recognize the false claims proposed to customers when trying to advertise digital licenses, according to Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor at the University of Michigan. We have an update to share about The Crew 1 and its future: https://t.co/EI9NGueKJf pic.twitter.com/hEwmA8aPKy The Crew Motorfest (@TheCrewGame) December 14, 2023 As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important, said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who authored the original bill. AB 2426 will ensure the false and deceptive advertising from sellers of digital media incorrectly telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past. As we shift to digital content and away from physical media, its imperative consumers understand the terms of their purchase. Even though it does not stop stores from removing digital content, Californias law is a good starting place. Hopefully, other states will follow suit to empower customers to have agency over their monetary funds. SACRAMENTO, California Shannon Grove is a Trump-supporting, anti-abortion Republican from the beating red heart of Californias Central Valley. Shes also one of Democratic lawmakers most beloved colleagues in Sacramento. The Bakersfield state senator has gained widespread notoriety in recent years for challenging the majority partys reluctance to increase criminal penalties, often gathering support from even the most liberal Democrats to increase sentencing for human trafficking and set new protections for children. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1414, Groves bill that charges the solicitation of a minor as a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. It received near-unanimous support in the Senate, and was even championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Groves crusades have been backed, in large part, by the conservatives like her who are outraged over the states approach to crime, but have also gained a boost from the unlikely alliances shes forged with the opposing party over her nearly 15 years in the building. Shes a likable person and she does extend herself and show kindness, said former Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who previously led the Democrats in the upper chamber and is running for governor in 2026. The two share a close bond and have been known to dress up as one another for the Legislatures annual twin day down to the matching shoes. Im just as surprised some days as others that we have become such friends. Its not unheard of for Democrats and Republicans to find common ground, especially among moderates, but Groves politics dont exactly fall in the middle. Shes a close ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and was the first female veteran elected to the California Legislature when she entered the state Assembly in 2010. Since then she has been a fierce opponent of many key Democratic priorities, including efforts to reduce Californias domestic oil production. Her comments outside of the chambers have been known to raise eyebrows: In 2015, she suggested in a Facebook post that God might be responsible for Californias drought, and in 2021 blamed the Jan. 6 riots on antifa a tweet that eventually lost her the top spot in the Senates Republican Caucus. Yet Democrats and Republicans alike routinely praise Grove for her demeanor in the Capitol, describing her as a hardworking, personable lawmaker who will fight you on the dais and bring you birthday cake the next day, or invite you to her district for horseback riding. My colleagues and I may not always agree on everything, but I do have some pretty incredible friends on the other side of the aisle, Grove told POLITICO. And regardless of our differences and the debate that takes place, I really do believe that they know I really do care about them as individuals. Both Grove and Atkins were elected to the Assembly in 2010, but it wasnt until they each moved into leadership positions in the Senate that they discovered all their similarities. Atkins twin sister, like Grove, served in the military; both lawmakers grew up poor in rural parts of the country; and they both share a deep love of Dolly Parton. Do we agree on policy? Not in a million years, Grove said of Atkins. But then we still have a friendship. Thats all friendships, right? You have arguments or disagreements with your friends. It shouldnt be any different in the Legislature. The one time Grove really irritated Atkins, she said, was when the Republican organized a Zoom call with Parton without her. That is the one time I just looked at her like, youre kidding me, right? Atkins recalled. Among Groves other high-profile bills this year is a measure that would require youth centers to disclose more information about potential abuse, going after whats commonly known as the troubled teen industry. Hotel heiress and Hollywood socialite Paris Hilton traveled to the Capitol to support Groves cause in April. But perhaps more unusual were the two Democratic co-authors standing alongside her. Were all here today asking ourselves: what is an heiress, a Republican, a single mom and a former foster youth have in common? Hayward Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab told reporters at a press conference. The honest truth is we want to protect children. Groves intentions have not always been well-received, especially in the Assembly. Last year her human trafficking bill, SB 14, was rejected by the progressive Democrats on the Public Safety Committee, resulting in a maelstrom of backlash online, including some from tech billionaire Elon Musk. Eventually, Gov. Newsom stepped in andcompelled the Assembly to reconsider Groves bill, which then led to its passage and his signature. Then-Public Safety Chair, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, at the time lamented the vicious rhetoric from supporters of the bill, which included a cadre of far-right internet trolls who accused opponents of being pedophiles. There are members on this committee, women, whose lives were threatened because of this, he told reporters last summer. We can have an honest debate, but, my God. Grove passed up an opportunity last year to run for Congress, declining to run for McCarthys empty seat in a race where she would have easily been the frontrunner. She said she plans to continue fighting for kids next year, and terms out of office in 2026. Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones praised Groves tenacity and her adherence to her beliefs. One of the things I think defines Sen. Grove is that shes very vocal about the policies that are important to her, he said. Everybody knows where she stands on things and yet shes flexible enough to build these relationships with members on the other side of the aisle. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Playbook newsletter. Today is California Native American Day, a moment to recall Californias dark and painful history of genocide against Indian peoples. But it is also a moment of hope, as the state is taking notable steps towards equality. This year is the fifth anniversary of Governor Gavin Newsoms formal apology to Native Americans for a war of calculated genocide beginning with the call by our first governor, Peter Burnett, for a war of extermination until the Indian race becomes extinct. My own tribe, the Cahuilla-Serrano, only avoided annihilation at the hands of the militias by escaping into the San Bernardino Mountains during the 19th Century. What state and federal government militias didnt accomplish with their goals of westward expansion and visions of Manifest Destiny miners and settlers achieved by bringing disease and starvation. They took their toll. Historian and author Benjamin Madley observes that between 1845 and 1870, Californias Native American population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. By 1880 census takers recorded just 16,277 California Indians. Opinion But we survived. Over time, clashes to prevail between the First People and those who sought to replace us shifted to different battlefields employing different means of extermination: denial of civil rights, the erasure of culture and forced separations of children from their families. Still, we prevailed, which brings us to another 100-year anniversary. It was not until June 2, 1924 that the U.S. granted Native Americans citizenship, making the nations First People become the last people to gain citizenship and suffrage. In California and in most states, the right to vote followed the granting of citizenship. A few states continued to deny suffrage, with Utah contesting Native American suffrage until as late as 1962. Coincidentally, another turning point also occurred on June 2, 1924, this time in the fight for equal education. Alice Piper, a 15-year-old Paiute student, successfully sued the Big Pine School District in Inyo County, California so she could attend a new public school with white students. Her court victory set a precedent that was cited 30 years later in the Brown v. Board of Education decision that declared public school segregation unconstitutional across America. Both centennial milestones falling on the same day affirm rights that so many others in this state and country took for granted. Yet they had been denied to us and those jarring experiences with bigotry and discrimination were not far removed from our parents and grandparents. This year saw some other milestones. In July, Native Americans were rocked by traumatic and somber recollections of another attempt to eradicate our identity. The U.S. Department of the Interior released the second and final volume of its report exposing practices at the federal governments Indian boarding schools. Carefully documented reports of the 417 schools across 37 states or territories confirm that at least 973 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children died at what can only be described as horror factories. Researchers believe the number is likely low because of missing information from the schools. My grandmother was among those sent to one of the 11 boarding schools operating in California. She survived the harsh conditions and maltreatment. For me, she was a living example of strength and resiliency. On August 5, the California Native American Legislative Caucus initiated formal recognition of tribal community heroes. The inaugural class of five honorees performed exemplary work in seeking equity and justice on issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous people, preserving Native American culture, or other forms of leadership and sacrifice. Alice Piper was named as a posthumous honoree. They are among the unsung heroes for our people and for all Californians. So this year Native Americans commemorate the 100th anniversary of our right to vote and the right to attend public schools. We also recognize community heroes who fought for justice. We cannot let the inequities of the past haunt us or stop us. For example, California is fifth in the nation in the number of cases of missing and murdered Native Americans awaiting investigation or resolution. That past reminds and challenges us to keep moving forward. The progress must continue long after this day of recognition is over. Assemblymember James C. Ramos is the first and only California Native American elected to the state Legislature. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed several bills to address the states history of racial discrimination, including a formal apology for its role in the perpetuation of slavery. The State of California accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating, and permitting the institution of slavery, as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities. Building on decades of work, California is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past and making amends for the harms caused, Newsom said in a statement. The states Legislative Black Caucus joined Newsom as he signed Thursdays bills. Along with a formal apology for slavery and strengthening protections against discrimination, some of the key bills noted in the press release increase access to literature in prisons, address employment discrimination, college and career financial aid, mental health disparities, and food and medical deserts. This comes a day after Newsom vetoed a bill that would have helped Black families reclaim or be compensated for property unjustly taken in racially motivated uses of eminent domain. Newsom said in his veto message that while he thanked the bills author for his commitment to redressing past racial injustices, it tasked a nonexistent state agency to carry out its various provisions and requirements, making it impossible to implement. California joins other states including Florida, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, New Jersey and Iowa that have acknowledged the ongoing impacts and history of racial discrimination, the release said. Newsom also thanked the states Legislative Black Caucus Chair Lori Wilson (D) for her efforts along with the rest of the caucus. As we confront the lasting legacy of slavery, Im profoundly grateful for the efforts put forward by Chair Wilson and the members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, he said in the statement. Wilson said that the reparations are a multi-year effort. These bills lay a meaningful foundation to address the historic injustices faced by Black Californians, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to my fellow Caucus members and the advocacy leaders who have championed this effort. This is a multi-year effort, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with the Governor on this important work in the years to come as we push toward lasting justice and equity, 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. Canada booking seats on commercial flights to help citizens flee Lebanon Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Joly speaks to journalists before Question Period in Ottawa (Reuters) - The Canadian government is booking seats on commercial flights to help its citizens leave Lebanon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said on Friday, after Israeli airstrikes rocked the capital Beirut. "Canada has secured seats for Canadians on the limited commercial flights available," Joly said in a statement on social media. "If a seat is available, please take it." This week, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 700 people in Lebanon, an escalation that has raised fears of an even more destructive conflict. Joly urged Canadians to register with the embassy in Beirut if they needed help leaving and said loans were available to those requiring financial assistance. (Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Richard Chang) BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) Camille Stevens-Rumann crouched in the dirt and leaned over evergreen seedlings, measuring how much each had grown in seven months. "That's two to three inches of growth on the spruce, said Stevens-Rumann, interim director at the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute. Her research team is monitoring several species planted two years ago on a slope burned during the devastating 2020 Cameron Peak fire, which charred 326 square miles (844 square kilometers) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They want to determine which species are likely to survive at various elevations, because climate change makes it difficult or impossible for many forests to regrow even decades after wildfires. As the gap between burned areas and replanting widens year after year, scientists see big challenges beyond where to put seedlings. The U.S. currently lacks the ability to collect enough seeds from living trees and the nursery capacity to grow seedlings for replanting on a scale anywhere close to stemming accelerating losses, researchers say. It also doesnt have enough trained workers to plant and monitor trees. The Forest Service said the biggest roadblock to replanting on public land is completing environmental and cultural assessments and preparing severely burned areas so they're safe to plant. That can take years while more forests are lost to fire. If we have the seedlings but we dont have the sites prepped ... we cant put the seedlings out there, said Stephanie Miller, assistant director of a reforestation program. Scientists, private industry and environmental agencies are acutely aware of the challenges as they consider how to restore forested landscapes in an increasingly arid region. We need to start being creative if we want trees on our landscapes, Stevens-Rumann said. Were in a place of such drastic climate change that we are not talking about whether or not some of these places will be a different kind of forest, but whether or not they will be forests at all. Reforestation gap Four years after the Cameron Peak fire the largest in recorded Colorado history a smattering of wild raspberry bushes and seedlings has taken root. But the mountainside mostly is dotted with charred trees. In burn scars across the West and Southwest, areas of forests may never grow back on their own. Larger and more intense fires destroy trees that normally provide seeds for regeneration or leave burn scars so large trees can't naturally bridge the gap. The climate also has changed so markedly that many forests cant regrow in the same places. Even when seedlings take hold, drought and new fires often kill them. Story continues Nineteen of the 20 largest wildfires ever recorded in the contiguous U.S. have occurred in Western states since 2000, according to Sean Parks, a Forest Service research ecologist. That's when the region slipped into an ongoing megadrought. The U.S. once was able to reliably replant burned forests. But now the gap between areas in the West that need replanting after fire and the ability to do so has grown to at least 3.8 million acres (1.5 million hectares) and that could triple by 2050, said Solomon Z. Dobrowski, a University of Montana forest management expert and a study lead author. Forests are burning more often and especially intense and hot, which can destroy seeds that normally survive fire, harden the ground like concrete and leave barren slopes susceptible to washing away in rainstorms, polluting waterways. In 22 years since the Hayman fire on Colorados front range burned 182 square miles (471 square kilometers) of forest, there has been almost no tree regeneration in the most severely burned areas, researchers and the Forest Service said. In California's Sierra Nevada, where up to 20% of the world's mature giant sequoias and their seeds have been killed by fire in recent years, there are massive openings without seedlings. A U.S. Geological Survey study concluded some groves will never recover without replanting. But researchers say the odds of forests growing back will worsen regardless of fire intensity because of more heat and drought. That means burned forest could convert to shrubland and grassland, leading to loss of snowpack that provides drinking water and helps irrigate crops. Over 70% of our water in the western U.S. comes from our forested ecosystems and our mountains, Stevens-Rumann said. And for that water to come the way we want it ... at the right time throughout the year, we need to have forests, not just grasslands. Targeted tree planting When forest ecologist Matthew Hurteau joined the University of New Mexico nine years ago, he took in the aftermath of the 2011 Las Conchas fire that decimated a huge swath of Ponderosa pine forest. Though the area had been replanted several times, most seedlings died, Hurteau said. While the average survival in the Southwest is about 25%, he said only about 13% of trees planted most recently in the Los Conchas burn scar have survived. So he planted seedlings of different species at various elevations and on slopes facing different directions, then monitored the soil moisture, temperature and humidity. A resulting computer model can predict the probability a seedling will survive in a particular spot with about 63% accuracy. It will be used to inform planting this fall. Let's not do the old plant-and-pray method, said Hurteau. Let's plant where we know that their chance of survival is quite high, and in places where the chance ... is quite low, lets just forego planting there. Researchers say seedling survival is worst at lower elevations, where its hotter, drier and more open so replanting the same trees in the same areas is likely to fail. They're experimenting with planting near surviving trees that might provide shade for seedlings and aid water uptake and with planting in clusters that leave gaps in the landscape. Some are even asking whether different species should replace trees wiped out by fire. Environmental groups working on private land burned by the Cameron Peak fire are replanting Ponderosa pines 500 feet (152 meters) higher because of climate change and near fallen trees that can provide shade, said Megan Maiolo-Heath, spokeswoman for the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. So far, 84% of trees planted last year remain alive, though long-term survival is uncertain. Any work in the environmental world at this point can feel daunting and overwhelming, Maiolo-Heath said. So I think just taking small bites ... and trying not to get too overwhelmed is the way to go about it. Forest Service rules generally require planting the same species at the same elevations as before a fire, but it's increasingly clear the agency will need to be flexible moving forward, said Jason Sieg, acting supervisor of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland. Relying on research data, Sieg said, We'll be able to plan a strategy around how we set this landscape up for the greatest chance of success ... long term. For now, that might mean replanting at different elevations or collecting seeds from another location. Eventually, researchers say it could require the controversial option of planting trees not found in an area originally. Additional research and caution are necessary, researchers and the Forest Service said. But more people are warming up to the idea. I've seen people go from saying, Absolutely, we cannot move trees around to, Well, lets maybe lets try it at least, and do a few experiments to see if this will work, said Stevens-Rumann, the Colorado scientist. Restoration challenges Four years ago, researchers and New Mexico's state forester wrote a reforestation plan for the state, where 4,500 square miles (11,655 square kilometers) of forest were charred between 2011 and 2021, leaving up to 2.6 million acres (1.5 million hectares) in need of replanting. That was before the 2022 Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire the most destructive in state history burned another 534 square miles (1,383 square kilometers). They soon discovered a big problem. We realized that we were never going to have enough seedlings to meet the objectives, said Hurteau, the University of New Mexico researcher. The number of Forest Service nurseries once financed by deposits on timber sales dropped from 14 to six in the 1990s as timber harvests declined and habitat protections were enacted, according to a Forest Service report on the nurseries' history. Most Western seedling production is private and occurs in Oregon, California and Washington, Dobrowski said. In places like New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, we dont really have a base of facilities to support widespread reforestation, the researcher said. Were (asking) Whats going to fill the gap? In New Mexico, several universities and the state's forestry division started the New Mexico Reforestation Center with a goal of building a nursery that can produce 5 million seedlings per year for government, tribal and private lands. The first seedlings will be planted this year. But experts say much more nursery capacity, seed collection and trained workers are needed to make even modest progress in closing the reforestation gap. And they say public and private sector cooperation will be essential. Theres all these bottlenecks," Hurteau said. "Weve just underinvested in reforestation for decades in the U.S. Theres a lot of investment in human capital thats going to have to happen." Seed collection, for example, requires the right weather and is expensive and labor-intensive. It takes a few years for a typical Western conifer to develop cones. Then contractors must harvest them, typically by climbing trees. Growing, planting and monitoring seedlings amid more frequent droughts adds to the uncertainty, time and money. The Forest Service said its biggest challenge is simply that the number of intense wildfires is outpacing the ability to prepare sites for replanting. But the agency is also modernizing nurseries and seeking ways to either expand internal capacity or work with private industry, states and groups like the New Mexico Reforestation Center. This is an all-hands-on effort, said Miller, from the reforestation program. Researchers say the challenges complicate a Biden administration goal to plant a billion trees over 10 years in national forests, where it identified a nearly 4 million-acre (1.6 million-hectare) backlog. But money provided for reforestation in the 2021 infrastructure bill enabled the agency to clear 15% of the backlog, Miller said. If we can get more site preparation done, that would be excellent so that we can move forward a little bit faster. Experts say there clearly will be areas where trees never return but it's critical that the U.S. does as much possible in a thoughtful way. Trees live for hundreds of years so we need to be thinking about whats right as we plant trees today," Hurteau said. Are we putting the right species and densities on the landscape given what the next 100, 200 and 300 years will look like? ___ AP data reporter Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed to this story from Hartford, Connecticut. Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan, and Fassett from San Francisco. ___ 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. Canada and France to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia in cyberspace France and Canada have adopted a declaration in which they pledged to work together to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression in cyberspace. Source: a statement on the website of the Canadian government, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Canada-France Declaration on a Stronger Defence and Security Partnership was agreed upon during a meeting in Ottawa on 26 September between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. The declaration states that the leaders are calling for joint efforts to promote a stronger defence and security partnership. In particular, they stressed that the armed forces of both countries "will continue to deepen their strategic cooperation in the field of cyber defence in support of Ukraine". "We are determined to work with Ukraine and our partners to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, independence and its territorial integrity against Russian aggression, both in the traditional domains and in cyberspace, including by helping strengthen Ukraine's civilian cyber capacity through the Tallinn Mechanism," the document says. Ottawa and Paris are also "committed" to play their part to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, to help "manage international crises and conflicts, including in the cyber domain; and to ensure the collective security and defence of NATO members". "We will therefore expand our defence and security cooperation to support Ukraine, contribute to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, reinforce our collaboration on crisis management and modernisation of our armed forces, and fight against foreign interference and information manipulation," the document says. Background: In December 2023, Estonia and nine other countries launched the Tallinn Mechanism to strengthen cyber support for Ukraine in the civilian sphere. In early September 2024, Germany's BfV intelligence service issued a warning that a group of cybercriminals belonging to Russian military intelligence Unit 29155 was behind a series of online attacks against NATO and EU countries. The Estonian Security Police found that a military unit under the command of the Main Directorate of Russia's General Staff had been conducting cyberattacks against Ukraine, as well as NATO and EU countries, including Estonia, since 2020. Support UP or become our patron! If you want to watch an opportunity slipping awaylook south. On October 1, Claudia Sheinbaum will succeed Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as president of Mexicoone illiberal left-wing populist taking over the reins of power from another illiberal left-wing populist. Sheinbaum is an avowed enemy of the reforms and liberalization begun at the turn of the century by former President Ernesto Zedillo, who recently warned that Mexico is sliding into tyranny. For most of the 20th century, Mexico was a single-party authoritarian state, without real elections or real political competition. Until a few decades ago, the president, every member of the Senate, and every state governor belonged to the same partythe Institutional Revolutionary Partywhich also controlled the economy and managed elections. Mario Vargas Llosa famously described Mexico in those years as la dictadura perfectathe perfect dictatorship. Sheinbaum wants to recapture some of that dictatorial perfection, reasserting state control over the economy, putting the judiciary under political control, expanding the domestic role of the military, etc. Asked by the Financial Times about such niceties as constitutional checks and balances, Sheinbaum played the good populist: The people should decide, she declared. Ah, yes, the people: those inconvenient hunks of meat in whose name every rapacious and self-aggrandizing autocrat who has ever walked this good green Earth purports to rule. I like Mexico and have spent a fair bit of time there. One of the most useful services the country provides is reminding Americans to be grateful for Canada. And I am not joking about that: Canada is a prosperous, decently governed, largely quiet country, famously polite and deferential, a fact that sometimes obscures how tough the Canadians are and what important allies they have been. As a share of its population, Canadas casualties in World War I were nearly 10 times those of the United States. But Canada is a great neighbor to have in peacetime, too, with a GDP per capita nearly 30 percent higher than the average in the European Union as the International Monetary Fund runs the numbers, a richer country than Germany or the United Kingdom, and a significantly richer country than France or Japan. And that isnt merely a statistical quirk associated with having a relatively small population: Canadas GDP/capita is higher than that of the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, or Israel. Canadanot Chinais the largest trading partner for the United States. Do you know what would make the United States radically better off: Another Canada, one to the south, where theres sunshine and beaches and relative proximity to vital U.S. interests in Central and South America. But Mexico is not going to be that prosperous, happy, decent country. Not without a lot of U.S. help and, to put it bluntly, U.S. interferencewhich Sheinbaum et al. do not want. Mexico has done well economically in the past four decades or so. Mexicos real GDP/capita today is nearly four times what it was in 1980. Trade has been good for Mexico. U.S. investmentand other foreign investmenthas been good for Mexico. But the lesson from Mexico is the same as the lesson from China: Prosperity is not enough. Economic liberalization is a necessary condition for thriving, but it is not sufficient. Unlike China, Mexico has undergone meaningful internal political reforms that have paid real dividends, but it has not been enough. The American political conversation treats Mexico almost exclusively as an economic competitor that inconveniently thrives in areas that put it into competition with politically sensitive U.S. interests (such as automobile manufacturing) and as a source of immigrants who are, if I may be forgiven for putting it plainly, mostly unwantedthe consensus there is much more bipartisan than many of our progressive friends seem to think. But there is more to Mexico than the Nissan Sentra (headquarters in Yokohama, factory in Aguascalientes) and the border. And chaotic and problematic as the border isand that is a longstanding failure for a string of American presidents, most definitely including Donald Trumpthat chaos doesnt begin at the Rio Grande. We dont have a lot of Canadian economic refugees looking for work in Home Depot parking lots, and a Mexico that was more prosperous, more stable, more decent, more liberal, more integrated into North America, etc., would offer less difficulty at the border. In that respect, we must also consider that Mexico is an entrepot for economic emigrants from other countries seeking to enter the United States. It would be nice if Mexico were more help with that problem, but Mexico currently lacks both the incentives and the capacity to be the kind of partner we need on that front. I am tempted to write that what the United States needs is a kind of Marshall Plan for Mexico. But that isnt quite right: What the United States needs is a Marshall Plan for Mexico 30 years ago. Better late than never is a cliche, not a self-evident truth applicable in all situations. We have a good idea what a Donald Trump administration would do in response to the mischief that Claudia Sheinbaum and her allies are going to make, which is the same thing Trump did vis-a-vis Mexico last time around: bluster and then basically nothing. What might a Kamala Harris administration do? Harris will be at the border todayif she has some big ideas, this is the time to make them plain. 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. Some canceled, delayed flights at Savannah-Hilton Head after Helenes wake in Southeast On Friday morning, several outbound flights from Savannah-Hilton Head International had been canceled as a result of the cancellation of other inbound flights from Thursday afternoon and evening. Lori Lynah, the airports spokesperson, said it is likely that other than a few scattered cancellations and delays throughout Friday, flight schedules should be back to normal by the afternoon. Thursday evening flight Savannah-Hilton Head International airport had several flight cancellations and delays Thursday evening as Hurricane Helene rapidly moved, intensifying into a Category 4 storm and expected to make landfall in Floridas Panhandle. Arriving flights from Miami, Newark, New Jersey; New York City and Chicago have been canceled, and seven other arriving flights have been delayed. As of Thursday evening, only one departing flight had been delayed. Lori Lynah, the airports director of marketing and air service development, said Thursday evening that she does not expect widespread flight cancellations into Friday. At 6:20 p.m. Thursday, 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. A tornado watch was issued for Beaufort County at about 8:35 a.m Thursday morning and was set to expire by 1:15 a.m. Friday. The county is also under a tropical storm watch until 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The Lowcountry is likely to face strong winds, heavy rain, possible tornadoes and rough seas. Three candidates are running for the Modesto City Schools Board of Education seat for Trustee Area 6. This west Modesto area includes Modesto High School, Mark Twain Middle School and Franklin Elementary. The school board candidates are incumbent Homero Mejia and challengers Rueth Velez-Langrock and Sebastian Jones. The Modesto Bee asked all candidates to fill out a questionnaire, but only Mejia responded. Homero Mejia Mejia was born in Aguililla in Michoacan, Mexico. He is married to Marta Mejia and is a father of two. He attended Modesto City Schools when he moved to the area and he graduated from Modesto High School in 1998. Mejia has been endorsed by the Modesto Teachers Association and North Valley Labor Federation. No members of his immediate family work for the school district. Q: What will be your most important priority if elected? A: Most important priority is making sure our students continue to grow in all students in core subject areas reading, writing, math, and science. I came into office during the pandemic. Our students, like all students across our state, fell behind academically during this time. We provide as many resources as possible with federal and state funding after the pandemic. We have begun to see a rise in scores across our district and we must continue on an upward trajectory. If elected, we must also provide many opportunities for teachers to continue their professional development to have updated tools to support the success of our students. School safety is a priority if I am elected to continue that work that we have done up to this point by having all school gates and single-point entry into our campuses. Providing all the training necessary for staff to be as prepared as possible to keep students safe. Q: With the district preparing for its fourth bond measure in the last six years, do you believe facilities at Modesto City Schools are a big issue? Why or why not? A: Facilities are a major issue in our district because our district has been here for 150 years. Many decades have passed since our facilities have been updated. Q: Many parents of Black and LGBTQ students have said that bullying has been a major issue in their childs lives and education. What are steps or plans you have to make sure schools are fostering an open and welcoming environment? A: Some my plans is to continue providing staff with the skills to: 1. Discuss the diversity of the student body and school community, including their varying immigration experiences 2. Discuss bullying prevention strategies with students, and teach students to recognize the behavior and characteristics of bullying perpetrators and victims 3. Identify the signs of bullying or harassing behavior 4. Take immediate corrective action when bullying is observed 5. Report incidents to the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement in instances of criminal behavior. Encouraging students to notify school staff when they are being bullied or when they suspect that another student is being bullied, and providing means by which students may report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously Conducting an assessment of bullying incidents at each school and, if necessary, increasing supervision and security in areas where bullying most often occurs, such as playgrounds, hallways, restrooms, and cafeterias Annually notifying district employees that, pursuant to Education Code 234.1, any school staff who witnesses an act of bullying against a student has a responsibility to immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so. Q: Modesto City Schools has had a long history with Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State. What are some plans you have to strengthen these relationships to help promote more students continuing to higher education? A: We have strengthened the relationship with Modesto Junior College and we are offering dual enrollment to hundreds of students. We will continue to work with MJC and other colleges to offer dual enrollment to thousands of students in our district. I truly believe that dual enrollment will help promote higher education in coming years for both MJC and Stanislaus State. Rueth Velez-Langrock Velez-Langrock did not respond to the candidate profile form The Modesto Bee sent out. She was born in Michigan and eventually moved to Hughson. She married her husband, Darrel, and she is a mother of two. She works as a facilitator for teen moms at Modesto High School, Downey High School and Elliott Alternative Education Center. She also worked as a counselor for high-risk youth in Patterson Unified School District and as a substitute teacher in Modesto City Schools. On her candidate website, she said she is concerned with inappropriate materials in schools, involving more parent participation and enforcing strict anti-bullying policies. Sebastian Jones Jones did not respond to the candidate profile form The Modesto Bee sent out. The Bee previously conducted a background check on Jones when he ran in the 2024 primary election to replace Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen. Prominent things found in the background check included an arrest for battery in 2008 and California Franchise Tax Board filed a lien against Jones for the 2006 tax year and again in the 2019 tax year. JOPLIN, Mo. A downtown Joplin business suffers structural damage after a car crashes into it. This was the scene around 1st and Main just before noon Thursday. Joplin building partially collapses after car crash Joplin police say the driver of the car was trying to park in front of 106 S Main, but hit the wrong pedal, causing the vehicle to crash into the building. Officers say no one was hurt in the incident. The Joplin city building inspector did come to the scene and determined there was structural damage. The owner of the business is temporarily securing it until a contractor can come in and make permanent repairs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Darren Eales will continue in the CEO role at St James Park for up to 12 months - Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales has stepped down from position after he was diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer. Eales, who arrived from MLS club Atlanta in August 2022, has made the decision after he was told by doctors of the extent of his illness. The 52-year-old will continue in the job until a successor has been identified and appointed but has revealed he needs to walk away in order to prioritise his health and family. It is understood that Eales does not need to start treatment until next year and could continue in his role for up to 12 months if a suitable replacement cannot be found. #NUFC CEO Darren Eales is to step down from his position after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer. He will continue to lead the club's executive team until a successor is appointed. Our thoughts are with you, @DEalesNUFC. Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 27, 2024 Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the clubs exciting journey, Eales said in a statement on the clubs official website. However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision so that I can prioritise my health and my family. In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the clubs day-to-day operations, and I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully assess and appoint my successor. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the clubs supporters, ownership, players and staff. Im proud of what we have collectively achieved and Im excited to see whats ahead for everyone as the club builds towards a future of sustained success. Eales arrived at St James Park 10 months after the takeover by Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and played a key role in the appointment of Paul Mitchell as Sporting Director earlier this year. He was also crucial in the clubs scramble to avoid breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules in June and has been a popular figure behind the scenes. Newcastle United chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, said: All of us who are connected with Newcastle United are very saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with Darren and his family and we send him every good wish for a full recovery. On a personal level, Darren has been a great partner to me and to our fans, players, ownership and staff. On behalf of the club and its owners, I want to thank Darren for his service and dedication to Newcastle United. He has made a significant contribution to the clubs progress during his time as CEO, helping to build a strong foundation for Newcastle Uniteds success. We fully understand the difficult decision he has made. We will work closely with Darren to hand over the CEO role at the appropriate moment following a carefully considered search process, and he will continue to have the full support of the board and the Newcastle United family now and in the future. Catching up with Manchester City will take a long time, says Eddie Howe Newcastle United have unbelievable owners who want to do some amazing things but manager Eddie Howe has once again warned it will take Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund a long time to close the gap on Manchester City. Next month, it will be three years since the protracted and controversial takeover was ratified by the Premier League and progress has been slower than many people imagined when Newcastle were bought by the largest sovereign wealth fund on the planet. Changes to the rules regarding related party sponsorship deals has prevented companies, linked to their Saudi Arabian owners, pumping money into the club to rapidly improve the squad. That has made it far harder for Newcastle to repeat the sort of rapid growth enjoyed by Chelsea under Roman Abramovich and City under Abu Dhabis ruling family, with Newcastle struggling to comply with the Premier Leagues Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) earlier this year. It led to the unwanted sales of winger Yankuba Minteh to Brighton and homegrown midfielder Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and meant Newcastle did not sign a single player to improve their first team in the summer. Eddie Howe said Newcastles owners have big ambitions but added its not easy at the level were competing against - Serena Taylor/Getty Images Having spent around 415 million on new players since January 2022 initially to avoid relegation before qualifying for the Champions League at the end of Howes first season as manager the lack of player sales meant Newcastle had to scramble to offload players they would rather have kept. The board continues to procrastinate over a plan to rebuild and expand St James Park and there has also been no progress on a new training ground. These projects all fall outside of PSR limits and it is unclear why things have been delayed. This weekends clash with champions City is a timely reminder that, for all the stated ambition of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to be the number one club in the country, the gulf between the two clubs remains massive, on and off the pitch and Howe insists people need to be patient. Theres still a big ambition I can only talk about Newcastle and what were doing, he said. And I think that weve got unbelievable owners that want to do some amazing things here. But these things do take time and I think there needs to be patience from everybody connected with the club in terms of how quickly we can move things forward. I know people will always want things sort of in the here and now, but the likes of the new training ground, new stadium plans, redevelopment of St James Park, whatever it is, takes time. And of course then looking at the team with PSR restrictions, that will take time as well. So, I think as long as from my viewpoint that were still trying to move things forward, develop the team in the correct way. Theres still a big ambition, then people can see progress and I think thats a really positive thing. But its not easy at the level were competing against. Newcastle are sixth in the table after just one defeat in their five games this season, but they have not been playing well. And Howe has warned his big name players, like Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon that they need to deliver more. Everyone has to earn their place The issue for me is, explained Howe, given a blank sheet of paper and you say go on, write down what your best team is, I dont think that would be difficult for me. The problem is, you have to justify your selection, so those players have to be in their best moment and best form. What you cant do is pick that team if it doesnt deserve to play. Im a big believer in rewarding people that are playing well. Im a big believer in theres no set team, everyone has to earn their place. If youre not earning your place, you cant play. So were in that moment, early season, where players havent been in their best form. Its difficult to pick players if theyre not playing continually well. Im at that stage now where Im going to have to make some difficult decisions, I think. He added: Your collective performance is always defined by the individuals within it, so if your individual players arent performing, youre going to suffer, especially if theyre in the important areas of the pitch that make the difference. We need some people to step up within the team, and that will have a galvanising effect on the group and thats what we need. Ive got no doubt with the players that are in my mind that they can deliver that. Theres no reason why they cant. 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. Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico moving towards Florida, Thursday, Sept. 26 2024 (AP) Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in Floridas Big Bend region on Thursday night, bringing with it deadly winds of 140mph and a catastrophic storm surge. Helene made landfall at 11.10pm ET at Perry, Florida, just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, the National Hurricane Center said in an update. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation, the National Hurricane Center stated an hour before the storm roared ashore. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. The center says that storm surge in areas near Helenes landfall could be as high as 20ft and be unsurvivable in some areas. More than 800,000 customers in Florida and Georgia were without power as Helene prepared to make landfall, according to PowerOutage.US. Some counties in the Big Bend area halted emergency service operations as the storm bore down. Helene will remain a hurricane as it moves into southern Georgia overnight before weakening and ending up in Tennessee on Friday afternoon as a tropical storm. A state of emergency was declared in 61 of Floridas 67 counties with several placed under evacuation orders. Earlier, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that one person had been killed when a sign fell and hit a vehicle on Interstate 4 in the Tampa area. So that just shows you that its very dangerous conditions out there, the governor said in a news conference in Tallahassee. You need to be, right now, just hunkering down. Now is not the time to be going out. DeSantis predicted that Floridians would wake up on Friday and find it very likely theres been additional loss of life. He added: Youre going to have people who are going to lose their homes because of this storm, DeSantis said. CBS News on Friday announced rules for the vice presidential debate it's hosting Tuesday night between Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance. Notably, the network said that the candidates' microphones will not be muted, but clarified in a press release that it "reserves the right to turn off candidate microphones." This is a shift from the CNN presidential debate in June and the ABC News presidential debate held earlier this month, where microphones were muted unless it was the candidate's turn to speak. PHOTO: Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (Paul Sancya/AP) CBS News also said that Vance won a virtual coin toss for the right to choose the order in which each candidate gives their closing statement, and he decided to speak after Walz. (There will be no opening statements.) Walz will be standing on stage left (the right side of the screen for viewers), and Vance on stage right. Walz will also introduced first, because he is in the incumbent president's party. MORE: Vance preparing for VP debate with Tom Emmer playing Walz MORE: Walz debate prep underway with Pete Buttigieg as Vance stand-in Candidates cannot have notes or props with them. The debate, set to be held in New York City and moderated by CBS journalists Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan, is scheduled to be 90 minutes long and will be held without a studio audience, similar to the debates hosted by CNN and ABC News. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question, and then their opponent has two minutes to respond. Candidates then have one minute each for additional rebuttals, and CBS News said that the moderators can choose to give the candidates another minute to finish a topic. The debate likely be the only time the vice presidential candidates face off onstage and comes just over a month before the presidential election. PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a campaign stop at Laborfest, Sept. 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Morry Gash/AP) MORE: 'Florida is in play': Democrats put money into states where they were struggling Both candidates have been preparing for the pivotal event. Vance's debate preparations have included sessions at his Cincinnati home and online sessions with his team and with Jason Miller, a senior adviser on former President Donald Trump's campaign, a source told ABC News. And the Ohio senator is turning to Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer to help him in debate rehearsals by playing Walz, sources familiar with the plans told ABC News. PHOTO: Republican Vice Presidential nominee Senator JD Vance speaks in Phoenix, Arizona, Sept. 5, 2024. | Vice President candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sept. 12, 2024. (Go Nakamura/Reuters | Brett Farmer/Shutterstock ) Walz, meanwhile, has held mock debates, sources told ABC News, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in his personal capacity, acting as a Vance stand-in, and held policy sessions with his own longtime aides, Biden White House alumni and members of the Harris-Walz campaign team. ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Isabella Murray contributed to this report. CBS News says mics won't be muted for VP debate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In the late 1990s and early 2000s, "Nigerian Prince" emails became infamous typically involving someone claiming to be royalty and asking for money that they promised would be paid back with a hefty commission added once the purported royal offspring came into his inheritance. Most people know by now that these outlandish claims are a scam. But as internet connectivity became cheaper and more accessible on the African continent, those scams have morphed into something far more sophisticated, and much harder to recognize. I have traveled with a CBS News team to Ghana fairly often, and every time we've visited, we'd hear about so-called romance scams. For more than a year, CBS News has been investigating the devastating toll that overseas-based scams are taking on Americans of all ages and background. The amount of money flowing from American victims to fraud syndicates has topped $10 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And that number, experts say, is almost certainly an undercount. Over that period, CBS News has tried to understand what and who is driving the criminal activity, but scammers have been unwilling to talk. Why would any fraudster willingly share the tricks of their trade, after all? And make no mistake while many young Ghanaians are lured into potentially lucrative lives of cyber fraud, they quickly become tools of transnational criminal syndicates that work in what's become a billion-dollar industry. But earlier this year, the CBS News team began to peel back the veil of secrecy on one of the criminal enterprises targeting unsuspecting Americans in the perceived safety of their own homes. Ghana's underground "boiler rooms" A CBS News photographer went undercover to film inside a so-called "boiler room" in a dusty part of Ghana's capital Accra, where young men work for a syndicate boss who provides them with laptops, phones, internet and stable electricity. They work late into the night, trawling online dating sites for lonely, older victims they cynically refer to as "clients." Eventually we convinced a junior member of one of the operations to talk to us on the condition we hid his identity. He claimed he didn't do it much anymore, although the evidence we saw suggested it was pretty much his full-time job. In order to persuade him to speak to us, we agreed to conceal his identity, referring to him only as Abdullah. He has a wife and kids who know nothing about his double life. His boss gets 60% of the cut and Abdullah takes home the remaining 40%. He told us he mainly targets American men, as they're easier to trick. Women, he said, take a lot longer to fall in love. He poses as a beautiful woman living in the U.S. His victims on the other end of the dating apps, on the other side of the world, have no idea they're actually talking to a young man in Ghana. "I pretended to be a girl," Abdullah said. He builds trust by sending "flowers and chocolate" after convincing his victims to provide an address. "If you chat like you are in Ghana, they know that Ghana and Nigeria (have) plenty of scams," Abdullah said, explaining that his work requires a fair amount of time spent researching his purported home state: "You have to study, you have to know a lot about it. If you're, like, in California, we have to set our time and everything California time." Abdullah and those like him in the boiler rooms are fairly low down in the criminal hierarchy. Most syndicates have "closers" who step in once a victim is on the hook. The closers The closers are often well-educated young men who speak English well. At first they were skittish and reluctant to talk. But we got the sense they were proud of their work, and wanted to show it off. The two men who finally agreed to speak to CBS News a syndicate boss who called himself Voodu and senior operator who went by Cola (not their real names) said they only agreed to talk because their "motives are misunderstood." And once they started talking, they couldn't stop. (Although they were accompanied by an "enforcer" who glared at us throughout the interview and threatened that his, "boys will hunt you down," if we revealed their identities.) Voodu said he has been in the game for nearly 15 years, and he claims to employ around 50 people. "I'm the mastermind behind the whole thing," boasted the smooth-talking operator, oozing confidence. He even tried to charm us, styling himself as some kind of Robin Hood. "Where I come from, it's very hard. It's very difficult for people to get money," he told us. "So I came up with this whole idea just to support my neighbors, those who do not have it, the poor, the needy, the orphanage just help everybody out." We have no idea if Voodu has actually tried to help his community, but he's certainly living the good life. He claimed he would leave the world of crime once he's made enough money to start his own business. He acknowledged that his work in the meantime does harm many other people, and said, "sometimes, I feel bad." But not bad enough to stop doing it. Cola said he's a university graduate who didn't have enough money to pay his school fees, and then after he'd qualified as a teacher, couldn't find a job. We asked him how he felt about making a living by stealing money from others. "It has both sides. It's a mixed feeling," he said. "Sometimes I feel disappointed, like I didn't go to school to do this. I can do better than this. Sometimes when I take money from people and feel like, 'Oh my God, these people, how are they going to feel?' l imagine that it is my dad. But you know, there's no sympathy, because once you go on the sympathetic side, you go hungry." Debora Patta speaks with members of the Ghanaian syndicate, including leader "If you have the conscience, you can't proceed, you can't push. Because sometimes I need to push people to the limit to get something from them," he said, adding that for many young men in his position, "if this game had not come, they'd have to pull the trigger on people and steal from them." The big con They may not be putting a gun to people's heads, but their criminal actions are still devastating for victims left broken-hearted and financially ruined. "I fish everywhere in the world," Voodu told us, but he said the easiest victims to catch, "they are Americans." He said his team in the boiler room begins by sending a victim little tokens of affection; chocolates, a teddy bear, even ordering their favorite food online and having it delivered to their doorstep. They shower them with attention, messaging them constantly and making them feel loved, adored and special. "I will make you fall in love with me," he boasted. "If you don't hear from me within a second, you know, you wouldn't be happy, you'd be worried." When a victim insists on a video call, Voodu said he hires online porn actors and records them acting out scenarios he directs from the mundane to the more raunchy. "They think they're talking to this beautiful blonde woman (that) I have paid to just have her on video call," he tells us. If a victim gets suspicious, Voodu is ready. He showed CBS News how he uses an image of one of his recruited porn actors to forge an image of an American passport as proof of identity. If the victim demands an in-person visit, they arrange for a meetup with a woman who gets a cut of the profits. Building trust can take months. "We do all that to get his attention and trust," he explained. "Then, boom we chip in business." Then it's time for the big con: Getting their victim to part with huge sums of money. The set-up often centers around Ghana's globally renowned goldmines, the largest in Africa. The scammer, still posing as the woman the victim has come to trust, will claim to be in line to inherit one of these mines. The victim is invited to invest in the mine with the promise of huge returns that will ensure a wonderful future for the happy couple. They show forged ownership documents, complete with official looking seals. The pair claimed to CBS News that their biggest payout was in the millions. One victim's story Gerald Kpangkpari heads up the anti-money-laundering unit in Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office. "We have a lot of unemployed youths, people who are talented, who have gone to school, and they don't have anything to do," he explained. He described their main targets: "Male. Caucasian male. They are elderly people who are quite lonely. The Ghanaian scammers we have spoken with told us they prefer targeting men as they're easier to trap and less likely to report it, because of their shame over being conned. Among the victims is a 75-year-old American radiologist who we're identifying only as John. He declined to give an interview for precisely that reason he's ashamed of having fallen into the trap. John's daughter went to FBI agents, who handed the file over to Ghana's organized crime unit. Kpangkpari told us that John believed he was in love with an Australian woman named Grace Erskine who lived in the U.S. He was actually talking to 34-year-old syndicate boss Alfred Kwame Ayivor, posing as Grace. Ayivor controlled the entire scam, which included the extreme measure of hiring a woman to play the part of Grace for any in-person meetings John insisted on. Below is part of a text message exchange between Ayivor and the woman he hired: Woman: What's my cut? Ayivor: How about $100,000? Woman: $250 000. Without me, everyone gets nothing. I could always call him [John] and say it was a scam. She clearly did not follow up on the threat. Pretending to be Grace, she visited John in the U.S., even meeting his family, Kpangkpari told us. She claimed she'd inherited a Ghanaian gold mine, which John was offered a stake in to secure their future together. To seal the deal, the couple were to meet again, in Ghana's capital city, as organized by Ayivor: Ayivor: That's where we stand with John, one week in Ghana with Grace. Woman: Yuck. He's so gross. Ayivor: One week + TLC Woman: I am not opening my legs for him. John did travel to Ghana and stayed for some of the time at the same hotel as Grace in Accra. Ayivor posed as their driver the entire time, apparently to keep an eye on an operation he hoped would yield a big payday. By the time the fraudulent romance was over, Kpangkpari said John had shelled out more than $700,000 on what turned out to be a non-existent investment in a non-existent gold mine. Ayivor and Kpangkpari said the "exchange of information" between his team and U.S. law enforcement agencies is always crucial, but it was the sheer quantity of money flowing into Ayivor's account that raised a red flag for the Ghanaian detectives, as Ayivor was officially unemployed at the time. "We realized that the person did not have any form of work that is commensurate with the amount of moneys that were coming into his account," Kpangkpari told CBS News. Ayivor was arrested in 2019 and his assets were seized, but he died of an unknown illness before facing trial. Kpangkpari's unit has been able to return a little over $36,000 to John, and they're still trying to recover more of the money the American sent to Ghana. As for the mysterious blonde woman who posed as Grace she had vanished after her contacts with John. The Ghanaian authorities identified her as an Australian national named Rebecca Jade Silk. The CBS News team tracked her down in September outside Sydney, Australia. When confronted, she kept her mouth shut and her head down, refusing to confirm or deny the allegations. Silk has not been charged with any crimes. She remains a person of interest for the Ghanaian authorities. Rebecca Jade Silk is seen at the home of No turning back from the life of bling The "Yahoo boys" of the boiler rooms and their so-called hustle kingdoms have been glamorized in popular West African culture, perhaps unsurprising given the millions they claim to be raking in. When asked if their victims go into debt because of what they do, Voodu laughed and said, "yeah." They live a flashy lifestyle complete with expensive clubs, beach parties and fancy cars. We filmed one group celebrating a big payout by just throwing money in the air. Given that they lie and cheat for a living, I put it to the group bluntly: How I could be sure they weren't lying to us in the interview? Cola responded with annoyance: "I don't lie and cheat for a living. I'm using what I have here [pointing to his head] to survive. I decided to be honest to you." In a country where poverty is rife and jobs are scarce, there's a long line of kids ripe for recruitment into a life of crime. Once they've tasted the good life, they seldom turn back regardless of the cost to victims an ocean away. CBS News investigative producer Andrew Bast contributed to this report. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic How Hurricane Helene battered Florida New York City Mayor Eric Adams arraigned New center for organ donors is first of its kind in Illinois CHICAGO -- Tucked away behind unassuming double doors on the fifth floor of Rush University Medical Center sits a new, very different type of medical unit. Its a unit for patients who will save lives, even though they themselves have no hope of survival. The Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at Rush is the first of its kind in Illinois. The center accepts patients from area hospitals whove been declared brain dead and whove been authorized to be organ donors. At the center, doctors and nurses work to keep donors organs functioning and ultimately procure their organs, so they can be transported to some of the more than 104,000 people now on waiting lists for organs in the U.S. The center received its first donor Sunday. Those behind the center say its a more efficient way of recovering organs that will save more lives. It will lead to more organs transplanted, said Lisa Hinsdale, director of organ operations for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, the not-for-profit organization thats responsible for recovering organs from deceased donors in the northern two-thirds of Illinois and Lake County, Indiana. If one more organ can be transplanted to each recipient, thats one more person off the wait list, Hinsdale said. Seventeen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant, according to the federal Health Resources & Services Administration. Now, when a person is deemed brain dead in the Chicago area, Gift of Hope evaluates whether the person is medically eligible to donate organs. Organs that can be donated include the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys and intestine. Fewer than 1% of people die in such a way that it would even be possible to donate their organs, according to the Health Resources & Services Administration. Theyre most frequently people who suffer strokes, heart attacks or severe head injuries, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the nations organ transplant system. If the patient is eligible to donate, Gift of Hope specialists then talk with the patients family members to explain the donation process and confirm the patients status as a legally registered donor or to confirm the familys permission to donate the persons organs if they were not a registered donor. If the patient can donate, the patient typically remains at the hospital where they died, and its up to that hospital to keep the patient in its intensive care unit throughout the process. Gift of Hope enters information about the donor into a national computer system to match the donors organs with people on the national waiting list. Surgeons sometimes from other areas of the country then often travel to the hospital to remove the organs and transport them elsewhere. Its a complex process that can take about 60 hours from start to finish and it can put pressure on community hospitals, say Gift of Hope leaders. If an organ donor dies at a community hospital, the hospital must often keep the donor in a bed in its intensive care unit until the organs are retrieved, meaning less space for other patients. The hospital must find time in its operating room schedule for surgery to remove the organs a task that might be delayed as hospitals prioritize emergency surgeries. And it must accommodate multiple surgeons and teams who travel to the hospital to retrieve organs for their patients. The new center is meant to streamline that process. Our hope is by moving the donor to the organ care center we can take some of that burden off the referring hospital, said Mike Harmon, vice president of organ operations at Gift of Hope. The center is a collaboration between Gift of Hope and Rush, with Rush providing the space and services such as a pharmacy, labs and respiratory care. Both groups provide staffing. Rush decided to partner with Gift of Hope on the center because it felt the center would be a good match for its mission and value system, said Dr. Edie Chan, division chief for transplant surgery at Rush. Gift of Hope and Rush will now transfer organ donors from community hospitals to the center, where they will be cared for by Gift of Hope and Rush nurses and advanced practitioners until its time for surgery. Hospitals that do their own transplants, such as Northwestern Memorial, Loyola University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medical Center will not transfer patients to the unit. The new 10,000-square-foot space at Rush includes six medical bays that are specifically set up for the needs of donors, with equipment such as ventilators, heart monitors and space for waste, such as from dialysis. The center also has two operating rooms, including one thats about twice the size of a typical operating room space thats needed to accommodate the 40 or 50 medical workers who might be there simultaneously if a donor is donating multiple organs. In the massive operating room, swinging lights hang over an operating table, machines to make sterile ice are at the ready, and metal tables offer a place where organs can be packaged before theyre taken out of the room to waiting patients across the country. The center will also be better for families, say Gift of Hope and Rush leaders. Families can choose to say goodbye to their loved ones before theyre transported to the donor care center or follow them there, if they wish. The medical bays at the center each include a couch that can be used by visitors, if a family member wants to stay with the donor. A small, light-filled waiting room across the hall is designated for family members of donors a place where they can sit quietly, surrounded by huge windows overlooking the United Center. These families have gone through it, said Dr. Harry Wilkins, president and CEO of Gift of Hope. Some families may want to come, and if they do, we want to honor their needs and their loved ones. Donor care units are a growing part of the organ transplantation system in the U.S. In 2022, a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on achieving equity in organ transplantation recommended that the federal government require each organ procurement organization in the country to establish a donor care unit. The reports authors wrote, Donor care units are an innovation in organ procurement and provide an opportunity to bring consistency and high-quality care to donor organ procurement and the donor family care experience. That same report noted that a donor care unit in St. Louis recovered 6% to 18% more organs between 2009 and 2014 than the national average for organs recovered at hospitals. The U.S. organ transplantation system has faced controversy in recent years. In 2023, Congress passed a bill that was signed into law, aiming to reform the system, after allegations of inefficiency and negligence. This month, a House subcommittee held a hearing on the progress made on that legislation, and heard startling anecdotes about problems in the system. In July, the Tribune published an article detailing how an Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network algorithm was supposed to help distribute lungs more fairly, but a flaw in the process meant some people didnt receive the care they should have. Wilkins said the donor care center at Rush is a move in the right direction. The system is not perfect, otherwise there would not be 100,000 people waiting for organs, Wilkins said. Were still evolving, and this is yet another step in that evolution. ____ To register to become an organ donor, go to LifeGoesOn.com, call 1-800-210-2106 or visit an Illinois secretary of state facility. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Moomoo Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Moomoo Malaysia) is proud to announce it has become the first platform in Malaysia to offer US Options trading, marking a major milestone in the Malaysian financial market. This significant expansion of Moomoo's product offerings follows the announcement at the recent #MerdekaBersamaMoofest and continues the company's commitment to provide Malaysians with broader access to global financial markets. With the introduction of US Options, Moomoo Malaysia is offering investors the ability to trade options on some of the world's largest and most prominent companies listed on the US stock exchanges. This new feature will allow users to diversify their investment strategies, hedge positions, and gain more control over their portfolios by leveraging options trading strategies. Empowering Malaysian Investors with Advanced Tools According to Moomoo Malaysia's recent Retail Investor Sentiment Survey, 33% of Malaysian investors are actively looking to global markets as part of their strategy to diversify their portfolios, while 37% of Malaysian investors are focusing on high-growth sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and finance, especially in global markets like the US. With US Options trading now available, moomoo provides a timely and effective solution for Malaysian investors to gain exposure to the world's largest market, offering them the tools to navigate both local and international financial opportunities. Ivan Mok, Chief Executive Officer of Moomoo Malaysia said, "We're thrilled to be the first in Malaysia to introduce US Options trading. This is a transformative step for the local investment landscape, giving our users access to sophisticated financial tools typically available in more mature markets. With the ability to trade options on major US companies, our users can now tailor their investment strategies to both protect their portfolios from volatility and capitalize on global growth sectors like tech and AI. This is an important step for Malaysian investors looking to diversify beyond traditional stocks and gain access to some of the world's largest markets." He added, "What sets moomoo apart is not just the access to US Options but the complete ecosystem we provideintegrated educational resources, advanced data, and analysis tools. We want to ensure our users, whether they are new to options trading or seasoned investors, can confidently execute their strategies with the support they need at every step." Lowering Barriers through Greater Investor Support In line with its mission to empower investors, Moomoo Malaysia will continue to offer comprehensive educational resources designed to help users of all levels understand the intricacies of US Options trading. These resources include in-depth guides, real-time market data, active community forums, as well as interactive webinars hosted by industry experts, all available within the moomoo app. From a community standpoint, Malaysian investors have the opportunity to tap into a shared, collaborative space on the moomoo app via the "Moo Community", which hosts over 23.8 million investors worldwide. The launch of US Options trading will encourage greater discussions on portfolio management and diversification strategies, through valuable community insights into market trends and investment strategies. Since its launch in February 2024, Moomoo Malaysia has rapidly become the leading digital investment platform in the country, gaining its first 100,000 clients within 6 weeks of their debut. The platform was also recently voted as the 'Best Up and Coming Digital Investment Platform' in Malaysia at the recent PC.com 2024 Readers Choice Award, a recognition of Moomoo's commitment to the local investment landscape by providing greater accessibility and unparalleled resource access. This latest development further strengthens Moomoo Malaysia's position as a pioneer in the financial technology space, continuously setting new benchmarks for the local investment scene. For more information on the new US Options trading service on Moomoo Malaysia, please visit https://www.moomoo.com/my/promotion/us_options. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/moomoo-malaysia-becomes-first-to-launch-us-options-trading-in-malaysia-expanding-access-to-global-markets-302260826.html SOURCE Moomoo Malaysia CENTERTON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Centerton Police Department is looking for a missing and endangered teen who is believed to be with an unknown adult friend in St. Louis. Courtesy: Centerton Police Department Police say they are looking for Emily Williams, 15, who has been missing since Sept. 9. She was last seen leaving her home in Centerton wearing a red hoodie, yoga pants and an anime backpack. Williams has family ties to Siloam Springs and Springdale. She has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a tattoo possibly on her left hand of a heart and 444. If anyone has any information on Williams whereabouts, call 479-795-4431 and ask for criminal investigations reference Case#CEP2409-1003. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Saint Cloud man was arrested following a road rage shooting on Floridas Turnpike on Thursday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said the shooting happened around 6:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes on the turnpike near the 417 exit in Orlando. The victim, a 33-year-old male, discovered that his Tesla had been hit by gunfire, then realized he had been shot in the right leg, according to a news release. Read: FHP: Man shot in road rage incident on Floridas Turnpike The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for his injuries. Two bullet holes were discovered on the driver-side door of the victims vehicle. Read: LIVE UPDATES: Tornado watch issued for Central Florida as Hurricane Helene nears landfall Investigators said a gray or silver Volkswagen hatchback was involved in a road rage incident with the victim at the time of the shooting. Troopers arrested 35-year-old Jorge Luis De Jesus Carrasquillo and charged him with attempted felony murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and direct discharge of a firearm from a car. Central Florida man arrested after road rage shooting in Orlando Read: Floridas Big Bend prepares for catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene De Jesus Carrasquillo was booked into the Orange County Jail. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact FHP at 407-737-2213 or CRIMELINE. Central Florida man arrested after road rage shooting in Orlando Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The Central and Southern Region of the American Red Cross has sent relief vehicles and at least 16 volunteers to areas of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina devastated by Helene and its remnants to provide humanitarian relief, the agency reported Friday. The area Red Cross on Thursday sent two emergency vehicles to Macon, Georgia, to provide support for relief operations. The vehicles, one from Newark and the other from Cincinnati, will be used for mobile feeding and to distribute emergency supplies. They will be joining a fleet of other Red Cross emergency vehicles that are coming in from around the country, the agency said. At least 16 central Ohio Red Cross volunteers were already in areas of Florida, Georgia and western North Carolina impacted by Helene as of Friday. The agency said it plans to send more volunteers in waves since the effects from the storm are expected to last for months. The Central and Southern Ohio Region of the Red Cross said they are also keeping volunteers in the region in case they are needed locally. How can I help those affected by the storm? To make a donation to Red Cross disaster relief efforts visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. The Red Cross will not accept donations of clothing or household items. Donors can make financial donations, which can be used right away to directly help those affected, such as replacing lost items like prescription medications or reading glasses. Those who want to make a financial donation can text "Helene" to 90999. smeighan@dispatch.com @ShahidMeighan This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hurricane Helene update: Ohio sends Red Cross relief for victims CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Champaign County is launching a new program that aims to strengthen gun safety and keep people safe. The Office of the County Executive announced that the county had been awarded a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health. They intend to use that grant to launch the Champaign County Gun Safety initiative. The initiative is designed to promote responsible gun ownership and reduce the risk of firearm-related incidents in the community. It will include educational programming and outreach that informs people on the importance of secure firearm storage, accidental discharges, theft and restraining orders. Former U of I student gives 10 million for new science center The program will also offer free gun locks and safes paired with educational workshops and outreach efforts. The county is also partnering with local law enforcement, public health officials and community organizations to raise awareness of firearms restraining orders and the benefits of safe firearm storage. Elly Hanauer-Friedman is a County Board Member and a longtime volunteer leader with Champaign County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Gun violence, including gun suicide, continues to be a serious concern throughout our community, Hanauer-Friedman said. Champaign County is committed to supporting gun violence prevention efforts and this grant builds on the financial support the county has provided to local gun violence prevention efforts over the past few years. Increased public awareness of and access to safe storage as well as highlighting options to temporarily remove guns from loved ones who pose a threat to themselves, or others will save lives. Surgeon General declares gun violence a public health crisis She knows from personal experience the cost of not storing firearms properly. This particular issue has been on my mind for a long time, because when I was in high school, a boy in my class was shot and killed with an unsecured gun by his best friend, said Hanauer-Friedman. Unfortunately, it seems like we hear about more and more of these types of incidents every day. People can sign up for upcoming trainings and learn more about the program and other events 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 WCIA.com. FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2015 file photo, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah addresses a crowd during the holy day of Ashoura, in a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) BEIRUT (AP) Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah led the Lebanese militant group for the past three decades, transforming it into one of the most powerful paramilitary groups in the Middle East. Hezbollah confirmed Saturday that he was killed in an Israeli air raid that levelled six apartment buildings in Beirut the previous day. Read his full obituary here, and here's a shorter look at the leader: Who was Hassan Nasrallah? An astute strategist, the 64-year-old Nasrallah reshaped Hezbollah into an archenemy of Israel, cementing alliances with Shiite religious leaders in Iran and Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas. Under his leadership, Hezbollah fought wars against Israel and took part in the conflict in neighboring Syria, helping tip the balance of power in favor of President Bashar Assad. Idolized by his Lebanese Shiite followers and respected by millions of others across the Arab and Islamic world, Nasrallah held the title of sayyid, an honorific meant to signify the Shiite clerics lineage dating back to the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. A fiery orator viewed as an extremist in the United States and much of the West, he was also considered a pragmatist compared to the militants who dominated Hezbollah after its founding in 1982, during Lebanons civil war. Despite the power he wielded, Nasrallah lived largely in hiding for fear of an Israeli assassination. How he rose to power Born in 1960 into a poor Shiite family in Beiruts impoverished northern suburb of Sharshabouk, Nasrallah was later displaced to south Lebanon. He studied theology and joined the Amal movement, a Shiite political and paramilitary organization, before becoming one of Hezbollahs founders. Hezbollah was formed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard members who came to Lebanon in the summer of 1982 to fight invading Israeli forces. It was the first group that Iran backed and used as a way to export its brand of political Islam. Nasrallah built a power base as Hezbollah became part of a cluster of Iranian-backed factions and governments known as the Axis of Resistance. Two days after its leader, 39-year-old Sayyed Abbas Musawi, was killed in an Israeli helicopter gunship raid in south Lebanon, Hezbollah chose Nasrallah as its secretary-general in February 1992. Five years later, the United States designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Under Nasrallah, Hezbollah was credited with leading the war of attrition that led to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000, after an 18-year occupation. Nasrallahs eldest son, Hadi, was killed in 1997, fighting against Israeli forces. After Israels withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, Nasrallah rose to iconic status both within Lebanon and throughout the Arab world. His messages were beamed on Hezbollahs own radio and satellite TV station. That status was further cemented when, in 2006, Hezbollah fought Israel to a stalemate during the 34-day war. When Syrias civil war erupted in 2011, Hezbollah fighters rushed in, siding with Assads forces even though Hezbollahs popularity took a dive as the Arab world ostracized Assad. Nasrallah's role in the current conflict A day after the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the border calling it a backup front for Gaza. In speeches throughout the conflict, Nasrallah argued that Hezbollahs cross-border strikes had pulled away Israeli forces that would otherwise be focused on Hamas in Gaza and insisted that Hezbollah would not halt its attacks on Israel until a cease-fire is reached in Gaza. He maintained a defiant tone, even as tensions rose dramatically in recent weeks with Israel announcing a new phase in the conflict intended to push Hezbollah back from the border to allow thousands displaced from northern Israel to return. Israel launched strikes killing top military commanders with the group and was blamed for the explosion of thousands of communications devices, mainly used by Hezbollah members, that killed 37 people and wounded thousands. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Charlotte Fire crews responded to more than 550 calls during since midnight while the area has experienced heavy winds and rain from Helene. Out of the 559 emergency calls, 280 were directly related to the storms effects, Charlotte Fire officials say. This includes flooding, downed powerlines and storm damage. LIVE: Helene causing historic flooding, 100+ rescues reported in NC Our firefighters remain on the front lines, still taking emergency and storm-related calls as we continue to serve and protect our residents during this challenging time, the department said. Charlotte Fires commitment to the safety and well-being of our community is a testament to the resilience and dedication of every firefighter in our department. Outside of Mecklenburg County, Charlotte firefighters assisted with the extrication of a York County, South Carolina, man pinned by a large tree that fell into a home As the storm moved in Thursday night, they also responded to a two-alarm fire at a restaurant, unrelated to the storm. As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, there are approximately 93,000 outages in the Charlotte 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 Queen City News. MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Emergency management crews across the Carolinas are on standby, ready to respond when the worst of Helene moves through our region. Theyre expecting the activity to ramp up overnight Thursday and want you to know theyve got you covered. But they do have some requests to make your and their lives easier. Helene Timeline: When to expect the greatest impacts for your area in the Carolinas Conditions are going to worsen throughout the next day and a half, said Major Jonathan Thomas with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Its all hands on deck in North Carolina, as crews brace for the incredibly dangerous and possibly catastrophic storm. Helene was preparing to make landfall as a Category 4 in the Florida Big Bend. While the storms worst impacts are expected in the western part of the state, closer to home, teams are preparing to act. We are prepared to rise and meet any demand which occurs in the next couple of days, said Damian Gonzales, Medic deputy director. Gaston County emergency shelter opens as neighborhoods under voluntary evacuations First responders want to keep you safe, but they also want to protect themselves. Our Charlotte firefighters have to put themselves at risk to rescue folks and we dont want that to occur, said Division Chief Robert Graham with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management. Its why theyre asking people to use common sense. If you see flood water, dont drive through it. Officers will be putting out barricades as we find flooded areas that are likely to happen overnight, said Thomas. Do not drive around these barricades. For those living near Mountain Island Lake and the Catawba River, theyre keeping an extra close eye on conditions there. Flood waters are predicted to rise, said Graham. Working with Duke Energy, they believe theyre going to have significant issues in that area. If you have an emergency during the storm, call 911. But leaders are encouraging anyone who doesnt need immediate help to use 311. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Charred, Decapitated Remains of Wis. College Student Were Found in 1985. Now Police Think The Killer Lived Nearby Michael Raymond Popp faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the 1985 killing of 24-year-old Terry Dolowy Vernon County Sheriff's Office Terry Dolowy Nearly 40 years after authorities discovered the charred and decapitated body of a missing college student in Wisconsin, an arrest has been made in connection with the womans killing. Michael Raymond Popp, now 60, of Tomah, Wis., was arrested Monday, Sept. 23 and charged with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of 24-year-old Terry Dolowy, Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger and Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson announced at a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Authorities said Popp is being held in the Vernon County Jail and faces life in prison if convicted of the murder charge. Its unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. Dolowy was a senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, studying finance, when she vanished in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 1985, authorities previously said in a statement. She was reported missing by her fiance, Russell Lee, whom she lived with at the Bostwick Valley Trailer Court in Barre Mills, Wis., where she had left her purse and car. Her dog was also missing and authorities subsequently opened a missing persons investigation. At the time of her disappearance, Dolowy worked full time as a bar manager at an upscale restaurant in La Crosse, Wis., known as Piggys, per the statement. Vernon County Sheriff's Office Terry Dolowy Four days later, on Feb. 18, 1985, the Vernon County Sheriffs Department responded to a location about six miles south of La Crosse after receiving a report of something burning in a culvert. It turned out to be the body of Dolowy, who was found decapitated and burned with the use of an accelerant, authorities said. Her head has never been located and decades passed without any arrests. 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. According to a criminal complaint filed in Vernon County Circuit Court and reviewed by PEOPLE, authorities said Popp, who wouldve been 21 at the time of the killing, knew Dolowy and lived near the couple. The complaint states that Popp, his girlfriend, Dolowy and Lee all went to pool tournaments together and that he had visited Dolowy and Lees trailer on multiple occasions. It wasnt until January 2023 that through a search warrant, Popps DNA taken from a buccal swab was tested and allegedly matched the seminal fluid collected from Dolowys body during an autopsy back in 1985, per the complaint. He was identified as a person of interest in September 2022 after authorities claimed genealogy testing of the evidence taken from Dolowys body was a match for Popp. Vernon County Jail Michael Raymond Popp While speaking with investigators, Popp initially claimed he only saw Dolowy a few times and that he didnt really know her that well, the complaint states. But when investigators asked him why his buccal swab DNA was allegedly a match for the seminal fluid found inside Dolowy's body, he responded, Maybe, I maybe had a little affair, for six to eight months, according to the complaint. Asked why he declined to previously share that information, Popp said, Well its a pretty serious case there. Didnt wanna be associated with it, per the complaint. Popp denied killing Dolowy, saying, No I am not a violent person." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. New York (PIX11) In a touching tribute to a beloved school crossing guard, the corner of 26th Street and Tenth Avenue in Chelsea has been officially named Richies Corner in memory of Richard Henderson. The ceremony, held Thursday morning, brought together family and friends to honor Henderson, who tragically lost his life in January while attempting to break up an argument over loud music on a subway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. More Local News This means so much to me and my family. My husband is a legacy, but to have the street sign after him is just mind-blowing. Its heartwarming. said Jakeba Dockery, Hendersons wife. The event was marked by heartfelt speeches and fond memories of Henderson. Dozens of supporters gathered, wearing black shirts emblazoned with Richards Way to commemorate his life and impact on the community. Hendersons character was one of kindness and bravery. Dockery reflected on her late husbands nature. He dont like bullies. He dont like altercation. Hes a friendly person. He stopped a violence person. He just all about love. The street naming ceremony has provided a sense of permanence and pride for Hendersons family. Dockery shared, My grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, we all get to see his name. Forever Legacy. Its wonderful. Richard Henderson Jr., Hendersons son, added his thoughts, saying, I definitely miss my pops. This is him; he should have a street name. This is everything he would want as a person and as a man, everything he supports. This corner represents him. To continue Hendersons legacy of community service, Dockery announced the establishment of a nonprofit organization called Richies Way. This organization aims to give back to the community and children. More information 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. CHESTER, Mass. (WWLP) After more than two months of being told to boil their water or use bottled water, Chester residents can now drink their water straight from the tap. Chester water department investigating water discoloration Thursday, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection lifted the boil water order for Chester Water Department customers, which had been issued back on July 24. The order was issued due to water discoloration and after a review of water system data noted treatment technique violations that occurred on multiple days during both June and July of 2024, which may have resulted in inadequate disinfection. Customers of the system had been told to boil their water before drinking, preparing food, making ice, washing dishes, or brushing their teeth. Bottled water was also distributed to residents out of the Chester Fire Department headquarters. According to a Chester Water Department public notice, the following steps were taken since the boil water notice was issued: All three slow sand filters were re-sanded and conditioned The clearwell was cleaned and inspected The source water was switched back to Horn Pond Reservoir Two rounds of bacteria samples were collected and had no detections The treatment plant has been meeting all turbidity and disinfection requirements daily A separate statement from town officials expressed gratitude to those who helped those affected by the order. The Selectboard and Water Commission wish to thank all the town employees and volunteers who staffed the water tent during this event. They wish to thank the MEMA and DEP staff. They especially want to thank Big Y for providing so much of the bottled water that was given to residents impacted by the boil water order. The water tent at the fire headquarters is now closed. Though the order has been lifted, residents of Chester are being advised to continue monitoring the towns official website TownofChester.net for updates. 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. (Bloomberg) -- The obesity-drug hype that fueled huge gains in Novo Nordisk A/S looks to be running out of steam. Most Read from Bloomberg Novo shares fell as much as 4.6% to a seven-month low on Friday after a JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst said the Danish firms third-quarter results may show slower-than-expected sales of its blockbuster weightloss drug Wegovy. The drop extended recent declines in the stock, which is now trading about 20% below Junes record high and has lost almost 1 trillion Danish kroner ($149 billion) in market value. JPMorgans Richard Vosser, who still recommends investors be overweight Novo Nordisk shares, said in a note that the Danish companys third-quarter report, slated for Nov. 6, could cause some disappointment. Steady newsflow concerning potential rivals to Novo Nordisks weight-loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy has dented the investment case, said Soren Lontoft Hansen, senior analyst at Sydbank, in emailed comments. He added that the recent release of disappointing data from Novos pipeline weight-loss pill monlunabant, published on Sept. 20, hasnt helped. Novos recent stock-market struggles are in contrast with its biggest obesity-drug rival, US firm Eli Lilly & Co. While Eli Lillys closest Wegovy and Ozempic rivals, Mounjaro and Zepbound, arrived after Novos offering, momentum for the treatments has been building gradually. Novo is however still Europes most valuable firm, with luxury conglomerate LVMH in second place. Second-quarter sales for Wegovy also disappointed, and its August earnings sent shares 6.7% lower in one day, its biggest drop in two years. --With assistance from Sara Sjolin and Joe Easton. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Hes a native Cuban and an award-winning international journalist. Clemente Nicados assignments have taken him around the world. But now hes the visionary creator of a monthly news platform for the growing Latino business community. Nicado started his own publishing company in 2006. With the help of his American-born wife, Nicado launched Negocios Now, Spanish for Business Now. It was the first of many Spanish-language publications he founded that serve the expanding Latino business community. The monthly news magazine spawned the wildly popular 40 Under 40 Gala, a celebration that honors Chicagos top young business leaders. More: Hispanic Heritage Month His other Spanish-language publications include El Viajero, a print magazine for travelers that offers information and discounts to interesting destinations. Another publication focuses on Chicagos Latino real estate market. The Chicago Tribune hired Nicado to launch the ground-breaking Spanish-language daily, known as Hoy. Growing up in Cuba , Nicado never imagining hed someday find himself chasing the American Dream. WGNs Julian Crews has his 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 WGN-TV. UPDATE: This report now includes an update from the U.S. Marshals Service. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls man is in the Minnehaha County Jail accused of rape, sexual contact with a child and child abuse. According to court papers, Orangie Johnson raped and assaulted a 12-year-old child in early April in Sioux Falls. Johnson allegedly told the victim he would purchase a cell phone for them in exchange for touching private parts of the body. But Johnson wasnt arrested in South Dakota. Instead, the Chicago Police Department arrested him on Sept. 9 in Illinois. In Sioux Falls, police department spokesperson Sam Clemens highlighted the value of a forensic interview Thursday. 47-year-old man booked into jail for rape, child abuse Its not detectives that are doing that, Clemens said. Its people that have specific training. So we have somebody local; Childs Voice does that forensic interview in Sioux Falls. This forensics interview took place in another jurisdiction closer to the victims residence. This delicate interview is set up to protect kids from any further abuse. One of the benefits of using that forensic interview is theyre getting information from the victim in a way that the victim doesnt have to relive or go through those situations, those circumstances again, Clemens said. And so the idea behind that is really to protect the children victims as much as we possibly can. Johnson appeared in a Minnehaha County courtroom Thursday where a judge gave him a $100,000 cash bond. The Minnehaha County Sheriffs Office had posted on social media in August that it was looking for information on where Johnson was. Following publication of this report, KELOLAND News received an emailed statement from Gary Bunt of the U.S. Marshals Services District of South Dakota. Minnehaha County requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Sioux Falls to assist in locating and arresting Johnson on his felony warrant, Bunt said in the statement. USMS investigators in Sioux Falls determined Johnson had fled to Chicago, Illinois. USMS investigators in Sioux Falls then reached out to the USMS Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) in Chicago for assistance. The Chicago Police Department is a member of this task force. On September 9, 2024, members of the GLRFTF located and arrested Johnson based on information provided to them by USMS investigators in Sioux Falls. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The wait is over for fans of the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A in Roseville. Chick-fil-A's newest metro-Detroit location is set to open Thursday on Gratiot Avenue. Roseville's new Chick-fil-A restaurant is located at 32061 Gratiot Ave. Chick-fil-A is known for its signature fried or grilled chicken sandwiches with a pickle and special sauce, waffle fries and a menu of salads, sides and breakfast items. The new Roseville location will be open 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out service. Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays. Roseville's Chick-fil-A's owner/operator is Josh Holbrooks, who started in 2019 with the company at a Hickory, North Carolina location. Holbrooks became an executive director and helped the brand expand to Up North Michigan where he became the executive director of operations for the first Chick-fil-A in Traverse City. Fast food giant Chick-fil-A expected to add 25-30 Michigan stores by the end of 2028. When the Roseville location opens on Thursday, Holbrooks will honor "100 local heroes" who are making an impact in metro Detroit with free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year. As with other new openings, Chick-fil-A, Inc. has partnered with Feeding America, donating $25,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and Forgotten Harvest, to support hunger relief. The Roseville location, like other Chick-fil-A restaurants, will also support the company's Shared Table program which donates surplus food to area soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need, according to a news release. The Roseville location will employ about 150 full- and part-time staffers. More recently Chick-fil-A announced a significant investment and expansion of its Michigan footprint. The fast-food giant expects to add more than two dozen locations in metro Detroit and statewide. Across these new Michigan locations, Chick-fil-A expects to create 2,500 jobs. Chick-fil-A operates nearly 30 restaurants across the state and about a dozen in metro Detroit, from Woodhaven to Novi to Shelby Township. A downtown Detroit location is slated to open and other expected openings are in Chesterfield Township and Taylor. More: National Coffee Day is Sunday: Where to find free offers, discounts Chick-fil-A, a cult-like favorite and oft-criticized for its past donations to anti- LGBTQ+ causes) ranks as a popular fast-food chain with consumers. For the 10th year straight, the chain remained in the top spot for fast food on the American Customer Satisfaction Indexs 2024 report released last June. The family-owned Chick-fil-A was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is headquartered in Atlanta. There are more than 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations across 48 states and in Canada and Puerto Rico, according to chick-fil-a.com. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chick-fil-A to new open Roseville location Thursday By Simon Lewis UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -China and Brazil on Friday pressed ahead with an effort to gather developing countries behind a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's dismissal of the initiative as serving Moscow's interests. Seventeen countries attended a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly chaired by China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim. Wang told reporters they discussed the need to prevent escalation in the war, avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction and prevent attacks on nuclear power plants. "Russia and Ukraine are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other and amity is the only realistic option," Wang said, adding that the international community should support a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking later, after a meeting with Wang, underscored strong U.S. concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base. Addressing reporters, he said that China, while saying it seeks an end to the Ukraine conflict, "is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression. That doesn't add up." Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the conflict in New York with his Brazilian counterpart, Maura Vieira, Lavrov's ministry said on its website. As well as Brazil and China, 10 countries from the Global South that were present at the 17-nation meeting, including Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey, signed a communique that Amorim said builds on a six-point plan proposed by Brazil and China in May. Countries would continue to meet in New York under a grouping of "friends for peace," he added. Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a "no limits" partnership deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022, less than three weeks before Russian troops entered Ukraine. Beijing says it has not supplied Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, but Western countries say its companies provide materials that Russia uses in the manufacture of weapons for the war. Zelenskiy, in a speech to the assembly on Wednesday, questioned why China and Brazil were proposing an alternative to his own peace formula. Proposing "alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles" would only give Moscow the political space to continue the war, he said. Asked about Zelenskiy's comment, Amorim told Reuters, "I'm not here to respond either to Zelenskiy or Putin, just to propose a way for peace." (Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Paul Simao, Ron Popeski and Leslie Adler) China nuclear sub sank in its dock, US officials say Satellite images taken in June show what appear to be floating salvage cranes [Planet Labs/Reuters] A Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine sank in its dock earlier this year while under construction, in a major setback for the Chinese military, according to US defence officials. Speaking on condition of anonymity to the BBC's US partner, CBS, the officials said the loss of the submarine probably happened between May and June. Satellite images taken in June show what appear to be floating salvage cranes at the berth in Wuhan where, a month previously, the vessel had been seen. Beijing has not confirmed the reports. The US officials said it was "not surprising" the Chinese military would have covered up the loss of one of its newest assets. It is unclear whether the submarine was carrying nuclear fuel at the time. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday he was not familiar with the topic and did not provide any information when asked about it at a Beijing news conference. The incident raises questions about China's defence industry, which is allegedly riddled with corruption. China has the biggest navy in the world, with more than 370 ships, and is currently producing a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines, the Zhou-class, of which this was the first. Taiwan has said it carried out its own investigations into the fate of the submarine and had "a grasp of the situation through multiple intelligence and surveillance methods", but gave no further details. Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submariner and an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, first noticed the incident involving the submarine in July. He told the BBC the sinking was a "setback" that would cause "pretty significant embarrassment" for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy, but the safety risk was probably "pretty low". However, he added: "If this ship eventually does get repaired, and I'm sure it will, it'll be a far more capable submarine than what they were building before at that shipyard. "I do not see it significantly altering the really impressive upward trajectory of the PLA navys capability." The sinking comes at a time when Beijing been increasingly assertive in laying claim to virtually the whole South China Sea, which is crucial to international trade. It has long-standing maritime disputes with other nations in the region, including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The mysterious incident at Chinas Wuchang Shipyard in the spring of this year resulted in the sinking of the countrys latest nuclear-powered attack submarine, according to U.S. officials. The mysterious incident that TWZ previously reported that occurred at Chinas Wuchang Shipyard in the spring of this year resulted in the sinking of the countrys latest nuclear-powered attack submarine, according to U.S. officials. The boat in question, originally identified as a conventionally powered submarine, was the first of the new Type 041 Zhou class SSNs. Citing unnamed U.S. officials, a report in The Wall Street Journal today describes an attempt by the Chinese authorities to cover up the accident, involving a submarine likely carrying nuclear fuel when it sank. The boat had been undergoing its final fitting out before going to sea. American officials havent detected any indication that Chinese officials have sampled the water or nearby environment for radiation, the article continues. 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. Wellthere it is. DoD confirms: a new-construction PRC submarine sank at the pier in Wuhan the boat was first of a new class, the Type 041 Zhou PRC authorities scrambled to cover it up AND DoD reveals that it is nuclear-powered https://t.co/H09sS0suYv Tom Shugart (@tshugart3) September 26, 2024 There had already been signs that something was amiss at Wuchang Shipyard, part of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), located on the Yangtze River just outside the city of Wuhan. The unusual activity at the Wuchang Shipyard was first observed by Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank and a retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer. TWZ previously examined satellite imagery showing the sudden appearance of four crane barges at the shipyard in China, these being in place at least from June 12 through June 17. A submarine that had been in the berth in May was absent during those dates, but it was not clear when exactly it was last seen. By the first week of July, the barges were gone and activity at Wuchang appears to have returned to normal. A satellite image taken on June 15, 2024, showing a cluster of four crane barges and other unusual activity at Wuchang Shipyard. PHOTOS 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION The U.S. officials didnt provide details of the alleged accident, beyond the fact that it involved one of the new Zhou class SSNs, a design that features a distinctive X-shaped stern. This feature is designed for improved maneuverability, efficiency, and safety, and also helps reduce the acoustic signature across significant parts of the submarines operating envelope, as you can read about here. Using those four cranes, the submarine is said to have been salvaged, but the WSJ report suggests it will likely take many months before it can be put to sea presuming that is even possible. If the submarine fully sank, its internal spaces would likely have filled with water, requiring the replacement of all the electronics. Another view of the Wuchang Shipyard on May 29, showing a submarine moored in the same general location where the crane barges appeared some two weeks later. PHOTOS 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Its not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pier-side, a senior U.S. defense official told the WSJ. 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. Confirmation from U.S. sources of an accident at one of Chinas most important shipyards, and in particular one that constructs new submarines, is certainly significant. As the above U.S. defense official alludes to, there have been questions raised in the past about safety and quality control practices in Chinese naval shipbuilding, which is often observed progressing very rapidly, even when it comes to large and/or complex vessels. A satellite image taken in September 2022 provides a general view of the Wuchang Shipyard outside of Wuhan, China. Google Earth Despite or because of these shortcomings, China has demonstrated its exponentially more capable of building submarines and other warships than the United States, as you can read more about here. Now the comparative quality of those vessels remains debatable. With that in mind, the sinking of a new SSN is a setback, but not one that is likely to hugely change the pace of the countrys submarine-building program, which, in contrast to the U.S. equivalent, involved nuclear-powered and conventionally powered designs. The fact that a new SSN is being built at the Wuchang Shipyard is significant in itself. A stock picture of a Type 039A or Yuan class submarine. via U.S. Navy In the past, the Wuchang Shipyard has been predominantly associated with the construction of variants of the Type 039A series boats, also known in the West as the Yuan class. The shipyard also builds various types of surface warships and supports other naval developmental work, including past testing of an electromagnetic railgun. It produces commercial vessels and now it can also add nuclear-powered submarines to the list. Its very unlikely that Chinese authorities will reveal any details of what happened with the submarine during the incident earlier this year. And while it probably will have little impact on the rapidly growing Peoples Liberation Army, its disclosure by U.S. officials does reveal some interesting aspects of the countrys increasingly diverse submarine-building efforts. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com China is part of the US election - but only from one candidate The US and China are the two largest economies in the world. They have the two most powerful militaries in the world. The US-China rivalry, in the view of many international analysts, will be the defining global theme of the 21st Century. But at the moment, only one of the two major party presidential candidates is regularly talking about US-China policy - as he has done consistently for years. According to a review by BBC Verify, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has mentioned China 40 times in his five rallies since the presidential debate earlier this month. In just one hour at a town hall forum last week in Michigan, he brought up the country 27 times. And when he talks about China, Trump focuses on matters of tension between the two global powers, painting the country and the worlds second-largest economy, as a kind of economic predator. He has talked about the new tariffs he plans to impose on imports from Chinese companies and those from other nations - should he return to the White House. He has said he wants to prevent Chinese-made cars from being sold because he believes they will destroy the American auto industry. He has warned China not to attempt to replace the US dollar as the worlds reserve currency. And he has blamed the Chinese government for the Covid pandemic. Many economists question the effectiveness of Trumps tariff plans and warn that they would ultimately be harmful to US consumers. The Biden-Harris administration, however, has maintained, and even at times increased, the more narrowly focused tariffs that Trump imposed on China during his first term in office. Trumps protectionist message is tailored to blue-collar voters in the key industrial Midwest battleground states who have felt the impact of increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. Meanwhile, BBC Verify finds, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris did not mention China at all in her six rallies since the 10 September debate. Although, in a speech on the economy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday afternoon, she made a handful of references to the country. I will never hesitate to take swift and strong measures when China undermines the rules of the road at the expense of our workers, communities, and companies, she said at that event. Asked for comment, an aide to the vice-president told the BBC that even if Harris does not talk about China regularly, she has a record of working to counter what they described as Chinas efforts to undermine global stability and prosperity. But when it comes to discussing China, the contrast between Trump and Harris on the campaign trail is unmistakable. On Monday afternoon, at a barn in Smithton, a small town in rural western Pennsylvania, Trump sat down with a group of local farmers and ranchers for a roundtable discussion specifically about China. The town may be just an hour outside of Pittsburgh, a Democratic Party urban stronghold, but this was decidedly Republican territory. Cows grazed peacefully on grasslands lined with dozens of Trump for President signs, while Trump supporters decorated two donkeys in Make America Great Again gear. The topic of the event, hosted by the Protecting America Initiative, a conservative think-tank, was the Chinese Communist Party's growing threat to the US food supply. The forum ended up being a more open-ended conversation about the threat of China, full stop. The farmers, ranchers and business executives on the panel complained about having to compete with heavily subsidised Chinese imports and about the low quality of Chinese goods. While the former president didnt spend much time discussing the perceived dangers of Chinese ownership of US farmland he instead promised that he would convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to buy more US agriculture exports he again emphasised that he would use tariffs to shield the American economy from China. At one point, he spoke of the need to protect the US steel industry - in order to prepare for a hypothetical war with China. If were in a war, and we need army tanks and we need ships and we need other things that happen to be made of steel, what are we going to do, go to China and get the steel? he asked. Were fighting China, but would you mind selling us some steel? Some of the heavier lifting on China during the forum was left to Richard Grenell, a roundtable panelist and senior advisor for the Protecting America Initiative. He warned the country has quietly but strategically worked against the US particularly when Americans were distracted by other global issues. They go after our local and state politicians; they go after our manufacturing, he said. There is no question they are looking to, at some point, leverage that investment and activity. Grenell, who served as US ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence while Trump was in office, is considered a possible secretary of state - Americas top diplomat - if Trump wins another term in November. If Harris wins, on the other hand, there may not be a significant change from the current Biden administration, even if the current president has frequently deployed sharper rhetoric to describe the US-China rivalry. Donald Trump has been campaigning on an economically protectionist message in key Midwestern states [Reuters] [BBC] More on the US election Since the start of his presidency, Joe Biden has identified China as one of the autocracies competing with the worlds leading democracies in what he describes as a historic global inflection point. According to public opinion surveys, China ranks low on the list of issues American voters care about dwarfed by the economy, immigration and healthcare. In a recent National Security Action survey of voters in key electoral battleground states, only 14% listed China as the top national security priority for the next president. Immigration led the list at 38%, followed by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, both at 28%. That could in part explain Harriss seeming lack of interest in talking about China. In this abbreviated presidential campaign for her, she has a shorter timeframe to define herself in the eyes of voters, so focusing on America's main economic competitor may be less of a priority for the Democrat. After the Trump event in Smithton, Bill Bretz, chair of the local county Republican Party committee, said that while China may not be at the top of voter concerns in Pennsylvania, it was important for Trump to talk about it. As the largest up-for-grabs electoral prize, Pennsylvania is perhaps the pivotal state in the 2024 presidential election. Both Trump and Harris will be hard-pressed to win the White House without it in their column. Polls currently show the two candidates in a dead heat there. The majority of people have already picked the camp that they're in, but there are those group of people that are undecided, he said. If China is a straw that sways the scale one way or another, I think it's a great thing to bring up. Additional reporting by Jake Horton and BBC Verify [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. (Bloomberg) -- China and India have reached more consensus on withdrawing troops from some parts of the disputed border between the two countries, Beijing said, in a further sign that tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors are easing. Most Read from Bloomberg A spokesman for Chinas Defense Ministry, responding to a question at a media briefing on Thursday about disengagement at the border, said the two sides have further narrowed differences and broadened consensus. Chinese and Indian officials have maintained close dialog and exchanged opinion on the border issues via diplomatic and military channels, spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said, according to a transcript of the briefing. The two sides agreed to strengthen dialog and consultation, accommodate each others legitimate concerns and reach a mutually acceptable solution at an early date, Zhang added. Ties between the two countries have been frozen since June 2020 when clashes between soldiers along the disputed Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and an unknown number of Chinese dead. Since then, there have been incremental progress in resolving the border crisis in more than 50 rounds of diplomatic and military talks. The latest remarks from Beijing follow meetings between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Laos in July, and Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Russia earlier this month. In a speech on Wednesday in New York, Jaishankar said China and India have resolved 75% of disengagement of troops in the eastern Ladakh region. The main issue right now is the patrolling, he said. How do we, both of us, patrol up to the Line of Actual Control? he added. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. This is an adapted excerpt from the Sept. 26 episode of All In with Chris Hayes. On the face of it, this week has not been a great week for New York City. Eric Adams has become the city's first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted. But the charges are also, in a strange way, reassuring. They show we have a functioning federal government that still holds the rule of law to be a bedrock, sacrosanct thing particularly in the Department of Justice. Just take a step back and look at the DOJ that Joe Biden inherited from Donald Trump. During his time in office, Trump tried constantly to subvert federal law enforcement and convert it into a political tool of the president. Thats especially true of the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, arguably the country's most influential federal prosecutors office, and the one that just indicted Adams. When Trump became president, Preet Bharara was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Wed later learn that Trump was regularly calling Bharara, trying to cultivate a personal relationship that made the U.S. attorney so uncomfortable that he reported the contacts to his bosses at the DOJ and eventually refused a call from the president. Less than a day after Bharara refused that call, he was fired. Trumps personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, would later brag that he convinced Trump to fire Bharara by reportedly telling the president, This guy is going to get you. It was a pattern Trump would replicate over and over again as president. Whether it was firing FBI Director James Comey after Trump asked him to drop the criminal investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn, or having his attorney general, Bill Barr, fire yet another U.S. attorney for the Southern District, Geoffrey Berman. In 2020, after Berman prosecuted former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and opened several other investigations into people and banks in Trumps orbit, he was dismissed by the then-president. Trump was constantly pushing for prosecutions of his perceived enemies, including Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. Barr also distorted and mischaracterized the Robert Mueller report on the Trump campaigns Russia contacts. And he appointed special counsel John Durham to investigate those FBI investigators who had looked into Trump and Russia. Weve blocked much of this out, but Trump was constantly spending his time as president trying to manipulate the DOJ to do his bidding. That pressure culminated in his attempted coup after the 2020 election, when Trump considered naming Jeffrey Clark, a mid-level DOJ lawyer, as attorney general so Clark could use the departments good name to send out a letter saying the election was rigged and get state legislators to overturn the election. Now, compare that to the Biden DOJ under Attorney General Merrick Garland. A Department of Justice that has bent over backward to be independent of the White House. They appointed a special counsel a Republican to investigate Bidens own handling of classified documents. Theyve prosecuted a string of high-profile Democratic officials, including Adams, now former Sen. Bob Menendez, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, and even Bidens last surviving son, Hunter Biden, who is awaiting sentencing on charges that even Trey Gowdy, the far-right former congressman and prosecutor thinks are pretty ludicrous. It is entirely possible that Biden will leave the presidency and never see his son outside of prison again. This is the administration that Republicans say has politically weaponized the DOJ when the opposite is actually true. This is a point the current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, made when he announced the Adams indictment. The Southern District of New York remains committed to rooting out corruption without fear or favor. And without regard to partisan politics. We are not focused on the right or the left. We are focused only on right and wrong, Williams said on Thursday. This is how the DOJ is supposed to work, pursuing justice even when there is zero political benefit in it for Democrats. But heres the thing: if Trump wins this could all change. These institutions could be put in the hands of his creepiest authoritarian sycophants, like Republican lawyer Mike Davis who is rumored to be in the running for a top DOJ post. Last year, Davis promised to rain hell on Washington, D.C. and fire and indict "a lot of people in the deep state, including Joe and Hunter Biden. Were gonna detain a lot of people in the D.C. gulag and Gitmo, Davis added. Davis says now hes just trolling the libs, but Trump wants it to be policy. Hes said as much on the campaign trail. We will completely overhaul Kamalas corrupt Department of Injustice and turn the Injustice Department back into the best law enforcement agency on the planet, Trump said at a rally in September. Guess who reposted a clip of those comments on social media? Mike Davis did, with a single word of comment: Amen. Trump is promising to manipulate the American justice system to fit his political needs. And thanks to the Supreme Courts immunity decision, Trump would have carte blanche to do it as part of his official duties. So I, for one, am grateful for Adams indictment and the signal it sends. It shows the rule of law still holds up for now. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A Christian medical group has claimed it will be forced to provide sex-change drugs to patients under a Michigan law. Christian Healthcare Centers argues that it will be punished by the state if it refuses to distribute testosterone and oestrogen, which it says goes against the religious beliefs of staff, under an extreme civil rights law. The group suggested the law tramples on religious liberties. Christian Healthcare Centers also claimed that the states 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act has been reinterpreted to include gender identity and will compel staff to refer to patients by their preferred pronouns rather than those matching their biological sex. It currently does not prescribe the hormone medications to transgender patients, or those questioning their gender identity and it argues the law has opened the door to a legal challenge that threatens its existence. Michigans law is very extreme in the sense that unlike most other state laws, it has no religious exemption for religious organisations, Brian Neihart, one of the lawyers acting for Christian Healthcare Centers, told The Telegraph. Whats fundamentally at stake here is the right of religious organisations across Michigan to be free to operate and serve the community according to their religious beliefs. Wide reach Mr Neihart, who is special counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom pressure group, which is supporting the medical group, added that the law could create a wider precedent if left unchallenged. I think the principles that are established in this case will have reach beyond Michigan, he said. On the topic of pronouns, for example, by using a pronoun inconsistent with someones sex, youre communicating a view on sex that many religious people fundamentally disagree with. And so that principle that were arguing the First Amendment protects that type of speech would have broader implications beyond this particular case. According to a complaint the medical group submitted in 2022: The law requires Christian Healthcare to check its religious faith at the clinic door the very faith that motivates the clinic to open its doors to help those in need. The case was initially dismissed by a district court when it was first heard, with Michigan arguing there was no credible threat that its laws would be enforced against Christian Healthcare Centers. However, the appeals court disagreed, and the case will now return to the district court following the ruling, on Sept 20. Christian Healthcare Centers had plausibly established a credible threat that [Michigan] will enforce against them at least some of the challenged provisions of Michigans laws, the appeals court said. The healthcare group is now seeking an injunction to ensure that legal action will not be taken against it for refusing to prescribe sex-change drugs. Every day that they decline to prescribe cross-sex hormones or use pronouns inconsistent with sex and operate consistent with their religious beliefs, is another day that this law threatens to punish them for those beliefs, Mr Neihart said. The Michigan attorney-general has been approached 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. Companies and governments are striving to meet net zero carbon goals by 2050, and banks have realized that nuclear power will be an important part of these goals. On Sept. 23, several major financial institutions expressed their desire to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050. The declaration came during discussions at Climate Week in New York and has the backing of Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. With nuclear power becoming a more popular option for companies meeting carbon-neutral goals, small modular reactors (SMRs) are generating a lot of buzz. NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is one company working on advancing this technology and could be a critical part of growing nuclear infrastructure. As long-term tailwinds favor nuclear power, does NuScale stock have millionaire-maker potential? Image source: Getty Images. Growing demand for nuclear energy could give NuScale a boost Energy demand will explode over the next few decades as populations grow, emerging economies expand, and artificial intelligence becomes integrated into everything. However, this comes at a time when countries are trying to reduce their carbon footprints. Small modular reactors are an exciting technological advancement in nuclear power generation that could change how we use nuclear energy. SMRs can provide flexible, adaptable energy for remote areas, industrial plants, or data centers that power artificial intelligence. Since 2007, NuScale has invested nearly $1.8 billion in developing SMR technology. This modular design means the SMRs can be manufactured at NuScale's plant and transported to the site for assembly, potentially reducing construction costs and the time it takes to bring a plant up to operation. The design also allows for a scalable plant that can accommodate up to 12 modules supporting an output of 924 megawatts (MW). Recently, there has been a renewed interest in nuclear energy. Last year, several countries, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, France, the U.K., and the United Arab Emirates, pledged to triple nuclear generation capacity by 2050 (compared with 2020). S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts forecast global nuclear capacity will grow by 58% by 2050. Delays and cost overruns resulted in a major project cancellation last year Last November, the Utah Associated Municipal Power System (UAMPS) terminated its agreement with NuScale for its Carbon Free Power Project. The agreement, initially made in 2015, would have involved the construction of 12 reactor modules to generate up to 600 MW, which would have been up and running by 2023. Story continues The termination showed how expensive it could be to get the technology off the ground. Originally, the project's costs were estimated to be around $3 billion. These estimates rose to $6.1 billion in 2023 and $9.3 billion in 2023, finally becoming too expensive for UAMPS. As a result, NuScale's first planned operational SMR plant went up in smoke, and it had to take a $50 million charge. What's next for NuScale? In August, NuScale signed an agreement to bring its SMRs to Ghana. Last year, Standard Power announced plans to develop two of NuScale's SMR-powered facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania that will produce 2 gigawatts of clean energy to power nearby data centers. NuScale is currently the only company to receive a Standard Design Approval (SDA) from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, one thing to keep in mind is that this is for its 50 MWe modular reactors, not its current 77 MWe reactors. NuScale had to upsize its original design because the economics of its previous 50 MWe reactors didn't work. The company has requested an SDA from the commission for its 77 MWe reactors and expects this version to be approved by July 2025. However, this isn't a full certification, and it is projected to take another couple of years after that, which means full commercialization is still years away. According to The Fly, analysts at CLSA say much of NuScale's stock performance will be "sentiment-based" as the company achieves regulatory approvals and garners more customer interest. However, those analysts expect the company to continue losing money and don't see it achieving profitability until 2028 at the earliest. Is NuScale a millionaire-maker stock? NuScale is developing exciting technology that could transform nuclear energy as we know it. Its modular reactors are suitable for small communities, growing economies, data centers, or other industrial customers looking to reduce their carbon footprints. However, at this point, it's hard to make projections of NuScale's millionaire-maker potential. The company still has a long way to go before it gets full approval and can achieve large-scale commercialization, and profitable operations may still be four years away at the earliest. The range of outcomes for NuScale is quite wide right now, which is to be expected from a young, cash-burning company developing innovative technology that may (or may not) work out in the long run. Given its uncertain path to profitability, most investors are best off staying on the sidelines and seeing how things unfold over the next few years before investing in the innovative energy company. Should you invest $1,000 in NuScale Power right now? Before you buy stock in NuScale Power, 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 NuScale Power 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 $756,882!* 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 Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Courtney Carlsen has positions in Morgan Stanley. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, Goldman Sachs Group, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends NuScale Power. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is NuScale Power a Millionaire Maker? was originally published by The Motley Fool This week, sea level rise was a key topic at the UNs General Assembly. The representatives of small island developing states and low-lying countries urged immediate international action to combat the phenomenon - a global crisis threatening the lives and livelihoods of one billion people worldwide. Today is our historical opportunity to turn the global tide and to embark on a common path that secures prosperity, dignity and rights to all affected countries and communities, said the Prime Minister of Tuvalu. The meeting places sea level rise at the top of the international agenda and marks the take-off for global efforts to shape an ambitious Assembly declaration in September 2026. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by 2050, global sea levels will rise between 15 and 30 centimetres, on average. This will impact dozens of Pacific and Caribbean Islands, many of which remain under the governance of European countries - what responsibility do these nations have to provide protection against climate change? Not everyone has the luxury of high ground Our world is in dangerous waters, warned Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his introductory remarks at the meeting on Wednesday. We need a strong financial outcome at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference [COP29]. Echoing such a call was General Assembly President Philemon Yang (Cameroon), who highlighted the need for a collective response that protects those who call the worlds most vulnerable regions home. Not everyone has the luxury of high ground or the financial resources to take precautionary measures, he said. Related There are almost one billion people worldwide living in low-lying coastal areas that are becoming increasingly vulnerable to storm surges, coastal erosion and flooding. This translates as a threat to economic stability and even habitability. Guterres warned of communities swamped, fresh water contaminated, crops ruined, infrastructure damaged, biodiversity destroyed and economies decimated - with sectors such as fisheries, agriculture and tourism pummelled. Many climate-vulnerable islands are overseas territories of European nations A recent study by French climate change group Reseau Action Climat found that overseas territories are the regions of France that are most exposed to the impacts of climate change. The effects are already visible, with low-lying areas of some islands now chronically submerged at high tide. As sea levels rise, some places will no longer be habitable within this century, such as the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. This is also the fate of Pointe-a-Pitre, which is home to more than a quarter of the Guadeloupean population, as well as the Jarry area, the third largest business park in France. The coastal risks here could cost 100 million per year by 2050, while nearly 50 per cent of the inhabitants live below the poverty line. According to the most pessimistic projections, these areas could be submerged for 180 days per year by 2060. Are European nations responsible for climate protection of overseas territories? Despite the vulnerability of their overseas territories, European countries have taken little action to shore them up against climate change. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has now been given the go-ahead to take the Dutch government to court over failure to protect a former colony in the Caribbean from sea level rise. In January, eight citizens of Bonaire collaborated with Greenpeace to sue the Dutch government for lack of action to safeguard them against climate change. Related The Caribbean island is still part of the Netherlands and is classed as an independent local authority area. It shouldnt matter whether you live on Bonaire, on Ameland or in Valkenburg. Its the Dutch governments duty to protect all of us from the consequences of the climate crisis, said Greenpeace Nederland director Andy Palmen at the time. Parts of Bonaire will disappear underwater with sea level rise and its coral reef, which provides flood protection for the island, is in danger of destruction, according to researchers at Amsterdams VU university. Maj John Mott has worked in numerous roles with The Salvation Army, including leading the branch in Southend [The Salvation Army] A man who has been "the face" of a church and charity in a city centre for more than 25 years is to stand down. Maj John Mott, 91, has been selling the Salvation Army magazine The War Cry outside Marks and Spencer on Sidney Street, Cambridge, in all weathers since 1998. In that time he said he had met and spoken to actors, politicians and even the Archbishop of Canterbury. He said he was standing down reluctantly due to deteriorating health, adding: "I thought to myself 'Winters coming - last winter was quite hard and I shouldnt do that again.'" Maj Mott, pictured with Maj Leanne Cordner, said he had met celebrities and politicians, but that those who had donated to the charity were the "most important" [The Salvation Army] Maj Mott has sold the magazine in various locations across the country since 1972, and led The Salvation Army in Southend until 1998. At Christmas he sold the magazine five days a week and raised about 17,000 in 2023. That money provided toys and gifts to 589 young people and was enough to fund 271 food parcels for families. He said he would miss the job, adding: "I stand on the shoulders of Salvation Army people from all over the world. "I've met the Archbishop of Canterbury here; actors and actresses who have been at the theatre and politicians have stopped to talk to me." But he said the most important people he had met were those who had donated to the charity, and that some had been "incredibly generous." Maj Leanne Cordner, who leads The Salvation Army in Cambridge, said: "He's become the face of The Salvation Army in the city centre and has built up a ministry among the people here. "He's been a great fundraiser for us and while we appreciate the money, we appreciate more the ministry, the spreading of the good news, the praying with people he has been able to do and relationships he has built up. "He has given a huge amount of time and dedication to what he has done and he will be very hard to replace." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More related stories Related internet links NEW MEXICO (KRQE) The U.S. Forest Service is encouraging everyone to get outside this weekend. The Cibola National Forest will waive most day-use fees on Saturday to commemorate National Public Lands Day. Judge hears arguments for a new trial or dismissal for armorer in fatal shooting on set of Rust For those planning on going out, the forest service encourages people to plan accordingly, dispose of their waste properly, and respect wildlife and other visitors. For those who cant make it out this weekend, the Forest Service will waive fees on Veterans Day. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Arkansas Supreme Court building in Little Rock. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the dismissal of a challenge to the states new policy eliminating the gender-neutral X marker on drivers licenses and requiring only M or F to indicate gender. In March, the Department of Finance and Administration issued an emergency rule rescinding the gender-neutral policy, which had been in place since 2010. The Arkansas Legislative Councils executive subcommittee approved the emergency rule. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas challenged the emergency rule in Pulaski County Circuit Court, and Judge Patricia James temporarily blocked the rule from going into effect. Attorney General Tim Griffins office appealed James ruling. Meanwhile, the full Arkansas Legislative Council implemented the rule on a permanent basis on Aug. 23. The permanent rule rendered the ACLUs challenge moot, Deputy Solicitor Dylan Jacobs wrote in an Aug. 30 request for the Supreme Court to send the case back to circuit court with instructions to dismiss the complaint. ACLU attorneys agreed to the motion because the initial complaint concerned only the procedure by which the emergency rule was passed, communications director Megan Bailey said. The complaint argued that the emergency rule was implemented without documented justification or compliance with the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, which stipulates a 30-day public notice comment period unless there is an imminent peril to public health, safety, or welfare or a need to comply with federal law. ACLU Legal Director John Williams argued that the Department of Finance and Administration had not proven that any threat to public safety came from allowing people to change the gender marker on their drivers licenses with no questions asked. Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson told lawmakers in March that the new rule was meant to prevent threats to law enforcement officers safety, though he also said he was not aware of any threats that had occurred over 14 years. Nearly a dozen Arkansans, many of whom are transgender or nonbinary, urged finance department officials later in June not to permanently reverse the policy because it was not causing any problems or harm. No one spoke for the new rule at the public hearing. Several Democratic lawmakers voted against the emergency and permanent rules and cited the same reasons, adding that reversing the policy would be hurtful to transgender Arkansans. Bailey said the ACLU has not yet decided whether to challenge the permanent rule. Griffin called the Supreme Courts order a win for the rule of law in a statement Thursday. ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) Over 80 volunteers are signed up to participate in the Cities RISE Community Clean-Up event that will take place on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 in South Elmira. The Chemung County Habitat for Humanity is partnering with the City of Elmira to host the two-day event to make improvements in the neighborhood from 9 a.m. to noon on both days. Throughout the weekend, volunteers will help with trimming hedges, cutting weeds, picking up trash, making minor repairs and painting on Spaulding Ave., Caldwell Ave., Catherine Street and Lormore Street. Local businesses come together to combat child hunger with Food Bank of the Southern Tier This is the sixth year in a row that the event will take place through a neighborhood revitalization program that was launched by the New York State Attorney Generals Office to help rebuild New York communities. For more information about the event, call the Habitat for Humanity office at 607-734-1361 or info@chemungcountyhabitat.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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. A citizen journalist who was excluded from a press conference because the police deemed him not "media" had his constitutional rights violated and can sue, a judge ruled this month. The decision serves as a reminder that a job in legacy media does not entitle you to a stronger set of free speech protections. Justin Pulliamwhose YouTube channel Corruption Report does not shy away from criticizing law enforcementwas removed from a Texas press conference in July 2021 at the behest of Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan, who told a deputy to keep Pulliam away under threat of arrest. That violated the First Amendment, concluded U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison, in such a clear way that Fagan should not receive qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that dooms federal lawsuits against state and local government employees if the way those public servants allegedly violated the law was not "clearly established" at the time of the violation. That Fagan's conduct was unconstitutional should have been obvious to him, said Edison. "At the outset, I must address the threshold issue of whether the activities undertaken by Pulliama citizen who posts opinion-laden news coverage of law enforcement on social media channelsare protected by the First Amendment," he wrote in an opinion published by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. "The answer is, unequivocally, yes." As one of the most powerful government agents in his community, Fagan should have, in theory, known this. But the notion that citizen journalistsindependent reporters not employed by an outletare less legitimate and thus entitled to a watered-down version of the First Amendment is neither new nor limited to people's perception of Pulliam. It is one of the most relevant media debates currently playing out, in a landscape where legacy media's influence is being supplanted in part by viral social media stars. Another citizen journalistPriscilla Villarreal of Laredo, Texas, which is located 4.5 hours from Fort Bend Countyis asking the Supreme Court to hear her case after local police arrested her in response to some of her reporting. Villarreal runs a massively popular Facebook page where she live streams her journalism, often directly from crime scenes and traffic accidents, and where she has often been critical of law enforcement. In 2017, Villarreal published a story on a Border Patrol agent who had committed suicide and another story on a family involved in a fatal vehicle accident after confirming the information with someone in the Laredo Police Department. That same department then arrested her by leveraging an obscure Texas statute that criminalizes soliciting nonpublic information if the person asking intends to gain from it. She gained, police alleged, by getting popular on Facebook. "They were just looking for something to arrest me," she says in a recent documentary produced by Reason. "Because I was exposing the corruption, I was exposing them being cruel to detainees.They were doing things they weren't supposed to." But Villarreal has not had good fortune in litigation. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuitthe same circuit Pulliam is inruled 97 that it was not obviously unconstitutional when the police arrested her for her reporting. In the majority opinion, Judge Edith Jones made a distinction between Villarreal and "mainstream, legitimate outlets." Pulliam was arrested as well, in December 2021, and charged with interfering with police duties after he videoed police at a mental health call. One wonders if that would have happened if he worked for, as Jones says, a "legitimate outlet." The post Citizen Journalist Barred From Press Conference Can Sue Texas Sheriff for Violating His Rights, Judge Rules appeared first on Reason.com. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) While Mayor Adams is the first New York mayor to be indicted, he is not the first to be under the microscope of federal investigators. Two previous mayors were the focus of corruption probes that forced them out of office and there were others who were investigated but escaped criminal charges. NYC Mayor Adams charged with taking bribes in federal indictment Democratic political consultant Geoge Artz maintains, Every administration has gone through these scandals. Its part of the territory of being mayor. While Mayor Adams has vowed to fight the charges against him, two previous Mayors didnt stand to fight. They were forced out of office. Flamboyant Prohibition-era Mayor Jimmy Walker bolted under pressure in 1932. Investigators found he had taken large amounts of cash from businessmen seeking city contracts. Artz remembers, Jimmy Walker had a corruption-filled administration. Jobs for sale, permits, everything you could mention was up for sale.. Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf says Jimmy Walker was forced to resign by the Seabury Commission after exposing corruption in city agencies, police department and other places unheard of. Delete all messages: Docs reveal Mayor Eric Adams clumsy bribery coverup Eighteen years later, Mayor Bill ODwyer faced several controversies, primarily a significant police corruption scandal that undermined his administration. According to Artz, Eventually he was forced out of office but Harry Truman made him Ambassador to Mexico. Sheinkopf declares, The third Koch administration was the most corrupt administration in New York City since Jimmy Walker. George Artz was Mayor Kochs press secretary during those tumultuous years. He relates, In a nutshell, two key allies were involved in a scandal over the parking violation bureau. Sheinkeopf adds, Koch himself was not implicated. He brought big city bosses back into power. He looked the other way. We had scandals, arrests, and imprisonment. More recent mayors were under scrutiny. Investigators found evidence of wrongdoing in the DeBlasio and Giuliani City Hall, but neither faced any criminal charges. According to Sheinkopf, DeBlasio and his campaign were investigated for campaign violations by the feds and district attorney but decided not to prosecute. A year later he admitted he violated the law. Mayor Giulianis administration was not immune from scandal he had his share of them. How much prison time could Eric Adams face if convicted? Sheinkopf says, There were people in his administration that had problems but he was never implicated. Artz notes, He had appointed the son of a powerful political ally but he abused the job. This was a nepotism, cronyism appointment. It was a blemish on his administration. Every mayor tries to avoid scandal, but there are so many people in the administration you just never know if something like this could happen, declares Artz. Now the focus is on Eric Adams, the first Mayor in the citys history to be hit with criminal charges. Will he leave? asks Sheinkopf. This guy is very different, hes very tough refuses to give up and sees himself as a loyal friend, not as someone who has been corrupt. Unlike any previous investigations of city government, political analysts claim the federal government has never been so involved in rooting out city corruption. The widespread nature of it, reaching out to the mayors allies, they say it is something that has never been seen here before. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. City of Rochester hopes to secure $10 million to finish Four Corners revitalization project ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The City of Rochester is looking to apply for another $10 million grant from New York States Downtown Revitalization Initiative. As it fills out the application, the citys Department of Neighborhood and Business Development wants input from area residents and property owners. The city hopes it can secure that $10 million to target the Four Corners section of downtown West Broad Street, the Genesee River, the Inner Loop North, and North Fitzhugh Street. The city received a Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant in 2022 where $10 million went towards improving the East side of the river. So, from Clinton to the river, along East Main Street, youll notice some projects are already underway, and those were funded by that project, City of Rochester Director of Project Development Anne Dasilva Tella told News 8. Thursday night, building owners, employers, and residents were able to share improvements theyd like to see with the city. Often times, the community feels left out unfortunately, Dasilva Tella said. Were constantly doing our best efforts to make sure that its not a top-down planning effort. So, were hoping to make it more grassroots planning effort. Any property owners and developers who missed Thursdays meeting can submit a Project Interest Form through the City of Rochesters website until October 2. An initiative and planning survey is also active for input. Business owners left sticky notes for the city on what they love about the Four Corners: The river. The history. The feeling of community with the long-term workers and business owners. We have substantially vacant buildings, lighting influences and hoping that we can research these buildings, revitalize it, bring in residents, bring the workers, restaurants, nightlife, just to really surge this area up again, Dasilva Tella said. According to the City of Rochesters website, if City Council authorizes submission, the city will submit its application to the state. It would then be notified if it was awarded in the Spring of 2025, and applications for business owners and developers to request funding would open that summer. Work would begin in 2026, if approved. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOHNSTON, Iowa Following a lockdown that took place Thursday afternoon at Johnston Middle School, the Johnston Superintendent announced that classes will be held as normal on Friday. The Johnston Police Department was called to Johnston Middle School at 2:45 p.m. on a report of a weapon in an upstairs bathroom. A thorough search was conducted by Johnston PD and school administrators, but no weapon was found. The school entered a lockdown that lasted from 2:48 p.m. to 3:08 p.m. According to police, the student reported to be involved was identified and taken into custody. Classes at Johnston Middle School will be held as normal on Friday and there will be an additional police presence within the district. Webster County man shot during domestic altercation, sheriffs office says Johnston School Superintendent Dr. Nikki Roorda released the following statement: We recognize that being in a lockdown can be unsettling and even scary for students. We want all our students and their families to know that their safety remains our highest priority and we continue to take every measure to ensure that our school is a secure environment for learning. We will have extra staff members in our counseling office tomorrow available to meet with any student who would like to visit with someone about their experience. If you have any worries or concerns regarding your student, please do not hesitate to contact their school counselor. Johnston School Superintendent Dr. Nikki Roorda An investigation into this incident 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 who13.com. CLIFTON, Ill. (WCIA) An Iroquois County high school teacher accused of possessing child pornography submitted his resignation earlier this week as court proceedings begin against him. Matthew Maxwell, the Superintendent of Clifton Central High School, said Brett Sorensen submitted his resignation Monday afternoon. The districts Board of Education accepted it at their meeting later that evening, ending his 13-year tenure at the school. Sorensen resigned just days after his students walked out of the school on Friday, who demanded that the board fire him in light of his charges. The same day Sorensen resigned, he appeared in Ford County court for the first time to face charges of possessing and disseminating child pornography. The hearing on Monday was to determine if Sorensen would remain in custody prior to his trial. As part of the proceedings, Judge Matt Fitton, States Attorney Andrew Killian and Sorensens attorney Lance Cagle viewed some of the videos Sorensen is accused of possessing. The videos, which depicted children under the age of 13, were viewed away from the public. These are well devised scams: UI Detective reacts after 3 students targeted 9 days apart After seeing these videos and hearing from the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services, Judge Fitton denied Sorensen pretrial release. He is due back in court Nov. 25 for a pretrial hearing. WCIA reached out to the Ford County States Attorneys Office for more information and has not heard back yet. We will provide updates as we 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 WCIA.com. (Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang, who helped create the technology at the heart of the explosion in artificial intelligence computing, said nuclear power is a good option for the renewable energy needed for the growing number of data centers. Most Read from Bloomberg Nuclear is wonderful as one of the sources of energy, one of the sources of sustainable energy, Huang said Friday in an interview with Bloomberg Television. It wont be the only one. Were going to need energy from all sources and balance the availability and the cost of energy as well as the sustainability over time. In some parts of the world, electricity generation is already insufficient to support the building of new data centers. Thats an increasing problem as the worlds largest companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into new infrastructure that they believe is the future of computing. Its a squeeze thats leading to trade-offs being made on the location of the new AI factories, as Huang refers to them. Some data centers cant be filled to full capacity, and others are being built well away from population centers. Nvidias leader has argued that his companys products, while more power hungry than their predecessors the latest generation chip requires over a kilowatt are more efficient because they can do the work of training and running AI software more quickly and replace multiple older components. Separately, Huang said hes doing his best to serve customers in China and stay within the requirements of US government restrictions on Nvidias exports to that country. The first thing we have to do is comply with whatever policies and regulations that are being imposed, he said. And, meanwhile, do the best we can to compete in the markets that we serve. We have a lot of customers there that depend on us and well do our best to support them. --With assistance from Ed Ludlow and Ian King. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Fresh off the heels of Cascales annual meeting in Munich, the nonprofit held a casual gathering in New York Citys Garment District during Climate Week to continue the conversation on all things decarbonization. Cascale was joined by leaders at collaborators, including Worldly and the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), on Thursday morning to address the uncomfortable truth: the industry needs to get it together. More from Sourcing Journal Colin Browne, CEO of the multi-stakeholder group formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, eased into that truth with a zeitgeist zinger. I love Succession. I just love Logan Roys arrogance and audacity, the former Under Armour executive said, noting that Roy tells his children he loves them, but they are not serious people; a line that hit home for Browne. Its a really interesting quote from the point of view of where we are with regards to global sustainability and the environmental work we have in progress, he continued. I think that over the last 30 yearsand reflecting on thata lot of [that work] has been voluntary: passionate advocates committed to doing the right thing. You only get so far with voluntary measures and advocacy. The time to turn advocacy into action is really starting to happen, he said, and its going to fundamentally change the industry. The Higg Index creators essentially said the same thing last week in Germany, but fellow sustainability leaders in attendance werent concerned. Ive been at many of these events, but this feltfor the first timethat we could have the difficult discussions, Tamar Hoek, senior policy director for sustainable fashion at Solidaridad, said of the Munich event. We could talk about what does not work and, more importantly, we could talk about how collaboration is key. If we put our egos aside as different organizations, we can probably create bigger impacts than when we work on our own. That said, Chatting Climate & Consumer Goods kicked off with a conversation centered around scaling decarbonization. The question isnt if we have the technology to do it, Browne said. The question is, do we have the courage, capacity and commitment to get it done? Lewis Perkins, president of the Aii, thinks so. We know what to do. We have the right partners in place. Weve got all the right people in the room, Perkins said. Its a matter of just leaning into, like, the unlock and we use that world a lot, but it is this catalytic action to lean into over the next five yearsIm very confident we have everything we need. And that can be summarized or understood, Perkins said, as several key components, such as aligning technical tools, developing the facility carbon benchmark and securing funding. This takes shape through data-driven decision-making, collaborative supply chain investments and predictable volume commitments. Above all else, the urgency for action was underscored, calling for collective efforts to continue. We clearly have a snowballs chance in hell of actually getting there if we dont get moving, Browne said. Lets be frank, guys. Weve been talking about this for 30 years. Shit is about to get real. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are tied among likely voters in North Carolina, while Harris holds a comfortable lead in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, according to two new CNN polls conducted by SSRS. The North Carolina survey also shows scandal-plagued Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson trailing his Democratic opponent by a wide margin in the states gubernatorial race. Both places could be key to either Harris or Trump winning the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Trump faces limited paths to victory should he fail to hold North Carolina the state where he earned his slimmest margin of victory in 2020 and a win in Nebraskas 2nd District would open up a path for Harris through the northern blue wall states even if she fails to carry any of the Sun Belt battlegrounds. In North Carolina, Harris and Trump stand at 48% each among likely voters. In Nebraskas 2nd District, the so-called blue dot encompassing Omaha, Harris has 53% to Trumps 42%, the poll finds. North Carolina, which narrowly supported Barack Obama in 2008 and has gone red in the past three presidential elections, is a state Democrats hope to make competitive again this year. Nebraska, meanwhile, is one of two states, along with Maine, that splits its Electoral College votes awarding two to the statewide winner, with the other three awarded separately to the winner of each of the states congressional districts. The Cornhusker State has long been a Republican presidential stronghold, but its 2nd District has twice in recent history awarded its vote to the Democratic nominee, breaking for Obama in 2008 and for Joe Biden in 2020. The vast majority of North Carolina voters say theyve made up their minds, and roughly three-quarters of registered voters supporting each of the major candidates say theyre extremely motivated to vote. More than 7 in 10 among both Harris and Trump backers say their choice is a mark of support for their chosen candidate, not just a vote against their opponent. But 12% of likely voters in the state say they could still change their minds about the candidate theyre supporting more than enough to make a difference in a deadlocked race. Trump currently leads Harris among White likely voters in North Carolina, 58% to 39%, a narrower margin than his edge over Biden among White voters who turned out in the 2020 election, according to CNN exit polls. White likely voters with college degrees currently favor Harris over Trump by a wide margin, which would mark a shift from a narrow divide among this group four years ago. Harris leads Trump, 79% to 11%, among Black likely voters, a group that in 2020 made up roughly one-quarter of the states electorate. While Harris standing among Black likely voters in the poll is currently weaker than the share Biden ended up winning in 2020, that does not reflect significantly increased support for Trump rather, about one-tenth of Black likely voters currently say theyre supporting a third-party candidate or are unsure of their choice. Trump addresses supporters at a campaign rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 21, 2024. - Brian Snyder/Reuters Male voters in North Carolina break narrowly toward Trump (51% to 45%) with Harris holding a slight advantage among female voters (50% to 46%), but the gender gap is smaller than that seen in CNNs most recent national survey. Down ballot, Harris is significantly outperformed by Democrat Josh Stein, who leads Robinson, the lieutenant governor, 53% to 36%, among likely voters in the North Carolina governors race. Robinson, who has faced a wave of scandal after CNN uncovered inflammatory comments he made on a porn website, is viewed unfavorably by a majority of the states likely voters (27% view him favorably, 53% unfavorably, 20% have no opinion). Stein, the North Carolina attorney general, is lesser known but viewed far more positively (40% favorable, 23% unfavorable, 36% no opinion). The survey was conducted entirely after the CNN report broke. Robinson faces significant defections from Republican and Republican-leaning likely voters in the state. Overall, 72% of them support him, while 14% say they will vote for Stein and 12% that they would vote for neither of them. Stein, by contrast, has broadly consolidated support among Democratic-aligned likely voters, 95% of whom support him. In Nebraskas 2nd District, the poll finds, Harris broad lead includes a near-universal 96% among Democratic likely voters, with her numbers buoyed by the 61% support she holds among the districts independent likely voters, as well as 10% among Republican likely voters. She leads Trump, 60% to 36%, among women, while Trump holds a much slimmer edge, 50% to 45%, among men. Six in 10 likely voters in the 2nd District say Nebraska should keep its current system for awarding electoral votes, with 40% saying it should switch to a system under which the statewide winner receives all of the electoral votes. An 86% majority of Democratic likely voters and 69% of independent likely voters favor keeping the current system, while 69% of GOP likely voters say theyd rather move to a winner-take-all system in the state. Harris is running ahead of the Democratic nominee in the race to represent Nebraskas 2nd District in Congress, with Democrat Tony Vargas holding a narrow advantage over incumbent Republican Rep. Don Bacon, 50% to 44%. Vargas, a state senator, lost to Bacon by less than 3 points in the 2022 election in which Republicans won a narrow majority in the US House of Representatives nationwide. Whats driving the results Likely voters in North Carolina give Harris a modest edge over Trump as the candidate whos more likely to unite the country (44% Harris to 35% Trump), make them proud as president (46% Harris to 40% Trump) and care about people like them (46% Harris, 42% Trump). Theyre evenly split on whether Harris or Trump more closely shares their view on what the countrys biggest problems are, and closely divided on which candidate would bring needed change (44% Trump, 42% Harris) or has clear policy plans to solve the countrys problems (42% Trump, 39% Harris). A 52% majority of North Carolinas likely voters say Trumps views and policies are too extreme, but a smaller 45% say theyre so extreme they threaten the country. Fewer see Harris policies as dangerously extreme (35%). Trump holds an 8-point advantage over Harris on trust to handle the economy among North Carolinas likely voters, who also side with him on issues relating to crime and safety (by 7 percentage points) and immigration (by 11 points), but give Harris the edge on protecting democracy (by 4 points) and on handling abortion and reproductive rights (by 11 points). As in other battleground states, the economy is cited as the top issue in the presidential race by a plurality of voters. In Nebraskas 2nd District, Trump sees more erosion on the issues on which hes traditionally posted his strongest numbers: likely voters there are closely split between him and Harris on both the economy and immigration, and give Harris the lead on handling crime and safety (by 6 points), democracy (by 14 points) and abortion and reproductive rights (by 21 points). Nearly six in 10 likely voters in the district call Trump too extreme (57%), and about half (51%) say hes extreme enough to pose a threat. Just 36% call Harris views and policies dangerously extreme. Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 12, 2024. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images And Harris holds wide margins over Trump as the candidate who 2nd District voters think would unite the country, make them proud as president and care about people like them, with smaller edges over him on the remaining attributes tested in the poll. In both places, the current administration is similarly unpopular Bidens approval rating stands at 44% in Nebraskas 2nd District, and 41% in North Carolina among likely voters. But in the Omaha-area seat, Harris takes 20% support among those who disapprove of Biden, while in North Carolina, that ticks downward to 14%. The vast majority of likely voters in both North Carolina and Nebraskas 2nd District say theyre at least somewhat confident that votes in their state will be accurately cast and counted in this years presidential election. But just 41% in North Carolina say theyre very confident, rising to a 59% majority in Nebraskas 2nd District. The Nebraska seat also sees a far smaller partisan divide in election confidence: while Harris supporters there are 33 points more likely than Trump supporters to express high confidence in their states election system, that expands to a 52-point gap between each candidates supporters in North Carolina. Interviews were conducted September 20-25, 2024, online and by telephone with registered voters, including 931 voters in North Carolina and 749 in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District. Likely voters include all registered voters in the poll weighted for their predicted likelihood of voting in this years election. Results among likely voters in North Carolina have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points; it is 4 points among likely voters in Nebraskas 2nd District. CNNs Jennifer Agiesta and Edward Wu contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man accused of being an accessory to a quadruple homicide in Mojave was formally arraigned Thursday. Jonathan Hernandez appeared via Zoom, lying in a hospital bed. Prior hearings were postponed due to him being medically unavailable. More details as to his condition were not released. Hes charged with being an accessory after the fact, and also faces other felony counts including attempted murder and carjacking. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf and a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 7. Hearing continues Thursday for protester charged with threatening Bakersfield City Council Its alleged co-defendant Ricardo Reyes-Partida fatally shot four people inside a trailer on the night of April 30, 2023. Witnesses including Hernandez told investigators the shooting occurred over a missing phone Reyes-Partida believed one of the victims had, according to court filings. Killed were Darius Travon Canada, 31, Anna Marie Hester, 34, Martina Barraza, 33, all of Mojave, and Faith Leighanne Rose Asbry, 20, of California City. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The U.S. Coast Guard had to airlift an 8-year-old boy from a cruise ship after he became severely ill. According to a press release, Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders were notified of the emergency on Tuesday (24 September) at around 7 a.m. local time when the Royal Princess ship was about 20 miles west of Eureka, California. Crew members including aviation survival technician Philip Morie and helicopter pilot Lt. Katherine McDonnell were notified that an 8-year-old male passenger onboard was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed to be medevaced. We didnt 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 couldnt see it, McDonnell recalled to Good Morning America. We were like, Thats unusual. As we got closer and closer, we were out about 5 miles and were like, Well, we still cant see it. Although foggy conditions made it difficult to spot the ship, at around 8 a.m. local time, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arrived to evacuate the passenger named Daniel Jiang, and his family. Footage shows Morie rappelling down to hoist the boy into a large metal rescue basket before the helicopter lifted him into its compartment. On the way up, you know, Im just still talking to the kid and, you know, giving him high fives and trying to keep him calm, Morie noted. Throughout the medevac situation, Daniel told the outlet he kept his eyes shut the entire time. Two more of Daniels family members his mother Nicole and brother were taken up in the basket as well. Nicole explained what happened at the time, saying: 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. I dont know how to describe [it], she recalled of the experience, noting the rescue was unbelievable. The Coast Guard team was able to rush Daniel and his family in time to a hospital so that he could be immediately admitted into surgery and get an appendectomy. His surgery was thankfully a success and has since remained in the hospital, recovering from the procedure. His doctors have confirmed that he will be alright. The rescue mission was McDonnells first on the job, with the pilot reflecting that it was a pretty incredible feeling knowing that she played a part in saving the youngsters life. Meanwhile, Morie, for whom this wasnt his first rodeo, noted that it was a big win for everybody involved. The climate crisis has different impacts in different regions, and one small town along the coast of Maine is making changes on multiple fronts to maintain its way of life. What's happening? Stonington, an island 50 miles south of Bangor, is suffering from sea level rise and associated cost of living problems, as The New York Times reported. A pair of causeways, at risk every time a storm rolls in, became impassable during two major storms in January, cutting off the village of Oceanside and a link to the mainland. This also prevented lobster fishers from getting their catch to local markets and "destinations around the world," per the Times; Stonington has the state's largest lobster fleet. The rising waters of Penobscot Bay and increasingly intense and frequent storms driven by the human-induced warming of the planet have pushed those who work along the waterfront to raise docks and wharves to prepare as best they can for the next onslaught. Real estate investors are also creating a problem, as deep-pocketed outsiders are snatching up properties while locals spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild their storm-damaged livelihoods. "We've got a wall of water coming at us, and a wall of money coming at us, and we're fighting these two big forces," Stonington economic and community development director Linda Nelson told the Times. Why is this important? Town manager Kathleen Billings said people can't afford to continue to rebuild. In April, the state earmarked $60 million for recovery efforts, and the city created a resiliency fund, in part to meet the housing demands of the working class, the Times reported. But the hits keep coming. During summer droughts in recent years, Stonington has had to truck in its drinking water since it otherwise relies on rainfall, proving that no matter what measures are taken, this new normal may still require unsustainable changes. "There's so much that needs to happen, and I don't think we'll be able to keep up with all of it," Garrett Aldrich, a boat service operations manager, told the Times. "I think there will be more damage, and more pain, before we're done." What's being done about rising sea levels? While business owners and others in Stonington take action to limit the risk of rising sea levels, there are proactive steps we can take to try to lessen the number of communities that have to react like this. These steps include cutting the consumption of dirty fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, which power much of our world but also spew carbon pollution into the atmosphere, contributing to the rising global temperature, the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, and more. Should new homes be legally required to withstand natural disasters? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind By using clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and water, we can work to reduce the rising temperature and everything that comes with it. You can install solar panels or a heat pump, sign up for community solar, and electrify your home all of which will save you money, too. One expert says merely talking about the issue should be the top priority. 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. COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A Coffee County man has pleaded guilty to tax charges following an investigation by the Tennessee Department of Revenues Special Investigations Section. On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Judge Robert Carter accepted Matthew Aussikers guilty plea to two counts of depriving the state of its lawful revenue stemming from his fraudulent registration of two boats at the Coffee County Clerks Office, according to officials. The judge sentenced Aussiker to two years of supervised probation and ordered him to pay restitution to the Department of Revenue. Lawsuit against Tullahoma High School social media policy drops former principal from complaint The Department of Revenue strives to promote voluntary compliance of Tennessees tax laws by educating taxpayers and pursuing criminal sanctions for accountability of fraudulent actors, said Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano. This guilty plea underscores the departments efforts to ensure fair administration of Tennessees tax laws. The department said it worked with the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference while pursuing this criminal case. No additional details have been released about the investigation. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com If you suspect someone has violated Tennessees revenue laws, you are encouraged to call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at 800-372-8389. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Colorado school district sued for allegedly firing an employee for saying US is the greatest country in the world A Colorado school district faces a lawsuit by an employee who claims they were fired for expressing love of the USA (PA Wire) A Colorado school district is being sued for allegedly firing an educator who claimed the United States is the greatest country ever founded. America First Legal filed the lawsuit Thursday against the Cherry Creek School District claiming that the district violated Patrick Hogartys First Amendment rights when it pressured him to embrace race-based ideologies during a mandatory diversity training in January. During the training organized by Courageous Conversations, Hogarty, who was then Dean of Students at Campus Middle School, was asked, What does it mean to be White?, What experiences define Whiteness? and How do you identify? In response, he allegedly said that he identifies as an American, that he loves his country, and that he believes it is the greatest country ever founded. The program facilitators had assured participants that all comments would remain confidential and would not impact employment status, but the employees comments were reported to the school principal as having racist undertones, according to the lawsuit. Hogarty, who served as the Dean of Students from 2021 to 2024, according to America First Legal, was informed in March that his position was being eliminated by the district, who cited budgetary reasons. When he expressed that he did not believe their justification for eliminating his position, they placed him on administrative leave for unprofessional conduct. As alleged in the complaint, Cherry Creek School District blatantly violated the First Amendment rights of our client when they terminated him because his pride in the United States of America did not align with the districts political ideology that America is a systemically racist nation, America First Legal Senior Advisor Ian Prior wrote in the lawsuit. 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. He continued: 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. Officials from Cherry Creek School District did not respond to a request for comment in time for this report. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Ahead of National Neighbor Day on Sept. 28, Neighbor.com unveiled the results of its 5th Annual Most Neighborly Cities in America list and Colorado Springs has made the cut once again. The ranking took into account charitable donations, volunteerism, crime rates, voter turnout, and population growth. 2024s Overall Most Neighborly Cities in America are: Colorado Springs Madison, Wisconsin Virginia Beach, Virginia Des Moines, Iowa Provo, Utah Ogden, Utah Rochester, New York Seattle, Washington Richmond, Virginia Minneapolis, Minnesota The results showed that 60% of Americans rated living in a neighborly community as either very high or high priority when choosing where to live. The results also showed nearly 65% of people feel they can rely on their neighbors for help when needed. Im incredibly proud and honored that Colorado Springs has been ranked the most neighborly city in the United States, said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. Strong communities are built on the foundation of connectedness, where neighbors get to know, uplift, and support each other. One way weve promoted the spirit of neighborliness is our 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative, where we challenged residents to connect in meaningful ways whether through lively block parties or casual hangouts. This initiative is about connecting and activating our community, all in the spirit of addressing loneliness. We are on a mission to build a city of great neighbors. The City of Colorado Springs has emphasized community activation as one of its five strategic priority areas. Currently, more than 800 gatherings have been registered with the 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative. The initiatives goal is to help move people from isolation to community and support mental health. Congratulations to Colorado Springs and Mayor Yemi Mobolade on being named the most neighborly city in the country, said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The rest of the country is finding out what Coloradans already know about the incredible and friendly community of Colorado Springs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Columbus didnt take direct hit from Helene, but some residents still dealing with damage Hurricane Helene made its way through the state of Georgia throughout Thursday and into Friday morning. While the storm shifted and moved east of the local area, Columbus wasnt fully unharmed by the effects of the storm. A part of Sherri Priests house and a good portion of her yard on Forestside Drive are covered by a giant oak tree that fell Thursday night. Priest said she wasnt home when the tree fell on her house, but her dogs were. One of her dogs was in the kennel where the tree fell on the roof. Thankfully, the dog is alright, she said.. Priest said the experience has been devastating. The whole inside of my house is flooded, Priest told the Ledger-Enquirer. A large tree fell Thursday night on part of Sherri Priests house and yard on Forestside Drive in Columbus, causing damage. Hurricane Helene swept through the state of Georgia throughout Thursday night and Friday morning, causing damages around Columbus. 09/27/2024 Priest said her homeowners insurance dropped her a few months ago because of low-lying limbs over her house. Those limbs were on the tree that fell. We had somebody planned to come out to cut it, but they had gotten too busy, and then this happened, Priest said. At the time she was interviewed, Priests dad and uncle were there with a chainsaw starting to clear parts of the tree. I was kinda scared Around midnight, another tree had fallen over a roadway one block away on Berkley Avenue andtook down some power lines. Paul Lewis said there was a medium-hard rain when he heard the sound of crashing and told his wife, I think a limb fell or something. The limb actually was a tree which fell from the front yard of a house on the other side of the street, over Berkley Avenue and into Lewis yard. I was kinda scared because a friend of mine had been parking his car in front of my house, and it was raining too hard for me to go out there and look at it, Lewis said. A tree fell early Friday across the roadway of Berkley Avenue in Columbus. Hurricane Helene swept through Columbus Thursday night and Friday morning, causing downed trees around the city. 09/27/2024 When he was able to go out and look, his friends car wasnt there. Lewis said, at the time of the interview, he had been without power since the tree fell. As of 12:46 p.m Friday, the Georgia Power Outage map shows 11 outages in the Columbus area affecting 118 customers. On a scale of 1-10, Columbus emergency management Director Chance Corbett was bracing for Hurricane Helene to hit the area as an 8-10 storm when Thursday night became Friday morning. City officials prepared to respond to the predicted potential of catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene. After all, it had strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it approached the Big Bend in Florida, and weather forecasters estimated Columbus would be in its path. But around 6 a.m., when the storm had departed the local area after taking a more easterly direction through Georgia, Corbett breathed a sigh of relief. He said the effects of Hurricane Helene on Columbus amounted to a 1 on that scale of 1-10. Weve had worse severe thunderstorms, he told the Ledger-Enquirer. Corbett said he received no reports of injuries or significant damage from the storm overnight in Columbus. Parts of three city roads were closed overnight, Corbett said: Second Avenue ramp at JR Allen Parkway due to mud Double Churches Road due to a tree across the road River Road at Old River Road due to flooding. Trees fell along four more roads, but closures werent required, Corbett said: Lindsay Drive, Chesley Drive, Berkley Avenue and College Drive. A tree fell on College Drive at Columbus State Universitys main campus overnight from the storm associated with Hurricane Helene in the early hours of Sept. 27, 2024. City workers remove tree debris on East Lindsay Drive near the intersection with Meadowbrook Drive on Sept. 27, 2024, after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene. As of 7 a.m., the Georgia Power outage map showed 320 customers out of 89,481 without power from 15 outages. But in the far northeast part of Muscogee County, around Williams Road, 2,479 out of 2,705 Diverse Power customers were without power. Nonetheless, Corbett was grateful for the relatively benign circumstances. We were very nervous that Columbus was going to be inundated with flooding, inundated with trees down, road closures, power outages, he said. We do have some of that, but, honestly, it was a breath of fresh air that we avoided any major damage. People can get up and go to work this morning. Its amazing. We thought we were going to be out clearing streets most of the day, and weve avoided that. Its a very big relief for us. Midday update By midday, Corbett texted the following update to the Ledger-Enquirer: City tree fell in roadway at intersection of Steam Mill Road and Mt. Pleasant Drive. Private tree and limb from city tree fell in roadway at 3100 block of East Lindsay Drive. Private tree fell in roadway at intersection of Foyer Avenue and Evergreen Street. City tree fell on power lines and in road at 1600 block of Berkley Avenue. Private tree fell onto edge of road at 1600 block of Forestside Drive. Private tree fell onto roadway at 3300 block of Chestley Drive. Cooper Creek Park flooding and damage Cooper Creek Park is closed due to flooding, Corbett said. Parts of Cooper Creek Park in Columbus are flooded Sept. 27, 2024, after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. Two fallen power poles were seen in the park as well. A fallen power pole is shown Sept. 27, 2024, at Cooper Creek Park in Columbus after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. A fallen power pole is shown Sept. 27, 2024, at Cooper Creek Park in Columbus after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. Frustrated but grateful Alta Vista Drive resident LaTasha Cloud was relieved Friday morning that Hurricane Helene didnt cause more grief in Columbus. Cloud expressed frustration that her power still hadnt been restored when the Ledger-Enquirer interview her around 9:45 a.m. Friday after it went out around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, but she still was grateful the situation wasnt worse. Workers begin the process of restoring power to residents near the intersection of Forrest Road and Alta Vista Drive in Columbus on Sept. 27, 2024, after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. The length of the power outage caused the food she had in the refrigerator to spoil, Cloud said. Her children, including one recovering from surgery, spent the night at their grandmothers home to be safer and more comfortable. And the stretch of Forrest Road from Sheffield Drive to Marthas Loop still was blocked off while a crew worked to restore the power after a pine tree fell and a power pole was snapped in half. The intersection of Forrest Road and Alta Vista Drive is blocked in Columbus on Sept. 27, 2024, as a crew works to restore power to the neighborhood after the storm associated with Hurricane Helene came through the city. But, after she noted her friends in South Carolina lost their house when the roof caved in from the hurricane, Cloud had a brighter perspective. Beyond grateful, she said. I wont complain. I just want my power back on. By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices settled higher on Friday but fell on the week as investors weighed expectations for higher global supply against fresh stimulus from top crude importer China. Brent crude futures settled up 38 cents, or 0.53%, at $71.89 per barrel. Front-month U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 51 cents, or 0.75%, at $68.18. On a weekly basis, Brent settled down around 3%, while WTI fell by around 5%. China's central bank on Friday lowered interest rates and injected liquidity into the banking system, aiming to pull economic growth back toward this year's target of roughly 5%. More fiscal measures are expected to be announced before Chinese holidays starting on Oct. 1 after a meeting of the Communist Party's top leaders showed an increased sense of urgency about mounting economic headwinds. "Despite aggressive Chinese stimulus, concerns of oversupply from OPECs plan to bring production back have pushed prices lower," analysts at Aegis Hedging said in a note on Friday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, together known as OPEC+, will go ahead with plans to increase production by 180,000 bpd each month starting from December, two OPEC+ sources said. A Financial Times report on Wednesday said the planned increase is due to Saudi Arabia's decision to abandon a $100 oil price target and gain market share. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied targeting a certain oil price, and sources at the wider group told Reuters that the plans to raise output from December do not represent any major change from existing policy. And more barrels can be expected to enter the global market, after rival factions staking claims for control of the Central Bank of Libya signed an agreement to end their dispute on Thursday. The row had seen crude exports fall to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) this month from more than 1 million last. In the U.S., some operators have begun to resume operations in the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday night, with Chevron on Friday redeploying personnel and restoring production at company-operated platforms. Meanwhile, the destruction of the hurricane, counted as the seventh most powerful to slam into Florida, could weigh on fuel demand in the state, which is the third-largest gasoline consumer in the U.S. "The aftermath of the hurricane is bearish really for demand, a large amount of the state got battered enough that demand should take a hit," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. Story continues Meanwhile, U.S. consumer spending edged higher in August in a sign that the world's largest economy carried on momentum in the third quarter, as inflation pressures steady. "U.S. inflation data opens the door for further Fed rate cuts," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half of a percentage point last week, kicking off what was expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy. Putting a floor on prices, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Israel's attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday show it "does not care" about efforts to bring about a ceasefire. Rising tensions in the Middle East could pose a threat to global crude supplies. (Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston, Robert Harvey and Paul Carsten in London, Gabrielle Ng in Singapore and Shariq Khan in New York; editing by Jason Neely, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens, Alexander Smith, David Gregorio and Cynthia Osterman) Columbus police looking for missing 66-year-old woman last seen on 15th Street COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Columbus police are searching for a woman who was reported missing on Sept. 26. Barbara Bass, 66, was last seen in the 1100 block of 15th Street after leaving the Stewart Community Home, according to the Columbus Police Department. Police say she failed to return by 9 p.m. on Sept. 26. Bass stands at 5-foot-10-inches and weighs about 305 pounds. She is described as having gray and white hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449, Sgt. Thomas Hill at 706-225-4345 or 911. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 police search for missing man last seen on Portland Avenue COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a man who was last seen over a week ago. Police say Christian Benton, 36, was reported missing on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The last time Benton was seen, he was at the 700 block of Portland Avenue on Thursday, Sept. 19 at about 9:30 p.m. His clothing description is unknown. Police describe Brenton as standing at 5-foot-2 and weighing 150lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at (706) 225-3449, or lead investigator Cpl. Emily Stice at (706) 225-4366. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 late Mark Berman, co-founder of Cell Surgical Network, injects a patient in 2014 with a solution he said was rich in adult stem cells, at his practice in Beverly Hills. A federal appeals court just ruled in favor of the FDA's regulatory campaign against the clinic network. (Raquel Maria Dillon / AP) Just as it began to seem that the battle against pseudoscience in medicine was being lost, a federal appeals court in San Francisco delivered a huge win for the Food and Drug Administration on its science-based regulation of stem cell clinics. The three-member panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the FDA's definition of processed stem cells as a "drug" was correct. The judges also accepted the FDA's definition of its authority to regulate clinics offering purported stem cell treatments. "The FDA's interpretation... is the only interpretation that makes sense," wrote Judge Jennifer Sung in her portion of a two-part unanimous ruling announced Friday. The ruling is important for the FDA's campaign against medical clinics offering unproven treatments using patients' stem cells. Hundreds of such clinics have sprung up around the country, luring customers with claims that their treatments can address conditions including Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, macular degeneration, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's and even erectile dysfunction. The FDA says no scientifically validated evidence supports any of those claims, and warns the public against stem cell-related "unscrupulous hype." This case was aimed at clinics operating under the labels Cell Surgical Network and California Stem Cell Treatment Center, which the FDA said were giving patients illegal drugs at clinics in Beverly Hills and Rancho Mirage. Read more: Column: In blow to public health, judge tosses FDA lawsuit targeting a clinic offering unproven stem cell treatments The agency had earlier won a case against a Florida stem cell clinic on claims that were virtually identical to those of the California case; that ruling in federal trial court was upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021. The defendants also included Drs. Mark Berman and Elliott Lander, the enterprises' founders and operators. Berman died in May 2022, a few months before federal Judge Jesus Bernal of Riverside ruled against the FDA in the case. The appeals court overturned Bernal's verdict and sent the case back to him for further proceedings. Lander and the clinics didn't respond to my requests for comment on the appellate ruling. The clinics operated by extracting a patient's fat by liposuction, processing the fat to extract stem cells and injecting the stem cells back into the patients. They typically charged $8,900 per treatment, or a package of 12 treatments for $41,500, the judges observed. The defendants argued that their procedures fell within exemptions from FDA regulations. The key exemption applies to cells or tissues extracted and reimplanted in patients in a single surgical procedure. That exemption, the FDA argued, applies only when the cells or tissues aren't changed or manipulated between extraction and reimplantation. In sum, the FDA argued that what the clinics reimplanted was no longer identical to the fat, and also that process was more than a single surgical procedure. The appeals court ruled in the FDA's favor on both points. "This is a big victory for the FDA, patients, and the stem cell field," said Paul Knoepfler, a biologist at UC Davis who has been tracking the proliferation of clinics selling unproven stem cell therapies for years. "It also fits nicely with [the] earlier ruling in the FDA's favor...Together, these rulings seem coherent and establish that the FDA has the clear authority to regulate this class of unproven fat cell therapies as a drug." Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Commuter rail train disabled in Beverly crash after driver ignored safety gates, police say A crash disabled a commuter rail train between Beverly and Newburyport on Thursday. The driver took off but their collision ripped off their bumper, MBTA Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan told Boston 25 News. According to Transit Police, the driver ignored the crossing safety gates that were on. 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 Prosecco 1754 Ltd and its director Marcus Hilton were both fined [West Yorkshire Trading Standards] A man from Wakefield has been fined for selling 'skinny' prosecco that had too much sugar in it. Marcus Hilton, 45, director of, Prosecco 1754 Ltd, admitted selling a misleading product ahead of his sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on Friday. Mr Hilton and the company had each been charged with two counts of breaching the Food Safety Act 1990. Prosecco 1754 Ltd was fined 2,700 plus 2,000 in court costs, while Mr Hilton was fined 1,400 plus 2,000 in court costs. 'Misleading product' Ayman Khokhar, prosecuting on behalf of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said Prosecco 1754's website offered a low-calorie form of the alcoholic drink for sale, "the presentation of which was likely to mislead". The company also offered for sale Skinny Prosecco Rose 1754, which was the subject of the same charge. Judge Thomas Bayliss said: "The prosecco has got too much sugar in it, more than it should have." The court heard that in May 2019, Trading Standards officer Zafar Shah visited the company premises in Wakefield to follow up a complaint made regarding the 'skinny' branded products being sold online. Mr Shah took samples and a report concluded that the Skinny Prosecco sample and its description on the company website breached food and drink regulations. Mr Khokhar said that the law to market a product as 'reduced' requires a 30% reduction in energy content. However the 'skinny' sample only had a 6.6% reduction. Mr Shah sent an infringement report to the company requesting that the term skinny was removed from the name of the product, but as of December 2021 no changes has been made. On 7 July 2022, Mr Hilton admitted the breaches, describing them as "an oversight". Mr Khokhar said: "Trading Standards did not say that anyone's health was put at risk but there could have been a diabetic consume them. "That's the only risk, other than those who wanted to get slim for their summer holidays." The judge said this customer was "hypothetical" and there was no evidence of anyone being put at risk. He said: "Skinny Prosecco turned out to be not so skinny, and you knew it was not so skinny and yet you continued selling it for quite some time." David Strover, head of Trading Standards said: "We repeatedly advised this business to amend their labelling, but they were intransigent and failed to act on our advice." 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 on this story Related internet links ATHENS, WV (WVNS) Concord University called on former Mountain Lions for their Giving Day. Giving day is designated to collecting donations for The Concord Fund. The fund supports scholarships, campus improvements and other University related projects. Concord hopes to hit a goal of 600 donors. Financial pledges and matching gifts are currently being accepted for the 2024 Day of Giving. Concord University gifted a donation from the Enterprise Mobility Foundation Really a great way for our alumni and our friends of Concord and the community to come together to show their support for Concord, said Blake Farmer, the Director of Alumni and Donor Relations. Donations are accepted from September 26th to September 27th at noon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Organizations and volunteers from Connecticut are responding to those affected by Hurricane Helene. Joe Apicelli, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, will board a plane from Connecticut to Georgia on Saturday. Helene slams the South with wind, rain and flooding Im going to be driving our emergency response vehicles, he said. Those vehicles are capable of going through the neighborhoods that have been affected by the disaster. Im going to be able to go house to house, door to door with hot meals, food, snacks, water, information. This mission marks his 60th national deployment with the organization. Im honored, Apicelli said. Im blessed to have that much time in. You dont have to go out for two to three weeks like Im about to do. You can do locals, respond to fires, you can find a niche in your life that will change your life. Stamford-based Americares is sending a response team to Florida and will be on the ground this weekend. How to help victims of Hurricane Helene Once our team gets on the ground, they will start immediately connecting with our network of partners across the state to determine what their needs are so we can ensure survivors of this massive storm can still access their healthcare afterward, said Mariel Fonteyn, the director for U.S. Emergency Repsonde for Americares. On Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) approved a request for the Connecticut National Guard to respond to North Carolina to assist with disaster response and relief efforts. A chinook helicopter takes off A chinook helicopter takes off A chinook helicopter takes off Lamonts office said a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and five-solider flight crew with the 1-169th Aviation Regiment left Windsor Locks Friday morning. They will be in North Carolina for about a week. The soldiers were assigned primarily to aid in transporting personnel and commodities such as food, water, equipment, and things of that nature, said Maj. Mike Wilcoxson, director of public affairs with the Connecticut National Guard. We love as Connecticuts home team to support our community here in Connecticut within our borders, whenever we can, but that extends to 50 states during times like this. The Salvation Army in Connecticut said it is ready to respond. Later Friday, Lamont also announced that the state will send a search and rescue team to North Carolina. It plans to stay there for seven days. To assist in the response to Helene, our parent company, Nexstar Media, is partnering with The American Red Cross to help with relief efforts. Donations to the Red Cross are critical for relief efforts from this storm and future disasters. People looking to donate to the American Red Cross as they assist those affected by Hurricane Helene can do so 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 WTNH.com. 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 Following a chaotic first session of the Thuringian state parliament in eastern Germany after a far-right party got the most votes in a recent election, the Thuringian Constitutional Court is to decide how to proceed. Chaos broke out on Thursday when the senior legislator of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Jurgen Treutler, refused to grant other parties' requests to speak, or file motions or debate on procedural rule changes. The state constitutional court is due to rule on Friday on an urgent application by the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction, which it says other parties will participate in, to allow other parties to put forward candidates for president of the state parliament. The session abruptly adjourned amid a standoff over the AfD's plans to put forward Wiebke Muhsal for the role. 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 and newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) submitted a motion that would allow all parliamentary groups to propose candidates from the outset, but Treutler ignored this, prompting the CDU to accuse him of exceeding his authority "This was an attack on parliamentary rights, on the constitution and on every single member of parliament," said Thuringian CDU leader Mario Voigt. "What you are doing here is a seizure of power," CDU member Andreas Buhl said. It is not yet clear how the Constitutional Court will decide. The AfD can also weigh in. But because this is an urgent matter, the judges will deliberate but decide without an oral hearing, a spokesman said when asked. Although the court is cognizant of the time pressure, the state parliament cannot set the time frame for the court, he said. The constitutional court is not expected to reach a decision until Friday at the earliest. As such, the state parliament session has been postponed until Saturday at 9:30 am (0730 GMT), but it is uncertain if a court decision will have been made by then. According to the lawyer Maximilian Steinbeis, the AfD, as the strongest faction, only has the right to propose the candidate for the state parliament president's job - but does not the right to have that candidate also elected. "That is the free decision of the members of the new Thuringian state parliament as to whom they want to elect as their president. And the constitution doesn't give the AfD any more rights as the strongest faction," Steinbeis said on Thursday evening on the public broadcaster ZDF's evening news show. Steinbeis is the founder of blog that deals with constitutional questions and on what would happen if "authoritarian populist parties were to gain state power." 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 HONOLULU (KHON2) A contentious bill aimed at relaxing fireworks regulations on Oahu has moved forward, advancing to the full city council. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Bill 22 passed its second reading today after a delay in June that allowed for more public input on the issue. If approved, the measure would permit the sale of novelty fireworks, excluding firecrackers, without the need for a permit. However, aerial displays would still require professional handling. Remaining Mountain West members recommit to conference Honolulu City Council member Andria Tupola criticized the current fireworks ban, stating, The fireworks ban is not working. Waipahu lights up, and its a favorite place for everyone to watch. At this point, we would be delusional to think that continuing along this path will yield positive results. Bacon made from flowers? Its mind-blowing Tina Yamaki of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that allowing consumer fireworks sales would benefit both retailers and the community. All other counties in Hawaii currently permit the sale of these types of fireworks. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Under the proposed bill, permits would still be required for the use of firecrackers during New Years, the Fourth of July, Chinese New Year, and other cultural events. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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: Corey Branch District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District C Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 46 Campaign website: www.coreybranch.com Current occupation: Associate Director - Kyndryl (Network Engineer) Education: Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering Offices Sought/Held: Incumbent City Council, District C Please list any notable government or civic involvement. * GoTriangle - Board of Directors (2019Present) * Transit and Transportation Committee Member (2015present), Chair (2017present) * Growth and Natural Resources Committee Vice Chair (2022present) * Economic Development Committee Member (201522) * Lightner Y Achievers Advisory Board (2017present) * ArtSpace Board of Directors (201723) * Leadership Triangle Board of Directors (201721) * Passage Homes Board of Directors (201723) * Evolve Mentoring Board of Directors (201521) * Broadening Corporate Board Diversity: Earning a Board Seat Training (2014) * WakeUp Wake County Board of Directors (201315) * Marrkens Development Group Board of Directors (201215), Chair (201415) * Raleigh Transit Authority Member (201115) * Committee to Keep Judge Craig Croom Treasurer (200415) * Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Leadership at Chapter, State, Regional and National levels (2001present) * Phi Lambda Educational Foundation Board of Directors Member (200608) Which City Council District do you live in? C What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? Economic development, especially through support for small businesses, is a top issue because it plays a significant role in public safety. I plan to review our permitting processes, explore dedicating staff to assist businesses with navigating city procedures, and increase minority and Black business participation in providing city services. Additionally, I will work to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills. By enhancing support for small businesses, we can create more job opportunities for youth and young adults, which will help reduce crime and improve public safety. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? During my time on council, we passed and are implementing the citys largest housing bond. Weve also allocated dedicated funds for housing, approved over 3,000 affordable units in District C, and sold land to Habitat for Humanity at a reduced price to promote affordable homeownership. I will continue supporting these policies and work to create new ones that increase housing inventory. A major focus will be streamlining the permitting process to meet housing demand more efficiently. In early 2025, I plan to bring together the Planning and Permitting departments, Triangle Apartment Association, and Home Builders Association to address ongoing permitting challenges. While weve made some progress, delays persist, and Im committed to finding timely solutions. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits? I support continuing to partner with nonprofits to produce more affordable units and exploring incentives for developers to include affordable units in their projects. We must ensure that affordable housing is available across the entire city. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? I believe that keeping and supporting the Red Hat Amphitheater downtown is the best option, and I fully support it. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? Raleighs growth is just right, given that we are among the top five fastest-growing places in the U.S. However, we must ensure that all residents have opportunities to engage positively in this growth, in ways that benefit their lives and communities. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? We have lost some historic properties for various reasons, and since many of these properties are privately owned, preservation ultimately lies with the owners. The city has worked to save some properties, and I look forward to collaborating with the newly formed Preservation Raleigh group to educate the community and find ways to preserve and utilize historic properties to honor our past while moving the city forward. (Bloomberg) -- Panamas finance chief sees no good reason why First Quantum Minerals Ltd. shouldnt export the large volume of copper stockpiled at its shuttered mine in the country. Most Read from Bloomberg The government is working with a third party on an environmental assessment to quantify the amount of copper concentrate stored at the mine and determine when it was extracted, Finance Minister Felipe Chapman said Friday. The copper cannot lie sitting there forever. It has to be taken out, and if you are going to take it out, you might as well export it, Chapman said in an interview in Bloombergs New York headquarters. We have to complete the due diligence before making a decision. Even Panamas most radical environmentalists havent argued against exporting the copper that has already been mined, he added. The mine has been sitting idle in the jungle for nearly a year after the Supreme Court ruled last year the companys operating contract was unconstitutional. Its closure hit economic growth and government revenue, led Fitch Ratings to cut the nations credit rating to junk. The mine had accounted for about 1.5% of global copper production and about 4% of Panamas gross domestic product. The firm has filed an arbitration suit against Panama. Panamas government is focused on approving a social security reform before this year ends, and will discuss the mines future next year, Chapman said. He said First Quantum must withdraw its arbitration suit before talks can begin between the firm and the administration of President Jose Raul Mulino, who took office in July. We are more than willing to sit down and talk with them as long as they drop their intentions of suing the government, Chapman said. Thats our pre-condition. Writing on the Wall Chapman, a former business consultant, advised the mine when First Quantum was negotiating a revised operating contract under the previous government. The revised contract granted First Quantum an extension to operate the mine for up to 40 years, a tax payment of at least $375 million and a royalty rate of between 12-16% depending on operating margins. He said he warned the company that the revised contract was likely to fail because it didnt include enough revenue for the government, among other reasons. Story continues It was written on the wall, a huge wall, and they just ignored it, he said. The mine was shuttered following months of violent protests that blocked Panamas main roads and highways. Chapman said sentiment has changed in the past two months as the government seeks to regain public trust. He said the government is studying alternatives such as opening the mine for a shorter time frame, improving environmental oversight and regulation of the mine and re-reading public sentiment, which will help guide decisions next year. You have political capital to use it, Chapman said. The current level of political capital is very high, and it will be used in the interest of the people of Panama. Ugly Outlook The government is striving to prevent further downgrades to its credit rating in the short term, and improve on it over the medium-term, Chapman said. This year, its going to look ugly in fiscal terms. Thats anticipated by everyone, including us, he said. Next year is going to be quite different. The government is targeting a fiscal deficit of 3% to 3.5% of gross domestic product for 2025. This year, the government had originally targeted 4%, but now accepts its going to be higher than that, he said. Short term measures to rein in the deficit include an expense freeze, he said. He said that he sees himself as a bad cop, and the complaints he receives reassure him that hes doing his job. The country plans to narrow the deficit in such as a way as to have a soft landing, he said. Panama is not in a financial crisis, we dont need shock therapy, he said. The nations bonds sold off last year after the government moved to shut the mine. In the aftermath of the closure, Fitch cut the the country to junk. Investors then feared a second cut by Moodys Ratings or S&P Global Ratings which would lead to the loss of the nations investment-grade status. The second downgrade has yet to happen. The debt is already being treated as junk by investors, however, who demand a premium to hold Panamas bonds over those of similarly-rated nations. The economy will expand 2.5% this year, accelerating to 4% in 2025, according to the ministrys forecasts. Without the mines closure, this years expansion would have been two percentage points higher, he said. (Updates with additional comment from finance minister in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Costco Debunks Diddy's Lawyer's Claim About The 'Bulk' Buying Of Baby Oil From Them Costco has been forced to set the record straight regarding claims that embattled hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs purchased a massive amount of baby oil from their stores. The rapper was recently arrested and slammed with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. Diddy is reportedly not getting preferential treatment behind bars and has a tight schedule while he awaits his trial. Costco Addresses Claim That Diddy Bought Baby Oil From Them In 'Bulk' MEGA The popular retail chain has distanced itself from claims that the rapper purchased a bulk supply of baby oil and lubricants from them. According to TMZ, a spokesperson noted that none of the company's U.S. stores have the product in question. A search on the members-only warehouse retailer's site shows that it offers nothing like baby oil. However, it does sell hair and cleansing gel for babies, which isn't close to baby oil. Diddy's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, made the Cosco remark during an appearance on TMZ's new documentary, "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment." Agnifilo's claims came after Homeland Security agents released a 14-page indictment against the "Bad Boy For Life" rapper. In it, they disclosed that they confiscated 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricants from his L.A. and Miami homes back in March. The Rapper's Lawyer Doubts There Were Actually 1000 Bottles Of Baby Oil MEGA Agnifilo noted that Diddy had such a large stash of baby oil bottles and lube because he preferred to buy his products in bulk. "I don't know where the number 1,000 came from," he explained to TMZ in a preview of their documentary. "I can't imagine it's thousands." Upon being told that the number came from the indictment against his client, he retorted that he wasn't "really sure what the baby oil has to do with anything." Agnifilo noted, "I don't know what you need 1,000... One bottle of baby oil goes a long way. I don't know what you'd even need 1,000 for." "He has a big house; he buys in bulk," the lawyer continued. "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 seen what people walk out of there with?" Agnifilo also seemed to disagree with the indictment's claim regarding the exact number of baby oil bottles found in the rapper's home, saying, "Let's just say it's a lot." Diddy To Take The Stand In His Criminal Case MEGA Diddy 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. According to TMZ, his attorney shared that he will take the witness stand to testify in his criminal sex trial. Agnifilo noted that although the move is risky, Diddy is in the best position to defend himself in court. He shared that Diddy's story involves love, hurt, and heartbreak, so "there's no one better to defend Diddy than Diddy himself." Diddy testifying in court will open him up to the possibility of being scrutinized and cross-examined by prosecutors, especially in the face of a viral hotel surveillance footage that saw him physically assault his ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura. He may also be asked about his alleged orgies called "freak-offs," as well as other sexual assault allegations that have been leveled against him recently. No Special Treatment For Diddy In Jail MEGA Because of his celebrity status, speculation has been rife about how Diddy is being treated during his jail stay. However, a source told People Magazine that he doesn't get preferential treatment behind bars and has seemingly had to deal 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," the source shared. "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." A Diddy Docuseries Will Be Released On Netflix MEGA Diddy's longtime rival, 50 Cent, recently gave a statement regarding the release of a Netflix docuseries, which will spotlight abuse allegations made against Diddy. "This is a story with significant human impact," 50 Cent told Variety. "It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far." He continued, "We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives. 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." 50 Cent concluded his statement: "We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the culture's broader contributions." If you rely on state ferries to get around, the cost of your commute will go up again next week. Washington State Ferries (WSF) is bumping up the price of a ticket by more than 4% on Tuesday, October 1. The change affects every route. It is something the agency warned us about last year when it raised prices by an additional 4%. The new transportation budget requires state ferries to generate about $419 million in revenue by 2025. According to the Washington State Transportation Commission, fares fund 57% of WSFs operations and maintenance. To find the new fares for routes, click here. WSF says that Tuesday is also the first day with no peak season surcharge for vehicles. In May, prices for roundtrips went up nearly $10. A roundtrip from Edmonds to Kingston costing a couple with a standard car just shy of $60. The price is the same for a roundtrip between Bremerton and Seattle. The surcharge will resume on May 1. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Mayor Brett Smiley said he believes while Hasbros ancestral home is in Pawtucket, the capital city should be considered if a deal cant be reached to keep the toymaker there. Hasbro executives confirmed last week theyre seeking to relocate and have been exploring new space in the Greater Boston area. The company has been headquartered in Rhode Island for more than century. But Pawtucket leaders are still holding onto hope that Hasbro will keep its headquarters in the city, even if its not on Newport Avenue. The executive director of the Pawtucket Foundation has floated the former Apex site as an alternative location. But even if Hasbro was interested, that may not be possible. The city announced Tuesday it had received four proposals from companies to redevelop the 14-acre Apex site following an open competitive bidding process. Smiley told reporters at an unrelated event in Providence on Friday that he had been in touch with Gov. Dan McKee about the companys future plans. If Pawtucket turns out to not be an option, I would, of course, love for them to be in Providence, Smiley said. I think theres a couple exciting possibilities in Providence. Smiley has had the ear of Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks in recent days. The mayor said he saw Cocks at the Fall 2024 Economic Outlook Luncheon hosted by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 16. The luncheon also advertised a featured conversation with the companys CEO. I actually sat at his table and hes a resident in city of Providence, so I know him a little bit and we had a chance to chat that day, Smiley said. The Boston Business Journal first reported the companys potential move later that afternoon. Its not the first time Smiley has been involved in talks with the company, which has considered moving to Massachusetts before. He recalled discussions that took place when he was a senior aide to then-Gov. Gina Raimondo, who he said had a close relationship with Hasbros chairman and CEO at the time, Brian Goldner. (Goldner passed away in 2021.) We were starting to work on a really competitive, and I think, compelling proposal to keep Hasbro in Rhode Island; the first choice was Pawtucket, Smiley said. Thats their sort of ancestral home, if you will. The mayor said he had confidence that McKees team is working on a proposal to keep Hasbro in Rhode Island, but said the companys CEO should give Providence another look before deciding to move out of state. Smiley said hes been in touch with the companys chief executive in recent days. I think theres a lot of really exciting things happening in the city, and theres a lot of good reasons for Hasbro to want to be in Providence: access to talent, a dynamic economy, and a really exciting local workforce that would be thrilled to have Hasbro join them as a new corporate partner and neighbor, the mayor added. As for where that may be in Providence, Smiley said he had a few ideas brewing, including the former I-195 land in downtown Providence. The latter idea has been floated publicly by Laurie White, who leads the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. But I also know that Capital Center, which is the area adjacent to the train station, is hard to beat in terms of connectivity, Smiley said. Train service to Boston, New York and to T.F. Green. Smiley said his team at City Hall is holding internal meetings to consider proposals they could offer Hasbro in order to be ready to go when that moment arises. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some solar farms have been approved by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband [EPA] Nottinghamshire councillors have formally expressed concern at some government decisions to approve large-scale solar farms. A motion, discussed at a county council meeting on Thursday, said the approval of some projects may have been rushed through without considering the views of local residents. It comes after a major solar farm on the border of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire was given the go-ahead by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The government said it was important for local views to be taken into account. Ed Miliband has been energy secretary since July [PA Media] The motion, tabled by Conservative councillor Tracey Taylor, says the authority recognises the value of renewable energy, but also expressed concerns that Milibands decisions may not have taken account of previous expert advice. It added the Conservative-run council would make appropriate representations setting out the environmental and infrastructure impacts of any proposals for solar farms in Nottinghamshire. Taylor told the meeting there had been an explosion of applications for nationally significant infrastructure, and a cynical and dangerous change in approach from developers. Labour councillor Penny Gowland said she thought the energy secretary made a "very well informed decision" based on briefings from experts, and that there was "no suggestion he did it at the stroke of a pen." Independent councillor Steve Carr questioned if Conservative councillors were "climate change deniers". "In a hundred years time when people are being threatened by rising sea levels, they won't be saying isn't it a good job back in 2024 that they didn't put solar farms in inappropriate places," he said. The motion passed by 44 votes to 2, with 15 abstentions. Nottinghamshire County Councillors debated the motion at a meeting on Thursday [BBC] A huge solar farm on the border of Rutland and Leicestershire was also approved by the government in July, and a major project near Newark is due to enter a second round of consultation later this year. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: Solar power is at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower and the energy secretary has consented more solar capacity since July than has been installed in the past year. It is also important local views are taken into account, and where communities live near clean energy infrastructure, they should benefit directly from it. "We are considering a range of options and incentives to better match where energy is generated and used. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Related links Couple accused of trying to sell baby for 6-pack and $1K check Couple accused of trying to sell baby for 6-pack and $1K check BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KSNW) An Arkansas couple are accused of trying to sell their baby for a six-pack of beer and a $1,000 cashiers check. Our sister station KNWA/KFTA reports that Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, are facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to negotiate the relinquishment of a minor for adoption. The couple were arrested on Sept. 21. A witness told investigators that Urban and Ehlers wrote a letter granting custody of their baby to another person in exchange for money. The letter signed by the pair included a disclaimer stating, There will be no changing yall twos minds and to never contact again. Ellis County Sheriff warns of classic car scam Another witness said a man offered to take the baby from the couple for the night for a six-pack of beer. Later, the couple signed the document and were reportedly promised a $1,000 check that would be delivered the following Monday. Another witness noticed the baby had severe diaper rash, blisters, and swelling when they changed the 2-month-olds soil diaper. They took photos to document the injuries that they turned over to investigators. EMS took the baby to a childrens hospital for treatment and evaluation. The couple were arrested and formally charged earlier this week. Urban has bonded out of jail, while Ehlers remains jailed on a $30,000 bond. A trial date is pending. The couple have been appointed public defenders. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Couple who allegedly tried to give away baby for beer, $1,000 arrested: Reports An Arkansas couple was arrested after they allegedly tried to sell their 2-month-old baby at a campground for some beer and $1,000. There will be no changing yall twos minds Benton County Sheriffs deputies responded to the Hide Away Campground in Rogers, Arkansas on Saturday after a caller said a young couple tried to give up their baby in exchange for money and a six-pack of beer, People reported. When officers arrived at the campgrounds, the baby was taken to a local hospital to receive medical attention. Deputies found that the parents of the child, Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, had given their baby to a man to watch overnight in exchange for a six-pack of beer. The man who took the baby spoke with police and said that he was concerned for the babys welfare, according to KWCH 12 News. Ehlers told the man who exchanged the beer for the baby and another person that having three dogs and a baby was "not working" and she was willing to surrender the baby for $1,000. The other man wrote a letter for the couple to sign which read, "I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing over to [redacted] of our baby boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 09/21/2024." The letter was signed by both parents and included a disclaimer that read: "Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall twos minds and to never contact again," according to People. Baby smelled of ammonia, fecal matter A woman who told detectives that Ehlers had come to her earlier that evening asking for beer said the baby smelled like ammonia and fecal matter. The babys diaper was also full, People reported. She changed the babys diaper and saw that he had a heavy rash, blisters and swelling on his buttocks and genitals, according to an affidavit obtained by People. The woman also claimed she saw dog hair in the babys diaper. Parents arrested Both Urban and Ehlers were arrested on Saturday and given a $50,000 bail. Urban appears to have been released while Ehlers remains in custody, according to jail records. The baby is in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, People reported. Antonia Sullivan and her partner, Bradley Smith, were both ordered to complete 270-300 hours of community work - Facebook A couple who engaged in a sex act on a plane in front of other passengers have been convicted of outraging public decency. Bradley Smith, 22, and Antonia Sullivan, 20, were escorted off an easyJet flight by police on March 3. The pair, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, had been returning to Bristol from a holiday in Tenerife, Spain, on a packed 7am flight. Minutes after take-off, unemployed Smith was heard asking his girlfriend to perform a sex act on him, The Sun reported. Sullivan, sitting in 16B, began rearranging coats on Smiths lap, who was by the window in 16A, and obliged, to the shock of fellow passengers. Their neighbour in 16C later reported the couple to the cabin crew. No regard for the feelings of other passengers Prosecutor Maree Doyle told Bristol magistrates court: After a few minutes the witness was aware that the couple had rearranged some coats over Smiths lap and there followed vigorous hand movements beneath the coats. The witness sitting next to them could see what was happening while a mother and teenage daughter sitting behind the couple could also see what was going on. Sullivan pleaded guilty to outraging public decency - Facebook Doyle added that the teenager had told her mother she could see his bits, prompting the parent to also complain. Sullivan insisted to flight attendants that she was only rubbing Smiths leg, but both were escorted from the plane when it reached Bristol by an easyJet manager and police. The couple pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of outraging public decency by committing a sexual act in a public place. Sentencing the couple, 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 ordered to complete 300 hours of community work, while Sullivan, a full-time care worker, received 270 hours. They were both ordered to pay 100 compensation to each of the three witnesses. An easyJet spokeswoman said: We can confirm that this flight to Bristol was met by police on arrival, due to the behaviour of two passengers onboard. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police have released new surveillance video of a robbery and shooting at a storage facility in Northeast Memphis that happened on Monday morning. According to police, five suspects held up a woman and her boyfriend at a storage business on Summer Avenue. The boyfriend was shot during the robbery. He told police the robbers demanded his wallet before hitting him in the head and shooting him in the leg. The group then robbed his girlfriend. Justin Johnson found guilty in Young Dolph murder Police say four men and a woman were involved in the robbery. One suspect even fired a shot before the group drove away. Business owners in the area say they fear crime is moving in. We moved down here from White Station because crime was so bad down there, said Susan Tanner, owner of Pink Ribbons. In 2019, Tanner moved her business to Summer Avenue because she wanted to be somewhere safer. Tanner says she noticed the yellow tape in the parking lot but because of the location of her business she didnt think anything of it. MS homeowner shot after attempted home invasion I just thought it was construction tape. We see it all the time, Tanner said. It really bothers me that the crime could be moving down this way. Theres no fear of consequences and the judicial system is just going to have to step up and make them pay for their crimes. This is still an ongoing investigation. 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. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner takes questions from reporters after a press conference in Harrisburg on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 (Capital-Star photo). The impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives started in 2022 expired with that years legislative session, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The impeachment effort of DA Krasner is dead, null, void, over, John Summers, Krasners attorney before the Supreme Court, said. As a result, a Senate trial on charges of misconduct in office against Krasner will not take place. Taken with a January 2023 opinion from a Commonwealth Court panel that the allegations in the articles of impeachment that the House approved in November 2022 were unconstitutional, the Supreme Courts ruling is a double victory for Krasner, Summers said. The ruling today is really an affirmation of the role of an independent court system in a Democracy, Summers said, noting that Krasner has been elected twice by broad margins. He called the impeachment an effort hatched by non-Philadelphia legislators to step in and nullify the votes of Philadelphia voters. State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware), who served as lead impeachment manager in the House, said the Supreme Court decision leaves the substance of allegations in the articles of impeachment unresolved. It is important to note the court did not answer if the allegations of misbehavior in office met the constitutional standard for impeachment and conviction for the same, Williams said in a statement. Those questions must be resolved by the Supreme Court. The rule of law and the publics confidence in the criminal justice system requires it. Krasner, who was first elected in 2018, was criticized for his progressive criminal justice policies and was one of several Democratic prosecutors targeted by Republicans in the backlash of racial unrest following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Approved by a 107-85 vote, the articles of impeachment charged Krasner with dereliction of duty and refusal to enforce the law, obstructing the select committee empaneled to investigate his office, and violations of rules of professional conduct, judicial conduct, victims rights and the state constitution. In her opinion for the Commonwealth Court, Judge Ellen Ceisler found that the allegations against Krasner did not rise to the required constitutional standard. Instead, the House simply appears not to approve of the way [Krasner] has chosen to run his office, Ceisler wrote. Regardless of whether any of the Houses concerns have substantive merit, it remains that such disagreements, standing alone, are not enough to create a constitutionally sound basis for impeaching and removing [Krasner]. Summers said Thursday that in addition to affirming the Commonwealth Courts decision, the Supreme Court said the plain language of the state constitution instructs that when the House exercises its power of impeachment during one session of the General Assembly, a trial must be held by the Senate of the same session. Pennsylvania legislative sessions are held for about two years, running from the first Tuesday of January following a presidential or midterm election to Nov. 30 of the following year. The articles of impeachment against Krasner were approved in the House on Nov. 16, 2022, and were transferred to theSenate on Nov 30, 2022, the same day both the House and Senate formally ended the 2021-2022 legislative session. In her decision for the Supreme Court majority, Chief Justice Debra Todd wrote that the constitution provides that the House and Senate cease to exist as functioning bodies at the end of each two year session. All powers granted by the Constitution to the House of Representatives and the Senate last only for the duration of the session of the General Assembly in which those bodies came into being, Todd wrote. 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, given that they are constitutionally distinct entities, the majority opinion says. The case was decided by five members of the seven justice court, with Justice Sallie Mundy issuing a separate opinion dissenting in part. Justices Kevin Dougherty and Kevin Brobson did not participate in the decision. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Michigan Court of Appeals said this week there's not enough evidence to support a charge of involuntary manslaughter against a Detroit gas station clerk, who in May 2023 was accused of locking patrons inside the store during an argument with a man who would go on to shoot three people inside, killing one. The court ruled Wednesday that prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence to prove that the clerk, Al-Hassan Aiyash, was a "proximate cause" of the killing by the suspected gunman Samuel McCray. Maria Miller, a spokesperson for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, said the charge against Aiyash is "essentially dismissed" following the court's decision. The office is still determining its next steps in the case, Miller said. While prosecutors argued McCray's actions could have been reasonably predicted based on his verbal threats and the ways in which Aiyash escalated the situation, the Michigan Court of Appeals found that none of Aiyash's actions "made it reasonably foreseeable" that the gunman would intentionally kill a patron. Aiyash did not know McCray or that he struggled with mental health issues, the court wrote in its opinion. He also did not know that McCray was armed with a gun, the court wrote. "While it was certainly foreseeable that defendants conduct would anger McCray, it was not reasonably foreseeable that making McCray angry would cause him to intentionally kill another patron, especially considering defendants utter lack of knowledge about McCray," the court opined. "Even McCrays threats to shoot the other patrons did not make it reasonably foreseeable that he would do so because nothing in the record suggests that defendant knew either that McCray was armed or that McCrays judgment was so compromised that he would actually shoot innocent bystanders over a dispute." The court's decision mentioned that it's rare to find someone liable for crimes committed by another person, but acknowledged that did happen in the case of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, who were both found guilty of involuntary manslaughter charges. Prosecutors relied on the Crumbley case to secure Aiyash's conviction, but the court argued the facts of the Crumbley case were "extraordinary," and that Aiyash lacked knowledge similar to what Crumbley's parents had known. What happed on May 6, 2023? The incident began about 3 a.m. on May 6, 2023, inside a Mobil gas station on McNichols Road near the Lodge Freeway, after McCray attempted to leave the gas station with about $4 worth of snacks after his card declined. Aiyash had locked the doors electronically in an attempt to prevent theft. Patrons inside the gas station pleaded to Aiyash to unlock them. The gunman, who had been growing belligerent, warned he would shoot every customer in the store if the doors remained unlocked, a surviving victim previously told the Free Press. The clerk eventually did unlock the doors, but prosecutors argued he did so too late and without telling anyone. Video footage of the incident from behind the clerk's counter, previously reviewed by the Free Press, shows Aiyash had told patrons in the store to get out after unlocking the door several minutes into the dispute. "Get the f--- on," Aiyash can be heard repeatedly saying in the video while shooing patrons with his hand. But an enraged McCray soon shot the three other customers inside, authorities said. Gregory Karlos Fortner-Kelly, 37, of Detroit, was shot nine times and killed. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at asahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Case tossed against clerk who locked gas station doors before shooting Key Insights Montana Aerospace's significant private companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public Montana Tech Components AG owns 52% of the company 25% of Montana Aerospace is held by Institutions A look at the shareholders of Montana Aerospace AG (VTX:AERO) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 52% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Private companies gained the most after market cap touched CHF1.3b last week, while institutions who own 25% also benefitted. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Montana Aerospace. View our latest analysis for Montana Aerospace What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Montana Aerospace? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Montana Aerospace does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Montana Aerospace's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Montana Aerospace is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Montana Tech Components AG with 52% of shares outstanding. This essentially means that they have extensive influence, if not outright control, over the future of the corporation. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 7.1% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 5.4% by the third-largest shareholder. 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 a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Montana Aerospace The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. 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 I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can report that insiders do own shares in Montana Aerospace AG. The insiders have a meaningful stake worth CHF91m. Most would see this as a real positive. Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 16% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 52%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Montana Aerospace better, we need to consider many other factors. Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. 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. (KRON) Jordan Cam Walkers short life was filled with neglect at home and red flags raised by concerned adults, according to a new lawsuit filed against Santa Clara Countys Department of Child Protective Services and Department of Children and Family Services. The 6-year-old San Jose boy was stabbed to death at home in the summer of 2023. Jordans uncle is charged with murder. Attorneys representing the boys grandfather, Morian Walker, filed a lawsuit this month against the county for failing to remove Jordan from allegedly neglectful family members. The suit claims CPS agents placed the boy in dangerous home living environments, despite Walkers numerous warnings and attempts to gain child custody through Santa Clara County courts. Jordan Cam Walker (Family photo) The wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit, filed by Costanzo Law Firm, was first reported by the Mercury News. CPS officials received numerous credible complaints and reports that Jordan was living in a dangerous environment, both while in his mothers care, and later, when placed with his great-grandmother, the lawsuit states. Little Jordan was removed from his mothers care after he allegedly brought a bag of his moms methamphetamine to school. When he was placed in his great grandmothers home, neighbors saw Jordan left alone outside for long periods of time, attorneys claim. Jordan was frequently seen on neighbors Ring cameras riding his bike at two and three oclock in the morning, sometimes multiple nights in a row. The apartment was described as an endless revolving door of different drug users and homeless people both short term and long term visitors, including Nathan Addison, Jordans maternal half-uncle and suspected murderer, the lawsuit states. On August 4, 2023, Jordan and his great grandmother, 71-year-old Delphina Turner, were stabbed to death by Addison inside the apartment, according to San Jose Police Department investigators. Addison, 28, was released from jail just weeks before the double homicide. Turner allowed him to live in her apartment with Jordan despite Addisons history of mental illness, drug abuse, and crime, attorneys claim. The lawsuit claims that Walker was the only stable support person in Jordans life. Morian (Walker) purchased Jordans stroller, all of Jordans clothing, every pair of shoes, and every toy Jordan owned until the end of his life, the lawsuit states. He was not able to gain custody of his grandson to protect him, however. Shortly after Jordan was born, his mother entered the Parisi House on the Hill, a drug and alcohol treatment facility on Bernal Road where mothers can stay with their babies. The suit claims that on February 10, 2023, less than six months before Jordans death, Jordan brought a bag of methamphetamine to Washington Elementary School and told his teacher that his mother gave it to him. The school called police. Officials with Santa Clara Countys Child Protective Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Family and Childrens Services, were also called and made the decision to place Jordan in Turners home, attorneys claim. The lawsuit states, Authorities were well aware of the familys troubles, as evidenced by the Investigation Narrative written by social worker Kimmie Tran, where she stated, the generational history of substance use, mental health, and criminal history indicate a risk for the family environment the child is exposed to.' County authorities were allegedly aware that Turner had a full-time job with NASA. They failed to ask questions about who was watching Jordan while Turner was away at work, nor find out who periodically lived in the two-bedroom apartment, attorneys claim. Jordan would wander around his neighborhood alone at all hours of the day and night, the suit states. Morian Walker was upset and appalled that his grandson was placed in Turners home after social workers were told that Walker had a stable environment for Jordan to live in and Jordan loved his grandfather. One social worker, Teana Box, reassured Mr. Walker Sr. that the placement was only temporary until they figured things out on their end, attorneys wrote. On June 26, 2023, Department of Family and Childrens Services employees recommended that Jordan remain in the care of his mother. On July 17, 2023, his mother tested positive for methamphetamine. The court ordered Jordan to be placed into protective custody with Turner, and a judge scheduled a new court date for August 14, 2023. On August 4, 2023, Jordan and Turner were senselessly killed by Nathan Addison, the lawsuit states. Attorneys claim, Jordan was tragically killed at the home he was placed in. This outcome was a direct consequence of the (countys) failure to exercise reasonable care in ensuring the safety and protection of Jordan. The actions of Santa Clara County and its employees in placing Jordan in a dangerous environment constitute a violation of his civil rights. Defendants named in the lawsuit include Santa Clara County and its departments. Defendants also include individuals, including: Damion Wright, director of CPS; Wendy Kinnear-Rausch, assistant director of CPS; Teana Box, DCFS social worker; Sharhonda McGowanhenry, DCFS social worker; Candace Tejuco, CPS worker; and Kimmie Tran, DCFS social worker. Addison is currently incarcerated in Santa Clara County awaiting trial. Why Was Addison Out Of Custody When Jordan Died? Nathan Addisons August 2023 mugshot was released by the San Jose Police Department. The Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office filed five separate criminal cases against Addison. None of the cases went forward to trials because of the courts Mental Health Diversion program. During the three years leading up to the double homicide, Addison was charged with a flurry of felonies for burglary, drug possession, attempted arson, theft, threats, and possession of a knife. During every arrest, Addison was armed with large knives, court records show. All of his criminal cases were suspended by judges who allowed Addison to be diverted out of the criminal justice system, into mental health treatment programs, and freed from custody, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said they tried, unsuccessfully, to keep Addison in jail in June 2023. Addison was classified as moderate-to-low risk for future violence, according to court records. He lived at Muriel Wright center in San Jose until he tried burning the building down in February 2022. Employees said Addison became enraged when they took his knives away, and he ignited his shirt on fire. He was jailed for the first half of 2022 and was evaluated by Dr. Carolyn Murphy. Murphy noted that Addisons bipolar disorder caused him to experience mania, depression, and impulsive behaviors. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASA's 10th Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station is ready for launch Saturday with two long-duration crew members on board along with two empty seats that will be used next February to carry Boeing's Starliner astronauts back to Earth after an extended stay in orbit. Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov are scheduled for liftoff from pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 1:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, roughly the moment Earth's rotation carries the rocket into alignment with the station's orbit. Cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov (left) will assist commander Nick Hague (right) during the Crew 9's climb to space. The two empty seats will be used by Starliner commander Barry Already delayed two days by high winds and clouds associated with Hurricane Helene, forecasters predicted a 55 percent chance of acceptable weather along Florida's Space Coast. There was a "moderate" risk of high winds and waves in the Atlantic Ocean along the spacecraft's trajectory where the crew might have to land in an abort. All earlier Crew Dragon flights took off from nearby pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The Crew 9 launch will be the first piloted flight from pad 40 after decades of service launching military satellites, NASA probes and, more recently, unpiloted SpaceX satellite and ISS cargo missions. NASA required SpaceX to upgrade pad 40 to support piloted flights out of concern that a major launch mishap could knock pad 39A out of action for an extended period, interrupting astronaut ferry flights to the International Space Station. Pad 40 now features a 265-foot-tall launch support tower, a 91.5-foot-long crew access arm for astronauts and technicians to reach a waiting Crew Dragon and a pad escape system to enable flight crews and support personnel to quickly slide to the ground from 220 feet up in a flexible, fire-resistant tube-like chute in an emergency. As with all space station flights, Crew 9 will be launched directly into the plane of the lab's orbit. Twelve minutes after liftoff, the Crew Dragon "Freedom," making its fourth flight, will be released to fly on its own. The original Crew 9 roster included then-commander Zena Cardman (left) and Stephanie Wilson (right), seen during training at the Johnson Space Center with crewmates Nick Hague (back right) and cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov (back left). Cardman and Wilson were bumped from the flight when NASA managers decided to use the Crew Dragon to bring the two Starliner astronauts back to Earth. / Credit: NASA If all goes well, the spacecraft will execute an automated rendezvous, catching up with the space station from behind and below early Sunday, looping up to a point directly in front of the outpost and then moving in for a docking at the lab's forward port around 5:30 p.m. Standing by to welcome Hague and Gorbunov aboard will be their new crewmates, Starliner commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and his co-pilot Sunita Williams, now serving as commander of the space station. Also on board: Soyuz MS-26/72S commander Aleksey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Don Pettit, launched Sept. 11, along with Crew 8 commander Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who were launched March 3. The Crew Dragon originally was expected to carry four passengers: Hague, Gorbunov, veteran Stephanie Wilson and rookie Zena Cardman, the mission commander. But Cardman snd Wilson were removed from the flight in late August to free up two of the Crew Dragon's four seats for use by Wilmore and Williams. Clothing, supplies and SpaceX pressure suits also are going up for Wilmore and Williams, who were launched June 5 on the Starliner's first piloted test flight, a mission initially expected to last eight to 10 days. By the time they land aboard the Crew 9 capsule around Feb. 22, they will have logged more than 262 days in space. "There have been a lot of changes to our particular crew, but the mission really hasn't changed," said Hague. "The mission hasn't changed for two-and-a-half decades. It's to get up to the station and do research, and that mission is bigger than any one crew." Starliner pilot Sunita Williams (left) and commander Barry But that doesn't mean the transition from four crew members to two, and his own transition from pilot to mission commander, is not without its challenges. Likewise, Wilmore and Williams must learn the ins and outs of flying aboard a Crew Dragon. "We're going to launch as a two-person crew, and then we're going to land as a four-person crew," Hague said. "And one of the unique challenges of that is, how do we integrate the other two crew members into the Dragon operations when they've had very minimal Dragon training before they launched? "The teams on the ground have helped not only get us ready, but they've already started helping Butch and Suni train to understand what they're going to need to do inside of inside of the Dragon. That's going to be top priority when we get there, (helping) them understand what they're going to need to do to operate as part of the Crew 9 crew." The four Crew 8 fliers Dominick, Barratt, Epps and Grebenkin are expected to head home as early as Oct. 7 to wrap up their own 217-day mission. That will leave the space station with a normal complement of seven full-time crew members, the three Soyuz fliers Ovchinin, Vagner and Pettit along with the revised Crew 9 crew: Hague, Gorbunov, Wilmore and Williams. Hague said he had trained with both Wilmore and Williams over the years, and he expects the crew the mesh smoothly in orbit. "I've had opportunities to work with Butch and Suni," Hague said. "I've had opportunities to train as part of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and share a tent with Suni for 10 days in the wilderness. So we know each other, and we're professionals. We step up and do what's asked of us. "So I'm looking forward to working with them, and I think we're going to pull together without a problem." Hague is a Space Force colonel, a former F-16 test pilot and combat veteran who logged 203 days in space on an earlier mission. He also went through a dramatic in-flight abort during launch aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2018. His range of experience presumably played a major role in NASA's decision to move him into the commander's seat for the revised mission. The Crew 9 Dragon awaiting launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. / Credit: SpaceX Gorbunov kept his seat aboard the Crew 9 Dragon under a high-priority contract between NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, in which three-seat Russian Soyuz spacecraft carry one NASA astronaut on each flight to the ISS and a cosmonaut launches on each four-seat Crew Dragon. That ensures each country always has at least one crew member on board the lab even if an emergency forces one ferry ship and its crew to make an unplanned return to Earth. Gorbunov is not trained to serve as a Crew Dragon pilot, but he will be sitting in the pilot's seat during launch to assist Hague. "Essentially, we're flying without a pilot, and so fundamentally, the commander is responsible for keeping the crew safe, keeping the vehicle safe and making sure we get the mission done," Hague said. "And so those responsibilities haven't changed. "Alex is going to be working to support me during all the dynamic phases of flight and provide me with the extra set of eyes, the extra set of hands that I would need and that I would leverage if I had a pilot sitting next to me. So in that way, it's not very different." In the wake of the space shuttle's retirement in 2011, NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to build commercial astronaut ferry ships to carry crews to and from the space station. NASA wanted two providers to maintain crew rotation flights even if one carrier was grounded by technical problems. The Starliner test flight, the first with a crew on board, was launched on June 5 with a known helium leak in the propulsion pressurization system. During approach to the space station the next day, four more helium leaks were detected, along with degraded thrust in five aft-facing reaction control system jets. While the docking was successful, the problems kicked off weeks of tests, analyses and debate about the safety of the Starliner during its trip back to Earth. The mission, initially expected to last a little more than a week, was repeatedly extended while testing continued. SpaceX, in the meantime, had its own problems. On July 11, the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket suffered a malfunction that left its payload of Starlink internet satellites in a lower-than-planned orbit. All 20 satellites quickly fell back into the atmosphere and burned up. SpaceX quickly identified the problem, implemented a fix and flights resumed within about two weeks. But Hague said the problems Boeing and SpaceX encountered demonstrated the value of having multiple providers. "We're one launch anomaly from losing our ability to support this amazing thing that we do on the International Space Station," he said. "We're trying to develop Starliner to be that redundant system. And just as we're doing that, we see an anomaly ground the entire Falcon 9 fleet. "And so in an instant, we've lost the ability to support this critical mission, not just for the U.S. but the globe. That underscores why we need redundancy more than anything I can think of." When the decision was made to send the Starliner home without its crew, NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba had to decide who would fly aboard the Crew 9 mission and who would stay behind. While he did not explain his reasoning in a NASA statement announcing the decision, Hague's spaceflight experience clearly made the difference. "While we've changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four," he said in a statement. "I have the utmost confidence in all our crew. ... Zena and Stephanie will continue to assist their crewmates ahead of launch." In the same statement, Cardman said "I am confident Nick and Alex will step into their roles with excellence. All four of us remain dedicated to the success of this mission, and Stephanie and I look forward to flying when the time is right." For his part, Gorbunov, the fifth Russian to fly aboard a SpaceX ferry ship, told reporters after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center that he could not wait to fly on the Crew Dragon "and to become part of the ISS crew." "As we are talking in front of you right now, there are hundreds of people from NASA and SpaceX working on, preparing the launch pad, preparing the rocket for our launch," he said through an interpreter. "So I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of them." Hurricane Helene makes landfall over Florida's Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm From the archives: Maggie Smith Hassan Nasrallah & Hezbollah | 60 Minutes Archive This oil painting by the Belgian marine artist Francois Etienne Musin (18201888) refers to HMS Erebuss Arctic venture under the command of Sir John Franklin in 1845. For Franklins last journey she had been fitted with a steam engine and a screw propeller and was accompanied by HMS Terror. In 1848 both vessels were abandoned in the ice. For over two years, both the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus (Greek mythologys personification of death) remained encased in ice near the top of the world. Amid frigid Arctic conditions, dwindling rations, and no hope in sight, the surviving crew of Sir John Franklins ill-fated 1845 expedition to chart a Northwest Passage to China finally abandoned their two ships on April 26, 1848. However unlikely, the men hoped to make a last-ditch effort to escape across the frozen ice and tundra. Their final months lived up to both vessels names. No one aboard either Terror or Erebus ultimately made it out alive, and many are believed to perish around King William Island in Nunavut, Canadas largest and most remote territory. In the end, evidence even shows the last few sailors eventually resorted to cannibalismand new analysis proves they did so regardless of respect for a superiors rank. Franklins expedition left Kent, England, on May 19, 1845, in the hopes of finally mapping a Northwestern route around the world to Asia. By the time the crew left their ships in 1848, Franklin had been dead for almost a year, so the 105 survivors turned to a senior officer, Commander James Fitzjames, to lead their deadly, futile march. A daguerreotype of Lieutenant James Fitzjames (later Captain) of the Royal Navy, taken by Richard Beard at his temporary dockside studio in Greenhithe, England, shortly before the Northwest Passage expeditions departure on 19 May 1845. Credit: Wikimedia Commons As far back as the 1850s, search parties recounted Indigenous Inuit communities tales of seeing survivors engaged in cannibalisma claim that shocked search parties, given its cultural taboo. Subsequent journeys to the region have since recovered skeletal fragments belonging to dozens of crew member bodies. In particular, one King William Island archeological site has yielded 451 bones from at least 13 sailors. In 1997, archeologists discovered cut marks on almost one-quarter of those remains, finally providing forensic evidence of cannibalism. But only one sample since then has been matched to a crew member using DNA and genealogical evidence: John Gregory, an engineer on the Erebus. According to a report published on September 24 in the Journal of Archeology, researchers at the University of Waterloo and Lakehead University have positively identified one more survivor who made it to King William Island: Commander Fitzjames himself. We worked with a good quality sample that allowed us to generate a Y-chromosome profile, and we were lucky enough to obtain a match [from descendents DNA], Stephen Fratpietro, a researcher at Lakehead Universitys Paleo-DNA lab and study co-author, said in an accompanying announcement on Tuesday. While Fitzjames survived longer than many of his crew, he wasnt the last to die. And those left behind, despondent and starving, apparently didnt let his remains go to waste. Analysis of Fitzjames mandible bone showed clear signs of intentional cuts from a sharp-edged tooltelltale evidence of cannibalism. [Related: Human flesh isnt very nutritious.] This shows that neither rank nor status was the governing principle in the final desperate days of the expedition as they strove to save themselves, added Douglas Stenton, another study co-author and University of Waterloo adjunct professor of anthropology. Archeologists latest finds further confirms the fate of Franklins attempted expedition is somehow bleaker than the 2007 historical horror novel by Dan Simmons that it inspired. Its even grimmer than AMCs 2018 miniseries adaptation of the same book, seeing as how (spoiler alert) none of the 129 officers or crew ultimately survived the multiyear ordeal. Still, Stenton added that his team was extremely grateful to this family for sharing their history with us and for providing DNA samples. He also encouraged any other known Franklin expedition descendants to reach out and see if their own DNA could help identify other remains at the ill-fated crewmembers final expedition stopa site located less than 50 miles from their abandoned ships. The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a big-dollar fundraising group affiliated with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), isnt helping two of McConnells biggest critics in the Senate GOP conference Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.). This has prompted grumbling from conservatives who say McConnell has too much power over Senate Republican fundraising and point out that Cruz, in particular, a longtime McConnell critic, will be heavily outspent by his Democratic opponent, Texas Rep. Colin Allred, and his allies. Some Republican strategists are also questioning whether the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is run by Chair Steve Daines (Mont.), a member of McConnells leadership team, is doing enough to protect incumbents like Cruz and Scott. This election cycle, the NRSC has focused like a laser beam on knocking off vulnerable incumbent Democrats including Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio), but now Democrats are shifting money to Texas and Florida to put pressure on Cruz and Scott. Steven Law, McConnells former chief of staff who serves as CEO of SLF and One Nation, two major fundraising groups aligned with the Senate GOP leader, told The Wall Street Journal last week that hes not worried about Cruz or Scott losing. And he pledged: If it gets tough, well be there for them. But thats not providing much comfort to Cruz and Scott, whose races were shook up this week when the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee which had been expected to stay out of Texas and Florida announced a multimillion-dollar TV advertising buy thats designed to motivate Democratic donors to pour more money into those two Republican-leaning states. Its been well-known for over a decade, that since SLF has started, that McConnell has used it to reward his allies and punish conservatives. And its never been more apparent than this year, when two of the strongest allies of President Trump, Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ted Cruz, are being left to fight for their reelection on their own, a conservative strategist said. A second Republican strategist said McConnell likes to remind senators how much SLF has helped them in their races, which sends a subtle message to colleagues to get in line on certain issues. Both strategists spoke freely on condition of anonymity. McConnell pointedly reminded Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) how much of a role the group played in his 2018 election when Hawley last year proposed a bill to limit corporate political giving. He warned GOP senators at a Tuesday lunch meeting that they would face incoming from the center-right if they backed Hawleys bill and read off a list of senators who received substantial support from SLF, according to a CNN report of the discussion. McConnell told The Hill in a sit-down interview in his office in February that he doesnt play favorites when it comes to deciding which candidates to back in an election year. He says his calculus is driven by winning and preserving Senate GOP majorities. And when asked about whether SLF and One Nation should play a bigger role in the Maryland Senate race, for which McConnell personally recruited popular former Gov. Larry Hogan (R), McConnell said he doesnt control those groups spending priorities. But many Senate Republican lawmakers and strategists say McConnell exerts enormous influence on spending decisions by signaling his preferences while staying well within the requirements of campaign finance laws. McConnell has raised more than $1 billion for SLF since the group started and his allies cited his enormous fundraising contribution when Scott challenged him in a leadership race after the 2022 election. Some Senate Republican conservatives, however, say SLF should be doing more to help Cruz. And they say that the groups spending decisions sometimes appear to reward senators who work amicably with Senate GOP leadership while snubbing McConnells critics, such as Cruz. Conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a McConnell critic who has long been a thorn in Senate GOP leaderships side, didnt get any help from SLF when he faced a harder-than-expected reelection race in 2022 against independent Evan McMullin. Lee ended up winning the race by more than 10 points. And the group didnt put any money into Cruzs tough 2018 reelection campaign, when he was outspent by his challenger, then-Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas), and allied Democratic groups. Cruz squeaked by with a 2-point win. That same year, SLF poured millions of dollars at least $12.7 million to help Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) beat Democrat Phil Bredesen in the race for Tennessees open Senate seat. She ended up beating her opponent by nearly 11 points. Meanwhile, Cruz led calls earlier this year for McConnell to resign as GOP leader. I think a Republican leader should actually lead this conference and should advance the priorities of Republicans, Cruz told a room full of reporters in the Capitol in February. It was the latest of many clashes Cruz has had with McConnell over the years, stretching back to their 2013 fight over strategy, when Cruz led an effort to repeal ObamaCare that spurred a 16-day government shutdown. Now the two-term Texas senator finds himself once again in a tight race getting dramatically outspent by his Democratic opponent. In 2018, he beat ORourke by convincing voters that the Democratic lawmaker was far too left-leaning to represent the state in the Senate something ORourke helped Cruz do by often speaking without a filter. The Democrat may have committed a big mistake when he endorsed universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons, two unpopular positions in the gun-loving state. In this years tight Texas Senate race, Allred has adopted a much more careful media strategy, picking his media interviews carefully and not straying far from his talking points. This has made it much tougher for Cruz to hammer home the message that Allred has voted often with liberal Democrats in the House. Getting a few more million dollars from SLF or the NRSC might help Cruzs message break through, conservative allies hope. The second GOP strategist who spoke to The Hill argued that the NRSC has lost sight of protecting Republican incumbents as it has focused more on defeating vulnerable Democratic senators in Montana, Ohio, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Ive seen some of the public polling in Texas. I think that race could be close. Certainly, Allred has raised and spent a lot of money. The NRSC has spent some in Texas. SLF hasnt and probably doesnt intend to, the strategist added. The blind spot that the NRSC has toward incumbents is a big problem. NRSC spokesperson Philip Letsou rejected that criticism. NRSCs top priority is protecting our incumbents. We will ensure they defeat Schumers hand-picked candidates and will have their backs, he said, referring to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The Senate Republican campaign arm has already spent $3 million in coordinated expenditures with the Cruz campaign on television advertising and has transferred $2.5 million to the Texas Republican Party. An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey published Thursday showed Cruz leading Allred by 4 points, 49 percent support to 45 percent. Other polls show Cruz and Allred in a dead heat. A Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation poll published Monday showed Cruz leading Allred by only 3 points, within the polls margin of error. Cruzs allies warn that Democrats will raise and spend substantially more to help Allred than Republicans will raise and spend to defend Cruz, reasoning the incumbent will be fine with former President Trump projected to win Texas by at least 5 points. Allred reported raising $41.2 million at the end of June compared to the $40 million Cruz had raised at that point in the election cycle. Altogether, Cruzs allies expect Republicans to spend between $50 million and $100 million to defend Cruz, and Democrats to spend $100 million to $150 million to knock him off. Allred raised an astonishing $1 million in 24 hours after speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month. The boisterous crowd that packed the United Center chanted Beat Ted Cruz! as he walked off the stage. Scott, who challenged McConnell in a bitterly fought leadership race after the 2022 election, is also in a tough race. An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey conducted in early September found Scott leading former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) by only 1 point. But he has a 4.3 percentage point average lead in polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. Mucarsel-Powells campaign reported raising $1 million after the Emerson/Hill poll found she and Scott are in a dead heat. Her campaign is also expected to benefit from voter turnout driven by an abortion-rights initiative on the 2024 Florida ballot. Scott, unlike Cruz, has vast personal wealth to draw on to shore up his own campaign and get his message across in Floridas expensive media markets. He is worth between $270 million and $808 million, according to Finbold. Law, the CEO of SLF and One Nation, told The Wall Street Journal last week that Texas and Florida wont be on the Democrats radar. I think well be OK in both of them. This is a presidential cycle. Neither one of those states is going to be on the radar of the Democrats, he said. The reason why I feel reasonably confident is that both Sen. Cruz and Sen. Scott have done what you want incumbents to do, which is to be prepared to raise money, to take their races seriously and to run good campaigns thus far, he explained. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Crypto mogul known as 'The Godfather' used L.A. deputies for extortion, feds allege Federal prosecutors call him "The Godfather," and like the fictional mafia boss, he allegedly had cops on the payroll to do his criminal bidding. Adam Iza, who ran a cryptocurrency trading platform known as Zort, allegedly paid several L.A. County sheriffs deputies sometimes tens of thousands of dollars to perform unlawful searches and arrests as part of an extortion scheme, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed this week. Iza hid millions of dollars from tax collectors by failing to report income and funneling money through shell companies with co-conspirators, according to the complaint. He allegedly spent the funds on numerous luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Aventador and a Rolls Royce Phantom, nearly a million in rent for a Bel Air mansion and around $64,000 on cosmetic surgery to extend the length of his legs. Iza stands accused of conspiracy against rights and evasion of tax assessments. Authorities arrested him on Sept. 23, according to federal court documents. Records show he is ordered to appear before a judge on Oct. 8. Things arent what they seem to be, said Josef Sadat, an attorney representing Iza in the federal case. The truth is going to come out, hopefully soon. Iza boasted about paying active duty law enforcement $280,000 per month, according to the complaint. The U.S. attorneys office declined to comment on whether the deputies who are not named in the complaint will be charged. Several deputies, including a detective on the departments notorious anti-gang unit, were recently relieved of duty in connection with a federal investigation, authorities said earlier this week. The Sheriffs Department confirmed the move was linked to a probe involving the U.S. Attorneys Office. Read more: Several L.A. County sheriff's deputies relieved of duty in connection with federal investigation "These egregious allegations contradict our Departments values and mission," the agency said in a statement Thursday. "Individuals who use their badge as a license to abuse their power to personally profit on illegal misconduct have no place in law enforcement and must be held accountable." The department said it is fully cooperating with the investigation, adding, "Once we have all the details of this case, we will evaluate the actions internally to ensure that this behavior does not occur again." Tom Yu, an attorney representing one of the three current deputies mentioned in the complaint, told The Times that his client had not been arrested and stressed that he was only being investigated at the moment. I dont think he did anything criminal, Yu said. A cryptocurrency battle A few days before Thanksgiving 2021, the complaint alleges, Iza was involved in a kidnapping and robbery attempt in Riverside County that attracted the FBI's attention. The intended target, federal investigators say, was a business associate of Iza's identified only as E.Z. The two men had known each other for about two years, the complaint says, and theyd recently talked about a business deal involving a medical service platform and cryptocurrency. On Nov. 21, 2021, according to a Riverside County Sheriff Department report reviewed by the FBI, E.Z. was driving his car with Iza in the back seat when Iza asked to stop at a gas station for food. Afterward, according to the complaint, as the two men stood near the back of the car with the trunk open, an SUV pulled up and two men, who authorities later identified as a former L.A. sheriffs deputy and a former custody assistant, hopped out. One of the men allegedly approached with a gun in hand and told E.Z. to get in the car. Instead, E.Z. turned and fled, then called 911. He later told investigators he thought Iza was trying to have him kidnapped in order to get access to digital assets stored on his phone. A responding Riverside County sheriffs deputy interviewed Iza, who claimed he was the one who feared being kidnapped. Iza told the deputy E.Z. had promised to give him $300,000 for cryptocurrency, but that as they were driving, Iza grew worried about where they were really going and texted his bodyguards for help. Read more: Sheriff's Department announces long-awaited policy banning deputy gangs When the Riverside County deputy talked to the men in the SUV, they offered a similar story. One the former L.A. County deputy who wielded the gun during the incident said he owned a security company and had worked for Iza for about two weeks. He told investigators he was supposed to pick up Iza from a restaurant after a business meeting when he got a text from Iza saying, Follow me. When the former deputy got to the gas station, he drew his gun because he feared E.Z. might be armed, according to the complaint. Instead, E.Z. turned out to be carrying an electric screwdriver, according to the complaint. Riverside County authorities decided the information wasn't complete enough to make an arrest, though the complaint says E.Z. continued to feel threatened in the following weeks. On Dec. 2, 2021, E.Z. allegedly got some menacing texts from an unknown number showing pictures of his personal information in a law enforcement database. Next to it was part of a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department business card. About two weeks later, according to a letter to law enforcement from E.Z.'s lawyer that is referenced in the complaint, Iza and his bodyguards showed up looking for E.Z. at the home of one of his associates. That visit came soon after E.Z. got another threatening text from a phone number Iza had used demanding that he turn over his laptop with cryptocurrency. Its unclear from the complaint whether E.Z. turned over the laptop, but he allegedly suffered other instances of harassment by Iza and his associates. At one point, he received text messages with pictures of his family members and the words: Everyone you know. As the FBI dug into the case, the complaint says, authorities began interviewing people in Izas circle. That included a private investigator identified in the complaint as K.C., whom The Times was able to identify from related civil litigation as Kenneth Childs. According to the criminal complaint, Iza hired Childs in November 2021 to find E.Z. and surveil him. E.Z. allegedly had a laptop that Iza claimed hed stolen. As Childs worked on the case, Iza allegedly texted him photos of sensitive law enforcement data, including images of a computer screen showing DMV license info and photos of a search warrant for E.Z.s phone. At times, according to the criminal complaint, Iza boasted that hed paid law enforcement officials to give him the information. Hows you guys find him Did this location come up on databases? Childs wrote in a text, according to the complaint. We pinged his phone, Iza replied. A few texts later, he added: The ping was done by law enforcement themselves ... It took a Warrant ... And had to get signed by judge. Read more: A Chinese millionaire, a cop for hire and an Irvine family: Inside a twisted global business dispute In January 2022, federal prosecutors said, a current Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy identified as Deputy 1 in the complaint got a warrant for GPS location information on several telephones, including one used by E.Z. The affidavit used to justify the warrant described a gun case that didnt involve or mention E.Z. It appears that LASD Deputy 1 added Victim E.Z.s phone number to a list of phone numbers associated with the firearms investigation and falsely stated that Victim E.Z.s phone number had been used by the firearms suspect, FBI Special Agent Barbara Johnson wrote in the complaint. This sworn affidavit resulted in a warrant for GPS tracking information that identified Victim E.Z.s residence. After getting the warrant approved, prosecutors allege, Deputy 1 sent Iza screenshots to prove it. Damn my guy actually filed the warrant, Iza wrote in a text. Thats some serious s to do for someone...risking 24 years career. Sometime in early 2022, prosecutors allege, Iza called a meeting to plan the heist of E.Z.'s laptop. Childs attended, as did Iza, another L.A. County deputy identified in court filings as Deputy 2 and the deputys brother. Childs told federal investigators he stayed in his car as the robbery unfolded. He alleged that the deputys brother grabbed E.Z.'s associate. The complaint says Iza made payments to Childs for the job, then fired him and took back the money. That same year, in 2022, Childs filed a civil lawsuit against Izas company related to the nonpayment. That case is still ongoing. Ive been litigating this narrative for two years plus now, said James Whitemyer, an attorney representing Childs and his company. I was hoping to have the case settled. A party planner Even before the relationship between Iza and E.Z. turned sour, prosecutors say, the crypto mogul had spent several months harassing another target, an event planner identified as R.C. In the summer of 2021, prosecutors say R.C. got an email from Zort asking for help planning a party for Izas 21st birthday. In exchange for $50,000, R.C. organized an August 2021 bash at Izas Bel Air home. But during the event, R.C. was escorted into Izas office, where Iza told him he was unhappy with the party and that he wanted to be reimbursed for half the cost, according to the complaint. He allegedly demanded R.C.s phone, but R.C. refused until Izas bodyguards pulled their guns. After Iza forced R.C. to reveal the passcode, Iza allegedly transferred $25,000 back to himself. Before letting R.C. leave, Iza took pictures of his license, passport and credit cards, according to the complaint. In the days that followed, Iza allegedly made multiple money transfers from RCs accounts. Read more: Chippendales vs. Strippendales: The battle over a male strip club empire The following month, R.C. was driving in Lakewood with a woman he was seeing when a sheriffs deputy pulled him over to arrest him on a bench warrant. The deputy searched the car and found drugs that R.C. said he didnt know were there. At one point during the arrest, R.C. saw Iza drive up to the scene in a black SUV, talk to the deputy, look at RC and drive away. R.C. spent three days in jail and the charges were later dropped for lack of sufficient evidence, according to the complaint. Afterward, R.C. allegedly received taunting texts from a number linked to Iza, showing photos of the arrest and telling him hed fed with the wrong people. A few weeks later, deputies raided R.C.s home, but didnt find any drugs. Months later, when the FBI tracked down a copy of the paperwork used to justify the search, investigators discovered that Deputy 1 had based it on information from an unnamed confidential informant. The complaint accuses Iza of other extortion schemes for cryptocurrency, including one where he allegedly impersonated an FBI agent and stole a laptop containing cryptocurrency. Altogether, investigators estimate, Iza and his then-girlfriend identified only as "Co-conspirator 1" pulled in more than $30 million from 2020 to 2022. The FBI said it learned that Iza planned to travel from Los Angeles to Zurich on Monday. They arrested him the same day. 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. Editors Note: This article has been updated to reflect the store was a headshop. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said a months-long investigation into a headshop in Colorado Springs revealed a variety of illegal drugs and guns being sold at the store. According to CSPD, on April 29, CSPD detectives received information about a store called Trippie Hippie, located in the area of Iowa Avenue and East Kiowa Street. Police said the information alleged the store was selling illicit drugs and illegal guns. Undercover police made six transactions at the store over six months, which resulted in the purchase of multiple guns, LSD, Ketamine, and marijuana concentrate. On Wednesday, Sept. 25, detectives completed multiple arrests and search warrants associated with the criminal activity at Trippie Hippie. The investigation resulted in felony charges of five identified suspects and warrants for two adjacent locations to Trippie Hippie. Metro Narcotics Unit detectives and CSPD Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) executed search warrants on all three locations. The search found a total of 10,984.87 grams (24.19 pounds) of marijuana, seven handguns, two short barrel rifles, one rifle, 4,716.05 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 34.54 grams of cocaine, 7.39 grams of MDMA, 15.1 grams of prescription pills, 9.17 grams of LSD, 0.12 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of fentanyl, and $1,550 in illicit proceeds. The arrest warrants included money laundering charges, unlawful distribution manufacturing, dispensing, conspiracy, offenses related to marijuana, and special offenders. During the warrant execution, one suspect, 41-year-old Paul Timme, was arrested and taken into custody. Four remaining people wanted on warrants were not on 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 FOX21 News Colorado. CubeSats, the tiniest of satellites, are changing the way we explore the solar system Most CubeSats weigh less than a bowling ball, and some are small enough to hold in your hand. But the impact these instruments are having on space exploration is gigantic. CubeSats miniature, agile and cheap satellites are revolutionizing how scientists study the cosmos. A standard-size CubeSat is tiny, about 4 pounds (roughly 2 kilograms). Some are larger, maybe four times the standard size, but others are no more than a pound. As a professor of electrical and computer engineering who works with new space technologies, I can tell you that CubeSats are a simpler and far less costly way to reach other worlds. Rather than carry many instruments with a vast array of purposes, these Lilliputian-size satellites typically focus on a single, specific scientific goal whether discovering exoplanets or measuring the size of an asteroid. They are affordable throughout the space community, even to small startup, private companies and university laboratories. Tiny satellites, big advantages CubeSats advantages over larger satellites are significant. CubeSats are cheaper to develop and test. The savings of time and money means more frequent and diverse missions along with less risk. That alone increases the pace of discovery and space exploration. CubeSats dont travel under their own power. Instead, they hitch a ride; they become part of the payload of a larger spacecraft. Stuffed into containers, theyre ejected into space by a spring mechanism attached to their dispensers. Once in space, they power on. CubeSats usually conclude their missions by burning up as they enter the atmosphere after their orbits slowly decay. Case in point: A team of students at Brown University built a CubeSat in under 18 months for less than US$10,000. The satellite, about the size of a loaf of bread and developed to study the growing problem of space debris, was deployed off a SpaceX rocket in May 2022. Smaller size, single purpose Sending a satellite into space is nothing new, of course. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 into Earth orbit back in 1957. Today, about 10,000 active satellites are out there, and nearly all are engaged in communications, navigation, military defense, tech development or Earth studies. Only a few less than 3% are exploring space. That is now changing. Satellites large and small are rapidly becoming the backbone of space research. These spacecrafts can now travel long distances to study planets and stars, places where human explorations or robot landings are costly, risky or simply impossible with the current technology. But the cost of building and launching traditional satellites is considerable. NASAs lunar reconnaissance orbiter, launched in 2009, is roughly the size of a minivan and cost close to $600 million. The Mars reconnaissance orbiter, with a wingspan the length of a school bus, cost more than $700 million. The European Space Agencys solar orbiter, a 4,000-pound (1,800-kilogram) probe designed to study the Sun, cost $1.5 billion. And the Europa Clipper the length of a basketball court and scheduled to launch in October 2024 to the Jupiter moon Europa will ultimately cost $5 billion. These satellites, relatively large and stunningly complex, are vulnerable to potential failures, a not uncommon occurrence. In the blink of an eye, years of work and hundreds of millions of dollars could be lost in space. NASA scientists prep the ASTERIA spacecraft for its April 2017 launch. NASA/JPL-Caltech Exploring the Moon, Mars and the Milky Way Because they are so small, CubeSats can be released in large numbers in a single launch, further reducing costs. Deploying them in batches known as constellations means multiple devices can make observations of the same phenomena. For example, as part of the Artemis I mission in November 2022, NASA launched 10 CubeSats. The satellites are now trying to detect and map water on the Moon. These findings are crucial, not only for the upcoming Artemis missions but to the quest to sustain a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. The CubeSats cost $13 million. The MarCO CubeSats two of them accompanied NASAs Insight lander to Mars in 2018. They served as a real-time communications relay back to Earth during Insights entry, descent and landing on the Martian surface. As a bonus, they captured pictures of the planet with wide-angle cameras. They cost about $20 million. CubeSats have also studied nearby stars and exoplanets, which are worlds outside the solar system. In 2017, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory deployed ASTERIA, a CubeSat that observed 55 Cancri e, also known as Janssen, an exoplanet eight times larger than Earth, orbiting a star 41 light years away from us. In reconfirming the existence of that faraway world, ASTERIA became the smallest space instrument ever to detect an exoplanet. Two more notable CubeSat space missions are on the way: HERA, scheduled to launch in October 2024, will deploy the European Space Agencys first deep-space CubeSats to visit the Didymos asteroid system, which orbits between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt. And the M-Argo satellite, with a launch planned for 2025, will study the shape, mass and surface minerals of a soon-to-be-named asteroid. The size of a suitcase, M-Argo will be the smallest CubeSat to perform its own independent mission in interplanetary space. The swift progress and substantial investments already made in CubeSat missions could help make humans a multiplanetary species. But that journey will be a long one and depends on the next generation of scientists to develop this dream. 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: Mustafa Aksoy, University at Albany, State University of New York Read more: Mustafa Aksoy works for the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY) and the Research Foundation for SUNY. He receives funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). NEW YORK The indictment of Mayor Eric Adams is emboldening former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to jump into the crowded race for New York City mayor. Since last year, Cuomo has been signaling to some insiders he was disinclined to run against Adams, given their shared base of predominantly moderate, Black Democratic voters. But the Democrat's calculus has shifted amid Adams deepening legal troubles, which crescendoed with the unsealing of a five-count criminal indictment that alleged the mayor received favors and campaign contributions from the Turkish government in exchange for official actions. I think hes going to run, said Chris Coffey, a former adviser to ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Yangs 2021 mayoral campaign. He was probably going to run no matter what, and a weakened, or out-of-the-race Eric Adams is a better bet for him. Cuomo has reached out over the last year to New York business and labor leaders about a run for mayor. He has previously said he has no plans to make plans, and that hasnt changed, said Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi. His political team has laid the groundwork by trying to give Cuomo an aura of inevitability, positing he would be a sure winner in a 90-day, nonpartisan special election if Adams were to leave office though the competition would actually be stiff, and Cuomo has to contend with baggage of his own. Cuomo would, in part, rely on his near-universal name identification. Hed also likely benefit from a special election in which independent voters could cast ballots if Adams doesn't serve out his term though the mayor is vowing to fight the charges and remain in office. But Cuomo is also risk averse. He would not want to run for mayor or his old job as governor unless he views it as a slam dunk. No matter what, he would have to deal with the problems of his recent past in his first political campaign in six years. Cuomo left office amid allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, which he has denied. He has also been slammed by a Republican-led House panel investigating his handling of the Covid pandemic and nursing home deaths during the public health crisis. Cuomo was accused by the subcommittee of inappropriately contacting a witness in order to influence his testimony. Azzopardi, the Cuomo spokesperson, called the claim a true shark-jumping moment from the MAGA clown car. Still, left-leaning advocates believe Cuomo would be rejected by voters. In this moment, New Yorkers are craving a leader with the utmost integrity and Andrew Cuomo is not that, New York Working Families Party Co-Director Jasmine Gripper said. There are questions, too, over whether he would be able to garner enough support from Black leaders and voters a crucial part of his base if Adams remains in the race. In a show of force, Adams on Thursday morning appeared alongside prominent Black civil rights leaders and clergy during a chaotic news conference at Gracie Mansion who insisted they would remain loyal to the mayor. Im asking all New Yorkers to hear his side and let him have his day in court, said Hazel Dukes, the president of the NAACP New York State Conference. Cuomo last weekend spoke at a Brooklyn church with a predominantly Black congregation and slammed the far left while blasting the citys migrant crisis as out of control. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Pentecostal minister from the Bronx and a conservative Democrat who served in the state Legislature and City Council, has also been courted by Cuomo. The two last spoke during the summer, and Diaz who supports Donald Trump came away from the conversation believing Cuomo was ready to run. He told me the only way that he could run for mayor would be if Adams would not run or if something happens to him, Diaz said. What happened yesterday I believe that he will be running. An electoral victory for Cuomo would also offer a measure of personal redemption following his spectacular fall from power three years ago. The Democrat was a nationally known political celebrity during the early months of the pandemic until a torrent of scandals led to his resignation. Privately, he also has spoken with former New York City Council Member Andy King, a Bronx Democrat expelled from the chamber in 2020 following allegations of sexual harassment and ethical misconduct. King maintains ties to the powerful union 1199 SEIU and has influence in the Co-op City neighborhood in the Bronx. King said in an interview he is praying for Adams but believes Cuomo would be a strong contender in the race for mayor. I would be able to identify anybody whose record was ignored, their lifelong testimony gets discarded, he said. You cant take away someone who has done the work for the last 10 years. Cargo entering and exiting Bangladeshs Chattogram Port has been severely disrupted this week after a software update caused the ports customs clearance systems to malfunction. The incident came when the countrys National Board of Revenue, the parent organization of the Chattogram Customs House, upgraded its automated customs data system on Sept. 20. The system is the customs houses online software through which it gives approval for all kinds of export-import related documents daily. More from Sourcing Journal The update resulted in a glitch that has since prevented customs officials and clearing and forwarding agents from accessing the system properly and submitting import and export data and bills of lading (BOLs). Due to the glitch, import clearance and export shipment processes have been delayed. These entries contain information on the cargo such as product name, type, exporting country, company details, product price and applicable duties. Due to the software issues, much of this data is being scrambled, resulting in inaccurate information regarding the number of containers, the products they hold and their weight. No containers can exit or enter Bangladesh without submitting proper information into the system. Quazi Mahmud Imam, secretary general of the Chattogram C&F Agent Association, told Bangladesh publication The Business Standard that since last Sunday, software issues have slowed operations to the point that tasks that typically take one day are now taking two. Submissions of daily BOLs into the system since Sunday have been almost halved, according to a report from supply chain publication The Loadstar, dropping by 800 against a daily average of 2,000. At least 5,000 import bills have backlogged with no sign of when the glitch will be remedied. We had 20 consignments due for clearance since last Sunday, but as of Wednesday, only 12 have been processed, Sarwar Alam Khan, owner of the clearance and forwarding agent Warisha Enterprise, told The Business Standard. Eight consignments remain stuck, and the delays are holding up shipments at the Chattogram Port. As of Thursday morning, six vessels were at the outer anchorage, with 11 loading and unloading boxes at the port jetties. The ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) system was introduced at Chattogram Port, also known as Chittagong Port, in 2023 to enable customs authorities to track and manage the flow of goods while reducing paperwork and manual intervention. The automated system is designed to speed up cargo clearance, reduce processing times and enhance port operations. Software issues have hampered ports in the past, with the Port of Charleston in the U.S. having to briefly close for a day and a half earlier this year after one of its servers went down. A global IT outage in July that stemmed from a glitch in Microsofts cloud computing services forced thousands of planes to ground, disrupting the worldwide flow of air cargo for the day. Syed Mohammad Arif, chair of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, plans to meet with customs commissioner next week seeking an immediate solution if the glitch isnt fixed by then. Arif has requested the port create a backup server so work can be continued in case of emergency. Such slowdowns can be dangerous for the apparel industry given the countrys positioning as the second-largest garment exporter worldwide. In 2023, Bangladesh exported $47.4 billion in total apparel, representing 85.3 percent of the $55.6 billion in total goods shipped out of the market, according to the countrys Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Chattogram Port has seen plenty of calamity in recent months, namely due to the ongoing student protests throughout Bangladesh in the summer, which resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and forced the port shutter at one point for nearly six days in July. The length of time it took for workers at the port to load and unload containers as space constraints piled up in its yard caused container vessels to wait at berth for an average of seven to 10 days. The Chattogram Port Authority and Chattogram Customs House had to operate 24/7, including weekends and public holidays, to reduce the container congestion. And in late August, torrential downpours pummeled the country for days on end, resulting in the slowed movement of cargo both by rail and by road in and out of Chattogram Port. The flooding impacted 3 million people in the country. Cargo exiting Bangladesh also saw a speed bump at Dhaka Airport on Tuesday. About 250 metric tons of air freight ended up stuck at the airport after all four of the hubs explosive-detection scanners failed, forcing flights to leave without export cargo, which has skyrocketed in price over the past year. Mainly Europe and U.K.-bound cargo was affected, as they require the scanners to operate. Two of the airports scanners are near-permanently out of action. Another was repaired alongside efforts to fix the fourth, after excessive pressure caused faults. UNITED NATIONS, New York - Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, during an interview with Fox News Digital, bemoaned that Europe now struggles to impact geopolitical issues and lacks clear leadership in the over two dozen member bloc. "I think it's a clear show that Europe has lost its ability to project geopolitical power, especially into Africa and the Middle East, because we are basically not able to do any kind of measures to stop this irregular migration," Lipavsky said. "When somebody who really has no right for asylum is in Europe, there are no true mechanisms so they will need to put more effort into that, definitely," he added. Czechia, also known as the Czech Republic, sits in the middle of Europe and still considers itself the continents "natural crossroads," which places it in a unique position to discuss matters regarding immigration and conflicts on the border. Hungarian Fm Recalls Strong Trump Admin Experience, Claims Our Hope Is All On Former President Despite that prominent perspective, Lipavsky noted that "the leadership must come from the big" countries, as "thats how things are done in international politics." Read On The Fox News App Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky discusses concerns over Russia and the Middle East. Lipavsky argued that this lack of leadership has made the conflict between Ukraine and Russia more difficult, but he admitted the war helped waken the blocs members to certain issues they had ignored. "We have rediscovered our ability, at least in the east, to protect Ukraine, but, still, we need to do more, honestly," Lipavsky said. "I would not say its a dire situation, but certainly the lack of leadership also could be visible." Taliban Dismiss Discrimination Accusations As Absurd Despite Banning Women From Public In Afghanistan "As minister of foreign affairs from Czechia, Im trying to come up with proposals. Im trying to call for common action," he continued. "For example, we are delivering a lot of ammunition to Ukraine. We have this ammunition initiative." "Those are hundreds, thousands of shells, which then make a difference on the battlefields more than words," he added. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, left, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council with Indo-Pacific partners at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on April 4, 2024. Lipavsky framed the current state of international politics as one of "global confrontation," with conflicts across multiple regions that impact all nations due to their effects on everything from energy to food supplies and general shipping. "We see many conflicts in the Middle East," Lipavsky said. "Its not only Gaza or now Lebanon, where the north of Israel is being shelled by rockets for many months, but it is also the navigation in Red Sea, which is being endangered by Houthis, and those are supported by Iran." Justice Department Backs Un Claim Relief Workers Accused Of Aiding Hamas Are Immune "This is a very complex matter, and we need to de-escalate," he added. "We need to put a lot of effort into peace, but also not forget that Israel has a right to defend itself." Czechia earlier this year voted against the Palestinian States gaining expanded powers in the United Nations and last week was one of 14 countries that voted against a Palestinian-drafted resolution that adopted the International Court of Justice opinion that demanded Israel leave Gaza and the West Bank. Lipavsky explained that the resolution "skewed in one direction," which was "a very basic reason to vote against" the resolution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speak following their meeting at the Czernin Palace, in Prague on May 30, 2024. However, he stressed that Russia remains "definitely" the most important crisis facing Czechia and other European countries. "Russia wants to destroy the complete Ukrainian nation. They want to include them into Russia and It's like Hitler during the World War. It's absolutely similar," Lipavsky insisted. "We know that we used to be in a sphere of influence of Soviet Union during Czechoslovakia after the Second World War until the fall of the Berlin Wall," he said. "I don't want to happen to Czechia again that some dictator will tell us what to do and what to not and to exploit us. "So we have to defend from this, from this Russian trust, and then of course, to be a good ally to U.S., and good to NATO," he added. Original article source: Czech foreign minister highlights lack of European leadership, failure to 'project geopolitical power' WASHINGTON (AP) Safety investigators are making urgent recommendations to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration after determining pedals that pilots use to steer 737 Max jetliners on runways can become jammed because moisture can leak into a rudder assembly and freeze. The National Transportation Safety Board issued the recommendations Thursday following its investigation of an incident earlier this year involving a United Airlines plane. The FAA said United is the only U.S. airline affected by the recommendations, and it believes the parts susceptible to jamming are no longer in use. Collins Aerospace, a Boeing supplier, determined that a sealed bearing was incorrectly assembled on actuators for rudders that pilots adjust to stay in the center of the runway after landing. Collins told Boeing that the faulty work affected at least 353 actuators that were installed on some Max jets and older 737s, according to the NTSB. The NTSB recommended that Boeing change flight manuals to remove advice that pilots use maximum pedal force to overpower a jammed rudder. The NTSB said that could create sudden rudder movement that might cause the plane to go off the runway. The NTSB recommended that the FAA determine if actuators with incorrectly assembled bearings should be removed until replacements are available. On Feb. 6, the rudder pedals on a United Airlines Boeing Max 8 became stuck as the plane rolled down the runway after landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The captain resorted to steering by using the tiller, a handle in the cockpit that turns the wheel under the plane's nose. The plane veered on to a high-speed turnoff, but no injuries were reported among the 155 passengers and six crew members. (Bloomberg) -- A red tape controversy has given the Czech prime minister a chance to revamp his government as the populist opposition leads in the polls. Most Read from Bloomberg Premier Petr Fiala rocked the political scene a year before general elections by firing Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartos over alleged incompetence. Bartoss Pirate Party, the smallest of the five members of the ruling coalition, called the decision a stab in the back and started an internal vote on Friday whether to quit the administration. The departure of the Pirates must be an impulse for the entire coalition to consider how the government could be more efficient, more capable and more convincing before voters, Fiala said in a video post on the X website. The unusually aggressive move by the premier comes just days after his center-right coalitions poor showing in regional elections. The winner of that vote was ANO, the main opposition party of billionaire and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who is favored by opinion polls to return to power next fall. An ally of Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, Babis ran record budget deficits during his 2017-2021 administration and embraced anti-immigrant rhetoric. Fialas government, by contrast, has reduced borrowing through unpopular spending curbs and tax increases. It has irked fringe voters by sending military aid to Ukraine and hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. After three years without major government scandal, the Czech media recently focused on Bartoss botched attempt to switch to online processing of building permits. Delays and technical flaws plaguing the new website hindered the coalitions plans to cut bureaucracy and launch infrastructure projects. As prime minister Im responsible for delivering what we promised to our voters, said Fiala. Thats why I decided to resolve the situation quickly and proposed to the president a dismissal of Ivan Bartos. Even if the Pirates leave the coalition, the government will still have a comfortable parliamentary majority needed to meet increased targets for defense spending and to fund a recovery after recent devastating floods. More Homogeneous Fewer governing partners may also more easily agree on policies, as the four remaining ruling parties tend to be more conservative than the Pirates. The cabinet shakeup could make the coalition more popular, according to Lubomir Kopecek, a political scientist at Masaryk University in Brno. This will make the coalition more homogeneous and could give it a fresh start, he said by phone. The same may be true for the Pirates, who as an opposition party will be able to go back to their anti-establishment roots. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. DA in Colorado citing politics of current events resigns and exits race weeks before election A view of the Gunnison County Courthouse, location of one of the offices of Colorado's 7th Judicial District attorney. (Google Maps) The district attorney for Colorados 7th Judicial District is resigning from his seat and not seeking reelection for a second term, he announced earlier this week. Seth Ryan, a Republican, announced on Monday that he plans to resign at the end of October. He then withdrew his candidacy for the November election with the secretary of state. The Republican was running unopposed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The COVID pandemic and the political aftermath of current events has made it extremely challenging to find, recruit, and retain qualified attorneys, he said in a statement. It is no longer sustainable for me to cover the daily requirements of court schedules across our nearly 10,000 square mile District while effectively managing, developing, and supervising staff; circumstances beyond my control cannot be overcome. District Attorney Seth Ryan. (7th Judicial District attorneys office) The attorney turnover rate in the office was over 50% this year. He also cited physical and mental health concerns. Ballot content was certified on Sept. 9, so that means voters in the 7th Judicial District, which includes Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties, will still see Ryans name on their ballots. The Colorado Republican Party has the ability to nominate a replacement candidate to fill the vacancy, and votes for Ryan will be counted towards that replacement candidate. It is too late for a write-in candidate to enter the race. Because Ryan is resigning before the end of his term, Gov. Jared Polis will need to appoint his replacement to serve the remainder of the term. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A former teacher at a military academy in Porterville was found guilty of child molestation, according to the Tulare County District Attorneys Office on Thursday. According to the DA, the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center and TCDA sex crimes prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against James Van Norton, 45, for child molestation on Thursday. The DA says Norton was convicted of three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse by a jury and 13 felony counts of lewd act upon a child aged 14. Each county, officials say, is enhanced with the special allegation that Van Norton was in a position of trust. Officials say the crimes took place from August 2018 to March 2019 in Tulare County against a single minor victim. At the time of the crimes, Van Norton was employed as a teacher at the Porterville Military Academy. According to the DAs office, sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6. Van Norton faces up to 14 years and eight months in state prison. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender for life. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Getty Images] The owner of the politically right-leaning New York Sun has emerged as the favourite to acquire the Daily and Sunday Telegraph ahead of Fridays deadline for bids. Though a late entrant to the auction British-born Dovid Efune's bid is considered by several parties as the potential new frontrunner. He is thought able to offer a competitive bid of around 550m while not attracting the political and regulatory objections that saw a bid backed by the United Arab Emirates ruling family blocked by the government. Mr Efune is one of only two bidders to have attended senior management presentations at the Telegraph. They have broadly welcomed the prospect of his ownership while conceding that none of the bidders are perfect. If the bid is successful it could provide a link between the Telegraph and its former owner Conrad Black. Lord Black, who is a regular contributor to the New York Sun, was convicted of fraud and obstructing justice in 2007 and jailed for more than three years, but was pardoned in 2019 by Donald Trump when he was US President. There are several other bidders who remain in the hunt for one of Britains most influential and profitable daily newspapers and its Sunday sister publication. Hedge fund tycoon Sir Paul Marshall recently acquired the Spectator for 100m and appointed former Conservative minister Michael Gove as the new editor. Backed by funds from fellow hedge fund boss Ken Griffin, some have speculated that Sir Paul wants to add to a growing right-leaning media empire that includes GB News. However, sources close to the deal suggest that the bid may be losing momentum. National World, which owns regional titles including the Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, is also in the running and its owner, David Montgomery, was the other bidder to attend a presentation by the current Telegraph management. Attendees were reportedly underwhelmed by his plans for the group. One attendee described his ideas for the Telegraphs future as dated and a bit like dad dancing he doesnt understand modern media. Lord Rothermere, the controlling shareholder of the Daily Mail, was thought to have refreshed interest in the auction having previously walked away citing inevitable competition objections from regulators and a new Labour government. But a spokesperson for Daily Mail and General Trust said: "Neither DMGT nor Lord Rothermere is currently involved in the Telegraph sales process, nor do they expect to be in future." Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who is close to the Telegraphs former owners, the Barclay family, is also thought to be trying to raise money in the Middle East to finance a bid. Story continues Rupert Murdoch's News UK had shown early interest but is no longer considered a bidder, having been more interested in the Spectator. Sources close to the deal say there are other potential bidders who may emerge as Fridays midnight deadline approaches. More on this story The Telegraph is back up for sale after an audacious attempt backed by Redbird IMI a vehicle largely funded by Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour - to take ownership of both the Telegraph and the Spectator by paying off the previous owner's debts collapsed. The bid was vetoed by the previous Conservative government, who balked at the idea of a foreign state having majority ownership of politically influential UK newspapers and periodicals. Titles like the Telegraph and the Spectator dont come up for sale very often and are considered trophy assets". Assets like this have prestige and influence, which means they command a higher price than their financial performance alone can justify. Ian Whitaker, media analyst and founder of Liberty Sky Advisors, told the BBC's Today programme that the strength of the brand was key in deals like these. "What a number of backers have found is [if] you can have a strong established brand, then not only can you take it from domestic markets and sell overseas and potentially globally but also as well you can monetise other areas as well," he said. "The Telegraph, for example, it sells travel and wine and so forth. Redbird IMI effectively paid 600m for the Telegraph and Spectator titles, with many thinking they had overpaid. However, Sir Paul Marshall paid 100m for the Spectator alone despite the fact it only makes around 2m in profit a year. That valuation has fuelled optimism at Redbird IMI that the Telegraph, which makes a profit of over 40m, will fetch north of 500m. If so, the Gulf bidders will be able to walk away from their attempted swoop without damage to their wallets or dignity. It is expected to take several weeks or even months for the ownership to be settled as various legal and regulatory hurdles are cleared. Emergency crews and residents scrambled Friday as Helene the hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm overwhelmed the Lake Lure dam in western North Carolina, causing damage and erosion along its structural supports. A mandatory evacuation was ordered Friday morning after local officials notified the National Weather Service that a dam failure was imminent. By late Friday afternoon, water had crested the dam, but it was continuing to hold despite the structural damage, according to Josh Kastrinsky, a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. Some erosion was also spotted on the left abutment, where water is flowing uncontrolled, Kastrinsky said. An engineer was expected to inspect the dam late Friday or Saturday and determine the scope of the damage and needed repairs, he said. The dam, built in 1925 and 1926, is a tourist and recreational destination for the rural county. It also harnesses the Broad River and two creeks to power a hydroelectric plant producing electricity for Duke Power Co. from two hydroelectric turbine generators. Dam workers typically lower the water in the lake by as much as 8 inches below the normal lake level before big storms, according to a document posted on the towns website. The town manager approves lowering the lake by more than that amount, it notes. Workers use three flood gates to release excess water, but once the lake reaches 992.6 inches, the dam overflows, the document says. At that point, the docks on the lake are underwater and boat tops have been crunched in boathouses, it says. Gauges operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the Broad River was nearing 992 feet Friday morning as Helene brought historic flooding to Rutherford County and the surrounding region. URGENT: FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR THE LAKE LURE DAM! DAM FAILURE IMMINENT! RSIDENTS BELOW THE DAM NEED TO EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY! #ncwx https://t.co/InksFUUYF6 NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) September 27, 2024 At 9 a.m. Friday, town officials notified the Rutherford County Emergency Management office about the pending dam failure, saying water from the lake was expected to top the dam before 10 a.m. Sirens were activated to let residents in low-lying areas below the dam know about the pending failure, Rutherford County emergency officials said in a Facebook post. Evacuations have occurred from the Dam to Island Creek Road, they said. Evacuation sirens are sounding downstream of the Dam. Emergency personnel are working with the structural engineers and are going house to house to ensure all citizens have been evacuated. The danger from water overflowing the dam would be largely to homes near the Broad River, which flows southeast of the dam. The flash flood warning for Rutherford County was expected to remain in place until at least 2 a.m. Saturday, the NWS reported. Emergency shelters have been opened at Lake Lure Town Hall on Memorial Highway and the Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church on North Washington Street in the town of Rutherfordton, they said. The area at risk from the Lake Lure dam failure is highlighted on this map from Google Earth. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods were ordered to evacuate Friday morning. The town has known about problems with the aging dam since a 2018 study that recommended millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades.. The work is underway, according to town updates posted online. The evacuation was expected to displace many residents in the largely rural county, who emergency officials earlier on Friday urged to stay in their homes due to trees and power lines blocking roads across the county. Blocked roads also forced local fire departments to suspend road clearing operations and EMS crews to stop responding to non-life-threatening calls until conditions improved, officials said. Kastrinsky said nearly 30 roads in the dams flood zone were being evacuated at 11 a.m. Friday, and counties downstream were alerted that the situation could require more evacuations later. Helene made landfall late Thursday night in Floridas Big Bend, where maximum sustained winds were 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Buncombe County also issued a mandatory evacuation order for people along the Swannanoa River, from the North Fork Reservoir to Biltmore Village, because of water cresting the spillway. Other parts of the county were also urged to evacuate. The story will be updated. ERWIN, Tenn. Catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene led to an urgent rescue mission in the eastern Tennessee town of Erwin, where helicopters raced to pluck dozens of staff and patients stranded on the roof of a flooded hospital. Waters from the swollen Nolichucky River began quickly rising at the Unicoi County Hospital early Friday morning, according to a statement from Ballad Health. Hospital officials called for ambulances to come evacuate 11 patients, but flooding quickly worsened to the point where ambulances could no longer safely reach the hospital. The town of Erwin, Tennessee under flood waters in the wake of days of torrential rains. Emergency officials then sent rescue boats to evacuate the hospital as water began pouring inside the facility, but the water around the hospital "became extremely dangerous and impassable and prevented the boats from safely being able to evacuate the hospital," Ballad Health officials said. High winds from Helene also made it too dangerous to attempt helicopter rescues, officials said. By midday, 54 people had made it to the roof of the building while seven have managed to remain in rescue boats. "The hospital has been engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water," officials said. "The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and (Tennessee Emergency managers) and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation." Helicopters were finally able to begin air evacuations just after 2 p.m., according to a post by Tennessee Rep. Diana Harshbarger. Ballad Health officials said all staff and patients had been safely evacuated by 4:40 p.m., with patients transferred to Johnson City Medical Center. The Unicoi Hospital will remain closed until damage can be assessed after floodwaters recede. The National Weather Service said 5-7 inches of rain fell across the east Tennessee lowlands but rainfall totals reached 15-25 inches in the nearby Appalachians. Original article source: Dangerous rescue operation saves dozens trapped on roof of flooded Tennessee hospital On This Date: Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the Capital of the United States LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) Yes, you read that correctly. Lancaster was in fact the Capital of the United States. But there is a catch. It was only the Capital for one day. On Sept. 11, 1777, the Continental Army led by George Washington was defeated in the Battle of Brandywine. This caused panic in the nearby city of Philadelphia, which was the Capital of the United States at that time. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News It became clear that the city would be taken over by the British Army soon and many patriots fled the city and took anything they could with them, including the Liberty Bell. They took the bell in fear that the British Army would melt it down and turn it into cannonballs. With the British approaching from the south, the Continental Congress was trying to find a new Capital. Baltimore was out of the question since it was south of Philadelphia, and with a strong British military presence in both New Jersey and New York, they were not seen as options either. So, the Congress began to travel west. By Sept. 27, 1777, they ended up in Lancaster. While there, they held an official session within the Lancaster County Courthouse. Because of this, Lancaster, Pennsylvania was the capital of the United States for one day. Lancaster expands bike program after winning bike-friendly community status There were not enough combinations within the city at that time to properly accommodate everyone involved in the Congress. With Philadelphia being a two to three-day march away, the Congress felt they were still at risk from the British Army. Because of that, they continued to march west and settled in another Midstate City: York. York was then made the US Capital for nine months. Afterward, Lancaster was never named the US capital again but was the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DC man identified as victim in triple shooting in Mount Rainier PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) has released the name of the man who was shot and killed while sitting in a car outside a liquor store in Mount Rainier on Sept. 23. The victim was identified as 22-year-old Freiver Yanez-Salas, of Washington, D.C. As of Friday, homicide detectives are still working to identify a suspect and a motive for the shooting. AMBER Alert: DC police searching for missing 14-year-old last seen in Northwest Police said on Monday around 7:30 p.m., Mount Rainier police officers were called to the 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue for a shooting. There, they found Yanez-Salas inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Police said two additional victims, a man and a woman, were also shot and taken to the hospital with critical injuries. PREVIOUS COVEREAGE | Things are kind of getting worse: People respond after one killed in triple shooting in Mount Rainier The shooting left neighbors and customers of the store upset about the growing violence happening across the DMV. Stephon Jackson told DC News Now that he felt like things were getting worse, but for the violence to stop, people have to change. The police frequently [patrol] this area pretty much. Its really the people that have to change, you know, its really nothing we can do about it, said Jackson. PGPD said a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call PGPD at 301-516-2512. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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, D.C. (DC News Now) DC News Now is highlighting stories about iconic Hispanic and Latino leaders and organizations in the D.C., Md., and Northern Virginia areas for this years Hispanic Heritage Month Special. The special features interviews with Washington Nationals Spanish Play-by-Play announcers, the first Latino American Olympic artist living in Prince Georges County, Md. and a Venezuelan American art curator in Loudoun County, VA. The special will air on September 29, 2024. Our host, Brandy Flores, sat down with the Spanish broadcast announcers for the Washington Nationals games to discuss the importance of creating content for all their fans. World Heart Day highlights heart health, disease prevention strategies Jesse Raudales is the first Latino American to represent the USA as an Olympic Artist. He achieved this honor in 2006 while living in Los Angeles and has since moved to Prince Georges County where he continues to create art. In Loudoun County, Maria A. Brito curated an art exhibit called Our Roots to celebrate the contributions and rich culture of the Hispanic and Latino community. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by watching DC News Nows Hispanic Heritage Month Special on September 29. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPDATE, 9/27, 2:56 p.m. Police said the woman returned home unharmed at around 1:15 a.m. Friday. Shortly after midnight, the car was stopped in Temple Hills in Maryland by Prince Georges County Police Department officers, and the driver was arrested for charges unrelated to the kidnapping. MPD said he was not the primary suspect in the kidnapping. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police are looking for a woman and a car after it was used used in a potential kidnapping offense Thursday. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a woman was taken in the 400 block of Brandywine Street in Southeast D.C. just before 4 p.m. (Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department) Prince William County Police Department officer arrested, charged with abduction, sexual battery, more MPD said a man forced the woman into a car and then drove away. Police noted that it happened after an argument erupted between the two and that it was domestic in nature. The woman was identified as 21-year-old Amonie Anderson. She is about 53 tall, around 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a light-colored tank top and sweatpants and a black bonnet with writing on it. The car is described to be a white Infiniti Q54 sedan with a West Virginia plate: 34D631. (Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department) DC chefs coming together to set record of worlds largest pupusa Anyone with information was asked to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest and indictment of those involved. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ZURICH (Reuters) -Siemens will post lower-than-expected full-year sales growth, its Chief Financial Officer Ralf Thomas said in an interview published on Friday, although profits will not be harmed and its dividend could rise. The German industrial group said in its last results on Aug. 8, that it expected full-year comparable revenue growth of 4% to 8%, although it was likely to be at the lower end of the range. "In terms of sales growth, the trend is not towards 4%, but towards 3%," Thomas told German newspaper Boersen-Zeitung. Thomas was quoted as saying that profitability was "clearly at the level we announced" at Siemens, which is due to report its full-year results on Nov. 14. Siemens previously said it was aiming for full-year earnings per share in a 10.40 euro to 11.00 euro ($11.63-$12.30) range. Although an overall weak economic situation was affecting Siemens, Thomas said it would "probably" raise its dividend. The maker of industrial software and trains was being hit particularly by weak demand for factory automation in China, while Italy and Germany were also struggling. "Automation really has to stretch itself to achieve its goals," Thomas said. "The first half of the next financial year will continue to be a major challenge." It would take time for the latest Chinese economic stimulus to have an effect, said Thomas, and Siemens would focus more of its automation business on the U.S., where demand is growing. "We have a lot of good ideas for the U.S," Thomas said. ($1 = 0.8940 euros) (Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Friederike Heine and Alexander Smith) A Scott County man who admitted to killing his elderly neighbor in a brutal hammer attack in 2022 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Cesar Jeff Cervantes-Montoya, 27, began serving 40 years in the St. Cloud prison this month as part of a deal reached with prosecutors, under which Cervantes-Montoya pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder. A 1st-degree premeditated murder charged against Cervantes-Montoya was dismissed. The sentence represents an upward departure from sentencing guidelines in recognition of the cruelty of the unusual murder, which happened the morning of Jan. 5, 2022 at a Main Street residence in Elko New Market. Cervantes-Montoya was initially found incompetent under rule 20.01 and committed to the Anoka Security Hospital as mentally ill and dangerous. He was then declared competent to stand trail in 2023. "We hope the resolution of this case brings some measure of closure to the victim's family, although we recognize that no sentence can truly make up for the loss of a loved one," Scott County Sheriff Luke Hennen stated in a news release. Cesar Jeff Cervantes-Montoya via Minnesota Department of Corrections. According to the criminal complaint, Cervantes-Montoya told police hed hit the victim and believed he was dead when he encountered officers outside the home that morning. Police found the victim, a 70-year-old man, laying face down at the bottom of the basement steps Court documents state Cervantes-Montoya admitted to investigators he'd struck the victim multiple times in the head with a hammer during an argument. He said he "panicked" but also felt "slightly liberated" after the victim fell to the ground and was not responsive. According to charges, Cervantes-Montoya said he didnt intend to kill the victim, but also didnt feel bad if he did, saying, "but I killed him, and I dont care." An autopsy revealed the victim had also been strangled with some type of ligature, which Cervantes-Montoya also admitted to in a follow-up interview with investigators. Court records show Cervantes-Montoya, a graduate of New Prague High School, had never before been convicted of a violent crime in Minnesota. "Our office is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all residents of Scott County," Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said in a statement. "We will continue to prosecute cases of violent crime to the fullest extent of the law." He continued: "The outcome of this case should serve as a reminder that we will not tolerate acts of violence in our communities." Related: Artist shot in 'cold-blooded' killing in St. Paul's Lowertown identified by family First responders raced through the devastated streets of southern Lebanon, doing all they could for the wounded, including injured children. One small boy hurt in Israel's latest airstrikes raised three fingers as he was carried away on a stretcher, after being asked his age. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and that it has destroyed dozens of the Iran-backed group's rocket launchers and other weapons. On Friday afternoon, the Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise strike" on Hezbollah's "central headquarters," which it said had been "intentionally built under residential buildings" in Beirut. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties in that strike. Many of Israel's airstrikes have hit residential areas, where Israel says Hezbollah has positioned its weapons. Though Israel says it has warned people to evacuate those areas, the strikes have killed civilians including children. Hezbollah says Israel has killed about 30 of its militants in strikes over the last week, but Lebanon's ministry of health says more than 700 people have been killed, including at least 50 children. The Reuters news agency reported Friday that another strike, overnight in southern Lebanon, killed nine members of the same family, including four children. Smoke rises above Beirut's southern suburbs during an Israeli strike on September 27, 2024. A source close to Hezbollah said the massive Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs flattened six buildings. / Credit: -/AFP via Getty Images More than 100,000 people have also been internally displaced in Lebanon since Israel started launching successive waves of airstrikes more than a week ago, according to a registry maintained by the Lebanese government. Lebanese officials say the real number is likely over half a million. The United Nations said Friday that around 30,000 people, mainly Syrian nationals, had crossed from Lebanon into Syria over the past 72 hours. The Israeli military said Friday that it had carried out dozens more strikes in southern Lebanon, hitting a Hezbollah launcher. Hezbollah said it fired rockets at the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tiberias, which the Israel Defense Forces said were either intercepted or landed in open areas. Houthi rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, said they had also fired a missile at Israel overnight, which Israel said was intercepted. The Houthis, like Hezbollah, are backed by Iran and say they're launching attacks on Israel and its interests in support of Palestinians amid Israel's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip with Hamas. Netanyahu's office seeks to "clarify" stance on cease-fire The latest crossfire over Israel's northern border with Lebanon came against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Friday. His remarks were highly anticipated given contradictory messaging from his office about an Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire proposal being pushed by the U.S. and France. In his address, Netanyahu said Israel would no longer tolerate daily rocket fire into northern Israel from Hezbollah. "Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely," Netanyahu said, "and that's exactly what we're doing... we'll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met." Ahead of his address, Netanahu's office sought, with a social media post, to "clarify a few points" about Israel's position on the cease-fire proposal, which the U.S. and France say has wide international backing. "Israel shares the aims of the U.S.-led initiative of enabling people along our northern border to return safely and securely to their homes," Netanyahu's office said in the statement. It said teams had met "to discuss the U.S. initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days." The prime minister's remarks to "clarify" his stance came hours after his office issued a statement on Thursday saying: "This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to." That statement added a dismissal of a separate report suggesting Netanyahu had told his military to "moderate" its assault on Hezbollah to give space for discussion about a cease-fire a report his office called "the opposite of the truth." "The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force," it said. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic Hurricane Helene makes landfall over Florida's Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm Welcome to the W | Sunday on 60 Minutes Marcellus Williams Credit - Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty/TNS/ABACAPRESS.COM/Reuters More than half of American states have abolished the death penalty or hit pause on executions. Less than half47%of Americans believe the death penalty is administered fairly, a record low. A clear trend line has emerged. Every year, we see fewer new death sentences and fewer executions. So what happened last week? Why did we see five executions of five human beings, by five different states, in the span of only seven days? How do we make sense of the executions of Freddie Eugene Owens (who went by Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah) by South Carolina, Marcellus Williams (who went by Khalifah Ibn Rayford Daniels) by Missouri, Travis Mullis by Texas, Emmanuel Littlejohn by Oklahoma, and Alan Eugene Miller by Alabama? While this series of executions has shocked Americas conscience, the unfortunate reality is that they embody well-documented problems with the death penalty. They have become not the exception, but the rule. And the rule is that executions reflect racism, government error and arrogance, untreated mental illness and trauma, and disrespect for our democracy. The same factors that have driven abolition of the death penalty in a growing number of states remain on display this week. They serve as a five-alarm wake-up call and reminder of the work to be done. Read More: What to Know About the Execution of Death Row Inmate Marcellus Williams Amid Public Outcry Mirroring the overrepresentation of Black men on Americas death rows, three of the five men executed this week were Black: Owens, Williams, and Littlejohn. And mirroring a decades long trend, four of the five executions were punishments for killing white victims. Among its many other flaws, and in line with its history as an outgrowth of slavery and lynchings, the death penalty fails America by vastly preferencing white victims. The executions also confirm that the government makes mistakes and takes shortcuts that lead to wrongful convictions. Defending the sentence is often prioritized over justice. Missouri executed Williams even after so many, including the prosecuting authority, insisted on his innocence. Together with the Innocence Project, District Attorney Wesley Bell argued that no forensic evidence pointed to Williams. Law enforcement had spoiled the evidence and prevented DNA testing, and only two unreliable and incentivized witnesses supported the conviction. As Bell stated after the execution, if there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option. Gov. Parsons defended the indefensible by pointing to the findings of the jury and of the courts, while ignoring that the prosecutor (as so many capital prosecutors do) culled the jury of Black jurors. Neither Missourinor any other state for that mattercan credibly claim to have no doubts. Wrongful convictions are all too common. An estimated 200 innocent people have been falsely convicted and later exonerated from Americas death rows. Missouri is responsible for four. Did we execute the right man is not the question that should be on our minds right now. But Owens Littlejohns cases raise it, too. In Owens, the codefendant swore in an affidavit that Owens was not present for the 1997 robbery murder. In Littlejohns, the Oklahoma Board of Pardons and Parole voted to grant clemency, a recommendation the Governor rejected, after hearing that prosecutors presented conflicting evidence, in different trials, on who fired the fatal shot in 1994. Notably, all three cases of doubt involve Black defendants, and two involve a convenience-store crime, decades ago. These crimes would rarely if ever result in death sentence if tried today. Like so many others on death rows across the country, Miller, in Alabama, and Mullis, in Texas both endured significant mental illness and trauma documented by court and mental-health records. Our social-service institutions failed them both. As I saw firsthand when I travelled to Texas to represent Mullis in 2012after one of the many times he sought to reinstate appeals he had dropped amidst suicidal ideation and mental illnessthese are not the worst of the worst for whom the death penalty is mythically reserved. Errorand crueltyextend through the execution process itself. Alabama executed Alan Miller using an experimental lethal gas protocol that had resulted in an excruciating 22-minute execution in its only prior use. The first attempt against Miller in 2022 was a botched lethal injection in which execution personnel, including those reported to have committed violence against prisoners and other misconduct, struggled to find a suitable vein and then left him, a 350-pound man, strapped hanging vertically on a gurney for an hour after the failure. He is one of only six known persons to survive an execution, with half of these botches occurring in Alabama in the last six years. This week reminds us that the road to abolition does not run in a straight line. As shocked and saddened as we feel, we also need to work towards progress. We must feel moved to keep working for justice and towards a day when the death penalty endsonce and for all. Contact us at letters@time.com. Rescue workers gather at the site of a massive Israeli air attack on pro-Iranian Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Marwan Naaman/dpa At least six people were killed in Israeli attacks on the densely populated Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, according to the Lebanese authorities. At least 91 people were injured in the attacks, including 14 who required hospitalization, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said. Rescue operations were ongoing, the ministry added. The Israeli military said it attacked the headquarters of the Hezbollah militia in the Beirut suburb. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari called the strike a targeted attack and said the headquarters was located under a residential building. Rescue workers gather at the site of a massive Israeli air attack on pro-Iranian Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Marwan Naaman/dpa Rescue workers gather at the site of a massive Israeli air attack on pro-Iranian Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Marwan Naaman/dpa Decades-old image shows airshow collision, not 'US fighter jet shot down by Russia' An image of a mid-air accident at an airshow in the United Kingdom has been shared in social media videos that falsely claimed it showed a US fighter jet shot down over the Black Sea. While a US-made F-16 -- supplied to Ukraine by its Western allies -- crashed during a combat mission in August 2024, the image shows a Russian MiG-29 that collided with another aircraft during an airshow on July 24, 1993. "A US F16 fighter jet was shot down on the 28th in airspace over the Black Sea after refusing to obey Russian orders. The video was made public," read the simplified Chinese caption to a TikTok video shared on September 23, 2024. The video appears to show an image of a fighter jet in flames, followed by photos of US defence chief Lloyd Austin and Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Sticker text on the video claims Zakharova said: "Games shouldn't be played in a war zone." Screenshot of the false TikTok post, captured on September 24, 2024 The image was also shared in similar clips on the Chinese short video app Douyin along with the false claim. Screenshot of the false Douyin posts, captured on September 26, 2024 They circulated weeks after Ukraine said a US-made F-16 fighter jet had crashed in combat, killing the pilot (archived link). The military said the plane and pilot crashed during a combat mission after having shot down incoming Russian missiles. The crash of the F-16 -- the first reported loss of the supersonic aircraft -- was a high-profile setback for Kyiv, which had lobbied the West to send the advanced fighter jet for months. The United States is a key military backer of Ukraine, and has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Kyiv since Russia's February 2022 invasion (archived link). The image circulating online, however, does not show the F-16 that crashed and there have been no official reports of Russia shooting down a US military jet in the region. Airshow collision Reverse image and keyword searches on Google led to the same image of the fighter jet in flames on the Air Team Images website (archived link). The picture in the falsely shared video appears to have been flipped horizontally. The Air Team Images photo is credited to photographer Carl Ford, and stated it was taken on July 24, 1993 in Fairford, United Kingdom. Its description read: "The first of a sequence of photos of the mid-air collision between two Russian MiG-29s. No one was killed or seriously injured in the incident. The pilot can be seen ejecting." Below is a screenshot comparison of the image as seen in the falsely shared TikTok video (left) and the photo on the Air Team Images website (right): Screenshot comparison of the image as seen in the falsely shared TikTok video (left) and the photo on the Air Team Images website (right) Ford also posted the same photo on his Flickr account on October 15, 2015 (archived link). The photo has previously been falsely linked to the war in Ukraine, which AFP debunked in March 2022. At the time, Ford told AFP: "This is my photograph and it's one in a sequence of 11 images of Russian planes I took with a motor drive on my Nikon F.3 HP on 24 July 1993." The accident was covered by the UK's Independent newspaper on July 26, 1993, which reported that it had occurred at the International Air Tattoo held at the Fairford Royal Air Force base (archived link). AFP has debunked other misinformation about the war in Ukraine here. Rhode Island Public Defender Collin Geiselman has concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the validity of toolmark testing on firearms submitted as evidence in gun cases after a pause on testing at the state crime lab. (Will Steinfeld/Rhode Island Current) More than a month since the Rhode Island State Crime Lab suspended firearm examinations, the states chief public defender says his office is still in the dark about what happened, leaving cases slated to go to trial in the next couple of weeks in limbo. Unfortunately, at this time we have little, or no more information, than the press has, Collin Geiselman said in an email to Rhode Island Current. Besides being of public concern, this information is necessary for defense attorneys who are preparing to defend cases where the state is attempting to use toolmark evidence. Toolmark analysis, or how examiners determine if a cartridge or shell is fired from a specific gun, halted Aug. 20 after casings matched to a gun allegedly used in a crime in Pawtucket matched a different firearm in possession of the Boston Police Department. The pause was made public on Sept. 3 by the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General. Officials initially declined to say what may have caused the discrepancy or if evidence was mishandled, but Attorney General Peter Neronha told WPRI on Sept. 11 that the state had narrowed its concerns toward cases using particular technology at the lab. Its still too early to really handicap the whole scope of it, but were taking it very seriously, Neronha said. As we can share information with the public, and of course with defense counsel, were going to do that. Since then, the only update Geiselman said his office was given is where their evidence is getting tested. Brain Hodge, spokesperson for the Attorney Generals office, confirmed that 20 criminal cases involving guns were sent out for independent testing by state crime labs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The AGs office had initially estimated that 50 cases were affected. Cases sent for retesting are being processed on a mutual aid basis meaning no charge to the state, aside from the cost of overnight delivery, said Rhode Island State Crime Lab Director Dennis Hilliard. So far, in at least two of the 20 or so cases that have been sent out for retesting by other labs, the results came back confirming the test results by the Rhode Island State Crime Lab, Hodge said. All of the additional tests are still outstanding. Hilliard said a report on what happened at the crime lab is expected to be sent to the State Crime Laboratory Commission in the next two weeks. What happened? The discrepancy in the ballistic testing tied to the arrest of Karel Martinez-Scarlet was caught during a routine entry into the National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network (NIBIN) the digital database that captures and compares images of ballistic evidence for police departments to find out whether there are connections between incidents. Martinez-Scarlet was charged with the 2021 death of Keshaudas Spence in Pawtucket, who was a running back at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, between 2011 and 2014. The case is pending in Providence Superior Court, where a trial is tentatively scheduled to begin April 28, 2025. Hilliard declined to state what caused the discrepancy. For the last two weeks, he said an independent assessor who formerly worked for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been at the lab inside Fogarty Hall at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, looking over everything in the facilitys firearms section. Only three employees work solely on firearms forensics at the lab all of whom were removed from casework as the firearms examinations get tested out-of-state, Hilliard said. Making motions One of the two affirmed results involves evidence for the upcoming trial of Shawn Mann, confirmed Providence-based criminal defense attorney Bill Dimitri. Mann is charged with the 2021 murder of Miya Brophy-Baermann, a 24-year-old Warwick woman who was shot while standing along Olney Street in Providence. Dimitri said he received an email from the Attorney Generals office Tuesday detailing results from the New Hampshire state crime lab. They have told me it is the same result, but I will reserve judgment for now, he said. Dimitri said he still questions the reliability of the crime labs initial testing, which is why he filed a motion on Sept. 3 the day the examination pause was announced asking Neronhas office to provide any reports describing what exactly went wrong at the lab. Dimitri declined to comment on the case itself, but told Rhode Island Current his motion was to ensure that prosecutors turn over any evidence favorable to the defendant before trial as required by the U.S. Supreme Courts Brady rule established in 1963. If theres an issue of credibility and malfeasance, incompetence anything that would call into question the opinion methods, equipment we are entitled to fully cross-examine this, Dimitri said. A status conference is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30, with trial slated to begin Oct. 15. So far Dimitiris motion has gone unanswered in Providence Superior Court, as have similar filings by the Public Defenders Office for the case of Marklyn Brown. Brown was among three men charged for the 2019 shooting death of 19-year-old Berta Pereira-Roldan outside the Noah Lounge in Providence. The public defenders motion asks for a copy of the crime labs toolmark examination protocols and chain of custody records for Browns case, along with co-defendants Johnny Veng and Jimmy Castillo. My office does not know if there was a problem with the way evidence was handled in one individual case, or if there was an issue with a particular examiner, or with the lab protocols, or if this is simply an indication that there is a problem with the toolmark discipline itself, Geiselman said. Junk science? The pause at the crime lab also raises a bigger question: Should prosecutors continue to rely on forensic evidence for most criminal cases? There are quite a number of things that for many years we have allowed into criminal trials that scientific discoveries now conclude mean that they arent what theyre purported to be, said Roger Williams University School of Law Professor Andrew Horwitz. There are serious questions about bite marks, hair follicles, and fingerprints which were seen as the most reliable thing in the world theres significant evidence thats just not the case. A major issue that stems from criminal forensics, Horwitz said, is there is ample room for confirmation bias the principle that if you know what youre looking for, youre more likely to find it. He said forensic experts are too often exposed to contextual information due to their close work with prosecutors and local police departments. If you have evidence submitted to you with a hypothesis connected to it, then confirmation bias becomes a significant issue, Horwitz said. Hilliard said all evidence delivered to the Rhode Island State Crime lab is tested blindly. Crime laboratory employees weigh and measure spent cartridges and shells, use microscopes to look at the tiny imperfections left by the manufacturing process on the weapons from which they were discharged. Guns are test fired in order to see if the casings match those found at a crime scene, Hilliard said. The out-of-state labs retesting the 20 firearm cases were not provided with any previous results of analysis, he added. Horwitz said forensics is mostly used for the jurys sake because of what he calls a CSI effect. Juries watch TV and believe there ought to be science, he said. And some things can be verified, but some cases really do just rise and fall on what a person said happened and we have to decide if we believe that person beyond a reasonable doubt. To Bill Devine, the Providence-based criminal defense attorney who formerly represented Martinez-Scarlet, the states use of firearms forensics is mostly the cherry on top of the rest of their case. A lot of evidence is cumulative, he said. Generally speaking, I dont know of any cases where someone was convicted on just a toolmark. But Devine said he doesnt believe the practice needs to be abolished. If the science is ever in doubt, he said its on the defense to get their own expert. Rhode Islands top prosecutor, meanwhile, feels theres still plenty of merit to firearm forensics. The science has been accepted all over the country, Neronha told Rhode Island Current. I dont think youre going to set a precedent in this state that ballistics comparisons of this nature is junk science. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Salt Lake City International Airport is doubling down on the international part of its title as Delta announced it is adding nonstop flights to South Korea in 2025. Starting June 12, passengers will be able to take direct flights to Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN). This is the first and only direct flight to Asia offered out of Salt Lake City, according to Delta. Flights will be operated on an Airbus A350-900, which features a total of 306 seats. The new route is a joint venture with Korean Air. Delta said it is continuing to invest in SLC as a major hub, with nearly 250 daily flights to 90+ destinations and growing. They also said they believe the new service will increase tourism and economic opportunities while strengthening Salt Lake as a global city. Similar flights to South Korea are offered by Delta in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle. The launch of Salt Lake City to Seoul service offers customers convenient access to Deltas growing global network and ensures that virtually all U.S. demand is connected to Seoul via nonstop or one-stop service, said Joe Esposito, Deltas Senior Vice President Network Planning. As Salt Lake City continues to grow as a vital Delta hub, our strong joint venture with Korean Air allows us to offer unmatched connectivity between the U.S. and Asia, leveraging strong hubs on both sides. This ensures that customers, including those in the interior U.S., have access not just to Seoul but to key destinations across Asia. As we open this new gateway to Asia, I am excited to expand Utahs global reach and foster new cultural and business partnerships, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Deltas commitment to our state underscores Utahs growing role on the world stage. I was delighted to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol and discuss how this new route will deepen connections between Utah and Korea. Strong partnerships can often have the biggest impacts on visitors and our residents. From Deltas Salt Lake City hub, the Incheon route will connect our capital city with 80-plus destinations in Asia, expanding our communitys global reach and what so many already know, said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Salt Lake City and the Mountain West are among the best places to visit and an even better place to call home. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two Delta Air Lines planes pass by each other on the tarmac at Salt Lake City International Airport on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. | Chuck Wing, Deseret News Delta Air Lines just announced plans to launch nonstop service from Salt Lake City International Airport to Seoul-Incheon International Airport in South Korea starting next summer in a first-ever offering from the carriers biggest hub in the western U.S. The new route will be the only direct flight linking Salt Lake City to Asia and is set to begin service on June 12, 2025. The launch of Salt Lake City to Seoul service offers customers convenient access to Deltas growing global network and ensures that virtually all U.S. demand is connected to Seoul via nonstop or one-stop service, Joe Esposito, Deltas senior vice president of network planning, said in a press release. As Salt Lake City continues to grow as a vital Delta hub, our strong joint venture with Korean Air allows us to offer unmatched connectivity between the U.S. and Asia, leveraging strong hubs on both sides. This ensures that customers, including those in the interior U.S., have access not just to Seoul but to key destinations across Asia. Delta is easily the busiest carrier flying out of Salt Lake City, where the Atlanta-based airline operates nearly 250 peak-day departures to more than 90 destinations more flights than all the other carriers at the airport combined. The new direct service to Seoul builds Deltas list of nonstop international flights from Salt Lake City that includes Amsterdam, London, Paris and Mexico City, among others. The announcement comes on the same day Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, on a trade mission to South Korea and Japan, met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. As we open this new gateway to Asia, I am excited to expand Utahs global reach and foster new cultural and business partnerships, Cox said in a press statement. Deltas commitment to our state underscores Utahs growing role on the world stage. I was delighted to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol and discuss how this new route will deepen connections between Utah and Korea. ANNOUNCING SLC SEOUL/INCHEON SLC is thrilled to connect to Asia! Starting June 12, 2025, @Delta Air Lines will offer daily, nonstop flights from SLC to Incheon (ICN). Through ICN, travelers can seamlessly connect to 80+ destinations in Asia through Korean AirDeltas joint pic.twitter.com/adlwQIbrSv Salt Lake City Airport (@slcairport) September 27, 2024 Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall celebrated the new service and its potential as a gateway connection to other Asian destinations. Strong partnerships can often have the biggest impacts on visitors and our residents, Mendenhall said in a press release. From Deltas Salt Lake City hub, the Incheon route will connect our capital city with 80-plus destinations in Asia, expanding our communitys global reach and what so many already know. Salt Lake City and the Mountain West are among the best places to visit and an even better place to call home. Also, the University of Utahs Asia Campus in Incheon just marked its 10th anniversary. Demi Lovato Meets With Gavin Newsom as He Signs Legislation to Protect Child Influencers Former Disney star Demi Lovato met with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday as he signed into law two pieces of legislation to ensure children and teenagers who perform in online content are protected from financial abuse. Lovato, who starred in Disney movies including Camp Rock and Princess Protection Program and is the subject of the Hulu documentary Child Star, championed the two new bills: SB 764 (Padilla) establishes financial and legal protections for minors featured in monetized online content by mandating their parent or guardian set aside a percentage of their earnings in trust accounts. AB 1880 (Alanis) expands the Coogan Law to include minors who are employed as content creators on online platforms, such as YouTube. The Coogan Law, which dates back t0 1939, protects child performers and creators by ensuring that their employers place at least 15 percent of their gross earnings in trust until they reach adulthood. It was named after child star Jackie Coogan, who appeared in films with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Child Star, which marked Lovatos directorial debut, is co-directed by Nicola Marsh and produced by Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner, Miranda Sherman, and Kfir Goldberg for OBB Pictures. It follows child stars from classic Hollywood child stars Shirley Temple to modern social media influencers. The film highlights the advocacy efforts of Chris McCarty (they/them), founder and Executive Director of Quit Clicking Kids, a group advocating for children to receive fair compensation and legal protections when they are featured in their parents social media content. Lovato and Newsom discussed the new child protections on this weeks Politickin podcast with hosts Marshawn Lynch and Doug Hendrickson. Newsom also recently signed a bill to protect actors from having their likenesses copied by AI without their knowledge. The post Demi Lovato Meets With Gavin Newsom as He Signs Legislation to Protect Child Influencers appeared first on TheWrap. 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: Allen Buansi District/seat: House District 56 County or counties represented: Orange Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 38 Campaign website: allenbuansi.com Current occupation: Attorney Professional experience: Attorney Education: Dartmouth College, BA | University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D. Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Current State House Representative | Former Town Council Member What would be your top priority if elected? Fully supporting public schools. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? I would support a raise of at least 5% for state employees, which includes non-certified school employees. I would support a teacher pay raise by at least 8.5%. This increase in teacher pay would put North Carolina near the first in the Southeast for beginning teacher pay and raise us from the bottom half of the country in average teacher pay. Gov. Cooper has also supported these kinds of raises in the past budget cycle. What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. I was proud to be a primary sponsor of the Transportation for the Future Act to increase the proportion of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) funds that must go to bicycle lanes, sidewalks and other modes of transportation, such as light rail and commuter rail. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? No. Private schools receiving these vouchers are not required to adhere to any state assessments and reports; public schools are required to do this. There are no required federal background checks on employees at schools receiving these vouchers; public schools are required to do this. The curriculum at private schools are not required to align with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study; public schools are required to do so. We need to fully fund public schools, for our childrens sake. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? In the 2000s, the Democrat-led General Assembly had an opportunity to create an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission, in order to ensure fair maps. However, the General Assembly chose not to go that route. We need to rectify that mistake, and I would push for an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission. This will help restore voters faith and confidence that they have a legitimate chance to elect someone who represents their interests. 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. Specialist insurance provider CFC, which focuses on cyber and emerging risks, has launched its first office in Spain, marking a significant milestone in the company's global expansion efforts. This move follows the insurance companys recent growth in North America and Australia. It aligns with its strategy to enhance relationships with broker partners by providing local expertise in key territories. The new Madrid-based operation will be led by Filippo Cibin, who has been appointed team leader for southern Europe within CFC's transaction liability business. Cibin brings more than a decade of underwriting experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and financial lines insurance products. Previously, Cibin has worked in Spain, Italy and Germany with companies such as DUAL, Tokio Marine HCC and Fusion Specialty. Cibin said: CFC has a strong reputation for delivering outstanding service to brokers and their customers. By combining that service ethic with CFCs market leading technology and relentless drive to innovate, I am confident that Jorge, Oliver and I can add even greater value to our partners, not only here in Spain but across Europe. Joining Cibin, Jorge Nieto Luque has been named senior underwriter, who will be responsible for handling transaction liability, tax and legal contingency insurance solutions in southern Europe. Luque's background includes more than six years in transaction liability insurance and prior experience as a business and M&A lawyer. Oliver Berridge also joins the team as senior underwriter, bringing nearly ten years of insurance industry expertise, particularly in M&A underwriting. Educated in France, Berridge is also a fluent French speaker, which will be an asset to CFC's operations in the region. Completing the new team, Ilaria Salvato has been appointed as Cyber European team leader. Salvato, who is multilingual in Spanish, Italian and English, transitioned into insurance 14 years ago after starting her career at a leading Italian law company. She joins CFC from Beazley, where she was a cyber underwriting manager. CFC Group CEO Louise OShea said: We have built a strong network of brokers throughout Spain and southern Europe over the past two decades and are experiencing increasing demand for our products and services. To meet that demand and further develop our client base throughout the country, it is the right time to establish boots on the ground. Opening our new office in Madrid also allows us to build a hub from which to grow our presence across southern Europe and in particular deepen our expertise in cyber and transaction liability in the Spanish, Italian and French markets. Story continues "Specialist insurer CFC expands with new Spain office launch " was originally created and published by Life Insurance 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. 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: Maria Cervania District/seat: House District 41 County or counties represented: Wake Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 56 Campaign website: mariafornc.com Current occupation: State representative Professional experience: My career as an epidemiologist/biostatistician and a public health professional includes roles in Medicaid, adult and child protective services, disability and behavioral health, maternal-child health, early childhood intervention, minority health and crisis management during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Chicago heat wave, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and H1N1 Influenza and COVID-19 pandemics. Education: University of Illinois, Chicago, Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics; University of California, Berkeley, Bachelors in Integrative Biology and Physical Education, minor in population studies and demography. Please list any notable government or civic involvement. North Carolina state representative on the following committees: House Oversight and Reform; Appropriations, Appropriations - Health; Health; Energy & Public Utilities; Select Education Reform. Wake County commissioner on the following committees: Economic Strength (chair); Community Health & Vitality; Education; Growth & Sustainability. Civic experience: Poe Center; Wake Smart Start; Wake Pre-K; Alliance Behavioral Health; United Arts Council of Wake County; Town of Cary Police - Citizens Assisting Police Team; Wake Community Health Needs Assessment. What would be your top priority if elected? If reelected, my top priorities: Improve access to quality and affordable health care. Protect professional standards and personal choice in medical decisions, especially with reproductive health care. Fight for fair elections and expand access to voting. Increase funding for public schools, early childhood education and child care. Increase job creation, implement a thriving wage and foster economic growth. Maintain sustainable energy policies and protect North Carolinas natural resources. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? Our state employees, school staff and teachers must receive a respectful and thriving wage. I have advocated using the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a reliable and fair resource for determining a proper wage. The calculator considers the cost of living in different counties and provides a wage for workers to meet their basic needs (livingwage.mit.edu). Then, integrating education, certification and experience is my suggestion on the criteria for how to provide raises. What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. I support: A fully integrated regional transit network that connects all towns in the Triangle, including the RDU Airport. Transit-Oriented Development that promotes development around major transit hubs, creating mixed-use areas where people can live, work and grow. Expansion of biking lanes, greenways and pedestrian pathways to reduce car dependency. Growth of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and incentives for EV adoption to reduce carbon emissions from transportation. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? As legislators, we have a constitutional responsibility to provide every child access to sound basic education. When more than 80% of our students attend public schools, we cannot let the political environment continue to underfund public education. The North Carolina public school system was nationally known for being one of the best school systems in the country. Now, we rank in the bottom quarter in America. We are responsible for providing students with the best possible education and future. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? No, there are not any issues that I disagree with my party. 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. 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: Evonne S. Hopkins District/seat: House District 35 County or counties represented: Wake Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 48 Campaign website: HopkinsForHouse.com Current occupation: Family Law Attorney & Small Business Owner Professional experience: Evonne is a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist and Certified Parent Coordinator licensed to practice in North Carolina, California and the District of Columbia. Evonne has helped thousands of families and children navigate through extraordinarily high conflict cases in the Triangle. Evonne is known for her straightforward honest style, powerful advocacy. Evonne utilizes her training, education, and real world experiences to obtain the best results for her clients. Education: JD/MBA from the University of San Francisco (2003) and Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Philosophy from Rollins College (1998) Please list any notable government or civic involvement: 2023 Pro Bono Hero Award Recipient, Former Chair of Family Law Section of North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Former Committee Member of the 10th Judicial District Grievance Committee and Women in the Professions Committee and Committee of Indigent Appointments, Treasurer of the Committee to Keep Judge Christine Walczyk, and former Board President of the Wake Women Attorneys. What would be your top priority if elected? My number one priority is representing my district and the growing needs of our community. Top priorities include infrastructure, economy, taxes, housing (addressed below) and reproductive freedom (addressed herein). Protecting reproductive rights, including access to abortion, IVF and birth control, is crucial for ensuring a fair and inclusive North Carolina. The right to choose should be between a woman, her family, and her doctor not lawmakers. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? I support Gov. (Roy) Coopers 2023-24 proposal for an 8.5% average pay raise for teachers and school staff and 5% pay raise for state employees. This investment in our workforce is essential for maintaining high-quality public services and supporting the dedicated professionals who serve our communities. The nearly $1 billion surplus should be used to fund these pay raises, which will help with employee retention, recruitment, and satisfaction. What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. Currently, it relies heavily on the gas tax, leaving electric, hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles untaxed. Replacing the gas tax with a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax would fairly capture all vehicles and boost revenue. This shift would help address DOTs underfunding, which forces local municipalities to raise taxes to cover shortfalls, straining residents. A VMT tax would ensure a sustainable, equitable source of infrastructure funding. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? I do not support the recent allocation of nearly $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program. Private school vouchers, pushed through by the supermajority, have effectively defunded the public school system. In the process of funding private education, the Republican supermajority is destroying our public school system and then pointing the finger at our public school system, saying it is not serving the needs of our children. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? Our small businesses are the lifeblood of North Carolina and deserve support through tax incentives. Many are unable to afford group insurance, forcing employees to go without or buy private insurance. Currently, both the employer and employee are taxed on the reimbursement. When employers reimburse them, they should be able to write that off. We need to help small businesses by allowing them to reimburse for health care without facing extra tax burdens. 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. Democrats on the House task force formed to investigate the assassination attempts against former President Trump boycotted the final portion of the panels first hearing Thursday, which featured testimony from two rabble-rousing Republicans who are leading their own independent investigation into the shooting. It is one of the first partisan cracks in what has been an overwhelmingly bipartisan effort thus far. The first official hearing for the task force, which was approved by the House in a rare unanimous vote in July, focused mainly on testimony from local Pennsylvania officials who were involved with assisting the Secret Service in security for the rally where the shooting occurred, and the communication breakdown that enabled the assassination attempt. But a second panel at the hearing featured Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who have launched their own independent investigation into the assassination attempt. Democrats on the task force did not stick around to hear from Crane and Mills. Panel one was a very productive panel. It was focused on local law enforcement. That was the panel that we had worked with the majority to prepare for, task force ranking member Jason Crow (D-Colo.) told reporters, adding that everything that weve done has been consensus-based. We did not receive notice of the second panel until late yesterday, Crow said. Its unclear to us what testimony will be provided by these witnesses that relates to todays hearing. Crane and Mills, both of whom have experience as snipers, had hoped to sit on the task force and were disappointed that they were not selected despite their own visits to the Butler, Pa., rally site and other investigation. They and other rabble-rousing Republicans held an unofficial forum about the assassination attempt last month that coincided with the task forces visit to the rally site. Task force Chair Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) said that he invited Mills and Crane to testify because of their expertise, welcoming their assessment of the security perimeter for the rally. And he brushed off Democrats absence during their portion of the hearing, suggesting that some members may have had flights out of Washington. If you want to participate, you can participate. If you decide not to, you can make that decision too, Kelly said of the members. Its not going to shatter my feeling that its bipartisan, Kelly added of the Democrats absence. The biggest takeaway from the hearing, Kelly said, was the communication struggles detailed by local law enforcement. There was a lack of preparation that day. There was not enough concern about the inability to communicate with each other, Kelly said. Kelly was in attendance at the Butler, Pa., rally when 20-year-old suspected shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump from a roof, clipping his ear, killing one rally attendee and seriously wounding two others. Trump is set to return to the site for a rally on Oct. 5, which Kelly said he will also attend. But in the second panel, Crane urged Trump to avoid this site on October 5 and in the future. If there was any tension between Crane and Mills and the task force, their appearance appears to have smoothed things over. Crane said that while the task force is doing great work, he challenged it to think outside the box, challenge the mainstream narrative, and be willing to investigate every theory, regardless of how conspiratorial others might find them to be. Mills said that his independent investigation is not exclusive of the efforts of the task force, and pledged to provide continued support and any additional information to the task force. Medical examiner discusses Crooks autopsy Also appearing via video conference at the panel was Ariel Goldschmidt, Allegheny Countys chief medical examiner who assisted Butler County by performing the autopsy on Crooks. Conspiracy theories about the shooting have swirled in part because the full autopsy report has not been publicly released. Kelly said Goldschmidt testified to answer questions about how Crooks died, and to hopefully put to rest some theories and doubts that often seem to follow high-profile violent events. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), a member of the panel, independently released a preliminary investigative report in August that raised concern about the fact that Crookss body was released for cremation 10 days after the shooting. Higgins had attempted to examine Crookss body, but said that because he was cremated, he wont know 100 percent if the coroners report and the autopsy report are accurate. Higgins at the hearing said Goldschmidts work was professional but pressed him about the possibility that Crooks was hit by more than one bullet. I accept you have only one observable bullet wound, Higgins said, but he asked if his injuries could have been caused by more than one bullet into the same bullet hole. Goldschmidt said there was no evidence of that. Goldschmidt also testified his offices involvement ended on July 22, when Crookss body was released to a funeral home pursuant to the directives of the Butler County coroner. It was a standard autopsy, Goldschmidt later said at the hearing, adding that some extra toxicology testing and heavy metal screening found a slightly elevated lead level. The task force is in possession of the full autopsy report. The Butler County coroner previously released a one-page summary of the autopsy, saying that the cause of Crookss death was a gunshot wound to the head. New footage revealed of officer looking at roof Kelly also showed never-before-seen footage from a dash cam on a Pennsylvania state police vehicle on July 13 that depicted Crooks in the distance on top of the AGR building from which he eventually fired at Trump. At this point, all law enforcement entities staffing the rally are aware that there is an individual on the roof of AGR, but they do not know he is armed. Behind the trees, you will see one officer attempting to lift another officer up onto the roof. And you will see that officer pull himself up, and look to the left, Kelly said. According to that officers interview with the task force, he sees Crooks with a long gun, and Crooks turns and points the weapon in his direction. The officer then falls to the ground, injuring his ankle, and radios that the man on the roof is armed at 11 minutes after 6:00. Crooks is far away and difficult to see at the start of the video, but after the driver of the vehicle moves closer to the building, the officer who was hoisted up to see onto the roof is much easier to see. We know that the first shot from Crooks was fired 32 seconds later, Kelly 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. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced Friday that it would be giving nearly $2.5 million in total grants to more than 30 state parties in an effort to ramp up organizing efforts as Election Day nears, rounding out the committees goal of providing resources to all states and territories in the country. These dollars will go to reaching key constituencies, beefing up organizing operations, and giving our teams on the ground the tools they need to earn every vote in the final stretch before Election Day, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said in a press release. With less than six weeks to go until Election Day, Harrison added that the investment gives Democrats an extra boost for the campaigns New Way Forward agenda. The stakes couldnt be higher, and this latest investment will give us an extra boost of momentum heading into November so that we can send Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to the White House, drive Democratic victories across the country, and pave a New Way Forward in all 50 states red, purple, and blue alike, he wrote. Some of the newest investments include grants to help down-ballot Democrats in Republican-controlled states, targeted investments specific to what will help in a particular state like support for certain voting blocs and hundreds of thousands of dollars aimed at supporting the hiring of Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino, youth and Native American organizers. The press release noted that the committee has already invested thousands in several states including Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota and Missouri. Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC), praised the committees new effort, calling state parties the backbone of the Democratic party. Were thrilled to make history with this round of grant money to state parties by investing in all 57 states and territories, he said in the press release. The work that state parties do every day on the ground is absolutely essential to our mission of reaching voters where they are and electing Democrats to office every election cycle. State parties are the backbone of the Democratic Party, Martin 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Crews have started demolishing a house that has been falling into the ocean near Sunset Beach on Oahus North Shore. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Department of Permitting and Planning (DPP) issued an emergency demolition permit just two days after the home began its dangerous descent. The house, located on Ke Nui Road, had accumulated numerous violations for illegal erosion measures over the years and has now been torn down to prevent further collapse. This situation didnt happen overnight, said environmental activist Denise Antolini. The owner was aware it was teetering on the edge. He should have taken preventive actions, like removing the house before it fell in. In a statement, the DPP emphasized its commitment to public safety, stating, Understanding the immediate health and safety situation of the failing structure on Ke Nui Road, the DPP has been working with the landowner and his contractor to quickly demolish the structure to prevent it from further falling onto the beach and into the ocean. State provides $235,000 to support homeless youth services Antolini added, We need to ensure the hazard is inspected and demolished, and the homeowner should be held accountable for the cleanup costs. The demolition comes a day after the state attorney general filed a temporary restraining order and an injunction against the landowner, citing total disregard for conservation district land use and environmental laws. State Representative Sean Quinlan expressed frustration with the homeowners cooperation, saying, He is far and away the most uncooperative homeowner on the entire North Shore. Once he realized the gravity of the situation and the potential financial responsibility for cleanup, he began to cooperate a bit more. Quinlan also noted that the health department is working to inspect the property, as the homeowner has not clarified the location of the cesspool system. The attorney general is seeking an injunction to ensure the site is cleaned up and to recover any costs incurred by the state or county, Antolini said. This is a historic move for the AG to take proactive action in this case. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Contractors told KHON2 that they plan to remove the remaining concrete tomorrow, with the landowner covering the costs of the demolition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man is behind bars after a dog in his care was found seizing from heat stroke in July. According to court documents, on July 15th at around 12:15 pm, a male dog was found actively seizing in the yard at a home in the 1200 block of 12th Street. The dog, named Master, was immediately transported to an animal hospital for treatment. An evaluation of Master found that his internal body temperature at the time was around 112 degrees, and that the seizures were caused by heat stroke, court documents state. Master couldnt be saved and was euthanized. Man arrested on weapons, drug charges after police respond to report of shooting in Oakridge neighborhood Anthony Delano Bruce, 59, was caring for Master at the time while his girlfriend, Masters owner, was out of town, according to a criminal complaint. Master was left outside without adequate shelter or access to enough water, the complaint states. According to the National Weather Service, the highest temperature recorded on July 15 for the Des Moines area was 95 degrees. Bruce was arrested on Thursday and charged with animal neglect with serious injury or death. He is currently being held at the Polk County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man is facing multiple charges after leading troopers on a chase Friday morning the Iowa State Patrol said. At around 11 a.m. an Iowa State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a vehicle after the driver, identified as 44-year-old Demarious Carey, showed signs of potential impairment near the I-235 and University Avenue offramp, the state patrol said. Carey refused to stop for the trooper which initiated a pursuit. Des Moines man charged after dog euthanized due to heat stroke, seizures During the pursuit Carey allegedly threw a firearm out of the vehicle, ISP said. Carey eventually left the vehicle near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Euclid Avenue and fled the area on foot. A short foot chase ensued until Carey was apprehended near the intersection of 4th Avenue and Euclid Avenue, the ISP said. Carey was booked into the Polk County Jail and faces charges of Operating While Intoxicated, Eluding, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, as well as narcotics charges. 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. Gov. Ron DeSantis this month assigned a prosecutor to investigate a complaint of election fraud and unlawful disbursement of funds by both the chair and treasurer of the Florida Keys Republican Party. The issue stems from a vote in April by the Republican Executive Committee of Monroe County to endorse Sherri Hodies, who is the treasurer of the committee, over former Key West City Commissioner Margaret Romero in the GOP primary for supervisor of elections. With the endorsement came a $20,000 contribution to Hodies campaign, according to the July 26 complaint filed by Phyllis May, a Key West Republican. The problem is a simple majority vote out of all of the committees 63 members is required before endorsing a candidate, which did not happen, according to May and other Republicans upset about the decision. According to the complaint and an email that was obtained by the Miami Herald, written by another member of the committee and first reported about by the Key West Citizen newspaper 38 of the 63 members were present at the April 20 meeting, and 20 voted to endorse Hodies while 18 opposed the motion. When you have a 20 to 18 vote, that should tell you that its split. There is no majority, John Dick, a longtime Monroe County School Board member and an REC member, told the Miami Herald. Thats not an affirmative vote. For the endorsement to be official, however, 32 members would have had to vote for Hodies, who went on to win the primary and faces Democrat Ron Saunders, a former state House representative for the Keys, in November. If there was no valid vote which met the requirements to endorse Ms. Hodies and the associated $20,000 contribution, who authorized and/or made the decision to cut the check? Mays wrote to Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward in her complaint. Who signed the check, which was subsequently cashed by the Hodies campaign? It appears that the funds were disbursed without substantiation to the Hodies campaign. Monroe State Attorney recuses himself Ward, who is a member of the committee and supported Romero, recused his office from the investigation and asked DeSantis to appoint another State Attorneys Office to take the case. On Sept. 20, DeSantis signed an executive order assigning the case to Amira D. Fox, state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Sherri Hodies The Key West Citizen was first to report the story, which also included an email from committee member Patrick Foley to Chair Rhonda Rebman Lopez telling her there werent enough votes to back Hodies. The motion failed, Foley wrote. Foley declined to comment on the controversy when reached Friday, but he confirmed he sent the email. In DeSantis executive order, he states Foxs office is to assume all duties regarding the investigation and prosecution of the case and all related matters regarding Rhonda Rebman Lopez and Sherri Hodies. Election fraud is a third-degree felony in Florida punishable by up to five years in prison. Accusations of helping Democrats Rebman Lopez, who ran unsuccessfully against state Rep. Jim Mooney for the District 120 state House seat in 2020, blamed Ward for the controversy and accused him in a text to the Herald of doing exactly what the Democrats are doing to Trump. Trying to use the courts to interfere with an election. She said Ward was working on behalf of the Democrats, who Rebman Lopez said in the text are trying to take Sherri Hodies off the ballot the same way they tried to take Trump off the ballot. The frivolous allegations of election fraud center around the local partys endorsement process for Republican candidates which was voted upon by a majority of all members present and subsequently approved by the Republican party of Florida, Rebman Lopez wrote, adding the complaint is meritless and will be dismissed in due time. Hodies told the Herald on Thursday that she would send a statement from her attorney, but it hadnt arrived by Friday afternoon. She told the Key West Citizen that she was told by Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power that the process and vote was approved and that the state party leadership told Rebman Lopez to cut the check and endorse me. I followed the process and all of the rules. Power, however, on Friday, told the Herald he has no knowledge of the details of what happened. The only thing our team would do was point them to the rules on endorsements and expenditures. Power also distanced himself from the issue in an interview with news website Florida Politics on Thursday. I do not get involved in Primaries, nor do I tell any REC how to operate, he said. Party infighting Dick, the School Board member, also noted the decision to endorse Hodies was controversial because the REC had never backed a candidate during primaries. We never endorsed anyone in a primary, he said. The issue has exposed a rift among Keys Republicans, and several say the situation is embarrassing. REC meetings have become so heated that the committee has hired an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol trooper to act as security, several sources have said. Were civilized people, Dick said. To this day, I dont know why they have that trooper there. Online, the mud-slinging was in full force this week, with Rebman Lopez posting a photo of Liz Cheney who is a former Wyoming congresswoman and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and fell out of favor with many conservatives for her attacks on Trump with Wards face pasted over hers. When Ward and others took issue with the post in Facebook comments, a defiant Rebman Lopez stood by it. People r texting me & emailing me calling me telling me they died laughing, she wrote Thursday. While some Keys Republicans blasted Rebman Lopez in the comments, asking her to stop embarrassing our party, others piled on Ward, accusing him of helping Saunders (Hodies Democratic opponent) and in turn somehow helping defeat Trump in November. REC members and high ranking elected Republicans voting [and] endorsing to put Democrat Ron Saunders in [Supervisor of Elections] office is very concerning. Thats like sticking a knife in President Trumps back as well as the sovereignty of our country, wrote Virginia Donaldson, a Keys Republican. Ward responded to his critics by standing by both his Republican bona fides and his duties as the Keys highest elected law-enforcement officer. My oath of office is not a get out of jail free card for Republicans, he commented. Not a difficult concept. Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the six-week abortion ban into law late at night on April 13, 2023. (Governor's office) Legendary reggae superstar Bob Marley warned us decades ago in his song, Revolution, to never trust a politician. Marley was talking about people like Ron DeSantis, who has earned distrust throughout his tenure as Floridas chief executive because of his misuse of his considerable power as governor and efforts to bend those who oppose him to his will. DeSantis ally Attorney General Ashley Moody tried and failed to block efforts by supporters of abortion access and reproductive justice who gathered the necessary petition signatures for Floridians to decide whether to codify abortion rights in the Florida Constitution. Florida election officials verified that Floridians Protecting Freedom had submitted 910,946 petitions, well above the 891,523 needed to add the measure to the ballot. The Florida Supreme Court later approved the ballot measure, which gives voters in the Sunshine State the rare opportunity to take a direct hand in this crucial and life-changing issue. Ten states have proposed constitutional amendments by which voters will directly decide whether to protect or expand abortions in November. Theyre in swing states (Arizona and Nevada), blue-leaning states (Colorado, Maryland, and New York), and red-leaning or red-dominated states (Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota) Floridas ballot initiative would bar state interference with abortion before fetal viability and would include exceptions past that point for the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider. Passage of the amendment would effectively undo the states six-week ban on abortion, which includes exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the patient. The measure must receive the support of 60% of voters in November, rather than a simple majority, to pass. State agency DeSantis is using state agencies and law enforcement to combat the referendum. State police are showing up at Florida voters homes to question them about signing the abortion petitions and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has launched a website targeting the initiative with politically charged language. Critics have castigated DeSantis for using these instruments to actively resist the ballot initiative and attempt to subvert the will of the people. By his actions, he may be violating a statute prohibiting the state influencing a persons vote, as the Phoenix has reported. Democrats are fighting back against DeSantis assertions and his claims to have found evidence of fraud. For example, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried and two private citizens filed criminal complaints against the administration. And a South Florida appellate attorney has asked the Florida Supreme Court to stop DeSantis, AHCA Secretary Jason Weida, and Moody from interfering in the voting on Amendment 4. The states highest court has agreed to expedite that case. DeSantis is brazen in his efforts to game the system. He claims the Florida Department of State found one group that collected petitions on behalf of dead people. Other petition signatures did not match the voter files, he said. It just seems that if there were any fraud allegations, those would have been uncovered much sooner. I think whats really happening is that these extremists are feeling like their backs are against the ropes, said Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell. They feel this is slipping away from them because the people of Florida want Amendment 4 to pass, and so now theyre just grasping at straws and throwing anything at the wall to see what will stick, Driskell added. Political theater State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, describes the searches a witch hunt and political theater by DeSantis and his cronies who are just so desperate to maintain Floridas near total abortion ban that they were fishing for any type of information. Driskell said DeSantis is desperate following a string of high-profile failures, from his unsuccessful presidential run to the latest backlash over developing state parks. Yet DeSantis command to four county elections supervisors to send 36,000 petitions from those counties to Tallahassee to be reviewed has alarmed critics who are angered by his falsehoods. They fear he will find a way to invalidate the amendment effort even though county supervisor of elections offices led by elected officials from both parties approved the almost 1 million petitions for Amendment 4 that the Florida Department of State already verified. Ron [DeSantis] has repeatedly used state power to interfere with a citizen-led process to get reproductive freedom on the ballot. This is their latest desperate attempt before Election Day, Fried told reporters recently. AHCA published a webpage filled with lies, misinformation, and criticism about the abortion amendment. Doing this, Democratic officials, activists, and other critics vigorously argue, could violate state laws against voter intimidation. Whats clear is that DeSantis, Moody, and other state officials, who ostensibly work for Florida citizens, have abrogated their responsibility to the people. DeSantis actions fly in the face of what the majority of Floridians demand but it doesnt matter to him. In their greed and pursuit of raw power, DeSantis and the others unabashedly represent a mere fraction of Floridas populace. The end of the pro-life movement Conservative theologian R. Albert Mohler Jr. explained in a recent post on his webpage what undergirds DeSantis virulent opposition to reproductive justice and abortion access. The governor said, If you care about building a culture of life in this state or this country, then winning in Florida I think really represents the end of the pro-life movement, Mohler writes. In other words, Amendment 4 would eviscerate Republican and evangelical extremists mission to restrict all abortions, including 15-week and six-week bans, Mohler notes. He acknowledges the electoral beatings Republicans have taken, even in ruby red Kansas and South Dakota, over abortion. If this amendment passes, you really are looking at the end of the pro-life movement in Florida, Mohler notes. But its a bigger question than Florida. I think this may have nationwide repercussions. You look at this amendment in a state like Florida, and if it passes, especially given the supermajority that is necessary there in Florida, you know, thats going to indicate not only that we have been losing ground, it might indicate were losing the argument when it comes to American culture. Mohler may be loath to admit it, but Republicans have already lost this battle. Amendment 4, if passed, would become law and enshrine abortion rights into Floridas Constitution. The procedure would become legal again until the fetus is viable, as determined by the patients health care provider. It is gratifying to see that supporters of Amendment 4 havent been bowed by DeSantis bullying. Lawsuits On Sept. 12, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Southern Legal Counsel filed a lawsuit in a Leon County Circuit Court on behalf of Floridians Protecting Freedom, calling the anti-Amendment 4 campaign the administrations latest dirty trick. Attorneys are asking the court to immediately halt the messaging, arguing that this constitutes the unlawful use of taxpayer funds by state officials in service of a political campaign. These actions, they add, are infringing on the rights of Florida voters. Unconvincingly, DeSantis said at a news conference that the page is not political or electioneering but offers Floridians factual information about the amendment. I am glad they are doing it, he said. El Jefe DeSantis is an outlier in the abortion battle. Most Republicans, especially former President Donald Trump, have been running away from anything to do with reproductive justice as if they were set on fire. Trump who with Mitch McConnell rammed Justices Cavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Coney Barrett onto the U.S. Supreme Court bench for the expressed purpose of overturning Roe v. Wade are to blame. So is DeSantis, the Republican legislative majority, and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who as governor shepherded a slew of abortion restrictions into law. Tap dancing The heat is rising, the fire is fierce, and Republicans are tap dancing furiously, ducking dodging and deflecting. Trump, who even now is proudly claiming credit for overturning Roe v. Wade, has tried unsuccessfully to distance himself from the abortion disaster. He refuses to say whether he will sign a national abortion ban if he wins in November. Republicans lies and sleight-of-hand serve to show an aroused and deeply angry electorate in Florida exactly where DeSantis, Trump, and other extremist Republicans stand. Trump says the people wanted the issue returned to the states so they can decide. In November, voters will have the opportunity to make it crystal clear to these political hacks where they stand on this crucial, life-altering issue. DeSantis and his cronies will be sorely disappointed. Burn, baby, burn CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) Police have released new details about the investigation into a Johnstown man who is accused of murdering a woman on Sept. 19. Mugshot of Douglas Yonkers provided by Cambria County Prison Douglas Yonker, 57, was arraigned on Friday, Sept. 20 for homicide charges after police arrived at a home on K Street for a report of gunshots, according to a criminal complaint. On the day of the shooting officers from the Johnstown Police Department were called to a duplex and arrived to find Yonker with wounds to his head and 40-year-old Lenna Azzoli dead. Police spoke with Yonker who told them that he was sitting on the porch with Azzoli when a car came down the road and a man stepped out and allegedly fired two shots at them. Yonker then added that he returned fire at the vehicle. Police noted in the complaint that they searched the area and found three shell casings on the porch and a firearm. The firearm had blood on it which detectives noted only coincides with when a bullet is fired into the flesh at close proximity, according to the affidavit. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman shot, killed after argument in Johnstown Police also noted that the position of the shell casings, located on the porch, was inconsistent with Yonkerss story. Shell casings are ejected back and to the right of a semi-automatic firearm and there were no shell casings located on the street, on the sidewalk or anywhere else besides the porch. According to the affidavit, there were also no signs of bullets hitting the porch, ceiling, brick, siding or anywhere to indicate that someone had fired shots at Azzoli from off the porch. Police noted that Azzoli had at least five gunshot wounds to the right abdomen and right leg. The wounds were described as being large and having stippling, which indicated she was shot at a close range. Police searched the home and noted in the report that there was blood on the floor, on napkins, on the kitchen sink and a washrag by the sink. Police reported that it showed Yonkers was cleaning himself up after Azzoli had been shot. They also wrote that the blood drops were perpendicular with the floor, indicating that Yonker, who was wounded was not in a hurry, but calm and relaxed. According to the complaint, they also found blood on the top of the porch light switch, which indicated that Yonkers turned off the porch lights after the murder had happened. A neighbor told police that she heard arguing across the street and then heard multiple pops so she went to her window and saw an individual on the porch go into the home and turn off the light. Other residents who spoke to police told them they saw Yonker and Azzoli on the porch when they heard Azzoli yelling. They added that she was yelling for help before they heard a crashing noise. No neighbor or witness heard or saw another car driving down the road at the time of the shooting, according to the affidavit. Lastly, officers noted that Azzoli was covered in blood along with the inside of the screen door, which indicated to them that she was shot and died where she was on the porch. Yonker was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence. He was placed in Cambria County Prison and his bail was denied. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best High Volume Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against the other high volume stocks. On September 18, the Federal Reserve implemented its first interest rate cut since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing benchmark rates by half a percentage point to counter a potential labor market slowdown. This adjustment brings the federal funds rate to 4.75% to 5%. Aside from the emergency rate cuts during the pandemic, the last time the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) made a half-point reduction was during the 2008 global financial crisis. Following the decision, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell made the following remarks: Were trying to achieve a situation where we restore price stability without the kind of painful increase in unemployment that has come sometimes with this inflation. Thats what were trying to do, and I think you could take todays action as a sign of our strong commitment to achieve that goal." The post-meeting statement emphasized that the Federal Reserve has grown more confident in inflation moving sustainably toward the 2% target. It believes the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are now roughly balanced. Wall Street expects that the ensuing rate cuts will enable well-established, financially stable companies to boost spending and investments, potentially driving up their stock prices through the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025. Similarly, Wells Fargo analysts suggest that the global economy stands to benefit as many major central banks have already announced or are expected to announce rate cuts. However, not everyone is optimistic. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio highlighted that the U.S. economy continues to grapple with an "enormous amount of debt." During an interview, he pointed out that the Federal Reserve faces the challenge of maintaining interest rates high enough to benefit creditors, while not raising them so much that they become burdensome for debtors. Dalio described this as a difficult "balancing act". On another front, the Conference Boards consumer confidence index dropped to 98.7 in September, down from 105.6 in August, marking the largest one-month decline since August 2021. This was below the Dow Jones forecast of 104 and significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level of 132.6 recorded in February 2020. All five components of the index saw declines, with the most significant drop occurring among those aged 35-54 and earning less than $50,000. The last time the index fell this sharply was when inflation was starting its rise to a 40-year high. Commenting on the sentiment shift, Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted: Story continues Consumers assessments of current business conditions turned negative while views of the current labor market situation softened further. Consumers were also more pessimistic about future labor market conditions and less positive about future business conditions and future income. Within a complex economic landscape marked by mixed signals across sectors, investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with market participants closely watching economic indicators and Fed policies to identify future trends. With this in mind, we present a list of the 10 Best High Volume Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. Our Methodology We used stock screeners to identify stocks that met specific criteria as of September 23. Our selection criteria was focused on stocks with notable market activity, including a 3-month average trading volume exceeding 5 million shares. We also considered companies with a quarterly revenue growth rate of over 15%. Additionally, we highlighted the number of hedge funds invested in each stock, as of Q2 2024. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with 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). Is TSM Stock a Good Long Term Buy? A close-up of a complex network of integrated circuits used in logic semiconductors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) Avg Volume: 16.74 million Quarterly Revenue Growth: 33.01% Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 156 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is a Taiwan-based semiconductor firm that provides integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices to major tech companies, including Apple and NVIDIA. In the second quarter of 2024, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) reported a 13.6% sequential increase in revenue, driven by rising demand for its advanced nanometer technologies. The company anticipates a 50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue from AI chips by 2027 and projects overall revenue growth of 20% for the year ending 2024. Bernstein has maintained an Outperform rating on TSM, noting that the stock remains attractively valued, particularly as the company is positioned to perform well during a recession. Analysts from Bernstein expect the company's revenue to grow by 26% and earnings per share by 29% this year, with continued momentum into 2025 and beyond. This growth is fueled by strong demand from data center AI and high-end smartphones utilizing TSMC's advanced N3 and N4/5 nodes. As of the end of Q2 2024, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) was held by 156 hedge funds, with total stakes valued at $21.28 billion. Fisher Asset Management was the largest shareholder, holding a position worth $4.94 billion as of June 30. Ave Maria World Equity Fund stated the following regarding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) in its Q2 2024 investor letter: Top contributors to performance included SharkNinja, Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM). Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is the global leader in semiconductor foundry services, with a dominant market share position in advanced semiconductors. The company has significant pricing power and stands to benefit from secular megatrends (5G, high performance computing, AI, rising silicon content per device, etc.) due to its technological leadership. Overall TSM ranks 2nd on our list of the best high volume stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, we believe that certain AI stocks hold 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 TSM 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. Detroit has filed dozens of condemnation lawsuits for the solar neighborhoods project that the city approved this summer. The eminent domain lawsuits are part of a legal process that gives governments authority to take property for public use. Detroit City Council in July backed the project to convert land into solar panel farms, which are expected to generate enough energy to offset the electricity used by the citys 127 municipal buildings. As of this month, the city had filed at least 89 lawsuits. The filings represent less than 10% of the over-900 parcels that are part of Phase 1 of the solar initiative, Trisha Stein, chief strategy officer, said in an email to the Free Press. "All remaining parcels were or are in the process of being voluntarily acquired by the city." Owners include development groups, individual landlords and property owners like Michael Kelly, who's associated with various entities like Detroit Leasing Inc. and was previously sued for predatory contracts in the city. Kelly's attorney could not be immediately reached. The first phase in the solar project will consist of a 40-acre field in the Van Dyke-Lynch neighborhood, which DTE will build out. Lightstar Renewables will build 63 acres of solar arrays in Gratiot-Findlay and State Fair neighborhoods. It is standard procedure for the city, as required by city code, to obtain council approval before acquiring property. City Councils approval of the land acquisition involved significant discussion of the citys legal basis for acquiring the property, including the potential use of the citys condemnation powers, Stein said. The city is confident in its ability to acquire all necessary parcels for the proposed solar project, Stein added. Condemned properties are in blighted areas Alan Ackerman, a Birmingham-based eminent domain attorney, said that in these cases, properties are individually appraised and the city must make a good-faith offer, which could be challenged by the property owners. Ackerman called the use of space for solar farms a good idea. Its a source of revenue, its a use of land, Ackerman said. The lands theyre condemning here are not high-demand land. Its not easily developable. It will be, but its not there yet. Ackerman added that governments generally should not take property, but said the solar project is different because it's part of Detroit's ongoing redevelopment endeavors. "Vacant parcels are hard. There are residential lots ... that are really valuable in the city and others are just not," Ackerman said. "Most of the stuff they're condemning are in the most blighted areas of the city." In announcing the first three neighborhoods, Mayor Mike Duggan said, "These are the most blighted areas of the city. We are not pushing a single owner-occupied homeowner out of these neighborhoods to build the solar fields." Duggan said the first areas included 21 owner-occupied houses, whose owners signed an agreement to sell their homes and move in exchange for $90,000. Mayor Mike Duggan greets Jean Holt, a longtime resident of the State Fair neighborhood, who will move out of her home to make way for the solar neighborhood initiative, Monday, June 24, 2024. The Poletown eminent domain controversy The state's eminent domain policies shifted after residents fought a controversial condemnation in 1981 for General Motors' plant, now known as Factory Zero, in Detroit's Poletown neighborhood. More than 1,000 residents lost their homes after the corporation demolished them to make way for the plant, resulting in backlash against governments from taking land from one private owner and giving it to another. Longtime church members Barbara Sokol, left, and Ann Dolence march to protest the proposed demolition of the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the razing of the surrounding neighborhood of Poletown in order to build a new General Motors plant on the site. "The whole business boils down to what your goal is," while balancing the interests of the city and residents on sites proposed for redevelopment, said John Mogk, a Wayne State University law professor. "If you want to assemble the land in a reasonable period of time, you can't do it by private negotiation, it takes too long. Too many people hold out or won't sell, and therefore, you can't complete the assembly of land. The question becomes, do you want to leave the city the way it is or do you want to repurpose and attempt to improve the population and economy of the city?" The Michigan Supreme Court in 2004 prohibited the use of eminent domain for development purposes similar to the Poletown project. But local governments could use eminent domain on projects that are for public use. "The city has an enormous inventory of vacant land," Mogk said. "The city has to make a decision, the public has to make a decision, whether this is going to be an attempt to repurpose and make the vacant land productive or not. If the decision is to not make the land productive, then eminent domain isnt needed because you leave it as it is." Michigan's Constitution states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. Public use does not include seizing private property to transfer to a private entity for "economic development or enhancement of tax revenues," according to the law. "There was a question of public use when cities and Wayne County and other units would take land and give it to a private developer," Ackerman said. "I thought it was absolutely nuts that the government would take land ... the constitutional amendment was passed and the government has been very careful not to condemn" for most purposes other than roadways, for example. Wayne County in the early 2000s also tried using condemnation to take over property near Detroit Metro Airport for an industrial park. A family sued to prevent losing their property, but in a 2004 ruling, a more conservative state Supreme Court overruled the earlier Poletown decision, "in order to vindicate our constitution, protect the people's property rights and preserve the legitimacy of the judicial branch as the expositor, not creator, of fundamental law." In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court took the opposite view, ruling in a case known as Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut, that governments could take private land to give to other private users for economic development. But the U.S. court said individual states could bar such seizures, and Michigan did just that the following year. In November 2006, Michigan voters approved Proposal 4, which put tough new restrictions on the use of eminent domain even when used for government purposes such as building roads and bridges. Former Detroit Free Press staff writer John Gallagher contributed to this article. Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit files dozens of eminent domain lawsuits for solar farm project That Detroit Judge Suspended For Humiliating Black Teen Girl, Just Returned To Work to More Bad News The Detroit judge who got slammed after having a Black teenager cuffed and placed into a jail uniform for dozing off in his courtroom just received more bad news after coming back from suspension. As a reminder, Judge Kenneth King was caught on courtroom Zoom scolding 15-year-old Eva Goodman who was visiting court as part of a field trip this past August. King told local Detroit news he pressed the teen after noticing her fall asleep in the courtroom. However, his form of punishment went beyond rebuke but resulted in ordering her to don a jail uniform, having her placed in handcuffs and threatening to send her to juvenile detention, per the now-deleted court recording. Following the incident, the judge faced his own punishment of temporary suspension and a mandatory social and emotional training class, per The AP. However, upon his recent return back to the courtroom, King was met with more discipline: demotion. Chief Judge William McConico of the 36th District Court stated King is back on the bench but instead of presiding over major crime or felony cases, he will be handling traffic tickets. Not only did King get demoted but he was also let go from his two Fall 2024 courses at Wayne State University amidst the scandal. Hes also facing a lawsuit filed by the girls mother, Latoreya Till. The mother previously told The Detroit Free Press her daughter was exhausted from work and the constant moving because they struggled to find permanent housing. The lawsuit seeks over $75,000 from the judge for ridiculing and berating Goodman both in front of her peers and while live-streaming from his private Facebook page. Till also said in a press conference she seeks a public apology from the judge. That has yet to happen but for now, the report says King is being a good sport about his new job transition. He truly understands and wholeheartedly embraces the concept of teamwork, said Kings attorney, Todd Perkins via The AP. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A new housing development featuring 14 apartments designed specifically for residents with disabilities recently held its ribbon-cutting ceremony in Detroits Riverbend neighborhood on the east side. Xavier Square, located at 3141 Alter Road, was created to provide affordable housing for low-income Detroiters living with disabilities. Through project-based vouchers from the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC), residents will pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent and utilities. This initiative is part of Detroits ongoing effort to build or preserve $1 billion in affordable housing over the past five years. Xavier Square is a new housing development in Detroit featuring five ground-level ADA-specific units that offer lower light switches and several safety handles in the bathroom, photographed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. There is also a pocket park with some raised beds behind the building. Mayor Mike Duggan emphasized the significance of Xavier Square, highlighting its focus on inclusivity. "This is the city we are building, where every Detroiter, regardless of their income or physical abilities can live in quality housing that supports their needs at a rent they can afford, Duggan said in a statement. I am so appreciative of Nova Development, our Department of Housing & Revitalization and the Detroit Housing Commission for making this important project a reality. Xavier Square consists of 12 two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments, with 13 units offering outdoor access. The building, designed by Steven C. Flum of Steven C. Flum, Inc., an architecture firm based in Hamtramck, is ADA-compliant and incorporates a wide-range of accessibility features. These include: Elevator that provides access to all three floors. Extra-wide stairways. Barrier-free (no-step) entrances at both the property and unit levels. Accessible bathrooms equipped with grab bars. Lowered light switches. Widened doorways for wheelchair access. Lowered cabinets and countertops. Designated accessible parking spots. Xavier Square is a new housing development in Detroit featuring five ground-level ADA-specific units that offer lower light switches and several safety grab handles in the bathroom, photographed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Each apartment also features in-unit storage, along with washer and dryer hookups. According to Flum, the elevators ensure that the building is accessible not only to residents, but also to visitors, allowing wheelchair users to easily reach any floor, whether they live there or are visiting a third-floor resident. Central City Health will provide supportive services, including life skills case management for qualified residents. Xavier Square architect Steven Flum shows the doorways of ground unit built wider as part of a new housing development in Detroit that features five ground-level ADA-specific units that offer lower light switches and several safety grab handles in the bathroom. The unit was photographed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. More: Detroit property tax relief program deadline moved up to Nov. 1. What to know. More: More Black Detroiters got home loans since 2018, report shows The development is conveniently located next to a shopping plaza and nearby restaurants. The project was led by Nova Development Group LLC, a minority-owned company headed by Doug Dillard and Andrew Creamer. Creamer, a former DHC employee, and Dillard have spent decades developing affordable housing and improving low-income communities, particularly on Detroits east side. "We are deeply committed to empowering individuals and fostering opportunities for every Detroiter," Creamer said. "The city has been a steadfast partner in this endeavor, and we are truly grateful for its significant investment and unwavering support throughout this project. Nova is privileged to be part of Detroit's growth and is proud to contribute to the community by providing quality, affordable housing for its residents." Xavier Square is a new housing development in Detroit featuring five ground-level ADA-specific units that offer lower light switches and several safety handles in the bathroom, photographed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The $5.4 million development was possible through various funding sources, including $1.8 million in federal HOME funds and $179,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding through the Detroits Housing & Revitalization Department. The city also provided a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program, allowing the developer to pay 10% of annual rental income instead of the regular property tax rate. Additional funding came from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, with Cinnaire as the tax credit syndicator. Land for the project was purchased from the Detroit Land Bank Authority. According to the city of Detroits Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department, approximately 123,000 residents, or 19.6% of the citys population, are living with disabilities. Several affordable rental housing developments, both new and existing, are available throughout Detroit, and residents seeking housing can go to homeconnect.detroitmi.gov for more information. Creamer anticipates tenants will begin moving into Xavier Square this fall. Julie Schneider, director of the citys Housing & Revitalization Department, summed up in a news release the projects impact: Xavier Square is a testament to our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. This project embodies our dedication to ensuring that all Detroiters, regardless of their physical abilities, have access to safe, affordable, and quality housing. Brendel Hightower writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New development provides affordable housing for disabled Detroiters Did Madeline Soto's Mom Tell Police in Interview that Boyfriend's Alleged Sex Abuse of Teen Was 'Fine?' In a recorded police interview, Jennifer Soto then says "it's not fine" when an officer confronts her about her earlier assertion Orange County Sheriffs Office Madeleine Soto (left); Jennifer Soto being interviewed by detective The mother of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, the teen who was found raped and killed in March, appears to have briefly told Florida authorities that it was fine that her 37-year-old boyfriend was allegedly sexually abusing her teenage daughter, according to a police interview clip reviewed by PEOPLE. Madeline disappeared on Feb. 26, in Kissimmee, Fla., leading to the arrest of her mothers boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, 37, on unrelated charges of possessing child sex abuse material, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said at the time. Sterns is now charged with murder in connection with the girl's death. While investigating Madeline's disappearance, police found photos of Sterns allegedly sexually abusing Madeline, according to an arrest affidavit cited by WESH, WFLA and FOX 35. Madeline's mother Jennifer Soto was shown photos of Sterns' alleged abuse, and her reaction was captured in a clip of the interview released by the OCSO and shared by Click 2 Orlando. In the video of the interview, which was conducted a few hours before Madeline's body was found, Jennifer says she initially did not think Sterns was responsible for Madeline's being missing. "When you guys showed me the picture of her, I believed the sexual stuff but I did not want to believe he had done anything evil to her," she says. Then she adds, "I'm like: no, what if he did this stuff fine, but what if shes still out there." Related: Madeline Soto, 13, Allegedly Shared Bed with Mom's Boyfriend, Who'd 'Snuggle' Her, Mom Told Police in Interview "What if she got abducted?" she continues, "But that was me assuming that you guys had the wrong guy. I wanted to believe he was the good guy still." The officer questioning Jennifer then double-checks if Jennifer said the alleged abuse was "fine." At that point, Jennifer says, "It's not fine," and then the officer continues speaking. Orange County Jail; Orange County Sheriffs Office Stephan Sterns (left); and Jennifer Soto being interviewed by detectives Related: Madeline Soto's Mom Allegedly Told Police Boyfriend Was 'Grooming and Abusing' Teen Jennifer also says in the same interview that she was "oblivious" to Sterns' alleged abuse against her teen daughter, who was allegedly made to share the bed with the couple in their home. Jennifer says she often woke up to Sterns allegedly "snuggling" the teenager while in his boxers, per the interview. 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. According to the medical examiner, Madeline died from strangulation, FOX 35 Orlando, WESH and Click Orlando previously reported. Sterns was charged with murder in connection with Madeline's death in April, per Osceola County court records. Online court records do not show a plea by Sterns to the murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty to 60 counts of sexual abuse charges, per the Osceola News-Gazette. 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. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, 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. Diddys attorney Marc Agnifilo has been making headlines as he recently appeared in TMZs Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment documentary. A clip that has been circulating online shows Agnifilo giving his take that the federal government started making their case against Diddy as a take down of a successful Black man. He added that the feds are historically no friend of the successful Black man, and that they are scrutinizing Diddys business and his taxes, as the music mogul does everything right. Claiming that the Feds had nothing else on Diddy, Agnifilo added that as a last vestige, they are attacking the way he is having sex. Earlier this week Agnifilo also gave his reasoning on why there may have been a bulk of baby oil found during the raiding of Diddys homes. While speaking to the New York Post (Sept. 21), Agnifilo downplayed Diddys freak offs and also said that he doesnt believe the music mogul bought 1,000 bottles. He also cited the retailer Costco as a source of where he could have bought the product in bulk, even though the store doesnt sell the body moisturizer. I dont think it was 1,000, he began. I think there was a lot. Theres a Costco right down the street [from Diddys house]. You know, I think Americans buy in bulk as we know this is consensual adults doing what consensual adults do. We cant get so puritanical in this country to think that some how sex is a bad thing, because if it was, there would be no more people. Doubling down on his stance, Agnifilo also spoke about the matter with TMZ for Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment. As Harvey Levin explained how Diddy could have used the baby oil as a lubricant for an orgy, Agnifilo responded, I guess. One bottle of baby oil goes a long way. I dont know what you need a thousand for. He continued, [Diddy] has a big house. He buys in bulk. I think they have Costcos in every place where he has a home. I mean, have you sat in a parking lot of a Costco and see what people walk out of there with? I dont think it was a thousand. Lets just say it was a lot. Since then, Costco has clarified and confirmed that they dont sell baby oil in any of their locations across the country. The 54-year-old was arrested on Sept. 16 at a hotel in New York City by officers following a grand jury indictment. Diddy was then arraigned in a federal court in Manhattan the following day and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been denied bail twice. He returns to court on Oct. 9. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Diddy's Lawyer Claims Feds Just Want To Take Down 'A Successful Black Man' After Rapper's Arrest Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has a lot to say about the arrest and charges brought against the disgraced rapper after a grand jury indictment. He recently argued that the federal charges, which include racketeering and sex trafficking, reflect systemic bias against successful Black individuals. Diddy is currently detained at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center following allegations dating back to 2008 that he coerced and abused women. Diddy's Lawyer Claims The Government's Charges Reflect Bias Against 'Successful Black Men' MEGA Agnifilo, a former Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, criticized the government's actions, arguing that the charges against the music mogul, which includes racketeering and sex trafficking, exemplify the federal government's long-standing hostility toward successful Black individuals. During an appearance on TMZ's "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment," Agnifilo stated that the federal government is "historically no friend of the successful black man." He noted: "They start making this case as a takedown of a successful Black man. This is the government scrutinizing his business, scrutinizing his taxes, he does everything right." Agnifilo questioned the motives behind probing into Diddy's personal life, adding: "What's the last vestige, we are going to go into his bedroom because maybe we don't like the way he is having sex." He also highlighted Diddy's achievements as a prominent Black businessman, lamenting that society has unfairly painted him as a "monster." The Rapper Is Facing Serious Charges Over Allegations Of Abuse And 'Freak Offs' MEGA Diddy was taken into custody last week by Homeland Security officials at the Park Hyatt hotel in midtown Manhattan and is currently held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial. The charges against him, which date back to 2008, allege that he has abused, threatened, and coerced women over the years to satisfy his sexual desires while protecting his reputation and concealing his actions. More details from the indictment show that the rapper used a criminal organization to perpetrate the crimes he is charged with, as well as other illegal activities, including kidnapping, arson, and bribery. The organization, known as The Combs Enterprise, also appears to be the channel with which Diddy "arranged" and "directed" an illicit venture called the "Freak Offs." According to the indictment, the "Freak Offs" were "elaborate and produced sex performances" that included women who were drugged and made to sleep with male prostitutes. These performances, which could go on for days, were often "electronically recorded," and Diddy "m-sturbated during" these recordings. The indictment claims that some of these "Freak Offs" could last for days, necessitating IV fluids for both Diddy and the participants to recover from physical exertion and drug use. Diddy's Lawyer Addresses The Discovery Of 1000 Bottles Of Baby Oil And Lube In The Rapper's Homes MEGA Federal agents reportedly seized "1,000 bottles" of baby oil and lubricant during raids on his residences in Miami and Los Angeles earlier this year. Speaking to the New York Post, Agnifilo commented on the volume of items seized, suggesting that Diddy's bulk purchasing habits are similar to those of many Americans. "I don't think it was 1,000 bottles; 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." However, Costco clarified that they do not stock baby oil in any of their stores nationwide. Agnifilo has also defended Diddy's "freak offs," noting that "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." The lawyer expressed confidence in his client's outlook, noting, "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." Diddy Is Being Held At The Infamous Brooklyn MDC Jail MEGA The disgraced rapper is held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center and will remain there until his trial after he was denied bail twice this past week. Federal prosecutors have accused him of "creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice." According to TMZ, prosecutors argued that he is too dangerous to be released on bail and may resort to coercing witnesses on the case to do his bidding. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter ruled against Diddy's bail petition, saying he was turning it down because "the government has proven the defendant is a danger. The bail package is insufficient even on risk of flight." The Rapper Will Testify During His Trial MEGA Diddy's lawyer, Agnifilo, has shared that the rapper will be testifying in his criminal trial. He acknowledged that the move might be a gamble because the prosecutors would have a chance to grill Diddy during a cross-examination. However, Agnifilo believes that the Grammy winner is in the best position to defend himself in court. "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." District court judge dismisses some but not all charges in Nebraska medical cannabis lawsuit Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong presides over the first day of hearings in a case related to medical cannabis ballot petitions. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN A Lancaster County District Court judge Friday allowed a lawsuit against the states active medical cannabis petitions to move forward. Judge Susan Strong, in a 14-page ruling, determined that the lawsuit from John Kuehn, a veterinarian, rancher, former state senator and former member of the Nebraska State Board of Health, should proceed on two counts that relate to voter signatures. The judge dismissed the other complaints on a ballot sponsor statement and the Nebraska Constitutions single subject rule. For the lawsuit to move forward, Kuehn needed to allege sufficient facts for relief that is plausible on its face, which Strong said she balanced with the publics right to petition. We have repeatedly said that the right to initiative is precious to the people and one which the courts are zealous to preserve to the fullest tenable measure of spirit as well as letter, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in a related lawsuit two weeks ago, which Strong cited Friday. There are two petitions in circulation that would adopt the following state laws, if given voter approval: Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act Define cannabis; legalize possessing, manufacturing, distributing, delivering and dispensing cannabis for medical purposes; and create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the new state law. (Initiative Measure 437). Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act Set an allowable amount of medical cannabis at five ounces; exempt patients and caregivers from using or assisting someone else in using the cannabis; and require a written recommendation from a health care practitioner prior to prescription. (Initiative Measure 438). Alleged invalid signatures Kuehn has alleged there are more than enough improperly counted valid signatures that the two medical cannabis petitions should be withheld from the Nov. 5 ballot. If that is impossible, but there are still enough invalid signatures, Kuehn argued those election results should be void. The campaign needs 86,499 valid signatures on each of its two petitions to regulate and legalize the drug. Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who is also named in the lawsuit, validated nearly 90,000 signatures on both petitions Sept. 13, the final day to do so. That leaves just about 3,000 signatures in wiggle room for the bulk signature requirement. Kuehn has alleged that on at least one petition, upward of at least 17,000 signatures were validated but should have been discarded. Those allegations range from signers not being registered voters or Evnen counting duplicative signatures to improper notarizations, circulator payment disclosures or incomplete voter information like date of birth and home address. Strong cites Kuehns allegations that at least 2,433 signers were not registered voters, that 48 signers didnt register to vote until after the petition was due July 3 or that 67 people signed more than once but were counted both times. The ballot sponsors dont dispute that if some of the laundry list of reasons are accurate, some signatures should not have been counted, Strong wrote. But the sponsors also say the main requirement that a signer be registered to vote wouldnt be enough to invalidate the petitions. Defining a clerical and technical error Strong said state law does allow some clerical and technical errors to be disregarded if certain other signature-gathering requirements are substantially followed. But defining what is a technical error will likely be the next step as Strong said it isnt purely a question of law. The Court agrees with the Sponsors that not every error or irregularity should invalidate a signature, Strong wrote. As an example, she said, whether it is a technical error that some signatures dont include a date when the voter signed but are sandwiched between two other signatures with the same date. Obviously, the language of the Nebraska Constitution and statutes is also relevant to whether a defect is technical or clerical, Strong wrote. But the Court declines to resolve this issue at the pleadings stage based only on the Courts opinion of the relative importance of the statutory requirements allegedly violated. Strong allowed the case to move forward to determine whether there are enough signatures in a broader review. Crista Eggers, campaign manager for the ballot measures, said in a statement the group is grateful for Strongs decision to dismiss two complaints and will continue to exercise all legal options against the signature-based challenges. We have complete confidence that our local election officials correctly and accurately validated the petition signatures, and that our campaign met all legal requirements to appear on the ballot, Eggers said. We remain focused on making sure all Nebraskans have their voice heard on this issue. Kuehns attorneys had no immediate comment. Separate complaint from secretary of state Evnen and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers specifically asked the court in a separate cross-claim to take up the case, particularly after uncovering at least one instance of alleged petition fraud by a paid petition circulator in Grand Island, who was arrested for allegedly forging signatures. Those signatures were never counted, election officials have confirmed. The two constitution officers have said the case will help election integrity and the bedrock of democratic governance and settle the matter. Strong said Evnen has not requested any relief that would be different than that of Kuehn and said it is unclear whether Evnen has a personal stake in the outcome or a legal or equitable right, title or interest in the subject of the controversy. The judge also pointed to a recent Supreme Court concurrence from Chief Justice Mike Heavican and Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman that there is no process by which the Secretary can change his mind and rescind his legal sufficiency determination. Ballot sponsor complaint The two other allegations that Strong dismissed were that one of the sponsors, State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, did not provide her full street address when she filed the petition and that the regulatory petition consists of multiple subjects in violation of the Nebraska Constitution. In Wisharts case, she listed her street address but not her city, state or ZIP code, which Kuehn said should invalidate both petitions. Strong said no other Nebraska case law has defined street address as it relates to the petition laws. Citing Dictionary.com, she said Wishart would still comply as she listed the name or number of a building along with the name of the road or street on which it is located. However, even if accepting Kuehns allegations, Strong wrote, Wishart would still prevail as she is on record in taking responsibility for the petition. Her statement was also notarized in Lancaster County where she lives, Strong said. Single subject requirement On the other side, the Nebraska Constitution prohibits state laws and ballot measures from containing more than one subject in an effort to prevent log-rolling or the swaying of interests. Both Kuehn and the ballot sponsors point to a 2020 Supreme Court decision that argued the creation of the Nebraska Gaming Commission to regulate for-profit gambling was connected to its greater purpose. However, Kuehns attorneys argue there was no executive branch to take up gambling regulation, unlike the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services or Board of Pharmacy that oversees regulation of all other prescriptions. Strong said she did not find that argument persuasive and said the Medical Cannabis Commission is naturally and necessarily connected to the broader initiatives purpose. In liberally construing the initiative to zealously preserve the peoples right to enact laws independently of the Legislature, the Court holds the Regulatory Initiative does not violate the single subject rule, Strong wrote. Evnen similarly denied both allegations against the ballot sponsors. Strong has not scheduled a future hearing for the case but ordered all parties to work together and suggest a timeline for next steps and any related discovery by next Wednesday, Oct. 2. At a hearing last week, Strong and multiple attorneys said a preelection resolution would be most favorable so voters know whether their vote will stand up to a potential infirmity. strong-MTD-kuehn-lawsuit strong-MTD-evnen-claim strong-progression-order SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Dixie Electric workers to help restore power in Florida after Helene LAUREL, Miss. (WHLT) On Friday, September 27, 19 Dixie Electric line workers headed to aid in power restoration at Talquin Electric Cooperative, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Helene. Headquartered just west of Tallahassee, Florida, Talquin has reported that 60-percent of its 57,000-meter system was without power. Helene slams the South with wind, rain and flooding. Millions are without power The damage is extensive, with large trees on power lines and broken poles. Mississippi cooperatives were called on to enact mutual aid, sending 260 personnel statewide. Our crews are ready to answer the call, whether its here at home or across state lines, said Communication Manager Amanda Mills. Their willingness to leave their families and put themselves in tough, sometimes dangerous situations speaks to their dedication and the deep sense of duty they carry. Linemen sacrifice a lot they miss out on time with their loved ones, and they face extreme conditions, all so they can help bring power back to those in need. We couldnt be more proud of them for their bravery and commitment to service, and we pray for their safe return. Once Talquin Electrics power is restored, crews will move to other cooperatives impacted by the hurricane to help restore power. 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. The West Virginia sign at the first night of the Democratic National Convention in August 2024. The Democratic National Committee is investing $50,000 to candidates in the state for the 2024 election. (Ariana Figueroa | States Newsroom) The Democratic National Committee is sending $50,000 to West Virginia for this election cycle, targeting four state legislative races that both the national and statewide Democrats believe could be flipped back to blue. The funds are part of a total $2.5 million investment from the DNC going to dozens of states to aid campaign efforts in the final stretch of the 2024 general election. The races that the money will be focused on were not disclosed. The DNC is committed to electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and ensuring Democrats have the resources to run competitive races across the map in red and blue states alike, said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. The investment were announcing today in the West Virginia Democratic Party shows these priorities in action. The money, according to the DNC, will specifically be used for Get Out The Vote efforts, including paying for mailers and supporting local Democrats working on the election to engage with voters. Specifically, per the DNC, the funds should help target youth and minority voters who could be key to flipping competitive seats in the state Legislature. The $50,000 comes as a welcome influx for local Democratic leaders in the deep red state, who are fighting to keep as much power and influence as possible on the state level against an overwhelmingly Republican albeit fractured legislative body. Coming from a red state, [DNC] Chairman [Jaime] Harrison gets it he knows how critical it is to contest every race and rebuild our party from the ground up. Thanks to his leadership and the DNCs financial support, were able to invest in organizing, mobilizing, and reaching voters across West Virginia, said Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, who serves as chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party. The work were doing here is proof that no state is off-limits, and were committed to turning this state blue again. Republicans have held a supermajority in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature since 2020. Currently, they hold 120 of the total 134 seats in the Legislature 89 out of the 100 seats in the House and 31 of the 34 seats in the Senate. Up until the historic 2014 election, Democrats controlled both chambers of the Legislature for more than 80 years. That year, Republicans flipped 11 seats in the House giving them control with a 64-36 split and seven seats in the Senate, bringing the chamber to a 17-17 deadlock. Shortly after the election, Democratic Sen. Daniel Hall announced he was switching to Republican, allowing the party to take majority control of the chamber. The November election has been and will continue to be an uphill battle for Democrats, who have faced challenges filling the ballot and who are often out-fundraised and outspent by their Republican competitors. According to the West Virginia Secretary of States Office, Republicans are running 48 uncontested races for statehouse seats in November seven in the Senate and 41 in the House. That all but guarantees Republicans will hold those seats following election results. Two more races one in the Senate and one in the House have a Republican candidate running against a third party candidate without a Democrat on the ballot. Conversely, according to candidate listings, Democrats are only guaranteed two seats where they have no competition those held by Dels. Evan Hansen and Anitra Hamilton, both from Monongalia County. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting starts Oct. 23 and the last day to register to vote in this years general election is Oct. 15. To find your polling place and check your voter registration status, visit the Secretary of States website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Democrats continue to keep the pressure on Donald Trump and the broader conservative movement over the ending of federal protections for abortion rights but a new memo from the national party indicates that those attacks may expand to encompass another issue: healthcare access. A memo provided to The Indepdendent and issued by the party on Friday outlines angles of attack surrounding the Trump administrations 2017 push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. That scheme, which represented a long-held goal of the right under Obamas presidency, ultimately failed after three Republican senators broke ranks with their party to kill the GOPs repeal effort. The drama that played out on the Senate floor culminating in John McCains famous thumbs down belied a larger argument around the issue of healthcare access: the mandated coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions that was central to the Affordable Care Acts legislation and expanded coverage for millions of Americans people who subsequently would have been ripped off their plans, were it repealed. A so-called skinny repeal bill offered by the GOP in 2017 would have kept that central pre-existing conditions tenet while making other sweeping changes to the bill, including a restructure of Medicare. Experts estimated at the time that millions still would have lost access to health insurance under the Republican plan, and as a result it was sunk. Now, Democrats on the national committee are coming out swinging against their Republican foes over healthcare costs and access to no-cost emergency contraception under the Affordable Care Act. Pointing to parts of the much-maligned Project 2025 that call for an end to FDA approval for mifepristone and other efforts to restrict contraception, the DNC says in the memo that the rollback of access to free emergency contraception would be a blow to the rights of 48 million women who access such treatment, not to mention the milions more who access birth control through subsidized health care plans. Citing Planned Parenthood and other organizations, it notes that contraception accounted for as much as 30%-44% of out-of-pocket healthcare costs for American women prior to the passage of Obamacare. Trump himself has denounced Project 2025 and made multiple efforts to distance himself from the conservative super-group through his public remarks and campaign aides. But the plan was clearly designed with a second Trump presidency in mind and outlines priorities indisputably held by the groups that make up the core of the conservative movement and ones tied to many of his current and former staffers. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most Americans receive contraception without paying out-of-pocket costs its one of the laws most popular provisions, said DNC press secretary Emilia Rowland on Friday. Democrats are hellbent on linking Donald Trump to Project 2025 over his denunciations and denials (Getty Images) But with Trump hellbent on terminating the ACA if he retakes power, more than 60 million women could lose their access to free birth control under their health plans, and his Project 2025 agenda would rip away access to no-cost emergency contraception for 48 million women, said the DNC spokesperson. This election, Americans have a clear choice: give Trump and Vance unlimited power over our bodies and futures by tearing away access to Plan B and birth control and raising health care costs, or elect Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to defend our freedoms and fight to make access to affordable reproductive care a reality for all. The Independent has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. The DNCs sharpened edge on the issue of healthcare access may be energized in part by Trumps declaration that he has only a concept of a plan for replacing Obamacare when asked about the issue at the presidential debate in Philadelphia. The moment was somewhat overshadowed by a separate rant dredging up a racist conspiracy about Haitian migrants in Ohio. But the former presidents admission that the GOP still has no central answer for what it would replace Obamacare with has been seized upon by his enemies. Harris herself has taken to making light of the remark. In a sitdown with Oprah Winfrey, the vice president said that the current $5,000 tax credit for starting a small business was inadequate and joked that it would only fund the concept of a business. Whether Trump and the GOP would actually push to repeal Obamacare rather than just carve out the regulations and agencies related to it through political appointments is another story. The ex-president and his party never launched a second bid to replace the legislation after the partys 2017 failure, instead pivoting to a tax plan which passed later that year. It was the last time Trump had majorities in both chambers of Congress, and had the opportunity to try. Trump indicated otherwise during his debate with Harris earlier this month. While largely misrepresenting how he and his party signed on to the legislation aimed at killing the Affordable Care Act, the ex-president insisted that he saved the signature legislation of his predecessor. JD Vance, his running mate, has made similar remarks. Obamacare was lousy healthcare. Always was, said Trump at the debate. I had a choice to make when I was president: Do I save it and make it as good as it can be? Never going to be great. Or do I let it rot? And I felt I had an obligation, even though politically it would have been good to just let it rot and let it go away... And I saved it. I did the right thing. And a Trump campaign spokesperson claimed that the former president had fully moved on from his effort to repeal the legislation. "Kamala Harris is lying because she is losing. President Trump has repeatedly said he is not going to terminate the Affordable Care Act. He is going to make healthcare actually affordable, in addition to bringing down inflation, cutting taxes, and reducing regulations to put more money back in the pockets of all Americans who have been robbed by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's disastrous economic policies, said Karoline Leavitt. We recently compiled a list of the Best TSX Stocks To Invest In Now. In this article, we will look at where Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK) ranks among the best TSX stocks to invest in now. Canadas Economy Shows Signs of Stabilization According to Deloitte, the Canadian economy is showing signs of stabilisation after three years of turmoil, with inflation steadily declining since June 2022. Canadas economy grew stronger in the first half of 2024 than previously forecast, but the pace of recovery is expected to be limited in the second half of the year due to slower household spending. The updated forecast projects real GDP growth of 1.2% for 2024, followed by 2.6% growth in 2025, with real GDP per person falling by 1.6% in 2024 before clawing back to gain 1.1% growth in 2025. The Bank of Canada has begun to ease its monetary policy, paving the way for stronger economic growth. However, the pace of monetary easing is uncertain, and weak investment and productivity performance continue to pose a risk to Canadas long-term economic outlook. The Bank of Canada is expected to cut interest rates at a gradual pace, with a rate cut in September followed by another in December and March. The overnight rate is expected to settle at a neutral level of 2.75% by the end of next year, assuming inflation continues to decrease and returns to the 2% target by the second quarter of next year. Business sentiment in Canada is beginning to recover, with improved confidence across regions and sectors. However, business investment has been weak, directly impacting productivity and living standards. Since the 2014 commodity price crash, labour productivity in Canada has remained flat, while unit labour costs have increased by over 30%. The economys current challenge is generating enough jobs to keep up with Canadas rapidly growing population. Despite a strong pace of growth, employment has not kept up with population growth over the past 12 months, resulting in a rise in the unemployment rate. Wage growth slowed dramatically in the first quarter of 2024, and slower wage growth is expected to be the norm this year and next. Canadian households are the most indebted in the G7, and the increases in interest rates since 2022 have hit their pocketbooks. Real consumer spending per person has fallen in five of the last six quarters, and the effect on home-building has been even more dramatic. However, consumer spending and residential investment are expected to increase as interest rate decreases work to restore demand. Economist Predicts Stronger Economic Growth for Canada James Orlando, a senior economist at TD Bank, is optimistic about Canadas economic growth prospects, particularly in light of the recent interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada. According to Orlando, Canadas economic growth has consistently lagged behind the United States, but a change in interest rate policy could help close the gap. The Bank of Canadas decision to cut interest rates is expected to lead to lower mortgage rates and increased consumer spending. This, in turn, could boost economic growth and help Canada catch up with the United States. Orlando notes that the Canadian economy is highly sensitive to interest rates, particularly in the housing market. With high levels of debt and a reliance on variable-rate mortgages, Canadians are more likely to feel the pinch of higher interest rates. However, with the Bank of Canadas rate cuts, Orlando expects to see increased investment in the housing market and potentially improved affordability. While affordability is still a concern, Orlando believes that the rate cuts will help to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. Orlando also notes that the Canadian economy is expected to benefit from increased investment in areas such as the green transition and the production of electric vehicles. With a growing population and a need for more housing, Orlando expects to see increased investment in the housing market and other areas of the economy. While there are still challenges ahead, Orlando believes that the Bank of Canadas rate cuts and the resulting economic stimulus will help to drive growth and create jobs in the Canadian economy. While Canadas economy is showing signs of stabilisation, the economy still faces significant challenges, including weak investment and productivity performance, a rapidly growing population, and high household debt levels. However, with the Bank of Canada easing its monetary policy and interest rates expected to decrease, consumer spending and residential investment are expected to increase, paving the way for stronger economic growth in the long term. With that in context, lets take a look at the 8 best TSX stocks to invest in now. Our Methodology For this article, we used Finviz and Yahoo Finance stock screeners plus online rankings to compile an initial list of the 40 largest companies in Canada by market cap. From that list, we narrowed our choice down to the 8 stocks that were the most widely held by hedge funds, as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of the number of hedge fund investors in each stock. 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). Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK) Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 69 Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK) is one of Canadas largest integrated natural resources groups. It produces copper from its four mines in Canada, Chile, and Peru. The company also produces zinc from its Alaska operating mine and coal from its mines in British Columbia. Copper is an essential commodity in a wide range of innovations and technologies, including electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines. According to McKinsey, the worlds increasing reliance on electrification is expected to drive up annual copper demand to 36.6 million tonnes by 2031, a significant increase from the current demand of around 25 million tonnes. However, copper supply will only reach 30.1 million tonnes, leaving a substantial gap of 6.5 million tonnes. Furthermore, a net-zero emissions path would require an additional 54% of copper by 2030, highlighting the need for significant investment in copper production to meet the worlds growing demand. Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK) Quebrada Blanca operations are stabilising, and production is ramping up steadily. This will drive up revenue and profitability for the company. Furthermore, the companys commitment to return 30-100% of available cash flow to shareholders. The world is facing a severe copper supply deficit, which is expected to persist beyond 2030. This will drive up copper prices and benefit Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK) due to its exposure to the rapidly growing demand for copper in the clean energy transition. In the second quarter, the companys stock was held by 69 hedge funds with stakes worth $1.95 billion. Overall TECK ranks 1st on our list of the best TSX stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of TECK 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 TECK 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 on Insider Monkey. Maeve Boothby ONeill died in 2021, having suffered with ME for years A bereaved father has told a coroner that doctors must stop believing ME is a mental health problem. Maeve Boothby ONeill died in October 2021, aged 27, after years of suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The condition affects the nervous and immune systems and saps energy, making it difficult to perform physical and mental tasks and causing severe pain and fatigue. An inquest into her death found that a lack of understanding by medical staff led to failings in the treatment that Ms Boothby ONeill received, with her family struggling to find proper care from the NHS. In a letter submitted to the coroner ahead of Fridays hearing, Sean ONeill, a Times journalist, said: There is a need to dispel the deeply entrenched view, held especially by older medics, that ME is a psychological condition, that somehow the patient is only ill because they believe themselves to be ill. He added: It is, in my view, shameful that a hospital in the UK in 2021 should be unable to treat a disease that has been recognised by the World Health Organisation for more than 50 years. Sean ONeill wants to see the way ME is treated in the NHS completely change so that it is not viewed as a psychological condition - Lee Thomas On Friday, Deborah Archer, the assistant coroner of Devon, confirmed she would would be drafting a Prevention of Future Deaths report to raise issues that arose in the inquest to authorities including the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and Nice (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). It is understood to be the first time a coroner has taken such a step in relation to a death from ME. Ms Boothby ONeill, who had lived with ME for more than a decade, was admitted three times to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital over the course of 2021, but refused a fourth admission because no treatment was available to improve or alleviate her condition. Poorly understood disease Giving evidence at Exeter Coroners Court on Friday, Dr Anthony Hemsley, medical director for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, told the court how he had taken several steps to raise issues in relation to the illness with senior NHS executives and politicians. This included a lack of education among healthcare professionals, and community care specifically tailored for ME patients. In a narrative verdict given last month, Ms Archer ruled that Ms Boothby ONeill had died of malnutrition caused by severe ME after her hospital was unable to treat the condition. There were no policies, protocols or guidelines for the treatment of ME in 2021, and on Friday Ms Archer told the court there were just one or two paragraphs of Nice guidance on the condition. In his submissions to Ms Archer, Mr ONeill asked the coroner to consider writing to a number of bodies to improve care and treatment of patients, training and education for medical professionals, and research into the poorly understood disease. Mr ONeill suggested several organisations as recipients, including, but not limited to, the DHSC, the Medical Research Council, the NHS, and the Medical Schools Council. Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was also asked to provide a document to Ms Archer detailing its policies on ME patients. Addressing Mr ONeill and Sarah Boothby, Maeves mother, the coroner said: I know that this has been a long and harrowing process and I also understand that at the end of these processes, nobody goes away with all the answers they want and completely happy. But I hope that by making this report it will go some way into starting change into this important area. Sarah Boothby, Maeves mother, was present at Fridays hearing - Lee Thomas Speaking after the hearing, Mr ONeill said: It is hugely significant that the coroner is to write a Prevention of Future Deaths report and direct it to health ministers and NHS bosses. It is the first time a coroner will have taken such a step after a death from ME. He added: Science and medicine have a blind spot where this awful illness is concerned but the coroner has clearly seen the risks posed by that systemic failure. I hope her report will be a spur to action on medical training, much-needed biomedical research and the provision of specialist care for patients with severe ME. 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. Does my vote matter? Where your vote in Oklahoma can make a difference Though it may feel like only a drop in a bucket, your vote in November can still make a difference, experts say. University of Oklahoma Professor Tyler Johnson said voters look at larger races like the presidential race and get frustrated when they see one-party rule or lopsided outcomes with the difference of hundreds of thousands of votes. They don't think one person is likely to be able to make a difference on Election Day or between election days, for that matter, Johnson said. That growing exasperation with politics can turn into apathy, which keeps many would-be voters at home during a critical election year. But that isn't the story for all elections. - many are still determined by razor-thin margins and one person's vote could still turn the tide. Does my vote really matter? Here's where your voice could make an impact. Does my vote actually matter? In short, yes. But it matters in different ways in different elections. For Johnson, he said the idea of a vote mattering must be defined and can ultimately come down to context. If voters are looking for one person's vote to tip the scale, its far more likely to happen in a local election than at the presidential level. When you cast a vote in the presidential election, you're not voting directly for a candidate. Instead, your vote directs Oklahoma's presidential electors, otherwise known as members of the Electoral College, and that group is who actually casts votes for a presidential candidate. In every other election, such as for school board members or state legislators, races are decided by popular vote, so the vote you cast is directly counted for the candidate you choose. This means some local elections can be decided by a single person's vote. Thinking about local power should be one way to motivate turnout even though the presidential vote in this state is out of reach, there are plenty of examples of a few votes here and there impacting State House contests, for example, Johnson said. Additionally, these local officials have more impact on your day-to-day life, given the nature of these positions. Members of the school board, city council, or state legislature have the power to improve roads near your home, direct funds toward your child's school, or create laws to target crime in your neighborhood. Check your voter registration by using this portal. Does Oklahoma matter during the presidential election? Pollster and consultant Pat McFerron previously told The Oklahoman that the Sooner State's presidential election doesn't matter necessarily in the grand scheme of things. Oklahomas smaller media market, Electoral College size, and voting history make it a predictably Republican win, so candidates will skip visiting the state to target so-called swing states instead. These factors create a reality that may make Oklahomans want to stay home instead of going to the polls on Nov. 5. Oklahoma being a deeply red state is definitely demobilizing. It minimizes the conversation here. We don't get candidate visits. We don't get as many ads (and the ads we do get aren't tailored to us). It's harder to generate excitement, he said. However, many activist groups still encourage voters in places like Oklahoma to head to the polls during presidential elections because there are still down-ballot races included that election day. To see a list of elections included in your county, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Does my vote matter? It's complicated. Explaining vote impact in Oklahoma BRYAN, Texas (FOX 44) A domestic violence abuser has been sentenced to 51 years in prison by a Brazos County judge. The Brazos County District Attorneys Office says Harvey Stockton was sentenced on Thursday for his Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction charge in the 85th District Court. This comes after a jury convicted him of this charge on Wednesday. This was Stocktons eighth conviction for domestic violence. The victim ended a romantic relationship with Stockton in August 2022. When the victim returned Stocktons personal property, he assaulted the victim by grabbing her from behind with both hands wrapped around her neck. The victim lost consciousness during the assault and was later awakened by her young daughter. The Brazos County D.A.s Office says Stockton confronted the victim again at her apartment shortly after the assault, forced his way inside and assaulted her again once inside her home. This assault also took place in front of the victims young daughter. The jury heard testimony from two civilian witnesses who saw Stockton force himself into the victims apartment and called 9-1-1. When College Station Police officers arrived, Stockton was no longer on scene but was found in his apartment a short time later. The victim was treated for her injuries by College Station EMS. Long-term meth investigation results in arrest While Stockton was incarcerated on these charges, records from the Brazos County Jail showed him instructing the victim to contact the Brazos County D.A.s Office and defect her story. The Brazos County D.A.s Office says after the jury convicted Stockton, they also found that the way he strangled and assaulted the victim could have caused serious bodily injury. During the punishment phase of the trial, the Court heard evidence that Stockton had seven previous convictions for domestic violence involving a different victim. The state also showed Stockton had been to prison on four prior occasions. During the sentencing, the Judge Kyle Hawthorne stated family violence is rampant in this world [and is] tearing the fabric of this 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 KWKT - FOX 44. Former president Donald Trump is promoting $100,000 watches branded after him as he seeks a return to the White House, the latest - and priciest - product he has helped sell in a string of unusual for-profit enterprises for a presidential candidate. The Trump Victory Tourbillon is almost entirely made out of 18 Carat Gold and decorated with 122 Diamonds, according to the website selling it, which also offers cheaper Trump-branded watches starting at $499. Only 147 Tourbillons are being made. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Trump, in a social media post Thursday, said the watches are truly special and suggested them as a Christmas gift. Dont wait, they will go fast, Trump said. GET YOUR TRUMP WATCH RIGHT NOW! The $100,000 watch is the most expensive merchandise that Trump has lent his name to during his 2024 presidential campaign. He has pitched $499 sneakers, $99 digital trading cards - even a Bible that is about $60. Trump sometimes offers to autograph the items, sending the price higher. Ethics experts say there is no precedent for someone monetizing the presidency - or a presidential campaign - in the way Trump has. One adviser previously told The Post that Trump relishes the opportunity to cash in on his name as he has dealt with mounting personal legal costs since leaving the White House. The pace of moneymaking ventures has appeared to pick up in recent weeks. Last week, Trump announced he was selling a $100 silver coin with his face on it, days after he debuted a cryptocurrency business, World Liberty Financial, with the help of his sons. His wife, former first lady Melania Trump, has been promoting an upcoming book that has a $250 collectors edition available for preorder. Trump has been unabashed in marketing the merchandise, too. He promoted the coin in a video posted to social media. The medallion more than just a collectors item - its a testament to the resilience and strength of the American people, he said. In a promotional video on gettrumpwatches.com, the former president says the $100,000 model is one of the best watches made and marvels at its features. Thats a lot of diamonds, Trump says. I love gold. I love diamonds. We all do. The watches are only available for preorder on the website, which cautions that the images displayed are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. A website section for frequently asked questions says none of the proceeds go to Trumps campaign. Vice President Kamala Harriss presidential campaign has been raising more money than Trumps campaign, including by a margin of more than 4 to 1 in August. Trump Watches are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals, the website says. TheBestWatchesonEarth LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms. The LLC is registered in Wyoming under the name of attorney Andrew Pierce, who also filed the paperwork for the LLC that sells the Trump sneakers. Asked for details of the license agreement, Trumps campaign directed questions to the Trump Organization, which did not respond to a request for comment. The Harris campaign has argued that the Trump-branded products underscore how self-interested he is as he runs for president again - a point Harriss team reiterated Thursday. [Forty] days out from election day. Donald Trump is selling $100,000 watches, Harris campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said on X. Not a joke. Trump is more focused on himself than anyone else. For other Trump critics, the watch sales evoked an earlier chapter of his political life, when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) attacked Trump during a 2016 presidential primary debate. Heres the guy that inherited $200 million, Rubio said. If he hadnt inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now? Selling watches in Manhattan. Related Content Meet the United Auto Workers members who could swing the election When bear jams close the road, this park brigade comes to the rescue (NewsNation) As cleanup efforts continue after Helene tore through Florida, Georgia, and other states along the eastern seaboard, victims of the Category 4 hurricane that has since been downgraded to a tropical storm will begin to try to recover from the damage done by the storm. As of Friday afternoon., officials announced that at least 30 people have died, and an estimated 4 million people are without power as Helene continues to track north after making landfall on Thursday in Florida. The storm has destroyed homes and businesses, leaving countless residents in four states where deaths have been reported to deal with the damage left behind by Helene. Over 800,000 Floridians left without power from Hurricane Helene Many areas remain under evacuation orders as roads have been deemed inaccessible due to levels of water and debris caused by the storm. As the cleanup effort begins, here is a list of organizations that are assisting in the effort to help victims of Helene and that are accepting donations to assist those affected by the storm. American Red Cross The American Red Cross has been on the ground in areas affected by the storm after moving teams of volunteers to regions in Helenes path to be ready to assist storm victims. The Red Cross has partnered with local shelters, providing snacks and 45,000 ready-to-eat meals. The organization is also deploying emergency vehicles to assist storm victims. How to help: Those wanting to make donations to Helene victims can visit Redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation or schedule a blood donation appointment. The Salvation Army The Salvation Army has mobilized teams and mobile feeding units, each of which is capable of providing up to 1,500 meals per day. The efforts began in Florida, but the organization said that assistance would also be provided to residents living in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Along with meal service, the Salvation Army said it is dispatching trained emotional and spiritual care personnel who will provide comfort and emotional support for survivors and first responders. How to help: Those wishing to donate to the Salvation Armys efforts to assist storm victims can donate by visiting the organizations website. United Way The United Way offers assistance to residents affected by Helene and other natural disasters by providing evacuation assistance, shelter, food and clothing, and other volunteer-driven efforts. How to help: Those seeking to make monetary donations to storm victims and survivors can do so by visiting the United Way of Florida Disaster Fund website. Catholic Charities Catholic Charities, which is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church has launched a dedicated effort to assist those affected by Helene. All funds donated to the effort will be directed to those displaced or in need of assistance following the storm. How to help: Those wishing to make donations through Catholic charities can visit the website set up to specifically provide financial help and other assistance to storm victims and survivors. All Hands and Hearts All Hands and Hearts provides immediate and long-term assistance to communities affected by natural disasters. The organization works alongside local residents and deploys teams of volunteers to help rebuild homes, schools, and other community infrastructure damaged or destroyed by storms. Satellite video shows potentially historic Helene from space How to help: All Hands and Hearts accepts financial donations through its website and also allows people to volunteer for teams sent to storm-effected areas to assist in community rebuilding efforts. Florida Disaster Fund The Florida Disaster Fund is the state of Floridas official private fundraising arm for disaster relief. According to the organization, the fund provides financial help to communities devastated by storms in response to emergencies and to provide relief to local residents. How to help: Those wishing to help out with the effort can visit the groups information and donation 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 NewsNation. RIDGEVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) Dorchester County is developing two major campuses with a tech giant. Google is expanding its South Carolina cloud region to Ridgeville. It will host two, new data centers that are expecting to hire 200 operational employees. To build the campuses, around 1200 long-term construction jobs will be created. Its a good place, Gov. Henry McMaster said. We know the future is going to rely on data, its going to rely on power, its going to rely on water. Theres no turning back. We need to be very strategic in how we move forward. Our state is a model of commerce, conservation, and preservation we want to keep it that way. Google is expected to impact Dorchester Countys economy and infrastructure. Todd Friddle, Dorchester County Council Chair, said the area is prepared to handle the incoming amounts of people and hopes residents will benefit. I hope that they hire people from around here. Its going to be good paying jobs. The big thing about it is, weve got the base around here for those types of people. Its not going to affect the schools that much 200 jobs. I mean with the amount of tax revenue it is, it puts people in the roads. Weve got more housing facilities now with 1500 people working. Google is working on its initiative to bring clean energy to South Carolina alongside its data centers. Part of the companys $3.3 billion investment goes towards improving energy affordability and a local watershed health project. These new campuses build upon old ones to make them more efficient. With each data center, we do learn, Lilyan Hester, head of Googles Southeast Internal Affairs and Government Relations division, said. Here, we have made a commitment to providing additional infrastructure support and that includes grants to support our sustainability efforts. The tech giant stated it is hoping to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy as well as replenish 120% of the water it consumes by 2030. As for clean energy in the state, Google has reduced energy costs for low and moderate income households in the past two years. Partnerships exist between Google and The Sustainability Institute, Berkeley Electric, and other local companies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MSNBCs Jen Psaki asked second gentleman Doug Emhoff if he fears Donald Trump is putting a target on the backs of Jewish Americans with the former presidents warning that Jewish voters will be partly to blame if he loses the 2024 election to Emhoffs wife, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Emhoff, who is Jewish, was unequivocal with his reply. He is, Emhoff, who made history in 2021 when he became the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president, told Psaki in a preview clip of an interview that MSNBC aired on Thursday. I mean, take him at his word, Emhoff continued about Trump. He lies about a lot of things but you gotta take him at his word on things like this. So, yeah, this is a disgusting trope, this so-called dual loyalties. Its an outrage. And its not just Jewish people that should be outraged. .@jrpsaki asks @DouglasEmhoff about Trumps recent comments saying Jewish voters would bear a lot of blame if he loses: Jen: Do you worry that he's putting a target on the backs of Jewish Americans? Emhoff: He is. pic.twitter.com/j3wA6hDcBN Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) September 27, 2024 Trump, who has a lengthy history of antisemitic comments, last week said any American Jewish person who votes for Harris is a fool and should have their head examined. The Republican nominee warned, The Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss. Its only because of the Democrat hold, or curse, on you. Psaki asked Emhoff if he believed Trump is being antisemitic when he says things like that. Do you look at him and see the repetition of this type of words and language as antisemitic? Of course it is, Emhoff replied. Emhoff has frequently campaigned against antisemitism via his second gentleman role and, earlier his year, slammed Trump as a known antisemite for sharing a video online with references to a unified Reich. Trump, meanwhile, in July agreed with an interviewer who described Emhoff as a crappy Jew, hes a horrible Jew. Related... Doug Emhoff said the remarks Donald Trump made during an appearance at an anti-antisemitic campaign event are only fueling hatred against Jewish Americans. The Second Gentleman responded to the former presidents comments during an interview with MSNBCs Jen Psaki. The political analyst and former White House spokesperson asked if Emhoff felt Trump was putting a target on the backs of Jewish Americans, to which Emhoff replied: He is. I mean, take him at his word. He lies about a lot of things, but youve got to take him at his word on things like this, Emhoff said. So yeah, this is a disgusting trope with this so-called dual loyalties. Its an outrage. And its not just Jewish people who should be outraged. The conversation stems from Trump telling a crowd of Jewish voters on Sept. 19 that it would be their fault if he doesnt get elected come November. The campaign event, titled Fighting Antisemitism in America, was held in Washington D.C. Im not going to call this a prediction, but, in my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss if Im at 40%, Trump said, adding that Democrats have a hold, or curse on the community. You cant let this happen. Forty percent is not acceptable, because we have an election to win. Trump got up there at an event purporting to fight antisemitism, and he said vile antisemitic things, long, tropes that are just terrible. We have to speak out every single time when something like that happens, Emhoff asserted. So Im going to continue not to be afraid, not to be intimidated, not to live in fear, but to live openly and proudly as a Jewish person Blame the Jews, one of the oldest tropes. Before his sitdown with Psaki, Emhoff addressed Trumps statements on X, saying the GOP presidential candidate is fanning the flames of antisemitism. Last night, Donald Trump once again fanned the flames of antisemitism by trafficking in tropes blaming and scapegoating Jews, Emhoff said on Sept. 20, the morning after Trumps remarks. He even did it at an event purporting to fight antisemitism, no less. This is dangerous and must be condemned. We will not be intimidated and will continue to live openly, proudly, and without fear as Jews. Last night, Donald Trump once again fanned the flames of antisemitism by trafficking in tropes blaming and scapegoating Jews. He even did it at an event purporting to fight antisemitism, no less. This is dangerous and must be condemned. We will not be intimidated and will Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) September 20, 2024 The post Doug Emhoff Says Trump Is Putting a Target on the Backs of Jewish Americans: Its an Outrage | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Downtown Miamis homeowners and businesses mobilized against a tax increase, telling city leaders in the words of Twisted Sister Were Not Gonna Take It. On Wednesday, Miamis Downtown Development Authority dropped the proposal, alleviating concerns for a community facing rising financial pressures. The quasi-independent city agency funded by a special tax levy eliminated its proposal for a tax rate that would collectively cost current taxpayers some $640,000 more, adjusted for inflation. It would have gone toward future savings and maintaining the quality of existing services. Costs would have varied per household depending on property values. According to the DDAs estimates using data from the property appraiser, for properties in the DDA district ranging from $500,000 to $999,999, the average increase per property for the year would be $2. For properties ranging from $1 million to just under $2 million, the average increase per property for the year would be $6. But the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, a group advocating against the tax increase, said that would have had an unwanted impact on 75,000 residents in the district in downtown Miami, Brickell and Edgewater. On Saturday, the organizations leader and previous political candidate James Torres presented to city leaders and the DDA. He said during the community meeting residents already faced high costs due to inflation, condo assessment fees and special assessments. In addition to the financial burden, quality of life failed to keep up with costs. Overall the savings to the taxpayer is what we have been looking for, Torres said. This is a true win for the community. (Center) Manolo Reyes Commissioner District 4 during a meeting of the city of Miamis urban core plan at Downtown Development Authoritys office in Downtown Miami Travel on Saturday, September 21st., 2024. The new city budget was reviewed and approved on Thursday and set to be approved ahead of the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. Without the original tax increase proposal, the DDA cut its budget by $1.2 million to avoid owners paying more on the Miami DDA portion of their property taxes, said Manolo Reyes by email, a city commissioner and chairman of the DDA board. Reyes said the DDA will collect the same amount of revenue it has so far and will be able to maintain services, especially on homelessness initiatives, security, sanitation and business incentive grants. We had to make sacrifices to give residents the financial relief they were looking for. Some were easy as we were able to close out contracts and invoices to zero out estimates, Reyes said. Other choices will have greater impact. We will need to hold on some of the items that were noted as being important by residents at the community meetings, like the doggy bag program and parking relief. Downtown Modesto walls getting a makeover. Some will be visible from popular park Audiences listening at next summers MoBand concerts at Graceada Parks Mancini Bowl also will get a visual treat, thanks to DoMo Walls. Four traveling artists and one local artist will create large-scale murals on downtown Modesto walls during the annual DoMo Walls project. They will work from 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, through 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Two of the murals will be visible from the concerts at Graceada Park: on walls at 1414 L St. and 1115 15th St., according to an email from Heidi Savage, CEO at the Downtown Modesto Partnership. Artist Emily Ding works on a mural as part of the DoMo Walls mural festival in Modesto, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2023. DoMo Walls is presented by the nonprofit Downtown Modesto Partnership (DoMo) and curated by local artist Aaron Vickery, known as Fasm, according to a press release. The project began in 2018. Over the years, this event has added an impressive 25 world-class murals to the heart of our city, contributing to its cultural richness, the release said. While anyone can stop by daily to view the artists at work, the completed murals will be celebrated Oct. 4 during this seasons last DoMo First Fridays street fair. Artists this year are: Blake Reagan, from Eureka, painting at 1414 L St. Mister Toledo, from Los Angeles, at California Beauty College, 1115 15th St. Miss Teal, from Santa Cruz County, at the Best Western, 909 16th St. Qvo, from San Bernardino, at 1016 12th St. Vickery (Fasm) will paint on a second wall at California Beauty College. Murals help create a more meaningful public space, encourage community engagement and beautify urban spaces, Kathryn Davis, board chair of DoMo, said in the release. They are a key part of downtowns transformation, making it more vibrant and engaging. The project receives resources from community donations, including boom lifts from Thomas Brothers Equipment Rentals and accommodations for the artists from Best Western Town House Lodge, the release said. DoMo Walls donors are listed on the events website, domowalls.com. Public art has the power to transform environments and bring people together, Savage said in the release. We are so grateful for the generosity and faith of community partners who continue to reinvest in downtown Modestos revitalization efforts. Vickery emphasized the attraction such artistic works bring to downtown. With each unique mural, we add a Woah! moment for each first-time viewer, Vickery said in the press release. That makes downtown Modesto a very special place to explore. Star Wars mural on the Never Boring office building on 14th Street in Modesto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. By Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is the Republican presidential candidate, said on Friday he will seek the prosecution of Google if he wins the Nov. 5 election, claiming that the company only displays "bad stories" about him. Trump, in his post on Truth Social, gave no evidence for his assertion about Google. "It has been determined that Google has illegally used a system of only revealing and displaying bad stories about Donald J. Trump, some made up for this purpose while, at the same time, only revealing good stories about" Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Trump said. "This is an illegal activity, and hopefully the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for this blatant interference of elections," Trump said. "If not, and subject to the laws of our country, I will request their prosecution, at the maximum levels, when I win the election, and become president of the United States." Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump made a similar claim about Google in 2019, according to the Washington Post. He alleged in a series of posts on Twitter, now known as X, that Google favored negative news stories about him in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Post. Google dismissed the claims at the time. However, in recent weeks, some supporters of the former president have renewed the allegations. In July, days after an attempted assassination of Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, in a post on X, accused Google of having a search ban on the former president. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Eric Beech) For the 13th consecutive year, Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital, featuring its expert physicians, staff and volunteers, is ranked as 2023 and 2024 Best Childrens Hospitals by U.S. News and World report. Of course, Le Bonheurs success depends on your generosity to serve 250,000 children a year, regardless of their familys ability to pay. Tonight, in this Go Jim Go profile, WREGs Alex Coleman takes us inside Le Bonheur to talk with Dr. Trey Eubanks, the hospitals surgeon-in-chief and its new president. Inside of Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital, its rare to find Dr. Trey Eubanks just seated behind a desk working on his computer. Thats because hes usually making the rounds, interacting with patients, staff and a team of health experts. After serving as interim president, the north Mississippi native was recently named Le Bonheurs new president. For him, its personal. This hospital is dear to me because I know the important role it plays in this community, and how desperately, our community needs great health care for children, Eubanks said. And so I, couldnt say no to that. Dr. Eubanks sees Le Bonheur as a calling for him and the hospitals team of specialists. We want to have the best surgeons. We want to have the best neurologists, the best cardiologists, the best nephrologists, the best intensive care unit doctors that we can get, and so that we can provide the best care for all the kids that may come across our door, he said. Dr. Eubanks proudly took WREG on a tour of the 12-story hospital and gave his diagnosis on the state of the regions only comprehensive childrens facility. Addressing things like preventive health, food shortages, taking, children that are at risk for certain diseases and trying to take them out of those at risk situations, he said. But then again, when there is a need, weve got to always be here. you know, our doors are always open. Le Bonheur, in case youre wondering, is a French term that means happiness, and that happiness and a feeling of home is seen in the artwork throughout the building, and in a new family waiting room and courtyard, along with a chapel for praying. Its about caring not only for the child, but the family as well. Oftentimes, were treating the family more than just the child. So its patient and family centered care is our goal, Eubanks said. The goal of family and patient centered care extends far beyond Memphis by partnering with regional hospitals in Jackson, Jonesboro, and Tupelo as Le Bonheur also expands here in the Bluff City. Were adding more, physician staff, nursing staff, experts in seizure disorder and tumors and, congenital heart disease and things like that, filling and expansion, Eubanks said. Back in May, Le Bonheur unveiled its $95 million expansion, its largest since the current hospital facility opened in 2010, with a major focus now on the Heart Institute adding 31 new beds.. That is going to take care of some of the sickest, children with, either congenital heart disease or children that have been heart failure and need a heart transplant or, you know, our heart transplant program has been going on for some time now, and its really been strong, Eubanks said. He says whats also strong is the neonatal intensive care unit, expanding from what had been a 60 bed unit, to 74 beds, and adding this new MRI guided catheterization lab. In what looks like something from a sci-fi movie or a video game, Le Bonheur is using innovative technology to create this state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Lab. Surgeons wear VR headsets, use video controllers and TV monitors to build a 3-D model and peak inside a patients heart. You can use the VR to see where a valve should be replaced, where actually a stitch should be thrown or should not be thrown, or a device should be placed in with a precision thats going to allow us to do even cooler, more effective treatments in the future, Eubanks said. But hospital expansion, innovative technology and basic patient care dont come cheap. Its why Dr. Eubanks says WREGs Go Jim Go Bike Ride campaign helps get the community involved in raising money for Le Bonheur and many of its vital programs. Obviously, it helps raise money for Le Bonheur. It allows people to have a sense of community because its like Im helping my community, my childrens hospital and its fun, he said. Eubanks says his diagnosis is positive for Le Bonheur, the childrens hospital with the giant heart on the building that serves as a beacon of hope for thousands of kids and their families. Yeah, the diagnosis looks good, and the future is bright. And were very excited. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jackson County farmer Ben Smith stands in front of some of his cattle. One of Smiths wells has gone dry. He and his family are conserving another for use at their home. Hes one of the West Virginia farmers struggling with the effects of a drought. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch) SANDYVILLE, W.Va. When Ben Smith took over his familys Jackson County farm, he expected floods. After all, he got his start at farming 10 years ago, not long before the deadly 2016 flood hit the state, destroying some of his hay and corn crops. Another flood just last year destroyed some of his corn, too. What Smith didnt anticipate was a 33-foot-deep, hand-dug well on his property drying up. I was told that that well had never gone dry it did this year, Smith said. In a better year, Smith would be using the well to water his cattle, and the grass from his land to keep them fed through the summer and into the fall. But this summer, during a drought, the grass stopped growing. Smith is taking more drastic measures using his cash crop as livestock feed, and making daily trips to the public service district down the road to haul hundreds of gallons of water to the cows. Normally, when we harvest the corn, we sell the grain, he said. Weve got a machine now thats cutting the whole stock and grinding it up to feed the cows. Using the corn as feed now will allow him to save his hay supply for the winter months, he said. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Sept. 24, every county in West Virginia continues to experience drought conditions, and Jackson County is among the worst hit. Its one of 15 counties with exceptional conditions. Rain this week was expected to help lessen dry conditions, but may not be enough to end the drought altogether. In Jackson County, some springs and wells have dried, causing problems for the farmers there. Theres no springs. Theres no creeks The Northern Jackson County Public Service District in Sandyville is one of three places in Jackson County where people can buy bulk water. The agency sells it for a penny per gallon. A federal program allows farmers to be reimbursed for the costs of buying water. I think theyre all being bombarded with folks, but were getting people from Ripley, Evans all around the northern part of the county, Manager Betsy Haught said. Its quiet right now, but theres times that you can look out there and there will be two or three trucks lined up just waiting to get water because theres no springs. Theres no creeks. Theres nothing in the creeks. Haught said the public service district has seen a 116% increase in water sales this summer compared to last year during the same time. I know that a lot of guys have talked about how theyre already taking their cattle to the livestock market over in Fairplain, because they just dont have the water for them, they dont have the hay for them, that type of thing, Haught said. Selling the cattle early can mean the farmer loses out on more money they could have gotten for the animals had they waited until the animals weighed more. Joe Boggess has already sold off some of his cattle because of the drought. He comes to the public service district daily to haul hundreds of gallons of water back to his Jackson County farm. It gets real tiring, Boggess said. Every day, every day Im feeding hay and Ive got to get a load of water every day. And those days when the heat index was over 100, sometimes you wonder, why [am I doing it]? In a good year, Boggess has enough grass to hold off feeding the animals from his supply of hay, allowing him to save it until October and use it on through the winter. This year, he started feeding hay to cattle in July, meaning the supply likely wont last that long. Its a similar story for John Frances, a farmer who has been feeding his animals hay ahead of schedule, and hauling them water since August, he said. Usually, cattle, you dump city water out to them and they kind of snarl their nose, he said. Mine ran straight to the trough and drank it dry, Frances said. With fewer acorns in the woods for them, the deer have eaten more than their usual share of crops this year, too, farmers say. Frances said hes noticed a large herd staying in his eight-acre hayfield along the road. Theyre there probably right now, Frances said. They get done eating and they just lay down there. You never seen that before. Theyd go in the woods or something like that. But theyll go off the side of the shade trees or something, lay down and theyre there. The deer have also been drinking water from a tank Smith has for calves, he said. Frances has cattle and a few donkeys. This year, he sold off calves as expected, along with some heifers. I had five real good heifers, and I debated on keeping them, Frances said. Im glad I sold them now. I probably would have had to sell them anyway. For Smith, feeding his corn to his cows comes with a financial cost. It cost him about $24,000 to grow a field of corn, he said, and he expected to make $35,000 to $40,000 selling it. While the drought has already caused farmers to lose money this year, some are worried its effects could go on next year, even if it rains. Smith would normally use the grain from his corn to feed the pigs and beef cows, next year. Instead, hell have to buy feed next year, he said. So this isnt just this years effect. Its affecting next year already, Smith said. Drought may be on special session call Beth Southern, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, said the state office of the United States Department of Agricultures Farm Service Agency has so far paid out $2.4 million to West Virginia farmers through their disaster relief programs. The numbers change daily as applications are processed, she said. The West Virginia Conservation Agency has also distributed more than $76,000 in assistance for producers. Gov. Jim Justice issued a drought-related state of emergency for all 55 counties in July, and last month he extended it another 30 days, through most of September. The declaration allows the state to access different pools of money and resources to respond to emergencies, but doesnt require the state to provide assistance to farmers. When asked whether the call for a special legislative session planned for next week would include assistance for farmers affected by the drought, CJ Harvey, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Justice, said Wednesday that everything is on the table. Harvey referred a reporter to a state grant program that reimburses fire departments and other public agencies that help reduce drought-related harm to farmers in drought-affected areas of the state. Del. Steve Westfall, a Republican who represents Jackson County in the House of Delegates, said lawmakers were given a general outline of what the governor plans to propose during the special session. The governor alone sets the agenda for special sessions. As of right now, right now the only thing Ive seen on there is just extending the state of emergency for the drought, Westfall said. Thats a concurrent resolution which sounds good in theory, but doesnt do much. It doesnt do anything to help the farmers. Southern said the state Department of Agriculture wants legislators to consider gaps in federal funding for drought relief during the special session. Extending the state of emergency is crucial because state options for funding would dry up without it, she said. The House and Senate leadership teams have been supportive of getting drought on the call and were hopeful the governor will honor the request, Southern said. Westfall said he would vote for any appropriation or other assistance for farmers the governor may suggest. We have a lot of farmers in West Virginia most of them are smaller farmers, so the droughts been hard, Westfall said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office is investigating a crash that caused two deaths early Friday morning. A Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office news release said the crash happened just before 7 a.m. on Louisiana Highway 71 just south of the I-49 exchange. Deputies said a small four-door sedan was traveling northbound when it crossed the center lane and collided with a two-car sedan traveling south on Hwy 71. The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead on the scene by Caddo Fire District 7. The Caddo Parish Coroners Office identified 31-year-old Gavin Green of Hosston was one victim in the fatal crash. The second vehicle burst into flames, killing its driver. That persons identity is pending the results of forensic testing and will be released when that process is complete and next-of-kin notified. The wreck remains under investigation by the Caddo Parish 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 KTALnews.com. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The 2024 Consumers Energy SmartArt competition was narrowed down to 10 finalists, but only one artist took home the top prize. Nusra Juma, a junior at Ottawa Hills High School, was awarded first place. Juma won a $2,000 scholarship and an Apple laptop courtesy of Consumers Energy. Each of the top 10 finalists received monetary or technology prizes including Apple laptops, iPads and/or Meijer gift cards. Consumers Energy has partnered with ArtPrize for more than 10 years challenging high school students within Grand Rapids Public Schools to create a piece focusing on clean energy and sustainability. You can find the artwork of the top 10 finalists on the Consumers Energy building on the corner of Fulton Street and Market Avenue during ArtPrize. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This week, the Government published new figures confirming what everyone knows: Britain is paying far too much for its energy. According to the data, UK companies pay the highest electricity prices in the developed world, four times those in the US. No wonder our firms especially our manufacturing firms struggle to compete. Labours answer to this is (surprise, surprise) a state-owned energy company: GB Energy. There are two ways of looking at this initiative. Either it is an Ed Miliband vanity project, in which eco-fanaticism has been substituted for economic nous. Or otherwise its a way for Keir Starmer to keep Miliband and his fellow travellers firmly inside the tent. It may even be both at once. What is not remotely plausible, however, is the idea that GB Energy will help to improve the UKs energy security or to bring down those energy bills (by 300 per household, according to Milibands pre-election prognostications). The rationale behind the new company seems to be as follows. In order to decarbonise Britain, we need more investment in green energy infrastructure. But private industry is unwilling to invest. So we need to de-risk and crowd-in private sector cash by putting the taxpayers money where the governments mouth is. That means the government itself taking equity stakes in energy projects. GB Energy will therefore be a hybrid company, both energy generator and investment vehicle. But the thinking behind GB Energy is completely at odds with reality. First, it is predicated on the idea that the state is the solution to Britains chronic underinvestment. Yet as a brilliant new essay by Sam Bowman, Ben Southwood and Samuel Hughes shows, weak investment is largely due to our sclerotic planning system. This makes it almost impossible to build anything, anywhere. GB Energy and its projects are going to face the same barriers, unless we bring in planning reform. And if planning reform goes ahead, what is the need for GB Energy? Second, the authors make a compelling case that the drive towards plugging renewables into the electricity grid is itself driving up costs. This is due to intermittency problems, and the costs of rewiring the grid to cope with more distributed energy generation. Once you factor in all the costs and constraints, renewables are nowhere near commercially competitive. This may well change in the near future, as technology improves and costs come down. But under a liberalised system, you might expect to see a lot more investment flowing towards nuclear power too. Already, however, it is apparent that on nuclear and other energy sources, Miliband is prioritising ideology over market reality. For example, if Labour genuinely cared about cheap and reliable energy, it wouldnt be gleefully pummelling the North Sea oil and gas sector. The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) imposed by the Tories was already disastrous for investment. Labour have not only increased it but extended it. Miliband has also ruled out granting new exploration licences, and seems more than happy for legal challenges against new developments, notably Rosebank, to succeed. Its hardly a surprise, then, that Grangemouth refinery is closing down, shedding 200 jobs. But with the North Sea oil and gas sector supporting around 200,000 jobs, that could be just the start. Labour activists are fond of talking of a just energy transition, with oil and gas workers moving into comparable green engineering jobs. But to paraphrase Adam Smith, people are not pieces to be moved around on a chessboard. Given the age profile of the offshore workforce, many will just take early retirement. Younger workers will move abroad. Jobs and money will leave. For those in Aberdeen, it might be some consolation that GB Energy will be headquartered there. But swapping high-productivity, high-wage jobs for public sector pen-pushing seems like a pretty poor trade. Of course, for Labour, economic sense probably doesnt really come into it. On reflection, there is in fact a third possible explanation for GB Energy: its a piece of socialist nostalgia for the high tide of British collectivism a throwback to when the commanding heights of the economy were nationalised, rationing was extended and Britons shivered through the 1947 winter fuel crisis. With Miliband intent on using GB Energy to decarbonise the grid by 2030 a date energy experts regard as terrifyingly unrealistic youd be a fool to discount the possibility of another icy 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. As they have for several decades now, Democrats are nominating many more women than Republicans are in their party's primaries. And what happens in the primaries doesn't stay in the primaries. These lopsided primary results for women will likely contribute to a growing disparity between the parties' female representation in Congress and governors' mansions: Democratic women currently make up 41 percent and Republican women make up just 15 percent of their respective parties' members of Congress, and eight of the 12 female governors currently serving are Democrats. After the November elections, these gaps could widen. While Republican groups in recent cycles have made efforts to catch up to Democrats by recruiting and supporting their own female candidates, those efforts appear to be flagging. After record numbers of GOP women ran in 2020 and even more in 2022 (though their numbers were still well behind Democrats), 2024 saw a decline in the number of Republican women running, and the share of women winning, in primaries. Throughout the primary season, 538 collected a trove of demographic and political information (such as gender, endorsements from former President Donald Trump, progressive group endorsements and endorsements from pro-Israel groups) for every major-party candidate running for Senate, House or governor in the 2024 election cycle. This update takes a look at where women have run, and where women have won, in these primaries.* Our analysis of this data shows that the overall share of women running is down, likely due to both fewer GOP women running this cycle and less institutional support, which is a sharp departure from 2020 and 2022, when the GOP made some gains in this respect. On the whole, Democratic women's share of their party nominees is up from 2022, and many of these candidates are in a good position to win in November. How many women are running and winning? As we have for past primaries, we identified female primary candidates by using lists from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, which has been reliably collecting data on women running for office for decades. Democrats have been electing more women to Congress than Republicans since the 1990s, due in large part to a concerted strategy to recruit and support female candidates. And because a culture of electing women paves the way for electing more women, Democratic women have created a positive feedback loop. For example, studies find a positive relationship between the share of women in state legislatures and the share of women elected to Congress from those same areas. According to CAWP, in 2022 the number of Democratic women who ran in congressional primaries was 1.2 times greater than the number of Republican women who ran (354 Democratic women and 299 Republican women). This cycle, the number of Democratic women running in primaries is 1.8 times greater than the number of Republican women running (330 Democratic women and 186 Republican women). Of course, raw numbers don't tell the full story, because according to CAWP, fewer men filed to run for Congress this cycle, too but a look at the share of total candidates who were women tells a similar story. Overall, we found that 26 percent of candidates who ran in primaries for Senate, House or governor (we include candidates for governors races in most calculations below) in this cycle were women, similar to 2022, when 27 percent of candidates were women. But women are a larger share of Democratic candidates than Republican candidates: 37 percent of all Democratic candidates were women (compared to 35 percent in 2022), while just 17 percent of all Republican candidates were women (compared to 21 percent in 2022). That discrepancy this cycle is even larger when it comes to outcomes, or the share of women winning their primaries to become their party's general election nominees: Among certified primary winners, women make up nearly half (46 percent) of Democratic nominees but just 16 percent of Republican nominees. That represents a 3-percentage-point increase among Democrats over 2022 women made up 43 percent of their nominees last cycle and a 4-point decrease among Republicans women made up 20 percent of their 2022 nominees. Zeroing in on congressional races, we can compare this year's data to CAWP's data on female primary winners in House and Senate races from 2018 through 2022. By this metric, Democratic women in 2024 matched or outran their previous numbers, with women making up 46 percent of Democratic House nominees and 46 percent of Senate nominees. The share of female Republican primary winners, on the other hand, dropped for a second consecutive cycle, with women making up just 16 percent of their party's House nominees and 18 percent of Senate nominees. Democratic women also overperformed in primaries by 9 points, meaning they make up a larger share of Democratic primary winners than they did Democratic primary candidates. Meanwhile, the percentage of Republican women who won their primaries is about the same as the share of women in the overall Republican candidate pool (17 percent compared to 16 percent, respectively). While nominating women is one thing, setting them up to win in November is another, and both parties have some history of setting up female nominees to fail, as "sacrificial lambs" or candidates running for a seat their party is almost certain to lose in November. For decades, women were often recruited for those types of races. However, a lot has changed in the last decade or so, as voters (and party leaders) increasingly perceive women to be viable political contenders, and therefore recruit them to run in winnable districts, especially in the Democratic Party. To see where Democrats and Republicans are nominating women, we also examined where women are winning primary victories, based on race ratings from the Cook Political Report. Here again, we found notable differences between the two parties, as Democratic women are being nominated in large numbers in all types of races, while Republican women seem to be particularly boxed out of races in the reddest territory or in other words, the races where winning a primary is tantamount to winning election. These "safe" seats (for both parties) also happen to be the most abundant, so exclusion from these races is why Republican women's overall share of their party's nominees are so low. Among Democrats, women (who make up 46 percent of their party's nominees in this cycle) are best represented in races rated as lean or likely Republican, making up 55 percent of nominees. But while these nominees may face an uphill battle, they're not "sacrificial lambs" either. For example, Ashley Ehasz and Janelle Stelson were nominated in Pennsylvania's 1st and 10th Districts and, as my colleagues Geoffrey Skelley and Kaleigh Rogers wrote, both those districts are seen as top pickup targets for Democrats this year. Stelson will face Rep. Scott Perry, who is seen as vulnerable in the purple district due to his hard-right tendencies, while Ehasz will challenge moderate Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, whose district has been shifting left since he last beat Ehasz by 10 points in 2022 Biden won the district in 2020, and Democrats swept all five seats up for grabs in a recent local school board election. Democratic women are also well-represented in the races rated as most competitive they make up 44 percent of Democrats' nominees in toss-up races, meaning many will once again run in battleground races that will help determine the balance of the House and Senate. For instance, Rep. Elissa Slotkin got her party's nod in the Michigan open Senate race; Laura Gillen in New York's 4th District will face incumbent Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, who was vulnerable even before news broke earlier this week that he allegedly hired his mistress to work in his Congressional office; and Kristen McDonald Rivet will face Trump-backed Republican Paul Junge in Michigan's 8th District, an open race seen as a top GOP pickup opportunity. And in solid Democratic races, 45 percent of Democrat's nominees are women, and many are non-incumbents likely to expand the ranks of Democratic women in office, such as Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delware's Senate race. The same is true of Maryland Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks, one of the 42 percent of Democratic nominees in likely and lean Democratic seats who are women. Among Republicans, women (who make up 17 percent of the party's total nominees this cycle) are best represented in likely and lean Republican seats they make up 35 percent of these nominees. However, all seven of these women are incumbents, such as Reps. Young Kim and Michelle Steel in Southern California, and therefore will not add to the ranks of GOP women if they win reelection. Like Democratic women, Republican women are also relatively well-represented in races that are likely or lean for the other party (they are 19 percent of these nominees), where they have an outside shot at winning like Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake. But glaringly, Republican women are most underrepresented in solid Republican races, where they make up just 12 percent of nominees. It is these races where the GOP stood to gain the most ground electing women. Once again, almost all of the women on this list are incumbents all but two: Julie Fedorchak in North Dakota and Sheri Biggs in South Carolina, who are shoo-ins for two open seats currently held by men. But while they may be missing out on safe-seat opportunities, Republican women were nominated in a number of competitive districts, signaling the party's confidence in their strength as candidates. They make up 19 percent of GOP nominees in toss-up races, including Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire's open Senate race and several challengers like Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina's 1st District and Yvette Herrell in New Mexico's 2nd looking to topple vulnerable Democratic incumbents. GOP women's groups were less active in 2024 primaries Financial support and endorsements are crucial for women in the primaries, and historically Republicans have trailed Democrats in this regard. Support for female candidates has become baked into the DNA of the Democratic Party's financial and political networks, and the best-known, and best-funded, of groups that recruit and support women in politics is the Democratic-aligned EMILYs List. Although some Republicans have tried to build similar networks with groups like Elevate PAC (or E-PAC) and VIEW PAC, they have struggled to match the scale of EMILYs List, and they lack the same level of infrastructure, financial resources and widespread influence within the party. "Democratic women can count on having the support they need to run well and will be more likely to take the step to run because of that support," said Melody Crowder-Meyer, a political scientist at Davidson College, who has studied how differences in the parties' donor networks contribute to these gaps. Crowder-Meyer explained that this same support isn't found in the GOP: "Donor groups ostensibly organized around promoting Republican women's representation raise and spend dramatically less and often even use their funds to back male Republican candidates who are opposing women Democrats." And then there's the parties' cultural divide. "The GOP party culture works against [more formal] organizing by eschewing identity-based claims for resources, support or influence," said Erin Cassese, a political scientist and associate director for the Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware. This reality is reflected in recent comments made by Rep. Elise Stefanik, who founded E-PAC after the 2018 cycle to elect more Republican women to Congress. This year in Washington's 3rd District, Stefanik joined Trump in backing 2022 nominee Joe Kent (who lost that race), while GOP women's groups VIEW PAC, Maggie's List, and Winning for Women all backed Leslie Lewallen, a former King County prosecutor. "I don't endorse women just because they're women," Stefanik told NBC when asked why she backed Kent. Still, Stefanik also highlighted that Republican women have been crucial in flipping battleground districts in recent cycles. To get a sense of the activity and success rates of groups formed to elect more women to office, we've tracked every candidate endorsed by EMILYs List and Republican women's groups (E-PAC, Maggie's List, Winning for Women, VIEW PAC) in incumbent-less primaries (not including runoff endorsements) in the last several election cycles, and how often those endorsed candidates won. As was true in the last two cycles, endorsements from women's groups tend to be a good sign for a primary candidate in either party: Women endorsed by at least one women's group in open primaries this year had a win rate of 67 percent, compared to women without an endorsement from a women's group, who had a win rate of 37 percent. That said, having the support of EMILYs List as a Democrat this year was a much more reliable predictor of success than an endorsement from any GOP women's group. Looking at these open primary races, where endorsements are most crucial, EMILYs List is leading the way in both success rate and number of endorsees, as Republican groups were quieter with their endorsements in non-incumbent primaries this year compared to the 2020 election cycle. In 2024 primaries that we tracked, EMILYs List endorsed 31 candidates in open-seat contests 25 of whom won their races, for a win rate of 81 percent. This includes Senate candidates Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland, for whom EMILYs List launched a $2 million ad buy to help her defeat billionaire Rep. David Trone, and Elissa Slotkin in Michigan, who defeated actor Hill Harper in her primary. The share of EMILYs List endorsees who won their primaries this cycle is slightly lower but comparable to how their endorsees performed in the last two cycles, as is the number of endorsements the group made. Of the Republican groups, VIEW PAC endorsed the most this cycle a total of 17 candidates, eight of whom won their primaries, for a win rate of 47 percent. Winning for Women went three for eight (a 38 percent win rate), while Maggie's List went three for six (a 50 percent win rate). Meanwhile, E-PAC got a slow start on endorsements this cycle, and never caught up, publicly endorsing just three women in open races before their primaries, two of whom won. (E-PAC did endorse other women who ran in open primaries after they had already won those primaries.) All of these groups had lower win rates than last cycle, though small sample sizes this year make it an imperfect comparison all of the GOP women's groups endorsed between 15 and 31 candidates last cycle. This performance by GOP women's groups endorsing fewer candidates and winning less was in some cases complicated by Trump, who has become an increasingly active (and coveted) endorser during each primary cycle since 2018, and competing endorsements and support from other prominent party leaders. A few times in 2024, Trump and the NRCC endorsed against potentially strong female candidates, including some who would have been shoo-ins in a general election. In North Carolina's 13th District, a safe red seat, Kelly Daughtry received the most votes in the primary and qualified for the runoff, but she subsequently dropped out after Trump endorsed her runoff rival, Brad Knott. In Indiana one of 18 states that has never had a female governor Republicans' 2024 gubernatorial primary pitted sitting Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch against sitting Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, but Trump and party leaders lined up against Braun. And in Kansas's 3rd District, Karen Crnkovich had an endorsement from VIEW PAC, but the NRCC endorsed her opponent, Prasanth Reddy, who won in a competitive race. While these represent just a few cases, these examples can be meaningful and contribute to a negative feedback loop for Republican women. As Crowder-Meyer explained, based on her research, "women political figures were more often identified as important inspirations to seek office by women than men, and since the Democratic Party offers more prominent women who could serve as such inspiration, this too might drive more Democratic than Republican women to emerge as candidates." Particularly in this cycle, with a presidential matchup highlighting gender, these choices interact with broader party optics on gender as well. Citing Trump's recent comments to women that he "will be your protector," vice presidential candidate JD Vance's comments about "childless cat ladies" and other disparaging comments toward women, Cassese said "packaged together with a dearth of female candidates, it's hard for the Republican Party to make a credible case that they're working to represent female voters." Couple this with Democrats' selection of Harris at the top of their presidential ticket, and the GOP's struggle with female representation is thrown into sharper relief. Of course, Republican womens progress in recent election cycles has left some infrastructure and precedent for future women in the party. For her part, Nikki Haley made a point of talking about how women in politics bring something unique to the table during and after her presidential run, and groups like VIEW PAC, Maggies List and others plan to play in this years general election contests to move the needle as much as they can. Mary Radcliffe, Irena Li and Holly Fuong contributed research. Footnotes *This analysis includes all primary elections in the 2024 election cycle with the exception of Louisiana, which will hold its primaries on Election Day, Nov. 5. We classified primary winners based on state-certified election results. In California and Washington, primary candidates who advanced to the general election in the top-two primary are classified as primary winners. Efforts to elect more Republican women stalled in the 2024 primaries originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Eight years and 2,000 miles across the ocean. How a message in a bottle penned by three Bay Area friends was found Musicians have penned songs about it. Scientists have deployed them to study ocean currents. People lost at sea or aboard a sinking ship have used them as a last-ditch effort to call for help. In July 2016, a trio of Bay Area friends vacationing on Navini Island in Fiji placed a message in a bottle and set it out to sea, wondering if a stranger would ever read their note. After eight years they finally got an answer, all the way from Australia. "It's like every childhood sort of fantasy fairy tale sort of thing. Send a message away and someone actually reads it," Sandra Lamari, who was among the group of hikers that found the bottle in Queensland, Australia, this month told KABC-TV in Los Angeles. Read more: Message in a bottle found 54 years later in Arctic A group of hikers was cleaning up the beach along Chunda Bay when they stumbled upon a glass bottle containing a piece of paper carefully rolled and secured with a red hair tie. The message written on paper weathered from years drifting at sea was from Savannah, Kate and Janice of Sunnyvale. "Dear reader," the message begins. "We wrote this tonight because we heard so many stories about doing this. We're leaving Navini today at 5:00 Fijian time so please write back..." It included an address on York Town Drive in Sunnyvale. A video of the discovery posted on Instagram shows members of the Townsville Hike and Explore group gasping in surprise when they realized the authors were thousands of miles away in California. It's unknown just how long the bottle had been drifting in the ocean or when it washed ashore. Chunda Bay is about 2,000 miles from Navini. "We're asking for all of your help to track Kate, Janice and Savannah down. Can you please share this post far and wide? We'd love to connect with them to let them know we found it," the group wrote on Instagram. Read more: Unprecedented numbers of gray whales are visiting San Francisco Bay, and nobody quite knows why It wasn't long before news outlets in Australia and the United States began to share the story. Eventually, the Bay Area friends Savannah Green, Janice Pierce and Kate Bonhan discovered the post. Green told Bay Area station KNTV that she remembered writing the message on her first trip to Fiji when she was 11 years old and including the address of her childhood home in Sunnyvale. It kind of felt almost spiritual, like the way that it survived eight years and was still legible and my hair tie was still on the note, she told the outlet. The hikers and the three friends are hoping to meet in person soon. 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. Election 2024: Dates you need to know before voting in November Delawareans go to vote at Immanuel Church Highlands in Wilmington on Tuesday September 10, 2024. When is Election Day 2024? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. When are the polls open in Delaware? Polling places in Delaware will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. When is early voting in Delaware? Early voting for the general election begins Oct. 25 and runs through Nov. 3. Early voting sites are open the first five days of early voting from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the last five early voting days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All registered voters can vote early. Voting registration deadline: Need to know how to register to vote in Delaware? The deadline is coming When is the deadline to register to vote in Delaware? The voter registration deadline is the fourth Saturday before the general election. The deadline for the general election is Saturday, Oct. 12. Who can register to vote in Delaware? You must be a resident of Delaware, a United States citizen and be 18 on or before the election. What are the deadlines for absentee voting Nov. 1: Deadline for the Department of Elections Offices to mail absentee ballots for the Nov. 5 general election. Nov. 4: Deadline for the Department of Elections Offices to issue absentee ballots for the Nov. 5 general election. Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.: Deadline for voters to return voted absentee ballots for the general election to the Department of Elections Office of the county in which the voter resides. What do I need to vote in Delaware? At the polling site, a worker will ask you for proof of identity. Permitted forms of ID include: Valid Photo ID Copy of utility bill Bank statement Government check, paycheck, or other government document that displays your address. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Election 2024: What to know before voting in Delaware YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Trumbull County Commissioner candidate Dan Polivka spoke to First News about why he is running again for the position. Watch the full interview in the video above. Polivka is running as a Democrat against Rick Hernandez for the position. You can watch Hernandezs interview here. Polivka previously served as a commissioner in Trumbull County and said he wants to come back to help bring unity to the board. He said his experience, as well as his relationships with local and state officials, would help him in the role. Ive had people ask, you know, Whats going on up here? So I just want to really try to unify our office and also, as a real watchdog for the taxpayers money, we stopped the tax, the sales tax, like eight years ago, Polivka said. He said the county is still operating at the same sales tax. Polivka also said when he was commissioner before, there was a lot of progress in the county, including the success of a big waterline project and development in Lordstown. He said some challenges, if elected, would be bringing the commissioners together, revamping the 911 system, and making sure taxpayers money is well-spent. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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) First News sat down with Trumbull County Commissioner candidate Rick Hernandez to discuss the race. Watch the full interview in the video above. Hernandez is running as a Republican against Daniel Polivka for the position. You can watch Polivkas interview here. Hernandez is currently a Hubbard Township trustee and chairman of the board of trustees of the Eagle Joint Fire District. He said since he started, the fire district has grown from volunteer to now full-time fire and ambulance service. If hes elected, he said thats something hed like to do in the townships and villages of Trumbull County. Theyre struggling with EMS services, theyre struggling with fire services. We can as commissioners we can look at regionalizing some of those. Some of those communities, some of the northern communities you know, like maybe Bloomfield or, you know, you have Hartford some of those areas that dont have the money, that we could pull the money together to offer those types of services, Hernandez said. He said for most of his life, he has been self-employed. He said he knows how to negotiate and promote. Hernandez wants to stimulate job growth, as well as make Trumbull County a great place to raise a family and a destination for others. He said, if elected, the biggest challenge will be keeping the countys hospitals in order and providing proper healthcare for residents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nuclear energy stocks were on fire this week as nuclear energy news became a hot topic again. The energy demands for artificial intelligence data centers are so astronomical that not only are new plants being planned, but old plants are being restarted. According to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Uranium Energy (NYSEMKT: UEC) was up as much as 17.1%, Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) popped 9.6%, and NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) was up 15% this week. Shares of the companies are up 14.8%, 8%, and 15% for the week as of 1 p.m. ET on Friday. Image source: Getty Images. Big tech falls in love with nuclear energy Late last week, Constellation Energy announced it had agreed to a long-term power purchase agreement with Microsoft to sell 100% of the electricity from Three Mile Island's Unit 1 for years to come. Microsoft will use the electricity to power data centers within the PJM area, a portion of the grid on the East Coast of the U.S. This followed comments from Oracle CEO Larry Ellison earlier this month, who said his company is planning a data center that has three small nuclear reactors attached. The consensus is that nuclear energy will play a big role in future energy needs for artificial intelligence. In theory, that should be good for nuclear energy stocks. Timing isn't favorable As much as there's hype about nuclear energy this week, a nuclear power plant takes years and sometimes decades to complete. Three Mile Island operated for decades before closing in 2019 and it will still take until at least 2028 to reopen the plant. Small modular nuclear reactors have been the "next big thing" in nuclear energy for a decade, but they may not be operational until 2030 or after. The market is reacting to nuclear hype in a matter of days and weeks, but nuclear energy will take a decade to become reality. The uranium market tells a different story The other factor for investors to consider is how uranium prices will be impacted by an increase in demand. But there's also supply to consider. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. production of uranium has tripled from a year ago. Even with restrictions on uranium imports from Russia, supply doesn't appear to be a concern for the industry. Prices have reacted negatively, falling more than 20% from their highs earlier this year. For uranium producers like Uranium Energy and Cameco, the supply/demand dynamic and falling prices will hurt the bottom line. Nuclear energy's bright future is far in the distance It's easy to get excited about the future of nuclear energy given the recent nuclear deals and hype around artificial intelligence. But keep in mind the market's reaction this week versus the operational reality these companies face. Story continues It will be many years before there's any kind of windfall and even then it may not be as big as expected if uranium mining picks up or plant costs are higher than expected. For that reason, I think the recent hype will soon wear off. Should you invest $1,000 in NuScale Power right now? Before you buy stock in NuScale Power, 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 NuScale Power 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 $760,130!* 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 Travis Hoium has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Constellation Energy, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Cameco and NuScale Power and 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. The Truth Behind Nuclear Energy Stocks Popping This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool Election 2024: Los Angeles Countys registered voters will receive their sample ballots soon With Novembers General Elections fast approaching, voters in Los Angeles County will soon receive their guide on the candidates and issues. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk announced that its Sample Ballot Books began mailing out on Friday. Every registered voter in the county will receive one in the mail. The books provide information on how and where to vote, the candidates for key elections and ballot measure information. The registrar said that the information will be available online by Sunday, Oct. 6. For those who are voting by mail, those ballots will be sent out on Oct. 3. In addition to the presidential race between Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump, there are several ballot measures that will be key for Los Angeles County voters. 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. Ellwood City residents hold prayer vigil following multiple deadly shootings in their community The Ellwood City community came together in a show of support in the wake of two deadly shootings. Organizers put together a community vigil on Wednesday at the community plaza. Last week, a man wash shot and killed inside the Ellwood City Forge Plant. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man shot, killed inside Ellwood City Forge; suspect in custody About two weeks earlier, a shooting at Breakers Pub left a woman dead and several other hurt. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man accused of killing woman, injuring 4 other people while shooting at Lawrence County buildings Residents say this kind of violence simply does not happen in their community. Really it was just a whole community effort. Just coming together here to help promote healing for what has been facing Ellwood City, said vigil organizers Ashley Fisher. Along with songs and prayer, therapy dogs were also on hand to help those struggling. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Acrisure Stadium among 4 NFL venues designated as a Mission Ready Venue. Heres what that means Rachael DelTondos ex-fiance charged with allegedly beating girlfriend Hoda Kotb to step down as co-anchor of NBC News TODAY show VIDEO: 11 Investigates EXCLUSIVE: Police recruiting wars DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Elon Musks PAC Is Pumping Millions to Help Republicans Keep the House Last week, The Washington Post reported that Elon Musks political action committee is playing a key role in the effort to win Trump a second term. But the billionaires America PAC is also pouring hefty sums into downballot races. Business Insiders Bryan Metzger reports that the super PAC backed by the worlds richest man has spent more than $5 million across 15 competitive House races. In each of those contests, America PAC funds are in support of the Republican candidate and against the Democratic candidate. Heres where Musks PAC is spending most to help out Republican incumbents: $699,000 in Republican Representative Mike Lawlers race against Mondaire Jones in New Yorks 17th district $557,100 in Republican Representative Ken Calverts race against Will Rollins in Californias 41st district $472,700 in Republican Representative Michelle Steels race against Derek Tran in Californias 45th district. In each of the other 12 House races, spending is also in the six figures. And theres likely more on the way for Republican candidates for the House, as the PAC has reportedly set aside $10 million for voter turnout in House races around the country. That this money is going only to Republican candidates is unsurprisinggiven Musks now full-fledged embrace of the rightbut its perhaps worth noting. When Musk announced America PAC in July, he said, Its not meant to be sort of a hyperpartisan PAC. Setting aside America PACs support of the Trump campaign, what other word but hyperpartisan is there for its spending on these House races? Second gentleman Doug Emhoff slammed former President Trump on Thursday evening for not disavowing North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), calling his previous praise for the gubernatorial nominee shameful. In an interview with MSNBCs Jen Psaki scheduled to air Sunday, Emhoff was asked about past comments reportedly made by Robinson, including calling himself a Black Nazi. The fact that Donald Trump was right here in Wilmington, right where I am sitting, where he could not disavow Mark Robinson. He was trying to ignore it, but he did not disavow what Robinson said, Emhoff told Psaki, who previously served as White House press secretary. It is shameful, he added. CNN released a bombshell report earlier this month linking Robinson to an account that made many offensive statements on a porn sites message board. The lieutenant governor has denied the report and vowed to continue in the race against state Attorney General Josh Stein (D). The former president, during a speech Thursday, dodged on whether he would pull his endorsement from the gubernatorial nominee, telling reporters, I dont know the situation. When asked about what he makes of Robinsons previous comments and the state of the GOP, Emhoff said a strong Republican party is needed. It is pure cowardice. It is shameful. We need a strong Republican Party, Emhoff responded. We need people like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who come out and endorse Kamala Harris. You may not agree on every single idea and policy, but you agree on who we are as Americans. The second gentleman also ripped Trump for previously comparing Robinson to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He said that he is Martin Luther King Jr. on steroids. He has not disavowed any of that, so Donald Trump is supporting Mark Robinson, Emhoff said in the interview. He also condemned the former president last week for his remarks at an event raising awareness for combating antisemitism in which the GOP nominee suggested Jewish people will partly shoulder the blame if he loses in November. It is an outrage, and it is not just Jewish people who should be outraged, Emhoff said. The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign 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. Employees at all three Mississippi Market Co-op locations in St. Paul are looking to unionize. The workers have filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1189 announced on Thursday. Staff proclaimed its intention to unionize on Sept. 19, but the co-op declined to voluntarily recognize the union, leading workers to file for an election. Mississippi Market Co-op Mississippi Market Co-op/Facebook A date has not yet been set for the election, a UFCW representative tells Bring Me The News, because the two groups have not been able to reach "an agreement on who is eligible to vote." Representatives did not offer details on where the disagreement lies. The union says employees at all three stores are seeking unionization due to "unpredictable schedules, unrealistic attendance policies, and inconsistent management," as well as "unequal enforcement of [the co-op's] own standards." The union declined to share the exact number of employees that are part of the effort, but did say it represents "a majority" of eligible staff. Mississippi Market Co-op did not respond to a request for comment. Unionizing staff from Mississippi Market Co-op Courtesy of UFCW Local 1189 In Thursday's announcement, the UFCW said that workers "are asking their employer to remain neutral during the election process." While the NLRB has rules about what employers are able to do or say leading up to an election, there are certainly gray areas, as Minnesotans have seen in other recent unionization efforts. In a letter posted to social media, the unionizing workers told co-op members they "believe in the values and principles" of co-ops. Related: Union files federal unfair labor practice charge against Kim's after abrupt restaurant closure "We seek to embody those values in our work," the letter reads. "Ideas like a just and inclusive local economy and democratic control are more than abstract concepts to us. For this reason, and many others, we have come together to make our voices heard and join with our fellow workers in a union." The letter goes on to say that staff "have tried going through the channels available to us [to resolve issues] but have found no success." The unionizing staff encouraged co-op members to attend a board meeting on Sept. 24 and also organized a petition for co-op members to show their support. Related: MSP Airport concession workers vote to authorize strike The California State University Employees Union, which sent a petition to its membership last week demanding the resignation of Fresno State president Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, released statements on Thursday more clearly stating its issues, such as the trend of hiring more temporary workers on campus and poor communication. Fortunato Garcia, CSUEU Fresno State chapter president, said in an email to membership that the campus has not been hiring permanent staff more than 11% of CSUEU-represented employees are on temporary status, including eight of the 24 that have been hired this year. The union over the past seven years has also lost 70 staff positions; departments that had four to six employees are down to one or two, the universitys warehouse staff has been reduced from six to two. And while enrollment at the university has been fairly steady since 2017, staff size has been reduced, increasing workload for union employees. Under president Jimenez-Sandovals leadership, the administrations lack of regard for staff is clear, Garcia said. One recent example: As the university first proposed cutting library hours, and then changed course, president Jimenez-Sandoval met with (Associated Students Inc.) but failed to do any outreach with frontline staff who would be directly affected. Jimenez-Sandoval was not available for comment, but a university spokesperson said, The president has met, and is happy to continue to meet, with CSUEU representatives and any members of the campus community to address their concerns. We recognize the impact of the states budget on our campus, and we are fully committed to doing all we can to protect our staff and faculty. The Fresno State president, who was appointed in 2021, released a statement to campus last Friday, the day after the petition went public. I have been in touch with many union members who did not receive this message and were unaware that it was coming, Jimenez-Sandoval said. (Associated Students Inc.) leadership has confirmed that they were not consulted, were unaware of the petition and do not endorse it. Needless to say, I am surprised at this message, especially when Fresno State has a balanced budget and all funding is explained to the Academic Senate, Staff Assembly, and ASI on an annual basis. Garcia, the CSUEU chapter president, also pointed to the Save Mart Center and a $10.3 million principal and interest payment that is due in 2024-25. He also expressed a concern over potential staff layoffs. The university, which paid interest-only on the building for more than a decade, has not disclosed how it plans to make that payment. In 2023-24 and 2024-25, it will make payments totaling more than $16 million and will still owe more than $26 million on the multi-purpose arena at Shaw and Chestnut avenues. The debt on the building, which cost $103 million, will not be retired until 2031. Fresno State faces serious challenges, and we need a leader who respects and listens to all stakeholders, including staff, Garcia said in the email to union membership. The CSUEU represents employees in four units on campus - healthcare, operations, administrative and technical support. It also next week will launch a membership drive for student assistants in the 23-campus California State University system, who voted by an overwhelming margin to form the largest union of undergraduate employees in the country. The employees union released the petition along with the California Faculty Association on Thursday. Shortly after the CSUEU sent out the petition in an email to its members, the CFA retracted its support. CSU staff at Fresno State have significant issues with how the campus is being managed and how resources are used to promote students academic success, Garcia said, in a statement released to the media. Based on our members concerns, we initiated a petition directed at the campus president. Workers issues are real and they affect student success at Fresno State. Inadequate staff affects student learning. Mismanagement of university resources means less funding for vital programs. We call on president Jimenez-Sandoval to demonstrate that he recognizes the valuable services frontline staff provide our campus. For more than a century and a half, California has outlawed forced labor. But there has always been an exception for one group people in prison. The state Constitution specifically prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude except to punish crime. Its time to strike those words from the Constitution by voting "yes" on Proposition 6 on Nov. 5. No one, including state prisoners serving time for serious crimes, should be forced to work against their will. Involuntary servitude is a remnant of a post-slavery practice that is repugnant and has no place in the state, even in its prisons. Proposition 6 will remove the language that allows prisons and jails to force incarcerated people to work and punish them when they refuse. We wholeheartedly endorse it. Read more: L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2024 November election This is not about coddling prisoners. Their punishment for committing serious crimes is being confined for years and sometimes decades. All this measure does is allow prisoners some agency over how they will spend that time to take advantage of resources such as drug treatment and vocational education that might change their lives once they are out and most people in prison do get out. It's good for everyone when people leave prison better prepared than when they went in. Over the last few years, other states have recognized the injustice of using forced labor in prisons. Shamefully, California is among just 16 states that cling to this odious relic. Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), who was author of the legislation that put the measure on the ballot, says it would allow prisons and prisoners to prioritize rehabilitation over work. Currently, work is first, she notes. And that is a misguided policy. The California Reparations Task Force called for ending forced labor in state prisons as one of its many recommendations. Prisoners can take classes, get substance-use or mental-health treatment, visit with family and friends, or, in fact, pursue work they want to do. All this helps prisoners develop skills and personal insight more than forcing them to do work that may interfere with the classes and treatment they do want to pursue. Read more: Endorsement: Yes on Prop. 5. It's too hard to pass local bond measures Generally, individuals in prison initially are given jobs as kitchen workers, groundskeepers, launderers, mechanics, hospital workers and janitors. More specialized positions, such as machine work, sewing or license plate manufacturing, are considered more desirable, and people apply for them. Prison system regulations say that an incarcerated person's "expressed desires and needs" among other factors will be taken into account when assigning jobs. But former prisoners say even when they do have a chance to express their preferences, they are rarely honored. The more sought-after jobs can take years to get and sometimes require waiting on a list. Jobs are given out as they become available, say former prisoners. So people who may prefer to work in the kitchen may be forced to work in a machine shop while someone more interested in the machine shop is sent to toil in the kitchen. The goal of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is in its name. But formerly incarcerated people and prison reform advocates and researchers say that rehabilitation is hindered by forced labor. People who refused work have said they faced punishment including solitary confinement and losing visitation privileges. Read more: Endorsement: No on Proposition 36. California shouldn't revive the disastrous war on drugs Former prisoners advocating for this proposition recount stories of not being able to take the rehabilitative programs they needed because they interfered with the work assignments. In one case, a man serving time for a manslaughter conviction said he knew that alcohol was a factor in his criminal behavior and wanted to take an alcohol rehabilitation program but the hours of his assigned job in the kitchen conflicted with the program. It would take him several years to finally get into the programs he needed. Passing Proposition 6 is unlikely to result in unfilled jobs. As is it, of the 92,000 people in California prisons about 60,000 have jobs, according to prison officials. The state's legislative analyst says the number of prisoners with jobs is probably much lower. Proponents of the measure say that most prisoners want to work or learn new skills. And work is also a source of income, albeit a pittance in most cases. The pay scale ranges from as low as 16 cents an hour for a less skilled laborer, such as doing laundry or janitorial work, to as much as 74 cents an hour for clerking in an office or working in a warehouse. (And those are the pay ranges after the prison system doubled them earlier this year.) Some skilled jobs can pay significantly more, such as minimum wage. However this proposition has no effect on pay scales for prison work. The prison system has made some changes in the way work is handled, and thats promising. It has eliminated all unpaid work and will be transitioning as much as 75% of full-time work to half-time jobs which would free up time for individuals to attend the programs they want. If we want people to emerge from prison rehabilitated and if we care about public safety, we should that requires allowing them to access as many opportunities as possible to get an education, learn a skill and get treatment to best prepare them for a productive life after prison. Forcing them to work in the kitchen may help officials run their prisons but it doesnt help prisoners transform their lives, and that should be the primary concern for all of us. 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. Six candidates vying for three open seats on Arizona's utility-regulatory panel sparred on Sept. 26 over the state's long-term energy policy, with the three Democrats urging a more rapid embrace of solar power and their three Republican counterparts stressing the need for a broader mix including natural gas to ensure reliability. Democrats including Ylenia Aguilar attacked the current Republican-dominated Arizona Corporation Commission for allowing electricity bills to increase. One of the commission's most visible actions earlier this year was approving a rate hike for Arizona Public Service that boosted electric bills for the utility's residential customers by around 8% on average. "People are suffering and can't pay their bills," Aguilar said. But Republicans including Lea Marquez Peterson, the only commissioner seeking re-election in the Nov. 5 vote, said the commission sliced APS' funding request by more than $200 million from what was requested. She also stressed the need for high energy reliability, along with the investments needed to ensure it. Arizona can't afford temporary power disruptions that, she said, have plagued neighboring California. "If we lost power in Arizona in the summer, it would be a life-or-death issue," Peterson said. Fellow Republican Rene Lopez endorsed an "all-of-the-above" approach. The energy-mix debate largely focused on natural gas plants that can run well into the evening, after the Sun sets. Aguilar complained about air pollution around metro Phoenix and said the natural-gas plants aren't desirable near any neighborhoods. But Republican Rachel Walden noted that these generating stations can be turned on quickly, at any time of day or night. Energy policies and APS' rate hike dominated the debate, though the discussion also veered into water availability and the struggles facing many small water utilities in rural parts of Arizona that have been hiking rates yet, in many cases, have not made necessary infrastructure improvements. Democrat Joshua Polacheck said the dire conditions of many of these companies shows the need for "change, a different approach," at the Commission. Candidates from both political parties spoke out in favor of solar energy, but the enthusiasm from Republicans was more measured. "Solar doesn't work at night, and the wind doesn't always blow," Peterson said. That drew a rebuke from Democrat Jonathan Hill, who advocates for storing solar energy during low-demand periods of the day in industrial-scale battery parks for release later, as APS, Salt River Project and other utilities are doing. "Of course we know the Sun goes down at night," Hill remarked, sarcastically. The hour-long program sponsored by Arizona PBS and moderated by Ted Simons, host of "Arizona Horizon," was more cantakerous, with more interruptions, than a Sept. 2 debate involving the same six candidates and sponsored by the Arizona Clean Election Commission. Republicans hold a 4-1 edge currently on the comisssion, with Republicans Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson not up for re-election this November. Democrats urged voters to set a new course by electing candidates from their party. Democrat Joshua Polacheck implied that Republicans on the panel are too cozy with "rapacious corporations that are picking our pockets." Arizona residents, he said, "know their rates have been going up." Republican candidate Lopez said Arizonans pay the second-lowest rates in the nation, but Hill criticized that finding because it came from WalletHub, a personal finance app that, he said, "most people have never heard of." Walden said it's important to embrace a broad energy mix and to let market forces dictate prices, as that will lead to the "cheapest options." She also said it's important for voters to realize that utilities like APS, in their rate-application cases, are largely seeking to recoup costs on investments they already have made. And because rate cases come up only every few years on average, the increases seem larger compared to more, minor adjustments along the way, she explained. Both sides have focused on the need to keep rates affordable for consumers and businesses while ensuring that Arizona has the power-generation capacity to support population increases and economic growth. Much of that is coming from relatively new entities such as semiconductor-plant expansions and data centers, a power-intensive industry where metro Phoenix has emerged as a national leader. The Arizona PBS date was held on the same day that SRP and NextEra Energy Resources unveiled a new wind farm on private land halfway between Flagstaff and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. All of the clean energy from that project, enough to power around 40,000 homes, has been allocated to a new Google data center in Mesa. Candidates from both parties largely steered clear of presidential politics, though Walden in her closing statement blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for regulations and other policies that, she said, have worsened pricing pressures in the utility industry. Reach the writer at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Energy bills, solar power dominate Ariz. Corp. Comm. candidate debate El PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Police Department (EPPD) urgently needs your help with any information related to a shooting at Zaragoza on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. As KTSM previously reported, the shooting happened at 2000 N. Zaragoza, near the overpass at N. Zaragoza and Loop 375 South. El Paso Police investigating shooting at I-10, Loop 375 We urge anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has any informationno matter how smallto come forward. Your insights could be vital in helping law enforcement with the investigation and any assistance from the community is appreciated, said EPPD. To submit information about the shooting, you can contact the Crimes Against Persons Unit at (915) 212-4040 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-8477 to remain anonymous. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected in court on Friday to face charges accusing him of accepting lavish gifts and trips from Turkish officials looking to buy his influence. The 57-page indictment from federal prosecutors claimed that Adams was given free business-class tickets to France, Turkey and China, upgraded hotel suites and millions in foreign campaign contributions. Foreign donors are illegal in the U.S. so politicians arent influenced by overseas agendas. Investigators alleged Adams had straw donors, which are legal U.S. donors who accepted money from foreign nationals and gave it to the Adams campaign. Prosecutors accused Adams of using those donations to receive up to $10 million in the citys matching funds program for campaigns. Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, laid out five federal charges against Adams during a news conference on Thursday. The charges include bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Extraordinarily difficult: NY Gov. Hochul comments on Eric Adams indictment Adams allegedly returned the favor to Turkish officials when he asked to speed up the opening of a consulate building on the east side of Manhattan, even though the FDNY deemed it unsafe, prosecutors said. The FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy, Williams said. That it was his turn, to support Turkey. And as we allege, Adams delivered and pressured the fire department to let the building open. Can Gov. Hochul remove Mayor Adams from office? The indictment laid out text messages between an Adams staffer and another person identified as a promoter, likely someone trying to raise money for the Adams mayoral campaign. In an exchange from 2018, the fundraiser told the Adams staffer that fundraising in Turkey is not legal, but, I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record. 7 luxury travel benefits Eric Adams allegedly accepted: court documents The staffer asked, How will Adams declare that money here? The fundraiser responded with, He wont declare it. Or well make the donation through an American citizen in the U.S. A Turk. City Hall corruption is nothing new, says political analysts The fundraiser went on to say, Ill give him cash in Turkey, or Ill send it to an American. He will make a donation to you. Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, said the mayors fingerprints are not on these accusations. How much prison time could Eric Adams face if convicted? They dont have Eric Adams doing anything, Spiro said. They dont have Eric Adams taking in the money. There is no email or text has him doing anything or taking in the money. Adams responded to the lawsuit on Thursday, 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, he said during a news conference 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. He is expected at court at noon. 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. On Thursday (27 September) the Government of Uganda commissioned the Karuma Hydropower Project (KHP), a 600MW hydropower plant on the River Nile. KHP will be the countrys largest power generation facility to date. The $1.7bn project, to be constructed by Chinese hydropower company Sinohydro Corporation, will be fully financed by China. Chinas Exim Bank provided a $1.4bn loan while the Chinese Government covered the remaining costs. The facility will increase Ugandas generation capacity to just above 2GW, according to Reuters. In addition to the commission, a 400kV, 248km transmission line to distribute the electricity from the plant was also launched on Thursday. Another $180m transmission line is currently under construction to share the electricity from Uganda with South Sudan. Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong heralded the project as a "flagship project of China-Uganda cooperation", explaining that it will generate clean and affordable energy for the country. It will also support power developments in neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya to which Uganda exports electricity. Construction of the project began in 2013 but was delayed multiple times due to missed completion targets caused by logistical challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Ugandan Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa. KHP is the second hydropower plant in Uganda funded by China, with the 188MW Isimba hydropower dam financed in 2019. The facility is also located on the River Nile. According to Power Technologys parent company, GlobalData, hydropower generation constituted 91.27% of Ugandas electricity generation in 2023. "Uganda commissions $1.7bn hydro plant, countrys largest power generation facility" was originally created and published by Power Technology, 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. (NewsNation) New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces federal conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges alleging misdeeds spanning nearly a decade. A 57-page indictment accuses Adams of accepting bribes and offering favors in exchange for illegal foreign namely Turkish campaign contributions. Prosecutors say some of those funds poured in as straw donations that is, donations from one entity made to look like they came from someone else. The charging document alleges, in part, that Adams accepted luxury trips and discounted flights on Turkish Airlines and turned a blind eye to fire inspection requirements for a Turkish consulate building. On some occasions, prosecutors say, Adams threatened city employees jobs if they didnt follow his orders. Mayor Eric Adams corruption investigation, indictment: Timeline Adams said he has no plans to resign and told New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the investigation is ongoing. 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. Read the full indictment 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 NewsNation. Eric Adams wanted to see the world, to see it in style. But he wasnt a rich man, just a former cop and rising politician in a largely ceremonial job, Brooklyn Borough President. Luckily for him, there were a number of benefactors who federal prosecutors say were ready to help him travel in a manner benefitting the position he was angling for: mayor of New York City. According to a sprawling, 57-page indictment unsealed on Thursday, there was the chairman of a Turkish university; a promoter whose business includes organizing events to introduce Turkish corporations and businesspeople to politicians, celebrities, and others whose influence may benefit the corporations; and a senior official in the Turkish government, who, prosecutors say, later steered illegal contributions and improper gifts to Adams to gain influence with and, eventually, to obtain corrupt official action from Adams. Adams in the summer of 2017 went with his son and a staffer to Nice, Istanbul, Sri Lanka, and Beijing, flying business class the whole way. In October, he went again to Istanbul and Beijing, and then on to Nepal. Those tickets were, all told, worth $51,000. But he got it all for free. The relationship deepened from there, as Adams began to run for mayor in earnest. The Turks allegedly funneled money to his campaign through false entities, or straw donors. Accepting such donations is against the law and Adams allegedly received public matching funds based on these contributions. Adams allegedly returned the favor, in part by pressuring the fire department to allow the opening of a $300 million, 36-story glass tower to house the Turkish consulate, just off of First Avenue and 45th Street, without an inspection and in time for a high-profile visit by Turkeys president a diplomatic coup for a man whos functionally a dictator. Adams has vigorously denied all of the charges. And at least one Adams ally I spoke with in the immediate aftermath breathed a quarter-sigh of relief this person was expecting even more, and more serious, charges. Its obviously not great but this is weaker than I thought it would be, the source tells me. But that exhale assumes that the federal charges against Adams begin and end in this document. They almost certainly do not, with at least four more federal probes reportedly targeting his inner circle and FBI agents searching the mayors residence shortly before the indictment was announced. It also assumes that the Turks were the only government to allegedly turn Adams into an unregistered foreign agent. That, too, could prove to be a dangerous supposition especially given the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyns pursuit of Chinese influence in New York. In the last four years, that federal prosecutors office alone has charged a dozen separate criminal cases of covert Chinese government interference in U.S. politics, business, and civil society. An aide to New Yorks governor was indicted as a foreign agent on Sept. 3. An ex-corrections officer got 20 months for harassing an artist who lampooned Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Two more men were arrested for operating a secret Chinese police station out of the Manhattan headquarters of a group for expats from Fujian province. The examples spiral out from there. In July, a federal jury in Manhattan convicted Robert Menendez, a Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey, of taking bribes and acting as Egypts agent. In August, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged a hitman with trying to assassinate Donald Trump, allegedly on Irans orders. In September, prosecutors in Manhattan revealed an alleged Russian plot to funnel $10 million to MAGA influencers. This is a partial list. A snippet of a list, really. And all of these developments happened in just the last few months, just in and around this one metro area, where a wide array of foreign actors are looking to turn New York into something like Spy City. The 20 experts, officials, and activists I spoke to couldnt agree on whether these cases represent a major escalation in this covert activity, an increase in Washingtons willingness to combat it, or both. But they all agreed that such efforts are widespread and being directed by countries across the globe. And while it might be tempting to speculate about what this says about the various foreign policy strategies in foreign capitals, the clear takeaway is that malicious actors around the world see America as pliable, and influence as something that can be bought on the cheap. In other words, the most disturbing part about these covert foreign pressure campaigns is what it says about our politics, our society. About us. In 2022, federal prosecutors revealed that Yan Xiong, who had been jailed in his youth for taking part in the Tiananmen Square protests, was being targeted by the Chinese government while trying to run for Congress in New York. ONE OF THE MORE disturbing foreign influence cases to recently come to light begins 35 years ago, in Beijing. Yan Xiong was a student activist there, jailed for being part of the big Tiananmen Square protests. When he got out, he made his way to America, enlisted in the U.S. Army, and eventually served two tours as a chaplain in Iraq. By 2021, Xiong was running for Congress in lower Manhattan. He could tell that something was off. Hed show up to candidate forums, and then wouldnt be allowed to speak. Hed try to raise money, no dice. There was an old man who wouldnt stop taking pictures of Yans campaign. Xiong would go out to his driveway late at night and find a car there, headlights blazing. It was unnerving, but Xiong was used to looking over his shoulder. Nevertheless, Xiong was shocked when, in March of 2022, federal prosecutors revealed that he was being targeted by the Chinese government. The goal: to surveil and sabotage the chaplains long-shot campaign. Go deep and dig up something. Right? For example, past incidents of tax evasion if he used prostitutes in the past if he had a mistress, a member of Chinas Ministry of State Security allegedly told a private investigator here in the U.S. If the private investigator couldnt come up with or make up any dirt, the P.I. was encouraged to use other means to take Xiong out of the race: In the end, violence would be fine too. In the end, Yans campaign netted him only 750 votes not great, but 50 percent more than former Mayor Bill De Blasio received. The P.I. hired by the Chinese government never found any dirt on Yan, or physically attacked him. But the attempt to ratfuck Yans campaign continues to leave a wound. Yans getting ready to move for the fifth time in two years in part for safety, for psychology. In August, prosecutors unveiled another layer to the alleged plot against him. The old man whod been taking all those pictures? He was a former Tiananmen Square veteran, too one who was now accused of working as an unregistered agent for Beijing. To Yan, hes another victim of a regime thats all-too-willing to extend its reach here. Its a tragedy, thats my opinion, Xiong tells me. And Yans case isnt the only one in which there seem to be shadowy figures just out of frame. Shujun Wang, another longtime Chinese dissident, was convicted in late August of working as Beijings spy. The other day, I called his lawyer to ask about a member of the defense team, a man listed in court documents as a paralegal, who was, in fact, a Florida realtor, recently acquitted of rape. What was he doing there? Who was he? He is nobody, the lawyer answered. These influence campaigns by foreign governments, prosecutors allege, reach all the way down to the lowest levels of state and local government. Take Linda Sun, who started in 2012 as one of the more junior aides out of 200 or so in Governor Andrew Cuomos office. The former beauty pageant contestant and Barnard grad, who had come to New York from Nanjing when she was a kid, put in the work as a liaison to the borough of Queens and the states Asian American community. Shed help connect constituents to government services, make appearances at Lunar New Year events, write up proclamations, and liaise with foreign consulates. Over the years, she gained leverage. Cuomos communications shop described by one former colleague as 95 percent Caucasian relied on Sun to tell them how a state proclamation or press release might resonate in Asian communities. She did her job. She went home. Didnt cause any trouble, never caused any drama. But in hindsight, [there was] a lot of trust in that particular position. Because when you ask her opinion about how something plays, we were asking how it plays in, you know, [the Chinese American neighborhoods of] Sunset Park and Flushing. Not how it played in Beijing, that source tells me. By 2015, Sun had a willing ear in Kathy Hochul, the new Lieutenant Governor, who was iced out of Cuomos inner circle and eager to build up her own political constituency. Hochul made sure to attend Chinese American community celebrations and events to promote trade with Beijing. (A Hochul aide notes that she interfaced with all kinds of foreign officials, including a half-dozen such meetings just with the Canadians in 2016.) Sun made sure there were all sorts of meetings Hochul wouldnt take, wouldnt even know were offered. For example, prosecutors allege, when officials from the rival government of Taiwan tried to get together with Hochul in D.C. in mid-2016, Sun scheduled talks with Beijings representatives instead and then bragged to the Chinese consulate about what she had done. Hochul began to be quoted favorably and often by Beijings official state news agency. Sun started to receive gifts from Chinese officials, prosecutors say: tickets to Carnegie Hall, then a wire transfer for $47,895 for travel expenses. Linda Sun (shown here with her husband Christopher Hu after their arraignment in Brooklyn on Sept. 3), a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, was charged with acting as a foreign agent. As Suns responsibilities increased, her profile grew. She worked with legislators when Korean American nail salons were revealed to be serially underpaying their workers. She helped steer money to Asian American groups as threats to them rose during the pandemic. By 2021, Hochul was governor. Sun had a bigger title, deputy chief of staff, and was displaying sharper elbows. She felt very emboldened with making sure that there was a focus [on] protecting mainland Chinas agendas, State Assemblyman Ron Kim, who previously held Suns community liaison job, recalls. That was universally understood, because when myself and other[s] carried certain resolutions to celebrate U.S.-Taiwan relations, I got calls from the governors office letting me know that the Chinese consulate is very upset with you, and they would prefer if I dont do such resolutions again. (Sun has pleaded not guilty to charges she acted as an agent of the Chinese government, and her attorneys declined to comment for this story.) This might seem arcane and sort of small-ball. Who cares if some local pol doesnt issue a Taiwan proclamation? But its part of a strategy, says Bethany Allen, author of Beijing Rules, echoing the sentiments of several U.S. officials. If this is done extensively, consistently, quietly across many states, many state capitals, many state governments, local governments, Allen tells me, it can shape the debate. Have a strong downward pressure on the things that China wants to quiet. And its a strategy that Beijing is willing to pursue over the long haul to influence people at the lowest levels of local government, and let those folks rise over time. Back when she was a reporter, Allen broke the news of a suspected Chinese spy in California who cultivated relationships from the political to the romantic with city councilmen, small-town mayors, and at least one Congressman. The spys true motivations werent uncovered until that Congressman, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was on the verge of joining the House Intelligence Committee and gaining access to some of the nations better-protected national secrets. (Swalwell denied any romantic relationship, and a House ethics panel decided to take no action against him after a two-year investigation.) Linda Suns case never reached that kind of crisis point. But her value to Chinese officials was clear. The wire transfers were in the millions by 2021. The Chinese Consul General in New York a sharp, genial diplomat named Huang Ping sent Nanjing-style salted ducks to Suns parents, a half-dozen at a time. According to one source, she started showing up with a fresh tan and a new, high-end handbag to every community event. People were definitely talking about how she went from rags to riches overnight, Kim tells me. Her parents lived in a one-bedroom apartment She was trying to get a mortgage to buy a condo in Flushing, and she could barely get that. But all of a sudden, now shes living in a mansion. And in a sweet vacation home, too. Around the same time Sun and her husband bought a $3.6 million home in Manhasset, New York, they also, according to prosecutors, purchased an ocean-view condominium on the 47th floor of a high rise building in Honolulu, Hawaii, currently valued at approximately $2.1 million. SUN AND ADAMS ARE the first local officials to be charged with acting as agents of a foreign power. They probably wont be the last, or even the last in New York. (What you saw with the governor in New York, thats going to be scratching an itch that tickles in a lot of different places, Bill Evanina, who spent seven years as the federal governments top counterintelligence official, tells me.) The place has long attracted spies and clandestine power brokers, and not just because of the UN, or Wall Street, or all the corporate headquarters. Americas best city is, not coincidentally, also its most diverse; more than three million of the eight million-plus people living here are foreign-born. Those diasporas are often of intense interest to the countries from which they spring, especially if the countries in question are ruled by authoritarians. The revolutionary movements that took down the Czar, the Chinese Emperor, and the Shah were all incubated overseas. These diasporas also can wield outsized power in local politics, too. New Yorks election laws are so labyrinthine and complex, with elections held on off-years and on strange dates, that theyre practically designed to keep people from voting. (Ron Kim has 115,000 people living in his district in Queens, for example; fewer than 3,200 of them voted in his contested primary race, which is the only race that matters in a one-party town.) So if any one group gets behind a single candidate, or gins up turnout, or dumps in a lot of money, it can swing an election. Kim faced off against a primary opponent backed by a well-known local community leader who is openly supportive of the Chinese Communist Party. They each poured more than $600,000 into that tiny-turnout primary race. I felt this was a clear effort to get a political seat for a person who is loyal to their agenda, Kim says. This isnt about lawmaking in [the state capital of] Albany, but its about being the power broker of Flushing that will give them credibility and access. This is all happening in a place where the politics are theres no other way to put this corrupt as fuck. The five federal investigations reportedly swirling around Adams and his closest associates involve everyone from the police commissioner to the schools chancellor to his top fundraisers to a pair of deputy mayors. Adams immediate predecessor, de Blasio, dodged indictment for violating campaign finance laws, but not by much. After leaving office, former mayor Rudy Giuliani took money from a North Korean gangster and then worked with a man he admitted was likely a Russian spy. Long Islands George Santos was expelled from Congress after less than a year; he recently pleaded guilty to identity theft and wire fraud. One of Santos bigger Republican critics on the Island, Rep. Anthony DEsposito, was just exposed for giving Congressional jobs to his lover and his fiancees daughter. You get the idea: plenty of politicians with their hands out; elections practically designed to be swayed by small groups; those small groups susceptible to foreign infiltration and pressure, because theyve all got family back home. New York would be at the top of the list in terms of foreign governments, foreign regimes wanting to target, says Casey Michel, author of the newly published Foreign Agents. Especially New York City. I dont think its any surprise that the major investigation into a municipal authority as a target of potential foreign influence is Adams. So lets talk about the mayor. Adams has been ducking corruption allegations and playing diaspora politics for more than 15 years. According to the New York Times, a grand jury in July issued subpoenas related to Adams ties to six different countries: China, Qatar, South Korea, Israel, Uzbekistan, and, of course, Turkey. In his role as Brooklyn Borough President, Adams attended almost 80 events connected with Turkey, and at least 50 more celebrating China. Some of those events actually upset his Turkish government contacts, according to the indictment. In 2016, a Turkish official told Adams that a community center he used to visit was affiliated with a Turkish political movement that was hostile to Turkeys government If Adams wished to continue receiving support from the Turkish government, Adams could no longer associate with the community center. Adams acquiesced. Eric Adams talks to the press outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor, on Sept. 26, 2024, after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. Adams also met multiple times with Huang Ping, the Chinese Consul General who prosecutors later identified as Linda Suns handler. And the politicking seemingly continued overseas. Adams took 13 separate trips to Turkey and China, which is a lot of travel to those two specific nations, considering borough presidents dont really have foreign policy roles. Its totally appropriate, he said after the first of the trips to China, in 2014. Im not going to be a MetroCard borough president Im going to be a passport borough president. City Hall wont say what all of the trips were for. (They didnt respond to requests to comment for this story.) The alleged purpose of the Turkey trips, at least, is now less murky after the indictments release. When it comes to the others, heres what we can say for sure: We know that one of Adams China travel partners, his longtime Asian community liaison Winnie Greco, had her former campaign office and several of her homes raided by the FBI. We know that Greco and another Adams crony met separately in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, with the man later indicted for operating that secret Chinese police station out of a Fujianese expat society in Manhattan. We know that Adams and Greco appeared onstage at a gala for that charity the American Changle Association, named for a famed neighborhood in Fuzhou shortly before it was exposed as a secret police front by the New York Post. We know Adams was with Association bigwig Lu Jianwang days before Lu was arrested in the secret police affair. We know, thanks to local news outlet The City, that 121 workers at the New World Mall in Queens, the site of Grecos 2021 campaign office, made donations to Adams of precisely $249 each, one buck below the limit for eight-times public matching funds. Several donors said they were reimbursed in cash, or had no idea they had been listed as contributors at all. This has all the hallmarks of illegal straw donations, as Adams team surely knows. One Chinese billionaire who gave money to Adams (and hosted his 60th birthday party) recently pleaded guilty to such charges. MAYBE ALL OF THESE connections were on the up-and-up. Maybe Adams trips to China and extremely odd donations from his campaign office in Flushing were no more nefarious than the 70-plus flag-raising ceremonies for various countries hes attended in his two-and-a-half years as mayor. Maybe its an accident of scheduling that Huang Ping, the Chinese Consul General, asked him to blow off a banquet with the Taiwanese president and Adams wound up doing just that. Adams may have rubbed elbows with people who were later indicted as foreign agents in groups like the American Changle Association, where voters gather for an old-country meal or speak in their parents dialect. Theres hardly an elected official in New York who didnt make such a visit, or get his picture taken at some point with Huang. Of course they did. Huang was a gregarious, effective, charming diplomat. He may be accused of secretly handling alleged agents like Linda Sun, but chatting up local politicians was most definitely Huangs job. You dont have to be some kind of simp for Beijing to find this kind of criminalization of foreign influence a little hypocritical, given all the governments the U.S. helped overthrow in the past century. Youre not necessarily an abolish-the-police type if you think the feds have gone overboard in their hunt for Chinese agents. Were not China. Were supposedly a free country, and the government should take more care in prosecuting and, in turn, persecuting people, John Liu, a state senator from Queens, tells me. This is personal for him. While he was gearing up to run for mayor more than a decade ago, the FBI ran a sting on him and his donors, part of a straw-donor probe he says was oh-so-subtly named Operation Red Money. They did find some straw donors, and a top aide did go to jail. But Liu himself was only fined $26,000 proof, he says, that the whole investigation was overheated. Nor is it a one-off. Liu points to cases like Baimadajie Angwang, the cop accused of spying for China, only to have the charges dropped without explanation. By that time, the NYPD had fired him. You know what? It wouldnt be so bad if the government pursued these cases, made them as visible as they intentionally make them, and actually had a pretty good record of success, Liu says. It bothers me that theres no accountability of any kind. You know, the government does this, and it doesnt matter how many lives are ruined [or] the impact on the wider community. Theres no question theres been overreach, including horror stories of Chinese Americans interrogated by the FBI, seemingly for no reason at all. We should absolutely oppose any effort by any foreign government to undermine our American society, our way of life, our democracy, says Rep. Grace Meng, who hired Linda Sun when she was in the State Assembly and now represents a large part of Queens in the U.S. Congress. But theres a lot of fear right now in the Asian American community, she adds. Every day, young, professional Asian Americans are really scared that these harmful stereotypes are being fueled [by] questions that are asked only of us. As overzealous as some prosecutors may have been, though, and as ugly our recent turn toward anti-China and anti-immigrant politics, there are too many of these foreign influence cases, tied to so many different outside actors, to brush off. A former Republican Congressman is under indictment for covertly working for Venezuelas dictator. A major Trump fundraiser pleaded guilty to doing the same on behalf of the Chinese and Malaysian government officials, in a case so weird and sprawling, a member of the Fugees wound up with a foreign agent conviction as part of it. Things are so bad, the guy thats supposed to be leading the investigations into these cases in New York the head of the states FBI counterintelligence division was himself sentenced earlier this year to federal prison for doing the bidding of a sanctioned Russian oligarch. The MAGA crowd can whine all they want about the #resistance obsession with Russia, Russia, Russia. Folks on the political left can roll their eyes at what feels like a Trumpy obsession with Chinese influence, or another red scare. It takes a kind of willful blindness not to see a pattern here. Liu, for one, called on Adams to resign after prosecutors unveiled their indictment which showed just how deep the mayors ties to Turkey went. This isnt a Republican problem or a Democratic problem its completely bipartisan, Michel tells me. And as were now seeing, its not just one level of government these regimes are targeting. Its everyone. Prosecutors say Huang Ping, the Chinese Consul General in New York (shown here in 2023), was Linda Suns handler, and lavished her with gifts including Nanjing-style salted ducks, sent to her parents a half-dozen at a time. For half a century, the American government hardly bothered to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires influence-peddlers to disclose their overseas clients, at least. That changed after the 2016 election, when Trump recruited the O.G. of scummy foreign lobbying, Paul Manafort, to run his campaign and publicly begged for a dictators help to win. The Department of Justice went on to prosecute Manafort and so many others from the Russian troll farm to the white-shoe law firm Skadden, Arps for breaking that law. Brandon van Grack, who oversaw many of those prosecutions as head of the Justice Departments Foreign Agents Registration Act unit, says the apparent surge in cases were seeing, eight years later, is a result of that 2016 wake-up call. He credits greater resources and tools to identify and disrupt those influence operations than an increase in the operations themselves, adding, Foreign influence is not novel. Its not exactly dying down, either. A few years ago, you might have thought that prosecuting folks like Manafort would at least serve as a warning shot. The sheer range of regimes trying to influence the 2024 election paints a different picture, and I dont just mean the fact that Manafort is a free man and doing Fox News hits from the Republican convention. I would say that a couple things are true in this specific situation. Yes, there are more investigations, because there are allowed to be. And I think our adversaries are more brazen than they have ever been, Evanina, the former counterintelligence chief, tells me. Theres a good argument that the number of prosecutions isnt even the right metric to gauge foreign influence. Registering as an overseas lobbyist dodging a FARA charge thats the easy part. More than 1,000 foreign principals have done so since 2016, spending more than $5.5 billion to whisper in lawmakers ears. At least 90 former members of Congress have registered since 2000 to push another governments agenda. Scores of U.S. generals and admirals have taken jobs with foreign governments in the last decade, with Saudi Arabia alone hiring 15 retired flag officers. Biden talked in 2020 about banning former officials from lobbying for foreign powers. It was just talk. The Supreme Court in recent years has radically raised the bar on bribery cases, and functionally removed any restrictions on campaign spending. Thats allowed Americans closely aligned with foreign governments to make enormous investments in shaping U.S. policy. The best known of these are the lobbyists pushing the agenda of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who gave over a million dollars to the now-convicted Sen. Menendez, even after he was indicted, and spent millions more on successful primary campaigns to knock out two of Israels few critics in Congress. None of this violates any laws. But maybe thats beside the point. The real foreign influence scandal, Michel tells me, is how much of it is perfectly legal. If youre mad at outside actors for exploiting Americas system, dont be. The United States is still the worlds biggest power; of course every other nation is going to try to pull us in their direction. Try directing your anger a little closer to home. All of these politicians on the take, we voted for them. The bullshit China or Iran pumps out on TikTok? Its downright factual compared to the nonsense we Americans push one another. And if you think a guy like Eric Adams is an outlier with his, shall we say, open-minded approach to campaign finance and outside influences, allow me to introduce you to the Republican nominee for president and his inner circle. The Congress we elected has bottled up nearly every attempt to close these foreign-funding loopholes. The campaigns we supported went along with the Supreme Courts decision to make elections a feeding frenzy. This is a choice. Collectively, we made it. IN THE HOURS AFTER Linda Sun and her husband were charged as Chinese agents on Sept. 3, Gov. Hochul urged the U.S. government to expel Suns alleged handler, Consul General Huang Ping, and a State Department spokesperson claimed that Huang had rotated out of the position. Yet on the night of Sept. 5, at Manhattans storied Plaza Hotel, Huang Ping appeared onstage at the China Institutes $2,500-per-ticket Blue Cloud gala, looking rather dapper in a well-tailored tuxedo. Pictures were posted to the consulates website two days later. Consul General Huang Ping is performing his duties as normal, read a statement sent out to reporters. A few hours after he was indicted, Huangs longtime interlocutor Eric Adams promised to do much the same. My attorneys will take care of the case, so I can take care of this city, he said. My day to day will not change. 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. Eric Adams Has Been Indicted, But His Crappy Subway Robot Will Be "Redeployed" In the wake of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' surprise corruption indictment, the politician's pet tech projects may be in limbo but one, apparently, will live on. In an email to Futurism following news of Adams' federal indictment, Stacy D. Stephens, the executive vice president and chief client officer for the robotics company Knightscope, suggested that plans to bring back the New York Police Department's autonomous subway robot are still in motion. Introduced in pilot mode last September to the Times Square subway station and taken out of commission early this year, Knightscope's K5 robot had apparently been collecting dust in an empty storefront for months by the time the mayor commented on its conspicuous absence during a press conference earlier this month. "We have it in a new assignment," the mayor said in the early September press conference, per amNewYork. "Once it goes through his pilot, were going to respond to that, but he has a new assignment right now." Though the mayor didn't elaborate on what "assignment" was and his spokesperson later tried to walk back the comments, Stephens told Futurism today that its "redeployment" is indeed forthcoming. "As the Mayors office previously stated," the Knightscope spox told us, "they are working to redeploy the K5 at a [to-be-determined] location as another time-limited pilot." As amNY notes, the six-month contract the NYPD took out with Knightscope for K5 seems to have expired earlier this year. With little public knowledge about what the plan for the $12,500 robot, last seen sitting sadly inside a Times Square subway storefront in February, it's unclear whether that contract has been renewed. "Unfortunately," the spokesperson told us when we asked about the contract, "I am unable to share any additional information while the redeployment location is being decided." It's also a little hazy why officials would want to keep the robot in circulation. It's unable to make arrests or effectively communicate with members of the public, and requires several police officers to guard it. Besides reaching out to Knightscope, Futurism also contacted the city's Office of Technology and Innovation which Adams created at the beginning of his term to spearhead projects like this one, along with other harebrained uses of taxpayer funds by phone and email to ask if anyone there knew what was up with K5. Given everything that's gone in and around the mayor's office over the past 24 hours, however, we can forgive them for being a bit preoccupied. More on robots: Ukraine Is Getting Ready to Unleash a Swarm of Robot Dogs What the Eric Adams indictment means for New York City's leadership and future What the Eric Adams indictment means for New York City's leadership and future This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here. Happy Friday! Fall is here, and if you're looking to get into the spirit we have the best fall-themed foods at Trader Joe's right now . In today's big story, the walls are closing in on New York City Mayor Eric Adams after a federal indictment . What's on deck: But first, the charges are in. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. The big story United States v. Eric Adams Seth Wenig/AP Photo; Alyssa Powell/BI He campaigned on the idea that he'd clean up crime, but prosecutors allege he was the one breaking the law. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five criminal counts in a corruption probe accusing him of bribery and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals. He is scheduled to be arraigned in a Manhattan federal court today . It marks the first time a sitting NYC mayor has been indicted. Prosecutors accused Adams, a Democrat and retired police captain, of accepting more than $100,000 worth of luxury international travel from wealthy businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official starting after he became Brooklyn Borough President in 2014. The goal, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, was to gain influence over Adams so foreign nationals could eventually " cash in on their corrupt relationships ." In one case, according to the indictment, that meant a Turkish Airlines manager offering to charge Adams $50 for two business-class seats worth $15,000 . (An Adams staffer told the manager to "quote a proper price," adding "let it be somewhat real." Adams ended up paying $1,100 for each ticket.) Messages obtained by prosecutors also show Adams promising his staffer he "always" deleted texts following a discussion of alleged Turkish bribes. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images So what were foreign nationals allegedly looking to cash these favors in for? A Manhattan skyscraper that houses Turkey's consulate, among other things, prosecutors say. Adams pressured the FDNY to approve the opening of the building without a fire inspection so it would be available in time for a high-profile visit by Turkey's president, according to the indictment. If convicted, Adams could face 45 years behind bars. But he isn't backing down. Despite calls from other elected officials to step down, the mayor has maintained his innocence. He's also hired high-powered lawyer Alex Spiro , Elon Musk's go-to attorney. But the same can't be said for key people in Adams' office who resigned before his indictment , including the public school chancellor and police commissioner. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, didn't comment on the matter Thursday morning beyond saying she needed time to review the indictment. If Adams is removed from office or steps down, Jumaane Williams, the city's public advocate, would replace him until a special election is held. News brief Top headlines 3 things in markets Ali Jarekji/Reuters Oil's no good, very bad day. Oil markets dropped Thursday on a report that Saudi Arabia seemed to be saying uncle on its fight against waning demand . The kingdom will no longer seek a $100 per barrel price and is ready to increase oil output, sources told the Financial Times. Not everyone's buying the China stock surge. A new stimulus package has sent Chinese stocks soaring, but many strategists and economists think the country needs even more help before it's a sure bet for investors . Not everyone is playing it safe, though. Hedge fund billionaire David Tepper said he's loading up on Chinese stocks . AI needs lots of energy. That's good news for these stocks. Three market experts shared their picks for companies that can maximize AI energy efficiency. Some produce more specialized chips while others make sure data centers stay cool. Here are the eight stocks set to win the AI energy trade . 3 things in tech A blurred image of Sam Altman's profile. 3 things in business Deliormanli/Getty, Olivier Verriest/Getty, Andrei Akushevich/Getty, Tyler Le/BI The housing market takes a chill pill. Real estate is in the midst of its biggest slowdown since before the pandemic , with sales dropping and homes sitting for longer on the market. In the meantime, there's good news for those who already own homes: Lower rates mean it's prime time to refinance . Is MrBeast the final boss of "founder mode"? A business handbook penned by the embattled YouTube star set the internet abuzz when it leaked this week. In the doc, the creator emphasizes his desire for employees who are "obsessive" about work and thirsty for success so it's strangely fitting that his next venture is apparently promoting access to clean water . It could be the end of an era for publishers on Snapchat. Publishers worry the app's upcoming redesign, which merges Stories and Spotlight into a TikTok-like feed, will deprioritize their content. Snapchat is the latest company to deemphasize traditional media outlets in favor of creators, a move that could hinder publishers' ad revenue and visibility . In other news What's happening today Higher tariffs on multiple Chinese goods take effect, including 100% on electric vehicles, 50% on solar cells, and 25% on steel, aluminum, EV batteries, and key minerals. New York Film Festival begins. The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Jack Sommers, deputy editor, in London. Nathan Rennolds, editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Read the original article on Business Insider New York City Mayor Eric Adams, indicted on federal fraud, bribery and campaign finance charges, says the Justice Department's case against him is "entirely false, based on lies" and comes in response to his criticism of the White House's botched handling of a crisis at the southern border. While the indictment contains serious allegations that he may have stolen $10 million from taxpayers' pockets, the investigation may have begun as political retaliation, according to David Gelman, a New Jersey-based defense attorney who has been following the case. "Reading between the tea leaves in this indictment, it doesn't look like they really started up their investigation until 2021, 2022, when they raided the house of Eric Adams' fundraiser," he told Fox News Digital. In November 2023, the FBI raided Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for the mayor's 2021 campaign. Feds Seize Eric Adams' Phone After Nyc Mayor's Indictment New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference on Sept. 26, 2024. He has been indicted on federal charges after an investigation into alleged campaign corruption. "Now, what happened in 2021 and 2022? That's the time when Eric Adams criticized the Biden administration," Gelman added. The raid on Suggs happened while Adams was visiting Washington, D.C., to raise concerns about the migrant crisis. He cut his trip short. Read On The Fox News App Adams has been a vocal critic of the White House's border policy since migrants began arriving in New York in droves, overwhelming the city's shelter system and allegedly fueling a "wave of migrant crime" involving phone snatchings and other theft. But investigators on Thursday said politics played no role in building their case. New York City Mayor Eric Adams Indicted "We are not focused on the right or the left," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York said during a news briefing on Thursday. "We are focused on right and wrong. That is our duty, and we will fulfill it." A spokesperson for his office declined to comment further in response to Adams' claims of political persecution. Regardless of the motive, Gelman said Adams faces serious charges for allegedly ripping off taxpayers, taking bribes and influence peddling. Adams Office Lashes Out At Fbi Employee Who Might Have Improperly Leaked Details Of Corruption Probe WATCH: NYC Mayor Adams calls pending federal charges 'entirely false' He also said he was shocked at how blatant the accusations are against the former NYPD captain, if they are true. So much so that Williams during his remarks ripped the mayor's alleged attempts at covering his tracks as "a clumsy cover-up." "I honestly am surprised with Adams how sloppy he was and his underlings were," Gelman said. "If you're anybody who knows anything regarding police work and anything in the government, you would think that you would have a much better grasp on how to hide and conceal things. But I guess not." U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams speaks to reporters. During a news briefing Thursday, he denied that the federal investigation into New York Mayor Eric Adams was politically motivated. Anthony Capozzolo, a former federal prosecutor who handled public corruption cases in the neighboring Eastern District of New York, said the "shocking" allegations against Adams are a throwback to the 1800s-era corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. "Not many cases involving corruption and illicit benefits to insiders also involve risk to the public safety, but this case carries with it the fact that Adams appears to be willing to push aside safety concerns about the Turkish diplomatic building to get it opened for use in an expedited manner at the request of Turkish government officials," he said. "This was a high-rise building for prosecutors this prevents the defense from trying to deprecate the seriousness of the offense, another common tactic by defense attorneys in corruption cases." Adams has painted the investigation as a smear campaign designed to undermine his credibility and make him look guilty for months before charges were filed. He has condemned leaks from the traditionally tight-lipped SDNY office and questioned the validity of the raids on numerous members of his inner circle. "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," he said. "Enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit." READ The Indictment: The FBI seized his cellphone Thursday morning after returning to Gracie Mansion, the city's mayoral residence, but Adams has not yet been taken into custody. 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. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and attorney Alex Spiro speak to the press outside of Gracie Mansion in New York City on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Adams faces five federal charges, including alleged conspiracy, wire fraud, two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery. According to the indictment, federal investigators were looking into whether Adams' 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns conspired with Turkish officials, business leaders and other entities to illegally raise funds. Court documents allege wrongdoing as far back as 2016. Original article source: Eric Adams indictment is political retaliation over Biden border criticism, criminal defense attorney claims New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to federal charges he accepted illegal foreign campaign donations and lavish trips in exchange for political favors. Adams appeared at a Manhattan federal courthouse Friday morning to enter not guilty pleas on five counts, including wire fraud, bribery and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. He gave a thumbs-up to reporters when entering the building. Prosecutors said Friday that Adams faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge wire fraud, according to The Associated Press. Federal prosecutors allege that, beginning in 2015 as Brooklyns borough president and later as mayor, Adams accepted luxurious trips and travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and at least one government official in exchange for his influence. He did not disclose those benefits in annual financial disclosures and at times created or instructed others to create fake paper trails, they said. The Turkish official eventually sought repayment for the benefits provided to Adams, asking the mayor to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consular building without a proper fire inspection. Prosecutors say Adams obliged and pressured the citys fire department to allow the building to open, despite the fact it would have failed a safety inspection at the time. Adams is further accused of accepting straw donations to his 2021 mayoral campaign and falsely certifying them as in compliance with campaign finance regulations. Because of the citys donation matching program, Adamss campaign allegedly illegally received more than $10 million in public funds. Prosecutors say that the scheme continued after Adams was inaugurated as mayor, contending he began planning to solicit additional illegal contributions and granting requests from 2021 supporters who made such donations ahead of his next election. At a press conference Thursday, surrounded by supporters, Adams said he expected the indictment and vowed to fight back. He has pushed back against a flood of calls for his resignation. 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, 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. The indictment followed a series of investigations into Adamss associates, resulting in FBI raids and resignations from top officials including the citys police commissioner, health commissioner, schools chancellor and chief legal adviser. Federal agents entered the mayors official residence, Gracie Mansion, early Thursday and seized his phone, hours prior to the indictments unsealing. Adams attorney Alex Spiro told The Associated Press their presence was an effort to create a spectacle (again). At a press conference Thursday unveiling the indictment, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said Adamss alleged conduct violated public trust. These are bright red lines, and we alleged that the mayor crossed them again and again, for years, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. Adamss next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 2 before U.S. District Judge Dale Ho, who was nominated by President Biden last 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 The Hill. As Eric Adams prepares to appear in court, the number of Democrats calling for his resignation keeps growing Eric Adams is the first of New York City's mayors to be charged while in office. AP/Seth Wenig New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in court over bribery and wire fraud charges. Adams faces five criminal counts related to a federal corruption investigation. Calls for Adams' resignation are growing with some arguing his legal battles hinder city governance. As New York City Mayor Eric Adams prepares for court, the number of Democrats calling for his resignation is growing. Adams was accused of soliciting bribes from wealthy international business associates, including at least one Turkish government official who sought "to gain influence over him" for nearly a decade, according to official documents that were unsealed on Thursday. He was also accused of seeking illegal campaign contributions, wire fraud, and bribery, the documents said. Adams has denied wrongdoing, telling The New York Times on Wednesday that any charges against him are "entirely false." He is set to appear in court before Judge Katharine Parker in Manhattan at 12 pm ET. Several prominent officials and lawmakers have urged Adams to resign. Writing on X before news of the indictment was unsealed, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she couldn't see how Mayor Adams could continue governing New York City and should resign. "The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function," she said. "Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller who is second in line to succeed Adams, said in a statement that the mayor deserved due process and the presumption of innocence. "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 added. "The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands," he added. Democratic congressional candidates John Avlon and Laura Gillen have also called for the mayor's resignation. "I believe in putting principle over partisan politics," Avlon wrote on X. "A Democratic crook is as bad as a Republican crook. While everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence before being judged by a jury, Mayor Adams should step aside for the good of all New Yorkers & there should be a special election." Meanwhile, at least four members of the New York City Council have encouraged Adams to step back, the outlet said. "New Yorkers have had enough of politicians abusing their positions. We deserve better, which is why Mayor Adams should step down," Sandy Nurse wrote on X. New York state Sen. John C. Liu added that New York residents need a mayor who can devote full time and energy to getting the city on the right track. Adams remains in office as of Friday's writing. As Business Insider previously reported, Gov. Kathy Hochul could remove the mayor if he is charged with a crime. Nonetheless, the likelihood of this scenario is unclear since Hochul and Adams are considered close allies, Gothamist , a New York City-based outlet, reported. Hochul issued a statement on Thursday asking Adams to "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," she said. Read the original article on Business Insider Eric Adams' lawyer says he'll ask a judge to dismiss the mayor's bribery indictment as soon as next week Eric Adams' lawyer says he'll ask a judge to dismiss the mayor's bribery indictment as soon as next week Eric Adams appeared in federal court Friday for his criminal arraignment. The New York City mayor entered a not-guilty plea to the bribery and fraud indictment against him. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he'll file a motion to dismiss the case on Wednesday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty to his sprawling criminal bribery indictment after sitting through a lengthy reading of the charges during his arraignment in a federal courtroom in Manhattan. "I am not guilty, your honor," Adams told the judge. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he would move quickly to ask a judge to toss the case. He said in court he plans to file a motion to dismiss the 57-page indictment a step that normally takes months on Wednesday. "We expect these charges to be dismissed," Spiro told journalists outside the courthouse following the arraignment hearing, accusing prosecutors of using a "shaky theory" for the case. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have accused Adams of participating in a yearslong scheme in which he accepted bribes, including luxury travel perks, from the Turkish government. In exchange, prosecutors said Adams pushed city officials to approve plans for the Turkish House, a 36-story tower near the United Nations that houses Turkey's consulate and other diplomatic functions. Adams has denied wrongdoing. Wearing a dark navy suit, a patterned maroon tie, and a somber expression on his face, he entered his plea before US Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker shortly after noon. Adams was not required to post bail and is allowed to stay out of jail on the condition that he has no contact with the people named in the indictment. Prosecutor Celia Cohen said in court that she would work with Spiro to reach an agreement that would limit the mayor's contact with City Hall staff and family members. Adams would not have contact with certain staffers "concerning the facts and circumstances in the indictment" or beyond "routine business," Parker told the lawyers. The hearing took place in a frigid courtroom on the 26th floor of the courthouse packed with journalists. It was the same room where Sean "Diddy" Combs to whom Adams gave a "key to the city" in September 2023 was arraigned on his own set of criminal charges last week. Adams is being represented in his criminal case by Spiro, Elon Musk's go-to lawyer, who also recently won an acquittal for Alec Baldwin in a criminal case over the "Rust" movie set shooting. Following Friday's arraignment hearing, Adams and Spiro stood outside the courthouse and spoke to members of the press. Adams gave a thumbs-up in the direction of a man who yelled "I love you!" The man appeared to be hosting a comedy show and had been asking journalists whether they were polyamorous in the moments before the mayor appeared outside. Spiro compared the charges against Adams to a criminal corruption indictment against Brian Benjamin, who had served as the lieutenant governor of New York state. A district court judge dismissed the charges in 2022 before they went to trial, ruling that prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to prove their case. But an appeals court reinstated the charges earlier this year. Spiro also put the blame on one of Adams' staffers, who is featured extensively throughout the 57-page indictment. He said the staffer "lied" and acted independently while currying favors from the Turkish government. "There are no emails, text messages, or any evidence whatsoever that the mayor had anything to do with these donations," Spiro said. Since the indictment, the number of Democrats calling for Adams' resignation has grown. The mayor's trial is set to be overseen by US District Judge Dale Ho, a former top election lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union who was nominated by President Joe Biden. Ho took the bench a year ago, and a trial for Adams would be his first high-profile case as a judge. This story was updated with details from the arraignment and press conference and to correct the spelling of US Magistrate Katharine Parker's first name. Read the original article on Business Insider The past few years might be described as the best of times for big city Democratic mayors but the worst of times for many of the big cities theyre tasked with actually running. Case in point: New York, Americas largest city, where Mayor Eric Adams now finds himself embroiled in the type of unsavoury corruption allegations more typical of the semi-democratic autocrats accused of possibly corrupting him. The case against Adams is dirty and damning. Yesterday, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams revealed the contents of a Federal indictment that accuses Adams of everything from enjoying nearly $125,000 in ill-supplied luxuries to illegally obtaining some $10 million in campaign financing. The Adams saga features a cast of supporting characters as random as they are disreputable: From disgraced boxer Mike Tyson, with whom Adams once associated despite the formers criminal convictions, to Turkeys controversial leader Tayyip Erdogan whom Adams allegedly tried to appease by pressuring city fire officials to approve the opening of a new Turkish consulate despite its inadequate safety measures. Adams has vowed to defend his good name and remain in office insisting hes under attack for refusing to play ball with the Biden Administrations efforts to flood New York with illegal migrants. Theres truth behind this: More than 210,000 migrants have arrived since 2022, costing the city nearly $5 billion a figure Adams himself believes could double by 2025. This issue will destroy New York, said Adams in August, in one of his many barbs directed at the White House, before adding that New York was getting no support [from Washington for] this national crisis. Last evening Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, himself no stranger to federal indictments, echoed Adams claims of federal lawfare, saying at a Trump Tower press conference, 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 I said you know what, hell be indicted within the year. Despite the unsolicited Trump support, this weeks indictment follows months of similar corruption charges against nearly a dozen in Adams Administration. Which means that even if the Mayor somehow emerges with his job intact, his City Hall weakened and understaffed is likely compromised beyond repair. New York may be the highest-profile progressive-led city disgraced by lawless leadership, but its certainly not alone. Indeed, nearly every major American city is now being run from the left, if not far-left. Most of these mayors, when elected, were heralded as overdue or transformative. Almost all of these mayors have also succumbed to either malfeasance, mismanagement, or both often with sizable body counts attached. In Philadelphia, for instance, recently released campaign finance reports reveal that new Mayor Cherelle L. Parker paid more than $132,000 to a consulting firm whose founder was convicted of stealing campaign funds. The amount is modest, compared to Adams alleged numbers, but suggests the same type of worrisome inner circle that now sees Adams fighting to keep his job. Like New York, Philadelphia is also under siege from a wave of resource-draining undesirables in this case, encampments of zombie-like addicts hooked on tranq, a powerful animal tranquiliser mixed with fentanyl. Crime, more than anything, has defined big-city America and its city halls since the arrival of the pandemic. In Los Angeles, for instance, shoplifting has surged 133 per cent since the end of 2020, while crimes on the citys subway system were up 65 per cent for the first three months of this year. Despite a decline in violent crime since 2023, Mayor Karen Basss own residence was burglarised in late April. In New York itself, some violent crime levels may have declined this year, but the majority of Adams tenure has been marked by a surge in serious crimes, including record number of assaults even as he tried to claim his war on crime is working. And this was before the arrival of the thousands of pro-Palestine protesters who have taken over much of the city since Hamas attack on Israel nearly a year ago. Many, of course, have been arrested, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged almost none of them with an actual crime. And so many of them have returned to the streets including a particularly rowdy crowd last evening, making the most of both Adams sudden lame-duck status and the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to town. Braggs laissez-faire tactics actually stand in contrast with Mayor Adams more heavy-handed approach to law-and-order, reflecting his past life as a captain in the NYPD. Should Adams resign, however, his interim replacement New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams could truly turn City Hall left. Williams, an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez associate and #blacklivesmatter activist, has often clashed with Adams over efforts at police reform. Like at the White House where an improbable lefty upstart ousted a centrist, establishment stalwart the prospect of the relatively moderate Adams being replaced with a radical like Williams is leaving some City Hall watchers rooting for Adams survival, much like many former liberals are now rooting for Trump. True, Kamala Harris has never faced arrest or indictment like Eric Adams. But she like Jumaane Williams represents a great unknown at a moment where Americans are crying out for stability. 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. Thousands in Ethiopia's capital city defied a downpour to celebrate Meskel, the first big festival of the religious year. It marks the discovery of the cross Jesus was crucified on, according to Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition. On Thursday, believers gathered in a large public plaza in Addis Ababa for rituals, speeches and even a spot of theatre. But the highlight was the lighting of a bonfire in the centre of the square. There was heavy security presence at this year's celebration - personnel numbers have been beefed up at many major events in Ethiopia amid sporadic fighting in regions such as Amhara and Oromia. [Amensisa Negera / BBC] [Amensisa Negera / BBC] Traditional instruments play a significant role in Meskel proceedings. Heavy rain fell at one point during the evening, prompting musicians playing the 10-stringed begena to cover their instruments. [Michele Spatari / AFP] [ Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] [Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] Vocalists also put on a show. This all-female choir adorned themselves with mock versions of adey abeba, an indigenous flower that symbolises the Ethiopian New Year, which was marked earlier this month. [Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] [Amanuel Sileshi/ AFP] As is customary, a huge pyre was lit at the centre of the square. The bonfire signifies the efforts made by St Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, to find Jesus' cross while in Jerusalem in the 4th Century. [Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] Sunday school students portrayed this scene for Thursday's crowds, with one young woman donning a huge crown and red cape: [Amensisa Negera / BBC] [Michele Spatari / AFP] During the celebration Abune Mathias, the patriarch of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church, called on Ethiopians to unite and play a part in bringing peace to the country. [Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] One wreath-wearing attendee had a similar message. [ Amanuel Sileshi / AFP] [Tiksa Negeri / Reuters] Correction 30 September: The reference to the person who went to Jerusalem to find the cross has been updated to make it clear it was 4th Century St Helena, and not medieval Ethiopian Empress Eleni. More BBC stories from Ethiopia: [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 (Bloomberg) -- The group spearheading the UKs shift to a faster trading regime is preparing for the possibility that the country makes the switch in advance of the European Union, a move that could create a litany of headaches for financial professionals across the region. Most Read from Bloomberg The UK will follow the US to the one-day settlement cycle known as T+1 in the final quarter of 2027, according to Andrew Douglas, chair of the government-appointed team advising on the transition. The group set out its vision for how firms should prepare in a report published Friday, which laid out two scenarios: One in which the UK and the EU make the switch at the same time, and another in which the UK moves alone. The ideal transition would include coordination between the markets, the report said. Its clear that one solution that suits the UK and our European colleagues is a much better solution than us going down different paths, Douglas said in an interview. The ball is in their court to work out if its feasible. How the New T+1 Rule Settles US Stocks in a Day: QuickTake The proposed time frame leaves the door open for a coordinated switch, since officials in Brussels have previously signaled that a move by the end of 2027 is possible for the bloc. The report said that recent developments in the EU suggest an emerging appetite for the two to align, and institutions from the bloc have been involved in the UKs planning process. Yet dates in 2028 have also been mooted for the EU shift, an operation thats likely to be complicated and costly thanks to its fragmented capital markets. While I do think the UK move to T+1 is attainable by 2027, it will be quite ambitious for the EU to align at the same time, Kaisha Schnoll, an assistant vice president covering trade settlements at STP Investment Services, said. The EU markets are much more complex with specific market requirements, taxes, securities that trade across multiple exchanges. Failure to coordinate could create all manner of funding mismatches and misaligned processes across two closely linked jurisdictions, likely driving up trading frictions and operational costs. Wary of the risks, industry groups such as the Association for Financial Markets in Europe have been pushing hard for the UK and EU to accelerate their settlement cycles at the same time. Story continues Either the UK or EU going it alone before the other is ready is what we dont want to see, Jim Goldie, EMEA head of capital markets, ETFs and indexed strategies at Invesco, said before the report was released. The most important thing is to do it in a harmonized fashion. I hope as an industry, Europe will be ready to migrate by 2027. It feels like three years is enough time. Accelerating settlement is likely to involve both changing operational processes and upgrading technology, as well as making possible adjustments to staffing. But it would realign European markets with the worlds largest, after the US made the leap to T+1 in May alongside Canada and Mexico. A mammoth industry effort helped ensure that was a smooth transition. A consultation published earlier this year by the European Securities and Markets Authority, the EU market regulator, showed many asset managers, banks and trade groups in the bloc are concerned that the move to settle trades on a T+1 basis will prove disruptive. The biggest challenge for Europe as a continent moving to T+1 successfully is disunity between the EU, UK, and Switzerland, said Jesus Benito, head of domestic custody and trade repositories operations at SIX. It will be essential regulators, market participants, and market infrastructure providers collaborate effectively to traverse the fragmented market environment. Alongside Fridays report, which emphasized the importance of automating processes ahead of the switch, the UK group launched a consultation on its proposals with a view to making final recommendations in January. That publication will provide implementation dates for firms, with certain preparations needing to be completed by the end of 2025 at the latest. If the UK and EU transitions dont align, the group recommends some instruments such as exchange-traded products and Eurobonds remain on a slower settlement cycle initially. If the EU and Switzerland decides that our time framework works for them, Im very happy that we work together, Douglas said. Europe will make its own decision but I remain optimistic that we will be able to do something together. (Updates with more details and context from report throughout and quote from SIX.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Somalia has threatened to boot out Ethiopian troops deployed for an African Union mission against Al-Shabaab militants since 2007 (Leonardo Munoz) (Leonardo Munoz/AFP/AFP) Somalia's prime minister on Friday accused Ethiopia of actions that "flagrantly violate" Somalia's territorial integrity after Addis Ababa's shock announcement it would lease a stretch of coastline from the breakaway region Somaliland. The region has been on alert since January when Ethiopia said it intended to build a naval base and commercial port on the area. Landlocked Ethiopia has long sought its own sea access, but the move enraged Somalia which refuses to recognize Somaliland's claim to independence that it first declared in 1991 and has received little international support. "Somalia currently faces a serious threat from Ethiopia's recent actions which flagrantly violate our territorial integrity," Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said at the UN General Assembly. "Ethiopia's attempt to annex part of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access is both unlawful and unnecessary," he said. Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassierejected the Somali prime minister's criticism. "Similar agreements have been concluded by other states, and there is no reason for the government of Somalia to incite hostility that obviously intends to cover internal political tensions," he told the General Assembly. In response to Ethiopia's plan, Somalia has threatened to boot out Ethiopian troops deployed for an African Union mission against Al-Shabaab militants since 2007. Mogadishu has also signed a military deal with Cairo which has seen Somalia receive weapons shipments, alarming the Ethiopians who say the arms may fall into Al-Shabaab hands. The African Union 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. gw/bjt FILE PHOTO: Members of police demining unit remove a warhead from a Russian kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle landed by a radio electronic warfare during one of latest drone strikes in an unknown location in Ukraine (Reuters) - A report that Russia is developing a China-backed attack drone programme for the war in Ukraine is "deeply concerning", a European Union spokesperson said on Friday. Reuters reported on Wednesday that IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, has developed and flight-tested a new drone model called Garpiya-3 (G3) in China with the help of local specialists. It cited two sources from a European intelligence agency and reviewed documents about the programme. "We have noted the deeply concerning reports alleging that Russia is developing attack drones in China for the use in its war of aggression against Ukraine," said Nabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the EU's diplomatic service. "If these reports are accurate, this would mean that Chinese companies are providing Russia with lethal assistance," she added. "It would go against China's official narrative that it does not provide lethal weapons to support Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine and therefore we expect the allegations to be thoroughly and immediately examined and addressed by the Chinese authorities." The EU has repeatedly urged all countries, including China, not to provide material or other support for Russias war against Ukraine, Massrali said. China's foreign ministry has told Reuters it was not aware of the project, adding that Beijing had strict control measures on the export of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Kupol, Almaz-Antey and the Russian defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment for Wednesday's article. (Reporting by Andrew Gray in Brussels and Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Editing by Gareth Jones) The News Southern European economies are on an upward curve, while Germany is stagnating, as the continents traditional laggards and powerhouses trade places. The Spanish government raised its growth forecast for the next two years by two percentage points, citing private investment and consumption, and said it expects unemployment rates to fall. Its the latest piece of good news for Madrid, while Portugal and Greece traditionally basket cases have also seen years of over-performance: The three economies have grown at more than double the eurozone average since the start of 2023, which Bloomberg credited to austerity measures that cut their crippling debt-to-GDP ratios. Meanwhile, analysts downgraded Germanys projected growth, blaming deep structural problems including a demographic change and international competition. SIGNALS Germany may have become a victim of its own success Sources: Robert Schuman Foundation, The Guardian Germanys stagnating GDP outlook partly derives from its export-oriented economy, which has proven vulnerable to external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine, an economics expert argued for the Robert Schuman Foundation. Berlin has sought to maintain a surplus above all else, but can no longer count on an upturn in external demand among trading partners like China to help it pull through these crises, he added. Germany has also been painfully slow to let go of industries past their sell-by date, and become a victim of its own success by seeing little reason to change those models despite the rise of new growth sectors like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, The Guardians economics editor argued. Spain benefits from tourism Sources: Global Finance, ING, Elcano Royal Institute Spains traditionally in-the-red current account has shifted thanks to a growth in tourism and new export markets including automobiles and services, the success of which is less dependent on the fortunes of its European neighbors, Global Finance reported. However, political uncertainty and a divided Parliament risks derailing that upwards trajectory, a senior economist at CaixaBank added. The countrys economic growth also risks being held back by its more interest-rate-sensitive manufacturing and construction sectors, an economist wrote for ING. Plus, unemployment is double the EUs average, and other issues like a lack of affordable housing and high levels of public debt mean there is no room for complacency, a fellow argued in the Elcano Royal Institute. Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet Pesquet is a national icon in France for his missions to the International Space Station (ISS) (Ludovic MARIN) (Ludovic MARIN/POOL/AFP) Europe has embarked on the mission to put humans back on the Moon with a new lunar simulator launched in Germany, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP. Pesquet was at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne on Wednesday to test out LUNA, a facility built to resemble the surface of the Moon. The 46-year-old astronaut, a national icon in France for his missions to the International Space Station (ISS), glowed at the prospect of participating in a lunar mission. "It would be a dream and the high point of my career. The Moon is 1,000 times farther away than the ISS," he said in an interview. "Aboard the ISS, you feel like you're doing something out of the ordinary. But going to the Moon takes the adventure to a whole other level." The newly opened facility was designed to train astronauts and test equipment and material for use on missions to the Moon. International interest in exploring the Moon has surged in recent years. NASA has launched a programme, Artemis, to put astronauts on the Moon in 2026, more than five decades after US space explorers last visited on the final flight of the Apollo missions in 1972. Earlier this year, China sent a probe that collected the first samples from the far side of the Moon. The country aims to send a crewed mission to Earth's satellite by 2030, and wants to build a base on the lunar surface. Japan and India are planning to send a probe to hunt for water near the south pole of the Moon in 2025. The European Space Agency (ESA) hopes to team up with NASA on future Moon missions, Pesquet said. "It's a key moment for Europe, because we're truly jumping into lunar exploration. We're already partnering with NASA on supplying equipment and materials for Artemis," he said. "But LUNA is really the first highly visible sign of the fact that we've embarked on plans to return to the Moon. We're proving that by making long-term investments. This facility will be open to other space agencies, researchers and, we hope, to private firms." - 'Different kettle of fish' - Pesquet described his first test of LUNA as surprising. He and fellow ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer rehearsed walking on the lunar surface, wearing special suits that weighed 25 kilogrammes (55 pounds) and carrying scientific and communications equipment, he said. "I was surprised by the piercing light seen on the Moon, especially at the south pole. It's very hard to evaluate the topography," he said, describing how he sank into the thick layer of dust simulating that found on the lunar surface. "The minute you leave the path, figuring out where to step is a whole different kettle of fish.... It's also incredibly slow. It's not like Earth, you're a lot less coordinated. It reminded me of my spacewalks at the International Space Station." Europe's role providing the service module for NASA's Orion capsule, which will carry the Artemis crew members, has earned the ESA three spots for its astronauts on the programme's first three missions around the Moon. But "NASA has told us, 'To land on the Moon, you need to propose something to do on the lunar surface,'" said Pesquet. "LUNA isn't a contractual part of the deal. But it allows us to show we're serious." ber/jhb/jj Lake Lure Dam no longer at imminent risk of failure, officials say The Lake Lure Dam is no longer at an imminent risk of failure, emergency management officials in Rutherford County posted on Facebook shortly after 8 p.m. Friday. LAKE LURE DAM UPDATE: 9/27/24, 8:00 PM: Engineers have evaluated the Lake Lure Dam and determined it is no longer at... Posted by Rutherford County, NC Emergency Management on Friday, September 27, 2024 >>CLICK here for the latest weather alerts Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure area late Friday afternoon where there was widespread destruction caused by flooding. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 However, at about 11 a.m. Rutherford County Emergency Management said anyone below the Lake Lure Dam needed to evacuate to higher ground as quickly as possible. Terrible situation takin shape over at Lake Lure. pic.twitter.com/LgvRqlA7lk Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) September 27, 2024 About an hour before that, authorities warned water was overtopping the dam. They asked residents along surrounding roads to move to higher ground. The failure would have impacted neighbors in Cleveland County as well. Once again, emergency officials said the dam is no longer in imminent danger of failure. There is a curfew in place for Rutherford County. CURFEW ANNOUNCEMENT: 9/27/24, 6:30 PM: CURFEW IN EFFECT from 7:30 PM to 7:30 AM. This curfew does not apply to emergency... Posted by Rutherford County, NC Emergency Management on Friday, September 27, 2024 The sheriffs office asked anyone who lives along Waterway Drive, Abes Mountain Road, and the Broad River to evacuate. READ MORE: Western NC sees heavy flooding as Tropical Storm Helene moves through the area In an update around 1:30 p.m., emergency management said water was cresting the dam and flowing around the side walls. While the structural supports have been compromised, the dam wall was holding. Evacuation sirens were sounding downstream and emergency officials went house to house to make sure everyone left the area. Evacuees are being temporarily taken to an Ingles grocery store in Lake Lure. An emergency shelter has also been set up at RS Central High School. Officials asked anyone ordered to evacuate to go to the school, adding that anyone not evacuating should stay home due to hazardous roads with an insurmountable number of trees and electrical lines that are down. Lake Lure is a small lake town located about 30 miles east of Asheville. The town is next to Chimney Rock, which is home to an iconic North Carolina hike of the same name. The town is known for its lake, which sits at the center of the town. It also houses the Lake Lure Inn, a historic inn where the cast and crew of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing stayed during filming. The town is one of many in western North Carolina suffering from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene. State transportation officials told drivers that all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed. All roads in Western NC should be considered closed Do not travel unless an emergency or seeking higher ground Do not drive through standing water Respect barricades and road closures#TurnAroundDontDrown #Helene #ncwx pic.twitter.com/gjfrZJBPHm NCDOT (@NCDOT) September 27, 2024 Do not travel unless an emergency or seeking higher ground, they said in a post on social media. Early Friday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said two deaths in the state can be attributed to the storm: One in Catawba County and another in Charlotte. MEDIC told Channel 9 that one person died and another was hurt when a tree fell onto a home around 5 a.m. Friday in northwest Charlotte. On Thursday, a 4-year-old died in a crash in Catawba County. Three other people, including two other children, were hurt in the crash. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. (WATCH BELOW: 5 rescued from rising Linville River as heavy rain moves in) US journalist Evan Gershkovich, pictured during his trial in Russia (Alexander NEMENOV) (Alexander NEMENOV/AFP/AFP) The Russian judge who convicted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich said the trial was short because it did not examine any "material evidence" and the verdict did not take long because he could "type quickly". "The case itself was small. I don't remember how many folders there were -- three or five," Andrei Mineyev was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying Friday. "Why did it go so quickly? The point is the court did not examine material evidence," the judge said, adding that this was because neither the prosecution nor the defence had requested this. The judge made the comments at a conference in the city of Yekaterinburg, where he spoke about different cases he had worked on, according to Russian media. Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg -- the first foreign journalist held for espionage in post-Soviet Russia. Gershkovich, his employer and the United States have always denied the accusation. His trial in Yekaterinburg, which was held behind closed doors because of the nature of the charges, began in June 2024. Prosecutors accused Gershkovich, the 32-year-old American son of Soviet emigres, of gathering secret information about the activities of a massive tank factory in the region. On July 19, he was convicted to 16 years in prison and then released two weeks later in the biggest Russia-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War. The judge said he was "100-200 percent" sure that Gershkovich was "at the same time a journalist, a spy and a CIA agent", Kommersant newspaper reported. He said Gershkovich always denied his guilt. The judge said he retired to consider the verdict at midday and pronounced it at 5:00 pm, saying this was because he could "type quickly", the paper said. bur/jhb Mark Denning acknowledges he doesn't know a lot about the history of a now defunct Milwaukee area girls asylum. But he's hoping more people become aware of its grim history, and the history of other places like it. An event Saturday will be a step in that direction. The legacy of such places continues to haunt Indigenous people to this day, in Wisconsin and other part of the country. The Good Shepherd Industrial School, also known as House of the Good Shepherd, opened in 1877 in Wauwatosa, just across the Milwaukee border. Denning said it was a boarding school for girls who were impoverished, beggars, vagrants and/or orphans. It served as an asylum or minimum-security prison for girls who were to provide labor, such as cleaning services. This is a story that needs to be told, he said. Denning, who is an Oneida tribal member, said he recently learned about Good Shepherd because it was listed as an Indigenous boarding school by the Department of the Interior. Secretary Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American to head that federal department, has vowed to research and publish information about the hundreds of Indigenous boarding schools that existed in the U.S. Denning said at least 27 girls from the Turtle Mountain Ojibwe Reservation in North Dakota had been sent to Good Shepherd, as well as Indigenous girls from tribal nations in Wisconsin. Like many of the Indigenous boarding schools of the era there were reports of physical and sexual abuse against Indigenous children. The boarding schools were designed to assimilate Indigenous children. Catholic sisters and other teachers would punish the children for speaking their native language or practicing their culture. The Interior Departments report identified there were 11 Indigenous boarding schools in Wisconsin and the Journal Sentinel identified two more for a total of 13 during the era. The Mikwendaagoziwag Heritage Center, a former boarding school on the Lac du Flambeau reservation, is now a museum. The boarding schools were designed to forcefully assimilate Indigenous children. Denning helped to organize an MKE Every Child Matters Walk, taking place Saturday, to focus on what little is known about Good Shepherd. It will start with a "Sunrise Ceremony" at 6:45 a.m. at 5010 W. North Ave., in Milwaukee. A 14.5 mile walk is scheduled to end at Indian Community School in Franklin, where lunch will be offered, along with speakers, a lacrosse game, and talking circles. The walk will be relay-style; no one is required to walk the entire distance. We will learn about the hardships and enduring stories of our relatives and ancestors, the Facebook page for the event reads. By uncovering these truths we can begin to understand our shared history and heal as a community. Nearly 300 people had responded to the event page by Wednesday afternoon. Tammy Swierczynski (Oneida/Menominee), who helped to organize a talking circle for the event, said the story of the Indigenous boarding school era and the generational trauma it caused thats still affecting Indigenous families is one that needs to be told. She said the suffering endured by Indigenous children at those boarding schools was handed down in their families, including her own, and the cycle of abuse and addiction continues to devastate families. Swierczynski believes healing starts with understanding what happened at those boarding schools, followed by reclaiming the culture that was taken away there. Its important for us as Natives to heal, get back to our Indigenous ways and understand it was not our fault, she said. We were not alcoholics. Everybody had a role in the community. Everybody felt worthy. We know this isnt how we lived. We lived as a community. A lot of us feel lost (today) with the suicide and drug epidemics. The more we educate ourselves about what happened to our ancestors, the more people can forgive themselves. The Mikwendaagoziwag Heritage Center, a former boarding school on the Lac du Flambeau reservation, is now a museum. The boarding schools were designed to forcefully assimilate Indigenous children. The Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe community in northern Wisconsin also is educating about Indigenous boarding schools this month. The reservation had a boarding school campus of 25 buildings from 1895 to 1932. Lauren Abel, of the tribes historic preservation office, said children would run away from the school to return to their families on the reservation because they were so close. She said they were caught and returned, and frequent escapees would be sent to even harsher boarding schools in the country, such as an infamous one at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where some children died. Many of the Indigenous boarding schools in Wisconsin were located on or near reservations or tribal land for the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. They were run by the federal government, as well as the Catholic Church or other Christian denominations. On Indigenous Peoples Day (know to some as Columbus Day) in 2021, Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order formally apologizing for the states role in allowing these boarding schools to be located in Wisconsin. This is the first Every Child Matters event to be held in Milwaukee and second annual event in Lac du Flambeau as the movement continues to grow throughout the U.S. Every Child Matters started in Canada in 2013 and is also known as Orange Shirt Day. Officially, it is Sept. 30. It was started by boarding school survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad as a remembrance of the boarding school era. She recalled that officials at the boarding school when she was six years old wouldnt allow her to keep an orange shirt her grandmother gave her. Organizers said the orange shirt symbolizes what was taken. In addition, the color orange for many Indigenous communities symbolizes truth-telling, health and regeneration. Several public schools in Wisconsin are recognizing Orange Shirt Day this year by asking students to wear orange shirts and by sharing stories from the boarding schools. More: 'They never broke my spirit': Survivors of Indian schools on Menominee Reservation demand Catholic church to acknowledge abuse More: Gov. Tony Evers apologizes for Indian boarding schools in executive order on Indigenous Peoples' Day More: 'People need to know what happened': Wisconsin tribes, families welcome federal scrutiny of Indian boarding school system Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin tribes share the grim story of Indigenous boarding schools Erik McGregor/Getty Images Sign up for The Agenda Them's news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday. The following weekly digest is written and compiled by the Trans Formations Project, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to tracking and educating about the anti-trans legislative crisis currently sweeping the United States. You can follow their work and latest updates via Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, and Facebook. Hello readers. Its Friday, September 27, 2024. As a reminder, legislative sessions are different for each state you can keep track of your state's legislative session here. Currently, bill progressions have slowed or halted entirely following the conclusion of legislative sessions in most states. This week: no new bills were introduced, no bills progressed. Editorial Feature Trans Voter Suppression in the 2024 General Election This month, the Williams Institute at UCLA released its annual report outlining the impact of voter registration laws on transgender voters. In this weeks editorial column, well explore the findings of that report, unpacking its implications for the 2024 general election. In 2024, multiple U.S. states saw a concerted right-wing effort to complicate (or entirely eradicate) the process of altering gender markers on state-issued identification. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton prompted his states Department of Public Safety (DPS) to change its gender marker regulations in August. Under the updated rules, Texas DPS will no longer accept court orders as valid documentation for a gender marker change. In addition to Texas, three other U.S. states have a total ban on updating gender markers, while nine additional states require proof of surgery, a court order, or an amended birth certificate. According to the Williams Institutes reportwhich aligns with TFPs own findingstransgender voters in 27 different U.S. states will face new voter ID restrictions ahead of the 2024 general election. These restrictions were not in place during the last presidential election in 2020. Notably, in the four short years since the last general election, the anti-trans movement in the U.S. gained significant momentum. These newly emergent voter ID restrictions may increase disenfranchisement of transgender voters. The Williams Institute notes that: Approximately 647,000 voting-eligible transgender Americans live in one of the 42 U.S. states that conducts elections primarily in-person, as opposed to via mail-in ballot. 43% of these individuals lack accurate identification documents. Of the total estimated 825,100 transgender adults eligible to vote in 2024, 91,300 live in states that almost entirely prohibit gender marker changes on state identification. Due to the increased difficulty of obtaining accurate, gender-affirming documentation, trans voters are likely to experience discrimination at in-person polling locations during the 2024 election. While this projected disenfranchisement may not be by design, it is certainly a convenient legislative side-effect for anti-trans advocates. The Williams Institute report focuses on identifying the problem rather than proposing solutions. The report does however conclude on a positive note, praising Californias recent initiative to train poll workers on trans/gender-nonconforming inclusivity. More programs like Californias are needed, this much is evidentbut as a community of advocates, our primary focus should be on challenging discriminatory documentation laws ahead of the 2024 election. If you arent already registered to vote, we encourage you to do so here! While federal elections are important, state and local elections have been just as instrumental in the fight for trans rights (if not more so). If you want to learn what your state representatives have been up to, check out our legislator scorecards here. The Things We Won! 354 anti trans bills The Campaign for Southern Equality, a key trans legal advocacy organization, recently published a book about their work entitled Trans Kids, Our Kids. The book includes important resources and action steps for trans advocates. What the Heck Else Happened This Week? 48 anti trans bills passed This week, the Florida Department of Education confirmed its intention to roll back comprehensive sex education in the states public schools. School districts will instead be expected to teach an abstinence-centric curriculum. The Department of Education proposes limiting discussion on a number of topics, including contraception, abuse and domestic violence, and human development, in addition to LGBTQIA+ content. This directive expands upon prior DeSantis Administration attempts at LGBTQIA+ censorship, including the now-defunct Dont Say Gay bill. On Friday, September 20, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision in Corbitt v. Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency . Corbitt v. Alabama challenges Alabama Policy Order 63, which places heavy restrictions on transgender people who wish to alter their gender markers on state-issued identification. According to Policy Order 63, individuals wishing to apply for a gender marker change must submit either an amended birth certificate or receive verifiable gender-affirming surgery. In Corbitt v. Alabama, the lower district court ruled against Alabama Policy Order 63, declaring it unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause. The 11th Circuit Court overturned this decision, upholding Policy Order 63. In essence, the appellate court ruling determines that transgender people do not possess equal protection rights on the basis of gender identity. This week, a team of twenty-six U.S. state Attorney Generals (AGs) submitted a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) challenging the approval of puberty blockers for use on trans minors. In their letter, the AGs cite the infamously anti-trans Cass Report as evidence that puberty blockers cause irreparable harm to children later in life. The letter puts the AAP on notice, stating that they may face legal action for violating state consumer protection statutes. A critique of the Cass Report can be found here. 2024 bills passed graph Mental Health Resources We know that staying up-to-date with anti-trans legislation may be distressing to our readers. If you or someone you know needs support, here are a few affirming resources that you can reach out to: If you need support or are in crisis, you can contact the Trans Lifeline hotline at (877) 565-8860. The Trans Lifeline is run by trans people, for trans people, and does not engage in non-consensual active rescue, meaning they will not call law enforcement without your consent. You can connect with a Trevor Project crisis counselor via phone 1 (866) 488-7386, chat, or text (Text START to 678-678). Note: This resource could utilize non-consensual active rescue, including law enforcement, 911, and first responders. You can call the LGBT National Hotline at (888) 843-4564 or connect with a peer via chat. The LGBT National Help Center will NOT call other suicide hotlines, law enforcement, 911, or rescue services. BlackLine is a BIPOC LGBTQ+ support line, run by BIPOC folks, for BIPOC folks. This resource does not involve law enforcement or state agencies. You can call 1 (800) 604-5841 to chat with a peer. For folks under 25, you can call the LGBT National Youth Talkline at (800) 246-7743. The LGBT National Help Center will NOT call other suicide hotlines, law enforcement, 911, or rescue services. Adults (folks 18+) can text the THRIVE Lifeline, which is trans-led and operated. Text "THRIVE" to (313) 662-8209 to begin your conversation. THRIVE Lifeline does NOT call emergency services for people who are at risk of harming themselves without their consent. Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) - Nearly one week after a deadly mass shooting in Birminghams Five Points neighborhood, the Birmingham Police Department is still searching for suspects. Since the investigation began, BPD created an evidence submission portal for members of the public to provide photos and videos that can aid detectives. This can be accessed by scanning the QR code above or clicking this link. As of Friday, no arrests have been announced in the shooting that killed four people and injured 17 others outside of Hush Lounge. Public information officer Truman Fitzgerald has since revealed that a possibly fully automatic weapon was used during 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 CBS 42. The evolution of devolution: 25 years of the Scottish Parliament The King and Queen are at Holyrood this weekend to attend a celebration marking 25 years since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened. That is how their visit is described in the official news release. Reconvened was the word that MSP Winnie Ewing chose when opening the devolved parliament for business in 1999. As a nationalist politician, Mrs Ewing may have enjoyed the sense of historical continuity with the 18th Century parliament of what had been an independent Scotland. Her choice of words raised a few eyebrows at the time because the new parliament bares little resemblance to the old one. The continuity is mostly myth. Firstly, Holyrood is a democratically elected house rather than an assembly of aristocrats and the landed gentry. Secondly, it represents an experiment in power-sharing within the United Kingdom, rather than a departure from the political Union with England of 1707. Queen Elizabeth attended the state opening of the parliament in July 1999 [Getty Images] For Labour, the party that delivered devolution, one of the key objectives of having more decisions about Scotland made in Scotland was to quell nationalist demands for full independence. Labours shadow Scottish secretary before the 1997 general election, George Robertson, predicted devolution would kill the SNP stone dead. By contrast his Labour MP colleague Tam Dalyell, who opposed devolution, warned that it would become a motorway without exit to a separate state. Either could yet be vindicated but so far both have been wide of the mark. Ten years ago this month, Scottish voters rejected the offer of independence in a referendum. Of course, that referendum only materialised because a few years earlier, the main party of independence - the SNP - won an outright majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament. The voting system was specifically designed for that not to happen. An element of proportional representation was supposed to require minority parties to cooperate and share power. Thats what happened in the first eight years when Labour and the Liberal Democrats ran coalition governments. Far from killing the SNP, Holyrood has given the party a platform to propel itself from protest to power. Over the last 17 years, the SNP has become the dominant force in Scottish politics, keeping constitutional politics to the fore. That has frustrated their opponents, who would prefer to have seen far greater focus on delivery and reform of devolved public services like the NHS and schools. The SNPs unsuccessful pursuit of independence has led to Holyrood accumulating new responsibilities. It has become a more powerful parliament, with almost full control over income tax and the beginnings of a distinctive welfare system. Smoking in public places was banned 2006 [Getty Images] Not that it was without considerable clout. Just think of the life and death decisions made daily by Holyrood ministers during the Covid pandemic. The parliament has passed 370 bills, including landmark legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places, to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol, and to legalise same sex marriage. A hallmark of devolution is that successive governments have expanded the provision of free or subsidised entitlements. These include free personal care for the elderly, free prescriptions and free university tuition. As budgets come under increasing pressure there is a sense that these provisions cannot be expanded much further and may need to become more targeted. Holyrood has been good at spending money. It is less obviously accomplished at growing the economy to generate extra cash to pay for public services. The bulk of its funding has always come from a block grant from the UK Treasury. The Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether a referendum could take place without UK government approval [Reuters] While some of its powers have expanded, the introduction of a UK internal market act following Brexit allowed the last Westminster government to block the introduction of a Scottish bottle deposit scheme. UK ministers also used their reserved powers to stop gender recognition reforms in Scotland and were backed up by the courts. In a separate dispute, their lawyers argued successfully in court that Holyrood could not hold another independence referendum without their approval. As Scottish Secretary, Conservative MP Alister Jack was quite happy to be seen as a muscular unionist, checking the nationalism of the SNP. These clashes poisoned relations between the Scottish and UK governments. There appears to be an attempt at a reset following the general election which saw the SNP lose lots of seats and Labour return to power at Westminster. Labour supporters celebrate their victory at this year's general election [Reuters] These struggles probably say more about the parties in power at Scottish and UK levels at a given time than they do about the the Scottish Parliament itself. That is not to deny there is scope to revise the way Holyrood operates to make it better equipped to hold the Scottish government of the day to account. All parties that have been consistently represented at Holyrood have had a shot in government, except for the Conservatives. It was Labours one time Welsh secretary, Ron Davies, who was fond of saying that devolution was a process, not an event. There has been much evolution in the first 25 years and no doubt more to come. There were points in the early years when the Scottish Parliaments continued existence seemed far from secure. It got off to a shaky start with the sudden death of the founding first minister, Donald Dewar; the resignation of his successor, Henry McLeish, in a property sub-letting row; and the scandalous delays and cost increases to the Holyrood parliament building project. The building of the parliament was beset by delays and cost increases [Getty Images] It fell to Labour First Minister Jack McConnell to steady the ship. His SNP successors, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, expanded the boundaries of devolved power. The spectacular fallout between Salmond and Sturgeon gripped Holyrood journalists for many months. It was probably not something Donald Dewar had anticipated. In his opening address to the parliament in 1999, he described the institution as a new voice in the land. Twenty-five years later, there is little of consequence in Scotland that does not get discussed there. It is where people come to petition and protest. A traipse to London is no longer a necessity. Holyrood has firmly established itself at the centre of Scottish public life. Few would doubt that it is here to stay - and that, perhaps, is a significant achievement in itself. Unilever (LSE:ULVR) is navigating a dynamic environment marked by both opportunities and challenges. Recent highlights include a significant 17.1% surge in underlying operating profit and strategic investments in sustainability, juxtaposed against disappointing performance in the Ice Cream segment and market challenges in China. In the discussion that follows, we will explore Unilever's financial health, operational inefficiencies, strategic growth initiatives, and external threats to provide a comprehensive overview of the company's current business situation. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings on Unilever. LSE:ULVR Share price vs Value as at Sep 2024 Strengths: Core Advantages Driving Sustained Success For Unilever Unilever's financial health is underscored by its significant profit growth and gross margin expansion. CEO Hein M. Schumacher highlighted that the underlying operating profit surged by 17.1% to EUR 6.1 billion, with the operating margin climbing 250 basis points to 19.6%. This profitability is further supported by a gross margin increase of 420 basis points to 45.7%. The company's strategic focus on its Power Brands, which saw a 5.7% sales growth and a 4% volume increase, showcases its ability to drive growth through its core products. Additionally, Unilever's commitment to sustainability and innovation, with nearly EUR 700 million invested in brand and marketing initiatives, positions it favorably in the market. The current share price of 48.67 is above the estimated fair value of 47.09, indicating it may be overvalued compared to its peers and industry averages. To dive deeper into how Unilever's valuation metrics are shaping its market position, check out our detailed analysis of Unilever's Valuation. Weaknesses: Critical Issues Affecting Unilever's Performance and Areas For Growth Unilever faces several critical challenges that impact its performance. CFO Fernando Fernandez noted the disappointing performance of the Ice Cream segment, which has not met the company's ambitions. Additionally, the company has encountered significant market challenges in China, with tougher market conditions and competitive pressures leading to a negative earnings growth of -19.9% over the past year. This is a stark contrast to the Personal Products industry average growth of 9.4%. Furthermore, Unilever's Price-To-Earnings Ratio of 21.9x is higher than the European Personal Products industry average of 21.3x, suggesting it is expensive relative to its industry peers. The company's valuation, with a current share price of 48.67 above the fair value estimate of 47.09, reflects these financial challenges. Story continues To gain deeper insights into Unilever's historical performance, explore our detailed analysis of past performance. Opportunities: Potential Strategies for Leveraging Growth and Competitive Advantage Unilever has several strategic opportunities to leverage for growth and competitive advantage. The company is focusing on expanding its Power Brands, with Hein M. Schumacher emphasizing the importance of achieving net cost productivity through tight cost control. Geographic growth, particularly in Latin America, presents a significant opportunity, with the company confident in its prospects despite expected consumption slowdowns in regions like Argentina. Additionally, Unilever's stronger innovation pipeline and increased brand investments are set to accelerate performance in key markets. The ongoing productivity drive, including consultations with employee representatives, aims to enhance operational efficiency and support long-term growth. Threats: Key Risks and Challenges That Could Impact Unilever's Success Unilever faces several external threats that could impact its success. Competitive pressures, particularly in markets like the U.S. and India, are increasing, as noted by Fernando Fernandez. Economic factors also pose a risk, with underlying sales growth for 2024 expected to be within a modest range of 3% to 5%. Regulatory risks, especially in markets like Indonesia, require significant portfolio initiatives and strategic adjustments, which may take time to yield benefits. Additionally, market risks in China remain a concern, with the recovery expected to be gradual. These challenges highlight the need for Unilever to navigate a complex and competitive global environment to maintain its market position. Conclusion Unilever's strong financial health, driven by significant profit growth and gross margin expansion, underscores its ability to leverage its core Power Brands for sustained success. However, challenges such as underperformance in the Ice Cream segment and market difficulties in China highlight areas needing strategic focus. The company's emphasis on cost control and geographic expansion, particularly in Latin America, presents viable growth opportunities. The current share price of 48.67, which is above the estimated fair value of 47.09, suggests that investors may be pricing in an optimistic outlook that doesn't fully account for existing challenges and competitive pressures. This discrepancy indicates that while Unilever is well-positioned for future growth, it must navigate its weaknesses and threats effectively to justify its current market valuation. Summing It All Up Already own Unilever? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Elevate your portfolio with Simply Wall St, the ultimate app for investors seeking global market coverage. Looking For Alternative Opportunities? Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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. CHICAGO A former gang member who in recent years has dedicated his life to helping cut the recidivism rate and assist men and women reacclimate to society hosted a job fair Friday. The event with recruiters and representatives from colleges and corporations was open to anyone but geared toward citizens with criminal pasts who are determined to stay on the right path. The Project #HIRED Second Chance Job Fair event at the organization known as ULON United Legion One Nation was held at 7401 South Cottage Grove Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Theres been success each year, and what we do is we offer people a way to look at being not just productive in society but an asset to society. Build up their self-esteem. Get them something where they can start their day at 8 in the morning and work starting at 9 to 5, just like everybody else, said ULON founder and CEO Peter Keller. Keller has previously served time and has become passionate about offering access to opportunities to people with similar pasts. 2020 | Former Chicago gang member starts organization to help others change their lives Among those seeking jobs Friday was Vernon Chapman who, like many others who visited, have a renewed sense of pride and are eager to find jobs after serving time behind bars. Chapman has been home since April after spending 14 years in federal prison for a drug crime. I mean, we did wrong, but I think we should get a chance to get our life together, and you know, have a good opportunity to contribute to the damage that we done and fix things, he told WGN. In addition to hiring, BMO Bank was on hand to offer financial literary services for those re-entering the workforce. ULON will host another job fair on Dec. 13. Check ulonworks.life/ for the latest 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 WGN-TV. ComingSoon can exclusively debut the trailer for Americans With No Address. Americans With No Address is a new 90-minute documentary about homelessness in the United States. The Robert Craig Films-produced movie is narrated by actor William Baldwin. Check out the exclusive Americans with No Address trailer below (watch more trailers and clips): Photo Credit: Robert Craig Films What is Americans With No Address about? The team interviewed policy leaders, mission directors, clinical specialists, CEOs of national nonprofits, executive directors of local and regional nonprofits, influencers, those who had experienced homelessness, and those who were still struggling, a description of the documentary reads. Trauma, mental health, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing, and economics are all factors for the drastic increase in homelessness in our country. Several scenes from the feature film No Address appear in the documentary, providing a narrative perspective of these various issues. It was important for the team to gather opinions from various individuals on all political spectrums to avoid any bias in their studies. The production team noticed the significant impact of housing and supportive services across the country as an effective way to handle the crisis. Some familiar nonprofits that provide these services include The Salvation Army, Citygate Network, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and The Gathering Inn. Americans With No Address is part of a five-production approach from Robert Craig Films to raise awareness and provide solutions to homelessness in America. There is also a feature film, titled No Address, starring Baldwin, Xander Berkley, Ty Pennington, and Kristanna Loken, as well as an interactive study guide, a novel, and a soundtrack. Click here for more information. Americans With No Address is getting a limited theatrical release starting on September 27, 2024, as Los Angeles Laemmle NoHo 7. It will then begin playing in New Yorks Cinema Village on October 25, 2024, while individuals will be able to view the documentary thereafter by visiting the No Address movie website. The post Exclusive Americans With No Address Trailer Previews Documentary About Homelessness appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) delivers remarks during a hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building on October 13, 2022 in Washington, DC. Credit - Alex Wong/Getty Images A prominent House Democrat is introducing legislation Friday that would prevent former President Donald Trump from dismissing his ongoing criminal prosecutions if he were to win the presidency again. The new bill, shared exclusively with TIME ahead of its release, is being led by Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic nominee for Californias Senate seat who has been a leading Trump antagonist. He says his bill, which would prevent a sitting President from quashing a criminal prosecution against him or herself, aims to ensure that no President can use their position to evade accountability. This is about protecting our democracy and ensuring a President cant place themselves above the law, Schiff tells TIME in a statement. There is every indication that Donald Trump will use the Justice Department to do away with any effort to hold him accountable. Theres a reason Schiff feels urgency to introduce the bill now. Trump is currently facing multiple criminal prosecutions, including charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The need for swift passage of this bill could become even more pressing, Schiff says, depending on the outcome of the election. Under Schiffs bill, any attempts to dismiss ongoing criminal prosecutions would be subject to strict oversight. It mandates that the President cannot coerce the attorney general to dismiss charges against them, requiring a sworn statement from the attorney general confirming whether the dismissal was ordered by the President or anyone acting on their behalf. Requests for a dismissal would need to be evaluated by a three-judge court, ensuring that the decision to dismiss is not made unilaterally and that the integrity of the judicial process is upheld, Schiff says. If the court finds that a motion to dismiss lacks good cause, Schiffs bill would allow it to impose sanctions. Additionally, any findings indicating that a dismissal request originated from the President's direction would be reported immediately to Congress by the Department of Justice's Inspector General. While Schiffs new bill, called the Investigative Integrity Protection Act, has the backing of seven other Democratic lawmakers, its highly unlikely it would pass the Republican-controlled House. The bill attempts to tackle an unprecedented situationthe first former and perhaps future President facing criminal prosecutionby adding explicit rules to the relationship between the President and the attorney general, which is typically governed by norms. Schiff says his bill is a necessary step in light of what he described as alarming attempts by a sitting President to obstruct justice and evade accountability. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The effort is particularly poignant for the California Democrat, who sat on the House Jan. 6 select committee that investigated Trumps actions on the day a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, actions that are now at the center of two of Trumps criminal cases. Schiff was also the lead prosecutor in Trumps first impeachment trial in 2019. After years of battling Trump, Schiff was censured by House Republicans in 2023 over his role in the investigations. His proposed legislation comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that reinforced presidential immunity, which could significantly impact Trump's ongoing legal battles. The high court determined that actions taken by a sitting President in the course of official duties may be shielded from criminal prosecution. Schiff says his bill does not conflict with the Supreme Courts ruling, and that any claims regarding presidential immunity would still be adjudicated by the courts. Trump has only been convicted in the hush-money case in Manhattan related to falsifying business records ahead of the 2016 election. The judge in that case postponed sentencing until after the 2024 election, meaning voters wont know if the former President will face jail time as they head to the polls. Trump's legal team is attempting to leverage the Supreme Courts recent ruling on presidential immunity to challenge his convictionwhich Schiff argues was an attempt to delay his trial until after the election so he could make his legal troubles go away if elected President. Trumps other cases are mired in procedural complexity. The federal election subversion charges, spearheaded by special counsel Jack Smith, were originally expected to proceed swiftly, but delays from the Supreme Courts intervention have pushed a trial date further into the future. Similarly, the Florida classified documents case has been slowed by drawn-out proceedings under a Trump-appointed judge, who dismissed the case. And the Georgia election interference case is currently on hold as an appeals court considers ethical allegations against the prosecutor. The rule of law is a core foundation of our nation, Schiff says. No one, not even the President, is above it. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. The entrance to the Asian Development Banks Knowledge Management Center (Library) at the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines, in 2016. Credit - Mark FloroADB via Flickr Israel is set to become the newest member of the Asian Development Bank, which finances social and economic development projects across Asiaa region where many countries (and members of the ADB) have been outspoken in their criticism of Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza, and some dont even recognize Israels sovereignty. Along the hallways of the ADBs headquarters in Manila, there have been whispers for months about the plan to welcome the multilateral institutions 69th member, which could be formalized as soon as the coming days, according to multiple sources. Israels application process is ongoing, an ADB spokesperson tells TIME, and a decision will be announced when the process is completed. Israel completed the requirements for ADB membership at the beginning of September and is looking forward to officially joining the Bank, Ohad Niepris, a spokesperson for Israels Ministry of Finance, told TIME on Thursday. Four ADB employees who spoke to TIME on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal say that worries have been circulating among staff in recent months about Israels impending entry to the ADB, which was first approved in April 2022. Since then, the ADB has granted at least two extensions to Israel to meet the requirements necessary to become a member, according to interviews and public records reviewed by TIME, including an extension that came after Oct. 7, 2023, despite growing international concerns about Israels military campaign in Gaza, which has been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations and others for its high civilian death toll and alleged human rights abuses. These deadline extensions were requested and approved for technical reasons, said Niepris, the Israeli spokesperson, adding that: Such deadline extensions are a common practice in international organizations, particularly considering that these processes require legislative and internal government procedures which depend on multiple stakeholders. A lot of us did not know about this last extension of Israel, one ADB staff member tells TIME. So that took us by a little bit of shock in thinking that Israel, whilst carrying out this unwarranted aggression against Palestinians, is being accepted as a member to the Asian Development Bank. I think it just comes across as a bit tactless, both the timing and the occasion upon which its happening. Israel has spent the last few years trying to join the ADB, as part of its plan to expand its footprint in Asia. It brings expertise in water management, which it has over the years shared with institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, among other resources to the institution. It didnt surprise me too much from a development perspective, Jianzhi Zhao, associate professor of international development and public policy at the University of Exeter, tells TIME of Israels prospective ADB membership, describing it as a win-win situation for both Israel and the ADB. Since 2017, representatives from Israels finance ministry have regularly attended the ADBs annual meeting of the Board of Governorsthe banks highest policy-making bodyas observers; in 2019, Israels then-Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire in Bercy and returned with what he said was a pledge of support from France for Israel to join the ADB. Those efforts came to fruition in 2022, when Israel was approved to join the ADB, according to a resolution by the Board of Governors, consisting of one representative from each member nation. The ADB did not respond to specific questions from TIME for this story but said in a statement that new membership in the bank is decided in accordance with Article 3 of the Agreement Establishing the Asian Development Bank. Referencing the same charter, Niepris, the Israeli spokesperson, said: The ADBlike all MDBs [multilateral development banks]is an apolitical institution as enshrined in its charter and as such bank activities are guided solely by economic considerations. To complete their ascension to the ADB, prospective members have to fulfill requirements, including implementing specific administrative steps and paying a subscription to shares of the capital stock of ADB. For undisclosed reasons, Israel missed that initial deadline of Dec. 31, 2022. According to publicly available meeting minutes, in December 2022 Israel was granted a deadline extension by the ADBs Board of Directors, 12 directors elected by the Governors and each representing several member countries. In May 2023, the Israeli finance ministry announced that the country was on its way to join the ADB. But Israel apparently missed the deadline again: According to meeting minutes, the Board of Directors recorded its approval for Israel to be given a second deadline extension for its membership in December 2023two months after Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack. Its unclear to what extent the directors consult the governments of the members they representwhich include several countries that do not recognize Israel, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Brunei. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with Hamas leaders in May and criticized the brutality of the Zionist regime. Pakistans government has labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist. And Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim country and a longtime supporter of Palestinian rights, has also consistently condemned Israels actions in Gaza since Oct. 7. In these three countries alone, according to the ADBs website, the bank has hundreds of projects that are either active or approved. Sources tell TIME that its not uncommon for prospective members of multilateral banks to miss such deadlines. But while the first deadline extension of Israel might have been due to more administrative considerations, says Zhao, the second extensiongranted after the explosion of the war in Gazacannot be interpreted without factoring international reputation or international politics into the decision making. Because after all, Zhao says, multilateral development banks [are] a venue for multilateral diplomacy. ADB, for its part, has maintained that its avowedly apolitical as an institution. Its employee code of conduct states that while staff may exercise their political rights, they must refrain from participation in political activities which may interfere or conflict with their duties or their status as Staff of ADB. They are also prohibited from being involved in the publication of documents that are related to any national political questions. The bank has previously faced some criticism for not paying sufficient attention to human rights concerns in its operations. In May, as the ADB held its 57th Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, a network of NGOs accused the bank of inadequate safeguards for the environmental and social impact of its projects, which activists have argued dovetail with shrinking civic spaces and suppression of communities across member states, from Georgia to Vietnam to Bangladesh. However, the ADB has in the past cited human rights concerns for sanctioning countries. In 2021, it suspended sovereign project disbursements and new contracts in Myanmar after the countrys military seized power in a coup; that same year, it put on hold its regular assistance in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over the country; it also paused its work on a cross-border gas pipeline project that would have passed through Afghanistan, saying that it would wait until the Taliban-led authorities gained international recognition. To some of the banks staff, its unclear why Israels actions over the past year have not triggered similar sanctions. Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories have been found by the International Court of Justice to be in violation of international law, while Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. Theres obviously some inherent contradictions and hypocrisy in the move, because ADB does have strict policies on the countries it works with, says an ADB employee of Israel being allowed to join. Accepting a member that overtly violates international law seems a bit hypocritical of the institution. Niepris, the Israeli spokesperson, says that Israel is a strong believer in the power of institutions to bring countries and people together in order to reach shared goals and that it is looking forward to working with all ADB members and staff to advance the Banks mandate to promote sustainable development and the eradication of extreme poverty across Asia and the Pacific. But while the impact of Israels addition to the ADB remains to be seen, some staff are already worried about what it will mean for their work at the bank and the banks broader reputation. Israels membership would impact the way the ADB is perceived in some of the countries where we operate, says the ADB employee. This notion of ADB being more of an Asian institution tailored to the needs of countries in Asia and the Pacific gets a little bit tarnished by this decision. Contact us at letters@time.com. When can you expect impact of Hurricane Helene? A weather timeline for Myrtle Beach area The timeline of events for Hurricane Helene in the Myrtle Beach area has changed overnight. According to information from the National Weather Service Station in Wilmington, North Carolina, the original tornado watch that was supposed to end at 8:30 a.m. this morning has now been extended through 6 p.m. Friday night. Coastal Horry County remains under a severe weather advisory and tropical storm warning through Friday afternoon. High winds and thunderstorms are expected to plague the region for the majority of the day on Friday before tapering off overnight into Saturday. The NWS has also issued a tornado warning until 8:45 a.m. on Friday for south central Horry County in northeastern South Carolina. The Steven Paff, meteorologist-in-charge for the NWS out of Wilmington, in his Friday morning forecast that the majority of the rain will have moved north out of South Carolina by later this morning. He said the main bands of Hurricane Helene will move through this morning into the afternoon, causing rain storms. Showers and storms are to continue through about noon Friday. However, winds are expected to continue through the evening. A high surf advisory will continue through Saturday. Flooding and storm surge are not the main worries in Myrtle Beach, as the potential for a tropical tornado remains moderate, the forecast said. Warnings for dangerous beach conditions have also been extended through Saturday in the Myrtle Beach area, according to NWS. Experts say that recent rainfall will have little effect on drought conditions Experts say that recent rainfall will have little effect on drought conditions BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Joanna Ransley of Florida was headed to Charleston on Thursday, September 26, 2024. She said she and three friends from Orlando, all who were in need of a getaway, had planned to meet in Charleston, but the rain changed their plans. All three are probably going to have to cancel coming. Im looking forward, or maybe not looking forward, to spending three nights all by myself, Ransley said. But I feel sorry for them, because they really need the break. But no, the weathers going to put the kabosh on that. Dealing with stormwater runoff Ninety-nine percent of the state has been in drought since August, so many West Virginians welcomed the downpour. Rainfall in southern West Virginia continued throuhgout the day on Thursday, flowing into creeks and bringing water to dry vegetation, but experts said the rain was not enough to resolve drought conditions. Eve West, a spokesperson for National Weather Service in Fayette County, said it would take more than a few days of heavy rainfall to get out of the drought. Drought conditions are putting pressure on farmers across the state Weve been in extreme drought conditions throughout the summer, she explained. {Scientists) consider not just precipitation but also heat and soil moisture when they look at drought conditions, and, you know, its been pretty hot and dry, all summer. When the soil is hard because of drought, rain doesnt saturate it as effectively. The rainfall evaporates or flows into bodies of water instead of drenching the soil. West said the state was still in drought on Thursday. Drought across the Mountain State raises fire risks I know, it seems like it doesnt make sense, but technically, we are still in the drought, even though weve had all this rain, West said. Its going to take us probably over a foot of rain to, technically, get out of it. On the bright side, West said, the moisture would help brighten the fall foliage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Explainer-What government will emerge in Austria after the election? VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's parliamentary election on Sunday is a tight race between the ruling conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPO). The FPO, which is critical of Islam and wants to stop granting asylum, is just ahead in opinion polls. Whoever wins will fall well short of an absolute majority and would need to form a coalition with at least one other party to command a stable majority in parliament. Here are the most likely coalition scenarios: WHO WINS - NOT NECESSARILY A TICKET TO POWER Austria's president usually invites the winner to hold talks with other parties in pursuit of a coalition. However, President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the left-wing Greens, has voiced reservations about the FPO and especially its leader Herbert Kickl, noting that the constitution does not oblige him to ask the winner. "It is established practice but as far as I am aware it is not in the constitution," he said last year. So he could take a different approach. With the top three parties currently polling between 20% and 30% support, there are a limited number of pathways to a parliamentary majority. There has been only one postwar minority government, of one party that won nearly half the seats. In 1999, the Social Democrats (SPO) came first in the election with the FPO and OVP almost tied in second and third. An OVP-led coalition with the FPO ultimately formed. FPO-OVP The only two-way tie-up that would command a majority, opinion polls suggest, is one between the FPO and OVP. The OVP is also the only party that has been open to allying with the FPO. The FPO has only ever been junior partner in coalitions with the OVP. Their last alliance lasted less than two years, from 2017 to 2019. It collapsed in scandal and open conflict. The parties overlap on policy, particularly on tougher immigration rules and tax cuts, but Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the OVP, who currently leads a coalition with the Greens, says he and his party will not take part in a government with Kickl in it. Kickl says it would be undemocratic for him not to be asked to form a government if he wins. Given how heavily the FPO have pushed him as future chancellor, he looks unlikely to step aside so that a government could emerge led by another FPO figure. If the FPO wins, the bigger its margin of victory, the stronger Kickl's position will be. OVP-FPO Should the OVP win, many analysts believe a coalition with the FPO has a good chance of emerging quite quickly. If the FPO finishes second, Kickl has said he would not seek to lead the government, removing a potential obstacle to cooperation. The alternative to such a tie-up, an OVP-led three-way coalition, could be more unwieldy. Political opponents have already branded a return to an OVP-FPO coalition as "Ibiza 2.0", a reference to the video sting scandal that brought down the last OVP-FPO coalition in 2019. OVP-SPO-NEOS OR OVP-SPO-GREENS Centrist coalitions between the OVP and the SPO were common for decades after World War Two. Then-OVP leader Sebastian Kurz secured an early end to the last one in 2017, condemning what he called its weak compromises. Today an OVP-SPO coalition would likely require another party such as the liberal NEOS or the Greens, both hovering around 10%. A three-way tie-up could tout its centrist credentials as a bulwark against the FPO, but also be a difficult balancing act. The OVP and NEOS espouse similar economic policies like lower taxes. The SPO's flagship policy is introducing wealth and inheritance taxes, which the OVP and NEOS vehemently oppose. The Greens are currently junior partners in a fraught coalition with the OVP that came close to collapse this year. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Dave Graham and Frances Kerry) An air-raid warning has been issued on the morning of 27 September in over half of Ukraines oblasts due to a threat of ballistic missiles being used from the south, and shortly after an explosion was heard in Kryvyi Rih. Source: Ukraines Air Force; Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Details: The Air Forces reported the threat of ballistic missiles being used at 09:11. Local authorities announced an explosion in Kryvyi Rih at 09:23, promising further details later. Quote from Lysak: "Kryvyi Rih. Explosion. Details later." Updated: The all-clear was given at 09:44 in all oblasts, except for Sumy and Donetsk. Later it was revealed that Russian forces had launched a missile attack on a district police headquarters in Kryvyi Rih. People were injured as a result of the attack, and some of them may still be under the rubble. Support UP or become our patron! Explosions heard in Dnipro, Zaporizhia and Odesa Explosions were heard in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa after midnight on the night of 26-27 September. Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne with reference to its correspondents; Ukraine's Air Force Details: The Ukrainian Air Force has reported the threat of Russian attack drones in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and said air defence may possibly be responding. Later, the Air Force stated that a Russian reconnaissance UAV had been spotted near the city of Dnipro, conducting further reconnaissance. The Air Force reported the threat of ballistic missiles being used in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Attack drones were detected in the western part of Odesa Oblast near the border, flying towards Tiraspol in Moldova. Support UP or become our patron! An air defence mobile firing group. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Explosions were heard in the city of Izmail, Odesa Oblast, on the night of 26-27 September. Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, with reference to its journalists Details: Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast. Explosions were also heard in the city of Odesa after midnight. Support UP or become our patron! By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. farmers are increasing pressure on the Biden administration to allow vaccinations for chickens, turkeys and cows to protect them from bird flu infections that have devastated flocks for three years. This autumn, flocks in the $67 billion U.S. poultry industry for the first time face a double risk for infections from dairies and migrating birds that can spread the disease. Bird flu, which is lethal for poultry and reduces milk output in dairy cows, has eliminated more than 100 million chickens and turkeys since 2022 in the biggest U.S. outbreak ever. Rose Acre Farms, the second-biggest U.S. egg producer, wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow vaccinations, CEO Marcus Rust told Reuters. The company lost millions of hens in outbreaks and is relocating an Indiana facility for breeding chickens because it sits across a highway from a wildlife refuge that attracts migratory ducks, he said. "We're farmers. We want our animals to live," Rust said. The virus' jump to cattle in 14 states and infections of 13 dairy and poultry farm workers this year have concerned scientists and federal officials about the risks to humans from further spread. The nation's leading egg, turkey and dairy groups argued in an August letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that the economic toll of the outbreak justifies deploying a vaccine. And federal lawmakers say USDA should accelerate its vaccine research and develop new methods to help farmers avoid outbreaks. "It is obvious that the current outbreak has no end in sight," a dozen members of Congress, led by Representatives Randy Feenstra, a Republican, and Democrat Jim Costa, said in another August letter to Vilsack. A USDA spokesperson said the agency has been collaborating with state and federal agencies and researchers to protect livestock, farmers and farm workers and is researching animal vaccinations. However, Vilsack said in a previously unreported March letter to members of Congress that a vaccine campaign would face challenges including potential barriers to exports. Many countries ban imports of vaccinated poultry because of concerns that the vaccine could mask the presence of the virus. "Widespread vaccination of commercial poultry is not possible in the short term," Vilsack wrote in the letter, which the animal welfare group Farm Forward obtained through a public records request and shared with Reuters. 'REASON TO HAVE HOPE' A growing number of countries are considering once-taboo vaccines. France last year began vaccinating ducks for bird flu. New Zealand, which has never had a case of bird flu, is testing a vaccine on five species of wild birds. Story continues The U.S. approved emergency use of bird flu vaccine to protect California condors last year. "The only use of a vaccine in the U.S. is in this particular case due to the endangered status of that wild bird," said Julianna Lenoch, a USDA wildlife disease expert. The U.S. vaccinated 94 condors and saw deaths from bird flu stop, she said on a Thursday webinar. Bird flu eliminated 17 million egg-laying hens from April through July, according to USDA data. By August, retail egg prices eclipsed $3.20 per dozen and reached a 16-month high, federal data show. The egg industry will need to increase supply to reduce prices and the migratory period creates uncertainty, said Brian Moscogiuri, a vice president for Eggs Unlimited. The migration season for wild birds is underway and will last until December, with waterfowl flying south from northern states like Minnesota, experts said. Blue-winged Teal ducks can travel all the way to South America, said Andy Ramey, research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Brazil, the world's top chicken exporter, could see more cases in wild birds due to migrations, its poultry association said. Migratory birds can carry the virus without dying and transmit it to poultry. However, it appears fewer wild birds are becoming infected, probably because they are building immunity, Ramey said. "There is reason to have hope," he said. (Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington and Tom Polansek in Chicago; Additional reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington and Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Bill Berkrot) TUPELO, Miss. (WJTV) Exxel Outdoors, a brand leader dedicated to creating high-quality products for outdoor recreation, commercial uses and the U.S. military, will relocate its national warehousing and distribution center from Reno, Nevada, to Tupelo, Mississippi. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $2 million and will create at least 40 jobs. Officials said Exxel Outdoors new Tupelo distribution center positions the company closer to the majority of its customers. Mississippi sends assets to Florida for Helene response The Mississippi Development Authority and Lee County have provided us with an absolutely stellar experience in bringing our new Tupelo distribution operation to fruition. We look forward to becoming part of Tupelos amazing community, with its business-positive leadership and welcoming environment, said Harry Kazazian, Chairman and CEO, Exxel Outdoors. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. Lee County also is assisting with the project. Exxel Outdoors brands include Kelty, Kelty Tactical, Ultimate Direction, Sierra Designs, Hex, Slumberjack, Wenzel, SJK and X2O. The company will begin hiring immediately. 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. All eyes on Czech populists as voting begins in run-off Senate races People cast their votes at a polling station during the run-off elections for the Czech Senate. Vondrou Roman/CTK/dpa Run-off elections for the Czech Senate began on Friday, with all eyes on whether the populist opposition can carry the day. In 22 constituencies of the Czech Republic, two candidates are competing against each other. Only five candidates secured an absolute majority in the first round a week ago to win a seat in the upper house of parliament. Polling stations opened on Friday afternoon. Citizens can also cast their votes until 2 pm (1200 GMT) on Saturday. The counting of votes will then begin, with results expected by early evening. Every two years, a third of the 81 seats in the Senate are up for election. The Senate has a say in legislation and can block constitutional changes. Much of the focus is on whether the populist opposition party ANO of former prime minister and billionaire Andrej Babis can repeat its strong showing in last week's regional elections. ANO is fielding the most candidates in the run-off elections. Currently, the liberal-conservative government parties hold a clear majority in the Senate. People cast their votes at a polling station during the run-off elections for the Czech Senate. Vondrou Roman/CTK/dpa People cast their votes at a polling station during the run-off elections for the Czech Senate. Vondrou Roman/CTK/dpa Claim: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has supported a policy that gives transgender people who rely on the government for medical care including those in prison and immigration detention access to transition treatment, including surgical care. Rating: Rating: True In 2019, Vice President Kamala Harris did express support for a policy that would give access to trans people who depend on state-funded health care including inmates and detained immigrants to gender-affirming care, which includes surgery. Harris and her campaign have declined to say whether she still supported it in 2024. However, it has been the policy in federal prisons since at least 2016, according to Bureau of Federal Prisons' guidance issued in 2016 and updated in 2022. Both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have maintained it. The policy follows the medical recommendations of every major medical association in the U.S. In 2022, a court ordered the first gender-affirming surgery for a trans federal inmate, affirming this long-standing policy. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed an appeal to stand that ruled gender dysphoria could be included in the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate, former U.S. President Donald Trump accused his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, of supporting "transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison." The video clip of the debate circulated widely on social media: Now she wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison." - Donald Trump on Kamala Harris during the presidential debate pic.twitter.com/K31GDQPBoe Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 11, 2024 This X post (archived) had amassed 12.3 million views and 167,000 likes as of this writing. During the debate, Trump added, "this is a radical left liberal that would do this." Later, X and Tesla owner and Elon Musk shared a video of Harris asserting the same thing. The rumor appeared in the form of a TV advertisement for the Trump campaign at the end of September 2024 that claimed "even the liberal media were shocked" by Harris' stance on gender-affirming surgery for inmates (archived): https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1837095668726333685 Voice-over: Kamala supports taxpayer funded sex changes for prisoners. Harris: surgery for prisoners, for prisoners, every transgender inmate in the prison system would have access. Voice-over: It's hard to believe, but it's true, even the liberal media was shocked. Kamala supports taxpayer funded sex changes for prisoners and illegal aliens. Harris: Every transgender inmate would have access. Voice-over: Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you. Trump: I'm Donald J. Trump and I approve this message. The claim is true. During her first presidential campaign in 2019 and 2020, Harris endorsed gender-affirming surgery for people who depend on the state to receive health care. In a 2019 questionnaire for the American Civil Liberties Union, Harris answered "yes" to question 14, which asked: As President will you use your executive authority to ensure that transgender and nonbinary people who rely on the state for medical care including those in prison and immigration detention will have access to comprehensive treatment associated with gender transition, including all necessary surgical care? If yes, how will you do so? After ticking the "yes" box, she elaborated, adding that she had already supported those policies in her capacity as attorney general of California (emphasis ours): It is important that transgender individuals who rely on the state for care receive the treatment they need, which includes access to treatment associated with gender transition. That's why, as Attorney General, I pushed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide gender transition surgery to state inmates. I support policies ensuring that federal prisoners and detainees are able to obtain medically necessary care for gender transition, including surgical care, while incarcerated or detained. Transition treatment is a medical necessity, and I will direct all federal agencies responsible for providing essential medical care to deliver transition treatment. By definition, people who are held in federal detention facilities for migrants and federal prisons depend on the state for medical care, which is therefore funded with taxes. It is the position of all reputable medical associations in the U.S. that gender-affirming care is health care, and that the course of treatment should be agreed on by a patient (and their family if they are young) and their doctor. The Federal Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice issued guidance in 2022 regarding the treatment of transgender offenders, and it outlines the procedure for inmates to request surgery: 9. Surgery While not all inmates who identify as transgender may be interested in seeking surgical intervention, such a decision does not preclude them from obtaining other accommodations as described in this Program Statement. For transgender inmates in Bureau custody, surgery may be the final stage in the transition process and is generally considered only after one year of clear conduct and compliance with mental health, medical, and programming services at the gender affirming facility. Once that period elapses, an inmate may submit a request to his or her Warden requesting surgical consideration. The Warden will forward the request to the TEC [Transgender Executive Council]. The TEC is the sole body who may determine that all milestones and individual goals for surgical consideration have been met. When this occurs, the case is referred to the agency's Medical Director for medical consideration. He or she may review existing records and/or interview the inmate, institution staff, and members of the TEC. After this individualized assessment, the Medical Director will determine if the surgery is medically appropriate for referral to a gender affirming surgeon. In effect, providing gender-supporting care in federal detention facilities, including surgery, was already the policy by the time this claim began to spread. In fact, these policies have been in place since at least 2016, according to the BOP. In 2022, a district court affirmed this policy by ruling that a federal inmate should receive gender-reassignment surgery. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed an appeal to stand that ruled gender dysphoria could be included in the Americans with Disabilities Act. In an interview on CNN at the end of August 2024, Harris outlined some of ways she changed her policy proposals, but she also added that her "values have not changed." As of this writing, the campaign hadn't said whether she maintained her support of giving trans inmates access to gender-affirming care, including surgery, only that "that questionnaire is not what she is proposing or running on," the Harris campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler said on Fox News on Sept. 10, 2024. Sources: ACLU Rights for All Candidate Questionnaire 2019 Kamala D. Harris. ACLU, 2019, https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2024/08/Harris-ACLU-Candidate-Questionnaire.pdf. Medical Association Statements in Support of Health Care for Transgender People and Youth | GLAAD. 26 June 2024, https://glaad.org/medical-association-statements-supporting-trans-youth-healthcare-and-against-discriminatory/. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF TRANSGENDER INMATES. Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2016, https://www2.fed.bop.gov/resources/pdfs/trans_guide_dec_2016.pdf. Transgender Offender Manual. U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2022, https://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5200-08-cn-1.pdf. Updates: Sept. 27, 2024: This article was updated to report that the Harris campaign declined to say whether she still supported the policy. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) With less than six weeks until Election Day, campaign ads are ramping up and its not just for candidates. Chances are, youve seen new ads about Issue 1 this week. NBC4 Investigates is fact-checking those ads. Democrats push for changes to Republican-run ballot board after biased Issue 1 wording Issue 1 is about redistricting and who should have the power to draw district lines: citizens or politicians? A yes vote for Issue 1 means a vote for a 15-person, citizen-led redistricting commission. A no vote keeps the redistricting commission as it is, with seven elected officials. The 30-second vote no ad, paid for by Ohio Works, started airing Thursday, Sept. 26 on NBC4. It appeals to voters by pulling on the federal election. Watch: The truth behind Issue 1 political ads Its tying into those Trump voters that we know are going to come out this November to vote for President Trump, and its just trying to make sure they understand what exactly Issue 1 is all about, Republican strategist Bob Clegg said. They know that there are Republicans that are not happy and so theyre trying to bring in this partisanship into it, Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg said. The ad points to past elections and Ohio voters support for previous redistricting legislation. The ad states, Democrats want to undo the redistricting safeguards that were supported by over 70% of Ohioans. This refers to two pieces of legislation. In 2015, 71% of voters supported a seven-member redistricting commission with requirements for minority party support. A vote in 2018 changed the vote requirement to pass the maps; that change passed by almost 75%. Ohio lawmaker aims to eliminate all lead pipes in the state over 15-year period We did vote on this and we put in place a system, but that system, the (Ohio) Supreme Court, seven times said, Youve done this unconstitutionally, Rothenberg said. We already, as the electorate here in Ohio, have approved reforms to our redistricting reapportionment process, Clegg said. We just approved them not even 10 years ago, it was nine years ago. So why are we already trying to change it again? Now to the vote yes ad: its paid for by Citizens not Politicians, the group behind the ballot initiative. What theyre trying to do is make it look like theyre, you know, the people are, theres a groundswell of demand for this reform to take place when there really isnt, Clegg said. The yes side is using rank and file people to just show that this is about people controlling the process over politicians controlling the process, Rothenberg said. This ad makes the claim the process is rigged, saying, Ohios voting districts were so badly rigged, theyve been deemed unconstitutional seven times. In 2022 the Ohio Supreme Court struck down proposed congressional and state legislative maps seven times combined. Youre going to hear the yes side say, Yeah, because politicians were involved, it didnt work. Because any time politicians have an ability to hold that crayon and draw their own districts, theyre going to do it, Rothenberg said. Immigration targeted by proposed Ohio bill They were ruled unconstitutional, but through our current system, we were able to produce a plan that was ruled as being constitutional, Clegg said. NBC4 reached out to both groups who created these ads. Citizens not Politicians are behind the vote yes ad, and they spoke with NBC4 Thursday afternoon. They say the ballot question is an effort to end gerrymandering in all forms. We have not heard back from Ohio Works, the group behind the vote no ad. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As General Motors assembly lines in Fairfax prepare for a nap next year, paving the way for a $390 million investment in electric vehicle production, the auto manufacturing giant and a handful of its Kansas City area suppliers have signaled theyll cut some jobs for good. Beginning in November, production will slow at the commercial hub in Kansas City, Kansas, the effects of which will cascade across the Missouri River and into the Northland. Five metro area companies that do business with General Motors recently notified workers of plans to either suspend operations or shut down entirely. The sprawling Fairfax plant, which boasts 95 acres of manufacturing and employs 2,275 workers, makes the midsize models Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XT4. Last year the company announced the Malibu would be discontinued. Starting next year the plant will be equipped to produce the Chevy Bolt EV, an all-electric vehicle. In its first round, General Motors plans to lay off 936 of its Fairfax employees. Of those, 686 are union workers whose layoffs will be temporary. Another 250 temporary employees jobs will be eliminated, according to the company. The second phase in January will temporarily affect 759 employees as the retooling and construction process is ongoing through the first half of 2025, according to a WARN letter submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce last week. Suppliers of parts and services to General Motors have also submitted legally required workforce notifications to Missouri and Kansas agencies. In all, the changeover at General Motors Fairfax and at suppliers spell out 945 local jobs that will go away in the coming months. The largest concentration of permanent layoffs is in the heavily industrialized town of Riverside, Missouri. Yanfeng, an international automotive parts supplier headquartered in China, alerted Missouri officials last week its Riverside plant will permanently close. The facility, which manufactures parts for General Motors, will lay off its 444 employees, including roughly 400 represented by United Auto Workers Local 710, a little more than a year after the companys production floor organized. Also losing jobs in Riverside are union auto workers and non-union employees of Adient, a seat manufacturer. Citing the conclusion of a specific customers production needs, the company said in its official layoff notice that 172 workers would permanently lose their jobs between November and January. Meanwhile, in Fairfax, OPmobility, a French auto parts maker, notified its 72 non-union employees that its doors will shut Dec. 20. The facility began supplying fuel systems to General Motors in 2015. Two other commercial service providers Comprehensive Logistics and Penske will lay off workers temporarily in line with the production slowdown at General Motors. Comprehensive Logistics, a warehouser, will pause all operations by January, affecting approximately 18 workers. Penske offers transportation services for the Fairfax plant. About 70 workers will be laid off temporarily until production picks up again, said Randy Ryerson, a company spokesman. Our customer is GM, so we kind of serve their needs, he said. Were trying to meet the workforce with the work they have, and so well be kind of winding down as we get closer to November. Dontay Wilson, president of UAW Local 31, which represents Fairfax production workers, said production is expected to be almost entirely nonexistent for six months in 2025. He said the union hopes the work of changing over the plant will move faster, allowing for a quicker return. The layoffs of auto workers at Fairfax are not news to the UAW members. As the production ramps down, Wilson said members have provisions in the contract with General Motors to offer supplemental unemployment benefits to help bridge the gap. He said other ideas being considered include establishing a food pantry for workers something typically organized around strikes. Wilson said the investment in the plant will put Fairfax in the rare position of producing either electric or gas-powered vehicles. That flexibility offers some peace of mind for union autoworkers looking toward the future who will have work whether the consumer market drives toward electric or internal combustion engines. Any time you get a level of investment in your plant, that is inarguably a good thing. That, God willing, brings some stability and job security here, Wilson said, adding that the Fairfax plant has been running with virtually no interruptions for the better part of two decades. That is kind of unheard of for a car plant, Wilson said. A mammoth employer of the Kansas City metro, General Motors downtime is expected to have wider economic consequences in the coming months. For example, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, estimates the electric generation needs of the Fairfax plant to lessen substantially, reducing the companys bills in that time. That reduction is estimated to cost the local government at least $1 million next year in public utility fees alone. The News The letter came from a Pennsylvania government office that didnt exist, informing Elizabeth Bennett of a program that didnt exist, either. You have been selected as a Wayward Steward exchange home for homeless immigrants and victims of foreign wars, read the letter, credited to the Pennsylvania Congressional Office of Immigration Affairs, which arrived at her suburban Philadelphia home on Thursday. Using property records and income records, we have determined that you are capable of housing (5) refugees ranging from ages 1 month to 90 years. Bennett, 62, quickly identified the hoax after a split second, she recalled to Semafor, when she imagined how her family would put up refugees in a minimum of one bedroom with US Government approved bunk beds. She called the number on the letterhead, which went to a helpline for benefits. (As of Friday afternoon, the number has been disconnected.) She confirmed that the PCOIA (the acronym that appeared on the envelope) didnt actually exist. I felt like it was trying to invoke fear about immigrants, and anger toward Biden and Harris, Bennett said. She posted the letter on a Facebook group for the progressive grassroots organization Indivisible, and contacted several levels of law enforcement. The district attorneys office, she said, told her it had been getting reports of bogus political mail, though nothing like hers. Davids view Theres plenty of immigration misinformation floating around swing states. And its not entirely new for a political group to design direct mail that looks like something official. People dont like it, but they open it, and they remember it. But the hoax letter to Bennett, who was not a potential Republican voter, didnt ask for anything and contained no indication of any affiliation with a campaign or advocacy group. It referred, in mangled English, to a fake order (US5Ca12-B) written into Law by President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris. It promised a weekly county inspection and an $80 supply stipend weekly to pay for the mandatory daily meal Bennett and her husband would provide their charges. It was somewhere between dirty trick, parody, and gibberish; it was also in harmony with the Trump campaigns increased focus on refugees in small towns and cities, like Charleroi, a western Pennsylvania city where about 2,000 migrants and refugees have settled. Federal programs have helped in some cases, including an optional program that places refugees with citizens but its voluntary. Notable Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Julia Terruso also saw the letter after Bennett posted it, and got some more details. In the New York Times, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs reported from Charleroi, where refugee myths ran wild: A musician said his bandmates were now afraid to venture downtown for jam sessions, fearing that migrants were causing a rise in crime, which local officials said was not true. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) The Fall River Police Department is losing its third chief in four years, as Mayor Paul Coogan announced Friday that Chief Paul Gauvin will step down to the rank of captain. The announcement comes as Gauvin has faced mounting criticism from rank-and-file officers, who have expressed frustration with the chiefs leadership. Two police unions earlier this month voted no confidence in Gauvins leadership. In August, a captain filed a lawsuit against the chief and the city, alleging he was retaliated against for doing internal investigations while serving in internal affairs. It has been an honor to serve the city of Fall River in this capacity, Gauvin said in a statement. However, after much reflection, I believe its time for change. I am proud of the progress weve made, but I recognize that its important to focus more on my family at this stage of my career. Gauvin is slated to step down as chief on Oct. 15 and assume command of the departments Major Crimes Division, according to Coogans office. His three-year contract would have expired in May. Coogan said the personnel decision was mutually agreed-upon, and it was reached amicably. Chief Gauvin has made significant contributions to the department and community turning the department around during difficult times, Coogan said in a statement. We are grateful for his leadership and are confident his continued service as detective captain will be a great asset to our Major Crimes Division. Coogan, who said the unions no-confidence votes played into his decision, said hes interviewing internal candidates to serve as interim chief until Coogans contract would have ended until May. At that point, the mayor said he will decide whether to appoint the interim chief to the position permanently, or look outside the department for other options. Theyre going to get an eight month test to see how they do, he said. If its not the things were looking for as an administration and a city, were prepared to go out of town. Fall River police leadership changes have become common in recent years. Gauvin is the third permanent chief to serve in the position since 2020, when then-Chief Albert Dupere stepped down amid a Target 12 investigation. Dupere was replaced by Jeffery Cardoza, who served as chief until he was replaced by Gauvin in 2022. Coogan acknowledged the frequent turnover in leadership has been tough to manage, and it has created disruption in the department. The mayor said hes hopeful they will find a candidate who will provide long-term stability for the department. Its upheaval we dont want upheaval, Coogan said. We like things steady in the city of Fall River and well work to get there with whoever we put in as an interim probably next week. After stepping down, Gauvin is expected to take vacation until January, Coogan added. Paul has been a friend of mine for a long time, he said. He did a great job. But hes looking for something different in the future and were going to work together to get that done. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) Governor Maura Healey has ordered all U.S. American and Massachusetts flags to be lowered to half-staff on Friday. WWII soldier identified to be buried in Agawam The order was issued to honor Private Kwack Woo, a U.S. Army soldier who died in World War II being laid to rest at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Private Woo died in battle in Germany back in 1945. His remains werent recovered until years later and then he went unidentified for nearly 80 years. His remains arrived at Bradley International Airport last week and his funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday. The order calls for the flags to be lowered to half-staff on all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Friday, the date of interment. 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. Indias most popular sweet - the laddu - is caught in an unsavoury row. The controversy erupted last week when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that lab reports had shown that laddus offered to the deity and then distributed to devotees every day at the famous Tirupati temple in the state were contaminated with animal and vegetable fat. He said the ghee (clarified butter) used in the sweets was adulterated with beef tallow, fish oil and other impurities. Temple offerings in India are usually vegetarian. On the face of it, it appeared like a matter of food adulteration - something that authorities in India routinely grapple with. But since Naidus announcement, the issue has dominated headlines, caused a major political row and prompted other temples to test their sweets for purity. The Tirupati temple attracts millions of devotees from India every year [Getty Images] The Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh is one of Hinduisms most sacred shrines. Dedicated to Hindu god Sri Venkateswara - popularly known as Balaji the temple owns assets worth tens of billions of dollars and attracts nearly 24 million devotees from India and abroad every year. The famous Tirupati laddus - made with gram flour, sugar, cashews, raisins and cardamom and cooked in pure cow ghee are prized by devotees who consider them gods blessing and carry them back home to share with family and friends. Reports say more than 350,000 laddus are prepared daily in the temples kitchen. So Naidus revelations have been met with dismay, with many religious leaders calling on authorities to protect the sanctity of temples. Care should be taken that such great sins are not repeated in a temple that has tens of millions of devotees, Ramana Deekshitulu, a priest, told news agency ANI. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, another prominent priest, called it an attack on the faith and belief of tens of millions of Hindus. This is an organised crime and a huge betrayal of Hindus. It should be investigated and strict action should be taken against the guilty, he told a news channel. The issue has also turned into a political slugfest after Naidu blamed his rival and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the "desecration". Laddus being made in the Tirupati temple kitchen [BBC Telugu] Naidu, who was sworn in as the states chief minister in June, alleged that the impure laddus were distributed to devotees during Reddys term. The temple board is run by the state government, which appoints its chief. Naidu said he had changed the ghee supplier and formed a special investigation team led by a senior police officer to address the issue. An angry Reddy has rejected the allegations and accused Naidu of playing politics. In a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asked him to severely reprimand Naidu, whos a key ally in Modis federal government. Naidu is a pathological and habitual liar who was tarnishing the image of the temple trust with false campaigns, he wrote. Reddy said even though the temple did not have a lab to check the ghees purity, its officials were experienced in identifying impurities by appearance and smell and that there had been instances - both during his government and also earlier when Naidus party had been in power - when ghee tankers were sent back to suppliers. Reddy's party has also invited people to take part in religious rituals in temples across the state to "atone for the sin" that, they say, Naidu has committed by making allegations about the laddus. Meanwhile, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) the board that manages the nearly 2,000-year-old temple - has been trying to do damage control. A board spokesperson told reporters that they were sourcing ghee from five companies via tenders. After complaints from pilgrims and laddu makers, they sent samples for lab tests which revealed that four tankers from AR Dairy in Tamil Nadu were of substandard quality. In response, AR Dairy, which has been producing ghee since 1998 and claims to conduct 102 quality checks on its milk, dismissed the allegations as absurd and stated that they are severely damaging to our business. It said a quality control officer at the firm had called the allegations that fish oil was added nonsensical, as fish oil costs more than ghee, and that any form of adulteration would be immediately noticeable by its odour. The temple, meanwhile, said it had done its own penance. To assure devotees that its laddus were now rid of defects and fit for gods and humans, the priests held a four-hour-long purification ritual on Monday. Photographs released by the temple board showed priests sprinkling holy water in the kitchen, on sacks of ingredients and on huge trays of laddus. Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai at the Tirupati temple after their wedding in 2007 [Getty Images] The controversy, however, refuses to die down and has dominated headlines in the state. Popular actor and the states Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan called the adulteration an attack on Hindu religion. Kalyan is also performing what he called 11 days of atonement rituals to rectify the "great injustice". Members of a Hindu nationalist group have demonstrated outside Reddys home, chanting slogans. They left after painting the gate and walls saffron - a colour that is worn by many Hindu priests and is also the colour of flags of BJP and other Hindu parties. Authorities in other states have also been rushing to test sweets offered at other Hindu temples, including the famous Krishna temple in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and the Jagannath temple in Odisha state. The issue has also found resonance on social media. Laddu, along with hashtags such as #TirupatiLaddu, #TirupatiLadduControversy and #TirupatiLadduRow, has trended for days on X (formerly Twitter), with many expressing their outrage at what they called deliberate attempts to hurt Hindu faith. Some of this outrage, however, appeared to be manufactured after it was pointed out that many handles pledging support to Hindu nationalist groups had shared images of Reddy wearing a Muslim skullcap and derided him as anti-Hindu. One tweet, shared by many handles two days after Naidus allegation, was especially flagged for using identical words by people who appeared unrelated. It said: For the past 2-3 years, Amma [mother] used to fall sick if she tasted Tirupati laddus and used to tell us not to eat too much of it. We put it on her general paranoia. Now I feel she sensed something was terribly wrong. Families of 43 missing students in Mexico are still demanding justice Through driving rain, Luz Maria Telumbre travelled to Mexico City from the western state of Guerrero to mark 10 years since the darkest night of her life. Her son, Cristian Alfonso, should be nearing his 30th birthday. Instead, shes carrying an image of him frozen in time at just 19, when he and his classmates were abducted by Mexican police. Christian was one of 43 student teachers travelling from the Ayotzinapa teacher training college, which has a strong history of activism, to an annual protest in Mexico City. The students disappeared from the city of Iguala, and were last seen on security camera footage lying face-down on the back of police pick-up trucks as they were spirited out of the city. The full story of the insidious relationship between the state and the cartels in Guerrero - and its part in the students abduction - has never been fully established. In the intervening years, Luz Maria and the other victims parents have been calling for the same thing. Alive they took them, alive we want them back, they chant. In essence, its a call for the authorities to clarify exactly what happened to their children that night on 26 September 2014, to admit full culpability and to prosecute those involved. The protesters waved a banner commemorating the 43 missing student teachers [BBC] An initial investigation, under then-President Enrique Pena Nieto, concluded that corrupt municipal police from Iguala and surrounding towns, acting on orders from the local mayor, handed the students over to the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel. According to the investigation, the cartel killed the students and disposed of their remains, while federal police and military were deemed to be uninvolved. However, this version - labelled "the historic truth" - was met with widespread scepticism. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) challenged the findings, calling them "scientifically impossible". Further investigations have added new layers of complexity. Journalist Anabel Hernandez presented an alternative theory. She suggested that buses commandeered by the students to take them to Mexico City a regular practice which was tolerated by the bus companies were secretly transporting heroin. Under her theory, the Mexican army, acting on behalf of drug traffickers, intercepted the shipment, leading to the students' deaths to eliminate any witnesses. As a presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador made repeated promises to leave no stone unturned in the case of the 43, and as president, he established a "truth commission" to reopen the case promising to follow the evidence wherever it led. Around a dozen soldiers were subsequently arrested as well as the former Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam. However, almost all of those detained have since been subsequently released. Furthermore, the independent investigators abruptly withdrew from Mexico last year citing a raft of issues with state authorities including a lack of information, secrecy and hidden evidence. In February, the families of the missing students announced they would cease contact with the commission due to frustrations over the military's lack of transparency. Luz Maria firmly believes Lopez Obradors administration blocked the investigation as it began to close in on the military. Given how the investigation collapsed under Mr Lopez Obrador, he never gave us an answer, she told the BBC as the march began to get underway. Things began to get tricky when we told him the Mexican army was responsible for the disappearance of our children and he didnt want to investigate any further," she claims. Luz Maria is concerned that the military now plays an outsized role in Mr Lopez Obradors administration, responsible for everything from the construction of government infrastructure projects to national security. The army are criminals dressed up in military, is her brutal assessment. As the march makes its way through the rain down Mexico Citys Reforma Avenue, groups of young indigenous student teachers chant defiantly, the rage evident in their voices. Theyre incensed that, a decade on, they are still demanding to know what happened to their friends, and fearful that the impunity of this case means it could easily be repeated in the future. Earlier in the day at his morning press conference, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador insisted his outgoing government had done everything (it) could to find the students. He has publicly called their disappearance a state crime and again assured the families his administration was not protecting anyone. We wanted to know everything, he said. But things got complicated and tangled because of different interests. Margarito Guerrero no longer believes the government's assurances [BBC] As the protesters pause for a minute at a monument erected to the 43, Margarito Guerrero, the father of another kidnapped teenager, Jhosivani, says the presidents assurances no longer amount to much. In fact, he believes officialdom in Mexico has deliberately placed obstacles in the relatives path to prevent them from reaching the truth. We feel like theyve strung us along for years to try to tire us out. But were not tired, he says with a hint of a smile. And if they dont give us an answer, well keep going. For us, our children are still alive until we see some proof to the contrary. The drenched protesters their feet wet but their resolve unbroken reach their final destination, Mexico Citys main plaza, the Zocalo. The victims parents, those most affected by the terrible events of a decade ago, walk onto a stage to address the crowd. Behind them, the National Palace, Mexicos seat of power, is cordoned off by a ring of steel. As fiery left-wing speakers deliver speeches about the 43s place in a wider struggle between the indigenous poor and the Mexican state, the barricades represent more than just a fence. Theyre another kind of barrier between the Mexican government, led by a president who promised to get to the bottom of what happened that night, and the families. One, 2, 3, 4 the parents count out loud, until they reach 43, a number now synonymous in Mexico with one of the worst human rights violations in its modern history. Alive they took them, alive we want them back," they shout once more into the rain-soaked night. By P.J. Huffstutter CHICAGO (Reuters) - Rail backlogs are disrupting export trade between the United States and Mexico and snarling agricultural supply chains as the fall harvest is under way, agriculture groups said on Friday. A potential East and Gulf Coast port strike that could begin on Tuesday would exacerbate the problems, nearly 200 agriculture groups said in a letter sent to the White House on Friday. While Mexico is the top U.S. corn export market, it's also been a key outlet this year for agricultural exporters looking to compensate for sluggish buying from China, a top commodity buyer. Mexico's imports of U.S. agricultural products increased 27% in the first seven months of 2024 over the prior year, government data showed. But rail capacity cannot keep up with the demand, said National Grain and Feed Association President Mike Seyfert. Union Pacific Corp and Berkshire Hathaway-owned BNSF Railway have stopped issuing permits for grain shuttle trains to Mexico because of congestion and a growing backlog of loaded trains, according to Union Pacific's website and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ferromex, the Mexican railroad that interchanges with BNSF and Union Pacific, also has embargoed permits for grain trains at border crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, USDA said. Union Pacific said it is working to facilitate smoother crossings and reduce congestion at the border. BNSF and Ferromex could not be reached for comment. The situation has left some grain sellers scrambling to find new buyers for their crops and struggling to get empty rail cars back from Mexico for shipments, Seyfert said. "When you're trying to make space for what is predicted to be a large corn crop and a large soy crop, the last thing you need is to try to find new business if you can't deliver to your customer," Seyfert said. (Reporting By P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) About 80 people took part in the challenge on Snaefell Mountain [BBC] More than 80 people have scaled the highest point of the Isle of Man as part of a memorial event to remember Manx organ donors. The walk up Snaefell was part of the Turn the Peaks Pink challenge bringing the island together with others touched by organ donation on five peaks in UK via an online link-up. Wearing pink bobble hats, people including relatives of donors and recipients carried pictures of loved ones on the trip to mark Organ Donation Awareness Week. Campaigner Diane Taylor, whose son Daniel Boyde's organs were donated following his death in a car crash in 2007, said it had been an "emotional" event. Diane Taylor organised the event, and said it had a "wonderful turnout" [BBC] Ms Taylor said she hoped those taking part "find comfort in speaking to people who understand, but also that it raises awareness on the importance of organ donation and having that conversation". About 7,000 people, including Manx patients, are currently on the UK organ donation waiting list. Originally created by a team of specialist nurses from NHS Blood and Transplant in North Wales, the memorial walk has been broadened out to other regions. This year's event also saw groups scale Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, and Pen y Fan and Snowdon in Wales. The mother and sister of Callum Moore, Sandra Moore (left) and Rachael Cashin, took part in his memory [BBC] Sandra Moore and Rachael Cashin, the mother and sister of 26-year-old Callum Moore who died in a motorcycle crash earlier this year, also took part in the event. Ms Cashin said the "one positive thing" about losing Callum was that he could "selflessly donate his organs and save the lives of three people". While there was often a focus on receiving an organ donation, there was not as much discussion about the "tough decision to donate your loved ones organs", she said. "The biggest thing you can do is sign up, be specific and tell your loved ones what your wishes are," she added. Daniel Boyde's organs were used to help four other young people [Si Bell] The walk was organised by the Organ Donation Committee at Noble's Hospital and Organ Donation Isle of Man. The Human Tissue and Organ Donation Act - known as Daniel's Law - to create an opt-out system for donation has not yet been brought into force despite receiving Royal Assent in 2021. Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk More on this story Related internet links Family of Beverly Carter keeps her legacy alive through foundation 10 years after real estate agents killing Family of Beverly Carter keeps her legacy alive through foundation 10 years after real estate agents killing LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The kidnapping and murder of Arkansas realtor Beverly Carter is a case that made national headlines a decade ago, and now her family is working to keep her memory alive. Ten years ago this week, Carter went to show a house to a couple in Scott but never came home. Her story has forever changed the real estate world in hopes of making the industry safer. The loss of this dynamic figure shocked Arkansas and devastated Carters family. She had the biggest personality but also so sweet and so humble, son Carl Carter recalled. She was absolutely the cornerstone, the matriarch of our family. Timeline: Beverly Carter Murder Case Carl shared his memories of that fateful day, saying the family was initially not worried when Beverly could not be found. When I got the call from my dad and he said that your mom is not returning my phones calls or my texts, it didnt really cause any concern to me at all, he said. Carl explained that on Sept. 25, 2014, his mom was in the town of Scott doing what she had done hundreds of times showing a house to potential buyers. The family began to worry, though, when they arrived at the home to find it deserted. We arrive there, and this home is empty, and there is my moms car locked with her purse inside, he said. It was just as if though my mom disappeared. Son Remembers Beverly Carter Year After Disappearance The couple thought to be interested in purchasing the home quickly became the focus of a desperate search. Ill never forget the feeling of just, how big the world felt, and how endless the opportunities of where she could be, Carl remembered. Realtors, friends, family and strangers all scoured farmlands and fields for Beverly. She was found dead five days later on Sept. 30. Arron Lewis is serving two life sentences for capital murder and kidnapping for the killing, while his then-wife Crystal Lowery is serving 30 years for first-degree murder. Arron Lewis Appeal Denied by AR Supreme Court The story of Beverlys killing caught fire, spreading across the world. After grieving his loss, a purpose and a passion for change ignited within Carl. It was a couple years after actually we lost my mom that an agent confided in me that while she was showing property, she was attacked and raped, and that was the moment within where I was like, Weve got to do something, he explained. Carl created the Beverly Carter Foundation in January of 2017. The foundations goal is to teach personal safety to real estate agents and more. I often start with my moms situation, and things that could have made a different outcome, and one is do everything we can to verify the identity of the people that were working with, that were meeting with, he said. Slain realtors son pushes for safety five years later Beverlys legacy also included legislation created in Arkansas aimed at keeping realtors safe. Something that Im so grateful our state did is implement the requirement that every real estate agent within the state of Arkansas take one hour of mandated safety training every single year, and beyond the great thing that was put in place, now were seeing other states adopt that same legislation, Carl said. Watching the industry transform in her honor and memory brings a sense of pride in his mother to Carl, something he shares during every presentation he gives for the foundation. I see my first slide, which is a picture of my beautiful mom, I always say Hey mom, this is who were talking to today and this is who were trying to help, he said. Life after the Verdict for the Beverly Carter Family Thousands of people now know the name Beverly Carter, and her story and legacy has inspired 10 years of change and action. I feel like people can just read a little bit about her, see her picture, and see the warmth, the real person that was behind it and they relate to her, and I think it speaks so much to who she was that were still having the conversation 10 years later, Carl said. One thing Carl noted thats gets him through every day is how he knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that his mom knew she was fiercely loved by her entire family and how he will continue to be her biggest advocate hoping to keep a positive legacy of his mom. TV Show Web of Lies to Feature AR Murder Case of Realtor Beverly Carter To learn more about the work of the foundation or see how you can get involved, head to BeverlyCarterFoundation.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 KARK. Family of North TX woman killed in crash by alleged drunk driver will sue trucking company The family of a woman who was killed in a Sept. 19 crash with an accused drunken driver spoke out for the first time this week and said they plan to file a lawsuit. The victim, 41-year old Amanda Wright, was driving home from a Slipknot concert in Dallas when an intoxicated man driving a semi-truck hit her vehicle on West Loop 820 in Fort Worth, police said. Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. According to an incident report, the driver of the semi, 24-year old Guadalupe Velazquez Cruz, said he had consumed alcohol prior to the accident and he had swayed, unsteady balance and bloodshot eyes. Velazquez Cruz was arrested on charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury. You took a beautiful woman from our family and left her daughters motherless and (she was) a sister and an aunt to nieces and nephews that loved her dearly, Wrights sister Sarah said Thursday at a press conference alongside their attorney, WFAA-TV reported. According to an online obituary for Wright, she leaves behind two daughters, aged 19 and 8. Wright graduated from Brewer High School in 2001, attended Tarrant County College and worked in retail management, according to the obituary. The family intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against EGA Trucking, the company responsible for the semi and driver, according to their attorney with Branch & Dhillon Law Firm said. More top stories from our newsroom: 15 years for murderer accused of killing witness is a joke, cop says Teachers, parents weigh in on superintendent transition Bridge in park is sinking after city runs out of concrete [Get our breaking news alerts.] I cant even fathom that so many people think they can drink and drive, but this was just a bad example of you cant, Wrights mother, Lou, said, according to WFAA. According to the familys lawyer, Velazquez Cruz is on an immigration hold and will not be released from jail during the investigation. The family of a 29-year-old woman who has been missing for two months has made a plea for her to return home. Fathayha Begum, 29, from Southam, Warwickshire, went missing from her home in July. She is described as having brown eyes, long brown hair and wearing glasses. Warwickshire Police said officers were "very concerned" for Ms Begum's welfare. According to the force, she has links to the West Midlands conurbation and Westminster in London, with officers saying they believe it is possible she may not be using her own name. Her family has issued a statement, describing her as a "kind and caring individual with a bright future". They said: "Fathayha, if you are reading this, we are all so worried about you. Please tell us that you are safe, send any one of us a message or come home to any one of us, no matter what time it is. We are here for you, always. "We love and care for you very much. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Related links As far as intensity, its up to Mother Nature: Hurricane hunter Capt. Nate Wordal As far as intensity, its up to Mother Nature: Hurricane hunter Capt. Nate Wordal (NewsNation) As most people in the path of Hurricane Helene evacuate their homes, Capt. Nate Wordal flies through the storm. Wordal, a hurricane hunter pilot with the U.S. Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flew through the side of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, dropping weather instruments that return data to the National Hurricane 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 NewsNation. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) In observance of Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day, the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division held an event Thursday as it looks to end the stigma behind talking about suicide. CJIS employees visiting with miniature horses (WBOY image). During the event, FBI CJIS welcomed therapy dogs, miniature horses and ponies to meet with employees, alongside additional resource tables for those struggling with mental health. A presentation was also held for employees which included remarks from CJIS acting assistant director Timothy Ferguson as well as keynote speaker William Mac Babb III, whos the Chief of Police at Virginia Tech. Miniature horses came dressed to impress (WBOY image). A therapy dog visits with an outdoor pony (WBOY image). Clarksburg VA recognizes volunteers with award ceremony We have to reduce the stigma and remove the stigma of law enforcement officer suicide and not discussing it and not talking about it, we have to get it out into the open and the only way to do that is to raise the awareness, have open and honest conversations and talk about mental health and resiliency for all employees that work in the law enforcement profession, Ferguson said. Acting CJIS assistant director, Timothy Ferguson, during the presentation (WBOY image). Agencies have sent statistics to the division which state that law enforcement suicide rates encapsulate around 30 people per year, though Ferguson said he believes agencies are under-reporting due to the sensitivity of the subject. CJIS focuses on health, wellness, and resiliency by offering places around campus for employees to recenter and collect themselves. Three licensed clinicians are also available for CJIS staff as its motto when approaching law enforcement suicide is not one 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 WBOY.com. (NewsNation) The FBI says the overall rate of violent crime in the U.S. dropped by 3% last year, compared to 2022. That includes a big drop in the very worst crimes. According to the agency, murders and non-negligent manslaughters dropped by 11.6%, rape dropped by 9.4% and aggravated assaults were down by 2.8%. One category that dropped only slightly was hate crimes, defined as offenses as being motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity. That category saw just a .6% decrease. Diddy case: Rappers, stars and more are worried over Diddy Files The FBI statistics for 2023 are based on data collected from more than 16,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States, representing 94.3% of the U.S. population. The 2023 numbers continue the trend that began in 2022, when violent crimes dipped to near pre-pandemic levels. That rate fell from about 377 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2022 to about 364 per 100,000 people in 2023. Thats just slightly higher than the 2019 rate, according to Deputy Assistant Director Brian Griffith of the FBIs Criminal Justice Information Services Division. Are we looking at crime rates at a return to pre-pandemic levels? I think a reasonable person would look at that and say, Yes, thats what has happened, Griffith said in an interview with the Associated Press. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. People with schizophrenia will have a new treatment option for the first time in more than three decades, after the Food and Drug Administration Thursday approved a new kind of drug. Studies showed Bristol Myers Squibb's drug, KarXT, improved symptoms of schizophrenia and led to fewer side effects than existing antipsychotic treatments. Researchers are optimistic patients might stick with this medication longer than existing drugs, which patients often quit due to side effects. KarXT is a twice-daily oral medication for adults that combines two drugs: Xanomeline, which targets muscarinic receptors in the brain, and trospium, which alleviates digestive and other symptoms that result from this type of medication. The promising drug combination was discovered and tested by Karuna Therapeutics, which Bristol Myers Squibb acquired in March. Bristol Myers Squibb will sell the drug combination under the brand name Cobenfy. The pharmaceutical company hasn't said how much it will charge for the medication. The nonprofit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, which analyzes drug prices, said in January that the drug would be cost effective if priced between $16,000 and $20,000 per year. In April, Bristol Myers Squibb released the results of a study that found three-quarters of patients saw their symptoms improve by 30% or more after one year on KarXT. The KarXT approval comes after decades of no significant treatment advancements for schizophrenia patients. About 3.7 million, or 1.8%, of adults in the U.S. have a lifetime history of schizophrenia, according to research published in 2023. The estimate was two to three times higher than previous estimates. Doctors are hopeful KarXT will make a meaningful difference for patients who've struggled with existing antipsychotic medications, said Jelena Kunovac, a clinical assistant professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She said 75% of patients discontinue antipsychotics within 18 months, often due to stigma or side effects of existing drugs. Antipsychotics can cause weight gain, drowsiness, metabolic syndrome, which can increase risk of heart attack or stroke, or involuntary movements such as blinking or sticking out your tongue. "The field is ready to try something different," Kunovac said. "This medication may be a game changer for some subset of patients." Schizophrenia can cause people to hallucinate, struggle to control thoughts or become suspicious of others. Researchers have tried without success to develop new class of schizophrenia medications since the last wave of dopamine-blocking antipsychotics emerged in the 1990s. Earlier this week, a study in the journal "Psychiatric Services in Advance" found that 70% of adults with schizophrenia had some type of mental health treatment in the past year. Only 30% were currently taking an antipsychotic. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Schizophrenia drug KarXT wins FDA approval Credit - Steve Belkowitz (Bristol Myers Squibb) No new treatments for schizophrenia have been approved in nearly three decades, but that changed on Sept. 26, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cobenfy for the psychiatric disorder. Developed by Karuna Therapeutics, which was subsequently acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb, the drug works in an entirely different way from existing medications for schizophrenia, which is building excitement and enthusiasm among doctors and patients alike. How scientists developed the new drug While schizophrenia treatments primarily target the dopamine neurotransmitter system in the brain, Cobenfy goes after a different one, the cholinergic system, through muscarinic receptors. Decades ago, scientists at Eli Lilly had studied the muscarinic system as a possible treatment for Alzheimers disease, since manipulating it seemed to reduce some of the symptoms of Alzheimers-related psychosis that some patients develop. The company's researchers also serendipitously learned that a compound they developed to activate the system also improved symptoms of schizophrenia. But cells in many parts of the bodythe brain, but also the bladder, gut, salivary glands, eyes, and heartcontain receptors for the muscarinic system, which meant it was challenging to selectively target just those in the brain and not elsewhere. Because the compound, called xanomeline, caused wide-ranging side effects, Lilly's researchers shelved further study on it. Read More: Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women Andrew Miller, co-founder of Karuna, became intrigued by this research and tried to figure out how to activate the muscarinic system in the brain while tamping it down elsewhere in the body. He and his team tested 7,000 compounds and eventually combined xanomeline with a drug that had been approved by the FDA in the 1970s for treating overactive bladder, to suppress muscarinic activity elsewhere in the body. "It's a pretty out-of-the-box approach," says Miller. The overactive bladder drug "has nothing to do with psychiatry," he said. Combining it with a serendipitous discovery of xanomeline "didn't fit the traditional model of innovative drug discovery." But it worked. What studies have found In a study the company published last December in the journal Lancet, the researchers reported that the combinationnow called Cobenfy but then called KarXThelped to significantly reduce symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, social withdrawal, and a loss of motivation compared to a placebo. Those data were part of the application that the company submitted to the FDA for approval. Bristol Myers Squibb acquired Karuna in 2023 largely based on these encouraging results. When we looked at the available neuroscience and neuropsychiatric assets out there, we didnt want the next dopamine agonist or antagonist in the marketplace, which all of the physicians have [already] seen, says Adam Lenkowsky, chief commercialization officer for Bristol Myers Squibb. We wanted a truly revolutionary asset, one with a different mechanism: a first-in-class, best-in-category asset we think could transform the space. Read More: Inside Ibogaine, One of the Most Promising and Perilous Psychedelics for Addiction Samit Hirawat, chief medical officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, says that not only does Cobenfy address schizophrenia in an entirely new way, but its approach could be used for other neurological conditions as well. "The breadth of applicability of this medicine is what attracted us. Dr. Rishi Kakar, chief scientific officer at Segal Trials who led several studies on Cobenfy, says that the uniqueness of the mechanism of action differentiated this medication from everything else we had so far, and truly caught my eye right off the bat. Kakara psychiatrist who treats patients as well as conducts researchsays that historically, only about 40% of people with schizophrenia respond to dopamine-based treatments, and the other 60% who may respond often stop taking their medications because of intolerable side effects, which can include uncontrolled muscle movements, dizziness, fainting, and weight gain. The trials included patients who were hospitalized for acute schizophrenia and randomly assigned to receive Cobenfyas a pill taken twice a dayor a placebo for five weeks. In order to reflect the real-world population of patients, some had been taking existing medications but stopped because of the side effects, or werent compliant. All patients went through a wash-out period of up to two weeks to ensure any measurements of their outcomes during the study were due solely to Cobenfy or placebo. Patients received escalating doses of the drug, and prescribing doctors were able to adjust dosages for their patients depending on their symptoms. The studies documented a significant reduction in overall symptoms of schizophrenia in the patients receiving Cobenfy compared to placebo. My viewpoint is that [this difference] can mean someone can potentially carry on a better life by having symptom control, says Kakar. What else to know about Cobenfy The FDA approved Cobenfy as a monotherapymeaning it is meant to be taken alone, without other medicationsbut more studies will be needed to see how the medication works in combination with existing treatments, and what the benefits and risks are of combining them. I think many clinicians are going to try this as a first-time pharmacological option, because they will find that the reduction in symptoms is fairly robust, says Kakar. From what I saw, it has true value for the unmet need we have. Lenkowsky says Bristol Myers Squibb is conducting a trial studying Cobenfy in combination with dopamine-based medications that will yield results in about a year. Read More: The Dopamine Detox Is Having a Moment In contrast to the existing dopamine-based treatments, the side effects of Cobenfy reported by the volunteers in the studies were mostly mild to moderate, involving nausea and gastrointestinal distress, and tended to lessen with time. The label also alerts patients that the drug is associated with urinary retention, increased heart rate and swelling in the face in rare cases; the medication is not recommended for people with a history of liver or kidney disorders. Bristol Myers Squibb is continuing to study the drug for its longer term effects, as well as to understand and potentially guide doctors on how to adjust doses for patients as their symptoms change over time. The success in schizophrenia patients may lead to other uses of the drug in other conditions as well. Neuropsychiatry is at the cusp of bringing an explosion of new medicines, and Cobenfy is the start of a pipeline of potential products, says Hirawat. The company is currently studying the drug in Alzheimers-related psychosis, and next year plans to start late-stage trials investigating whether it can improve bipolar mania, Alzheimers-associated agitation, and Alzheimers-associated cognitive impairment. In 2027, the company hopes to begin trials in people with autism. How much will Cobenfy cost? According to a Bristol Myers Squibb spokesperson, the wholesale cost for a month's supply will be $1,850. Depending on people's insurance coverage, that cost could be lower for individual patients. Bristol Myers Squibb estimates that 80% of people with schizophrenia in the U.S. have insurance coverage either through Medicare or Medicaid. Contact us at letters@time.com. It was around dawn on a chilly day last November when West Virginia state troopers forcibly extricated Jerome Wagner out from a 25ft-deep pit where he was locked to a drilling machine being used to finish construction of a beleaguered gas pipeline. The veteran climate activist was trying to draw attention to the Mountain Valley pipeline (MVP) a 300-mile (480km) fossil fuel project mired by environmental controversies and blocked by court orders and regulatory red tape until it was pushed through by the Biden administration in mid-2023. Biden resurrected the MVP to secure the vote of fossil fuel-friendly West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, which was needed to pass a debt ceiling bill. The decision came amid worsening climate disasters across the US, and was condemned by environmentalists for overriding due process and widespread local and scientific opposition to the pipeline. The move triggered a wave of peaceful protests and civil disobedience against the pipeline in Virginia and West Virginia. It wasnt the first time residents and climate activists had tried to thwart construction of the MVP, but this time the crackdown was unprecedented. Almost 50 non-violent activists were arrested in multiple counties across both states, with charges ranging from trespass and obstruction to conspiracy and abduction, which carry maximum prison sentences of up to 10 years. The actions ranged from rallies and brief walk-ons of MVP land to roadblocks and activists chaining themselves to machinery to disrupt the final stages of construction through some of the most environmentally sensitive forested Appalachian mountains and waterways. Legal intimidation is a tactic thats designed to scare folks and incapacitate the movement, one pipeline resistance organizer said. For his action at the MVP site, Wagner, a retired engineer and committed Catholic, was charged with four misdemeanors trespass, two counts of obstructing an officer and one charge under West Virginias controversial new Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, which significantly increased penalties for protests against oil and gas facilities. I dont regret a single thing, said Wagner, who has been arrested more than a dozen times during 15 years of climate activism. Fossil fuels need to be stopped, period. Earlier this year, Wagner admitted to obstruction in a plea deal and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with eight months suspended. The MVP is also suing Wagner for punitive damages. In retrospect it was a risky thing to do. I could still be sitting in jail, and the civil suit is very onerous. But as the climate gets worse and states double down on protecting fossil fuel profits, people will get even more desperate, said Wagner, who remains on probation after serving 60 days jail time. The crackdown against peaceful protests and civil disobedience is on the rise in the US and globally as people become increasingly desperate and frustrated at the failure of governments and corporations to prioritize the climate crisis, biodiversity and clean water over profits. Civil disobedience is a form of political protest that involves breaking the law in a planned, symbolic way which activists and rights experts say is part of the bedrock of a democratic society and in the tradition of civil rights movements. In New York, police made more than 700 arrests this summer, during a series of peaceful protests in front of the headquarters one of the worlds largest fossil fuel financiers, Citibank. West Virginia is among 22 states to have approved laws that can punish people protesting against oil rigs, gas pipelines, dams and other so-called critical infrastructure with long prison terms and hefty fines. It is the most recent state to charge climate activists under a critical infrastructure law, in what critics say is part of a growing crackdown on peaceful protests being pushed by a coalition of rightwing lawmakers and their corporate allies. The fossil fuel industry is running out of cards to play, said Bill McKibben, founder of Third Act, a non-profit that organizes people over 60 years old to work on climate, democracy and racial justice. Solar and wind are cheaper and cleaner, so brute force and a lawsuit or criminal prosecution is really about all they have left. Our first amendment rights are sacred. These anti-protest bills are a direct assault on this right and we will not stand for it Residents email to West Virginia lawmakers In a state once dominated by coal barons, emails obtained by the Guardian show that oil and gas lobbyists coordinated behind the scenes with West Virginia officials, which included meetings, emails and penning a draft bill for the chief counsel to the state legislatures powerful energy committee just days before the critical infrastructure bill was introduced in early 2020. It was passed a few weeks later despite opposition from residents concerned about environmental harms and the laws impact on civil rights, and provided for a maximum five-year sentence and up to $15,000 in fines. In an email to lawmakers, one resident said: Our first amendment rights are sacred These anti-protest bills are a direct assault on this right and we will not stand for it. A public relations firm, whose lobbyist represented two oil and gas trade groups, took credit for organizing support for the bill. After the law was passed, local residents and campaigners continued to oppose the pipeline by petitioning the courts, regulators and lawmakers, and through direct action. And by mid-2023, pipeline construction had been halted by the courts for almost two years, and the company was dealing with hundreds of clean water citations, canceled permits and growing opposition. The MVP was about $4bn over budget, with construction across the steepest mountain slopes and hundreds of streams, rivers and waterways unfinished. In June 2023, Biden, the self-proclaimed climate president, caved to Manchins demands singling out the pipeline as being required in the national interest, and even added provisions shielding the MVP from further legal challenges. Manchin said he was proud to have secured approval via the debt ceiling legislation and that he was looking forward to the day this important piece of energy infrastructure is up and running. The International Energy Agency has made clear that no new fossil fuel infrastructure can be built if the world is to have any hope of avoiding the most catastrophic global heating. In the months after construction restarted, 48 people were arrested and at least 51 people and two alleged organizations have been sued in 13 separate lawsuits by MVP. The government has long been in the pockets of the fossil fuel industry in West Virginia, but we also have a long history of resistance to extractive industries, which helps explain the critical infrastructure bill, said one activist, who was involved in the MVP protests. But the idea that the Mountain Valley pipeline is critical is absurd These projects actually create a demand for fossil fuels and are here to make money not meet public need. Last year was the hottest year ever recorded, with devastating extreme heat, floods, drought and wildfires striking across the US and countries across the planet. The MVP will emit an estimated 89m metric tons of planet-warming gases annually, the equivalent of 19m cars. Wagner was among eight people, including six senior citizens, charged under the states critical infrastructure law. In the most recent case, Rachel Berkrot was charged with three misdemeanors including trespass on a critical infrastructure facility, after chaining herself to an excavator on Peters mountain in the Jefferson national forest in April 2024 as the MVP project was drilling under the Appalachian trail. This was among the last construction sites, and where tree-sits prevented the MVP from clearing trees for 95 days in 2018. Berkrot, an activist and educator, faces up to two years in jail. The case continues. The first charges under the new law were tied to an action on 7 September 2023 at the Greenbrier River crossing in West Virginia, when six climate activists including five grandmothers were arrested and charged with a critical infrastructure misdemeanor, in addition to trespass and obstruction. River crossings were targeted by activists as the MVP was being rushed to be constructed through waterways, having obtained the federal permits thanks to the debt ceiling bill override. Just weeks earlier, Manchin had celebrated the resurrection of the MVP at the Greenbrier River. A livable planet tomorrow depends on serious and dedicated action today to end fossil fuels Climate activist Jess Grim Four of the activists were sitting in rocking chairs with umbrellas that said No MVP, blocking an access road to the construction site each with one foot immersed in a 55-gallon drum filled with cement. A livable planet tomorrow depends on serious and dedicated action today to end fossil fuels, said Jess Grim, one of the so-called Rocking Chair Rebellion members at the time. Meanwhile, Rose Abramoff and Martha Zinn, who were locked to a massive drill, were also charged with unlawful injury to or destruction of property. The stakes are so high, Abramoff, a climate scientist, said at the time. We cannot build this pipeline and meet our climate goals. After months of uncertainty, the Greenbrier Six eventually pleaded guilty to simple trespass and each paid a $100 fine plus court costs; all other criminal charges were dropped in the deal. But the ordeal continues: all six are being sued by the MVP on multiple counts, which include requests for injunctions that would prevent them from obstructing in any way MVPs ability to conduct its business and from encouraging others to engage in civil disobedience or obstructing the MVP, according to court filings. The company is seeking at least $45,629 in alleged damages to MVP in salaries, wages, and other expenses incurred through delay of the project, in addition to an unspecified amount of punitive damages which under state law could be as much as half a million dollars. Over the past 10 to 15 years, the fossil fuel industry has sued hundreds of activists, NGOs, scientists and journalists in the US, in what the legal advocacy group EarthRights International calls attempts to silence or harass critics, and are known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps). By design, these tactics are not just targeting individuals in isolation, but are trying to dismantle broader movements, said Kirk Herbertson, senior policy adviser for EarthRights International, a non-profit that tracks legal action linked to fossil fuel companies. Theyre threatening activists with financial ruin with Slapps and criminal fines instilled in some of these anti-protest laws, [as well as] trying to encourage more stringent, harsher penalties for civil disobedience to take this tactic off the table because it has such a successful record of placing high levels of pressure on companies, Herbertson said. The MVP, a joint venture in which the gas giant EQT Corporation is now the majority shareholder and operator, is claiming millions of dollars in alleged damages resulting from peaceful and mostly brief acts of civil disobedience. Such lawsuits can chill free speech and debate, which are vital for a healthy democracy, according to the UN and other legal experts. EQT did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In Virginia, one of the lawsuits includes 22 named individuals and 25 Jane Does, and here the MVP is claiming $4.35m in damages without presenting details or evidence in the complaint of what specific damages were incurred from the work stoppages the company claims activists caused. As a result of defendants actions, MVP has sustained irreparable harm, the complaint states. The claim is absurd, meant to instill fear and intimidate people so they stop protesting. But fossil fuels are not in the best interests of the planet or the people, said one of the activists being sued. Efforts to pass new anti-protest laws have so far failed in Virginia, but MVP activists are facing numerous serious charges for peaceful blockades and other acts of civil disobedience. In one case in Giles county, 10 activists are charged with multiple misdemeanors and two felonies: conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and abduction of a machine operator prosecutors allege was scared to leave. The case is ongoing. The MVP may be operational in spite of our efforts to resist, but weve made the path for future pipelines that much more difficult A Mountain Valley pipeline activist The recent crackdown against MVP activists is in addition to more than 100 arrests and 10 civil lawsuits in previous years of organized civil disobedience across both states. The MVP is now operational. The so-called Slapps continue. The fact MVP is ratcheting up their scare tactics through escalating trumped-up criminal and civil charges shows that we are having an impact, said another MVP activist, a retiree hit with criminal and civil charges after participating in their first act of peaceful civil disobedience. The MVP may be operational in spite of our efforts to resist, but weve made the path for future pipelines that much more difficult [There is] an increasing number of individuals willing to put their bodies on the line to stop the madness, she added. Earlier this year, West Virginia lawmakers amended the states critical infrastructure law to broaden offences and punish some second-offence felonies with up to 10 years in prison. Yet the new critical infrastructure legislation could have been even more severe. Back in 2020, lawmakers and their fossil fuel allies tried to pass legislation that made any intent to willfully damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, tamper with equipment, or impede or inhibit operations a mandatory felony. This was changed thanks to intense lobbying by concerned West Virginia residents, and while the legislation is still very broad, a felony requires proof of at least $2,500 of damage. Related: Revealed: how the fossil fuel industry helps spread anti-protest laws across the US When we realized the bill was going to pass, we tried our best to minimize the harm and keep West Virginia residents with legitimate concerns about destructive energy projects from being swept up in this dangerously vague law that could put them in a cage for a very long time, said Chad Cordell, a resident and environmental campaigner. Fighting criminal and civil charges demands time and money, and it can prevent activists from participating in certain actions. From a seemingly endless stream of civil lawsuits to unfounded felony charges to a months-long misdemeanor jail sentence for a grandfather, MVP and the governments of Virginia and West Virginia are using their immense power and resources to deter and punish principled grassroots resistance to MVPs reckless and exploitative pipeline project, said Alex Marquardt, executive director of Climate Defense Project, a non-profit which represents social justice activists facing criminal and civil charges across the US. West Virginias Critical Infrastructure Protection Act is yet another example of the state prioritizing the interests of fossil fuel lobbyists over the people of Appalachia. EQT did not respond to a Guardian request to comment on the allegations. In a promotional video released in July, Toby Rice, EQTs president and CEO, said: MVP is going to create amazing opportunities for our communities, for our country, for our planet and for our allies, and thats why we like to refer to it as Americas most valuable pipeline. Getting here has not been an easy road; over seven years and over $7bn but thanks to the proud energy champions we have in our industry and in DC and across the country, weve been able to get MVP completed. While I hope it will get easier for us to get energy infrastructure built in the future I hope what people understand is that these energy champions were not fighting for a pipeline, we were fighting for America. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Stocks To Invest In According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) stands against the other billionaire-approved stocks. Billionaires and top hedge fund managers typically dominate the stock market, focusing on leading companies with strong track records and exceptional performance. They usually dont waste time with underperformersthey target the market's elite. The Stock Market Rally Before diving into the top stock picks among billionaires, reviewing how the market has performed so far this year is essential. On September 18, the Federal Reserve cut its policy rate by 50 basis points, lowering it to 4.75%5.00% from 5.25%5.50%. This move fueled a market rally, pushing stocks to a new intraday record high, and marking the 39th all-time high of 2024the first since mid-July. Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari acknowledged that while the rate cut was unusual historically, shifting the policy focus from controlling high inflation to addressing a weakening labor market was necessary. Here are some comments: Right now, we still have a strong, healthy labor market. But I want to keep it a strong, healthy labor market, and a lot of the recent inflation data is coming in looking very positive that were on our way back to 2%. So I dont think youre going to find anybody at the Federal Reserve who declares mission accomplished, but we are paying attention to what risks are most likely to materialize in the near future. Market expectations point to an equal probability of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cutting rates by either a quarter- or half-percentage point at its November meeting, with a higher chance of the larger reduction in December. Overall, markets are signaling the Feds intent to bring rates to a "neutral" level that neither stimulates nor restricts economic growth. What the Top Dogs of Wall Street are Saying About the Market For nearly two years, bulls have dominated Wall Street, driven by a resilient U.S. economy and growing enthusiasm around artificial intelligence (AI). This momentum has propelled the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite to multiple record highs in 2024. Despite the surge, not everyone seems hopeful about the market, with some of the most influential billionaire investors, including Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, signaling caution. Buffett, known for his long-term optimism, has been a net seller of stocks for seven straight quarters. On the other hand, billionaire investor Ray Dalio recently raised concerns about the "enormous amount of debt" burdening the U.S. economy. He cautions that neither former President Donald Trump nor Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to focus on addressing debt sustainability in the upcoming presidential election, suggesting that the pressure from the $35.3 trillion national debt will persist, regardless of the election outcome. Our Methodology In this article, we analyzed Insider Monkey's exclusive database of billionaire stock holdings to select the 10 stocks with the highest number of billionaire investors. These billionaires are founders or managers of some of the worlds leading hedge funds and companies. 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 modern payments terminal with a pile of credit cards on the side. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Number of Billionaire Investors: 23 Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), a global leader in digital payments, facilitates transactions across more than 200 markets. Connecting 4 billion account holders with over 130 million merchants and 14,500 financial institutions, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) plays a crucial role in powering the global economy. For the third fiscal quarter of 2024, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.42, up from $2.16 in the previous year, with payment volumes increasing by 7%. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2024 outlook, expecting low double-digit revenue growth and a low-teens EPS increase. In addition, the company's service revenue rose 8% to $4 billion, while data processing revenue and international transaction revenue climbed 9% to $4.5 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively. Additionally, other revenue surged 31% year-over-year. Compass Point recently initiated coverage on Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) with a Buy rating and a price target of $319, suggesting an 18.5% potential upside from its current price and an estimated total return of about 20%. The firms optimism is driven by Visas value-added services, with Compass Point projecting long-term net revenue growth of 15% as more customers adopt these offerings. By the end of Q2 2024, 23 billionaires held stakes in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), with Chris Hohn being the largest shareholder, holding stakes valued at $4.4 billion. Wedgewood Partners stated the following regarding Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) in its Q2 2024 investor letter: Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) detracted from performance despite healthy corporate results. The company grew earnings per share +12% as payment volume growth was up +8% and cross-border payment grew +16%, adjusted for currency. There are over 4.4 billion Visa debit and credit cards in circulation generating over $15 trillion in volume over the past 12 months. There is another estimated $10 trillion in cash and check volume, globally, which we think Visa can continue to move over to its electronic payment rails. In addition, the company has spent the past several years extending its payment capabilities into new flows of commerce, particularly for business-to-business transactions. This is another, extremely large (+$200 trillion) long-term growth opportunity for Visa that we believe investors are ignoring. Overall V ranks 7th on our list of the stocks to invest in according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, we believe that there are under-the-radar AI stocks trading at highly discounted valuations that hold greater promise for anyone looking to diversify their portfolio. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than V, 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. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has said he would not vote for Donald Trump, has expressed some reticence about endorsing Trumps opponent over a particularly grim worry. The Washington Post reported Friday that Romney has cited concern for his familys safety as one of the reasons he has not publicly supported Kamala Harris, according to one person familiar with the Utah politicians thinking. This isnt the first time that Romney has expressed this particular fear. After the January 6 riot, the former Republican presidential nominee started paying $5,000 a day for private security for his family, according to The Atlantic. Romney said he could understand why some of his colleagues were fearful about voting to impeach Trump, because it might place figurative bulls-eyes on their backs, ripe targets for the more violent members of Trumps base. In an interview with The Atlantic published earlier this week, Romney fretted over his ability to keep his entire family safe from Trumps ire, should he be reelected in November. (Trump has made it clear that his plans for a second term include seeking revenge on those whove wronged him.) How am I going to protect 25 grandkids, two great-grandkids? Romney told The Atlantic. Ive got five sons, five daughters-in-lawits like, were a big group. Republicans being influenced by the threats and intimidation campaigns of MAGA members is hardly a new phenomenon. Romney has also questioned the value of his endorsement in a post-Trump America, and whether it might hurt his credibility as a conservative voice, according to the Post. Earlier this year, Romney said he would not vote for Trump but refused to say whether he would support Joe Biden. Romney has remained quiet, unlike other Republicans who have found themselves targeted by MAGA Republicans, like former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, who endorsed Harris last month. (Her dad did too!) Earlier this month, more than 100 former GOP officials signed a public letter endorsing Harris, warning that Donald Trump is unfit for the presidency or any office of public trust. Family members and authorities are searching for a missing Indigenous woman who has not been seen for weeks. Gabrielle Lund, 25, was last seen on Sept. 5 at around noontime, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. She had traveled to L.A. from South Dakota to attend a rehabilitation program, authorities said. Her last known location was the Union Rescue Mission located at 545 South San Pedro Street in downtown L.A. A Feather Alert was issued by police on Thursday, Sept. 26 after her loved ones failed to contact her. Lund is described as a woman standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black tank top and black leggings. Gabrielle Lund, 25, was last seen in downtown Los Angeles on September 5, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) A Feather Alert is issued by law enforcement agencies investigating the suspicious or unexplainable disappearance of an Indigenous woman or Indigenous person, according to the California Highway Patrol. Anyone who has seen the missing woman or knows of her whereabouts is urged to call LAPD Detective Franco at 213-996-1800 or dial 911. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. 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. The unpainted fuselage of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft is seen, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at the company's facilities in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A federal judge on Friday ordered a hearing next month over Boeing's agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy in connection with the 737 Max jetliner, two of which crashed, killing 346 people. Families of some of the passengers killed in the crashes object to the agreement. They want to put Boeing on trial, where it could face tougher punishment. U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor set a hearing for Oct. 11 in Fort Worth, Texas. Boeing is accused of misleading regulators who approved minimal, computer-based training for Boeing 737 pilots before they could fly the Max. Boeing wanted to prevent regulators from requiring training in flight simulators, which would have raised the cost for airlines to operate the plane. The Justice Department argued in court filings that conspiracy to defraud the government is the most serious charge it can prove. Prosecutors said they lack evidence to show that Boeing's actions caused the crashes in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia. Relatives of victims and their lawyers have called the settlement a sweetheart deal that fails to consider the loss of so many lives. Some of the lawyers have argued that the Justice Department treated Boeing gently because the company is a big government contractor. The agreement calls for Boeing to pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years. HONOLULU (KHON2) Negotiations between locked-out nurses and Kapiolani Medical Center are set to resume on Friday with the assistance of a federal mediator, who was brought in on Thursday to facilitate discussions. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You In a related development, the state Department of Health (DOH) is investigating two anonymous complaints regarding the hospital. The DOH stated that the investigation is part of its standard operating procedures. Negotiations continue between locked-out nurses and Kapiolani Medical Center Kapiolani Medical Center acknowledged the DOHs involvement, noting that visits to healthcare facilities are not uncommon. Bacon made from flowers? Its mind-blowing The hospital is cooperating fully and is committed to providing the information requested by the department. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news In a statement, Kapiolani emphasized its dedication to delivering quality care to the community amid the ongoing negotiations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Federal prosecutors examined several witnesses in the Michele Fiore wire fraud trial Thursday, most of whom testified about money paid to or by accounts under the control of the local politician and suspended Pahrump Justice Court judge. Fiore stands trial after a federal grand jury indicted her in July on several counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fiore engaged in a scheme to defraud charitable donors of more than $70,000 for her own personal benefit, a superseding indictment from August said. Michele Fiore enters not guilty plea to federal charges accusing her of wire fraud Thursday the jury heard from a wedding planner who testified to certain cash payments made to the Las Vegas wedding venue Emerald at Queensridge. The planner, Cicely Hoffman, said the venue took in a couple of cash payments for her daughters wedding but, in a conversation with the 8 News Now Investigators after her testimony, said she had no records or memory of who actually made the payment, but said, Especially in Vegas, people pay us in cash all the time. Michele Fiore leaves the Federal Courthouse on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (KLAS) Hoffman said she remembers meeting at least once with Fiore with regard to the wedding, and that the event cost $26,000. But neither she nor the prosecutors tied the payment to any specific bank accounts. It was usually obviously someone related to the wedding party, Hoffman told the jury of 14 people. Tommy White, business manager of the Local 872 Teamsters union also testified. Under questioning from federal prosecutors, White said he received an email from Fiore seeking donations for statues and memorials for two slain police officers. Court documents say from 2017 to 2022, Fiore allegedly founded and mismanaged funds that were intended to pay for memorial statues for a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer who died in the line of duty. Michele Fiore addresses federal indictment accusing her of wire fraud for misusing charity donations White said he wrote payments from Local 872 and another labor organization, each for $5,000. White acknowledged, under questioning, that the email said he was looking for $80,000 for each statute and that all of the donations would go to that cause, but that the checks he wrote were each written after one of the statues was already unveiled. Tommy White, business manager of the Local 872 Teamsters union also testified. Under questioning from federal prosecutors, White said he received an email from Fiore seeking donations for statues and memorials for two slain police officers. (KLAS) Prosecutors asked whether Fiore ever asked White whether she could use that $10,000 worth of donations for personal or other expenses. No, White said. Fiores attorney, Michael Sanft, questioned White as well. He asked whether he would have authorized Fiore to use the donations for another charitable purpose. White said he would have asked Fiore for a letter explaining the change. White also told Sanft, under cross-examination, that he had never taken a reimbursement for a charitable donation, from Fiore or anyone else. It would be a bookkeeping nightmare, White said, to hearty laughter throughout Judge Jennifer Dorseys courtroom. During Whites testimony, prosecutors did not allege what Fiore may have done with those particular donations. White would not answer questions from the 8 News Now Investigators after the trial. FILE Michele Fiore, a Pahrump, Nev., judge who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2022, speaks to reporters outside U.S. District Court in Las Vegas on Friday, July 19, 2024, after pleading not guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges. (AP Photo/Ken Ritter, File) The jury also heard from the father of one of Fiores prior landlords, who charged Fiore $2,450 a month, according to a rental agreement prosecutors showed the jury. Prosecutors also showed two checks written from separate accounts drawn on Wells Fargo and Chase Banks Fiore wrote to pay her rent. One of those checks was a cashiers check that the witness acknowledged had no remitter, which identifies the sender of the check. None, the man said. Another allegation against Fiore is that she misused money donated from Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos campaign when he was running for Sheriff of Clark 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 KLAS. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, left, spoke with higher education leaders and students March 25, 2024 at Graceland University in Lamoni. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says shes seeing increased support for a bill she introduced last year to reverse the inclusion of family farms and businesses as assets in the new federal student aid application. She said the legislation is picking up steam in the wake of a Government Accountability Office report detailing decreases in completions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year. The FAFSA was released to the public three months later than usual last year. After its launch, students, families and universities experienced technical issues and other problems that led many universities to push back their financial aid timelines by months. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the Government Accountability Office report, FAFSA submissions from first-time applicants decreased by 9% this past cycle, as of late August, and the total number of applicants dropped by 3%. About 1.6 million students started but did not complete a FAFSA application this past cycle, according to the report. Data from the National College Attainment Network states that Iowa has seen an almost 10% decrease in FAFSA submissions from last year, as of mid-September. Lower-income students were impacted the most, according to the report. There was an 11% drop from dependent applicants in the $30,001-$48,000 income range and a 6% decrease from independent applicants with $30,000 or less in income. In a news release addressing the report, Ernst said the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act has received the endorsement of 24 education and agriculture groups. The bill would once again make family farms and businesses exempt from the assets definition in the FAFSA. Too many families were left out of accessing financial aid this year due to the FAFSA changes, Ernst said in the release. She added that the FAFSA must be fixed for next year. There can be no more delay for fixing the Biden-Harris FAFSA fiasco for next year, Ernst said in the release. My solution would support farm families trying to responsibly finance their childs education, instead of forcing them to sell off the farm. Ernst met with higher education representatives, students and their families in March at Graceland University in Lamoni to hear their struggles and concerns about the new FAFSA and its rollout. Jim Kersten, vice president of government affairs at Iowa Central Community College, said in the release that the college couldnt make financial aid offers in a timely manner as a result of the FAFSA delays, causing students to not have their results in time to make a decision on where to attend. For families with multiple children in college, Kersten said some contacted the college with concerns that their aid was drastically different than in the past, and that they no longer qualified for certain need-based aid. Students decided not to attend Iowa Central Community College this year due to the newly imposed family asset in the Student Aid Index used for financial aid, Kersten said in the release. If they have to take out loans for their education, many of our students will go right into the workplace or start working on their family farm instead of pursuing a degree. American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director Dustin Sherer said in the release that the organization appreciates Ernsts focus on trying to correct this problem, which has been exacerbated by continued declines in farm incomes. Federal Student Aid and Congress have failed to address key issues such as how assets related to small business ownership and family farms are counted on the FAFSA leaving many hard-working Iowans unsure if theyll have the resources needed to pursue education and training after high school, said Iowa College Access Network President Rob Miller in the release. And while much attention has been focused on the new December 2024 FAFSA release date, big concerns remain over FSAs ability to quickly and correctly process the forms and share accurate data with colleges for packaging. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Feds Allege Diddy Had 1,000 Bottles of Baby Oil. But Despite Lawyer's Quip, Costco Says He Didnt Buy Them There Marc Agnifilo further denied that the number of bottles found was as high as authorities have alleged Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock; Tim Boyle/Getty Sean "Diddy" Combs, left, and Costco Speculation from Sean Diddy Combs attorney has prompted a response from Costco. Marc Agnifilo, who is representing the music mogul facing federal sex crime charges, told TMZ that it was possible that Combs could have purchased baby oil allegedly found by authorities in Combs homes at Costco, the wholesale giant. He has a big house, he buys in bulk, Agnifilo speculated to TMZ. I think they have Costcos in every place he has a home. Authorities said in an indictment they found 1,000 bottles of baby oil, but Agnifilo disputed this number. Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of coercing or forcing women into participating in freak offs, which prosecutors claim are highly elaborate sex performances with male sex workers that would allegedly require intense physical exertion and often involve drugs. Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Wants to Testify at His Prospective Federal Sex Crime Trial, His Attorney Claims Months before Combs was arrested in Manhattan, federal authorities raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In the indictment, prosecutors claim over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant were found in his homes, and that the bottles were part of his freak off supplies. Related: Diddy Is in Jail on Suicide Watch: Inside His Life Behind Bars (Exclusive) In response to Agnifilos claim that the baby oil couldve been purchased in bulk at a Costco, the retailer told TMZ in a statement that they do not sell baby oil in any of their United States locations. 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. Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE. Combs was denied bail by two different judges and is currently being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. 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. NEW YORK (AP) 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. 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. More Local News 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, but she hasnt indicated whether she would take that extraordinary step. She told reporters she would offer thoughts about it later Thursday. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some of the most powerful and consistent winds in the world are located off the southwest Oregon coast, according to the Oregon Department of Energy. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has postponed plans for an auction to lease two spots on the Oregon Coast for floating wind farms. (Axel Schmidt/Getty Images) Amid mounting opposition to offshore wind development off the coast of Oregon, the federal government announced Friday it is delaying a planned auction for the development of two wind energy sites as Gov. Tina Kotek urged the federal agency to halt all leasing plans and stop the auction. The developments call into question the potential for future development of offshore wind energy off the Oregon coast. The states coastal communities, seafood industry and tribes fiercely opposed the federal agencys plans, which concerned the governor. In a letter on Friday to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Kotek said Oregon had no choice but to withdraw from the intergovernmental task force thats working on offshore energy to protect Oregons interests and engage more with the public. Her letter comes amid concerns from coastal communities and tribes about environmental impacts and threats to culturally and economically significant sites that are home to fish and other marine species. Kotek said the agencys accelerated process was worrisome, with the bureau announcing in late August that it would auction leases in October to developers to start planning facilities. That announcement led to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians suing the federal bureau, over its environmental assessment which greenlighted the projects. The tribes want the bureau to consider the future impacts of installing wind energy sites offshore. I believe that Oregon has no choice but to withdraw from the BOEM Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force in order to ensure that Oregons interests are fully protected, and that we have adequate time to complete our state roadmap with engagement and participation of key constituencies and the public, Kotek wrote in her letter. Given this, I request that BOEM halt all current leasing activities off the coast of Oregon and terminate the current auction. The two sites would cover 61,200 acres off the coast of Coos Bay and nearly 134,000 acres off the coast of Brookings. The Coos Bay site is 30 miles from the coast and the Brookings area is 20 miles away and they could potentially generate more than 3.1 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 1 million households. The states planned Offshore Wind Roadmap, part of House Bill 4080 which passed this year, is meant to lay the foundation for offshore wind energy development that complies with labor standards and with community input.The bureau had planned to auction the sites on Oct. 15 but said in its announcement that officials decided to postpone the auction after receiving a notice of interest from only one of five qualified companies. Even after any plans are developed they would be required to undergo environment assessments and other reviews before the installations could take place. Outlook is uncertain In its statement, the federal agency said it would continue work with state, local and tribal officials on the issue and coordinate potential leases and engagement with communities. The federal agency said the states roadmap for offshore wind energy is one way to do that. But the federal agency didnt give a timeline for what might happen next or when it might come out with one. Tribal Council Chair Brad Kneaper of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians welcomed the cancellation of the auction. Canceling the lease sale makes sense, Kneaper said. The tribe, elected officials, commercial fishing interests and others have consistently urged that BOEM delay moving forward with wind energy development until a better understanding is made of the impacts to fish, wildlife, the marine environment, and cultural resources important to the tribe. He said he looks forward to collaborating on the best places to develop wind energy that minimize the impacts to the coast and tribes. In an initial environment assessment, federal officials found that the initial process of surveying and planning for proposed wind projects off the Oregon Coast would have minor to moderate impacts on marine habitats, marine mammals and commercial fisheries. The plan for wind energy comes at a time when both the state and federal government are looking for ways to switch away from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy to reduce harmful emissions. The current Climate Protection Program by Oregons Department of Environmental Quality which needs final approval set a target of reducing emissions from fossil fuels by 50% by 2035 and by 90% by 2050. But wind energy is only a small fraction of the states energy use. Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration has approved the first 10 commercial offshore wind projects, enough for about 15 gigawatts of clean energy enough to power more than 5 million households. The federal government has had five offshore wind lease auctions in that time, including off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, and California. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Feeding our Future: More than $50 million recovered in government restitution MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Government restitution efforts have reportedly recovered more than $50 million from the Feeding Our Future scandal, according to an official from the United States Department of Justice. What we know More than $50 million has been recovered from the Feeding Our Future scandal as government restitution efforts work to mitigate the damage from the $250 million scheme. Recent guilty pleas Department of Justice officials announced on Sept. 20 that three more people pleaded guilty to wire fraud for their role in the Feeding out Future scheme. They are Haji Osman Salad, 34, who owned and operated Haji's Kitchen LLC and enrolled in the nutrition program with the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. He received a total of $11,483,827 in federal funds. Sharmarke Issa, 42, acted as the principal owner of Minnesota's Somali Community and Wacan Restaurant LLC and fraudulently received federal funds from the child nutrition program while under the Feeding Our Future sponsorship. Issa got a total of $3,586,231 in federal funds. Khadra Abdi, 42, was the principal owner of Shafi'i Tutoring & Homework Help Center, which also fraudulently registered as a meal site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Abdi fraudulently claimed $3,479,191.92 in federal funding. The scandal had a huge political impact on Minnesota leadership, with some blaming the state's Department of Education and Gov. Tim Walz for not catching the fraud sooner. READ MORE: Political fallout from failed oversight of Feeding Our Future What comes next There are a total of 70 defendants accused of being involved in the scheme, and the trial is set to continue into 2025. Investors in auto companies always fear news of product recalls, since the subsequent hit to a manufacturer's reputation can ding the price of its stock. That's what happened on Friday with Japanese automaker Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM), as a market sell-off followed the announcement of its latest recall. By market close today, the company's shares had lost 3.5% of their value; investors would have been better off simply tracking the S&P 500 index, which slipped by only 0.1%. A 42,000-strong recall This morning, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a press release on recent news that Toyota is recalling more than 42,000 2023 and 2024 Corolla Cross hybrids it sold in the ever-influential U.S. market. The concern is about a loss in power brake assist; in certain instances, this can lengthen the distance needed to come to a complete stop. The NHTSA said it detected a software error in the unit that prevents the vehicle from skidding. That error could trigger the brake assist flaw when negotiating a corner. Toyota has pledged to update and correct the software's programming through its network of dealerships. That modification will be made free of charge. No one enjoys flaws in auto manufacturing Toyota added that the owners of all affected vehicles will be formally notified of the recall by late November. While recalls are a fact of life in the auto industry, to the point where they are expected to a degree, they always raise concern about an automaker's production and quality control. Toyota will surely motor past this one, and hopefully for its investors it'll be tighter as it travels down the road. Should you invest $1,000 in Toyota Motor right now? Before you buy stock in Toyota Motor, 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 Toyota Motor 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 $760,130!* 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 Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Investors Slammed the Brakes on Toyota Stock Today was originally published by The Motley Fool HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) A 60-year-old woman was attacked moments after entering the womens restroom in a Hilliard retail store, according to police. On Sept. 20, the woman entered the At Home stores restroom, located at 3599 Park Mill Run Drive, where she was attacked by an unknown man. NBC4 obtained audio from a call to police, where a person reported the assailant was waiting inside the womens bathroom. The suspect was later identified as Mohamed Camara, 26, of Columbus, according to the Hilliard Division of Police. The woman fought back, getting the attention of her family who ran to her, called 911 and did not let Camara leave until officers arrived, police said. This victim did everything right, Hilliard police wrote in a social media post. She fought back hard, she loudly called for help, and shes doing a great job assisting with our investigation. Watch: How to fight back against an attacker Mel Thompson, owner of Hilliard Taekwondo Academy, said as a woman around the same age as the victim, shes angry. She said the incident has not left her mind. Thompson said its crucial that individuals are ready to defend themselves at all times. If somebody does approach you, that, Stop! Back off! Youre making me uncomfortable, you use that, Thompson said. If somebody does get a hold of you, they get their hands on you, you fight back. Thompson said the victim did everything she tells individuals to do in her self-defense classes. She yelled so people heard her, and she fought back, she said. She didnt freeze up. She didnt go quiet. She wasnt a submissive victim. Thompson said you should always keep your head on a swivel. Walk confidently, dont look at your phone, pay attention to whats happening around you so that you see if somebody is approaching you, Thompson said. When you make eye contact with people, theyre way less likely to be an attacker because, number one, you look like not a good victim, and you can identify them. Thompson said she feels passionately that everyone, women and children especially, should know how to defend themselves. She said its not about being strong, its about being quick. Shes not against self-defense tools like spray or a sharp object on your keychain, but she does advise that you know how to use them; otherwise, they can be used against you. Even something as simple as spray, Thompson said. People will have mace, but what they dont always realize if youre close to your attacker and you spray them, if theyre smart, theyll wipe it off their face and in your face. The Facebook post from police also urged residents to be aware of their surroundings, follow their gut instinct and not be afraid to yell for help. The department asked anyone who believes they may have information relevant to the case to contact Detective Brandon Long at blong@hilliardohio.gov. Thompson said money should not be a barrier to feeling safe. She frequently offers free self-defense classes at Hilliard Taekwondo Academy. Details about those get posted on its website and Facebook . Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 fight over a 7-story, 800-bedroom high-rise apartment on South Limestone near the University of Kentucky will continue next month after the Urban County Planning Commission decided Thursday it wanted more information. The Urban County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to continue discussions about a zone change for more than a dozen properties on South Limestone, Prall and Montmullin streets. Those discussions will resume at its Oct. 24 meeting. The vote to postpone came after a more than three-hour hearing. St. Louis-based developer Subtext has agreed to meet with neighbors to determine what could be done to make the proposed development more palatable. Those who spoke against the zone change said it would further deteriorate Pralltown, a historic Black neighborhood. 251 apartments, nearly 800 beds Subtext has filed an application to change the zones for properties from an assortment of retail and residential zones to a corridor node zone, a new zone that allows for more density such as more apartments along major corridors such as South Limestone. Subtext wants to tear down multiple buildings in the block, including multiple retail buildings that face South Limestone, to build the 7-story building that will have some retail space fronting South Limestone. The proposed development is called Verve Lexington. The plans call for 251 apartment units with 799 beds and a top floor that features a rooftop deck and a pool. The proposed apartment complex also call for an interior garage with 448 parking spaces. The tallest part of the building will face South Limestone and will gradually decrease in height on the Prall and Montmullin sides, due to elevation changes. The tallest part of the building will be 102 feet. Its a 2-acre site. Nick Nicholson, a lawyer for Subtext, said the citys corridor node zone encourages more density. The project will take underutilized commercial buildings and student housing and create the density the city wants along its major corridors, he argued during Thursdays commission meeting. Its ensuring that we can meet the high demand for student housing in this area, Nicholson said. Its also on a Lextran bus route. Nicholson said the 251 apartments would replace 60 apartments in the area. The student housing to be razed are relatively newer buildings that were remodeled or built in the last 40 years, Nicholson said. The oldest buildings are the South Limestone retail buildings. The building at 545-549 South Limestone Street was built in 1925, according to Fayette County Property Value Administrator records. This embedded content is not available in your region. The South Limestone properties have had multiple tenants over the decades. It now has several restaurants, smoke shops and Phillips Market, a longtime local market. Lexington planners recommended approval of the zone changes for the property. It is meeting the very real need for housing and its doing so on a corridor, said Daniel Crum, a senior planner. A transportation study showed the new development would not impact traffic due to the already high volume of traffic in the area. There was a study that showed the building would project significant shade on the Montmullin side of the building. That sun study is not required as part of an application for a zone change. Subtext voluntarily paid for the study. Pralltown pushes back The proposed apartment building is in Pralltown, one of Lexingtons oldest historically Black neighborhoods. Pralltown has struggled to maintain its identity as UK student housing has gobbled up the neighborhood, turning it into largely student housing, Pralltown residents argued. More than a dozen people spoke against the zone change. Betty Boyd, president of the Pralltown Neighborhood Association, has lived in Pralltown for 70 years. Urban renewal came in and tore down houses with the promise of building single-family homes that never happened, Boyd said. Would you want this in your neighborhood? But its okay for us? Boyd said its impossible to find parking on the Prall or Montmullin now. Teresa Forbes-Lopez has lived in Pralltown for 20 years. The university needs to take care of their own students, Forbes-Lopez said. The neighborhood is in jeopardy. Forbes-Lopez said she worries about not being able to get in and out of her neighborhood if the Verve is built. Austin Zinkle, a historian, said he doesnt live in Pralltown but hes worried about losing the neighborhood. This will deeply harm the people and community in Pralltown, he said. Others said they had other concerns about the plan, too. Walter Gaffield, president of the Fayette County Neighborhood Association, said hes worried about the number of pedestrians in the area. Its completely out of context with the surrounding area, Gaffield said. Subtext, a St. Louis-based developer, wants to tear down multiple buildings along South Limestone, Prall and Muntmullin streets to build a 7-story student housing complex near UKs campus. Its bee n f igh ting for its existence for decades Bruce Simpson, a lawyer for some Pralltown residents, said the citys comprehensive plan, which guides development, also stresses equity and not displacing historically Black neighborhoods. Pralltown has been fighting for its existence for decades, Simpson said. And UK officials have pushed private developers to build student housing in surrounding neighborhoods rather than on university property. UK has been a horrible neighbor to Pralltown, Simpson said. More density seems to always trump equity, he said. Its gentrification in plain sight, Simpson said. But data shows Pralltown has already been gentrified, city officials said. Crum, the senior planner, said the neighborhood is now 76% white and the median age is 26. The neighborhood has already been redeveloped. Its already happened, Crum said. We cant unwind that clock. Conflicted many commission members say Many planning commission members said it was difficult to weigh the need for more student housing and protecting minority neighborhoods. I understand the history of gentrification, said William Wilson, a planning commission member. There are other communities that we need to figure out a way to preserve. Planning Commission member Mike Owens said he was familiar with Pralltown. But its already changed a lot. Pralltown as we all know it has changed, Owens said. Owens made a motion to approve the zone change but no other commission member seconded the motion, so it died. Planning Commissioner Robin Michler said he had concerns about the height of the building and the amount of shade it would project onto the neighborhood. Michler said he would like to see the building set back more from the street. Nicholson said the developer was willing to look at its plan to see if it could do something to address the concerns about height and fitting the project into the neighborhood. Virginia's 9th Congressional District candidates Democrat Karen Baker (left) and Republican incumbent Morgan Griffith. (Baker photo courtesy Karen Baker for Congress; Griffith photo courtesy Morgan Griffith for Congress) For decades, Virginias 9th Congressional District earned the nickname The Fightin Ninth due to its fiercely contested elections. But for the last 13 years, Republican Morgan Griffith has held the seat with little opposition, solidifying his status as the incumbent. That could change this election cycle as Democrat Karen Baker hopes to unseat the lawmaker from Salem. A native midwesterner who moved to Floyd County from South Carolina in 2014, she has spent the last seven months traveling thousands of miles criss-crossing the deeply rural and mountainous district. Bakers campaign centers on a nonpartisan message focused on improving access to health care an issue critical to the regions residents, which is why she believes she can appeal to voters across the political spectrum and break Griffiths long-standing hold on the seat. While Baker takes pride in her decades-long record as a public servant first as a trial lawyer for the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration she has never run for public office before, except for treasurer in 11th grade, which I won, she told The Mercury in a recent interview. Baker decided to challenge Griffith in Virginias most Republican district after being approached by some concerned Democrats who felt it was important to have a credible candidate on the ballot. And so I said, well, if not me, then who? The 9th District, Virginias second largest, is a mostly sprawling and rugged region in the southwestern part of the state covering a large swath of rural and mountainous terrain, including the Appalachian region, stretching from Lee County in the west all the way to Bedford County in the east. Known for its deep-rooted cultural ties to coal mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, the 9th has historically been a battleground for political power. But in recent years, it has leaned solidly Republican since Griffith flipped it in 2010, defeating Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher after 28 years. This district is a fascinating place, because it was the last stronghold for Southern Democrats and did not fall to the GOP until that year, said David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg. People there respond to in-person retail politics, they want to see and speak to their candidates, Richards added. I think Baker can capitalize on this and she has the right idea by campaigning hard on the ground. But because Griffith has regularly won with over 60% of the vote, it will be a very steep climb for her. By campaigning on access to health care, Baker brings her own experience in the field to the table. After her law career, she went to nursing school at Greenville Technical College in South Carolina. She became a registered nurse in 2011 and spent several years at a small rural hospital. There were rural hospitals before that may have been struggling in terms of their budgets, but now those hospitals either are closed, or theyve become urgent cares, so we have maternity deserts where people have to drive hours over twisting mountains and secondary roads to get care, Baker said. Many residents in the district are unsatisfied by the services provided by Ballad Health, a chain of hospitals that has a monopoly on medical care in Southwest Virginia, Baker said. People are upset about the quality of care because Ballad underpays its staff. Its been a revolving door in terms of professionals coming fresh out of medical school, getting a couple of years under their belt and leaving for greener pastures. To address this problem, Baker proposes scaling up the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides health care services for adults 55 and older with chronic health conditions or disabilities. In addition, she wants to utilize the community health care centers in the district. The majority of people in the district are already on Medicaid, so we have a template for creating better conditions with fairly simple enabling legislation to spread these two programs throughout, Baker said. Other issues on Bakers campaign platform include the creation of a better jobs market that she hopes will retain more younger people in the district, and expanding access to public education. Since launching her campaign in March, Baker said she has talked to thousands of voters in the district. I go to concerts, flea markets, Im looking for the people that wouldnt automatically think to vote for me. In other words, leaning Republicans or Republicans. Those are the people that I need to get to know me and to like me in order for me to win, and so thats where I am. But despite the excitement among Democrats over Vice President Kamala Harris presidential bid, Baker said she isnt running on a national ticket. Thats not my campaign, because nobody expects Harris to win in the 9th, and I can win because I am for everybody in this district. I tell people Im a Democrat, but I dont run out yelling Im a Democrat. I run out saying, Im here for you, I will work for you. When talking to voters, Baker said she always asks them about Griffith, her opponent. People sometimes go, whos that? And generally, I would say 80 to 90% of the time, people say, he doesnt do anything for us. Griffith, however, insists that he hasnt become complacent in a district where he has previously run for reelection unopposed, underscoring that he takes Bakers challenge seriously. Am I doing more than when I dont have an opponent? Yes, he told The Mercury in a phone interview earlier this week. But I generally work the district pretty hard anytime I have an opponent. Weve had about 350 stops in the last term in the district, averaging about four events on the days that I am here. A Philadelphia native who grew up in Salem and returned home after graduating from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1983, Griffith first ran for public office in 1993, when he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, where he served as the House Majority Leader for 10 years. In 2010, he ousted Boucher, the 13-term Democratic incumbent in the 9th Congressional District, by 51-46%. In the most recent congressional election in 2022, Griffith was reelected to his sixth term after defeating Democrat Taysha DeVaughan by a staggering 73-27%. As a legislator, Griffith said he was proud of his role in advocating for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program (AMLER) to implement strategies that return former coal mining sites to productive uses. Since its creation in 2016, the program has brought more than $10 million to the district every year, Griffith said. During his time in Congress, Griffith has also sponsored or supported legislation to push back against what he called high taxes, unnecessary regulation, and an over-reliance on foreign industry that have strangled private businesses in our communities and prevented job growth. He has also introduced the EPA Regulatory Relief Act to reduce what he considered burdensome regulations on hospitals, manufacturers, and other businesses in the district. The measure failed in the Senate. Rebuking his opponents claims that he had done little to help expand health care in the 9th, Griffith said he has been a strong supporter of federally qualified health centers. We have more than any other in the state of Virginia, he said. Griffith also was part of a bipartisan effort to expand care options for people who experience strokes by introducing the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine ACT (FAST) Act in 2017, which helps stroke victims gain faster access to high-quality care through remote evaluation and treatment. Im a big supporter of the telehealth concepts, of our federally qualified health centers, and of trying to make sure that we continue to pay our health care providers enough that they can make it, Griffith said in the interview. In June, Griffith touted his role in securing a $1.6 million federal grant benefitting the Piedmont Planning Districts Commissions Route 122 Regional Corridor Plan, which was funded under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 which he voted against. In the interview, Griffith explained this contradiction by stating that as a congressman, he had two jobs. One is to legislate, and the other is to act like an ombudsman. On my legislative side, I still think it was bad policy. But on my ombudsmans side, on the side that says Im supposed to help the district, once its passed into law, I would be failing to do my job if I didnt then advocate for those federal monies to come to the 9th District. If reelected on Nov. 5, Griffith vows to continue advocating for what he considers issues that are in the best interest of the people in his district, such as fighting for medicine, making sure that rural health is getting a fair shake, and leading the charge against regulations trying to eliminate coal, among other priorities. We want to get broadband finished up, and thats an important issue. Im hopeful that that will actually happen in the next couple of years. But we just have to keep moving forward and I want to make sure that our tax rates are low, Griffith said. On Jan. 6, 2021, Griffith was one of 147 House Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election, which Democrat Joe Biden won by more than 7 million votes. Almost four years later, Griffith said that he never took the position that fraud was an issue during that election. Some people did, but I believe fraud is a purview of the states and not the federal government, he said. Instead, he said that he had concerns with changes that bureaucrats in states like Arizona and Georgia had made to their election laws within 30 days of the election that had not been approved by the respective state legislatures. That is in violation of the federal law, therefore, those elections are subject to not being certified, Griffith said, adding that he doesnt foresee this happening again after this years election. I dont know that well have the same problems that we had in the 2020 election. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX World leaders attend United Nations "Summit of the Future", in New York By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere called for "respect for our region" and a stop to missile tests in the Pacific Ocean, after China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Katonivere recalled the Pacific Ocean's history as a nuclear weapons testing ground, and noted Wednesday's rare launch by China of an intercontinental ballistic missile. "There was a unilateral test firing of a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. We urge respect for our region and call for cessation of such action," he said. The ICBM, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force at 8:44 a.m. Beijing time (0044 GMT) on Wednesday and "fell into expected sea areas," the Chinese defence ministry said on Wednesday. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he had raised the missile test in a meeting with his counterpart in Beijing. In French Polynesia, media reported the missile landed near to the French Pacific territory's exclusive economic zone, with President Moetai Brotherson expressing surprise and concern. Brotherson sent a protest letter to the Chinese Embassy after learning of the missile launch in the media, Radio Tahiti reported. France's High Commissioner, Eric Spitz, said China had notified France about the test, and the missile fell in international waters, Radio Tahiti reported. Attending a function at the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday evening to mark the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Brotherson told reporters the missile had landed 700 km (435 miles) from French Polynesia's EEZ, and the incident showed the territory was "a grain of rice in the ocean" as major powers test each other, TNTV News reported. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement the missile launch was concerning. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Stephen Coates) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The final three anti-abortion activists convicted of a 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade were sentenced this week, including the person considered to be the main organizer of the action. Chester Gallagher was sentenced on Thursday to 16 months in prison, by far the longest sentence among 11 people convicted of various offenses. In addition to organizing the March 5, 2021, blockade of a Carafem clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennesse, a town 17 miles (27.36 kilometers) east of Nashville, prosecutors said Gallgher exploited his specialized knowledge gleaned from his law enforcement experience to prolong the blockade as long as possible. Gallagher and a co-defendant stalled police with phony negotiations, prosecutors said. Their actions disrupted not only the Carafem clinic, but other medical offices that shared the same building. Heather Idoni, who is currently serving a 2-year sentence for a 2020 clinic blockade in Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday to 8 months in prison. However, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger allowed the sentence to be served concurrently to the D.C. sentence. She said she was lenient, in part, because of Idoni's many good works. They include adopting orphans from Ukraine. But Idoni has a blind spot with regards to abortion, Trauger said. She allowed her own personal views to inflict emotional damage on other people with views with which she disagrees, Trauger said. Both Idoni and Gallagher were convicted of obstructing access to the clinic as well as a more serious federal conspiracy charge. In addition to incarceration, they were further sentenced to three years of supervised release. Four others who were also convicted of conspiracy charges were sentenced in July to terms ranging from 6 months in prison to three years of supervised release, and three people who were convicted of misdemeanors were each sentenced to three years of probation. Gallagher, Idoni and Eva Edl were not sentenced with their co-defendants in July because they were preparing for a Michigan trial involving similar charges. In that case all three were found guilty of obstructing access to the Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling Heights and felony conspiracy. Edl and Idoni were additionally found guilty of blockading the Womens Health Clinic in Saginaw. They have not been sentenced in the Michigan blockades. On Thursday, Edl received a sentence of 3 years of probation in the Tennessee clinic blockade. One Tennessee defendant, Caroline Davis, who pleaded guilty in October to misdemeanor charges and cooperated with prosecutors, was sentenced to three years of probation in April. The 2021 blockade came nearly a year before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The organizers used social media to promote and livestream actions they hoped would prevent the clinic from performing abortions, according to testimony. They also intended the video as a training tool for other activists, Trauger found. Final day of Coast Guard hearing into Titan disaster closing out in North Charleston NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Friday is the final day of the public hearing portion of the Coast Guards investigation into why a submersible imploded on its way to view the Titanics shipwrecked remains. MORE ON THE TITAN SUBMERSIBLE The Marine Board of Investigation panel had previously heard from NASA and Boeing employees, who described their brief relationships with OceanGate, the owners of the imploded Titan submersible. Justin Jackson, a materials engineer, said OceanGate contacted NASA about the facility manufacturing a composite cylinder. Due to COVID, NASA did not manufacture anything but did act as an advisor remotely on OceanGates 1/3rd-scale models. According to Mark Negley, material and process engineer, Boeing entered into an agreement with OceanGate for a preliminary feasibility study that made recommendations for a concept vessel. OceanGate did not implement all of Boeings recommendations. When asked why the partnership ended, Negley said, I dont know exactly. I think maybe we were too expensive. John Winters, a master marine inspector from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, previewed his work on OceanGates first submersible, Antipodes. Winters made sure Antipodes was inspected and later certified as an Oceanographic Research Vessel. He also clarified that late OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush did not contact the Coast Guard regarding any part of the Titans design, certification, or build. During his testimony, Lt. Cmdr Jonathan Duffett with the Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance explained the U.S. Code regarding submersibles and small passenger vessels. The final day will hear recounts of the response effort following the Titans loss of contact with its support vessel in June 2023. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Specialist Scott Talbot will close out the hearing as the last witness. Former OceanGate employee Matthew McCoy and Sector Commander Cpt. Jamie Frederick with Coast Guard Sector Boston are also on the schedule for Friday. LIVE UPDATES: 3:09 p.m. Talbot extends condolences to the friends and family of those lost in the Titan incident. 3:06 p.m. The SAR mission coordinator changed at least 3 times during the Titan response effort due to fatigue concern issues. 2:49 p.m. Talbot said he did not know what an Oceanographic Research Vessel was until this hearing and he would guess most of the personnel do not know what it is. 2:47 p.m. Talbot said the Coast Guard is currently rewriting the SAR system training and regulations. 2:46 p.m. In Talbots career, he has never seen someone voluntary report submersible operations. In his opinion, being aware of a submersible operation in the Coast Guard area would help if a SAR operations were necessary. 2:22 p.m. The Coast Guard Sector Boston search team did not initially contact the Navy although SAR guidelines say the Navy is the primary source for complex underwater SAR incidents. 2:19 p.m. Coast Guard sectors cannot suspend SAR operations when a person is missing without concurrence from the district commander. 2:15 p.m. 2:17 p.m. There are many factors that go into suspending search and rescue operations and it is basically a case by case basis. The district commander and SAR commander typically make the decision to suspend a SAR operation. 2:14 p.m. Coast Guard SAR does not do recovery operations like body recovery or debris recovery. 2:00 p.m. DAILY BRIEFING SLIDES OF THE FIRST DISTRICT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPS FOR TITAN INCIDENT CG-065-USCG-DAILY-SEARCH-AND-RESCUE-RECOVERY-SLIDESDownload 1:44 p.m. Talbot said there was so much information pertaining to the incident that it was almost overwhelming, but the board found recommendations in four main categories. He went on to say it was evident that the SAR system was overwhelmed by the incident. 1:40 p.m. 1:55 p.m. Talbot was asked to conduct a SAR case study on the Titan incident. Below is a summary of the case study and findings: CG-089-USCG-TITAN-SAR-CASE-STUDY-AFTER-ACTION-REPORT-PRESENTATIONDownload 1:33 p.m. A SAR specialist is responsible for managing the search and rescue operations for the specific district under the SAR director, according to Talbot. 1:31 p.m. Scott Talbot called to witness stand. 12:22 p.m. Recess until 1:30 p.m. 12:18 p.m. Interview with the Polar Prince crew master, which is similar to the captain, after the Titan debris was found. CG-064-POLAR-PRINCE-CREW-LIST-CAPTAIN-CV-AND-INTERVIEW-QUESTIONS-AND-RESPONSESDownload 12:11 p.m. The process of getting Pelagics ROV to the Titan incident location would normally take days but the search and rescue team members were able to move the over 70,000 ton equipment to the incident site in hours. 12:01 p.m. District 1 does not monitor dive activity at the Titanic wreck site or the Andrea Doria. 11:57 a.m. OceanGate had a plan in case something went wrong that had ROV numbers on it, although Unified Command was never notified of this plane. In Capt. Fredericks understanding, Pelagic was made aware of the dive and the incident the night of June 18. Deep Energy was contacted through ISMERLOW. 11:54 a.m. Unified Command was notified of underwater noises during the search for the Titan. It was one piece of data that was not definitive and could not say 100% that it was an implosion. The team was also receiving conflicting evidence of knocking noises. No one knew what the answer was and Unified Command was not keeping the search ongoing when they had secret information, Capt. Frederick said. 11:51 a.m. Hearing back in session. 11:31 a.m. 11:33 a.m. OceanGate representative Kyle Bingham was apart of Unified Command. The First Coast Guard District was not aware of the Titans dive when the incident occurred. When the ROV found the tail cone debris and more debris was found Thursday morning, Unified Command determined the incident to be a total loss. 11:26 a.m. There was never an OceanGate search plan presented to the Coast Guard. There were sonar noises coming from buoys in the distance. The data was packaged and turned over to the Navy for analyzing. The Navy reported they were 100% certain that it was not sonar noise from humans. 11:19 a.m. 11:21 a.m. The Coast Guards first district exercises with the Canadians on an annual basis. Several days the ceiling was low limited to 500 feet, search conditions were good in general terms, but the team was not severely hampered by weather, according to Capt. Frederick. 11:16 a.m. 11:18 a.m. When the 6000 meter ROV was able to get on scene, the debris was found quickly. There was also a backup plan. A French vessel with a 6000 meter ROV was also on the way and arrived Thursday. 11:14 a.m. Capt. Frederick said OceanGate reached out to Pelagic research services initially which notified the Coast Guard. The team had to move 70,000 pounds of search equipment to St. Johns and then trucked to the sea port and moved onto the Horizon Arctic. 10:49 a.m. 11:05 a.m. Capt. Frederick was notified on Sunday (JUNE 18, 2023) at 5:40 p.m. EST and it was a report of an overdue sub at the site of the Titanic. An overdue vessel means you have confirmed departure and confirmed non-departure which puts the situation in the distress phase. It was a multi-dimensional search due to the distance offshore, the sub was supposed to resurface in emergency and there were no readily accessible response resources on the surface, Capt. Frederick said. A C-130 was on deck in St. Johns and sent to conduct a surface search over the area, he said. The Navy did not have available resources to help. ISMERLOW put out a global broadcast for at sea vessels that have ROV capability. The vessel Deep Energy responded and headed to the incident location with there ROVs. It took them 34 hours to get to the location. By Monday morning, Canadian aircraft and US aircraft were flying. When one landed another would take off up until Wednesday. The US and Canada worked closely through the response. Deep Energy arrived Tuesday morning but there ROVs could only go 3000 meter. Deep Energy pushed one of their ROVs passed 3000 meters and it failed, he said. At the same time, the Coast Guard put together an elite search and rescue team that was called Unified Command. The Canadian Air Force, the New York National Guard and Coast Guard worked together for search response. The Coast Guards search and rescue ops did have contact with OceanGate and the Polar Prince did have contact through the search for the Titan and its passengers. Polar Prince was the search lead at the beginning. The search lead transfer occurred on Wednesday. The airplanes during fly searches were receiving sonar noises underwater on Monday. 10:47 a.m. Capt. Frederick was an active search suspension authority during the Titan incident and the responsibilities were for him to communicate with the next of kin during the Titan case and that person also makes the decision to suspend a search 10:42 a.m. Capt. Frederick offers condolences to lost Titan passengers. He then details his professional Coast Guard background in search and rescue operations. 10:41 a.m. Cpt. Jamie Frederick with Coast Guard Sector Boston called to the witness stand. 10:01 a.m. Hearing in recess. 9:53 a.m. McCoy started at OceanGate in April 2017 and left in September 2017. No one paid to go on the Antipodes and Cyclops 1 dives while McCoy was there. It was all staff he said. 9:51 a.m. During McCoys time at OceanGate, the team just performed test dives and training dives on Antipodes and Cyclops 1. 9:45 a.m. 9:47 a.m. McCoy said he does not think there was a professional engineer on staff at OceanGate. There was not a set safety process. The concerns were brought up to your supervisor and then the supervisor would have a conversation with Stockton. There was no safety officer at OceanGate. 9:42 a.m. McCoy said the conversation before he left was very tense and Stockton was defensive. Stockton knew McCoys Coast Guard background and did not care, he said. 9:41 a.m. Two contractors who worked for OceanGate during the time had a lot of knowledge on submersibles and asked questions but they werent getting answered, according to McCoy. 9:39 a.m. McCoy said Stockton was in and out and he seemed to be defensive when people asked pointed questions. Scott Griffith and Neal McCurdy would listen and be open, but the one person who would take concerns seriously was David Lochridge, according to McCoy. 9:38 a.m. McCoy said he did not know much about the Coast Guard Adm. Lockwood who was on the OceanGate board. 9:36 a.m. McCoy said Stockton was not even open to testing the Titan unmanned. He said the engineering staff was not really qualified as there was Tony Nissen and one other on staff with the rest of the employees being basically college interns. 9:34 a.m. Allegedly, Lochridge reached out to McCoy and told him he had reached out to OSHA after McCoy left. Eventually, McCoy said he just quit following what OceanGate was doing because he assumed the OSHA complaint would lead to safety issues at the company being dealt with. 9:33 a.m. At the time of the conversation of between McCoy and Rush, the Titan had not dived in the US and so he did not know whether to notify the Coast Guard. 9:31 a.m. McCoy said Scott Griffith would just go along with what Stockton Rush would say. 9:30 a.m. The conversation between Stockton and McCoy happened in 2017 around September. McCoy said he resigned the following day after that conversation. He did have an unofficial exit interview with Bonnie Carl. He said she just pulled him aside and just asked him why he was leaving because the company was having a lot of turnover. 9:27 a.m. McCoy was in the Coast Guard reserves during this conversation and felt he was holding himself to a higher standard. McCoy said he did not believe that the Titan would not be operated out of the US. 9:24 a.m. 9:26 a.m. McCoy did raise these concerns and asked how they were doing this without certifying and inspecting the sub. He was taken to a meeting with Stockton Rush where he brought up his operating concerns. Rush gave him a long list of reasons why and how the regulations were stifling ingenuity according to McCoy. Rush also told McCoy that they were taking the Titan to the Bahamas so it would not be diving out of the US. Rush allegedly told him he would buy a congressman and make the problems go away if the Coast Guard decided to get involved. After this, McCoy resigned, he said. Scott Griffith was also at the lunch. 9:23 a.m. McCoy said after a dive with Renata Rojas and learning that she had gotten paid to go on the Andrea Doria dive was strange to him. Then he started learning more about mission specialists and became more concerned, he said. 9:19 a.m. McCoy said he was concerned with the overall design of the Titan. He said initially the OceanGate Foundation was going to raise money and operate it as an Oceanographic Research Vessel. 9:15 a.m. 9:19 a.m. When McCoy started working with OceanGate the company was in a partnership with the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab. He said during his time OceanGate and the physics lab broke ties and McCoy said this concerned him. Scott Griffith was McCoys supervisor and he said Griffith seemed to be over former marine operations chief David Lochridge at the time as well. 9:08 a.m. McCoy dealt with a lot of passenger vessels during his time stationed in Kauai with the Coast Guard. 9:07 a.m. McCoy began working with OceanGate in April 2017. 9:05 a.m. McCoy is a former Coast Guard member. He was active duty from 2002 to 2015. 9:04 a.m. Matthew McCoy, former OceanGate operations technician, called to the witness stand. 9:00 a.m. Hearing begins. STAY CONNECTED: Receive news alerts from this hearing and watch it on the go with the NEWS 2 APP (download it here). You can also subscribe to daily emails for the latest news on the titan hearings. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that Ukraine should first become a member of the EU before joining NATO. Source: Stubb at the Helsinki Security Forum, as reported by European Pravda Details: Stubb was asked whether it was realistic to expect Ukraine to receive an invitation to join NATO by the end of the year. Quote: "Till the end of the year, I would think that its unrealistic," the Finnish president replied, adding that he considers that Ukraine being invited to join NATO is realistic in the long term. Stubb went on to share his opinion on the order in which Ukraine will join the Western alliances. "I think that the sort of sequence would be: EU membership first, and NATO membership second," he added. According to Stubb, Ukraine will first sign security agreements which so far it has done with more than 20 countries followed by bilateral security guarantees with countries such as the US, the UK and France. After that, Ukraine will be able to join the EU, and only then join NATO. He stressed that Finland's position is to support Ukraine's NATO membership. "But the timing has to be right. We all know that a country that is at war cannot become a member of NATO," he said. "Dont hang everything on getting an invitation now. It is going to happen. Its a step by step process. Russia wanted to avoid at all cost getting NATO to its borders. It got Finland, it got Sweden, it will get Ukraine and all of those countries that want to join the Alliance," he added. Stubb dismissed the idea that Russia could use the war to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO since, he said, the war will end sooner or later. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes it is possible that Ukraine will be invited to join NATO before the Alliance's summit in the Netherlands in 2025. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova believes that the forecast that Ukraine could join the EU by 2030 is realistic. Support UP or become our patron! Firefighter accused of setting blazes in Northern California was a former inmate firefighter A Cal Fire truck drives down a hill after checking a hot spot near Lower Lake, Calif., in 2015. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) A Cal Fire engineer accused of setting several fires in Northern California had previously been in a firefighting training program while serving a six-year state prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, according to state corrections officials. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said 38-year-old Robert Matthew Hernandez , who was recently charged with multiple counts of arson, had participated in the states Conservation Camp Program from April through December 2018. The fire camps, about 35 in the state, are minimum-security facilities run by the corrections department, Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. State officials say the program paves the way for job opportunities and benefits for formerly incarcerated people. Mary Xjimenez, a corrections department spokesperson, said Hernandez was transferred from San Bernardino County to state prison in August 2017. He was sentenced to six years for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, she said. He received 756 days of pre-sentence credit for time served while awaiting sentencing and was eligible for credit-earning opportunities while incarcerated. Among those credit-earning opportunities was the fire camp program. Hernandez was released on parole supervision in December 2018. That following year, Xjimenez said, he enrolled in the Ventura Training Center, a certification program to help formerly incarcerated people apply for entry-level firefighting jobs with local, state and federal firefighting agencies. Xjimenez said Hernandez completed his parole in November 2020. Read more: California's inmate firefighter crews are dwindling just as the state starts to burn Hernandez's latest run in with the law occurred a week ago when the native of Healdsburg allegedly started five fires while off duty: The Alexander fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers fire on Sept. 12 and the Geyser and Kinley fires on Sept. 14, according to Cal Fire law enforcement officials. Hernandez was charged with five counts of arson on Tuesday. The Press Democrat, the first news outlet to report on Hernandez's ties to the fire camp program, said that Hernandez did not enter a plea and that his attorney, Orchid Vaghti, declined to comment. State corrections and fire officials said they were appalled to learn that Hernandez not only violated the publics trust but attempted to tarnish the work of firefighters. We strongly condemn the actions of any individual that endanger our communities and undermine the valuable contributions of fire camp participants, Xjimenez said, 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. First cases of bluetongue found in sheep in Wales Bluetongue affects ruminants including sheep, in which it causes serious illness and death [BBC] A new strain of the bluetongue virus has been found in sheep in Wales for the first time. Three cases of Bluetongue-3, or BTV-3, were identified in animals moved from the east of England to Gwynedd. Restriction zones to help stem the spread of the disease now cover the whole of the south-east England because of cases found there. In May the Welsh government urged farmers to look out for it and ensure livestock is sourced safely. Bluetongue is caused by a virus spread by midges. It affects cattle, goats, sheep and deer and members of the camel family. It does not affect people or food safety. Investigations are taking place on the affected farm to see if more controls are needed. Deputy chief vet, Gavin Watkins, said: "The cases identified in Gwynedd are from animals brought into Wales. "We will apply measures to stop the disease spreading from these three sheep and our aim remains to keep Wales free of bluetongue." Infected culicoides midges blown over from northern Europe can infect livestock with one bite [The Pirbright Institute] He urged people to report suspected cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The Welsh government said the impact on animals can vary. Some show no clinical signs or effects but for others it can cause productivity problems such as reduced milk yield or reproductive losses. In the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals. There is evidence dogs and other carnivores can get bluetongue if they eat infected material, including aborted material or afterbirth. GREER, S.C. (WSPA) Mike Ferrell took a step back in his career, which he believes is paying off for the Greer Police Department. Ferrell grew up in the Charleston area and graduated from Stratford High School. Thats where he got into law enforcement by starting with the Charleston County Detention Center. Theres people in this world who want to cause problems and somebody has to do something about it, according to Ferrell. Ferrell moved to the Upstate and joined the Greer Police Department in 2010. He moved up to the role of patrol sergeant but believed the department was lacking something. I saw this glaring problem with policing, in general, Ferrell told 7NEWS. Were responding to all types of calls where theres mental health involved and theres people who are suicidal. (Some) of these people need some type of treatment, but theyre not compliant with treatment. Ferrell gave up the rank of sergeant to become the Crisis Intervention Officer for Greer Police. City Council approved funding the position in November and he took over the post. When I show up, I try to as much as possible on my end to treat them was as much dignity about what theyre going through. They are legitimate things. Officer Ferrell said his work often starts with a conversation. Sometimes it just takes that conversation for us to be able to deescalate somebody to the point where they can listen to reason. (Then) we can start working towards a solution. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Wednesday morning, the very day that it was announced that Donald Trump was briefed by Biden administration officials of "real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him," Biden went on "The View" and his Secretary of Commerce went on "Morning Joe" to fan the flames of hate. The objective clearly was to demonize Donald Trump once again. President Joe Biden said Wednesday on ABC's "The View" that former President Donald Trump "really does not believe in democracy. I think he is the most unusual president. Look, when I ran, I said I was running, one of the first major speeches I made at Independence Hall about democracy. That democracy was at stake." He went on to say, "Trump is, there is not a lot social redeeming values there. Here's the thing, he really does not believe in democracy, and the guardrails that our system has set up for the abuse of power. Look at what he does and what he says and look what he did. January 6th was absolutely bizarre, bizarre. In the past Biden has said, "It's time to put Trump in a bulls-eye." And Biden has said time and time again that "Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic. There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country." And on that same morning, Biden Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that former President Donald Trump should be extinguished from politics. That's right, she used the word "extinguished." Raimondo said, "Tax policy, you have to work with Congress but if he decides he wants to do something crazy, like a 200% tariff, which will hurt Americans, raise prices and lose jobs, he could do it as president. Which is why honestly why I'm here in my personal capacity. The stakes are so high in this one. We cannot afford to put him back in the White House." And then she added, "He's the one that overturned Roe. For me, you know, when I was the governor of Rhode Island, one of the first governors in the country back in 2019 to codify Roe in state statute in Rhode Island. I worked with the legislature, it was because he was president, and I feared exactly what would happen. I said women of Rhode Island would be protected. That's real protection, stepping up and leading. And what he says is the opposite. It is just another lie. How did we get here? Let's extinguish him for good." Let's not forget what Kamala Harris has said. She falsely accused President Trump of calling Nazis "fine people," promising a "bloodbath," and being responsible for "the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War." No longer is there any attempt to parse her words. She has been repeating out and out lies about Trump, statements that have been proven to be totally false, with complete abandon. The vitriol against President Trump is off the charts. For more than 8 years Biden and his surrogates have been saying that Donald Trump is worse than Hitler and Mussolini. They constantly exaggerate the J6 Capitol riot and use it to frame Trump as a "threat to democracy." Joe Biden has labeled Trump and "MAGA Republicans" as "semi-fascists" and domestic terrorists. Tim Walz called Trump a "fascist" and "threat to Democracy" who will "put people's lives in danger." And last week Democratic Senator Chris Murphy described Trump as "a candidate explicitly running on the promise of political violence." Considering the constant drumbeat of Trump being worse than Hitler and a threat to all Americans, is it any wonder why there would be assassination attempts on him? Killing Hitler should make you the hero of the world, right? The damage done by the hate-filled rhetoric spewed by Democrats and their partners in the media will be felt for decades. (COMMENT, BELOW) A gas flame is seen in the desert near the Khurais oilfield, about 160 km (99 miles) from Riyadh. Ali Jarekji/Reuters Saudi Arabia is committed to boosting oil output in December, the FT reported. The kingdom is resigning itself to a period a lower prices, sources told the FT. Oil markets spiraled on the news, falling as much as 4% on Thursday. A report that Saudi Arabia would ditch its unofficial crude price target sent crude oil prices sharply lower on Thursday. According to sources that spoke with the Financial Times, the kingdom will no longer seek a $100 per barrel price and is instead ready to increase oil output. Speculation has mounted over what the world's largest oil exporter may do. Even as Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ members have progressively cut oil output to prop up global pricing, waning demand pushed crude to its lowest level since 2021 earlier this month. Despite this, those familiar with the matter said that Riyadh is prepared to boost output as scheduled on December 1. In essence, the kingdom is giving in to lower prices, FT sources said. Markets spiraled on the news, dropping over 3%. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell as low as $70.7 as of 11:00 am ET. An even steeper decline hit US West Texas Intermediate, hitting $67 a barrel. The kingdom's decision may seem counterintuitive, as the $100 per barrel threshold is considered essential to financing the Saudi budget. Yet, sources told FT that Riyadh is no longer comfortable ceding its market share to other producers by limiting production. OPEC's joint efforts to support higher prices have also been made difficult by the fact that some coalition members have partially disregarded the restrictions. One source told FT that, if countries such as Iraq and Kazakhstan do not commit to curbing supply, Riyadh may unwind its own cuts quicker than expected. Under the current plan, Saudi Arabia will boost its monthly production by 83,000 barrels per day each month from December. Prices have stayed low as China, a key consumer of global oil, has signaled a lackluster appetite for the commodity. According to Bloomberg, developments in Libya also added to Thursday's oil plunge. The country agreed to appoint a new central bank governor, ending a deadlock between rival administrations. The eastern-based faction has committed to reopening the country's oil fields in response, a move that could bring more crude output back online. Read the original article on Business Insider Fish evolution is so strange that it's given us species that can count, change color by "seeing" with its skin and even fish that can "sing." But sea robins in the family Triglidae are some of the most bizarre in the ocean, as illuminated by two new studies giving surprising insight into their biology. With a catfish-shaped body and face, sea robins come in a wide range of colors: Red-brown and orange to subtler hues of silver and gray. Yet sea robins are most notable for their distinctively large, fan-shaped dorsal fins and for their six leg-like appendages. You read that correctly: A sea robin is a fish that effectively has legs. And thanks to two recent studies in the journal Current Biology one about its sensory organs in its feet, the other about its genetic evolution we now understand that these "legs" (really extensions of the pectoral fins) do more than just walk. They are full-fledged multi sensory organs. Among other things, the scientists learn that sea robin legs are sensitive to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Even when burying capsules that contained only a single chemical, the sea robins could quickly find them. This was the case for a known species of sea robin that the scientists began studying, the Prionotus carolinus which dig to find buried prey with those super-sensitive legs. The scientists also discovered a new species of sea robin, the Prionotus evolans, which has legs with different abilities. Lepidotrigla papilio "When we looked at the digging versus non-digging animals, the legs were so obviously different and the sensory papillae on the digging legs were even clear by eye," Nicholas Bellono, a molecular and cellular biologist at Cape Cod's Marine Biological Laboratory and an author on both papers, told Salon. "Using this comparative model, we were then able to trace down the piezo-positive mechanosensory neurons and taste receptor-expressing epithelial cells in digging sea robins that were absent in the non-digging species." These are the various types of special cells that help the sea robin "taste" and otherwise detect the various chemicals in the sediment as it searches for food. The research team was assisted by scientists Amy Herbert and David Kingsley from Stanford University, who figured out "how these fish develop leg-like appendages from fins using ancestral limb genes and how the legs were then specialized in certain species to sense and uncover buried prey," Bellono said. We were not planning to study sea robins at all but happened to come across them on a trip to the Marine Biological Laboratory (in Woods Hole, Massachusetts) for squid," Bellono added. "Scott Bennett from the Marine Resource Center has worked with me since I studied electroreception in sharks as a postdoc and knows I appreciate weird creatures, so he showed us sea robins, or 'walking' fish with legs as he called them. He told us the stories about how other fish follow them around because they are so good at sensing and uncovering buried prey on the seafloor." The group was especially pleased to learn that sea robins were so effective at covering up filtered mussel extract, even down to single amino acids. Amino acids are smaller even than individual strands of DNA. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. "We were initially amazed at how different all sea robins are compared to other fish (presence of legs and ability to walk)," Kingsley said in a statement. "During the course of the collaborative studies with Nicks lab, we were surprised to find how much sea robins species also differed from each other in sensory structures and behavior." Naturally, the next question for biologists is to understand why these fish species diverge so sharply. The most logical explanation is that it has to do with adapting to their environment. That's where the second paper comes into play: By exploring the function of a gene known as tbx3a, Bellono and his colleagues figured out how a fish grows a new organ that functions both as a leg and a tongue. "There are a couple hypotheses regarding the advantages of these evolutionary innovations in the bottom dwelling sea robin," Herbert said in a statement. "One is that using the legs to uncover buried prey opens up a new ecological niche for certain sea robin species. Another is that walking rather than swimming in some environments may be more energy efficient for sea robins." Postdoctoral student Corey Allard, who was also instrumental to the research for this paper, plans on helping in those future endeavors. "Moving forward, Corey and Amy plan to dissect the mechanisms by which sea robins develop sensory legs for understanding where limbs come and how they specialize for various forms of sensation," Bellono said. "I expect these studies will continue to teach us about the evolution of novel traits." As Kinglsey added, "This research had identified some of the key players involved in developing legs and taste in sea robins. We still have to find what exactly has happened at the DNA level to redeploy ancient genes into new functions. Amy Herbert and Corey Allard are about to start their own labs at the University of Chicago and at Harvard. They will have a ton of cool problems to work in sea robins and other organisms that can now be studied using these new tools in genetics, genomicsand physiology." As Bellono concluded, "To me, this is a great story of our scientific philosophy of being curious, opportunistic and open-minded to new biology, even if unexpected! Five days of frantic US diplomacy on Lebanon has yielded little U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken speaks during a meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, Pool) NEW YORK (AP) President Joe Biden's administration headed into the annual U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders this week with high hopes that he could cement his legacy as an international statesman during escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Yet five days of frantic diplomacy focused mainly on preventing the Israel-Hezbollah crisis from exploding into a full-scale war has yielded little, if any, results and prospects for peace have further dimmed. Despite a proposal from the U.S., France and other allies for a temporary cease-fire along the border with Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech Friday to the General Assembly, vowing to keep up operations against Hezbollah until tens of thousands of Israeli citizens displaced by rocket attacks can return home. As Netanyahu spoke, Israel launched a massive strike on Hezbollahs main headquarters in Beirut that targeted the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah. Netanyahu then cut short his already-truncated visit to New York and headed home without meeting U.S. officials. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism. The way it does so matters, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Friday, declining to outright criticize Israel for its latest strike. The Pentagon and the White House National Security Council said the U.S. did not get advance warning. We believe the way forward is through diplomacy not conflict. The path to diplomacy may seem difficult, as we see in this moment, but it is there, Blinken said. Netanyahu's speech and his abbreviated trip which lacked any meetings with leaders from Israels largest and most important backer, the United States underscored the limits of American influence. Many believe U.S. sway in the region has been waning since Israel's war with Hamas, another Iranian-backed militant group, began nearly a year ago. Critics of the administrations handling of the growing Middle East conflict say Biden and his team now find themselves contending with an uncomfortable dynamic they created themselves: A split-screen in which top administration officials are pleading for a cease-fire as Israel continues to decisively go after top Hezbollah commanders that it blames for driving tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes near the border with Lebanon. On the same day the U.S. was begging Hezbollah for a cease-fire, Israel took out Hezbollahs command center, said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a former National Security Council staffer on the Iran desk during the Trump administration. The contrast brings the current state of American weakness into sharp relief. This week began with Bidens top national security aides working to build support for a 21-day Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire that they hoped might also breathe new life into stalled efforts to secure a truce in Gaza. Blinken met with European and Gulf Arab foreign ministers, along with Netanyahu's top strategic adviser, Ron Dermer. Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, the White Houses chief interlocutors with Israel and Lebanon since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas launched the war in Gaza, held similar talks in New York to win support for the plan. After three days of intense talks punctuated by a brief spat between the United States and France over the timing the proposal was presented late Wednesday. The Americans were particularly perturbed by France calling an emergency U.N. Security Council session on Lebanon for Wednesday evening at which the French foreign minister previewed the as-yet unfinished proposal while at the same time Biden was hosting a reception for world leaders at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That effectively forced the U.S. to unveil it before many officials believed it was ready. Nearly four hours after that Security Council meeting began, the White House released the plan. U.S. officials then offered upbeat assessments of its prospects over the objections of some in the Biden administration who had urged caution, according to several people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail private discussions. After consulting with senior Israeli officials, Blinken and other diplomats had expected Israel to at least welcome, if not endorse, the plan. Instead, Netanyahu appeared to reject it when he arrived in New York on Thursday. He later clarified that Israel supports the goals of the cease-fire. Biden administration officials have been pressing for approval of the proposal since it was announced Wednesday night, but their hopes have waned since. No U.S. officials had contact with Netanyahu when he was in New York. In his U.N. speech Friday, the Israeli leader castigated much of the world for trying to push his country into accepting an untenable situation along its northern border. Well continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met, he told the General Assembly, just before reports emerged that Israeli had struck Hezbollahs headquarters. Ive come here today to say: Enough is enough. Having returned to Washington on Wednesday night, Biden ordered the Pentagon on Friday to assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of U.S. objectives," the White House said. ___ Madhani reported from Rehoboth Beach, Del. Five people were injured on the evening of 27 September as Russian troops attacked Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration on Telegram Details: A Russian drone dropped explosives on a civilian car in Kherson's Dniprovskyi district this evening, injuring a 58-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration said. Two other women were injured during a Russian attack on Kherson at around 17:20 and taken to hospital. They were at home at the time of the strike. In addition, Russian forces shelled the town of Veletenske with artillery at around 18:30. Quote: "A local citizen who was out on the street was injured in the shelling. The man suffered a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to the chest, abdomen, arms and legs. He is in a serious condition." Support UP or become our patron! Aftermath of an explosion at a fuel station in Makhachkala MOSCOW (Reuters) -An explosion at a petrol station in Russia's Caspian Sea region of Dagestan killed 10 people on Friday, including two children, the emergencies ministry said. A ministry statement on the Telegram messaging app said 11 people were injured in the blast outside the regional capital of Makhachkala. It said rescue teams had been recovering bodies from under rubble and brought a fire under control. A health ministry official told Russian news agencies that eight people were being treated in hospital, including one in serious condition. Dagenergo, the regional power operator, said the explosion damaged "energy objects" and that power supply was partially disrupted in nearby districts. A local branch of the Investigative Committee, which deals with serious crimes in Russia, said it had opened a criminal case and was establishing the circumstances of the incident. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Mark Heinrich, Ron Popeski and Jonathan Oatis) The latest restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture gave seven restaurants B grades and two others C grades. The department is responsible for regularly inspecting the health and safety of retail food establishments in the state. In general, the Department of Agriculture gives restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 points A grades, restaurants scoring 78-87 points B grades and restaurants scoring 77 points or fewer C grades, but this isnt always the case. Of the 156 restaurants inspected in Horry and Georgetown County from Sept. 13 to Sept. 20, the date with the most recently available inspection reports, two establishments received C grades: Billy the Kids Restaurant and the Circle K Subway at 3710 Highway 501. An additional seven restaurants, the AFC Sushi in Publix at 1576 Highway 17 North, Bonefish Grille at 103 South Kings Highway, El Buen Sabor Mexican and Centro, Hooks Calabash Seafood, Sugar Life Ice Cream and Candy, Pho Claire and Woodhaven Pancake House, all received B grades. However, only one restaurant actually scored below 89 points. The reason these grades differ from their numerical scores is because the Department of Agriculture sometimes docks restaurants grades if the establishment has consecutive violations, is under enforcement action or is under pending enforcement actions, including an imminent health hazard, permit suspension or permit revocation. Heres what inspectors found at the restaurant that did receive a numerical score in the B range. Hooks Calabash Seafood 1902 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29577 Score: 81 A routine inspection of Hooks Calabash Seafood on Sept. 20 found several violations, including flies at the shrimp and oyster area of the buffet, fly strips hanging throughout the kitchen and storage areas, and foods like fish, shrimp, chicken and imitation crab stored at unsafe temperatures. The report also notes that shellfish werent marked with the last dates of use and the dishwasher didnt have sufficiently hot water. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Sept. 30. More information about South Carolina regulations for retail food establishments can be accessed online here. As of early Friday morning, 700 flights had been canceled and more than 1,200 flights had been delayed within, into, or out of the United States. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Waves from the Gulf of Mexico crash on shore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida Hours after making landfall as a powerful and devastating Category 4 storm in Florida, Hurricane Helene continued to batter the south and disrupt travel across the country. By Friday morning, Helene had been downgraded to a tropical storm with tornado watches and flash flood warnings issued across Georgia and the Carolinas, according to The Weather Channel. The storm was rapidly moving north through Georgia with hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. This is [a] dangerous and life-threatening situation, the National Hurricane Center wrote in an update. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place, staying away from windows and have multiple ways to receive warnings and updates. Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc at airports on Thursday, continued to disrupt travel on Friday. As of early Friday morning, 700 flights had been canceled and more than 1,200 flights had been delayed within, into, or out of the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The largest share of cancellations were coming out of North Carolinas Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), which axed 140 outgoing flights. That was followed by Tampa International Airport (TPA), which had canceled nearly 100 flights so far Friday. Tampa initially suspended all commercial and cargo operations early Thursday and remained closed Friday morning. Damage assessments are underway and we will have an update on reopening plans later this morning, TPA wrote in a Facebook post. The disruptions joined 1,300 flight cancellations and more than 6,200 flight delays from Thursday, according to data from FlightAware. Travel alerts from major airlines remained in effect, including from Delta Air Lines, which extended its alert to Friday travel through its hub in Atlanta (also known as the busiest airport in the world); and United Airlines, which extended its alert through Sept. 28 to several area airports, including in Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, and more. Helene, which made landfall Thursday night about 10 miles from Perry, Florida, became the second major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to The Weather Channel. Experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have forecast this could end up being one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. (This report has been updated with new information) Fifty-four people were rescued from the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital on Sept. 27 after flooding due to Tropical Storm Helene left them stranded. Virginia State Police finished the rescue mission around 4:45 p.m., using two helicopters to rescue between 40 and 45 people, Virginia State Police spokesperson Matt Demlein told the USA TODAY Network. Other agencies involved in the rescue effort rescued the remaining patients and staff. Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley told Knox News he watched as helicopters from throughout the region descended on the roof after floodwaters rose so quickly authorities couldn't even get boats near the building. It was chaotic. We couldnt get to them in boats, we had high winds and water rushing around the hospital. I thank God the hospital held. I was waiting for it to collapse, Hensley said. National Guard and state and local police helicopters from nearby Virginia and Tennessee, including crews from Knoxville in three Blackhawk helicopters, saved the patients. Those pulled off the roof are all receiving treatment at other regional facilities. The Unicoi hospital will remain closed until further notice. Get weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about Hurricane Helene and other weather events now "The major problem is trying to access some of these rural areas," Hensley told Knox News. "We're cut off from the south end of the county now. We're cut off from deputies on the south part who can't come back home. But that's a good thing they're there." Erwin Police Department Lt. Patrick Bennet told Knox News couldn't hear anything except howling winds as he helped in the evacuation. The rising water took his breath away. Water was coming up so high, there was nothing we could do, he told Knox News. The morning started quietly before the force of the storm moved in, and conditions deteriorated within hours. "(It looked) like a normal day. And it looked that way when I got here this morning, he said. "It came up within just a matter of minutes. Once it started, it just kept rising and rising. Bennett said rescue teams evacuated the most critical patients first. In the hours after the rescue, Unicoi County residents gathered near the hospital to take in the jaw-dropping scene of rushing water and floating debris. What now resembles a river, Unicoi County Clerk Patty Treadway told Knox News, used to be a pasture where neighbors saw the occasional horse. "It's unbelievable," she said. "It's something I've never seen before, and I've lived here my whole life." Ambulances could not reach the hospital due to the rapid flooding, so the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency got involved with local agencies to deploy rescue boats. However, water surrounding the hospital and seeping inside prevented the boats from safely being able to leave the hospital, Ballad said. Helicopters were also not able to safely evacuate the hospital due to high winds. By 12:27 p.m., 54 people had to evacuate to the rooftop and seven were stranded in rescue boats. "The hospital has been engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water. The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and TEMA and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation," Ballad wrote. "We ask everyone to please pray for the people at Unicoi County Hospital, the first responders on-scene, the military leaders who are actively working to help, and our state leaders." EMS service shares Facetime video from Unicoi County Hospital rooftop MedicOne Medical Response, an emergency rescue service, posted a Facetime recording with a former employee who was stranded on the hospital roof. The videos showed patients and staff on the roof of the hospital with water surrounding the building. In another video, the first rescue helicopter arrived. Where is Unicoi County Hospital? Unicoi County Hospital is in Erwin, Tennessee, around 100 miles east of Knoxville and Pigeon Forge. The region saw intense flooding Friday as Tropical Storm Helene, downgraded from a hurricane, barreled through the Southeast, inflicting flooding and power outages across multiple states. The downtown of Newport, a Tennessee city around 60 miles west, was also evacuated after a "catastrophic failure" of the Walters Dam near Waterville, North Carolina, on Friday. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: More than 50 rescued from Unicoi County Hospital after Tennessee flood ASHEVILLE, N.C. Cities in western North Carolina are bracing for catastrophic flooding and other significant weather impacts from Hurricane Helene's landfall. In Buncombe County, a local state of emergency was declared Thursday and applies to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Weaverville, the Woodfin, Black Mountain and Montreat. County officials have advised residents who live near the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers to evacuate before Friday night, especially those in towns such as Fletcher and Biltmore Forest. Flooding on a road along the Swannanoa River in Biltmore Village. "This will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era," officials at the National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, said in a post on X on Thursday. "Record flooding is forecasted and has been compared to the floods of 1916 in the Asheville area." Landslides capable of washing out bridges and roads are possible during this flooding event, NWS said. "We plead with everyone that you take every single weather warning very seriously through the entirety of this event as impacts will be life-threatening and make sure to have multiple ways to receive the alerts," NWS said. Photos and videos from the area on Thursday afternoon show rivers rushing and flooded streets. Flooding was being reported in Biltmore Village, just to the south of Asheville, near the Swannanoa River. Swannanoa River flooding in Asheville, North Carolina More than 14,000 people were without power in North Carolina as of Thursday afternoon. In Burke and Henderson Counties, a voluntary evacuation was in place for areas near rivers and creeks that tend to flood. Original article source: Flooding swamps Asheville area as North Carolina mountains brace for Helene's life-threatening rainfall Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday along the sparsely populated Big Bend section of Floridas Gulf Coast as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm. It could bring devastation to an area that has already been battered by two previous hurricanes, even as the states capital city may escape the worst. According to the National Hurricane Center, Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. Eastern Time just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour at landfall. Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday evening news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee shortly after landfall that there has already been one fatality in the state, a number he expected to rise by morning. "When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we're going to be waking up to a state where very likely there's been additional loss of life, and certainly there's going to be loss of property," DeSantis said late Thursday. "You're going to have people that are going to lose their homes because of this storm, and so please keep those folks in mind. Keep them in your prayers." The storm made landfall east of Tallahassee, a direct hit for rural Taylor County, which also was hit by Hurricane Debby in August and Hurricane Idalia just over a year ago. The storm, which was upgraded to an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm by the National Hurricane Center just hours before its anticipated landfall, is the latest natural disaster testing the coastal state. The economic costs of the storm could be less than major hurricanes in the past because of where it came onshore the comparatively sparsely populated Big Bend but the effects of the storm are being felt statewide. At one point, nearly the entirety of Florida was under either a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado watch or warning. Emergency management officials in Taylor, Franklin, Wakulla and other coastal counties declared mandatory evacuations for all residents ahead of Helene. The counties are defined by the state as fiscally constrained, due to economic factors and low property tax revenue. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel to Florida on Friday to view the aftermath of Helene, she said at a White House press briefing in Washington earlier on Thursday. She said the storm will affect several states, but coastal flooding remains the most life-threatening, and that residents should listen closely to local officials. I need everybody to pay attention to their local officials, Criswell said. Theyre going to have the best information on the specifics for where youre at. FEMA distributes several billions in federal recovery dollars every year, and Criswell said the agency has enough on hand to aid in covering recovery costs from the storm. We have exactly what we need, and there are no limitations to support the response to this disaster, Criswell said. Helene was slow to develop overnight, but the storm quickly became well-organized by midday Thursday as it moved north over the Gulf of Mexico and progressed toward the state at a rapid pace. The storm is expected to bring catastrophic winds inland that can damage even well-built structures. The coastline should expect storm surge of up to 20 feet in some areas, which could bring devastation to residents around Apalachee Bay, according to a report by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. Apalachee Bay is home to the picturesque fishing village of Apalachicola. There is a danger of catastrophic and unsurvivable storm surge for Apalachee Bay. Storm surge is arriving this morning and will continue to worsen throughout the day, the forecast said. This forecast is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay. Please take any evacuation orders seriously! Helene shares the same deadly potential as Hurricane Michael, which blew up just before making landfall near Panama City Beach with winds of more than 160 mph in October 2018. The sudden intensification of the Category 3 Michael to a Category 5 surprised forecasters and emergency management officials, and the winds flattened entire blocks of homes in Mexico Beach. National Weather Service forecasters anticipate the fast-moving Helene to continue bringing powerful winds as it moves toward Georgia. DeSantis said the storm could produce hurricane-force winds 50 miles outside of its eye. Georgia, North Carolina and other states have already declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm. Officials at the Florida Division of Emergency Management began preparing for the hurricane over the weekend when it was still a disorganized weather disturbance. National Weather Service forecasters identified the disturbance as a potential major hurricane with winds of more than 110 miles per hour before it became a named storm, which was the first time in history. The storm surge by Helene could reach 20 feet along the Big Bend, which would be higher than Hurricane Ian, which brought 18 feet of surge to Southwest Florida in September 2022. Helene also brought surge and wind farther down the Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay, where the Howard Frankland and Sunshine Skyway bridges were closed. The state has brought in 18,000 linemen to help restore order to an expected massive rash of power outages throughout the path of the storm. DeSantis has also called in 3,500 Florida National Guard members, 200 Florida Highway Patrol troopers and dozens of search and rescue teams. The state has also amassed a reserve of more than 700,000 gallons of diesel, gasoline and propane, although DeSantis said there have been no reports of gas shortages as with some previous hurricanes. DeSantis said he anticipates a seamless collaboration of linemen from power companies, electric cooperatives and publicly owned utilities in efforts to quickly restore electricity to thousands of people. As of 9 p.m. on Thursday, at least 445,000 households were already without power, according to the Florida Public Service Commission. He hinted at the states response to Hurricane Hermine, which knocked out power for most of Tallahassee for days. The delays led then-Gov. Rick Scott to squabble with city officials over hiring additional linemen. You did not see that in the past, DeSantis said earlier Thursday. Did you see Tallahassee mobilizing the way it did in the past? No. Steven Shepard contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it charged a Florida man for allegedly threatening to kill one of his opponents in a 2022 Republican primary race for a U.S. House seat, which subsequently was won by Representative Anna Paulina Luna In an indictment unsealed in a Florida federal court, prosecutors said William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg, Florida, threatened to kill an unnamed victim on June 8, 2021. Newspaper reports in Florida at the time about a related civil trial described alleged threats by Braddock against Luna. Aides to Luna were unable to immediately comment as they dealt with recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene, which has hit Florida with destructive force. According to the indictment, Braddock allegedly threatened to "call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad" and make his primary opponent "disappear." Braddock subsequently dropped out of the race and fled the United States. He later was found to be living in the Philippines, according to the indictment. He recently was deported and made an initial court appearance on Thursday in Los Angeles. Luna is expected to fairly easily win reelection, according to a Reuters analysis of the three main U.S. nonpartisan political ratings services. If convicted, Braddock faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, according to the Justice Department. The indictment comes at a time when the Justice Department is trying to clamp down on threats against election workers in the run-up to November's presidential and congressional elections. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Bill Berkrot) (The Hill) The Taylor County sheriffs office asked residents who did not evacuate to write contact information on their arms or legs for identification purposes, as Hurricane Helene is expected to hit the county Thursday night. 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 sheriffs office wrote in a post on Facebook. Hurricane Helene forecast to bring catastrophic, life-threatening flooding to Carolinas Officials requested that people provide information about whether their residence is inland or on the coast, their full address, and the names of individuals and animals so that search and rescue teams can prioritize certain locations. NBC reported that Sheriff Wayne Padgett said that Taylor County will be in the dead center of the hurricane and that, although mandatory evacuations were ordered for the area, he estimated that up to half of the population is staying. Damage is predicted to compare to the Asheville floods of 1916, which killed at least 80 people and caused millions of dollars in damage and exceed other extreme weather events in the region such as Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, the weather service 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 Queen City News. Floridians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours FLORIDA Floridians 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 Florida. 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. Floridians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again: How To Get Yours originally appeared on the Tampa Patch File cabinets. (Getty) One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise. In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating. Chesterfield County police dispatch relayed break-in attempt before fatal shooting Federal Court records obtained by WTVR revealed information dispatchers gave Chesterfield police officers before they fatally shot Charles Byers on July 8, 2023. According to the news station, police responded after a resident on Wycliff Court reported Byers breaking through a window to enter a home where he told the resident he thought he was at his familys house and asked for water. Another resident reported Byers tried to enter his home and appeared to be messed up. The dispatcher relayed the breaking and entering attempt through the window to the officers. The officer, who fatally shot Byers as he was walking away from them with a hatchet in his hand, had asked about any crimes committed so far and if he made entry into anything. Looks like he vandalized one residence. Other than that, Im not seeing anything, the dispatcher responded. Byers family is suing Chesterfield County over the death, arguing the crimes committed by him didnt warrant the use of deadly force. County attorneys are seeking a dismissal, saying Byers had squared up with the officer and the reported crimes would lead a reasonable responding officer to believe a potentially dangerous crime was in the process. The attorney for Byers family contended the officer was only aware of a misdemeanor, and that Byers never made a threatening motion with the hatchet toward the officers. A judge is considering whether the case has merit to continue. The Byers family is also suing HCAs Chippenham Hospital and the city of Richmond for jointly and improperly removing Byers from a mental health facility, despite a court order directing him to be there. Richmond finance department doesnt tell business owners about money theyre owed As part of continuing coverage of several issues with the city of Richmond, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported the finance department wasnt notifying business owners that had overpaid on their tax bills. Asia Spratley, a former program and operations manager in the finance department, told an employee in an August 2022 email, please do not include credit balanced, when the employee asked how to determine the number of taxpayer accounts no longer had a balance due, according to the email obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. As part of his report, journalist Samuel Parker detailed how Jason Roop, who owns the public and relations marketing firm Springstory, and Jeff Marks, who ran Promotional Considerations, received notices of unpaid taxes and the citys intent to sue, respectively. It took a visit to city hall for Roop and Marks to learn of their accidental overpayments, and credits owed to them. Spratley told the RTD credit balances were omitted from reports because they were intended to determine who had outstanding balances. Overpayments were the responsibility of the revenue side of the department, added Spratley, who resigned in August after a dispute with management. Margaret Ekam, a city spokeswoman, said Spratleys instructions followed the normal process to write payment letters. Ekam also said most tax compliance and audit employees are no longer working with the finance department, which is streamlining several processes. The city council passed an ordinance in March requiring notification of credits to taxpayers, but those records arent tracked, Ekam said. An inspector general said a city attorney told him to end an investigation into the finance departments handling of tax overpayments because it was outside of his responsibilities. Ekam denied that, saying an investigation had cleared the city of wrongdoing, but didnt state what agency carried out the investigation. Fairfax County teacher sues for lack of records A Fairfax County school teacher and former state Senate candidate filed a lawsuit against the district employing her alleging a failure to hand over all of the documents she requested through a Freedom of Information Act. Julie Perry, who teaches history at Centreville High School, filed the records request after she thought her job was under attack following a post on X involving alleged transgender autistic kids, the Daily Signal reported. In May, Perry posted about a trend she saw in her classrooms of autistic kids identifying as transgender, adding, The far-left uses the literal mentality of children with Autism to abuse them in this manner. This is why children with Autism need greater protection. After seeing the post, Vanessa Hall, who was not co-director of Fairfax Countys LGBT Pride club at the time but now is, sent an email to the high school principal voicing concern over the post, according to records received through a request from a Daily Wire reporter. However, these tweets below show that she is using students for her political gain, Hall said in her complaint, adding shes refrained from reporting Perrys other homophobic, transphobic and deeply hurtful posts. She has crossed a serious ethical line if she is willing to release personal information about her students to the public on social media in direct violation of school policy and parental rights, Hall said. Then, Perry received a memo telling her that her posts, should not impair your capacity to be respectful of students and parents and the ability to do her job. Any action that brings the school system into disrepute may be just cause for dismissal. Perry filed a FOIA request on May 29 for emails from Assistant Principal Penny Gros, who received a complaint about Perry and would seek guidance on how to handle it before the memo went out, mentioning her name. Gros received the complaint, the Daily Signal reported, from the principal at Perrys high school initially who received it from a donor to the campaign of then school board member and now Sen. Stella Pekarsky, the Democrat who beat Perry to represent Fairfax County. Perry only received one document in response to her FOIA, despite the Daily Wire receiving 14 documents for a similar request. Editors note: This story has been corrected to state Vanessa Hall was not co-director of Fairfax Countys LGBT Pride club when she emailed the high school principal. Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: info@virginiamercury.com SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ABOVE: The latest forecast update from Severe Weather Center 9. To stay on top of changing weather conditions, be sure to download our free WSOC-TV weather app. The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 40 across four states, The Associated Press reported. Helene has left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall Thursday in Florida, snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate and dangerous missions to save people from floodwaters. The damage extended hundreds of miles to the north, with flooding as far away as North Carolina. Click here for the latest local flood alerts. According to an Associated Press tally Friday, the deaths occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. South Carolinas Department of Public Safety confirmed 19 total deaths, including five in Spartanburg, and four in Greenville. North Carolina officials previously reported two deaths -- one in Charlotte and another in Catawba County. Western North Carolina was hit especially hard. UPDATES 10 p.m. Latest forecast with Chief Meteorologist John Ahrens 8:10 p.m. LAKE LURE DAM UPDATE: 9/27/24, 8:00 PM: Engineers have evaluated the Lake Lure Dam and determined it is no longer at... Posted by Rutherford County, NC Emergency Management on Friday, September 27, 2024 7 p.m. - PHOTOS: Chopper 9 Skyzoom over Lake Lure, Chimney Rock Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 6:30 p.m. - New video: Cowans Ford Dam From Chopper 9: The flood gates at Cowans Ford Dam are open. Officials are warning Mountain Island Lake will quickly rise @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/4zP2BRv9qy Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 27, 2024 5:35 p.m. - The flood gates at Cowans Ford Dam are open. Expect Mountain Island Lake to quickly rise. Use extreme caution. A shelter is open at Tuckaseegee Rec Center at 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC. Call 911 only in emergencies. Click here for updates. 4:25 p.m. - Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management has been informed by Duke Energy that flooding is imminent at Mountain Island Lake starting late this afternoon/evening due to several days of excessive rainfall. Residents on Lake Wylie will also see rising water levels and should maintain heightened awareness. Duke Energy will be moving large amounts of water through the Catawba River System including Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie. This will affect portions of the Catawba River within Mecklenburg County. Flood waters will rise rapidly and conditions will change quickly. Lake level information is available on the Duke Energy website, by calling 800-829-5253, and via the Duke Energy Lake View mobile app. All residents near the shoreline along the lakes and rivers are encouraged to take caution. Those in need of special assistance should assess their risk and take necessary precautions. A general shelter is set up for displaced residents at Tuckaseegee Rec Center, located at 4820 Tuckaseegee Road. Visit cltgov.me/helene for evacuation tips. Residents in immediate danger should call 911. 4:20 p.m. - Charlotte Fire responded to 559 emergency calls. 280 were directly related to the storms effects, including flooding, downed power lines, and storm damage. 4 p.m. - Alexander County and the town of Taylorsville have issued a voluntary curfew from 7 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday. It is highly recommended that citizens stay off the roads during this time due to downed power lines and other debris in the roadways. Alexander County Emergency Services and Taylorsville personnel have responded to more than 600 calls on Friday. The curfew will allow emergency crews to rest and replenish emergency supplies. 3:40 p.m. - Friday afternoon weather update: The worst is over, friends, but you will still want to keep that rain gear around, said Chief Meteorologist John Ahrens said Friday afternoon. There will be a few spotty showers this weekend with the best rain chance on Sunday. It certainly will not be as bad as what we just went through and wont last that long, Ahrens said. It will feel muggy out there so it is still going to be a while before you feel real fall weather. 3:30 p.m. - There are voluntary evacuations for the Nivens Cove neighborhood along Mountain Island Lake, Gaston County officials said. Emergency management in Gaston County said they are moving its emergency shelter from the Citizens Resource Center in Dallas to Belmont Middle School, 1020 South Point Road, in Belmont. 3 p.m. - People along the Catawba River are being told Friday afternoon to get ready to evacuate. Duke Energy needs to move a large amount of water through the Catawba River system as water levels continue to rise. The area stretches from the southern part of Lake Norman through Mountain Island Lake and down to Lake Wylie. Channel 9 has asked emergency management how many homes are in this evacuation zone. There is a shelter at the Tuckaseegee Recreation Center on Tuckaseegee Road. Emergency officials are asking neighbors to prepare to evacuate along the Catawba River System as they move rainwater accumulated from Helene. 11 a.m. - Officials say the failure of a dam in a western North Carolina town is imminent. Anyone below the Lake Lure Dam is asked to evacuate to higher ground as quickly as possible. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper confirmed two fatalities tied to the storm. 10:30 a.m. - Tropical Storm Helene is moving north and the Charlotte area has seen the last of the heavy downpours as of 10:30 a.m., but western counties will likely be dealing with rain for a few more hours. Rivers and creeks are overflowing, and Channel 9 crews have spotted flooding on roads like Interstate 40 and Highway 70 near Black Mountain. Happening now on Highway 70 in Black Mountain, truck drivers are stuck in a warehouse lot while floodwaters rise, threatening to carry them away. Two of the 7 trucks have tipped already.@wsoctv @TelemundoCLT #ncwx pic.twitter.com/PLJVKfz6YA Jorge Velez (@jorgeveleztv) September 27, 2024 9 a.m. - North Carolina counties in the west and northern parts of the state are seeing big impacts from flooding in cities. Channel 9 spotted streets underwater in Asheville and Boone, and flash flood warnings are in place for the rest of the day as the rain works through our waterways. At this point, hundreds of thousands of customers in North Carolina are without power, according to Duke Energy. Many traffic lights are also without power due to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. Keep updated on active weather alerts at this link. FRIDAY MORNING STORIES FROM HELENE: 8 a.m. - A tornado watch was reissued for most of North Carolina and parts of South Carolina until 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. No tornados have been reported as of 8 a.m. Friday, but Severe Weather Center 9 is keeping an eye out for any spin-ups. 7 a.m. - Emergency crews have seen an uptick in the number of trees falling due to severe weather in the area. One person has already died from a tree falling on a home, and Channel 9 crews are looking into additional reports across the Charlotte area and South Carolina. Public Safety Alert: Severe Storm Damage: High winds from the recent storm have caused significant damage across our area. Charlotte Fire is actively responding to multiple incidents involving downed trees and power lines. For your safety, please keep the following in mind: pic.twitter.com/TCnOonO7am Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) September 27, 2024 More than 50,000 people in the Charlotte area were without power as of 7 a.m., according to Duke Energy. 6:15 a.m. - At least one person is now dead in Charlotte as tropical weather moves into the area. This marks four people that have died amid Tropical Storm Helene. MEDIC confirmed to Channel 9 that one person was killed when a tree fell onto a home on Brookway Drive in northwest Charlotte. Another victim was hurt and taken to the hospital. The deluge of rain has saturated the ground and high wind gusts are putting trees at risk of falling over. Stay prepared and avoid top-level rooms throughout the severe weather. 6 a.m. - A flash flood warning was extended to 11 a.m. for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union counties, and many other local counties are still under flash flood warnings. Heavy rain and strong winds will continue through the early morning. More power lines are being affected by the weather, and the number of power outages is continuing to climb Friday morning. According to Duke Energy, nearly 30,000 customers were without power as of 6 a.m. By 8 am, most of the area will have more heavy rain and strong winds. Another few inches likely in the metro, several inches likely farther west. Things will then improve after 9 am. Stay in this morning if you can and keep an eye on those creeks, they will rise rapidly. pic.twitter.com/pTp4YwQKJ7 Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) September 27, 2024 (See photos of the impacts) 5:30 a.m. - The wind from Tropical Storm Helene is starting to affect the Charlotte area. Gusts are reaching more than 40 miles per hour, and they could peak near 70 mph in areas near the mountains. Rain will continue through the morning, and flash flood warnings are in place in several counties until at least 9 a.m. Friday. The bigger wind from Helene is here NOW. Winds are gusting over 40 mph and could jump to over 50 mph through the morning. This will lead to more trees down and power outages. pic.twitter.com/Y56TDRlZCm Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) September 27, 2024 According to Duke Energy, there were about 14,000 people without power early Friday morning. That number is expected to increase as the wind affects power lines. 4:55 a.m. - Helene has been officially downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is continuing to accumulate in the Carolinas as the storm moves across Georgia. 3:30 a.m. - Helene has made landfall and continues to move through Georgia Friday morning. Heavier rain and stronger winds will arrive in the Carolinas around 5 to 6 a.m. A tornado watch is in effect until 8 a.m. Friday for the following counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union counties. There are flash flood warnings in place early Friday morning in Chester, York, Avery, Burke, Caldwell and Iredell counties. Just before 4 a.m., a National Guard rescue truck ended up getting stuck in high water near Riverside Drive in northwest Charlotte. HEADS UP: Roads are quickly flooding in the Carolinas - even a National Guard truck got stuck in high water in west Charlotte Friday morning. If you can't see the street, don't drive through it. STAY UPDATED > https://t.co/Al2K1qcqYQ pic.twitter.com/VflllIT1DX WSOCTV (@wsoctv) September 27, 2024 There is a tropical storm warning for parts of our area. The storm has prompted flash flooding alerts throughout the day and will continue. Winds may gust over 50 miles per hour in the city, with higher gusts near 70 miles per hour in the mountains. That could bring trees down onto roadways and homes. Keep an eye on traffic conditions with Channel 9s live traffic map at this link. >>Click here for the latest alerts FRIDAY FORECAST: Temperatures are expected to only warm to the mid to upper 70s thanks to the rain. The worst weather comes from midnight through about 10 a.m. Friday. Rounds of very heavy rain and strong winds will lead to more flooding and trees down, especially west in the mountains. However, we are only expecting between 5 to 7 inches in the metro, but amounts in the high country could exceed 1 foot. Catastrophic flooding with landslides is possible where the heaviest rains fall. Right now, that risk looks highest in western North Carolina, just outside of our area. However, there could be similar issues in the northern mountains as well. Winds will also pick up with gusts over 40 mph in the metro and over 50 mph in the mountains. This could lead to trees down and power outages. Well also be on the lookout for any brief spin-ups with a low tornado risk. Helene will accelerate to the northwest by mid to late morning Friday, and our weather will improve quickly. River flooding will continue to be an issue going into the weekend. Helene is close to being a category 2 storm with winds of 90 mph. It is still forecast to become a major hurricane later this afternoon and could be a category 4 by landfall this evening. Our weather continues to go downhill late tonight through early Friday morning. Stay alert! pic.twitter.com/0F7ffME0Fr Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) September 26, 2024 >> Channel 9s Weather 24/7 stream has the latest local weather all day, every day. Watch wherever you stream on our website, or through your mobile app or smart TV. WEATHER RESOURCES: FOLLOW OUR TEAM ON TWITTER: CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU) A former Cherokee High School band teacher accused of grooming a student has been sentenced to probation. According to court documents, Joseph Vannatta, 47, was given the sentence on Wednesday, Sept. 25. He pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor, on July 1, a step down from his original charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee, a class D felony. Jury finds Jason Jones guilty of murdering 4 people, arson Vannatta must pay a fine of $855 and will not be allowed to have any contact with the victim for five years. If he breaks the terms of his probation, Vannatta faces up to two years in prison. Back in March 2024, a student at Cherokee High School said they felt like they were being groomed by Vannatta. The band teacher allegedly tried to insert himself into the students sex life. According to court documents, Vannatta would hold counseling sessions in his office where he would ask the student questions about their sex life. Vannatta would also talk with the student over Snapchat and reportedly allowed the student and their partner to nap in his bedroom on at least one occasion. In February 2023, Vannatta convinced the high school principal to allow the student to attend a band trip by promising to give extra credit in order to make the student eligible. No extra credit was ever given, according to the document, and Vannatta was the only chaperone for the students who went on the trip. Ho-Chunk, Inc. celebrates 30th anniversary in Winnebago Due to Vannattas behavior, the student said that they felt they were being groomed into having a relationship with him. Vannatta was arrested in March 2024 and charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee, but bonded out of jail soon after. He was then let go by the Cherokee Community School District in April. Gage Teunissen 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A "depraved and selfish" former councillor who went on the run after secretly filming women in his home has been jailed for six years and two months. Robert Holden, of Row Lane in Sowerby Bridge, hid cameras in his bathrooms and bedrooms, recording 29 people - 27 of them women - while they showered, changed and even had sex, Bradford Crown Court heard. He was arrested in 2022 but failed to appear in court and police found he had fled to Cape Verde, where he stayed for 17 months before returning to face court. Holden, 51, former Conservative councillor for Ryburn on Calderdale Council, admitted 29 charges of voyeurism and seven of computer misuse over a period of 14 years, from 2006 until 2020. 'Worthless and ashamed' Impact statements from some of his victims were read to court, with one woman saying his actions left her feeling "violated, exposed and vulnerable. Others spoke of how they were "overwhelmed" by their emotions, with some left feeling anxious and paranoid that they were constantly being watched. One woman said Holden's behaviour left her feeling "stupid, empty, worthless and ashamed". The court heard the alarm was raised when one of the women suspected Holden had been tracking her on her mobile phone, and later found a camera hidden in the bathroom. She contacted West Yorkshire Police and officers searched the house, and another camera was found in the bathroom and also in a bedroom - both connected to a digital recording device which was set to record 24 hours a day. Holden, who also owned a computer repair business, was also charged with computer misuse offences after downloading images from people who trusted him with their devices. He was arrested in November 2020 and charged in March 2022 - but failed to arrive for his hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court a month later - having fled to Cape Verde. Holden was at large for 17 months, until a lengthy extradition process involving the National Crime Agency led to him being brought back to the UK and appearing before the courts in September 2023, where he was remanded into custody. 'Cheap thrill' Sentencing Holden on Friday, Judge Sophie McKone said: "You are depraved and selfish, you hid behind a veil of respectability, having your own business and being a local government councillor." She added: "This was well-organised deception at its worst and you deceived people over many years. "You breached their trust in the most gross way. "They were entitled to think that these acts were private. You did this to get, in your own words, a cheap thrill." Holden was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, which includes not contacting any of the victims. 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. Related internet links TOKYO Shigeru Ishiba is set to become Japans next prime minister after the governing Liberal Democratic Party elected him as its new leader on Friday, as the U.S. ally takes on a growing role in countering Chinas influence in the region. Ishiba, a straight-talking former defense minister, will take office on Tuesday when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet ministers resign and Ishiba is elected his successor by members of the LDP-controlled parliament. Ishiba, 67, will face public anger over rising prices, as well as difficult demographic and labor issues in a country with a shrinking and fast-aging population of about 125 million and the worlds fourth-largest economy. He is also contending with a complicated security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, where the U.S. has been strengthening ties with Japan and other allies in an effort to counter Chinas growing power. Japan has another volatile neighbor in North Korea, which has been accelerating missile launches and may be on the verge of its seventh nuclear test. At a news conference on Friday, Ishiba said there were a mountain of issues related to national security. Even during this presidential election, we have had several problems such as an incursion by a Russian aircraft, or occupancy of Chinese naval vessels in our maritime contiguous zone. There was also the North Korean missile launch, he said. I have long been involved in security affairs, and I am determined to firmly protect the nation of Japan. Ishiba casting his ballot in the LDP leadership race in Tokyo on Friday. The LDP, which has ruled Japan almost uninterrupted since the end of World War II, is seeking to regain public trust with a fresh face ahead of a general election that must be held by October of next year. The leadership transition was set in motion last month when Kishida said he would step down after a series of corruption scandals that sent his partys approval ratings to record lows. A record nine lawmakers, including two women, ran for party leader after most of the LDPs powerful factions dissolved over the corruption scandals, making it easier to enter the field. After no candidate received a majority in the first round of voting, Ishiba won in a runoff against economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, who would have been Japans first female prime minister. This was Ishibas fifth time running for party leader. He defeated Takaichi in a vote of 215 to 194. Part of the reason the outspoken Ishiba failed in the past is because he did not hesitate to tell other members of his party that their ideas are unsound, said Michael Cucek, an expert in Japanese politics at Temple University in Tokyo. But Ishiba has curbed his tongue in recent years, Cucek said, and enough of them voted this time for him to become party president. As prime minister, Ishiba can be expected to be a moderate leader who is going to be working closely with the United States but also very in tune with the problems of this nation, Cucek said. Ishiba is from the small, rural Japanese prefecture of Tottori, which has been losing population for a long time. Hes very aware, unlike other members of his party, that Japans problems are chronic, and its a story not of trying to reverse the downward trends, but to lessen their impact, Cucek said. In addition to being a realist, Ishiba is also an idealist who has never been tainted by scandal, Cucek said. And like Kishida, Ishiba favors a more robust Japanese defense posture, Cucek said. Ishiba is very interested in working with U.S. allies, Cucek said, including South Korea, with which Japan has historically had a tense relationship, as well as the Philippines and Australia. During the leadership campaign, Ishiba even called for Japan to lead the creation of an Asian version of the NATO military alliance, an idea that China finds extremely threatening and the U.S. has resisted. Ishiba is also a supporter of Taiwan, the self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its territory. But Beijing is most likely breathing a sigh of relief that Ishiba will be Japans next leader, Cucek said, as he was the only one of the three leading candidates with no history of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japans wartime aggression that is a sensitive issue in China-Japan relations. That doesnt mean Ishiba will be weak in the face of Chinese provocations. Hes a defense wonk, and has always been one, he said. He has always advocated for a robust Japanese military, and thats what is going to be happening in East Asia. The Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Ishibas election Friday, saying it was an internal affair. The long-term healthy and stable development of Sino-Japanese relations is in the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. Lin did, however, express opposition to foreign political leaders visiting Taiwan, as Ishiba did last month. Taiwan President Lai Ching-tes Democratic Progressive Party said Friday that he looked forward to deepening ties with the LDP under Ishibas leadership. Arata Yamamoto reported from Tokyo, and Jennifer Jett reported from Phuket, Thailand. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Former Dutch Defence Minister: Kursk operation will be studied in military academies worldwide Former Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren believes that the world should stop fearing the "red lines" of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, as they "exist only in our heads," and should also learn from Ukraine's military experience. Source: European Pravda, citing Ollongren in an interview with LIGA.net on the sidelines of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum Ollongren believes that the exchange of experience between armed forces is crucial. She says the world should learn from Ukraine, particularly from the operation in Kursk Oblast. Quote: "It was brilliantly organised: the tactics, secrecy, and use of various systems. I think it will in the future be studied in all school textbooks and military academies worldwide," the former minister noted. She emphasised that cooperation with Ukraine is a two-way street in many aspects, including capabilities, tactics, and studying the enemy. "Through the war in Ukraine, we are learning about the Russians, their way of waging war, and their rhetoric, particularly concerning red lines," she said. Ollongren stressed that, in reality, the Kremlin's red lines should not frighten the world because they do not exist in reality. "Any red lines drawn by Putin only exist in our heads," she emphasised. The former Dutch Defence Minister also believes that Ukraine's military industry is creative and innovative when it comes to all types of unmanned systems. She shared that the Netherlands has similar experience, and she has worked to connect Dutch companies directly with Ukrainian companies, encouraging the creation of joint ventures. "I believe this is extremely important," she added. Background: The Netherlands has already supplied Ukraine with a radar system for the Patriot air defence system and will soon deliver three launchers. On 24 September, the Netherlands announced a new support package for Ukraine worth 209.5 million, which will be directed towards the restoration of critical infrastructure. Support UP or become our patron! From left, Mark Milk, Terry Van Zanten and Aaron "Coco" Andrews of Metal Craft Industries. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko described Metal Craft Industries as a private business exploiting cheap inmate labor. At least some of the inmates who worked there for decades disagree. The private business spent more than two decades employing maximum security inmates, paying prevailing wages that allowed them to pay room and board to the state, child support to their families and restitution to crime victims. Waskos concerns about Metal Craft dont make sense to the former inmate employees who now work for the company on the outside. Long-term inmates helped Metal Craft maintain institutional knowledge and quality control, owner Terry Van Zanten said. But the inmates were offered something to wake up for and be proud of as they stared down a life behind bars. Those who were able to leave, meanwhile, did so on surer footing than most other parolees. Aaron Coco Andrews used the pay he earned in prison to put a down payment on a house after his 2016 release. He credits Metal Craft with turning his life around. He got a shot at the job in 2001, back when he was a shead who could barely go a month without a write-up, he said. A former associate warden cut a deal with Andrews: Go four months without a write-up, and you can get a job with Metal Craft and start saving money. Thats what he said, and he kept his word, Andrews said. Even though more than half of every paycheck went to the state, family support and the crime victims fund, he had around $10,000 in the bank when he left prison 15 years later. Andrews worked at Metal Crafts shop outside the prison walls for a while, then spent some time working for other companies to develop other skills. Eventually, he came back. Its family out here, Andrews said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Van Zanten also talks about employees in family terms. His son and daughter are partners in the business, and he said watching inmates mature and grow as people often felt like parenting. Hed hear about the stresses of incarceration or flare-ups between inmates and correctional officers, or inmates and other inmates. In January of 2024, the Department of Corrections ordered him to replace his long-term inmate employees with work-release inmates whod never worked the skilled jobs he needed them to perform. Before long, Van Zanten decided that his struggles with communication and the shifting rules for operation were too severe for him to continue on at the penitentiarys Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls. It wasnt the outcome hed hoped for when the new security protocols and policy shifts began to interrupt his operations last fall. He wasnt opposed to working with lower-security inmates. Van Zanten only ever used the inmates the DOC offered him, he said, and he was willing to make changes. He just needed guidance and transition time, and he needed to keep at least a few experienced employees around to train the newbies. The DOC wouldnt allow that. To save the business, he said, he had to say goodbye. There were a lot of tears shed that day, Van Zanten said. Were talking about 20 years, and I was never going to see these guys again. He has reconnected with a few of them, including Mark Milk. Mark Milk is a former inmate who worked for Metal Craft Industries at the Jameson Annex of the South Dakota State Penitentiary. He now works for the company on the outside. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Unlike Andrews, Milk was serving a life sentence when he started at Metal Craft. Gov. Kristi Noem commuted his manslaughter sentence, however, based on a recommendation from the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board was swayed by his work ethic and ascension to a trainers post at Metal Craft, Milk said, but it wasnt just that. The one thing that really impressed them was that when I had that job, the money I had that I was getting paid every two weeks, I took that and opened my own bank account and I put it in there for my nieces and nephews for college, Milk said. Milk and Andrews both said that Metal Crafts commitment to its employees and the wages explain why maximum security inmates like them both served decades for manslaughter were some of the most well-behaved in prison. People didnt mess around out there, Andrews said. They had too much respect for the place. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE RIDGELAND, Miss. (WJTV) Former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman died on September 25 at his Ridgeland home. He was 89. During his 40 years of public service, Pittman was elected to positions in all three branches of state government. He joined the Mississippi Supreme Court in January 1989, and he became Chief Justice in January 2001. Pittman retired from the court on March 31, 2004. Mississippi sends assets to Florida for Helene response Pittman was Attorney General from 1984 to 1988. He began his public service as a state Senator from Hattiesburg, serving in the Mississippi Senate from 1964 to 1972. He also served as State Treasurer from 1976 to 1980 and as Secretary of State from 1980 to 1984. Pittman retired from the Mississippi National Guard as Brigadier General with 30 years of service. Former Governor Haley Barbour awarded former Pittman the Mississippi Medal of Service in 2011. Former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Lloyd Pittman died on September 25 at his Ridgeland home. (Courtesy: Administrative Office of Courts) Pittman is survived by his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife and his son. 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. New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges and other counts in a case that has roiled the nations biggest city after months of investigations, searches and subpoenas When a Massachusetts police officer is accused of not being credible or of behavior that results in discipline, their supervisors are required to report them to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the state agency that certifies and tracks law enforcement misconduct. 25 Investigates found that no reports were submitted to POST about former Abington School Resource Officer Josh Heal after then Chief David Del Papa was told that Heal was found to be not credible in a 2021 internal affairs probe Stoughton Police conducted into the relationships Sandra Birchmore had with multiple police officers. 25 Investigates: The Birchmore murder investigation recording you were never supposed to hear 25 Investigates first reported on Heal last week after obtaining an audio recording of Del Papa in an official interview with a town attorney and an outside investigator asked to review Del Papas handling of Heal. Abingtons investigation found Del Papa to be professional and diligent and a redacted report states that Del Papa, was challenged throughout the entire SPD (Stoughton Police Department) investigation, receiving limited information from SPD, specific to Heal. In the recording, Del Papa states that then Stoughton Deputy Police Chief Brian Holmes told him he, found Josh (Heal) to be not credible because Josh denied having a sexual relationship with Birchmore during the first interview but had changed his answer in the second interview. In a strongly worded email, Heals Duxbury-based attorney Peter S. Farrell told 25 Investigates Heal, will take all appropriate legal action if you insinuate that he (Josh Heal) is not credible. Heal met Birchmore in his previous role as a Stoughton Animal Control Officer when she was a young adult. In December 2021, Holmes told Del Papa that he wanted to speak with Heal as a witness about text messages on Birchmores cell phone after she was found dead in her Canton Apartment in February 2021. State Police assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office initially ruled Birchmores death a suicide. In August, federal authorities charged former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell with murdering Birchmore and staging her death to look like she hung herself. Matthew Farwell first met Birchmore when she was a 13-year-old participant in Stoughtons Police Explorer Program, which teaches young people about jobs in law enforcement. At the end of Stoughtons 9-month probe, Del Papa said in the recording that Holmes told him Heal, was sexting all day while hes at work and had exchanged a cat for oral sex from Birchmore. Del Papa placed Heal on leave in September 2022 at the conclusion of Stoughtons internal affairs investigation. Stoughton Police found 3 of its officers had troubling relationships with Birchmore. Matthew Farwell, his twin brother William, and Robert Devine are named in Stoughtons internal affairs report. The Farwell brothers have been decertified by POST. A decertified officer cannot work for a law enforcement agency in any capacity and their name is added to the National Decertification Index, according to POSTs website. Robert Devine has not been decertified and is currently in an adjudicatory process or review of his certification. Heal no longer works as a police officer but remains certified by POST through July 2025. A POST spokesperson said Heals record with the agency was updated in November 2023, to include resigned in lieu of discipline and POST, cannot comment on whether a case has been opened or on any cases that may be pending. Attorney Peter S. Farrell wrote, Mr. Heal remains certified to serve as a police officer by the POST Commission and POST has taken no adverse action against him nor has any law enforcement agency sought to decertify his licensure with the POST Commission. You are hereby ordered to cease and desist from publishing or reporting any further self-serving, speculative and defamatory commentary and opinions regarding my client. Former Abington Police Chief David Del Papa could not immediately be reached for comment. This story was updated to reflect that Robert Devines POST status is Not Certified, according to POST. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Former Sanger Fire Captain to retrieve unusual relic after flying from Montana SANGER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A retired Fire Captain who left behind an unusual relic in the ceiling of the Sanger Fire Station was located after the Sanger Fire Department asked social media sleuths to find him. During a remodel of the City of Sanger Fire Department, construction crews found a pair of old boots hidden away with an almost 30-year-old message. Crews say they found the boots with the note hidden in the ceiling of the building. The note was written by Captain David Gees, who worked with the Sanger Fire Department from 1964 until his retirement in 1996. According to the fire crews, the boots were worn during Captain Gees last shift. On Thursday, fire crews asked anyone who knew of Captain Gees whereabouts to let him know they will be polished and ready for pick up. Thanks to social media, Gees says he received three text messages regarding the discovery and was able to respond within two and a half hours of the start of the search. Coincidentally, Gees says he was currently on his way to the Central Valley from his home in Montana. He adds that he will make sure to stop by for a 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 CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com. BOSTON (WPRI) A former Bristol County Deputy Sheriff paid a $40,000 civil penalty and $25,000 in economic advantage damages for violating conflict of interest laws when he sold a home to his wife during an auction he was overseeing. The Massachusetts Ethics Commission announced the results of its inquiry on Thursday. According to the commission, Floyd Teagues duties as deputy sheriff included auctioning property when the Bristol County Sheriffs Office was retained to do so. ALSO READ: Bristol County has made strides in hiring correctional officers Back in March of 2023, Teague was tasked with handling the seizure and auction of a modular home in a neighboring county. The commission said before the auction, Teague discussed the home with his wife and agreed to place a $20,000 bid on her behalf. At the auction, Teague reportedly told bidders they needed a $5,000 certified check to participate even though his wife did not provide such a check. In a press release, the commission said, Teague then announced he had a $20,000 bid and declared, going once, going twice, sold for $20,000, concluding the auction. Sometime after the auction, Teagues spouse gave him a $20,000 bank check, which he turned over to the Sheriffs Offices Civil Process Division. Teague and his wife then renovated the home together, spending around $44,000 on contractors and supplies. In October of the same year, Teagues wife sold the home for $309,000. According to the commission, state employees are prohibited from participating in matters where they or their immediate family members have financial interest. The commission said, [Teague] violated the conflict of interest laws prohibition against public employees using their official positions to secure valuable unwarranted privileges for themselves or others. Teagues violations were to his economic advantage. NEXT: Heroux seeks to limit inmate calls due to cost, security concerns 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. Former U of I student gives 10 million for new science center Former U of I student gives 10 million for new science center URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) Agriculture is a big part of life in Central Illinois. The U of Is Institute of Sustainability Energy and Environment (ISEE) is looking to improve it. It just got a multimillion-dollar donation to create a hub for innovation as they try to establish a circular bioeconomy. U of I study hopes to shed light on strengthening bees Circular bioeconomy means there is virtually zero waste during the agricultural process: from growing, to harvesting to consuming. Right now, about half of the nitrogen that is used in the fields is lost to the environment. Researchers are trying to limit as much as possible in these steps, and then reuse what cannot be eliminated. Stewart Levenick, U of I alum, and his wife Nancy made a 10-million-dollar donation to establish the Levenick Center. This is actually a great opportunity, ACES Professor Madhu Khanna said. This is an emerging area of research. And this funding enables us to be really the first in the country to establish such a center and to lead in this effort of developing both the technology as well as thinking about how to scale up that technology. She says the center wont only focus on the technology, but also on getting farmers to buy into the sustainability. Progress is moving quickly. They are in the process of selecting a director and hope to have it up and running as soon as 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 WCIA.com. Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, a former correctional officer at Waupun Correctional Institution, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating the law of a state institution on Thursday at the Dodge County Courthouse in Juneau. She is one of seven staff members facing criminal charges in connection with the February death of 62-year-old Donald Maier. JUNEAU A former Waupun Correctional Institution guard entered a no-contest plea to a criminal charge Thursday and was ordered to pay a fine making her the first of nine staff facing charges for deaths at the prison to be convicted and sentenced. As part of a plea deal, Sarah Ann Margaret Ransbottom, 36, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating the law of a state or county institution, rather than the felony charge she originally faced, misconduct in public office. Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries sentenced Ransbottom to a fine of $250, which was the joint recommendation agreed upon by the prosecution and defense. Ransbottom is one of seven staff who were charged in connection with the Feb. 22 death of 62-year-old Donald Maier. Maier died of malnutrition and probable dehydration in what the Dodge County medical examiner ruled a homicide. An investigation from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office found prison staff members intermittently shut off water to Maier's cell to prevent him from flooding it, but did not properly document when the water was turned on or off. They also failed to document missed meals and provide Maier with his medications. The seven staff members charged faced varying degrees of responsibility at the prison, ranging in ranks from the former warden, Randall Hepp, to correctional officers, like Ransbottom. Dodge County Assistant District Attorney Shawn Woller said Ransbottom's offense was "the least aggravating of all the defendants charged related to this inmate's death." According to a criminal complaint, security camera footage showed Ransbottom did not complete cell check rounds on the restricted housing unit where Maier was held between 4 and 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, or between 2 and 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 22, despite her initials marking them off on the log. Following another death at Waupun Correctional Institution in October 2023, the prison implemented a new system for keeping track of rounds, "to clearly determine who was responsible for the care of the inmates," Woller explained at the sentencing. As part of that system, staff were required to conduct cell checks at specific intervals during their shift, and mark off who did those cell checks. The investigation into Maier's death was impacted by the false documentation that Ransbottom completed rounds she did not complete, Woller said. "Correctional officers are an important part of our criminal justice system. If officers do not complete thorough and accurate reports, our prison systems cannot run safely and effectively," he said. Still, Woller said, he did not believe any incarceration time was necessary for Ransbottom due to her "minimal role." However, during the prosecution's sentencing argument, Woller read a letter from Maier's mother, which he said she requested to be read at each of the sentencings for those convicted of crimes relating to her son's death. In the letter, Maier's mother said she applauds law enforcement and prosecutors for prosecuting her son's death, but she believes the staff whose actions contributed to Maier's death should receive more than "a slap on the wrist and the embarrassment of being caught and arrested." "I feel that each and every person who ignored my son and therefore had a hand in his death should spend some time in jail so that they learn firsthand what it is like to be dependent on other guards for food and water and medical care and protection," her letter reads. "Nothing can bring my son back, but I'd like to think that we as a society would at least learn something from this tragedy, so this never happens to anyone else's son." Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, left, a former correctional officer at Waupun Correctional Institution, talks with her attorney, Greg Petit, on Thursday at the Dodge County Courthouse in Juneau. Ransbottom pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating the law of a state institution. She is one of seven staff members facing criminal charges in connection with the February death of 62-year-old Donald Maier. Ransbottom's attorney, Greg Petit, said there was "some horrible work and terrible injustice that was done in the prison," but that Ransbottom was not a part of it. Ransbottom normally worked first shift in an entirely different part of the prison, but was called in to help with cell checks in the restrictive housing unit during a double shift she was required to take. "My client, among others, were working 16-hour shifts, with no choice, because the prison was woefully understaffed," Petit said. Waupun Correctional Institution's severe understaffing has been cited by staff as the reason behind the string of recent deaths at the prison. In a span of 14 months, six prisoners at the maximum security institution have died. Maier's death was the fourth in that time frame. According to the criminal complaint for Maier's death, the former warden told investigators "this is the inevitable outcome of a long-term staffing deficit." According to DOC data, Waupun Correctional Institution reached its peak security staffing vacancy rate in the second half of February during the time frame of Maier's death of 56.2% of correctional officer and sergeant positions unfilled. The complaint says Hepp also told investigators the restrictive housing unit was few staff members' regular position and not a popular place to work, so there's "an attitude of 'just get by' from staff in restrictive housing." Petit said Ransbottom is not denying that she either initialed off or allowed someone to initial off on rounds in restrictive housing unit that she did not do. But her wrongdoing does not amount to the felony she was initially charged with before the plea agreement, he said. "My clients not the one that turned off water and forgot to turn it back on and forgot to tell people the water was off, the one that didnt give food, the one that didnt give medications, the one that didnt alert staff. She had nothing to do with any of those things," Petit said. RELATED: 2 Waupun prison staff members plead not guilty to abuse in prisoner deaths RELATED: Prison workers told Wisconsin lawmakers a staff shortage could lead to a deadly outcome. Then it did The maximum sentence Ransbottom could have faced for violating the law of a state or county institution, a Class C misdemeanor, was a $500 fine and 30 days in jail. De Vries agreed with attorneys that no incarceration time was necessary in Ransbottom's case. "There is a death in this case, and what you did was wrong. And I want to make it clear, however, that ... from what Ive been told in court here today and looking at the complaint, what you did wrong here did not cause or contribute to anybodys death," De Vries said to Ransbottom. The judge said he sees the charge Ransbottom is convicted of as an offense that is separate from Maier's death. However, because the cell checks she falsely marked off to have conducted would have brought her by Maier's cell shortly before he died, she is in court for something that would likely have otherwise been handled internally, he said. Court proceedings continue for other Waupun staff members, some of whom face charges for Maier's death, and some who face charges for the Oct. 30 death of Cameron Williams, who died of a rare stroke after prisoners say his calls for help went ignored. The following are their upcoming court appearances: Hepp resigned from his role as warden days before charges were filed against him and the other staff members. DOC spokeswoman Beth Hardtke told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that Hollfelder, Leopold, Chalker, Russell, Ransbottom, Hosfelt and Vick are no longer employed by DOC. Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Former Waupun correctional officer convicted of misdemeanor HENRY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A man reported missing in Henry County has been identified as a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell. The U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) confirmed to News 2 the missing man, John Michael Jackson, is Pfc. John Jackson. Director of Public Affairs Lt. Col. Marty Meiners told News 2 Fort Campbell is working closely with civil authorities in their efforts to ensure he is found as soon as possible. Pfc. John Michael Jackson (Source: Henry County Sheriffs Office) Pfc. John Michael Jackson (Source: Henry County Sheriffs Office) The Henry County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) said Jackson was last seen in the Paris Landing area Wednesday, Sept. 25. His vehicle was parked on the bridge there but he was nowhere to be found. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts HCSO is working with the Henry County Rescue Squad and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to continue searching on the water. Anyone with information on Jacksons whereabouts is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriffs Office at 731-642-1672. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A Volunteer at Fort Concho Elementary School who helps out the teachers and students in any way she can receive $300 through the KLST Pay It Forward Campaign, sponsored by Carpet Tech. Grandma Harris is a Volunteer Grandma at Fort Concho Elementary School who is described as a great asset to the school. Grandma Harris was nominated by Mrs. Duncan, a Fort Concho Teacher. They have been working together for seven years now. Mrs. Duncan describes Harris as such a giver and points out that the students love her. She goes beyond her call of duty and always thinks about my children 24/7, said Mrs. Duncan when asked why she nominated Grandma Harris. If you know someone who deserves a little help from the KLST Pay it Forward Campaign, sponsored by Carpet Tech, keep a lookout for Senora Scott shell be holding the KLST Pay it Forward sign and let her know why that person should get that weeks award. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Four more Missouri healthcare workers are experiencing mild respiratory symptoms after coming in contact with a bird flu patient, health officials said Friday. A total of six healthcare workers have now developed symptoms after having contact with the patient, who is the first confirmed person to contract the disease with no known animal exposure. The patient has recovered, but the case is raising questions about potential human-to-human transmission of bird flu, which primarily affects animals. The only worker who was tested for the virus had negative results, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. That worker, who was given a PCR test for the virus, had what was considered high-risk contact with the patient and later developed mild symptoms. Another worker who had high-risk contact and three others who had low-risk contact were not tested during the time they experienced symptoms, according to the CDC. "PCR testing would have been unreliable at the time of discovery of these individuals' prior symptoms," said the agency. PCR testing, which can give results quickly, was common during the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the healthcare workers, one member of the patient's household developed symptoms, but also was not tested, according to the CDC. All of the healthcare workers with symptoms provided blood samples for antibody testing, as well as the household contact, the CDC said. The results of those tests remain unknown. Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is rare in humans. There have been 14 human cases of the viral disease in the US so far this year. Missouri's handling of the only one with no known animal exposure has come under scrutiny. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesotas Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, told the health publication STAT that he was concerned about how long Missouri was taking to figure out who else may have been infected by the original patient. Public health credibility is really on the line here, Mr Osterholm said. The 13 other cases in 2024 involved farm workers who had links to bird flu outbreaks on dairy or poultry farms. The CDC continues to caution that the risk to the general public remains low. But bird flu cases among cows have been on the rise in the US this year. Since a March outbreak was first reported, cattle in 14 states have been affected, the CDC said. Fox News Fox News, in a chyron Thursday night that echoed MAGA talking points, described Kamala Harris as hiding while Donald Trump was speaking to reporters at Trump Tower. Moments later, however, the vice president was seen at the White House standing alongside President Joe Biden for his signing of executive orders designed to thwart gun violence and boost preparedness for mass shootings. Fox carried Donald Trumps press conference into the 5 p.m. hour, when its opinion show, The Five, is broadcast. At the top of the hour, a chyron read, Now: Trump Holds Newser While Kamala Hides. Yet just eight minutes later, Harris was next to Biden in front of a packed East Room, where the president would go on to sign a pair of executive orders on the first anniversary of the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. One order sets up a task force to assess the threat posed by ghost guns, and the other deals with finding how active-shooter drills can be effective and also non-traumatizing. Happening Now: President Biden and Vice President Harris deliver remarks on addressing the scourge of gun violence in America. https://t.co/QLzdYfpk7Y The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 26, 2024 After hearing from a survivor of the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Harris addressed those watching. 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, she said. I am in favor of the Second Amendment, and I believe we need to reinstate the assault weapons ban. In 2004, the Republican-controlled Congress chose not to renew the assault weapons ban, which Biden had worked to pass in 1994 as a senator. Meanwhile, Fox stuck with Trumps live comments until they wrapped up just after 5:30 p.m. But viewers of the right-wing network werent shown what Trump had to say to the press after leaving the lectern. When asked if he still supported Mark Robinson, Republicans Holocaust-denying North Carolina gubernatorial candidate who mocked survivors of that Parkland shooting and once declared himself a black Nazi, Trump claimed he was uninformed. I dont know the situation, he said, despite Robinsons troubles generating extensive coverage. The Harris campaign pounced on that answer. Its impossible to believe that, somehow, Donald Trump missed the news about his handpicked candidate for governor calling himself a Nazi, campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement to the Daily Beast. 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. Show me a party in power urging even more nanny-statism on an already struggling population and Ill show you an embattled regime which, deep down, believes its the pesky common people, with their irresponsible amusements, who are making the rulers life impossible. True, in the case of Keir Starmers Labour, which, at a smidgen over two and a half months, has broken all Western records for the shortest political honeymoon ever, it almost looks like a normal process: how best can we speed up our loss of political capital? But Ive been seeing this happening in France for a long time under Emmanuel Macron as well: the micromanaging of everything that should be left to citizens private choices, for the sake of some sunlit, ever-blurring future progress, with a fine disregard for practical consequences on ordinary peoples lives. In the UK, Andrew Gwynne, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, chose the Labour Party Conference at Liverpool earlier this week to suggest that tightening up on some of the hours of operation at pubs and bars (later slapped down by the Labour leader) should be considered as part of efforts to tackle alcohol abuse. The state of Britains poor health, he said, in fine Victorian mode, was morally reprehensible. That most of those pubs have been feeling the pinch since Covid, compounded by the rise in costs and, soon, in taxes, matters not. Nor does the fate of Britains high streets, with their boarded-up businesses, like knocked-out teeth, and the attendant consequences driving prosperity and morale down. There are concerns that people are drinking too much, Gwynne said, using a weaselly indefinite phrase nothing to do with me, its Concerns. As it happens, I am seeing entire Paris neighbourhoods affected by the same officiousness. The entire avenues barred to motorists because it will Help The Planet (rue de Rivoli is the most glaring example, with half the smaller shops closed, and the rest taken over by soulless clothing chains or LVMH-Dior megastores guarded by US Secret Service clones in Armani. And of course, theres the War On Alcohol this in a country that has reduced its consumption of wine by two thirds in less than a century. There are differences with Britain here, three decades after the ban on advertising any alcoholic drink, its the selling of wine and spirits by local groceries and convenience shops after sundown thats now being targeted for almost two years, by an ever-repeated exceptional decree from the Prefecture de Police. Supermarkets (but not bars, for some mysterious reason possibly not unconnected with their relationship with the Prefecture), are forbidden to sell beer, wine and spirits from 5:00pm to 9:00pm depending on area: the maps outlined in the decree would fool any would-be invader, as they are utterly incomprehensible, with one side of some streets dry and the others wet. In case you planned to nip down to the shop for a bottle of rose to go with the dinner youre about to whip up, tough luck on you. As a result, shops that had barely survived Covid and the touristic desert that were the over-policed streets of Paris during the Olympics are now closing. I should declare an interest here. The corner grocery in my own street, not very far from the Champs-Elysees (which sounds very glamorous but feels more like living just off Leicester Square), is being killed by the same indifferent officiousness. Opened 28 years ago by Abdallah Fadini, who has the Southern Moroccans eye for fruit and vegetables rivalling the toniest Food Halls at Galeries Lafayette, it kept active and thriving 7 days a week, becoming a kind of local club where the locals, from the streets concierges to the former Governor of the Banque de France, meet, chat, and occasionally help one another out. In a pretty unsafe neighbourhood (the 8th arrondissement ranks second for criminal activity in Paris), I know I can walk home at night and get help if needed. Or fantastic tomatoes. Abdallahs shop has been struggling with dwindling hope, and mounting debt. As an essential provider, he was allowed to open during Covid but most of his clients who came during the workday stayed at home. The recent restrictions on alcohol sales have shattered all his hopes of getting back into the black, especially as the Paris Administrative Police have shut him down twice for sales minutes after the close-off time. His story is sadly common in Paris, a city that has been losing an average of 10,000 residents annually for the last two decades. But as in the case of Britains pub owners and regulars, the human cost is still discounted by our all-knowing, all-wise betters. 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. Pierre Heilbronn, the French President's Commissioner for Economic Assistance and Reconstruction in Ukraine, has stated that France promises to assist Ukraine in surviving a challenging winter. Source: Heilbronn in a comment to Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda Details: Pierre Heilbronn noted that he had just returned from New York, where strategic discussions on the energy of Ukraine were held. Quote: "At the same time, France is already active in this sector. A week and a half ago, I travelled to Kyiv with French companies to assess what they can do in terms of equipment, including gas turbines and energy storage solutions," Heilbronn said. According to him, this concerns energy aid and investments from a specially created fund, with France contributing 60 million euros by the end of the year. "We have equipment, such as generators and transformers, which were provided as aid. But there are also investment projects supported by the state. We have created a civil infrastructure fund with 200 million euros allocated for it. At least 60 million of it will go to the energy sector by the end of 2024. And these are funds for companies with at least 50% French capital," he explained. Among such significant corporations, Heilbronn mentioned Schneider Electric, which has been working with Ukrainian energy companies Ukrenergo and DTEK since the beginning of the full-scale war, particularly with equipment for powergrid repairs. "There are also other big players like Arabelle Solutions [a subsidiary of EDF, a French state-owned energy company]. It is leading projects for the winter, such as batteries for energy storage and gas turbines to increase the capacity of power plants," he explained. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries recently reiterated their support for Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, stated that Russia is attempting to damage Ukraine's energy infrastructure on the brink of winter, meaning that Western partners should increase the provision of air defence systems to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Facing a rising public deficit, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier says higher levies on big firms and very wealthy individuals are on the table (JEFF PACHOUD) (JEFF PACHOUD/POOL/AFP) France's vast public debt pile grew in the second quarter, official figures showed Friday, as Prime Minister Michel Barnier's shaky minority government girds itself for a gruelling budget debate. New borrowings of 68.9 billion euros ($77 billion) between April and June increased the country's debt pile to almost 3.23 trillion euros, or 112 percent of annual output, data from statistics agency INSEE showed. The figures underline the scale of the challenge for Barnier, the former European Union commissioner and Brexit negotiator heading a centrist and conservative coalition heavily outnumbered in the National Assembly lower house. With the chamber roughly divided in three since July's parliamentary election, the NFP left alliance and far-right National Rally (RN) could oust the new government at any time if they joined forces in a confidence vote. There is scepticism among financial players of Paris' ability to get its debt and annual deficit under control. Ratings agency S&P downgraded France's creditworthiness earlier this year. And just this week the yield on France's debt -- the return investors can expect for holding 10-year government bonds -- outstripped the measure for Spain for the first time since 2006, pointing to falling confidence among investors. Barnier is expected to lay out the broad strokes of his policy Tuesday in a speech to lawmakers that will also be closely watched by markets. His new budget minister Laurent Saint-Martin said Wednesday that the draft 2025 budget law would be filed "in the week beginning October 9". "Our public finances are in a grave state, and I won't beat around the bush," Saint-Martin said, warning that this year's annual budget deficit would likely top six percent of GDP -- twice the European Union limit. He blamed lower-than-expected tax receipts and companies holding off on hiring and investment for much of the worsened picture, as well as saying local and regional administrations had spent more than planned. "We will have to make a significant collective effort" to get the public finances under control, Saint-Martin warned. Barnier and his team say they aim for more spending cuts than tax increases to right the ship, prompting accusations of "austerity" from the left. But the prime minister said Sunday that higher levies on big firms and very wealthy individuals could be part of the equation. mpa/tgb/lth Free spays, neuters for pets in Travis County for limited time AUSTIN (KXAN) Beginning Friday morning, Travis County and Austin Animal Center said they would offer free spays or neuters for dogs and cats. The opportunity will be available at the Travis County Expo Center at 7311 Decker Lane from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Appointments are first come, first serve. Pet owners are encouraged to arrive early, organizers said. Austin City Council approves mandate for pet microchips In order to qualify, pet owners must be Travis County residents and show proof of residency, which can be verified with a drivers license, lease agreement or utility bill. Pets receiving services must be at least two pounds and two months old. Additional requirements include: Cats must be in a secure carrier, with only one cat per carrier Alert staff if your pet is nursing If your pet was vaccinated in the last year, bring proof of vaccine All cats in traps will be ear-tipped to indicate sterility status Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. French actor-filmmaker Nicolas Bedos is facing a one-year suspended prison sentence on charges of alleged sexual assault and sexual harassment under the influence of alcohol, Variety has confirmed. During a criminal court hearing on Sept. 26, the Paris prosecutor requested a one-year suspended sentence for Bedos, as well as an obligation of care for a period of two years, the prosecutors office said in a statement sent to Variety. Bedos attorney Julia Minkowski had no comment. More from Variety Charges against Bedos stem from a complaint filed by a woman for an alleged sexual assault which is alleged to have occurred on June 1 in a Parisian nightclub. Bedos allegedly put his hand on the crotch of the woman who was wearing jeans. Two more women since came forward accusing Bedos of sexual misconduct but neither filed a police complaint. One woman said Bedos grabbed her by the waist and kissed her on the neck on May 12, 2023, and a second one is accusing him of sexual harassment, alleging that he touched her belly and asked her to kiss him. During the hearing, Bedos denied the accusations and said he (didnt) remember anything about the June 2023 incident because he was too inebriated. He argued that he had a problem with alcohol, but said he will never be a sexual aggressor. I do not impose myself. We can talk about heaviness, we can talk about flirting () but there is no sexual intention. I sincerely wish I remembered what happened. Our lives were turned upside down, my life was turned upside down. Im not disputing what she said, but its her interpretation of a gesture, Bedos said, referring to the 25 year-old woman who filed the June 2023 complaint. Bedos is best known for directing La Belle Epoque, which played at the Cannes Film Festival and won three Cesar Awards in 2020. Bedos latest film, Mascarade, a heist romance starring Pierre Niney, Marine Vacth, Isabelle Adjani and Francois Cluzet, played out-of-competition at Cannes in 2022. Bedos most recently wrote and directed the Amazon original series Alphonse, starring Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin (The Artist) as a chameleon-like male escort on a mission to please women and satisfy all their wishes. The accusations against Bedos came to light as Amazon was preparing to unveil the show, which represented one of its biggest investments in a French scripted original. In the end, the streamer released it quietly. The Paris judge is expected to issue a verdict on Oct. 22. Recent court hearings revolving around sexual assault accusations against film and TV figures include Dominique Boutonnat, the president of the National Film Board. Boutonnat received a three-year prison sentence, including two suspended, over sexual assault charges. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. French minister says in favour of adding 'consent' to rape law Justice Minister Didier Migaud says he would back adding "consent" into the law on rape (Bertrand GUAY) (Bertrand GUAY/AFP/AFP) France's new Justice Minister Didier Migaud said Friday that he was in favour of adding the notion of "consent" to the country's law defining rape. The legal definition of rape in France includes the notions of "violence, coercion, threat or surprise", but makes no mention of "consent". Asked if he would back such a move on the France Inter radio station, Migaud replied: "yes". Women's rights advocates have called for the law to be tightened by including the concept, so that all sex without consent would be considered rape. They say only a tiny fraction of rapes or attempted rapes lead to a conviction. President Emmanuel Macron in March also signalled he would back changing the law to include "consent". The notion has since early September been at the heart of a mass rape trial that has shocked France. Dominique Pelicot, 71, has admitted to drugging his wife to rape her while unconscious and inviting dozens of strangers to join in for almost a decade. He and 50 co-defendants are being tried in the southern city of Avignon, in a trial to last until December. Many of the accused have claimed they were led to believe they were taking part in a couple's fantasy. During hearings, some defendants have reluctantly acknowledged that Gisele Pelicot had not given them her consent. Gisele Pelicot, now 71 and divorced, has received praise for demanding the trial be open to the public to raise awareness about the use of drugs to facilitate sexual abuse. Spain in 2023 approved new legislation, dubbed the "Only yes means yes" law, under which all non-consensual sex is rape. Sweden, Greece, Denmark and Finland have also passed similar laws. aco-edy-ah/tgb/js Article first published: Friday, Sep. 27, 2024, 5 a.m. ET Article last updated: Friday, Sep. 27, 2024, 11 a.m. ET On Friday at 11 am, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that Helene's journey: passing Georgia and moving to North Carolina. Helene has reached new lows of intensity and has downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Helene is 30 miles southwest of Bryson City North Carolina and 105 miles north-northeast of Atlanta Georgia, with maximum sustained wind of 45 mph. Its moving 32 mph to the north. "A slowdown in forward speed is expected soon, and the storm is forecast to stall over the Tennessee Valley tonight and through the weekend." forecasters noted. "Continued weakening is expected, and Helene is forecast to become extratropical later today." Helene traveled through Georgia and is advancing to North Carolina. With sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, Helene has downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. YESTERDAY (Thursday): Yesterday, there were several developments, particularly at night: first, Helene started out as a Category 2 hurricane, a Category 3 hurricane and a Category 4 hurricane but eventually became a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. Helene first crossed the Gulf of Mexico, transited Florida and entered Georgia CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Tropical Storm Warning for the Georgia coast has been discontinued. All Storm Surge Warnings have been discontinued. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: - Savannah River northward to Little River Inlet A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND: STORM SURGE: Water levels will continue to receed along the Florida Gulf Coast and portions of the southeast U.S. coast throughout the day. WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring along much of the South Carolina coast, and these conditions will continue for the next several hours. Strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, Will also continue as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. RAINFALL: Over portions of the Central and Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches leading to total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant and record river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the Southern Appalachians. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Ero. For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this storm, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS4 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc4.html TORNADOES: Tornadoes are possible today across eastern South Carolina, central and eastern North Carolina, and southern Virginia. SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next day or so. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Source: National Hurricane Center This article was generated by the Sun Herald Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes information from the National Hurricane Center and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com. Full hurricane coverage at sunherald.com/news/weather-news/ Friend says an ex-officer on trial in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols did his job 'by the book' Former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean arrives at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A former Memphis police officer standing trial in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols is a kind-hearted, humble person who did his job by the book, a friend from the police academy testified Friday. Bryant McKinney, who graduated from the Memphis police academy with Tadarrius Bean in January 2021, took the stand in the federal trial of Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith. They have pleaded not guilty to charges of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstructing justice through witness tampering in the the January 2023 beating of Nichols. Attorneys for the officers began presenting their case Thursday, after prosecutors presented weeks of testimony, including from two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., who have pleaded guilty to depriving Nichols of his civil rights. McKinney said he was a patrolman at the same time Bean was also a patrolman with the Memphis Police Department. He said Bean put others before himself and did things by the book as an officer. I can attest to the humility and kind-heartedness, of Bean, said McKinney, who testified that he served on the force for six months before moving on to a corporate security job. Police video shows the officers used pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who was Black, during a traffic stop, but the 29-year-old ran away,. 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. Nichols died in the hospital on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. Prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert asked McKinney if his opinion would change if he knew that Bean held a persons hands as another officer struck him in the face or that he laughed and didnt help as the person struggled with their injuries. McKinney said he could not pass judgement on a situation he was not fully aware of. Another defense witness, former Memphis officer Garrett OBrien, testified that he helped train Memphis officers on ground fighting and defensive tactics. He said certain strikes to the head, such as palm strikes, that are not meant to kill someone can be used as a defensive tactic. Jurors have repeatedly watched video of the traffic stop and the beating, but attorneys have not been allowed to ask witnesses to directly interpret what they see in the footage. Instead, attorneys have presented hypothetical situations to witnesses, including experts, that match whats seen in the video. One use-of-force expert, John Tisdale, testified that an officer in Beans situation would not face discipline from him if the officer had been affected by pepper spray, run a significant distance while wearing heavy gear, and slapped the hands of a person who did not want to be handcuffed. Beans lawyers have maintained that he only punched Nichols hands in efforts to handcuff Nichols while Nichols was on the ground. Prosecutors have said that Bean punched Nichols in the head. Tisdale retired as police chief of Gallatin, Tennessee, in 2011. He was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for misusing a criminal database to conduct a background check as part of a civil case in which he was testifying as an expert witness. 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. From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch The great consolation for Never Trumpers as we wander the political wilderness is knowing that weve been right all along about you-know-who. We can be smug about it at times, admittedly. Whenever some Republican hack scoffs on social media at warnings that Donald Trump will try to overturn this election if he loses, one of us reliably pops up to point out that the very same hack scoffed at the very same warnings before the last election. Its no wonder that conservatives who stuck with the tribe hate us. The most intolerable phrase in the English language is I told you so. Ive never been much for Never Trump triumphalism, though, because I wasnt right all along about the man and his movement. Each has degenerated much further, morally and civically, than I expected they would in 2016. I didnt foresee January 6. I didnt foresee Trump getting indicted (and indicted and indicted and indicted) and his primary polling going up. I didnt foresee the endless wackaloon road show that right-wing political culture would become. And I certainly didnt foresee the degree to which conspiracy theorizing would become the dominant mode through which grassroots Republicans engage with reality. I underestimated how bad things would get and Im not the only one, which I suppose is another consolation of a sort. The latest example of how bad things have gotten on the right is, improbably, Eric Adams. Adams is the Democratic mayor of New York City and, as of Wednesday, the defendant in a federal corruption case. Normally when a prominent left-wing politician is slapped with criminal charges, thats a moment for right-wing partisans to engage in a bit of smug, triumphalist told-you-so-ing of their own. Adams is ripe for it, too: Before hed even taken the oath as mayor, some who followed his career predicted hed land in legal trouble. They told us so. He was all teed up to be the new main character in Republicans eternal narrative of how thieving Demon-crats cant be trusted with power. The timing of his indictment so soon before an election should have made him especially attractive as a target, as rampant corruption in urban centers with large black populations is a core component of the MAGA rigged election mythos. Look around social media over the last 48 hours, though, and youll find one right-wing populist after another riding to the mayors defense. Why? The enemy of my enemy. The cultiest element of Trumps very culty political movement is that it has its own internal morality that supersedes traditional morality. Thats why so many creeps, crooks, and kooks are drawn to it. Like any cult leader worth his salt, Trump offers acceptance and community to those who find such things hard to come by in respectable society. MAGAs internal morality is based on two principles. First, Trumps needs trump all other interests, political, moral, or legal, without exception. Second, ones moral worth is measured by how antagonistic one is toward the enemy. No one who hates the right people can be truly bad, no matter how badly theyve behaved in conventional moral terms. Apply those two principles and you can safely predict how populists will react to practically any political development. Like, for instance, the indictment of Eric Adams. One could argue that Trumps great political need in the Adams case is to discredit Democratic leadership of Americas major cities, but thats not a very useful argument to make regarding New York. After all, the election wont be decided there. If Adams were the mayor of, say, Philadelphia, then hed be an irresistible poster boy for left-wing sleaze. Trump and his fans do see a useful lesson about liberal corruption to exploit in the charges against Adams. But its not the defendant who supposedly embodies that corruptionits the prosecution. Donald Trump is facing charges in two separate federal criminal cases, one related to his coup attempt and the other to his concealment of classified documents after leaving office. Both cases are languishing as Election Day approaches, but theyll pick up next year if he loses this race. And the fact that hes under indictment increases the likelihood of that, of course. Diehard Republicans might not mind having a criminal suspect (whos already been convicted of state felonies) as president, but plenty of normie voters do. In a test of credibility between Eric Adams and the same Justice Department thats prosecuting Trump, MAGA Republicans have a moral duty to convince the public that Adams is the more credible of the two. Still, the fact that both the prosecution and the defendant are Democrats makes a firm preference between the two tricky for populists. Cue the second principle: In an important way, Eric Adams has an enemy in common with Trump and his supporters. With the possible exception of Sen. John Fetterman, hes the most outspoken critic of mass immigration of any major official in his party. For years, Adams has complained about the burden being placed on New York City by migrants whove crossed the southern border and then made their way north, sometimes with help from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and sometimes under their own power. Thats a twofer as far as Republicans are concerned. Its sweet to see a prominent Democrat attacking the Biden administration, but its really sweet to see one doing so over Trumps pet issue in an election year. Hate is probably too strong a word to describe how Adams feels about the president and the migrants flowing into New York City, but its close enough for MAGA morality. Eric Adams hates the right people. And so, bobbing around in the toxic waste of Twitter this week, youll find everyone from conservative Washington Post columnists to right-wing media firebrands to populist influencers to MAGA satire sites speculating that Bidens Justice Department set its sights on Adams to punish him for his heresies about immigration. Trump himself soon picked up the claim, as inevitably happens whenever the grassroots right finds a new conspiracy theory to play with: Whats stupid about all of this is that, given the screwy politics of this election, I suspect Kamala Harris would have relished having a scandal-free Eric Adams as a campaign surrogate. Shes visiting the southern border today in her latest sweaty ploy to put some political distance between herself and Bidens record on immigration. Enlisting Adamsa rare Democrat with immigration credto vouch for her as a prospective tough-on-the-border president might have helped her build a touch of cred of her own. But Adams isnt scandal-free, so Harris stayed away from him and the DOJ moved forward. And why shouldnt it have? Had it decided not to charge Adams for the illicit political reason that it feared being accused of persecuting an anti-immigration Democrat, Republicans would have cried foul about that too and alleged that Bidens Justice Department didnt want a major Democratic scandal erupting so close to the election. Merrick Garland and his team were damned if they did and damned if they didnt. Meanwhile, underlying all of these machinations is the rights devout faith that federal law enforcement in the Trump era slavishly serves Democratic interests by harassing Republicans. The facts contradict thatask Bob Menendez or Henry Cueller or, yes, Eric Adamsbut where facts and belief disagree, the facts must yield. The MAGA effort this week to celebrate Adams as an independent-minded Democrat is transparently a scheme to salvage their theory that Trumps criminal trouble is and can only be the fruit of scandalous partisanship, nothing more. Its their own idiotic version of I told you so: By converting Adams into a de facto Republican, their claim that the DOJ lets politics dictate its charging decisions remains vindicated. Someday, perhaps, theyll explain how every MAGA Republican in Congress along with independent-minded Democrats like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema whove been chronic thorns in the White Houses side managed to escape the Justice Departments alleged ideological vendetta. But it wont be today. Friends and scapegoats. There are other interesting elements to the Adams saga and the rights reaction to it. One is that the mayor himself has begun insinuating that his stance on immigration had something to do with why he was prosecuted. Watch this video at around 1:10. I assume that flourish was less about ingratiating himself to Republicans than with Adams being desperate for a pretext to remain in office while his case plays out. If he cant convince New Yorkers that hes innocent on the merits, maybe he can get them on his side by reminding them that hes tried to reduce the burden migrants have placed on housing and social services. But one never knows. Adams wouldnt be the first Democrat to spare himself from criminal consequences by making himself politically useful somehow to Donald Trump. What separates Trumps cult from every other is that its leader once wielded the power to place his disciples beyond the reach of the law and might soon do so again. Every creep, crook, and kook who joins it does so knowing that, with the right connections and enough obsequiousness, he too might see his legal jeopardy disappear as if by magic. For my friends, everything. For my enemies, the law. Thats how postliberalism works, by design, and never more so than when its under the influence of a narcissist as extreme as Trump. A man who divides the world morally between people who like him and people who dont will judge everyone by whether theyre part of the first group, including foreign leaders. Thats why the hero of Ukraine was obliged to pay his respects at Trump Tower on Friday morning. He didnt have important policy business that couldnt wait; he had to reassure Trump, urgently, that he still liked him. If youre Eric Adams, facing years in prison, its suddenly very important that Trump views you as someone who likes him. Accusing the hated Justice Department of persecuting border hawks is a step in that direction. Un-endorsing Kamala Harris for president would be another. And nothing would please Trump more than to see Adams, a Democratic elector in New York, switch his vote from Harris to Trump when the Electoral College votes in December. That vote wouldnt count, mind you. But even an ineffectual show of loyalty at a moment of high political tension might be enough to assure him a pardon next year. For Trumps friends, everything. The other intriguing angle to the Adams mess also has to do with the election. It becomes clearer every day that, if Trump loses, this winters iteration of Stop the Steal will fixate on illegal immigrants supposedly voting en masse for the Democrats. And Adams, in his own small way, is now enabling it. Trump has pushed that nonsense before, you might recall. His tender ego was bruised in 2016 when he lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton so he claimed that her margin must have been due to millions of migrants casting invalid ballots in states like California to help her run up the score. But the theory never got much traction, partly because victorious Republicans didnt care about the popular vote and partly because it was never explained why Democrats would have launched a massive illegal-voting scheme in states they were destined to win anyway. The theory seemed poised to come roaring back in 2020, when Trump ended up losing most swing states narrowly. Yet, weirdly, it never did. It remains a strange quirk of the original Stop the Steal hysteria that no core villain was ever identified. Democrats rigged the election, we were told, but how they did it remained scrupulously obscure. There were ballot mules and corrupt election workers and shadowy forces tinkering remotely with voting machines, but things never got much more specific than that. No scapegoat-in-chief was named. Immigrants, the supposed shock troops of Clintons popular-vote victory, somehow escaped becoming the scapegoat four years ago. Probably thats because, between Trumps halting construction of the border wall and his use of Title 42, he and his fans were required to believe that he had solved the problem of illegal immigration as president. Four years and one protracted border crisis later on Bidens watch, that logic no longer obtains. So I predict that Stop the Steal 2.0, which is already in motion politically, will make voting by immigrants the scapegoat-in-chief. Everything points to it. Some of Trumps most devoted cronies in Congress are obsessing about it. So is the worlds richest edgelord, an immigrant himself, along with many lesser examples of the species. The political pump has been primed by tales of migrant savages consuming pets in Ohio; surely a cohort as wretched as that wont think twice about casting illegal ballots. Trump himself is so invested in the possibility that he warned this week of a Democratic plot to mail ballots overseas without verifying the recipients citizenship or even their identity. The great conspiracy to let foreigners vote in our elections is so vast that it will even include foreigners who havent immigrated! The illegals stole the election scam wont be designed to convince a judge but to cast a political cloud over Harris victory so that Republicans in Congress have a pretext not to certify it on January 6. Mike Johnson sounds up to the challenge, assuming hes still speaker by then. And Republican voters are more than prepared to rally behind anything Trump tells them about the election. Whether Eric Adams realizes it yet or not, his demagoguery about supposedly being indicted for his dissent on immigration plays into the disinformation campaign to come. Hes essentially volunteered as a character witness in the looming trial in the court of public opinion over whether a Harris victory should be trusted as legitimate. Adams answer, implicitly, is no: An administration so committed to importing foreigners that it would prosecute him on false pretenses for opposing the policy is surely also an administration that would connive to let foreigners vote to maintain its grasp on power. At a certain point of extreme corruption, the graft turns indiscriminate. No wonder Trump and MAGA Republicans feel defensive on his behalf. In no time at all, Adams has gone from being an ally on a discrete issue to something like a friendand in a second term, the law will apply only to their enemies. That pardon is in the bag. 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. Friendship Manor in Rock Island is celebrating its 45th anniversary. Residents and staff gathered for food, music and a ceremony honoring their longest serving workers. The campus is planning renovations to upgrade their facilities and living units. Friendship Manor says their success is important since its the only continuing care campus on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. Residents that move to friendship manor can be assured that they have a home for life, said Heather Stancliff, a spokesperson at Friendship Manor. That when their care needs exceed what regulations for assisted living can provide, they dont have to go looking for an entire new place, we have it all right here on our campus. Friendship Manor plans to have renovations finished in two years. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Federal Trade Commission says a $48 million settlement should put an end to what it calls predatory tactics by the nations largest landlord of single-family homes. The FTC says Invitation Homes was charging hidden fees and withholding security deposits. Not even maintaining livable conditions at various points, FTC Chair Lina Khan said. FTC Chair Lina Khan says this was a deliberate strategy to really create revenue even though it was coming at the expense of honest renters. Invitation Homes says the agreement contains no admission of wrongdoing. The company says the settlement: puts this matter behind the Company and it will move forwardto better serve its customers. Its a win for families. But lets be clear. These abuses are symptoms of a much larger problem, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said. Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley says corporate investors are invading the housing market. A forecast by MetLife Investment Management found institutional investors could control 40% of single-family rental homes by 2030. Theyre driving up the price to buy a home, putting a stake through the heart of the dream of homeownership, Sen. Merkley said. Merkley is sponsoring a bill he says would stop that. It would ban hedge funds from buying single-family homes and make them sell the homes they do own. These are common sense guard rails, Merkley said. Merkleys bill has stalled since he introduced it last year, but he says hes encouraged by the FTCs actions. The FTC says the settlement money will refund renters hurt by the company. The funds are subject to approval by a federal judge. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For the second time in under a month, a former executive for Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems has moved forward in his efforts to hold liable those who amplified unproven allegations that he, personally, rigged the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said 11 people were killed in the state during Hurricane Helene. One of those killed was a first responder, he said during a news conference Friday morning. Kemp said state emergency officials were still getting calls from people trapped in their homes by fallen trees. Most of those calls were coming from Valdosta where 115 homes were severely damaged, he said. At noon, about 1 million customers remained without power in Georgia and 52 roads, including two interstates, remained closed, Kemp said. Action News Jax will be following the latest developments LIVE as they happen below. Refresh this page for the latest. Download the Action News Jax news app and watch Action News Jax for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) holds double-digit leads over Republican nominee Kari Lake in the Arizona Senate race, according to a pair of recent polls. A Fox News survey released Thursday showed Gallego with a 13-point lead, 55 percent to 42 percent, among likely voters in the state, and a 14-point advantage, 56 percent to 42 percent, with the states registered voters. He also holds a wide lead with the states independents, 59 percent to 37 percent, and has a 23-point advantage among women in The Grand Canyon State, amassing 60 percent support. Both candidates were tied among white men at 49 percent each, according to the survey. The Fox poll, conducted Sept. 20-24 among 1,021 registered Arizona voters, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Meanwhile, a Marist Arizona Poll released Thursday found Gallego with a 10-point lead, 54 percent to 44 percent. As in the Fox News survey, Marist showed Gallego has a wide lead among independents over Lake who is backed by former President Trump with 64 percent support, compared to 32 percent for the GOP candidate. The Marist poll also found Gallego with a stronger favorability rating than Lake. About 47 percent of respondents said they had a favorable view of the Marine Corps veteran, while 35 percent had an unfavorable view. Approximately 17 percent said theyd never heard of him. Lake, who lost her 2022 gubernatorial bid in the state, had 39 percent favorability rating, and 51 percent had an unfavorable view of her, according to the poll. The Marist survey was conducted Sept. 19-24 among 1,524 Arizona registered voters. It has a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. While the mainstream media continues to peddle Democrat-funded, biased polls, weve aggregated data from over 20 independent polls that show a true race within just 2 points, a Lake spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill. This is well within the margin of error, exposing their so-called polling as nothing more than a calculated attempt to suppress our voters. In late August, Gallego had a 15-point lead over Lake, according to a Fox News poll. An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released around the same time found that the House Democrat had 49 percent support compared to Lakes 42 percent, while 10 percent of Arizonas voters were undecided. Gallego currently has a 7-point lead over Lake, 49.3 to 42 percent, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ aggregate of polls. They are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Lets be clear: Ruben Gallego and his corrupt D.C. allies have spent millions in attack ads and his poll numbers havent shifted, the Lake campaign spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Kari Lake is surging, and no amount of coordinated media spin will stop her from becoming the next Senator of the great state of Arizona. Arizona deserves a fighter, and Kari Lake is here to stay. This story was updated at 2:53 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week signed a bill into law formally apologizing for the states role in the slave trade. Assembly Bill 3089, by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, affirms the states recognition of the harms caused by chattel slavery and calls for the installation of a memorial plaque at the Capitol. The State of California accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating, and permitting the institution of slavery, as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities. Building on decades of work, California is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past and making amends for the harms caused, Newsom said in a statement. Californias constitution banned slavery, but the state remained complicit in the slave trade, with more than 2,000 enslaved African people being brought to the state from 1850 to 1860. The formal apology for slavery was one of a number of California Legislative Black Caucus priority bills the governor signed this week. Newsom also signed into law bills to Require grocery stores and pharmacies to provide advance notice to communities before closing to prevent food deserts (Senate Bill 1089) Strengthen employment anti-discrimination protections by clarifying that race includes traits associated with race, such as hair texture or hair style (Assembly Bill 1815) Empower the attorney general to go after hospitals that are out of compliance with anti-bias training (Assembly Bill 2319) Require the Office of the Inspector General to review and publicly post the list of banned books in prisons (Assembly Bill 1986) Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, who chairs the Black Caucus, said in a statement that she was grateful to Newsom for signing the bills. This is a multi-year effort, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with the governor on this important work in the years to come as we push toward lasting justice and equity, she said. Jones-Sawyer, who served on the Californian Reparations Task Force that released a list of recommendations for state action, in a statement called the apology a monumental achievement that was produced after a two-year academic study of losses that Black people suffered in California due to systemic bigotry and racism. Healing can only begin with an apology. The State of California acknowledges its past actions and is taking this bold step to correct them, recognizing its role in hindering the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for Black individuals through racially motivated punitive laws, he said. The signing came nearly a month after state lawmakers let a pair of bills die that would have created a new state agency to oversee reparations as well as a fund to support those policies. SACRAMENTO, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed an official apology for harms caused by slavery and hundreds of years of discrimination against Black Californians. Healing can only begin with an apology, said Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who authored the apology bill, in a statement. The state of California acknowledges its past actions and is taking this bold step to correct them, recognizing its role in hindering the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for Black individuals through racially motivated punitive laws. Newsom also approved a handful of other bills enacting policies developed by the states reparations task force which he helped create four years ago to address issues such as maternal health disparities. Other states including Colorado, New York, and Massachusetts have created reparations task forces or commissioned studies, and a number of states have issued apologies for slavery. California task force members devoted months of research and public hearings to studying how centuries of racism affected descendants of enslaved people in the state. They issued a report last year detailing their findings. The Legislative Black Caucus used the hundreds of recommendations from that report to draft legislation, though lawmakers did not advance a proposal for cash reparations. Caucus members expect to spend years writing those proposals into law. The governor also approved legislation that would make public the list of books the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has banned in prison and would further protect Californians from being discriminated against due to their hair style or texture. Black Caucus Chair Lori Wilson called the legislation Newsom approved a meaningful foundation to address the historic injustices faced by Black Californians. The governor signed the bills just weeks after he faced backlash from some reparations advocates for amendments they claim stalled two related pieces of legislation. The Black Caucus on the last night of the legislative session opted to block bills from state Sen. Steven Bradford that would have created a Freedmen Affairs Agency and a reparations fund, saying they needed additional work. Newsoms team had sought major amendments to the Freedmen Affairs Agency bill. A set of proposed changes reviewed by POLITICO would have sent $6 million to California State University to study the implementation of task force findings instead of establishing the agency. Bradford rejected those changes. Newsom yesterday vetoed a bill from Bradford that would have created a process for Californians who had their land unjustly seized through eminent domain to see it returned or seek compensation. In his veto message, he cited the lack of a state agency needed to implement the policy. Gaza war resonates but has global diplomacy shifted one year on? US President Joe Biden has put some pressure on Israel (TIMOTHY A. CLARY) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP) A year after the October 7 attack that sparked war in Gaza, diplomacy has failed to produce a ceasefire and the world watches on as the death toll mounts. Fears of war engulfing the wider region have soared as exchanges of fire have escalated between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Over the past year, South Africa has taken Israel to court and some European governments have drawn Israeli anger by recognising the State of Palestine, but analysts say only a radical change in US policy can stop the conflict. Here is a breakdown: How has the war resonated? Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,205 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures, which includes hostages killed in captivity. Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 97 are still being held inside Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. To the north, Israeli air strikes killed at least 558 people in Lebanon on Monday in the country's deadliest day of violence since the 1975-1990 civil war, the health ministry said. Around the world, the conflict has had a polarising effect, generating passionate support for both sides. "This war has considerably deepened fracture lines," said analyst Karim Bitar. "What is happening today in Lebanon only compounds this." For many people, especially in countries which experienced colonial rule, the West's perceived failure to defend the human rights of Palestinians had exposed its "hypocrisy", he said. In the Arab world, "there is this idea that all great principles fly out the window when it comes to Israel and that the West remains consumed by guilt" from World War II and the Holocaust. Palestinian historian and diplomat Elias Sanbar said that the West had given the Israelis a "carte-blanche of impunity" for decades, ever since the creation of Israel in 1948. But today "it will be much harder to show unconditional support to Israel", he said. Has international law prevailed? South Africa in December brought a case before the International Court of Justice, arguing the war in Gaza breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, an accusation Israel has strongly denied. Colombia, Libya, Spain, Mexico, Turkey and Chile have since joined the case. Analyst Rym Momtaz said the ICJ proceedings against Israel were "unprecedented". "International law is taking over the issue," she said. In May, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court sought arrest warrants against top Hamas leaders -- but also Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister -- on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Since October 7, violence against Palestinians has also flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where far-right parties in the governing coalition have championed a quickening expansion of Israeli settlements, regarded as illegal under international law. At least 680 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry. UN member states have adopted a non-binding resolution to formally demand an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months. But Israeli historian and diplomat Elie Barnavi said his country "doesn't care" about what the so-called global South thinks. Is European support for Israel waning? Some European governments have taken a stance. Slovenia, Spain, Ireland and Norway have recognised the State of Palestine, drawing retaliatory moves from Israel. The European Union has implemented sanctions against "extremist" settlers, and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called for more against some far-right members of the Israeli government. The United Kingdom has suspended 30 of 350 arms exports licences for Israel. Barnavi noted a "real shift in the attitude of Europeans towards Israel", but said it was "insufficient". Zeenat Adam, of the Afro-Middle East Centre in South Africa, said the UK arms exports suspension was "minuscule". "The recent 'recognition' by European states of Palestine is mere lip-service," she added. In the end, said Sanbar, countries in Europe largely still supported Israel, even if "a sort of embarrassment" at times triggered statements of concern. "It's simply not enough," he said. What of the United States? All eyes are instead on Israel's main ally the United States, which has pushed for a ceasefire but kept up its military aid to Israel. "If the United States do not change their stance, there will be no change," said Momtaz. "There has been no real fraying of US military support to Israel. Yet it's that support that is crucial and makes all the difference," she said. The Israeli defence ministry said on Thursday it had secured a new $8.7 billion US aid package to support the country's ongoing military efforts, including upgrading air defence systems. Momtaz said it was not clear that the US presidential election in November would change anything, regardless of whether the winner was Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. "There has been no sign that a Trump or Harris administration would be ready to use US leverage, the only efficient means to help both parties stop this war," she said. Bitar said that among US voters, the Jewish community and young progressive Democrats were more openly distancing themselves from Israel, but that might only have a political impact in 10 to 15 years' time. No end in sight? The Gaza war has revived talk of a so-called "two-state solution" of Israeli and Palestinian states living in peace side by side, but that goal seems today more unattainable than ever. For too many years, the international community "promised a two-state solution without doing anything to end the occupation, to end settlements to make a Palestinian state viable," Bitar said. "Many believe the train has left the station, that it's perhaps already too late," Bitar said. Barnavi said there was "no other solution", though it would involve dismantling most settlements in the West Bank. "It would imply a lot of violence, including a period of civil war in Israel," he said. Sanbar said: "Never have the two sides been so distanced from each other. I don't know what could bring them closer." ah-cf/sjw/kir People toss buckets of water out of a home as the streets and homes are flooded near Peachtree Creek after hurricane Helene brought in heavy rains over night on September 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday night as a category 4 hurricane in the panhandle of Florida. Megan Varner/Getty Images This story was updated at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Hurricane Helene has killed at least 15 people in Georgia, including a first responder, and others were still trapped inside of buildings midday Friday in the hardest-hit areas. At this time, this has been a deadly storm, Gov. Brian Kemp said during a briefing Friday. When we ask people to stay off the roads and be patient, its because we are trying to get to people. Its a very dangerous environment, and one of our finest has lost his life trying to save others. Kemp said there are multiple structures where people are trapped inside. In Valdosta, 115 buildings have been identified that were heavily damaged, some with people still inside as of midday Friday. Well have to literally cut our way into situations like this, he said. Kemp declined to provide details about the states fatalities, other than to say they were all in the storms path. Next of kin is still being notified, he said. The states death toll had reached 15 as of Friday evening, said the governors spokesman, Garrison Douglas. The first responder who died was a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear named Vernon Leon Davis who was killed when a tree fell on his truck, Jacksonville-based First Coast News reported. He had been clearing downed trees and power lines. The death toll from the storm was approaching 100 people throughout the region, according to the Associated Press. I had to get out and see what was going on in my community and yall, it has been devastating, U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, an Augusta Republican, said at a Friday press conference in Augusta, adding that a dear friend had been killed by a tree that fell on their home. Helene barreled through Georgia during the night and left about 1 million locations without power in the state. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane at a little after 11 p.m. in Taylor County, Florida, with 140 mile-per-hour winds. It remained a hurricane until 5 a.m. Friday about six hours after landfall, said Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service. At six hours, it was still a hurricane, doing quite a bit of damage into Georgia as well, Graham said. The tropical storm force winds were sustained all the way to upstate South Carolina, which is really just amazing, the extent of the winds in the storm. At several times, the tropical storm force winds extended 350 miles or so away from the center, which is pretty staggering. Preliminary analysis shows as much as 11 inches of rain in parts of the affected area, including Georgia. The full scope of the storm was still being assessed in Fridays daylight, but Kemp said that initial reports suggest the damage will likely be worse than Hurricane Michael, which devastated the states agriculture industry in 2018. We know its one of the widest wind fields ever in the Atlantic, which made it a statewide event for us here in Georgia. Weve got a lot of work to do. Weve got a lot of damage to assess, Kemp said. Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said Friday that east of I-75 were seeing significant damage to agriculture in all commodities. Kemp urged people to stay home if possible while crews work in the storms aftermath and warned Georgians not to become complacent as the skies clear. For people in the metro area, it is still very dangerous out there. The loss of life that weve seen, a lot of it has been by falling trees because of saturated ground, and even though the winds are starting to die down, theres still trees literally falling, he said. To illustrate the point, Kemp said a tree fell across the driveway at the governors mansion shortly after he left for the state operations center. In north Georgia, the risk of flooding also remains as the states waterways continue to rise for the next day or so. Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Georgian PM refuses to stop using war in Ukraine in election campaign Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has made it clear that his party will not give up using the war in Ukraine for election purposes. Source: Ekho Kavkaza, as reported by European Pravda Details: As part of its election campaign, the Georgian Dream party has created a video and a series of street posters that contrast devastated Ukrainian cities with peaceful Georgian ones. In response to criticism from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Irakli Kobakhidze said he believes it is vital to compare the conflict in Ukraine to peace in Georgia. Journalists asked him how he would react if Ukraine used video from Sukhumi for electoral purposes [Sukhumi is the capital of the Georgian breakaway state of Abkhazia ed.]. Quote: "I recall Ukrainians actively using these images for a variety of purposes, including humorous ones, but that's another topic. Today, we are discussing the effects of the war in general and what we have avoided for our country in 2022," he said. Kobakhidze recalled the events of the August war of 2008 and accused the "Saakashvili regime" of starting the war. "Yes, Russia occupied our territories, but the Saakashvili regime started the war. And now, if the National Movement party comes to power, they will open a second front in Georgia in a week. Why did Russia not enter Georgia in 2022? Do you have an explanation? We saved it, yes! We saved Georgia, and if we had complied with the demands of senior officials in the Ukrainian leadership, Russian troops would have entered Georgia in 2022," Kobakhidze said. In a statement, Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the ruling Georgian Dream partys use of images of the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine in political advertising, describing it as unacceptable. As part of its election campaign, Georgian Dream has produced banners containing images of the destruction caused by Russia in Ukraine in contrast with "normal life" in Georgia. The campaign features a series of similar posters and a video in which intact Georgian cities, fountains and new buses are juxtaposed against footage of destruction in Ukraine. The captions on the banners urge voters to "choose peace" and "say no to war". Sometimes the photos of the destruction are complemented by images of candidates from pro-Western opposition parties. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Germanys last conservative leader, Angela Merkel, built her legacy on policies normally associated with the left: saving the Euro by bailing out Greece and refusing to turn away hundreds of thousands of migrants. Most Read from Bloomberg Now, with Germany one year away from a national election, Friedrich Merz, her fellow Christian Democrat and longtime rival, is aiming to unseat Chancellor Olaf Scholz and undo Merkels open-door migration policy with a far more right-wing agenda. The two CDU politicians crossed paths during an event celebrating Merkels 70th birthday on Wednesday, where the former chancellor congratulated Merz on his nomination. Everyone knows that both of us had highs and lows in our political lives, Merkel said in the short speech in Berlin. I wish you all the best for the coming months. As if to underscore how much his leadership would differ from Merkels, Merz remarked at the same event, history doesnt repeat itself, drawing a cryptic smile from the former chancellor. Should Merz win, it would mark a definitive break with the Merkel era. During her 18 years as CDU leader, the physicist from East Germany reshaped the party and welcomed in more centrist voters. Merz, by contrast, is a member of the old West German elite, has close ties in the financial sector and belongs to the more conservative, business-friendly arm of the CDU. Out of frustration with Merkels policies and after she ousted him as caucus leader he gave up his seat in parliament in 2009 in order to join a prominent law firm. He later chaired the supervisory board of BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG before returning to the political stage in 2021. Merz, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has already staked out more conservative positions: Hes vowed to reverse the legalization of cannabis and reconsider the countrys exit from nuclear power, two of the center-left Scholzs governments pet projects. He wants to increase Germanys defense spending from 52 billion to around 80 billion, although he hasnt said where the money would come from, as hes ruled out raising taxes and plans to stick to the countrys strict debt limit. He also sees it as his mission to reverse the flow of migration to Germany, which increased substantially after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. At a moment in which Germany is facing a possible recession, Merzs main strength lies in what voters see as his economic competence. According to a recent Forsa poll, 47% of Germans trust Merz to get the German economy back on track. Only 16% say the same about Scholz, who adopted Merkels consensus-oriented approach and has tried to imitate her pragmatic, down-to-earth leadership style. Despite the CDU/CSUs 16 point lead in the polls, however, a Merz victory isnt a guarantee. To win, hell need to improve his standing with women, East Germans and younger voters, and overcome the criticism that he can come off as detached and arrogant. The six-and-a-half-foot tall politician often flies to events in his private jet, and his height and manner of speaking can create the impression that hes condescending to voters, as even his political allies admit. Moreover, the 68-year-old is notorious for having a short temper and making controversial remarks useful fodder for Scholzs campaign team. In one instance, Merz called Ukrainians who had fled to Germany in the wake of Russias invasion social welfare tourists and accused them of exploiting the benefits system. In another, he claimed Germans couldnt get dental appointments because the state was too busy paying for refugees to get their teeth fixed. And at the end of the 1990s he voted against a law that defined rape within marriage as a statutory offense. The SPD plans to depict the CDU leader as a relic from another age a politician with an outdated worldview and regressive ideas about women and family, according to a person familiar with the campaigns strategy. When the chancellor learned that Merz would be his rival in next years election, he took it in stride. Thats fine with me, Scholz said with a smirk. As Scholzs low approval ratings have also made him Merzs preferred adversary, next years election is shaping up to become a race between two unpopular candidates. Having lost two bids to lead the CDU before securing the position in 2021, Merz wasnt the obvious nominee for chancellor. But his path to the candidacy was cleared last week after Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder and Hendrik Wuest, the state premier of Merzs native North Rhine Westphalia, suddenly withdrew from the race. That surprised many as Wuest, a boyish 49-year-old long seen as Merzs strongest internal rival, polls well with women and younger voters and is seen as the new face of German conservatism. According to a new poll by broadcaster ZDF, almost 50% of respondents think that there are better conservative candidates than Merz. Merzs candidacy has given rise to concerns that the CDU might be repeating the mistake it made in 2020, when the unpopular former party head Armin Laschet lost against Scholz. Even within the CDU, some doubt whether Merz can appeal to the centrist voters hell need to win the election, including more liberal ones who voted for Merkel. The first warning signs that Merz might have trouble mobilizing voters appeared just a few days after his nomination, when the CDU came in fourth in a state election in Brandenburg behind the SPD and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which secured nearly 30%. The CDUs result just 12% was its third worst in any regional vote since World War II. Merzs team is already thinking about how they can soften their bosss profile and broaden his appeal. To win over female voters, the candidate and his wife were recently featured in the Bild tabloids Sunday edition. In the profile, Charlotte Merz presented her husband as a loving family man who bikes to the bakery to get bread for breakfast. Many hurdles remain between Merz and the chancellery, as even his supporters admit. But to improve his odds, the candidate could take some lessons from his longtime arch-rival: Angela Merkel. --With assistance from Michael Nienaber. (Updates to add chart reflecting a Merz advantage over Scholz, and adds language about ZDF poll.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Federal Chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Alice Weidel comments on the outcome of the state election in Brandenburg at a press conference at the AfD federal office. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa The co-leaders of Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, have agree that Weidel will run as the candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election campaign. However, this is so far only an agreement between the two co-leaders, Stephan Brandner, an AfD member of the Bundestag, told dpa. This must now be confirmed by the party's committees. The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland news outlet had previously reported that the federal executive committee and the federal-state conference plan vote on the selection at the beginning of December. Weidel is not expected to be officially placed in the role until early next year. The next federal election in Germany will be held in September 2025. A federal judge vented her frustration at a pair of civil rights attorneys last month for continuing to protest her finding that sanctions are warranted in the wake of their client's refusal to turn over evidence to the defense. Federal Chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Alice Weidel comments on the outcome of the state election in Brandenburg at a press conference at the AfD federal office. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa The co-leaders of Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, have agreed that Weidel will run as the candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election campaign. However, this is so far only an agreement between the two co-leaders, Stephan Brandner, an AfD member of the Bundestag, told dpa on Friday. This must now be confirmed by the party's committees. The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland news outlet had previously reported that the federal executive committee and the federal-state conference plan vote on the selection at the beginning of December. Weidel is not expected to be officially placed in the role until early next year. The next federal election in Germany will be held in September 2025. For decades, German politics has been dominated by two parties, the centre-right CDU, the party of former chancellor Angela Merksl, and the centre-left SPD, current Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party. But their grip on voters has faded in recent years. The AfD party was founded by eurosceptics a decade ago, but has become more radical and firmly far right in its politics, especially on immigration, in subsequent years. Mainstream German political parties have been refusing to work with the AfD. The party's leader in the state of Thuringia, Bjorn Hocke, is a far-right firebrand who is well-known in the country for controversial remarks and has twice been convicted in court for knowingly using a banned Nazi slogan in speeches. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A windowpane on the Transamerica Pyramid shattered on Thursday night, reportedly sending glass raining down onto the sidewalk and street below. A spokesperson for the iconic propertys owners, SHVO, told KRON4.com that the glass was damaged during a routine cleaning. Victim stabbed outside Oakland Coliseum after As last game According to SHVO officials, shards of glass fell from the 35th floor of the building at around 6:45 p.m. No one was injured in the incident, according to the property owner, and an on-site team responded quickly. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection told KRON4.com it wasnt alerted to the event until Friday morning. The department dispatched a building inspector to the site to evaluate the situation. The inspector issued a Damaged Building Notice, which required the property owner to secure the opening where the glass fell or was broken, and to replace it as soon as possible. Photo: SFDBI Photo: SFDBI Photo: SFDBI Recently, the revitalization of the Transamerica Pyramid was completed following a billion-dollar renovation. KRON4.com reached out to the San Francisco Fire Department, which said it was unaware of the incident. We also reached out to the San Francisco Police Department. We have yet to receive 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 KRON4. Relatives of an estimated 4,000 Palestinian workers arbitrarily detained in custody in Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks await their return at Gaza's Kerem Shalom border crossing on November 3, 2023. International labor unions filed a complaint Friday to recover unpaid wages and benefits they allege are owed to more than 200,000 Palestinians employed in Israel prior to the war. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Israel has withheld the pay and benefits of more than 200,000 Gaza and West Bank Palestinians who work in Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel in a "blatant" violation of international labor law, unions alleged Friday. The workers employed in Israel, formally and informally, have not received wages amounting to tens of millions of dollars for work prior to Oct. 7 and have received no pay since, plunging many families into destitution, nine global unions said in a joint complaint to recover the outstanding pay. The complaint accuses the Israeli government of "blatant" breaches of the International Labor Organization's protection of wages convention by holding back the September pay of 13,000 workers whose work permits were revoked on Oct. 10, the first working day after the attacks in which Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel. The brief argues that almost 200,000 other Palestinian workers blocked from re-entering Israel from the West Bank are owed back pay and wages for subsequent months under the terms of their employment contracts due to failure to give them formal notice they were being let go. "These workers have experienced widespread wage theft due to the suspension of work permits and the unilateral termination of their contracts," the complaint said, noting that Palestinian workers had been battling to recover outstanding wages or settle wage debts for almost a year. The average daily wage for Palestinian workers employed in Israel under regular work permits was $79 and $567-$702 per week for those working in the informal economy. "When I visited the West Bank earlier this year, I witnessed the economic destitution experienced by the families of Palestinian workers employed in Israel. As always, working people are enduring the worst of the continuing conflict," said International Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Luc Triangle. Public Services International union General Secretary Daniel Bertossa said the withholding of wages was the latest "unjustified indignity faced by Palestinian workers under occupation," calling it disproportionate. "This is a collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he said. Independent Israeli unions backed the complaint. "Two hundred thousand workers in the West Bank lost their jobs," Maan Workers Association executive director Assaf Adiv, told The Guardian. "They did not receive any compensation and have been suffering ever since from extreme poverty. "Thousands of workers who risk entering Israel without permits face repression, humiliation and even death. Workers are a major social layer in Palestinian society that is peaceful and doesn't associate with Hamas and thus should not be punished," said Adiv. Palestinian unemployment has risen to its highest-ever level since the outbreak of the war in Gaza with the loss to the economies of the West Bank and Gaza estimated to be as much as $19 million per day, according to an ILO report published in May on the situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories. GM is ready to let go of scores of factory temps due to a disagreement with local UAW Within the next few days, General Motors could let go of 275 part-time temporary employees at two of its plants if the local UAW leaders do not sign letters agreeing to keep those people as part-time temporary workers rather than making them full-time temporary workers or permanent employees. But the shop chairmen at both facilities have told the Detroit Free Press they refuse to sign the letters as their facilities have full-time temporary or full-time permanent openings at their facilities. They contend GM could promote the part-timers to those roles. The two plants are Fort Wayne Assembly in Indiana, where GM makes its full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, and Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky, where GM builds the Chevrolet Corvette. A GMC Sierra 1500 pickup on the assembly line at the General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly plant on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 in Roanoke, Indiana. GM announced Thursday, May 30, 2019 it is investing $24 million in the plant to expand production of full size Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups in Roanoke, Indiana. "It's nothing but empty promises if I sign the letter," Rich LeTourneau, shop chairman of UAW Local 2209, which represents union members at Fort Wayne Assembly, told the Free Press. He said Fort Wayne Assembly has about 4,000 hourly workers across three shifts, building about 400 pickups per shift. Of those employees, 250 are part-time temporary employees. Since late August, he has been negotiating with GM to make those 250 people full-time temporary employees, if not permanent employees. LeTourneau believes GM wants to string them along in their part-time temporary status for as long as possible. "The only way they are hireable (per the UAW contract) is if they become full-time temps for nine consecutive months," LeTourneau said. "This company is never going to hire them, so if they're not going to hire them, I'm not going to prolong their agony." At Bowling Green, UAW Local 2164 Chairman Jason Watson is taking the same stance when it comes to the two dozen part-time temporary employees at that plant, which employs about 1,458 people, according to GM's website. "As a union we're not going to allow you to string these people along as part-time when you can make them full-time," Watson told the Free Press. GM's response For its part, GM says it is abiding by the national UAW contract language. GM spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen sent the following statement in an email to the Free Press: "The company and UAW have been unable to reach an agreement for extending part-time temporary team members at Fort Wayne Assembly. According to the provisions of our National UAW-GM contract, without an agreement, we will be required to release about 250 temporary employees by September 30, 2024." As for the situation at Bowling Green, Kuhnen said in an email, "The company and UAW have been unable to reach an agreement for extending part-time temporary team members at Bowling Green Assembly. According to the provisions of our National UAW-GM contract, without an agreement, we will be required to release about 25 temporary employees by September 27, 2024." Watson said the 2019 UAW National contract does require that every three months the plant and the UAW local chairman agree to retain all the temporary employees they have in the building. Open permanent jobs at Fort Wayne LeTourneau said of the 250 part-time temps, 95 have been working in that status for 18 months, the rest were hired this year to fill in for vacations. He started pushing back at GM last December to make the part-time temps full-time. He said that GM told him if he did not sign the letter agreeing to extend the employees' part-time status, "they would fire them on Dec. 22." UAW Local 2209 Shop Chairman Rich LeTourneau stands next to a 2020 Chevrolet Trail Boss Silverado pickup built on June 2, 2020. It was recently at GMs Fort Wayne Assembly plant. LeTourneau didn't want the people to lose their jobs at Christmas or to lose the $10,000 each had earned in profit sharing. "I wasn't going to give that money back to the company, so I signed it," LeTourneau said. "But I am no longer in the Christmas mood. (GM) can't run without them. If you can't hire all of them, hire the 95. They need them and we have open full-time jobs in that plant." LeTourneau said he sees "the manpower report" for the plant daily, and there are 45 open, permanant jobs at the plant right now. Kuhnen declined to comment on that statement or anything beyond the GM statement emailed to the Free Press. "They've been leaving jobs here for years and we haven't replaced one of them because GM keeps sticking temps on it," LeTourneau said. He said that in November, GM will offer another round of its early retirement buyout program that LeTourneau estimates about 100 of his members will take advantage of and leave, opening up even more jobs. That's why it makes sense to make the part-time temps full-time temps to fill those jobs. "If the company were smart they'd get ahead of the problem and not wait until we're down on manpower," LeTourneau said. LeTourneau said he is open to negotiating with the company right up to Monday, but he refuses to sign the letter to keep those 250 part-time temps, he wants them made either full-time temps with a commitment they will be kept for nine months or made permanent employees. Big Corvette launch needs manpower At Bowling Green Assembly, Watson said the national agreement allows GM to staff the facility how it deems is appropriate. "However, they are basically wanting to strong-arm the members and the local unions and wanting to hold these part-timers in part-time status," Watson said. He said the 25 part-time temporary employees at Bowling Green already got letters from the company saying that "at the end of their shift tomorrow (Friday) they are being released by the company." Front aerial shot of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 coupe in Competition Yellow with optional ZTK Performance Package on the race track. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary. Watson said he has been negotiating with GM on this issue since the end of August. He said GM maintains it does not need the part-timers and releasing them cuts cost. Watson said the company does need them and has full-time openings at the Corvette factory. "GM told the plant manager he can have up to 80 full-time temps going forward for the next quarter when we started talking about it," Watson said. "But he is not willing and wants to keep them part-time." Again, GM declined to comment beyond its statement. "We currently are still understaffed with the amount of seniority people we contend we're supposed to have in the building," Watson said. "The Corvette ZR1, an important launch for GM, is due to launch later this year and, when you first launch a product it takes plenty of manpower." (This story was updated to correct a typo.) More: GM announces temporary layoffs of hundreds at Kansas plant More: GM recalls 450,000 pickups and SUVs for faulty brake fluid indicator Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM readies to let go of hundreds of temps over 2 local UAW disputes U.S. Rep. Jared Golden. (via Congressman Jared Golden/Facebook) There is no question that U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is at risk of losing his seat to Republican Austin Theriault. Last week, the first public survey of the 2nd Congressional District race showed Theriault leading the Democratic congressman by 3 percentage points. The Republican challenger, a former Nascar driver who served one term in the Maine Legislature, is running with the backing of former President Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. Golden on the other hand has built his reputation as a Democrat who can split tickets and win in Trump country by bucking the party establishment, but hes now defending himself from attacks that he aligns too heavily with President Joe Biden. So as he clings to his seat, he seems to be grasping at anything that can help maintain his image and unfortunately that seems to be some of the anti-immigrant rhetoric that Republicans are so deft at wielding. The conservative playbook has always centered on a strategy of winning votes by stirring up fear and resentment of minorities, particularly immigrants. In the final weeks before the election, Trump and his ilk are really going for it, spreading lies about specific communities and false claims that Democrats were looking to add noncitizens to voting registration lists. And these lies have consequences. Not only do they misinform voters as a whole (and distract from real issues and challenges), but they are putting targets on the backs of some of our most vulnerable neighbors as weve seen recently in Springfield, Ohio. Last week, Golden was one of just three Democrats to vote for the House GOPs government funding bill, which included a controversial provision, the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act, that required proof of citizenship to register to vote a redundant measure because voting as a noncitizen is already illegal. It wasnt a surprise as he backed a similar bill in July. In a statement issued after the package failed to advance, Golden said his vote reflects two important principles: First, that keeping the government funded and avoiding a shutdown is a basic obligation of any Congress. Second, that citizenship in the United States confers awesome responsibilities and exclusive rights in equal measure including the exclusive right to vote in American elections. He added, To me and the people of my district, these principles are noncontroversial. Sure, 2nd District voters likely support the current law, but it seems like a significant leap to say that they back a bill that pro-democracy associations say would make it harder for eligible Americans to vote and civil rights groups warn is intended to elicit irrational fear of the growing number of citizens of color. Even the Bipartisan Policy Center said there are easier, more cost-effective ways to improve voter registration that dont create new barriers for eligible voters. Goldens colleague, 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, explicitly tied the effort to the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has ratcheted up in recent weeks. Weve built up the stigma about immigrants, the asylum seekers, the people who are in our country right now, Pingree told C-SPAN. Theres very little evidence of fraud around voting or of noncitizens voting. Its already illegal. I just didnt think we had to add that to the bill. To be clear, Im not saying Golden said or did anything explicitly racist. But rather his dismissal of the citizenship bill as noncontroversial gives credence and cover to the more overt racism being spewed by Trump and some members of Congress. Theres a difference between wanting to secure the border or improve the countrys immigration system, issues Golden has said several times he supports, and leaning into the false rhetoric around fraud and abuse being peddled by Republicans to sow doubt about our elections and voting processes. In response to questions about his support for the SAVE Act, Golden stood by his vote, arguing the law would require only routine documents at the point of voter registration, and it includes reasonable alternative processes to prevent any undue barrier to registration. He also disputed the connection between the proposal and anti-immigrant messaging. Very few people would advocate for letting noncitizens vote in American elections. So I take issue with the suggestion that standing by the long-held principle that citizenship means something is somehow akin to the lies and attacks other people are making against immigrant communities, he said, adding, I have never participated in these attacks or made claims about any voter fraud. My vote for the SAVE Act is about citizenship, not immigration, Golden continued. We are a nation of immigrants. This country is full of immigrants who became American citizens, and their right to vote is just as sacrosanct as the right of native-born Americans. Immigration in Maine I can understand why Golden felt justified taking these votes. The Pan Atlantic poll also found that 19% of CD1 respondents and 20% of CD2 respondents said immigration is the most important issue facing Maine today. The reality is that Maine officials, businesses and experts largely agree that in-migration to Maine, both people coming from other states and from abroad, is a boon to the state and part of the solution to Maines current and projected workforce shortages. Golden knows this, because his district includes Androscoggin County, which is home to a thriving immigrant community. In 2019, more than 4,000 immigrants (3.9% of the population) lived in Androscoggin County, according to a recent report by the American Immigration Council in partnership with the University of Southern Maine. The study found that immigrants in Androscoggin County are contributing to the safety net, bolstering the workforce, helping maintain a local manufacturing economy, and are on average better educated than their U.S.-born counterparts. As with any influx of people, there are short-term growing pains around the need for more social services and overall housing scarcity. The governors newly established Office of New Americans aims to address some of these challenges and ease the transition for new Mainers. But the idea that immigrants are a problem for the state is the result of calculated messaging, meant to distract and divide voters. Favorability drop It remains to be seen if Goldens votes end up winning over some of the key undecided 2nd District voters. But Im not convinced. While Im reluctant to extract too much significance from polling, one of the more interesting findings of the recent Pan Atlantic survey is that Goldens net favorability has dropped 19 points since the last survey in February 2024. Last winter, 16% of respondents had a very favorable opinion of Golden and 37% said they had a somewhat favorable perception. In response to the most recent survey, conducted Sept. 5-15, 11% said they had a very favorable opinion of Golden and 32% said somewhat favorable. Whats more, 9% of 2nd District voters surveyed said they remain undecided and, according to the findings, those respondents were more likely to be younger and to be registered independents or Democrats. These are voters that should be solidly behind Golden. Whats ironic here is that while Golden is giving cover to anti-immigrant talking points, Theriault is running ads saying hell protect Social Security and bring more balance and less extremism to Washington. Im not a pollster nor running for re-election in a majority Republican District, but I believe that Golden could be bringing a more nuanced, compassionate approach to the immigration conversation, as he has done with other issues. Leadership should be more than pandering to the most base impulses of your constituents, and the voters of CD2 deserve better than that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE STEINHATCHEE As Hurricane Helene pounded this tiny coastal community Thursday night, Charles and Dana Webb abandoned their wooden cottage, seeking shelter in a sturdier concrete house next door. They spent the next two hours huddled in a bathtub with their Great Dane puppy as the Category 4 storm raged outside. The decision likely saved their lives. Its gone. Theres a tree right on top of it, Dana Webb of the cottage she and her husband moved into just weeks ago but fled when they heard storm debris crashing into it. The house was split in half and destroyed by the hurricane, which also smashed restaurants, pushed boats onto land and drove one house into the middle of a road in the community along the Steinhatchee River on the states Big Bend. Helene came ashore around 11:10 p.m. near the mouth of the Aucilla River, which is north of Steinhatchee but also in the Big Bend area. That is a section of Floridas Gulf Coast that is sparsely-populated and home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways. Steinhatchee has fewer than 600 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The region was walloped by Hurricane Idalia last year and now faces renewed devastation from Helene, which drove a storm surge of 10 to 12 feet into the area. This few blocks here was Steinhatchee, said Russell Boucher, looking at 1st Avenue, the villages main road, and two demolished eateries, Roys Restaurant and Crabbie Dads Bar & Grille, on Friday morning. This was Steinhatchee. This is what everyone came here for, said Boucher, a resident and DJ whod worked at both restaurants. Linda Wicker, who has owned the waterfront Roys for 20 years, stood amid the wreckage of the restaurant with friends and family and said she would rebuild, just as she did after Idalia. The restaurant needed four months of work after that storm before it reopened earlier this year. Ive already started talking to architects and engineers about doing what we need to do to get this thing back on the ground, Wicker said. Roys, in business since 1969, advertised that it served good times and great food and offered the most awesome sunsets along the coast. Hurricane Helene turned the restaurant, which had outdoor dock seating, into a pile of building debris topped with a twisted tin roof. Scattered pots, pans and kitchen equipment as well as parts of a stove and other appliances were visible in the mess. Residents who survived Idalia said they were stunned by Helenes wrath, especially as forecasts showed the storm would make landfill further west near Tallahassee. Tina Dilibero was sitting on a truck in a driveway of a friends house Friday looking at where her home, the little blue one, once stood. The house is gone, she said. Shed spent the night with her friend, whose house flooded but survived. Her house survived Idalia but slid off its foundation and was wrecked by Helene, as was her car. The Webbs moved to Steinhatchee three weeks ago, moving into a rental cottage. This week, they knew the hurricane was a threat but thought Tallahassee would be its target. By the time, they realized their new community was in its direct path, it was too late to leave. Charles Webb did take the Taylor County Sheriffs advice and used a blue Sharpie to write his name and birthdate on his arm, in case the worst happened and anyone needed to identify him after the storm. Dana Webb said they spent the hours in the bathtub praying to survive the night. Would we do it again? Charles Webb said. No. But they plan to stay. Were going to figure out what were going to do next, he said. I dont plan on leaving Steinhatchee. This is where we decided to raise a family. director of strategy and operations for Google's global data centers, speaks to a crowd of some 100 attendees at the technology company's groundbreaking in Dorchester County Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) RIDGEVILLE Google broke ground Thursday on a pair of data centers in Dorchester County, publicly announcing for the first time an investment of $2 billion that will employ 200 people. The Alphabet Inc. subsidiary also said it will spend $1.3 billion to expand its Berkeley County center. The tech giant took the opportunity to firmly plant its flag in South Carolina, even amid Statehouse discussions surrounding the massive energy needs of data centers and the new power plants utilities say are necessary to both serve a growing state and wean it off coal-fired power. This investment is a testament to Googles long-term commitment to this region, Audrey Van Belleghem, director of strategy and operations for Googles global data centers, told some 100 attendees gathered under a tent in anticipation of rain from Hurricane Helene. Alphabet, Googles owner, and other major technology companies such as Meta, the parent company of Facebook, have invested heavily in data centers needed for their artificial intelligence ambitions. We are at an early stage of what I view as a very transformative area and in technology, CEO Sundar Pichai said in an earnings call with analysts on July 23. When we go through a curve like this, the risk of under-investing is dramatically greater than the risk of over-investing for us here. The new centers under construction will bring Googles tally to three in South Carolina. It has built or has plans for three in Nebraska, two in Nevada and a dozen more largely across the South and Midwest. A deal on power What has caused some alarm is a deal struck between the California-based tech firm and power company Dominion Energy, which will supply power to the new data center near Ridgeville at a discounted rate less than half of what residential customers pay. Its not unusual for commercial and industrial users to pay less. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers pay an average of 14 cents for a kilowatt hour of energy in South Carolina, compared to 11 cents charged to commercial users and about 8 cents charged to industrial. The deal with Dominion took Google down to 6 cents. Even though theyre paying a rate 60% below, theyre consuming so much power that theyre paying a substantial amount of money to the utility, state Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey said during a special committee hearing at the Statehouse last week in response to concerns raised by Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms. Having that money available, instead of just having to get that money from residential customers, is a significant benefit, Lightsey said. Dorchester County Council last year also approved tax breaks for the California-based company, reducing property taxes to a 4% rate typically reserved for owner-occupied homes in the state. The deal is good for up to 53 years. Google hasnt disclosed how much water the data center will use to cool its servers, calling that a trade secret. The secrecy prompted a lawsuit from a Charleston County resident. That case is pending. When it comes to energy, we will pay our fair share, said Lilyn Hester, head of southeast external affairs and government relations for Google, told reporters Wednesday. And when it comes to data centers, we can build anywhere in the world, she continued. But those projects come with billion-dollar price tags. So, when the state offers these incentives, like any other company, we will take the state up on those opportunities, Hester said. The right project At the Thursday event, Google also touted a $1.6 million donation its making to improve energy efficiency for low-income households in both South Carolina and North Carolina and a $600,000 donation to pay for conservation projects in the Palmetto State. The Sustainability Institute, a North Charleston nonprofit focused on energy efficient homes and buildings, also highlighted Googles work alongside South Carolina utility companies to bring on 128 megawatts of new solar energy and battery storage to help power the centers. This is the right project for Dorchester County, said County Council Chairman Todd Friddie. It brings an enormous amount of tax dollars to our school district and for the county, with very little impact to our roads and to our school district. Construction on the two new centers will take a year to 18 months, Hester said. The 200 new jobs will be a mix of maintenance and security roles, as well as computer technicians and engineers. Those workers join the more than 400 employed at the Berkeley County center. Officials did not provide a breakdown of jobs or their pay. Though the job count is less than many of the major manufacturers in the state, Lightsey told lawmakers last week thats what makes these centers a good fit for more rural counties that dont have the workforce necessary for companies like Boeing or Scout Motors. The groundbreaking was between rural Ridgeville and the fast-growing Charleston suburb of Summerville. Other benefits Legislators last week also heard from data center operator DC Blox, which will eventually have three centers in the state a nearly $2.5 billion investment, according to CEO Jeff Uphues. Uphues spoke to the benefits of DC Blox having a presence in cities such as Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach. He said his company covered the cost of electric substations and upgrades to power lines worth tens of millions of dollars that are benefiting other companies locating near the Berkeley County center it has under development. In Myrtle Beach, he said, other technology companies are now coming into an industrial park that sat empty for a decade. And while he did not mention BMW by name, he said his companys contract with a global automobile manufacturer kept the Spartanburg carmaker from moving its technology department out of state in 2019. If we chose to somehow say that we were not going to allow data centers to locate in our state, that would send a signal that we dont really understand what the future would be as those types of resources become increasingly important, Lightsey said. Besides, he added, federal restrictions mean power companies will need to shut down their coal-fired power plants in the state and that electricity will need to be replaced. The bottom line is, there is going to be a need for additional generation capacity, regardless of whether data centers locate in South Carolina or not, he said. A sign for the Oregon Senate chamber in the Oregon State Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Polling over the summer shows a Republican challenger gaining ground in a key Oregon state Senate race that could determine whether Democrats regain the supermajority that would allow them to pass tax bills without Republican support. Senate Republicans this week shared a polling memo conducted on behalf of Raymond Love, an Army Reserves colonel challenging Democratic state Sen. Chris Gorsek in the 25th Senate District in east Multnomah County. Salem-based Nelson Research surveyed 320 likely voters in July and 393 likely voters in September and found support for Gorsek shrinking. While 15 Senate seats are up for election this November, only three are in competitive districts. Along with the 25th Senate District, Republican Sen. Dick Anderson of Lincoln City is defending his seat in the coastal 5th Senate District and Democrat Anthony Broadman and Republican Michael Summers are vying for the Bend-based 27th Senate District, now represented by Republican Tim Knopp. Both districts have more registered Democrats than Republicans. Democrats hold 17 seats in the Senate, one shy of the 18-vote threshold for creating new taxes or raising existing ones. Winning either of the Republican-held districts could make it easier to pass a substantial transportation funding package next year, while losing Gorseks seat would require winning in both Republican districts to reach a supermajority. The polling memo sent by the Senate GOPs campaign arm doesnt include a margin of error. But Nelson Research reported that its July poll found that more than 51% of respondents supported Democrats in general and 43% preferred Gorsek, and that went down to 46% and 39% by September. Support for Republicans rose from almost 34% in July to 39% in September, while Loves support went from 29% to 36%. The district has about 89,000 registered voters, and about 32% are Democrats compared with nearly 20% Republicans. The firm, owned by Republican lobbyist J.L. Wilson, attributed that dramatic swing in part to increased enthusiasm over Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the new Democratic nominee. National polling averages have shown Harris already slim lead over Republican Donald Trump narrowing since late August. On balance, surveys conducted in late July and August produced distorted results favoring Democratic candidates due to the unique circumstances of Kamala Harriss ascension to be the Democratic nominee for president and the temporary enthusiasm it generated among some survey respondents, the polling memo said. It, in fact, produced a response bias during this period in which newly energized voting blocs were all too eager to talk to pollsters. By September, this response bias has largely subsided and has produced a more accurate reflection of voter sentiment. Love, for his part, credited his campaign strategy of knocking on more than 4,000 doors in the district. Ive been out walking nearly every day of the week, and people are upset with Gorseks representation over the last four years, he said in a statement. The response at the doors has been overwhelming; voters are ready for a change. Oliver Muggli, executive director of the Senate Democratic Leadership Fund, said Nelson Research isnt a reputable polling firm and noted that it has a low rating on poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, which gave the firm a score of 1.4 out of three stars after analyzing one poll. East Multnomah County has emerged as a battleground in recent elections. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek won the Senate district by just 50 votes in 2022, and a conservative candidate won the race for Multnomah County district attorney this spring. Along with Gorsek in the Senate, Republicans are targeting state Reps. Zach Hudson and Ricki Ruiz, Democrats who represent the 49th and 50th House Districts nested in the Senate district. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Utah Gov. Spencer Cox met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul today in a historic international trade meeting. In a press release from Coxs office, officials said the metting is part of a broader delegation involving 47 Utah businesses and organizations, underscored the deepening economic and cultural ties between Utah and Korea. The Korean economy, much like Utahs, has delivered sustained prosperity through innovation and growth, said Cox. Through shared values and mutual respect, President Yoon and I are committed to increased collaboration, which we hope will serve as a global example of how two regions can address challenging issues and create lasting positive change. Cox, who will be in Asia through Oct. 4 as part of the trade mission, will also visit Tokyo. The trip, according to the governors office, aims to strengthen ties in key industries such as manufacturing, aerospace and defense, life sciences, financial services, and fintech. The visit is also a follow-up to previous missions to South Korea in 2018 and Japan in 2019, according to Coxs office. Coxs trip is also slated to take him to the University of Utahs Asian campus in Incheon, South Korea, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The visit also comes as Salt Lake City International Airport and Delta Airlines announced a new nonstop daily flight to Seoul-Incheon International Airport starting in 2025. The release said the governor and president also reflected on the 21,500 Utahns who fought in the Korean War in the 1950s. Utah is also home to 15,000 Korean Americans. Coxs office said President Yoon expressed deep respect for the people of Utah and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a formal apology for Californias role in slavery and legacy racism against Black people as part of a legislative package on Thursday. The State of California accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating, and permitting the institution of slavery, as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities. Building on decades of work, California is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past and making amends for the harms caused, Newsom said in a statement. California banned slavery in 1850 but the state had no laws that made it a crime to keep someone enslaved or require that they be freed, thus allowing slavery to continue. California lawmakers introduce first-in-nation slavery reparations package For example, the federal Fugitive Slave Act required government officials and ordinary white citizens in all states and territories to actively assist slaveholders in recapturing enslaved people who escaped from slave-holding jurisdictions. Assembly Bill 3089, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), also calls for a plaque memorializing the apology to be installed at the state Capitol. Newsom also signed bills that would, among other things, strengthen protections against discrimination, address food and medical deserts, and increase access to literature in prisons. Despite the bill signing, Newsom also received heat for vetoing two other reparations bills. One would have begun the process of reviewing claims from people who believe they lost property through the racially motivated use of eminent domain. Black Californians could receive up to $1.2 million in reparations payments, task force says Another bill, pending federal approval, would have expanded Medi-Cal coverage to include benefits for medically supported food and nutrition. California joins Florida, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, New Jersey and Iowa in issuing formal apologies for their role in slavery, acknowledging historical injustices and the ongoing impacts of racial discrimination. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) Governor Brian Kemp was joined by multiple state officials to deliver an update in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Kemp was joined by Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) Director James C. Stallings, Agriculture Secretary Tyler Harper, and Adjunct General Richard D. Wilson for the Georgia Department of Defense. The Governor praised the recovery efforts, only in their beginning stages as the sun starts to shine on the wreckage left over from the Category 4 hurricane. The storm moved in a different path than initially projected, with general wind gusts of 90 miles per hour (MPH). Alma, Ga., located in Bacon County, had gusts of over 100MPH. Kemp encouraged patience as the journey to rebuilding begins, with the top priority being medical centers such as hospitals and facilities that handle critical medical emergencies. One facility in particular is South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, which is currently without power. One way or another, were going to get power back on there, said Gov. Kemp. 1,000,000 Meters are without power according to Georgia Power. The company has 10,000 personnel ready to respond to the outages. Across the state, 17 shelters are open, holding an estimated 1,100 people. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reports that there have been 152 road closures throughout the state, including two Interstates: Interstate 16 in Laurens County and Interstate 20 outside of Augusta. Generators have been deployed to help power traffic lights. Bridges are in good shape and the Savannah Port is operational, though with limited output due to precautionary measures. Northeast Georgia will prepare for a water release out of Lake Raybun Reservoir in Raybun. At this time, 500 National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized to assist in route clearance and debris removal. Yesterday, 250 were deployed, and today, another 250. These Guardsmen have been assigned to clearance teams. As for the agriculture impact, scores of timber, dairy, poultry and other agriculture facilities are without power. Ag. Secretary Harper is also working to get gas stations and general stores back online and open. Harpers message to farmers echoed his words after Debby just over a month ago: document, document, document. The more agriculture workers can show their damage, the easier the assessment and ultimate rebuilding. Talks are already underway about federal assistance. For those who want to volunteer in recovery efforts or debris removal, Kemp urges you to contact your local EMA for ways to help. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Brutal heat continues to plague the south-west US, with excessive heat alerts lingering long into September as parts of the region set grim new records for deaths connected to the sweltering temperatures. Autumn has offered little reprieve for cities that have already spent months mired in triple-digit temperatures. This week, Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; and Palm Springs, California, are all grappling with severe weather, with highs that have pushed over 100F (38C). More than 16 million people in the US were under heat alerts on Friday, according to the National Weather Service, mostly clustered in the southern tips of Nevada, Arizona and California. Late-season heat is dangerous because people are fatigued from fighting heat all summer, the NWS forecast office in Las Vegas cautioned in an alert, which warned of extreme weather expected to last through the weekend and into next week. This is especially true this year, it added, as 2024 continues to break all-time heat records. Fueled by the climate crisis, and often exacerbated by concrete cityscapes that cook when temperatures rise, heatwaves are getting longer, larger and more intense. Related: 93F and no electricity: why some US utilities can cut power despite heatwaves Las Vegas had its 102nd day of temperatures above 100F on Friday, a new record for the most days in a single year. Several states, including Arizona and California, have experienced their warmest summers on record this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and forecasters are predicting that 2024 may rank as the hottest year a record just set in 2023. But its not over, NWS Las Vegas said on Twitter, noting the heat warnings lingering in the forecast through the weekend. The scorching and sustained heat has taken a devastating toll; heat already ranks as the most lethal weather-related disaster in the US, and deaths are increasing. Heat-associated fatalities are growing across the south-west, where shadeless streets can grow hot enough to cause second-degree burns in seconds. As dangerously hot weather stretches past summer and into spring and fall, the risks for those who dont have access to cooling have continued to rise. In Arizonas Maricopa county, home to Phoenix, 664 fatalities are believed to have been linked to the heat this year , according to public health officials, who are still working to confirm more than half of them. Southern Nevada, where Las Vegas is located, has seen more deaths this year than in any year prior, with officials confirming this week that there have been 342 fatalities linked to the heat. This surpassed last years record, which marked an 80% increase over 2022. But even these tragically high numbers are believed to paint only part of the picture. Heat deaths can be difficult to track, especially among high-risk populations including in unhoused communities. We will inevitably see this number climb, Melanie Rouse, Clark countys coroner, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Older people, children and people with underlying health conditions are among the most at risk, especially among those without access to air conditioning, but first responders have also reported that heat-related emergencies have been climbing for workers. Delivery drivers, warehouse operators, our construction trades basically anyone who has to work outside we have seen emergencies from them and people with regular medical emergencies, and during a normal day the heat causes them to succumb, Scott Vivier, the deputy fire chief in Henderson, a city south-east of Las Vegas, said in July. Viviers department is among the first in the region to use a new tool called the polar pod, which enables emergency responders to pack someone in ice and water while they transport them to the hospital. Vivier said its had an incredible impact on their ability to save lives, and that theyve even been trained to use the pods to revive overheated pets. Exposure to prolonged extreme heat can also have lingering effects that are harder to quantify. As residents across the south-west yearn for the coming of a cooler autumn, public health clinicians have cautioned the heat can pack a psychological punch as well, leading to symptoms like irritability, anxiety and difficulty concentrating. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Charlotte man accused of robbing a local Waffle House with an AR-15 has pleaded guilty to charges, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced. Charlotte resident Jermond Lowery, 29, pled guilty on Thursday to brandishing a firearm during a restaurant robbery. Court records stated that in 2023 on Halloween Lowery entered a Charlotte Waffle House, took out an AR-15, and told employees to get back.He then ordered them to open the register before telling them, Ill kill you right now. He was arrested on November 1st and faces a maximum sentence of life 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 Queen City News. The lawsuit comes almost seven months after a federal judge struck down a similar law in California. (Aristide Economopoulos for New Jersey Monitor) Since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 declared a constitutional right to carry, gun-rights advocates have targeted New Jerseys famously tough gun laws, challenging one after the other in court, from its assault weapon ban to a prohibition on guns in sensitive places to a law that allows the state to sue gun makers as a public nuisance. Thursday, they sued again, taking aim this time at a state law barring gun owners from buying more than one firearm a month. This case presents a simple question of law. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear Arms plural which shall not be infringed, attorney Bradley P. Lehman wrote in a federal complaint. The Constitution contains no limitation on the frequency or number of arms that an individual may lawfully purchase or otherwise acquire period, let alone in a 30-day period. The lawsuit comes almost seven months after a federal judge struck down a similar law in California. States gun restrictions have been toppling around the country in the wake of the landmark 2022 ruling known as Bruen, in which the courts conservative majority decreed that gun restrictions cannot stand if they werent in place when the nations forefathers penned the Constitution or are otherwise part of historical tradition. And that is exactly Lehmans argument. The first such one-gun-a-month law known as an OGM ban anywhere in the U.S. passed in 1975, and New Jersey didnt enact its ban until 2009, Lehman wrote. Such bans are not part of the Nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, he added. He wants a judge to declare the ban unconstitutional and permanently block its enforcement. The lawsuit was filed by the Nevada-based Firearms Policy Coalition on behalf of Matthew Struck of Morristown and Daniel Francisco of Englishtown. Since Bruen, that coalition has filed lawsuits around the country aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty. The coalitions president, Brandon Combs, said his coalition will force New Jersey and every other state to abide by the Second Amendments protections. Its been said that as goes California, so goes the nation, Combs said. In this case, Californias ban was properly declared unconstitutional and enjoined from enforcement following years of litigation, and so it will go with all such bans throughout the United States. The suit names as defendants New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. A Platkin spokesman declined to comment, and the state police didnt immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (GUNNISON, Colo.) A Gunnison Police officer was arrested on Wednesday night, Sept. 25, and charged with incest after an investigation into allegations of sexual assault on a woman. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an investigation was launched three weeks before the arrest, following allegations that 41-year-old Daniel Huff had sexually assaulted an adult woman. Daniel Huff. Courtesy: CBI. The CBI said the request to investigate was made by the 7th Judicial District Attorneys Office after the CBI received a tip of potential abuse involving Officer Huff. The Gunnison Police Department has placed Officer Daniel Huff on administrative leave per department 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 FOX21 News Colorado. H.R. McMaster, who served as a national security advisor during the Trump administration and was a top general in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, predicted an extended conflict between Israel and Iranian proxies and said that the U.S. needs to offer stronger backing to Israel and stop pushing for what he described as premature and foolhardy cease-fire agreements. McMaster, speaking at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Thursday, said that the ongoing war between Israel and Iranian proxies will likely be a long one, given that its effectively a seven-front conflict, and that the war has placed Israel in a more precarious position than its been in maybe since 1948. Its time for us to be much stronger in support of Israel, McMaster continued, calling on the U.S. to stop placing pressure on Israel to agree to cease-fires with Hamas and Hezbollah or to limit its responses to attacks on its territory. He also said the U.S. should make Iran pay a direct price for its proxies attacks. He said bluntly that negotiations with Iran, with the Houthis and with Hezbollah are not going to work under the current circumstances. Its really delusional, McMaster said. Its a fools errand These organizations will not be deterred at all until we impose costs on them that go far beyond the costs that they factor in when they take these aggressive actions. McMaster blasted the Biden administration for what he described as lax policy toward Iran, but he said those issues also plagued the final phase of the Trump administration to an extent, including the Trump administrations decisions not to respond to an attack on Al Asad Airbase in Iraq, Irans shooting down of a U.S. drone or Irans attack on a Saudi oil field. The Trump administration kind of backed off a little bit there, when I think that sent a mixed signal to Iran, McMaster said. But what really sent the mixed signal is the Biden administrations approach to try to resurrect the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], and to do so by providing inducements to Iran, he said, referring to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. McMaster brushed off the notion that the new Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian or indeed anyone in the Iranian government would be a reformist, describing that as a deliberate Iranian narrative that aims to push U.S. and international leaders to take a permissive posture toward Iran to avoid empowering supposedly more hard-line forces in the Iranian government. Its all B.S. Its complete B.S., McMaster said. The revolutionaries won. Theyre in charge. Its the supreme leader and the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]. Pezeshkian is not a reformist How many times do you have to be duped? Its like Wile E. Coyote. Figure it out, man, the ACME rocket-propelled roller skates might not work. Regarding the war in Gaza, McMaster argued that the destruction of Hamas is a precondition for getting back on a path to any kind of enduring peace between Israel and the Palestinians, or any kind of two-state solution you can imagine. As such, McMaster continued, theres a fundamental inconsistency in calling for cease-fires and then saying youre for a two-state solution, specifically criticizing President Joe Bidens speech at the U.N. General Assembly. It doesnt make any sense to me. In order to ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas and that prospect for peace, McMaster said it will be necessary to have a viable peace enforcement force operating in Gaza. He said he does not think the IDF can credibly perform that role, which will require developing relationships with the Gazan population to develop intelligence sources. He proposed a multinational force made up primarily of the Egyptian military, with assistance from Emirati special operations forces, some forces from Jordan and potentially other countries such as Uganda. It doesnt matter as long as they are seen as pro-Palestinian population and they can earn the respect and legitimacy by the population to give space or an alternative political order to emerge, McMaster said. McMaster said the U.S. will need to use all of its persuasive power, its incentives and disincentives to convince actors to step up and fill the vacuum. And McMaster said that large-scale rebuilding support should not begin until Hamas is removed from power. He described the Trump administrations two-state proposal as in retrospect laudable but of course, wasnt going to work. The former national security advisor also said he believes that there has been deeper coordination between Iran and Russia than publicly known on helping them deal with the blowback, the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks. He said that Russia has actively misled Israel about its posture while siding with adversaries including Syrias Assad regime and Hamas something he said he warned Israeli leaders about during his time in office. Looking at the global threat landscape, McMaster said he agrees with the assessment of the nonpartisan Commission on the National Defense Strategy, which outlined in a recent report that the U.S. faces a serious risk of a multifront war in the coming years, given the increasing cooperation among key adversaries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He said the U.S. needs to make larger investments in military modernization and buildup to properly counter and address that threat. View comments The Habitat Co. moves to end its property management for CHA, leaving 3,400 units of public housing in flux The Habitat Co., a property management firm that oversees about 3,400 units of public housing for the Chicago Housing Authority, has moved to end its management agreements with the agency after almost 40 years of partnership. Correspondence obtained by the Tribune Friday reveals that on Sept. 6, the Habitat Co.s president, Matthew Fiascone, informed CHA that his firm was denying the authoritys request to extend the companys property management contracts for the next year. The parties have not yet agreed on a formal end date for Habitats services, although a transition period will occur as CHA scrambles to secure new property managers for the 16 buildings Habitat manages. In recent years, we have observed significant changes within CHA that, unfortunately, have caused the good working relationship, and the collegial and respectful interaction that we once enjoyed as CHAs private property manager, largely to disappear, Fiascone wrote in his letter to CHA. CHA and Habitat began their working relationship in 1987, according to a Habitat spokesperson. Habitat has worked in affordable housing development in Chicago for more than 50 years. Out of the occupants of the about 3,400 units of CHA housing that Habitat manages, approximately 2,500 are senior citizens and 1,300 are individuals with disabilities, according to a response letter from CHA Chief Executive Tracey Scott to Habitat on Sept. 27. In its initial notice to CHA, Habitat offered to stay on until Nov. 1 while winding down its management services. However, in her letter to Habitat, Scott wrote that this shortened transition period was in violation of the contracts, which allegedly require a 120-day notice for any decision to abandon the properties. Scott proposed an extension of the transition period until Jan. 6, citing a potentially disruptive impact on thousands of CHA residents and their families. Residents at Dearborn Homes, a 688-unit CHA development in the Douglas neighborhood, told the Tribune in August that housing conditions rapidly deteriorated after a new property manager took over from the Habitat Co. eight years earlier. The essence of CHA and Habitats relationship relates to our obligations to serve the needs of thousands of mostly senior Chicagoans who live in the CHA properties that Habitat manages, Scott wrote. Putting our residents interests above whatever grievances we may have against each other, and as a reflection of the deep and ongoing partnership between our organizations, CHA requests that we cooperate through the proposed date of January 6, 2025, to faithfully transition to new management. Neither party would comment Friday regarding when the end date would be, with a Habitat spokesperson claiming that it is still under negotiation. A spokesman for CHA wrote in an email to the Tribune on Friday that the agency is actively working to secure new property managers to take over once Habitats services end, adding that the CHA does not anticipate an adverse impact on residents. He also wrote that CHA is currently communicating with residents of Habitats buildings regarding the upcoming changes, and plans to host resident meetings when new property management teams are identified. In his Sept. 6 letter, Fiascone criticized CHA for significant non-performance of its obligations, citing the agencys alleged demands that Habitat agree to obtain its own liability insurance for the properties it manages. He states that it would be customary in the residential property management world for CHA to cover Habitat under its own insurance program, adding that Habitat had made very clear that it would never agree to any contract where this was not the case. Fiascone also alleges in the letter that CHA failed to properly communicate with Habitat while trying to extend the agreements for all 16 of the properties it manages, sending the request for an extension to an administrative assistant who was out on leave instead of Habitats senior leadership. The Aug. 31 expiration date then passed before the request made its way to the relevant individuals at Habitat, Fiascone wrote. However, even if CHA had successfully requested a renewal before the deadline, Fiascone wrote that it would have been ineffective due to existing problems that have also led Habitat to determine that it is not willing, or required, to continue to manage CHA properties. In CHAs response, Scott admitted that the agency had sent its extension request to the wrong person, stating that it was an oversight. She did not respond to Fiascones specific criticisms of CHAs allocation of insurance coverage responsibilities. The Habitat Co. declined to comment further on Friday regarding the specific reasons behind its termination of its property management relationship. For many years, our partnership with the CHA was mutually beneficial and an advantage to the residents, a company spokesperson wrote in an email to the Tribune. However, given the current challenges at the CHA, we no longer believe this partnership is in the best interest of Habitat or the residents. Theyve filed criminal charges. Theyre talking to the media. Theyve spoken out at the U.N. And theyre organizing politically. As anti-Haitian rhetoric and lies continue to spread, sparking violence and intimidation against immigrants from the overwhelmingly Black country, they and their allies are fighting back. Even as former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance continue to promote false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating household pets, Haitian-American leaders and community members are resisting pressure for them to flee the U.S. or disappear from public life. Their staunch resistance underscores their ancestry as descendants of the first enslaved Black people in the Western Hemisphere to liberate themselves and their entire country from slavery, scholars said. This spirit of standing, of fighting, is ingrained in the very fiber of Haiti and its people. We are a proud people. Despite all of the difficulties, we have always been able to lift ourselves up. The first Black republic in the world, Haiti is proud of that, of its heroic fight for freedom and dignity, Edgard Leblanc Fils, president of Haitis transitional council, told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday in remarks that spanned political unrest in the country and how Haitians are being treated during the current American political cycle. He took veiled aim at Trump and Vances comments saying, 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. In Springfield, the verbal attacks and intimidation during this political season have been emotionally difficult and have forced some Haitian families to restrict their activities and some have even considered leaving. Over the past few weeks, Springfield has received 33 bomb threats, which strained city services. Haitian residents there and elsewhere have complained to local support groups and authorities about verbal and physical intimidation, and break-ins. Even so, Haitian community organizations are supporting their efforts to resist and make bold counter offenses. The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance, a nonprofit group supporting that community, filed criminal charges against Trump and Vance in Clark County Municipal Court on Tuesday, alleging that their remarks have led to an unsafe environment for Haitians in Springfield. Despite receiving racist emails and comments and suffering a swatting attack a false report of an ongoing serious crime in order to elicit a response from law enforcement journalists at The Haitian Times have kept reporting on what is happening in their community, including compiling a list of ways to help. A nonprofit group in Springfield, the Haitian Community Help and Support Center, which has been inundated with requests for support from Haitians worried for their safety, has given voice to community members by speaking to media outlets on their behalf. Multiple Haitian groups, such as Ayisyen pou Harris Creole for Haitians for Harris are harnessing that spirit of fighting back and channeling that frustration and outrage into political action. They are rallying behind Harris presidential bid and encouraging others to do likewise. The moves come two weeks after another Haitian organization, the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, demanded that the Trump-Vance campaign retract offensive statements and engage in meaningful dialogue to address the harm caused. In its affidavit, the Haitian Bridge Alliance wrote: Trump and Vance have knowingly spread a false and dangerous narrative by claiming that Springfield, Ohios Haitian community is criminally killing and eating neighbors dogs and cats, and killing and eating geese. They accused Springfields Haitians of bearing deadly disease. They repeated such lies during the presidential debate, at campaign rallies, during interviews on national television, and on social media. Though some legal scholars say the case may not gain traction, bringing awareness through filing is the point. Neighborhood kids gather to sell Kool-Aid and chips earlier this month in Springfield, Ohio. Some were kept home from school because of the bomb threats at their schools. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press) Roots in revolution According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are now more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. with Haitian ancestry. There are large enclaves of Haitians in Miami, New York and New Jersey, Boston, and most recently, in Springfield, Ohio, where city officials told The New York Times an estimated 12,000 to 20,000 have settled some decades ago and others over the past few years. Under the Biden administration, Haitians who arrived in the United States on or before June 3, 2024, can remain under Temporary Protected Status through Feb. 3, 2026, and can also renew their status. The status is a federal designation that allows those fleeing upheaval in their homelands such as civil unrest or natural disasters a chance to stay in America legally. Yet, Haitian migrants have long been treated with disdain by American politicians and scapegoated by those looking to peddle misinformation about the first independent Black country in the Western Hemisphere, experts in politics and Haitian history said. Haiti has been a beacon, a place people could look to and say Those are free people, and they freed themselves, said Niambi Carter, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at University of Maryland and author of American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship. Since Haitian independence, the West has held a huge grudge, Carter said. Haiti has gotten it particularly bad as the first free Black republic in the West. Upon gaining its independence, Haiti was forced to make reparations repayment to Frances slaveholders and their descendents an amount that is estimated to be at least $20 billion in todays dollars. The country has, for many generations, been the target of racist economic policies such as Americas 20-year occupation and financial control of the country during the early 1900s, said Carter, who is writing a book on U.S.-Haitian refugee policy spanning the administrations of Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden. This economic disenfranchisement, coupled with devastating weather events and waves of illness that have struck the island over the years, plus its own political turmoil, has left Haiti as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti has gotten a raw deal in the sense of the diplomacy it has received, Carter said. It has been ignored, undermined, and destabilized. And, yet, she added, Haitians are enduring. Standing tall in the face of viral vitriol The recent attacks spawned by the Trump campaign have been steady. Shortly after filing criminal charges, the Haitian Bridge Alliance said they faced blowback. Since weve filed the affidavit, our organization has been barraged with harassment and hate-filled messages at the office, email, and individual phones, said Erik Crew, a staff attorney at Haitian Bridge Alliance. The group has vowed to stand by the Haitian community in Springfield and press its case in court. An Ohio community activist who has been assisting Haitian families in Springfield said that she, too, has faced threats. She asked that her name be withheld out of concern for her familys safety. She plans on continuing to fight for the Haitian community. Theyre not going to scare me off, she said. Im already in it. The Haitian Times founder, Garry Pierre-Pierre, recently told The New York Times that one of his editors was swatted and police were sent to her home after someone falsely claimed a murder was committed there. In its dedication to continue reporting the news, the organization shut down its websites comment section, which was overrun with racist comments, and canceled a planned forum in Springfield. Over the past year or so, Springfield, a sleepy, predominantly white, Rust Belt hamlet, saw its population swell after a push to draw new businesses and labor to town proved a magnet for newly arrived Haitians on Temporary Protected Status. City officials and longtime residents initially rejoiced at the newcomers arrival and the boon to the local industry. Many of them still do. However, last year, when a minivan driven by a Haitian migrant using a foreign license crashed into a school bus, killing an 11-year-old boy and injured 23 others, simmering racial tensions erupted. Some residents packed municipal meetings to complain about the Haitian migrants and used such phrases as criminals. The vitriol went viral in conservative online and social media spaces until, ultimately, it wended its way into Trump and Vances election year talking points. This is not new in the United States of America; its an old playbook used around election times that is anti-Black and that these so-called savages are trying to destroy your way of life, said Crew, whose family migrated to Ohio from the American South during the Jim Crow-era. His grandmother told them stories about watching as a girl as the Ku Klux Klan marched in Springfields streets. This goes back hundreds of years. Amid the current fallout, other Haitian groups said they, too, have witnessed an increasingly toxic brew of racist comments and threats. The Trump-Vance campaign did not respond to Capital Bs request for comment. When previously contacted by Capital B, the campaign did not directly address calls from Haitian groups for a retraction and a conversation and instead issued a statement indicating that the media should focus on the very real suffering and tragedies experienced by the people of Springfield, Ohio. During his rally on Monday in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, a small industrial town that has also seen an increase in Haitian migrants, Trump once again doubled down on vilifying the group by asking residents: Has your beautiful town changed? He said of Haitian migrants in Springfield: You have to get them the hell out. At the Haitian Community Help and Support Center, volunteers have worked long hours to try and meet the emotional and physical needs of the community. Many of those they help are afraid to speak publicly for fear of retribution. Some have contemplated leaving altogether, volunteers from support groups and attorneys said. When a Springfield man, according to a police report, allegedly recently barged into a Haitian familys garage and threatened the children playing there with a gun while yelling for them to shut the fuck up, they called the police. And though the family, according to the report, was scared to press charges for fear of retribution and the children are now no longer allowed to play outside, that act took courage, Crew said. Calling out the ugliness that has seeped into the public sphere is a fight that has even reached the halls of Congress. This week, when Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, in a now-deleted social media post called Haitian migrants thugs and slapstick gangsters who needed to get their ass out of our country, Congressional Black Caucus chairman Rep. Steven Horsford, a Nevada Democrat, reportedly confronted him, called for a House Committee on Ethics investigation and a House censure. Horsford took to the House floor on Wednesday to raise his concerns. Higgins told CNN that he stood by his comments and cited freedom of speech. Horsford clapped right back and vowed to push for censure against divisive, racially charged, hateful rhetoric. It is not about the next election. It is about everyday people in America feeling targeted, he told CNN. Today, its the Haitians. Who will it be tomorrow? Will it be you? The post How Haitian Immigrants Are Fighting Back Against Trump and Vances Smears appeared first on Capital B News. Hamburg man gets probation for stealing over $300K from dead relatives estate BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Hamburg man was given five years of probation for stealing more than $300,000 from a deceased relatives estate for a period of nearly seven years, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said Friday. Craig Arno, 63, stole a total of $342,036 from the relatives estate between September 2016 and August 2023. Arno was the executor of the relatives will and put the money into his personal bank account rather than donating it to local charities. Arno also did not report the stolen money on his personal income tax returns. He pleaded guilty in July to one count of second-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. As a condition of the sentence, he is required to pay the full amount in restitution. He paid $8,000 worth of restitution on Friday. Latest Local 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 News 4 Buffalo. (NewsNation) New York City Mayor Eric Adams has rejected calls for his resignation now that he faces federal conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges, but the decision to stay in office isnt his alone. There are several ways Adams hypothetical resignation or removal could unfold most of which would require an acting mayor to temporarily serve in his place. Its a question facing New Yorkers and Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul after a federal grand jury indicted Adams earlier this week. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday. The 57-page charging document accuses Adams of accepting bribes and offering favors in exchange for illegal foreign campaign contributions. NYC investigations: Whos resigned from Eric Adams administration? Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the investigation is ongoing. 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. Several top city officials have announced their resignation from Adams administration in recent weeks. Its unclear if or how those resignations may be connected to the mayors criminal case. Recent resignation announcements include those from New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, former New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban, chief legal counsel Liza Zornberg and New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks. Could Adams be removed from office? Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. According to New York Citys charter, Hochul could remove the mayor once he receives a copy of the charges and has an opportunity to present his defense. She may also suspend him for as many as 30 days while the criminal case is still unresolved. The governor issued a statement Thursday saying she would review her options and obligations. A potential removal would be unprecedented. 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. NewsNation did not immediately receive a response Friday to an email seeking additional comments from the governors office. Adams said Thursday he has no plans to resign and asked New Yorkers to withhold their judgment. What if Hochul doesnt remove Adams? If Hochul doesnt remove Adams, city officials could also form whats called an inability committee and decide by a two-thirds vote whether Adams is unable to carry out his mayoral duties. The committee would be made up of New York Citys corporation counsel, comptroller, speaker of the council, deputy mayor and the borough president with the longest consecutive service under their belt. If Adams were to resign before the upcoming general election, New Yorkers would choose the mayors replacement at the polls in November. Mayor Eric Adams corruption investigation, indictment: Timeline Who would take over for Adams? If Hochul were to remove Adams from office, the job would temporarily fall to New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams until a special election could take place. The acting mayor would have three days to announce the dates of a nonpartisan special election that would take place within the first three months from the time Adams hypothetically left office. Williams is a Brooklyn native and self-described Democratic Socialist. He previously served on the New York City Council from 2009 until 2019, when he assumed his current role. He lost his gubernatorial bid to Hochul in the 2022 primary election. Williams cites better policing, safer streets, affordable housing and transparency and accountability in city government as the principles driving his career in public service. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Colorado might have lost its position as a pivotal state in presidential elections, but that doesn't mean Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are ignoring its voters and the 10 electoral votes they will award in November. When Vice President Kamala Harris makes her first trip to the southern border as the Democratic nominee, it will mark a major step in her effort to cut into Donald Trumps strength with voters on immigration. The issue is one of her top vulnerabilities. And Harris is going on the attack. She will use the stop in Douglas, Arizona, to call for tougher border security, while once again emphasizing Trumps role in killing the bipartisan border deal earlier this year, according to a senior campaign official granted anonymity to speak about Fridays speech. The campaign will also launch a new ad in Arizona and battleground states, highlighting her plan to hire more border agents, enforce the law and step up technology and stop fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking. The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games, Harris will say, according to her prepared remarks. Voters continue to give Trump higher marks on immigration despite the vice president spending the last several months leaning into her record as attorney general of California to tout her work prosecuting international gangs and criminal organizations who traffic drugs, guns and humans. Shes also vowed to bring back the border bill if she wins the White House. Donald Trump got word of the bill, realized it was going to fix a problem he wanted to run on, and told them to kill the bill, dont put it up for a vote, Harris said during her interview Wednesday night with MSNBC. He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution, because he wants to run on a problem, instead of fixing a problem. According to the senior campaign official, Harris wanted to travel to the border to reiterate this message, speaking in a community on the frontlines of the immigration challenge. She will meet with border patrol agents on Friday, her campaign said, and she plans to say that agents need more resources. The border bill she supported would have hired 1,500 more border agents and officers and was endorsed by the Border Patrol union. The vice president will also talk about fentanyl and press the Chinese government to crack down on companies that make the chemicals used to make the drug. The visit comes as Trump continues to pummel Harris on immigration, misleadingly labeling her a border czar to exaggerate her work on addressing the root causes of migration in the Joe Biden administration. On the day of Harris acceptance speech at the Democratic convention last month, Trump visited Cochise County, Arizona the same county Harris will visit to blame her for the border crisis. He slammed Harris again on Thursday for her plans to visit the border, knocking her during a press conference in New York City for playing right into the hand of her opponent. He also continued to rail against the border bill, which he called atrocious and an amnesty bill. She should save her airfare. She should go back to the White House and tell the president to close the border, Trump said. Instead, shes going there to try and convince people that she wasnt as bad as everybody knows she was. She was the worst in history, grossly incompetent, weak and ineffective. Harris has previously visited the border in her capacity as vice president. But early on in the Biden administration, she drew negative headlines after a rocky sit-down with NBCs Lester Holt, who asked why she hadnt visited the border. And I havent been to Europe, Harris said a clip Republicans have continued to recycle as they slam Harris on an issue into which theyve poured millions of dollars. Those comments came when the White House was struggling with immigration staff turnover and widespread confusion over its policy and messaging. Now, more than three years laters, Democrats have coalesced around a consistent, election-year message: Democrats want solutions, while Trump killed a bipartisan border deal for political gain. After the collapse of the border legislation, Democrats adopted an aggressive posture on the issue, pulling a page directly from Rep. Tom Suozzis playbook after he won his February special election in New York by running on strengthening border security. Harris advisers believe this message is finally breaking through to some voters, though theres more work to be done as evidenced by Harris decision to visit the border. Harris may also benefit from some facts on the ground, which she is expected to tout during her speech on Friday. Border crossings are now as low as they were during Trumps last month in office, averting media coverage of an overwhelmed southern border just weeks away from Election Day. After the border deal collapsed in February, Biden clamped down on asylum at the southern border in between ports of entry, which has led to a steep drop in illegal crossings providing Harris with a datapoint to hammer on the trail. While Democrats have been relieved by Harris messaging on border security, some allies and immigration advocates have been quietly pushing for the vice president to talk more about the need for relief for undocumented immigrants who have long lived in the United States, trying to navigate a broken immigration system. And they believe Trumps promises to implement mass deportations offers Harris an opportunity to relitigate his controversial family separation policy. The senior campaign official said Harris will speak on Friday about the need to secure the border while also creating an orderly and humane immigration system, arguing that the country must prioritize both security and protecting its legacy as a nation of immigrants. Lisa Kashinksy contributed to this report. Harris to call for tighter asylum, border control measures, campaign says By Trevor Hunnicutt DOUGLAS, Arizona (Reuters) -U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will call on Friday for tighter asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, as she delivers a speech in Arizona, a campaign official said. Under the proposal, Harris will call for a change to an existing asylum ban at the border by President Joe Biden's administration that would leave it in place for longer, the official said. Harris will face off against Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election and immigration is a top voter concern, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Trump has criticized Harris for record numbers of migrants caught illegally crossing the border in recent years. Harris blames Trump for encouraging Republican lawmakers to sink a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate that aimed to tighten border security. Biden issued a sweeping asylum ban in June that allows migrants caught crossing illegally to be quickly deported or turned back to Mexico when the daily average of border arrests tops 2,500 over a week. The ban took effect immediately and will remain in place until border arrests drop below an average of 1,500 per day for one week, followed by a two-week waiting period. Harris is expected to propose changing the policy to lower the 1,500 threshold that allows it to be lifted. The Biden policy was issued on an emergency basis and Biden officials have considered toughening it when it is finalized. Harris will detail the changes in a speech in the border town of Douglas, Arizona. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by David Ljunggren and David Gregorio) Vice President Harriss campaign said Friday it launched its largest weekend of action yet, mobilizing volunteers in battleground states about five weeks out from Election Day. In an announcement sent first to The Hill, the Harris campaign said it is aiming to reach more than 1 million voters this weekend through more than 25,000 volunteer shifts and 4,000 events across battleground states. Surrogates including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and producer Shonda Rhimes will be part of the weekend of action too. The campaign is expected to use the weekend to bash former President Trump over his campaigns field operation, calling it weak in the announcement. Harris battleground state director Dan Kanninen argued Democrats have a massive battleground advantage over the Trump operation. With just 39 days left, we are pushing our edge on the ground to underscore the stakes of this election to the voters who will decide this election, Kanninen said. The margins in this election will be razor-thin, and we are dedicated to leaving it all out on the field. The weekend will include a Working Women for Kamala coalition event in Georgia, a brunch in Pennsylvania and a Politics in the Playground event in Minnesota. As for the candidate, Harris will travel to Arizona on Friday for a visit to the border, California on Saturday to fundraise, and Nevada on Sunday for a rally. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Harris to criticize Trump in her 1st visit to border in more than 3 years Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday -- her first trip there in more than three years -- to call for tougher security measures and attack former President Donald Trump on an issue that has plagued her, a senior campaign official said. Harris plans to deliver remarks in Douglas, Arizona, a border town in the critical battleground state, where she will continue to criticize Trump for his role earlier this year in tanking a bipartisan bill that was the result of months of negotiations. "The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games," Harris plans to say, according to the senior official, who was granted anonymity to discuss a speech the vice president has yet to deliver. PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two at LaGuardia Airport in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. (Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters) MORE: Harris, in first interview, addresses policy shifts, border and Trump's attacks She will take a strong line in her remarks Friday and make the case that "American sovereignty requires setting rules at the border and enforcing them," the senior official previewed. As part of her trip, Harris will also meet with border patrol agents, the senior official said, and tout the pay raises the Biden administration gave agents and argue they "need more resources to do their jobs to keep America safe." Harris' trip comes as immigration is a top issue for many voters ahead of the election. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 70% viewed immigration at the southern border as an "important" issue for them, and Trump led Harris by 10 points on who voters thought was best suited to handle it. In 2021, President Joe Biden tasked Harris with the likely doomed-from-the-start assignment of solving the root causes of migration amid surges of migrants arriving at the southern border. Republicans have used this to label Harris the "border czar" though her task did involve U.S. policy at the border itself. The last time Harris made a trip to the border was in June 2021. Her infrequent visits have also been another source attacks from her opponents. 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) MORE: Trump vows mass deportation of protected migrants in Springfield, dismisses threats to town The senior official said the campaign hopes Harris's trip to the border will help close the gap between Trump on the issue. Trump held what amounted to a preemptive attack at a news conference in New York on Thursday. "She should save her airfare," Trump said. "She should go back to the White House and tell the president to close the border. He can do it with the signing of a of a - just a signature on a piece of paper to the border control; instead, she's going there to try to convince people she wasn't as bad as everybody knows she was." Harris' campaign is is releasing a new ad on Friday tied to her trip to the border. The 30-second ad, titled "Never Backed Down," highlights Harris' work as a prosecutor. "She put cartel members and drug traffickers behind bars, and she will secure our border," a narrator says in the ad. The ad says Harris' plans for the border include hiring more law enforcement agents, boosting technology and to "stop fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking." In her remarks at the border, Harris will say tackling fentanyl will be "a top priority" for her as president and will propose installing new fentanyl detection machines at the border, a senior campaign official said. She will also continue to call on China to quash Chinese companies' manufacturing of fentanyl precursor chemicals, the official added. "We need a leader with a real plan to fix the border and that's Kamala Harris," the narrator says at the end of the ad. ABC News' Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report. Harris to criticize Trump in her 1st visit to border in more than 3 years originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Harris criticizes calls for concessions from Ukraine during joint press conference with Zelensky in Washington U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a joint press conference in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26, ahead of their in-private meeting. Zelensky has been in the U.S. since Sept. 22, where he has held a series of high-level meetings with foreign leaders, as well as a visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania and an address to the U.N. General Assembly. Zelensky thanked Harris for her commitment to Kyiv and said, "we are grateful to America for supporting Ukraine." In her remarks, Harris reiterated her support for Ukraine and warned that a Russian victory would lead to further aggression and cause other nations with imperialist ambitions to be "emboldened." Harris said that she had "told world leaders (at the U.N.), nothing about the end of this war can be decided without Ukraine." But she added that "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." "These proposals are the same as those of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, and let us be clear, these are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable." Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, meets with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26, 2024 (Win McNamee/Getty Images) While she did not mention anyone by name, some in the Republican Party, reportedly including presidential nominee Donald Trump, have suggested that Ukraine could cede territory in exchange for peace. At a rally on Sept. 24, Trump vowed to get the U.S. "out" of the war in Ukraine if elected president. Trump's rhetoric against Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has grown harsher in recent days. He has claimed that Zelensky wants Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election and referred to him as "the greatest salesman on earth." Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance said in an interview with Shawn Ryan earlier in September that Trump's plan to end Russia's war could include the establishment of a special demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine would retain its sovereignty, but at the same time, it would have to give guarantees to Russia that it would not join NATO or any other allied institutions, Vance added. Read also: Biden-Zelensky talks: Ukrainian soldiers want firepower to win but question if US wants Russia defeated Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Harris to drum up tough on the border message in Arizona Vice President Harris will call for tougher border security measures as part of her campaign stop in Douglas, Ariz., while again hitting former President Trump for his role in scuttling a bipartisan border deal. In her first major border speech as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris plans to tout her credentials battling transnational crime as attorney general of California, according to a senior campaign official. She will lean into border security, looking to tap into a formula thats worked well for Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who is running for the states open Senate seat. [Hispanics in Arizona] like what Gallego says, and I think its going to work for her. How long, I dont know, right? But shes going to those states, like Arizona, where youre going to find the people there nationally, she may not, it may not work 100 percent for her but shes going to get good reviews from Hispanics in Arizona, said Moses Mercado, a Democratic strategist. Gallego is running far ahead of GOP Senate nominee Kari Lake in most polls, while Harris is at best neck and neck with Trump in Arizona. The focus on border security, rather than on improving the immigration system, is a calculated risk for Harris. While broad majorities of Hispanic voters have historically supported comprehensive immigration reform, voters in border states are generally more receptive to border security proposals. And Harris is expected to focus her border comments on transnational crime, in part because unauthorized border crossings are at their lowest point since President Biden took office. Its a powerful issue against Democrats, no doubt, but [Republicans are] not running on it right now in [border] states, and I think its because people arent seeing it. If youre living in McAllen, Texas or Brownsville, is it an issue? Yes. Is it a problem right now? They dont see it. They were seeing it before, but theyre not seeing it now, Mercado said. The relative lull in border crossings has fueled other culture war issues but has also provided a space for Democrats such as Harris and Gallego to bolster their border enforcement credentials without alienating immigration advocates. And Harris is expected to again hammer Trump with his role in derailing the Senate border deal that would have gutted asylum, and which both advocacy groups and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus vehemently opposed. The senior campaign official said in an email that Harris plans to say, The American people deserve a President who cares more about border security than playing political games. While Harriss support for that deal could be a liability on her left flank, it has proven an effective tool to portray Trump as opportunistic, even on his signature issue. Its either, Were going to get tough on the border, is one side of it, were going to try to do immigration right. But you know, whatever the nuances is, the alternative is were deporting everybody if we win, Mercado said. So where do the groups go? Its hard for them to tell their people, Yeah, were pissed at Gallego and the vice president, so lets go vote for the guy thats going to deport us all. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 is cozying up to the cryptocurrency industry in the final stretch of the presidential campaign, embracing an industry scorned by progressives and giving hope to moderates who want her administration to take a more business-friendly approach to the economy. Progressive policy makers largely celebrated the economic approach of President Joe Biden, whose administration embarked on an effort to reverse what liberals saw as 40 years of corporate dominance of policy-making in Washington. The approach also kept the Democratic Party, which seemed at the edge of an ideological fracture during the 2020 primaries, largely united. Harris embrace of crypto coming just two years after the collapse of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that embarrassed the industry and erased more than $1 trillion of investment, including many peoples life savings is her most noteworthy reversal from Bidens economic approach so far. Her crypto-friendly approach is partially a reflection of how the industry has used money to conquer Washington. It has won allies throughout Congress and managed to enlist a small army of digital asset holders to do its political bidding. Whether its a sign of a broader ideological shift on Harris part is unclear, and the Democratic nominee may have an interest in keeping it that way as she tries to keep every possible element of the coalition happy ahead of an ultra-close November election. Interviews with crypto supporters, opponents and Harris allies, however, point to a scenario where Harris may be seeking to correct what moderate Democrats view as a major mistake by the Biden administration an unwillingness in their eyes to even engage with the business community, including crypto without wholly abandoning many of the policies the partys progressive wing loves. I find it telling that Vice President Harris is proactively signaling openness to embracing emerging technologies like blockchain, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of the biggest boosters of crypto in the Democratic Party, told HuffPost, referring to the decentralized ledger that undergirds the crypto system. I actually think as a product of Silicon Valley, she has a natural openness to new technology, more so than the Biden administration. But a slightly more friendly approach to Silicon Valley (Harris mentioned AI, quantum computing and blockchain as sectors that will define the nation the next century in an economic speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday) does not inherently mean an abandonment of many of the labor-friendly, climate change-fighting industrial policies the Biden administration pursued. Its easy to see why people think this is the Biden Administration plus Silicon Valley, said Michael Madowitz, the principal economist at Roosevelt Forward, the political arm of the progressive think tank, the Roosevelt Institute. But that doesnt mean she cant focus on balancing corporate power, on making sure American workers get a fair shake. Many of those progressive-friendly policies were included in an 82-page policy manifesto, A New Way Forward For The Middle Class, which Harris campaign released alongside her speech in Pittsburgh. They include hyping the Biden-Harris administrations antitrust agenda, including their fight against junk fees. The manifesto also promises to take on anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical, food and housing industries. In the same speech, however, she took care to deliver some calming words to the business community, saying she knows the limitations of government. She added: Ive always been and will always be a strong supporter of workers and unions, and I also believe we need to engage those who create most of the jobs in America. What may ultimately determine the ideological direction of Harris administration is who she hires. Crypto supporters are determined to oust Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, for instance. And the presence of Harris campaign advisors with closer ties to big tech means the door may be open more for policy hands with private sector experience. One obvious instance: Tony West, Harris brother-in-law who is on leave from his job as the chief legal officer at Uber is almost certain to get a top role in her administration. And allies of Silicon Valley in D.C. are hopeful Harris closer geographical and generational ties to tech mean more open lines of communication than existed with Biden. Theres going to be a greater willingness to hire people who worked in the private sector. That doesnt mean theres no room for people on the left, said Caitlin Legacki, who worked as a top aide to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, one of the more moderate figures in the Biden administrations economic policy-making world. You dont have to sell the White House to corporations, but you should have someone to pick up their phone calls. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday, delivering an economic address aimed at wooing the business class without backing away from the progressive priorities of the Biden administration. via Associated Press In 2020, while Biden mostly appointed mainstream, experienced hands to lead roles at agencies and cabinet departments, progressives took many critical behind-the-scenes roles. This led to frequent grumbling, from both Republicans and moderate Democrats, about Bidens administration looking like one assembled by Warren, whom he vanquished in the 2020 primary. Now, as some of those same progressives fight for their jobs, popularity looms as a potentially deciding factor. Khan, for instance, has kept an aggressive schedule appearing with influential progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, old hands like Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, and swing-state senators like Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jacky Rosen of Nevada. (Even still, Legacki predicted Harris would be more selective about fighting ideological battles when it came to antitrust.) These same popularity contests, however, may doom Gensler, who has emerged as a unique target of industry ire, and who seems to lack the same popular backing benefiting Khan. And while the Biden administrations anti-monopoly posture has been generally popular with the public Kahn and Harris both have linked it to lower housing and health care costs its antagonistic relationship with crypto is seen as unlikely to win over many voters. Politically, Harris approach seems to be working. The economy had been a huge advantage for former President Donald Trump in his matchup against President Joe Biden, but Harris has closed the gap. Forty-three percent of voters said they trusted Trump on the economy in an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey last week, compared to 41% for Harris, with 15% saying they trusted both or neither. How Crypto Came Back The FTX collapse in November of 2022 scared off most Democrats from engaging with crypto, which the Biden administration did not exactly consider a critical issue when they took office in 2020. Many top officials in both parties viewed the industry as a sideshow, good for little more than slurp juice jokes as some rushed to return the substantial donations they accepted from FTX Chairman Sam Bankman-Fried and his allies. That left an opportunity for crypto critics like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and SEC Chair Gary Gensler. As the Biden White House focused on other topics, the SEC continued bringing dozens of cases against crypto firms for failing to comply with the securities laws enacted in the 1930s to protect investors from financial scams laws requiring basic disclosures such as the identities of the people in charge. As the FTX collapse faded from public memory, crypto advocates resumed their quest for new rules, claiming the old securities laws shouldnt apply. In May, the House of Representatives obliged by passing a bill that would diminish the SECs oversight of the industry. Nevertheless, the legislation passed with bipartisan support 71 Democrats joined nearly every Republican in favor but it was ignored by the Democratic-controlled Senate. Senate Democrats have sought to advance their own proposals that would reduce the role of the SEC in overseeing digital assets, but those too, have stalled due to GOP opposition. Meanwhile, the influence of the crypto lobby only grew. Crypto super PACs have spent tens of millions of dollars against Democratic candidates across the country, including in several critical Senate races that could determine control of the chamber next year. And its not just Republicans who are courting crypto donations: Future Forward, the leading super PAC supporting Harris presidential campaign, began accepting cryptocurrency donations earlier this month. Whats alarming is the capacity of billionaires and the crypto folks to put $40 million in Ohio, maybe put $60 million in Pennsylvania, said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). You know, its just as a reminder how messed up our political system is that folks with that kind of cash have such outsized influence. Most people dont understand it, but its powerful, and its money, the senator added. Earlier this summer, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats joined a Crypto4Harris virtual town hall to show support for digital assets. The event featured billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, who has emerged as one of Harris top corporate go-betweens. Harris has also dispatched her top policy aide, Brian Nelson, to woo crypto industry figures. Theres been a real tangible effort from them to listen to us, hear from us, and reassure us without making any hard commitments and talk about crypto in a constructive way, a source familiar with the Harris campaigns outreach to the crypto community told HuffPost. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has spent substantial time courting the crypto fan base, which skews younger, male and caucasian. He even rolled out his own cryptocurrency business earlier this month. (The former president has had his own evolution on crypto. As recently as 2021, Trump called Bitcoin a scam and said cryptocurrencies in general were potentially a disaster waiting to happen.) Whatever the reason, the tone shift has seemingly affected even some of cryptos top critics. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said this week crypto is inevitable, while Warren took a non-confrontational tone when asked about Harriss openness to digital assets. Im fine with people buying and selling crypto, Warren told HuffPost. Its very important that crypto follow the same rules as every other part of our financial system, and making sure its not exploited by drug traffickers, terrorists and countries like Iran. Following the same rules as the rest of the financial system, however, is exactly what crypto does not want to do.More than anything, crypto proponents also want the next president to fire Gensler. Cuban said on social media this week the Harris campaign told him they opposed the administrations current approach to crypto, and he suggested that Gensler would be going away. CYA Gensler, Cuban wrote. You leaving is worth a point in GDP growth. Meanwhile, Republicans are skeptical that Harris embrace of crypto is legitimate and claim that she has little familiarity with the industry. Shes very close to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Elizabeth Warren hates digital assets, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), a top GOP advocate of the sector, said of Harris. I am more concerned with what I see, than what I hear. WASHINGTON Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris heads Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona looking to recharge her candidacy in a key battleground state where she is losing ground to former President Donald Trump. Harris' trip to Douglas, Arizona about 120 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona and home to the state's second busiest port of entry comes as a new poll released Friday by USA TODAY/Suffolk University found Trump leading Harris by 6 percentage points, 48%-42%, among likely Arizona voters. The difference is within the poll's plus or minus 4.4% margin of error. Harris will deliver a speech at the border calling for tougher border restrictions, according to a senior Harris campaign official, who discussed the trip on the condition of anonymity. In her remarks, she is expected to slam Trump for encouraging Republican senators earlier this year to kill a bipartisan border bill backed by the Biden administration that included tough new restrictions for asylum seekers and additional resources for Border Patrol agents. Harris has accused Trump of lobbying for the bill's defeat because he realized it would "fix a problem he wanted to run on." But Trump has hammered Harris on the Biden administration's immigration policies and her role in addressing root causes of migration to the southern border. Immigration, a growing issue for voters, has been a weak area for Democrats and Harris. "The worst border crisis in the history of the world," Trump said Thursday in New York. "And the architect is Kamala Harris." More: Kamala Harris to visit southern border as immigration remains election liability Vice President Kamala Harris boards Air Force Two to depart Pittsburgh after giving an economic speech on Sept. 25, 2024. In 2020, President Joe Biden narrowly carried Arizona which has 11 electoral votes up for grabs by less than 11,000 voters over Trump. It was the first time Arizona voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since Bill Clinton carried the state in 1996. But the USA TODAY/Suffolk poll found Harris trails Trump 47%-43% in Maricopa County, a bellwether and largest county in the state that includes Phoenix. In 2020, Biden carried Maricopa County 50%-48%. Trump's current polling lead over Harris in Maricopa County is within the 5.4% margin of error. Latino support for Harris in Arizona lagging behind Its the latest sign that Harris is struggling to maintain momentum she gained in Arizona after taking the torch from Biden as the Democratic nominee this summer. On Monday, a new poll by the New York Times and Siena College showed Trump up by 5 points, 50%-45%, in Arizona. A Real Clear Politics average of recent polls has Trump ahead of Harris by 1.6 percentage points. Trump campaigned at the U.S.-Mexico border last month in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Harris previously visited the southern border during a 2021 trip to El Paso, Texas. Immigration historically a losing issue for Democrats in elections remains a liability for Harris even as she's gone on offense by emphasizing Trump's role in defeating the bipartisan border bill. The Harris campaign is also set to release a new television ad that will begin airing Friday in Arizona and other battleground states that says Harris will "secure our border" as president. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University national poll this month found likely voters, by a 50%-47% margin, believe Trump would do a better job handling immigration than Harris 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 Although the Harris campaign has focused efforts to galvanize Latino voters in key battlegrounds like Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, the vice presidents support among Latinos in Arizona is lagging behind the national level. Less than half 47% of Latino voters in Arizona said they support Harris, according to the USA TODAY/Suffolk poll. Trump has the support of 29% of Latinos in the state, the poll found. Arizona has around 1.3 million eligible Latino voters, accounting for about one-quarter of the state's electorate. Nationally, Harris holds a larger lead among Latino voters, 57%, compared to Trump at 39%, according to a report from Pew Research. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrion and Rebecca Morin @RebeccaMorin_ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris heads to southern border in Arizona where she's losing ground Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has doubled down on his anti-migrant rhetoric (ANGELA WEISS) (ANGELA WEISS/AFP/AFP) Kamala Harris pledged Friday she would tighten the border and fix America's broken immigration system on her first visit to the US-Mexico frontier as a presidential candidate. The US vice president is playing catch-up on immigration, with a majority of Americans saying they trust Republican rival Donald Trump more than her on one of the most important issues for voters ahead of November's election. In a speech in Douglas, Arizona before a friendly audience, Harris tried to straddle a tough-on-illegal-migration line with a promise to reach across the aisle to fix an immigration system she said was broken. "The United States is a sovereign nation, and I believe we have a duty to set rules at our border and to enforce them, and I take that responsibility very seriously," she said. "We are also a nation of immigrants... and so we must reform our immigration system to ensure that it works in an orderly way, that it is humane and that it makes our country stronger." Harris said as president she would revive a bipartisan border bill Trump "tanked" last year, which would add 1,500 border agents and pay for 100 machines to detect smuggled fentanyl, a synthetic opioid ravaging US communities. And she said anyone crossing the border illegally would be barred from seeking asylum in the country. But "hard-working migrants" who come to the US legally should be given a pathway to citizenship, she said. "I reject the false choice that suggests we must either choose between securing our border or creating a system of immigration that is safe, orderly and humane. We can and we must do both." She said Trump, who has repeatedly demonised immigrants as murderers, rapists and mentally ill people, is "fanning the flames of fear and division." "The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games and their personal political future." Harris earlier visited the border wall in Douglas, where she met with Border Patrol officials and was photographed alongside the distinctive metal slats. It was her first visit to the frontier since Joe Biden ceded the Democratic Party nomination to her, and Republicans have hammered her for staying away. Arizona is one of the half-dozen battleground states expected to decide the agonizingly close November 5 election, and it is where polls show Harris may have to do the most work. - Illegal crossing - Hours before Harris spoke figures from the US Department of Homeland Security showed 425,000 non-citizens convicted of crimes are living in the United States, including more than 13,000 who have convictions for homicide. Trump leapt on the news, saying these people had been "let out of jail, and they're roaming our streets." Trump claimed -- wrongly -- that the numbers referred to people who had entered illegally under the Biden-Harris administration. In fact, the figures give no details on how long these people have resided in the United States, and experts say many could have been in country for decades. "These are people who, primarily, have already been charged and convicted and served their time," Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council told AFP. Reichlin-Melnick added that, under Trump, there were also millions of non-citizens living in the United States, including hundreds of thousands with criminal records. "The only reason that they cannot be deported is because of diplomatic issues with their home country and nothing to do with the US government's policy or practices," he said. - Weak spot - Recent polls have seen Harris eating into Trump's lead on migration with voters, yet it still remains a weak spot, with record illegal border crossings under her and Biden's watch. But Harris points to numbers that have plummeted since Biden signed an executive order in June temporarily closing the border to asylum seekers -- to around 58,000 in August from a peak of 250,000 last December. Republicans have focused on Harris's role early in the administration when Biden tasked her with looking into the causes of illegal migration from Central America. Trump's campaign slammed her "disgraceful" visit, branding it "a desperate attempt to fool Americans into forgetting the chaos and devastation she has unleashed over her four years as Border Czar." Trump has doubled down on his rhetoric targeting migrants, seeing it as appealing to his base of largely white, blue-collar voters. In remarks Thursday, Trump repeated his claim that migrants were "infecting our country," using language Biden's team has compared to that used by Nazi Germany. dk-hg/mlm Harris goes to the border to take Trump to task for blocking bill to fix migration issues: He prefers to run on a problem Vice President Kamala Harris went on the offensive against former President Donald Trump on immigration Friday during her visit to the southern border in Arizona as she tries to turn a political vulnerability on its head. Immigration has featured prominently in the 2024 presidential election, with polls showing voters placing more trust in Trump to handle the issue than Harris. Democrats, grappling with years of border crises, have tried to gain ground by pointing to the bipartisan border measure that congressional Republicans blocked earlier this year after Trump came out against it. Harris on Friday lambasted Trump for his role in stymying that bill. It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades. It was endorsed by the Border Patrol union. And it should be in effect today, producing results in real time, right now, for our country, she said at a rally in Douglas, a town on the US-Mexico border. But Donald Trump tanked it. He picked up the phone and called some friends in Congress and said, Stop the bill, she said. He prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. And the American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games and their personal political future. She said she would ask Congress to pass the measure if she is elected, and would sign it into law. She also laid out a series of proposals that she said were not just about some rhetoric at a rally, but would help stem the flow of migrants into the United States. Advisers to the vice president remain concerned about the gap between the candidates on immigration. But they also cite recent polling showing Trumps lead on the issue eroding since Harris took over from President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket providing them an opportunity, they say, to amplify their message and close the gap further. Harris outlined plans during her Arizona stop Friday that would make it even harder to lift border restrictions that have largely barred migrants from seeking asylum in the US. Its the clearest example yet of the campaign doubling down on border security by embracing strict rules that have been condemned by some corners of the Democratic Party. Harris would go a step further than President Joe Bidens June executive action by making the threshold for lifting restrictions harder to reach. Solutions are at hand if we focus on fixing a problem and not running on a problem, Harris said. She said shed work with Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for hardworking immigrants who have been here for years, for years, and deserve to have a system that works, as well as Dreamers undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as children, who are allowed to live and work in the US under an Obama-era program but generally cannot become citizens under current law. They are American in every way. But still, they do not have an earned pathway to citizenship. And this problem has gone unsolved at this point now for decades, Harris said. The same goes for farmworkers who ensure that we have food on our tables and sustain our agricultural industry and they too have been in legal limbo for years because politicians have refused to come together and fix our broken immigration system. Earlier this year, Biden announced an executive action severely limiting the ability of migrants to seek asylum at the US southern border if they crossed unlawfully a departure from decadeslong protocol. Immigrant advocates have likened the executive action to Trump-era policies. The measure can be turned on and off and lifted when theres a daily average of fewer than 1,500 encounters between ports of entry, among other criteria. It remains in place. Homeland Security officials have credited the action for driving down border crossings to the lowest point since 2020. Trump alluded to his current polling edge Thursday as he slammed his rival ahead of her visit to the border. Why would she go to the border now, playing right into the hand of her opponent? the former president told reporters at Trump Tower in New York. She keeps talking about how she supposedly wants to fix the border. We would merely ask: Why didnt she do it four years ago? Part of the Harris campaigns strategy to counter Trump includes a new ad, titled Never Backed Down, that will run in Arizona and other battleground states highlighting Harris previous border-related work and outlining her plans, including hiring more border agents. She put cartel members and drug traffickers behind bars, and she will secure our border, the narrator says. A smuggler stands in the background as asylum-seeking migrants from India cross the border wall into the United States from Mexico in Ruby, Arizona, on June 26, 2024. - Adrees Latif/REUTERS/REUTERS An early strategy The Harris campaign signaled early on that it planned to counter Trumps attacks on the vice president and the administrations handling of border security. Only days after she launched her presidential bid, campaign officials released a video drawing a contrast between Harris and Trump on immigration policy notably leaning on border security. Kamala Harris supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents. Donald Trump blocked a bill to increase the number of Border Patrol agents, the voiceover in the video stated. Harris previously visited the border as vice president and has cited her work as a border-state senator and state attorney general. Fridays visit comes at a time when border crossings are the lowest theyve been since 2020 and follows a recent New York Times/Siena College poll that showed Trump leading in the battleground state. A Fox News survey of the state that was released on Thursday found no clear leader, with Trump at 50% and Harris at 47% among likely voters. US officials have touted back-to-back months of low border crossings, citing recent executive action to curb asylum access at the southern border, even as Trump has levied attacks over the Biden administrations handling of border security. The dramatic recent drop in border crossings has provided a reprieve to the Biden administration after grappling with record crossings amid unprecedented migration across the Western hemisphere. Over that time, Republicans have falsely referred to Harris as the border czar, casting her as solely responsible for the management of the US-Mexico border. Its a title that Harris team has been trying to shake off since the moment Biden assigned her to tackle the root causes of migration in 2021. Harris has only occasionally talked about her assignment, which, sources said, has shown early success in Central America as a result of major private-sector investment. But thats been bundled with the administrations larger migration issues. Harris campaign officials think she has a case on immigration: using the failed bipartisan border measure to cast Trump as unserious at the border and citing her record as California attorney general tackling transnational criminal gangs. Campaign allies have also stressed the need to look beyond the border and speak to broader immigration reform, pulling from the vice presidents background in the Senate and in California working on immigrant issues. Its good shes going. Its helpful to get her message out there, one source close to the campaign told CNN. Obviously, shes at the border thats the primary focus. But also talking more broadly about the whole system. Last week, Harris slammed Trump over his immigration proposals, citing his contentious policies, including his proposal for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, to paint a dark picture of her Republican rival. While we fight to move our nation forward to a brighter future, Donald Trump and his extremist allies will keep trying to pull us backward. We all remember what they did to tear families apart, and now they have pledged to carry out the largest deportation, a mass deportation in American history, she said at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute leadership conference in Washington. Imagine what that would look like and what that would be. Hows that going to happen? Massive raids, massive detention camps. What are they talking about? she said. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Kit Maher contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Vice President Harris boasts a wide 14-point lead over former President Trump in the blue bastion of New York, new polling shows, roughly double the edge President Biden held there earlier this year. A new Emerson College Polling/The Hill/WPIX survey in the Empire State found 54 percent of voters behind Harris, and just 40 percent behind Trump. Another 3 percent support someone else, and 3 percent are undecided. Back in May, the pollster found Biden leading Trump by 7 points in New York, with 48 percent to 41 percent. The former presidents support hasnt changed much in the months since the May survey. The share of undecided voters, on the other hand, has fallen dramatically from 12 percent to just 3 percent, breaking for Harris. Another big shift has shown up among independents, who broke for Trump back in May, but have since shifted to favor Harris. The new poll comes as Trump has been homing in on New York. Though hes not likely to come close to flipping the deep-blue state, the former presidents campaign visits could help rally New York Republicans and protect a handful of House incumbents whose races could decide control of the lower chamber this fall. First-term GOP Reps. Mike Lawler, Anthony DEsposito, Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams are all defending New York seats that Democrats have eyed as prime pickup opportunities in their fight to take back the House. Nationally, Harris boasts a 4-point edge over Trump, according to the latest polling aggregation from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill. DDHQs forecast has Harris all but assured to win the Empire State in Novembers presidential race. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is embroiled in controversy and facing federal corruption charges, according to an indictment unsealed this week. Hes rejected calls to resign even as some New York Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), have pressed him to step aside, adding drama to the Empire State just weeks out from Election Day. Adams is notably up for reelection next year. The Emerson College Polling New York survey was conducted Sep. 23-25 among 1,000 likely voters and has a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error, of plus or minus 3 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. A poll of swing states by Bloomberg News/Morning Consult shows that Vice President Kamala Harris now leads by 7 points in Nevada, 5 points in Pennsylvania, 3 points in Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and 2 points in North Carolina. In Georgia, she and former President Donald Trump are tied. Despite Harris leads in key battleground states, her advantages are all within the polls statistical margin of error, highlighting the narrow margins this years race will be. Still, her 3-point advantage across all seven battleground states suggests momentum is on her side, as that lead is up from the 1-point advantage she had last month, Bloomberg reported. According to the poll, voters continue to say that the economy is their top priority. However, when likely voters were asked which candidate they trusted more to handle the cost of everyday goods, the results were practically a tie, with 47% preferring Trump to 46% for Harris. In earlier polls, Trump had enjoyed a decisive lead on the issue. Harris can also boast an 11-point lead among likely voters on the question of who they trust to help the middle class. The results suggest that Harris is benefitting from her recent focus on economic policy, along with ads from her allies and super PACs that have bombarded battleground states with information on her tax plans. US Vice President Kamala Harris has 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 controversial push for Ukraine to quickly cut a deal to end the war. "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 at a press conference in Washington. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower in New York, September 26, 2024 - Seth Wenig/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved. "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." Her comments were a reminder of the high stakes for the war effort in this year's election. Trump has criticised US assistance for Ukraine, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and blamed 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." At the presser with Harris, Zelenskyy said a "lasting and just peace" was a top priority for Ukraine. "Not a freezing, but real, real peace for us. So we need to keep sanctions against Russia strong and we need to use that proceeds from immobilized Russian assets to protect Ukraine, our people, our cities, our frontline from Russian evil. And of course, we must work hard to bring all Russian war criminals to justice," he 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 inside Russian territory. A residential building is seen heavily damaged after a Russian airstrike in Kramatorsk, September 25, 2024 - Evgeniy Maloletka/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved No movement on that issue was evident during Zelenskyy's visit but President Joe Biden did announce billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, ammunition and other supplies. And addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, EU Council President Charles Michel urged China to reconsider its support for Russia and "use its influence to ensure that the United Nations Charter is respected." "The European Union supports and will continue supporting Ukraine as long as necessary, faithful to the promise of freedom and solidarity, committed to a just and durable global peace founded on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations," he said. Vice President Harriss campaign is launching digital ads in Las Vegas to engage with Filipino Americans ahead of Filipino American History Month. The campaign is placing digital ads in Las Vegas to engage with Filipino American voters as they gather to celebrate the richness of Filipino food and culture. Ads will also be placed on taxi tops, bus shelters, and billboards around the Pinoy Pride Festival on September 27. These ads underscore our campaigns efforts to reach Filipino American voters where they are and speak with them about whats at stake in this election, Harris Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Spokesperson Andrew Peng told The Hill. Asian Americans make up more than 10 percent of Nevadas population, and Filipino Americans are the largest demographic within that group. Close to 170,000 Filipino Americans are living in the state. In 2020, President Biden won the state by a little over 40,000 votes. During that election cycle, Asian Americans broke 65 percent Democratic. Its the largest and earliest investment ever in outreach, Filipinos for Harris founder Melissa Ramoso, who is also a council member in California, told The Hill. The pathway to 270 will be won or lost on the margins and Filipino Americans in Nevada have been the margin of victory. According to Ramoso, Filipino Democratic leaders have traditionally dedicated much of their time to driving out voters in the Silver State, which has been a swing state for over two decades. To do this for the Filipino American community, especially in Nevada, where a lot of our relatives and a lot of people we know go to retire and where many of our people have moved is really speaking to us, she said. The Harris-Walz campaign also expects Filipino Americans to have a decisive role in this election and has hired AAPI-specific staff in the state to help with outreach. As Filipino Americans gather to celebrate their history and heritage, Team Harris-Walz is proud to join in honoring the resilience and joy of this incredible community, Peng told The Hill. In July, the campaign conducted a media blitz in Nevada Asian American papers like the Las Vegas Chinese Daily News, Las Vegas Japan Times, and the Philippine Times of Southern Nevada. This is Harriss fourth Asian-American-specific ad blitz. Last week, the campaign launched an ad highlighting her mother, an immigrant from India. In another Asian-American-specific ad, the Harris campaign highlighted Rozita, a Filipina American living in Las Vegas, highlighting the active threat Donald Trump poses to the health of Asian American communities. According to Ramoso, healthcare and elder care are among the most important issues for Filipino Americans, as many are involved in the healthcare industry. The campaign also attacked Trump while rolling out this ad buy in Nevada, pointing to his decision to shut down their Asian American outreach center in the state. There has been no bigger advocate for the AAPI community than President Trump, Trump communications director Steven Cheung wrote to The Hill. Anyone who says otherwise is disgustingly using the AAPI community to play political games for their own benefit. The push to mobilize Filipino American voters in Nevada is part of a larger strategy to turn out Asian American voters, the quickest-growing demographic in the nation, with over 15 million eligible voters this cycle. Asian Americans are showing overwhelming support for Harris, with a recent poll showing that Harris holds more than a 30-point advantage over Trump in the demographic. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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' campaign visit to the Arizona border on Friday comes amid a significant decrease in the number of people crossing the southern border illegally compared to the record numbers of illegal border crossings earlier in the Biden administration. There are a number of factors behind the recent decrease in illegal border crossings, including a new policy put in place by the Biden administration in June that bars people from seeking asylum in the U.S. if they enter illegally outside official ports of entry, said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a research group in Washington, D.C. Asylum seekers are directed to enter through official ports of entry by making appointments using a free mobile phone app called CBP One. However, only a limited number of CBP One appointments are available at ports of entry daily. The Biden administration policy, activated during high flows of unauthorized border crossings, was intended to curb the massive numbers of asylum seekers many of them families, from a wide number of countries entering the U.S. illegally and turning themselves over to Border Patrol agents. Previously, asylum seekers who crossed illegally and turned themselves over to agents were processed at the border and then were frequently released into the U.S. to await the outcome of their asylum cases, a process that can take years because of huge immigration court backlogs. Now, asylum seekers who cross illegally risk being deported quickly and losing the ability to apply for asylum in the future, Putzel-Kavanaugh said. But even before the Biden administration policy was implemented in June, ramped up immigration enforcement in Mexico under pressure from the U.S. was already making it harder for migrants to travel through that country and reach the U.S. border, Putzel-Kavanaugh said. The implementation of new visa restrictions by some South American countries that make it more difficult for U.S.-bound migrants to reach the hemisphere by plane also has led to a decrease in asylum seekers arriving at the southern border, Putzel-Kavanaugh said. Through August of the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, about 1.4 million encounters have been recorded by the Border Patrol along the southwest border. That is a 19% decrease from the 1.8 million Border Patrol encounters through the same period in fiscal year 2023, and a 26% decrease from the nearly 2 million encounters through the same period in fiscal year 2022, according to an analysis of Border Patrol data. The U.S. border wall at Mariposa Canyon, west of Nogales, on Dec. 21, 2022, in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The southwest border saw a 26% decrease in migrant encounters from fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2024. In August, the Border Patrol logged about 58,000 encounters border-wide, down from about 181,000 in both August of 2023 and 2022 and 196,000 in 2021. The decrease in the number of people crossing the border illegally between ports of entry has led to a corresponding decrease in the number of asylum seekers being released into the country. In August, the Border Patrol issued 9,936 notices to appear in immigration court to asylum seekers, a sharp decrease from the 122,648 notices issued in December 2023. Harris is set to visit Douglas, a border city in southeastern Arizona across from Agua Prieta, Mexico. Douglas is located in the Border Patrol's Tucson sector. The Tucson sector also has experienced a sharp drop in the number of people crossing illegally in recent months. But the sector, which covers most of the state's southern border, remains among the busiest for illegal border crossings along the southwest border, Border Patrol data shows. In July and August of this year, the Border Patrol's Tucson sector logged about 12,000 encounters each month, a huge decrease from a peak of 80,000 encounters in December 2023, the data shows. From October 2023 through August 2024, however, the Border Patrol's Tucson sector has logged about 453,000 encounters. That is the highest number of encounters among any of the Border Patrol's nine southwest border sectors and a 40% increase year-over-year, the data shows. Through August, the Tucson sector accounted for nearly one in three unauthorized migrants encountered by the Border Patrol along the entire southwest border, Border Patrol data shows. During the months of July and August, however, encounters in the San Diego and El Paso sectors have climbed above the number of encounters in the Tucson sector, Border Patrol data shows. Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: VP Harris visits Arizona border. Are migrant crossings up or down? (NewsNation) Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to, as president, revive the bipartisan border bill and proudly sign it into law if she is elected president. Speaking in Douglas, Arizona after visiting the border, Harris, recited a long list of border and immigration-related promises, touted her record on those issues as Attorney General of California, and balanced tough talk on policing the border with calls for a better way to welcome immigrants legally. I reject the false choice that suggests we must choose either between securing our border and creating a system that is orderly, safe and humane, Harris said. We can and we must do both. Harris also blasted former President Donald Trump for killing the bipartisan bill which, she said, should be in effect today producing results in real time right now for our country. She also jabbed Trump for his immigration record as President. He did nothing to fix our broken immigration system. He did not solve the shortage of immigration judges. He did not solve the shortage or border agents. He did not create lawful pathways into our nation. He did nothing to address an outdated asylum system. He made the challenges at the border worse. Harris called Trumps immigration record an abdication of leadership. We cannot accept Donald Trumps failure to lead, she added. Harris campaign speech came after she and local Border Patrol leaders walked along a rust-colored stretch of wall built during Barack Obamas presidency. Temperatures in Douglas, Arizona, neared 100 degrees during a conversation that lasted about half an hour. Later, Harris received a closed-door briefing at the Douglas port of entry on efforts to combat drug trafficking and improve the legal flow of goods and people across the border. Border Patrol agents have a tough job and deserve support to do it, she said. Immigration and border security are top issues in Arizona, the only battleground state that borders Mexico and one that contended with a record influx of asylum seekers last year. Voters favor Trump on migration, and Harris has gone on offense to improve her standing on the issue and defuse a key line of political attack for her opponent. The frustration comes for three and a half years of seeing tragedy after tragedy, and when you have the White House and 51% of Congress that has intellectually turned his back on us, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels told NewsNation. Thats frustrating to me. Immigration lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, however, says Harris is seeking compromise through her actions. She does care about border security, but shes open to a resolution that involves all sides of the government, which would finally bring some stability to the border, Lincoln-Goldfinch said. US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (C) visits the US-Mexico border with US Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin (R) in Douglas, Arizona, on September 27, 2024. (Photo by Rebecca NOBLE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA NOBLE/AFP via Getty Images) Trump seeks to bolster advantage among male voters Douglas is an overwhelmingly Democratic border town in GOP-dominated Cochise County, where the Republicans on the board of supervisors are facing criminal charges for refusing to certify the 2022 election results. Trump was in the area last month, using a remote stretch of border wall and a pile of steel beams to draw a contrast between himself and Harris on border security. Harris struggles to break through with young Latinos On Thursday, Trump gave a speech in New York giving his opinion on Harris visit that hadnt happened yet: Anything she says tomorrow, you know is a fraud because she was the worst in history at protecting our country. So, shell try and make herself look a little bit better. But its not possible. Election day is less than six weeks away, and Arizona is a key battleground state with the potential to swing the election for either Harris or Trump. 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. When Vice President Kamala Harris suddenly seized the Democratic nomination in July, Democrats hoped she could win the Sun Belt states that President Joe Biden appeared all but doomed in. Harris is still competitive there, but the last two months reveal they are not the states she is prioritizing. When Harris touches down in Arizona, she will be setting foot in the West for the first time in seven weeks. And a close read of her travel schedule and advertising across the battlegrounds suggests it isnt the Sun Belt but the Rust Belt that her campaign is primarily banking on. Looking at spending and stops, its hard not to conclude that winning Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan is plan A for Harris to win, said Mike Mikus, a Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist. Based on everything Im seeing, Harris is stronger in the Rust Belt than the Sun Belt. Both are going to be very close either way. Its a reality that some Democrats even in the South and West are beginning to accept. Recent polling shows former President Donald Trumps strength in Arizona and other Sun Belt battlegrounds. Though Harris has brought those states within striking distance of victory polls and her campaign's spending show they are still in play she continues to perform better in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Harris prioritization of those states is showing in her campaign. The campaigns biggest targets for TV, radio and digital ad spending have been Pennsylvania and Michigan. Since Harris took over for Biden, her campaign has spent $136 million on TV and radio across those states and Wisconsin, compared to $113 million across the four Sun Belt states. And on Facebook and Instagram, she has spent about 40 percent more targeting Rust Belt voters than Sun Belt ones, according to data from the platforms parent company, Meta. And then theres her travel schedule. While there are several ways to measure time spent campaigning in swing states, every way shows that Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, have devoted the most time to the Blue Wall. Since Harris replaced Biden, she and Walz have done 25 visits in the Rust Belt, including 13 in the all-crucial state of Pennsylvania, compared to just 16 across the four Sun Belt states, including just one each from Harris herself in Arizona and Nevada, according to a POLITICO analysis. And Harris has made as many trips to the Southern battlegrounds as she has to one critical Rust Belt state Pennsylvania alone. I read it as the Harris campaign doing the blocking and tackling of politics. They are making sure that Democrats dont lose the Blue Wall in the Rust Belt, so of course theyre going to spend time there, especially in Pennsylvania, said Douglas Wilson, a Democratic strategist in North Carolina. At the same time, theyre also spending some time in the Sun Belt because as a strategy Democrats are looking at this and saying, If we win North Carolina, that literally takes a chess piece away from the Trump campaign that they need to win. A Democratic strategist in Arizona, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the state of the race, was more blunt: If you get Arizona, but you dont get Pennsylvania and you dont get the Midwest, it doesnt matter because you cant win the election. The Harris campaign continues to say publicly that it has multiple paths to 270 electoral votes. And campaign aides push back on the idea that the Rust Belt is their plan A, saying that is not true and arguing they have had to spend more in Rust Belt states to keep up with Republican super PACs. They also note that Harris second most traveled-to state behind Pennsylvania is Georgia, that her travel schedule this week and last reflects the dual importance of both the Rust Belt and the Sun Belt, and that she has comparable staffing levels in the Blue Wall and the Sun Belt. The fewer trips to Arizona and Nevada, they say, are about distance. Dan Kanninen, the Harris campaigns battleground states director, said the campaign is competing very hard in all the key battlegrounds. Our strategic goal is to maximize the number of pathways to 270. All said we're in a pretty unique and strong position: Past presidential campaigns have had to go all in on one path to victory or a handful of states, he said. But we have the resources, the candidate and the message to compete across the board." Sun Belt strategists say the investments the Harris campaign is making on the ground and on the airwaves are a show of its seriousness. If Harris loses Pennsylvania, shell need either Georgia or North Carolina and a second Sun Belt state to notch the electoral votes she needs. But they also note what happened in 2016 when Hillary Clinton failed to protect the Blue Wall, which Trump swept as a cautionary tale. My sense is they are trying to win here, but step one is locking down those three Blue Wall states, said a second Democratic operative in Arizona who was granted anonymity to speak frankly about the race. What you want to do is put yourself in a position where if you get a bad poll back in a state on Oct. 15, you have another pathway. There are reasons for Democrats to remain optimistic about their chances in the Sun Belt. Three of the states have Senate or gubernatorial races that will help drive turnout, including the Ruben Gallego-Kari Lake Senate showdown in Arizona and Mark Robinsons sputtering campaign against Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein in North Carolina. And Nevada, as a small state, has a solid Democratic turnout machine that could grind out a victory in a tight race. Daniele Monroe-Moreno, chair of Nevadas Democratic party, said that Harris is doing what it takes to win here, including investing early in an expansive ground game. The vice president is also making her second trip as a candidate to the state on Sunday. "Nevada will play a critical role in determining our next president and the vice presidents travel to our state this weekend is just further evidence, she said. Some Democrats said they see Harris fewer stops in the West more as a byproduct of logistical challenges and a compressed calendar of which large chunks have been eaten up by the Democratic National Convention and the debate than as a sole reflection of the campaigns priorities. In her absence, Walz and his wife Gwen, as well as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, have been stumping in the states. But there is a likely political calculus beyond logistics to the states that Harris is targeting. While the race remains tight in all seven battleground states, polling averages show Harris with a slight edge in Rust Belt states whereas Trump is slightly favored in all of the Sun Belt states except for Nevada, a state that is notoriously hard to poll. While the vice president is performing far better in the South and West than Biden did, Trumps edge in those states is reflective of the Harris campaigns ongoing challenges to bring younger and more diverse non-college voters including Latinos and young men back into the Democratic Party fold. Meanwhile, Democrats have performed strongly in the Rust Belt in recent years and the Blue Wall is home to a larger proportion of registered Democrats. J.J. Balaban, a Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist, added that presidential campaigns are premised on scarcity of resources. Nevada is a bit unique but given the track record of Democrats performing better and generally polling better in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania than in Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina, it makes sense that the Harris campaign would be spending more resources there. But, he said, they are spending a lot in the Sun Belt, so it doesnt seem like those states are being neglected by the Harris campaign. The Rust Belt strategy may look even more appealing to Democrats after this weeks news that a GOP push to change Nebraskas unique electoral vote system to a winner-take-all structure is dead, making it likely that Harris will win one electoral vote in Nebraska. Had it been successful, even if Harris won all the Rust Belt states, she still would have been one electoral vote shy of 270 and would have needed to win at least one of the four Sun Belt states, in addition to the Blue Wall. I think they were drawn to Pennsylvania, and the Rust Belt, the Midwest, because it was more evident to them in a place that is experiencing marginal change and the extremism of Trump that they could do better there, said Chuck Coughlin, a veteran operative in Arizona who left the Republican Party under Trump. I think they did not think about how to couple her opportunity economy narrative and I dont think theyve done this yet to what happened in the Sun Belt. Theyve failed to connect that narrative tissue, he said. Vice President Kamala Harris heads to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday, the first time she has been to the border since a visit to El Paso in 2021 and coming on the heels of her campaign being dogged by her past on the subject of illegal immigration. Harris has faced frequent attacks from her Republican opponent, former President Trump , and the Border Patrol Union who argue that she is weak on border security, an issue that many Republicans see as the vice president's political Achilles' heel. "After years of not just ignoring the problem, but helping create it, Vice President Kamala is finally headed down to the border," the National Border Patrol Council said in a statement. "This is nothing more than for her to check the box, but what it is in reality, is a slap in the face towards the men and women that put their lives on the line every day, and also a slap in the face to the American public. Where has she been?" Harris Heads To Southern Border Looking To Flip Script On Immigration Criticisms Harris campaign has pointed to her past as a prosecutor, taking on transnational criminal gangs, and says she is the candidate to secure the border as she backs a bipartisan funding bill. But Harris has a lengthy history on immigration at the national level. Read On The Fox News App Harris, as a California senator, was on the far-left of the Democratic Party on immigration, and in 2018 she pushed her colleagues in the Senate to reject a request by the Trump administration for more funding for immigration detention beds and Border Patrol agents. In a letter to senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2018, Harris and other senators called for them to "reject President Trumps FY 19 funding request for a costly and ineffective border wall, new Border Patrol agents, and a large increase in U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and detention beds." "We urge you to reduce funding for the administrations reckless immigration enforcement operations that are tearing families apart and harming our economy." Harris Leans In On Border Security And Trump Relishes The Fight She also grilled Ronald Vitiello, who was former President Trumps nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whether he was "aware of the perception" of parallels between ICE and the KKK. "Are you aware that there is a perception that ICE is administering its power in a way that is causing fear and intimidation, particularly among immigrants and specifically among immigrants coming from Mexico and Central America?" she asked again. In recently revealed footage, Harris is seen at a rally chanting "Up, up with education, down, down with deportation" at a rally which also featured now-disgraced actor Jussie Smollett. Harris launched a bid for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2019. Her campaign included a promise to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) by executive order, which gives protection to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors. She said that she would eliminate age requirements on applications and use parole authority to create a "parole in place" program to put those illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. Also she promised to shield illegal immigrant parents of American citizens and green card holders from deportation by executive order. Overall, her plan was predicted to protect over six million illegal immigrants from deportation. Harris became vice president in 2021 and the administration immediately rolled back a number of Trump-era initiatives and attempted to place a moratorium on deportations. Migrant numbers skyrocketed, and Biden told reporters in March that Harris would be put in charge of tackling root causes, issues like climate change, poverty and violence that the administration believes was driving migrants north. It quickly led to Harris being dubbed by media outlets and Republicans as the "border czar." The White House rejected that title, but it has stuck with her ever since and made her a figurehead along with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the crisis. After the assignment by Biden, and with numbers skyrocketing through subsequent months to record highs, Harris immediately came under pressure to visit the border as the White House said her role was more diplomatic than related to the border directly. She instead went to Mexico and Guatemala and had a stern message for migrants that upset immigrant activists. "Do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our borders," she said. "If you come to our border, you will be turned back." The pressure kept rising for her to go to the U.S. border. "You havent been to the border," NBCs Lester Holt told her, after she claimed she had been to the border. "And I havent been to Europe," Harris quipped. Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on December 7, 2023, in Lukeville, Arizona. Jesus Enrique Ramirez Cabrera, according to federal sources, came into the country illegally in December 2023 through Arizona, was apprehended and released into the U.S. Later that month, she went to the border in El Paso, Texas, where she received a briefing and toured a processing center while meeting with advocates and providers. Harris would largely be unseen through the rest of 2021 and 2022 on the root causes strategy , although a private sector initiative to draw investment to tackle those root causes would continue. In June 2022, she traveled to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles and met with other leaders to discuss ways to handle the crisis. During that summit, she announced that $3.2 billion in commitments from private sector companies had been secured. She also came under fire for declaring the border was secure despite the ongoing crisis and mass releases into the interior. "The border is secure, but we also have a broken immigration system, in particular over the last four years before we came in, and it needs to be fixed," Harris said on NBC. Harris made few appearances in 2023 relating to the border crisis, although her private investment strategy continued to bring in additional commitments from companies. But the crisis did not stay out of the news, and 2023 broke new records for enormous amounts of migrant encounters and a number of chaotic scenes at the border. Fiscal year 2023 broke the record for encounters with over 2.4 million, while December had nearly 250,000 encounters in a single month. While the White House continued to reject the "border czar" narrative, Harris put her support behind a bipartisan Senate agreement to provide more funding to the border and reduce migrant crossings when they reach a certain level. She also backed a number of executive orders by President Biden, who would implement a limit on asylum and efforts to provide a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are spouses of U.S. citizens. She has sought to portray herself as tougher on the border than former President Trump. Now, with a stop in Douglas, Arizona, she aims to show that she is better prepared than Trump to tackle the combustible issue of immigration and what Republicans have spotlighted as the crisis at the southern border. "We need a comprehensive plan," Harris said Wednesday in an interview with MSNBC. "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." Along with the border stop, the Harris campaign is launching a new ad that will play in Arizona and other battleground states that spotlights her past border efforts and plans. "She put cartel members and drug traffickers behind bars, and she will secure our border," the narrator in the commercial says. Fox News Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Harris visits crucial border state as immigration record sparks scrutiny: A timeline In this screen grab from a television pool camera, Vice President Kamala Harris confers with a US Border Patrol officer along the US-Mexico border in Arizona (Reuters / Pool) Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday said the US government is duty-bound to set rules at our border and to enforce them as she called for reform of the American immigration system. The immigration system should work in an orderly way, that it is humane and makes our country stronger, she said during a speech at Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona, after visiting the US border wall. She also slammed her 2024 election opponent, former President Donald Trump, for commanding his Republican allies to vote against a bipartisan immigration and border reform package that experts said was stronger than any similar legislation considered by Congress in decades. The vice president said the dedicated agents of the US Border Patrol and customs officers need more resources to do their jobs, which is why she supported the bipartisan legislation that wouldve provided funds to hire 1,500 more Border Patrol officers and purchase 100 machines to detect fentanyl at the border. It would have allowed us to more quickly and effectively remove those who come here illegally, and it would have increased the number of immigration judges and asylum officers. It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades. It was endorsed by the Border Patrol union, and it should be in effect today, producing results in real time right now for our country, she said. But Donald Trump tanked it. He picked up the phone and called some friends in Congress and said, stop the bill, because, you see, he prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem, and the American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games and their personal political future. The vice president said the dedicated agents of the US Border Patrol and customs officers need more resources to do their jobs (AP) Harris pledged that she would sign that exact same bill into law if it is passed by Congress and sent to her desk as president. The vice president, who was making her first visit to the US-Mexico border as a candidate for the presidency, also promised to reach across the aisle and embrace common sense approaches and new technologies to get the job done if elected, citing her experience battling transnational criminal gangs and cartels as the attorney general of California. She vowed to change Americas asylum rules to bar anyone who crosses between ports of entry into the US from seeking asylum on a permanent basis. Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from reentering for five years. We will pursue more severe criminal charges against repeat violators, and if someone does not make an asylum request at a legal point of entry and instead crosses our border unlawfully, they will be barred from receiving asylum, while we understand that many people are desperate to migrate to the United States. Our system must be orderly and secure, and that is my goal, she said. Earlier in the day, Harris arrived at a site along the US border wall in Douglas, where she was greeted by a pair of uniformed officers from the US Border Patrol. The two officers and the vice president chatted as they walked along a path next to a section of the wall, which was constructed during the Obama administration and is not part of the wall built during Trumps presidency. She also received a briefing from Customs and Border Protection officials on US efforts to prevent the introduction of fentanyl into the United States. Harris is later expected to announce support for further restricting how people can claim asylum if they enter the country unlawfully between ports of entry along the border with Mexico. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris talks with John Modlin, the chief patrol agent for the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, right, and Blaine Bennett, the U.S. Border Patrol Douglas Station border patrol agent in charge, as she visits the U.S. border with Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, on Friday (AP) Harris told the crowd in Douglas that shed make combatting the trafficking of the synthetic narcotic a top priority if she is sworn in as president next year. The vice presidents visit to the border comes as she seeks to fight Trump on the key issue of his campaign. He rarely makes a public appearance without engaging in incendiary rhetoric on the subject, often crossing a line into outright racism. Trump and his Republican allies have sought to attack Harris for the Biden administrations record on migration and have attempted to brand her as a failed border czar because of her work handling diplomacy with countries that, until recently, accounted for a significant portion of the immigrants claiming asylum along the US-Mexico border. But Harris said she would put politics aside, to fix our immigration system and find solutions to problems which have persisted for far too long if elected, including by enacting legislation to give so-called Dreamers brought to the US illegally as children as well as hardworking immigrants whove been in the US for years a path to citizenship. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris talks with John Modlin, the chief patrol agent for the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, right, as she visits the U.S. border with Mexico in Douglas, Ariz., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 (AP) The vice president contrasted her approach with that of Trump, who she said did nothing to fix our broken immigration system during his time in office. He did not solve the shortage of immigration judges. He did not solve the shortage of border agents. He did not create lawful pathways into our nation, he did nothing to address an outdated asylum system and did not work with other governments in our hemisphere to deal with what clearly is also a regional challenge, she said. As overdoses went up during his presidency, he fought to slash funding for the fight against fentanyl. And what did he do instead ... he separated families. He ripped toddlers out of their mothers arms, put children in cages and tried to end protections for Dreamers. He made the challenges at the border worse, and he is still fanning the flames of fear and division. That is not the work of a leader, she added. Immigration and border security are top issues in Arizona, the only battleground state that borders Mexico and one that contended with a record influx of asylum seekers last year. Trump has an edge with voters on migration, and Harris has gone on offense to improve her standing on the issue and defuse a key line of political attack for Trump. In nearly every campaign speech she gives, Harris recounts how a sweeping bipartisan package aiming to overhaul the federal immigration system collapsed in Congress earlier this year after Trump urged top Republicans to oppose it. The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games, Harris plans to say, according to an excerpt of her remarks previewed by her campaign. After the immigration legislation stalled, the Biden administration announced rules that bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed. Since then, arrests for illegal border crossings have fallen. Harris will also use her trip to remind voters about her work as attorney general of California in confronting crime along the border. During an August rally in Glendale, outside Phoenix, she talked about helping to prosecute drug- and people-smuggling gangs that operated transnationally and at the border. With additional reporting by agencies By Trevor Hunnicutt DOUGLAS, Arizona (Reuters) -Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time in her 2024 presidential campaign on Friday, calling for tighter asylum restrictions and vowing to make stopping fentanyl from entering the U.S. a "top priority." Harris outlined her plans to fix "our broken immigration system" in Douglas, Arizona, a border town of fewer than 17,000 people, while accusing her Republican rival Donald Trump of "fanning the flames of fear and division" over the impact of immigrants on American life. Some 7 million migrants have been arrested crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally during President Joe Biden's administration, according to government data, a record high number that has fueled criticism of Biden and Harris from Trump and his fellow Republicans. Immigration is a top issue for voters. Arizona is a closely contested election state, with a high population of Latino voters sought by both parties. The nation's porous southern border remains a source of fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States. Harris called for more punitive measures for people crossing the border illegally, following an asylum ban for those entering illegally, a move Biden took this year that has sharply reduced illegal crossings. "I will take further action to keep the border closed between ports of entry. Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from re-entering for five years," Harris said. "We will pursue more severe criminal charges against repeat violators, and if someone does not make an asylum request at a legal point of entry and instead crosses our border unlawfully, they will be barred from receiving asylum," she said. Harris emphasized her goal of a "humane" immigration program, saying she would with Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers" - hundreds of thousands of people brought into the U.S. illegally as children. They were a priority for Democrats for a decade but were left out of a failed immigration bill that Biden had backed. "I reject the false choice that suggests we must either choose between securing our border or creating a system of immigration that is safe, orderly and humane," Harris said. "We can and we must do both." In Douglas, Harris spoke to Customs and Border Protection officials and viewed part of a border barrier built between 2011 and 2012 during the administration of Democrat Barack Obama, the White House said. She also received a briefing on the CBPs drug enforcement operations and viewed inspection technology used to seize illegal drugs, including fentanyl, the campaign said, noting that border officials stopped more fentanyl at ports of entry in 2022 and 2023 than in the previous five fiscal years combined. Harris was introduced by Theresa Guerrero, whose 31-year-old son Jacob Guerrero died from fentanyl poisoning. She accused Trump of blocking the bipartisan border security bill aimed at stemming the flow of fentanyl. The bill was blocked by the Senate in February, after Trump pressed Republicans to reject any compromise. Biden and Harris accuse Trump of killing the measure to keep immigration alive as a campaign issue. Harris said she would revive the legislation, which would add 1,500 Border Patrol agents and other personnel, 4,300 asylum officers, 100 immigration judges and new drug detection technology. The vice president said she would target the "entire global fentanyl supply chain." She said China was starting to crack down on fentanyl precursor chemicals but needed to do more. Fentanyl overdoses have surged to become the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Over 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023. Harris pledged to double funding for the prosecution of trans-national criminal organizations and cartels, and modernize U.S. screening and vetting infrastructure. IMMIGRATION TOP ISSUE Trump and his running mate JD Vance have increased their criticism of immigrants in recent weeks, repeating falsehoods about legal Haitian immigrants in Vance's home state of Ohio and suggesting that immigrants are committing crimes and stealing jobs from U.S. citizens. On Friday, Trump blamed Harris for the rising trend of irregular migration. "The architect of this destruction is Kamala Harris," Trump said at Trump Tower in Manhattan. "She keeps talking about how she supposedly wants to fix the border. We would merely ask, Why didn't she do it four years ago? It's a very simple question." He also accused Harris of turning small towns in the U.S. into "blighted refugee camps." A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month found that 43% of voters favored Trump on the issue of immigration and 33% favored Harris, while 24% either did not know, chose someone else or did not answer. Harris, a former prosecutor, was California's attorney general before being elected to the U.S. Senate and then vice president. Her California remit included targeting gangs that operate on both sides of the border and traffic in drugs, guns and people. Biden tasked Harris with dealing with the root causes of migration from Central America, a diplomatic issue on which her record is mixed. Emigration from Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia to the United States has created unease among voters concerned about what the trend means for the U.S. economy, crime rates and culture. The share of American residents born abroad rose by nearly a fifth to 47.8 million from 2010 to 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; additional reporting by Steve Holland and Kristina Cooke; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Heather Timmons, Miral Fahmy, Rosalba O'Brien, Leslie Adler and William Mallard) Two men were arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing an electric scooter during a Facebook Marketplace transaction, Colorado Springs police said. On Sunday, two sellers of the e-scooter met with a potential buyer in the 1000 block of North Academy Boulevard to complete a deal made on the social media platform After arriving, Christian Mills, the potential buyer, pulled out a handgun and robbed the two of the e-scooter, police said. While holding the two at gunpoint, a second man, James Lipsky, appeared to help take the e-scooter away. Mills and Lipsky were arrested four days later without incident, police said, and the e-scooter was recovered. HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to pay upfront incentives owed to customers with battery storage systems following the closure of Swell Energy Inc., the third-party provider that managed the Home Rewards Battery Program. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Swell Energy recently shut down and can no longer support its Home Battery Rewards Program for Hawaiian Electric customers. The company, which was contracted by Hawaiian Electric in 2021, was responsible for aggregating home battery systems to create a virtual power plant. Controversial fireworks bill advances to Honolulu City Council Around 1,200 customers across Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island were enrolled in the program, which offered both upfront payments and monthly bill credits. In a letter to participants, Hawaiian Electric confirmed it will cover any upfront incentives owed by Swell, but payments will only go to eligible customers based on their contracts. Bacon made from flowers? Its mind-blowing Due to Swells closure, Hawaiian Electric will pause monthly credits starting in October. The utility plans to work with customers to unenroll their systems from the program, giving them more control over their energy resources and costs. Future options may include continuing the existing program or transitioning to a new one. Hawaii town ranks 95 out of 100 for this. Do you agree? This situation is unprecedented, and we appreciate our customers patience as we work toward a resolution, said Yoh Kawanami, co-director of customer energy resources at Hawaiian Electric. Swell Energy was part of Hawaiian Electrics Power Partnership Program, which encourages customers to help operate the electric grid more efficiently while supporting Hawaiis clean energy goals. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news This initiative relies on independent companies to enroll customers with solar systems, batteries, electric vehicles, and other energy resources. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Headland man accused of cutting moms throat with wood carving knife to undergo second mental eval after first was inconclusive DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) A Headland man accused of stabbing his elderly mother to death in her home has been remanded to state care for a second mental evaluation after the first came back inconclusive. Alex McKay is accused of stabbing his mother, Annie McKay, to death in her home in February 2023. The 70-year-old wife and mother had been stabbed multiple times in the neck, wrist, and hand with a wood carving knife and was found by her husband in their kitchen. In March 2024, Judge Christopher Richardson ordered McKay to undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial; however, District Attorney Russ Goodman says the first evaluation was ruled inconclusive after the state examiner claimed they felt McKay may have been malingering, and exaggerating his mental symptoms. On September 19, Judge Richardson remanded McKay to the custody of the Alabama Department of Mental Health for a second evaluation, which could take months to complete. Following this evaluation, the second examiner will submit a report, and the Judge will determine whether or not McKay is fit to stand trial. According to DA Goodman, if McKay is found incompetent, the court will discuss the treatment required for McKay to attain competency, the most appropriate place for possible treatments, and if the treatments will have any effect. At the time of McKays arrest, Headland Police Chief Mark Jones told WDHN he had a history of mental illness, and a search warrant of his home on the night of the murder revealed he had not been taking prescribed mental health medication, such as antipsychotics. Officials say McKay has a history of drug use and mental illness, and the family has had recurring problems with him in the past. During an Aniahs Law Hearing for McKay not long after his arrest, Dothan Police Investigator Terry Nelson described the murder as one of the most brutal he had ever seen. He said the victims spine was exposed. After that hearing, McKays initial $1 million bond was stripped 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 WDHN - wdhn.com. Gov. Maura Healey on Friday formally seized St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Brighton through eminent domain to keep the hospital open. The move will allow the state to take control of the property and transition operation of the hospital to a new medical services provider, Boston Medical Center, the governor said in a statement on Friday morning. While Apollo continues to put its greed ahead of the health and wellbeing of the people of Massachusetts, we are taking action to make sure St. Elizabeths remains open. By transferring operations to Boston Medical Center, we will protect access to care for tens of thousands of patients and save thousands of jobs, Healey said. Our administration is committed to ensuring smooth transitions at the five Steward hospitals that we were able to save, and supporting the communities impacted by Stewards closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center and Carney Hospital, Healey said. Attorney Bill Reid of Reid Collins & Tsai LLP, who is representing Apollo Global Management in the matter, issued a statement on Friday after Healeys action. Apollo is the parent company of Cox Media Group, which owns Boston 25 News. Despite our repeated attempts to engage in reasonable negotiations, the Governor has initiated an unconstitutional use of eminent domain at the expense of Apollos third-party investors, Reid said. Taking the property for a fraction of the assessed value is theft and everyone in Massachusetts--every business owner and homeowner--should be concerned about this threat. As a fiduciary, Apollo is left with no choice but to continue pursuing litigation aimed at challenging the Governors unconstitutional use of eminent domain, Reid said. Healeys action comes two days after the U.S. Senate approved a resolution on Wednesday intended to hold Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre in criminal contempt for failing to testify before a Senate panel, The Associated Press reported. 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. A passer-by walks past an entrance to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Also Friday morning, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, spoke at the JFK Federal Building in Boston about the U.S. Senates unanimous vote to hold de la Torre in contempt of Congress. Dr. Ralph de la Torre said he was committed to offering world-class opportunities in the communities they serve, Markey said. Instead, we stand here today with the parade of horribles Steward left behind: a bankrupt hospital system, closed hospitals, laid off workers, dead patients, and a CEO who blatantly refused to appear before the United States Senate. Markey blasted de la Torre as hiding from lawmakers and avoiding questions. Lawmakers accuse him of using company money to fund a lavish personal lifestyle at the expense of hospitals, their staff, and patients. A spokesperson for de la Torre previously said he was exercising his 5th Amendment right not to testify, and that de la Torre was being used as a scapegoat in Stewards bankruptcy. Dr. de la Torre will not be intimidated by the Committees threat of prosecution merely for asserting his constitutional protections, a spokesperson wrote in a statement shared with Boston 25 News. The U.S. Constitution stands above the government to protect all Americans from precisely the kind of assault on our rights that we are witnessing here. As part of the legal process to take St. Elizabeths Hospital, Healey declared that if St. Elizabeths were to close, it would create a public health emergency due to the large volume of patients currently served by the hospital and the resulting disruption to the delivery of medical services in the region, the governor said in her statement. Healeys action come after Steward Health Care announced in August that it had entered into definitive agreements to sell certain Massachusetts-based hospitals. Lawrence General Hospital will become the new operator for both campuses of Holy Family in Haverhill and Methuen, Lifespan will assume operations of Morton and Saint Annes, and Boston Medical Center will take over Good Samaritan. These transfers of ownership are expected to go into effect on Oct. 1, state officials said. Boston Medical Center and Steward previously reached an agreement to transfer the operations of St. Elizabeths to Boston Medical Center, but asset management firm Apollo refused to accept Boston Medical Centers bid for the real estate, Healey said. Healeys action on Friday will allow the hospital to remain open and continue serving patients, officials said. St. Elizabeths is a crucial provider of hospital services to traditionally underserved populations, including MassHealth and Medicare patients. Its closure would put vulnerable patients at risk who would no longer have access to emergency services, maternity care, behavioral health services and inpatient care, Healey said. Further, inpatient capacity in the Boston area remains at record highs, and the more than 60 patients currently at St. Elizabeths would not have immediate access to health care. Earlier this week, Healey announced working groups focused on stabilizing and revitalizing health care in communities impacted by Steward Health Cares closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. 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 Fresno County Department of Public Health is reporting possible tuberculosis exposures at two college campuses. More than 100 students and faculty members have been alerted to the exposures, which happened at both Fresno City College and Fresno State in April and May. Those notified have been asked to complete a survey and are being offered testing to assess their risk for infection. The exposure comes from a single student who was attending classes at both campuses, according to the health department. That student was diagnosed with active tuberculosis Aug. 7 and is currently being treated and monitored. What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a bacterial infection that is best known for affecting the lungs, though it can also impact the brain, kidneys and spine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A latent version of the disease can live in a body for years without causing symptoms. The active version causes prolonged coughing fits (often with blood or phlegm from deep with the lungs), unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite, fever and night sweats. Active TB is spread by infected persons coughing, sneezing, or talking, the CDC says. An increased danger? This isnt the first TB exposure on a school campus in Fresno. In 2016, some 200 students were notified of a potential exposure at Fresno City College. That same year, a Bullard High School student was diagnosed with the disease. And California has seen a steep rise in tuberculosis cases since 2020. According to the states department of public health, active TB cases have increased every year since 2020 and the state now has one of the highest infection rates in the country (and the most cases). Last year, the number of TB cases in California rose by 271, or 15%, from the prior year. Also, increasing is the likelihood of dying from the disease (though it is still rare). In the decade prior to 2020, the chance of dying from it was 8%, according to CDC data. That number was up to 13% in 2020. That trend of increasing TB infections is also being seen in Fresno County, according to the health department. In 2022, 31 cases were reported in Fresno County; 39 cases were reported in 2023. An unusual number of severe TB infections (requiring hospitalizations and short-term medical care) have been reported among young people in recent months, the health department said. Health officials are investigating whether a person in Missouri who was hospitalized with bird flu in early September might have infected a handful of others. Testing is ongoing among five health care workers and a household member exposed to the infected person who all came down with mild respiratory symptoms. A cluster of infections would mark a significant expansion of the avian influenza virus, indicating that it could transmit from person to person. On Friday, Missouri and federal health officials stressed there is no current evidence of human-to-human transmission. The immediate risk to the general public is still low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Michael Osterholm, who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said he sees no cause for concern unless or until any of those tests comes back positive. "At this point we dont have any evidence that this one case in Missouri has transmitted the virus to anyone," said Osterholm, an epidemiologist. "Im not saying it couldnt have happened, but based on what we know so far, weve not had ongoing transmission. Theres no crisis." This time of year, Osterholm said, roughly 2% of Americans have respiratory symptoms, which could be H5N1 or COVID-19 or simply a cold. The blood and DNA test results will tell the story, not symptoms. "Just because somebody has symptoms of respiratory illness doesnt tell me anything about 'is it likely or not likely to be flu,'" he said. "At this point, we want to be careful not to become alarmist." So far this year, 14 people across the U.S. have been infected with H5N1 avian influenza. All but the Missouri person was infected after coming into close contact with poultry or dairy cows known to be infected. Officials don't know how that person became infected with H5N1. Their infection was first reported Sept. 6. A federal worker with the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service wearing a protective suit and with boots sealed with tape gestures at a checkpoint to the entrance of a Weld County, Colorado, chicken farm. The "biosecure" sign is part of the farm's normal entry signage but federal officials were monitoring the farm on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Earlier this month, federal health officials had first said the person hospitalized was likely an isolated case that didnt appear to pose additional risk. Soon after, Missouri officials identified that a person in the same household developed similar symptoms on the same day as the confirmed case, according to Lisa Cox, communications director for the state Department of Health and Senior Services. But neither person had typical flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis, Cox said in an email, referring to symptoms seen in the prior bird flu cases across the U.S. this year. The timing of the onset suggested common exposure, such as from a wild bird, rather than person-to-person transmission, she added. Another person reported limited contact with the infected patient, but that person reported no symptoms either before or after the visit. On Friday, CDC said state officials identified 18 health care workers who had higher risk exposure. Three of those workers reported reported mild respiratory symptoms. One person tested negative for influenza A, which includes bird flu. The other two werent clinically tested because they passed the 10-day follow-up period when those test results could be connected with a previous exposure, Cox said. Their symptoms also werent severe enough for them to seek medical testing. Instead, those two health workers have provided blood samples for CDC to test for H5N1 antibodies, which show up at least three weeks after symptoms have passed. Blood samples have been collected from five health care workers, Cox said. The original person and their household contact have already had their samples sent to the CDC. The five workers samples are set to be sent to CDCs laboratory in Atlanta for testing. However, the remnants of Hurricane Helene passing through the American South are delaying shipment of the specimens, Cox said. This type of testing is an additional diagnostic test that H5 infection has occurred in the person, she said. However, among other limitations, it will not be able to determine either the source or timing of any infection that may have occurred. Seeing the results of the tests will be crucial, said Dr. Jesse Goodman, an infection diseases specialist at Georgetown University. "We dont know yet if any of these other people do have H5 influenza or did get it thats really important to investigate," he said. Goodman added public health workers should be more aggressive about testing people with mild or no symptoms, because it's not clear exactly how H5N1 manifests in people. "It needs to be pursued aggressively," he said. He also said there should be more widespread testing for H5N1, because he expects more people likely have it than have been discovered. The case in Missouri was caught purely by chance, because the person's flu was tested, which doesn't always happen. When it came back as an unusual type, it was sent for further testing, which also is atypical, Goodman said. "We cant view this with panic, but we need to view this as a warning shot and we need to lean forward with our surveillance and our preparedness," he said. "Most public health threats, people overblow them. This one I feel like has been a little underplayed." Karen Weintraub contributed to this report. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bird flu hospitalizes one worker, sparking concerns across Missouri Heat-pump sales in Europe plummeted by 47 per cent in the first half of the year, as fewer households switched from gas boilers. Just 765,000 heat pumps were sold in 2024 across the 13 European countries that represent 80 per cent of the market, the European Heat Pump Association said. Over the same period in 2023, 1.44 million heat pumps were sold in countries including France, Italy, Germany and Sweden. It means fewer than 1.5 million heat pumps are likely to be sold in 2024, which is the lowest level since 2019. Sales were hit by dropping gas prices, which soared after Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, wavering government subsidies and the cost of living crisis. After the war began, the EU set a target of installing at least 10 million more heat pumps by 2027 as part of efforts to lessen its dependence on Russian gas but a subsequent boom in sales is now over. The UK Government is reported to be planning to introduce heat-pump targets in Britain next year in what has been branded a boiler tax on households. Homeowners in countries such as Germany rebelled against government drives to install more of the green technology, which is expensive to set up, during the cost of living crisis. Olaf Scholzs under-fire coalition has since watered down its proposals to make heat pumps compulsory from 2024 in the face of public anger. In Italy, heat pumps have become a lightning rod in the backlash against EU net zero plans, which includes opposition to an effective ban on petrol cars in 2035. The new Right-wing government in the Netherlands also plans to tear up rules forcing homeowners to buy heat pumps . The heat-pump industry, which policymakers see as vital in decarbonising the housing stock, has blamed fewer and inconsistent government subsidies for the slowdown. Heat pumps cool or warm buildings by using electricity to transfer heat to and from a place, rather than by generating it. If powered by renewables they can cut emissions from housing. Their widespread adoption has been slowed because they are initially expensive, although cheaper to run, and there are not enough qualified installers. The European Commission has promised an action plan to boost heat-pump sales, which was due at the end of 2023 but has been delayed. Paul Kenny, director of the European Heat Pump Association, also blamed supply-chain issues for the slump. The people who dont have a heat pump and want a heat pump crash into the barrier of a really poor supply chain, he told the EurActiv website. He added that the important thing was to get people to think heat pumps are a good thing and then actually make them a good thing by ensuring they were cheap to run and installed correctly. 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. Some of the paintings are on display but others are in storage (Jeroen Jumelet) (Jeroen Jumelet/ANP/AFP) The heirs of a prolific Dutch art collector are demanding that one of the country's top museums return 25 paintings, including eight works by Rembrandt, because they are not on permanent display. The heirs to the collection have served a legal summons on the Mauritshuis in The Hague to hand the paintings back, lawyer Gert-Jan van den Bergh told AFP on Friday. Collector Abraham Bredius, a former Mauritshuis director, bequeathed the 25 paintings to the museum when he died in 1946, on the strict condition they would always be displayed to the public. "The conditions were not met. Therefore the heirs are now demanding that the museum give the paintings back," said the lawyer. Four works by 17th-century master Rembrandt -- including "Saul and David", painted between 1651 and 1658, and "Two African Men" from 1661 -- are currently hanging at the museum. A fifth painting by landscape master Salomon van Ruysdael can also be viewed but the 20 other works from the collection are not on public view, the Mauritshuis confirmed. These included works by other Golden Age artists including Jan Steen, Jan van Goyen and Paulus Moreelse. Van den Bergh said the case filed before The Hague District Court was not on behalf of Bredius, who himself had no children. The lawsuit has been brought by the grandnephew and grandniece of Joseph Kronig, an art critic who was named Bredius's sole heir. Kronig was about 30 years younger than Bredius, who often referred to him as a "protege" and sometimes a "stepson", according to the New York Times. Several art historians have suggested Kronig and Bredius were lovers but Kronig's grandnephew Otto told the New York Times there was no evidence for this. The Mauritshuis said it could not comment on the case. "As long as the case is being researched -- and this may take a long time -- we are unable to make any announcements," spokesman Rene Timmermans told AFP in an email. Situated near the historic Dutch parliament buildings in The Hague, the Mauritshuis boasts a world-famous collection, including Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring". jhe/ric/gil TAMPA, Fla. - Flooding caused by record-breaking storm surge from Hurricane Helene has prompted hundreds of water rescues in coastal portions of the Tampa Bay area. Helene brought significant impacts to the region before making landfall late Thursday night as a Category 4 storm, bringing catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds to Florida's Big Bend area. Maximum sustained winds were 140 miles an hour when the eye of the storm made landfall around 11:15 p.m. just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, which is about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. The National Hurricane Center said the storm weakened to a tropical storm by 5 a.m. Friday and will continue to weaken over land. It will still bring significant impacts to Georgia, along with portions of the Carolinas. Flooding and widespread power outages are expected. Hurricane Helene tracker: Storm weakening as it moves across Southeast US Helene's impact on the Bay Area Hurricane Helene photos: Heres a look at how the storm impacted the Bay Area FOX 13 Meteorologists say storm surge is a major issue in the Tampa Bay area, leading to serious flooding and high water rescues in coastal areas. According to FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto, storm surge in and around Tampa Bay reached the highest levels ever on record. "Some of the gauges have been around since the mid 1940s," Dellegatto said. "Incredibly, some of the records broken were set last year during Idalia on August 30, 2023." Evacuation orders remain in effect across parts of several counties due to storm surge and flooding. As water levels rose overnight, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office shut down portions of U.S. 19 as crews responded to more than 100 water rescue calls. At least 65 people were rescued, PCSO said. Citrus County first responders also shut down part of U.S. 19 and rescued more than 100 people, along with more than 50 pets, in the Crystal River area as water rose during the overnight hours on Friday. Hillsborough County officials reported more than 300 calls between 11 p.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday, along with more than a dozen house fires and water rescues. First responders in Hillsborough County rescued four people and a dog from high water near Hillsborough Avenue. (Courtesy: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue) #teamHCSO is out in full force, rescuing individuals stranded by flooding. Our deputies are utilizing the #SherpATV, which allows us to access flooded areas that standard vehicles cannot reach. Your safety and well-being are pic.twitter.com/gJpOCdMlgK HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) September 27, 2024 The City of Tampa reported dozens of water rescues, downed power lines and roadblocks, along with at least 12 downed trees as of early Friday. Access to Davis Islands remains blocked. FOX 13 crews spotted a large fire burning on Davis Islands. This was the view from Bayshore Blvd. early Friday. In Pinellas County, power outages are widespread. Many roadways are inaccessible and several are covered with debris, including Clearwater Memorial Causeway. Officials have cut off access to Gulf beaches and barrier islands until further notice. Clearwater Memorial Causeway was left covered in debris after Hurricane Helene brought serious impacts to the Bay Area. (Courtesy: City of Clearwater) The westbound side of the Gandy Bridge and the southbound side of the Howard Frankland Bridge have reopened. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway remain closed after high winds forced them to shut down. The Florida Department of Transportation says inspectors must check the bridges before they reopen. As for weather conditions, wind speeds will gradually lower throughout the day on Friday. See the graphics below to view forecast wind gusts. Hundreds of thousands are without power across the region as of early Friday. Operations have resumed at Tampa International Airport after being suspended early Thursday. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA BAY: Helene kills at least four in South Carolina, including pair of Saluda County firefighters, McMaster says HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Helene is to blame for four deaths across South Carolina including a pair of volunteer firefighters in Saluda County, Gov. Henry McMaster said Friday. The storm also brought historic damage to utility systems and knocked out power to nearly a quarter of the states population. Weve got a lot of work to do, McMaster said at an afternoon news conference. We probably have more power outages than weve had maybe ever. We dont know. McMaster said he expected the death toll to rise as storm-hit areas are cleared away. Grand Strand and Pee Dee counties will be eligible for federal disaster relief funding, FEMA said on Friday. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on X, formerly Twitter, that the federal delegation stands ready to assist. The scope of damage from the storm has been wide and deep. People are not only without power, but there is heavy flooding, homes have been destroyed and lives have been lost and upended, he said. South Carolinas entire congressional delegation will be working with Governor McMaster and his team to help with federal disaster relief efforts. PHOTOS: Helene leaves trail of damage along Grand Strand, Pee Dee National Weather Service meteorologist John Quagliariello said the agency issued 65 tornado watches for South Carolina as Helene moved through including 14 for areas in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. While the Upstate absorbed much of Helenes wrath, Quagliariello said wind gusts of up to 40 mph could persist statewide through Saturday. Officials said total power outages reached 1.25 million and urged customers to be patient over the next several days. You will be frustrated as this goes. Lifes not going to get back to normal until probably next week from a power standpoint, just because of the sheer damage that we have, Dominion Energy South Carolina CEO Keller Kissam said. More than 200 dams statewide are also being assessed, officials 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 WBTW. The de facto government of Abkhazia has appealed to Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Prime Minister, urging him to sign a document on the non-use of force and officially recognize Abkhazia as an independent state. This appeal comes in response to a recent statement made by Kobakhidze during his speech at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.In his address, Kobakhidze spoke directly to the people of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali regions, stating:"I would like to use this opportunity and address our people on the other side of the occupation line, in the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. All our steps are aimed at helping our people, and one day we, together with our children, can live together in a happy, united, and developed Georgia."The de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia criticized this statement, referring to it as "rhetoric" that has been repeated by the Georgian leadership "many times in the same mythical terms."The ministry went on to state:"We believe that if the government of Georgia continues with the same spirit, we will not achieve positive results in overcoming the past. We once again call on Georgia to sign a legally binding document on the non-use of force and to recognize the Republic of Abkhazia as a sovereign and independent state."Transparency International - Georgia has filed an administrative lawsuit with the Tbilisi City Court, seeking to annul the recent decision issued by the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Razhden Kuprashvili. The lawsuit challenges the Bureau's September 24 decision, which classified TI Georgia, its director Eka Gigauri, as well as the organization Choose Europe and its director Khatuna Lagazidze and co-founders, as entities with declared electoral goals.TI Georgia argues that the decision to label them as electoral entities was entirely unfounded and illegal. In their statement, the organization noted: "The monitoring organization Transparency International - Georgia and its executive director, Eka Gigauri, were completely baselessly and illegally considered entities with declared election goals, and relevant regulations were issued to them."Along with the lawsuit, TI Georgia also filed a petition with the court, requesting the suspension of the Anti-Corruption Bureau's decision until the dispute is resolved. The organization hopes to prevent the decision's enforcement while the case is ongoing. Warning: This article contains disturbing details about sex assault. A Colorado Springs man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting an infant and possessing thousands of pieces of child pornography, an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette detailed. Aaron Mocalkins, 30, faces over 20 charges including sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault of a child, cruelty to animals and more after a police investigation found that Mocalkins was in possession of thousands of pieces of child pornography. According to an arrest affidavit, Aurora police became aware of Mocalkins after the messaging application Kik informed Aurora police that an account with an IP address residing in Aurora contained possible child pornography. The address connected to the Kik account was the residence of Mocalkins' boyfriend, according to the arrest affidavit. Aurora police in March 2023 executed a search warrant on Mocalkins' boyfriend's address and seized over 25 electronic devices. The affidavit states that six of the items recovered at the address contained child pornography, and all of the devices "appear to only be used by Aaron (Mocalkins)." Aurora police note within the affidavit that one external hard drive contained 5,151 images and videos depicting child pornography. The affidavit goes into detail regarding some of the contents of the horrific videos discovered on Mocalkins' devices, with "numerous images and videos that were involving infants or toddlers." Aurora police also discovered evidence that Mocalkins used an online chat website to convince minors to show him their genitals, with screenshots of an interaction with one victim who was only 11 years old, according to the affidavit. Police became concerned that Mocalkins himself was not just watching child pornography, but was sexually assaulting children himself. Of note was this message which police say was recovered from his phone: Featured Local Savings "Don't be afraid to rape. It's a mistake to avoid nonconsensual child sex. No matter what kind of sex you have with kids, you'll always be judged as a rapist. So don't hold back." The rest of the message encouraged the use of threats and torture "to stop kids talking." The affidavit does not make it clear if the message recovered on Mocalkins' phone was sent or received by him. After further investigation from Aurora police at least three videos were discovered where Mocalkins exposes himself and touches his genitals on an infant at his boyfriend's home, according to the arrest affidavit. Mocalkins' boyfriend was able to identify the infant in the video as the child of someone they knew. Police also recovered three videos of Mocalkins having sex with a dog, according to the arrest affidavit. Court records show that an affidavit was filed for Mocalkins' arrest on Sept. 11, and he was taken into custody in El Paso County on Tuesday, Sept. 24. A LinkedIn belonging to a man with the same name and similar age states that Mocalkins worked at the front desk of The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs, and previously as a lobby attendant at The Broadmoor. Court records show that Mocalkins is currently in custody on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Colorado's 18th Judicial District Court in Arapahoe County on Oct. 17 for his preliminary hearing. Helene lashed the Lowcountry with strong wind, tornadoes as the storm moved north MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) Helene struck Floridas Big Bend as a powerful category 4 hurricane late Thursday night and moved north into Georgia during the early morning hours. The size and strength of the storm brought strong winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes to much of South Carolina throughout the night. Tornado warnings were issued throughout the evening in Charleston, Georgetown, and Colleton Counties as the hurricanes outer bands reached the coast. But the tornado threat ramped up overnight as the storm moved further inland and closer to South Carolina. Thousands of people woke up Friday morning without power. Debris from trees littered Lowcountry streets, and flooding from heavy rain and fallen trees caused several road closures. Tree falls on James Island apartment complex Charleston County EMS began modified service and suspended travel across the Ravenel Bridge out of safety for its crews. A vessel drifted into the Highway 41 bridge over the Wando River where a woman was pulled to safety; however, one other person refused to leave the boat despite requests from first responders. Conditions will improve across the Lowcountry throughout the morning as Helene moves further north. Impacts in South Carolinas upstate could be extensive. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hurricane Helene damage: See aftermath and 'devastation' after major hurricane slams Florida Hurricane Helene damage: See aftermath and 'devastation' after major hurricane slams Florida Editor's Note: For the latest news on Helene, see our live coverage for Saturday, Sept. 28. Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane about 11:10 p.m. ET near Perry, Florida, with 140 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center reported. At least 22 fatalities have been blamed on the hurricane so far, authorities said. Officials feared more fatalities would be discovered on Friday. The storm, which now marks the first known Category 4 storm to hit Floridas Big Bend region since records began in 1851, weakened to a tropical storm Friday morning as it barreled through Georgia, causing life-threatening flooding in Atlanta and the Carolinas. By 11 a.m. ET Friday, Helene was located 30 miles southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina and about 105 miles north-northeast of Atlanta with sustained winds of 45 mph. A car drives along a street covered with debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Fla, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, the day after the storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of the state. As of early Friday more than 4.4 million homes and businesses remained without power, according to the USA TODAY power outage map, and thousands of flights had been canceled or delayed across the country, according to FlightAware. Photos and social media footage showed boats overcome with water, downed utility poles, and more damage along Florida's Gulf coast. Helene live updates: Saturday news on Helene damage, deaths 'Devastation' in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg In Tampa Bay, one resident described seeing vanished beaches, boats crashed into homes, and businesses on fire. "Complete devastation and loss here," Vikki Hudson, who lives in Largo, about three miles from the coast told USA TODAY Friday. "The beaches are gone. Everything is underwater. Boats piled on top of houses and yards." Hudson said she saw Gulf Boulevard, which runs the St. Petersburg coastline north to Clearwater, "completely underwater." Start your day smart: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Briefing newsletter. Outside Perry, Fla., longtime resident Donna Parker, 80, watches as her grandson cuts up a toppled palm tree with a chainsaw, clearing her short driveway, following the passage of Hurricane Helene, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Damage and debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Fla, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, the day after the storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of the state. Hudson, who lives about 20 minutes from her two businesses at Treasure Island Beach The Island Girl Tiki Bar and The Island Girl Beach Rentals said she has not been able to check on her business as bridges are closed due to widespread flooding. "We dont know anything yet, we can not get to any of the barrier islands," Hudson said. Where to find help after Helene. Where to call and find resources See damage left by Hurricane Helene in Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples, Perry A view shows damage from Hurricane Helene in Perry, Florida, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello A drone view shows a damaged roof amid damage from Hurricane Helene in Perry, Florida, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello A damaged pier is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Fla, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, the day after the storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of the state. Damage and debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Fla, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, the day after the storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of the state. The view of 39th Avenue South in St. Petersburg, Florida on Sept. 27, 2024 after Hurricane Helene hit. A split tree in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida on Sept. 27, 2024 after Hurricane Helene hit Tampa Bay. Tana Anderson, co-owner of the Crescent Beach Market on Siesta Key in Sarasota, pushes water toward a pump Friday morning, Sept. 27, 2024, as she, her husband and brother start cleaning up after the storm surge from Hurricane Helene. Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach sees flooding for a second time as the outer bands of Hurricane Helene pass by on Fort Myers Beach, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach sees flooding for a second time as the outer bands of Hurricane Helene pass by on Fort Myers Beach, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. A downed tree in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida on Sept. 27, 2024 after Hurricane Helene blew through Tampa Bay. Two people on a bike and cars travel down Vanderbilt Drive in Naples as Hurricane Helene passes off the coast on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Storm surge coupled with an incoming tide caused flooding along several roadways. Law enforcement officials gather on Estero Boulevard with a boat as Hurricane Helene passes by on Fort Myers Beach, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Estero Island was flooded by by the hurricane. This home in Hudson, Florida, caught fire overnight while Hurricane Helene's storm surge swamped the area. High sea waters along a Coquina Key home in St. Petersburg, Florida on Sept. 27, 2024. Alexander Blaudow talks on the phone while walking down the area of 1800 Copeland St. and 2200 St. Johns Ave. during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Riverside, Jacksonville, Fla. Flooding fills the parking lot at The Fish House Restaurant in Bonita Springs as Hurricane Helene passes off the coast on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The flooding is due to storm surge and an incoming tide. Estero Boulevard is flooded as Hurricane Helene passes by on Fort Myers Beach, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach sees flooding for a second time as the outer bands of Hurricane Helene pass by on Fort Myers Beach, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. A large oak fell on a home during Tropical Storm Helene in Anderson, S.C. Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. A fallen tree lies on the ground amid damage from Hurricane Helene in Perry, Florida, U.S., September 27, 2024. Mud lines where water dissapated is shown near a grate during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Riverside, Jacksonville, Fla. Two men brave the winds and heavy surf to try and secure a boat along the seawall in Cocoa Lee Wenner Park Thursday, September 26, 2024. Rough wind and waves hit the beach at Fort Pierce Jetty Park as feeder bands from Hurricane Helene affect the Treasure Coast on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Fort Pierce. A car is seen on a deserted street as it rains heavily before Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 26, 2024. Donald Draughon and his wife Vicki wait for the arrival of Hurricane Helene at Lincoln High School, which was opened as a shelter in Tallahassee, Florida, U.S., September 26, 2024. Hurricane Helene 5 a.m. Sept. 27, 2024. This story has been updated with new photos and videos. 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: Helene damage in Florida: See hurricane's aftermath in Tampa, more Helene is not just huge and deadly. Its historic Jamir Lewis wades through floodwaters with his two daughters, Nylah and Aria, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River, Fla. | Luis Santana Hurricane Helene hit Florida late on Thursday and left a path of destruction in its wake as it moved toward Georgia and weakened into a tropical storm. The Associated Press reports that four people are dead from storm-related causes, including a fallen sign and tree, while CNN reports that there were more than 100 water rescues overnight in Floridas Citrus County. Millions of people are without power in the southeastern United States as emergency crews continue to deal with the intense rain and winds. Beyond Florida, up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) 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, The Associated Press reported. Heres what else you need to know about the historic storm. Helene is huge Helene is affecting weather patterns in the Midwest, as well as in Southern states. As heavy rain pummels states like Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, areas of Illinois and Indiana will deal with related winds. Helene is one of the largest storms in the Gulf of Mexico in the last century, with a wind field that could span roughly the distance between Indianapolis and Washington, DC. Watches and warnings are in place for 60 million people in 12 states, CNN reports. The International Space Station captured a video of the storm from space, which gives viewers a sense of its scope and power. The International Space Station flew over Hurricane Helene at 2:25 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, as it approached the Gulf Coast of Florida packing winds in excess of 120 miles an hour. pic.twitter.com/J1iU0Iztpx International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 26, 2024 Atlanta is at risk As Helene moved into Georgia early Friday, people in Atlanta were warned to watch out for flash floods. A flash flood emergency has been issued for the city, including Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which helps explain why flight delays are expected across the country this weekend. A flash flood emergency is the most severe flood alert the National Weather Service can use, and it indicates a life-threatening situation, CNN reports. The article noted that around 25 people have already been rescued from flooding in the Atlanta area. Helene is setting records In addition to being historically large, Helene is responsible for historic amounts of rainfall, according to The Washington Post. Many areas have received more than 10 inches; some are closing in on a foot and a half, the article said. While Florida and Georgia are struggling with all the rain, the western part of North and South Carolina will experience some of the most dangerous rain-related conditions. Asheville has now seen 11.26 inches of rain, 9.87 inches of which fell Wednesday and Thursday, beating the previous two-day record by nearly two inches (it was 7.94 inches in 1918). Asheville will also set a record for its wettest week since weather observations began in 1869, The Washington Post reports. Helene will move north After making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida and moving northeast toward Atlanta, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and continue to weaken and slow down, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center predicts that Helene will head to the Tennessee Valley next. It will be a very wet and windy Friday. Remnants from Helene will travel over the state today. This storm system stalls in the Ohio Valley region and leaves our weather conditions unsettled through the weekend. Rain in Indiana is coming in two waves today. The first has already moved into the state with steady, light rainfall in central Indiana. Winds have picked up and gusts early Friday morning are nearing 30 mph. This first wave will ease late morning into the early afternoon. The second wave is more impactful and will bring the potential for heavy downpours late in the afternoon and evening. While the rain will be scattered this evening, the wind will remain the big story. A High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory have been issued for our area. Both go in effect at noon today and last through the evening. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are possible. We could see numerous power outages due to these strong wind gusts. Be mindful of the potential of fallen tree limbs, loose objects blowing around and difficult driving conditions. Winds will ease tonight but conditions will remain breezy Saturday. Rain chances continue through the weekend but will be more widely scattered with off and on showers. Overall, totals by Sunday could range from 1/2 to near 3 with lighter totals to the north and heavier to the south. We keep rain chances around for the first couple days next week but will get into quieter, dry conditions by midweek. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy. As Helene threatened, Florida Sen. Rick Scott returned to hurricane mode. Is it substance or show? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. As Hurricane Helene formed and barreled toward the Big Bend, it provided an opportunity for Rick Scott, Floridas reelection-seeking U.S. senator. He demonstrated concern for the states residents, warned them to protect themselves and got public attention with less than six weeks until Election Day. Its a role and image Scott cultivated during his previous position, the eight years he spent as Floridas governor, a job that has a far more direct role in ensuring the safety of residents, marshaling of state resources, and directing recovery efforts. The role of a U.S. senator is far more limited. A lawmaker can help galvanize attention, pressure the federal bureaucracy, and work to get funding for disaster relief. But since Scott was elected the Senate in 2018, he has sought to retain governor-style visibility before and after storms, an approach that contrasts with his senior colleague, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Slightly more than a year ago, for example, Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to put aside partisan differences and join President Joe Bidens visit to inspect areas affected by Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in the Big Bend as a Category 3 storm. Scott, who is just as fierce a critic of the Democratic president as DeSantis, took a different tack. Scott was present, next to Biden, filling a government-style role as a prominent official from the state. (DeSantis was at the time a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, so appearing alongside Biden could have been politically damaging for him with his partys primary voters.) This week, with the Senate in session in Washington, Scotts visibility in Florida was more limited. He posted extensively on social media on the developing storm, and had teleconference briefings Monday and Tuesday with the director of the National Hurricane Center. On Wednesday, Scott left Washington and returned to Florida. Scott decamped from the Capitol before the Senate was done with its work for the week. As a result, he didnt cast a vote on the measure keeping the government operating until December and avoiding a shutdown. The spending bill didnt include billions in supplemental disaster funding sought by Democrats and Republicans. Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Alex Wood faulted Scott. Floridians wont get the resources needed to recover from Hurricane Helene because Rick Scott left Washington without lifting a finger to fight for disaster relief funding. Instead of photo ops, Rick Scott should do his job, Wood said in a statement. The Republican senator headed to the Panhandle and the Big Bend, stopping throughout the region to meet with local officials, urge residents to evacuate if instructed, and imploring people to plan ahead. Shortly after landing, he was on video on social media talking about the storm. After multiple stops Wednesday he was in Bronson on Thursday, visiting the Levy County Emergency Operations Center. GET PREPARED BEFORE ITS TOO LATE, Scott wrote in a statement. Families all along our Gulf Coast have to take this seriously. Continue to monitor the news and listen to local officials for any evacuation instructions, alerts or warnings. Florida is resilient because we prepare for storms. I cannot stress this enough: preparedness saves lives. We can always rebuild a home, but we cant rebuild a life. He later posted that he heeded his own advice, and moved inland to Ocala. At all the stops, he wore what had become his trademark attire during disasters and many other occasions: a Navy cap. Rubio stayed in Washington for Senate business, and wore a suit as he recorded a pre-storm video message to Floridians with the same advice Scott was offering. He won reelection last year and doesnt face voters again until 2028. The two senators also asked Biden to approve Floridas request for an emergency declaration before the Helenes landfall, something federal lawmakers routinely do to show their attention to their home states needs. Scott wasnt alone. Elected officials from both parties in areas threatened by Helene were out showing their concern for constituents helping distribute sandbags, getting briefings from emergency managers, and praying. Scotts challenger, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Florida Democrat, isnt currently in office, and so does not have the same ability as Scott and other incumbent officials to marshal resources and command attention. She did post warnings and reposted official messages on social media, including a video reminder for pet owners to make sure theyre prepared. Scott spokesperson Chris Hartline said via email that the senator was fulfilling his obligations. Unlike those questioning what he was doing, Hartline said, Senator Scotts full focus is on saving lives right now and making sure every Floridian is prepared for Helene. If those asking questions or criticizing Scott want Floridians to be less prepared for a major hurricane, thats fine. Just say so. It explains why Debbie is playing politics and campaigning in New York City while a major hurricane barrels down on our state. Senator Scott wants Floridians to be more prepared. Thats the job of a U.S. Senator from Florida, something Debbie will never experience, he said Wednesday. The Florida Republican Party, in a statement, had a similar complaint. While Senator Rick Scott was focused on Hurricane Helene headed to our state and the safety of Floridians, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell spent Tuesday night fundraising and hobnobbing in New York City. Its clear where Debbies priorities lie and its not with us. Mucarsel-Powell, was in fact in New York early in the week for fundraising, spokesperson Riya Vashi said, but she was back in the state on Wednesday. She wasnt the only one tending to political fundraising on Tuesday as the storm was strengthening and moving toward the state. Politico Playbook reported that Scott on Tuesday attended a political fundraiser for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. While immediate needs in a crisis the forecast, disaster preparations, recovery assistance and government assistance get outsized attention as a storm approaches and in the aftermath, Democrats see broader context to Scotts time in office. The consensus in the scientific community is that climate change is a factor making hurricane season worse, particularly by causing more storms. Evidence continues to mount that human-induced climate change is causing hurricanes to grow stronger and more destructive. Hurricanes are producing heavier rain, their storm surges are riding atop higher sea levels, and in many cases they are lingering longer over land, causing increased flooding and infrastructure destruction, according to SciLine, part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Democrats point to Scotts record as governor and senator to depict him as a climate change denier at the expense of Florida. They cite his vote against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided money for projects that could help Florida become more resilient to climate change and extreme weather. And they consider him a climate change denier. In 2010, The Tampa Bay Times reported, Scott said he hadnt been convinced about global warming. In 2014, The Tampa Tribune reported he met with climate scientists but declined to say if he accepted scientific conclusions about human activity and climate change. After he visited Florida Keys communities affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017, Politico reported Scott declined to say if he believed human-caused climate change is real. Clearly our environment changes all the time, and whether thats cycles were going through or whether thats man-made, I wouldnt be able to tell you which one it is, Scott reportedly said at the time. While Scott was governor in 2015, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, and subsequently other news organizations, reported that state agencies were ordered not to use the terms climate change, global warming or sea-level rise. Scott said at the time the terms werent banned. Its not true, he said. Democrats also said Scott has at times voted against funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and funding to strengthen the power grid and pay for flood mitigation projects. Scott has said the National Flood Insurance Program, relied on by many Floridians, is plagued with problems, and a tax break that would help some people cover the cost. Democrats have offered a different view: Rick Scott doesnt care about the millions of Floridians who depend on NFIP to protect their homes thats why he voted six times against funding this critical program, a party spokesperson said in a news release. The bottom line, Democratic Party spokesperson Wood said via email: Rick Scott has failed Florida communities left vulnerable to hurricanes and the worsening effects of climate change. From voting against disaster relief funding, to opposing investments in strengthening Floridas infrastructure, Scott has turned his back on Floridians whose livelihoods are threatened by extreme weather. Hartline, Scotts spokesperson, said this about the Democrats assertions: As far as climate change goes, Senator Scott has been clear that taking care of the planet and pursuing economic prosperity are objectives that can and must be pursued simultaneously. Protecting Floridas environmental treasures is one of the few areas where theres bipartisan agreement in our state. Thats why he made important investments to take care of the environment and address rising sea levels and other impacts as Governor. _____ (WGHP) Helene brought with it major severe weather as its bands crossed North Carolina. As of 5 p.m. Friday, Helene was about 50 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with possible gusts higher than that and is moving north-northwest at 17 mph. NHC reports, Historic, catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous major landslides, will continue across portions of the southern Appalachians through this evening, followed by gradual improvement tonight and into Saturday. Widespread serious river flooding is ongoing, some of which will be major to record breaking. Track the weather yourself using the FOX8 Interactive Radar Flooding & Damage Part of Mount Zion Road in Wilkes County washes away. (Submitted photo) Tree collapses on home at Oak Ridge Drive and Oak Ridge Place in Winston-Salem. (Josh Nagy/WGHP) Summit and 6th in Winston-Salem (Matt Jensen/WGHP) Summit and 6th in Winston-Salem (Matt Jensen/WGHP) A downed tree is seen on Bowman Road in Randleman. (Dwayne Scott/FOX8 WGHP) One person was killed Friday morning in Yadkin County when a tree fell on their car while they were driving, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed. A 2006 Nissan passenger car was traveling east on Old U.S. 421 at about 8:15 a.m. when a large oak tree fell from the westbound shoulder across the roadway, landing on top of the Nissan. Video from Wilkes County shows water rushing over normally dry land at Cub Creek Park. Wilkes County Emergency Services is now in operation, but earlier in the day the Wilkes County 911 Center lost its primary operations, forcing officials to roll over calls to Ashe County. Thursday night, the Wilkes Rescue Squad responded to a scene on Reddies Street, off of Dixie Hill Road, in the Millers Creek community. No one was injured. Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief David Wyatt says it was a great teamwork effort with a great outcome. Wilkes Rescue Squad responds to a scene on Reddies Street in the Millers Creek community. (Courtesy of Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief David Wyatt) Wilkes Rescue Squad responds to a scene on Reddies Street in the Millers Creek community. (Courtesy of Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief David Wyatt) Wilkes Rescue Squad responds to a scene on Reddies Street in the Millers Creek community. (Courtesy of Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief David Wyatt) Wilkes Rescue Squad responds to a scene on Reddies Street in the Millers Creek community. (Courtesy of Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief David Wyatt) In Surry County, video captured a glimpse of the massive flooding that has overtaken certain areas. County officials ask anyone in Surry County whose home was damaged by the storm to call the Surry County Permitting & Inspections Office at (336) 401-8300 and warn residents to ensure any contractors hired for repairs are legally licensed to do so. Greensboro police said, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., officers had responded to 16 reports of trees down and nine accidents. There were also four signals out, one call for traffic assistance and one call for flooding. Downed trees were reported on Randleman Road and Interstate 73, near I-840, in Greensboro. The Alamance County Sheriffs Office answered a call for help from Yancey County Sheriff Shane Hilliard on Friday. According to ACSO, Yancey County has been dealing with washed-out roads and flooded areas which are making it difficult to help residents. ACSO sent a team of four deputies with the Bearcat Armored Vehicle to help. (From left) Captain Craig Stephens, Lieutenant Brad Hall, Sheriff Terry Johnson, Sergeant Jacob Hinckle and Sergeant Joey Holmes stand with ACSO's Bearcat Armored Vehicle. (Courtesy of the Alamance County Sheriff's Office) North Carolina Forecast Storm seen from Eagle Falls Road in Rockingham County. (Courtesy of Jennifer Powell) Heavy rainfall struck western North Carolina with multiple storms bringing more than a foot of rain to the region. The Piedmont Triad saw its worst weather mid-morning Friday with gusts to over 40 mph and more locally heavy rainfall, according to FOX8 Chief Meteorologist Van Denton. Most had 1 to 2 inches from Helene overnight into today with a few pockets seeing more. Total rainfall over the past few days generally added up to 2 to 4 inches across the Triad with a few spots getting over 6 inches. The counties to our west got it worse with the foothills receiving nearly half a foot and the mountains receiving more than a foot. As Helene continues to move away into Tennessee and then Kentucky, the storm is weakening and weather will improve. Skies will be clearing for us through this evening and overnight will become mostly clear with a low near 62, Denton said. Forecasters say the main hazard is the heavy rain. Winds gusts could cause damage over portions of Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky, particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Amid heavy rain, winds gusts and potential isolated tornadoes, it may be dangerous to travel. Widespread power outages are also a concern with these rain bands. As can be seen in the image below, the highest risks of flooding from Helene are in western North Carolina with high changes of at least 70% in the region. Tornadoes also remain a possibility from Friday morning into the afternoon in the Carolinas. The tornado threat also exists in eastern Georgia and southern Virginia. By lunchtime, winds will begin to diminish and rain becomes lighter and more scattered. By this afternoon, well have some peeks of sunshine with highs close to 80. It will be partly cloudy overnight with lows in the lower-60s. Whats next? Saturday will be nice with sunny to partly cloudy skies. Highs near 80. There is a tiny 15% chance for a shower. Saturday night, partly cloudy and 65. Sunday will be pretty good, partly cloudy with a 35% chance for a shower or thunderstorm, highs near 80. Early next week, our weather will continue to improve. Monday will be partly sunny with a high around 79, there is a 20% chance for a shower. Tuesday will be mostly sunny with a high around 79. Wednesday will be mostly sunny and reach 77. Lows remain in the mid-60s. A turn to cooler nights starts on Thursday. Sunny both Thursday and Friday with highs in the low to mid-70s and lows in the lower 50s, some 40s in rural areas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Initial reports said there were children in the water at Windermere [Furness Coastguard] A helicopter was called to a capsized boat in a lake, with initial reports that children were in the water. Furness and Arnside Coastguard raced to the scene at Windermere, Cumbria, on Thursday evening. However a search by the Coastguard's helicopter found just one person in the lake, who was sitting on top of the upturned boat. They were taken ashore and handed over to paramedics for assessment and treatment. The fire service, police, lakes wardens, a mountain rescue team, Ulverston Inshore rescue and the Great Northern Ambulance Team all joined the rescue operation. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. More on this topic Related internet links More than 50 people have been rescued after being stranded on the roof of a Tennessee hospital Friday some of them for hours due to rising floodwaters from Hurricane Helene, according to a city official. The dozens of people trapped atop Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, were all taken to safety as of Friday evening, Michael Baker, Erwins alderman, told CNN. Weve had a constant stream of helicopters picking them up and dropping them off into the city at safe places, Baker said earlier Friday. Theres a helicopter on top of the hospital, and we have another one, hovering nearby to start to carousel getting everybody off, but this is a team effort. Ballad Health, which manages Unicoi, was notified the hospital needed to be evacuated at around 9:30 a.m. local time Friday, the healthcare organization said in a post on X. But because of flooding and high winds from the deadly storm, ambulances and helicopters could not reach the building safely. Erwin, about 100 miles east of Knoxville, is located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, close to Tennessees border with North Carolina. A total of 54 people were moved to the roof, and seven others put in rescue boats, Ballad Health said in a statement earlier Friday. The hospital system said the count included 11 patients. Unicoi County Hospital was engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water, the statement on X said. Because of how quickly the water was rising around and inside the hospital, rescue boats were also not able to evacuate people safely. Ballad Health called the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Guards efforts to get the people to safety a dangerous rescue operation. The water came up so fast, I literally looked at the owner and said, Weve got to get out of here, Baker said. Unicoi County Hospital is a nonprofit, 10-bed hospital, according to its website. At least 45 people have been killed across five states during the storm, which has produced flash flooding across the Southeast after making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Now a tropical depression, the storm has left millions of customers without power, destroyed homes and prompted road closures. Scariest thing Ive ever been through, rescued woman says Angel Mitchell was among dozens trapped on the roof for four hours Friday while her 83-year-old mother, whom she was visiting, sat nearby in a rescue boat, she told CNN. Mitchell says they were quickly evacuated from a hospital room as water began entering the building. Mitchell said the power went out and hospital staff began directing patients and visitors to the roof for safety, grabbing any essential supplies that they could. Her mother, who was sick with pneumonia, was placed into a lifeboat. Meanwhile, Mitchell says she was directed outside where she waded in chest-deep waters around the side of the building to climb up a ladder to the roof, at times having to grab the building to avoid getting swept away. It was the scariest thing Ive ever been through, Mitchell told CNN tearfully. While Mitchell was on the roof, she saw her mother along with her oxygen tank in one of the rescue boats. Thats what tore me up the most looking down and seeing her, Mitchell said. She was able to communicate with her mother only by yelling loudly down to her. As they awaited rescue, floodwaters rushed by and Mitchell saw what she believed to be parts of dislodged houses and barns floating by them, she said. Video from the scene shows floodwater surrounding and nearly covering vehicles, including at least one ambulance. We all tried to stay calm, but it was extremely hard, Mitchell said. A group of the patients, nurses and doctors huddled together and prayed as they waited to be saved. Mitchell says by the time rescue teams arrived, the water was approximately 10 feet below the roofline. The helicopters transported those stranded to a hospital 20 miles north of the Unicoi County Hospital. As of Friday afternoon, approximately 1.1 million people are under at least 14 different flash flood emergencies, the highest level of flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service, which is reserved for catastrophic flooding that presents a severe threat to human life. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Heres how you can help Hurricane Helene relief efforts Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night and continues to devastate the Southeast, killing at least 21 people and destroying homes and businesses of countless families. FOX Corporation made a donation to the Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Helene and is encouraging our audience to do the same. Donations can be made on the Red Cross website or by scanning the QR code below. Scan this QR code with the camera on your phone, and then you will be taken to the Red Cross donation page. For those affected by Helene, the Red Cross has shelters available across impacted areas in the Southeast. They can be found by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media. Storm victims in the Big Bend region of Florida, where Helene made landfall, can call (800) 729-3413 for assistance. How To Watch Fox Weather The Red Cross asks people who plan to stay in a shelter to bring items, such as prescription medications, important documents, extra clothing and special items for children or family members with special needs. To assist the Red Cross with these efforts, donations can be made here. GULFPORT, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: A man crosses a storm surge flooded area on the coast of Gulfport, Fla. as Hurricane Helene passed through the Gulf of Mexico to the West on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images) People can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) if they are unable to locate a friend or family member if someone: Has a serious, pre-existing health, mental health condition or Functional and Access Need. Is a member of the military-connected community (active duty, reserve, guard, retiree, veteran, or immediate family member). Or you shared the same residence within the disaster impact area, or have recently been in contact with someone (within the past year) but are unable to reach them because of the disaster. You can support the Red Cross by making a donation on their website here. Original article source: Heres how you can help Hurricane Helene relief efforts AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The Henry Brigham Community Center is open for those who are in need of shelter during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. According to the Augusta, Georgia Fire/EMA Facebook page, the Henry Brigham Community which is located on Golden Camp Road can be used as shelter for those in need. ALSO ON WJBF: CSRA school/office closings, delays due to Helene and severe weather It also states that hotels are also being made available for displaced residents, and if you are in need of help, you can check VisitAugusta.com for more information on hotel availability and bookings. Augusta Fire/EMA also states on its page that The Red Cross is coming to assist with shelters and community needs. For non-emergency requests, such as reporting downed trees or power lines, please use 311 or the Augusta 311 App. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 911 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 WJBF. Three School District 49 students face charges after bringing replica handguns to Horizon Middle School Thursday, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. During the school day, the school's school resource officer (SRO) received multiple reports from students about a student allegedly in possession of a firearm on the campus, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office. The SRO notified school administration and located the reported student in question. The student, an 11-year-old, was in possession of an airsoft gun shaped as a handgun, the Sheriff's Office said. Two 12-year-old students were also found to be in possession of an additional replica handgun. The school was not placed under a lockdown and class operations were uninterrupted. All three students face two misdemeanor charges: interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions and disorderly conduct. I want to impress upon parents and guardians the importance of awareness concerning their children. Who they communicate with, what items they bring to school, and their access to contraband or weapons," El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal said in the release. "While this incident was addressed quickly and without incident, it caused unnecessary fear and the deployment of resources." Officials at School District 49 have confirmed communication with parents about the incident. The incident comes following multiple false threats made online towards various schools in the Colorado Springs area and throughout the country. Last week, Ellicott School District 22 students were sent home after a missing gun was reported on school ground and put its schools into a lockdown. Featured Local Savings School safety is of the utmost importance to my office, and we will continue to monitor and investigate these incidents without hesitation. We are committed to keeping our schools safe and ensuring students have a secure place to learn and grow, Roybal said. New safety policy proposed for D-49 Wednesday night during a D-49 board of education work session, board members discussed a potential new policy to add metal detectors and handheld wands for security personnel to create a safer environment by deterring the presence of weapons at schools. D-49 Director of Safety and Security David Watson said that origin of the proposal came after the Parkland school shooting in Florida in 2018 that killed 17 people, and that they've received numerous calls from concerned community members. In 2020, the district approved the addition of armed security officers at select campuses. If approved, the detectors would be used on a temporary basis during times when the district has reasonable cause to believe that weapons or unauthorized contraband are in the possession of any staff member, student or visitor, when there has been a pattern of weapons found at school, or when violence, or the threat of violence has occurred at the school or any School District 49 building. This is literally going to be for moments that we may receive a late-night threat through Safe2Tell that we cannot deem it 'not credible with our law enforcement partners and we have limited time to get back to school in the morning, Watson said. And it would allow us to deploy them with a security team just for that morning or throughout the day so that we can add additional reassurance to our community that we are taking additional steps to keep their children safe while theyre in our schools getting an education. The new policy will be on the agenda at the boards next regular meeting Oct. 10 for a vote for approval. Fort Campbell has confirmed that the man reported missing in Henry County on Wednesday is a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). On Wednesday, the Henry County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) was notified of John Michael Jackson's vehicle parked on the side of the bridge at Paris Landing, but he was nowhere to be found. On Friday, Lt. Col. Marty Meiners told The Leaf-Chronicle that Jackson joined the U.S. Army as a Network Communication Systems Specialist (25H) in August 2023 and has served at Fort Campbell since May 2024. Henry County Sheriff's Office is searching for missing Fort Campbell soldier John Michael Jackson, who was went missing on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. "We are working closely with civil authorities in their efforts to ensure he is found as soon as possible," Meiners said. HCSO, the Henry County Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency searched about eight miles north of the bridge before heavy rain and nightfall caused them to pause the search Wednesday night. Lead detective Lt. David Andrews said that the agencies will meet tomorrow to make a plan to resume the search on Sunday, weather permitting. The Henry County Sheriffs Office is asking for anyone who may have seen Jackson around the Paris Landing area to call with that information at 731-642-1672. Kenya Anderson is a reporter for The Leaf-Chronicle. She can be contacted at kanderson@gannett.com or on X at kenyaanderson32. Sign up for the Leaf-Chronicle to support local journalism at www.theleafchronicle.com. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Henry Co. Sheriff's Office searching for missing Fort Campbell soldier Here's how to get discounts and free coffee at Milwaukee cafes for National Coffee Day This weekend, National Coffee Day is brewing across cafes in Milwaukee with discounted prices and free drinks. Looking to get your caffeine fix? Here's a list of some cafes participating in National Coffee Day this year: When is National Coffee Day? National Coffee Day is Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Colectivo Coffee is offering deals for National Coffee Day in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago Spiced Apple Cider and Cajun Burrito at Colectivo Coffee. Visit a Colectivo Coffee cafe on Sunday and you can buy one draft cold brew coffee and get one for 50% off. Draft nitro cold brew and cream cold brews are excluded from the promotion. The chain is also offering 15% off all coffee bags, valid from Sept. 27 through Sept. 29. Find it: The promotions are available at all Colectivo Coffee locations, including 12 in the Milwaukee area: 2301 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee 170 S. 1st St., Milwaukee 1211 Washington St., Grafton 2999 N. Humboldt Blvd., Milwaukee 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee 11205 Cedarburg Road, Mequon 2211 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee 4500 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood 223 E. St. Paul, Milwaukee 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee 6745 W. Wells St., Wauwatosa 9125 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa Deals at Stone Creek cafes in Milwaukee, North Shore and Lake Country On National Coffee Day, you can receive a 12oz free drip coffee and 20% off Harvest and Cream City beans at Stone Creek. On National Coffee Day, you can receive a 12oz free drip coffee and 20% off Harvest and Cream City beans at Stone Creek, a company spokesperson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Find it: Stone Creek locations: 2744 Hillside Drive, Delafield 2650 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee 422 N. 5th St., Milwaukee 6969 N. Port Washington Road, Glendale 7954 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa 1043 E. Summit Ave., Oconomowoc 4106 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood 8340 W. Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa National Coffee Day deals at Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea, Milwaukee Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, a Chicago company coming to downtown Milwaukee's Yankee Hill neighborhood, also serves other beverages and food. On Sunday, you can receive a free 12 oz. Counter Culture coffee if you order on the app. On Saturday, Fairgrounds rewards members will receive double points on all items ordered. Why celebrate #nationalcoffeeday just one day when you can celebrate all weekend long at Fairgrounds This Friday,... Posted by Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Find it: 916 E. State St., Milwaukee National Coffee Day deals at Fiddleheads Coffee Roasters in Milwaukee and North Shore There will not be any National Coffee Day deals this weekend, but on Oct. 1, Fiddleheads is offering 50% off of any coffee drink if you purchase another item at full price, a spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Find it: Fiddleheads Coffee locations: 192 S. Main St., Thiensville W62 N605 Washington Ave., Cedarburg 10530 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon 1505 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton N88 W16621 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls 790 N. Water St., Milwaukee 4334 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood 8807 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa 790 N. Water St., Milwaukee National Coffee Day deals at Goddess and the Baker in Brookfield, Chicago The first Goddess and The Baker opened in Chicago in 2016. The Corners of Brookfield is its first out-of-state location. Drink deals at Goddess and the Baker will be on Oct. 1 and include the following: Small drip coffee: $1 Cold brew: $2 Small latte: $2.5 Pumpkin apple butter latte: $3 Pumpkin cream cold brew: $3 All coffee bags will also be half off. Find it: 340 High St., Brookfield Dunkin' National Coffee Day deals throughout the Milwaukee area On Sunday, Dunkin' Rewards members can enjoy a free medium hot or iced coffee with purchase through the Dunkin' app. The promotion excludes cold brew and nitro cold brew, and dairy alternatives, cold foams, flavors and espresso shots may be additional charge. Accounts are free to set up at dunkindonuts.com/en/dunkinrewards. Find it: Throughout Milwaukee; visit dunkindonuts.com/en/locations to find a location near you National Coffee Day deals at Starbucks cafes throughout the Milwaukee area Starbucks is partnering with music duo Sofi Tukker to host a Twitch live DJ streaming set at 10 a.m. PT. Before the event, Starbucks is also offering customers a special National Coffee Day deal on Amazon where customers who spend $50 on select coffee blends will get $10 off, while supplies last. To participate in the Twitch livestream, you can visit https://m.twitch.tv/sofitukkerofficial/home. RELATED: Time for a pumpkin spice latte? Check out these locally owned cafes for lattes, apple cider and more fall drinks This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: National Coffee Day 2024: Milwaukee deals at Colectivo, Stone Creek Here's when Milwaukee Public Schools students will be off school in 2024-25 Students wait to get their schedules before the first day of school for Milwaukee Public Schools students at South Division High School in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. All district students are under the same calendar for the 2024-25 school year. The school year has begun, and with any school year, oftentimes students and even teachers are curious about when they'll get a break: the much-coveted day off school. The most significant change to this year's calendar is that MPS students are all under the same calendar. All schools started the same day this school year, Sept. 3, a change from past practice of many MPS schools starting classes in mid-August. Here's what to know about when Milwaukee Public Schools' students are off school this year. Does MPS get a fall break? While there's no formal fall break, per se, MPS students and staff are off school Oct. 18 because of parent-teacher conferences and Oct. 21 for "October break." Students are also off Nov. 5 for a record day at the K-8 level and a professional development day at the high school. When is MPS off for Thanksgiving break? The district has off for Thanksgiving from Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 27-29. When is MPS off for winter break? The district has off for winter break from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Are Milwaukee Public Schools off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Yes. All schools are closed for the holiday, which is on Monday, Jan. 20. When is MPS off for spring break? All district schools are off for spring break Monday through Friday, March 24-28, but students will also be off school Friday, March 21, for parent-teacher conferences. When is the last day of classes for the 2024-25 school year? The last day of classes for all students is June 13. Here's a list of all the days MPS students will be out of school this year: Sept. 27: professional development day Oct. 18: parent-teacher conferences Oct. 21: October break Nov. 5: Record day (K-8)/professional development day (high school) Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving break Dec. 23-Jan. 1: winter break Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 24: record day (HS)/professional development day (K8) Feb. 17: mid-semester break Feb. 18: professional development (HS)/record day (K8) March 21: parent-teacher conferences Mar. 2428: spring break April 18: April break May 26: Memorial Day June 6: record day (K8)/professional development day (HS) June 13: last day of school for all students Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's when MPS students will be off school in 2024-25 HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) The man accused of slashing a guest in the Hersheypark parking lot is in custody at the Dauphin County Prison. According to court records, Huley Williams was arraigned on September 17 and sent to the Dauphin County Prison without bail in connection to the July incident at Hersheypark. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nittany Insiders Williams is facing more than four dozen charges including robbery and aggravated assault after a guest alleged they found Williams rummaging in their car on July 27. When the guest confronted Williams, Derry Township Police say Williams slashed them in the face with a sharp object. Later that day, the victim was notified that their credit card was used at a Target in Bucks County. A second victim later notified police that their credit card and cash were stolen from the Hersheypark parking lot and used to make over $5,600 in fraudulent purchases. Police later said they identified a second suspect, Isabel Santos, 44, of Lycoming County, who allegedly worked with Williams to steal credit cards. Santos and other unidentified suspects were accused of using the stolen credit cards at Chocolate World, Hersheypark, and other businesses across the area. Police say Santos also has ties to New Jersey and is wanted on 46 charges related to theft, conspiracy, and access device fraud. Anyone with information on Santos whereabouts or who has information related to the incident is asked to contact the Derry Township Police Department at 717-534-2202. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hassan Nasrallah, seen at a rare public appearance in Beirut on August 2, 2013, was the most high profile Hezbollah leader to be killed (ANWAR AMRO) (ANWAR AMRO/AFP/AFP) Israel has killed Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah and several of its top commanders in a series of targeted air strikes on the Iran-backed movement's stronghold in Beirut. Here is what we know about the slain commanders. - Nasrallah: Hezbollah chief - On Friday, an Israeli air strike on the Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut killed Hassan Nasrallah, the group's leader for 32 years. His death was confirmed a day later by Hezbollah. Despite leading a life in hiding to avoid assassination, the 64-year-old Nasrallah had wielded great power in Lebanon. He also enjoyed cult status among his Shiite Muslim supporters, although he was rarely seen in public for security reasons. "The point of security measures is that movement be kept secret, but that doesn't stop me from moving around and seeing what is happening," Nasrallah told Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper in a 2004 interview. Nasrallah was elected secretary-general of Hezbollah in 1992, aged just 32, after an Israeli helicopter gunship killed his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi. Israel said on Saturday that Nasrallah was one of its "greatest enemies", and that his death made the world "a safer place". - Shukr: right-hand man - A strike on July 30 killed Fuad Shukr, one of the group's top military commander. Shukr, who was in his early 60s, played a key role in cross-border drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces, according to a source close to Hezbollah. The two sides have traded near-daily fire across the frontier since Hezbollah ally Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel. Shukr helped found Hezbollah during Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war and became a key adviser to Nasrallah. Shukr was Hezbollah's most senior military commander, and the leader said he had been in daily contact with him since October. Israel blamed Shukr for a July rocket attack on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 children in a Druze Arab town. Hezbollah denied responsibility. In 2017, the US Treasury offered a $5 million reward for information on Shukr, saying he had "a central role" in the deadly 1983 bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. - Aqil: US bounty - A strike on September 20 killed Ibrahim Aqil, head of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, along with 15 other commanders. According to Lebanese officials, the attack killed a total of 55 people, many of them civilians. A source close to Hezbollah described Aqil as the second-in-command in the group's forces after Shukr. The Radwan Force is Hezbollah's most formidable offensive unit and its fighters are trained in cross-border infiltration, a source close to the group told AFP. The United States said Aqil was a member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council, the movement's highest military body. The US Treasury said he was a "principal member" of the Islamic Jihad Organisation -- a Hezbollah-linked group behind the 1983 bombing of the US embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people and an attack on the US Marine Corps barracks in the Lebanese capital the same year that killed 241 US soldiers. - Kobeissi: missiles expert - On September 25, a strike killed Ibrahim Mohammed Kobeissi, who commanded several military units including a guided missiles unit. "Kobeissi was an important source of knowledge in the field of missiles and had close ties with senior Hezbollah military leaders," the Israeli military said. Kobeissi joined Hezbollah in 1982 and rose through the ranks of the group's forces. One of the units he led was tasked with manning operations in part of the south of Lebanon, which borders Israel. - Srur: drone chief - A strike on September 26 killed Mohammed Srur, the head of Hezbollah's drone unit since 2020. 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. He had also played a key role in Hezbollah's intervention since 2013 in Syria's civil war in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government. Other commanders killed in recent strikes include Muhammad Ali Ismail, Ali Karake, Wissam Tawil and Mohammed Naameh Nasser. lar-cf/ser/srm/kir An excavator removes a destroyed vehicle in Kiryat Bialik, following a reported strike by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Hezbollah militants in Lebanon fired rockets at the Israeli city of Tiberias and other towns on the Sea of Galilee, causing one injury, the Israeli military reported on Friday. According to the army, most of the 10 missiles were intercepted. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia confirmed the attack, during which a man was struck by falling debris. Four drones approaching from Lebanon were also claimed to have been shot down near the border town of Rosh HaNikra on the Mediterranean Sea. The port city of Haifa had previously been attacked with missiles, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on the launch sites and dozens of other Hezbollah targets, officials said. Hezbollah asserted that they had attacked the Haifa region with Fadi-1 type rockets. They have been bombarding Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war nearly a year ago. The militia claims that it aims to support the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip in its fight against Israel and to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Israel used to respond with similar force, but since the beginning of the week, the air force has been conducting massive airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Houthis in Yemen attack Israel too Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi militia on Friday claimed two attacks including one by a ballistic missile aimed at Israel in support of their Palestinian and Lebanese allies. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said the group had aimed at a military target in the area of Jaffa with a ballistic missile and a "vital target" in the Ashkelon area with a drone. "The two operations have successfully achieved their objectives," he added in a televised statement without giving details. Saree vowed further attacks by the group in the days ahead until what he called the "Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon stops. In Lebanon, thousands displaced Since the beginning of the heavy Israeli attacks in Lebanon, "significantly more" than 30,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Syria, according to UN reports. About 80% are said to be Syrian citizens, the rest predominantly Lebanese, said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria. He spoke on Friday from the Lebanese-Syrian border over videolink with reporters in Geneva. That number had more than doubled from Thursday's official estimate of 13,500 people who had sought safety in Syria out of desperation. "Both Syrians and Lebanese are crossing from a country at war to one that has faced crisis and conflict for 13 years - we cannot imagine what an incredibly difficult choice that is - over 30 000 have made that choice," he said. In Lebanon, 110,000 people had already been displaced prior to the recent escalation, according to UN reports. Since last week, 118,000 more have joined them, said Imran Riza, the humanitarian UN coordinator in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Ceasefire plan Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, the US government and other countries behind a joint statement calling for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon coordinated with Israel, a senior US official said on Friday. The White House's National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the statement "wasn't just drawn up in a vacuum." It wasn't only the countries that signed on to the plan who knew of its contents "but Israel itself." But when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York on Thursday for his Friday speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he said Israel would continue to attack Hezbollah until the Israelis evacuated from the northern border could safely return home. Netanyahu said there was a lot of "fake news." The government's press office in Jerusalem said the United States had only informed Israel of their intention to present a proposal for a ceasefire together with others. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the "joint statement was a clear call" for a temporary ceasefire to open up space for diplomacy so residents on both sides of the border could return home. "I would add that the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side," she said. People hang a giant Israeli flag from the roof of a damaged building in Kiryat Bialik, following a reported strike by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa By Timour Azhari and Samia Nakhoul BEIRUT (Reuters) - Killing or incapacitating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah would deal a significant blow to the Iran-backed Lebanese group he has led for 32 years, analysts said on Friday after reports Israel targeted him with a strike. A source close to Hezbollah said Nasrallah was still alive after the attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, on Friday evening. A senior Iranian security official said Tehran was checking on Nasrallah's status. Replacing Nasrallah would be an even bigger challenge now than at any point for years, after a series of recent Israeli attacks that have killed top Hezbollah commanders and raised questions over its internal security. "The whole landscape would change big time," said Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy research director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. "He has been the glue that has held together an expanding organisation," Hage Ali said. Hezbollah, which was formed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the early 1980s to battle Israel, is also a major social, religious and political movement for Lebanese Shi'ite Muslims, with Nasrallah at its heart. "He became a legendary figure, kind of, for the Lebanese Shia," said Hage Ali. Nasrallah himself became Hezbollah leader when Israel killed his predecessor and he has been at constant risk of assassination ever since. "You kill one, they get a new one," said a European diplomat of the group's approach. However, amid a sudden series of Israeli successes in its war against Hezbollah and an onslaught of air strikes, his death would greatly aggravate an already fraught moment for the group. "Hezbollah will not collapse if Nasrallah is killed or incapacitated, but this will be a major blow to the groups morale. It would also underline Israels security and military superiority and access," said Lina Khatib, an associate fellow at the Chatham House policy institute in London. The potential impact of Nasrallah's death on Hezbollah's military capabilities is also unclear. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire for a year across the Lebanese border in their worst conflict since 2006, triggered by the war in Gaza. "Israel will want to translate this pressure into a new status quo in which its north is secure, but this will not happen quickly even if Nasrallah is eliminated," Khatib said. Hezbollah claimed several rocket attacks on Israel in the hours after the Beirut strike in what analysts said was an effort to show it could still carry out such operations after Israel said it targeted Hezbollah's command center. "Israel has declared war. It is a full-scale war, and Israel is using this opportunity to eliminate the leadership structure and destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure," said Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. "They are breaking Hezbollah's power. There's no need to kill every member of Hezbollah but if you destroy its combat structure and force them to surrender. It loses credibility," Gerges said. SUCCESSORS Any new leader would have to be acceptable both within the organisation in Lebanon but also to its backers in Iran, said Philip Smyth, an expert on Shi'ite militias. The man widely regarded as Nasrallah's heir, Hashem Safieddine, was also still alive after Friday's attack, the source close to Hezbollah said. Safieddine, who oversees Hezbollah's political affairs and sits on the group's Jihad Council, is a cousin of Nasrallah and like him is a cleric who wears the black turban denoting descent from Islam's Prophet Mohammed. The U.S. State Department designated him a terrorist in 2017 and in June he threatened a big escalation against Israel after the killing of another Hezbollah commander. "Let (the enemy) prepare himself to cry and wail," he said at the funeral. Nasrallah "started tailoring positions for him within a variety of different councils within Lebanese Hezbollah. Some of them were more opaque than others. They've had him come, go out and speak," said Smyth. Safieddine's family ties and physical resemblance to Nasrallah as well as his religious status as a descendent of Mohammed would all count in his favour, Smyth said. (Reporting by Timour Azhari, Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry, Jonathan Landay and John Irish; Additional reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Hezbollah stores weapons among civilians in Lebanon, US says its not sharing intel with IDF The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has drastically escalated over the last month as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has begun targeting the terrorist network's hot spots and military storage units, all of which are strategically embedded within civilian villages. Images and videos provided to Fox News Digital of the recent strikes in southern Lebanon show precision missiles hitting what have been deemed civilian buildings. Hezbollah's use of civilian infrastructure has not only created a sophisticated network of meeting houses, weapons storage units and well-hidden missile launching positions across southern Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut, it has ensured a war with Hezbollah cannot be conducted without immense collateral damage. Israel Readies Reserve Troops On Border With Lebanon: 'Prepare Yourselves' Since Monday, more than 1,800 casualties have been reported and at least 560 people are believed to have been killed, including 50 children and more than 90 women, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On Thursday, the U.S. again urged Israel to agree to a cease-fire in Lebanon, and deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed with reporters that the U.S. is not aiding Jerusalem militarily or with intelligence in its Lebanon-based campaign. Read On The Fox News App Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the international communitys calls for a cease-fire and instead instructed his troops to continue fighting "with full force." French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned Israel that it "cannot without consequence just expand its operations to Lebanon" as commanders on the Israeli-Lebanon border ordered its troops to "prepare" for a possible ground invasion. No invasion has been ordered at this time, though Israeli and U.S. security experts have told Fox News Digital that the network Hezbollah has established on the foundation of everyday life within Lebanon means war with the terrorist network will likely be even more costly in terms of human lives than what has been witnessed in Gaza. According to the Israel-based Alma Research and Education Center, a nonprofit organization that researches Israeli security challenges along the border with Lebanon, Hezbollah has long relied on the use of civilian infrastructure to serve its needs. Israel-hezbollah War: Netanyahu 'Did Not Even Respond' To Us Cease-fire Deal, Pledges To Fight 'Full Force' "The phenomenon of renting houses, rooms, warehouses within the Shiite civilian areas by Hezbollah is well known since the beginning of the 2000s," Tal Beeri, head of the research department at Alma, told Fox News Digital, adding that the terrorists also rent structures in non-Shia areas of Lebanon as well. "Evidence of this matter was found in looted documents and investigations of Hezbollah operatives during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Since then, Hezbollah has only accelerated the phenomenon and estimates are that every third house in southern Lebanon has been used by Hezbollah for its needs," he added. Beeri shared research with Fox News Digital that showed findings from 2021 breaking down the sophisticated system in which Hezbollah has intertwined itself in the everyday running of local villages across the country. A man displays photographs as people sift through the rubble of a building in an area targeted overnight by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's town of Saksakiyeh, on Sept. 26, 2024. Israel flatly rejected on Sept. 26 a push led by key backer the United States for a 21-day cease-fire in Lebanon, as it vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants "until victory." Hezbollah officials dubbed a "Rabat" loosely translated to "the liaison" are installed in villages across Lebanon and serve as the representative of the terrorist group, facilitating the needs of the villagers in coordination with the hyper-localized operations of Hezbollah. The Rabat, which can oversee multiple villages, reportedly establishes relationships with the residents by facilitating requests for aid such as money, food and even with localized disputes. "In places where Hezbollah decides to expropriate or lease civilian land or properties from the residents for the purpose of its military activities, the Rabat conducts the expropriation or leasing procedure vis-a-vis the relevant resident," Beeri found. The report, based on documents seized following the 2006 war with Hezbollah, found that the Rabat also recommended to local Hezbollah units the best locations in each town that are "suitable to serve the human shield tactic" based on the storage requirements surrounding concealment, infrastructure type and weapons placement. The Rabat then coordinates the logistics between the terrorist organization and the local property owner. "The Rabat strengthens Hezbollahs grip on the Lebanese village residents day-to-day life, their property, and needs, allowing Hezbollah to turn them into human shields on a wider scale," the report found. Hezbollahs control over local communities and its ability to stockpile and transfer weapons throughout the country through a sophisticated tunnel system signifies that the UN Resolution 1701 passed in 2006 to prevent a third war between the terrorist network and Israel has failed. While it remains unclear if U.N. Security Council members are looking to revamp the resolution to counter the terrorist group's movements and stop Israeli operations in civilian areas, the international community has called on Netanyahu to cease his campaign many leaders from both adversary and allied nations, have fervently warned against invading Lebanon. Netanyahu is set to address the U.N. body on Friday during what has been described by the Israeli ambassador to the U.N. as the most "hostile" environment he has seen in his roughly 10 years of attending the top summit. Original article source: Hezbollah stores weapons among civilians in Lebanon, US says its not sharing intel with IDF HIDOE to reinstate four school bus routes in Central Oahu and East Hawaii Island HONOLULU (KHON2) The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced today that four previously suspended school bus routes will be reinstated starting Monday, September 30. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This move will restore service for over 70 student riders across three schools in Central Oahu and East Hawaii Island. The restored routes will be operated by Ground Transport Inc. Parents and guardians of affected students will receive direct notifications about the reinstated routes and any changes that may be needed. The following routes will resume service on September 30: Oahu Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area: 2 routes Moanalua Middle HR18B, HR23B Hawaiis Rescue: HI-Surf becomes falls top-rated new drama Hawaii Island Kau-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area: 2 routes Pahoa Elementary, Pahoa High & Intermediate SR09A, SR09B With these four routes returning, a total of 100 routes will have been restored, although 38 routes remain suspended. Ground Transport is also working to restore a route servicing the Kahakuloa area on North Maui, which serves Waihee Elementary, Iao Intermediate, and Baldwin High. To address staffing shortages, Ground Transport is actively recruiting new drivers. Thanks to the governors emergency proclamation, drivers with a commercial drivers license (CDL) and a P endorsement can temporarily operate school buses, bypassing the need for the S endorsement typically required for school bus drivers. The company is also looking into partnerships with tour bus operators to increase capacity. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news More updates will be shared as additional routes are restored. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TechCrunch James McGinniss has been obsessed with decarbonization and the energy grid since he was a high schooler over a decade ago. Now, his startup David Energy has a lofty goal: getting the energy grid to run entirely on clean energy in the next 10 years. Brooklyn-based David Energy is a software-enabled retail energy provider. El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Cami Bremer will step down from the board early next year to lead the Pikes Peak United Way as its chief executive officer. She will serve in both jobs until early next year. Bremer said her plan was to resign from the county at the beginning of 2025 while communicating stability. I knew that it needed to have kind of a planned transition, she said. Thankfully, the board is going to allow that time where Im doing both jobs. The nonprofit's Board of Directors selected Bremer after a nationwide search to succeed Cindy Aubrey, who in May announced her retirement as the organization's president and CEO, a news release said. Pikes Peak United Way is one of the areas oldest and most influential social service organizations, financially partnering with 29 local nonprofits this year. Bremer is stepping away from her elected position at the same time that her husband, former El Paso County Republican chair Eli Bremer, is embroiled in a state GOP battle. On Wednesday, a claim by Eli Bremer that he was elected in a special meeting to replace current state Republican Party chair Dave Williams was invalidated in district court. The controversy may have implications for Cami Bremers replacement as commissioner. The El Paso County Republican Party Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins has publicly supported Williams in the conflict over chairmanship. The county Republican Party, as Cami Bremers official party, is also responsible for convening the vacancy committee to choose her commission replacement. Bremer said that politics were not factoring into her decision making. It doesn't matter what side youre on, it doesn't matter what partisan politics are. My job is to steward the county and ensure confidence in a smooth transition, and that needs time, she said. In Bremers time as a commissioner, other members have on several occasions been openly critical of nonprofits. In January, Bremer and board vice chair Commissioner Carrie Geitner led a press conference in which the board announced that El Paso County would be non-sanctuary and dissuaded migrants from coming. Geitner spoke directly to area nonprofits. I urge our nonprofit community and partners to refrain from welcoming this crisis by welcoming migrants," said Geitner. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Bremer said she disagreed with any effort to dictate to her new partner organizations how they should approach their work, especially those with faith-based missions. I am not here to tell any nonprofit how to live out their mission, she said. The Board of County Commissioners also denied the recommended amount of grant funding in April to United Way partner Peak Education after a debate over its position on race-based college admissions. Bremer, along with Commissioners Longinos Gonzalez and Holly Williams, opposed withholding the money. Pikes Peak United Way board Chairman Dan Nordberg said in the release that Bremer is the right choice to lead the organization. "She knows the community; she's led brilliantly as an elected official, and she knows how to get things done. Cami brings the right combination of nonprofit management and fundraising expertise to our already successful organization," he said. Some of the most contentious public meetings during Bremers tenure focused on COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the state and election security following President Donald Trumps 2020 loss. Bremer will leave the board in early 2025 along with Commissioners Stan VanderWerf and Longinos Gonzalez, who are term-limited. Geitner is running for reelection on a board that has not elected a Democrat in several decades. So, Geitner and Commissioner Holly Williams could provide continuity on the board. In her commissioner job, Bremer earns about $130,000 a year, a salary set in state law. Bremer was previously the provider and community relations manager at The Penrose Cancer Center, and once worked as the regional director for the American Heart Association. She also held previous roles as a city of Colorado Springs spokeswoman and as the director of governmental affairs for the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corp. These hiking trails are closed because of the Southern California wildfires A hiker crosses the East Fork of the San Gabriel River on the Bridge to Nowhere trail, which is currently closed due to the Bridge fire. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) As firefighters complete the final steps to controlling three blazes around Southern California, it's becoming clearer how and where hiking trails will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Some trails have burned in the Bridge, Line and Airport fires and will take a long time to recover. Others are closed out of an abundance of caution. The Times has put together a comprehensive list to help you understand where you can recreate responsibly, and also, whether your favorite areas were burned in recent blazes. In the coming months, volunteer trail crews across L.A. County and beyond will head to these areas to help with recovery efforts. They are almost always in need of more volunteers. To put together a better picture of the damage, The Times consulted mapping tool CalTopo, cross-referencing its maps and the fire footprints and forest closure orders with lists of local hiking trails to determine which routes were in the burn area. That said, just because a trail is in the burn area doesnt mean it was destroyed. Well learn more about specific conditions of each trail in the coming weeks and months, as well as when trails might start to reopen. Read more: The 70 best hikes in L.A. The Bridge fire | The Line fire | The Airport fire The Bridge fire A hiker takes on the Mt. Baldy Trail in May 2017. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Almost 55,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains and nearby towns have been burned by the Bridge fire. That includes destroying homes and buildings in Wrightwood and the Mt. Baldy community. As of Friday, the Bridge fire was 97% contained. Firefighters have completed a control line around the majority of the fire's perimeter. But containment does not mean that the fire that has been extinguished. Wildfires can burn for weeks after full containment is reached and even after fire personnel leave if no risk remains to embers restarting a blaze. On Sept. 21 , Angeles National Forest issued its Bridge fire closure order, which applies to federally managed roads, trails and other amenities. It is set to remain in place until Dec. 31, 2025, although that date could change. Last week we cross referenced CalTopo, local trail lists and the Bridge fire map to tell you which trails appear to have been burned. Below you'll find our updated list of trails that were burned by the fire and also those closed by the forest order. East Fork and Camp Williams area The Bridge fire was named after Cattle Canyon bridge in the East Fork of Angeles National Forest, where it started. Although the fire got close, firefighters were able to save Camp Williams Cafe & General Store and Camp Williams Mobile Home Park from burning. However, the hiking trails below appear to have been affected, and unless otherwise noted, are closed: Read more: 3 forest hikes that steer clear of the Southern California wildfires Mt. Baldy area The road to reach the mountain community of Mt. Baldy has reopened, and businesses are returning to normal operating hours. Popular hiking trails, including Icehouse Canyon and Icehouse Saddle appear, via the fire map, to not have burned in the Bridge fire. Additionally, San Antonio Falls, Ontario Peak, Cucamonga Peak, Cedar Glen Camp, and the three T's Timber Mountain, Telegraph Peak and Thunder Mountain also did not burn. Although the fire moved near Stoddard Peak's trailhead, its trail was spared. Here is a list of some of the popular trails that appear to have burned, according to The Times' analysis: Additionally, these trails and sites do not appear to have been burned in the fire but are closed, per the closure order: Wrightwood and Vincent Gap area Although the fire got within about 500 feet of the Mt. Baden-Powell trail, it was not burned in the Bridge fire. Additionally, nearby mountains, including Mt. Burnham, Throop Peak and Mt. Hawkins, did not burn. The immediate area surrounding Jackson Lake was not burned, but multiple trails in that area did. The Grassy Hollow Visitor Center was destroyed. Mountain High ski resort survived and aims to reopen later this year for its winter season. Additionally, these trails and sites do not appear to have been burned in the fire but are closed, per the closure order: The Line fire A water-dropping helicopter flies into thick smoke to drop water on the Line fire. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The Line fire, which is alleged to have been started Sept. 5 as an act of arson, has burned more than 39,000 acres in San Bernardino County. It damaged four structures and destroyed one. It has also injured four firefighters. As of Friday, it was 83% contained with "minimal fire activity" and favorable conditions for firefighting expected in the coming days. Several hiking trails are temporarily closed under the San Bernardino National Forest's Line fire closure order, which ropes off what The Times estimates to be about 70% of national forest land to the public and includes large swaths of the region that weren't burned by the fire. The order includes all of the Front Country and Mountaintop Ranger districts, and trails near Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, among many others that did not burn. The closure extends beyond the fire's perimeter because "the fire is not completely contained," said Sonny St. John, a patrol captain with the federal Forest Services Law Enforcement and Investigations unit on the San Bernardino National Forest. "We want to limit using resources on other parts of the forest where incidents could also occur." Read more: 6 handy nature apps to enhance your hikes You can find a list of every trail and road closed here. In short, any trail in the San Bernardino National Forest that's outside of the San Jacinto Ranger District which sits south of the 10 Freeway and includes the Idyllwild area is closed. St. John said the order could be adjusted in scope and size, or terminated, as conditions allow. In the interim, it's best to call ahead before visiting the area to determine whether the hiking area you'd like to visit is open. Below you'll find a list of trails that, based on The Times analysis, were burned by the fire. Note: Just because a trail is listed doesn't mean it was destroyed. There aren't data available yet to discern how severely burned each trail was. This is a preliminary list, based on the Line fire burn map. Popular attractions, including the Trail of the Phoenix in the National Children's Forest, Little Green Valley Trail and climbing spot Dinosaur Rocks, did not burn. The Shady Cove Group Campground in the Children's Forest was also spared. And the fire got close but did not destroy the Bluff Lake Reserve, where firefighters have quickly extinguished spot fires threatening the 80-acre reserve. The Morton Peak Fire Lookout suffered some damage but was not destroyed, per a Southern California Mountains Foundation representative. Read more: Hosting a guest who wants to hike? Here are 17 L.A. trails for every type of visitor The Airport fire A pair of hikers crossed over the creek on their way into Holy Jim Canyon. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) The Airport fire, unintentionally started by workers using heavy machinery to move boulders, has burned almost 24,000 acres since it began Sept. 9 near Trabuco Canyon in Orange County. It destroyed 160 structures, including several homes in El Cariso Village, and damaged 34 others. An estimated 22 people, including firefighters, have been injured. As of Friday, the fire was 95% contained. Cleveland National Forest where much of the fire has burned issued a closure order that bars the public from entering the 138,971 acres of the Trabuco Ranger District, an area far larger than the fire's footprint. All trails in the district are closed to the public. A list of closed trails and roads is available here. The order is set to expire Sept. 17, 2025. Below you'll find a list of trails that, based on The Times analysis, were burned by the fire. Again, just because a trail is listed doesn't mean it was destroyed. This is a preliminary list, based on the Airport fire burn map. The Airport fire did not reach the Ortega Oaks 74 Candy Store and Goods, a popular stop for hikers headed to nearby trails, including Sitton Peak, which did not burn. Ortega Falls also appears to have been spared, sitting only about 240 feet south of the fire's eastern flank. The fire remained far from the popular Black Star Canyon waterfall. Additionally, the popular Bedford Peak trail was not burned. Did we miss a trail? Or do you have a question about your favorite spot? Please email Times outdoors reporter Jaclyn Cosgrove, who can update the list accordingly. Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ALBANY, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has begun to examine a long-dormant power that lets governors remove local officials such as New York City mayors, following Thursdays indictment of Eric Adams. Lawyers in Hochuls office on Thursday internally discussed the legal and constitutional framework for removing an elected official, according to two people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks. The discussions were not an indication that Hochul is planning to remove Adams, but are being viewed internally as a way of keeping the governors options open. Of course the counsel's office would be prepared to present to the governor on any possible legal scenario related to this matter, Hochul spokesperson Avi Small said. But as the governor has made clear, she is reviewing the details made public this morning and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time. Hochul, who has long maintained a close working relationship with Adams, said after an event in the Syracuse area Thursday morning that the charges appeared to be a very serious matter, but that she had not yet been briefed on them. She promised more information on her response soon. I will be deliberative, I will be thoughtful, but were going to come to the right resolution on what to do in this moment, she said. Governors need to give officials who they seek to remove a chance to defend themselves. Before taking the formal step of removal, they can suspend a mayor for a month while considering charges. But the power otherwise appears to be absolute. Franklin Roosevelt, the last governor to make significant use of it, declared he would be both the judge and jury in such cases. Roosevelts most famous use of the power involved former New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker, whose bank accounts had large infusions of money from city contractors. The evidence against Walker was in a report by a special prosecutor, Tammany historian Terry Golway said. The scenario that faces Hochul is worse than the scenario that faced FDR, because this was an indictment. Walker wound up resigning before he was removed, after a judge ruled in 1932 that Roosevelts power to oust officials was essentially unlimited. The judge concluded that a mayor has the right to have witnesses testify before a governor, but that the states chief executive otherwise only needs to answer to the people and his own conscience in instances like this. As Tuesday carried on, it became clear that Hochul would indeed face a difficult path evading some sort of a response. With the city reeling from crime, the migrant crisis, and high-level government corruption, Gov. Hochul has a responsibility to act, Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said in a statement. She should immediately begin the process of removing Mr. Adams from office so that a new election can be held. The governors powers to remove officials are rarely used. At least three borough presidents were kicked out of office in the early 20th century, though the most recent removal was FDRs ouster of Manhattan Sheriff Thomas Tin Box Farley in 1932. Requests for the governor to utilize the power have come up practicallyeveryyear in recent history. They often end with the officials in question resigning before charges are filed. But several recent governors have made clear that the option still exists. Technically, the governor could remove a mayor, Andrew Cuomo occasionally reminded people when he feuded with Adams' predecessor Bill de Blasio. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated Avi Smalls' title. Holocaust scholar to discuss his conclusion that Gaza campaign constitutes genocide Dr. Omer Bartov is the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. (Photo courtesy of the University of New Mexico) An Israeli scholar specializing in Holocaust and genocide studies said what his government has been doing in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 constitutes a genocide. Dr. Omer Bartov, the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, is set to speak at the University of New Mexico on Monday. He told Source New Mexico that did not come to his conclusion about Gaza lightly. For a long time, Bartov said, he was resistant to describing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) actions in Gaza as genocidal. In 2023, he wrote in the New York Times there was no proof that genocide is currently taking place in Gaza, although it is very likely that war crimes, and even crimes against humanity, are happening. I thought genocide was still not taking place, but it might, and that this has to be stopped, he said. Of course, the violence hasnt stopped, he said. Bartovs position changed after May 8, 2024, when the IDF launched its operation in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza. It was at that point that I thought that I could no longer resist calling it a genocide, Bartov said. Bartov said at that point, it appeared what the IDF had been engaged in was the systematic destruction of Gaza. This includes houses, schools, universities, hospitals, museums, and mosques, everything that makes it possible for a society to survive, Bartov said. As of Monday, the IDF killed 41,400 people in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, though some estimates put the number much higher What Israel has created is a situation for Palestinians in Gaza which has made it impossible for them to exist, he said. If you link all of those together, Im afraid that you cant call it anything else but a genocidal campaign, Bartov said. See Bartov speak Bartov will be speaking at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30 in Anthropology 163 at the University of New Mexico. The event is free and open to the public. His talk is in-person only and will not have a remote option, according to an event organizer. Bartovs talk is titled, Speaking of Genocide: The Holocaust, Israel-Palestine, and the War in Gaza since October 7. Bartov said he will discuss the historical roots of what people are seeing now, how they see and understand whats going on, and how people explain that to themselves, especially among Israelis. Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlaender attends the celebrations surrounding the laying of the Stumbling Stones by relatives of the Israeli ambassador. The Proskauer family (later Prosor) fled Berlin in October 1933 accompanied by the ambassador's aunt and father. To commemorate the escape, Stumbling Stones are being laid for the grandparents, the aunt and the ambassador's father. Annette Riedl/dpa Margot Friedlander, a 102-year-old Holocaust survivor, has received an honorary award for her commitment to humanity and tolerance, the broadcaster RTL announced on Friday. Friedlander still visits school classes to share her life story as a Jew during the Nazi era. She received the "Brigitte Award 2024" honorary prize in Berlin - the first time the award was presented. Brigitte is a well-known women's publication in Germany that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It is part of RTL's portfolio. Earlier this week, the film from public broadcaster ZDF "Ich bin! Margot Friedlander" (I am! Margot Friedlander), which combines re-enactments with historical material and interviews with Friedlander, received the German Television Award. NEW YORK (PIX11) Investigators raided the home of Mayor Eric Adams chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, on Friday, law enforcement sources said. Investigators took electronic devices from Lewis-Martins home in Brooklyn, sources said. Lewis-Martin also had her phones seized by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office at John F. Kennedy International Airport Friday morning when she arrived back to New York City from Japan, according to sources. More Local News Ingrid Lewis Martin has been served with a subpoena from the Southern District of New York and her phones were given to the New York County District Attorneys Office. She will cooperate fully with any and all investigations and Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case of which we are aware, said Arthur Aidala, the attorney for Lewis-Martin. The Manhattan District Attorneys Office declined to comment on the nature of the investigation. The Southern District of New York also declined to comment. Lewis-Martin was not home at the time of the raid, but members of her family were, sources said. It came the same day Adams pleaded not guilty in court to federal charges. A federal indictment unsealed Thursday charged Adams with bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy offenses. He is accused of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources stemming from his 2021 mayoral campaign. 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. 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 allegedly 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 allegedly stole public funds by using the illegal campaign donations to manipulate New York Citys matching funds program, according to the indictment. Adams compromised his integrity and gave foreign nationals undue influence over him by accepting personal benefits and illegal donations, according to Jocelyn Strauber, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation. This undue influence allegedly led Adams to pressure the FDNY to facilitate the opening of a Turkish-owned skyscraper in Manhattan that hadnt passed a fire inspection, according to the indictment. A trail of bogus texts and small cover-up payments also allegedly showed Adams attempts to hide the fancy trips and illegal campaign donations he received, prosecutors said. By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents, said Williams, the U.S. attorney. Adams said he is innocent and has vowed to fight the charges. He also said he does not plan to resign. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said 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. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. 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 PIX11. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A special group of veterans are landing in Washington D.C. Friday as part of Honor Flight San Diego. Its the second flight this year that the nonprofit has organized. Its sure to be a powerful trip filled with a lot of emotion and gratitude and much of that was evident right from the start. Veterans began arriving to the San Diego International Airport just before 5 a.m. Many of them came on buses or were brought there by friends and family. A lasting tribute: Memorial marks 46 years since PSA Flight 182 crashed in North Park Plane lands on the 76 highway in Oceanside; narcotics found onboard It was a heroes welcome as a group of San Diego firefighters greeted them and escorted them inside Terminal 2. Honor Flight San Diego has been doing this for many years. It takes veterans from the WWII, Korea and Vietnam-era as well as veterans from any era who have terminal illnesses on a weekend trip to D.C. This time around there were 92 veterans getting the opportunity to visit the Memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. These war heroes will return Sunday to a big welcome home party at the airport. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hope Breakfast Bar to open Monday near Target Field Bring Me the News Popular Twin Cities brunch restaurant Hope Breakfast Bar will arrive in Minneapolis next week. The new location will become the downtown St. Paul-born brunch spot's sixth full-service restaurant in the Twin Cities area, joining existing outposts in St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Eagan, Edina and Woodbury. Husband-and-wife duo chef Brian Ingram and Sarah Ingram introduced the concept in 2019. Their restaurant group, Purpose Restaurants, also operates the Gnome Craft Pub and Apostle Supper Club in St. Paul. Hope Breakfast Bar. Courtesy of Purpose Restaurants. In Minneapolis, Hope Breakfast Bar joins the North Loop Green development, which Texas-based real estate firm Hines completed in May. The mixed-use development consists of a 34-story, 449-unit residential tower overlooking Target Field; a 14-story, 365,000-square-foot office building; and a 471-stall parking garage. Courtesy of Kraus-Anderson. Expected to soon join the Hope Breakfast Bar inside North Loop Green will be another Purpose Restaurants concept, called Salt & Flour, which will focus on modern Italian fare. No opening date has been announced for Salt & Flour, but the restaurant's website advertises its "opening soon." Courtesy of Purpose Restaurants. 'I swam out of my home' - Floridians reel from Helene This embedded content is not available in your region. A wall of seawater from the deadly Hurricane Helene forced Briana Gagnier and her family to swim out of their home on Floridas Gulf Coast. Ms Gagnier, who lives in Holmes Beach north of Sarasota, had stayed behind with her family to protect their one-storey property. She placed sandbags at every door and moved belongings on to tall furniture to keep them dry. She even used towels in a vain effort to stem the storm surge. Then came a loud bang. Their garage door broke open violently - caving in to the deluge. Water quickly rose to their shoulders, forcing them to escape. "Everyone was screaming and panicking," she told the BBC. "Whatever your worst idea of what this storm is - that is what we're seeing." She and her family ran across the street to a neighbours house, where they ended up rescuing two elderly people whose home had burst into flames. She said the blaze appeared to be linked to a golf cart battery. Looking around, she said she saw couches, chairs, a bench and even a car float by. The water was above her mailbox for part of the evening, she added. "I just can't believe this is real. The eye of the storm didn't even hit us straight on," said Ms Gagnier. "This island is completely devastated. Everywhere I look, devastation." Briana Gagnier says the streets look like white water rapids [Briana Gagnier] She is one of many Floridians along the states Big Bend Coast who are reeling from the aftermath of Helene, which forecasters said was unusually large for a Gulf hurricane. The deadly category four storm made landfall in Florida on Thursday evening, before weakening to a tropical depression as it churned inland through Georgia and into North Carolina and Tennessee. There were 20 known fatalities from the storm as of Friday afternoon, including 11 in Georgia alone. At least five other people were killed in Florida and two more in North Carolina. Four million households were without electricity by Friday lunchtime across the south-eastern US. Michael Bobbit, who lives on Cedar Key, told the BBC his house, which sits atop a hill, "miraculously survived, but the island is totally devastated". In a video he posted on social media, he described the carnage: "Entire houses are missing or flattened in on themselves, the hardware store is gone, the downtown Jiffy [food market] completely destroyed, the post office completely destroyed. "Its hard to take in. However bad we imagined it would be, its so much worse in the daylight." Mr Bobbit said he believes it will take years for the small island of 720 people to recover. A man and his dog were rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter after his 36ft sailboat took on water. The man, whom the Coast Guard did not name, was sailing 25 miles off the coast of Sanibel Island when he was caught by the hurricane. He called Channel 16 - the emergency channel for marine radios - to summon help. Thousands of water rescues were also carried out inland throughout flooded neighbourhoods, including in Atlanta, Georgia, where an apartment building was evacuated amid flooding. ML Ferguson, a resident of Anna Maria Island, Florida, told the BBC the roads around had morphed into rivers amid a storm surge of up to 10ft (3m). When she returned to her home late on Thursday, she found it, too, had been deluged. "Oh my gosh, it's literally up to the second step," she told the BBC in a phone interview, before quickly hanging up and rushing to stop more water from coming in. This embedded content is not available in your region. In Tallahassee, Florida, some residents like Cainnon Gregg had hunkered down to ride out the storm. Mr Gregg, who stayed at a friends shelter, said he wanted to remain close to the water to check on his oyster farm as soon as it was safe to do so. He had spent the last few days trying to protect it by sinking it into the ocean bed. His farm was once destroyed before, during Hurricane Michael - a category five that hit the Florida panhandle in 2018 - and he said he was determined to learn from that lesson. Hopefully, and nothing is for certain, the farm is sitting nice and safe on the bottom, he said ahead of the storm. But anything could happen. Four decades before he made history as New Yorks first indicted mayor, Eric Adams became an officer with what was then known as the Oh police. The New York City Transit Police got that nickname because of the response they often received when they sparked interest in a new acquaintance by saying they were a cop, then added they patrolled the decidedly unglamorous subway. Oh. Some transit cops back in the days when their radios often failed to work underground joked they should really be called the Oh s--t police. That was because they were liable to find themselves confronting a hulking psycho who had just spat in their face on a moving train when any hope for back-up was a half-hour away. One result of such confrontations was that transit officers, who city police dismissed as cave cops, got a lesson in who they really were at their very core. Some took it as a challenge and became determined crime fighters. Adams instead became what some termed a house mouse, contriving to spend much of his time in the departments underground headquarters. He was a clerk, a retired transit cop who made more than 1,000 arrests told the Daily Beast on Thursday. He was inside. He wasnt really out there. He was not a real cop, said another retired transit officer who was as real as they come. I think he got nine collars. And theyd all be misdemeanors. When cops collared a robber or a rapist, they would call it in and Adams would demonstrate his organizational skills while preparing a report at the operations desk. He proved to have a knack with computers when he was assigned to data processing. He also prepared for promotion exams by studying the patrol guide, the penal codes, and the rules of criminal procedure. Test scores alone determined a cops rise to sergeant and then lieutenant and then captain. At the same time, Adams achieved a certain distinction among cave cops as one of the senior members of two associations of Black police officers: The Guardians and 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. That helped make him a viable candidate for deputy commissioner for community affairs when onetime top transit cop Bill Bratton became the head of the NYPD in 1994. But the then-mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is said to have deemed Adams to be too close to community activists in Brooklyn. Is New York Ready to Turn Cuomosexual Again After Eric Adams Indictment? In 1995 the Transit Police merged with the NYPD, which began to achieve an historic reduction in crime due to the strategic genius of a former cave cop, Deputy Commissioner for Operations Jack Maple. Adams was assigned for a time as a captain in a high-crime Brooklyn precinct and then in low-crime Greenwich Village. His disciplinary record through all his years was clean, save for a single departmental complaint in 2006 for speaking to TV news without authorization. That same year, Adams retired and made a successful run for state senator in Brooklyn as a Black former cop with social justice cred. He was elected Brooklyn Borough President in 2014 and gave a measure of his self-importance when Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, a longtime community planning board chairman, refused to follow a command to fire a highly regarded manager without cause. Im the Borough President and you do what I tell you, Goldstein remembers Adams saying. Adams had ascended from the Oh Police to a certain level of outer borough prominence. But he faced a common problem for politicians: Even though he could consider himself a big shot, he did not have big-shot money. He was able to get a table at a hot restaurant, but there remained the question of the check. To his manifest delight, he encountered plenty of people who did have big-shot money and were happy to pay. He discovered that there was even the government of a whole country, Turkey, willing to upgrade him to business class when he flew on its national airline. He even managed to get upgrades if he just stopped in Turkey on the way to other destinations. Of course his Turkish pals were only doing it because they figured he was in a position to help them. And they proved willing to provide him with some of what he knew he needed to keep that position. You win the race by raising money. Have to raise money. Everything else is fluff, he texted a supporter, according to court papers. He needed much bigger sums when he decided to run for mayor in 2021. Along with Turkish friends he sought out money from anybody who might be willing to kick in. If they were ready to give more than the legal maximum, he allegedly put it in other peoples names. Prosecutors say he also did that with the cash from the Turks, who as foreigners were not allowed to contribute at all. That way, he allegedly collected enough illegal money to bankroll his campaign as a law-and-order candidate. He won on a promise to make the city safe. Adams could have hired the best of the best to run the city, but they might have noticed that the people who gave his campaign money occasionally wanted something in return. They might have wondered why he flew into Istanbul on the way to France, even though its not on the way. They also might have asked why he was so anxious to have the FDNY set aside its safety concerns regarding Turkeys new high-rise consulate building in Manhattan. Somebody might have noticed the building was certified for occupancy just before Turkeys president arrived to open it with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Adams instead collected a crew of cronies who said nothing because they did not want anybody asking questions about what they themselves were doing. Many of them were former cops Adams knew from Transit or Brooklyn. They included Phil Banks, who resigned as NYPD chief of department after federal prosecutors named him as an unindicted co-conspirator in a major corruption scandal in 2014. Adams made Banks deputy mayor for public safety, with authority over the police commissioner and the rest of the NYPD. Banks and the rest of Adams cronies became the subject of at least three federal investigations. A fourth investigation focused on Adams himself and the result was an indictment that was unsealed on Thursday. He will be arraigned on Friday morning on charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting a political contribution from a foreign national. Court papers suggest that as good Adams was at studying the rules as a house mouse, he was not very very skilled at breaking them as the mayor. One section of the indictment describes his apparent effort to thwart the FBI after agents executed a search warrant for his electronic devices on Nov. 6, 2023. Although Adams was carrying several electronic devices, including two cell phones, he was not carrying his personal cell phone, which is the device he used to communicate about the conduct described in this indictment. When Adams produced his personal cell phone 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... 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. Oh. 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. Housing crisis: New tool aims to help planners that are flying blind GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) As West Michigan works to climb its way out of a housing crisis, a new tool outlines housing zoning codes in three counties. The Michigan Zoning Atlas Pilot Program is an interactive map that shows housing-related zoning in 85 jurisdictions throughout Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. The goal is to give policymakers and others a clear view of their local zoning codes while working to add to the housing market. Inside WOODTV.com: Housing crisis in West Michigan Many communities are realizing they lack the diverse forms of housing needed for todays populations, but in many cases policymakers are flying blind, the atlas website says. There is no consistent, high-quality data describing the boundaries and details of Michigans zoning codes. Project leaders demonstrated the tool during a Wednesday conference, according to Crains Grand Rapids Business, which first reported on the Michigan Zoning Atlas. Crains reports the atlas took a year to develop. Organizations that are working on the atlas include the Michigan Association of Planning, the University of Michigan and Housing Next, which is working on a corridor strategy that found space for 70,000 housing units in commercial corridors throughout Kent County. Kent County needs to add 35,000 housing units, Ottawa County needs to add 15,500 housing units and according to Housing Next. The city of Muskegon has a gap of almost 3,000 housing units, a study done by Bowen National Research on behalf of the city 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 WOODTV.com. Mandy Baxter thought she understood the contours of grief, after all those years futilely fighting the disease that was walling off her goofy, exuberant daughter inside a dying body, wracked by seizures and unable to speak or walk. But sorrow has no rules or borders, and denial can feel exactly like hope. There were a lot of last times, I just didnt expect to not bring her home from the hospital and shed be back sitting on this couch next to me, like always, Mandy said Tuesday, gazing through swollen eyelids around the living room of their Pueblo house, a space full of echoes but suddenly too silent and still. No cartoons blaring on the big screen TV, no alarms, beeps and wheezes from medical devices or flurry of family caregivers attending Amarias 24/7 schedule of needs. I didnt think I would miss the sound of alarms going off all the time, but I do, Mandy said. I drove with the seat belt off today, just to hear that beep-beep-beep ..." Amaria Granger died Sept. 20, three weeks after celebrating her 16th birthday. Most children diagnosed with the rare genetic disease Niemann-Pick type C dont live beyond their early teen years if they survive infancy. Also known as childhood Alzheimer's because of the way its destruction progresses, Niemann-Pick type C is among a category of rare lysosomal storage disorders that interfere with the bodys ability to process cholesterol. Fats intended to be burned as an energy source instead are misrouted to places, including the brain, where they build up and lead to disease, destruction and eventually organ failure. After Amarias diagnosis, Mandy chased every thread of hope she could find, enrolling her daughter in promising drug trials that took the family Mandy, Amaria and Amarias de facto stepfather, Mandys longtime partner, Philip Potter back and forth to Chicago, and then Denver, for experimental treatments that, for a time, seemed to stave off the progression of symptoms. Amarias older brother, Silas Swint, became a registered nurse and moved back home to help care for her. Silas' twin brother, Marcus, also returned to Pueblo to join the caregiving brigade after earning his undergraduate degree. Help the family A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help pay for Amaria Granger's final arrangements. Mandy Baxter and her family weren't able to save money without jeopardizing medical coverage for Amaria, and all income and compensation they received for serving as her primary caregivers ended with her death. Visit gofund.me/2539d25b The experimental drugs, when they worked, only ever offered a temporary stay of the clock, Mandy said. The day Amaria died, Mandy learned that the experimental drug her daughter had been on was approved by the FDA for the treatment of Niemann-Pick type C. It was one of two trial drugs approved by the agency within the space of a week, marking a sea change for families facing a shattering diagnosis, now with access to concrete pharmaceutical hope. We think that if Amaria had been diagnosed at a younger age, and she'd been able to start on those drugs earlier, things would have been different, Mandy said. It might have been too late to save her daughter, but Mandy still had time to make the most of the life they had left. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. We spent the first few years spending all of our money and resources on chasing a cure that didnt exist, Mandy said early last year. I was ruining the time that I had. Mandy couldnt show Amaria the world, but she could get close, much closer to home. The Gazette chronicled the family during their two-day trip to Las Vegas in April 2023, during which they attended a Cirque du Soleil performance, and toured the Marvel Avengers exhibit and global destinations writ gloriously small the Eiffel Tower, the New York skyline along the strip. Mandy had wanted to take Amaria to the beach, one last time, just dip her toes in the water. She wanted so many more things, but there wasnt time. Amarias health took a drastic turn in the months after Las Vegas, and she ultimately lost the ability to eat solid food, one of her few remaining joys, Mandy said. For Amarias August birthday in 2022, Mandy had organized a community prom so disabled teens like Amaria wouldnt have to miss out on the experience. Steadied by the arms of her big brother and her stepdad, draped in a glittering princess dress, Amaria was able to dance at that prom, a party that became an annual event and highlight for both the family and community. Its a tradition Mandy said she intends to continue, even though she knew this years prom would very likely be Amarias last. The Monday before her final trip to Childrens Hospital in Colorado Springs, Amaria had seemed the closest to her old self shed been in months, even booping her occupational therapist on the nose, and reaching out to everyone who passed by her spot on the couch as though trying to scoop them into a hug. I dont know maybe she knew, and was trying to say goodbye, Mandy said. Goodbye is a word Mandy cant imagine ever being able to say. Amaria made every person she touched a better person. I hate to think that her life was just being an example to the rest of us but she really was, said Mandy. "She made me who I am. My world doesn't make sense without her." She knows shell have to figure out who Mandy is, without the daughter who was her love and her life, without the child who filled her every waking minute with purpose and fight, but her sons are grieving, too, and they need her. And theres still work to be done. Mandy needs to finish decorating the front porch for Halloween, because thats what Amaria would have wanted. In the coming days, shell have to force herself to think about a memorial, and returning to the funeral home a final time to collect her daughters ashes. But the funeral home is just up the street from their house close enough to drive with the seat belt off. The government's drive for new housing risks overwhelming local roads, schools and GP services in England's rural areas and small towns, a group of county councils has warned. The government has been consulting on plans to introduce mandatory housing targets that would push more development away from major city centres. A survey by the County Councils Network (CCN), which represents authorities that manage local infrastructure for half of England's population, found its members feared there were not sufficient services to meet supply. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We reject any claims that these targets are excessive." We are facing a serious housing crisis so all areas of the country must play their part in building the homes that Britain badly needs," the spokesperson said. The government would "work in partnership with councils to create the vital infrastructure that people need in their communities", they added. On average, local authorities represented by the CCN will see a 56% rise in the number of new homes required equivalent to more than 64,000 properties per year. Richard Clewer, CCN housing spokesperson, said councils "dont have enough infrastructure to cope now", let alone with upcoming projects. "Councils in rural and county areas are not anti-housing and the vast majority support the principle of nationally set targets. But these targets are excessive. "We also must remember much of this development in county areas will be in the places with limited or no public transport, compared to the benefits of building in or around cities where there is already good infrastructure." The CCN also warned that communities could face a developer "free for all" involving speculative housebuilding in unsuitable places, risking driving "a bulldozer through locally-led planning decisions". Compulsory targets Labour has put housing reforms at the heart of its mission to drive economic growth since taking office in July. During the general election campaign, the party pledged to get 1.5 million homes built in five years by "unblocking" the planning system. Latest figures show the number of housing projects given the go-ahead by councils in England fell to a record low in the final months of the last government. Since July, the government has been consulting on sweeping changes to England's National Planning Policy Framework (NPPR), the guidelines which govern the home planning system. The plans include setting mandatory local housing targets, which the government says will be distributed according to the size of existing communities and the need to address housing shortages in high-demand areas. The proposed changes would see a major shift in the areas new homes were built - resulting in a surge in new housing in smaller towns and the countryside. Some built-up areas like Westminster and Bolton in Greater Manchester are also earmarked for more homes, but the general trend will mean major cities such as London, Birmingham and Coventry being expected to construct thousands fewer homes than implied by current targets. 'Grey belt' The CCN represents England's 20 county councils and 17 unitary authorities in shire areas. This month the CCN has surveyed its members - made up of 29 Conservative, six Lib Dem and two Labour local authorities - about the proposals. None of the 21 councils which responded supported the governments new target for their area, with 94% saying the targets were excessive. Nine in 10 councils blamed a lack of infrastructure, and more than half said there was a lack of suitable land for the proposed new housing numbers. The CCN called for the current system of allowing councils to set their own local plans that guide development in their areas to continue. Local authorities are meant to create these plans through consultation with residents, businesses and local stakeholders. Labour has maintained the reforms will supply infrastructure - schools, GP surgeries, transport links and green spaces - alongside new housing. Announcing the plans, Deputy PM and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the government would ensure "people get the homes they need locally and see the infrastructure that improves nature and their local area". If the new guidance comes into place, councils will have to demonstrate they have a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites to meet the new targets. If there is not enough land to meet housing targets, councils will be encouraged to build on a new category of "grey belt" land, which Labour says will consist of poor-quality parts of the green belt - areas of land that are protected from most forms of development. Rescue workers gather at the site of a massive Israeli air attack on pro-Iranian Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Marwan Naaman/dpa Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia on Friday condemned the Israeli attack on the headquarters of the Hezbollah militia in a Beirut suburb, saying it "opens the door to an open war." "Targeting the southern suburb [of Beirut], which is crowded with civilians, is unprecedented brutality and is neither new nor surprising for the Zionist gang," the militia's political bureau said in a statement. "The serious development in the aggression on Lebanon opens the door to an open and comprehensive war, the result of which will be devastating to the interim entity [Israel]," it added, according to the Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah TV. Both the Houthi and Hezbollah militias are part of Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" which includes proxy groups in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere. Since the onset of the Gaza war nearly a year ago, the Houthis have targeted Israel and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, stating these actions are in solidarity with the Palestinian organization Hamas in Gaza. The Houthis have carried out various attacks, including drone and missile strikes on Tel Aviv. In response, Israel, along with the United States and Britain, has targeted locations within Yemen in recent months. As a result of these militia attacks, the traffic of container ships in the region has plummeted by approximately 90%. Rescue workers gather at the site of a massive Israeli air attack on pro-Iranian Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Marwan Naaman/dpa HOWLAND, Ohio (WKBN) Students at Howland High School had a special treat at lunch Friday to celebrate their school resource officer. This event was a surprise for Stephanie Slusher, as students made slushies to share with her and other students. This event is in honor of Octobers School Safety Month, highlighting the importance of safety in schools. Principal Joe Simko said Slusher is a mentor, friend and source of positivity for the students. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One Class at a Time presented by Chick-fil-A of Birmingham. For 22 years, CBS 42 has been proud to present local teachers with $1,000 grants through its One Class at a Time program, honoring the educators who work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the children of Central Alabama. This week, CBS 42 Meteorologist Alex Puckett, the Chick-fil-A cow and Chick-fil-A of Birmingham representatives set out to Hueytown Middle School in Hueytown, Ala. to honor one such educator, Andrew Poe, the Band Director for grades sixth through eighth. Passionate about helping students find their unique voice through music, Poe plans to use his One Class grant to complete renovations in the band room that will improve sound quality. The plan is to get some sound barriers up on the walls, said Poe. We just want to try and make it a bit deader of a sound, just so we can save our ears. A teacher in Hueytown for 14 years, five of which were spent at Hueytown High School before starting at the middle school, Poe loves being part of building the foundation that will propel his young musicians as they enter high school band. This is the first time that many of them have even looked at an instrument, said Poe. To go from that to watching where they go beyond in high school, college and even higher is absolutely incredible. To nominate a local teacher for CBS 42s One Class at a Time grant, apply here. Sponsored content disclaimer: The information and advice displayed in this story are those of individual sponsors or guests and not the Nexstar Media Group, inc. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This embedded content is not available in your region. Israel has launched a series of huge air strikes in Lebanons capital Beirut, targeting what it says is Hezbollahs central headquarters. At least two people have been killed and 76 injured, according to Lebanese officials, after several buildings were hit in Dahieh, Hezbollahs stronghold in the south of the city. BBC reporters in Beirut said explosions were followed by chaotic scenes with nearby roads packed with people fleeing. The Israeli military said the headquarters it targeted was located "under residential buildings". Israeli and US media said the strike targeted Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah. It was too early to say if Nasrallah was hit, an Israeli official told Reuters. Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told state TV that Israel was crossing Tehran's red lines. "Assassinations will not solve Israel's problem... With the assassination of resistance leaders, others will take their place," he told state TV, Reuters reported. Iran's embassy in Beirut meanwhile said the strike on Dahieh was a "dangerous game changer". The attack took place shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to defeat Hezbollah in a speech at the UN. Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said it showed Israel "does not care" about US-led efforts to bring about a ceasefire. Israel has sharply escalated its campaign against the Lebanese armed group, with which it has been trading cross-border fire for nearly a year. Air strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon this week have killed nearly 800 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. The US had no advance warning of Israel's attack on Dahieh, the Pentagon said. Hezbollah continued firing into Israel on Friday evening, with air raid alerts sounding in multiple areas in the north of the country. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a "direct hit from a Hezbollah rocket was identified" on a house and car in the city of Safed. On Thursday allies including the US, UK and EU called for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon. 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, where Israel has been fighting the Palestinian armed group Hamas. However in his UN General Assembly speech Netanyahu said Israel would continue attacking Hezbollah to achieve its goal of returning about 70,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel. "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that's exactly what we're doing," he told the UN. Netanyahu's office later said he had cut short his trip to the US and was returning to Israel. In his own speech to the UN on Thursday, Mikati warned that hospitals were no longer capable of treating people because of the sheer number of casualties from Israels attacks. "Israel is violating our sovereignty by sending their war planes and drones to our skies, by killing our civilians, including youth, women and children, destroying homes and forcing families to flee under harsh humanitarian conditions," he said. 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. The strikes hit the densely populated Dahieh area, a Hezbollah stronghold [Reuters] Tensions have been growing across the Middle East since Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October last year, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages. Israel's military response has since killed more than 41,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there. Hezbollah began firing into Israel on 8 October, saying it was acting in solidarity with the Palestinian group. The group, proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK and other countries, has launched more than 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. It has also fired anti-tank missiles at armoured vehicles and attacked military targets with explosive drones. Israel had responded with thousands of its own air, drone and artillery strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon before ramping up its bombardment this week. BEIRUT (AP) The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollahs headquarters in Beirut on Friday in a series of massive explosions that targeted the leader of the militant group and leveled multiple high-rise apartment buildings. At least six people were killed and 91 were wounded, Lebanons health ministry said. It was the biggest blast to hit the Lebanese capital in the past year and appeared likely to push the escalating conflict closer to full-fledged war. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strikes, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, including one United States official. The Israeli army declined to comment on who it was targeting. It was not immediately clear if Nasrallah was at the site, and Hezbollah did not comment on the report. The death toll is likely to rise significantly as teams comb through the rubble of six buildings. Israel launched a series of strikes on other areas of the southern suburbs following the initial blast. After the strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States to return home. Hours earlier, he addressed the United Nations, vowing that Israels intensified campaign against Hezbollah over the past two weeks would continue further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire. News of the blasts came as Netanyahu was briefing reporters after his U.N. address. A military aide whispered into his ear, and Netanyahu quickly ended the briefing. Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the strikes targeted the main Hezbollah headquarters, saying it was located underground beneath residential buildings. The series of blasts at around nightfall reduced six apartment towers to rubble in Haret Hreik, a densely populated, predominantly Shiite district of Beiruts Dahiyeh suburbs, according to Lebanons national news agency. A wall of billowing black and orange smoke rose into the sky as windows were rattled and houses shaken some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Beirut. Footage showed rescue workers clambering over large slabs of concrete, surrounded by high piles of twisted metal and wreckage. Several craters were visible, one with a car toppled into it. A stream of residents carrying their belongings were seen fleeing along a main road out of the district. Israel provided no immediate comment about the type of bomb or how many it used, but the resulting explosion levelled an area greater than a city block. The Israeli army has in its arsenal 2,000-pound, American-made Bunker Buster guided bombs designed specifically for hitting subterranean targets. Richard Weir, crisis and weapons researcher with Human Rights Watch, said the blasts were consistent with that class of bomb. Israels air forces followed with a new set of strikes early Saturday, also in the southern suburbs, shortly after warning residents of three buildings to evacuate. It said they were being used by Hezbollah to hide weapons, including anti-ship missiles. Israels military announced additional attacks on Beqaa in eastern Lebanon and Tyre in the south. To a degree unseen in past conflicts, Israel spent the week pushing to eliminate Hezbollahs senior leadership. But an attempt to assassinate Nasrallah successful or not would be a major escalation. The Pentagon said the U.S. had no advance warning of the strikes. Nasrallah has been in hiding for years, very rarely appearing in public. He regularly gives speeches, but always by video from unknown locations. The site hit Friday evening had not been publicly known as Hezbollahs main headquarters, though it is located in the groups security quarters, a heavily guarded part of Haret Hreik where it has offices and runs several nearby hospitals. Four hours after the strike, Hezbollah had still not issued any statement referring to it. Instead, it announced that it had launched a salvo of rockets at the Israeli city of Safed, which it said was in defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the barbaric Israeli violation of cities, villages and civilians. The Israeli military said a house and a car in Safed were hit, and officials said a 68-year-old woman sustained mild shrapnel wounds. Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, saying it is determined to put an end to more than 11 months of Hezbollah fire into its territory. The escalated campaign has killed more than 720 people in Lebanon, including dozens of women and children, according to Health Ministry statistics. A predawn strike Friday in the mainly Sunni border town of Chebaa killed nine members of the same family, the state news agency said. The United Nations said the fighting has displaced 211,000 people, including 85,000 now staying in public schools and other shelters. Airstrikes have forced 20 primary health care centers to shut down and disrupted access to clean water for nearly 300,000 people. The scope of Israels operation remains unclear, but officials have said a ground invasion to push the militant group away from the border is a possibility. Israel moved thousands of troops toward the border in preparation. At the U.N., Netanyahu vowed to continue degrading Hezbollah until Israel achieves its goals. His comments dampened hopes for a U.S.-backed call for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah to allow time for a diplomatic solution. Hezbollah has not responded to the proposal. Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, saying it was a show of support for the Palestinians. Since then, it and the Israeli military have traded fire almost daily, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border. An Israeli security official said he expects the campaign against Hezbollah would not last for as long as the current war in Gaza, because the militarys goals are much narrower. In Gaza, Israel aims to dismantle Hamas military and political regime, but the goal in Lebanon is to push Hezbollah away from the border not a high bar like Gaza in terms of operational objectives, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to military briefing guidelines. In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, civil defense workers pulled the bodies of two women 35-year-old Hiba Ataya and her mother Sabah Olyan from the rubble of a building brought down by a strike. Thats Sabah, these are her clothes, my love, one man cried out as her body emerged. Israel says its accelerated strikes have already inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollahs weapons capabilities and its fighters. A strike Tuesday in southern Lebanon killed a Hezbollah missile unit commander, Muhammad Ali Ismail, and his deputy, Israel's military said Saturday. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah. But Hezbollah boasted a large arsenal of rockets and missiles and its remaining capacities are unknown. Hezbollah officials and their supporters remain defiant. Not long before the explosions Friday evening, thousands gathered in another part of Beiruts suburbs for the funeral of three Hezbollah members killed in earlier strikes, including the head of the groups drone unit, Mohammed Surour. People in the giant crowd waved their fists in the air and chanted, We will never accept humiliation, as they marched marched behind the three coffins, wrapped in the groups yellow flag. Hussein Fadlallah, Hezbollahs top official in Beirut, said in a speech that no matter how many commanders Israel kills, the group has endless numbers of experienced fighters. He vowed that Hezbollah will keep fighting until Israel stops its offensive in Gaza. We will not abandon the support of Palestine, Jerusalem and oppressed Gaza, Fadlallah said. There is no place for neutrality in this battle. ___ AP writers Tia Goldenberg at the United Nations; Abby Sewell in Beirut; Aamer Madhani in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; and Zeina Karam in London contributed to this report. A lively roundtable discussion on tenant rights and housing needs in Oklahoma City recently drew dozens of people to the citys historic Capitol Hill district. The public meeting, held Wednesday in the Capitol Hill Library and hosted by the Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission, explored the topic of housing as a human right amid various factors for the citys high eviction rate, which is the 20th-worst for cities across the country. According to Oklahoma City nonprofit Shelterwell, Oklahoma as a state ranks 6th in the nation for evictions. The discussion featured the perspectives of Gregory Beben, a longtime attorney for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma; Jenna Pilcher, an attorney for the Housing Eviction Legal Assistance Program (HELP) at Oklahoma City University School of Law; and Lisa Chronister, the Assistant Director of the Oklahoma City Planning Department. The latest iteration of the commission is nearing the end of its second year, commission chair Valerie Couch said, but it meets every two months to address alleged harm to residents who have faced discrimination because of race, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability and other protected classes. Weve also been focused on identifying issues that the Human Rights Commission can actually take action on, either through advocacy or other partnerships, Couch said. These meetings weve been using to build relationships, partnerships, and understanding as deeply as we can what the landscape looks like for housing in Oklahoma City. The commission was approved by a 5-4 Oklahoma City Council vote in mid-2022, after nearly two years of research by a mayor-appointed task force on whether the city needed such a commission again. The last Human Rights Commission was previously disbanded in 1996 when city councilmembers disagreed with commissioners trying to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ residents. Related: Facing eviction and need legal help? Advocates working to make sure help is available Much of the discussion Wednesday was fueled by disagreements between panelists and other guests over what actually is the driving force of evictions. Some laid much of the blame on landlords and excessive charges, while others argued it was due to a shortage of affordable housing and an inadequate minimum wage. When a tenant is served with an eviction action, the tenant does not have to move out of the residence immediately. Landlords are not legally able to lock out a tenant without first going to court and getting a judges order. But Beben said the rate of evictions in Oklahoma County have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and that tenants throughout the state are evicted too quickly in comparison to other states. Once you show up to court, those tenants are two days away from being locked out by the sheriff, Beben said. If they lost their court hearing, theyre as little as 48 hours away from being locked out. Sometimes its a little longer, depending on how backed up the sheriffs office is, but thats what were dealing with, and theres growing concern and growing interest in that timeframe and how fast that process is. The economic crisis brought on by the pandemic illustrated to Beben and others that more work needed to be done to protect tenants, but several pandemic-era relief funds have ended. He, Pilcher and the commissions compliance officer Emma Winiski are taking part in an expanded right-to-counsel project to look at what strategies for legal services are working in peer cities that could then be applied in Oklahoma City. More: Legal aid help for renters facing eviction in Oklahoma City is working and being expanded Gregory Beben, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., speaks at the Human Rights Commission meeting is pictured at the Capitol Hill Library in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept., 25, 2024. Pilcher expects to soon become director of OCU Laws HELP, which provides pro bono pre-eviction dispute representation for all counties in the state and eviction defense and litigation for Oklahoma County specifically. She said some helpful solutions would include keeping landlords from charging a tenant higher additional eviction filing fees, as well as increasing the visibility of dismissed cases on a tenants record so that they have better chances of securing future housing. I actually just had one case last week where (a woman) had seven evictions on her record, Pilcher said. Granted, the most recent one was she didnt pay the rent, but the six before that, the plaintiff filed and then the landlord never showed up but she got denied at three different new apartments. However, Robert Goldman, a local attorney who's represented many landlords, objected to suggestions that he believed characterized landlords as predatory, arguing that most would rather have their tenants remain at their rental properties and not have to go through a costly court battle themselves. Theres no landlords that I know of that are not interested in making a profit, Goldman said. Theyre not making a profit by evicting a bunch of tenants and paying court costs and hiring attorneys to do that. Right now in our city, the tenants are well-represented in court. Legal Aid has four or five attorneys at almost every docket that I attend. Instead, Goldman said roughly 90% of cases he sees are due to tenants failure to pay. Although he did admit eviction filings were high, he also argued that many landlords were willing to mediate a resolution with tenants before they are actually forced out of their homes. When asked by Couch why they believed evictions were so high, Goldman and a few other attendees said it was because residents are just not making enough money. I think there are industries in this city that are very happy with minimum wage being at $7.25, and theyre going to push back at any type of situation thats going to raise the minimum, he said. Related: Ballot measure to increase Oklahoma's minimum wage set for 2026 The Human Rights Commission meeting is pictured at the Capitol Hill Library in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept., 25, 2024. Affordable housing issues complicated by zoning restrictions When the subject turned to the lack of affordable housing in the city, Chronister pointed to a 2021 study that recommended increasing long-term affordable rental units in the city and expanding funds for their development. But she said long-held zoning regulations on accessory dwellings, maximum occupancy, lot sizes, density limits and single-family residences have all made it difficult to build more affordable housing in the citys urban core. The city has been working to update zoning codes for years so as to better enact the citys comprehensive planokc, and Chronister said an affordable housing implementation plan would be presented to city councilmembers in the near future. In the meantime, the recent push to lift a decades-old ban on accessory dwelling units (also known as backyard cottages or granny flats) has been impeded by some residents concerns that it could instead boost home-sharing services like Airbnb and not actually improve the citys housing supply. But Chronister is hopeful the Planning Commission will recommend the updated city ordinance to council in late October. The benefits of accessory dwellings, we feel, are great, Chronister said. For this discussion, it expands housing capacity. If all of the single-family residences in the city added an accessory dwelling, it would be doubling the housing stock. It creates affordable housing in traditional neighborhoods, especially neighborhoods that people might be priced out. More: City planners want to know what OKC residents think about backyard 'granny flats' Better outreach for aid services needed Residents of color are especially affected by issues with housing and affordability. Pilcher said about 60% of HELP cases are minority clients, while 40% are white, and Black women with children were disproportionately represented in Oklahoma County eviction data earlier this year. Beben said many mothers fell behind on rent payments in August because of the need to buy school supplies. One attendee, Antone Bates-Bey, who has lived for nearly a decade at the Will Rogers Courts public housing complex, asked specifically how the city and the legal assistance attorneys planned to better inform residents from minority communities who could benefit from their services. Sometimes we dont have the resources or have knowledge of the resources thats available to us, to be able to help ourselves, Bates-Bey said. A lot of the times, we have meetings and stuff like this and most times people are at work because theyre focused on paying their bills. Pilcher said she hoped to begin a social media strategy for short educational videos about HELP, while Winiski said the local Housing and Community Development Team had recently met to discuss how to update a five-year plan on expanding outreach for its housing rehabilitation and loan assistance programs. Tobias Frederick, a retired police officer now working as a civil rights enforcement investigator for the Attorney Generals Office, said that the agency hosts symposiums on housing and employment issues and would be willing to assist with outreach. He also told commissioners and landlords that the biggest problems he sees as an enforcer are issues with public accommodation compliance. I understand paying rent and things like that thats a big issue, Frederick said. But from what I see statewide, we have a lot of property managers and landlords that avoid some of the things that they know that theyre supposed to be doing as it relates to public accommodations. More: OKC homeless shelters are at capacity but the solution isn't more beds, organizers say. It's housing. Tenant advocacy discussion held day after OKC rehousing initiative update Wednesday's meeting continued a commission discussion on housing that began at its last meeting in July. Two months prior, the city released its annual Point in Time Count, a "snapshot" survey of the city's unhoused population, which indicated the number of people experiencing homelessness had increased by 28% since the survey had been conducted in 2023. Despite the increase in homelessness for Oklahoma City, progress was still being made on the issue. City councilmembers received a presentation Monday of a Fiscal Year 2024 report from the Key to Home Partnership, a public-private alliance of city agencies, state departments, local businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing chronic and unsheltered homelessness in Oklahoma City. Launched citywide in September 2023, Key to Home aims to rehouse 500 people by the end of 2025. Staff for the partnership go to people in their encampments, create relationships with landlords and work together to place them in secure housing. Outcomes on the rehousing initiative have been overwhelmingly positive, with only 3% of people rehoused so far re-experiencing homelessness. "By June, we had housed 214 people out of 15 encampments," said Jamie Caves, Key to Home's strategy implementation manager. "91% of the people that were offered housing have accepted housing, which is remarkable." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Human Rights Commission discusses tenants rights, OKC eviction rate NILES, Ohio (WKBN) Multiple agencies hosted a human trafficking awareness and training event Friday at the Eastwood Event Centre. Experts spoke about human trafficking and what it looks like locally. A special agent from the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) talked about how law enforcement navigates the web and social media when dealing with human trafficking. Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Renee DiSalvo gave examples of human trafficking that happens here and how it is processed in court. Victims also talked about their experiences. When we were able to hear what has really happened and the impact it has had on their lives, I think it brings a tremendously different direction and gives us an opportunity to put a face to something we talk about sometimes almost too casually during training, said Susan Laird, an adjunct professor at Youngstown State University and human trafficking trainer. In 2023, Ohio scored an F on the Shared Hope International Report Card for Child and Youth Sex Trafficking. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of Florida College Students Are Sheltering on Campus Ahead of Hurricane Helene's Landfall: 'I Miss My Bed' Helene was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane, with hours to go before it makes landfall Joe Raedle/Getty Vehicles drive along a flooded street as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Several Florida colleges and universities have closed schools and issued shelter-in-place orders on campus ahead of Hurricane Helene, according to NBC News, CNN, NBC 8 and the Tallahassee Democrat. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the storm strengthened to category 4, with "catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds" hitting 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, between the Tampa Bay and Tallahassee areas. Several colleges issued shelter-in-place orders on campus, including Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee State College and the University of South Florida. Other universities not in Tallahassee have also canceled classes with plans to reopen Monday, Sept. 30, including New College of Florida in Sarasota, South Florida State College in Highlands County, Pasco-Hernando State College in Spring Hill, Hillsborough Community College in Plant City and Keiser University in Sarasota, Tampa, Clearwater and New Port Richey. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Florida State University FSU's emergency management team issued an alert announcing that, out of an abundance of caution, students living on campus would be relocated to the Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center as the city waits for the storm to pass. No one will be able to remain in the residence halls, the alert stated. The conference center facility includes hurricane shutters and debris curtains on windows and well as emergency generators large enough to power air handler units in the facility. Students off campus have been instructed to follow the direction of local emergency management officials. The school stated that everyone should remain inside until the storm passes and the school says it's "all clear." Related: 4.4 Magnitude Los Angeles Earthquake Rattles ESPN Anchors See How They Reacted On Air FSU student Anastasia Russel, 18, one of the students sheltering-in-place on campus, told CNN that shes concerned her dorm will be destroyed. Yeah, its rough, she said. I just miss my bed. I brought plenty of snacks so hopefully itll hold me over and we can leave tomorrow morning, she said. We have to stay here until FSU gets the all clear. The school had provided them with sandwiches and juice and instructed students to bring only one suitcase to the conference center, Russell told CNN. Getty University of South Florida 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. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said that the city was preparing Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College to abide by protocol. "We have a student population of about 70,000," Dailey said, per NBC News. "Yesterday, they shut down the college campuses. We have encouraged the students to go home to be safe. Those students that will be remaining, we have great shelters in place where they can also go to be safe. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A top aide of Prime Minister Viktor Orban has triggered outrage by suggesting that Hungary would have fared better by not resisting the 1956 Soviet invasion, in comments that were also critical of Ukraine's efforts today to push back Russian forces. Orban, a nationalist who shot to fame in 1989 by demanding the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary, said his aide's "ambiguous" words had been an error, while the leader of Hungary's opposition condemned them as "traitorous". Orban's political director Balazs Orban, who is not related to the veteran premier, said in an interview with website Mandiner this week that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had acted irresponsibly by choosing to resist Russia's invasion in Feb. 2022, causing a war that has led to many deaths. "Considering 1956, we would have probably not done what President Zelenskiy did 2.5 years ago, as it is irresponsible, as we can see that he led his country into a defensive war, many lives were lost and territories lost," the aide said. "Let me say again, it is their right and sovereign decision... but had they asked us, we would have not recommended this, based on what happened in 1956," he added. Hungary's anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 was brutally crushed by the Red Army. The anniversary of the uprising, Oct. 23, is a major national day for Hungarians. Speaking on national radio on Friday, the prime minister said it was important to speak "very carefully and clearly" on matters of such sensitivity. "Now my political director made an ambiguous statement which is a mistake, as our community stands on the basis of the 1956 revolution, has grown from it," said Orban, who has made national sovereignty a cornerstone of his rule. Just as in the past, Hungary will "always defend itself", he added. 'SCANDALOUS' Orban has upset Hungary's NATO allies by retaining strong economic ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin even after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Hungary under Orban has also refused to send arms to Ukraine. Balazs Orban did not reply to Reuters' emailed questions. In a video posted on his Facebook page the aide said his words were "deliberately misinterpreted", adding that "the heroes of 1956 are national heroes and their memory is sacred". But his comments caused a huge uproar in the opposition and in the media, with Hungary's leading opposition figure Peter Magyar saying in a Facebook post that the aide "has no place in public life after his scandalous and traitorous comments." Magyar said the aide "had humiliated the memory of thousands of Hungarian freedom fighters". (Reporting by Krisztina Than, Anita Komuves and Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Gareth Jones) A year after a teenager opened fire into a late night Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) bar crowd because her ID was rejected, the suspect pleaded guilty on Friday to a single count of first-degree attempted murder with extreme indifference. There were eight named victims in the case, five of whom were shot. Keanna Rosenburgh, now 18, spoke clearly when she gave her guilty plea at the podium dressed in a maroon jail outfit. She told the judge that she didnt go to school past the tenth grade. She was 17 when she committed the shooting. Three of Rosenburghs victims suffered gunshot wounds to the leg, another was shot in the ankle, and a fifth victim was shot in the right big toe. She originally faced more than 20 criminal counts, including eight charges of attempted murder. Security footage captured Rosenburgh firing a handgun indiscriminately into a crowd of people waiting in line at Dierks Bentleys Whiskey Row on Sept. 16, 2023. The ID Rosenburgh showed at the door belonged to a 25-year-old woman with a different name, according to the arrest affidavit. After the incident, she fled to Southern California and was on the run until Oct. 19, 2023, when the Denver Police department arrested her with the help of the Los Angeles FBI. The Lakewood teens case never left adult court, so she was charged as an adult, but she qualifies for Youth Offender Services because of the age she was when she committed the offense. Under the plea deal, she faces a sentence of five-to-seven years in the Youthful Offender System. A 21-year Department of Corrections sentence was suspended, which means if she successfully completes her time in the youthful offender system, she will not serve time in DOC. However, if her youthful offender sentence is revoked for any reason, she will face 21 years in prison. This all means that, if she serves the full sentence in YOS, she could be free by the time she is 24. The one charge she pleaded guilty to was amended to name all of the five victims in the case. Featured Local Savings One of the victims told The Denver Gazettes news partners 9NEWS she was not happy about the plea deal. I think theres way more compassion for her than there is for the victims, Desarie Gomez said. She should have gotten life. She definitely changed my life. She changed my friends and my families. And I dont think its fair that this is going to be something that Im going to be experiencing for the rest of my life, and she only has to deal with it for the next six years. Max. Gomez has had five surgeries on the shattered bones, arteries destroyed and nerves completely torn up, she said. I actually rarely leave my house, but it just kind of happened that I was out that night, and it shifted everything for me, Gomez said. I had to cut back on school. I actually dropped out, planning on going back hopefully, but there was a lot. It definitely took a huge toll on my body, huge toll on me mentally. Rosenburghs attorneys had filed motions to move her case to juvenile court, which would have meant less severe consequences if she was convicted as an adult. The Denver Police Department investigation found that Rosenburgh was denied entry to the bar because of issues with her ID. She began walking away but quickly returned to have another conversation with security staff, police said. As she walked away a second time, police said, she pulled out a gun and fired it in the direction of the club multiple times, injuring the five victims. Police said they believed the five victims were not targeted, and they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As previously reported by The Denver Gazette, the shooting was one of many factors that led to an increase in police presence in LoDo and prompted a number of community meetings to curb violence in the neighborhood. This August, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said that the department has seen a significant reduction in violence in the area due to some of their mitigation efforts, such as like dispersing nightlife crowds through dedicated rideshare areas on weekend nights and banning late-night food trucks in the area. Victims, people who support Rosenburgh and experts will give impact statements at her sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2025. Denver Gazette partner 9News contributed to this report. Hungary will attend the Friends of Peace platform's foundation conference in New York, which is being organised by China and Brazil with the goal of launching negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. Source: Hungarian news agency MTI, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto Details: Szijjarto said that the Russian-Ukrainian war was one of the leading topics on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. Quote: "The vast majority of countries, including Hungary, favour peace. But very few European countries are part of this group," said Szijjarto, adding that the countries of the Global South "are tired of paying their price for the war thousands of kilometres away," and that Western countries, he argues, simply fuel the war and make decisions that aggravate the situation. Szijjarto stated that Hungary would join an initiative spearheaded by China and Brazil to support its plan to stop the war in Ukraine, which already had 15 countries involved, including Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Zambia, and Kenya. "The meeting's organisers chose to invite three European states: the United States, Hungary, France, and Switzerland. The theme of this gathering is that the conclusion of war in Ukraine cannot be accomplished on the battlefield. Negotiations are the only way to end the war in Ukraine, and the sooner they begin, the more lives can be spared and the prospect of escalation and new destruction is reduced," Szijjarto stated. He said that Hungary supports the initiative and is eager to participate in its implementation. China and Brazil jointly released a "six-point consensus" to promote a "political solution to the Ukrainian crisis [war ed.]". The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that this plan "has received a positive response from more than 110 countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Sino-Brazilian proposal to end the Russo-Ukrainian war as destructive, as it is a mere political statement that has not been discussed with Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Hurricane Helene. The St. Pete Pier, Tampa Bay, Florida, hours before Hurricane Helene made landfall, September 26, 2024. Hurricane Helene slammed into Floridas Big Bend region late Thursday, bringing catastrophic storm surges which have destoyed buildings. Tampa International Airport reopened on Friday morning as Hurricane Helene moved on to Georgia and North Carolina, and Florida started assessing storm damage. The Sunshine States fourth busiest airport said it was fully open and operational for commercial and cargo flights as of 9:30 a.m. The Tampa airport closed at 2 a.m. Thursday, a day before Hurricane Helene hit Floridas Big Bend and assaulted the rest of the Gulf Coast. The airports operations staff conducted damage assessments early Friday morning and determined [Tampa International Airport] did not sustain any significant damage from the storm, according to a statement. Tampa International Airport has fared well through this large and dangerous storm, CEO Joe Lopano said in a statement. We now can turn our attention to serving our community and travelers and assisting in efforts to help our fellow Floridians recover from Helene. Some retail shops and restaurants likely wont open until later in the day, the airport cautioned, so travelers should prepare for that: Bring your own food and toiletries. But TSA security checkpoints, parking facilities, the SkyConnect train, the rental car center and other services are now open. Tampas airport also recommended on Friday that travelers arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure as high passenger volumes [are] expected. Helene hit Floridas Gulf Coast just after 11 p.m. Thursday night, making landfall in Taylor County. Reports show inundated streets and flooded homes along the Gulf Coast from Fort Myers Beach to Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa. SEE: Hurricane Helene did that to Florida? Look at what happened in these photos and videos On Friday morning, Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it hit the countrys southeast. Heres how the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is affecting South Florida travel: Miami International Airport Miami International Airport continued to stay open although it continued to see some impact from the storm. On Thursday, 92 flights were canceled. On Friday morning, the airport had 21 cancellations, mostly to other cities in Florida and the Southeast, said Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Todays total may be similar to yesterdays number as the storm impacts Atlanta and other airports in the Southeast, he said Friday. MIAs largest carrier, American Airlines, said it resumed flights on Friday morning to airports in Key West, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa. And later in the day, the airline planned to return to normal operations at Tallahassee, Gainesville and Jacksonville, said Gianna Urgo, a spokesperson for American. But north of Florida, the airline reduced operations at the airport in Charlotte and suspended operations in Augusta. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport expects a total of 19 canceled flights and 9 delayed flights as of 9:40 a.m. Friday, said spokesperson Paris Tyburski. Flights were canceled for Atlanta and Charlotte and delayed for Denver and San Diego. STEINHATCHEE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: People walk down a street with a dog in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024 near Steinhatchee, Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall nearby last night as a category four storm but has weakened as it moves inland. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Update: Gov. DeSantis, during an evening news conference in Cedar Key following a day spent surveying the swath Hurricane Helene cut into Florida, said the damage was worse than Idalias last year. In Taylor, Levy, and Dixie counties, the governor said, he saw snapped trees but that the devastating storm surge far outweighed wind damage. Idalia was bad; I think this has been more damage than Idalia, DeSantis said. We came from Perry and helicoptered over here, so we went along the coast, so we saw Keaton Beach, we saw Steinhatchee, and I can tell you, that is way worse than Idalia. Idalia had damage, no question. You look at Keaton Beach, I think almost every home was destroyed, or the vast majority, and some totally obliterated. As of 6:45 p.m. Friday, PowerOutage.us reported that 655,593 Florida customers were without power. South Carolina, at the same time, had 1.17 million customers without power and Georgia had 892,867. DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, the states emergency management director, agreed they hadnt seen any homes built to Floridas stringent building codes that sustained damage. Florida building works, its one of the best in the world, Guthrie said. As of Friday afternoon, Georgia experienced 15 deaths, according to the Georgia Recorder. At least 13 people died in South Carolina, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported. A 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center said the storm was still producing catastrophic flooding over portions of the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley. The center asked people in damaged areas to use caution even after the system passes, as downed power lines and flooded areas remain deadly. +++ Update: Gov. Ron DeSantis declined Friday to criticize local officials for decisions they made as Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend and brought record-breaking storm surge to Tampa Bay. St. Petersburg officials announced that at nearly 11 p.m. Thursday that they had to shut down a sewer treatment facility and warned residents of the northeastern part of the city not to flush toilets or use drains for 48 hours. Im not going to be out wagging my finger and second-guessing folks in the aftermath of the storm. You have people that get elected to make those decisions locally, the governor said during a press conference in St. Petersburg Beach, adding that he was aware of the sewage problem. Tampa Bay saw a storm surge of up to 7 feet as Helene barreled along the Gulf Coast on the way to the Big Bend. DeSantis, who grew up in neighboring Dunedin, said he expects the region to recover and that there are few places like it in the country. This part of the state is very low lying and very susceptible to these types of water intrusions, and so you have a storm that didnt come within 100 miles of the coast, and yet turned up this really, really significant storm surge, DeSantis said. As of the time of the news conference at around 1:30 p.m., more than 1 million Floridians remained without power, according to a press release from the governors office. But crews had restored electricity for more than 1 million. The governor and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged people whose homes suffered water damage to take pictures of the high-water marks for insurance claims. Guthrie said FDEM was working to submit an expedited major disaster declaration request to the federal government. DeSantis planned to make stops late at Cedar Key and Perry, which bore the brunt of Helenes strength in the middle of the night. +++ Update: The pre-Hurricane Helene emergency declaration from President Joe Biden enabled the federal government to pre-stage resources, speeding the response, Erik Hooks, deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Friday. Hooks said the agency has more than 1,500 federal personnel focused on the storm and an additional 700 in the region that can pivot to support. Ken Graham of the National Weather Service said the extent of Helenes winds was staggering, emphasizing that the storm remained a hurricane six hours after landfall. Luckily, the forecast was accurate, Graham said. We could really focus on those impacts. If you really think about it, this really gave us some time to not worry about the forecast, but really worry about those hazards, especially those inland hazards, which were seeing come true with the rainfall. According to Graham, landfall came only 40 miles away from the original forecast. He said it was one of the more aggressive hurricane center forecasts to go out as early as it did. The National Weather Service does not have a peak storm surge report yet, Graham said full reports of the storms effects around the region will be available in the coming days. Graham did say, though, that Tampa experienced more than 6 feet of surge, 100 miles east of the eye. Daniel Hibner, commanding general of the South Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said infrastructure damage assessment is continuing. We were focused on Leon County and Tallahassee, Hibner said. It shifted a bit, not much, but enough to make a difference in really major impacted areas for infrastructure in Jefferson County, Taylor, and Madison. Of course, we did have record storm surge in Tampa Bay. That water came in very fast, its receding very fast, but were still at the point of getting our assessments done to determine what exactly what kind of infrastructure may have been damaged. Hibner said additional generators are due in Tallahassee Saturday. Jennifer Pipa, vice president for disaster programs with the American Red Cross, said the organization is housing at least 9,400 evacuees across 143 shelters from Florida to North Carolina. A representative of the Coast Guard said the military branch had assisted nine people as of early Friday morning, especially in shallow water rescue. +++ State and local officials are reporting more than half a dozen deaths in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which came ashore late Thursday night in the Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm. Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Friday morning news conference that at least two Floridians died as a result of the storm. But Pinellas County officials reported on Friday there were an additional five fatalities there overnight, two from drowning. The storm made landfall in Dekle Beach in Taylor County with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the governor. We saw storm surges in many parts of the west coast of Florida that exceeded what we saw in Hurricane Idalia, which took a similar track, it was similar strength, maybe a little bit weaker, but you were seeing significantly more storm surge in places like Tampa Bay, we also saw major storm surge, of course, in the Big Bend region, DeSantis said. DeSantis reported the first death Thursday evening after a road sign fell on a car traveling on Interstate 4 in Ybor City in Hillsborough County. The second, he said, was in Dixie County after a tree fell on a house. No additional information was immediately available on the Pinellas deaths. DeSantis did report, though, in all state responses to calls for rescue, We were able to find the person or people and pets and bring them to safety. According to Find Energy, 669,422 customers are without power in Florida as of Friday morning. Another site, Poweroutage.u.s., showed more than a million Florida electric customers without power. As of DeSantis news conference Friday morning, 22 counties have more than 30% of customers without power. Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Taylor all had 99% of customers without power. Baker, Dixie, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Union and Wakulla all had more than 80% of customers without power as of the governors news conference. Efforts to clear roads are ongoing, with the most up-to-date traffic information being provided on FL511, according to Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue. Some airports closed in advance of the storm, all of which plan to be open at some point Friday. Those airports include Tallahassee International, Tampa International, St. Pete-Clearwater International, Lakeland Linder International, and Gainesville Regional. DeSantis thanked first responders who rescued Floridians overnight. This is not something thats easy. The conditions were still very problematic in many respects, up and down the state. Yet we had our folks respond, DeSantis said. The City of Tallahassee said it was working to clear roads and restore power. Initial damage assessments indicated that more than 50 roads were blocked by downed trees. Florida Power & Light, the states largest electric utility, said Thursday that it had restored power to more than 65% of customers affected by Helene. Though our system held up well and our team of thousands continues to work around-the-clock, some of our customers remain without power, FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel said. To them, we have a simple message: We will not stop until your lights are back on. President Joe Biden has directed Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell to travel to Florida to survey the damage and meet with state and local officials, per White House pool coverage. The president has approved emergency declaration requests from the governors of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and more 1,500 FEMA and federal personnel have been deployed to the region, including 11 urban search and rescue teams, medical teams and power restoration teams. Federal resources have supported approximately 400 rescues, the White House said. Florida Phoenix reporters Mitch Perry, Christine Sexton, and Jackie Llanos contributed. Resources Division of Emergency Management website, which includes county emergency management information, volunteer resources, and more. State Assistance Information Line: 1-800-342-3557 Hope Florida: 833-483-4673 FL511 for road conditions. People walk down a street with a dog in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024 near Steinhatchee, Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall nearby last night as a category four storm but has weakened as it moves inland. (Photo by Sean Rayford | Getty Images) The pre-Hurricane Helene emergency declaration from President Joe Biden enabled the federal government to pre-stage resources, speeding the response, Erik Hooks, deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Friday. Hooks said the agency has more than 1,500 federal personnel focused on the storm and an additional 700 in the region that can pivot to support. Ken Graham of the National Weather Service said the extent of Helenes winds was staggering, emphasizing that the storm remained a hurricane six hours after landfall. Luckily, the forecast was accurate, Graham said. We could really focus on those impacts. If you really think about it, this really gave us some time to not worry about the forecast, but really worry about those hazards, especially those inland hazards, which were seeing come true with the rainfall. According to Graham, landfall came only 40 miles away from the original forecast. He said it was one of the more aggressive hurricane center forecasts to go out as early as it did. The National Weather Service does not have a peak storm surge report yet, Graham said full reports of the storms effects around the region will be available in the coming days. Graham did say, though, that Tampa experienced more than 6 feet of surge, 100 miles east of the eye. Daniel Hibner, commanding general of the South Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said infrastructure damage assessment is continuing. We were focused on Leon County and Tallahassee, Hibner said. It shifted a bit, not much, but enough to make a difference in really major impacted areas for infrastructure in Jefferson County, Taylor, and Madison. Of course, we did have record storm surge in Tampa Bay. That water came in very fast, its receding very fast, but were still at the point of getting our assessments done to determine what exactly what kind of infrastructure may have been damaged. Hibner said additional generators are due in Tallahassee Saturday. Jennifer Pipa, vice president for disaster programs with the American Red Cross, said the organization is housing at least 9,400 evacuees across 143 shelters from Florida to North Carolina. A representative of the Coast Guard said the military branch had assisted nine people as of early Friday morning, especially in shallow water rescue. +++ State and local officials are reporting more than half a dozen deaths in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which came ashore late Thursday night in the Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm. Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Friday morning news conference that at least two Floridians died as a result of the storm. But Pinellas County officials reported on Friday there were an additional five fatalities there overnight, two from drowning. The storm made landfall in Dekle Beach in Taylor County with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the governor. We saw storm surges in many parts of the west coast of Florida that exceeded what we saw in Hurricane Idalia, which took a similar track, it was similar strength, maybe a little bit weaker, but you were seeing significantly more storm surge in places like Tampa Bay, we also saw major storm surge, of course, in the Big Bend region, DeSantis said. DeSantis reported the first death Thursday evening after a road sign fell on a car traveling on Interstate 4 in Ybor City in Hillsborough County. The second, he said, was in Dixie County after a tree fell on a house. No additional information was immediately available on the Pinellas deaths. DeSantis did report, though, in all state responses to calls for rescue, We were able to find the person or people and pets and bring them to safety. According to Find Energy, 669,422 customers are without power in Florida as of Friday morning. Another site, Poweroutage.u.s., showed more than a million Florida electric customers without power. As of DeSantis news conference Friday morning, 22 counties have more than 30% of customers without power. Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Taylor all had 99% of customers without power. Baker, Dixie, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Union and Wakulla all had more than 80% of customers without power as of the governors news conference. Efforts to clear roads are ongoing, with the most up-to-date traffic information being provided on FL511, according to Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue. Some airports closed in advance of the storm, all of which plan to be open at some point Friday. Those airports include Tallahassee International, Tampa International, St. Pete-Clearwater International, Lakeland Linder International, and Gainesville Regional. DeSantis thanked first responders who rescued Floridians overnight. This is not something thats easy. The conditions were still very problematic in many respects, up and down the state. Yet we had our folks respond, DeSantis said. The City of Tallahassee said it was working to clear roads and restore power. Initial damage assessments indicated that more than 50 roads were blocked by downed trees. Florida Power & Light, the states largest electric utility, said Thursday that it had restored power to more than 65% of customers affected by Helene. Though our system held up well and our team of thousands continues to work around-the-clock, some of our customers remain without power, FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel said. To them, we have a simple message: We will not stop until your lights are back on. President Joe Biden has directed Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell to travel to Florida to survey the damage and meet with state and local officials, per White House pool coverage. The president has approved emergency declaration requests from the governors of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and more 1,500 FEMA and federal personnel have been deployed to the region, including 11 urban search and rescue teams, medical teams and power restoration teams. Federal resources have supported approximately 400 rescues, the White House said. This story was produced by the Florida Phoenix which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Helene left a dizzying path of destruction as it raged across the south-east United States on Friday, killing at least 40 people across four states, causing dangerous flooding and leaving millions without power. The storm which registered maximum sustained winds of 140mph crashed ashore late on Thursday in north-western Florida as a potent category 4 hurricane. It weakened to a tropical storm and then to a depression as it moved across Georgia as well as the Carolinas on Friday afternoon, when residents whose communities experienced Helenes peak effects more directly were only just beginning to fathom the recovery process ahead. The storm sparked lethal damage. At least 17 people died in South Carolina, including two firefighters who were killed when their vehicle was struck by a tree before sunrise, officials said. Another 15 people were killed in Georgia, said Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for the states governor, Brian Kemp. Five people were killed in Floridas Pinellas county, which includes the Tampa Bay area, with two of those deaths occurring by drowning. A number of the deaths involved trees falling on residences. Among the dead were several children: a four-year-old girl who died in Claremont, North Carolina, in a car accident in heavy rain; and a seven-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on their home in Washington county, Georgia. Tornadoes hit some areas, including one in Nash county, North Carolina, that critically injured four people. Authorities had predicted danger even as the storm weakened, as it continued to produce catastrophic flooding. Some areas received more than a foot of rain. Rescuers were racing on Friday to save people from the waters. One dramatic scene in Tennessee reportedly involved more than 50 patients and staff at the states Unicoi county hospital, who were stranded on the roof while surrounded by rising floodwaters. Emergency vehicles were washed away as they attempted rescues, while helicopters that had initially been held back by high winds were evacuating people on Friday afternoon. The patients and staff were eventually brought to safety. Officials in several states warned people who were stuck to await rescue crews, as floodwater could contain live wires, sewage, sharp objects and other debris. Some areas had become only accessible by boat. At several points on Friday afternoon, officials urged residents to evacuate over concerns that local dams would not sustain the pressure. In western North Carolina, near the border with Tennessee, Rutherford county emergency officials warned residents near the Lake Lure Dam just before noon to immediately evacuate to higher ground, saying: Dam failure imminent. And on Friday afternoon, North Carolinas Cocke county mayor, Rob Mathis, warned people in the vicinity to evacuate immediately after the Walters Dam in the community of Waterville suffered a catastrophic failure. In a post on Facebook, officials later assured that there had not been a catastrophic failure at the dam, adding that the false alarm had come from the emergency management agency. Meanwhile, millions of people across the country were out of power. As of early Friday evening, about 1.1m households and businesses in Florida were without power, though later the number had fallen to about 708,000. South Carolina was reporting 1.2m power outages, Georgia had about 920,000, and North Carolina had approximately 870,000, according to poweroutage.us. Large swaths of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio were also out, and the Virginia governor said 241,000 customers in his state were out of power. 5am EDT Friday Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Helene: Catastrophic, life-threatening, record-breaking flash & urban flooding. As Helene continues moving inland, damaging wind gusts will continue, particularly over high terrain southern Appalachians. https://t.co/XtkxtGDQLT pic.twitter.com/IayaD7DaAW National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 27, 2024 Helene made landfall at about 11.10pm in Floridas sparsely populated Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where the states Panhandle and peninsula meet. Social media site users watched in horror as video showed sheets of rain lashing Perry, Florida, near Helenes landfall. Winds tore siding from buildings in almost complete darkness. One local news station recorded a home as it flipped over. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) conducted a preliminary assessment of Helenes storm surge in Florida, and it indicated that water levels reached more than 15ft above normal where the storm came ashore. Drone video from the storm chaser Aaron Rigsby showed residences that had collapsed and been damaged amid storm surge in the Florida community of Steinhatchee. Floridas Tampa Bay took on about 10ft of storm surge and was among the states badly inundated communities. The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, urged residents to prepare themselves for the likelihood that Helenes death toll would rise as communities complete damage assessments in the storms aftermath. But he also said the states rescue crews had ultimately kept that number as low as possible by performing thousands of missions overnight. In Georgia, Brian Kemp, the governor, warned residents Helene had left a very dangerous environment in its wake. One of our finest has lost his life trying to save others, Kemp said, referring to a first responder who died while clearing downed trees and power lines. Vernon Leon Davis was a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear who was killed when a tree fell on his truck, Jacksonville-based First Coast News reported. Atlanta was drenched, leaving some neighborhoods so flooded that only car roofs could be seen poking out of the water. The city had been under a rare flash flood emergency warning. A Georgia electrical utility group warned of catastrophic damage to the states utility infrastructure, with more than 100 high-voltage transmission lines damaged. In Valdosta, Georgia, a city of 55,000 near the states border with Florida, Rhonda Bell and her husband spent a sleepless night in the downstairs bedroom of their century-old home. She told the Associated Press that an oak tree smashed through the roof of an upstairs bedroom and collapsed on to the living room below. I just felt the whole house shake, said Bell, whose neighbors had roof shingles torn away and fence panels knocked down. Thank God were both alive to tell about it. Beyond Florida and Georgia, up to 10in of rain fell in the North Carolina mountains. This is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of North Carolina, the states governor, Roy Cooper, said. Our hearts are heavy. A mudslide in the Appalachian mountains washed out a section of an interstate at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. Meanwhile, occupants of homes hit by another mudslide in North Carolina had to wait more than four hours to be rescued, said Ryan Cole, the emergency services assistant director in Buncombe county. His 911 center received more than 3,300 calls in eight hours Friday. Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, but authorities and residents had been warned Helene would be a disaster of epic proportions. One sheriffs office in the state, in Taylor county, asked residents who chose not to evacuate ahead of Helene to write their names, birthdays and other identifying information on their limbs in permanent marker. So that you can be identified and [your] family notified, the agency wrote in what was grim advice ahead of the storm. Im going to stay right here at the house, the state ferry boat operator Ken Wood, 58, told Reuters from coastal Dunedin in Florida, where he planned to ride out the storm with his 16-year-old cat Andy. Afterwards, he told the agency: Ill never do that again, I swear. It was a harrowing experience. It roared all night like a train. It was unnerving. The house shook next time, we leave. Helene on Wednesday had swamped parts of Mexicos Yucatan peninsula. It was the ninth major hurricane category 3 or higher to make landfall along the USs Gulf coast since 2017. Experts attribute such a high rate of powerful, destructive storms to the climate change crisis, which is spurred in part by the burning of fossil fuels. Its as if something has changed, the Texas meteorologist Matt Lanza said in a widely shared X post. As for this Atlantic hurricane season, which began 1 June and does not officially end until 30 November, Helene was the eighth named storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) predicted this Atlantic hurricane season would be above average because of record high ocean temperatures. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting As the sun rose in Beaufort County on Friday, clear damage from Helenes wake quickly came into focus, with fallen trees, debris littering roadways, downed power lines and thousands without electricity. During a statewide Helene update at 2 p.m. Friday, Gov. Henry McMaster said there were possibly more power outages from Helene than any other storm in recent history. The National Weather Services John Quagliariello said at the update that Beaufort clocked the highest wind gusts of 75 mph. Quagliariello said the service issued 63 tornado warnings across South Carolina. Its unknown how many were actual tornadoes, he said, adding that over the next few days the services survey teams will assess and then confirm twisters. Crews were working diligently in Beaufort County into the afternoon, shoring up debris, fallen limbs, restoring power and making roadways safe to travel. While some damage cleanup, a portion of May River Road between Buckwalter Parkway and Old Miller Road will be closed for an extended period of time due to downed power lines and trees, according to an email from the Town of Blufftons spokesperson Debbie Szpanka. Szpanka said Dominion Energy is working through its list of repairs. The road is expected to be closed through the day and into the evening Early Friday morning, Stephen Combs, Bluffton Township Fire District public information officer, said the storm damage the service was responding to is extensive. Combs said later Friday that the service had responded to 130 calls in the past 24 hours, which far exceeds what we had even during Hurricane Matthew. Fire departments across Beaufort county have had a busy 12 hours responding to storm related calls. Between midnight and 9 a.m. Friday, Hilton Head Island Fire responded to 35 downed trees, two of which involved damage to buildings, according to spokesperson Joheida Fister. Around 6 a.m., Scott Harris of the Ladys Island-St. Helena Fire District said that there many trees and power lines down and debris on the roadways.The Beaufort/ Port Royal Fire department had responded to 12 storm related calls by 6 a.m., according to Deputy Chief Ross Vezin. Tree down off of Ribaut Road on Friday morning, Sept. 27, 2024, after Helene rattled Port Royal, South Carolina. On Hilton Head Island, a beach patrol truck drove along the sands of Coligny Beach at 9:30 a.m., flying a red flag to indicate a high risk of rip currents due to Helene. The beach was dotted with seaweed and other small debris as the wind whipped against walkers on the coastline. In anticipation of tropical storm-force winds, Hilton Head Islands beach patrol had secured all fold-able rental chairs to posts near the sand dunes. Despite the conditions on the island, mostly remaining strong winds, several groups of bicyclists and walkers were seen dodging piles of debris on the outskirts of Coligny Beach and many ventured into the area to assess local damage. In Burton, its fire district responded over 50 emergency calls related to Helene, according to a Friday news release from the district. Several of the emergency calls were for wires and trees down, and electrical fires involving exploding transformers. Burton firefighters also responded to a house fire before 1:30 a.m. Friday on Winsor Road in Shell Point, along with six emergency calls for trees falling on homes with trapped people who had to be rescued in three of the incidents. A woman was trapped in a vehicle after she struck a tree that had come down across the road of Trask Parkway and Seabrook Center Road. The district said no serious injuries were reported in any of the incidents. Preliminary damage reports Between Thursday and Friday mornings, the National Weather Services Charleston Office had received nine preliminary local storm damage reports due to Helene. The reports ranged from felled trees to possible tornadoes. Debris across Beauforts Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Friday morning, Sept. 27, 2024, after Helene blew through Beaufort County, South Carolina. Below is a following time-stamped list: 7:03 a.m. Thursday : Possible tornado. Pictures relayed of several trees down and minor roof damage on Martinangel Lane near Captain Monroe Lane on Daufuskie Island. 7:16 a.m. Thursday : Possible tornado. Report relayed of a tree snapped and minor debris on Game Land Road. 7:30 a.m. Thursday : Beaufort County Sheriffs Office reported property damage from a tornado on Driftwood Drive on Daufuskie Island. 7:35 a.m. Thursday : Beaufort County Sheriff`s Office reported a tree down from a tornado on Palmetto Bluff in Pritchardville. 3:23 p.m. Thursday : Beaufort Emergency Manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Paige Point Road and Paige Point Blf in Sheldon. 1:24 a.m. Friday : Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport measured a 75 mph wind gust. The sustained wind speed was 51 mph. 1:58 a.m. Friday : South Carolina Highway Patrol reported a tree down on US-21. 7:22 a.m. Friday : Bluffton Township Fire District reported numerous roads closed due to downed trees and power lines. 7:30 a.m. Friday : Bluffton Fire Department reports the following roads are closed due to fallen trees in the Bluffton area: Boundary Street, Buck Island, Old Miller Road, May River Road at Palmetto Buff, New Riverside/Prichardville Street, River Road/Rose Dhu and Masters Way. 7:47 a.m. Friday: May River Road in Bluffton at Rose Dhu is closed due to downed trees and power lines, a Beaufort County Sheriffs Office alert said. There is currently no time for re-opening. The road to Sands Beach in was coned-off Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, due to Helenes wake in Port Royal, South Carolina. If you have damage in your area please email information, photos and or video to newsroom@islandpacket.com ORLANDO, Fla. Hurricane Helene intensified into a major Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds with its eye wall beginning to come ashore Thursday night, bringing devastating winds and storm surge to Floridas Big Bend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in the Florida Big Bend region during the next few hours, the NHC posted in a 10 p.m. Eastern time update. 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. In a special 6:20 p.m. update, the NHC said an NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft found that the maximum sustained winds had increased to 130 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. That took less than four hours since the NHC found it had grown into a Category 3 major hurricane, picking up energy from the hot waters of the Gulf of Mexico. By 10 p.m., it had grown to 140 mph sustained winds and was located about 65 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key and 65 miles south of Tallahassee as it moved north-northeast at 24 mph. 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. An NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge located at Clearwater Beach recently reported a water level of 6.18 feet above mean higher high water. A National Ocean Service tide gauge at Cedar Key is reporting a water level 5.76 feet above mean higher high water. At 8 p.m., hurricane-force winds extended out 60 miles and tropical-storm-force winds out 310 miles from the center. A weather station at Venice Municipal Airport had reported a sustained wind of 46 mph and gust of 69 mph while another observation near Venice Beach reported a sustained wind of 51 mph and gust to 66 mph. Very concerned about multiple life-threatening hazards that are going to start playing out here in just the next couple of hours, said NHC Director Michael Brennan, who updated its dangers in a 5:30 p.m. report. He was especially concerned about the area between Apalachicola and Chassahowitzka, where 10 to 20 feet of storm surge could flood the area above ground level, especially near and to the right of where the center of Helene crosses the coast. 20 feet is enough to inundate a two story building. Theres going to be destructive wave action on top of that, especially near where the hurricane makes landfall, he said. So this is going to create unsurvivable conditions in these areas. He said it will be a very dangerous night. Were also expecting catastrophic hurricane force winds within the eye wall of Helene, where it makes landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast tonight, and hurricane-force winds are going to spread inland across portions of northern Florida and Georgia overnight tonight and early Friday, he said. So again, shelter in interior portions of well-built structures, well-built homes, away from windows away from the potential for falling trees to hit you. Power outages have grown throughout the day across the state, with more than 630,000 customers out by 9:30 p.m., according to poweroutage.us. At least one fatality may end up being blamed on the storm, according to Spectrum Bay News in Tampa, which reported a fatal wreck on Interstate 4 was being investigated after traffic cameras showed what looked like an overhead sign had fallen on a vehicle. From Fort Myers Beach up to Tampa Bay, surge from the hurricane kicked up through the afternoon into the evening flooded roads and shut down bridges. Several barrier islands are impassable now, with law enforcement saying they can no longer respond to distress calls of anyone who chose not to evacuate. Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a press conference before 6 p.m. from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee with a status update. He says landfall is expected closer to Taylor County east of Tallahassee around 11 p.m. Were going to see some effect soon, but right now you actually still have time to be able to evacuate, he said about residents in North Florida in the storms path. However, he said that time has passed for those down the Gulf Coast such as the Tampa area. Damage will be significant in North Florida, he said. You have 125 mph maximum sustained right now, probably is going to be higher, whether it hits as a Category 3, Category 4, its going to be a significant storm, he said. And even as it moves inland throughout northern Florida, you are going to see trees that are going to be falling down. Thats just the reality of what were doing, of what were seeing here, and if you hear the tree limbs snapping around you, sometimes it almost sounds like fireworks are going off, treat that as a tornado, shelter in a part of the home that would be where you have protection from that. He said avoid standing water, dont drive through flooded streets and dont go outside when its dark out. Theres going to be hazards there. Its just not something you want to be navigating in the dark, he said. And if it gets suddenly quiet in the middle of the storm, thats likely the eye of the storm. Dont go outside then, either. After the storm, there could be downed power lines. And those using generators need to keep them safely away from their homes to avoid death from carbon monoxide poisoning. We cant control how strong this hurricane is going to get. We cant control the track of the hurricane, DeSantis said. But what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way thats going to be safe. 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. and North Florida until 10 p.m. It expanded the watch for Central Florida and north into Georgia until 6 a.m. 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, Courtney Campbell Causeway and Gandy Bridge that connect Tampa to St. Petersburg. Brennan warned of powerful winds north of landfall up into the Tallahassee area and even farther 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, he said. 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. DeSantis also spoke at a 9 a.m. press conference from the state EOC in Tallahassee. 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. 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. 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. 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. DeSantis earlier this week issued a pair of state of emergency orders covering 61 of Floridas 67 counties. President 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 affected areas have to make. He said the state has SpaceX Starlink internet hardware available to deploy if needed to targeted areas along with tarps, generators and other post-landfall needs. The state deployed for the first time this year during Hurricane Debby, which also targeted the Big Bend, new flood protection devices primarily for use to protect utility substations. DeSantis intends to deploy those again, which help get the power back up that much quicker. 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. Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said he has already had 750 resource requests in from various counties. Only the westernmost Panhandle counties have escaped any sort of watch or warning because of Helene. More rainfall for the Florida peninsula could follow over the weekend after the system has passed through, which is a flooding concern with ground that may have just been deeply saturated already, he said. 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 8 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 tonight or on Friday while the disturbance moves generally westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Its forecast to slow down and turn north-northwestward 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. _____ CARY, N.C. (WNCN) Hurricane Helenes heavy rain flooded roads and forced businesses to close in western North Carolina. Cary Fire Departments Swiftwater Rescue Team is one of several local emergency teams deployed to Western NC to help out. Captain Craig McDowell, who is part of the Cary Fire Departments eight member Swiftwater Team in Caldwell County, said their biggest concern is flash flooding. RELATED: NC activates 175 soldiers, 16 water rescue teams ahead of catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene Were prepared for just about anything, McDowell said. Weve been prepping gear, making sure our boats are ready to go, our equipments all ready. The team arrived in Lenoir at 10 a.m. Thursday. McDowell said they did not have any calls Thursday. The crew expects to be there for at least a few days, depending on how the storm progresses. In central North Carolina, wind will be the biggest concern Friday. Duke Energys Jeff Brooks said with all the rain seen recently, the ground is already saturated. Brooks said crews will be ready to respond to any overnight outages. With the more severe storms to the west, crews are staging in Charlotte and Upstate South Carolina. RELATED: Gov. Cooper declares State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene If we do get some strong gusts through here, we could see some downed trees, Brooks said. That can cause power outages from downed lines. We do have the ability to quickly move resources from anywhere in the state within just a few hours to the hardest hit zones and thats what well be doing as the storm comes through. Emergency officials are reminding people to treat any downed power lines as live and do not go near 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 CBS17.com. At least 43 dead as Helene cuts destructive path through southeastern US By Rich McKay, Joseph Ax and Andrew Hay ATLANTA (Reuters) -Tropical Depression Helene brought life-threatening flooding on Friday to wide sections of the U.S. Southeast, where at least 43 people have been killed by a storm that swamped neighborhoods, triggered mudslides, threatened dams and left more than 3.5 million homes and businesses without power. Before moving north through Georgia and into Tennessee and the Carolinas, Helene hit Florida's Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Thursday night, packing 140 mph (225 kph) winds. It left behind a chaotic landscape of overturned boats in harbors, felled trees, submerged cars and flooded streets. By early Friday afternoon, the storm had been downgraded to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. But Helene's heavy rains were still producing catastrophic flooding in many areas, with police and firefighters carrying out thousands of water rescues throughout the affected states. More than 50 people were rescued from the roof of a hospital in Unicoi County, Tennessee, about 120 miles (200 km) northeast of Knoxville, state officials said, after floodwaters swamped the rural community. Rising waters from the Nolichucky River were preventing ambulances and emergency vehicles from evacuating patients and others there, the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency said on social media. Emergency crews in boats and helicopters were conducting rescues. Elsewhere in Tennessee, Rob Mathis, the mayor of Cocke County, ordered the evacuation of downtown Newport because of a potential dam failure nearby. Mathis initially said the Walters dam had suffered a "catastrophic failure" but later said the dam "was breached" but there had been no major failure as yet. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency wrote on social media that the Walters dam, which is located just across state lines in North Carolina, had not failed. The agency said that information came from Duke Energy, which operates the dam. Madison McDonald, a Duke Energy spokesperson, said, "we are aware of the situation and we're sorting out the facts." In western North Carolina, Rutherford County emergency officials warned residents near the Lake Lure Dam to immediately evacuate to higher ground, saying "Dam failure imminent." But by 8 p.m. (0000 GMT), the county emergency officials said that engineers had evaluated the dam "and determined it is no longer at imminent risk of failure." In nearby Buncombe County, landslides forced interstates 40 and 26 to close, the county said on X. The extent of the damage in Florida began emerging after daybreak on Friday. In coastal Steinhatchee, Florida, a storm surge - the wall of seawater pushed ashore by winds - of eight to 10 feet (2.4-3 meters) moved mobile homes, the National Weather Service said on X. In Treasure Island, a barrier island community in Pinellas County, boats were grounded in front yards. The city of Tampa posted on X that emergency personnel had completed 78 water rescues of residents and that many roads were impassable because of flooding. The Pasco County sheriff's office rescued more than 65 people overnight. Officials had pleaded with residents in Helene's path to heed evacuation orders, with National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan describing the storm surge as "unsurvivable." Some residents stayed put. Ken Wood, 58, a state ferry boat operator in Pinellas County, said he should have heeded evacuation orders rather than riding out the storm at home with his 16-year-old cat, Andy. "I'll never do that again, I swear," Wood said. "It was a harrowing experience. It roared all night like a train. It was unnerving. The house shook." Down the hill from his house, the storm flooded some homes with chest-deep salt water. One house caught fire and burned down, shooting 30-foot flames in the stormy sky, he said. "Old Andy seemed like he didn't care," Wood said. "He did fine. But next time we leave." Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said first responders were unable to answer several emergency calls from residents overnight due to the conditions. On Friday, county authorities found at least five people dead. Two others in Florida died, said Governor Ron DeSantis. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's office reported 15 storm-related fatalities in that state, while North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said there had been two deaths there. At least 19 people died during the storm across South Carolina, the Charleston-based Post and Courier newspaper reported, citing local officials. Helene was unusually large for a Gulf hurricane, forecasters said, though a storm's size is not the same as its strength, which is based on maximum sustained wind speeds. A few hours before landfall, Helene's tropical-storm winds extended outward 310 miles (500 km), according to the National Hurricane Center. By comparison, Idalia, a major hurricane that struck Florida's Big Bend region last year, had tropical-storm winds extending 160 miles (260 km) about eight hours before it made landfall. (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico, Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado, Swati Verma and Rahul Paswan in Bangalore; Writing by Joseph Ax, Brad Brooks and Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Richard Chang, Bill Berkrot and William Mallard) Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall as Category 4 Storm, Threatening 'Catastrophic' Weather in Florida and Beyond Major storm surges, wind, flooding and more are expected to batter the Southeast going into the weekend Joe Raedle/Getty Hurricane Helene approaching Florida Hurricane Helene has officially made landfall in Florida's Big Bend, along the Gulf of Mexico, as a Category 4 storm, federal weather officials said. The storm currently has sustained winds of 140 mph and is the strongest storm to hit Florida's Big Bend area in recorded history. It made landfall at about 11:10 p.m. ET, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Fla., reports the National Hurricane Center. "Helene stands toe-to-toe with any of the threats that Florida has faced over the past 10 years or indeed really over hurricane history," Ryan Truchelut, a meteorologist and hurricane forecaster, previously told USA Today. Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, told CNN Helene will likely be a "historic inland flooding event," adding, "Historically speaking, 50% of lives lost are in a setup like this. Were probably going to lose a lot of lives in this setup with this much flooding potential." Before Helene made landfall, the National Hurricane Center warned it could bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains to much of Florida and parts of the southeastern U.S. The federal government has predicted damaging winds and rains as well as the risk of flash and urban flooding and landslides will stretch as far as the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia and the Carolinas through Friday, Sept. 27. 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. Photo: NASA/Getty Hurricane Helene from space Joe Raedle/Getty Weather in Florida as Hurricane Helene approaches The rainfall could hit 20 inches in some areas, weather officials said. Tornadoes are another risk. The coast of Florida will be particularly vulnerable to storm surge from the ocean, reaching as high as 20 feet above ground level. "After landfall [in the Big Bend], Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday," an advisory from the National Hurricane Center states. As of Thursday, Sept. 26, Helene, after hitting land, is set to move north across Georgia and into eastern Tennessee by Friday afternoon, then reach western Kentucky by Saturday. Related: I Survived Getting Sucked Into Storm While Paragliding, Reaching Altitude of Over 30,000 Feet (Exclusive) President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 23, 2024, and continuing. That same day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in a post on X that the state had almost 18,000 linemen staged along with available search and rescue and roadway clearing crews. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Colorado Springs Police Department wrapped up its year-long audit this month and several recommendations to improve the department were outlined in a press conference Thursday afternoon. Over 80% of Colorado Springs police officers in 2022 said they felt like they did not receive enough effective training on non-lethal weapons, defensive tactics, crisis intervention and de-escalation practices. This response from officers on the force garnered a recommendation that the department conduct an independent audit of use-of-force training "to ensure it conformed to best-practice standards." Over the course of a year, the Police Executive Research Forum analyzed documents, policies and lesson plans and conducted focus groups and interviews with those in leadership to come up with a set of recommendations. Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade described the report as a critical tool for guiding the department's long-term vision toward constant improvement. "It truly is a roadmap for the future of public safety in Colorado Springs," Mobolade said during Thursday's press conference. "It represents our shared commitment to transparency, accountability and progress." PERF's research found that even after a 2022 Transparency Matters study found that many officers felt the department "places too little emphasis on training defensive tactics and arrest control," more than three-fourths of the officers who responded to the 2024 survey still felt the same. PERF also said those two topics came up consistently throughout the officer survey as the greatest training needs. "We need to be training more on defensive tactics to give officers the tools and confidence to go hands-on," one officer said during the surveys one of several anonymous officer comments shown Thursday. PERF claimed that officers who do not feel adequately trained to go hands-on with a weaponless subject are more likely to rely on some form of less-than-lethal tool or weapon to gain compliance. Across the nation, the PERF audit states, "many more hours" are spent training recruits and in-service officers to hone their firearm skills than are spent teaching defensive tactics. "It's great that we learn the de-escalation techniques, but they will not always turn out great, and sometimes things change rapidly, and the officers need to be prepared for the worst," another officer said during the surveying process. Several recommendations from PERF were provided to aid in combatting the issue, including the building of a new training facility and Brazilian jiujitsu training. Featured Local Savings The department has recently been awarded a $1.325 million dollar grant by the National Institute of Justice to conduct a 3-year study of the departments implementation of police-focused Brazilian jiujitsu defensive tactics. The department and PERF were one of four grants NIJ awarded across the US. They are the first and only law enforcement agencies in the country to study how police-specific Brazilian jiujitsu training impacts use-of-force encounters and provide empirical evidence about its effectiveness in law enforcement. The training is intended to improve de-escalation and critical decision-making, addressing issues where officers felt they failed if force was necessary. "The grant itself is going to help us determine how the best way to roll it out," Chief Adrian Vasquez said. "At the end of the day, once we implement it, every sworn officer and everybody up to me will be out there on the mats learning these techniques." Another recommendation by PERF was to increase in-service training hours from 24 annually, to 40. This time will include training to refresh skills and continued education on mandated topics such as bias. According to PERF, the Aurora Police Department already requires 40 hours of annual in-service training, and it has been successful. With the department likely to nearly double its in-service training hours, PERF emphasized the importance of a new training facility that can replace the current, 30-year-old building. Colorado Springs voters rejected a city plan to set aside almost $5 million in tax revenue for a new police academy. Results released by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office showed 2023's Question 2A failed 52.22% to 47.48%. At the time, Mobolade said that the city would go ahead with creating a new training facility regardless. "As always, we will get creative piecing together the funding needed to ensure our community is safe. Public safety remains my top priority," he said in a release sent out after election night. The city has provided some updates on the project at ColoradoSprings.gov/PoliceTrainingFacility since the failed vote. But as of Thursday, there are still no definitive plans are on the website. "We appreciate the affirmation of this need, and we are continuing to make progress and take steps in that path forward to make this a reality," Mobolade said Thursday, regarding a new training facility. Death toll rises as Helene unleashes catastrophic flooding across Southeast, knocks out power to millions TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The remnants of Helene continued its onslaught across the Southeast Friday, with nearly 4 dozen dead across multiple states and hundreds rescued from floodwaters. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall along Floridas Big Bend region late Thursday with estimated sustained winds of 140 mph. Post-landfall, the hurricane quickly weakened, but its torrential rains and gusty winds continued hundreds of miles inland, with feet of rain being reported over the Appalachians. At least 45 deaths have been reported so far, including 19 in South Carolina, 15 in Georgia, eight in Florida, two in North Carolina and one in Virginia. Interstate 40 Partially Collapses After Catastrophic Rains In North Carolina In the southern Georgia town of Blackshear, a part-time assistant fire chief was killed when a tree fell onto his vehicle while responding to the storm. "When we ask people to stay off the roads and be patient, its because when we are trying to get to people, it is a very dangerous environment and one of our finest has lost his life trying to save others," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday. Other deaths illustrated the power of hurricanes to kill by a variety of means. Two people in Georgia were killed during a tornado and several drowned in Florida. In North Carolina, a 4-year-old child died in a weather-related car crash. Kemp warned there are still many who remain in peril. In Valdosta, officials have identified 115 structures heavily damaged by Helene that they know have multiple people trapped inside. "(We are) trying to get to multiple structures that we know have individuals inside that we are unable to communicate with," Kemp said. "Were going to have to literally cut our way into situations like this." First-ever Flash Flood Emergency Issued In Atlanta As Helene's Fury Prompts Water Rescues, Rising Death Toll There were 28 Flash Flood Emergencies the most dire flood alert issued by the NWS spread across Georgia, western North Carolina from Asheville to the Charlotte area, and portions of South Carolina and Virginia. That included the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency in Atlanta, where the city broke a 138-year-old record for two-day rainfall at 11.18 inches. The 26 Flash Flood Emergencies issued on Friday are the most in a single day across the country. Videos: Hurricane Helene Produces Record Storm Surge Along Florida's Gulf Coast In North Carolina, record rains have flooded the Broad River to levels that have overtopped the Lake Lure Dam, threatening its failure. Officials have issued emergency evacuation orders downstream concerned about deadly flash flooding. As much as as 20 inches of rain could fall in the area by the end of the weekend. The Asheville Fire Department said on X that a mandatory evacuation of the Swannanoa River Valley was underway because of the flooding. According to a post on X from Haywood County Emergency Services, residents in portions of Waynesville, North Carolina, were told to evacuate because of the potentially deadly situation that's unfolding. The North Carolina Department of Transportation warned drivers "all roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed" and part of I-40 was washed out near the border with Tennessee. Download The Free Fox Weather App Countless emergency crews from Florida to Georgia are responding to those trapped in homes and cars as rivers and streams swell. The Pasco County Sheriffs Office in Florida reports first responders have so far responded to more than 200 water rescue calls and have rescued at least 65 people with additional water rescues ongoing. Florida Police Give Morbid Advice To Those Who Didn't Evacuate For Helen's Historic Storm Surge Atlanta Fire Rescue Department has responded to numerous weather-related calls overnight. Several boats were deployed to transport people and pets to safety, while some residents were forced to wade through deep water to reach rescue crews. FOX Weather cameras were rolling when several of those rescues were underway, and the video shows a woman with a baby strapped to her chest being led from the water. Watch: Fox Weather Meteorologist Rescues Woman From Rushing Floodwaters In Atlanta FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen found himself in the middle of a harrowing rescue as Helene slammed the Atlanta area. While covering the storm's aftermath, Van Dillen, a journalist from the area, heard a woman's desperate cries for help along Peach Tree Creek. She had driven into floodwaters and was trapped in her car before sunrise . Van Dillen waded into the chest-deep water, battling strong currents to reach the woman. He pulled her to safety , carrying her through the floodwaters to a nearby dry area. Helene's combination of 70-100 mph wind gusts with saturated grounds left more than 4 million without power across the Southeast as of Friday afternoon, with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all reporting over a million customers with outages during the peak of the storm. In Florida, Helene produced a 99-mph gust in Perry, a 75-mph gust near Jacksonville and a 72-mph gust at Jacksonville International Airport. In neighboring Georgia, a gust reached 100 mph in Alma, while an 88-mph wind gust was reported in Valdosta and a 75-mph gust in Savannah. In Florida, Helene produced a 99-mph gust in Perry, a 75-mph gust near Jacksonville and a 72-mph gust at Jacksonville International Airport. In neighboring Georgia, a gust reached 100 mph in Alma, while an 88-mph wind gust was reported in Valdosta and a 75-mph gust in Savannah. The massive size of Helene combined with its Category 4 strength and forward speed, racing up the Gulf of Mexico at over 20 mph led to a massive storm surge along the Big Bend and Florida's northern Gulf Coast. According to NOAA, preliminary indications show storm surge reached at least 15 feet along the Big Bend region near Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee and Horseshoe Beach. A camera in Cedar Key, Florida, at a height of 6 feet, was swamped by storm surge early Friday morning. Surge levels eventually reached 10 feet. Clearwater Beach reported its highest surge since at least the Superstorm of 1993, with a level of nearly 7 feet. Storm surge even brought floodwaters into Tampa, where gauges near the water showed a surge of more than 6 feet. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor reported "extensive damage" across the city, including Davis Islands and other waterfront areas . Footage taken from a Tampa Police Department helicopter showed flooded residential roads. The hurricane is believed to have produced several tornadoes, with most occurring in the Carolinas. According to the Storm Prediction Center, it received initial reports of more than a dozen twisters in the bands associated with Helene. According to officials in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, outside of Raleigh, a significant tornado is believed to have injured 15 people on Friday. Photos showed businesses that were significantly damaged, with windows blown out of vehicles. The city's mayor declared a local state of emergency and pledged to rebuild following the disaster. Tornado damage in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Original article source: Death toll rises as Helene unleashes catastrophic flooding across Southeast, knocks out power to millions As Hurricane Helene barreled north, South Carolina has been left with nearly historic power outages that might take days to restore, according to the states utility providers. The high winds in the early hours of Friday after days of heavy rainfall brought down trees across the state, toppling power lines and blocking roads that repair crews need to access. With all of the trees being uprooted and falling, we probably have more power outages than weve had maybe ever, said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster at a press conference Friday afternoon. Weve had a lot of them before and they always take a lot of time to repair and this one is going to be no exception, so we ask everyone to be patient. By one estimate, it will be the middle of next week before life is back to normal, said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, a press conference with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster at a press conference Friday. As of Friday afternoon, 1.25 million power outages according to the Office of Regulatory Staff, with Greenville, Spartanburg and Lexington Counties being the most affected. Thats more power outages than any other state currently reported, including Florida, where Helene made landfall as a category 4 hurricane. The extent of the power outage has already drawn comparisons to other historic storms that have swept South Carolina. 425,000 consumers of electric co-ops, about half of the total customers had lost power along with 633,000 customers from Duke Energy. 386,000 customers of Dominion Energy, one of the states largest utility providers, also lost power. Thats roughly the same number who lost power during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, said Kissam. These are significant numbers, bordering on historical, said Ryan Mosier, a spokesperson for Duke Energy. Customers need to be prepared for a multi-day outage. The most impacted part of the grid are the transmission lines, say utility officials. These are the large, high voltage power lines that move so-called bulk electricity across the state from power plants to substations, where it is then delivered to consumers. While utilities representatives have told The State that crews are already out working to assess and repair the damage, the full extent is still unknown and utilities have warned that some areas will see a longer wait, likely days, to see their service restored. Its going to vary across the state, its going to vary by co-op, said Avery Wilks, vice president of communication for the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, an industry group that represents 18 electric co-ops across the state. Coop crews are having trouble even trying to assess damage, to even go out there and see whats broken, see whats down... We are still very early into the response. The storm, which was expected to move west into Tennessee, struck more of South Carolina than many anticipated. Heavy rainfall, as much as 10 to 15 inches, in the days leading up Helene making landfall combined with wind gusts of up to 70 miles-per-hour brought down trees across the Midlands and Upstate. And with much of the damage occurring Friday morning, utilities say that in some cases theyre still struggling to access the parts of the state that are most impacted. The storm definitely shifted from what the experts were projecting in a significant way, Wilks said. Information from utilities, state and weather agencies suggest that the western border of South Carolina, the Upstate and the Piedmont areas were among the worst hit by outages. Some of these areas, which are served by electric co-ops, are among the most rural and rugged in the state, said Robert Hochstetler, president of the Central Electric Power Cooperative. Some co-ops saw almost their entire systems drop off during Hurricane Helene, which Hochstetler said had done more damage to the electric grid than any storm in decades. As of 8:45 a.m. Friday, the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative reported on X that approximately 63,000 of its members, roughly 85%, were without power. Teams from the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, which services parts of the Upstate South Carolina, prepare to repair damage from Hurricane Helene. Blue Ridge has said that as much as 85% of their customers lost power in the storm. The destruction that damaged South Carolinas electric grid is also making it difficult to repair. In many parts of the state, trees and other debris are still blocking the roads, while floodwaters have cut off some streets, making it hard for utility crews to even assess the damage. Crews from Santee Cooper had to cut their way into the Rainey Generating Station, a natural gas power plant in Anderson. Cell towers and infrastructure including transmission lines, pylons and substatations have also been damaged, said officials. Teams from the state Department of Transportation, along with local and municipal first responders, are working to clear roads. But the system of triage, meaning major roads and interstates are cleared first before moving to more rural areas, means that some areas will see more of a wait. A similar approach is also being taken to the power grid, say officials, with much of the early effort focusing on the major transmission lines. Utility companies reported that they already had at least eight helicopters are already in the air, some with long saws to cut debris from major transmission lines. Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Stanton said that the companys power generating facilities are continuing to operate, and roughly half of the 116 major connection points damaged in the storm had been repaired. But utility officials cautioned that progress might be slow even once major repairs were completed as getting the grid fully operational in some cases would mean going neighborhood by neighborhood to reconnect power lines to individual houses. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to hit 86 degrees in some parts of the state, and many households wont have their TVs working as USC and Clemson take the field. Its going to be frustrating, acknowledged Kissam, But he urged South Carolinians to help their neighbors and have patience. We will not stop working until the very last South Carolinian has their power restored. Mutual aid brings support for utilities In the days leading up the storm, utilities said that they were leaning on mutual aid agreements to bring in crews to support South Carolina. Its a very robust mutual aid system, Wilks said, but he also warned people need to buckle in for the long haul. S.C. Dept. of Transportation workers remove a large tree that fell along Celanese Road Friday in Rock Hill. In the Upstate, the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative posted that it was expecting 17 workers arriving late Friday afternoon from Maryland and Virginia to assist the more than 200 employees who had been working to assess and repair damage since Friday morning. Santee Cooper could not be reached for comment by midday Friday. On Thursday, Duke Energy posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that it had over 18,000 line workers and support workers ready to assess damage and restore power as soon as its safe to do so. Mosier said he had seen trucks with tags from as far away as Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada. Its all part of team South Carolina, said Kissam. CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (WFLA) Crystal River was among the numerous communities in Florida that was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Helenes flooding. Photos taken by drone service Higher Perspectives on Facebook showed the level of the devastation from the air. PHOTOS: Aftermath of Hurricane Helene around Tampa Bay This was a bad one, the service wrote on social media. When 8 On Your Side crews were at the scene, homeowners were still stuck waiting for the floodwaters to recede before they could begin the clean-up process. Floodwater filled the streets and buildings as late as Friday morning. default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default default It got up to 3 feet of water in my house, resident John Morrison told 8 On Your Side. I never thought Id have water in my house. Prior to the hurricane, forecasters predicted that Citrus County would see a dangerous storm surge of around 10 to 15 feet. County officials said it was likely 10 feet. Deputies said about 200 residents who did not evacuate had to be rescued. Do you know of something newsworthy happening in your community? Report It! Send in tips, photos videos and other information 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 WFLA. Hurricane Helene power outages leave millions in the dark history shows poorer areas often wait longest for electricity to be restored Hurricane Helene cut power to more than 4 million homes and businesses as it moved across the Southeast after hitting Floridas Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm on Sept. 26, 2024. As Helenes rains moved into the mountains, causing devastating flooding, officials warned that fixing downed utility lines and restoring power would take days to weeks. Electricity is essential to just about everyone rich and poor, old and young. Yet, when severe storms strike, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities often wait longest to recover. That isnt just a perception. We analyzed data from over 15 million consumers in 588 U.S. counties who lost power when hurricanes made landfall between January 2017 and October 2020. The results show that poorer communities did indeed wait longer for the lights to go back on. A 10 percentile drop in socioeconomic status in the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions social vulnerability index was associated with a 6.1% longer outage on average. This corresponds to waiting an extra 170 minutes on average for power to be restored, and sometimes much longer. The top map shows the total duration of power outages over eight storms by county. The lower map is a comparison with socioeconomic status taken into account, showing that counties with lower average socioeconomic status have longer outages than expected. Ganz et al, 2023, PNAS Nexus Implications for policy and utilities One likely reason for this disparity is written into utilities standard storm recovery policies. Often, these polices prioritize critical infrastructure first when restoring power after an outage, then large commercial and industrial customers. They next seek to recover as many households as they can as quickly as possible. While this approach may seem procedurally fair, these recovery routines appear to have an unintended effect of often making vulnerable communities wait longer for electricity to be restored. One reason may be that these communities are farther from critical infrastructure, or they may be predominantly in older neighborhoods where power infrastructure requires more significant repairs. Commercial areas are often higher on the priority list for faster power recovery in an outage. This store was still closed for several days during Texas widespread outages in 2021. Montinique Monroe/Getty Images The upshot is that households that are already at greater risk from severe weather whether due to being in flood-prone areas or in vulnerable buildings and those who are least likely to have insurance or other resources to help them recover are also likely to face the longest storm-caused power outages. Long outages can mean refrigerated food goes bad, no running water and delays in repairing damage, including delays in running fans to dry out water damage and avoid mold. Our study spanned 108 service regions, including investor-owned utilities, cooperatives and public utilities. The differential impact on poorer communities did not line up with any particular storm, region or individual utility. We also found no correlation with race, ethnicity or housing type. Only average socioeconomic level stood out. How to make power recovery less biased There are ways to improve power recovery times for everyone, beyond the necessary work of improving the stability of power distribution. Policymakers and utilities can start by reexamining power restoration practices and power infrastructure maintenance, such as replacing aging utility poles and trimming trees, with disadvantaged communities in mind. Power providers already have granular data on power usage and grid performance in their service regions. They can begin experimenting with alternative recovery routines that consider the vulnerability of their customers in ways that do not substantially affect average recovery duration. People in some Fort Myers, Fla., neighborhoods still lacked water and electricity more than a week after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Montinique Monroe/Getty Images For socioeconomically vulnerable regions that are likely to experience long outages because of their locations and possibly the aging energy infrastructure, utilities and policymakers can proactively ensure that households are well prepared to evacuate or have access to backup sources of power. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy announced in October 2023 that it would invest in developing dozens of resilience hubs and microgrids to help supply local power to key buildings within communities when the wider grid goes down. Louisiana plans several of these hubs, using solar and large-scale batteries, in or near disadvantaged communities. Policymakers and utilities can also invest in broader energy infrastructure and renewable energy in these vulnerable communities. The U.S. Department of Energys Justice40 program directs that 40% of the benefit from certain federal energy, transportation and housing investments benefit disadvantaged communities. That may help residents who need public help the most. Severe weather events are becoming more common as global temperatures rise. That increases the need for better planning and approaches that dont leave low-income residents in the dark. Chenghao Duan, a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech, also contributed to this article. This article, originally published on Feb. 7, 2024, has been updated with Hurricane Helenes rising power outage toll. 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. Hurricane Helene killed at least 42 people and left millions without power across the Southeast before weakening on its way north Friday morning, officials said. Widespread damage was expected in Floridas Big Bend region, where Helene made landfall as a Category 4 shortly after 11 p.m. ET on Thursday. It was the strongest storm to ever strike the area, which connects Floridas panhandle and peninsula. On Friday morning, Floridians woke up to extensive damage from the devastating flooding, high-speed winds and heavy rain. Follow along for live coverage Water levels in some parts of the region reached more than 15 feet above ground level, the National Hurricane Center said, citing preliminary storm surge models. In Perry, Florida, where officials urged residents who refused to evacuate to write their information on their bodies for identification, Police Chief Jamie Cruse braced himself for the storms aftermath as first responders began rescue operations. Were starting to get the first glimpse of what we actually have laying on the ground and what were going to be dealing with, he told NBC News. The only regret I have at this moment is we werent aggressive enough in the notification to tell people to evacuate the areas that were prone to flooding. I just hope that when we finally discover what were dealing with that we dont have a big loss of life, he added. Officials in Clearwater, further south along Floridas Gulf Coast, also feared the worst after seeing overnight footage of first responders rescuing elderly locals in knee-deep flood water. We had some homes burn to the ground out on the island. There were some folks that we just couldnt get to because of high waters to rescue, Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector told NBCs TODAY show. People toss buckets of water out of a flooded home Friday in Atlanta. The storm is blamed for at least 15 deaths in Georgia, including a first responder, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said at a news conference. One of our finest has lost his life trying to save others, he said. There have been at least seven deaths in Florida, including five reported overnight in Pinellas County, Florida, officials said. The sheriffs office said two of those deaths appear to have been due to drowning. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that one person died in Dixie County after a tree fell on a home. Another fatality was reported after a road sign fell onto a car. Thomas Chaves, left, and Vinny Almeida walk through floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in an attempt to reach Chaves's mother's house Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla. In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said there were two storm-related deaths. A 4-year-old child was killed in a car crash during heavy rain in Catawba County just after 8 a.m. ET, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. Three other children who were in the cars were hospitalized: a 12-year-old with life-threatening injuries, a 2-year-old with life-threatening injuries, and a 4-year-old with non-life-threatening injuries. Another person died in Charlotte after a tree fell on the home. The storm claimed at least 13 more lives in South Carolina, according to officials. Hurricane-felled trees caused two of those deaths in Anderson County, officials relayed. There was at least one death in Virginia, an official said. Debris left by Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Fla., on Friday. Meanwhile, more than 4.3 million people experienced power outages in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility data. Florida Power & Light Company said it restored power to at least 460,000 customers, which is more than 65% of the total number affected, as of 6 a.m. A spokesperson said the company wont know how long it could take to restore power for the remaining 214,000 people still in the dark until crews can safely survey the damage. Duke Energy Florida said nearly 198,000 customers had their power restored, while more than 402,000 were still experiencing outages. Workers will need to wait until the flooding recedes in some of the hardest-hit areas, but a full restoration was expected in days, Duke Energy spokesperson Ana Gibbs said. It will not take weeks, she said. Ronda Bell looks at an oak tree that landed on her 100-year-old home in Valdosta, Ga., on Friday. Now a tropical depression, Helene is expected to bring damaging wind gusts and catastrophic flooding as it heads north across the Southeast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The agency said people who live in the southern Appalachians should brace for possible long-term power outages. A flash flood emergency is in effect for the Atlanta metropolitan area, officials said. Twelve million people are at risk for tropical tornadoes across the eastern Carolinas and southern Virginia, including the cities of Charleston, Wilmington, Charlotte, Raleigh and Norfolk. At 2 p.m. ET Friday, the storm was 125 miles southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. President Joe Biden approved emergency declaration requests, allowing federal assistance to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina, and ordered more than 1,500 federal personnel to be deployed to the region. Federal Emergency Management Administrator Deanne Criswell is expected to travel to Florida to survey the damage and meet with state and local officials. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Hurricane Helene tore through Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, leaving behind a trail of devastation after the Category 4 hurricane made landfall Thursday night in the rural Big Bend in Florida, the Associated Press reported. After the hurricane made landfall and generated a record-breaking storm surge, emergency crews rushed Friday to rescue those trapped in flooded homes. The storm has claimed the lives of at least 21 people so far across the four states. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told AP News that the damage from the hurricane seems worse than the combined damage of Hurricanes Idalia from last year and Debby from August: Its demoralizing, he said. Meanwhile, county officials have launched boats to save stranded people and sent out warnings that the flooded water could contain live wires, sewage, sharp objects, and other debris. Dramatic footage shows the astonishing force of Hurricane Helene's storm surge, with entire homes floating away in Steinhatchee, Florida. pic.twitter.com/v2iZ87A3dc AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 27, 2024 President Joe Biden has shared his prayers for survivors and confirmed that the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is scheduled to arrive in Florida. The agency sent out a total of 1,500 workers who have helped with 400 rescues Friday morning. When the storm first arrived in the Big Bend in Florida it sustained maximum winds of 140 mph, but soon its damages extended hundreds of miles to the north, flooding North Carolina and taking out power both in southern Georgia and parts of Florida. Over 4 million homes and businesses in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina were left without power Friday morning according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. Videos of the storm, including a home on fire, have surfaced from South Pasadena, Florida amidst surging floods. Although the city claims crews are trying to respond to all emergencies the ferocity of the weather conditions is hindering their efforts, CBS News reported. Helenes landfall on Floridas Gulf Coast comes only a year after the same areas were hit by Hurricane Idalia, the New York Times reported. Xavier Riley woke up on his couch at about 4 a.m. Friday morning in a sweat. There was no air condition after the power went off during Hurricane Helene's roll through Georgia. Riley moved to his back bedroom inside a multi-unit Savannah mansion on 42nd street between Bee Road and Ash Street. Five minutes later Riley heard crackles and a crash, jolting him and his dog off the bed. Soon he was peering out of his bedroom window with a flashlight to see that a 90-foot live oak tree had fallen onto the house. A tree crew removes a large Live Oak from Abercorn Street at 49th Street after the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area on on Friday, September 27, 2024. "I was terrified it was going to keep coming down," Riley said. "That was my initial, first fear with it being so massive, like the biggest tree around." Although Savannah was not in Helene's direct path, the storm brought peak 76 mph wind gusts and seven simultaneous tornado warnings in the area at one point Thursday evening. By Friday morning the sun was up, and winds speeds began to dissipate, bringing droves of Savannah residents to city streets surveying the damage. Limbs, leaves and debris were strewn across streets from downtown squareswhere a split tree limb on Lafayette Square obstructed portions of the roadwayacross neighborhoods from Savannah's east side to western portions of the county. Some roads throughout the Ardsley Park, Parkside and Thomas Square neighborhoods had so much debris, entire roadways were closed. Xavier Riley looks at the tree that fell on the house that he rents a unit in on East 42nd Street after the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area on on Friday, September 27, 2024. As of 5 a.m. Friday, there were 55 trees down and 94 streets closed countywide, according to Chatham Emergency Management Agency statistics. Many residents said it was the worst storm damage seen since Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Anne Tyree and Ramond Hrabec, who live at the corner of 45th and Habersham streets, said they lost power overnight for the first time since moving to the house in 2011. That included maintaining power during Matthew when a 90-foot live oak fell onto powerlines at the intersection. Just a few houses down a tree had toppled over onto a pickup truck. A few streets away at 49th and Abercorn streets, resident Frank Simmons witnessed the carnage. Simmons sat on his screen porch at about 1:30 a.m. when the "first blast" of wind came through and toppled a sweetgum tree on 49th Street. Within seconds a live oak at the corner of Abercorn Street fell onto the road. "You can hear the big thumps, and you know the trees are coming down," Simmons said. Residents survey the debris and limbs blocking Washington Avenue near Savannah Arts Academy after the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area on on Friday, September 27, 2024. City crews were on the scene around 8 a.m., neighbors said. Randy Canady, who lives at the corner where the live oak fell, said he was impressed with how quickly city crews and contractors were cleaning the streets. The crews cleared the live oak from Abercorn Street by about 10 a.m., according to Simmons. Canady and a host of about five others were working along 49th Street to clear the fallen sweetgum and debris while tree crews cleared major rights of way. One resident had a chainsaw cutting the sweetgum trunk into chunks while Canady and others carried the logs off the road. "We were just trying to clear the road so people could get in and out," Canady said. Residents move limbs from 49th Street, between Abercorn and Habersham Streets after the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area on on Friday, September 27, 2024. There were also signs of community service on Broughton Street, where Maple Street Biscuit Company served free coffee after choosing not to open Friday. Maple Street Biscuit is right across from the building occupied by Ordinary Pub and Free People, where the roof collapsed on upstairs dwelling units during the storm. The partial building collapse threw glass shards into the streetsthree windows were busted upstairsand shut down Broughton Street between Barnard and Jefferson streets. By the time reporters reached the scene around 10 a.m., the city had already condemned the building, shown by multiple orange signs in the windows of Free People. Windows are broken out of the upper floor of a Broughton Street building that suffered a partial collapse as the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area on on Friday, September 27, 2024. Bradley Phall, a manager at Maple Street Biscuit, said he arrived at the store at about 4:30 a.m. Friday morning. The company then made the decision not to open due to safety concerns. Still, they wanted to do something for the community, and Phall went through 14 batches of coffee by mid-morning, he said. "We decided to go ahead and bring out some of our coffee and let people enjoy it," Phall said. "It's a little cool and breezy this morning, so maybe we can warm them up a little bit." Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Hurricane Helene's winds toss debris, trees across Savannah streets Starting Tuesday, the state of Idaho will take over the costs and responsibility of public defense for indigent defendants in the state. Prior to Oct. 1, the responsibility for the cost of public defense was on the counties, which varied county to county. (Getty Images) This story was first published by Idaho Reports on Sept. 27, 2024. Public defenders cant walk away from cases without a judges permission, even if their new state contracts mean they will get paid less. The Idaho State Bar issued an ethics opinion on Sept. 18 on attorneys withdrawing from pending criminal cases as the changeover date for a statewide public defense system nears. Starting Tuesday, the state of Idaho will take over the costs and responsibility of public defense for indigent defendants in the state. Prior to Oct. 1, the responsibility for the cost of public defense was on the counties, which varied county to county. Some counties used in-house public defense, while others contracted with outside attorneys. The change in the state came after sweeping legislation formed a state office after years-long litigation over inadequate public defense in Idaho. While about 77% of new State Public Defender employees would receive a salary increase, 7% of salaries would remain the same, about 15% of employees would see a decrease from their current county pay rate. Some attorneys have chosen not to sign on with the State Public Defenders Office or chosen not to be contracted attorneys with SPD. That could potentially leave hundreds of defendants without an attorney, triggering the Idaho State Bar to issue its opinion. In a story published by Idaho Reports last week, at least one public defender said he planned to withdraw from more than 100 pending cases. When the new State Public Defender Eric Fredericksen was asked about the issue, which is not isolated to one attorney, he said hed wait for the Idaho State Bars opinion. We have filed in my office probably 200 motions to withdraw, and judges have granted most of them, attorney Terry Ratliff told Idaho Reports on Friday. Theyre not granting ones where a judgment has been entered and (defendants) have 42 days to appeal if they choose. Ratliff, who previously contracted with Elmore County but isnt signing on to the SPD, said he supports the bars opinion and the judges choice, as he wants to protect his clients appellate rights. The bar issued the opinion after multiple requests to address the change to the state system. The bar opinion states that a lawyer must file a motion to withdraw if compensation becomes an issue. The judge may deny that lawyers motion. The opinion also includes details around how and when that lawyer may request to withdraw. The lawyer must assess whether there is a significant risk that their representation of clients will be materially limited due to their own personal financial interests, i.e., a reduction in pay rate to perform the same legal services. If the lawyer determines that there is a significant risk that their representation of one or more clients will be materially limited because of their own personal interests, then the lawyer has a concurrent conflict of interest (for withdrawing), according to the opinion. Additionally, if a judge believes withdrawing as a representative will jeopardize the defendants rights, the lawyer must stay on the case. In that case, the state would pay the attorney at its designated rate even if its less than what the attorney received from their county contract. Courts have broad discretion in whether to grant a motion to withdraw, according to the opinion. If a court denies the lawyers motion to withdraw from the case, even if the lawyers request to withdraw is due to a clear conflict of interest, the lawyer must continue to represent the client. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The woman who was found dead inside a fuel tank in Delhi has been named by the Merced County Sheriffs Office. Deputies say 32-year-old Mayra Minchaca Torres of Delhi was the woman found dead inside the fuel tank on Monday. A second woman, who was not identified, was found unconscious alongside Torres. The second victim continues to recover in the hospital. According to the Merced County Sheriffs Office, they responded to the 15,000 block of Oak Street in Delhi for a report of two people in a tank containing fuel on Monday afternoon. Investigators say a calf on the property had fallen into the tank and the two women went inside to try to get it out. However, the hazardous fumes inside and the lack of oxygen overcame the two women. They were able to rescue the calf, but the calf had to be euthanized due to its condition. An autopsy to establish the cause of death 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 CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Illinois Attorney Generals Office is making is easier for people to distinguish misinformation this election season. Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a Voter Misinformation Guide on Thursday to help people spot and report misinformation generated by artificial intelligence. Its been increasingly used this election season to create fake but realistic content about the election and the candidates running to sow confusion and even dissuade people from voting. Early voting is open in Illinois. Heres where you can cast your ballot: The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans, and voters deserve to have accurate information about the important choices they make on their ballots, Raoul said. As the general election draws nearer, Im reminding Illinoisans to be vigilant about election misinformation and election-related financial fraud. Dont let scammers steal your vote, your identity or your hard-earned dollars. Use reliable sources to educate yourself on your ballot choices and make your plan to vote. People can view the Voter Misinformation Guide 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 WCIA.com. By Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) -Four additional healthcare workers in Missouri who came in contact with a hospitalized bird flu patient developed mild respiratory symptoms but the virus was not confirmed in any of them, U.S. health officials said on Friday. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brings to six the number of healthcare workers who cared for the Missouri patient and developed respiratory symptoms. Unlike previous U.S. bird flu cases this year, the Missouri patient, who was hospitalized on Aug. 22, had no known contact with infected animals. Scientists are watching closely for signs that the virus has begun to spread more easily in people. Missouri is leading an investigation with CDC assisting remotely. Missouri health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox said in an emailed statement that the investigation is ongoing and there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission. According to Cox, one healthcare worker got a flu test and tested negative for the virus. Symptoms in the others were not discovered until it was too late to do testing, she said. A household contact of the patient also developed symptoms but was not tested. All have recovered from their illnesses. The state has collected blood samples of five healthcare workers and the household contact to look for antibodies that would suggest a prior infection. Cox said the CDC is evaluating samples from the unidentified hospitalized patient and the household contact. The state is preparing the other samples to be sent to the CDC as soon as possible, Cox said. "These cases underscore the need to take this outbreak more seriously than it has been taken," said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Results from the antibody testing need to be promptly obtained to assess the risk of human-to-human spread of the virus, Adalja said. "This dripping out of information from Missouri... is not acceptable and the state should ask for official CDC assistance now," he added. Cox said the state is sharing relevant updates as the investigations are completed. The Missouri case was the 14th person in the United States to be diagnosed with bird flu this year. The other 13 cases were among farm workers and linked to outbreaks on poultry or dairy farms. (Reporting by Mariam Sunny, Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Bill Berkrot) IL Residents Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours ILLINOIS 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 Illinois. 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. IL Residents Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch Illinois Secretary of State awards nearly $22M for library services (WTVO) Some libraries in the Stateline are getting an upgrade thanks to $22 million in grant funding awarded by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Six million dollars will be put toward literacy programs throughout the state and $28,000 will go to Northern Illinois Radio Information Services in DeKalb. Sauk Valley Community College is set to receive $68,000, while Highland Community College will be receiving $81,000. The YWCA in Rockford is also being awarded $85,000. The grants will be used to fund online catalogs, day-to-day operations and the promotion of reading and writing skills. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An Illinois State Police agent from Edwardsville has been charged with battery involving children and an elderly woman. Thomas M. Hatley is accused of physically abusing two children under the age of 13 and a woman over the age of 60 in August and September, as well as October 2023. It is the Belleville News-Democrats policy not to name victims of abuse. Hatley was charged Friday with one felony count of aggravated domestic battery, three felony counts of aggravated battery and four misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. His spouse, Ha T. Hatley, 37, was also charged with child endangerment, a misdemeanor. They were both arrested Friday morning at the Madison County Courthouse, according to a news release from Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine. Court records do not list attorneys for the Hatleys. Allegations against Thomas Hatley include that he choked a child under the age of 13 with his legs and whipped more than one child repeatedly with a belt. In another incident, he is alleged to have forced a child under 13 to run on a treadmill until they fell, vomited and suffered injuries to their legs. Charging documents also allege Hatley struck a woman over the age of 60 repeatedly in the face and eyes. Thomas Hatley has been placed on administrative leave without pay from the Illinois State Police, according to Melaney Arnold, a spokesperson for the agency. The ISP Division of Internal Investigation is investigating charges against Special Agent Hatley, pursuant to our authority under Illinois law, Arnold stated in an email to the BND. ISP does not tolerate any criminal conduct within its ranks. As we do with any alleged crime, ISP will move swiftly towards justice and accountability. (WTVO) Illinois Tollway is partnering up with State Senator Dave Syverson and State Representative Joe Sosnowski to help drivers update their I-Passes. The state is moving away from using the plastic responders of the past and to new sticker tags. Motorists can go to Harvard Illinois village hall at 201 West Diggins Street on September 17th from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. On September 26th, between the same times mentioned before, drivers are welcome to the Community Building Complex of Boone County in Belvidere at 111 West First Street. Participants must bring their drivers license and license plate number. Officials will be there to walk motorists through the process without disrupting their I-Pass account activity. Once the sticker is activated, it can be used on the Illinois Tollway and other EZ Pass roadways in other states within 24 hours. There will be no deposit for the sticker tag and the $10 transponder deposit will transfer to the new account when it is activated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kamala Harris' campaign has bitten back after former President Donald Trump's refusal to answer whether or not he would rescind his endorsement of Mark Robinson, the GOPs gubernatorial candidate who has been embroiled in a scandal after a CNN report detailed a history of controversial comments on pornography forums from accounts linked to him. Speaking Thursday to reporters at a press conference in Trump Tower, the former president addressed a wide range of topics, including the migrant crisis, the war in Ukraine, and even touched on the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He notably did not mention the North Carolina gubernatorial candidate, who earned the coveted Trump endorsement in March. As he left the podium, a reporter asked if he was planning to pull his endorsement of the lieutenant governor. Trump responded I dont know the situation before quickly walking away and taking another reporters question. Far-Right Trump Favorite Mark Robinson Wins North Carolina Governor Primary The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. The CNN report unearthed a lengthy backlog of explicit comments from accounts linked to the lieutenant governor, including one where the poster identified themselves as a black NAZI! Robinson has vehemently denied the reporting, calling the comments salacious tabloid lies. In the days since the report was released, Robinson has seen both campaign staff and office staff resign. The Harris campaign, who are eager to tie the former president to the besieged lieutenant governor in an important swing state, quickly responded to the remark. Its impossible to believe that, somehow, Donald Trump missed the news about his handpicked candidate for governor calling himself a Nazi, Harris campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement sent to the Daily Beast. 2173124377 Mark Robinson and his wife, Yolanda Hill Robinson, attend a Trump event in Asheville, North Carolina in August. Tom Brenner/Getty Trump has been to North Carolina twice since the news broke and is still standing by Robinson, even as the people who know Robinson best are abandoning him, Moussa said. Although Robinson has appeared at Trump rallies in the past, he did not show up at the Republican nominees rallies on September 20 in Wilmington and on Wednesday in Mint Hill. Robinson has attended Trump events in the pastas recently as August 21, he attended a speech the former president gave in Asheboro, North Carolina, and even received a shout-out from the podium. Mark Robinson, he's out there. He's fighting. He's fighting. He's a great one, according to a transcript of the event published by Roll Call. 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. Incidents tied to political violence getting more attention in atmosphere of mistrust Details of a suspected vandalism incident in Washtenaw County, which recently were posted on social media and reported by a metro Detroit TV station, have stirred concerns of political violence and stoked outrage in a string of online comments. But authorities looking into the accusations caution people's suspicions may be just that. If so, it wouldn't be the first time in this presidential election that there have been rumors, with quarrels nationwide turning into unpleasant acts, including reports of stolen campaign signs, shouting matches and fisticuffs at family gatherings. In this election cycle four years after federal agents foiled a kidnapping plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and just weeks after two assassination attempts on the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump political kerfuffles seem to be getting more public attention. Donald Trump supporters attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, protesting the election of President Joe Biden. Michigan State Police told the Free Press on Wednesday that its investigation began late last month with claims from Dexter residents who said roofing nails were tossed onto their lawns because they are supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election. WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) aired a news segment on it this week. Commenters on a Reddit thread said they now are scared. Some accused police of not aggressively investigating the incidents and of political bias. One person went so far as to try to connect whoever did it to attempted murder. "You get a nail that he left in your driveway in your tire, and you get on the highway and have a blowout, lose control and roll your vehicle over," the commenter wrote, using a screen name. "At the very least your attorney can easily find a dozen criminal offenses." Uncertainty about what will happen in a close election, from how the media will cover it to whether there will be another Jan. 6 situation in which a mob of Trump supporters violently stormed the Capitol, is fueling anxiety for voters already on edge. What's more, serious threats to U.S. federal judges have more than doubled during the past three years, part of a growing wave of politically driven violence, according to U.S. Marshals Service data that Reuters reviewed and reported on earlier this year. And false social media claims repeated by Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, that a growing Haitian population in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating pets led people this summer to call in bomb threats to the city's government offices and schools. The police investigation On Wednesday, Michigan State Police verified with the Free Press that an incident report was taken in connection to claims that nails and screws were found in a resident's yard on Aug. 31, but, MSP Lt. Rene Gonzalez said the police have no witnesses or video of the incident. The resident, Gonzalez said, suspected the Aug. 31 incident was connected to a Harris yard sign and asked the incident be documented. Then, Gonzalez said, on Sept. 3, there was a second incident, prompting even more detective work that is ongoing. So far, Gonzalez said, there is no evidence to tie whatever happened to political violence, nor is there a suspect, which is why the case has not been referred to the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office. Moreover, Gonzalez said, if there are charges, they are unlikely to be anything more than misdemeanors. "We've had crimes like this on a non-election year and we investigated it the same we would this," Gonzalez said. "But it seems like the public gets themselves charged up on certain things and then you find out it's nothing." He added: Theories connecting the nails to attempted murder and a police cover-up are outlandish. More: From Jackson to Trump, presidents have been targets of assassination attempts Still, on the Reddit thread, some of which has since been removed, some remarks suggest that if the nail incidents were a form of political intimidation it could affect political behavior, especially in a swing state like Michigan. And even perceived tension could chill political conversation. When the Free Press asked Wayne State University on Wednesday if any of its professors who studied politics to offer some insight on potential political violence and conspiracy theories, the institution declined, saying its scholars preferred to "stay out of it." In July, Time magazine reported on what it called "Americas political violence crisis," citing among other evidence a political focus group meeting in Pennsylvania as early as January. At the meeting, Democrats and Republicans talked about their concerns about the democratic process. The group included people from several states including Michigan and, the magazine said what they all seemed to agree on about the presidential election cycle was their prediction that "political violence was going to happen." De-escalating violence At the same time, news organizations are struggling with how to responsibly report on incidents and rumors of political violence, and are looking ahead, making plans on how to cover in an atmosphere of distrust and misinformation the election results. Last month, MSNBCs liberal commentator Rachael Maddow penned an essay in the New York Times that said what worried her most about election night was a close-vote scenario in which the results get tied up through legal challenges and certification refusals. There's historical precedent the so-called "Compromise of 1877" or "Corrupt Bargain," in which Congress selected who would become president in a deal historians suggested was made in an atmosphere of political violence. Wednesday, the New York Times published a report, "News Outlets Brace for Chaos on Election Night (and Perhaps Beyond)," which described how journalists are planning to make calls in a tight race and "ensure that viewers and readers believe them." The Times said that "Election Day is the news industrys biggest night, when voters rely on media outlets to declare state-by-state winners and to keep score in the Electoral College." But it added, the results could "take days to determine." "We live in an environment where misinformation travels really fast, and we understand that the public is confused," Julie Pace, the executive editor of the Associated Press, said in the Times' report. "Theres distrust in elections theres distrust in institutions in general." What will it take to restore trust and de-escalate political violence? The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University in Massachusetts convened a panel to consider that very question earlier this year after a 20-year-old man shot at Trump, grazing his ear at a political rally. The shooter also killed one bystander and wounded two others. The center said in a summary of its panel discussion that the assassination attempt "stoked Americans' fears of rising political violence across the country." The impact, the center added, has been felt "at every level of the political process, from President to Congress to poll workers." Among the suggested strategies to quell the violence: Call it out and band together to prevent it. Panel host and Harvard Professor Erica Chenoweth said most people reject political violence, but various polls suggest a growing anxiety about it with some "modest increases in the proportion of respondents who would tolerate or even condone political violence against members of the opposing party." She added, however, "its so important not to minimize whats going on, but also keep a healthy perspective," noting that, generally, in America, "people have been able to vote safely, especially relative to many other places in the world." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Social media claims of political violence stoke public anxiety Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds a press conference after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - Shigeru Ishiba, tapped to be Japan's next prime minister, may cause diplomatic headaches for the U.S. with proposals to revamp Tokyo's closest alliance by locking Washington into an "Asian NATO" and stationing Japanese troops on U.S. soil. Ishiba, elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday, outlined his plan in a paper to the Hudson Institute think tank last week. He argues that the changes would deter China from using military force in Asia. "The absence of a collective self-defence system like NATO in Asia means that wars are likely to break out because there is no obligation for mutual defense," he wrote. Ishiba, like many Japanese politicians, has voiced concern over a surge in Chinese military activity around Japanese islands. The NATO idea, however, has already been rejected by Washington, with Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, dismissing it as hasty. "He's very technical about military matters but in terms of national security diplomacy, he really hasn't shown much chops," said Joseph Kraft, a financial political analyst at Rorschach Advisory in Tokyo. Ishiba, however, doubled down on his idea on Friday, telling a press conference that "the relative decline of U.S. might" made an Asian treaty organisation necessary. Since its defeat in World War Two, Japan has been in the embrace of Washington, which provides protection with its nuclear arsenal and has an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and some 50,000 troops in Japan. Ishiba's potentially disruptive changes would come as the U.S. presses for closer ties, Tokyo seeks defence cooperation with South Korea and Australia, and forges security ties with European nations, including Britain and France, to counter China's growing influence. Ishiba's NATO would combine a collection of existing diplomatic and security pacts, including the Quad grouping - Japan, the U.S., Australia and India - the AUKUS agreement of Canberra, Washington and London, and Japan's deepening security cooperation with neighbour and rival Seoul. The new security alliance, Ishiba said, could even share control of Washington's nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Japan's nuclear-armed neighbours. Campaigning before Friday's vote, Ishiba said he wanted to rebalance Japan's alliance with the U.S, including greater oversight of U.S. military bases in Japan - a regular source of friction with locals. In his Hudson paper, Ishiba, who has a reputation as a troublemaker in the LDP, also said Japan's military alliance with the U.S. could be revised to allow Tokyo to station troops in Guam, a U.S. territory, for the first time since 1944. "I would venture to guess that that's not going to happen," said Rintaro Nishimura, associate at The Asia Group Japan. "It looks like he's trying to kind of fundamentally change the relationship, but not in a completely negative way." (Reporting by Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by William Mallard) 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 nearly 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. 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 1,700 miles from his intended destination. In what might be the most memorable Adams line in the entire document, he responds: Transferring here. You know first stop is always instanbul. 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. 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. 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.* 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lea Maceyko, speaking, alongside Tammy Krings and Arthur "Ed" Dunn. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.) Republican and independent voters are criticizing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno after he referred to women as a little crazy for making abortion policy the deciding factor for their vote. In a video obtained by WCMH, Moreno told a crowd in Warren County (theres) a lot of suburban women that are like, Listen, abortion is it. If I cant have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for anybody else. Its a little crazy by the way, he went on, but especially for women that are like past 50 Im thinking to myself, I dont think thats an issue for you. Im 63, Tammy Krings said, When I turned 50, I didnt stop caring about my daughters body and her choices and her rights. Krings described herself as an independent voter, and she spoke alongside two Republicans Thursday on the sidewalk outside the Columbus Club where Moreno was hosting a fundraiser. The event was organized by the campaign of Morenos opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. I didnt stop caring about my future grandchildren and their rights, Krings added. Just because youre not of childbearing age, and just because youre not a woman doesnt mean this isnt important to you. Morenos comments in context In an emailed statement, Moreno campaign spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy said, Bernie was clearly making a tongue-in-cheek joke about how Sherrod Brown and members of the left-wing media like to pretend that the only issue that matters to women voters is abortion. Bernies view, she continued, is that women voters care just as much about the economy, rising prices, crime, and our open southern border as male voters do, and its disgusting that Democrats and their friends in the left-wing media constantly treat all women as if theyre automatically single-issue voters on abortion. Still, Browns campaign has latched on to Morenos comments. Just days after Ohio voters approved the reproductive rights amendment known as Issue 1 last November, state Democratic officials made it clear they would make politicians stance on the issue a central theme of this years campaign. Are you trying to lose the election? Asking for a friend. #Tonedeaf #DonLemonVibes Sadly, by the way, theres a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, Listen, abortion is it. If I cant have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) September 24, 2024 Morenos team says he favors exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, but when he ran in 2022, before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe, he described himself as 100% pro-life no exceptions. Hes also embraced the idea of a national 15-week floor for abortion, but has been less willing to assert that outside of being an aspiration after former President Donald Trump abandoned the idea in April. Now Moreno argues the matter should be settled primarily at the state level. Following a surprise Alabama Supreme Court ruling that threatened access to IVF treatment, Moreno dismissed concerns as a left-wing, media-created issue. And Wednesday, The Columbus Dispatch reported that Moreno claimed the Founding Fathers would murder you for supporting abortion rights. Moreno isnt the only Republican candidate struggling to thread the needle on an issue where the majority of voters dont appear to align with their position. But even within his party, Morenos comments sparked pushback. Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley asked, are you trying to lose the election? on social media Tuesday. Republicans and Independents weigh in SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Fifty-seven percent of Ohioans voted, Krings argued, in reference to Issue 1 last November, and Bernie Moreno wants to just toss that out the window. She insisted politicians need to understand the assignment. Its their job, she said, to uphold the will of the voters not second guess it. He thinks he knows better, she said. We the people his job is to execute on what the people vote for. Its really kind of simple. Krings is backing Brown because of his record of bringing people together, listening, and striving to represent all of the people in the state, she said. In addition to Krings, Ed Dunn and Lea Maceyko had harsh words for Moreno. Theyre both supporting Brown as well. Dunn is from Beavercreek and described himself as a lifelong Republican. Like Krings he argued that even a policy doesnt affect him personally, that doesnt preclude him from caring about it. We just want women, including my family, friends and others, now and in the future, to have the right to make their own health care decisions, he said. The government or politicians shouldnt be involved in those extremely personal matters. Thats not crazy, Dunn added, thats just common sense. Lea Maceyko is a Republican, too and comes from a little one-stoplight town called Cardington. She described herself as an Ohio woman over 50. I wont tell you exactly how far over 50 I am, she added, but Im over 50. Maceyko was a bit shocked that Moreno would not just disregard the results of Issue 1, but that hed make light of it. (Hes) making fun of people for caring about our rights and the rights of others, she said. And frankly, I just dont think thats very funny. I have grandchildren, nieces, friends and other women in my life that I love and care about, and I dont think its very crazy that I care about their rights. Maceyko added. Bernie said I was crazy, but really, I think hes a little crazy to be mocking people that he wants to represent. Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE India will not purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, which has been sanctioned by Western countries, Indian Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said on Sept. 27, Reuters reported. Arctic LNG 2, owned by Russias Novatek, aims to produce nearly 20 million metric tons of LNG per year, primarily for Asian markets, potentially generating billions of dollars in revenue. The project was envisioned as Russia's largest LNG plant and a key part of its plan to become the world's leading LNG producer. Earlier this year, the U.K., along with the U.S. and the European Union, sanctioned Arctic LNG 2. "We will not buy (from) Arctic LNG 2. We are not buying any sanctioned commodity. Something which has broad-based sanctions, we are not touching it," Jain said. India has maintained close economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow since February 2022, with bilateral trade reaching a record high in 2023. India overtook China as the worlds largest importer of Russian oil in July as Chinese refiners bought less due to lower profit margins from fuel production, Reuters reported on Aug. 22, citing a comparison of import data. At the same time, India has been developing its relationship with Ukraine, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Kyiv in August, the first time an Indian prime minister set foot in Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established over 30 years ago. Modi's visit to Ukraine came just weeks after his trip to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit included a widely criticized hug between the two leaders on July 8, hours after Russia bombed the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv. Read also: Zelensky, Modi discuss strengthening cooperation in New York Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli teams had meetings to discuss the U.S. ceasefire proposals with Lebanon on Thursday and will continue discussions in the days ahead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, adding that he appreciated the U.S. efforts. "Our teams met (Thursday, Sept. 26) to discuss the U.S. initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days," he said in a statement. The comments came after Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday there would be no ceasefire in the north, where Israeli jets have been carrying out the heaviest bombardment against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in decades. On Thursday, after Netanyahu left for New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, his office issued a statement saying the prime minister had ordered Israeli troops to continue fighting with full force in Lebanon. Netanyahu's statement made no reference to the comments of Katz and other Israeli politicians, who have also rejected a ceasefire, saying only that there had been "a lot of misreporting around the U.S.-led ceasefire initiative". "Israel shares the aims of the U.S.-led initiative of enabling people along our northern border to return safely and securely to their homes," the statement said. "Israel appreciates the U.S. efforts in this regard because the U.S. role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region," it said. Israeli forces have been conducting daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon for almost a year since the Iranian-backed group launched a barrage of missiles at Israel immediately after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct 7. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have fled their homes, leaving large areas largely deserted, and Israel has declared returning evacuees to their homes as one of its war aims. Israeli strikes over the past week have hit hundreds of targets in southern Lebanon and much deeper into the country, killing more than 600 people. At the same time, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets and missiles at targets in Israel, including one fired at Tel Aviv. Israel's air defence systems have intercepted many of the missiles, ensuring the damage has been relatively limited. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As a major Texas-based solar energy company eyes Indian Lake for its new 800-megawatt facility, some residents are expressing concerns about environmental impact. The Grange Solar Project would cover up to 5,000 acres of land leased directly from area landowners. However, concerned residents have acknowledged the vast natural resources, protected wildlife, and tourism that could be impacted. Criminal charges filed against Trump, Vance for false claims against Haitian community When you have 2 million visitors to your area annually and you put a power plant in the middle of that, and you put a power plant less than a few hundred yards from our lake, that changes everything. That changes the landscape for us, said Aubrey Snapp, Indian Lake advocate. The project still needs approval from the Ohio power sitting board. In the meantime, the company says it is working to create a relationship with the community, including a proposal to assist in tornado recovery. So should the project move to construction weve outlined approximately $10 million of donations that would occur, some at the point of construction and some over the course, said Vice President of Open Road Renewables, Douglas Sterling. He added that community engagement is important with such a lengthy project. The community feels like theyre not directly benefiting to projects they want to see happen. So this is our way of putting more money into the communities hands to do what they feel is best in the Indian Lake area, said Sterling. Residents cleared to return home after major gas leak But some people arent buying it. Theyre saying, oh, well give you $10 million. But heres a lot of things that arent guaranteed with the money. So I dont believe it anyway, said Snapp. If approved, leaders on the project say they are about three or four years out from construction. Advocates in Indian Lake are urging supporters of their fight to email their elected officials and press their concerns. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Indiana's attorney general is seeking court approval to carry out the execution of death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie, who was convicted in 2002 for killing a law enforcement officer from Beech Grove. (Mugshot from public record) The Indiana Office of the Attorney General submitted a request Friday to set an execution date for Benjamin Ritchie, who was convicted in 2002 for killing a law enforcement officer from Beech Grove. Ritchie has exhausted his appeals. Most Hoosiers and I expect justice without delay, especially when someone murders a police officer, one of the many, many brave men and women we thank and respect daily, Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a statement. This convicted cop killer has been on death row far too long 22 years and its past time for him to pay his debt to society. In June, Rokitas office requested an execution date for Joseph Corcoran, who killed four people in 1997. Corcoran, who similarly has exhausted his appeals, is scheduled to die Dec. 18 and would be the first person executed by the state since 2009. Corcoran still has several legal options, including challenging the new execution protocol in Indiana, asking courts to block the execution due to his mental illness. State officials struggled to obtain the necessary drugs for the three-ingredient execution cocktail for years, before turning instead to the single drug pentobarbital. This individual has been on death row since October of 2002 and exhausted all his appeals since his murder of Beech Grove Officer, William Toney, 32, on September 29, 2000, Gov. Eric Holcombs office said in a Friday statement. Gov. Holcomb will be fulfilling his gubernatorial duty by following the law and carrying out justice according to the conviction and sentencing of this case by the court. State public defenders assigned to Ritchies case did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Its now up to Indianas high court justices to grant the states request and set an execution date. Ritchie can still seek clemency or a pardon in his case an unlikely option that hasnt been granted to a death row inmate in over a decade. There are currently eight men on death row in Indiana. Ritchie is among the four who have exhausted all their appeals and have no other recourse, according to the Indiana Public Defender Councils website. Ritchie case Ritchie and two others stole a van from a gas station on Sept. 29, 2000 and officers later found the stolen van, initiating a pursuit. The trio stopped the van and fled on foot, running in opposite directions. Beech Grove police officer William Toney chased Ritchie, who turned around and fired four shots and killed Toney. Ritchie, then 22, was convicted of the murder in 2002 and the jury unanimously recommended a death sentence. Toneys widow, Dee Dee Horen, shared news of the attorney generals request with WTHR earlier this year, including that Ritchie would be the second man in line for the death penalty. At least two other men on death row were convicted of killing law enforcement officers. According to courtroom reports from the IndyStar, Ritchie laughed when his verdict was read after the jury deliberated for more than three hours. Ritchies defense shared stories of his difficult home life but failed to sway the jury, who had to be sequestered for the trial. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Roughly 219,000 Hoosier students were considered chronically absent during the 2023-24 academic year, according to data from the Indiana Department of Education. (Getty Images) Why K-12 students dont show up to school and how to make kids and their parents more accountable was largely the focus of an hours-long policy meeting held Thursday at the Indiana Statehouse. Its a conversation thats increasingly come before Hoosier policymakers in light of state data showing that thousands of Hoosier students are missing multiple days, even weeks, of school each year. The latest attendance numbers released by the Indiana Department of Education last month reported that 17.8% of K-12 students roughly 219,00 kids were chronically absent during the most recent 2023-24 school year, meaning they missed at least 18 days. The Indiana Code specifically defines chronic absenteeism as being absent 18 or more days within a school year for any reason a higher standard than habitual truancy, which is ten or more days without an excuse. Its the second year in a row that the number of chronically absent students went down, dropping from 19.2% in 2023, and 21.1% in 2022. Even so, Indianas top education officials have conceded that too many Hoosier students are still missing a significant number of school days. Thursdays discussion could be the precursor for additional legislation in 2025. State legislators responded during the 2024 session with a new law that prompts Indiana school districts to take a tougher stance on student truancy, though its up to schools to decide how to craft and execute local policies. But multiple school and district officials who testified Thursday described the law as an unfunded mandate thats doing little to actually address absenteeism issues. Others said Indiana should instead focus on collecting data to better understand why students arent making it to class so root causes can be addressed. A deeper data dive Student absences have been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana and across the nation. Chronic absenteeism surged during the pandemic, nearly doubling to peak at 21.1% in 2022, according to IDOE. John Keller, IDOEs chief information officer, noted during Thursdays Interim Study Committee on Education that Indiana appears to be reversing from its high-absence period during the pandemic. He emphasized that all grades levels improved their chronic absenteeism rates in 2023-24 by one to two percent when compared to the year prior. According to the 2023-24 data, 23.7% of K-12 students who receive free or reduced lunch were chronically absent nearly 11% higher than their peers. English language learners were also slightly more likely to miss class; 18.5% of English learners were chronically absent during the last school year, compared to 17.7% of non-English language learners. The numbers are pretty startling, Keller said. But one of the questions that were asking as part of this analysis is how chronic is chronic absenteeism? Because its easy to talk about improvement of a rate in year over year terms, but its also easy to lose a student in that conversation. Of the more than 28,000 Hoosier 12th graders who were considered chronically absent by IDOE during the last school year, nearly half of those same students were also considered chronically absent as 11th graders. Almost 9,400 of those students were additionally chronically absent in the 10th grade, and close to 5,000 were listed as such as high school freshmen. When you start to see this, you realize that there are probably some students whose absence from schools really could be denominated in terms of years, rather than weeks or months or days, Keller said. Educators around the state have pointed to family challenges some students face at home, along with hard-to-break tendencies to keep kids home when even mildly unwell a habit borne out of the pandemic as key factors. Some lawmakers like Indianapolis Democrat Rep. Ed DeLaney also pondered whether parents are more culpable. I think people are getting used to saying, Well go two days early for vacation, or well come back two days later from vacation, and Friday, weve got to go see grandma,' DeLaney said. One of my concerns is not just the schools, but weve got to get the message to the parents that youve got to get your kid in the seat. Schools are getting creative to try to combat the growing problem, like increasing communication with parents and incentivizing absence-prone students to come to class. One of my concerns is not just the schools, but we've got to get the message to the parents that you've got to get your kid in the seat Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis That includes in New Castle, where local district officials used state grant dollars to employ an attendance liaison whos specifically tasked with communicating with families of absent students and providing resources to prevent or reverse chronic absenteeism. As a result, attendance among New Castles middle and high school students has increased by 20% since 2022, local administrators said. Collecting better attendance numbers Keller noted that chronically absent students are more associated with disruptive behaviors in schools, as well as lower performance on standardized tests, like IREAD. Its a really integrated challenge. And so if we ever you know, we want to make sure that were not just talking about, well, kids need to be in school. Well, these are the whys that they need to be in school, right? According to IDOE, roughly 7% of K-12 students or 70,000 kids had to sit out of the classroom for disciplinary reasons in 2022, an increase from 27,000 the year prior. In 2021, 850 Indiana students were expelled from schools. In 2022, that number jumped to 2,500. Russ Skiba, professor emeritus at Indiana University, said that responsive policies should focus less on consequences, though. He said current Indiana laws that punish parents for their students absences like the recently enacted Senate Enrolled Act 282 can instead lead them to pull their kids from school and rely on homeschooling. Southport High School Principal Amy Boone, also representing the Indiana Association of School Principals, said shes already seen that happen in her district. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US SEA 282 calls for schools to intervene early when younger students have repeated absences without excuses. Parents of a student in grades K-6 who has missed five days of school within 10 weeks, without being excused, are to be notified by the school and required to create a plan to improve the students attendance. Boone said the policy is largely being implemented at the high school level, too. But the five-day time limit often means no parent shows up for a meeting at all. This lack of engagement is concerning and hinders our ability to provide the necessary supports to students, Boone continued, adding that it also takes away time from already stretched-then school staff. When asked by lawmakers, Boone agreed that the new law has become an unfunded mandate its more clerical than it is a direct impact on our kids. Skiba suggested a model chronic absenteeism policy recommended by the American Legislative Exchange Council, which calls for the creation of an early-warning system to help identify students who may be at risk for chronic absenteeism. Also cited is a tiered system to address absenteeism, and requirements for local school boards to adopt specific attendance policies and improvement plans. Currently, its generally up to local school districts to decide when students absences are excused, though state law requires schools to excuse absences for certain reasons, including illness, mental or physical incapacity, required court appearances, helping in elections, service as a page for the general assembly, participating in the state fair and up to 120 minutes per week of religious instruction. IDOE officials are already working on a new Attendance Insights dashboard that breaks down weekly habitually truant and chronic absenteeism rates at the local and school levels. The state has already made the tool available to Hoosier school officials and plans to launch a public version Oct. 11. John ONeal, representing the Indiana State Teachers Association, added that students behavioral problems are a connected issue that also needs to be addressed, emphasizing that Hoosier teachers are very concerned with some disciplinary problems in their schools. He pointed to a recent, first-of-its-kind IDOE report that logged 3,032 incidents during the 2023-24 school year in which school employees were physically injured on the job by a student. In 485 such incidents, an employee had to miss work because of the injury. Still, Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, dean of the Founders College at Butler University, called the current IDOE chronic absenteeism data not quite accurate. She said the data really only reflects students who are unexcused. What we see right now in Indiana and across the U.S., consistently, is that were collecting these (absence) data points, but we have the front desk staff person inputting the reasons for why not categorizing that data and not doing anything in terms of an intervention, she tole lawmakers. She recommended that school staff be trained to collect and report all excused and unexcused absences, along with the reasons for those, in a categorical structure, that we can then take action on. House Education Committee Chair Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, seemed open to the idea, but was concerned about the time it would take to see results. I agree with what youre saying, he told Gentle-Genitty. But I dont know how thats going to help us today or help the kids out tomorrow, because its years before thats going to have an impact. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Indianapolis man gets nearly 200 years in triple killing that fueled serial killer rumors An Indianapolis man found guilty of carrying out a 2021 triple killing when he was 16 years old has been ordered to spend nearly two centuries in prison. Friday, a judge ordered Caden Smith to 189 years in the Indiana Department of Correction after he was previously found guilty of three counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of robbery and multiple gun and drug-related charges in the case that fueled rumors about a serial killer. Once again, the sale of unregulated firearms led to the tragic deaths of three innocent people," Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a prepared statement. This significant sentence is a testament to our commitment to holding violent individuals accountable for their actions. We are grateful for todays announcement and thanks to the dedication of our deputy prosecutors and the investigators, justice was served for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families. The investigation began in October 2021 when an Indianapolis officer working off-duty security found the bodies of 18-year-old Joseph Thomas, 22-year-old Michael James and 17-year-old Abdulla Mubarak near a grassy path along the 4400 block of South Meridian Street. The trio died from gunshot wounds. After talking with witnesses and using phone records, police arrested Smith weeks later. They determined he brought the trio to the field to show them a Glock switch. More: Does freezing gun remove DNA: Teens online searches used to charge him with 3 murders Smiths case was bogged down with delays and setbacks after a judge ruled the warrant used to make his arrest may had been unconstitutional and ordered the teens release. He was jailed soon after on marijuana possession charges. In August, a Marion County jury ruled him guilty in the killings. Does freezing gun remove DNA: Teens online searches used to charge him with 3 murders Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy man sentenced in triple killing that fueled serial killer rumors Residents in one San Bernardino County neighborhood are being urged to remain vigilant after a pair of overly friendly strangers snatched a necklace from the neck of one victim. Two incidents involving the suspects were reported about a mile apart Thursday morning in Chino Hills. Deputies first responded to Calle San Marcos Park, in Chino Hills, around 9:30 a.m. regarding suspicious activity, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department stated in a news release. A male and female contacted the reporting party in public. They wanted to shake the reporting partys hand and appeared overly friendly. The reporting party believed the suspects intended to steal jewelry from his person, the Sherrifs Department stated. The man and woman were located and stopped by a deputy but during the traffic stop another service call was made from a victim who had a necklace stolen from his neck earlier in the morning in the 3200 block of Skyview Ridge. Investigators determined the same suspects, identified as Washington residents Dorian Stanescu, 31, and Laura Ghiocel, 34, were involved in both incidents. Stanescu and Ghiocel were arrested for grand theft from a person and were booked at the West Valley Detention Center, the Sheriffs Department stated. Deputies later urged Chino Hills community members to remain vigilant when strangers approach in public spaces. Recently, incidents have increased where individuals, often posing as friendly or helpful, distract victims to steal valuable items, particularly jewelry, the Sheriffs Department stated. Deputies said the thieves often try to divert the victims attention away from their belongings. Anyone with information regarding Thursdays incidents was asked to call the Chino Hills Police Department at 909-364-2000. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 800-782-7463. 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 KTLA. The Lee County Courthouse on Dec. 5, 2023. (Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette) BISHOPVILLE A Lee County jury found an inmate guilty of murder for killing a rival gang member during a 2018 prison riot that left seven dead and more than 20 injured. The jury deliberated for an hour Thursday before delivering its verdict. Stephen Green, whose trial started Monday, was the only inmate prosecuted for murder in the April 2018 riot that left seven men dead and more than 20 injured. He is the second of 47 indicted inmates to go to trial six years after the riot that became one of the nations bloodiest. Stephen Green (S.C. Department of Corrections) The jury also found Green guilty of assault and battery by a mob, possessing a weapon and criminal conspiracy. Green, 44, is already serving two life sentences for burglary convictions in 1999, concurrent with three, 30-year sentences for armed robbery, kidnapping and rape. Judge Ferrell Cothran Jr. handed down two more life sentences for murder and assault and battery by a mob Thursday. The state Department of Corrections and Attorney Generals Office have vowed to prosecute every inmate involved in the riot regardless of their current sentence. You never know what will happen with that first sentence, prosecuting attorney Barney Giese, a former solicitor, said after the verdict. This will keep him in forever. Most involved in the riot were charged with assault and battery by a mob. But Green, who prosecutors said led the mob in one dorm, returned to a dying inmate alone to deliver a killing blow, which added the charge of murder, said attorneys for Attorney General Alan Wilson. Of the 47 charged, 14 have pleaded guilty. Another two have died in custody, according to the Department of Corrections. One, Michael Smith, was convicted and sentenced to 40 years for criminal conspiracy, assault and battery in a mob, and possession of a weapon. No trial dates have been set for the remaining 28. What happened? Bloodshed broke out around 7 p.m. on April 15, 2018, when a group of inmates killed and robbed Michael Milledge, a well-liked 44-year-old prisoner. A group of prisoners that were part of a rival retaliated, killing the inmate who stabbed Milledge to death. Word spread to other dorms through inmates contraband cellphones, and gang violence erupted throughout the prison. That included in the unit where Green and Cornelius McClary were living. Inmates gathered into their separate gangs the Bloods, the Crips and the Gangster Disciples. Prosecutors said Green led the mob of Bloods, waving his hands as he told them what to do. Hes not involved with the mob? Giese said in closing arguments. He is the mob. The Bloods went after the Crips. Most of the units Crips locked themselves in a room, with rival Bloods trying to knock down the door. But 33-year-old McClary didnt make it to a cell in time. A group of Bloods stabbed McClary repeatedly at the top of a set of stairs. McClary tumbled down the stairs, and at the bottom, Green, stabbed him five more times, prosecutors said. McClary, shirt bloody from 100 stab wounds, stumbled away and collapsed. He laid on the floor for about 30 minutes before Green returned and stabbed him a final time. McClary jerked at the final impact, suggesting he was still alive, prosecutors said. Would Mr. McClary have died without that wound? Yeah, hes going to bleed out, Giese said. With 100 stab wounds, hes going to bleed out. But certainly, that last stab wound did not help him. Greens attorney contended that he was not the one to deliver any of those final six blows to McClary. Prosecutors relied on distant, grainy security footage to prove that Green was the one to stab McClary, defense attorney Matthew Hicks argued. Video evidence the grainy, fuzzy, long-distance, low-resolution, not-that-great video evidence shows plenty of people attacking Mr. McClary, Hicks said. The person in the footage sometimes walked into blind spots before returning in different outfits, making it difficult to say exactly who he was, Hicks argued. But the pants, jacket and distinctive shoes LeBron James shoes, with the Nike swoop remained the same every time the figure came back on screen, prosecutors said. Ladies and gentlemen, when we talk about ID, up to this point, can there be a question? Giese said. Changes in the prison system Overcrowding and understaffing at the prison allowed the riot to escalate out of hand, prosecutors said. Is it the Department of Corrections fault for some of this? Were they understaffed? Giese said. You heard the testimony: Yes, they were. But it doesnt give a mob of human beings the right to kill an unarmed man, and thats what they did. The prison has undergone major reforms in the years since the riot. That includes allowing inmates to move from maximum security to medium-security parts of a prison for good behavior and cracking down on contraband cellphones, Corrections Director Bryan Stirling has said. The Legislature also gave the department a historic $92 million in 2021 for upgrades, including fixing malfunctioning locks. Department officials are continuing to ask for money to fund improvement, such as updating an antiquated door-locking system, Stirling said previously. Money from the state Legislature for hiring employees has also helped reduce staffing shortages. (FOX40.COM) Plumas County law enforcement is searching for an inmate described as dangerous who escaped from the county jail Friday morning. According to the Plumas County Sheriffs Office, Caleb Duerr escaped from the jail around 8 a.m. The jail is in Quincy, about 160 miles northeast of Sacramento. Arrest made in San Joaquin County courthouse threat Duerr was last seen near an OReillys store in Quincy, the agency said. The agency shared a picture of Duerr, describing him as age 39, measuring 6 feet 1 inch, weighing around 165 pounds, and having brown hair and blue eyes. Duerr was wearing dark blue jail-issued clothes at the time of his escape, the sheriffs office said. The agency asks anyone who sees Duerr to call 911. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Inside one of the biggest security operations in America: Protecting thousands of world leaders Its one of the biggest security operations in America: Protecting thousands of world leaders and their entourages at the annual high level United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. As diplomats gathered for speeches and sideline gossip this week, CNN and a select group of media gained access to two high level security rooms on UN grounds, maneuvering down a long series of non-descript corridors at the heart of the organizations modernist headquarters. What is most impressive is seeing a huge wall of monitors in both. It was clear there are cameras everywhere some well-hidden, scattered all over the UN grounds aimed at doors, the garage, UN hallways, and driveways. There are 1400 cameras in total, UN officials said. High shots from cameras looking at nearby corners outside the UN are always on. The UN security officials said its impossible to monitor all 1400 cameras at the same time but there are personnel checking out the scene. If a visitor or more nefarious character runs into problems using their credential to enter the complex, an alarm will sound in the security control rooms, with an automated voice warning that the individual has been Rejected! Rejected! Rejected! Remind me to fix my tie when I am walking through the UN grounds. Its a team effort between the UN, New York Police Department, Secret Service and diplomatic security. Theyve got a lot of people to watch over over 22,000 delegates were counted during this years UNGA attendees (pronounced like hunger). UNGA security camera. - CNN Because its an annual event, security keeps a file. UN security says they learn a little bit each year. Knock on wood; we have never had a security incident related to heads of state here. We have pulled out all the stops,, said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the eve of this years global gathering. New York police and diplomatic security are tasked with rushing long and short motorcades from hotels across Manhattan to the UN and back. And yes, that means traffic backups. More than ever, this year world leaders have spread across the city, from ringing in the New York Stock Exchange to meeting their constituents who live in in the US. While the United Nations may be increasingly the target of criticism and forum for poisonous barbs traded between ambassadors, handling unwanted attention and security threats has always been part of the job for staffers here. Last year on New Years Day, a woman having a psychiatric episode drove her vehicle up to the UNs main entrance for cars and refused to leave. In 2002, a postal worker jumped the perimeter fence, tossed leaflets in the air, and fired shots at the soaring Secretariat building, hitting several floors. (The fence has been built higher now.) UN security officials say their priority is providing a secure environment. So far so good. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Investigator reveals China tried to smuggle drones to Libya disguised as COVID aid Investigator reveals China tried to smuggle drones to Libya disguised as COVID aid China attempted to send $1 billion worth of drones disguised as COVID-19 aid to a Libyan warlord through the assistance of corrupt U.N. officials, according to a Canadian government investigator. New court documents accuse Chinese state officials of conspiring to hide the $1 billion deal to offer 42 drones to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar through U.N. officials, who would mark the arms shipments as COVID-19 aid. Through FBI intercepts, Canadas Royal Mounted Police found alleged plots to sell Libyan oil to China and to buy drones from 2018 to 2021. "The Chinese government seems to have approved a strategy to aid Libya in the procurement and delivery of military equipment through designated and approved companies to obscure the direct involvement of government agencies," the investigator stated. Two Libyan nationals working in Canada at the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency, were charged with conspiracy for the scheme in April. A preliminary hearing is expected in the spring. Republicans Propose Bill That Would Double Tariffs On Chinese Imports Read On The Fox News App The accusations, first reported by Defense News, are part of documents submitted in court in Montreal to obtain warrants to access the phones of the men involved. "This scheme appears to be a deliberate attempt to circumvent U.N. sanctions that were in effect at the time," the report said. Haftar, who received the drones, is a Russia-backed strongman who controls eastern Libya. He unsuccessfully tried to seize control of western Libya in 2020. The aim of the drones' shipment was "using war to end war quickly without attracting the attention of the international community," said the investigator, adding "the fight against the Coronavirus" was used as cover. 95 Libyan Nationals Arrested At Suspected South African Military Training Camp One of the Libyan nationals involved in the scheme - Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek - was arrested while the other, Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, is still at large. The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs a flag raising ceremony at Bayi Square to celebrate the 97th anniversary on China's Army Day on Aug. 1, 2024 in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province of China. The court documents also accuse a U.S. citizen, who has not been charged, of involvement. "My client will plead not guilty - he denies all wrongdoing," said Mhaoueks lawyer in Canada, Andrew Barbacki. Investigators uncovered a May 2020 message from Sayeh to an official at the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs requesting a meeting in Egypt between the Chinese ambassador and a Libyan military official close to Haftar, Major General Aoun Al-Ferjani. In the messages, the drones are "clearly described with weaponry, attack and lethal strike capabilities." Investigators are unsure if the deal went through or if talks failed. Italian authorities in July said they seized Chinese military drones that were headed for Benghazi, Libya, in violation of a U.N. embargo. Original article source: Investigator reveals China tried to smuggle drones to Libya disguised as COVID aid The investigation into the murder of Iryna Farion, a linguist, professor at Lviv Polytechnic National University and public figure, does not allow disclosing information about the course of the pre-trial investigation. Source: National Police response to UP's request Quote: "According to Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine On Access to Public Information, information containing the secrets of the pre-trial investigation is considered confidential. Article 222 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine stipulates that pre-trial investigation information may be disclosed only with the written permission of the investigator or prosecutor and to the extent they deem possible. No written permission of the investigator or prosecutor has been provided to disclose the requested information at this time." Details: In its request, the UP asked whether the weapon used to shoot Farion had been found, whether possible customers of the murder had been identified, whether the suspect had accomplices, whether law enforcement had found out the motives for the crime and whether additional circumstances had emerged in the case and what they were. Read also: Iryna Farion murder: details of the assassination, lines of enquiry, and why the Lviv professor was so controversial Background: On the evening of 19 July 2024, an assassination attempt was made on former Ukrainian MP Iryna Farion on Masaryk Street in Lviv. Later that night, Farion died in hospital. On 25 July, a suspect in the murder of Iryna Farion was detained in Dnipro. The 18-year-old detainee is a resident of Dnipro. In preparation for the crime, he rented at least three apartments in Lviv. Currently, the investigation is inclined to believe that the shooter is only the executor. On 19 September, the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv extended the suspect's detention without bail for 60 days. Support UP or become our patron! By Valentina Za and Stefania Spezzati MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) -Upon taking the top job at Italian bank UniCredit in 2021, Andrea Orcel, a veteran M&A adviser, vowed not to repeat the mistake he saw many CEOs make: cave in to pressure to do deals. The chance to pursue a rare cross-border European banking marriage, a combination deemed near-impossible by friends and foes alike, was the moment to go all in. Orcel riled the German establishment this month by stealthily buying a chunk of Commerzbank and pressing for a tie-up with Germany's second-biggest publicly-traded bank. A merger would create a new big pan-European bank that regulators have long encouraged to better compete with Wall Street giants, but politicians have often resisted. "It's shrewd, it's bold, and he's determined. He doesn't take no for an answer," said Filippo Alloatti, head of financials credit at fund manager Federated Hermes, who is an investor in both UniCredit and Commerzbank. In preparation for a deal, Orcel has overseen a more than four-fold increase in UniCredit's share price. UniCredit is significantly more profitable than the German rival it has long coveted, despite being hobbled by the higher debt costs Italy attracts. "There remained a big strategic question: What is UniCredit's future going to be?" Alloatti said. "Now we have an answer." Orcel's plan has been slammed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as an "unfriendly attack" along with the bank's board members and employees who fear losing their jobs. Clinching a cross-border European merger big enough to redraw the map would offer him a second shot to show big, complex banking deals can work. He was a key architect of the Royal Bank of Scotland's acquisition and breakup of Dutch ABN Amro, one of the most disastrous deals in banking history that ended in the collapse of both lenders in the global financial crisis. Orcel has yet to hire an external adviser as formal merger talks with Commerzbank are not underway, a person with knowledge of the bank's strategy said. The 21% of Commerzbank that UniCredit has gained exposure to with shares and derivatives for now is just a financial investment, Orcel told a banking conference this week. The 61-year old has said he will walk away from a potential deal if he cannot have it his way: "Do not underestimate how disciplined we are," he told the event. Yet his early moves signal a desire to forge ahead. A source close to the bank said the backlash that followed the unveiling of UniCredit's initial 9% stake in Commerzbank on Sept. 11 prompted a change in tactics. After Germany's government signalled it wouldn't sell any more of its Commerzbank shares, UniCredit built a bigger stake with derivatives. The European Central Bank, as the chief regulator, needs to sign off on investors owning more than 10% of a bank's stock. UniCredit declined to comment for this article. ROUTE TO THE TOP Orcel's current and former colleagues describe a restless and demanding style, in part behind a high turnover of top managers and division heads at UniCredit, a sharp contrast with the steady senior leadership of its bigger cross-town rival, Intesa Sanpaolo. While head of UBS' investment bank he grew impatient as he sought to become a CEO. He left in 2018 to take up an offer to become Santander's chief executive but the Spanish bank withdrew its proposal in a disagreement over pay. Orcel sought damages and was awarded millions after a public court battle. UniCredit insiders say Orcel is fiercely private about his decision-making and intelligence he gathers, a habit formed as an investment banker when he wouldn't even tell his employer what he had discussed with clients, according to one. When he first arrived at UniCredit, one director told Reuters of being surprised that he would not hand out hard copies of presentations at meetings but only project slides from his computer to protect confidentiality. Unlike some peers, he says, he does not court political ties. At an event in Rome last week, Orcel lined up to greet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni but turned about when faced with a queue, a Reuters eyewitness said. He has repeatedly shown he won't shy away from upsetting or challenging those in power. He angered Rome when, in 2021, at the last minute he abandoned a deal to buy troubled state-owned Monte dei Paschi. More recently, UniCredit challenged the ECB over the regulator's request that the bank reduce its business in Russia. In his latest battle, Commerzbank's incoming CEO Bettina Orlopp has pledged to keep the bank independent and trade unions to fight any takeover. A German election in 2025 may stiffen opposition even if the government, which still owns 12% of Commerzbank, has no obvious means of blocking Orcel. One person who has known Orcel for years and has worked for him said he had "backed himself into a corner" in pursuing a deal with Commerzbank amid so much opposition but he has a keen sense of creating a legacy. "This transaction would really be the most important cross-border M&A that we've seen in Europe," said Luca Evangelisti, investment manager and head of credit research at Jupiter Asset Management. (Reporting by Valentina Za in Milan and Stefania Spezzati in London. Additional reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Rome, Oliver Hirt in Zurich and Tom Sims in FrankfurtWriting and additional reporting by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Elaine Hardcastle) The Kroger Co. corporate headquarters is seen in downtown Cincinnati. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined 11 other Republican attorneys general who filed a brief in federal court this week 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 initiated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost 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, including Bird, 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, Bird and and 10 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. In addition to Ohio and Iowa, the AGs of Alabama, Georgia, 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. This story was originally published by Ohio Capital Journal, which 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. Six counties in eastern Iowa have signed a resolution to form the Ports of Eastern Iowa Authority. The authority will operate within the Mississippi River ports in the eastern Iowa and western Illinois region. This formal resolution will expand the Corn Belt Ports footprint and reinforce its crucial role in national commerce, transportation and defense. This recognition by the federal government demonstrates the strategic importance of the region, which is now one of the top 100 U.S. ports by freight tonnage. The Port Authority will serve six Iowa Counites: Clinton Dubuque Jackson Louisa Muscatine Scott The first meeting of the Ports of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois will be held on October 10 at the Western Illinois University Riverfront Campus, 3300 River Drive in Moline and is open to the public. The Mississippi River Ports of Eastern Iowa includes key military facilities like the Rock Island Arsenal and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, both of which are served by Marine Highway 35. This region has been a cornerstone of U.S. defense infrastructure and continues to be the Midwests premier hub for defense logistics, manufacturing, engineering, and training. Enhanced capacity and federal recognition will further solidify its vital role in supporting national defense and economic security. (Ports of Eastern Iowa Authority) The formation of the Ports of Eastern Iowa Authority is a significant milestone for our region and reflects the vital role that the Mississippi River Ports of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois play in both our national defense and our economy, said Ryan Sempf, Executive Director of Government Affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. Our multi-modal ports are not only key to moving critical goods across the country but are also integral to supporting the U.S. militarys efforts to maintain readiness and strategic capabilities. We are excited about the Ports of Eastern Iowa Authority getting established, said Mike Thoms, Rock Island mayor and Chair of the Rock Island Regional Port District. It will help unify the current regional multi-modal port activities going on across the Upper Mississippi River from each other in Illinois and Iowa. The Rock Island Regional Port District was approved by the Illinois State Legislature last year, and we have already seen the benefits of officially being recognized as a multi-modal inland port. We expect the Ports of Eastern Iowa Authority will see similar benefits. This is a win for the bi-state region Muscatine has been thought of for decades as the Port City of the Corn Belt, said Dr. Brad Bark, Mayor of Muscatine and President and CEO of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry. But being officially recognized as a multi-modal inland port is the first step in realizing our regions full economic potential. The Ports of Eastern Iowa are much stronger united and working together to achieve common regional economic development objectives, said Jim Irwin, Clinton County Supervisor. Our counties look forward to collaboratively partnering with public and private entities to advance our mutual, multi-modal infrastructure needs that will enable us to reach national and global markets at reduced cost and risk. The Corn Belt Ports are committed to leveraging this new federal designation to secure additional funding, attract new industries, and further develop the regions multi-modal transportation and natural infrastructure to support commerce and defense for decades to come, said Chris Smith, Director of Operations for the Corn Belt Ports. Corn Belt Ports deliver almost 100 million tons of freight annually, which is expected to increase every year. Since 2019, Corn Belt Ports have helped attract over $2 billion of investment in multi-modal and natural infrastructure from multiple sources. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is pictured on the sidelines of the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Iran will not remain indifferent if there is a full-scale war in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said. Araghchi made this statement during a meeting of foreign ministers in New York, his ministry said on Friday. He also called for arms and trade sanctions to be imposed on Israel. Araghchi accused the international community of ineptitude and failure regarding a potential ceasefire. Iran's regime is considered the most crucial supporter of the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Observers see it as unlikely that Tehran would come to their aid in the event of a war. Iran's new government led by President Masoud Pezeshkian is grappling with a severe economic crisis and is striving for a rapprochement with the West. The Justice Department has charged several Iranian operatives in connection with the hack of former President Trumps 2024 campaign. Prosecutors on Friday unsealed charges against Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri and Yasar Balaghi all members of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the nations armed forces. They each face 18 counts, including aggravated identity theft, material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, wire fraud, and conspiracy to obtain information from a protected computer. The men prepared for and engaged in a wide-ranging hacking campaign that targeted current and former U.S. government officials, members of the media, political campaigns and others, prosecutors said. The scheme began around January 2020 and continued through at least this month, according to the charging papers. Such activity is part of Irans continuing efforts to stoke discord, erode confidence in the U.S. electoral process, and unlawfully acquire information relating to current and former U.S. officials that could be used to advance the malign activities of the IRGC, the indictment reads. The plot is also part of ongoing efforts to avenge the death of military official Qassem Soleimani, who headed a branch of the IRGC, according to the indictment. Soleimani was assassinated in January 2020 on orders approved by then-President Trump under the condition that Soleimani had been plotting attacks against Americans abroad. Trumps campaign was hacked earlier this summer, but the issue was not made public until August, after reporters contacted the former presidents team who said they were approached by a man claiming to be named Robert who said he had internal campaign documents. The indictment says the men used fake online personas to trick several victims. The Washington Post previously reported that Trump campaign adviser Susie Wiles and longtime ally Roger Stone were among the hackers targets. The FBI previously indicated Iran made similar attempts to hack the Democratic campaign of President Biden, before he dropped out of the race. Vice President Harris was also targeted, but the effort was unsuccessful. The agency said Iran attempted to share stolen information from the Trump campaign with Bidens campaign and continues to send material to media outlets but there is no evidence the presidents campaign engaged with them. Harriss campaign previously condemned the effort and said similar emails were ignored. Prosecutors say hackers also targeted current or former officials at agencies including the Department of Defense, State Department and the CIA, in addition to current or former members of Congress, White House staffers and several journalists. In a statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray called the hacking effort brazen behavior by Iran to interfere in the presidential election. Iran previously denied involvement in the hacking campaign. Today the FBI would like to send a message to the Government of Iran: You and your hackers cant hide behind your keyboards, Wray said. If you try to meddle in our elections, were going to hold you accountable. If you try to attack our infrastructure or commit violence against our citizens, were going to disrupt you. And as long as you keep attempting to flout the rule of law, youre going to keep running into the FBI, he said. Updated at 1:21 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. Attorney General Merrick Garland, flanked by Matt Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, left, and Ronald Davis, director of the United States Marshals Service, holds a news conference as the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Iranian operatives suspected of hacking Donald Trump's presidential campaign and disseminating stolen information to media organizations, at the Justice Department in Washington, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) Three Iranian operatives have been charged with hacking Donald Trumps presidential campaign as part of what the Justice Department says was a sweeping effort to undermine the former president and erode confidence in the U.S. electoral system. The action, coupled with sanctions and rewards for information leading to the accused hackers' capture, is the latest U.S. government effort to call out whats seen as Irans attempts to interfere in the election by damaging Trump and sowing general chaos. It comes as Iran has also been accused of threatening the lives of Trump and former officials and as US-Iran relations remain especially tense, with Israel fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The three accused hackers were employed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Since 2020, their operation has sought to compromise email accounts of a broad swath of targets, which in addition to the Trump campaign also includes a former ambassador to Israel, a former CIA deputy director, officials at the State and Defense departments, a former U.S. homeland security adviser and journalists, according to the indictment. In May, prosecutors say, the defendants began trying to penetrate the Trump campaign, successfully breaking into the email accounts of campaign officials and other Trump allies. They then sought to weaponize the stolen campaign material by spreading it to media organizations and people associated with President Joe Biden's campaign in what's familiarly known as a hack-and-leak operation. The defendants own words make clear that they were attempting to undermine former President Trumps campaign in advance of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. We know that Iran is continuing with its brazen efforts to stoke discord, erode confidence in the U.S. electoral process and advance its malign activities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Friday announcing the charges. U.S. intelligence officials have said Iran opposes Trumps reelection, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. Trumps administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Irans leaders to vow revenge. Trumps campaign said earlier this week that it had been briefed by U.S. officials on real and specific Iranian assassination threats, though one official told The Associated Press that the briefing had been requested by the campaign and did not include any suggestion of a new threat against Trump. Irans mission to the United Nations last month denied the hacking allegations as unsubstantiated and devoid of any standing, saying that Iran had neither the motive nor intention to interfere with the election. It challenged the U.S. to provide evidence and said if the U.S. does so, we will respond accordingly. The U.S. government has sought this year across multiple agencies to aggressively call out election interference and foreign influence operations a stark turnabout from the governments response in 2016, when Obama administration officials were criticized for not being forthcoming about the Russian interference they were seeing on Trumps behalf as he ran against Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Treasury Department issued sanctions Friday related to the hacking and the State Department offered rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests of the defendants, who remain in Iran. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a video statement that the FBI has been working to publicly condemn Iran's aggressive behavior, including a plot to murder a journalist in New York City and a ransomware attack targeting a children's hospital. Even with the recent focus on Iran, U.S. officials have said Russia remains the primary threat to the elections. The Justice Department earlier this month charged two employees of RT, the Russian-state media organization, with covertly funding a Tennessee-based content creation company with nearly $10 million to publish English-language videos on social media platforms favorable to Russia's interests and agenda, and also seized dozens of internet domains that officials said were used to spread propaganda. The Trump campaign disclosed on Aug. 10 that it had been breached and said Iranian actors had stolen and distributed sensitive internal documents. Multiple major news organizations that said they were leaked confidential information from inside the Trump campaign, including Politico, The New York Times and The Washington Post, declined to publish it. U.S. intelligence officials subsequently publicly blamed Iran for that hack and for an attempted breach of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign. They have said the hack-and-dump operation was meant to sow discord, exploit divisions within American society and potentially influence the outcome of elections that Iran perceives to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests." Among the tactics the accused hackers used, the indictment said, is impersonating U.S. officials and creating fake email personas to try to dupe their victims. Politico has reported that it began receiving emails on July 22 from an anonymous account. The source an AOL email account identified only as Robert passed along what appeared to be a research dossier that the campaign had apparently done on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate. Last week, officials also revealed that the Iranians in late June and early July sent unsolicited emails containing excerpts of the hacked information to people associated with the Biden campaign. None of the recipients replied. The Harris campaign said the emails resembled spam or a phishing attempt and condemned the outreach by the Iranians as unwelcome and unacceptable malicious activity. One of the emails was sent June 27, the date of the Biden-Trump debate, when a halting performance by the president laid the groundwork for his announcement weeks later that he would not seek reelection. An email offering the stolen information, according to the indictment, stated that the debate was likely to be Biden's last chance in the race. The author stated negative feelings for Trump and wrote, So I'm going to pass some materials along to you that would be useful to defeat him. The U.S. Justice Department has secured an indictment against three men for allegedly hacking the Trump campaign on behalf of the Iranian government in order to hurt former President Donald Trump's election prospects. Trump's name isn't included in the 37-page indictment that was released Friday, but details within the document make clear the charges relate to an attempt to steal information from his campaign and leak it to journalists and the presidential campaign of Joe Biden, before Biden chose to step aside in the election. For example, the indictment describes conspirators allegedly using their access to the personal accounts of people associated with a presidential campaign around May to steal non-public campaign documents and emails, and then trying to weaponize stolen campaign material by leaking it in late June, including to "what was then another identified U.S. presidential campaign." Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in July. Former President Donald Trump addresses his supporters during a campaign rally on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the Waukesha County Expo Center in Waukesha, Wis. The FBI said earlier this month that Iranian hackers had sent people associated with Biden's campaign unsolicited information they had stolen from the Trump campaign. The bureau said there was no information to indicate the recipients replied to the overture. The men, Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi, face conspiracy charges related to getting information from a protected computer and supporting terrorism, as well as wire fraud and identity theft charges. They are employed by the Iranian government's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military branch, according to the indictment. The charged men whose last known residence was in Tehran, according to the indictment have not been apprehended by the U.S. government. In a press conference Friday afternoon, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said pursuing the defendants will be an ongoing priority for U.S. officials. "From the Justice Department's point of view, which is the enforcement point of view, we will follow these people for the rest of their lives," Garland said. Why is Iran targeting the Trump campaign? The indictment describes a range of hostile actions Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military branch has engaged in against the United States. They include trying to kill or kidnap U.S. nationals and allies in order to repress Iranian regime dissidents or to exact revenge for the Trump administration's killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January of 2020. That killing appears to have been at least part of the Iranian government's motivation. The charged crimes cover not just targeting the Trump campaign, but also hacking activity going back to January of 2020 to compromise email accounts of dozens of prominent current and former public officials as well as of a national security correspondent at a major newspaper. One unnamed victim, for instance, was a senior State Department official at the time of Soleimani's death "and therefore of interest to the (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)," according to the indictment. The three alleged hackers are charged with a terrorism-related crime because the State Department designated their employer, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a foreign terrorist organization in 2019. Conspiring to provide material support to such organizations is a crime. The wire fraud charges stem from the men's alleged use of wire communications to fraudulently get information from eight separate victims between 2022 and 2024. The men also allegedly stole identities as part of the scheme. Has the Harris campaign faced any threats? U.S. intelligence officials have said that, while Iran has targeted the Trump presidential campaign, Russia has been targeting the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris. The Kremlin, for instance, has created or altered videos to alienate Harris supporters in the presidential race, such as a video falsely claiming Harris left a 13-year-old girl who was paralyzed in a hit-and-run. Contributing: Josh Meyer This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alleged Trump campaign Iranian hackers charged with terrorism crime The Irish Data Protection Commission criticised Meta for failing to put in place appropriate security measures to protect users' password data and for taking too long to alert the regulator over the issue (Lionel BONAVENTURE) (Lionel BONAVENTURE/AFP/AFP) An Irish regulator helping to police European Union data privacy said Friday it had fined Facebook-owner Meta 91 million euros ($102 million) for password-security breaches. The Data Protection Commission criticised Meta for failing to put in place appropriate security measures to protect users' password data and for taking too long to alert the regulator over the issue. An inquiry was launched in April 2019 after Meta Ireland informed the regulator that it had "inadvertently stored certain passwords of social media users" in a readable format on its internal system, the DPC said in a statement. "It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data," said Graham Doyle, the regulator's head of communications. Doyle told AFP that the breach, which took place in January 2019, affected 36 million Facebook and Instagram users across the European Economic Area, which comprises the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The regulator criticised Meta for not alerting the DPC of the problem until March 2019. In a statement to AFP, Meta acknowledged that some Facebook users' passwords were "temporarily stored in a readable format in our internal data systems". "We took immediate action to fix this error, and there is no evidence that these passwords were abused or accessed improperly. "We proactively flagged this issue to our lead regulator, the Irish Data Protection Commission, and have engaged constructively with them throughout this inquiry", a Meta spokesperson added. - Tech crackdown - Many global tech companies including Google, Apple and Meta, base their European operations in Dublin. As a result, Ireland's data protection agency is the lead regulator responsible for holding them to account. The fine issued Friday, dwarfed by Meta's multi-billion-dollar earnings, is the latest in a series issued to the US social media giant and its rivals, as global regulators seek to rein in big tech firms over also taxation, competition and disinformation. Ireland this month launched an investigation in Google's artificial intelligence development. It came as the European Commission scored two major legal victories in separate cases that left Apple and Google owing billions of euros. At the same time, an EU court scrapped a 1.49-billion euro fine imposed by Brussels against Google over abuse of dominance in online advertising. Tech giants are also seeking out each other over alleged breaches. Google on Wednesday said it had filed a complaint against Microsoft at the European Commission, accusing its rival of "anticompetitive" licensing practices to force customers to use its cloud service. ajb/bcp/lth The aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut - IBRAHIM AMRO/GETTY Short of bombing Tehran, there was no bigger escalation available to Israel than attempting to kill Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, but that is exactly what it did on Friday evening. It is a gamble extraordinaire; the repercussions could be huge, and felt for years to come. The first signs of a major Israeli escalation came as huge blasts and secondary explosions ripped through the southern suburbs of Beirut as the sun fell on the Lebanese capital on Friday evening. Benjamin Netanyahu approving an airstrike on Beirut on Friday - Israeli Prime Minister's Office Witnesses said they had never seen explosions like it, and certainly not since Israels last war there in 2006. On Saturday morning the IDF confirmed that Nasrallah, a hero to millions on the Shia Arab Street, was killed. The consequences are likely to be profound. Hezbollah is seen by Iran as its deterrent in the region: a powerful military force it relies on to keep Israel from striking it directly. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) is joined by military officers as they watch strikes on Beirut - Israeli Prime Minister's Office If Israel is willing not just to degrade it but to decapitate it, that strategy, that chess piece, will be gone and the fragile balance of power between Israel and Iran fundamentally changed. Israel is in effect signalling that it is ready to take on Iran directly and is challenging the worlds biggest and most powerful Shia Arab nation to hit back, if it dares. Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech at the UN to drum up support for his campaign - PAMELA SMITH/UN There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that is true of the entire Middle East, said Benjamin Netanyahu in his UN speech. And now I have a question to you: will your nation stand with Israel? Will you stand with democracy and peace? Or will you stand with Iran, a brutal dictatorship that subjugates its own people? Exports terrorism across the globe? Its not clear if Mr Netanyahu regards that as a rhetorical question. After all, all Israels allies, including the UK, were until hours ago pushing him to urgently de-escalate. Moreover, when Iran launched a massive drone and missile strike against Israel in April, it was a US-led coalition including the UK, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Jordan that swung into action to shoot most of the missiles down. Will they come together to do it again if Iran attacks Israel directly in response to the strike against the leader of its most powerful terrorist proxy? Thats the question Iran will be mulling now as it plots its revenge. And given that several of the countries involved walked out of the UN chamber as Mr Netanyahu stood up to speak, the answer is not at all clear. 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. Israel carried out part of its device attack targeting Hezbollah by concealing explosives inside the batteries of pagers brought into Lebanon, according to two high-ranking Lebanese security officials, who said the technology was so advanced that it was virtually undetectable. Lebanese security officials watched a series of controlled explosions of some of the weaponized pagers, as investigations into who manufactured the wireless communication devices and how they made their way into Hezbollahs pockets continued. The pagers used in the controlled explosions were switched off at the time of the attack on September 17, which meant they did not receive the message that caused the compromised devices to detonate. The officials had a front-row seat to see just how catastrophic the blasts would have been to those carrying the devices and others around them. Thousands of explosions struck Hezbollah members last week, targeting their pagers on Tuesday, and then walkie-talkies a day later. In all, the blasts killed at least 37 people, including some children, and injured nearly 3,000, according to Lebanese health authorities, many of them civilian bystanders. The attack blindsided the group, which had opted for analogue technologies after forgoing cell phones to avoid Israeli infiltration. A photo taken on September 18, 2024, in Beirut's southern suburbs shows the remains of exploded pagers on display at an undisclosed location. - AFP/Getty Images Israel has not commented directly on the attacks, but CNN has learned that the explosions were the result of a joint operation by Israels intelligence service, Mossad, and the Israeli military. Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, tacitly acknowledged his countrys role the day after the pager attack, praising excellent achievements, together with the Shin Bet, together with Mossad. Both Lebanon and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the attacks. One of the Lebanese security sources told CNN the way in which the explosive material had been hidden inside the pagers batteries was so sophisticated that it could not be detected, but did not elaborate further as to what sort of checks the devices had gone through before entering the country. The second high-ranking security source said that he had examined one of the compromised pagers and witnessed its controlled explosion. He told CNN that the explosive material was laced inside the pagers lithium battery and virtually undetectable. He added that he had never seen anything like it. An improvised explosive device has five key components: A power source, an initiator, a detonator, an explosive charge and a case to put it all in. Sean Moorhouse, a former British Army officer and explosive ordinance disposal expert, said that only a detonator and explosive charge would have been needed to weaponize the pagers, which already have the other three components. It had to be done in such a way to make it invisible, Moorhouse said, adding that one way to do that could have been modifying the battery itself implanting an electronic detonator and small explosive charge inside of its metal casing, which would have made it impossible to detect with imaging, for example X-rays. People gather outside American University of Beirut Medical Center on September 17, 2024, as people wounded in the pager attack pour in for treatment. - Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Other experts who reviewed footage of the blasts also said that explosive devices appeared to have been hidden in the pagers, suggesting a sophisticated supply chain attack involving a state actor. That tallied with initial assessments by Lebanese authorities. Lebanons mission to the United Nations said in a letter sent to the UN Security Council last Friday that a preliminary investigation found that the communications devices were implanted with explosives before arriving in the country, tampered with in a professional way by foreign entities. Lebanese authorities determined that the devices were detonated by sending electronic messages to them, according to the letter, which was seen by CNN. Israel was responsible for carrying out the attacks, which detonated thousands of devices simultaneously, Lebanons UN mission said. Mysterious supply chain stretches from Taiwan to Hungary Multiple photos from the aftermath of last weeks attacks in Lebanon show remnants of the exploded pagers also known as beepers that were consistent with a model made by a Taiwanese firm, Gold Apollo, and fragments of walkie-talkies identified as the make of a Japanese firm, ICOM. Lebanese authorities have said that the devices used in the attacks were Gold Apollo Rugged Pager AR-924 pagers and ICOM IC-V82 walkie-talkies. Both Gold Apollo and ICOM have distanced themselves from the compromised devices. ICOM said that the IC-V82 model was discontinued a decade ago, and it could not determine whether the devices targeted in Lebanon were counterfeit or shipped from its company. Counterfeit versions are widely available for purchase on e-commerce websites, like Alibaba. Lebanons communications ministry said the IC-V82 radios used in the attacks were not supplied by a recognized agent, were not officially licensed and had not been vetted by the security services. International investigative efforts have largely zeroed in on the Gold Apollo AR-924 pagers tracing the models licensing and manufacturing from Taiwan to apparent shell companies to try to establish how the Israeli operation may have been carried out. The New York Times reported, citing three intelligence officers briefed on the operation, that Israel had set up at least three shell companies to disguise the identities of those making the pagers Israeli intelligence officers. The chairman and founder of Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, Hsu Ching-kuang, was questioned by Taiwanese prosecutors last Thursday before being released. Hsu Ching-kuang (L), head of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, speaks to the media outside the company's office in New Taipei City on September 18, 2024. - Yan Zhao/AFP/Getty Images A day earlier, at the nondescript offices of Gold Apollo on the outskirts of the Taiwanese capital, Hsu, speaking to CNN and other media, vehemently denied having made the pagers bearing his companys brand name, claiming instead that they were manufactured by a Hungarian firm, BAC Consulting. Hsu told CNN he had entered into a licensing agreement with the Budapest-registered company, signing over sole responsibility for the production and sale of the AR-924 model. A person called Teresa was one of his contacts for the deal, he said. Teresa Wu, a former Gold Apollo employee, was also seen leaving the prosecutors office in New Taipei City last Thursday evening, according to reporting by Reuters and local media staked out outside. Prosecutors in Taiwan currently list Hsu and Wu as witnesses, two senior officials in Taiwan told CNN. A person with knowledge of Gold Apollo told CNN that Wu had left the company a couple of years ago, and that they understood she had started working for BAC Consulting. CNN has reached out to Wu for comment. Wu set up a company called Apollo Systems Ltd in April of this year, listed under a Taipei address that appears to be a co-working space, according to corporate records. It is not clear if Wu was operating for BAC Consulting in Taipei under her new company name, Apollo Systems Ltd. Apollo Systems Ltd lists its website address as www.apollosystemshk.com, according to a database maintained by Taiwans International Trade Administration. The Apollo Systems HK website which was shut down by its administrator after the attack said that the business had a manufacturing and sales hub in Taipei City and a logistics office in Hong Kong. When CNN visited the Hong Kong address, there was no sign of the company. In December 2022 and February 2023, a YouTube channel for Apollo Systems HK uploaded two videos of the Gold Apollo AR-924 pager touting its high-capacity lithium rechargeable battery and other features. On its YouTube channel and website, Apollo Systems HK said that it had acquired the sole distribution rights to Gold Apollo pager systems. It also listed the AR-924 model as a product available for purchase. The two senior Taiwanese officials who spoke with CNN said that there was no record of Gold Apollo manufacturing any AR-924 pagers in Taiwan. The officials also confirmed that Gold Apollo only manufactured pagers with AA batteries in Taiwan, not lithium batteries as found in the devices used in the attack and examined by Lebanese officials, according to CNNs sources. Customs records in Taiwan, cited by the officials, showed that Gold Apollo shipped more than 20,000 pagers from Taiwan to the United States in the first eight months of 2024. More than 5,000 pagers were shipped to Hong Kong, while more than 3,000 pagers were shipped to Australia. The Taiwanese officials said they had also checked the order history and the source of raw components for Gold Apollo pagers, adding that pager manufacturing was tightly controlled in Taiwan and that devices undergo regular inspections. The Taiwanese prosecutors office is reviewing documents it obtained from Gold Apollos office. In a statement last Thursday, the prosecutors office said that there had been no evidence found so far to suggest any involvements (sic) of Taiwanese nationals in the explosive terror attack. Investigations into the supply chain are also ongoing in Europe, where authorities are probing the Hungarian company, BAC Consulting, and another firm linked to Bulgaria and Norway, for any connections to the pager attack targeting Hezbollah. CNN has attempted to reach BAC Consulting at its registered address, which is located in a residential area of Budapest. Last Wednesday, a receptionist working at the building said that BAC Consulting rented a space at the address but that no representative had ever physically been there. CNN has also reached out to BAC Consultings chief executive, Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, but has yet to receive a response. NBC News reported that Barsony-Arcidiacono had confirmed to the news outlet in a phone call that her company worked with Gold Apollo, but said, I dont make the pagers. I am just the intermediate. Reporters gathered outside the registered address for BAC Consulting in Budapest, Hungary, on September 18, 2024. - Jakub Porzycki/Anadolu/Getty Images/File There is no record of Gold Apollo exporting any pagers to Hungary in 2023 or 2024, the two Taiwanese officials said, citing custom records in Taiwan. In 2022, the company exported about 200 pagers to Hungary, they added. Hungarian intelligence services have interviewed Barsony-Arcidiacono several times as part of their investigation into BAC Consulting but have not found any evidence that the pagers used in the attack were manufactured in the country, the governments press office said in a statement. The results have clearly established that the so-called beepers were never present on Hungarian soil, and no Hungarian company or expert was involved in their production or modification, it said. Bulgarian authorities said they were investigating Norta Global Ltd after Hungarian media reported last week that the Sofia-based company was involved in the sale of the pagers to Hezbollah. Bulgarias national security agency DANS said that no pagers used in the attack were imported, exported or manufactured in Bulgaria, and that Norta Global Ltd had not carried out terrorist financing, or traded with anyone subject to sanctions. Bulgarias caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev told reporters last Friday that the company under investigation was a cash flow, mailbox-type of firm, and that its director acted by proxy. According to a report by Dezso Andras, a journalist with Hungarian news outlet Telex, Norta Global transferred more than 1 million euros ($1.1 million) to BAC Consulting in several instalments between March 2023 and June 2024, money that was later sent by BAC in various payments to Gold Apollo, Apollo Systems Ltd and an unnamed Hong Kong firm. The report added that customs data from October 2022 showed that Apollo Systems Ltd. had sent one shipment to Hungary: A package containing just one pager. Norta Global Ltd was founded in April 2022 by Rinson Jose, a Norwegian national, according to Bulgarian business registration documents. CNN has tried to contact Jose on multiple platforms for comment, but he has not yet responded. Norways security police have started a preliminary probe into the companys reported links to the pagers, according to a police attorney at the Norwegian Police Security Service. Hezbollah digs into devices supply chain Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, in an address last Thursday, said that the militant group had formed multiple internal investigative committees to get to the bottom of what happened, vowing a reckoning for those responsible. Regarding the explosions, we have reached an almost certain conclusion, but we still need some time to confirm it, Nasrallah said. This entire matter is under thorough investigation and review, from the company that sold the devices, to manufacturing, transportation, arrival in Lebanon, and distribution, all the way to the moment of the explosion. He added that while the apparent goal of the attack was to kill as many senior Hezbollah officials as possible, much of the leadership had been unaffected because they were carrying older pager models, suggesting that the form of communication has been used by the group for some time. The new ones were sent elsewhere, he said, apparently referring to the batch of pagers a Lebanese security source told CNN was purchased by Hezbollah in recent months. People watch a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as they sit in a cafe in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on September 19, 2024. - Hassan Ammar/AP These attacks represent a new development in warfare, where communication tools become weapons, simultaneously exploding across marketplaces, on street corners, and in homes as daily life unfolds, UN human rights chief Volker Turk told the Security Council last Friday. Authorities have reportedly dismantled unexploded devices in universities, banks, and hospitals. He added that simultaneously targeting thousands of people whether civilians or armed forces without the knowledge of who is in possession of the targeted devices and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law. Irans delegate to the UN said that Israel had intended to kill at least 5,000 civilians, but some devices were deactivated or not distributed. The delegate said that Israel had again crossed a red line, noting that Irans ambassador to Lebanon was among those injured. Senior UN officials warned that the devices attack marked a turning point, calling for de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza before a war consumes the whole of the Middle East. Others said that the technology apparently used marked dangerous new territory in the world of warfare. CNNs Pallabi Munsi, Katie Polglase, Tara John, Eyad Kourdi and Avery Schmitz contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry and Emily Rose BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The Israeli military told residents in parts of Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate late on Friday, after strikes that it said had targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters and with no word hours later from the group on the fate of their head Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The order to evacuate, made by Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee via X, told residents to get at least 500 meters (550 yards) away from three specific buildings in the area. It was the first announcement of its kind for the densely populated neighbourhoods south of Beirut. A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters Nasrallah was alive. Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported he was safe. A senior Iranian security official told Reuters Tehran was checking his status. Hezbollah's media office said that there was no truth to any statements surrounding the Israeli strikes, but did not say anything about the fate of the group's leader. In New York, a senior Israeli official told reporters that senior Hezbollah commanders were the target of Israel's strike on the central headquarters on Friday but it was too early to say whether the attack took out Nasrallah. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters at the United Nations that the attack targeted a "meeting of bad people" planning more attacks on Israel. "When I said this was a meeting of bad actors, Nasrallah is a bad actor. He's a terrorist. He has the blood on his hands for many Americans, thousands of Israelis, so I think he should be punished for that. I cannot confirm now whether he was at that meeting or not, but when I speak about bad actors, he's one of them," Danon said. Lebanon's health ministry said there were two dead and 76 wounded from the Israeli strikes, describing it as a preliminary toll. Iran-backed Hezbollah's al-Manar television reported four buildings were destroyed and there were many casualties in the multiple strikes, which marked a major escalation of Israel's conflict with the heavily armed Hezbollah. Al-Manar's live feed showed search and rescue teams scrambling over concrete and protruding metal, with a correspondent for the TV station saying the attack had left several large craters and damaged many surrounding buildings. The Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise strike" on Hezbollah's headquarters, which it said were "embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh in Beirut". Israel has struck the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, four times over the last week, killing at least three senior Hezbollah military commanders. Friday's attack was far more powerful, with multiple blasts shaking windows across the city, recalling Israeli airstrikes during a war with Hezbollah in 2006. In a televised statement, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the central command centre was embedded deep within civilian areas. The strikes hit Beirut shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel's attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon in a U.N. speech, as hopes faded for a ceasefire to head off all-out regional war. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the attack showed Israel did not care about global calls for a Lebanon ceasefire. Iran's embassy in Lebanon said on X that the strike represented a dangerous game-changing escalation that would "bring its perpetrator an appropriate punishment." SHARP ESCALATION IN CONFLICT RAISES CONCERN AT UN The escalation raised concern at the United Nations, where the annual General Assembly has been meeting this week. Among those voicing concern was France, which earlier in the week proposed a 21-day ceasefire to reduce tensions. "The large-scale strikes which took place today in the south suburb of Beirut, brought devastation and claimed many casualties. This must be brought to an end immediately," French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere told a Security Council meeting. At a New York press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: We believe the way forward is through diplomacy, not conflict. The path to diplomacy may seem difficult to see at this moment, but it is there, and in our judgment, it is necessary, and we will continue to work intentionally with all parties to urge them to choose that course." It was by far the most powerful Israeli attack on Beirut during nearly a year of conflict with Hezbollah. Security sources in Lebanon said the attack targeted an area where top Hezbollah officials are usually based. This week, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 700 people in Lebanon, an escalation that has raised fears of an even more destructive conflict. In its first statement since the Israeli strike, Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at the city of Safed in Israel. Israeli emergency services said they were treating a woman with minor injuries from the rocket in Safed. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu said: "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely." Several delegations walked out as Netanyahu approached the lectern while supporters in the gallery cheered. Netanyahu's office said he would cut short his trip to New York and return to Israel on Friday. The United States did not have advance warning of the Beirut strike and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart as the operation was ongoing, a Pentagon spokesperson said. Israel says its campaign aims to secure the safe return of thousands of people forced to evacuate in northern Israel because of Hezbollah rocket attacks in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza. This week's escalation has displaced around 100,000 people in Lebanon, increasing the total number of people uprooted in the country by the conflict to well over 200,000. Israel says Hezbollah rocket attacks during the past year have forced the evacuation of 70,000 Israelis from northern Israel. (Additional reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut; Jana Choukeir and Nadine Awadalla in Dubai, Phil Stewart in Washington, Emily Rose in Jerusalem; Writing by Tom Perry and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Howard Goller) By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government declared a 60-day state of emergency in districts around Lima on Thursday to fight a rise in crime, the nation's prime minister Gustavo Adrianzen said, as striking bus drivers strangled traffic in a bid for more security. Adrianzen announced the state of emergency in 12 districts of metropolitan Lima and the neighboring Callao province during a press conference. The measure will put Peru's armed forces out on the streets and help police clamp down on a wave of extortions that has plagued the capital. "Extortion, although more visible as a result of the recent problem with the transporters, nowadays we have different small businessmen and entrepreneurs who are also victims of this crime," he said. Public transport was scarce on Thursday as thousands of commuters were left stranded at bus stops and unable to go to work, local TV images showed. The government suspended classes in Metropolitan Lima and urged firms to allow remote work or let employees show up late to their shifts. "We're striking because of the insecurity, and the lack of empathy from the government in regard to this wave of extortions," said Hector Vargas, who heads a transportation union representing 63 companies. A bus driver was killed on Sunday for refusing to fall victim to a shakedown, police said. A passenger also was wounded in the attack. Four drivers have been killed since the end of August. At the press conference, Defense Minister Walter Astudillo said the government will send a bill to Congress to classify hired assassination, kidnapping, extortion and illegal possession of firearms as "urban terrorism," to toughen penalties for these crimes. He added that the capacity of a prison located at 4,600 meters (15,092 feet) above sea level for those sentenced for urban terrorism will be increased and that the government will evaluate if it is possible to extend the state of emergency to other areas of the country. (Reporting by Marco Aquino and Carlos Valdez for Reuters TV; Editing by Sarah Morland and Bill Berkrot) People fleeing from Lebanon arrive on the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon in Jdeidat Yabus in southwestern Syria on September 25, 2024 (LOUAI BESHARA) (LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/AFP) Israel conducted two rounds of air strikes on Hezbollah's main bastion in the south of Lebanon's capital Beirut, sending huge clouds of smoke soaring above the densely populated area. Friday's strikes were heard across the Mediterranean city and sparked panic in the residential area that has been the Iran-backed movement's main stronghold for decades. They were by far the fiercest strikes to hit Beirut since Israel shifted its focus from the war in Gaza to Lebanon this week, pounding Hezbollah strongholds around the country and killing hundreds of people. Israeli television networks reported that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strike, though a source close to the group said he was "fine". Nasrallah enjoys cult status among his Shiite Muslim supporters and is the only man in Lebanon with the power to wage war or make peace, but he leads a life in hiding to avoid assassination. The Israeli army claimed early Saturday that its air strikes killed "Muhammad Ali Ismail, the commander of Hezbollah's missile unit in southern Lebanon, and his deputy," as well as "other senior officials". The strikes felt "like an earthquake", according to Ahmad Ahmad, who fled his house in the southern suburbs. A teacher in her 40s, Abir Hammoud, said: "I felt like the building was going to collapse on top of me." The strikes were followed by a second bombing hours later, which Israel's military said targeted Hezbollah weapons stored in buildings in the area, a claim the group denied. Hezbollah started fighting Israeli troops along the Lebanon border a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in an address to world leaders on Friday that there would be no let-up in the battle against Hezbollah until Israel's northern border was secured. - Warning to civilians - A source close to Hezbollah said the initial wave of strikes had levelled six buildings, and according to a preliminary toll, six people were killed and 91 wounded. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the strike had targeted "the central headquarters" of Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of the city. After the Beirut strikes, Hezbollah said it had fired more rockets into Israel "in defence of Lebanon and its people". There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military warned civilians in parts of Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold to evacuate the area before conducting its second bombing. It also said it would not allow Iran to transfer weapons to its ally Hezbollah through Beirut airport -- adding that its jets were ready to intervene should any such transfers be detected. Israel's army said the second wave of strikes had targeted Hezbollah targets in the Tyre area of southern Lebanon. - 'Deadliest in a generation' - The UN has repeatedly condemned this week's sharp escalation of violence in Lebanon. "We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation, and many express their fear that this is just the beginning," the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, said. In Israel, too, many were weary of the violence. "It is incredibly exhausting to be in this situation. We don't really know what's going to happen, there's talk of a ground offensive or a major operation," said Lital Shmuelovich, a physiotherapy student. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed again for a ceasefire, after a US-led bid for a truce failed earlier this week. "The path to diplomacy may seem difficult to see at this moment, but it is there, and in our judgement, it is necessary," Blinken said. In New York, Netanyahu also addressed the war in Gaza, saying that Israel's military would continue to fight Hamas until it achieved "total victory". Diplomats have said efforts to end the war in Gaza were key to halting the fighting in Lebanon and bringing the region back from the brink of all-out war. But despite months of mediation efforts, a Gaza ceasefire remains elusive. Hamas's 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. 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. - 'Change the rules' - The Lebanon violence has raised fears of wider turmoil in the Middle East, with Iran-backed militants across the region vowing to keep up their fight with Israel. Netanyahu took aim at Iran in his UN General Assembly address, saying: "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you." He added: "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East." Analysts have said Iran would try to resist being dragged into the conflict. But following the Beirut strikes, Iran's embassy in Lebanon said: "This reprehensible crime... represents a dangerous escalation that changes the rules of the game." Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, later condemned the strikes, branding them a "flagrant war crime". burs-ser/jj/lb/cwl Beirut has been rocked by huge explosions, with Israel confirming that it carried out airstrikes against Hezbollahs main military headquarters in the Lebanese capital. Information is still emerging, but Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is said to have been the target, while this afternoons raids were the biggest to hit Beirut since the start of the current conflict in the Middle East, almost a year ago. In Beirut this afternoon, a series of explosions were heard across the city, leaving multiple huge plumes of dark smoke. Smoke was even visible from the city of Batroun, roughly an hours drive north of the Lebanese capital. A rescuer fights the blaze amid the smoldering rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburbs on September 27, 2024. Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP IBRAHIM AMRO Videos posted to social media showed the site of the airstrike, with several buildings entirely collapsed and fires burning below the rubble. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, four buildings were destroyed by the airstrikes, while a report from AFP mentions the destruction of six buildings. While emergency responders are already on the scene, there are so far no official reports of the number of casualties. #BREAKING: Massive Israeli strikes targeting Beiruts southern suburbs now pic.twitter.com/HPn8Cqi3Py ELINT News (@ELINTNews) September 27, 2024 Incredible footage from Lebanon during IDF airstrikes. Explosions underground as well. pic.twitter.com/CUP128uifv Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 BREAKING: Huge explosions heard in Beirut Al Jadeed pic.twitter.com/wsx5eq1h3Z Faytuks News (@Faytuks) September 27, 2024 Picture from Beirut following reports of Israeli airstrikes. This is definitely the largest munition dropped on Beirut so far. Target unclear. pic.twitter.com/cxZzXCRftk Faytuks News (@Faytuks) September 27, 2024 Footage from Beirut amid a massive Israeli airstrike. Rumours swirling. IDF statement shortly. pic.twitter.com/M86IORB3lq Faytuks News (@Faytuks) September 27, 2024 #BREAKING Huge Israeli airstrike reported in Beirut now. pic.twitter.com/0myEqm7m46 Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 Already, there are multiple reports including apparently from Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) radio and Israeli media channels that the attack in Beiruts southern suburbs targeted Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, although at this point there is no news as to his whereabouts. Fox News has learned the target of the strike on Beirut was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) September 27, 2024 Breaking: Israeli officials confirm that the target of the strike in Lebanon was the head of Hezbollah, Nasralla. Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) September 27, 2024 Israeli army radio: "Regarding the attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut: We confirmed that (Hassan) Nasrallah was in the targeted headquarters, then the army dropped bombs that penetrated the bunkers." https://t.co/K12nKZs1Go Hannah McCarthy (@Hannahmc_carthy) September 27, 2024 There are reports that Hezbollah is claiming that Nasrallah is safe, while other accounts suggest that Iran the primary backer of Hezbollah is assessing whether or not he was harmed. Fox News has learned the target of the strike on Beirut was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) September 27, 2024 Previously, an Israeli spokesperson for the IDF, Daniel Hagari, said that the Israeli military conducted a precise strike on the Hezbollah headquarters, which was built under residential buildings in Beirut in order to use them as human shields. Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organizationtaking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely. Listen to IDF pic.twitter.com/I4hbN7KkO8 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 27, 2024 According to the IDF, the headquarters of Hezbollah served as its central command center and was located within a civilian area in Beiruts Dahiyeh district. Hagari described the headquarters as the epicenter of Hezbollahs terror. The airstrikes appear to have been approved by Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, while he was on a visit to New York, based on a photo released by his office, showing him and other Israeli officials in a hotel, together with secure communications equipment. The Israeli leader will return home tonight, his office has said. Previously, he was expected back in Israel on Saturday. Netenyahu approving the airstrike targeting Hezbollah leader Nasrallah from New York today. pic.twitter.com/qGjOdlzUCo Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 Today, Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, telling world leaders that Israels campaign against Hezbollah would continue. Israeli official says Israel notified the U.S. minutes before the strike in Beirut https://t.co/VXzio5MWTD Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) September 27, 2024 Another photo, released by Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, claims to show him observing the strike from the Israeli Air Forces underground command center. Pictured alongside Gallant are the chief of the general staff of the IDF, Herzi Halevi, and the head of the Israeli Air Force, Tomer Bar. , , . , , , . pic.twitter.com/NtRzSA2mzL Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) September 27, 2024 Early accounts suggest the use of penetrating bunker buster bombs or missiles in at least some of the airstrikes, which would make sense given the buried nature of the target as well as the large plumes of dark smoke. Bunker busters were clearly used. pic.twitter.com/Y4CfmxFy5M Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) September 27, 2024 . pic.twitter.com/FALuTHLFD6 Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) September 27, 2024 Update: 5:15 PM Eastern There are increasing indications that Nasrallah was killed in the strike, according to the Times of Israel. Israels Channel 12 news reports the assessment in Israel is that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in tonights IDF strike on the terror groups underground HQ in Beirut, the publication reported. Its on-screen headline reads, The assessment in Israel: Nasrallah is eliminated. A second major Israeli TV station, Channel 13, is slightly more wary, stating, Cautious optimism in Israel: The strike on Nasrallah succeeded. Reuters is reporting that communications with senior Hezbollah leaders have been lost. #BREAKING Communication lost with Hezbollah's senior leadership, Reuters reports. Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 Meanwhile, citizens of the Dahiyeh neighborhood are beginning to leave after being warned by the IDF that another strike there was imminent. UPDATE Nasrallah fate still unknown Israeli military asks Dahiyeh residents in south Beirut to evacuate Israel will bomb area soon, says long range missiles depots there Commercial headed to Lebanon also put on alert https://t.co/46ywGmLGvd Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) September 27, 2024 Following Israels warnings to some Lebanese residents to evacuate, many were seen fleeing on foot from the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/JQEeDIpKZ5 Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 Update: 5:30 PM Eastern Though there is no official confirmation of Nasrallahs death, some residents of northwestern Syria are celebrating. Many Syrians condemn Hezbollahs actions during the long civil war there. Residents of Azaz in northwestern Syria are celebrating the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah despite no official confirmation that he is dead. pic.twitter.com/JoWJyIR1Kw Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) September 27, 2024 Update: 5:40 PM Eastern The IDF warning gave specific locations for residents to avoid. In the last hour, we have contacted the residents of the three buildings in the Dahiehthese residents are above and near Hezbollahs strategic assets and must evacuate immediately for their safety and security, the IDF said on Telegram. Update 5:46 PM Eastern After the warning, the IDF began striking those buildings, Israels Channel 12 said on Twitter. ": N12 (@N12News) September 27, 2024 Update: 5:52 PM Eastern The IDF said it was targeting weapons caches in Dahieh. The IDF is currently conducting targeted strikes on weapons belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization that were stored beneath civilian buildings in the area of Dahieh in Beirut. Details to follow, the IDF said on Telegram. New video emerged of the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Footage of the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut pic.twitter.com/Af1Bq09P2D Faytuks News (@Faytuks) September 27, 2024 Update: 5:58 PM Eastern U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement on the Israeli strike. I know that youre seeing reports about a significant strike today in Beirut. I spoke by phone earlier today to my counterpart in Israel Minister Gallant. The United States was not involved in Israels operation. We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while Israels operation was already underway. As you know this operation took place just a few hours ago and theyre still making assessments, so I dont have any further information or specifics for you at this time. Youve heard me say a number of times, an all-out war should be avoided. Diplomacy continues to be the best way forward and its the fastest way to let displaced Israeli and Lebanese citizens return to their homes on both sides of the border. Ill be talking with Minister Gallant again soon and I look to get an update from him when we have that conversation. Thank you. Update: 6:29 PM Eastern President Biden has been briefed several times today by his national security team on the latest developments in the Middle East, according to the latest dispatch from the White House press pool. He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of U.S. objectives. He has also directed his team to ensure that U.S. embassies in the region take all protective measures as appropriate. The President will continue to receive regular updates. Update: 6:59 PM Eastern Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman said Israel and the U.S. must be held accountable for the attack on Nasrallahs compound. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned the brutal and terrorist air attack of the Zionist regime on several residential buildings in the suburbs of Beirut on Friday afternoon, the official Iranian IRNA news agency reported. This barbaric attack, which was carried out with the bombs donated by the American regime to the rebellious Zionist regime, besides being a flagrant violation of the laws and regulations of international law, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity and national security of Lebanon, is an obvious and unconcealable war crime, said Kanaani. And therefore, without a doubt, the American regime is also an accomplice along with the Zionist regime and must be held accountable. Post Unavailable Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com This is a developing story. We will update it as more news comes in about this strike. The Israeli military says it struck the central headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut. The series of explosions Friday evening is the most powerful yet seen in the Lebanese capital the past year. Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said it targeted the main Hezbollah headquarters, located beneath residential buildings. Attacks on Hezbollah targets by fighter jets continued into the early hours Saturday after the army said it told residents to evacuate three buildings it was targeting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States and was returning home instead of waiting until the end of Sabbath on Saturday evening, his office said. Hours earlier, Netanyahu addressed the United Nations, vowing that Israels campaign against Hezbollah would continue further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire. More than 720 people have been killed in Lebanon this week, according to Lebanons health ministry. Israel has dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting Hezbollahs military capacities and senior Hezbollah commanders. Top Israeli officials have threatened to repeat the destruction of Gaza in Lebanon if the Hezbollah fire continues, raising fears that Israels actions in Gaza since Oct. 7 would be repeated in Lebanon. The International Organization for Migration estimated Thursday that more than 200,000 people 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. ___ Heres the latest: 20 health care centers shut down amid escalating violence in Lebanon, UN says BEIRUT The United Nations said the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah has forced at least 20 primary health care centers to shut down in hard-hit areas of Lebanon. The U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said in the latest escalation that began earlier in the week, Israeli airstrikes impacted 25 water facilities, affecting access to clean water for nearly 300,000 in high-risk areas. The escalation since Sept. 23 has also more than doubled the number of those displaced by the conflict from southern Lebanon. There are now over 211,000 people displaced, some 85,000 of them now living in public schools and other shelters spread around the countrys north and east. A new phase of escalation began Friday, when Israel targeted Hezbollahs leader in the southern suburb of Beirut, in one of the largest blasts to hit the Lebanese capital in years. The fate of the groups leader is still unknown. After the initial strike early Friday evening, Israeli warplanes continued to pound buildings and targets in the southern suburb for over six hours. Smoke and balls of fire covered the Beirut skyline for hours. Israel targets areas around Beirut early Saturday BEIRUT Israels military carried out new strikes early Saturday targeting areas around Beirut. In a short statement, the Israeli military described the sites it hit as belonging to Hezbollah. Explosions rocked Beiruts southern suburbs, with flames lighting up the pre-dawn darkness. Authorities there did not immediately acknowledge if there were any casualties. Israel says it killed a Hezbollah missile unit commander and his deputy JERUSALEM Israels military said it killed a Hezbollah missile unit commander and his deputy during a strike in southern Lebanon earlier in the week. Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its air forces killed Muhammad Ali Ismail, who it said was responsible for directing numerous terror attacks against Israel, including the firing of rockets towards Israeli territory. The Tuesday strike also killed the commanders deputy, Hussein Ahmad Ismail, it said. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah. Moody's lowers Israel's credit rating due to economic risks from conflict NEW YORK Moodys lowered its credit rating on Israel on Friday, warning that the countrys deepening conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon pose increased risks for its economy. The downgrade to Baa1 could make it more expensive for Israel to borrow on international markets because lenders could demand higher interest rates on loans to compensate for the greater risk. The key driver for the downgrade is our view that geopolitical risk has intensified significantly further, to very high levels, with material negative consequences for Israels creditworthiness in both the near and longer term, Moodys wrote. Moodys last dropped its rating on Israels debt in February, from A1 to A2. Israels new rating remains investment grade at three notches above whats considered junk status on Moodys scale. Series of airstrikes hit several locations in Beirut's southern suburbs BEIRUT A series of airstrikes have hit several locations in the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing several smaller explosions and rings of smoke intersecting over the skies of the Lebanese capital. Fire raged from at least one location, and smoke and flames were seen from above Beirut early Saturday. Residents reported jets flying overhead. Following a massive air raid that levelled several buildings in the southern suburb of Beirut, which Israel said targeted the leader of Lebanons Hezbollah group, there were nearly a dozen other strikes in the same neighborhood, some just an hour after an Israeli warning for residents to evacuate. Hundreds of Lebanese fled the area. Israel fighter jets strike dozens of Hezbollah launchers aimed toward Israeli civilians, as air raid sirens go off in northern Israel JERUSALEM Israel's army said in a statement that its fighter jets struck dozens of Hezbollah launchers that were aimed toward Israeli civilians over the past hour. The army said it continues to strike Hezbollah targets and buildings in which weapons were stored in several areas in southern Lebanon. Israel reports more air raid sirens in northern Israel, including in Safed. Israeli officials said a 68-year-old woman suffered mild shrapnel wounds from the rocket strike earlier in Safed. Canada global affairs blocks seats on few remaining commercial flights leaving Lebanon, urging Canadians to leave immediately OTTAWA, Ontario Global Affairs Canada began booking blocks of seats on the few remaining commercial flights leaving Lebanon on Friday as it issued another urgent plea for any Canadians in the country to leave immediately. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada has secured seats for Canadians on the limited commercial flights available. Passengers will pay for the flights themselves, but Joly says loans are available for those who need financial assistance. Joly and Defense Minister Bill Blair have been asking Canadians in Lebanon to leave for months as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates. Joly says its believed about 45,000 Canadians were in Lebanon, even though only about half that number have registered officially with the embassy in Beirut. Lebanon's Health Ministry raises death toll from airstrike targeting Hezbollah in Beirut BEIRUT Lebanons Health Ministry said six were killed and 91 wounded in several Israeli strikes that struck Friday. The toll is likely to rise significantly as teams are still combing through the rubble of six buildings. Israels military says it is conducting airstrikes in Beirut area where it had warned residents to evacuate BEIRUT Israels air force struck southern suburbs of Beirut early Saturday hours after another airstrike destroyed several buildings killing and wounding dozens of people. The new airstrikes came shortly after an Israeli military spokesperson warned the residents of several building to evacuate them saying they were being used by the militant Hezbollah group. Israels military confirmed that the air forces are striking areas south of Beirut. Israel's army warns residents in southern Beirut neighborhoods to evacuate from buildings it plans to strike The Israeli army warned residents in southern Beirut neighborhoods late Friday to evacuate from three buildings it says Hezbollah uses to hide weapons, including anti-ship missiles. Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said residents should evacuate as soon as possible because Israel is about to strike them and that the buildings could collapse from secondary explosions. In the last hour, we have contacted the residents of the three buildings in the Dahiyehthese residents are above and near Hezbollahs strategic assets and must evacuate immediately for their safety and security," he said. Hagari said Israel will not allow the civilian airport to be used for military purposes and that pilots are patrolling the skies over the airport for weapons smuggling. President Biden says US has no knowledge of or participation in Israeli military strikes in Beirut WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States had no knowledge of or participation in Israeli military strikes in Beirut. Were gathering more information. Ill have more to say when we have more information, Biden said after he arrived in his home state of Delaware for the weekend. Asked about his support for Israels right to self-defense and whether he supported the strikes in Beirut, Biden said he needed more information. I dont know enough to answer that question, he said. Hezbollah launches rockets at Israeli city of Safed BEIRUT Hezbollah said in a statement some four hours after the strike in Beirut that it had launched a salvo of rockets at the Israeli city of Safed, which it said was in defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the barbaric Israeli violation of cities, villages and civilians. They also released a statement saying they hit Karmiel and Saar. The Israeli military says a house and car in Safed were hit, but gave no further details. Rescuers were headed to the scene. Late Friday, air raid sirens sounded in several locations across northern Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. UK advises British nationals in Lebanon to leave BEIRUT The UK, which has been advising its nationals to leave Lebanon for more than a month, took a more urgent tone in a statement issued Friday after a major Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburbs. British nationals in Lebanon should leave now, the statement said. You should take the next available flight. It added, Were working to increase capacity and secure seats for British nationals to leave. A day earlier, British Defense Secretary John Healey said his country had sent 700 troops to Cyprus to assist in a potential emergency evacuation of civilians in Lebanon should a full war break out. Analyst says strike is likely to spark a major escalation BEIRUT Elijah J. Magnier, a Brussels-based veteran and a senior political risk analyst who frequently speaks with Hezbollah members said that the groups silence on the fate of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, since the strike in Beirut is likely an indication either that they want him to be in a safe place and they are moving him or he is dead and they want to wait until they find his body, as is the groups normal practice. In either case, he said the strike is likely to spark a major escalation. For the first time in this war Israel is giving legitimacy to Hezbollah to start bombing residential areas in Tel Aviv, he said. Whether Nasrallah was assassinated or not, we are starting a new phase of this war thats going to be a very long war. At least 2 people were killed and dozens were wounded in Beirut, Lebanons health ministry says BEIRUT Lebanons Health Ministry says at least two people were killed and at least 76 others were wounded in the strikes in a first casualty count, as first-responders are still searching for others under the rubble. At least 60 of the injured suffered from light wounds while 15 were admitted to the hospital, according to the ministrys statement . Mazen Alameh, manager of the Sahel Hospital near the scene of the strike, said they have so far received 13 wounded, of whom 10 were in critical condition. One of the critically injured people was a child, he said. Lebanon's Prime Minister slams Israel for the Beirut strikes BEIRUT Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati slammed Israel for the strikes in Beirut amid global efforts for a ceasefire, saying that this proves "that the Israeli enemy does not care about all international efforts and calls for a cease-fire. US administration gathering information on the strike DOVER AIR FORCE BASE White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said the administration was still gathering information on Fridays strike. He added that U.S. officials were not given pre-notification from Israelis about the strike. President Joe Biden was in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Friday to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of a childhood friend. His national security team briefed him on the Beirut strike after he delivered the eulogy, according to the White House. Pentagon says US got no advance warning of the strike by Israel in Beirut WASHINGTON The Pentagon said Friday that the U.S. got no advance warning of the strike. Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was on the phone with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as it was occurring. She declined to say whether Gallant informed Austin about the strike or who it targeted during the call. Asked if the U.S. considers the strike an escalation in the conflict, Singh said the U.S. is still assessing it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cuts US visit short to return home NEW YORK Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office says the Israeli leader is cutting short a visit to the U.S. and returning home. The office made the announcement shortly after a massive Israeli airstrike on Hezbollahs headquarters in Beirut. Netanyahu, in New York to address the United Nations, had been scheduled to stay in the U.S. until Saturday night, after the end of the Jewish sabbath. Israeli politicians do not normally travel on the sabbath except for matters of great import. 6 buildings are leveled to the ground by strikes as hospitals receive casualties BEIRUT Lebanons state-run National News Agency said six buildings were leveled to the ground by the strikes. Hospitals in the area were receiving casualties, but the scale was not immediately clear. Officials at Sahel hospital near the scene of the strike said they had received 10 wounded, three of them critically, including a Syrian child. The strikes which came around nightfall were by far the most intense in Beirut in the past year since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire. Local TV stations showed emergency workers running through the rubble of destroyed buildings, struggling to put out a fire. The missiles appeared to have caused massive craters. Many people who live in the vicinity were seen gathering belongings and fleeing along the road leading to Beiruts airport. First responders and Lebanese Red Cross struggling to reach the area because of the rubble and destruction. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said the demolished structures appeared to be multistory apartment buildings. Israels 3 main TV channels say the massive strikes in Beirut targeted Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah JERUSALEM Israels three main TV channels all flashed headlines that Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strike. But the unsourced reports could not immediately be confirmed. The Israeli army had no comment on the reports that Nasrallah was the target. But given the size and timing of the blast, there were strong indications that a high-value target was inside the building at the time. Lebanese Red Cross scenes arrive to scene of the strikes, as more explosions heard in the area BEIRUT Lebanons state-run National News Agency said 10 teams from the Lebanese Red Cross arrived to the scene of the strike. There was no immediate count of casualties from the organization. One hour after the first strike, more explosions were heard in the area. Civil defense teams worked to put out fires that broke out at the scene of the explosion. Israeli military carries out precise strike on Hezbollah headquarters Israels military said it carried out a precise strike on Hezbollahs central headquarters in Beirut on Friday. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced the strike in a televised address. Hagari said the headquarters served as an epicenter of Hezbollahs terror and was intentionally built under residential buildings" as part of the group's strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields. Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV said the airstrikes on the Haret Hreik district destroyed four buildings, turning them into a pile of rubble. The station said more than 15 missiles struck the area at the same moment. The attack sent huge clouds of orange and black smoke billowing into the skies. Strong explosi ons in populated Beirut suburb BEIRUT Israeli airstrikes hit Beiruts heavily-populated southern suburb as the blasts were heard throughout the Lebanese capital. It was not immediately clear what the target was but thick black smoke was seen billowing from the area. The massive explosion was so powerful it rattled windows and shook houses some 30 kilometers north of Beirut. Ambulances were seen headed to the scene of the explosions, sirens wailing. The strike came an hour after thousands of people attended the funeral of a top Hezbollah commander who was killed the day before. Rescuers pull out bodies under collapsed building in Lebanon In the city of Tyre, Lebanese civil defense workers toiled to pull out two bodies from under the rubble of a collapsed building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike Friday. They pulled the dead bodies of 35-year-old Hiba Ataya and her mother, 65-year-old Sabah Olayan. There she is, this is Sabah, one man is heard saying as workers removed slabs of concrete and stones to reveal a body. Ali Safieddine, a civil defense rescuer, told The Associated Press that his organization was receiving nonstop calls to go rescue people but theyre unable to reach all the areas due to airstrikes and bombed out roads. He also said the team had to evacuate their center after receiving a call from Israel instructing them to vacate the location. But we are continuing our work, we will continue our mission from wherever we are even if were in the street, he said. Humanitarian crisis worsens amid escalation between Israel and Hezbollah The Norwegian Refugee Council aid group is warning that the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah is reaching deeper into Lebanon and pushing the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon to alarming levels. Some Lebanese villages have almost been entirely deserted amid large-scale destruction. Families do not know which way to turn as Israel bombards scores of towns for the first time, Maureen Philippon, the group's country director in Lebanon. In a statement, she said tens of thousands of people are now seeking shelter in ill-equipped primarily schools where two or three families are packed together in the same classroom and there are no showers or bathing areas. People now being turned away from shelters as there is simply no space for them inside, she said, while some displaced families are forced to seek refuge in bus shelters, in their cars, and outside hospitals, unsure where to go next, Philippon said. Israel's goals in Lebanon are much narrower compared to Gaza, official says TEL AVIV, Israel An Israeli security official said he expects a possible war against Hezbollah would not last for as long as the current war in Gaza because the Israeli militarys goals are much narrower. The official said Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas military and political regime in Gaza, but the goal in Lebanon is just to push Hezbollah away from the border with Israel. That is not a high bar like Gaza in terms of operational objectives, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military briefing guidelines. The official said that no decision has been made on whether Israel will carry out a ground operation in southern Lebanon. But he stressed that the military is training for this possibility every day and is ready to implement it. He added that Israel still sees Resolution 1701, the United Nations-brokered resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, as the best solution for lasting stability. But that the resolution must be enforced by an international force that is able to keep Hezbollah from setting up infrastructure close to the border with Israel. He said Israels punishing aerial bombardments this week, which killed more than 600 people in Lebanon, represent Israels decision to start enforcing the resolution on their own. ___ Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed to this report. Israeli strike hits a tent within Gaza hospital complex, killing 1 and injuring 4 DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced people within a hospital complex in central Gaza early Friday, killing one Palestinian man and injuring four others. The strike on Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah left some tents and tarps torn apart with items such as bottles, mattresses, and a baby chair scattered on the dusty ground. An Israeli military spokesperson told The Associated Press it conducted a precise strike on Islamic Jihad terrorists who were operating inside command and control centers embedded within the Humanitarian Area in Deir al Balah." The spokesperson said that steps were take to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. The military did not comment on whether militants had been killed in the strike. A video filmed by The Associated Press shows several children surrounding metal parts of the guided missile labeled manufacturer United States Army in the vicinity of the hospital where hundreds of displaced people are sheltering. Lebanon says 25 killed by Israeli strikes on Friday BEIRUT Lebanons Health Minister Firass Abiad told reporters that 25 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since midnight in different parts of the country. The latest numbers on Friday put the total death toll over the past five days to about 700, including scores of women and children, as Israel dramatically escalated strikes targeting the military capacity of Hezbollah. Houthi rebels claim missile attack targeting Israel DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Yemens Houthi rebels have claimed a missile attack that targeted Israel early Friday morning. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, claimed the attack in a pre-recorded statement released by the Houthis. He claimed the rebels launched both a missile and drone. The missile targeted Tel Aviv while the drone targeted another city, though Israel did not acknowledge the drone. No injuries were reported. Israels military said earlier Friday it used an Arrow interceptor missile to down the Houthi missile, which saw some shrapnel fall. Its the second attack by the Houthis to target Tel Aviv in recent weeks. Fridays launch comes amid Israels intensified airstrike campaign targeting Lebanons Hezbollah militia. Both Hezbollah and the Houthis are backed by Iran. UN: More than 30,000 people crossed from Lebanon into Syria in 3 days GENEVA The U.N. refugee agency says well over 30,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into neighboring Syria over the last 72 hours in the wake of fighting between the militant group Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Lebanon. Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, the representative for refugee agency UNHCR in Syria, said roughly half of the people who have fled were children and adolescents. He said about 80% were Syrians returning to their home country and the rest were Lebanese. Now these, of course, are people who are fleeing bombs and who are crossing into a country that has been suffering from its own crisis and violence for 13 years now, he told reporters in Geneva by video from the Lebanon-Syria border. Syria is facing economic collapse, he said. I think that this just illustrates the kind of extremely difficult choices both Syrians and Lebanese are having to make, he said. Israeli strike kills a family of 9 in a Lebanese border town, authorities say BEIRUT An Israeli airstrike on a border village has killed nine members of the same family, Lebanons state-run National News Agency said Friday. NNA said nine people were killed in the early Friday airstrike on the village of Chebaa that destroyed their three-story building. Chebaa is in an area where the borders of Syria, Israel and Lebanon meet, and was struck several times in recent months. On Friday, Israeli warplanes struck towns and villages in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, according to NNA. Israeli military reports more strikes from Lebanon JERUSALEM Incoming fire from Lebanon into Israel continued Friday, with one man suffering wounds from shrapnel. The Israeli military said four drones came across the border Friday, all of which were intercepted. Earlier Friday, the Israeli military said another 10 projectiles came into Israel from Lebanon, with some intercepted and others falling into open fields. It said it later targeted launchers in Lebanon behind the missile attacks. Hezbollah claimed it had targeted the Israeli city of Tiberias with missiles. The Israeli military said its warplanes had struck launchers in Haddatha, Lebanon, that it said fired the rockets at Tiberius in northern Israel. It said it was currently continuing to strike Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon. Israeli strike in Syria kills 5 soldiers DAMASCUS An overnight Israeli airstrike on a military site in the area of Kfar Yabous in Syria near the border with Lebanon killed five Syrian army soldiers and injured another, Syrian state news agency SANA reported Friday, citing an unidentified military official. Israel's military did not immediately acknowledge the strike. Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria and facilities linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah but rarely acknowledges them. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israels war against Hamas a Hezbollah ally in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Lebanese and Syrians have fled across the border from Lebanon into Syria since the beginning of the week under intense Israeli bombardment that Israel says is targeting Hezbollah militants and weapons. The week's strikes have killed an estimated 700 people, including at least 150 women and children. Trade unions file claim at United Nations for Palestinian workers GENEVA A group of international trade unions on Friday filed a complaint against Israel at the United Nations labor organization in a bid to win compensation for 200,000 Palestinians who have gone unpaid or seen their benefits withheld after the Oct. 7 attacks. The nine unions say the workers from both Gaza and the West Bank had been employed in Israel before the deadly attacks by armed militants, but were barred from entering to go to their jobs afterward. As a result, the workers and their families have faced millions of dollars worth of lost income, financial insecurity and no access to remedies through the courts, they said. These workers have experienced widespread wage theft due to the suspension of work permits and the unilateral termination of their contracts, said a joint statement from the unions, whose members are active in industries as diverse as construction, education, journalism, agriculture, hospitality and transportation. The filing at the International Labor Organization in Geneva, of which Israel is a member country, is based on language in its constitution that seeks to ensure that countries uphold international commitments they have already made. Such economic woes that many Palestinians have faced come on top of the bloodshed, displacement and other troubles faced by Gaza and the West Bank as Israel continues its campaign against armed Palestinian militants. The Philippines is preparing to evacuate thousands of its citizens from Lebanon MANILA, Philippines The Philippine government is bracing to evacuate thousands of Filipino workers in Lebanon in case the deadly conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group further escalates, Philippine officials said Friday. More than 11,000 Filipinos live and work in Lebanon, often as house cleaners. Philippine officials have not yet ordered a mandatory evacuation of its citizens because it was not yet clear whether a full-scale war would erupt, including an Israeli ground attack. Many Filipinos were adamant not to leave their jobs in Lebanon and return to uncertainties at home, but they have been told to be ready to evacuate any time, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told a news briefing in Manila. They say its better for them to die in war than to die of hunger, De Vega said. But he added without elaborating that the Philippine government prepared a contingency plan for a massive evacuation if widespread ground fighting erupts across Lebanon. Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat told reporters in Manila via video on Friday that many Filipinos there will only decide to leave when the situation is so bad, when the war is at their doorsteps. People inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa Twenty-five people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese authorities. At a news conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Health Minister Firass Abiad said there were many more injured, without giving an exact number. Abiad emphasized that all sides were interested in a diplomatic solution, but "only one party wants to continue its indiscriminate attacks on civilians." The state news agency NNA had previously reported that a family of nine was killed in an attack on the town of Shebaa near the border with Israel. Women and children were also among the victims, it said. According to the authorities, over 700 people have died since Israel's renewed heavy attacks on Lebanon. Hezbollah, Houthis attack Israel Meanwhile, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon fired rockets at the Israeli city of Tiberias and other towns on the Sea of Galilee, causing one injury, the Israeli military reported on Friday. According to the army, most of the 10 missiles were intercepted. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia confirmed the attack, during which a man was struck by falling debris. Four drones approaching from Lebanon were also claimed to have been shot down near the border town of Rosh HaNikra on the Mediterranean Sea. The port city of Haifa had previously been attacked with missiles, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on the launch sites and dozens of other Hezbollah targets, officials said. Hezbollah asserted that they had attacked the Haifa region with Fadi-1 type rockets. They have been bombarding Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war nearly a year ago. The militia claims that it aims to support the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip in its fight against Israel and to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Israel used to respond with similar force, but since the beginning of the week, the air force has been conducting massive airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Houthis in Yemen attack Israel too Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi militia on Friday claimed two attacks including one by a ballistic missile aimed at Israel in support of their Palestinian and Lebanese allies. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said the group had aimed at a military target in the area of Jaffa with a ballistic missile and a "vital target" in the Ashkelon area with a drone. "The two operations have successfully achieved their objectives," he added in a televised statement without giving details. Saree vowed further attacks by the group in the days ahead until what he called the "Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon stops. In Lebanon, thousands displaced Since the beginning of the heavy Israeli attacks in Lebanon, "significantly more" than 30,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Syria, according to UN reports. About 80% are said to be Syrian citizens, the rest predominantly Lebanese, said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria. He spoke on Friday from the Lebanese-Syrian border over videolink with reporters in Geneva. That number had more than doubled from Thursday's official estimate of 13,500 people who had sought safety in Syria out of desperation. "Both Syrians and Lebanese are crossing from a country at war to one that has faced crisis and conflict for 13 years - we cannot imagine what an incredibly difficult choice that is - over 30 000 have made that choice," he said. In Lebanon, 110,000 people had already been displaced prior to the recent escalation, according to UN reports. Since last week, 118,000 more have joined them, said Imran Riza, the humanitarian UN coordinator in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Ceasefire plan Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, the US government and other countries behind a joint statement calling for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon coordinated with Israel, a senior US official said on Friday. The White House's National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the statement "wasn't just drawn up in a vacuum." It wasn't only the countries that signed on to the plan who knew of its contents "but Israel itself." But when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York on Thursday for his Friday speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he said Israel would continue to attack Hezbollah until the Israelis evacuated from the northern border could safely return home. Netanyahu said there was a lot of "fake news." The government's press office in Jerusalem said the United States had only informed Israel of their intention to present a proposal for a ceasefire together with others. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the "joint statement was a clear call" for a temporary ceasefire to open up space for diplomacy so residents on both sides of the border could return home. "I would add that the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side," she said. Lebanese Red cross workers inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa Lebanese Red cross workers inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel had a right to self-defense but added that diplomacy was a better solution (Heather Khalifa) (Heather Khalifa/POOL/AFP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed again Friday for a ceasefire in Lebanon, saying the diplomatic path remained open, even as Israel ignored calls to stop its strikes targeting Hezbollah. "The choices that both parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on, with profound consequences for its people, now and possibly for years to come," Blinken told a news conference as he wrapped up a week of talks at the United Nations. "The path to diplomacy may seem difficult to see at this moment, but it is there, and in our judgment, it is necessary," Blinken said, vowing that the United States would "continue to work intensely with all parties" to push a ceasefire. "The most important thing to do through diplomacy is to try first to stop firing in both directions," he said. If a ceasefire takes hold, all sides can work to "reach a broader diplomatic agreement," Blinken said. He also, however, issued a warning about US interests. To "anyone using this to target American personnel, American interests in the region -- the United States will take every measure to defend our people," Blinken said. Hezbollah, backed by Iran's clerical regime, was blamed for the 1983 bombing of the US embassy in Beirut. The United States and France on Wednesday jointly appealed for an initial 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon after Israel began strikes on Hezbollah targets. Israel, which relies on US weapons, brushed aside the call and vowed to crush Hezbollah, on Friday striking the densely populated south Beirut and warning residents to evacuate. The assault came nearly a year after Israel was traumatized by the massive October 7 attack by Hamas, with Israeli officials alleging that Hezbollah was plotting a similar action. Blinken said Israel had a right to self-defense but added that diplomacy was a better solution. "The question is not, does Israel have a right to deal with existential threats to its security and enemies across its borders with the avowed intent to destroy Israel? Of course it does. "But the question is what is the best way to achieve its objectives," Blinken said. sct/gw/bjt An excavator removes a destroyed vehicle in Kiryat Bialik, following a reported strike by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Israel was attacked with 10 rockets from Lebanon on Friday morning, the army said. In the sky over Haifa, the country's main port city, smoke from explosions was visible. The army stated that some of the missiles had been intercepted and others had landed in undeveloped areas. No information was provided regarding possible casualties. The Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon asserted that they had attacked the Haifa region with Fadi-1 type rockets. They have been bombarding Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war nearly a year ago. The militia, which is allied with Iran, claims that they aim to support the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip in its fight against Israel and to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Israel used to respond with similar force, but since the beginning of the week, the air force has been conducting massive airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Israel says it secured $8.7 billion military aid package from US Israel announced Thursday that it had reached agreement with the U.S. for an $8.7 billion aid package to support ongoing military efforts. The funding for the package was appropriated by Congress in the national security supplemental that the president signed into law in April. The total supplemental included $26.38 billion to support Israel and reimburse U.S. operations in response to recent attacks. The package announced Thursday includes $3.5 billion for wartime procurement and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, its short-range missile interceptor; and Davids Sling, which can take out ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, long-range missiles and other aerial threats. These efforts aim to maintain Israels qualitative edge in the region and support ongoing military operations, Israels Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The talks were conducted on the U.S. side by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante. The Pentagon said in a statement that Dory reinforced the Biden administrations enduring support for Israels security and discussed the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions essential for lasting security. The leaders exchanged views on Israels ongoing operations against Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, the need to release all hostages in Gaza immediately, and the imperative to minimize harm to civilians in conflict zones. The announcement comes as Israel has fought on two major fronts for nearly a year against Hezbollah on its northern border with Lebanon and against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following Hamass Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel and its holding of an estimated 100 hostages kidnapped from Israel. President Biden and Vice President Harris have pushed back on calls from some Democrats and progressives to condition aid for Israel to influence their military action because of the humanitarian toll and civilian casualties among Palestinians and Lebanese. The administration has focused on pushing for temporary cease-fires on both fronts to calm tensions. Israel or Hamas has rebuffed these proposals since November. This story was updated at 5:43 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. Israel said it carried out a strike on Hezbollahs central headquarters in Beirut on Friday, with media reports indicating a large explosion and plumes of orange and black smoke billowing above the skyline. The strike came shortly after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly and said Israel has the right to remove the threat from Hezbollah on its northern border and return our citizens to their homes safely. Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, Ive come here today to say enough is enough, he said. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization that served as the epicenter of Hezbollahs terror. Hagari accused Hezbollah of having intentionally built its headquarters under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh, in Beirut, as part of Hezbollahs strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields. He did not mention whether Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was a target of the strike, or present at the site. The strike came as Israel has rebuffed U.S. and international efforts to secure a 21-day cease-fire; its unclear if Hezbollah was open to accepting the truce. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the U.S. was not involved in this operation and had no advanced warning, even as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a phone call this morning with Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Minister Gallant spoke with Secretary Austin as the operation was already underway. This operation happened within the last few hours. We are still assessing the event and dont have any additional information or further specifics to provide at this time, she said. Hezbollah began attacking Israel across the Israeli-Lebanese border in the aftermath of Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel, but fighting has escalated dramatically in recent weeks. Updated: 1:31 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. Israel on Friday sought to deal a decisive blow to Hezbollah by targeting the Iranian-backed groups long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, underscoring its willingness to escalate warfare in the region to achieve its aims. It is unclear whether Nasrallah was killed in the Friday strike on Hezbollahs central headquarters in Beirut, which toppled several buildings and left plumes of orange and black smoke billowing above the skyline. Nasrallah has led the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hezbollah since assuming leadership in 1992 after Israel assassinated his predecessor. He is a long-time foe of Israel, which has fought two major wars in Lebanon, in 1982 and 2006. Over the past 18 years, Nasrallah has positioned Hezbollah closer to Lebanons border with Israel, probing Israels defenses and periodically exchanging fire. A religious cleric, Nasrallah has expanded Hezbollahs popularity among Lebanese people, institutionalizing its political influence in government and local communities and disciplining its army into a well-resourced and potent fighting force. Charismatic, highly intelligent, and deeply religious, his face appears on billboards, key chains, and screensavers; excerpts of his speeches are even used as cell phone ringtones, the Council on Foreign Relations wrote in a profile in 2010. A 2006 profile in The Washington Post described Nasrallah as portraying himself as a man of God, gun and government, a cross between Ayatollah Khomeini and Che Guevera. The U.S. considers Hezbollah to be a terrorist group. The Treasury Department, which has sanctions against Nasrallah, lists his date of birth as between 1953 and 1960 in Al Basuriyah, Lebanon. Nasrallah studied in Islamic seminaries in Iraq and Iran and trained in military camps in Iran. He joined Hezbollah around its founding during the 1982 Israel-Lebanon war and committed to armed resistance against what would be an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. We used to discuss issues among ourselves, if we are to expel the Israeli occupation from our country, how do we do this, Nasrallah told The Washington Post in 2006 about his formative years in the 1980s and 1990s. We noticed what happened in Palestine, in the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip, in the Golan, in the Sinai. We reached a conclusion that we cannot rely on the Arab League states, nor on the United Nations. The only way that we have is to take up arms and fight the occupation forces. The 2006 Lebanon war was one of the most defining confrontations between Israel and Nasrallah, triggered by Hezbollahs kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers across the Israeli-Lebanon border. The Israeli response was so widespread and devastating, Nasrallah later admitted he was taken aback by the intensity. We did not think, even one percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude, Nasrallah told Lebanons New TV channel, according to a Guardian report from the time. You ask me, if I had known on July 11 that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not. An unnamed Israeli official told The New York Times in August 2006 that even though a cease-fire agreement had been reached, Israel had a mark on Nasrallah and intended to kill him. But over the next nearly two decades under Nasrallahs leadership, the Shia-militant group has amassed an arsenal of approximately 150,000 rockets; expended significant resources in building tunnels into Israel (which Israel later destroyed); and gained extensive fighting experience in Syria over the course of its civil war. Hezbollah receives major financial, technical and diplomatic backing from Iran which Israel considers its greatest existential threat in the Middle East. Even as Israel reeled from Hamass attack across the border of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, military units quickly mustered along Israels northern border with Lebanon, preparing for Hezbollah to invade the country and occupy its communities there and unleash a rain of rockets. But Nasrallah made the choice to hold back, greenlighting exchanges of rocketfire with Israel that terrorized communities on both sides of the border but generally contained the fighting to back-and-forth retaliation. The two sides have traded fire for more than a year, with fallout from an increasing number of attacks outpacing efforts at diplomacy. In late August, Israel said it carried out a preemptive strike to disrupt a major missile and drone attack from Hezbollah. In mid-September, Hezbollah accused Israel of being behind a major attack on its rank-and-file, exploding thousands of pagers, walkie-talkies and electronic devises. On top of this, Israel carried out more air strikes targeting senior leaders of the group with the Israeli military saying it killed Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollahs military operations, and top commanders of Hezbollahs elite Radwan Force. Amid the escalating fighting, the U.S., Canada, and leaders from Europe and the Middle East, this week issued a joint statement calling for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel rejected the cease-fire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, said that Israel must defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon. Enough is enough, 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 The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to hold talks on a US-proposed cease-fire in Lebanon aimed at averting a major war, appearing to soften his stance after earlier pushing back on the plan amid domestic opposition. Most Read from Bloomberg Israel will take part in deliberations on the proposal for a three-week truce with Hezbollah in coming days, Netanyahus office said early Friday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer have already held talks on the matter, according to the White House. Israel appreciates the US efforts in this regard because the US role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region, the statement from Netanyahus office said. The US-led diplomatic push is seen as a last-ditch attempt to prevent this weeks escalation of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah from spiraling into a full-scale conflict. Israel has said its preparing to stage a potential ground invasion of neighboring Lebanon, which would risk dragging in key ally Washington as well as Hezbollahs sponsor Iran. Israel has bombarded Lebanon with intensive air strikes since Monday, killing more than 700 people, including at least 50 children, according to Lebanese officials. Tens of thousands have fled the bombardment in the countrys south. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at 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 group claimed four attacks on Israel Friday, saying it would ramp up attacks on civilian areas. Netanyahu who is in New York to address the annual United Nations General Assembly on Friday had earlier vowed the military would maintain its bombardment of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon until all Israels objectives have been achieved. Chief among those is the return of Israels northern residents to their homes, the Israeli premier said, and thats likely to be achieved only if Hezbollah is persuaded to stop firing missiles permanently and moves its fighters back from the border. The attempts led by US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to secure a halt to the fighting come after months of fruitless efforts to clinch a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, where Israel has been at war with Palestinian group Hamas for almost a year. The US has overseen talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, though a plan presented as a breakthrough by Biden in May failed to yield a deal. US officials expressed some frustration with Israels fluctuating stance on the proposed Hezbollah truce. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the Biden administration had coordinated the initiative with Israel. We wouldnt have made that statement, we wouldnt have worked on that if we didnt have reason to believe that the conversations that we were having with the Israelis in particular were supportive of the goal there, he told reporters. Netanyahu initially made verbal commitments to support the Lebanon cease-fire proposal but backtracked after mounting political pressure inside Israel, Haaretz newspaper reported, citing unidentified diplomats familiar with the matter. One of his far-right allies, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, threatened to quit the ruling coalition if a permanent truce is reached. Such a move has the potential to bring down the government, which depends on the support of various factions for its majority. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging rocket fire since the start of the war in Gaza, and the militant group has long said it would 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 US, European states and Arab powers including Saudi Arabia and Qatar unveiled the proposed truce on Wednesday, saying it would allow time for negotiations on a broader agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. The United Arab Emirates urged the US not to shy away from exercising its influence over Israel to push for a halt in hostilities. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in London, told reporters Thursday that another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon. He said 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. --With assistance from Kateryna Kadabashy. (Updates the death toll in Lebanon in fifth paragraph and adds more detail in last paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. At the invitation of the Mexican government, President Xi Jinpings special envoy and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Tie Ning will attend Mexicos presidential inauguration ceremony in Mexico City on October 1. CCTV: We noted that Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently attended an event themed Global Development Initiative Supports the Global SouthChina in Action at the UN Headquarters. What does China hope to achieve through this event and what actions will be taken to support the development of Global South countries? Lin Jian: On September 25 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event themed Global Development Initiative Supports the Global SouthChina in Action at the UN Headquarters in New York. President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and ministerial officials from over 20 countries attended the event. Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out in his address that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) has evolved from Chinas proposal to an international consensus, and from a cooperation concept to joint action, contributing Chinas solutions and providing Chinas strength for the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past three years since the GDI was put forward, more than 100 countries and over 20 international organizations have actively supported and participated in the initiative. In total, 82 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI, and more than 70 countries and international organizations have become part of the Global Development Promotion Center Network. GDI mechanisms are becoming more well-rounded. We have set up over 30 cooperation platforms in the eight priority areas and the Global Development Promotion Center, and are working actively for the establishment of a Global South research center, to help boost the development of the Global South. As of today, the 32 practical measures announced at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development have been basically delivered on, over 1,100 projects have been rolled out under the framework of the GDI, and over 600 projects have been implemented under the Global Development Project Pool. China has also hosted over 2,000 sessions of capacity-building programs, and trained over 60,000 personnel in various fields for developing countries. The increasingly deeper and more substantive cooperation on the GDI has benefited the Global South. Realizing prosperity and development is the common dream of Global South countries. Without modernization of the Global South, there will be no global modernization. Supporting Global South countries in achieving development and prosperity is the priority of the GDI. China is committed to deepening cooperation with Global South countries, advance the modernization of the Global South and the wider world through Chinese modernization, and share the benefit of Chinese modernization with every country and every person. NHK: Shigeru Ishiba was elected as president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan in todays party election, and will become the countrys new prime minister. Ishibas campaign proposals included the creation of an Asian NATO. Whats Chinas comment on his election and whats Chinas expectation for Japan-China relations going forward? Lin Jian: We noted the election results. This is Japans internal affairs, and we have no comment on that. The sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is the only right choice. China hopes that Japan will learn from history, follow a path of peaceful development, abide by the principles and common understandings established in the four political documents between the two sides, have an objective and right perception of China, take active and rational China policy, take concrete efforts to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and work with China to promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations. Kyodo News: In August this year, Shigeru Ishiba visited Taiwan and met with leader of Taiwan. How do you view the relationship between Japan and Taiwan after Ishibas election? Lin Jian: Taiwan is a province of China and there is no leader of Taiwan. China has made clear its position concerning your question. China is always firmly opposed to Japanese political figures visiting Chinas Taiwan region. This position is crystal clear. TASS: Its reported by Politico in its European edition that Ukraine has taken some measures at UNGA in New York to dissuade other countries from embracing the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil for the settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian diplomats circulated a document among participants to express concerns on the China-backed plan for ceasefire because its on terms favorable to Russia. Whats Chinas comment? Lin Jian: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. China and Brazil jointly issued the six common understandings in order to raise the balanced, objective and rational voice, create conditions for a ceasefire, build momentum for dialogue and negotiation, and build up efforts for peace. The common understandings have received positive response from over 110 countries, which demonstrates the prevailing expectation of the international community. China stands ready to maintain communication with relevant parties and jointly create conditions for the political settlement of the crisis. China News Service: Ive learned that the 2024 International Humanitarian Demining Training Course hosted by China concluded in Nanjing. Could you share more details with us? Lin Jian: The 2024 International Humanitarian Demining Training Course hosted by the Chinese government held its closing ceremony in Nanjing today. Representatives from the UN, ASEAN, Cambodia, Laos and the International Committee of the Red Cross attended the ceremony. During the training course, China provided Cambodia and Laos with a batch of supplies for mine detection and clearance. Relevant parties spoke highly of what the training course offered, and commended China for its contribution to international mine action. Engaging in international demining cooperation and assistance is an important part of Chinas effort to implement the Global Security Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind. For a long time, China has helped relevant countries in their capacity-building in mine action through supplies assistance, personnel training, on-the-ground guidance, aid to victims, mine risk education, among others. In recent years, China has successfully hosted nearly 30 international humanitarian demining training courses, and trained a good number of excellent deminers for other countries. China stands ready to continue mine action cooperation with countries interested in doing so and take concrete actions to boost international cooperation on mine action. News 1 Korea: This year marks the China-DPRK Friendship Year and the 75th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic ties. In April this year, the two countries held the opening ceremony of the China-DPRK Friendship Year. Can you share with us the arrangement for the closing ceremony of the China-DPRK Friendship Year? Lin Jian: China and the DPRK are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. The two sides enjoy a solid foundation for bilateral ties and have closely intertwined interests. China attaches great importance to its relationship with the DPRK and stands ready to continue working with the DPRK to follow the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries and to maintain, consolidate and develop our traditional friendship and cooperation. On relevant activities of the China-DPRK Friendship Year closing ceremony, we will release timely information when its available. AFP: Its reported that Myanmars military government invited armed groups that oppose its rule to stop the fighting and hold dialogue. Whats Chinas response? Did the military government have discussion and negotiation with China before sending the invitation? Lin Jian: China stays firmly committed to the Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peace and reconciliation. We hope relevant parties in Myanmar will stop the fighting and hold peace talks, properly settle differences through dialogue within the framework of the Constitution, and resume the democratic transition process. AFP: I want to ask a question that has been raised yesterday. 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 Xizang. The Indian climbers have named the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama. Whats Chinas comment? Lin Jian: I answered this question yesterday. 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. Chinas position on this issue is consistent and clear. TASS: In his meeting with Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil on the margins of the UNGA in New York, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China, Brazil and other Global South countries will create a Friends of Peace platform on the Ukraine crisis. Could the Foreign Ministry share more details with us? Lin Jian: The Ukraine crisis is still dragging on and the risks of escalation and spillover are on the rise. The international community is widely concerned over it. Not long ago, China and Brazil jointly issued the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which received positive response and support from the international community. Recently, there has been a louder call for peace talks in the world, and more and more Global South countries are standing together to actively create atmosphere and accumulate conditions for peace. China, Brazil and other like-minded Global South countries are going to set up a Friends of Peace platform on the Ukraine crisis as part of their efforts to pursue peace. It is not an exclusive grouping that seeks competition and confrontation, but an open platform for inclusive dialogue. The platform is for peace and should be welcomed by the international community. It will send out an objective and rational voice, and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. (Reuters) -A Moscow court has begun considering a criminal case against a 72-year-old American accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, Russia's state news agency RIA reported on Friday. The man, identified as Stephen James Hubbard, was placed in pre-trial detention for six months, according to RIA. The Izvestia newspaper, citing a prosecutor in court, said Hubbard was paid $1,000 after he signed a contract with a Ukrainian territorial defence unit in the city of Izyum in February 2022. He was captured by Russian forces that April, the newspaper said. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow said it was aware of the detention of an American citizen, but declined further comment. The Ukrainian foreign ministry did not reply to messages seeking comment. Reuters was not immediately able to contact a lawyer for Hubbard. Charges of mercenary activity carry between seven and 15 years in prison in Russia. Hubbard's next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3, a notice on the court website showed. RIA said Hubbard, a native of Michigan, had moved to Ukraine in 2014 and lived for a time there with a woman. In a public Facebook group, a woman identifying herself as Hubbard's sister said her brother had been "kidnapped up in the Ukraine" nearly three years ago. The woman was not immediately available for comment. Hubbard joins a list of at least nine Americans currently behind bars in Russia. A Moscow court on Thursday rejected an appeal by another detained American, Joseph Tater, against his pre-trial detention for allegedly assaulting a Russian police officer. (Reporting and writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Peter Graff) The Israeli military said it attacked the headquarters of the Hezbollah militia in a Beirut suburb on Friday. Lebanese authorities reported at least two people were killed and 76 injured. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari called the strike a targeted attack and said the headquarters was located under a residential building. The attack hit the densely populated Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, near the international airport. Witnesses described extensive damage in the area, with blocked roads preventing ambulances from reaching those in need. Thick clouds of smoke could be seen over Beirut as huge explosions rocked the city, a dpa reporter said. Lebanese media reported about 10 separate strikes. Israeli media reported that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the attack, but that has not been confirmed by the government or military. His whereabouts were unknown. Cross-border fighting continues Elsewhere, 25 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese authorities. At a news conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Health Minister Firass Abiad said there were many more injured, without giving an exact number. Abiad emphasized that all sides were interested in a diplomatic solution, but "only one party wants to continue its indiscriminate attacks on civilians." The state news agency NNA had previously reported that a family of nine was killed in an attack on the town of Shebaa near the border with Israel. Women and children were also among the victims, it said. According to the authorities, over 750 people have died since Israel's renewed heavy attacks on Lebanon. Hezbollah, Houthis attack Israel Hezbollah militants in Lebanon fired rockets at the Israeli city of Tiberias and other towns on the Sea of Galilee, causing one injury, the Israeli military reported. According to the army, most of the 10 missiles were intercepted. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia confirmed the attack, during which a man was struck by falling debris. Four drones approaching from Lebanon were also claimed to have been shot down near the border town of Rosh HaNikra on the Mediterranean Sea. The port city of Haifa had previously been attacked with missiles, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on the launch sites and dozens of other Hezbollah targets, officials said. Hezbollah asserted that they had attacked the Haifa region with Fadi-1 type rockets. They have been bombarding Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war nearly a year ago. The militia claims that it aims to support the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip in its fight against Israel and to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Israel used to respond with similar force, but since the beginning of the week, the air force has been conducting massive airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Thousands displaced in Lebanon Since the beginning of the heavy Israeli attacks in Lebanon, "significantly more" than 30,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Syria, according to UN reports. About 80% are said to be Syrian citizens, the rest predominantly Lebanese, said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria. He spoke on Friday from the Lebanese-Syrian border over videolink with reporters in Geneva. That number had more than doubled from Thursday's official estimate of 13,500 people who had sought safety in Syria out of desperation. "Both Syrians and Lebanese are crossing from a country at war to one that has faced crisis and conflict for 13 years - we cannot imagine what an incredibly difficult choice that is - over 30 000 have made that choice," he said. In Lebanon, 110,000 people had already been displaced prior to the recent escalation, according to UN reports. Since last week, 118,000 more have joined them, said Imran Riza, the humanitarian UN coordinator in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Netanyahu vows to press on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful address to the United Nations on Friday in which he vowed to keep fighting the Lebanese militia Hezbollah "until all our objectives are met," rebuffing calls for a ceasefire. He also blasted the UN as a "house of darkness" that reflexively takes an anti-Israel stance and a "swamp of anti-Semitic bile." Shortly after the attack on the Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut, Netanyahu announced that he would short his US visit to head back to Israel. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock continued to campaign for de-escalation in the Middle East. "We must avoid Lebanon becoming the next Gaza, Baerbock said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This cannot be in Israel's interest either, especially not in terms of security, she added. Smoke rises over Beirut southern suburb after an Israeli air strike. Marwan Naaman/dpa President Joe Biden told confidantes and allies this week that he did not believe that Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu wanted a halt to hostilities with Hezbollah, expressing increasing frustration as a proposed cease-fire plan fell apart, according to two people familiar with the conversations. One person who spoke with Biden said the president felt Netanyahu had humiliated both Secretary Antony Blinken and Biden himself with his back-and-forth about a cease-fire proposal with Hezbollah. Netanyahu at first told U.S. officials he supported a pause in fighting with the Lebanon-based militant group, then roundly rejected the cease-fire proposal once it was made public. The revelation comes amid intensifying Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, culminating Friday with a strike on the militant groups headquarters in Beirut. The target of that attack was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to a U.S. official, two Israeli officials and two other people informed of the strike. All were granted anonymity to speak about sensitive internal government conversations. While it is not clear if Nasrallah was killed or injured in the attack, the strike alone which came just after Netanyhu delivered a fiery address to the United Nations dramatically escalates the conflict in Lebanon and could undermine the Biden administrations effort to clinch a cease-fire and head-off a full-scale war. In Washington on Friday, senior West Wing officials scrambled to assess the ramifications of the massive Israeli strike, according to the two administration officials. Both were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. Aides watched for responses from Hezbollah and, potentially, Iran that could indicate whether the Middle East was barreling toward the outcome that the U.S. had tried to prevent for a year: an all-out regional war. Escalating fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in recent days has killed nearly 700 people and forced 90,000 to flee their homes in Lebanon. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said this week that the Israeli military was preparing for a possible ground operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, telling soldiers that their military boots will enter enemy territory. Biden has long complained in private about Netanyahu for putting his political aims ahead of the will of his people in continuing to brush off U.S.-led peace negotiations to defuse the widening crisis. Many in the West Wing have long been skeptical that Netanyahu wanted a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. And now the administration sees an extension of that same approach with Hezbollah. To Biden aides, Israels turnabout on the cease-fire proposal with Hezbollah was just the latest example of the prime minister saying one thing to them in private and then reneging on his word once he received pushback from the far-right elements of his cabinet who controlled his political fate. The White House declined requests for comment. If it turns out that Fridays attack has killed Nasrallah, it would mark one of the most significant Israeli blows against Hezbollah in decades; Nasrallah has led the Iran-backed militant group since 1992, after Israel assassinated its previous leader. The latest strike could also further heighten tensions between Biden and Netanyahu, the two administration officials said. Time and again, the Biden administration has been surprised by Israels brazenness in their attacks amid sensitive cease-fire talks, including the recent detonations of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives that also reportedly killed and wounded civilians. U.S.-led negotiations on a cease-fire deal in Lebanon have been stuck in recent days on convincing Hezbollah to withdraw 8 to 10 kilometers from Israels northern border with Lebanon. Negotiators viewed this as a crucial first step to cementing a proposed 21-day cease-fire, according to two people briefed on the negotiations. That cease-fire deal has been meant to lay the groundwork for a longer-term peace deal, but the major Israeli airstrike on Friday could entirely upend those efforts. And it does not appear that there was any coordination with the U.S. over the decision to launch the strike. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as the operation was already underway, said Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson. The United States was not involved in this operation, and we had no advanced warning. Those arent good signs for the effort to tamp down violence in the region. Whether or not Israel was successful in killing Nasrallah today, this will no doubt be a marked escalation in the conflict that will put us beyond the threshold of an all-out war, said Firas Maksad, an expert on Lebanon at the the Middle East Institute. It is especially ominous as Israeli ground forces prepare for an apparent invasion of south Lebanon. Either way, this airstrike marks the latest in a series of devastating Israeli blows against Hezbollah, which has seen many of its commanders and top operatives killed or wounded in recent weeks amid a stepped-up military offensive. White House aides largely believe Israel will continue the offensive though it is unclear if it will order a ground assault. But one official said it was possible Israel may draw down its campaign if it believes it has sufficiently weakened Hezbollah. Israel confirmed its strike on Hezbollahs military headquarters following a defiant speech by Netanyahu at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday. As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely, he said, adding that Israels military would continue its attacks on Hezbollah until we meet our objectives. Soon after, the prime ministers office said Netanyahu was returning to Israel Friday evening cutting short his visit to the United States. The Israeli Defense Forces targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a "precise strike" Friday on the central headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon. IDF spokesperson Rear admiral Daniel Hagari said the headquarters were intentionally built in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut under residential buildings "as part of Hezbollah's strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields." At least two people were killed and dozens were wounded, Lebanons health ministry said. Video and images show plumes of smoke rising over Beirut following the Israeli strikes. Witnesses say they heard multiple strikes. Israel-hezbollah War: Netanyahu 'Did Not Even Respond' To Us Cease-fire Deal, Pledges To Fight 'Full Force' Fox News has learned the target of the attack was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. A Hezbollah media relations official says Nasrallah is "fine and well" and was not at the location targeted in the IDF airstrikes. Read On The Fox News App Hezbollah's al-Manar television reported that four buildings were destroyed and there were many casualties in the multiple strikes, which marked an escalation of Israel's conflict with the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah. Security sources in Lebanon said the attack targeted an area where top Hezbollah officials are usually based. It was the heaviest attack in Beirut in almost a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. How A Us-backed Un Resolution Failed To Stop Hezbollah Terror Takeover: 'Bipartisan Failure' "On Oct. 8, Hezbollah started attacking Israel after almost a year of Hezbollah firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israeli civilians," Hagari said. "After almost a year of Israel warning the world and telling them that Hezbollah must be stopped, Israel is doing what every sovereign state in the world would do if they had a terror organization that seeks their destruction on their border, taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can leave their homes safely and securely." Fox News has learned the target of the attack was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, pictured in a televised speech in January. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh says the U.S. was not involved in this operation and had no advance warning. "Minister [Yoav] Gallant spoke with Secretary Austin as the operation was already underway," Singh said. "This operation has happened within the last few hours. We are still assessing the event." The Pentagon also declined to speculate on whether the Hezbollah leader was still alive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approving the strikes on Friday from a hotel in New York. A White House official says that President Biden has been briefed on the operation. The strikes hit Beirut shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel's attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon in a closely watched United Nations speech, as hopes faded for a cease-fire that could head off an all-out regional war. Netanyahu will cut short his stay in the U.S. and will depart for Israel Friday, Fox News sources say. This is understood to be a rare move by an Israeli prime minister, as Shabbat is a day of rest for Jews. WATCH: SMOKE FROM STRIKE RISES OVER BEIRUT The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has drastically escalated over the last month as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has begun targeting the terrorist network's hot spots and military storage units, all of which are strategically embedded within civilian villages. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: Israel targets Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in strike on Beirut headquarters 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. Hezbollah confirmed the commander's death late on Thursday. 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 demand had been coordinated with Israel, according to the US government. White House spokesman John Kirby said the statement "wasn't just drawn up in a vacuum." It was done after careful consultation, Kirby said, "not only with the countries that signed on to it, but Israel itself." 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 How Israel went after Hezbollahs chain of command and why it matters Hassan Nasrallah had not been seen in public for years as he feared assassination by Israel As huge air strikes levelled at least six buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, it became clear that Israel was targeting Hezbollahs headquarters. Not long after the smoke and dust had cleared, the IDF confirmed that they had assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the groups leader. The attack came after a week of some of the most extensive bombings of the 21st century, globally, in what Israel has dubbed Operation Northern Arrows - a campaign against Irans most formidable regional proxy. But the lead-up to Fridays attack was paved by a series of preliminary strikes to decapitate Hezbollahs military leadership, cripple its subaltern class, destroy its ability to communicate meaningfully and spread panic through its ranks. The synchronised sabotage of the groups pagers last week caught the worlds attention, but by then Israeli forces had already embarked on an assassination operation to eliminate as many of Hezbollahs high command as possible. The first significant blow was struck in the summer when Fuad Shukr, the movements overall military leader, died in an air strike on southern Beirut, a stronghold of the terrorist group. Arguably a more devastating strike came in September in another attack on the Lebanese capital that killed some 16 commanders of the Radwan Brigade, Hezbollahs elite special forces unit, including Ibrahim Aqil, the overall leader of the unit. But the most consequential strike, without question, hit on Friday afternoon. As well as the leader of an Iranian proxy group, Hassan Nasrallah had become a key adviser to Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He helped shape Irans proxy network, along with former leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020. Over its four-decade history, Hezbollah has weathered a series of top-level assassinations. Abbas al-Musawi, Nasrallahs predecessor and the movements co-founder, who was killed along with his family when Israeli helicopters fired missiles at his motorcade in southern Lebanon in 1992, is one example. But never have the killings come in such quick succession, notes Lina Khatib, an associate at the think tank Chatham House. I dont think Hezbollah will be able to recover from this historic loss. Its not going to be something seen in the near future, but the long-term implications of the damage that has been done to Hezbollah will, I think, be irreversible, said Ms Khatib.. One senior Israeli intelligence source, who has been in the service for 30 years, said the recent wave of assassinations escalations had opened the door to targeting Hezbollahs leader. In the past, Israel has avoided assassinating Nasrallah, because its almost like assassinating the head of a state, and Israel usually shies away from doing things like that. But now its a different ball game, the source said before Fridays attack on the headquarters in Beirut. How Israel did it Hezbollahs senior military leaders are so secretive that they are known within the movement as untraceable ghosts yet Israel seems to know exactly when and where they are meeting and how to strike them at will. It is clear that the movement is heavily infiltrated, believes Hilal Khashan, a Hezbollah expert at the American University of Beirut. It is not just a question of infiltration by Israel it is a question of infestation, he says. Once a small, tight-knit organisation, Hezbollah has rapidly expanded over the past decade after it sent fighters to participate in the Syrian civil war in support of Bashar al-Assad, the countrys president and a Hezbollah ally. The larger an organisation, the more exposed it is to espionage, notes Mr Khashan. A deep financial crisis in Lebanon, among the worst in world history for 150 years, has also opened the door to financial inducement within the movement, he adds. Poverty in Lebanon became a breeding ground for spies to act on behalf of Israel, Mr Khashan said. This is how Israel went after Hezbollahs chain of command. Southern commanders At 10.15am on Jan 8 this year, an Israeli drone hit a small car as it travelled through the Lebanese village of Majdal Selm in the south of the country, about 16 miles from the border with Israel. The assassination of Wissam al-Tawil was the highest profile since the conflict began following the Oct 7 attacks, and at the time raised fears of a major escalation. It came only two weeks after Israel had already taken out a top Hamas leader with an airstrike in Beirut, and marked a turning point for Israel beginning to shift focus north - where Hezbollah rockets had been raining down on Israel for months - after heavy fighting on the ground in Gaza. Footage from the scene showed a vehicle charred grey, pockmarked with tiny holes likely from shrapnel, the result of a precision attack with limited collateral damage. Months passed until Israel would choose its next target: Talib Sami Abdullah. The exact circumstances of his death were unclear but he appeared to also have been targeted by a drone strike in the rural south. The killing was significant in decapitating the central unit of the south, facing Israel, where countless rockets had forced so many to flee their homes. Shifting north The next to fall was the head of the adjacent southwestern unit. This time, a drone struck a vehicle in Tyre, Lebanons fourth largest city, a gateway between north and south that juts out into the Mediterranean. Footage from the scene shows a vehicle burning between two modern apartment blocks in a built-up area, a sign Israelis were tracking movement from rural strongholds to the relative safety of urban areas, where the risks for Israel to attack were greater. But little could have prepared Hezbollah for what came next: an air strike in the middle of the sprawling capital of Beirut. At the end of the month, an apartment block was severed likely by a missile likely fired by a F-15, F-16 or F-35 jet killing Shukr, a founding member of Hezbollahs armed wing ostensibly in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed 12 children in Israeli-occupied Golan a week earlier. Experts disagreed on whether the huge blast site and collapsed building was the result of weapons hidden in the building or secondary explosions triggered by utilities. Beirut In September, Israel stepped up its targeting of Hezbollah with a wave of suspected sabotage attacks that led to pagers and walkie-talkies exploding. Analysts believed Mossad was trying to soften Hezbollah for further attacks. A large IDF air strike followed days later on a residential street in Beirut. Footage showed rubble and wreckage where two more top commanders had been killed. Experts said the shop fronts blown out in the blast were significant. Israeli intelligence believes that Hezbollah uses phone and electronics shops underneath civilian homes for weapons storage and safe houses. Another air strike followed a few days later but failed to kill its target, Ali Karaki, with an attack on what looked to be a basement of a separate residential block. Karaki had survived a previous assassination attempt too, exposing flaws in Israels precision targeting. All the strikes in Beirut were in the Shia southern suburbs, which are under Hezbollah control, known as Dahieh or Dahiyeh. Sabotage Some of the assassinations may have been helped by the suspected Mossad explosives planted in pagers and walkie-talkies of Hezbollah fighters earlier this month. While the explosives maimed and killed many, they also crippled communications, limiting the groups bandwidth to talk to each other, and narrowing the options, giving Israel a greater chance to intercept vital messages. They are on the move all the time so if we know that one week ago, Israel managed to breach the communications system of Hezbollah then maybe they still have the ability to track them, Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence analyst, said. For Hezbollah to change all their communications is a huge logistical operation so they will still be depending on the communications theyre left with. The Israeli military said on Saturday that it had killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. A devastating round of airstrikes on Friday evening targeted what Israel said was Hezbollahs secret underground headquarters. The Israeli military said Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, was killed in the attack. Hezbollah has yet to comment publicly on whether its leader has survived unscathed, with sources initially offering contradictory information itself an indication of the turmoil within the group. The strikes have also killed Ali Karaki, commander of Hezbollahs southern front, IDF said. Hezbollah crippled The decapitation strikes are, of course, only a single, if important, element in Israels strategy of countering Hezbollah and fulfilling its war objective of allowing 60,000 residents to return to their homes in the north of the country. The assassinations would probably not be enough in themselves to deter Hezbollah from firing rockets into northern Israel, which it has been doing in support of Hamas following the start of Israels operation in Gaza last October. There are still a large number of commanders playing important roles who have not been killed, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which forms a part of Hezbollahs command chain, will help replenish the supply of military leaders, notes Ms Khatib. Top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr (L) was killed by Israel in July. - HEZBOLLAH MILITARY MEDIA OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images But taken together with the other elements of the Israeli assault, the future of the movement is looking more uncertain than ever before. Although Hezbollah right now is far from crumbling, I think it is facing the greatest challenge in its history, she said. For a start, Hezbollah will not just be paranoid about spies in its ranks, it will also have lost faith in any form of technology to communicate. Co-ordinating a missile response to Israeli air strikes or even organising basic logistics is made much more complicated if the only way of communicating is through verbal messaging. Writing off Hezbollah would certainly be premature. It still has a large arsenal of long-range guided missiles that, if fired in sufficient quantity, could overwhelm Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system which has so far managed to intercept much of the low-grade rocket fire aimed in its direction. Striking back Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets into Israel in the past week, most have been aimed away from population centres, with only a single missile being aimed at Tel Aviv, which was easily intercepted. The big question is whether Hezbollah will not fire its rockets or whether, because its capability has been so eroded, it cannot. Iran, Hezbollahs paymasters, may be preventing the group from firing its more sophisticated missiles, which it views as an insurance in the event of Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, those close to Hezbollah say it has chosen not to escalate because its leaders believe that is what Israel wants them to do. It [Israel] is looking to provoke Iran and Hezbollah into an escalation that would allow it to appeal for American intervention. Hezbollah does not wish to walk into that trap, says Kassem Kassir, a Lebanese commentator close to Hezbollah. Yet arguments that Hezbollah is no longer able to escalate even if it wished to are increasingly being advanced by experts. The top-level assassinations aside, the pager and walkie-talkie attacks killed, maimed or otherwise incapacitated so many seasoned senior and mid-level operatives that Hezbollah has seen its military capability to conduct a war greatly reduced, according to some analysts. One Hezbollah source admitted some 1,500 fighters had lost eyesight or limbs. Those considered worthy of carrying a pager have mostly been eliminated, meaning that those people running many of Hezbollahs operations right now are young and inexperienced, said Mr Khashan, of the American University of Beirut. The Nasrallah question The past week has unquestionably humiliated Hezbollah, but it is also possible that the movement has been irreparably damaged and that even if it rebuilds it will be a shadow of its former self. I dont think Hezbollah will be able to recover from this historic loss. Its not going to be something seen in the near future, but the long-term implications of the damage that has been done to Hezbollah will, I think, be irreversible, said Ms Khatib. Nasrallah was arguably a symbolic target - undoubtedly the voice and face of Hezbollah, but also a figurehead. Major political and military decisions were taken by executives who answered ultimately to Iran rather than to Nasrallah. The killing of Nasrallahs predecessor by Israeli helicopter gunships in 1992 also shows that killing a leader does not necessarily mean crippling the movement he led. There are exceptions, however. The killing of Osama bin Laden led to the decline of the original al-Qaeda organisations, even though some of its franchises remain potent in regional settings. The same could be true for Hezbollah, reckons Hilal Khashan. Nasrallah is a symbol for Lebanese Shiites and if Israel wants to put an end to the phenomenon of Hezbollah then they need to eliminate the symbol of the party, the Hezbollah expert told the Telegraph, before Nasrallah was killed. 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. When pagers exploded across Lebanon last week, the year-long war with Hezbollah was not at the top of the Israeli political agenda. Instead, the political class was convulsed with speculation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with a military neophyte, Gideon Saar, to shore up his domestic power. National security heavyweights were scathing. Itll take him months on end to train for the job, said Gadi Eisenkot, a highly respected former Israeli military chief and member of the opposition. The pager and subsequent walkie-talkie explosions which together killed dozens, maimed thousands, and rattled Lebanese nerves put paid to that scheme, for now. The suddenly heightened tensions with Hezbollah gave Gallant a lifeline. Reports in the Israeli press suggest that the stay on Gallants dismissal is only temporary, and that Netanyahu still intends to fire him. Policy and domestic politics are impossible to separate in any democracy, but especially in Netanyahus Israel and especially now. Political imperatives The Israeli government says it needed to ramp up the war with Hezbollah to return 60,000 displaced civilians to their homes in northern Israel. Since the day after the October 7 attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah has been firing on Israel in solidarity with the militant group and Palestinians in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands have also been forced from their homes by Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. Returning the northern residents home is a political imperative in Israel. And since the cabinet formally added the goal to its war aims, its a policy one too. But the heightened war with Hezbollah also stands in the way of Netanyahus desire to fire Gallant. Remarkably, Netanyahu held a security consultation on Wednesday but did not invite his defense minister, an Israeli official told CNN. Instead, he brought in Itamar Ben-Gvir, his national security minister who carries a conviction for inciting terrorism. Despite repeated pleas, Ben Gvir has hitherto been excluded from war decision-making. Just this week, after giving the green light to a US-backed mediation effort with Lebanon, the prime minister faced withering criticism from his right-wing allies, who say only a military conflict will remove Hezbollah from the border. Ben Gvirs party held an urgent consultation implicitly threatening to upend the coalition. The criticism forced Netanyahu to release a statement rejecting the idea of an imminent ceasefire. When he later put out another statement saying that he was engaging in the process with the United States, he only released it in English, not Hebrew. The escalation of the conflict with Hezbollah has forced Netanyahu, left, to press pause on his plans to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, right, with whom he has long-standing differences. - Abir Sultan/Reuters In attacking Hezbollah, the Israeli government is trying to decouple Lebanon from Gaza. Hezbollah says that its attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza; Israel wants to get Hezbollah to stop firing even without a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. And yet there is a widespread assumption among the national security class in Israel that Netanyahu is prolonging the war in Gaza because he knows that as soon as it is over, he will face enormous pressure to call an election. The families of the 101 people still held hostage in Gaza regularly accuse the prime minister of playing for time and putting his political survival above the national interest. I think its mostly political, Eyal Hulata, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former national security adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told CNN of the failure to agree a ceasefire in Gaza. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and the minister of defense have been clear that they feel that the situation in Gaza could allow for the hostage deal, and that they support the hostage deal. If Netanyahu wanted to end it, he could. So I guess thats not his intention at this point. Long-running tensions The prime minister and Gallant have long had strained relations, despite a period of unity following Hamas October 7 attack. The two have often disagreed over the war in Gaza. In August, Gallant told a closed-door Knesset committee that Netanyahus goal of absolute victory in Gaza was nonsense, according to Israeli media. Netanyahu took the extraordinary step of releasing a press statement accusing Gallant of adopting an anti-Israel narrative. Gallant was also highly critical of Netanyahus emphasis on Israeli control of a strip of territory along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, calling it a moral disgrace. In cabinet, he voted against continued occupation there, seeing it as a hinderance to a ceasefire and hostage deal. If we want the hostages alive, we dont have time, he said. With both the Philadelphi Corridor and Hezbollah, Netanyahus critics have questioned why, if they were so critical, he waited months to raise the stakes over those issues. Netanyahu has said in response that it was a progression of military advancement. Israel is aiming to 'decouple' Lebanon from Gaza, while Hezbollah has vowed to continue striking across the border as long as the Israeli war on Hamas continues. - Baz Ratner/AP Tension between Netanyahu and Gallant is very long, and its also personal, Gilad Malach, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, told CNN. But above all, Netanyahu wants to keep his coalition. Indeed, when the prime minister previously attempted to dismiss Gallant, in March last year, it was over the defense ministers opposition to Netanyahus proposed judicial overhaul an issue that had the potential to bring down the government. The idea that Gallant might be fired over the judicial reforms led immediately to mass protests that came to be known in Israel as the Night of Gallant. Ultimately, Netanyahu did not follow through. One of the factors weighing on Netanyahu in his hesitance to fire him now has been fear of a second such night. The exemption question Behind the headlines of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Netanyahus ability to govern has long been threatened by a seemingly back-burner issue: the Israeli militarys recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Israelis, known in Hebrew as Haredim. The danger to the coalition connected to the draft law for the Haredim is very high, Malach said. So (Netanyahu) would do the things that will help him keep the coalition. And if Gallant is in his way to keep the coalition, he will do whatever he can to remove him from the office. The issue of ultra-Orthodox military service has long plagued Israel. Ultra-Orthodox Jews had since Israels founding been exempt from mandatory service, because they viewed Torah study as the highest calling. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court said that the exemption violated equal protection principles and mandated the IDF to start drafting. Ever since, the ultra-Orthodox parties on whom Netanyahu relies to govern have been trying to draft legislation to enshrine a new exemption in law. Up until now, they have been notably unwilling to follow through on threats to leave the coalition rarely have they had so much power. But their unhappiness with the IDFs current mandate to recruit ultra-Orthodox men remains a sword of Damocles. Gallant is a thorn in Netanyahus side, pushing him not to give in to the ultra-Orthodox desire for an exemption. He, like many military leaders, thinks that all Jewish Israelis should share the burden of military service and has said he wont support any law that doesnt have broad political support. Saar, whom Netanyahu wanted to replace Gallant, was said to have much better relations with the ultra-Orthodox parties. The issue of military exemption poses a threat to the coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, pictured here, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. - Ammar Awad/Reuters Eisenkot, the former IDF chief of the General Staff, said the ultra-Orthodox issue was central to Netanyahus desire to get rid of the defense minister. Firing Gallant and Im not a fan of Gallant is meant to serve political needs, to pass the conscription law, consequently damaging the IDF, he said. This is more of Netanyahus cynical policy. With Netanyahus backing, the ultra-Orthodox parties hope to pass a military exemption when the Knesset returns following the Jewish High Holidays in October. Even if the law passes, the Supreme Court is almost certain to knock it down, Malach said. But the point is that you are getting time. And this is the most important thing for Netanyahu, he said. The short term is the whole term for him. Because until the Supreme Court will decide, he will get one year, two years thats enough. That short-term strategy may well come to apply to Hezbollah as well. Amid all the talk of whether Israel will invade Lebanon in the coming days, there is no discussion of what a long-term settlement with Israels neighbor might look like. Michael Shemesh, a correspondent for Israeli broadcaster Kan traveling with Netanyahu to New York this week, said that reporters asked an aide to the prime minister about the potential that Gallant might be fired. We dont do politics during wartime, the aide replied. There were reporters who couldnt help but laugh, Shemesh said. Dana Karni contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Netanyahu, at UN, vows that Israel will keep 'degrading Hezbollah' until its objectives are met UNITED NATIONS (AP) Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu signaled to the world from the United Nations on Friday that the multiple conflicts in the Middle East were far from resolved, and he vowed to continue battling the Lebanese Hezbollah and defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip until total victory." Shortly after the prime minister spoke, blasts rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut and the Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah's headquarters. The attack appeared to target Hezbollahs leader and prompted Netanyahu to cut short his trip to New York by a day and make unusual travel on the Jewish Sabbath to get home. Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And thats exactly what were doing, Netanyahu said, eliciting applause from supporters in the gallery of the General Assembly. Well continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met, he said. When Netanyahu entered the hall and was introduced, boos and raised voices echoed, and many delegates walked out through various exits. Netanyahu spoke as international mediation efforts were underway to try to rein in the escalating conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been striking Hezbollah targets intensively for the past week, sending the death toll in Lebanon soaring into the hundreds and raising fears that the conflict could spiral into all-out war. Late Wednesday, the United States, France and other allies jointly called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations. Israel said Thursday that discussions were ongoing and Hezbollah hasnt officially responded to the cease-fire proposal, but has said it won't stop firing until the Gaza war ends. Hezbollah began striking Israel a day after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. The sides have exchanged relatively low-level fire since then on almost a daily basis, volleys that intensified sharply after a wave of exploding communication devices targeted Hezbollah operatives - an attack widely blamed on Israel. The fighting has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. Netanyahu defends Israels responses Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure from within his own government and from Israelis displaced by the fighting to deal Hezbollah a heavy blow. Recent strikes have targeted the group's senior leadership. Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns ... How long would the American government tolerate that? he said, shaking his fist in emphasis. Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, Ive come here today to say: Enough is enough. Netanyahu pointed a finger at Iran for being a destabilizing force in the region, noting its support for both Hamas and Hezbollah. He warned Tehran that if you strike us, we will strike you. As he spoke, the seats in the Iran delegation sat empty. Outside, protesters against Netanyahu and Israels policies demonstrated behind police barricades. Armed with visual aids as he has been in the past, the prime minister defended his nations response to Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered the war that has devastated the Gaza Strip. He said Israel had destroyed much of Hamas' rocket arsenal, killed or captured half of its fighting force and dismantled many of its underground tunnels. He said Israel was focused on mopping up Hamas remaining fighting capabilities. But the war in Gaza will soon stretch into its second year with still no end in sight. Multiple attempts at bringing about a cease-fire have stalled over Hamas' demand that Israel withdraw all troops and end the war, and over Israel's insistence on maintaining a presence in some areas. All the while, civilians have borne a staggering toll in the continuing violence; roughly 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza. Israels campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 96,000 others, according to the latest figures released Thursday by the Health Ministry. The ministry, part of Gazas Hamas government, doesnt 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 2. Israel has maintained its military operations are justified and are necessary to defend itself. This war can come to an end now. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages, Netanyahu said. But if they dont if they dont we will fight until we achieve total victory. Total victory. There is no substitute for it. His speech impacted the rest of the General Assembly In an address steeped in talk of conflict, Netanyahu also made a lengthy appeal for Israeli relations with Saudi Arabia, echoing the content of his speech last year, when efforts toward that goal were underway. But the U.S.-backed normalization talks were derailed by Hamas' attacks, which refocused a spotlight on Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, casting doubt on Netanyahu's argument that ties with Saudi Arabia are not contingent on Palestinian statehood. As Netanyahu took the stage Friday morning, there was enough ruckus in the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout, Order, please. The two speakers who preceded Netanyahu on Friday each made a point of calling out Israel for its actions. Mr. Netanyahu, stop this war now, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said as he closed his remarks, pounding the podium. And Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking just before the Israeli leader, declared of Gaza: This is not just a conflict. This is systematic slaughter of innocent people of Palestine." He thumped the rostrum to audible applause. It wasn't just Friday, either. On Thursday, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and a top Lebanese official both made their cases to fellow leaders cases that included harsh words for Israel as well. Mahmoud Abbas' first words to the General Assembly were a sentence repeated three times in reference to Gaza: We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave. He accused Israel of destroying Gaza and making it unlivable. And Abdallah Bouhabib, Lebanon's foreign minister, decried Israel's 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. At the General Assembly late Friday evening, Iran exercised its right of reply at the end of the day's regular speeches and denounced Israel as the exclusive source of insecurity and instability in the region and beyond. What you heard here today from the notorious Israeli prime minister was nothing but an unsuccessful attempt to distract attention from his genocide and brutal war crimes, said an Iranian diplomat whose name was not immediately available. He addressed the General Assembly in English. ___ See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) welcomes Sergio Mattarella (L), President of Italy, during his visit to the Federal Chancellery. Fabian Sommer/dpa Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday warned against the growing lure of populism in Europe during his three-day state visit to Germany. Asked about the successes of right-wing parties in EU member states, Mattarella said that some were making the deceptive promise of returning to a 'golden age' of 50 or 60 years ago. "The world is changing dramatically," he said. Large migration flows are unsettling many people, added Mattarella, who called for constructive solutions to be found. In the morning, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender received the Italian president and his daughter Laura Mattarella with military honours at Bellevue Palace, the president's official residence in Berlin. Steinmeier and his Italian counterpart are close friends. Mattarella is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Italian Democratic Party (Partito Democratico). In the political spectrum, he is far removed from Italy's ultra-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party. At a press conference, Steinmeier said that the topic of democracy had been emphasized in their joint talks. He also warned of the dangers to democracy. "With growing concern ... we are seeing polarization tendencies in all our societies," said Steinmeier, referring to the results of recent elections. It was important to regain the trust of the population, he stressed. Mattarella and his daughter landed in Berlin on Thursday. On Friday evening, Mattarella was to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz for discussions about discuss bilateral and European issues, according to the Chancellery in Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) welcomes Sergio Mattarella (L), President of Italy, during his visit to the Federal Chancellery. Fabian Sommer/dpa German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) welcomes Sergio Mattarella (L), President of Italy, during his visit to the Federal Chancellery. Fabian Sommer/dpa Kai Wegner (R), Governing Mayor of Berlin, welcomes Sergio Mattarella (L), President of Italy, and his daughter Laura Mattarella on Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday warned against the growing lure of populism in Europe during his three-day state visit to Germany. Asked about the successes of right-wing parties in EU member states, Mattarella said that some were making the deceptive promise of returning to a 'golden age' of 50 or 60 years ago. "The world is changing dramatically," he said. Large migration flows are unsettling many people, added Mattarella, who called for constructive solutions to be found. In the morning, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender received the Italian president and his daughter Laura Mattarella with military honours at Bellevue Palace, the president's official residence in Berlin. Steinmeier and his Italian counterpart are close friends. Mattarella is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Italian Democratic Party (Partito Democratico). In the political spectrum, he is far removed from Italy's ultra-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party. At a press conference, Steinmeier said that the topic of democracy had been emphasized in their joint talks. He also warned of the dangers to democracy. "With growing concern ... we are seeing polarization tendencies in all our societies," said Steinmeier, referring to the results of recent elections. It was important to regain the trust of the population, he stressed. Mattarella and his daughter landed in Berlin on Thursday. On Friday evening, Mattarella was to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz for discussions about discuss bilateral and European issues, according to the Chancellery in Berlin. On Saturday, the state guests are due to fly to Bonn and Cologne with Steinmeier and his wife. According to the Steinmeier's office, topics to be discussed there will include climate change. Finally, the two presidents will travel together on Sunday to Italy, where they plan to attend a commemorative event in Bologna to mark the 80th anniversary of the Marzabotto massacre. The massacre is considered one of the most serious war crimes committed by German soldiers in Italy during the Second World War. Kai Wegner (R), Governing Mayor of Berlin, welcomes Sergio Mattarella (L), President of Italy, and his daughter Laura Mattarella (hidden) on Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy, arrives at the Federal Chancellery for a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Fabian Sommer/dpa J.D. Vance has a long history of telling the truth about Donald Trump, which is proving awfully inconvenient now that Vances chief public role as Trumps vice presidential running mate is to lie about him and sanewash his most unhinged claims at every conceivable opportunity. The latest example of Vances unfortunate truth-telling? In direct message exchanges from February 2020, Vance flatly declared that he saw Trumps presidency as largely a failure by one of Vances own most important metrics. Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism, Vance said in the exchanges obtained by The Washington Post, while adding a parenthetical about how Trumps policies toward China were a partial exception to that rule. The immediate significance of thisexpect Tim Walz to mention it in passing at next weeks vice presidential debateshould be self-evident. One of Vances key arguments for Trump is that his first presidency was a right-populist success story on behalf of American workers. Yet as that presidency wound down, Vance apparently admitted privately to something very different. But lets not overlook the explanation for this apostasy that Vances spokesman offered to the Post, because it too shines a harsh light on Vances evolution from Trump critic to MAGA devotee. The spokesman insisted that in his messages, Vance was merely criticizing the failure of others during the Trump years, i.e., establishment Republicans who thwarted much of Trumps populist economic agenda. But this tidy excuse is undermined by another Vance message. As the Post notes, Vances claim that Trump had failed to deliver on economic populism came in the context of a discussion about wealthy people running for president in 2020 and whether Trump donors would back one of them instead: Vance said he doubted that Trumps richest donors would abandon him in 2020 because he had continued to serve their interests as president, despite his populist rhetoric. Not sure any of these people feel like they need to switch sides, he wrote. Recall that Trumps single biggest initiative as president was arguably his multitrillion-dollar tax cut for the wealthy and corporations, which made the rich richer without delivering promised trickle-down economic growth or other benefits to workers. Trump enthusiastically championed these tax cuts. That cannot be blamed on establishment Republicans. Vance himself said thencorrectlythat Trump had faithfully served the GOP donor classs interests. The after-the-fact spin from Vances spokesperson is absurd. Then theres another big first-term initiative, Trumps 2017 drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Here again Trump was as enthusiastic a proponent of repeal as any Paul Ryan disciple in Congress. And we know that Vance himself viewed this as a sellout of populism. How can we be certain of that? Because at the time, Vance said so. In an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer in June 2017, Vance decried the version of Obamacare repeal-and-replace that Republicans were moving through Congress at the time. He faulted its deep cuts to the ACAs Medicaid spending, and explicitly cast this as a betrayal of Trump voters. Trump had been elected because he was a Republican who wasnt saying, Im going to take away your Social Security and your Medicaid, Vance said, allowing Trump to differentiate himself from other Republicans who wouldnt take care of working-class people. That bill would indeed have hurt untold numbers of poor and working-class Trump voters. Yet Trump aggressively pushed for it to passwhile congressional Republicans were a major driver of it, Trump absolutely was, as well. Indeed, you can watch video of Trump celebrating the Houses passage of the plan as thenSpeaker Ryan and other Republicans applauded gleefully (before repeal died in the Senate). That plainly was a betrayal by Vances own lights. Theres no way to pretend now that Trump was stymied by them into committing this sellout. If anything has changed since then, its that along these lines, Trump has only gotten more shameless. Its true that Trump does differ from Ryan-style Republicans in some ways, such as with his promise of more tariffs, which the GOP donor class likely will oppose. But Trump has vowed that in a second term he would make his 2017 tax cuts on the wealthy and corporations permanent, and he has even promised to cut corporate taxes further, which could be a huge giveaway to the biggest, richest corporations in America. Even worse, during this cycle, Trump has literally promised roomfuls of top GOP donors that he will keep their taxes low while soliciting bucketloads of campaign contributions. Let it not be lost that another Vance spokesman, under questioning from New York Times reporters, admitted that Vance supports this corporate taxcutting aspect of Trumps agenda. During his convention speech, Vance tried to package another Trump term as the second coming of Trumpist populism, describing Trump as a leader whos not in the pocket of big business and wont sell out to multinational corporations. Perhaps some reporter might ask the Great Populist Intellectual Vance how this squares with the corrupt gilded-back-room promises to chortling plutocrats that Trump has been making of late. Trump has also renewed his vow to repeal the ACA and replace it with something indeterminate. Here Vance has helped clarify Trumps intentions, suggesting recently that a Trump-Vance presidency would allow insurance companies to segment people into different risk pools, which would probably push many people with preexisting conditions off insurance or cause their premiums to soar. In some respects, this idea is similar to the plan pushed by Trump and the GOP in 2017, as Brian Beutler and Jonathan Cohn helpfully detail. Thats the scheme Vance once described as anathema to right-populism. Its all but certain that as part of this promised repeal push, Trump and a GOP Congress would again target Medicaid for savage cuts. Now, however, Vance is actively helping Trump spin all this as unthreatening, as maximizing choice for regular Americans. Thats the language Ryan-esque Republicans used to sell the previous iteration, only with a more populist gloss: Vance says all this while also pushing the fiction that Trump doesnt want to kick people off the ACA at all. When Vance declared in 2020 that Trump thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism, Vance almost certainly meant it as direct criticism of Trump. Its remarkable that one of Vances primary roles is now to employ his populist cred to bury that historyand to seduce working-class voters into accepting an agenda that promises an even bigger betrayal of that populism than Trump could even attempt the first time around. By Michelle Nichols and Don Durfee NEW YORK (Reuters) -Senior Hezbollah commanders were the target of Israel's strike on the group's central headquarters in Beirut's suburbs on Friday but it was too early to say whether the attack took out its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a senior Israeli official said on Friday. "I think it's too early to say, but, you know, it's a question of time. Sometimes they hide the fact when we succeed," the official told reporters when asked if the Israeli strike on Friday had killed Nasrallah. The Israeli military said it had targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut in an attack that shook the Lebanese capital. Asked how long it might take to determine the fate of Nasrallah, the senior Israeli official said: "Certainly if he's alive, you'll know it very immediately. If he's dead, it may take some time." The official, who was briefing reporters in New York on condition of anonymity, said: "We cannot survive if we don't stop this and reverse it," he said, referring to the threat to Israel from Iran-backed militia in the region. "It's impossible to reverse it without a general war. That was the assumption, a general war with Hezbollah, which, of course, entails the possibility of a broader war with Iran." "The other way to do it was to take him out. That's the only thing. If you take him out, you not only neutralize, possibly neutralize that front, because nothing else will, but you also break a lynchpin. You break a central axis of the axis." Nasrallah became secretary general of Hezbollah in 1992 at just 35, the public face of a once shadowy group founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 to fight Israeli occupation forces. Israel killed his predecessor, Sayyed Abbas al-Musawi, in a helicopter attack. The official defended Israel's action when asked why killing Nasrallah would change the threat from Hezbollah when earlier assassinations of militant leaders had not hobbled their organizations. "I think it's different," the official said. "In many ways he keeps this thing focused, alive and kicking." "Some people are irreplaceable. It happens, some people do not have a substitute. That's one of the cases, there's no question," the official said. "About 10 days ago or two weeks ago, the cabinet made a decision that we cannot have - after a year - Israelis who are basically refugees in their own land," the official said. "So we added a formal war aim to bring our people back, to degrade Hezbollah's power, to be able to push them back from the border, to destroy the infrastructure along the border, to change the balance of forces." "The most important thing that we did was to try to take out about half of the missile and rocket capabilities that he built up over the last 30 years with Iran, and to take it out in a few hours. And we did," the official said. "I can't tell you what will evolve, but I can tell you that this could be a pivot. We don't seek a broader war. In fact, we seek not to have a broader war and Iran has to consider what it does now," the official said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Don Durfee; Editing by Howard Goller) South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is echoing a Republican effort to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a Maryland case centered on a decade-old ban on certain firearms. An all-Republican coalition, led by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and supported by Jackley, 25 other attorneys general, and the leaders of the Arizona and Wisconsin legislatures, petitioned the Supreme Court through an amicus brief submitted on Monday to review Snope v. Brown, a Maryland-based challenge to the state's Firearm Safety Act of 2013. The 2013 Maryland statute prohibits the possession, sale, transfer, purchase and receipt of a variety of "assault weapons." This includes certain AR-15s, one of the most popular rifles enjoyed by American gun owners and a weapon employed in a number of mass shootings in the U.S.; other firearms, like the Barrett .50 caliber rifle and the AK-47, are also included in the ban. The law also placed a 10-round limit on gun magazines. The law was upheld by a majority of federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals judges on Aug. 6. Gun rights groups petitioned for a Supreme Court review on Aug. 21. This ruling is an infringement on our Second Amendment rights, Jackley said in a Thursday press release. Law-abiding citizens have a guaranteed, individual right to firearms, including for sport and self-defense, under the United States Constitution. Maryland plaintiffs, including gun rights groups, previously requested the Supreme Court address the challenge prior to the lower court's ruling in May, but the judicial tribunal declined at the time, according to The Associated Press. The petitioning attorneys general cited their respective state's inability to sell the listed weapons in Maryland; the prohibition against out-of-state citizens using the weapons in Maryland; and Second Amendment protections as the reasons for their interest in the matter. "The Court should reject this latest attempt to give a critical constitutional right second-class status," the attorneys generals wrote in the court filling. "Without correction, the Fourth Circuits decision will muddle the clear Second Amendment standards that this Court has adopted. And its decision will encourage other governments to erode Americans essential right to keep and bear arms." The majority opinion from the Virginia-based appeals court concluded that "military-style" firearms like the AR-15 do not have Second Amendment protections because "they are designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense." The justices also pointed to nation's historical efforts in regulating certain "exceptionally dangerous weapons," like Bowie knives and metal knuckles. The coalition argued in its brief that the "military-style" firearms are still considered "arms" and thus protected under the Second Amendment. The attorneys general also contended the appeals court's decision lacked context in determining whether certain weapons are "exceptionally dangerous" and also "unusual." "There is no American historical tradition that lets governments ban whatever firearms they deem 'dangerous,'" the attorneys general wrote. Multiple gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Law Center, filed similar petitions on Monday. The states listed in the amicus brief include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, as well as the Arizona and Wisconsin Legislatures. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and her Wisconsin counterpart, Josh Kaul, both Democrats, are not listed as supporters in the brief. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Jackley joins all-Republican effort to seek Supreme Court review of Maryland gun ban JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Jackson police are upgrading their video surveillance gear. The Jackson City Council approved 16 new license plate readers for the Jackson Police Department (JPD). Mississippi utility crews to be educated on AMBER Alert program Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said the readers will help crack down on auto thefts across the city. Wade said the new technology will provide an extra set of eyes for JPD. Weve only had two to this whole entire time at the Jackson Police Department, and were looking at purchasing around 15 to 16 of these. Theyre going to be a very strategic locations across the City of Jackson that weve had a high propensity of auto thefts and carjackings, so we can help our citizens. We know that weve got to use technology as a force multiplier, he said. The cameras are expected to roll out in the coming months. 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. 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: James Bledsoe District/seat: Raleigh City Council, at-large Political party: Unaffiliated Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 38 Campaign website: electjamesbledsoe.com Current occupation: Explosive Ordinance Clearance Agent, US Army Education: BS Criminal Justice. Currently in school for Cyber Security. Offices Sought/Held: Ran for City Council at-large and district C Please list any notable government or civic involvement. I have championed for better support systems and benefits for first responders and veterans, such as mental health days and additional retirement benefits for police and fire department members. I have supported pro-business initiatives, including deregulating and providing more support for small businesses. Im also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion, I have participated in community service projects and advocated for veterans rights. My broad political support includes endorsements from the Veterans Party NC, Libertarian Party NC, Reform Party NC, Forward Party NC, Constitution Party NC, Wake GOP, Raleigh Republican Club, and endorsements from Andrew Yang and the Independent Veterans of America. Since 2015, I have been active in local politics, state politics, & engaging Veterans to get more involved. Which City Council district do you live in? C What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? Public Safety. Raleigh is seeing human trafficking increases of fivefold (5x) under this current council just in the last two years, accompanied by high numbers of murders and record triple-digit rapes year over year. My goal is to reduce high-expenditure, low-performing line items in the budget and redirect those funds to first responders to remove Raleigh as the worst-paid municipality for first responders in the state. For example, reducing the city managers pay of $358,000 back down to her 2021 salary, so she makes less than Gov. Cooper. I also plan to change the pay scale of first responders to a time-in-grade and time-in-service scale to remove pay issues like pay compression and leapfrogging. Raleigh is 100 officers short according to our 2001 population metric that this council is still using. Unfortunately for this city and council, its 2024, and we need at least 400 more officers to account for our ever-increasing population and growing crime. When you call 911, theres a good chance that youre going to be told to wait because officers just are not available. Members of this council have been on for five years; they know about these problems but refuse to solve them, or even mention them, until election season. Raleigh must address this issue now. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? My strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh focuses on reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining permitting and zoning processes. By eliminating unnecessary regulations and speeding up the approval process for new housing developments, we can encourage more private-sector investment and increase the housing supply. This includes revising zoning laws to allow for higher-density housing and mixed-use developments, and implementing a more efficient permitting process. Additionally, I propose restructuring the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to remove height restrictions and allow for diverse housing options such as duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts, slim/micro homes, modular (connex) homes and tiny apartments. Reducing minimum lot sizes and parking requirements can also encourage developers to create more affordable housing options. Furthermore, I aim to preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) by implementing a Right of First Refusal policy, which would give the city or designated nonprofit organizations the opportunity to purchase NOAH properties when they go up for sale. This helps prevent displacement of current residents and maintains existing affordable housing. By focusing on these strategies, I aim to create a more affordable and inclusive housing market in Raleigh, ensuring that all residents have access to safe and affordable housing. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affording units from developers or partner with nonprofits? Lets call affordable housing what it is, taxpayer-subsidized housing. My plan does not support increasing subsidized housing at taxpayers expense. Instead, I believe we should focus on streamlining housing construction processes to make it easier and more cost-effective for developers to build new homes at less cost and time instead of having to spend months or years in front of council asking please Please let us build more homes. That stalls building construction and drives up the cost of homes. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and simplifying the permitting process, we can encourage more private-sector investment in housing, which will naturally increase the supply and help lower prices. Additionally, I advocate for soft infill and building laterally to address our housing needs without contributing to urban sprawl. Soft infill involves utilizing underused land within existing urban areas to create new housing opportunities, which helps maintain the character of our neighborhoods while increasing density. Building laterally, rather than expanding outward, ensures that we make the most efficient use of our available land and infrastructure. This approach not only preserves green spaces but also promotes sustainable growth and development in Raleigh. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? Red Hat needs to stay in place, and the street next to it does NOT need to be blocked. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? I would describe Raleighs growth as fast. Ive seen firsthand how rapid expansion can bring both opportunities and challenges. While its exciting to see new businesses and developments springing up, this fast-paced growth has also put a strain on our infrastructure, public services, and housing market. To manage this growth effectively, we need to focus on sustainable development that benefits all residents. This means streamlining housing construction processes to make it easier and more cost-effective for developers to build new homes. By promoting soft infill and building laterally, we can prevent urban sprawl and make better use of our existing spaces. Additionally, its crucial to invest in our public safety to make sure residents can have access to fast emergency services. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? We have lost quite a few historic structures and places. Preservation of what we have left is necessary to maintain this segment of Raleigh culture. The News Shigeru Ishiba will become Japans next prime minister after he was elected as the new leader of the countrys ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday. He replaces Fumio Kishida, who unexpectedly announced in August that he would not run again, sparking a leadership race within Japans ruling party. Ishiba, a former defense minister who has called for the creation of an Asian NATO, faces a full in-tray: The governing LDP has been rocked by a series of scandals, relations with China are tense, and inflation is at a 30-year high. Ishiba faces big tests at home and abroad, said The Economist. Ishiba has come close to the top job before, including in 2012 when he lost to nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader who was later assassinated (STR) (STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP) Japan's next prime minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday outlined his ideas to reshape the nation's miliary alliance with Washington, after winning the conservative ruling party's leadership race. The seasoned 67-year-old former defence minister beat arch-nationalist Sanae Takaichi -- who would have been the country's first-ever woman leader -- in the final round. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed almost uninterrupted for decades and holds a majority, meaning Ishiba will be elected premier by parliament on Tuesday. In a press conference on Friday, Ishiba vowed to restore confidence in the party after a funding scandal and gave a cautious run-down of his key reform pledges. "Japan wants to fulfil our proactive responsibility and start discussions about how to build peace in this region," he said when asked about his proposals for an Asian NATO. It could be a expansion of several existing blocs such as the so-called Quad that groups Japan, the United States, India and Australia, he said. Establishing a military training facility for its troops in the US, as Germany has done, could be an "extremely effective" way to strengthen the bilateral alliance and would allow Japanese forces to "train at their maximum capability". He said he wanted to call a snap election to shore up his mandate "as soon as possible" but declined to say when. - Security challenges - Ishiba had come close to the top job before, including in 2012 when he lost to nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader who was later assassinated. The military model-maker with an affinity for 1970s pop idols says his experience tackling tough issues, such as agriculture reforms, makes him qualified to lead. Recent days and weeks have seen separate incursions into Japanese airspace by Chinese and Russian military planes, as well as North Korean missile tests. "I have worked on national security matters for a long time and I will be committed to protecting Japan's territory," he said. Following the result, China's foreign ministry spokesman said the country wants to improve ties with Japan. "The long-term, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples," he said. South Korea's foreign ministry said the country hopes to "maintain the positive momentum in Japan-South Korea relations". - Yen surges - At home, Ishiba will be tasked with breathing life into the economy, as the central bank moves away from decades of monetary easing that has slashed the value of the yen. Ishiba supports the Bank of Japan's exit from its unorthodox ultra-loose policies, and the Japanese currency surged after Friday's result. He has also pledged to revitalise rural regions and proposes creating a government agency for disaster prevention. In the first round of voting, a record nine candidates were in the running after the LDP's long-powerful factions disbanded this year over the funding scandal. Takaichi, the economic security minister, is a vocal nationalist popular with the LDP's conservative wing. The 63-year-old was close to assassinated ex-premier Abe, whose supporters are still powerful. - 'Courage in his convictions' - LDP leaders are in office for three years and can serve up to three straight terms. Unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not run for re-election. "I have a good impression of Ishiba, because he seems to have courage in his convictions," Junko Tominaga, a woman in her 50s, told AFP on the streets of Tokyo. "I just don't want Japan to tilt further to the right under Ishiba in terms of defence." Minoru Kitani, 46, said his "hopes for Ishiba aren't so high". "But I agree with, and support, his belief that Japan needs to be protected better, made stronger and guarded against the threat of other countries," he said. While "a woman prime minister would've been good," a win for Abe's mentee Takaichi would not "have done much to herald a fresh start for Japan". During his term, Kishida has taken steps to double Japan's defence spending, opening the door for military exports as the LDP seeks to revise the pacifist post-war constitution. He welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a G7 summit in Hiroshima and has strengthened Japan's often testy ties with its neighbour South Korea. But his rule was also tarnished by scandals, voter anger over rising prices and sliding poll ratings. bur-kaf/rsc 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: Jared Ollison District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District C Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 49 Campaign website: JaredOllisonForRaleigh.com Current occupation: Capitol Police officer Education: Masters Degree in Public Policy and Public Administration Offices sought/held: None Please list any notable government or civic involvement. I have served as a law enforcement professional for 30 years, including serving in the US Air Force military police and the Wake County Sheriffs Office. I also served as the director of Detention Services for the Wake County Sheriffs Office. Under my leadership I developed partnerships with community leaders and elected officials to improve services for staff and for jail residents. As a public official it is critical to build consensus and partnerships with all citizens for the betterment of the community. I was honored to be selected to serve on the Wake County Emergency COVID19 task force under the leadership of Wake County Chief Resident Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway. Other involvements include: Wake County Mental Health Committee Worked to improve the availability of county mental health resources .Martin Street Baptist Church lifelong member Raleigh-Wake NAACP Member Shaw University local and national Alumni associations member. Which Raleigh City Council district do you live in? C What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? There are a number of issues impacting the citizens of Raleigh. However, if I had to select the most pressing issue it would be the lack of affordable housing choices citywide. As a member of the City Council, I would work closely with our community partners, including community agencies and developers to develop housing at a sustainable price. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? As stated previously, and as a lifelong resident of Raleigh and District C it is unfortunate to find countless instances of citizens who are forced to move to another county so that they can find quality and affordable housing. As city leaders that should not be acceptable if we want to improve the lives of our citizens. We should explore ways of diversifying affordable housing options throughout the city and not in one district. We should continue to work closely with state and federal agencies to secure grants that could jumpstart developments at an affordable price point for our citizens. As a member of the City Council, I would continue to support transit-oriented developments, also known as TODs, which provides quality affordable housing options near multi-modal transit projects such as the RUSBus project currently being constructed in downtown Raleigh. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits? Yes, it is the responsibility of the city leadership to be proactive in making sure that all of Raleighs citizens have affordable housing opportunities. In order to accomplish this goal city leaders must become more aggressive and bring developers to the table. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? Yes Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? It is understandable that Raleigh continues to be one of the best places to live, work, and play. So naturally, there will be an expectation of increased interest in moving here. However, in order to grow responsibly city leaders must be deliberate to achieve balanced growth which provides opportunities for all. Yes, Raleigh is growing an appropriate pace. However, city leaders need to improve their preparation to be sure that the infrastructure supports the growth. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? Yes, Raleigh is losing too many historical properties. City leaders should form a task force to identify vulnerable historic properties and work with local preservation agencies to be sure that the history is not lost. We must remember that our history is what made Raleigh great. Marty Pollio is retiring from Jefferson County Public Schools after seven years leading Kentucky's largest district, with a total of 30 years in the system. Pollio, who is one of the longest tenured superintendents of any large urban district in the country, announced his upcoming retirement Friday in an email sent to all district staff. His last day will be July 1, 2025, when his current contract ends. "I began crafting this letter about a month ago," Pollio said in the email. "It has taken me this long to complete it as I get emotional every time I return to the letter. I picked this day to send it out to the JCPS family, not anticipating canceling school today. However, it is probably appropriate with all the challenges we have tackled together over the last 7+ years." Thoughts on Pollios retirement? Submit your letter to the editor here. In a statement following the announcement, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked Pollio "for his tireless service and efforts to improve educational outcomes for all students. We will continue working closely together for the remainder of his tenure on partnerships to improve public education in Louisville." Jefferson County Board of Education members will be in charge of deciding who will become the district's next superintendent, once Pollio's term ends. The first step, JCPS spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said, will likely be for board members to decide whether or not to hire a search firm to find candidates. If a firm is hired, they will work alongside a superintendent screening committee to vet candidates before making recommendations to the board for consideration. Pollio became acting superintendent of JCPS in 2017 before taking the role on permanently in 2018. His initial contract was set to end in 2022, but the school board reappointed him for another term in 2021, three months after giving Pollio a largely positive evaluation. His latest evaluation, however, was his most critical since taking the position. While board members gave Pollio high marks for academic progress, they dinged him for human resource issues following transportation system failures that forced the district to cancel several days of classes and students to lose millions of minutes of instruction time through the 2023-2024 school year. The failures stemmed from a transportation overhaul that coincided with other massive projects, including a new student assignment plan, a new bell schedule, the opening of three new schools and the implementation of a new reading curriculum across all elementary and middle schools. Superintendent Marty Pollio talks to first graders on the first day of classes on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 at Gutermuth Elementary School in Louisville, Ky. Despite the failures, board members praised Pollio for the district's success in helping students bounce back from pandemic-related learning loss at a faster rate than other districts, as noted in a study by Stanford and Harvard University researchers. Between 2019 and 2022, JCPS students' achievement levels decreased by three-quarters of a grade equivalent in math and half a grade level in reading. But since 2022, students' reading level has increased by a third of a grade level, while their math level has risen by nearly a quarter improvements that are considered impressive even within a typical year. Another major focus of Pollio's tenure leading JCPS was to create a new strategic plan, coined "Future State." During his 2023 State of the District address, Pollio praised the amount of progress that's been made on that plan, especially as the district faced unprecedented challenges. "Public education is under attack like it never has been before," he said, adding teachers "are now asked to do more than they ever have before." That progress has included expanding school choice for families, particularly those in west Louisville; launching numerous large capital improvement projects; providing a Chromebook equipped with WiFi to each student; and increasing financial support for schools serving high-needs populations. JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio meets members of the Academy @ Shawnee football team during the unveiling of the new field and grandstands In addition to those achievements, Pollio's retirement announcement noted district leadership, under his guidance, has: Successfully navigated through numerous audits Created JCPS' police department Passed a historical tax increase to grow the district's funding Developed the district's summer learning program And provided a 14% salary increase for all district staff over the past four years "Together, we have traversed through two of the largest crises in the history of public education," Pollio wrote in his announcement. "As a result of the pandemic and severe staffing shortages, our jobs have become much more difficult. Through all the major challenges, I am so proud of the accomplishments we have made together for the students of this community. As a superintendent, it would have been easier to keep the status quo. Change is very hard. But I am extremely proud that we made the decision to make the most substantial changes in the history of JCPS despite many challenges. I truly believe that these changes will result in decades of improved outcomes for our students." Read Marty Pollios retirement letter to staff JCPS Family, In the summer of 2017, I began this incredible journey with you as I was named the acting superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools. I started in JCPS as a social studies teacher in 1997 at Shawnee High School. At no time throughout my journey in four different high schools and a multitude of positions did I think I would become the superintendent. Even in the spring of 2017, I was surprised that I was interviewing for the position. Over seven years later, it has been the honor of my lifetime to represent this wonderful district and all the incredible students, staff, and families as the superintendent. In all candor, and as Im sure you are aware, the journey has not been an easy one. Together, we have traversed through two of the largest crises in the history of public education. As a result of the pandemic and severe staffing shortages, our jobs have become much more difficult. Through all the major challenges, I am so proud of the accomplishments we have made together for the students of this community. As a superintendent, it would have been easier to keep the status quo. Change is very hard. But I am extremely proud that we made the decision to make the most substantial changes in the history of JCPS despite many challenges. I truly believe that these changes will result in decades of improved outcomes for our students. Just a few of the major accomplishments we have made together include: a new student assignment plan, a new facility plan that includes the building of 24 new school buildings over the next decade, an enhanced safety and security plan that includes the creation of the JCPS Police Department with 55 police officers, the passing of the first tax increase above 4% in the history of JCPS which brought in much needed funding, proliferation of nationally recognized models with the Academies of Louisville and Explore Pathways, additional levels of support for students and schools (MHPs, ICs, SAs, School Nurses, etc.), a focus on racial equity to improve student outcomes for our historically underserved population, development of the Backpack League summer learning program, an aligned literacy and numeracy plan across all JCPS schools, a technology overhaul in our schools for staff and students, new athletic facilities for all high schools, 14% increase in pay for all employees over the past four years, including stipends for those in enhance support schools, and successfully navigating through numerous audits and pushing back on attacks from Frankfort since 2017. I truly believe that these changes have led and will lead to improved outcomes for the children of this community. But, in every leaders journey, there comes a time to turn the page and move on to the next chapter in your life. And that time is quickly approaching for me. My tenure as superintendent of JCPS has lasted longer than 96% of the superintendents in the Council of the Great City Schools, which encompasses the 80 largest school districts in the United States. The average tenure for large district superintendents is now less than 18 months. I am proud that I have served the last eight years in this position given the immense challenges that public school districts face. If it werent for the amazing students of this district, I would not have had the strength and motivation to persevere. I have truly given them my all. I also could not have done this without the support of all the incredible educators and employees in this district and the positive words and encouragement from so many of you. Although not perfect, we have an incredible school district where all of you give so much to meet the needs of ALL children in this community. We need to stand together with pride in that fact. I wrote all employees a letter on July 2, 2017 expressing my honor to start as superintendent of JCPS. And now I want the JCPS family to be the first to know that this will be my final year as superintendent. I will be retiring effective July 1, 2025. In the summer of 2022, I gave the board of education a three-year commitment. This is the final year of that three-year agreement. I had planned since that time for the 2024-25 school year to be my final one. However, this will not be the end of my time in education. I hope to continue positively influencing public education moving forward in Kentucky and even at the national level. I am announcing at this time to give our board of education and community the time needed to select a candidate that will continue the forward progress and momentum we have made over these past eight years. Although I am announcing my retirement for the end of this school year, I want you all to know that I will not let up in my passion for this district over the next nine months. As I have always preached, I will be sprinting through the finish line! Once again, it has been the honor of my professional career to serve as your superintendent. I have given every ounce of myself to this role as I know so many of you do daily. Although there have been challenges over my tenure, no one can ever question my passion, fight, and love for Jefferson County Public Schools. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you over the last eight years. Sincerely, Martin Pollio, Ed.D. Superintendent Jefferson County Public Schools Contact reporter Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio announces retirement Newly released messages appear to undercut vice-presidential nominee JD Vances claims that he had a change of heart about former President Donald Trump once he witnessed his achievements in office. In 2021, while campaigning for the US Senate seat he now holds, Vance asked people not to judge me based on what I said previously about the man he called, variously, a cynical a**hole, a moral disaster, a total fraud, an idiot, and Americas Hitler. I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy, Vance said at the time, adding that he in fact voted for Trump in 2020. I think he was a good president, I think he made a lot of good decisions for people, and I think he took a lot of flak. From left, Michael Bloomberg, Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, attend the 9/11 Memorial ceremony on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (AP) However, The Washington Post obtained direct messages Vance reportedly exchanged privately on Twitter, in which he slammed Trump a man he later deemed the best president of my lifetime, for his myriad shortfalls as commander-in-chief. Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism (excepting a disjointed China policy), Vance reportedly wrote in February 2020. That June, Vance predicted Joe Biden would beat Trump in the upcoming election, according to another Twitter DM seen by the Post. I think Trump will probably lose, Vance wrote. He would soon go on to claim, falsely, that the election had been stolen from Trump by miscreant Democrats. In the same June 2020 exchange, Vance revealed that Emperor Trump had offered him a position in his administration, but that he turned it down. JD Vance claimed eggs cost $4 but he was caught out by the price tag behind him (AP) In a statement responding to the Post story, Vance spokesman William Martin said the VP candidate was not in fact denigrating Trump in his past remarks, but rather, establishment Republicans who thwarted much of Trumps populist economic agenda to increase tariffs and boost domestic manufacturing in Congress. Fortunately, Sen. Vance believes that Republicans in Congress are much more aligned with President Trumps agenda today than they were back then, so he is confident that they wont run into those same issues within the party, Martin said, criticizing the Post for withholding the identity of its source and calling the outlets reporting unethical journalism. In July, Vances former law school roommate told The Independent that he believed the Ohio Republican was a hypocrite who had sold his soul in supporting Trump. I believe that he has adopted the MAGA mindset wholesale, attorney Josh McLaurin said. I think that he personally wants to see a lot more destruction of institutions and norms than your average elected Republican does. And I think that hes allowing his deep-seated anger and who cares where that anger is from to motivate him to make this complete ideological conversion. Corrie Shull, the chairman of the JCPS Board of Education, left, speaks as Superintendent Marty Pollio listens during a Kentucky House Education Committee meeting at the Capitol in Frankfort, March 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio plans to retire from his post effective next summer. Pollio, who has led Kentuckys largest public school district since 2017, sent a letter to JCPS employees announcing his plans to retire Friday. In recent years, Pollios tenure at the school district has been beset by increasing oversight from Republican lawmakers in Frankfort and criticism over transportation issues. Pollio said the journey has not been an easy one, pointing to the coronavirus pandemic and severe staffing shortages, but added that he was extremely proud that we made the decision to make the most substantial changes in the history of JCPS despite many challenges. His retirement is effect July 1, 2025. I am proud that I have served the last eight years in this position given the immense challenges that public school districts face, Pollio wrote. If it werent for the amazing students of this district, I would not have had the strength and motivation to persevere. I have truly given them my all. I also could not have done this without the support of all the incredible educators and employees in this district and the positive words and encouragement from so many of you. Although not perfect, we have an incredible school district where all of you give so much to meet the needs of ALL children in this community. We need to stand together with pride in that fact. Some of the major accomplishments Pollio highlighted in his letter included focusing on racial equity to improve student outcomes for our historically underserved population, establishing a facilities plan that includes construction of 24 schools building over the next decade and successfully navigating through numerous audits and pushing back on attacks from Frankfort since 2017. Earlier this year, Republicans in Frankfort passed a resolution creating a task force to review the governance of JCPS. At the time, Pollio called it another attack on JCPS and warned against consolidating the school district. Pollio began his career in JCPS as a social studies teacher at Shawnee High School in 1997. His other roles have included principal of Jeffersontown High School and Doss High School. Pollio said he was making his announcement early to give ample time to select his successor. He added that he hopes to continue positively influencing public education moving forward in Kentucky and even at the national level. Once again, it has been the honor of my professional career to serve as your superintendent, Pollio wrote. I have given every ounce of myself to this role as I know so many of you do daily. Although there have been challenges over my tenure, no one can ever question my passion, fight, and love for Jefferson County Public Schools. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) The superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) sent a letter on Friday to staff announcing his time as a school leader is coming to a close. In the letter, Superintendent Martin Pollio said that change is difficult and that he is proud of the accomplishments the district made for students of the Jefferson County community. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news In every leaders journey, there comes a time to turn the page and move on to the next chapter in your life, Pollio said in his retirement letter. Pollio became acting superintendent in 2017 and has overseen increases in teacher pay, the creation of the JCPS Police Department with 55 officers, a focus on racial equity to improve student outcomes for our historically underserved population, and more, per his registration letter. I am proud that I have served the last eight years in this position given the immense challenges that public school districts face. If it werent for the amazing students of this district, I would not have had the strength and motivation to persevere. I have truly given them my all. I also could not have done this without the support of all the incredible educators and employees in this district and the positive words and encouragement from so many of you. Although not perfect, we have an incredible school district where all of you give so much to meet the needs of ALL children in this community. We need to stand together with pride in that fact. Martin Pollio, JCPS Superintendent In the summer of 2022, Pollio said he agreed with district leadership to serve as superintendent for three more years, with his retirement date being July 1, 2025. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: He had begun his time as a Jefferson County educator in 1997 as a social studies teacher at Shawnee High School and said that he plans to continue working as an educator after this chapter closes. I hope to continue positively influencing public education moving forward in Kentucky and even at the national level, Pollio 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 FOX 56 News. By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States was not told in advance about Israel's strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut that killed the leader of the Iran-backed militant group, U.S. President Joe Biden and other officials said, raising further questions about the administration's ability to influence its close ally. Biden said on Friday the U.S. had no advance knowledge of or participation in the Israeli airstrike, which Hezbollah said on Saturday killed its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also said he did not have any advance warning but spoke to his Israeli counterpart as the operation was already underway. Austin on Friday declined to offer any assessment of the strike, amid speculation about the fate of the Lebanese militant group's head Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Austin said he would be speaking with Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant again "soon" for an update. "We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while the operation was actually already underway," Austin told reporters as he landed at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington after a trip to London. The killing of Nasrallah could have far-reaching implications for the Middle East as Israel shifts its attention from its nearly year-old war with Iran-aligned Hamas in Gaza to operations against Hezbollah amid fears that strikes in Lebanon could trigger a wider war that draws in Iran. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unclear how the situation will evolve. "We're obviously working our way through it this morning. And, you know, it's not clear exactly where things go from right now," said the official. The Biden administration has struggled over the past year to balance Israels right to self-defense against the need to contain civilian casualties and prevent a spiral into a broader Middle East conflict. Analysts said Friday's strike would further complicate that effort. "The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollahs leader, by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon will not fundamentally alter the course of this conflict," said Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities, a think tank. Nasrallahs death doesnt change anything for the United States either, except that it further complicates American efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to prevent more bloodshed." The timing of the strike, coming while Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting New York to speak at the U.N. General Assembly, could create additional friction for the U.S.-Israel relationship. A former senior U.S. national security official told Reuters the United States would take particular umbrage at reports that Netanyahu ordered the strike from U.S. soil. The White House had no immediate comment. Jordan's foreign minister said Netanyahu was driving the region to a full-fledged war. Austin has been publicly warning that a full-blown war between Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating for both sides and on Friday renewed calls for diplomacy. "An all out war should be avoided," Austin said. "Diplomacy continues to be the best way forward, and it's the fastest way to let displaced Israeli and Lebanese citizens return to their homes on both sides of the border." Asked on Friday what Austin may have communicated to Gallant given the Israeli strike's potential impact on U.S. efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh declined to offer specifics, but she said the defense secretary is always frank in his conversations with his Israeli counterpart. "Look at just the engagements that the secretary and Minister Gallant have had over the last two weeks, speaking regularly. I think if there was any type of fracture in trust, you wouldn't see those type of levels of calls and engagements occurring frequently," Singh said when asked if the lack of advance notification by Israel indicated a lack of trust. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren, Gabriella Borter, Andrea Shalal, Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland; Editing by Alistair Bell, Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) Joe Scarborough: Trump would take us back into the cycle of Russian appeasement This is an adapted excerpt from the Sept. 27 episode of "Morning Joe." If theres one lesson to be learned from the United States relationship with Russia over the last almost two decades, its that appeasement does not work. When Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Georgia in 2008, a Republican president did nothing. When Putin invaded Crimea and Ukraine in 2014, a Democratic president did nothing. In 2018 in Helsinki, after Donald Trump was asked if he believed U.S. intelligence agencies or Putin when it came to the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the then-president took Moscows side and effectively pledged his fealty to Putin. In the face of Russian aggression, one president after another has shown weakness. And what has that led to? Another invasion. But now, under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. is finally pushing back. During a news conference on Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vice President Harris slammed Trumps suggestion Ukraine cede territory to Russia to end the war. 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 during a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace, she added. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. If Trump is elected in November, well go right back to the status quo of Russian appeasement. If Trump surrenders Ukraine to Putin, we know whats next: Poland, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And for those who naively think the U.S. can stay out of it: If theyre invading NATO countries, its going to be our men and women on the ground fighting and dying. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com 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: John Cerqueira District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District E Political party: Democrat Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 45 Campaign website: john4raleigh.com Current occupation: Organizational change consultant Education: NC State, B.S. Management and French Minor. UNC-Chapel Hill, MBA with coursework in Urban Planning Offices Sought/Held: None Please list any notable government or civic involvement. In 2001 I was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolinas highest civilian honor, by Governor Mike Easley for heroism during the September 11 Terrorist attacks in which I helped a woman who was a wheelchair user escape from the 68th floor of Tower One escaping our building 5 minutes before its collapse. Since then I have been honored to speak at First Responders organizations at both the Durham and Raleigh First Responders Appreciation Breakfasts as well as running training sessions on self-regulation to ward off risks of PTSD at ISAAC, the Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a cross functional first responders organization put in place to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts. More recently I helped co-found Skate Raleigh, a public-private partnership that brought a skate park to the site of Smokey Hollow Park off of Capital Boulevard. Working with the city of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, our nonprofit organization raised private funds to turn a blighted piece of property along downtown Raleighs northern gateway into a place where citizens of all ages and backgrounds connect over their love of action sports. Finally, over the years, I have volunteered with Communities in Schools leveraging my French minor tutoring French-speaking students from Haiti and Africa on all subjects in their native language. Which Raleigh City Council district do you live in? E What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? Our population growth. Wake County is growing by 50 people/day which means a focus on the following are needed: Housing and Infrastructure: We must ensure that our housing supply meets this demand and our infrastructure (sewer, roads, public transportation) accommodates the housing supply and additional population. Public safety: We currently have 100 vacancies on our police force with a fully staffed goal that some suggest is already low on a per capita basis.. Without a fully staffed police force we risk the public safety of our growing population. Parks and greenways: As we grow it is important to maintain and invest in green space where all of our citizens can connect and thrive. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? If our goal is affordability we must address both income-restricted housing and market-rate housing supply. Income restricted housing focuses on citizens making less than our area median income (AMI). However, for many citizens earning our area median income or slightly above, our housing market is still out of reach. To improve affordability for those making at or above AMI, the only path is to increase our housing supply. To do this in a thoughtful way that does not create any further unnecessary sprawl we must increase density in existing dense areas, for example, specifically in downtown. Income-restricted units typically require some subsidies which defray the cost of land cost, construction and financing. For income-restricted housing I would like to see more partnerships with developers who are experienced in and comfortable building affordable housing, using preferred and/or tax increment financing (TIF), targeting city-owned land to control our land cost. Beyond that, often hidden costs associated with delays with permitting and approvals unnecessarily increase the cost of projects ultimately passed on to the renter/buyer that I would like to see eliminated with more efficient processing. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affording units from developers or partner with nonprofits? Our current state law prohibits requiring developers to limit the pricing of units. However, the opportunity absolutely exists to offer incentives to developers in which, for example, permitting a certain increase in units over what is allowed comes with a percentage dedicated to income-restricted lower cost units. I would also partner with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, that provide down payment support, mortgage relief, and rental assistance through private funding. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? Yes. This question specifically relates to Red Hat Amphitheater and the amphitheater in Dix Parks master plan. While music at Dix Park is in the master plan for the future, Red Hat is currently funded and ready to break ground within months whereas plans for a Dix Park music venue are in earlier stages of development, not yet funded, and likely a decade or more out from completion. Furthermore, Red Hat is in closer proximity and ease of pedestrian access to downtown businesses who are heavily reliant on its presence, which also enhances the concert-going experience for pre- and post-show activities. Even with a future Dix Park music venue, Red Hat is likely to attract a different set of acts appealing to a slightly different audience in a different setting with different levels of capacity than the types of performances that may be present at Dix. All in all, I see the two options complementing rather than competing with one another. Specific to the vote on this issue, I am relieved that after the City Council session on September 17, Red Hat Amphitheater will be able to stay downtown. I am, however, disappointed that my districts council member was not at the table to represent District E in this critical vote for our city. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? In more objective terms, our population growth is certainly outpacing the supply of housing, driving our affordability challenges. Beyond that, our investments in public transportation and associated infrastructure that mitigate traffic congestion are struggling to keep pace. By these measures, I would say that our population growth is too fast for our current housing supply and related infrastructure needs, while our growth in supply of available housing and infrastructure support is too slow relative to population growth and has opportunities to be better accommodated and managed. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? The Masonic Temple at the corner of Glenwood and Wade Avenue is a good example of a historic property that was lost. Ultimately, like many historic properties, it was in disrepair and had been neglected. Numerous developers sought to re-develop in a way that protected the property, but were not successful. The Temple went from being listed as historic to being removed to eventually clear the way for development. It is now being turned into multiple high-end homes that ultimately are better than the last state of the building but far less impactful than having preserved the building and providing a more dense use. My whole candidacy is based on an appreciation of the nuances of these developments. I want to bring developers and the community together to meet the challenges of our city in a thoughtful and sustainable way. Rather then the characterization of good vs evil, I generally believe that Raleigh can be greater and solve problems like the potential loss of historic properties by engaging current owners and incentivizing maintenance through tax breaks or other programs, while ensuring that those that want to develop their property to realize expected economic value can do so in a way that preserves its character and ensure it fits into the greater landscape of the area. Lastly, we have to realize that it is not just historic properties but historic businesses that people often bemoan and feel a true sense of loss. This can be seen in developments along Hillsborough that lost beloved music venues, sandwich shops and other small businesses like Capital Club 16 and Garland that could not sustain themselves as downtown struggled coming out of COVID-19. It is important that as a city we develop systems that preserve the buildings and businesses that provide the character and sense of place that is desired by all and economically sustainable for the community. John Deere has recalled a compact utility tractor due to brake failures and crash hazards. Which models are included in the John Deere tractor recall? This recall includes 1023E, 1025R and 2025R Compact Utility Tractors. Consumers can find the model number and John Deere printed on the hood. The recalled tractors are green and yellow, and were sold with both opened and closed operator stations. About 148,000 of the tractors were sold in the United States from November 2017 until July 2024. The serial numbers of tractors included in this recall can be found under "Parts and Service" at deere.com. John Deere tractor recall issued over brake failures in Compact Utility Tractors The John Deere 2025R tractor is one of three models of compact utility tractors being recalled for brake issues. John Deere's recall comes after the Moline, Illinois-based company received four reports of the brake linkage failing. One person was hospitalized and two people suffered impact injuries, John Deere said in a news release. Minor property damage has also been reported. More: Donald Trump threatens 200% tariff if John Deere moves production to Mexico When did John Deere issue a tractor recall? John Deere's tractor recall was put into effect on Sept. 26, 2024. More: As Deere backs off DEI, it's facing potential clash between federal and union mandates What should I do if I have a John Deere 1023E, 1025R or 2025R Compact Utility Tractor? Deere says users should immediately stop using the recalled tractors and contact an authorized John Deere dealer to schedule an appointment to bring the tractor into the dealer for a free repair. If the owner is not able to transport the tractor to a dealers location, then the dealer will make arrangements to repair the unit at the owner's residence. Deere said they are also contacting all known purchasers directly. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: John Deere tractor recall includes 3 Compact Utility Tractors models Johnston Middle School student in custody after report of weapon on campus JOHNSTON, Iowa The Johnston Middle School went into lockdown Thursday afternoon after someone reported seeing a weapon in a bathroom. According to an email from the Johnston Community School District, the middle school went on lockdown at 2:48 p.m. after a weapon was reportedly to be in an upstairs restroom; no weapon was found. The lockdown was in place until 3:08 p.m., which is about 18 minutes after regular dismissal time, when the all-clear was given. Webster County man shot during domestic altercation, sheriffs office says The Johnston Police Department now has a student in custody. The district said school administrators and the police department are working together to investigate the incident. We are taking this situation very seriously and continue to work with the Johnston Police Department on this matter. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We applaud our students and staff for continuing to speak up and share information. Lynn Meadows, director of communications and board secretary for JCSD All activities have been cancelled for tonight. 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. JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) A water plant is shut down in Jonesborough after catastrophic flooding, according to Kevin Brobeck, Jonesborough Water Distribution Director. Brobeck said all businesses running off the plant will not have water until the Nolichucky Rivers levels go down. Ballad: 50+ people awaiting rescue on roof of Unicoi County Hospital All residents in Jonesborough are encouraged to conserve water. State Representative Rebecca Alexander announced her Breakfast with Becky event scheduled for Saturday at the Kitchen at Grace Meadows has been canceled due to the water plants closure. The rapidly rising Nolichucky River has led to extreme flooding in Unicoi, Washington and Greene Counties. Embreeville residents were ordered to evacuate, and dozens of people were stranded on the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital as a result of the river rising. 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. SCRANTON, Pa. (WHTM) A Pennsylvania city is suddenly at the center of an international incident after a visit from Ukraines president Sunday. What should have been little more than a photo-op has blown up has Governor Josh Shapiro among those taking fire from angry Republicans. Comer wants oversight committee to investigate Zelenskyys Scranton visit A Ukrainian delegation visited Scrantons Army Ammunition Plant, including a tour where 155-millimeter howitzer rounds are made. They are considered crucial in Ukraines fight against Russia. Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked workers and signed a shell. U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Matt Cartwright, and Shapiro, all Democrats, welcomed the group, which was an unwelcome sight to Republican Speaker of the U.S. House Mike Johnson. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Morning Weather The Speaker called the all-Democrat event Pro-Kamala Harris and politically motivated in a crucial battleground state. Were in the middle of a hotly contested national election, Johnson said, and we dont need foreign countries intervening in and letting their opinions be heard at a time like this. In July, Zelenskyy made a similar trip to Utah and met with its Republican governor. No uproar. Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Governor Josh Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Commonwealth Media Services Governor Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Commonwealth Media Services Governor Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Commonwealth Media Services Governor Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Commonwealth Media Services Governor Shapiro, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Shapiro said Pennsylvanians stand with Ukraine as they fight for their freedom against naked aggression. Like Zelenskyy, Shapiro too signed a shell, which set off Republican State Senator Doug Mastriano, who lost to Shapiro in the race for Governor in 2022. In an unprecedented and disturbing manner, Shapiro was pictured with a sinister grin signing an artillery round that will be used to kill people with whom the United States is not at war yet another elite politician eagerly displaying a willingness to send other peoples children to fight and die in another losing war. Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33) The Shapiro team isnt responding, referring all questions to the U.S. Army and the White House, which arranged the Ukrainian 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 ABC27. The Rio Arriba County Courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, N.M. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) The judge overseeing the attempted murder case against a man who shot someone at a protest of a statue in northern New Mexico is summoning 80 people to serve as potential jurors, because some of them may know too much about the case to objectively rule on it. First Judicial District Court Judge Jason Lidyard said Thursday he doesnt know how jury selection will go in the trial of Ryan Martinez, who was recorded on video shooting a climate activist during a prayer ceremony and protest of a monument to genocidal Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate in Rio Arriba County last fall. I dont know how many people are going to know things about this case that are going to disqualify them from being able to serve, Lidyard said. Lidyard and the opposing legal teams previously agreed to begin jury selection on Oct. 7 in his courtroom in Tierra Amarilla, a small, remote village in the countys northern reaches. So far, two sessions or panels of jury selection have been scheduled in the case. Were not going to be able to pick the jury from the very first session. Im sure of that, Lidyard said, but they might be able to choose jurors from the second. Out of an abundance of caution, he said, hes spoken to the courts Jury Services department about constructing a third panel of people to come in on the morning of Oct. 8 if absolutely necessary. That would be needed only if he and the attorneys are concerned about their ability to choose a jury by the end of the previous day, Lidyard said. I want to have this arranged so that we can immediately continue on with the selection, he said. Lidyard said they should be able to seat a jury within the planned time frame, even if the trial cant begin until Oct. 9. The trials first leg is scheduled for Oct. 8 through Oct. 11, when state prosecutors are expected to make their case and call their witnesses to testify. The second leg is scheduled for Oct. 16 through Oct. 18, when defense lawyers for Martinez will make their case and call their own witnesses. Chief Deputy District Attorney Anthony Long said hes relatively confident theyll be able to pick a jury in the first two sessions, because Martinez is not charged with a capital offense, which means each side is limited in how many jurors they can try to disqualify without giving a reason. Since Martinez is charged with attempted murder, if convicted he would be guilty of a second-degree felony, which gets a basic sentence of nine years under state law. In those kinds of cases, the defense is allowed five peremptory challenges and the state gets three, according to court rule. Still, there is no limit on how many potential jurors either side can disqualify, so long as they have a good reason and articulate that to the judge, who rules on each disqualification. A busy time in northern Rio Arriba Another logistical challenge, Long said, is there are no hotel rooms nothing is available, in the area. There are a host of things happening in northern Rio Arriba County right now, your honor, that make finding lodging impossible, or even changing that lodging, he said. He said a wedding is happening nearby, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is reaching the end of its season, and the trees are turning their fall colors, which typically attracts an influx of tourists. Lidyards comments about jury selection came at the end of a two-and-a-half hour hearing on Thursday afternoon, where attorneys argued over half a dozen disputes about whether to include certain evidence and witnesses in the trial. Lidyard told them he will announce his rulings on those disputes in a virtual hearing at 4 p.m. on Monday. Judge blocks NY AG Letitia James from trying to silence pregnancy centers that promote abortion pill reversal Judge blocks NY AG Letitia James from trying to silence pregnancy centers that promote abortion pill reversal A federal judge this week issued New York Attorney General Letitia James a preliminary injunction that bars her from taking action against pregnancy clinics that promote abortion pill reversal on the grounds it would restrict protected free speech. The ruling came amid a lawsuit by the Thomas More Society on behalf of two pro-life ministries, Summit Life Outreach Center and the Evergreen Association. The lawsuit argues that James has targeted pregnancy centers with threats of prosecution for sharing information about abortion pill reversal, which she has said is unproven. "These small nonprofits, which exist to compassionately serve women and offer them alternatives to abortion, deserve to have their speech elevatednot chilled," Peter Breen, Thomas More Society's executive vice president and head of litigation, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This court order makes clear Ms. James cannot censor pro-life speech purely because she dislikes it." Harris Calls For Eliminating Filibuster To Pass Roe Abortion Bill Into Federal Law New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference National Town Hall. James has sued several pro-life pregnancy centers over their promotion of abortion pill reversal. Fox News Digital has reached out to James' office. In his order, Judge John Sinatra Jr., a Trump appointee, wrote that James is barred from preventing the clinics from promoting abortion pill reversal on their websites and social media platforms. Read On The Fox News App Medicinal abortion involves taking mifepristone and following it with treatment of misoprostol days later, but pregnancy clinics have advised that those who change their minds and want to continue the pregnancy can do so by abandoning the second drug and instead taking doses of progesterone. In May, James filed lawsuits against 11 pregnancy centers that promoted the abortion pill reversal procedure, accusing them of engaging in fraud, deceptive business practices and false advertising. She claimed the groups were "spreading dangerous misinformation by advertising without any medical and scientific proof." Dems Look To Force Votes On Emergency Abortion As Abortion Pill Deaths Make Headlines Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills are pictured Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, in Skokie, Illinois. Despite not being named in James' lawsuit, Summit Life Outreach Center and the Evergreen Association said her targeting of other pregnancy centers had put them at risk. Barbara Bidak, the executive director of Summit Life Outreach Center, said her staff works "tirelessly to provide life-affirming options for women in need." "Were incredibly pleased a federal judge has now made clear that Attorney General Letitia James legal attacks on our states pro-life ministries unconstitutionally chills our First Amendment right to share the lifesaving message of Abortion Pill Reversalwhich gives pregnant moms in the middle of a chemical abortion a second chance to choose life." Breen said the pro-life ministries have a constitutional right to share information about abortion pill reversal, and that "their message is saving thousands of lives." The Thomas More Society is representing the 11 clinics in a separate case. Last month, a federal judge in that case ruled the clinics were protected by the First Amendment. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference. "Based on a careful application of the preliminary injunction factors, especially as they relate to Plaintiffs First Amendment Free Speech claim, motion for a preliminary injunction is granted," the judge wrote. Fox News Digital's Peter Aitken contributed to this report. Original article source: Judge blocks NY AG Letitia James from trying to silence pregnancy centers that promote abortion pill reversal SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The first woman of Indian descent has been sworn in to serve as a judge in Hampden Superior Court, marking an important milestone for the Commonwealth. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered to support Judge Deepika Shukla in her induction into the Massachusetts Superior Court. Shukla addressed the courtroom from the bench, thanking everyone in attendance and sharing more about her Indian-American identity, from growing up in a multi-generational household with her immigrant mother and grandparents. Colleague and friend Kevin ORegan took to the stand to share how proud of Shukla he is, and what he knows shell accomplish. Pittsfield police capture murder suspect from Maine I think shes going to treat everyone that comes before her with respect, ad compassion, and dignity, said ORegan. And I think that the lawyers will find her an excellent judge to be in front of. Governor Healey named Shukla as one of her picks to join the Massachusetts Superior Court back in July, and Friday marked her official swearing-in. Tara Jacobs of the Governors Council, representing Western Massachusetts, told 22News this appointment is another in what has been a string of diverse nominees coming from Governor Healey. We really appreciate the work shes done to bring us diversity in all the ways, but also, human beings who are just really amazingly kind, and smart, and empathetic, and compassionate, remarked Jacobs. Judge Shukla comes to Hampden District Court from the United States Federal Court in Springfield, where she served as Assistant United States Attorney. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Western New England School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. 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. RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Black Hawk residents impacted by the Hideaway Hills mine sinkhole in 2020. The lawsuit alleged that the states mining activities and the way the mine was ultimately closed created conditions ripe for sinkholes to develop. The homeowners also fault the state for failing to disclose the problematic conditions. The judge ruled that the state has sovereign immunity, a sort of legal protection against lawsuits, stating that the state was only doing what was best for the community. Safety yes, I understand that, but four years of fighting for any type of compensation for what obviously is in my opinion, the states fault for running a mining operation over there and not taking care of the ground properly, Hideaway Hills Resident David Peck said. Rapid City Rush prepare for their 17th season You know, the property was taken from us unduly by our neighbor, which is the mineral rights below us. And not being able to get any value back from that basically means we have to start over with whatever the debt of the house was, Hideaway Hills Resident Brian Ireland said. Those directly involved want the state to do the right thing. I think what needs to be done is the state needs to step up, settle the case, and quit fighting us. Theres a large trust fund from when the state sold the cement plant, set up just for this situation, Peck said. From my standpoint obviously I cant use the property, it was taken from me. I cant do anything with it, I cant resell it, I cant do a foreclosure because the bank cannot take the property because of the state its in, so were stuck, Ireland said. Residents in the neighborhood are just wanting a fighting chance after they lost everything they had. The residents and lawyers involved in the lawsuit have already started working on their appeal of this ruling. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 YORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty on Friday to corruption and bribery charges brought against him earlier this week, as calls for him to resign from office grow. The arraignment hearing lasted no more than around 45 minutes at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Seated toward the middle of the courtroom as U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Parker asked for his plea, Adams said, "I am not guilty, your honor." Eric Adams walks to his motorcade after pleading not guilty to federal bribery charges. I am not guilty, your honor, Adams said from the courtroom. pic.twitter.com/SngO7LEJhR Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) Members of the U.S. Marshals Service walked Adams out of the courthouse just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, and he stood briefly among a crowd of press while he awaited his motorcade. The New York City mayor was indicted by federal prosecutors on five counts earlier this week, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; and one count of bribery, which the magistrate judge summarized ahead of Adams's guilty plea on Friday. Parker informed federal prosecutors that Adams must be handed over certain disclosures and exculpatory evidence as pre-trial proceedings commence, a process under what's known as the Brady doctrine. "If the government fails to comply with this order," there could be consequences including sanctions or dismissal of the charges, Parker warned. Featured Local Savings Adams has retained Alex Spiro, a high-profile attorney known for working with celebrities including rappers Jay-Z, 21 Savage, and other notable figures such as Tesla founder Elon Musk, to represent him in the case. Spiro said Adams will move to dismiss the case at the next court appearance on Oct. 2, where U.S. District Court Judge Dale Ho will begin presiding over the case. Toward the end of the proceeding, Spiro agreed with the government's condition of Adams's release, which includes the mayor vowing not to speak with witnesses named in the indictment, although with limited exceptions. Several close associates of Adams have also been caught up in federal investigations, including Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, and top legal and political advisers. The judge agreed to the government's request with notice that there will be exceptions for Adams to continue communicating with members of his inner circle so long as their conversations do not surround the facts of the case. Some critics of the mayor have called on Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to remove Adams from office. Hochul has said she is reviewing her options regarding Adams. While it's possible for the governor to remove Adams, legal experts say the process can be complex. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Adams, a Democrat, is the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally indicted and has faced calls to resign from office from both Republicans and members of his party. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who represents parts of Manhattan, called on the mayor to resign in a statement Friday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stopped short of calling Adams to resign, but said the charges are "serious" and the legal process should play out "speedily and fairly." Montpelier, VT. A Vermont judge dismissed a lawsuit on Friday challenging Gov. Phil Scotts appointment of Zoie Saunders as the states interim Education Secretary earlier this year. Scott appointed Saunders in April after the Vermont Senate rejected her nomination in a 19-9 vote. Senators Tanya Vyhovsky and Dick McCormack sued Scott, claiming the governors appointment violated the states constitution. It accused Scott of violating a state statute that says, all secretaries of State agencies and all commissioners of State departments shall take office only with the advice and consent of the Senate except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy when the General Assembly is not in session. Lawmakers sue Gov. Scott for appointing interim education secretary despite Senates rejection Superior Court Judge Robert Mello said the appointment was not intended to be permanent, but is timed so that the matter of an appointment of a permanent secretary can be presented to the Senate again in the next legislative session. And, he said, Scott is not the first governor to make an interim appointment under state statutes. The back-and-forth between the legislative and executive branches has tolerated such appointments numerous times without provoking lawsuits or legislation attempting to regulate the matter, the decision said. You can read the rest of the decision here: Entry-Regarding-Motion-GrantedDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento is being challenged by Clark County Chief Deputy Public Defender Kristal Bradford. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento says a campaign mailer stating he is Endorsed by the Republican Party was a mistake made by his campaign management team or the printer contracted by his campaign. Sciscento, who has been on the bench for 15 years, faces a challenge from Clark County Chief Deputy Public Defender Kristal Bradford. I know that mailer went out and it was an oversight, Sciscento said during an interview Wednesday, adding he has not seen a complaint filed by Veterans in Politics with the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission. It got by. I dont know how. But we pulled everything back, we made the changes, and that piece has been brought back with the change. Nevada Supreme Court rule 4.1, which addresses political campaign activities, prohibits a judge or judicial candidate from seeking, accepting, or using endorsements or publicly stated support from a political organization. A similar endorsement appears on campaign materials for Madilyn Leavitt Cole, a Clark County prosecutor who is seeking to oust Justice of the Peace Cynthia Dustin-Cruz. Veterans in Politics filed two complaints against Cole one with the Judicial Discipline Commission and another with the State Bar of Nevada. We use the same printer, and the same campaign people, Sciscento said of himself and Cole. Cecia Alvarado of Latino Outreach Solutions, who manages Sciscentos and Coles campaigns, said she was unaware of the complaints against her clients. She did not respond to requests for comment after the Current provided copies of the complaints. You dont want a judge whos saying Well, Im backed by the Republican Party or Im backed by the Democrat Party, says Bradford, Sciscentos opponent. He broke a judicial canon. He violated the law. Judges are supposed to follow the law. That is the bare minimum. And if you cant follow the law in a judicial race, which is only a few months, how can we expect you to follow the law for six years? The aura of partisanship can sour the court experience, says Bradford. Sometimes we have community members arrested for protesting. You dont want them to feel like, Man, if I get in front of this judge, who I know is backed by the Republican Party, Im going to be treated unfairly based on that, alone, or I should wear a MAGA hat so I can get preferential treatment in front of this judge. Thats why our races are nonpartisan, because we dont want to create the appearance of undue influence, she says. Bradford is unmoved by her opponents suggestion that the endorsement inclusion was an oversight. She says Sciscento or his campaign staff would have been provided a final copy to approve before printing. Red print on a blue background is not an oversight, she said. It was a risk for him, but he faces no consequences. No one has pulled endorsements, in fact, hes received more since the mailer came out. Consequences for similar alleged transgressions did befall two candidates in 2022 when the Culinary Union rescinded its endorsement of then-Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum for appearing in a group photo with supporters of then-gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo, who went on to become governor. Hispanics in Politics rescinded its endorsement of Baucum, and justice of the peace candidate Danielle Pieper Chio. Both candidates lost their races, however, Lombardo later appointed Chio to District Court. Baucum is seeking another seat in Justice Court this year. Preserving the integrity of the judicial system is vital, and all candidates must be held to this standard, read the complaints against Sciscento and Cole. By featuring the endorsement of the Republican Party in his campaign materials, it suggests political party support, something voters want to keep out of judicial elections. Sciscento, who was appointed to Justice Court Dept. 2 in 2009, and elected three times since, won 42.6% of the vote in the primary election and Bradford won 31.3%. Sciscento has been in Las Vegas since 1991. He worked with veteran attorney Dominic Gentile, former Judge Gene Porter, and former Judge Nancy Saitta. While on the bench. Ive been among the highest rated judges in Justice Court, he says. In 2019, the most recent Judging the Judges attorney survey published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sciscento had an 86% retention rate. Bradford attended UCLA and Western State College of Law. Shes been the chief deputy public defender since 2018. She says she decided to run against Sciscento because the two differ in many ways. I offer a different perspective, she said in an interview earlier this month. Me and Joseph are completely different different walks of life, different genders, different nationalities, different races. Bradford says she gained civil law and prosecutorial experience in California, before moving to Las Vegas and becoming a public defender. I had my own firm and did civil litigation, but my very first internship was at the District Attorneys office in Los Angeles, she said. So I dont come from a purely defense background. When I go into court, I am representing the people that feel very unseen and unheard. That relates to most people victim or defendant. She notes Justice Court is often a litigants first experience with the judicial system. They want it to be fair. They want it to be unbiased, she says. And because I have experienced courtrooms where I felt I was not treated fairly, I feel I can overcome that and make sure people who enter into my courtroom feel I treated them fairly, and most importantly, I followed the law. Sciscento raised $133,000 in campaign contributions as of July 15 and had $73,000 remaining. Bradford raised $13,669 and spent all but about $600. Black women are statistically underfunded in campaigns, whether thats a legislator or a judicial candidate, Bradford said. Its not fun to fundraise, but I am very proud of what I have accomplished, Im very humble and thankful for the people who have donated to me. Campaign contributions should not be the key to victory, she says in a campaign or in court. You dont want to think youre going to lose because youre up against an attorney who donated $5,000 every election to this judge, she said, adding shed prefer a series of public townhalls or debates among candidates, or a cap on fundraising. Last month the Justice Court announced it plans to end the practice of consolidating cases involving alleged criminal violations that occur on the Las Vegas Strip in whats become known as Resort Corridor Court. The justices of the peace voted to distribute the cases among eight judges. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, District Attorney Steve Wolfson, and the Nevada Resort Association voiced their displeasure in a letter to the court. Who better to decide on an individuals needs and his/her fate than a judge who is familiar with the defendants history? they wrote. Sciscento declined to say whether he voted to discontinue the court, but noted theres some good consistency because youve got one or two judges that can manage those cases, and added he expects the justices to reconsider, given the dissent from the Resort Association, Wolfson, and McMahill. I believe that it should be spread out evenly among all the justices, says Bradford, who says the volume of cases can clog the assigned departments, and because consolidation invites resorts to support the judges who oversee Resort Corridor Court. There are certain casinos that only donate to the campaigns of those holding the corridor court, she says. If the cases are spread among everyone, the resorts cant forum shop. Bradford is endorsed by the Progressive Leadership of Nevada Action Fund, the African Chamber of Commerce and Tourism PAC, and several unions. Sciscento has the backing of Nevada NOW PAC, numerous law enforcement agencies and unions, including SEIU, which represents public employees, and Culinary Local 226. Mississippi Coast teen facing murder charge gets bond reduced by $850,000. Here is why A judge reduced the bond for a 14-year-old Gulfport teen charged with second-degree murder in the September shooting death of a Harrison County High School student. Justice Court Judge Theressia A. Lyons heard evidence in the case against Javione D. Martin on Wednesday before reducing his bond on a second-degree murder charge from $1 million to $150,000. Martin is accused in the Sept. 1 shooting death of Charlie Fairley, 16. At the hearing, the judge found evidence to bind the case to a grand jury for indictment, but had reservations about the high bond initially set in the case based on evidence presented in Harrison County Justice Court. Harrison County prosecuting attorney Herman Cox asked the judge to keep the $1 million bond in place. Was money stolen? According to testimony, the shooting happened after Fairley, along with three of his friends, went to a home where Martin was visiting a friend on Robindale Road. Martin, an investigator said, and Fairley got into an argument outside over allegations that Martin had stolen some money from Fairleys uncle. When Gulfport police later responded to the scene, they found Fairley in the middle of Robindale Road with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He died a short time later at an Alabama hospital. After his arrest, Martin told investigators he had gotten the murder weapon a .9 mm silver and black handgun from a friend the day before the shooting. According to Martins attorney, Lauren Hillary, Martin claimed he had been jumped several times in the neighborhood before he got the gun. Victim had no weapon The shooting happened, the investigator said, after Fairley went to multiple homes, where he and Martin argued over the alleged stolen money. Martin, the investigator said, claimed he pulled out his handgun during the initial confrontation to try to get Fairley to get away from him, but Martin ended up hitting Fairley in the face with the gun. Fairley was not armed. After the first confrontation, Martin left and went to another home on Robindale Road, where Fairley followed along with his friends. This time, Fairley and Martin ended up arguing again until it turned into a physical fight, and Martin fired his gun, ultimately killing Fairley. After his arrest, Martin told police he didnt realize he had his finger on the trigger of the gun when it fired. Martins attorney pointed out that Fairley had been the aggressor each time he confronted Martin. MS Coast leaders demand solutions after teenagers shooting. Could parents turn in guns? After the shooting happened, Martin said he ran off at first, dropping the gun he had along the way, but then turned around and ran back to the scene to see if he could render any aid to Fairley. A horrible tragedy Martins attorney, Lauren Hillary, pointed out during questioning that Martin had tried repeatedly to get away from Fairley before the shooting happened. In addition, Hillary said Martin was fairly new to the neighborhood, having moved there with his siblings to live with their grandmother. Hillary said that since they had moved in, Martin had been jumped several times by those involved in the case. This is a horrible tragedy, Hillary said. This is a super-sad situation that I wish had not happened, and Javione wishes had not happened. But, she said, This is a situation where Javione is minding his own business when the victim rolls up with his three friends, and they are there to jump him, or they are there to hurt him. Hillary argued that her client tried repeatedly to get away from Fairley and his friends before the shooting. The attorney asked the judge to consider reducing the charge of second-degree murder based on the evidence available, which the judge declined. In addition, Hillary asked for a bond that would give Javiones family a chance to bail him out of jail before grand jury action. Hillary pointed out Martins grandmother had to move them due to threats since the shooting and that the family didnt have enough money for a $1 million bond. Cox argued the bond should remain as it is, saying a signal needs to be sent to juveniles that carrying guns is not the answer. They kept following him The judge agreed to reduce the bond to $150,000 because Martin cooperated with investigators, attempted to render aid to the victim, showed remorse for the shooting, and had no prior criminal history. I will say this: it appears in this case, Mr. Martin was at every turn trying to get away from this fight or trying to avoid it, and they kept following him, Lyons said. I appreciate the fact that he is just 14 years old, she said. I appreciate the fact that they are being raised by their grandmother. At the same time, the judge said prosecuting attorney Herman Cox was right when he suggested that a high bond is needed to send a message to other juveniles to think twice before carrying a gun and committing a crime. Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday gave former President Trump until Tuesday to file any objection to her unsealing a dossier of evidence from special counsel Jack Smith in the federal Jan. 6 election interference case. In an electronic order, Chutkan gave Trumps defense team the Oct. 1 deadline to counter Smiths claim that the public should get to see the 180-page document dump in which prosecutors make the case that Trumps alleged misdeeds were not covered by the Supreme Courts decision to grant him significant immunity. The Washington D.C. district court judge gave no hint as to when she might rule on the dispute or when the Smith filing might be made public if she sides with the government. Chutkan gave Trump a longer lead time till Oct. 10 to object to unsealing a lengthy appendix of documents Smiths team attached to the filing. With a criminal trial postponed indefinitely, a public filing would likely be the final chance before Election Day for voters to assess so-far secret evidence of Trumps effort to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. Smith says the public has a right to see as many facts as possible about Trumps scheme, including efforts to bully then-Vice President Mike Pence into going along with the so-called Stop the Steal plot to keep them in power. Trump says its all part of a Democratic-inspired witch hunt designed to smear his good name and prevent him from winning another term in the White House. The conservative Supreme Court handed Trump a major victory in July when it ruled that he enjoys immunity for crimes committed in the course of his official actions as president. Smith later obtained a streamlined new indictment that stresses the alleged crimes were private acts committed by Trump in his capacity as a candidate for reelection. Trump is already a convicted felon and is awaiting sentencing after Election Day in the Manhattan case in which a jury convicted him of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election that he won. EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville is now closed but before the abortion ban was one of two abortion providers in Kentucky. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Deborah Yetter) FRANKFORT Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said Friday he will make public nearly all of the records in a lawsuit stemming from former Attorney General Daniel Camerons attempt in June of 2023 to investigate two University of Louisville physicians who had performed abortions at EMW Womens Surgical Center. During a hearing on whether to unseal the case record, Shepherd said he will release an order early next week that will direct that documents in the case be released with the exception of one record filed with his office last year by Cameron. He also said names of the doctors would also remain confidential. At issue is a sealed lawsuit brought by the doctors and an official of EMW to quash a subpoena issued by Cameron for payroll and personnel records of the doctors. Cameron sought the records in 2023, a year after almost all abortions had been outlawed in Kentucky and the states abortion clinics had closed. A year ago Shepherd ruled in favor of the doctors, quashing the subpoena and ordering that most of the case file be unsealed. But Cameron blocked that order by immediately filing an appeal along with an emergency motion to keep the entire case a secret. On Aug. 9 a three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed Shepherds quashing of the subpoena. Its order said the subpoena amounted to a fishing expedition and that Camerons premise that tax dollars may have been illegally spent on abortions was not supported the facts of the case. The appeals court ruling did not identify the physicians or U of L or EMW as their employers. Kentucky Lantern, based on information from knowledgeable sources and details in the appeals ruling, reported the case clearly involved the two U of L physicians and EMW, which was confirmed last week in a document filed by the parties in the case. The case is now over. Current Attorney General Russell Coleman decided not to appeal the appeals courts ruling. But the appeals court referred back to Shepherd the matter of whether the file should remain sealed. Shepherd scheduled Fridays hearing to give the parties to the case as well as the public and press a chance to be heard on the matter. Kentucky Lantern and Louisville Public Media intervened in the case to argue for opening the file. Near the end of the hearing Shepherd said he would issue an order early next week that largely conforms with the position jointly taken by all parties to the original case (the doctors and the Attorney General) that the file be unsealed except for the names of the doctors and a document filed by the Attorney General last year for Shepherds in camera review that dealt with the subject of its investigation. Tom Miller, a Lexington attorney who represented Kentucky Lantern and Louisville Public Media, argued Friday that this one document may be vital and should also be disclosed. All were asking is that the attorney general be required to disclose what it was that they thought they were investigating, Miller said. But Shepherd said that other documents that will be released will satisfy that concern. I think that when you see the rest of the file that all of the questions that youre identifying are going to be fully answered, Shepherd said. Just Stop Oil supporters targeted two Van Gogh paintings after their fellow activists were jailed Just Stop Oil has thrown soup over two of Vincent Van Goghs Sunflowers paintings in a sign of defiance after two of their members were jailed for a similar protest. On Friday, three protesters entered the Van Gogh Poets and Lovers exhibition at the National Gallery in London and threw soup over Sunflowers 1889 and Sunflowers 1888. It comes after Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were jailed on Friday for two years and 20 months respectively for throwing soup over the same 1888 painting in October 2022. Just Stop Oil claims similar actions of solidarity took place in Berlin, where protesters gathered outside the British embassy holding Solidarity with the Soup Throwers signs. The National Gallery said the three activists had been arrested and the paintings remain unharmed after the incident at 2.30pm. A statement said: The paintings were removed from display and examined by a conservator and are unharmed. We are aiming to reopen the exhibition as soon as possible. In a video on social media, one protester said: Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history. Holland and Plummer, both 22, were found guilty of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court in July. During their trial, it was heard the activists, who denied damaging the painting, caused as much as 10,000 worth of damage to the frame, which prosecutors said was a piece of art in itself. The protesters, wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the 1888 work in October 2022, before kneeling down in front of the painting and gluing their hands to the wall beneath it. Visitors were escorted out by security staff, who then shut the doors to the room containing the painting. Raj Chada, defending Holland, said the women did check that the painting was protected by a glass cover before throwing the soup. Plummer, representing herself, told the hearing: My choice today is to accept whatever sentence I receive with a smile. It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself. Painted in Arles in the south of France in August 1888, Van Goghs painting shows 15 sunflowers standing in a yellow pot against a yellow background. The priceless work was the second from the National Gallery to be selected as a target for protest action by Just Stop Oil in 2022, with two supporters gluing themselves to John Constables The Hay Wain in July of that year. In a video from the attack, Plummer was heard saying: What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis. Protesters in support of Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer staged a demonstration outside Southwark Crown Court - ISABEL INFANTES/REUTERS Sentencing the eco-activists, Judge Christopher Hehir said the painting could have been seriously damaged or even destroyed. Soup might have seeped through the glass, he continued. You couldnt have cared less if the painting was damaged or not. You had no right to do what you did to Sunflowers. Judge Hehir interrupted Plummer when she referred to herself as a political prisoner. He said: This is not helping your case, youre reading from a Just Stop Oil script, and Ive heard it all before. You understand we dont have political prisoners in this country, there are people suffering in dungeons all over the world. What youre doing is making an offensive comparison. He said the pair had crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic. Addressing Plummer directly, he added: The suggestion that you and others like you who are convicted by juries of your peers are somehow a political prisoner is ludicrous, self-indulgent and offensive. Perhaps some day you will come to realise that but I fear that day is a long way off. Plummer also received a three-month jail term for her part in a slow march that caused long tailbacks in west London in November 2023. 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. An investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that a police department in the majority-Black city of Lexington, Miss., discriminated against Black people and sexually harassed women, as well as engaged in a number of other violations related to free speech, excessive force usage and funding, according to a report released Thursday. 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, said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a press release. The Justice Departments investigation uncovered that Lexington police officers have engaged in a pattern or practice of discriminating against the citys Black residents, used excessive force, and retaliated against those who criticize them, Garland added. The DOJ opened the investigation in November 2023. The DOJ report notes that the city and the Lexington Police Department (LPD) have cooperated fully with the investigation. The City and LPD have committed to working cooperatively with the department to address the violations identified in the departments findings, the report said. In the report, the DOJ said LPD officers sexually harassed women. It said these reports not only came from the women who said they experienced it, but also from people including four current and former LPD officers who claimed they witnessed it. The DOJ called the accounts of assault credible and consistent. The DOJ report states that all the women who were interviewed were Black. Just as LPD officers flout constitutional limits with their conduct, they cross professional boundaries in other ways as well particularly when interacting with women, the full report said. Four current and former LPD officers also reported that they had directly witnessed officers sexually harassing women while in uniform. The accounts of the sexual harassment were credible and consistent, the DOJ report said. The DOJ announced in the press release that the LPD and the city of Lexington engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Among the types of conduct listed, the DOJ said it found that the police department conducts stops, searches and arrests without probable cause. It also found that the LPD retaliates against people who criticize the police force, violating individuals free speech and expression rights, the release noted. The DOJ also found that the police departments funding operates under an unconstitutional conflict of interest, noting its funding depends on the money it raises through enforcement. According to the DOJs report, the LPD has made nearly one arrest for every four people in Lexington, which is more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for the state. Those arrests were primarily for low-level offenses or traffic violations, the release noted. Additionally, when making these low-level arrests, the report noted the police used tactics normally reserved for serious offenses. For example, LPD officers broke down a Black mans door to arrest him for swearing at a public official, the report said. In another case, while attempting to arrest a man for having a tinted windshield, officers followed the mans car to his house, forced their way into his home, and tased him for 15 seconds. The report also said the LPD lacks any meaningful accountability system, which allows the LPDs actions to go unchecked. The DOJ found that the LPDs strategy has put the town of about 1,200 people in debt, owing $1.7 million to the police department. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Justice Department investigation concluded that a small Mississippi town piled more than $1.7 million in fines on its residents and then jailed them in an unconstitutional debtor's prison when they couldn't pay up. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division released a report Thursday detailing a litany of alleged constitutional violations by the 10-member police department of Lexington, Mississippi, a majority-black town of about 1,200 people. Justice Department investigators found that Lexington police violated residents' rights at every stage: engaging in illegal traffic stops and searches, unconstitutionally jailing residents for unpaid fines and "investigative holds," and retaliating against anyone who criticized them. That's in addition to racial discrimination and numerous reports of sexual harassment by officers. The report concludes that a complete lack of leadership and oversight has "created a system where officers can relentlessly violate the law." "Lexington has turned the jail into the kinds of debtors' prisons Charles Dickens described in his novels written in the 1800s," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Todd Gee said in a press conference announcing the report's findings. "Only this is happening in Mississippi in 2024." The Justice Department opened an investigation into Lexington in November of 2023, a year after the former Lexington police chief resigned because he was secretly recorded using racist slurs and bragging about killing 13 people. The Justice Department report notes that, on the same day the department opened the investigation, "LPD officers chased a man accused only of disturbing a business and tased him nine times." In 2022, the Lexington Police Department adopted an expansive arrest policy for low-level and noncriminal conduct. It paired this with aggressive debt collection practices that jailed residents for unpaid fines, whether or not they could afford to pay. "Over the past two years, LPD has made nearly one arrest for every four people in town, primarily for low-level offenses and traffic violations," the report says. "That is more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for Mississippi as a whole. Many of these arrests were for non-criminal conduct, like owing outstanding fines and using profanity." Justice Department investigators found that Lexington adopted the arrest policy, its revenue from fines increased from $30,000 per year to over $240,000, roughly a quarter of the police department's budget. The Lexington municipal court is funded through the police budget, including the judge's salary. Over the same period, the amount of fines owed by Lexington residents ballooned to more than $1.7 million. Lexington police have arrested 20 people since 2022 under a 1963 city ordinance that prohibits cursing at or ridiculing police officers, despite the fact that profanity is firmly protected by the First Amendment. These arrests are often paired with excessive force. "When making low-level arrests, LPD uses tactics normally reserved for serious offenses," the report says. "For example, LPD officers broke down a Black man's door to arrest him for swearing at a public official," the Justice Department report says. "In another case, while attempting to arrest a man for having a tinted windshield, officers followed the man's car to his house, forced their way into his home, and tased him for 15 seconds." The Justice Department also found LPD officers inflated or created bogus charges to collect additional fines and illegally held people in jail without probable cause for "investigative holds." Once in jail, the department refused to release people until they paid off old fines, in addition to a $50 "processing fee," regardless of whether they could afford to. Holmes County, which includes Lexington, is one of the poorest counties in Mississippi. Those who complained, criticized, or even tried to document the Lexington police faced illegal retaliation. The report notes a highly publicized incident last year when LPD officers arrested a civil rights attorney for filming a traffic stop. "I wrote more tickets for that lawyer the other night; that's because she had diarrhea of the mouth, y'all," the arresting officer said the next day, according to the Justice Department report. "Didn't know when to shut up." In another instance, Lexington officers jailed a woman for alleged unpaid fines after she posted a comment on Facebook criticizing a traffic stop. "Body-worn camera footage shows that, after handcuffing the woman an LPD supervisor said, 'Let's see if she gon' put that one on Facebook.'" "The officers fist bumped," the report says. "The woman, who was pregnant at the time, was jailed for five days without access to court." The Lexington investigation is the latest by the Justice Department detailing widespread civil rights violations by police departments. In June, the Justice Department released the findings of a similar "pattern or practice" probe in the Phoenix Police Department. Investigators documented incidents where Phoenix police fabricated incident reports, needlessly used physical force and dangerous restraints, illegally detained homeless people and destroyed their property, delayed medical aid to wounded suspects, and assaulted people for criticizing or filming them. Last year the Justice Department also released reports on pervasive civil rights violations by police in Minneapolis and Louisville. Those are major police departments, though. The Lexington report is notable because it is the sort of small speed-trap town that usually escapes scrutiny. In 2022, the tiny town of Brookside, Alabama, became a national news story when the Birmingham News reported that its mayor and police chief were using wildly excessive fines and forfeitures to bankroll its government. The Lexington Police Department declined to comment on the report. The post Justice Department Says a Small Mississippi Town Ran a Dickensian Debtor's Prison appeared first on Reason.com. Justices suspend NKY attorney who sought to 'harass and intimidate others' The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that prominent Northern Kentucky attorney Ben Dusing is barred from practicing law for three years. The suspension stems from his conduct during custody disputes over his children with two separate women. A prominent and controversial Northern Kentucky attorney is barred from practicing law for three years, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Ben Dusings suspension stems from his conduct during custody disputes over his children with two separate women, in which Dusing threatened to blow up two attorneys In a ruling filed Thursday, justices agreed with the Kentucky Bar Associations Board of Governors October 2023 recommendation that Dusing be suspended for three years without credit for time served. Hes been temporarily suspended from practicing law since early 2022. Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter and Justices Debra Lambert, Kelly Thompson and Michelle Keller ruled in favor of the suspension. Justices Angela McCormick Bisig and Robert Conley agreed that Dusing violated ethical rules but advocated instead for permanent disbarment. In 2021, Dusing posted a threatening Facebook message in 2021 aimed at two attorneys involved in his case in Kenton County Family Court and used the word "f---," or some variation of it, almost 50 times in a roughly nine-minute video. The justices noted that the video was incredibly disturbing and threatening. Dusing has since apologized for posting the video, saying that he was advocating for court reform and was frustrated by alleged corruption in the family court process a notion the justices disputed, court records state. In their ruling, the justices outline various forms of misconduct by Dusing, including his history of engaging in frivolous litigation in family court proceedings. Dusing failed to use the laws procedures for legitimate purposes and instead intentionally sought to harass and intimidate others, the ruling states. Dusing filed several motions seeking recusal of the judge who presided over both cases, filed almost two dozen appellate actions between his two cases and sought to have an opposing attorney disqualified just days before a trials scheduled start. He also threatened the judge and opposing attorneys with disciplinary complaints and approached authorities over what he contends was criminally corrupt conduct in the proceedings, the document says. Court filings state Dusing even asked his attorney to pay a psychologist $5,000 to change a custodial evaluation. Dusing has yet to respond to an email from The Enquirer seeking comment. Attempts to reach him by phone on Friday were unsuccessful. Dusings sanction by the Kentucky Supreme Court isnt the only time his actions in family court landed him in hot water. He was ordered last year to seven days in jail years after being found in contempt of court for violating orders restricting communication with his ex-fiancee. Dusing is a former federal prosecutor who has represented high-profile clients, including Jeff Pastor, a former Cincinnati City Council member convicted of a federal corruption charge and Doug Evans, the Evans Landscaping owner convicted in a scheme to win contracts intended for minority-owned businesses. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky Supreme Court issues 3-year suspension for NKY attorney MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) A jury found Justin Johnson, also known as Straight Drop, guilty Thursday on all three counts in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. The judge sentenced him to life in prison on the murder count, and there will be a sentencing hearing Nov. 1 on the other counts. The jury deliberated for about four hours and returned the verdict just after 4 p.m. Johnsons attorney said afterward that his client was devastated by the verdict, and said he would pursue any and all avenues for appeal. On November 17, 2021, 36-year-old Adolph Thorton Jr., better known as Young Dolph, was gunned down at Makedas Cookies on Airways Boulevard near Ketchum in Memphis. After Thursdays verdict, Dolphs fiancee Mia Jaye released a statement on social media: Todays verdict brings relief and restores my confidence in the justice system, she wrote, thanking law enforcement, prosecutors and the public. The past three years, marked by the loss of Adolph and the events leading up to the trial, have been incredibly frustrating. My faith has been tested, but Adolphs tragic execution has only strengthened my resolve to fight for justice not only for him but for all Black men. The case is not yet over, however. Cornelius Smith, who testified that he and Johnson together shot Young Dolph, will have his case reset to November, prosecutor Paul Hagerman said. Its unclear how the case will affect third defendant Hernandez Govan. We will continue to make sure that all of those who are responsible for Young Dolphs death get the punishment they deserve, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said outside court. Prosecutors argued that, based on witness testimonies, a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph was put out by Anthony Mims, also known as Big Jook. Big Jook is the second high-up at CMG Records, which is a rival of Young Dolph. He is also the big brother of another Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. They claimed Johnson followed Young Dolphs car to the cookie shop parking lot, got out, shot, and killed him. A digital forensic expert took to the stand by testifying cell phone towers show where Johnson made contact around key locations before and after the shooting. An MPD investigator testified that Johnsons call history shows him calling Big Jook minutes after the fatal shooting. Young Dolph trial: Day 1 Young Dolph trial: Day 2 Young Dolph trial: Day 3 On Wednesday, Johnsons attorney asked for him to be acquitted, but the judge denied that request and said it was up to the jury. Johnson briefly took the stand and said he had chosen not to testify on his behalf. Young Dolph grew up in the Castalia Heights neighborhood, blocks from where he died. He was the owner of record label Paper Route Empire. In 2016, he released his debut album, King of Memphis. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday morning after making landfall on Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday night in the Big Bend region of Florida. The storm left a wake of destruction along Floridas Gulf Coast late Thursday night. Multiple cities reported severe flooding due to the storm, and videos posted on social media showed houses floating away due to storm surge flooding. Surges were reported to rise as high as nine feet in some areas. Nearly one million people were reported to have lost power in Florida because of Helene. By Friday morning, the storm had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and entered Georgia. Videos posted to social media as the storm hit Georgia showed strong wind gusts estimated to be around 60 miles per hour, heavy rain, and transformers blowing out in and around Savannah. After weakening to a tropical storm, Helenes effects were reportedly felt in North and South Carolina shortly after 4 a.m. At 409 AM, emergency management reported numerous road closures, ongoing water rescues, and flooded homes across Haywood County, WLOS, an ABC affiliate in Asheville, North Carolina, posted on its X account. Featured Local Savings The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported high tide levels and tornado warnings in Charleston, South Carolina, after 5 a.m. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The NOAA also issued tornado warnings for areas in eastern Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Tropical Storm Helenes impact could extend as far inland to the southern Appalachian region, according to the Weather Channel. Rainfall from the storm could cause catastrophic flooding in this area. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Two West Michigan K-9s are going head to head to see who can raise money for a bullet-resistant vest faster. K-9 Red from the Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post is taking on K-9 Kratos from the Hart Post to raise funds for the vest, MSP said in a social media post. The fundraising efforts are through 3030, which helps raise funds for K-9 units, first responders or other emergency community needs. It takes on 30 campaigns for 30 days. Ive got her: Video shows MSP K-9, trooper find missing teen after 4-mile trek Both fundraisers are working to buy a bullet-resistant vest for the K-9s. The K-9 that fundraises faster will get a treat from Biggby Coffee, MSP said. One of these canines has NEVER had a pup cup, MSP said in a tweet. As of Friday around noon, the two fundraisers were neck and neck, with one taking a slight lead. The fundraiser for Red with the Grand Rapids post had raised $830, while the fundraiser for Kratos with the Hart post had raised $1,000. The goal for each fundraiser is $3,500. Any surplus funds will go toward other K-9 needs. 3030 recently helped the Grand Rapids Police Department fundraise to buy vests for eight K-9s. Along with bullets, the vests can also protect the dogs from things like stabbings, shrapnel and other hazards. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kamala Harris headed to the southern border on Friday as she seeks to burnish a tougher image on border security and immigration. The Democratic presidential nominee will hold an event in Douglas, Ariz. to tout her policies to limit the number of illegal crossings and close the gap with former President Trump among voters on perceptions of handling the border. She will call for more resources for border patrol officers and stepped-up enforcement to stop trafficking of drugs like fentanyl, a Harris campaign official told reporters in a preview of the event. American sovereignty requires setting rules at the border and enforcing them, the official said. (Harris will) reject the false choice between securing the border and creating an immigration system that is safe, orderly and humane arguing we must do both to protect our countrys security and enduring legacy as a nation of immigrants. Harris plans to slam Trump as she has done for months over his decision to torpedo a border security compromise with conservative Republicans because the GOP candidate suspected the deal could hurt his campaign. The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games, Harris plans to say, according to her campaign. Trump counters by branding Harris as a failed so-called border czar because she was tasked by Biden to improve conditions in the so-called northern triangle of Central America. The former president says Harris and Biden bear responsibility for millions of migrants and asylum-seekers who have crossed into the U.S. on their watch. Harris trumpets the executive action taken by President Biden after the collapse of that deal with Congress for significantly reducing the number of migrants crossing the border between Mexico and the U.S. Monthly border crossings are now at low levels similar to those in the last months of the Trump administration in 2020, a tentative policy success that has blunted a key political edge for Trump and his Republican allies. Harris wants to convince voters that its a false choice to pick either tough border security or a humane immigration policy. She hopes to forge a deal that could create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. along with new rules to allow others to come legally instead of simply crossing the border. The Harris campaign also unveiled a new ad on Friday that will run in Arizona and other battleground states. In the 30-second spot, entitled Never Back Down, the narrator outlines parts of the border deal. She will secure our border. Heres her plan hire thousands of more border agents, enforce the law and step up technology and stop fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking, a narrator says in the ad. We need a leader with a real plan to fix the border and thats Kamala Harris. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit a city at the heart of the nations immigration issues on Friday to pitch her vision for border security and combat attacks from former President Donald Trump. Harris has just six weeks left to convince voters shed do a better job with immigration than her Republican opponent, an issue Arizonans name as a top factor as they consider who to vote for on Nov. 5. And right now, polls show that more voters say they trust Trump to handle the issue more effectively than Harris. The purpose for her trip is to attempt to define, or redefine, the immigration narrative, said Morgan Bailey, an attorney who previously served as deputy chief of staff at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. She's walking this really fine political tightrope of border security versus humanitarian challenges. Arizona is home to the nations busiest border corridor and has the most fortified stretch of border in the country. Trump and Harris are locked in a contentious race in the state, where the latest polls show a close contest with Trump gaining ground. Both campaigns see Arizona, with its 11 electoral votes, as a must-win battleground state. Harris became the Democratic nominee just last month, and in that time Trump has worked to define her immigration position on his terms. Trump took a recent trip to the Arizona-Mexico border to paint Harris as a radical leftist and tie her to violent accounts of migrant crime. Now, Harris will use the same Arizona county as the backdrop to define her immigration policy views herself. Trump will continue to try to paint a picture of her as being soft on allowing individuals to come to the United States without a legal basis, Bailey said. So it's a benefit for her to go and to speak on these issues and to make it clear what her policies and priorities are. Trump bashed Harris for her border trip in a post on X, saying she has destroyed the very fabric of our Nation because border crossings increased during the Biden administration. During her visit to Douglas, a border city of 15,500 in Cochise County, Harris plans to hit back at Trump for his role in sinking a bipartisan border bill that stalled in Congress earlier this year. Trump urged Republicans to block the bill to deny President Joe Biden an election-year victory. This bipartisan bill that she references a lot, it was derailed by her opponent. I think it points to the fact that Donald Trump and his allies, they like to run on problems, they don't like to run on solutions, said Cesar Fierros, communications director for advocacy group Living United for Change in Arizona. That's something that she's going to point out, and I think that's going to further turn voters off, once they become more educated on what actually Trump is trying to do when it comes to immigration. Previewing her border trip, Harris promised in a TV interview to resurrect the legislation. She noted that it would have put 1,500 new border agents on the southern border, added funding to block the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and "put more resources into our ability to prosecute transnational criminal organizations." We do have a broken immigration system. And it needs to be fixed, Harris said on 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. 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. Harris is facing the challenge of satisfying the Democratic base with her immigration policies, while also appealing to the moderate voters and Republicans that her campaign is trying to win over in Arizona. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, a Republican who praised Trump during the former presidents border trip, said he has mixed emotions about Harris visit coming so late in her term as vice president. Are we coming for political reasons, or are we coming to actually engage a border that needs help? said Dannels. The Biden administration has shifted rightward on immigration over the last three years. Most recently, Biden signed an executive order placing new restrictions on asylum at the southern border in June. As her campaign takes shape, Harris has faced questions on her immigration views, including her past promise to give a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers. Still, Harris immigration policies are a major contrast to Trump, who has pledged to conduct mass deportations if he returns to the White House and made false claims about migrants eating housepets in Ohio. Harris focus on bringing back the bipartisan immigration bill was welcome news for some border experts in Arizona. We have to wait and see if they do bring that bill back, if there are any changes. But there were a lot of provisions in there that we did like, said Luis Ramirez Thomas, president of Ramirez Advisors Inter-National, a government affairs and economic development firm that describes itself as specializing in "cross-border business solutions." "Additional funding for customs personnel, there was some funding for infrastructure," he said. "Was it the ideal bill to meet everybody's needs? No, but it was certainly a step in the right direction." During her time in the state, Harris will go to the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry for official briefings on operations and progress on disrupting the flow of fentanyl through the southern border. Fierros, the LUCHA spokesman, said he hopes Harris takes a broader view of immigration during her remarks. What we want is to be not just so strictly focused on what's happening on the border or in regards to border security, Fierros said. But also the fact that this country has a long history of positive contributions that immigrants have made to this country, and also the fact that there's a big need for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kamala Harris heads to Arizona to counter border criticism For the third straight presidential election cycle, Arizona is setting a record for campaign stops by the major-party candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris' Friday visit to Douglas will be the 17th such trip to Arizona for a member of the White House ticket since the start of 2023 and reflects the states battleground status. An Arizona Republic review of presidential visits shows the state had 33 total visits over six election cycles from 1992 through 2012. From 2016 to now, it has already had 45. The Republic only counted visits in the year of or year before a presidential election. Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2016 by fewer than 4 percentage points, a historically low margin for a Republican. Four years later, President Joe Biden won the state by about 0.3 percentage points. His margin of less than 11,000 votes was the closest of any state Biden won. These results, along with a string of statewide wins for Democrats in the Trump era, explain Arizonas relatively newfound political relevance. Its no small thing for both parties to spend the time and cost of traveling across the country for what are typically brief events. In this case, Harris travels to a border town with fewer than 16,000 residents to discuss border security, an issue of national significance and one usually seen as a strength for Trump. But it also demonstrates the Democrats efforts to keep the state in their column. Harris has already made seven trips to Arizona in the past two years, most of them while Biden topped the ticket for Democrats. Throw in her one solo appearance in Arizona in the 2020 campaign, and she has made eight visits here. Former President Barack Obama, whose 2008 campaign put him against Arizonas U.S. Sen. John McCain, had four campaign stops. Biden made five between his time as Obamas vice president and his two subsequent presidential campaigns. McCain visited his home state throughout 2008 but held only two formal campaign appearances in a state he always expected to carry with little effort. No one has made more appearances in Arizona than Trump, who has had 17 campaign appearances. That doesnt count a 2021 Phoenix appearance before the current election cycle got underway. A visit to the border shouldnt come as a surprise. The Republic found that of 78 presidential campaign visits since 1991, only 29 were focused in Phoenix. Tucson, the states second-largest population center, hosted eight. The rest, 43 in all, were held elsewhere around a state that has provided helpful backdrops for the campaigns in different ways over the years. In September 1991, President George H.W. Bush made his first visit to the state since entering the White House with a trip to the Grand Canyon to praise a deal to help alleviate haze over the national park. The appearance also was a chance to boost his case that he cared about environmental concerns. In January 2012, Obama visited Intels chip-making facilities in Chandler in a trip most remembered for then-Gov. Jan Brewer wagging her finger in the presidents face on a tarmac. In August 2020, Trump visited Yuma to highlight his border policies during the Democratic National Convention. Arizona was long an electoral afterthought, with Republicans safely carrying the state all but once from 1952 through 2012. The only exception was 1996, when President Bill Clinton narrowly defeated U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., with help from conservative Reform Party candidate Ross Perot siphoning votes from the GOP. Dole made four stops in Arizona that cycle, including a predawn visit to a Phoenix diner the day before the election as part of a cross-county blitz. Clinton made three stops in the state. One of them was a September 1995 speech in Sun City that included a visit with former Republican senator and 1964 presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, who was in a hospital. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kamala Harris' latest Arizona visit is a campaign record. Here's why DOUGLAS Standing where Republicans have long dared her to go, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Arizonas border with Mexico on Friday and said it is former President Donald Trump who isnt serious about border security. In a major policy speech in Douglas outlining twin priorities on the issue of border security and immigration reform, Harris took Trump to task for the unsolved problems along the border and vowed to provide meaningful leadership on an issue familiar to her. I reject the false choice that suggests we must either choose between securing our border or creating a system of immigration that is safe, orderly and humane. We can and we must do both, Harris said during her 26-minute speech at Cochise College. Trump ripped toddlers out of their mothers arms, put children in cages, and tried to end protections for dreamers. He made the challenges at the border worse, and he is still and he is still fanning the flames of fear and division. But Harris' speech in Douglas showed she is willing to take a much tougher stance on border security and illegal immigration along the southern border that is more in line with Republicans and Trumps stance. Harris said as president she would take further action to continue a policy implemented by the Biden administration in June to keep the border closed between ports of entry. Under the Biden administration policy, asylum seekers who cross the border illegally instead of through legal border crossings face quick deportation and are barred from seeking asylum. Previously under the Biden administration, a large majority of asylum seekers who crossed the border illegally between ports of entry were processed and then released into the U.S. while their asylum cases were pending in immigration courts, a process that can take years and allows asylum seekers to put down roots, making it less likely they will ever leave, even if they lose their asylum cases. Under the previous Biden administration policy, millions of asylum seekers were allowed into the United States. The Biden administrations new border policy has received criticism from immigrant rights and advocacy groups who say the policy restricts asylum to people who qualify under law. Harris said as president she would also crack down on illegal border crossers who she promised to deport quickly and bar from reentering for five years. Repeat crossers would face criminal penalties. Those policies would mark a return to stricter border policies first put into place under previous Democrat and Republican administrations but for the most part were paused under the Biden administration. Harris' policy speech capped an afternoon that began with a briefing on operations and progress on disrupting the flow of fentanyl from U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the entry port in Douglas. She later turned Trumps signature political issue as an argument against him. She blamed Trump for the defeat of a bipartisan bill negotiated earlier this year in part by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., that she supports and would have boosted resources to help manage the border. He did so, Harris said, to ensure President Joe Biden didnt get a legislative victory in an election year and showed Americans how much he really cares about the issue. It was the strongest border-security bill we have seen in decades. It was endorsed by the Border Patrol union, and it should be in effect today, producing results in real time, right now for our country, she said. But Donald Trump tanked it. He picked up the phone and called some friends in Congress and said stop the bill. Because you see, he prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. Harris cited her tenure as Californias attorney general, saying she walked through smugglers tunnels who trafficked guns, drugs and people and prosecuted such criminals. Republicans assailed Harris ahead of her visit, saying a spike in illegal border crossings came on her watch and after Biden named her his border czar. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., whose congressional district includes most of Cochise County, knocked Harris' trip as a photo opportunity. Vice President Harris visit to the border smells like nothing more than a photo opportunity to try and score political points. For three and a half years, the vice president has been in a position to address this crisis but instead she has ignored it, he said in a statement. If she was truly serious about addressing the crisis at the border, she would have done something as the sitting vice president to help border communities that have been calling for help. After the Harris event, the Trump campaign denounced her visit as "a photo op and disgusting speech designed as political cover for the invasion she has brought on the American people over the past four years." Gina Swoboda, Arizona Republican Party chair, said the states residents have lived with the destructive policies of Kamala Harris open-border agenda for nearly four years now." "An eleventh hour visit to the scene of the crime by Border Czar Kamala is just another desperate attempt to score political points and cover up the absolute havoc she created," Swoboda said. "Make no mistake, if elected, Kamala Harris would only worsen the crisis that continues to destroy our communities and fuel a drug epidemic, which has stolen thousands of American lives and cost Arizona taxpayers over $58 billion." Seeking a reset on a thorny issue But the optics of Harris at the Arizona-Mexico border didnt seem a one-sided admission of failure that Trump and his allies may have wanted. There were no sizable protests. Illegal entries have waned compared with the record numbers of illegal border crossings earlier in the Biden administration. She urged the border-security bill to do more now than Trump would allow. During her tour of the border wall, Harris received briefings about efforts to combat traffickers and transnational criminal organizations from Customs and Border Protection officials from the Tucson Sector and Douglas Border Patrol Station. She visited a portion of the wall that was constructed from 2011 to 2012, a White House official said. Harris first stop was the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Douglas, where tall metal slats are wrapped in barbed wire. Harris said that Border Patrol agents have a tough job as she walked into the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry. Theyve got a tough job. And they need, rightly, support to do their job. And they work long hours, theyre very dedicated. And so Im here to talk to them about what we can do to support them and thank them for the hard work they do, Harris told reporters. A visit seeking more than Arizona votes Harris relatively brief visit to Arizona was her seventh since last year, and may have been her most important. The border has long seemed a political millstone for Democrats, a place where the party splinters on policy and the results are out of step with broad public opinion. The nonpartisan Pew Research Center released new survey data Friday that found 96% of Trump supporters and 80% of Harris supporters want increased border security. Nearly 90% of Trump supporters favor the kind of mass deportations for illegal immigrants that Trump is promising in a second term, as do 27% of Harris supporters. Trump has visited the border in Arizona and elsewhere taking what amounted to victory laps for his signature border wall and helped push the issue to the national fore. Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have each visited the southern border in Sierra Vista, a city in rural Cochise County. Trump attacked Harris on Friday for going to the border, even as Republicans long criticized her for not doing so. Border Czar Kamala Harris has decided, for political reasons, that its time for her to go to our broken Southern Border. What a disgrace that she waited so long, Trump said in a post on X. 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! When she speaks, be advised that this woman has allowed more than 21 million people into our Country, totally unvetted, and from places unknown. They are now creating criminal havoc all throughout the Country. Playing up past prosecutions To counter Trumps edge on the issue, the Harris campaign has touted her past role as attorney general of California. The vice president has sought to remind voters that she prosecuted criminals who trafficked guns, drugs and human beings during her time as Californias top prosecutor. On Friday, she sought to directly rebut his advantage on the issue with a message that acknowledged conditions arent acceptable and Trump himself is a barrier to better security. The port in Douglas offered another political point for Harris as well: It is being revamped using $400 million in funding from the infrastructure law negotiated by Sinema and signed by Biden. The funding will revitalize the existing port and build a second one over the next several years, as part of what officials call the Two-Port Solution. Harris visit may help shore up her standing in Arizona, where public polls show another razor-thin race. But her visit addressed an issue of interest far beyond a single swing state or the nations border states. Her support for the border-security bill isnt a new line of attack for Harris. She promised to resurrect the bill during a TV interview on Wednesday, saying that it would have put 1,500 new border agents on the southern border, added funding to block the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and put more resources into our ability to prosecute transnational criminal organizations. We do have a broken immigration system. And it needs to be fixed, Harris said during an interview on 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. 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. Illegal entries fall after Biden order Border crossings hit record highs under President Joe Biden, a fact that Trump has played up during his campaign. However, travel was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns during the Trump administration, complicating comparisons. Now, encounters at the border are trending down after Biden signed an executive order in June aimed at curtailing the number of asylum seekers entering the U.S. Federal officials saw a 40% decrease in migrant encounters in the month after Biden signed the executive order. In the Tucson sector, which has the highest number of encounters along the entire southern border, migrant encounters dropped by nearly half from June to July. The last time Harris was in Arizona, she held a packed rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The vice president also paid a visit to the Cocina Adamex restaurant in downtown Phoenix. Trump followed suit at the same venue in Glendale and drew a crowd that matched or exceeded hers in a sign of his continued popularity with Republicans. After Harris visit Friday, Arizona will have seen at least one presidential candidate or major surrogate per week during September. Vance campaigned in Phoenix at the beginning of the month, followed by vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz swing through Tempe and Mesa the following week. Trump held a rally in Tucson in mid-September, and Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, campaigned for his wife in the same city on the same day. Walzs wife, Gwen Walz, made a solo trip to Arizona last week, going from Phoenix to Flagstaff to court voters. Why Douglas? Here's why Kamala Harris is visiting this Arizona border city Arizona Republic reporter Sarah Lapidus contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kamala Harris in Arizona: She's in state to tout border message Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Douglas, Ariz., on Friday where she is expected to push for a border security bill that would provide funding for border agents and speak out against the flow of illegal fentanyl into the United States. Photo by Al Drago/UPI Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday where she is expected to target the flow of illegal fentanyl into the country and call for more resources for border agents, campaign officials said. Harris will travel to Douglas, Ariz., the site of the state's second longest port of entry along the border with Mexico where a campaign aide told USA Today she will stress that she is "pushing the toughest bipartisan border security plan in a generation." She is expected to express continued support for the bill that aimed to fund the Southwest border and expand the power of the president to use emergency authority to shut down the border to stem unauthorized border crossings once they hit a certain level. The measure had Republican support in the House as part of a broader National Security Supplemental until House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called it "dead on arrival" after former President Donald Trump spoke out against it. "[Harris will] reject the false choice between securing the border and creating an immigration system that is safe, orderly and humane, arguing we must do both to protect our country's security and enduring legacy as a nation of immigrants," a campaign spokesperson told The Hill. Harris is also set to meet with border patrol agents during the trip. She has faced criticism from Trump, the Republican nominee, who has said she has been ineffective since President Joe Biden tasked her with leading efforts to stem immigration at the southern border in 2021. "After almost four years, Border Czar Kamala Harris has decided, for political reasons, that it's time for her to go to our broken southern border," Trump said on X. "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." Harris visited El Paso in June 2021, four months after being placed in charge of the border efforts, where she called for solutions to tackle the "root causes" of immigration. Kamala Harris heads to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday seeking to repair one of her most serious perceived vulnerabilities, and take on Donald Trumps fearmongering over illegal immigration. The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games, the vice president planned to say, according to a senior Harris campaign official. Harris will turn the tables, and blame the ex-president for the immigration crisis at the southern border by spotlighting his leading role last spring in killing a bipartisan deal to curb illegal border crossings. A preview of her speech in Douglas, Arizona, across from neighboring Agua Prieta in Mexico, focuses not on the surreal, far-right pet-eating conspiracies espoused by Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, but on Trumps record. He demanded that congressional Republicans whom he largely controls reject a border enforcement bill negotiated by senators on both sides of the aisle. Trump has long viewed bipartisan governance as weak, and a political win for vulnerable Democratic congressional candidates in this high-stakes election cycle could have stung the GOP. On Friday, Harris plans to announce that, if elected, shell reintroduce the bill, which would multiply border agents and strengthen asylum laws. Shell tout her experience as a former prosecutor taking on drug and human smuggling cartels and announce that stopping the flow of lethal fentanyl across the border will be a top priority, the senior campaign aide said. Harris will propose adding new fentanyl detection machines at U.S. entry points. An ad touting her proposals is running in Arizona and other border states. The Democratic candidates trip to the border is designed to counter claims by Trump and his MAGA allies that Harris and the Biden administration opened the floodgates to illegal aliens. Both Trump and Vance have spread outlandish claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been stealing and eating residents pet dogs and cats, leading a group to seek criminal charges against them. The Trump campaign on Friday ridiculed Harris, whom Trump routinely calls the Biden administration's border czar, for taking a trip to the border to rewrite the past 44 months of chaos, crime, and bloodshed caused by her open border policy. Campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said voters are smart enough to realize Kamala Harris has been in charge of the border for four years and she has failed." As anti-immigration sentiment among voters has soared, according to Gallup polling, Trump and Vance have hammered the issue constantly on the campaign trail. At a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, last weekend, Trump declared, I am your border president, your border president. Kamala would be your invasion president. Recent polls show that even as Harris matches or surpasses Trump in national head-to-head polls, the GOP candidate still owns the immigration narrative. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll finds a significant number of voters trust Trump over Harris to handle the issue of the border. But Harris campaign advisers think the Democrats visit to the border Friday will help narrow the gap on her longstanding political vulnerability. 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. Kamala Harris will speak at this school. What to know about Cochise College Kamala Harris is visiting southern Arizona and the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday. Harris will be in Douglas on Friday, where she will tour a port of entry being revitalized by $400 million that was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The visit will be Harris first to the southern border since becoming the Democratic nominee and comes just six weeks before Election Day. Immigration is a vulnerable issue for Harris. Harris is expected to hit back at the former president and address border security concerns when shes in the state on Friday. Here's what to know about Douglas and Cochise College, where Harris is expected to make an appearance. Where is Kamala Harris speaking in Arizona? In addition to visiting the U.S.-Mexico border, Harris is expected to give a policy speech at the Cochise College's Douglas Campus, according to the Harris campaign. Election coverage: Is Arizona a swing state in the 2024 presidential election? Here's what to know What is Cochise College? Cochise College is a two-year public community college with campuses in several southern Arizona communities, including Douglas, Benson and Sierra Vista. Cochise College started in 1964 as one of Arizona's first community colleges. Now, nearly 11,000 students attend the school each year. Where is Cochise College's Douglas Campus? Cochise College's Douglas Campus, which opened in 1964, is situated between Douglas and Bisbee to better serve the southern Arizona communities, according to the community college. The school is located at 4190 West Highway 80, Douglas. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Where is Cochise College? Why Kamala Harris spoke at Arizona school The Scene Gavin Newsoms against it. Some Democrats in tight races are for it. And nobodys sure what Kamala Harris thinks about it. On Nov. 5, Californians will get a chance to pass Proposition 36, a measure that would roll back some of the criminal justice reforms passed by voters 10 years ago popular at first, then widely and conveniently blamed for a post-COVID spike in crime. Last week, a respected statewide pollster found Harris easily winning her home state, but clocked a 45-point lead for the ballot measure. I wondered which state I was living in, Newsom said at a press conference when asked about the PPIC poll results. Its about mass incarceration The impact its going to have on the Black and brown community is next level. Yet the vice president has not taken a position on the measure, or said how shell vote on it. The Harris campaign declined to comment when asked by Semafor. Thats not new for Harris: As attorney general, she never took a position on Proposition 47, the package of reforms that downgraded most thefts of under $950 to misdemeanors, and passed by 19 points. There were some procedural reasons behind her silence at the time, though. She followed the well-trodden and eminently defensible path of declining to take a position because of her offices legally mandated role in objectively calling balls and strikes while summarizing the initiative into a title and summary to appear on ballots, said Dan Newman, a strategist for Harris when she served as AG. Staying neutral in 2014, he argued, might have even been riskier politically than endorsing a measure with plenty of crossover appeal. Ten years later, Proposition 47 is a soft target for retailers, law enforcement, and politicians who blame progressive reforms for violent crime and retail theft. Donald Trump has falsely claimed that Harris supported the measure that was her that did that and folded it into a campaign thats swamping swing states with ads about violent criminals. Some on the right think they can push her to take sides on the newer ballot initiative. Its interesting, given how shes been so willing to buck the progressive orthodoxy on every single issue over the last few weeks, said Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator and strategist whos campaigned for Proposition 36, and is considering a run for governor in 2026. Youd think its a no brainer. Know More Democrats tried to head off Proposition 36 for more than a year, and Newsoms argued that voters top concerns about retail theft are being handled right now, without undoing a historic reform. We didnt just wake up to this issue, Newsom said last month as he signed a law that would make repeated retail theft a felony, not a misdemeanor. But the party isnt united on what to do; Orange County Sen. Dave Min, trying to hold a swing seat vacated by Rep. Katie Porter, endorsed Proposition 36 days before that bill-signing. Democrats failed to persuade voters even Democratic voters that tinkering around the edges of the problem with some pieces of legislation was a compelling answer to the videos they see on the news every few days of gangs of ruffians swarming retail outlets to commit smash-and-grab robberies, said longtime Democratic strategist Garry South. And Republicans are united in favor of the measure, a change from 2014, when many conservatives endorsed lower sentencing requirements and smaller jail populations. Its the first step forward in making crime illegal again, said James Shook, the campaign manager for Rep. Kevin Kiley, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2021 recall election against Newsom and has campaigned extensively for Proposition 36. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, elected in 2022, faces a recall vote in five weeks, powered by anger at a crime spike that preceded her tenure. In Los Angeles County, DA George Gascon is trailing a former Republican in his bid for a second term. PPICs poll showed Proposition 36 with overwhelming support in the Democratic county; Harris, who endorsed Gascon in 2020, has stayed neutral in the race this year. Democrats trying to beat the new proposition say that Harris staying on the sidelines isnt a concern for them or a surprise, given the record. She had her own initiatives as San Francisco district attorney and as California attorney general. She helped craft the language for Proposition 47, and implemented it, but it was never her personal project. Obviously, the vice president has bigger fish to fry, and a lot of things on her plate in Pennsylvania and Michigan and Georgia, said Anthony York, a spokesman for the No on Proposition 36 coalition. Our campaign was not predicated on support from the vice president, but a lot of us involved in this campaign have her back. And theres an overlap. Were using some of the same messaging were not going back, either. But as it comes to her actual support, were not spending a lot of time worrying about it. Supporters of the proposition expect her to stay away, too. Weve seen from the polling that the public is fed up with retail theft and wants change, said Matt Ross, a spokesman for Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft. Thats why this is doing so well, regardless of what politicians are saying, on one side or the other. Davids view Its the same recurring question about Harris 2024: How many of her old views, statements, and agenda shes willing to stick with. The Trump campaign portrays the 2020 vintage Harris as the real one, a San Francisco liberal who wants to redirect money from the police to social services and stop deporting illegal immigrants. Campaign tactics work best if theyve been road-tested before the election, and were in year four of Republicans accusing criminal justice reformers of abetting retail theft and migrant crime. Harris was a reformer but she moved left, with Democratic activists, in the Trump years rather than in her prosecutor days. In this campaign, Harris has shifted her emphasis, talking about her own gun ownership while supporting an assault weapons ban, talking about prosecuting foreign criminals while, in the right settings, reminding voters that she wants a pathway to citizenship for most migrants. So, Harris has not said whether shell support a ballot measure that rebuts one of Trumps most common attacks. Thats not a huge surprise; Axioss Alex Thompson has built a beat out of Harriss non-answers to questions about her old positions. (Ive wondered whether there are just so many shipwrecked Resistance-era ideas and chants that they blur together in a cloud of oops for voters at this point.) The inevitable-looking gutting of Proposition 47 is, nonetheless, a big thing for Harris not to comment on. At the time, it represented a left/right convergence around the idea that too many people were filling prisons for minor offenses. Newt Gingrich, who endorsed Proposition 47, once asked voters to imagine you have the power to decide the fate of someone addicted to heroin who is convicted of petty shoplifting. He told Semafor that he still supported the principle, but understood the backlash. I believe adamantly, for non-violent crimes in particular, that you want to have a much better system of reintegrating people into society, Gingrich said. My sense is that she has a dilemma. In the black community, which she has to carry by a big margin, theres not a great deal of affection for locking so many people up. Notable In the Los Angeles Times, Mackenzie Mays digs into an example of the reform policies Harris does want to talk about: Treating child sex workers not as criminals, but as victims. In many other ways, Harris had been a cautious politician during her time in California. In the New York Times, Robert Draper looks at what Harris prioritized when she was a prosecutor: Her rise from strong-willed law enforcement official to standard-bearer in liberal Democratic politics is unusual and, some might conjecture, mutually incompatible. Trump has his own home-state ballot issue. He waffled on an abortion rights amendment that would undo the states six-week ban before ultimately coming out against it last month. Kamala Harris takes aim at Trump on first visit to US border in three years Kamala Harris talks to Border Patrol agents in Arizona on only her second visit to the border as vice-president Kamala Harris has visited the southern US border for the first time in three years in an attempt to confront her electoral vulnerabilities on immigration. The US vice-president viewed a port of entry between Mexico and the battleground state of Arizona on Friday afternoon before holding a rally in the border town of Douglas. The Democratic presidential candidate used her visit to attack Donald Trump on an issue that has been central to his campaign, and a major weakness of her own, accusing her Republican rival of fanning the flames of fear and division with his language on immigration. Ms Harris also called for more punitive measures for people crossing the border illegally. I will take further action to keep the border closed between ports of entry. Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from re-entering for five years, she said. It marked her first visit to the southern border since June 2021, and only her second as vice-president, despite being tasked by Joe Biden with stemming the flow of migrants from Latin America into the US early in his term. Ms Harris said she would take further action to keep the border closed in her speech in Douglas, Arizona - Reuters/Go Nakamura Ms Harris has struggled with the brief and, while it does not include oversight of the physical border, the Trump campaign has used it to brand her a failed border tsar. On Friday, Trump blamed Ms Harris for the rising trend of irregular migration. The architect of this destruction is Kamala Harris, he said, at Trump Tower in Manhattan. She keeps talking about how she supposedly wants to fix the border. We would merely ask, Why didnt she do it four years ago? Its a very simple question. Ms Harriss first border visit in 2021 followed intense political pressure amid an unfolding crisis, with border facilities overrun and asylum seekers being held in squalid conditions. Kamala Harris at the border between Mexico and California during her time as the states attorney-general - Alamy When Ms Harris was asked why she had not yet visited the border in an interview at the time, she replied: I havent been to Europe [either]. It was seen as a PR disaster and her trip to El Paso, Texas, followed shortly afterwards. Conditions on the southern border have since improved, with shelters seeing a sharp decline in numbers and official data over the summer recording the number of apprehensions is at the lowest level since Mr Biden entered office. However, immigration remains an electoral millstone for Ms Harris White House run, with polls consistently showing voters trust her far less than Trump on border security and tackling illegal immigration. In Douglas, Ms Harris spoke to Customs and Border Protection officials and viewed part of a border barrier constructed between 2011 and 2012, during the Obama administration. She also drew on her past work tackling international gangs of drug and people traffickers in California and said she would target the entire global fentanyl supply chain. As a former attorney general from a border state, she took on international gangs and criminal organisations who traffic drugs, guns, and human beings, and she has long believed we need an immigration system that is secure, fair, orderly and humane, a stark contrast from the divisive and dangerous politics of Donald Trump, a Harris campaign aide said. Ms Harris has previously highlighted her support for the tough bipartisan border security legislation that would have granted Mr Biden sweeping powers to shut down the border on days when crossings exceeded a certain threshold, toughen criteria for asylum claims and fund more border agents and deportation flights. The legislation was blocked from advancing through Congress by Republican senators following a lobbying campaign by Trump who said he did not want to give Mr Biden a win on the border in an election year. Ms Harris frequently highlights her opponents intervention to paint him as a political opportunist. He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution, because he wants to run on a problem, instead of fixing a problem, she told MSNBC in an interview this week. While Trump has promised to carry out mass deportations and other measures to remove both illegal and legal migrants from the country, Ms Harris has attempted a more delicate juggling act. She has supported tough action to secure the border against illegal immigration, while also backing a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. Ms Harris has gained some ground among Hispanic voters, a significant voting bloc in Arizona, but Trump still holds a narrow lead in the state. It will be critical to winning the White House on Nov 5. 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. Police were called during a Thornton Township, Illinois, budget meeting when an argument broke out between township supervisor Tiffany Henyard and a township trustee. The meeting was set to address the fact that the township was operating without a fiscal budget, but trustee Carmen Carlisle shifted the focus to Henyards history of lavish spending on the taxpayers dollar. Carlisle applauded former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for her investigation into Henyards spending habits as the mayor of Dolton, Illinois, a suburb of the Windy City. Lightfoots audit revealed that under Henyards leadership, the villages credit cards paid for nine domestic trips, $43,000 spent on Amazon in one day, $8,000 of purchases at Wayfair, and $2,000 spent at Best Buy. These are somebody using the credit card and charging these amounts using your tax dollars, Lightfoot said. Lightfoot found Doltons general fund balance at a $3.65 million deficit. When Heynard took office in April 2022, the town had a surplus of $5.6 million. "I would welcome her to come and do the same thing here at Thornton Township," Carlisle said. Featured Local Savings Henyard accused Carlisle of attacking her. "This is what I mean about my board," Henyard said, per CBS News Chicago. "It's a lot of hate, jealousy, and envy amongst them towards their supervisor. Carlisle and Henyard then began to argue, accusing each other of being liars. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER At one point during public comment, someone compared Henyard to an animal, prompting the police to be called. This is not the first time authorities have been called into a meeting involving Henyard. In April, law enforcement shut down a Dolton town hall meeting over safety concerns that a brawl would break out involving Henyard and residents. None of this had to happen: Firefighter who got $1.3M after abuse says KCFD failed her The Kansas City Council approved a $1.3 million settlement Tuesday afternoon for a 61-year-old Kansas City firefighter and paramedic who filed multiple suits against the department after years of being harassed by colleagues because of her age, gender and her identity as a lesbian. Its the largest settlement in city history for a discrimination case involving the fire department. Rebecca Reynolds filed multiple lawsuits against the city in the past year or so. As part of the settlement, she agreed to dismiss two other pending suits and to resign from the fire department. Reynolds will also abstain from filing a third lawsuit addressing the most recent set of harassment claims, according to a Thursday news release from her attorney Bert Braud of the Popham Law Firm. But despite the settlement from the city, Braud said in the statement that no disciplinary action was taken against any colleagues in the KCFD or in other city departments that were involved in investigating Reynolds complaints. Ms. Reynolds is especially troubled by the lack of accountability, he wrote. No one was held responsible and nothing has changed. Rebecca Reynolds joined the Kansas City fire department in 2003 at the age of 40. She says that in the years since, she was abused and mistreated primarily by male colleagues, one of whom allegedly peed on her personal belongings while she was out of her office. 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. According to court documents, Reynolds alleges that while she worked at multiple fire stations throughout Kansas City, male colleagues repeatedly questioned her decisions, made disparaging comments about her age and sexuality and used foul language to yell at her in front of patients and residents. When she complained about the abuse from her colleagues, instead of taking disciplinary action, Braud said department colleagues retaliated against Reynolds. At various points, Braud wrote, Reynolds was allegedly told to shut the (expletive) up, that she was not normal due to being a lesbian and that she was only a lesbian because she could not find the right man. Theres no way she would have been yelled at and treated the way she was if she were a man, Braud said. In the most notable incident, Kansas City firefighter Pleaze Robinson III was arrested for allegedly urinating on Reynolds belongings on September 10, 2023. She found $3,000 worth of personal belongings covered in urine, including a CD player, a boogie board and medic training books. Robinson was charged the next day with first degree harassment and first degree property damage after the urine was found to be a match with his DNA. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights recently granted permission for Reynolds to sue the city over the urination incident, according to Braud. Robinson was previously charged with third-degree assault in 2019 after allegedly body-slamming a woman to the pavement during a road rage incident, then punching her more than 30 times. At that point, he pled guilty and was put on probation but kept his job with KCFD. He is one of two colleagues who Reynolds most frequently ran up against, according to Braud. As he awaits trial, Robinson is currently still on the fire departments payroll, Braud wrote. Reynolds second lawsuit and third pending lawsuit were filed in 2023 and 2024, respectively .They included claims by Reynolds that coworkers posted inappropriate cartoons on a refrigerator in a communal area, and that she suffered a knee injury after a male coworker allegedly tripped her on purpose. After the injury, a colleague allegedly told Reynolds that she was an ongoing concern to the station, in part because she was a woman or, as the colleague allegedly put it, that she sat down to pee, Braud said. Reynolds was initially reluctant to resign as part of the settlement, Braud said. I have a valuable skill set that benefits my community and I leave proud of the job I did, Reynold said in the Thursday statement. None of this had to happen. Ms. Reynolds was let down by the KCFD chain of command, the citys internal EEO office, and the HR department. Our community deserves better, Braud said. It is our hope that the department will start doing the right thing. Between 2000 and 2020, legal settlements with fire department employees cost taxpayers $2.5 million, a Star investigation found in 2020. In the past two years, total fire department employee settlements have totaled $2.8 million, including Reynolds payout. Previous reporting by The Stars Mike Hendricks, Noelle Alviz-Gransee and Glenn Rice was used in this article. A Kansas City, Kansas, man was sentenced to just under 14 years in prison in the fatal stabbing of his father and a knife attack on a woman in July 2023. John McGriff, 33, was charged last year with second-degree murder and aggravated battery after allegedly stabbing his father, 72-year-old Samuel McGriff, in the senior care apartment the two shared. John McGriff was also initially charged with mistreatment of an elder and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer before an Aug. 23 plea deal. A Wyandotte County judge sentenced McGriff to 166 months in prison Wednesday, according to court documents, with just over a decade of the sentence stemming from the murder charge. Kansas City, Kansas, police responded to 911 calls reporting a stabbing at 34th Street and Metropolitan Avenue around 11:47 a.m. on July 18, 2023. Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman, later identified as Stephanie Perez, with multiple stab wounds, then found John McGriff nearby. John McGriff had allegedly stabbed his father to death in their apartment in the 3700 block of Strong Avenue minutes before turning his knife on a random passer-by on the street. Perez had been walking home from volunteering at the food pantry at Immanuel Lutheran Church just before the attack. Two KCK police officers shot John McGriff multiple times after he charged at them with the knife, according to KCK police and court documents. After John McGriff and Perez were taken to the hospital in critical condition, an employee of the senior care home where the McGriffs lived told police she had found Samuel McGriff bleeding on the floor during a wellness check. Samuel McGriff was pronounced dead at the scene. Perez, now 47, suffered severe wounds to the face, neck and hands, according to a fundraiser set up by relatives after the attack. The first round of charges against John McGriff were brought by Wyandotte County prosecutors while he was in critical condition in a Kansas City-area hospital. McGriff will not be eligible for parole, according to court records. Previous reporting by Bill Lukitsch and Matti Gellman was used in this article. Kansas City police searching for owners of stolen property KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City Property Crimes detectives are looking for the owners of personal things like guitars, tools and a crossbow. They would like to return the property to the owners, believing that if they reunite it with the rightful owners, more suspects could face charges. Overland Park police investigate arson, shooting Here are the items they posted Friday: Property needing to be returned to owners Property needing to be returned to owners KCPD said so far, one suspect is facing burglary charges. Detectives recovered other property, including a motorcycle and six guns. If this property pictured belongs to you, call the Metro Property Crimes Section at 816-413-3406. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. This is one of those days when something happens and you dont know exactly what it means, but you know it means something. I woke up this morning to find that Nancy Kassebaum, one of the few living legends left in Kansas Republican politics, had endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Joining her in the endorsement statement, which was provided to Fox News Digital, were Sandy Praeger, the Kansas insurance commissioner from 2003 to 2015, and former federal appeals Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, a Kansas native appointed to the 10th Circuit Court by Ronald Reagan in 1985, who served until her retirement as chief judge in 2011. In their joint statement to Fox, they said Americans are presented with a stark choice. 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. Donald Trumps campaign responded with their usual belittling disdain of anyone who disagrees with them: Nobody knows who these people are, and nobody cares. Here in Kansas, most of us know at least two of the three. And our history says we do care what they think. Deserving of respect Kassebaum was the first woman ever to serve Kansas in the U.S. Senate, and voters here elected her to three terms. Shes the daughter of the late Alf Landon, former Kansas governor and the Republican candidate for president against Franklin Roosevelt in 1936. Praeger was so widely popular as insurance commissioner that the Democrats didnt even field a candidate against her the last time she ran, and she won with 99.6% of the vote. Tacha wasnt a household name appellate court judges seldom are but her long and distinguished career as a jurist and law-school dean merits respect. Kassebaum made a highly publicized endorsement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in her 2018 campaign against Kris Kobach, and four years later when Kelly ran against Derek Schmidt. Praeger also endorsed Kelly in 2022. The pair were considered part of the moderate wing of the Republican Party, that was essentially purged from the Statehouse in a campaign masterminded by Sam Brownback when he was governor. The Trump campaigns reaction to the endorsements says something about them: They believe they can be as dismissive as they want of Kansas and Kansans because were going to vote for them anyway, no matter what they do or say. And it says something about us: We have been so reliably Republican in every presidential election since Lyndon Johnson that weve voted ourselves into irrelevance. The political publication The Hill rates Trumps chance of winning Kansas at greater than 99%. Our state is considered such a nonentity in national politics that nobody even bothers to ask us what we think anymore. We havent been the subject of a single poll since President Joe Biden stepped aside and turned the Democratic presidential campaign over to his vice president, Harris. In fact, the only poll gauging Kansas sentiment in the presidential race all year appears to have been commissioned by former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which showed him beating Biden by 12 points and running only two points behind Trump. That poll, conducted by Zogby Analytics, showed Trump up five points in Kansas in a head-to-head matchup with Biden: 48.9% to 43.9%. We can pretty much ignore those numbers. They seemed pretty squirrely when they came out in April and a lot has happened since. Harris-Walz energy Maybe Trump shouldnt be quite as smug about us falling into the MAGA line as he obviously is. We are, after all, the state that was the first to vote in favor of abortion rights after Trump appointees on the Supreme Court cast the decisive votes to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump himself noted that in his Sept. 10 debate with Harris: Kansas, the vote was somewhat liberal much more liberal than people would have thought. Also, there is significant and in my experience as a Kansas political writer unprecedented energy for the Democratic presidential campaign this year: A hastily created Facebook group Kansas Women for Kamala Harris has just shy of 30,000 members. Astonishingly, its a private group, so not just anyone can join. A Harris-Walz rally at the Wave venue in Wichita on Aug. 29 drew a sizable crowd, so county Democrats have planned another one for Thursday. A debate watch party for Democrats also drew a packed house at The Artichoke East sandwich bar. Kansas women are posting themselves on social media with pearls and blue Chucks (Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers). Theyre staples of Harris campaign wardrobe and a sort of under-the-radar show of support for her among those who cant wear campaign gear in the workplace. Does this energy translate into a win for Harris in Kansas? I wouldnt go that far. But that doesnt mean it wont make a difference. Across this state, especially in northeast Kansas and the Wichita area, there are close races for Kansas House, Senate and county commission seats, where down-ballot Democratic candidates might benefit from a movement of motivated women who turn out on election day on a mission to support Kamala Harris. For now, Ill just say dont sleep on Kansas. This election could turn out to be a lot more interesting than the rest of the country and the Trump campaign is giving us credit for. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Kauai Police Department (KPD) is teaming up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to host a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at KPD headquarters, located at 3990 Kaana Street in Lihue. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This event offers community members a safe and easy way to dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications through an anonymous drive-thru drop-off service on the east side of the building. The event will accept a variety of medications, including tablets, capsules, liquids, and patches, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter. Needles and syringesboth new and usedwill not be accepted. Best of all, this service is free and completely anonymousno questions will be asked. This initiative is part of a national campaign by the DEA designed to provide a secure method for disposing of medications while raising awareness about the risks of drug misuse and the importance of proper storage and disposal. State provides $235,000 to support homeless youth services Improperly discarded medications can harm the environment and potentially contaminate water supplies, endangering aquatic life. Additionally, unused medications in homes can lead to misuse or abuse; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from friends or family. Now in its 15th year, the DEAs Drug Take Back Initiative has collected over 53,000 pounds of prescription medications across Hawaii. In the last event held in April, more than 3,200 pounds were turned in at collection sites statewide. For those who cant make it to Drug Take Back Day, KPD headquarters has a permanently installed medication dropbox available for anonymous disposal of unused or expired medications at any time. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more information about the National Drug Take Back Initiative, visit the DEAs website or contact KPD Criminal Investigations Division Captain Darren Rose at 808-241-1696. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas wildlife officials will be meeting early next month for discussions of hunting regulations impacting antelope, elk, deer and more. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced in a press release on Friday, Sept. 27 that it will be holding a commission meeting at noon on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum in Bonner Springs. People can attend the meeting in person or online. Alligator snapping turtles are back in Kansas, what to know Commissioners will discuss and vote on multiple items during the meeting related to hunting regulations and seasons along with other items. These include the following: Vote on temporary regulations. K.A.R. 115-25-8 elk 25-series regulations. K.A.R. 115-25-9a military deer seasons Review session. Coyote night vision and predator control. General discussions. Election of the commission chair. K.A.R. 115-25-7 antelope regulations. K.A.R. 115-25-8 elk regulations. Workshop item discussions. Big game 4-series and 25-series regulations. Carcass movement regulation. K.A.R. 115-25-5 Fall Turkey Regulations and K.A.R. 115-25-6 spring turkey regulations. Five-year review of the threatened, endangered, and species in need of conservation lists. Kansas River invasive carp summary and proposed snagging opportunity. Invasive species regulations. Sportfish vs. non-sportfish regulations. Hunting changes impact multiple lakes in Kansas A copy of the full agenda for the Oct. 3 meeting can be found below or online by clicking here. You can attend the meeting virtually through Zoom, phone or live streaming options. The next commission meeting is set for Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita. October+3,+2024+Commission+Agenda+REVISED by Matthew Self on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. For more Kansas Outdoors, 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. Chief Master Sgt. Michael Venning has been relieved of his position as command chief of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. Col. Billy Pope, the commander of the 81st Training Wing, said a command-directed investigation into Venning resulted in his removal, effective Sept. 23. Col. Pope had temporarily reassigned Venning on July 30 while the investigation took place, a release from base officials said. A command chief is the highest-ranking enlisted personnel in their unit, which in this case was the 81st Training Wing According to Vennings biography, he is a native of Australia who joined the Air Force in 2000. He earned his U.S. citizenship in 2005. By 2014, he was named one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. His service included six years in a combat communications unit as a power production specialist. In 2006, he retrained into contracting. Venning also served as commander of the NCO Academy and Airman Leadership School, and deployed four times to support Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. He also served as command chief for the 100th Air Refueling Wings at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom before taking on the role at Keesler. As wing command chief, he is a senior enlisted advisor to a base or wing commander. As command chief, he oversees the bases professional development, readiness issues, and health, morale, and welfare of the wings 12,000 military and civilian Airmen and acts as functional manager for chief master sergeants and first sergeants, the biography said. Fox Nation host Kellyanne Conway sat down with her eldest daughter, 19-year-old content creator and political activist Claudia Conway, about the importance of finding "common ground" despite having passionate political differences on the latest installment of "Here's the Deal with Kellyanne." "Claudia, people will ask you or ask me consistently like, Oh, how can you disagree politically and love each other, as if politics is more important than love, or, you know, 'What do we have in common?' Et cetera," Conway began. "You and I know what our relationship is, but I like to think that you were raised along with your siblings as independent thinkers, and that you come to your own politics." Conway asked her daughter whether she thought it's "possible" for people to have political conversations about the things they agree on despite the few major issues they don't. Click Here To Join Fox Nation Fox Nation host Kellyanne Conway welcomed her daughter, 19-year-old political activist Claudia Conway on the latest installment of "Here's the Deal with Kellyanne." "I think that we have a very binary view of politics, just as a whole of our society," Claudia responded. "That's why I'm a registered Independent, because I'm told, 'if you don't fit X Y and Z, you can't be a Republican. If you don't fit X Y and Z, you can't be a Democrat.' And I don't believe in that. I don't think things are black and white, and these choices should not be binary." Kellyanne Conway: Kamala Harris Is Trying To Outrun Her Past While Trump Channels His Read On The Fox News App "You and I can sit here and find things that we agree on. We can sit here and have common ground, even though we have completely different views on many different things," she continued. "You and I talked about the debate, and you said, you know, Trump shouldn't have said this and that, we can agree on that. We can agree on certain things, or Kamala Harris had a missed opportunity. We can agree on those things It's not black and white." Claudia then told her mother, "I can look at you and love you even though you have a different political opinion than I do, and we can be humans at the end of the day. The divisiveness and the lack of unity in our political atmosphere right now is what is going to drive us further apart. And we always talk about the fall of our democracy, the fall of our nation. That is the fall of our nation and our democracy, by furthering the gap between Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, we are creating that divide ourselves. "So I applaud you and commend you for having me on your show and having you know people of all different backgrounds on your show, because I think these conversations are the most important conversations," Claudia added. Click Here For Media And Culture News During their conversation, the political activist suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris' policy shifts between 2019 and 2024 are a double-edged sword for her going into November, particularly with young voters. "I think she's running in a much more moderate position now, and that's playing her strengths, but it's also, you know, not helping her in some ways," Claudia said. "We have the college students who are sitting in encampments for Palestine. They're not voting for Kamala Harris, and they're not voting for Trump, and guess what, they're not gonna go to the polls because of it, because now they are so apprehensive. They're like You know what? These people are not working for me. They don't have my best interest at heart. They don't care about people's lives.' And that's the problem." "I encourage my generation and young people in general to look beyond that and if you don't want to vote for president, vote down ballot. See who's running in your city, in your county, in your district, and make your choices based off that," she added. Original article source: Kellyanne Conway, daughter Claudia find common ground despite politics: We're 'humans at the end of the day' 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Kentucky official accused of sexist, derogatory comments about women removed from office The Kentucky Supreme Court has removed a local official accused of yelling at employees, calling a female staffer a derogatory term and spreading sexual rumors about a political opponent. The high court issued an order Thursday removing Dwight Hopkins, the circuit court clerk in Lincoln County. The court said there was clear evidence that Hopkins had created a hostile environment in the office and failed to treat employees with respect, as required by a code of conduct for clerks. Hopkins actions interfered with the proper functioning of the office, the court said. One female employee suffered stress-induced panic attacks and another began taking medication and cried extensively because of what she called the terrible office environment, according to the court order. Hopkins was elected circuit clerk in November 2022 to fill the unexpired term of a longtime clerk who retired, Teresa Reed. Circuit clerks in Kentucky manage court records, schedule juries and collect fines and fees for the court system. The Supreme Court order said in its order that the first few months of Hopkins tenure were normal. That changed dramatically beginning on Feb. 24, 2023, when Hopkins learned several employees were planning to go to a movie with Angelia Doolin. Doolin ran unsuccessfully against Hopkins in the November 2022 special election. Hopkins got upset about the movie outing and told Norma Atwood, the chief deputy clerk, that he considered Doolin his arch enemy, according to the court order. Over the next few weeks, Hopkins said he would fire two staffers if they went to the movie with Doolin and made a number of statements that were sexist and derogatory toward female employees, the Supreme Court concluded. Those included saying women couldnt be trusted, women cannot tell the truth, women have to respect men, but men have to respect God, and telling one female employee she was a good looking woman for her age, according to the order. Hopkins called one female employee a smart aleck and another derogatory term; used obscene language in referring to Doolin and repeated rumors of a sexual nature about her; denigrated his wife over her weight gain; and yelled and slammed his fists on the desk in one meeting, according to the Supreme Court order. He also told one employee the sight of her made him sick, then proceeded to stick his finger in his mouth and make gagging noises, the court said. His actions had no legitimate work purpose and served only to intimidate, humiliate, and demean his employees, and those employees reasonably perceived his actions as being based on sex or political affiliation, the high court said of Hopkins. The court order said Hopkins admitted yelling, cursing, making demeaning comments about women and did not deny spreading baseless sexual rumors about his opponent, according to the court order. Hopkins said he regretted many of the things he said, but contended he acted in good faith and accused others of lying to further a conspiracy he believes was occurring, the Supreme Court said. But the high court called Hopkins belief in a conspiracy unsubstantiated and said his behavior fell far below the elevated standards of integrity required of elected officials. Doolin defeated Hopkins in the primary election in May. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in Manhattan federal court on Friday, facing charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals. The Democrat, resisting calls from within his party to resign, is expected to plead not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. His initial appearance in court is slated to happen at noon local time. Federal prosecutors allege that Adams, 64, received luxury travel perks, including expensive hotel stays and meals, in exchange for pressuring city officials to approve the opening of Turkeys new 36-story consulate in 2021 despite safety concerns. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, claims that the illegal contributions date back to 2014, when Adams was Brooklyn borough president, and helped finance his 2021 mayoral campaign. The indictment also claims Adams received tens of thousands of dollars in free travel from a Turkish airline and underpaid for luxury accommodations in Istanbul. He allegedly funneled campaign contributions from Turkish sources through U.S. citizens to qualify for additional public financing, violating U.S. campaign laws. Adams has denied any wrongdoing, stating at a press conference on Thursday, I will continue to do my job as mayor. If convicted of the five criminal charges, Adams could face decades in prison. After the mayor's arraignment was scheduled for Friday, attorneys for Adams made an eleventh-hour request on Thursday to postpone the mayor's first appearance in court till Monday, though the request was denied. Featured Local Savings The judge randomly assigned to oversee the broader trial is U.S. District Judge Dale Ho, an appointee of President Joe Biden and a former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who had a contentious nomination process last year in which he was narrowly confirmed in the Senate by a 50-49 vote. Ho's role in the trial could be a legacy-defining moment for the judge as he weighs the case against the first New York City mayor to face criminal charges while in office. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Political pressure is on Adams as federal investigations also target senior city officials and members of the mayor's inner circle. Several New York Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), have called for his resignation, while others, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have refrained from doing so. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has stated she is reviewing her options regarding Adamss future as mayor. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentuckys attorney general has sued Express Scripts, claiming the big pharmacy benefit manager was at the center of an opioid dispensing chain that fueled a deadly addiction crisis still haunting his state. The lawsuit Attorney General Russell Coleman filed this week in state court claims St. Louis-based Express Scripts and its affiliated organizations colluded with opioid manufacturers in deceptive marketing schemes to increase sales of the addictive drugs. Read more of the latest Kentucky news The result was an epidemic of overdose and death caused by an oversupply of opioids flooding communities from powerful corporations who sought to profit at the expense of the public, the suit says. The amount of prescription opioids sold annually in the U.S. quadrupled between 1999 and 2010, it says. Kentucky has been at the epicenter of the crisis with some of the nations highest overdose death rates. The role of Express Scripts in causing the opioid epidemic has been largely concealed from public view, the suit says. But it has now become clear that, for no less than the last two decades, Express Scripts has had a key role in facilitating the oversupply of opioids through intentional conduct that disregarded needed safeguards in order to increase the prescribing, dispensing and sales of prescription opioids. Express Scripts did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, run prescription drug coverage for health insurers and employers that provide coverage. They help decide which drugs make a plans formulary, or list of covered medications. They also can determine where patients go to fill their prescriptions. For years, pharmacy benefit managers have been the target of ire for politicians, patients and others. But PBMs have said they play an important role in controlling drug costs and pass along most of the discounts they negotiate to their clients. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: In June, Arkansas sued two pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of fueling the opioid crisis in that state. The suit was filed in state court against Express Scripts and Optum and their subsidiaries. The Kentucky suit against Express Scripts and its related entities says the state should receive $2,000 for each willful violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act, along with any other penalties the court deems appropriate. The suit was filed in Jessamine County Circuit Court in Nicholasville. Coleman, a Republican, is the latest in a series of Kentucky attorneys general from both parties including former attorney general and current Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to go to court to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable for what they viewed as the companies roles in causing the addiction crisis. Colemans predecessor, Republican Daniel Cameron, secured more than $800 million for Kentucky as part of settlements with companies for their roles in the addiction crisis. Half of Kentuckys settlement will flow directly to cities and counties. A commission is overseeing the distribution of the states half. The latest lawsuit claims that Express Scripts failed to report suspicious volumes of opioids flowing into Kentucky. The company also dispensed opioids through mail order pharmacies without effective controls, violating Kentucky and federal law, the suit says. Express Scripts and the other pharmacy benefit managers amassed an unprecedented level of power, using it to push opioid pills and conceal unlawful activity, Coleman said Thursday in a statement. They must be held to account for profiting off Kentucky families pain. Drug overdose deaths in Kentucky fell nearly 10% in 2023, marking a second straight annual decline, but state leaders say fatalities remain tragically high and the fight against the drug epidemic is far from over. Nearly 2,000 Kentuckians died last year from drug overdoses. Coleman recently announced plans for a statewide drug prevention program aimed at young people. Beshear says Kentucky is at the forefront nationally in the per-capita number of residential drug and alcohol treatment beds. In Washington, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has steered huge sums of federal funding to his home state to combat its addiction woes Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta talks about Project 2025 during the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) During the latest fundraising period, Democrat Malcolm Kenyatta vastly outraised his Republican opponent in the Auditor General election, incumbent Tim DeFoor. Thats according to their latest campaign finance reports covering money raised and spent between May 14 and September 16. Kenyattas campaign reported raising $491,200 while DeFoors claimed $67,800. The difference is especially notable when, generally speaking, incumbents usually outraise their competitors. Kenyatta also outspent DeFoor, paying $184,000 for various campaign expenses compared to $65,000 by DeFoor in the same period. That leaves Kenyatta with nearly $416,000 in his campaign coffers, and DeFoor with just under $19,000 only weeks before the election. Alex Simmons, DeFoors campaign manager, cited a few reasons for the candidates disappointing haul. With PA being such a battleground, money needs to be going to other races, said Alex Simmons, DeFoors campaign manager. Because of that you have how can I put this the Auditor General race has typically been at the bottom of the totem pole. Simmons added that the legislature has become particularly competitive and absorbed a lot of Republican party resources and the attention of GOP donors this year. That is, in no small part, because of redistricting that occurred after DeFoor was first elected in 2020. Kenyatta had a different idea. If you look at an incumbent Auditor General whos not even able to reach out to people across Pennsylvania and raise $100,000, I think it speaks to the fact that people dont have a lot of faith in him, Kenyatta said. The largest share of Kenyattas campaign money over $251,000 comes from various political action committees. Some of his largest contributions come from various labor-affiliated PACs. That includes $50,000 across two donations from the D.C.-based American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, $25,000 from the Greater PA Carpenters PAC and $20,000 from a Philadelphia electric worker union. Kenyatta is proud of this. I have a 100% pro-labor voting record, he said. I am never shy about being unequivocal in my support of standing up for unions, for organized labor and for workers. Kenyatta also received thousands from fellow Democrats in the state legislature. Its not uncommon for candidates in the same party to give to one another, especially when the donor is in a less competitive race. DeFoor also received the largest share of his money $40,000 from political action committees. PACs donating to DeFoor were more likely to represent a specific business or business interest, or conservative ideological group. Kenyatta also received a larger share of his funding nearly $91,000, or a bit under 20% from donations of $250 or less. $26,000 of that comes from donations of $50 or less. DeFoor, on the other hand, received nearly $5,400 or 8% of his fundraising from donations of $250 or less. Simmons, DeFoors campaign manager, said part of the auditor generals lagging fundraising comes down to the candidates style. Tim has never been a political person, Simmons said. Hes never been someone who has been a great campaigner. Thats not who he is. Hes not a politician. Though Simmons said hes confident that DeFoors earnestness and low profile style will pay off on election day. He added that, in 2020, DeFoor was an underdog and had been outraised by his Democratic opponent, but still managed to win. In that race, DeFoors Democratic opponent, Nina Ahmad, managed to raise nearly $1 million more than him. But DeFoor was buoyed by a roughly equivalent lead in in-kind contributions or help and advertising paid by someone other than his campaign. If DeFoor is not a politician, according to his campaign manager, he stands in stark contrast to Kenyatta in that way. His star has been rising in both the Pennsylvania and national Democratic party. After becoming the first openly-LGBTQ person of color to serve in the state Legislature in 2018, Kenyatta was chosen to deliver a keynote address at the 2020 virtual Democratic National Convention. In 2023 he was again tapped by Biden to serve as chair of a presidential advisory commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black People. He received another speaking spot at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and came prepared with a prop. Kenyatta is also running unopposed to keep his state House seat this year. DeFoor, on the other hand, had only won a local election before running to be Auditor General in 2020. When DeFoor won that election, he became the first Black auditor general in Pennsylvanias history, and the first Republican to hold the office in the 21st century. But his biography made him something of a natural fit. DeFoor had previously served as a special agent investigating Medicaid fraud in the Pennsylvania attorney generals office. And while serving as Dauphin County Controller, he created a new county audit division. Since becoming auditor general, DeFoor has ruffled feathers. Most recently, his audit of the Department of Human Services oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers received criticism from DHS, as well as numerous Democrats, including Kenyatta. Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny), who sponsored a bill creating new regulations for pharmacy benefit managers, and who has campaigned with Kenyatta, called the audit, which was critical of DHS, deeply unserious and misleading. Kenyatta called the audit politically timed and said in an interview with the Capital-Star, what this audit proved to me is that he doesnt know what hes talking about. DeFoor has defended his work. I think a lot of that is because of the election, Simmons said about the Democratic criticism. Obviously our competitor has tried to paint it as a political audit. DeFoor also refused to speak to the accuracy of the 2020 election with a notable exception. Shortly after taking office in 2021, DeFoor was questioned in the state House by none other than Kenyatta about the results of the 2020 election, which were being falsely refuted by former President Donald Trump and some other conservatives. I believe my election was fair, DeFoor said at the time. As far as anybody elses election, thats a conversation you would have to have with them, Young Dolph performs at the Parking Lot Concert in Atlanta on Aug. 23, 2020. He was fatally shot at a cookie shop in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn. (Paul R. Giunta / Invision / Associated Press) One of the men involved in the murder of rapper Young Dolph was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after a four-day trial in Memphis, Tenn. After four hours of deliberation, Justin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and possession of a handgun by a felon. The judge sentenced him to a life term, according to the Shelby County district attorney. Johnson will be sentenced for the two latter charges in November. Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot in November 2021 while inside Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies, a popular cookie shop on Airways Boulevard in Memphis. Johnson's co-conspirator, Cornelius Smith who admitted to being one of the gunmen in the killing testified that he and Johnson were hired to kill Thornton. In return they were to receive $40,000 each, the district attorney said. According to court documents, the man who took out the hit was Anthony Mims, or Big Jook, the brother of Mario Mims, a Memphis rapper known as Yo Gotti who founded the record label Collective Music Group. Anthony Mims was killed by gunfire outside Perignons Restaurant and Event Center in January, according to Fox 13. Thornton and Mario Mims had traded diss tracks for a decade after Thornton said he turned down a record deal with the label. Thornton wrote the single "100 Shots" after a targeted attack in 2017 sent about 100 rounds into a bulletproof car he was riding in, USA Today reported Blac Youngsta, a Gotti associate, surrendered to authorities in 2019 for his alleged involvement in the shooting, although charges were eventually dropped. Defendant Justin Johnson, left, appears in court as the murder trial of rapper Young Dolph begins in Memphis, Tenn., on Sept. 23, 2024. (Mark Weber / Daily Memphian / Associated Press) Defense attorneys argued Johnson's DNA was never found in the white Mercedes that was caught on video speeding away from the murder scene, nor were the guns used in the killing recovered. But video shown at the trial by prosecutors showed Johnson at his apartment the night of the murder wearing the same clothes as seen on a suspect at the murder scene. They also had phone records showing he'd been in contact with Big Jook as well as Hernandez Govan, who allegedly orchestrated the killing, prior to and after the shooting. Govan is also a defendant in the case. "Today's verdict brings relief and restores my confidence in the justice system," Mia Jaye, Thornton's partner, said in a statement on Instagram after the verdict was announced. "My faith has been tested, but Adolph's tragic execution has only strengthened my resolve to fight for justice not only for him but for all Black men. This is just the beginning of our journey toward achieving full justice for Adolph, and we will patiently support the unfolding of that process." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. King Charles will speak at Holyrood on Saturday as part of a programme of events [PA Media] The King and Queen will mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament with a visit to Holyrood on Saturday for a special event. King Charles, who has been undergoing cancer treatment since February, will address the chamber and then meet "local heroes" who have made major contributions to their community. A number of musical and cultural performances are also slated for the day, featuring the likes of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the charity Sistema Scotland. The King attended the Scottish Parliament's opening in 1999 - when he was Prince Charles - and has visited several times since then. The King was among the Royal family members who attended the inauguration of the Scottish parliment in 1999 [PA Media] Alison Johnstone, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said that Saturday would be a "day of reflection and celebration." She said: Twenty five years of the Scottish Parliament marks a significant milestone in the countrys political journey. This anniversary offers the perfect opportunity for us not only to reflect on the last 25 years, but to look to the future and consider how parliament can continue to best meet the needs of those it serves. A cornerstone of this commemorative event will be about recognising the extraordinary contribution people from right across Scotland have made, and continue to make, to their own communities." First Minister John Swinney and other party leaders will also speak at the event. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sistema Scotland, Gaelic song chorus Coisir Alba and mandolin player Calum McIlroy - who won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician prize this year - will all perform on the day. As well as being present for the Parliament opening in July 1999, the King also attended the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2019 and both the King and Queen attended the opening ceremony in 2021. Their most recent visit was in 2022, where they attended the motion of condolence for the late Queen Elizabeth. Kings Island to close Friday night as strong winds, heavy rain expected to hit region Kings Island is closed Friday evening as remnants of Hurricane Helene make their way into the Greater Cincinnati region. The Mason amusement park said its decision to close is "out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our guests and associates," citing the National Weather Service's hazardous weather forecast of high winds and rain Friday evening. Anyone with an admission ticket for Friday may use it any other day the park is open through Nov. 3, Kings Island said. Hurricane Helene: Will Disney World, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head be affected? IMPORTANT PARK UPDATE:Kings Island - Closed on Friday NightDue to the National Weather Services hazardous weather... Posted by Kings Island on Friday, September 27, 2024 The NWS office in Wilmington has issued a high wind warning for southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky from noon to 10 p.m. Friday. East winds of 25 to 35 mph, gusting up to 60 mph, and 1 to 2 inches of rain are expected. Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines, according to the NWS. Widespread power outages are expected and travel will be difficult. Enquirer staff writers Haadiza Ogwude and Cheryl Vari contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kings Island closing Friday night due to hazardous weather forecast What to know about Hurricane Helene and the flooding the storm left across the Southeast US FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Massive Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida's sparsely populated Big Bend region, bringing storm surge and high winds across the state's Gulf Coast communities before ripping into southern Georgia. The storm has been blamed for at least 40 deaths, according to an Associated Press tally. Where is the storm now? Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical depression over the Carolinas with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (48 kph) by early afternoon Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm will continue to weaken as it continues to move north. At 2 p.m., Helene was centered about 125 miles (205 kilometers) southeast of Louisville, Kentucky. Helene wobbled as it approached Florida's coast late Thursday before making landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River with maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 mph (225 kph). That location was only about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of where Hurricane Idalia came ashore last year at nearly the same ferocity and caused widespread damage. Evacuations were underway Friday in areas of Western North Carolina. The Haywood County Sheriffs Office west of Asheville said it was helping with evacuations in in Cruso, Clyde, Canton and lower-lying parts of Waynesville. What about airports? Airports in Florida that closed due to Hurricane Helene were reopened Friday. That included airports in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland and Tallahassee. At Tampa International Airport there had been 130 flight cancellations in the past 24 hours, as of Friday afternoon, according to FlightAware. Airports in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, remained open Friday but were reporting large numbers of cancellations and heavy delays. By 2 p.m., nearly 400 flights to or from Charlotte, a major hub for American Airlines, had been canceled. Nearly 580 more, to or from Charlotte, were delayed, according to FlightAware. At the larger Atlanta airport, 175 flights were canceled and more than 500 were delayed, according to FlightAware. What about roads and bridges? On Friday morning, inspectors were out examining bridges and causeways along Florida's Gulf Coast to get them back open to traffic quickly, Perdue said. In addition, 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) of roadway across Florida have been cleared of debris, Perdue said during a news conference in Tallahassee. Some of the causeways were underwater, so we have to inspect them and make sure they are safe to pass, Perdue said. We had a lot of storm surge up and down the west coast. We had a lot of roads underwater. How many people are without power? As of 2:30 p.m. Friday, some 4.2 million people across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee were without power, according to poweroutage.us. Most of the outages were in North Carolina and South Carolina each with more than 1 million outages. Florida had more than 840,000 customers and Georgia nearly 950,000 customers without power. Almost 45% of homes and businesses in South Carolina were without power Friday. Whole counties were without electricity as winds gusted to near hurricane force. Trees or other debris blocked every major road leading into Greenwood, a city of about 22,000 people about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west of Columbia, Greenwood County officials said on social media. Crews of linemen were stationed across the region, ready to begin the process of restoring power as soon as the winds from Helene died down. What about storm surge? Flooding along Florida's coast began well before Hurricane Helene made landfall, with rapidly rising waters reported from as far south as Fort Myers on the state's Gulf Coast. Early Friday, sheriff's officials in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, were using a large ATV to rescue people who were stranded by rising waters. In Cedar Key, an old Florida-style island off the Gulf Coast, many homes, motels and businesses were flooded. Not even the city's fire rescue building was spared. "It actually blew out the storm panels on the front doors. Blew out one of the breakaway walls on the back and two entry doors, the agency posted online. It appears that we had about 6 feet or better of water inside. What is storm surge? Storm surge is the level at which sea water rises above its normal level. Much like the way a storms sustained winds do not include the potential for even stronger gusts, storm surge doesnt include the wave height above the mean water level. Surge is also the amount above what the normal tide is at a time, so a 15-foot storm surge at high tide can be far more devastating than the same surge at low tide. How are hurricanes measured? The most common way to measure a hurricanes strength is the Saffir-Simpson Scale that assigns a category from 1 to 5 based on a storms sustained wind speed at its center, with 5 being the strongest. What to know from the UN: Netanyahu says no cease-fire, but other countries keep asking People protest against Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) UNITED NATIONS (AP) After a day filled with hopes of a cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel, the U.N. General Assembly meeting Friday was a harsh reality check. Israeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU shut down the idea in a morning speech that he said he didn't initially intend to make. He said he had not planned to come to the meeting this year, because his country is at war, but after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight. The week has been full of speakers calling for a cease-fire in both Lebanon and Gaza, continuing into Friday. But Netanyahu wasn't swayed. He said his nation will continue degrading Hezbollah until achieving its goals along the Lebanon border, and would no longer tolerate daily rocket fire from the area. Shortly after Netanyahu wrapped up his speech, the Israeli military said it carried out a strike on Hezbollahs headquarters in Beirut, which caused huge blasts in the city. Heres your daily guide to whats going on at the United Nations this week: From the podium MORE ANTI-WAR: Calls for Israel to stop its war in Gaza and back off from a growing conflict in Lebanon continued. The two speakers who preceded Netanyahu each made a point of calling out Israel for its actions. Mr. Netanyahu, stop this war now, Slovenian Prime Minister ROBERT GOLOB said as he closed his remarks, pounding the podium. And Pakistani Prime Minister SHEHBAZ SHARIF, speaking just before the Israeli leader, declared of Gaza: This is not just a conflict. This is systematic slaughter of innocent people of Palestine. He thumped the rostrum to audible applause. PROMISE FOR DEMOCRACY: Tanzania Prime Minister KASSIM MAJALIWA pledged that his country will uphold democracy and human rights ahead of next years presidential election. An opposition party official was killed in early September and two main opposition leaders were arrested among a dozen other opposition politicians while planning a youth rally and during protests against recent killing and arrest of opposition officials and members. President SAMIA SULUHU has condemned the killing of the opposition official Ali Kibao and promised justice. Shes serving out the term of the late President JOHN MAGUFULI, whose autocratic rule saw the ban on political rallies and detention of opposition leaders. POETRY IN POLICY: As Pakistan tries to climb out of an economic crisis, Sharif turned Friday to poetry to convey his countrys resolve. Addressing world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, he read aloud part of Keep Going, a 1921 piece by American poet Edgar A. Guest. It begins When things go wrong, as they sometimes will when, for example, the funds are low and the debts are high. (Sharif substituted credits for funds.) Pakistans debts are indeed substantial. The International Monetary Fund this week approved a $7 billion loan for the nation, which plunged into one of the worst economic crises in its history after flooding in 2022. Sharif's government raised electricity prices, saying the hike was necessary to meet conditions of the new loan. The increase spurred protests and a merchants strike. Sharif told the assembly that his government has taken some very difficult but necessary decisions that have rescued our economy from collapse. Then he brought up the poem, saying it had bucked him up. He went through a stanza that ends: When care is pressing you down a bit, / Rest if you must, but dont you quit. This, Sharif told the assembly, is how we have learned to face our challenges and negotiate the most daunting challenges that we have faced. CUBA COMMENTS: For decades Cubas primary foreign-policy priority has been ending the U.S. trade embargo on the island. The country dedicates much of its General Assembly diplomacy to getting leaders to decry the embargo. According to Cubas U.N. mission, by 3:41 p.m. on Friday 25 countries had addressed the embargo at this years UNGA and 11 leaders had critiqued the U.S. inclusion of Cuba on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, another sanction limiting international trade. Many of the countries that spoke have benefitted from another of Cubas trademark programs, sending its well-trained and highly educated doctors to developing countries across the world. Right after mentioning Ukraine and Gaza, Prime Minister ALLAH MAYE HALINA of Chad told the world that we cant ignore the embargo on Cuba, which hurts its people and hinders its development. On the sidelines Norwegian Foreign Minister ESPEN BARTH EIDE, who was in the General Assembly hall listening to Netanyahu, called his address a rather dark speech that was very defiant." Norway recognized the State of Palestine in May. Eide said there are many countries that would like to support Israel and normalize relations, including Saudi Arabia and others in region, but they are not able to do that as long as the Palestinian question remains unanswered. FUNDRAISERS, ADVOCATES: As the meeting of world leaders unfolds at the United Nations, a crush of events take place on the sidelines of the official high-level meetings, where nonprofits, advocates and fundraisers mingle and lobby world leaders, billionaires and funders and plan their next steps with each other. A few examples: On Sunday, throngs of people streamed through a climate science fair showcasing work on nature, food and the energy transition, held across Manhattan on an elevated park that runs along old rail lines. On Monday, the BILL & MELINDA GATES Foundation held a ceremony featuring Grammy-winning musician JON BATISTE performing in a gold sequin suit, and honoring Brazilian PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA for his work lifting millions out of poverty and significantly reducing malnutrition among children. Climate moment Papua New Guinea's prime minister, JAMES MARAPE, told the General Assembly that accessing money to fight climate change has been a challenge. It is for this reason I speak in solidarity with all forest nations, especially those in the Congo Basin and Amazon Basin, for adequate compensation if we are to preserve our forests which, in fact, are the lungs of Earth, Marape said. Voices you might have missed It is regrettable that the Republic of China, Taiwan, continues to be excluded from the United Nations system. FELETI PENITALA TEO, prime minister of Tuvalu ___ Ugandan Prime Minister NABBANJA ROBINAH asked the assembly why the U.N. has failed to forge stronger international cooperation in response to collective global challenges. Urgent action is required to address global inequalities with regard to poverty, hunger and disease which continue to affect disproportionally the poorest and most vulnerable, she said. Some thing you might not know If you're following along and confused by all the strange words, take a look at our brief vocabulary of U.N. terms. One notable number The largest number of police and troops sent by a country to U.N. peacekeeping missions this year, from Nepal: 6,119 Quotable Even the strongest swimmer drowns if left alone in a raging sea. Bahamas Prime Minister PHILIP DAVIS ___ We believe the monsoon revolution that the world witnessed in Bangladesh in the span of few weeks may inspire many across communities and countries to stand for freedom and justice. I would call upon the international community to engage with new Bangladesh anew that aims to realize freedom and democracy, beyond letters, for everyone. MUHAMMAD YUNUS, chief adviser in Bangladesh and Nobel Prize laureate Up next The assembly is scheduled to hear from China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, among others, on Saturday. ___ AP writers Seth Borenstein, Michael Weissenstein, Thalia Beaty and Tia Goldenberg contributed. See more of APs coverage of the U.N. General Assembly at https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is joining 20 other state attorneys general to demand the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) retract a statement that calls puberty blockers reversible. The letter penned by Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador requests detailed information from the AAP on youth gender dysphoria and the claims regarding the safety and reversibility of puberty blockers. Telling parents and children that puberty blockers are reversible at the very least conveys assurance that no permanent harm or change will occur, but that claim cannot be made in the face of the unstudied and novel use of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria, the letter reads. Other states joining the letter include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Arizona Legislature. What is legal window tint in Kansas? Parents should be able to trust that guidance from the AAP and its member pediatricians is rooted in safety and reality and not in woke gender ideology, Kobach said. A child changing his or her gender identity has long-term major medical and psychological ramifications. 27 News reached out to the AAP on Thursday, but has not yet heard back. 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 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. LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - A registered sex offender in Lake County is behind bars after authorities found child pornography on his cellphone, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Thomas Rix, 57, was arrested after detectives received a tip that he had uploaded possible child pornography on social media. Authorities tried to locate Rix at his home in the 100 block of Sheridan Road, in Winthrop Harbor, on Sept. 24. However, they later found that Rix changed his registered address about a week prior to a home in the 1600 block of 2nd Avenue, also in Winthrop Harbor. Detectives made contact with Rix, who agreed to meet at the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. During a conversation with law enforcement, Rix told officers that he had been living in Twin Lakes, Wis. for several days and was not living in Winthrop Harbor anymore. The Illinois Attorney General's Cybercrime Unit, who were on scene, analyzed Rix's phone and found multiple images that he took of a girl under eight years old, according to officials. Some of the images were of the girl in her underwear and at least one of them was a pornographic image, the sheriff's office said. Further investigation revealed that Rix knew the girl from when he lived at his previous apartment and that's when he took the photographs. Investigators are working to acquire search warrants to analyze other electronics in Rix's possession. After reviewing the case, the charge of child pornography was approved by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. Rix's next court date is set for Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. The Republican Party has been sending love letters to labor unions for a few years. The big question now is whether enough union members write back to put the GOP in the White House next January. Former President Donald Trump has always had blue-collar appeal, an attribute largely responsible for his 2016 upset victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But this election cycle, Trump and his party have been overtly trying to win working-class voters and union members, who are traditionally a core Democratic constituency. "Do me a favor. Just get your union guys, your leaders, to endorse me," Trump said at a campaign stop in Michigan in September 2023, promising that his policies would save auto industry jobs. "I'll take care of the rest." Trump didn't get that, but he did benefit from something that hadn't happened in 28 years the International Brotherhood of Teamsters chose not to endorse the Democratic presidential nominee. The union will sit out this election for the first time since 1996. Not only that, but the Teamsters released internal polling that found nearly 60% of its members back Trump, with Vice President Kamala Harris's support in the low 30s. Our members are the union, and their voices and opinions must be at the forefront of everything the Teamsters do, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien said. It's a sign that the GOP's overtures to union voters are beginning to pay dividends, though it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to sway the outcome of this election. In addition to Trump's 2023 call for autoworkers to back him, his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), visited a United Auto Workers picket line last year. Vance was just a senator at the time, and it's no coincidence he later got the nod as Trump's vice presidential nominee. The Vance pick was announced during the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and that night in the Wisconsin city, O'Brien addressed the delegates, becoming the first Teamsters president ever to address the RNC. Today, the Teamsters are here to say that we are not beholden to anyone or any party, OBrien said. We will create an agenda and work with a bipartisan coalition ready to accomplish something real for the American worker. Democrats have downplayed the Teamsters shifting into neutral as an outlier, pointing out that every other major union has backed Harris and that several Teamsters locals endorsed her as well. As the vice president told the Teamsters on Monday, when she is elected president, she will look out for the Teamsters rank and file no matter what," Harris spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said. Even now, Republicans are only beginning to make inroads in union support, and there's no guarantee that the Teamsters or any other union will continue flirtations with the GOP following this year's election. Democrats have been much more willing to support labor strikes and dole out dollars directly to unions, with a major example being President Joe Biden securing $36 billion to bail out the Teamsters pension fund in 2022. Even this year, Trump got on the union's bad side when he praised Elon Musk for firing workers who threatened to strike. Youre the greatest cutter. I mean, I look at what you do, Trump told Musk. You walk in. You want to quit? I wont mention the name of the company, but they go on strike, and you say thats OK. Youre all gone. Featured Local Savings O'Brien described the remarks as "economic terrorism." Any further inroads the GOP makes with labor unions could run into resistance from the party's pro-business and free-trade wings, which have been dominant forces since the 1980s. But some on the Right now argue that free trade has rewarded the unfair practices of hostile nations like China and that domestic unions often embrace progressive political priorities that go far beyond supporting workers, such as backing climate change resolutions, advocating social justice, or calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. "It's an issue that people in unions are very frustrated with, where the national leadership is entirely unmoored from workplace concerns and entirely focused on these sort of very conventional left-wing talking points," said Duncan Braid, coalition director at American Compass. "They're not interested in their unions being engaged in national politics." Many Republicans agree that it's important to distinguish between supporting union members and labor leaders. "Republicans should stop trying to placate union bosses who care more about Democrat politics than their rank-and-file members," said David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth Action. "Instead, Republicans should focus on winning these voters' support at the ballot box by enacting pro-growth policies that create real jobs in America." That's the same sentiment Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz expressed. "Republicans are smart to woo the union vote," he said. "Union jobs are often most threatened by Democrats' big government and green agendas. The important distinction is that Republicans must be pro-worker, not pro-union or pro-management per se." Still, there are disagreements within the Republican Party about just how much to back unions and how much support the GOP will ever receive from labor entities so closely tied to Democrats. Sometimes, that tension plays out within a single candidate, such as Trump's inviting O'Brien to speak at the RNC and then praising Musk for strikebreaking. Arguably, the fiercest pro-labor Republican right now is Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who has joined picket lines with the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers and says everyone in his party should join him. For his efforts, Hawley got a small campaign donation from the Teamsters, and O'Brien has mentioned Hawley by name as a politician who supports his union. Hawley sees a big opening for his party with unions, arguing that "standing up for workers is a profoundly conservative cause. He calls for increased tariffs, an end to electric vehicle mandates, and supporting antitrust enforcement against major corporations, arguing that blue-collar support is the only way the GOP will become a true majority party in future elections. If conservatives care about healthy towns and schools and churches, as they always say they do, they should support the kind of work and wages that nourish those institutions and make them possible," he wrote in 2022. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Hawley got another union endorsement on Sept. 18, this time from the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers. It is just one crack in the Democratic Party's union armor, but Republican strategist Alex Conant sees a chance for his party to win at the state and national level if the trend continues. "Trump's union supporters are key to his victory," he said. "It's why Pennsylvania is so competitive. The more he chips away at this part of the Democratic base, the greater his chances of victory." Officials warn that the failure of Lake Lure Dam is imminent due to floods from Hurricane Helene. As of 1:30 pm ET on Friday, September 27, evacuation orders have been made to residents in Rutherford County, North Carolina, particularly for those who live downstream of the dam. The warnings come from the NC Emergency Management for Rutherford County, per the National Weather Service (NWS). Why Lake Lure Dam in North Carolina is breaking, officials say The Lake Lure Dam is failing due to heavy rainfall from Hurricane Helene, since downgraded to a tropical storm, causing torrential rains and catastrophic flows along the Broad River that are feeding into the lake. Water is already overtopping the dam, and while it is still holding, structural supports have been compromised, according to local news center WSPA. The NWS urgently warns all residents in the affected area to seek higher ground immediately. Locations along the Broad River, or French Broad River, that could experience catastrophic flash flooding due to the dam breaking include Lake Lure, Cleghorn community, Union community, Green Hill community, near Harris, and near Cliffside. The Broad River had already risen by 10 feet by late Thursday, according to Buncombe County Emergency Services Director Taylor Jones via the Asheville Citizen Times. In response, the flash flood warning for the area has been extended to 2:00 AM ET on Saturday. Evacuations sirens have sounded downstream of the dam with emergency personnel going door to door to ensure the safety of any residents. Evacuees are being temporarily relocated to the local Ingles supermarket in Lake Lure. In May 2019, the Lake Lure Town Council said that the dam was in fair condition based on its age and that it was an engineering marvel according to engineers. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday, and the center of the storm is expected to remain over Kentucky and Tennessee through to Sunday. The post Lake Lure Dam Imminent Failure Due to Hurricane Helene Explained appeared first on Mandatory. CHICAGO Founder of the Gangster Disciples, Larry Hoover, was in court Thursday, testifying via video feed from a supermax prison in Colorado hoping to qualify for an early release program that would set him free from multiple life sentences. Wearing a tan, long-sleeved shirt, glasses and a gray beard, Hoover appeared over monitors at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. Im a completely different person than the man who went to prison in 1997, Hoover said. Im very reflective here at ADX. Youre locked up at least 21 hours a day. I have no desire to run the GDs or be involved in any criminal activity. Im past that part of my life. Hoover and his defense team were hoping to convince the Illinois Court to grant him early release through a special program recently passed by the United States Congress known as the First Step Act, which opens the door to early release for certain rehabilitated prisoners. Man convicted of killing Bradley police sergeant in 2021 But the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois staunchly opposed the early release of Hoover Thursday, arguing that he still asserts leadership when it comes to the Gangster Disciples, or the GDs for short. In the courtroom, federal prosecutor Julia Schwartz argued that Hoovers allegedly done more damage to the City of Chicago than any defendant thats come through Dirksen. In Thursdays government filing, The United States of America v. Larry Hoover, federal officials said, Hoover has well earned his life sentence, and he is not the type of defendant. Congress intended to benefit in enacting the first step act. Indeed, if he were sentenced today, Hoover would receive the same. Mandatory life sentence. But after Thursdays hearing, Hoovers loved ones and supporters argued that he is a changed man, and can do much good if released. It was good to hear his voice. It sounds like to me, he was a bit nervous, but its his life that hes dealing with, said Larry Hoover Jr., Hoovers son. He is not associated with the gang and has not been for many, many decades, said Jennifer Bonjean, one of Hoovers attorneys. But he probably has some insights into how we can make life better for young people so they dont turn to gangs. The two parties will be back in federal court next month, where federal judge John Robert Blakely wants to hear more arguments from both sides on precisely how many individuals lost their lives as a direct result of Hoovers actions, before issuing a decision. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Las Americas sues AG Paxton in response to his efforts to probe into confidential client information Las Americas sues AG Paxton in response to his efforts to probe into confidential client information UPDATE: A judge denied Las Americas request for a temporary restraining order to block Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from requesting client records. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The battle between groups assisting migrants and the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues. FILE Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. Paxton says hes investigating a key Boeing supplier that is already under scrutiny by federal regulators over the quality of its work on Boeing planes, Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) This time, Paxtons office is trying to probe another El Paso-based non-profit organization assisting migrants, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, which provides legal services to immigrants and migrants. Ever since the attack on Annunciation House, I think organizations have been preparing for what this might look like. And so, for us, it was something that we thought could potentially happen, but it was certainly shocking to have it actually happen, said Las Americas Executive Director Marisa Limon Garza. FILE Migrant parents socialize outside the Annunciation House, June 26, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. On Monday, March 11, 2024, a Texas judge ruled in favor of Annunciation House, a large migrant shelter on the U.S.-Mexico border that Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking to shut down over claims that the facility encourages migrants to enter the country illegally. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) Earlier this year, Paxton tried to shut down El Pasos Annunciation House, a migrant shelter network, through a lawsuit that alleged the organization was facilitating illegal border crossings and concealing illegally present aliens from law enforcement. The lawsuit was dismissed by an El Paso judge and Paxton has since then appealed the decision to the Texas Supreme Court. AG Paxton to appeal ruling dismissing Annunciation House suit Las Americas filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, Sept. 25, seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the baseless investigation led by Paxtons office. According to the lawsuit, Paxton served Las Americas a civil investigative demand (CID) earlier this month, seeking confidential client information from their client files. As a legal service provider, we have obligations ethically, and legally to our clients. And so, any kind of attack like this tries to undergird those efforts and destabilize them. Thats an incredibly dangerous move and something that we felt like we needed to stand up against. And thats why we filed our own lawsuit, Garza said. KTSM reached out to Paxtons office requesting for comment, which they did not immediately respond to Thursday afternoon. The lawsuit argues this is just the latest attempt by Paxton to target and harass immigrant service organizations by making reference to four other instances where his office tried shutting down organizations like these in Texas, unsuccessfully. Senior attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project Aron Thorn, who along with law firm Winston & Strawn is representing Las Americas, noted however that Las Americas is the first of these organizations that specifically renders legal services. The significance of hitting a bunch of lawyers with these bogus attempts is it really does a disservice to your clients. It prevents you from being able to speak openly and with confidence with your clients about very difficult subjects. There is a reason that there is attorney-client privilege, said Thorn. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in El Paso and is pending a request for an immediate hearing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Police arrested a teenager at his high school after he allegedly shot and killed a marijuana dealer, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Lequan Harrison faces charges of open murder and discharging a gun, documents said. Harrisons age was not provided in court documents, but his birth year indicates he was 15 or 16 at the time of the murder. On Oct. 23, 2023, Angel Solis, 19, was shot and killed in a car parked in a lot on Boulder Highway near Hacienda Avenue, police said. Officers said Solis was in the parking lot for a scheduled drug transaction. Inside the car, police said they found a handgun and two bags of marijuana. According to a witness, Solis called the marijuana buyer through Instagram, documents said. The person on the other end of the call then instructed Solis to drive to a specific part of the parking lot. Two young men then met Solis, and the witness and Solis sold one man a bag of marijuana. Several minutes later, the two men came back and fired several gunshots into the car. As part of their investigation, police obtained surveillance video and data from several Instagram accounts. In one account, Harrison reportedly sent messages about doing a robbery, documents said. In January, police searched Harrisons apartment not far from the shooting scene. Inside the apartment, officers found a gun box and a cleaning kit. Police then searched a phone they said belonged to Harrison, finding searches for boulder highway [sic] shooting the day after the homicide, documents said. Police arrested Harrison during the search. He initially denied any involvement, but later changed his story, saying he was there with another person and ran when he heard the gunshots. Detectives said Harrison relayed information to them that was never made public. Messages were located in Harrisons phone asking if everyone was good and talking about getting rid of a gun the morning after the shooting, police said. A judge granted the warrant for Harrisons arrest on Aug. 27, records said. In September, officers learned Harrison was attending night school at a southeast valley high school, they said. The program is similar to typical high school but is in the afternoon and evening. On Sept. 19, the FBI and LVMPD arrested Harrison at the school. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Diana Sullivan denied setting bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 7. The case is one of several marijuana-dealing-related homicides involving teenagers across the valley. In Nevada, minors accused of murder are automatically transferred to the adult justice system if they are 16 years old. Las Vegas Metro police no longer release booking photos, citing a circuit court ruling. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After almost 45 years of service, including multiple combat deployments, the F-16 was formally retired today by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). At the same time, the service announced that the F-35A had attained full operational capability, with the stealth fighter now responsible for the full spectrum of missions previously handled by the Viper, including nuclear strike. After 45 years of service, including multiple combat deployments, the F-16 was formally retired today by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). Ahead of todays flight and retirement ceremony, TWZ spoke to Lt. Col. Patrick Naish Vreeburg, the commander of 312 Squadron, the final RNLAF F-16 operator, who reflected on the types service and what comes next. As for the Dutch F-16s, these will almost certainly see more combat again before too long, with two dozen refurbished jets to be transferred to Ukraine. Lt. Col. Patrick Naish Vreeburg, the commander of 312 Squadron, the final RNLAF F-16 operator. Frank Crebas The RNLAF F-16AM specially marked for the Farewell Falcon taxies back to the flight line at Volkel after a final display over the airbase followed by a water cannon salute. RNLAF/YouTube screencap Just ahead of the F-16 stand-down, the RNLAF announced that the F-35A had attained full operational capability, with the stealth fighter now responsible for the full spectrum of missions previously handled by the Viper, including the nuclear strike role. Exciting news The Royal Netherlands Air Force has declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) with their F-35 fleet. This milestone strengthens Dutch national security and enhances long-term interoperability with NATO allies for years to come. https://t.co/8Si90a9wUE F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) September 26, 2024 The RNLAF bid Farewell Falcon to the F-16 today, with a ceremony at the final operational base, Volkel, in the south of the Netherlands. From here, right of the last Dutch F-16s (and one Belgian) took off for a farewell flight, taking them over key locations associated with the Vipers long career in the country. It was planned to fly over the Netherlands Ministry of Defense in the Hague and the Air Force Headquarters in Breda, as well as other bases where the F-16 was previously based, although poor. Een gedenkwaardig moment: de laatste afscheidsvlucht van de iconische F-16. Na 45 jaar trouwe dienst en vele missies krijgt het toestel een nieuw leven in Oekraine en Roemenie. Aan iedereen die de F-16 heeft gevlogen of onderhouden: bedankt!! pic.twitter.com/cyyjBxXAQp Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) September 27, 2024 Brig. Gen. Marcel Bo van Egmond, the head of RNLAF Air Combat Command (in the cockpit), and Lt. Gen. Andre Jabba Steur, the boss of the RNLAF, toast the end of the Dutch F-16 with a Hertog Jan beer, after Bo landed in the specially marked jet. RNLAF/YouTube screencap First off, its worth recalling the key facts and milestones associated with the F-16 in Dutch service. The Netherlands was one of the first four European Participating Air Forces (EPAF) to sign up for the F-16 as part of the so-called Sale of the Century, primarily to replace its aging F-104 Starfighter fleet. Fly away with Jaws. During the Cold War the Royal Netherlands Airforce had 213 F16s. Today the reliable F16 is replaced with the F-35 and makes its last flight. The location of this film is Leeuwarden Airbase (1981). #FarewellF16 pic.twitter.com/4tJTknKoea Klaas Meijer (@klaasm67) September 27, 2024 Ultimately, the Dutch bought 213 examples of the F-16A/B versions, some of which were assembled locally, by Fokker. The first order was for 102 F-16s, comprising 80 single-seat F-16As and 22 two-seat F-16Bs. The first Dutch-built F-16 took to the air on May 3, 1979, and an initial delivery to the RNLAF followed in June of the same year. An F-16AM operated by the U.S.-based RNLAF training unit, from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Frank Crebas In December 1983, the Dutch government approved plans to buy another 111 F-16s (97 F-16As and 14 F-16Bs), the last of which was rolled out of the Fokker production facility in February 1992. By then, however, the Cold War was over and the security landscape in Europe looked very different. In 1993 it was decided that only 138 of the jets would pass through the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program, rather than the 170 originally planned. The MLU was completed in 2003, the same year in which it was announced that the fleet would be reduced again, by 25 percent. The steady downsizing of the Dutch Viper fleet provided opportunities for other operators. Beginning in 2005, Jordan acquired six F-16BMs, while Chile acquired a first batch of 18 jets (11 F-16AMs and seven F-16BMs) in the same year, followed by another batch of 18 single-seaters in 2008. An F-16AM from 312 Squadron over the North Sea. Frank Crebas The Dutch first took the F-16 to war over the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, under Operations Joint Falcon and Allied Force. During the latter campaign, on April 4, 1999, a Dutch F-16 shot down a Serbian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, for the first RNLAF aerial kill since World War II. Dutch F-16s also struck Serbian ground targets in the same operation, including using AGM-65G Maverick air-to-ground missiles. Subsequently, RNLAF F-16s flew missions over Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom, with the jets initially based in Kyrgyzstan. Dutch F-16s also took part in the NATO air campaign over Libya, followed by counter-IS missions in the Middle East. Regular deployments were also made to the Baltics as part of NATOs Baltic Air Policing rotational mission, to defend the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. While the F-16 was originally acquired by the RNLAF with the expectation that it would fly short-range air defense and battlefield interdiction with dumb munitions during a war with the Warsaw Pact, the post-Cold War world put very different demands on the jet and its operators. An RNLAF F-16 driver prepares for a night mission. Frank Crebas Nevertheless, the F-16 excelled at out-of-area operations and extended deployments far from the Netherlands. On more than one occasion, for example during the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq/Syria, a political decision was made and, only a couple of days later, Dutch F-16s would be flying in theater. With such an illustrious career behind it, its no surprise that Lt. Col. Vreeburg has some mixed feelings about the F-16s retirement. Of course, its a big moment, he told TWZ. After 45 years of operating the F-16 in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and a lot of deployments over the last 20-plus years, and very important tasks before that during the Cold War. But we need now to focus on our people and our assets, to transition to the F-35 to provide a credible deterrence. Vreeburg admitted that his job as commander of 312 Squadron has meant that hes been almost too busy to reflect on the retirement of the F-16, a jet that has played a huge part in his service career, its cockpit providing his office for the last 23 years. An RNLAF F-16AM configured for air defense ejects an infrared flare. Frank Crebas Ive been on 10 deployments with the F-16, Vreeburg explained. We had a lot of adventures together, and it flies like heaven. It really flies like a razor blade. Almost as soon as you even think about turning, it already goes. I dont know how its going to be on the F-35. Im lucky that Im transitioning to the F-35 so I will keep flying. The first F-35s arrived at Leeuwarden on October 31, 2019, and the RNLAF now has 40 of the 52 units already ordered, with more planned. That changeover is something that Vreeburg likened to trading in your first car for a new model. You had a lot of adventures with it, and now its served its purpose it cannot bring you any more to where you need to go, and so you need something else, but you keep fond memories of it. Of those 10 combat deployments, Vreeburg recalled them as being all memorable in their own way. The first one, and then the first one as a flight lead. And then the first deployment that flew out of Afghanistan instead of from Kyrgyzstan into Afghanistan. Then you had Libya. Then you had Iraq. I think one of the most memorable of my deployments to Kandahar was when we had the Battle of Chora, when we, together with the Netherlands Army, went onto the offensive to take that valley back. At one point we had the whole battle group from the Netherlands Army, with all six aircraft, even including the spares, all above that valley at the same time, combating the Taliban. So that was one of the most memorable deployments I had. With Smokewinders on the wingtips, an F-16AM flies over some typical Dutch countryside. Frank Crebas While combat deployments finished with the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve rotations, until the beginning of this year, RNLAF F-16s were still undertaking some quick reaction alert (QRA) air defense duties, of Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) airspace, Vreeburg explained. We still did one month of standby duty, 24/7, with a small group of pilots and maintainers. We had a small group of aircraft to perform that mission. We also still had the DCA [dual-capable aircraft], our nuclear mission. At the end of February, we transitioned the QRA task to the F-35 and at the end of May we transitioned the DCA task also to the F-35. An RNLAF F-16AM flies alongside the first Dutch F-35A. Frank Crebas Vreeburg continued: After that, we focused still on investing in our people. We still had some flight lead upgrades going on and we did some mission commander upgrades. We also did a deployment just before the summer break to Norway, where we flew support for the weapon instructor course, as red air. We used that deployment to train our people in deploying and operating from an unfamiliar airfield. We finished up the last flight lead upgrade a couple of weeks ago, and meanwhile, besides that, we were mainly, especially since the summer break, flying support for the F-35 as red air, but also as blue air, because they also need entities to protect in their training. We could also use that in our flight lead upgrades or for our own training because all of our guys are transitioning to the F-35, so we have to keep them smart or make them even smarter. Although its another aircraft, 90 percent of the skills you learn are also usable. An RNLAF F-16AM accompanies an RNLAF F-35A. Frank Crebas A contractor-operated A-4K from Draken International, an RNLAF F-16AM, and an RNLAF F-35A. Frank Crebas So far, Vreeburg hasnt flown an F-35, but he already knows what he thinks he might miss once he transitions to the fifth-generation fighter. In the F-16, under the canopy, you sit almost on top of the aircraft, you have almost restricted vision all around you. And it also flies a bit smoother, although that depends, right? If you have tanks, jamming pods, and weapons on your wings, then it flies totally differently than only with a centerline tank and a couple of missiles. In the F-35, almost everything is internal, most of the time, so its almost apples and oranges. But Im hearing its not such smooth flying. The aerodynamics are different; the F-35 has a different wing shape, and you have the boundary layer that rumbles through the aircraft, which you dont have on the F-16. An F-16BM assigned to the U.S.-based RNLAF training unit rips through a valley at low level. Frank Crebas Frank Crebas Despite these differences, the basics of flying the jet will remain broadly similar, but the big change will come with mission employment, Vreeburg said. The tactics are different because the capabilities of the F-35 are different. With the F-16, you cannot employ the tactics that the F-35 can. We cannot fly as close to a ground-based threat as the F-35 can. Of course, we have to turn around when confronted by certain aircraft, because they will certainly see us and shoot at us. We might have to outmaneuver their missiles. While evading modern air defense systems was becoming an increasing challenge for Dutch F-16 pilots, keeping the dwindling number of jets mission-ready proved to be less of a problem. There were enough spare parts, Vreeburg said. But I think the biggest contributing factor was that a couple of years ago, we unified our separate maintenance squadrons. So that whole process from a broken jet or a jet needing maintenance to put it back on the flight line was now just one process, instead of broken up into separate ones. And of course, we also have a ton of experience in this squadron. We hand out a gold medal for 36 years of service as a non-commissioned officer. I think have handed out 50 or 60 in the last couple of years. There are lot of people with 30-plus years of F-16 experience. Specially marked RNLAF F-16AMs top up from a KDC-10 tanker, an aircraft now operated by Omega Air in the United States. Frank Crebas An F-16AM in full afterburner. This jet was among those later transferred to Jordan. Frank Crebas Consistent upgrades, starting with the MLU program, have ensured that the F-16 remains relevant and able to meet the changing demands of air warfare and take on new missions as required. When Vreeburg started flying the Viper in the RNLAFs U.S.-based training program, he was using the older Block 15OCU version, but by the time he was back in the Netherlands, he was getting acquainted with the MLU jet, in its initial M1 tape software iteration, followed soon after by the M2 tape. The RNLAF F-16s were successively upgraded to M6.5 tape, adding new capabilities all the time. I think one of the biggest changes was the incorporation of Link 16, Vreeburg explained. Its made it possible to fly other tactics. After that, each successive generation of targeting pod, which, of course, for our mainly close airport missions in Afghanistan, and later on in Iraq and Syria, was essential to provide support for troops on the ground. Later on, the incorporation of GPS-aided monitions like the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), then combined laser- and GPS-guided weapons, and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), of course. Yesterday the Dutch JTAC community said their goodbyes to the RNLAF F-16 with one last CAS training mission. The oldest and youngest JTAC controlled 2 312 Vipers over Volkel. Targets destroyed. Mission succes. Commanders intent met! Sons of Bonzo! pic.twitter.com/LJsTfyYFAk Cdt 312 Squadron (@312Cdt) September 13, 2024 A pair of 312 Squadron F-16s, carrying mixed loads of air-to-air missiles, electronic warfare pods, targeting pods, and external fuel tanks. Frank Crebas Three Dutch F-16s perform a break for the camera. Frank Crebas Right now, Vreeburgs 312 Squadron has already converted its first pilots onto the F-35, and they are now flying with 313 Squadron, which has already converted to the F-35 at Volkel. The next pilots transitioning will also fly with 313 Squadron because if you look out of our window, they just started building our Special Access Program Facility [SAPF, used for classified intelligence and secure communications operations related to the F-35]. This whole building needs to be redone. The contractors will come in, strip everything down, redo it, finish it, and then we expect to be able to move back in here in 2027. By that time there should be enough trained pilots and maintainers to start operating with the first one or two flights. Meanwhile, the first F-35s for 312 Squadron are very nearly ready. Vreeburg confirmed that there are a couple of F-35s for the unit now being completed by Lockheed Martin. There were supposed to be done, but they are still waiting to be finished, and that will probably take a little while, but they are already 90 percent done. Progressive modernization of the Dutch F-16 fleet means that the surviving aircraft are still more than capable in many combat scenarios, and they have been snapped up by Ukraine, which long sought to acquire jets of this type. RNLAF F-16AMs carrying live AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles escort a U.S. Air Force B-52H over Europe. Frank Crebas The Netherlands government has promised 24 F-16s to the Ukrainian government, Vreeburg explained. Our role in this is that we are the last squadron flying the F-16, so the F-16 expertise is in this squadron. We have a separate entity in our squadron, which is going to take care of the required maintenance and the handover to Ukraine. Although 312 Squadron is focused on the transition to the F-35, not everybody can start training at the same time. Maintainers also need to do training for the F-35 and as long as they are waiting to start that, they can help prepare the aircraft for Ukraine. And most of our aircraft are going to industry to get an overhaul, before being transferred to Ukraine. We still need to do some maintenance over here, before flying them to the industry. The only F-16 pilots that we still have are in this squadron or attached to it, so we have a small group of people who will keep flying the F-16 just to get them from Volkel to somewhere else. Lt. Col. Naish Vreeburg in the cockpit of an F-16AM. Frank Crebas Just 1 more week of RNLAF F-16 operations. Last week another week of fini flights and goodbyes. Even said goodbye to a couple of jets. Preparations for the final goodbye next week Friday are in full swing. Have a nice weekend. Sons of Bonzo! pic.twitter.com/dYcqDAZpND Cdt 312 Squadron (@312Cdt) September 20, 2024 While his squadron and the wider RNLAF are very much now focused on the continued introduction of the F-35, Lt. Col. Naish Vreeburg is still convinced that the F-16 has a lot more to offer once it arrives with the Ukrainian Air Force. The time has come to let the F-16 go, but I am convinced it can still be very valuable, Vreeburg concluded. Let it go to new owners and a new purpose. Today will be a goodbye, but not the end. We need to clean up and finish up to make sure that the next user has good jets and effective jets to work with. We wish them a whole lot of luck doing that to give them hell! Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Thank you to Frank Crebas for his invaluable assistance in the preparation of this article. The Latest: Harris heads to US-Mexico border and Trump meets with Zelenskyy Vice President Kamala Harris was making her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump met in New York with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Harris was scheduled to appear in Douglas, Arizona, as Trump and his fellow Republicans pound her relentlessly over the Biden administrations record on migration. Zelenskyy's visit with Trump came as public tensions have been rising between the two over Ukraines defense against Russias invasion. Follow the APs Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. Heres the latest: North Carolina appeals court reverses voter ID ruling RALEIGH, N.C. A North Carolina appeals court on Friday blocked students and employees at the states flagship public university from providing a digital identification produced by the school when voting to comply with a new photo ID mandate. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals reverses at least temporarily last months decision by the State Board of Elections that the mobile ID generated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill met security and photo requirements in the law and could be used. The Republican National Committee and state Republican Party sued to overturn the decision by the Democratic-majority board earlier this month, saying the law only allows physical ID cards to be approved. The Democratic National Committee and a UNC student group who joined the case said the board rightly determined that the digital ID met the requirements set in state law. The DNC attorneys wrote that preventing its use could confuse or even disenfranchise up to 40,000 people who work or attend the school so close to the election. Fridays ruling could be appealed to the state Supreme Court. North Carolina is a presidential battleground state where statewide races are often close affairs, so any changes to voting rules are closely scrutinized by the major parties. The mobile UNC One Card marked the first such ID posted from someones smartphone that the board has OKd. Trump goes after head of UAW union Former President Donald Trump is slamming the head of the United Auto Workers in the heart of the nations car manufacturing industry. At a town hall in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan where the initial questions were all from autoworkers, Trump said UAW head Shawn Fain sold you out. Fain endorsed Trumps Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and spoke at the Democratic National Convention on her behalf. Trump claimed Fain acquiesced to the Biden administration incentivizing electric vehicle manufacture and contended thatll lead to a loss of auto jobs. Trump has town hall in Michigan Former President Donald Trump is starting a town hall in Warren, Michigan. The event in a Detroit suburb is Trumps second on Friday in the battleground state. Earlier, Trump spoke at a manufacturing facility outside the city of Grand Rapids. The appearance was preceded with a video of Trump urging his supporters to vote in person or by mail, an endorsement of that method of voting that is a contrast to the conspiracy theories hes sown about why he lost the 2020 election. Harris tours the border Harris chatted with local Border Patrol leaders about securing the area as they strode along a rust-colored stretch of wall built during Barack Obamas presidency. Temperatures neared 100 degrees. She spent roughly half an hour touring the area. Harris arrives in Arizona Harris has arrived in an Arizona border town, where shell make her first visit to the international boundary since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee as she confronts one of her biggest vulnerabilities ahead of the November election. Harris met in Douglas with Mayor Donald Huish, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and County Supervisor Ann English, along with Sen. Mark Kelly and Attorney General Kris Mayes. America Ferrera enlists college students in evangelizing the Harris-Walz ticket Actress America Ferrera, known for her roles in Ugly Betty and Barbie, urged college students to press their peers to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket during an appearance at Arizona State University. Ferrera, sporting a Pro-Roe T-shirt underneath a suit jacket, spoke Friday to about 100 students, some involved in campus Democratic clubs, ahead of Harris visit to the states border with Mexico. The Harris campaign has leaned on celebrities like Ferrera and social media influencers to court younger voters. Your job for the next 39 days is to talk to every single person you know your roommates, your friends, your enemies, your aunts, your uncles, your cousin and explain to them what matters to you because you have more power to get the people in your family, in your life to the polls than Ugly Betty does, Ferrera said. Trump boasts about plans to cut regulation More than 25 minutes into his speech in Kent County, Michigan, Trump turned to the intended focus of the event: the economy. He boasted about plans to cut regulations and offer other benefits to companies that make their products in the U.S. He said he would issue sweeping tariffs on cars and other products built outside the country. The former president claimed the auto industry is being taken from Americans like candy from a baby and will disappear if he doesnt win. Theres no evidence the auto industry is disappearing. Auto parts jobs have risen under Biden and auto sales were up 2.4% in the first half of this year. Foreign automakers already have multiple U.S. factories, mainly in southern states. Trump also touted his endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk and suggested the billionaire entrepreneur could have a role in his administration. "Were going to get Elon Musk to be our cost cutter, he said. I dont think I can get him full time because hes a little bit busy, sending rockets up and all the things he does. Trump says Harris has blood on her hands when it comes to immigration Trump at a campaign stop in Michigan is issuing a scathing screed against Harris on immigration, saying blood is on her hands as he points to purported data about criminals entering the U.S. illegally. What Kamala Harris has done is unforgivable, he told more than a thousand supporters from the loading dock of a Michigan manufacturing plant. Its a crime what she did. Theres no greater act of disloyalty than to extinguish the sovereignty of your own nation. Trump also repeated his unfounded claims that Democrats are trying to sign noncitizens up to vote, which is a felony. He claimed the only way he will lose the election is if his opponents cheat. Trumps comments come as Harris is scheduled to visit Douglas, Arizona, in her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Justice Department sues 2 Wisconsin towns for not having voting machines for people with disabilities MADISON, Wis. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued two small Wisconsin towns for not having voting machines accessible to people with disabilities. The department reached an agreement with Lawrence to resolve its complaint, but the one against Thornapple is pending. The lawsuits were filed Sept. 20. The complaints allege that neither town had accessible voting systems, as required under federal law, for the April 2 presidential primary. The Justice Department also alleges that Thornapple did not have accessible voting system in the Aug. 13 primary. Both towns' boards voted in 2023 to stop using the accessible voting machines they previously used, according to the complaint. The agreement with Lawrence calls for the town to make an accessible voting machine available at every polling place it operates in future federal elections. The town must also train staff on how to operate the equipment. Trump is headed to Michigan to discuss the economy WALKER, Michigan Donald Trump is expected to headline a campaign event at a manufacturing plant in Kent County, a Democratic leaning county in western Michigan surrounded by more conservative rural areas. Awaiting Trump, hundreds, decked in the campaigns red Make America Great hats, T-shirts and other items promoting Trump. The event is billed as being aimed at the economy, where Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris have focused in the past week. It will be held in the loading dock of Falk Production in Walker, Michigan, outside of Grand Rapids, a plant that produces prefabricated walls and partitions. Trumps and Harris campaign have been focusing heavily on Michigan, where Trump won in 2016 but Biden won back in 2020. Trump is scheduled to campaign in Warren, Michigan, near Detroit later Friday. Iranian operatives charged with hacking Trump campaign The Justice Department has announced criminal charges against Iranian operatives suspected of hacking Donald Trumps presidential campaign and disseminating stolen information to media organizations. The indictment comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran as Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel escalate attacks against each other, raising concerns about the prospect of an all-out war, and as U.S. officials say they continue to track physical threats by Iran against a number of officials including Trump. The Trump campaign disclosed on Aug. 10 that it had been hacked and said Iranian actors had stolen and distributed sensitive internal documents. Senate Democrats make a late push in red-leaning states Democrats looking to stay in the Senate majority are going on the offense in two U.S. Senate races in the Republican-leaning states of Texas and Florida. Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, says the group is making a multi-million dollar investment in television advertising in the two states and that hes very confident theres going to be more coming. Republicans are portraying the investments as a sign that Democrats are worried that incumbent Sen. Jon Tester is in trouble in his bid to win reelection in Montana. Jews and Catholics warn against Trumps latest loyalty test for voters Former President Donald Trump recently reissued his loyalty test to religious Americans, declaring that he can best protect their freedoms while preemptively blaming some if he loses the presidential election in November. He said Jews and Catholics can vote for him and ace the test, but those who dont in his words need their head examined. If hes defeated, Trump added, Jewish people would bear blame for that result. Among the Jewish leaders appalled at Trumps remarks was Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Jacobs said: It puts a target on American Jews. ... Stop. The News Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called for a harder line on Russia and a softer line on AI in an interview with Semafor. Rinkevics who has been president for a year in particular cited a recent report about Europes flagging global competitiveness to make a case for lighter regulation of tech companies. This transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity. The Q&A Ben Smith: You were just in Silicon Valley, and met Sam Altman. Those companies build and they create jobs in the United States and they are regulated in Europe. What do you make of that? Edgars Rinkevics: The purpose of that discussion was actually to look into cooperation because we are currently establishing a National Center for Artificial Intelligence. We started that primarily out of security concerns [over] interference in electoral processes. But then we understood that if we want to be successful, we actually have to build AI in Latvia, and we need to cooperate with those companies. Most of them were [citing] GDPR, this privacy regulation of the EU. It is absolutely clear that Europe is lagging behind the United States. Ben: Do you think they should loosen these regulations? Rinkevics: I think we have to seriously revisit them, and we have to listen to the industry. There are concerns that we have in Europe about privacy you know, each and every country gets obsessed with something. I do believe that in order to be successful in artificial intelligence, we need to strike the right balance between industry and its needs, and also the concerns of our citizens. Ben: A Russian armed drone, I believe, crashed in your country. Do you think that NATOs response has been adequate to that kind of incident? Rinkevics: No. That is the third country that has this kind of incident. We had those incidents in Romania and Poland. The difference is that the Baltic States do not have their own interceptors. We have a NATO mission, that mission is basically a patrolling mission. We need to have a serious discussion and uniform response by the whole alliance, regardless if it is Romania or Poland with their capabilities or its Latvia or Lithuania with the capabilities provided by NATO allies. But look, the investigation is still ongoing. Its going to be prepared and finalized by the beginning of October. Ben: Russia remains very aggressive with its intelligence activities there was the story of [veteran Latvian-Russian politician] Tatjana Zdanokas leaked emails with her handler, theres alleged sabotage all over Europe, they continue to try to interfere with the election here. Do you think they are deterrable? Rikevics: I dont think I can answer about deterrable, but I definitely believe that we can push back. We need to understand that Russia, at least in the foreseeable future, is not going to attack any NATO countries in a classic military way. But hybrid warfare has been ongoing since, I dont know, 2018. Since the [Sergei] Skripal incident in the United Kingdom we have had incidents all over NATO and European Union countries. We detained some people in March who threw Molotov cocktails at our Occupation Museum. We have more and more cases where we see that Telegram is being used to hire people for subversive activity. And thats apart from migration being used as a hybrid weapon by Russia against Finland, by Belarus against Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Ben: How do you persuade your NATO allies to allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike inside Russia? Rinkevics: Its about individual NATO member states. Its about Washington when it comes to certain weapon systems and its about Berlin when it comes to another weapon system. NATO as such does not make collective decisions on those issues. I would say that primarily one should understand the two key issues. Number one, Ukraine is entering a very, very difficult winter. The Russians have been using drones and missiles against energy infrastructure, against civilians, and [Ukraine] need to have proper means to respond to target Russian military and theyve always underscored Russian military infrastructure. Number two, we already had this period where everyone was hoping about the counter offensive last year. But lets face it, you cant expect the Ukrainians to fight with their hands tied, and you cant expect any political process if the Russians do not see that they cant move forward, be it in the east, be it in the south, or be it in Ukraine itself. Ben: Do you think the Ukrainian offensive into Russia was a good idea? Rinkevics: I am not a military expert, but I think that it provided some morale boost in Ukraine. And I think it gives some political clout for whatever process we are going to see, because thats what we are discussing but no exact dates or framework has been established about the second peace summit. Ben: Can you imagine a situation in which Latvia and Russia resume normal relations? Rinkevics: At this point and in the observable future, it will be increasingly difficult. But even if there is any kind of ceasefire or political settlement or some kind of political process, we still will have a reason to suspect that Russia is going to use the time to recover when it comes to the economy, when it comes to its military might, and Russia will try to resume military operations. We already have a history of that. We have the 2015 so-called Minsk Agreements. Seven years later, Mr Putin decided to invade Ukraine. I would agree with those who are saying that any kind of long lasting solution includes Ukraines membership in NATO and also in the European Union. By the way, I think that membership in NATO is easier to achieve than in the European Union. People on this side of the Atlantic sometimes do not understand all the complexity of the single market. Ben: Latvia is seen as a frontrunner to win a seat on the Security Council. What would it mean specifically in terms of this conflict? Rinkevics: We have a broader agenda for the UN Security Council. It includes climate change. It also includes something that we believe we can give to small island states who are actually under the threat of extinction, because of our own history and experience with state continuity. Ben: In your speech to the General Assembly, you spoke about supporting permanent African representation on the Security Council. It sounds like thats part of the alliance youre building for that seat? Rinkevics: It seems a long way from Latvia but there are some similarities This week, we had meetings with the president of Central African Republic, the prime minister of Chad, and the president of Guinea Bissau. We do talk about regional conflicts because those are interlinked. The Wagner Group is very active in Africa. You cant ignore one part of the world and then all of a sudden they wake up and see that bad things are happening. Actually to some extent, Ukraine is currently fighting an anti-colonial war, or that we were under a Soviet occupation that was close to what many African countries went through before they gained independence. OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Oswego County Deputy Cailee Campbell will be remembered as an officer with a can-do attitude, someone who loved her job, and always wanted to help her colleagues. Simply an accident: Oswego County deputy killed in crash responding to call Deputy Campbells death is one that many in law enforcement, and the Oswego community, will not forget. We work very closely with all of them, Oswego Health President and CEO Mike Backus explained regarding all the police agencies in Oswego County. When we learned it was a deputy in the line that was coming in, we knew it was going to be an emotional moment. They spend a lot of time with us. We work very closely. Theyre there to support us. Members of Oswego Health saw the tragedy unfold Wednesday morning, Sept. 25. Now, they hope to help the officers who are back to work after losing a colleague and friend, while also supporting their staff who will always have another patient coming in. These are things we need to talk through and make sure the people have the support they need to talk these things through, Backus said. Theres a patient that comes in thats going to be in front of our team, and we have that obligation and responsibility to be there for those folks. More than just an obligation, an understanding of this loss. Employees here at Oswego Health, many of their loved ones work at Oswego PD and the sheriffs office. So, these are colleagues, friends, and family. We know that. We want to be supportive across the board, Backus added. Theyre offering their support, while the community tries to heal. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Shreveport Police Department says its vision for the city and Caddo Parish is clear: combat and reduce violent crimes through strategic partnerships. Together, were focused on one shared mission, to reduce violent crimes in Shreveport with a particular focus on gun violence, youth crimes, and domestic violence, said Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith. According to Brandon Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, the national public safety partnership provides an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities with the goal of enhancing public safety. Through the partnership, agencies can leverage their unique resources and strategies. In order for us to prosecute cases, we have to have sufficient evidence in order to present that case to prosecute so its very important that we communicate with the sheriffs office, Shreveport police and other law enforcement agencies as to exactly what we need and help them with their strategies to focus on that, said James E. Stewart Sr., the Caddo Parish District Attorney. At the press conference, Brown said that crime, including shootings and violent crime, is decreasing. Law enforcement agencies hope to continue the momentum with crime reduction initiatives. Sometimes we have folks that cant get jobs because of background issues, and so we just had a misdemeanor warrant clearance operation to try to clear some of these records, so that folks can go and apply for a job to not be looking over their shoulder so that they can take care of their families, said Sheriff Henry Whitehorn with the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office. Chief Smith credits Public Safety Partnership for violent crime drop Sheriff Whitehorn adds that the department will work to improve visibility with recruitment efforts. Often times that presence is a preventative measure. If someone sees a cop somewhere, chances are theyre going to say this is not a good time for getting involved in some activity that could get them in trouble, said Sheriff Whitehorn. During the press conference, youth crime became a focus for all partners. Weve been working very hard with the juvenile system, the partners like the volunteers of youth justice, and other groups, the harbor, the Caddo parish school board, to try to identify the causes of youth crime and try to put our foot on it, said Stewart. Many agencies make up the partnership, including the Shreveport City Marshals Office, Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office, the District Attorneys Office, and community stakeholders. Terry McNaight, president of Caddo-Shreveport crime stoppers adds that the public is another key partner. ON NOW: Part II: Firearms Impact & Responsibility When our police staffing isnt where it needs to be, they have to be more laser-focused. We cant have a cop on every corner, obviously. But your information can tell us, heres where you need to be looking, said McNaight. McNaight says Crime Stoppers receives 300 tips a month and provides tens of thousands of dollars in rewards for anonymous tips. Crime is very personal. Crime is you know someone had a crime committed against them or they know of a crime thats being committed. And its those repeat offenders that are doing this crime. Who are these repeat offenders? Tell us. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COITSVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) Law enforcement personnel from several different agencies are served a search warrant Friday morning at a 91 Coitsville-Hubbard Road property. The property includes a former church. Police from Campbell and Coitsville, as well as the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office, were present. Chief Deputy William Cappabianca said the warrant was served after a year-long joint investigation with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Force and Law Enforcement Task Force. Cappabianca said five people have been detained and charges are forthcoming. The five people were living inside the church. He also said people have been calling Coitsville police about activity at the property, but he wouldnt say what the activity was. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WKBN Breaking News Check back here for updates on this 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 WKBN.com. Former President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for in vitro fertilization services after Vice President Kamala Harris rolled out an ad that said he might ban the fertility treatment. The Trump campaign embraced universal access to IVF healthcare and didnt deny suggestions the policy could include services for LGBT couples, according to an NBC report published Thursday. President Trump has long been consistent in supporting the rights of states to make decisions on abortion and has been very clear that he will NOT sign a federal ban when he is back in the White House. President Trump also supports universal access to contraception and IVF, Trump's campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Meanwhile, Harris campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said Trumps own platform listed publicly on his website could effectively ban IVF in comments to the outlet. The campaign did not reply to the Washington Examiners follow-up for clarification on what policies Munoz referred to. As Harris stumps on the campaign trail across the country, she has repeatedly alleged Trump and other Republicans will attempt to ban IVF if he wins a second term. Her campaign released a one-minute ad this week depicting a military family worried about being unable to access IVF services under a Trump presidency. Comrade Kamala Harris just put up an Ad saying that I.V.F. was banned in certain areas because of me, Trump said on Truth Social after the ad began airing on Monday. That is another LIE, just like her working at McDonald's was a LIE! I have been totally supportive of I.V.F., right from the beginning, and so has the Republican Party!" he declared. Featured Local Savings Trump has pledged to bolster access to fertility treatments, even drawing fire from his right flank for recently promising that the government or health insurance companies would fully fund IVF healthcare if he wins the election. We want more babies, to put it very nicely. And for the same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes, he said. IVF policy fueled another debate in the Senate earlier this month as Democrats torched Republican colleagues in the upper chamber for blocking an IVF bill they said was only about protecting millions of womens only chance of starting families. On behalf of every woman who has faced the heart-shattering struggle of infertility, all I can say to my Republican colleagues this afternoon is: Shame. On. You, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said after the GOP stalled her Right to IVF Act. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER However, many members of the Senate GOP said they were against the bill because they believed it went far beyond supporting womens access to IVF healthcare. Among their worries were that by removing legal and ethical regulations that oversee the IVF industry, Duckworths framework could open the door to embryo cloning, gene editing, and designer babies. Editors note: This story has been updated with a comment from HIIs Newport News Shipbuilding. Lawmakers demanded answers from the U.S. Navy on Friday over news reports that faulty welds may have been knowingly made to American submarines and aircraft carriers under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The revelations were first reported by U.S. Naval Institute News. Few details about the matter were made public Friday, including the potential risks to sailors serving aboard the impacted ships, or whether those ships would become unavailable for operations due to the bad welds. In a statement late Friday, HII, the company that owns the shipyard, said it had discovered through internal reporting that some welders knowingly circumvented certain welding procedures. Based on our initial investigation, there is no indication of malicious intent, the company said. Upon discovery, we took action to communicate with our customers and regulators, investigate, determine root causes, bound the issue, and put in place immediate corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions. The companys statement did not include further information on the corrective actions or longer-term solutions taken. Earlier Friday, in a joint statement, the Republican and Democrat heads of the House Armed Services Committee called reports of the faulty welds deeply concerning. The Department of Defense needs to immediately provide our committee with answers and a plan for how they will protect U.S. Navy vessels against tampering, the statement by committee chairman Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., states. Absolute transparency with Congress is essential. The ranking member of the committees Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee said in a statement that members were already in close contact with Navy leadership to ascertain the scope and severity of the weld quality issue. Anytime there is a weld defect on Navy ships and submarines, the safety of the crews that serve aboard are put at risk, and the availability of these platforms are impeded, subcommittee ranking member Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said. It is imperative that Navy leadership disclose its investigation in a timely manner in the coming weeks. The Navy said Friday that it was aware of the issue and a thorough evaluation is underway to determine the scope. The safety of our Sailors and our ships is of paramount importance, the sea service said. We are working closely with industry partners to address this situation and will provide additional information when available. The Newport News yard is one of two in the United States focused on the nuclear fleet. The yard constructs parts of several submarine classes, as well as Ford-class aircraft carriers. HII did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Military Times, but USNI News reported that the company had reported the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice. NEW YORK (PIX11) Supporters of congestion pricing are claiming a victory outside court in New York City on Friday. State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron denied a motion by lawyers for the state and Gov. Kathy Hochul. They were asking for the lawsuits to be dismissed. More Local News A group of riders and advocates filed suit after the governor paused the plan in June. Congestion pricing would have charged most vehicles $15 for travel south of 60th Street in Manhattan. The money would fund transit improvements. The state could appeal the judges motion. The next step could be a ruling from the judge on the governors authority to pause the plan. I hope the governor will see the ruling a see its time to set aside the pause, said plaintiff attorney Andrew Chelli. The judge has asked for more briefs on the merits of the case by mid-October. The state could appeal the dismissal ruling. The judge in this case is the same as former President Trumps civil fraud trial. Cases brought by opponents are still pending in federal court in Newark and Manhattan to stop congestion pricing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. How the lawyer known for taking down powerful men is fighting for Fayeds alleged victims She is the scourge of alleged male celebrity wrongdoers, from Bill Cosby and Donald Trump to R Kelly, Roman Polanski and Dodi Fayed. Now American lawyer and feminist idol Gloria Allred, 83, is turning her attention to Dodis father, Mohamed Fayed, as she charges into her latest high-profile battle: representing multiple women who have accused the former Harrods owner of abuse. Allred is one of several lawyers working to bring justice for at least 37 accusers following a BBC investigation into Fayed. In a press conference on Friday, at which 20 survivors were present, their legal team laid out details of Fayeds alleged predatory behaviour such as subjecting his female employees to intrusive medical examinations, bugging their phone lines, sexual misconduct, and rape. Speaking at the press conference, Allred gave a fiery speech in which she claimed that underneath Harrods glitz and glamour was a toxic, unsafe and abusive environment. She said that it was long overdue for Harrods to step up, adding: Now we want deeds, not just words. Harrods has put out a statement in response to the BBCs investigation, acknowledging that as a business we failed our employees who were [Fayeds] victims and for this we sincerely apologise. And on Thursday, current managing director Michael Ward admitted the business had failed our colleagues and that Fayed had presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. And he added that, while he had worked with Fayed for four years, he was not aware of his criminality and abuse and would have acted upon them had he been so. The stores new owners have set up a compensation scheme for former workers who have reported that they were attacked by Fayed. Allred, with one of Fayeds accusers at a press conference, says his victims were forced to trade their bodies if they wanted to keep their job - Yui Mok/PA Wire However, it looks likely that this separate legal process will go ahead as well and that it could become an even more significant case. Dean Armstrong KC revealed that around 100 women have contacted them since the BBC investigation was made public, in addition to the 37 they were already representing. This is all familiar territory for Allred, who has made a specialty of challenging cases that involve famous figures, multiple victims, and a dangerous power imbalance. In the process, she has become almost as well-known as the celebrities she has taken to task and she is equally revered and feared in a polarised America. Speaking this week on Anton Savages radio show, Allred clarified that she was serving as a consultant to the legal team because Ive had so many high-profile cases in the United States, including R Kelly and Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. She continued: Im very proud of all of the survivors who have come forward. Mohamed tried to silence them. They will not be silenced anymore. Allred outlined the horrifying culture of fear that Fayed allegedly fostered, telling his victims I know where your family lives as he threatened them not to speak out. Allred said that one accuser was surveilled so that Fayed could find out if she had a boyfriend. His conduct knew no boundaries, she stated. The new owners of Harrods have set up a compensation scheme for former workers who have reported that they were attacked by Fayed - Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs Allred also claimed that other people, such as Fayeds security team, knew what was happening because they could see young women leaving his Park Lane home dishevelled and crying. She compared the sheer scale of the alleged abuse to similar cases she has worked on, such as representing 20 victims of Jeffrey Epstein. It has also been alleged that two female doctors, Ann Coxon and Wendy Snell, carried out invasive internal examinations of multiple Harrods employees to test them for sexually transmitted infections. The results were then shared with Fayed, without the employees consent. Snell passed away in 2022, but Coxon is still practising. When contacted for a statement in response to the allegations, Coxons office responded with No comment. A GMC spokesperson said: 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. Although these cases often feature male perpetrators taking advantage of vulnerable women or girls, its a grim reality that there are also female enablers. Ghislaine Maxwell has been imprisoned for enticement of minors and child sex trafficking, related to her long association with Epstein, while, infamously, Rose West collaborated with her husband Fred in the torture and murder of multiple women. Speaking about the abusive workplace created by Fayed, Allred stated that his victims were forced to trade their bodies if they wanted to keep their job. She summed up: Their dream was to work at Harrods, a glitzy, glamorous place. Instead of the dream they got the nightmare. However, she believes that courage is contagious: once one accuser comes forward, many more are emboldened to follow. Allred noted that one underage girl alleges that she did tell the police about Fayed assaulting her, but the case wasnt prosecuted because they said she got the date wrong by one day. Allred compared that to her litigation of a civil trial against Cosby, when she represented a woman who alleged he sexually molested her at the Playboy Mansion when she was 16. She also misremembered the date but, said Allred, the jury still came back in their favour. Allred, second from left, represented dozens of alleged victims of Bill Cosby - Richard Taber/AP Allred is dubious about the current Harrods owners strategy of belatedly apologising and telling accusers to speak to them about a settlement. I dont think they should do that I think [Harrods] should contact independent lawyers. I always say its never too late to do the right thing. Allred concluded: There should be meaningful accountability, because that would be justice. Allreds expertise and dedication to a wider mission clearly make her a crucial member of this legal team, but she also has specific experience of the Fayed family. In August 1997, those notorious pictures of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed canoodling on a yacht were published worldwide. It was a shocking end to his engagement to American model Kelly Fisher, who alleged that he dumped her by phone shortly before news of his romance with Diana broke. Fisher then sued Fayed for breach of contract and loss of earnings (she claims he had offered her $500,000 to scale back her American modelling career so she could move to Paris to be with him) and she was represented by Allred. At a press conference, Allred said that Fayed needs to take responsibility for the woman that he left at the altar and treated with such total disrespect. He threw her love away in a callous way with no regard for her whatsoever. Allred added that Fayed was a frog in princes clothing. Allred is a savvy operator, not a saint - Seth Wenig/AP However, Fisher dropped the suit following the deaths of Diana and Fayed just weeks later. Allred stated that Fisher had made the decision out of respect for the tragedy and the tremendous loss the Fayed family has suffered, but emphasised that Fisher did still have a legal right to pursue her lawsuit she had just chosen not to exercise it. Now, almost three decades later, Allred is holding the Fayed family accountable once again for their treatment of women. This octogenarian defenders zeal for justice is as strong as ever. Perhaps thats not surprising given that she herself was a victim of violent sexual assault. In 1966, while on holiday in Acapulco, she was raped at gunpoint and became pregnant. Since abortion was then illegal she had a back-alley termination, and almost died when she starting to bleed and developed a 106-degree fever. She has since used a variety of colourful strategies to bring such issues to public attention and fight for equality such as invading the Friars Club of Beverley Hills all-male steam room and confronting its naked occupants with a tape measure while singing Peggy Lees Is That All There Is?. In 2020 Allred hired a school bus and had it plastered it with posters and driven to Buckingham Palace. The stunt aimed to pressure Prince Andrew to speak to the FBI about his dealings with Epstein. Allreds school bus stunt aimed to pressure Prince Andrew into speaking to the FBI about his involvement with Epstein - Stefan Rousseau/PA Allred has never been afraid to take on hugely powerful figures and wade into controversial cases, whether representing Nicole Brown Simpsons family in 1995 during the OJ Simpson trial, or writing to Californias Child Protective Services in 2002 when Michael Jackson dangled his son over a balcony in Berlin. More recently Allred represented dozens of alleged victims of Bill Cosby, and three women who accused then-presidential candidate Donald Trump of sexual misconduct. She also represented three women at Harvey Weinsteins Los Angeles rape trial in 2022 although some of her own conduct came under scrutiny too, when a New York Times investigation uncovered the fact that her firm had negotiated some of the non-disclosure agreements signed by Weinsteins victims. Arguably, that had been a sensible tactic at the time to at least secure the women a financial settlement, but it demonstrated that Allred is a savvy operator, not a saint. However, that controversy hasnt slowed her down far from it. Fayed is far from the only prominent figure currently in her sights: she is also representing Thalia Graves, who claims that in 2001 Sean Diddy Combs and his bodyguard Joseph Sherman drugged, bound and raped her, filmed her assault, and then shared the tape with others. Combs is already in federal custody awaiting trial. He faces separate charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Both Combs and Sherman deny all charges. In a news conference, Allred said that Graves has been dealing with the trauma and stress of her assault for many years and is reliving it now as she files suit against Combs. Allred also hinted that she would be representing other alleged victims. If she is, thats very bad news for Combs indeed. Allred is still a mighty force to be reckoned with, and few escape her relentless pursuit of justice. 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. Attorneys said theyre representing more than 50 people who plan to take legal action against Sean Diddy Combs for alleged sexual abuse and they expect to work with more. Tony Buzbee, who previously represented more than 120 clients in a lawsuit against rapper Travis Scott following the deadly Astroworld crowd crush, announced that he and AVA Law Group are taking legal action against Combs on behalf of those who came forward saying that Combs had abused them. Each individual story is gut wrenching and heartbreaking, Buzbee said in an announcement on social media. The violations against this group of individuals are mindboggling and can only be described as debauchery and depravity, exacted by powerful people against minors and the weak. Andrew Van Arsdale, managing partner of AVA Law Group, told HuffPost on Friday that the attorneys expect to represent well over 100 people by early next week. Sean Combs arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California. Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP Van Arsdale said people who had previously feared the music moguls power are now coming forward because they feel a sense of protection now that federal authorities have arrested him. The lawyer said Combs accusers are looking for accountability and some form of justice. Im just glad that the federal government has finally acted and brought him to task and to call on what has happened here, and we look forward to representing as many people as are willing to come forward and seek that accountability, Van Arsdale said. Federal prosecutors in New York have alleged that Combs organized parties he called freak-offs where he drugged and coerced victims into performing sex acts. Combs has pleaded not guilty to trafficking and racketeering charges, and hes also denied allegations in multiple civil lawsuits filed against him. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, told TMZ that his client plans to take the stand in his own defense in his criminal case. I dont know that I can keep him off the stand. He is very eager to tell his story, Agnifilo said. Speaking about the dozens of alleged victims that he and Buzbee are representing, Van Arsdale told HuffPost that each case is unique and will be handled individually as opposed to grouping them into a class action lawsuit. Van Arsdale alleged that Combs abuse spanned decades and said that his accusers fall into separate groups. He alleged that some people were promised career benefits and drawn to Combs lavish parties, where they were sexually assaulted, while others were trafficked across state lines to be serially abused by a number of people within Combs circle. Some were minors at the time, he said. The lawyers expect to file cases in different states, but Van Arsdale said that many of Combs parties took place in Beverly Hills, California. Some of the accusers are men who described abuse similar to the women who have already publicly spoken out, he said. Its about a half and a half in terms of the people that have come forward to date, Arsdale said. Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. Related... SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A Le Mars man was sentenced to federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and possession of firearms. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, Timothy Mullally, 49, was sentenced on Sept. 25 to 66 months of imprisonment after he pleaded guilty on May 16 in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of prohibited persons in possession of firearms. At the plea and sentencing, the release said evidence showed that between Jan. 2022 through Sept. 2022, Mullally and others distributed more than two kilos of methamphetamine. On two occasions in Aug. and Sept. of 2022, he distributed more than 800 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with authorities. During the investigation of this matter, law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspection Services prohibited a three-pound package of methamphetamine coming from California to Mullallys residence in Sept. 2022. Sioux City PD looking for suspect in downtown robbery From the investigation and search warrants at Mullallys properties and vehicles, law enforcement seized $5,830 and two firearms. Mullally admitted to being a regular user of methamphetamine and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Mullally was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. Mullally remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. At least 2 North Carolina deaths blamed on Helene as mountains endure catastrophic floods BOONE, N.C. After Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend of Florida, it caused flooding conditions throughout the Southeast. In the town of Boone, North Carolina, floodwaters inundated parking lots and streets and destroyed some roads. The photos below show roads that have crumbled, as the ground beneath them had washed away. Farther north in Ashe County, roads disappeared under floodwater deep enough to reach the cab of a Jeep. Flooding in Ashe County. Western North Carolina Faces Historic Flood Threat In Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, more flooded roads could be seen. Flooding in Buncombe County. Meanwhile, some roads were covered in debris from flooding. I-40, looking down at U.S. 74 in North Carolina. How To Watch Fox Weather As of Friday afternoon, at least two people have died because of the storm. One person was killed when a tree fell on a home in Charlotte, while a 4-year-old died in a crash in Claremont. Original article source: At least 2 North Carolina deaths blamed on Helene as mountains endure catastrophic floods At least 20 dead after Hurricane Helene slams into south-east US A home and car can be seen left damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene outside of Live Oak. Ben Hendren/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa At least 20 people died after Hurricane Helene slammed into the south-eastern United States as a dangerous Category 4 storm, before later weakening to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon. The deaths were reported in US media across the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. The governor of Georgia said at least 11 people had died in his state. Around 3 million people were without power across those states and beyond, with houses destroyed and entire communities flooded. There were fears that many people could still be trapped under collapsed and damaged buildings. Many roads across the region were not passable. The National Weather Service said Helene made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane - the second highest category - but then began losing steam. The service had warned of "historic and catastrophic flooding," and in some places on Friday the water was about 5 metres high. There were also threats of mudslides due to the extreme rain. Many victims were killed or injured by falling trees, while others died in their cars. In Florida, a woman drowned in her home, CNN reported. In North Carolina, authorities warned that a dam could break and urged nearby residents to move to safety. After pummelling the south-east, it began moving over the Appalachian mountains and affecting states like Tennessee and Virginia. Helene had already caused flooding and power outages in Cuba as it barrelled toward the US. A shed destroyed during hurricane helene sits on the outskirts of Mayo. Ben Hendren/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A damaged utility pole and power line hangs in the air left in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene outside of Live Oak. Ben Hendren/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa At least 3,661 killed this year in Haiti violence: UN More than 3,600 people have been killed this year in "senseless" gang violence ravaging Haiti, the United Nations said on Friday. One of the world's poorest countries has been plunged into anarchy, with gangs taking over the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the security and health systems collapsing. About 600,000 people were displaced in the first six months of 2024 and 1,280 were injured in gang violence, including 295 women and 63 children, the UN rights office (OHCHR) said in a report. At least 893 individuals, including 25 children, were kidnapped and held for ransom by criminal groups, who are vying for power in a vacuum left by political crisis and weak state authority. "Latest figures documented by the UN Human Rights Office indicate that at least 3,661 people have been killed since January this year, maintaining the high levels of violence seen in 2023," the office said. "No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality," said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The OHCHR urged Haitian authorities and the international community to do more to protect people on the Caribbean island. "We are raising the alarm," rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva, warning that "illicit flows of arms are continuing to go into Haiti". The report described horrific violence. While some victims were struck by random gunfire, others were executed in broad daylight for allegedly informing authorities of opposing gang activities. - Fear and subjugation - "Some of those victims had their bodies mutilated with machetes and then burned. "Gangs filmed the scenes and shared them widely on social media to instil fear and control the population," the report said. The report said gangs used sexual violence "to punish, spread fear and subjugate populations". It said at least 860 people were killed and 393 injured during police operations and patrols across Port-au-Prince, including at least 36 children, in what could constitute unnecessary and disproportionate force. The gangs have also recruited large numbers of children, it added. An estimated 1.6 million people in Haiti face emergency-level food insecurity. In October 2023, the UN Security Council approved sending a multinational stabilisation force, led by Kenya, to assist Haitian police. Kenyan President William Ruto told the UN General Assembly on Thursday his country would complete the deployment of the 2,500-strong Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) by January. - 'Wreaking havoc' - Approximately 430 MSS personnel have been deployed so far. Besides Kenya, the force includes around 20 soldiers from Jamaica and Belize. Ruto said Kenya and other African and Caribbean countries were ready to deploy but were being hindered by insufficient equipment, logistics and funding. Turk said the stabilisation force needed more help. "I welcome recent positive steps, such as the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council, the new transitional government and the deployment of the first contingents of the MSS," he said. "It is clear, however, that the mission needs adequate and sufficient equipment and personnel to counter the criminal gangs effectively and sustainably, and stop them spreading further and wreaking havoc on people's lives." Turk urged Haitian authorities to reform the police and other state institutions crippled by endemic corruption, including the judiciary. He said the international community should comprehensively implement the arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze imposed by the UN Security Council, to stem gang violence. Shamdasani said that "firearms and ammunitions have continued to enter Haiti through poorly monitored air spaces, unpatrolled coastlines and porous borders, and of course the gangs exploit those gaps". "Weapons and ammunition have continued to flow into the country, primarily from the United States, but also from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica," she said. rjm-bur/nl/apo/tw Danny Danon, Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations, told ABC News on Thursday that his nation is ready to intensify military action against Iran-aligned Hezbollah in Lebanon amid troubled cease-fire talks. Israeli strikes have already killed more than 700 people across Lebanon since Monday, with airstrikes particularly concentrated in Hezbollah's southern and eastern heartlands. "We mean business," Danon said when asked about Israel's intentions. "We will do whatever is necessary to allow the residents of the north to come back to their homes." "We prefer a diplomatic solution, but we also have the capabilities to push Hezbollah from our borders. So, we hope there will be some kind of a diplomatic solution. If not, we will use our strength and might to make it happen." PHOTO: Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, speaks to the media at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 25, 2024. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters) MORE: Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike, Netanyahu vows to continue 'with full force' Danon spoke with ABC News on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in New York City to attend the U.N. General Assembly and before Israel carried out a major air strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu appeared to dismiss a joint U.S.-French proposal for a 21-day cease-fire, which President Joe Biden said Wednesday had won "significant" international backing. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz then explicitly declared on social media that there would be "no cease-fire." Asked whether the contrasting U.S.-Israeli rhetoric represented fresh bilateral tensions, Danon replied: "No -- we will continue the ongoing dialogue with our colleagues in the U.S. We appreciate the cooperation and we have a good mechanism for discussing those issues." "We appreciate the efforts of the U.S., France and other countries who are trying to find a diplomatic solution," he added. PHOTO: Israeli Army tanks are transported, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, Sept. 26, 2024. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) MORE: Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Hezbollah confirms top commander killed "We prefer a diplomatic solution for the problem with Hezbollah, but we know that sometimes when you deal with a terrorist organization -- and we have the experience with Hamas in the last year -- it's very hard to achieve an agreement." Signals at the Israel-Lebanon border indicate that Israel is preparing for a possible ground invasion. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi said Thursday that the military "has been waiting for years for this opportunity to attack Hezbollah." Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw beyond the Litani River -- some 18 miles north of Israel's border -- as stipulated by a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that sought to end the last major war between the two sides. "If in the future we will engage with another diplomatic resolution, we will have to make sure that it can be enforced," Danon said. "We need to understand what will be the sanction with enforcing it." "In 2006, the resolution passed the Security Council and look what happened -- today, you don't see even a single Lebanese soldier on the border with Israel. You see full control of Hezbollah." PHOTO: The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, on Sept. 27, 2024. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) "I think they know that we are serious, they know that we are determined," Danon continued of Hezbollah. The militant group's decision to attack Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Danon added, "is a mistake, and the people who will pay the price will be the people of Lebanon." Lebanese officials urged a cease-fire following Israel's intensification of cross-border bombing over the past week. Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told the UNGA the conflict could "transform into a black hole that will engulf international and regional peace and security." Asked if Beirut could play a role in preventing a wider war, Danon replied: "Lebanon is a sovereign state and we expect the government to take the appropriate actions in order to control what's happening there." "If they allow Hezbollah to take over, they will bear the consequences." Lebanon will 'bear consequences' of Hezbollah 'mistake,' Israeli ambassador says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- The US and its allies shared a brief moment of optimism on Wednesday as they unveiled a three-week cease-fire proposal to halt the violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Most Read from Bloomberg It didnt last long. Hours after introducing the proposal amid positive signals from Israels ambassador to the United Nations the US came crashing up against opposition from a leader who has repeatedly dashed US hopes to ease the turmoil in the Middle East: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. There will be no cease-fire, Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X. Soon after, Netanyahu landed in New York and said Israel would keep up its fight against Hezbollah. While in flight, his office released a photo that purported to show him ordering a strike on a Hezbollah commander. The symbolism of that image could not have been any more potent. Yet despite the rejections, White House spokesman John Kirby insisted that there were still active discussions with the Israelis about the cease-fire. Its not clear to us that from a practical perspective, that there isnt cause for us to continue to have these conversations with the Israelis, Kirby said. Earlier: Netanyahu Goes From War to Diplomatic Hostility With UN Trip The contradictory messaging the US insisting Israel is considering its proposal, and Israel insisting its not further perpetuated a trend thats come to define the conflict and raised fresh questions about the US strategy to try to end it. Israels rejection bore strong echoes of a dialog that revolved around the bid for a cease-fire to halt the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip nearly a year after the militant groups Oct. 7 attack. Repeatedly, the US has said Israel was onboard with its plan and an accord was close, only for Netanyahu and his government to say they dont see a cease-fire coming anytime soon. Experts, analysts and government officials argue that for whatever the flaws of the strategy, the Biden administration has no choice but to continue. They suggested that the three-week cease-fire plan for Lebanon, with its dozen signatories along with the EU, may have been meant as a signal to Israel. I see this as critical US leadership maximally leveraging diplomatic alliances to sharpen Israeli understanding and appreciation of the costs of proceeding unilaterally, said Mara Rudman, who worked on Middle East issues during the Clinton and Obama administrations. It will be heard and perhaps needs to sink in. Before unveiling the cease-fire, the US, France and others marshaled a broad coalition to try and push the process forward. But now both US and French officials appear to be effectively ignoring Netanyahus rejection in the hope that he will come around. Speaking in Ottawa on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said Netanyahu would be making a mistake by rejecting the Lebanon plan because it would make him responsible for an escalation far beyond that which no one would be able to control. That doesnt account for the pressure Netanyahu is coming under at home. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced from areas near the Lebanese border and are clamoring to return. But even Israel appeared to acknowledge it had overstepped. Later Thursday, Netanyahus office expressed appreciation for the Biden administrations efforts and indispensable role. The statement acknowledged that the US was seeking to promote a cease-fire, but stopped short of endorsing this arrangement. Two diplomats familiar with the Biden administration approach said the impression other nations get is that the US has been repeatedly embarrassed by Israel. The diplomats, who asked not to be identified discussing private assessments, said the US sacrificed its own standing when an ally such as Israel so blatantly flouts its wishes. The impatience with Bidens approach may be growing. On Thursday, Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, said he would vote to oppose offensive weapons to Israel. He called them an accelerant to ongoing hostilities. The Biden administration has had to walk a fine line between likely Democratic voters with sympathies on either side of the conflict, particularly given the razor-thin margins in swing states expected to decide the presidential election. The US seems to believe that merely expressing the expectation that a deal is imminent or within reach that this will put pressure on Netanyahu, said Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. Its like theyre trying to manifest a cease-fire into being without actually applying real pressure or using any of the vast leverage at their disposal. --With assistance from Dan Williams, Michelle Jamrisko, Brian Platt, Samy Adghirni and Courtney McBride. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. United States Attorney Damian Williams toppled political giants well before he unsealed a media bombshell of a criminal indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In 2023, Williams led his Southern District of New York office in a case against now-resigned Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, accusing him of corruption in his dealings with Egypt's government, later securing a conviction. In addition to Menendez and Adams, Williams has prosecuted many more politicians. Earlier in his career, Williams successfully helped convict high-profile members of the Republican and Democratic parties in successive years. In 2018, he helped prosecute former longtime New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on several corruption charges. Silver was viewed as one of the most powerful politicians in the state and, after his conviction, was described as "an iron-fisted dictator who turned that legislative body into his own personal, profit-making enterprise." The next year, Williams went after former Republican Rep. Chris Collins, who represented a district in Western New York, for insider trading. He successfully got Collins convicted of pushing company information to his son to prevent trading losses. Williams's record indicates his unabashed desire to seek justice against politicians who had done wrong regardless of political affiliation. When President Joe Biden appointed him as U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York in 2021, Williams said his goal was to be fiercely independent of politics. While Williams has been indirectly involved in politics in several cases against prominent lawmakers, a statement and his indictment of Menendez draw a clearer picture of what Williams meant. "My office is firmly committed to rooting out corruption, without fear or favor, and without any regard to partisan politics," Williams said. "We will continue to do so. Williams's story continued Thursday when he announced his prosecution of Adams. The first New York City mayor to be indicted while in office, Adams is the most high-profile politician the U.S. attorney has pursued in his career. Featured Local Savings Public office is a privilege, Williams said at a press conference announcing Adams's indictment. 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. Adams has vehemently denied the charges and claimed that he's become a "target." "It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes," Adams said in a video statement. "If so, these charges would 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." This statement has led some political observers to compare Adams's case to former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York. Trump has frequently accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Department of Justice against him, claims the president and the DOJ, which Biden said operates independently from him, have denied. Adams and Trump are two high-profile, confident politicians from New York. The New York Times called Adams a "showman," a moniker often used to describe Trump. However, unlike Trump's accusations, often directed at New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a case one critic described as a "historic mistake," Adams's attack on the justice system could be less persuasive if he targets Williams specifically. After all, Adams isn't the only high-profile politician, Democratic and Republican, Williams has prosecuted. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals, including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection, Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents," Williams said in the indictment of Adams. "This Office and our partners at the FBI and DOI will continue to pursue corruption anywhere in this city, especially when that corruption takes the form of illegal foreign influence on our democratic system, he concluded. People inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa Twenty-five people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese authorities. At a news conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Health Minister Firass Abiad said there were many more injured, without giving an exact number. Abiad emphasized that all sides were interested in a diplomatic solution, but "only one party wants to continue its indiscriminate attacks on civilians." The state news agency NNA had previously reported that a family of nine was killed in an attack on the town of Shebaa near the border with Israel. Women and children were also among the victims, it said. According to the authorities, over 700 people have died since Israel's renewed heavy attacks on Lebanon. People inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa Lebanese Red cross workers inspect a destroyed three storey building, after it collapsed following an Israeli air raid in the southern Lebanese border village of Shebaa. Stringer/dpa Lebanon's Nasrallah - who Israel says it has killed - led Hezbollah to become regional force (Removes byline) BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanon's Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who Israel said on Saturday it has killed, led Hezbollah through decades of conflict with Israel, overseeing its transformation into a military force with regional sway and becoming one of the most prominent Arab figures in generations - with Iranian backing. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has yet to issue any statement on the status of Nasrallah, who led the group for 32 years. The Israeli military said it had killed Nasrallah in an airstrike on the group's central headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut a day earlier. The Israeli military "eliminated ... Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization," Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in a statement on X. Among supporters, Nasrallah was lauded for standing up to Israel and defying the United States. To enemies, he was head of a terrorist organisation and a proxy for Iran's Shi'ite Islamist theocracy in its tussle for influence in the Middle East. His regional influence was on display over nearly a year of conflict ignited by the Gaza war, as Hezbollah entered the fray by firing on Israel from southern Lebanon in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, and Yemeni and Iraqi groups followed suit, operating under the umbrella of "The Axis of Resistance". "We are facing a great battle," Nasrallah said in an Aug. 1 speech at the funeral of Hezbollah's top military commander, Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut. Yet when thousands of Hezbollah members were injured and dozens killed, when their communications devices exploded in an apparent Israeli attack last week, that battle began to turn against his group. Responding to the attacks on Hezbollah's communications network in a Sept. 19 speech, Nasrallah vowed to punish Israel. "This is a reckoning that will come, its nature, its size, how and where? This is certainly what we will keep to ourselves and in the narrowest circle even within ourselves," he said. He had not given a broadcast address since then. Israel has meanwhile dramatically escalated its attacks, killing several senior Hezbollah commanders in targeted strikes and unleashing a massive bombardment in Hezbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon, which has killed hundreds of people. Recognised even by his enemies as a skilled orator, Nasrallah's speeches were followed by friend and foe alike. Wearing the black turban of a sayyed, or a descendent of the Prophet Mohammad, Nasrallah used his addresses to rally Hezbollah's base but also to deliver carefully calibrated threats, often wagging his finger as he does so. He became secretary general of Hezbollah in 1992 aged just 35, the public face of a once shadowy group founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 to fight Israeli occupation forces. Israel killed his predecessor, Sayyed Abbas al-Musawi, in a helicopter attack. Nasrallah led Hezbollah when its guerrillas finally drove Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, ending an 18-year occupation. 'DIVINE VICTORY' Conflict with Israel largely defined his leadership. He declared "Divine Victory" in 2006 after Hezbollah waged 34 days of war with Israel, winning the respect of many ordinary Arabs who had grown up watching Israel defeat their armies. But he became an increasingly divisive figure in Lebanon and the wider Arab world as Hezbollah's area of operations widened to Syria and beyond, reflecting an intensifying conflict between Shi'ite Iran and U.S.-allied Sunni Arab monarchies in the Gulf. While Nasrallah painted Hezbollah's engagement in Syria - where it fought in support of President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war - as a campaign against jihadists, critics accused the group of becoming part of a regional sectarian conflict. At home, Nasrallah's critics said Hezbollah's regional adventurism imposed an unbearable price on Lebanon, leading once friendly Gulf Arabs to shun the country - a factor that contributed to its 2019 financial collapse. In the years following the 2006 war, Nasrallah walked a tightrope over a new conflict with Israel, hoarding Iranian rockets in a carefully measured contest of threat and counter threat. The Gaza war, ignited by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, prompted Hezbollah's worst conflict with Israel since 2006, costing the group hundreds of its fighters including top commanders. After years of entanglements elsewhere, the conflict put renewed focus on Hezbollah's historic struggle with Israel. "We are here paying the price for our front of support for Gaza, and for the Palestinian people, and our adoption of the Palestinian cause," Nasrallah said in the Aug. 1 speech. Nasrallah grew up in Beirut's impoverished Karantina district. His family hail from Bazouriyeh, a village in the Lebanon's predominantly Shi'ite south which today forms Hezbollah's political heartland. He was part of a generation of young Lebanese Shi'ites whose political outlook was shaped by Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Before leading the group, he used to spend nights with frontline guerrillas fighting Israel's occupying army. His teenage son, Hadi, died in battle in 1997, a loss that gave him legitimacy among his core Shi'ite constituency in Lebanon. POWERFUL ENEMIES He had a track record of threatening powerful enemies. As regional tensions escalated after the eruption of the Gaza war, Nasrallah issued a thinly veiled warning to U.S. warships in the Mediterranean, telling them: "We have prepared for the fleets with which you threaten us." In 2020, Nasrallah vowed that U.S. soldiers would leave the region in coffins after Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. He expressed fierce opposition to Saudi Arabia over its armed intervention in Yemen, where, with U.S. and other allied support, Riyadh sought to roll back the Iran-aligned Houthis. As regional tensions rose in 2019 following an attack on Saudi oil facilities, he said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should halt the Yemen war to protect themselves. "Dont bet on a war against Iran because they will destroy you," he said in a message directed at Riyadh. On Nasrallah's watch, Hezbollah has also clashed with adversaries at home in Lebanon. In 2008, he accused the Lebanese government - backed at the time by the West and Saudi Arabia - of declaring war by moving to ban his group's internal communication network. Nasrallah vowed to "cut off the hand" that tried to dismantle it. It prompted four days of civil war pitting Hezbollah against Sunni and Druze fighters, and the Shi'ite group to take over half the capital Beirut. He strongly denied any Hezbollah involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, after a U.N.-backed tribunal indicted four members of the group. Nasrallah rejected the tribunal - which in 2020 eventually convicted three of them in absentia over the assassination - as a tool in the hands of Hezbollah's enemies. (Editing by William Maclean, Andrew Heavens, Angus McDowall, Sharon Singleton, Rosalba O'Brien and Frances Kerry) LEESBURG, Va. (DC News Now) Leesburg police have arrested a man in connection to a bank robbery Friday. The Leesburg Police Department said officers headed to the Truist Bank, located at 1007 Edwards Ferry Road NW, for a report of a bank robbery in progress at around 11:45 a.m. Prince William County Police Department officer arrested, charged with abduction, sexual battery, more Officers began searching the area and spotted a man, who matched the description of the bank robber, near the Leesburg Premium Outlet Mall, located at 241 Fort Evans Road NE. That prompted the man to run and after a brief chase, he was arrested. The man was identified as Joshua Boyce, 25, and charged with robbery and wearing of a mask in connection with a robbery. Boyce was taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Anyone who was near the Truist Bank before or at the time of the robbery or who may have witnessed any suspicious activity is asked to call (703) 771-4500 or text 274637. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Donald Trump had a decent day in court on Thursday, as his lawyer pressed a panel of New York state appellate judges to upend the massive, nine-figure fraud ruling against the former president and his business empire. If the judges pointed questions to the state are any indication, then theres a chance that New York Attorney General Letitia James stunning trial victory earlier this year could be curbed. Part of the issue boils down to how broadly James used a state law to go after Trump and his civil co-defendants for fraud in financial dealings, given that it wasnt a case where victims were conned and then complained to the government about it. Put differently, the question is how broadly that law, Executive Law 63(12), can reach. The hearing got off to a rough start for the states lawyer, Judith Vale (starting at about 34:00 in the video posted by the court). Before she could say much at all, one of the judges jumped in to ask whether there had ever been a case where the attorney general sued under the state executive law to upset a private business transaction that was between equally sophisticated partners, where the supposed victim had the ability and legal obligation to discover the allegedly misrepresented matters by conducting its own due diligence; where the supposed wrongdoer advised the supposed victim, through written disclaimers, to conduct its own due diligence and to draw its own conclusions; where the alleged misrepresentation almost entirely concerned inherently subjective valuations of properties and businesses; and where the victim never complained about any fraud. Well, when you put it that way. It didnt get a whole lot better for the state from there. A second judge questioned the harm when there was little to no effect on the public marketplace. A third judge said the case sounded like a potential commercial dispute between private actors, suggesting its not something the attorney general needed to get involved with. And a fourth judge on the five-judge panel said they were concerned with mission creep that is, whether the state law had been used to do something it wasnt meant to do. Vale maintained that there was a public impact, that public interest is at stake, and that in passing the executive law, the state legislature was concerned with harms to the honest businesspeople who dont do the misconduct. It wasnt all bad for the state. Presiding Judge Dianne Renwick pointed out during Vales grilling that the state executive law was passed to protect honesty and integrity in the marketplace, a line of thinking that supports the states broad use of the law. And Trump lawyer John Sauer (who argued the immunity case at the Supreme Court for the Republican presidential nominee) was quizzed by the panel as well. Ultimately, one can never be sure from oral argument what the precise ruling will be. But the outing could have gone better for James and worse for Trump. At the very least, the panel didnt sound like it is in lockstep with Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over the case at trial and roundly ruled against the Trump camp. In a scathing February ruling, Engoron wrote that the civil defendants lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money. The documents prove this over and over again. This is a venial sin, not a mortal sin. Defendants did not commit murder or arson. They did not rob a bank at gunpoint. Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff. Yet, defendants are incapable of admitting the error of their ways. Instead, they adopt a See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil posture that the evidence belies. Thursdays argument took place in Manhattan at the Appellate Division, which is the states intermediate-level appeals court. Its highest court is the Court of Appeals (the trial-level court is somewhat confusingly called the Supreme Court), to which either side could appeal after the Appellate Division rules (its unclear when that will happen). The U.S. Supreme Court could theoretically get involved after the state courts are exhausted, if the appealing party can raise a federal issue as opposed to a state one, the latter being an issue over which the justices wouldnt have jurisdiction. In any event, it seems unlikely that the matter will be fully settled for some time. 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 A protester is arrested at UC Irvine as police break up an encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators May 15. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: In 1990, UC Berkeley held a graduation for members of the class of 1970, whose ceremony was canceled due to the anti-Vietnam War protests. ("UC police seek approval for more pepper balls, sponge rounds, launchers, drones," Sept. 19) At the time, I was proud to see an article in The Times quoting history professor Leon Litwack, who said at the ceremony: "The class of '70 occupies a unique place in our legacy. It's a familiar phrase from your era: If you don't like the news go out and make some of your own. You did ... and because of you the University of California has become synonymous around the world with the exercise of free speech." After reading that the UC Board of Regents voted to increase the stockpiles of weapons after student protests, those words now ring hollow. As one of those students who missed out on my graduation in 1970, I am outraged and urge UC alumni to let the regents know that we support the students' "exercise of free speech," free from retaliation and violence. Kathy Masaoka, Los Angeles .. To the editor: As a UC Berkeley faculty brat growing up in the 1960s, I witnessed the Free Speech Movement, anti-war protests and the political theater of People's Park, where militants and hippies faced off against then-Gov. Ronald Reagans National Guard. At 12 years old, I inhaled my first tear gas as it swept across the playground of my middle school. Those were exciting, troubled and transformative times. Reflecting on his UC presidency during that tumultuous decade, Clark Kerr famously stated: "The university is not engaged in making ideas safe for students. It is engaged in making students safe for ideas." Today's UC regents should take heed of these words. Stockpiling weapons across our campuses violates the core principles of a liberal education, not to mention America's distinguished tradition of civil disobedience. Nonviolent student protests address real problems and represent one of the hallmarks of an open society. As my not-very-radical father used to say, "Attacking students as the problem eliminates the possibility of a solution." That's what I tell my students too. Andrew Apter, Santa Monica The writer is a professor of history at UCLA. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LGBTQ+ students at Iowa high school get boxcutter thrown at them during homecoming parade The mother of a Linn-Mar High School student says her daughter is among a group of students in the school's LGBTQ+ group Spectrum who were attacked during the school's homecoming parade. Someone allegedly hurled a boxcutter at the teens as they passed by on their float Wednesday, according to Jennifer Pitkin, whose daughter Ava is a sophomore. She said some attendees, including young children, also yelled anti-gay slurs at her daughter and her peers in Spectrum. Pitkin recalled receiving a text from Ava while waiting for Spectrum's float. By that point, Pitkin said she had noticed a lag between the parade floats and thought it was "weird." "I get a text from Ava saying that they had a knife thrown at them," Pitkin told the Des Moines Register. "And that was it. That was all that we heard until we saw her, which was about 10 minutes later." Linn-Mar High School students and Spectrum members Ava Pitkin (left) and Ashlynn Novak pose for a photo at the homecoming parade. They were robbed of an experience that was meant to be celebratory, she said. The students went all out, decorating their truck, doing each other's makeup and dressing up, Pitkin said. These students, Pitkin added, are a "good," "carefree" bunch. Linn-Mar Community School District officials said in a statement they were "saddened" to learn about the incident at the parade and are working with local police on its investigation. "This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our district," officials said in a Facebook post, noting they already reached out to students in Spectrum to offer support. "... We are dedicated to ensuring that all students feel safe, respected, and valued, and will not condone actions that threaten them." The district is interviewing students and staff for "internal purposes," with Marion police leading a formal investigation, officials told the Register. Officer Tom Daubs, spokesperson for the Marion Police Department, said they learned about the incident through a FBI tip line message and the investigation is ongoing. Marion city officials joined the school district and Iowa Safe Schools, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ youth, in condemning the attacks that occurred. "Acts of discrimination will not be tolerated and, together, we must work to create a place where people of all cultures and identities can thrive," city officials said in a statement. They also encouraged anyone with more information to contact the Police Department. Iowa Safe Schools said it was "utterly disturbed" by the incident that erupted at the parade. No student should ever be made to feel unwelcome let alone in fear for their safety," the organization said in a statement. It pointed to several new laws that restrict LGBTQ youth rights as part of a "hostile environment" in Iowa that "enabled these vile acts" More: Iowa LGBTQ families ask if they still belong after new laws restrict their rights "Our organization would like to thank Linn-Mar Community Schools for its swift condemnation of this incident as well as local law enforcement as they investigate these events," the statement said. "The Iowa Safe Schools team is working to connect with the students affected by this appalling incident to ensure that they are safe and supported. We will continue to monitor this situation closely. Pitkin also took matters into her own hands and launched a GoFundMe page, seeking to raise money for a scholarship fund for students in Spectrum. As of Friday morning, the fundraiser had reached $3,200. (This story was updated to add new information.) F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter@writefelissa. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: LGBTQ+ students at Linn-Mar school targeted during homecoming parade 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: Matthew Laszacs District/seat: House District 41 County or counties represented: Wake Political party: Libertarian Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 45 Campaign website: matt4nc.us Current occupation: Business executive Professional experience: 20 years Education: Bachelor of Science, business administration (cum laude) Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Two-time candidate for state government. What would be your top priority if elected? We need to increase the supply of health care services so that rural families and families in medically underserved areas can get access to primary and preventative care as well as routine medications. Our current regulatory system prevents the growth of new and innovative health care services and protects incumbents from competition. I propose granting nurse practitioners and pharmacists full practice authority and I aim to dismantle the monopolistic Certificate of Need regime in Raleigh. By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget? We need to remove politics and central planning from the process for determining teacher salaries. Central planners lack the necessary information to determine the value of every single teacher and therefore struggle to create accurate and competitive salaries, and politicians and the associated political process hinder the timely execution of salary adjustments. Teachers need expanded choice of employers and the ability to negotiate directly with those competing employers for better pay. What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific. We need to repeal exclusionary zoning laws and land use ordinances so that developers can build the types and quantities of housing needed by our citizens. These ordinances unnecessarily restrict housing supply and density, both of which are necessary for efficient and affordable transportation and infrastructure. The North Carolina General Assembly should write clear rules that limit the growth of zoning laws and speed up the permitting process. If a developer meets the requirements, they get a permit. Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not? I would introduce legislation to expand educational savings accounts to all North Carolina families, regardless of income. I want to completely empower parents to select the best educational options for their individual children. This goes beyond just picking and paying for a school, but also for covering ancillary educational items such as tutoring, study materials, field learning, counseling, or any mix of educational tools that would best support the needs of each individual student. Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? The Libertarian Party is a big tent with lots of room for individuals with differing views and opinions. I am a classical liberal with a strong belief in advancing Libertarian ideas iteratively as the public will accept them. I am about changing minds and pushing the population towards liberty in an incremental fashion over the long run. I am not trying to jump to the destination immediately, rather I am focused on the small steps of the journey to get us there together. 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. Liberty and Justice for all: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium welcomes pair of rescued bald eagles Liberty and Justice for all: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium welcomes pair of rescued bald eagles The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has welcomed a pair of rescued bald eagles -- Justice and Liberty. The male, Justice, and the female, Liberty, were injured in the wild and rescued and rehabilitated by a center in Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined the eagles could not be released back into the wild due to their injuries. Although their ages are unknown, the zoo said both eagles are adults. The pair will make their new home in the zoos Kids Kingdom area. Liberty and Justice will not be part of a breeding program since eagle population numbers are strong in the wild, said Daryl Hoffman, Vice President of Living Collections. As a federally protected species any molted feathers will be returned to the government who will then send them to various Native American tribes for their ceremonies. It is illegal to possess eagle items such as feathers or eggs. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW ATLANTA Helene unleashed its destructive force on the Southeast, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. After making a devastating landfall in Florida late Thursday night, the storm continued its relentless onslaught, bringing torrential rain and widespread flooding to the region. Atlanta, located roughly 300 miles north of the storm's landfall, was not spared from Helene's wrath. Well before dawn in the city, conditions rapidly deteriorated, with millions facing the risk of life-threatening flooding. The city was placed under its first-ever Flash Flood Emergency on Friday morning as Atlanta endures its wettest three-day period since Dec. 7-9, 1919, when 11.75 inches fell. Since Wednesday, Atlanta has picked up more than 9 inches of rain, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Atlanta Fire Rescue Department has responded to numerous weather-related calls overnight. As of 7 a.m. ET, approximately 25 people have been rescued in the metro area. In northwest Atlanta, a family of two adults and an infant found themselves trapped on top of their car due to unexpected currents. A daring boat rescue brought them to safety, capturing the dramatic scene live on FOX Weather. Among the rescues across the city, crews evacuated multiple residents from the Peachtree Park Apartments in Buckhead, a neighborhood north of downtown. Floodwaters inundated the apartments, forcing residents to flee their homes. Several boats were deployed to transport people and pets to safety, while some residents were forced to wade through deep water to reach rescue crews. As the rain continued, the situation was expected to worsen, necessitating further evacuations, FOX 5 in Atlanta reports. Several inches of rain had already fallen across Georgia, prompting numerous Flash Flood Warnings to be issued. Cities like Atlanta were under these warnings, and officials urged residents to stay off the roads. The death toll from Helene in the state continues to rise. In Colquitt County, Georgia, one person was tragically killed when their vehicle collided with a fallen tree. Widespread damage has been reported in the area, and emergency management officials are working to assess the extent of the destruction, FOX 5 reports. Additionally, at least two more deaths have been confirmed in Wheeler County, Georgia. A mobile home was damaged during one of the many Tornado Warnings associated with the storm, resulting in the loss of lives. Roads throughout the region were severely impacted by the flooding, with photos and videos showing water rushing over roadways as torrential rain and strong winds continued. One photo captured the flooding in Sandy Springs, Georgia, after water in Nancy Creek began to rise. According to FOX 5, firefighters were responding to reports that a woman was trapped inside her home by rising floodwaters, and residents living near Nancy Creek were being evacuated due to the rising water levels. In Chamblee, Georgia, a massive sinkhole opened up, adding to the growing list of storm-related hazards. As rescue efforts continue, the full extent of the damage in the Peach State and the number of fatalities is expected to become clearer in the coming days. Original article source: Atlanta sees first-ever Flash Flood Emergency as Helene's fury forces multiple water rescues Lifespan to officially change name to Brown Health in October PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The next time you visit Rhode Island Hospital, you may see a new name on the building. Rhode Islands largest hospital group, Lifespan, confirmed Wednesday that the organization will officially change its name to Brown University Health on Oct. 15, two weeks into its new fiscal year. Plans for the new name and logo were first announced earlier this year. This is an ambitious, multiyear initiative aimed at a complete name transformation, with updated signage and branding elements on the horizon, Lifespan spokesperson Jessica Wharton told 12 News. The first phrase of the rebranding will include a new Brown Health website, updated employee email addresses, and the unveiling of a Brown University Health banner at Rhode Island Hospital, she said. In addition to Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan also owns Miriam, Newport and Bradley hospitals. The not-for-profit corporation is the states largest employer, with about 17,000 employees currently. The new name is one of many changes being made at Lifespan under CEO John Fernandez, who took over the top job in 2022. Last Friday, Fernandez laid off 20% of Lifespans executives, a move he said would reduce overhead and save roughly $6 million over the next year. The system has been struggling for years to consistently post a healthy profit margin. Separately, Lifespan is finalizing its purchase of two hospitals in Southeastern Massachusetts owned by bankrupt Steward Health Care, St. Annes in Fall River and Morton in Taunton. That transaction is expected to close next month. Brown President Christina Paxson announced back in June that the university would lend its name to the Lifespan system as part of an expanded partnership between the two institutions, though Brown wont be taking over the hospital group. Brown has also committed to invest $150 million in Lifespan over the next seven years. Becoming Brown University Health raises our national profile and greatly enhances our ability to attract and retain world-class physicians and expand our research and clinical training programs, allowing us to keep high-end specialty care and good-paying jobs in Rhode Island, Wharton said. We are confident that these changes will strengthen our organization, benefitting our employees, patients, and the broader community, she added. Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Threads and Facebook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Northrop Grummans B-21 Raider program is making significant strides in both flight testing and production, marking a new era in strategic bomber development. The Combined Test Force (CTF), comprising Northrop Grumman and Air Force personnel, is conducting a comprehensive flight test campaign at Edwards Air Force Base to evaluate the aircrafts capabilities. Early feedback from test pilots has been overwhelmingly positive. Chris Hoss Moss, a B-21 Raider test pilot, noted that the aircrafts handling qualities are exceeding expectations based on simulations. The flight test program rapidly expands the B-21s operational envelope, executing multiple test events within a week. According to Northrop Grumman, this efficiency is attributed to its digital ecosystem, which allows for quick analysis of test data and swift implementation of updates. In parallel with flight testing, Northrop Grumman has completed static testing to verify the B-21s structural design and has begun fatigue testing to simulate a lifetime of flight conditions. The company is also scaling production, utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques and digital tooling across the factory. Innovative approaches, such as augmented reality tools and advanced robotics, are being employed to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the production process. This strategy of building the first test aircraft, like the production model, aims to ensure a smooth transition to full-scale production and facilitate future technology insertions to keep the B-21 ahead of emerging threats. Saab Delivers Fifth GlobalEye Aircraft to UAE The UAE has received the fifth and final GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft built by SAAB. to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). GlobalEyes delivery spanned over four years, showcasing Saabs efficiency in fulfilling the development and manufacturing program within less than ten years. Boeing Completes First Flight of UK E-7 Wedgetail for Royal Air Force Boeing has successfully conducted the first flight of the UKs E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, marking a significant milestone in developing the Royal Air Forces (RAF) future Airborne Early Warning & Control fleet. The functional check flight, performed by a Boeing flight-test crew, took place at Birmingham Airport, initiating the programs test and evaluation phase. The E-7 Wedgetail, based on a modified 737 NG airframe, is equipped with advanced capabilities, including a Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar sensor. This combat-proven system provides 360-degree coverage, enabling long-range detection and tracking of multiple airborne and maritime threats simultaneously. Three 737 NG aircraft are undergoing modification in the UK, with over 100 personnel working on the project at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham. The E-7 fleet will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where infrastructure preparations are nearing completion. The RAF participates in a trilateral agreement with the Royal Australian Air Force and U.S. Air Force for cooperative Wedgetail operations. L3Harris Advances Hypersonic Propulsion Technology L3Harris Technologies has announced significant progress in developing operational hypersonic propulsion systems, building on over 14 years of advancements since the historic X-51A WaveRider flight. The company has demonstrated the propulsion technology and production capacity needed to field operational hypersonic systems for warfighters. The Successful demonstration of scramjet technology through the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) program and continued advancement of 3D-printing technology for hypersonic applications via programs like GAMMA-H, are among the achievements, along with a significant reduction in production time (75%), manufacturing costs (75%), and number of parts (95%) for scramjet engines compared to first-generation designs and the Development of dual-mode air-breathing scramjets that can operate as both subsonic combustion ramjets and scramjets. L3Harris is aligning its efforts with the Department of Defenses National Hypersonics Initiative 2.0, which aims to accelerate hypersonic technology development affordably and responsibly. US Navy Begins LRASM integration with F-35C AGM-158C LRASM flight testing begins on F-35C. As part of ongoing integration efforts, the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force team flew two days of test flights to evaluate flutter, loads, and flying qualities with two AGM-158 loaded on external stations. Leonardos AW249 Completes First Operational Exercise Leonardos new AW249 attack helicopter, dubbed FENICE, has successfully participated in its first operational exercise, marking a significant milestone in its development. The new helicopter was integrated into the Stella Alpina 2024 operations tactical bubble, demonstrating its advanced capabilities in a multi-domain operational environment during the exercise. Nigeria Considers Acquiring Four Prachand Light Combat Helicopters from India Nigeria is poised to become the first export customer of Indias indigenously developed Prachand Light Combat Helicopters (LCH). The Nigerian Air Force has shown interest in procuring four advanced attack helicopters, marking a significant milestone in Indias defense export efforts. The Prachand LCH, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is a multi-role attack helicopter designed for high-altitude operations. This potential sale to Nigeria represents a significant step forward in Indias ambition to expand its defense exports. Return to: Defense-Update Weekly News Summary 26.9.2024 By Farman Aydin, AzerNEWS The endless interest of the West, and especially the United States, in the South Caucasus is no longer a secret to anyone. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the USA, which tried to penetrate the region, created new means of leverage for it. For many years, USAID has played the role of an obvious broker of Western capitalism. Its inexhaustible financial resources have always included the poor countries in which it is interested. Considering that in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are post-Soviet regions and have always been of interest to the West, USAID's active activities in these countries can be linked to this. However, unfortunately, USAID's activities are not always based on the principles of humanism. Of course, the organisation that implements the soft power policy of the United States has always exerted political influence against small states under the guise of humanism and tried to interfere in their internal affairs. USAID and its impacts on national consciousness The collapse of the Soviet Union created a serious political vacuum in a number of countries. Some countries, which took the concept of democracy as a delicacy, did not feel the poisonous substances in it. In this way, the United States, which has introduced itself to the world as a harbinger of democracy, was able to easily spread to countries with problems related to national and ethnic minorities, political parties, media, education, social and many more. Since the mentioned problems directly affect the national consciousness, the financial institutions of the USA, such as USAID, have always acted liberally in this field. For some reason, the US, which spares millions of dollars, instead of helping people suffering from hunger and poverty in Africa and the Far East, spends more money on solving problems related to political parties, ethnic minorities, and a number of issues that are not relevant to institutions core mission. Of course, if we take a somewhat realistic approach, we can say that there are always big interests behind such assistance - that is, it would be kind of naive to think that the United States does this assistance for free. USAID implements programmes in everything from agriculture, health and education to governance, democracy and human rights. The institution is mainly financed from the state budget, has representative offices in more than 80 countries and programmes in more than 100 different fields. USAID's report released in 2021 shows that during 2019-2020, Georgia received 252 million dollars, and Ukraine received 808 million dollars, and programs implemented in various fields were financed. Today, the destruction in Ukraine due to involvement in the war, and the fragile nature of stability in Georgia is in sight. History is a living witness - Middle East and South Caucasus axiom Today, USAID's policy in the Middle East is continued in the South Caucasus through Armenia based on a similar scenario. As a blind beggar of the West, the Yerevan administration, which is ready to endanger the region, has put its mouth on the financial faucet of the United States and surrendered all its destiny to the responsibility of the West. However, there is enough information about other activities of the White Helmets in Syria under the name of humanitarian aid. For example, British journalist Vanessa Beeley, who investigated the causes of the civil war in Syria, said that the "White Helmets" organisation operating in Syria was supposedly engaged in humanitarian activities. During the investigation, it was revealed that this organisation received financial support of 150 million dollars from various funds of the United States until 2000, and from the funds of the Soros, Clintons, and Rockefeller brothers in 2013-2016. The members of the organisation trained the rebels in Syria and were taught the technologies of sabotage. Currently, the collected materials related to the criminal activities of this organisation have been submitted to the Hague court. These processes are currently being carried out in Armenia. US non-governmental organisations continue to increase their financial assistance to Armenia. The point of interest is that after Azerbaijan liberated Garabagh from the occupation, the amount of aid surged, which gives rise to the expansion of certain thoughts, specifically financial aid, to the activities of those who live with a sense of revenge in Armenia. According to the document signed between the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and the head of the USAID mission in this country, John G. Allelo, the amount of aid has increased from 120 million dollars to 250 million dollars. According to the signed document, the allocated funds will be directed to improving the social condition of the population, increasing the defence capacity, and ensuring energy security. The joint military exercises of the US and Armenian servicemen in July, the arrival of two US Boeing C-17 military transport planes loaded with ammunition to Yerevan's Zvartnoch airport in August, and other facts indicate that the region has entered a dangerous period. The US is trying to control states in this region through destabilisation. USAID head Samatha Power's statement about allocating 100 million dollars to the people who voluntarily left Garabagh and their opinion that they need help clearly reveals the hypocrisy of US policy. Why did the Azerbaijanis who left their homes and came to Baku as a result of the military aggression of Armenia in the early 1990s escape the attention of USAID? For some reason, the Khojaly genocide, the killing of children, women, and the elderly in Karabakh did not interest USAID. On the other hand, in the early 1990s, the United States declared that it recognised the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and on the other hand, it adopted a law prohibiting "direct aid" to Azerbaijan. The more armed Armenia tries to destabilise and acts as a "representative" of the interests of foreign countries, the more it will suffer poverty and degradation. Today, considering its destructive activities in various countries, national governments have kicked USAID out of the country. Over the past 5 years, USAID has been withdrawn from Belarus, Russia, Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Bolivia, Congo, and other countries. Azerbaijan does not need help. Although Armenia is an independent state, it remains a puppet state for organisations like USAID. Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter. Lithuania intends to purchase Leopard 2 German battle tanks for a new division of its army, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas told Lithuanian television on Friday. He did not say how many tanks or which version of the Krauss-Maffei built tanks his country would purchase - or what they would cost. The contract could be signed in November, after the National Security Council has made a final decision on the purchase, Kasciunas said. Lithuania is a member of both NATO and the European Union. Lithuania borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus. The Baltic state sees Russia's war in Ukraine as a direct threat to its national security. The government in Vilnius has therefore increased military spending and is massively upgrading its army. A new armed forces division is to be established, which will also include a tank battalion. Also an an armoured brigade of the Germany army, or Bundeswehr, is to be permanently stationed in Lithuania. Helene 11 am update: Helene weakens to Tropical Storm as it moves over Georgia TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Helene has weakened to a Tropical Storm as it moves over Georgia after making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a major Category 4 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of the 11 a.m. update, Helene continues to produce damaging winds and life-threatening flooding as it moves over the Southeast and Southern Appalachians. A flash flood emergency is currently in effect for the Atlanta area. Helene weakened to a Tropical Storm around 5 a.m. The storm has 45 mph sustained winds and is located 105 miles north-northeast of Atlanta, and is moving at 32 mph. Helene is expected to continue to weaken and become a post-tropical low Friday afternoon or night. 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. Watches and warnings A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: Savannah River northward to Little River Inlet 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. Trump to highlight economy during Friday events in Michigan WALKER, Mich. (NewsNation) Former President Donald Trump was expected to hold a campaign rally in Walker, Michigan on Friday to pitch his economic agenda to voters in the battleground state. With polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris with a razor-thin lead in the state, Trump is holding two events on Friday. NYC Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to bribery, other charges Trumps first stop on Friday is at 2 p.m. at FALK, a manufacturing company. From there hell head to Warren for a scheduled town hall at Macomb Community College in Warren at 6 p.m. Trump has criticized Harris for quietly backing away from strict electric vehicle mandates she supported when she was running for president back in 2019. The Harris campaign, however, suggests Trumps policies were disastrous for the economy and Michigans auto industry, claiming Trump lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs. NewsNation affiliate DecisionDesk HQ shows Harris with a 48.8% lead to Trumps 47.7% in Michgan. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CALCUTTA, Ohio (WKBN) Members of the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department departed for Florida Thursday to aid in relief efforts as Hurricane Helene batters homes along the coast. Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, a team of firefighters and search and rescue crew members from the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department departed for Franklin County, Florida. Lt. Randy Schneider said he spoke with a corporal in Florida who requested the assets of Calcuttas water rescue division. Both of the departments boats will be going down to help anyone who may be stranded by the rising water levels. Were volunteers and we believe in community, we believe in helping people, Schneider said. They started the search and rescue program about two years ago and this marks their fifth aid trip and third involving hurricane relief. We just truly believe helping your neighbor is one of the core assets of our department here, and even extending that out to other people in need, and when something this catastrophic hits, you know, you need not just one neighbor, two neighbors, but you need all your neighbors to help out, Schneider said. The department has helped with relief efforts for Hurricane Ian, the Kentucky floods, and the Mayfield tornado in Kentucky, and aided Louisiana during Hurricane Ida. This isnt our first rodeo. We know what were doing and we know what were there to help, and what were there to see is very eye-opening because you dont see those kinds of things every day, Schneider said. Were hoping just to lend a helping hand and a calm voice in a time that they need it. Not only are they offering aid, but the team is also gaining valuable training. The best training is the hands-on training you get going on these trips, and I encourage any other local departments to join us if they can in the future, because this is the best training you get, Schneider said. He anticipates theyll be down there for several days, depending on the need once they arrive. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The University of New Mexicos Street Medicine team within the UNM School of Medicine has partnered with local organizations to provide free care and resources to unhoused individuals and their pets in Albuquerque. The UNM Street Medicine team, New Mexico Veterans for Pets, also known as Vets for Pets, Albuquerque Community Services (ACS), and other local partners held a pop-up clinic for people experiencing homelessness outside the International District Library on Tuesday. People who attended the clinic were able to get checked out and receive medical care from the UNM team, learn about resources available to them from ACS, and get supplies and information to take care of their dogs from Vets for Pets. We provide just basic screening, health screening for the animals. We provide food, we provide water, and other small supplies, leashes, collars, dog food, bowls, things like that, said Dr. Finnie Coleman, a faculty member at UNM and the leader of the non-profit organization Vets for Pets. On the days when there isnt a pop-up clinic, Coleman said staff from Vets for Pets respond to calls from ACS about pets who are injured. Well go out sometimes into the unhoused community where a dogs been injured, and well provide medical screening for the dog and try to make sure that we get it taken care of by a vet if necessary, he explained. Story continues below The Vets for Pets team is comprised of about 10 people, some of whom are volunteers. Their main goals are to help military veterans find work in the pet care industry and help local shelters by caring for animals at risk of being euthanized. Coleman, a veteran, said his organization takes inspiration from the UNM Street Medicine team led by Lindsay Fox, MSPAS, PA-C. I think its important to care for the whole family, and that includes the pets. If we can encourage people to take care of their pets, they might take better care of their own health, and that will create places and spaces for them to get better treatment, said Fox, who works in UNMs Department of Internal Medicine within the School of Medicine. By providing treatment and resources to people in their own environment, Fox said it will hopefully create trust between the unhoused community and providers. We see them in their spaces instead of asking them to come into our spaces all the time, which can quite frankly be sometimes scary and intimidating. But here at our pop-ups, theres lawn chairs, theres music, theres food. It just creates an environment where people want to get care and meet the team, said Fox. Coleman said Vets for Pets would like to be able to provide more food, supplies, and vaccines to pets in need. For those interested in donating or seeking services, click here. To learn more about the UNM Street Medicine team, 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) From first responders to those in the armed forces, several local heroes are set to be honored at an award ceremony aboard the USS Midway Museum on Friday. The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties are hosting the 22nd Annual Real Heroes Awards, which recognizes individuals and organizations that embody the mission and spirit of the Red Cross by saving lives and creating safer, stronger and more resilient communities. $300M super yacht spotted in San Diego Bay: Who does it belong to? Heres a break down of those in the local community who will be receiving awards: Disaster Services Hero Robert Gladysz: Officer Gladysz, a member of the San Diego Police Department and a former U.S. Marine, displayed remarkable heroism during the historic floods in San Diego on Jan. 22, 2024. First Responder Hero Steven Hannibal: On Feb. 29, 2024, Officer Steven Hannibal of the El Cajon Police Department displayed extraordinary bravery during an active shooter incident at Smile Dentistry. Service to the Armed Forces Hero Joseph Glaser-Reich: In addition to saving members of the public in the course of his duties as a Rescue Swimmer, AST1 Joseph Glaser-Reich dedicates countless hours to saving his brothers and sisters in-arms in the Coast Guard. Gift of Life Hero Jean Samaniego: Jean Samaniego is a committed platelet donor, donating every two weeks at the Red Cross Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center. Youth Hero Katie Tadloc: The 18-year-old was driving a group of friends and family when she observed a crashed vehicle. She pulled over to help, instructed her mom to call 911 and had her brother grab her backpack, which contained a first aid kit. to assist. Good Samaritan Heroes Mike and Janet Nelson: On Christmas Eve 2023, Detective Mike Nelson and his wife Janet were driving home when they came upon a car crash involving a vehicle upside-down submerged in water. Despite the cold weather and a bystanders discouragement, Mike entered the water and despite significant obstacles, he successfully pulled the victim to safety. Animal Welfare Hero Laura Oliver: Shes the founder of Lionels Legacy Senior Dog Rescue. Her organization focuses on rescuing senior dogs from shelters, providing them with medical care, and finding them loving homes, while also addressing the needs of dogs with chronic and terminal medical issues. Corporate Hero: U.S. Bank: For nearly 10 years, U.S. Bank has been a dedicated supporter of the Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties. U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation fund Red Cross home fire preparedness, response and recovery work and encourage employee volunteerism across local communities. Congratulations, local heroes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) -Massachusetts wiretap laws have not been updated since 1968. One local senator says he plans to file legislation to change this in the new session. Wiretapping is the process of using a device to listen in on another persons phone calls. In Massachusetts, police are allowed to wiretap individuals in very specific cases that involve organized crime, and they are required to renew their permission to wiretap in court every 15 days. Western Massachusetts Senator John Velis says this time limit makes it extremely difficult for local law enforcement to properly investigate crimes while still keeping up with wiretap renewals. If it werent so serious, it would be laughable that this has not been updated from 1968, Velis told 22News. From a privacy standpoint, from a civil liberties standpoint, from a technological standpoint, first and foremost, and the nature of crime has changed so profoundly. The senator says wiretap laws are a good example of an area in which state lawmakers need to improve. A nimble, efficient, agile legislature I would argue keeps up with what is going on in the world. And in this area we have woefully failed, said Velis. Previous efforts to pass updated wiretap laws, including an initiative led by former governor Charlie Baker, have failed in the legislature. Still, Velis says he does not anticipate much pushback for sorely-needed updates. Governor Healey voiced her support for an update as Attorney General, but has yet to weigh in as the states highest official. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The City of Youngstown and JAC Management Group have teamed up to hire a coordinator for the Wean Park Complex that is focused on community and inclusion. The Wean Park Complex encompasses the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, Wean Parks great lawn and Huntington Bank Community Alley. The coordinator will be responsible for connecting with residents on a grassroots level, working directly with community groups, churches, neighborhood associations and downtown businesses to build relationships and create quality of life events and seasonal programming. The position will fall under the direction of the Community Engagement & Inclusion Committee (CEIC) to ensure that events are reflective of the community and represent diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical abilities of the neighborhoods of the City of Youngstown. The job is a subcontracted position under JAC Management Group. The new hire will report to the Group daily and then quarterly to CEIC. To apply for this position, send your resume and cover letter to Careers@jacmg.com by 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 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 WKBN.com. WILL COUNTY, Ill. - As Hurricane Helene barrels toward Florida, a local volunteer is preparing to be deployed with the American Red Cross to help in recovery efforts after it makes landfall. Al Lopez, of Frankfort, will drive Red Cross Emergency Response vehicles to Florida on Friday morning, aiming to arrive on Saturday. "We'll start loading up with food and going through the countryside, looking for people who need food," Lopez said. Lopez has worked with the Red Cross since December of last year, but said this is the first time he's been sent to assist with hurricane recovery. RELATED STORIES: Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Florida coast soon and may strengthen to a Category 4 storm, bringing a life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, torrential rain and flooding, according to reports. Helene is the eighth named storm of the hurricane season in 2024. Late Wednesday, several flights arrived at O'Hare International Airport with passengers evacuating Florida ahead of Helenes landfall. Chicago is slated to see more clouds on Friday as the remnants of Hurricane Helene move northward. Scattered showers are also expected over the weekend. Lopez said he is ready to help those in need in Florida, drawing on his 28 years of experience as a law enforcement officer. "Unfortunately, I'm used to it. I spent 28 years as a law enforcement officer dealing with people's problems. I'm used to it, I've dealt with it. You just have to get to their level and ask them what they need and provide whatever service they want," Lopez said. This week it was revealed that childrens eyesight is now much worse than before lockdown. Children are now three times more likely to suffer from myopia (short- or near-sightedness) as they were in the 1990s. This is shocking but not surprising in order to remain healthy, the lens of a childs developing eye must frequently alternate its focus between objects that are both near and far. If extended periods of time are spent indoors or worse, staring at a tiny screen, the risks of myopia increase substantially. Yet this is exactly what we forced our children to do when schools were closed for months on end. Myopia is not something that will resolve in time. Affected children will require expensive optical care for life, and a few will face serious complications. But sadly, this is just one small part of a tragic lockdown legacy. Post-pandemic, we have seen rises in special educational needs and a deterioration in child mental health. One of the most scandalous covid hangovers is the 160 per cent increase in severe school absence. Many generations have faced worse tragedies than lockdown. I would prefer my children to have to wear glasses than to lose their lives in war. Nevertheless, we must seek to learn the lessons of our recent past if we want to prevent similar mistakes in the future. So why did Britain shut its schools for longer than any other country in Europe, bar Italy? Why did ministers mostly against their better instincts capitulate to teachers unions and the media, rather than acting in the best interests of children? It seems we have lost our traditional understanding of the nature of childhood, now viewing children as mini adults rather than as distinct and uniquely vulnerable. As such we failed to understand that lockdowns would have had a far more serious effect on children than on adults. Most adults bounced back quickly from enforced isolation, yet children who were robbed of social interaction at crucial points in their development may never recover. We see childhood is also misunderstood in other areas: the drive to teach gender theory to primary school pupils who can barely write their name; the nonchalance with which children are given access to the online Wild West; and the trend for exposing children to climate catastrophism without a care for the anxiety induced. The traditional view that children must be shielded from adult concerns is gradually being eroded. Some believe that what we need is a push for more childrens rights, but this is mistaken. Adding more baubles to the Christmas tree of statutory individual rights will not protect children; rather it will just force them to compete with every other interest group. There is an alternative philosophical approach to childhood which, unlike the framework of competing individual rights, has stood the test of time. This is the belief that children have an innate or sacred worth and that they require fierce societal protection that demands adults sacrifice for children rather than the other way around. These principles were truly counter-cultural at the dawn of Western civilisation, but we must return to them again if we want our children to thrive. Our collective myopia is not a biological one but an inability to see the importance and uniqueness of childhood. 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) Governor Lombardo issued a public letter Thursday asking for Clark County School Districts budget shortfalls to be included in an ongoing audit. On Thursday, Governor Joe Lombardo wrote to Nicole Cannizzaro, Nevada Senate Majority Leader, requesting an amendment to the Legislative Commissions audit of the Clark County School District (CCSD.) According to a release from the governors office, the aim was to investigate the districts budget shortfalls. We are concerned with reports that CCSDs current budget issues will potentially result in the release or elimination of teachers and other staff positions, Lombardo said in the letter. Given last sessions unprecedented increase in funding for education, such a scenario would be unacceptable. The letter went on to specify that Lombardo was asking for the audit to consider processes the district takes in allocating funding, how it caused the current issues, and how the district can avoid similar problems. Additionally, the audit should consider what the states legislature and executive branch could do to prevent these problems moving forward. The letter comes on the heels of a contentious Board of Trustees meeting Thursday that saw a dispute over transparency regarding the districts budget between Evelyn Garcia Morales, the school boards president, and Isaac Barron, a non-voting school board member. The legislature has had a special eye on CCSD, and it always hasnt benefited our kids and our school system, Garcia Morales said. For his part, Barron said state scrutiny couldve been avoided if the district was transparent. People should not be right now wondering if theyre going to have a job, Barron said. We see very, very poor communication on behalf [] of our board president. That meeting led to the search for a replacement for former Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara being put on hold. Lombardo asked Cannizzaro to confirm that the districts budget issues would be confirmed in the audit at her earliest convenience. CCSD released a letter on Friday addressing factors that they say played into the budget issues: lawsuit payouts, cybersecurity expenses, enrollment changes, and salary increases. According to the district, those issues were unaccounted for, leading to some schools receiving less funding and higher payroll costs. In a press release, the Clark County Education Association stated that if CCSD doesnt respond to the states request, Governor Lombardo should look at taking further legal action under his authority, including putting CCSD into receivership. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) Baylor Scott & White Health has announced an agreement has been reached with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. BSWH said in a statement that as related documents are finalized, BCBS members will continue to receive in-network care. This comes afer both companies spent months negotiating. An agreement to extend provider and facility contracts to October 1 was announced in June. This three-month extension meant BSWH providers, hospitals and other facilities would remain in network for BCBS members while both parties continued to work to finalize a longer-term agreement. PREVIOUS STORY: BSW Health extends contract with BlueCross BlueShield BSWH originally announced in May that the company would be terminating their physician and hospital agreements with BCBS on July 1 unless agreements were modified. Patients were able to check for options based on their existing plans by logging in to Blue Access for Members. They could also visit the website and call the customer service number on their member ID cards. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLLEGE STATION / MUMFORD, Texas (FOX 44) An arrest has been made in connection to an investigation into meth sales leading back to 2016. The College Station Police Departments Special Investigations Unit obtained eight felony warrants for the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver Penalty Group 1 Between Four and 200 grams of Methamphetamine for 48-year-old Robert Densey Wilson, of Bryan, on Thursday. The department says this is the result of a long-term investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring in the Brazos Valley, with the beginning of this investigation ranging back to 2016. After obtaining the arrest warrants, the Special Investigations Unit also obtained an evidentiary search warrant for an address in the 12000 block of Old Mumford Circle in Mumford. The search warrant was executed at the property, and numerous people were detained. Wilson was taken into custody during the execution of the search warrant. The following items were recovered during the search cocaine, phencyclidine, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, U.S. currency, two shotguns, two AR-15 rifles and four handguns. One of the handguns was found to have been stolen out of College Station in 2014. (Courtesy: College Station Police Department) More sex assault indictments for former Central Texas priest The department says Wilson was arrested and charged with eight counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver Penalty Group 1 between 4-200 grams, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and a hold for a Parole Violation. Wilson is currently incarcerated in the Robertson County Jail. The College Station Special Investigations Unit was assisted by College Station Police Departments Community Enhancement Unit, SWAT Team, Hostage Negotiations Team, K9 Unit, the Brazos County Sheriffs Offices SWAT Team, the Texas Department of Public Safetys Criminal Investigations Division-Bryan, the Texas Department of Public Safetys Highway Patrol, the Robertson County Sheriffs Office Canine K9 Unit and the Robertson County Constables Office Precinct. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Democrats have long said that they remain competitive in Florida and Texas, two erstwhile swing states that have jolted right in recent election cycles. Now, they're putting their money where their mouth is. The Democratic National Committee on Friday announced a six-figure investment of over $400,000 for get out the vote efforts in Florida to boost Vice President Kamala Harris and former House member and Senate nominee Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the party first told ABC News. And Senate Democrats' campaign arm announced Thursday a "multi-million dollar" advertising investment in Florida and Texas, where GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is facing Democratic Rep. Colin Allred. The DNC also is rolling out a new $2.5 million investment in state parties to provide funding to all 57 states and territories for the first time ever in one election cycle. "[F]lorida is in play," DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement. "With Vice President Harris at the helm and record-breaking investments in the Florida coordinated campaign, we have the momentum to finish strong and deliver wins for Democrats up and down the ballot." "Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters said in a separate statement. "All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz and Scott's damaged standings in their states -- and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating." MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams charged with fraud, accepting $10 million in improper campaign contributions Democrats in Washington had long insisted to the media that Florida and Texas were still competitive for president and Senate, though Democrats have been burned in each state before. Florida, once a swing state that former President Barack Obama won twice, has sharply moved toward Republicans, handing former President Donald Trump back-to-back wins and reelecting GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis by over 19 points in 2022. Texas has been a white whale for Democrats who have been bullish that the state's diversifying electorate make it primed for gains but have failed to pull off any major wins there and have actually lost ground in the Rio Grande region. PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event, Sept. 20, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (Morry Gash/AP) The world of campaign finance is large but finite, and Democrats are also spending money to protect Senate incumbents in red and purple states like Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and more. On top of that, both Florida and Texas are massive, packed with expensive media markets. However, Democrats appear increasingly in need of offense as they try to protect their 51-49 Senate majority. West Virginia Independent Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring, handing Republicans a nearly guaranteed flip, and polls are painting a dour picture for Montana Sen. Jon Tester's reelection chances, so any chance to win a GOP-held seat could be key to a future Democratic majority. "Now [Florida and Texas] are not cheap states. They're big states, but the investment is something that we're very excited about," Michigan's Peters said Thursday at the National Press Club. "We have an opportunity with fundraising and money coming in that we feel comfortable now these are good investments. We're making multimillion dollar investments in Florida and Texas, and with that, we have a real shot at winning those states." The news is music to Florida Democrats' ears, who had been clamoring for resources since the beginning of the election cycle, warning that ignoring the state would set Democrats even further back on their path back to relevance. Both Florida and Texas had been included in previous tranches of support, but they were far from a focus of Democrats' money machine. PHOTO: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, former Representative and US Democratic Senate candidate for Florida, speaks during the kickoff of the Harris-Walz campaign reproductive rights bus tour in Boynton Beach, Fla., Sept. 3, 2024. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "Debbie is a very strong and likable candidate that connects well with voters. She's relatable. It's hard to relate to Scott," one Florida Democratic strategist said, of Scott, who is one of Congress' wealthiest members. "So, yes, I think another $400K matters, and hopefully more is coming. Every penny matters." Polling has indicated the races are somewhat close. The polling averages from 538 show Scott ahead by under 5 points and Cruz leading by under 4 points, though neither has ever trailed. MORE: Searching for a villain in Maryland Senate race, Angela Alsobrooks looks beyond Larry Hogan Still, Cruz is battle tested and fended off tough challenges in the past, and Scott throughout his career has refused to be outspent, often dipping into his personal fortune to help bolster his successful campaigns for governor and Senate. When Scott first ran for the Senate in 2018, he dumped $64 million from his own coffers into his campaign, helping swamp Democrats in the spending war. "In case anyone has any doubt, if national Democrats decide to spend in Florida, Rick Scott will spend more. [Democratic Senate Leader] Chuck Schumer has been through this before. If he wants to sacrifice Bob Casey and Sherrod Brown on a doomed Florida strategy, hes welcome to try," said one source close to Scott, referencing Democratic senators in tough reelection fights in Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. PHOTO: Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, speaks during a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, July 9, 2024. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) And it's still unclear just what the impact of the investment will have. The pushes from the DNC and DSCC come with about 40 days to go to the election, and ballots are already being sent to military voters and voters overseas who are registered in Florida. "Some people say that it's better late than never, but in this case, it's really hard to justify given the fact that voters are, in essence, already voting in the state of Florida," said one Florida Democratic pollster. "It would have to be a dynamic where the polling shows the race literally on the knife's edge for a million-dollar investment at this eleventh hour to make a difference. And I don't think the polling shows that." 'Florida is in play': Democrats put money into states where they were struggling originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview City Council approved a one-time payment of $681 to all city employees at their Thursday meeting. East Texas indoor golf business closes doors citing economic pressures They are planning to give the checks out next Monday. Longview Mayor Kristen Ishihara thanked the council for recognizing the people who keep the city running. Everyone here values the city employees, Ishihara said. We were disappointed to not be able to do a raise this year, and certainly it is our intention to continue looking at that annually and hope that will be something we are able to fit into the budget next year. The item was unanimously approved in a vote by the council. We wish it was a raise, but this is what we are able to do this year, and were grateful to be able to do it, Ishihara said. I appreciate yall supporting that and supporting our city employees, we have the best anywhere. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A look into Stanislaus Countys rich LGBTQ history: quiet beginnings to an era of acceptance As MoPride, or the Central Valley Pride Center, celebrates its 10th anniversary as a nonprofit this Saturday at Graceada Park, its an opportune moment to reflect on the vibrant history of the LGBTQ community in Stanislaus County. When the county was established in 1854, same-sex couples already were living together quietly. However, local historians David Seymour and Keith Highiet emphasize that it wasnt until the 1960s that significant public expressions of LGBTQ life began to emerge, marking a turning point in the communitys visibility and activism. They helped document the countys rich LGBTQ history in the McHenry Museum and Historical Societys June 2023 monthly. The 1960s: A quiet beginning Modesto-born poet James Broughton was an early-known openly bisexual resident of Stanislaus County, and a prominent figure in the San Francisco Renaissance. Broughtons family ties to local politics were significant, with his aunt, Esto Broughton, becoming one of the first women elected to the California Assembly in 1918. At the same time, Merlin Mel Nomann and John Crabb, a couple who lived together for 55 years, played a key role in fostering the local LGBTQ community. They helped establish Birds of a Feather, a group for gay men and women that began in the late 1960s and expanded under R.J. Moriconi, a professor at CSU Stanislaus. Keith Highiet, board president of the Stanislaus PRIDE Center, greets Carol Clayton, Mel Nomann and John Crabb as they sign the guest book at the center in 2007. The group, which gathered annually at the Oasis Restaurant in Modesto and later on a ferry boat in Stockton, raised funds for scholarships and fostered community involvement, providing a safe space for LGBTQ professionals. In 1967, Hunter Creasman, known by his drag persona Christina, founded the Owl Empire of Stanislaus County Inc. in Modesto. This nonprofit group became the second chartered chapter of the International Imperial Court System, following the first, which was established in San Francisco in 1965. The OESCI offered a vital space for the local LGBTQ community particularly drag performers to express themselves freely and openly in a safer, supportive environment. The group held annual coronation ceremonies, celebrating the crowning of local emperors and empresses and helped foster community through fundraising and events. The event gained popularity, with early ceremonies held at the Holiday Inn in Modesto, where out-of-town attendees would stay for the weekend. The hotels indoor atrium and pool contributed to Modesto becoming an early drag tourist destination. The 1970s: Foundations of community In 1970, Modesto saw the opening of its first gay bar, The Mustang Club, thanks to Florence Shirley Owens, a previously married mother who came out as a lesbian later in life. Located at 413 N. Seventh St. in Modesto, the bar previously had been a segregated establishment for Black patrons. To protect her customers from potential law enforcement action, Owens installed a switch behind the bar that would flash a light if an unfamiliar person entered, signaling same-gender couples to switch to dancing with opposite-gender partners. Unwritten, informal laws were enforced by local law enforcement as code during the 1970s. The Brave Bull, on Modestos South Ninth Street, opened in 1973 and became a gay bar the following year under the ownership of Casey Lubbers. The bar also welcomed notable figures, including drag performer Divine and San Francisco gay rights activist Harvey Milk. It remains in business today. The Stanislaus Gay Alliance was founded in Modesto in 1979 by Jo McCarthy and her then-partner, Connie McIlroy. The SGA met regularly, organized social gatherings and hosted a weekly Alcoholics Anonymous group called Gay Alcoholics Together. McIlroy, who now lives in Manteca, said it was a nice way for people to get to socialize without having to go to the bars. It also helped when the AIDS crisis hit because a sense of community was established locally. McCarthy launched the Stanislaus Gay Alliance Newsletter, a monthly periodical, which covered topical items and announced gay-friendly activities in the area. The 1980s: Resilience in crisis The 1980s brought devastating challenges to the LGBTQ community in Stanislaus County as the AIDS crisis took hold. Local groups including the SGA had to shift focus to prevention and support of the ill. By 1985, just as the SGA celebrated its fifth anniversary with a presence in the San Francisco Pride Parade, the crisis overwhelmed the local gay community, leading to the groups dissolution. McCarthy and other volunteers worked to support AIDS patients, launching Hand-to-Hand in 1985, which eventually evolved into the Stanislaus County AIDS Project. SCAP provided vital services, including education, volunteer care and a telephone hot line, as Modesto became one of the American cities with the highest rate of AIDS cases by 1991, according to the CDC. The crisis also sparked greater public awareness. Modesto Junior College hosted its first panel on gay and lesbian issues in 1987, with local therapist Patricia Sherman stepping up to represent the community. Although born from tragedy, the mobilization efforts during the AIDS epidemic helped strengthen local LGBTQ advocacy and health services. Local religious institutions also began to embrace inclusivity during this time. Modestos College Avenue Congregational Church hired the first openly lesbian minister in the United Church of Christ movement, Diane Darling, and became a welcoming space for LGBTQ congregants. The 1990s: Growing visibility In the early 1990s, CSU Stanislaus established the Gay and Lesbian Student Alliance, with Cary Friedman serving as its spokesman. He led the group in a march for gay rights on campus in 1993. In 1994, a Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapter was formed in Modesto, led by retired Beyer High School teacher Norman Rostad and Linda Warden, who had navigated her daughters coming out. PFLAG Modesto offered support groups, a helpline and participated in the annual Fourth of July parade, even putting up LGBT-positive billboards. In the mid-1990s, teacher Tom Martin started a local branch of the Gay Lesbian Straight Teachers Network , which later became GLSEN. This organization helped Modesto City Schools send staff to an LGBT educational conference and raised awareness on these issues through training and resources. GLSEN also played a key role in getting the school board to extend protections for LGBT students against bullying. Around the same time, gay-friendly clubs began to form in high schools. In 1996, Debbie Favalora Soro was asked to advise the first Gay-Straight Alliance at Johansen High School. In September 1996, The Bee published a prominent article with photos of Tracie Warden and Robin Gagoss wedding. While this marriage occurred before legal recognition for same-gender couples, it helped shift public perceptions locally. Friends and family of Robin Gagos and Tracie Warden Denga gather in the gardens of Robins parents home for the commitment ceremony in 1996. The 2000s: Shifting paradigms At the turn of the millennium, new education about LGBTQ issues began in Modesto. After speaking at high schools Day of Respect events, David Barbaree and Phil Langlois were invited to give formal Homosexuality 101 presentations at CSU Stanislaus and Delta College, mainly to sociology students and future counselors. This era also saw a more open LGBTQ identity. The Modesto Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival debuted in 2004, and a social group called The Birdcage began hosting monthly outings. I love it when I see young people walking down the street holding hands. Its commonplace in like the city or something like that, but I love it when I drive by a local high school and see it. It makes me feel good, McIllroy said. By the mid-2000s, acceptance of gay culture increased, transforming the local gay bar scene. Cyriakus Gus Wagner revitalized the Tiki Cocktail Lounge in 2005, marketing it as a gay bar and attracting a supportive clientele. The Tiki remains a staple of the community. In 2005, the Stanislaus Pride Center was established as a resource center for the LGBTQ community, offering support groups and counseling services. It held the first Stanislaus Pride Night in June 2006 and opened a permanent location six months later. In June 2007, they organized the countys first public pride festival. The Modesto Bee covered the National Day of Silence protest in Modesto schools in 2007. In 2007, Debbie Soro organized the first National Day of Silence in Modesto, where students wore blue tape over their mouths to raise awareness about LGBTQ bullying. On June 17, 2008, Stanislaus County issued marriage licenses to 11 same-sex couples, including Beth Holden and Cynthia Soto, who later faced harassment. The Bee covered their civil ceremony and their religious ceremony that immediately followed at the nearby College Avenue Congregational Church. The 2010s: New era of acceptance In the late 2000s and 2010s, the LGBTQ community in Modesto saw an increase in gay bars. Jalitos, a bar and dance club on Crows Landing Road, was the first to cater to a predominantly Spanish-speaking gay crowd. Climax Bar & Nightclub, opened by Rachel Baxter on Seventh Street, thrived until its closure in 2018. The LGBTQ Collaborative launched a Rainbow Resource Center in Modesto and the Somos Familia Valle Center in Merced. The Rainbow Clinic was created to connect patients with trans-friendly doctors. Politically, Gary Soiseth became Turlocks first openly LGBTQ mayor when he came out in office in June 2018. In 2021, Cherilyn Bairos of Oakdale made history as the first openly LGBTQ person to win a mayoral race in the county. She continues to serve as mayor today. In summer 2019, the anti-gay National Straight Pride Coalition tried to hold an event at Graceada Park, prompting dozens to rally against it at a Modesto City Council meeting. The council denied the permit, leading the group to organize annual protests outside a Planned Parenthood office. Before passing away last May, Moriconi, who had done much to further local LGBTQ life locally, said I think that the gay culture has changed for the positive in that we can be recognized, appreciated and valued. The MoPride in the Park festival will be held Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. at Graceada Park near downtown Modesto. It will include live performances, activities and food options that cater to all tastes, according to an event site. MoPride in the Park is also an opportunity to connect with a multitude of organizations, support groups, and community resources that are eager to share their knowledge and experiences. Learn more at centralvalleypridecenter.org . Melynda Rodriguez performs on the keyboard with her parrot Kauai during the MoPride festival at Graceada Park in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. From left, Danille Wallace, Donnie Huffman, kneeling, and Riley Griffin all from Modesto, play the ball drop game at the 2014 MoPRIDE, Pride in the Park event, Saturday. Myranda Ables, 12, gets a hug from Free Mom Hugs organizer Jennifer McQueen, middle, during the MoPride festival at Graceada Park in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Hurricane Helene is shaping up to be a historic Florida storm after making 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 hit one of the least-populated parts of the state. GALLERY: Hurricane Helene did that to Florida? Look at what happened in these photos and videos 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 wasnt destructive. READ MORE: Helenes toll grows: Nearly 1.2 million without power in Florida, 4 dead Gov. Ron DeSantis warned ahead of the storms landing that the towering pine and oak trees in the states capital city could do serious damage to roofs and generate enormous amounts of flying debris. But on Friday morning, the city appeared to have been spared the worst of the damage. 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. Story continues Losses to the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Department of Agricultures crop insurance program could together approach nearly $1 billion in losses, 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. A new law goes into effect in Louisiana on Oct. 1 that reclassifies mifepristone and misoprostol as "controlled dangerous substances"a move that doctors worry will restrict patients' access to the medications during postpartum hemorrhaging and miscarriages. Credit - Getty Images A new law will go into effect in Louisiana on Oct. 1 that will classify two drugsmifepristone and misoprostol, which are commonly used for abortions, postpartum hemorrhaging, and miscarriage managementas controlled dangerous substances. The change is worrying doctors who say the repercussions could be life-threatening for some. The law, which passed in the state House and Senate in the spring and was shortly after signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, makes Louisiana the first state in the country to reclassify the medications. While abortion is banned in nearly all circumstances in Louisiana, the drugs have many other medical uses, and doctors have argued that reclassifying the medications could restrict or block patients access to health care, sometimes in emergencies. Read More: Louisiana Could Soon Classify Abortion Pills as Controlled Substances. Heres What to Know The bill, known as SB 276, was initially only about criminalizing the administration of these drugs to a pregnant person without their knowledge or consent, but the move to reclassify the two drugs was added as an amendment to the bill late in the legislative process. Under the new law, the drugs will be categorized in the same vein as Valium and Xanax. An anti-abortion group, Louisiana Right to Life, worked on the bill and amendment. Before it passed, more than 200 Louisiana doctors signed a letter to lawmakers objecting to the amendment. Research has found both medications to be safe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt consider the drugs to have a significant risk of abuse or dependence. Sarah Zagorski, communications director for Louisiana Right to Life, says that while she understands the concern, the state has offered plenty of guidance and clarification that make it clear that the drugs can be used in medically necessary situations. She cites the Louisiana Department of Health, which released guidance for health care professionals in September, saying that the drugs can be used to treat postpartum hemorrhage and incomplete miscarriages and should be securely stored in a locked/secured cabinet, compartment, or other system. But obtaining access to locked medications in emergency situations is concerning for physicians. Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans Health Department and an emergency medicine physician who co-wrote the objection letter to lawmakers in the spring, says there are still a lot of unanswered questions and concerns. TIME interviewed Avegno about how health care professionals are preparing for the new lawand the fears they have about it. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. What are your main concerns about the law? The one thats been coming up the most in the last couple of weeks is on the inpatient side. Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, as well as in America. I will say that Louisiana has made great strides in reducing postpartum hemorrhage because theyve worked very, very hard on instituting evidence-based practices across the state, and one of those is whats known as a safety bundlesort of a national standard for how you should care for postpartum hemorrhage. In that safety bundle, it says that medications to treat postpartum hemorrhage should be immediately available. Thats whats happening now. Misoprostol is a first-line medical treatment for hemorrhage. It is very easy to administer. It also works pretty quickly, and it has fewer contraindications than the other medications. It also doesnt have as many side effects. As it stands now, most hospitals have the ability to have that misoprostol right at the bedside in an open cart so that the patient can get it as soon as possible. What happens on Oct. 1 in Louisiana is that, because it is a controlled substance, it is now governed by all of the restrictions on controlled substances, which in Louisiana means it has to be stored away from other medications in what they describe as a securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet. Its a very specific type of place that the medication is lockedyou have to have authorization and a special procedure for getting in; you have to have a distinct order for that patient. You cant just go pull it or have it on a cart and pop it in. And those cabinets are not mobile, so you might be on the labor and delivery floor, and theres 15 rooms on that floor, and that cabinet is somewhere down the hall, which means youre now going to have to send a nurse from the bedside of a patient who is deteriorating to go do all the things that need to be done for a controlled substance and come back. People are like, Well, whats a couple of minutes? As someone who treats emergencies all the time, minutes matter. And if youve ever watched a woman bleed out after childbirth, it is not something that you have the luxury of time to deal with. Its the standard of care in America to have these medications immediately available. A lot of doctors are very, very concerned about this. Theyve been doing drills to see how much longer it is going to take. And it definitely does add several minutes onand thats when everything goes right. Weve asked for clarification if theres any other way that this medication could be immediately available. We havent received it yet. On the outpatient side, theres a lot of concern about prescriptions not being filled. We have communicated to our providers in our learning session [about the law] that you have to put a diagnosis code on the prescription, whereas for other medications you might not. A lot of the official diagnosis codes for miscarriage include the word abortion in itits a missed abortion. Those are medical terms. Those mean miscarriage, for all intents and purposes. But we have heard from pharmacists that are concerned about some of their colleagues saying, I dont want to fill anything that says abortion on it. I dont want to go to jail because some thinks Im aiding and abetting an elective termination. Read More: The Rise of Pregnancy Criminalization Post-Dobbs Theres a lot of things that go into filling a controlled-substance prescription thats different from a regular prescription, and theres real concern that folks arent going to be able to get their prescriptions. If you cant manage your miscarriage medically, then theres more discomfort and potential for complications. You may have to have a surgical procedure that maybe you wouldnt have needed or didnt really want. Then weve heard from providers who are concerned because one of the uses of misoprostol is to facilitate proceduresthings like IUD insertion or doing a scope into the uterus for bleedingand theyre not going to be able to keep it in their clinic now because they just cant manage all the controlled substances requirements. So thats taking a safe, effective, valid medication to facilitate a procedure out of their toolkit. You mentioned that some hospitals have been running drillshow else are you and other doctors preparing for this law to go into effect? As a health department, were trying to provide as much education as we can. We are directly asking the state Department of Health for clarification on some things that came up. In New Orleans, our City Council directed the health department to study the impact of this law. Were setting up a [confidential] reporting form for [health care professionals] because we really do want to continue to educate our policymakers that the concerns are legitimate and theyre done in the spirit of wanting to protect health. Were afraid, though, that a lot of this is going to go unreported. Any time that you restrict access, people become fearful, and they just sort of suffer in silence. That doesnt do anything to improve health care in Louisiana. Louisiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. Are you worried that this law going into effect could affect that? Thats what were all worried about. We are working so hard to reduce the rate of maternal morbidity and mortality. We can identify all kinds of ways that the state could invest its resources to do that. [The] Louisiana Pregnancy[-Associated] Mortality Review committee releases a beautiful report with those recommendations; this was not one of those recommendations. Theres also the real concern of providers not wanting to practice here. Were seeing that play out in Idaho, which has restrictive laws, and more than half of their high risk OBs have left the state, according to a report [released in February]. So when a third of our parishes are maternal-care deserts, we cant afford to lose any more providers. But what were being told by medical students and residents is that they don't really see the benefit to staying and practicing in a state where they are under threat of criminalization for simply providing the highest quality standard of care. The last time we spoke, the bill was expected to be signed into law. Now its going into effect on Oct. 1. How are you feeling? Theres still a great deal of concern. Theres still a lot of confusion. The New Orleans Health Department did a learning session with an expert panel of pharmacists and physicians to try to go through the law as best we could and discuss any sort of shared knowledge that we would hope that pharmacists and providers would need to know. I think that was well-received, but there were a lot of questions that we couldnt answer. What were also hearing is that in other parts of the state, providers are either just learning about this or not aware of it at all. Quite frankly, doctors are very busythey work very long hours, they dont necessarily keep up with the legislature, and theres been very little communication about the act formally to physicians. I think those of us who are in the know are concerned about folks who maybe dont even really see this coming, and all of a sudden things are going to change on Oct. 1. Everybody is trying really hard to put whatever processes they can in place to mitigate the expected impacts. But no one is feeling really great about it. Contact us at letters@time.com. The autocratic ruler of the former Soviet republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has accused NATO of planning an attack on his country and has threatened the use of nuclear weapons. "An attack on Belarus means World War III," the Belarusian president said, according to the state news agency BelTA, during an appearance before students in Minsk. Both Belarus and its close ally Russia would use nuclear weapons in such a case, he said. Lukashenko thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the recent change to the Russian nuclear doctrine. During his speech at the State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Lukashenko claimed that NATO harbours concrete attack plans against Belarus. "Americans and Poles have already positioned themselves along the border, particularly at the Polish one. We know that the Polish leadership is already rubbing their hands," he said. Belarus was prepared for the event and would respond immediately, he said. As NATO could counter the use of nuclear weapons with its own nuclear strikes, Russia would deploy its entire arsenal. Lukashenko stated that the West is not ready for such an escalation. Belarus is not a nuclear power itself; however, since the end of 2023, tactical nuclear weapons from Russia have been stationed on its territory. Lukashenko spoke in April of several dozen nuclear warheads. Belarus has also received Russian Iskander missiles, which can be equipped with nuclear warheads. Su-25 combat jets have also been converted into carrier weapons. While Moscow claims command over the nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Lukashenko has already incorporated the use of nuclear weapons into his country's military doctrine. On Wednesday, Putin stated that Russia had adjusted its military doctrine due to the international security situation. Russia's list of military threats against which nuclear weapons can be used for deterrence has been expanded, Putin said during a meeting of the National Security Council in Moscow. The change is seen as a response to the debate over granting far-reaching weapons to Ukraine in its defence against Russia's war. The new doctrine increases the risk, especially for Western nuclear powers like the United States and France, of becoming targets of a Russian counterstrike, should they support non-nuclear countries like Ukraine in an aggression against Russia. The Hillsborough County School Board is the governing body of Americas seventh-largest school system. The seven-member board faces a host of pressing issues in the coming years, from improving academics at struggling schools to retaining teachers and building new campuses in the fast-growing suburbs. Board members are elected to four-year terms and paid $50,492 annually. Board elections are nonpartisan and open to all registered voters. District 7 (countywide): Lynn Gray Incumbent Lynn Gray placed first in the four-way primary Aug. 20, and she remains the clear choice for her experience, hard work and fundamental commitment to fair play. Gray, 72, is a former public and private school teacher who was first elected to the board in 2016. Her decades of teaching experience and civic involvement give Gray a solid understanding of what enables students to succeed in the classroom. Gray supports the countywide referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot that would increase property taxes to raise teacher pay, calling teachers the central key of student success. She supported the school closures in 2023 as a painful but necessary cost-saving measure, and she has pushed to redirect those savings into stronger counseling, mental health and other support services for students. Gray has strong relationships with area government and business leaders, and she recognizes the key role the school system plays in developing the regions work force. She works collegially with her colleagues and is accessible to the public. Karen Bendorf, a 48-year-old middle school teacher, placed second in the primary. She opposes the tax for teacher pay, saying the district should instead find money for raises within its existing budget. Bendorf, though, hasnt explained how Hillsborough can wring these savings from the current budget. Bendorf told the Times Editorial Board she was motivated to run in 2022 after being asked to address a child by a pronoun she found uncomfortable. This should be a red flag for voters concerned about continued cultural warfare in the schools. Grays able hand and broad perspective suit her perfectly for this countywide seat. She understands the diversity of Hillsboroughs student population, and has strongly supported special needs, bilingual education and other programs that meet the specific needs of families. Gray wants the district to regularly evaluate campus populations, with an eye toward consolidating campuses where necessary to squeeze more efficiencies. She also is a regular presence across Hillsboroughs 200-campus school system, committed to learning firsthand whats working and whats not in the classroom. In the Nov. 5 general election for Hillsborough County School Board District 7, the Tampa Bay Times recommends Lynn Gray. The recommendation process Before making a recommendation, the Times Editorial Board asks candidates to fill out questionnaires and sit for an interview. The process can also include running criminal and civil background checks, interviewing candidates colleagues and employers, reviewing voting records and financial disclosures and examining their past and current positions on relevant issues. A hearse and debris sit behind the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, on Oct. 5, 2023. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) The M.B. Miller Pier closed at 7 a.m. Thursday morning and will remain closed until Friday at 7 am. But that didnt stop some people from going out on the beach. The ocean waves were high and had strong currents. Double red flags are flying on the beach, signaling that the water has a very high hazard and is closed to the public. Majority of residents in Apalachicola evacuated before Hurricane Helene landfall The pier is closed but people are still using the nearby beach access to take a look at the shoreline. Although some residents were out by the pier, people should exercise caution and follow warnings. The winds in that area are strong and the rain may remain strong, those warnings are there for a reason. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Much of MacDill Air Force Base in Florida was without power Friday morning and low-lying areas were flooded after Hurricane Helene blew through the state overnight. But Tyndall Air Force Base which six years ago was devastated by a previous hurricane appears to have suffered no major damage. MacDill said in a social media posts that its hurricane recovery team is still assessing damage to the base and trying to restore power, and the base remains closed. The storm surge that hit MacDill located near Tampa and the home of U.S. Central Commands headquarters was significant, and near the areas record for water levels, the base said. Roads are also strewn with debris. The base posted a photo of a flooded sports complex online Friday morning, and later said in a follow-up comment that waters had receded and the situation had improved. Helene slammed into northwestern Florida late Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. It has since weakened and become a tropical storm over Georgia as it moved up through the southeast. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said at least 11 people in the state had died, and dozens more were trapped in homes, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said two people there had died as a result of the storm so far. Moody Air Force Base in Georgia also reported downed trees, power lines, and debris after the storm passed. The base said in a social media post Friday morning that first responders and recovery crews are assessing the damage and clearing streets, and that people should remain sheltered in place for now. Tyndall, located in Floridas panhandle, on Friday resumed normal operations following Helene, and reported no major damage so far. Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, moved aircraft such as F-15s, F-16s and C-130s into King Hangar to avoid damage from Hurricane Helene. (Matt Veasley/U.S. Air Force) In a post on social media, Tyndall said damage assessments are still under way, but that the base has dodged the worst of the storm. As Helene bore down on Florida in recent days, Tyndall evacuated the 325th Fighter Wings F-35A fighter jets. A limited evacuation of personnel in nearby counties that were likeliest to be hit by the hurricane was also ordered. Commenters on Tyndalls Facebook page expressed relief that this hurricane was not a repeat of 2018s Hurricane Michael, which devastated Tyndall and damaged about 17 F-22 Raptors. That storm forced 11,000 airmen and their families to evacuate from Tyndall to bases in Virginia, Alaska and Hawaii, and Tyndalls recovery was a hard process spanning years. Eglin Air Force Base, which is located further west of Tyndall, also moved to a mission-essential posture Thursday and closed its schools Friday. Eglin began storing its aircraft in large hangars on base earlier this week. Photographs posted online showed F-15s, F-16s, and C-130s sheltering from the storm in the bases massive King Hangar. New York City Mayor Eric Adams surrendered to federal authorities one day after a 57-page federal indictment was unsealed, accusing the Democrat of bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Adams has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty. But his legal troubles are not Adams only problem. Theres also a political dimension to his mess, as prominent members of his party call on the mayor to resign. The Washington Post reported: A growing number of New York Democrats are calling on Mayor Eric Adams (D) to resign, broadly stating that his federal criminal indictment will hinder his ability to run the city. ... New York Democrats in positions of leadership have declined to call on Adams to step down, instead acknowledging that the charges against him are serious but arguing for the presumption of innocence. However, several other elected officials, including members of Congress, have called on the mayor to resign. As Adams Democratic support quickly evaporated, the public saw a case study in partisan asymmetry unfold in real time. Indeed, no prominent voices in Democratic politics except for Adams himself responded to the New York City mayors indictment with conspiracy theories. They didnt talk about election interference. Democrats didnt say that federal prosecutors should be defunded. The party didnt entertain the idea that evidence mightve been planted. No one in the party accused the Justice Department of having been weaponized. Democrats also didnt issue weird fundraising letters or whine about George Soros. Instead, Democrats responded to Adams indictment the way you'd expect members of a normal, mature, and responsible political party to respond: Many called for the mayor to resign, while others acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations. In fact, in an odd twist, the Adams' indictment did generate weird conspiracy theories, just not from his own party. Donald Trump, for example, argued in public and in apparent seriousness that federal prosecutors charged the mayor, not because of evidence of corruption, but because of Adams position on immigration policy. Some Fox News hosts and assorted far-right personalities including conspiratorial billionaire Elon Musk pushed a similar line. (The defendant himself also expressed support for the same idea.) In other words, some leading voices on the right want Americans to believe that a Democratic administration indicted a prominent Democratic mayor with 40 days left in the election cycle as part of a plot to punish Adams for taking a conservative line on immigration policy months ago. Putting aside the fact that theres literally no evidence to substantiate such a weird idea, the principal problem with these bonkers assertions is that the indictment is now publicly available, and its filled with highly credible allegations of serious crimes. If the indictment were flimsy, and the charges were based on very little, the conspiracy theorists complaints might be marginally more believable. But Id encourage those on the right peddling such nonsense to get a copy of the indictment and actually read the darned thing. As a Washington Post analysis summarized, The document outlines schemes that appear brazen. It suggests at least some knowledge on the part of Adams and an aide that what was being undertaken was not exactly on the up-and-up. And some episodes detailed came years before Adamss comments alienated some Democrats. These details probably wont matter to Trump and his allies, but they should matter to those who take reality seriously. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * While several recent polls in Georgia have shown Donald Trump with a modest lead, the latest Fox News poll found Vice President Kamala Harris leading the Republican nominee in the state, 51% to 48%. (Click the link for information on the surveys methodology and margin of error.) * The news was better for the former president in Arizona, where the latest Fox News poll found Trump ahead, 51% to 48%, while a USA Today/Suffolk University poll showed the GOP nominee with an even larger advantage, 48% to 42%. (Click the links for information on the surveys methodologies and margins of error.) * Why were so many Republicans pushing for Nebraska to manipulate how the party allocates electoral votes? Because, according to an NBC News report, internal GOP polling shows Harris with a sizable lead in Nebraskas Omaha-area congressional district. * Speaking of the Cornhusker State, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is making a new investment in support of incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischers re-election campaign in Nebraska, fueling speculation about independent challenger Dan Osborn and the surprising strength of his candidacy. * At his latest press conference, Trump was asked whether he intends to withdraw his support for North Carolinas Mark Robinson. The former president responded by claiming he doesnt know the situation surrounding the right-wing gubernatorial candidate. * That said, Virginias Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, withdrew his support for North Carolinas scandal-plagued lieutenant governor this week. * And a group called Evangelicals for Harris launched a seven-figure ad buy, aiming specifically at Christian voters in key battleground states, arguing that Trumps words and behavior contradict Christian teachings. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com As 2023 got underway, Rep. Matt Gaetz received some good news from the Justice Department: Federal investigators had been scrutinizing the Florida Republican as part of a sex trafficking investigation, but prosecutors announced they would not bring criminal charges against the congressman. Gaetz, however, still had to contend with an investigation from the House Ethics Committee. The panel first launched a probe into the GOP lawmaker more than three years ago, though it was just three months ago when members of the committee issued a rare statement explaining that their original investigation into Gaetz was expanding. NBC News reported in June that the bipartisan panel said in a lengthy statement that it was examining whether Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. Theres fresh reason to believe the process is still intensifying. CNBC reported: Rep. Matt Gaetz said Thursday that he has learned the House Ethics Committee will subpoena him as it investigates whether the Florida Republican engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor or illicit drug use. Gaetz, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, made the statement in an angry letter to the Ethics Committee that declared he will no longer voluntarily participate in the panels probe. The congressman, who has long denied any wrongdoing, also said in his written statement that he believes an Ethics Committee subpoena has been issued, but not served. Gaetz did not offer an indication as to whether he would comply with the subpoena or not. He went on to write that the committee asked him earlier this month whether he has engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer, according to Gaetz, was unequivocally NO. The Florida Republican again, according to his own version of events also said that he was asked about illegal drug use. On this, Gaetzs answer was more nuanced. I have not used drugs which are illegal, absent some law allowing use in a jurisdiction of the United States, he wrote, adding, 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. Just as notably, Gaetz concluded that the House Ethics Committees lines of inquiry had become nosy, and he would no longer cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Its difficult to speculate as to what, if anything, the panel will ultimately conclude, or when it might announce its findings. That said, for Gaetzs critics on Capitol Hill of which there are many the Ethics Committees examination is of great interest. It was a year ago this week when Fox News raised a few eyebrows with a report that said House GOP members were preparing a motion to expel Gaetz. The report didnt include any on-the-record comments, and it wasnt independently verified by other news organizations, but it raised the prospect of a provocative move against a member with a limited number of friends, even on his side of the aisle. Two months later, USA Today published a related report, adding that Gaetz continues to draw the ire of his Republican colleagues ... and some of his detractors have privately floated expelling him from Congress. In other words, as the Ethics Committees work continues, the stakes are high. Watch this space. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com On the 4th of July, 2016, The Atlantic published a rather brutal condemnation of Donald Trump. The then-Republican candidate, the opinion piece argued, is cultural heroin. He makes some feel better for a bit. But he cannot fix what ails them, and one day theyll realize it. The piece added, What Trump offers is an easy escape from the pain. To every complex problem, he promises a simple solution ... He never offers details for how these plans will work, because he cant. Trumps promises are the needle in Americas collective vein. The author of the piece was a young man by the name of JD Vance who, eight years later, would become Trumps hapless running mate. The Atlantic article was part of a larger case the Ohioan made at the time against the GOPs then-candidate. Vance described himself as a Never Trump guy and said he didnt vote for him in 2016. The same year, Vance wrote, Mr. Trump is unfit for our nations highest office. By one account, Vance also sent a private message to his law school roommate in which he questioned whether Trump might be Americas Hitler. In the years that followed, Vance according to his version of events underwent a political metamorphosis of sorts, making the transition from Trump critic to Trump sycophant. By way of an explanation, the Ohio Republican, while running for the U.S. Senate in 2021, said he changed his mind about the former president because Trump "actually honored his promises while in the White House. At least, thats what Vance said publicly. In private, according to a new Washington Post report, Trumps running mate apparently had a different perspective as recently as 2020. In the direct messages sent during Trumps final year in office to an acquaintance over the social media platform then known as Twitter Vance harshly criticized his future running mates record of governance and said Trump had not fulfilled his economic agenda. According to the Posts account, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, Vance wrote in February 2020, Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism (excepting a disjointed China policy). In a separate message sent four months later, the future senator added, I think Trump will probably lose. That, of course, was before Trump really did lose in a race about which Vance has gladly peddled partisan conspiracy theories. Around the same time, Vance also claimed via direct message that hed turned down an undisclosed job offer from Trump, which, if true, would be entirely new information. In case this werent quite enough, the Post also obtained a separate 2020 message in which Vance wrote that a government-run Medicare-for-all health care system is maybe a net positive, maybe not (details matter). In case this isnt obvious, this isnt even close to Republican orthodoxy on health care policy. Vances team didnt exactly deny any of this, and the vice presidential nominees spokesperson confirmed to the newspaper that the senator remembers writing the messages. The spokesperson nevertheless complained that the Post did not disclose the name of the person Vance communicated with and said the comment about Trump failing to deliver on economic populism was the fault of establishment Republicans in Congress. Stepping back, a variety of political observers have wondered aloud whether Vance overhauled his perspective on Trump for the sake of political convenience his political ambitions depended on a public change of heart or because of a sincere conversion to MAGAism. If the Posts reporting is accurate, it sheds new light on the probable answer. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com On New Years Day 2019, Donald Trump kicked off the year with a tweet attacking retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal got fired like a dog by Obama, the then-president wrote, adding, Known for big, dumb mouth. McChrystal, of course, was a highly decorated four-star general and combat veteran who devoted nearly all of his adult life to serving and protecting the United States. Trump nevertheless questioned McChrystals service he used scare quotes around general, as if he hadnt earned his rank and publicly mocked him. That was in public. In private, according to Trumps former Defense secretary, Mark Esper, Trump also set out to have McChrystal court-martialed. It was, of course, impossible to court martial civilians in private life, so the then-president talked to military leaders about the Pentagon recalling the retired general to active duty so that Trump could formally punish him. It was against this backdrop that the retired general, who commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan, endorsed Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign. Four years later, McChrystal is backing Kamala Harris, endorsing the Democratic vice president in a New York Times op-ed. Ive thought deeply about my choice and considered what Ive seen and heard and what I owe my three granddaughters. Ive concluded that it isnt political slogans or cultural tribalism; it is the best president my vote might help select. So I have cast my vote for character, and that vote is for Vice President Kamala Harris. Interestingly enough, over the course of roughly 700 words, McChrystal did not mention Trump at all in his Times piece. Just as notable is the number of other retired military leaders whove gone in a similar direction. Last month, for example, retired four-star Gen. Larry Ellis, a highly decorated veteran who served under 10 presidential administrations, announced his support for the Democratic nominee. Ellis, who served his country for nearly a half-century, had never before endorsed a candidate for elected office, but in the 2024 presidential election, he made an exception, writing that this is not a decision I take lightly, but one I believe necessary. The retired general was the first senior military leader to publicly back the vice president, but he wasnt the last. NBC News reported a couple of weeks ago on the launch of National Security Leaders for America and the groups support for Harris. The group said in a statement, signed by several retired generals and admirals, that Harris is the best and only presidential candidate in this race who is fit to serve as our commander-in-chief. She has demonstrated her ability to take on the most difficult national security challenges in the Situation Room and on the international stage, from rallying our allies against Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine to standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the Indo-Pacific against Chinas provocative actions, to advancing U.S. leadership on space and artificial intelligence. She is a steadfast supporter of service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, the group wrote. Members of the group, who include a former George W. Bush advisor, went on to describe Trump as a danger to our national security and our democracy. This week, the list grew longer. The Times reported earlier this week that more than 700 current and former national security leaders threw their support behind Harris, "arguing that only she had the temperament and values needed to serve as commander in chief." The signatories of the letter, which was organized by the group National Security Leaders for America, included former Defense secretaries and retired generals, including Rear Adm. Michael E. Smith and Gen. Michael V. Hayden, who led the CIA under George W. Bush. As Election Day approaches, there's every reason to believe the vice president's support from retired military leaders will continue to grow. Around this time four years ago, a surprising number of retired military leaders, many of whom had been apolitical for decades, stepped up to denounce Trump, endorse Biden, or both. For the most part, however, they waited until October to express their election-related opinions. Will many of those same retired generals and admirals step up again as Election Day nears? Watch this space. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com At least 59 Ohio residents have complained to the state's attorney general over posts made by an Ohio sheriff suggesting that people should keep track of homeowners who have signs supporting Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Bruce Zuchowski, the sheriff for Portage County just southeast of Cleveland, posted the suggestion to his social media account on Sept. 13, when he talked about Harris campaign and border policies. "When people ask me...What's gonna happen if the Flip - Flopping, Laughing Hyena Wins?? I say...write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards," Zuchowski wrote in the Facebook post. "Sooo...when the Illegal human 'Locust' (which she supports!) Need places to live...We'll already have the addresses of their New families...who supported their arrival!" Zuchowskis remarks drew backlash from members of his community. Now, people have lodged complaints to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican. We need to act like responsible adults The Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, obtained the written complaints sent to Yost's office through a public records request. Some people said they were angry, accusing Zuchowski of voter intimidation and racism. Others, including people who live in Portage County, said the sheriffs post made them afraid. I feel like this is what my family went through in Germany during WWII, one person wrote. We need to act like responsible adults People should be able to put out any political sign they want. USA TODAY reached out to Zuchowski for a response to the comments. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost answers questions about police accountability on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 in Akron, Ohio. 'A little misinterpreted' sheriff says In a follow-up post days after his controversial one, Zuchowski said that his words might have been taken the wrong way. "As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Portage County, I have sworn to protect ALL citizens of my County," Zuchowski wrote in the social media post. "Recently, I placed a post on my personal Facebook page that may have been a little misinterpreted??" Zuchowski then wrote how he "as the elected sheriff" has a "First Amendment right, as do all citizens." "If the citizens of Portage County want to elect an individual who has supported open borders (which I've personally visited Twice!) and neglected to enforce the laws of our Countrythen that is their prerogative," the Facebook post continued. "With elections, there are consequences. That being saidI believe that those who vote for individuals with liberal policies have to accept responsibility for their actions! I am a Law ManNot a Politician!" Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski is shown in a 2021 photo. Ohio Secretary of State says Sheriff Zuchowski did not violate laws Many who filed complaints with the state wanted Zuchowski removed from office or at least investigated for possible violations of law. The complaints were referred to Secretary of State Frank LaRose because they dealt with election-related issues. LaRose said that the sheriffs post did not violate election laws. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio sheriff's Kamala Harris post draws complaints: 'I feel unsafe' Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was barred from running in the presidential election by institutions loyal to strongman Nicolas Maduro (JUAN BARRETO) (JUAN BARRETO/AFP/AFP) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power is "unsustainable" given the widespread rejection of his claim to reelection, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told AFP on Friday. "The regime is absolutely delegitimized... an international pariah," 56-year-old Machado, who has been mostly in hiding since the July 28 vote, said in an interview via Zoom. "Maduro is trying to convey to his remaining supporters that the situation will stabilize, that the world will turn the page and we Venezuelans will be silent. And that will not happen." Venezuela's CNE electoral authority, loyal to the regime, declared a victory for Maduro within hours of polls closing, with 52 percent of votes cast. But most of the international community has refused to accept his win without a detailed vote breakdown, which has not been forthcoming. The opposition published its own tally of polling station-level results, which it says proves its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won two-thirds of the votes cast. The United States says there was "overwhelming evidence" Gonzalez Urrutia had won. For Maduro to remain in power was "financially, diplomatically and, most importantly, socially unviable," said Machado. "It is an unsustainable situation." Gonzalez Urrutia was a last-minute placeholder candidate for the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD) opposition coalition led by Machado, who herself was disqualified from running by institutions loyal to Maduro. - 'Crushing defeat' - Appearing on camera in her signature white shirt in front of a neutral background, Machado reiterated Friday that Maduro had suffered a "crushing defeat" and "no one has any doubt that Edmundo Gonzalez won." Gonzalez Urrutia, a 75-year-old retired diplomat, left Venezuela this month for asylum in Spain after spending weeks in hiding. Machado, for her part, has come out in public only a handful of times to lead anti-Maduro protests. "It's a huge change and a great personal challenge," she told AFP. "Many months in contact with thousands of people all the time, listening, hugging, kissing, and suddenly not having direct contact." Dozens of opposition leaders have been arrested since the contested poll, along with more than 2,400 other Venezuelans accused of "terrorism" for allegedly taking part in protests. Twenty-seven people were killed in the post-election clashes. In a country where "90 percent of people want change," the only recourse left to Maduro is "violence and spreading terror," said Machado. She nevertheless called for demonstrations on Saturday to mark two months since the vote but urged several small rallies rather than one centralized protest that could be harshly repressed. - 'Where I feel most useful' - Machado said she was grateful for the international support the opposition cause has received. Even Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, traditionally leftist allies of Venezuela, have not recognized Maduro's victory though they have not rejected it outright. The United States, along with countries of Europe and the G7 bloc, "are directly talking about a transition to democracy," said the opposition leader. "When will Maduro have real incentives to sit down and negotiate a transition? The day that the cost of remaining in power is greater than the cost of leaving power. "So you have to lower the cost of leaving power, increase the cost of holding on to power, and that's exactly what we're doing." Machado would not be drawn on the guarantees that could be offered to the regime, which enjoys support from a well-established system of political patronage that includes the justice system and military brass, which has sworn "absolute loyalty" to Maduro. "It is a process that is underway and no one can say how long it will last," said Machado. In a US election year with the issue of migration firmly on the ballot, she added there was still time to "prevent the largest and most painful wave of migration in this hemisphere." More than seven million Venezuelans -- nearly a quarter of the country's population -- have left as GDP dropped 80 percent in 10 years after Maduro came to power in 2013. Machado rejected the idea of following Gonzalez Urrutia into exile. "I am where I feel most useful for the struggle in Venezuela," she told AFP. "I'm here accompanying the Venezuelans in a continuing struggle, which is much bigger than any one of us." jt-pgf/mlr/cb/acb After being confronted by his Republican colleagues, Rep. Clay Higgins deleted his shockingly racist tweet attacking Haitians. But once Congress officially left town for six weeks, he essentially turned around and said, I'll do it again if I want to. View comments The Corvallis Fall Festival is fast approaching, and if youre intrigued by this years avian-themed poster art, be sure to stop by Booth 15 at Central Park this Saturday, Sept. 28, to meet the artist. That would be Bekah Zeimetz, a Eugene-based acrylic painter. She's been painting full-time in 2024, which Zeimetz said gave her the opportunity to submit a poster design to represent the citys 51st Fall Festival, a juried event that attracts artists from across the Pacific Northwest each year. A Place to Sleep, episode 3: Corvallis Do unhoused people know where to go in Corvallis? Well, the city has outlined where they shouldn't be: near creeks, rivers, wetlands, sidewalks or within 20 feet of trees. I feel like it hasnt fully sunk in all the way, Zeimetz said of her piece's selection during an interview outside a Eugene coffee shop earlier this week. Zeimetz, who grew up in Iowa and has a background in nutrition, teaching yoga and managing a few coffee shops herself started painting in high school and had been drawing animals long before then. After moving to Oregon, she decided to focus more on her painting, doing a few pet portraits here and there, before returning to her original passion: untamed animals. During the pandemic, Zeimetz invested in a Nikon and spent more of her time outdoors to capture wildlife on camera, specifically on Eugene bike paths looking to take reference photos of birds. That included the elusive crow-sized green heron. Its shimmering feathers make it one of her favorites. The green variant of the species also has been a muse in her near photo-realistic paintings, along with other specimens, ranging from a variety of colorful songbirds like the common yellowthroat to more formidable predators like the spotted owl. As seen on her website, the level of detail in her paintings create a rich texture on the canvas, giving one the sense they could almost feel the feathers on her subjects. Beyond birds and other critters, such as possums and foxes, flora have key supporting roles in her pieces too. Flower petals, leaves and fungi intricately frame her wildlife portraits. The Oregon grape and sprouting mushrooms appear on this years poster for the festival. Zeimetz creates those paintings at her home studio in Eugene, finding satisfaction in the planning process and gathering photo references from her own birding excursions. She starts with a simple mechanical pencil sketch maybe even a quick, rough painting, just to ensure her colors work before using a chalk pastel pencil to transfer her completed drawing to the canvas. She starts with the eyes, she said, and then works from background to foreground, and from dark to light. Shell be bringing 10 original completed pieces to her booth at the festival this weekend. Zeimetz has been participating in the festival since 2022. It's a niche venue for the artist, who said it brings her into contact with not only fellow painters but fellow bird enthusiasts, as well as Oregon State University students who care about conservation. Its probably one of my favorite shows to do, she said. The festival is this weekend at Central Park, with art booths open from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Related stories: British actress Dame Maggie Smith, known for her prolific career in roles like Professor McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" series and Violet Crawley in "Downton Abbey," has died, her family confirmed to CBS News. She was 89. Smith passed away peacefully in the hospital early Friday morning, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said in a statement via publicist Clair Dobbs. "An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother," the statement said. Maggie Smith at the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 13, 2015 in London, England. / Credit: John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI Margaret Natalie Smith, who was frequently rated the preeminent British actress of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, was born in Ilford, Essex on Dec. 28, 1934. When she was 4 years old, her family moved to Oxford, where Smith began studying acting at the Oxford Playhouse at the age of 16. According to the Associated Press, she summed up her life briefly: "One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, one's still acting." She took Maggie as her stage name because another Margaret Smith was active in the theater. In 1952, at 17 years old, Smith launched her illustrious career as Viola in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." She made her Broadway debut in 1956 playing several roles in the review "New Faces of 1956." While Smith made her first film appearance in 1956, she didn't receive her first screen credit until 1959's "Nowhere to Go," which earned her first of 18 British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) nominations. Laurence Olivier spotted her talent, invited her to be part of his original National Theatre company and cast her as his co-star in a 1965 film adaptation of "Othello." "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress and the BAFTA award as well in 1969. She added a supporting actress Oscar for "California Suite" in 1978. Throughout her distinguished career, she was nominated for four more Academy Awards, won four more BAFTAs, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globes and a Tony Award for her work. She was just a Grammy away from EGOT status. Maggie Smith holds her Oscar for best supporting actress in the film "And I think that's never gonna happen!" she told CBS "Sunday Morning" in 2015. She remained in demand even in her later years, despite her lament that "when you get into the granny era, you're lucky to get anything." Smith gained a new audience when she accepted the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" movie series. She once quipped that "Harry Potter is my pension." "A lot of very small people kind of used to say hello to me, and that was nice. It was a whole different lot of people," she said on "The Graham Norton Show" in 2015. "One kid once said to me, he said, 'were you really a cat?' And I heard myself say 'just pull yourself together! How could I have been?'" She continued acting well into her 80s, in films such as the 2022 big-screen spinoff "Downton Abbey: A New Era" and the 2023 release "The Miracle Club." When former "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft asked Smith in 2013 at the height of "Downton Abbey" fame if she'd ever retire, the actress had this to say: "I think that the date for that has gone by. I fear that I won't work in the theater again. I'm sad about that. But I won't retire. I think I'll keep going with Violet and whatever other old biddy comes along," she said. Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990. She married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They had two sons, Christopher and Toby, and divorced in 1975. That same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic Hurricane Helene makes landfall over Florida's Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm Israel targets alleged Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut A major polling organization is reportedly giving Donald Trumps campaign previews of its results before the public sees them. On Thursday, American Muckrakers posted about emails it received detailing how the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports, which claims to be nonpartisan, shared polling results with Trump advisers and campaign officials like Dan Scavino, Susie Wiles, and John McLaughlin. The advisers, Rasmussen, and the nonprofit organizations that pay it for polling are violating tax and election laws, according to American Muckrakers. One of the emails details close collaboration between the Trump campaign, Rasmussen, and the Heartland Institute, which calls itself a national free-market public policy think tank. However, its also a 501(c)3 nonprofit and is not allowed to engage in political activity benefiting a political candidate. Twitter screenshot American Muckrakers @AmericanMuck: Here is collusion between @Rasmussen_Poll , @HeartlandInst & @realDonaldTrump campaign. Heartland Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit and strictly forbidden from political activity that benefits a candidate. Read all the emails of collusion here: http://AmericanMuckrakers.com/muckrakersleaks Rasmussen has long been criticized for its polling, which focuses on likely voters, and for skewing toward older Americans and providing favorable results to conservatives. During the Trump administration, its website became overtly supportive of the right wing, with many of its polls sponsored by conservative personalities and causes. On social media, Rasmussen appeared to legitimize many conspiracy theories on the right, such as election fraud and vaccine denialism. Earlier this year, the polling aggregator 538 dropped Rasmussen Reports from its averages and forecasts, saying that the firm couldnt meet 538s standards for objectivity and methodology. This drew a major backlash from right-wing media, especially after Rasmussen published a letter from 538 asking the polling firm questions about its procedures and biases. The revelations from American Muckrakers go beyond simple political bias and into outright collaboration between Republicans and Rasmussen, explaining the organizations overt partisan change. It would seem to invite possible legal trouble for Rasmussen too, although theres no shortage of conservative judges and lawyers ready to shield it from consequences. A majority of voters feel negatively about Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for the next Republican presidency that Vice President Harris has used to attack former President Trump, an NBC News poll released this week showed. The poll, conducted Sept. 13-17, found that about 57 percent of voters said they feel negatively toward the 900-page document outlining a conservative agenda, compared to 4 percent who felt positively. Sixteen percent said they felt neutral, while 23 percent were unsure or didnt know the name. Of the 57 percent, 51 percent felt very negative about the blueprint. Meanwhile, just 1 percent felt very positive, the survey showed. NBC also reported that 52 percent of independents felt negatively about Project 2025 compared to 85 percent of Democrats. About 33 percent of Republicans said they viewed it negatively, compared to 7 percent who said they had a positive view. Earlier this month, the Harris-Walz campaign rolled out a new ad targeting Black voters, arguing that they would be hurt if Project 2025 went forward under a second Trump administration. Project 2025 would strip away our voting rights protections, and it eliminates the Department of Education. It would also require states to monitor womens pregnancies. It bans abortion and would rip away health coverage for millions, the ad says. Trump has tried to distance himself from the conservative blueprint, calling some of its proposals or plans ridiculous and even claiming in multiple social media posts that he does not know those behind the effort. But Democrats have repeatedly noted the links between its authors and members of Trumps administration. During their presidential debate Harris called Project 2025 dangerous. Youre going to hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling, Harris said during the debate. What youre going to hear is a dangerous and detailed playbook called Project 2025. Trump pushed back, even as he said the policy document had some good and some bad ideas. As you know, and as she knows, I have nothing to do with Project 2025. Thats out there, I havent read it. I dont want to read it, purposely. Im not going to read it, Trump said. The NBC News poll interviewed 1,000 registered voters, including 870 over the phone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO An investigation is underway after a 58-year-old man was found dead on a sidewalk on the citys Northwest Side. The discovery was made around 5:35 a.m. Friday in the 4300 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in the Portage Park neighborhood. Police said the man was found unresponsive on the sidewalk and pronounced dead on the scene. Missing 2-year-old found safe after search at Lombard hotel, police say Detectives are conducting a death investigation pending autopsy results. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man accused in California courthouse bombing intended to kill deputies and a judge, complaint says A man accused of setting off an improvised explosive device in a California courthouse, injuring at least five people and causing significant and noticeable damage, intended to kill deputies and a judge, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, has been federally charged with malicious damage to a building by means of an explosive, the complaint says. Authorities said Wednesdays incident in Santa Maria appears to be isolated and the suspect has no known ties to terrorism. McGuire was being held without bail. CNN is attempting to locate attorney information for him. Nathaniel McGuire - Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office via AP 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, Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner said. McGuire was set to be arraigned for that case Wednesday, Bonner said. McGuire on Wednesday threw a bag into the courthouse lobby that exploded, the complaint says. According to the on-scene bomb technician, the suspected improvised explosive device was a can containing a black powder with nails glued to the outside, the complaint says. The device was wrapped in duct tape. A deputy sheriff who witnessed the incident detained McGuire as he attempted to get into a car outside the courthouse, according to the complaint. McGuire yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise up, and rebel, according to the complaint. Authorities searched the car and found a shotgun, a lever action rifle, ammunition, a suspected explosive device, and 10 Molotov cocktails, the complaint says. When interviewed by law enforcement, McGuire said he intended to kill the deputes working at the security desk upon his arrival and then retrieve a firearm from his car and kill a judge, the complaint says. The FBI later searched McGuires residence and found materials used to make explosives, it says. CNNs Cheri Mossburg and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A New York man accused of killing his father, stepmother and stepbrother in Vermont earlier this month appeared in court in Lake George on Thursday and waived an extradition hearing, according to the district attorney. Brian Crossman Jr., 23, of Granville, New York, faces t hree counts of aggravated murder in the fatal shootings of Brian Crossman Sr., 46, Erica Pawlusiak Crossman, 41, and Colin Taft, 13, in their Pawlet, Vermont, home on Sept. 15, state police said. He will be moved to Vermont to face charges. Pawlet homicide victims identified as town selectman, wife and her son The investigation found significant evidence linking Crossman Jr. to the killings, including digital information, statements, injuries and various interviews, Vermont State Police said. His public defender representing him in New York did not return a phone message seeking comment. A search of his cell phone found multiple internet searches related to serial killers and unresolved murders, police said. Relatives told police that he had a troubled relationship with his father because of Crossman Jr.s mental health and learning disability. He was spending the weekend with his father and stepmother while his mother was out of town, according to a police affidavit. The couple had married in July and Erica Crossman told her husbands friend that didnt feel safe with Crossman Jr. at the home and she was afraid to be there alone with him, according to a police affidavit. Crossman Jr. called police shortly before 4 a.m. on Sept. 15 to report that he had found the three family members shot, and that the residence was covered in blood, police said. He then agreed to meet with Vermont State Police Corporal Joseph Duca who said when they met, Crossman Jr.s clothes were covered in blood, according to the affidavit. Affidavit: New details on suspect in Pawlet triple homicide Crossman Jr. said he his clothes had blood on them because he tried to drag his deceased father outside of the house and load him into a utility vehicle to take him to his grandmothers house across the road, police said. Police said they found multiple guns and ammunition around the house as they were investigating the killings, including a semi-automatic handgun on an area rug in the mudroom, a 12-gauge shotgun on a table in the dining area, another shotgun on a couch, and an open firearm cabinet and firearm safe. Crossman Jr. was admitted to a mental health unit of the Glens Falls Hospital on Sept. 15, according to police. New York State Police arrested him on Sept. 19, and he made an initial court appearance in Warren County Court on a charge of being a fugitive from justice on Friday. He is being held without bail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man arrested after Oregon State Police find nearly half a million fentanyl pills in SUV PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after authorities found almost half a million fentanyl-laced pills in his car, Oregon State Police announced. Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, an Oregon State Trooper stopped a Volkswagen SUV for a traffic violation on Interstate 5 in Douglas County. OSP said the trooper suspected criminal activity and searched the car. During the search, the trooper found 100 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills, or approximately 450,000 doses, inside the car. Family of innocent bystander killed during Gresham police chase files $17M lawsuit The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Gustavo Alonso Franco Valenzuela of Los Angeles, said the pills were destined for Portland. Because of the large quantity of pills, Valenzuela was arrested and faces a federal charge of delivery of a controlled substance, OSP said. 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 KOIN.com. The man accused of shooting at a car on US 35, hitting and killing a young mother has been charged. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Noah Corbitt, 23, was charged Thursday afternoon with three counts of murder, five counts of felonious assault, and one count of discharge of a firearm near a prohibited premises, according to Dayton Municipal Court records. Photo Contributed by Montgomery County Jail TRENDING STORIES: As News Center 7 previously reported, Corbitt was arrested by Dayton Police on Wednesday in connection to a deadly shooting on US 35 on Saturday morning. Jermea Lyle, 26, died as a result of the shooting. Lyle, her 4-year-old daughter, and the childs father were in the car when they picked up a person from Dayton International Airport to give them a ride on Saturday morning. Corbitt allegedly followed the car from the airport to the off-ramp from Interstate 75 to US 35, where police say he fired at least two shots. One bullet went through the vehicle and hit Lyle, who was in the backseat with her daughter. She was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital where she later died. Police said on Thursday that the shooting appeared to be the result of an ongoing dispute our front-seat passenger in that motor vehicle had with a co-worker. Corbitt remains booked in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 1. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Man assaulted during Democratic rally in Continental Square. Police say not political (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) A man was assaulted during a rally Thursday on Continental Square in York to show support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as well as others, according to a statement from the Democratic Party of York County. York City Police confirmed that an assault occurred, but "we do not believe it is politically motivated," Capt. Daniel Lentz said Thursday evening. The department cited the defendant's previous pattern of behavior. Robert Trotta, 59, of York was taken into custody and charged with simple assault, Lentz said. The victim was identified by a rally attendee as Alan Vandersloot, a longtime West York councilman. The victim suffered a cut on the head and elbow, police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, the Democratic Party of York County said in its statement. "This is yet another act of senseless, unprovoked political violence which has been seen across this county, state, and nationally. There is absolutely no place for this violence in our democracy or in our society," the statement says. "We are a nation born to have civil discourse that at the end of the day should end in a handshake not in violence. While easy to point fingers and blame, the reality is this must end now! When we cant even have one of the basic rights to assemble and of free speech without being physically attacked, it is not just one individual being harmed but the entirety of our democracy," it says. Dan Almoney, who attended the rally as a Democratic candidate seeking the 92nd state House seat, said he saw Vandersloot lying on the ground with the assailant overtop of him. Almoney said he did not hear shouting or a disturbance prior to the assault. "It kind of took us by surprise," he said. "It must have happened pretty quickly." The perpetrator tried to get away, but Almoney followed him down George Street. Officers responded and apprehended the suspect. Almoney described the man who was assaulted as a retired gentleman. Almoney said he hopes the victim did not suffer any lasting or permanent damage. "Our prayers are with the injured supporter and their family for a swift recovery," the Democratic Party of York County said in the statement. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Man assaulted during Democratic rally in York, Pa., 1 arrested: police For a previous report on this story view the video player above. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man convicted of in a south Columbus double murder that occurred three and a half years ago will serve at least nearly 50 years in prison. A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced 29-year-old Datwain Crudup to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 46 years. Crudup was convicted by a jury in the murders of Kevin Williams and Nickolas Cowans, as well as the attempted murder another man. Two shot after dispute over line-cutting at north Columbus pizzeria On Aug. 20, Crudup was found guilty on four counts of murder, and one count each of attempted murder, felonious assault and having a weapon under disability. All seven counts include a 54-month firearm specification, according to the Franklin County Prosecutors Office. Crudup was named a suspect in the fatal shooting on April 3, 2021, when he shot into a crowd gathered outside an apartment complex on Eaton Avenue in South Franklinton. Williams, 24, and Cowans, 19, were pronounced dead at area hospitals. Datwain Crudup At the time of the shooting, Crudup was out of jail on parole from a 2013 conviction for aggravated robbery and weapons charges. He had fled to California after the shooting but was arrested in Nov. 2, 2021 on domestic violence and assault charges. Seven weeks later, while serving jail time on those charges, he was arrested for murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In a Linn County courtroom, Tiffany Lazons daughter wiped tears from her eyes as jurors heard how her mom missed her birthday in 2020. It was typical that her mom spoiled her on her birthday, prosecutor Ani Yardumian said. And that year nothing. No phone call, no card, nothing. Something was wrong. Her daughter reported Tiffany Lazon missing in January 2020. Shortly afterward, Albany police accused her husband, Craig Lazon, of murdering her. Her body has never been found, and Tiffany Lazon has not been seen in nearly five years. Craig Lazons defense attorneys say Tiffany Lazon suffered from untreated mental illness and meth addiction, and although they concede that she may be dead, they say their client had no motive to kill her and there is no proof he did so. The state told you everything that you needed to know about this case in their opening statement when they told you they would be unable to prove how, when, where or why Tiffany Lazon died, attorney Shelley Aschenbrenner told jurors in closing statements. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the jurors were handed the case. A verdict was not reached before publishing. Charged with second-degree murder, Craig Lazon has been on trial at the Linn County Courthouse for the past three weeks. Investigators reportedly discovered Tiffany Lazons DNA on a battery-powered circular saw Craig Lazon borrowed from friends, which he returned to them disassembled and missing its blade, saying he needed to clean the tool. Police also allegedly found blood in a U-Haul truck Craig Lazon used to move items from his wifes home. The two lived separately, though Lazon disputes that they were estranged. The rental truck, which was among transactions Craig Lazon allegedly made with his missing wifes bank card, reportedly appeared to have been well-cleaned before it was returned, according to testimony at trial. Related stories: Man and Dog Rescued by Coast Guard as Sailboat Sinks Off Coast of Florida During Hurricane Helene The man and dog were reportedly in good medical condition after the incident off Florida's coast, which occurred as Hurricane Helene approached the state USCGSoutheast/X A man and his dog were rescued Thursday, Sept. 26, after their boat became disabled as Hurricane Helene approached Florida A man and his dog were rescued from their sailboat off the coast of Florida as Hurricane Helene approached the state. The 36-foot sailboat became disabled and started taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island on Thursday, Sept. 26, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Crew members with Air Station Clearwater came to the duos rescue, as seen in footage shared by the agencys Southeast division. In the brief clip, a rescuer can be seen getting lowered into the water before swimming over to the disabled sailboat, where the man and dog were waiting. #Breaking @USCG Air Station #Clearwater saved a man & his dog, Thurs., during Hurricane #Helene after his 36-ft sailboat became disabled & started taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island. Call the #USCG for help on VHF Ch. 16 or dial 911 for storm distress. #SAR pic.twitter.com/DtdyouxfMN USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024 Wearing life preservers, the duo entered the water as well and swam a short distance in choppy water before rescuers in a helicopter could hoist them to safety. 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 end of the clip showed the man holding and petting his dog as he high-fived one of the rescuers onboard the helicopter. #Final The man & his dog were reportedly in good medical condition. They were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS. The vessel is adrift and disabled. Recorded by a camera worn by AST2 Hudson, edited by Lt. Cmdr. Kellerman, AirSta Clearwater pic.twitter.com/3ehoIVqlLj USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024 The man and dog were reportedly in good medical condition after the incident and were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS, according to the Coast Guard. Meanwhile, the sailboat is still adrift and disabled. USCGSoutheast/X A man and his dog were rescued Thursday, Sept. 26, after their boat became disabled as Hurricane Helene approached Florida At least 10 people died, including seven people in Georgia, after Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend area of Florida on Thursday, Sept. 26. Two of the victims died in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis said one person died after a sign fell on top of a car traveling on Interstate 4 in Tampa, and another died in Dixie County after a tree fell onto their home, according to CBS affiliate WINK-TV. Related: Hundreds of Florida College Students Are Sheltering on Campus Ahead of Hurricane Helene's Landfall: 'I Miss My Bed' As of Friday, Sept. 27, millions of people are without power across southeastern portions of the United States, according to PowerOutage.us. At one point, more than one million people were without power in Florida alone, but that number has since dropped. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man was found dead behind a grocery store in the Mission Valley East area Thursday morning, according to the San Diego Police Department. After the departments communication center received a call regarding an unconscious male around 7:26 a.m., officers responded to the east side of the Food 4 Less grocery store at 7730 Hazard Center Drive. Local leaders share resources for victims of hate Despite life-saving efforts by the officers and accompanying medics, the man did not survive, according to SDPD. The man was described as a 25-year-old man, but his name is being withheld pending family notifications. The death was initially believed to be caused by an overdose based on items found at the scene. After further investigation, officers had enough information to believe the man had been assaulted and called homicide detectives to the scene, the release said. Next steps include working with the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office to determine the mans injuries and the exact cause of his death, SDPD said. Detectives are still examining evidence from the scene and looking for surveillance footage. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact SDPDs Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. (KRON) Deon Vonzell Brimmer has been convicted of second-degree burglary and vandalism after breaking into and vandalizing a synagogue, according to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Early morning of Aug. 7, 2023, Brimmer, 43, broke into Congregation Sherith Israel through a back window. Triggering the alarm, he damaged the alarm equipment, according to the DAs office. Per the synagogues security footage, Brimmer began casing the building when an employee caught him. According to the DA, the footage showed Brimmer began impersonating a security guard by wearing a congregants suit coat and a Sherith Israel identification tag he found in a closet. He subsequently confronted an employee demanding payment for security services. Brimmer left the establishment after the employee did not give him money, according to the district attorney. Glass reportedly falls from Transamerica Pyramid Less than a week later, Brimmer was arrested approximately one mile away. Places of worship are sacred, and the law affords them protections from violations such as the burglary in this case, said Assistant District Attorney Abigail Adams. I am grateful to the jury for carefully considering the evidence and holding Defendant accountable for this violation of Sherith Israel, its employees and its congregants. Brimmer is not in currently in custody and his sentencing is set for Oct. 29. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man arrested earlier in the month in Youngstown and wanted on a warrant at the time out of Girard was indicted by a Mahoning County Grand Jury on Thursday. Daraeius Joy was indicted on charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and aggravated possession of drugs, fourth and fifth degree felonies, respectively. He is also facing misdemeanor traffic charges. Joy was arrested Sept. 3 in Youngstown after police pulled over his vehicle for repeatedly swerving left of center. When speaking with officers, reports state Joy admitted he did not have a license due to a hold out of Girard Municipal Court for a separate incident that took place in Liberty Township. During the stop, Joy was found to be in possession of a pistol, despite the ongoing court case. Police also discovered a bottle of oxycodone pills with no prescription during the stop, reports state. Girard Municipal Court records show Joy appeared in court after his recent arrest, where he was sentenced to pay a fine for the charges under their jurisdiction. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 injured when firework explodes in his hand in Polk County POLK COUNTY, Iowa A man was injured early Friday morning in rural Polk County after officials say a firework exploded in his hand. It happened shortly before 3:00 a.m. at a property in the 9000 block of SE 56th Avenue near Runnells, according to Captain Ryan Evans of the Polk County Sheriffs Office. The Runnells Fire Department and deputies with the PCSO responded. The injury was not life-threatening and Capt. Evans said the man was possibly missing part of a finger from the incident. No other details were released. Latest Metro 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 who13.com. Putnam County Sheriffs Office has identified a man found dead inside of a home following a shootout with SWAT Thursday night. He is Emmanel Lee Vestal, a sheriffs office news release states. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Deputies were called to the home on East Main Street in Pomona Park at around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a burglary. Neighbors reported seeing a man with no shirt and dark hair breaking into the residence, the news release states. The owner of the home told deputies that there was a firearm in the home. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the residence. Police said the burglar, later identified as Vestal, was given orders over a loudspeaker, but did not respond, the news release states. Vestal barricaded himself inside the home and SWAT was called in around 7 p.m. Officers shot gas into the home in an attempt to get the suspect to surrender. He didnt. SWAT members attempted to enter the residence at 9:28 p.m. and Vestal began shooting, the news release states. Deputies returned fire and Vestal was found dead inside the home. Vestal has had several incidents recently with law enforcement including a Baker Act stemming from a Sept. 16 911 call in which the caller stated Vestal was saying he had killed law enforcement officers and was planning to kill another officer, the news release states. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Highway sign falls on car, kills person in Tampa as Hurricane Helene moves toward land Deputies said the man fired shots at them. Deputies returned fire. When they went inside, they said they found the man dead. The Sheriffs Office said it would release more information on Friday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting. Read: All flights from JIA canceled [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. Man killed by police in Belle Plaine was suspect in 'random' killing of artist in St. Paul The suspect in the "random" killing of an artist in Lowertown St. Paul on Wednesday evening was fatally shot by police in Belle Plaine Thursday morning, authorities have confirmed. Holding a press release alongside Mayor Melvin Carter on Thursday afternoon, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry confirmed that his officers shot the suspect at an address on the 100 block of Meridian Street in Belle Plaine at 6:30 a.m. Per an updated police statement, the male suspect allegedly came out of the home armed with a handgun, with two officers opening fire. The man was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment, where he later died. KARE 11 Officers had monitored the home overnight, having received information that the vehicle listed for the address is the same as the one that was seen leaving the scene of the shooting outside the Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative building on East Kellogg Boulevard. The artist, a woman, was working on a project outside the live/work complex when she was shot at around 5:18 p.m. Speaking Thursday, Henry said that the incident has shaken the community, and describes it as "one of the most atypical homicides that Ive seen." "The evidence we have is that this is not something that was derived by a conflict or a fight or anything like that or previous associations with one another, and it seems to be very much random," Henry said. He continued to say that details that will come out over the ensuing days show that the murder of the artist "has all kinds of hallmarks and flags ... that we as a state and as a country need to start taking more seriously." "We have rules and regulations both in the state and federal level that talk about ... who can have guns, that talk about the mental we need to have to possess firearms, or levels of intoxication. It's important that we recognize these flags, and that we make sure that people are in crisis ... that we take those things seriously." The investigation is being led by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, at the request of St. Paul PD. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. More details about the incident are expected to be released in the coming days. Betty White "played a crucial role" in Oakvale Farm and Fauna World's "endangered species breeding program" before her death Getty Chinese silk chicken stock image A beloved chicken named Betty White is dead after being tossed into an alligator enclosure by an Australian park guest. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Peter Smith, who is in his late 50s, pleaded guilty in Raymond Terrace local court to one count of aggravated animal cruelty, the Australian Associated Press and Australia's ABC News reported. The incident happened in January 2024 at the Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash in New South Wales. Related: Man Charged in Alleged Kidnapping of Rare Lemur from San Francisco Zoo, Facing $50K in Fines and Prison Time Citing court documents, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported that Smith reached over a concrete rock wall within a sanctuary at the farm to grab Betty White, a white Chinese silkie bantam chicken, and then hid the animal inside his shirt. The outlet added that Smith then made his way to the alligator enclosure before tossing Betty White into a pond where the reptiles were held. Getty Alligator in the wild with mouth open stock image Two of the alligators immediately made their way towards the chook with one of them snapping the chook into its mouth, killing it immediately," court documents state, per the AAP. It was shocked guests who reportedly saw the incident and alerted staff members. After the parks owner, Leanne Sansom, found Smith on security footage and shared it with park employees, they were able to track him down and get an apology, the outlet said. Days after the incident, Smith went to the Singleton Police Station to give a formal statement. In it, he claimed he tossed Betty White with the intention of feeding the alligator due [to] its living conditions," the publication reported. Related: Ill. Woman Sentenced to Jail for Photographing and Approaching Grizzly Bear at Yellowstone National Park He said he was really disappointed in his behavior. According to the AAP, Smith's defense lawyer, Bryan Wrench, downplayed the severity of his clients actions, claiming Smith just wanted to feed an alligator who was hungry. Wrench added that approximately 750 million chickens are killed each year. However, on Tuesday, Magistrate Kirralee Perry told Wrench, These are serious allegations. Smith faces a maximum penalty for aggravated animal cruelty in New South Wales, which is two years imprisonment and a fine of $24,084. He will return to court for sentencing on Nov. 20. 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. This is the first time in our 43 years that we have had a member of the public [allegedly] engage in such cruelty in what is an animal sanctuary, Oakvale Farm owner Kent Sansom said in a statement, per the AAP. Betty White was hand-raised at the park and had played a crucial role in our endangered species breeding programme for the bush stone curlew and other species by providing surrogacy to the chicks, he continued. Her quiet nature means she would not hesitate to approach a customer for some animal pellets, making her an easy target for [an alleged] ruthless perpetrator. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A man who ran from police a day after a warrant was issued for his arrest and gathered more charges as a result appeared in court for both cases this week. Christian White pleaded guilty Thursday to the charge of obstructing official business. A charge of resisting arrest was dismissed. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for 10 days served. He will also serve two years of probation. The charges stem from a Sept. 17 incident where reports state White ran from police and later ate unknown pills before they could be seized by police during his arrest. As for the felony burglary warrant White was wanted on, he pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge of aggravated trespass. Court records show he will be on probation for that charge. Further records show White was indicted earlier in the year on unrelated felony charges of failure to comply with the order or signal of a peace officer and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. He is set for a jury trial Oct. 7 on those 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 WKBN.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City, Kansas man is sentenced in Wyandotte County for the stabbing death of his father and attacking another woman in July of 2023. John Eugene McGriff was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 14 years. He was sentenced to 10 years and three months for the second-degree murder charge and three years and seven months for the aggravated battery charge. Sentences are set to run consecutively. John Eugene McGriff According to court documents, KCK police officers responded to a stabbing on July 18, 2023, in the area of S. 36th Street and Metropolitan Avenue in the citys Argentine neighborhood. When officers arrived on scene they located a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was taken to KU hospital for emergency treatment of life-threatening injuries. The victims mom stated that her daughter was volunteering at the food kitchen at the church around the corner as she does every Tuesday. She looked out the window and saw her daughter walking home on the sidewalk. She then saw a man walking towards the victim, covered in blood and carrying a large knife and screaming, according to court documents. The suspect did not say anything, he just screamed, court documents say. The victims mom called out to her to cross the street when the suspect was about 10 feet away. CSI investigating after unconscious man found near KCK railroad tracks Two officers located John McGriff in the area of S. 37th Street and Strong Avenue. Court documents say when the officers got out of their marked KCKPD vehicles, John McGriff was holding a six-inch double sided blade knife and started advancing on an officer. John McGriff was given repeated commands to stop and to drop the knife. Court documents say John McGriff was yelling and making stabbing motions with the knife and then ran towards one of the officers. The officer fired his weapon at the suspect in fear of his safety. John McGriff was struck by the officers weapon and fell to the ground. The knife was kicked away from him. He then stood up and tried to run until he fell to the ground again, according to court documents. He was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment. While on scene, officers were flagged down by the property manager of an apartment building, saying she had just found a man who appeared deceased. Court documents say officers responded to the apartment, where the door was open and Samuel McGriff, the father of John McGriff, was found lying face down on the ground with what appeared to be stab wounds to the head, torso and arms. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android The next day, detectives received a cellphone video of John McGriff wearing a scary clown mask walking around the area of the homicide during a rainstorm holding a knife. During a search of the scene the day before, Halloween style masks were photographed but not recovered. Court documents say at the time of the search, the information of John McGriff wearing the mask was not known. An additional search warrant was obtained and the mask was recovered. The video shows John McGriff walking on different streets during the rainstorm dressed in all black, wearing the clown mask. Court documents say there was no blood in John McGriffs room which would suggest he dropped the mask off before killing his father. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A quiet neighborhood in Norfolk experienced a nightmare on Sept. 3 of last year when a man with a rifle went on a terrifying rampage. It was a night that turned Alden Heights into a scene of chaos and fear, as 28-year-old Daniel Joseph Ferguson Jr. roamed the streets with a fully-loaded AR-style rifle. By the time the night was over, he had pointed that weapon at multiple neighbors and fired a shot into a car. Ferguson was sentenced to more than eight years in prison Friday, pleading guilty to a series of acts, including hate crime assault and attempted malicious wounding. Justice was served, said Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. We had a dangerous individual who shot at somebody, tried to wound back. That in itself is enough for us to seek a felony and ask for prison, but this was a hate crime. It all began around 8 p.m. that September evening when Ferguson fired a round into the rear window of a mans vehicle, narrowly missing him as he drove to get ice cream for his kids. The bullet shattered glass, sending shards into the mans skin. Moments earlier, while on Boxwood Circle, Ferguson had rummaged through another neighbors truck that was parked in a driveway. The owner of the vehicle eventually noticed and attempted to confront Ferguson, but backed away once Ferguson began pointing his rifle towards him, police said. Shortly afterwards, in the most frightening encounter, Ferguson trespassed into the backyard of a Brazilian family who was holding an evening Bible study outside at the time. Ferguson then approached the family, pointed his rifle at them, threatened to kill them and said, get off my land. After the family ran back inside, Ferguson went around to the front of the home and tapped on the window with his rifle before leaving, police said. This is also a mental health story, Fatehi said. This man had an undiagnosed bipolar disorder, then he was self-medicating. Norfolk Police arrived to the scene after multiple neighbors called 911. While Ferguson was being taken into custody, he was heard saying racial epithets and asking the officers to let him go so he could hunt and kill those minority groups. This man said to the police, Lets go kill Blacks and Jews, Fatehi said. That is going to run up the sentence that we are going to see. On Aug. 7, Ferguson pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor brandishing, misdemeanor hate crime assault, felony attempted malicious wounding and felony shooting into an occupied vehicle. As part of Fergusons plea, the Commonwealth agreed to not pursue a charge of using a firearm in attempting to commit malicious wounding. Daniel Ferguson Jr. FBI statistics show that hate crimes are going up in the United States, and reports of them are consistently up, so while we see the broader trends, todays case was about one victim and one defendant, Fatehi said. Fergusons defense attorney, Cole Roberts, said he is fairly confident Ferguson will become a upstanding member of society upon eventual release. Roberts referred back to Fergusons mental health decline and substance abuse that ultimately led to the crimes. With all due respect, I think the sentence was hard for Mr. Ferguson, Roberts said. The fact is that Mr. Ferguson shot one round, and on multiple occasions, he had the opportunity to shoot more than what he did. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) A man is under arrest after the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said he engaged surveillance detectives in an aggressive conversation while driving a stolen car. According to CSPD, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Motor Vehicle Theft Unit located a white 2023 Nissan Rogue that was reported stolen earlier on Wednesday. The car was found in the 2800 block of Half Turn Road, near the intersection of North Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway. CSPD said the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Ernesto Aragon Quintana, pulled up to one of the surveillance detectives and engaged the detective in an aggressive conversation. As the conversation was happening, CSPD said the Tactical Enforcement Unit arrived and blocked Quintanas car in. CSPD said Quintana tried to get out of the block but failed. Quintana then ran from the car but was later caught by tactical officers. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department CSPD said Quintana was found in possession of a loaded handgun and felony-level narcotics. He has been booked into the Criminal Justice Center on multiple felony 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 FOX21 News Colorado. Rawson was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Lincoln Crown Court [Geograph/Joanne Davies] A man spat at, threatened, and tried to kick paramedics and ambulance workers who were trying to help him. James Rawson was put in the back of an ambulance following a single-vehicle crash on Grimsby Road in Louth last July. Lincoln Crown Court heard the 56-year-old was initially found unconscious in the road and became aggressive after receiving medical treatment. Rawson, of King Street, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to four charges of assaulting an emergency worker and a separate bail offence, and was sentenced to three months in prison. 'I'll have you' Prosecutor David Eager said Rawson spat at a trainee paramedic and kicked out at a female paramedic and an ambulance technician while being taken to hospital on 10 July 2023. Mr Eager said he also clenched his fist at a male paramedic and made threats such as "I'll have you" and "I've killed six people, you'll be the seventh". In a victim impact statement, a senior paramedic described it as one of the worst incidents in his 11-year career. The trainee paramedic said it was the most aggressive incident during her first year of training, while the ambulance technician said they did "not come to work to be assaulted". 'Ashamed' The court heard Rawson had been due to be sentenced on 12 September but failed to surrender to his bail after arriving at court drunk. He was eventually remanded into custody on 18 September. The court heard Rawson had a long history of previous convictions, including assaulting an emergency worker in 2021. Tom Heath, mitigating, said: "Clearly these are horrible offences on public servants who were only doing their jobs and trying to help him. "He is rightly ashamed of his behaviour." Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight said it was clear there had been a psychological impact on the paramedics. 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 A homeowner in south London has complained after Transport for London (TfL) erected a toilet for bus drivers outside his house. Brett Kemp, who is trying to sell the property, said the temporary lavatory was putting off potential buyers. TfL said it was an "interim measure" and it was working with Croydon Council to find an alternative location for a permanent facility. But Mr Kemp said it should never have been placed so close to his home. Mr Kemp is unimpressed by the bus driver lavatory outside his home [BBC] The toilet was originally in a more temporary-looking structure, Mr Kemp said, with the door opening on the side facing his house, which is at the end of a route in Purley. The current shed has been placed so the entrance is now on the far side. Mr Kemp acknowledged the importance of facilities for bus drivers but suggested the toilet could be placed further away from the residential area and school opposite. A turning circle a little further down the road would be more suitable, Mr Kemp suggested, but rules about green-belt land could make it difficult. Mr Kemp can see the lavatory from his first-floor window [BBC] A spokesperson for TfL said: Its really important that bus drivers are able to access toilet facilities while working and these play a vital role in enabling everyone to travel safely. "We are always mindful of local residents when we install these facilities and choose locations near the end of a bus route that are most appropriate, taking into account the need for access to pavements to be maintained. "This is a temporary facility installed as an interim measure while a permanent location can be identified and TfL is currently working with Croydon Council to investigate the possibility of moving the temporary facility or building a permanent facility at a different nearby location. 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 As many forests fail to recover from wildfires, replanting efforts face huge odds -- and obstacles Marin Chambers, left, takes notes while Maddie Wilson provides observations Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Bellvue, Colo, at a reforestation test plot at the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire burn area. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson) BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) Camille Stevens-Rumann crouched in the dirt and leaned over evergreen seedlings, measuring how much each had grown in seven months. "That's two to three inches of growth on the spruce, said Stevens-Rumann, interim director at the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute. Her research team is monitoring several species planted two years ago on a slope burned during the devastating 2020 Cameron Peak fire, which charred 326 square miles (844 square kilometers) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They want to determine which species are likely to survive at various elevations, because climate change makes it difficult or impossible for many forests to regrow even decades after wildfires. As the gap between burned areas and replanting widens year after year, scientists see big challenges beyond where to put seedlings. The U.S. currently lacks the ability to collect enough seeds from living trees and the nursery capacity to grow seedlings for replanting on a scale anywhere close to stemming accelerating losses, researchers say. It also doesnt have enough trained workers to plant and monitor trees. The Forest Service said the biggest roadblock to replanting on public land is completing environmental and cultural assessments and preparing severely burned areas so they're safe to plant. That can take years while more forests are lost to fire. If we have the seedlings but we dont have the sites prepped ... we cant put the seedlings out there, said Stephanie Miller, assistant director of a reforestation program. Scientists, private industry and environmental agencies are acutely aware of the challenges as they consider how to restore forested landscapes in an increasingly arid region. We need to start being creative if we want trees on our landscapes, Stevens-Rumann said. Were in a place of such drastic climate change that we are not talking about whether or not some of these places will be a different kind of forest, but whether or not they will be forests at all. Reforestation gap Four years after the Cameron Peak fire the largest in recorded Colorado history a smattering of wild raspberry bushes and seedlings has taken root. But the mountainside mostly is dotted with charred trees. In burn scars across the West and Southwest, areas of forests may never grow back on their own. Larger and more intense fires destroy trees that normally provide seeds for regeneration or leave burn scars so large trees can't naturally bridge the gap. The climate also has changed so markedly that many forests cant regrow in the same places. Even when seedlings take hold, drought and new fires often kill them. Nineteen of the 20 largest wildfires ever recorded in the contiguous U.S. have occurred in Western states since 2000, according to Sean Parks, a Forest Service research ecologist. That's when the region slipped into an ongoing megadrought. The U.S. once was able to reliably replant burned forests. But now the gap between areas in the West that need replanting after fire and the ability to do so has grown to at least 3.8 million acres (1.5 million hectares) and that could triple by 2050, said Solomon Z. Dobrowski, a University of Montana forest management expert and a study lead author. Forests are burning more often and especially intense and hot, which can destroy seeds that normally survive fire, harden the ground like concrete and leave barren slopes susceptible to washing away in rainstorms, polluting waterways. In 22 years since the Hayman fire on Colorados front range burned 182 square miles (471 square kilometers) of forest, there has been almost no tree regeneration in the most severely burned areas, researchers and the Forest Service said. In California's Sierra Nevada, where up to 20% of the world's mature giant sequoias and their seeds have been killed by fire in recent years, there are massive openings without seedlings. A U.S. Geological Survey study concluded some groves will never recover without replanting. But researchers say the odds of forests growing back will worsen regardless of fire intensity because of more heat and drought. That means burned forest could convert to shrubland and grassland, leading to loss of snowpack that provides drinking water and helps irrigate crops. Over 70% of our water in the western U.S. comes from our forested ecosystems and our mountains, Stevens-Rumann said. And for that water to come the way we want it ... at the right time throughout the year, we need to have forests, not just grasslands. Targeted tree planting When forest ecologist Matthew Hurteau joined the University of New Mexico nine years ago, he took in the aftermath of the 2011 Las Conchas fire that decimated a huge swath of Ponderosa pine forest. Though the area had been replanted several times, most seedlings died, Hurteau said. While the average survival in the Southwest is about 25%, he said only about 13% of trees planted most recently in the Los Conchas burn scar have survived. So he planted seedlings of different species at various elevations and on slopes facing different directions, then monitored the soil moisture, temperature and humidity. A resulting computer model can predict the probability a seedling will survive in a particular spot with about 63% accuracy. It will be used to inform planting this fall. Let's not do the old plant-and-pray method, said Hurteau. Let's plant where we know that their chance of survival is quite high, and in places where the chance ... is quite low, lets just forego planting there. Researchers say seedling survival is worst at lower elevations, where its hotter, drier and more open so replanting the same trees in the same areas is likely to fail. They're experimenting with planting near surviving trees that might provide shade for seedlings and aid water uptake and with planting in clusters that leave gaps in the landscape. Some are even asking whether different species should replace trees wiped out by fire. Environmental groups working on private land burned by the Cameron Peak fire are replanting Ponderosa pines 500 feet (152 meters) higher because of climate change and near fallen trees that can provide shade, said Megan Maiolo-Heath, spokeswoman for the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. So far, 84% of trees planted last year remain alive, though long-term survival is uncertain. Any work in the environmental world at this point can feel daunting and overwhelming, Maiolo-Heath said. So I think just taking small bites ... and trying not to get too overwhelmed is the way to go about it. Forest Service rules generally require planting the same species at the same elevations as before a fire, but it's increasingly clear the agency will need to be flexible moving forward, said Jason Sieg, acting supervisor of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland. Relying on research data, Sieg said, We'll be able to plan a strategy around how we set this landscape up for the greatest chance of success ... long term. For now, that might mean replanting at different elevations or collecting seeds from another location. Eventually, researchers say it could require the controversial option of planting trees not found in an area originally. Additional research and caution are necessary, researchers and the Forest Service said. But more people are warming up to the idea. I've seen people go from saying, Absolutely, we cannot move trees around to, Well, lets maybe lets try it at least, and do a few experiments to see if this will work, said Stevens-Rumann, the Colorado scientist. Restoration challenges Four years ago, researchers and New Mexico's state forester wrote a reforestation plan for the state, where 4,500 square miles (11,655 square kilometers) of forest were charred between 2011 and 2021, leaving up to 2.6 million acres (1.5 million hectares) in need of replanting. That was before the 2022 Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire the most destructive in state history burned another 534 square miles (1,383 square kilometers). They soon discovered a big problem. We realized that we were never going to have enough seedlings to meet the objectives, said Hurteau, the University of New Mexico researcher. The number of Forest Service nurseries once financed by deposits on timber sales dropped from 14 to six in the 1990s as timber harvests declined and habitat protections were enacted, according to a Forest Service report on the nurseries' history. Most Western seedling production is private and occurs in Oregon, California and Washington, Dobrowski said. In places like New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, we dont really have a base of facilities to support widespread reforestation, the researcher said. Were (asking) Whats going to fill the gap? In New Mexico, several universities and the state's forestry division started the New Mexico Reforestation Center with a goal of building a nursery that can produce 5 million seedlings per year for government, tribal and private lands. The first seedlings will be planted this year. But experts say much more nursery capacity, seed collection and trained workers are needed to make even modest progress in closing the reforestation gap. And they say public and private sector cooperation will be essential. Theres all these bottlenecks," Hurteau said. "Weve just underinvested in reforestation for decades in the U.S. Theres a lot of investment in human capital thats going to have to happen." Seed collection, for example, requires the right weather and is expensive and labor-intensive. It takes a few years for a typical Western conifer to develop cones. Then contractors must harvest them, typically by climbing trees. Growing, planting and monitoring seedlings amid more frequent droughts adds to the uncertainty, time and money. The Forest Service said its biggest challenge is simply that the number of intense wildfires is outpacing the ability to prepare sites for replanting. But the agency is also modernizing nurseries and seeking ways to either expand internal capacity or work with private industry, states and groups like the New Mexico Reforestation Center. This is an all-hands-on effort, said Miller, from the reforestation program. Researchers say the challenges complicate a Biden administration goal to plant a billion trees over 10 years in national forests, where it identified a nearly 4 million-acre (1.6 million-hectare) backlog. But money provided for reforestation in the 2021 infrastructure bill enabled the agency to clear 15% of the backlog, Miller said. If we can get more site preparation done, that would be excellent so that we can move forward a little bit faster. Experts say there clearly will be areas where trees never return but it's critical that the U.S. does as much possible in a thoughtful way. Trees live for hundreds of years so we need to be thinking about whats right as we plant trees today," Hurteau said. Are we putting the right species and densities on the landscape given what the next 100, 200 and 300 years will look like? ___ AP data reporter Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed to this story from Hartford, Connecticut. Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan, and Fassett from San Francisco. ___ 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. For some Modesto children, the free meal available at their school could be their only nutritious meal of the day. In 2021, around 84% of Modesto City Elementary students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, while in its high school district, 64% qualified. In addition, around 17% of students live in food-insecure households in Stanislaus County three points higher than the state average of 14%. Under the U.S. Department of Agricultures Community Eligibility Provision, all students in Modesto City Schools can receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year without needing meal applications or household income verification, according to the district. Michelle Lee, policy advocate at Nourish California, said around one in six students in California are food insecure, so schools providing free lunches help address those gaps. Food insecurity is defined as unknown or limited access to safe and nutritious food. Despite the fact that most of our state and nations food is produced in the Central Valley, many children and their parents, who are often the farmworkers and agricultural workers that grow and harvest our food, are food-insecure and go hungry, Lee said. She said school meals have been shown to improve academic performance and prevent kids from getting sick frequently. A child is eligible for free school meals if the annual income of their family is $40,560 or less with a household of four, the household receives benefits like EBT or cash assistance, if the child is in foster care, is identified as homeless or the child of migrant workers or if the child participates in a Head Start program. A child is eligible for reduced-price meals if annual income is $57,720 or less with a household of four. In the 2023-24 school year, the highest number of students meeting the criteria for free breakfast and lunch attended Orville Wright Elementary (97% of students), Robinson Road Elementary (94%) of students and Tuolumne Elementary (94%). For high schools, the highest number of students meeting the criteria attended Elliott Alternative (79% of students), Modesto High School (75%) and Johansen (74%). Lee said there are things schools can do to help improve access to school meals. She hopes schools across the state will implement a universal free meal program regardless of family income level. Lee also hopes districts will consider increasing the time students have to eat, having a snack program for students who cant make it to breakfast, and summer meal programs so students can have access to meals when sessions are out for summer break. The CDC recommends that kids have at least 20 minutes to get their food and then sit down and eat, but sometimes it takes kids an amount of time like 20 minutes to just wait in line to get their food, she said. Modesto City Schools has offered a summer break meal program for several years. The free lunches have been delivered to about 1,300 students from the end of May to the end of July. Operating since 1995, MCS summer lunch program is funded through the USDAs Summer Food Service Program. The department created the program to ensure children 18 and younger can access meals during school vacations lasting 15 or more consecutive days. Marjorie Taylor Greene melts down over House Speaker: I dont think Republicans deserve to be re-elected Marjorie Taylor Greene has launched a furious tirade at House Speaker Mike Johnson after he pushed through legislation to avoid a government shutdown, accusing him of being a Speaker for the Democrats. Johnson defied Donald Trump on Wednesday by letting the House of Representatives vote to approve a spending bill to keep the government funded until December, even though it included no provisions to tighten elections. Trump had previously called on House Republicans not to agree to a continuing resolution without the Save Act, which claimed it would prevent illegal immigrants from voting. This is even though US law already prohibits such a practice in federal elections. In response, Taylor Greene said Republicans did not deserve to control the House. Mike Johnson is not our Speaker, she said. He is the Speaker for the Democrats, she told Steve Bannons War Room podcast. I share the anger and frustration, and I dont think Republicans deserve to be re-elected to hold the majority," the Georgia representative added. The Georgia representative said Johnson was a Speaker for the Democrats (Getty Images) 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. In her rant, Taylor Greene said one of Johnsons failures was greenlighting government funding for the Department of Justice. And [Johnson] has delivered that through his actions of fully funding the Biden-Harris administration, fully funding the weaponized DOJ, fully funding the FBI that had agents and was involved in January 6th and raided Mar-a-Lago and has raided a lot of January 6th defendant homes, she said. Taylor Greene, who often peddles conspiracy theories and is a fervent Trump supporter, added: We have to elect president Trump in order to control the federal government, in order to take back all of these huge agencies and departments and set the course right. Trump wrote on Truth Social last week: 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. Mike Johnson defied Trump for letting the House vote (AP) The former president has not yet responded to the news. Some conservatives and members of the House Freedom Caucus expressed frustration at the fact that House Republican leadership gave up. And I realize hes got a tough job, but the countrys 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. However, Tom Cole, chair for House Appropriations, 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. Mark Robinson Says He's 'Backed Away' From Trump So He Doesn't Drag Him Down In N.C. WASHINGTON GOP gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson says he has backed away from former President Donald Trump so the North Carolina Republicans porn site scandal doesnt drag Trump down politically in the state ahead of the November election. In a Wednesday interview with conservative radio host and former Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka, Robinson, whose campaign has been falling apart after a CNN report unearthed disturbing comments he apparently made on a porn site forum, said hes facing a lot of fire and doesnt want to be a liability for Trump. So we have backed away from the president to give him his space to run his race, while we have space to run our race, said Robinson, who is currently the states lieutenant governor. We have chosen to pull ourselves back from President Trump. Heres a video clip of Robinson on Gorkas show, which was first flagged by Media Matters for America, a progressive media monitoring group. North Carolina is a key swing state for winning the presidency. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Trump remain incredibly close there, per polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight. And theres certainly fear among North Carolina Republicans that Robinson could hurt all of their chances. Here is Mark Robinson speaking ahead of Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Greensboro, N.C. in March. via Associated Press State and national GOP officials have been scrambling to distance themselves from Robinson after last weeks bombshell report, which laid out evidence of him identifying as a Black Nazi, supporting slavery, describing being sexually aroused by spying on girls in public showers, and calling himself a perv who likes porn with transgender people in it a sharp contrast to his public transphobic rhetoric calling for trans women to be arrested for using womens bathrooms. Since the story came out, Robinsons campaign and government staff have resigned en masse, the Republican Governors Association has pulled ad funding for his campaign and local GOP officials have been deleting photos and canceling events that link them to him. Robinson has called the report false lies and vowed to sue CNN, but to date, he hasnt been able to refute the evidence presented in the story. Hes also suggested that maybe those comments really were his. Hilariously, Trump, who has been a strong ally of Robinsons for years, and vice versa, has been pretending not to know anything about the North Carolina Republicans very public porn site scandal. Asked about it Thursday by a reporter, Trump said only, I dont know the situation. Robinson suggested otherwise in his Wednesday interview: Weve spoken to him, had great conversations with him, he told Gorka. But we have chosen to [distance ourselves] because we want to make sure that he wins this state. Trump may try to ignore Robinson now, but the reality is the two have a long and public record of sharing stages and heaping praise on each other. In fact, the North Carolina Republicans entire political career has been modeled after Trumps. Robinson and Trump have shared a stage at least half a dozen times over the past few years. Here they are in April 2022 at a rally in Selma, North Carolina. Allison Joyce via Getty Images Trump previously hailed Robinson, who has a long record of making sexist, racist, Islamophobic and otherwise disgusting comments, as Martin Luther King on steroids. Hes featured Robinson in a campaign ad. Hes described Robinson as a star, outstanding and someone who is going to go down as one of the great leaders in our country. At a September 2022 campaign event, Trump called Robinson one of the hottest politicians in the United States of America and a friend of mine. Trump also gave the North Carolina Republican his speaking slot at the 2024 RNC convention, where Robinson called Trump the Braveheart of our time. Mark Zuckerberg faces deposition in AI copyright lawsuit from Sarah Silverman and other authors Mark Zuckerberg talks about the Orion AR glasses during the Meta Connect conference Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be deposed as part of a lawsuit brought by authors including comedian Sarah Silverman accusing the company of copyright infringement to train its artificial intelligence technology. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hixson rejected Metas bid to bar the deposition of Zuckerberg in a decision Tuesday, saying there is sufficient evidence to show he is the principal decision maker for the company's AI platforms. Meta had argued that Zuckerberg doesnt have unique knowledge of the companys AI operations and that the same information could be obtained from depositions with other employees. The authors have submitted evidence of his specific involvement in the companys AI initiatives, as well as his direct supervision of Metas AI products, Hixson wrote in a Tuesday ruling. The class action lawsuit was filed last year in California federal court. The authors accuse Meta of illegally downloading digital copies of their books and using them without consent or compensation to train its AI platforms. Also this week, prominent attorney David Boies joined the case on behalf of Silverman and the group of other plaintiffs that includes writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Boies is best known for representing Al Gore in the 2000 disputed election against George W. Bush. The case against Meta is one of a set of similar lawsuits in San Francisco and New York against other AI chatbot developers including Anthropic, Microsoft and ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida after 11 p.m. Thursday, is expected to bring rain and strong winds to the Baltimore area Friday afternoon. [Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News] The storm will impact Maryland as it heads to the Tennessee Valley on Friday afternoon, said Kyle Pallozzi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Showers and thunderstorms are expected over the weekend and into the week. The center of the storm will be pretty far away, but there will be an impact, especially to the south and west of us, Pallozzi said Thursday night, with winds up to 25 mph. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that the storms wind field extends as far as 275 miles from its center, and that large swaths of the southeast from Tallahassee, Florida, to Atlanta to Western North Carolina were at risk of major flooding. At least 21 people across four states were killed by the storm by Friday afternoon after the system made landfall in Florida on Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane. The damage extended hundreds of miles to the north, including flooding in North Carolina. The storm was expected to weaken as it approaches Tennessee and Kentucky, where there is still a risk of mudslides and flash flooding. A coastal flood advisory for Anne Arundel County shoreline, which has been in effect all week, has been extended until Saturday morning. Pallozzi said the hurricane did not cause the flooding around the Chesapeake Bay but will reinforce the winds causing it. Rain is expected to start Friday afternoon in Baltimore at around 4 p.m., with less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation possible in the afternoon and wind gusts as high as 22 mph. Between a quarter and half of an inch more of rain is expected overnight, along with wind gusts of about 20 mph. Saturdays forecast calls for a high around 82 with scattered showers and thunderstorms expected throughout the day. Sunday is expected to have a high around 75 with a 50% chance of rain. Temperatures on Sunday night, when the Ravens host the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium, are predicted to be in the low 60s with a 50% chance of rain. Rain is still in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday next week with highs in the low to mid-70s. Wednesday and Thursday will be sunny with highs around 72, the weather service said. Mass. woman accused of leading high-end sex ring that catered to prominent clients to plead guilty A woman accused of leading a commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and Virginia that authorities said catered to wealthy and well-connected clientele is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Friday. Han Hana Lee, 41, of Cambridge intends to enter a guilty plea as to the charges lodged against her, according to a court filing on Aug. 29. Her plea hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday in the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston. One of Han Lees alleged top assistants, Junmyung Lee, 31, of Dedham, is also expected to plead guilty in the case during a hearing set for Oct. 30, according to court documents. He filed a motion for a change of plea earlier this month. A third person, James Lee, 69, of California, continues to plead not guilty in the brothel case. A pretrial conference for James Lee is set for Oct. 29. Meanwhile, lawyers of several alleged clients of the interstate brothel network have argued that their clients names should not be released during show cause hearings surrounding the case. Authorities in November arrested Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, and James Lee, who are all accused of running a sophisticated commercial sex network in Watertown, Cambridge, and in Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts. All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. They were arrested in November. News of plea discussions in the high-profile brothel case broke in June. The parties have engaged in plea discussions, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy wrote in a report filed June 10 in U.S. District Court in Boston. All three defendants were arraigned in person on Feb. 6. Since then, Hennessy earlier wrote, federal prosecutors produced discovery on March 5 and May 30, 2024 that is described as voluminous and intends to produce further discovery, such as forensic searches of some electronic devices not already completed, as such discovery becomes available. A trial of all three defendants would require up to 10 days, wrote Hennessy. Attorneys for the alleged sex ring clients, only identified as John Doe #1-17 to date in court documents, have pushed to keep the court hearings private. Elected officials, doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants, and military officers were reportedly among a group of high-end clients who paid for the illegal sex services at various locations in the Bay State and in Virginia. A Cambridge police detective on Dec. 18, 2023 filed applications for criminal complaint against 28 people for sexual conduct with another person for a fee. No names on the client list will be released until probable cause has been found, officials have said. It was unclear Thursday when, or if, public court hearings would be held. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LOWER MANHATTAN, Manhattan (PIX11) Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty to federal charges Friday afternoon in a Lower Manhattan courthouse. Adams, who was not handcuffed and remained seated for the proceedings, told the judge he read the entire indictment. Im not guilty, your honor, he said. He was released without bail. The judge set certain conditions to his bail, including people who he can and cannot contact related to the indictment. Adams faces bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. He was fingerprinted, booked, and background checked following the unsealing of five federal charges. The former Brooklyn borough president is accused of accepting $100,000 worth of lavish gifts from foreign donors, including free business-class airline tickets, upgraded hotel suites, and millions in foreign campaign contributions. If convicted on all charges, Adams could face as many as 45 years in prison but the embattled mayors high profile lawyer assures Adams is innocent. More Local News Following the arraignment, Adams attorney, Alex Spiro, spoke outside the courthouse, announcing that they would file a motion to dismiss the case next week. The entire body of evidence is one staffer, one staffer that says there was a conversation, Spiro said. What you have not learned is that that staffer has lied. Adams did not speak before his vehicle drove away from the courthouse. He is due back in court on Wednesday. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch gives updates on the damages assessed due to Hurricane Helene. The City of St. Petersburg has begun its recovery process by deploying teams to inspect damages and see repair damages. Surveying damage from Hurricane Helene in Tampa Bay A total of 70 residents have been rescued, and 750 residents are currently at a shelter in St. Petersburg, according to Welch. St. Petersburg turned off the power at the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant to protect the sewer plant. To resume as normal for the power plant will take 48 hours, according to Welch. Residents are asked not to drain water because it may flush, but it could cause sewage problems. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Thursday warned that if Democrats follow through on Vice President Harriss pledge to eliminate the filibuster to codify abortion protections, it would turn America into California by unleashing a flood of liberal reforms. He said Democrats would expand the Supreme Court once they eliminated the 60-vote threshold for passing legislation through the Senate, noting liberals strong antipathy for the court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority. So it would fundamentally, in my view, turn America to California, he told Politicos Playbook in an interview. And I think that is a major structural change to the country, he warned. McConnell accused Democratic reformers such as Harris, the partys presidential nominee, and progressive senators who want to reform the filibuster of wanting to destroy the fundamental nature of the chamber to achieve their policy ends. What they want to do is break the institution in order to achieve what they want to achieve, McConnell told Politico. McConnell, speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, noted Harris previously said she would favor eliminating the filibuster to pass the sweeping Green New Deal to transition the United States to a clean-energy economy. And he pointed out that Democrats tried to create an exception to the filibuster to pass voting rights reform in January 2022. Her willingness to shatter the institution of the Senate is not unique. Nearly every single one of our Democratic colleagues was willing to do it two years ago, and they would have succeeded had two members of their own caucus not stood in the breach, he said on the floor. The vice presidents latest comments are not novel, but they are shocking, no less so than the votes our colleagues cast her on Jan. 19, 2022, he said. Theres nothing normal or rational about blowing up the dam holding back simple majority rule. And the fact that a major political party has welcomed this shortsighted radicalism into the mainstream will be their eternal shame, he added. McConnell in his interview with Politico knocked down the idea that Democrats could carve out exceptions to the filibuster to pass voting rights and abortion rights legislation but maintain the 60-vote threshold for other policy areas. Theres no way you can have a minor carve-out, he said. Because then youll come up with the next idea thats more important than the rule then, practically, its over, he said. Democrats now control a 51-to-49-seat Senate majority, but political handicappers say Republicans are more likely to control the upper chamber in 2025 because they are favored to win the seats now held by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D) in Republican-leaning Montana. Some Democrats have also raised concerns about carving out a major exception to the filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade, the 1973 law that established a right to abortion. We should approach it very carefully because what goes around comes around. Thats one of the few permanent rules of the United States Senate, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who was elected to the Senate in 1997, told The Hill this week. The veteran lawmaker said he supports passing legislation to establish a national right to abortion but urged trying to persuade Republican colleagues to vote for such a measure before changing the filibuster rule. 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 told The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump says he will negotiate a Ukraine-Russia deal 'that's good for both sides' Meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump says he will negotiate a Ukraine-Russia deal 'that's good for both sides' Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy for the first time in five years, former President Donald Trump Friday complained about his 2019 impeachment and said if re-elected, he would work to end the Russia-Ukraine war with a deal thats good for both sides." "Were going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled and get it worked out," Trump said, standing next to Zelenskyy while speaking to a small group of reporters ahead of their closed-door meeting. "It has to end. At some point, it has to end. Hes gone through hell. His country has gone through hell." Trump said the two leaders "have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin." Zelenskyy added that he hoped they would continue to have a good relationship. "It takes two to tango, and we will," Trump responded. After their meeting, Trump told Fox News that he had not changed his position on the war. "We both want to see this end, we both want to see a fair deal made," he said. Trump said that the war is a "complicated puzzle" and when asked what a fair deal would entail, he said it's "too early to say that." In his comments before the meeting began, the former president ranted about his 2019 impeachment as a consequence of the now-infamous phone call he had with Zelenskyy in July of that year. During the July phone call, Trump asked Zelenskyy about opening an investigation into President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Various officials, including the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, said that Trump held up aid to Ukraine over his demands to have its government investigate the Bidens. "It was a hoax, just a Democrat hoax, which we won," Trump said of the impeachment effort, with Zelenskyy standing by his side Friday. Trump has long denied wrongdoing and was acquitted in his Senate trial. He claimed that Zelenskyy said that Trump did nothing wrong during their phone call, saying that the Ukrainian president "said it loud and clear and the impeachment hoax died right there." He praised Zelenskyy for being "like a piece of steel." Speaking briefly, Zelenskyy said he believes he and Trump have a common view that Ukraine has to prevail against Russia and acknowledged the importance of the U.S. election. "We understand that after November ... we hope that the strength of the United States will be very strong," he said. Hours later, one of Trump's top surrogates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaking at a Trump rally in Walker, Michigan, argued against further aiding Ukraine. Kennedy suggested that NATO provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine and argued that the U.S. should no longer be helping Zelenskyy and his people. "Dont you think we could use that money over here, in this country?" Kennedy said, drawing heavy applause. Kennedy praised Trump's handling of his meeting with Zelenskyy and said, "I know what Donald Trump was thinking while he was having that meeting. He was thinking, I want to turn this guy over and hold him by his legs and shake all the money out of his pockets and hope it adds up to $208 billion ... Thats what the Democrats gave him, and we need to bring that money home." It was the first time Trump and Zelenskyy had met in person since Trump's impeachment. They last met in person when Trump was president, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in Sept. 2019. The two last spoke by phone in July when the Ukrainian leader congratulated the former president on his GOP nomination for the presidency and condemned the assassination attempt on Trump earlier that month. Their meeting comes amid concerns about the future of Ukraine and its defense against Russian aggression and how the outcome of the U.S. election will greatly impact the war's fate, and amid disagreements in Congress about whether to continue providing aid to Ukraine. Trump has conveyed that his approach toward the conflict would differ greatly from that of his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump previously suggested that he may not support continuing to arm and provide assistance to Ukraine, backing off years of U.S. policy. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, has also made clear he opposes offering ongoing funding. Friday's meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump almost didn't happen after backlash over comments the Ukrainian president made to The New Yorker that Vance is "too radical." In that same interview, Zelenskyy also expressed doubt that Trump knows how to address Ukraine's conflict with Russia. "My feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how," said Zelenskyy, adding later, "The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraines expense is unacceptable. Trump has expressed confidence that he could end the war, but he has never provided specifics on how he would go about it and has equivocated in his support of Ukraine, which has received substantial funding from the U.S. since Russia's Feb. 2022 invasion. Asked Thursday at a press conference whether he would encourage Ukraine to give up land in exchange for a peace agreement, Trump deflected and said the war would have never happened if he had been elected president in 2020. Those who are discussing how Ukraine should compromise or negotiate territory with Putin to end the war, should put themselves in our place, Ukraines Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, said on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports." They need first to ask Ukrainian victims and survivors of this war what they think about such compromises, he said. At a campaign event in Georgia on Tuesday, Trump said, "Every time Zelenskyy 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. Ill get it done. Ill get it negotiated." Earlier this year, the former president seemed open to an idea floated by some GOP senators: a loan to Ukraine in exchange for Ukrainian rare earth minerals. And if the 2024 election yields another divided Congress, it could still be difficult to pass additional aid as many Republicans have been critical of previous packages. On Thursday, Zelenskyy met at the White House with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office during which Biden announced a new aid package to Ukraine. Zelenskyy also met at the White House with Harris who expressed her unwavering support to helping Ukraine win the war. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) The Chabad Womens Circle of Greater Springfield creates a safe space for women to connect and now they are coming together to bake a new year tradition, bringing hope into this new season. The Paramount Theater has been sold to an unidentified buyer Its a difficult time for the Jewish people as we are about to mark one year anniversary of the terrible assault in Israel on October 7th, shared Esther Kosofsky, Co-Director of Chabad Womens Circle. Each year Rosh Hashanah gathers family and friends. With the help of the Chabad Womens Circle of Greater Springfield, women are getting ready for the new year celebration. An opportunity for women to get together, have fun with each other, learn a little bit something about the holiday they might have not known, and make a challah for the holiday together. shared Esther Kosofsky, Co-Director of Chabad Womens Circle. Women support women, making challah bread as they reflect on all that has happened this year, not only in their community but worldwide. We never ever had a policeman at the door of a synagogue, at the door of a school, at the door of a Jewish delicatessen on the way home from school, said Fran Grosnick. Some are thankful for the opportunity to have a space to come together as the Israel-Hamas war nears its one-year mark on October 7th, with many keeping loved ones in prayer this Rosh Hashanah. Many have connections in Israel, my sisters there, Im from Israel, I have grandchildren there and everybody has a connection, shared Fran Grosnick. As the U.S. and other allies encourage Israel to reach a cease-fire as the war intensifies, the women at the Mega Challah Bake are thankful for their support system during this painful time in their lives. 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. 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: Megan Patton District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District B Political party: Not stated in nonpartisan race Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 36 Campaign website: pattonforraleigh.com Current occupation: Customer service associate Education: BA of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill Offices Held/Sought: Incumbent District B City Council member Please list any notable government or civic involvement. During my first term, I was able to: restore Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs), fund development of the Alternate Crisis Response Unit and improve pay for city workers and workers whose pay is regulated by the city, pass a clean transportation ordinance, secure funding for a master plan for a park in the district, add Wi-Fi in all fire stations and Initiate a Fire Master Plan to ensure adequate coverage and response times as our city grows. Which city council district do you live in? B What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? The top issues facing Raleigh remain affordable housing and climate action. Plain and simple: every decision we make on the City Council must ensure that Raleigh remains a place where everyone can thrive no matter their income now and for generations to come. Climate change isnt just a future threat, its happening right now. The choices we make today will directly shape the world our children inherit. Raleighs Community Climate Action Plan sets an ambitious goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, but we need to move faster. In my first term, I was proud to support meaningful climate initiatives. On the Growth and Natural Resources Committee, we adopted principles from the Green Growth Toolbox, which bans invasive species and increases the use of native trees. We also launched a citizen tree-planning task force, and I backed legislation requiring EV-ready parking, limiting new drive-thrus, and expanding pedestrian infrastructure. If re-elected, I will continue to champion innovative projects like poo-powered buses that convert wastewater into natural gas for public transit (no, they dont smell!). Ill also explore policies to combat urban heat islands and fight to speed up the Northern Bus Rapid Transit line. Climate action cant wait, and neither can we. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? Housing is a human right and its a foundation of healthy communities. Raleigh is projected to grow to 600,000 people over the next decade, requiring housing expansion to meet the needs of new and existing residents across the income spectrum. I think about this work in three words: supply, subsidy and stabilization. Throughout the past term, Ive worked hard to have affordable units come through rezoning conditions and incentives in the city code. Weve also funded millions of dollars worth of designated affordable projects from senior rental housing to ownership opportunities to housing for youth aging out of foster care. Well see roughly 1,000 new affordable units for the New Bern corridor in the next five years, and Im eager to get our new Direct Voucher program into the hands of our most vulnerable neighbors. Our next frontier is eviction prevention. We know that the most humane and cheapest way to end homelessness is to prevent it in the first place. I remain committed to fighting for land acquisitions to build affordable housing, continued investment in homebuyer assistance, and evolutions of voucher programs that help folks successfully find and remain in rental units. We deserve a Raleigh where nobody is burdened by the cost of their housing, and I will continue to fight for the tools to help us get there. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits? We should absolutely do both! We need to be aggressive in requesting affordable units during rezonings, incentivizing them in by-right development and partnering with nonprofits to meet our housing goals. If we want more affordable units and we want them all across the city, private developers have a part to play in that. At the same time, nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity have a proven track record of building meaningful local relationships and reaching the most vulnerable folks in our community. If were serious about making Raleigh affordable for everyone, we need to use every tool in the toolbox. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? The Red Had Amphitheater and Dix Park remain two of Raleighs greatest assets when it comes to generating income across our city for small businesses and the hospitality industry alike and bring local, national, and global acts that make our city a more fun place to live! Regarding the proposed amphitheater at Dix Park, its important to clarify that, while its mentioned in the master plan, its not yet programmed, funded, or scheduled. From its proposal, this venue would serve a different purpose than the Red Hat Amphitheater, catering to events like theater in the park, summer movies, etc. Red Hat, on the other hand, would continue to primarily be for touring concerts and similar events. Given our citys growth and the participation weve seen in concerts at Red Hat, events in Dix Park, and city-wide festivals like Hopscotch, I think its safe to say that Raleigh could support two different venues especially with two different purposes. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? I hear and understand the concerns of folks who feel that Raleigh is growing too fast. Rapid growth like were seeing across our city can lead to challenges like rising housing costs, increased traffic, and strain on our infrastructure if not managed properly. Since being elected to City Council, Ive focused on sustainable development. I continue to prioritize smart investment in infrastructure, affordable housing and public transportation to keep Raleigh livable (and accessible) for everyone as our city continues to expand. On the other hand, Raleighs growth has also brought good jobs, exciting events, and widespread camaraderie. Our city regularly makes Top 10 Best Places to Live in the US lists and Im proud to live in a place that so many people admire. Raleigh is great, and we should celebrate that! At the end of the day, Im committed to ensuring that growth benefits all residents while preserving our sense of community and vibrant, historic neighborhoods as we move forward. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? Preserving Raleighs beloved landmarks has become too difficult. Iconic places like Char-Grill and Seaboard Station are pillars of our citys identity. Yet, without official historic designation, these landmarks remain vulnerable to redevelopment pressures. We need to simplify the historic designation process and provide support to property owners seeking that status. By doing this, we can genuinely preserve the cultural treasures that make Raleigh special. We also have to recognize, though, that neighborhoods evolve. I support NCODs and the public process used to create them; while also acknowledging that the priorities of residents shift over time. One generation may care deeply about the pitch of roofs, while the next is more focused on setbacks or other aspects of a neighborhoods character. I would love to see a process that re-engages residents on their NCODs on a regular schedule (say every 10 years) to ensure the attributes of the NCOD continue to reflect the desires of the neighborhood. With proper medication management, accused Indian Creek serial killer Frederick Scott could be eligible for an early evaluation of his mental and behavioral fitness to stand trial, a Missouri Department of Mental Health attorney said Thursday. Scott, 29, has been accused in the killings of Steven Gibbons, 57; John Palmer, 54; David Lenox, 67; Timothy S. Rice, 57; Mike Darby, 61; and Karen Harmeyer, 64. The killings took place between 2016 and Scotts arrest in August 2017. Harmeyer was killed in Grandview, while the rest of the fatal shootings took place along the Indian Creek Trail. All of the victims were shot without warning, some outside of their own homes. Jackson County Judge Charles McKenzie remanded Scott to a state behavioral health program on July 31 after an outburst by Scott during a hearing. Trial proceedings have been on hold since then as the court awaits the results of Scotts behavioral health evaluation. The results of the evaluation will factor heavily into a future status hearing determining whether Scott is eligible to stand trial for the six alleged murders. A status ruling had been the intended result of the July hearing before Scotts outburst. Thursdays status hearing centered mostly on questions from both sides as to whether Department of Mental Health evaluators were following court recommendations around Scotts treatment. Attorneys for both Scott and the state have previously said that Jackson County Detention Center employees have not paid adequate attention to Scotts treatment plan. Both sides and their corresponding forensic experts have also advocated for Scott to be transferred to Fulton State Hospital, Missouris primary public mental health facility. Scott is currently on a waiting list for transfer to Fulton, Vincenzo Vinnie Iuppa, Assistant General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, said Thursday. However, Iuppa said, it is unlikely that Scott will be moved up the list unless he faces serious medication management issues or stops cooperating with visiting health evaluators. By contrast, Iuppa said that Scott could now be evaluated early if he continues taking his current medications with no issues. A Jackson County prosecutor previously said that Scott would not be eligible for evaluation until January, effectively freezing court proceedings until 2025. It is certainly something that is at the forefront for his mobile team, where if they believe that he is at the point where he is competent they will refer him for an early evaluation, Iuppa said. At Thursdays meeting, a public defender representing Scott questioned whether the delay in moving him to Fulton went against prior recommendations filed to the court by UMKC psychiatrist Dr. James Reynolds, previously the medical director at the Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. The public defender also noted that Scotts medications are generally supposed to be taken with food, but are instead administered at night, several hours after his last meal. The joint request of the parties report strongly recommends that Mr. Scott be detained in a secure forensic hospital facility during this period, the public defender said, as Scott watched via video conference from the Jackson County Detention Center. He is still in jail. In response, Iuppa said Reynolds notes were outdated in comparison to Scotts most recent behavioral health intake, which adheres to the same standards of care as at Fulton. As of now, he is relatively stable, Iuppa said, Hes not showing any behavioral issues. Hes adherent to medications. Hes prescribed the medications the Fulton State Hospital would be prescribing him. Scotts first meeting with state behavioral health staff was previously derailed by video conference issues. An evaluator met with Scott in person on September 18 with no issues, Iuppa said, though future meetings will be moved later in the afternoon to accommodate Scotts difficulties with waking up early. Future check-in meetings will be scheduled every three weeks until Scott is determined to be stable enough for his formal evaluation, Iuppa said. Two Jackson County judges previously issued contradictory rulings on whether or not Scott was mentally fit to stand trial. After the rulings were issued in July and October 2021, intended trial dates for Scott were canceled in 2022 and again in 2023. While legal proceedings are on hold, Scotts case has been sealed from public view. Scott and his attorneys, along with attorneys for the state of Missouri and the Department of Mental Health will next appear in Jackson County court on November 4 at 4:30 p.m. Behavioral health evaluators are expected to visit Scott twice more before then, Iuppa said. Previous reporting by The Stars Robert A. Cronkleton was used in this article. The lead European Union privacy regulator for Meta hit the tech giant with a fine worth more than $100 million Thursday for failing to properly store some users passwords. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said Meta was fined 91 million euros, equal to nearly $106 million, following a years-long investigation. Meta informed the commission in 2019 it inadvertently stored certain passwords of its platforms users in plaintext, or without protection or encryption, according to the DPC. The passwords were not available to external parties, the DPC said. It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data, DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement. The Irish watchdog handed down the fine as Metas lead privacy regulator in the European Union since the tech companys headquarters is based in Dublin. Meta, in a statement to The Hill, said a security review found a subset of Facebook users passwords were temporarily logged in a readable format. The tech giant said it immediately acted to fix the error in 2019 and no evidence suggests the passwords were abused or accessed improperly. A Meta spokesperson added the company engaged constructively with the DCP throughout the probe. This is just the latest fine to hit Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. In 2022, the Dublin-based watchdog fined the company the equivalent of about 405 million euros or $402 million at the time for violating data protection laws, specifically related to childrens privacy on Instagram. Last year, the EU slapped Meta with a $1.3 billion privacy fine and ordered the platform to stop transferring users information across the Atlantic. Earlier last year, Metas chat app, WhatsApp, was ordered to pay 5.5 million euros ($5.9 million) for forcing users to permit their personal data to be used to provide service improvements and security. Updated at 3:57 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. Regulators found Meta Platforms Ireland Limited failed to properly encrypt and store passwords of the tech giants users, levying a $101.7 million fine. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Ireland's Data Protection Commission on Friday fined Meta more than $100 million for privacy law violations related to failing to properly encrypt and store passwords of the tech giant's users. The DPC found Meta Platforms Ireland Limited violated four parts of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR in levying the $101.7 million fine. Regulators found Meta "did not use appropriate technical or organizational measures to ensure appropriate security of users' passwords against unauthorized processing," among other violations. Meta was also cited for three other violations related to improperly storing users' passwords. An investigation into the allegations first started in 2019 after Meta self-reported a possible issue. EU legislation requires companies to report potential privacy breaches as soon as they become aware of them. An investigation into the allegations first started in 2019 after Meta self-reported a possible issue, with. EU legislation requiring companies to report potential privacy breaches as soon as they become aware of them. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI "It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data," DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in the statement. "It must be borne in mind that the passwords, the subject of consideration in this case, are particularly sensitive, as they would enable access to users' social media accounts." The GDPR was first adopted in 2016, coming into law in 2018 and is considered some of the strongest privacy legislation in the world. The commission's power stems from the legislation and its responsibilities extend to upholding the individuals' rights to have their personal data protected. Officials said Meta was first informed of the decision Thursday. The commission will publish a comprehensive version of its decision in the future. This is not the first time Irish regulators have fined the social media giant. In May of 2023, the DPC fined Meta $1.3 billion for privacy violations and ordered the U.S. tech giant to stop transferring user data across the Atlantic. In January of that year, the commission levied a pair of fines against Meta totaling about $414 million for violating GDPR rules. FILE - In this May 16, 2012, file photo, the Facebook logo is displayed on a mobile device in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) LONDON (AP) Meta was punished Friday with a fine worth more than $100 million from the social media giant's European Union privacy regulator over a security lapse involving passwords for Facebook users. The Irish Data Protection Commission said it slapped the U.S. tech company with the 91 million euro ($101.6 million) penalty following an investigation. The watchdog started investigating in 2019 after it was notified by Meta that some passwords had been inadvertently stored internally in plain text, which means they weren't encrypted and it was possible for employees to search for them. Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said it's widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plain text, "considering the risks of abuse. Meta said a security review found that a subset of Facebook users' passwords were temporarily logged in a readable format. We took immediate action to fix this error, and there is no evidence that these passwords were abused or accessed improperly, the company said in a statement. "We proactively flagged this issue to our lead regulator, the Irish Data Protection Commission, and have engaged constructively with them throughout this inquiry. It's the latest in a series of hefty fines for Meta and its social media platforms from the Dublin-based watchdog, which is the company's lead regulator under the 27-nation EU's stringent data privacy rulebook. They include a 405 million euro fine for Instagram over mishandling teen data, a 5.5 million euro penalty involving WhatsApp and a 1.2 billion euro fine for Meta over transatlantic data transfers. FOX Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen said it was hard not to act as they waited for the fire department to arrive. FOX Weather FOX Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen was covering Hurricane Helenes early morning arrival in Atlanta Friday when a woman drove her car into the floodwaters behind him. Cameras were rolling as the woman began screaming for help live on FOX & Friends. The crew called 911 immediately, but the veteran meteorologist appeared to become increasingly concerned for her as her car filled with water. Unwilling to wait any longer, Van Dillen cut from the live shot to take matters into his own hands. When the feed returned after a short break, audiences watched as he pulled the woman out of her car and carried her to safety. Van Dillen joined FOX & Friends afterwards to discuss the rescue. She was panicking, he recalled. She really wasn't making too much sense and she was still strapped into her seat. She still had the seat buckle on. Van Dillen said he wasnt able to open the driver door due to the water pressure, so he advised her to roll her window down. Doing that brought more water into the car but allowed him to open the door. It's up to my chest and there's a little bit of a current, but she was a short lady too, he said. So she was probably about five feet. There's no way she was going to be able to touch [the ground]. I just put her on my back and brought her up, Van Dillen, who stands above six feet, continued. But you can see how high the water is, you guys. I mean, that's a street sign right here. It goes down pretty quickly. I didn't realize how deep it was. You kind of tiptoe in there and I've got my boots, but wow. When the hosts asked about his decision to rescue her himself, Van Dillen said it was hard not to. 911 is justthey have so many calls, he explained. They're going to take a long time to get here and the fire department finally did get here, but it was about 15 minutes later. So she was panicking. The water was coming up. It was getting cold for her obviously. So it wasit wasit was a situation developing... Van Dillen was humble as they praised his bravery, insisting that anyone in his shoes would have done the same thing. "Her husband picked her up, and she's all good," he said, pivoting. "But the story now turns not on me, but it turns to how much flooding we've seen. I mean amazing amounts coming in." Helene made landfall as a dangerous Category 4 storm at about 11:10 p.m. ET Thursday near Perry, Florida. It was a Category 1 hurricane as it moved into Georgia hours later, bringing with it catastrophic flooding. At least 13 deaths across the Southeast have been reported as a result of the storm at the time of publication and nearly 4 million people are without power. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. Metro sues KIA and Hyundai over lack of reasonable anti-theft technology NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County claimed that more than 1,700 Hyundai and KIA vehicle thefts were reported in 2023 alone. The lawsuit alleges that Hyundais and KIAs accounted for nearly 33 percent of all car thefts that year. The surge was blamed on alleged defects in particular models. Lawyers claimed that the companies intentionally ignored industry-standard practices in the name of profit. Read the full lawsuit here After Tik-Tok videos with instructions on how to steal some KIA and Hyundai models went viral last year, some Middle Tennesseans paid the price. The suit is one of a growing list of those suing KIA and Hyundai over what they call anti-theft defects in certain model year vehicles. Two car manufacturers made a business decision not to equip the vehicles they sell with reasonable anti-theft technology, leaving counties and cities across the nation to deal with massive public safety consequences, the suit reads, in part. The filing also states that, as a result, the city and county has been forced to divert funds and risk officer and public safety to combat the thefts. Hyundai and KIA dealers across the country now offer anti-theft software and ignition cylinder protector installations for owners. Vehicle burglaries cause havoc in Bellevue In response to the lawsuit, Hyundai Motor America sent News 2 a statement that reads: Our customers remain our top priority and we continue to take comprehensive actions to assist customers and communities affected by the persistent thefts of certain Model Year 2011-2022 vehicles that, while fully compliant with federal anti-theft requirements, were not equipped with push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers. Chief among these measures is the development and validation of a no-cost software upgrade for the owners of these vehicles to prevent the theft mode popularized on social media. For eligible vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade, we now install ignition cylinder protectors at no cost to our customers. All Hyundai vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment. Hyundai has provided no-cost anti-theft solutions to more than 1.4 million affected vehicles and created a dedicated website (www.hyundaiantitheft.com) to support customers with information and resources. Hyundai continues to work with over 1,200 police departments, providing thousands of no-cost steering wheel locks for distribution and connecting law enforcement agencies with local dealers in their area who perform the software upgrade. Our dealers across the country are maximizing the number of anti-theft software and ignition cylinder protector installations that can be performed daily, contributing to steadily increasing completion rates. Hyundai has also collaborated with AAA insurers on a program to offer insurance options for affected owners and lessees. As part of this collaboration, AAA insurers will issue new and renewal policies for eligible affected Hyundai customers. The program will be available in all states except those where AAA does not offer insurance. (e.g., Alaska, Massachusetts, Washington). Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Kia USA sent the following statement: Kia continues to take comprehensive action to enhance the security of our vehicles in an effort to prevent criminals from using methods of theft popularized on social media to break the law and steal or attempt to steal certain vehicle models. Were continuing to strongly encourage eligible customers to receive the software upgrade that we developed and rolled out more than 20 months ago that is designed to restrict the operation of the vehicles ignition system should a potential criminal attempt to steal a locked vehicle without the key. To date, more than 1.2 million Kia vehicles nationwide have received the upgrade, and we continue to spread awareness about its availability by establishing a dedicated website with detailed information, hosting off-site events in multiple cities to make it easier for eligible customers to receive the upgrade, and partnering with Carfax to inform owners that their vehicle is eligible for the upgrade. We also continue to provide steering wheel locks to owners of impacted vehicles that are not eligible for the software upgrade at no cost to them. These free steering wheel locks further enhance a vehicles security and can serve as a theft-deterrent for potential car thieves. Kia customers can obtain free, Kia-provided locks through their local law enforcement or they can request a steering wheel lock from Kia directly through the dedicated website. To date, we have distributed more than 226,000 locks, and we will continue to provide them as they are needed. We also have developed and introduced a new hardware modification that is designed for the vehicles that are not eligible for the software upgrade that works to combat theft by reinforcing the ignition cylinder body and preventing its removal through the method of theft promoted in videos that have spread across social media encouraging criminal activity. As we have said from the outset, lawsuits filed by municipalities against Kia are without merit and should be dismissed. Like all Kia vehicles, the specific models at issue in this case are subject to and comply fully with the requirements outlined in applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including FMVSS 114 that governs theft protection measures. Additionally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has publicly stated that it has not determined that this issue constitutes either a safety defect or non-compliance requiring a recall under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Kia will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and officials in Tennessee and across the country to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain fully committed to supporting our customers. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com News 2 also reached out to lawyers for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for comment on the lawsuit, but as of publication, have not heard back yet. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Mexico court system in need of interpreters NEW MEXICO (KRQE) The New Mexico court system is in need of interpreters. They are looking for people who are bilingual in any two languagesnot just Spanish. In the last year, the court provided interpreters for 50 different languages in the state, with the top five most requested interpreter services being Spanish, Navajo, ASL, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Story continues below The court system is also offering scholarships to their Justice System Interpreter Program, which will train interpreters and get them through official qualifications. To learn more or apply, contact Freda Valdez at aocfev@nmcourts.gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield family will soon have a brand new home thanks to volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. On Friday, employees from MGM Springfield were sawing, hammering, and more to help construct the three-bedroom home in the North End. MGM Springfields president and CEO, Louis Theros, told 22News theyre happy to be doing a little bit of everything to help. Final weekend of The Big Es record-breaking run Were adding some siding here, were cutting some support beams across for the attic to put some mechanical, said Theros. Theyre doing just cleaning, theyre caulking windows from the inside to make sure theyre sealed to meet all Massachusetts building codes. Since 1987 Habitat for Humanity has built or repaired nearly 130 homes in the Springfield area. 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. Haitis armed gangs are once more on the attack, this time turning their focus to piracy and taking the violence to the countrys high seas and main seaport. On Thursday, a crane operator in Port-au-Prince was shot twice, reportedly by a sniper, with a round through his chest, barely missing vital organs, a source familiar with the incident confirmed to the Miami Herald. The worker, a foreign national who lives in Haiti, was sitting in the vehicle at the time. He was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and is expected to recover. The latest shooting is part of a string of attacks on cargo ships calling on the port. The incident occurred just as the crane was preparing to start unloading containers from a chartered cargo ship operated by Miami-based Antillean Marine Shipping Corporation, three sources said. The ship, docked at the governments National Port Authority, was the first one to berth since Sept. 10, when gangs kidnapped two crew workers from the MV Progreso, a container ship chartered by Crowley Maritime. The abduction occurred in the early morning while the ship, which had arrived from Miami, was anchored in the Gulf of Gonave just off Port-au-Prince. The crew members, Filipino nationals, are still being held for ransom. A representative for Crowley, which doesnt own the ship or crew, declined to comment, while a spokesman for the Haiti National Police did not return a call for comment. READ MORE: Top Democrats ask Biden for resources against arms trafficking from Florida to Haiti Soon after Thursdays shooting, operator Caribbean Port Services announced that it was cutting off land access to the main seaport between Friday and Sunday so that the Haitian police and army could restore security in the area and resume delivery operations under better conditions. The company, which announced the decision in a note to its customers, said the decision was made due to various incidents in the port area that have paralyzed ship activities. This is the second time that someone at the port, which is guarded by Haitian army soldiers, has gotten shot, agents say. In another incident earlier this month, a security guard was also hit with a bullet. Its a real mess, said a Haiti-based shipping agent who asked for anonymity to speak about candidly about the crisis, which is triggering worries from Port-au-Prince to Miami to Washington. Shipping lines putting new Haiti bookings on hold Following the attacks, maritime lines, including those in South Florida, have canceled or paused shipping into the capital. Some have opted for rerouting cargo, offloading containers in Kingston, Jamaica, until they can be shipped to Haiti or transporting them to the Dominican Republic. This flow of cargo into the Dominican Republic, said the agent, has been visibly increasing and arriving in Haiti unchecked across the land border shared by both countries because of the lack of customs at some border checkpoints due to gangs control of key roads. Haitis port operators warned the government of the possibility of gang attacks in a meeting on Aug. 28. Still, many are struggling to understand the objective of the shootings, which so far are only targeting the government port, not private ones. The Port-au-Prince government port accounts for 80% of the commercial cargo flowing into Haiti, which is heavily dependent on imports. Its customs receipts have been increasing since Haiti began cracking down on tax dodgers two years ago and fired a controversial customs director, Romel Bell. Gangs have blocked access in and out of the facilities from the main road, while charging hefty fees for trucks to pass with cargo. But now, after carriers have continued to do business with the country, the latest security breach could lead shipping lines to take their business elsewhere. Whats at stake is that the ships leave the Port-au-Prince port, said the shipping line agent, or they just leave Haiti, period. The agent noted that given the distance involved in Thursdays incident, it would appear that the crane operator was hit by a snipers bullet. Until this guy is apprehended, I dont see yet how we have vessels in operation, he said. Haitis powerful gangs control more than 85% of Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region. Even in regions where they do not have a large presence, they control the roads in and out of the capital and are expanding territory each day. In recent days, security forces had achieved a small victory: Merchants and traffic returned to once deserted streets in the capital. However, hours after the port shooting on Thursday, the headquarters of Haitis small army, located across the from the Champ de Mars, the sprawling public square facing the presidential palace, came under gang attack. Millions of dollars in cargo Prior to Thursdays attack at the port, gangs had fired out into the Port-au-Prince bay as ships were approaching. Rather than risk the lives of crew members, operators turned around and left without unloading. According to a report shared with the Miami Herald, following the Sept. 10 kidnapping at sea, at least five vessels were forced to depart Port-au-Prince without unloading cargo, resulting in an estimated loss of $3.4 million in missed customs duties. They were transporting $49 million in cargo, according to data from CargoFax. The report does not include the latest incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. Thursday just as the head of the countrys nine-member Transitional Presidential Council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, was preparing to take the podium at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Antillean Marine Shipping Corporation, which is based at the Miami River, did not return a call from the Herald seeking comment. Another shipping company said it has taken a wait-and-see mode before making any decisions. Haitis main seaports and two airports were closed for nearly three months earlier this year when a coalition of powerful gangs launched coordinated attacks across the capital, releasing thousands of prisoners from the countrys two largest prisons and forcing the resignation of the prime minister. Gangs also attacked police stations and raided the government port where thousands of containers filled with medicines, groceries and humanitarian aid were stuck. Everybody is on pause; nobody wants to take bookings for Haiti now, said Jean-Bernard Dupoux, who represents several shipping lines in Haiti. Nobody wants their containers to sit down with a full load not knowing when they are going to be delivered in Haiti. The impact is that some manufacturers, such as a local businessman who produces hot peppers, has been unable to get his raw materials now for two weeks. Another, a toy manufacturer, is looking at being late for the fourth time this year with shipping out his product to his U.S.-based client. This is a drop in the bucket of whats going on in the economy, said Dupoux. Soon supermarkets and a lot of places are going to run out of products; whats happening has a huge impact on the economy. In response to the attacks, Prime Minister Garry Conille deployed members of the police, Haitian army and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission. The forces have been destroying buildings where gangs can hide. We have mobilized to provide a response in the bay of Port-au-Prince and on the periphery, Jocelin Villier, the director of the National Port Authority, said on Thursday, about two hours before the shooting incident. The Port-au-Prince port, the largest in the country, cant be permitted to shut down for even a second, he said during an interview on Magik 9 radio station. Following the initial attacks, he said, all of the shipping lines have been asking for a clear guarantee by the government that security in the bay has been increased. If there are no measures taken for us to increase the security in the bay of Port-au-Prince it can result in the marine lines deciding not to send any boats to Haiti, he said. The underfunded and ill-equipped Kenya-led mission, which has been a large part of the focus during this weeks U.N. General Assembly meeting, doesnt have any maritime capabilities. Foreign troops are supposed to be assisting with securing the port, but for now there are only 23 Jamaican soldiers and police and two members of Belizes military in Haiti. Brian Nichols, the assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, told the Herald on Thursday that the sporadic attacks around the seaport and the extortion gangs carry out on containers going in and out of the ports were raised by Haitian officials this week as issues of deep concern. The Bahamas, one of the Caribbean nations that has pledged to send troops to Haiti, has offered to help with maritime operations, Nichols added, but said it remains unclear when that will happen. LANSING Mich. (WLNS) As lawmakers work to finalize the states budget, which is due soon, Michigan organizations are trying to get more funding for their causes. The result was not what the Michigan Education Justice Coalition wanted to see. The executive director of the group, Molly Sweeney, said they handed out petitions Wednesday morning, ahead of the lawmakers meeting, in the hopes the conference committee would approve $300 million towards mental health in the 2025 state budgetwhich did not happen. Our schools need to help our students, and they need more staff and resources to do it, Sweeney said. (WLNS) Although the MEJCs goal wasnt met, the conference committee did vote to increase funding for mental health and safety to around $150 millionbut sources tell 6 News that, in the last budget, $300 million was allotted to mental health and safety. Lawmakers explained that in previous years there has been federal money to help fund education, but those funds have dried up. State Rep. Nancy DeBoer said despite that, it is still not an area to cut corners. This means that the schools will only install half the door locks or half the security cameras that they might otherwise. It means only half of the students who need mental health support might receive them. This isnt good enough, DeBoer said. All of this happened in a meeting with members of both the Senate and House. MEJC member Rachelle Crow-Hercher commented on the states efforts to at least increase the budget from around $25 million to around $150 million. Our state is doing the best that they can with the education fund dollars that we have at this point in time, Crow-Hercher said. The MEJC said this is just one area in education that is underfunded. Overall, theyre looking to fill what they say is a $4.5 billion gap in funding for schools. We have more work to do and I think they know it, Sweeney said. Even though they didnt exactly get what they wanted they vow to keep fighting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Michigan rescuers including two from Grand Rapids are responding to North Carolina as Tropical Storm Helene moves across the Southeast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Facing flash floods and landslides, North Carolina asked for out-of-state help, according to a release from the Michigan State Police. In response, the MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division deployed Michigan Task Force 1s Type I Swiftwater Team on Thursday. Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after storm kills at least 35 in 4 states The 19-member team, which includes responders from 10 Michigan fire departments, was expected to arrive late Friday afternoon, according to state police. Two of its members are from Grand Rapids, a spokesperson for MSP told News 8. The team can conduct water rescues, respond to trapped residents and drivers and help rescue animals. We anticipate dangerous conditions but stand ready to assist when other states are in need of help, said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/EMHSD, in a statement. We are proud of Michigan Task Force 1 and the reputation it has built as a live-saving resource. The state of North Carolina made a direct request for this specific team. We wish them a safe and successful mission. The rescue team plans to be in North Carolina through Oct. 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 WOODTV.com. WALKER, Mich. Former President Donald Trump returned to west Michigan on Friday, telling a crowd of supporters he plans to slash corporate tax rates for companies making products in the U.S. while raising tariffs on products namely cars manufactured in foreign countries. During his more than hour-long remarks to a crowd of supporters at a manufacturing plant just outside Grand Rapids, Trump said he would reduce the federal corporate tax rate to 15%, down from 21% currently, for any manufacturer so long as they build their products within the U.S. He also said he would institute a 100%-200% tariff on cars made in Mexico. Currently, many automakers build cars in Mexico due to lower labor costs. Production costs are also lower due to incentives instituted in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement negotiated during Trumps presidency. More: Watch replay: Former President Donald Trump to speak in Walker If you dont make your product here, you will have to pay a tax or tariff when you send your product into the United States ... and (we'll) use that money to benefit the American citizen, Trump said. Former President Trump speaks at his rally in Walker on Friday, Sept. 27 at the FALK Production. The rally, held at metal-panel manufacturer FALK Productions in the Grand Rapids-suburb of Walker, was Trumps first scheduled stop in Michigan on Friday. Following the event, he was scheduled to hold a town hall at Macomb Community College in Warren. Michigan is one of a handful of states considered key to determining the outcome of the presidential election between Trump and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Opinion polls currently show a narrow margin in the battleground state, with the RealClearPolling average currently showing Harris holding a lead of 1.8 percentage points in Michigan. Speaking in front of a backdrop that read jobs, jobs, jobs, Trump pitched supporters on returning Michigan, and the U.S., to manufacturing prominence. We will be the most competitive in the world, he said, adding Michigans manufacturing sector will be "hotter than it ever was in its heyday. During Trumps first term in the White House, manufacturing jobs grew slightly before falling at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures show manufacturing jobs rebounding in 2021 and 2022, the first two years of President Joe Bidens tenure, before plateauing. Trump argued Harris policies would harm the manufacturing industry in Michigan. The Biden administration has called on automakers to produce more electric vehicles to combat rising greenhouse gas emissions, something Trump derided as a mandate. The electric car has a great place, but (its) not for everybody, Trump said. He argued it didn't make sense for the U.S. to compete with China in producing electric vehicles, saying China is richer in minerals needed to make batteries to power the cars. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has suspended his campaign to support Trump, also spoke at the rally. Democrats, earlier in the day, pushed back on Trumps claims that he would be a better president for manufacturers. During a virtual press call, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, pointed to announcements of new manufacturing projects in Michigan. The Biden administration has announced billions in federal funding to manufacturers, including hundreds of millions to electric vehicle battery manufacturers in Michigan last week. We know that Trump is full of broken promises, and if Trump is in the White House again, our workers, our manufacturers, will pay the price, Stabenow said. Trump also continued to criticize Harris record at the U.S. southern border with Mexico, blaming her for rising migrant crossings there this year. Trump, throughout his campaign, has made the border and immigration a focus of his remarks, repeatedly painting migrants as violent criminals. He said Harris should resign in disgrace for the state of the southern border. In a departure from his stance during his 2020 reelection campaign, Trump encouraged his supporters to cast their votes through absentee ballots, which are now available in Michigan. However, he continued to say there wasnt a legitimate way for him to lose the election to Harris, telling supporters They cheat, thats the only way were going to lose. If you have your ballot, return it as soon as possible, Trump said as he concluded his remarks. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com 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: Trump calls for slashing corporate taxes during Michigan stop When Category 4 Helene moved over the North Florida coast Thursday night with gusts up to 160 mph, it became the third hurricane to make landfall in the rural and sparsely populated Taylor County in just 13 months. Its the damndest thing, said Joy Towles Ezell, born and raised in Taylor County and now a resident of Athena, in Taylor County. These hurricanes come up the side of coast the same way and come in at the exact same spot." Obliterating parts of small coastal communities such as Dekle Beach, Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, Helene plunged the region into darkness and further misery. The centers of each hurricane Helene, Idalia in August 2023 and Debby in August 2024 crossed the coast within about 23 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center coordinates. But the calm eye, or center of the storm, isnt what causes the incredible damage reports that surfaced on Friday. Steinhatchee: Helene leaves behind 'overwhelming' destruction in one small Florida town The worst of everything a hurricane carries its highest winds, most intense low pressure and highest storm surge are to the right, in the eyewall, the part of the hurricane wrapped around the calm center. Hurricane Helene about to make landfall off the Florida coast near 11 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2024 as one of the strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall in Florida. Many in the region are storm weary. They've suffered more hurricanes in recent years than all the rest of Florida's long coastline put together. Catastrophic winds, surf and rain have pummeled Taylor County and a swath of the coast to the south, stretching past Dixie County and into Levy County. Taylor, with a population fewer than 22,000 and a median household income of $46,000, has been hardest hit. Ezell evacuated for both Idalia and Helene, fleeing northward with friends to the home of another friend in Tallahassee, Floridas capital, about 75 miles northwest of the worst of Helene's damage. Tallahassee had geared up for a restoration effort that would have included 2,000 personnel, including mutual-aid crews from nine states and contract workers. She kept getting damage reports from her friends all morning on Friday. My house is still standing, which is incredible, she said. Its an old place. Shed been told her roof is damaged, and both the hay barn and horse barn were damaged. Her neighbor fared worse, she said. A new shop, built two years ago, in part with concrete blocks, is gone. Steinhatchee is pretty much devastated, she said, counting off the destruction she'd heard. Roys restaurant is gone. In Keaton Beach, where Idalia made landfall, Ezell had heard just about all the houses are gone. She'd also heard Dekle Beach, the community closest to the center of the storm "is destroyed." Helene was the first Category 4 hurricane on record to strike this region of the coast where Florida curves around the northeastern corner of the Gulf of Mexico. Its the worst weve seen, Ezell said. The damage appears to be even worse than the storm of the century in 1993, a storm many long-time Floridians use as a measure for the destructive force of other storms. An overwhelming storm surge Helenes storm surge forecast at 15 to 20 feet arrived fast and furious. The tide gauge at the Steinhatchee River rose an incredible 11.4 feet in the span of about an hour and 15 minutes, but then stopped reporting, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storm surge is a wall of water that pounds into buildings with 1,700 pounds of weight for every cubic yard of water. The northern Gulf Coast, is especially susceptible. A steep but not quite as high storm surge pounded the coast during Idalia. Further to the south, the storm surge in historic Cedar Key rose more than 8 feet at a NOAA gauge, higher than the record set during Hurricane Idalia last year. Signs of the calamity appeared as early as Thursday night. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee posted photos taken by a storm chaser that showed a number of mobile homes knocked off their foundations and pushed together in Steinhatchee. People began emerging before sunrise Friday to check for damages and report to friends who left. Its an ugly wind, a lot of rain, said Mark Southerland, a 63-year-old lifelong resident of Perry in Taylor County. I just went outside and I have no damage yet. I might get lucky. Some counties saw a near miss, but power outages widespread Helene knocked out power to an estimated million-plus accounts in Florida, according to a USA TODAY power outage tracker. Nearly everyone in Hamilton, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties were without electricity. In Tallahassee, where Ezell and her friends sought refuge, the Leon County Administrator Vince Long said in the early morning hours that theyd heard a couple of reports of trees on structures but no widespread damage to buildings. Emergency calls were lower than expected, but additional damage reports were expected as the day progressed. It sort of had us in the crosshairs for quite a while as it moved into the Gulf and closer to us," Long said. And minor degrees of variation in that track can have a major effect on what the impact is here to us. Nearby Wakulla County, to the south of Tallahassee and west of Taylor also had been warned of a possible landfall. It barely escaped landfall, and the forecast storm surge never really materialized based on the track the storm actually took, said Capt. Jeffrey Yarbrough. Our hearts go out to Taylor County, whos having to deal with it again. Why does Taylor County keep getting hit? Like many, Ezell is perplexed. I cant figure out whats drawing them here, she said. Its mighty strange to me. I would say its rather incredible, said Jasmine Montgomery, meteorologist with NWS Tallahassee. Theres no rhyme or reason to it. These storms, more or less, developed in the Caribbean, moved up through the Gulf of Mexico and kept going until they hit land. Its just the Gulf Coast is prime real estate for a hurricane. Much of this really is the luck of the draw, said Michael Mann, a climate scientist and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media at the University of Pennsylvania. Why does one tiny section of a massive coastline keep getting hit so often? And why are major hurricanes striking an area that has never been hit by such powerful tropical systems since records began in the 1850s? Huge planetary patterns help steer hurricanes, including powerful jets of air that circle the globe and help govern where fronts and troughs shift in the atmosphere overhead. Its probably not too much of a stretch to say that the jet stream is currently stacking in a pattern favoring those trajectories, Mann said. For this hurricane season, an emerging La Nina in the Pacific may also have something to do with it, he said. "Both climate change and El Nino can impact the waviness of the jet stream, impacting large-scale circulation patterns and the way that storms track," Mann said. The power of these storms is another question, as USA TODAY reported while millions awaited Helene's horrific arrival. The destructive nature of a hurricane is driven in part by the energy it receives from warm water. Temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have been record warm this year. "The fact that the storms are so intense when they make landfall because they have rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico almost certainly has a climate-change contribution to it," said Jim Kossin, an atmospheric scientist and science advisor at the nonprofit First Street Foundation. "The remarkably warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico are a big contributor and climate change has contributed to those." Road to recovery uncertain Long-time residents wonder how or if Taylor County will recover. Before the storm Janalea England, who owns the Steinhatchee Fish Company on the southern side of the county, said she had talked to other business owners who said if Helenes blow was bad enough they doubted whether they could recover and reopen. The community was just getting recovered from Idalia, she said. Ezell said Taylor County "is going to be devastated." "Its going to be a terrible blow," she said. "How many times can somebody come back. How many times can you redo?" (This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.) Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate change and the environment for USA TODAY. She's been writing about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years. Reach her at dpulver@gannett.com or @dinahvp. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor County, Florida, hit by Helene: 3rd hurricane in 13 months By Elida Moreno METETI, Panama (Reuters) - Migrant crossings through the treacherous Darien Gap that connects Panama to Colombia are down by over a third in the year's first nine months, a Panamanian border official said on Thursday, crediting heightened security by the new government. Between January and Sept. 25, 259,712 migrants arrived in Panama through the Darien, a 35% decrease compared with the same period in 2023, Alexis de Gracia, head of the National Border Service's eastern brigade, said, citing official data. Panamanian authorities attribute the drop to stricter security measures implemented by the government of President Jose Raul Mulino since he took office on July 1. The new government's efforts include the closing of some routes through the jungle passage and increasing deportations with U.S. support. The data also come nearly four months after U.S. President Joe Biden instituted a broad asylum ban on migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Panama has become a transit route for hundreds of thousands of migrants, most of them seeking to reach the United States. Last year, a record 520,000 migrants - most of them Venezuelans - crossed the Darien in search of better opportunities in the north. In July, Mulino's first month in office, 20,519 migrants crossed the Darien, down 34% from June and less than half of the number of migrants who crossed in the same month last year. In August there were 19% fewer crossings compared with the previous month and five times fewer compared with the same month in 2023, according to official data. Some analysts are skeptical the government's measures will succeed in the medium term without addressing the root causes of migration, while some also fear the measures could make travel even more dangerous for migrants. Further, "there is the possibility that they use other routes," De Gracia said, and the government's measures could have pushed migrants to use routes from Colombia through the Caribbean in lieu of the Darien Gap. (Reporting by Elida Moreno in Meteti; Aditional reporting by Diero Ore in Mexico City; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Jonathan Oatis) GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) Some migrant workers at the JBS Meat Packing Plant in Greeley are speaking out about what they say are horrible working conditions. The union representing them, UFCW Local 7, has asked for a federal investigation. Vail Resorts plans to lay off 14% of corporate workers within 2 years The JBS Meatpacking Plant in Greeley was where the two individuals from Haiti had hoped to begin to build a better future. FOX31 spoke with them at their union headquarters in Greeley. They said that from the moment they arrived, promises of a decent place to stay temporarily fell by the wayside. They asked not to be identified and spoke through an interpreter. When I got here, it was late in the day and they put us in a room with seven or eight people. There was only one bed, one of the workers said. The immigrants said they first heard about what was supposed to be the promise of good jobs and a good living on a TikTok post. But once they started working, they discovered the working conditions were unbearable. The union says there are hundreds of migrants from both Haiti and West Africa being treated unfairly at the plant. And whenever I have my hands swelling or any kind of medical conditions on my hands and I am not able to work, my supervisor or management are giving me a lot of pressure to work, the migrant said. They said there was a lot of pressure to work quickly on the meat-cutting line when there were not enough people to meet those needs. Aurora police arrest documented Tren de Aragua member Who is supposed to be (make) a better living condition, us or the cows we are killing? the worker said. JBS told FOX31 it has banned the non-employee who allegedly made false promises to the new employees from the plants facilities and new human resource leaders are in place. The spokesperson also said allegations of poor living conditions are unacceptable and upsetting and that workers are not required to live in any specific location. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said its investigating workplace safety and health issues at the facility. The National Labor Relations Board said it is investigating six unfair labor practices against the company. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox JBS provided the following statement to FOX31, which is shared here in its entirety: Mackenson Remy was never a JBS employee, and we banned him from our facility when we learned about these alarming allegations. We also notified local authorities and will cooperate with any resulting investigation. If it is determined that people were harmed by Mr. Remys actions, we will provide support to those individuals. JBS takes the safety and welfare of all our team members seriously. Since being made aware of this situation, we have put new HR leaders in place at the facility and added new recruitment training programs to ensure our teams follow JBS strict hiring compliance policies. We are also working with the UFCW International to educate prospective and current team members about our hiring policies enterprise wide. JBS does not charge team members or applicants for any pre-employment services, including transportation, application, pre-hire medical requirements, or housing, nor do we require them to live in any specific location. Any allegations of poor living conditions are unacceptable and upsetting. We want all of our employees to have access to safe housing and the opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their families. JBS Meat Packing Plant Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Military supplies to Ukraine for the coming year are at risk due to financial challenges faced by some allies and the reluctance of others to increase funding for aid. Source: Bloomberg, citing sources Details: As Ukraine approaches its third winter since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, it is finding it difficult to convince its Western allies to follow through on their commitments. At the same time, the Kremlin's military machine is outpacing Kyiv's ability to obtain the necessary ammunition, missiles and other equipment to defend itself against attacks. A source noted that this highlights how Russia's economy is geared towards military needs, while Ukraine's allies are not. A significant portion of the military support for Ukraine in 2025 hinges on an agreement by the Group of Seven countries to provide US$50 billion in loans, funded by proceeds from frozen assets belonging to the Russian Central Bank. However, the countries are still negotiating the details of this agreement, with the US seeking assurances that Hungary will not obstruct the European Unions measures. If an agreement is not reached, the final sum could be reduced. Even if the deal is finalised, US$50 billion will not be sufficient to cover Ukraine's needs for another year of war. The allies will need to seek additional financial resources. The situation is further complicated by a lack of funding. Ukraine's government projects a budget deficit of 19% of GDP for 2025, amounting to around US$35 billion that needs to be covered. Last month, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that more than half of this sum would be provided by the IMF and the EU but that approximately US$15 billion would still need to be secured, potentially through loans from the G7. Additionally, there is the matter of military funding. The US$50 billion from the G7 is roughly equivalent to the military aid provided by the US and major European allies from January 2023 to June this year. During that period, the United States contributed approximately 31.5 billion, while Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy collectively provided around 15.7 billion. However, these figures might not reflect the full extent of military assistance, as some countries do not disclose all information, and certain commitments have yet to be fulfilled. Ukraines Armed Forces rely heavily on allies to supply artillery ammunition, missiles, and air defence equipment. Support UP or become our patron! How your military stores will be affected by a looming port strike Military base commissaries and exchanges have been ordering more stock for weeks in anticipation of a looming port strike that could shut down ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, affecting the supply of goods. The Defense Commissary Agency has taken steps since August to lessen the impact of possible disruptions, said John E. Hall, director and CEO of the agency. That includes increased grocery orders for commissaries in Europe and Puerto Rico, which would be affected by a port work stoppage. Officials are also working with the industry sealift carriers to make sure all booked containers clear the port of Norfolk, Virginia, before the end of September, he said. If a strike does happen, Hall said, DeCA is preparing to be able to use military airlifts of priority products into Europe and Puerto Rico. That includes fresh beef, items such as baby formula, baby food, bread, hot and cold cereal, cheese, eggs, frozen juice, milk, frozen vegetables and certain canned foods. If we have additional capacity, we will also include highly sensitive chilled products, he said. Those decisions about airlifts will be based on customer need, product shelf life, projected port deliveries, and availability of products from local and U.S. suppliers. DeCA can assure our customers that we diligently monitor inventory levels and maintain regular communications with our industry suppliers to support the grocery needs of our patrons, Hall added. The general consensus is that if the strike is goes on for more than a week, it would cause major disruptions. It could take five to six weeks to recover after even one week of a strike. And other shipments in the military community could be affected, too, such as shipments to and from overseas of service members household goods and vehicles, which go on commercial carriers. U.S. Transportation Command did not respond by Military Times deadline to questions about the potential effects on service members and families, and any actions being taken to plan to mitigate any problems. The International Longshoremens Associations six-year contract is set to expire on Monday, and the union says it will strike at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. A strike would shut down as many as 36 ports that handle nearly half of the cargo going in and out of the U.S. on ships, the AP noted. If a strike does happen, it would be the first national work stoppage by the ILA since 1977, according to the AP. Even a brief strike would cause disruptions to the economy, and create a shipping backlog. Meanwhile, on the other side, the U.S. Maritime Alliance, representing East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, posted a statement online Thursday that theyve filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, asking that federal agency to require the Longshoremens union to resume bargaining. Its not clear how many aspects of the military community this would affect. ILA President Harold Daggett posted on the unions Facebook page that their 85,000 members will continue to handle all military cargo, even if there is a strike. The union will also continue to work passenger cruise vessels, Daggett said. Military stores scrambling to get baby formula -- what new parents need to know Military exchanges Exchange officials say they dont expect stores to be affected by a short-time strike, but that will change if there is a prolonged strike, just as it will affect retail stores across the country. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange Service Command have been increasing their stock over the last several weeks, and a short-term strike isnt expected to affect customers.. AAFES logistics and merchandising teams are working to ensure exchange stores are prepared for possible broader challenges in the event of a longer shutdown of ports, said AAFES spokesman Chris Ward In addition to increasing stock to bolster levels in overseas distribution centers, NEXCOM officials have put airfreight carriers on standby in case they need to ship merchandise by air, spokesperson Kristine Sturkie said. In the event of a prolonged strike, NEXCOM would pivot to shipping ocean containers from the West Coast and air freighting merchandise, as needed, to fill gaps in the pipeline, she said. Depending on the length of time of the potential strike, NEXCOM can move shipments from the West Coast to Europe, Bahrain and Djibouti, ensuring we have the merchandise our military members and families need on our shelves. Marine Corps exchange customers should see minimal impact as their exchanges dont move products in or out of East Coast or Gulf Coast ports. Since all their overseas bases are in the Pacific, their direct operations are West Coast-focused, spokesperson Bryan Driver said. But he noted that their vendors might be affected by the strikes, with as-yet-undetermined future impact to our supply chain. The looming strike comes at a time when the military exchanges have been getting shipments of holiday items in preparation for the heavy Christmas shopping season. Officials dont expect those shipments to be affected. Many of the Navy exchange holiday items have already shipped to the overseas stores, said NEXCOMs Sturkie. Household goods shipments The moving industry is also unclear about which military cargo would be moved and whether it would include service members household goods in the event of strikes. We havent heard directly from the [International Longshoremens Association] on military cargo, or [household goods] specifically, said Daniel Bradley, vice president of government and military relations for the International Association of Movers. We hope to have more clarity with respect to what cargo may continue to be moved if a strike occurs. He said its not clear if dockworkers would know which shipments to move, since outside of military-centered ports and obvious military cargo, most [household goods] shipments are containerized and not as obvious. Milwaukee man who lost friend in shooting charged with reckless homicide in liquor store shooting A 21-year-old Milwaukee man is facing a homicide charge for shooting and killing a man at a liquor store on Monday. DeAndre Williams was charged on Friday for killing Romell Campbell at 2232 W. Capitol Drive. The criminal complaint suggests Williams lashed out erratically, and made comments regarding a recently killed close friend, before shooting Campbell. Williams is charged with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon. Campbell was previously identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. He died after being shot and taken to Froedtert Hospital for medical attention, according to the examiner's report. The criminal complaint details police interviewed the girlfriend of 17-year-old Javontae Davis, who was shot in the city's 100th reported homicide of the year, in their investigation into the liquor store killing. Davis' girlfriend told officers Williams was "like a cousin" to Davis and identified him in a photo from the store. Davis was shot at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday on the 1400 block of West Locust Street, police said in a news release. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is still reviewing that shooting, the office said in an email. Police reviewed video footage from the store and interviewed two witnesses, which were detailed in the complaint. The footage allegedly shows Williams lamented the death of a close friend, saying comments "to no one in particular" about how hurt he was over the friend's death and making threats. He then draws a mask over his nose, buys a bottle of liquor and begins to exit the store. He looks toward Campbell, asking him what he's looking at, and strikes the victim with his firearm, before shooting him, according to the complaint. Police are currently seeking Williams on an arrest warrant, which was issued on Friday by a Milwaukee County judge. Journal Sentinel efforts to reach the family members of Campbell and Davis were unsuccessful. When reached by phone earlier this week, Teutonia Wine and Liquor told the Journal Sentinel the worker who witnessed the incident would not be speaking to media. At least 100 reported homicides have occurred in Milwaukee so far this year, according to crime data from Milwaukee police. That's 22% down from last year and 40% down from 2022. David Clarey can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man charged with reckless homicide in liquor store shooting Uniquely is a Sacramento Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Sacramento area so special. As motorists hurtle west on Interstate 80, the landscape blurs. The Sacramento Valleys farmlands lose their features; the oleander blooms on the median become a haze of whites and pinks. Then, snapping passersby out of their freeway-induced doldrums, a strange pair emerges by Dixon. Painted arms flung wide, eyes ringed by giant goggles, they are grinning crazily. The I-80 hay bale Minions are a zany and unexpected delight for Northern California travelers. More than 100,000 vehicles carry people past these cheerfully hulking figures each day, Caltrans data shows. And although the state agency does not measure how many smiles the two banana-evoking members of the tribu elicit, anecdotal evidence suggests the number is high. The Sacramento Bee spoke to the man who built these family-friendly villains: Juan Ramirez, 40, a father of three and farmworker from Sinaloa, Mexico. Ramirez has worked for the Cooley Family Farm for 18 years, he said. A trained mechanic, he spends seven or eight months annually in Dixon, often fixing machinery on the sprawling property. But when spooky season rolls around and the Cooleys open their pumpkin patch and corn maze, Ramirez becomes a virtuoso. Juan Ramirez, a Dixon farmworker with Cooley Farms and its Cool Patch Pumpkins, stands by one of the Minions that he created for the pumpkin patch and maze. Ramirez said his bosses came up with the idea to move the Minions along their property on Interstate 80 to remind people to return. He is the mastermind behind an enormous fanged spider made mostly of a 1,000-gallon liquid storage tank, PVC pipe and paint that menaced visitors at Cool Patch Pumpkins. He is the person who suggested building an Instagram-ready backdrop for people who wandered through the enormous corn maze. As a farm, we dont hire people for artistic ability, said Seth Cooley. But its a great benefit to us. And so, as they were preparing to open up the pumpkin patch three or four years ago, Ramirez recalls, the Cooleys pulled up a photo of another Minions hay bale project and asked him whether he could make them, too. Ramirez responded, Why not? He has a 17-year-old and a pair of 8-year-old twins hes well aware of the despicable canon. He thought to himself: I will paint the cylinders of hay in yellow, blue and black, I will make their hair and hands out of plywood, their arms out of pipe and their goggles out of old motorcycle tires. Their eyes will be the caps from a piece of corn equipment, painted blue. He took two or three days and did it. Hes done it each year since, and now Kevin and Stuart part of the original trio (with Bob) that rose to fame after the 2010 debut of Despicable Me and their eponymous hit film in 2015 live by the freeway. Ramirez said his work shows people things that are in the trash can become something more. In this case, as Minions. Two Minions created by Juan Ramirez beckon visitors to the Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon. The hay bale creations have become a popular landmark as motorists head along Interstate 80 from Sacramento to the Bay Area. A new life for two old bales of hay The Minions were initially intended to amuse the Cooleys customers: Most of the farming operation is commercial, so the family likes to put on a show for their autumn interactions with the public. They get a kick out of watching city kids realize that pumpkins dont just magically appear in a pile outside Trader Joes; they grow from the ground on vines. People plant them there. The Minions were part of what Seth Cooley called an opportunity for families to celebrate the harvest season. The hay bales were so big that moving them would be a pain easier to rip them apart where they stood. Still, Seths father, Matt Cooley, thought they were just too good to destroy when the pumpkin patch closed. Each year, hes had the new crop of Minions moved to the side of I-80, at the edge of their property, for all the world that is Bay Area-bound on I-80 to see. The Minions created by Juan Ramirez, of Dixon can be seen waving at motorist aloha Interstate 80 on Sept. 4. The Minions are made out of found objects from the farm. After facing the elements for a year, the yellow pill-shaped creatures are sagging. The painted pocket on Stuarts blue overalls has ripped open, exposing unpainted hay. Kevins dry insides are spilling out on one side. New sprouts have created a layer of fuzz on top of both their heads. If anything, the wear only serves to underscore their charm: Someone made these with their hands. Ramirez seemed tickled when two Bee journalists traveled to Dixon to discuss the Minions. But when asked whether the Minions and his other whimsical projects were a creative outlet, he said, In some ways, yes, because I do this outside of work. My work is mostly mechanical. There are a lot of creative things Id like to do, but there isnt enough time. How does it feel to know that his creations have brought a glimmer of joy into the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people? It feels good, he said with a small shrug and a big smile. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday a settlement with a Minnesota-based Aquarium company to stop the sale of unregistered pesticide products. Underwater Creations Inc. of St. Louis Park, was formed in 2006 and sells custom aquariums to create "truly stunning pieces of living art in people's homes and business." It also advertise both freshwater and saltwater aquarium maintenance services for residential and commercial buildings. EPA cited Underwater Creations for allegedly distributing or selling five unregistered pesticides on its website: Vibrant Reef, Vibrant Saltwater, Vibrant Freshwater, Expel, and Purge. PICRYL These products are intended to destroy aquarium pests, but under federal rules products that claim to kill pests are considered pesticides and must be registered with the EPA to ensure they perform as intended and are appropriately labeled. The settlement requires the company to stop production and pay a $226,652 penalty. Bring Me The News reached out to Underwater Creations for comment, but have not heard back at this time. Related: Effort to help Ramsey family whose home was destroyed in lightning strike With early voting underway, local elections officials and the Minnesota Secretary of States office are working to address issues with a small number of ballot misprints after reports of errors in two counties. This week, Wabasha County officials said voters in Zumbro Falls received ballots listing the wrong Minnesota House of Representatives race. Despite the southeastern Minnesota town lying in District 20B, ballots showed the race for House District 20A. The county is working with the Secretary of State to nullify, or spoil, any of the ballots that had the error, and officials are already in the process of petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to let the county move forward with reprints. The court could act as soon as Friday, according to Wabasha County Administrator Michael Plante. As of Thursday, the county had received just four ballots and none have been counted due to the error, Plante said. The county will have plenty of time to reissue ballots for absentee and early voters, and Election Day is on Nov. 5 a little more than five weeks away. Errors very uncommon While there are a few reports of ballot errors each year statewide, Plante said theyre very uncommon and the county has safeguards in place to screen for errors. Ive been in Wabasha County for approximately 14 years not the entire time as a county administrator this is the first time I can recall a balloting issue thats occurred, he said. He later added: Just being blunt and honest this was human error and it was missed. It should have been caught at the county level. Rep. Pam Altendorf, R-Redwing, who is running in 20A against Democrat Heather Arndt, and Rep. Steve Jacob, R-Altura, who is running against Democrat Michael Hutchinson in 20B, pressed officials Tuesday to take swift action. These errors are unacceptable and need to be quickly resolved by the Secretary of State and the County to ensure voters in Zumbro Falls arent disenfranchised, the Republicans said in a joint statement. More than 5,000 ballot variations Minnesota has more than 5,000 ballot variations, sometimes with dozens of contests. Each of Minnesotas 87 counties is required to prepare their own ballots, and the Secretary of States office provides the lists of certified candidates. Counties are responsible for printing and proofing ballots. Occasionally, there are mistakes made when preparing ballots that are not detected during proofing, the Secretary of States office said. Every time an error is discovered, corrective actions are taken through the courts. Notice will be provided to impacted voters if the court determines it to be necessary. Zumbro Falls is not the only area that has seen inaccurate ballots. The first misprint came to light last Friday, the first day of early voting in Faribault County, where incumbent Rep. Peggy Bennett, a Republican from Albert Lea, was incorrectly listed as a Democrat. In every election, despite the best efforts of our hard-working county election officials, mistakes happen, the Secretary of States office said. Bennetts District, 23A, covers several counties, and only 17 ballots in Faribault County were affected, according to the Secretary of State. Faribault County said it filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to correct the issue. Our top priority is safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, and we are taking swift corrective action, county officials said in a statement. Related Articles Minnesotans Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. MINNESOTA 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 Minnesota. 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. Minnesotans Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. originally appeared on the Minneapolis Patch Elon Musk is criticised for fueling political tension ahead of the election. (Frederic J. BROWN) (Frederic J. BROWN/AFP/AFP) With incendiary, misleading posts to his 200 million followers, Elon Musk has courted criticism for cranking up the political temperature ahead of an already polarized US election through his influential platform that is plagued with misinformation. Researchers fear there may be little to stop Musk -- who has endorsed Donald Trump -- from using X, formerly Twitter, and his personal account to sway voters in favor of the Republican nominee, call into question the legitimacy of the electoral process, and provoke violence against political rivals and poll workers. "Musk has a huge following on X and he treats the platform like his own misinformation megaphone," Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the watchdog Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), told AFP. Musk has amplified debunked falsehoods from politicians, including Trump, that Democrats are "importing" migrants into the United States to vote in the November election and that immigrants from Haiti in Ohio were killing and eating pets. Soon after a second assassination attempt on Trump, Musk posted a comment -- alongside a thinking emoji -- that "no one is even trying to assassinate" President Joe Biden and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Musk deleted the post, which the White House called "irresponsible" while adding that violence should never be "encouraged or joked about." Musk also faced criticism for sharing a deepfake video in which a voiceover mimicking Harris calls Biden senile and declares that she does not "know the first thing about running the country." The video was originally posted by an X account linked to the conservative podcaster Chris Kohls and labeled a "parody," but Musk's repost made no such disclosure. - 'Much impact' False or misleading election claims on X by Musk have amassed nearly 1.2 billion views, CCDH reported last month. Its researchers identified 50 posts by Musk since January containing election claims that were debunked by independent fact-checkers. X did not respond to a request for comment. Musk, analysts say, appears to have supplanted the role Trump once played on the platform. "What gave Trump's tweets so much impact in 2016 -- and throughout his presidency -- was not just that they were seen by people on Twitter, but how much media coverage they got," Joshua Tucker, co-director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics, told AFP. "What is happening with Musk these days on Twitter/X feels similar: his posts are not just seen on the site, but they also seem to be getting a lot of pickup in the media." The platform is very different today compared to the previous 2020 election, when it was largely seen as a clearinghouse of reliable information. Since he purchased it in 2022 for $44 billion, Musk has aggressively sought to model the site as a censorship-free haven and a superior source to mainstream media -- winning plaudits from US conservatives strongly averse to social media content moderation. He has gutted trust and safety teams, scaled back content moderation efforts, and restored known conspiracy theorists to the platform, making it what researchers call a cesspool of disinformation. In August, five US states sent an open letter to Musk, imploring him to fix X's AI chatbot - known as Grok -- after it shared misinformation about the election. - 'Losing battle' - Outside the US, Musk is not always offered the same freedom to let users post whatever they want. In Brazil, a high-profile judge ordered the suspension of X after Musk refused to remove dozens of right-wing accounts accused of spreading fake news, and then failed to name a new legal representative in the country as ordered. Musk appeared to capitulate last week, with the company's lawyers saying that X had complied with the orders. EU regulators meanwhile are currently carrying out a wide-ranging probe into X to see how effectively it combats disinformation. If found at fault, X faces major fines or orders that it take urgent action to comply with EU rules. Australia is planning similar regulation and in Britain, new rules are about to come into effect that could give authorities more say over how platforms control their content. "Musk's reputation is slowly losing in the court of public opinion, with people increasingly calling out his authoritarian tactics," Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the nonprofit watchdog Free Press, told AFP. "He can continue down this sad path, but it's a losing battle." ac/arp/md Misinformation spreads after 750k names removed from NC voter rolls. Here are the facts. After the North Carolina State Board of Elections announced Thursday that it had removed nearly 750,000 registrations from the voter rolls, misinformation spread on social media regarding the scope and circumstances of this decision. Theyre trying to steal this election, one X user wrote. Im sure its one big, giant, coincidence that NC is doing this a month before Election Day, another wrote. Others fretted that the removal was a ploy by the Republican Party to influence the outcome of the election in a battleground state. The truth, however, is that this was a routine process carried out over the course of nearly two years by a state agency with bipartisan oversight. Eligible voters do not need to worry that they were removed from the system, Pat Gannon, a spokesperson for the board, said. However, election officials always encourage voters to check their registration through the state boards voter search tool. The state has nearly 7.7 million registered voters. Some of the misconceptions regarding the removals are addressed here. Did the state remove 750,000 voters all at once? No. In actuality, the removal of these registrations was a part of routine list maintenance conducted over the course of 20 months. Its also important to note that the board removed nearly 750,000 registrations, not necessarily 750,000 individual voters. In fact, the most common reason why registrations were removed was because a voter moved within the state, creating a duplicate registration at their new address. The boards removal likely only affected the now-defunct registration at the voters old address. Was this a ploy by the Republican Party? No. The removal of these voter registrations was a part of routine list maintenance conducted by staff of the State Board of Elections, a board made up of appointees from both parties. Democrats have a majority on the board. The North Carolina Republican Party did sue the board last month, attempting to remove 225,000 voter registrations that it claims were improperly approved. However, that lawsuit has not even gotten a hearing yet, and the removals announced Thursday had begun long before the lawsuit was filed. Furthermore, federal law prevents the board from systematically removing registrants within 90 days of an election. That deadline passed on Aug. 7. What were the reasons voter registrations were removed? As mentioned above, the largest pool of registrations (nearly 300,000) were removed because a voter moved within the state. Other registrations were removed because the voter was inactive for two federal elections, died, moved out of the state, was convicted of a felony, or requested that they be removed from the rolls. The State Board of Elections created a breakdown of the different reasons for removal. Data provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Sept. 26, 2024, shows the reasons voter registrations were removed from the rolls as part of routine list maintenance. If I didnt vote in the last two federal elections, is my registration canceled now? Not necessarily. The second most common reason a voters registration was removed from the rolls was because they underwent two federal elections while in inactive status. However, to achieve inactive status, a voter must have already skipped two consecutive federal elections. It is not until they fail to vote in two more federal elections that they are removed from the voter rolls. That means missing all elections for eight years, Gerry Cohen, a member of the Wake County Board of Elections, said on X. The voter would also have had to not respond to any mailings from the elections board attempting to confirm their registration. How do I check if Im still registered to vote? Anyone can check the status of their voter registration using the online voter search tool on the State Board of Elections website. Is it too late to register to vote? No. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 elections is Oct. 11. Voters who miss this deadline can also participate in same-day registration during early voting, which runs from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2. 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. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a prolific spreader and amplifier of misinformation on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, a new report alleges. An analysis from NewsGuard shows that Musk has advanced at least 17 false narratives from the groups misinformation database, from sharing a video promoting the narrative that Haitians eat pets to accusing Democrats of "importing voters." The billionaire also frequently amplifies some of the platforms worst offenders in terms of spreading false claims: of the five accounts he interacts with most frequently, four are "misinformation superspreaders" who have grown their followings as a result. One account, @EndWokeness, which spread racist lies about Haitian immigrants, experienced a 30% follower count bump in the six months in which Musk repeatedly boosted it. Another, @libsoftiktok, whose anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric inspired bomb threats at a children's hospital and who falsely claimed that schools had provided litter boxes to children who identify as cats, saw a 14.8% growth in their following. On Tuesday, Musk engaged with a report from @EndWokeness criticizing George Soros company's acquisition of a radio station group, writing Crazy in a quote-tweet thats been viewed 29 million times. Two other accounts that experienced massive boosts from Musk either amplified or outright invented conspiracy theories suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris campaign adopted a Nazi slogan; that Ukraine sold weapons to Hamas; and that Venezuelan immigrants had overtaken an apartment complex. The amplifications come amid concerns that Musk, who has taken an increasingly extreme tone, has an enormously wide-reaching platform. Musk, who has raised concerns with recent posts that appeared to encourage violence against Harris and President Joe Biden, boasts nearly 200 million followers on X, a 19% increase since January of this year. In comparison, NewsGuards analysis found that some of the largest mainstream accounts on the platform, including legacy media outlets, saw stagnant growth or follower declines. The analysis follows past findings from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which in August published a report identifying 50 instances of Musk posting false election claims in 2024, accruing nearly 1.2 billion views. Musk lost a July 2023 lawsuit against the center in which he accused it of conspiring to drive advertisers off his X platform. Musk, who initially purchased Twitter with the purported intention of increasing transparency and freedom of speech on the platform, oversaw a rise in hateful content and lies on the platform while making moderation tweaks to crack down on some speech, banning words like cisgender from X. Musk has also reportedly used the X platform to stop the spread of information he finds disagreeable, censoring recent reporting on Trump campaign documents hacked by the Iranian government, suspending pro-Harris organizations on the platform and flagging unflattering reports about the Trump campaign as spam in recent weeks. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A Pearl River man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. According to court documents, William Henry, 52, possessed 400 pornographic images of children that were under the age of 12. Henry was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2020, and pled guilty in October 2023. Vicksburg man convicted of sexual battery In addition to his term of imprisonment, Henry was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution to victims and a $9,000 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. 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. HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) Mississippi Red Cross workers and church groups are joining forces to help victims of Hurricane Helene. The Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross will deploy crews to assist in providing shelter during the storm. Mississippi sends assets to Florida for Helene response In Florida and Georgia, they currently have evacuation shelters opening to prepare. Theyre also providing hot meals at those locations for the clients that are currently there. Theyre preparing our vehicles, preparing all of the supplies that will be needed in case we have to go out and distribute emergency supplies out to the field, said Zoe Anderson, Community Disaster Program manager at the American Red Cross in Hattiesburg. Shelter volunteers are trained to keep people safe and as comfortable as possible during a disaster. After the storm, the Red Cross will begin on-the-ground recovery efforts. We have recovery caseworkers that would be working with the impacted clients. We also have our external relations teams that go out and work with nonprofit, with other nonprofit organizations, with the local government to provide those services, said Anderson. Local churches, including Trinity Baptist Church in Laurel, are gathering donations to take to hurricane victims. Entergy Mississippi crews head to Florida ahead of Helene Weve responded, I believe, for the last 10 years to any type of disasters, whether it be flood, tornado, hurricane. And its just our responsibility as servants to make sure that people have the items that they need to recover, said Kurt Wagner with Trinity Baptist Church. The church plans to take the donations to St. Petersburg, Florida. You need water. You need canned food, nonperishable food items. If you had children, small children, youd need diapers, baby formula, baby food. Just something to get you by until you could get back on your feet again, said Wagner. Dixie and Southern Pine Electric also plan to deploy crews to Florida on Friday. 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. Update: Bridgette has been found safe and the Amber Alert has been canceled. An Amber Alert has been issued in Kansas City as police search for an abducted 12-year-old believed to be traveling in a black Toyota SUV. Bridgette Annaleise Crane, 12, was allegedly abducted from Warsaw, Missouri, by her mother Anna Savard around 4:45 p.m. Thursday. Savard does not have custody of Crane. Crane was last seen at 28885 Cedar Hills Loop in Warsaw. Police are searching for a black Toyota 2015 Rav4 with the Missouri license plate TC2Z7B, believed to be driven by Savard. The direction of travel is unknown. Crane is a white preteen girl with brown hair. She is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds, and she was last seen wearing a plaid shirt and a blue hooded sweatshirt. Savard is a white woman with dark blonde hair and a neck tattoo. Residents are encouraged to call 911 with any sightings or information. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. How would Missouris next governor handle the death penalty after Williams execution? 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. A day after the execution of Marcellus Khaliifah Williams, the Republican nominee for Missouri governor wouldnt say whether he supported or opposed the execution, leaving in doubt how he would approach the death penalty if elected. Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoes campaign dodged questions from The Star about whether he supported Gov. Mike Parsons decision to deny clemency for Williams. The campaign vowed to uphold the rule of law when asked about potential changes to the death penalty. Meanwhile, Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quades campaign was sharply critical of Williams execution, calling it a disgrace. Her campaign said the states current use of capital punishment was flawed and that she would support legislation to abolish the death penalty. The decision to move forward with Tuesdays execution of Williams, who maintained his innocence in a 1998 killing, has renewed focus on the states use of the death penalty. Parson has rejected every clemency application in a death penalty case that has come across his desk since becoming governor in 2018, totaling 12 applications. Parson terms out of office in January and voters will elect his successor on Nov. 5, raising questions about how Missouris next governor would handle death penalty cases. Whoever wins would wield significant influence over how the state would carry out capital punishments. Kehoe and Quade secured their partys nominations in the August primaries, setting up a showdown for governor in the November general election. Republicans hold every statewide office in the state and Quade faces an uphill battle. A spokesperson for Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe did not directly answer questions from The Star on Wednesday about whether he supported Parsons decision and whether he would support any changes to the states use of capital punishment. Lt. Gov. Kehoe recognizes that weighing the facts and judgments involving capital punishment cases is one of the most difficult and consequential responsibilities of the role of governor, spokesperson Gabby Picard said in an emailed statement. Picard added that, as governor, Kehoe would always uphold the rule of law and respect the integrity of the judicial system. Parson appointed Kehoe as lieutenant governor in 2018 after Kehoe previously served in the state Senate. Kehoe won election to a full term in 2020. A spokesperson for Quade, first elected to the Missouri House in 2016, criticized the decision to move forward with Williams execution, specifically pointing to Parsons move to dissolve a board tasked with looking into Williams innocence claim. There were serious concerns that Marcellus Williams may have been innocent, as the prosecutor argued, and Governor Parsons refusal to pause the execution and his dismantling of the review committee examining Mr. Williams innocence is a disgrace on Missouri, Quade spokesperson Andrew Storey said in an emailed statement. Storey added that the current system of capital punishment was flawed, pointing to more and more examples of innocent lives that are taken by our government. Unlike the current administration, which has let political pressure influence clemency decisions, when elected governor, Minority Leader Quade will always make decisions by reviewing the individual details of each case, Storey said. In a follow-up email, Storey said that Quade would support legislation to abolish the use of the death penalty in favor of life without chance of parole. Democrat Crystal Quade and Republican Mike Kehoe. Michelle Smith, co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, implored citizens to know who they are voting for because these people make decisions that affect life and death, as weve seen with Marcellus Khaliifah Williams case. Smith went on to say that she hopes Kehoe, who is Catholic, would adhere to Catholic beliefs that oppose the death penalty and added that voters should consider his non-statement on the death penalty when they go to the polls. Lora McDonald, executive director of the social justice organization MORE2, said it was difficult to conceive that anyone claiming to be Christian would support an execution when there is even a remote possibility that the person is innocent or just period. The criminal justice system, she continued, has too many flaws and pointed to exonerations from death row. Four people with death sentences have been exonerated in Missouri, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. She also said she interprets Kehoes support of the rule of law to mean that he is OK with putting someone to death. Executions ramp up in Missouri Williams execution on Tuesday was the third this year in Missouri. One more is planned for Dec. 3. Williams was convicted in 2001 of killing Felicia Gayle, a former St. Louis reporter. His execution faced widespread opposition, including from the St. Louis County Prosecutors Office, and no forensic evidence linked him to the crime. He was convicted primarily on the word of two witnesses who testified that he had confessed to them. One of them later led authorities to Williams vehicle, where some of Gayles belongings were found. Parson defended his decision to deny clemency, saying no jury nor court including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams innocence claims. Missouri is one of 27 states that have the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, or DPI, a national nonprofit that analyzes capital punishment. Governors in six of those states Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee have placed a hold on executions. In several others, the death penalty is still on the books but it has not been used in decades, including Kansas, which saw its last execution in the 1960s. Eight states have executed people this year. Gwen Grant, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said that the next governor of Missouri must take a strong stance against the death penalty, calling it a system that is fundamentally flawed and disproportionately harms African-Americans. Williams execution, she said, highlighted the deep injustices inherent in this process. Far too many innocent people have been executed, eroding public confidence in our justice system, she said. I urge the next governor to prioritize truth and fairness over finality and to work toward abolishing the death penalty in Missouri. Missouri has ramped up its use of the death penalty in recent years. The state recorded one execution in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Two executions were conducted in 2022 and four people were executed last year, according to the DPI. Nine men remain on death row in the state, the Missouri Department of Corrections said. Missouri uses lethal injections in its executions, which are carried out at a prison about an hour south of St. Louis. When asked whether Quade would grant any of those men clemency or place a hold on executions altogether Storey said she would approach each case individually, taking the necessary time and energy to fully vet each case. Kehoes spokesperson, Picard, did not respond to two follow-up emails asking to clarify his stance on capital punishments and whether he would grant clemency to the nine people on death row. (Getty Images). A rural Missouri fire district near Kansas City committed so many violations of the Missouri Sunshine Law that listing them separately wasnt the best way to present them, attorney Jim Layton told Western District Court of Appeals during oral arguments. Under questioning from Presiding Judge Thomas Chapman, Layton said he counted 46 violations committed in 11 meetings of the Western Cass Fire Protection board. The appeal brief gives a narrative of events, seeking to show a multiplicity of violations at any particular meeting, rather than individually enumerated violations for each meeting. We have to look at it and weigh the evidence in each one of these instances, and it just seems like it kind of was a shotgun approach on these, Chapman said. The nature of the appeal led to the format he chose, Layton said. Cass County Circuit Judge R. Michael Wagner entered a judgment against his client, Citizens for Transparency and Accountability, when he concluded his portion of the case during a June 2023 trial. Wagner didnt give any reasons for his decision in his judgment. The appeal is of that single act, so a narrative is the correct format, Layton said. I will confess that I struggled with how to draft points relied on in this case as much as I ever have on an appeal because of the nature of how this was decided below, Layton said. Wednesdays hearing at the appeals court is just the latest round in battles, in and out of court, involving the fire district, based in Cleveland, that serves about 2,600 homes. The battling factions of the board have made numerous headlines, and the appeal drew the attention of three important voices for open government. Attorney General Andrew Baileys office, the Missouri Press Association and the Freedom Center of Missouri all wrote briefs urging the court to overturn the trial court. The issues involved are some of the most fundamental aspects of what constitutes proper notice of a meeting, how much can be added to an agenda after it is posted, and what information must be presented about an item to be considered. If you can obscure the matters that are actually going to be discussed and decided at a public meeting, then you can kind of slip under the publics radar and address matters that otherwise members of the public would very much like to have input, said Dave Roland, litigation director of the Freedom Center of Missouri. An example from the Western Cass case is the Aug. 3, 2022, meeting, where the notice included an item called special considerations, with no more detail. What board members Kerri VanMeveren and Darvin Schildknecht didnt know, and found out only when the agenda item was reached that evening, was that special considerations meant booting them off the board. I asked at the start of the meeting, before we adopted the agenda, can you please explain what special considerations mean? VanMeveren said in an interview with The Independent. Board president John Webb would not answer the question. And I kept saying, I think the public has a right to know, and he just would not answer it. Defending the judgment on Wednesday, attorney Aaron Racine told the court that any violations that may have occurred were inadvertent, due to inexperience of new members. Judge Alok Ahuja was skeptical of that as he looked at the Aug. 3, 2022, meeting agenda. What does special considerations mean? he asked. Special considerations of weather? Special considerations of finances? Special considerations of personnel? Even the phrasing of particular agenda items can be traced to inexperience, Racine said. I think those are the mitigating or exigent circumstances, and that you had an inexperienced board trying to comply with the law, he said. Origins of the dispute VanMeveren won election to the district Board of Directors in 2020, running for the position after a brush fire spread onto her property in 2018 and she felt the tactics employed showed poor training. It was just kind of a clown show, VanMeveren said. When she became district treasurer, she said, she found that tax rates for a bond issue had been improperly calculated, bringing in excessive revenue. A state auditors report in 2021, prepared in response to a residents petition, found problems with bidding procedures, budget information and Sunshine Law compliance. VanMeveren recruited new board members, including John Webb, a conservative Republican who unsuccessfully challenged then-U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler several times in the 4th Congressional District GOP primary. But she and Webb were soon battling over issues that included payroll expenses for contractors and a contract for lawn care at the firehouse, the Kansas City Star reported. In the late summer and early fall of 2022, three departments in Belton, Dolan-West Dolan and West Peculiar canceled their mutual aid agreements. VanMeveren resigned as treasurer in May 2022 but remained on the board. A lawsuit was filed by the board to oust her and Schildknecht. It was dismissed when a recall effort began that succeeded in removing VanMeveren and Schildknecht in August 2023. VanMeveren and Schildknecht formed Citizens for Transparency and Accountability and filed a countersuit, the case now in the hands of the Western District Court of Appeals. They testified in the spring in favor of a bill that gives the State Auditor new power to investigate wrongdoing in local government. Instead of a time-consuming petition process, the auditor can now open a full audit if investigation of a complaint shows problems that require more attention. And the cost of the audit would be borne by the auditors office instead of taxpayers in the political subdivision being examined. The new power is an important tool to help taxpayers, Schildknecht testified in a Missouri House hearing. Over the years some people who come on the board who do want to try and do the right things, but I have also seen others who realize there is no outside agencies monitoring fire districts and take advantage of this, knowing there is nobody watching that they follow the laws, he said. The meaning of tentative Widespread issues the case will address brought amicus, or friend of the court, briefs from the attorney generals office, the press association and the Freedom Center of Missouri. Several issues raised in this appeal are brought to this offices attention with increasing frequency in complaints filed by citizens against local public governmental bodies, in question-and-answer sessions during training programs, and phone call inquiries from the public and public governmental bodies, Assistant Attorney General Jason Lewis wrote. Unfortunately, many of these issues have not yet been conclusively addressed by Missouris appellate courts. Those questions include what an agenda must have when a meeting notice is posted and what can be added later. All public governmental bodies shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting, and its tentative agenda, in a manner reasonably calculated to advise the public of the matters to be considered, the law states. The fire district board used the word tentative in the broadest sense. At one meeting in November 2022, Laytons appeal brief states, the board approved a contract for a medical director; creating and sending a newsletter throughout the district; adopting a program that would allow firefighters to reside at the fire station; changing the bid solicitation for one of the fire stations; an insurance rider for proof of loss; barring one director from taking photographs at the fire station; having and paying for a party; and purchasing a generator battery. None of those items were on the agenda. No violation occurred when items were added, Racine told the judges. Tentative means what tentative means, and absent some statutory or court guidance as to what tentative means, we have to look to its plain meaning, which is subject to change going forward, Racine said. All three of the amicus briefs argued that tentative means subject to change for unforeseen reasons, such as a storm that prevents the meeting from being held or the absence of someone essential that prevents an item from being considered. It cannot mean that new items can be added at will because the public, and their watchdogs, deserve full notice of the items to be considered, attorney Jean Maneke wrote for the press association. Reporters recognize that they cannot be everywhere at once and the agenda gives them the information they need to make the best use of their time, Maneke wrote. Like the public, the reporters rely on the agenda to inform them regarding which activities/issues will be addressed at each public meeting. Other meeting notice issues the appeal addresses are the amount of information that must be provided. Fire district notices often gave the least possible information, appellants argue, such as a resolution number and no other details under the heading Banking on the July 20, 2022, meeting. During the same meeting, while on the agenda item with the heading reports, the board adopted changes to the duties of some personnel without any indication that was the intent. Its crucial that public governmental bodies not be able to shoehorn in agenda items at the last minute, and thats why they need to provide an acceptable level of specificity when it comes to what theyre going to be considering and voting on, Roland said. The attorney generals brief also argues that notices must provide details that show the intent of the action. That means that a public governmental body cannot hide an elephant in a mouse hole by using vague or excessively broad terms to hide what the body intends to do, Lewis wrote. The tentative agenda must be specific enough for the public to be able to make an informed decision about whether to attend the meeting. The court could create a test that would help agencies in the preparation of meeting notices and agendas, Lewis wrote. The Attorney Generals Office is eager for resolution of these issues at the appellate level, Lewis wrote, which will provide both this office and the public with significant guidance in resolving citizens Sunshine Law complaints, providing education to local public governmental bodies, and seeking enforcement when appropriate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE As the October 9 Missouri voter registration deadline approaches, political parties are rallying to encourage citizens to participate in our democracy. But what is democracy if not a means for every voice to be heard? What about the millions of Americans with disabilities who face significant barriers to voting? If we dont address these challenges, we fail to uphold the promise of equal participation and leave too many voices unheard. In the November 2022 mid-term election, 15.8 million Americans with disabilities reported voting, making up 6.7% of the electorate nationwide. In Missouri alone, 326,109 individuals with disabilities cast their ballots, representing 7% of the state electorate. While seven percentage points may not seem significant, elections are swayed by smaller margins. This influential group of voters has the power to make a difference, but only if we ensure that our voting systems are fully accessible and inclusive. Approximately 14% of voters with disabilities in Missouri reported facing challenges when accessing the polls due to transportation, accessibility, communication issues with poll workers, and difficulty using voting equipment. These numbers are not just statistics. They represent real people whose voices are being marginalized. Mail-in voting, which could serve as a more accessible alternative, also raises issues. Many people with disabilities would prefer to vote by mail, but express mistrust and concern about the ability of the post office to deliver their ballot on time. This lack of trust is compounded by Missouris failure to provide an online ballot tracking system. While Missouri has made some strides in voting accessibility, we are still far from achieving a truly inclusive system. This is a call to listen to the insights of disability-led groups and organizations at the forefront of advancing equitable voting practices. At Easterseals, we believe that several targeted policy changes could significantly improve accessibility in Missouri: Rethink ID and signature requirements. Missouris 2022 law requiring government-issued photo IDs and matching signatures poses significant hurdles for many people with disabilities, including those without a drivers license or with conditions that affect signature consistency. Adopting more inclusive practices, like Californias signature stamps or Colorados online ballot support system (txt2cure) would make voting far more accessible for Missourians with disabilities. Improve training for poll workers on disability rights. Too often, people with disabilities arrive at polling places only to find that accessibility equipment is not properly set up or that poll workers are unaware of their rights. Comprehensive training could help make the voting experience smoother and more dignified for everyone. Introduce online ballot tracking for mail-in voting. Offering an online tracking option would alleviate concerns for those who prefer not to vote in person due to accessibility issues. Many voters with disabilities have expressed a lack of trust in the postal systems ability to deliver their ballots on time. Online tracking would provide peace of mind and ensure every vote is counted. Include people with disabilities in policy discussions. Its crucial to involve those directly affected in the conversations that shape their lives. Regular disability policy forums and roundtables would allow for their lived experiences to inform the very policies meant to serve them. If policymakers truly believe in the importance of every Americans voice being heard, these steps must be taken. Im calling on all Missourians to advocate for voting reforms that open the door wider to citizens with disabilities. Voting is not just a rightit is a responsibility that binds us all. For more information, visit 25percentvotes.com. Wendy Sullivan is the CEO of Easterseals Midwest, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities and their families live better. One of Britains last microchip factories nationalised in 20m rescue deal Defence Secretary John Healey said semiconductors were crucial to the future of Britains defence industry after a tour of the site - Cpl Tim Hammond/Ministry of Defence A British chip factory involved in sensitive military projects has been nationalised by the Ministry of Defence following warnings that it was at risk of closure. The Government confirmed on Friday that it had purchased the site in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, from US company Coherent. The deal is understood to be worth around 20m and will secure around 100 local jobs at the company, which is being renamed Octric Semiconductors UK. A statement described the factory as the countrys only secure site capable of producing gallium arsenide semiconductors, making it critical to the defence supply chain and major military programmes and exports. The deal comes after The Telegraph revealed the endangered factory was a supplier to defence giant Leonardo and had supplied vital components for British military platforms, including radar power amplifiers for Typhoon jets. Former owner Coherent had warned the 310,000 sq ft site was at risk of being shuttered or sold after Apple dropped the business as a supplier, removing a key chunk of revenues. The endangered factory has supplied radar power amplifiers for RAF Typhoon jets - Jane Barlow/PA John Healey, the Defence Secretary, visited the site on Friday morning to greet employees. During a tour, he told them: Semiconductors are at the forefront of the technology we rely upon today, and will be crucial in securing our militarys capabilities for tomorrow. This acquisition is a clear signal that our Government will back British defence production. Well protect and grow our UK defence supply chain, supporting North East jobs, safeguarding crucial tech for our armed forces and boosting our national security. The takeover comes as Labour ministers are preparing to unveil a new industrial strategy aimed at boosting economic growth, with more intervention by the state in key industries. It also marks a rare intervention by the MoD to secure a critical supplier. Another example of that was the decision in 2021 to nationalise Sheffield Forgemasters, which makes critical steel components for Britains nuclear-powered submarine fleet, following long-running financial struggles that had triggered approaches from Chinese rivals. Sheffield Forgemasters, which makes critical steel components for Britains nuclear-powered submarine fleet, was nationalised in 2021 - Oli Scarff/Getty Images However, the chip factory deal also underscores the growing importance of semiconductors in military supply chains. Semiconductors are critical to everything from smartphones to modern fridges and cars. In the military, they underpin precision missiles, fighter jets and communications equipment. They are also seen as critical to future technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and hypersonic missiles. The Telegraph first revealed in May that the sites future was in doubt and undergoing a strategic review that could lead to the plant being sold. In company accounts, Coherent said it had issued a last-time-buy notice to other customers warning them products would soon be discontinued, although Apple was not named in the accounts. Before that, the group had warned that the decision by Apple to stop using the company as a supplier places the ongoing viability of the business in doubt. But on Friday the Ministry of Defence said: This strategic investment will ensure the facility is capable of producing gallium arsenide semiconductors as well as more powerful semiconductors in the future, which will include the latest technology. This Government recognises the strategic importance of semiconductors as a critical technology for the future of the UK and a significant enabler of the governments growth and clean energy missions. Work has already started to implement best practice governance that will ensure appropriate financial oversight to secure the companys future success. Losing a contract from Apple can often be disastrous for suppliers. The British semiconductor company Imagination Technologies lost half of its value and was eventually sold after Apple said it no longer planned to use the companys graphics chip designs in 2017. Other companies including Volex and Wolfson Microelectronics have suffered share price declines after losing contracts. 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 Maryland State House. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Marylands revenue outlook for the coming year will remain statistically flat, according to a new forecast released Thursday by the Board of Revenue Estimates. The forecast, which included a modest upward revision for the current budget year, is the first look at fiscal 2026 revenues. State Budget Secretary Helene Grady, one of three members on the board, said the modest positive adjustment to revenue forecasts obviously is helpful as we navigate fiscal 25 and we work to build a responsible budget for fiscal 26, but it doesnt materially alter in any way the challenges that we face with the general fund budget for fiscal 26. Those challenges include a nearly $1 billion structural budget gap in fiscal 2026 that was forecast by budget analysts in January. Thursdays forecast predicts an $88 million increase in revenues for the current budget year. Sales taxes are now expected to be down $116 million than originally expected in fiscal 2025, and estate and inheritance taxes are projected to be $62 million lower. But those will be offset by nearly $174 million in additional corporate income taxes and a $95.5 million increase in projected interest earnings on investments. Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D), who chairs the board, said the new estimates show the economic outlook has not changed compared to the expectations outlined in March. Revenue growth in the state is still expected to be slow but positive. Those modest increases continue into 2026, according to the first estimates released by the panel for the coming fiscal year. The panel forecasts revenues of $25.3 billion for the coming fiscal year an increase of 0.9% over the current budget year. Robert Rehrmann, director of the Bureau of Revenue Estimates, said the updated estimates also do not include expectations of a recession. So, I remain cautiously optimistic about Marylands economic performance and the resilience of our economy overall, Lierman said. The board will issue revised projections in December for the current and coming year. Soon after, the legislative Joint Spending Affordability Committee will make recommendations on budget growth to Gov. Wes Moore (D). Those recommendations, while not binding, are traditionally followed. Moderate growth is growth, and Marylands economy is moving in the right direction, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) said in a statement. Ferguson added that the new projections reaffirm the Senates focus on the need to continue growing our economy to the benefit of all Marylanders while remaining competitive regionally and nationally. Looming in the background are concerns about federal spending, the coming election and expected post-election battles over both the federal debt ceiling and the federal budget. With less than a week left in the current federal fiscal year, Congress on Wednesday passed a continuing resolution that funds government operations through Dec. 20, and President Joe Biden signed it Thursday, heading off the threat of a government shutdown. But that just defers the problem, said Maryland Treasurer Dereck Davis (D), the third member of the board. To be perfectly honest, Im not really that surprised that we averted a shutdown. See, as long as it affects other people, theres always that threat of a shutdown, Davis said of the continuing resolution. But because a shutdown would adversely affect the members of Congress, they couldnt have that. So, they found a way to get this done in time for the November election. I promise you it wont be that smooth come December. There are also growing concerns about where the state is getting its revenues. Rehrmann warned that the states revenue portfolio is becoming less diversified and more reliant on volatile sources. Were getting more of our revenue specifically from our income taxes, and we know our income taxes are more volatile, said Rehrmann. So, all things being equal, this can introduce some volatility and make our lives a little bit more difficult in terms of forecasting our general fund. Moore and his team will also face other pressures. The state continues to struggle with addressing employee vacancy rates. Moore promised as he entered office in 2023 to cut 10,000 vacancies his own estimate in half in his first year. Not only did Moore fall short of that goal, but the pace of hiring struggled to keep up with the number of employees who retired or left state government for other jobs. Moore added 700 positions to the current budget, then suggested in July that the state would have to defer filling those new positions and others while it grapples with fiscal realities remarks that came as the state said it was cutting $150 million from departments and programs this year. That money was needed for growing expenses from Medicaid enrollment and child care subsidies. Lawmakers warned those increases could account for nearly $1 billion in budget shortfalls over two years. That is on top of a roughly $1 billion structural budget gap already projected for fiscal 2026. Even so, the leader of one of the states largest public employee unions, is calling for Moore to ramp up hiring. Our state remains in a staffing crisis where over 10% of frontline positions in our state agencies are vacant, said a statement from Patrick Moran, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3. This doesnt even account for the thousands of additional positions that need to be budgeted for in order for the State to be able to meet its responsibilities to provide Marylanders with the quality state services they deserve. Moran called for more hiring and increased taxes to close the budget gap. But Moore and Ferguson said in August that any tax increases would have to meet a high bar, and that the states focus should remain on growing the economy rather than tax increases. That stance could put Moore and Ferguson at odds with progressive members of the House of Delegates and the Senate who favor tax increases on corporations and high-income earners. There needs to be a re-prioritization of staffing so that Marylanders receive the proper services they need and deserve, Moran said in his statement. Resources need to be committed to this effort, and tax credits to the ultra-wealthy and large corporations as well as wasteful outsourcing need to be curtailed. Today marks the 4th anniversary of the start of the 44-day Patriotic War, which led to the restoration of our country's territorial integrity, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its official "X" account. "Thanks to the determination and will of the glorious Azerbaijani Army, led by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief, the Patriotic War put an end to nearly 30 years of military occupation of our lands and the violations of our citizens' fundamental rights, as well as the norms and principles of international law. This war represents the triumph of historical justice. On September 27Remembrance Daywe honor with deep respect and gratitude the cherished memory of our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, giving us this historic victory," the post reads. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) All of the Molalla River School District schools closed on Friday amid reports of a student making threats on social media, authorities said. The announcement of the closures was made on Thursday night by the Molalla River School District via an emergency information release. The Thursday night release did not explain the nature of the reports prompting the closure, only saying it was out of an abundance of caution in response to reports received by the District and police tonight. On Friday just before 11 a.m., the Molalla River Police Department confirmed in their own release that the closures were in response to a social media post that was discovered that presented a specific threat to the Molalla River Middle School. Police said a student has since been taken into custody following an investigation. Officials ID capsized boater, now presumed dead On Friday evening, just before 8 p.m., the Molalla River School District shared a letter from Molalla River Schools Superintendent Tony Mann that was emailed to parents. The parents also received text messages and calls notifying them of the new information from the superintendents letter, which was also made available online. The superintendents letter went into more detail about the events leading up to the school closures. Mann explained on Wednesday morning, a Molalla River Middle School student brought attention to school staff about a social media post containing the text Your next Molalla river middle school September 26/27 accompanied by lime green emoji guns. The school immediately notified the Molalla Police Department, who later investigated the incident and took one student from the middle school into custody that same day. The principal notified parents about what happened on Wednesday. On Thursday, other students reported on the same social media post, which was still up online. The police department was able to get the post taken down. By Thursday evening, the middle school principal was made aware of new social media posts with different content than the post from Wednesday. The posts urged students to not attend school Friday due to possible school violence. The school district and the police department continued receiving reports about social media-based threats of school violence, the letter said. School and District officials notified police of every threat, and by 9 pm determined that there were multiple new reports that would not be fully investigated by Friday morning, Mann said. The District began communicating Fridays closure with staff, parents, and the media at 9:15pm. On Friday, Mann said police have investigated all the reports and are not pursuing any additional suspects. All of the Molalla River School District schools will reopen on Monday. The entire letter from Superintendent Tony Mann is below: Good Evening Molalla River Families, Thank you for trusting us with your children. Now that investigations are completed, I have an update. As a parent and educator, I know that the threat of school violence is ever present. I am confident that closing school today with an abundance of caution was the right decision. Summary of events: Wednesday, 9/25: There was an incident at Molalla River Middle School (MRMS) on Wednesday morning, where a student came forward with a social media post that contained text Your next Molalla river middle school September 26/27 and image with lime green emoji guns. Police were notified immediately. Molalla Police Department investigated and took one MRMS student into custody. Principal Dalton sent a notice to the middle school parents before school was out on Wednesday summarizing what had occurred. Thursday, 9/26: A student at Molalla High School (MHS) made a report to staff at MHS. Police investigated and determined the high school students report was the same threat with the emojis from MRMS the day before. The social media post from Wednesday was still visible on social media and Molalla Police were able to get the post removed before 8:30 am. The District sent a notice about Wednesdays incident at MRMS as reports were spreading to other schools. The emphasis was on: See Something/Say Something. Thursday evening New social media posts with different content than the post from Wednesday were received by the middle school principal. These posts each contained text urging middle school students not to go to school on Friday due to possible school violence. A separate report came into SafeOregon. School and District administrators contacted police and learned the Molalla Police Department was also receiving reports of possible school violence via social media posts. School and District officials notified police of every threat, and by 9 pm determined that there were multiple new reports that would not be fully investigated by Friday morning. The District began communicating Fridays closure with staff, parents, and the media at 9:15pm. Friday Police have investigated all the reports and are not pursuing any additional suspects. The District will reopen schools on Monday. See Something, Say Something has been successful. Multiple reports came in from students, staff and parents and we will continue to encourage reporting. Each report will be investigated and we will use policy, discipline and the law to maintain safe schools. Even if those reports turn out to be unfounded, and students have simply made a poor choice causing alarm, we need to emphasize: See Something Say Something. I sincerely appreciate the Molalla Police Department for their partnership and immediate and thorough response to our school communities. I appreciate you trusting us with your children and I am proud of how our staff handled these reports. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 government and Labour Ministry buildings in Chisinau were vandalised on the night of 26-27 September. Two people who received instructions from Moscow have been detained. Source: Moldovan news outlet Newsmaker; European Pravda Details: Several people vandalised the building of Moldova's Labour Ministry on Friday night, throwing bottles of paint on the doors and walls. Half an hour later, the same actions took place near the government building. A video released by Moldovan police shows two men throwing bottles of yellow and blue paint, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, at government buildings. Police detained two suspects, aged 21 and 20. During questioning at the police station, the detainees revealed that they were part of a group of 20 young men recruited to vandalise the premises of Moldovan state institutions to instigate destabilisation. They said they were paid 5,000 for vandalising near the government building alone. One of the suspects claims that he was also responsible for recruiting young people to be instructed in Moscow about the actions planned in Moldova. He said they were paid 500 a month for this. The police reported that all 20 people travelled to Moscow by plane with a stopover in Istanbul, where they were met by a Russian citizen and put up in a hotel. The next day, at a training ground near Moscow, they were taught how to organise protests in Chisinau and destabilise the situation at these protests. They were also given money and phones for communication. After a layover in Antalya, they returned to Moldova, purchased paint, gloves, trainers, and bags, and then shared videos of their vandalism on Telegram as proof of their actions. The police have identified 13 of the 20 individuals who went to Moscow for training, including a 26-year-old man responsible for recruiting youths to make the trip to Russia. Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the homes of four individuals, seizing several cans of paint, gloves, bank cards, identity documents confirming their trips to Russia, and other items that may serve as evidence in a criminal investigation. Support UP or become our patron! Your Money: How to protect yourself against investment scams When you invest, youll find that knowledge is power. The more you know about your investment choices, and who is offering them, the better prepared youll be to make good decisions. And this diligence can also help protect you against investment scams. Jim Lyons, from Edward Jones, joins the JET 24 Action News studio to discuss how to protect yourself. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. How many migrants have crossed the US border illegally? Cracking down on illegal immigration has been Donald Trumps signature issue - but now Democrats are trying to address an election weakness by also talking tough about securing the US border with Mexico. The Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly criticised the government's record on the border, saying "Kamala Harris has allowed 21 million illegals to pour in from all over the world. Crossings did reach record levels under President Biden, but numbers have dropped significantly in recent months. Now Harris says she will make it even harder for migrants to seek asylum in the US. Six out of 10 Americans rate immigration as very important in determining how they will vote, according to the Pew Research Center. Other polling suggests voters trust Trump to handle the issue more effectively than Harris. So how have both administrations dealt with the influx of migrants and what do we know about the people crossing this border illegally? How many migrants have crossed the US southern border? US border officials record "encounters" with migrants - these include people who attempted to cross illegally and people who tried to enter legally but were deemed inadmissible. These encounters have risen to record highs under the Biden administration but not to the level Trump - who has not provided a source for his claim - maintains. Since January 2021, when Joe Biden came to office, there have been more than 10 million encounters - about 8 million came over the southwest land border with Mexico. Under the Trump administration, there were 2.4 million encounters on this border. Encounters fell at the start of 2020 as arrivals slowed because of the pandemic. The number of encounters is not a count of individuals who stay in the US as some migrants will be returned and the same person can be recorded trying to enter multiple times. These figures don't include people who may have crossed the border undetected. The US Department of Homeland Security has estimated there were 11 million illegal migrants living in the US as of January 2022. It says about a fifth of them arrived in 2010 or later but the majority arrived before this time, some as early as the 1980s. How have government policies affected border crossings? Both the Trump and Biden administrations used a Covid-19 public health measure to quickly return migrants at the border. Between its start in March 2020 and its end in May 2023, migrants were expelled nearly three million times under this policy. Despite this, encounters continued to increase, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The factors driving this included a post-lockdown surge in crossings and political and economic instability in countries such as Venezuela. Republicans say Bidens weak policies on immigration also encouraged migrants to travel to the US - and some Democrats in border states criticised the administration for not acting quickly enough to address the crisis. An attempt to pass a cross-party bill to tighten border security failed in May 2024, with Harris saying that Trump "tanked it". Biden issued an executive order the following month to quickly deport migrants at the border. This means migrants can be sent back without having their asylum claims processed, if the average number of weekly encounters exceeded a certain threshold. A month after the order was introduced, encounters at the southern border fell by a fifth. Efforts by the Mexican government have also brought crossings down, including setting up new checkpoints and increasing patrols. In May, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that the number of migrants at the US southern border had halved from a peak of 12,000 a day to 6,000 a day. Where are the migrants coming from? The vast majority of people who cross the US southern border are citizens of nearby countries in the Americas. Recent figures show that in the current financial year (October 2023 - September 2024), the most common nationality encountered at the southern border were Mexicans (617,770). This was followed by nearly a quarter of a million Venezuelans and almost 200,000 Guatemalans. There have also been 36,920 encounters of Chinese citizens this financial year to date. That's 10,000 higher than for the whole of the previous financial year. [BBC] How many border migrants have criminal records? Trump has repeatedly said about illegal migrants that "many of them that are coming in are from prisons and jails and mental institutions, insane asylums". There are no publicly available figures on how many migrants have spent time in prison or in mental institutions but there is data on how many have previous criminal convictions. Of the 1.5 million apprehensions of people crossing the border illegally so far this financial year - and where Border Patrol was able to check against law enforcement databases - about 15,608 were of people with previous criminal convictions. The most common conviction was for illegal entry into another country (9,545), followed by driving under the influence (2,577), and drug possession and trafficking offences (1,414). On 27 September, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released figures showing it had recorded 662,566 "noncitizens with criminal histories" - which includes those currently detained by the agency and those not detained. It says 435,719 of them are convicted criminals and 226,847 have pending criminal charges. The figures go up to July 2024 but ICE does not say when the cases date back to or when these people arrived in the US. Trump has also linked border crossings with fuelling violent crime in the US. At campaign events he has spoken about alleged killings of American women by undocumented migrants. But crime and migration trends have travelled in opposite directions in recent years. Department of Justice figures show a long-term decline in violent crime, with rates of victimisation in 2023 broadly similar to five years ago. Recent FBI data also indicates a downward trend in violence. [Getty Images] Is Venezuela emptying its prisons into the US? Trump also claims that Venezuela has been sending its prisoners into the US. In July he said: Next year well meet in Venezuela because it will be safe. Their crime has gone down 72% because theyve sent all of their drug dealers, their criminals and most of their prisoners into our country. BBC Verify spoke to the independent Venezuelan Observatory of Violence. It said it had seen no evidence that the Venezuelan government has been systematically sending its prisoners to the US or to any other country. The Observatory's figures show crime has fallen in Venezuela in the past few years, but not to the extent Trump has claimed and for other reasons. "Crime is reduced in Venezuela by a reduction in crime opportunities: bank robberies disappear because there is no money to steal; kidnappings are reduced because there is no cash to pay ransoms; robberies on public transport cease because travellers have no money in their pockets and old, worthless cell phones," a spokesperson from the Observatory said. Donald Trump has accused Venezuela of sending criminals into the US. [Getty Images] [BBC] What do you want BBC Verify to investigate? Four more health-care workers who tended to a person hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu have revealed that they had respiratory symptoms after their exposures, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One health-care worker who had symptoms had what investigators consider high-risk contact with the patient, meaning they provided care before the hospital advised taking precautions such as wearing a mask when tending to the patient. Three additional workers reportedly had low-risk contact with the patient after the hospital required precautions. None of these workers was tested at the time they experienced symptoms, the CDC reported Friday. Before Fridays disclosure, two other health-care workers had been identified as having symptoms after caring for this patient, bringing the total number of workers with symptoms to six. To give an idea of the scope of the investigation, 18 health-care workers have been identified as having high-risk exposure to the patient, and 94 others had contact that was considered low-risk, the CDC said. The six health-care workers who fell ill did not have severe symptoms, and they have since resolved. One worker tested negative for influenza at the time of their illness. The other five will have their blood tested to see whether they have antibodies against the virus, which would show whether they had a past H5N1 infection, the CDC added. It has been three weeks since the CDC and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that a person who had no contact with animals had tested positive for H5N1, the 14th human infection in the United States since April. The other 13 cases were in farm workers who had direct contact with infected dairy cows and chickens. The cause of the Missouri patients infection in still under investigation, which is being led by the state, with assistance from the CDC. None of the people in the US with a confirmed H5N1 infection is known to have infected other people. The investigation is ongoing and there remains no evidence to suggest person-to-person transmission at this time, Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, wrote in an email to CNN. Person-to-person transmission would raise alarm because it would suggest that the virus was changing in ways that could allow it to more easily infect humans. The investigation of the bird flu patients household contacts has been completed, Cox said. One person who lives in the same house as the patient developed symptoms the same day. However, the timing doesnt suggest that one person infected the other but that both had a common exposure. Neither had typical flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis, Cox wrote. Only one other person had limited contact with the patient at home, but when questioned, that person said they have not been ill, she said. In other updates, the CDC said that it has developed a test for wastewater that can discriminate samples with H5 viruses from other types of influenza A. This will be particularly helpful as the US moves into flu season and influenza A becomes more common in wastewater. The CDC is reminding people: Not to touch sick or dying animals, including wild and farmed birds and cows. To avoid bedding and litter of animals suspected of having H5N1 influenza. Not to drink raw milk . Heating milk kills the virus, so pasteurized products are safe. to wear personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves when working with sick animals. The agency says the immediate risk to the public from H5N1 bird flu continues to be low. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WACO, Texas (FOX 44) A former priest who worked in McLennan County has been indicted on sexual assault charges once again. Anthony Odiong was previously arrested in Florida. According to the Waco Police Departments Special Crimes Unit, the 56-year-old Odiong received a four-count indictment from a McLennan County Grand Jury around 8:30 a.m. Thursday for first-degree felony sexual assaults. These charges stem from an already-identified survivor whose case was discovered amongst evidentiary returns from search warrants during the investigation process. The department says the evidence of a sexual relationship was/is present from 2007-2012 in emails, text messages and is corroborated by repeated predatory behaviors by Odiong which have appeared amongst nearly every survivor identified to date so far ten of them. The survivor with which these charges represent today also accompany criminal acts that occurred in surrounding counties that the McLennan County District Attorneys Office will weigh the possibilities of seeking indictments in those respective counties as this case investigation continues. PREVIOUS STORY: Priest charged with sex assault brought to Waco to face charges These indictments represent the continued dedication the department has towards affording justice for the survivors of Odiongs criminal actions through his abuse of clerical position within the Catholic Church. Survivors continue to be identified as the evidence returns are sifted through by police, and this case is anticipated to continue revealing facts based upon evidence yet to be publicly released. Odiong is currently in the McLennan County Jail with a total bond of $2,500,000. The Waco Police Department is asking for any survivor(s) within the United States yet to be contacted by police come forward to Det. Bradley DeLange by contacting him directly at 254-750-7609. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) A suspect in a local stabbing who had been on Pennsylvanias Most Wanted Absconders list is now in custody. Robert Pegues, III, was being held in the Mercer County Jail. Pegues is charged with attempted homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy in connection to a stabbing during the robbery of a store on Division Street in Sharon. The victims face was cut during the crime, police said. Police arrested two other suspects Shannon Clarke and Larry Moore Jr. at a home on Charles Street in Hermitage. They were charged with robbery and aggravated assault. Police had been looking for Pegues after the incident. He was arraigned Thursday, and a preliminary hearing was set for 10 a.m. Oct. 16, according to court records. Clarke and Moore are set to be arraigned in Common Pleas Court on Oct. 15. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the stage that Alissas case is currently in. DENVER (KDVR) A Colorado court administrator told FOX31 on Thursday that a motion has been granted for alternative defense counsel to be appointed for the purposes of an appeal in the King Soopers shooting case, although the motion is not reflected in the online records. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was convicted Monday by a Boulder jury on 10 murder charges and 38 attempted murder charges. His defense did not deny that he was the gunman who killed 10 people at the King Soopers on Table Mesa Drive in Boulder on March 22, 2021. In court, family of King Soopers shooting victims shared stories of loved ones and loss Instead, his lawyers argued for years that Alissa was not sane at the time of the shooting, leading to the 25-year-old pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the shooting, state mental health employees diagnosed him with schizophrenia, and told the court he was sane during the shooting. However, prosecutors argued during the trial that Alissa planned the shooting months in advance, pointing out during the trial that he had used steel-piercing bullets and an optic sight to help him kill during the attack. Because of this, jurors deliberated on whether Alissa should be convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity, ultimately convicting him of the 10 counts of first-degree murder, 38 counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of assault in the first degree and six counts of possessing a large capacity magazine. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A motorcyclist was hospitalized Thursday night to be treated for what were described as serious injuries following a crash in Rochester. Officers were called to the area of Lake Avenue and Maplewood Park just before 6 p.m. Police said it was later discovered that the motorcyclist was speeding down Lake Avenue when it collided with an SUV attempting to make a left turn. The occupants of the SUV werent injured. The motorcyclist, identified as a 37-year-old Greece man, was taken to the hospital where police said he was left fighting for his life. No charges have been announced in 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 RochesterFirst. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the identity of a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash in early September on East Platte Avenue near Knob Hill. According to CSPD, officers responded just before 8 a.m. on Sept. 3 to the intersection of Platte and Don Juan Street on a report of a crash involving a pickup truck and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fatal crash at E. Platte and Don Juan St. CSPDs initial information is that the motorcycle was traveling west on E. Platte Ave. and the pickup truck was traveling east and trying to turn onto Don Juan when the crash occurred. Courtesy: FOX21 Courtesy: FOX21 Courtesy: FOX21 Courtesy: FOX21 Westbound Platte Avenue was closed for several hours while the Major Crash Team investigated. CSPD said at this time, no charges have been filed, though the investigation is ongoing. According to CSPD, on Sept. 4, the El Paso County Coroners Office identified the motorcyclist as 35-year-old Michael Pinegar. CSPD said this was the 38th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs this year. At this time in 2023, there had been 30 fatalities. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Motorcyclist killed when he hits car while speeding Motorcyclist killed when he hits car while speeding EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 39-year-old man from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, was killed on Sunday night, Sept. 22 when he was speeding along Gateway East and struck another vehicle, El Paso Police said. Police said Alex Cole Bustamante, 39, was killed in a crash at about 6:30 p.m. along the 4400 block of Gateway East near Lincoln Park. 1 person dead in crash involving motorcycle in South-Central Police say Bustamante was traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver in front of him merged right into the next lane to avoid being hit by the motorcycle, police said. The motorcycle, however, struck the rear left corner of the vehicle, causing the motorcyclist to be thrown from the bike, police said. Bustamante was transported to a local hospital where he died, police said. Speed on the part of Bustamante is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash, police said. This is the 46th traffic fatality in El Paso, compared to 55 at the same time last 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 KTSM 9 News. Hooven Avenue in Hooven, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Residents of the census-designated place in Whitewater Township are apprehensive about coming home after a railcar spilled the chemical styrene just two days before. If you've ever spent time in Hooven, you might call it a front-porch community. Hooven Avenue, the main drag in the residential area near Cleves, is lined with homes ranging from mobile homes to old farmhouses. Its a quiet street with few cars passing through. People wave at their neighbors, and everyone knows everyone. But on Thursday, porch swings were empty and screen doors covered. People were holed up inside if they were even home at all. What happened over the last 36 hours? The story of the styrene leak in Whitewater Township, Ohio Its been two days since a train car started leaking the chemical styrene near the Whitewater Township community of just under 500 people. Residents within a half-mile of the railyard were startled when around 1 p.m. their phones went off and cops came to their doors to notify them of an evacuation order. Many left with just the clothes on their backs, calling friends and family and booking motels to stay for an unknown period of time. They couldnt come home because the odorous chemical was permeating the air, with many reporting immediate symptoms like nose and eye burning, trouble breathing and more. Hooven Avenue residents like Mary Halloran were grateful to come home when the evacuation order was lifted Wednesday evening, but it was daunting to come back to a place that a day before was not deemed safe. Theres no place like home, but you dont want to come home because youre scared," Halloran said. Heading home after a frightening experience It was around 1 p.m. Tuesday when Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency first told Hooven residents to evacuate. Officials gave residents the all-clear on air quality around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, about 30 hours after the stationary railcar, situated across U.S. 50 from the Whitewater Township Kroger, stopped leaking styrene. Crews from a dozen agencies poured water onto the increasingly hot tank for nearly 12 hours to stop the leak. Whitewater Township Fire Chief Scott Schorsch was the first on scene. Soon after, firefighters clad with gas masks and full personal protective equipment arrived on scene to mitigate the leak, which developed a full vapor plume spewing from the top of the tank car. Chief of Whitewater Township Fire & EMS Scott Schorsch at the Whitewater Township Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Schorsch said the township is doing its best to provide resources and information to residents who fear for the worst as they return home. Specialists were on hand at the firehouse for residents who were worried about reentering their homes due to the chemical leak, and the fire department has been providing resources on its social media pages to help assuage people's concerns. "I know some residents are still scared and anxious, and others have gone home," Schorsch said. "We're just hoping people find the information and utilize it." A 'tremendous smell': Dispatch logs detail chaotic scene at Cleves railcar styrene leak The staff at Fishtail Tavern, a local haunt for the Hooven community, did not waste time when they first noticed the styrene smell. According to tavern owner Angie Oliver, the staff immediately started moving people out of the restaurant and shutting down its HVAC when the odor first permeated the kitchen. Before they resumed operations on Thursday, cleaning crews scrubbed the place top to bottom to ensure confidence in the customers, even though officials did not say such measures were necessary. Fishtail Tavern regular Joe Brockman was at the restaurant when the news of the leak broke. Cellphones started blaring EMA alerts throughout the dining room not long after fire engines and cop cars started whizzing by. Upon stepping outside, Brockman immediately noticed the smell and the gas burned his eyes and nose a sensation he remembers when he worked near toxic chemicals at his former job with GE. "It was a real sweet smell. You could almost taste it," Brockman said. The inside of Fishtail Tavern in Hooven on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. It was the first day back in operation after the restaurant was closed for two days due to a chemical leak on a nearby train. It was also Albert Huffman's first day back at the restaurant. The 92-year-old, who has lived in Hooven for more than 50 years, was sitting on his front porch when the styrene leak started. He immediately noticed the smell and got dizzy. His cellphone was already sounding the EMA warning by the time he got inside. A neighbor drove him to the nearby Quality Inn, where many people they knew from the neighborhood were also staying. "I feel good right now," Huffman said. He's still going to the doctor this week to make sure he'll be OK. He has heart issues and wears a pacemaker, so he's concerned that his symptoms have come and gone since the incident. If he doesn't get better, he wants the railroad company to pay for his medical expenses. Uncertainty, unanswered questions moving forward For Russell McKernan, who lives in Hooven in his mother's former home, the disappointment from a hazmat incident like this is not new. He recalls when petroleum products from a Chevron refinery in Hooven contaminated groundwater throughout the community. The EPA in 2006 ordered the company to handle the cleanup, which remains underway to this day. Tuesday's styrene leak brought back memories of the Chevron case, but this time was different: They were evacuated from their homes. He and his wife left for a hotel Tuesday night with just the clothes on their backs. "Until someone is pulled out of their house for no reason, you don't know how you're being affected," McKernan said. "We were crushed." The styrene's strong odor resembling acetone no longer lingers in the air and the symptoms are gone, but for Halloran's sister, Deborah Miller, it's the uncertainty of the situation that's frightening. From left Mary Halloran, Michelle Silva and Deborah Miller at their residence in Hooven on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The women live in an eight-person household, all family members, and are apprehensive about returning home following the styrene spill. Is it safe to be at home? Why was the railcar sitting on the tracks by the Great Miami River for so long? Who's going to help residents who may be permanently harmed by the styrene fumes released that day? Why did the EMA alert go out to some residents' phones, and not others? "We had a lot of questions that didn't get answered," Miller said. "That's the main thing." The sisters Halloran and Miller live in an eight-person household, which includes Halloran's daughter, Michelle Silva. Silva said no one's phone in the house got the alert that day, and they had to find out about the leak on the news. Confusion surrounded how her daughter and niece would get back home from school that day, so she ended up sending her mother to pick them up before the went to a campground for the night. It was an unprecedented situation for her family, who moved to Hooven from Norwood in 2019. "Being told we had to evacuate and not come home at all that was the hardest part," Silva said. "It was scary. It was like a movie." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Residents in area of Cleves styrene leak remain uneasy returning home Winds from Tropical Storm Helene ripped the roof off this home in Williston, S.C., at 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, and caused the sunroom and screened-in porch to collapse. (Provided by Emily Wiles) COLUMBIA Tropical Storm Helene caused at least 19 deaths in South Carolina as its winds covered the state early Friday and left more than 1.2 million homes and businesses without power statewide. The Anderson County Coroners office confirmed two people were killed in that Upstate county when trees fell on their homes, according to spokeswoman Alyssa Whitfield. And Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables said his office is investigating four deaths related to the storm. At a briefing Friday afternoon, Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed two firefighters died in Saluda County and two people died in Newberry County in traffic-related incidents caused by the storm. Multiple news outlets report the death toll in Spartanburg County rose to five, and four died in Greenville County. Winds from Tropical Storm Helene downed trees across South Carolina. Pictured is a home in Williston, S.C., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Provided by Kevin Carroll) Meanwhile, utilities statewide reported outages, according to online maps from Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Santee Cooper and the states electric cooperatives. Executives from the power companies said some outages could last through the weekend and into next week. Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said the number of outages in his companys territory is nearly the same as what that area experienced after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The Upstate took the brunt of the storm. High winds uprooted trees from the ground already saturated after days of rain, McMaster said. John Quagliariello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, reported rainfall totals as high as 15 inches in Oconee, Greenville and Pickens in the days ahead of the storm. At the height of the storm, wind gusts in the state ranged from 50 to 70 miles per hour, including 72-mile-per-hour gusts recorded in Aiken and Anderson and an 82-mile-per-hour gust just over the border in Augusta. The National Weather Service issued numerous tornado warnings but Quagliariello said its still unknown how many tornados may have actually occurred. Duke Energy alone was reporting 545,000 outages in the Upstate as of noon Friday. Jimmy Stanton, head of state-owned utility Santee Cooper, said crews at the companys power station in Anderson County had to cut through trees to get into work Friday morning. But most of the power companys issues were with its major transmission lines that supply electricity to South Carolinas electric cooperatives. Central Electric Power Cooperative CEO Rob Hochstetler, speaking on behalf of the states 19 cooperatives, said the storm snapped several hundred poles and yanked down lines. Cooperative employees who have been in the business upwards of 40 years in the Upstate and along South Carolinas western border reported Helene was the most destructive storm theyve ever seen. Trees even fell on the trucks of two crews while they were out trying to restore power, Hochstetler said. No workers were injured. All asked for patience as crews work to get the lights back on. Gov. Hery McMaster leads a briefing at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, following Tropical Storm Helene. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) Tomorrow, its going to be 86 degrees and clear, and youre going to say, Why cant I watch the football game? Why cant I go out and get my life get back to normal?' Kissam said. Lifes not going to be back to normal until probably the middle of next week from a power standpoint, just because of the sheer damage that we have. Utility executives stressed the importance of staying away from downed power lines and state Fire Marshall Jonathan Jones reminded residents to use caution should they choose to run a generator. He said generators should not be run inside homes or attached garages and should be kept away from doors, windows and other openings to prevent the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. For those displaced by the storm, the state has six shelters open across Laurens, Orangeburg, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda and Spartanburg counties. So far, only about 30 people have sought shelter, according to S.C. Department of Social Services Director Mike Leach. Over the weekend, Quagliariello said the National Weather Service is forecasting major river flooding on the Saluda River near Greenville, the Broad Rivers near the North Carolina border and the Wateree River near the dam. S.C. Department of Environmental Services Interim Director Myra Reece said her agency is in contact with officials in North Carolina monitoring the Lake Lure dam that, if it were to breach, could impact South Carolina. Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. As the storm pushed inland, it weakened but was still a Category 1 storm as it moved up through Georgia, tracking slightly more to the East than anticipated, and brought tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall across South Carolina. Helene is expected to turn to the northwest and dissipate over the Tennessee River Valley this weekend. Tropical Storm Helene is having a devastating impact on South Carolina, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a statement. The scope of damage from the storm has been wide and deep. People are not only without power, but there is heavy flooding, homes have been destroyed and lives have been lost and upended. Graham said the congressional delegation will work with the governor to secure federal disaster relief. Helenes destructive path comes less than two months after Tropical Storm Debby soaked parts of the state as it meandered up South Carolinas coast and into North Carolina, spinning off tornadoes, causing flooding and damaging hundreds of homes. But no deaths or injuries were reported in South Carolina from that slow-moving storm. Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect additional confirmed deaths. 3 hackers with ties to Iran indicted in plot against Trump campaign: DOJ Three men connected to Iran have been indicted in relation to a hacking plot against former President Donald Trump's campaign, the Department of Justice announced Friday. Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri and Yasar Balaghi are the three suspects named in the case, according to a federal indictment unsealed Friday afternoon. The indictment shows the trio are facing a long list of charges, including: Conspiracy to Obtain Information from a Protected Computer; Defraud and Obtain a Thing of Value; Commit Fraud Involving Authentication Features; Commit Aggravated Identity Theft; Commit Access Device Fraud; and Commit Wire Fraud While Falsely Registering Domains. Does Iran's Hacking Of The Trump Campaign Prove They Want Kamala Harris To Win The Election? Experts Weigh In Three hackers with ties to Iran were indicted by the DOJ. The three hackers, who are accused of working for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were allegedly "engaged in a wide-ranging hacking campaign that used spearphishing and social engineering techniques to target and compromise the accounts of current and former U.S. government officials, members of the media, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals associated with U.S. political campaigns." Last week, the U.S. revealed the Iranian hackers had obtained information on the Trump campaign and tried to distribute it to people linked to the Biden campaign and media organizations since June. Read On The Fox News App Iran Tried To Influence Election By Sending Stolen Material From Trump Campaign To Biden's Camp, Fbi Says READ THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT App Users, Click Here: The federal government acknowledges that the Trump campaign has been a specific and repeated target of Iran since he ordered the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC Qods Force. Trump was briefed Tuesday about "real and specific threats" from Iran to assassinate the Republican presidential candidate, according to his campaign. Irans aim to assassinate Trump is part of the Islamic Republics efforts to "destabilize and sow chaos in the United States," Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a press release. "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. This is a developing story and will be updated. Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. Original article source: 3 hackers with ties to Iran indicted in plot against Trump campaign: DOJ Multiple terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach remain closed Friday a day after a big-rig tractor trailer carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned on the freeway connecting both San Pedro Bay Ports. Four of the L.A. ports terminalsAPM Terminals, Fenix Marine, Everport and Yusen Terminalscanceled their second shift Thursday and remained closed Friday as local fire, hazmat and police agencies continue to work on scene. TraPac and the West Basin Container Terminal will stay open, as will the World Cruise Center, the port said. More from Sourcing Journal As for the neighboring L.B. port, container terminals at Pier T and Pier A will remain closed for the day shift (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Friday due to proximity to the fire. They will reassess resumption of operations later. The incident occurred just off Interstate 710, near Ocean Boulevard and Navy Way on Terminal Island, the land area where both ports reside. It was unclear what caused the truck to roll on its side. All four other container terminalsLong Beach Container Terminal, ITS, Pacific Container Terminal and SSA at Pier Cremain open. The Port of Long Beach said it is not expected that the incident will greatly impact the flow of cargo at the gateway. But containers that are already stuck there could be a nuisance for companies that had an appointment to pick them up via truck after 1 p.m. on Thursday, or throughout Friday, according to Ian Weiland, chief operating officer at trucking and logistics company Junction Collaborative Transports. This will be roughly 1.5-to-2 days of [appointments] needing to be rescheduled across ALL truckers ALL at the same time, Weiland said in a post on LinkedIn. Expect MAJOR delays on these particular containers. And for those companies bringing an empty container back to a closed terminal, it will sit in a trucker storage yard on a chassis and will continue to rack up added charges due to the closure, he warned. Since it wont be possible to return all empties at same time because of the container congestion, dispute any/all charges with SSL as these are market problems, he added. The incident occurred just off Interstate 710, near Ocean Boulevard and Navy Way on Terminal Island, the land area where both ports reside. It was unclear what caused the truck to roll on its side. The Los Angeles Fire Department first reported on the incident at 11:58 a.m. local time Thursday. There were no reported injuries or evacuations, and there were no off-site hazards. Traffic is being re-routed away from the area and all motorists are advised to use alternate routes. According to the LAFD, which is overseeing the incident, firefighters monitored the battery fire through the night and will continue to all day Friday. The department said at 10 p.m. that the fire was expected to last at least another 24 to 48 hours. The batteries have been damaged, and are on fire and off-gassing, with reports of one battery exploding, the LAFD said. The fire crews were taking precautions to block hazardous materials from potentially spreading from the batteries, one of which exploded, said the department. A seven-mile stretch on California State Route 47, extending from the Vincent Thomas Bridge to Long Beach, will remain closed through that period. The terminal closures come at a pivotal moment for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which process the most and second-most 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the U.S., just days ahead of a now-probable East and Gulf Coast port strike on Oct. 1. In August, the ports saw an increase in container imports of 18 percent and 40 percent, respectively, as many shippers brought product in earlier than usual or shifted cargo away from the East Coast. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, and Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero have both indicated that their hubs are prepared for any potential uptick in imports that is expected to come from the diverted cargo. On Sept. 18, Seroka said the L.A. port ran at about 80 percent capacity of 1.2 million TEUs. And the L.B. port is handling just as much cargo as we did in 2021 and 2022 but without any of the pandemic-era backlogs, delays or congestion that arose due to issues outside the Port, said Cordero in a statement on the East Coast port contract negotiations Friday. We continue to be in close contact with our ocean carriers, terminal operators, railroads, equipment providers, and labor and industry partners to monitor the situation and to do our part to keep the national supply chain operational, Cordero said, who noted the port was prepared to its business recovery task force for the duration of any increased congestion or impediments to the movement of cargo due to any work stoppage. As of Thursday, 11 container vessels were waiting at berth at the Port of Los Angeles. Nine ships are berthed at the Port of Long Beach on Friday. There were 26 total ships in the area between their point of origin and 40 nautical miles from the L.A. hub, while there were 29 vessels between those points that were headed for L.B. Approximately 436,973 TEUs are aboard the 55 ships headed for the San Pedro Bay. A museum in Australia can bar men from the 'Ladies Lounge' exhibition, a regional top court says Kirsha Kaechele, curator of a ladies' lounge at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, back center, and supporters dance outside the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ethan James/AAP Image via AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) A museum in Australia was within its rights to bar men from a controversial art exhibit for women meant to underscore their exclusion from segments of the male-dominated society, a top regional court said on Friday. The development is the latest in the long-running saga of the Ladies Lounge exhibition that has provoked an uproar in the art world. Its curator, Kirsha Kaechele, admitted in June she had created all the art, including the paintings she had billed for years as works by Spanish master Pablo Picasso without anyone noticing they were fake. On Friday, Tasmanias Supreme Court threw out on appeal an order for Tasmanias Museum of Old and New Art, where the exhibit opened in 2020, to stop refusing male patrons entry to the show. It said the lower tribunal should have found that the Ladies Lounge was exempt from Australia's gender discrimination law. The appeals court asked Tasmanias Civil and Administrative Tribunal to reconsider its ruling from April in the case brought by a disgruntled male visitor. It wasn't immediately clear when the case would be revisited. Associate Justice Shane Marshall wrote in his ruling Friday that the lower body was wrong when it decided the exhibition did not qualify for an exemption to gender discrimination laws. The exhibition was intended to promote equal opportunity for women who suffer ongoing gender disadvantage by excluding men, he said. When the museum first lost the suit, Kaechele relocated the paintings to a womens restroom at the gallery rather than allow male visitors to see the art. The fracas, however, continued, with the Guardian newspaper eventually questioning the authenticity of the art work after the museum published a picture of a supposed Picasso hanging above a toilet. Fridays ruling was a victory for Kaechele, who said in July that the purpose of the Ladies Lounge open to all who identified as women was to make men feel as excluded as possible." Catherine Scott, a lawyer representing the museum, said the ruling Friday recognized that the Ladies Lounge challenged inequality by providing a flipped universe where women experience advantage. During the hearings, Scott had presented a 2024 report card by the Australian government on gender equality, which shows that women working full-time earn 12% less than men. Kaechele claimed the court's decision reflected what she holds as "a simple truth: women are better than men. Jason Lau, the New South Wales resident who brought the case against the museum, did not appear in court neither during the initial lawsuit nor during the appeal and has never spoken publicly about it. Lau's lawyer, Greg Barns, said he was unable to comment on the case and did not respond to a request to speak to his client. When the appeal hearing opened last week, Kaechele repeated her performance from earlier, showing up at the Supreme Court in Tasmania's city of Hobart surrounded by dozens of women supporters in navy-colored suits and wearing bright red lipstick. The women danced out of the court in single file, some holding placards denouncing men. Yes, the men, understandably, are a little grumpy about this, Kaechele wrote on Instagram after Friday's ruling. They may even appeal. (They do not appeal to me.) When Kaechele announced in July that she had created the artwork at the exhibit, including the supposed Picasso paintings, she provoked a debate among art critics. Detractors said that to knowingly display forgeries undermined a gallery's credibility and that Kaechele was making a joke at her women patrons' expense by passing off worthless trinkets as art. But many gallery visitors appeared to be in on the act. In March, a panelist on the Australian current events show The Project on Network 10 described being forced to wait outside while his female companions visited the exhibition. I begged to find out what happened, but no one said anything, Sam Taunton told the program. My girlfriend said it was the greatest experience of her life. The exiled National Unity Government said the junta's offer was not worth considering [Reuters] Rebel groups have rejected a peace offer from Myanmars embattled junta, which is reeling from battlefield losses and defections in a civil war that has dragged on for more than three years. This is dictatorship's first such outreach since it seized power in 2021. It also comes after a ceasefire brokered by China in the northern Shan state fell apart. The junta called on ethnic armed groups and "terrorist insurgent groups" to "communicate with us to solve political problems politically", also urging them to join elections planned for next year. The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) said the offer was not worth considering, adding the junta had no authority to hold an election. The junta extended an olive branch Thursday as it struggled to fight on multiple fronts and stem a widespread rebellion. Some reports say the junta now has control of less than half of Myanmar's territories. In June, an alliance of three ethnic armies renewed an offensive against the military, seizing territory along a key highway to China's Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar. The fighting near the border in Shan state has blocked China's ambitious plan to connect its landlocked south-west to the Indian Ocean via Myanmar. Beijing's top diplomat, Wang Yi, is thought to have delivered a warning to the country's ruler Min Aung Hlaing during a visit to Myanmar last month. Armed groups should follow "the path of party politics and elections in order to bring about lasting peace and development", the junta said in its statement on Thursday. "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 [because of the conflict]" it said. But the rebel groups are sceptical of the offer. The Karen National Union (KNU), which has been fighting for decades with the military for more autonomy along the border with Thailand, told AFP news agency that talks were only possible if the military agreed to "common political objectives". "Number one: no military participation in future politics. Two [the military] has to agree to a federal democratic constitution," KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee 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 the junta does not accede to these demands, the KNU will "keep putting pressure on [the junta] politically and militarily," he added. Maung Saungkha, the leader of the Bamar People's Liberation Army, told Reuters news agency that his group is "not interested in this offer". "They are hanging goats heads but selling dog meat," Soe Thu Ya Zaw, commander of the Mandalay Peoples Defense Forces, wrote on Facebook. After the military ousted Myanmar's democratically-elected government in 2021, peaceful protests were met with killings and arrests. This led ethnic armed groups to join forces with anti-coup militias across the country to fight back, plunging the country into a civil war. At least 50,000 people have been killed since the coup and more than two million people displaced, according to the United Nations. The UN warned last week that Myanmar was "sinking into an abyss of human suffering". Eyewitnesses had previously told the BBC about how the military has tourtued people in its custody, including by pouring burning petrol on them and forcing some to drink their urine. FILE - Saw Win Myint, a commander of a military unit under the Karen National Union, the leading political body for the Karen ethnic minority that is part of the resistance against military rule in Myanmar, inspects the damaged armory in the captured army base of Infantry Battalion 275 in Myawaddy township in Kayin state, Myanmar, on April 12, 2024.. (AP Photo/Metro, File) BANGKOK (AP) The main group coordinating opposition to military rule in Myanmar rejected on Friday a surprise offer from the ruling generals to hold talks on a political solution to the countrys nationwide armed conflict. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the oppositions shadow National Unity Government, told The Associated Press that a joint statement issued earlier this year by opposition groups has already paved the way for a negotiated political solution if the army agrees to its conditions. Padoh Saw Kalae Say, a spokesperson of the Karen National Union, which represents the Karen ethnic minority, said it also will not accept the militarys offer. The KNU has been fighting on and off for greater autonomy since Myanmar, then called Burma, won independence from Britain in 1948. What we see is that their inviting offers are the ideas from more than 70 years ago. We wont accept and discuss it, and looking back at the statements we have repeatedly expressed, I would like to say that there is no need to think about this, Padoh Saw Kalae Say told the AP. The militarys brief Offer to resolve political issues in political means, dated Thursday and published Friday in the Global New Light of Myanmar and other state-run newspapers, was its most direct offer of peace talks since it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It said its opponents are invited to contact the State to resolve the political issues through party politics or electoral processes in order to be able to join hands with the people to emphasize durable peace and development by discarding the armed terrorist way. The offer came five days before the military government launches a national census to compile voter lists for a general election expected next year. An election is seen as a way for the military to legitimize its rule, though it would be difficult to organize while the country is at war, and critics see no way for the polls to be free and fair. The ruling military originally announced that elections would be held in August 2023, but has repeatedly pushed back the date. The military's offer, which defended its 2021 takeover and blamed the countrys subsequent turmoil on its opponents, came after the army over the past year has suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats from powerful ethnic militias, especially in the northeast along the border with China and in the western state of Rakhine. The army is currently on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of the country that are seeking autonomy, as well as hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called Peoples Defense Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy after the army takeover. The oppositions political road map earlier this year offering talks was signed by the National Unity Government and three major ethnic armed organizations the Chin National Front, the Karenni National Progressive Party and the Karen National Union, all of which are engaged in active combat against the military government. That statements objectives include terminating the militarys involvement in politics, placing all armed forces under the command of an elected civilian government, promulgating a new constitution embodying federalism and democratic values, establishing a new federal democratic union and instituting a system of transitional justice. It calls for a dialogue with the militarys leadership, but only after it shows its unconditional acceptance of the plan for the termination of military rule and a peaceful transition of power. It is not clear whether the military's new offer was meant to include all opposition groups, several of which it has officially classified as terrorists and therefore illegal. While addressing thousands of military personnel at a military parade on Armed Forces Day in March 2022, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, said he would not negotiate with terrorist groups and their supporters for killing innocent people and threatening peace and security. He said the military known as the Tatmadaw will annihilate them to (the) end. Mike Lindell, the controversial founder of MyPillow and vocal ally to Donald Trump, is claiming ignorance over the neo-Nazi symbolism in his pillow prices. Lindells pillow company, which he founded in 2009, is currently offering customers the Standard Classic MyPillow for $14.88 reduced from $49.98. But the discount has got critics pointing out a popular neo-Nazi symbol lurking behind the price. The numbers 14 and 88 are two popular white supremacist numeric symbols, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The first is a nod to the 14 words slogan, We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children, coined by David Lane a member of the white supremacist terrorist group known as The Order. Meanwhile, 88 is a common code meaning Heil Hitler, because H is the eighth letter in the alphabet. Lindell addressed the criticism on conservative online talk show FlashPoint this week, claiming he had no knowledge of the symbolism associated with the price of his items. Mike Lindell speaks at a Minnesota rally featuring Trump and JD Vance on July 27 2024. He has claimed ignorance over the hidden meaning behind his pillow prices (Getty Images) Instead, he said he arrived at the number via a discounting tactic used by Walmart. When they have a sale on a sale, right? That 88, he said, according to Forward. I get a call from all the media around the country and the world, all the way to The Daily Mail, saying, what are you, a Nazi? The conspiracy theorist also told the New York Post: I have no idea what this is all about. The pillows were still available for the contentious price as of Friday morning. An advertisement posted to X from MyPillows official account promotes the discount as a limited time offer MyPillows official X account told potential buyers the discounted price is a limited time offer (@MyPillowUSA/X) The Independent has contacted Lindell for comment. Lindell founded his pillow company in 2009, and over the years has become an avid Trump fan. He is widely known for peddling the baseless conspiracy theory that hundreds of thousands of votes went missing in Georgia during the 2020 election. This latest controversy comes weeks after DHL filed a lawsuit against MyPillow, accusing Lindell of owing the courier company nearly $800,000 in unpaid bills. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) Hundreds of setups were set up across north central West Virginia on Thursday, giving people a chance to learn about drug overdoses, as well as receive free naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. The setups were a part of Save a Life Day, a national event that looks to educate the public on the dangers of drug overdoses and distribute resources to combat them. Groups in several states east of the Mississippi River participated in the occasion on Thursday, including every county in West Virginia. Weve got a lot of college students and college students, they like to experiment, they like to do recreational drugs and one of the big things were seeing is a fentanyl increase and fentanyl is extremely dangerous in small qualities and it can easily take a life. So what we like to do is we like educate parents that its really good to have Narcan on hand, Monongalia County Health Department QRT Brittany Irick said. Why does fentanyl have such a hold on north central West Virginia? Fentanyl test strips have received mixed reactions from the public in the past, but Irick emphasized that these strips are life-saving. If students are going to experiment we would like for them to know that Fentanyl is in their drugs so they can have that Narcan on hand. The fentanyl may not deter them, we hope that it would but if it doesnt then having that Narcan on hand can ensure that were going to hopefully save their life, said Irick. Irick said if someone is going to administer Narcan, they should call 911. She wants people to remember that West Virginias Good Samaritan Law will apply to them if they are involved in an overdose situation but call for help. The Good Samaritan Law provides certain criminal immunities for people who seek help for a person who has overdosed. If you could not make it to the event, officials said that you can call your local countys health department. For Monongalia County residents, if you need additional Narcan or Narcan training, you can call 304-598-5100. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Naomi Campbell Banned from Leading Charities in England for 5 Years After Investigation Found Financial Misconduct The supermodel has denied any wrongdoing, adding that she is extremely concerned about the allegations Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Naomi Campbell on Sept. 20, 2024 Naomi Campbell has been banned from leading any charitable organization in England and Wales for five years after an investigation accused the model of misusing funds within her charity. On Thursday, Sept. 26, Britains Charity Commission released findings claiming that the English supermodel, 54, poorly governed and had inadequate financial management when it came to her Fashion for Relief organization, which was established in January 2015 to raise funds for various environmental and humanitarian causes. Campbell and others are accused of using their positions with the organization to pay for expensive flights, lavish hotel stays and cigarettes. These costs included spa treatments, room service, and the purchase of cigarettes and hotel products, according to the report. Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Naomi Campbell in 2017 Related: Naomi Campbell Seemingly Shades Anna Wintour in Acceptance Speech After Vogue EIC Calls Out Her Tardiness Campbell, who is named as a trustee in the watchdog groups published report, is accused of failing to comply with the charitys constitution which includes no formal meeting minutes [being] recorded. A review of the financial records identified that the trustees expended 14,800 for a flight on 11 May 2018 from London to Nice, the report said. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The trustees confirmed that a then trustee and one major donor (unnamed) were boarded on the flight which had been booked for the purposes of transferring art and jewellery (in excess of 1.5m) to the charitys fundraising event in Cannes, the report continued. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Naomi Campbell on Sept. 26, 2024 According to a press release, The inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5% of the charitys overall expenditure was on charitable grants. Fashion for Relief dissolved earlier this year in March 2024. 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. On Thursday, Campbell spoke to the Associated Press after being named a knight in Frances Order of Arts and Letters at the countrys culture ministry for her contribution to French culture, where she denied any wrongdoing, but added that she was extremely concerned about the accusations in the report. I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal employer, the businesswoman told the outlet. We are investigating to find out what and how, and everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes to charity. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Naomi Campbell Barred From Being U.K. Charity Trustee After Discovery of Unauthorized Payments Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from U.K. charity work for five years after funds were found to have been spent on luxury hotels and spa treatments. British icon Campbell was a trustee for Fashion for Relief, but a Charity Commission inquiry found that the company was not passing on the entirety of the money it raised. Unauthorized payments were spent on cigarettes and security for Campbell, among other things. More from The Hollywood Reporter The charity was founded in 2005 by Campbell and raised money to combat poverty and support economically deprived young people through charity fashion shows. Campbell told the AP on Thursday: Ive just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned, explaining she was not the person in control of Fashion for Relief or its spending. She has been banned from charity involvement for five years alongside two other trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, who have been barred for nine and four years, respectively. Campbells team did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Hollywood Reporter. The inquiry found that unauthorized payments totaling 290,000 pounds ($388,000) for consultancy services had been made to Hellmich, in breach of the charitys constitution. Commission-appointed interim managers have secured repayments to the charity. These have been used to make payments to two other charities, Save the Children Fund and Mayors Fund for London, as well as cover the cost of Fashion for Reliefs liabilities. The inquiry looked at Fashion for Reliefs expenses between April 2016 and July 2022, finding that only 8.5 percent of funds raised were spent on charity grants. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Crack Crisis According to a new report by NASA's inspector general, the space agency is growing significantly concerned over leaks in a tunnel connecting the International Space Station's Russian segment to a docking port. Worse yet, officials are still not entirely sure what is causing them. "On-going cracks and air leaks in the Service Module Transfer Tunnel are a top safety risk," the report reads. "And NASA and Roscosmos are collaborating to investigate and mitigate the cracks and leaks, determine the root cause, and monitor the Station for new leaks." In April, NASA "identified an increase in the leak to its highest level to date," releasing 3.7 pounds of atmosphere a day, a massive increase compared to just under 1 pound in February, as Ars Technica reports. "Although the root cause of the leak remains unknown, both agencies have narrowed their focus to internal and external welds," the report reads. Fixing the issue could be a challenging problem due to "supply chain issues" plaguing NASA's contractors, a headache that could make sustaining ISS operations even more difficult before the agency officially retires it in 2030. Closing the Hatch In June, NASA upgraded the cracking issue to its highest level of concern in its "risk matrix," as Ars Technica reported at the time. If the leaks continue, NASA and Roscosmos may be forced to permanently close the hatch to the affected tunnel, which would cut astronauts off from using one of the station's four docking ports. "According to NASA, Roscosmos is confident they will be able to monitor and close the hatch to the Service Module prior to the leak rate reaching an untenable level," the inspector general report reads. "However, NASA and Roscosmos have not reached an agreement on the point at which the leak rate is untenable." It's an awkward realization given the space station's already limited shelf life. In 2030, NASA is planning to get help from SpaceX to deorbit the station and crash it into the Pacific Ocean. As Ars points out, NASA and Russia have yet to agree on continuing operations past 2028. Another option would be to make changes to the station to extend its life past 2030, something that would "require significant funding," according to the inspector general, and the "acceptance of increased risk stemming from its components and aging structures." More on leaks: Russia Confirms Small But Growing Leak in Space Station While millions of Americans drink coffee every day, Sunday is an extra special day for celebrating a cup of joe. Every Sept. 29 is deemed National Coffee Day in United States. The beloved brew is also celebrated globally on Oct. 1 for International Coffee Day. To mark National Coffee Day and help coffee lovers celebrate, coffee shops, fast-food establishments, convenience stores and other places known for coffee are perking up with freebies, discounts or deals. It's no secret that coffee is a popular drink. According to the National Coffee Association, American adults consume more than 400 million cups of coffee per day. Americans who consume coffee drink on average 2.5 cups of coffee per day, according to the National Coffee Association's 2024 trends report. More: Faygo launches Jolly Green Apple pop flavor: Here's how it tastes Other key findings by the National Coffee Association: While 61% of Americans choose traditional coffee, 56% turn to specialty coffees like lattes, espressos and cappuccinos. 24% of past-day coffee cups were served cold, up 60% from winter 2023. It's no surprise that 84% of Americans have their coffee in the morning with breakfast. A huge 76% of Americans say coffee wakes them up and gets them going. Its a good idea to get these deals now because coffee prices are rising fast, according to Nick Becharas, CEO of Highland Park-Becharas Brothers Coffee Co. "It's a perfect storm with so many factors," Becharas said. "You have a drought in Brazil; there's no rain. We are coming off a drought in Vietnam, and there is historically low inventory in U.S. warehouses." Becharas added that there is the "Oct. 1 potential strike with the international longshoreman union." When it comes to coffee, Detroit isnt a hot spot for the brew, according to personal finance website WalletHub's 2024 list of the 100 Best Coffee Cities. In fact, Detroit ranks close to last at No. 96 on the list. Coming in at No. 100 is Laredo, Texas. Detroit also spends the least amount on coffee, ranking at 100 on the list. Topping the list is Fremont, California, with the highest average annual spend on coffee nearly four times higher than in Detroit. Heres a sampling of not-to-miss National Coffee Day deals in metro Detroit and beyond. Many of these coffee deals are available only at participating locations and require downloading an app or joining a loyalty or reward program. Biggby Coffee Biggby Coffee offers has free coffee deal for National Coffee Day on Sept.29. Receive a free 16-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee using your registered Biggby card. When you use your card you will also be entered for a chance to win a share of $50,000 in digital gift card prizes being offered by East Lansing-based Biggby Coffee. Biggbys sweepstakes runs one day, beginning at midnight and ending at 11:59 a.m. on Sunday. Caribou Coffee Caribou Coffee honors National Coffee Day on Sunday plus an added week of savings. On Sunday, Caribou Coffee offers a free medium cold press or hot coffee with purchase of another beverage or a 16-ounce bag of coffee beans. Starting Monday, Caribou kicks off Caribou Perks Appreciation Week for loyalty members. Each day through Oct. 4 has a different discount. For example, on Monday members receive a large drink for the price of a medium. Thursday is 20% off food. Some exclusions apply. For info visit cariboucoffee.com/perks. Dunkin Nationwide chain Dunkin offers a free hot or iced coffee with any purchase for its Dunkin' Rewards members. Limit one per member. Krispy Kreme All guests receive a medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase. In addition to the free coffee, Krispy Kreme is adding a sweet offer of $2 for a dozen of its original glazed doughnuts with the purchase of any dozen. The offer is available in stores, drive-thru and for pickup or delivery at krispykreme.com or through its mobile app using promo codes COFFEE and BOGO2 while supplies last. Paris Baguette Paris Baguette as a free coffee offering for National Coffee Day on Sept.29. PB Rewards members get a free medium hot or iced brewed coffee with purchase Friday-Sunday brewed with Lavazza coffee. Pilot Flying J Pilot Flying J has as a free coffee offering for National Coffee Day on Sept.29. Free, any size hot, iced or cold-brewed coffee will be available all day on National Coffee Day. Redeem the free coffee through the myRewards Plus app at participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers. Pilot's new coffee fall flavors include Bourbon Pecan hot coffee, Cinnamon Roll cold brew and Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice cappuccino. Sheetz Any size cold brew, including its new Pumpkin Pie brew, is 99 cents through the Sheetz app. Sheetz is a gas station chain known as a convenience store with made-to-order food and beverages. The first Michigan Sheetz opened in Romulus in August. More: Clawson's Noori Pocha named to New York Times' list of best restaurants Starbucks From 10 a.m.-noon on Sunday, Starbucks is partnering with music duo Sofi Tukker to host a special Twitch livestream DJ set, At Home with Sofi Tukker, to inspire and connect loved ones over coffee and music. Starbucks also offers $10 off eligible Starbucks coffee at-home products on Amazon with every $50 purchase while supplies last through Sunday. Tim Hortons Tim Hortons has a free coffee offering for National Coffee Day on Sept.29. Tims Reward members receive a free medium hot or iced coffee Friday-Sunday with any purchase. The offer is valid at participating locations and can be redeemed once. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: National Coffee Day 2024: Discounts at Biggby, Caribou, others National nonprofit wants to know what's on Gen Z's mind, get them registered to vote in Wisconsin This week, as dozens of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students raced to classes or to grab a bite of food from the Student Union, organizers from DoSomething pulled them aside to ask a critical question: Are you registered to vote? Accompanied by a DJ Shawna-curated soundtrack, DoSomething staff members Rohan Gupta and Elena Callahan dolled out vote pins, candy and other giveaways for students who strolled past their table. The voter registration event is part of a series of events that the national nonprofit organization will host in Wisconsin. The two days of programming were paired with a "Wisco Soundoff Storybooth," where young voters were encouraged to share about the policy issues that matter most to them leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election. "We are really giving young people an opportunity, a platform, to have their stories heard," Gupta said. Founded in 1993, DoSomething.org was created to guide young people to volunteering, organizing activism and fundraising opportunities. Rohan Gupta, DoSomething program manager, speaks to a student about registering to vote. Some students apprehensively approached the storybooth mic stand on Tuesday and Wednesday, stating that they were still unsure who they were voting for in November or weren't informed enough to offer insight. Others enthusiastically made their way to the voting table to detail their policy priorities on issues like student loan debt, access to abortion and criminal justice. Following each storybooth event, DoSomething funnels quotes and perspectives shared by students into their National Youth Agenda, a collection of Gen Z political perspectives that will be shared with lawmakers. "We know young people aren't as passionate about candidates as they are about issues," said DeNora Getachew, chief executive of DoSomething. About 8% of all registered voters in Wisconsin are Gen Z, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. But of all the 18-year-olds in Milwaukee, less than 5% were registered to vote ahead of the midterm elections, according to September 2022 data published by the Civics Center. What are the top political issues for young people in Milwaukee? Some of the issues currently highlighted on DoSomething's National Youth Agenda page are eliminating violence in schools and neighborhoods, accessible education, sustainability, mental health resources and belonging. The Journal Sentinel spoke to several storybooth participants who shared similar concerns. Abel Castro is prioritizing issues like alleviating drug addiction and other concerns in his community this November. For Abel Castro, issues like the criminalization of drug usage are top of mind for him heading into November. He told the Journal Sentinel that he wishes that the general public and policymakers made a more diligent effort to look out for community members struggling with addiction. "People don't look out for drug addicts and other things and they don't have resources to prevent people from doing crime," he said. In the presidential race, Evian Vongphakdy, 20, is planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, over former president Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, in November. Vongphakdy said he is most passionate about the protection of women's rights and issues impacting communities of color. Additionally, as a student, he hopes that Harris can address economic issues impacting middle and lower-class voters. "I'd love to see prices of groceries, housing, we've got school loans and other loans, that we've got to push down," he said. Adriyanna Armstrong said that she hopes to hear stronger stances from Harris on issues facing the Black community before casting her ballot this fall. Adriyanna Armstrong, 20, also plans to vote for Harris, even though there are areas in which she would like to hear clearer policy plans from the vice president. Armstrong said she cares deeply about issues impacting the Black community like reproductive health care and discrimination. "Especially what happened ... with Marcellus Williams, like how would you prevent that from happening on a larger scale," Armstrong said. Williams, a 55-year-old Black man, was executed by the state of Missouri for the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle despite evidence suggesting his innocence and pleas from the prosecutor and Gayle's family to spare his life. Wisconsin was the first state to abolish the death penalty in 1853. DoSomething organizers said they hope that by allowing young people to speak about the issues they care about most, they will be encouraged to participate in civic action and political dialogue in their communities. DoSomething will have another voter registration event called "Show Up for Wisconsin" from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin in downtown Milwaukee. It will feature celebrity guests including "The Chi" actor Luke James and Ashley Everett, former dance captain for Beyonce. "This is one step in that multi-step effort to get young people that they will pledge to vote and then actually get them to turn out to vote," Getachew said. "We've been successful in doing that over the last several election cycles, and our goal in doing it on the ground is for them to hear from their peers about what's at stake." Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly added a space in the name of the nonprofit. The group's name is DoSomething. Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at tfowlkes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DoSomething nonprofit registers Gen Z voters at UWM for fall election Yahoo Finance After China announced broad measures to rescue its economy, Chinese stocks surged, our Chart of the Week shows. It's not the first time the country has attempted to get out of the recent doldrums, but the market's reaction says this time might be different. NAUGATUCK, Conn. (WTNH) A Naugatuck woman pleaded guilty Friday to a fraud offense stemming from an $865,106 embezzlement scheme, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. In New Haven federal court, 45-year-old Jennifer Cormier waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to bank fraud. The charge has a maximum term of 30 years in prison. Bank warns of voice-based AI scams that could utilize your social media posts According to the United States Attorneys office, the embezzlement happened while Cormier did bookkeeping and other office-related tasks as an employee of a family-owned business in Naugatuck. For several years spanning 2017 to 2023, Cormier is accused of creating roughly 1,000 checks made payable to her, then forging the signature of the companys owner and cashing them to her personal bank account. After the checks were issued, officials said she deleted the transaction in the companys accounting system. Cormier was released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing on Dec. 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 WTNH.com. NAVASOTA, Texas (FOX 44) Two juveniles have been arrested by the Navasota Police Department for social media threats resulting in an arrest at Navasota High School. That day, The Navasota Independent School District became aware of the threat on Tuesday, which was made towards another student. An investigation involving the Police Departments School Resource Officers was underway. A juvenile was arrested and charged with terroristic threat. Despite the threat that was made, the district said a threat against the school wasnt made. No weapons were found during the investigation. Police say there was also an increased number of officers at the high school and during its extracurricular activities throughout the weekend. Police issued an update to this case at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 26. The source of social media posts suggesting a potential threat to the district was identified. Two juveniles have been charged with False Alarm or Report, a state jail felony. Increased police presence will continue at school campuses and events. If you have any information on this case, you can contact the Navasota Police Department at 936-825-6410. This case 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 KWKT - FOX 44. In this episode of Aloha Authentic, host Kamaka Pili revisits Bishop Museum to rediscover the ancient art of Hawaiian voyaging. The episode begins with a visit to the Bishop Museums Planetarium, where Kamaka meets with Romee Gaoiran, the Planetarium Manager. Romee explains what a planetarium is and introduces Kamaka to the variety of exhibits and shows that bring the night sky to life. This modern tool has played a key role in reviving the navigational techniques used by ancient Hawaiian voyagers. Kamaka then steps inside the planetarium for a conversation with navigator Kaiulani Murphy. She shares the significance of the night sky in Polynesian wayfinding and points out some of the most important constellations used for navigation, such as the Southern Cross, or its Hawaiian name, Hanaiakamalama (to be cared for by the moon), and the North Star, also known as Kumau or Hokupaa. Viewers gain a deeper understanding of how the stars served as a compass, guiding canoes across vast stretches of ocean with incredible precision. The journey concludes at Kanehunamoku Voyaging Academy in Kaneohe, where Kamaka meets Bonnie Kahapea-Tanner. Bonnie explains how the knowledge gained from the planetarium is applied practically on the canoe, out in the open ocean. She also teaches Kamaka about the Hawaiian Star Compass, created by Nainoa Thompson, who was the first Native Hawaiian navigator in 6 centuries to navigate a voyaging canoe to Tahiti without the use of modern instruments. Through these conversations, the episode highlights the blend of modern technology and ancient wisdom that keeps the Hawaiian voyaging tradition alive 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 KHON2. Sen. Thom Tillis knew reporters were waiting for him Wednesday morning outside a committee meeting in the Dirksen building on the U.S. Capitol complex. For a week, members of the North Carolina delegation had been followed through the hallways, fielding media questions about a scandal involving N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. On Sept. 19, CNNs KFile published an investigation that tied Robinson to racist and raunchy posts on an online porn forum. Robinson denies the allegations, but the report led to resignations from both his campaign and official staffs. On Wednesday, Tillis, a Republican, turned his back to the reporters for a minute to finish a conversation with someone in the hall, and when he turned back he jumped at the sight of how many reporters had come up behind him to get the interview. Then he laughed at his own reaction and walked toward the group to discuss an ultimatum he gave Robinson. Im here to get a majority in the Senate, get President Trump reelected and to maintain majorities in our state legislature and anything thats an obstacle to that is a problem for me, Tillis told the reporters. He needs to remove this obstacle, one way or another. How Tillis says Robinson should deal with the allegations Interest in North Carolina had become commonplace this election cycle. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump invested time, resources and money into capturing the battleground states 16 electoral votes. But the scandal with Robinson put a new focus on the state, and could potentially harm both Trump and down-ballot candidates who had supported Robinsons run for governor. Tillis is not one of those people who offered support to Robinson. Tillis and Robinson have a history of sparring in the media. And Tillis endorsed Robinsons opponent, saying Robinsons lack of legislative and business experience wouldnt work well in a state like North Carolina. Tillis told the reporters hes tried to be fair about the situation, saying hes applied the principles he learned in his favorite college course: Logic and Critical Thinking. He said he believes thats what all people should use when looking at the allegations against Robinson. Tillis said its on Robinson to provide the answers people are looking for. If the allegations put forth by KFile and CNN are false, get a really good attorney, come up with a modicum of evidence that disproves some of it, sue them and settle in court, Tillis said. If youre not able to do that within a reasonable period of time, then it puts weight to the likely reality that some, maybe not all, but some of these allegations are true, and if they are, theyre devastating and disqualifying. Tillis gave Robinson an ultimatum through reporters this week disprove it by Friday. What happens on Friday is unclear, but Tillis said thats the day I will make a decision myself. He added that hes had allegations levied at him that werent true. A media outlet came to his team with information about him that was wrong, he said. He got an attorney and was willing to fight the outlet in court, if thats what they chose to do. The story never happened. He didnt specify the outlet or the topic. Thats how you deal with it expeditiously, Tillis said. You dont wait. I mean, my goodness, you get people lined up to defend your good name. This is about a human. This has life changing consequences for somebody. Youd think it would be a priority. On Tuesday afternoon, Robinson hired Binnell Law Group, which once represented Trump, to investigate the allegations against him. You know, I grew up in the technology space, said Tillis, who previously worked as an executive at IBM. If weve got something here now its being said it was a product of AI and technical experts then hire a top-tier firm like the one I used to be a partner at, go in there, do the forensic technical research and build a case, it shouldnt be that difficult to disprove the basis for some of these reports, if theyre untrue. Tillis said the longer Robinson lets this linger, the more at risk he is putting other Republican candidates. So Mark Robinson owes it to the people of North Carolina, to everybody down ballot and to President Trump to either prosecute a case against CNN and KFile or admit that some or all of it is correct and step aside, Tillis said. This is bigger than any one elected office and we have to look at it that way. What do NCs other lawmakers say? Sen. Ted Budd, a Republican, was walking to the chamber Thursday afternoon when he was stopped to talk about Robinson. Unlike Tillis, Budd had previously offered his endorsement of Robinson for governor. Budd tried his best to get out of answering questions, but was polite and stayed. Hes given his defense, Budd said. Its up to him to make clear to North Carolina voters, and by the way, North Carolina voters are very smart about how they pick and choose their candidates. Is Budd still picking Robinson? I always support Republicans, Budd said. Across the Capitol, members of the House were gathering to vote for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded until Dec. 20, and to add resources to the Secret Service to better protect the president and the presidential candidates after two assassination attempts on Trumps life. There are various doors and hallways to choose from to enter the chamber, so McClatchy could not catch every member of the delegation. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from Lincoln County, was standing with two people outside the cloakroom. He made eye contact with McClatchy and started walking away. As McClatchy took a step toward him a woman said, run and he sped up and turned down a hall toward Statuary Hall to avoid questions. Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican from Wilmington, stopped for a moment outside the elevators to the chamber to address the situation. Hes got to make his case to the voters, Rouzer said. Thats the bottom line. Rouzer said everyone was surprised by the allegations against Robinson. He added that hes not followed the story closely because hes been so busy and focused on Congress this week. Thats the honest truth, Rouzer said. When asked if theres a point at which Rouzer would not support Robinson, he said, Hes got a lot of explaining to do to voters, but you know, ultimately, theyre going to be the judge. Around the corner, Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from Greensboro, was walking through the Speakers Lobby, off the House chamber. I think its been obvious for quite some time that he was not qualified for the job hes seeking, nor is he qualified for the job hes in, Manning said. And the statements that weve seen him make on video previous to the most recent revelation should have been enough to, first of all, cause voters not to vote for him, but second of all cause the Republican Party to support another nominee. Both state Treasurer Dale Folwell and businessman Bill Graham challenged Robinson in the Republican primary, but Robinson won handily. Hes now facing off against Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat. Manning questioned how this got past the Republican Partys vetting of Robinson. Or if they vetted him, they thought they were going to pull the wool over our eyes, or they thought that being an antisemitic, homophobic, misogynist, unqualified candidate was acceptable for the Republican Party, the Republican voters. Thats before the most recent revelation, Manning said. She said shes also questioning why nothing prior to the latest development caused them to reconsider their support. Manning said she wanted to understand how bad the posts were. She heard CNN say there were things written on the forum, allegedly by Robinson, that even cable news wasnt willing to air. So she looked them up. I literally wanted to throw out my phone when I saw, Manning said. It was the most disgusting thing Ive ever read, and Im a lot older than you. Ive seen things. Ive never seen anything that totally disgusting and I cant understand why people would vote for him under these circumstances. Asked if she believes Robinson wrote the comments, she responded: Has there been a defamation lawsuit filed? Has there been a slander lawsuit filed? Is his staff sticking with him? Did Donald Trump invite him to his rally in North Carolina last week? All those issues speak pretty loudly to me. 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. Correction appended Sept. 30 Educators and advocates from across the country many of whom say they have already seen the effects of anti-immigrant political rhetoric on their students convened Wednesday night to strategize on how to counter it in their schools. Adam Strom, director of Re-Imagining Migration, told the webinars 93 attendees to take an active role in combating prejudice by facing the issue head-on. He encouraged participants to address bullying against immigrant students specifically in school policy and to teach about stereotypes without unintentionally reinforcing them. Xenophobia harms all kids, he said, particularly immigrant youth. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The meeting came two weeks after former President Donald Trump claimed during a presidential debate that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were killing and eating their neighbors pets. Debunked by multiple official sources, Trump and his Republican running mate, JD Vance, have persisted in repeating the lie, which resulted in bomb threats that shuttered six Springfield schools and two local colleges. Related Trumped-up School Panic: Campaign Lie Forces Ohio School Closures Less than 30 miles away in Dayton, Joni Watson, a retired public school teacher, works for an adult literacy nonprofit that helps participants earn their GED. Watsons group also helps Dayton-area newcomers learn to read and write English through free one-on-one tutoring. Getty This topic is near and dear to my heart as I am really in the thick of it on a daily basis, she told The 74. I am just sick about what Vance and Trump are doing and saying. In a pre-webinar survey of 74 respondents, 31% said they knew of immigrant children who had reported being bullied or teased at school. Twenty-three percent said they heard students make anti-immigrant comments on campus this school year while another 23% heard staff make such statements since the beginning of the year. Eleven percent said they heard or witnessed staffers make anti-immigrant comments to families and caregivers. Related Q&A: NYC Shelter Dir. on Complete Destabilization, Chaos Facing Migrant Kids Strom advised educators to reach out to young immigrants and their families to check in on how they are feeling during this turbulent time and to tell all students that bullying of newcomers is unacceptable. He said, too, that educators should respond immediately when such incidents occur. During the session, Strom unveiled Re-Imagining Migrations new Rumor Review App. The AI-powered tool, which fed off thousands of pages of information from the organizations website, including reports and lesson plans, was developed to help users identify misinformation. It encourages them to check the validity of such claims by consulting credible fact-checking sites such as Snopes and to learn and spread correct information to their school communities. Since putting Springfield in the crosshairs, Trump has moved to inciting false fears over immigrant communities in Aurora, Colorado and Charleroi, Pennsylvania. Liz Carrasco, Facebook Psychotherapist Liz Carrasco said she wanted to attend the webinar because shes seen the impact of hate speech on her students. Many worry that their families could be torn apart, or that they will face discrimination in their pursuit of education and work, she said. For these students, political rhetoric is not just words it has very real and immediate consequences for their safety and their future. A U.S. citizen who was born in Mexico, Carrasco works with UNLV PRACTICE Nevada Rural Communities Mental Health Outreach Program, which supports young people ages 12-25, and teaches at the universitys School of Social Work. Carrasco, who was not speaking on behalf of UNLV, said she works with immigrants who have gone through horrific ordeals, including some who were victims of human trafficking. Related Hundreds of High Schools Wrongfully Refused Entry to Older, Immigrant Student Strom asked participants to be honest about whether and how they teach about migration and instructed them to develop better, more robust lessons that capture immigrant students experiences. Adam Strom, director Re-Imagining Migration (Re-Imagining Migration) He said this can be done at all grade levels. Think about how you might use childrens books to normalize the stories of newcomers, he said during the hour-long event. Anindita Das, community engagement strategist at Iowa State University, said she was compelled to attend the event because reducing prejudice helps build a more inclusive and harmonious society. Being an immigrant myself, I know immigrants bring diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences, enriching the social fabric of the host country, she said. Immigrants contribute significantly to the economy through their labor, entrepreneurship and innovation. Addressing prejudice ensures they can fully participate and contribute. Correction: An earlier version of this story had an outdated description of Liz Carrascos job with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Several neighbors shared their concern with 8 News Now Thursday after police said a person shot and killed a man trying to break into their home in the southwest Las Vegas valley. I was shocked, Jennifer Sauberan said. Because its a very quiet neighborhood. Sauberan, who told 8 News Now she has lived in her neighborhood near Torrey Pines Drive and Flamingo Drive for decades, was startled by a crime scene on her street. I was just thinking oh my God what if I hadnt come back the night before? Sauberan said. It could have been my house. Several neighbors shared their concern with 8 News Now Thursday after police said a person shot and killed a man trying to break into their home in the southwest valley. (KLAS) During a news conference, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson said the homeowner called 911 around 7:40 a.m. stating that a strange man was breaking windows, trying to get inside their house. The man was not listening to what they were telling him, Lt. Johansson explained. He was acting extremely irrational as they continued to tell him to leave the property. Lt. Johansson said thats when the man moved toward the front door and the homeowner pulled the trigger. Officers found that man in the driveway with a gunshot wound. He later died at the hospital. Several neighbors shared their concern with 8 News Now Thursday after police said a person shot and killed a man trying to break into their home in the southwest valley. (KLAS) We want to see in a situation like this, Lt. Johansson explained of the investigation. Where did he come from? How did he get here? As detectives work to piece together why this happened, Sauberan told 8 News now she will continue to do what she can to stay safe. I have cameras around my house now, she explained. I put them up more recently, but then I put in flood lights and stuff because it makes me a little bit nervous sometimes. Sauberan said she hopes things in the area go back to what shes used to seeing. It was so unexpected, she concluded of the shooting. We never have anything ever happen in this neighborhood, ever. Lt. Johansson said during Thursdays news conference that there are self-defense elements in this case. He said he does not believe the homeowner will face charges, but the investigation is ongoing and the Clark County District Attorney will make that determination. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly Friday as his country continues to escalate fighting across the Middle East. The Israeli government announced an attack against Hezbollahs central headquarters in Lebanon and shared a photo of Netanyahu approving the strike from New York. The Pentagon said the U.S. was not involved and received no advanced warning. We must defend ourselves against these savage murderers, Netanyahu said during his speech of Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas. Well win this battle because we dont have a choice. Fridays strike in Lebanon followed recent airstrikes and exploding pager and walkie-talkie attacks targeting Hezbollah. Netanyahu said Israel also remains committed to its war against Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza. We will fight until we achieve victory, he said. Total victory. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke to the UN Thursday and called on the U.S. to end arms shipments to Israel. The U.S. and Israel reached an agreement for a nearly $9 billion aid package to support its ongoing military efforts. Were trying to prevent a wider war, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Thats what weve been working toward for some time. The Biden administration has been trying to broker ceasefire deals this week for both Gaza and Lebanon, but Netanyahu quickly rejected a U.S. and European proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah. For both sides, it cannot continue, Jean-Pierre said. The White House said President Joe Biden is still working toward a diplomatic solution. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the conflicts in the Middle East as a choice between "a blessing or a curse," as he warned Irans "tyrants" about Israels ability to defend and avenge itself. "If you strike us, we will strike you," Netanyahu said. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and thats true of the entire Middle East: Far from being lambs led to the slaughter, Israels soldiers have fought back with incredible courage and with heroic sacrifice." Netanyahu took the podium in front of a partially empty General Assembly, with some delegates walking out, but those who gathered to hear him offered raucous applause ahead of his speech. Seemingly absent from the speech was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was hosting a global health security event on the sidelines of UNGA. He revealed that he almost did not attend the U.N. High-Level Week, but he felt a need to "set the record straight," which included laying out the choice the world faces. Netanyahu brought several families with loved ones held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza to New York and once again called for their freedom, noting that, "I'll say this one more time, we remain focused on our sacred mission, bringing our hostages home. And we will not stop until that mission is complete." The Only Thing Netanyahu Can Do Is Exude Strength In The Face Of His Enemies: Elizabeth Pipko Read On The Fox News App "Israel seeks peace," Netanyahu said. "Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again yet, we face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, and we must defend ourselves against those savage murderers." Netanyahu framed the issue as a choice between "a blessing or a curse," with Irans "unremitting aggression" as the "curse" against the "blessing" of reconciliation between Arab nations and Israel. Czech Foreign Minister Highlights Lack Of European Leadership, Failure To Project Geopolitical Power "A normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed closer than ever. But then came the curse of Oct. 7," Netanyahu said. "Thousands of Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists from Gaza burst into Israel in pickup trucks, on motorcycles. And they committed unimaginable atrocities." The prime minister hammered again on Irans aggression, warning that if left unchecked, it will "endanger every single country in the Middle East and many, many countries in the rest of the world." Hezbollah Stores Weapons Among Civilians In Lebanon, Us Says Its Not Sharing Intel With Idf "Iran seeks to impose its radicalism well beyond the Middle East," Netanyahu warned. "That's why it funds terror networks on five continents. That's why it builds ballistic missiles for nuclear warheads to threaten the entire world." "For too long, the world is appeasing Iran. It turns a blind eye to its internal repression. It turns a blind eye to its external aggression," he added. "Well, that appeasement must end, and that appeasement must end now." Netanyahu called on the U.N. Security Council to "snap back" sanctions against Iran and do everything in the organizations power to "ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons." However, he lamented that the organization has an apparent bias against Israel and in favor of the Palestinians, citing the "automatic majority" of countries that will vote in favor of any policy that hurts Israel. "For the Palestinians, this U.N. House of darkness is home court," Netanyahu said. "They know that in this swamp of antisemitic bile, there's an automatic majority willing to demonize the Jewish state on anything in this anti-Israel, flat Earth society. Any false charge, any outlandish allegation can muster a majority." "It's always been about Israel, about Israel's very existence, and I say to you, until Israel, until the Jewish state is treated like other nations, until this antisemitic swamp is drained, the U.N. will be viewed by fair-minded people everywhere as nothing more than a contemptuous force," he added. Fox News' David Hammelburg contributed to this story. Original article source: Netanyahu calls Mideast conflicts choice between 'blessing or a curse,' warns about Israel's 'long arm' Netanyahu is dragging region into war and must be stopped, Jordan says By John Irish UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Jordan's foreign minister said on Friday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to be stopped because he was driving the region to a full-fledged war. "It is time to face the truth, and the truth is, unless Netanyahu is stopped, unless this government is stopped, war will encompass all of us," Ayman Safadi told reporters ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Gaza. Earlier on Friday, Israeli airstrikes shook Beirut, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said ahead of the Security Council meeting that the airstrikes had increased the risk of the situation spiralling out of control. "We believe very, very, very strongly that a ceasefire is necessary, that the guns are not going to solve anything, that we need to move towards a peace in our region, and that peace is firmly rooted in addressing the Palestinian issue," bin Farhan said. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu spoke at length on his wish to make progress on normalising ties with Saudi Arabia, and said Israel was fighting on seven fronts. "It was interesting to see that Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his words, in quite a lengthy statement about the issue, not once mentioned Palestine, not once mentioned the Palestinians," bin Farhan said. "This is exactly the problem. Without addressing the issue of Palestine, it will not be able, it will not be possible, to reach the dual potential of regional peace and stability," he said, adding that there would be no normalisation without a resolution of the Palestinian issue. Safadi echoed those comments. "I can tell you here very unequivocally, all of us are willing to right now, guarantee the security of Israel in the context of Israel ending the occupation and allowing for the emergence of a Palestinian state, independent state," he said. "(But) he (Netanyahu) is creating danger because he simply does not want the two state solution," Safadi said. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Netanyahu: Hamas staying in Gaza is like Nazis rebuilding after WWII Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will reject any role for Iran-backed Hamas once the fighting ends in the Gaza Strip. "Imagine allowing the defeated Nazis in 1945 to rebuild Germany. It's inconceivable. It's ridiculous," he told the United Nations on Friday. "It didn't happen then. It's not going to happen now." He said Israel was ready to work with international partners to support a local civilian administration to run Gaza following the end of the nearly year-old war to eliminate Hamas militants. Netanyahu ended his address to the General Assembly by calling the United Nations a "house of darkness" that reflexively takes an anti-Israel stance. Palestinians know "that in this swamp of anti-Semitic bile, there's an automatic majority willing to demonize the Jewish state on anything." He continued: "In this anti-Israel, flat-Earth society, any false charge, any outlandish allegation can muster a majority." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa In a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that his country was committed to defeating both Hezbollah and Hamas -- giving a pointed warning to the groups' chief backer, Iran. "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran," Netanyahu said. "If you strike us, we will strike you, there is no place. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach." Appearing to back up Netanyahu's words with action, the Israeli military carried out what an Israeli Defense Force said was "a precise strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization" in Beirut shortly after he finished his address on Friday. Multiple sources told ABC News the target of the attack was Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. It was not immediately clear whether the strike was successful, but the scale of the bombing immediately sparked concern among U.S. officials who have been applying consistent diplomatic pressure to Iran in an effort to keep the country from stepping up its role in the conflict. MORE: Israel targets Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in strike on Beirut: Senior US official The increased fighting in Lebanon has some officials fearing an all-out war in the region. The Biden administration has been working to persuade Israel to agree to a 21-day ceasefire proposal crafted by the U.S. and France. After initially rejecting the plan outright, the Israeli government seemed to soften its stance on Thursday -- signaling a willingness to negotiate. But Netanyahu did not reference the plan in his roughly 30-minute speech on Friday and made no mention of pursuing diplomatic peace with Hezbollah. The prime minister said Israel would "continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are made" and that Israel "must defeat" them. PHOTO: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 27, 2024. (Mike Segar/Reuters) "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and that's exactly what we're doing," he said. Netanyahu asserted the U.S. would not tolerate a similar situation on its own border for "even for a single day." MORE: US, Israel at standoff over Lebanon cease-fire proposal. What happened? Several United Nations delegates walked out of the room as Netanyahu began his address at the U.N. in New York. "I didn't intend to come here this year. My country is at war, fighting for its life," the prime minister said. "But after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight." PHOTO: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu enters the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 27, 2024. (Pamela Smith/AP) Netanyahu continued to press for "total victory" in Gaza as he called for Hamas to surrender and release all remaining Israeli hostages. He also said Israel rejected any scenario in which Hamas remained in control of Gaza after the war. The prime minister also claimed criticism of Israel's human rights record was unwarranted, saying Israel had helped ship more than adequate supplies of food to Gaza and continued to "spare no effort" to protect civilian lives. "We don't want to see a single person -- a single innocent person die. That's always a tragedy. And that's why we do so much to minimize civilian casualties," he said. However, U.S. officials say Israel's record in Gaza is checkered. A report released by the State Department in May found that the Israeli government did not cooperate with efforts to move aid into the enclave in the early months of the war against Hamas. The same report also stated that while Israel has "the knowledge, experience, and tools" to implement "best practices for mitigating civilian harm," the high number of civilian casualties "raises substantial questions about whether the IDF is using them effectively in all cases." U.S. officials have expressed similar concerns about collateral damage from Israeli military action in Lebanon. More than 118,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced in just the last week, according to the UN. The Lebanon Ministry of Health also said hundreds of people have been killed in that time, although it's unclear how many were combatants. The prime minister's office said Netanyahu would return to Israel earlier than previously planned. It also released a photo it said shows him approving the strike over the phone while sitting at a desk in New York. Netanyahu says Israel must defeat Hezbollah in UN speech amid calls for cease-fire originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Netanyahu says he is at UN to defend Israel from 'lies and slanders' Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he came to the UN General Assembly to defend Israel from the "lies and slanders" that he heard from other world leaders this week. "I didn't intend to come here this year," said Netanyahu at the start of his address. "My country is at war, fighting for its life. But after I heard the lies and slanders levelled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight," he said. Netanyahu spoke as Israel engages in a fifth day of heavy air attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands more, while Hezbollah militants continue to fire at northern Israel. The Israeli leader said "the truth" was that "Israel seeks peace." But he said Israel "will not rest" until the threat posed by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah is eliminated. "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that's exactly what we're doing." Netanyahu spoke at the annual high-level General Debate week at the assembly in New York. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel has no choice but to continue fighting Hezbollah, Netanyahu says at UN NEW YORK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Friday that Israel has no choice but to keep fighting Lebanon-based Hezbollah, while neglecting to mention a U.S.-backed 21-day cease-fire proposal in the spiraling battle. His comments or lack thereof to the U.N. General Assembly are likely to undermine the U.S. and French-led effort to pause the fighting, and further frustrate Western officials already annoyed by Netanyahus vacillation. "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice," the Israeli leader said. "Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and thats exactly what were doing." Netanyahu has over the past 48 hours sent mixed messages on the ceasefire proposal, which the U.S. is presenting as a temporary step to lay the groundwork for a more long-lasting truce. The Israeli leader initially dismissed the idea, saying he did not even respond to it and implying he wouldnt agree to stop the fighting. Spokespersons for the Biden administration countered by saying Israels government had privately backed the proposal one reason, they said, why the U.S. and France unveiled it. Then, hours before his U.N. speech Friday, the prime ministers office issued a statement that slightly walked back his earlier denial, saying Israel shares the aims of the U.S.-led initiative. Shortly after his address, explosions rocked Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck Hezbollah's headquarters, embedded under residential buildings. Netanyahus helter-skelter approach stems in part from his precarious political position. Hes in power because of a handful of far-right coalition partners who demand tough approaches to Israels adversaries. If he crosses those partners, his government could fall and he could lose power, leaving him more vulnerable to corruption charges. At the same time, much of the Israeli public also wants a thorough routing of Hezbollah. Netanyahu has pulled similar moves before during his countrys ongoing war with Hamas militants in the Gaza strip. He will tell U.S. officials one thing privately while publicly denying or refraining from taking such a stand. For example, when President Joe Biden unveiled a multi-stage peace proposal to end the fighting in Gaza earlier this year, he said it was an Israeli plan; then Netanyahu refused to own it. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli prime minister faced a tough audience at the United Nations, where many countries have criticized Israels actions in Gaza over the severe humanitarian fallout. Throughout this week, an array of world leaders gathered for the U.N. General Assemblys annual meeting have used their speeches to slam Israel, with some also blaming Hamas. There have been broad calls for stopping the escalating fight in Lebanon. Dozens of diplomats walked out of the room as Netanyahu began his speech, leaving the General Assembly floor relatively empty. But he brought supporters families of hostages who cheered and applauded throughout his address. Their vocal support even prompted UNGA President Philemon Yang to bang his gavel. Order, please! Ladies and gentlemen, order! Netanyahu was defiant against the criticism leveled against Israel at the General Assembly this week, comparing scenes from Oct. 7 to the Holocaust. "We see this moral confusion when Israel is falsely accused of genocide," he said. "We will fight until we achieve victory, total victory. There is no substitute for it." Netanyahu also aimed his criticisms towards the U.N., describing the institution as an antisemitic "contemptuous farce." Hamas militants attacked Israels south on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and prompting a massive Israeli retaliation that has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza. On Oct. 8, Hezbollah fired rockets into Israels north. That led tens of thousands of Israelis to leave their homes in that region. But the Israeli-Hezbollah faceoff had largely been limited until recent weeks, when Israel decided it could no longer tolerate an effective loss of territorial sovereignty in its north. As Israel has raised its pressure on Hezbollah through airstrikes that have killed hundreds, not to mention booby-trapped pager and walkie-talkie attacks that wounded thousands the U.S. and its allies have tried to keep the conflict from spiraling further. Americas top worry over the past year has been that the conflicts in Gaza and along Israels north could drag in Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas, becoming a full-on regional war. Such a war could also lead to a more direct U.S. military role if Israel needs help. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a defiant tone Friday at the United Nations, telling diplomats and world leaders that his country will continue fighting for its right to exist even as he pushed for a wider peace in the Middle East. Netanyahu, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly in New York as fears of a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon are mounting, decried the curse of Iran as he vowed to continue fighting back against Iranian aggression across the Middle East. If you strike us, we will strike you, Netanyahu said. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and thats true of the entire Middle East. We are winning. Netanyahu called for the world to stand up against the Iranian government and support regime change in Tehran, saying Iran represented a dire threat to the world. Ahead of his speech, dozens of diplomats at the U.N. were seen walking out of the chamber in an apparent protest, according to videos shared on social media. Several world leaders have sharply criticized Israel this week for its war against the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, where more than 41,000 people have died in nearly a year of fighting. Netanyahu said Friday that his forces have destroyed 23 out of 24 Hamas battalions but were focused on mopping up the remaining fighters, who stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed more than 1,200 people while taking some 250 hostages, around 100 of whom are still in Gaza. He also said Israel will reject any proposal that allows Hamas to maintain its presence in Gaza, but he did not offer any new remarks on bringing the hostages home and reaching a cease-fire and hostage release deal, with talks stalled since breaking down in August. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms, and release all the hostages, Netanyahu said. But if they dont, we will fight until we achieve victory. But looming over Netanyahus speech Friday is a potential war with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that has been firing at Israel over the border for more than 11 months. Israel has taken increasingly aggressive action against the militant group in the past week, including a Monday strike that killed more than 500 people. The U.S. and France led a proposal for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah that would also include talks for a more permanent peace, but Netanyahu later rejected it. The White House claimed that Israel was aware of the proposal before it was released. Netanyahu said Friday that Hezbollah has fired more than 8,000 rockets toward Israel, displacing some 60,000 residents in the north at the border with Lebanon. He said Israel has no choice and every right to take on the threat from Hezbollah. Israel must also defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said. Hezbollah is the quintessential terror organization in the world today. Netanyahu also pushed for a greater peace between Israel and Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, which is reportedly in talks with the U.S. and the Israeli government for a potential landmark normalization deal. But Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said this month he would only agree to a deal if Palestine becomes a state alongside Israel. Netanyahu said in his U.N. speech that Israel wants to achieve a historic peace agreement with Saudi Arabia and advance normalization with Arab nations. What lessons such a peace with Saudi Arabia would bring, he said. It would be a boon to the security and economy of our two countries it would help transform the Middle East into a global juggernaut. Netanyahu added that a peace agreement with Riyadh would be a true pivot of history and usher in a historic reconciliation between the Arab world and Israel, between Islam and Judaism. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News Israeli airstrikes, apparently targeting Hezbollahs headquarters and its leader Hassan Nasrallah, demolished several residential buildings near Beirut on Friday. The attacks, which Lebanon said killed two people and injured dozens, came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus speech to the United Nations General Assembly during which he vowed to press on with his military campaigns in Lebanon and Gaza, defying growing international pressure for ceasefires. It wasnt clear if Nasrallah was in the targeted buildings; videos showed panicked civilians rushing to safety after large explosions rocked the capital. Israel is fighting for its life, Netanyahu told the UN, an organization that he famously hates, and which he decried as an antisemitic swamp during the address. We face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, he said, issuing stark warnings to Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah that Israel would continue fighting them for as long as they remain a threat. I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: If you strike us, we will strike you, Netanyahu declared. He emphasized that the war in Gaza would only end with the elimination of Hamas. A day after rejecting a US-backed call for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, Netanyahu did not mention the plan, but vowed to defeat the group, dimming allies hopes of preventing an all-out war. Many UN delegates left the chamber in protest as Netanyahu began to speak, and the UN chair had to repeatedly call for order. SIGNALS Conflict compounds economic and social hardship in Lebanon Sources: DW, Reuters, CNN, BBC Global News Podcast Since 2019, Lebanon has faced a devastating economic crisis that caused a 98% devaluation in its local currency, plunging over three quarters of the population into poverty after successive governments allowed debt to pile up for decades. Up to half a million people people could have been displaced because of Israeli offensives, Lebanons health minister told CNN, with Israeli strikes in the past week forcing tens of thousands to leave many of them refugees from Syria who had already fled their home to escape the civil war in the neighboring country. This society will break, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council told the BBC Global News Podcast. Beirut is so overwhelmed, so are the other cities. This madness has to stop. Ground invasion of Lebanon may be imminent, but Israels strategy is unclear Source: Al Jazeera The recent addition of two regimens to the Israeli armys Northern Command, which is responsible for fighting Hezbollah, may suggest that a ground invasion of Lebanon is approaching although the apparent lack of a clear strategy by Israel makes it hard to tell, Al Jazeera noted. Several analysts told the outlet that they didnt foresee troops being sent in imminently. Were still on the brink, but I dont think a decision has been made to launch an invasion, Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg said. Netanyahu and the military want Hezbollah to take an action that would force Israels hand, he added, but Hezbollah is not doing that, Iran is not doing that. Hostilities between UN and Israel hit boiling point Source: The Guardian Disagreements between Israel and the UN which Netanyahu on Friday called a contemptuous farce and a swamp of antisemitic bile are nothing new, The Guardians diplomatic editor wrote. But tensions have increased since the beginning of the war in Gaza, turning the conflict into a visceral one. And the Israeli PM also has to face a perhaps bigger issue: US anger after he rejected plans for a three-week ceasefire in Lebanon. The US clearly feels he reneged on a deal, and not for the first time since 7 October, The Guardian wrote, adding that it will not be the first time the west has thought Netanyahu is making a strategic mistake, but then proved unable or unwilling to force him to rethink. Netanyahu vows to use full force against Hezbollah and dims hopes for a cease-fire 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 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 border have been displaced by the fighting. Netanyahu spoke as he landed in New York to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting, 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 Hezbollahs military capacities. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop the groups cross-border attacks, which began after Hamas 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. 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. 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. 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 -- an Iranian-backed Shiite group that is the strongest armed force in Lebanon -- 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. In Israel, 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. 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, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after talks with his British and Australian counterparts in London. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was at the U.N. 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 cease-fire in the north. I cant speak for him, Blinken said of Netanyahu. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the proposal. Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed it, but his government has no sway over the group. Netanyahus office downplayed the initiative, saying in a statement that it was only a proposal. 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. 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. One day after Hamas Oct 7 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 near 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 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. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Acrisure Stadium among 4 NFL venues designated as a Mission Ready Venue. Heres what that means Rachael DelTondos ex-fiance charged with allegedly beating girlfriend Hoda Kotb to step down as co-anchor of NBC News TODAY show VIDEO: 11 Investigates EXCLUSIVE: Police recruiting wars DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful address to the United Nations on Friday in which he vowed to keep fighting the Lebanese militia Hezbollah "until all our objectives are met," rebuffing calls for a ceasefire. He also blasted the UN as a "house of darkness" that reflexively takes an anti-Israel stance and a "swamp of anti-Semitic bile." Netanyahu said he had planned to skip the annual high-level General Debate week this year, which features world leaders addressing the UN General Assembly, given his country is "at war" and "fighting for its life." "But after I heard the lies and slanders levelled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight," he said, singling out Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' speech on Thursday. "Heres the truth," Netanyahu said. "Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again." He saved his harshest words for Iran. "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you," he said. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach - and that's true of the entire Middle East." In April, Iran fired 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at Israel. The United States, Britain, France and Jordan stepped in to help Israel and nearly all were intercepted. It was the first direct attack by the Iranian military against Israel. Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" - proxy militias in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere - have also stepped up their attacks on the Jewish state since the October 7 massacres by Iran-backed Hamas, in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took some 250 hostage. Israel responded with an overwhelming air and ground campaign that has killed more than 41,500 people, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Palestinian territory. The numbers do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. On Monday, the Israeli military began pounding Hezbollah, another Iran-aligned group, which has been firing rockets at northern Israel on a near-daily basis for almost a year. The Israeli military said it has hit Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well areas near Beirut. More than 750 people had been killed by Friday, Lebanese authorities said. The move has put the region on the brink of an all-out war. Multiple countries, including allies of Israel, are urging Netanyahu to agree to a truce to de-escalating the crisis. Netanyahu did not the specifically mention the three-week temporary ceasefire proposal being pushed for the US and France in his speech. "Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And thats exactly what were doing ... we'll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met," he said. Turning to Hamas in Gaza, he said that the Israeli army has killed or captured more than half of the group's members. He said that the Israeli army had destroyed more than 90% of Hamas' rocket arsenal and important sections of the tunnel network used by militants. He urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages they are still holding in Gaza. "I have a message for the Hamas captors. Let them go. Let them go, all of them. Those alive today must be returned alive, and the remains of those whom you brutally killed must be returned to their families." Relatives of the Israeli hostages were in the audience at the UN listening to the prime minister's speech. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his country's commitment to defend itself in the face of its many enemies and delivered a tough warning to Iran. "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you," he said in New York on Friday. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach - and that's true of the entire Middle East. "I have another message for this assembly and for the world outside this hall. We are winning." In April, Iran fired 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at Israel. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Jordan stepped in to help Israel and nearly all the drones were intercepted. It was the first direct attack by the Iranian military against Israel. Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" - proxy militias in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere - have also stepped up their attacks on the Jewish state since the October 7 attacks by Iran-backed Hamas, in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took some 250 hostage. Israel responded with an overwhelming air and ground campaign that has killed more than 41,500 people, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Palestinian territory. The numbers do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), speaks at the 79th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Michael Kappeler/dpa Never too late to make your dreams come true 68-year-old Edinboro woman heads back to college A local woman is achieving her educational dream after returning to her hometown in Erie County. Many people choose to retire at around the age of 65, but for one Edinboro woman, thats not the case. Bambi Neal just turned 68 years old, but she hasnt let that stop her from doing what she always wanted. After moving back to Edinboro from Florida, Neal set her eyes on getting her general education development diploma. Two local women care centers get financial boost from Knights of Columbus I graduated the first week of August, and within two weeks, I had enrolled at Edinboro, you know PennWest Edinboro, and they were happy to have me, said Neal. Neal started college at PennWest Edinboro this fall semester with an interdisciplinary studies major while also balancing a part-time job. She said her professors and fellow students have been very supportive so far making her feel right at home. The first week, I felt a little out of place. I mean Im the oldest one in the class, in the whole freshman class thats going thereBut they are wonderful. I mean, Im so happy Im doing this. Its just changed my whole life, Neal explained. Women in leadership topic of discussion at Athena Erie annual luncheon Decades after most people get their college degree, Neal has been walking around Edinboros campus and said she has a message for the older generation. Over here at Edinboro, there are so many advantages for seniors, especially low-income seniors, to go back to school, and its never too late to make your dreams come true. Never. Im living proof, Im doing it, she went on to say. So far, Neal told us she has already convinced another woman the same age her in her living facility to go to college. Its like do something. If its not going to Edinboro, take a painting class. Do something, dont just sit around, Neal added. Over 170 employers hear from prospective students at Penn State Behrend career fair As for grades, Neal said she even got an A on her first college essay. And even though the homework, costs, and busy schedule, she said its all worth it. After college, Neal said she wants to work as a counselor for children who come from unfortunate backgrounds. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Malibu resident Tina Siegel and L.A. County Sheriff's Capt. Jenn Seetoo comfort each other in February after the 59th "ghost tire" was added to a roadside memorial honoring every person killed along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu since 2010. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday approved a measure that will allow five speed cameras to be installed along a particularly dangerous stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. This 21-mile stretch of PCH has long been known as a hot spot for crashes, including scores of fatalities, but it was the deaths of four Pepperdine University students almost a year ago that propelled renewed action to improve safety on the road. Senate Bill 1297, which Newsom signed into law Friday, builds on ongoing state and local efforts aimed at saving lives along this section of PCH. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), the law includes Malibu in a speed camera pilot program that will allow it to install up to five automated cameras to detect and fine speeding drivers. The state requires cities in the pilot program to establish clear signage about the program and a public education campaign before enforcement begins. "The signing of SB 1297 today is a huge win for the safety of Malibu residents and its visitors," Allen said in a statement. "We know speed cameras can help curb reckless speeding an issue this beautiful stretch of highway has been plagued with for years so I am grateful the governor recognizes the important role this equipment will play in saving lives." The bill has been awaiting the governor's signature since late August, when lawmakers passed the measure. In a statement, the city of Malibu said it was thankful to the state and local partners who had a hand in "achieving this landmark legislation. "SB 1297 is a key component to turn the tide on the growing number of tragedies to students, beachgoers, and visitors along, what Governor Newsom described earlier this year as, 'one of the most iconic drives in California, if not the world,'" the statement said. "But far too many have lost their lives along this corridor. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Capt. Jennifer Seetoo was in the Malibu/Lost Hills station when she received the news of the governor's approval and said her phone has been blowing up with joyous messages from the community since. "This is not the end-all be-all; you still need that enforcement side, the education and the engineering," she said. "But this is such a step in the right direction." Seetoo had pushed for Malibu to be added to the state's speed camera pilot program, which was limited to Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach and San Francisco when the measure was approved by the governor last year. She said she was previously told Malibu would have to wait until the pilot program ended in five years. Getting SB 1297 approved was a "complete community approach," she said. "When elected officials, public safety and the community come together in a united voice, that is when true change is made," Seetoo said. Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart told the Times that the bill requires a lot of "pre-work" to install the cameras in the proper places along the roadway. Since the city had been anticipating Newsom's approval, he said, "we're in the process of putting out the requests for proposals." "This is very important to the residents of Malibu and the people of California that use PCH, so we want to get this up and running as soon as we can," Stewart said. The mayor said he's hopeful this latest safety measure will begin to change the behavior of drivers on the roadway mainly by slowing the pace. "Know what the speed limit is and don't exceed it, because speeding has a direct relationship to people being injured or fatal accidents on PCH," he said. On the evening of Oct. 17, 2023, sisters in Pepperdine's Alpha Phi sorority Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams were killed while walking on a sidewalk along PCH. A car determined to be traveling in excess of 100 mph slammed into parked cars and the women. Between 2011 and 2023, 170 fatalities or serious injuries to drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians have occurred on the highway in Malibu, according to a Times analysis. Malibu officials have said that 60 people have died on the stretch since 2010. Over 60 lives lost on one stretch of our iconic Pacific Coast Highway is unacceptable its a call to action," Newsom said in a statement. "Thats why were adding speed cameras to help put an end to reckless driving in Malibu. These new cameras will build on the state's ongoing safety makeover that includes infrastructure upgrades, increased traffic enforcement, and a new public education campaign. One of the 60 lives lost on the roadway was 13-year-old Emily Shane, who was killed by a speeding driver in 2010 when she was walking on the sidewalk along PCH. Her father, Michel Shane, made a documentary about the incident and has been pushing the California Department of Transportation for safety measures ever since. On Friday, Shane and his wife Ellen told the Times that the passage of AB 1297 should be "looked at as a kicking-off point." "Government has now decided that it's time to look at what we've all lived with for so long and [now] fix it," Michel said. This October marks the one-year anniversary of the death of the four Pepperdine students, whose families recently filed a lawsuit against state and local agencies they say are responsible for the deadly roadway. "It's not about [the families] getting something, it's about them creating change and [the students'] deaths not being meaningless," Michel said. These latest changes, Ellen added, make the deaths of all 60 people, including their daughter's, a part of the effort to create positive change. "We don't want other people to have to deal with the pain and grief and loss that's so unnecessary and that we and so many others have had to deal with," she said. Michel Shane and others are continuing to advocate for more safety measures on Pacific Coast Highway, such as an overall reduction of the roadway's speed limit. He said PCH isn't going to change overnight, but he sees the commitment for improved safety from the city, the community and members of the PCH Task Force that include Allen, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. 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. Surveys indicate 82%-97% of book challenges go unreported and receive no media coverage, according to the American Library Association. When David Shelley, the CEO of Hachette, one of the big five publishing companies, was a teenager, he was living in Margaret Thatchers Britain and under a law called Section 28. The measure, which was in effect from 1988 to 2003, prohibited schools from promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality. In the 80s, Shelley said, his main sources of information came from teachers and libraries, and he described himself as being depressed because he didnt see anyone like him. Then one day at the library, he stumbled across Aidan Chambers 1982 novel Dance on My Grave, about two teenage boys in love. That was a lightbulb moment for me, because finding that book in the library that somehow had escaped Thatchers law it was actually a real lifeline, Shelley said. David Shelley is the CEO of Hachette, one of the big five publishing companies. Shelley was named CEO of both Hachettes U.S. and U.K. divisions last year, and the new job came with a move from London to New York City. Living in the U.S., he said, has brought back the complicated memories of his youth. It felt like I was back in Thatchers Britain in the 1980s. Not in all states, but in some states, he said. Shelley said he fears the yearslong spike in book censorship efforts in the U.S. will lead young people to face similar feelings of loneliness and isolation he experienced as a teen. In observance of Banned Books Week, which started Sunday and runs through Saturday, two new reports were released. The first, from PEN America, documented a sharp increase in books removed from school shelves in 2023-24, tripling from the previous school year. More than 8,000 books were pulled in Florida and Iowa, two states with laws that restrict LGBTQ-themed books in schools and libraries. The second report, from the American Library Association, found complaints have dropped this year but still exceed numbers prior to 2020. The PEN and ALA reports dont necessarily contradict each other, as the two organizations define book bans differently. I can understand some of the impetus where people are thinking theyre safeguarding kids or theyre protecting kids. But at the same time its very dangerous, because one persons idea of what safeguarding means is actually depriving kids of valuable sets of information, Shelley said, pointing out a sizable portion of banned and restricted books are written by people of color and LGBTQ authors. So actually in the supposed safeguarding of kids, what youre actually doing is depriving them of representation. All Boys Arent Blue, a memoir manifesto by LGBTQ activist George M. Johnson, is one of the most banned books in the U.S. What the reports do not quantify is the collateral damage of book bans, or so-called soft censorship, when a title is excluded, removed or limited before it is explicitly banned, out of fear of backlash. This could look like the removal of books due to complaints from parents or a librarian declining to carry a title out of concern about an impending ban or challenge. According to the ALA, surveys indicate 82%-97% of book challenges go unreported and receive no media coverage. I do think when we talk about soft-banning, where it applies heavily is schools and libraries. Where they wont even order the books for their library, said George M. Johnson, whose first book, All Boys Arent Blue, is one of the most banned books in the U.S. So I think that is where the danger lies, because we can track the books that are being banned, but we cant track books that are not being ordered. Dr. Seema Yasmin, an author and physician, said her debut book The ABCs of Queer History, a childrens book published in April by the Hachette imprint Workman Publishing Co. was soft-banned earlier this year. She said a big-box retailer, which she declined to name, canceled a large order of the book before it was even published, saying it was pulling back on Pride celebrations. Dr. Seema Yasmin's debut book, "The ABCs of Queer History," was published in April by the Hachette imprint Workman Publishing Co. What I expected was more of, A parent in Dallas County has said they dont want the book taught in their school. I did not expect a huge corporation to order and then rescind a 10,000-copy order, which is a whole print run. I didnt see that happening. Yasmin joined the American Civil Liberties Union last week in Georgia for its Know Your Rights Bus Tour. She brought The ABCs of Queer History and her new book, Unbecoming, a young-adult novel published by Simon & Schuster about two Muslim teens in Texas fighting for abortion access. Yasmin said she began writing the book in 2019 after thinking about how abortion bans affect teenagers. While teachers and librarians have praised her latest book, Yasmin said, some have told her they are not going to teach it or keep it in the classroom because they fear its going to get banned. So what were seeing is this censorship happening before the book is banned because of the draconian ecosystem that were living in, she said. Dr. Seema Yasmin signing copies of her new book, Unbecoming, a young-adult novel published by Simon & Schuster. Teachers and librarians may face a variety of punishments if they are found providing a book that is challenged or banned, or, in some cases, if they share a book that is likely to be challenged. Depending on the state, it can be unclear how to comply. In Florida last year, two school districts told teachers to conceal or remove every book while texts went under review for compatibility with a new state law. And in Utah, a recently introduced bill proposes teachers be charged with a misdemeanor if they keep materials available to students that have been classified as objectively sensitive. In August of last year, an elementary school teacher in Georgia was dismissed for reading My Shadow is Purple to students, a bestselling childrens book about acceptance and the gender binary. The teacher, Katie Rinderle, was found to be in violation of a 2022 state law prohibiting the teaching of divisive concepts. Attorneys representing Rinderle said the definition of controversial issues is so vague that teachers cant be sure what is actually banned, according to The Associated Press. And in June, NBC News published an investigation into an officer in Texas who spent two years vigorously pursuing felony charges against local librarians for allowing children to access literature he deemed obscene (such as The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison). The countys district attorney ultimately turned down the officers request to indict the librarians, citing a lack of conclusive evidence. This week, Johnson, who uses they/them pronouns, released their latest book, Flamboyants, a collection of essays about Black and queer icons from the Harlem Renaissance. Its release during Banned Books Week was a coincidence, though Johnson acknowledges the book will likely be banned at some point. Johnson is a plaintiff in PEN America et al. v. Escambia County School District, a federal lawsuit alleging school administrators in the Florida county are in violation of the First and 14th Amendments because the districts book bans violate a right to free speech and equal protection under the law. Johnson said they joined the lawsuit to show how serious Im taking this and how serious I am about the protection of young people and their ability to learn about their identity. Johnson said it was also their experience having their work banned that inspired them to take action. I was like, OK, if they want to go this far, I have to take it a step further myself. Next year, Johnson will release a book co-written with author Leah Johnson (no relation), whose books center queer girls of color. One of her young adult novels, You Should See Me in a Crown, was placed under review by the Oklahoma attorney general in 2022 to determine if the book violated the states obscenity law. Leah Johnson is the author of the young-adult novel "You Should See Me in a Crown" and the founder of Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis. Leah Johnson founded a banned bookstore called Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis last year. She said she was inspired to launch her bookstore after a library in Indiana moved more than 1,300 YA books into its adult section under a controversial new review policy that reshelved famous teen books like The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Judy Blumes Forever. While the library suspended its review policy after significant backlash, it was enough to convince her to take action. I know how important the role of the independent bookstore is not just in publishing, but also in local communities. It felt like a natural continuation of the work I was already doing, Johnson said of starting her bookshop. I think its worth remembering that theyre not trying to remove books from shelves. They want a removal of queer people from public life. Loudmouth Books is particularly interested in highlighting both banned books and the work of marginalized authors, with an aim to challenge the idea that diverse stories are inherently dangerous. (But if they are, sign us up to read dangerously! the bookstores website says.) In the meantime, Leah Johnsons book with George M. Johnson comes out next year, the first in the duos seven-figure, two-book deal featuring Black, queer characters. Its just fun to write gay s--- with your homie, she said. Thats what I want to do. Thats what Im thinking about. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Niagara Falls man gets 20 years for fatally stabbing woman in motel room BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Niagara Falls man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering a woman last year, the Niagara County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday. 37-year-old Brian Wallace pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June for the death of 38-year-old Lauren Hayes. Shortly before 2 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 21, 2023, police said they responded to a motel in Niagara Falls where a woman had reportedly been stabbed. The body of the deceased woman was found in one of the rooms. Wallace and Hayes were known to each other. Ms. Hayes life came to a terrible and tragic end at the hands of this defendant in that hotel room, said Niagara County DA Brian Seaman. This crime is certainly deserving of the sentence handed down by the court. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A hemp testing lab in Jessamine County has received the first medical marijuana business license in Kentucky. The Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program received 4,998 applications for medical cannabis business licenses, according to the governors office. KCA Labs is just the first to receive its license. RELATED: Gov. Beshear called the Nicholasville lab a one-stop lab for quality testing cannabis and hemp and said that KCA Labs will act as a safety compliance facility to test medical cannabis products before theyre in the hands of cardholders. Our mission is to ensure Kentuckians with serious medical conditions have safe access to high quality, tested medical cannabis products, said Gov. Beshear. Today, we took two more big steps toward that goal. We are so excited about the opportunity to be part of Kentuckys medical cannabis program, and were thrilled to accept the first license, Jonathan Thompson, CEO of KCA Labs said. I want to thank the Governor and the Office of Medical Cannabis for setting up this licensing process, which has been seamless. KCAs vast knowledge and experience with testing hemp products will translate neatly into Kentuckys new medical cannabis program. We look forward to helping ensure the program provides the highest-quality products to Kentuckys cardholders. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Further, the license lottery for medical cannabis cultivators and processors will begin on Oct. 28 with organizers currently working through applications. Applicants for cultivator Tiers I, II, III and applicants for processors will be informed the week prior whether they are approved to the license lottery, the governors office said. The lotteries will be held by the Kentucky Lottery Corp. in Louisville and will be live-streamed so Kentuckians can tune in and follow along. There will be 10 licenses available for processors, a total of 16 cultivator licenses, and 48 licenses for dispensaries spread out across 11 regions. Read more of the latest Kentucky news According to the program, patients can apply for their medical cannabis cards in January. For information on how to apply and the qualifying conditions, 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 FOX 56 News. Two senior Nigerian prison officials have been suspended over bribery allegations regarding controversial transgender celebrity Bobrisky. It follows claims by social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, that some anti-corruption officials were bribed to drop money laundering charges against Bobrisky. She has dismissed the bribery claim. Bobrisky, whose real name is Idris Okuneye, was released from prison last month after serving a six-month sentence for abusing naira, the local currency. But a court dismissed money laundering charges. Nigeria was last year ranked 145 out of 180 countries in the Transparency International's perceptions of corruption index, with bribery named more prevalent in government offices. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have ordered investigations into a viral video, which Bobrisky has called "false", allegedly linking her to the bribery allegation. In the leaked video, someone who is purported to be Bobrisky is heard alleging that she paid $9,000 (7,000) to EFCC officials to have the money laundering charges dropped. It was also alleged that she paid some millions of naira to secure a private apartment near the prison where she allegedly served her jail term. Bobrisky, who has nearly five million followers on Instagram, denied the allegations in an Instagram post. "I didnt pay any EFCC money, which is a very big lie. I served my term in full, and I came out. Discard any false information. In a statement on Thursday, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board, said it suspended two prison officers linked to the bribery allegations, which have sparked widespread condemnation in the country. Two other senior prison officials were also suspended over separate accusations. The suspension of these officers is to allow for further investigation on the various allegations while assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded, the statement added. 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 BELFORD, NJ An engaged couple with Belford and Matawan ties lost their deposit after the North Jersey venue where they planned to be married next month unexpectedly filed for bankruptcy, according to this GoFundMe started for the soon-to-be newlyweds. The venue is the Art Factory in Paterson, which is making headlines across the state after they aprubtly closed their doors and filed for bankruptcy this month. The Art Factory is a rambling former factory located very close to the Great Falls of Paterson. A man named David Garsia was given a loan to turn the factory into an event space, and it has become popular across the state for weddings and other celebrations. According to their website, the factory has also been used for filming by Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Disney, Alice in Chains, Bon Jovi, 50 Cent, Calvin Klein, Victoria's Secret and Cadillac. On Sept. 22, the Art Factory put up this post on their Instagram page, blaming their lender for foreclosing on the building. The lender who gave Garsia the money to open the Art Factory is the 100 Mile Fund, owned by Billy Procida. "This is one of the saddest things I've witnessed in my 43-year career, I feel so bad for all of The Art Factory clients. It's a great venue and it was poorly managed," Procida told ABC News this week. "We are simply the lender, we have nothing to do with the decision by the Garsias to file bankruptcy." A bankruptcy judge ordered Garcia to pay roughly $10 million to the 100 Mile Fund, NJ101.5 reports. The Monmouth County couple are these two women with Matawan and Belford ties. They reportedly put down a $14,000 deposit to have their wedding at the Art Factory next month, reported the Daily Voice. Multiple news outlets report this has been the case for hundreds of engaged-to-be-wed couples across New Jersey, with couples putting down deposits ranging from $12,000 and $14,000 to have their wedding at the Art Factory only to be told the location is permanently closed and they will have to file a claim in small claims court to get their money back. A bridesmaid for the Monmouth County couple started this GoFundMe account to help the women recoup some of their losses. "Lindsey and Erin have been working tirelessly to create the best day of their lives on October 18, 2024. Their wedding," read the GoFundMe. "I'm Melodie, Erin's maid of honor and best friend. Lindsey is my sister in law. They were booked and ready to go at the Art Factory in Paterson. If you are unaware of what has happened they shut down and officially closed their doors today. They have poured their hearts and soul into this. All of their money has been spent on this venue and they unfortunately will not see a penny of this back. I am asking for any kind of donation to help them find a new venue for their special day. They are completely heartbroken over all of this ... What the Art Factory has done is completely unethical and morally wrong." Six days ago, the Art Factory posted an email they received from Procida. They maintain that even during the COVID pandemic, when they were shut down by the state and had to postpone 167 weddings, Procida still charged them "insane interest." "Covid had nothing to do with it," Procida wrote Garcia in an email. "Your (sic) a scumbag piece of s- lowlife. Pay me." Read: Dream Weddings Wrecked: Popular NJ Venue Files For Bankruptcy, Blames Lender Brides left without a wedding venue after popular event space in Paterson files for bankruptcy NJ Couples Lose Thousands As Art Factory Wedding Venue Goes Bankrupt originally appeared on the Middletown Patch No animal neglect in death of dog at Pleasanton apartment balcony, police say No animal neglect in death of dog at Pleasanton apartment balcony, police say (KRON) The Pleasanton Police Department (PPD) announced on Tuesday that a dog tragically died from heat stroke after being left alone on an apartment balcony near Gibraltar Drive and Hacienda Drive. Video footage posted on the Nextdoor app showed the dog trapped on the balcony outside during a heat wave. According to PPD, surveillance footage shows the dog exited the apartment between 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. The pet was unable to reenter the unit, unbeknownst to the owner, police said. Upon further investigation, police said Thursday that they determined there were no findings of animal neglect, despite allegations coming from community members. According to PPD, a local veterinarian determined the cause of the dogs death was heat stroke with no other signs of injury or neglect. The department added that fatal heat stroke can happen within an hour of direct sunlight. However, one neighbor claimed on Nextdoor that the case was dog abuse on the part of the owner. The neighbor claims dog abuse has been reported numerous times, and the leasing office failed to save this poor pup. Multiple comments on PPDs original Facebook post about the incident called for the dog owner to be charged. Those who watched the now-deleted Nextdoor video of the dog stuck on the balcony have called the footage traumatic. The dogs death appears to be an isolated incident that is rare in the Pleasanton community. Police request that the public show respect for the owner of the deceased dog. As staff gifts fans dirt from Oakland Coliseum to bring home The Pleasanton Police Department has no prior history of calls for service regarding animal welfare at this address, the department said. We kindly request that the public show respect for all parties involved, particularly the dog owner during this time of grief. The dogs death prompted a lot of public and community concern over pet safety. PPD said it will increase patrols in the neighborhood. We would also like to remind the public that, when calling 9-1-1, to provide as much detail as possible so calls can be prioritized for the appropriate response, Pleasanton police wrote in a Facebook post. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Labours Britain: I no longer see any future in this country The arrival of a Labour Government has catalysed a talent drain. The wealthy and skilful are fleeing Britain, particularly as fears grow over a range of tax rises in Rachel Reevess first Budget. The Telegraph has spoken to a number of its readers who form part of this vital and undervalued group. They said that they have emigrated because of tax punishment, a deteriorating quality of life, and business discouragement. Its partly the tax but also where Britain is heading Steve Oldfield, 60, originally intended to work until he was 67, but has instead retired early to the Philippines. An IT consultant from Cheshire, Mr Oldfield eventually found it difficult to motivate himself when he was only keeping 40p of every pound he earned, which he largely attributes to IR35. Mr Oldfield had been contracting at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt for a number of years. In the last few years, he worked remotely from the UK. IR35 is a piece of UK legislation which was originally introduced by Gordon Brown when he was chancellor, as part of the 1999 Budget to counter the misuse of personal service companies (PSCs) for tax avoidance purposes. Mr Oldfield condemned the so-called double taxation of IR35 which he said saw him pay tax of up to 60 per cent compounded by no employee rights, no sick pay, no benefits and no pension. It was incredibly demotivating, he said. I lost a contract on the back of the tax. I lost interest, I found it really hard to motivate myself. How can you work to keep 40p of every pound you earn? Its ridiculous. Mr Oldfield and his wife bought a beach house in the Philippines, her home country, just before Covid. They had originally intended to use it occasionally until we retired. Steve Oldfield outside his beach house in the Philippines - Diana Oldfield That plan changed when the couple decided to move permanently last May. Its partly the tax but its also where Britain is heading, said Mr Oldfield. If Im paying high taxes and Ive got fantastic public services and a great way of life then possibly you could put up with it, but on the back of everything else no, we decided it was time to go. Labours coming to power only served to solidify the move. We discussed giving it a trial run but, with Labour coming in, it was obviously only going to get worse in terms of tax and all their so-called progressive policies. That was the icing on the cake, Mr Oldfield said. In the Philippines, Mr Oldfield says, it is a little bit like going back in time in that theres very little political correctness and people are able to take risks. He added: If you work hard, people can be successful Crime is very low. Theres a great work ethic thats been lost in Britain due to our over-generous welfare state. Its a much more simple and straightforward way of life. Mr Oldfield hasnt lost all faith. When asked if he could be enticed back to Britain, he said: Yes, I think I could. I love my country, I love the Britain I grew up in and I wouldnt have been able to have left that version of it. It was never something we seriously considered until the last few years. Asked what could tempt him back, he said: Id like to see a Tory party with Tory values, and more traditional centre-Right policies in government, prepared to dismantle the creeping socialism that the UKs endured since, well, Margaret Thatcher. It was never reversed by the Tory government and were paying the price now. Despite putting hundreds of miles between him and Britain, Mr Oldfield hasnt fully escaped the effects of Labours election victory. He still owns a number of buy-to-lets back home and says his big fear is what they are planning to do next. He added: Theres an ongoing war on landlords, initiated perversely by the Tories, but its going to get even worse under Labour. What will they do now with the letting environment, landlord taxation, and rights of tenants? Ive had most of my tenants for years. I charge them at least 15pc below the market rate but ultimately Im going to have to start passing on some of the costs. I rely on it now, when previously I didnt. This has become crucial to me. Who knows whats going to happen? Its the people in the public sector who wont be affected Michael Hanbury, 52, sees no future for himself in Britain and has moved to Thailand. A skilled chef, Mr Hanbury was previously the executive chef of a five-star hotel in central London and even opened a restaurant of his own. However, he stumbled upon funding difficulties, even contacting his constituency MP at the time who happened to be Sir Keir Starmer asking for help. He felt dismissed by the response and bemoaned the lack of help in the hospitality sector, particularly after the damage of the Covid lockdowns. Eventually, Mr Hanbury was forced to close his restaurant. When Boris [Johnson] started the work-from-home mantra, the momentum we had after the opening was killed on the spot, he said. 6,000 didnt even cover a weeks rent. Our electricity bill went up to 5,500 a month because youre a new business you get screwed. With the situation compounded by personal upheaval and feeling failed by the family court, he lost his patience: I really dont want to pay one penny in tax to this country because of what Ive lost, he declared. Mr Hanburys family are involved in the pharmaceutical industry going back generations, he says. Michael Hanbury in Thailand - Michael Hanbury Theres inheritance there, he added, saying he views inheritance tax as obscene. Youre being taxed for dying. You must work all your life to gain all this wealth, which was taxed in the first place, for them to take another slice. And its not just inheritance tax. Having been a higher-rate taxpayer and contributing much, he is also a critic of government waste and the politicisation of the Civil Service. Where is the money going? he questioned. Mr Hanbury no longer sees any future in this country. Along with significantly lower tax rates in Thailand, he says setting up a business is easier there, and he has the prospect of opening a restaurant. What I need to do to get a work permit is to go over there and set up a business. This is a great way of encouraging investment, he said. Mr Hanburys move is also driven by the decline he says he has seen in London, for which he holds Sadiq Khan responsible. I lived in Kentish Town and just before Christmas there was a murder, a stabbing, down the road, he said. When you see it around you, you dont want to be living here. Ive lived in central London for 30-odd years. Ive seen a decline. His sentiment towards the London mayor extends to Labour in general: The only thing were going to see in a Labour government is growth in both debt and regulation, that will stop businesses and entrepreneurs and growth in public sector wages. Only the wealth creators, the people who will actually drive growth will be affected. Theyll hit businesses across the board, whether its small entrepreneurs, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) or large corporations. Beckham Law is what made us move Reader Cameron Nicholls*, 40, moved to Malaga with his family in January of this year. Despite living in the UK for most of his life, Mr Nicholls was educated in Spain between the ages of eight and 16, so he has always had a big love for the country. A self-professed nerd, Mr Nicholls works in IT integrating systems for large companies. Five years ago, when he decided to stop working for other companies and work for himself, he started earning significantly more money. But, living in Croydon, Mr Nicholls became disillusioned with the quality of life: It feels like youre non-stop being taxed. The quality of life that comes along with the amount of tax that you pay doesnt match up. Especially since weve got a newborn now. I didnt want to stay in Croydon with a little one I want the best for him. As well as comparing his new big detached house with a swimming pool and sea views in Malaga to his little flat in Croydon, he praises the outdoor lifestyle of Spain, which is great when youre raising a child. When you live in Croydon and see the state of it, and you see how much youre paying in taxes and compare it to Spain and its blue sky and peacefulness, its worlds apart. Cameron Nichollss Malaga garden, pool and sea views - Cameron Nicholls Mr Nicholls says the ultimate reason for his move, however, was the Beckham Law. The Beckham Law in Spain is a special tax regime that enables foreign workers to be taxed at a flat tax rate of 24 per cent for six years. The law earned its nickname when David Beckham became one of the first foreigners to take advantage of it after it was passed in 2005. You can save 50,000 to 100,000 a year just on taxes, says Mr Nicholls. Thats what a lot of people earn in the UK and thats what Im saving on tax being here. Essentially Ive got a massive pay rise to come and live in an amazing climate thats very safe, family-oriented and a lot cheaper. With a new Government and with the prospect of yet more tax rises, Mr Nicholls is particularly glad to have made the move now. I feel like everything you do in the UK is taxed. And it seems like his move could produce a snowball effect: Ive got friends who are in a similar boat to me in what they do and theyre looking at the process at the moment. *Names have been changed 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. Delegates representing Lebanon, Iran, the Palestinians and others exited the room as Netanyahu took the rostrum (Bryan R. SMITH) (Bryan R. SMITH/AFP/AFP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed at the UN Friday to press his country's offensive against Lebanon's Hezbollah, dashing hopes for a 21-day truce proposed by France and the United States this week. Netanyahu's highly anticipated turn at the United Nations, during which he repeatedly denounced the global organization as anti-Israel, was met with jeers by some delegates who walked out, but cheers and applause from his backers. "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safe," Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly. "We will continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met." His remarks appeared to undermine a truce proposal unveiled by the United States and France after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN gathering. The White House has said that the ceasefire call had been "coordinated" with Israel, but Netanyahu's office on Thursday said that the prime minister had not responded to the proposal. Netanyahu also issued a blunt warning to Iran in his UN address, saying: "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East," he added. Delegates representing Lebanon, Iran, the Palestinians and others exited the room as Netanyahu took the rostrum for his speech. "We have no interest in listening to the war criminal Netanyahu and to his lies," Majed Bamya, the Palestinian deputy ambassador to the UN, wrote on X alongside an image of his delegation's empty seats. Netanyahu was "promising to repeat the atrocities committed in Gaza in Lebanon, (he) has nothing to do at the podium of the General Assembly," Bamya added in a subsequent post. Netanyahu said at the start of his speech that "after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight." Ahead of his appearance, protesters gathered outside Netanyahu's hotel in New York to demand an end to the violence in Gaza and Lebanon. - 'Deadliest period' - Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in a deadly exchange of cross-border fire since the Iran-backed group's Palestinian ally, Hamas, attacked Israel on October 7. Netanyahu vowed Friday that "Hamas has got to go" and would have no role in the reconstruction of Gaza as he vowed to fight until "total victory." Since Monday, Israel has shifted its focus from Gaza to its northern front with Lebanon, where heavy bombing has killed 700 people and sparked an exodus of around 118,000 people. The UN said Friday that a "catastrophic" intensification of Israeli attacks targeting Hezbollah militants had left Lebanon facing its "deadliest period... in a generation." The Israeli strikes have brought the overall death toll in Lebanon to more than 1,500 people killed in nearly a year of clashes, according to Lebanese authorities. That toll surpasses the 1,200 mostly civilians killed during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, which also killed around 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. gw-sct-ho/bbk No, Texas didn't make it illegal to display pride flags in schools | Fact check The claim: Texas declared bringing a pride flag to classrooms is a crime A Sept. 15 Threads post (direct link, archive link) includes side-by-side images of students wearing Texas State T-shirts and a woman holding a pride flag. Its Official: Texas Declares Bringing a Pride Flag to the Classroom a Crime, reads the post, which includes a link to a separate website. The Thread was reposted more than 200 times in less than two weeks. Other versions of the claim spread widely on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False The claim originated on a satirical website. There is no evidence of any such declaration or law in the state. Texas legislature not in regular session until 2025 The link in the post directs users to an article that first appeared Sept. 8 on Esspots.com, a satirical website that labels its content as such. The Texas Legislative Reference Library is not aware of any legislation supporting the claims in the Facebook post or the linked article, spokesperson Karen McBurney told USA TODAY. The legislature is not in session and won't be in regular session again until January 2025, McBurney said. There are several telling elements of the article that confirm it is not legitimate news as well. For example, it claims the supposed legislation is titled The Classroom Sanctity Act, but nothing under that name is listed in online databases from the Texas State Capitol or the Texas Legislature. There is likewise no credible news reporting about such an act. The article also says Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law at a Sept. 7 ceremony, but no such event is referenced on the governors website, nor are there any reports of it from legitimate news outlets. Abbott last signed legislation in December 2023, according to the governor's website. The claim is an example of what could be called "stolen satire," where stories written as satire and presented that way originally are reposted in a way that makes them appear to be legitimate news. As a result, readers of the second-generation post are misled, as was the case here. Fact check: Video of mother tearing Pride Flag from classroom wall is staged There have, however, been numerous actions taken related to pride flags and sexuality in schools in Texas and elsewhere. A Texas State Senate bill that sought to restrict content related to sexual orientation and gender identity in public and charter schools was introduced in 2023, as reported by The Texas Tribune. It was left pending in committee. Later that year, a school district in San Antonio said it did not allow its educators to express "personal or political viewpoints" in the classroom after a teacher posted a photo on X that showed a pride flag on display, the San Antonio Express-News reported. A Tennessee State Senate bill introduced in January would have banned public schools from displaying political or ideological flags, including the pride flag, the Tennessean reported. A bipartisan cohort of state senators blocked the bill from advancing in April. USA TODAY has debunked an array of claims related to pride flags, including false assertions that Elon Musk called for them to be banned from classrooms and that the United Nations replaced all its flags with pride flags. USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Check Your Fact and Full Fact also debunked the claim. Our fact-check sources: This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claim of Texas pride flag ban is satire | Fact check NORFOLK A man who terrorized a Norfolk neighborhood with an AR-style rifle and threatened to gun down a Brazilian family gathered for a backyard Bible study was sentenced Friday to 8 years in prison. The term Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. issued to Daniel Ferguson was well over the range recommended. State sentencing guidelines, which suggest a punishment based on a defendants background and the circumstances of the crime, recommended he serve no more than three years and nine months. Ferguson, 28, pleaded guilty in August to attempted malicious wounding, shooting into a vehicle, brandishing a firearm and a hate crime for the Sept. 3, 2023, incident in a neighborhood near Ocean View. Emergency dispatchers received numerous 911 calls that night about a man wandering the streets with a rifle, according to court documents. Two people threatened by Ferguson testified during Fridays sentencing hearing. Marcos Da Silva told the judge he was holding a Bible study with his wife and four children in their backyard when a man hed never seen came into the yard and pointed a rifle at them. The man asked who he should shoot first, then ordered them to get off his land, Da Silva said. James Lomogda testified he was driving to get ice cream for his children when he saw a man with a large rifle. We exchanged a stare. It was a bit awkward because he had a rifle in his hands, Lomogda said. I started to drive off and within a second or two my truck was shot. The bullet went through a tool box on his truck and the rear window, he said. Numerous police officers arrived and took Ferguson into custody. While they were driving him to jail, he talked of wanting to hunt and kill Blacks and Jews, according to court records. He spat on one officer and was combative and verbally abusive, the document said. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Drew Fairbanks argued the nature of the threats, and the hate speech that Ferguson spewed that night, called for a sentence well above the guidelines. It was essentially a random act of violence, Fairbanks said. It wasnt motivated by anything but hate itself. Thats serious, your honor. Defense attorney Cole Roberts said Ferguson suffers from bipolar depression. He was a heavy substance abuser, using psychedelic mushrooms, steroids and alcohol before his arrest, Roberts said. Ferguson was in the Air Force for a short time, but had to leave due to injuries. Hes not a racist, Roberts said. Hes not a white supremacist. Ferguson told the judge he was sorry. He said he had little to no control over his actions at the time, due to all the substances he was taking. I hate that I dont have more than sorry to offer the families, he said. I pray to God that one day theyll forgive me because I am not that man. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com NORFOLK, Neb (KCAU) The Norfolk Police Department broke up a large underage party on Wednesday. According to a press release, police responded to a loud music disturbance in the 1800 block of West Madison Avenue at 11:05 p.m. When police arrived, they found a large party with alcohol where most of the attendees were under the age of 21. Norfolk Fire Division honors two citizens with Lifesaver Awards for heroic actions Officials reported that 54 minors in possession of alcohol citations were issued and the residents were issued citations for disturbing the peace. Hundreds of containers of alcohol were also collected as evidence. The arriving officers called for additional assistance, and the Madison County Deputies as well as Nebraska State Troopers responded to the scene. Norfolk Police noted that these types of investigations are very time-consuming and resource-consuming, but they may help prevent DWIs, traffic accidents, and other dangers that come with underage drinking. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Residents downstream of two North Carolina dams were evacuated after reports of a catastrophic failure due to flooding from Hurricane Helene. Officials in Cocke County, Tennessee said on Friday afternoon that the Waterville Dam, just over the state line in North Carolina, had failed and ordered everyone in downtown Newport to get out. State officials and the National Weather Service (NWS) later said this was a false alarm, citing the energy company that operates the dam, but the evacuation orders remained in force. Elsewhere, officials in Rutherford County, North Carolina told residents downstream of the Lake Lure Dam to flee to higher ground due to floodwater overflowing the top of the 124-ft-high barrier and pouring uncontrolled around the edges. Water is cresting the dam and flowing around the side walls. Structural supports have been compromised, but the dam wall is currently holding, said the county emergency management department. The Lake Lure Dam in calmer times, near Asheville in North Carolina. Residents were told to evacuate after the dam was compromised by heavy rain from Tropical Storm Helene on Friday (Town of Lake Lure) Evacuations have occurred from the dam to Island Creek Road. Evacuation sirens are sounding downstream of the dam. At least 130 people were dead across multiple states on Monday evening after Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida as a 140mph, Category 4 storm late Thursday, pounding the west coast with unsurvivable conditions. While Helene was downgraded as it moved inland and the winds dropped, it continued to dump vast amounts of water across Georgia, the Carolinas and then up into Tennessee and Kentucky as it moved north heading into the weekend. The result was chaos and confusion across a wide area, with both Rutherford County in North Carolina and Cocke County in Tennessee initially claiming that the dams had burst or were about to burst. EMERGENCY UPDATE: THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. EVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis wrote on Facebook. But the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said: "We have been informed the dam has not failed, per Duke Energy. Evacuations are still occurring in the area." UPDATE: We have been informed the dam has not failed, per Duke Energy. Evacuations are still occurring in the area. Please follow local official guidance if you live in the region. https://t.co/8cDKIUcf2J Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) (@TennesseeEMA) September 27, 2024 Duke Energy announced that it had opened all floodgates at the Waterville Dam and that the structure was performing as expected. However, a spokesperson declined to say whether or not the dam was damaged. A spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality likewise confirmed to The Independent that the Lake Lure Dam appeared to be of sound structure at around 3pm. Due to the rainfall, the dam is said to be overtopping across its entire length of the dam. The structure was intact as of the last reports we have, said spokesperson Josh Kastrinsky. Theres been some erosion noted on the left abutment of the structure, and some water is flowing around that abutment. A later update said the flow over the top of the dam had reduced from 2ft deep to 1ft or less, but that water was still flowing uncontrolled around both right and left abutments. By Monday afternoon, all roads in downtown Newport had reopened, according to Mathis. He also said he had been in contact with the White House and was assured by Joe Biden that federal resources would be available to assist in the citys recovery efforts, WBIR reports. Cocke County Sheriff C.J. Ball confirmed on Monday that two people had died due to storm-related incidents. On Facebook, wedding and portrait photographer Helen Pace, who lives on the other side of Lake Lure from the dam, posted pictures of her badly damaged house and a road carved apart by floodwaters. Flooding and a badly-damaged road near Bat Cave around Lake Lure, North Carolina on Friday following impacts from storm Helene (Helen Pace) We are physically OK, she said. The water has started to recede and I think we dodged the predicted winds... We are not able to get out now, we have no power, no water, and cell service seems to be restricted. Sending my love to you all. The Rutherford County evacuation orders named a total of 45 streets in two separate Facebook posts. Officials said that storm shelters had been opened at Lake Lure Town Hall and Rutherfordtown Presbyterian Church. It wasnt immediately clear on Friday how many people are affected by the evacuations, but Newport has an estimated population of about 7,000 and Lake Lure has about 1,600. The Lure Dam was built in 1927 on the Broad River, about one hours drive east of Asheville and two hours west of Charlotte. Lake Lure itself is best known nationally as a filming site for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, which used it to stand in for upstate New Yorks Catskill Mountains. Kastrinsky said that the Lake Lure Dam is classified as high hazard due to the large number of people and roads downstream of it, but was last assessed to be in fair condition, the second highest of four available ratings. The Waterville Dam is at the confluence of the Pigeon River and Big Creek, and is also known as the Walters Dam. Both dams are located in North Carolinas Great Smoky Mountains. Editors Note: This story was updated at 18:46 Eastern Time on Friday 27 September, 2024. to reflect new statements from emergency officials about the Waterville Dam. North Macedonia hits out at Brussels, says EU accession like 'Waiting for Godot' North Macedonia's conservative prime minister has reacted angrily to reports that his country's troubled EU accession bid hit a new hurdle because of a dispute with neighbouring bloc member Bulgaria. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that the EU was trying to "dictate" what North Macedonia should do and suggested that he would accept no further delay in membership talks with the 27-nation bloc. Mickoski's comments followed reports that EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels on Wednesday decided to push ahead with Albania's EU accession process, independently of North Macedonia's. Up to now, the two bids had been moving together. European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero declined to confirm that Albania and North Macedonias negotiating paths had been separated but did suggest that the two countries are on different tracks or time frames. "Our position is very clear, the Commission looks forward to the start of negotiations...as soon as possible with Albania, and with North Macedonia as soon as possible once North Macedonia has met the relevant criteria," Pisonero said. The EU started membership talks with the two Balkan countries in 2022 as the war in Ukraine forced a rethink of the bloc's enlargement process. They became EU candidates two decades ago, although their accession talks never commenced. But the Macedonian bid was then delayed by a dispute with Bulgaria over Balkan history, language and culture. To break the impasse, the previous centre-left government in Skopje accepted a Bulgarian demand to insert a reference to a Bulgarian ethnic minority in North Macedonia's constitution. However, it lacked the parliamentary majority to effect the change, and Mickoski's new conservative government says it will only amend the constitution if Bulgaria first approves North Macedonia's EU membership. Mickoski said that it was unfair to link his country's EU prospects with Bulgaria's demand. "For me, this is a dictate," he said. "If this is the condition for (North) Macedonia to continue negotiations, then I said that in Brussels no thanks!" Those comments were echoed by North Macedonia President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova who used her speech at the UN General Assembly to say the country's path to EU membership was like "waiting for Godot". Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, President of North Macedonia, addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 26, 2024 - Frank Franklin II/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved. "To us, membership in the European Union after 20 years of negotiations and 16 positive European Commission reports resembles Mr Godot, because we have been waiting for him since 2005, always encouraged by international representatives with the refrain. Just this one condition or just this one concession more," she said. The country's EU path was blocked for years by neighbouring Greece over another dispute over history and heritage. It was settled in 2018 after North Macedonia changed its name, from "the Republic of Macedonia". The main opposition Social Democrats' leader Venko Filipche blamed Mickoski's government for the new setback. "This is a huge disaster for the future of the citizens," Filipche said. "This is a missed opportunity that will affect many families and a whole new generation." A local advocate for queer and homeless youth has resigned as executive director of Northwest Youth Services, which provides support for unhoused 13- to 24-year-olds in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Jason McGill told The Bellingham Herald that the Northwest Youth Services board last week accepted his resignation effective Nov. 4. Meanwhile, McGill is on paid leave pending an investigation, he told The Herald in a text message. He wasnt able to comment further, directing questions to the Northwest Youth Services board. Im still very proud of my approach to leadership in this community. My two passions in life are Black liberation and abolishing youth and young homelessness. I was able to bring awareness to both because of the deep intersections of both. Our liberation is tied together, McGill said. In a post Thursday on Facebook, the Northwest Youth Services board said McGill was on paid leave pending an independent investigation into allegations that run contrary to our core values of community, justice and liberation, humanity and accountability. It didnt say who was conducting the investigation. Northwest Youth Services board president Michelle Harmeier wasnt immediately available for comment. Harmeier is also head of the Bellingham Queer Collective, which shares space with Northwest Youth Services at its Q Center in downtown Bellingham. McGill submitted his resignation in a Sept. 17 post on the organizations Facebook page, saying that he wished to pursue work closer to his family. Both his father and stepfather recently died, and he wanted to be closer to his mother, he told The Herald. Im proud of whats been accomplished as a community and of the positive impact we have made, he said in his letter of resignation. A strong advocate for queer youth in his four years with the organization, McGill helped move a teen shelter called the PAD from a space above a storefront in downtown Bellingham to a house in the Samish neighborhood in 2021, despite local opposition, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting. McGill also campaigned against a sales tax to build a new jail that Whatcom County voters approved in 2023. Most recently, he advocated for 22 North, apartments run by the Opportunity Council that provide supportive housing for people with health issues who were recently homeless. The Northwest Youth Services board of directors issued the following statement Sept. 26: To our community, Together, we have set an intention to end youth and young adult homelessness and dismantle their perpetuating systems. Powered by your time, efforts, capital, energy, collaboration, and love, these intentions are becoming reality. For almost 50 years, you have helped make Northwest Youth Services a doorway to safety and the pathway to progress for thousands of young livesthank you. At present, our organization finds itself in a moment of transition; recently, the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Jason McGill, who joined NWYS in 2021. We have taken steps to begin an independent inquiry into allegations that run contrary to our core values of Community, Justice & Liberation, Humanity, and Accountability. To protect the privacy of all parties involved and the integrity of the investigation, the Board has placed Jason on paid administrative leave; an interim CEO will be appointed in the coming days. We are committed to holding space to confront, discuss, and navigate through the results of this investigation upon its conclusion. Our brilliant, dedicated staff have the full support, thought-partnership, and stewardship of the Board. Today, the youth we serve continue to access and benefit from our healing and affirmative programs, services, and safe spaces. Our organization will always center our communitys youth and their well-being; fifty years from now, we are certain that our community will look back with pride at not only the work we accomplished, but how we accomplished it. Thank you for your continued support. Not your grandfather's library: $30 million facility west of Boynton Beach opens soon BOYNTON BEACH Palm Beach County's newest and perhaps most contemporary and complete library is expected to open in January at Canyon Town Center. Library Director Doug Crane said the finishing touches are being placed on the new 33,000-square-foot, $30 million facility that is expected to create a sense of community for the western Boynton Beach area. Once the builder completes minor repairs, Crane said the building will be turned over to library officials. It will then take about three months for his staff to equip and furnish the library. Crane made his comments Monday, Sept. 23, before a packed town hall meeting at Valencia Reserve that attracted more than 500 people. When it opens, The Canyon Branch will be the county's 19th library. It is near the amphitheater of the Canyon Town Center off Boynton Beach Boulevard and Lyons Road. Rendering of the Canyon Town Center library branch expected to open in January. It is the first library to be built in a shopping center. "You can pick up your books and then go shopping at Publix," Crane quipped. Valencia Reserve, an active retirement community of more than 1,000 residents, is expected to make great use of the library. It is within easy walking distance, across the street from the shopping plaza on the west side of Lyons. Long hallway inside the county's new library at Canyon Town Center that is expected to open in January County pouring money into libraries: Plans for new main library would triple current size The area west of Florida's Turnpike between Hypoluxo Road and Atlantic Avenue has been the scene of large-scale development, especially along Lyons Road, where more than 10,000 homes have been built. For many residents, the closest library branch is 5 to 8 miles away. The Canyon Branch will "open minds to a world of unlimited possibilities," according to library officials. The Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations first called for a library branch in the area more than 10 years ago. Library to feature outdoor plaza, digital room, recording studio The finishing touches are being put on the new library west of Boynton Beach that is expected to be completed in January. The library will feature a drive-up return window, an outdoor plaza where cellphones can be charged and a digital room where podcasts can be created. It will be the first library with a dedicated outdoor plaza. The library will be open seven days a week. While it looks like a two-story building, Crane noted that it is just one-story with high ceilings to capture as much sunlight as possible. Valencia Reserve residents attend a town meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23, to learn about the offerings at the new library that is expected to open in January at Canyon Town Center, west of Boynton Beach. Here's what else the library will feature: Flexible floor spaces. Automated checkout and return stations. A digital media lab. Large meeting room spaces that can accommodate up to 350 people and can be divided into smaller spaces. Smaller conference and study rooms. Two themed areas designed for children and teens. A large parking area. A green plaza space. A recording studio similar to the one at the main library in West Palm Beach "This is what you wanted," County Mayor Maria Sachs said. "Not another car wash or a pizza joint. You have waited a long time for this. It is happening." Valencia Reserve residents will lose their multipurpose room for about a year because of a $9 million renovation project. Crane said the community can use the meeting room at the new library, which can accommodate as many as 300 people. It can also be divided so that more than one group can use it as a time. Sign up for our Post on Boynton Beach weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New state-of-the-art library west of Boynton Beach opens in January Not too late to sign up for Susan G. Komens More than Pink walk HONOLULU (KHON2) October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the most common cancer diagnosis for women in Hawaii. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You To raise awareness, Susan G. Komen is hosting its annual More than Pink walk. Federal mediator joins negation talks between locked-out nurses and Kapiolani Medical Center Thousands will gather at Kapiolani Park on October 13, 2024, to help raise money for the cause. Registration is free, and people are invited to walk as individuals or in groups. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news To register, 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 KHON2. The number of registered industrial parks in Ukraine has more than doubled during Russia's full-scale invasion. Source: Artur Melezhyk, Head of the Department of Industrial Parks and Investment Support of the Ministry of Economy, Ukrinform reports Details: "Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of industrial parks has actually more than doubled, and now there are 92 of them," Melezhyk said. He said that before the start of the war, there were 53 industrial parks in the official register. However, in addition to the registration of new ones, there were also cases of removal of industrial parks from the register, in particular, four this year and eight last year. It is noted that the increase in the number of industrial parks was influenced by the relocation of enterprises caused by the war. Melezhyk also noted that businesses do not just relocate existing or open new businesses in a new location, but create industrial parks for relocation to attract other businesses to their territories. In this format, business operations are more efficient and rational. Background: Kalush Production was included in the Register of Industrial Parks. Three more industrial parks in Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia and Vinnytsia oblasts received state funding under the Made in Ukraine policy. Support UP or become our patron! Nurses picket in front of Allina's United Hospital and Children's Minnesota in St. Paul on Sept. 12, 2022, the first day of a three-day strike at 15 hospitals across the Twin Cities and Duluth area. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: Allinas close corporate ties; Minnesotas first Workplace Rights Week; leaders of both national teachers unions to visit Minnesota; attorney general seeks court oversight of Rainbow dissolution; and 45,000 port workers prepare to strike. Nurses union criticizes Allinas financial ties The increasing influence of financiers and corporate consultants on one of Minnesotas largest nonprofit health care systems is compromising patient care and burning out workers, according to a new report from the Minnesota Nurses Association. The union, which represents some 22,000 nurses, released the report on Thursday during a summit of the most influential CEOs, visionaries and policymakers in health care at the Four Seasons in Minneapolis. One set of voices are conspicuously absent from the gilded boardrooms behind me patients and bedside caregivers, said MNA President Chris Rubesch at a news conference. The summit was hosted by multinational investment bank Piper Sandler, which has significant business in the health care industry advising on mergers and acquisitions and underwriting bonds for health systems. For example, the bank earned $5.2 million in fees from underwriting more than $1 billion in bonds for Allina Health since 2007, according to the unions report. Piper Sandler President Deb Schoneman is also chair of Allina Healths Board of Directors. More than half of Allinas 22 board members work in finance, insurance or real estate, while just four have experience caring for patients, according to the unions report. Thats a significant change from 25 years ago, when most of Allinas board had direct care experience. The unions report points to several recent Allina initiatives that it says are driven by profit-seeking and are hurting workers and patients, including outsourcing thousands of jobs to for-profit entities, partnering with an investment firm to provide hospital-at-home services and cutting staffing levels. The patient falls, the medication errors, the nurses trembling with low blood sugar and fatigue because they get no break in a 12-and-a-half hour shift. Myself and my nurse colleagues know that this is a race to the bottom when it comes to patient care, said Allina Health nurse Rachael Ballard during a news conference. An Allina spokeswoman shared a statement in response to the report, saying the health system is facing significant financial challenges like other organizations across the country. Maintaining our health care delivery system well into the future will require change and innovation. What will not change is our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care, the statement said. Allina, which operates more than 12 hospitals and 80 clinics, faced widespread criticism last year after a New York Times investigation revealed the system maintained a policy of denying non-emergency care to patients with more than $4,500 in debt. Allina later stopped the practice. Allina has also faced a wave of unionization efforts in recent years from unhappy workers. Even doctors, traditionally above the fray of labor strife, have unionized at Allina hospitals and clinics, saying they feel exploited and pressured to cut corners because of profit-driven quotas set by executives in faraway offices. Rubesch, the nurses union president, said the report shows nurses need legislation giving them a greater say in staffing levels. The nurses union came close to winning more power in state law in 2023, but the bill fell apart after Mayo Clinic threatened to move billions in future investments out of state if it became law. The Minnesota Hospital Association announced earlier this year that nurse staffing is rebounding post-pandemic, with vacancies falling, but noted just 2 in 5 nurses are choosing to work more than 32 hours a week. The hospital group also reported the average pay for registered nurses saw its biggest jump in a decade, rising 6.7% to nearly $95,000 in 2023. Those raises were driven in large part by a massive strike by some 15,000 nurses. Minnesotas first-ever workplace rights week Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach visited workers at a commercial laundry service in St. Paul on Wednesday to highlight the states new worker protections. The visit to Health Systems Cooperative Laundries was part of Minnesotas first-ever Workplace Rights Week, during which DLI staff plan to visit more than 1,000 worksites to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Democrats in control of state government passed a laundry list of worker-friendly laws in 2023, including paid sick leave; a paid family leave program; a ban on noncompete agreements; and, a nation-leading nursing home workforce standards board. Teachers union and Democrats push for more school funding National Education Association President Becky Pringle, leader of the largest labor union in the country, will visit public schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis on Monday along with Democratic lawmakers to promote increasing federal funding for public schools. The visits are part of walk-ins in which supporters gather outside schools before walking in together organized across the country by the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. Monday marks the expiration of federal pandemic aid for schools, which has boosted their school funding by $200 billion over the past three years. Democrats have introduced two bills the Keep Our PACT Act and the IDEA Full Funding Act to increase federal aid over the next decade to fund special education and supplementary education services for low-performing and low-income students. Pringle will visit Lucey Craft Laney Elementary School in north Minneapolis with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar before heading to Hazel Park Preparatory Academy in St. Paul for a news conference with U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and school district leaders. Pringle and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the countrys other major teachers union, will also be in St. Paul on Tuesday for a watch party of the vice presidential debate with the state teachers union to support Gov. Tim Walz, a former union teacher. Attorney General asks for court oversight of Rainbow Health closure Former workers at Rainbow Health, which provided health and social services to LGBTQ people in Minneapolis, applauded Attorney General Keith Ellison for seeking court oversight over the nonprofits dissolution. In July, Rainbow Healths leaders announced its immediate closure because of insurmountable financial challenges and laid off around 60 workers unionized with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa. Workers decried the abrupt closure and its impact on patients, many of whom were low-income and receiving ongoing services for HIV. Ellisons office filed a petition on Wednesday asking the Hennepin County District Court to supervise the dissolution of Rainbow Health, which means the court may direct the distribution of assets. It not only minimizes the risk of separate disputes about who gets what, it can give the employees the best shot to potentially get paid, Ellison said in a statement. Union workers, whose contract entitled them to 30-days notice of layoffs, have asked for a month of pay plus two weeks severance and compensation for unused paid time off. That would cost nearly $500,000, according to Ellisons petition, which also notes Rainbow Healths attorney said the organization may not have sufficient funds to cover its debts and obligations. 45,000 port workers prepare to strike Some 45,000 union dockworkers at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts plan to strike on Tuesday, a first for the International Longshoremens Association since 1977, the Associated Press reported. The strike threatens to disrupt trade at as many as three dozen ports from Maine to Texas that handle nearly half the shipping cargo in and out of the country. Retailers have reportedly stocked up on goods in anticipation of a strike, but a prolonged work stoppage could lead to shortages of everything from chocolate to industrial parts. Military cargo and oil tankers would not be affected, CNN reported. The union and the ports have been at an impasse for months over wages and rules on automation, although neither side would discuss pay levels. The New York Times reported longshoreman earn $39 per hour and are seeking $5-per-hour raises in each year of the six-year contract. On Thursday, the U.S. Maritime Association, which represents the ports and shipping lines, filed an unfair labor practices charge against the union, accusing it of refusing to bargain. A union spokesman called it a publicity stunt. NYC chancellor-in-waiting stays steadfast in her support of Mayor Eric Adams after bombshell indictment The soon-to-be New York City schools chancellor has remained steadfast in her support of Mayor Eric Adams after he was slapped with a five-count indictment on Thursday. Melissa Aviles-Ramos is expected to take the helm of the largest school system in the country from David Banks at the end of the calendar year. Banks, a stalwart in the education department, abruptly resigned this week amid a widening federal probe into the Adams administration but emphasized that the move had been in the works for months. Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the soon-to-be New York City schools Chancellor, has remained steadfast in her support of Mayor Eric Adams after he was slapped with a 5-count indictment on Thursday. William Farrington The schools Chancellor, who himself was ensnared by the stunning round of Sept. 4 federal raids earlier this month, has not broken his silence since the release of the 57-page bombshell indictment against Adams. His successor, however, told Chalkbeat that she has not lost support in Adams and that she shares his and Banks vision for Big Apple schools. Thats why I agreed to be chancellor, she told the publication. My North Star is their North Star, but I have to make sure that I keep the train moving. While Adams dominated the news cycle on Thursday, Aviles-Ramos said she would be sticking to the task in front of her. Which is making sure that our kids and our families have everything they need, she added. NYC Mayor Eric Adams leaves Gracie Mansion on Sept. 26, 2024. Robert Miller Aviles-Ramos says she has not lost support in Adams and that she shares his and Banks vision for Big Apple schools. James Keivom In her first interview since accepting the role she also gave clarity on who would be leading the decision making for New York City schools over the next three months. That will be [Banks] and me together. Weve worked really closely together in the last couple of years. And one thing about the chancellor is that he makes decisions with his cabinet, she said. So this isnt new to them. Its certainly not new to me, and Im actually looking forward to the next three months. Banks, a stalwart in the education department, abruptly resigned this week amid a widening federal probe into the Adams administration but emphasized that the move had been in the works for months. James Keivom Adams is alleged to have secretly solicited and accepted freebies and illegal campaign donations from wealthy foreigners, including Turkish officials, as far back as 2014. Mere hours after the indictment was unsealed, Adams reassured staff in a letter that Ive done nothing wrong. Hizzoner also reminded staff that New York is in a much better place today than we were 2.5 years ago when former Mayor Bill de Blasio who today defended the Mayors right to justice was at the helm. Adams is alleged to have secretly solicited and accepted freebies and illegal campaign donations from wealthy foreigners, including Turkish officials, as far back as 2014. REUTERS Its unclear how long Aviles-Ramos will take charge of NYCPS if Adams was to resign triggering Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to take over. But till then, the new chancellor said shes confident in the current administration. NEW YORK The New York City Department of Investigation raided the Queens County Sheriffs Office on Thursday amid a probe into whether deputies improperly seized cash from unlicensed pot shops, sources said. A source familiar with the matter told the New York Daily News that DOI agents searched the Sheriffs Office headquarters on Starr Avenue near Borden Avenue in Long Island City as part of an ongoing investigation into the agency. Sheriff Anthony Miranda told members of the City Council at a Sept. 17 hearing that his office does not handle cash retrieved during raids of illegal pot shops, maintaining it is the NYPDs responsibility to voucher all seized funds. Since (Operation) Padlock to Protect, the vouchering process has been designated with the NYPD, Miranda said when asked by City Council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) about how much revenue the sheriffs office is expected to generate from illicit marijuana shop raids this year. They are the ones who voucher the property depending on the circumstances of the location, Miranda said at the hearing. They will either voucher it as safekeeping or voucher it as investigatory evidence depending on the different circumstances. But union officials refuted Mirandas claims, saying deputy sheriffs are routinely asked to voucher cash and cannabis products. One source told the Daily News they informed DOI that they witnessed cash being removed from shops by deputies. It has not been alleged the sheriffs office was skimming funds from the seized cash. Tensions between Miranda and the union have been running high, with the union calling on Miranda to resign for creating a hostile work environment thats led to an exodus of rank-and-file members. It was not immediately clear what has happened to cash seized during the Padlock to Protect operations run by a city task force that includes both the sheriffs office and the NYPD. Miranda told Brannan during last weeks hearing he would follow up with the NYPD and supply additional information to the City Council. Complaints over the issue have been filed with the DOI, which has begun an inquiry and interviewed witnesses, sources said. The sources also noted the cash seizures were among various issues being looked at by DOI, but specifics of other lines of inquiry werent immediately clear. DOI spokeswoman Diane Struzzi declined to comment. _____ The city Department of Investigation raided the City Sheriffs office in Queens on Thursday amid a probe that is looking at various issues, including whether deputies improperly seized cash from unlicensed pot shops, sources said. A source familiar with the matter told the Daily News that DOI agents searched the sheriffs headquarters on Starr Ave. near Borden Ave. in Long Island City as part of an ongoing investigation into the agency. DOI investigators seized body cam footage from the sheriffs office along with more than $100,000 in cash during the raid, sources said. Its unclear if any devices or records were taken. DOI spokeswoman Diane Struzzi declined to comment. Sheriff Anthony Miranda told members of the City Council at a Sept. 17 hearing that his office does not handle cash retrieved during raids of illegal pot shops, maintaining it is the NYPDs responsibility to voucher all seized funds. Since [Operation] Padlock to Protect, the vouchering process has been designated with the NYPD, Miranda said when asked by City Council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) about how much revenue the sheriffs office is expected to generate from illicit marijuana shop raids this year. They are the ones who voucher the property depending on the circumstances of the location. They will either voucher it as safekeeping or voucher it as investigatory evidence depending on the different circumstances. But union officials refuted Mirandas claims, saying deputy sheriffs are routinely asked to voucher cash and cannabis products. Witnesses have informed DOI theyve witnessed cash being removed from shops by sheriffs deputies, and the corruption watchdog agency is known to be investigating the matter, The News first reported earlier this month. Tensions between Miranda and the union have been running high, with the union calling on Miranda to resign for creating a hostile work environment thats led to an exodus of rank-and-file members. It was not immediately clear what has happened to cash seized during the Padlock to Protect weed shop crackdown operations run by a city task force that includes both the sheriffs office and the NYPD. Miranda told Brannan during last weeks hearing he would follow up with the NYPD and supply additional information to the City Council. Complaints over the cash seizure issue have been filed with the DOI, which has interviewed witnesses, sources said. The sources also noted the cash seizures were among various issues being looked at by DOI; specifics of other lines of inquiry werent immediately clear, though Politico reported last week Miranda is being scrutinized directly in the probe. Word of Thursdays raid in Queens came just hours after federal prosecutors unsealed criminal charges against Mayor Adams alleging he accepted $10 million in illegal campaign donations along with flight upgrades and travel perks from Turkish nationals in exchange for carrying out favors for the Turkish government. The indictment alleges 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. The federal corruption indictment came on the heels of resignations of several high-profile Adams administration officials, including NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks on Tuesday and NYC Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan on Monday. Miranda, a former NYPD officer and longtime Adams friend, was appointed city sheriff by the mayor shortly after he took office in early 2022. (Bloomberg) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he accepted lavish travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals. Most Read from Bloomberg Adams, 64, entered the plea Friday in federal court in Manhattan a day after an indictment was unsealed that detailed a pattern of alleged conduct that sparked calls for his resignation from his political rivals. The first-term Democrat has vowed to continue to serve as mayor of the nations largest city. I am not guilty, your honor, Adams told Judge Katharine H. Parker at the hearing. Prosecutors allege that dating back to when Adams served as Brooklyn borough president, he accepted improper benefits including luxury travel from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. Hes also accused of secretly accepting illegal contributions to his 2021 campaign. Adams, a former police officer, arrived at the courthouse early Friday morning to surrender to authorities and have his fingerprints taken. Adams, flanked by his lawyer Alex Spiro, sat stoically as Parker read the charges for several minutes. Spiro said he will file a motion to dismiss the charges next week. He said he will also ask for a speedy trial. Adams was released on his own recognizance, but was instructed not to contact witnesses or people named in the indictment. He wont have to surrender his passport. Prosecutors said they will make reasonable accommodations that will allow Adams to talk to family or staff members that could be witnesses. But that could complicate his ability to manage the city as the case drags on. 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. The prosecutors outlined 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. Upgrade Case This case isnt even a real case, this case is an airline upgrade case, Spiro told reporters after the hearing. Spiro said the governments evidence comes down to a single Adams staffer that is cooperating with the investigation. That staffer has lied, and the government is in the possession of that lie, Spiro said. Adams didnt speak to the media after the hearing, but flashed a thumbs up before Spiro addressed reporters. 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 case is US v. Adams, 24-cr-566, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). --With assistance from Nacha Cattan and Laura Nahmias. (Adds lawyer comments starting in eighth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday as he was arraigned on an indictment in Manhattan federal court charging him with bribery and wire fraud for allegedly soliciting campaign contributions from overseas donors following a wide-ranging federal probe into corruption at City Hall. Adams, wearing a crisp blue suit, entered his plea as he stood before federal magistrate judge Katharine Parker. I am not guilty, your honor, Adams said. Earlier in the day, Adams shot a thumbs up at a gathering crowd as he arrived at federal court with his attorney just before 9 a.m., but made no comment. Adams has said he is innocent of all charges. The mayor has also rebuffed calls for his resignation and had several private meetings scheduled for Friday. 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. The indictment comes after revelations earlier this month that authorities are also looking into communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling from additional federal corruption investigations and a series of high-profile resignations in recent weeks by top advisers to the mayor. He is facing the possibility of up to 45 years in prison if convicted of bribery, campaign finance, wire fraud, and conspiracy offenses, federal officials said. In the five-count indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. The charges he faces are conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals; wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and bribery. 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 57-page indictment charges. Federal prosecutors say Adams solicited and accepted tens of thousands of dollars in 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 allegedly sent the donations through third parties, known as straw donors, who were citizens. Adams allegedly accepted the donations, knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign public money that the feds say he shouldve never received due to the illegal nature of the Turkish contributions. Adams repaid the favors by, among other actions, 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. Since the indictment was unsealed Thursday, several elected officials and community leaders have demanded that Adams resign from office, but the mayor says he will continue to lead as he fights the charges. Gov. Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, called the indictment the latest in a disturbing pattern of events but did not call for him to step down. My focus is on protecting the people of New York and ensuring stability in the city, she said in a statement late Thursday. 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. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday as he was arraigned on an indictment in Manhattan federal court charging him with bribery and wire fraud for allegedly soliciting campaign contributions from overseas donors following a wide-ranging federal probe into corruption at City Hall. Adams, wearing a crisp blue suit, entered his plea as he stood before federal magistrate judge Katharine Parker. I am not guilty, your honor, Adams said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen told the court that prosecutors and Adams defense agreed on a bond package under which Adams would be released provided he agrees not to contact any witnesses or individuals named in the indictment. Mayor Adams will be released today on the following conditions: he shall have no contact with any individual witnesses or others listed in the list to be provided by the government, concerning the facts and circumstances outlined in the indictment, Parker said. This does not preclude Mayor Adams from having routine communications concerning business and private family matters. 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. The indictment comes after revelations earlier this month that authorities are also looking into communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. In the five-count indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. The charges he faces are conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals; wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and bribery. Spiro said the defense will be filing a motion to dismiss the indictment next Wednesday. In comments after the brief proceeding, Spiro said the feds have evidence Adams was unaware of any efforts to funnel illegal donations to his campaign. He claimed a City Hall staffer, identified later by sources as Rana Abbasova, Adams Turkish community liaison for years, who is at the heart of the governments case has been misleading investigators. That staffer has lied, and the government is in possession of that lie, Spiro said as Adams stood stone-faced by his side. When that staffer was first interviewed, that staffer said that Mayor Adams knew nothing about this, he was not involved in this, and that he is innocent. They have that information. They have not turned that over to us. They have not turned that over to you. The indictment says that when Abbasova, identified in court papers as a City Hall staffer, 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 Adamsand others, the indictment read. After the FBI raided Abbasovas New Jersey home, she agreed to cooperate with investigators, the Daily News previously reported. Abbasovas attorney declined to comment on Spiros claims Friday. Spiro said the entire indictment against Adams isnt even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case, he said. Hes innocent. Adams gave a thumbs-up to reporters as he left Manhattan federal court. The mayor has said he is innocent of all charges and has rebuffed calls for his resignation. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling from additional federal corruption investigations and a series of high-profile resignations in recent weeks by top advisers to the mayor. He is facing the possibility of up to 45 years in prison if convicted of bribery, campaign finance, wire fraud and conspiracy offenses, federal officials said. 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 57-page indictment charges. Federal prosecutors say Adams solicited and accepted tens of thousands of dollars in 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 allegedly sent the donations through third parties, known as straw donors, who were citizens. Adams allegedly accepted the donations, knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign public money that the feds say he shouldve never received due to the illegal nature of the Turkish contributions. Adams raised a total of $10 million in matching funds during the 2021 campaign. Adams repaid the favors by, among other actions, 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. In comments outside Gracie Mansion Thursday, Spiro challenged several of the prosecutions key points and produced text message to bolster his position. 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 as he stood with Adams at his side. They do that to tarnish him in your eyes. Spiro said there was nothing untoward about the seat upgrades as they were commonplace when seats are available. He disputed the notion that the mayor had sought foreign donations, saying he had given his staff explicit instructions not to do so. Spiro also said, echoing comments Adams has previously made, that there was noting untoward about the mayors outreach to the FDNY regarding the consulate. Since the indictment was unsealed Thursday, several elected officials and community leaders have demanded that Adams resign from office, but the mayor says he will continue to lead as he fights the charges. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, called the indictment the latest in a disturbing pattern of events but did not call for him to step down. My focus is on protecting the people of New York and ensuring stability in the city, she said in a statement late Thursday. 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. _______ (Daily News reporters Emma Siewell and Chris Sommerfeldt contributed to this story.) A federal appeals court in St. Louis heard arguments Thursday over a halted Iowa law that would allow the arrest and forced removal of immigrants in Iowa if they had previously been denied entry into the country. The three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals now has to rule on the appeal of a lower courts injunction that stopped Senate File 2340 from going into effect. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights organizations sued to stop the law, arguing it is unconstitutional because it tramples on federal sovereignty over immigration, ensnares those with legal status and creates chaos in orderly immigration enforcement. The laws proponents, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, both Republicans, have argued that the law simply mirrors federal law, which they claim is not being enforced by federal authorities. A federal District Court judge in June temporarily blocked enforcement of the law, which was set to take effect July 1. Judge Stephen Locher of the Southern District of Iowa ruled the Iowa law was preempted by federal law, which reserves enforcement of immigration laws to the U.S. government. Locher, who said the Iowa law was likely to disrupt the federal governments immigration policy and relationship with foreign nations, issued a preliminary injunction, pausing the state law while legal proceedings play out. Bird appealed the District Courts decision, arguing the precedent that the District Court relied on to block Iowas law Arizona v. United States does not apply. She said Iowas law allows state officials to enforce existing federal laws, while Arizona created a new law. A similar law in Texas has been blocked by an appeals court. Why is the law needed and what would it do? Reynolds and other Republicans who supported the bill assert the law is needed to address rising numbers of illegal border crossings in recent years under Democratic President Joe Biden. Reynolds, a Republican who signed the bill into law, has said the federal government has insufficiently enforced federal immigration laws, causing states to take border enforcement into their own hands. Border crossings reached historic levels under the Biden-Harris administration. Illegal crossings have since fallen after Biden issued an executive order restricting asylum applications in certain circumstances after Republicans thwarted a bipartisan border deal in the U.S. Senate pushed by Biden and endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council, which represents front-line agents. Border agents tallied 56,408 illegal crossings in July, a 32 percent decline from June and the fifth straight month that the figure has fallen, according to federal enforcement data released last month. Iowas law would allow Iowa law enforcement officials to arrest and charge a noncitizen with a crime if they are in the state after being previously deported or barred from entering the United States. The law makes it an aggravated misdemeanor, which carries up to a two-year sentence. In some cases, including people with certain prior convictions, the state crime would become a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A judge would then be able to order the person to leave the country or face prison time. Attorney: Iowa has a right to respond to immigration crisis Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan said Iowa is responding to an unprecedented immigration crisis, by creating the state crime of illegal re-entry. He told the panel plaintiffs in the case have failed to demonstrate that they would be harmed by enforcement of the law. And unless every application of the law is unconstitutional, Wessan said states should be allowed to demonstrate it can be applied consistent with federal laws and the Constitution before an injunction. He gave the example of a person previously deported who re-enters the United States, kills someone and is charged with both murder and the crime of illegal re-entry. It seems odd, first, to say that the foreign policy interests of the United States would be affected by the illegal re-entry lesser charge, but not by the murder charge, Wessan said. And it also seems odd to say that if assuming that there is no lawful reason for that person to be in the United States, that charging that person and convicting him of illegal re-entry would itself be a violation or a conflict with federal law. And it seems odd to suggest that if such a person, after serving a sentence for murder, was issued an order to return and presented at a port of entry, that this recently released murderer would be turned away and the federal authorities would be unwilling at that point to cooperate. Wessan also argued Iowa law does not touch on removal or entry, but rather illegal re-entry and refusal to comply with an order to return, which are separate from removal orders. An attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice countered entry and removal are the core of what has long been held for almost 150 years to be the exclusive federal power to control immigration. And that an order directing a non-citizen to return to the country from which they entered the United States, as opposed to their home country, would conflict with federal removal orders. Arizona made clear, you have to speak with one voice under removal, said attorney Leif Eric Overvold. Civil rights groups: Law will ensnare those with legal status The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Iowa and the American Immigration Council filed lawsuit on behalf of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and the thousands of immigrants that the organization assists, including two anonymous immigrants. They argue the law puts even those immigrants who are authorized to be in the United States at risk of being deported and gives local rather than federal law enforcement the near-impossible job of figuring out the complex documentation status of those with whom they interact. We're not just talking about arrest. We're talking about prosecution. We're talking about separation from family, Emma Curtis Winger, an attorney representing the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, told the three-judge panel. Iowans who have long community ties to this country, including Iowans who are members of mixed-status families (that include both U.S. citizens and non-citizens), face the threat of prosecution and removal. Winger gave the example of an Iowa high school student, Anna (a pseudonym used in the lawsuit to protect her identity). She was born in Honduras, where her father was murdered and her sister kidnapped, and brought to the United States as a child by her mother fleeing persecution. They were deported in 2020. Shortly after, still fearing for her life, Anna returned unlawfully as a child. She applied for and received asylum, and is living in Iowa lawfully with an Iowa family and attending high school. But under SF 2340, Winger said Anna should be arrested, prosecuted and ordered to return to Mexico, not her native country. Winger said allowing states like Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma to create their own laws regulating entry and removal is obviously unworkable. Wed have a 50 state patchwork of different rules and different procedures that would create pure chaos, she said. Wessan, the Iowa Solicitor General, asserted the plaintiffs cannot be prosecuted under the statute, as two of the plaintiffs are lawfully in the country and a third did not sufficiently declare their status. Winger, speaking to reporters after the hearing, rejected the argument, stating nothing within the Iowa law protects her clients from arrest, prosecution, imprisonment and requests to leave the country, other than a federal court order. No matter how you enforce this law, its going to violate the constitution, she said. ... Immigration is a purely federal responsibility. The court typically issues decisions within three to six months, but could take longer. There is no deadline for the court to respond to the states request to lift the injunction. Should the appellate court uphold the injunction, the case could then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court does not have to take up appeals, Iowa Attorney General Bird told reporters in June she thinks Iowas law, or a similar law in another state, is likely to make it to the nations highest court. NEW YORK (PIX11) Mayor Eric Adams allegedly stole public funds from New York City by using illegal donations he obtained for his 2021 mayoral campaign to manipulate the citys matching funds program, according to a federal indictment. New York Citys matching funds program matches small-dollar campaign contributions from individual residents with up to eight times their amount in public funds, federal prosecutors said. More Local News The matching funds program is intended to incentivize candidates to finance their campaigns by engaging with average New Yorkers, instead of seeking large contributions from a limited number of influential donors, and to empower more candidates to run for office, even without access to wealth, the indictment states. The indictment accused Adams of accepting illegal campaign contributions through straw donors and using these donations for New York Citys matching funds program. Adams 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10 million in public funds from the citys matching funds program due to the alleged scheme, prosecutors said. 7 luxury travel benefits Eric Adams allegedly accepted: court documents The allegations are part of an indictment unsealed Thursday that charged Adams with bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy offenses. The indictment unsealed today alleges that Mayor Adams abused his power and position for nearly a decade, obtaining personal benefits and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and others, giving them undue influence over him. As charged, this illegal conduct compromised his integrity as an elected official and New Yorkers expect better, said Jocelyn Strauber, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation. Adams also allegedly pressured the FDNY to facilitate the opening of a foreign governments skyscraper in Manhattan that hadnt passed a fire inspection, according to the indictment. Adams is also accused of trying to cover up the improper benefits that he allegedly received, prosecutors said. By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. Adams vowed to fight against the indictment and said he does not plan to resign. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, Adams said 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. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. 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. (NewsNation) New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday on charges alleging he accepted bribes and illegal foreign campaign contributions. Fridays arraignment was Adams first court appearance on wire fraud, bribery, two counts of receiving campaign contributions from a foreign national, and conspiracy charges. If convicted of wire fraud, them most serious charge against him, Adams could face up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors and Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, came to an agreement that would allow the mayor to be released on his own signature, Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia V. Cohen said. Under this agreement, Adams is not allowed to contact any witnesses or individuals in the indictment. There are accommodations for him to speak with members of his family and staff but not about anything pertaining to the allegations. Adams said Thursday he has no plans to resign. Next week, Spiro said, he plans on filing a motion to dismiss charges against his client. There are no emails, text messages or any corroboration whatsoever that the mayor knew about anything having to do with these campaign donations, Spiro said. However, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday news conference that Adams long-running corruption goes back nearly a decade. 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. Mayor Eric Adams corruption investigation, indictment: Timeline What is Eric Adams accused of? The accusations against Adams are outlined in a 57-page grand jury indictment that a judge unsealed Thursday. The indictment comes on the heels of a widespread ongoing investigation into the mayors administration and the resignation of several top city officials. Adams who oversees public operations in the nations largest city is accused of accepting bribes from foreign nationals and taking illegal campaign contributions in exchange for favors. Authorities said this included helping Turkish officials secure fire-safety approvals for a 36-story Turkish consulate building even though it didnt pass inspection. The allegations of long-running corruption date back nearly a decade, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday news conference announcing the indictment. They include alleged straw donor contributions and abuse of a city program that promised to provide up to $8 in matching funds for each $1 of up to $250 in donations from New York City residents. That amounts to nearly $13,000 in matching funds during the 2021 election cycle, according to charging documents. Harris to visit southern border for first time in 3 years Whats next for Eric Adams, New Yorkers? Adams addressed the charges at a news conference Thursday when he told New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. Several top city officials have announced their resignation from the Adams administration in recent weeks. Its unclear if or how those resignations may be connected to the mayors criminal case. 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 Thursday. We continue to dig, and we will hold more people accountable. 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. NEW YORK Mayor 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 the mayor accepted more than $100,000 in lavish trips, cruises and hotel stays all paid by Turkish government officials and businessmen who thought Adams rising political career would lead the former NYPD cop to the White House. I want to be clear. These upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flier or loyalty program available to the general public, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a Thursday press conference unveiling the charges. The grandiose gifts were part of a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single 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 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 45 years in prison if convicted of 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. It comes after revelations earlier this month that authorities were also looking into communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling from additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations in recent weeks. Scheme allegedly spanned a decade In the five-count indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. The charges he faces are 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. 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 57-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 allegedly sent the donations through a third party, known as a straw donor, who was a citizen. Adams allegedly accepted the donations, knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign over $10 million in public funds. The foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealment, is a grave breach of the publics trust, Williams said, adding that Adams solicited benefits even though he knew they were illegal. No one else was named in the federal indictment. Still, Williams, whose office is investigating several people close to the mayor, said the corruption probe was ongoing, noting, We continue to dig. On Thursday afternoon, Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho, who has been assigned to the case, ordered Adams to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker on Friday at noon and, again, before him on Oct. 4. Adams lawyer, Alex Spiro, requested later Thursday the initial appearance be pushed to next week. Challenging the evidence Spiro said the mayor is eager to appear in court, as he challenged several of the prosecutions key points. 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. Spiro said there was nothing untoward about the seat upgrades. Those were upgrades on open seats, Spiro said, adding that such upgrades are commonplace and often done for VIPs and that prosecutors were twisting that narrative to tarnish (the mayor) in your eyes. Airlines regularly provide such upgrades when seats are available and any perks Adams received were not gifts or bribes, Spiro said. Spiro also disputed the notion that the mayor had sought foreign donations. There are emails with Mayor Adams telling them, telling this staffer, telling all of them, do not take foreign money, period, the attorney said. Spiro shared a screenshot of a purported text exchange between Adams and Abbasova in which he writes, Rana please be aware we cant take money from people who are not U.S. citizens. Spiro also challenged the notion the Turkish Consulate inspection was some sort of payback. The mayor has previously said there was nothing improper about his reaching out to then-FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro in an effort to expedite an inspection at the site. Spiro reiterated that, sharing screenshots of purported text messages between Adams and Nigro in which the mayor-to-be asks the fire commish to adjudicate an apparent difference of opinion between a Department of Buildings inspector and a fire-alarm contractor on the project. 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, prosecutors allege. 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, reads 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. Besides the consulate issue, the feds charge that the mayor, in return for illegal donations, personally helped an unnamed businessman last year with resolving Department of Buildings issues. The feds also allege Adams has as mayor taken steps to avoid criticizing Turkeys government, including by not issuing a statement marking the anniversary in October 2022 of the Armenian Genocide, a bloody tragedy long blamed on Turkey. 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. Cover-up 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 alleges 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 and other crimes. The same texts are quoted in Whiteheads federal indictment. The prosecutors handling Adams case were all on the team that secured Whiteheads conviction. 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 Daily 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. _____ (With Graham Rayman, Anusha Baaya, Cayla Bamberger, Evan Simko-Bednarski and Josephine Stratman.) _____ NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday as he was arraigned on an indictment in Manhattan federal court charging him with bribery and wire fraud for allegedly soliciting campaign contributions from overseas donors following a wide-ranging federal probe into corruption at City Hall. Adams, wearing a crisp blue suit, entered his plea as he stood before federal magistrate judge Katharine Parker. I am not guilty, your honor, Adams said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen told the court that prosecutors and Adams defense agreed on a bond package under which Adams would be released provided he agrees not to contact any witnesses or individuals named in the indictment. Mayor Adams will be released today on the following conditions: he shall have no contact with any individual witnesses or others listed in the list to be provided by the government, concerning the facts and circumstances outlined in the indictment, Parker said. This does not preclude Mayor Adams from having routine communications concerning business and private family matters. 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. The indictment comes after revelations earlier this month that authorities are also looking into communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries. In the five-count indictment, federal investigators described a scheme that spanned nearly a decade, starting when Adams became Brooklyn borough president in 2014. The charges he faces are conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals; wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and bribery. Spiro said the defense will be filing a motion to dismiss the indictment next Wednesday. In comments after the brief proceeding, Spiro said the feds have evidence Adams was unaware of any efforts to funnel illegal donations to his campaign. He claimed a City Hall staffer, identified later by sources as Rana Abbasova, Adams Turkish community liaison for years, who is at the heart of the governments case has been misleading investigators. That staffer has lied, and the government is in possession of that lie, Spiro said as Mayor Adams stood stone-faced by his side. When that staffer was first interviewed, that staffer said that Mayor Adams knew nothing about this, he was not involved in this, and that he is innocent. They have that information. They have not turned that over to us. They have not turned that over to you. The indictment says that when Abbasova, identified in court papers as a City Hall staffer, 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 Adamsand others, the indictment read. After the FBI raided Abbasovas New Jersey home, she agreed to cooperate with investigators, the Daily News previously reported. Abbasovas attorney declined to comment on Spiros claims Friday. Spiro said the entire indictment against Adams isnt even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case, he said. Hes innocent. Mayor Adams gave a thumbs up to reporters as he left Manhattan federal court. The mayor has said he is innocent of all charges and has rebuffed calls for his resignation. Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling from additional federal corruption investigations and a series of high-profile resignations in recent weeks by top advisers to the mayor. He is facing the possibility of up to 45 years in prison if convicted of bribery, campaign finance, wire fraud, and conspiracy offenses, federal officials said. 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 57-page indictment charges. Federal prosecutors say Adams solicited and accepted tens of thousands of dollars in 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 allegedly sent the donations through third parties, known as straw donors, who were citizens. Adams allegedly accepted the donations, knowing their origins, and maximized his gains through New York Citys matching funds program netting his 2021 campaign public money that the feds say he shouldve never received due to the illegal nature of the Turkish contributions. Adams raised a total of $10 million in matching funds during the 2021 campaign. Adams repaid the favors by, among other actions, 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. Mayor Eric Adams, right, is pictured outside Manhattan Federal Court with his lawyer, Alex Spiro, after pleading not guilty on multiple corruption charges Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News) In comments outside Gracie Mansion Thursday, Spiro, challenged several of the prosecutions key points and produced text message to bolster his position. 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 as he stood with Adams at his side. They do that to tarnish him in your eyes. Spiro said there was nothing untoward about the seat upgrades as they were commonplace when seats are available. He disputed the notion that the mayor had sought foreign donations, saying he had given his staff explicit instructions not to do so. Spiro also said, echoing comments Adams has previously made, that there was noting untoward about the mayors outreach to the FDNY regarding the consulate. Since the indictment was unsealed Thursday, several elected officials and community leaders have demanded that Adams resign from office, but the mayor says he will continue to lead as he fights the charges. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, called the indictment the latest in a disturbing pattern of events but did not call for him to step down. My focus is on protecting the people of New York and ensuring stability in the city, she said in a statement late Thursday. 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. Adams arrives for his arraignment in federal court on Friday [Getty Images] New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to five counts of criminal offences, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Wearing a dark blue suit, Adams arrived in federal court in New York for a brief hearing to enter his plea. "I am not guilty, your honour," he told Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker with a straight-faced expression, according to reporters in court. The 64-year-old was indicted earlier this week on allegations that he accepted illegal campaign funds and thousands of dollars in luxury travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and an official in exchange for his influence as mayor. Adams has denied any wrongdoing and said the public should withhold judgement until he makes his defence. "I follow the rules, I follow the federal law, I do not do anything that's going to participate in illegal campaign activity," he said at a news conference. Adams gave a thumbs-up to reporters as he entered court on Friday morning. He was released on bail. Judge Parker ruled that Adams cannot talk to witnesses about the facts concerning the case, though he can discuss business or private family matters with them, according to US media. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, told reporters outside court that he would be filing a motion to dismiss the case next week. "The entire body of evidence is one staffer," he told reporters. "What you have not heard, is that that staffer has lied, and the government is in possession of that lie." If convicted, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison. He has rejected growing calls from members of his own party to resign. The former police officer was elected to lead the most populous US city nearly three years ago with a promise to be harsh on crime. Prosecutors say Adams's misconduct began in 2014, during his time as Brooklyn Borough president, and carried on during his election campaign for mayor and while in office. In the 57-page indictment, Adams was accused of pressuring New York City Fire Department officials to approve a Turkish consulate building without a safety inspection in exchange for benefits such as discounted flights, luxury hotels and meals. Prosecutors say he also misused $10m (7.4m) in public funds. He is accused of using straw donors - a scheme that a person or entity uses to evade campaign finance limits - to take in illegal foreign donations and matching them with city funds that were supposed to be for small-dollar contributions from residents. The mayor is due back in court on 2 October. Adams has insisted he will stay in office while the case plays out, despite calls from Democrats at the state and federal level to resign. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams. She has said she needs time to review the indictment to see whats embedded with this. 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. Adamss arraignment comes as the federal government carries out a number of probes into his administration, which has seen a wave of resignations in recent weeks. The police commissioner, the health commissioner and the mayor's chief counsel have all left office as well as the schools chancellor, David Banks, who had his phone seized. The crew of the Titan's support ship felt a "shudder" around the time they lost contact with the submersible during its doomed dive to the Titanic shipwreck, the Coast Guard said Friday. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation Chair Jason Neubauer revealed during the last day of a two-week hearing on the implosion that the master of the Polar Prince told them that in hindsight, he believes he felt the ship "shudder" around the time when communications with the sub were lost during the June 2023 expedition. The statement was provided to the board in October 2023, when the unidentified master was asked if he or crew members heard anything indicating the OceanGate submersible imploded, Neubauer said. "The answer from the master was, 'With the benefit of hindsight, I now believe I felt the Polar Prince shudder at around the time communications were reportedly lost, but at the time, we thought nothing of it. It was slight,'" Neubauer said. Capt. Jamie Frederick with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston, who testified Friday on the Titan search and rescue mission, said if that information had been reported immediately to the Coast Guard, that could have had a "drastic impact on the search efforts." My initial reaction is, if that was information they have, to me personally, it would be unconscionable that they would not share that with the unified command," Frederick said. Neubauer added that from the crew's perspective, the shudder was "not immediately connected to the event" so wasn't reported to the Coast Guard. PHOTO: The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation released remotely operated vehicle footage from the Titan submersible incident salvage operation conducted on June 26, 2023, during a hearing Sept. 23, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Pelagic Research Services/USCG) Frederick detailed during his testimony the complex, international search and rescue response, which culminated with a remotely operated vehicle able to go to a depth of 6,000 meters finding the Titan debris on June 22 on the ocean floor. "They discovered the tail cone first. And then as we continued to find additional debris, it became apparent that it had been a total loss," he said. The implosion killed all five passengers, including Stockton Rush, the co-founder and CEO of the sub's maker, OceanGate. French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet, British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, were also killed. Frederick said the responders understood the Titan had survival systems on board and that they "never even got to the point to have the discussion of suspension." "I wouldn't even want to speculate on when that would happen," he added. Frederick also addressed knocking noises detected by sonar buoys in the vicinity of the search location the day after the Titan imploded. He said the data was given to the U.S. Navy, which determined two days later it was not anyone knocking on the hull of the Titan. "They were 100% certain that it was not human in nature," he said. MORE: 'All good here': Last messages revealed from Titan submersible before implosion: Coast Guard He also addressed an "anomaly" consistent with an implosion that was detected by the U.S. Navy in the general vicinity of where the Titan was at the time communications were lost. He said he was informed of the data a day after the Titan was lost and the information was classified at the time. "It was one piece of data. It wasn't definitive," he said. "The Navy couldn't tell us that it was 100% definitive, that it was an implosion." Rush said he would 'buy a congressman' to make Titan problems go away: Ex-employee A former OceanGate employee testified during the hearing on Friday that he resigned from the submersible company after Rush told him he would "buy a congressman" to make problems with its Titan vessel go away. Matthew McCoy was an active duty member of the U.S. Coast Guard prior to joining OceanGate as an operations technician in April 2017 as the company was building the first Titan prototype, which was never used on Titanic dives. He said he quit six months later, in September 2017, a day after his conversation with Rush. MORE: 'All good here': Last messages revealed from Titan submersible before implosion: Coast Guard McCoy said he told Rush he was concerned about operating the experimental Titan vessel without a certificate of inspection and that it would not be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard. He said Rush responded that the Titan would be operating in the Bahamas and launch out of Canada and would not fall under U.S. jurisdiction. "I think I had expressed to him that still taking U.S. passengers on there for hire at any point in time, if they touched the U.S. land, you know, U.S. port, that would also be of consideration," McCoy said. PHOTO: Matthew McCoy, a former OceanGate employee, listens to questions from the investigative board during the final day of the Coast Guard investigatory hearing, Sept. 27, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Mic Smith/AP) He said the conversation became "tense" and ended with Rush saying that "if the Coast Guard became a problem, he would buy himself a congressman and make it go away." "That will stand in my mind for the rest of time," McCoy said. "I've never had anybody say that to me directly, and I was aghast. And basically, after that, I resigned. I couldn't work there anymore." Asked by the Marine Board of Investigation if he felt like Rush was trying to intimidate him or if it was "more like bluster," McCoy said he felt like Rush was trying to "either intimidate me or impress me." McCoy, a member of the Coast Guard Reserve, said he wasn't clear on the regulations for the sub but was concerned about potentially violating U.S. law. He said he considered whether to notify the Coast Guard but OceanGate hadn't done any dives in the U.S. with Titan. He said he subsequently learned of a complaint OceanGate whistleblower David Lochridge filed in 2018 with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration following his termination. McCoy said he thought there would be a "deeper investigation" into OceanGate at that point. Lochridge's whistleblower retaliation case was closed in late 2018 after he and OceanGate entered a settlement agreement in their respective lawsuits, OSHA said. Lochridge's safety allegations regarding the Titan were referred to the Coast Guard, OSHA said. PHOTO: This undated image courtesy of OceanGate Expeditions, shows their Titan submersible beginning a descent. (Handout/OceanGate Expeditions/AFP via Getty Images) McCoy said there was an "alarm bell" before he quit that made him concerned about OceanGate's operations and the production of the Titan's carbon-fiber hull. When he started, he said, it was "made very clear" OceanGate was working with the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory and Boeing, "so they had a lot of what sounded like legitimacy behind them, as far as the engineering." But he said he soon learned the company had broken ties with the laboratory and Boeing wasn't going to be doing the layup for the carbon fiber. He said he felt OceanGate's engineering department "didn't seem overly qualified" and there were mostly "college interns" during the summer he was there. MORE: NASA disagreed with how OceanGate wanted to invoke the agency: Titan hearing witness He said after he left OceanGate he didn't keep tabs on the company for long. "I just kind of quit following the company, not thinking that they would ever actually dive the Titan," he said. Coast Guard investigation continues into 'unprecedented' incident OceanGate suspended all exploration and commercial operations after the deadly implosion. The main purpose of the hearing was to uncover the facts related to the implosion and to make recommendations, the Coast Guard said. At the conclusion of the two-week hearing Friday afternoon, Neubauer said the Coast Guard will conduct an analysis of the evidence collected and issue any recommendations to the commandant of the Coast Guard "to help ensure that nobody has to endure a future similar occurrence." Neubauer said that process can take several months but his priority is to "get this investigation done expeditiously, because I feel there are global issues at stake." Any determination on potential criminal acts will also be sent to the commandant of the Coast Guard, who would decide whether to make a referral to the Department of Justice, Neubauer said. The National Transportation Safety Board will issue a separate report on its findings, including their official determination of the probable cause of the incident, at a later date, Marcel Muise, an investigator with the agency's Office of Marine Safety, said at the conclusion of the hearing. Neubauer offered his condolences to the families of those killed and thanked the more than two dozen witnesses who testified in the proceedings. "It takes courage to testify in the public spotlight, especially in the aftermath of a traumatic event," he said. "The subject matter covered during the sessions was often highly technical and emotionally charged, and I'm grateful to each witness who stopped and assisted in our efforts to fully understand this unprecedented incident." Shudder felt by crew on support ship around time when Titan sub lost contact originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Misoprostol, used to treat post-delivery hemorrhages, will become a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance in Louisiana effective Oct. 1 under a new law. The designation means the medicine will have to be securely stored, raising concerns among doctors who say they rely on immediate access to the medication in life-threatening situations. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) NEW ORLEANS Louisiana hospitals have scrambled to update their guidelines for misoprostol, a common pregnancy care medication that a new state law will reclassify as a controlled dangerous substance starting Oct. 1. Misoprostol is used for a variety of medical reasons, including postpartum hemorrhages. LCMC Health and Ochsner Health System, which own and operate hospitals throughout Louisiana, will keep the drug in a centralized, passcode-protected storage locker on their maternity units. The Illuminator has reviewed guidance each system provided to physicians this week. Dr. Stacey Holman, lead physician for LCMC Healths maternal quality committee, said the system has had several meetings with physician and pharmacy leadership to discuss how their protocols will change. Theyve also performed timed drills to understand what delays to expect . Access in a cart in the labor room remains the faster option versus a nurse leaving the bedside to obtain medication from the automatic dispensing system, Holman said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Through simulated emergencies with a post-delivery patient bleeding out, LCMC Health noted a two-minute delay between having the misoprostol in a cart in the room versus down the hall in a passcode-protected dispensing system. Earlier this month, the Louisiana Department of Health released guidelines for the controversial new law, suggesting hospitals modify their equipment to add a locked container for misoprostol on their obstetric hemorrhage carts. According to physicians interviewed that suggestion has not proven realistic so far. In our conversations with our pharmacy, we looked at the possibility of a locked section on the hemorrhage cart and determined that it was not a feasible option, Holman said. Doctors have sought additional guidance from the state health department about how to create secure storage on hemorrhage carts, but they have yet to receive any response. Physicians and pharmacists are prioritizing the safe care of patients with the knowledge the protocols they have put into place to reduce mothers dying during or after childbirth have to be changed to accommodate the new law, Act 246. Holman said LCMC is aware every second counts when it comes to postpartum hemorrhaging, so it will implement two initiatives to minimize delays in administering misoprostol. One will be to have the misoprostol on override in the event of an emergency, which Holman said consists of a verbal order given to a nurse to pull the medication immediately from the dispensing system outside of the patients room. The second initiative will be to encourage obstetricians to order the misoprostol for all patients ahead of delivery. In the event that a patient is high-risk, the physician can choose to bring misoprostol into the room prior to delivery. The Illuminator obtained a copy of Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs, about Act 246 that Ochsner Health System made available to its physicians. Like LCMC, Ocshner hospitals will store misoprostol in a large, passcode-protected dispensing system, often known as a Pyxis, centrally located within labor and delivery units. This means misoprostol will no longer be stored in the patient rooms in carts, kits or plastic bleed boxes. At a recent New Orleans city health department webinar, a nurse asked whether she would still be able to carry misoprostol around in her pocket. Experts advised her against it. According to Ochsners FAQs, The nurse retrieving the medication from the Pyxis will be required to maintain chain of custody of the medication until it is either administered, wasted or returned to the Pyxis, just as with any other controlled substances such as narcotics. Like LCMC, Ochsner will place misoprostol on an override list in case of emergencies. The Ochsner guidelines also confirm that any pharmacy or provider dispensing misoprostol needs to report information on the patient, prescriber, prescription, controlled substance and dispenser to the states prescription monitoring program. This means a detailed record will be kept of anyone in Louisiana who prescribes or receives misoprostol. Ochsner Health continues to provide care for patients in accordance with the law, using misoprostol when it is clinically indicated, following the protocols in place for all controlled substances,Ochsner Health president Dr. Robert Hart said in a statement provided Friday. Ochsner has updated its processes to be compliant with the new law and are ensuring that misoprostol will be readily and immediately available in Labor & Delivery units across the system, including in emergency situations, Hart added. Rural hospitals, which do not have the same access to resources as Ochsner and LCMC Health, could feel the most impacts from the new legislation. One obstetrician in rural northwestern Louisiana told the Illuminator her hospital has yet to release guidance on the new law, which goes into effect in four days. Additionally, she said that this week a nurse practitioner refused to write a misoprostol prescription for a patient with a confirmed miscarriage. The OB ended up writing the prescription herself, even though she hadnt seen the patient, she said. The consequences of politicizing medicine because of its association with abortion is precisely why so many doctors have spoken up against this law, which experts say could create a chilling effect or fear around medication that is safe. Dr. Jennifer Avegno leads the New Orleans health department and is an emergency room physician. Shes leading a New Orleans City Council investigation into the impact of the new law that reclassifies misoprostol and mifepristone as controlled substances. Unfortunately, this will result in delays in administration of the drug in an emergency situation, Avegno said. But hospitals must comply with the law and are encouraged to run drills and/or develop processes that mitigate these delays as much as possible. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Knights of Columbus in Canton will host a pancake breakfast on Sunday, October 6 at the St. Marys Parish Center in Canton. The meal will run from 8:30 a.m. until noon and the cost is a suggested donation. The menu consists of pancakes, sausage, eggs, toast, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. The breakfast is to benefit St. Marys Church of Canton. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Odessa man sentenced to life for rape of 12-year-old girl ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- On Thursday, and Ector County jury found Richard Lee Davis guilty on one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Davis, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to life in prison, said District Attorney Dusty Gallivan. Davis was indicted in 2021 after a young girl said that Davis raped her in 2019, when she was just 12 years old. Davis was previously convicted in another aggravated sexual assault of a child case in 2007 and was required to register as a sex offender at that time. Thank you to all who worked to ensure justice for the victim and the community, Gallivan said of the verdict. 358th District Court Judge Shrode presided over the case while Steven Lively and Bill Prasher argued on behalf of the prosecution. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was minutes after midnight on Oct. 23, 2021, when Flora Casale rushed to her landline phone inside her Washington Township home and dialed 911, desperately trying to describe to the woman on the other end the horrific, gruesome scene she had just witnessed. She then found herself fleeing out the front door, cordless phone in hand, and into the darkness as she screamed for help from her neighbors, but nobody came. An officer arrived not long after, but Casale was able to string together only five words, which she kept repeating to the officer: "Get him off of her." Casale, now 78, shed tears as she described for a jury of 14 in a Bergen County courtroom last week the moments she discovered the lifeless body of her 51-year-old daughter, Mary Huber, on the floor of her condominium, and watched as the man accused of her killing, Patrick Camilli, her daughter's boyfriend, used what she described as a stick prosecutors say it was a knife to stab his own neck. Camilli, now 59, whose self-inflicted wound missed all vital structures in his neck, sat before state Superior Court Judge James Sattely on Sept. 17 as Casale was the first to take the stand for the prosecution. As of Thursday afternoon, with a few days off in between, Camilli would be five days into his trial on charges of first-degree murder and two counts related to his possession of a kitchen knife he allegedly used to end Huber's life. Bergen County Assistant Prosecutors Yomara Castro and Craig Becker have tag-teamed during the trial, with witnesses who have included law enforcement officers, first responders and Huber's brother-in-law, Flaviano Sanzari. Sanzari and Huber's sister, Kathy, had visited the couple at the condominium just hours before Huber's death, when the group shared dinner and many consumed alcoholic beverages. The couple left the home shortly before the killing is believed to have taken place, prosecutors said. Prosecutors were expected to wrap up their case this week or Monday. Camilli's defense attorney, Landry Belizaire, said he planned to present a witness or witnesses, but did not anticipate that it would take more than a day. Police at the scene where a woman was stabbed to death inside a Lexington Court home in Washington Township on October 24, 2021. Mary Huber's death: Was it deliberate or due to mental illness? Becker, one of the assistant prosecutors, kicked off opening statements by describing the 29 times Camilli allegedly stabbed Huber, leaving a gouge on her forehead, slashes on her scalp and a large gash in her neck before turning the knife on himself in an attempted murder-suicide. "This wasn't an accident or a mistake," Becker said. "Domestic violence is never complex. It's tragic and far too prevalent, but simple and motived by one thing: control." Camilli and Huber had been together for about 18 years, but there was friction between the couple due to Camilli's inability to hold steady work or contribute to the household, Becker said. It all came to a head on Oct. 23, 2021, Becker said, when the duo began talking and Camilli, prosecutors said, got angry, felt emasculated and "wanted to shut her up." Camilli told the first officer who arrived on scene, "I killed her. Please save her," and later told an EMT in the ambulance about what had transpired, "We were talking, she started berating me. Next thing I knew, I was hitting her and I couldn't stop," prosecutors said, based on reports in evidence. But Camilli's defense attorney countered the prosecutors' statements, telling jurors that their presentation was "designed to shock" them, and urged them to appeal to their good sense and "look at the evidence under the bright light of a rational mind." Belizaire described a scene in which his client had no intention to harm Huber, but instead went through a "psychological ailment" he described as depersonalization, which is a term used by psychologists to describe a mental health condition in which someone feels detached from their body and thoughts. The ailment will help support a diminished capacity defense, which Belizaire said he anticipates introducing when he places a doctor on the stand. If the jury finds that Camilli had an altered state that left him incapable of purposefully stabbing and killing his girlfriend under the defense, the jury will likely have the option to consider a lesser charge, such as manslaughter. It differs from an insanity defense, in which a jury could acquit a defendant. Camilli was "beside himself" once he understood what he had done, Belizaire said, asking the jury to question what the motive would be of a man who considered Huber the "love of my life." There had been no evidence of premeditation and no history of violence between the duo, he said. A stabbing occurred at 41 Lexington Court in Washington Township (Bergen County). Sunday, October 24, 2021 'It was like she was sleeping,' Mary Huber's mother said Casale, Huber's mother, remembered her daughter as a workaholic Huber was a New York University graduate who worked in market research who had befriended Camilli when she visited Atlantic City with her husband, Kenny Huber. Mary Huber was technically still married to her husband at the time of her death, prosecutors said. Huber would visit Camilli when she and girlfriends would go to Atlantic City, where Camilli was a dealer in a casino. Casale described her daughter's relationship with Camilli as one in which Huber was always helping him stay afloat financially, but she declined to say they were "lovers." They lived together in Atlantic County for several years before moving in with Casale in her Lexington Court condo. Their relationship status was unclear; Casale alluded to her daughter not being in love with Camilli and instead being a friend who helped him financially, despite their sleeping in the same room in her home. Casale said that although her daughter and her husband, Kenny, did not live together "as man and wife," it was believed they were still in love. She described Camilli as a paramour, a term often used to describe an illicit lover or someone who engages in sexual relations with a married person. Belizaire said Camilli had fallen in love with Huber "at first sight" and had a loving relationship with her for 18 years. Casale had left her home around 5 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2021, to babysit her great-grandsons in Mahwah, and returned home around 11:30 p.m. to find Camilli, who had no top on and was in cargo shorts, on top of her daughter. She noticed that a rocking chair was broken and that her daughter appeared to be sleeping, a term she later clarified to mean "sleeping in death." She had met eyes with Camilli, who did not say anything but appeared to be "turning a stick around" in his neck, she said. She repeated several times "get off her" and ran downstairs to call 911, she said. Casale said she never returned to live in the condominium, and later sold it. Email: lcomstock@njherald.com; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Washington NJ murder trial underway as man is accused of killing woman Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon speaks Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 before a public accuracy test of voting equipment ahead of the primary election at the elections office at Dakota County Administration Center in Hastings, Minnesota. Photo by Nicole Neri for the Minnesota Reformer. The Office of Secretary of State Steve Simon was sent a suspicious package, Simon said in a release Friday, underscoring the dangerous atmosphere for election administration officials in the runup to the 2024 election. The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the State Patrol are investigating, and the office was evacuated. The package was addressed to the office with a return address of United States Traitor Elimination Army. Suspicious envelopes have been either received by election officials or intercepted by law enforcement in Utah, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming, where the FBI is currently investigating suspicious activity, according to CNN. In Nebraska recently, the secretary of state found an envelope at its elections division headquarters that contained a white powder, which police determined to be nonhazardous; that same day, a building in Topeka, Kansas was evacuated after authorities found suspicious packages sent to both the secretary of state and the attorney general. In Colorado, police intercepted a similar letter that contained a harmless white powder addressed to the secretary of state. Simon said election officials would not be deterred from doing their work: Threatening election officials is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. Our democracy depends on public servants who must be able to perform their duties free from fear, intimidation or harassment. This action is not deterring our work or determination to deliver another election that is free, fair, accurate and secure. We will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the person or persons responsible for this action are held accountable. The unnerving nationwide threats illustrate how administering elections has become a more dangerous job since President Donald Trump came on the political scene about a decade ago and began repeatedly questioning election results, despite the vanishingly small number of fraudulent ballots in the United States. An annual survey of the Brennan Center for Justice found that 38% of local election officials experienced threats, harassment, or abuse for doing their jobs. That in turn has led to an exodus from the field, the Brennan Center found: More than one-third of local election officials know at least one person who resigned at least in part due to safety concerns, up from 22% in 2023, they reported. States Newsroom contributed reporting. SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR) Crews with Oklahoma Gas and Electric left for Georgia on Thursday to help with power restoration in the wake of Hurricane Helene. According to OG&E, trucks carrying almost 100 line crews and support personnel left Shawnee and are expected to arrive in Georgia on Friday to help those affected by the storm. RELATED STORY: OG&E restores power for thousands in Louisiana following landfall of Hurricane Francine OG&E leaves for Georgia. OG&E leaves for Georgia. Image courtesy OG&E. As Hurricane Helene makes landfall, our crews are preparing to help restore any power that is lost as quickly and safely possibly, said Chad Guthrie, OG&E Director of Distribution Construction. Thanks to our mutual assistance partnerships with electric companies across the nation, we are able to support our neighbors when storms, hurricanes and other disasters cause widespread damage and outages. It energizes our crews to be able to help out others impacted by natural disasters. Helene slams the South with wind, rain and flooding. Millions are without power Georgias biggest electric company, Georgia Power, asked for assistance as the storm is expected to impact much of the state. Additional crews can only be deployed for up to 14 days, but OG&E has more crews to rotate if needed. OG&E leaves for Georgia. Image courtesy OG&E. OG&E leaves for Georgia. Image courtesy OG&E. RELATED STORY: OG&E travels to south Texas to aid in power restoration following Hurricane Beryl Our crews are ready to provide support and expertise to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, said Andrea Dennis, OG&E Vice President of Transmission & Distribution Operations. We understand the profound impact severe weather has on communities, and we are ready to help restore a critical resource: power. Im grateful to our crews and restoration personnel who step up when communities need it most. In 2024, OG&E also responded to Louisiana in mid-September to help with damage caused by Hurricane Francine and south Texas in July to assist after Hurricane Beryl. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ohio Air Force veteran, brother freed from Dubai jail with help from JD Vance: 'They weren't letting this go' An Ohio Air Force veteran and his brother were finally released from a United Arab Emirates (UAE) jail with the help of GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance after spending months behind bars. Joseph Lopez and his brother, Joshua, were freed from the Dubai jail on Tuesday, ending the four-month-long legal nightmare. Joseph joined "Fox & Friends First" to discuss his reaction to his long-awaited release. After Being Stranded For Months Due To An Altercation, Houston Woman Leaves Dubai "Land of the free, home of the brave. It definitely feels great," Lopez told Carley Shimkus on Thursday. "I'm a little bit still disassociated, to be honest with you life doesn't totally feel real yet. I feel like I'm going to wake up from a dream at any point in time, and I guess that's kind of where I'm at right now. It's going to take a little bit for me to process everything, honestly." The Lopez brothers were arrested in June during their trip to the UAE. The pair were leaving a nightclub on June 2 when an Uber driver offered to take them to an "afterparty" at a hotel in the area, according to Detained in Dubai. Joseph Lopez, an Ohio Air Force veteran and father, was detained in Dubai with his brother, Joshua, for drinking on a yacht. But shortly after the party ended, the brothers were approached by someone who invited them to a yacht party. After insisting they didn't want to spend any more money, the man told them they would be his American guests. Read On The Fox News App They agreed to attend, but shortly after arriving at the boat, he said they were slapped with a more than $2,700 bill. After they pushed back against the steep bill, Joseph said he was handed a drink and doesn't remember the rest of the night. He woke up in the back of a police car with his brother the next morning. They were ultimately arrested and charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, damaging a patrol vehicle and alcohol consumption, according to the New York Post. Lopez insisted they were drugged and robbed. "I think it happened to me because I was obviously I'm an American," Lopez said. "When you're in a place like Dubai, they see Americans and people see money, and basically they tried to extort me, and it didn't go the way they wanted, and I got drugged Obviously, there's a lot that I don't remember, but basically, I was given charges that I have no memory of whatsoever." Oklahoma Man Praises God, Us Lawmaker In Return Home After Ammo Arrest In Turks And Caicos "I took a breathalyzer. My breathalyzer showed 0.00 by the time it was taken," he continued. "Now I have these charges I have no memory of, and these charges some of them could potentially be 15 plus years so it's like this is my entire life that I'm talking about here over something I have no memory of. And the people who drugged me, they were never searched for. They were never held accountable." Lopez said the conditions in the Dubai jail were brutal, explaining that the beds were "infested with cockroaches" and they weren't given necessities like toothbrushes and soap. "Literally, they drained me of every penny I had, put me into debt, and then eventually they sentenced us to three months in prison," Lopez said. "We went there and got in processed, and the place that we were in there's a lot of people sleeping on the floor. The bed that I was given I'm an American, so you have, like, passport power, so they put me in a bunk bed and the bunk beds are infested with cockroaches." "On top of that, there's no hygiene there," he continued. "They don't give you a toothbrush. They give you a shirt. Pants. No, there's no soap, no body wash. You have to eat with your hands." Vance worked with the State Department to secure the pair's release, according to his spokesperson, Parker Magid. Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks to a crowd during a rally at the Berks County Fairgrounds on September 21, 2024 in Leesport, Pennsylvania. "Sen. Vances office has been in constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents family," he told Fox News Digital. "Sen. Vance is monitoring the as-yet-unresolved legal proceedings carefully." "JD Vance's office, the support of the world and my communities on social media and my family, they weren't letting this go," Lopez said. "The UAE knew for a fact that what they were getting out of me, it just wasn't worth the trouble." Fox News' Audrey Conklin and Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report. Original article source: Ohio Air Force veteran, brother freed from Dubai jail with help from JD Vance: 'They weren't letting this go' The Kroger Co. corporate headquarters is seen in downtown Cincinnati. (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. 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. 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. A ballot counter machine. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) Ohio House Democrats announced plans on Thursday to introduce a resolution that would give legislative support to Novembers Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment to reform the states redistricting process by replacing politician mapmakers with citizens. The resolution likely wont get any vote, as the general assembly is not scheduled to meet until after the election. Furthermore, it would be unlikely to overcome Ohio Republican Statehouse supermajorities. House Minority Leader Allison Russo and state Rep. Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, are co-sponsors for a resolution expressing the support of a YES vote on the Issue 1 citizen-led ballot initiative to end partisan gerrymandering in Ohio. This resolution is necessary because there is a constant stream of lies and misinformation surrounding the true nature of Issue 1, especially following the approved ballot language that was intentionally confusing and misleading, Russo said in a statement. Upchurch is a member of the Ohio Ballot Board who considered (and eventually passed 3-2) summary language that would appear on ballots as voters choose whether or not to support Issue 1. He was one of the two people on the board who voted against a summary written by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, language that led amendment creators to sue the board to prevent the language from appearing on ballots. The Ohio Supreme Court considered eight different changes requested by Citizens Not Politicians, who argued the summary language was misleading and deceptive. The states highest court rejected all but two of the changes, largely letting the language stand. Upchurch said the legislative resolution was needed to cut through the lies and help voters learn the truth, and he called Ohio one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. The current process of redistricting goes through the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which is made up of elected officials including the governor, the secretary of state, the state auditor and four legislative leaders, two from each party. Six different Statehouse district maps and two congressional maps went through the current redistricting process. Five of the Statehouse maps were ruled unconstitutionally gerrymandered by the Ohio Supreme Court, and both congressional maps were rejected by the court as unconstitutional. A federal court ordered Ohio voters to use the last of these gerrymandered Statehouse maps in 2022 as time had run out for the commission to come up with a constitutionally approved map, and it is those districts lawmakers are currently occupying. Another set of Statehouse maps were adopted with bipartisan support last fall. That included Russo, who said she voted in favor in order to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the commission once and for all. Democratic members of the commission said at the time they supported those maps after Republicans suggested they would unilaterally impose maps even less favorable to Democrats otherwise. The Democratic resolution in favor of Issue 1 states that the redistricting process has historically been controlled by politicians and lobbyists, leading to districts that serve political interests rather than the people of Ohio. Whereas, empowering citizens to be a part of the redistricting process will strengthen Ohios democracy, enhance the integrity of our elections and restore trust in our political system, the resolution states. The General Assembly is not scheduled to return from their summer break until later in November, after the election. This isnt the first time a resolution has been brought forth in the General Assembly to take a position on a ballot initiative. Last year, prior to the November election, Republicans in the Ohio Senate passed resolutions opposing that years Issue 1, which changed the state constitution to include reproductive rights, and Issue 2, a statute on recreational marijuana. Senate Democrats denounced the resolutions and their opposition of the measures, but the resolutions opened the door for legislators to speak on the issues as they can defend their votes on the resolution or urge the public either support or oppose the measures, a statement released by Senate Dems at the time stated. Under normal circumstances, members of the General Assembly would be prohibited from using their office or state resources to endorse a position on a citizen-led ballot issue, the statement in October 2023 read. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Ohio Supreme Court has been asked to decide how the states parentage laws apply to same-sex couples who raised children but separated before same-sex marriage became legal. The Ohio couple in the case, Priya Shahani and Carmen Edmonds, were together from 2003 to 2015 and had three children together through artificial insemination. Though Shahani was the biological mother, the two gave each child the last name of Edmonds-Shahani and completed legal documents recognizing the other as an equal co-parent. Shahani and Edmonds never legally married, as their relationship deteriorated in 2015 before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage bans, like prohibitions that were on the books in Ohio, are unconstitutional. In the break up, the couple entered into a formal agreement that divided their property and set a parenting schedule for their children. Democrats push for changes to Republican-run ballot board after biased Issue 1 wording However, Shahani later removed Edmonds from the childrens last name and filed legal motions to terminate their agreement. Edmonds then filed a petition in 2017 to establish her parental rights, but the Hamilton County Juvenile Court held that a same-sex partner does not fall within the definition of a parent under Ohio law. This is because Edmonds was neither biologically related to the children and was not married to their birthmother. A trial court ruled against terminating the agreement and ordered that Edmonds could have companionship time with the children but did not grant a her parentage request. Both Shahani and Edmonds appealed to the First District Appellate Court, which decided that the trial court needed to hold a hearing to determine if the couple would have been married if Ohio had already allowed same-sex marriage. Appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court, Shahani said a state court does not have the authority to disregard Ohios statute banning common-law marriage and order a person into an unlicensed and manufactured marriage. Now, the case has caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, which filed a brief to the states supreme court on behalf of the National Association of Social Workers, arguing that Edmonds would be a legally recognized parent of the three children had Ohio law provided a path for same-sex marriage at the time of their birth. Ohio lawmaker aims to eliminate all lead pipes in the state over 15-year period Edmonds has been nurturing the three children that she helped bring into this world throughout their lives, said Amy Gilbert, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Ohio. The overwhelming body of social science research confirms that there is potentially devastating harm inflicted on a child if separated from a parental figure, and that this harm does not depend on whether there is a biological link between the two. Gilbert said the court should be guided by best interests of the child, regardless of whether the parents are the same or opposite sex. To rule otherwise leaves the children of same-sex couples in Ohio, who were unable to marry before Obergefell, in danger of unequal treatment and exposes them to detrimental social consequences, said Gilbert. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Who are Oklahomas deleted voters? State provides data breaking it down by party. Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans whose voter registration was deleted in recent years roughly reflect the overall layout of party affiliation in the state, though Democrats and independents were overrepresented among voters deleted for inactivity. Of the voters removed in the past 24 months, 46.6% were Republicans, 31.2% were Democrats, 21.4% were independents and 0.79% were Libertarians, according to an analysis by Oklahoma Voice of records available from the Oklahoma Election Data Warehouse. This generally tracks with party affiliation trends of Oklahoma voters who are still registered. Over the past two years, Oklahoma removed 241,113 people from voter rolls, according to the state Election Data Warehouse, which keeps detailed records of deleted voters for 24 months after removal. The state recently announced more than 453,000 voter registrations have been removed through routine auditing since Jan. 1, 2021, a span of time that extends beyond legally required recordkeeping. More than 2.38 million people are registered to vote in Oklahoma. Most voters who have been removed can register again. Those who wish to cast a ballot in the Nov. 5 General Election must register by Oct. 11. More: Students register to vote at the Voter Registration Day event at OSU-OKC People line up to vote during voting in an earlier election at The Shoppes at Northpark in Oklahoma City. Why were these Oklahoma voter registrations removed? The most common reason registrations were deleted is because the voter moved to a different county or state, according to Election Data Warehouse records. The second-most common deletions were for inactive voters, a group that differs more noticeably from party affiliation lines. Others were removed because they have died, been convicted of a felony or were deemed in court to be mentally incapacitated, among other less-common reasons. State records show 83,701 voter registrations were deleted for inactivity. Most of these Oklahomans havent voted since 2016 or before, data shows. Just under half of deleted inactive voters were from the same four counties: Oklahoma, Tulsa, Cleveland and Canadian, the only four counties in the state with 100,000 or more registered voters. About 55% of inactivity deletions came from less populous counties, according to a review of Election Data Warehouse statistics. Democrats and independents made up a larger share of deleted inactive voters than their proportion of Oklahoma voters overall. While Democrats represent about 27.5% of registered voters in the state, they made up 34% of registrations deleted for inactivity. More: Oklahoma Voter Guide: What to know about key races The numbers are even more disproportionate for independents, who represent 30% of the deleted inactive voters but make up only 19.5% of total registered voters in Oklahoma. Meanwhile, about 52% of Oklahomans are registered Republicans, and about 35% of voters deleted for inactivity were registered with the GOP. Oklahoma voter apathy, structure of primaries may give insight into which registrations were inactive Its no surprise that Democrats and independents show greater inactivity than Republicans in Oklahoma, said Pat McFerron, a conservative campaign consultant and polling expert. The vast majority of consequential partisan elections in Oklahoma are decided in Republican primaries, well before Democrats and independents get the chance to weigh in, McFerron said. Very few general election races in the state are competitive enough to be decided by 10% or less of the vote. A voting sign is pictured during voting in August at The Shoppes at Northpark. When pollsters like McFerron call inactive voters, many say theyre unlikely to vote because theyre not interested in government and politics, he said, and the other common response is they just dont think their vote matters. Only the Democratic Party in Oklahoma has opened its primary elections to independent voters. The states Republican and Libertarian parties have not. Implementing open or unified primaries could help engage more people, McFerron said. These concepts would allow registered voters to participate in primary elections regardless of their party affiliation, and it could make every candidate accountable to every voter. A campaign to bring open or unified elections to Oklahoma is underway. McFerron said he is working with the initiative. Oklahoma is now 50th in the nation in voter turnout for November elections, and if we dont do something to change it, were going to continue to have less and less civic engagement, McFerron said. Democratic campaign consultant Adam Graham agreed that open primaries could be a significant help, as would automatic voter registration or other measures to make it easier to register to vote. Campaign messaging also must improve, he said. Candidates of both parties are pushing to the extreme ends of the political spectrum and are too focused on culture-war issues, Graham said. That leaves moderate voters feeling left out and less inclined to show up to the polls. I think weve got to start giving voters a message from candidates that they are interested in hearing about, Graham said. Property taxes, groceries, schools, teachers being paid. Weve got to get back to the nuts and bolts of state government. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Deleted Oklahoma voters roughly reflect state's party affiliation data Shelley Zumwalt, director of tourism and recreation, on April 2 talks about solar eclipse preparations. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt on Thursday announced her retirement months after she was called on to resign in the wake of a scathing audit. Zumwalt has led the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation since October 2022. She said she is retiring to pursue a career in the private sector but will remain in her job until Oct. 11 to help with the transition. A spokesperson for the tourism agency said she did not know if a severance agreement was involved and could not find out until next week at the earliest. Zumwalt declined to comment further. Her office referred to a press release which outlined her accomplishments and did not mention the audits findings. I will always look back on my time in service with deep appreciation and admiration for the dedicated employees I have had the privilege to work alongside over my time with the state of Oklahoma, she said in the press release. Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped Zumwalt to lead the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and then the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. In April, State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released a scathing audit questioning how the state used the pandemic relief funds. Zumwalts husband worked for a company that had a contract with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. At the time, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said it was wholly inappropriate and potentially unlawful for Zumwalt to use her position to approve millions of dollars in contracts for a software company where her husband was vice president. He called on Zumwalt to resign immediately and cooperate fully with his agencys investigation seeking to determine whether any laws were broken. Zumwalt denied wrongdoing and refused to resign. Ms. Zumwalts resignation was the proper thing to do, even if it took six months after my initial call for her to step down from her position, Drummond said Friday. Self-dealing is an unacceptable breach of the public trust and must be a disqualification from public office. Zumwalt said months ago that she had disclosed the connection and was told it wasnt a problem because her husband didnt work on the contract, which was awarded before she went to work for the OESC in May 2020. Subsequent contracting and payments were transacted by OESC, although the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, where Zumwalt worked at the time, awarded the original no-bid contract. By April 2022, Zumwalt had approved additional contracts and change orders to the company totaling $8.5 million, according to the audit. Zumwalt was required to complete annual forms attesting that no related party transactions existed. She checked no on the forms, according to the audit. A spokesperson for the tourism department did not respond to a request Friday for Zumwalts current salary and age. At one point, she was earning $265,000 at the agency, according to a report released by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Stitt said Friday that he was grateful for Zumwalts service. She was a fighter for Oklahoma Tourism and worked hard to promote our state, he said. I wish her the best in her future endeavors. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Portlands ombudsman has criticized city officials for inconsistently determining who should cover the cost of tree removal. In a release published on Thursday, the ombudsmans office revealed the city ordered homeowners to pay to chop down a tree located 30 feet outside of their property line and in an unimproved section of the public right-of-way. Oregon workers exceeding BOLIs salary threshold will have wage claims dismissed Simultaneously, the office reported that officials paid to remove an ancient elm tree primarily located on a real estate investment companys private property. The city watchdog first received the complaint from the Southwest Portland homeowners in April. The complainants said it cost around $5,000 to remove the tree that was within the citys jurisdiction. They also alleged they couldnt directly access it from their property, and they wouldnt be able to insure against any future damage. In an ensuing review, the ombudsman opined that the citys provisions on property owners responsibilities for nearby trees were poorly written and confusing. The office claimed that Portland Parks and Recreations Urban Forestry division had a history of addressing these matters inconsistently. Despite this, Deputy Ombudsman Andy Stevens noted the division rejected his recommendation to pay for tree removal in the Southwest Portland neighborhood in July 2024. However, the office said Urban Forestry readily took full financial responsibility to rid the city of its oldest Heritage Tree near the Portland Art Museum the following month. Experts estimated removing this particular tree could cost about $15,000. Person missing after boat capsizes in Columbia River The American Elm Heritage Tree had long been regarded as a private tree due to its location on private property and was maintained by the property owner, Schnitzer Properties, the Ombudsman wrote. Urban Forestry determined that a mere six inches of the trees more than 48-inch base had grown into the right-of-way and assumed full financial responsibility for its removal. Auditors additionally ruled that ordering the homeowners to pay for tree removal contradicts a previous decision from city leaders. At a Portland City Council in 2017, commissioners decided against a city code amendment that would hold people accountable for maintaining trees within unimproved or partially improved rights-of-way near their land. How can the commissioners justify saddling homeowners with maintenance of large parcels of public land adjacent to their properties? one resident wrote in testimony ahead of the meeting. In response to Stevens findings, Portland Parks & Recreation said it recognizes city regulations on tree maintenance are dense and complex. Read the full statement below. Oregon saw over 5K recent affordable housing eviction filings, PSU finds We know the City code about responsibility for street tree maintenance is dense and complex and can be confusing. We appreciate the opportunity to review our process so we can ensure both equitable application of the policy and public safety. After careful review of precedent, the history of frontage maintenance for the property, and comparison of code language for Heritage Trees versus street trees, we determined the tree removal at the SW Portland location is most appropriately the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. We understand the right-of-way configuration is large, but the setback is not unusual for many places throughout the city. In this case, the property owner has a documented history of maintaining the frontage in question. Also, the tree in question does not threaten to injure public health or safety. Heritage Trees are recognized for their unique significance and have special rules requiring the City to take care of them when they extend onto City property, like the American Elm Heritage Tree example used in the City Auditors report. However, the tree at the SW Portland location is not a Heritage Treeits a street tree, and the responsibility for its care falls to the adjacent property owner, according to City code. Podcast investigates serial killers ties to the PNW We know the code places a burden on property owners, and our Urban Forestry team has long supported a change that would give the City a greater role in street tree maintenance. We are excited and hopeful the recent allocation of Portland Clean Energy Fund dollars will expedite progress toward that goal. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Union workers at the Omni Hotel in Providence overwhelmingly ratified a new contract on Tuesday, 12 News has learned. The new contract reportedly includes wage increases and improved benefits with more affordable health care for UNITE HERE Local 26 workers. On Aug. 7, Omni Providence employees voted to authorize a strike after working without a contract since the previous agreement expired at the end of January. RELATED: Omni Hotel workers vote to authorize strike for better pay, working conditions Omni Providence workers hold an informational picket outside the hotel on Aug. 18, 2024 (Photo: WPRI-TV) With the pay raise, I will no longer have to work two to three jobs at a time, seven days a week. I can spend more time with my children, and we can go on vacation every year, said Shakria Abad Payano, a room inspector at the hotel. My coworkers and I put a lot of work into this fight, said George Cook, who works at the Omni Providence Hotel as a banquet houseperson. Im happy that were able to get the best contract weve ever had, with wage increases that will help us pay our rent and take care of our families. The union said negotiations with Omni properties in Boston are still ongoing, and contracts at the Omni Boston Seaport Hotel and the Omni Parker House are still unresolved. 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. Did you ever imagine that you would have to reassure a frightened child, Honey, Hannibal Lecter is not a real person. He is not a great actor who said on TV, I love Donald Trump, as the former president claimed at an Oct. 7, 2023, rally in Waterloo, Iowa. Or that you would have to comfort your child, telling him/her, No, sweetheart, immigrants are not eating peoples pets in Ohio. The city manager said there was nothing to that ugly rumor. Our new neighbors are not going to eat Fluffy. Or that you would have to explain to your middle schooler, Even if the former president of the United States tells you that the noise of windmills causes cancer or drives whales crazy, dont believe it. It isnt true. Did you ever think those words would come out of your mouth? Heres another sentence to add to the list of things you never thought you would say until Donald Trump came along: Democrats do not support after-birth abortion. Wait, I hear you saying, Im not an OB-GYN, but I dont think you can have an abortion after the baby is born. Hold that thought. Trump claimed in a videotaped statement that aired from Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 4 that Democrats support abortion beyond the ninth month, a procedure that he called, indelicately, execution after birth. And thats exactly what it is, he said. The baby is born; the baby is executed after birth. Then, with the righteous indignation of a biblical prophet, Trump proclaimed that executing babies is unacceptable. And almost everyone agrees with that, he added. Actually, Donald, everyone agrees with that. Except maybe the late, great Hannibal Lecter. They just dont call it execution after birth. They call it infanticide, and it isnt legal anywhere in the United States. That was not the first time Trump raised the issue of too-late-term abortions. In his debate with Joe Biden, he said, Some states, Democrat-run, take (the life of the baby) after birth, and made the grotesque allegation that former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby. He made a similar charge in 2019. Three weeks ago, when he was explaining why he was going to vote against an initiative in Florida that would overturn the states six-week ban on abortion, Trump said it again. You know some of the states like Minnesota are so radical where you can actually execute the baby after birth and all of that stuff is unacceptable. Then in the presidential debate with Kamala Harris, he said it yet again. This time he was corrected by the ABC cohost, Lindsey Davis: There is no state in the United States in which it is legal to kill a baby after its born. Just ask Kermit Gosnell. Formerly Dr. Kermit Gosnell. In 2013, he was found guilty of the first-degree murder of a baby born alive in his Philadelphia abortion clinic. He received a life sentence without possibility of parole in the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pa., plus 30-60 years on two charges of conspiring to kill two other babies. Gosnell accepted the sentence in exchange for having the death penalty taken off the table. That is what happens in the United States if you execute the baby after birth, which, I should add, Democrats are not in favor of, as Fox host Shannon Bream explained patiently to Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski: Democrats say they absolutely disavow the idea of infanticide or of a baby that does survive an abortion, somehow their life being taken at that point. I think everybody agrees infanticide is illegal and wrong, Bream said. Lois Shepard, professor of biomedical ethics at the University of Virginia, framed the matter of after-birth abortion simply and bluntly: Abortion providers do not do this, doctors do not do this, no politicians that I know of support this its a made up-issue. TOPEKA (KSNT) One person is now in jail after a Thursday evening fire in Downtown Topeka caused thousands of dollars in damage. Just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, crews with the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) were dispatched to a structure fire in the 700 block of Southwest Polk Street, according to a news release from TFD. Crews first to the scene found heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of a multi-unit residential building. This embedded content is not available in your region. Amber Peery seeks new trial in deadly Girl Scout crash Crews were able to put out the fire, while containing all of the damage to the area the fire started. After investigating, Topeka police, along with TFD, arrested one individual for one count of aggravated arson. That person was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary, according to the news release. The total amount lost was $25,000. 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. Severe weather moved into Virginia on Friday, after Tropical Storm Helene made landfall in the commonwealth, leaving one person dead and five localities under a voluntary evacuation order in the Southwest part of the state. (Map courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) One person is reported dead in Virginia and five localities in the southwest region of the state are under a voluntary evacuation order as a result of Tropical Depression Helene, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a Facebook live update around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. The one fatality in Craig County stemmed from a tree falling and a building collapse, Youngkin said, adding that We lift up the family of this victim in our prayers. Augusta, Wythe, Pulaski, and Giles Counties are under the voluntary evacuation order, along with the city of Salem. Residents there arent required to leave their homes, but the order strongly suggests that it would be safest to do so. While these are voluntary evacuation orders for particular communities, please adhere to them for your safety. Your life is too important, the governor said. Helene formed south of Florida and made landfall as a hurricane in that state late Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, according to the Associated Press. Yet, the impacts could be felt in Virginia. The National Weather Service Blacksburg Office forecasted Friday morning that rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour were likely. According to the NWS, 12.2 inches of rain had accumulated in the Grayson Highlands area in Southside Virginia near the North Carolina border as of 4 p.m. Friday. Youngkin said that while rain may have subsided in certain parts of Virginia, a tornado was reported just north of Danville. A vast section of the state is still under a tornado watch, and that extends all the way to Virginia Beach Youngkin said. Over 50 swift water crews had already been deployed with helicopter air support, although the high winds have limited their ability to access some of the more challenged spots, Youngkin said. Helicopters were able to help efforts in Washington County, particularly the city of Damascus, where we have seen substantial flooding, Younkgin said. Flooding has also occurred along the New River, particularly at Radford University, he added. I urge everyone to please stay informed, use good judgments and get to high ground, Youngkin said. About 241,000 people have lost power throughout Southwest Virginia, Youngkin added. The state has been in contact with the electric cooperatives that primarily serve rural regions in Southwest Virginia, and Appalachian Power Company. Thats going to take some time, Youngkin said, on restoring power. A Virginia State Police helicopter unit was sent to help with the 50 people stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Tennessee, Youngkin said. At least 40 people in four states had died from the storm by Friday evening, according to the Associated Press. A National Weather Service monitor at Blacksburg Airport forecasts a partly sunny Saturday, with a chance of showers into the evening. More rain showers and possibly a thunderstorm are forecasted to occur into Monday night. This storm is not over, and therefore, again, I urge everyone to please stay off the roads, unless you have to be on them, Youngkin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX One dead following family violence incident in Pflugerville PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) The Pflugerville Police Department said one person died Thursday following reports of a disturbance. PPD said officers responded to the 17900 block of Altesino Cove and found one person injured. Life-saving measures were performed, but the person died. According to police, a suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and a weapon was also recovered by law enforcement. Pflugerville Police said the incident was an isolated case of family violence, and the investigation was still in its early stages. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One hospitalized with serious injuries after UTV crash near Sioux Center, sheriff says SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (KCAU) One person was hospitalized for serious injuries after a UTV crash near Sioux Center. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office said it investigating a crash at a bean field near the intersection of 420th Street and Harrison Avenue Wednesday at 9:03 p.m. The crash happened about one mile south of Sioux Center. Sac County holding town hall meetings on new jail bond A 16-year-old was driving a 2020 Polaris Ranger XP1000 UTV west in a field, the release said. Due to dust and the low light conditions, he entered a ravine, lost control of the UTV, and rolled. The driver reported minor injuries. A passenger was taken to Sioux Center Health for treatment of serious injuries. Officials dont give the age of the passenger. The UTV sustained about $2,000 in damage. Sioux Center Police Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, and Sioux Center Ambulance assisted the 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. People hang a giant Israeli flag from the roof of a damaged building in Kiryat Bialik, following a reported strike by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Hezbollah militants in Lebanon fired rockets at the Israeli city of Tiberias and other towns on the Sea of Galilee, causing one injury, the Israeli military reported on Friday. According to the army, most of the 10 missiles were intercepted. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia confirmed the attack, during which a man was struck by falling debris. Four drones approaching from Lebanon were also claimed to have been shot down near the border town of Rosh HaNikra on the Mediterranean Sea. The port city of Haifa had previously been attacked with missiles, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on the launch sites and dozens of other Hezbollah targets, officials said. Hezbollah has fired at Israel almost daily since the start of the Gaza war almost a year ago, ostensibly in support of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas as it fights Israeli forces in the coastal strip, and to help achieve a ceasefire. For months, Israel fired back on a similar scale. However, the country has massively stepped up its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. One in three teens have no access to period products, shocking poverty study finds One in three teens have no access to period products, shocking poverty study finds Teens are increasingly struggling to afford and gain access to period products such as pads and tampons. According to a study from the Childrens National Hospital in Washington DC, the concept of period poverty, or the lack of access to period products and general education regarding the menstrual cycle, affects young women of all races, ethnicities, and health insurance backgrounds equally. Youth who are living in neighborhoods with high opportunity had similar rates of experiencing menstrual inequity as those living in areas or neighborhoods that were underresourced, the studys co-author Meleah Boyle, a staff scientist at Childrens National said in an interview with NBC News. This is impacting everyone. The study is scheduled to be presented on Saturday, September 28, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Orlando, Florida. The findings are based on 1,816 people between the ages of 13 and 21, who came into the emergency room at Childrens National from mid-January 2024 through the end of June and were asked if they used rags or tissues at any point during their period in the last year or did not have the money to buy pads and tampons. A total of 32.9 per cent of people between the ages of 13 and 21 reported using tissues and rags for their period or not being able to afford sanitary products (Getty Images) Using products that have either already been used or other unhygienic products such as rags can create a greater risk of bacterial infections in both the vagina and urinary tract. If the people surveyed said yes, they were considered to be in the category of experiencing period poverty. Out of the original 1,816 people, 597 of them were experiencing period poverty which is 32.9 per cent. The 597 people did not include people who were surprised with their period possibly starting late or early and needed to use something immediately. In an interview with NBC News, Dr Shelby Davies, an attending physician in the adolescent medicine division at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who was not involved in the study, explained that the numbers in their study do not align with previous research shes seen. At first I heard one in five, then I heard one in four, and now were hearing one in three, she told the outlet. However, she thought there might be an explanation for the higher number that doesnt require more young women to be without access to period products. What it could indicate is that we as a society are talking about it more, Davies said. I think the early numbers might have been skewed just based on what people felt comfortable talking about. We were likely underrepresenting the issue. Davies suggested various questions that pediatricians can ask their patients to gauge whether or not they are experiencing period poverty themselves instead of the usual, When was your last period? What are you using to manage your periods? Are you able to access tampons or pads? What barriers do you have? and Do you feel in control of your periods? were alternative questions. The studys goal is to keep pediatricians aware of the issue and push for more widely available period products. Womens health in general has been deprioritized, said Dr Monika Goyal, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist and co-director of the Center for Translational Research at Childrens National. Just like toilet paper is readily available in all restrooms, wed love to see improved access to free menstrual products everywhere. Voting booths at a vote center in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM) Ive been a Republican since 1972 when I was South Dakota Teen Age Republican secretary. As an adult, I was elected four times to the South Dakota House of Representatives. I was the assistant majority Leader of the Republican Caucus. And, I support Amendment H open primaries in South Dakota. Amendment H is simple instead of separate primary elections based on politics, there would be one single primary for all voters. All candidates on one ballot. All voters allowed to vote. The two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election, where all voters will decide who gets elected. Five key arguments in favor of Amendment H: Everyone should get to vote The most fundamental principle of democracy is one person, one vote. Every citizen is treated equally. Yet, in South Dakota, all citizens are not treated equally in the primary election. Independents are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary, but not the Republican primary. Republicans and Democrats dont vote if all candidates are from the other party. Tens of thousands of citizens are denied the right to vote in these elections. Amendment H guarantees that all voters get to vote. Its true democracy in action. People, not political parties, should control our elections Political parties do not appear in the U.S. Constitution. They are not part of our government or our democracy. Political parties are special interest groups just like a labor union, a political action committee, or a professional association. Forcing voters to join a political party in order to vote in an election is more like Russia or China than a democracy. We are a right to work state we dont have to join a union to work. We should be a right to vote state we shouldnt have to join a political party to vote. Amendment H allows everyone to vote for any candidate in the primary election regardless of political affiliation. Political party status will not control if you can vote or for whom you can vote. Tax dollars should not be used for partisan politics When a political party endorses one person in an election or chooses delegates for its convention, that is political business. Just like a labor union, the chamber of commerce, or private corporations electing their leadership. Tax dollars should not be used to do political work. In South Dakota, the tax-funded primary election is being used by political parties to conduct private business. Amendment H guarantees that all voters will be able to participate equally in our taxpayer-funded primary. No special status for some voters because of their political registration. Political parties can still endorse candidates, campaign, and select convention delegates. But, theyll have to do it with their own money not with tax dollars. All voters should have a choice In communist countries, voters often have only one candidate from which to choose. This no choice election happens in South Dakota, too. It is not uncommon for all candidates running for office to be of the same political party. When that happens, those candidates only appear on the primary ballot where only some citizens can vote. Frequently, the winner of the political primary is then automatically elected. Many of our elected officials are being chosen by some, not all, voters. Amendment H provides for the top two candidates to be on the November ballot, even if they are from the same political party. Your favorite candidate might get eliminated in the primary. But, you will still have a choice in November as to who will represent you. Elected officials should be elected by a majority of voters South Dakota law allows more than two candidates on the November ballot Republicans, Democrats, third-party candidates, and independents. If three or more candidates are running for office, the person with the most votes not a majority of voters gets elected. An elected official can be opposed by a majority of voters and still get elected. Amendment H provides that only the top two candidates face off in the November election. So, a majority of voters will have to agree on who gets elected. All elected officials will have to receive more than half the final votes. Majority rule a cornerstone of democracy. Conclusion Amendment H will change our election process in South Dakota for the better. Political parties will be influential, but not in control. All voters will have equal opportunities to be heard in the electoral process. Competition among candidates will be greater, and that will lead to elected officials representing all the voters equally. Only in a Democracy does the process voting and participating matter more than the outcome who wins. For a democracy to work, everyone must be able to participate. Amendment H guarantees that. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina. Will a mammoth fulfillment center in Garner, North Carolina, be the second Amazon facility in the country to unionize? Were one step closer to finding out as the independent organizing group Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or C.A.U.S.E., has begun collecting union authorization cards from workers at the warehouse named RDU1. At least 30% of employees must sign these cards before the National Labor Relations Board will schedule an election, though logically, unions generally want more than half of employees to sign before moving forward. Cards are valid for one year, so the clock at RDU1 has started. Itll be a big operation. RDU1 is massive, with employee estimates between 3,500 and 6,000. And staff turnover is high, complicating outreach efforts. Throw in the track record of other Amazon unionization efforts, and its definitively an uphill battle. Amazon has also fought against the Garner campaign, holding anti-union informational meetings and posting a message on its facility video board that tells workers, You have no obligation to speak to any group or representative of a group, including a union representative. An adjacent image shows a finger declining a call on a phone screen. In a recording of an Amazon informational union meeting at RDU1, posted on X and shared with The News & Observer, a man in a yellow safety vest tells a small room of employees that an authorization card is a legally enforceable document that will be provided to the government. A message at Amazons RDU1 warehouse in Garner, North Carolina informs employees they dont have to speak with union representatives. Union authorization cards ask for personal information from you which can then be used by a union in lots of different ways to contact you, he says. The group may even share your information with other outside groups. The screen behind the speaker lists additional consequences of signing cards. Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards said employee attendance at these meetings is optional (though employers can legally mandate attendance as well). In a separate email, she shared the companys overall stance toward its workers unionizing, writing, The fact is, Amazon already offers what many unions are requesting: competitive pay, health benefits on day one, and opportunities for career growth. Anti-union sessions tend to have their intended effect, according to Jeff Hirsch, a professor of labor law at UNC-Chapel Hill. Usually theres a payoff for employers, he said. As a result, Hirsch notes unions typically want well above 50% of workers to sign authorization cards before requesting an election. Signing cards doesnt obligate employees to support the union, and some enthusiasm may erode as Amazon (or any employer) pushes against it. Open Source Newsletter Logo Informational meetings arent the only step Amazon has taken (or been accused of taking) to reduce union support. Union advocates have branded the company a major union buster, as the nations second-largest private employer faced 240 open or settled unfair labor practice charges at the end of 2023, according to the National Labor Relations Board, including accusations of illegal behavior around union elections. In February, Amazon argued the NLRB is unconstitutional. On Wednesday, C.A.U.S.E held a press conference across the street from the immense 2 million-square-foot Garner warehouse. As organizers passed out leaflets to passing drivers, union leaders expounded on their demands for $30-an-hour minimum starting wages and a full hour of paid break during 10-plus-hour shifts. How can we work 10 hours a day and still not make enough money to get by? said Mary Hill, one of the two RDU1 employees who formed C.A.U.S.E. in January 2022. At this point next year, we should have a clearer sense of the RDU1 union campaigns viability. The union has collected authorization cards since Labor Day. But Amazon has been warding off unions for longer. Clearing my cache Bless you! In a few years, the cold and flu medication Mucinex will be manufactured about an hours drive east of Raleigh. Thats if all goes according to the plans announced this week for a new 290-worker pharmaceutical facility in the city of Wilson. The German tech conglomerate Siemens cut the ribbon this week on a $36 million addition to its facility in Wendell . The campus serves as the headquarters for Siemens U.S. electrification and automation operations and currently employs just shy of 800 workers. American Underground, downtown Durhams first coworking space, has partnered with Fidelity to launch a new accelerator program. Fifteen tech-centered startups were selected for the fellowship, which will include 10 weeks of workshops and mentorship sessions culminating in an opportunity to present their companies to investors. The inaugural fellowship class includes: BabyBumps An application intended to autonomously connect parents and surrogates. Unplex This payment system enables Venmo-like transactions over WhatsApp (Venmo currently only functions in the United States.) Gridspot With its digital platform, the startup aims to increase access to electric vehicle chargers. American Underground in downtown Durham. National Tech Happenings At the White House a few weeks back, the ChatGPT creator OpenAI lobbied the Biden administration for the U.S. to build enormous new data centers. Bloomberg reported the centers OpenAI seeks would be 5-gigawatts, which is sufficient to power close to 3 million homes. The company reasoned such massive facilities are needed to advance artificial intelligence models and keep pace with China. Significantly smaller data centers are already proliferating across the country, with North Carolina no exception. According to Data Center Map, there are 63 centers in the state. While this isnt an official count, the same database showed North Carolina only having 29 data centers in October 2014. Theres much to discuss about data centers, especially in the age of AI. I hope to dive into it soon. Did Google just pay $2.7 billion to bring back a top AI visionary? In a sense, yes. The search giant spent this hefty sum to license the chatbot service Character AI, and in doing so, Google is able to rehire Character AIs CEO Noam Shazeer, a Duke University graduate who some consider an AI genius. Meta introduced its new Orion smart glasses, which can impose augmented reality onto what users naturally see. The worlds first 3D-printed hotel is being erected in the small artsy hub of Marfa, Texas. Thanks for reading! Enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly newsletter, and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. Operation Penguin wraps up with a celebration at the Peoria Civic Center PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) After a long day visiting several Peoria-area military sites, local veterans were given a homecoming at the Civic Center. Operation Penguin gave veterans a chance to still experience what the Greater Peoria Honor Flight is like, without getting on a plane. Bagpipes played, and veterans shook hands with people as they shuffled through the crowd. For Calum MacRitchie, a Vietnam War vet, it gave him a sense of closure. He reflected on the negative attitudes that many Americans felt toward the military in the 1970s. It gives us a welcome home that we never got. To me, thats what makes it so important. Every Vietnam veteran deserves a welcome home that they never got, he said. Eric Thurman served in the Navy from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, fighting in conflicts like the Gulf War in 1991. He said the day was a good time, getting to connect with fellow veterans and hearing numerous stories, along with visiting several memorials. Thurman appreciates when people thank him for his service, but events like these actually show that appreciation. This signifies that these people really do care about their service and what theyve done and what theyve been through, he said. Before ending up at the Civic Center, veterans visited a myriad of sites, including the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall now displayed in East Peoria. Army Veteran Dianna Adams is wheelchair-bound, and said she enjoyed being able to still get a glimpse of what the Greater Peoria Honor Flight is like. For people who cant walk well, cant stand up for long periods of time, anybody with ambulatory problems or dont want to go on a plane or cant go on a plane, its nice, she said. Korean War veteran Marshall Lipkin also appreciated the event, saying it made him have a newfound appreciation for his fellow veterans. Thats what I learned and what I took from this particular trip. How many people fought and died so that we have the freedoms that we enjoy, 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 CIProud.com. Donald Trump told Fox Newss Sean Hannity last year that he wouldnt be a dictator except on Day One. On that first day back in office, he said, I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill. It was clear what he meant and he even added, After that, Im not a dictator but liberals across the country at least feigned outrage over such authoritarian comments. They conveniently ignore the whirling dervish nature of Joe Bidens early White House days. Biden, of course, unilaterally canceled the Keystone Pipeline; dictated masks be worn on federal property (and on planes and trains); moved to rejoin the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords; froze student debt collections; set stricter emissions limits for vehicles; suspended oil drilling leasing on federal lands; terminated Trumps 1776 Commission; revoked Trumps efforts to exclude illegal immigrants from the U.S. Census; reinforced the protections for illegal migrants brought to the U.S. as children; abolished the ban on travel to the U.S. from (at that point) 11 countries with serious terrorism problems (the so-called Muslim ban); paused deportations of people in the U.S. illegally; stopped building the border wall; banned workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender employees; restored collective bargaining power and workplace protections for federal workers; undid Trumps regulatory approval process; and approved a whole slew of measures addressing the COVID pandemic. This day of unilateral power was of course celebrated by the media, which cheered Bidens efforts to undo pretty much everything his predecessor had done, including closing our southern border. So if Trump is reelected, what should be his top priorities for his first 100 days? Here are 10 of them: Trump wants to enact many outside-the-box ideas that could make our country work again. Lets hope he gets the chance. Liz Peek is a former partner of major bracket Wall Street firm Wertheim and Company. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan commemorates September 27 - Remembrance Day, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by ambassador Cahit Baghci on his official "X" account. "We pay deep respect to the cherished memory of all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of brotherly Azerbaijan!" the post reads. The indictment and arraignment of New York Mayor Eric Adams cloud the unusual pre-appointment of Melissa Aviles-Ramos as city schools chancellor. Should she take office, as planned, on Jan. 1, Aviles-Ramos will succeed David Banks, for whom she served as chief of staff before becoming deputy chancellor for family engagement and community engagement. While urban school districts like Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston have moved away from various forms of mayor-dominant governance, New York is a notable exception. Not only does the mayor appoint the schools chancellor and a majority of central school board members, he (mayors, so far, have all been male) controls the Department of Education budget and negotiates all union contracts. Through the chancellor, the mayor also appoints all 38 local district superintendents and approximately 1,700 principals. Through the years, Democratic and Republican mayors, affirmed by bipartisan support in Albany, have supported this hegemonic model. But none have championed City Hall control like Adams. Former Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio appointed trusted lieutenants with broad discretion to lead the schools, leaving policy and operations largely in their hands. There was obviously robust communication between City Hall and DOE headquarters in the old Tweed Courthouse, but under chancellors like Joel Klein and Carmen Farina, policy ideas flowed as much from Tweed as to it. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Adams changed that. In appointing Banks a longtime political partner to the chancellorship, Adams promoted a strong Science of Reading curriculum and a signature dyslexia screening program. Banks, whose only experience was in high school teaching and administration, was a strong figurehead for this movement but not its instigator. A ballyhooed Pathways career-preparation initiative was lifted from the Bloomberg playbook and, until her recent departure, was run by an ex-Bloomberg Philanthropies executive. New programs in special education and recent organizational restructuring appear to have arisen from within the DOE. But now, amid a federal corruption investigation into Adamss campaign contributions, Banks has announced he will step down at the end of the year. Related Federal Agents Seize Phones of NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks & His Brothers With the appointment of Aviles-Ramos, which Adams announced just hours before he was indicted on Sept. 25, the mayors dominance in educational policy is even more pronounced. Instead of the usual promises of change, Aviles-Ramos initial comments were not only effusive in gratitude to Adams and Banks, but committed to stability and continuing the work that began under [Bankss] tenure. While this reassurance is important under the circumstances of an administration under broad legal attack, it is also unusual. Generally, new school superintendents arrive with the glow of change and new possibilities, promising a new agenda rather than continuity. Its in their leadership blood and an astute political move to not be associated with shortcomings of a predecessor, even within the context of pre-existing appointive authority of a school board or mayor. But the promise of continuity is a double-edged sword for parents and students attending New Yorks public schools. Confidence is a major issue. Investigations are swirling around the administration, including reported suggestions of contract malfeasance against Banks whose home was raided and electronic devices seized by federal officials. Banks has denied any wrongdoing. Having served as Bankss chief of staff, Aviles-Ramos is justifiably seen as part of a tainted leadership. What did she know and when did she know it? is a fair question. At a moment when parents are reluctant to force the issue of student attendance (chronic absenteeism rates hover above 35%), feeling that the schools are mired in corruption is hardly an incentive to send your kids to school. Parents will be seeking a leader, not a puppet, and it remains to be seen if Aviles-Ramos can deliver on that desire. Related Amid Federal Investigations, NYC Schools Chancellor Banks Says He Will Retire On the other hand, its refreshing to have an incoming chancellor with a deep knowledge of the school system. Aviles-Ramos, a Spanish-speaking Latina, has been a New York City public school student, teacher, principal, acting superintendent and senior executive, mostly in the Bronx. She ran the systems response to the recent influx of migrant students. New York is the nations largest school district, with almost 1 million students, and more than twice the size of Los Angeles Unified, the second-largest. By promoting a native New Yorker from within, instead of following the common strategy of bringing in a distinguished outsider, and providing her with a three-month on-ramp, Adams gives the new chancellor credibility on the promise of stability. Parents and teachers may rejoice in knowing that the reading and math curricula established under Banks will continue. While they may not all love the substance of these reforms, nothing drives those who inhabit actual classrooms crazier than sudden policy shifts driven by those at the top. Even more than is usually the case, the new chancellors success will depend a lot on matters outside her control. But her ascent is a test of a different national paradigm for an urban superintendent: promoting centralization over decentralization, continuity over change, insider over outsider. And, in this hour of crisis, Eric Adams has sought to bring a novel spirit to American urban education: calm. Perhaps Melissa Aviles-Ramos is the woman to do that job. The Hill recently published an essay by Chancellor Andrew Martin of Washington University in St. Louis, where I am a faculty member. I agree with Martins thesis while interpreting it entirely differently. After last academic years season of protest against the genocide in Gaza, this year must be different. We disagree on how it must be different, because the chancellor feels that student protests should be even more tightly restrained than last years violently subdued protests. Oddly, this sentiment rebuts Martins own reputation as a free speech absolutist, with which he arrived at Wash U. Were not bound by the First Amendment, unlike a public university, he told our school newspaper, but I think that the right policy is for us to behave as if we are. The context was his decision as a dean at University of Michigan to host the infamous white nationalist Richard Spencer. Martin doubled down when he required all Wash U freshmen to read a book by former ACLU head Nadine Strossen that argues that legal cases like a New York courts 1961 decision to allow a Nazi rally are essential for democracy. But those precedents didnt stop him from taking an action he omits from his essay. In April, he ordered the arrest of over 100 people on the campus for a student-led nonviolent protest in solidarity with Palestine, including Wash U students, alumni, faculty from multiple universities and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. A strange paradox: in his freshman year, my former student Caleb Hughes was required by Martin to read a book insisting that free society tolerates Nazi protests. A year after Caleb graduated, Martin had him arrested for pro-Palestinian protest. Because that protest showed no evidence of violence or vandalism, the mass arrest was widely criticized by newspapers, civil rights organizations and politicians across the St. Louis area, and by Wash U faculty and alumni. The arrests caused the hospitalization of a professor from a nearby university; the banning from campus of the president of the St. Louis Board of Alderman; and the suspension and banning of multiple Wash U faculty and students, many of whom were scheduled to graduate. The historically passive Wash U faculty rallied the Faculty Senate to intervene in the administrations disciplinary response, but the Board of Trustees summarily rebuffed the bid. Martin called in his essay for universities to model active listening in difficult times. He didnt specify who talks and who listens. That lack of specificity represents a national trend. Over the summer, university administrations revised expressive speech policies at over 100 campuses with restrictions so broad they could foreclose most forms of protest. Theyve demanded protests be registered in advance, limited hours when protests may occur, banned megaphones and restricted flyers and signage. Administrators like Martin typically rationalize these contradictions of their professed values through strategically vague abstraction. Having long decried undergrads for anti-speech illiberalism, they now discover abundant boundaries on expressive speech. Free expression is foundational to education, Martin writes, but has limitsBehavior or speech that threatens, intimidates, harasses, discriminates or unreasonably disrupts teaching and learning cannot be tolerated. Fair enough. But how do we define threaten, disrupt and reasonable? Laws invoking such terms offer definitional criteria nowhere to be found in Wash Us and other schools conduct codes. And who decides if these criteria were met? At campuses across the country, administrators and trustees will deliberate behind closed doors and pronounce from on high what speech does or doesnt violate invisible criteria of offense. Consider the two justifications that Martin offers for suppressing free speech. First, he singles out encampments as uniquely disruptive forms of protest. But from Revolutionary Boston to MLKs lunch counter sit-ins to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement (where campus activism was born), the occupation of public space has been a cornerstone of American social movements. This is presumably why Martin himself previously allowed a protest encampment advocating for a living wage for campus employees at Wash U, even meeting with the campers. Why was that encampment acceptable when the pro-Palestinian one wasnt? Second, the chancellor insists that protests cannot instill fear. But how do we decide if something inherent to the protest instills fear? Wash U administrators have provided no examples of threatening behavior from protesters, instead citing 911 calls from bystanders terrified by loud chanting. By this standard, surely someone has expressed fear at any protest ever worth the name. Whats more, this argument that the sole criteria of a speech acts threat is whether a listener feels threatened is the exact doctrine that Strossen and similar campus free speech advocates identify as the greatest threat to free expression. Martin appeared to agree when telling Michigan students terrified of a white nationalist guest speaker that they were in no danger. Why isnt a Richard Spencer speech a threat when a pro-Palestine chant is? These contradictory standards display what activists call the Palestine exception. Self-declared defenders of free speech suppressed protests against the slaughter in Gaza because of ideological content, and in this respect Wash U joins its peer institutions. But the Palestinian cause wont be the only example of such hypocrisy. Many university administrations decided last year that calling the police is effective PR management. If that goes uncorrected, expect more causes to join Gaza on the roster of implicitly forbidden subjects. The emergent doctrine of American universities is free speech for me but not for thee. Let this year be different indeed. Michael OBryan is a senior lecturer in the English Department at Washington University in St. Louis. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Democracy, California Gov. Gavin Newsom warns, is on the brink. The culprit? A wave of disinformation powered by generative AI, poised to pollute our information ecosystems like never before. With the 2024 election looming, Newsom and California Democrats argue that artificial intelligence-generated content threatens to warp public perception. In response, the Golden State has swiftly enacted two bold new laws designed to stem the tide of deceptive content spreading across the internet. These laws not only likely violate the First Amendment, which protects even false political speech, but they are also rooted in exaggerated fears of AI disinformation. An obviously deepfaked video of Vice President Kamala Harris, widely shared by Elon Musk, prompted Newsoms push to regulate online discourse, but, of course, these laws will also ban the many parody AI videos of Donald Trump. To be sure, disinformation, deepfakes and propaganda can spread and have real-life effects. But as researchers have pointed out mostly to deaf ears the extent and impact of disinformation are, thus far, typically much smaller than the alarmist scenarios assume. And a recent study by MIT researchers found that humans can frequently discern deepfakes with both audio and visual cues. Thats why widely shared deepfakes of Harris or Trump failed to convince anyone they were real. Also, a closer look at 2024 elections around the world demonstrates how fears of AI deepfakes have largely been overblown. Before this summers European parliamentary elections, headline after headline sounded the alarm that AI could supercharge disinformation and put the future of democracy at stake. A perfect storm of Russian propaganda and artificial intelligence threatened to drown the integrity of an election with 373 million eligible voters in 27 countries in disinformation and deepfakes. That message was echoed by think tanks, researchers and European Union leaders ahead of the June election. Vera Jourova, the European Commission vice president for values and transparency, said AI deepfakes of politicians could create an atomic bomb ... to change the course of voter preferences. In response, the European Commission sent alerts to social media platforms and set up crisis units expecting to deal with efforts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections outcome for weeks after the vote. So what happened? Despite active disinformation networks on social media platforms, the E.U.-funded and often alarmist European Digital Media Observatory identified no major disinformation-related incident or any deluge of deepfakes. In the U.K. elections, British fact-checking group FullFact told Politico, There hasnt been a [deepfake] which has just dominated a day of the actual election campaign. What about the rest of the world? Elections have taken place in many countries, some with less resilient democratic institutions and more vulnerable election procedures than European democracies. A Washington Post article highlighted Indias 2024 elections as a preview of how AI is transforming democracy. Despite being awash in deepfakes, researchers found, AI had little impact, instead proving a net positive by connecting voters. In Pakistan and Indonesia, observers reported minimal disinformation, with viral fake news fact-checked on social media. A coalition of civil society groups and government agencies in Taiwan ensured transparency and crowdsourced fact-checking, mitigating Chinas interference attempts. It should be a positive story that democracies around the world, to this point, have a higher degree of resilience than many feared. More importantly, these election results demonstrate that a critical mass of voters can think for themselves and dont slavishly fall for lies, propaganda and nonsense, even when slickly produced with cutting-edge technology. As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, we should be vigilant but resist the urge to sacrifice free speech in the name of fighting disinformation. Our democracy is more resilient than fearmongers suggest. Californias two new laws, on the other hand, are panic-driven and counterproductive, and they open the door to state-sanctioned censorship of lawful speech. A.B. 2839 prohibits the use of AI deepfakes about political candidates, while A.B. 2655 requires large platforms to block deceptive content about politicians, respond to every public complaint within 36 hours and remove substantially similar content. Both laws will chill political speech, infringe on Californians ability to criticize politicians, undermine platforms rights to moderate content and even prevent people from highlighting deceptive content as fake. While A.B. 2839 exempts political satire and parody, it requires those responsible to include disclosures that the materially deceptive content isnt real, which will surely undermine the impact of these messages if commentators must declare that they are just joking. We would also be wise to remember that the very politicians who generate headlines about AI disinformation and insist that they should be trusted to define this nebulous concept are frequently the sources of political misinformation. Instead of succumbing to elite panic, we should face the challenge of disinformation while heeding the words of former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who said, Our constitutional tradition stands against the idea that we need Oceanias Ministry of Truth. In defending free speech, we must avoid granting the government unprecedented powers to decide what truth is, recognizing that the greatest threat to democracy often comes from those who claim to protect it. (Disclosure: The Future of Free Speech is a nonpartisan think tank in joint partnership with Vanderbilt University and Denmark-based Justitia. It has received limited financial support from Google for specific projects not related to the subject of this piece. In all cases, The Future of Free Speech retains full independence and final authority for its work.) This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Trump campaign, and its allies through Project 2025, have proposed more than 200 proposals to choke off immigration in a second Trump term. In contrast, Vice President Harriss campaign has offered few substantive ideas, although the Democratic platform lays out more details. Immigration and the border crisis remain a top concern for Americans. If Harris is elected, her top priority must be reducing border chaos, which is eroding public support for immigration, endangering migrants and clogging up our bloated legal immigration bureaucracy. A Trump presidency would bring unprecedented border crackdowns, nationwide mass deportations and the sabotage of the legal immigration system. Harris must reject such extremism, but she also must stand against progressives on her side of the aisle who refuse to compromise on asylum. The consensus from the American people is clear: Make illegal immigration harder and legal immigration easier. Harriss task is to pass a historic border security bill, resolve the crisis, and revive a bipartisan consensus through pragmatic migration control and streamlined skilled immigration that works in service of the American people. In her keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, Harris referenced the Lankford-Murphy border compromise bill, stating, As president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he [Donald Trump] killed, and I will sign it into law. She must fulfill this promise, and immigration advocates should demand a bill that changes the law, limits asylum eligibility, boosts resources and fixes the issue. Opposing such a bill only weakens their cause. We need strong and secure borders, an orderly process, the rejection of invalid asylum claims and the deportation of criminals. This legislation is key to restoring public confidence in immigration as a benefit to the American way of life. Only Congress can act decisively on the border, and its continued failure to do so risks jeopardizing immigration as a central pillar of our nation. By addressing border security, Harris, congressional Democrats and moderate Republicans can neutralize a politically charged issue and prioritize the public good over partisan politics. If the border crisis persists, long-term public support for immigration is at risk. Most Americans oppose open borders and chaotic, unregulated asylum. While they support immigration, they reject large-scale illegal crossings. Failure to secure the border empowers immigration restrictionists, plays into the hands of extremists and harms the pro-immigration movements image. The truth is, very few Americans back the open-borders approach advocated by asylum hard-liners. The border is the top immigration issue, but policy extends beyond asylum. Trumps advisors have drafted new executive orders and policy memos to dismantle legal immigration in a second term. That thinking reflects extremist views, not sound public policy. Harris can pursue reforms to streamline legal immigration, serving U.S. interests and fostering a bipartisan consensus. She can restore public trust and deliver benefits for both immigrants and Americans. After she negotiates a border bill, we recommend four key administrative proposals. First, Harris should administratively recapture all legally available green cards. Accumulated administrative errors have left hundreds of thousands of unused green card slots that Congress has authorized available for recapture. Recapturing unused green cards and preventing green cards from going unused in the future would help allot the visas Congress intended while generating many billions of dollars of economic activity and billions in net revenue streams. Second, a Harris administration should offer H-2B, H-2A, and J-1 visa referrals at Safe Mobility Offices. The U.S. should offer work visas at these offices for eligible applicants. We must begin soliciting and translating the labor skills of all applicants for opportunities for potential employers to review, and we need to significantly expand the use of CBP One to capture more information about those attempting to make appointments at the border and the offices. Providing expanded labor pathways is crucial to address domestic labor shortages and meet the needs of economic migrants in the region. Third, Harris can grow the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to at least 250,000. The administration will resettle 100,000 refugees this year, a 30-year high. There is ample processing capacity for the U.S. to welcome significantly more refugees. The Harris administration should also scale the Welcome Corps, Welcome Corps on Campus and Welcome Corps at Work programs to better leverage the private sector. Finally, Harris can expand the J-1 au pair program. The U.S. is currently grappling with a care crisis for our seniors. To alleviate this, a potential Harris administration can expand the J-1 au pair program to encompass senior care. Such a regulatory adjustment could help reduce the burden on caregivers and reduce the cost of care. A few other administrative proposals also deserve attention, such as updating the Schedule A list, finalizing the H-1B rule, expanding the J-1 skills list, scaling the domestic visa revalidation pilot program, offering work authorization to O-3 visa holders, and making health care degrees in nursing and medicine eligible for the STEM OPT extension. These are the type of wonky, technical fixes that dont make headlines but move our immigration system forward in a modern and nimble way. Immigrants strengthen America, but our immigration system must align with national interests by enhancing what benefits the U.S. and reducing what doesnt. By leveraging immigration policy to advance domestic and foreign policy goals, Harris can help rebuild the consensus our country urgently needs on this issue. A Harris presidency must limit border chaos, streamline skilled immigration, and move to revive a bipartisan consensus on the issue. Championing a pragmatic approach to the border and security coupled with an innovative and fresh approach to broader reforms offers the best opportunity for changes we have seen in decades. Kristie De Pena is senior vice president for policy at the Niskanen Center and Matthew La Corte is deputy director of immigration policy at the Niskanen 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 The Hill. Opinion - Israel is losing, but can win if it adjusts its goals International politics is the art of the possible. In that light, Israels problem is that it cannot reach the war aims it has set out. It can only win if it narrows its aims, matching ends with means. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government has plainly spelled out what Israel wants to achieve. It wants to recover hostages held by Hamas; secure its borders with Gaza and destroy the Hamas organization. A fourth aim has been added: It wants to create a situation where Israelis forced by Hezbollah bombing to evacuate their homes in northern Israel can return home. Israel is not achieving its war aims against Hamas. So far, it has only obtained a handful of the hostages. Some have been killed. The fate of many is still unknown. Second, Hamas has not been destroyed. The destruction of a terrorist organization is difficult to measure. Some point to leadership decapitation, but the attrition of terrorist leaders seldom brings about these organizations collapse. Factors such as popular support, ideology and organizational structure play bigger roles in deciding these groups fates. When Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, widely assumed by Israel, for example, Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind behind Oct. 7, succeeded Haniyeh. It is not clear what price Hamas paid with Haniyehs death. Another measure used to determine if a terrorist group has been destroyed is if its territorial sphere has been reduced or removed. Israel has failed to deprive Hamas of the territory it governed. Hamas has been battered in Gaza, but it is still a political force to be reckoned with. Unaffiliated Palestinian clans have refused to join in a postwar reconstruction effort for fear of retaliation by Hamas. Third, Israel has not been able to secure its own borders. Although Israel has regained control over some border crossings, the underground infrastructure that allowed Hamas to engage in smuggling weapons and carrying out attacks is still in place. Some argue that peace is not possible if Hamas stays in power. However, overthrowing Hamas will not make Israel safer. Israel has potent incentives to overthrow Hamas, starting with the groups inability to make credible commitments to peace. It may also seem cheaper for Israel to overthrow Hamas than to deter it in the future. These factors overlook the dismal failures of foreign-imposed regime changes. Any post-Hamas governing entity will face a legitimacy problem. A state has a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence within a particular territorial domain. New regimes must satisfy both domestic and international audiences. A post-Hamas regimes proximity to a foreign patron (in this case, Israel), would make it look like a Trojan Horse to its domestic audience, robbing it of the legitimacy needed to govern. Second, foreign-imposed regime changes seldom bring about the changes they were intended to make. Regime change often fails to improve relations between interveners and targets. As with the Taliban in Afghanistan, regime change in Gaza will not eliminate Hamass membership. Hamass members can go into hiding, opportunistically capitalizing on grievances from Palestinian anger over the new governments inefficiency or misbehavior by Israeli settlers. Or they could stir up trouble whenever it suits them or their foreign patrons. In Lebanon, Netanyahu wants to avoid another decade-plus quagmire (a la Menachem Begin) as much as he wants to steer clear of being seen as capitulating or backing down to Hezbollah, like Ehud Barak or Ehud Olmert. Israels military aims toward Hezbollah are narrower than its aims toward Hamas but they may prove to be just as costly. Israel is diverting resources from Gaza to fight Hezbollah. The 98th Division, which had been fighting in Khan Younis, has been redirected to the Lebanese border. Netanyahus government believes it can reach a deal with Hezbollah by increasing the costs of conflict through air strikes and taking out senior commanders. While the Biden administration is extremely concerned about an all-out war, it also believes military pressure could force Hezbollah to back down. Lebanon has now seen its worst day of conflict since the 2006 war, with an estimated 492 killed. Some believe Israeli decision-makers chose to strike pagers and walkie-talkies for fear Hezbollah would discover the hidden explosives. These attacks occurred near-simultaneously with an air assault on Hezbollah targets. These strikes killed Ibrahim Aqil and 15 other leaders of the Radwan Force. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired 100 rockets, 85 of which targeted Haifa. Netanyahu pledged that Hezbollah would get the message, saying, Over the past few days we hit Hezbollah with a string of strikes that it didnt imagine. Netanyahu promised to do whatever it takes to win, while deputy Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem ominously stated that the conflict had entered a new phase. Three variables stand in the way of a deal. First, Hezbollah continues to insist on an end to the fighting in Gaza. While the Biden administration continues to push for a cease-fire-for-hostages deal, a senior administration official conceded, No deal is imminent. Im not sure it ever gets done. Second, Hezbollah would suffer reputational consequences if it gave in to Israels demands. Some argue that strong states face difficulties compelling weaker opponents to change their behaviors. A relatively weaker actor could thus easily cultivate a reputation for debility, inviting further aggression in the future. Third, Netanyahu could face a similar political fate as Olmert if he does not follow through on his threats against Hezbollah. During the 34 Days War, Olmert issued a series of explicit, public threats demanding the Shiite militia return Israeli soldiers captured in an ambush and disarm, or face severe military punishment until it capitulated. Olmert ultimately backed down on his threat. His approval numbers collapsed as a result. Failure to carry out public threats damaged the nations reputation for resolve and revealed a leaders inability to manage foreign and military policy. Israel is not winning the war against Hamas, and it could be headed toward another disaster in Lebanon unless it adjusts its aims. Albert B. Wolf is a postdoctoral global fellow at Habib University in Karachi. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Opinion: As a lawmaker, I traveled across Tennessee to pray with others. Here's what I saw President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 publicly called on the American people to recognize the power and sovereignty of God Almighty and seek his forgiveness. Even as the Civil War ravaged our nation, the 16th president knew we had strayed from the Lord Jesus Christ, and he understood the consequences of our sinful nature. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness, Lincoln wrote in a proclamation calling for a day of national prayer, humiliation and fasting. More than 160 years later, our prayer remains the same. The need in our nation for Gods mercy and saving power persists. I wanted to pray with people from all of Tennessee's 95 counties Tennessee is a blessed land with beautiful scenery, rich natural resources and a citizenry that is hard-working, passionate and faithful. However, we live in a fallen world where sin, and the social problems that result, abound. Monica Baugh leads a prayer during a vigil for Elois McCormick on Jackson Street in Nashville , Tenn., Thursday, March 17, 2022. Violent crime plagues our nation, fentanyl has flowed through a wide-open southern border, far too many children are in foster care, and human trafficking threatens the safety and security of our most vulnerable Americans. These are some of the leading indicators that God has either removed His hand of blessing from Tennessee or is applying His hand of judgment. Christians understand that we are sinners in need of Gods grace. We have all played a role in the decline of our society through disobedience but He holds those that profess to be His followers accountable. However, the Lord also provides incredible forgiveness to those who seek Him and repent of their wickedness. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land, the word of God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Recognizing this, I sponsored a resolution (HJR 803) commemorating July as a month of prayer and fasting. As part of this effort, I visited each of Tennessees 95 counties to cry out to the Lord Jesus with fellow believers. Senate sponsor Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, and I wanted to offer an opportunity for Tennesseans to gather together to read the resolution and pray for their communities, our state and our nation. More: Tennessee native and astronaut Barry Wilmore gives space update, talks 'the unexpected' Each county has its own community spirit As I stood on Legislative Plaza for the June 28 kick-off event, I had no idea what God had store for this journey throughout our state. From Bradley and Johnson to Lake and Shelby and every county in between, I met fantastic people of all Christian denominations with a heart for the Lord and a sincere desire for Him to mend the great problems afflicting our state and country. I visited between three and five counties per day, witnessing incredible shows of gratitude and reverence for the Almighty. I joined with my fellow citizens, as well as many other members of the Tennessee General Assembly, in falling to my knees asking for repentance and for the Holy Spirit to fill our halls of government, businesses, classrooms, churches and homes. In Robertson County, citizens linked arms around the courthouse, forming a circle of prayer and offering worship to the Lord. At least four continents were represented in Shelby County, and crowds of people in other towns wore custom shirts celebrating the movement of repentance. Christians humbled themselves and honored God, all for His glory and for His hand of continued blessing in our great state. The sight of Tennesseans singing hymns, lifting their hands to the Lord and recognizing Jesus Christ as King in a public setting is something I will never forget. Throughout the month, I discovered that each county has its own unique community spirit with dedicated followers of Jesus who are ready and willing to serve. This experience reaffirmed my belief that through fervent prayer, worship and repentance, God will once again bring revival to our country. I encourage all Tennesseans to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior and to join me in continuing the important task of seeking Gods hand of mercy on our state. State Rep. Monty Fritts State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, represents House District 32, which includes part of Loudon and Roane counties. He serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Criminal Justice Committee, Education Administration Committee, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: As a Tennessee lawmaker, I prayed with people in 95 counties In his first-ever bid for political office, former actor Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California in 1966, defeating two-term incumbent Gov. Pat Brown in a landslide. There was good reason for Democrats to fear that a radical right-winger had taken control of what even then was the nations most populous state. The onetime New Deal Democrat had become a very conservative Republican who often echoed the conspiratorial complaints of the John Birch Society. He regularly warned that social welfare legislation such as Medicare and Medicaid (socialized medicine to Reagan) and civil rights laws were going to lead to the total extinction of freedom in America. In his famous 1964 time for choosing speech delivered on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, Reagan complained that Democratic leaders were taking the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland down the road under the banners of Marx, Lenin and Stalin. Yet, once in Sacramento, Reagan upended radical expectations as he would later do as president by showing that he had a hidden streak of pragmatism. He governed much more moderately than he campaigned, and than most of todays deep-blue Californians might believe. His pragmatism, not ideology, set him on the path to a historic presidency. Read more: How California, land of Nixon and Reagan, turned blue and changed American politics Start with Reagans very first budget, in 1967. It included the largest spending plan and the largest tax hike in the history of California or any other state up to that point. Before he ran for governor, he campaigned against the Rumford Fair Housing Act, California legislation backed by Brown that prohibited discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. But when conservative legislators tried to repeal the act during Reagans term, he revealed a change of heart, after talking with Black leaders who explained to him how important it was. Another issue on which Reagan changed his mind was tax withholding. He had initially opposed automatic deductions from paychecks on the grounds that taxes should hurt. But once his aides explained to him how much revenue the state was missing by not withholding tax payments, he came to support the deductions. The governor had previously said that his feet were set in concrete on the issue. When questioned about his change of heart, he replied, with a smile, The sound you hear is the concrete cracking around my feet. Read more: Opinion: The ideas in Project 2025? Reagan tried them, and the nation suffered When Reagan became governor, abortion in California was legal only if needed to save the mothers life. Democratic State Sen. Anthony Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills) introduced a bill that would also allow abortions in the case of rape or incest or if the pregnancy threatened a womans physical or mental well-being. Reagan agonized about this legislation but ultimately signed it, thereby giving California one of the most liberal abortion laws in the country, six years ahead of Roe vs. Wade. Reagan later expressed regret about signing the abortion bill, as he did about appointing Donald R. Wright as chief justice of the state Supreme Court after Wright voted to overturn the death penalty as unconstitutional. But that he made such moves in the first place shows Reagans relatively non-ideological approach to governance. In rejecting a fiscally conservative plan to reduce state grants to the disabled, for example, Reagan told his Sacramento Cabinet, The politics in this doesnt count whats right and wrong is the main thing. I always say it is right to do what we can for those who are really in need. The one area where Reagan was most ideological and least successful was in his approach to campus unrest. College campuses in California were in turmoil in the 1960s, with protests over the Vietnam War, racial discrimination and other causes. Reagan took a hard-line position that culminated in his dispatch of thousands of National Guard troops to UC Berkeley in 1969 to restore order after the Peoples Park demonstrations, in which one bystander was killed by police and many others injured. During a 1969 strike at San Francisco State University by minority students demanding the creation of a Black studies department, Reagan said, I say that this confrontation must be won, and I dont care what force it takes. Later, in 1970, when asked what it would take to restore order on campus, he snapped, If it takes a bloodbath, lets get it over with. No more appeasement. Read more: Former President Reagan Dies at 93 Reagans militaristic approach thrilled middle-class voters who were appalled by hippies on campus but only ratcheted up tensions and gave student radicals the clashes they sought with the establishment. The Los Angeles Times, which had endorsed Reagan, inveighed against the overreaction by police and National Guardsmen in Berkeley with their indiscriminate use of tear gas and buckshot, arguing that they played into the hands of the revolutionaries by a use of repressive force beyond any order of magnitude required. Democratic Assemblyman John Burton of San Francisco complained that Reagan had turned Berkeley into his own Vietnam and castigated him for trying to use armed force to solve the great social problems of our time. But Reagans hard-line approach to campus unrest was a deviation in his mostly moderate two terms in Sacramento. He worked with Democrats to pass welfare reform legislation that tightened up eligibility requirements while increasing benefits for 80% of recipientsa model of bipartisan compromise. Despite his comment that a tree is a tree, how many more do you need to look at? often remembered, wrongly, as if youve seen one redwood, youve seen them all Reagan added 145,000 acres to the states parks. And, despite his attacks on colleges as hotbeds of lawlessness and licentiousness, he increased funding for the states universities by 136%. State spending, in fact, grew at nearly the same rate under Reagan as it had under Pat Brown. Read more: Review: A worshipful biopic of the 40th president, 'Reagan' is historical hooey and a slog too Some conservatives were disenchanted by Reagan; one Republican state senator griped in 1975, When you come down to it, we have a hell of a lot more government in California than before Reagan came in. But Reagans approval rating was high, and he had bipartisan support. I think he was a pretty good governor, Jerry Brown, Reagans successor as governor (and son of the governor he defeated in 1966), told me. I think in some ways he was a better governor than president. Willie L. Brown, a powerful San Francisco Democrat and future Assembly speaker, who had first been elected to the State Assembly in 1964, agreed in an interview that he ended up being a pretty good governor. Reagans election as president of the United States, nearly six years after leaving office in Sacramento, created fresh fears about a radical right warmonger taking power. Democrats would have breathed easier if they had examined his record as governor of California more closely. Reagans time in Sacramento taught him how to govern from the center and set him on the path toward becoming one of Americas most successful presidents . If only todays Republican leaders were as pragmatic as Reagan; America would be far less divided and far better off. Max Boot is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Washington Post columnist. This article is adapted from Reagan: His Life and Legend . 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. On Tuesday night, the state of Missouri executed Marcellus Williams. It was a legally sanctioned murder. As the Washington Post put it, he was convicted of a 1998 murder that he said he did not commit. The evidence suggested that Williams should not have met his end this way. Even the St. Louis County Prosecutors Office, which originally secured the death sentence, did not want that sentence carried out. Williamss fate was tangled up in a mess of mistakes and legalisms that obscured what should have been obvious. He died because the people who could and should have prevented his death, each for their own reasons, chose to look the other way. That Williams was executed is an American tragedy, but he is not alone. The American death penalty system has shown itself to be riddled with errors. Miscarriages of justice of the kind that occurred in the Williams case are legion, though the precise number is not known. This is because we dont have a good handle on how many innocent people have been convicted of capital crimes. Law Professor Samuel Gross and his colleagues note that There is no systematic method to determine the accuracy of a criminal conviction; if there were, these errors would not occur in the first place. However, we do know that Since 1973, at least 200 people who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated. That means for every eight executions carried out in the past 50 years, one person has been freed from death row. Beyond that, a 2014, National Academy of Sciences report estimated that at least 4.1 percent of defendants sentenced to death in the United States are innocent that the number of innocent people is likely more than double the number of those actually exonerated and freed from death row. Those who are exonerated are the lucky ones. Others, like Williams, have not been so lucky. The Death Penalty Information Center lists 20 cases in which someone was put to death despite strong evidence of innocence. In addition, the center notes that there are many cases in which someone who was executed was subsequently declared innocent, and sometimes even granted a posthumous pardon. For example, In Maryland in 2001, Governor Paris Glendening issued a pardon to John Snowden, a Black man who had been hanged in 1919 for the rape and murder of the wife of a prominent White businessman. Two key trial witnesses had recanted their testimony and before the hanging, eleven of the twelve jurors had pled for mercy. Or in 2009, when South Carolina pardoned two African-American men, Thomas and Meeks Griffin, who had been electrocuted in 1915 for murdering a white Confederate War veteran. One wonders how soon Williams will join this shocking list of people whose executions we now recognize and acknowledge as shameful mistakes. And we should be troubled by the bloodthirsty quality to Missouris insistence on going forward with an execution so shadowed by legal errors. Though there is no constitutional barrier to executing the innocent, this country would be better served if it adopted a policy wherein executions do not go forward if there exists any doubt about the guilt of the person condemned to death. But we are a long way from that. In the meantime, lets look at who turned their back on Williams in his last days, and who failed to embrace that standard. Lets start with the United States Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the court refused to stop his execution. Given the pro-death-penalty record of the courts current majority, that did not come as a surprise. But the majority didnt even give Williams the courtesy of an explanation for their decision. They let Missouri do the grisly deed in spite of the fact that, as a report on Scotusblog put it, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson indicated that they would have put his execution on hold, and the fact that the victims family did not want Williams executed. In addition, the governor of Missouri, Mike Parson (R), refused to stop the execution. However, unlike the United States Supreme Court, Parson seemed eager to explain why he was content to let it proceed. Capital punishment cases are some of the hardest issues we have to address in the Governors Office, Parson said in denying clemency. Given what Williams was facing, this statement seems a little self-absorbed. After all, his difficulty was nothing in comparison with the suffering that Williams encountered as he contemplated being put to death for a crime he has always maintained he did not commit. Parson went on to say, using a cliche all too familiar among those who want to deny responsibility when they allow someone to be put to death, I follow the law and trust the integrity of our judicial system. The governor then offered a recitation of the facts of Williamss case that ignored both the errors that were made in that case and the fact that the prosecutors office was now owning up to those errors. Mr. Williams, the governor said, has exhausted due process and every judicial avenue, including over 15 hearings attempting to argue his innocence and overturn his conviction. No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams innocence claims. Then, following the playbook popularized at the national level by former President Trump and his MAGA followers with whom Parson has frequently found common cause the governor attacked the media. I also want to add how deeply disturbed weve been about how this case has been covered.I would just implore the media to do their due diligence and not rely on the sole claims of individuals who have a personal or monetary stake in this case. Finally, the Missouri Supreme Court bears its share of responsibility for not righting the miscarriage of justice done in the Williams case. In refusing to stop his execution, the court downplayed the significance of the prosecutors confession of error in this case. While prosecutorial misconduct has led to many convictions of innocent people in capital cases, prosecutors rarely, if ever, admit mistakes. That is because, as a 2002 CNN report suggests, of how politics affects the death penalty. Up until now, anyway, undoing a death sentence was akin to political suicide for an elected district attorney or state attorney general, or for any state official with ambitions for re-election or higher office. At the end day, the Missouri Supreme Court seemed more interested in reminding Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor since 2019, that it not he had the final word as to the legality of what would happen to Williams. The court wrote that it is not bound by the [States] confession of error and that Bell cannot concede constitutional error. What happened to Williams fits a sad pattern in this countrys use of capital punishment. But increasingly Americans are paying attention to the fate of people like Williams and turning away from the death penalty because of the unfairness and injustice associated with it. Someday, hopefully, we may look back at the tragedy of the Williams case and conclude that his death helped to spur the end of the death penalty in this country. Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College. His views do not necessarily reflect those of Amherst College. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 NYPD is running a protection racket. I know this sounds like some sort of internet conspiracy theory, but its true. Every year, each police officer in New York including retired officers is allowed to buy a certain number of special cards issued by the police union. The officers pay a nominal sum for these cards and then distribute them as they wish. Sometimes they give them to family and friends. Sometimes they exchange them for perks like meal discounts from local businesses. Sometimes they just sell them. These police benevolent association courtesy cards are commonly referred to as Get Out of Jail Free cards. The idea is that when someone who has such a card is pulled over for a traffic violation or approached by the police in New York about some other minor offense, simply showing the card to the officer will get the offender off with nothing worse than a mild warning. This may have been a common, though unheralded, practice decades ago. Certainly, there are any number of rumors and myths from across the country about how things like displaying a certain bumper sticker on your car will keep you from getting pulled over. But in New York, its a living tradition. Worse, its a tradition that is ruthlessly enforced. Officers who insist on issuing tickets or citations to courtesy card holders will hear about it from their superiors and union officials. If they persist in enforcing the law without fear or favor, they can have their careers ruined or find themselves doing patrols on the night shift. How do we know? Because thats exactly what happened to one officer who refused to go along to get along. Assigned to the traffic unit, Officer Mathew Bianchi originally followed his supervisors instruction to honor the cards and let anyone go who presented one during an enforcement stop. Eventually, however, Bianchi eventually began simply enforcing the law and thats where his troubles began. Bianchi was repeatedly scolded by fellow officers and told by his union that the courtesy card system was customary and that it wouldnt protect him unless he honored it. In addition to complaining to his supervisors, he filed formal complaints with his union and with internal affairs. The only action the NYPD took in response was to pull him off the day-shift traffic unit and re-assign him to a night-shift patrol unit. Eventually, Bianchi filed a lawsuit in federal court, which the NYPD agreed to settle for $175,000, blandly claiming that resolving this case was best for all parties. Im sure it was. It was certainly better for the NYPD, as an actual trial would have been embarrassing beyond belief. This practice seems to have been tolerated for no better reason than because it had always been that way. But traditional or not, the courtesy card system is rank corruption. That it is institutionalized corruption makes it worse, not better. Imagine if it came out that district attorneys or judges in New York had a similar system where they refused to prosecute or punish their friends and families. Every single participant in a scheme like that would end up in prison. No one would think its OK for a police officer to solicit bribes in exchange for looking the other way and not enforcing the law. Its even worse when an officer can make a corrupt bargain on behalf of the entire New York Police Department. But that is exactly how the NYPD courtesy card system works. To top it all off, its not even an informal arrangement. The NYPD has internal enforcers that ensure their fellow officers fall into line. One supervisor even asked Bianchi if it was better to be right or better to be on patrol? So weve got both corruption and extortion. The only question is why the Department of Justice has not raided NYPD headquarters at One Police Plaza and arrested every member of the New York Police Department. Well, OK, thats not really realistic. And, to be fair, most officers are relatively passive participants, honoring the system because thats what theyve been trained to do. But just because its impractical to leave New York without a police force doesnt mean something cant be done. The Department of Justice should launch an immediate investigation, with an eye toward obtaining a consent decree forcing the NYPD to eliminate the practice. Justice should let rank-and-file officers know that if they fully cooperate with the investigation, they will not be prosecuted. At the same time, the department should make it clear that it will be prosecuting officers who helped enforce the system, especially if they were responsible for retaliating against officers who tried to do the right thing. But the Department of Justice has to do something. Now that this practice is a matter of public record, Attorney General Merrick Garland is complicit if he does nothing. Nothing is more corrosive to the rule of law than watching the federal government wink at organized corruption. This case should offend everyone, regardless of politics. Ensuring fair, equitable and just policing is a complicated issue with many moving parts. Stopping cops from handing out get-out-of-jail-free cards is not. Chris Truax is a charter member of the Society for the Rule of Law and an appellate attorney. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Opinion: Rutherford County schools are banning books. It's a slap in the face to freedom. The day after the Rutherford County Board of Education voted to remove six books from school libraries, I was on an airplane with a retired library director and proprietors of a longtime local bookstore on the way from Nashville to Denver. We exchanged pleasantries, and I took it as sign because the board of educations actions took place just a few days before the celebration of Banned Books Week, Sept. 22-28. In the last few years, Tennessee law has made it easier for and some politicians have encouraged parents to purge books from school collections that opponents consider objectionable. The problem is that peoples views of what is objectionable can be different, and, regrettably, these requests to ban books have become exercises in erasing tomes that address racism, sexual assault, LGBTQ people and issues, and any other topic that makes some Tennesseans uncomfortable. Worse, some proponents of these laws have employed fearmongering rhetoric falsely accusing librarians of peddling pornography. Nashville-based New York Times columnist Margaret Renkl made a powerful point at the end of her Sept. 23 essay: If you dont approve of a book available at your local library, dont check it out. Parents can object to a book and not seek to censor it for everyone Like Renkl, I too have an I Read Banned Books labeled library card from the Nashville Public Library and an I Read Banned Books poster from NPL that is in the backdrop of my video calls and episodes of the Tennessee Voices video show I host on Tennessean.com. The 2024 Banned Books Week theme is "Freed Between the Lines," an observance of the freedom we find in the pages of books and the need to defend that freedom from censorship, according to the American Library Associations official statement on the event. That poster is below another one saying I Believe in the First Amendment. The First Amendment, of course, prohibits the federal government from making laws infringing upon the freedom of speech, religion, press, to petition government and of assembly. The posters are not meant to be provocative, but rather to convey a values statement about promoting active citizenship in a democratic republic that encourages competing ideas in society. The Tennessee Constitution, Article I, Section 19, says in part: "The free communication of thoughts and opinions, is one of the invaluable rights of man and every citizen may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty." The problem is that laws that allow the banishment of books serve the interest of only one viewpoint at the expense of any parent who would like to have the option of letting a child read a particular book. Parents could still ask a school librarian to prohibit their children from checking out certain books, but that would be a family decision, not a top-down, government mandate for all parents. The Nashville Public Library has unveiled a new "I Read Banned Books" library card celebrating the "right to read" in light of efforts to ban certain books in Tennessee. Why the nonprofit behind Little Libraries is tackling banned books, including in Nashville Among the banned books in Rutherford County is Beloved by Nobel Prize winning novelist Toni Morrison. The others are: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire Middle Tennessee activist takes on national role in freedom to read A point of pride for Tennessee is that one of its own residents is the youth honorary chair of the 2024 Banned Books Week. Julia Garnett, a Hendersonville High School graduate and Smith College student, has been an advocate for free speech and information for years. When the Sumner County School Board considered a proposal to ban A Place Inside of Me by Zetta Elliot in 2022, she fought back and organized the effort to keep the book on the library shelves and then started a free speech club. At a time when leaders in the Republican-dominated Tennessee General Assembly decry a hostile environment toward free speech on college campuses, here is a homegrown example of someone who gets it. Julia Garnett, the founder of her schools new Student Advocates for Speech club poses at the Hendersonville City Hall in Hendersonville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Garnett told The Tennessean: You don't win every battle, and there are books that are removed, and there are times where it is frustrating to be a student activist, but the important thing is that you continue speaking out and recognize that you aren't alone. Why would Florida book bans target Nashville author Ann Patchett? Censorship runs amok Tennesseans should celebrate citizens like Garnett who are fighting against censorship and for the freedom to read. The famed childrens author Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss once said: The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places youll go. Take the time to thank your local librarian and then ask him or her for a book recommendation. Books open minds, doors and the opportunity to connect with other community members who are just as passionate about reading. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Middle Tennessee school board book purges erode freedom The Department of Defense announced in July that it was permanently removing the temporary pier that it had constructed three months earlier to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The pier was part of a modular structure that would also incorporate a floating platform to receive supplies transported by four Army logistics ships deployed from Cyprus. President Biden had announced the plan in his State of the Union address, promising that this temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza. The plan was for the pier to operate for three months, during which the administration estimated that the effort would result in enough aid to feed 1.5 million people. But the pier and its associated system functioned for only 20 days. The Pentagon had to interrupt operations three times before deciding to terminate the effort. The operation ultimately supported only 450,000 people and delivered 8,100 metric tons of aid. The Defense Department claimed that, despite its premature termination of the effort, it had nevertheless made a major contribution toward feeding and otherwise aiding the Palestinians of Gaza. In fact, nearly three times as much aid some 22,400 metric tons had entered Gaza through the Erez and Kerem Shalom overland crossings during the same three-month period when the pier was operating. According to Israeli sources, it was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who proposed the project to Biden. His idea was not new; then-Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had first proposed a sea-based aid plan for Gaza in 2010. The Agency for International Development, whose Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance was already providing aid via the land routes to Gaza, pushed back against the pier plan when the administration first began considering it. Agency officials pointed out that the land crossings were more efficient, which they ultimately proved to be. Moreover, the agency argued that there were both logistical and technical challenges for the pier, which had never before operated in a conflict environment. Aid officials also worried about the impact of inclement weather in the eastern Mediterranean. The floating platform is meant to function in low sea states, when waves are short or moderately high. Summer winds in the Mediterranean tend to be strong, creating higher wave heights. Nevertheless, once Biden had made his announcement, the Pentagon and the Agency for International Development pressed ahead with the plan. On June 5, a week after the operation had been halted for the first time due to high winds that caused the floating pier to split apart, Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced a reduction from the originally estimated cost of $320 million for the three-month effort to about $220 million. She asserted that this figure included part of the cost of the repairs. It is not clear, however, just how much of the $22 to $28 million cost to repair the pier was incorporated in her estimate. In any event, it surely did not include the cost of dismantling the pier prematurely. It is not clear whether the Defense Department initially proposed the pier, but it did fund the effort and supplied 1,000 troops and four ships to transport the aid to the floating dock. It constructed the floating pier that would be attached to a temporary causeway. Nevertheless, once the project proved to be what can only be called a misguided failure, the department did not take responsibility for urging that Washington undertake the project in the first place. Perhaps the idea originated with the White House itself rather than the Pentagon. In any event, it was Biden who simply stated, Ive been disappointed that some of the things that Ive put forward have not succeeded as well, like the port we attached from Cyprus I was hopeful that would be more successful. He did not, of course, mention the complete waste of a quarter-billion dollars, as well as of the efforts of the 1,000 American troops who conducted the operation. In retrospect, it is clear that someone at the administrations most senior levels should have personally transmitted to Biden the compelling reservations about the project from the Agency for International Development. No one seems to have done so. There is an understandable reluctance among senior military officials in particular, but also among top civilians, to confront the commander-in-chief once he appears to be determined to follow a course of action. But as former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster convincingly demonstrated in his 1997 study of senior political leaderships failure to advise President Lyndon B. Johnson of the negative consequences of his Vietnam War policy, failure to question a proposed presidential policy is, as the title of his volume indicates, nothing less than a dereliction of duty. All too often, senior officials treat the president as an all-knowing emperor, and fear for their jobs should they have the temerity to challenge him. The lesson of the Gaza pier is that their responsibility is to their country, and indeed to their consciences. By withholding the best advice they can give, they do their commander-in-chief no favors. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Except for an occasional resounding soundbite, vice presidential debates havent had much impact on presidential elections. Will the faceoff between Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) prove to be any different? The veep debate may not be a decisive, but it could be dramatic. The confrontation could be the last time voters see a confrontation between representatives of the national tickets. Win or lose in 2024, the GOP will need a new champion in 2028. Vance is trying to set himself up as Trumps successor. Moreover, successful presidents make good choices, and the debate will showcase the first consequential choices that Trump and Harris have made as aspiring presidents. The first rule of a vice presidential pick is to do no harm. Like many other choices Trump has made, he struck out swinging on this one. Only Trump could have picked someone as unpopular as Vance. Disgraced Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson must have turned him down. Im sure former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would have jumped at the chance to drag Trump down, as she did John McCain in 2008. A recent national survey for the Associated Press highlights Vances deficiencies as Trumps running mate. There are twice as many voters who dislike as like him. His negatives are even higher than they were in July. Walzs popularity offers a clear and compelling contrast to Vances negatives. Four out of every ten voters nationally have favorable views of the governor, whereas only three in ten hold unfavorable views. Walz comes across as a grandfatherly figure with a folksy charm which plays well in the northern tier swing states, but Vance profiles as the devil in disguise. The battle for voters in the electoral combat zone will be a fight to the finish. Both Walz and Vance were nominated to appeal to voters in the battleground states near Minnesota and Ohio in the Frostbelt. If a recent Marist survey in Michigan is any indication, Trump drew the short stick. A plurality of voters there like the Democratic No. 2, while the a plurality dislike Vance. Trumps choice of Vance compares unfavorably with the former presidents selection of Mike Pence. Vance represents subtraction by addition. There was a clear rationale for the Pence pick, and it paid off in 2016. Trump had a reputation of being a playboy and needed the support of evangelical Christians. Pence, who wouldnt even allow himself to be alone with women other than his wife, was just the right guy. Pences blessing guaranteed the overwhelming support of the religious right. But Pence, to his credit, demonstrated that he had a higher calling than loyalty to Trump. Pence signed off on congressional certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College victory after Trump lost, and it cost him his good standing as a member of Trump-world. Trump wasnt about to make the same mistake twice, so he picked a running mate who would back him, come Hell or high water. Rather than adding anything to the troubled GOP ticket as Pence did in 2016 or as Walz does for the Democrats in 2024, Vance has doubled down on his running mates darkest instincts. The GOP ticket is a match made in hell. Veep candidates should take their cues from the candidate at the top of the ticket. But Vance is the tail that wags Trumps dog. Vance first raised the tall tale of Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating peoples pets. Trump jumped the shark and embarrassed himself and his running mate by parroting the false charge during his frightful debate performance against Harris. Vance had one job, to rally the GOP base, but he has done as much or more to rally the Democratic base of female voters. His old remarks about childless cat ladies could gin up Democratic turnout in what could be a very close contest. Rather than taking his lead from Trump, Vance works at cross purposes with him. The guy at the top of the GOP ticket is trying to frame himself as a protector of women, whereas Vance gratuitously insulted them. Usually, in vice presidential debates, the players act more like surrogates than candidates. Vance will viciously attack Harris with a sledgehammer while Walz, with more finesse, will challenge Trump. We might learn as much or even more about the presidential hopefuls than their seconds. We will also discover a lot about the decisions that Harris and Trump might make as presidents from their running-mate selections. Brad Bannon is a Democratic pollster, CEO of Bannon Communications Research which polls for Democrats, labor unions and progressive issue groups. He hosts the popular progressive podcast on power, politics and policy, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungary always has and always will defend itself against foreign attacks, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday after one of his closest aides provoked controversy by suggesting that Hungary wouldn't have fought against a Russian invasion as Ukraine has done. Speaking to state radio, Orban sought to downplay the remarks by his political director, Balazs Orban, which stirred outrage among many in Hungary and led to calls for his resignation. Speaking on a podcast on Wednesday, Balazs Orban, who is not related to the prime minister, said 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. Hungary, he said, has learned that precious Hungarian lives must be treated with caution rather than offering them up for defense. Prime Minister Orban called the comment an ambiguous statement, which in this context is a mistake." He emphasized that Hungary has always defended itself, it will defend itself today and will continue to defend itself in the future by all possible means. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Hungary, a NATO member, has taken an adversarial position toward its neighbor, 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. Such efforts have led to accusations from many European leaders that Hungary is acting to divide the EU and advance Russian interests. Balazs Orbans statements angered many in Hungary who saw them as a suggestion that Hungarian fighters in an anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 had made a mistake by resisting Soviet occupation. The uprising was eventually crushed by the Red Army, killing as many as 3,000 civilians and destroying much of the capital Budapest. 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. Hungarys Cold War-era 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. In response to the criticism, Balazs Orban said in a post on social media Thursday that Hungary's government sees no point to the war in Ukraine, and that hundreds of thousands of people have died ... for nothing. But on Friday, Prime Minister Orban sought to diffuse the tensions by saying Hungary owes a debt of gratitude to the heroes and freedom fighters who took up arms against Soviet oppression in 1956. If a person talks about such delicate issues, then it must be formulated very precisely, leaving no doubt about our position, he said. On Thursday, Hungary's most prominent opposition figure, Peter 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. Orban Says Aide Went Too Far With Hungarian Surrender Remark (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Viktor Orban distanced himself from a top adviser who asserted that Hungary would have surrendered to invading Russian troops if it were in Ukraines position two years ago. Most Read from Bloomberg Balazs Orban, the premiers political director said late Wednesday that Ukraines defense against the invasion was irresponsible and signaled that Hungary, a NATO member, would not have put up a fight, as he cited parallels with the countrys failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising. He apologized on Friday, after the comments triggered an uproar in Hungary, where the casualties of the revolution are seen as national heroes. The leader of the main opposition party, Peter Magyar, called on the adviser to resign. The prime minister said the comments as they related to Hungary were misleading and suggested Hungary would defend itself just as it did in 1956. At the same time, he didnt indicate whether he agreed with his aide that Ukraine should have surrendered to Russia on day one of the invasion in 2022. My political director happened to say something in a misleading way, which is a mistake, Orban told state radio on Friday. Our political community grew out of 1956 revolution; we would not be here were it not for the heroes of 1956. The remarks by his adviser appeared to take Budapests increasingly Kremlin-friendly stance, which is markedly at odds with NATO and EU allies, even further. Hungary opposes Western sanctions against Russia and has sought to block EU arms shipments and financing for Ukraine. France and Germany sent a demarche to Hungary to protest recent surprising statements undermining the principle of solidarity among Allies. The controversy comes at a time when the Hungarian leader is still reeling from a series of scandals that have dented his partys popularity and helped Magyars rise. A poll this month showed the opposition Tisza party neck-and-neck with Orbans Fidesz. The premier gave no indication of whether hed dismiss his aide. Tensions over the comments may further fuel Magyars momentum ahead of the anniversary of the uprising on Oct. 23, a date that usually accompanies street protests in the country. --With assistance from Mark Sweetman. (Adds advisers apology in third paragraph, French-German diplomatic protest in seventh.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Oregon drivers are among the worst in the nation, Forbes says PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregonians are some of the worst drivers in the United States, according to a new study. The study, released Aug. 21 by Forbes Advisor, analyzed data from every state to determine which has the worst driving behaviors. Overall, Hawaii was ranked number one for the worst drivers ranking high for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding 10-19 miles per hour over the limit, and texting while driving. Neighborhood in Portland is one of the coolest in the world, according to Time Out Meanwhile, Oregon ranked second for the worst driving behaviors. Oregon drivers ranked worst for running red lights, refusing to yield to other drivers, and speeding in school zones, the study said. This comes as another Forbes Advisor study ranked Portland among the top 10 worst U.S. cities to drive in. Given that ranking, it shouldnt be a surprise that Oregon ranks second for motorists causing car accidents, tied with Massachusetts, New Jersey and Alabama. In the survey, 2% of Oregon drivers fessed up to causing an accident in the past month, Forbes Advisor said. Forbes: These are the best companies to work for in Oregon The outlet added, Another black mark for Oregon motorists: 45% of drivers say theyve speeded (less than 10 mph over the speed limit) in the past month. New Mexico, Wyoming, and Alaska round out the top five states with the worst drivers. According to Forbes Advisor, speeding less than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit is the worst driving habit in the U.S., followed by eating while driving, speeding up to yellow lights, speeding 10-19 miles per hour over the limit, and texting while driving. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) A $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justices School Violence Prevention Program was awarded to Oregons school district in reaction to recent safety threats on Thursday. Having software such as this in place could realistically save lives, said Oregon Elementary School principal Ryan Huels. Huels said safety for the students is of utmost importance. Its at the forefront of our minds. Just this past week, there was a threat to our campus, so everybody was on high alert, said Huels. The principal said school administrators are always looking for ways to innovate safety. A couple ideas we have in mind would be internal locking systems that could automatically lock doors in the event of an intruder, said Huels. Extra security cameras throughout campus and lighting on the exterior of our parking lots. District Director of Technology Shawn Gadow suggested using the money to establish an internal locking system. He said the features could be a game-changer in the event of an emergency. You push the button, you send it out, and it will send out a note. Some of them will send out a notification to all staff members, said Gadow. It could take control of your intercoms. It could take control of all of the flat panel, interactive whiteboards in the classrooms. The system would also notify police and allow a much faster response time. Unfortunately, its a symptom of the world we live in, said Huel. But were committed to meeting that challenge head-on and offer as safe as [an] experiences as we humanly can. Gadow said the district is reviewing several different security systems and will begin the process of implementing the system in the coming 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a bill on Thursday that would bring fundamental changes to the nations high court. The senator said the Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act aims to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency, and restore public trust in the Supreme Court as it faces a legitimacy crisis. The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust, Wyden said. More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for. 5 arrested after multi-state muscle car theft ring dismantled in Clark County Among the major changes, the bill would expand the court from nine to 15 justices over the course of three presidential terms and would allow the president to appoint one nominee in the first and third years of each presidential term. In addition to expanding the court, the bill would return the practice of assigning a justice to oversee each circuit, expand the number of circuits by splitting the Ninth Circuit and would creating a new Southwestern Circuit. Under the bill, the Supreme Court would need a supermajority to overturn acts of Congress and would create a process for Supreme Court nominees that are not reported out of committee within 180 days to be automatically placed on the Senate calendar. Ombudsman blasts Portland officials over contrasting tree removal enforcement There are also several provisions in the bill that aim to restore trust and transparency in the high court including making opinions available to the public and allowing justices to vote to recuse another justice from a case. Additionally, the IRS would be required to audit each justices income tax return and publicly release them. The bill comes as some lawmakers, including Sen. Wyden, have raised ethics concerns over transparency in the court after Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury trips with GOP megadonor Harlan Crowe. In early August, Wyden sent a letter to Crowes attorney requesting travel and financial records. As reported by The Associated Press, Crowes spokesperson Michael Zona said he has always followed tax laws, adding, Its concerning that Senator Wyden is abusing his committees powers as part of a politically motivated campaign against the Supreme 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 KOIN.com. U.S. Senator John Kennedy, R-Louisiana. (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee livestream screen capture) NEW ORLEANS Muslim and Arab constituents of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy are criticizing his comments toward Arab American civil rights leader Maya Berry at a Senate hearing on hate crime and hate speech last week. Some of Kennedys New Orleans constituents also said they think the Republican senator does not see them as full American citizens despite being part of his constituency. The Sept. 17 Senate Judiciary hearing was meant to address rising hate crimes against Jewish, Palestinian, Arab and Muslim Americans. But instead of discussing incidents of hate at home, Kennedy asked Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, You support Hamas, do you not? He continued his line of questioning by asking Berry if she supported Hezbollah and Iran. Moments later, he told Berry she should hide her head in a bag. Kennedys questioning of Berry was condemned by civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Council on American-Islamic Relations. Residents of greater New Orleans also denounced the comments. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Hakm Murad, a Palestinian American and a leader of pro-ceasefire protests in New Orleans, said he found Kennedys behavior devastating. You have to almost laugh at it, Murad said. That during a congressional hearing about hate speech and hate crimes that hes actively using hate speech. Verite News reached out to Kennedys office for comment on the hearing and his constituents concerns, but the office did not respond by publication time. Murad called Kennedys words ugly, especially because Kennedy didnt acknowledge the presence of a Palestinian hate crime victim at the hearing. Murad was referring to Hanan Shaheen, who was allegedly stabbed dozens of times in an attack at her familys Illinois home last year in an attack that also allegedly killed her 6-year-old son, Wadee Alfayoumi. Police said the attack by the familys landlord was a targeted hate crime. Shes lost her child, her everything, and shes a victim of a hate crime in our country, Murad said. And he did not give her even a moment of attention. Didnt even give her condolences. Murad and other Muslims interviewed by Verite News found the conflation of different Middle Eastern entities Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran troublesome. And they may not be the only ones. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimates that there are more than 24,000 Muslims in Louisiana and more than 6,000 in Orleans Parish. Immigration lawyer and Muslim American Fatima Khan, who lives in Mid-City, said Kennedy was implying that all Muslims are somehow associated with groups labeled as terrorist organizations by the American government. The way that our community experiences Islamophobia is that we have our Muslimness or our concern for our communities labeled as extremism, Khan said. Metairie resident Jenny Yanez, who works as the Louisiana community development coordinator at Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA, said that the rhetoric she hears about Muslims from politicians today is worse than what she heard in the post-9/11 era. She said Kennedys racist and disrespectful words legitimize Islamophobic attitudes. Hes creating a new generation of people who have disdain and hatred and [are] learning to dehumanize Arabs, Yanez said. Yanez also said she thinks Kennedy sees Arabs and Muslims as terrorists with foreign interests instead of as Americans. Shes worried about the policy implications Islamophobic bias can have. We understand now that he does not think of Arabs or Muslims as full Americans, so why would he include policies that include us? Yanez said. Muslims and Arab residents who spoke with Verite News said they feel excluded from policy decisions that are important to them on a local level as well. Last month, the New Orleans City Council passed a peace resolution to address Hamass attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 and Israels subsequent war on Gaza. Many Jewish community leaders and organizations supported the resolution, but the final version doesnt have any signatures from local Muslim or Arab organizations. At the council meeting adopting the resolution, community members advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza urged council members to rescind their signatures, saying that the resolution did not represent their voices. An alternate resolution called The Peoples Ceasefire Resolution was signed by 50 organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace New Orleans and the Islamic Shura Council of Greater New Orleans. Yanez said Muslim leaders felt disregarded by the City Council when it adopted the peace resolution. Verite News reached out to council members on the comments of their constituents, but none responded by publication time. Murad, who advocated for the council to adopt the alternate resolution, said he feels ignored by both the council and Kennedy. He said he has been calling Kennedys office every day for almost a year, asking the senator to call for a ceasefire and an arms embargo to end what Murad and some human rights experts have described as a genocide. More than 40,000 Palestinians have now been killed in Gaza, and the U.S. continues to send billions of dollars of military support to Israel. He hasnt heard us for a year now and he still continues to ignore us, Murad said. And as a representative, thats the worst thing you could do. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Who are the other suspects left in Young Dolph case? Who are the other suspects left in Young Dolph case? MEMPHIS, Tenn. Moments after a jury found Justin Johnson, aka Straight Drop, guilty Thursday in the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, this cryptic post was shared to Johnsons Instagram: they can throw away the keys before I ever eat the cheese . With at least four others charged in this case, it is far from over. Cornelius Smith and Hernandez Govan now both face charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and attempted first-degree murder. Smiths case is reset to Nov. 15. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said about Smith on Thursday, Like I told the court there will a point when he goes to prison. Justin Johnson found guilty in Young Dolph murder Jermarcus Johnson Justin Johnsons half-brother, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact.. and has a court hearing on Oct. 9. And you many may remember Shundale Barnett, who was in the car Johnson was driving when he was captured in Indiana. He has now been on the run since 2022 with charges that include First Degree Murder. We will continue to make sure that all of those who are responsible for Young Dolphs death get the punishment they deserve, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said 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. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Overland Park police are investigating after they say a homeowner shot at a suspected arsonist before daybreak on Friday. OPPD says this happened around 3:50 a.m. near W. 158th Terrace and Woodson where the homeowner became suspicious after seeing someone in a white compact car park in front of their house on Outlook Street. Police say whoever was in the car was wearing a mask and walked toward the backyard of a neighboring house, and the homeowner who reported the incident heard glass break and saw flames coming from that house. Twin sisters charged in Belton armed carjacking Gunshots were also heard shortly after the fire. We heard three popping sounds early this morning around 3:45/3:50. We came out to investigate, a woman who lives in the area said. She did not want to be identified. Its really unsettling knowing this person is potentially still out there hiding. We want security to increase on our own home and around the neighborhood. Another neighbor told FOX4 the gunshots were stunning. My wife woke me up in the middle of the night, between 3:50-4:00 a.m., she said she heard some loud noise, some sort of explosion, or even a gunshot. I remember her saying that specifically. At first, I was like theres no way theres a gunshot, not in this neighborhood, another resident, Tom Flanagan, who also lives in the neighborhood shared. From my understanding, somebody tried to light the house on fire. The homeowner confronted them. The person ran off and one of my neighbors tried to confront them as well. Neighbor Dave Tschirhart said he saw the suspect and tried to stop him. I woke up to go work out in the morning and I noticed a car where it shouldnt be. I thought maybe he was trying to steal one of my vehicles and I waited for a minute and I saw him messing around, and he went by the pond and something didnt look right, so I went and put a sweatshirt on and grabbed my pistol and waited patiently, and heard some breaking of glass, Tschirhart recalled. Kansas City man accused of having devices that turned firearms into weapons of war And I still waited patiently, and then when I saw him light that fireball up, I lost it. I tried to get him to get on the ground and he wouldnt do it. Tschirhart said he aimed for the suspects tires, in hopes of disabling the their vehicle, until police could arrive. He sped past me. I had to make sure I wasnt hit and there wasnt anybody in the car shooting at me, he said. Tschirhart said he then called police and told them what happened, and immediately went to the home that the suspected arsonist lit on fire. I just hope the family is okay, Tschirhart added. Nobody deserves to have their house set on fire. Police say the Overland Park Fire Department responded and put out the small fire. Police are looking for the arson suspect and ask anyone who has information that will help them solve this case to call the department at (913) 344-8742 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A well-known Boise restaurateur pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of felony lewd conduct with a minor under 16, according to court records. Jose F. Sanchez Vazquez, who was arrested at his Boise restaurant La Garnacha Que Apapacha in April, sexually assaulted a teenager who worked for him, according to previous Statesman reporting. He also fathered a child with the victim. The conduct here is extremely alarming because he used his position as an employer to take advantage of someone he admitted to doubting whether or not she was an adult, Shawn Kelley, with the Ada County Prosecutors Office, said during a hearing in April. Sanchez Vazquez was charged in both Ada and Canyon counties with multiple counts of felony lewd conduct with a minor under 16. He pleaded guilty in the Canyon County case as part of a plea agreement; the Ada County case will be dismissed as part of that deal, according to the Ada County Prosecutors Office. Judge Randall Grove vacated a jury trial that was set to begin Sept. 30. Sanchez Vazquez is now scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26. The restaurant was started as a food truck run by Sanchez Vazquez and his wife before they opened a brick-and-mortar location; it still operates at the Boise Spectrum. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Michael Pesina is trying to carve out a different career path, similar to his mothers. My moms a practitioner and Ive seen her have a lot of success. She started as an LPN and bridge step from there to R.N. and to her current position, Pesina said. He previously worked manual labor jobs and with just one visit to Ozarks Tech, fell into the Win from Within program. I actually got tired of doing manual labor and I wasnt having insurance and stuff like that, Pesina said. I went to go ask for the classes at Ozarks Tech just to look into them and by the time I left, I was signed up and registered for all my pre-requisites and for this program. So what is the Win from Within program? This is a tremendous program for people in the community to get a full ride into health care. A lot of people get full ride scholarships to go to different institutions. Mercys now given an opportunity to come to Ozarks Tech and to pick a health care field in a nursing, respiratory, surgery tech, and a lot of others and get that opportunity to be paid for and to work at Mercy so that they can earn money while theyre getting their degree, said Dr. Aaron Light with Ozarks Tech. If you qualify for the program, which would apply to those majoring in the health care industry at Ozarks Tech, you can work for Mercy Springfield and receive financial assistance while you do it, but you must stay employed with Mercy Springfield after graduation. A lot of those other programs, its a tuition reduction, not necessarily a cover, all tuition and fees. This one is at the $10,000 per year for any of our programs. It actually covers all the tuition, all the fees for any of our programs. So it truly covers the cost, not just reducing the expense, Light said. Mercy Springfield says they include other colleges in the program, but Ozarks Tech is just the latest to partner with the local health giant. Our Win from Within program is really intended to help release some financial burden from our coworkers and get skilled health workers into the health care environment, Jessica Atchison, the program director at Mercy Springfield said. It does encourage a majority of their clinical hours to be within a mercy facility that gives us the ability to ingrain them in our culture, see what its like, and ensure that we find the right place for them post-graduation, otherwise it is them doing school like they normally would. So far Ozarks Tech has 15 students in the program. Were really hoping that this program grows and there will be significantly more programs for people in the program in the future, Light said. The biggest barriers that people always come with in college is I dont want to loan or I need to be able to work and earn some money. This particular program addresses both of them because theyll actually be able to work at Mercy as an employee and then have their tuition paid for. This not only allows Mercy to have more workers in the industry but the guaranteed employment is a reassurance for both the hospital and the workers post-graduation in an industry that has seen shortages over the years. Employment post-graduation is dependent on how many years that they participate in the program. It is up to three years of employment post-graduation, Atchison said. That gives us the ability to invest in our future pipeline, in our future workforce, where we know that there are people [who are] going to be a steady supply of nurses, respiratory therapists, surgical techs coming into the workforce because were investing in them upfront. Like Pesina, who knows the financial advantages hell have in the program. This program will pay for itself, and when youre finished with this program, youre going to make the money that you need to make to pay anything that you did borrow back off and within a fairly decent amount of time, Pesina said. As far as the economy goes, if you dont or take a chance like [this], it could be a long time before youre even able to catch up. The day-to-day routine also depends on how far along in the program each student is. It is based on their program where their clinical experience will be, and our facility is based on where theyre at in their program. If theyre in the beginning of their program, its going to be more activities of daily living, how to take vital signs, how to engage with a patient, whereas they move through their program, it is going to be more in-depth and complex tasks, as a nurse would have or as a respiratory therapist would have, Atchison said. They come on-site, they get an assignment, just as our core coworkers would, they work alongside our staff to then exercise and experience the things that they have learned didactic in a classroom, to then put it into experience on a patient. Ive seen surgeries. Ive seen a lot of medication administration. Ive seen some different aspects of [different] medical fields, Pesina said. Im a hands on learner and for me thats the best, because you can read a book, you can tell me stuff all day long, but until I actually get there and do it myself, it doesnt matter. Since Ive been in a setting like this, it to me is so much easier. Its so much easier to get up there and want to, and its intimidating, but once you get past that and you start to practice those skills, it becomes very it puts you at ease. Atchison says going online is the best way to learn more. [Those interested] will apply through our Mercy careers at MercyCareers.net. They can search Win from Within as like as they would a job, and it pops up the program if they are not already employed with Mercy, our academic relations team will work with them to find them employment during school as well as help them find that post-graduation employment as well, Atchison said. Ozarks Tech says they have open enrollment for those who qualify through October 31. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Pacific University is cracking down on social media threats and hate speech directed at Black students on campus this week, administrators confirmed to KOIN 6 News on Thursday. The university said posts made to the anonymous social media app Yik Yak have been shared with law enforcement as the school and police work to identify those involved in the threats. West Linn men indicted for sex acts with a pig Hate speech and violence are not consistent with Pacifics values and will not be tolerated, the school said in a statement to KOIN 6 News. Threats directed at any member of the campus community are taken seriously. Meanwhile, the university is reaching out to those affected by the hate speech and providing resources through their Office of Student Support, Counseling Center, and Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility. Person missing after boat capsizes in Columbia River Pacific University is committed to developing a diverse and equitable community of students, faculty and staff as we live up to our mission to inspire students to think, care, create, and pursue justice in the world, university officials said. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) Panama City residents and businesses that receive any structural flooding from Hurricane Helene can contact the Citys Disaster Recovery Project Manager. Residents will need to take pictures of any damages and send them to Jennifer Aldridge with the address of their home or business. The documentation is needed for any future dealings with FEMA. School closures for Panhandle counties City officials said any resident in Special Flood Hazard Zone A, AE, or VE who receives damage and needs to have permits for repairs also should contact Jennifer Aldridge. Call her at (850)-872-3025 or by email at jaldridge@panamacity.gov. To report flooding of roadways, call the Panama City Police Department non-emergency line at 850-872-3112. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Paraguay formally signed the global peace summit joint communique on Sept. 27, becoming the 95th country to add their signature onto the final communique, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. Switzerland hosted Ukraine's global peace summit on June 15-16, with representatives of around 100 countries and organizations in attendance. Seventy-eight states and four organizations signed the final joint communique of the peace summit on June 16. Since then, multiple countries signed on the ever-expanding list of delegations. "One more South American country has endorsed our Peace Formula, the UN Charter, and our vision for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on X, adding that he was "looking forward to further deepening political dialogue" with more South American countries. The communique called to return the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under full control of Ukraine, ensure uninterrupted manufacturing and supply of food products in Ukraine, secure full access to sea ports in the Black and Azov Seas, release all prisoners of war and return all deported Ukrainian children, among other things. Russia was not invited to join the inaugural global peace summit in June. Kyiv is planning to arrange the second global peace summit before the end of 2024, which Ukraine hopes will be held in either the Middle East or India. Despite hopes that Russia will participate in a second peace summit, Moscow has repeatedly signalled it will not take part in any future iterations of the Swiss-hosted peace summit. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky meets with Trump in New York, shows him his victory plan Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) Many areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed and park officials are strongly urging visitors to reschedule their trips with several inches of rain predicted from Helene predicted to fall on the region. Some areas of the park have already received 4-5 inches of rainfall since Wednesday. Another 4-5 inches is predicted on the Tennessee side and 6-9 inches on the North Carolina side of the park through Friday, according to a park release. Winds could reach 80 mph in higher elevations. Severe weather causes closures in East Tennessee Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, North Carolina closed at 2 p.m. Thursday. Sugarlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove visitor centers closed Thursday at 3 p.m. through at least Saturday morning, weather and road conditions permitting. No access is permitted past any closed gates. While sections of the park may remain open, the park strongly urges visitors to check weather forecasts and reschedule their visits. Watch for dead or dying trees that could be a fall hazard, said spokesperson Camille Bennett when asked for advice for hikers when the storm hits. We recommend, as quickly as possible, getting to your vehicle and if thats not an option, find some other sort of shelter. 6-year-old hit by school bus in Blount County The park began closing gravel roads such as Balsam Mountain Road or Rich Mountain Road late Wednesday. Visit www.nps.gov/grsm for the latest information on closures. Closed areas or roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Balsam Mountain campground (North Carolina) Balsam Mountain Road (North Carolina) Big Creek Cades Cove Loop Road Cataloochee campground (North Carolina) Greenbrier Road Heintooga Ridge Road (North Carolina) Newfound Gap Road Sparks Lane Road Upper Tremont Road Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Judge Craig Carter, a Wright County judge serving in Cole County for Missouri's gender-affirming care trial, listens to a nurse practitioner testify Thursday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). After three days of battling over scientific papers and expert testimony, the trial of a lawsuit challenging Missouris restrictions on gender-affirming treatments on Thursday turned to the impact the law has on patients and providers. Nicole Carr, a nurse practitioner at Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis, said anxiety, fear and depression first increased in transgender patients when Attorney General Andrew Bailey published an emergency rule that established barriers to care in April 2023. No one thinks about how these laws affect the actual people they are supposed to protect and they are supposed to serve, she said. Patients were crying in the clinic in fear, she testified. Im trying to give them hope that they dont have to fear being in Missouri, that they dont have to fear coming to me as a provider, that they can move past this, Carr said. Its sad because Im referring a lot of people to therapy that, before these rules, were fine. She worries about youth in foster care, which she worked with frequently in a previous position. Transgender teenagers in foster care often must wait until they turn 18 to go to the doctor alone for assessment to obtain hormone-replacement therapy. But if they are on Medicaid, as most are soon after foster care, Missouri wont pay for the treatment. (The law) has impacted the quality of care I can give my patients when I know the solution to their problem is out there and I cant do anything about it, she said. Carr and Southampton healthcare are among 11 plaintiffs hoping to block enforcement of a 2023 law banning gender-affirming medical treatments for minors. Other plaintiffs include parents of transgender children, transgender adolescents, other medical care providers and organizations supporting gender-affirming care. Their attorneys began putting witnesses on the stand Monday in the Cole County Circuit Court trial scheduled to continue through next week. The lawsuit asks Judge Craig Carter, assigned to the case from Wright County, to declare the law unconstitutional, alleging violations of equal protection, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution. Although the law does not ban counseling or the continuation of treatments begun before it passed, several providers ceased all gender-affirming treatments for minors soon after it took effect on Aug. 28, 2023. First University of Missouri Health, then Washington University in St. Louis, ended their programs, citing the threat of future litigation allowed in the law. Neither provider is a party to the lawsuit. Over the first three days of the trial, assistant attorney generals defending the law have repeatedly sought to discredit plaintiffs expert witnesses. The painstaking cross examinations have slowed the pace of the trial to two experts per day and led to a late recess on Wednesday. Carter, however, has declined to limit the cross-examination, despite arguments from plaintiffs attorneys that it means the trial will exceed the time allotted to complete it. During cross-examination, members of the defense team have read scientific articles, news articles and editorials on gender-affirming care. Almost invariably, that leads to objections that the exhibits are new. Carter has allowed reading as a way to challenge the credibility of witnesses by showing deficiencies in their testimony, such as bias or poor memory. They seem to be reading a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of opinion pieces, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, an attorney for plaintiffs, told reporters. If they wanted to introduce the opinion of some random person in the United Kingdom, they could have called them. During one question to Dr. Armand Matheny Antommaria from Solicitor General Joshua Divine, plaintiffs attorney Nora Huppert objected, arguing that it was as if Divine was testifying himself. It came as Antommaria, a pediatric hospitalist and bioethicist at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, answered questions slowly, often with a yes sir or no sir, correcting Divines questions. If you go to the key findings, the statement youve pulled out is not part of the key findings, he said, after a question in which Divine asked about a singular sentence of a scientific article. The context is important, Antommaria told him, saying the overall report was the opposite of Divines characterization. Divine also asked if Antommarias religious beliefs or divinity degree should disqualify him as an expert. Given the nature of that particular degree, that does not disqualify myself, he said. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, an adolescent medicine physician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and medical director of the hospitals center for transgender youth health and development, testified about her research linking distress about breast development to depression and anxiety. She also discussed benefits of gender-affirming care she has seen in her clinical experience. Hal Frampton, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, brought one of the 11 three-ring binders prepared for the Olson-Kennedy testimony to the podium. He flipped through the approximately three-inch binder, presenting studies and articles to question Olson-Kennedys research and concluding with videos from talks she gave years ago. In one talk, she said people get worked up about certain surgical procedures that are part of gender affirming care. Frampton asked if she doesnt like people that get worked up. Olson-Kennedy said she was emphasizing the difference between gender-affirming surgeries. The seriousness of getting a sterilizing surgery is more severe than someone who needs a chest surgery, she said. He also asked about an interview she gave in which she spoke about being involved in social justice efforts. People being able to get access to medically necessary care is an advocacy issue, she responded. The defense is scheduled to begin arguments Monday, with a scheduled final day of Oct. 4. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A police officer has been found guilty of assault after grabbing a boy by the throat while he was on duty during an incident at a care home. Great Manchester Police Constable Benjamin Heppenstall, 33, attacked the 16-year-old boy in January 2021 after he refused to do what he said, Bolton Crown Court heard. Body-worn footage showed him pulling the boy's T-shirt off before forcefully grabbing his neck for a second time. Heppenstall, who faces suspension from his job which is based in Wigan, will be sentenced on 27 November. The officer had responded to an incident at a care home for young people in Wigan where threats had been allegedly made to two women who worked there, police said. 'Defenceless boy' The court heard how after initially arresting two suspects, Heppenstall told the teenager, who was sitting on a sofa, to get out of the room and go to bed. The boy refused, and Heppenstall pulled him up by his arm, before then putting his hand forcefully around the boys neck and being verbally abusive. Bolton Crown Court heard one of the workers at the care home tried to intervene and pull Heppenstall away. Greater Manchester Police said Heppenstall's duties were restricted in January 2021. Det Ch Insp Iqbal Ahmed said: This was a shocking use of unnecessary and excessive force by Benjamin Heppenstall on a defenceless teenage boy who absolutely should not have been treated this way. Our officers have a really challenging role and are faced with instances that the general public will never experience. "However, officers are trained to act professionally and proportionately, and it is clear here that PC Heppenstall acted beyond what was necessary when faced with a verbal refusal by the boy to do what he had told him to do." 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 EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 19-year-old El Paso man is dead after speeding on a motorcycle and crashing Wednesday night, Sept. 18, in East El Paso, according to El Paso Police. EPPD: 1 person transported after motorcycle crash in East EP Police say they responded just before 9 p.m. that Wednesday to the 9200 block of Gateway East about a vehicle collision involving a motorcycle. The preliminary investigation revealed that Hugo Alexis Montiel-Sanchez, 19, was traveling eastbound on Gateway East on a motorcycle. Police say Montiel-Sanchez accelerated and began to travel at a high rate of speed for reasons unknown. The motorcycle then went to the left of the roadway and began to travel through the landscape. Montiel-Sanchez became dislodged from the motorcycle and suffered serious injuries, police said. He was transported to a local hospital but died as a result of his injuries, police added. Police say speed is believed to be a contributing factor in this crash. This is the 45th traffic fatality in El Paso, compared to 55 at the same time 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 KTSM 9 News. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Its the end of September and the leaves are changing color. It is still early but we continue to see more and more color showing up. While there is still plenty of green, you can see more orange, red, and yellow on some of the trees. While it may still be a few weeks until we see really good color here in the lower Pioneer Valley were seeing some better foliage right now to our north. September has been a very dry month Bre Haut of Agawam told 22News, I just mentioned the other day that I felt like the leaves were already turning, somebody had sent a picture, and they had driven up north. So definitely we always take rides to go see the foliage. According to The Foliage Report, were seeing some good color right now in New York and northern New England, especially in northeastern Vermont. Here in western Massachusetts, we should see peak color around Columbus Day which is on October, 14th. 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. CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in the South Bay Thursday night, the Chula Vista Police Department confirmed. The incident occurred around 10:15 p.m. in the 1000 block of Telegraph Canyon Road at Paseo Ranchero. Police said responding officers discovered that a vehicle had hit a person who had been standing in the roadway. $300M super yacht spotted in San Diego Bay: Who does it belong to? Witnesses, police and fire department personnel gave first aid to the pedestrian, who was later pronounced dead by paramedics. The victim is believed to be between the age of 20-25. Their identity is not yet known. The driver, a 69-year-old Chula Vista resident, remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. Alcohol is not considered a factor in this crash. The Traffic Bureau was called to the scene to investigate the fatal collision and determine the cause. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information is asked to contact investigators at 619-782-3847. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. How pen and paper comes to the rescue in an IT crisis When the CrowdStrike software bug bricked 8.5 million computers around the world on 19 July, some of the first people to notice the effects were air travellers. Anthony Bosman, an academic at Andrews University in Michigan was trying to board his flight from Michigan to Florida when he realised he couldnt download a mobile boarding pass to his smartphone. So he went to check in at the airport, in person, and watched in amazement as an airline employee looked up his name on a paper list and then wrote out his boarding pass by hand. It felt like a blast from the past, he recalls. The ticket agent, I remember how she commented that her hand was tired from having to write so many of them. His flight took off as planned. Multiple other passengers, including many in India, reported having the same experience that day. The CrowdStrike bug also hit banks, telecoms firms, health services and online retailers. This week a senior executive at the firm appeared before a US congressional committee and said he was "deeply sorry" for the chaos caused. For a brief moment in July, some organisations had to forget about their computer-based processes and do things the old-fashioned way. If you look through articles about past cyber-attacks and IT failures on the BBC News website, youll find countless examples of organisations that have had to go back to pen and paper in the face of disruption. British GPs, staff at foreign exchange firm Travelex, medics at Rouen hospital in France and employees of Lincolnshire County Council have all experienced this. It sounds an almost pitiful predicament. And yet, while it certainly isnt desirable, some cyber-experts are now advising companies to plan for switching to paper-based processes in the event of IT failure. Rather than an ad hoc workaround, pen and paper systems could be something staff practise using from time to time so that they can switch away from their computers seamlessly if required. When Norsk Hydro was hacked in 2019 thousands of staff were locked out of the company systems [Norsk Hydro] One company that knows the value of paper is Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy firm. In 2019, hackers targeted Hydro with ransomware that locked staff out of more than 20,000 computers. Bosses at Hydro decided they would not pay a ransom fee to restore access, meaning that 35,000 staff working across 40 countries had to find other ways of doing their jobs, temporarily. They dug old binders out of basements with instructions on how to produce particular aluminium products, for instance, recalls Halvor Molland, a spokesman for Hydro. At some locations, by sheer chance, staff had printed out order requests just before the cyber-attack hit. Their creativity was tremendous, says Mr Molland. While computers with customer information and company data were locked out, factory equipment was mercifully unaffected by the ransomware. At some facilities, staff bought computers and printers from local retailers so they could print off information for factory workers. And vintage office kit came in handy. We actually had to dust off some old telefaxes, remembers Mr Molland. Although production fell by up to 50% at certain plants, these workarounds kept the business going. You need to do what you need to do, as Mr Molland puts it. Reflecting, he suggests that companies might want to keep printed copies of key information such as internal telephone numbers or checklists so that some work can continue even in the event of a massive cyber-attack. For some tasks Norsk Hydro had to work off paper instructions after the hack [Norsk Hydro] People have realised the importance of having these manual methods because of the severity of some of the recent cyber-attacks and IT outages, says Chris Butler, resilience director at disaster recovery and business continuity firm Databarracks. He mentions one customer his company works with an industrial distribution firm that has put together "disaster recovery packs and sent them to all of its branches. The packs include paper forms and a fax machine a contingency in case their digital ordering system becomes unavailable. If that goes down, their only alternative, they realised, was to have these forms. Mr Butler suggests that companies have a training day where employees practise using flipcharts and whiteboards instead of computers, to see if they can still do their jobs effectively that way. Some organisations recommend using paper for security reasons. Parts of the US court system require certain documents to be filed on either paper, for example, or a secure device such as an encrypted USB drive. Obviously there are limits to paper-based processes. Mr Butler notes that if bankers, for example, lose access to their trading terminals during an IT incident, they cant easily switch to paper-based alternatives. The biggest problem with pen and paper systems is that they dont scale well, says Gareth Mott, from the Royal United Services Institute. Its slower than using a computer for many tasks ,and its hard or perhaps impossible to coordinate thousands of employees using such methods across multiple office locations. But practising workarounds really can help, adds Dr Mott. He and colleagues have researched how war-gaming and IT failure roleplay exercises can impact employees responses to real-life cyber-attacks. We found that the companies that had done that, sometimes a few weeks before they had a live incident, really benefitted, he says. Its not just pen and paper that could come in handy. Dr Mott is aware of one firm that bought crates worth of Chromebooks for staff in the wake of a cyber-incident, so that they could work without needing access to the company network. Some companies might have dormant WhatsApp or Signal messaging groups that they can ask employees to use for internal communications, if access to the company email servers goes down, for instance. Both Dr Mott and Mr Butler stress the importance of off-site or otherwise segregated data backups so that, in the event of a ransomware attack, all that vital information is not necessarily lost. More Technology of Business Cathy Miron is chief executive of eSilo, a data backup firm based in Florida. There are hundreds of such companies around the world, including Databarracks, that provide secure data backup services. Ms Mirons company offers off-site, cloud-based data storage on a separate network to that of their customers; and on-site, custom-built servers as well. We have had a 100% ransomware recovery rate thus far, she says. For all the sophistication of contemporary computer systems, its the simple, improvised workarounds that can save companies when a crisis hits. Mrs Miron mentions one customer who, at the time of writing, was using a Verizon mi-fi, or mobile broadband wireless router, system to access backup data because their main computer network had been completely shut down following a cyber-incident. You should expect it, at some point in time, to be a victim of a cyber-attack, emphasises Mr Molland. What do you do in the meantime? How do you keep the wheels turning? Penn. Gov. Josh Shapiro to campaign in NC for Democrat Josh Stein in governors race Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who was on Vice President Kamala Harris short list as a potential running mate this summer, is coming to North Carolina to campaign for Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. Stein is the Democratic nominee in the governors race against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Shapiro will join Stein for a meet-and-greet campaign event on Sunday in Greensboro. Attorney General Josh Stein takes the stage during a campaign rally featuring second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz as part of the Fighting for Reproductive Freedom bus tour stop at Market Hall in Raleigh on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Shapiro and Stein will appear together at noon on Sunday to rally supporters and talk to voters on campus at UNC Greensboro in the Cone Ballroom, 507 Stirling St. It is open to the public. Shapiros the second Democratic governor whose name was on the veepstakes list before Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to campaign with Stein in recent weeks. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined Stein at a campaign event in Chatham County this past week, saying that Stein would lead the state forward. Andy Beshear, the governor Kentucky, campaigns for Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor in Pittsboro on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. Beshear told supporters at an event in Pittsboro that Steins leadership should be where we need to be to get beyond this anger politics that were seeing, to get to that better day where we recognize that we might disagree with our neighbor, but we want them to do well. And of course N.C. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has long been a supporter of Steins campaign. No Robinson campaign events on horizon Greensboro is the hometown of Steins opponent, Robinson, whose campaign continues to receive fallout after the CNN report, and subsequent reporting, tying Robinson to a series of hateful, sexually explicit and racist posts on a pornography website. Robinson denies the allegations. Most of his campaign staff quit on Sunday, The News & Observer previously reported, and half of his staff in the lieutenant governors office, who are state employees and had been with Robinson since he took office, also quit. Robinson promoted Deputy Chief of Staff Krishana Polite to chief of staff on Thursday, replacing longtime former Chief of Staff Brian LiVecchi, who resigned. Robinson does not have any upcoming campaign visits scheduled as of Thursday afternoon. (WHTM) Two Pennsylvania brothers have pled guilty to charges stemming from the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Columbia, Matthew Valentin, 31, of Stroudsburg, pled guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. Andrew Valentin, 26, pled guilty to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and a second felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton will sentence the brothers on Jan. 17, 2025. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ICYMI: Top 5 Stories of the Week The Justice Department says the Valentin brothers were identified by video walking from the Washington Monument along Constitution Ave. toward the Capitol. They made their way to the West Plaza of the Capitol, climbed a media tower in the area, and then joined a crowd that pushed through a metal barricade into a line of Capitol Police officers. Matthew Valentin, according to the Justice Department, sprayed a chemical irritant toward officers and later grabbed a police baton, attempting to tear it out of the officers hands. Andrew Valentin threw a folding chair at the line of officers, striking one officers shield, according to court records. The brothers were arrested by the FBI on February 11 and 12, 2024, in Pennsylvania. In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) A Pennsylvania woman has been convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl following surveillance by investigators. A press release from the Department of Justice said that investigators began surveillance on a Clarksburg residence after receiving complaints of drug activity. During this time, officers saw Jalisa Lashae Hawkins, 35, of Duquesne, Pennsylvania drive to the residence, interact with someone, and leave the release said. Monongalia County GOP calls for Sen. Maroney to resign after multiple arrests Officers followed and pulled Hawkins vehicle over following several traffic violations, where they seized fentanyl stamps and heroin. Hawkins could face up to 20 years in federal prison, which a federal district court judge will determine. She was previously arrested twice in 2016 on drug charges and was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison in 2019. The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative and the Mountaineer Highway Interdiction Team South investigated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pennsylvanians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. PENNSYLVANIA 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, spreads across the nation. 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. Pennsylvanians Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. originally appeared on the Across Pennsylvania Patch TechCrunch A federal judge has ordered Google to open up its app store to rivals and give Android users more choice when it comes to downloading apps. Judge James Donato issued his final ruling in the Epic and Google saga on Monday, detailing how Google has to change how it operates Google Play. According to the filing, Google is not allowed to pay developers to launch their apps exclusively on Google Play starting November 1 for the next three years. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Portland organization behind the attention-grabbing political ads that targeted local leadership is dissolving. According to an announcement on People for Portlands website, the group is ending its day-to-day work after years of pushing for more policing and action for homelessness and drug use in the area. Oregon Sen. Wyden introduces sweeping Supreme Court reform bill Political consultants Dan Lavey and Kevin Looper launched the organization in September 2021. Back when we started this, the problems of Portland homelessness, drugs on the street, trash werent as big as the problems that Dan and I saw in politics, which was an incredible veil of denial on elected officials: People who thought we just needed to wait, we could build $400,000 apartment units and give homeless people the keys and itll be OK, and we can defund the police, and things will be fine, and drug use is not a big problem, Looper told KOIN 6 Political Director Ken Boddie. He added that People for Portland aimed to show elected leaders they were vastly out of step with 80% of the people in this city who wanted to have a safer environment Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics While some of the organizations stances were considered polarizing Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt previously said the leaders want to keep us divided, keep us angry it appears a number of residents shared their concerns. A survey conducted the same month the group launched showed that 76% of Portlanders believed the citys issues were real, and not exaggerated by the media. About 60% of respondents who were once against police said they would support hiring more officers. Additionally, about 71% said they would support more law enforcement despite concerns with social justice and racism within the Portland Police Bureau. Vancouver man shot, killed by SWAT after late-night armed standoff Later in 2023, a new poll from the organization found that 70% of voters would support a daytime camping ban. A camping ordinance went into effect this summer. People for Portland also partially accredits itself for the overturning of Measure 110, the drug decriminalization law that took effect for about three years before Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek reversed it. The Schmidt Show billboard currently strung up in Downtown by the group People for Portland. (KOIN 6) The billboard portrays chattering teeth toys with the caption, All Talk, No Action, along with photos of Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and District Attorney Mike Schmidt. It goes on to say, Billions Spent, Problems Worse. (KOIN) The political group People for Portland has erected a new anti-Schmidt billboard in Downtown Portland. (KOIN 6) But the organizations most visible moves were, arguably, installing three anti-Schmidt billboards in the downtown area the latest of which read, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS SCHMIDT? Oregon health leaders set to review OHSUs plans to merge with Legacy The billboard installed in January blamed the district attorney for crime and drug deaths in the city. In May, he abandoned his re-election campaign and conceded to Nathan Vasquez. By raising your voice and getting involved, you helped to change the debate and direction of Portland, People for Portland said in its announcement. Thank you. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) A judge on Thursday ordered Peoria County prosecutors to reinstate a plea agreement with a Peoria woman who testified at two murder trials. Peoria County Circuit Judge Paul Gilfillan made his decision after a 30-minute hearing where Tyranique Whites attorney argued his client did what she was supposed to do and should get the benefits of the agreement which saw prosecutors dropping a murder charge against her. Under the terms of the deal, White, who was charged along with the two others for the Oct. 6, 2021, shooting death of 17-year-old Jerry Snipes, Jr., would plead instead to aggravated discharge of a firearm. Testimony underway in trial of man accused in 2021 shooting of Manual High student The difference is big. Murder, if one is not deemed the shooter, has a 20-year minimum and one must serve 100% of a sentence. Aggravated discharge is four to 15 years behind bars and probation is an option. Her sentencing hearing is set for late November. Prosecutors wanted to void the deal, reached last year, because they said White had unclean hands, and admitted during her testimony that she lied to get a deal that would drop her sentence. Peoria man sentenced to 80 years in prison for 2021 killing of high school student It was an interesting hearing where contract law, normally the privy of the courtrooms down the hall, dominated the discussion. The judge himself noted that if it had been a civil case, the contract between the two sides would have had plenty of whereass and but fors.' In the end, the judge found White held up her end of the deal, testified at the trials of Jeremy Moore, Jr., 21, and Gary Irby, 22, both of whom were found guilty sentenced to decades behind bars. Snipes was shot 10 times by two different weapons. He was shot once with a shotgun and nine more times with a handgun, indicating two people shot him. He died minutes after the incident, according to autopsy records. Guilty verdict returned after 3 hours in case of 2021 shooting of Manual High student Both Irby and Moore wore GPS monitoring bracelets, which police used to find them at the time Snipes was killed. At their trials, a witness said Irby had a handgun, and Moore had a shotgun, later tied to the murder. White testified she drove Snipes to the area on Linn Street after picking him up shortly after midnight. She was told to bring him there by Irby. White said she brought Snipes there and was on the phone standing by a nearby house when she heard her name. Snipes, she said, had called for her and when she came back to her vehicle, she saw Snipes and another person she couldnt identify who tussling and then a shot went off. She saw Snipes lying on the ground and panicked, she testified at trial. She drove off and later ditched the car, which was her mothers in Glen Oak Park. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An American flag sits in the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson Communities in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are in mourning as a major storm continues to wreak havoc on the southeastern United States. Helene, which hit Florida on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane but has since weakened into a tropical storm, is responsible for at least 20 deaths so far, as well as millions of dollars of damage. Officials across the region warned that the storm could cause more fatalities as it moves through, per The Washington Post. Amid the storm, flooding and blowing debris are not the only factors putting people at risk. Power outages also raise health concerns, especially for older Americans who rely on electronic medical devices. More than 4 million customers were without power as of Friday morning, The Washington Post reported. After making landfall in Florida, Helene moved on Friday morning toward Atlanta, where residents are dealing with intense rain and flooding. Rain and flooding have also become major issues in the western Carolinas, where potentially deadly mudslides are expected, as the Deseret News previously reported. Heres a look at some of the damage the historic storm has caused so far. Faith Cotto comforts her mother Nancy as they look at the remains of their home, which burned during the flooding from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson A boat rests on a street after being relocated during flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Hudson, Fla. | Mike Carlson Residents are rescued from floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Crystal River, Fla. | Luis Santana Clarissa Lucky gives a tour of her home that flooded from Hurricane Helene near DeSoto Park, Fla., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tampa. | Jefferee Woo This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken at 5:46 p.m. EDT and provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico moving toward Florida, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | NOAA via Associated Press The business Chez What is seen after Hurricane Helene moved through the area, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. | Mike Stewart Workers clear debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. | Gerald Herbert Union Cathederal church is seen after Hurricane Helene moved through the area on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. | Mike Stewart Bradley Tennant looks through his house flooded with water from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson A Citrus County Firefigher carries 11-year-old Michael Cribbins while conducting rescues from floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Crystal River, Fla. | Luis Santana Jamir Lewis wades through floodwaters with his two daughters, Nylah and Aria, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Crystal River, Fla. | Luis Santana Union Cathederal church is seen after Hurricane Helene moved through the area on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. | Mike Stewart Thomas Chaves, left, and Vinny Almeida walk through floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in an attempt to reach Chaves' mother's house in the Shore Acres neighborhood, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson Rhonda Bell looks on after an oak tree landed on her 100-year-old home after Hurricane Helene moved through, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. | Mike Stewart Halle Brooks kayaks down a street flooded by Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson A woman walks with her dog through floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Mike Carlson This photo provided by U.S. Coast Guard District Seven (USCGSoutheast) shows a man and his dog being rescued after his sailboat became disabled during Hurricane Helene approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | U.S. Coast Guard District Seven via Associated Press Filled with empathy & dedication to charity, teaching, & comprehensive patient care distinguishes Dr Saud in the field of ENT surgery situated in the heart of Bengaluru handles approximately 50 patients daily providing specialized & integrated ENT, head & neck care. The clinic specializes in areas such as allergy and immunotherapy, as well as snoring and sleep apnea, which are often overlooked in many ENT circles. By incorporating short stay day care surgeries using the latest equipment, the clinic ensures quick recovery and minimal post-operative complications, enhancing patient outcomes.Dr Ahmeds expertise has brought visibility and credibility to the clinic. The clinics patient centered approach in an ethical and evidence based manner has increased patient footfall and referrals from other health care professionals, makinga trusted name in the field.Dr Saud Ahmed prioritizes patient education and counseling by dedicating ample time to each consultation, ensuring patients thoroughly understand their conditions andUnlike many who see numerous patients in a short time, Dr Ahmed schedules appointments to provide ample amount of time to patients. This approach allows for a comprehensive discussion of the patients concerns and questions, ensuring they feel heard and informed.During consultations, Dr Ahmed first provides a detailed briefing about the condition, surgical procedures, associated risks, and complications. He then encourages patients to ask as many questions as needed, ensuring they fully grasp the information. Involving a relative in the discussion adds another layer of understanding and support. Additionally, Dr Ahmed employs a full-time patient coordinator to address any queries when he is unavailable, ensuring continuous support.To further enhance patient communication, Dr Ahmed uses a business Whatsapp profile, allowing patients to reach out with questions and receive timely responses. This comprehensive communication strategy builds patient confidence and ensures they feel supported throughout their treatment journey.Dr Ahmed leverages advanced technology to enhance precision and outcomes in ENT surgeries. He utilizes radiofrequency and coblation technologies to reduce postoperative pain and bleeding. High-end operating theaters with state-of-the-art laminar flow systems minimize infection risks. Image-guided surgery, high-speed drills, shaver systems, lasers, and ultrasonic aspirators further improve surgical precision, especially in complex skull base surgeries.Dr Ahmed is optimistic about the future ofHe recently attended a workshop showcasing 3D-printed models for surgical training, made possible by feeding thousands of scans into AI systems. He believes AI, particularly in simulation and potentially robotic surgery, holds significant promise for future advancements, though it requires further integration into current practices.My advice to young aspirants entering the surgical field is to be patient and focus on building your skills. While its natural to be motivated by financial rewards, remember that expertise and recognition take time. Early in your career, prioritize learning from seniors, traveling, and mastering different techniques. Avoid settling down too quickly; instead, focus on ethical practice and providing the right treatment. With dedication and patience, financial rewards and professional recognition will follow, concludes Dr Saud Ahmed. Helene barreled into the Florida coast under the cover of darkness, and sunrise on Friday revealed the first look at the trail of destruction left behind by the Category 4 storm. Intense winds and a powerful storm surge caused houses to crumble, flung boats onto land and toppled trees in all directions. Millions were left without power as they began to assess the damage caused by Helene, and some areas could be in the dark for over a week due to the catastrophic damage. At least nine people have died across the Southeast due to the storm. "In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, hundreds of search and rescue missions were conducted by state personnel, and the state assisted on nearly a thousand others," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement on Friday morning. "Cut and toss operations have been underway by 61 FDOT crews since 3 a.m. Over 2,000 miles of roadway have been cleared, and these operations continue." As the damage in Florida comes into focus, Helene continues to rage farther north, causing devastating flooding in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (WWLP) Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly tried to install a card skimming device on an ATM at a local business Thursday afternoon. Card skimming devices discovered at these Massachusetts Cumberland Farms According to North Adams Police, officers received a report around 2 p.m. on Thursday about a suspicious individual at an ATM machine. An employee intercepted the suspect as he attempted to install the illegal device used to capture personal banking information. The suspect is described as a Middle Eastern man, approximately 55 tall, with a thin mustache and a heavy accent. He was reportedly wearing light blue jeans, a puffy vest, a blue and white polo shirt with a red patch on the bicep, light sneakers, a brimmed Tommy Hilfiger bucket hat, and a watch on his right wrist. Courtesy of North Adams Police Department Courtesy of North Adams Police Department Courtesy of North Adams Police Department Courtesy of North Adams Police Department Despite an extensive search by local law enforcement, the suspect was not located and is believed to have fled the area in a vehicle before police arrived. The North Adams Police Department is now reviewing surveillance footage and has released images of the suspect in hopes of identifying him. Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Adams Police at 413-664-4944, ext. 1. Authorities are also reminding the public to be extra vigilant when using ATM machines or checkout devices, as there has been an increase in skimming devices found across Berkshire County. Customers are urged to inspect ATMs and point-of-sale terminals for any signs of tampering and to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Card skimmers are illegal devices that capture card information, allowing criminals to commit identity theft and financial fraud. No further information about the suspect has been released at this time. 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. COPPERAS COVE, Texas (FOX 44) The Pink Warrior Angels (PWA) are bringing their annual fundraiser to Copperas Coves City Park on Saturday. The tenth annual Pink Warrior Dash will take place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 1206 W Avenue B. Same day registration will start at 7 a.m. Pink Warrior Angels is a nonprofit organization which not only gives 100 percent to patients fighting cancer, but also invests in their well-being by providing them with educational materials. Donate food to Shepherds Heart at the Baylor game For more information on how to register, you can go here. For more information about the Pink Warrior Angels, you can go 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. The Pioneer Womans pumpkin bakeware is back and affordable as ever BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details. And affordable as ever When looking for cast-iron bakeware, quality products often come with a high price tag. And if you want something seasonal that only gets used a few times a year, the price tag might make you think twice. Not anymore, though. The Pioneer Womans line of pumpkin bakeware is back for 2024, and at a price youll love. We already trust the Pioneer Womans cookware: Her basic nonstick metal baking sheets and simple bakeware are some of BestReviews editors favorites, and her products are cute, of good quality and always affordable. So, if youre looking for a seasonal addition to your kitchen this fall, her adorable pumpkin pie plate and mini cocotte set will be hard to resist. Shop this article: The Pioneer Woman 10-Inch Ceramic Pumpkin Pie Plate with Lid, The Pioneer Woman 14.2-Ounce Ceramic Orange Pumpkin Mini Cocottes Set Pioneer Womans enameled cast-iron cookware is adorable and affordable Ceramic Pumpkin Pie Plate with Lid The Pioneer Woman 10-inch Ceramic Pumpkin Pie Plate with Lid Complement your Dutch oven with a matching pie plate. Its designed to look like a pumpkin, perfect for Thanksgiving pies, and complete with a lid with a handle designed like a pumpkin stem. SHOP NOW Ceramic Orange Pumpkin Mini Cocottes Set The Pioneer Woman 14.2-ounce Ceramic Orange Pumpkin Mini Cocottes Set For side dishes or individual portions of desserts, you need these mini pumpkin cocottes. Each has a 14.2-ounce capacity, making it the perfect size for a single serving. Theyre made of durable ceramic stoneware thats dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. SHOP NOW Pumpkin cookware from Le Creuset Of course, Le Creuset is the way to go if you want to invest in heirloom-quality cookware that will last for generations. This French heritage brand backs up its pieces with a lifetime guarantee so that you can set your fall table in style and with peace of mind. Black Pumpkin Cocotte on table Le Creuset Pumpkin Cocotte Le Creusets Pumpkin Cocotte is the perfect centerpiece for your fall table. Made for braising, baking and more, its easy-to-clean enamel resists staining and chipping for long-lasting quality. SHOP NOW Pumpkin Casserole Dish Le Creuset Pumpkin Casserole The Pumpkin Casserole is the perfect sidekick for pies and side dishes. Its shallow depth and wide lip make it easy to carry, and its colorful glaze is nonreactive, nonporous and scratch- and stain-resistant. SHOP NOW Pumpkin Mini Cocottes Le Creuset Pumpkin Mini Cocotte Le Creusets Pumpkin Mini Cocottes are just the right size for individual servings of cobblers, gratins, pot pies and other holiday dishes and treats. You can also use them to prep and store ingredients to give your kitchen a festive touch. SHOP NOW Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The International Whaling Commission was founded in 1946 to halt and reverse declining whale numbers (Ernesto BENAVIDES) (Ernesto BENAVIDES/AFP/AFP) A four-decade-old moratorium on commercial whaling will remain in force after a proposal to overturn it was withdrawn Thursday at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Peru's capital Lima. Another proposal to declare whaling a source of global food security was also abandoned in a plenary session after failing to gain consensus among delegates from 60 countries. "We are relieved that the dark and dangerous resolution to resume commercial whaling has been withdrawn," said Grettel Delgadillo, Latin America representative for Humane Society International (HSI). The first proposal was submitted by Antigua and Barbuda, which is not a whaling nation but has said it would pursue the matter at the next IWC meeting in Australia in 2026. Delgadillo said pro-whaling stances by countries that do not consume whale meat "demonstrates how Japan continues to influence the IWC despite not being a member anymore." The food security proposal, in turn, was submitted by a host of African countries which also have no whaling tradition but are allies of Japan, according to NGOs. Japan is one of three countries to continue whale hunting, along with Norway and Iceland. It continued the practice for "scientific" purposes after the moratorium was introduced in 1986, killing hundreds of whales in the Antarctic and North Pacific. After years of tensions took a toll on its international reputation, Japan quit the IWC in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling inside its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). An estimated 1,200 whales are killed by hunters every year. Climate change is another threat to the creatures, with whale numbers in the North Pacific decreasing 20 percent between 2012 and 2021 due to a shortage in their main food source, plankton, according to an Australian study. In the 20th century, nearly three million cetaceans were harpooned by humans, according to figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and several species became threatened. ljc/cm/vel/mlr/bjt/aha Update, 9:22 p.m.: UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Utah County Sheriffs Office has found the bodies of the two males onboard Fridays flight that crashed into Utah Lake. The victims have been identified as Michael Hyrum Cox, 43, of St. George, and Mark Andrew Johnson, 46, of Washington. Michael Hyrum Cox (Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office) Michael Hyrum Cox (Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office) Michael Hyrum Cox (Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office) Mark Andrew Johnson (Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office) Mark Andrew Johnson (Courtesy of Utah County Sheriffs Office) No further information is available at this time. Update, 5:47 p.m.: UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Utah County Sheriffs Office has confirmed that two males were on the plane during the crash. No bodies have been recovered at this time. Based on information from witnesses, and from all information gathered, the sheriffs office said they believe the two males to be deceased. Their identities have not been released. Victims identified in tragic Price crash that left 5 dead The plane reportedly crashed half a mile north of the Provo airport, into the Utah Lake. Authorities are currently working to recover the aircraft and find the two males. No further information is available at this time. Original Story: UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A small plane crash-landed in Utah Lake Friday morning, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office. Authorities were called to the scene around 10:10 a.m. on reports of a plane crash. Officials say the plane was cleared to land at the Provo airport, but unfortunately it crashed right before the runway. At least one person was on the plane. Search and rescue crews including divers responded to the area this morning and are still on scene. The wreckage from the plane has been located but the pilot has not yet been found, according to the most recent update. While there were reports of it being a single-engine plane, authorities cannot confirm that information at this time as the aircraft is submerged. There were several witness accounts of the crash from boaters on the lake. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Crews are expected to be on the scene for several hours as they look for any passengers, work to secure the wreckage, and check for a possible fuel leak. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post 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 ABC4 Utah. How U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expects to fill the capability and capacity gaps that will be created by the planned retirement of U-28A Draco and Beechcraft King Air-based surveillance aircraft is coming under increasing scrutiny. SOCOM and U.S. Air Force officials have repeatedly stressed that while ditching the U-28As and King Airs will free up resources to help field its new OA-1K Sky Warden light attack aircraft, the latter is not a replacement for the former. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, confirmed to The War Zone earlier this week that it is currently conducting a classified review of SOCOMs decision to divest the U-28As and King Air-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, the latter of which are often referred to collectively as MC-12s. This is separate from GAOs already extensive and still ongoing assessments of the Armed Overwatch program that led to the OA-1K, a single turboprop-engined light attack aircraft based on the Air Tractor AT-802 crop duster. The OA-1K Sky Warden. L3Harris SOCOM told us that their decisions about Armed Overwatch occurred separate from their decisions to divest of existing aircraft, a GAO spokesperson told The War Zone. We are separately conducting a classified assessment of SOCOMs process for how it decided to divest of ISR aircraft. SOCOM plans to divest two ISR platforms. Subsequently, some personnel and resources from the platforms will be used to support Armed Overwatch, GAO said in an unclassified summary of its assessments to date of the Armed Overwatch program that was released earlier this month. However, GAO found that SOCOM has not taken steps to plan for, or add, critical ISR capabilities provided by soon-to-be divested aircraft. Also, SOCOM has not addressed risks associated with the loss of these capabilities if the new aircraft does not provide them. A U-28A Draco. USAF MC-12W Liberty aircraft like the one seen here are among the ISR-configured Beechcraft King Air variants currently in service across the U.S. special operations community. USAF The exact sizes of the current U-28A and King Air ISR fleets are not entirely clear. In a report published in December 2023, GAO said that close to 40 U-28As and around 15 ISR-configured King Airs remained in service. The Draco is a militarized version of the Pilatus PC-12M single-engine turboprop, while the members of the Beechcraft King Air family are twin-engine turboprop types. U-28As and MC-12s carry different, but similar mixes of sensors, including electro-optical and infrared video cameras and signals intelligence (SIGINT) suites. A graph showing the OA-1K (Armed Overwatch), MC-12, and U-28 fleet sizes as of Fiscal Year 2023 and how they are expected to change by the end of the decade. GAO There is also uncertainty now around the expected size of the OA-1K fleet. In its Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal released earlier this year, SOCOM revealed plans to shrink the total Sky Warden purchases down to 62 from 75. Our requirement still remains 75 [OA-1Ks] based on what weve determined, Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, head of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), told The War Zone and others at a media roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Associations main annual conference last week. I think it still provides a cost-effective close air support platform, which is one of the missions that it was designed for. Its still going to provide an ISR capability. The OA-1K can carry camera turrets and other sensors in pods under its wings, but these will only provide limited capabilities compared to the integrated ISR suites found on the U-28A and King Air variants. As already noted, SOCOM and the Air Force have now made clear that they do not see the Sky Warden as a replacement capability-wise for any existing crewed fixed-wing surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. At the annual SOF Week conference in May, SOCOM officials said that they working on new aerial ISR requirements that could lead to more direct successor to the U-28A and King Airs. A graphic showing a maximum strike load configuration for the Sky Warden that includes a sensor pod with a pair of camera turrets. Air Tractor Inc. A core underlying issue in all of this is the broader shift in focus across the U.S. military to preparing for future high-end fights, especially a potential one against China in the Pacific, after decades of counter-terrorism and other lower-intensity missions. The U.S. special operations community, which had been at the forefront of operations during the Global War on Terror era, is at a particular watershed moment now. This has had a direct impact on planning around the OA-1K and SOCOMs crewed fixed-wing ISR fleets, as well as other special operations unique aircraft like the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. From when OA-1K was conceptualized and decided on until now, the worlds changed a little bit, Lt. Gen. Conley said last week. But as we move forward, I think theres opportunity to look at, again, some novel mission sets. how quick can we get the wings on and off it so we could use it in some sort of crisis response, if we needed to? Where does the role of SIGINT [signals intelligence], or ELINT [electronic intelligence] or some sort of ISR collect [factor in] there. I think theres opportunity for that. Again, not anything weve committed to yet. When it comes to discussions about crewed fixed-wing ISR capabilities, especially in a world full of ever-more capable and steadily proliferating air defense threats, this broader debate extends beyond just the U.S. special operations community. The U.S. Army has also been divesting significant numbers of turboprop surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, fleets that had ballooned in size in the past 15 years to support operations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. That service is now looking at a new mix of aerial ISR capabilities that includes modified business jets and high-altitude balloons. King Air-based types like the MC-12S Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) seen here are among the turboprop ISR aircraft the US Army has also been divesting in recent years. US Army AFSOCs Conley also stressed at the AFA conference this year that while the primary focus of Americas armed forces now is being ready to execute major combat operations against a near-peer opponent, this doesnt mean that lower-end missions will evaporate. A central argument behind the Armed Overwatch program has always been the value of having cheaper alternatives to tactical combat jets, bombers, and other aircraft for conducting light attack and ISR missions in permissive environments. A concept of operations like this also frees up other aircraft for higher-priority missions, or just allows them to not have to fly as much, helping to reduce maintenance and logistics costs. Aircraft like the Sky Warden have the additional benefit of being able to operate with minimal footprints at far-flung locations closer to their mission areas without the need for already heavily in-demand tanker support. That proximity also helps when it comes to time on station, which has its own cost implications. The price to operate fast jets and other aircraft for bases further afield to conduct short-endurance sorties can quickly add up. I tell my team every day [that] the Pacific is incredibly important to us for all the reasons you know, Secretary [of the Air Force Frank Kendall has put emphasis on] China, China, China we get it, the head of AFSOC explained. But weve also got a rest of world mission that Im responsible for, as well. We still have a global mission. I dont think were done in CENTCOM, he continued, referring to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations across the Middle East, which is currently in the throes of a number of major crises in which the U.S. military is embroiled to differing degrees. And I think theres probably some disconnects in how we analyze what the future fight will look like. Lt. Gen. Conley also noted that his command is still digesting the latest of GAOs assessments on OA-1K and that there is some reconciliation we still need to do with regard to the Congressional watchdogs work to date. AFSOC, as well as SOCOM, will now also have to do the same with regard to whatever comes out of GAOs separate review of the plans to shed the U-28As and King Airs, which may have new impacts on U.S. special operations aviation plans going forward. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Please help: Tampa Bay residents take to social media to get help for loved ones Please help: Tampa Bay residents take to social media to get help for loved ones TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Tampa Bay residents and their loved ones took to social media to ask for help after Hurricane Helene brought severe flooding Thursday. While Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane, it still brought significant storm surge and rainfall to the Tampa Bay area, cutting off communities. WATCH: 4 people, dog rescued from Hillsborough County flooding Trapped by floodwaters, residents attempted to get the message out on social media that they or their loved ones were in danger. One woman posted in the Madeira Beach, Florida, Facebook group that her relatives were trapped at their home on 4th Street East in Madeira Beach. My sister, her husband, and two dogs are on the roof, she wrote. Another wrote about her parents stuck on North Bayshore Drive. Meanwhile, a Tequesta, Florida resident asked for help to get her friend out of danger. My friend is disabled, she said. He is in the house with his girlfriend. Last I spoke with him water was up to the windows in his 1 story house. I think his phone was losing the battery charge. His name is David Heaston. Over in Hudson, one woman posted on a Pasco County group saying her parents, ages 84 and 87, did not evacuate and were stuck with 8 inches of water inside their house at the time. Tarpon Springs police rescue civilians from Hurricane Helenes floodwaters (Credit: Tarpon Springs Police Department) Tarpon Springs police rescue civilians from Hurricane Helenes floodwaters (Credit: Tarpon Springs Police Department) Numerous people with loved ones in New Port Richey posted in The Hub Facebook asking for someone to rescue them. One woman said her son was even stuck on the roof of a residence on Dewey Drive in New Port Richey. According to the Pasco County Sheriffs Office, around 40 people were removed from floodwaters along the US-19 corridor alone. However, rescues are happening around the clock across Tampa Bay. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911. Do you know of something newsworthy happening in your community? Report It! Send in tips, photos videos and other information 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 WFLA. 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 A post-mortem examination found the 19-year-old had been stabbed in the chest [Andy Trigg/BBC] Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man have been given more time to question three suspects. Norfolk Police were called to the ground floor flat on Lefroy Road in the Mile Cross area of Norwich at 22:40 BST on Saturday following concerns a man had been attacked. Five arrests have been made in connection with the incident, the force said. Following an application to Norwich Magistrates Court, officers have been granted more time to question a man and woman in their 50s and a man in his 20s. A post-mortem examination found the 19-year-old man from London died from a stab wound to the chest and officers believe his body was in the flat for about eight days before police were alerted. Norfolk Police said five arrests had been made in total [Andy Trigg/BBC] On Wednesday the police arrested a man and woman in their 50s on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning police made a further three arrests, including a man in his 20s, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying controlled drugs, and a man in his late teens and a man in his 50s on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. All five suspects continue to be questioned by police. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links The Huron Police Department in California pulled the little dog out of the sewage drain the animal had fallen into Huron Police Department/Facebook A puppy during and after their rescue from a sewage drain in California A rescue puppy is feeling fresh and clean again after spending time in a sewage drain. On Sept. 26, the Huron Police Department in Huron, California, posted on Facebook about a recent dog rescue that got a little stinky. According to the agency, a puppy fell into a sewage drain in Huron and couldn't get out of the smelly situation alone. The police department was called to assist the canine and shared the result of its rescue on social media. Related: Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Introduce Kitten They Nursed Back to Health After Finding Him 'Hardly Alive' Huron Police Department/Facebook The Huron Police Department saves a puppy stuck in a sewage drain "Thanks to the quick thinking and teamwork of Commander Fuentes, Sergeant Paul Lopez, and Officer Gonzalez, a puppy that had fallen into a sewage drain was rescued and is expected to make a full recovery!" the Huron Police Department wrote in the Facebook post, which also included photos of the rescue. 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. Huron Police Department/Facebook Puppy rescued from sewage drain In one picture, a police officer emerges from the drain with the puppy in hand. According to KSEE, the officer in the photo wrapped his legs in plastic before entering the drain. The little dog hardly resembles a canine because it is covered in a thick gray-black sludge. Another photo of an officer holding up the pup offers a closer look at the filth on the dog. Luckily, as the final photo shows, all the muck from the sewage drain washed off. The last picture is of the rescue puppy clean and taking a well-earned nap. Related: Abandoned Dog in Recovery After Being 'Drenched' in Motor Oil and Left 'Barely Hanging On' Huron Police Department/Facebook A puppy rescued from a sewage drain in California after receiving a bath The Huron Police Department was happy to help the dog and expressed its joy at the successful rescue online. "We're proud to have such dedicated officers on our team, always ready to serve even our four-legged community members. Great job, team!" the Huron Police Department added on Facebook. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Police identify child whose remains were found in the backyard of a Rose Hill home Police have identified the remains of the child found buried in the backyard of a home in a cul-de-sac in Rose Hill on Sept. 11. DNA has confirmed the remains are those of Kennedy Jean Schroer, who was adopted by Crystina and Joe Schroer in November 2019. Its believed she died in late 2020, Rose Hill chief Taylor Parlier said in a news release Friday morning. Kennedy was born on July 14, 2014. She was a beautiful child, with an infectious smile, Parlier said in the news release. Her remains were found in the backyard of a home in the 1400 block of North Meeker Court. The Schroers have owned the home since at least 2019, according to the earliest available online Butler County tax information. No one is in custody. We understand that many in the public might be confused how an arrest in this case has not been made, that is completely understandable, Parlier said. What we would like to convey is that we have one chance to gather as much information as possible, to find out what happened to this child and to tell her story. Why was Kennedy unaccounted for for so long? Parlier confirmed Christa Helm is Kennedys biological mother and that the girl was named Natalie Garcia at birth. Helm told KSN earlier this week that the child who died was one of three daughters she gave up for adoption. Parlier also said that Helms children were in the custody of the Schroers, but all the children in the home had been placed in protective custody. Earlier this week, he would not say how many children that was. Helm questioned in an interview with KSN how one of her children could be unaccounted for for so long. How does nobody know this child is missing? Helm, who did not respond to The Eagle earlier this week, told KSN. Why was (Kansas Department for Children and Families) not checking up on her? In response to questions earlier this week, including how a child was not accounted for for years, in an email, DCF spokesperson Erin LaRow said: DCF is treating this cases disclosure as ... a situation involving the death of a child not in the custody of the secretary. Therefore, your questions are better directed to local law enforcement, which leads the investigation and is responsible for filing any charges, if warranted, in the case. When asked how Kennedy went unaccounted for for so long, Parlier said: Accounting for the child is the primary focus of the investigation at this time and therefore I cannot speak more to that question. Childs remains found during mental health call Police first learned a child was buried in the backyard of the home after responding to a Sept. 10 mental health call where an adult at the residence threatened to harm themselves. Two other adults and two children were inside as well. Police eventually took the person, who was barricaded, into custody. That person was then taken to the hospital and has since been released, Parlier said. The body was found buried 3 feet deep in the backyard the next day. Police ruled it a homicide. A childs remains were found buried in a Rose Hill backyard. How police discovered them HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Madisonville Police say one man was arrested on Thursday night after he allegedly stabbed another man in the 600 block of Scott Street. Officers were dispatched to the address at approximately 9:45 p.m. in reference to a male attempting to stab another male. At the scene, police say individuals at the scene identified Steven Campbell, 42, as the suspect. Police say they also located an injured man who said he needed an ambulance. The injured man told authorities he went to the home about a verbal altercation Campbell had with another individual. He said the two of them went outside, with Campbell brandishing a knife. He said he tried to get away, but he fell, and Campbell began stabbing his arm. Authorities say Campbell was intoxicated at the time of his arrest. He has been charged with assault and alcohol intoxication in a public 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Stolen ambulance taken on joy ride through town, stops at YSU WARREN TWP., Ohio (WKBN) Warren Township Police are investigating after a township ambulance was taken from one of its fire stations. The ambulance was later found at Homestead Park in Youngstown. Earlier, it had been spotted trying to get into the Wick Avenue Parking Deck at Youngstown State University, but it was too large to fit through. A university spokesperson said the ambulance caused minor damage to a sign near the parking deck in the process. Police Chief Benjamin Harrell said the ambulance was taken from Station 49 on North River Road. He says it was last seen by personnel at the station around 4 p.m. Thursday and was captured on a nearby business surveillance video driving away from the station after 5 a.m. Friday. We are still trying to figure out how this happened. I mean, our buildings are very well secured, said Warren Township Trustee Ed Anthony. Outside the station where the ambulance was taken. The discovery was made several hours later when a passerby noticed a garage door at the station was open and reported it. Township Trustee Ed Anthony says Fire Chief Joe Natali went to check on the station and found an ambulance was missing. We got her back, shes safe, said Capt. Julie Knowlton, with the Warren Township Fire Department. The ambulance is a little banged up. The light bar is broken and a back step bumper was found about 23 miles south in Youngstown. Ambulance at YSU parking deck (Courtesy: Ryan Fritch via Report It) Its bee unnerving and scary knowing our ambulance is out here with our name on it doing God knows what through God knows where, Knowlton said. It appears as if the ambulance was just taken on a lengthy joy ride. Kowltown said from what they could tell, all the electronics and the medications that were on board the ambulance were still there. Thats what it appears like until they do an investigation and figure out who did this and question them, Knowlton said. Jacob Thompson and Chelsea Simeon 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. Police Said Teacher Raped Student, Then Made Him Drive Because She Was Too Drunk. Now She's Going to Prison Jessica Lawson was arrested in November 2023 after allegedly telling the teen to drive her car because she was too drunk Madison County Jail Jessica Lawson An Idaho high school teacher was sentenced to at least two years in prison and could serve up to 20 after pleading guilty to sexual battery of a child. Jessica Lawson, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of that charge as part of a plea agreement, according to online court records. As part of the agreement, a judge dismissed charges of dispensing alcohol to a minor and delivering a controlled substance, records indicate. Lawson was arrested in St. Anthony, Idaho, in November 2023 after she was sitting in the passengers seat of a car being driven by a teenage boy that was pulled over by police, police said, according to reports from the Idaho State Journal, East Idaho News and Local News 8. Police alleged that Lawson had instructed the boy to drive because she was too inebriated, the outlets reported. Related: Teacher Accused of Raping Teen Boy Was Arrested in Traffic Stop He Was Driving Because She Was Drunk: Police The car was pulled over because of a broken taillight, the State Journal reported, citing court records. Police reportedly alleged that the boy admitted to having marijuana. East Idaho News reported that the boys parents told police that Lawson had picked up their son the night before and that he admitted to having been given alcohol and marijuana before the two had sex. 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. Police then interviewed the boy, the outlet reported, and he said the two had sex. Lawson is a former teacher at South Fremont High School. She will serve a minimum of two years in prison. East Idaho News reports that she was also given a 20-year no contact order with the victim. 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. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, 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. Police search for armed and dangerous suspect in Lancaster murder case Lancaster police said Thursday that Lamonta Dishanior Roberts, 31, who is armed and dangerous, is wanted in the killing Jelani Jackson. PAST COVERAGE: 18-year-old recent high school student shot, killed in Lancaster On Sept. 4, deputies found Jackson, who was shot, on Clinton Avenue. He died at a hospital. Roberts is facing several charges, including murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He also violated his federal probation, police said. If you see him, call 911, police said. There has already been an arrest in the murder case. Kenyan Blair, 18, was charged on Sept. 11 with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was already in jail on other charges. ST. LOUIS Police are asking for help to find two men involved in a shooting. The incident happened on September 23 around 9 p.m. at a Phillips 66 gas station on Salisbury Street. No one was hurt, but a womans car was hit by bullets. One suspect is described as a man in his early 20s. He wore a black hoodie, black pants with white stripes, an orange and yellow safety vest, and white and yellow Nike Jordan shoes. The other suspect is also in his early 20s and wore a black hoodie with the hood up, a black mask, light-colored jeans, and black shoes. The men were in a white or light grey Nissan sedan. The car has a black roof, black wheels, and a spoiler. It looks like theres damage to the front right side of the car. If you know anything about this, please call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477) or the police at 314-444-2500. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROTHEFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) Police are searching for a man who allegedly attempted to abduct a woman from her car in Black Mountain last week. According to the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, the attempted abduction happened just before midnight September 17, at the intersection of Broadway Street and Sutton Avenue. Deputies said a Hispanic male had entered the womans car and grabbed her from behind while she was driving. The woman then pulled into a Shell gas station on 202 NC Highway 9. The male suspect immediately fled the scene on foot towards Sutton Avenue. Officials reported that the suspect is younger and stands between 56 and 59 tall, weighing around 150 pounds. He also had long, dark hair and was wearing a trucker style hat with a tiger logo on the front. Anyone with information about the attempted abduction is asked to call 911 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 WSPA 7NEWS. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Honolulu Police Department opened an attempted murder investigation after an incident Thursday afternoon in Kalihi. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Two adult males said a man intentionally drove his car into them near Democrat and Mokauea Streets at 5:30 p.m. One of the men suffered minor injuries. The driver, reportedly a 42-year-old man, drove off. HPD continues its 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 KHON2. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) An 81-year-old woman who had been reported missing after leaving her home Wednesday night has been found. According to Trumbull County Dispatch, the woman is safe and is back home. There were concerns because the woman had been without her needed medication when she left the home. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Police have shot and injured a suspect in the Woodlawn Neighborhood Thursday evening, authorities said. According to Portland police, the incident happened at 6:21 p.m. in the 7000 block of Northeast 17th Avenue. Officials ID capsized boater, now presumed dead No officers were hurt. The suspect was transported by ambulance to a hospital. He is in police custody at the hospital. The investigation is ongoing and several blocks around Northeast 17th Avenue and Northeast Bryant Street closed during the investigation, officials said. The Portland Police Bureau said in a release that officers were attempting to arrest the suspect, whose identity has not been released, when the shooting happened. The suspect, a man, is accused of violent felonies involving a firearm, officials said. PPB said there was an exchange of gunfire when members of the Major Crimes Unit Detectives and Members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team approached the suspect to arrest him. Though police didnt make it clear as to whether the suspect fired his gun or not during the incident, they did say officers recovered a semiautomatic handgun used by the suspect that was seized as evidence. Police released a photo of the gun, seen on a vehicle seat and surrounded by broken glass. Three PPB officers assigned to SERT discharged firearms and injured the suspect, PPB said. The suspect was given trauma first aid by an on-scene SERT paramedic until EMS arrived to provide advanced care and the suspect was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He remains at the hospital under police guard. A suspect gun recovered from a crime a scene amid an officer-involved shooting. September 26, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau). In an incident in the Woodlawn Neighborhood resulted in police shooting and injuring a suspect on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 (KOIN). PPB homicide detectives also responded to the scene. The three officers who fired their weapons will be placed on paid administrative leave, per standard protocol, officials said. Chief Bob Day released a statement about the shooting, saying in part that PPB is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the use of deadly force. As always I want to affirm the sanctity of life, and I recognize that any time police officers use deadly force in the course of their work, it understandably causes concern in our community, Day said. Proactively investigating violent crime is essential to reduce crime and the fear of crime and Im committed that the Police Bureau will conduct a thorough investigation. This is a developing story. KOIN 6 News will update this article if 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 KOIN.com. Police say shooting into house tied to drug activity SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) The Salem Police Department is investigating a shooting incident that took place early Thursday morning. Officers responded to the 500 block of N. Ellsworth Avenue just before 2 a.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting. Reports state no one was injured, but several rounds were fired into a home. Authorities tell First News the home that was shot at was previously linked to drug activity and was recently an involved location at a Columbiana County Drug Task Force investigation. They believe it was a targeted attack. The incident remains under investigation by detectives. Anyone with more information is asked to call the Salem Police Department at 330-227-7811. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The fallout continues from former president Donald Trumps unfounded claims that immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Now people in Springfield, Missouri are being impacted by the claims Trump made during his Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. On Wednesday, the Jamaican Patty Company, which has been serving the Ozarks since 2018, received a disgruntled call even though they have nothing to do with the claims. DeSean Howard is one of the owners and answered the phone, expecting a customer to place an order on the other end. She took it upon herself to call the store, which clearly is called Jamaican Patty Co. That was pretty strange, but, you know, it just was disappointing at the same time. The phone call came one day after a Haitian nonprofit community group, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, in Ohio filed criminal charges against former president Trump and his running mate JD Vance. So, we received a call yesterday around 1:30, 2 p.m., the call was from a caller that sounded very upset, Howard said. She wanted to know why we came together and filed a lawsuit against Trump/Vance ticket. 10 haunted houses and corn mazes you must see Howard, one of the owners of the JPC, said the call ended before he had the chance to set the woman straight. She just went off on me, and I said, hey, hold up. Were Jamaicans, were not Haitians. And then she paused for a second, Howard said. I was going to tell her that, you know, we dont support that kind of stuff, but she hung up. Wednesdays caller is not the only one who believed the claims about immigrants eating pets and connected them to Springfield, Missouri. I was shocked to find out Missouri is the place eating dogs. What is going on there? That is one voicemail from at least twelve phone calls the city of Springfield has received on its office phones since the debate. Howard says Jamaican Patty Company is hoping to turn this negative into a positive and speak out against misinformation. The most important thing for me is to highlight the issues so that we can have a conversation about it because its something that a lot of people do not support, Howard 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Photo illustration by Eric Thomas for Kansas Reflector According to new poll findings from strategic communications firm Climate Power, climate change is a major priority among Black voters in battleground states, with climate and energy issues serving as a major motivator to vote. The poll, conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based research firm HIT Strategies, surveyed 1,000 Black registered voters across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. HIT_Climate-Power_Battleground_Black_voters_9.20.2024 According to the findings, 58% of Black voters in battleground states view climate change as a major priority, with 29% saying it was somewhat of a priority in their voted decisions for the 2024 presidential election. 14% responded it was a low priority, or not a priority for their decision. While the poll found Vice President Kamala Harris has a solid lead over former President Donald Trump among Black voters in battleground states, climate and energy also proved to be a winning issue for the Democratic nominee, with more than 80% of voters saying they trusted Harris over Trump on issues of clean energy and climate change. Black battleground voters, particularly baby boomers, reported both high levels of motivation to vote, as well as high levels of empowerment that their vote could create change. However, messaging on clean energy and climate change increased motivation for 33% of Black voters. Additionally, support for Harris grew across all age groups after exposure to climate change and clean energy messaging, with a particular impact among young voters. Polling found that Black swing voters tend to be nonpartisan, Gen Z and men, groups with whom Harris still sees strong support. Among these swing voters 31% listed climate change as their top or major priority in the election, while 39% said it was somewhat of a priority. Polling also found that Black voters strongly preferred candidates who supported efforts on climate and clean energy than candidates who supported relying on oil and gas, with 79% of voters surveyed saying theyd be more likely to support a candidate who would reduce our reliance on foreign oil, lower electricity bills, and would create good-paying, union jobs across the country while protecting the country from the impacts of climate change and pollution. In contrast, 21% of Black voters said they would support a candidate who says that America has the oil and gas resources to be energy independent if we just use them and will fight to get rid of environmental regulations and red tape that are driving up prices, destroying jobs in the fossil fuel industry, and hurting Americans pocketbooks. When polled on Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundations list of far-right policy priorities crafted for a future Republican presidential administration, a majority of Black swing voters expressed concern. Sixty-six percent of swing voters said they were somewhat or very concerned by the following statement: Donald Trumps extremist Project 2025 will harm our communities and put our children in grave danger. It would eliminate the National Weather Service as we know it, which alerts us about storms, fires, and other extreme weather events. Trumps allies would dismantle environmental protections, allowing corporate polluters to dump toxic waste into our rivers and skies. Project 2025 would lead to 1.7 million lost jobs in our communities. We must vote against Trump and prevent his extremist agenda from harming our families. While Trump has repeatedly denied any connection to Project 2025, a review from CNN found that 140 members of the Trump administration, including six former cabinet secretaries, were listed as authors, editors and contributors on the efforts 900-plus page Mandate for Leadership. According to a report from the Washington Post, the former president also flew with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to a conference in 2022 where Trump delivered a speech pointing to the foundations not-yet-released policy proposals, saying Theyre going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do. From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch Happy Friday! Election Day is 39 days away. Nows your chance to grab one of your very own Trump watches, and you could pay as much as $100,000. The watches, which the former president promoted Thursday, are not directly sold by Trump or his business conglomerate and are not affiliated with his campaign, per the sellers website. But they do use Trumps brand under a paid license agreement. Up to Speed A grand jury indicted multiple Iranians on charges related to an operation from that country that allegedly hacked into internal communications of former President Donald Trumps campaign over the summer, Politico reported Thursday. Federal authorities said earlier this month that Iranian malicious cyber actors sent unsolicited emails to news outlets and to President Joe Bidens campaign (when he was still in the race) containing stolen information from the Trump campaign. Hackers from the country allegedly tried unsuccessfully to hack into the Biden campaign as well. Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York this morning, two days after the former president accused the foreign leader of casting little, nasty aspersions toward him. Also on Wednesday, Trumps running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, criticized Zelensky for telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. Trumps opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, met with Zelensky on Thursday. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is now spending money in ruby-red Nebraska, where incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer is fending off an unexpectedly competitive challenge from independent Dan Osborn, an industrial mechanic and local union official who served in the Navy. The NRSC will help Trump-endorsed Deb Fischer fight back against the left-wing smear campaign national Democrats are waging against her, NRSC spokesman Mike Berg said in a statement shared with Dispatch Politics . A SurveyUSA poll released this week showed Osborn narrowly leading Fischer. But Republican insiders in Washington monitoring this race say Fischer has the lead. The NRSCs support for the senators campaign is, they tell us, akin to political insurance, given the significant resources being invested in Nebraska on Osborns behalf, including by prominent Democratic donor Reid Hoffman. Several New York Democratic House candidates on Thursday called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign in the wake of his indictment on corruption charges. John Avlon, Mondaire Jones, Josh Riley, and Laura Gillen hope to unseat vulnerable Republicans in November, and all four made such statements. Gillen in particular used the news to hit her opponent, Rep. Anthony DEsposito, who reportedly kept his lover on his congressional payroll. Jones, Riley, and Gillen are all running in toss-up districts per the Cook Political Report, while Avlons is likely Republican. A trio of Kansas Republicans has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Fox News reports: former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, former state Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, and Deanell Reece Tacha, a retired federal judge. This election presents a stark choice that is not easy for any of us, the three said in a joint statement. But, it requires Republicans speaking out and putting country over party when those values are at stake. Gallup Poll Finds Fewer GOP Voters Trust Election Results People vote on the first day of Virginia's in-person early voting at Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center on September 20, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) The 2024 presidential election remains a toss-up by any reasonable metric. Polls show a tight race in all seven battleground states, and there are numerous plausible combinations of Electoral College victories for both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Partisans may not like the idea of their side losing the White House, but the truth is either Harris or Trump could win. Thats what makes a new report about public confidence in election results from Gallup notableand alarming. The storied public opinion polling firm has asked the same question every four years (except once, in 2012) since 2004: How confident are you that, across the country, the votes for president will be accurately cast and counted in this years election? That 2004 election year was a high-water mark for public confidence, with 72 percent of American adults saying they were either very or somewhat confident and just 21 percent saying they were not too confident and 6 percent saying they were not confident at all. Twenty years later, Gallup has found, the picture has changed. While the majority of Americans still say they have confidence in the elections integrity, the number of those who say they are either not too confident or not at all confident has risen considerably. Just 57 percent say they will be very or somewhat confident in the accuracy of the election results, with 24 percent saying they are not too confident and a whopping 19 percent saying they are not confident at all. The finding suggests any of the possible outcomes could be viewed with suspicion by a significant number of Americans, but the partisan breakdown of this shift tells the bigger story: Republicans, after years of rhetoric from Trump, other elected officials, and conservative movement leaders, are the least likely to have confidence in the accuracy of elections. The suggestions by some political leaders that the election could be illegitimate have only intensified this year. In May, for instance, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas pushed back on a question during an appearance on CNN about whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election unconditionally, finally relenting by saying, If the Democrats win, I will accept the result, but Im not going to ignore fraud regardless of what happens. Two months later, Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation said during an event that As things stand right now, theres zero chance of a free and fair election. And just this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson attached plenty of conditions when he was asked if he would commit to observing regular order in the certification of the Electoral College vote if Harris defeated Trump. Well, of course, the Republican leader said, if we have a free, fair and safe election, were going to follow the Constitution. It wasnt always this way. In Gallups 2004 survey, it was Democrats relative lack of confidence bringing down those numbers, with just 59 percent saying they were very or somewhat confident, while 69 percent of independents and 87 percent of Republicans said the same thing. But over the past two decades, Republican confidence has plummeted, dropping to 57 percent in 2008, 44 percent in 2020, and now just 28 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, Democrats have reversed themselves from being the least confident to the most confident, with that figure up to 84 percent in 2024. (Independents have been relatively steady in their views, down from 2004 but nevertheless in the middle at 58 percent saying they are very or somewhat confident.) There are some signs of more universal confidence, writes Gallups Lydia Saad: Americans are far more positive about the integrity of the vote at their own polling place, as 76% say they are very or somewhat confident the votes will be accurately cast and counted there. While there is also a partisan difference on this question, it is much narrower, with 90% of Democrats, 71% of independents and 70% of Republicans confident. But that simply underscores how little trust there is among Republicans in this upcoming national election. Gallup found that roughly three quarters of Republicans say they think illegal or fraudulent voting and votes cast by ineligible voters will be a major problem in the upcoming election. The same number of Democrats, meanwhile, say they think it will be a major problem that candidates who lost will refuse to concede, a reasonable concern given Trumps refusal to do so in 2020. Still, in anticipation of a possible loss, the Republican partys institutions are gearing up to sow doubt about the results, focusing on the post-election legal fight at the expense of its get-out-the-vote efforts to actually win. And if Gallups numbers are to be believed, GOP leaders will find a sizable number of their own voters are ready to follow them down that path. Eyes on the Trail President Joe Biden heads to Scranton, Pennsylvania, for an afternoon event, the details of which havent yet been announced. From Scranton, Biden heads to his seaside retreat in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Vice President Kamala Harris travels to Douglas, Arizona, for a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. She will receive a briefing on operations and progress on disrupting the flow of fentanyl through the southern border and deliver remarks afterward. From Arizona, Harris travels to San Francisco, where on Saturday she is scheduled to participate in an unspecified political event, after which she heads to Los Angeles. On Sunday, the vice president is set to participate in a second unspecified political event in Los Angeles, and then travels to Las Vegas, where she will host a campaign rally. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, heads to Michigan Stadium, aka The Big House, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Saturday to attend the University of Michigans game against the University of Minnesota and speak with students about the power of their vote and the importance of registering to vote ahead of the November election, according to the campaign. Former President Donald Trump will deliver remarks on the economy Friday afternoon in Walker, Michigan. In the evening, Trump heads to Warren, Michigan, to host what his campaign is billing as a town hall meeting. On Saturday morning, Trump will deliver remarks in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he will also meet with community leaders and residents to discuss the impacts of illegal immigration. And on Sunday afternoon, Trump will host a rally in Erie, a key battleground in all-important Pennsylvania. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio will headline a town hall meeting in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Saturday afternoon hosted by prominent Texas televangelist Lance Wallnau, a Trump supporter who has described the former president as Gods chaos candidate. In the evening, the Republican vice presidential nominee will head to Newtown, Pennsylvania, where he will headline a Trump campaign rally and discuss energy issues. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard headline a Trump campaign Reclaim America Tour event Saturday evening in Dearborn, Michigan. Kennedy, an ex-Democrat, waged an independent bid for president this year until he dropped out and endorsed Trump. Gabbard is a former Democrat who sought her old partys presidential nomination in 2020. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is scheduled Friday afternoon to headline a Trump campaign event at an undisclosed location that is focused on black empowerment and financial literacy. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Saturday will head to suburban Philadelphia to headline a Harris campaign event focused on reproductive rights. On Sunday, Shapiro will be in North Carolina campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein. Notable and Quotable They never think about what might happen when the shoe is on the other foot. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Vice President Kamala Harris call to eliminate the filibuster in order to codify Roe v. Wade, September 26, 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. As response rates drop, pollsters are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to determine what voters are thinking ahead of Election Day, not only asking the questions but sometimes to help answer them. (Courtesy of Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Days after President Joe Biden announced he would not be seeking re-election, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, polling organization Siena College Research Institute sought to learn how persuadable voters were feeling about Harris. In their survey, a 37-year-old Republican explained that they generally favored Trump for his ability to get [things] done one way or another. Who do you think cares about people like you? How do they compare in terms of caring about people like you? the pollster asked. Thats where I think Harris wins, I lost a lot of faith in Trump when he didnt even contact the family of the supporter who died at his rally, the 37-year-old said. Pollsters pressed this participant and others across the political spectrum to further explain their stances, and examine the nuance behind choosing a candidate. The researchers saw in real time how voters may sway depending on the issue, and asked follow-up questions about their belief systems. But the persuadable voters werent talking to a human pollster. They were conversing with an AI chatbot called Engage. The speed in which election cycles move, coupled with a steep drop of people participating in regular phone or door-to-door polls, have caused pollsters to turn to artificial intelligence for insights, both asking the questions and sometimes even answering them Why do we poll? The history of polling voters in presidential races goes back 200 years, to the 1824 race which ultimately landed John Quincy Adams in the White House. White men began polling each other at events leading up to the election, and newspapers began reporting the results, though they didnt frame the results as predictive of the outcome of the election. In modern times, polling for public opinion has become a business. Research centers, academic institutions and news conglomerates themselves have been conducting polls during election season for decades. Though their accuracy has limitations, the practice is one of the only ways to gauge how Americans may be thinking before they vote. Polling plays a different role for different groups, said Rachel Cobb, an assistant professor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University. For campaign workers, polling groups of voters helps provide insight into the issues people care about the most right now, and informs how candidates talk about those issues. Its why questions at a presidential debate usually arent a surprise to candidates moderators tend to ask questions about the highest-polling topics that week. For news outlets, polls help give context to current events and give anchors numbers to illustrate a story. Constant polling also helps keep a 24-hour news cycle going. And for regular Americans, poll results help them gauge where the race is, and either activate or calm their nerves, depending on if their candidate is polling favorably. But Cobb said she, like many of her political science colleagues, has observed a drop in responses to more traditional style of polling. Its much harder and more expensive for pollsters to do their job, because people arent answering their phones or their front doors. The time invested in getting the appropriate kind of balance of people that you need in order to determine accuracy has gotten greater and so and theyve had to come up with more creative ways to get them, Cobb said. At the same time, our technological capacity has increased. How AI is assisting in polling? The speed of information has increased exponentially with social media and 24-hour news cycles, and polls have had to keep up, too. Though they bring value in showing insights for a certain group of people, their validity is fleeting because of that speed, Cobb said. Results are truly only representative of that moment in time, because one breaking news story could quickly change public opinion. That means pollsters have to work quickly, or train artificial intelligence to keep up. Leib Litman, co-CEO and chief research officer of CloudResearch, which created the chatbot tool Engage, said AI has allowed them to collect answers so much faster than before. Were able to interview thousands of people within a matter of a couple hours, and then all of that data that we get, all those conversations, were also able to analyze it, and derive the insights very, very quickly, he said. Engage was developed about a year ago and can be used in any industry where you need to conduct market research via interviews. But its become especially useful in this election cycle as campaigns attempt to learn how Americans are feeling at any given moment. The goal isnt to replace human responses with AI, rather to use AI to reach more people, Litman said. But some polling companies are skipping interviewing and instead relying on something called sentiment analysis AI to analyze publically available data and opinions. Think tank Heartland Forward recently worked with AI-powered polling group Aaru to determine the public perception of artificial intelligence. The prediction AI company uses geographical and demographic data of an area and scrapes publicly available information, like tweets or voting records, to simulate respondents of a poll. The algorithm uses all this information to make assertions about how a certain demographic group may vote or how they may answer questions about political issues. This type of poll was a first for Heartland Forward, and its executive vice president Angie Cooper said they paired the AI-conducted poll with in-person gatherings where they conducted more traditional polls. When we commissioned the poll, we didnt know what the results were going to yield, she said. What we heard in person closely mirrored the poll results. Sentiment Analysis The Aaru poll is an example of sentiment analysis AI, which uses machine learning and large language models to analyze the meaning and tone behind text. It includes training an algorithm to not just understand literally whats in a body of text, but also to seek out hidden messaging or context, like humans do in conversation. The general public started interacting with this type of AI in about 2010, said Zohaib Ahmed, founder of Resemble AI, which specializes in voice generation AI. Sentiment analysis AI is the foundation behind search engines that can read a request and make recommendations, or to get your Alexa device to fulfill a command. Between 2010 and 2020, though, the amount of information collected on the internet has increased exponentially. Theres so much more data for AI models to process and learn from, and technologists have taught it to process contextual, between-the-lines information. The concept behind sentiment analysis is already well understood by pollsters, says Bruce Schneier, a security technologist and lecturer at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School. In June, Schneier and other researchers published a look into how AI was playing a role in political polling. Most people think polling is just asking people questions and recording their answers, Schneier said, but theres a lot of math between the questions people answer and the poll results. All of the work in polling is turning the answers that humans give into usable data, Schneier said. You have to account for a few things: people lie to pollsters, certain groups may have been left out of a poll, and response rates are overall low. Youre also applying polling statistics to the answers to come up with consumable data. All of this is work that humans have had to do themselves before technology and computing helped speed up the process. In the Harvard research, Schneier and the other authors say they believe AI will get better at anticipating human responses, and knowing when it needs human intervention for more accurate context. Currently, they said, humans are our primary respondents to polls, and computers fill in the gaps. In the future, though, well likely see AI filling out surveys and humans filling in the gaps. I think AI should be another tool in the pollsters mathematical toolbox, which has been getting more complex for the past several decades, Schneier said. Pros and cons of AI-assisted polling AI polling methods bring pollsters more access and opportunity to gauge public reaction. Those who have begun using it in their methodology said that theyve struggled to get responses from humans organically, or they dont have the time and resources to conduct in-person or telephone polling. Being interviewed by an anonymous chatbot may also provide more transparent answers for controversial political topics. Litman said personal, private issues such as health care or abortion access are where their chatbot really shines. Women, in particular, have reported that they feel more comfortable sharing their true feelings about these topics when talking to a chatbot, he said. But, like all methodology around polling, its possible to build flaws into AI-assisted polling. The Harvard researchers ran their own experiment asking ChatGPT 3.5 questions about the political climate, and found shortcomings when it asked about U.S. intervention in the Ukraine war. Because the AI model only had access to data up through 2021, the answers missed all of the current context about Russias invasion beginning in 2022. Sentiment analysis AI may also struggle with text thats ambiguous, and it cant be counted on for reviewing developing information, Ahmed said. For example, the X timeline following one of the two assassination attempts of Trump probably included favorable or supportive messages from politicians across the aisle. An AI algorithm might read the situation and conclude that all of those people are very pro-Trump. But it doesnt necessarily mean theyre navigating towards Donald Trump, Ahmed said. It just means, you know, theres sympathy towards an event thats happened, right? But that event is completely missed by the AI. It has no context of that event occurring, per se. Just like phone-call polling, AI-assisted polling can also potentially leave whole groups of people out of surveys, Cobb said. Those who arent comfortable using a chatbot, or arent very active online will be excluded from public opinion polls if pollsters move most of their methods online. Its very nuanced, Ahmed said of AI polling. I think it can give you a pretty decent, high-level look at whats happening, and I guarantee that its being used by election teams to understand their position in the race, but we have to remember we exist in bubbles, and it can be misleading. Both the political and technology experts agreed that as with most other facets of our lives, AI has found its way into polling and we likely wont look back. Technologists should aim to further train AI models to understand human sentiment, they say, and pollsters should continue to pair it with human responses for a fuller scope of public opinion. Science of polling is huge and complicated, Schneier said. And adding AI to the mix is another tiny step down a pathway weve been walking for a long time using, you know, fancy math combined with human data. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pope Francis delivers a speech during a papal visit to the Royal Castle in Laeken, Brussels. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa In a speech in Brussels on Friday, Pope Francis denounced the sexual abuse of minors by priests as a "disgrace" that the Catholic Church must seek forgiveness for. "The church must be ashamed," the pope said in a surprise departure from his speech at the Castle of Laeken. The pontiff, visibly moved, added that the church must "do everything - everything possible - so that this does not happen again." Pope Francis was meeting Belgian King Philippe as well as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the start of his three-day visit to Belgium. The Belgian prime minister had sharp words for the pope, telling the head of the Catholic Church that words are not enough and that "concrete steps must also be taken." "The victims must be heard. They should be at the centre. They have a right to the truth," De Croo said in his speech to welcome the pope. The Belgian king spoke similarly, noting that while the pope is taking action "it has taken far too long to begin looking for ways to repair the irreparable." Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with a group of 15 victims of clerical sexual abuse. Jean-Marc Turine, a Belgian writer, director, and member of the group, told dpa the victims want the pope to admit that the Catholic Church was responsible for the abuse. "The Church has to take this on board, really take it on board," Turine said. He said that the Church must stop protecting rapist priests, alleging this "has very often been the case." "The pope has never spoken with victims" in Belgium, Turine added, calling on the church to provide proper financial compensation. The sexual abuse "destroyed the lives" of many people, he said. The timing and location of the meeting between the group of victims and the pope has not been disclosed. The pope is addressing a number of issues on the trip, including migration, climate change and the Ukraine war. It is Francis' 46th international trip as pope. He was in Luxembourg on Thursday. The pontiff later plans to mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven on Friday, founded in 1425. On Saturday, he is due to visit the partner Catholic University in Louvain-La-Neuve. The pope also plans to meet bishops and members of the Catholic community at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Koekelberg in Brussels. The pontiff plans to say Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday. 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." Pope Francis delivers a speech during a papal visit to the Royal Castle in Laeken, Brussels. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa In a speech in Brussels on Friday, Pope Francis denounced the sexual abuse of minors by priests as a "disgrace" that the Catholic Church must seek forgiveness for. "The church must be ashamed," the pope said in a surprise departure from his speech at the Castle of Laeken. The pontiff, visibly moved, added that the church must "do everything - everything possible - so that this does not happen again." Pope Francis was meeting Belgian King Philippe as well as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the start of his three-day visit to Belgium. The Belgian prime minister had a sharp welcome for the pope, telling the head of the Catholic Church that words are not enough and that "concrete steps must also be taken." "The victims must be heard. They should be at the centre. They have a right to the truth," De Croo said in his speech to welcome the pope. The Belgian king spoke similarly, noting that while the pope is taking action "it has taken far too long to begin looking for ways to repair the irreparable." Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with a group of 15 victims of clerical sexual abuse later on Friday. Jean-Marc Turine, a Belgian writer, director, and member of the group, told dpa the victims want the pope to admit that the Catholic Church was responsible for the abuse. "The Church has to take this on board, really take it on board," Turine said. He said that the Church must stop protecting rapist priests, alleging this "has very often been the case." "The pope has never spoken with victims" in Belgium, Turine added, calling on the church to provide proper financial compensation. The sexual abuse "destroyed the lives" of many people, he said. The timing and location of the meeting between the group of victims and the pope has not been disclosed. The pope is addressing a number of issues on the trip, including migration, climate change and the Ukraine war. It is Francis' 46th international trip as pope. He was in Luxembourg on Thursday. In Leuven, the pope attended a ceremony marking the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven's foundation in 1425. The pontiff blessed the clergy and university professors present. The pope also thanked the university for welcoming refugees and met with a small group of refugee students. On Saturday, he is due to visit the partner Catholic University in Louvain-La-Neuve. The pope also plans to meet bishops and members of the Catholic community at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Koekelberg in Brussels. The pontiff plans to say Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday. 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." Pope Francis has been welcomed to Belgium with powerful speeches from both the prime minister and the king condemning the Catholic Churchs handling of sexual abuse. It was some of the most direct criticism levelled at the Church by a countrys leaders on the issue during a papal visit, with both King Philippe and Alexander de Croo alluding to the pontiffs own responsibility in bringing about justice. The Pope acknowledged their comments, saying the Church must be ashamed but said it was a matter that was being dealt with firmly and decisively. Late on Friday, behind closed doors, the Pope met 15 survivors of abuse by members of the Catholic Church. At the Palace of Laeken the Pope looked on solemnly as first the king of the Belgians and then the prime minister were unusually forthright in their comments about the body that he leads. It has taken far too long for the cries to be heard and acknowledged. It has taken far too long to begin looking for ways to repair the irreparable, King Philippe said of victims of Church abuse. De Croo then talked of the damage that had been done by the hundreds of sexual abuse cases associated with the Catholic Church in Belgium. We cannot ignore the painful wounds that exist within the Catholic faith community and wider society, he said, before addressing Pope Francis personally. You are committed to justice, but there is still a long way to go, said the prime minister. Today, words alone do not suffice. We also need concrete steps." The Pope is visiting Belgium mainly to celebrate the 600th anniversary of two Catholic universities, but to some extent the trip has been overshadowed by long-running child abuse scandals, which have had a profound impact on the country. Pope Francis was given a warm welcome in the university city of Leuven [ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP ] Last year, a high-profile Belgian television series Godvergeten (Godforsaken) focused on abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests in Flanders. It led to many hundreds of people contacting an abuse helpline and is believed to have contributed to a dramatic decline in church attendance. Survivors are calling for reparations and for the Vatican to devise a universal system for compensation, and the Belgian parliament has opened investigations into historical Church abuse cover-ups. One of the 15 survivors meeting the Pope, Aline Colpaert, told Flemish TV earlier she was looking for a concrete plan of action: I hope hes sincere, that he really listens and that my message touches him. Pope Francis applauded the speeches of both the king and prime minister, and in his own speech said clerical sexual abuse was our shame - the shame that today we must confront and beg forgiveness and resolve the problem, the shame of abuse, of the abuse of minors". He compared the scourge of abuse to the slaughter of children by King Herod. Although Pope Francis talked of the Church now taking decisive action to tackle the issue, critics contend that he could have done much more since his papacy began in 2013. Certainly the Pope has now become adept at profusely apologising for clerical abuse and has often met survivors both at the Vatican and on foreign visits. In fact, some trips like one to Canada in 2022, have been entirely built around survivors. In that case it was to say sorry to indigenous people, who as children faced family-separation and abuse at Catholic-run schools. But it has not always been the case. In 2018, he faced a wave of criticism for his vocal defence of a Chilean bishop, Juan Barros, who had been accused of covering up abuse perpetrated by a mentor of his. Pope Francis apologised for his grave mistakes in handling the situation in what was something of a watershed moment in the way he handled the issue of abuse. Since then, the Pope has made it compulsory for members of the clergy to report suspected abuse to their superiors, saying that whistleblowers must be free from intimidation though the realities of applying this globally have proved inconsistent to say the least. There have also been new rules whereby clergy who have committed abuse can defrocked. But critics have said the Pope erred too much on the side of showing mercy to such priests. They point to some cases where influential members of clergy, including some who have even admitted misconduct, have either not been suspended from public ministry or not been publicly sanctioned. At the meeting at the Vatican Embassy in Brussels, each of 15 survivors was given three minutes to address Pope Francis. The ability to have such an opportunity cannot be underestimated, but survivor groups have long wanted such meetings to lead to far better systems being in place not just to punish those who abuse, but stop the abuse happening in the first place. WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO) Joseph Ciancio-Fuchs, 31, was found guilty of three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault on September 26. Ciancio-Fuchs was convicted on his charges after a bench trial. In April 2023, Rockford Police Detectives investigated allegations of sexual assault involving two children, one being five years old during some of the assaults, between 2020 and 2022. Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault is punishable by a sentence of 6-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by 3 years to Natural Life of Mandatory Supervised Release. Convictions for two or more counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault with two separate victims are punishable by a sentence of mandatory natural life. He is expected back in court on October 11 at the Winnebago County Criminal Justice 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Authorities in Portugal have started assessing the damage in the municipalities most affected by fires in the central and northern regions of the country as plans get underway for reconstruction. The government has decided to allocate 500 million in EU funds for Portugal's reconstruction, which was a major announcement by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on Monday. "The dialogue with the President of the European Commission has led to the Commission's decision to allow Portugal to access 500 million from the cohesion funds allocated for the country over the next few years," PM Montenegro told reporters. "The funding is intended to cover the damage incurred, with a contribution and reimbursement rate that may exceptionally reach 100 per cent.," he added. With severe damage to homes, crops, and industrial facilities, the Portuguese government has said it wants the reconstruction effort to be swift and unbureaucratic. Local officials in the central region say an evaluation of the damage caused by the fires should be completed by the end of next week. Related Meanwhile, the Portuguese prime minister has said that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for deliberately setting fires in certain areas. Montenegro said the investigation will seek to determine the motivation of the suspected perpetrators and their sponsors. The PM also said a comprehensive review will be conducted of all ongoing investigations into the offense of setting forest fires. "The correlation between these incidents will be thoroughly analyzed to investigate the motivations of those arrested for this crime, ensuring that no specific interests are driving fires that are not caused by natural events or negligence," said PM Montenegro. The fires that hit the north and centre of the country last week left nine people dead and more than 160 injured. According to the Public Security Police, around 9,000 calls related to the forest fires were received daily from September 15 to 19. These fires burned around 135,000 hectares of forest between September 15 and 20, bringing the total area affected this year to nearly 147,000 hectares, marking it the third worst record in the last decade. (Bloomberg) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said hell respond next week to the Socialist Partys proposals about the 2025 budget as his minority government tries to get parliamentary backing from the biggest opposition group. Most Read from Bloomberg The proposal handed to me by the Socialist Party is radical and inflexible, Montenegro said at a conference in Mafra, Portugal, on Friday. Next week well give the Socialist Party a counterproposal that will be an attempt to bring the positions closer. He said the government wont give up its economic policy. The budget, due to be presented by Oct. 10, is a key test for the prime ministers minority administration, which took office in April after the center-right AD coalitions narrow election win over the Socialists. Premier Montenegro needs to find backing from other parties to get approval for budgets, and may have to compromise on key policies such as tax cuts to pass legislation. Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos earlier on Friday reaffirmed his party opposes the governments plan to lower corporate tax, as well as an income tax cut for young people that he described as unfair for some. Instead, the Socialists are proposing more investment in housing, higher pensions and increasing corporate tax incentives. Theres room to work and talk with the government about these proposals, Santos told reporters in Lisbon after meeting the prime minister. If these proposals are accepted, the Socialist Party is available to let the budget pass. The Socialists have just two fewer seats in parliament than the AD. Prime Minister Montenegro has said governing next year using the 2024 budget is not a solution. Both the prime minister and the Socialist leader have also said they dont want early elections. Portugal has held two snap elections in three years, in January 2022 and March of this year. Minority governments in Portugal have tended to be short-lived. In 50 years of democracy, only two have survived a full four-year term. The government, which held talks about the budget with officials from different parties earlier in September, has said it aims to post budget surpluses of about 0.2% to 0.3% of gross domestic product in the next four years, and forecasts economic growth of about 2% in 2024 and 2025. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Portugal said it wants TAP SA to keep its hub in Lisbon and routes that are strategic for the country, as the government plans a privatization of the state-owned airline. Most Read from Bloomberg We will never give up the hub in Lisbon, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said at a conference in Mafra, Portugal on Friday. If we dont have guarantees that safeguard those routes, we will take the reins of managing the operation. Thats not whats in the governments program. The government in July reaffirmed its plans to privatize TAP, adding that the terms of the sale remain to be defined. Air France-KLM, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and IAG SA, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, have publicly stated their interest in TAP. The Lisbon-based airlines biggest attraction lies in its links to Brazil, of which its the largest European provider. It also maintains a strong presence in Africa and operates a number of flights to North America. Besides carrying tourists who have been visiting Portugal in greater numbers, TAPs flights link a global diaspora of the countrys citizens and also connect the mainland to the Madeira and Azores archipelagos in the middle of the Atlantic. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Post-election violence is possible, political scientist says and it could be worse than Jan. 6 Thousands of Donald Trump supporters storm the United States Capitol building following a "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Should Americans be bracing for bloodshed if Donald Trump loses the 2024 presidential election? As a political scientist who studies American politics, I can easily imagine a repeat of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection or worse following this Novembers presidential election. Flashback to 2020 Four years ago, in an attempt to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and his surrogates furiously challenged its results. Lodging 63 lawsuits, Trump and his surrogates tried to discredit or override vote counting, election processes and certification standards in nine states. None of these attempts was successful. Many were dismissed as baseless often by Trump-appointed judges before they even saw trial. Simply put, there is no evidence of widespread fraud. Even a voter data expert hired by Trump concluded that the 2020 election was not stolen. The U.S. legal system agreed, demonstrating that courts remain an important bulwark protecting American democracy. Yet the legal system cannot prevent political violence wrought by election denialism, as the country soon learned. On Jan. 6, 2021, over 2,000 people stormed the United States Capitol to forcibly prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election. Four people died and 138 police officers were injured during the riot, which inflicted nearly US$3 million of damage. Four officers who responded to the riot would later kill themselves. The mob was spurred, at least in part, by Trumps rousing speech at a rally in Washington, D.C., earlier that day. There, he reiterated his claims that the 2020 election had been stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats and warned the crowd of approximately 53,000 that if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. Many legal scholars considered this to be incitement. He clearly knew there were people in that crowd who were ready to and intended to be violent, legal scholar Garrett Epps told the BBC. He not only did nothing to discourage it, he strongly hinted it should happen. Trump: A sore loser and winner Trump has a long history of denying the results of any contest whose outcome he does not like. Before entering the political arena, Trump called the 2012 Emmys dishonest because his show, The Apprentice, did not win. In 2012, he dismissed then-President Barack Obamas reelection as a total sham and questioned the accuracy of vote tallies and voting machines. Unleashing a barrage of tweets, Trump urged citizens to fight like hell against a disgusting injustice. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the Republican primaries fraudulent after his competitor Sen. Ted Cruz won in Iowa, tweeting that the Texan stole it. Ultimately, Trump won the Republican primaries and the national presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Nonetheless, he falsely claimed that he only lost the popular vote Trump fell 2 million short of Clintons 65.8 million votes due to massive voting among illegal immigrants. Attacking the 2024 election Trump has doubled down on his election denial this election cycle. By May 2024, The New York Times had documented 550 such statements, up from roughly 100 in the entire 2020 campaign. Continuing to insist that the 2020 election was rigged, Trump predicts a repeat in 2024. This narrative of pervasive victimization has been bolstered by a flurry of lawsuits and criminal investigations brought against the former president. Since 2020, state and federal prosecutors have charged Trump with 94 crimes, including business fraud, mishandling classified documents and interfering with the federal election. In New York, he was convicted of 34 counts of corporate fraud and found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case filed by author E. Jean Carroll. Trump has cast these legal challenges as a deliberate attempt by President Joe Biden to interfere with the 2024 election over 350 times. My legal issues, every one of them, civil and the criminal ones, are all set up by Joe Biden, Trump told a New York City crowd in January 2024. Theyre doing it for election interference. His surrogates amplify this message. For instance, Mike Howell, director of the right-leaning Heritage Foundations Oversight Project, proclaimed on June 6, 2024, at a public Washington event that there is a 0% chance of a free and fair election. From denialism to violence: Warning signs Lying about election results is no mere tantrum. It is a cornerstone of Trumps strategy to paint himself as the victim of an elitist deep state an image that appeals to his base, particularly among white working-class voters, some of whom feel that they are victims themselves of globalization and shadowy elites. This strategy is working. A September 2023 survey by the independent pollster PRRI showed that 32% of Americans believe that the 2020 election was stolen. Even though the question has been comprehensively litigated and dismissed in the courts, many American citizens simply do not believe, under any circumstances, that Trump can lose in a fair election. That fact, combined with other statistics from the same poll, explains why I believe another Jan. 6 is possible. About 23% of Americans and 33% of Republicans believe that true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country a 5% increase among Republicans and 8% among the general public since 2021. Meanwhile, 75% of Americans believe that American democracy is at risk in the 2024 election. That, too, may be something worth fighting for especially when 39% of Trump supporters and 42% of Biden supporters report having no friends who support the opposing candidate. When people do not trust or socialize with people unlike them, violence between groups is more likely. I fear little can be done to prevent such violence. In 2022, Congress, acting in rare bipartisan fashion, approved the Electoral Count Reform and Transition Improvement Act of 2022, which closed many doors that President Trump attempted to use to thwart the 2020 election. Yet, as history shows, rule of law is not a certain brace against violence. Given the perceived stakes of the election for most Americans, along with Trumps ever-sharpening incendiary rhetoric, it is hard to imagine that Jan. 6, 2021, was an isolated chapter in American history. Indeed, it may have been just a prelude. Alexander Cohen, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Clarkson University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'Our post office was a lifeline, we want it back' Catherine Burton uses a mobility scooter and is currently relying on family members to take her to the nearest post office, which is more than four miles away [BBC] The closure of a temporary post office branch three months ago has left people feeling frustrated and lost at the lack of a substitute. With no bank and just two cash machines in Immingham, residents and businesses say they want their post office back. Catherine Burton, 93, who uses a mobility scooter which limits her use of public transport, cannot pay bills or post parcels and said the service "is needed". The Post Office said it is "working hard to restore the service". A temporary post office had been operating out of the Civic Centre, in Pelham Road, since April after the roof collapsed at the former premises in Kennedy Way. However, the temporary branch closed in June. Ms Burton has been relying on family members to take her to the nearest post office, which is more than four miles away. She said: Like everybody, we want a post office in Immingham. How do all the businesses do their mail? Caroline Tuckley says the lack of a post office is "causing chaos at times" [BBC] Caroline Tuckley, who works at Titus Newsome, which specialises in moving abnormal loads across the UK, needs plenty of loose change for their drivers to use on bridge tolls. "It is causing chaos at times," she said. "We can't get the cash we need. We still have customers who pay us by cheque, well where do we pay that in? Because we haven't got the banks either. "We have to go into the next town to pay them in, which could be two or three weeks before we can get that opportunity." Ms Tuckley said the issue had become the talk of the town, with discussions on social media pages about how disabled and elderly people manage. "They have to rely on favours and neighbours trying to be helpful, she added. Ann Turner says with no banks and now no post office, the people of Immingham have been left frustrated [BBC] Another resident, Ann Turner, also had concerns for the wider community having to travel further afield to use a post office elsewhere. She said: I'm 55 so I can drive a car but you're talking about pensioners as well. "They've got to catch the bus, which means as the colder weather is coming its going to get worse for them to catch the bus, wait for it and then come back. "Having a local post office was a lifeline. We had six banks at one point now we've got none. And now we've got no post office. "Its hard and frustrating for us and I think everyone feels the same - we want our post office back." Brigg and Immingham MP Martin Vickers said he had received a number of calls about the issue and his office, along with Immingham Town Council, had spoken to the Post Office to try and get a local branch back up and running. Expressions of interest Meanwhile, the Post Office, which is owned by the government, said it was currently exploring options. A spokesperson said: "There are three retailers who all want to open a permanent post office in Immingham. "We are considering their applications to see which is the best option. We know how important a post office is to a community and we are working hard to restore service as soon as possible after the temporary branch regrettably closed. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the unplanned closure." 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. More on this story Related internet links PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 6: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear on stage together during a campaign event at the Liacouras Center at Temple University on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harris ended weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be, selecting the 60 year old midwestern governor over other candidates. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) As some Latter-day Saints in different states campaign to get Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House, many question how to make the moral case to their family and friends for Democratic policies. In battleground Arizona, groups of Democrats and Republicans have joined forces to support Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. However, spreading that message can be controversial among more conservative communities with strong stances on issues such as reproductive rights. And, thats what the group Latter-day Saints for Harris-Walz strategized on during an organizing call Thursday night. Megan Jones, senior political adviser for the Harris campaign who attended the church-owned Brigham Young University, spoke about what she described as a health care crisis after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The vice president just met with a woman whose daughter died because she couldnt get access to medical care, because in many states, there are punishments for physicians to provide care, even if the womans life or health is at stake, she said. That is not the Mormon way either. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects elective abortion for personal or social convenience. However, exceptional circumstances may justify it, according to a statement from the church, including cases of incest or rape, or when the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy. About 300 people joined the call organized by Latter-day Saints for Harris-Walz, its second since Harris launched her campaign. The number was far less than the 1,400 people who tuned into the first call, in which different leaders, including Utah legislators and a Republican Arizona mayor, spoke in support of the vice president. The group isnt directly affiliated with the church, and in the past meeting, organizers advised against using ward or stake membership lists when reaching out to people because that violates the churchs neutrality policy. In Jones view, people dont have to abandon their faith to agree that the government should not hold control over womens bodies. Women in the Mormon faith, we have a lot of babies, and we know what goes wrong. Ive had several miscarriages myself. These are not easy things, Jones said. And to tell me what I can and cant do with my pregnancy, that might be different than what my doctor is telling me, that is the consequence of a post-Roe world. Jones has been helping Harris with her Nevada operations since 2019. Now, 40 days before Nov. 5, things have been intensifying at Jones office and on the trail. But, she doesnt expect things to be over then. This race is not going to be over on Election Day. It is going to be litigated. He is going to do the same thing, she said of former President Donald Trump, who continues to deny the 2020 election results after President Joe Bidens victory. Jones made a call to protect clerks and ensure that the rule of law is upheld during the electoral process. That is something that is not partisan, again, that is something you can talk to your neighbor about, your ward member about, who may not want to vote for Kamala Harris, but they care about integrity, Jones said. Let us know what you think... For Evan McMullin, who ran as an independent in the 2016 presidential election and in the 2022 race for the U.S. Senate in Utah, this election cycle will answer a fundamental question. Whether America will continue to be a democracy, or whether we will fully head down a path towards authoritarianism will be answered in this election, he said in the virtual call, criticizing actions such as the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Only with a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, independents and members of other parties, he said, will democracy prevail. Overcoming other challenges in the country will depend on keeping that democratic system alive, he added. And, theres a special responsibility toward children who dont have a vote, but may witness substantial changes in their lives after this election, he said. I believe that Latter-day Saints, that our community, our faith community, and I hope Christians more broadly, will play a decisive role, McMullin said. Our populations are strong in a number of key states and I believe that we have a special responsibility to stand up for our Constitution, to stand up for our democracy and the values to the norms that underpin them. And that message is what some members of the group hope their Latter-day Saint friends and neighbors take with them while making a choice for president this year, as the church has strongly encouraged defending the Constitution, its principles and processes. Former Mesa Vice Mayor Claudia Walters, part of the recently-announced LDS for Harris-Walz, Arizona Group, said that while organizing people of their faith many have asked to participate anonymously, which is a possibility in her group. There are other people who are active members of our faith, who believe in the sanctity of life, who believe that it isnt, as many people have said, the governments business to decide whether my sister dies, I die, Walters said. This is not their role, but I encourage people not to dive into the abortion thing. Talk about Jan. 6, talk about the rule of law, talk about the peaceful transfer of power, and as one of my grandkids said, talk about the fact that that guy sure lies a lot. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The election is 40 days away, but for those mailing in their ballots, the voting has already begun. U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a House committee Thursday the USPS is prepared for the task, but some lawmakers arent so sure. Are American citizens going to be able to trust mail-in ballots? Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) asked. Absolutely. I dont know why you wouldnt, DeJoy said. Members of the House Committee pressed DeJoy about mail failures they say have caused concern for constituents. In Wisconsin, two-day delivery dropped 20 points, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said. Rep. Pocan says a pilot program the Postal Service put in place to help modernize the network delayed deliveries in his area. What do you do specifically about Wisconsin to fix our unique problem? Pocan asked in a back-and-forth with DeJoy. The first rockets that went to the moon blew up. Thats what pilots are for, DeJoy said. Thanks for blowing up Wisconsin, Pocan said. DeJoy assured lawmakers USPS can handle the surge. He says mail-in ballots made up just 0.1% of total mail in 2020. Plus, DeJoy says every general election, USPS uses extraordinary measures to expedite ballots through the system. We rifle through 300 million pieces of mail as they move through the system, and look for ballots and pull them out, DeJoy said. Pennsylvania Congressman Matt Cartwright grilled DeJoy on USPSs long-term modernization plan, saying it would slow down rural service. Do you really think rural Americans should have to pay the price? Cartwright asked. I disagree with the premise and think its an unfair accusation, DeJoy said. DeJoy pushed back against lawmakers concerns, saying USPSs long-term plans to consolidate mail processing centers wont affect this years election mail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As the deadly Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding across the southeast United States in late September 2024, online posts claimed the storm appeared out of thin air, right before making its landfall in Florida . Meteorologists told AFP this is false; they had tracked the storm's path for days and the radar images shared on social media are not evidence of weather manipulation. "Weird how 'Hurricane Helene' literally pops up out of nowhere according to The Weather Channel's own radar," says a September 25, 2024 post by Stew Peters, a conservative commentator who has previously spread numerous conspiracy theories on a wide range of topics. It includes a screen recording of The Weather Channel app's radar imagery of Helene from September 25. A screenshot of a post taken on X taken on September 27, 2024 The same claim also circulated on Facebook echoing previous conspiracy theories by climate skeptics about weather manipulation and natural disasters debunked by AFP. As of September 27, the massive hurricane had knocked out power for millions of people across southeast United States and caused multiple deaths after it slammed into the Florida coast. But the coastal communities had warning of the storm, with US meteorologists tracking Helene using satellites for days before its landfall in Florida on September 26. The Weather Company -- which owns the Weather Channel and its app -- said that the network's "meteorologists were tracking Helene's path for days to keep people informed and safe." This can be easily observed in the coverage available on The Weather Channel's website, including here (archived here). The spokesperson said that the visual effect of the storm suddenly appearing in the online video is the result of different datasets being used in the app's display. "While the storm seems to 'pop up' during that radar imagery video loop shown in The Weather Channel app, this illusion can occur when looking at data that uses both actual, observed radar data (which has already occurred) and forecast data (which is a future prediction). Because it's moving from observed data at the beginning of the video loop to forecast data as the loop advances into the future, some jumps or seams can occur," the spokesperson told AFP on September 27. Limits of radar Marshall Shepherd, Director of University of Georgia's Atmospheric Sciences Program (archived here), said the posts showed "sheer ignorance." He told AFP on September 27: "Radar has limited range. A simple solution is to look at the satellite imagery." Satellite images first showed Helene approaching US coasts in the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm, as early as September 24 -- then the storm intensified and developed into a hurricane around September 25 (archived here). Satellite image showing the position of Storm Helene on Sept 25 at 0830 GMT and forecast path and alerts, as of Sept 25 at 1200 GMT Lise KIENNEMANN Paz PIZARRO AFP Satellite image showing the position of Hurricane Helene on Sept 26 at 0915 GMT and forecast path and alerts, as of Sept 26 at 0900 GMT Lise KIENNEMANN Ioana PLESEA Sabrina BLANCHARD AFP "No, Helene most definitely did not pop out of nowhere. I first wrote about it in a blog post back on September 17, and then again on September 23 and every day since," Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate in atmospheric science at the University of Miami, told AFP on September 27 (archived here, here and here). "Land-based radars do have a finite range," McNoldy said and country-specific radars may only show part of a storm's course. "If you just looked at the one from the US, it would seem like the storm just appears out of the nowhere, but that's obviously not the case -- it was simply too far away and then gradually tracked into closer range." Potential climate ties While the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season (archived here) has been thus far less busy than predicted, the National Hurricane Center reported Helene's "historic and catastrophic flooding" and warned of flash floods in Georgia's largest city Atlanta, as well as in South Carolina and North Carolina (archived here). Scientists can link certain extreme weather events directly to human-caused warming, but it remains too early to draw clear conclusions about the current month. Helene did see a faster-than-expected intensification, which some scientists attributed to unusually warm waters. "After forming, Helene traveled over exceptionally warm ocean waters in the Gulf of Mexico," said Andra Garner, an assistant professor at Rowan University in New Jersey (archived here). For hurricanes to form and strengthen, they need warmer waters, and she told AFP on September 27 that Helene traveled over water as warm as 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). "From a climate perspective, when we warm the planet, a lot of that extra warmth is going into our oceansand that warmth serves as an ideal fuel source for a storm like Helene." Find more of AFP's reporting on climate misinformation here. Power outages: Check your status as hurricane remnants move in to Kentucky, Ohio The remnants of Hurricane Helene are moving into the region Friday and Greater Cincinnati residents should brace for power outages, with damaging winds and heavy rain likely. According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, tree damage and power outages are possible. The agency has issued a High Wind Warning for all the counties in Northern Kentucky, Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana from noon through 10 p.m. Friday. As of 12:21 p.m., Duke Energy's online outage map showed more than 3,300 customers without power in the region. Many of those were located near Mount Healthy, New Richmond and Miami Township in Ohio, as well as Florence, Kentucky. It takes an electric army and fortunately, as a big utility, thats what weve got, Jeff Brooks, a Duke Energy spokesperson, told Enquirer media partner Fox19. Well put everybody into play to make sure we can restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Here's how Ohio and Northern Kentucky residents can check power outages through several in-state providers. Duke Energy power outage map See current Duke Energy power outages in Ohio and Kentucky with this map. Report an outage or check the status of an outage here, or call 800-543-5599. AES Ohio power outage map Report an outage and check AES Ohio's power outage map here. FirstEnergy power outage map Customers of FirstEnergy Corp., which owns Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison, can see current power outages on its Ohio map. Learn how to report outages here. Public Power outage map Check power outages for multiple energy providers with the American Public Power Association's map. Owen Electric Cooperative power outage map Owen Electric Cooperative, which serves some Northern Kentucky counties, maps power outages here. The Enquirer will update this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati power outages: Check status as hurricane remnants move in The News Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal led the Congressional Progressive Caucus through a frustrating year. House Republicans killed any hope they had of passing legislation; donors who wanted to beat progressive candidates spent more money than ever to do it. In May, Jayapals sister Susheela lost a primary for Portland, Ore.s House seat after AIPAC allies funded ads against her, blaming her for the post-COVID crime surge. And Kamala Harris presidential campaign has abandoned multiple progressive ideas from her 2020 primary bid. Nevertheless, Jayapal has thrown herself into electing Harris and a new House Democratic majority. Shes raised more than $400,000 for Harris through her email list, given nearly $200,000 to front-line (swing seat) candidates, and used her own campaign infrastructure (her Seattle district is safely blue) to phone bank for competitive races. And shes been campaigning across the country, in person. She talked with Americana this week about the strategy, and about Harris shift to the center, and this is an edited version of the conversation. Q&A Americana: Whats your overall strategy for 2024? Pramila Jayapal: Obviously, we want to win back the gavels. A second piece is that we have a number of frontline red-to-blue members who are progressives, and its in our interest to make sure that they are getting the support that they need. And a third piece is that the CPC made it an explicit strategy, during Build Back Better, to build consensus for populist issues like universal childcare, raising the minimum wage, and expanding Social Security and Medicare. People were with us, across the conference, and we want to reward that behavior people like [Pennsylvania Rep.] Susan Wild, who have been really valuable in very difficult districts. With supporting Harris and the DCCC this has been about people really valuing the progressive base on every front, including the tremendous resources that progressive donors and members can contribute. Weve been able to just do amazing things. Weve made 120,000 calls just this cycle for our endorsed candidates, and in swing states. Were doing twice-weekly phone banks with the Harris-Walz campaign. That is also a very intentional way of making sure that Im using my campaign and my platform not only to reelect me, but to make sure that we are helping to flip the house, to keep the White House, and to keep the Senate. Americana: Whats the difference between a progressive agenda in 2025 and what you came in with in 2021? Since then, obviously, theres been an effort to shrink the numbers of progressives in Congress. Pramila Jayapal: We have a day one agenda that we have been pushing. We did a lot of work in the lead up to the 2020 campaign, then the Biden/Harris administration to make sure that it was our agenda that got implemented. And I think you saw the results of that when we had the trifecta. Weve got the same thing this time around, and so many of the pieces of Build Back Better that we were able to get through the House and fell short in the Senate. Big structural reforms are a big piece of what we want to do, and theyre popular. Expanding Social Security and Medicare adding dental and vision to Medicare coverage is extremely popular in frontline districts. Americana: Where does Medicare for All fit into this mix? One of the Republican attacks on the vice president is that she wanted to ban private insurance by passing it. And she didnt return to Medicare for All after 2020. Pramila Jayapal: Obviously the dynamics around this are still relevant, because we havent built the full number of votes that we would need to pass Medicare for All in Congress. Thats just true. However, I think we are seeing the real cracks in the system as these private insurance companies try to privatize Medicare. We put lowering the eligibility age into Build Back Better thats something I put in as a co-chair of the Biden Sanders Unity Task Force in 2020. And weve used our Medicare for All PAC to do educational stuff for our candidates who are interested in supporting it. Were actually in the middle of a poll right now. We have a two-tier strategy there: Fight the privatization and expand Medicare. And theres a lot of support across the Democratic caucus for doing those things. Americana: Whats your reaction, overall, to how the vice president has shifted? This is a less progressive agenda than we heard from her in 2019 on multiple fronts. Pramila Jayapal: I think she has done a remarkable job. Despite some areas where I might want something different, shes been making this about middle class families, about lifting everybody up, about energizing people to see themselves both in her and Tim Walz. For a very truncated campaign, I am not of the opinion that a bunch of detailed policies are necessary. Her focus on housing, right off the bat, I thought was incredibly important. Unveiling a manufacturing strategy, the focus on corporate price gouging, the focus on progressive taxation; all of those things are very much in line with where we are. Americana: What has been the impact of the Gaza issue on mobilizing progressives? Are you finding much dissatisfaction with how the vice presidents talking about it? How often are you finding voters who say: I cant possibly vote to endorse a genocide? Pramila Jayapal: I think there was a big opening when she came in, because she is not Joe Biden, and she comes at this issue with a very different sort of perspective and, I think, a deep empathy for the suffering of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people. I think she has been much better at articulating that. But its tough. Im definitely hearing that from some people. Thats part of the reason Im barnstorming the country not to say to people that theyre wrong in any way, but to say that we have to think about how we change US policy towards the Middle East and towards Israel, in particular with our military assistance. How do we make sure that we are adhering to humanitarian law and to our own domestic Leahy laws? That is never going to happen under Donald Trump. I was just talking to a young African American woman who was saying to me, you know, the thing that people need to understand is we are waking up with social media pictures and videos and feeling the trauma, so deeply, of what is happening to children in Gaza. It feels like we would not be comporting with our values if we were to continue that direction. And thats the argument we have to make. Americana: The vice presidents also changed the way she talks about immigration and crime. What do you say to one of these voters who thinks: Oh, Democrats have the same immigration position as Trump now? They just want border security, even without a path to citizenship. Pramila Jayapal: I worked on this for a decade before coming to Congress, and Im the ranking member on the immigration subcommittee, so Im following this very closely. What youre seeing is the effect of years of Donald Trump and extreme Republicans bashing immigrants. So I understand why the vice president is trying to take this on. I think my complaint about Democrats is that we often run away from the issue instead of talking about it. I dont think shes doing that. At the [Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute] gala, she talked about the need for a path to citizenship. Ultimately, I think its smart to talk about the fact that Republicans tanked the border bill that was written by the second most conservative Republican in Congress even if thats not the bill I wanted. I still think its smart to point out the hypocrisy of Republicans who have kept this issue out there. Its more important for them to leave it out there as an unsolved issue so that they can bash immigrants over and over again and dehumanize them. If we suspended the filibuster or got rid of the filibuster so we could pass humane immigration reform that, to me, is a number one priority. Americana: I have the same kind of question about crime. Ending the death penaltys not in the Democratic platform anymore. Harris is not taking a position on the California initiative that would roll back some criminal justice reforms; every other ad I see is about crime, with some Willie Horton story. Are you concerned with how the conversation there has shifted? Pramila Jayapal: Im worried about Republicans coming into office and completely destroying our country. I do think that there is, sometimes, a sense that progressives arent able to govern. She has a good background to take on the crime question because of her prosecutor days. But I also think she is being careful. Shes not taking on things that are going to backfire on her in the next 40 days. Whats hurt us so much, on crime, and on immigration, is all of the misinformation. Trump has had a bully pulpit to spread that, and people like Elon Musk helped. That has been so destructive to people actually understanding what the facts are. Numbers at the border are at the lowest level ever; crime has gone down in major cities across the country. Every time I speak up and tell the truth about Seattle, its very difficult to get that message across. I want to say one thing: The biggest base of swing voters is actually young people, folks of color, immigrants across the country, who feel like theyre not really part of the Democratic Party, or their voices dont matter. We dont invest a lot of time or energy as a party in making sure that those folks turn out and they are the margin of difference. Its not that we dont need independent swing voters, we do, but we dont spend enough time thinking about how to make sure that our base does not they wont swing to Trump, but they will swing right onto to the couch. Notable For more on some of the Democratic coalitions internal divides over Israel, you can read my story last week on how the Muslim, Democratic mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan ended up endorsing Trump for president. LAKE COUNTY, Ill. Pre-trial release has been denied for a registered sex offender accused of child pornography possession, authorities in Lake County, Illinois, said. According to the Lake County Sheriffs Office, 57-year-old Thomas Rix is facing a child pornography charge after authorities said they allegedly uncovered a pornographic image of a girl who Rix had previously lived near. The investigation into Rix began after detectives received a tip that he had allegedly uploaded possible child pornography to a social media page. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Following the incident, on Sept. 24, sheriffs detectives went to the home where Rix was registered to be living as a sexual offender in Winthrop Harbor, but he was not living at the home. Detectives later learned that Rix had registered a new living address about a week prior in another area of Winthrop Harbor. Detectives were eventually able to contact Rix, who then agreed to meet with detectives at the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. According to deputies, during a conversation with law enforcement, Rix allegedly told detectives that he had been living in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for several days, and was not living in the home where he had registered to live. According to the Lake County Sheriffs Office, 57-year-old Thomas Rix is facing a child pornography charge after authorities said they allegedly uncovered a pornographic image of a girl who Rix had previously lived near. While speaking with detectives, members of the Illinois Attorney Generals Cybercrime Unit analyzed Rixs phone and allegedly found several images that Rix appeared to have taken of an 8-year-old girl, including one pornographic image of the child. Detectives later determined that Rix had known the child from a previous apartment in Winthrop Harbor where he once lived, and had allegedly taken the photos at the time. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Investigators say they are now working to obtain additional search warrants to conduct further analysis on Rixs other electronic devices. Fortunately, it appears sheriffs detectives were able to stop this man before he committed a further horrific act on the young girl whose photos he had. The members of our office will tirelessly investigate and arrest those who prey on our children. We will always be relentless in our pursuit of justice, especially when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among usour children. After the Lake County States Attorneys Office approved the charge against Rix, a petition was granted by a Lake County Judge to detain him pre-trial. Rix is set to make his next court appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 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 WGN-TV. St. Paul's Cathedral in London has been the site of many historic moments, including the wedding of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana Spencer in July 1981. The cathedral's safety has been a concern many times throughout its history, especially after it was damaged in bomb raids during World War II. St. Paul's Cathedral remarkably stood among the destruction. There were several bomb raids in and around the cathedral during WWII. St. Paul's Cathedral has been the venue for many royal events, like the wedding of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, but it has also withstood several fires and bombings since its early days. Church In Syria Widely Considered Oldest In The World; Dura-europos Is A Historical Landmark During "The Blitz," a German bombing campaign on British cities, London was bombed 57 nights in a row, according to the St. Paul's Cathedral website. During this time, there were over a million buildings partially damaged or destroyed. Many bombings happened around or in the cathedral, including on Dec. 29, 1940. Read On The Fox News App On that night, the Daily Mail's chief photographer, Herbert Mason, was on the roof of the newspaper's building, looking around at the destruction below and smoke filling the air. Through the smoke, he saw St. Paul's Cathedral still standing tall among all the surrounding destruction as a shining light in the city. St Paul's Cathedral withstood several bombings during World War II. Church Of England Appears To Stop Using The Word Church To Sound More Relevant: Study "Suddenly, the shining cross, dome and towers stood out like a symbol in the inferno. The scene was unbelievable. In that moment or two, I released my shutter," Mason said of the moment, according to the cathedral's website. The photo, "St. Paul Survives," is still famous today. On that night, 28 small explosive devices fell on and around the cathedral, hitting the dome and destroying the Chapter House located nearby, according to the St. Paul's Cathedral website. Two months before, a 500-pound bomb went off in the Apse and Quaire, according to the source, and the cathedral suffered another direct hit in April 1941. St. Paul's Cathedral includes a beautiful dome. 8 Top-tier Experiences To Add To Your London Bucket List In September 1940, another bomb landed in the south-west tower but didn't explode and was carefully removed for safe detonation. There are several places throughout the cathedral where bomb damage remains to this day, according to the website for St. Paul's Cathedral. Many years later, the cathedral was the setting for Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. St. Paul's Cathedral was a unique choice for the wedding ceremony because most in the royal family chose Westminster Abbey as their place to be wed. Having their ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral allowed for more public viewing of Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day. Prince Charles and Princess Diana's July 1981 wedding was the first for an heir to the throne to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral in 480 years, according to the cathedral's website. St. Paul's Cathedral was chosen as the wedding venue for its large size and the long route to the cathedral, Clarance House and Buckingham Palace, allowing more opportunities for public viewing. There were 3,500 in attendance at the royal wedding, according to the cathedral's website, with another 350 million watching from home. Today, St. Paul's Cathedral continues to be a holy place for worship and the setting of many royal events. It's a staple of the city, with its famous unmistakable dome among London's buildings. It's also one of London's popular tourist attractions, with millions visiting each year. Original article source: Prince Charles, Princess Diana's wedding venue, St. Pauls Cathedral in London, survived bombs during WWII PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning early Thursday morning in parts of Prince Georges County. Though short-lived, due to being canceled after improving weather, the county is still being cautious after a wet week in the DMV. The Department of Public Works and Transportation said theyll monitor weather reports and act accordingly as Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen. Residents in the county are also preparing themselves. Coastal flood advisory issued for parts of DMV At the end of the day, we dont have any control over things We just try to be as prepared as we can, said resident Roy Betts. Betts said hes confident that the rain wont be too much of an issue, but also hopes people are safe during the weather event. If we are having episodes of flooding, I hope that people remain safe. I think thats pretty much the primary focus. Their property can be replaced, but human life? Not so much, he said. For updates on the weather in Prince Georges County, you can download PGC311 on your phone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Prince Harry Is Keeping Princess Diana's Landmine Legacy Alive: 'He Wants to Finish the Job' (Exclusive) The Duke of Sussex has dedicated much of his public life to continuing Princess Dianas humanitarian legacy, particularly her groundbreaking work in Angolas minefields Jenna Jones Prince Harry at the Halo Trust event on Sept. 23, 2024 in New York City. During his whirlwind visit to New York City, one of Prince Harrys key stops was an event supporting The Halo Trust, a humanitarian organization dedicated to creating a mine-free world a cause close to his heart and championed by his late mother, Princess Diana. The Halo Trust, which operates in over 30 countries and territories, is renowned for its work clearing landmines and war debris. The organization gained international recognition when Princess Diana famously walked through an active minefield in Huambo, Angola, in 1997, drawing global attention to the need for an international landmine ban. Harry powerfully honored his late mothers legacy in 2019 when he retraced her iconic steps through the same minefield Angola. Speaking at The Halo Trusts event on Sept. 23 in N.Y.C., Harry said: "As you know, The HALO Trust work in Angola meant a great deal to my mother. Carrying on her legacy is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously." Related: Prince Harry Enjoys 'Sweet' FaceTime with Meghan Markle, Archie and Lilibet Before Taking the Stage in N.Y.C. PA Wire/PA Images (2) Prince Harry in Angola in 2019; Princess Diana in Angola in 1997 Valdemar Fernandes, HALO Angola's Program Operations Manager, has been with the organization since 1997 and was present during Princess Dianas memorable walk through the Angolan minefield. It was very important," Fernandes told PEOPLE at the Halo Trust event in N.Y.C. "Before her visit, there was very little awareness for the mine problem around the world. And when she visited Angola in 1997, she managed to bring international attention to the issue. Jenna Jones Prince Harry at the Halo Trust event in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024 Reflecting on her demeanor during that historic walk, he notes, She was not scared. She appeared happy to be doing it. She knew what it meant. As for Prince Harry carrying forward his mothers legacy, Fernandes remarks, He is doing very well. Courtesy of The HALO Trust Valdemar Fernandes, HALO Angola Program Operations Manager Having hosted Harry when he retraced Diana's steps in Angola in 2019, Fernandes recalls, I could see from his face it was very emotional it took control of him. It was a great moment." During his speech in N.Y.C., Harry called for global dedication to landmine clearance, celebrating Angolas progress and urging other nations to follow suit. He emphasized the crucial role of collaboration and the impact on local communities. "A world without mines must be a moral imperative for all of us," he declared. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Prince Harry speaks at the HALO Trust event celebrating Angola's leadership in landmine clearance on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 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! Reflecting on Harrys moving words, Fernandes tells PEOPLE, I felt very touched when he gave his speech. He's taking this seriously, he wants to finish the job, and I think we'll get there." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. NEW YORK (AP) Prince Harrys latest philanthropic move will gather world business leaders and philanthropists to work towards fostering prosperity in Southern African communities, specifically focused on young people. In early October, Harrys charity organization Sentebale, which he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, will bring together leaders from Googles charitable arm and several other companies and organizations for a series of meetings and discussions in Lesotho and Johannesburg. The gathering will be Harrys first time visiting Southern Africa since 2019. Hes long been devoted to philanthropy work in the region in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. The Duke of Sussex and the leaders will partner with local organizations and companies that are already actively brainstorming solutions to the roadblocks in place for young people in the region to succeed. Harry said in a news release that the organization has developed a profound understanding of local youth their passions, their concerns, and their extraordinary creativity through their extensive work in the area and their longstanding relationships with local communities. These young adults are eager and capable of driving meaningful change, yet significant barriers still stand in their way, his statement continued, noting Sentebale is nearing its 20th anniversary. While the organization was initially established to help children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS, it now works to establish solutions to broader problems impacting youth in the region, like health issues, wealth inequity, and climate. The organizations name means forget-me-not in the Sesotho language, and the princes established the charity in memory of their late mothers. The session, which will reunite the group after they previously convened in Miami for a session in April, will also feature a panel discussion in addition to the private work sessions, and they will complete a site visit to the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Over 50% of these young people are at risk of remaining economically vulnerable without urgent investment in digital skills, education, and job creation, said Sentebale Board Chair, Sophie Chandauka in a release. The Dukes return to Southern Africa, alongside our new American friends, marks a milestone as we collaborate with world-class organizations and local leadership to engage this critical youth cohort. The announcement of the new initiative comes after the Duke of Sussex appeared at several humanitarian and philanthropic events that ran alongside the United Nations General Assembly Week. A private Robinson R44 helicopter has crashed in Russias Arkhangelsk Oblast, resulting in the deaths of two men, one of whom is believed to be Sergei Smetanin, a member of Arkhangelsk city council from the United Russia political party. Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza; Russia Telegram channels Details: Reports emerged yesterday (26 September) that a helicopter travelling from the village of Byche to the village of Karandashevskaya had gone missing and contact with it had been lost. On the morning of 27 September, Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet TASS reported that the wreckage of the helicopter had been found, and the bodies of two people had been discovered at the crash site. A criminal case has been opened regarding the incident, with reports stating that the flight had not been authorised. Quote: "Telegram channels close to law enforcement wrote on 26 September that Sergei Smetanin, a member of Arkhangelsk City Duma from the United Russia political party, and local businessman Alexei Semenov, the owner of the helicopter, were on board. Smetanin and Semenov, as reported, were flying to go on a fishing trip," Meduza summarised. Why this matters: After sanctions were imposed on Russia due to its bloody war against Ukraine, there has been an increase in aircraft accidents in Russia. This surge is attributed to a shortage of essential parts that Russia previously used to import from Western countries. Background: On 17 September, a Robinson R66 helicopter with three people on board crashed in Russia. Later, Russian media reported that rescuers had found the bodies of the pilot and two passengers. On 15 August, a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast. On 27 July, a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 aircraft crashed in Volgograd Oblast during a scheduled training flight. On 25 July, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed in Russia's Kaluga Oblast, killing the crew. On 22 July, a helicopter carrying FSB officers was found crashed in Yakutia, with the bodies of the pilot and three passengers discovered at the crash site. Support UP or become our patron! A university professor has been sacked after making pornography with his wife. Dr Joe Gow, 63, claims the loss of his job at the University of Wisconsin-La Cross is a violation of his freedom of speech. The professor was forced to leave his post as university chancellor in December, after the institution discovered he had filmed vegan-themed pornographic videos with his wife, Carmen Wilson, and posted them online. The former chancellor was placed on leave but continued collecting his salary as a tenured communications professor, despite posting the sex clips under the username Sexy Happy Couple. A disciplinary panel has now unanimously voted to fire Dr Gow, arguing that his actions have damaged the universitys reputation. However, the professor has claimed that the decision breaches his constitutional right to free speech. Mr Gows attorney Mark Leitner said: We need the First Amendment precisely when the danger of stifling controversial, unpopular speech is at its highest. And thats what we have here in this situation. Dr Gow and his wife have appeared in multiple publicly available pornographic videos, where they host adult film stars as guests and have sex afterwards. The couples OnlyFans web page describes videos where top adult video stars cook, converse and shoot sex scenes with a plant-powered couple. They have also published two books under the pseudonyms Geri and Jay Hart, titled Married with Benefits: Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures and Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship. Dr Joe Gow and his wife Carmen Wilson The universitys lawyers warned that Dr Gows continued employment could have a negative effect on the institutions reputation, claiming he had used his teaching position as marketing opportunity to sell adult content. Dr Gow just doesnt get it, or is unable to acknowledge that his conduct has been harmful to the UWL campus community and a distraction from its core mission, said Wade Harrison, senior legal counsel for the university. Dr Gow has largely gotten what he wants through this process, a large media presence that continues and a great marketing opportunity for his cooking and adult content, he added. Enough is enough. Dr. Joe needs to go. In documents submitted prior to Fridays hearing, lawyers argued that retaining Dr Gow on the faculty risked jeopardising the universitys finances. At least one donor has stated publicly that he would kill a planned scholarship gift if Gow were not terminated, the lawyers wrote, referring to a statement from Republican Senator Rob Hutton who put pressure on the university to fire him. Senator Hutton has made clear that he, a member of the legislature that provides some of the Universitys funding, is opposed to Gows returning to teach. Dr Gow argued that his right to share his and his wifes pornographic content with his wife is protected by the First Amendment. Gow has previously maintained that he and his wife produced the pornographic content in their own time, and that neither the books nor the videos ever mentioned the university or his role as part of the faculty. Dr Gow, who maintained he never mentioned the university in his videos - AP/University of Wisconsin-La-Crosse Speaking on Friday, he said he was initially drawn to Wisconsin-La Cross for its commitment to academic freedom, adding that hes eager to return to the classroom. I genuinely love teaching, and Im not ready to just retire and sit at home, he told Wisconsin Public Radio. He added that hes not currently creating explicit content, but wouldnt want to give up the right to in future. We certainly wouldnt want to give up the right to be able to do that if we choose to, he said. We live in 2024. We have access to all kinds of material. Its up to us to choose what we, as adults, what we want to access. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions Faculty Defense Fund (FIRE), who have supported Dr Gows legal defence, said the decision to sack the professor over making adult videos is a major blow to academic freedom and faculty free speech rights. FIRE has said time and time again: public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations, the foundations legal defence counsel Zach Greenberg said. Were disappointed UW caved to donors and politicians by throwing a tenured professor under the bus. You may not like Joe Gow or his videos, but the principles that protect him also protect countless dissidents, freethinkers, artists, and others who speak truth to 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. OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Voters have a lot to consider this upcoming election when it comes to Proposition 36, a statewide ballot measure that seeks a tougher approach on crime. The measure proposes changes to punishments related to drug possession and theft offenses and would impact homelessness as well. Suspect extradited from El Salvador for the 1991 killing of San Diego woman On Thursday, community members attended a public forum led by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan at the MiraCosta College Oceanside Campus. It was held in partnership with the chambers of commerce from Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Fallbrook, Vista and Oceanside. I wanted to hear more about what was going to be shared and learn more so I can make an educated decision when Im voting, according to Oceanside resident Ashley Gerdo. Oceanside police officers seize three firearms, drugs and over $5K in cash Stephan said Prop. 36 reforms unintended consequences of Proposition 47. It will still treat people who make mistakes with compassion, but it brings accountability to habitual offenders, Stephan stated. If passed, Prop. 36 would turn a theft misdemeanor into a felony if the person has two or more previous convictions. Under Prop. 36, convicted drug dealers could get longer jail or prison sentences. People convicted of illegal drug possession could complete drug-treatment instead of going to prison. Some people, like Vista resident Vanessa Rojas, said she still has doubts about the measure as someone who benefitted from Prop. 47 which was, in part, meant to reduce nonviolent offense incarcerations. Part of my story was trauma, so I came in contact with crime through my trauma, according to Rojas. She believes a greater focus on rehabilitation is needed, as does Oceanside resident Kellie Davis who said shes a no on Prop. 36. Thats where Im at in my life right now is how do we have more compassion for rehabilitation, instead of incarceration, added Davis. A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California shows 71% of voters plan to vote yes on Prop. 36. It will be the last proposition on the Nov. 5 ballot and there is no competing measure on this topic. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A Pulaski County prosecutor ruled that the use of deadly force during a January police pursuit that ended in the shooting death of a felon was justified. Three Benton Police Department officers and an Arkansas State Police trooper had their actions reviewed after the death of 35-year-old Aaron Watson of Hot Springs on Jan. 1. Officials said Watson died after shooting at officers following a high-speed pursuit from Benton to Little Rock. Arkansas State Police identifies man killed after chase, shootout with troopers Officials said deputies with the Saline County Sheriffs Office initiated the pursuit of Watson on Interstate 30 near Mile Marker 128. Arkansas State Police troopers ended the pursuit using a Tactical Vehicle Intervention maneuver, formerly referred to as a PIT maneuver, on I-30 near the University Avenue exit in Little Rock. Arkansas State Police: Man dead after pursuit ends in PIT maneuver, officer-involved shooting off I-30 in Little Rock Officials added that Watson fired at officers after the car was stopped, who returned fire, striking him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Watson was wanted by U.S. Marshals Service. ASP troopers and Benton police officers were not injured in the exchange. Attorney who sued Arkansas State Police over PIT maneuver discusses TVI done in error ASP officials reported Thursday that 6th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones had determined the actions of the Benton officers and ASP trooper to be justified. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said his office would refile charges against Nathan Chasing Horse, hours after the Nevada Supreme Court dismissed the case, calling the courts ruling a minor setback. Chasing Horse was charged with 18 counts in Clark County District Court in connection with alleged sexual abuse against two women, one of them when she was underage. Prosecutors plan to bring the case back to the grand jury within a matter of weeks, Wolfson told the 8 News Now Investigators on Thursday. The 48-year-old Dances with Wolves actor is accused of victimizing indigenous underage girls and women for nearly two decades. We are disappointed with the decision, but we respect the decision of the court, Wolfson said. This shouldnt cause too much of an interruption in our efforts to seek justice. Nathan Chasing Horse sits in court in Las Vegas, on Monday, April 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil, File) Wolfson also said his office had been in touch with the victims in the Las Vegas case who expressed they would continue to cooperate as the case moves forward. In its order, the Nevada Supreme Court listed three main reasons for the dismissal: Two issues with how prosecutors handled the case and one issue with how a district court judge handled it. Prosecutors presented the grand jury with information about grooming. The term is used to describe when a predator may care for a victim with the intent to manipulate them. The high court pointed out how according to Nevada state law, grooming is not a crime. We conclude that it is error [sic] for the state to give the grand jury an instruction that is unsupported by the evidence and does not address a necessary element of an offense, the order stated. Prosecutors also failed to submit exculpatory evidence to the grand jury, which included inconsistent statements made by an alleged victim, the order said. In its conclusion, the Nevada Supreme Court stated the district court manifestly abused its discretion in denying the pretrial habeas petition. As a result, the indictment was dismissed. However, prosecutors are permitted to go back to the grand jury to seek another indictment and must make sure they dont make the same errors. Justices Douglas Herndon, Elissa Cadish, Lidia Stiglich, Kristina Pickering, Patricia Lee and Linda Bell all signed the Sept. 26 order. Justice Ron Parraguirre dissented. She really struggles with, you know, should I have come forward and will this ever find justice? Melissa Leone, the mother of Ren Leone, one of the alleged victims in the Las Vegas case, told the 8 News Now Investigators. I know she felt a little defeated this morning, but I also know that shes been speaking with, you know, the people that in charge of things going on right now and I feel like after watching her receive those phone calls, that there was a bit of more confidence and just, okay, everythings still okay. Were still going forward. The other alleged victim in the case, Sierra Begaye called the decision shocking. Its been a long and challenging process but we remain hopeful and will advocate for a refile, Begaye told the 8 News Now Investigators. Any news that comes out about Nathan Chasing Horse can be triggering to many of the survivors. My heart goes out to them all. Begaye urged anyone who may have been harmed by Chasing Horse, to reach out to the authorities. Im grateful for the support from my family and community who are holding us extra close tonight, Begaye said. Begayes mother, Lynette Adams sent the 8 News Now Investigators the following statement: Today, we stand at a pivotal moment following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn the dismissal of a case involving our two young daughters who have bravely endured so much. While this ruling may come as a surprise, it presents a critical opportunity to reset the course of justice and ensure that their voices, and their pain, are given the careful consideration they deserve. This is not just about correcting a legal oversightthis is about honoring the dignity, strength, and courage of these two young women. They, like so many others who seek justice, deserve a process that is thorough, compassionate, and just. We believe this ruling allows for exactly thata renewed chance to make things right, to review the facts with precision, and to ensure that every step moving forward is done with the utmost integrity. To our daughters, we offer our deepest support. Your perseverance and faith in the face of adversity inspire us all. This is your moment, and we trust that the next steps will finally lead to the justice and closure you deserve. We understand the gravity of what has been endured, and we remain hopeful that this new refiling will bring the resolution that has been so long in coming. We are encouraged by the belief that, moving forward, this case will be handled with the care and accuracy required to truly honor their experiences. Together, we will continue to advocate for fairness, compassion, and truth until a rightful conclusion is reached. As of Thursday, Chasing Horse remained in custody at the Clark County Detention Center in downtown Las Vegas. He declined a request for an interview. Clark County Public Defender Kristy Holston, who represents Chasing Horse, also declined to comment. In Chasing Horses first appeal, which the court denied, three Nevada Supreme Court justices listened to oral arguments Holston and Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles presented. Two of the justices denied his appeal, while a third dissented. His second appeal was also denied. The dismissal is the result of a third appeal. Chasing Horse, a self-proclaimed Medicine Man led a group known as The Circle, according to Las Vegas Metro police. Several alleged victims, including Ren Leone, told the 8 News Now Investigators that he used spiritual practices and beliefs to manipulate them. In January 2023, Metro police investigated Chasing Horse and executed a search warrant at his North Las Vegas home, where he lived with several women who were referred to as his wives. He was taken into custody. Former actor Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, right, also known as Nathan Chasing Horse, appears in North Las Vegas Justice Court Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in North Las Vegas, Nev. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye /Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) In February 2023, a Clark County grand jury indicted Chasing Horse on a total of 19 counts. This included 10 counts of sexual assault against a minor under the age of 16, six counts of sexual assault, along with open and gross lewdness, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, and trafficking in a controlled substance. Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny later dropped one drug charge. The 8 News Now Investigators have learned similar allegations against Chasing Horse were previously made but did not result in an arrest. The Las Vegas case is the first of several to move forward against Chasing Horse. He faces federal charges and warrants in Montana and Canada. He has also previously been banned from several reservations. To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy with any tips or information, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com. To contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two of the worlds major dairy milk sheds are wrestling with ramifications from disease outbreaks. In North America, more specifically the United States, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has impacted dairy operations across 14 states. Meanwhile in Europe, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany are among the major milksheds grappling with bluetongue. While neither disease is fatal to dairy cattle, they are causing lower milk production in some major dairy regions. Bluetongue is a viral disease spread by biting insects. In Europe, biting midges are the vector transmitting bluetongue from animal to animal. The disease poses no risk to humans; however, ruminant livestock are negatively impacted by it. Infected dairy cows can suffer from health and fertility issues that may even cause the loss of a pregnancy. Infected cows experience lower milk production by roughly 2 pounds per cow per day for nine to 10 weeks, according to USDA sources. In severe cases, milk production can be impacted at much higher levels. Like HPAIs deadly impact on poultry, the same holds true for sheep when infected by bluetongue. After being at bay for 14 years, bluetongue reappeared in the Netherlands in September 2023. That year, over 51,000 sheep died from bluetongue. A vaccination program ensued in April 2024 with an estimated 90% to 95% of the sheep being vaccinated by June. Outside of vaccination, the only way to slow or potentially prevent the disease is by lowering the presence of biting midges. Like mosquitoes, midges need standing water in which eggs are laid and hatch. There are 29 known bluetongue (BTV) variants. In August 2006, the BTV-8 strain spread across Europe, and it took two full years before a vaccine brought the disease under control. This time around, a new BTV-3 variant is wreaking havoc in the European countryside. This strain of the virus has caused significantly higher mortality rates in sheep than its 2006 cousin. Three major impact zones While the disease has been reported in eight European countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany have been impacted far more than Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Great Britain, and Norway. Germany leads the 27 countries in the European Union for milk production and accounts for about 22% of all milk flow. The Netherlands ranks fifth, and Belgium is ninth. Ireland, another major milk producer, has seen dairy farmers calling for a halt on all imported cattle to protect their herds against the risk of bluetongue disease. At the moment, Ireland has no reported cases of bluetongue. The map below shows how bluetongue is spreading through Germany, with the blue dots representing beef and dairy cattle operations that have been impacted and the red dots indicating infected sheep and goat farms as of September 9, 2024. The number of operations impacted is nearly double what it was one month earlier. In Germany, milk production was down well over 1% in August, and its expected that September output will be down even more. Given that this disease is spread by warm weather-loving insects, the bluetongue outbreak should subside with colder weather in the late fall and winter. However, it could reappear next summer. Additional disease impact zones can be seen here for the Netherlands and here for Belgium. Impact on near-term milk markets The positive movement in milk prices both in Europe and the U.S. has been driven largely due to tighter milk and product supplies rather than stronger dairy demand. Milk supplies have gotten tight among the big three dairy product exporters: New Zealand, the European Union, and the U.S. Until bluetongue gets held at bay, expect lower milk output from some of Europes leading dairy countries. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2024 September 26, 2024 Prosecutors for the Travis County district attorney's office have rested their case after three days of testimony in the trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor in a 2019 fatal shooting. The defense will begin presenting its case Monday. In the first week, the jury heard from other responding officers about what transpired July 31, 2019, when 46-year-old Mauris DeSilva was shot and killed at a downtown condominium building after he moved toward officers with a knife. Video footage from officers' body-worn cameras of the incident also was played at the trial. The trial could finish by the end of next week. The state had previously said it might last into the week of Oct. 11. This is the second trial Taylor has faced in the past year after the Travis County district attorney's office brought murder charges against him in the police shooting of Michael Ramos in 2020. The jury in that trial could not reach a decision, and it was declared a mistrial. Taylor is now on trial for deadly conduct after he shot DeSilva, a Sri Lankan researcher and scientist, at the Spring Condominiums in downtown Austin. Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, center, defense attorney Ken Ervin, left, and defense attorney Doug O'Connell, right, exit the courtroom Wednesday on the first day of Taylor's trial on a charge of deadly conduct in the 2019 shooting death of Mauris DeSilva. Prosecutors rested their case Friday, and the defense will present witnesses Monday. More: Travis DA won't pursue murder charge against Austin cop Christopher Taylor for 2019 shooting Officers were called to the condos after receiving reports that DeSilva had been running outside and threatening himself with a knife to his neck. DeSilva had a history of mental health episodes. At the time of the shooting, four police officers had taken an elevator to the fifth floor to make contact with DeSilva, whom they saw on security footage walking around with the knife to his neck. The fifth floor is a communal area for the condos with a gym. A large portion of the testimony in the first week came from two of the four responding officers in the elevator, Joseph Cast and Phillip Zuniga. Cast had a Taser drawn while Zuniga did not have any weapon out, as his job was going to be to handcuff DeSilva, if possible. A photo of Mauris DeSilva is seen at the front of the courtroom last week during Taylor's trial. On Thursday, prosecutors played for the first time video of body-worn camera footage from the shooting. The footage showed the entire incident happened almost instantly. As the elevator doors begin to open, DeSilva is seen looking into a mirror with a knife held at his chest pointed near his neck. Multiple officers then start shouting various commands of "Drop it!" and "Let me see your hands!" More: Attorneys lay out arguments for, against APD officer Christopher Taylor in fatal shooting While the doors finish opening, DeSilva, who was 3 to 5 feet from the officers, also began to turn around, put the knife at his waist and then took a step toward police. Officers Taylor and Karl Krycia then shot their firearms while Cast discharged his Taser. The whole incident lasted a few seconds. Krycia faces a murder and deadly conduct charge in the killing of DeSilva. What are both sides arguing? Since the district attorney's office announced this month it would not seek a murder charge against Taylor, prosecutors now must prove that he is guilty of deadly conduct, a third-degree felony that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Prosecutor Rob Drummond gives opening statements Wednesday in the trial of police officer Christopher Taylor. Texas law states that deadly conduct is when a person "recklessly engages" in behavior that puts someone in danger or risk of serious injury, such as shooting a firearm in a building, place of habitation or vehicle. Throughout the first week of testimony, prosecutors have questioned officers on their decision to not wait for a mental health officer, to not take the stairs and other planning and tactical decisions made at the time. The first neighbor who called 911 about DeSilva requested a mental health officer due to DeSilva's history. More: Mistrial declared in murder trial of Austin officer Christopher Taylor in death of Michael Ramos Officers testified they took the elevator because it was the fastest way to reach DeSilva and that they didn't wait for a mental health officer because DeSilva was in a public space with a knife. Defense attorney Ken Ervin on Wednesday mimics putting a knife to his throat in imitation of Mauris DeSilva and the circumstances leading to his death. During cross-examination by Taylor's defense attorneys, Doug O'Connell and Ken Ervin, they got officers to testify that the officers reacted appropriately to the situation since there was a person with a knife acting "erratically" in a public space who needed to be confronted quickly. The officers testified that DeSilva's close proximity to the officers and moving toward them with a knife pointed at the officers justified the shooting. The state's final witness was Jelicka Long, a property manager at the condominiums, who became emotional while recalling the events. She said she had known DeSilva for 10 years. During the incident, she was working to get residents and other people to a safe location. She was on her way to the fifth floor when she heard the gunshots. Long said she had hoped the officers were going to take DeSilva to Austin State Hospital for mental health care. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: State rests case in trial against APD officer Christopher Taylor Prosecutors for the Travis County district attorney's office on Friday rested their case after three days of testimony in the trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor in a 2019 fatal shooting. The defense will begin presenting its case on Monday. In the first week, the jury heard from other responding officers about what transpired on July 31, 2019, when 46-year-old Mauris DeSilva was shot and killed at a downtown condo after he moved toward officers with a knife. Video footage from officers' body-worn cameras of the incident also were played. The trial could finish by the end of next week. The state had previously said it could last into the week of Oct. 11. This is the second trial Taylor has faced in the past year after the Travis County district attorney's office brought murder charges against him for the killing of Mike Ramos in 2020. The jury in that trial could not reach a decision and it was declared a mistrial. Taylor is now on trial for deadly conduct after he shot DeSilva, a Sri Lankan researcher and scientist, at the Spring Condominiums in downtown Austin. Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, center, defense attorney Ken Ervin, left, and defense attorney Doug O'Connell, right, exit the courtroom Wednesday on the first day of Taylor's trial on a charge of deadly conduct in the shooting death of Mauris DeSilva in 2019. Prosecutors rested their case Friday and the defense will present witnesses Monday. More: Travis DA won't pursue murder charge against Austin cop Christopher Taylor for 2019 shooting Officers were called to the downtown condos after receiving reports that DeSilva had been running outside and threatening himself with a knife to his neck. DeSilva had a history of mental health episodes. At the time of the shooting, four police officers had taken an elevator to the fifth floor to make contact with DeSilva, who they saw on security footage walking around with the knife to his neck. The fifth floor is a communal area for the condos with a gym. A large portion of the testimony in the first week came from two of the four responding officers in the elevator, Joseph Cast and Phillip Zuniga. Cast was the officer who had a Taser drawn while Zuniga did not have any weapon out, as his job was going to be to handcuff DeSilva, if possible. A photo of Mauris DeSilva is seen at the front of the courtroom during Austin police officer Christopher Taylor's deadly conduct trial. On Thursday, prosecutors played for the first time video of body-worn camera footage from the shooting. The footage showed the entire incident happened almost instantly. As the elevator doors begin to open, DeSilva is seen looking into a mirror with a knife held at his chest pointed near his neck. Multiple officers then start shouting various commands of "Drop it!" and "Let me see your hands!" More: Attorneys lay out arguments for, against APD officer Christopher Taylor in fatal shooting While the doors finish opening, DeSilva, who was 3 to 5.5 feet from the officers, also began to turn around, put the knife at his waist and then took a step toward police. Officers Taylor and Karl Krycia then shot their firearms while Cast discharged his Taser. The whole incident lasted a few seconds. Krycia faces a murder and deadly conduct charge in the killing of DeSilva. What are both sides arguing? Since the district attorney's office announced this month it would not seek a murder charge against Taylor, prosecutors now have to prove that he is guilty of deadly conduct, a third-degree felony that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. State prosecutor Rob Drummond gives opening statements during Austin police officer Christopher Taylor's deadly conduct trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Wednesday. Texas law states that deadly conduct is when a person "recklessly engages" in behavior that puts someone in danger or risk of serious injury, such as shooting a firearm in a building, place of habitation or vehicle. Throughout the first week of testimony, prosecutors have questioned officers on their decision to not wait for a mental health officer, to not take the stairs and other planning and tactical decisions made at the time. The first neighbor who called 911 about DeSilva requested a mental health officer due to DeSilva's history. More: Mistrial declared in murder trial of Austin officer Christopher Taylor in death of Michael Ramos Officers testified they took the elevator because it was the fastest way to reach DeSilva and that they didn't wait for a mental health officer because they DeSilva was in a public space with a knife. Defense attorney Ken Ervin mimics putting a knife to his throat in imitation of Mauris DeSilva and the circumstances leading to his death during opening statements on Wednesday. During cross-examination by Taylor's defense attorneys, Doug O'Connell and Ken Ervin, they got officers to testify that the officers reacted appropriately to the situation since there was a person with a knife acting "erratically" in a public space that needed to be confronted quickly. The officers testified that DeSilva's close proximity to the officers and moving toward them with a knife pointed at the officers justified the shooting. The state's final witness was Jelicka Long, a property manager at the condominiums, who became emotional while recalling the events. She said she had known DeSilva for 10 years. During the incident, she was working to get residents and other people to a safe location. She was on her way to the fifth floor when she heard the gunshots. Long said that she had hoped the officers were going to take DeSilva to the Austin State Hospital. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: State rest case in trial against APD officer Christopher Taylor PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The suspect in this weeks homicide on Westminster Street in Providence will remain behind bars for now. Michael Shaw, 41, was arraigned Thursday on a charge of first-degree murder in the the death of 57-year-old Michael Ames. According to police, Ames was found dead Wednesday morning in the basement of a multi-family home after someone called for a well-being check. NEXT: Police ID victim, suspect of Providence homicide Shaw was later arrested a few blocks away on Wendell Street. Video submitted by a 12 News viewer shows the moment police caught up with him on top of a storage container. Story continues below video. Shaw briefly appeared in court on Thursday and was ordered held without bail. The judge said Shaw violated the terms of his probation related to a separate case. Hes due back in court next month for a status conference. NEXT: 8 arrested after RI State Police bust elaborate marijuana grow operation 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) The Ohio Department of Public Safety reported to the city of Springfield on Tuesday the number of traffic violations issued during its traffic blitz. Ohio Director of Public Safety Andy Wilson spoke at a commission meeting Tuesday in response to Springfields calls for help due to over-extended resources. OSP has stepped in to fill gaps in the street. Were letting data drive where our troopers are patrolling, said Wilson. Miami Valley residents without power OSP has been cracking down on traffic violations for the last two weeks. At the meeting, Wilson began listing the 337 traffic violations reported. There were 136 tickets issued and 101 warnings given. Of these, 12 were for OVIs and three for felony offenses. Wilson didnt stop there though; he addressed a major issue adult drivers in Ohio face, something he and the governor want to address. There is work in progress to get drivers training out more robustly in the community, said Gov. Mike DeWine. If youre above the age of 18, you dont have to go through any drivers training at all, said Wilson. Remnants of Helene in Dayton: What to know Wilson said drivers 18 to 24 are the most dangerous demographic. Authorities want to address the issue head-on, working on a driver mentor program for adult learners. We know one of the things that makes a driver safer more than anything else is time behind the wheel with an actual instructor or someone whos giving them instructions, said Wilson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors Note: The video above first aired on August 14, 2024. PERMIAN BASIN (KMID/KPEJ) The Public Utility Commission unanimously approved a transmission plan on Friday, aimed at meeting the future electricity needs of the Permian Basin region. According to a release from the Commission, the plan outlines transmission infrastructure investments necessary to support the ongoing expansion and electrification of the Texas oil and gas industry in West Texas, as well as the growing electricity needs of the regions communities. I want to thank Governor Abbott, the Texas Legislature, PUCT and ERCOT staff, and all stakeholders who participated in this landmark process that will result in a monumental and historic transmission infrastructure buildout in the state, PUCT Commissioner Lori Cobos said. The Permian Basin is the heartbeat of our state and nations energy dominance and economy. This plan is a roadmap that will ensure electric reliability in the region for decades to come and facilitate critical transmission infrastructure investment that will ensure the continued success of Texas oil and gas industry and support the regions local communities and our entire state. House Bill 5066, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, required the PUCT to direct ERCOT to develop an electric reliability plan for the Permian Basin. The legislation required the plan address extending transmission service into areas where mineral resources have been found, address increasing available capacity to meet forecasted load, and provide available infrastructure to reduce interconnection times in areas without access to transmission service. Powering the Permian how can Demand Response programs help the Texas power grid? ERCOT expects electricity demand in the area to grow to around 26 GW by 2038, equivalent to nearly one third of the current summer demand of the entire ERCOT system. The approved plan includes two categories of transmission infrastructure: new and upgraded local transmission projects to strengthen the areas transmission service, as well as new import paths that will bring additional power to the region to serve the areas growing electricity needs. The Commissions decision also outlines procedural next steps for implementing the plan, including direction to the transmission companies that will be preparing to build the projects and commission oversight of the plans completion. You can learn more about the approved plan, as well as any related information regarding this plan on the PUCT 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 Yourbasin. Some Pulaski Co. residents asked to evacuate PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) People who live along the New River in Pulaski County are being asked to voluntarily evacuate to higher ground through Saturday, because of moderate river flooding in the area. Pinpoint Weather: Helene brings flooding, wind, and tornado threat Pulaski County Emergency Management lists the following areas as flood-prone: Julia Simpkins Road from Clark Road to the New River trail in Allisonia. Clarks Ferry Road from Shulls Lane to Ledge Rock Road in Draper. Both Shulls Lane & Ledge Rock Road in Draper. Parrott River Road in Parrott and Hazel Hollow Road in Fairlawn. Officials are worried these roads could become impassable, with some buildings potentially impacted by rising water. Residents are being asked to secure their property and move to safer areas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) This year the U.S. Department of Education recognized 356 schools as National blue-ribbon schools. National education leaders said National Blue Ribbon Schools symbolize a trademark of excellence and a symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. Seven schools were awarded the blue ribbon throughout the Commonwealth on Monday. Police searching for missing teen last seen in Laurel County National Blue Ribbon Schools across the U.S. (U.S. Government) Northern Elementary School in Pulaski County, was one school given this honor on Monday. Northern Elementary Principal Daniel Hill said, It is very significant for us. We know we have a great school and our county knows that we have a great school. But now the state and even the nation know that. And Im so proud of our students and our staff. They have been the difference maker. We focus on their growth and we just want to be better than we were yesterday. Schools are recognized in one of two categories: exemplary high performance, which is measured by state assessments, or achievement gap-closing performances. Our teachers want to improve their practices every day, and we want our students to grow. So what we have done and what we have implemented, were now seeing that its working, said Hill. Daniel Hill told FOX 56 that this recognition was exciting for the school and the district as a whole. Hill, along with the staff at Northern Elementary are already working on keeping this honorary status, as they continue striving for success. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: We have a mind of continuous improvement in education, so we know weve achieved this goal, but we want to move to the next step. And really for us, that is about looking at each individual student. We have to look at the needs of every student and then meet each individual need. And that can be tough, but we are made for that. I always tell our teachers were made for this moment. Theyre made for this moment. Our students are made for this. So again, its just about continuous improvement being better than we were yesterday, said Hill. For more information on Northern Elementary, visit the school website. To find out more about the National Blue Ribbon program and its recipients in Kentuck and nationwide, 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 FOX 56 News. Declining the award: Last month, the museum prohibited employees from wearing clothing or accessories that expressed political messages, slogans or symbols during their work hours, saying that such expressions can unintentionally alienate segments of our diverse visitorship. The keffiyeh has been widely used by protesters supporting Palestinian self-determination and opposing Israels actions in Gaza, where more than 41,000 people have been killed. In protest of the museum's policy, Lahiri, who is also the director of the creative writing program at Barnard College, withdrew her acceptance of the Noguchi Award. The 36-year-old man who pleaded guilty to killing a puppy found with its mouth taped shut was sentenced this week in Maricopa County Superior Court. Lester Richmond, of Scottsdale, was sentenced Tuesday to one year in county jail and three years of supervised probation. Richmond was arrested along with an accomplice, 32-year-old Heather Auditor, in July 2023 after his Husky was found dead in an alley. Police uncovered evidence linking him to the crime, including surveillance footage of the two discussing getting rid of the dog. Following his arrest, Richmond was placed on supervised release, and he pleaded guilty in July of this year. While on release, Richmond failed to appear in court in August and was extradited back to Phoenix after officers located him in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Richmond's plea was for one count of intentionally or knowingly subjecting an animal to cruel mistreatment, a class six felony. According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Richmond received the harshest penalty possible under the law for a first-time offender. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lester Richmond sentenced for animal cruelty in death of Husky The Miami City Commission on Thursday agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the city of carrying out a vendetta against a group of Little Havana businesses, marking a partial resolution in a years-long legal entanglement between local nightclub owners and Commissioner Joe Carollo. The lawsuit was filed three years ago in federal court by The Mad Room LLC, the company that owns the Ball & Chain nightclub, as well as Taquerias El Mexicano. It accused the city of harassing the businesses by carrying out code enforcement raids and weaponizing various departments in the city to concoct a set of violations targeted at businesses specifically owned by Ball & Chains Bill Fuller, who supported Carollos opponent in the citys 2017 election. No other businesses on Calle Ocho were targeted by the alleged scheme, according to the complaint. The Citys vendetta against Plaintiffs runs from top to bottom its elected officials, lawyers, professional staff, and every single department within its administrative function, the complaint alleged. It went on to say that the city deliberately created a multi-pronged policy intended to unfold in stages and build relentlessly towards its eventual goal of destroying Plaintiffs business and arrogating their property rights. In a separate but related lawsuit, Carollo last year was found personally liable for violating the free speech rights of Fuller and Little Havana businessman Martin Pinilla, who also supported Carollos opponent in 2017. Last June, a jury awarded Fuller and Pinilla $63.5 million after finding that Carollo tried to destroy the mens reputations and pushed city cops and code enforcement officers to target their properties. Carollo has appealed the judgment. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs have struggled to collect on it, with Carollo reporting a negative $64 million net worth and a judge ruling this summer that his Coconut Grove home can be protected from seizure to satisfy the judgment. Aerial view of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollos house in Coconut Grove on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. The City Commission voted 4-1 to approve the $12.5 million settlement in the Mad Room case, with Carollo being the only no vote. Carollo said that, in his opinion, none of our employees in the city did anything wrong. On the contrary, he continued, the history of these individuals was the history of violations, violations, violations, violations, not respecting our residents. Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela said he would vote for the settlement because we want to put this chapter behind us and not burden taxpayers with what could be years of further litigation. By agreeing to the settlement, the city does not admit to any liability. In a statement issued Thursday, the city said that if the plaintiffs had prevailed in a trial, they would have been entitled to attorneys fees, which could have far exceeded the settlement amount. While the City firmly believes it has done nothing wrong, the statement continued, settling at this stage is a sound financial decision. Commissioner Damian Pardo suggested that, going forward, the city could consider spelling out disciplinary actions for elected officials implicated in similar lawsuits, such as a formal censure or removal from office. Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo speaks during a rally at the FPL Solar Amphitheater Auditorium in downtown Miami on Aug. 17, 2024. The plaintiffs had initially claimed $27.9 million in damages from the alleged harassment campaign. In response to the City Commissions approval of the settlement, their attorneys Maria Fehretdinov and Jason S. Koslowe wrote in a statement that good governance and fair play are vital to our City. We are hopeful the settlement advances those values. Plaintiffs look forward to putting this matter behind them and growing their businesses, they added. According to the citys statement, the citys insurer QBE Specialty Insurance Company will pay $4 million of the settlement, with the city bearing responsibility for about $8.2 million. Pardos office previously told the Herald that the remaining $300,000 involves liens against the businesses that came about as a result of code violations that would be erased under the settlement. In May, QBE sued the city, saying it should not be held responsible for over $10 million in legal fees for Carollos defense in various lawsuits dating back to 2018, citing allegations that Carollo engaged in deliberate, willful conduct that was intended to deprive plaintiffs of their property and harm plaintiffs reputations to punish and retaliate. That lawsuit remains pending. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wants Turkiye to promote peace with Azerbaijan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while answering reporters' questions at the Turkish House in New York, Azernews reports via the Daily Sabah. Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying that the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan wants Turkiye to contribute to peace so that they can live peacefully as two neighbours. This is what we are striving for, he said, adding that Ankara hopes to solve the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia as both sides are in favour of peace. He noted, "Peace between the two countries will open doors for new opportunities and acquisitions, and the normalisation process between Turkiye and Armenia will also move forward accordingly. Russian President Vladimir Putin is fond of nuclear saber-rattling: On the eve of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin leader presided over the rehearsal of a nuclear strike, and his not-so-veiled nuclear threats have since kept US officials on edge. This week, Putin once again rattled the arms-control world by revealing proposed changes to his countrys nuclear doctrine. In a meeting Wednesday of his Security Council, the president said Russia would revise the doctrine to potentially lower the bar for the use of nuclear weapons, adding that Moscow would regard an attack by a non-nuclear state that involved or was supported by a nuclear state as a joint attack against the Russian Federation. Nuclear retaliation, Putin continued, could be considered once we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border. I mean strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], hypersonic and other aircraft. In simple terms, Putin was delivering a warning to Washington and other backers of Ukraine. The revision to the doctrine comes as Ukraine (a non-nuclear weapons state since it gave up claims to nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR) presses the United States for long-range weapons that would allow it to strike deeper inside Russia. The doctrinal revamp is clearly meant to make Western policymakers think twice as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presents his victory plan to the Biden administration. By brandishing the big stick of Russias nuclear arsenal, Putin is implying that the potential costs of providing Ukraine that weaponry may be too high for the West. So does Putins statement move the Doomsday Clock any closer to midnight? Wednesdays announcement sparked robust discussion online, with arms-control experts trying parse Putins language about the thresholds for nuclear retaliation. Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear forces, wrote in a thread on X that there was deliberate ambiguity in the announcement, particularly around what doctrine defines as aggression against Russia. In the current version of Russias nuclear doctrine, there is no distinction between an aggression by nuclear- and non-nuclear-weapon state, he wrote. All you need is an aggression that threatens the existence of the state. Podvig noted a previous Russian assurance that Moscow would not employ nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states, with one exception: when that state acts in association or alliance with a nuclear-weapon state. Russias new red lines may be difficult to perceive, then, but that may be beside the point. The language is designed for the very specific situation we are currently in, Podvig wrote. We know what these nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon states are. Mariana Budjeryn, researcher at Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center, suggested the red lines may exist primarily in Putins mind. There are two noteworthy points of departure from the previous 2020 Russian military doctrine, she wrote on X. 2020 doctrine allowed the use of NW [nuclear weapons] in response to conventional aggression that jeopardizes the very existence of the state. This is now relaxed to extreme threats to state sovereignty. What does that mean? Who defines what constitutes these threats? Likely, Mr. Putin. Conventional aggression is further specified to include a massive air-space attack. Who defines what constitutes massive or massive enough? Likely, Mr. Putin. Moscow has been making not-so-veiled nuclear threats throughout its war in Ukraine. - Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images The bottom line for changes to military doctrine, Budjeryn added, are less than meets the eye but do provide more interpretative room to Russian leadership to define circumstances of nuclear use. Putins very public move also underscores the performative nature of nuclear deterrence. The spectacle here is the key: the act of communicating our doctrine is changing now has the worlds attention, with the implicit message: you should be worried, wrote Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, the director of the Norwegian Intelligence School, whose academic research focuses on Russian nuclear strategy, on X. The content of Putins speech is less spectacular; a number of issues receive more detailed treatment than before, but the granularity of nuclear thresholds remain as blurred as before as is intended. Its also unclear what the actual revised doctrine might look like, Ven Bruusgaard added. Key question is what now? Will we see a document, will it contain more than what Putin has stated? Is this a trial balloon or is this the shebang? If so; curious that changes were so little if one were to go through the motions of updating the doctrine. Ultimately, its worth remembering as well that Ukraine has already struck deep inside Russian territory, including drone strikes on the Russian capital and a recent attack that hit a Russian ammunition depot. And the results of Zelenskys visit to the US may soon tell us whether anyone in Washington is listening to Putins nuclear talk. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A child at a rally against the abduction of children by Russia. Photo: Getty Images Qatar has announced an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the exchange of 13 children. Source: French newspaper Le Monde Details: "Nine minors and one adult will be reunited with their families in Ukraine," a Qatari official told AFP, specifying that "four minors" will be reunited with their families in Russia. The nine children coming back to Ukraine are aged between 12 and 17. The children going to Russia are between 2 and 7 years old. All of them will be received at the Qatari Embassy in Moscow before being reunited with their families. Qatar has been mediating this issue since July 2023, helping repatriate Ukrainian children taken to Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Background: In the spring of 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, for their direct involvement in the "deportation" of Ukrainian children to Russia since February 2022. Ukraine estimates that 20,000 Ukrainian minors have been deported or forcibly transferred to Russia, though the actual number may be much higher, as this figure only accounts for officially identified children. So far, around 400 of them have been repatriated. Support UP or become our patron! The King's stepson said that the monarch is receiving the "best treatment" Dave Benett/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage (Left) Tom Parker Bowles at the launch of his new book, "Cooking and The Crown," at The Audley Public House in London on Sept. 5, 2024; (Right) King Charles at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on Sept. 7, 2024 Queen Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles has given new insight into how King Charles is doing amid his cancer treatment. Tom, 49, gave a brief update about his stepfather's health in his new interview with British Vogue about his upcoming cookbook, Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. The food writer said that the King, 75, said is receiving "the best treatment," but acknowledged that it was impossible not to worry about a loved one navigating cancer. "Cancer, it really is a bastard," Tom told British Vogue in an interview published Sept. 24. "The Kings having the best treatment. Hes a great man and a tough man, and youve just got to get on with it. Of course, anyone who has someone they love with cancer is going to worry." Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty King Charles and Tom Parker Bowles at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2024. Related: Tom Parker Bowles Shares How Queen Camilla Is Doing Amid King Charles' Cancer Treatment: Shes Tough, My Mother The profile maintained that Tom is "super close" with his mother the Queen who "adores" her grandchildren, including his kids Lola, 16, and son Freddy, 14, whom he shares with his ex-wife Sara Buys. Tom's latest comments on the King follow another similar sentiment he recently shared while promoting Cooking and the Crown, where he referenced his mother's strength. According to Daily Express, Tom said that King Charles' "treatment is going well" and that Queen Camilla is forging forward, too. "Shes tough, my mother," Tom said in the Sept. 24 report. Queen Camilla welcomed her son and daughter Laura Lopes during her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, and they both stepped out to support a launch event for Tom's cookbook in London on Sept. 5. Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III will be published in the U.K. on Sept. 26 and released in the U.S. on Oct. 22, and some of Charles and Camilla's go-to recipes are reportedly in its contents. Dave Benett/Getty (From left) Annabel Elliot, Andrew Parker Bowles and Queen Camilla at the launch of Tom Parker Bowles' new book, "Cooking and the Crown," at The Audley Public House in London on Sept. 5, 2024. Related: Inside Queen Camilla and King Charles Diets, According to Her Cookbook Author Son Tom Parker Bowles The upcoming cookbook will explore "200 years of British royal food, studded with anecdotes, delectable tidbits and nuggets of history, featuring 100 accessible recipes" from Tom, an award-winning food writer and restaurant critic for The Mail on Sunday, according to its Amazon page. The summary lists a recipe for "Queen Camilla's porridge," "The King's wet martini," "Buckingham Palace mutton pies" and more. While the King didn't appear with his wife at the party for Cooking and the Crown, he has many official outings since his return to public-facing duties following the announcement about his cancer diagnosis. In February, Buckingham Palace shared that the sovereign was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following his treatment for a benign enlarged prostate in January. A spokesman clarified he does not have prostate cancer. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla drive near Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2024. The King postponed public-facing work on doctor's advice for three months, and resumed forward-facing engagements with a visit to a cancer center (not affiliated with his medical care) on April 30. At the time, Buckingham Palace described the King's treatment as ongoing and said future engagements would be amended as necessary "to minimize any risks to His Majestys continued recovery." Looking ahead, the King and Queen, 77, are gearing up for a major trip to Australia and Samoa in October. The visit will be the couple's first tour to Commonwealth countries since the King's accession and planned as he continues cancer treatment. Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on Sept. 8, 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! The royal couple won't stop in New Zealand (another Commonwealth country), as is typical for long-distance trips to that part of the world, around the King's health. In the July tour announcement, a spokesperson said that a New Zealand leg was nixed as "the Kings doctors have advised that such an extended program should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majestys continued recovery." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. UPDATE 8:33 AM All tornado warnings have expired. __ UPDATE 8:23 AM A tornado warning for Georgetown County is in effect until 8:45 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 8:14 a.m. near DeBordieu Colony, moving north at 55 mph. __ UPDATE 8:09 AM A tornado warning for Georgetown County has been extended through 8:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 7:37 near Santee Coastal Reserve, moving north at 60 mph. Warnings in Berkeley and Charleston counties have been canceled. __ UPDATE 7:27 AM Portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties are under a tornado warning until 8 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 9 miles northwest of McClellanville at 7:25 a.m., moving north at 35 mph. Locations impacted include Newland and Shulerville. Western Georgetown and southeastern Williamsburg County are also under a tornado warning until 8 a.m. VIPIR radar indicated a possible tornado near Lambert, which is about 14 miles north of McClellanville. __ UPDATE 7:02 AM A tornado warning was issued for northeastern Georgetown County and eastern Williamsburg County until 7:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Plantersville, or 8 miles northwest of Pawleys Island at 6:58 a.m. It is moving north at 60 mph. __ UPDATE 6:37 AM A tornado warning is in effect for Georgetown County until 7 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Winyah Bay Entrance at 6:34 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. __ UPDATE 6:18 AM A tornado warning is in effect for Berkeley and Charleston counties until 6:45 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Isle of Palms at 6:16 a.m. It is moving north at 60 mph. Locations impacted include Mount Pleasant, Isle Of Palms, Sullivans Island, Awendaw, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, Boone Hall Plantation, Cainhoy, Wando, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and Sullivans Island. __ UPDATE 6:13 AM A flash flood warning is in effect for Berkeley and Charleston counties until 11:45 a.m. heavy rain enters the area. Pockets of heavy rain coupled with ongoing high tide will produce an increased risk of flash flooding around the Charleston metropolitan area, according to the National Weather Service. Impacts are expected to be greatest in downtown Charleston, but Folly Beach, James Island, West Ashley, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant could also see significant flooding. Forecasts said up to 2 inches per hour is possible through the mid to late morning. __ UPDATE 5:59 AM A tornado warning is in effect for southwestern Georgetown County and southeastern Williamsburg County until 6:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Hampton Plantation State Park at 5:54 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. Locations impacted include Sampit, Andrews, and Warsaw. __ UPDATE 5:51 AM Tornado warnings are in effect for portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over McClellanville at 5:47 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. The warning is in effect until 6:15 a.m. Another storm capable of producing a tornado was located 6 miles north of Sangaree at 5:50 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. The warning is in effect until 6:30 a.m. __ UPDATE 5:37 AM The tornado warning for Charleston County has been canceled. __ UPDATE 5:32 AM The tornado warning has expired in Berkeley and Dorchester counties. __ UPDATE 5:20 AM A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Seabrook Island at 5:18 a.m., moving north at 55 mph. A tornado warning is in effect until 5:45 a.m. Locations impacted include Johns Island, West Ashley, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Meggett, Wadmalaw Island, Angel Oak Park and Rantowles. __ UPDATE 5:09 AM A tornado warning has been issued for portions of Berkeley and Dorchester counties until 6 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 5:08 a.m. near Ridgeville, moving north at 70 mph. Locations impacted include Summerville, Dorchester, Ridgeville, Harleyville, Jedburg, Pringletown, Francis Beidler Forest, Spring Hill, Sandridge and Ebenezer. __ UPDATE 5:00 AM Helene has weakened to a tropical storm as it moves inland over Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is expected. The storm is moving north at around 30 mph. It is expected to turn toward the north Friday morning with the center moving over central and northeastern Georgia. It is then expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday afternoon and Saturday. A tropical storm warning remains in effect across the Lowcountry. __ UPDATE 4:56 AM A tornado warning has been issued for Charleston County near Capers Inlet until 5:30 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 4:53 a.m., moving north at 70 mph. Impacted locations include Mount Pleasant, Isle Of Palms, Awendaw, Capers Inlet, Garris Landing, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, Price Inlet, and Whitehall. The tornado warning for Dorchester County was also extended until 5:30 a.m. Colleton County Fire-Rescue has reported numerous downed trees on roadways. __ UPDATE 4:39 AM A tornado warning has been issued for lower Charleston County near Rockville until 5 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 4:36 a.m., moving north at 75 mph. Locations impacted include Edisto Beach, Johns Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Meggett, Rockville, Bears Bluff, Yonges Island and Adams Run. __ UPDATE 4:32 AM Parts of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties are under a tornado warning until 5:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Summerville at 4:30 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. Locations impacted include North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, Ridgeville, Jedburg, Knightsville, Sangaree, Lincolnville, New Hope and Lotts Crossroads. __ UPDATE 4:30 AM The tornado warning for Charleston County has expired. __ UPDATE 4:12 AM The tornado warning for Colleton County has been canceled. __ UPDATE 4:03 AM A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Seabrook Island at 4 a.m., moving north at 65 mph. A warning is in effect until 4:30 a.m. Locations impacted include Johns Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Meggett, Rockville, Yonges Island, Bears Bluff, and Wadmalaw Island. __ UPDATE 3:45 AM A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles southeast of Kiawah Island at 3:42 a.m., moving north at 70 mph. A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Charleston County until 4:30 a.m. Locations impacted include North Charleston, Johns Island, West Ashley, James Island, Hollywood, Folly Beach, Ravenel, Kiawah Island, Meggett, and Maybank Bridge. The warning area includes I-526 between mile markers 11 and 15 and near mile marker 17. Portions of Colleton County are also under a tornado warning until 4:15 a.m. Locations impacted include Walterboro, Round O, Ritter, Canadys, Green Pond, Ashepoo, Thayer, Lowcountry Regional Airport, Drawdy, Colleton Medical Center, and I-95 in South Carolina between mile markers 55 and 69. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Ashepoo, moving north at 65 mph at 3:48 a.m. __ UPDATE 3:27 AM A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 3:19 a.m. near Fripp Island, moving north at 70 mph. A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Colleton County until 4 a.m. Locations impacted include Bennetts Point, Ashepoo, Green Pond, Fripp Island, White Hall, Wiggins, Chisolm Point, Coosaw Island, Sams Point, and Eddings Point. __ UPDATE 2:55 AM A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Edisto Beach at 2:53 a.m., moving north at 65 mph. A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Charleston and Colleton counties until 3:30 a.m. Locations impacted include Edisto Beach, Meggett, Adams Run, Edisto Island, Jacksonboro, Fenwick, Parkers Ferry, and Edisto Beach State Park. __ CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Hurricane Helene will continue to bring pockets of heavy rain, gusty winds, and a tornado threat to the Lowcountry through Friday morning as it tracks across the southeastern U.S. Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm in Floridas Big Bend region around 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It had maximum stained winds of 140 mph and was moving north-northeast at 24 mph. \ Forecasters said the storm is expected to turn toward the north overnight, taking the center over Georgia. It is then expected to turn northwestward and slow down as it moves over the Tennessee Valley into Saturday. A tropical storm warning is in effect across the Lowcountry. Bands of showers and thunderstorms will continue to roll in off of the Atlantic Ocean over the next several hours and another 1-2 of rain is possible. Multiple school districts switch to eLearning Friday Wind speeds could range from 25-35 mph with gusts to 60 mph throughout the Charleston area into Friday morning. [The storm] is going to move into Georgia and once it does its going to pull more rain bands our way, Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler said. It looks like its going to be a very busy overnight for us as we still see some strong thunderstorms and any of these could produce a tornado or what could be a tornado. A tornado watch has been extended for much of South Carolina through 8 a.m. Friday. Flooding has already prompted multiple road closures in downtown Charleston. City leaders implemented the mayors flood mitigation plan in anticipation of flooding from heavy rainfall and high tide. The next high tide will be at 4:36 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. 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. RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVNS) Raleigh County Emergency Services 911 gave a storm response update after weather caused by Tropical Storm Helene swept through the area on Friday, September 27, 2024. According to a press release from Raleigh County Emergency Services 911, crews are working on dealing with various emergency situations throughout Raleigh County. PHOTOS: Tropical Storm Helene leaves damage across southern West Virginia Raleigh County Emergency Services 911 stated that there are many reported road closures caused by the weather that include: Springdale and Rhodes in Beckley East Prince Street in Beckley Nebraska Avenue and Craig Street in Beckley Hot Coal Road Around 219,000 Appalachian Power customers without power across Appalachia Members of Raleigh County Emergency Management are working with members of local Law Enforcement, County Fire Departments, Beckley Street Department, and the Division of Highways to help and warn residents about blocked roads and fallen trees. According to Raleigh County Emergency Services 911, there are shelters on standby if necessary, however no shelters are open at this time in Raleigh County. Members of various fire departments and the Division of Highways were in various parts of Raleigh County removing trees and debris from roadways for the past four hours. Bluefield Virginia Police Department advises against travel except in emergency situations Raleigh County Emergency Services 911 stated that people should be very careful if they need to travel after dark. The Raleigh County 911 Center not only processed over 100 calls for service on Friday, September 27, 2024, they also continue to answer emergency calls. More than 70 tree down calls were reported, with more coming in due to winds, there are around 114 power outage cases leaving approximately 9,757 residents without power in Raleigh County. McDowell County residents advised to stay home during severe weather Emergency situations can be reported to the Raleigh County 911 Center, and the Raleigh County 911 Center advised residents to contact their power company for power outage updates. Stick with 59News and StormTracker 59 for the most up to date weather 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 WVNS. Randall County Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday found child sexual abuse material and seized more than 100 devices during a search of a residence prompted by a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, authorities said. "The Randall County Sheriff's Office executed an evidentiary search warrant for the residence of Jonathan Paul Conwell," a news release states. "This warrant was obtained following a Cyber Tip provided to the Randall County Sheriffs Office by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. During the search, there were over 100 data storage devices seized as evidence. Explicit videos and photos involving children were found while deputies were on scene." Conwell was arrested and booked into the Randall County Jail on a charge of possession of child pornography. The release noted that according to Texas Penal Code, "it is a first-degree felony if a person possesses 50 or more visual depictions, or videotape or film that visually depicts sexual conduct of a child under 18 years of age." This is an active and ongoing investigation, officials said. This is a developing story; more information will be added as it is released. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Randall County deputies find child pornography during search 'Rape me, not my daughter' - women tell BBC of sexual violence in Sudan's civil war Sudan is at breaking point. After 17 months of a brutal civil war which has devastated the country, the army has launched a major offensive in the capital Khartoum, targeting areas in the hands of its bitter rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The RSF seized most of Khartoum at the start of the conflict, while the army controls the twin city of Omdurman, just across the River Nile. The military attacked across two bridges which up until now have been closed and contested. Reports say it has secured a bridgehead on the eastern side for the first time since the conflict began. But there are still places where people can, and do, cross between the two sides. At one such point, I met a group of women who had walked for four hours to a market in army-controlled territory at the edge of Omdurman, where food is cheaper. The women had come from an area in Sudan called Dar es Salaam, which is held by the RSF. Their husbands were no longer leaving the house, they told me, because RSF fighters beat them, took any money they earned, or detained them and demanded payment for their release. We endure this hardship because we want to feed our children. Were hungry, we need food, said one. Warning: Some of the details in the story may be upsetting. And the women, I asked, were they safer than the men? What about rape? The chorus of voices died down. Then one erupted. "Where is the world? Why dont you help us?" she said, her words coming out in torrents as tears ran down her cheeks. There are so many women here whove been violated, but they dont talk about it. What difference would it make anyway? Some girls, the RSF make them lie in the streets at night, she went on. If they come back late from this market, the RSF keeps them for five or six days. As she spoke her mother sat with her head in her hand, sobbing. Other women around her also started crying. You in your world, if your child went out, would you leave her? she demanded. Wouldnt you go look for her? But tell us, what can we do? Nothing is in our hands, no one cares for us. Where is the world? Why dont you help us! The crossing point was a window into a world of desperation and despair. "I said to the RSF: 'If you want to rape anyone it has to be me.' They hit me and ordered me to take off my clothes. Before I took them off, I told my girls to leave ", Source: Miriam, Source description: Rape survivor, Image: Travellers described being subjected to lawlessness, looting and brutality in a conflict that the UN says has forced more than 10.5 million people to flee their homes. But it is sexual violence that has become a defining characteristic of the protracted conflict, which started as a power struggle between the army and the RSF but has since drawn in local armed groups and fighters from neighbouring countries. The UNs High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has said rape is being used as a weapon of war. A recent UN fact-finding mission documented several cases of rape and rape threats from members of the army, but found that large-scale sexual violence was committed by the RSF and its allied militias, and amounted to violations of international law. One woman the BBC spoke to blamed the RSF for raping her. We met her in the market at the crossing, aptly named Souk al-Har - the Heat Market. Since the war began the market has expanded across the barren land on a desert road out of Omdurman, attracting the poorest of the poor with its low prices. The conflict in Sudan has caused a massive humanitarian disaster [BBC / Ed Habershon] Miriam, not her real name, had fled her home in Sudan's Dar es Salaam to take refuge with her brother. She now works in a tea stall. But early in the war, she said, two armed men entered her house and tried to rape her daughters one 17 years old and the other 10. I told the girls to stay behind me and I said to the RSF: 'If you want to rape anyone it has to be me,' she said. They hit me and ordered me to take off my clothes. Before I took them off, I told my girls to leave. They took the other children and jumped over the fence. Then one of the men laid on me. The RSF has told international investigators that it has taken all the necessary measures to prevent sexual violence and other forms of violence that constitute human rights violations. But the accounts of sexual assault are numerous and consistent, and the damage has a lasting impact. Air strikes and street battles have caused heavy destruction in Sudan [Getty Images] Sitting on a low stool in the shade of a row of trees, Fatima, not her real name, told me she had come to Omdurman to deliver twins, and planned to stay. One of her neighbours, she said, a 15-year-old girl, had also become pregnant, after she and her 17-year-old sister were raped by four RSF soldiers. People were awakened by screams and came out to see what was going on, she said, but the armed men told them they would be shot if they did not go back into their houses. The next morning, they found the two girls with signs of abuse on their bodies, and their elder brother locked in one of the rooms. During the war, since the RSF arrived, immediately we started hearing of rapes, until we saw it right in front of us in our neighbours, Fatima said. Initially we had doubts [about the reports] but we know that its the RSF who raped the girls. The other women are gathering to begin the trek back home to areas controlled by the RSF - they are too poor, they say, to start a new life like Miriam has done by leaving Dar es Salaam. For as long as this war goes on, they have no choice but to return to its horrors. More BBC stories on Sudan's civil war: [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 District Attorney Steve Mulroy remembered the Memphis artist as a "prominent and beloved member of the community" Paras Griffin/Getty Rapper Young Dolph One of the men accused of killing Young Dolph will spend life in prison for the 2021 fatal shooting of the rapper. On Thursday, Sept. 26, Justin Johnson was found guilty of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm in relation to the November 2021 shooting death of the Memphis artist, the Shelby County District Attorneys Office said. The judge sentenced Johnson to life in prison, the district attorney's office added. Young Dolph, born Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., was shot and killed outside a local business called Makeda's Butter Cookies on Airways Blvd. He was 36. Law&crime trails/Youtube Justin Johnson Johnson was found guilty on all three counts after nearly four hours of deliberation, the district attorneys office said. During the four-day trial, co-defendant Cornelius Smith confessed to participating in the shooting with Johnson with the expectation of receiving $40,000 each for shooting the Preach rapper. According to Smiths testimony, Hernandez Govan, who was also charged in the case, was behind the hit. Related: Young Dolph's Alleged Killer Captured After Manhunt, Second Man Indicted for Rapper's Murder However, Smith claimed he was following instructions given to him by Anthony Mims, also known as Big Jook. Mims, who is the brother of Memphis rapper Yo Gotti, and Johnson were allegedly supposed to give Govan $10,000 each for organizing the fatal shooting of Young Dolph. (Mims was shot and killed in Memphis in January. The Memphis Police Department has not announced any arrest in his death, per the Commercial Appeal.) Every murders a tragedy, and we take them all seriously, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said. "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. Once the verdict was read, Dolph's sister, Carlissa Thornton, read a statement to the media, Local Memphis reported. "On Nov. 17, 2021, our lives changed forever," Thornton said. "A son, a father, a brother, a friend, a businessman, a music artist, a philanthropist, and life partner are among just some of the titles that my brother Adolph Robert Thornton Jr. held. Titles that have now left a missing piece in the lives of so many. I want to thank the jury for their service and decision in this case to bring us one step closer to justice for our family, friends, supporters, and the community that has supported us during this time." Thornton also thanked those who had shared an outpouring of love and support throughout this process. Paras Griffin/Getty Rapper Young Dolph, August 2020 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. We ask that instead of focusing on those who committed this crime, you focus on that man that Adolph Robert Thornton was... We ask you to remember the man that enjoyed being a father and spending time with his family. We ask that you remember the man who enjoyed giving opportunities to those who were often overlooked and counted out, she said. We will continue to heal and keep Adolph's legacy alive, his sibling concluded. During closing arguments, defense attorney Luke Evans said, [Johnson] didnt kill Adolph Thornton Jr. He didnt conspire to kill Adolph Thornton Jr. And he wasnt the man holding the pistol in the Makeda video. Jermarcus Johnson, Johnson's half-brother who was another suspect in Dolph's death, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact, reports Local Memphis. He faces six to 12 years in jail. Govan pleaded not guilty to planning Dolph's killing, reports the Associated Press. Govan was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges, per the Commercial Appeal. Smith also faces murder and conspiracy to commit murder, per the Associated Press. Govan's next court date was set for Oct. 9, and Smith is scheduled to be in court on Nov. 15, per Local Memphis. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Reason Why Bananas Might Be Really Hard to Find in Grocery Stores Soon (and Prices May Go Up) This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. Your shopping routine may hit a snag in the next few weeks. According to a new report from Reuters, port workers responsible for importing and exporting various agricultural, pharmaceutical, auto, and other goods intend to go on strike after their six-year contract expires at midnight on September 30, 2024. Heres what we know: Nearly 45,000 union workers plan to walk off the job across seaports on the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. Thats because employees of the International Longshoremens Association (ILA) union are demanding pay increases. If their requests arent met, vital trade processes will be stopped. The ports in consideration process about half of all U.S. imports (!). This pause in handling would disrupt the availability of a range of goods, including coffee, bananas, life-saving medications, apparel, and more. The ILA hasnt hosted a strike of this magnitude since 1977. With the potential strike looming, bananas and coffee will immediately experience shortages and higher prices. The U.S. imports three-quarters of its bananas from countries like Guatemala and Ecuador; with this blockage, itd be impossible for the fruit to enter the country. Plus, the nation brings in the worlds second-highest amount of coffee beans thanks to its big suppliers from Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, and Guatemala. With this halt, youll likely experience some less-than-desirable changeups to your morning latte. Maersk, an integrated logistics company that offers supply chain solutions for managing shipments and cargo, told Reuters that even a one-week shutdown of these ports would lead to six weeks of recovery for the economy. In the event that negotiations between the parties are unsuccessful, shoppers might need to explore alternative options for obtaining popular grocery staples in the weeks ahead. If an agreement is not reached, shoppers can expect notable price changes for products like bananas and coffee on store shelves. Further Reading The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Cant Stop Talking About Do Water Filters Really Work And Which Ones Are the Best? Ball Just Dropped the Most Beautiful Mason Jars for Its 140th Anniversary ("So Iconic!") Sign up for The Kitchn's Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox. Registered sex offender allegedly touched self in view of children COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A registered sex offender is under arrest after he allegedly touched himself sexually while children walked past his home. Joshua Brock, 32, of Columbus, was arrested on Sept. 18 and charged with public indecency and pandering obscenity involving a minor. Watch: Registered sex offender arrested According to Columbus police, Brock allegedly admitted during an interview with officers that he touched himself sexually while standing at an all-glass storm door of a home while children walked past on their way home from a bus stop. During a search of Brocks cell phone, investigators allegedly found child sexual abuse material, at which time, Brock allegedly admitted to having similar material on hard drives at his home, saying he was a collector. Brock is scheduled to be in Franklin County court 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. "I felt discriminated against, I felt weak, I felt small, I felt alone," said Michael Zamarron LOS ANGELES Zamarron is one of seven current and former employees suing a rehab facility owned by Executive Recovery Group Inc. in Encino and Tarzana. The plaintiffs describe a hostile and racially charged work environment. They paint a shocking picture, accusing management of engaging in Nazi salutes, sporting swastika tattoos, displaying white power gang signs, and using racist language. Zamarron recalls, "They kicked out the Latino managers and replaced them with a group of Caucasians, many of whom had swastika tattoos and openly displayed Nazi symbols." Attorney Camron Dowlatshahi, who represents the employees, expresses his disbelief: "Its appalling that, in 2024, we are still dealing with Nazi sympathizers." According to Dowlatshahi, the facility, once led by Hispanic managers, was quickly overrun by individuals promoting white nationalist ideologies. He alleges that these new hires were associated with a white prison gang and were brought in by managers sympathetic to their cause. The plaintiffs claim that this resulted in rampant discrimination against non-white employees. Zamarron adds, "I saw the swastikas, the gang signs, the symbolsit was clear in the staff they brought in." The lawsuit highlights numerous incidents where non-white employees, including Latinos and African Americans, were allegedly targeted. During one staff meeting, the lawsuit claims, a white supervisor publicly humiliated an employee by saying that "because he was gay, he shouldnt bathe residents," specifically referring to him as "this Puerto Rican homosexual." "It was obvious this supervisor was uncomfortable with the fact that I was Latino and gay," says Zamarron. The Encino rehab facility, owned by Executive Recovery Group Inc., was contacted for comment, but no response was provided. Valencia has begun turning its cemeteries into solar farms, prompting anger from relatives of the dead who say they were not consulted over the plan to meet net zero targets. Officials in the Spanish city hope to build Europes largest urban solar farm with close to 7,000 panels being built on graveyards, under a project named Requiem in Power (RIP). Three small cemeteries have so far started generating renewable power with larger sites next in the 3.2million (2.6 million) project, which is part of the citys plans to become carbon neutral by as early as 2030. Unveiling hundreds of solar panels gleaming atop tombs in the 200-year-old Campanar cemetery earlier this month, Carlos Mundina, a local official, admitted that relatives of the deceased had not been consulted on the plan. This is a public-owned facility and the [graves] are leased for 30 or 50-year periods so we dont need to consult anyone, Mr Mundina, Valencias climate and energy transition chief, said. A drawing for the cemetery solar panel project. A Valencia official said the cemetery was a public-owned facility so we dont need to consult anyone Cemeteries are places of absolute quiet, something solar energy does not disturb, he added. A city hall spokesman said: We are looking for all public space possible to help meet our targets. Most of the electricity will be by public services and slightly over 10 per cent kept aside as free energy for vulnerable families. But not everyone is keen on the plan to squeeze renewable energy out of holy sites, which has surprised Valencians owing to the absence of any consultation. They should ask the people first I had no idea. I wonder about the aesthetic aspect, Maria Luisa Mora, a 76-year-old whose parents are buried in Valencias General Cemetery, said. Its a bit weird. Ive got nothing against it but they should ask the people first, said Esther, 29, a Valencia resident. Its always the same; the government just does what it wants without consulting, she added. Mr Mundina insisted that RIP will benefit citizens, noting that Valencias social services had already identified 800 households receiving assistance to pay bills who will now get energy free thanks to the extra solar power pumped into the grid. These users will also be taught about energy efficiency and how to make the best use of solar power by adapting their consumption to the hours of the day in which it is generated, he added. Solar panels installed at a cemetery in Valencia An organisation funded by city hall, Valencia Clima i Energia (VCiE), has been tasked with educating citizens about climate change, helping create the citys first energy communities of locals tasked with installing solar panels. Empar Puchades is the president of a 62-strong energy community in the working-class Valencia suburb of Castellar, which has been allowed to place its solar farm on the roof of a local community centre. All very well for better off People who live in houses and who can afford to spend 8,000 or 9,000 on their own solar installation thats all very well. But what about folk without that kind of economic clout? Ms Puchades said. For a minimum initial investment of 600, community members have seen their electricity bills cut in half, especially if they can adapt to using appliances during the daytime as their energy is free when the panels are producing it. VCiEs Corentin Girard says better information for users and access to renewables schemes creates a double-win situation for people and the environment. It is about reducing energy consumption, but doing it in a way that is fair. 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. Remnants of deadly Hurricane Helene headed to Michigan after ripping through Florida (This story was updated to add new information.) As the remnants of deadly Hurricane Helene head toward Michigan, overnight showers starting at about 6 p.m. Friday and breezy winds, strong enough to blow loose objects around your yard but not quite enough for a wind advisory, are expected. "Helene is transitioning to more of a low pressure system," National Weather Service meteorologist Megan Varcie in White Lake Township told the Free Press. "But we are going to get some bands of rain moving into the area this weekend." Showers off and on all weekend also are forecast, she said. The temperatures should be in the 70s. However, Varcie said, unlike some previous hurricane encounters, the rainfall totals in Michigan from this one are predicted to be only about a quarter inch, and not likely to pose much of a flooding threat, if at all. A tree crew works to remove a large Live Oak that was blocking Abercorn Street on Friday, September 27, 2024 after the remnants of Hurricane Helene impacted the Savannah area overnight. Still, there just might be enough rain to keep this September from setting a record as the driest. In Florida, Helene left a path of destruction, what one county sheriff there described as "a war zone." The hurricane, which at one point was classified as a Category 4 storm, made landfall late Thursday near Perry, Florida, with 140 mph winds, and brought, in some areas of Florida, record storm surges. It pummeled the state and cut a path across Georgia and the Carolinas. As a result, a growing number of people have been left homeless and in the dark, with several deaths. As of 4:45 p.m. Friday, the number of customers without power was at 4.5 million, and the death toll at 33, with stretches of what USA Today called "overturned boats, flattened homes and a vista of floodwater several-feet-deep." Steinhatchee, a coastal town of about 500 in Florida, just miles from where Helene made landfall, took on 9.63 feet of storm surge, a record. Hundreds of miles from where Helene came ashore, Pinellas County, Florida, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said: "I would just describe it, having spent the last few hours out there, as a war zone." He added: "Its going to take a while before that area gets back to any sense of functionality." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Storms expected in Michigan, the last gasps of deadly Hurricane Helene Remnants of Hurricane Helene could impact commute, cause tree damage The Miami Valley is feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene Friday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida Thursday night as a Category 4 Hurricane. >> Live Doppler 7 Radar | Interactive TRENDING STORIES: Rain is falling Friday morning, and you will need your rain gear. News Center 7 reached out to local power companies and said they would monitor the weather. We also spoke with a lawn care expert who said to be aware of branches and tree damage. Strong winds can take out even healthy trees, said Ryan Dunham, Dunham Lawncare. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] After making landfall Thursday night along the Florida coast, Hurricane Helene claimed several lives while causing life-threatening flooding and forcing evacuations as it swept across the South. The National Weather Service in Chicago warned Friday that the remnants of Helene will cause intermittent rain, hazardous lakeshore conditions, and strong winds across the region, impacting residents and travelers alike. Dangerous lakeshore conditions expected The greatest danger is expected along the shores of Lake Michigan, where hazardous conditions are likely to persist throughout the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement, now in effect through Sunday morning, warning of high wave action and dangerous currents along Lake Michigan. Waves between 7 and 10 feet are expected. Swimming conditions will be life-threatening, the National Weather Service cautioned. Gary and Chicagoland residents, particularly those who frequent lakeshore trails, are urged to stay away from the water. Anyone who must walk or run along the shoreline should wear a life jacket in case [they] are swept in, the National Weather Service said. Drowning remains a significant risk in the region. In 2024, at least 44 people have drowned in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Four of those drownings occurred in Northwest Indiana, while 13 were reported in Chicago. Strong NE winds today will cause large waves to build, leading to dangerous lakeshore conditions that will linger through the weekend. Avoid lakeshore trails, piers, and docks. Stay away to avoid getting swept away into potentially life-threatening conditions. pic.twitter.com/jVNBfeSDBG NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) September 27, 2024 Forecast and warnings for Gary residents According to the National Weather Service, showers are likely to begin late Friday night into early Saturday morning, mainly after 1 a.m., with cloudy skies and a low around 64 degrees. Winds will be strong, with speeds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. The chance of rain is 60%. On Saturday, rain is expected primarily before 10 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 70. The winds will continue, though slightly less intense, blowing at 15 to 20 mph from the northeast. The chance of rain remains 60%, with additional rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. Rain chances decrease to 30% Saturday night, mainly before 1 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 64. Winds will slow to 10 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching 20 mph. A similar pattern is forecast for Sunday, with a 30% chance of rain mainly before 1 p.m., and a high near 72. Travel disruptions Travelers in the region will also feel the storms effects. Flight delays and cancellations have hit OHare International Airport and Midway Airport. As of 10 a.m., OHare reported 81 incoming flights delayed and 21 canceled in the past 24 hours. Outbound flights saw 48 delays and 10 cancellations. Midway reported 27 delays and 5 cancellations. Volunteers from Indiana mobilize to help affected areas While the Midwest braces for the remnants of the storm, volunteers from the Indiana Red Cross are mobilizing to assist those directly impacted by Hurricane Helene in the South. Hundreds of disaster workers are on the ground in Florida and Georgia, including nine volunteers from Indiana, according to an American Red Cross spokesperson. They have been deployed to support relief efforts such as sheltering and feeding displaced residents.Volunteers will be traveling in an emergency response vehicle and will distribute ready-to-eat meals, water, and snacks to those in need, the spokesperson said. Check back later for updates. The post Remnants of Hurricane Helene Expected to Bring Life-Threatening Conditions to Lake Michigan appeared first on Capital B Gary. Gently holding a blackcap warbler in his palm, ornithologist Christos Barboutis blew on its feathers to reveal the size of its belly: a good indicator of how far the bird can migrate. Acutely vulnerable to climate change, migratory birds offer valuable clues to scientists about how our warming planet is affecting wildlife: from their shifting migration patterns to their body weight. "Observing them warns us if something is changing or going wrong," said Barboutis, a researcher at the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Birds "are among the first to be affected by climate change such as drought, which poses a big problem for their distant travel," he told AFP at an observation station on the small Aegean island of Antikythera. At the crack of dawn, the researcher and his colleagues lay out nets to capture and ring the birds. The tiny island in the eastern Mediterranean lies on a popular corridor for birds migrating from northern Europe to Africa in the autumn, and in the opposite direction in springtime. Barboutis came to the sparsely populated rock between the Peloponnese and the western tip of Crete some 15 years ago. His team have seen and observed a variety of birds: from turtle doves and warblers to colourful bee-eaters and buzzards. The rare Eleonora's falcon with its distinctive, elegant wings often nests on the cliffs of the island. Greece becomes host to around 80 percent of the bird's population during their breeding season. - 'State of nature' - At sunrise, volunteers Nefeli Marinou, a 21-year-old biology student, and Jennifer Evans, a 25-year-old environmentalist from Canada, scour the deployed nets for trapped birds and carefully place them in small bags. A metal ring placed on a bird's finger bears a unique identification number. In a book, Marinou notes the species, age, sex, date and time. "From this number we deduce how long it took the bird to get here, whether the population is declining or stable," Evans said. Around 40 birds were ringed in a day's work. The bird capturing programme began 20 years ago, Barboutis said, although he cautioned it was a scientifically short period to make long-term conclusions about the impacts of climate change. From the top of a rock, student volunteer Nikolas Promponas, using a telescope and binoculars, watched for falcons and white-headed vultures, a species whose numbers are declining in Europe. Many species of birds including birds of prey need coastlines and ridges to gain height before taking off, he said, a resource that is abundant on Antikythera. Unlike the nearby tourist islands of Kythera and Crete, rugged Antikythera has just two restaurant-cafes and can only handle around forty tourists in summer. Like other islands in the southern Mediterranean, Antikythera serves as a vital stopover point where migratory birds can replenish ahead of their long journey. It is part of the EU Natura network of nature protection areas due to its biodiversity. Declining insect populations have made it harder for some species to find food, while human activity, intense droughts and wildfires worsened by climate change have contributed to the loss of their habitat. Forest fires, the use of pesticides, and urban expansion are also factors that affect their population. This year, Greece experienced its warmest winter and warmest summer since detailed records began in 1960. Less greenery means less food. "If there are fewer birds feeding on insects, it probably means that insects are also in decline," Evans said. "Whatever the case, birds are a very good indicator of the state of nature." hec/jph/cad/gv Wallace Hawkins, 66, outside his Perry home on Sept. 27, 2024, one day after Hurricane Helene passed through. (Photo by Liam Fineout) The residents of a usually forgotten part of Florida have found themselves in a familiar pattern: Trying to rebuild their lives after yet another devastating storm. Hurricane Helene, responsible for multiple deaths in the state and plunging more than 1 million people into darkness, made landfall late Thursday evening in Taylor County with winds as high as 140 miles per hour. It was the third time in 13 months that the area, part of Floridas Big Bend, has been the victim of a natural disaster. Taylor is one of the states smaller rural counties and was once dubbed Tree County of the South due to swaths of pine trees many of which Helene tossed down. Taylor County is in the armpit of Florida. I mean its literally in the crook. So, it kind of funnels to this area, bad weather does, 46-year-old Robert Bass told the Florida Phoenix while he and his wife, Vicki, 38, cleared debris from their corner lot yard. Weve both lived here most, or all of our lives. Weve been through storms and we know storms of the past. Weve been through the hottest temperatures and weve been through snow here in Taylor County. Its part of living here. Category 4 Helene made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, hitting as a powerful Category 4 storm. It was the third hurricane the Basses have rode out in the last three years in their Perry home. The first was when Idalia came ashore on Aug. 30, 2023, as a Category 3 hurricane. It was followed by Hurricane Debby, which hit in August as a Category 1. While other parts of the state struck by storms have had time to rebuild, thats not been the case for Taylor and some of its neighboring counties. Its a real gut punch to those communities, said Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News right ahead of a planned visit to Perry and Cedar Key. The Basses said that during Idalia, a neighbors tree fell on their pool pump house and into the pool. Following the storm, they pared tree limbs or removed trees from their property. A branch from the one tree the couple didnt remove following that storm fell on the power line beside their house during Hurricane Helene. Robert Bass said that, had the storm come in from a different direction, the tree limb would have fallen on his roof and not the lawn. Coming home Unlike the Basses, Perry resident Marilyn Bishop did not stay in town for the storm. She and her son evacuated the mobile home they share early Thursday and drove roughly 100 miles to Gainesville to get out of Helenes path. When she returned to Perry early Friday, Bishops mobile home was intact but without power. She drove to Wal-Mart to pick up chicken wings to make on the grill and an extension cord that she said would help her run electricity from a generator to her home. I could have stayed here but Im trying to be safer, she said. Helene swelled up into a monster storm in just a matter of days, and weather officials made the decision to start warning Florida residents even before the storm had an official designation. Initially, Helene seemed likely to directly hit the state capital, which had never endured a storm of that intensity in modern history. Helene featured a wide wind field and churned up the Gulf of Mexico, leading to a surge of water that inundated parts of Pinellas County and was blamed for five deaths, according to local officials. In the dark After skirting Tampa Bay, it turned its wrath on the Big Bend, where towns like Steinhatchee also suffered from storm surge. It left several North Florida counties, including Taylor, almost completely in the dark, according to power outage reports issued by the Florida Public Service Commission. Sixty-six year old Perry resident Wallace Hawkins was sitting in his carport Friday morning enjoying the breezy weather that Helene left behind, reflecting on the storms that have rocked his town. Its just another repeat, he said. There were limbs falling everywhere last night but it wasnt as bad this time as it was last time. I mean, both [hurricanes] were scary, he said referring to Idalia and Helene. Ive lived here my whole life and Ive never seen anything like I saw last year. U.S. Senate candidate and 3rd District Rep. John Curtis speaks during a Deseret News Editorial Board meeting at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News There are occasions when two Capitol Hill lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle come together for the common good. Although this can be rare, it happened this week when Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Utah Rep. John Curtis offered each other support on their bills. At the heart of this collaboration are two bills aimed at streamlining the permitting process for geothermal Energy. Curtis, in a press release sent to the Deseret News, said the Geothermal Energy Opportunity, GEO, Act, which his office proposed, would help unlock this resource to meet our energy needs. Geothermal energy is an affordable, reliable, and clean energy source, he said. Despite significant investments from companies to secure project permits, the Department of the Interior often delays authorizations such as notices to proceed and drilling permits due to litigation threats. He said he was thrilled to have unanimous support from my colleagues for this common-sense legislation. What did AOC say about Rep. John Curtis bill? Ocasio-Cortez in her remarks on the House floor said the GEO Act requires permit applications to be reviewed within two months. But this efficiency will not sacrifice a proper review process, as mandated under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. She thanked Republicans for their willingness to work across the aisle to ensure both communities and the environment continue to enjoy their protections. Geothermal has the smallest footprint of any energy generation technology and uses significantly fewer resources than other sources, especially conventional fossil fuels, the New York Congresswoman said. But, as Axios reported, Ben Gruber, the chief for energy, minerals and realty management programs at the Bureau of Land Management, opposed Curtis bill at a hearing Wednesday, saying it would create difficulties for the agency to comply with environmental regulations. The Biden White House isnt entirely skeptical of geothermal energy Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm has said she couldnt be more excited about capturing the reliable and scalable heat beneath our feet and creating speedier permitting processes. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. | Brynn Anderson Ocasio-Cortez also introduced a related bill that expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and requires geothermal leaseholders to reimburse the Department of Interior for any fees incurred while the application is filed and the site is inspected and monitored. Including Curtis and Ocasio-Cortezs proposals, the House passed four bills related to geothermal energy Tuesday night. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., the committee chairman, said the House GOP is keeping its foot on the gas as it passes a flurry of energy bills. Thoughtful legislation managing our resources well will restore American energy dominance, keep our natural treasures healthy for generations and reduce frustrating red tape that so often plagues our federal government, he said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy hasnt lost Republicans but hes on notice. Even some Republican supporters of Ukraine on Capitol Hill said that the Ukrainian President had made a strategic error when he visited a weapons plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, over the weekend and separately waded into the presidential race by calling JD Vance too radical in a recently published interview. The visit to the plant drew rebukes from Speaker Mike Johnson, who condemned it as a partisan campaign event in solidarity with Democrats, while Zelenskyys comment on Vance further complicates his swing through the U.S. as he seeks to shore up support in the war against Russia. Republicans are a key constituency for Zelenskyy to satisfy as the escalated conflict with Russia drags on into its second year with no end in sight. But the Pennsylvania visit and provoking of Vance may be a stumble for the Ukrainian president, who is already dealing with former President Donald Trump criticizing him for not making concessions to Russia. And with the election less than two months away, Trumps allies on the Hill and beyond are sensitive to any perceived slights against the former president, including the Ukrainian leader appearing at an event in a key battleground state with Democrats. I just think it's a mistake for any foreign leader to get involved in our domestic politics, and Ukraine needs all the friends it can get so I think it was an unforced error, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in a brief interview. I think he needs not to make that mistake again. We have geopolitical reasons to continue to support Ukraine, so I don't think thats going to change over one incident. But despite Republicans frustrations, most are not willing to abandon their support for the key ally over the episodes. Pressed on whether Republicans might reevaluate their support for Ukraine based on Zelenskyys recent moves, Cornyn shook his head: Not on my part, and I think people who support Ukraine support Ukraine, not because of the personalities involved, but because of what it means to further Russian expansion in Europe. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a supporter of Ukraine aid, said Zelenskyy's visit to Pennsylvania "was not helpful," though he said it wasn't discussed "very much" in lawmakers' meeting with him Thursday. "It's never smart in any situation where you're dealing with another country to get involved in this internal politics," Cole said. "My advice to anybody would be to stay out of American politics. Don't become an issue, particularly in a partisan election this close and in the final weeks leading up to it where, even if you're absolutely innocent, anything you do can be taken out of context." Zelenskyys trip to the weapons plant, where Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Josh Shapiro also appeared, has sparked House Republican investigations from some of Trumps allies on the Hill, including Rep. Andy Biggs, and demands from Johnson that Zelenskyy fire his ambassador to the U.S. But those GOP lawmakers supportive of Ukraines fight against Russia a hefty bloc of elected Republicans staunchly opposed more aid to the country previously left Thursday meetings with the leader vowing to stay the course. During a press conference in New York on Thursday, Trump said he plans to meet with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower Friday morning but also took the opportunity to dig at the Ukraine president over his comment that Trump doesnt know how to win the war. I disagree with him. Well, he doesnt know me, but, I will say this, I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelenskyy quite quickly, he said. Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy on Wednesday for not making concessions to Russia, giving his strongest indication to date he would stop backing Kyiv if he wins the U.S. presidential election. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump told the crowd that any deal would be better than the situation Ukraine is currently in. We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelenskyy, Trump said. Trump has said many times that Russia wouldnt have invaded Ukraine in 2022 if he was president and has claimed that hell negotiate an end to the war if he returns to the Oval Office, though during his debate with Harris he wouldnt say if he wanted Ukraine to win. On Thursday, ahead of his press conference in New York City, Trump posted a letter to social media purportedly from Zelenskyy requesting a meeting with him in the city on Friday. Still, some of Ukraines Republican backers were ready to turn the page and put the emphasis on the current presidents narrowing window to help Kyiv. You hit him, hes going to hit you back, Graham said of Trump. And we dont need any more of that. What we need is a change in strategy. The war hinges on what Biden does this week, not what Trump may do. Several Republicans, of course, have long been skeptical of and many have outright opposed continued U.S. defense aid to Ukraine. Vance, has been among the most outspoken in suggesting the war in Ukraine is of little consequence to America. At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested on Thursday that the GOP outcry was hypocritical, a transparent attempt to justify an opposition to backing Ukraine that is already deeply rooted. Zelenskyy's visit to Pennsylvania, Jean-Pierre told reporters, was "something the Ukrainians asked for." She pointed to the Ukrainian president's July visit to Utah where he appeared with Republican Gov. Spencer Cox. "They did this a couple of months ago in Utah with a Republican governor," Jean-Pierre said. "We didn't hear any investigation request when he went to a Republican state." Lawmakers in both parties said that Zelenskyy ought to be afforded some latitude as he fights for the future of his country. Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) suggested there ought not to be so much pearl-clutching from some Republicans. Lets not get overly politically sensitive here, Cardin said in an interview. Lets give this guy a little bit of a break; hes speaking out for Ukraine. Hes made very clear hes not engaged in the politics of this country, so dont draw him into them. Its too serious of an issue. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said Zelenskyy should stay above the political fray, but underscored the substance of the Ukrainian presidents bipartisan Senate meeting. Zelenskyy previewed the contours of his victory plan for the war, Hoeven said, which focused on a request for more military extensive capabilities using money that Congress provided in April, rather than seeking more U.S. funding for the war effort. In addition to his push for the Biden administration to ease restrictions on striking into Russian territory with U.S. weapons, Hoeven said Zelenskyy told them Ukraine needs more F-16 fighters and long-range missiles. "Obviously, he has to stay out of anything related to our politics or the election here. That's true in any situation like this, where you're dealing with a foreign leader, Hoeven said. The real key, though, today is that he met with senators on both sides of the aisle. And what we talked about, at least what I really want to talk to him about, is how do you get to an end to the war that works for Ukraine and what does it take." Eli Stokols and Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report. Hurricane Helene kills at least 44 and cuts a swath of destruction across the Southeast CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 44 people, snapping towering oaks like twigs and tearing apart homes as rescue crews launched desperate missions to save people from floodwaters. Volunteers with the Red Cross of Mass. heading to Florida to help with relief efforts for Helene Among those killed were three firefighters, a woman and her 1-month-old twins, and an 89-year-old woman whose house was struck by a falling tree. According to an Associated Press tally, the deaths occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The Category 4 hurricane knocked out power to some hospitals in southern Georgia, and Gov. Brian Kemp said authorities had to use chainsaws to clear debris and open up roads. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) when it made landfall late Thursday in a sparsely populated region in Floridas rural Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways where the states panhandle and peninsula meet. Moodys Analytics said it expects $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage. The wreckage extended hundreds of miles northward to northeast Tennessee, where a " dangerous rescue situation " by helicopter unfolded after 54 people were moved to the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital as water rapidly flooded the facility. Everyone was rescued and no one was left at the hospital as of late Friday afternoon, Ballad Health said. In North Carolina, a lake featured in the movie Dirty Dancing overtopped a dam and surrounding neighborhoods were evacuated, although there were no immediate concerns it would fail. People also were evacuated from Newport, Tennessee, a city of about 7,000 people, amid concerns about a dam near there, although officials later said the structure had not failed. Tornadoes hit some areas, including one in Nash County, North Carolina, that critically injured four people. A tree rests on an adandoned car on Interstate 20 in the aftermath of Hurrican Helene Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, Grovetown, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Atlanta received a record 11.12 inches (28.24 centimeters) of rain in 48 hours, the most the city has seen in a two-day period since record keeping began in 1878, Georgias Office of the State Climatologist said on the social platform X. The previous mark of 9.59 inches (24.36 cm) was set in 1886. Some neighborhoods were so badly flooded that only car roofs could be seen poking above the water. Climate change has exacerbated conditions that allow such storms to thrive, rapidly intensifying in warming waters and turning into powerful cyclones sometimes in a matter of hours. When Laurie Lilliott pulled onto her street in Dekle Beach, Florida, after Helene plowed through, she couldnt see the roofline of her home beyond the palm trees. It had collapsed, torn apart by the pounding storm surge, one corner still precariously propped up by a piling. It took me a long time to breathe, Lilliott said. As she surveyed the damage, her name and phone number were still inked on her arm in permanent marker, an admonition by Taylor County officials to help identify recovered bodies in the storms aftermath. The community has taken direct hits from three hurricanes since August 2023. All five who died in one Florida county were in neighborhoods where residents were told to evacuate, said Bob Gualtieri, the sheriff in Pinellas County in the St. Petersburg area. Some who stayed ended up having to hide in their attics to escape the rising water. We tried to launch boats, we tried to use high-water vehicles, and we just met with too many obstacles, Gualtieri said, adding that the death toll could rise as crews go door-to-door in flooded areas. More deaths were reported in Georgia and the Carolinas, including two South Carolina firefighters who died when a tree struck their truck. Capt. BJ Johnston, a law enforcement officer from the Florida Fish Wildlife and Conservation Commission surveys destruction from a high water buggy in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Video on social media showed sheets of rain and siding coming off buildings in Perry, Florida, near where the storm hit land. A news station showed a home that was overturned, and many communities established curfews. Also in Perry, the hurricane peeled off the new roof of a church that was replaced after Hurricane Idalia last year. When the water hit knee-level in Kera ONeils home in Hudson, Florida, she knew it was time to escape. Theres a moment where you are thinking, If this water rises above the level of the stove, we are not going to have not much room to breathe, she said, recalling how she and her sister waded through chest-deep water with one cat in a plastic carrier and another in a cardboard box. In Cedar Key, Florida, Kegan Ward described the terror of hearing tree limbs crashing down: I didnt know what I was going to wake up to. President Joe Biden said he was praying for survivors, and the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency headed to the area. The agency deployed more than 1,500 workers, and they helped with 400 rescues by late morning. In Tampa, some areas could be reached only by boat. Officials warned that floodwaters can be dangerous, containing live wires, sewage, sharp objects and other debris. If you are trapped and need help please call for rescuers DO NOT TRY TO TREAD FLOODWATERS YOURSELF, the sheriffs office in Citrus County, Florida, warned via Facebook. This photo provided by Venice Police Department rescue crews assist residents after conducting door-to-door wellness checks, in coastal areas that were flooded by Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Venice, Fla . (Venice Police Department via AP) Nearly 4 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, according to poweroutage.us. In Georgia, an electrical utility group warned of catastrophic damage to utility infrastructure, with more than 100 high voltage transmission lines damaged. And officials in South Carolina, where more than 40% of customers were without power, said crews had to cut their way through debris just to determine what was still standing in some places. The hurricane came ashore near the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of where Idalia hit last year at nearly the same ferocity. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the damage from Helene appears to be greater than the combined effects of Idalia and Hurricane Debby in August. Its tough, and we understand that. We also understand that this is a resilient state, DeSantis said at a news conference in storm-damaged St. Pete Beach. Soon after it crossed over land, Helene weakened to a tropical storm and later a post-tropical cyclone. Forecasters said it continued to produce catastrophic flooding, and some areas received more than a foot of rain. A mudslide in the Appalachian Mountains washed out part of an interstate highway at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. Another slide hit homes in North Carolina and occupants had to wait more than four hours to be rescued, said Ryan Cole, the emergency services assistant director in Buncombe County. His 911 center received more than 3,300 calls in eight hours Friday. This is something that were going to be dealing with for many days and weeks to come, Cole said. Forecasters warned of flooding in North Carolina that could be worse than anything seen in the past century. Evacuations were underway and around 300 roads were closed statewide. The Connecticut Army National Guard sent a helicopter to help. School districts and universities canceled classes. Florida airports that closed due to the storm reopened Friday. Inspectors were examining bridges and causeways along the Gulf Coast, the states transportation secretary said. Helene also swamped parts of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, flooding streets and toppling trees as it brushed past the resort city of Cancun this week. It also knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in western Cuba. Helene was the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. Workers remove debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Fla., Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 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 Denise Hughes, a nearby resident, said people had no idea that the felling would take place [BBC] Residents living near a green space in Stoke-on-Trent have gathered in protest, after they said trees there were cut down without warning. Police were called to Canberra Crescent in Meir Park on Friday afternoon, where crowds congregated to object as a number of mature trees were chopped down. Protesters said the open land was sold off by the council, and they did not know who currently owned it. Staffordshire Police said a group was trying to stop the felling of trees by a gardening business - work that had been arranged by the landowner. The force added the gardening business agreed to carry out further removals at a later date. The BBC has contacted Stoke-on-Trent City Council for comment. Denise Hughes, who has lived nearby since the 1980s, told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm angry, I'm upset." "It's absolutely dreadful, because weve got such a nice wildlife section," she said, "you see foxes at night, there's bats flying around, theres birds and everything. "It's just a lovely place to go, and you just dont expect to get up one morning and they're chopping everything down. Im just absolutely appalled." Police were called as people gathered to object to the work [BBC] Alison Dhatt has lived opposite the green for more than 30 years. She said she believed the trees were being cut to make way for houses. "We are in shock," she said. "We're here, really, for a peaceful protest to say were not happy, we havent been advised, and what is going on? "We want the council to give us an answer about how theyve been allowed to cut all the trees down without us being able to object to it." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees restaurant inspections in Iowa. (Photo via Getty Images; DIAL logo courtesy of Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) State and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and grocery stores for hundreds of food-safety violations in the past month, forcing some of them to temporarily shut down. The inspectors reported finding rodent droppings, moldy lettuce, food stored in containers that once housed chemicals, foul-smelling spoiled food, and meats that appeared to have never been inspected by state or federal regulators. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses over the past four weeks. The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a snapshot in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals website. Taqueria La Bendicion Food Truck, 900 Superior St., Webster City During an Aug. 29 visit to this food truck, which was parked at a car wash next to a Dollar General store, a state inspector determined the food-safety violations were sufficient to shut down the operation. Person in charge voluntarily closed mobile unit and agreed not to reopen until reinspection can occur, the inspector reported. The food truck was cited for the fact that there was no certified food protection manager on staff and the person in charge was not conducting operations effectively. The inspector reported seeing flies on chicken that was left sitting out at room temperature next to a grill. The inspector also reported finding cooked rice that was measured at 51 degrees and large containers of chicken that were measured at 78 to 82 degrees all of which had to be discarded. No system in place for dating foods, the inspector reported. Raw chicken stored in handwashing sink No thermometer available to measure temperatures of cooked chicken and beef Potatoes stored directly on the mobile (units) floor. Capos Tacos, 704 N. 4th Ave., Winterset During an Aug. 28 visit to this food truck, a state inspector determined the food-safety violations were sufficient to shut down the operation. Owner stated he will voluntarily close mobile food unit, the inspector reported. Owner has agreed to contact inspector before reopening mobile unit. During the visit, the inspector found raw, cut chicken and cooked refried beans that were described as spoiled, and with a foul odor. An employee was observed handling cooked carne asada with their bare hands, and there were three pans of rice in cold-holding that were measured at 46 to 50 degrees rather than 41 degrees or colder. Also, diced potatoes and shredded cheese were cold-holding at 50 to 54 degrees. The inspector also found cooked chicken in cold-holding at 67 degrees. All of the food had to be discarded. In addition, there were refried beans, cooked carnitas, carne asada, cooked chicken, cooked rice, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also reported that the handwashing sink was not operational and the truck did not have adequate refrigeration to keep cold foods cold. El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, 1327 Sunset Drive, Norwalk During a Sept. 26 visit, a state inspector noted that there was no currently certified food protection manager on staff as required. In addition, raw chicken was stored above whole-muscle beef inside a walk-in cooler, risking cross-contamination, and there were beans, carnitas and ground beef that had to be discarded as they had been cooked the previous day and hadnt yet cooled to 41 degrees or colder. Also, several prepared foods, pans of sliced meats, cut produce, prepared salsas, and queso were stored without any date markings to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also reported that the ice machine had what appeared to be mold-like debris in the ice chute, and the bartender was not using a sanitizing step after washing and rinsing bar glasses. Spices of Nepal Restaurant, 4804 SW 9th St., Des Moines During a Sept. 26 visit, a state inspector cited the establishment for failing to ensure the staff washed their hands properly after watching employees trying to clean their hands without soap while rinsing them in a three-well sink intended for sanitizing dishware. In addition, the cook was using his or her bare hands to prepare bread for immediate service to customers, the ice machine had a buildup mold on the interior ice chute, and cooked noodles had to be discarded as they had been prepared the previous day and had yet to cool to 41 degrees or colder. The inspector also reported that there was no dating structure in place for food items, suggesting the items were not date marked to ensure their freshness and safety. Also, spices and other items had been left unlabeled; there were hanging sticky-traps for catching flies suspended above the ice machine; the countertop, pans, coolers and cutting boards had a heavy debris dirt buildup, and there was debris and a buildup of grease on the floor and in the corners of the cook line. The inspector also reported that there were no reports of the restaurants past inspections posted. In August, the restaurant had been the subject of a complaint pertaining to adulterated food and improper food storage. The inspector had determined the complaint was verified. Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW Post 9128, 2814 State St., Bettendorf During a Sept. 26 visit, a Scott County inspector observed the establishment hadnt had a certified food protection manager on staff for six months. The inspector also found meat in a crock pot that had been left out from the previous day, with the meat measured at 78 degrees. The meat was discarded. In addition, several temperature-controlled food items were not being held at 41 degrees or colder to ensure their safety. The items were either relocated to a different cooler or discarded, and a refrigeration company was contacted to repair one of the refrigerators. The inspector also found taco meat prepared two days prior to the inspection that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, the interior of the ice machine had a buildup of grime, and the handwashing sink had a buildup of food debris. The establishment had last been inspected in November 2022. La Favorita, 1700 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines During a Sept. 25 visit, a state inspector concluded the person in charge was not fulfilling their duties as evidenced by the extent and significance of the violations observed. An uncovered container of raw ground pork was stored directly above an uncovered container of cooked chorizo, and packages of raw, whole-muscle pork, along with a tray of what appeared to be liquid from raw meat, had been stored above an uncovered container of cooked carnitas inside a cooler, risking cross contamination. The inspector reported there were multiple soups, sauces and raw meats throughout the walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer and the kitchen food preparation table that were stored in uncovered containers, risking environmental contamination. The inspector also found chicharrones that were holding at 71 to 74 degrees, prepared lard that was measured at 78 degrees and a pan of cooked rice that was holding at 102 degrees. The rice and lard were discarded, while the other items were heated to at least 165 degrees. The inspector also noted that the meat slicer and meat counters cutting board were visibly soiled with an accumulation of dried food debris, as was the can opener and plastic bowl used for scooping raw beans. In addition, the walk-in cooler was not equipped with a functional ambient air thermometer, and the restaurant had no thin-tipped thermometer to check food temperatures. In the retail-sales area, there were salsas, pasta de harina, nuts, and various desserts that had been packaged for sale with no information as to ingredients, net quantities, allergens or the name of the food manufacturer. Also, pre-packaged bags of single-service cups and plates for retail sale were stored under a ceiling vent that was heavily soiled with an accumulation of dust, resulting in multiple packages being visibly soiled. The establishment also had no designated mop sink for the disposal of mop water, and portions of the floor were visibly soiled with an accumulation of debris. The inspector also reported that the establishments licenses for retail food service and sales had been expired for more than 60 days. La Michoacana Meat Market, 1215-1221 Franklin St., Waterloo During a Sept. 25 visit, a Black Hawk County inspector cited this establishment for 12 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. The inspector reported that the food protection managers certification was expired and that the person in charge was not ensuring that foods were properly cooled or date marked, or that dishes were properly sanitized. Also, employees were washing their hands in a food-preparation sink; water was seen leaking from the condenser unit inside a refrigerator onto meat; cooked chicken was holding at 70 degrees, and beans left out with no temperature control were measured at 104 degrees. The inspector also reported there was no system in place for date marking any of the food to ensure freshness and safety; dishes were being washed in a tub of soapy bleach water solution, rather than cleaned and sanitized; and meat juices were being dumped into a sink designated for handwashing. In addition, chemical containers of some kind were being used to store food product, there was an excess amount of flies in the kitchen area, and there was a buildup of debris on the floor. Multiple flying insects were observed throughout the kitchen ... Decaying produce was stored in a box underneath the retail display of fresh produce, where small flying insects were accumulating. State inspector's report on El Palomino, a Des Moines restaurant El Palomino, 3116 E. 14th St., Des Moines During a Sept. 23 visit, a state inspector cited this restaurant for 22 risk-factor violations, an exceptionally high number. The inspector concluded the person in charge did not demonstrate knowledge of the risks inherent to their food service operation and was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector reported that workers were unable to wash their hands with soap prior to processing raw meats and packaging ready-to-eat foods. Multiple heads of lettuce and other items in the retail-sale produce cooler were visibly adulterated with what appeared to be mold and had to be discarded. Bags of peppers used for guacamole were attached to sink faucets, with workers washing dirty dishes in those sinks. Also, a large container of cooked beans that had been prepared several days before the inspection was measured at 44 degrees rather than 41 degrees or colder inside a walk-in cooler, and the beans had to be discarded. The inspector also found cooked fish holding at 113 degrees and trays of mini burritos that were measured at 121 degrees. Both had to be reheated to 165 degrees. The inspector also reported that various deli meats in the retail-sales cooler, as well as various sauces and cooked meats inside a walk-in cooler, were not marked with their preparation dates to ensure freshness and safety. The restaurant was also found to be dehydrating sausages and slices of meat to make jerky, but was doing so without the required approval for specialized processing methods. The inspector also reported the business was not sanitizing food containers once they had been washed and rinsed, and that workers access to the kitchens handwashing sink was blocked by large containers of lard. In addition, salsas and various sauces were being stored in containers that previously held dish detergent, and multiple packages of whole-muscle beef were being thawed at room temperature on a shelf below the food-preparation table. Multiple flying insects were observed throughout the kitchen, the inspector reported, adding that hanging sticky traps were suspended above the food preparation tables. These traps were filled with dead flying insects at the time of the inspection. Multiple boxes of adulterated raw pork and containers of produce received from the previous week were stored in the firms mechanical room, the inspector reported. Decaying produce was stored in a box underneath the retail display of fresh produce, where small flying insects were accumulating. Shelves throughout the walk-in cooler were visibly soiled with accumulated debris, and the interior floor of the walk-in freezer was heavily soiled with an accumulation of food debris. The visit was in response to an illness complaint. The investigation of that complaint is ongoing, the inspector reported. In October 2023, when El Palomino last underwent a routine inspection, the business was cited for 17 risk-factor violations. Oryza Asian Cuisine, 5 Sturgis Corner Drive, Iowa City During a Sept. 18 visit, a Johnson County inspector found that no one on duty was designated as being in charge, and the person in charge of the business was not a certified food protection manager and was deemed unable to ensure that employees were properly trained in food safety. In addition, the inspector found that several containers of prepared foods and sauces lacked any date markings to ensue freshness and safety, and reported that vegetable strainers were marred by a buildup of debris on their surfaces. The visit was in response to an illness complaint that was deemed unverified. QC Grand Stand Pizza, 320 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport During a Sept. 12 visit, a Scott County inspector cited the restaurant for having no certified food protection manager on staff. The inspector also found that several food items in the cooler were not date marked to ensure freshness and safety, and other items were expired, including yogurt dip that had expired Aug. 24 and baby spinach that expired Aug. 31. In addition, the inspector reported a plastic plate inside an ice chest had a black substance on it, the nozzles on the soda pop dispensers were marred by excess syrup, all of the kitchen equipment was marred by grease and grime, and the floors and walls throughout the facility had excess dirt and grime on them. Bickford Cottage Senior Living and Assisted Living, 4040 E. 55th St., Davenport During a Sept. 11 visit to this care facility, a Scott County inspector reported finding ham that was dated July 12, two months prior to the inspection; a tuna noodle dish that was dated Aug. 12; and pork and beans that were dated July 21. All of the items had to be discarded. In addition, sauce that should have been refrigerated was left out at room temperature, and food products were left open and uncovered inside a storage room, creating a risk of environmental contamination. Also, an opened package of hot dogs wasnt marked with the date of opening to ensure safety, and the ice machine, knives on the knife rack, the ventilation hood, the cabinets, and a cooler were each marred by debris, dust and gunk. On Sept. 25, the inspector returned for a previously announced visit to check on any corrective action that was taken. The inspector reported there was still food stored open and uncovered in the storage room and stated that outdated and spoiled food of some kind was found. In addition, the cooler, floors, ceiling, cabinets and knives were still contaminated with dust, debris and gunk. Hy-Vee Foods, 2900 Devils Glen Road, Bettendorf During a Sept. 11 visit, a Scott County inspector cited the store for the retail sale of several types of sausage and pork loin that bore no mark of inspection from either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or State of Iowa. In addition, several food products, including VandeRueben on Raisin and VandeRueben on Rye, were being sold in the store although they contained meat that had no USDA or State of Iowa mark of inspection. Inside a meat department cooler, a small section of raw beef was stored above baked potatoes, risking cross contamination, and two of the round bins used to store eating utensils in the Market Grille restaurant area had a buildup of crumbs and food debris in the bottom. Bountiful Bakery and Cafe, 303 Main St., Fairfield During a Sept. 10 visit, a state inspector found that the employees on site and the person in charge could not answer basic questions regarding food establishment operations related to food safety and sanitation. In addition, the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector found quiche that was left out on a food-preparation table at 71 degrees and which had to be discarded. In addition, the food-prep tables and the inside of the reach-in coolers were marred by an accumulation of food residue. The machine used to form bagels was marred by pest droppings next to the conveyor belt and evidence of vermin was observed in the bakerys rear production area. Containers of sugar and coconut sugar, as well as some of the baked goods, had been stored uncovered, and cases of single-serving food items were stored directly on the floor. The inspector also reported that the outside of the oven, as well as the refrigerators, cabinet interiors and ventilation-hood grates, had an accumulation of grease, dust and food debris. The visit was prompted by a non-illness complaint, the nature of which was left undescribed in the inspectors report. The complaint was deemed to be verified. The establishment was last inspected by the state in October 2020. Riverside Liquor, 826 E. River Drive, Davenport During a Sept. 10 visit, a Scott County inspector noted that all of the shelves in the walk-in cooler had a mold-like substance on them and that water was pooling on the shelves underneath a set of fans. Throughout the facility, water was leaking in several places behind the walk-in cooler (and) in front of the reach-in cooler, the inspector reported. Debris and dirt is on the floors throughout the facility. Rudys Tacos, 2214 E. 11th St., Davenport During a Sept. 10 visit, a Scott County inspector found four large pans of refried beans that measured 54 to 56 degrees, which was far outside the acceptable temperature ranges for hot and cold food. The beans were discarded. The inspector also reported finding large pans of pulled chicken and ground beef that measured 46 degrees too warm for cold holding and too cool for hot holding. The meat was then parceled out into small pans and placed in the freezer to for rapid cooling to 41 degrees. The inspector also noted that there were several food items that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety, and there was expired salsa on hand that was dated Aug. 29 and Sept. 2 and which had to be discarded. In addition, two containers of tortilla chips were stored on the floor in the kitchen. Flies were seen adulterating exposed and unprotected foods -- specifically raw fish on the counter Onions and potatoes are stored directly on a soiled and greasy floor in the back room. Inspector's report on Doc's Tap in Clarksville Docs Tap, 221 N. Main St., Clarksville During a Sept. 6 visit, a state inspector concluded that based on her observations, the severe unsanitary conditions at Docs Tap posed an immediate and serious health risk. The owner of the establishment agreed to voluntarily close the business discontinue the preparation and sale of food items until he could correct the imminent hazards and have those corrections verified by an inspector. During the visit, the inspector reported that rather than washing their hands, the employees were dipping their hands in a bleach-and-soap solution on a bucket and were also handling food items with their bare hands. An infestation of flying insects flies was observed throughout the facility, including the kitchens food preparation areas, the inspector reported. Flies were seen adulterating exposed and unprotected foods specifically raw fish on the counter Onions and potatoes are stored directly on a soiled and greasy floor in the back room. The inspector also found thawed fish that was left to sit out at room temperature and which had to be discarded, and found several prepared salads that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety. The kitchens back door, which led directly outdoors, was left wide open, which may have contributed to the many flies the inspector reported seeing in the kitchen. Kitchen equipment is soiled with food and grease, the inspector reported. Floors and walls in the kitchen, walk-in cooler and food-storage areas are heavily soiled with soil and grease. The day after the on-site visit that resulted in the business being closed, management at Docs Tap texted the inspector photos of the cleaned-up kitchen and the business was allowed to reopen. Bubble Cow, 111 S. Commercial, Eagle Grove During a Sept. 5 visit, a state inspector determined the establishment had changed the scope of its business by adding a bakery. The back room, which had been vacant, is now the kitchen with several pieces of equipment added, the inspector reported, adding that the walls and ceilings remained unfinished, creating a risk of food contamination. Due to the nature of the walls and ceilings in this back room, food preparation has been suspended today. The inspector also noted that the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager and did not adequately demonstrate knowledge of food safety principles. Employees, the inspector said, were not washing their hands properly and were handling ready-to-eat baked goods with their bare hands. Food-contact surfaces were not being sanitized, the handwashing sink had no soap available, a used paint brush containing paint residue was laying on some blueberries in the food-prep sink and bakery goods for retail sale were not properly labeled. The inspector also noted the back door was left open during the inspection and a hanging fly trap was covered with dead flies. On Sept. 19, the Bubble Cow bakery was allowed to reopen after sending the state photos of finished walls and ceilings in the new bakery. Facility has been cleared to reopen the bakery based on these photos, the inspector reported. Stanley McChrystal, a retired Army general once dubbed the finest warrior in the U.S. military, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president. McChrystal, who oversaw the Afghanistan war during the Obama administration, wrote in a New York Times op-ed on Thursday that the decision was starkly simple. Ms. Harris has the strength, the temperament and, importantly, the values to serve as commander in chief, the retired general wrote. When she sits down with world leaders like President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, representing the United States on the global stage, I have no doubt that she is working in our national interest, not her own. In the piece, McChrystal admits that he is not comfortable with many Democratic and Republican policy positions, preferring the center of the political spectrum, but argued that Harris was a person of superior character. The op-ed doesnt name Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump explicitly, but appears to allude to his alleged past remarks denigrating fallen military service members as losers and suckers. Retired military general Stanley McChrystal endorsed Biden in 2020 and has thrown his support behind Harris for the White House in 2024 (Getty Images) Character will dictate whether we stand by our NATO allies and against Vladimir Putins continued aggression, McChrystal argued. Character will dictate whether we have a commander in chief who honors and respects the men and women who serve in uniform. The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment. McChrystal has had his issues with top Democrats and Republicans over the years. In 2019, after McChrystal told ABC News that Trump is immoral and doesnt tell the truth, the then-president savaged the military leader on social media. General McChrystal got fired like a dog by Obama, Trump wrote on Twitter. Last assignment a total bust. Known for big, dumb mouth. Hillary lover! In 2010, McChrystal resigned following a damaging, widely-read Rolling Stone profile where he mocked then vice president Joe Biden, who had clashed with the general over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan. McChrystal ended up endorsing Biden in 2020. McChrystals endorsement follows a letter earlier this month from 100 former officials in Republican administrations, including numerous top military and defense leaders, also backing Harris. The letter slammed Trump as unfit to serve again as President, or indeed in any office of public trust, following incidents like the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Harris campaign has won support from other unlikely places, picking up the backing of Jack McCain, son of late Republican senator John McCain, and the endorsement of former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney and her father, former Bush administration vice president Dick Cheney. Whether such endorsements will matter remains to be seen, given the Republican partys embrace of a harder-right stance under Trump, who is running on a platform of taking on establishment Washington figures like those who have endorsed Harris. According to the latest polls, Harris leads Trump by about 3 percent. A jury was seated Monday in the second trial of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore, who was charged with simple assault for kicking a shackled detainee twice in the groin in 2022 when he was a captain with the department. Grismores first trial in July was declared a mistrial after a jury told the judge it could not reach a unanimous decision. After the mistrial, Grismore said he was disappointed that the jury did not acquit him. He told the Associated Press by email on Friday that he did not have a comment on his second trial. Grismore was fired from the department in August 2022 after body-came footage showed him kicking Jeremy Burrows of Winooski in the groin. An investigation by the Vermont State Police determined that Grismore repeatedly kicked Burrows, 42, who was handcuffed and in leg shackles, in the midsection. Judge declares mistrial in Franklin County Sheriffs assault trial Grismore was the only candidate on the ballot for sheriff after winning both the Republican and Democratic nominations in the Aug. 9, 2022, primary. He was elected despite a write-in campaign backed by the countys Republican and Democratic parties. In December, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council voted 15-1 to revoke Grismores law enforcement certifications for violating the states use of force policy. State officials including Gov. Scott and the Vermont Sheriffs Association called on Grismore to step down, but he refused, maintaining his actions were not excessive and within the bounds of his training. At trial in July, Grismore argued he was using his foot to push down the shackled inmate, to prevent him from falling down. A legislative committee in the Vermont House investigated whether or not to impeach Grismore. The committee agreed the sheriff should step down, but did not recommend a formal impeachment process. Jury selection starts at 8:30 am Monday at the Grand Isle County Courthouse in North Hero. 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 ABC22 & FOX44. Aerial view of the port in Duress, Albania, the departure point for 102 containers allegedly carrying toxic waste bound for Thailand (Adnan BECI) (Adnan BECI/AFP/AFP) Amid the scorching heat at the Albanian port of Durres, 102 containers set sail for Thailand in early July, sparking a high-seas drama that highlighted the perils of the global waste trade. According to official papers reviewed by AFP, the containers were filled with waste material that was set to be processed and destroyed far from Europe's shores. But weeks later, the containers are still adrift in the Mediterranean, following a months-long back-and-forth over what exactly was being shipped and whether it was legal. Enormous amounts of waste are regularly sent to developing countries -- part of a global industry that sees Western nations outsourcing its treatment to Asia and Africa. The practise has long been denounced by environmental organisations. Despite the criticism, the waste management trade continues to be a multibillion-dollar enterprise. The handling of illicit material alone generates between nine billion and 11 billion euros each year, according to the Financial Action Task Force, a leading watchdog tracking illegal trade. The World Bank estimates that approximately two billion tonnes of waste are produced annually across the globe -- expected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050. Within those mountains of waste, regulators have deemed a certain portion hazardous. These include substances that can be harmful to human health or the environment due to their chemical reactivity or toxicity levels. To better regulate the industry, the Basel Convention -- signed in 1989 by 53 countries -- prohibits members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from sending waste to non-member states. But Albania, which is not a member of the Paris-based economic forum, is free to ship waste abroad. - Industrial odyssey - The material stowed away in the 102 containers originated from the Turkish-owned Kurum International steel plant in central Albania's Elbasan, according to Albanian media reports. The waste was first purchased by the Albanian company Sokolaj, which then sold the material to its subsidiary in Croatia, GS Minerals, with the cargo set to be offloaded in Thailand for processing. According to documents seen by AFP, Sokolaj labelled the waste as "iron oxide" -- a substance that is not prohibited for shipment or considered hazardous. An analysis of the substance on the containers was conducted by a Croatian laboratory based in Zagreb, according to Sokolaj. When contacted by AFP, the laboratory refused to comment, saying the "information can only be given to clients". Sokolaj itself has not responded to questions on what is in the containers. The company and its Croatian subsidiary both refused AFP's requests for comment. The containers then departed for the Italian port of Trieste, where they were loaded onto two cargo ships operated by global shipping giant Maersk -- the Campton and the Candor. As the ships cruised along the African coastline, an organisation specialising in tracking toxic waste, the Basel Action Network (BAN), contacted Maersk. A whistleblower had called the network's hotline to report that the containers were carrying not just iron oxide, but also toxic waste. BAN asked Maersk to stop the ships when they were near the South African coast, according to its president, Jim Puckett. The ships did not respond and turned off their transponders as they set sail for Singapore, according to BAN. BAN then tipped off the Thai authorities, who refused to allow the containers entry. "The government refused to import more than 800 tonnes of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) from Albania," said the Thai Department of Industrial Works in a statement. EAFD is a hazardous byproduct produced during the making of steel. Penchome Saetang, an environmental activist working with the Thai government, said the tip led to the country's refusal. "After receiving information from NGOs, the government suspected it could be EAFD," Saetang told AFP. Following the notice from the Thai government, Maersk told AFP it handed off the containers to the shipping company MSC in Singapore to return the containers to Albania. "Maersk Campton and Maersk Candor were carrying those suspected containers on behalf of another shipping line. None of these containers have been declared to contain hazardous waste," Maersk told AFP. "Had they been declared to contain hazardous waste, Maersk would have declined to carry them." MSC declined to comment when contacted by AFP. - Back to Europe - In late August, the 102 containers onboard two ships set sail back to Europe. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the shipments and lashed out at critics -- yet refused to allow the containers to return to the country's ports. "Nothing proves that this waste is toxic," he told a recent parliamentary session. "Even if they were hazardous products, their transport is neither prohibited in Albania nor worldwide," added Rama, saying the accusations were based on "malicious suspicions". BAN fired back in an open letter to the Albanian government, saying containers carrying hazardous materials cannot be shipped without the written consent of the exporter, transit countries and authorities at the final destination. "None of these countries have given their consent and, therefore, if it turns out that the containers contain hazardous waste, the shipments constitute 'illegal trafficking' under Article 9 of the Basel Convention," BAN said. In Albania, prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident in cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office and international partners, according to an official statement. As of Thursday morning, the 102 containers are still at sea, with the cargo on one ship off the coast of Italy and another near Egypt. "There is a chance we could be wrong," Puckett from BAN said about the material in question. "But I doubt it." bme-tak-cbo-ljv/ds/jhb The U.S. is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of an Iranian man accused of plotting to assassinate former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton. The Department of Justice alleges Shahram Poursafi, a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), tried to hire people to assassinate Bolton, a former top official in the Trump White House, between October 2021 and April 2022 in Washington and Maryland in exchange for $300,000. The U.S. charged Poursafi on Aug. 5, 2022, accusing him of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot and providing material support for a transnational murder plot. The Treasury Department designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June of last year. He remains at large. 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 press office said in a release Thursday. The announcement of the reward comes days after the Trump campaign said the ex-president was briefed by intelligence officials about Irans alleged assassination threats against him. A Pakistan national with ties to the Iranian government was charged with one count in early August for plotting to conduct a political assassination in the U.S. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected accusations that Iran has tried to assassinate government critics overseas, telling NBC News in an interview this week, We do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is they assassinated a revered Iranian general. Qassem Soleimani, a top general in the IRGC, was killed in a January 2020 drone strike authorized by then-President Trump. Bolton, a frequent critic of Iran, served as Trumps national security adviser from April 2018 to September 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 The Hill. The only surprise about the EU voting to downgrade the protection of wolves and allowing them to be hunted again is that it took them so long. The increasing emotional and financial strain felt by farmers came under the spotlight when Ursula von der Leyens childrens pony Dolly was killed by wolves last year, one of an estimated 65,000 farm animals killed every year by Europes 20,000 wolves according to EU estimates. Both figures are on the increase. In some ways it is a pity that bringing back the wolf from extinction over much of continental Europe has proved to be unacceptably damaging. There is something magical about hearing them howl across wooded Italian valleys, where they are numerous. More importantly, our ecosystem would benefit from more apex predators. The environmentalist lobby, which has a Bambi phobia, argues that they are needed to control the UKs deer population. There is some truth in that in some areas. But wolves would do a greater service by sorting out our chronic predator imbalance. They have an important role in dispersing and killing foxes, badgers and other meso-predators. This is especially necessary in the UK since the hunting ban and the protection of badgers prevented huntsmen and gamekeepers being the much needed apex predators. Our small mammals like hedgehogs and ground-nesting birds are declining fast as a result. In other countries they are more pragmatic; for example Germany has an open season for badger hunting. The clue is in the name dachshund badger hound. It may soon be possible to use satellite technology to keep wolves wearing electric smart collars away from livestock, and this could perhaps allow very limited reintroductions in remote areas. But the vast majority of the UK is too densely populated and intensively farmed to allow for their re-introduction. In this parish alone there are several thousand cattle out grazing in fields, many of them calves. The appearance of a wolf pack doesnt bear thinking about. In Europe they train fierce guard dogs to protect livestock but their herd and flock sizes are tiny in comparison to ours. Other reintroductions red kites, pine martens, beavers have been accompanied by protections and an unwillingness to grant licences to cull animals when they become so numerous that they threaten other species or farmland. You can hardly blame our farmers for holding out against wolves. The EU decision, which has yet to become law, is a sign of increasing pragmatism about wildlife management in Europe. Donald Tusks declaration of war on beavers, blamed for damaging flood defences in some parts of Poland affected by the recent storms, is another. Although in other, more upstream areas they may have helped to stem the flow. Unfortunately politicians in Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff are heading in a less pragmatic direction and are more likely to heed the siren voices of extreme re-wilders than those responsible for managing the land. The Secretary of State for DEFRA, Steve Reed was happy to accept a pair of designer Le Chameau wellies from Lord Alli but seems less receptive to advice from farmers, for example over the cessation of the badger cull. We had better hope that Lord Alli doesnt wish to see wolves roaming the British countryside again in return for his generosity. 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 number of red-billed choughs reintroduced to Kent now tops 19 as part of a rewilding programme [Kent Wildlife Trust / Tim Horton] Conservation charities have successfully completed the second round of rewilding of a long-lost bird breed in Dover. The red-billed chough disappeared from the Kent countryside more than 200 years ago due to habitat loss and persecution. In 2023, the first cohort of eight birds were returned to the area by conservation charities Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Cornwall's Paradise Park. Now a further 11 birds have been raised in captivity and released near Dover. Kent Wildlife Trust has worked with English Heritage, the National Trust and White Cliffs Countryside Partnership over 40 years to restore a suitable grassland for the birds. The charity's conservation director Paul Hadaway said: "Chalk grassland is an incredibly rare habitat and is considered the UK's equivalent of the rainforest." The birds are members of the corvid family which includes rooks, ravens, crows and magpies. This year's set of choughs consisted of six females who were creche-reared at Wildwood Trust, just outside Canterbury. A further six males were reared at Paradise Park's zoo-based breeding programme in Cornwall. 'Flying free' The charities said they were pleased when a chough chick was found in a nest at Dover Castle in May, a sign the released birds were breeding in the wild. But the chick went missing days later due to strong winds. Wildwood Trust's conservation director Laura Gardner said: While we were disappointed by the disappearance of the chick we were heartened by the fact that its very existence showed that creating an established breeding population of chough in the wild in Kent for the first time in generations was very much within our reach. Little more than two years ago there was no chance of seeing a chough in the South Eastern sky line now there are 19 flying free over Dover." The bird disappeared from Kent 200 years ago due to habitat loss [Kent Wildlife Trust / Tim Horton] The project aims to release up to 50 choughs in the Dover countryside by 2028. Earlier this year, 108 choughs fledged successfully in Cornwall, according to charity Cornwall Birds. The Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust have already worked together to reintroduce bison, Iron Age pigs, Exmoor ponies and longhorn cattle to the area. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court rejected on Friday a bid by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore his name to the ballot in New York state even though he suspended his campaign as an independent for president in August and endorsed Donald Trump. The justices denied a request by Kennedy's campaign and other allies ordering New York election officials to reinstate his name on the ballot after state courts disqualified him for claiming an invalid address as his residence in paperwork. When Kennedy suspended his campaign, he pledged to withdraw in the most closely contested states but remain on the ballot elsewhere. Kennedy has since urged his supporters everywhere to back Trump and has withdrawn from the ballot in a number of Republican-leaning states. His fight to stay on the ballot in Democratic-leaning New York emerged after a state judge ruled in favor of a challenge by individual voters who claimed Kennedy deceptively provided a false New York residence on his petition to get on the ballot, when he actually lives in California, in violation of state law. The judge agreed, calling it a "sham" address that he used "for the purpose of maintaining his voter registration and furthering his own political aspirations in this state." Kennedy's campaign challenged the residency disclosure requirement in federal court and sought an order to keep him on the ballot. Both a federal judge and the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that request earlier in September. The campaign urged the Supreme Court to intervene because lower courts "did not find that anyone was misled by the address," yet the decision to remove him deprives his supporters of the right to vote for the candidate of their choice. In an email, an attorney for a political action committee supporting Kennedy and a voter who signed Kennedy's nomination petition, who joined the campaign's federal lawsuit, said Kennedy has only suspended his campaign. He "hasn't terminated it," said Rick Jaffe in the email, adding that "our clients have a right to have him appear on the ballot and vote for him, regardless of the current suspended status of his campaign." New York Attorney General Letitia James asked the Supreme Court to reject Kennedy's request in a filing, noting that tens of thousands of ballots have already been mailed to overseas and military voters. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is fighting to get his name off the presidential ballot in key battleground states an effort to draw any remaining support he had to former President Donald Trump. When Kennedy suspended his campaign and backed Trump on Aug. 23, his once-strong position as the biggest spoiler in decades had withered greatly during his 10-month campaign as an independent presidential candidate. Kennedy has now successfully removed his name from four battleground states Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada where moving even a fraction of Kennedys former supporters to Trump could be decisive. Wisconsins Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Kennedy would remain on the ballot there in November. But the effort to withdraw from state ballots is an unprecedented move for any independent or minor party candidate and it's unclear exactly how successful he will be in the remaining swing states by the start of early and absentee voting. This has never happened before, said Richard Winger, a ballot access expert who also runs the Ballot Access News website. He's taken his name off some states that are not swing states. It's very mysterious. I don't know why. Kennedys withdrawal has gotten litigious in three states, of which only one case has been concluded in North Carolina. The Tar Heel state had already begun printing ballots when Kennedy dropped out of the race. The former candidate sued and ultimately won his case to remove his name after an appeal, but the result forced the swing state to bear the cost of reprinting ballots and delayed their distribution to absentee and overseas military voters. This decision imposes a tremendous hardship on our county boards, at an extremely busy time, said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, in a statement. But our election officials are professionals, and I have no doubt we will rise to the challenge. The consequences of the legal spat is a cause for concern from some third-party groups, which were vocally opposed to Kennedy's candidacy on the grounds he could throw the election to Trump. At Trump and MAGAs direction, RFK Jr. is manufacturing scenarios that throw the ballot counting process of multiple states into disarray, said Britt Jacovich, a spokesperson for MoveOn, in a statement. If successful, Trump will use this as a pretense to say that this election was rigged and once again attempt to defy the will of the people. Lets call this what it is: a direct attack on democracy." Kennedy did not respond to questions about his ongoing ballot access cases when asked on Capitol Hill earlier this week. The disruptions caused by removing his name could lead to further trust concerns about the U.S. election system, which is already under increased scrutiny. Kennedys latest legal appeals are threatening to upend election timelines in Wisconsin and Michigan as well. This election will be decided on the margins, and any effort to damage our electoral process is an attack on our entire democracy, Jacovich said in another statement. Kennedy has become a vocal surrogate for the Trump campaign. He plans to campaign with former Rep. Tulsi-Gabbard, the ex-Democrat who has also now thrown her backing to Trump, this weekend in Michigan. No matter what state you live in, you should be voting for Donald Trump, Kennedy said in a video clip shared online in early September. Thats the only way that we can get me and everything I stand for into Washington, DC. Vice President Kamala Harris has a narrow lead over Trump in these two blue wall states, according to recent statewide polls. Joe Biden won them collectively in 2020 with fewer than 200,000 votes, and Trump with about 35,000 in 2016. And Kennedy still has pull as a candidate, garnering about 2 percent support in a recent national poll from NBC News. Both Trump and Harris must also navigate the small shares of support held by Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver, whos on the ballot in every swing state; Green Party nominee Jill Stein and independent Cornel West, who are both on the ballot in a handful of swing states. The close margins between Trump and Harris are also consistent with the swing states where Kennedy has successfully removed his name from the ballot. In Georgia, he removed his name after two letters from his lawyers and in Arizona by quickly withdrawing his petition. In Pennsylvania, Kennedy opted not to fight a challenge to his petition and in Nevada, a settlement in a lawsuit filed by local Democrats muted the issue. There was a single case where Kennedy was fighting to keep his name on the ballot in New York, but the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal on Friday. Kennedy continues to embarrass himself with desperate and contradictory legal arguments in state after state, even trying to delay millions of ballots being printed and cast, all to fulfill his corrupt bargain with Trump, said Pete Kavanaugh, head of Clear Choice PAC, which initially filed the challenge to Kennedys New York paperwork. Kennedy remains on the ballot in about 30 states. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to appear on New Yorks presidential ballot even though he suspended his campaign last month and backed former President Donald Trump. The high court turned away Kennedys longshot appeal without comment and there were no noted dissents. In an emergency appeal filed this month, the former independent presidential candidate argued voters who signed petitions supporting his placement on New Yorks ballot had a constitutional rightto vote for him, whether he is campaigning for their vote or not. State election officials dumped Kennedys name because he included an invalid address on his nominating petition. State election officials countered that voters would be severely harmed by holding up the mailing of overseas ballots to accommodate Kennedys request. Kennedys position, they said, would not only severely disrupt the states election processes and trigger substantial voter confusion, but also cause New York to miss federal deadlines for mailing overseas and military ballots. Requiring candidates to disclose their home address, as Kennedy failed to do, officials said, was a minimal burden because a reasonably diligent candidate could be expected to provide truthful and accurate information on their candidacy filings. In August, Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump, pledging to remove his name from the ballot in a handful of battleground states yet encouraging supporters in non-competitive states traditionally won by Republicans or Democrats to vote for him. But in the weeks since he dropped out of the race, Kennedy has made more direct appeals to his supporters to back Trump regardless of where they live, while also withdrawing his name from the ballot in some deeply Republican states. On Friday, Kennedy urged attendees at a rally in Walker, Michigan, to back Trump in the battleground state. My name is going to appear on Michigans ballot. I dont want you to vote for me. I want you to vote for Donald J. Trump, Kennedy said. Thats the only way Im going to get to Washington, DC, and do all the things to help end the war, end the chronic disease epidemic, to end the censorship, to end the surveillance, and all the other things that I entered this race to do. Lower courts, including the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, had rejected Kennedys efforts to challenge New Yorks decision. Its the second presidential ballot access appeal to reach the Supreme Court in recent weeks, underscoring the spoiler role third party and independent candidates can play in tight elections. On Friday, the Supreme Court denied an emergency request from the Green Party to ensure presidential candidate Jill Stein could appear on the ballot in the battleground state of Nevada. CNNs Aaron Pelilsh. Ali Main and Steve Contorno contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Angelica Infante-Green is seen speaking to reporters on Aug. 16, 2024, at the Rhode Island Department of Educations downtown Providence offices. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island Commissioner of Education Angelica Infante-Green isnt going anywhere. The states Council on Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday night unanimously approved a three-year contract extension through 2027 for Infante-Green, who has led the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and oversees the entirety of elementary and secondary public education in the state since April 2019. Infante-Greens fresh employment agreement will be negotiated and finalized by the K-12 councils chair and overseen by the full Board of Education, said Victor Morente, a RIDE spokesperson, in an email Friday. (The K-12 council and the Board of Education are the governing bodies of RIDE.) The new contracts details werent available Friday, Morente said, but added that he will share more information when possible. Commissioner Infante-Green is committed and eager to continue her work to create more opportunities and pathways for high-quality learning for all students and ensure Rhode Islands state education system continues to move forward, Morente wrote. Throughout her tenure, the Commissioner has led several initiatives and efforts to better support school districts and improve student outcomes statewide. Mobilizing to address COVID challenges The Infante-Green era was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the administration of former Gov. Gina Raimondo and Infante-Greens department managed to get kids back in school sooner than in other parts of the country, thanks in part to a task force quickly mobilized to hasten the return to in-person learning. The relatively speedy recovery of traditional classrooms in Rhode Island made national reporters curious. The kids who were attending school in-person had better academic outcomes than those who were remote, said Susan Dominus, a New York Times reporter who covered Rhode Islands reopening for The New York Times magazine, in a 2021 interview. Those positive outcomes, Dominus thought, were achieved even if they were driven by administrators who are different from the communities they serve: Many of the important players, including the state education commissioner, Angelica Infante-Green, were not themselves people whose life experiences reflected those of the families in their schools. Other accomplishments of Infante-Green include joining the Board of Directors for the Council of Chief State School Officers in June 2023, and in October 2023 becoming the first woman of color named to the National Assessment Governing Board. The commissioner continues to lead a campaign to reduce post-pandemic absenteeism, an effort that has drawn national attention from outlets like Chalkbeat, a popular education news site. And in 2022, Infante-Green led the creation of new graduation requirements to help prepare students for college or careers. The state has seen particular success with technical education in recent years, with 92% of technical education students graduating in 2023, the highest graduation rate in the state. According to the state salary portal, Infante-Greens total compensation in fiscal year 2024 was $296,174. Saga of test scores Infante-Greens initiation into teaching was as a bilingual teacher in the South Bronx. Eventually, she moved up to the New York State Education Departments Office of Instructional Support, where she worked as deputy commissioner. Supporting multilingual learners has remained a concern for Infante-Green, who herself learned English in school. When she was appointed commissioner in 2019, the Providence Journal reported Infante-Greens initial remarks on the struggling school system that was now her responsibility: Less than 6 percent of this population met the standard on the math and English sections of the Rhode Island Common Assessment System (RICAS), Infante-Green said then of English language learners. The data isnt new. But its pretty startling on paper. This is the work I live for. This is the work Ive done. RICAS data from the 2022-2023 school year shows English learners have improved a smidgen on math, with 7.2% of English learners statewide meeting or exceeding standards. But RICAS scores for English Language Arts have remained largely impervious to change, and in 2022-2023 only 5.5% of students met or went above expectations RICAS scores for students who recently exited or completed English learner status, however, were much higher the same year in both English and math, with bilingual students only a few percentage below their non-learner peers. Tension in Providence About six months after Infante-Green became commissioner, the state seized control of the Providence Public Schools Department (PPSD), the states largest school district. That made Providence the lone companion of the Central Falls School District, which has been under state control for decades. On Aug. 29, the K-12 council approved Infante-Greens recommendation to lengthen the state takeover by up to three years. The long-struggling Providence school system and the historical lack of proven solutions has led to intense emotions being flung in the commissioners direction like when state Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, suggested in March that the commissioner be impeached over the closure and merger of Providences 360 High School. At times fierce criticism of Infante-Greens leadership has been especially apparent at Providence school board meetings. The mayor-appointed board will switch to a mix of elected and appointed officials in 2025 something of a moot point, since the boards powers have been mostly negated under the terms of the state takeover. Resolutions board members pass have largely been symbolic, like one in August that called for an end to the state takeover of PPSD. The commissioner has not been accessible to me as a board member, Providence School Board member Michael Nina said at an Aug. 21 meeting where the board unanimously voted to approve a return to local control for Providence schools. RIDE representatives attended the meeting, but the commissioner did not. Several of Ninas colleagues echoed his sentiments, but board member George Matouk pushed back: I dont think that the constant vilification of the commissioner is helpful at this point. Im not saying that the commissioner shouldnt be here tonight, or shouldnt have come at other times[But] some of the things that I heard said about the commissioner were, like, you would think it was the Salem witch trials or something. It was really over the top. Mr. Matouk, I respect you, but I have to say, I think you might have just gaslit half the board, said board member Anjel Newmann. I believe its our obligation as a school board to always vote in favor of what community wants, and community wants a say, community wants a voice, Newmann said. This is not about vilification. This is about keeping it real. If the commissioner showed up to meetings every month and was accountable to us in the community, I might be voting differently. There is going to be much more progress The RIDE commissionership has long been a heavy crown to wear. Former commissioner Deborah Gist lasted six years on the job, from 2010 to 2015, but in that time she magnetized national attention both negative and positive for her prioritizing of student outcomes and teacher accountability an ethos that put her at odds with teachers unions. Gist spearheaded the manufacture of the educational funding formula, which determines state aid to local school districts. But the piece de resistance in Gists tenure was arguably overseeing the firing of every teacher at Central Falls High School in 2010, due to the districts lamentable test scores. President Barack Obama liked the move; unions did not. Gist moved on to her native Oklahoma to serve as superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools (where, ironically, she voiced support for unions) before landing at her current positions as a senior advisor at the University of Tulsa and a superintendent-in-residence at educational nonprofit Transcend. But when Gists contract was extended in 2013, the council voted 7-3 a narrower margin of confidence compared to Infante-Greens unanimous approval Wednesday night. Gists contract was also extended for only two years. Thats not to say union tensions have disappeared: Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro declined to comment Friday on Infante-Greens extension. These last few years, we have been in a very difficult situation, Infante-Green told reporters at an Aug. 16 press conference about Providence schools. But even with that happening, there has been progress. So if everybodys rowing in the same direction, I anticipate there is going to be much more progress. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (WPRI) Rhode Islanders vacationing along Floridas Gulf Coast arent in the storms direct path but are already feeling the impacts of Hurricane Helene. There are some tornado warnings. Theres a gust picking up right now, Dan Landry said while talking to 12 News. LIVE: Helene an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane Landry is from East Providence but is spending a week with his wife in Gulfport near St. Petersburg. The couple was staying in a mobile home but were told to evacuate. They chose to move to a clubhouse nearby. Mobile homes not the best to be in, in a hurricane, Landry explained. People come down here, they have shutters to close off the windows and doors generator here as well so we dont lose power. TRACKING HELENE: Live updates and latest information Wendy Moreash of Hopkinton is in Tarpon Springs, on vacation with her family. This, for me, is my first hurricane down here, she said. Moreash is also in an evacuation but decided to stay put. She isnt worried about flooding since the place they are staying in is at a higher elevation, but there are still concerns over the wind and rain. MORE: RI Red Cross sends volunteers to Florida ahead of Hurricane Helene My friends husband and her son are linemen. Theyve been on storm detail all day, she said. One just got sent home because the conditions are too bad, so theyll go out later on. Landry and Moreash are both hoping theyll be able to return home to Rhode Island sometime next week, weather permitting. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Pinpoint Weather 12 Alerts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RI arts orgs are pitching voters on Question 5 for a $10M bond. Here's what to know. PROVIDENCE One by one, the groups in line for millions of potential taxpayer dollars are making their pitches to voters, with Trinity Repertory Company among the latest groups campaigning for a "yes" vote on Election Day. The "Yes on 5'' coalition a.k.a. the Rhode Island Coalition for Arts & Preservation launched its campaign earlier this week for voter approval of the $10-million bond that state lawmakers placed on the Nov. 5 ballot to provide matching grants to Trinity, Newport Contemporary Ballet and the Tomaquag Museum specifically, and potentially to others. With the interest included, the bond means the state would borrow an estimated $16 million. State leaders and members of the Rhode Island arts and cultural community launch the "Yes on 5" campaign in support of a proposed $10 million cultural economy bond. What to know about RI's Question 5 Question 5 seeks voter approval to borrow money to continue a "Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant Program" administered by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, which improves arts and cultural facilities and will "increase their ability to contribute to the cultural, educational, and economic life of our state,'' according to the description in the Voter's Handbook published by the secretary of state's office. That would include public and nonprofit artistic centers, performance centers, museums and cultural art centers. Only three are specifically mentioned in the bond proposal, with Trinity, Newport Contemporary Ballet and the Tomaquag Museum each slated to get $2 million in "matching" grants if voters approve the bond. Another $4 million would go to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts for distribution. The pitch: When RIers invest in art, residents win The campaign pitch: "When Rhode Island invests in its vibrant, economically critical, statewide arts and cultural communities, Rhode Islanders all across the state win." Since its creation in 2014, the Cultural Arts & Economy Grants Program has supported more than 60 arts and cultural organizations across the state through 1:1 matching grants, Todd Trebour, executive director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, said earlier this week. This a proven, impactful program that has created hundreds of jobs and helped strengthen Rhode Islands already-strong arts and cultural economy. We are proud of its success thus far, and we look forward to continuing to play our part in delivering results for Rhode Islanders with the passage of Question 5," he said. There are several other bigger bond proposals on the ballot, including a bid for $120 million to add to Rhode Island's "housing opportunity" efforts. State leaders and members of the Rhode Island arts and cultural community launch the "Yes on 5" campaign in support of a proposed $10 million cultural economy bond. How would the money be spent? The rundown, according to the Voters' Handbook: Tomaquag Museum: $2,000,000 for a 1:1 matching grant to support the building of the Tomaquag Museum in Kingston on the University of Rhode Island campus, to be used for Indigenous cultural education and preservation, including spaces for programming and administration. Newport Contemporary Ballet: $2,000,000 for a 1:1 matching grant to support the building of Newport's Center for Arts, Dance & Education, to be used for performance facilities, educational instruction, production and administration. Trinity Repertory Company: $2,000,000 for a 1:1 matching grant to expand and upgrade the Lederer Theater Center, used for performance facilities, educational instruction, production and administration. The other $4 million would be available for 1:1 matching grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organizations which lease or own their performance space, and for RISCA expenses in administering the program. "In awarding such grants RISCA shall consider financial need, the availability or actual expenditure of matching funds for the projects, available gifts or grants for projects, the amount of square footage to be improved, the geographical location, and characteristics of audiences benefited,'' according to the handbook. Duffy & Shanley is donating its services to the "Yes on 5" campaign effort, which has spent roughly $3,500 so far for yard signs, stickers and palm cards used at an event this week. "The campaign is not currently investing in paid advertising,'' according to spokesman Chris Raia. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI ballot question 5: Here's what to know about the arts bond PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) While Rhode Island wont be directly affected by now-Category 4 Hurricane Helene, its ripple effects were felt locally Thursday as all flights departing from Tampa and Sarasota were canceled at T.F. Green Airport. Some Rhode Islanders told 12 News they drove from the Gulf Coast to Orlando to find a different way home. LIVE TRACKER: Whats the path of Hurricane Helene? Many travelers were relieved to have arrived safely, fearing they might have been stranded in Florida as the storm approached. However, others said they were not worried. Mary Smith, of Middletown, was visiting her daughter in Orlando, which isnt expected to experience severe weather. MORE: Rhode Islanders in Florida feeling impacts of Hurricane Helene My daughter has taken some precautions to make sure she stocked up on bottled water just in case, but theyre only anticipating possibly some road flooding because of the heavy rain, but nothing really significant, Smith explained. Meanwhile, the Big Bend region of Florida is bracing for catastrophic storm surges and winds over 100 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. TRACKING HELENE: Live updates and latest information In response, the Red Cross of Rhode Island has sent four local volunteers down south to assist with evacuation shelters and feeding stations. Richard Branigan, the regional CEO for the Red Cross of Rhode Island and Connecticut, said the volunteers are well-prepared. What were hearing is they are in the hunkering-down phase where theyre in a pre-landfall location handling the evacuation responsibility for people who are in the path of the storm and they are in the path of the storm as well, Brannigan said. Flight Tracker: Check local arrivals and departures Tom Butz, whos currently vacationing in New England, said his area of Florida is especially vulnerable to flooding due to the lack of a protective barrier reef. Ive lived in Florida my whole life, and Ive been through multiple hurricanes, he said. Im a homeowner and a business owner. The insurance for whether its, an automobile, your home, or your business is tough and the storms dont help anything at all. Visit the Red Crosss website to make a donation. Pinpoint Weather 12 Links Detailed 7-Day Forecast | Weather Now | Radar | Hour-by-Hour | Ocean, Bay & Beach | Solar Report | Pinpoint Traffic | Flight Tracker | Active Weather Alerts | Closings & Delays | Power Outages | Get the Weather App Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Pinpoint Weather 12 Alerts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 richest rodeo in South Dakota is now even richer SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The richest rodeo in South Dakota history is back in Sioux Falls for a second go. The barrel racing contestants were turning laps this morning at the Premier Center in advance of the Cinch Playoffs. The Cinch Playoffs is one of the top 4 biggest rodeos of the entire season for pro rodeo, Cinch Jeans director of marketing Jessica Wahlert said. Its one of the regular season rodeos but you have to qualify to get here and its through the top 60 paying rodeos of the entire season, Wahlert said. Honestly, coming into this rodeo last year nobody knew what to expect and they sold this sucker out every single night so getting to come back here is awesome, calf roper Haven Meged said. The Governors Cup is the final rodeo of the regular season, and Haven Meged is looking to end the year atop the tie-down roping leaderboard. Freeing the innocent: 1 non-profits mission My goal is to hopefully have a good weekend and get up there, Haven Meged said. Its going to shake a lot of stuff up, its going to make or break a lot of things for a lot of contestants and its going to be great watching, breakaway roper Shelby Meged said. Shelby Meged earned her first world title in breakaway roping last year, including a win at the Governors Cup. It was unbelievable, and getting to meet Kristy and just the awards ceremony after, they paid attention to every single detail at this rodeo and it was unreal, it was an awesome rodeo and great production and the fans were in tune, it was incredible, Shelby Meged said The event was such a success last year that the richest rodeo in South Dakota history is now even richer. The contestants loved it and so this year we tried to add more to it and part of that was the payout. We were $1.1 million last year, were $1.3 million this year, Wahlert said. The chase for the cash and Cup starts Thursday night. The CINCH Playoffs kicks off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Premier Center and continues Friday and Saturday nights. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Rick Scott (R) faces a major test in the home stretch of his race for reelection, as Floridas constitutional amendment on abortion puts the issue front and center in what appears to be an increasingly close race against former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who has been slamming him over his unabashedly anti-abortion position. As other Republicans scramble, stumble and largely avoid publicly saying how they will vote on ballot measures to protect abortion access, Scott has been clear that he will vote against Floridas, making himself an outlier among GOP Senate candidates. Scott has repeatedly said the amendment is too extreme, claiming it would allow abortion up until the moment of birth. In states like Montana, Nevada and Arizona all of which will have abortion amendments on the ballot Republican candidates have largely avoided publicly stating how theyll vote, underlining that the party views abortion as an electoral liability. Christian Ulvert, a Florida-based Democratic strategist, said he was surprised at Scotts open opposition, given how popular the states Amendment 4 is polling. Its 100 percent overconfidence, Ulvert said. I think the miscalculation on their campaigns part is look at whats happened in other parts of the country, even in more conservative areas like Kansas and Kentucky, even Ohio, on this issue. So, they are discounting how much support there is, even among moderate Republicans. However, Brett Doster, a Florida GOP campaign strategist, said Scott should get a boost for sticking to his principles. This is an issue where, well, you just dont get a lot of points for gamesmanship, Doster said. If you dont have a sense of conviction about these issues and a sense of confidence about your own leadership, then it is easy to get tied into knots on these things. What you have to do is just go out and advocate for your position. More than two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Republicans still have a difficult time navigating the issue of abortion. But the GOP is confident about taking control of the Senate, and candidates are hoping the Democratic advantage on abortion isnt enough to cost them close races. Scott is favored to win reelection, but a poll earlier this month showed Mucarsel-Powell behind by just 1 point, making the race a statistical dead heat. The Hill and Decision Desk HQ give Scott a 67 percent chance of winning the race. Scott has a history of winning tight races, and Florida voters have recently been passing progressive ballot measures while electing conservative Republicans. In recent years, Floridians passed amendments allowing restoration of voting rights for felons, an increased minimum wage, and legalized medicinal marijuana. Floridians in November will vote on Amendment 4, which would prohibit the state from restricting abortion access up to fetal viability, which is around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Polls show the amendment could have enough support to get the 60 percent support needed to pass. But that threshold means Republican support is essential. Florida currently bans abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is around six weeks of gestation, before most people know they are pregnant. There are limited exceptions to the ban, and anyone who performs an illegal abortion could be charged with a felony. Like many other Republicans, Scott has waffled somewhat on his abortion stance. He backed the six-week ban when it was first passed by the state Legislature last year, saying if he were still governor, he would sign the bill. But then in April, just weeks before the six-week ban took effect, Scott said hed support replacing it with one that bans abortion at 15 weeks, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. Scott campaign spokesman Will Hampson said Scott has been transparent about where he stands on the issues. Senator Scott has been clear that he is going to vote no on Amendment 4 but has encouraged all Florida voters to make their voices heard in November, Hampson said in a statement to The Hill. Senator Scott believes the consensus in Florida is around 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. If the abortion amendment is defeated, Floridas six-week ban will remain in place. Florida Republicans have seen major victories since 2020 that have helped push the state further to the right. Even in 2022, when Democrats across the country successfully campaigned on tying their Republican opponents to the end of Roe v. Wade, Florida Republicans saw sweeping double-digit victories. But with abortion access directly on the ballot this year, the calculus could change. Mucarsel-Powell has been attacking Scott on abortion since she won the Democratic primary in August. We have this opportunity to vote for Amendment 4 but its not going to mean anything if Rick Scott gets his way, gets reelected and then pushes for a national abortion ban, Mucarsel-Powell said in an MSNBC interview this week. In her first general election ad, Mucarsel-Powell described Scotts abortion position as taking away the freedoms she and her family sought when they immigrated from Ecuador. Lauren Chou, communications director for Mucarsel-Powells campaign, said having an abortion amendment on the ballot gives the campaign an opportunity to show voters the real-life stakes of Scotts position. People here in Florida really hate the government telling them what they can and cant do, and this abortion ban that Rick Scott said that he would sign if he was governor, is the government trying to tell Floridians what to do, Chou said. Republican strategists, on the other hand, say Scott has name recognition and a clear record as a senator and governor, unlike Senate candidates in other states. Hes got a little bit more protection, because hes the name they know. Hes been the governor twice. Hes got a lot more cachet with the voters in Florida than a lot of the other folks, said Ford OConnell, a Florida-based GOP strategist. But thats exactly what makes Scott vulnerable this cycle, Chou said. Hes running on his record, and it hasnt really changed, particularly on abortion. No other Republican thats running statewide in Florida this cycle has as clear of a tie to that ban as Rick Scott does, and thats something that our campaign certainly has made a focus out of, and were making sure that Floridians everywhere know that this abortion ban is because of people like Rick Scott. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rick Scott says the climate is clearly changing and Weve gotta figure out what to do Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee in St. Pete Beach on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott acknowledged Friday in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene that the climate is clearly changing, adding: Weve gotta figure out how do we react to that. Scott travelled through parts of the state speaking to law enforcement and first responders a day after the Category 4 hurricane caused record storm surge up the west coast and Big Bend region of Florida, with at least seven deaths in the state attributed to the storm. The Naples Republican was interviewed on CNN, where anchor Dana Bash observed that the intensity of Helene, described by the Washington Post as one of the biggest storm systems to hit the U.S., appeared part of a trend in which storms are simply bigger than they once were, perhaps because of climate change. Who knows? Scott replied. Who knows what the reason is, but something is changing. Massive storms. Massive storm surge. So weve got to figure this out. Bash followed up by asking, When you say, somethings going on, isnt it pretty obvious that the climate is changing, and that is changing the size of these storms and making them as big as you just described? Absolutely, somethings changed, and the climates clearly changing, and what weve gotta do is, like, when I was governor, I spent a whole bunch of money on resiliency [and] sea level rise issues and beach renourishment issues, and I tried to make our state more resilient, he said. We know things are changing. Weve gotta figure out how do we react to that, he added. Scott served as Florida governor from 2010 and 2018 and was criticized by environmentalists for his inattention to climate issues. Im not a scientist, he said in 2014. At one point, a group of 10 Florida scientists sent Scott a letter referring to the impact of human-induced global warming as they expressed interest in helping him understand what was happening with the climate so he could make the necessary decisions to protect the state. He ended up meeting with five of those scientists. At another point in his tenure, former state employees reported that Scotts administration had directed them to avoid using the phrase climate change, although Scott denied the allegation. Scotts comment about who knows? what is contributing to massive storms like Helene stunned some climate change advocates. We know Well, we know, said Susan Glickman, who has worked on climate issues in Florida for decades and now serve as vice president for policy and partnerships with the CLEO Institute. We know that Rick Scott has invested tens of millions of dollars in gas and utility companies that spew climate pollution. And we know they benefited from his votes. We know that in part due to actions by Rick Scott Florida is dangerously over-reliant on methane gas for power around 75%, Glickman added in a text message sent to the Phoenix. And we know that climate pollution from Scotts gas investments is warming the planet. We know warming melts glaciers, raising sea levels. Rick Scott may not know, but we do, that sea rise contributes to the historic storm surge were seeing. And we know that, because of warming, we are experiencing unparalleled rapid intensification from hot ocean temperatures. And we also know that Rick Scott has some responsibility for the fact that power bills are through the roof. He approved power plants and pipelines that we never needed. Ron DeSantis, who succeeded Scott in 2019 as governor of Florida, has also invested millions of dollars in resiliency efforts. He signed legislation earlier this year that erased the words climate change from state statutes and restructured the states fossil fuel-based energy policy to play down climate change as a priority when making energy policy decisions. Scott is running for re-election to his Senate seat this fall against Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. The rift between Georgia, once the closest partner of the United States in the Caucasus region, is deepening amid concerns about anti-democratic tendencies under the government of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Speaking in the capital Tbilisi on Friday, Kobakhidze said that bilateral relations should now be reconsidered. Things could not go on as they had in the past, the 46-year-old told the InterpressNews media outlet, and any improvement would depend on the Americans. However, Kobakhidze, who came to office in February, did not give details on how Tbilisi might downgrade its ties with Washington. According to media reports, the current cause of tensions is the decision of US President Joe Biden's administration to uninvite Kobakhidze from a reception at the UN General Assembly in New York. The US embassy in Tbilisi said the invitation had been withdrawn due to growing concerns about the Georgian government's anti-democratic behaviour and its negative rhetoric towards the US and the West. Georgia was a close ally of the US during President George W Bush's years in office from 2001-2009. Bush also promoted the country's rapprochement with NATO. The Georgian head of state at the time was Mikhail Saakashvili, who has been imprisoned by the current leadership. However, relations have deteriorated ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 26. The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, is similarly criticized in the West for its anti-European stance. In the face of mass protests, it has pushed through laws similar to those in Russia where civil society is subject to stricter controls and the rights of homosexuals and other sexual minorities are curbed. The leadership in Tbilisi rejects the criticism of its policies and denounces this as external interference in its national affairs. Like the US, the European Union also views the development with concern, having made Georgia a candidate country at the end of 2023. However, Brussels has put the accession process on hold due to a controversial law on the control of civil society. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson challenges Attorney General Josh Stein to a debate in the final weeks of the gubernatorial campaign. (Photo: Screengrab from Robinson's X/Twitter account) A new Meredith College Poll released Friday contains more bad news for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons already struggling gubernatorial campaign. The poll found CNNs recent report that he made inflammatory and offensive comments on a porn website prior to the start of his political career caused an immediate drop in Robinsons support. The CNN story broke Sept. 19 right in the midst of the Sept. 17-20 time period in which Meredith was contacting voters. Robinson has said the CNN report is untrue. The Meredith pollsters reported an electoral gap between the Democratic candidate, Attorney General Josh Stein, and Robinson at about eight points, 50-42 percent, during the first two days of data collection. After the story broke, however, the gap grew to 13 percent, with Stein holding 50-37 percent lead. All told, the survey found Stein with a double-digit lead over Robinson, 50-40 percent, with the CNN story deterring supporters from Robinson without adding measurably to Stein. There was a sample size of 802 North Carolina likely voters and a confidence interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The CNN story clearly had an impact on voter perceptions, but Robinsons campaign was already struggling against the Stein campaign, Meredith Poll director David McLennan said in a statement. Robinson continues to enjoy support among conservative, rural, and older voters, but not from other populations. McLennan said he suspected the actual margin between the candidates in November would be smaller than the current polling average. This is not because the polls are wrong, but that some Republican or Republican-leaning voters simply wont be able to vote for a Democrat, he said. The poll also further confirmed North Carolinas status as a battleground state in the presidential election, with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump tied at 48 percent each. Two percent of respondents said they were undecided, and another two percent said they would support third-party candidates. This margin could be significant. In 2020, Trump won North Carolina by about 75,000 votes out of about 5.5 million votes cast, or 1.3 percent. McLennan predicts the remainder of the campaign will be over unaffiliated voters in the suburbs. Harris currently has a small lead among suburban voters, but a small shift could drastically change the tight elections outcome. A victory in the electoral college hinges on North Carolina and the other six swing states. Both parties are targeting the state, with the candidates at the top of the ticket and their surrogates making a steady parade of visits. The Trump campaign will continue to pour resources into the state, McLennan said. If Harris is able to squeak by and win North Carolina, her chances of winning the presidency are greatly enhanced. Former Republican President Donald Trump finally has spoken publicly and very briefly about his endorsement of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the embattled Republican nominee for governor. Trump was asked by conservative cable channel NewsNation in the lobby of his Trump Tower property Thursday whether he plans to rescind his endorsement of Robinson, someone he called Martin Luther King on steroids in March. Trump leaned in to listen to the question, said I dont know the situation, and then walked away from the gathered media. Trump has held two campaign rallies in North Carolina since CNN aired a story on Sept. 19 that said, among other things, Robinson called himself a Black Nazi, that he enjoyed watching transgender pornography, and said he supported a return of slavery all in comments made on porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. Robinson has not appeared at any recent rallies hosted by Trump or his running mate JD Vance. But during an interview Wednesday on Salem Radio Network with Trump apologist Sebastian Gorka, Robinson said he is giving Trump space and doesnt want to draw fire to any other candidates" in North Carolina. Weve spoken to him, had great conversations with him, but we have chosen to do that because we want to make sure that he wins this state. Before the CNN report, Robinson had appeared numerous times at Trump rallies in North Carolina and out of state, as well as the 2024 Republican National Convention where he was made a short speech. Among Trumps previous praises of Robinson included calling him the Braveheart of our time, you have to cherish him. Its like a fine wine, and Ive been with him a lot. Ive gotten to know him and hes outstanding. However, during the recent Trump rallies in Wilmington and Mint Hill, Trump mentioned several Republican candidates, but not Robinson. Democratic response The Democratic National Committee and the Harris-Walz national campaign jumped on Trumps response. Harris-Walz 2024 spokesperson Ammar Moussa said its impossible to believe that, somehow, Donald Trump missed the news about his handpicked candidate for governor calling himself a Nazi." DNC Rapid Response director Alex Floyd said Trump and vice president nominee JD Vance continue to further isolate themselves as hateful extremists who are so wildly out of touch they are willing to stand behind Mark Robinson even after his own staff have deserted him. At least eight members of Robinsons governor campaign departed last weekend, while at least four members of his lieutenant governor staff have left this week. Trump and Vance are making it clear to the American people that they have no interest in distancing themselves from Robinson and his toxic brand of MAGA extremism, Floyd said. Voters will remember their silence on Robinsons disgraceful behavior at the ballot box this November. The Harris-Walz campaign has released several campaign ads in North Carolina questioning Trumps continuing support of Robinson. Trump has been to North Carolina twice since the news broke and is still standing by Robinson, even as the people who know Robinson best are abandoning him, Moussa said. Its simple Trump is committed to Robinson because he sees a loyal MAGA soldier intent on working alongside Trump to fan the flames of division and implement their toxic, extreme agenda. North Carolina and America will turn the page on the Trump-Robinson ticket this November. Although Robinson has denied making the comments, four Southeast Republican governors Georgias Brian Kemp, South Carolinas Henry McMaster, Tennessees Bill Lee and Virginias Glenn Youngkin have withdrawn their endorsements of Robinson. Lees decision is particularly noteworthy given he is chairman of the Republican Governors Association. The association said Monday it would not place new campaign ads on Robinsons behalf in North Carolina after the current slate ended Tuesday. More new governor polls There has been discussion among political analysts of a potential reverse coattail scenario in which Republican and unaffiliated voters dissatisfied with Robinson dont vote for Trump either, or not at all for president. On Thursday, in the first governors race poll since the airing of the CNN report, the Marist College Poll conducted Sept. 19-24 had Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein with a 54% to 42% lead over Robinson among 1,507 registered voters. The same Marist Poll has Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump by a 49%-48% margin. The Bloomberg/Morning Conduit Poll released Thursday of 889 registered voters has Harris ahead 50% to 47%. Of the 13 N.C. governors race polls conducted in September and listed by 538.com, Steins lead ranges from 5 to 14 percentage points, the highest in polls conducted by SurveyUSA/Raleigh TV station WRAL and by Elon University. Also this week, The N.C. chapter of AARP released its poll, conducted by Impact Research from Sept. 11-17, of 1,324 likely voters, with the majority over the age of 50. The poll had Stein with a 52% to 42% lead, while Trump was ahead 50% to 47%. In terms of ticket splitting, 11% of Trump voters supported Stein. Brandon Lenoir, a professor of political communication and campaigns at High Point University, said there are two potential impacts of the CNN bombshell report on other GOP candidates in North Carolina. The first is the possible dampening effect it could have on voter turnout, Lenoir speculated. The people who support Mark Robinson may be less motivated to turn out to vote on Election Day. For races that are close, a small downturn in turnout could influence the outcome. The second effect is the fact fellow partisans of Mark Robinson will be asked to react to the allegations against the top of their state ticket. This will take away from down ballot candidates ability to talk about their platform issues Instead, they will be asked about their thoughts on the controversy. John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University and a national expert on state legislatures, said the question at this point is not whether Robinson has a path to victory in his own race, because that is now off the table. The only question is whether his campaign continues and continues to attract news coverage. Any day that he is still in the race and is the subject of news stories is a gift to Democrats running for office in North Carolina and a headache for Republicans on the ballot. ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KTLA) Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is scheduled to be arraigned on a manslaughter charge Thursday morning, court records show. Klinghoffer, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has also worked with Pearl Jam and Janes Addiction, has been accused of distracted driving in the death of Israel Sanchez in Alhambra, California, in March. Sanchez was said to be walking in a crosswalk when he was hit by a GMC Yukon believed to be driven by Klinghoffer. In addition to a civil suit filed by the family, Klinghoffer is facing a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, according to court records. Video of the incident shows that Defendant Klinghoffer made no efforts to brake or slow down until after he fatally struck Mr. Sanchez, indicating that Klinghoffer was likely to be driving while distracted, the Sanchez familys attorneys said in a news release. Video taken seconds before the incident shows an object between the steering wheel and the driver that is believed to be a phone. A request for comment by Klinghoffers attorney was not immediately returned. Andrew Brettler, an attorney for Klinghoffer, previously told TMZ that the incident was a tragic accident. Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite calls from the victims family to spare his life After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived, Brettler said. Obviously, hes cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident. Klinghoffer, 44, became the youngest member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he was inducted alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the age of 32 in 2012. (That record is now held by Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails.) Since his departure from Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2019, Klinghoffer has also been a touring member of Pearl Jam, and is listed as a contributing musician on their most recent album. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) A sailboat that has sat abandoned on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe since August was removed on Thursday, according to the Placer County Sheriffs Office. After breaking free from its buoy, the sailboat washed up in Kings Beach near North Tahoe Beach, creating a hazard and nuisance for the Placer County community. Botulism outbreak kills 75,000 birds at Northern California wildlife refuge With the owner not having the money to care for or remove the vessel, the legal process to remove the sailboat began. This process involved the owner surrendering the vessel for removal and destruction, navigating through the Countys bid process, and then scheduling the tow, haul out, and destruction, the sheriffs office wrote in a news release. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office assisted with the transport and destruction of the vessel. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Romanias junior ruling Liberal party proposed Cosmin Marinescu, an economic adviser to President Klaus Iohannis, to be deputy central bank governor ahead of a parliament vote on the institutions nine-member board next week. Most Read from Bloomberg The Liberals, who rule as junior coalition partner with the Social Democrats, also agreed to put forward former Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare and lawmaker Roberta Anastase as non-executive members, deputy party leader Rares Bogdan said Friday. The Black Sea nations parliament is set to meet next week to vote on extending the mandate of central bank Governor Mugur Isarescu and the line-up of his executive team for the next five years. --With assistance from Irina Vilcu. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Romania's Ministry of National Defence has sent a "strong message of condemnation" following another Russian drone attack on Ukrainian facilities and civilian infrastructure near the Romanian border. Source: European Pravda with reference to Digi24 Details: The Romanian Ministry of Defence considers these attacks "unjustified and seriously contrary to international law". "As a result of the detection of groups of drones approaching the airspace of Ukraine, near the airspace of Romania, the National Military Command Centre (core) informed the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations about taking measures to alert the population of Tulcea County; RO-Alert messages were sent at 02:01," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Two Romanian F-16 fighter jets from the Borca base and two Spanish F-18s from the Mihail Kogalniceanu base were taken into the air "to monitor the situation", the ministry said. All four warplanes landed at the airbase at around 04:00. During this period of time, the Romanian radar surveillance system indicated the possibility that one of the drones involved in the attack on the Ukrainian targets had crossed national airspace in the border area with Ukraine for a very short period of time, less than three minutes, at around 03:00. The data available at the moment reported that there were no reports of a strike zone on Romanian territory. The Ministry of National Defence forces have been searching the area since this morning with the help of air assets and ground teams. Background: Three people were killed and 14 others injured as a result of a morning Russian strike on the city of Izmail in Odesa Oblast. On the night of 26-27 September, Russian forces launched 32 Shahed loitering munitions, an Iskander ballistic missile and two Kh-22 cruise missiles on Ukraine. Ukrainian air defence units have shot down 24 of the Shaheds. One drone entered Romanian airspace, and three more Russian UAVs disappeared from the radar as a result of electronic warfare countermeasures by the Ukrainian defence forces. Support UP or become our patron! NOLAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A Roscoe Collegiate ISD employee is accused of having an improper relationship with a student. District officials notified the public Thursday that an investigation into the alleged relationship is underway. Superintendent Guillermo Mancha Jr. released the following statement regarding the investigation: Today, the district received an allegation that a school district employee had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student. Upon receiving the allegation, the district placed the employee on administrative leave while an investigation is being conducted. At the same time, the district notified local law enforcement and Child Protective Services, as the district is required to do under state law. If you have questions regarding the investigation into the matter, please contact local law enforcement. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Ed. Note: We have updated this story with a statement from the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A local Rose Hulman staff member and pastor is in the Vigo County Jail after being arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography. Curtiss Larry Davis II, 47, Terre Haute, remains in the Vigo County Jail, facing two counts of child exploitation-aggravating factor, Level 4 felony. According to a probable cause affidavit, Terre Haute police became aware of child sex abuse being watched from a Terre Haute address. The cyber tip came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). After serving a search warrant of Davis email and social media, it was discovered that he had two images of young girls being sexually abused, 17 AI-generated images of children being sexually abused, and actual images of humans having sex with dogs and wolves. On September 24, 2024, search warrants were served at Davis Terre Haute home and his office at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, where, according to court documents, he is employed. Rose Hulman officials responded Friday morning in a statement. We are aware of these serious charges and can confirm that the staff member in question is no longer employed at Rose-Hulman. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our community, officials wrote. Because this is a legal matter, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time. Davis is also listed in court documents as the owner and religious leader at a company called Key of David LLC. Also, Grace Fellowship Church in Paris, Ill. posted a message on August 24, 2024 welcoming Davis as their new worship pastor. Davis agreed to speak with detectives from the Terre Haute Police Department on September 24, 2024. After being read his rights, Davis admitted to sending child pornography through a website to someone. He also believed that the children in the imagery found in his possession were under the age of 12. Davis is being held on a bond of $25,000 with no 10 percent allowed. This is a developing story, WTWO has reached out to Grace Fellowship Church 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 MyWabashValley.com. Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz; Senator from Ohio and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance Credit - Melina MaraThe Washington Post/Getty Images; Matthew HatcherAFP/Getty Images J.D. Vance and Tim Walz are set to face off for the first time in a vice presidential debate on Oct. 1, in what will likely be the last major debate of the 2024 election cycle. The match-up between the Republican Ohio Senator and Democratic Minnesota Governor will feature similar rules to those for the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, with one notable exception: each candidates microphone will be turned on throughout the 90-minute event instead of muted when its the others turn to speak. The other rules, such as no studio audience, remain the same. The debate will start at 9 p.m. ET and is being hosted by CBS News, which released the rules on Friday. It will be moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah ODonnell and Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan. With early voting underway and polls indicating a tight race, the debate could allow the vice presidential candidates to make a last-minute pitch to voters ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Walz and Vance have traded barbs throughout the campaign. Walz went viral this year for calling Trump and Vance weird during a television interview, a remark that later became a rallying cry for Democrats. Vance has taken aim at Walz's military history, criticizing the timing of Walzs 2005 retirement from the Minnesota National Guard before his unit deployed to Iraq. Here are the rules for the vice presidential debate. Hot microphones Unlike the presidential debates this election cycle, the candidates microphones will be kept on throughout the entire debate even when the other candidate is speaking, according to CBS News, which added that it reserves the right to turn off candidate microphones. The issue of muted microphones became a contentious topic leading up to the recent Harris-Trump debate. The rule was originally proposed by President Joe Biden before the first presidential debate in June to curtail interruptions, but Harris sought to change the rule after Biden dropped out of the race and she secured the partys nomination. Harris was unsuccessful, and mics remained muted for her debate against Trump. No live audience In line with the recent presidential debate, the Vance-Walz event will take place without a live audience in an attempt to minimize disruptions. The move marks a departure from previous vice presidential debates, which have typically featured audience members who are instructed to remain quiet while the candidates are speaking. Standing at lecterns Both Walz and Vance will stand at identical lecterns for the entire 90-minute debate, marking the first time since 2008 that vice presidential candidates have not been seated to debate. CBS News said that Walz will stand on the left side of the stage, while Vance will be on the right side. Each candidate will be provided with a pen, notepad, and a bottle of water on stage. No props or pre-written notes will be allowed. No opening statements Like the presidential debate, there will be no opening statements. Instead, each candidate will deliver a two-minute closing statement at the conclusion of the debate. A coin toss administered by CBS News on Thursday determined the order of closing statements. Vance won the coin toss and decided to speak last during closing statements. Read More: The Reinvention of J.D. Vance The debate will begin with the moderators introducing the candidates, starting with the incumbent partywhich means Walz will be introduced first. The moderators will then ask questions, with candidates each allotted two minutes to respond. This will be followed by one-minute rebuttals and responses to the rebuttals. CBS News said that the moderators may at their discretion give the candidates an additional minute to continue a discussion. Lights will appear in front of the candidates to alert them to their remaining speaking time. Walz and Vance will not be permitted to ask questions of each other, and the network said that no topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates. Commercial breaks Similar to the last two debates this cycle, the CBS event will feature two commercial breaks during the 90-minute broadcast. However, campaign staff will be prohibited from interacting with their respective candidates during these intermissions, denying them the opportunity for strategic consultations or to touch up the candidates appearance. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. Russell Findlay and rival candidate Meghan Gallacher and Murdo Fraser shook hands after the result was announced [PA Media] Russell Findlay has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish Conservative party. The former journalist defeated his Scottish Parliament colleagues Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher. Findlay has been an MSP for the West of Scotland since 2021 and was the party's justice spokesman. He has promised to make the Conservatives "reconnect" with what he calls their "traditional values of enterprise, self-reliance, fiscal responsibility and the rule of law". The poll closed at noon on Thursday. A total of 4,155 people voted out of a total of 6,941 eligible members, a turnout of 60%. Findlay received 2,565 votes, Fraser 1,187 and Gallacher 403. The new leader said the party must come together as "one united team" after what he called a bruising period. "Let us start the hard work right now to win back public trust," he said. "I want to deliver the message to people across Scotland who do not feel that anyone represents them, who are scunnered by the divisiveness and fringe obsessions of the Scottish Parliament, who feel let down and failed by politicians of every single party, including ours, who think politicians are all the same. "I feel that way - I get it, but I'm not the same." Russell Findlay was previously the party's justice spokesperson [Getty Images] Findlay said the party would change under his leadership. "We will work hard to earn your trust by doing things differently," he said. "We will be a voice for decent mainstream Scotland and the values of hard work, self-reliance, and value for taxpayers." He said voters wanted to see "common sense for a change" and that he was determined to deliver it. The party's new leader now faces a busy few days. A ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of devolution is being held at the Scottish Parliament on Saturday, with Findlay due to make a speech before the King and Queen. He will then need to head to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, where he will undertake a number of engagements. Appointments of his frontbench team are expected to take place next week. 'Rearranging the deckchairs' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said "the face of Tory politics in Scotland" may now have changed, but accused Russell Findlay of having no "desire to stand up for Scotlands interests". He said: "The Tories head into their party conference totally divided and distracted by infighting. "They have finally managed to swap out one of two lame duck leaders - but defeated Rishi Sunak is still pulling the strings until November, as what feels like the longest leadership contest in history rumbles on." Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said this year's election had shown that voters wanted change. "Rearranging the deckchairs will do nothing to stop the Tories' downward slide after 14 years of letting Scotland down. "The Tories still owe Scots an apology for gambling with families' savings, crashing the economy and sending bills soaring while putting party before country." A 'fractious' campaign The leadership election was triggered when Douglas Ross announced he was standing down as leader following his decision to contest the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat at Westminster, replacing former MP David Duguid, who was recovering from a spinal stroke. The decision angered MSPs and party members after Ross had previously said he would stand down from Westminster to focus on Holyrood. He was forced to announce in the midst of the general election campaign that he would quit as leader after polling day. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Friday, election expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the campaign had been "fractious", after a period when the party had seen its support falling away. "We're talking about a party that has got just over 12.5% of the vote in the general election, its worst performance ever," he said. LATEST: Crimean bridge defenses being bolstered by underwater drone traps, according to reports. Russia is building a new but unidentified structure near the Crimean Bridge, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on national television on Sept. 26. The purpose of the construction is not yet currently known for certain, Pletenchuk said, adding that it is unlikely to be completed "this season." "It could be a defense structure, it could be another crossing, but it's a bit early to draw conclusions," he added. Construction on the 19-kilometer-long bridge began after the illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014 and was completed in 2018. The bridge connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and became a critical supply route for Russian forces after the launch of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pletenchuk said that no matter what the structure is, deteriorating weather conditions as winter approaches will make it difficult to complete. "They are constantly trying to place something new in the Kerch Strait, to build various hydrotechnical or barrier structures. But periodically they end up on the shore after another storm," he said. The bridge was heavily damaged by Ukrainian strikes in October 2022 and July 2023. Following these attacks, Russian proxies further fortified the bridge with underwater barriers. Russian proxy authorities in occupied Crimea regularly shut down traffic on the bridge amid reports of explosions and drone strikes. According to Ukraine's Navy, destroying the Crimean Bridge now would not have the same effect now because Russia barely uses it for military purposes anymore. Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), did not rule out that Russia may try to use the structure for weapons supplies again after it is fully restored. The Crimean Bridge is currently the subject of a dispute between Ukraine and Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration Speaking there on Sept. 23, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Anton Korynevych, said Russia "wants to take the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for itself." "So it has built a great gate at their entrance, to keep international shipping out while allowing small Russian river vessels in," he said, adding: "The bridge is unlawful, and it must come down." Read also: Crimean Bridge must come down, Ukraine says at Permanent Court of Arbitration Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A total of 4 people were killed and 11 others injured as a result of Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 26 September. Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Filashkin: "On 26 September, the Russians killed four residents of Donetsk Oblast: two in Toretsk and one each in Chasiv Yar and Siversk. Another 11 people in the oblast were injured during the day." Photo: Vadym Filashkin on telegram Details: Filashkin stressed that the Russians fired on Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk and Bakhmut districts. One person was killed and two houses were damaged in Siversk. Two people were killed and two more wounded in Toretsk, and a house was damaged. In Chasiv Yar, one person was killed and three sustained injuries. In addition, 11 houses, a multi-storey building and a non-residential building were damaged there. Photo: Vadym Filashkin on telegram The Russian attacks wounded a man and damaged 10 houses in Kurakhivka. A man was wounded and seven houses were damaged in Myrnohrad. Two more people were injured and an administrative building was damaged in Pokrovsk. The Russians also bombarded Kurakhove, Trudove, Dachne, Dalne and Sontsivka. Photo: Vadym Filashkin on telegram Russian attacks destroyed three houses in Nove and damaged two in Kryva Luka and one in Ozerne. The Russians destroyed eight houses and damaged 75 more in Raihorodok. They hit 10 facilities in Tarasivka. Moreover, five houses and two infrastructure facilities were struck in Kostiantynivka, and a house and a power transmission line were hit in Viroliubivka. Photo: Vadym Filashkin on telegram Quote from Filashkin: "The Russians fired 27 times at populated areas in Donetsk Oblast over the last 24 hours. A total of 1,548 people, including 51 children, have been evacuated." Background: It was reported earlier that a 48-year-old man had been killed in a Russian attack on a residential area of Chasiv Yar on 26 September. Support UP or become our patron! 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 honour, 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 the 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 and 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 defences 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-/. We have explosions all the time here in Kent: Residents appear indifferent to their potentially explosive new neighbour - Christopher Pledger So the bomb ship is over that way, is it? asks 81-year-old Margate resident Pat Smith, squinting out towards the Dover Strait. All we can see, from the plastic-paned windows of our promenade shelter, is the rain slicing sideways into choppy grey waves. But somewhere out there in the squall bobs the Ruby, a Maltese-flagged cargo ship carrying twenty thousand tonnes of potentially explosive ammonium nitrate fertiliser that set off from Russia in July. This is seven times the quantity of the same substance, I tell Pat, that wreaked havoc in Beirut in the summer of 2020, when a major explosion in the citys port caused at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and $15 billion in property damage, as well as leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. She just nods. Thing is, love, we have explosions all the time here in Kent. She reminds me that they keep finding bombs from the war in the sea here anyway. Only two months ago a huge plume of brine was sent skywards when bomb disposal experts detonated an old mine which fishermen found just up the coast at Herne Bay. I encounter the young, hipster version of Pats indifference at the Turner Contemporary Gallery just up the prom. The military are always testing missiles here, a staff member explains, looking out casually towards the horizon through walls of the glass cube building. They send those bombs into the sea here from Essex. Our desks shake. The walls shake. Its a reliable kind of thunder. A bit annoying but you get used to it. This Ruby ship just sounds like more of the same, right? Throughout the few hours I spend in Margate, I struggle to find anybody concerned about the floating could-be bomb anchored on the towns horizon. Will it take out the seagulls if it blows? questions one local. But most people just raise their palms and crack on with their days. The cargo ship is floating three kilometres outside British waters north of Margate, east of the Thames Estuary - James Bell / Alamy Live News A few are more worried, however. In the Barnacle pub, Richard Martin, 62, tells me that the community Facebook group has been keeping an eye on their potentially explosive visitor. He sinks his half pint and scrolls through the 143 comments on a post about the ship. Some are jokes dont light up tonight! and send it up the Thames to the Houses of Parliament! but others see locals debating its presence offshore. Former Royal Navy serviceman John Patterson warns his neighbours that this is the same ship that was ordered out of Tromso Norway last week. Norway had the right idea. To top it up its got damage to its rudder and hull as it ran aground as it left Russia with cargo and is trying to seek a port to have repairs done. Its trying to head back to Malta where it comes from. The rumours of damage are true. The ship does appear to have been damaged in a storm after leaving Russia. Norways Maritime Authority told the BBC the vessel was inspected by DNV Group, a leading organisation in maritime risk assessment and certification, to ensure it met safety and environmental standards. Though the group found damage to the vessels hull, propeller and rudder, the Ruby was still deemed seaworthy. But the DNV Group, and the Maltese flag registry, insisted that a precautionary 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 the BBC reported it was denied entry to Klaipeda because of its cargo. Its current destination is listed as Marsaxlokk, in Malta. At Margates RNLI shop the staff admit that theyre concerned. If that cargo explodes, then what happens here? Does the explosion cause some sort of tsunami that wipes us all out? Or is it just another big bang well forget about? If the ship detonates, no doubt youll get a big wave, says Andrea Sella, a Professor of Chemistry at UCL. Beirut is the key example of that with one medium sized boat being dumped onto the dock. But its the pressure wave above the water that does the real damage miles away, at the very least blowing out windows and in some cases bringing whole buildings down. That said, if they dont burn the ship, the risk of such a disaster is pretty low. The national maritime emergency service has said it will monitor the ships progress as it heads through UK waters, with vessels not permitted to seek permission from authorities to do so, provided their purpose is legitimate. Sella concedes that there are plenty of concerns about ammonium nitrate (a major component of the explosive ANFO) because of its rather disastrous history. But he doesnt believe Margate residents should evacuate in a panic. Ammonium nitrate is produced in the tens of millions of tonnes each year, and is shipped round the world because it is so widely used as a component of fertiliser. And then theres its use as an industrial explosive, normally mixed with diesel. So there are large quantities being moved around all the time. This stuff will be pure. The explosion in Beirut, Sella argues, was down to poor storage it was left for years in a warehouse. And then the warehouse was also used to store fireworks. I cannot think of a more lethal combination since all of the ammonium nitrate incidents have been initiated by a fire of some kind at high temperature, ammonium nitrate decomposes to gaseous products and how rapidly that happens determines the kind of bang that youll get. The explosions in Tianjin [in northern China in 2015] were similarly initiated by poor storage alongside highly flammable materials, including cylinders of acetylene. In Waco [Texas, in 2013] too, a fire in a fertiliser storage facility led to an explosion that caused severe damage to nearby housing and a school. Professor Sella believes that the Rubys consignment is probably at fairly low risk of explosion. What about the risk of spillage? Not a major problem, he says. Unlike an oil spill, the material is not toxic. Think of it like fertiliser obviously 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser spilled in one place could be bad local news, and you might get serious local disruption from algal blooms, I suspect. It dissolves in water and washes away, so in a sense youd end up with a similar problem to the issue of nitrogen fertiliser waste that washes off agricultural land but just much more localised.It leads to unwanted algal growth and certain bacteria will convert it to nitrous oxide which is a greenhouse gas. But these are not acute short-term problems. The issue of dumping too much nitrogen fertiliser onto land, is unquestionably a contributor to the large greenhouse footprint of agriculture. Ruby, a Maltese-flagged cargo ship, set off from Russia in July Sella isnt an expert on how ammonium nitrate is transported. But he explains that the product is produced as prills, little pellets that pour rather easily. These might Im speculating be poured into large polyester-type bags that can be lifted by a crane, several hundred kilos at a time and then stacked either in containers or on pallets. If these lie around and the materials are warmed and cooled and subjected to moisture they can compact quite significantly into a big rock [which was one of the problems in Oppau and also in Beirut]. It seems likely that the ammonium nitrate being shipped will be relatively new so probably not caked. But it would be interesting to know what the nature of the repairs might be as clearly welding might significantly raise the potential fire risk, says Sella. Some have suggested that the ship should be returned to port, but towing a ship back round the top of Norway sounds challenging, and the weather and sailing conditions arent going to improve. With these caveats in place, Sella has reassuring news for the seemingly blase inhabitants of Margate. He thinks that barring a blaze on board, the cargo isnt going to do very much. So Pat can eat her chips in peace. Although she is right to wonder where the ship and its cargo will end up. Sella suspects the Rubys owners would probably be wise to think seriously about off-loading the material without bringing it into port. Who will pay for it becomes a rather interesting question, as is the question of the extent to which Malta will take its responsibility as the nominal home country. Meanwhile back in Margate, a seagull finishes Pats chips. Hope you stay on land and dont get caught up in any big bangs out there, she nods, affectionately, at the bird. Oh, well all be fine! 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 Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa KYIV (Reuters) - Russian forces stationed in the southern border region of Rostov fired the missile that killed Reuters safety adviser Ryan Evans and wounded two of the agency's journalists when it struck a hotel in eastern Ukraine last month, four Ukrainian security sources said. Ukraine's intelligence services, in previously unreported details of the Aug. 24 attack shared with Reuters, said the missile was launched from a site close to Taganrog, a Russian city on the coast of the Sea of Azov near the Ukrainian border. The intelligence services said there were two Russian units operating close to the launch site at that time: the 1st Guards rocket brigade of the 49th Army and the 107th Guards rocket brigade of the 35th Army. The Ukrainian military's general staff, in separate written responses to Reuters' questions, said that there was also a third unit near Taganrog that could have conducted the strike: the 47th rocket brigade of the 8th Army. The general staff's statement said a Russian Iskander 9M723 ballistic missile was fired from the area at around 22:28 (1928 GMT) and struck the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk, where the Reuters team was staying, seven minutes later. The general staff said the Iskander-M is accurate to within 30 metres of its intended target. However, it said it had no information that Russia had deliberately designated the Sapphire as a priority target nor any intercepts that could shed light on why the hotel was struck. In a written response to Reuters' questions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that they were for the armed forces to answer. "For our part, we can repeat once again our armed forces strike only at objects directly or indirectly connected with the military infrastructure," Peskov added. Russia's defence ministry did not reply to Reuters' written questions. Neither the Ukrainian intelligence services nor the general staff statement explained how they traced the launch site to Taganrog. Nor did they specify which of the brigades was responsible for the attack. Reuters sent a written request for comment to commanders of the 107th rocket brigade, via an officer serving in the unit, but received no response. The news agency also called a number officially listed for the 1st rocket brigade and was connected to a duty officer, but he ended the call when the reporter introduced herself. The duty officer who answered the telephone at the 47th brigade headquarters, when asked by Reuters if the unit was involved in the attack on the Sapphire Hotel, said: "That's impossible". The officer, who did not give his name, referred further questions to his commander. The brigade's commander, Vitaly Bobyr, initially engaged in an exchange of messages with a Reuters reporter on the Telegram messaging platform but, when told about the nature of the inquiry, said it was a wrong number. DETAILED ANALYSIS Images of the hotel taken by Reuters correspondents after the attack showed that Evans' room on the first floor of the northwestern corner of the building bore the brunt of the strike, causing it to collapse into the basement. Six other rooms were badly damaged by the blast, the images showed. Evans, a 38-year-old former British soldier who had worked as a safety adviser for Reuters since 2022, was killed instantly. Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey, a videographer for the news agency who was in a room across the corridor, was seriously wounded. Kyiv-based text correspondent Dan Peleschuk was also injured and was led to safety by rescuers through the dark, debris-strewn kitchen and banquet hall. The remaining three members of the Reuters team escaped with minor cuts and scratches. Thomas Peter, a Kyiv-based senior photographer, exited through the smashed, first-floor window and climbed down a drainpipe to the ground. "The whole room was full of rubble and glass and dust," said Peter. "The wall with the door had completely caved in." A leading forensics laboratory in Ukraine, the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KSRIFE), which studied images of the missile wreckage taken by the Reuters team in the wake of the attack, concluded it was most likely a Russian Iskander-M. Two Western military experts, shown the images, also said it was likely an Iskander. Ukraine does not possess these weapons. Anastasiia Medvedeva, spokeswoman for the Donetsk region prosecutor's office which is involved in investigating Russian attacks in the province, said their main line of inquiry was whether Russian forces had targeted the hotel. Medvedeva did not specify why the hotel may have been the target. Prosecutors were also looking at the possibility that Russia had deliberately attacked the group of journalists, she said. On Aug. 28, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova referred to the attack on the Sapphire in a regular news briefing in Moscow and said, without providing evidence, that Evans was a former employee of Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6. "We know perfectly well that there are no former intelligence officers," she said. "...Western intelligence services are effectively guiding the media outlets they control to spearhead anti-Russia information campaigns." A Reuters spokesperson said the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman's comments were "factually incorrect". "Ryan was not a former MI6 employee. Reuters remains true to its Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias, working relentlessly to bring news from the source across all corners of the globe. "We continue to seek more information about the attack and are supporting our colleagues and their families at this terrible time," the spokesperson said. NO MILITARY IN HOTEL The missile slammed into the hotel at 22:35, three minutes after the Ukrainian air force published an alert on the Telegram messaging app to followers in the eastern part of Ukraine that warned of a ballistic missile threat. Yuriy Ihnat, a colonel in the air force, which tracks incoming Russian missiles and drones, told Reuters that on the night of the attack, Ukrainian radars detected a single missile in the airspace of Donetsk region, where Kramatorsk is located. He said the projectile appeared to be a short-range Iskander-M missile launched from Rostov region. Kramatorsk, which lies some 20 km from the frontline, is comfortably within striking distance for Iskander systems based in Taganrog, some 190 km (120 miles) to the southeast. The missiles have a maximum range of 500 km. A U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said that Russia was responsible for firing the missile, but he did not elaborate on how the information was obtained, nor provide further details. According to the Ukrainian general staff, the Ukrainian military had not used the Sapphire Hotel or the buildings around it to house soldiers in the past. The Reuters team saw no sign of other people staying in the 12-room hotel in the run-up to the strike apart from a watchman. Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, the hotel operated only for journalists and at the discretion of its management, according to its owner Yuriy Aliyev. Reservations were made by telephone with the administrator, he added. Several other people, including a Ukrainian soldier, were injured by the strike, according to an initial report by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country's main internal security agency, reviewed by Reuters. They included the watchman, a civilian at home nearby and the soldier, who the SBU said was not in the hotel at the time of the strike. The three told Reuters they did not want to be identified. The soldier said he was walking in the street near the hotel when the missile hit. Polish journalist Monika Andruszewska was also lightly injured while in a car near the hotel at the time of the attack, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which Reuters confirmed. She wrote on social media that she sustained cuts to her hand. (Additional reporting by Polina Nikolskaya and Anton Zverev in London, Maria Tsvetkova in New York and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Daniel Flynn) Editor's note: This story is being updated. A Russian missile struck a district police department in the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on Sept. 27. One woman was killed and at least six men were injured, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration. Three more people may be trapped under the rubble, he added. The bodies of a woman and a man were pulled from the rubble around 4:30 p.m. local time, Lysak reported. Search and rescue operations at the site are ongoing. An explosion was reported in Kryvyi Rih shortly after an air raid alert sounded. Kryvyi Rih, with a population of around 660,000, is the second-largest city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblas. It has suffered multiple deadly attacks by Russian forces since the outbreak of the full-scale war. At least 53 people were injured in the Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih on July 8. The strike also killed 10 people, local authorities said. Read also: Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 49 over past day Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Russian teen got 15 years in prison for donating crypto to a pro-Ukraine paramilitary unit: report A Russian teen got 15 years in prison for donating crypto to a pro-Ukraine paramilitary unit: report A Russian teen was given 15 years for donating to the Freedom of Russia Legion, local media reported. Danila Yakovlev in Siberia had donated $54 to the organization, a source told Mediazona. He was found guilty of treason and financing terrorism, court records show. A Russian 19-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in prison for donating to a pro-Ukrainian paramilitary unit, independent outlet Mediazona reported. Danila Yakovlev, from Biysk, a city in the Altai Krai border region, was also fined 100,000 rubles, or about $1,082, and is set to serve 13 years of his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony, per the outlet. An unnamed source familiar with Yakovlev's case told the outlet that Yakovlev had donated a "very small amount" of about 5,000 rubles, or $54. Russian security services said they arrested a 19-year-old in January on the accusation of sending money to an anti-Kremlin organization. The FSB did not publicize his name at the time, but a video of the arrest circulating online showed Yakovlev saying his name as agents detained him. Russian daily Kommersant reported at the time that the teen had tried sending the funds via cryptocurrency. It also reported that the beneficiary organization was the Freedom of Russia Legion, a paramilitary group that has repeatedly attacked and sabotaged military assets within Russian borders for Ukraine's cause. The Russian Supreme Court has designated the group as a terrorist organization. After Yakovlev's arrest in January, footage emerged online of federal agents entering an apartment to detain a young man, who identifies himself in the video as the 19-year-old. Court records don't provide details on Yakovlev's punishment but show that he was sentenced on September 20 in Russia's 2nd Eastern Military District Court after several hearings in the last two months. Yakovlev was found guilty of treason and financing terrorism, the records show. Mediazona reported that Yakovlev originally faced charges for multiple attempts to finance terrorism, but that several were dropped because many of his transactions had failed. Yakovlev isn't the first Russian citizen to be sentenced to over 10 years in prison for donating to pro-Ukraine groups. In August, 33-year-old amateur ballerina Ksenia Khavana was reported by Russian media to have been sentenced to 12 years in prison for donating $51 to a charity supporting Ukraine. Their cases come after Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a law in April 2023, increasing the maximum sentence for treason from 20 years to life in prison. Read the original article on Business Insider While most of the heavy fighting in Ukraine is concentrated in the Donetsk region, Russia continues to push toward the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. Located about 60 miles east of Kharkiv City, it is a regional administrative headquarters and sits astride a key railway. Russian forces are now less than five miles to the northeast and less than 10 miles to the southeast. The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reported 20 battles in the area on Friday and claimed its forces repelled Russian advance attempts on the nearby towns of Sinkivka, Glushkivka, Lozova, Stelmakhivka and Kolisnikivka. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) said units of its Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Tank Brigade and the 14th, 44th, 53rd, 63rd, 66th Mechanized Brigades. Elimination of the temporary deployment point of the 14th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kupiansk As a result of the shelling, the following were neutralized: brigade headquarters; temporary deployment point with personnel; 5 vehicles for pic.twitter.com/mYddimDM9o Uncensored News (@uncensorednews9) September 27, 2024 Russian forces are attempting to encircle the Kharkiv Oblast city of Kupiansk. (DeepState) A Ukrainian drone unit said it repelled a large mechanized attack in the Pischany district, about 12 miles southeast of Kupiansk. That town is in the middle of a Russian pincer movement approaching Kupiansk from the north and south. About 50 units of Russian armored vehicles with amphibious assault were moving in the direction of Kolesnikivka and Kruglyakivka, Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the ACHILLES assault battalion of the 92nd Assault Brigade, claimed on Telegram. A video released by the unit shows about two dozen Russian armored vehicles and trucks being destroyed by first-person view (FPV) drones. 92nd Brigade repels yesterdays big Russian attack on the Kup'yans'k front. Russians used 50 AFVs for this attack. From which 5 BMPs; 3 tanks; 1 BTR; 1 MT-LB were destroyed. 10 tanks; 10 BMPs; 1 ARV; 3 MT-LB were damaged. https://t.co/MJh1U35Gfn pic.twitter.com/lFrVZG45yE Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) September 27, 2024 Ukrainian drones also attacked ground troops. Drones of the 14th Brigade at work. Kupiansk direction. pic.twitter.com/QCXBCffx3K (@TheDeadDistrict) September 26, 2024 The Russian push toward Kupiansk has gone on since May. In August we reported that city officials evacuated more than 11,000 people. On Friday, Kharkiv Regional State Administrator Oleg Synegubov stated on Telegram that schools, apartment buildings, and homes were destroyed or damaged by Russian glide bombs, artillery, and drones. A home in the Kupiansk region burns after a Russian attack. (Oleg Synegubov Telegram) The Russian offensive in Kharkiv has created a cascading series of problems for Ukraine. It rushed troops from the Donbas to defend it, leaving that region more exposed. Back in September 2022, Ukraine liberated Kupiansk as part of its stunning and successful offensive in that region. It was a high point for the nation a half-year after Russia launched its all-out invasion. While its fall does not appear imminent, the fact that Kupiansk is again under siege is another troubling sigh of Ukraines hard-fought gains being eroded. The Latest Elsewhere on the battlefield, Russian forces continue to push forward in eastern Ukraine, where towns like Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Vuhledar remain in peril. According to the Institute for the Study of Wars (ISW) latest assessment, Russian forces recently advanced east and southeast of Pokrovsk amid continued offensive operations near Pokrovsk on September 26. Ukrainian forces maintain positions in Vuhledar and Kostyantynivka amid continued Russian offensive operations southwest of Donetsk City on September 26. The Ukrainian brigade defending in Vuhledar reported that Ukrainian forces are maintaining positions in the settlement in response to recent Western reporting to the contrary. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces recently reportedly made marginal advances north of Kharkiv City, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in the northern part of that region on September 26. There were no gains made in Luhansk Oblast either. In Russias Kursk region, Ukrainian forces continued ground assaults in Glushkovsky Raion, Kursk Oblast on September 26 but did not make any confirmed advances. NEW | Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 26, 2024: Germany, France, and the United States announced several immediate and more long-term aid packages for Ukraine on September 25 and 26. 1/3 Full report: https://t.co/Dz3zs74Zct pic.twitter.com/dJTYh9deKv Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) September 26, 2024 With Vuhledar on the verge of being captured, Russia struck it with an incendiary attack. The video below shows what could possibly be streams of thermite cascading down like a burning blizzard. Thermite is a combination of oxidized iron and aluminum that burns at about 4,440 degrees Fahrenheit. It has recently been in the news thanks to Ukraine using it on Russian troops via so-called Dragon Drones. The Economist painted a stark picture of Ukraines fate in this conflict. In theory, Ukraine remains determined to reclaim all its lost territory, restoring the borders it inherited when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the publication explained. That would entail the reconquest not only of the Russian-occupied bits of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia provinces, but also of Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014. But that is far out of reach militarily. In practice, the war has become one of attrition, with both sides hoping they can outlast the other, or at least fend the other off for long enough to avoid being forced into a disadvantageous peace agreement. Our cover story this week, on the state of the war. "Those older than 60, who do not risk being drafted, are much more gung-ho about the war than the young: 54% of them believe that Ukraine is winning, compared to 31% of those between 18 and 25." https://t.co/vfEFQsJ5D9 pic.twitter.com/25WI0Z6bmT Shashank Joshi (@shashj) September 27, 2024 Russian forces again attacked the Danube River city of Izmail and other areas in the region. The Russians launched attack drones in the south of our region, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. The work of the air defense forces was long and intense. Unfortunately, three people died as a result of the attack: and 11 people were injured, including one child. Private and apartment buildings, outbuildings, buildings, cars were damaged, he added.As a result of the attack, several fires broke out, which were promptly extinguished by our firefighters. Law enforcement officials record the consequences of the terrorist act of the Russians. People are provided with all necessary assistance. Overnight Russia attacked port city of Izmail on the River Danube #NATO country #Romania is on the other side of the river. #Ukraine reports a Russian kamikaze drone entered Romania during the attack. Three Ukrainians were killed & 12 injured homes & commercial buildings hit. pic.twitter.com/bundxozeH3 Glasnost Gone (@GlasnostGone) September 27, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky brought his victory plan pitch to former president and current GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York on Friday. During a pre-meeting press conference, Trump once again said he could end the war in Ukraine and that he has good relations with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Standing next to Zelensky, Trump said hes ready to work out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, CNN noted, emphasizing his good relationship with Putin. So, were going to sit down (to) just discuss it, and if we have a win, I think long before I, before January 20, before I would take the presidency its January 20 but long before that, I think that we can work out something thats good for both sides. Its time, Trump added. By the way, the president (Zelensky) knows that too. He wants to get something done. He doesnt want to do this. I think we have common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped, and Putin cant win, and Ukraine has to prevail, and I want to discuss with you the details about that, Zelensky said. The meeting took place even after Trump, openly skeptical about providing additional aid to Ukraine, mocked Zelensky. While Zelensky has yet to release the plan, it is said to include requests for ongoing Ukrainian security guarantees as well for additional long-range weapons and the permission to use them deep in Russia. After the meeting, Zelensky expressed gratitude toward Trump, calling their meeting very productive. He added that the two men thoroughly reviewed the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of the war for Ukrainians. I had a very productive meeting with @realDonaldTrump. I presented him our Victory Plan, and we thoroughly reviewed the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of the war for our people. Many details were discussed. I am grateful for this meeting. A just peace is needed. We pic.twitter.com/33t0kghTle Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 27, 2024 On Thursday, Zelensky shared his victory plan with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. I shared the details of the Victory Plan with Vice President @KamalaHarris. It is very important for us to be fully understandable and work in full coordination with the United States. We must end this war and achieve a just peace. We must protect our people Ukrainian pic.twitter.com/ihS1JrAzKk Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2024 After the meeting, Harris bashed Republican calls for Ukraine to end the war even if it means giving up large amounts of its territory. VP Harris points out that "there are some in my country who [want] to force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territorythese proposals are the same as those of Putin. Let us be be clear. They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender" pic.twitter.com/N6oFYvH1Hm Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 26, 2024 Putin once again broached his nations use of nuclear weapons. During a meeting of the Russian Federation Security Council standing conference on nuclear deterrence, Putin announced a draft proposal for changes to his countrys nuclear doctrine. It includes the possibility of using nuclear weapons in the event of a massive launch of non-nuclear weapons against Russia. He did not mention Ukraine but inferred that actions taken by Kyiv and its allies could push Moscow over the nuclear threshold. The updated version of the document is supposed to regard an aggression against Russia from any non-nuclear state but involving or supported by any nuclear state as their joint attack against the Russian Federation, Putin said. The proposal also states clearly the conditions for Russias transition to the use of nuclear weapons. Under the plan, Russia will consider using nuclear weapons once we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border. I mean strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, hypersonic and other aircraft. Russia reserves 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 and the President of Belarus. Including the case when the enemy, using conventional weapons, creates a critical threat to our sovereignty. In conclusion, Putin said, I will note that all the updates have been deeply calibrated and are measured against contemporary military threats and risks to the Russian Federation. Putin suggests changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine. "An aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on Russia," Putin said during a Security Council meeting.https://t.co/qjarQjQoEy The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 25, 2024 One analyst suggested that Putins announcement falls between cheap talk and state-sponsored rhetoric. Russian nuclear use is not imminent posited Fabian Hoffmann, a Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo. Concern is warranted only when Russia signals actual preparations. A quick comment on the recent announcement from Moscow regarding the proposed doctrine change. I categorize Russian nuclear threats into four levels of credibility: 1. Cheap Talk: This includes statements from figures like Medvedev or eccentric talk show guests fantasizing pic.twitter.com/hc0mmfgGUw Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) September 25, 2024 Russia has established a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for use in the war against Ukraine, Reuters reported. The news outlet cited two sources from a European intelligence agency and documents it reviewed. IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, has developed and flight-tested a new drone model called Garpiya-3 (G3) 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, according to Reuters. "Russia has established a weapons programme 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 https://t.co/OrD5tAAoKe pic.twitter.com/FhRTYFCPDl Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 25, 2024 During his speech at the U.N., Zelensky said that Russia continues to target his nations power infrastructure. As of today, Russia has destroyed all our thermal power plants and a large part of our hydroelectric capacity, he decried. This is how Putin is preparing for winter, hoping to torment millions of Ukrainians. Zelenskyy: "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 of Ukrainians." pic.twitter.com/WIrOPEc5ZF UNITED24 Media (@United24media) September 25, 2024 A Russian attack drone came dangerously close to Ukraines Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), the countrys national nuclear power company said. On the night of September 25, another flight of an attack drone was recorded at a critically low altitude near the industrial site of the Rivne NPP, Energoatom said on Telegram. Once again, Russian troops pose a threat to the nuclear safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Energoatom informs the relevant institutions about each such fact, because no one has the right to violate the principles of nuclear and radiation safety. Energy terror is one of the enemys war tactics, Energoatom continued. However, it should be stopped as soon as possible. There have been concerns about dangers to Ukraines nuclear power plants since the onset of the full-scale invasion. Russian troops occupied the defunct Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at the beginning of the war, with a fire breaking out at the latter after shelling. According to Energoatom, on the night of September 25, a Russian drone flew at a critically low altitude near the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant, continuing the threat to Ukraine's nuclear safety. Energoatom has reported these incidents to relevant authorities, emphasizing the pic.twitter.com/GHNnmFu00e NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) September 26, 2024 As the drone wars continue, Russia has tried to confuse Ukrainian counter-drone drone operators by painting them with Ukrainian symbols and German crosses, but the ruse is apparently not fooling anyone. After more than 30 months of supporting Ukraines fight against Russia, Western allies have almost nothing left in their stockpiles, U.K.s armed forces minister said. Before crucial talks on the war at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Luke Pollard said the focus needed to be on ramping up weapons production between the West and Ukraine as part of a longer-term strategy that would keep a reliable supply of equipment heading to the country, the Times of London reported. I think most western nations have gifted most of the deployable resources they have so we are seeing a greater trading relationship being formed, said Pollard. The same article noted that the U.K.s defense secretary suggested Ukraine was running out of troops to train. The biggest constraint in training Ukrainians was Ukraine providing the personnel in order to be trained, John Healey said. "John Healey, the defence secretary, suggested that Ukraine was also running out of troops to send to the west for training. He told a fringe event at the Labour conference earlier this week that the 'biggest constraint' in training Ukrainians was 'Ukraine providing the personnel pic.twitter.com/l3IwBjHmED Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 26, 2024 In March, we told you about a new drone supposedly in use by Russian forces is claimed to act as a mothership, delivering first-person view (FPV) drones well beyond their notoriously limited range. New video has emerged showing Ukraine has the same capability, Ukrainian FPV drone being released from a "mother drone" carrier during flight. pic.twitter.com/p8jVTU1F4I Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) September 26, 2024 Ukraine says its Avengers AI platform can automatically detect 12,000 units of enemy vehicles/equipment weekly. This result is achieved through automatic video analysis from drones and fixed cameras, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (MoD) claimed. Avengers, developed by the MoDs Defense Innovation Center, enables operators to make decisions faster and more efficiently, reducing the risk of fatigue-related errors. This integration is already in successful operation within the VEZHA streaming module of the DELTA combat system. Thanks to artificial intelligence, defenders detect 12,000 units of Russian equipment every week, Ministry of Defense Avengers platform is unique in the world in terms of the volume of video data with enemy equipment. pic.twitter.com/8Q6C1bpOoe MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) September 23, 2024 The Ukrainian Defense Ministry released video of its troops training on Rheinmetall Skynex systems. They comprise 35mm anti-aircraft turrets firing AHEAD ammunition based on an HX 66 truck chassis and integrated with an X-TAR3D acquisition radar and Skymaster battle management system. Germany has already provided Ukraine with two of them. Service members from Air Command "West" practiced shooting the Skynex anti-aircraft artillery system. We are grateful to our allies for helping to boost Ukraine's air defense capabilities. More air defense for Ukraine = more innocent lives saved. pic.twitter.com/vrKtVlTyYV Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 25, 2024 Ukraine is in talks with partners about obtaining Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighters and Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov the Rada TV channel on Sep. 21. Umerov noted that Ukraine is currently discussing the necessary number of air brigades and fighter jets, according to a translation by The New Voice of Ukraine. Umerov also emphasized that while last years focus was on pilot training and building the required infrastructure, this year the priority is to secure air superiority. We already have commitments from partners for the F-16s. Consultations are ongoing regarding the Gripen and Eurofighter, Umerov said. As we previously reported, Sweden is keeping the door open for a possible transfer of Gripens, allocating $220 million in a recent aid package to Ukraine to purchase new material kits for its operational JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters. Thats so those jets wont have to be cannibalized for parts to be used in the newer Gripen-JAS-39E variants, making them potentially available to Ukraine. Last year, we examined the feasibility of the U.K. donating some of its older Typhoons to Ukraine. Gripen & Eurofighter for Ukraine? Ukraine is negotiating with its allies to receive Gripen and Eurofighter fighter jets, Ukrainan Defence Minister Umerov says. "Now we already have from our partners that they give us commitments for the F-16, they also give for the Mirage-2000. pic.twitter.com/6PMvk1ksEZ Clash Report (@clashreport) September 22, 2024 Images emerged on social media of a downed U.S.-supplied Switchblad 600 loitering munition, a tube-launched suicide drone that can take out armored vehicles. You can read more about these capabilities in this previous War Zone feature. The images show the internals of the weapon, including its armor busting shaped charge. The Army recently signed a nearly $1 billion contract with AeroVironment to procure an unspecified number of both the 600 and 300 series drones. You can read more about that here. American-supplied Ukrainian Switchblade 600 kamikaze UAV wreckage found by Russian forces. Cruises at speeds up to 115 mph with a range of 24 miles and 40 minutes of loitering endurance. Carries an anti-armor warhead similar to Javelin missile for engaging armored vehicles. pic.twitter.com/ElDaBECytt Clash Report (@clashreport) September 27, 2024 Ukrainian sappers displayed nerves of steel as they worked to disable a Russian FAB-500 glide bomb that fell into a building. In the following video, you can see one sapper pour water over the fuse as he carefully extracted it from the bomb. Ukrainian sappers defusing a Russian FAB-500 terrorist glide-bomb. They also need special equipment for carrying their giant balls around with them. pic.twitter.com/FokkDRwrWg Kvist.P (@kvistp) September 26, 2024 The Ukrainian Defense Ministry highlighted one of its Su-27 Flankers with an F-15C-like livery. Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force pic.twitter.com/R9Ygmb9FEG Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) September 24, 2024 In an effort to protect the twice-attack-damaged Kerch Bridge, Russia is beginning to set up Pantsir-S1 air defense systems on metal towers on Tuzla Island. Putins prized $4 billion span, linking Russia with the Crimean peninsula it occupies, is an important logistics supply route for Russian forces. As such, it remains a prime Ukrainian target. Asked during an exclusive interview last year about Ukraines intentions for the bridge, the head of its intelligence directorate (GUR) told us it is a matter of when, not if, Ukraine brings it down. Its not a question of will we strike or wont we strike, said Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov. Were doing that regularly so we will finish it. Its just an issue of time. Putin, he added, wont be able to stop it. Hell get upset once again, Budnov told us. What can he do? On the island of Tulsa, next to the Crimean bridge, the Russians began to install Pantsir-S1 air defense systems on metal towers pic.twitter.com/nf5usoXXdv MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) September 24, 2024 Upset that his troops were using the units donated automobile to go AWOL and get drunk, a Russian commander ordered it destroyed by running a tank over it. Russian commander ordered a car donated to his unit to be ran over by an APC, because they were using it to go AWOL (Absent Without Leave) & get drunk. pic.twitter.com/qqGvIcVus9 Clash Report (@clashreport) September 24, 2024 Not all trenches are created equally. This one, built for the 120th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Force, has a full underground dining room. An underground dining room of the 120th TDF brigade of ZSU. Somewhere in the north direction. pic.twitter.com/qf8FTWL9Kl (@TheDeadDistrict) September 24, 2024 Not to be outdone, this Russian unit showed off their brigade commanders very nice underground digs complete with an office, bedroom and toilet. The Russians show the dugout of their brigade commander! pic.twitter.com/uFF5YkcIdW MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) September 23, 2024 A Russian soldier spent his last minutes in an outhouse which was blown up by a Ukrainian FPV drone. This Russian soldier was lucky enough to have an FPV drone fail to detonate. However, his luck ran out when the second one struck him. Life is a strange thing. Not everything always works out the first time. This time, too. The FPV drone did not detonate, flying straight to the RuZZian invader, but the second one backed it up. pic.twitter.com/jnpPEdQQXM Cloooud | (@GloOouD) September 22, 2024 Ukraines donated Bradley Fighting Vehicles have proven to be lifesavers for its troops who have survived numerous attacks. However, an abandoned Bradley offered no such protection to the Russian soldier who tried to hide under it. An FPV drone found and killed him. Bradley immobilized It was supposed to serve as a shelter for the Russians. STRIKE DRONES COMPANY. Pokrovsk pic.twitter.com/D6s9kcWY3S TOGA (@TOGAjano21) September 23, 2024 Not every encounter with a drone is deadly. The Russian soldier in the following video surrendered to Ukrainian forces via a drone. A story about an abandoned Russian fighter who surrendered to a Ukrainian drone. Video was shared by 54th Mechanized Brigade. Its long but worth every minute. pic.twitter.com/fu8cA5BhIr Ukraine Combat Footage Archive (@Bodbe6) September 22, 2024 Archival video shows two members of GUR flying over Snake Island in a gyrocopter to drop a flag on the island. After capturing the island on the first day of the war, Russia abandoned it four months later. Archive footage. Two soldiers of GUR MO on a gyroplane fly over Zmyiinyi and drop Ukrainian flag on the island! The special forces were dressed in shorts and Hawaiian shirts to disguise themselves as tourists in case of capture. pic.twitter.com/9sVPh4BcCy MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) September 22, 2024 After responding to an anonymous offer of money via the Telegram messaging app, two Russian teenagers reportedly set an Mi-8 helicopter on fire in the Siberian city of Omsk. A pair of Russian teens reportedly torched a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter in Omsk, Siberia, after receiving an anonymous offer of money via Telegram. The helicopter was severely damaged, likely a complete write-off. pic.twitter.com/eqPv5WoXUK OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 23, 2024 And finally, there are about 1,500 Russian troops in its small enclave of Transnistria in Moldova. One local resident decided to torment a few of those troops by using his phone to video them and singing Chervona Kalyan, a Ukrainian resistance anthem. In the temporarily occupied territories of Moldova, a brave man humiliates the Russian occupiers. pic.twitter.com/eS00w2v59U WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) September 26, 2024 Thats it for now. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The Russian army launched numerous attacks on the Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk districts in Donetsk Oblast, injuring seven civilians. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Details: The Russians struck the Vysoko-Ivanivka district of Sloviansk hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. Early reports say the Russians deployed a modified UMPB D-30 multi-purpose glide bomb. A married couple sustained mine-blast injuries, a fracture and a concussion. Moreover, the Russians attacked the town of Myrnohrad, presumably from artillery, as a result of which a 51-year-old local man received penetrating wounds to the body. Russian forces also struck the town of Kostiantynivka several times. Four residents, women aged 37 and 61 and two men aged 36 and 67, were injured. They were in close proximity to commercial facilities at the time of the attack. Houses and a residential building, trade facilities, a cafe and a shop were damaged. Support UP or become our patron! Russians attack Izmail in Odesa Oblast, killing three people and injuring 14 photos Three people have been killed and 14 others injured as a result of a morning Russian strike on the city of Izmail in Odesa Oblast. Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "The enemy resorted to large-scale terror against Izmail in the early morning. The Russians launched attack drones on our oblasts southern part. The combat efforts by the air defence forces were long and intense. Sadly, three people were killed as a result of the attack: two women aged about 90 and 69 and a 73-year-old man. Eleven people were injured, including a child." Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Updated: Later the SES reported that at least 12 people had been injured. The Prosecutor Generals Office reports about 14 people injured, including three children. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine "At the moment we have information about three people killed and 14 injured, including three children: two boys aged three and 13 and a 14-year-old girl. Information about other people injured is being confirmed," the Prosecutor Generals Office reported. Aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: Oleh Kiper on Telegram Details: Houses and apartment buildings as well as outbuildings and vehicles were damaged as a result of the attack. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine In addition, Kiper said several fires had broken out but had been quickly extinguished. Law enforcement officers have initiated a pre-trial investigation under Article 438.2 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Background: Earlier, Ukraines Air Force reported a drone attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of 26-27 September. Explosions were heard in Izmail. Explosions also rang out in Odesa after midnight. Support UP or become our patron! The Russian forces are trying to conduct assault operations in more than 10 settlements on the Pokrovsk front, Donetsk Oblast. Source: National Guard spokesperson Colonel Ruslan Muzychuk on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: The officer noted that over the day of 26 September, a total of 187 combat engagements took place on the line of contact, which is high combat activity. Over 70 of them took place directly on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts. Quote: "Pokrovsk remains a difficult front. The enemy is trying to attack Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of more than 10 settlements, and, as our fighters note, the enemy is primarily using infantry groups (small, two to three soldiers each, sometimes five to ten), which are constantly trying to assault areas near settlements and carry out frontal attacks. They occasionally use armoured vehicles, but their main strength... is the use of artillery and aviation... in areas where the enemy concentrates its main efforts during its assaults." Details: Muzychuk noted that over the past day, the National Guard repelled 25 attempts to assault in the eastern fronts. The Russians also used armoured vehicles, including tanks. In total, 10 tanks and six pieces of other armoured vehicles were destroyed. The positions taken by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were secured, the spokesperson added. Support UP or become our patron! Russians launch missile attack on National Police headquarters in Kryvyi Rih: five people reported injured Russian troops launched a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on the morning of 27 September, hitting the National Police headquarters. There are reports that five people have been injured as a result and that there may be more people trapped under the rubble. Source: National Police on Telegram, Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Svoi Kryvyi Rih Telegram channel Quote: "At about 09:15, the enemy launched a missile attack on the district police department; it is currently known that people have been injured as a result." Details: Reports indicate that there may be people under the rubble. The attack destroyed an administrative building and damaged houses located nearby. Police and rescue workers are currently working at the scene, and law enforcement officers are documenting and collecting evidence of another Russian war crime. Updated: Later, the head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration said that a 45-year-old man had already been hospitalised. He is in a moderate condition. An administrative building was also destroyed, and houses were damaged. Lysak reported that four men had been injured in Kryvyi Rih, two of whom had been hospitalised in a moderate condition. As of now, four people are missing. The search and rescue operation is ongoing. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Prosecutors Office reported that the number of people who were injured as of now had increased to five. The search and rescue operation is ongoing. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces conducted a missile strike on the city of Dnipro on the night of 26-27 September, causing damage to the premises of an industrial facility and starting a fire. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Russian troops mounted a missile strike on Dnipro after midnight. There is severe damage at an industrial facility. A fire broke out and was extinguished by firefighters. Nobody was injured." Details: The Russians also bombarded the city of Nikopol and Marhanets hromada. In particular, they used a kamikaze drone and heavy artillery. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] The Russian attack damaged infrastructure but there were no casualties. Background: Earlier, Ukraine's Air Force reported a Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of 26-27 September. Explosions rocked the cities of Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa. Explosions also rang out in the city of Izmail in Odesa Oblast. Later in the morning, it was reported that three civilians were known to have been killed and 11 more injured in the morning Russian attack on Izmail. Support UP or become our patron! GUEST OPINION: As hybrid cloud infrastructure becomes the backbone of the modern enterprise, the threat landscape is evolving faster than ever. Increasingly sophisticated attackers, hidden vulnerabilities, and complex regulatory mandates are making it harder for IT and security teams to ensure robust protection across this intricate environment. The 2024 Gigamon Hybrid Cloud Security Survey reveals that key concerns among Security and IT leaders include unexpected blind spots, increasing attack complexity, and the rapidly shifting regulatory landscape. In fact, only 1 in 5 Australian organisations were able to effectively remediate a live threat. These existential challenges require ever-more sophisticated solutions, including the ability to look right into encrypted data. What is deep observability? Securing hybrid cloud environments is no easy task. With multiple cloud providers and a variety of security and observability tools in play, IT teams struggle to maintain seamless security while ensuring performance and compliance. End users demand uninterrupted access and superior performance, but with limited visibility into encrypted data and lateral traffic (East-West movement), meeting these expectations can be daunting. To combat these challenges, deep observability has emerged as a critical tool for IT teams. Deep observability network-derived intelligence and analytics delivered to cloud, security, and observability tools helps organisations eliminate blind spots, reduce tool costs, and improve security and management of hybrid cloud infrastructure. It unlocks the power of the cloud by providing comprehensive visibility into every layer of the network infrastructure, helping organisations pre-emptively detect security threats and performance anomalies. Key survey insights Security and IT leaders in Australia highlighted visibility challenges when assessing the current state of cybersecurity. Specifically: 76% have experienced a data breach, and 30 percent were unable to identify the root cause 70% agree that lateral (East-West) visibility is a greater priority for cloud security than North-South visibility today 89% believe that gaining visibility into encrypted traffic is critical for cloud security Why deep observability matters Deep observability is becoming a must for IT organisations aiming to stay ahead of threats and improve business agility. By harnessing network-derived intelligence, organisations can proactively mitigate risks, reduce the complexity of cloud management, and deliver a superior user experience. An advanced deep observability solution serves as a key enabler in this regard. It should integrate seamlessly with existing cloud and security tools, ensuring that hidden vulnerabilities in North-South and East-West traffic, encrypted data, and containers are uncovered. The result? Enhanced security, reduced costs, and a solid foundation for Zero Trust architecture. The benefits of deep observability are manifold. Among the most important, are: Enhanced business agility: Streamline cloud migrations and re-platforming projects by leveraging flexible solutions that supports any cloud environment. Strengthened cloud security: Eliminate security blind spots and gain full visibility into network traffic, enabling the implementation of Zero Trust principles. Reduced hybrid cloud costs: Optimise security and monitoring by reducing irrelevant traffic, cutting bandwidth and tool costs by up to 50%. In todays rapidly evolving threat landscape, deep observability offers the clarity and insights needed to secure the hybrid cloud infrastructure of tomorrow. The future of cloud security lies in proactive risk mitigation, improved visibility, and a collaborative approach between CloudOps and SecOps teams. FILE - M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File) KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Rwanda's army and a militia it backs shelled camps for displaced people in eastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said. It also accused Congo of abuses against civilians. A report by the group released Thursday said that since the beginning of the year, Rwanda's army and the M23 rebel armed group, which it supports, have indiscriminately shelled camps in eastern Congo where tens of thousands of people are sheltering. Congo's army, meanwhile, has put displaced people at increased risk by deploying artillery near the camps, the report said. Both sides have killed camp residents, committed rapes and obstructed aid, it said. Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as more than 120 armed 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, rapes and other human rights violations. The violence has displaced some 6 million people in the east. The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a rebel military group mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis that broke away from the Congolese army just over a decade ago. They staged a large offensive in 2012 and took over the provincial capital of Goma near the border with Rwanda, the same city they are threatening again. Congo alleges that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the east and U.S. and U.N. experts accuse it of giving military backing to M23. Rwanda denies the claim, but in February admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border. In July, U.N. experts estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwanda government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23 armed group, which has been making major advances. On Thursday, a regional court in East Africa opened proceedings in a case filed by Congo against Rwanda, accusing it of violating Congos sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending troops to help rebels in the countrys east. Earlier this week, Congos President Felix Tshisekedi called for sanctions on neighboring Rwanda for its alleged support of the M23 in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly. ___ McMakin reported from Dakar, Senegal SAC COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU) An informational town hall meeting was held in Sac County Thursday night in regards to a bond to build a new jail. The meeting took place at 7 p.m. at 107 North Main Street in Early, Iowa. There are six more meetings on the bond: Sept. 30 Odebolt Library Oct. 1 Lake View City Hall Oct. 8 Lytton fire station Oct. 9 Wall Lake community building, Oct. 10 Schaller fire station Oct. 14 Auburn community building All six will be held at 7 p.m. The Sac County Sheriffs Office is asking voters to say yes on Nov. 5 to a $10.95 million bond to construct a new jail, along with building a new addition to the current law enforcement center which will connect to the 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Its an announcement long awaited by local Republicans. Presidential candidate, Donald Trump is coming to Erie Sunday. But safety is top of mind for law enforcement officials, especially in light of two assassination attempts on the former president. From the Secret Service to local police, itll be all hands on deck when it comes to security for Trumps rally at the Bayfront Convention Center. How will Erie Co. vote this November? New post-debate poll gives insight Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be coming to Erie Sunday. And law enforcement officials at the federal, state, and local level are collaborating on how to keep the former president and all in attendance safe. Its a large and complex situation that brings together hundreds of law enforcement officials, said Rick Lorah, deputy chief of the City of Erie Police Department. Eight officials were already outside the bayfront convention center three days before the rally, walking the property and nailing down logistics of their joint plan. The Coast Guard is charged with protecting bayside access. It does bring a different tactical question into play when it comes to water but having the Coast Guard here and water elements here well have it handled, Lorah said. Polls of Erie voters after Trump-Harris debate gives glimpse into national opinions Preparing for a visit like this is nothing new for erie police. This is the tenth time the city has hosted a president, vice president, or presidential candidate since 2016. But since the attempt on trumps life in Butler, PA., Congress passed a bill boosting security for presidential candidates. Theyre receiving the exact same protection a sitting president would receive. Which is obviously more and a larger footprint for that security, Lorah explained. In the past, Trump rallies in Erie have drawn crowds of 5 to 10 thousand people. The Bayfront Convention center only holds 2,000 which could create challenges of its own. If you really must be there and you want to be there, I would get there early because at some point it will be shut down and everybody will be turned away, Lorah went on to say. Millcreek, Meadville Fire Depts. awarded millions to hire more firefighters Doors open at 10 a.m. and the rally will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets can be reserved online 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Salvation Army of Kentucky will team up with The Salvation Army of Tennessee to potentially help respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Officials say as Tropical Storm Helene moves across Georgia and threatens Tennessee and Kentucky with heavy rain and strong winds over the coming days, The Salvation Armys Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams in both states are preparing to respond. Helene lashes the South with wind and sheets of rain. Millions are without power The Salvation Army says with significant power outages possible across the region, its primary response will focus on feeding services using its mobile kitchen units. These units, positioned in key locations across Kentucky and Tennessee, are capable of serving 500 to 1,500 meals per day to disaster survivors. Weve been preparing all week to respond if Helene causes severe damage in our area, said Bo Sells, Divisional Director of Emergency Disaster Services for The Salvation Army of Kentucky and Tennessee. Our teams are equipped to serve not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, providing holistic care to those affected by disasters like this tropical storm. Officials say The Salvation Army is closely coordinating with state emergency management agencies and other disaster relief organizations in Kentucky and Tennessee to assess needs and determine where their services are most urgently required. In addition to preparing for a local response, The Salvation Army is surging resources to Florida and Georgia, where Helene has already caused widespread damage. Should the need arise, units from Kentucky and Tennessee may be deployed to support relief efforts in those states. What to know about Hurricane Helene and the flooding the storm left across the Southeast US The Salvation Army is committed to responding as soon as it is safe to do so, Sells added, and we will remain in communities as long as we are needed. Officials say the best way to support The Salvation Armys disaster relief efforts is through financial contributions, which allow the organization to provide immediate and flexible assistance. Donations can be made online, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2169) or by mailing a check to The Salvation Army at PO Box 436437, Louisville, KY 40253 with the Memo of Hurricane Helene 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). "They are an example to all families going through their own journeys of health," the Duchess of York tells PEOPLE Rupert Ramsay; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty (2) (Left) Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024; (Middle) Kate Middleton at the Shaping Us National Symposium in London on Nov. 15, 2023; (Right) King Charles at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 Sarah Ferguson has candidly shared her own health issues and is now praising King Charles and Kate Middleton for speaking out about theirs. In an interview with PEOPLE during the launch of the new Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week, the Duchess of York, popularly known as Fergie, voiced her admiration for how the King and Princess Kate have publicly addressed their cancer journeys. In February, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment. Princess Kate, 42, revealed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, and on Sept. 9, she announced in an emotional video that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment. "I think they are an example to all families going through their own journeys of health," the Duchess of York tells PEOPLE. "I think both the King and the Princess of Wales have spoken openly about their journey, and I love that the Princess says, 'Im always there for you.' I love that video. It was a beautiful video with beautiful words." Will Warr Kate Middleton in a video issued on Sept. 9, 2024. Related: Sarah Ferguson Calls for Amplifying Gen Z Voices in New Role: 'They Have the Solutions' (Exclusive) "The King, you know, became the patron of the Cancer Research UK, which is such a big organization, and he actually went out to meet the patients," Fergie adds, referring to the King's visit to the Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital London on April 30. The visit marked the King's return to public-facing duties after a brief postponement following the news from the palace about his health and also served as the occasion to announce his patronage of Cancer Research UK. "That was very brave too, very courageous, and [he] spoke openly, which was very important to help people and give hope," the Duchess, 64, tells PEOPLE. SUZANNE PLUNKETT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images King Charles during his visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on April 30, 2024. Related: Sarah Ferguson Says Royal Family Is 'All Supporting Each Other' amid King Charles and Kate's Cancer News The Duchess of York faced two cancer diagnoses between 2023 and 2024. In June 2023, a spokesperson for Fergie announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully underwent a single mastectomy. Throughout her recovery, she kept her fans and supporters informed on social media, using her platform to advocate for the importance of early cancer detection through screenings. In January, she shared that she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, following post-operative analysis of a mole removed during reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy. A source told PEOPLE in March that the Duchess of York was "very relieved" to learn that her skin cancer had not spread. The author and advocate told friends that she had further surgery around the edges of the site of the mole and lymph nodes. Speaking with PEOPLE in New York City on Sept. 25, Fergie shared how she is feeling today. Rupert Ramsay "I think that you never really get rid of the worry about health. For every sort of melanoma, you never really know where it is. You look at everything and youre certainly more aware," the Duchess says. "Its been an extraordinary journey to have gone through a mastectomy, and then you have to keep having checks, and then you think youre going to get it again. Its a lot of very fragile mind work." She continues, "I think that also gives me empathy to understand the fragility of the mind. A lot of young people have fragile, vulnerable times, with cyberbullying and chronic cruelty from other people. I think thats something I address, I am adamant about cruelty through social media. My health is really good now, but you have to be a bit more cognitive and not push yourself too much, which I do." Rupert Ramsay Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024. During New York Climate Week, the Duchess of York announced the launch of the Youth Impact Council and her involvement as Founding Ambassador. The new nonprofit was founded to amplify the voices of youth activists making an impact in climate action, social justice and innovation, and bridge the intergenerational gap by linking them directly with established leaders to cut through the tape and accelerate change. "There are young people at work who arent being listened to enough by people who can make change for them. And so I think we need to amplify their voices and execute their wishes," the Duchess tells PEOPLE about her new role with YIC. "They have the solutions if only grown-ups would ask them, ask Gen Z, for the solutions they have in these youth leadership positions."' Rupert Ramsay Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York (seated) and founding partners at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 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! A passionate advocate for young people throughout three decades of philanthropic work, Fergie says that the YIC means so much. "We collectively thought this was an extraordinary idea. I really want to say that its almost my legacy, and I love that. Its a very big moment to start Youth Impact Council and its in my heart and its authentic to what I believe," she tells PEOPLE. "I really love being with young people because they feed me, they feed my soul. They are fun, and it keeps you young!" For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) SiouxperCon is a weekend dedicated to board games and video games, comic books, movies cosplay and science fiction at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The doors open at 8 a.m. There will be workshops, panels, seminars, photo ops and exhibits throughout the day. Admission is $20. SiouxperCon runs through Sunday. The Sioux Falls Walk to End Alzheimers is a fundraiser for Alzheimers research as well as providing care and support for South Dakota families. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Levitt at the Falls. The opening ceremony, emceed by KELOLANDs Tom Hanson, begins at 10 a.m. Thats followed by the walk. Bark in the Park is a fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society. Activities at Pasley Park in Sioux Falls include a 3 & 5K Fun Run at 10 a.m. plus pet contests including doggie musical chairs, prettiest pooch, handsome hound and best trick. The richest rodeo in South Dakota is now even richer Feria de Salud is a free, family-friendly health fair that focuses on the needs of the local Latino community. The event includes a variety of services and opportunities to learn about health issues, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. There will also be flu shots, vision screenings for children plus glucose testing and blood pressure readings. Its taking place at the Avera Prairie Center in Sioux Falls from 2-5 p.m. The Tri-State Band Festival features 19 bands performing and competing in Luverne, MN. The parade competition begins at 9:30 a.m. along Main Street in Luverne, MN. Thats followed by the field competition in the afternoon at Cardinal Field at Luverne High School. The Big Sioux Review features performances by 16 marching bands from South Dakota and Minnesota performing at Brandon Valley High School. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. West Nidaros Lutheran Church north of Crooks, SD is hosting a Harvest Festival Supper. Serving time is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $20, $5 for youth, free for ages 5 and under. Carry-out is available A bake sale & farmers market starts at 4 p.m. The Fall Festival at Country Apple Orchard in Harrisburg, SD includes picking your own apples, a petting zoo, apple cannon range, a zip line and corn maze. Todays hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $14.95. Free for kids under three feet tall. The Fall Festival runs every weekend through October. The Heartland County Corn Maze, east of Harrisburg on Highway 11, is open for its 25th season. The 11-acre maze is open from noon to 9 p.m. Sundays hours are noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $9, $6 for children and free for ages 4 and under. The Premiere Playhouse presents Freaky Friday at the Orpheum Theater Center in downtown Sioux Falls. The performance is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35. Its Movie Night at the Urban Adventure Center. A free showing of the film, Treasure Planet, rated PG starts at 6 p.m. A concession stand will be available. Movies playing at the historic State Theater in downtown Sioux Falls include The Circus, rated G, Metropolis (NR) and Pans Labyrinth, rated R. The Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium features Wings Over Water, Magic Globe, Unseen Universe and Cities of the Future. New movie releases playing at a theater near you include The Wild Robot, rated PG and Megalopolis, rated R. The richest rodeo in South Dakota history takes place Saturday night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. The Cinch Playoffs features rodeo performers vying for a share of $1.3-million dollars and the Governors Cup. The action starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $13.75 on up. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Scoop Saudi Arabia is readying an expansion of its cloud-seeding program, a controversial effort to boost rainfall over its parched territory, the countrys deputy environment minister said in an interview. Riyadh has assembled a team of domestic and international researchers and learned vast amounts from its early efforts at cloud-seeding, Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha said, speaking in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. The country now aims to roll it out elsewhere within its borders and to lead broader regional research into the practice. We are a hyper arid country, Faqeeha said. We have to try everything possible. Know More Saudi Arabia began its earliest efforts at cloud seeding in the early 2000s, but that was not successful, Faqeeha acknowledged. Recent developments in artificial intelligence, meteorology, and remote sensing had helped the kingdom revamp the program, however. Researchers now better understand the relatively narrow window in which cloud-seeding must occur, the varying types of clouds that are best suited to the practice, and the ultimate payoff that results from the effort. You cannot rely on chance that it will succeed, Faqeeha said. Its not about shooting in the dark. The practice involves introducing substances into clouds in order to induce them to lower their temperature below zero Celsius, thereby forming ice droplets, and ultimately driving the production of rain in clouds that typically would otherwise have none. Faced with rising global temperatures as a result of climate change, a growing number of places, including the United States, are experimenting with cloud seeding. The process is, however, hugely controversial, with critics arguing that the consequences of such programs on the planets ecosystem and climate are insufficiently understood. For Saudi Arabia, the effort aims to increase the countrys low stocks of water and combat desertification. Riyadh in December will host the COP16 summit on combating desertification, and part of Faqeehas agenda in New York was geared towards preparation for the talks and raising awareness of the growing threat of land degradation globally. By Clauda Tanios DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has formed a global alliance to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the country's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. The alliance includes a number of Arab and Muslim countries and European partners, the Saudi state news agency reported, without specifying which countries had committed to join. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X the first meetings would be in Riyadh and Brussels. After the eruption of the Gaza war last October between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas that rules Gaza, Saudi Arabia put on ice U.S.-backed plans for the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel, two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking said earlier this year. "Implementing the two-state solution is the best solution to break the cycle of conflict and suffering, and enforce a new reality in which the entire region, including Israel, enjoys security and coexistence", bin Farhan was quoted as saying. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said last week the kingdom would not recognise Israel without a Palestinian state and strongly condemned the "crimes of the Israeli occupation" against the Palestinian people. Israel and Hamas have been waging war since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing some 250 hostages, by Israeli tallies. Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza in which more than 41,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel says it will press on with its intensified campaign against Lebanon's Hezbollah, after nearly a year of cross-border fire in parallel with the Gaza war. (Reporting by Clauda Tanios; Editing by Ros Russell) When the remnants of Hurricane Helene left South Carolina, the storm had caused nearly 1.3 million power outages, downed trees blocking roads and multiple fatalities. But before the storm hit in SC, it didnt receive the usual amount of hype that other hurricanes receive. Leading up to the arrival of Helenes effects, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order to allow municipalities and state agencies work together more easily. But his office did not hold press briefings ahead of the storm as it has done for previous hurricanes, telling people what to expect and how to prepare. Theres a lot of information out. Everyone was on alert, and it was very much covered in the media, McMaster told reporters during a briefing Friday at the S.C. Emergency Management Division. We were satisfied that the information was out. McMaster and emergency officials point out they propositioned crews around the state before the storm. Weather officials and utilities executives expected that as the storm worked its way north, it would stay further west in Georgia before turning to the west towards Tennessee and Kentucky. However it stayed further east. It was supposed to go through Atlanta and came closer to Augusta, said Keller Kissam, the president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. It threw all of its energy to the east, and thats why we have the number of outages that we have, mainly from shear force winds taking down trees and causing structural damage. The number of outages has approached the number seen after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, although the state has a higher population now. McMaster called hurricanes unpredictable, adding previous storms that looked like they would hit South Carolina changed direction before making landfall heading to the Atlantic Ocean or hitting North Carolina. This one was headed slightly away, and then turned right into us when it got inland, McMaster said. Much of the change in path took place overnight as well. Because of the storms path, parts of the state that normally dont take the brunt of storms have the bulk of Helenes damage. Duke Energy South Carolina President Mike Callahan said the storm caused historic damage for its system in the Upstate. The Pee Dee, we often get storms of this magnitude, Callahan said. In the Upstate, our customers there do not typically face this kind of damage. Scholz's associate calls for increased aid to Ukraine to improve its negotiating position Michael Roth, Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Photo: Wikipedia Michael Roth, Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, is calling for an increase in European assistance to Ukraine in the form of weapons. Source: Germany TV news channel n-tv, as reported by European Pravda Source: He said that an increase in defence support is needed to ensure a better negotiating position for Ukraine. Quote: "The major European countries in particular must do much more militarily to ensure that Ukraine remains a free and democratic country," Roth said. "Now is the time to finally mobilise all forces to put Ukraine in the best possible starting position for potential negotiations," he added. The chairman of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee argued: "If you want to end the war as quickly as possible, you have to give Ukraine what it needs." Defence and diplomacy are two sides of the same coin, he stressed. "Russia will only be prepared to negotiate if Putin is convinced that victory over Ukraine is impossible," Roth said. Background: Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also stated the need to create a strong position for Ukraine to negotiate peace. US Vice President Kamala Harris has criticised her US election rival Donald Trump's proposals on Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! GUEST OPINION: In our increasingly interconnected world, the demand for seamless communication across borders has never been greater. Carrier networks play a pivotal role in enabling this global connectivity, acting as the backbone for both voice and data services. Whether for businesses operating internationally or individuals communicating with loved ones abroad, carrier networks ensure the smooth transmission of information across regions. In this article, well explore the fundamentals of carrier networks, their importance in global connectivity, and the key benefits they offer, including how regions like the UAE have emerged as critical hubs for these networks. What Are Carrier Networks? Carrier networks refer to the infrastructure and systems operated by telecommunications companies (carriers) that provide essential services such as voice, data, and internet connectivity. These networks are responsible for transmitting information between different geographical locations through fibre optic cables, satellite links, and other communication technologies. Carriers maintain and manage these networks, ensuring the reliability, security, and efficiency of communication. Types of Carrier Networks There are various types of carrier networks, each serving a specific function in global communication: Fixed Networks: These provide landline services, broadband internet, and fixed wireless connections. They rely on physical infrastructure like copper or fibre optic cables. Mobile Networks: These support wireless communication, enabling mobile phone services and mobile data through 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Satellite Networks: Used in remote or underserved areas, these networks provide connectivity via satellite links, particularly useful for regions without access to terrestrial infrastructure. IPX (Internet Protocol Exchange): A vital part of carrier networks, IPX ensures secure and high-quality communication between different mobile and fixed operators across the globe. The Role of Carrier Networks in Global Connectivity Carrier networks are the bedrock of modern telecommunications, providing the infrastructure required for voice calls, messaging, video conferencing, and internet access. In a globalized world, where businesses and individuals need constant communication regardless of location, carrier networks bridge the gap, making it possible to stay connected across continents. Enhancing International Trade and Business For businesses operating on a global scale, carrier networks provide the critical infrastructure to facilitate international trade and commerce. These networks allow companies to establish reliable communication channels with clients, partners, and employees across the world. In industries like finance, where real-time data transmission is crucial, carrier networks ensure that businesses can operate efficiently, regardless of geographic boundaries. Supporting Remote Work The rise of remote work, especially post-pandemic, has further highlighted the importance of reliable carrier networks. Employees working from different corners of the globe rely on carrier networks to access high-speed internet, engage in video conferencing, and collaborate with their teams. These networks are instrumental in maintaining productivity in a distributed work environment. Key Benefits of Carrier Networks Reliability and Redundancy One of the primary advantages of carrier networks is their high level of reliability. Carriers invest heavily in building and maintaining robust infrastructure with redundancy measures in place to ensure continuous service, even in the event of equipment failure or network disruptions. This reliability is particularly important for critical industries like healthcare, finance, and government operations, where uninterrupted communication is crucial. Scalability Carrier networks offer immense scalability, making it possible for businesses to expand their communication needs as they grow. Whether a small enterprise or a large multinational corporation, carrier networks can accommodate increasing bandwidth and service demands without compromising on quality. This flexibility allows businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs. Cost Efficiency For organizations looking to manage costs, carrier networks offer significant savings, particularly through Voice over IP (VoIP) and other cost-efficient communication technologies. By leveraging a global carrier network, businesses can reduce the costs associated with long-distance communication and data transmission. Security In an age where cybersecurity threats are on the rise, carrier networks provide robust security features to protect sensitive data. These networks are designed with encryption protocols, secure access controls, and advanced monitoring systems to safeguard communication channels from potential breaches. For industries dealing with confidential information, such as banking and healthcare, the security offered by carrier networks is paramount. The Growing Role of Carrier UAE The UAE, due to its strategic location between Europe, Asia, and Africa, has emerged as a key hub for carrier networks. Known as one of the worlds most connected countries, the carrier UAE sector plays a vital role in facilitating international communication and connectivity. With advanced infrastructure, including extensive fibre optic networks and cutting-edge data centres, UAE-based carriers serve as a bridge between East and West, enabling smooth data transmission and voice services for businesses and consumers alike. UAE carriers are also heavily involved in expanding the region's 5G capabilities, offering lightning-fast speeds and low latency for mobile communication and IoT (Internet of Things) services. This technological advancement further strengthens the UAEs position as a global telecommunications hub, making it an attractive location for businesses looking to establish a strong presence in the Middle East and beyond. Future of Carrier Networks in Global Connectivity As technology continues to evolve, so too will carrier networks. The expansion of 5G networks, the increasing adoption of IoT, and the development of next-generation satellite technologies are set to further enhance global connectivity. In the coming years, carrier networks will play an even greater role in facilitating real-time communication, supporting cloud computing, and driving innovations like autonomous vehicles and smart cities. Conclusion Carrier networks are the unsung heroes of global communication, providing the essential infrastructure that keeps the world connected. From enhancing international business operations to supporting remote work and ensuring secure communication, these networks are foundational to the modern digital economy. As regions like the UAE continue to invest in advanced carrier infrastructure, the future of global connectivity looks brighter than ever. The role of carrier UAE is especially significant, cementing its place as a critical player in the worlds telecommunications landscape. A school bus driver is being investigated by police over allegations he was viewing pornography while picking up pupils in the Scottish Borders. Officers were waiting for the Denholm bus when it arrived at Jedburgh Grammar Campus last Friday. Allegations were initially made against a driver on an online group chat, before a complaint was passed on to Police Scotland by a parent. A police spokeswoman said: "We received a report of inappropriate behaviour which happened in the Denholm area." Although a driver has been removed from the service, investigating officers have yet to establish if there was any criminality. A parent told the BBC: "We thought the children were just joking at first but more and more people were talking online about what was being viewed by the driver." Operators, Howard Snaith Travel, have declined to comment. Scottish Borders Council say they are unable to discuss a live police investigation, but confirmed that they are not reviewing the bus contract. Recent school incidents, particularly this months school shooting in Georgia, are raising new concerns about cell phone bans. After the Apalachee High shooting, as well as the rash of bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, advocates say lawmakers and school officials need to think of parents fears when considering cell phone restrictions in classrooms, which have been on the rise in states across the country. Unfortunately, in this country, we love our guns more than we love our children, and we have not yet been able to solve the issue of classrooms filled with dozens of children being murdered on a regular basis, said Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union. So until we figure that out, parents and families are not going to be comfortable with giving up a direct line of communication with their children in classrooms, Rodrigues added. California is the latest state to enact a law restricting the use of cell phones in public school classrooms, following multiple others, as well as numerous individual school districts. The policies have ranged from complete confiscation of cell phones all day to prohibitions specifically during classroom time. I dont think any teacher in the country would disagree about the level of distraction that phones bring to classroom instruction, said Stephanie Humphrey, author of Dont Let Your Digital Footprint Kick You in the Butt! So the distraction is a huge thing, but also the impact on students mental health. [] There is the cyberbullying aspect of it, that these students are using these devices, you know, in ways that are unintended, and are causing harm to other students. So there are just a laundry list of reasons why cell phones in the class are just not a good idea, she added. While advocates emphasize the social and academic benefits that have been found in removing phones from students hands, a lack of trust remains between parents and school systems as shootings and other threats against K-12 classrooms make headlines. The Georgia shooting, which took the lives of two students and two teachers while injuring nine others, demonstrated the issue vividly. School shooting rn .. im scared, one Apalachee High student texted his mother, according to ABC News. pls im not joking. In another text exchange viewed by the outlet, a mother of two girls at the school tried to coordinate with her daughters, at one point telling them to Stay down stay hidden. Mommy im scared, one of the girls said, to which the response, sent over six separate messages, was, Keep texting me / I need you to keep texting me / Girls / Are you ok / Keep texting me only me / I love you. Later this month, in Springfield, students were taken out of school for a couple days due to bomb threats after false allegations of Haitian migrants eating pets in the area. And recently in Texas and Washington, D.C., students and parents have faced hoax school shooting threats that were investigated by police. Issac Soto, a parent in California, says he found a solution for his own child by giving them a Smart Watch that only allows the student to call him, his mother or grandparents, But at some school districts, even this isnt allowed. Banning smartphones, completely understand, but I mean some form of communication, even telling people that if you can have a phone, the only thing you can have is a dumb phone. Have an old phone, like we used to have, flip phones that cant do anything [] but, you know, just having something that they communicate, Soto said. And emergency situations arent the only concern: Many students with disabilities use technology to help with their learning Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, said some schools and states dont currently have a carveout in these policies for students with disabilities and that those that do, such as California and Virginia, havent nailed the solution yet. The pressure seems to be on the parents to make sure that the IEP [Individual Education Plan] has the accommodation documented. So, all of a sudden, these bans are being put in place, and who is going to review the students program to make sure that its documented appropriately and that the student isnt going to get suspended for, you know, using a device. So thats certainly one concern, Marshall said. Virginia has what they call the bell-to-bell ban, and in that it does have it does mention students with disabilities, but it also actively discourages teams from choosing assistive technology, she added. So it says teens are encouraged to explore other options. You know, this takes us backwards. Weve already had many years of students being denied access to assistive technology that could help them learn. Some argue that phones during these emergency situations can be a distraction to students though, focusing more on contacting loved ones than listening to important instructions. We have kids ourselves, as parents, we understand the desire to stay connected with our children during emergency, however, its crucial to recognizing the phone actually compromises their safety, said Mileva Repasky, co-founder of the Phone-Free Schools Movement. When a child is distracted by their phone, they might miss critical safety instructions from a teacher or an emergency responder, and its important that they maintain situational awareness during that crisis, and completely staying focused on the guidance that theyre given really helps improve the chance of the safety of that child, she added. But others say during school shootings such as Uvalde, cell phone use was shown to be a benefit to the situation. I have yet to hear an expert point to a single instance where a cell phone has actually exacerbated one of these situations or caused it, Rodrigues said. However, I can point you to the most obvious of examples, including Parkland and Uvalde, where parents being able to connect with kids save lives, where kids being able to connect with first responders save lives. Those against the bans on cell phones in schools say there are other ways to make phones less of a distraction than taking it away completely as a line of communication. There are things called cell phone management software systems that like Aura, which we all use in our homes, and are using to regulate like how our kids are using cell phones and whether or not theyre allowed to connect to wifi. We can even restrict like specifically what apps are allowed to use at what time, Rodrigues said. We are having a knee jerk reaction to a set of data that has come out that, frankly, is alarming when you look at but were conflating two issues, cell phones and social media are two different things, 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. Heavy rain has caused more disruption and damage across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, with roads and schools closed and homes flooded. Bedford Borough Council released a list of road closures on X early on Friday, while members of REACT Disaster Response have been out in Bedford supporting residents and businesses. Hertfordshire County Council said 45 homes in Hitchin were flooded after the River Purwell burst its banks early on Friday morning. "You feel so helpless and vulnerable seeing water coming into your property, and some residents on this street cant get insurance for their homes any more," said resident Jay Cooper. Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service said crews were "working tirelessly" to help with the flooding in Hitchin, and that residents had been evacuated to St Faith's Church. Ms Cooper said heavy rain on Sunday flooded her garden room, before more water came into the house on Friday. "We stayed awake all Thursday night, calling the fire and rescue service, the Environment Agency and also Anglian Water about the foul water thats rising." Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue arrived at the scene in Woolgrove Road in the early hours of Friday and have since pumped 1.5 million litres of water away. Ms Cooper said while heavy rain was responsible, more could have been done by highways company Ringway and the Environment Agency to mitigate it. "I'm so angry at Ringway for coming out from the council to look at the drains this week, but doing nothing to clear them in preparation for more rain," she said. "Theres been nothing from the Environment Agency to add some banking to the river to stop it from bursting its banks again, knowing full well we have a weather warning. "It's incredibly frustrating to think that our house could have been saved again, but now its underwater. Its devastating." A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said it had been "the worst rainfall in living memory". "We have seen localised flooding across the county. Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service along with officers from Hertfordshire County Council and our contractors have been working tirelessly to tackle this," they added. "Our contractors have a scheduled programme of drain and gully clearance, but the simple fact is that when a river overflows it banks there is too much water for the drains to deal with." A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "All of our flood control structure are operating as intended with no communities being flooded in place of others. "We wouldnt create banking in front of properties during a flood response unless it was a pre-defined deployment in advance of that flooding. This is to ensure that this can be done safely." Other towns and villages with rivers are on high alert, with many still trying to recover from flooding on Monday. Moya Best, 76, from Shefford, Bedfordshire, said "you can't live with it" after her home was flooded by the River Flit, which backs on to her garden. "I don't think it will ever get back to normal. I keep looking at it and thinking, 'This was my and my husband's home, and it doesn't even resemble a home'." Several flood warnings remain in place around Bedford, Milton Keynes and Shefford as well as parts of Hertfordshire. Meanwhile, Woburn in Bedfordshire has been listed as the wettest place in the UK, after recording 232.4mm (9.1in) of rainfall this month. Scientists said extreme weather events were becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. Homes in Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire are lined with sandbags [Louise Potter] Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links Scripps is eliminating more than 200 jobs and will be winding down its national news programming, CEO Adam Symson told employees via email on Friday morning. The cuts will go into effect after November 15, according to Symson, who blamed the cuts on the companys ability to generate ad sales for its news programming. Over the last two years, Scripps News live anchored coverage and documentary programming have grown its linear television audience, but the prospects for the necessary revenue growth havent materialized, despite our sales teams best efforts, Symson said in his email. Scripps News current financial position is what has led me to the decision to scale back our approach to 24-hour news and over-the-air coverage. Symson said the news ad market has taken a hit nationwide, as the polarized nature of this country has made it just too risky for advertisers. I vehemently disagree, but its hurting Scripps News, along with every other national linear and digital news outlet, he said. Here's the email Adam Symson president and CEO of Scripps sent out this morning to staff https://t.co/T0GTvd994R pic.twitter.com/8w9eXFbTOH Max Tani (@maxwelltani) September 27, 2024 A team of about 50 Scripps employees will be kept to report for its local news shows and produce its streaming and digital content. This team will be based in Washington, D.C. The Washington Post was the first outlet to report the news. The post Scripps Winding Down TV News Business, Cuts 200 Jobs appeared first on TheWrap. TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) Officials on Treasure Island got their first look at the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Friday morning. Access to Pinellas County barrier islands is blocked until further notice and there is no word on when residents will be able to return. Access to Pinellas barrier islands blocked until further notice Videos and photos posted to the Treasure County government social media accounts show crews clearing the roads of sand and debris left over from Helenes storm surge. Search and rescue teams made their way onto the island early Friday morning. Crews from Broward County and Oklahoma are working with their teams, officials said. Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne issued the following statement: Good morning Treasure Island. As the sun comes up, we are going to be seeing unbelievable damage and devastation to our community. Please continue to stay safe if possible. City crews will be on the island as soon as possible to start assessment and cleanup. Search and rescue teams are already making their way on to the island. If you need emergency assistance, please call 911. My heart is broken for our community, but we will make it through this together. Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne Law enforcement will reopen the bridges leading to Treasure Island and the other Pinellas County barrier islands when it is deemed safe. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Search and rescue dog Maddy, key in Codi Bigsby case, passes away at age 11 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia-based non-profit Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD) announced the passing of Maddy, a Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 who assisted in the search for Codi Bigsby. According to a Facebook post from GARD K9 Search and Rescue, on Sept. 16, Maddy was assisting in a search for a missing person with the Louisa County Sheriffs Office, when she came in contact with a toxic substance. As a result, Maddy died four days later, on Sept. 20, surrounded by her family. Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Courtesy: Andrew Piske Maddy, who was 11 at the time of her passing, responded to over 100 search and rescue missions across Virginia during her 11 years training with GARD. During one of the missions, Maddy was able to find a person in critical condition, eventually leading to their lives being saved. Maddys handler, Andrew Piske, told 10 On Your Side Maddy also helped with several cases in the Hampton Roads area, including missing mother and daughter Keir and Chloe Johnson in Hampton, missing 3-year-old Codi Bigsby and 2-year-old Noah Tomlin. Piske also said both he and Maddy were the only SAR K9 handler that testified in the Cory Bigsby case. Justice has been served for Codi: Cory Bigsby sentenced to 45 years in prison for sons death Due to Maddy and Piske being volunteers, Piske is financially responsible for Maddys loss. As a result, a GoFundMe has been set up to assist Piske. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Race is Americas four-letter word that everyone knows but would rather ignore until it is time for demographic grouping, but who or what determines what is considered Black. Frequently, people in the media and newsmakers feel compelled to question a persons Blackness. Whether it is former President Donald Trump questioning when VP Kamala Harris turned Black or the overloaded Is {Black person} Black enough, Most Black professionals will tell you that at some point in their academic or professional journey, they were told by a non-Black colleague or classmate, Youre Black, but not Black, Black whatever that means. Thurgood Marshalls right hand woman once fought segregated housing practices in Shreveport Entertainers, elite athletes, business leaders, and rising politicians who are also Black frequently have their connections to other Black people questioned. The questions are typically posed by journalists, pundits, and culture commentators with little or no connection to the Black community themselves. So the question is, who gets to decide who is Black? The answer to that question lies in the creation of a racial caste system that made darker skin an automatic ticket to second-class citizenship in the nation and abroad, Wiley University history professor Dana Fergins explained. A caste system, in laymens terms, is putting people in a particular box or system to say based on your race or the color of your skin that youre inferior, explained Fergins. Fergins said that since the inception of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, European colonists, under the authority of the Catholic Church, maintained a racial caste system to support the enslavement and oppression of Africans and other Indigenous people. More Louisiana News In Louisiana, the Tignon law required Creole women of color, free or enslaved, to cover their heads with a scarf or wrap. This made it easier to determine who was in society at a glance since lighter skin or untextured hair could cause them to be mistaken for white. Many Black people who found the skin color burden overwhelming chose to get in where their physical features could help them fit in and chose to pass for white. First of all, white-passing is a very dangerous game, depending on what year and where youre at. White passing entails that you are of such light color descent and you blend well; your hair texture is not what they deem African American. While the act of passing for white meant living a life where you were free to move as you please and create the life you wanted, it also meant living in fear that somehow the lie you were living would be exposed. However, passing for white was a non-starter for countless others with fair skin, light eyes, and smoother textured hair. In our great state of Louisiana, you can go down to Grand Cane, and you cant decipher whos Black and whos white, but thats just what our culture is. But many were able to escape and go to New York, go to California, and get those jobs that others could not have gotten based on what they looked like, Fegins said. A Louisiana law passed in 1970 set a legal definition for what the state considered Black and was the only one of its kind in the nation. It declared that anyone with one thirty-second of Negro blood was Black. Before that, Louisiana said a trace of Negro ancestry to consider someone Black. That is until a woman in South Louisiana challenged the law to change her birth certificate to reflect how she identified instead of how the state identified her. When 48-year-old Susie Guillory Phipps requested her birth certificate through the Bureau of Vital Statistics, she was gobsmacked to learn that she was Black according to the State of Louisiana, and her birth certificate. Phipps lived as a white woman her entire life and was twice married to white men. She had no idea that her fourth great-grandmother was an enslaved woman named Margarita but thanks to the states meticulous birth record keeping and race requirement on birth certificates, Phipps was forced to confront her ancestry. More than 60 terms, including mulato, octaroon, and quadroon, have evolved throughout the states history to describe mixed-race people and to sort out the classes of free and enslaved people of color. Phipps wanted nothing to do with any of them and went about the business of suing the State of Louisiana to be declared white. Gregory Jaynes, a contributing writer from New Orleans, published a September 1982 article about Phipps plight in the New York Times. In it, Jaynes recalled interviews with Phipps in which she produced photos of blue-eyed family members and said, When I found out about the slave, it was last March. We went to court on March 2, and when Jack told me about this Margarita person, I was so sick. I was so sick, Phipps said. She was sick because even though it was the early 1980s, being Black was not easy, particularly in parts of the South that were still holding on to segregation. In the case of Phipps, who was born during segregation, an ugly time in our nations history, when to be Black meant to be less than, to have a more challenging walk with fewer available resources, and to be denied dignity. Deny her dignity is exactly what Louisiana did as they paraded in family members and experts in an attempt to refute her claim of whiteness. Attorneys for the state called Phippss aunt and uncle, who identified as Black, to testify to Phippss relation to them. The states attorney called the bayou where Phipps was born a free-person-of-color community. However, a Black sociologist and professor in New Orleans said he applauded Phipps and hoped her case would expose the foolishness of race and the caste system in Louisiana and the nation. Phipps spent a significant amount of money to have the state acknowledge that her white skin was a no-brainer to have her declared a white woman on paper. Louisianas one-thirty second of Negro blood was upheld by a magistrate judge. Louisiana repealed the law in 1983, not long after Phippss request to have her whiteness on paper as it is in person was denied in court. It is easy to judge people like Susie Phipps for seemingly abandoning her family lineage for a better life as a white person. However, we should reserve judgment for them and place it squarely on a designed system that often goes out of its way to maintain a built-in second-class citizenry. Susie Phipps and others who chose to blend with the white mainstream were attempting to transcend their race long before it was used to describe Black people who have seemingly bypassed racism as they ascended to the highest levels of their areas of expertise. So the question remains: What determines whether someone is deemed Black in America? Does it matter, and to whom is it most important? Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPSHOT - US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party's nomination for president at the DNC which runs from August 19-22 in Chicago. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) MILWAUKEE - With the White House on the line, the countrys Second Gentleman will again campaign in Wisconsin. FOX6 has exclusively learned that Doug Emhoff will visit Milwaukee on Tuesday. The campaign tells FOX6 hell speak about the economy. He was last in Wisconsin in July. If Vice President Kamala Harris wins the White House, Emhoff would be the countrys first "first gentleman." To stop that from happening, Republicans are also targeting Wisconsin. On Saturday, former President Donald Trump will campaign in Prairie du Chien. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The election is now less than 40 days away. LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A second suspect is wanted in the investigation from an 18-year-old killed in Lancaster earlier this month. Lancaster Police say 31-year-old Lamonta Dishanior Roberts is wanted in connection to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jelani Jackson. Roberts is being charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of weapon by convicted felon. PREVIOUS: 19-year-old charged with murder in connection to Lancaster fatal shooting On Sept. 4, officers say they responded around 7:50 p.m. to Clinton Avenue near Ruth Street in reference to a gunshot wound. The victim, later identified as Jackson, was reportedly found with a gunshot wound, and was transported to MUSC-Lancaster Medical Center, where he later died. On Sept. 11, Kenyan Blair, 18, was already in custody of the Lancaster County Detention Center when he was charged with Jacksons murder. Roberts is also wanted for violating his federal probation. Police list him as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds. Hes also known as Goochie and Six Hunnit. Hes considered armed and dangerous. If anyone sees Roberts, call 911. Preventing and addressing violent crime is the top priority of the Lancaster Police Department, said Lancaster PD Chief Don Roper. Our dedicated officers and law enforcement partners devoted extensive hours to resolving the tragic shooting that resulted in the loss of a young mans life. I am proud of the outstanding efforts of all investigators involved in this case. I want to thank our partners at the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and the Solicitors Office for their hard work and efforts 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 Queen City News. Serbian President suggests war in Ukraine will end according to Korean scenario Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic predicts that the war in Ukraine will end similarly to the Korean scenario. Source: nsuzivo.rs, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Serbian president stated that while there will eventually be peace in Ukraine, "there is intense fighting for every village". Quote: "The Korean scenario will be achieved, and it will not have a solution for 10, 20 or 30 years, and this will be a fundamental solution to the conflict in Ukraine," Aleksandar Vucic said. He stated that the Ukrainian war has lost popularity among the American people, and that America would eventually consider its own interests. "Extensive research was undertaken in the United States, and the subject of Ukraine ranks tenth. America will fight hard with Russia in Ukraine, but it will also protect its interests," Vucic added. He also stated that "it is foolish to underestimate the Russian army," as well as the Russian economy, "which did not feel the consequences [of sanctions and the war]". Serbia refuses to accept EU sanctions on Moscow while, according to unofficial reports, selling arms to Ukraine through intermediaries. According to estimates, Serbian weapons transfers to Ukraine via third parties have totalled over 800 million since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Support UP or become our patron! The mining industry is at a crossroads as latest industry insights reveals that electric mines can operate at costs between 56% and 88% lower than their diesel-powered counterparts. However, just 60% indicate that their next mining operation will transition to electric. Nearly all (84%) of industry professionals believe that Australias mining sector will not meet the governments goal of achieving 82% renewable energy penetration by 2030. The primary barrier to adopting electric equipment, cited by 76% of miners, is the high capital cost, which is rated 1.5 times more significant than the next major concern: confidence in operational effectiveness. In light of these findings, the industry is urging the government to implement tax incentives to accelerate the decarbonisation of mine sites. "With diesel particulates posing severe health risks such as lung cancer, and with current Australian standards being over 6x higher than level considered safe by Safe Work Australia for underground miners, electrification is not just an economic opportunity; it's a health imperative," stated Graeme Stanway, chair of the Electric Mine Consortium, "investing in cleaner technologies can eliminate these hazards and support our commitment to sustainability." These findings are based on the first and most extensive collaborative financial modelling exercise on mine decarbonisation undertaken in the Australian mining industry, allowing executives to identify to granular detail the risks, opportunities and pathways to electrify. Mark Norwell, Managing Director & CEO of Perenti, whose business recently teamed up with their client IGO and business partner ABB, to complete one of the first studies of converting an underground mines fleet from diesel vehicles to BEVs, said all stakeholders had a role to play in the shift to mine electrification. The study we recently conducted demonstrates that we are getting closer to an all-electric mine and that collaboration is the key to make it happen. We are optimistic that in time an electric underground mine will be the most economic and socially responsible mining method. The electrification of underground mines will deliver significant benefits to health, environment and cost. The CEO of Sandfire, Brendan Harris, noted our purpose is to mine copper sustainably to energise the future, so we welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with industry peers to build a deeper understanding of electrification. Renewable energy already accounts for 73% of our electricity needs and we have a decarbonisation plan to reduce emissions by 35% by 2035 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. Ivan Vella, Managing Director and CEO of IGO Limited, noted Our collective journey toward decarbonisation will only be achieved through collaboration and cooperation across our industry. More than just helping demonstrate the value case for mine electrification, the EMC has facilitated the sharing of findings and been an effective advocate for our industry as we pursue our respective decarbonisation roadmaps. Context: Mining and Environmental Sustainability - The global mining industry contributes 8% of total emissions. - Over 80% of listed miners have committed to net-zero targets. - Currently, less than 10% of the Australian mining sector utilizes renewable energy. - While 15% of Sandviks global haul truck production is battery electric, no BEVs have been sold in Australia to date for on-going load and haul production - It is estimated that 90% of the mining workforce will experience hearing impairment by age 50. Specific Areas of Cost Reduction Transitioning to electric mines presents substantial benefits, including: 1. A 100% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions for fully electric mines powered by renewables. 2. Up to 30% reduction in overall operating costs. 3. Up to 50% reduction in energy costs. 4. A 20% decrease in maintenance costs. 5. A 30% reduction in ventilation costs. Read the full mining industry report here. Serhii Sukhomlyn named head of Ukraine's Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure Former Zhytomyr Mayor Serhii Sukhomlyn has been appointed head of the Agency for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure, he announced on Facebook on Sept. 27. Sukhomlyn became mayor of Zhytomyr in November 2015 and resigned at his own request in early September 2024. Before Sukhomlyn, Mustafa Nayyem headed the agency specializing in Ukraine's reconstruction. Nayyem resigned on June 10 after being prevented from attending the Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled for June 11-12 in Berlin. In a lengthy Facebook post, he outlined a series of complaints about "systemic obstacles" that limited his ability to do his job, ultimately leading to his decision to resign. Nayyem's resignation and reshuffles strained relations between Kyiv and Western allies, raising concerns about Ukraine's ability to address the ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure by Russia, the Financial Times reported on June 10, citing unnamed Ukrainian and Western officials. Nayyem is also credited as one of the first activists to call for demonstrations in Kyiv in November 2013, marking the beginning of the protest movement that culminated in the EuroMaidan Revolution. Read also: Ex-infrastructure agency head denies accusations of misusing Western funds Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONG ISLAND, NY Check out the week's top police and DA news covered by Patches across Long Island. A man died after his car became engulfed in flames following a crash in Hicksville on Saturday night, and another man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the collision, Nassau police said. Read more. A Suffolk County man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for selling fentanyl pills that killed a Suffolk County man, according to Breon Peace, the United States Attorney Eastern District of New York. Read more. A Queens man was sentenced on Thursday to 65 years to life in prison after raping three women in Hempstead between 2015 and 2020, prosecutors announced. Read more. A Long Island man was arrested after crashing his car and fleeing the scene in a police vehicle while handcuffed, New York State Police said. Read more. A Long Island man pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges in connection to a fatal stabbing that left the victims dismembered and scattered in multiple outdoor locations, according to a report by Newsday. Read more. A Long Island woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges in connection to a fatal stabbing that left the victims dismembered and scattered in multiple outdoor locations, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Read more. A Mastic woman pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment in connection with her dog Kojo mauling a two-year-old boy and attacking the toddlers uncle when he was trying to protect the child, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Wednesday. Read more. A Smithtown man pleaded guilty to wire fraud after he fraudulently received approximately $1.1 million in small business disaster relief loans during the coronavirus pandemic, the United States Department of Justice announced Thursday. Read more. A North Babylon man was indicted on Wednesday on charges including attempted robbery after reportedly trying to rob a woman hired to clean his home, said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. Read more. A Roosevelt man was arrested in connection with a robbery and violating the county's mask ban transparency act at Walmart in East Meadow, police said. Read more. Seven Brentwood store employees have been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling illegal and controlled substances and prescription medications, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced. Read more. A Roosevelt man was arrested in connection with a Thursday afternoon stabbing in Inwood, police said. Read more. A Bay Shore man pleaded guilty to dumping hazardous waste and old tires at the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said. Read more. A woman who led officers on a high-speed chase on the Long Island Expressway in a stolen car that she used to rob a bank faces upgraded charges as part of an indictment unveiled in a Riverside courtroom on Tuesday, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said. Read more. A former Nassau County probation officer was indicted in connection with concealing sexual relations with a probationer he was supervising, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday. Read more. A man has been arrested in connection with the burglaries of 11 businesses throughout Centereach, Farmingville, and Ronkonkoma since earlier this month, Suffolk police said. Read more. A man was arrested for assaulting a passenger on a Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus on Wednesday afternoon, police said. Read more. A man identified himself as a police officer and placed a woman, who was involved in an argument with his girlfriend, in handcuffs on Sunday night in Roosevelt, Nassau police said. Read more. A Southold woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after she was found with two girls, 6 and 8, in a disabled vehicle in Riverhead Saturday night, police said. Read more. A man was beaten and robbed of his wallet early Monday morning, Nassau police said. Read more. A Riverhead man was arrested after burglarizing a downtown eatery last week, police said. Read more. A Flanders deli was robbed Monday afternoon and police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying whoever was responsible, officials said. Read more. A man was arrested Friday after Nassau police said he was selling drugs in Farmingdale. Read more. A West Hempstead man was charged with public lewdness on Saturday after Nassau police say he touched himself inappropriately in front of an 11-year-old girl at Halls Pond Park. Read more. A woman was charged after refusing to stop with an improper license plate on the Southern State Parkway this week, state police said. Read more. A drunken driver was arrested after Nassau police said he crashed into a nail salon in New Hyde Park early Friday. Read more. Police are searching for a man responsible for a church burglary on Tuesday night in Franklin Square. Read more. The Suffolk County Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying two men wanted in connection with grand larceny after stealing clothing from a store at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. Read more. Two people were arrested for an assault after a fight in East Patchogue on Thursday afternoon, Suffolk police said. Read more. A Mastic Beach man was arrested after he was stopped on County Road 39 in Southampton and tried to impersonate a police officer, authorities said. Read more. Suffolk police are seeking the publics help in identifying the suspect they say swiped merchandise from a Medford store earlier this month. Read more. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is seeking the public's help finding the two women who, police said, used a stolen credit card in Huntington Station. Read more. Serial Rapist Sentenced; Body Parts Case Guilty Plea: LI Crime Roundup originally appeared on the Huntington Patch A detained Ghanaian activist who was the key organiser of the recent anti-illegal mining protest has been denied bail along with 11 others, despite being seriously ill. Oliver Barker Vormawor appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including unlawful assembly and assault on a public officer. Mr Vormawor will be held in police custody for two weeks and then appear in court. He has been treated at the police hospital for an undisclosed illness. The Cambridge-educated activist organised the three-day protest to take action against illegal mining, known locally as "galamsey", which has been blamed for polluting 60% of Ghana's waters. Some analysts have said that if the practice is not curbed, then the country could be importing water by 2030. Last weekend, the group, calling itself Democracy Hub, clashed with the police in the capita, Accra, leading to several arrests. Over 50 protesters have now been denied bail and are in police custody and prison. Protesters are worried about what the mining is doing to the water resources [Reuters] The police accused the protesters of blocking roads, dismantling police barriers and obstructing traffic in the city. There were reports that a pregnant woman named Vera Lamptey was among those arrested and is in police detention. But the police have denied this. Many in Ghana have condemned the police, including opposition leader and presidential candidate, John Mahama, who has called out their heavy-handedness, describing it as an abuse of citizen's rights to protest. Ghana is the leading producer of gold in Africa but has struggled to deal with illegal mining in recent years. 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 did not solve the problem. The country will be electing a new president on 7 December with Akufo-Addo standing down after two terms in power. 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 Seven Hills School will close its Doherty Campus in East Walnut Hills in three years, the school announced Wednesday. Seven Hills is a private K-12 school and preschool with two campuses, the Doherty Campus for preschool and elementary children only and another campus, Hillsdale, for kids of all ages. The Doherty Campus spans five acres and is home to a lower school for children in preschool through fifth grade. That campus currently serves 163 students. In total, the school serves more than 1,000 children on both campuses. The Seven Hills School's Doherty Campus, located in East Walnut Hills, will close by the 2027-28 school year. But the board of trustees decided Tuesday to close the Doherty campus by the 2027-28 school year, consolidating all Seven Hills students to the Hillsdale Campus on Red Bank Road in Madisonville. That transition, which includes merging two lower schools into one, will take place over the next three years. "Unifying the two Lower Schools will combine the best aspects of Dohertys and Lotspeichs culture, traditions, and programs and provide both schools with more teachers, balanced classroom size for all students and teachers, and more activities and resources," a Wednesday letter from Matthew Bolton, head of school, to the Seven Hills community reads. "Our plan is to build a forward-looking state-of-the-art Lower School on the Hillsdale Campus that will set the standard in early education for our region and for the next 50 years of Seven Hills history." Who made the decision to consolidate? Conversations about consolidation have spanned several years, Bolton wrote, and mainly centered around deferred maintenance at the lower schools and shifting enrollment. But those conversations have been limited to the school's 24 board members, which include current parents and alumni from both campuses, and a task force of 20 people who studied the school's two-campus model. The task force was made up of former board chairs, current and former board members and alumni. Auriel Buchanan, director of communications and marketing at Seven Hills, confirmed to The Enquirer that the school never hosted open information sessions or sought feedback from the greater community of Seven Hills parents during that time. The board made the decision to move forward with consolidation on Tuesday. Buchanan said the vote was unanimous. "An incredible amount of thought and due diligence went into this process, and this transformational plan sets the school up for success for decades to come," Lair Kennedy, chair of the board of trustees, wrote in a statement to The Enquirer. What does this mean for current students and families? The consolidation will not result in any faculty or staff reductions, Bolton wrote. And students currently in third, fourth and fifth grades won't be impacted by the change as they will have already transitioned to the middle school by the time the new lower school opens. The Taft Early Childhood Center on the Hillsdale Campus will be expanded, officials said, and all early childhood students and teachers will move to that center during the 2026-27 school year. The new lower school on the Hillsdale Campus will open the following year, and house all Seven Hills kids in grades 1-5. More information about the transition can be found on the district's website. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Seven Hills to close Doherty campus, consolidate schools Officers arrested six people participating in a peaceful sit-in demonstration on housing and homelessness Thursday inside the lobby of a California legislative office building in downtown Sacramento. The demonstration was held inside the lobby of the Capitol Swing Space building on O Street. Offices for state lawmakers and the governor are located in the building. Members of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment and Camp Resolution in Sacramento participated in Thursdays demonstration. The protesters demanded that Newsom fund affordable housing at scale, fulfill his promise of building one million affordable homes by 2030 and stop the homeless encampment sweeps that merely move people from corner to another while causing trauma and harm, according to a news release from the two groups. Jesus Figueroa Cacho, a member of ACCE and among those arrested Thursday, said the governor must take action by taxing Californias big businesses and billionaires to fund affordable housing now. Jesus Figueroa Cacho rallies in the Capitol Swing Space lobby after marching from the state Capitol on Thursday. The protesters tried to deliver a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking for him to stop homeless encampment sweeps and deliver on his promise of creating 1 million new affordable homes by 2030. She was one of six people arrested in the lobby that night. As a long-time nursing care worker who has been unhoused, sleeping on couches or in my car for the last year, Im horrified that we spend a mere 1% of our state budget on affordable housing, Figueroa Cacho said in the news release. Affordable housing solves homelessness, not sweeps. The Governors Office on Friday declined to respond to the protesters demands or comment. In a September news release, the Governors Office said Newsom, in partnership with the state Legislature, has invested more than $40 billion to boost affordable housing and more than $27 billion to address homelessness since he took office five years ago. Officer John Ortega, a spokesman for the CHPs Protection Section, said Thursdays demonstration began on the west side of the Capitol building in downtown Sacramento. The protesters then marched to the nearby Swing Space building and continued the demonstration inside the building. About 6:30 p.m. Thursday, after the building closed for normal business hours, CHP officers ordered the protesters to disperse or they would be detained or arrested, Ortega said. Six people failed to comply with the dispersal order and were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly, remaining present at an unlawful assembly after being lawfully warned to disperse, failing to disperse at a public disturbance and being present in or upon state property when closed to public, according to the CHP. Ortega said the people arrested did not physically resist, and they were later booked at the Sacramento County Jail. California Highway Patrol officers fasten a zip tie on Elsa Stevens, 71, in the Capitol Swing Space on Thursday while other officers usher protesters from the lobby. Six people, some homeless, were eventually arrested during a sit-in demonstration calling for an end to homeless sweeps and calling on the governor, whose office is in the building, to help build more affordable housing. Satearah Murphy, a co-founder of Camp Resolution and among those arrested in the protest, spoke out against sweeping homeless encampments and hoped the governor heard their stories. Camp Resolution was an encampment of about 50 homeless people living in city-issued trailers on city property in a once vacant North Sacramento lot. Residents of the camp, comprised largely of disabled seniors, were moved out of the location last month. Sacramento city officials called Camp Resolution a failed experiment, mostly because of what they considered counterproductive interventions by homeless advocates. Tena Pflueger, 66, who is homeless and blind in one eye from cancer, describes her situation to Adrian Mata, director of constituent affairs in the governors office, during a protest at the Capitol Swing Space on Thursday. (Gov. Gavin Newsom) lives in a mansion we live in the mud, she said, explaining that she lives under a bridge with rats and continues to be swept every day. Since our tight-knit community was bulldozed a month ago, none of us have been given permanent housing, and some of us live across the street from where the camp was, Murphy said in the news release. Sweeps dont solve homelessness, they cause harm and trauma. We need real affordable housing. Pinky Toney, a member of ACCE who also was arrested Thursday, said the the only solution to this crisis is more affordable housing, and its time for Newsom to fulfill his promise of 1 million affordable homes. Without affordable housing available, Toneys family was homeless for a year. Even homeless shelters wouldnt take them, Toney said, because her daughters allergies were considered a liability. I know what its like to be homeless. After complaining about black mold in our apartment that was making my daughter severely sick, our landlord evicted us, Toney said in the news release. For an entire year, me, my husband and our two young children moved between hotels, sleeping in tents, abandoned buildings and friends couches. Satearah Murphy, a founding member of the Camp Resolution homeless encampment that was recently dismantled by the city of Sacramento, said she is still homeless during a rally at the state Capitol on Thursday. She was one of six arrested when the protest peacefully occupied the Capitol Swing Space later in the day in a bid to meet with Gov. Gavin Newsom. Jesus Figueroa Cacho, right, was among a group of protesters, all seated, who were arrested in the lobby of the Capitol Swing Space after a rally and march demanding affordable housing and an end to encampment sweeps on Thursday. Cacho, a nursing care worker for decades, is on disability because of her vision. She lives in her car after an eviction over fees she believes were fraudulent. UPDATE: Suspect in shooting in custody, woman taken by CareFlight to hospital UPDATE @ 12:55 a.m.: A shooting suspect has been located and is in custody, the Greenville Police Department announced in a social media post. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported Thursday on News Center 7 at 11, Greenville Police officers responded to the 700 block of Martin Street in Greenville around 8:30 p.m. on initial reports of a shooting. TRENDING STORIES: Greenville Police asked neighbors on social media Thursday night to shelter in place while they searched for the suspect last seen wearing khaki shorts and no shirt. The shelter-in-place has been lifted. CareFlight transported a female victim to Miami Valley Hospital. Her condition is unknown. No other details about the arrest have been released. We will update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Kelly Earnshaw is banned altogther from entering specific shops in the borough of Swale A convicted shoplifter must now use a see-through bag when she enters a store, a court has ruled. Shelley Earnshaw, 31, was subjected to the unusual criminal behaviour order after she was caught stealing hundreds of pounds worth of goods from supermarkets in Kent. Kent Police said Earnshaw stole 264 worth of items, including meat, laundry and toiletries, from a Morrisons store in the village of Milton Regis between July 31 and August 16. On two separate occasions, she shoplifted multiple items from a Co-op store in the town of Sheerness, placing them in her bag and leaving without paying. Earnshaw, of College Road, Sittingbourne, was arrested and charged with seven thefts and pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates Court. On Monday, she was jailed for 100 days and handed a criminal behaviour order which bans her from entering several specified shops in the borough of Swale. The order also requires her not to act in a way that causes distress to shop staff or the public, and forbids her from entering a store with a bag unless it is clear, or a small clutch handbag. Police Sergeant Dan Bartlett of Kent Police said: We are determined to deter prolific thieves from targeting local stores as this can have a very real financial impact on these businesses and cause particular distress to shop workers. Beat officers will investigate these incidents and, where an offender is identified, ensure they are detained. Where we can show a pattern of persistent offending we will also ask a court to impose a criminal behaviour order. This restricts an offenders conduct on their release from prison and allows us to swiftly bring them back before the court if they breach the relevant conditions. Earlier this week, the Co-op revealed a 40 million hit from shoplifting in the first half of the year as it said criminals were becoming more brazen in its stores. The retailer said that costs incurred from theft were up 19 per cent in the first six months of the financial year, jumping to 39.5 million from 33 million during the same period in 2023. Matt Hood, the managing director of Co-op Food, said this reflected an ongoing epidemic of crime in the retail sector, which has gained traction in recent years. 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. KEMPNER, Texas (FOX 44) Gunfire was exchanged during a home invasion in Kempner. The Lampasas County Sheriffs Office received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 3:31 a.m. Thursday regarding a burglary at a rural residence in the 3100 block of FM-28028 in Kempner. The homeowner of the residence, a 67-year-old man, stated he was awakened when he heard the sound of glass breaking outside of his bedroom. He went to the bedroom across the hallway and discovered a rock was thrown through the bedroom window. The man left his residence to investigate and check all sides of his residence. After entering his residence again, he heard the same sound of glass breaking coming from the same bedroom. The homeowner armed himself with a pistol and took defensive cover and stance, believing an intruder entered his residence through the broken window. The homeowner saw what appeared to be a burglar leaving the bedroom. The homeowner pointed his weapon at the suspected burglar, and believed the burglar also had a firearm pointed at him. When the homeowner attempted to fire his weapon, it did not discharge. The burglar suspect fired his weapon more than once at the homeowner and narrowly missed striking him. The homeowner took cover and the burglar left the residence through the suspected window he entered from at first. Lampasas County deputies responded immediately, arriving at approximately 3:46 a.m. The Sheriffs deputies searched the residence and the surrounding areas. Lampasas County Criminal Investigators and the Texas Rangers were notified and responded. The crime scene was processed and evidence was collected. This 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 KWKT - FOX 44. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Shreveport Police Department has requested that Louisiana State Police investigate an incident that happened Wednesday evening. According to a press release from LSP, earlier this afternoon, at approximately 5:15 p.m., LSP was requested to investigate an incident for SPD. Police say the incident happened Wednesday evening at 7:20 p.m. as a traffic stop. Police say victim beaten with metal table during argument, suspect arrested Police say officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Broadway Avenue at Hollywood Avenue. The final stop location was at Hollywood Avenue at McAlpine Street. As a result of the traffic stop, officers met a male subject and attempted to arrest him. During the attempted arrest, a physical altercation ensued which resulted in the man having what police say are serious injuries. At this time the man remains in the hospital. Police say that no officers were injured. LSP says this investigation is active and ongoing. Through coordination with the Caddo Parish District Attorneys Office and LSP Investigators, more information will be provided once it becomes available. Anyone with information and or pictures and video are asked to share that information with LSP Investigators by calling 318-741-2735. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Floridas new condominium laws might present an opportunity for developers looking to buy up older, poorly maintained buildings to replace them with modern luxury towers. The new laws, inadvertently, could also put South Floridas last vestiges of affordable housing at risk and state lawmakers and local officials must be aware and prepare for that scenario. The reforms passed after the 2021 Surfside building collapse are meant to ensure that condo associations stay on top of maintenance by not allowing them to waive financial reserves and requiring inspections and reserve studies to find out how much they need to set aside for repairs. That was necessary to prevent another tragedy, but the requirements clash with the reality that South Floridas condo inventory skews older and fixing some of those buildings may be too expensive for residents. Miami-Dade needs 90,000 housing units that a household of four earning up to $82,560 could afford to rent, according to a 2023 study by the nonprofit Miami Homes for All. Older condos a components of whats officially labeled naturally occurring affordable housing have helped prevent South Floridas housing crisis from being even worse, providing homes for retirees and working-and-middle-class families left with few options thanks to skyrocketing rents and home values the focus of the Herald Editorial Boards series Shrinking Middle. Many of those residents are renters with little to no safety net. If they are displaced, South Florida could lose workforce it needs for its economic well-being. Its still unknown how many buildings are in such dire need of repair that owners might have to sell their units or entire buildings instead of being saddled with upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars in special assessments thanks to the new laws. A 2020 policy brief by Florida International Universitys Metropolitan Center offers a potential hint: there are 258,124 residential structures not all of them condos or buildings in Miami-Dade County constructed before building codes were toughened in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The policy brief was written as a warning to the potential destruction that another direct hit by a major storm could inflict along Miami-Dades urban corridor. What was not foreseen back then is that a building could collapse in the middle of the night as the Champlain Towers South did, killing 98 people. Certainly, allowing people to remain in buildings that are not structurally sound as cheap as they may be is not the answer, but neither is allowing them to be displaced with no place to land. Most vulnerable structures identified in the FIU study are located in the same areas that developers are eyeing for gentrification thanks to their prime location east or just west of Interstate 95 areas like Allapattah and Little Haiti, Metropolitan Center Associate Director Ned Murray told the Herald Editorial Board. What Im concerned about are condo predators, Murray said. They are lining up, waiting to buy older buildings to tear them down. State Rep. Vicki Lopez, the Miami Republican who wrote Floridas new condo laws, said that land trusts have been buying multiple units in the same buildings to create a majority of votes in an association to eventually sell those buildings. She advised that associations can enact bylaws prohibiting the same entity from owning multiple units. What I resent is that theyre building luxury not even high end, (but) luxury and Im shocked at the level of the number of people who are available to purchase luxury (condos), Lopez said. Its clear that to prevent older, more affordable buildings from disappearing, government will have to step in. Miami-Dade County already has programs that award no-interest loans for some owners facing special assessments and to rehabilitate naturally occurring affordable housing. Lopez said shes interested in implementing similar programs statewide. Lawmakers reacted quickly and forcefully after the Surfside collapse highlighted the safety crisis facing condominiums. They should not wait until a new affordability crisis develops to mitigate it. Click here to send the letter. Sidney voters will see 2 levies on their ballot this election SIDNEY, Ohio (WDTN) Sidney residents will see two levies on the ballot when casting their votes this election season. Our partners at Sidney Daily News report both are income tax levies proposing a 0.25 percent increase in taxes onto the 1.5 percent city taxes in place now. Springfield announces encryption of police, fire, EMS channels The first levy is for the citys police and fire department. Money cannot be used for building and instead would go towards salaries, benefits, training and equipment. The second focuses on street improvements and would include construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and maintenance. If both levies pass, the total city tax will go up to 2 percent. If only one passes, the total will rise to 1.75 percent and if none passes the city tax will stay the same. Shelby County voters can view a sample ballot 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. Michael T. Ellis told police he had been hoarding dogs in his home on Milwaukee's north side home over time, and that he simply was unable to keep up with their care after a divorce, newly released court papers say. Animal control officials aren't buying his story. They believe he was breeding them for money. The Milwaukee man now faces five felony counts of mistreatment of animals after dozens of dead dogs were discovered in a home that once belonged to him. A signature bond for $5,000 was issued for Ellis, 45, during his initial court appearance on Wednesday. He is expected return to court for a preliminary hearing Oct. 6. More: The 18-year-old babysitter charged with killing a family's pet Chihuahua pleads insanity The dead dogs in the kitchen were just the beginning Milwaukee police were sent to a home on the 5200 block of North Teutonia Avenue on Aug. 6 by an employee who works in the city's real estate program. The city had foreclosed and taken ownership of the property on June 14, and the employee went there to perform a standard walkthrough of the home. Ellis was its previous owner. The criminal complaint, released Wednesday by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, paints a macabre and disturbing picture of what the employee and a colleague found once they got inside. They were overcome with a foul odor. Then they saw dead dogs, several of them, in the kitchen, the complaint said. A lit candle, believed to have been an attempt to mask the odor, also was spotted in the room. The two employees left the home and called the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. An animal control officer recovered three living dogs from the home. A necropsy was conducted on the bodies of two other dogs. One was too far decomposed for a cause of death to be determined. The other showed "significant evidence of emaciation and severe muscle atrophy," leading a doctor to find it died of starvation. It was a 'Silence of the Lambs' horror scene inside the house More: Wisconsin man gets prison time for video of tortured monkey Detectives went back to the home Aug. 16 with a team from MADACC. On the first floor, they found 25 dead dogs, mostly in garbage bags. Another 28 dead dogs were in the basement. "It was honestly the worst thing I've ever seen in my life," MADACC Executive Director Karen Sparapani said. "It was like something out of 'Silence of the Lambs.' It was horrifying because every skull or skeleton that was in there, you knew was alive at some point." Cellphone records for Ellis showed he was at the home the night before the city employees visited on Aug. 6, the complaint said. Sparapani said officials also found a stack of unopened dog food in the house, along with several inescapable dog cages. Each cage had skeletons inside them. Sparapani said the evidence inside the home were hallmarks of an underground dog-breeding operation that has exploded in popularity in recent years because of a demand for XL bullies and other breeds of muscular pit bulls. "This was just cruel," she said. Ellis turned himself in to police on Sept. 19. During an interview with detectives, Ellis admitted he had been hoarding dogs after a recent divorce, according to the criminal complaint. He said he was struggling to keep up with their care, but that he was "embarrassed" to seek help from groups such as MADACC, the document said. More: Milwaukee man charged with mistreatment after 113 animals, including alligators, cats, dogs, seized from home with unsanitary conditions What is the law in Wisconsin for breeding dogs? The number of animals that are allowed in a household varies from city to city. In the city of Milwaukee, for example, no more than four adult dogs, cats and/or rabbits are allowed in any one dwelling unit. Anything after that, a pet owner would need to apply for an animal fanciers license. Rules are different for breeders. Wisconsin law regulating dog breeding, sales, and adoption-for-fee requires inspection and licensing of many dog breeders, dealers and sellers, as well as shelters and rescues that foster and adopt out dogs. It also calls for licenses for individuals and organizations selling 25 or more dogs a year from more than three litters that they have bred. The three dogs that survived the ordeal eventually were placed in foster care and are currently being cared for two were adopted, the third went to a rescue home, Sparapani said. City officials have said they intend to raze the property, but it's not clear when the demolition would occur. Prosecutors expect to request that Ellis be prohibited from owning, possessing or training any animals as a condition of bail, the complaint said. How to report illegal animal breeding activity You can file a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection if you have concerns that a business or person is in violation of state law relating to the licensing and inspection of dog sellers and dog facility operators. How to report animal abuse All reports of suspected animal cruelty or neglect should be directed to the local police department. If you live in the city of Milwaukee and you feel an animal is not being housed or cared for properly, you can also contact the Department of Neighborhood Services at 414-286-2268. The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission does not investigate mistreatment cases, however, it provides assistance to local law enforcement and will pick up and care for animals that are seized for violations of local and state statutes. If you observe or suspect animal abuse or neglect is occurring, take the following steps: Contact your local non-emergency police department as soon as possible. If you witness an animal in a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1. Share detailed, factual information with the dispatcher when you call the police department. Police are best able to perform their duties when provided with detailed descriptions of the suspected abuse. The more details you provide, the greater the chance that the law will be upheld, and the animal helped. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dozens of dead dogs found in 'Silence of the Lambs' house in Milwaukee Sioux City PD looking for suspect in downtown robbery SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) UPDATE: Officials have released more information on a credit union robbery that occurred Thursday. According to a release, the Sioux City Police Department was notified at 3:37 p.m. of a robbery at Sioux Valley Community Credit Union in downtown Sioux City. When officers arrived at the scene, employees said a man had just robbed them. Former Cherokee teacher sentenced for harassment of student The police department says that the suspect is a Black man about five feet four inches to five feet six inches tall and weighing about 140-160 pounds. Police did not provide a photo. The suspect allegedly walked in with his face covered and demanded money from one of the tellers. He then exited the bank and left the area with an undisclosed amount of money, the release states. Officials are still investigating the robbery. Anyone with more information is asked to call the police department at 712-279-6440 or its anonymous tip line at 712-258-8477. PREVIOUS: The Sioux City Police Department is investigating a robbery of a downtown credit union. Sgt. Thomas Gill with the police department told KCAU 9 that the robbery took place Thursday around 3:30 p.m. at Sioux Valley Community Credit Union in the 1100 block of 6th Street. Officials couldnt provide more details at the time, and the police are continuing to investigate the incident. This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will update as we 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A kindergarten teacher at Volgas Sioux Valley Elementary School (SVES) has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year, according to a Department of Education (DOE) press release on Thursday. At a banquet held Thursday evening in Fort Pierre, Secretary of Education, Joseph Graves, announced Amy Verhelst as the recipient of the award. Verhelst has been teaching at SVES since 2018 and gives instruction in phonics and phonemic awareness which helps her young students develop into readers before they finish kindergarten. Brandon Valley penny drive benefits HS senior Kindergarten is that beginning stage where I get to give them their first exposure to school, that first experience, and its like a whole new world for them, said Verhelst as stated in the DOE press release. Verhelst is a graduate of SDSU and has been teaching since 2014. She also taught in the Brandon Valley School District and Brownsburg, Indiana School District before arriving at the elementary school in Volga . Representing South Dakota, Verhelst will be a candidate for the 2025 National Teacher of the Year award, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. next spring. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Siouxland Community Foundation to host Big Give Campaign to help local nonprofits SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Siouxland Community Foundation will be hosting the sixth annual Siouxland Big Give campaign for local nonprofits. The Siouxland Big Give is an online 24-hour day of giving to spotlight nonprofit organizations and connect them with the community. This year, the Big Give will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Katie Roberts, Executive Director of the Siouxland Community Foundation said the Siouxland Big Give is more than just a single day of generosity, its an opportunity to discover the incredible work being done by our local nonprofit organizations. According to a press release, over 95 charitable organizations are participating and the goal is to raise more than $150,000. Many nonprofits have also secured matching gifts to help them achieve their highest donation. Sioux City Warming Shelter to stay open Roberts adds Many of our charities have secured matching gifts, allowing every donation to stretch further. Its a great way to maximize your support and make a difference. With so many diverse organizations involved, theres a cause for everyone to support. This event not only supports organizations across a wide range of causes but also provides a platform for them to raise awareness and funds. For more information visit our website at www.SiouxlandBigGive.org, call 712-293-3303, or email office@siouxlandcommunityfoundation.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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A Clarke Middle School math teacher has recently been arrested twice on several sexual abuse charges involving children, according to El Paso County Jail Records and court documents obtained by KTSM. According to El Paso County Jail Records, Llojan Almaraz, 28, was arrested by Socorro Independent School District (ISD) Police on Friday, Sept. 13, and charged with improper relationship between an educator and student, child grooming, indecency with a child, and sexual performance of a child. He posted bond the following day on Saturday, Sept. 14. Almaraz was then arrested again the following week on Friday, Sept. 20, by Socorro ISD Police, and charged with two counts of online solicitation of a minor. He posted the bond that same day. According to court documents, on Aug. 28, a Walter Clarke Middle School officer received a report of an improper relationship between educator and student. The officer met with the middle schools principal who informed the officer that Almaraz had been improperly communicating with a female student from the campus. Almaraz, who had been a math teacher at Walter Clarke Middle School since Oct. 2021, was the victims teacher during the 2023-2024 school year, according to court documents. According to court documents, an affiant interviewed the victims mother who said that her daughter was communicating with Almaraz via telephone calls and text conversations. The victims mother said that the language in text conversations between Almaraz and her daughter was inappropriate and that Almaraz sent her daughter live images of himself exposing his penis. According to court documents, the victims mother provided the affiant with a screen-recorded text thread conversation between the victim and Almaraz. In some of those texts, Almaraz texted the victim that he wanted to have sex with her. He also said he wanted to date her and get her pregnant. The affiant also observed that Almaraz gifted the victim funds through money transfer applications for Starbucks and other purchases, according to court documents. According to court documents, the victims mother also said that Almaraz gave her daughter gifts such as a lanyard, a Funko Pop action figure, Pandora bracelet charms and a gold necklace. The affiant searched the victims phone and located the text thread conversation with Almaraz where they got Almarazs telephone number saved under a heart emoji. The phone number was verified through the Socorro ISD employee demographics, according to court documents. A forensic interview was conducted with the victim. The victim said that she started talking with Almaraz through the SportsYou application, which is used to communicate school-based sports information between coaches, parents, and student-athletes, approximately in October 2023 when she was 12 years old, according to court documents. The victim said she and Almaraz eventually exchanged telephone numbers and would communicate by telephone calls and text conversations. According to court documents, the victim said she and Almaraz met on two separate occasions during June. She said Almaraz would meet her at the apartment property where she resides with her mother. The victim said the first time she and Almaraz met, they spent about half an hour in the back seat of his truck. She explained there was kissing and touching involved, but they did not have sex in any of the two separate occasions, according to court documents. However, the victim said that on the second occasion, she felt awkward because Almaraz grabbed her and started kissing her all over her face. She said that she kissed Almaraz back, but not on the lips, according to court documents. According to court documents, a juvenile witness was interviewed regarding the allegations made against Almaraz. The witness said Almaraz would buy the victim gifts and food throughout the school year. The witness also said Almaraz would communicate with the victim by text and Instagram, using the witness as a mediator. On Sept. 5, the affiant spoke to a second juvenile witness who attended Clarke Middle School from the school years 2021 to 2023. This witness said Almaraz was her math teacher during her seventh-grade year. According to court documents, the second witness said Almaraz began communicating with her through the SportsYou application. She also said Almaraz communicated with her through her eighth-grade year via a fake TikTok account. The second witness said Almaraz gave her gifts and felt that she was being groomed by him. She said she then stopped communicating with Almaraz, according to court documents. According to court documents, the second witness also said it was during Almarazs first year of teaching and that he referred to her as his number one. According to Clarke Middle Schools website, Almaraz is listed as a math teacher. We reached out to SISD regarding Almarazs employment at the school to which they provided the following statement. This request is regarding an ongoing investigation. The individual is currently on administrative leave while the investigation proceeds. We are unable to release any information at this time, SISD 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. SLC gets new direct flight to Asia, announced during Coxs visit to South Korea Utah Gov. Spencer Cox meets with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept 27, 2024 (Courtesy of the Governor's Office) What did Utahns get after Gov. Spencer Cox s visit to South Korea this week? Most immediately, an announcement of a direct flight from Salt Lake City to the Incheon International Airport in Seoul. But, state officials are hoping that after Coxs Friday visit, the cultural and economic ties between Utah and Korea grow deeper. Delta Airlines will offer daily nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to Seoul starting June 12, 2025, the only direct flight linking Utahs capital to Asia, according to a Delta news release on Friday. Its an opportunity Cox and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea expect to enhance trade and tourism between the Beehive State and South Korea. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As we open this new gateway to Asia, I am excited to expand Utahs global reach and foster new cultural and business partnerships. Deltas commitment to our state underscores Utahs growing role on the world stage, Cox said in the Delta release. The plane selected by Delta for this route accommodates 306 seats, 32 of which will be suites with lie-flat seating and four-course meals. Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, also applauded the new flight, saying in a social media post that with more than 35,000 Korean Americans living in Utah, actions like these enrich the fabric of the community. The new nonstop flight from Salt Lake City to Seoul reinforces our status as not just the crossroads of the West, but of the world, Adams wrote. This direct route enhances travel convenience and further establishes Utah as a key hub for international business and tourism, driving economic growth and benefiting local enterprises. The governor has been on a trade mission since Tuesday along with a delegation of 47 Utah businesses and organizations. The trip will last until Oct. 4. In addition to Seoul, hell visit Tokyo with the intent of strengthening ties in manufacturing, aerospace and defense, life sciences, financial services and fintech, according to a news release issued by the governors office. Let us know what you think... The Korean economy, much like Utahs, has delivered sustained prosperity through innovation and growth, Cox said. Through shared values and mutual respect, President Yoon and I are committed to increased collaboration, which we hope will serve as a global example of how two regions can address challenging issues and create lasting positive change. Cox is also scheduled to visit the University of Utahs Asia Campus on Saturday, ahead of its 10th anniversary this year. The trade mission to South Korea was organized by the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity and World Trade Center Utah, aiming to support and expand the 200 Utah-based companies that already do business with South Korea. Last year, the governors trade missions to other countries including France, the United Kingdom and Mexico generated $193.25 million in new trade opportunities for the state, according to the governors office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) A student at South Louisiana Community College has been arrested after carrying a gun on campus, authorities said. Adrian Harmon, 26, was booked into the Lafayette Parish Jail and charged with one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm free zone. Just after noon Friday, Lafayette Police responded to the schools campus at 320 Devalcourt St. to a report of a student with a concealed handgun on his person. With the help of campus security and Lafayette Sheriffs Deputies School Resource Officers, the suspect, Harmon, was located in an upstairs classroom and detained without incident, according to LPD. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Police said there is no evidence that Harmon intended to cause harm with his weapon. Investigators said that due to his vehicle previously being burglarized he did not want to leave an unattended firearm inside his vehicle, so he brought it inside with him. No students or staff were harmed during the incident, authorities said. 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. COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) McBee Police Officer Jarrell Wright followed a white Toyota truck a half of a mile, from the only stoplight in McBee, until it finally stopped on the McBee High School campus. Wright clocked the driver, Alston Modlin, running around twice the speed limit in the 25 mph zone near the lone, main intersection in town. Investigators said Modlin had just walked out of a water heater manufacturing plant in McBee after finishing his shift on Sept. 20. Modlin was a welder and worked the second shift at the McBee A.O. Smith plant. Bullet holes in McBee Police Officer Jarrell Wrights patrol car show where Alston Modlin was aiming after investigators said the man tried to murder a McBee cop who attempted to stop him for speeding on Sept. 20, 2024. Nearly every shot appeared to be aimed at the officers head and the drivers seat. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) Wright encountered the 27-year-old man a few minutes past 11 p.m. that night. Modlin had plenty of places to pull over, but he wouldnt stop for a half-mile as the pair headed southbound on Highway 151 through town. Modlin turned right onto South 11th Street and drove several yards off the side of the street onto the McBee High School campus. Both automobiles stopped near the FFA classroom on the south end of the high school. Once stopped, the officer reached down for his radio and when he looked up, investigators said Modlin was aiming a high-powered rifle and launched the first of more than 60 rounds that ripped through the glass and sheet metal of the brand-new Dodge Charger patrol car. The car had only 500 miles on it the chief said. All Wright could do was slump down in his seat. McBee Police Chief Tim Knight said Wright pulled his armored vest over his head and waited for it to end, fully expecting to die. But Wright pretended to be dead as he lay still, slumped over in the car. A source shared a photograph of the shooting scene with Queen City News Chief Investigator Jody Barr last week. The picture shows yellow evidence markers circling the patrol car. A law enforcement source told Barr the shooter was circling the McBee officer, with nearly every shot aimed at the drivers seat. The crime scene photograph and the holes in the patrol car corroborated that information. Law enforcement told Barr after Modlin emptied the rifle clip, he pulled out a handgun and fired several more rounds into the drivers window. Police believe the dark tint on the patrol car windows kept the shooter from seeing the officer inside, who had slumped down inside the car pretending to be dead. The S.C. Law Enforcement Division estimates the shooting happened at 11:13 p.m. Law enforcement sources said first responders and dispatchers initially didnt know Wright was in trouble since the stop was not called into dispatch. The public also wasnt aware of the shooting or that the attempted cop killer was on the loose until nearly nine hours after the shooting. A Blue Alert was never published by SLED until nearly ten hours after the shooting as state and local law enforcement were in the middle of a shootout with Modlin 25 minutes south of McBee. Why SLED delayed this critical public notice is at the center of our Blew Alert report, a Queen City News investigation. THE 9.5 HOUR DELAY When news of the McBee shooting made its way into our newsroom, Officer Jarrell Wright was already sitting in a hospital room receiving medical treatment for four gunshot wounds. None of the wounds were life-threatening, according to investigators. The photographs from inside the patrol car show how much of a miracle it was that Wright survived. One bullet hit his steering wheel, the drivers side headrest was ripped to shreds, and his laptop and electrical equipment bolted to the console were destroyed nearly every corner of the drivers cockpit had a bullet hole in it. This photograph looking at the back of the drivers compartment from the back door of the McBee Police patrol car shows the number of shots fired at where Officer Jarrell Wrights head would have been during a Sept. 20, 2024, shooting in downtown McBee. Wright was slumped down inside the car and suffered four gunshot wounds that caused non-life-threatening injuries, according to law enforcement. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) Our first communication with SLEDs press office happened at 6:10 a.m. Public Information Director Renee Wunderlich provided the following information: The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an incident in Chesterfield County where a McBee police officer was shot. The officer is at the hospital receiving treatment. The SLED investigation was requested early Friday morning (9/20/2024) by the McBee Police Department. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident should contact SLED by calling (866)472-8477 and/or emailing tips@sled.sc.gov Renee Wunderlich, SLED Public Information Director Wunderlichs statement did not reveal the fact law enforcement knew who fired the shots, what he was driving, and that SLED was frantically searching for Modlin. In fact, at 2:57 a.m. three and a half hours after the shooting agents had already identified a potential suspect and had Modlins license plate information. But Modlin was still on the loose. By the time of Wunderlichs 6:10 a.m. email to QCN, SLED agents had positively identified the suspect, met with a Chesterfield County magistrate, and obtained an attempted murder warrant for Alston Modlin. Fourteen minutes after Wunderlichs first emailed statement to QCN, agents had an attempted murder warrant in hand and were trying to find the fugitive. The initial SLED statement did not include any information about the wanted man. Law enforcement also never told the public a wanted man who hours before tried to shoot a McBee police officer to death, was on the run. That notice didnt come until 9:02 a.m. in the form of a Blue Alert, a statewide emergency alert system designed to immediately notify the public and law enforcement of a significant risk to the public and other law enforcement officers. The alert is the public notification system lawmakers wanted SLED to use in this exact scenario when the Blue Alert bill became law in 2012. This is the entire section of the Blue Alert Program, created within Title 23 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which created the S.C. Law Enforcement Division. The legislation became state law in February 2012. (Source: S.C. Code of Laws) The purpose of the program is to broadcast critical information to the public as quickly as possible in an effort to assist in the apprehension of an offender(s) who allegedly killed, seriously injured, or abducted a law enforcement officer and poses a significant risk to the public and other law enforcement officers. The Chief of SLED shall act as the programs statewide coordinator, the SLED website states. We first pointed out SLEDs failure to issue the alert in our reporting on the day of the shooting. On Sept. 23, we asked SLEDs press office what caused the delay and wanted an explanation. SLED issued a response three days later, emailing a detailed timeline of events from the time of the shooting until the Blue Alert was canceled at 10:10 a.m. on Sept. 20. Could a Blue Alert have been considered earlier? Yes, SLEDs Executive Affairs Director Ryan Alphin told QCNs Jody Barr in an email on Sept. 26. Should a Blue Alert have been considered earlier? Yes, Alphin wrote. The emergency alert system became state law in 2012 and the McBee shooting was the first time SLED has ever issued a Blue Alert in the 14 years the law existed. SLED acknowledged our questions over the delay in issuing the alert exposed problems with SLEDs alert issuance requirements. SLED criteria that were drafted in 2012 proved to be overly burdensome and was vague regarding NCIC entry. The criteria have been updated and will be posted to our website by the end of this week, Alphin wrote to Barr. The Blue Alert state statute details four criteria needed to allow SLED to issue a Blue Alert: (1) a local, state, or federal law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured, or abducted; and (2) the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction: (a) determines that a suspect poses a serious risk or threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel; (b) possesses sufficient information that could assist in locating the suspect, including information regarding the suspects vehicle; and (c) recommends the issuance of a blue alert to SLED. Lawmakers ordered SLED to create the process for issuing the alert, which SLED did in 2012 and posted those guidelines to its website. SLEDs site shows seven separate criteria the agency wanted before it would issue a Blue Alert: The requirements SLED demanded of South Carolina law enforcement agencies before issuing a Blue Alert is overly burdensome, SLEDs Government Affairs Director Ryan Alphin told Queen City News. The agency said it has clarified and updated the requirements and would post the updates to the agencys website by Sept. 27, 2024. (Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) The timeline SLED provided QCN shows agents identified the person and automobile investigators believed was involved within four hours of the shooting. Heres the full timeline SLED provided to QCN: 12:05 a.m. Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office calls SLED Operations Desk (OD) to request SLED Fusion Center assistance from an analyst 12:41 a.m. McBee Police call Captain Glenn Wood who then requests SLED Crime Scene Unit and Regional Agents assistance 2:57 a.m. SLED Regional Agents identify a subject and a vehicle 3:34 a.m. SLED Regional Agents receive Fusion Center analyst packet of information regarding subject ID and vehicle license plate 3:37 a.m. SLED Regional Agents request assistance from SLED Fugitive/SSI Agents 3:56 a.m. Captain Glenn Wood consults with the Solicitors Office regarding an arrest warrant 4:24 a.m. SLED Regional Agents call a magistrate court judge and an agent goes to meet the magistrate at the magistrates office to obtain an arrest warrant for the subject 4:34 a.m. SLED issues NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System) Armed & Dangerous Advisory to law enforcement state-wide 5:15 a.m. The McBee police officer who was shot positively IDs the subject and vehicle to SLED 5:45 a.m. SLED obtains arrest warrant for attempted murder for the subject from the magistrate 6:24 a.m. SLED OD receives the arrest warrant for the subject 7:05 a.m. SC BLUE ALERT is first considered 8:05 a.m. South Carolina Information and Intelligence Center (SCIIC) Bulletin issued, which is a South Carolina Law Enforcement Advisory message 8:37 a.m. SC BLUE ALERT issued 9:44 a.m. SC BLUE ALERT updated; vehicle found, subject on foot 10:10 a.m. SC BLUE ALERT canceled As the timeline shows, SLEDs first notification to other law enforcement of a wanted man happened at 4:34 a.m., notated by the entry of an Armed and Dangerous Advisory into a national communication system that only notifies law enforcement agencies. By 5:15 a.m., Officer Wright was able to positively identify Alston Modlin and his white Toyota truck. In the early morning hours, it was important to notify law enforcement, who in this case we thought most likely to encounter the subject, that the subject is extremely dangerous and has shot a police officer. This was a targeted attack against a law enforcement officer, Alphin added. It took McBee Police 90 minutes following the shooting to contact SLED Captain Glenn Wood, the head of the statewide law enforcement agencys Pee Dee Region Office in Florence. Wood then scrambled SLEDs crime scene agents and an army of other agents to get to the scene and to begin work to file charges and to find Alston Modlin. After getting the attempted murder warrant in hand and hours after agents knew Modlin was who they were looking for including the truck he was driving it took SLED until 7:05 a.m. to think about notifying the public about the wanted man by launching a Blue Alert. The alert would have informed the public and news outlets across the state of the wanted man. Alston Modlin worked as a welder at the A.O. Smith water heater plant in McBee, S.C. The night of the shooting, law enforcement pulled video from the plant showing Modlin leaving work just past 11 p.m. Minutes later hed fire more than 60 shots at a McBee police officer during a traffic stop in town. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) The state statute shows SLED had the option to have Modlins name, license plate number, and truck description posted on the S.C. Department of Transportations electronic billboards across the state. The SLED timeline does not show agents asked the SCDOT to publish any information. The SLED timeline indicates that at 8:37 a.m., nine and a half hours after the shooting, SLED issued the first public notice of the wanted man. The Blue Alert included Modlins drivers license photograph and a picture of his truck, which appears to have been taken by a roadside government license plate surveillance camera. This Sept. 20, 2024, Blue Alert was the first time the S.C. Law Enforcement Division has ever used the public notification program. The alert came hours after the shooting and during the time law enforcement officers were involved in a shootout with the wanted man. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division) However, news outlets didnt receive the Blue Alert for another 25 minutes. At 9:02 a.m., Wunderlichs email containing the alert and images were sent to an email list titled, Media_Distribution_List, which included blind copies of undisclosed media outlets and was received at 9:02 a.m. At almost the same time SLED notified the public via email of manhunt for the attempted cop killer, a man who SLED described in the alert notification as someone who may be armed and dangerous. DO NOT APPROACH!, law enforcement in Lee County, S.C. were headed toward a shootout with Modlin in the middle of Una Road, a two-lane country road and ended up in a shootout with the fugitive, 25 minutes south of McBee. Social media posts from around the time of the shootout on Una Road show law enforcers were responding to the area just past 9 a.m. A source sent a message and placed a call to QCNs Jody Barr at 9:13 a.m., saying law enforcement was involved in a standoff and possible shootout in the Una Road area near Lydia, a small community between Hartsville and Bishopville, S.C. News outlets didnt receive the Blue Alert from SLEDs public information head until 9:02 a.m., which was 25 minutes after the statewide law enforcement agency said it issued the alert to inform the public of an armed and dangerous man and warning the public not to approach him. The guy that was driving the vehicle, Im going to say he tried to ambush him. Got out of the vehicle and started firing at the officers that were behind him, Lee County Sheriff Danny Simon told QCN from the scene on Sept. 20. Simon said his chief deputy, who was the departments lone K9 officer, passed Modlin near Lee State Park. When the chief deputy turned around to pursue Modlin, the sheriff said the wanted man had pulled his truck sideways in the road and had a rifle pointed at the deputy when he rounded a curve on Una Road. Multiple shots hit the deputys patrol SUV and the deputy was able to take cover. The rifle rounds somehow set the deputys car on fire, killing his K-9 dog, Mikka. The Sept. 20, 2024, manhunt and shootout between state and local law enforcement and an attempted cop killer, Alston Modlin in Lee County took K9 dog Mikkas life. The shooting set the sheriffs K9 patrol car on fire with Mikka inside. (Source: Lee County Sheriff Danny Simon) The sad thing about it is, we got a K-9 in the car. The vehicle, the patrol vehicle was actually hit and engulfed in flames, and I lost a K-9 officer as a result of it, Simon said. The dog was just under four years old, according to the sheriff. In all, three law enforcement officers were injured by bullets that day. The McBee officer was released from the hospital Friday afternoon and the two other officers in Lee County were treated for what the sheriff described as shrapnel from the rounds fired at them by Modlin. The Lee County deputy wasnt alone on the scene. Simon told QCN that a state wildlife officer was also with the K-9 deputy and one or both fired shots toward Modlin who eventually ran from the shootout scene into a nearby cornfield. Investigators later found Modlins body lying on the ground with what they believed was a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Modlins body was taken to a pathologist for an autopsy. Lee County Coroner Larry Logan confirmed the manner of death was suicide and the cause was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Alston Modlins body was found in a cornfield in Lee County, just yards away from where investigators said he initiated a shootout with a Lee County sheriffs deputy and a state wildlife officer on Sept. 20, 2024. Investigators used a pop-up tent to cover the body waiting for crime scene investigators from Horry County to process the scene. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) Because at least one shot was fired by a SLED agent, SLED Chief Mark Keel asked the Horry County Police Department to handle the investigation into the shooting in Lee County. SLED is handling the McBee investigation because SLED was not involved in the shooting. The HCPD is leading the Lee County investigation and is sending ballistic, biological, and other evidence needed to be processed by a crime lab to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Because of SLEDs involvement in the case, the evidence and its processing are handled by outside agencies. Both McBee and Lee County investigations are open and ongoing as of the date of 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 Queen City News. Pismo Heights homeowners flocked to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to present their appeal of the planned construction of a unique two-home property in the hills visible from their homes and the Pismo Preserve. The group which calls themselves Save the Canyon are dead-set on stopping their prospective neighbors, Remi Arnaud and Rita Turkowski, from developing the parcel of land they own in the Pismo Beach canyon. One by one, residents of the Longview Avenue neighborhood and their two lawyers spoke before the Board of Supervisors to present their case, arguing that the project was visually and environmentally disruptive but much to their dismay, the board did not agree with their pleas. The five supervisors unanimously voted to uphold the SLO County Planning Commissions prior approval of construction and grading variances for the work, giving the couple the green light to finally break ground on a project that has been in the works for years. Designed by architect Bill Isaman, the project features one 2,881-square-foot home at the base of a 1,200-foot driveway that will run along the back of the homes on Longview and another house eventually planned to perch atop the mountain ridge, offering scenic views of the ocean and Pismo Preserve. With the appropriate permits in place, Arnaud and Turkowski, who were not present at the hearing, ccan now start construction on their dream home. We are certainly pleased the Board of Supervisors upheld the approval of the planning commission and we can now move our project forward, Isaman told The Tribune in an email. But their future neighbors are not so pleased. At what point does the applicants property rights supersede the hundreds of Pismo residents? Longview resident Elizabeth Burkhead told The Tribune on Tuesday. What about our property rights? This is for two excuse me, but entitled people. Arnaud and Turkowski responded to The Tribunes inquiry that they had no comment. Pismo Beach resident Elizabeth Burkhead speaks to the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 24, 2024, on behalf of Save the Canyon, a group appealing plans for a new home near the Pismo Preserve. The board rejected the appeal. Pismo Beach neighbors battle with property owner over plans for ocean-view home What concerns did the neighbors bring to the table? Tucked in the canyon between Pismo Preserve and the neighborhood of Pismo Heights, the site for Arnaud and Turkowskis future home is visible from their neighbors properties on Longview Avenue. The site has been entitled for two residential building envelopes since 1999. Save the Canyon appeared in front of the board on Tuesday to appeal the projects grading and permits on the grounds that site is not actually exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act the environmental protection law that is considered for almost all new developments as was previously found by a mitigated negative declaration. Their appeal claims rested on the aesthetic, drainage and traffic impacts of the project, as well as the presence of two special status plant species the black-flowered figwort and the paniculate tarweed and oak trees on the property. A tribal lands lawyer also claimed that it is not clear that the archaeological report included a sacred lands review. Remi Arnaud and Rita Turkowski want to build a home at the end of the middle dirt road below the communications tower on this parcel off Longview Avenue in Pismo Heights, overlooking the hills and sea. The plan is opposed by their neighbors, who have environmental and aesthetic concerns with the project. Staff later said the sacred lands review was in fact included in the mitigated negative declaration. They also presented that Arnaud and Turkowski previously commissioned another archaeological survey of the project site in response to the appellants concerns, which resulted in no findings. Among the neighbors chief concerns was the impacts from construction of the 1,200-foot driveway on land over the maximum grade allowed by Cal Fire of 20%. According to the appeal by Save the Canyons lawyer Babak Naficy, projects on slopes greater than 10% grade must get a major grading permit and environmental determination under CEQA. Most of the parcel is on slopes over 30%, but the couple previously secured a special conditional use permit that enables grading on steeper slopes and the negative CEQA declaration. A grading map of the Longview project site parcel. According to neighbors appeal, projects on slopes greater than 10% grade must get a major grading permit and environmental determination under CEQA. Most of the parcel is on slopes over 30%. Also, because it sits on a piece of land with a greater than 30-degree grade, the project requires the construction of a platform called a hammerhead that will support the foundation of one of the homes and allow Cal Fire emergency vehicles to fully turn around. Save the Canyon has expressed concern about the visual impacts of the structure, claiming it would add an eye-sore to the otherwise spotless canyon that will be visible to all Pismo Preserve hikers and Longview residents. This site is over 17 acres, Longview resident Rogger Emmons said during public comment at Tuesdays meeting. Surely there is a less destructive location. Monte Soto, a civil engineer who presented his expert analysis of the site plans to the board, said there isnt. It is really the most logical place for the hammerhead considering the topography, Soto said. He also said that grading would not impact neighboring properties and estimated construction of the driveway to be about six months, give or take. Burkhead, one of the neighbors, claimed the project increases the likelihood of setting off a fire that would reach the homes bordering the properties in minutes. Were like 50 feet away uphill, and the prevailing winds blow right up those canyon walls, Burkhead said. It would be a wildfire disaster for the Pismo Beach residents. But Ortiz-Legg said she actually saw the driveway and hammerhead turn-around as a benefit to the neighborhood that would increase their fire accessibility to emergency services. Isaman also emphasized that the large, concrete hammerhead that neighbors are imagining is far from the final product. He presented images of his former projects to give the board and idea for what the structure will look like once a house is built there in future steps of the project. Side-by-side renderings of the hammerhead turnaround to be built on the Longview Project site. On the left is the architects rendering and on the right is Save the Canyons rendering that they produced by looking at project plans on a County computer. Another concern was over the impact on the citys roads, schools and emergency services. Normally this would not be a concern, but because the project site sits on the San Luis Obispo County side of the border between Pismo Beach and the county, the homeowners would be using the citys infrastructure but paying taxes to the county. In response, Supervisor Oritz-Legg said that shes been in communication with Pismo Beach and that they have no concerns with the project. County staff added that Pismo Beach has been aware of the project since January. Isamans firm had previously told The Tribune that the city has been in the loop since 2022, finding no issues. Still, Naficy, Save the Canyons lawyer, said that road and traffic damages would be especially bad during construction. The hauling of the dirt through the narrow streets of this neighborhood is going to generate a lot of noise, dust and vibration, Naficy told the board during the hearing. These impacts are significant impacts to humans who live there. He estimated that it would take between 169 to 270 truck trips just to remove the dirt from the driveway out through the streets of Pismo. Soto put his estimation closer to 63 trucks, subject to change depending on the size of trucks used. Save the Canyon lawyer Babak Naficy speaks to the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 24, 2024, during the groups appeal of a home proposed near the Pismo Preserve. Board of Supervisors dismissed the appeal, giving the green light to project Ultimately, the board unanimously voted against the appellants claims and upheld the ongoing mitigated negative declaration that ensures all environmental concerns can be contemporarily analyzed. The hammerhead turnaround and future residence were found valid as they exist within pre-approved building envelopes, and visual impacts from public viewpoints and were deemed less than significant. With the boards ruling, the work is set to start with the minor additional requirement of a traffic mitigation plan for construction that takes school hours into account a ruling that frustrated the Save the Canyon team. The site of the Longview project near the Pismo Preserve has been entitled for two residential building envelopes since 1999. Because of the site limitations here the steep slope and the narrow roads everythings going to take longer, Naficy told The Tribune. Every single part of this is just going to be a nightmare. Naficy and the neighbors said that they found many inconsistencies with the project and applicants presentation, for example, that the maps of the building envelopes as drawn when entitled 25 years ago appear much smaller than the maps drawn today. Naficy said when he questioned the county about this, no one could give him a straight answer. Even after the outcome of Tuesdays hearing, however, Arnaud and Turkowskis future neighbors arent giving up or going down without a fight. When asked whether Save the Canyon plans to take legal action against the couple, Naficy said that a decision has not been made yet, but a suit would be against the county and the property owner would be named as real party. Its not over, Burkhead said. The COP29 event, which will take place in November, is not only of great significance for Azerbaijan but for the entire Caucasus region. Discussing a topic as crucial as the climate crisis in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, carries its own special meaning. The gathering of world leaders to seek solutions to this issue, which is more critical than war, peace, and economics, naturally conflicts with the interests of many organisations. Azerbaijans hosting of COP29 stems from its unique progress and achievements in the Caucasus region. Given that 95% of its economy advances through oil and gas revenues, Azerbaijans boldness and determination in taking on the difficult commitment of transitioning to green energy displeases those who oppose Baku. Despite four years passing since the 44-day Second Garabagh War, in which Azerbaijan's military achieved victory with great heroism, individuals and groups who still promote the fake republic of artsakh, ignoring international law, history, and humanity, include Nubar Afeyan, co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. He expressed regret that COP29 is being held in Baku while "artsakhs" former "leaders" are imprisoned in the city, calling Azerbaijan's hosting of the conference a "terrible irony." It is curious that many politicians and pro-Armenian organisations, following Afeyan's example, are particularly trying to tarnish and discredit COP29. They cannot hide the deep sense of envy they harbour. Those demanding the release of the separatists imprisoned in Azerbaijan should first explain why those separatists tried to establish their own state on Azerbaijani territory. Those who remain silent about the looting of Azerbaijani lands by Armenians for 30 years, the desecration of monuments and religious sites, the displacement of 1 million Azerbaijanis from their homes, and the massacres like Khojaly and Meshali, still shamelessly attempt to protect the so-called "Republic of Artsakh." Despite the torture and humiliation inflicted on Azerbaijanis by Armenians, today, Azerbaijan is still willing to sign a peace agreement with Armenia under the simplest conditions. However, as of last night, the Armenian army, by shelling Azerbaijans borders, once again demonstrated its approach to peace and humanity. Those who ignore all these facts and hastily claim that Azerbaijan is incapable of hosting COP29 should first consider the damage Armenia is causing to the environment. Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant Since 1976, Armenia's Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has been operating with outdated technologies. The uncertainty in Yerevans economy, politics, and governance makes the operation of the NPP even more dangerous, and despite being deemed unfit for use, it continues to function, further exacerbating regional tensions. Given that the world is still grappling with the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima NPP accident in Japan, the continued existence of the Metsamor threat paints a frightening picture. While Azerbaijan is currently striving for a green energy transition, the ill-informed opinions of several pro-Armenian businessmen, and even accusations against the state are laughable. As for the separatists whose release is being demanded, the Azerbaijani government cannot treat individuals who occupied its lands and tried to establish a fake state, only to play the victim when cornered, in a more humane manner. Given that the fate of around 4,000 Azerbaijanis has remained unknown since the First Garabagh War, the separatists, who have been repeatedly visited by International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) representatives and live in safe conditions in Bakus prisons, are in far better conditions. After all, the children, women, and elderly who were captured 30 years ago, and never desired war, committed none of the crimes that these separatists did. Yet again, particularly on September 27th, the Remembrance Day marking the start of the Patriotic War, there are provocations aimed at Azerbaijan on the border, in the media, and in politics. However, these attempts at provocation, as always, end in failure. The reality is that Azerbaijan has liberated its lands from occupation and is currently carrying out various infrastructure projects in Garabagh. The reality is that COP29 will take place in Azerbaijan after being held in Abu Dhabi. The only thing that pro-Armenian organisations and individuals can do about this is to make absurd statements to the media and try to garner attention by using Azerbaijans name again. Smartmatic and Newsmax have reached a settlement in the voting technology companys election defamation lawsuit against the right-wing news outlet shortly before the case was set to go to trial. The lawsuit focused on Newsmax's false claims that Smartmatic's machines rigged the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden. A trial had been scheduled to get underway on Monday, with a jury expected to consider whether Newsmax defamed Smartmatic by airing claims with actual malice or reckless disregard for truth, whether it damaged the company and whether damages were owed. Samira Saba, a spokesperson for Smartmatic, said Thursday that the company was pleased to have secured the completion of the case against Newsmax. "Lying to the American people has consequences," Saba said in a statement. "Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable." Newsmax said in a statement that the litigation was resolved through a confidential settlement. Details of the settlement were not immediately available. Smartmatic sued Newsmax Media in 2021, alleging it claimed Smartmatics devices rigged the 2020 election. Newsmax contended that it was reporting on newsworthy events and stood by the veracity of some of the claims in question. Former President Donald Trump and his allies have continued to promote false claims that the 2020 election results were manipulated to favor Biden. After Trump's loss nearly four years ago, his attorneys drew attention to Smartmatic as a key target to bolster their claims. Smartmatic in April settled a similar defamation lawsuit against One America News for a sum that was not disclosed publicly. The company is still engaged in a legal battle against Fox News that may go to trial next year. Fox News' parent company, Fox Corp., agreed last year to pay $787.5 million to another election technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, to settle defamation claims the day that case was scheduled to go to trial. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Councils have pulled their support for the NCS plan - STURI SNP ministers have been urged to ditch Nicola Sturgeons flawed plan to transfer responsibility for social care to a new National Care Service (NCS) after council chiefs withdrew their support. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said it could no longer back the legislation that would introduce the NCS. In a statement, it said the bill does not reflect commitments by SNP ministers to work in partnership with councils to deliver the new service. The Scottish Tories and Liberal Democrats said SNP ministers should now ditch the proposal, which has faced intense criticism from councils and unions since it was announced by Ms Sturgeon in 2021. The NCS would transfer responsibility for adult and childrens social care, including care homes, to a series of new boards overseen by ministers. They would be given the power to commission local services from councils, which would no longer directly provide social care, third sector providers and private care homes. The care service proposal was announced by Ms Sturgeon in 2021 - KEN JACK/GETTY But a financial memorandum published alongside the legislation warned that up to 1.3 billion is expected to be spent on administration for the NCS and its care boards in their first five years. Holyroods finance committee has previously warned the plan may not be affordable or sustainable, with the governments costings omitting potentially huge bills for VAT, the transfer of staff from councils or the creation of new health and social care records. Tess White, the Scottish Tories deputy health spokeswoman, said councils pulling their support must mean that SNP ministers accept it is the end of the road for it. She said: Countless organisations, including unions and the Scottish Conservatives have opposed these reckless proposals, yet the SNP have typically ploughed ahead regardless. If councils now pull the plug, there is no way the SNP can proceed with their costly National Care Service. Final nail in the coffin Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: This must be the final nail in the coffin for this ill-fated power grab. It would wrench away control from local communities and completely fail to tackle the core problems in social care. Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labours health spokesman, said her party had voted against the legislation at its first stage at Holyrood as it would not sign a blank cheque for SNP incompetence that could expose the public purse to eye-watering costs. She added: It now seems that many of the key stakeholders believe that the legislation is so flawed it should not proceed. Power grab SNP ministers attempted to rewrite the bill to address concerns it was a power grab and they reached a deal with Cosla last year on shared accountability. However, a meeting of council leaders this week voted 18-14 to withdraw support. Councillor Paul Kelly, Coslas health social care spokesman, said: Local Government has been committed to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to develop proposals to deliver a National Care Service, but unfortunately the revised legislation does not effectively represent that partnership. Local Government is committed to continuing our engagement with key areas of reform which can deliver improved outcomes for people, unpaid carers and our workforce. We cannot, however, offer our support for the legislation brought forward at this stage. The Scottish Government was approached 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. Sources say deputy chief assigned as interim leader of Tacoma police. Heres what we know Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore (right) and Deputy Chief Paul Junger address the citys new crime prevention plan during the Hosmer Business Association meeting at the Tacoma Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Sources tell The News Tribune that Tacoma Deputy Chief Paul Junger has been assigned as the police departments interim leader while Chief Avery Moore is on paid administrative leave. City spokesperson Maria Lee confirmed to The News Tribune on Thursday that Moore was placed on leave effective Wednesday. Lee did not say why the decision was made. Junger has been deputy chief at the Police Department since May 2022, following Moore from Dallas. He has worked in law enforcement for over 15 years, according to his LinkedIn page. The Tacoma Police Departments website lists Jungers duties as: Under the direction of the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief assists in the overall direction of the departments internal operations; directs assigned activities of the Tacoma Police Department; assures the effective protection of lives, property and constitutional rights through the enforcement of laws and ordinances; formulates, develops, implements and evaluates departmental policies, goals and objectives. Before coming to Tacoma, Junger was with the Dallas Police Department where he served as the lieutenant from January 2010 to 2015. He was the Major of Police before his departure. Junger was recognized for his actions and received a Medal of Honor following an ambush in Dallas, Texas, where five police officers were killed during a protest on July 7, 2016, according to a CBS News report. In April, Junger was named in a lawsuit filed by Moores former chief of staff Curtis Hairston that alleged Hairston was subjected to racial bias and discrimination during his 18 months with the Police Department. Hairston claims Moore did not properly intervene when Hairston brought up issues. The suit alleged that Junger had harassed Hairston and made comments with racial connotations towards him. Moore told the two to work out their differences, The News Tribune reported. The lawsuit is ongoing in Pierce County Superior Court and the city has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, the story said. The London mayor says he is looking forward to opening a new tolled road tunnel in south-east London, even though its opponents say it is unjust and unfair and will increase pollution. Tolls on the new Silvertown Tunnel are due come into force next year, alongside new tolls on the existing nearby Blackwall Tunnel. It could cost cars and small vans 4 per trip in peak hours or 1.50 off peak. There would be a reduction for some drivers, for example those on low incomes. Bexley councillor Richard Diment says the tolls will create a "two-tier London", adding: "In central and western London, where there are far more crossings, no tolls are charged. It will make south-east London even more isolated than it is already." He is particularly against the decision to toll Blackwall tunnel, "which has had no toll on it since it opened in the 1890s". "Over here in the east, where we have relatively few river crossings, people are going to have to pay. "It creates a two-tier London." The tolls are set to be introduced when the Silvertown Tunnel opens. Peak hours will be 06:00-10:00 northbound and 16:00-19:00 southbound. Transport for London (TfL) says a recent eight-week consultation until 3 September gave Londoners the chance to have their say on the proposed toll charge levels and any discounts or exemptions. Councillor Richard Diment says the tolls create a "two-tier London" [BBC] The boring of the Silvertown Tunnel has been completed right next to the existing Blackwall Tunnel. Work is continuing to join the tunnels to the road network. The Silvertown Tunnel is 1.4km (just under one mile) long and stretches from Silvertown in Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula. TfL says the scheme will address queues at the Blackwall Tunnel and reduce pollution. But it has faced fierce opposition from those who think it will do the total opposite and increase pollution and congestion. Proposed Silvertown and Blackwall tolls [Transport for London] Dominic Leggett is from the campaign group Stop Silvertown Tunnel. He says there is no guarantee that the building of a new tunnel and having tolls can be used to set levels of traffic in the way that TfL claims. Opening Silvertown Tunnel creates a lot of new pollution, a lot of new carbon emissions. The toll just brings it down approximately to a level where we are now," he says. "Thats if they get the toll right." He adds: "The problem is theres no legal imperative to put the toll in place so any future mayor can remove the toll if they want to, at that point the traffic will shoot up again. "So we have actually seen, previously, Boris Johnson took away the western extension of the congestion charge when he became mayor and we saw traffic and pollution increase in west London. "We would see the same thing here if we got a mayor who wants to remove the charge. Dominic Leggett, of Stop Silvertown Tunnel, says opening the tunnel creates more journeys [BBC] Another concern is if the Blackwall Tunnel should have to close, the tailbacks would block the A102 road that leads to the Silvertown Tunnel. The mayor is between a rock and a hard place. If he reduces the toll now, we see more pollution and more traffic," Mr Leggett says. Buses and cyclists Mayor of London Sadiq Khan reviewed the scheme when he came into office and says it will be a vital link across the Thames to east London. Mr Khan, who is chair of TfL, gave the tunnel the go-ahead, funded with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) against future earnings. The cost was 2.2bn. He also increased the number of bus services that will use it. And there will also be a bus to carry cyclists and their bikes across. A map of the route of the new Silvertown Tunnel [Transport for London] The mayor says the tolls will help with current congestion at the crossing: "The current Blackwall Tunnel is, on an average basis, closed 700 times a year. "A five-minute closure leads to a three-mile tailback, leads to problems for small businesses, those trading, those using the tunnel. "The most unreliable bus in London is a single decker that uses the Blackwall Tunnel. By having a charge on both tunnels we can have improved public transport, improved river crossings, less congestion, better air quality. Liam Davis has organised a petition against the tolls [BBC] Liam Davis created a petition objecting to the tolls, which has so far been signed by 31,000 people. He says: It has slipped under most peoples radars. "They havent been aware that this is opening and its such a contentious issue. I think people will re-examine their transport options and affordability. "I think that some people may take advantage of working from home." He added: "But the people who have to come to work five days a week, for example nurses and teachers, I dont think they have very much choice. "I think they will bear a heavy burden for this. I also think there may be displacement to free options like Rotherhithe Tunnel or even Tower Bridge. I can see traffic moving into different places in east London. He thinks every crossing in London should have a small toll instead of drivers in east London being unfairly targeted. The mayor says the tolls pay for the tunnel: "The charge for using the Silvertown tunnel helps pay for the Silvertown tunnel. Not just the design, not just the building, but finance and the maintenance of the tunnel as well." "Its not taxpayers paying for this or Tube users, its future users of the Silvertown tunnel. But to avoid there being displacement, we are going to make sure the Blackwall Tunnel and the Silvertown Tunnel are improved but also are fit for purpose. An artist's impression of the Silvertown Tunnel [Transport for London ] Mr Khan also says the tolls are justified and control the impact of extra traffic: What we are not going to be seeing is huge numbers of additional people using the Silvertown and the Blackwall [tunnels] because theres a charge there." However, Bexley councillor Richard Diment argues the scheme is unfair: "I can just imagine the uproar there would be if a new crossing was put into west London somewhere and suddenly Putney Bridge or Chiswick Bridge had a toll placed on it. "Im sure the local population and residents would not put up with that and I dont see why we should put up with it in east London either. Christina Calderato, TfL's director of strategy, said: "We recently carried out an eight-week consultation on our user charging scheme, so Londoners could have their say on the proposed charge levels and wide range of discounts and exemptions. She said the proposed supporting measures aimed to ensure the scheme is "green and fair for Londoners and businesses". "These measures will ensure that the new tunnel delivers on its objectives of reducing congestion and providing resilience at the Blackwall Tunnel, while ensuring we support local residents on low income, small businesses, sole traders and local charities She said the transport body was assessing the public consultation responses ahead of presenting its recommendations to the TfL Board "for their consideration and approval before the end of the year". 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 About the incentives : The government has earmarked 100 billion won ($76 million) to compensate farmers, butchers and restaurant owners who agree to close their businesses. Farmers will receive up to 600,000 won ($456) for each dog they surrender, and authorities will attempt to find adoptive homes or shelter placements for the nation's near half-a-million dogs bred for their meat. The plan also includes low-interest loans for those transitioning to other agricultural businesses. Transitioning a dying industry: South Korea has over 1,500 dog breeding farms, more than 200 slaughterhouses and around 2,300 restaurants still serving dog meat. The ban, passed in January, aims to end the controversial centuries-old tradition of consuming dog meat. Reflecting growing support for animal welfare and a declining appetite for the practice, the ban has gained momentum under President Yoon Suk Yeol, a known animal lover. The plan, however, has also drawn criticism from both animal rights activists and industry representatives who raised concerns about the adequacy of the government's financial support for those impacted by the ban. Farmers have earlier called for 2 million won ($1,505) as compensation per surrendered dog. South Korean lawmakers have passed legislation banning the possession and watching of sexually explicit deepfake images and video, according to the Reuters news agency. The new law was passed Thursday by South Korea's National Assembly. It now lacks only a signature of approval by President Yoon Suk Yeol before it can be enacted. Under the terms of the new bill, anyone who purchases, saves or watches such material could face up to three years in jail or be fined up to the equivalent of $22,600. It is already illegal in South Korea to create sexually explicit deepfake material with the intention of distributing the content, with offenders facing a sentence of up to five years in prison or a fine of about $38,000 under the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act Activists wearing eye masks, hold posters reading 'Repeated deepfake sex crimes, the state is an accomplice too' during a protest against deepfake porn in Seoul on August 30, 2024. / Credit: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images If the new legislation is signed into law, the maximum sentence for the crime of creating deepfake pornography would be increased to seven years, regardless of whether the creator intended to distribute the images, according to Reuters. There's been public outrage in South Korea in recent years over the exchange of sexually explicit AI-manipulated images and deepfakes, and last month authorities launched an investigation into such content allegedly being shared via chat rooms on the Telegram messaging app. An investigation by South Korean journalist Ko Narin for the country's Hankyoreh newspaper, published in August, found that the faces of several female graduates of Seoul National University had appeared on sexually explicit deepfake materials produced and distributed by men with whom they'd studied. "I was shocked at how systematic and organized the process was," Ko told CBS News partner network BBC News earlier this month. "The most horrific thing I discovered was a group for underage pupils at one school [to share content] that had more than 2,000 members." The distribution of such imagery among young people in South Korea appears to be widespread problem. A total of 387 people have been arrested this year alone for crimes related to deepfake sexual content, with 80% of them teenagers, South Korea's national Yonhap news agency reported this week, citing police data. New Calif. laws cracking down on AI election deepfakes face legal challenges The investigation into Telegram was announced not long after the tech company's CEO Pavel Durov was charged by French authorities with multiple crimes, including the allegation that his platform was used for the propagation of child sexual abuse material. As CBS News reported, deepfake explicit images of pop icon Taylor Swift spread quickly on Elon Musk's social media platform X early this year, drawing millions of views and prompting X (formerly Twitter) to temporarily block searches for the entertainer in January. In May, two U.S. senators co-authored bipartisan draft legislation aimed at cracking down on non-consensual intimate deepfake images online. The legislation proposes penalties including fines and up to two years in prison, with civil penalties that could range up to $150,000. Why Hurricane Helene could be catastrophic New York City Mayor Eric Adams arraigned Dame Maggie Smith | 60 Minutes Archive A Ventura County man was convicted of molesting young girls on multiple occasions. Steven Wayne Bower, 54, of Ojai, was found guilty of molesting two girls who were 5 and 9 years old at the time, according to the Ventura County District Attorneys Office. The molestations began in 2003 and involved three incidents, authorities said. Bower was a family friend of the young victims parents. Two incidents occurred when Bower was on a camping trip with the girls and the third molestation happened while he was babysitting one of the girls, the DAs office said. He was convicted Wednesday of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found true several special allegations including Bower having substantial sexual conduct and the case involving multiple victims. Steven Wayne Bower, 54, is seen in a booking photo from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office. Todays verdict is a testament to the strength and resilience of the victims and their families, who have waited nearly a decade for justice, said Melissa Suttner, a deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case. Despite the unimaginable pain and delay, they never gave up hope. We are grateful the jury held the defendant accountable, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure and healing to those affected. Bower is being held without bail in Ventura County Jail. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Nov. 12. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 45 years to life 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 KTLA. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) On Thursday, multiple officials of Southern University and community leaders joined together for a groundbreaking ceremony of a $1.7 million outdoor classroom and amphitheater at the Baton Rouge campus. This is only a start of some of the remarkable transformations that will take place on this campus that most importantly will have a significant impact on the experience that students have here, said Dennis. J. Shields, president of the Southern University System. University officials said funding is coming from the U.S. Department of Educations Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, money that was placed to the side and will now be able to be used. John Pierre, Southern University chancellor, said the facility will be very unique to the campus. Baton Rouge General launches new mobile healthcare unit for North Baton Rouge It represents the shape of the bell that our enslaved ancestors rang every morning to start the day when this was a plantation. And now this is a place and a beacon of hope, said Pierre. Pierre is excited for the project. He said students will not be the only ones to benefit from the new facility. The community can have outdoor activities, that they will be able to enjoy the peacefulness of the river and the view of the Bluff. And this will add to the communiversity feel of Southern University, he said. In regards to the timing of completion, Pierre said they hope to finish the project within a year. 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 BRProud.com. Will Southwest offer flights from Jackson to Nashville? JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Officials with the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) announced the addition of a new nonstop flight between the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) and Nashville, Tennessee (BNA). Since Southwests highly anticipated return to Jackson in 2021, Mississippians have enjoyed more nonstop flight options, including direct flights from Jackson to Baltimore, Houston, Atlanta, and Orlando. JMAA is thrilled about this new Nashville service and Southwests strong presence in the market, officials said. The flights will begin on April 8, 2025. The JAN-BNA flight schedules are ready for sale on www.southwest.com. 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. SpaceX launches capsule that will bring two stranded astronauts back from space station SpaceX launched two new crew members to the International Space Station on Saturday, in a capsule that will eventually bring home two NASA astronauts who flew to orbit on Boeings problem-plagued Starliner spacecraft. SpaceXs Crew Dragon lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday afternoon from Floridas Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The flight, known as Crew-9, carries NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The duo will join five other astronauts and cosmonauts already onboard the orbiting lab, rounding out the Expedition 72 crew. SpaceX Crew-9 cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and NASA astronaut Nick Hague during a welcome ceremony at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 21 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Hague and Gorbunov are expected to remain at the space station until February. On their return flight back to Earth, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will ride with them. Wilmore and Williams launched to the orbiting outpost on Boeings Starliner capsule in early June the spacecrafts first crewed test flight. They were initially expected to stay on the ISS for around eight days, but Starliner suffered helium leaks and problems with some of its thrusters. After numerous delays, NASA opted to keep the two astronauts at the space station. The Boeing capsule, meanwhile, returned to Earth on Sept. 7 without any humans on board. Originally, the Crew-9 flight was supposed to carry four crew members to the space station, but in order to leave seats open for Wilmore and Williams, two NASA astronauts will have to wait for a future launch. Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 5. Before Saturday's liftoff, NASA had been forced to delay the Crew-9 launch several times, including most recently because of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Floridas Big Bend region late Thursday as a Category 4 storm. Helene has since weakened but has lashed much of the Southeast with strong winds and heavy rain, causing widespread flooding. Earlier this week, NASA said weather officials had predicted a 55% chance of favorable weather conditions for Saturdays launch. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com For the last half of the 20th century, no voice captured the essence of the American spirit better than Paul Harvey. Its been 15 years since his passing, and its easy to forget that he reached 24 million Americans each week on the radio and in newspapers. But what drew people to Harvey wasnt just his humor or wit it was his love of celebrating everyday heroes. In November 1978, Harvey stood before the Future Farmers of America convention in Kansas City, Missouri, and delivered a speech that has echoed through the generations: So God Made a Farmer. In that speech, Harvey did more than recount the creation story. He reminded us all that when God looked down on the world Hed made, He saw the need for a caretaker someone to tend to the land, someone with patience and strength. And so, God made a farmer. Harvey wasnt just sharing a perspective on faith; he was capturing the heart of what it means to be a farmer. These men and women are the backbone of our nation. Thats especially true in Southern Illinois. They are the ones who rise before dawn, work through the heat and the cold, and face the challenges of unpredictable weather and fluctuating markets all to feed and fuel America. Ive had the privilege of meeting many of these everyday heroes during my August agricultural tour across Southern Illinois. This tour wasnt just about making stops; it was about hearing directly from the people who keep our rural economy strong. From the row crop farmers in Evansville talking trade, to the livestock producers in Cisne focused on Farm Bill reforms, each conversation reaffirmed what I already knew: Southern Illinois is full of hardworking, dedicated individuals who embody the values that make America great. Agriculture is not just an industry; its a way of life. Its one of our districts largest employers, and its easy for some to forget just how crucial this industry is to our daily lives. Thats why events like this tour are so importantthey highlight the vital role farming plays in our communities. But supporting our farmers means more than just recognizing their work; it means ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed. Thats why the Farm Bill is so essential. Over the past year and a half, Ive been hitting the ground hard, both here at home and in Washington, to make sure Southern Illinois voices were loud and clear in the crafting of this legislation. Ive traveled to each of the 34 counties in our district, spoken one-on-one with farmers, attended events, held roundtables, and even hosted the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee right here in Southern Illinois to hear straight from farmers themselves. Throughout these meetings, Ive heard time and again about the importance of the Farm Bills safety nets, how it must ensure access to trade, and secure credit for beginning farmers. These arent just policy points; they are lifelines for our farmers, helping them navigate the challenges they face every day. And I fought hard to secure these priorities in the Farm Bill, and more. Im proud to be Southern Illinois voice on the House Agriculture Committee, fighting for a Farm Bill that works for our farmers, growers, and producers. You have to wonder if Paul Harvey, when he delivered his speech at that FFA convention back in 1978, knew just how impactful his words would be. In fact, his ode to the American farmer resonated so deeply, it was incorporated in a Super Bowl commercial 35 years later. A lot has changed over the years, but one thing hasnt: we need our farmers and they need us. They need us to empower them to provide the food, fuel, and fiber that keep America moving. Im going to do all I can to make sure that happens. And now you know the rest of the story. CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish School Board has called a special meeting to outline the selection process for to fill a board member vacancy. On September 17, Darrin Dixon, who represents District 7, announced he would step down effective Monday, September 30. New Caddo superintendent says he is ready to listen to, learn from community The board will meet on Tuesday, October 1, at 3 p.m. to declare the seat vacant and outline the process for filling the vacancy. To view the full agenda for the meeting, visit Board Docs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KCAU) A Spirit Lake man who was originally charged with attempted murder has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. On Sept. 10, Caleb Crosby, 19, pleaded guilty to willful injury and first-degree theft, both class C felonies. His plea was accepted on Sept. 13. One hospitalized with serious injuries after UTV crash near Sioux Center Caleb Crosby (Courtesy: Dickinson County Sheriffs Office) The willful injury charge was originally an attempted murder charge, a class B felony. Meanwhile, the charge of first-degree theft remains unchanged. The Dickinson County Sheriffs Office said that on May 5, 2024, they received a 911 call at 5:18 p.m. reporting a shooting in Montgomery, Iowa. When officials arrived, they found and treated one victim. Crosby was located a few hours later and arrested. He was also accused of stealing a vehicle. Originally, Crosby had pleaded not guilty to the two initial charges of attempted murder and first-degree theft. Crosby is set to be sentenced on Oct. 28 at 11 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) One deputy in Spotsylvania County is being recognized as a hero after she rescued two people from a burning vehicle. It all happened when Deputy Mele with the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office, was on the way home from her shift when she noticed something burning in the woods. Deputy Mele (Photo Courtesy: Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office) According to the Sheriffs Office, Mele discovered that a vehicle had crashed, overturned, and was on fire and immediately jumped into action. The Sheriffs Office said she rescued a disoriented passenger and brought them safety. She then returned to remove another passenger, who was unresponsive. Harris leads Trump in Virginia, DC News Now poll finds; Kaine ahead of Cao Officials said she did this while live power lines were just a few feet away. Deputy Mele was one of six deputies who received the 2024 Valor Award from the Virginia Sheriffs Association. Deputy Mele, thank you for your outstanding service and going above and beyond the call of duty! said the Sheriffs Office on social 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. Springfield, Ohio, city officials declined to take a call with former President Donald Trump's running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance earlier this month, as the Trump campaign continued to spread unsubstantiated claims that Haitian immigrants were terrorizing the community by eating pets, according to emails obtained by ABC News. The emails, obtained through a public records request, shed light on the contentious relationship between the city and the Ohio senator as officials have had to repeatedly debunk unfounded claims promoted in viral social media posts and by the Trump campaign about Haitian migrants in the city. Springfield city leaders have said the baseless claims have led to dozens of bomb threats and other threats of violence targeting the Haitian community that have forced Springfield law enforcement officials to evacuate schools, hospitals and other city facilities. In one email obtained by ABC News dated Sep. 17, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue told Vance's acting state director James Coyne that he and other city leaders were declining to join a call after the senator's office invited "third parties" to join who Vance's team said had "first-hand experiences" with how the influx of Haitian migrants in Springfield was affecting their lives. MORE: Vance kept up false claims about Haitian migrants after aide was told they were baseless "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. A Springfield city spokesperson said officials initially believed they were scheduling a private call between Vance, Rue and Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck. PHOTO: Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (Paul Sancya/AP) "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," Springfield's Strategic Engagement Manager Karen Graves told ABC News in a statement. "While we appreciated them reaching out to us, we felt the scope of the initial invitation changed and this went from an opportunity to have an honest discussion to us potentially being drawn into more politicalization." Graves said another call has not taken place. MORE: Trump pushes false claim that Haitian migrants are stealing and eating pets Coyne later replied to Rue's email that the senator had been "inundated with constituent complaints" since the Ohio senator spoke before the Senate Banking Committee raising some of the housing concerns the city had expressed to him in recent months. "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," Coyne responded. MORE: Fact-checking JD Vance's claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio Vance first spread unsubstantiated rumors of Haitian migrants on Sept. 9, despite one of his staffers being informed that same day by Heck -- who is carbon copied on the emails obtained by ABC News -- that such comments were "baseless," a city spokesperson said. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report about the Sep. 9 call, and ABC News later confirmed the details. Still, the Trump campaign has doubled down on the unfounded claims about Haitian. Trump repeated the rumors on the national stage during the presidential debate hosted by ABC News. "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats, they're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said during the debate. PHOTO: A pedestrian walks near a mural of Civil Rights activist Hattie Moseley Sept, 16, 2024 in Springfield, Ohio. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images) Vance himself has repeated the baseless claims, including in a post on X saying, "reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country."' Despite the Trump campaign's efforts to substantiate the unfounded claims, city and state officials have repeatedly rebuked them. In one case, a resident who initially blamed their Haitian neighbors for the disappearance of her cat admitted she was mistaken and reportedly apologized. PHOTO: Mayor Rob Rue speaks to residents during a town hall about the 2024 presidential election's focus on the town's influx of Haitian immigrants, on Sept. 24, 2024, in Springfield, Ohio. (Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images via AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Ohio's GOP governor dispels Republican claims that Haitian migrants are eating pets Vance has also repeatedly portrayed the Haitian migrants not only in Springfield but the thousands across the nation as being brought into the U.S. illegally by Vice President Kamala Harris. However, most of the Haitian migrants in Springfield are there legally. Many of the migrants have been granted Temporary Protected Status, and once that is granted they are insulated from deportation and are allowed to temporarily work in the U.S. "What we know is that the Haitians who are in Springfield are legal. They came to Springfield to work," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said on ABC's "This Week." Rue has publicly urged those amplifying rumors about the city to stop, adding, "we need help, not hate." But the email obtained by ABC News shows his most forceful rebuttal of Vance's comments. "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," Rue told Coyne. "We are always open to working with you to ensure that any claims made about our community are accurate and based on a full understanding of the facts." Spokespeople for Vance and the city of Springfield dispute which party initiated the call request. "Senator Vance's office was confused by the last-minute cancellation of a meeting requested by Springfield officials. However, the door is always open for future discussion," a spokesperson for Vance told ABC News in a statement. "Any dialogue about our community should be grounded in facts and a comprehensive understanding of the situation," Rue told Coyne in one of the emails. "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." Springfield city officials declined to take call with Vance amid baseless claims about Haitian migrants originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Springfield PD asking for help locating suspect in weekend shooting SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) Springfield Police Division is asking for the publics help identifying a suspect in a shooting that occurred Saturday evening. Officers responded to a report of a male shot at 126 W. High Street on Sunday, Sept. 22. When they arrived at the scene, a large group was helping the injured individual. Springfield gets mobile health clinic promised by governor Immediate aid was rendered to the victim until Springfield Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene to transport him to Springfield Regional Medical Center. The victim was described in a serious condition. Detectives believe there were numerous witnesses to the incident and are asking the public to share any information, photos or video evidence taken that night. Photos and videos can be submitted via email to spdtip@springfieldohio.gov. Anyone with information can reach out to Springfield PD at 937-324-7685, or Det. Miller directly at 324-7709. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield woman pleaded guilty to a nationwide controlled substance conspiracy after more than 16 pounds of meth and more than 700 grams of fentanyl pills were seized. Man sentenced to prison in Operation Raising Arizona investigation, mailing drugs to Massachusetts According to the Department of Justice, in 2022 an investigation called Operation Raising Arizona was being conducted involving the shipment of drugs through the mail from Arizona to Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Law enforcement seized seven packages containing over 900 grams of methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, as well as suspected Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a very strong psychedelic. Springfield resident, 31-year-old Denise Guyette was arrested after police searched inside her home in February 2023 and found the following: Approximately 6.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine Over 2,700 counterfeit fentanyl pills weighing over 300 grams A digital scale Multiple Rhode Island and Massachusetts drivers licenses, Social Security cards, and credit cards in the names of other individuals In February 2023, Guyette was indicted on the alleged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances along with Gerardo Garza of Yuma, Arizona, and Nathan Boddie of Pawtucket, R.I. A superseding indicted alleging that 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine were attributable to Guyette. On Thursday, Guyette pleaded guilty to the charges and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Boddie was sentenced last year to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. 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. ST. LOUIS Just before his shift started as a nurse at a St. Petersburg, Florida, hospital Thursday night, Alton native Robert Whitener told FOX 2, Theres no more preparing; its here. While working, Whitener had concerns about his own home but had no intention of abandoning patients. I was a firefighter for years, and now Im a nurse, he said. The American Red Cross has been responding to disasters for more than 140 years. Beth Elders is the executive director of the American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis. The American Red Cross can only do what we do by the generosity of our community and by volunteers, she said. The Red Cross sent supplies and disaster responders ahead of the hurricane. As of Thursday, the agency was ready to open dozens of shelters as water began to cover parking lots. The majority of our volunteers that are there are running shelters, Elders said. The agencys warehouse in Hazelwood contains even more supplies if needed, including cleaning supply kits for after the storm has passed through. Elders has experience providing disaster relief. Shes witnessed how meaningful food, water, and even a hug can be for those who have endured a disaster. Kris Kristofferson, country music superstar and actor, dies at 88 They recognize that theyre not alone, Elders added. She encourages anyone who can offer support to find more information at www.redcross.org or 1-800-RED CROSS. To sign up to become a volunteer, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer. Another agency ready to help is Missouri Task Force 1. The unit was one of only 28 urban search and rescue task forces in the country. The team left yesterday around noon, Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp with Boone County Fire Protection District and task force public information officer said. He said members make a 14-day commitment when deploying. This hurricane deployment includes members with swift water rescue backgrounds. Without the local employer support and the family support, it wouldnt be possible to even go out for one day, Blomenkamp added. As of Thursday, Missouri Task Force 1 was staged at a hotel in Gainesville, Georgia, preparing equipment for rapid deployment if necessary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Bands of clouds from a weak disturbance moving are moving into the windward and mauka areas of the islands tonight. These clouds will bring brief showers mainly overnight and early in the morning. A weak high-pressure system north of Hawaii will keep moderate trade winds blowing into next week. The forecast will see only slight changes, with trade winds gradually weakening from Sunday onward as a cold front approaches. Daily shower patterns will also change only a little, with some increased shower activity expected from Friday night to early Saturday, followed by drier weather for the rest of the weekend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Victims of stalking are not being protected enough by police forces in England and Wales, a major review has found. Officers lacked understanding of the scale and types of stalking, and failures were leaving some victims at serious risk, it concluded. It comes after campaigners pushed for an investigation into how stalking is policed, saying that victims were let down "at every step of their journey to justice". The National Police Chiefs' Council said it welcomed the recommendations and remained committed to improving the policing response for victims. But the family of one woman who was killed by an ex-partner she had reported for stalking said confidence in the police had been lost. In 2022, a coalition of charities led by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust submitted a super complaint, where systemic failures in policing can be raised. The investigation which followed, carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the College of Policing, found clear evidence to support the charities concerns. It found the law on stalking was confusing and that "significant changes" were needed into how police respond. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP said the report set out important recommendations for how the justice system could better tackle such an "insidious crime". She said the Home Office was looking to work with the police to achieve this, adding that the government would respond to the report fully "in due course". In Kingston, south-west London, sisters Lamia and Inass El-Faddi do not need to be told how the police have failed to protect stalking victims. Their cousin, Wafah Chkaifi, was killed by her ex-partner Leon McCaskie in 2022. The 43-year-old mother-of-two, who also went by the name Yasmin, had reported McCaskie to the Metropolitan Police for stalking. But he broke a stalking protection order and even after a warrant was issued for his arrest he wasnt detained by the police. He then stabbed her to death in the street. McCaskie was himself killed moments later after a passer-by drove into him in an attempt to stop the attack. Ms Chkaifi's cousins say they are not surprised by the findings: To the police, shes just another statistic, but to us shes not a statistic - she was a sister, a mother, a friend. Inass said police forces needed to realise just how dangerous stalking can be. The stereotype around stalking is its just a small thing when its not and they need to take it seriously to stop stalking leading to murder," she said. Lamia said: The police are supposed to make the victims feel safer. "Unfortunately that confidence has been lost by so many women and Wafah is not the first and shes not going to be the last, so clearly theres an issue. Ms Chkaifi's family want the IOPC to find that police failings to protect her amounted to misconduct. Their lawyer, Sophie Naftalin, said stalking was a high-risk indicator of domestic homicide which is why it needed to be tackled in a much more comprehensive way. We welcome the fact all these failings are being acknowledged in the report but we now need fundamental change and commitment from all the police forces that the findings will be implemented," she said. "But theres also slight fatigue. We dont need to keep identifying the same issues we just need to see action. The report sets out immediate steps chief constables should take to improve stalking investigations and calls for a change in the law on stalking and simplifying stalking protection orders. Rachel Watson from the IOPC said stalking has a devastating impact on victims. Todays report highlights some excellent work we want to see become standard right across England and Wales. "Sadly, we also saw too many cases where police failed to recognise stalking or take the necessary steps to protect victims and policing must act now to improve this. His Majestys Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said: Change is needed, and todays report must be a springboard for action. Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, the CEO of the College of Policing, accepted the polices response needed to improve. Stalking has a significant physical, psychological, and emotional impact on victimsofficers now have access to updated advice and training for when they are responding to stalking or harassment cases," he said. "One, of a number, of next steps will be to strengthen national guidance for police across England and Wales to improve the quality of investigations. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, National Police Chiefs Council lead for stalking, said policing needed to respond to the threat of stalking as part of a "wider system approach". "As the report highlights, police forces that have integrated multi-agency models to respond to reports of stalking have seen the best success at disrupting perpetrator behaviour and safeguarding victims," he said. He said police forces needed to ensure officers and staff had the right skills and resources to identify and investigate reports, adding that the NPCC would work through the recommendations in the report to "improve and standardise the service victims receive. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The Central Valley Veterans Stand Down event was created more than 30 years ago as a way to help veterans who were struggling to get their lives back on track. The two-day event collaborates with numerous government agencies, non-profit organizations, veterans organizations, and more to assist all veterans and their families, unhoused or not, with various resources. Free services for Valley veterans at this Fresno event The term stand down is a military term for when you retreat back to the rear to regroup, you know, reorganize the staff, said John Scheler, the director of Central Valley Veterans Stand Down. It was started in 1989 for the Vietnam Veterans because when we came out with Vietnam, veterans had nowhere to go. It is held from Sept. 25 through Sept. 26 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8900 in Fresno. Here we give them three hots and a cot, said Scheler. We feed them, we give them all the clothing they can carry and it gives them time to go through all the services. Amvets organization helps Veterans through Welcome Home Program Veterans can come in and take advantage of the multiple resources on site. Our court is this afternoon, he said. It starts at about 1:30 this afternoon. We have DMV. We have all the services throughout the valley, not just necessarily Fresno, but throughout the valley here. Navy Veteran John Weisenberger was at the Stand Down event as a volunteer with the Clovis Elks Club. What this is to me is magic, said Weisenberger. With all of the stuff that goes on, you know, we dont have a clue how much support there is for veterans and being here in the Fresno area. For more information on services available to Veterans in the area visit centralvalleyveterans.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 CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com. (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Elon Musks views on Britain are out of sync with other major investors, after the worlds richest man continued his war of words with the new Labour government by saying no one should go to the UK. Most Read from Bloomberg Musk has repeatedly criticized the UK over its response to riots that broke out in British cities over the summer, especially the decision to arrest people for their posts on X the social media platform owned by Musk that authorities said incited violence. His latest broadside came in response to a post on X saying he was not invited to a UK investment summit next month. What he said is in stark contrast to the very strong view around the breakfast table this morning by investors, nearly all of whom are coming to the investment summit, Starmer told reporters after a round-table meeting with US business executives in New York on Thursday. Musk has framed his criticism of the UK as a defense of free speech, and his latest post also referenced an early release program for non-violent offenders designed to ease pressure on overcrowded jails. The billionaire accused the government of freeing up prison space for X users by releasing pedophiles. The tone was consistent with Musks recent interventions over the UK riots, which were sparked by the spread of false information that a Muslim asylum-seeker was responsible for an attack in which three young girls were murdered. The Tesla Inc. CEO described arrests relating to the riots as messed up, and responded yes to a post that suggested Starmer was putting people in prison who commit thought crimes on @X. He also replied true to a post by the right-wing Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage calling the prime minister the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history. Starmer, who was on a two-day visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, referred questions on the guest list for the UKs investment summit to his office. But his team pointed out that an invitation had gone to SpaceX, another company led by Musk. On Tesla, obviously, I encourage investment from anywhere, and so I dont want to be misunderstood on this, Starmer said. Good investment into the UK is what Im very, very keen to promote. At his round table in New York, Starmer met investors including Blackstone Inc. President Jon Gray, JPMorgan Asset Management Chief Executive Officer Mary Callahan Erdoes and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser. They described this mornings meeting with the UK as the best of the meetings theyve had this week at UNGA, said Starmer, who took office in July. Thats their words, not mine, that theres really a strong window of opportunity now with the UK, given the changes weve brought about. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are under extreme pressure from Labours Left wing. At the partys conference this week Mick Lynch, boss of the RMT transport union, set out his demands for nothing less than a complete Left-wing revolution of Britain and its economy. We seek the complete organisation of the UK economy by trade unions, he said at a packed fringe event in a dark pub room in Liverpool. Thats the prize weve got to keep our eyes on that union influence is universal across the United Kingdom, completely universal. From giant pay rises to a complete overhaul of work in Britain, Sir Keirs promises raised campaigners hopes high, particularly after he won the biggest majority since Tony Blair in 1997. The problem for Lynch is that the audience that came to hear union bosses is not the only one which matters. Elsewhere at the conference, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, was speaking to a crowd of business bosses who had flown in from across the world. They have a very different idea of sensible economic policies, and still have some influence on the Government, not least because Reevess plans rely on companies investing and hiring. We will be the most pro-growth and pro-business government you have ever seen, Reeves promised. Lynch might have sounded forthright but the wheels have fallen off some of Labours more Left-wing pledges already. Workers rights Rayners plans to hand workers full employment rights from day one in a job, for example, are an area where some unions and bosses are passionately divided. Conversations with Whitehall insiders and bosses make it sound almost certain that full-employment rights will only kick in following a probation period, but some union officials are keen on day one meaning day one. Unions will be more angry with us than business, because they want to push further, predicts one government insider. Workers are poised to get the right to ask for a four-day week, a core Left-wing demand of recent years. But the anticipated measure does not mean doing any less work. Rather than the Corbynite dream of getting 100pc of the pay for 80pc of the time, the revived version envisages workers doing four long days, so overall they put in just as much time per week. A right to switch off, leaving workers free from calls and the expectation they will keep an eye on emails outside their normal hours, appears to be subject to delay. The Tories initially seen as a spent force after their electoral hammering are hoping to capitalise on the fears surrounding Labours looming workers rights overhaul at their party conference next week. Sources said that Rishi Sunak held a roundtable with business lobby groups this month to shake out their concerns about Labours plans and use the list of worries as ammunition. One person aware of the private meeting said the lobbyists admitted to being nervous about the lack of detail in Labours workers rights plans, flagged that companies could be put off hiring if the rules were too rigid and voiced a wider concern about Labours rhetoric on the economy. Sunak was told that the Government talking down the economy could deter investment as it was hitting confidence. You can do that stuff in opposition. When you talk it down in government it has a market impact, the source said. Neil Davy, the chief executive of Family Businesses UK, who attended the meeting, warns: The Government risks making well-intended decisions that could have serious unintended consequences. Surveys of businesses and households show a distinct slump in confidence in recent weeks, widely attributed to Labours gloom. Reeves wants tax revenues to rise to repair the finances and fund her spending plans, hence listening to businesses. It is not only plans for workers which are coming apart at the seams. Non-doms Labour also promised to scrap the non-doms system, that ultimate symbol of the global ultra-rich that has attained totemic status in Left-wing circles. Yet as a money-making scheme, nominally to fund the NHS, the tax raid has much to be desired. When the Office for Budget Responsibility assessed the Tories shake up of the non-dom rules in the spring, officials warned estimates of a 2.6bn annual haul from the 10,500 or so individuals was highly uncertain. That is because it is the nature of non-doms that they move around. Such a behavioural response of non-doms was already estimated to reduce the haul from tax changes by around 40pc. With Reeves threatening to scrap the status altogether, the rich have an even bigger reason to rethink their living and tax arrangements. An exodus has begun. Christian Angermayer, a German cryptocurrency billionaire who has lived in the UK for more than a decade, has quit Britain for Switzerland in anticipation of the crackdown. Every non-dom I know has left or is about to leave, Angermayer told Bloomberg. That threatens to lose the Treasury money instead of raising more, undermining the basis of extra funding for the health service. Officials are rethinking the plans, seeking ways to give the wealthy tax incentives to remain, in the hope of keeping some of them in the country. Adam Smith, a former adviser to Jeremy Hunt, says the Tory changes were calibrated to make sure more is paid by the rich while limiting the harm to the economy something he says does not apply to Labours plans. I am sure they will dress up their motivations in a cloak of fairness. But theres nothing fair about others having to pay more tax so that the Government can implement a virtue-signalling, ideological attack on rich people, he writes in The Telegraph. The same would be true if they abolished carried interest when the Opposition costing published before the election shows doing so could cost the Treasury up to 900m a year. Carried interest refers to a form of pay for fund managers in private equity, which can be taxed as capital gains, which is charged at a lower rate than income tax. Labour calls this a loophole and promised to scrap it in its manifesto, claiming the move would raise more than 500m per year. But the estimates referred to by Smith, which were carried out by the Treasury using special advisers assumptions, caution that only around 3,000 people earn money this way, and if lots of them leave the country the Exchequer will lose, not gain, tax revenues. Capital gains A similar threat comes from the widely anticipated raid on capital gains tax. Analysis published by HM Revenue and Customs estimates a 10-percentage point increase in the higher rate of the levy would lose the Exchequer 2bn of revenue in 2027/28, as investors change their behaviour to avoid the higher payments. Top investors have been making just this warning. Rob Lucas, the chief executive of CVC Capital, which owns stakes in Six Nations rugby and the RAC, has said higher taxes could encourage executives to base themselves in cities abroad instead of London. Reeves might not want to be seen doing financiers bidding, but she does want their money and is listening closely: Governments investment summit next month seeks to attract more international cash into Britain. Sending high-profile investors fleeing after her Budget a fortnight later would defeat her purpose. Private schools Then there is the raid on private schools. A political symbol more than a serious financial move, the upcoming application of VAT to fees has provoked a fierce backlash, and from more than just the striving parents who Labour sought to hurt. The British Army is investigating the impact on military families who depend on boarding schools to care for their children while parents are on the move. Parents who use private schools for kids with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) also fear being hammered by the 20pc levy. Councils who fund privately provided SEND places expect to receive a VAT rebate on the fees they pay. Meanwhile nurseries are supposed to be exempt from the tax, but small private schools which offer mixed-age classes of children aged between three and five are set to find themselves swept up with VAT. There are few signs of the Government changing course here. Asked about the tax hitting toddlers, a spokesman said: The vast majority of nursery classes will not be subject to VAT, as children have usually entered the first year of primary school by the time they are five years old. The most high-profile piece of class warfare is staying in place. But the backlash from its victims shows the strident leftism of Labours campaign, and its most ardent backers, is harder to enact than the party anticipated. 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. Tesla, run by Elon Musk, would be welcome to invest in the UK, the prime minister has said. Sir Keir Starmer said he didnt want to be misunderstood after the BBC reported that the tech tycoon had not been invited to the UKs International Investment Summit due to his social media posts during last months riots. Obviously, I encourage investment from anywhere, he told the BBC. He added: "Good investment into the UK is what I'm very, very keen to promote." Sir Keir made his comments while speaking to journalists on his recent visit to New York, where he addressed the United Nations and met with Donald Trump and US business leaders. "Every time I'm abroad, every time on an international trip, we do these investment breakfasts, because I'm absolutely determined to get the investment that we needed into the economy. "And I do think we've got a real opportunity with a new chapter now," he said. The summit next month is the key moment that the prime minister hopes will drive tens of billions of pounds in inward funding for business from the worlds biggest investors. Mr Musk was invited to last year's event but did not attend. However, he took a starring role in November's artificial intelligence (AI) Summit, including a fireside chat with then-prime minister Rishi Sunak. Jeremy Hunt, the former Conservative chancellor and now the shadow chancellor, told the BBC it was a "big loss" not to have Mr Musk at the summit. "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 claimed. Mr Musk lashed out on social media after reports that he had not been invited to the UK government's International Investment Summit. "I dont think anyone should go to the UK when theyre releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts," Mr Musk claimed on X. Following disorder and rioting across the UK in August, some people were jailed for encouraging unrest on social media. During the August riots, Mr Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, predicting civil war in the UK and repeatedly attacking the prime minister. He also shared, and later deleted, a conspiracy theory about the UK building "detainment camps" on the Falkland Islands for rioters. At the time, ministers said his comments were "totally unjustifiable" and "pretty deplorable". Sir Keir Starmer urged both sides to "step back from the brink" in his first speech to the UN General Assembly [Reuters] Sir Keir Starmer has stepped up his call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon following an escalation in fighting between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah. "Stop the violence. Step back from the brink," the prime minister said in his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly, despite Israeli ministers rejection of an international proposal for a temporary pause in fighting. Sir Keir told world leaders a ceasefire would provide space for a diplomatic settlement to avoid a regional conflict in the Middle East. Fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah are at a high, following the deadliest escalation of cross-border attacks in decades. This embedded content is not available in your region. More than 600 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday, including at least 92 people on Thursday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah has responded by firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel. Israeli politicians have broadly rejected the idea of a ceasefire after a 12-strong bloc - including the UK, US and other allies proposed a three-week pause in fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the country's military to continue fighting with "full force" as he landed in New York on Thursday. Addressing the UN General Assembly there, Sir Keir said an immediate ceasefire was needed "to provide space for a diplomatic settlement". He warned that the conflict could spill over into a war "no-one can control and with consequences that none of us can foresee". Elsewhere in his speech, Sir Keir vowed to return the UK to responsible global leadership by recommitting to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law. He also promised to restore Britains commitment to international development, and set out plans to change the international financial system to deliver a fairer deal for developing countries". Around 70,000 Israelis have been displaced from the north of the country since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began, sparked by the war in Gaza. In Lebanon, around 90,000 people have been displaced since Monday, in addition to the 110,000 who had fled their homes already, according to the UN. The UK has urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately because of the escalation, however some have told the BBC of their difficulty in fleeing the country. Cross-border fighting continued on Thursday, with the Israeli army saying it had struck Hezbollah targets in parts of Lebanon's south and east, and on the Lebanese-Syrian border. 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. Israels military chief told troops on Wednesday that strikes targeting Hezbollah could pave the way for them to enter enemy territory. The remarks by Lt Gen Herzi Halevi were the plainest indication yet from a senior figure that a ground invasion into Lebanon may be imminent. WARE, Mass. (WWLP) The State Ethics Commission has determined that the Ware Police chief violated the conflict of interest law following a series of posts he made on the departments official Facebook page. Gov. Healey strongly opposes challenge to new gun reform law Police Chief Shawn Crevier stands by the four individual posts he made calling out the states gun reform laws saying that they do nothing to protect public safety. On Wednesday, the State Ethics Commission found reasonable cause that Ware Police Chief Shawn Crevier used his official position and public resources to advocate against gun law reform legislation. Chief Shawn Crevier, of the Ware Police Department, told 22News, I didnt really think much of it. My intent was to inform the public on this and there was no ill will on this whatsoever. In a statement shared with 22News the Commission says in part, In short, you used the WPD Facebook page to rally political opposition to the bill based on your personal view that it would improperly limit your and other gun owners Second Amendment rights. Chief Crevier added, Unfortunately, this bill that has been adopted does nothing but penalize the law-abiding citizens that legally seek to own guns in the state of Massachusetts. The statements made violated the conflict of interest law because they included the chiefs personal opinions on matters outside of the WPDs purview, such as the legality and constitutionality of the proposed gun law reforms. Massachusetts Gun Reform (H.4885) A new wide-spanning gun reform bill is the most expansive firearm legislation in a decade and looks to crack down on ghost guns, expand the law that allows courts to take guns away from those considered a threat, and add schools, government buildings, and polling places to the list of areas where firearms are prohibited. The issue of ghost guns is particularly prevalent in western Massachusetts. Ghost guns, which are homemade firearms that are assembled from individual parts that are unserialized, are currently untraceable by law enforcement. Gun owners and advocates have also filed initial signatures with Secretary Bill Galvins office to challenge the law on the 2026 ballot, and are on track to have the law put on hold until after a public vote is taken. However, Crevier believes that it does not hold offenders accountable, I believe it truly misses the mark that would protect the public. Massachusetts House and Senate reach deal on firearm law State Ethics Commission determination The Commission decided to resolve the matter with a Public Education Letter because the conflict of interest laws application to political activity by public employees is quote complex and easily misunderstood. The letters purpose is to provide public employees in similar circumstances with a clearer understanding of how to comply with the law. 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. DELAFIELD - A Sept. 12 late-night fire that displaced all the building's tenants and injured one in a Delafield apartment subdivision has now become the focus of a criminal investigation. Delafield Police Chief Landon Nyren, in an updated news release this week, said his office is working with the state fire marshal through the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office in a review that is expected to take months to complete. However, the exact nature of the investigation such as whether it involves arson, gross negligence or even a serious a code violation was not specified. "Right now it is just a criminal investigation," Nyren said Friday in response to a Journal Sentinel reporter's questions, declining to elaborate further. In the news release, he added that there are no suspects being sought as part of the investigation The 11 p.m. fire consumed a lower unit and spread to the attic of the eight-unit apartment building at 4735 Vista Park Court, within a city of Delafield subdivision consisting of a cluster of similar small apartment buildings. It trapped one female tenant on the second floor who was blocked by heavy smoke in the hallway, prompting a rescue through a bedroom window, according to earlier reports by Lake Country Fire and Rescue. Emergency personnel were dispatched after a 911 caller reported what smelled like an electrical fire, with smoke seen coming out of the structure. Nyren said that some of the displaced residents, who received assistance from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army on the night of the fire, were able to return to the apartment building on one side, while the others have been placed in alternative units. Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Officials open criminal investigation tied to Delafield apartment fire HONOLULU (KHON2) The state has announced a $235,000 grant to RYSE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth services and empowerment, which offers emergency shelter for homeless youth. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Carla Houser, executive director of RYSE, emphasized the challenges young people face in Hawaii, stating, When you live in one of the states with the highest cost of living and havent completed your education or employment goals, its nearly impossible to thrive without adult support. Hawaiian Electric to compensate customers after swell energy closure First Lady Jaime Green highlighted the importance of the funding, saying, This makes a huge difference for our youth who have nowhere to turn. They need more than just a place to stay; they require comprehensive services. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news In addition to emergency shelter, RYSE provides medical and behavioral support, as well as education and employment resources for young people in 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 KHON2. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma State School Board member and multiple state lawmakers voiced concerns Thursday after State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced he would like the state to give his agency an additional $3 million in taxpayer dollars to purchase New King James version Bibles to put in public school classrooms. News 4s cameras were rolling in the Oklahoma State School Boards meeting room Thursday when Walters began the boards monthly meeting by announcing he would be requesting the state legislature allot the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) an additional $3 million in next years budget to help OSDE purchase Bibles to put in Oklahoma public school classrooms. No school districts have announced following Bible mandate, OSDE responds Walters said the $3 million he was requesting would add to an existing $3 million he claimed OSDE has already allotted for Bibles, for a total of $6 million. Weve talked about the efforts of left-wing groups and the teachers unions to drive the bible out of school, Walters said in his opening remarks Thursday. 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, and would be a significant step for the State of Oklahoma to ensure that were not allowing the left to censor American history. Walters said the Bibles would strictly be given to teachers to use as a tool when teaching about the Bible in its context as a historical document. He said any Bibles placed in classrooms would not be allowed to include additional text with commentary, notations or interpretations on what is written in the bible. However, Walters added it would be acceptable to him for copies of the Bible in classrooms to include historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution or Magna Carta. Trump is selling God Bless USA Bibles He told state school board members he specifically wants the state to purchase copies of the New King James version of the Bible, because he believed it would best represent the beliefs of Americas founding fathers when they signed documents like the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in the 1700s. The New King James version of the Bible was first published in 1982. Additionally, Walters claimed the New King James version is the most commonly-cited version of the Bible in history textbooks. I believe that the New King James is the version that we should go with, because when we looked at citations, quotations overwhelmingly we had a studyand I can provide it for the boardthat the vast majority of textbooks of American history that use quotations from American history is citing the King James version, Walters told board members. But not every state school board member was comfortable with moving forward just with the purchase just yet. Report: Norman Public Schools will not follow Walters attempted Bible mandate I personally am not of the exact same religion as everybody else who may be considering this type of thing, Oklahoma State School Board Member Sarah Lepak said. And so its personally important to me to make sure we have this right. Lepak asked OSDEs legal counsel that was present at the meeting, if the board approving such a purchase could be unconstitutional, and possibly lead to legal action being taken against the board. I do think there is some concern, and I think I have some concern about are we opening the door to something like that actually happening, or some kind of constitutional challenge, Lepak said. I dont want to be on the back end of a decision saying well this is constitutional and its fine. I want to know on the front endI am very uncomfortable with any type of idea about proselytizing or establishing some kind of state religion. Doing things that may end up favoring one religion over another. OSDEs legal counsel, attorney Michael Beason, told Lepakin his opinionpast U.S. supreme court decisions have set a precedent that it would be constitutional for a state to purchase copies of the Bible for schools to use to teach about the book in its context as a historical document. In support of his argument, Beason also cited an Oklahoma state statute which allows government bodies to display documents including the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents on public grounds. Beason told Lepak he would write a formal memo detailing his legal argument and provide it to the board by next months meeting. What is being asked of us is to bend the law Bixby superintendent says Bible mandate would open districts to lawsuits, if followed Whether or not Beasons argument may hold legal merit, State Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman) said the U.S. Constitution is not the only constitution the state school board needs to consider when making its decision. Oklahomas constitution specifically says that the state Board of Education cannot do what they are trying to do, Boren said. The Oklahoma provision in our Constitution establishes a higher bar of separation of church and state. She specifically points to Article-II, Section-5 of Oklahomas constitution, which says: No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such. Additionally, Boren argues by favoring the New King James version, the state is not only leaving out not only people who dont follow Christianity, but also leaving out most Christians who do follow the new King James version. I think its also important to say that the New King James version, a lot of conservative people do not see that the best version, Boren said. There are people that think that the old King James version is the real version. So theres a lot of disagreement. Also, the Life Church pastor, Craig Groschel, he endorsed the NIVthe New International Version. Some say the English standard version is actually the more accurate version. That includes the Dead Sea Scrolls. So picking one version above all else is actually very controversial even within Christianity. And to not include the Catholic Bible seems very odd to me since most of the Western civilization, you know, the artworks and things that they that the State Board of Education is referring to in their guidelines and their standards, they say, and claim that their goal is to promote the influence of the Bible on history and culture and literature and art. Well, that Bible influenced the Michelangelos Works of art. That was the Latin Catholic Bible. It was not the King James version Bible. So theres a lot of inconsistency. Calls for Walters to be held accountable grow after insulting comments, possible Open Meeting Act violation Beyond the state constitution, Boren believes Walters recommended purchase would violate the U.S. Constitution too. Today that what the State Board of Education did is it established a religion by elevating one particular version of the Bible above all else, Boren said. Ultimately, Boren believes this is all part of a larger goal. It shows me that theyre trying to make the United States Supreme Court overturn a provision within [Oklahomas] Constitution, Boren said. So theyre trying to find a different test case that will end up in the United States Supreme Court. Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) released the following statement Thursday, also raising concerns over Walters request: The State Superintendent continues to ignore the Oklahoma Constitution. He wants to use millions in public taxpayer dollars to fund religion in public schoolssomething the majority of Oklahomans are adamantly againstwhile Oklahoma public schools remain some of the most underfunded public schools in the nation. Oklahoma ranks 45th in the United States for per-student expenditures and Oklahoma public school teachers are paid more than $10,000 less than the national average salary for public school teachers. There are major gaps in funding public education in Oklahoma, and yet the State Superintendent continues to abandon the needs of our public school districts to push for policies that do not benefit teachers, students, or families. He has and continues to fail us and our public schools. State Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. INDIANAPOLIS Indiana is seeking to execute a man found guilty in the killing of a Beech Grove police officer in 2000. In a motion filed Friday, Attorney General Todd Rokita asked the Indiana Supreme Court to set an execution date for Benjamin Ritchie, who was convicted of fatally shooting Officer William Toney on Sept. 29, 2000. He was sentenced to death in 2002. Most Hoosiers and I expect justice without delay, especially when someone murders a police officer, one of the many, many brave men and women we thank and respect daily," Rokita said in a news release. This convicted cop killer has been on death row far too long 22 years and it's past time for him to pay his debt to society. Court records state Ritchie stole a van from a gas station in Beech Grove and was chased by Toney and another policeman after they spotted the vehicle. The chase ended when Ritchie wrecked the van. He cut through several yards as Toney followed. Ritchie turned and fired four gunshots, striking Toney in the chest missing his bulletproof vest by an inch. He died at the scene. IndyStar has reached out to Ritchie's attorney for comment. The request marks the second time the state has moved to execute an inmate after Gov. Eric Holcomb and Rokita announced in June they are seeking to resume the practice after acquiring the drug pentobarbital to carry out death sentences. Joseph Corcoran, of Allen County, is the first person on death row to be executed in Indiana in 15 years. His execution date is scheduled for Dec. 18 at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Corcoran was found guilty and sentenced in the killing four people, including his brother, his sisters fiance and two of their friends. Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: State seeks execution date for man guilty of killing police officer BOSTON (WWLP) The state has taken control of St. Elizabeths Medical Center after deciding the facilitys closing would create a public health emergency. According to Governor Maura Healeys office, the governor made the decision to seize the facility through eminent domain. The state will take control of operations until Boston Medical Center, the new medical services provider, takes over. Senate approves criminal contempt resolution against Steward Health Care CEO Healey said it is necessary that St. Elizabeths remain open as it provides critical care including emergency services, maternity care, behavioral health services and inpatient care. While Apollo continues to put its greed ahead of the health and wellbeing of the people of Massachusetts, we are taking action to make sure St. Elizabeths remains open. By transferring operations to Boston Medical Center, we will protect access to care for tens of thousands of patients and save thousands of jobs, said Governor Maura Healey. Our administration is committed to ensuring smooth transitions at the five Steward hospitals that we were able to save, and supporting the communities impacted by Stewards closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center and Carney Hospital. So far, five of the seven Steward hospitals will have new operators beginning October 1: Lawrence General Hospital for both campuses of Holy Family in Haverhill and Methuen, Lifespan will assume operations of Morton and Saint Annes, and BMC will take over Good Samaritan. The state has created two working groups focused on stabilizing and revitalizing health care in communities impacted by Steward Health Cares closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. 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. Virtua Health's practice of universal drug-testing of pregnant patients is discriminatory and violates patients' privacy, the state Attorney General's Office says in a new lawsuit. (Photo by Getty Images) State officials sued Virtua Health and its hospitals in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden Thursday, accusing the health care system of discriminating against pregnant patients by subjecting them to mandatory drug testing without informed consent. Virtua has secretly drug-tested all pregnant patients admitted to its labor and delivery or high-risk obstetrics units since 2018, and did not subject any other patients admitted to its hospitals to mandatory drug screening, according to a complaint filed in state Superior Court in Camden. That violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and patients privacy rights, the complaint notes. It also flies in the face of accepted standards of medical care, which discourage universal drug testing of pregnant patients partly because of a likelihood of false positive results, according to the suit. Attorney General Matt Platkin and Sundeep Iyer, director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in Platkins office, are listed as the cases plaintiffs. In a statement, Platkin said the action illustrates his offices commitment to ensuring the rights of pregnant individuals are not eroded. Whether it means preserving the right to reproductive freedom or ensuring that a pregnant person doesnt undergo tests or procedures without their knowledge and consent, we will defend our residents rights, he said. The lawsuit comes a year and a half after the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey filed civil rights complaints against Virtua and Hackensack University Medical Center on behalf of two women who were unwittingly drug-tested after they went there to give birth. Both had eaten poppy seed bagels before going to the hospital, so the tests resulted in false positives that prompted hospital staff to alert child welfare authorities, who then monitored each family for months even though there was no evidence of drug use or other wrongdoing, the women said. Thursdays lawsuit was prompted by those complaints and features one of the complainants, Kaitlin K., who thought she was getting a routine screen for proteins when Virtua staff in Voorhees tested her urine when she gave birth there in October 2022. The Hackensack complaint remains pending. American Civil Liberties of New Jersey staff attorney Molly Linhorst represented the women and filed their civil rights complaints last year. She said Platkins lawsuit sends a clear message that health care providers should not be drug-testing pregnant people without informed consent. We have heard from dozens of people from across the state with similar stories. Many of whom including our client, Kaitlin K., whose experience helped form the backbone of this new case were subjected to unnecessary and invasive investigations by the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, Linhorst said. Investigators from the states Division of Civil Rights discovered that while 46 hospitals made referrals to child welfare workers arising out of perinatal drug tests, Virtua Healths three hospitals accounted for nearly 25% of them in 2021, 2022, and 2023, despite only accounting for 9.4% of deliveries in New Jersey, the complaint says. A Department of Child Protection and Permanency investigation can result in parents not being permitted to take their newborns home with them from the hospital, unannounced home visits and interviews with other children in the household, and parents fearing that their babies may be taken away from them, the complaint says. No parent should have to fear that they will lose custody of their children over a single, unreliable, and nonconsensual test, Linhorst said. A Virtua spokesman did not comment on the hospitals drug-testing policies, saying only that the health system meets the highest standards of regulatory compliance. We hold the safety and well-being of each patient paramount, especially our newborns, Virtua spokesman Daniel Moise said. Platkin and Iyer want a judge to order Virtua to halt its mandatory universal drug testing for pregnant patients, as well as civil penalties against the hospital system and compensatory damages for named and unnamed victims. Virtuas practices single out pregnant patients for mandatory drug testing without informed consent, Iyer said in a statement. As a result, patients are unnecessarily traumatized and fear they will lose their children mere hours after giving birth. Virtuas practices violate our civil rights laws, and we look forward to proving our case in court. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Stockard on the Stump: Registry puts onus on Constitutional Republicans groups to register as PAC The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance the Registry of Election Finance has ordered two Constitutional Republican groups to register as political action committees. (Photo: John Partipilo) The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance the Registry of Election Finance has ordered two Constitutional Republican groups to register as political action committees. (Photo: John Partipilo) The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance ordered two related Constitutional Republicans groups to register as political action committees this week, but not before one registry member suggested the matter be turned over to the states law enforcement agency. Id say dump it in the lap of the (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) and say you guys go after them and figure out whether theyve done A, B, C and D , Registry member Tom Lawless said toward the end of a lengthy hearing Tuesday. Lawless didnt believe much of what the Tennessee Constitutional Republicans or its operating group Sumner County Constitutional Republicans said, as they contended they were nothing but a coffee klatch intent on spreading conservatism. Paige Burcham Dennis, while thanking the group for getting involved in the political process, also called for having a separate entity look into the matter to clear the air so no one gets in trouble. Other members didnt take quite as hard a line, including Hank Fincher who said he saw nothing remotely criminal. Ultimately, the board took Lawless other option and voted unanimously to allow 45 days for the Tennessee Constitutional Republicans, a limited liability company run by Kurt Riley, and its operating arm, Sumner County Constitutional Republicans, to register as political action committees with the Registry of Election Finance and start filing reports. If the groups refuse, they can appeal to an administrative law judge or Chancery Court. While Lawless leaned toward skepticism, other board members said the Sumner County group was just getting together for breakfast, talking politics and exercising First Amendment rights, at least until they realized one was raising money and the other was acting like a political group. Represented by attorney Kirk Clements, the groups chairman, Riley, also the registered agent for Tennessee Constitutional Republicans, and several other members took an oath to testify before the Registry board after being subpoenaed. Failed state Senate candidate Chris Spencer did not show up for the hearing (he was said to be on a long-scheduled vacation), which irked some board members. The Registry board had taken matters into its own hands after it felt the Attorney Generals Office did a pathetic job of investigating the groups. The case stems from a sworn complaint filed by Goodlettsville businessman Wes Duenkel, who argued that the two groups raise and spend money while supporting at least two candidates for public office, which requires them to file as political action committees. Duenkel didnt have records proving the Sumner County entity spent more than $1,000, the minimum amount to start reporting, in part because it has no bank account. Yet Registry members noted Tennessee Constitutional Republicans brought in about $18,000 last year and spent about $12,000, according to information the group provided. The Sumner County group then hired private investigators to vet candidates (which is a little spooky unless you consider the situation with North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson), rented space at community events, held breakfasts, bought stickers, sold T-shirts and endorsed and disavowed candidates on their website. Chris Spencer with wife, Lisa, on Aug. 1, 2024. Spencer was subpoenaed to appear before the Registry of Campaign Finance but failed to show. (Photo: John Partipilo) Their websites had donation links, both of which went to the LLC, when Duenkel filed the complaint, but those were removed almost immediately. The Sumner County group also added Duenkel to its Wall of the Unaccountable, which seems a little odd considering they skirted the rules, even as theyve had an outsized impact on Sumner County politics, inserting Judeo-Christian values into an official county document, fighting with the election commission over a storage building and trying to uproot historical property. Their attorney, Clements, claimed repeatedly that all expenses were personal and that no fundraising or expenditures were linked to specific candidates. He also argued a Supreme Court case requires specific support for candidates in order to meet the requirement to file as a PAC. The question, though, is whether one group is simply a conduit for another, and Duenkels attorney, Keith Dennen, at one point referred to the LLC as a sham company. It received what were termed as investments and loans. Compared to other matters that have come before the Registry over the years, this one involves a piddling amount of money, as far as is known. Then again, the Comptrollers Office spends an inordinate amount of time investigating thefts amounting to a few thousand dollars from school booster clubs. Either way, its money, and as was pointed out, everyone has rules to follow. Besides, a group that claims it is following biblical principles as it does on the website shouldnt worry about state investigations. If theres nothing to hide, register and report, which is what they did until fall of 2021 when they adopted a new name and maybe a more aggressive outlook. Anticipation builds A state probe into a collusion complaint against Bristol pharmacist Bobby Harshbarger, who defeated incumbent Sen. Jon Lundberg in the August GOP primary, is complete. But the Registry of Election Finance wont take it up until November, after the general election when Harshbarger faces independent candidate Dalia Price. Sen. Ken Yager, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, filed the sworn complaint, claiming illegal coordination between East Tennessee Conservatives PAC and U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, (they share the same treasurer, Thomas Datwyler), and her sons campaign. The report by the state Attorney Generals Office is said to be voluminous. Bobby Harshbarger (Photo: BobbyForTN.com) East Tennessee Conservatives PAC received $95,000 from the American Policy Coalition in Alexandria, Virginia in dark money to pour into the campaign. Harshbarger put $380,000 in loans into his campaign. He netted only $24,000 in donations, including $1,729 from former Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover (an oddity). Lundberg brought in more than $425,000 in the two reporting periods before the primary, heavy on PAC money and support from Senate friends as well as former Gov. Bill Haslam, to go with $185,400 he had in the bank. Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Lundberg also received an endorsement from Gov. Bill Lee after carrying a private-school voucher bill this year. Harshbarger doesnt appear to be touting vouchers. But alas for voucher backers, the outcome of the investigation wont affect the election results. More than anything it will lead to a shuffling of Senate leadership. Interestingly enough, Datwyler is the treasurer for Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who is under investigation by the FBI for potential campaign finance indiscretions. Hes made more changes to his Federal Election Commission reports than a meteorologist. National Democratic organization targets races The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is entering the fray in purplish Tennessee districts to bolster the hopes of three candidates as the minority party tries to gain a small foothold in the Legislature. The committee is supporting Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville in his race against Republican Jamie Dean Peltz; Allie Phillips against Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart in Clarksvilles House District 75 race; and Jesse Huseth against Republican Rep. John Gillespie of Memphis in House District 97. Wins in those districts would give Democrats 26 seats in the 99-member House, still not enough to gain authority but at least a brick in the wall. Jesse Huseth, the Democratic candidate for House District 97, is getting a boost from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht) Faith no more Gov. Bill Lee dropped his endorsement of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in that states gubernatorial race amid reports that he called himself a black Nazi and encouraged reinstatement of slavery on a porn site, according to multiple reports. Politico reporter Natalie Allison (former Tennessee Capitol Hill reporter) also found that Robinsons reported access of the Nude Africa porn site took place close to his home and that his email address was registered with other dating websites. Lee was scheduled to speak this week at a North Carolina fundraiser for Robinson but dropped it from his travel plans after it was canceled. Thats pretty smart since it would be hard to attend something that doesnt exist. Canceled: A fundraiser for embattled North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson featuring Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was canceled after reports of Robinson's past activity on porn sites emerged. The governor held no press conferences in the Nashville area this week but told reporters elsewhere he would not be backing Robinson, which he previously did as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. When he first came out in favor of Robinson (oops, I didnt mean to say came out), Lee said, From investing in safe neighborhoods to driving economic prosperity, Mark Robinson will put the people of North Carolina first. Sounds more like hes been prioritizing depravity, even though he denies everything, which is what you have to do when support is dropping right and left and your campaign and life are collapsing. That brings us back to the tired saying, Denial is not a river in Egypt. And they keep falling Private-school voucher voucher-er Corey DeAngelis, who warned people against the dangers of drag shows for kids, is being dumped by the American Federation for Children amid reports he was involved in bizarre gay porn sites. Nothing like a little hypocrisy to brighten up our lives. DeAngelis was a frequent tweeter or X-er in support of Gov. Lees plan to use public funds to send kids to private schools. He was retweeted by groups such as Americans for Prosperity in the run-up to the legislations failure this year when Republicans finally realized they were going to get killed at home if they passed this move that could wind up costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars with no guarantee it will make students smarter. AFP declined to comment on the matter. Not that we care what these folks do in their spare time. But when youre selling Kool-Aid, drink the stuff. I rode a tank, held a generals rank / When the Blitzkieg raged and the bodies stank. * * Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Stopping support for Ukraine's self-defence will lead to more war crimes German Foreign Minister The end of allied support for Ukraine's self-defence will lead to an increase in the number of war crimes, not a decrease. Source: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, as reported by European Pravda Details: Baerbock believes that as long as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does not want to sit down at the negotiating table, the allies' cessation of support for Ukraines self-defence will mean "leaving Ukraines childrens hospitals defenceless". Quote: "It would mean more war crimes, not less. Possibly, in other countries too," - she said. The German foreign minister recalled that after inviting Russia to the international Peace Summit, "Putin sent his response by bombing a children's hospital". She also noted that Russia has repeatedly "been toying with the inviolability of the borders of the Baltic States and Poland". Quote: "This is why today I am also asking your support in calling out on Putin to cease his attacks and to come to the negotiation table. Not only for our European security, but I think also in your own interests. If a permanent member of the [UN] Security Council is allowed to conquer and destroy its smaller neighbour, the very essence of this [UN] Charter is under attack," she added. Background: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said yesterday that Germany is ready to become the main pillar of deterring Russian aggression in Europe and plans to deploy a full-fledged brigade in Lithuania by 2027. The Bundestag Budget Committee has also recently approved an aid package totalling 70 million for Ukraine's heating and electricity sector. On 19 September, Germany handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine, which included, among other things, 22 Leopard 1 A5 tanks and more than 60,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. Support UP or become our patron! 'My story is their story': Pike teacher Graciela Miranda wins Indiana Teacher of the year Family means everything to Pike High School teacher Graciela Miranda. So when it was announced that Miranda was the winner of the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year award, both of her families rushed to hug her. Not just her three daughters and husband, but her school family, as well. A group of seniors hurried to congratulate her after the award was officially announced Friday in a gymnasium full of students. Miranda said it was surreal to be receiving this award. I wanted to get this for my students, so they could see what is available to them and I wanted them to know that theyre recognized and theyre seen and theyre valued, Miranda said after the surprise. My story is their story and their story is my story. Miranda is an English Language Learner teacher at Pike High School and has been teaching for 23 years, 14 of which have been in Pike Township. Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said one of the things that made Miranda stand out among the other teachers nominated was her dedication to serving students both in and out of the classroom. She is not only all-in during the school day, but there are so many things that our teachers do after school hours that people never see, and Mrs. Miranda is a prime example of that, Jenner told IndyStar. Miranda works closely with her local Boys and Girls Club and works over the summer as a tutor for the Indy Summer Learning Labs, but goes the extra mile for her students by helping them with things like filling out college applications and even throwing graduation parties. Her students feel the love and support, as well. Pike High School senior Yarethzi Dominguez said she didnt have just one favorite memory of Miranda because every day is great when they get to see her. After every period we would just go say 'hi' to her and hang out with her and we just feel so comfortable around her, Dominguez said. More School news: Where to watch school board candidate forums for IPS, HSE, Carmel and Noblesville races The Indiana Teacher of the Year program celebrates the teaching profession by recognizing existing teachers who excel in their field while encouraging others to join the profession. School districts are encouraged to nominate their local teacher of the year and finalists are selected by a committee made up of former teacher of the year recipients, state department staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education. The last time an Indianapolis teacher won Indianas top teacher award was in 2019 when Lawrence Township teacher Tamara Markey won and the last time a Pike Township teacher was in 2008 when Daniel Kuznik, a teacher at the Pike Freshman Center won. Miranda is now one of the few Latino educators in Indiana that has ever won the Teacher of the Year award and is part of a cohort of specialized teachers that is needed as Indianas English language learner population is one of the fastest-growing student groups in the state. More Education news: 16 Indiana schools named National Blue Ribbon winners. See the list Miranda is a fierce advocate for her ELL and Latino students and has worked to connect community resources to students, like bringing in an immigration lawyer to help answer questions. She believes the best way to further help ELL students is by building deep relationships with them. If we can meet their needs, and I'm talking about their needs that they need day-to-day. How do you open up a bank account? How do you fill out this paper? If we can meet their needs, we're building that trust and we're building that relationship, Miranda said. Mirandas daughter, Izabella Rios, said after Fridays announcement she isnt surprised that her mother won. Ive always thought my mom was the best teacher in the whole world, so I'm just glad other people are also coming around to thinking the same thing, Rios said. Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter. Miranda hopes that this award sends a message to students who were like her from an immigrant family, Latino and struggled in school when they were younger that they too can reach their dreams. I just want them to know that I just love them, Miranda said. I think they're amazing, they're smart, they're funny and I just want them to see that they have a future too. An amazing future. 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: Pike High School teacher wins Indiana 2025 Teacher of the Year (Reuters) -U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports resumed operations after unionized dockworkers reached a tentative labor agreement with an employer group for a new contract, ending a three-day strike. The agreement, which was announced on Thursday, includes a wage hike of around 62% over six years and covers about 45,000 members. Here's a brief rundown of the events leading up to the deal: May 13, 2024 The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) say they will begin bargaining after May 17 with the goal of forging a new deal before the six-year contract expires on Sept. 30. June 10, 2024 The ILA halts negotiations amid disputes related to automation, after discovering that operator APM's terminals and container shipping company Maersk Line were using an Auto Gate system that processes trucks without labor. June 11, 2024 The USMX says some issues will require further conversation between the local parties, adding that it looks forward to re-engage with the bargaining committee. July 12, 2024 Harold Daggett, ILA's president and chief negotiator, says the threat of an Oct. 1 strike is growing after the violation of its contract by some USMX members, which caused it to cancel negotiations earlier. Aug. 23, 2024 The USMX says it has been unable to secure a meeting with the ILA to resume negotiations. Sept. 5, 2024 Nearly 300 ILA delegates end their two-day wage scale meetings with unanimous support for President Daggett's call for an Oct. 1 strike if an agreement is not reached. Sept. 23, 2024 The ILA says it has held multiple conversations with the USMX in recent weeks and adds that a stalemate remains over wages, with the employer group continuing to offer "an unacceptable wage increase package". Sept. 24, 2024 The White House says it will not try to broker a deal between the two parties. Sept. 25, 2024 Agriculture groups urge the White House to act to avert the potential strike. Sept. 26, 2024 The USMX files an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board to bring ILA back to the bargaining table. Sept. 29, 2024 President Joe Biden says he did not intend to intervene to prevent a port strike. Sept. 30, 2024 The USMX raises its offer, says it would increase wages by nearly 50%, triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans and strengthen healthcare options. It also requests an extension of the current master contract to continue bargaining. Oct. 1, 2024 The ILA starts strike at ports up and down the U.S. East Coast. Oct. 3. 2024 The ILA and USMX reach tentative agreement for a new contract with 62% wage hike over six years. (Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy, Abhinav Parmar and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Shailesh Kuber, Sonali Paul and Arun Koyyur) The Paso Robles Police Department arrested a student on Thursday after they allegedly made threats against Lewis Flamson Junior High School, police said. On Tuesday at about 9:30 p.m., police received reports of a possible threat of violence directed at the middle school posted on Snapchat, according to a news release. On Thursday, police identified a 12-year-old Lewis Flamson student as the suspect who posted the threat. Police arrested the student on suspicion of making criminal threats. It was determined by this investigation there is no credible threat to the Lewis Flamson Junior High campus, the release said. Those with information about the incident can call 805-237-6464 or make an anonymous report by calling Crime Stoppers 24-hour hotline at 805-529-STOP or by texting SLOTIPS to CRIMES (274637). The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District and the Paso Robles Police Department encourage parents to take this opportunity to speak with their children about the responsible use of social media as well as the severity and the consequences of their words and the nature of what they post, the school district said in a news release. This isnt the first time police investigated threats to a San Luis Obispo County school this month. Nipomo High School and Central Coast New Tech High School sheltered in place on Sept. 19 while law enforcement investigated a potential threat to the schools. After the investigation, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office said no credible threat had been found on either campus. The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District takes all threats seriously, and any individual found making threatening posts, whether credible or not, will be reported to law enforcement and will be held to strict enforcement of the California Education Code, including consequences up to expulsion in addition to any applicable criminal penalties, the school district said in its news release. From the left, Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, Shane Goettle, Joy-Nicole Smith, school liaison program manager for Minot Air Force Base, and Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, participate in a meeting of the North Dakota Educational Opportunities Task Force on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) No draft legislation emerged from a school choice task force but the lawmaker leading the group is working on a plan that would provide additional funding for all North Dakota K-12 students. The Educational Opportunities Task Force, focused on school choice education models, met over the summer and held its final meeting at the Capitol on Thursday. It was born out of the interim Education Committees assignment to study school choice models, though some members of the committee initially questioned the transparency of the process. In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor after the last meeting, Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, chair of the Education Committee and member of the task force, outlined a different framework for a tiered student assistance program for North Dakota that would augment public education funding to give students more options and resources. She added North Dakota would be the first state in the nation to implement a tiered school choice program. Tier one, she said, would provide support for all public school students for their additional educational needs. Tier two would assist parents with tuition or supplemental educational options for private school students, and tier three wound fund support for homeschooled students, Axtman said. If we do move toward this framework that we think would work for North Dakota, its got to be very separate from our school funding formula, Axtman said. It cannot take away from that and we are all very clear on that. She also said special education, transportation and building funds must be kept separate from a potential tiered system. I dont have anything drafted, but I am very passionate about trying to find a way to affect student outcomes in North Dakota and allow families to supplement a students education, she said. Rep. David Richter, R-Williston, vice chair of the interim Education Committee and a member of the task force, said the toughest question to answer for a school choice model is providing a funding mechanism for the program. He also said arriving at a specific dollar amount, per student, per year, would lead to a large annual state investment and, if the Legislature isnt prepared to adequately fund the program, it may not have the impact that parents and students desire. Now you are getting up into some big numbers, Richter said. Are we going to be able to come up with that big number annually? Individual lawmakers can bring forward bills involving education during the 2025 legislative session without recommendation of the committee or task force. During its final meeting, the task force heard a presentation by Scott Jensen, a former Wisconsin legislator who is now a strategist with the American Federation for Children. Jensen outlined trends in school choice programs, with 31 states having some sort of program and some states with multiple programs. He said the trend is for states to develop an education spending account. The state puts money that it would normally spend on a students public school education into an account that the parents can access. The money could only be spent on an approved list of education-related items. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Education Committee heard the results of the task forces listening sessions on Tuesday. Members of the Hunt Institute who facilitated the work of the task force presented some of the responses from nearly 100 educators, stakeholders and North Dakota residents who participated in one of four listening sessions on the possible impacts, benefits and potential concerns facing the state by switching to a school choice educational model. Jaalil Hart, deputy director for K-12 education at the Hunt Institute, said some of the key takeaways from the session were that parents wanted empowerment and customization in the education of their children. He also said parents want to choose schools that align with their students specific needs and learning styles. Especially for families in the rural areas where choices are often limited, Hart said during the presentation. Hart said cost, transportation and distance were some of the barriers listed by parents to educational choices for their kids. These obstacles highlight the need for policies and support that make school choice a reality for families, if that is what you all so choose, he said. Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, asked Hart if the group believed the sample size for the listening sessions may be too small to get an accurate reflection of the mood on school choice. Hart said they arent able to determine if the sample was representative of the whole state, but the sessions featured participants from different areas of the state in different school districts and were affiliated with different types of schools. While it may not be a very large sample of folks, it was a very diverse group of people who participated, Hart said. Written comments for the Hunt Institutes final report on a North Dakota school choice model may be made online until Oct. 5. Public meeting notices were published for the task forces final meeting and the listening sessions. The North Dakota Monitor requested an attorney generals opinion to determine if task force meetings held earlier this year met the requirements of the open meetings law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The DiverseIT team with Adelante Development Center was at Edward Gonzales Elementary School on Thursday giving out free laptops to low-income students. They also trained the students on how to safely use those laptops. There is a huge digital divide here in New Mexico where a lot of people lack access to computers. Thats what we do at Diverse IT, so to increase the number of people that have access to devices as well as training and technology. So its very important work, you know, people who have been excluded from technology get that access, said Jill Beets, Adelante Development Center. Volunteers plant seedlings within the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon burn scar They said they gave out 40 backpacks filled with a laptop, mouse, headphones, and instructional books. To learn more, visit www.goadelante.org/diverseit/computer-request-form. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tarrant County Public Health Director W. Brian Byrd is recommending that the countys school districts remove smartphones from classrooms. When he was growing up in Fort Worth, doctors focused on protecting children from outbreaks of chickenpox and the flu, but now in these digitized times, the focus more often turns to a childs mental and emotional health, Byrd said in a Thursday letter to Tarrant County parents, teachers and residents. The more time children spend on social media, the more their mental health suffers, he wrote, pointing to an article by social psychologist and author Jon Haidt and a study looking at the correlation between social media and the risk of depression in adolescents. While originally designed to facilitate connection, social media has often had the opposite effect, the letter reads. Not only that, weve all seen and heard about children experiencing disruption in their sleep and a drop in their grades. Thats why I am joining with other leaders in recommending that every school district in Tarrant County remove smartphones from classrooms. The research here is encouraging. Limiting smartphone use at school significantly improves students mental well-being. The Star-Telegram has reached out to the county for Byrds comment. Several Tarrant County school districts have already banned using cell phones during class, including Keller, Grapevine-Colleyville and Northwest. In the Thursday letter, Byrd acknowledges and applauds districts that are already restricting phone use in classrooms. He also recognizes the Texas Legislature for passing a 2023 bill related to minors online activity. Part of the bill requires that a joint legislative committee studies the effects of media on minors. But more must be done, Byrd urges. He recommends that parents keep their children off social media until theyre at least 16. Byrd also says families should make sure their children know that they are safe place to go if they find themselves in trouble because of online activity. Finally, as adults, we have a responsibility to model healthy social media habits that our children can look up to, he said, urging parents to participate in No Social Media November. By setting an example, we can guide them toward more responsible use of these platforms. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in a June opinion article published in The New York Times that schools should ensure that classroom learning and social time are phone-free experiences. In the same op-ed, he called for a surgeons general warning label on social media sites stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said lawmakers should prohibit cell phone use in Texas public schools. If it were in my power, I would have already banned them in all schools in the state, Morath told senators during a Sept. 18 education committee hearing, according to The Texas Tribune. So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers. The Star-Telegram has reached out to the Fort Worth and Arlington school districts two of the districts in Tarrant County with the most students for comment on the letter. A representative with the Arlington school district was not available to comment on Friday, and a representative with the Fort Worth district said a response was in the works. The Fort Worth school districts code of conduct prohibits using, displaying or having in operational mode cell phones at school or school-sponsored or school-related activities, including using a cellular telephone to film other students and/or District employees. Generally, the Arlington school district prohibits the use of cell phones during the school day, according to its code of conduct. Students can have their phones, but they must be out of sight and off. That said, students can use cell phones and other personally-owned mobile technology devices such as laptops, tablets, for educational purposes, with teacher permission, the code of conduct states. The use of students personal technology devises for personal purposes will be determined by campus leadership. Staff Writer Silas Allen contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) Indian Lake High School held its Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally on Thursday with a theme that shows the communitys resilience following a deadly tornado in March. As part of the theme Thursday, students dressed up as superheroes. Cambria Tuttle, student council president, wore a cape. In the middle of the back was IL Strong for Indian Lake Strong. Were always taught to be resilient and persevere and after the tornado in March, it just like devastated our community, so we all had to persevere through that and work together, she said. The tornado that hit the area in March was tough, but students and the community have shown they are tougher. The theme of this years homecoming is Laker Strong. Tuttle said it was decided on by students. Watch: Indian Lake students show strength with homecoming theme The parade route goes right through where it devastated and you can still see some of that devastation today, so it just shows how were still strong and were coming back together and working together to get back to where we were, Tuttle said. Many district families have been affected by the tornado. Immediately after the storm, the high school became a center of resources. Indian Lake Schools Superintendent Rob Underwood said the homecoming celebrations are a symbol of the area coming back bigger and stronger. When our student council came up with Laker Strong, I think its very fitting for our community and our student body who really does find a way to adapt and adjust and we definitely pull together through these types of things, he said. Homecoming is always a big deal. Tuttle said this years is a bit more special. Its like even more exciting just because we have worked our way back and were all still together as a community, so were all just like showing our spirit and what it does mean to be a community, she said. Caylie Short, a junior at Indian Lake High School, is another example of Laker Strong. The tornado threw her from her home and she broke both her ankles. She is back on her feet. She said she was going to be at both the parade and this weekends dance. Its kind of like a special moment because I really thought I wasnt going to be out of my wheelchair for like homecoming and stuff and I was like sad and stuff but then like I even got our of my wheelchair before my birthday and I was excited, she said. Im happy this 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. The administration at Wake Forest University has canceled a lecture by a Palestinian scholar scheduled for Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, sparking a war that has resulted in the deaths of 41,000 Palestinians. The scholar, Rabab Abdulhadi, is a founding director and senior scholar of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program at San Francisco State University. She was scheduled to give a speech entitled: One Year since al-Aqsa Flood: Reflections on a Year of Genocide and Resistance. Operation al-Aqsa Flood is the name that Hamas gave the surprise cross-border attack on Israel. Wake Forest President Susan Wente and Chancellor Michele Gillespie said in a letter sent to the schools community on Thursday that the lecture has been canceled. 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, the message read. The message mentioned two university-sponsored events Interfaith Prayers for Peace and Community Reflections that will take place on Oct. 7. Those events, the message read, will emphasize our ability to come together to support one another, holding space for our many different perspectives and experiences. The lectures cancellation and the administrations message prompted a sharp rebuke from Barry Trachtenberg, the Rubin Presidential Chair of Jewish History at Wake Forest. In a post on his Instagram page, Trachtenberg blasted the decision, calling it an absolute disgrace. Trachtenberg said the lecture was organized by several faculty members and academic units on campus. It was meant to provide expert insight on critical global issues, just as similar discussions have been held in response to other world events, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine. The campus newspaper, the Old Gold & Black, reported on Thursday that Wake Forest students from two Jewish organizations garnered more than 7,000 signatures in an online petition urging the university to cancel the lecture. Wake Forest had a period of small but intense protests over the war. University administrators cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus and recently released a new policy that restricts where, when and how anyone working or learning at the university can protest. The News Sudans army launched a major offensive to recapture the countrys capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, escalating hostilities in a bitter civil war despite US-led efforts to broker a ceasefire. Sudan one of Africas poorest countries even before the conflict has been mired in a civil war between two rival factions of its military government since April 2023, sparking the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. As many as 150,000 people have been killed, while more than 10 million have been displaced, with many moving to similarly destitute South Sudan and Chad. A group of humanitarian aid organizations warned this month that failing to achieve a ceasefire could lead to a starvation crisis of historic proportions, Al Jazeera reported. SIGNALS Sudans army makes small gains so far Sources: Al Jazeera, Sudan War Monitor The Sudanese army made small advances into Khartoum on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. The Rapid Support Forces have controlled most of the capital since fighting broke out in April 2023, with the army holding onto small enclaves in Khartoum. Some analysts suspect that fighting will increase across the country in the coming months. The dry season is returning in Sudan, which usually lasts from October to December, allowing both parties in the conflict to conduct larger assaults. As the earth dries, the fighting is set to pick up, the Sudan War Monitor wrote. Local aid organizations have stepped up as larger ones leave Source: New Humanitarian Several large aid organizations have left Sudan, leaving local groups to lead the humanitarian response in many of the worst affected areas. Shallin Chikoto of Community Organized Relief Effort, a nonprofit working with Sudanese groups, told Semafor that traditional humanitarian systems are falling short, mainly because of access issues. Working with grassroots organizations has really helped us reach the most vulnerable Chikoto said, helping to deliver aid in otherwise hard to reach areas. Tom Perriello, the US Special Envoy for Sudan, called for more support for the neighborhood-based aid groups, known as emergency response rooms, telling Semafor that they were a rare bright spot in a horrific situation. US-led peace initiatives fail to reach a breakthrough Sources: BBC, United States Institute of Peace US-led efforts to push for a ceasefire in Sudan have continued on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week, the BBC reported. At the last round of peace talks in August, neither side sat down at the negotiating table, although mediators were able to secure the reopening of key humanitarian routes. Earlier peace talks in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain did not lead to breakthroughs either. Three experts at the United States Institute of Peace wrote that in the wake of failed peace efforts, more focus should be placed on securing access for life-saving aid rather than focusing primarily on a ceasefire that may not be achievable. On her drive to work, Mayolita Gaines pulls up on her phone a playlist of music thats dominated by one artist. Songs by rapper Rod Wave pour out of her cars speakers, including Come See Me, the one thats most meaningful to the mom of seven. Gaines daughter, Harmony Rose Washington, died by suicide in Waukegan, Illinois, seven months ago, just days after her 10th birthday. The girl was a huge fan of Wave, so much so that she forced her siblings to memorize his lyrics prior to attending his Chicago concert last November. Before the concert started, Harmony wasnt in the best mood, but when he performed Come See Me, Gaines said her daughter jumped out of her seat and started singing along. Its the song Gaines said she returns to when she wants to remember happy moments. The way I recorded her was like a scene from a movie, where she was so excited, Gaines, 36, recalled. When he started singing the song, she just screamed. You can hear the love and happiness coming out of her screams when he walked out on stage. After losing her daughter, Gaines said shes felt sadness, grief and, at times, guilt. Gaines isnt alone in her experience. Suicide among young people is a challenging and prevalent problem, with Black and LGBTQ+ kids, who are at disproportionate risk nationally and in Chicago, according to Dr. Aron Janssen, a vice chair at the psychiatry and behavioral health department at Lurie Childrens Hospital. In Illinois, Janssen said suicide is the second-leading cause of death among kids aged 10 to 14, and the third-leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24. In the past decade, Janssen said the number of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide have increased among young kids. What was once a very rare event historically, is becoming more common, he added. We dont really have a great understanding of why that is, Janssen said. I think partially its that a lot of the interventions and processes that we have in place to screen for suicide have historically been built for older adolescents and adults, and that we need more funding, more research and more infrastructure to support the mental health needs of kids at an earlier age. Well never know Harmony died at night on Feb. 20, which Gaines said started like any other day. She got home from work in the afternoon, telling Harmony she was planning her birthday party for the upcoming weekend. Later in the evening, Gaines said she scolded Harmony for making disrespectful comments to her uncle, and she thought her daughter went upstairs to her bedroom. Gaines said she was on the phone with Harmonys dad around 9:20 p.m., when she told her other kids to get ready for school the next day. They found Harmony hanging from a tree outside the home. Theyre screaming. The way that they scream it was one of those like somebody was getting killed when they called out my name, she said. My oldest came inside, and theyre just screaming Mommy, mommy, mommy. You can hear the pain. You can hear the hurt. You can just hear everything in mommy. Much of the rest that happened is a blur to Gaines, but she said she remembers someone bringing Harmonys limp body into the house. Harmonys family, including her sister and aunt, attempted to perform CPR, Gaines said. Gaines also called 911. I followed behind the ambulance, but I knew she was gone, Gaines said. Steve Newton, the chief deputy coroner at Lake County, said Harmony was found in the front of her residence in the 5000 block of Country Place around 9:40 p.m. The girl was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead about an hour later. Her death was declared a suicide, caused from asphyxia due to hanging, he said. Leading up to her daughters death, Gaines said there werent any warning signs, leaving her to guess about possible motives. Maybe she wanted attention, maybe she was inspired by something she saw on social media or maybe it was her way of coping with her fathers incarceration, Gaines wonders. She found out later that her daughter faced some bullying in school, or maybe it was that she reached a breaking point during the fight they had the night she died. It could be so many things Ive thought about, but well never know, Gaines said. As parents, we dont know that were doing anything wrong. We think that everything is OK. I learn now that I try to not yell as much, because I know it may be a trigger to them. Often kids dont send any clear signals that theyre thinking of suicide, said Janssen, the doctor at Lurie Childrens Hospital. Only about 10% of young people who die from suicide disclose their plans within a month of their death, and only about 20% are perceived to be depressed at the time of their death, he said. People may know theyre struggling, but dont necessarily know the depths to which they are struggling, he said. If you see something, say something Janssen said he recommends parents frequently ask their children how theyre doing, and seek support services if necessary. Some risk factors include stressful life events, a previous history of suicide attempts or mental health treatment, a family history of suicide, abuse or neglect and access to lethal means, he said. He recommended locking up firearms and medication at home, and following the adage, If you see something, say something. For a lot of kids, what we see is that suicide is an impulsive act. Its not something that many of these kids are thinking about and planning out in a structured way, he said. Its something was overwhelming in the moment, and you have access to means that are lethal. Recent research has also shown racial disparities within suicide rates. Black youths have the fastest growing suicide rate compared with their peers of other racial and ethnic groups, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This trend is mirrored in Chicago, Janelle Goodwill, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, found in a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study, which examined suicide deaths in the city from 2015-21, found that suicide rates among Black men and women, Asian women and Latino men increased in that time. Black and Latino residents also died at an earlier age than those in white and Asian communities, the study found. Harmony was Black and Hispanic. We are living in I think completely different worlds. Everything in this city access to health care to mental health treatment to education, even to equitable food, safe housing all of those things are racialized experiences, Goodwill said. Just the environmental stressors that someone is facing, depending on their race and where they live, is going to have serious impacts on their mental health. Goodwill said she supports boosting access to affordable mental health care through reopening city-run mental health centers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has promised to reopen three sites, more than a decade after former Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed six clinics. Its not just conversations about stigma, Goodwill added. There are structural forces at play that are preventing people from receiving the treatment and support that they need. Janssen also said navigating the mental health system in Illinois can be a challenge there arent enough providers, insurance is confusing and internet resources can be misleading. In Illinois, he said schools are actually the primary provider of mental health care. Because almost every child is there on a regular basis, its a prime opportunity to screen, teach and identify risk, he said. Elyssas Mission, a nonprofit based in Northbrook and founded by the mother of a Northfield teenager who died by suicide in 2004, reaches kids at schools. The group provides evidenced-based training to middle- and high-school students and staff members, which involves education on suicide prevention and a screening for adolescent depression. Usually, about 15% of students screened for suicide risk through the program are referred for a follow-up, Segal said, with 8% ultimately referred for a mental health service. The nonprofit has worked with about 300 schools in 20 counties, and also runs a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program at 20 schools called Hope Squad. We want to get students identified early, get them linked to treatment and services before theyre at a point of crisis, Segal said. Coping with her daughters death Gaines remembers her daughter as friendly and bubbly, saying she had lots of friends at school, many of whom she didnt know until they attended her funeral. Harmony was in fourth grade at Prairie Trails Elementary, where her favorite subject was math. She loved swimming and the beach, basically anything involving water, Gaines said, adding that Harmony would never turn down rice, beans and flour tortillas. Harmony spoke whatever was on her mind, Gaines laughed. If she tell you you did not look nice in an outfit, please take her suggestion and go change, because shes telling you the truth. She didnt care who you were she wouldnt hurt your feelings in a bad way shell just tell you No, that doesnt look right, or You need to find something else. Seven months after her death, Gaines describes how shes feeling like coloring in a coloring book. Sometimes the shades her sadness are darker, and sometimes its lighter, she said. Gaines deals with depression and anxiety, as do some of her other children, she said. Coping has been especially difficult for Harmonys father, who isnt able to grieve with the rest of the family because hes incarcerated, Gaines added. Gaines spends some of her time looking at her daughters old school clothes and taking care of the puppy Harmony named Brownie. The family originally wasnt supposed to keep the dog, but the mother couldnt bear to part with something that had a connection to her daughter. Gaines also shares her story to help relate to her patients at her job as a mental health technician. On holidays, Gaines visits and decorates Harmonys gravesite. For the Fourth of July, she bought red, white and blue spin wheels and flowers. Ive had maybe three occasions where I just laid there and cried, or a couple of times where I just sat there quiet, not even saying anything, she said. PEORIA, Ill. (WYZZ) September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Illinois chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting two events to spread awareness of the issue. The first event is on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Fon Du Lac Park. On-site registration starts at 9 a.m. for the walk. The second event is on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Tipton Park North Shelter, with on-site registration starting at 10 a.m. The organization was established in 1987 and is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. The funds raised for the organization help with research to help those affected by suicide or thinking of suicide. Angela Cummings, a spokesperson with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said this event is a great way for people to connect and show support. Its a time when people can come out and show their support for the cause, build awareness, find comfort, and healing with others who have had a loss; or others who have struggled and want to honor their own journey in mental health and recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out to the National Suicide and Crisis 988 Lifeline. Help is available 24 hours a day. Love Good Day Central Illinois? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our Daily 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 CIProud.com. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not appear as a candidate for president on New Yorks ballot after the Supreme Court declined to restore his name. Kennedy was excluded from the states ballot after lower courts determined the independent candidate falsely claimed residency there because his Katonah, N.Y., address was not his fixed and permanent residency. His attorneys argued in court filings that taking him off the ballot would deprive his New York supporters of their right to cast their votes for him, noting that the lower courts did not find that anyone was misled. The address on Kennedys petition was and is entirely immaterial both to voters and to New York, his attorneys wrote in their request, also noting that the independent candidate had rented a room in the home of a childhood friend and stayed there overnight on one occasion. New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office, which is involved in the case, opposed the extraordinary, and extraordinarily belated emergency injunction that would have put Kennedy back on the states presidential ticket despite its certification deadline being passed and absentee ballots already being mailed out. Relief would, at minimum, require the State to direct county boards to invalidate tens of thousands of ballots that are currently in the hands of voters, and then craft, proof, print, test, translate (as required), and transmit replacement ballots, New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood wrote to the justices, suggesting voters would be confused if they received multiple ballots. Kennedy suspended his campaign last month and backed former President Trumps White House bid. Since then, hes sought to remove his name in key swing states while remaining on the ballot elsewhere a move thats sparked a series of legal challenges. The independent candidates effort to remain on New Yorks ballot is his first to reach the nations highest court, but he isnt the first candidate to appeal to the justices. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court denied an emergency request by the Green Party to restore its presidential candidate, Jill Stein, to Nevadas ballot. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Supreme Court has turned down a bid by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be placed on the presidential ballot in New York. The high court released its decision in a one-line order Friday afternoon. As is often the case with rulings on the Supreme Courts emergency docket, there was no explanation of the courts rationale and no justice recorded any dissent. Kennedys campaign pressed forward with a court battle to appear on the New York ballot despite his announcement last month that he was suspending his long-shot presidential bid and endorsing former President Donald Trump. Kennedys campaign gathered more than 100,000 signatures to win him a place on the ballot in the Empire State, but Democrats brought a court challenge arguing that Kennedy did not actually live at the address in Katonah, New York, that he submitted to elections officials. Kennedy said he began renting a room in the home of a childhood friend in Katonah last year, but the friend's wife testified that he had only stayed there overnight once. I am, at the very fiber of my being, a New Yorker, Kennedy declared in a court filing last month. New York courts ordered Kennedy removed from the ballot, and his efforts to overturn those rulings struck out with a federal district judge and at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals before coming up short Friday at the nations highest court. Reached by phone shortly after the ruling, Kennedy said: I don't think I have a comment on it. Were looking at our options. Kennedys effort to remain on the ballot in New York struck many observers as bizarre because, in the wake of his endorsement of Trump, Kennedy sought to pull his name off ballots in battleground states where his presence might impact the showdown between Trump and the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. In recent weeks, Kennedy's name has been removed from ballots in Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina. An attorney for Kennedys moribund campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Supreme Courts action, but in court filings Kennedys legal team lamented New Yorks notoriously onerous ballot requirements for third-party candidates and said Kennedys absence from this years presidential ballot violated the rights of voters who signed his petitions. Those voters have a constitutional right to have Kennedy placed on the ballot and to vote for him, whether he is campaigning for their vote or not, the Kennedy campaigns lawyers wrote in the emergency application they filed with the court last week. Kennedy, a nephew of President John F. Kennedy Jr. and a son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, entered the presidential race last year as a candidate for the Democratic nomination, but announced last October that he was parting with the Democrats and would mount an independent campaign for the White House. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wont be on the New York ballot this November, despite his best efforts. The former independent presidential candidate made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court to remain on the ballot in New York, but was denied Friday. No dissent was noted in the courts ruling. The application for writ of injunction presented to Justice Sotomayor and by her referred to the Court is denied, read the courts one-sentence order. Kennedy officially suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump in late August. But since then, hes tried to stay on the ballot in states where it would help the Trump campaign and remove himself where it would hurt the former president, with mixed results. In North Carolina, he got himself removed from the ballot two weeks ago with the help of the states Republicans, delaying the states distribution of ballots and cutting into early voting. Election officials in the state will have to destroy nearly three million ballots and resign 2,348 ballot styles. In Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Ohio, Kennedy also was successful in getting his name off voting ballots. In Wisconsin, hes stuck on the ballot and is petitioning the state Supreme Court to put a sticker over his name, which has never been done and would be a logistical nightmare in the words of the circuit court that handled the request. He was also unable to remove himself from the ballot in Michigan and is begging voters there to vote for Trump instead. The Supreme Courts decision must sting Kennedy because it means hes unlikely to receive help in these other cases. Kennedys addition to the New York ballot was initially challenged on the grounds that he used an invalid address. During his presidential campaign, Kennedy claimed an address in Katonah, a suburb of New York City, on his petition to be on the states ballot, while he and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, apparently reside in Malibu, California. Kennedy is renting a room at the Katonah address for $500 a month, but the owner of that property said that those payments began after a New York Post story questioned the candidates claim that he lives in New York. Kennedy has joined Trumps transition team and hopes to be Trumps secretary of health and human services, a disturbing job for the noted anti-vaxxer. But his quixotic failed presidential campaign may also ending up hurting Trumps chances of returning to the White House, taking away votes in key battleground states. Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr's appeal to be put back on the New York election ballot The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a bid by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore his name to New York's election ballot. The appeal was denied by the country's highest court without comment and without any noted dissents. Kennedy has been trying to get his name off ballots in key battleground states since he suspended his campaign in August and endorsed former President Trump. The candidate has simultaneously tried to stay on the ballot in states like New York, where his presence is unlikely to make a difference in the battle between Trump and Vice President Harris. New York Mag Puts Reporter Olivia Nuzzi On Leave For Alleged Personal Relationship With Rfk Jr. Former Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives remarks in Arizona. When he suspended his campaign, Kennedy said he planned to keep his name on the ballot in safe Democratic and Republican states, but didnt want to be a spoiler in battleground states like Wisconsin. On Friday, however, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Kennedy's name will remain on that state's presidential ballot. Read On The Fox News App Rfk, Jr.: We're Trying To Get Off The Ballot In All The States I Might Be A Spoiler "In about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler, I'm going to remove my name, and I've already started that process and urge voters not to vote for me," Kennedy said. "Our polling consistently showed by staying on the ballot in the battleground states, I would likely hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on the most existential issues." Republican presidential nominee former President Trump shakes hands with former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a rally in Arizona last month. Since suspending his campaign, Kennedy backed former Trumps White House bid. And since Kennedy's endorsement, Trump added him and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team. Original article source: Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr's appeal to be put back on the New York election ballot SAN MARCOS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A 23-year-old man accused of a hit-and-run collision that left a teenage e-bike rider critically injured made his first court appearance Thursday. Investigators say Alan Reyes was driving a truck when he allegedly struck 16-year-old Jonathan Ramos, who is now hospitalized with severe injuries, including a damaged lung. Ramos mother, Maria Martinez, attended the arraignment, and said her son is still unable to breathe on his own. RELATED: Teen injured in hit-and-run while riding e-bike Hes a very happy kid, a joy to have around, Martinez said. Hes just a great, respectful boy. Ramos was riding his e-bike home on Sept. 17 when he was hit by a truck near the intersection of Knoll and West Mission in San Marcos. Investigators said the driver left the scene without stopping. Maybe if he stopped, the paramedics would have arrived earlier, Martinez said. Two days later, after receiving a tip, sheriffs investigators found a 2021 white GMC Sierra with significant front-end damage at a mobile home park about a mile from the crash scene. Reyes was identified as the driver and obtained a lawyer before turning himself in. During Thursdays arraignment, Reyes pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered the media not to show his face. Prosecutors say witnesses described Reyes driving at 80 mph at the time of the incident. In 2022, Reyes was convicted of wet reckless driving, meaning he had alcohol in his system but below the legal limit of 0.08%. Martinez expressed mixed feelings about Reyes. I feel really sad for that man, she said. He didnt just destroy his life, but he also did it to my family, to my son. Reyes faces several charges, including hit-and-run, and his bail has been set at $100,000. His family attended the court hearing but declined to 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The suspect in a shooting which killed a Rochester teenager was arrested in Georgia and arraigned Friday. According to the Rochester Police Department, Jymere Feliciano, 19, fled to Georgia after the fatal July 26 shooting on Nassau Street. Jayden Scott, 17, was shot multiple times and died two days later. Feliciano was arrested on September 17 and returned to Rochester, where he was arraigned Friday morning on second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapons charges. Investigators ask anyone with information or video to call 911, the RPD Major Crimes Section at (585) 428-7157, Crime Stoppers at (585) 423-9300, or email MajorCrimes@cityofrochester.gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City, Missouri man is facing multiple charges in connection to a shooting earlier this month that left one man dead and a woman injured. Jackson County prosecutors on Friday charged Otis Wayne Brown with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree property damage, interference with legal process, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and four counts of armed criminal action. According to court documents, just before 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, Kansas City police officers were patrolling the area of E. 55th Street and Prospect Avenue where they contacted two people who were advised to leave the property due to loitering. The two people left east on 55th Street, crossing U.S. 71 Highway. Shortly after, KCPD officers heard multiple gunshots coming from the area of 55th Street and Benton Avenue. Overland Park police investigate arson, shooting Officers responded to the area and found a man and woman lying in the intersection suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. Both victims were taken to Research Medical Center where the female victim was reported to have non-life threatening injuries. The male victim, identified as 39-year-old Shroy Lapsely, was pronounced dead just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4. According to court documents, the female victim told detectives the person that shot her and Lapsely was Brown and she had known him for several years. The victim stated she was walking with Lapsely when Brown approached them on foot and fired three gunshots in their direction. Brown was located and taken into custody on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Kansas City, after attempting to run from police, reach into his waist band and run behind a residence, according to court documents. A firearm was later located in the pathway where Brown had run. The firearm located was a 9mm Hi-Point, which was the same caliber casings located at the homicide scene, according to court documents. It was found to be altered, having a defaced serial number, appearing to have been scratched off and unable to read and also appeared to be painted, altering the weapons appearance. Brown was served a court ordered search warrant for a DNA buccal swab. Court documents say Brown refused to comply in giving the sample, becoming defiant by closing his mouth, clenching his hands and arms, requiring him to be handcuffed. Court documents say Brown continued to refuse to comply with the court order search warrant, which required multiple detectives to obtain the sample. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Brown flipped chairs and a table in the interview room, causing damage to the walls, along with spitting, court documents say. He also threatened to assault a homicide sergeant with a chair and attack detectives. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bond review hearing on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 10 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The latest Elon University Poll released this week is among a growing number of polls with Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris holding a slight lead over former Republican President Donald Trump in North Carolina. The poll of 800 registered voters taken Sept. 4-13 has Harris ahead 46% to 45%. The polls margin of error is 3.7%. The Elon poll was completed a week before Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons campaign became embroiled by a shocking Sept. 19 report from CNN that linked him to pornography websites and alleged that he referred to himself as a Black Nazi, that he liked transgender pornography and that he said slavery is not bad. Some people need to be slaves. Some political analysts focused on North Carolina election say a flailing Robinson campaign could affect Trumps prospects of winning North Carolina. In the big picture, what happens over the next six weeks in North Carolina could determine who leads the United States for the next four years, said Jason Husser, director of the Elon Poll and a university political science professor. In the small picture in which, accounting for rounding, Harris and Trump are less than 1 point apart and few undecided likely voters remain. The race down the home stretch for North Carolinas 16 electoral college votes is now one over inches, not yards. Of four other presidential polls released over the past week and listed by 538.com, Harris is up 52%-48% among 3,129 likely voters in the YouGov/CBS poll and ahead 50%-49% in The Hill/Emerson College poll of 1,000 likely voters. Meanwhile, Trump is ahead 48%-47% in The Telegraph poll of 868 likely voters, and ahead 47%-45% in the New York Times/Siena College Poll of 682 registered voters. Governors polling The Elon poll shows the gap in the governors race widening in favor of Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein over Robinson at a 49% to 35% margin. The poll found Stein leading among both men and women, as well as with independent voters. He was supported by 78% of Black voters compared with 9% for Robinson. About 55% of voters had a favorable impression of Stein, compared with only 32% for Robinson. North Carolina started this cycle with what seemed the most competitive and most impactful governors race in the nation, Husser said. The race is no longer particularly competitive given Josh Steins historically unusual lead over Mark Robinson. However, potential remains for the race to be the most impactful if voters respond to negativity around Robinson by associating their opinions about him with other Republicans, both up and down the ballot. Husser said that the lack of a popular top-of-ticket (Republican) statewide candidate definitely risks harming Republican campaigns down ballot from governor, such as Council of State races and countywide elections. However, Husser cautioned that far fewer historical examples exist about reverse coattail effects, meaning a meaningful impact on the presidential race is far from certain. Of the 11 N.C. governors race polls conducted in September and listed by 538.com, Steins lead ranges from 5 to 14 percentage points the other 14-point lead being SurveyUSA/Raleigh TV station WRAL. Several media outlets, including by WRAL and Politico, reported Monday that the primary reason why at least eight key members of the Robinson campaign departed last weekend was because Robinson refused to accept the offer of information-technology assistance to review CNNs findings from the pornographic website forum. Robinson has said he is considering libel action against CNN after several prominent Republicans including U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina encouraged Robinson to do so or accept responsibility for his comments and actions that could include withdrawing. However, the Robinson campaign may have limited funding to pursue legal action given recent campaign contribution reports. The Republican Governors Association confirmed Monday it would not provide new funds for Robinson campaign ads beginning Wednesday. Given how settled views are of Trump, Im not sure how many minds can be changed, no matter how offensive Robinsons behavior, said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd., a Chapel Hill research company specializing in economic and social policy. But if Robinson is seen internally as a liability, I could see the Trump campaign seeking to distance themselves from Robinson or even seeking to ease him out of the race. Suspect extradited from El Salvador for the 1991 killing of San Diego woman Suspect extradited from El Salvador for the 1991 killing of San Diego woman SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man was extradited from El Salvador this week and arraigned in connection with a 1991 cold case, according to the office of San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. Alfredo Hernandez, 66, appeared in San Diego Superior Court Thursday for his arraignment regarding the 1991 death of 39-year-old Terri Bistodeau, the attorneys office said. Man found dead behind Food 4 Less in Mission Valley East On Aug. 4, 1991, San Diego police officers responded to a home in the 5300 block of Geneva Avenue in San Diegos Emerald Hills neighborhood. Authorities said Bistodeau was found strangled to death on the floor of her bedroom, but the case was left unsolved over the years despite the efforts of law enforcement. Investigators revisited the case in the late 2000s. In 2019, DNA testing and further investigation led law enforcement to suspect Hernandezs involvement. The attorneys office said Hernandez was charged in 2021 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was found in El Salvador and, upon the approval of an extradition request from the countrys government, he was returned to the United States. If found guilty of the murder charge, Hernandez faces up to 25 years-to-life in state prison, according to the attorneys 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man is in custody after fleeing from police and hiding in the employee area of a Subway when officers reported to a call that he had stolen a car in Newport. Authorities said the man, 22, was named as a suspect for a stolen Toyota Yaris on Sept. 17. The next day, officers saw the car driving northbound on Highway 101 near NW 15th Street before losing sight of it and finding it again in a Safeway parking lot. West Linn men indicted for sex acts with a pig An officer reported seeing the man get out of the car and go into the grocery store, where he appeared to leave through the emergency exit in the back. Searching for the man led police to Sam Case Elementary School and prompted the school to go into a Code Yellow while officers determined whether the area was safe. The man wasnt found and the warning was lifted. Four days later, on Sept. 22, police were tipped off that the man may have been seen leaving the area of NE 10th Court. When officers responded, they say he tried to run away while a perimeter was set up in the area of NE 12th and Benton Street. Person missing after boat capsizes in Columbia River Police said the man was captured after he was located hiding inside the employee area of the Subway restaurant, which he had accessed by entering through an employee entrance door. The man was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of meth, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a vehicle, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, and first-degree theft. The man also had a previous warrant for his arrest. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A 29-year-old man from Canada was arrested with 44 pounds of suspected cocaine after a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Fresno County, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP says the discovery of drugs with an estimated street value of approximately $1.6 million was discovered after a CHP Central Division sergeant made an enforcement stop on a Chrysler Pacifica on Interstate 5 and Shields Avenue. The sergeant noted several indicators that the driver may be involved in criminal activity and developed probable cause to search the Chrysler, CHP says. During a search, the sergeant said he found the suspected cocaine, sealed within two totes, located in the rear cargo area of the Chrysler. California Highway Patrol California Highway Patrol California Highway Patrol This seizure underscores the dedication of our officers to keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities. The California Highway Patrol remains committed in our mission to protect the public and ensure the safety and security of all Californians said CHP Central Division Chief Damon Gilmore. According to the California Highway Patrol, Ga Hyung Choi, 29, of British Columbia, Canada, was arrested and transported to the Fresno County Jail where he was booked on the charges of suspicion of being in possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine across non-contiguous counties. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) North Haven police are searching for multiple suspects accused of striking a police cruiser while fleeing from outside Chick-fil-A, where they were seen wearing ski masks in a car with no license plates Thursday afternoon. Police said they were dispatched to the area of Chick-fil-A on Universal Drive, where the three males were seen inside a black Volkswagen Atlas with no license plates. East Haven police investigating string of burglaries The first officer on scene reported seeing the vehicle run a red light. The vehicle fled from the officer when he tried to pull them over. The suspect vehicle reportedly struck the officers cruiser twice during the pursuit, and drove over traffic islands and into oncoming traffic on Montowese Avenue. Police said they stopped the pursuit after it continued onto Interstate 91 northbound, where the vehicle continued to drive recklessly during rush hour traffic by weaving in and out of lanes. Suspect accused of assaulting mom, 2 kids faces judge The vehicle was later determined to be stolen from Guilford and involved in several area armed robberies, according to police. Police believe they interrupted an impending armed robbery on Universal Drive. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information on the suspects is asked to contact Officer Brennan at x261 or North Haven Detectives at x240. Information can be shared 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 WTNH.com. Sweden first pioneered parental leave. Now it's the first country to give grandparents paid leave Sweden was the first country to introduce paid parental leave also to fathers in 1974. According to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, today, fathers take around 30 per cent of the paid parental leave. Now, 50 years later, grandparents in Sweden can be paid to take care of their grandchildren. The Swedish government's parental leave reform implemented on 1 July allows for the transfer of paid parental leave days to relatives or friends. Related A better work-life balance and promotion of gender equality Swedens social insurance agency, Forsakringskassan, says the new scheme should provide families with more flexibility. New parental leave rules allow parents to transfer up to 45 days of their paid leave to someone who isnt the childs legal guardian as long as the person is insured for parental allowance, which most people in Sweden are. For single parents, up to 90 days can be transferred per child from the total 480 days of paid leave. "The aim of the new law is to give more flexibility and greater opportunities to parents and to make it easier to combine family with work life. Furthermore, the new reform gives greater opportunities to, for example, single guardians and also makes parental leave available to a greater diversity of family types, which is likely to promote gender equality," Stefan Forsberg, the Director of Operations of Parental Insurance at Forsakringskassan, told Euronews Next. Related The new rule allows even retirees to take parental leave, for example, in which case the compensation is based on the persons pension. The recipient of the parental allowance may not look for work or study during the time they receive the parental allowance. Maria Karlsson, who lives in Stockholm with her three-year-old son, Liam, says she was glad to hear about the new law. Karlsson is a working, single parent, who often gets help from her parents. "My mother has been helping and supporting me since he [Liam] was born. She's been very helpful. And even now she helps me two days a week and picks him up from preschool which allows me to work a little more at work as I am working part-time (80%) just to make the economy go round," Maria told Euronews Next. Maria Karlsson with her son, Liam, and her mother, Zhor. - Euronews "It's nice now with this [new scheme] that I can transfer parental leave so that she still gets some kind of compensation," she added. Marias mother, Zhor Karlsson, used to work for the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and has retired now. She thinks the new scheme is "something good for everyone". "For example, I help twice a week. It's almost like routine. But if I'm going to take care of him for a whole week if he gets sick, it is good that you get this parental allowance," Zhor said. Once the days are transferred, the recipients who take care of the child can apply for parental allowance. Maria transferred about ten days to Zhor via the social insurance agencys website to try out the new scheme in August. "The next time that they come into use is, well, if it would be that mom wants to be home with Liam someday or if he gets ill and she unburdens me by staying at home with Liam one day and I do it the rest," Maria said. Related Critics voice concern about outsourcing childcare When the proposal was introduced in September 2023, several labour organisations in the country criticised that this policy could foster a "nanny system," effectively outsourcing childcare to relatives or professional caregivers. During an interpellation in October 2023 at the Swedish government, Anna Tenje, Minister for Older People and Social Security, said: "The risk that a transfer option would enable parental allowance to be systematically used as a means of payment for services rendered, for example to an employed childminder, is assessed as small". "We are also, as always, prepared to take very strong measures against welfare fraud and criminal acts against the welfare system. So this is something that we have on top of the agenda," Tenje told Euronews Next. Tenje further underlined the purpose of the new law is to enable parents to combine work life with active family life and to choose how to make the best for the children. Some 1,456 people in Sweden had transferred days to someone who was not the other guardian by the end of August, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency wrote to Euronews Next. SWEPCO to welcome new VP of Regulatory Affairs & Finance SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The electric power supplier to Shreveport and vast portions of the ArkLaTex, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), is welcoming in a new Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Finance as a more than three-decade veteran of the company gets set to retire. SWEPCO announced on Thursday that Melissa Gage will be taking over the position held by Tom Brice, who will retire in December following a successful 32-year career at SWEPCO. Gage begins her new role October 26. SWEPCO taps well known public servant for Arkansas leadership role Melissa has been an integral part of every regulatory filing and proceeding at SWEPCO for many years. Her knowledge, legal experience, proactive approach and focus on building relationships will be important in our work to serve our customers, said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and COO. Brice is staying on until years end to ensure a seamless transition, according to SWEPCO. I appreciate Tom so much for his dedicated service to SWEPCO and our customers, Mattison added. He and his team have been instrumental in diversification of SWEPCOs generation fleet and his heart for service is evident in every interaction. SWEPCOs service area encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Gage will be primarily based at AEPs offices in Austin, TX. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The family of 62-year-old John Corcoran continued to grieve Thursday evening at their home remembering their loved one hit and killed by a car in Cambridge Monday. The Newton native was riding his bike on Memorial Drive Monday evening when police say a driver lost control of their vehicle, and hit Corcoran. He was later pronounced dead at Mass General Hospital. The family tearfully remembered the tragic day. Monday was a regular day, said Barbara Bower, wife of John Corcoran. That evening, she noticed her husband wasnt home after his daily bike ride to Cambridge. She continued, He never bikes at night. Thats when I called the police. Police broke the tragic news to Bowers Monday. She decided to head to Harvard University early Tuesday morning to break the news to her two kids a junior and senior at the school. Jack Corcoran, Johns son, remembered his mother waking him up in his dorm and saying, Jack, dad was struck by a car, and he died last night. The family then broke the news to John Corcorans daughter, Christine. Grieving, crying, screaming, sobbing, she remembered. He was terrified of getting hit by a car. The family remembered their father as an avid biker and loving father. Jack finished, Just having him not here at the house, I cant describe it. The family is now calling for safer conditions for bikers in Cambridge and beyond. Bikers are expected to gather Friday near the BU Boathouse calling for the same. This is the third biker death in the city since June. No charges have been filed in connection to Corcorans death. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ANNSVILLE, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) Over a week after his standoff with Oneida County Sheriffs, an Taberg man has been arrested on weapons charges on Friday, September 27. Deputies were called to Taberg Florence Road in the town of Annsville at approximately 1:15 pm on Thursday, September 19. When they arrived, they encountered 33-year-old Brian Platt of Taberg. As sheriffs encountered Platt, he allegedly began making threatening statements, ran into his house and refused to come out. Sheriffs say three other people were in the building with Platt. Deputies managed to make sure that all three people got out of the house safely. Residents near the scene were placed on lockdown as New York State Police and crisis negotiators talked to Platt. Eventually, crisis negotiators were able to talk Platt into leaving the house, and he was taken into custody without further incident. Sheriffs searched the house afterward and located seven long guns laid out on a bed inside the residence. Oneida County Sheriffs seized them and an extreme risk protection order was issued. A subsequent search required by the order found no other weapons in the residence. Arrest warrants were filed in the Town of Annsville Court. On Friday, September 27, Oneida County Sheriffs arrested Platt with the help of the New York State Forest Rangers. Platt was transported to the Wyman Law Enforcement Building in Oriskany. He was subsequently taken to the Oneida County Jail in Oriskany to await arraignment in CAP Court. Platt is being charged with: Third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a Class D Violent Felony, Fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a Class A Misdemeanor, Second-degree Menacing, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, 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 WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. TALLADEGA, Ala. (WIAT) On Monday, Talledega College will host the Barbers Against Bullets Symposium to unite community members against gun violence. Organized by the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), the event will be held at the colleges student center ballroom from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free food will be provided to attendees. The symposium will tackle conversations on the intersection of gun violence and substance misuse. Barber and community advocate Vic Blends will be featured as a guest speaker. Rep. Juandalynn Givan introduces bill prohibiting bump stock possession in Birmingham This event is part of a campaign launched by ASAP to invite prominent community members, such as athletes and barbers, to influence those most impacted by gun violence. ASAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the critical issues of substance misuse and its intersections with gun violence in communities across Alabama. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two stories unfolded across Tampa Bay in the aftermath of Hurricane Helenes damage Friday. Some transportation and health services revived quickly, like the Tampa International Airport, which declared no significant damage in Helenes wake. The St. Pete-Clearwater airport reopened as expected Friday morning, too. Tampa General Hospitals AquaFence a long watertight barrier securing the Davis Islands facility against storm surge held, allowing emergency services to proceed. Other services and thoroughfares residents depend on, however, struggled to reopen or went offline unexpectedly. St. Petersburgs Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, which serves 25% of the citys residents, was inundated with 7 feet of storm surge. Residents in northeast St. Petersburg, many of whom were not told to evacuate, cant flush the toilet, shower or put anything down the drain for at least 48 hours. Hundreds of thousands were without power in Tampa Bay as of Friday afternoon. Bridges across the bay to Tampa were blocked off for nearly 24 hours on Thursday and Friday. The Courtney Campbell Causeway and Pinellas Countys barrier islands are still shuttered to traffic. And then there are the many businesses in places like Gulfport and Davis Islands that face incalculable damage and uncertain reopening times after Helene. Storm surge ravaged the outdoor bars and decks at Gulfport eateries like Neptunes Grill and Little Tommies Tiki. A spray of driftwood, dead palm fronds, foam and trash stuck in the chain-link fence at Peter O. Knight Airport, which was still closed Friday morning. Here was the status of some Tampa Bays roadways, businesses, schools, hospitals and beaches as of late Friday afternoon. Bridges The Howard Frankland and Sunshine Skyway bridges had fully reopened by Friday afternoon, after closing to drivers 24 hours before. The Gandy Bridges westbound lanes and an inside eastbound lane are open. One eastbound lane is still blocked off due to storm debris. The Courtney Campbell Causeway was still closed as of 4 p.m. Friday. Airports Tampa and St. Pete-Clearwater international airports opened to travelers Friday morning, but a sea of delays and cancellations followed. At Tampa International, a third of flights were canceled as of 4 p.m. Friday. Less than half were on-time. Early-afternoon flights at St. Pete-Clearwater were delayed by hours. Schools School districts closed campuses Thursday and Friday in preparation for Helene. Most are ready to bring students back Monday. Pasco County school district officials said all but one campus West Pasco Education Academy will reopen on Monday. Six had power outages that are expected to be handled over the weekend, said Superintendent Kurt Browning. Hernando County schools had no major problems because of the storm and will open all sites on Monday, spokesperson Karen Jordan said. Two Hillsborough County schools had some water damage and minor flooding, which is being worked on, district spokesperson Tanya Arja said. All will likely reopen Monday. Pinellas County crews were checking out schools during the afternoon. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said early in the day that at least 30 were without power, and that two Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 and Gulf Beaches Elementary were anticipated to have damages because of their proximity to the coast. Some schools were still being used as shelters. The district had not completed its review to determine its next steps as of 3 p.m. Friday. Officials said they would provide an update on school status over the weekend. They already have scheduled one makeup day for Oct. 14. Utilities Around 210,000 utility customers were without power in Tampa Bay by 4 p.m. Friday, including around 170,000 Duke Energy customers in Pinellas County and around 40,000 Tampa Electric customers. There are portions of our system we cant access because of the flooding, said Cherie Jacobs, a spokesperson for Tampa Electric. So, we cant get a full assessment of our system at this hour. Flooding is the biggest issue, but crews also reported a lot of wires and trees down, Jacobs said. Beaches Clearwater Beach is closed to traffic as law enforcement and emergency crews remove sand that has piled as high as 6 feet on some streets, according to the Clearwater Police Department. The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office reported Friday that all barrier islands from the Dunedin Causeway through Tierra Verde are closed until further notice. Places like Madeira, St. Pete and Pass-a-Grille beaches were covered in sand and debris, too. Photos shared by the sheriffs office show cars halfway submerged in layers of sand. Hospitals Tampa Bay area hospitals reported no major impacts from Hurricane Helene early Friday. While the bridges to Davis Islands were closed due to flooding, Tampa Generals emergency centers operated as usual. Farther north, there were some closures. Tampa General emergency rooms in Citrus County remained closed Friday morning while personnel assessed if they were safe to reopen. Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg said outpatient facilities will be closed Friday as storm impacts are assessed. BayCare, which operates 16 hospitals in West Central Florida, reported Friday morning that theyd had no significant impacts or evacuations. Times staff writers Teghan Simonton, Colleen Wright, Jeff Solocheck, Lane DeGregory, Zack Sampson and Dan Sullivan 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. Tampa Bays utility providers reviewed the damage Friday morning after Hurricane Helene pounded the region with high winds and the highest storm surge on record. There are portions of our system we cant access because of the flooding, said Cherie Jacobs, a spokesperson for Tampa Electric. So, we cant get a full assessment of our system at this hour. More than 941,000 Floridians were still without power by Friday afternoon, including about 305,000 in Tampa Bay. Flooding is the biggest issue, but crews also reported a lot of wires and trees down, Jacobs said. The storm swept by Tampa Bay on Thursday evening with winds between 40 and 50 mph. Around midnight, a tidal gauge in eastern Tampa Bay measured the highest storm surge on record, nearly 8 feet higher than normal water levels. The flooding is unprecedented, Jacobs said. Weve never seen damage like this. Tampa Electric crews worked overnight to stop outages as they were logged, she said, stopping only when high winds compromised safety. Work had resumed by the early hours of the morning. At one point, the company had around 100,000 outages. There are currently almost 48,000 many concentrated in Tampa and southern Hillsborough County. We are all hands on deck, around the clock, 16-hour shifts, Jacobs said. We are going to bring those outage numbers down as quickly as we can. In Pinellas County, Duke Energy had around 201,000 customers without power as of 1 p.m. Ana Gibbs, a spokesperson for Duke Energy, said those outages were mostly due to the record surge levels. Outages in the Big Bend, meanwhile, were largely attributed to high winds. Our biggest challenge is the flooding, Gibbs said. Were not going to be able to restore power until the water has receded. Crews had been at work throughout the storm across the state, Gibb said, and are continuing to repair damage to poles and wires. But she noted the overall level of damage caused by Helene is not easily comparable to past storms. Every single storm is different, Gibbs said. Sometimes its not just about how many customers are out, but the type of damage to our system. Hurricane Michael, for instance, brought Category 5 winds to Floridas Panhandle. It impacted fewer customers than other storms, Gibbs said, but required rebuilding of the system in the region. Its much more complex than understanding how many customers are out, but understanding what kind of damage is done not just to our system, but of course, the surrounding community. 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. DAVIS ISLANDS On Davis Islands, furniture lay strewn outside door fronts Friday as residents and business owners pushed water out of their dwellings and decided what they could keep and what they had to part with. Passengers in cars gasped as they drove past lawns with downed trees, and residents exchanged somber smiles. Davis Island Coffee Bar had posted a sign: Free Coffee, Stay Safe. The night before, after Hurricane Helene blew through the Tampa Bay area, many rescue calls had been made from the island. Two homes had caught on fire. Tampas mayor, Jane Castor, said she was stunned by how much of the island remained underwater early Friday when she flew over. The man-made island was developed in the 1920s from mud dredged from the bottom of Tampa Bay and initially designed to be a resort community. In the years since, its been home to the likes of Tom Brady, Steven Stamkos and Derek Jeter. Its currently home to more than 5,000 residents. As Sam Cochrane, 26, walked on to the island that was initially only allowing emergency vehicles, SUVs and trucks, he worried about those with deeper roots to the enclave. Hes only lived there about four months, but had met people whose tenure spanned 50 years. He asked neighbors who had been around much longer if they planned to evacuate as Helene approached earlier in the week, and most seemed confident that things would be fine. No one expected this much storm surge, he said. Around 2 p.m. Thursday, Cochrane evacuated near a stadium. Some of his friends stayed. When they shared photos, he began to worry. Some sat on their beds as water around them rose. He didnt know what to expect as home drew near. As he approached the structure, his neighbor Camryn Ritter, 31, handed him trash bags. Its pretty shitty, she said. Cochrane took out his phone to record as he unlocked his door. Wow, he said. Jesus Christ. He looked down at the two towels he had placed against the door to sop up water that might get in. They were soaked. He took off his shoes, stepped inside and found his feet submerged. Its not like the warning wasnt really there, he said. I think everyones like, well be fine, you know, because it hasnt happened before. So I think a lot of people are probably like, Ive lived here 40, 50 years, its never happened, so you know, this time will be fine too. His neighbor, Ritter, had evacuated on Wednesday. She spent last night watching videos and photos roll in online. Part of me just wished I wouldnt have even seen anything on social media about how bad it was, she said. It doesnt make the anxiety any easier, when you learn about it the day before and you have to actually come and exist in it. Faith Pilafas, 24, works at the Davis Islands restaurant and bar 220 East and has lived in a second-story apartment for four years with her boyfriend who works at Davis Islands Coffee Bar. They knew they would be safe, but stayed in case others in first-floor apartments needed help, Pilafas said. The storm was overwhelming. The water rose to two feet, then four, then chest level. Her boyfriend got his kayak out and started to help find people who needed to get off the island. I dont think anybody was expecting it, she said. Weve kind of gotten accustomed to lots of talk about big storms, and never actually like feeling the effects of it. So for all the people who didnt leave the island, I feel like they were all just expecting it to be a normal storm, anticlimactic. And wow, were we surprised. Pilafas said the community of Davis Islands is one that frequently bands together. I mean, just every single business is, like, totally destroyed, she said. But we dont know anybody who is seriously injured, and so were just really grateful that didnt happen. Frank Hernandez, operations manager of Servpro Brandon, a water damage restoration company, spoke with property owners. This place was a pool, he said. People havent seen this in more than 30 years. Everybody who lived on the first floors, all their stuff is destroyed. People are distraught. Its devastating. Some businesses saw battered storefronts and inches of water and muck pulled into their restaurants. Davis Islands Pharmacy continued to play music with a shattered door Friday as employees tossed out unusable goods. Debra Ogston, one of the owners of Oggi, a beloved Italian spot that has been on the island since 2016, came back to a restaurant of overturned coolers and marks on cabinets indicating that water had at one point been waist-level. They had prepared and bolstered the restaurant with PVC sandbags, but the last hour of storm surge overpowered. At six-and-a-half feet, we were holding, she said. We could evacuate from Zone A, but we cant move our business. We did everything we could to just kind of hunker down. Ogston said the morning brought employees, former employees and even a girlfriend and a neighbor of an employee ready to help. Everyone sort of pulls together, she said. Im sure if we get this cleaned up to the point where were not a public health crisis, well be trying to see what we can do to help others. Ogston said before the storm, she had helped a new business on the block prepare with sandbags, and others in the neighborhood had done the same. Were resilient, she said. Were going to go for progress, not perfection. ... The damage here is annoying, and a little heartbreaking. But its stuff. Stuff can be replaced. 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. Target thief with two carts of stolen goods kicked officer during arrest: San Mateo police SAN MATEO, Calif. (KRON) The San Mateo Police Department (SMPD) said a woman accused of stealing almost $3,000 of merchandise from Target fought with officers during her arrest. Man impersonating a security guard after breaking into synagogue convicted SMPD said a loss prevention agent at the Target, located at Bridgepinte Shopping Center, tipped off police at 11:16 p.m. Thursday when he spotted the suspect stealing items from the store. Officials said officers arrived on scene and found the suspect with two shopping carts filled with items. Police said the suspect, later identified as Kristen Martin-Boileau, became aggressive when officers tried to detain her. SMPD alleged she became violent and kicked an officer in the leg when officers attempted to have her sit in the back of the patrol car. Investigators said $2,903 of stolen merchandise was returned to Target. Martin-Boileau was arrested and booked into San Mateo County Jail, said police. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tarrant County will pay $750,000 to the family of mentally ill woman who died in jail Read the latest in our coverage of the Tarrant County jail. Tarrant County has agreed to pay $750,000 to the family of a mentally ill woman who died in the jail in 2021, the familys lawyer announced Friday. Georgia Baldwin died on Sept. 14, 2021, after jailers found her unresponsive in her cell at Lon Evans Corrections Center in downtown Fort Worth. She was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. She had been in jail for five months. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office ruled she died of severe hypernatremia, which is a high level of sodium in the blood usually attributed to dehydration. The medical examiner, however, said that the cause of the condition was undetermined. The Sheriffs Office declined to comment, stating that the department is still investigating Baldwins case. A statement from the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office said the parties have agreed to settle this matter, but the settlement papers have not been finalized yet. Baldwin suffered from severe mental illness, according to lawyers for the family. She had been arrested after leaving threatening voicemails for Christopher Cook, who at the time was an Arlington police lieutenant. Cook, now the police chief in White Settlement, referred the Star-Telegram to the Arlington Police Department. Arlington police spokesperson Tim Ciesco declined to comment on the litigation. Malone argued that Baldwins mental health issues were apparent from the beginning, and should have been taken into account in the response by law enforcement. It was clear from her voicemail messages that she had significant mental health issues, the lawyers press release states. Regardless, she was arrested and incarcerated in the Tarrant County jail for a lengthy period of time. The voicemails she left Cook concerned the unsolved case of Amber Hagerman, an Arlington girl whose 1996 abduction and murder spurred the creation of the Amber Alert System, according to KERA News. Baldwin continued to show signs of mental illness and an incapacity to comprehend her situation, her family said. A judge ordered in July 2021 that she be transferred to a state mental health facility to undergo a process called competency restoration, by which she would be returned to a mental state in which she could understand the charges against her. But the transfer was never made. Wait lists for competency restoration are generally very long and can take months or longer for an inmate to be moved to mental health facilities. Malone called it unfortunate that the case took this long to come to a close. The $750,000 was inadequate, he said, but added that he hopes it will inspire change in the Tarrant County jail and others in Texas. Baldwins son, Jonathan Mattix, who was a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement conveyed through his lawyers that the case was an incredibly difficult journey for my family. While the judgment provides some closure, our greatest hope is that my mothers death inspires changes in the system, so no other family has to endure this kind of loss, he said. Tarrant DAs 15-year deal for murderer accused of killing witness is a joke, cop says Mayra Guerra was in the passenger seat of a Mitsubishi Montero when she became an eyewitness to a murder. She cooperated with the police. In the hours after Guerra watched the man she was dating shoot a stranger on a northside Fort Worth corner, she described the killing to officers. As he stood along a street, Fernando Mendoza gestured to Jesus Rios, who was speeding as he drove, to slow down. Rios got out and fired a round into Mendozas face. Guerra cooperated with prosecutors and was sworn as a witness for the state. She was not rewarded for her honorable effort. Rather, the 37-year-old mother of five was slain because of what she saw, authorities said. Rios, indicted on murder in the February 2020 Mendoza homicide, was on bond in Tarrant County when on Sept. 8, 2023, he cut off a GPS monitor and fled to Mexico. Under circumstances that are not clear, Guerra joined Rios in Mexico, possibly against her will, Guerras sister said. In late September 2023, Rios strangled Guerra in the Mexican town where she was born, then headed to the border, law enforcement authorities concluded. There, he was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on the Tarrant County bond violation in connection with Mendozas killing. After Guerra was killed, a Fort Worth Police Department detective began an investigation of her death that in part would offer an alternative to her live testimony from the witness stand at a potential trial. In many situations, a witness cannot use in testimony the words of another person that the testifying witness asserts he or she heard. However, a forfeiture by wrongdoing hearsay exception in rules of evidence makes a dead witness observations and statements admissible at trial. Using location information connected to Rios cellphone, Fort Worth police proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Rios caused Guerras death for the purpose of preventing her from testifying. The results of a DNA test that police expect will indicate Guerras blood was on Rios clothing are pending. The state and defense engaged in plea negotiations. In March 2023, the district attorneys office offered 50 years in prison, according to district clerk records. Last week in Criminal District Court No. 3, Rios pleaded guilty to the murder of Mendoza. Under the terms of a plea bargain, a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Rios, who is 48, was credited for 1,317 days served. He will be eligible for parole when he has served half of the term. Upon a guilty verdict on murder at trial, a jury or judge would in this case have considered a prison term of 15 to 99 years or life. The lead Homicide Unit detective in the Mendoza case described in an interview with a Star-Telegram reporter his disapproval of the plea bargain. All youre doing is telling the citizens of Fort Worth: kill an eyewitness and youll get away with something, Detective Thomas OBrien said. Guerra had taken the correct course, according to police and her family. She had done the right thing. Fifteen years is a joke for the murder itself, Detective OBrien said. There are few extraneous bad acts, as a defendants wrongdoing beyond the offense charged in an indictment is known, worse than killing an eyewitness. Had the case gone to trial, prosecutors could, in the punishment phase, have potentially introduced evidence that Rios killed Guerra. That the homicide occurred outside the United States would not have restricted it from inclusion in the states punishment case. The killing could have been calculated in the punishment determination if a jury or judge found beyond a reasonable doubt that Rios intentionally or knowingly caused Guerras death. Authorities in Mexico filed an arrest warrant for murder in which Rios is the defendant. In interviews with a reporter, relatives of Mendoza and Guerra offered criticisms of the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Offices agreement to the plea bargain. A spokesperson for District Attorney Phil Sorrells responded to a question about the agreement with a statement that noted that Guerras death occurred outside the United States. In every case, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our evidence and make a decision on going to trial or offering a plea. Then we inform the family of the victim. We did so in this case. The family was present for the plea, the district attorneys office wrote. This office is not involved in the case regarding Mayra Guerra, as that offense occurred in Mexico, the the district attorneys office wrote. Assistant District Attorney Idris Akinpelu prosecuted the case. Steve Gebhardt, a defense attorney who was appointed to represent Rios, did not respond to an emailed request for his assessment of the disposition of the Mendoza case or of Rios alleged involvement in Guerras death. Magistrate Judge Rainey Webb was presiding when Rios pleaded guilty. In an interview, Myriam Rojo said that her sister, who worked as a housekeeper, was sweet. Addiction led Guerra to begin a relationship with Rios, Rojo said. She was always, you know, with her kids, Rojo said. Always with her kids. In a December 2023 letter to the court, Rojo wrote, our life has turned gray since September 26, 2023. I plead that you would please take into consideration the death of my sister and all of the pain caused to a family on Jesus Javier Rios[] punishment. Guerras eldest daughter said she was distressed by the 15-year prison term. I honestly thought it was going to be more time. Im really disappointed in the DAs office, Abby Guerra said. Relatives of Mendoza also derided the plea bargain and said they felt as though they could not raise their objections to it during a meeting with prosecutor Akinpelu. Fernando Mendoza (left) is pictured with his parents. Mendoza was killed in a shooting in Fort Worth in 2020. Jesus Rios was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to his murder. The agreement did not make sense, the victims sister, Christy Mendoza, said in an interview. What was the rush? To close a case and be done? she asked. After Guerras death, Rios was arrested at a U.S.-Mexico port of entry in El Paso, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Rios entered the U.S. using a fictitious name when he presented authorities with a Texas identification card at the Paso Del Norte port of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers believed Rios was making a false claim of U.S. citizenship and escorted him to a secondary exam area for further processing. They determined Rios was being sought on a Tarrant County bond violation. 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.] Mendoza, who was 34, was walking with a woman in the 2400 block of Roosevelt Avenue when Rios drove up to the pair and yelled, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Neither knew Rios. An argument between Mendoza and Rios ensued, leading to Rios parking his vehicle and leaving the SUV with a gun, according to the affidavit. Rios pointed the gun at Mendozas face and said, just because when he pulled the trigger, the woman with Mendoza told police. Mendoza was taken to a hospital and died four days later. Police found at Guerras house the SUV Rios was driving at the time of the shooting, a .45-caliber handgun, ejected cartridge casings and ammunition. When Guerras body was found in a Mexican field, shoelaces were tied to her neck. 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. 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? SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 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. 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. 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) A longtime employee of Taylorvilles YMCA has been sentenced to probation and restitution after she was convicted of stealing a large sum from the organization. Federal prosecutors said Lori Zeitler, 65, used per position at the YMCA to steal at least $292,000 from the organization and was responsible for $600,000 in losses. Zeitler worked at the YMCA for 32 years in various roles, including as a bookkeeper. Zeitlers theft was discovered when the YMCA switched to internet-based accounting software. She was charged with five counts of wire fraud, and she pleaded guilty in March. As a YMCA employee of 32 years, Lori Zeitler developed a long-time pattern of embezzlement, using her position of trust to steal from her employer, and ultimately shortchanging the community the YMCA serves, said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. We at the FBI and our law enforcement partners will always pursue justice in an effort to preserve the publics trust in its valued institutions. Taylorville Crime Stoppers seeking boat theft suspect At Zeitlers sentencing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough noted that her crimes broke the trust between the YMCA and the community. She described Zeitlers actions as almost unbelievable. Myerscough sentenced Zeitler to three years of probation and $600,000 in restitution. The impact of the defendants deception is wide-reaching, as the money she stole deprived the Christian County YMCA of funds that should have gone towards needed facility improvements and to support programs for members, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore. The restitution order is a just result that will help the YMCA to continue their mission in serving the community. The investigation into Zeitlers actions was performed by the FBI Springfield Field Office, the Illinois State Police and the Taylorville Police Department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Much ado has been made about the competing economic visions presented by Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. As Novembers election approaches, Harris campaign is attempting to bring younger voters into the fold by repackaging Donald Trumps tariff-centric economic plan as a threat to a beloved pastime: drinking. On Thursday, the Harris campaign launched Trumps Tequila Tax, a social media campaign aimed at tying Trumps proposed 10-to-20-percent universal tariff plan depending on the day you ask him on all imported goods. One TikTok produced by the campaign features a young man warning that the Trump tequila tax is insane, and that a 20 percent tax on all imported goods means he wants to tax your tequila, and your Coronas, your Modelos, your Hennessy all of it. The man then notes that Harris wants to support small businesses like mom-and-pop liquor stores and locally owned bars, by enacting a $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses. If you want to stop the Trump tequila tax vote for Harris-Walz, he concludes. Economists warn that broad-based tariffs on imported goods would do the opposite of lowering prices for consumers. Economists warn that a 10 percent tariff would amount to the average American spending an additional $1,700 a year in increased costs. The Harris campaign holds that the 20 percent proposal floated by Trump is essentially a Trump sales tax, that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year. Non-domestic liquor and alcohol products would absolutely be affected by such a tax. Tequila is produced exclusively in Mexico, while cognac and champagne come from France but the tax would theoretically affect any imported beer, wine, and spirit that is currently available to American shoppers. Companies will be very clear with any administration and any government that if you increase tariffs on our products, we are going to pass it on to your citizens, Laurence Whyatt head of European beverages research at Barclays Investment Bank told Just Drinks, an industry publication. If Trump goes ahead with these tariffs, then of course, that does cause some complications because a lot of what is consumed in the U.S. is not made in the U.S. The United States is the worlds largest importer of beer and tequila, and over the last three decades Mexican brands have gobbled up market shares once dominated by domestic groups Anheuser-Busch InBev. Grabbing a drink with friends is already more expensive than it used to be, and as young Americans struggle in an economy that doesnt offer them the same prosperity it did to their parents and grandparents, the Harris campaign wants to ensure that they know Trump could be making their weekend bar tab a lot more expensive. 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. Teen Girl Was Stranded in Flooded Car by Hurricane Helene Until Deputies 'Sprung into Action' for Rescue: See Video "We are glad we were able to get her to safety and out of harms way," the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office wrote on social media #teamHCSO sprung into action when one teenager was left stranded after attempting to drive through flooded waters on Racetrack Road near Lafayette Boulevard. We are glad we were able to get her to safety and out of harms way. pic.twitter.com/ICvVhRWQ6D HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) September 27, 2024 A stranded teenager in Florida was rescued late on Thursday, Sept. 26, by sheriff's deputies who came upon her car trapped in the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office praised the work of its deputies in a post on X, sharing bodycam footage of the rescue where officials are seen assisting the girl before her family was set to arrive. #teamHCSO sprung into action when one teenager was left stranded after attempting to drive through flooded waters on ... We are glad we were able to get her to safety and out of harms way, the sheriff's office's post reads. Representatives from the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for further comment. 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. Helene officially made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Florida's Big Bend on Thursday along the Gulf of Mexico, federal weather officials said. The storm initially had sustained winds of 140 mph and was the strongest storm to hit Florida's Big Bend area in recorded history. It made landfall about 10 miles west-southwest of the city of Perry, according to the National Hurricane Center. HCSO Sheriff/X Teen Girl Rescued by Deputies from Flooded Car After Hurricane Helene "Helene stands toe-to-toe with any of the threats that Florida has faced over the past 10 years or indeed really over hurricane history," Ryan Truchelut, a meteorologist and hurricane forecaster, previously told USA Today. Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, told CNN that Helene would likely be a "historic inland flooding event," adding, "Historically speaking, 50% of lives lost are in a setup like this. Were probably going to lose a lot of lives in this setup with this much flooding potential." Related: Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall as Category 4 Storm, Threatening 'Catastrophic' Weather in Florida and Beyond Before Helene made landfall, the National Hurricane Center warned it could bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains to much of Florida and parts of the southeastern U.S. At least 10 people are dead, including at least seven people in Georgia alone, and millions of people are without power as of early on Friday, Sept. 27. The storm, which has now weakened over land, is set to pass north into Tennessee and then Kentucky by Saturday. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. DENVER (KDVR) A teenager accused in a shooting that wounded five people outside a bar in Lower Downtown Denver pleaded guilty to attempted murder on Friday. According to the district attorneys office, Keanna Rosenburgh pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder. The count names eight different victims, five of whom were shot. The shooting happened on Sept. 16, 2023, outside a bar at 19th and Market Street. According to Denver police, Rosenburgh, a juvenile whose exact age was not released, tried to get into a bar but was denied entry by the clubs security. The security guard thought Rosenburgh wasnt using her own ID. Rosenburgh allegedly got out of line, went back to speak to security and then fired shots toward the club as she walked away. Aurora police arrest documented Tren de Aragua member Andrew Reader was working security at a bar across from the crime scene the night of the shooting. He has since left the industry to not work in LoDo anymore. Wearing a bulletproof vest all the time down there, not really something I needed to put my kids through. Just not really a safe thing, place for me to be in, said Reader. I try not to think about it too much. I mean it does effect me, I still have dreams about it but Im glad I got myself out of that situation. In total, five people were injured, but all survived. Reader recalled hearing about 5-6 shots fired, and secured bar patrons inside until the police said it was safe to come out. But even though the five people who were shot all survived, Reader believes the suspect should face more time behind bars. It was almost a pretty regular thing to hear gunshots or even somebody getting stabbed or fights in bars, said Reader. It could have easily been somebodys life, if not mine, other people around Being shot in the leg or the toe still has a huge impact, surgeries, hospital stays, not only that just financially too. Police said Rosenburgh may have been shooting toward security and the five victims were not the intended targets. Following the shooting, police released surveillance video in an effort to find Rosenburgh. Her face was widely circulated, and she was ultimately taken into custody in Barstow, California two months later in October 2023. The city is in the Mojave Desert of southern California, nearly halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The district attorneys office said Rosenburgh will be sentenced on Jan. 22. The DA said she faces up to seven years in the Colorado Youthful Offender System and a 21-year suspended sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOVIE REVIEW This year has brought us two fascinating, if flawed, films from older male directors who have staked their large personal fortunes in order to fund these unwieldy passion projects. First there was Kevin Costner's (ongoing) throwback Western "Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1," and now it's Francis Ford Coppola's long-marinating cinematic experiment "Megalopolis," funded by $120 million from his popular wine empire. While Costner grapples with the past and Coppola the future, both films attempt to say something about the present and reveal ways in which the filmmakers are mired in old ways of thinking. Even if "Horizon" and "Megalopolis" gesture toward sweeping, boundary-pushing ideas about storytelling, the approach to character, especially, feels old-fashioned and limited in a way that proves these auteurs haven't quite kept up with the cultural moment, insulated in their own worlds of ideas. With "Megalopolis," where to even begin? It's the story of a daring, misunderstood genius, Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), who seeks to create a utopia called Megalopolis with his proprietary shape-shifting matter, Megalon. Set in a New York City avatar called "New Rome" (and to employ a now-hackneyed joke structure), "Megalopolis" has everything: time travel, pop divas, otherwise unemployable actors, circus weddings, an array of Coppola family members, a weird sense you're watching a "Batman" movie, Aubrey Plaza stealing the show as a character named Wow Platinum, a mind-boggling amount of fedoras and, of course, an interactive theatrical element. This interactive element is a concept that Coppola has been toying with for years, and unfortunately, it won't be at every screening of "Megalopolis." But the much-touted gimmick involves a live actor in the theater coming out to ask Cesar a question at a news conference, which the character answers (this section will be edited into the film where the live element is not available). It's a bit overhyped, but Coppola certainly gets points for even attempting it. These Brechtian elements are threaded throughout the sprawling, discombobulated "Megalopolis," with the intent to draw attention to the political message that Coppola hopes to impart. He uses the allegory of ancient Rome to draw parallels to our contemporary moment. Shia LaBeouf plays Clodio Pulcher, the gender-bending, hard-partying fail-son of banking magnate Hamilton Crassus III (Jon Voight). Attempting to wrest power from his cousin Cesar, Clodio cosplays as a populist, fomenting unrest and rising to political prominence. While the experience of watching "Megalopolis" is confounding, it's never boring. Though the film feels at times never-ending, the third act spirals wildly out of control, reaching a breathtakingly baffling crescendo. There are spots of brilliance in "Megalopolis," from Plaza's outrageous performance to some stunningly gorgeous, if often narratively incoherent montages. Coppola still has the touch when it comes to crafting bravura cinematic moments, even though he never fully lets us be swept away by fantasy and sumptuous escapism in "Megalopolis," returning always to thuddingly portentous and yet vague messaging time and again. Yet there is something so distinctly human about this flawed endeavor. You simply have to hand it to the man to deliver something this boldly idiosyncratic and, ultimately, deeply earnest. So raise a glass of Coppola red wine in a toast to his sheer madness or to make the experience more tolerable. Either one will do. 'Megalopolis' (out of 4) MPA rating: R (for sexual content, nudity, drug use, language and some violence) Running time: 2 hours, 18 minutes How to watch: In theaters Teenage girl dies after collapsing halfway through flight from Iraq to China An Iraqi Airways flight from Baghdad to Guangzhou in China made an emergency landing at Kolkata airport in India due to a medical emergency involving a 16-year-old girl who suddenly fell ill. Despite getting immediate medical attention after the plane landed, the Iraqi girl was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital. The flight, carrying 100 passengers and 15 crew members, landed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose airport at around 10.18pm on Wednesday. The teenager had reportedly taken ill on the aircraft about half an hour earlier. According to an Airports Authority of India spokesperson, a medical team was rushed to see the passenger. The girl had no pulse or heartbeat when the plane landed in Kolkata, the agency said in a statement. The attending doctor referred her to the nearest hospital for further evaluation. At about 1.18am, the passenger along with two of her immediate family members were offloaded and due formalities completed. It was unclear who the family members were. The girls body would be handed over to her family with assistance from the Iraqi embassy in Delhi. The Independent has reached out to the Iraqi embassy for comment. File. An Iraqi Airways plane (Getty) Dr Pooja Adhikary, who was with the medical team that attended the teenager, reported a case of unnatural death at the Baguiati police station, according to The Indian Express. The Baguiati police launched an investigation based on the doctors report, NDTV reported, and collected the girls body from the Charnock Hospital for a postmortem examination. The flight took off for China with the remaining passengers at 1.49am on Thursday. The Independent has contacted Iraqi Airways for comment. Teenager narrowly escapes Fond du Lac house fire deemed to be act of arson, suspect in custody (WFRV) On Monday, a teenager narrowly escaped from a second-story window of a Fond du Lac house that was fully in flames, two days later a suspect was taken into custody for arson. According to a release from the Fond du Lac Police Department and Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, authorities were called to reports of a fully engulfed house fire in the 200 block of Packer Street shortly after 11 p.m. on September 23. This embedded content is not available in your region. Inattentive driving labeled as cause of 2-vehicle Sheboygan crash, significant injuries While crews arrived at the scene, a 16-year-old girl had managed to climb out of a second-story window, falling to the ground to escape. Authorities called the girls escape a courageous effort. The fire was put out before spreading to nearby homes but not before it caused extensive damage to the Packer Street home. Firefighters were able to provide critical medical care to the teenager. During the investigation, with help from the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI), it was reportedly determined that an improvised incendiary device was used to target the residence, prompting an arson investigation. 2 kittens die, 1 fighting for its life in Oshkosh after being left in a plastic bag for dead An FDLPD Detective was able to identify a person of interest and on Wednesday, September 25, a 60-year-old man was taken into custody in Menasha. Authorities say the 60-year-old suspect is facing multiple charges and is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail. The 16-year-old victim was transported to Childrens Hospital in Milwaukee for injuries sustained from the fire and fall. She remains at Childrens Hospital in stable condition. No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story when more details are 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) The effects of Hurricane Helene have struck all parts of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Flooding has occurred throughout the region, leading to evacuations and the activation of shelters. Below, community members can find updates on open shelters, curfews and/or active evacuations in the region. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) posted an updated road closure map at 9:15 p.m. that can be viewed here. The Greene County Tennessee Sheriffs Department announced that TDOT approved the reopening of the 321 River Bridge. There are reportedly plans to reopen the Asheville Highway River Bridge shortly. Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison and Sheriff Wesley Holt informed the community of a countywide curfew from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday due to downed trees and 3 bridges in the community being impassable due to rising waters. Ballad Health: Everyone rescued from Unicoi County Hospital The Highway 107 bridge is being monitored and may be closing at some point for safety reasons, according to EMA officials. Bridges already closed include Birds, Chuckey Pike and Buckingham bridges. Greene County EMA Director Heather Sipe said a shelter has been opened at Asbury United Methodist Church at 201 South Main Street. Sipe said people should park and enter at the back of the church. All residents are encouraged to bring personal items and medications to the shelter. The church is working to get drinking water. Potable water distribution is available for residents only at the south side of the Ernest Bridge, Chuckey Pike Bridge and the Chuckey Utility Districts Office. There is a 20-gallon limit, and you must bring your own containers. Roan Mountain Roan Mountain was evacuated Friday morning, and several other parts of Carter County were devastated by flooding, like Hampton High School. The American Red Cross has opened a shelter for those seeking refuge at Cloudland High School, 476 Cloudland Drive, in Roan Mountain. Elizabethton/Carter County The Elizabethton Carter/Carter County Emergency Management Agency announced that Elizabethton High School, Hampton Elementary, Cloudland High, Unaka High and Happy Valley High are all available for shelters and any county fire station. A shower trailer will be available at the TLC Community Center beginning Saturday afternoon. There will also be food, clothing and hygiene products at the Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department on Hope Street near Hunter Elementary School. The Broad Street / US 321 Bridge and the East Elk Avenue bridge are closed until further notice. The City of Elizabethton provided three alternate routes below: BROAD STREET AND ELK AVENUE BRIDGE CLOSURES ALTERNATE ROUTES From Johnson City to Hampton and Roan Mountain: From Johnson City, turn right onto Mary Patton Highway from West Elk Avenue. Broad Street Extension: Broad Street Extension will either turn right toward Piney Flats or left toward Roan Mountain. Broad Street to Highway 19-E and Stoney Creek: Turn left onto Old Bristol Highway. For small vehicles going toward Stoney Creek turn left onto Lovers Lane. For all other traffic including large trucks, follow Old Bristol Highway to the Dollar Store and turn right to Highway 19-E. Washington County, Tenn. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) issued a report at 1:16 p.m. Friday that confirmed Washington County officials had also ordered evacuations in Embreeville. The Washington County/Johnson City EMA issued an advisory at 3:20 p.m. asking all residents to only respond to instructions from official agencies. Rescue efforts can be impeded by Good Samaritans who, with the best of intentions, are responding to social media posts for help, the EMA stated. Moreover, these well-meaning neighbors may be placing themselves in harms way. Please direct any emergency needs to 911, to ensure they are handled safely by professionals. South Central Elementary School at 2955 TN-107, Chuckey, TN, has opened a shelter. David Crockett High School is open for shelter, food, warm showers, or as a charging station. The school will open at 7 a.m. on Sunday, please bring your own chargers. A new flood relief station is open on Sunday at 1790 Nolichucky Jack Way in Telford. WATCH: Drifting boat ripped below bridge as Roan Mountain floods Hawkins County In Hawkins County, residents have been advised to shelter in place, according to TEMA. Lynn Campbell, Hawkins County 911 Executive Director, said, In response to the devastating weather events caused by Hurricane Helene, which impacted Carter County throughout the day, Hawkins County 911 has deployed two telecommunicators as part of the Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT). At the request of the Tennessee TERT state coordinator, our team was dispatched to Carter County 911 at approximately 5:00 PM today. Volunteer High School will be open on Sunday as a charging station. The charging station will be open in the library until 7 p.m. Unicoi Co./Erwin Interstate 26 in Unicoi County has been closed entirely due to flooding. Ballad Health confirmed Friday afternoon that more than 50 people were rescued on the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital by helicopter. There is a shelter at Unicoi County High School. Faith Baptist Church, 2307 Temple Hill Rd: refuge shelter with deputies on site offering help. Unicoi County is under curfew from 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. until further notice. Unicoi Co. Hospital; WJHL Smyth County/Marion The Smyth County Health Department and Red Cross opened two emergency shelters, Marion Senior High and Brookside Baptist Church in Sugar Grove. Johnson Co./Mountain City Johnson Countys shelter is open at First Christian Church of Mountain City, 401 W. Main Street, after the mayor declared a state of emergency. An emergency shelter has been established at First Christian Church of Mountain City, 401 W Main Street. Washington County, VA The Washington County, Virginias Emergency Declaration has issued a curfew for the Town of Damascus beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday. A release from the county said the curfew will be reevaluated on Saturday. Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis said, A curfew following todays devastating flood in Damascus is an appropriate step. The county has a shelter at Highlands Fellowship Church, 134 Commerce Court, Bristol, Virginia, off exit 7. Wise County The Wise County Office of Emergency Management said that Carnes Gym in Big Stone Gap and Coeburn Middle School are open as emergency shelters beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Any residents who require oxygen therapy are encouraged to bring their concentrators to charge. For transportation assistance, contact the Wise County Dispatch at 276-328-3756. Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee is handing out food and water to eight county shelters and emergency management crews. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn issued the following statement to Tennesseans: All Tennesseans impacted by flash flooding and severe weather should follow local guidance and evacuation protocols carefully. We are working with local officials to ensure public safety, and I encourage every Tennessean to avoid dangerous areas and heed the direction of emergency personnel if traveling. We stand ready to assist and help secure any federal assistance that may be necessary. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Russell County Lebanon Lifesaving Crew station: Shower facilities from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept 29. Bottled water will be available, as well as access to charge electronics, BYO charger. No handicap-accessible facilities. If anyone has unused oxygen cylinders they would like to donate to Russell County Emergency Management, please reach out. Town of Lebanon Here are a few steps patients can take prior to calling 911 if it is not an active emergency (patients who are running out of oxygen immediately, experiencing difficulty breathing, or experiencing a life or limb-threatening health emergency should call 911 immediately) 1- Reach out to relatives with electricity to see if they can temporarily accommodate the patient so home oxygen units can be utilized until electricity is restored. 2- Contact your home oxygen supply company and make them aware of the situation and to determine if oxygen is available through your company. 3- Please be aware that EMS agencies will respond to 911 calls but we can not guarantee the availability of portable oxygen cylinders. Patients can be transported to the hospital for oxygen administration in case of 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Aftermath of an explosion at a fuel station in Makhachkala MOSCOW (Reuters) - The death toll from an explosion at a petrol station in Dagestan in Russia's Caspian Sea region has risen to 13, including two children, the emergencies ministry said on Saturday. The blast, which occurred on Friday outside the regional capital of Makhachkala, also injured 23 people, it said. Healthcare minister aide Alexei Kuznetsov said that four people remained in hospitals, including one in serious condition, Russian state news agency RIA reported. Dagenergo, the regional power operator, said on Friday that power supply was partially disrupted in nearby districts.. A local branch of the Investigative Committee, which deals with serious crimes in Russia, said it had opened a criminal case. Preliminary results showed no traces of explosives at the scene, the committee wrote on Telegram. Dagestan Governor Sergei Melikov told a briefing that some violations had previously been discovered during inspections of the petrol station but that these had been resolved before the blast, state agencies reported. More than 130 petrol stations in Dagestan closed over the past year for various violations had resumed operations as a result of local court decisions, Melikov said. The search operation after the blast is ongoing, he said. Local authorities declared Sept. 28 a day of mourning in the region. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Mark Heinrich and Jason Neely) Two Kansas City area tenant unions voted to authorize rent strikes beginning in October after attempts to negotiate with building owners amid poor living conditions have failed to produce results, KC Tenants announced Friday morning. Union members of Independence Towers and Quality Hill Towers said theyre prepared to withhold their rent payments starting Oct. 1, if their landlords do not come to the bargaining table, KC Tenants said in a news release. Among other demands, the unions are pushing for national rent caps, new ownership and collectively bargained leases. The strikes would be the first of their kind in KC Tenants history, the organization said in an email. The organization said it would also be the first-ever strike to target the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA), the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac regulator. Altogether, the unions are prepared to withhold over $60,000 from their landlords in October, the organization said. An apartment labeled unsafe to occupy since June 17, 2024 on the second floor of Independence Towers on Sept. 3, 2024. Poor living conditions The impending rent strike comes as residents say they are fed up with poor living conditions and improper management that has led to hazards in their homes. Tenants at Quality Hill Towers previously told The Star that theyve endured burst pipes, unresolved sewage backup and pest infestations at the Kansas City apartment located at 817 Jefferson Street. Their complaints were met by ignored maintenance requests, eviction threats, retaliation and rent hikes, the tenants claim. Flooding in a main hallway at Quality Hill Towers in downtown Kansas City led to water being turned off in the building. After almost two years of organizing, around 60 residents and activists stood outside Quality Hill Towers earlier this month to announce the formation of its tenant union. The union now has 148 members, accounting for about 63% of the buildings tenants. At Independence Towers, residents say they have dealt with pest infestations and chronic plumbing problems causing water damage and mold. Residents said they have also gone without heating and air conditioning for extended periods of time. Walls and ceilings are marred by gaping holes, exposing rusted pipes and other hazards. The problems, including faulty window latches that are in part to blame for a toddler falling to his death, have been well documented. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, the U.S. Congressional representative for Missouris fifth district, toured the building, expressing his dismay over the dire living conditions. Some of it is worse than your words, I dont know how Im going to describe it to people, Cleaver said. Independence city officials have said theyre well aware of the living conditions residents have endured at the high-rise complex on Jennings Road. Emanuel Cleaver II tours tenant Matt Fullertons apartment on the second floor of Independence Towers on Sept. 3, 2024. Still, Independence Towers passed its latest city inspection in 2023, even as activists have been demanding action for the safety of residents and questions have been raised about the citys inspection process through its Rental Ready program, meant to safeguard tenants. Lawyers previously told The Star the city could be doing more to hold building owners accountable, while city leaders claimed their hands are tied because no tenants have filed formal complaints with the city. Tenant advocates and attorneys say the process to file complaints in inaccessible to many tenants, and puts them at risk of eviction. No tenant will ever complain with homelessness as the price, said Giana Chiala, attorney with the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom. The Independence Towers union launched publicly on May 2 after residents had gone without hot water for two weeks. Currently, the union has 40 members, equaling 65% of its occupied units. KC unions part of national effort Tenant unions at Independence Towers and Quality Hill Towers are both part of an organized national effort targeting properties with federally-backed loans. Both buildings sent representatives to a meeting on May 28 with the FHFA Director and top executives from Fannie Mae, sharing their stories. The unions claim both properties have failed to make urgent and necessary repairs and have misused funds meant for upkeep of the buildings. Both buildings received Fannie Mae-backed loans. In a news release, KC Tenants said, The director made no satisfactory commitments in that meeting. A damaged wall in a shower in Derek Harris apartment in Quality Hill Towers in Kansas City on September 5, 2024. In preparation to approve the rent strike, the unions held a strike drive organizing hundreds of tenants onto commitment cards. Thursday night, both unions held their weekly meetings. Union members cast silent ballots and elected bargaining teams reached a consensus to authorize the strike. The building landlords have until close of business Monday to come to the negotiation table and meet the unions demands, KC Tenants said in a news release. If they do not, the tenants are prepared to strike Tuesday. If the strike launches Oct. 1, both unions will hold rallies at their respective buildings that morning. The Stars Noelle Alviz-Gransee contributed. Iranians raise their national flag as well as Palestinian and Lebanon's Hezbollah standards during an anti-Israel protest in Tehran (-) (-/AFP/AFP) Tens of thousands protested in Iranian cities and in the rebel-held Yemeni capital on Friday to condemn Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, AFP journalists and state media reported. The demonstrates in Tehran and other Iranian cities were responding to call by authorities on Wednesday to demonstrate in support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon "and to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine," the official IRNA news agency said. Hezbollah is part of the "axis of resistance," Iran-aligned armed groups across the Middle East which have targeted Israel, and also US forces, in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas. The alliance also includes Yemen's Huthi rebels who organised a demonstration by tens of thousands in the capital Sanaa on Friday a day after firing a missile at Israel. In Tehran after Friday prayers, a protest took place around Enghelab Square in the city centre, an AFP journalist said. Demonstrators carried portraits of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah as well as Palestinian and Hezbollah flags. "Israel is destroyed. Lebanon is victorious," they chanted, deploring "a bloodbath in Lebanon." Protesters also burned Israeli and US flags. State television aired footage of other demonstrations in Semnan, Qom, Kashan, Kermanshah, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas. In Sanaa, which has been held by the Iran-backed Huthis for a decade, tens of thousands of chanting protesters gathered, many waving rifles and placards. "We say to our brothers in Lebanon that you will be victorious, God willing, said Huthi supporter Mortada al-Mutawkil. This war is not the first nor the last with the Israeli enemy, but God willing it will be more painful for Israel than the 2006 war. Another protester, Mohammed Mushki, said: "No matter how long the war lasts and no matter how big it is, we are on their side, all the Yemeni people, on the side of the Lebanese and Palestinian people until victory, God willing." In Bahrain, which is an Israeli ally and keeps a tight rein on demonstrations, two protests denounced the war in Gaza and bombing campaign on Lebanon. Several hundred people marched in a village north of Manama, voicing solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon, and in the capital scores of people raised Palestinian and Lebanese flags and called for an end to ties with Israel. The people demand an end to normalisation, the protesters chanted. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, triggering a war with Israel and near-daily cross-border fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel, which has hit back. Those exchanges have intensified dramatically over the past week. Israeli raids on Lebanon since Monday have killed hundreds in the deadliest violence since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. As the violence escalates, analysts say Iran is walking a tightrope by trying to support Hezbollah without getting dragged into a full-blown conflict and playing into its enemy's hands. ap/it/kir Tesla has defended visiting the homes of German employees who call in sick as Elon Musk pledges to investigate high rates of absenteeism. Andre Thierig, the manager of Teslas gigafactory on the outskirts of Berlin, said turning up at the homes of staff was not unusual. We wanted to appeal to the work ethic of the workforce, he told DPA, the German press agency. It came after German media reported that Tesla bosses had checked in on 30 employees as part of an attempt to fight a spate of absences. The carmaker has provided bonuses to staff who turn up for work regularly and executives have suggested that staff who frequently call in sick are dishonourable and are exploiting the system. Staff calling in sick at the Berlin gigafactory reached 17pc in August, compared to an average rate of sick leave in Germanys car manufacturing industry of just over 5pc. Sick leave is also higher on Fridays, executives have said. That is not an indicator of bad working conditions because the working conditions are the same on all working days and across all shifts, Mr Thierig said. It suggests that the German social system is being exploited to some extent. In response to a tweet about the high rates of absence, Mr Musk wrote: This sounds crazy. Looking into it. This sounds crazy. Looking into it. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2024 Calling in sick has been a long-running problem at Teslas Germany factory, which is the companys only site in Europe and employs around 12,000 staff. Last year, Mr Thierig told staff: We will not tolerate some people bending their backs for others who just dont feel like coming to work. There is no room in his factory for people who dont get out of bed in the morning. Mr Thierig and HR director Erik Demmler told staff last Thursday that they had been visiting the house of absent employees, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. Mr Demmler said they had had doors slammed on them and in some cases told that employees would be calling the police. In July the company handed out bonuses of 1,000 (830) to employees who reached gold status by turning up to work more than 95pc of the time. IG Metall, the German carmaking union, claimed the high rate of absences was due to staff being overworked and put in unsafe conditions. Mr Musk is a vocal critic of unions and Tesla has repeatedly clashed with IG Metall in Germany. Most staff voted against appointing union representatives to the plants works council earlier this year. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin over the citys budgetary allocation to support out-of-state abortion services, Paxtons office announced in a Friday release. Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes said earlier this month the city of Austin was moving forward with the Reproductive Health Grant, a $400,000 allocation included in the citys fiscal year 2024-25 budget to support Austinites seeking abortion care outside of Texas. Those dollars are available to cover expenses such as travel, lodging, childcare stipends and food. PAST COVERAGE: City of Austin moving forward with abortion travel fund In Paxtons lawsuit, the attorney general said his office is seeking a temporary restraining order to put a pause on the use of the funding while the litigation proceeds forward. The suit also requested the court provide temporary and permanent injunctions mandating Austin cannot spend taxpayer money on logistical support for abortion care. No city in Texas has the authority to spend taxpayer money in this manner. In this case, the City of Austin is illegally seeking to use public funding to support travel expenses for out-of-state abortions, Paxton said in the release. The Texas Constitution prohibits governmental entities from doing so. A city spokesperson confirmed officials are aware of the lawsuit, adding Austins legal team is prepared to handle the lawsuit proceedings in court. The City is aware of the lawsuit filed by the State of Texas in response to last months budget allocation for logistical support services, the emailed statement read. We have successfully litigated this issue in the past and, similar to another lawsuit that raises this issue, will respond to the recent allegations through the appropriate court channels. Paxton isnt the first to sue the city over this issue. In late August, former Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman filed a lawsuit against the city over the same funding, arguing it was against state law for the city to spend taxpayer dollars on abortion-assistance activities, even if the funds are being used outside the state where abortion services are legal. RELATED: City of Austin sued over allocating funds for out-of-state abortion access The latest suit from Paxton drew plenty of pushback from some city officials Friday. In a social media post, Fuentes criticized Paxton for suppressing communities for promoting healthcare. Reproductive care is essential healthcare, and these actions only further undermine local efforts to uphold bodily freedom, Fuentes wrote. Its disappointing, but not surprising. Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis shared similar sentiments online, posting on social media Friday: Reproductive rights are human rights the women of Austin deserve to make their own healthcare decisions! Her team also noted Ellis is currently in Tempe, Arizona at a Democrats summit discussing with fellow municipal officials how to protect reproductive rights at the local level. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson shared his backing of the citys funding allocations, slamming Paxtons suit as exploiting the great power of his office to attack and undermine reproductive rights. Im proud the Austin City Council is supporting Austin women as they make their own decisions about their body, their family, their health, their happiness, and their quality of life, Watsons statement read in part. I stood up and fought for reproductive rights throughout my time in office, including in the Texas Senate, and I will not back down in City Hall. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Texas reviewed the Marvin Nichols Reservoir and thinks its good to go. What do you think? Enthusiasts and skeptics will have another chance to share their thoughts on the potential construction of a 66,000-acre lake 150 miles east of the Metroplex on Monday. North Texas water planners first conceived of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir in the late 1960s. Tensions surrounding its future intensified in the 2000s, as Dallas-Fort Worths surging population laid bare the long-term inadequacies of its water supply. State officials extol the project as a sensible and formidable solution to future supply shortages. The Texas Legislature in 2007 deemed it a site of unique value for the construction of a reservoir, given the ample surface water provided by the Sulfur River basin and the comparatively low estimated costs of shipping the water to consumers. Completing the $4.5 billion undertaking would require flooding more than 100 square miles of forest and wetland near Cuthand, an entrenched and tight-knit ranching community of roughly 300. Residents and state nature conservationists view Marvin Nichols as a needlessly destructive boondoggle, designed not to meet the regions basic needs but to feed the gluttony of water-hungry lawns in sprawling suburban subdivisions. Any potential benefits, they reason, wouldnt be worth the costs: drowning a diverse and vibrant ecosystem and disrupting the livelihoods of locals. The opposition compelled lawmakers to require the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a feasibility review of the project before pushing it forward. The agency published its preliminary findings this month and painted an unequivocal picture: North Texas needed Marvin Nichols, and there were no insurmountable barriers financial, logistical, or ecological that made its completion infeasible. The boards North Texas planning body Region C will convene at 1 p.m. Monday at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Drive, in Arlington to discuss the reservoir, the study, and what opposition remains. Members of the public will be given time to vent their concerns or or share their content. AUSTIN (KXAN) Some Texans will be on hand to help as Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall in Florida. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested help from Texas A&M Task Force 1. After approval from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, crews are headed to Florida. Being in place before the storm starts allows us to be close and yet safe to where we are staged, so that we are ready to get to impacted residents as quickly as possible, Christy Bormann with Texas A&M Task Force 1 said. When disaster strikes the group goes into action and is prepared for many situations. We always plan for a bigger impact than predicted so that we are ready for everything, Bormann said. Bormann and her K-9 named Connor will help with search and rescue efforts. Helenes winds batter Florida as Category 3 storm races toward the coast Our job is to find and rescue people who have been trapped after any disaster, Bormann said. Once Connor locates someone in a collapsed structure he barks to notify Bormann that hes found someone. Theyve been training together for three years, but this is Connors first time out of Texas. This is Connors first federal deployment, Bormann said. He has been certified by FEMA to assist with locating people who are trapped after a disaster. The entire Texas team in Florida is made up of 80 personnel, including six canines, 17 vehicles, and six rescue boats. No matter what the issue is we have the personnel to be able to figure out how to best respond to that to make sure that impacted residents are safe, Bormann 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. Caitlin Sams and Jeff Brooks never got the chance to see "Dear Evan Hansen" when the musical starring Ben Platt burst onto Broadway nearly eight years ago. Nor did they catch the less-successful movie adaption also starring Platt, this time looking less convincing as the high schooler in the title role released in 2021, either. In fact, the first "Dear Evan Hansen" production the two actors ever really experienced was the one they auditioned for. "I had been lucky enough to be busy enough during the entire run of 'Dear Evan Hansen' on Broadway that I didn't get the opportunity to see it in the theater," Brooks said. "I still have not seen it other than our production, so I've only had the experience of listening to the original Broadway recording." Brooks and Sams play the parents of Connor Murphy, the high schooler whose suicide shatters their idyllic existence and changes classmate Evan Hansen's life, in a national tour of the show, which kicked off earlier this month in Houston. So, how do you define a role you're playing and seeing for the time? "We had the benefit of working with some really talented creatives who have been with the show from the very beginning, and they had a very clear vision for what they wanted this show to look like, and they know how this show speaks to people and how they want it presented, so that makes our job very easy," said Brooks, who hails from central New York. Lincoln audiences will get to see that vision for themselves when "Dear Evan Hansen" makes its Capital City debut with a five-show run this weekend at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. While the actors are still getting "the lay of the land" as the tour continues, Sams said she was already familiar with the coming-of-age story by listening to the music when "Dear Evan Hansen" first made its splash on Broadway and won a Tony Award for best musical. That story, in the basic sense, concerns Evan Hansen (played by Michael Fabisch), a high school senior and outsider, who, prompted by a therapist, begins writing letters to himself. One of those letters lands in Connor's hands shortly before his suicide, and his parents Larry and Cynthia, who had struggled to connect with their depressed son, mistakenly believe that Connor and Hansen were close friends, which Hansen the outsider seizes on, in part, to fit in. What follows is a study of sorts -- both from the perspective of parents and young people -- on our interconnected, social media-inundated lives, mental health, and the desire to belong. Underpinning it all is a musical score that is surprisingly catchy for a show that delves into such heavy themes. "I do think this show is a great opportunity, especially for parents coming to see it with their middle or high school-aged kids," Sams said. "I think it's a great prompt to have conversations about how they each feel about social media and their friendships and relationships both on and offline." Those conversations are just as relevant nearly a decade later. The pandemic, for one, raised awareness about mental health issues among young people, many of whom experienced their formative years through a screen. "When this show first came out, adults who were watching it were watching it from a perspective of a really big question mark of like, how could this really affect them in this way?" Brooks said. "Younger generations were the ones trying to tell them, 'This is something that's happening to us right now.' And I think now both of those age groups understand the effect that social media has on not just people in their 40s now, but people 20 and under. It can affect them very, very deeply." In preparing for their roles as the Murphys who "on paper look like the perfect family," said Brooks the two thought back to their own parents. Even though neither have children of their own, playing parents on the stage has taught them something. "It makes me have a lot of empathy for the parents out there, just trying to do the best for their kids," Sams said. "I find myself almost in my dad's shoes," Brooks added. "Playing this character, I wonder how he would have handled this. It's interesting to think about." IF YOU GO What: "Dear Evan Hansen" Where: Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and Q streets. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets: Available at liedcenter.org, by phone at 402-472-4747 and at the Lied ticket office. Top Journal Star photos for September 2024 The State Fair of Texas was able to open Friday morning in Dallas with its gun ban in place after the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday night denied Attorney General Ken Paxton's request for a temporary injunction against the firearms restrictions. This article has been updated to add new information. The Texas Supreme Court dealt a final blow Thursday night to Attorney General Ken Paxton's hail-Mary attempt to quash the State Fair of Texas' newly implemented no-gun policy in an order issued 13 hours before the festivities began Friday morning. In an unsigned decision, the all-Republican high court denied Paxton's request for a temporary injunction against the firearms ban, meaning fairgoers except peace officers must leave their weapons behind before they enter Dallas' Fair Park. Justice Jimmy Blacklock ridiculed the state's legal arguments in a scathing, five-page concurring opinion signed by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and Justice Evan Young, spearing the attorney general for "tak(ing) no position" on whether the state fair has the authority to ban firearms and for failing to substantiate its assertion that the city of Dallas, not the fair, directed the policy change. "This Court cannot possibly order the State Fair to allow handguns to be carried at this years Fair when the party seeking that relief does not even argue that Texas law obligates the Fair to do so," Blacklock wrote. He added, using italics for emphasis, that "the States filings do not even attempt to answer" the question at the heart of the case. Texas Supreme Court justices took no position on whether Texas law allows a nonprofit like the state fair to ban firearms while leasing city land, saying only that the state had not sufficiently argued its case against the fair. The order comes two days after the state's new 15th Court of Appeals reached the same decision, affirming a Sept. 19 ruling from Dallas state District Judge Emily Tobolowsky, a Democrat. Paxton, a three-term Republican, accused the city of Dallas of exceeding its legal authority in letting the fair prohibit guns from government-owned property in a lawsuit filed Aug. 29, which came after 61 Republican state lawmakers and 10 GOP legislative candidates signed a letter demanding the fair's board of directors reverse the gun prohibition. Attorneys for Dallas and the state fair have argued that, because the fair is a private nonprofit organization leasing Dallas' Fair Park, it has the right to decide whether or not to admit fairgoers who bring firearms. In support of their argument, the defendants referenced an 8-year-old legal opinion in which Paxton had come to the same conclusion, stating nonprofits have the right to ban firearms on public land that they are leasing from a city. Paxton withdrew that opinion days after filing the state fair lawsuit a move that Blacklock addressed in his concurring opinion. The State Fair of Texas pointed out that Attorney General Ken Paxton, middle, had issued an opinion eight years ago stating that nonprofits do have the right to ban firearms on public land that they are leasing from a city. "If the AG Opinion was wrong, then surely the party seeking a result at odds with its own publicly stated opinion must at least explain why its opinion was wrong," Blacklock wrote. More: 15th Court of Appeals shoots down Paxton's request to block state fair's no-gun policy The fair's governing board tightened its gun policy in early August after previously allowing Texans with permits to carry concealed firearms. The change came after three fairgoers were injured last year in a shooting that stemmed from a private dispute. State Sen. Bob Hall, a Dallas-area Republican, said in August that he and his family would boycott the state fair unless it rescinded the policy. "My family AND I will not be attending the Texas State Fair this YEAR unless the recently announced policy of not allowing law abiding citizens to protect themselves is rescinded," Hall wrote in a newsletter to constituents. "Unfortunately, the City of Dallas has chosen to prioritize the desires of criminals to rob, rape, murder and harm citizens, at will, over the God given rights of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves." The State Fair of Texas applauded the high court's ruling in comments to the American-Statesman on Thursday night, writing that the nonprofit was looking forward to "providing a safe environment for our millions of fairgoers, as well as our staff, vendors, and volunteers." A spokesperson for the State Fair of Texas said the cost of the gun ban litigation has already threatened to reduce the amount of money the nonprofit will be able to donate to charity this year. However, spokesperson Karissa Condoianis said in an email interview Wednesday, the "substantial" cost of the litigation has already threatened to reduce the amount of money the fair will be able to donate to charity efforts, which include "college scholarships, Texas youth livestock programs, community programs and grant funding in the South Dallas/Fair Park area and Fair Park improvements." Condoianis also said numerous fairgoers had thanked the event organizers for banning firearms. "We have received a lot of positive feedback from many folks who regularly attend the State Fair," Condoianis, the fair's senior vice president for public relations, wrote in response to emailed questions from the Statesman. "The overall message is that they feel safe with Dallas Police and other law enforcement officers providing the security presence." The Supreme Court justices took no position on whether Texas law allows a nonprofit, like the state fair, to ban firearms while leasing city land, saying only that the state had not sufficiently argued its case. "It should go without sayingthough perhaps it cannot be said often enoughthat a judges role in this case is not to decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision," Blacklock wrote in his opinion. "Our job, instead, is to decide whether Texas law allowed the State Fair to make the decision for itself. The State declines to take a position on that essential question but nevertheless asks this Court for an injunction overriding the State Fairs decision. It should also go without saying that our answer, for now, must be no." In a news release Friday morning, Paxton vowed to continue fighting the firearms ban through the lawsuit, which will move forward in state District Court. He also promised to push for legislative changes "to protect law-abiding citizens Second Amendment rights on public property." "This case is not over," Paxton said in the news release. "I will continue to fight this on the merits to uphold Texans ability to defend themselves." Attorney Jeff Tillotson, whose firm Tillotson, Johnson & Patton is representing Dallas in the lawsuit, told the Statesman, "We believe the Supreme Court reached the right result." The city of Dallas declined to comment. More: Texas county challenges First Amendment ruling on library book bans in 5th Circuit hearing This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas State Fair can ban guns Supreme Court rules, reproaching Paxton (AUSTIN) The Supreme Court of Texas on Thursday night denied Attorney General Ken Paxtons emergency filing seeking to overturn the State Fair of Texas policy banning all firearms from its fairgrounds. The fair is set to start Friday. It should go without sayingthough perhaps it cannot be said often enoughthat a judges role in this case is not to decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision. Our job, instead, is to decide whether Texas law allowed the State Fair to make the decision for itself. The State declines to take a position on that essential question but nevertheless asks this Court for an injunction overriding the State Fairs decision, the court said in its ruling. It should also go without saying that our answer, for now, must be no. The ruling comes two days after a Dallas County District Court struck down a request from Paxton on the fairs gun policy. The District Court Judge agreed with State Fair officials that they could enforce a gun ban as a private nonprofit. Paxton, who said hours later on social media that he would ask the states Supreme Court to overturn the ban, has maintained that the fairs gun ban violates state law, which bars most government bodies from prohibiting weapons. State Fair officials say it has the right as a private nonprofit, and the city of Dallas says it has no role in the fairs gun policy. Heres what you need to know. The background: Fair officials and law enforcement announced the policy change last month, roughly a year after a gunman opened fire at the fair, injuring three people. Officials also announced it will have security cameras at entrances and will not provide storage for larger bags. A week after the policy change, several state lawmakers signed a petition pressuring State Fair officials to rescind it, saying the new policy makes the fair less safe. Shortly after, Paxton sent fair officials and Dallas interim city manager a letter giving them 15 days to rescind the policy or else face legal action from his office. Dallas owns Fair Park, where the 24-day event takes place annually, but State Fair of Texas, a nonprofit organization, operates the park and various city buildings and walkways within the property, per a 25-year agreement between the two entities. A week before the Dallas District Court hearing, Paxton withdrew an eight-year-old legal opinion that allowed private nonprofits to ban guns on land they lease from a city. After last weeks ruling by the Dallas County District Court, Paxton announced he would turn to the 15th Court of Appeals, a new state court lawmakers created last year to handle cases involving the state or businesses. Critics fear the court is an effort by Republicans to circumvent Democrat-dominated courts, while proponents say the court will increase efficiency. Why Texas sued: Since Fair Park is owned by Dallas, the nonprofits policy change violates state law, which allows licensed gun owners to carry in places owned or leased by governmental entities, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, according to Paxtons lawsuit. Texas law establishes that schools and courtrooms are considered gun-free zones and allows others, such as amusement parks or educational institutions, to institute their own bans on firearms. Neither the City of Dallas nor the State Fair of Texas can infringe on Texans right to self-defense, Paxton wrote in his statement announcing the lawsuit. In his letter to the interim city manager, Paxton acknowledged that some buildings on the Fair Park premises, like the Cotton Bowl and other buildings used for scholastic events, are areas where guns are prohibited by state law. However, the entirety, or vast majority of the 277-acre Fair Park of Dallas is not a place where weapons are prohibited, Paxton wrote. What State Fair officials say: The city of Dallas disagreed with Paxtons allegations, explaining that city officials werent involved in the State Fairs decision to enforce a gun ban. The State Fair of Texas is a private event operated and controlled by a private, nonprofit entity and not the City, a Dallas spokesperson said in a statement. Fair officials believe they could enforce a gun ban as a private nonprofit and are standing by their decision. The State Fair of Texas will continue to prioritize providing a safe and secure environment for our millions of fairgoers, as well as our staff, vendors, and volunteers, Karissa Condoianis, a state fair spokesperson, has said. As a private, not-for-profit organization leasing Fair Park for our annual State Fair, we believe we have the right to make this decision and maintain that it is the correct decision to protect the safety of our patrons. Broader impact: This is the first high-profile case for the newly established 15th Court of Appeals, the judges of which were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Tuesdays ruling might cool some Democrats concerns that the court was created to secure more Republican-friendly decisions. Additionally, Paxtons effort to block the State Fair gun ban adds to a long list of cases that his office pursues scrutinizing policy decisions from local governmental entities with more liberal-leaning leadership voter registration, among the latest. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sustainability savants are seeking systemic shifts. Textile Exchange and Tapestry joined forces in New York City during Climate Week to get candid about the need for growth in environmental impact initiatives. More from Sourcing Journal Held at Tapestrys global headquarters in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, the Systemic Shifts for a More Resilient Fashion Future event kicked off with a clear definition of how the sustainability trade group defines climate action. Greenhouse gas emissions as well as soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare as well as circularity, human rights and water are all relevant to maintaining a holistic view on what has to happen in together, in harmony, to achieve these very ambitious goals that we have, as articulated by Claire Bergkamp, Textile Exchanges CEO. Were running out of time; that ambition starts to feel heavier and harder every year, she said in her opening remarks. But were not an organization that shies away from a hard problem. Joe Murphy, executive lead of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network; Beth Jensen, director of Climate+ impact at Textile Exchange; thought leader Rachel Arthur and Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, president of the Club of Rome convened for a conversations on the often-untalked-about issues in inherent in pursuing ambitious goals. Material substitution will not be enough for us to achieve our greenhouse gas emissions targets related to raw materials and fibers, Jensen said, referencing the nonprofits Material Pathways report from last March. If we expect to achieve our climate targets . . . Innovation alone will not save us. For the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, convincing industry players to come on board is a work in progress. When we first launched the idea of [the] circular economy, it was led by an economic narrative first and foremost. The earlier reports we put out, you could do a control-find on sustainability as a word and you wouldnt find that word in any of the reportsit was really important for us to be leading with a new form of growth [and] new ideas, Murphy said. I think that was picked up strongly by business leaders across sectors because it was a vision, and it was something they could see themselves and the future viability of their businesses in that vision. Yet talk is cheap. Obviously, doing it is really, really complicated, Murphy said. Its a fundamental transformation of everything you know in terms of how the business model works today. The tenor of those talks has transformed, too. Theres risk associated with innovation, he continued. I think theres maybe a bit of a lack of imagination in thinking beyond resale and repair as we know them today, what could be the new, creative business models that exist? This mindset of playing to win rather than playing not to lose, you can really tell the different brands that are coming in to play to win in this space. On the topic of the imagination gap, Arthur discussed the sustainable fashion communication playbook the United Nations Environment Program released at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen last summer. The real heart of the report is talking about the fact that this industry is, in many ways, if Im really crude about it, made up of nothing much more than the marketing that supports it and pushes it, Arthur said. How could we possible change it if we dont address that side as well? There isnt a world in which any of these things that were asking the industry to do can be done by one single job, role or stakeholder. It has to be [a] systems change approach. Dixson-Decleve went a step further, touching on building narratives and being clever when calling companies out. Whats happening right now in terms of shareholder value and exponential profits is immoral; $2.8 billion oil and gas profits per day on the back of energy, poverty, is immoral, she said. The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership senior associate noted she herself previously spent a decade working within the oil and gas industry, and now is the time to call them out. You need scientists, engineerspeople who have been insideto call them out, and then you need to kind of get to their emotional strengths. Weve done some of the ethics, working with CEOs across the oil and gas companies, and they do a very good job of blocking it out, Dixson-Decleve continued. But I think we need to be very clear, both in terms of the statistics and datawhich is there and theyre not listening toand then second, find a way to call them out on that immorality piece and get to their heart and soul, if they still have one. Ultimately, a coalition of the willing governments who wont enable that immorality, where shareholder value is no longer just the only value, is necessary, she concluded. On the topic of gas and oil, moderator Sarah Kent of Business of Fashion acknowledged that supermajor gas company BP abandoned its strategy on the Beyond Petroleum rebrand attempt because it lost loads of money by pushing solar. It couldnt make a profit, she said. Perhaps fashion isnt so far off from a similar fate. So, how do you get the C-suite to bet on losing dogs? The fiduciary duty of CEOs today is to grow, Jensen said. Thats a huge barrier for any of the companies that are represented in this room. Dixson-Decleve agreed, suggesting a revolution from the social tension perspective is nigh. The economy does not function for people. The economy functions for shareholders, she said. We have to debunk the conception that our CFO is not a person. Getting this message across to executivesanswerable to shareholdersand trying to give them a path forward is hard. Couple that with cancel culture and the claustrophobic spaces still open for innovation and experimentation, and the limitations (very clearly) exist. And this is not lost on the industry; Textile Exchange has, time and time again, per Arthur, explored what levers will pull an executives ear. The fashion industry loves to think that its an industry of leaders and its not. Its an industry of sheep, Arthur said. The whole system is really a story that weve been telling ourselves, year over year. On that note, Dixson-Decleve shared an anecdote from a dinner she had with a certain European official who recently came under fire for scorched-earth antics around blocking out forest products from the global south in Europe. I said to her, Listen, you cant just block out the commodities and then not say, Im going to place a value on your forest. Not only am I going to place a value on your forestwhich you could put in your accounting and your budgetbut Im going to start to talk about the fiscal space to actually protect your fucking forest, Dixson-Decleve said. That is the reality. That is the level we need to be at. The king of Thailand signed a new law recognizing marriage equality, the government announced in its official Royal Gazette on Tuesday, LeMonde with Agence France-Presse reported. With the royal ascent of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand became Southeast Asias first country and only the third country in Asia to recognize marriage equality. The new law will take effect on January 22, 2025. To all the love, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted to X Twitter. Congratulations on everyones love. (@) The new law amends the countrys civil code and ensures same-sex married couples receive full legal, medical, and financial rights, as well as full inheritance and adoption rights. The new law also amends the civil code to use gender-neutral rather than binary language. The law was passed by the countrys senate on June 18 by a vote of 130 to 4 and was the signature legislation of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand. Another important step for Thai society, the marriage equality law has been passed, Thavisin posted to X Twitter, adding Gender diversity will finally be fully accepted. (@) Thavisin was removed from office in August by the countrys Constitutional Court for appointing a cabinet minister who had been previously arrested for alleged bribery. Despite its strongly conservative religious and cultural heritage, Thailand has been a welcoming tourist destination for the LGBTQ+ community. Local LGBTQ+ advocates hailed the new law legalizing marriage equality. The law is a monumental step towards equal rights in Thailand, LGBTQ+ rights advocate Waaddao Chumaporn told AFP. Chumaporn said she is organizing a mass wedding in the countrys capital Bangkok to celebrate the historic event. She said she hopes to attract over a thousand same-sex couples to tie the knot on January 22 of next year. Thailand joins Nepal and Taiwan as the only countries in Asia recognizing marriage equality when the new law takes effect next year. Taiwan legalized marriage equality in 2019 and Nepal followed in 2023. The latest entry in an ongoing series about where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on issues of major importance to voters. Previously: Where Trump and Harris stand on abortion. In recent years, no issue in U.S. politics has been more contentious than the situation at Americas southern border and the temperature has only gone up since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee. Thats because former President Donald Trump has seized on Harriss involvement in the Biden administrations border response to falsely claim that she is actually Americas border czar and therefore to blame for the situation as a whole. After Biden and Harris took office in 2021 and reversed some of Trumps hard-line restrictions, illegal crossings surged to a record high of more than 2 million per year, on average. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Democrats and other defenders of the administrations record say that the causes, including foreign violence, economic hardship and cartels that profit from crossings, are complicated and predate Bidens presidency. Republicans and other critics argue that the White House has effectively encouraged migrants to try their luck by using immigration parole at a historic scale and ordering a pause on most Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and deportations. Harris in particular has come under fire from the right for taking a long time to visit the border as vice president and for saying she had visited before she actually did. Yet since launching her presidential bid, Harris has gone on offense, accusing Trump of undermining a recent bipartisan effort to increase border security so he could keep running on the issue. On Friday, Harris traveled to the southern border for the first time since June 2021 amid steep declines in the number of crossings and asylum seekers and continued to hammer Trump while she was there. "The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games," she said. "And so even though Donald Trump tried to sabotage the border security bill, it is my pledge that as president, I will bring it back up and proudly sign into law." So how could the differences between Harris and Trump reshape U.S. border policy? ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The election in November will be the first in U.S. history to feature a former president competing against the current vice president. As a result, this years candidates already have extensive White House records to compare and contrast. Heres what Harris and Trump have done so far about the border and what they plan to do next. Where theyre coming from Where Trump is coming from: More than anything else, Trump built his political following on a hard-line approach to immigration. Starting in 2011, Trump boosted his profile on the right by positioning himself as the leading proponent of the false conspiracy theory that then-President Barack Obama whose father was from Kenya wasnt born in Hawaii as stated on his birth certificate. In 2016, Trump finally admitted that so-called birthers (those who believe Obama isnt a native-born citizen) were wrong and that Obama was born in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The previous year, Trump infamously launched his first presidential campaign by claiming that most Mexican immigrants are people [who] have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. (In fact, immigrants commit significantly less crime than native-born Americans.) Trump spent much of 2016 vowing to build a physical wall along the border between the U.S. and Mexico possibly fortified with spikes, electricity and an alligator moat and make Mexico pay for it. According to the New York Times, the idea [of a border wall] was initially suggested by a Trump campaign aide as a memory aid to prompt the candidate to remember to talk about immigration in his speeches. But it soon became a rallying cry at his events. You know, if it gets a little boring, if I see people starting to sort of, maybe thinking about leaving, Trump told the Times editorial board, I just say, We will build the wall! And they go nuts. Mexican immigrants werent the only ones in Trumps crosshairs. In late 2015, after domestic terrorists Syed Rizwan Farook (a U.S. citizen born in Chicago) and his wife, Tashfeen Malik (a native of Pakistan whod lived in the U.S. for years), killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif., Trump called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Around the same time, Trump said he would create a deportation force that would expel millions of unauthorized immigrants. We have at least 11 million people in this country that came in illegally, he claimed during one primary debate. They will go out. Where Harris is coming from: Both of Harriss parents her Jamaican father and Indian mother were immigrants; she has often expressed sympathy with immigrant communities because of her background. But Harris also entered politics as a prosecutor, and she has long shown a willingness to crack down on immigrants who break the law. Her time as attorney general first in San Francisco from 2004 to 2010, then statewide in California from 2011 to 2016 exemplifies this dual approach. On the one hand, immigrant rights were front and center for Harris. She favored specialized visas for undocumented victims of violent crimes; denounced proposed federal legislation that would have made it illegal to help an undocumented immigrant; and secured tens of millions of dollars to hire lawyers for unaccompanied children who began arriving at the border in 2014. And when an unlicensed construction contractor cheated temporary workers out of their wages, Harris charged him with four felony counts for grand theft. She went on to encourage other undocumented day laborers to report similar abuses. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The law applies equally to all," Harris said. "If any one of us is a victim of crime, let's be clear, the person who commits the crime will be punished, regardless of the status of the victim." At the same time, Harris did not shy away from applying the same standard of accountability to immigrants themselves. Despite the fact that San Francisco had passed a sanctuary ordinance that limited cooperation with federal authorities, she pushed for juvenile immigrants whod been arrested for crimes such as dealing drugs to be turned over to immigration agents for deportation. We are a sanctuary city, a city of refuge, and we always will be, Harris said in a statement. Yet, she added, the original sanctuary law was never intended to shield anyone from being held accountable for a crime. Likewise, Harris made it a priority as California AG to tackle cross-border crime, going after transnational gangs, drug cartels and human traffickers that came into our country illegally, as she put it at a recent rally in Atlanta. I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won. What theyve done in office What Trump did in office: During his four years in office, Trump issued more than 400 executive actions on immigration. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The changes started almost immediately. On Jan. 27, 2017, Trump signed an order seeking to block travelers from seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days while suspending refugee resettlement and prohibiting Syrian refugees indefinitely. Challenged in court, the administration revised its travel bans as time went on, removing or adding certain countries. Trump quickly zeroed in on his signature border wall as well. But Congress refused to meet his funding demands, sparking a lengthy government shutdown. Ultimately, Trump managed to build just 458 miles of barrier along the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border nearly all of it in areas where older barriers already stood. Mexico did not pay for any of Trumps border wall. Frustrated with the continued crush of illegal border crossings, Trump green-lit a plan in 2018 to forcibly separate migrant children from their parents or caregivers at the border and then criminally prosecute the adults. Trump eventually ended his family separation policy but only after images of crying, traumatized kids detained in crowded facilities sparked a national outcry. Despite Trumps vow to expel millions of immigrants, deportations by ICE officers who were given broad latitude to go after anyone without legal status averaged just 80,000 per year during his presidency (significantly lower than the annual rate under Obama). ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Why? Trump supporters and critics largely agree that the former presidents strict policies including narrowing who is eligible for asylum; making it more difficult to qualify for permanent residency or citizenship; rolling back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and forcing Central American asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed deterred some migrants from even trying to cross the border. But while Trumps supporters described this as deterrence through strength, Trumps critics called it deterrence through cruelty. In March 2020, Trump implemented the emergency health authority known as Title 42, which allowed border officials to rapidly turn away asylum seekers on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 without giving them a chance to appeal for U.S. protection. What Harris has done in office: Harris became a senator at the start of Trumps presidency. Her approach to immigration at the federal level was at first defined in opposition to his. While on Capitol Hill, Harris condemned Trumps Muslim ban and interrogated Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen about the presidents family separation policy. After visiting a detention facility near San Diego in June 2018, Harris became the first senator to demand Nielsens resignation. This is outrageous, Harris said. This is clearly a crime against humanity that is being committed by the United States government and we have to stop it. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Harris announced her 2020 presidential candidacy in January 2019. During the primary campaign, she promised to close private immigration detention centers and limit deportations. She also proposed using executive orders to overcome the legal barriers that prevent as many as 2.1 million Dreamers undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from obtaining green cards and ultimately earning citizenship. As vice president, Harriss job was to help the administration follow through on its promise to reverse Trumps immigration policies on day one. In early 2021, Biden halted construction of the border wall; ended his predecessors travel bans; created a task force to reunify migrant families separated under Trump; reinstated DACA; ended Title 42 expulsions for unaccompanied minors; and ordered a pause on most ICE arrests and deportations, issuing new guidelines directing officers to prioritize national security threats, serious criminals and recent border crossers. At the same time, Biden warned that without more funding and stronger guardrails, such as additional asylum judges, the U.S. could end up with 2 million people on our border and a crisis on our hands that complicates what were trying to do. Do not come, Harris said on a trip to Guatemala in June 2021. You will be turned back. Yet the message didnt get through, and a variety of factors foreign turmoil, a waning pandemic triggered new surges at the border, overwhelming an under-resourced asylum system and flooding big cities with more new arrivals than they could handle. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Around this time, Biden announced that he was giving Harris essentially the same assignment he got during his vice presidency: coordinating diplomatic relationships to address the root causes of migration into the U.S., specifically from Central Americas so-called Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Politically, it was a no-win assignment; Harris tried to clarify that she was not in charge of border security or stopping the surge of migrants. But muddled messaging from administration officials along with Harriss own missteps At some point, you know, we are going to the border, she told NBC in a much-derided 2021 interview gave Republicans an opening to blame her for the entire situation (even as Harris steered $9.2 billion in jobs investment to the Northern Triangle and migration from the region fell by 35 percent). Initially, the Biden administration kept Title 42 in place (until May 2023), expelling five times more border crossers than Trump did (in large part because more migrants were trying to cross the border illegally). Yet the administrations broader approach expanding opportunities for migrants to arrive legally while applying tougher penalties to those who break the law, as the Washington Post recently put it didnt stem the tide, and congressional Republicans repeatedly refused the presidents requests for more border funding. As a result, national surveys have long shown that voters are unhappy about the border situation and prefer Republicans to handle it. What they want to do next What Trump wants to do next: More of the same with the emphasis on more. Among the ramped-up policies Trump is reportedly planning, according to the New York Times: round[ing] up undocumented people already in the United States on a vast scale and detain[ing] them in sprawling camps while they wait to be expelled reviving his Muslim travel ban and his COVID-era Title 42 restrictions on the basis that migrants carry other infectious diseases like tuberculosis and scour[ing] the country for unauthorized immigrants and deport[ing] people by the millions per year by redirecting military funds and deploying federal agents, local police officers and National Guard soldiers to help ICE. In an April interview with Time magazine, Trump confirmed that he is plotting a massive deportation of people using local law enforcement and the National Guard and if they werent able to, he added, then Id use [other parts of] the military. He also refused to rule out detention camps, saying its possible that well do it to an extent. We will begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, Trump promised in February, adding elsewhere that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country and coming to the U.S. from mental institutions. His inspiration, he has said, is the Eisenhower model a reference to President Dwight D. Eisenhowers 1954 campaign, known by the ethnic slur Operation Wetback, to round up and expel Mexican immigrants in what amounted to a nationwide show me your papers rule. Mass Deportations Now! read signs handed out by the Trump campaign at Julys Republican National Convention. People focus on, Well, how do you deport 18 million people? Lets start with one million, Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, explained in an August interview with ABC News. And then we can go from there. Trump has also said he would suspend refugee resettlement, revive his Remain in Mexico policy and end DACA. He has even left the door open to resuming zero tolerance family separations. What Harris wants to do next: Most Democrats spent 2023 avoiding border politics while privately fretting about how the issue might affect the 2024 election. But Biden finally bowed to GOP pressure last fall, agreeing to bipartisan border talks; the hope was that a deal might take the issue off the table for his reelection campaign, according to the New York Times. In January, Senate negotiators actually struck a $20 billion bipartisan deal a deal that gave the GOP much of what it had asked for, including provisions that would restrict claims for parole, raise the bar for asylum, speed the expulsion of migrants and automatically shutter the border if attempted illegal crossings reach a certain average daily threshold. But Trump balked and following his lead, Republicans on Capitol Hill effectively doomed the legislation. Like Biden, Harris has vowed to sign the bipartisan border security bill if Congress sends it to her desk. In a new ad released Friday and set to air in Arizona and other battleground states, her campaign said that would mean "hir[ing] thousands more border agents... step[ping] up technology... and stop[ping] fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking." In Arizona Friday, Harris pledged deport border crossers more quickly, bar them from reentering for five years and impose criminal penalties on repeat offenders. "The United States is a sovereign nation, and I believe we have a duty to set rules at our border and to enforce them, she said. I take that responsibility very seriously. Harris also said in her August convention speech that America can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system by creat[ing] an earned pathway to citizenship. Yet both of these initiatives comprehensive immigration reform and increased border security require congressional cooperation, something Harris is unlikely to get without big Democratic majorities or a fundamental shift in Americas partisan dynamics. If elected, Harris is more likely to implement border policy by extending two executive orders that Biden issued in June: one that unilaterally allows border officials to block migrants from claiming asylum and rapidly turn them away once crossings exceed a certain threshold, and another that shields about 500,000 undocumented spouses with at least 10 years of U.S. residency from deportation while providing them with work authorization and a pathway to citizenship. The first order was the single most restrictive border policy instituted by any modern Democrat, according to the New York Times. The second was "one of the most expansive presidential actions to protect immigrants in more than a decade." In September, Axios asked Harriss campaign whether, as president, she would bypass Congress and revive her 2019 plan to provide a unilateral pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. Her campaign declined to answer or make her available for an interview. Police are searching for two suspects involved in a brazen liquor store burglary early Thursday morning that left the shops storefront completely destroyed. The incident occurred at SDV Liquor Market, located at 8301 Foothill Boulevard in Sunland, at around 3:30 a.m., according to the news stringer service OnScene.TV. Security cameras at the store captured the incident as two men in a dark-colored pickup truck reversed through the shops steel security gate, shattering the glass front door and even knocking the door out of its frame. Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Thieves destroy the front of a liquor in Sunland, get away with high-end liquor on Sept. 26, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Moments after the truck pulled forward out of the shop, one masked intruder charges through the destroyed entrance, quickly followed by the driver of the truck. Both men began stealing high-end liquor kept on shelves behind the stores counter and loading it into the back of the truck. Even as the shops alarm was blaring, the thieves made several trips in and out of the store before finally fleeing the area before police arrived. Southern California neighborhood irate over repeated pit bull attacks Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded and took a report from the stores owner, who told OnScene.TV that the liquor is not insured, and he will be at a loss for not just the merchandise, but for damages to the shop as well. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact detectives at LAPDs Foothill Division at 818-756-8861. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestopper.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. I think Trump will probably lose, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, wrote in June 2020, just months before he would then falsely claim that the loss he predicted was the product of voter fraud, The Washington Post reported Friday. Citing previously unrevealed direct messages that Vance sent before his Senate run, the Post noted that Donald Trump's latest running mate had remained privately critical of the former president even after publicly backing him. Despite predicting his loss, Vance has since doubled down on baseless claims of theft, saying he would have refused to certify the 2020 election had he been vice president. Trump has just so thoroughly failed to deliver on his economic populism (excepting a disjointed China policy), Vance wrote in one such message, sent in February 2020. Vance has always explained his flip-flopping on the GOP presidential nominee by claiming Trump's record as president changed his mind, transforming him from a "Never Trump" conservative to someone willing to campaign alongside a man he'd previously warned could be "America's Hitler." The private messages that Vance sent via X, obtained by the Post, reveal that even as he was praising Trump on television, he was telling others that he was a failure. In a statement, a spokesperson for Vance claimed his damning criticism of Trump was consistent with his support for the former president. Per the spokesperson, "establishment Republicans" were to blame for having "thwarted much of Trump's populist economic agenda to increase tariffs and boost domestic manufacturing in Congress." TEL AVIV, IsraelAfter nearly a year of cross-border fighting in the north, Israel has ushered in what its defense minister calls a new phase in the war against Hezbollah with a series of aggressive operations. The goal: to push the Iranian-backed terrorist organization, through diplomacy or force, to abandon its strategy of slowly weakening Israel through a war of attrition. This week began with the militarys largest wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure to date, with Israeli warplanes hitting an estimated 1,600 military targets across Lebanon on Monday. The campaign destroyed tens of thousands of Hezbollahs estimated 150,000 to 200,000 projectiles in a single day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that night. The aerial attacks on Hezbollahs missile and rocket stockpiles and launchers have persisted in the days since, as have Israels efforts to systematically dismantle the groups top leadership through precision strikes on Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday that it had successfully targeted Ibrahim Qubaisi, head of Hezbollahs missile and rocket force, in a Beirut airstrike. On Thursday, another precision strike on the Lebanese capital killed Hezbollahs top drone chief. The high-level hits followed an aerial attack last week that killed some 20 commanders of Hezbollahs elite Radwan force and the detonation of explosives in thousands of pagersan alleged Israeli operation that a Hezbollah official said took 1,500 fighters off the board. The degradation of Hezbollahs capabilities in the last couple of weeks has no precedent historically. Even their ability to shoot rockets seems to have been quite limited, Gerald Steinberg, a professor at Israels Bar-Ilan University, told The Dispatch. And of the top 20 people who have been the main officials in Hezbollah responsible for building a force and for implementing attack plans, about half of them are gone. Thats a very major loss for Hezbollah. They can fill those positions, but itll take time. With Hezbollah reeling from the repeated attacks, analysts are now questioning whether Israel is laying the ground to broaden the war furtherperhaps by pushing into southern Lebanon to create a buffer zone that allows its displaced northern residents to return homeor whether its attempting to corner the group into an agreement that ends hostilities. Israel is, after 11 months, finally responding to 8,000 rockets and missiles and drones. The question is: Can Israel achieve de-escalation through deterrence?, said Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Now were putting to the test whether a forceful response can help bring about an end to thisin other words, show Hezbollah that there is a priceor whether Hezbollah is willing to go all the way. So far, the militant groups response has been inconclusive. While Hezbollah has demonstrated its willingness to escalate, the terrorist group also refrained from unleashing its full firepower on Israeli cities, as many officials expected it to early on. It remains unclear whether its holding back because of a lack of capabilityboth in personnel and materielor due to concern about bringing the sides to an all-out war. The group shot a lone ballistic missile at Tel Aviv early Wednesday morning, but Israels air defenses intercepted it. Eyal Zisser Hezbollah suffered heavy losses, no doubt about it. But its still capable of continuing the war, Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University and an expert on Lebanon, told The Dispatch. I doubt very much that Hezbollah will be ready to cease fire as long as the war in Gaza continues. Such a move, he added, would be tantamount to a white flag after the group began firing on Israel in solidarity with Hamas following its October 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, in the south. Calling off its attacks while the war in Gaza continues would undermine Irans unity of arenas strategy, in which its various proxies in the region come to one anothers aid. Yet Iran has refrained from becoming directly involved, despite a reported request by Hezbollah for Tehran to intervene by attacking Israel on its behalf. [The Israelis] are dragging us to a point where we do not wish to go, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday, accusing Jerusalem of setting traps to draw his country into a broader war. Meanwhile, the U.S. remains determined to broker truce agreements between Israel and Hezbollah. In a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, President Joe Biden called on a settlement that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return home safely. 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 leaders wrote. The statement doesnt mention Hezbollah by name, nor does it articulate a plan for the groups withdrawal from the Israeli border. In theory, the proposed 21-day pause in fighting would allow the two parties to reach a more lasting arrangement. In practice, Israeli officials worry it would allow Hezbollah to recover and regroup with little progress toward a deal that addresses the ongoing displacement of Israels northern communities. For Israels part, the objective is clear: Hezbollah must demilitarize in areas of Lebanon south of the Litani River. The proposed buffer zone is in keeping with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War by mandating Hezbollahs withdrawal but was never enforced by the Lebanese government or the international community, despite the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to the area. While Israel somewhat tolerated a Hezbollah presence along its northern border for years, Hamas ground attack changed the calculation: Many evacuees will be unwilling to return if terrorists remain in close range of their communities. If Israel and Hezbollah see it as in their interest to have a temporary ceasefire to recover from the exchange of attacks in the last couple of months, then there will be a ceasefire. Im skeptical about that, Steinberg said. Israel has a very strong incentive to push into southern Lebanon and make it possible for at least 60,000 Israeli civilians who were forced to flee on October 8, when Hezbollah began its attacks on the north, to return home. 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. Nearly 75,000 retirees have applied for pension credit as part of a mass scramble to hold on to their winter fuel payments, official figures show. Chancellor Rachel Reeves hoped to save 1.4bn a year by stripping 10 million pensioners of the benefit, worth up to 300 per year. Only those who receive pension credit and certain other benefits are now eligible for allowance. But analysis shows the number of retirees applying for pension credit worth 3,990 per year more than doubled after Labours announcement. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published on Friday reveal some 74,400 retirees applied for the credit in the eight weeks since the announcement, compared to 29,500 in the eight weeks prior. Pension credit is only paid to retirees with a weekly income of less than 218.15. For couples, this threshold is 332.95. If all applications are successful, it could cost the Government as much as 540m, according to analysts Policy in Practice. The Government had ring-fenced funds as part of an expected rise in pension credit applications following the winter fuel raid. But Policy in Practice estimates the take-up will surpass ministers predictions by mid-November. Labour has faced mounting backlash against its decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance. Bank of England chief economist, Andy Haldane, on Thursday branded the decision bad politics and probably bad economics as well. Mr Haldane, now chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts think tank, told LBC Radio it was entirely reasonable to target wealthy pensioners, but added that the decision didnt fit with the narrative of the broadest shoulders bearing the burden. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was dealt a humiliating blow on Wednesday as Labour Party conference delegates, spurred on by trade unions, voted to oppose the cuts to winter fuel. It emerged this week that 214,000 more winter fuel payments were made last year than the year before. The rise was driven by recipients aged 75 and over, sparking fears Britains oldest pensioners will be hit hardest by the removal of the payment. The changes announced on July 29 triggered an immediate surge in pension credit applications. The department said 3,500 applications were made for pension credit on the week of July 22, more than doubling to 7,900 in the week of July 29. Weekly calls peaked at 13,400 in the week of September 9. The Treasury assumes that pension credit take-up will cost 3,900 per person. But Policy in Practice said the true cost could be as much as 7,223. This is because applying for pension credit can unlock a raft of other benefits such as housing benefit and free TV licences. Policy in Practice estimates around 23bn worth of benefits go unclaimed every year, of which 6.1bn is set aside for pensioners. Company director, Deven Ghelani, said: Its good news that more of the poorest pensioners are accessing the support they need. We have seen unprecedented demand, with one in five local authorities running Pension Credit take-up campaigns in the lead-up to Christmas. The DWP 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. Campaigner Katie Teakle organised the petition against North East Lincolnshire Council's use of the chemical glyphosate [BBC] A woman who started a petition about the use of chemical weedkillers has been supported by more than 26,000 signatures. Katie Teackle, from Cleethorpes, set it up after becoming concerned about North East Lincolnshire Council's (NELC) use of glyphosate to kill weeds on roadside verges. The chemical is a powerful herbicide that kills most plants, but there is concern about its wider impact on bird and insect populations. The BBC has contacted NELC for comment. A council worker sprays chemicals on to weeds at the base of a tree [BBC] According to The Local Democracy Reporting Service, the petition begins: Where are all the bees, insects and birds? Chattering sparrows, soaring swallows? How many butterflies have you seen this year? When was the last time you saw a wasp? It lays blame for declining biodiversity at least in part at the door of the widespread use of toxic weedkillers. Ms Teakle is hoping that the council will urgently review its use of glyphosate. "You have to lead by example and local authorities are in a great position of power," she said. "There is a very real issue here and the council is best-placed to lead by example." James Elliot, also known as The Canoe River Cleaner, is concerned about the impact of glyphosate on the wider environment [BBC] As well as a phase-out of use of glyphosate in favour of non-chemical alternatives, the petition also calls for the council to work with Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN), which supports local authorities to become pesticide free. The campaign is being supported by Grimsby-based environmental campaigner James Elliot, who is also known as The Canoe River Cleaner. Mr Elliot is concerned about the impact chemicals may have on the insect life and wildlife in his local waterway The River Freshney. "The numbers speak for themselves, I think it's resonated with people," he said. Mr Elliot added that he is confident his local authority will act to reduce or phase-out the use of the weedkiller. He said: "Obviously, we need the council to be on board because they are using glyphosate at the moment, but I think they will be." 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. More on this story Related internet links Three members of Irans military have been charged with hacking email accounts connected to Donald Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, the Justice Department said Friday. The Treasury Department also announced a fresh round of sanctions against Iranians it said interfered in the 2020 and 2024 elections. The indictment, approved by a grand jury in Washington on Thursday and made public on Friday, accuses three people Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi of carrying out a sophisticated operation to obtain confidential presidential campaign materials and share them with journalists and individuals associated with another presidential campaign. The defendants are charged with 18 criminal counts, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The indictment does not name either the Trump or Joe Biden campaigns, but Attorney General Merrick Garland said the alleged attempts targeted Trump, and references in the indictment clearly indicate that the hackers are accused of directing at least some of the fruits of that effort to people linked to Biden. A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, which effectively took over Bidens bid when he bowed out of the race in July, denounced the Iranian effort but stressed it did not appear to involve the campaign itself. Were not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign; a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt, spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein said. We condemn in the strongest terms any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections including this unwelcome and unacceptable malicious activity. Asked whether the Democratic campaign relied on any of the information from its GOP rival, a Harris campaign official said: The materials were not used. During a press conference Friday at Justice Department headquarters, Garland reiterated an earlier intelligence community statement saying there was no indication the Biden allies who were sent the Trump campaign information responded to the message. However, he demurred when asked by POLITICO whether the Biden campaign associates used the material. I can only answer, what's in the indictment, what the intelligence community has said, in light of the evidence we have, we see no indication that anyone replied, Garland said. He did say that the FBI had good cooperation from both the Trump campaign and the Biden, now Harris, campaign. The Trump campaign confirmed last month that it had been hacked after POLITICO and other news organizations received internal campaign documents from an anonymous email address, including what appeared to be research into potential political liabilities of Sen. JD Vance, Trumps running mate. The indictment describes a successful effort by the three Iranian operatives to access the email accounts of figures associated with Trumps 2024 campaign. That effort built on several years of attempts to compromise other figures in U.S. government, politics and media. And the hackers allegedly used email accounts they compromised to target future victims with spear phishing emails. The Iranian operatives, according to prosecutors, obtained debate prep material, in addition to opposition research packets on Trumps potential vice presidential picks. The indictment includes the text of an email that the Iranians allegedly sent to allies of Biden offering access to Trumps prep for the June 2024 debate. Im going to pass some materials along to you that would be useful to defeat him, the Iranians wrote, regarding Trump and using a false persona, according to the indictment. The email included materials that the Iranians described as Trumps final prep for the debate. They were aware of the stakes for Biden, saying a loss at the debate would force Democrats to replace him on the ticket. The defendants own words make clear that they were attempting to undermine former President Trump's campaign in advance of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Garland said. The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by Iran or by any foreign power to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy. The first defendant, Jalili, described himself as Master of Information Technology. He and his co-defendants allegedly hacked into email accounts belonging to a former State Department official who helped negotiate the Abraham Accords, which normalized some Arab countries relations with Israel. They also compromised the email accounts of a U.S.-based author; a journalist based at a Washington, D.C., think tank; a former presidential homeland security adviser; two former CIA officials; a former U.S. ambassador to Israel; and the co-founder of an Iranian human rights group. None are named in the indictment. Then, from May 2024 up through this month, the indictment alleges, the hackers targeted people linked to a presidential campaign, successfully compromising the email accounts of an informal consultant to the candidate, two officials on the campaign, and an attorney representing the candidate known to be Trump. The indictment signals that the hackers aimed to use information they gleaned from the computer intrusions to support their ongoing efforts to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani," an Iranian general killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. They also aimed to undermine the Trump campaign by leaking material stolen from the campaign, according to the indictment. And they used social engineering tactics to gain victims trust, pretending to be people they knew. In April 2020, for instance, they set up an email account purporting to belong to the spouse of a Supreme Court justice. They also had long-term, persistent access to some of the hacked accounts. After POLITICO reported last month on some aspects of the hack, Trumps presidential campaign blamed Tehran. And a Microsoft report on Aug. 8 disclosed that Iranian hackers had sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign. U.S. security agencies released an unusual statement earlier this month saying Iranians sent material stolen from the former presidents campaign to people linked to Bidens reelection team. The statement said there is no sign the recipients responded. Harris presidential campaign has said its officials did not make use of the information its allies were allegedly sent by the Iranian hackers. Its unclear whether the Biden associates were aware of the effort before the FBI notified them of it. Googles cybersecurity arm has said Iranians tried to hack into Bidens campaign as well, but there are no indications those attempts succeeded. There appears to be little prospect that the defendants, who appear to live in Iran, will be taken into U.S. custody anytime soon, if ever. Asked Friday if theres frustration that the defendants are currently beyond the reach of U.S. authorities, Garland said: From the Justice Department's point of view, which is the law enforcement point of view, we will follow these people for the rest of their lives. Justice Department officials have defended so called name-and-shame cases as worthwhile because they make it more difficult for the alleged perpetrators to travel freely, put foreign governments on public notice that the U.S. objects to their actions, and encourage Americans prepared to cast their votes to be vigilant about potential disinformation and polarizing political content that U.S. officials say is intended to destabilize the American political system. The Treasury Department also announced Friday that it was sanctioning one of the alleged Iranian hackers. The department said Jalili was responsible for malicious cyber operations targeting a former U.S. government official in 2022. In addition, Treasury sanctioned six employees and executives of an Iranian cybersecurity company that it said had attempted to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. The company, Emennet Pasargad, was previously sanctioned over accusations that it orchestrated an online operation to influence American voters in 2020. Treasury said that the company also sought to obtain U.S. voter information from state election websites and disseminated disinformation pertaining to the election and election security. The U.S. government continues to closely monitor efforts by malicious actors to influence or interfere in the integrity of our elections, Bradley Smith, the acting undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement. Treasury, as part of a whole-of-government effort leveraging all available tools and authorities, remains strongly committed to holding accountable those who see to undermine our institutions. A trio of Kansas Republicans including a onetime chair of the Senate Labor Committee have thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 election battle against Donald Trump, calling the Democratic nominee the best choice to lead the country for the next four years. Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who represented the Sunflower State in the upper chamber from 1978 to 1997, has joined ex-Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger and Deanell Reece Tacha, a retired federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan, in offering a formal endorsement of Harris. In a statement first published by Fox News, the GOP trio said the 2024 election presents a stark choice that is not easy for any of us because the Republican Party exemplified by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, longtime Kansas senator Bob Dole, and generations of Kansas leaders no longer exists within the Trump-era version of the GOP. But, it requires Republicans speaking out and putting country over party when those values are at stake, they said, adding, 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. Former Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum said in a statement that the 2024 election presents a stark choice that is not easy for any of us (U.S. Senate Historical Office) 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. Kassebaum, Praeger and Tacha join a large group of prominent Republicans whove publicly expressed support for Harris, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, his daughter and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger as well as multiple Trump administration officials and appointees who served under the former president. Austin Weatherford, the national Republican outreach director for the Harris-Walz campaign, told Fox that Harris is bringing together voters from across the political spectrum by running a campaign about freedom, democracy and opportunity. Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger has also voiced support for Harris (Wikicommons) 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, he added. Kassebaum was the first woman to be elected to the Senate from Kansas and Praeger served as the states top insurance official from 2003 to 2015. But in response, a Trump campaign spokesperson claimed that nobody knows who these people are, and nobody cares. Mr McLean was shot in Weavers Fields, a popular park in Bethnal Green [Google] Three men have been charged with murder after the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old man in an east London park. Joshua McLean was shot dead in Weavers Fields, Bethnal Green, at about 20:30 BST on 6 August The men, who are in their 30s, were arrested on Wednesday and are due to appear before Thames Magistrates Court to face formal charges. Five other people arrested on suspicion of murder - males aged between 17 and 56 have since been released on bail. Mr McLean's family has been informed. The Metropolitan Police is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the force. 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 Tim Walz is planning to hold a fundraiser in JD Vances backyard just days after the pair debate for the first time. The Democratic vice presidential nominee will head to Vances current hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 5 after Democrats in the area raised at least $1m to get him there, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Officials from the campaign reportedly told Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney if they wanted Kamala Harris to visit, they would have needed to raise $1.5m. For us, we wanted either Vice President Harris to come or Governor Walz to come. They said, OK...I think thats huge, she told the newspaper. Hes the vice presidential candidate, hell be second in command. We really like him a lot. Details of the event are currently under wraps but Kearney said Walzs appearance is likely to be a private one, not a public rally. Its going to be exciting and its going to be wonderful, she added, saying there would be additional events for the public added in the near future. Tim Walz will attend a fundraiser in JD Vances Ohio hometown (REUTERS) We will definitely have a rally for the public as well, she said. Were just excited. Its a great time and everybody should be involved. I think the fact hes coming to Cincinnati means how important we are to the election. Ohio, which has 17 electoral votes, is no longer considered a swing state after turning red for Donald Trump in 2016 and staying red in 2020. Trump is comfortably ahead in the polls in the Buckeye state this time round as well. A poll by The New York Times has the Republican 10 points ahead of Harris in Ohio, with voters backing him 54 percent to 44 percent for the vice president. Walz will be in JD Vances (pictured) backyard when he attends a fundraiser (AP) Vance, who was raised in Middletown but now lives in Cincinnati, was sworn into office as senator for Ohio at the beginning of 2023. Vance and Walz will go head to head next Tuesday in their first and only planned vice presidential debate. This week Vance revealed he doesnt need to prepare that much for the debate against the Minnesota governor. We have well-developed views on public policy, so we dont have to prepare that much, Vance said during a press call on Wednesday, according to The New York Post. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is playing Vance during Walzs mock debates while Republican Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer is playing the part of Walz during Vances preparations. Emmer was picked so that he could emulate Walzs folksy demeanor, according to ABC News. The debate is set to take place at 9pm ET and will be hosted by CBS News. Time change 2024 will fall back soon! When clocks move an hour for daylight saving time Fall is finally here, and daylight saving time's end will shortly follow. If you're looking forward to clocks falling back to get an extra hour of sleep, here's when daylight saving time ends and everything else you need to know about it. When does fall 2024 start?: Schools are back in session. The cicadas are singing. So when does fall begin? Here's what you need to know: When does the time change in 2024 for daylight savings time in the U.S.? States participating in daylight saving time turn their clocks back when it officially ends on the first Sunday of November every year. Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March, when we turn our clocks forward an hour. Does Indiana observe 2024 daylight saving time? Yes; Indiana observes daylight saving time. Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate. When do the clocks fall back for 2024 time change? Our clocks will fall back at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, the clocks will "fall back" an hour and millions of Americans will gain an extra hour of sleep. This event annually marks the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST). Why does time change at 2 a.m. for daylight saving time? Author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," in an interview with Time Magazine, explaining Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST. When DST was being established, There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was being born. According to Downing, "Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country. Will we gain or lose an hour when DST ends? When daylight saving time ends, we will set our clocks back an hour, which means we will be gaining an hour of sleep. We lose an hour when daylight saving time begins in the spring when we move our clocks forward. To help remember which is which, some say "When it comes to daylight saving time, we spring forward and then we fall back." Which U.S. states don't change clocks for daylight saving time? As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate. According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended. Why is daylight savings a thing? The goal of daylight saving time is ensure is more daylight hours in a day for a number of reasons, but primarily to save energy. There have also been arguments that having more daylight hours benefits public safety and health. Daylight saving time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918 during World War I and it was known as "war time." It was then abandoned after the war as there was no financial need to continue it at the time. Daylight saving time as we know it today began in the U.S. with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, only it started on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. In 2005 it was shifted to begin on the second Sunday of March and first Sunday of November, like it is today. A Department of Energy study found the extra four weeks of daylight saving time saved around 0.5% in total electricity daily in the U.S., equaling energy savings of 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours annually. DST 2024: Daylight saving time is here. But why does it exist in the first place? What is the Sunshine Protection Act? The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which was created to make daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022 but it was not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. There is currently no news on when it will be readdressed and then signed into law. When does daylight saving time end permanently? Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end in sight. When does 2025 daylight savings time spring forward start, DST fall back end? Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 9, and ends on Nov. 2 in 2025. Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fall back time change 2024: What is daylight savings? When does DST end? New York City Mayor Eric Adams is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon for the first time since he was indicted on five federal charges related to bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. Adams, who has served as the citys 110th mayor since January 2022, is accused of receiving luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and in exchange, pressuring New York Citys Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection, according to the 57-page federal indictment unsealed on Thursday. The allegations noted in the indictment stretch back to a decade ago, when Adams served as Brooklyn Borough president. Adams allegedly committed 23 overt acts outlined in the indictment from 2016 to October 2023. The acts allegedly include coordinating straw donations and submitting false disclosure statements to the New York City Campaign Finance Board. I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city as Ive done throughout my entire professional career, Adams said at a Thursday news conference. Heres a timeline of the allegations against Adams, according to the indictment: October 2016 - October 2017 After Adams first traveled to Turkey in 2015 and established corrupt relationships, a senior Turkish diplomatic official introduced him to a Turkish airlines general manager in the New York City area, according to the indictment. On three separate trips once in 2016 and twice the following year federal authorities allege Adams solicited and accepted free and heavily discounted travel from the airline as part of the Turkish Officials efforts to gain influence over Adams. October 2016: Adams accepted a free business class upgrade for himself and his partner that raised their ticket values to around $15,000 two days before traveling to India on a Turkish airline, the indictment alleges. His partner, who is not named in the indictment, had initially bought economy tickets for the trip valued at around $2,286 for herself and Adams prior to the upgrade, according to the indictment. July and August 2017: Adams accepted free business class tickets from the same airline worth more than $35,000 for himself, a close relative and a staff member to travel to Nice, France; Istanbul, Turkey; Columbo, Sri Lanka; and Beijing, China, the indictment alleges. 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 after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. - Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Adams also accepted a heavily discounted stay during the trip at the five-star St. Regis Istanbul hotel, owned by a wealthy Turkish businesswoman who gave Adams multiple free or steeply discounted luxury hotel stays and organized contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, the indictment alleges. Adams two-night stay in the hotels Bentley Suite cost him less than $600 instead of the actual approximate cost of $7,000, according to the indictment. October 2017: Adams and a staff member, who accompanied him on the July and August 2017 trip and who served as his liaison to New York Citys Asian-American communities, traveled to Nepal through Istanbul and Beijing, the document alleges. Adams allegedly accepted free business class tickets worth more than $16,000 for himself and the staff member for flights from New York to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Beijing and for the return flights. Federal authorities say Adams attempted to hide the luxury travel benefits he received. According to the indictment, 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. January 2018 - December 2020 January 2018: Several months before a January 2018 trip to Budapest, Hungary, through Istanbul, Adams partner bought her and Adams two economy tickets on a Turkish airline for approximately $560 each, the indictment alleges. In December 2017, Adams directed a staff member to ask the airline manager to upgrade the tickets to business class, according to the indictment. The upgrade was allegedly provided for free, and the tickets were valued at more than $14,000. The indictment accuses Adams of not disclosing the travel discount to New York Citys Conflict of Interest Board in 2018. November 2018: While Adams was Brooklyn Boroughs president, he and his staff member met at Brooklyn Borough Hall with a wealthy Turkish national named in the indictment as Businessman-1 who owned a for-profit Turkish University, according to federal authorities. The businessman offered to contribute funds to Adams 2021 mayoral campaign, according to the indictment. Although (Adams) knew that Businessman-1 was a Turkish national who could not lawfully contribute to (US) elections, (he) directed (his staff member) to obtain the illegal contributions offered by Businessman-1, the document states. January 2019: Adams and his partner traveled to Turkey, Jordan, and Oman, and a Turkish airlines airline manager gave Adams partner a free upgrade from economy to business class valued at approximately $7,000, says the indictment. While he was in Istanbul, authorities allege Adams met with a wealthy Turkish businessman, referred to in the indictment as Businessman-3, who agreed to contribute $50,000 or more to the 2021 Campaign in an effort to gain influence with Adams, whom he believed might one day become a US president. December 2020: Adams solicited and received straw donations from a businessman who ran a New York City-area construction company, according to the indictment. The businessman, who had influence in a different ethnic community in the city, contributed $10,000 to Adams 2021 campaign by giving $2,000 personally and reimbursing four employees a total of $8,000 for their contributions, the indictment alleges. May 2021 - November 2021 May 2021: Adams allegedly attended a fundraiser organized by a Turkish official with Adams staff and accepted straw donations from a prominent member of New York Citys Turkish community who operated another construction company, referred to in the indictment as Businessman-5. That month, authorities say Adams submitted a false disclosure statement to the Campaign Finance Board that concealed straw donations from Businessman-5. June 2021: Authorities say Adams solicited steeply discounted business class tickets, stays at a luxury hotel and luxury resort, and transportation that included a domestic flight, car and driver. Hes accused of by authorities of soliciting a free hotel stay and free use of a VIP room in the business class lounge of a Turkish airline for the Adams Fundraiser. August 2021: Adams allegedly directed a staff member to obtain contributions of foreign funds from a Turkish university. Eric Adams is sworn in as the 110th mayor of the city of New York on January 1, 2022, in New York City. - Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/File September 2021: The indictment alleges Adams pressured the New York City Fire Department to issue a letter acquiescing in the occupation of a new Turkish consular building. Authorities say the 36-story skyscraper was opened without a fire inspection. At the time, the building would have failed an FDNY inspection, the indictment states. In exchange for free travel and other travel-related bribes in 2021 and 2022 arranged by the Turkish Official, (Adams) did as instructed, it continues. That same month, authorities allege Adams solicited and accepted steeply discounted business class flight tickets for himself and a companion on roundtrip flights from New York to Pakistan. CNN has reached out to Turkish House and the FDNY. October 2021: Authorities say Adams submitted a false disclosure statement to the Campaign Finance Board that concealed straw donations from a Turkish university. November 2021: Adams allegedly solicited and accepted a free car and driver and a meal at a luxury restaurant in Istanbul. January 2022 - October 2023 January 2022: Adams allegedly attended a meeting with a Turkish entrepreneur named in the indictment as the Promoter and agreed to accept contributions of foreign money toward his 2025 campaign. The Promoter arranged straw contributions to both of Adams campaigns, the indictment alleges. July 2022: Adams senior advisor and another staffer met a Turkish official at the Turkish House and identified the senior official as the point of contact for the Turkish Officials pending problems regarding the Turkish House such as FDNY approvals, according to the indictment. July 2022: The Turkish official arranged to provide business class upgrades on a Turkish airline for Adams close associates, the document alleges. September 2023: Adams attended a fundraiser where he allegedly thanked foreign donors for contributions of foreign money to his 2025 campaign made through straw donors. October 2023: Adams allegedly attended a fundraiser where he directed a staff member to coordinate straw donations from a person referred to in the indictment as Businessman-6, a member of New York Citys Turkish-American community. CNNs Evan Perez, Mark Morales, Kara Scannell, Brynn Gingras, Gloria Pazmino, Eric Levenson, Artemis Moshtaghian, Nicki Brown and Jeff Winter contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Today, September 27, marks California Indian Day, a time dedicated to honoring the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and contributions of the Native peoples of California. Since its inception in 1968, this day has evolved into a vital opportunity for reflection and recognition of Californias Native communities, their resilience, and their ongoing struggles for justice and cultural preservation. 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. As the state reflects on the deep-rooted histories and ongoing struggles faced by these communities, News from Native California, a quarterly magazine uplifting the vibrant cultures, arts, languages, and histories of Californias Native peoples, is spotlighting its editor-in-chief, Terria Smith. Terria Smith, a member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, has been at the forefront of Indigenous storytelling, amplifying Native voices through the magazine while also overseeing Heydays Berkeley Roundhouse Program. The Roundhouse Program empowers Indigenous writers by providing mentorship, resources, and a platform to share their stories. Native News Online spoke with Smith where she discusses the significance of California Indian Day, and the diverse events held statewide. She discussed the magazines approach to featuring tribal voices and her role with the Berkeley Roundhouse Program in publishing Native-themed books and future goals for the magazine. Can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started with your work? Im a tribal member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the editor of News from Native California magazine, as well as the director of California Native Publishing at Heyday Books. Ive been in this role for over nine years, and I feel honored to be able to share California Native stories and culture. Can you tell me about California Indian Day and what it means to you? California Indian Day is a wonderful celebration of our cultures. Pre-pandemic, there were big events at the state capitol and California State University, San Bernardino. Today, there are so many events across the state, from prayer runs to the Morongo Pow Wow. This day is special because it helps with our visibility in our home state. It's a day to celebrate and show how distinct and diverse California Native cultures are. For us at News from Native California, we also offer deep discounts on subscriptions, and we engage with the community through these events to celebrate cultural pride together. How does News from Native California promote the stories and issues that matter to California Native communities? One of the unique aspects of News from Native California is that it's primarily an inside-out type of reporting. About 90% of our content comes from tribal people themselves. Were a submission-based publication, and we also have an internship program, offering paid, year-long positions to recent college graduates interested in working with California Tribal communities. Most of the stories we publish are from tribal people who come to us wanting to share something from their community. We also have a regular column called "In Our Languages," where we invite people to submit stories or essays in their tribal language, and we usually dont translate it in the magazine to give the language visibility. We have the English translation available online. We also work closely with environmental and cultural preservation groups, like Save California Salmon, to help amplify their work. Our goal is to provide an authentic platform for tribal people to tell their own stories. Can you tell me about your work with the Berkeley Roundhouse Program and how it connects with your role at the magazine? The Berkeley Roundhouse is the California Native publishing program at Heyday Books. It oversees the magazine, publishes two to four California Native-themed books a year, and helps organize events. We also collaborate with cultural organizations, such as the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center. One of our most recent books is The Forgetters by Greg Sarris, chairman of Graton Rancheria. Weve also published a beautiful California Native foodways book by Karuk author Sarah Calvosa Olson. Coming up next year, were publishing a childrens book titled I Love Salmon and Lampreys by Yurok author Brooke Thompson. Were also excited to be involved in outreach, attending conferences, and connecting communities with cultural practitioners or speakers. Its a really rewarding part of the job. Are there any upcoming projects or programs from the Roundhouse that you're particularly excited about? Theres so much going on. Well be participating in the National Indian Education Associations convention and the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums conference in Palm Springs this fall. Im also thrilled that the California Indian Conference is coming back after several years. Its a great convening of scholars and cultural practitioners. Weve been working closely with them to promote the event, which will be at Fresno State University in October. In addition, well be at the Native Arts Expo in Mendocino, organized by artist Eric Wilder. Theres also Heydays 50th anniversary celebration coming up. Theres a lot to look forward to. What are your goals for News from Native California and the Berkeley Roundhouse in the next year? For the magazine, we want to continue growing our audience and increasing contributions from tribal people. Its always special to release a new issue and see the community's reactions, especially when someone they know is on the cover. On the book side, we want to keep fostering new tribal authors and helping them navigate the publishing process, which can be overwhelming for first-time authors. We take pride in helping authors along their journey, whether theyre working on academic work or childrens books. As we approach California Indian Day, what message would you like to share with Native and non-Native audiences? For non-Native audiences, I encourage you to learn about the tribal people in the areas where you live. It will give you a better understanding of the place you call home. For tribal people, I hope everyone can enjoy California Indian Day. Sometimes we face difficult realities, but I hope we can take a break from being tough all the time and just celebrate and be happy, even if just for a day or a weekend. About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. " Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com Today, September 27, marks California Native American Day, a time dedicated to honoring the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and contributions of the Native peoples of California. Since its inception in 1968, this day has evolved into a vital opportunity for reflection and recognition of Californias Native communities, their resilience, and their ongoing struggles for justice and cultural preservation. 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. As the state reflects on the deep-rooted histories and ongoing struggles faced by these communities, News from Native California, a quarterly magazine uplifting the vibrant cultures, arts, languages, and histories of Californias Native peoples, is spotlighting its editor-in-chief, Terria Smith. Terria Smith, a member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, has been at the forefront of Indigenous storytelling, amplifying Native voices through the magazine while also overseeing Heydays Berkeley Roundhouse Program. The Roundhouse Program empowers Indigenous writers by providing mentorship, resources, and a platform to share their stories. Native News Online spoke with Smith where she discusses the significance of California Indian Day, and the diverse events held statewide. She discussed the magazines approach to featuring tribal voices and her role with the Berkeley Roundhouse Program in publishing Native-themed books and future goals for the magazine. Can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started with your work? Im a tribal member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the editor of News from Native California magazine, as well as the director of California Native Publishing at Heyday Books. Ive been in this role for over nine years, and I feel honored to be able to share California Native stories and culture. Can you tell me about California Indian Day and what it means to you? California Indian Day is a wonderful celebration of our cultures. Pre-pandemic, there were big events at the state capitol and California State University, San Bernardino. Today, there are so many events across the state, from prayer runs to the Morongo Pow Wow. This day is special because it helps with our visibility in our home state. It's a day to celebrate and show how distinct and diverse California Native cultures are. For us at News from Native California, we also offer deep discounts on subscriptions, and we engage with the community through these events to celebrate cultural pride together. How does News from Native California promote the stories and issues that matter to California Native communities? One of the unique aspects of News from Native California is that it's primarily an inside-out type of reporting. About 90% of our content comes from tribal people themselves. Were a submission-based publication, and we also have an internship program, offering paid, year-long positions to recent college graduates interested in working with California Tribal communities. Most of the stories we publish are from tribal people who come to us wanting to share something from their community. We also have a regular column called "In Our Languages," where we invite people to submit stories or essays in their tribal language, and we usually dont translate it in the magazine to give the language visibility. We have the English translation available online. We also work closely with environmental and cultural preservation groups, like Save California Salmon, to help amplify their work. Our goal is to provide an authentic platform for tribal people to tell their own stories. Can you tell me about your work with the Berkeley Roundhouse Program and how it connects with your role at the magazine? The Berkeley Roundhouse is the California Native publishing program at Heyday Books. It oversees the magazine, publishes two to four California Native-themed books a year, and helps organize events. We also collaborate with cultural organizations, such as the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center. One of our most recent books is The Forgetters by Greg Sarris, chairman of Graton Rancheria. Weve also published a beautiful California Native foodways book by Karuk author Sarah Calvosa Olson. Coming up next year, were publishing a childrens book titled I Love Salmon and Lampreys by Yurok author Brooke Thompson. Were also excited to be involved in outreach, attending conferences, and connecting communities with cultural practitioners or speakers. Its a really rewarding part of the job. Are there any upcoming projects or programs from the Roundhouse that you're particularly excited about? Theres so much going on. Well be participating in the National Indian Education Associations convention and the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums conference in Palm Springs this fall. Im also thrilled that the California Indian Conference is coming back after several years. Its a great convening of scholars and cultural practitioners. Weve been working closely with them to promote the event, which will be at Fresno State University in October. In addition, well be at the Native Arts Expo in Mendocino, organized by artist Eric Wilder. Theres also Heydays 50th anniversary celebration coming up. Theres a lot to look forward to. What are your goals for News from Native California and the Berkeley Roundhouse in the next year? For the magazine, we want to continue growing our audience and increasing contributions from tribal people. Its always special to release a new issue and see the community's reactions, especially when someone they know is on the cover. On the book side, we want to keep fostering new tribal authors and helping them navigate the publishing process, which can be overwhelming for first-time authors. We take pride in helping authors along their journey, whether theyre working on academic work or childrens books. As we approach California Native American Day, what message would you like to share with Native and non-Native audiences? For non-Native audiences, I encourage you to learn about the tribal people in the areas where you live. It will give you a better understanding of the place you call home. For tribal people, I hope everyone can enjoy California Native American Day. Sometimes we face difficult realities, but I hope we can take a break from being tough all the time and just celebrate and be happy, even if just for a day or a weekend. About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. " Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com 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: Tomara DeCosta District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District C Political party: Republican Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 46 Campaign website: tomaraforraleigh.com Current occupation: Clinical research manager Education: College Offices Sought/Held: None Please list any notable government or civic involvement. None Which City Council district do you live in? C What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it? As a candidate for City Council, I believe that addressing crime is the top priority for Raleigh. The recent increase in homicides is deeply concerning, and it is essential that we take decisive action to ensure the safety of our community. I propose a thorough review of the budget to identify and eliminate wasteful spending. The funds saved from this effort can be reallocated to increase the pay for our police officers. By doing so, we can improve officer retention and ensure that our police force remains well-equipped and motivated to effectively protect our residents. What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh? Affordable housing is defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a households income. For example, an individual earning $30 per hour can afford approximately $1,560 in monthly rent. It is clear that subsidizing housing for everyone earning below this threshold is not a sustainable solution. My strategy focuses on creating a more robust economic environment by attracting higher-paying jobs to our city. Additionally, we should prioritize increasing the salaries of low-paying city and state workers. By doing so, we can help more residents afford their housing costs without the need for extensive subsidies, thereby fostering a more self-sufficient and prosperous community. Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits? I believe it is essential to strike a balance in our housing strategy to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of our city. While affordable housing is crucial, we must also consider the broader implications of our housing policies. Fair market rent is established annually by HUD and is influenced by many factors, reflecting the economic realities of our community. A healthy city offers a diverse range of housing options to meet the needs and preferences of all residents. Overemphasizing the creation of lower-quality units to accommodate lower-income brackets can lead to unintended consequences, such as reduced property values and an imbalance in our housing market. Instead, I advocate for a more balanced approach that includes a mix of housing options to cater to different income levels and lifestyles. This strategy ensures that we maintain a vibrant and economically diverse community. We should focus on sustainable development without compromising the quality and appeal of our city. By fostering a diverse housing market, we can attract a wide range of residents and businesses, ultimately benefiting the entire community. This approach ensures that we meet the needs of lower-income residents while also supporting the overall economic vitality and quality of life in our city. Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park? I believe that our city is already well-served by existing music concert halls, and another such venue may not significantly add to our cultural landscape. Instead, an amusement park would offer a unique and diverse recreational opportunity that appeals to individuals and families of all ages. An amusement park in Dix Park would not only provide a fun and exciting destination for residents, but it would also attract tourists, thereby boosting local businesses and generating additional revenue for our city. Moreover, such a development would create job opportunities, ranging from construction to park operations, contributing to our local economy. Would you describe Raleighs growth as too fast, too slow or just right? I believe Raleighs growth is occurring at a healthy rate, thanks to our attractive city that meets the needs of many individuals. However, without the right leaders in place, we risk losing our ability to support steady economic development, enhance infrastructure, and provide essential services, as our resources could become overwhelmed. Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed? Balancing development with preservation will require thoughtful planning and committed leadership. As the capital of our state, it is essential that we preserve the heritage of our city while allowing for growth and progress. By implementing strong preservation policies and fostering partnerships with preservation organizations, we can protect our historic properties without hindering the citys development. This approach will ensure that Raleigh remains a vibrant and historically rich community for future generations. Absenteeism is a problem in schools in Oregon and across the country. (Dan Forer/GettyImages) Absenteeism is a problem in schools in Oregon and across the country. (Dan Forer/GettyImages) With student absenteeism at record highs, more Washington districts are using a tool developed by researchers at Washington State University to help get kids back on track. Its called WARNS or the Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students. About half of Washingtons districts are using the tool this school year: a projected 146 of the states 295 districts, up from 90 in 2019. The 40-question, web-based assessment for middle and high school students is meant to help figure out why individual students are missing classes and what they need to stay in school. The idea is to try to get students interested in themselves, said Brian French, regents professor at the Washington State University College of Education. French has been working on WARNS for about a decade, since the original version of the assessment was moved from the purview of the court system to Washington State University. Its not meant to be a diagnostic tool, French said. Its not meant to be a labeling tool. Its really a tool that says: Lets start a conversation with you. WARNS asks kids detailed questions about their relationships with their peers, mental health issues, family environment, school engagement and more. Once a student finishes the assessment, both the student and the school receive a set of scores indicating their risk level for different outcomes. James Wise, assistant principal at Sunnyside High School in Yakima County, has been using the system for the past seven years and said WARNS helps districts get past basic questions like: How was your day? What the WARNS does is it has carefully crafted questions around lots of different areas of a kids life, and so were able to tease out the details without having a one-hour conversation with the kid that feels more like an interrogation, Wise said. Overwhelming research shows a connection between chronic absenteeism and worse student outcomes, but nearly a quarter of school districts surveyed nationwide by the Rand Corporation and the Center on Reinventing Public Education said their strategies to combat the issue havent been particularly effective. French said he cant directly link WARNS to a drop in absenteeism because there are so many other factors that can affect the issue. But one 2014 study of an eastern Washington school district, led by Paul Strand, a psychology professor at WSU who works with French on WARNS, found that when paired with truancy reduction intervention, WARNS helped increase graduation rates. The WARNS is an excellent tool, Wise said. But theres nothing more important than having a relationship with the student and using the relationship to meet their needs. Washington has one of the highest absenteeism rates in the country, according to a recent analysis from the Associated Press and Stanford University educational economist Thomas Dee. Thats despite a state law called the Becca Bill requiring all children between 8 and 18 to attend school regularly. There isnt one reason why so many kids arent in school, said Strand, but he pointed to mental health, lack of affordable child care which forces older kids to stay home and take care of their younger siblings and access to transportation as some reasons theyve seen in their work. Children are also more likely to have higher risk scores on the WARNS if theyre facing other barriers, Strand said, like students with disabilities. Some districts have found the assessment so useful, theyve started using it for broader reasons, not just absenteeism. At Sunnyside, Wise said they use WARNS whenever a school social worker identifies a kid who needs additional support. The question really is about How can we help this kid engage in school, not just attend? Wise said. And so if the kids get into fights, you want to figure out why. If the kids skipping, you want to figure out why. If you can figure out the why, you can help them overcome the situation theyre in. It didnt make sense to only ask why when it came to attendance. It makes sense to ask why all over the place, Wise said. The WARNS team is using feedback from districts like Wises to improve the tool. Districts are asking them to consider highlighting student strengths, for example, to help motivate students and recognize what theyre good at. Theyre also considering creating an assessment tool for the elementary level, which they say will have to involve parents. Schools outside Washington have started using WARNS too, including in Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin. The WARNS team received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2021 to help ramp up their operations. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to have those helpful conversations with students, French said. Im hoping our team in WARNS is making some kind of small progress on the situation in the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Washington State Standard, like Oregon Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and X. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 'Its Bisan from Gaza and Im Still Alive' wins Emmy 2024 "Its Bisan From Gaza and Im Still Alive" of Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda and Al Jazeeras AJ+ has won an Emmy in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story category. Friday September 27, 2024 9:43 PM , ummid.com News Network "Its Bisan From Gaza and Im Still Alive" of Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda and Al Jazeeras AJ+ has won an Emmy in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story category. Bisan Owda, a Palestinian Journalist, Filmmaker and Activist has been at the forefront of reporting from Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the territory last October, bringing the stories of Palestinians to a global audience amidst 11 months of war and devastation. The Emmy Award organisers were under a huge pressure to revoke the Gaza documentary's nomination . The organisers however did not budge. "150 Hollywood jerkoffs & has beens called her a terrorist & tried to strong arm @TheEmmys to rescind her nomination, but Bisan Owda is victorious. "Congrats to the entire team @ajplus and the magnanimous Bisan", Journalist, Samira Mohyeddin, wrote on X. Bisan Owda's award winning Its Bisan from Gaza and Im Still Alive series brings light on the daily struggles of Gazans who have been victims of Israeli aggression amidst its genocidal war started on October 7 2023. The #NewsEmmys Award for Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form goes to Its Bisan from Gaza and Im Still Alive | Aj+ Reports (@ajplus). pic.twitter.com/lKTDR9sfys News & Documentary Emmys (@newsemmys) September 26, 2024 26-year-old Bisan Owda is born and grown up in Beit Hanun - a Palestinian city in northeast Gaza Strip. Owda has earlier worked with the United Nations on gender equality as a member of UN Women's Youth Gender Innovation Agora Forum. An EU Goodwill Ambassador, Owda has also worked with the European Union on climate change. Earlier, Palestinian journalists covering Israels brutal war in Gaza, including Nasser Abu Baker, were named as Laureates of the 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize . On September 22, Palestinian Journalist Shrouq Al Aila , who has been covering Israels ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, has been selected for the 2024 International Press Freedom Award In another landmark moment for Palestine, 04 Palestinian Journalists , who reported from war-hit Gaza, were nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The international awards conferred on Palestinian journalists is not going down well with the Zionist killers. In June this year, International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) had conferred the 2024 Courage in Journalism Award on Maha Hussaini. The award was however rescinded after protest by neoconservatives and supporters of Israeli massacre of Palestinians. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Two top members of Gov. JB Pritzkers communications team are leaving their jobs in his administration, the governor announced Friday. Jordan Abudayyeh and Jason Rubin, both deputy chiefs of staff, were among the longest-serving members of Pritzkers administration, holding posts in the office dating back to the governors first campaign in 2018. Replacing Abudayyeh and Rubin are Matt Hill, who takes the role of deputy chief of staff for communications, and Emily Bolton, who will be director of agency communications. Hill was a senior director of communications and top spokesperson for last months Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He previously worked in communications in President Joe Bidens administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce and on the Biden campaign. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Hill said he anticipates starting in his new role after the November election. Bolton previously handled communications for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Before DCEO, she worked for Chicago Public Schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. Abudayyeh and Rubin have been essential advisors since day one of this administration, Pritzker said in a news release. They have each been working with the governor for more than six years. Abudayyeh, who was well known by Illinois press as a main point of contact for the administration, said in a brief interview Friday afternoon that it just felt like it was time for a new chapter. She declined to say what her plans are going forward but said shes hopeful her next role will be similar to the one she held in Pritzkers office: communicating complex messages, being able to be a strategic adviser to people in power. Abudayyeh said she also hopes to continue to work closely with Rubin. Rubin also declined to share what his next steps will be, and said it felt like the right moment to leave the administration. Pritzker draws from his personal fortune to boost pay to top aides, increasing salaries by as much as $150,000 for his chief of staff, on top of the regular state salaries. Abudeyyeh and Rubin were each receiving $75,000 a year through the company set up to handle the extra pay, on top of six figures from the state. A spokesperson for the governor declined to share new compensation numbers until after the new leaders start in their positions. Abudayyeh, a former TV journalist in Springfield, Naperville and Milwaukee, said she found working in government to be more fulfilling than I ever thought it could be. NEW YORK Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams chief adviser and longtime political confidante, had her Brooklyn home searched by state authorities Friday and was stopped by both state and federal investigators at JFK Airport as she returned from an overseas trip, the Daily News has learned. State investigators from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office seized cellphones from Lewis-Martin at JFK on Friday morning as she arrived on a flight from Japan, where sources say she has been vacationing. In a separate action, federal investigators from the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office served Lewis-Martin with a subpoena when she arrived at JFK. The subpoena is asking her to furnish testimony and documents, sources said. It wasnt immediately clear what investigations prompted the law enforcement actions. Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case of which we are aware, Arthur Aidala, her attorney, said. Aidala also noted Lewis-Martin had not gotten home by the time Braggs investigators showed up. She was not there but family members were there and searched her house, he said. Spokespeople for the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office and the Manhattan district attorneys office declined to comment. The raid on Lewis-Martins home comes on the heels of Adams being indicted by federal prosecutors on corruption charges alleging he solicited bribes and accepted illegal campaign contributions from Turkeys government in exchange for favors. He pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Federal Court on Friday. It also comes as multiple high-ranking Adams administration officials had their homes searched and devices seized in recent weeks, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned in the wake of getting his phones taken. --------- A top aide of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized Ukraine's resistance to Russia's full-scale invasion, calling it "irresponsible" and suggesting his country would have advised against fighting back if it had been asked. Balazs Orban no relation to the prime minister made the comments when discussing Hungary's anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 which was brutally put down by the Red Army. "Considering 1956, we would have probably not done what President Zelensky did 2.5 years ago, as it is irresponsible, as we can see that he led his country into a defensive war, many lives were lost and territories lost," he said in an interview published Sept. 26. "Let me say again, it is (Ukraine's) right and sovereign decision... but had they asked us, we would have not recommended this, based on what happened in 1956." In a post on Facebook, Hungary's leading opposition figure Peter Magyar said the aide "has no place in public life after his scandalous and traitorous comments." Speaking on national radio on Sept. 27, in comments reported by Reuters, Orban claimed his aide's words were an error and emphasized that people should speak "very carefully and clearly" on such matters. "Now my political director made an ambiguous statement which is a mistake, as our community stands on the basis of the 1956 revolution has grown from it," he said. Hungary is widely regarded as a key ally of Russia in the EU. Orban has repeatedly blocked aid to Ukraine, pushed for negotiations, and frequently spouted Kremlin talking points. Hungary has also condemned the war but has refused to supply Ukraine with weapons. Since taking the presidency of the European Commission in July, Orban has amped up attempts to stand as a negotiator between Moscow and Kyiv. In July, he embarked on a peace tour and met with Russian dictator Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Orban's visits sparked criticism from the EU and President Volodymyr Zelensky. The latter said that NATO and the EU can resolve the war without Orban. In early July, Hungary quietly changed the rules for its National Card program to allow Russian and Belarusian "guest workers" to enter the country in a streamlined visa-acquisition process that does away with enhanced security checks or other restrictions. In response to the policy change, European parliamentarians published a letter urging parliament to reconsider Hungary's Schengen membership. Earlier on Aug. 22, Ukrainian refugees from southwestern Zakarpattia Oblast began being evicted from shelters in Hungary after the government passed a decree to restrict housing assistance for Ukrainians fleeing their country. Read also: Russia building unknown structure near Crimean Bridge, Ukraines Navy says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) A tornado was spotted on radar Friday afternoon in Southampton County as the region faced tornado and flash flood warnings due to the remnants of Helene. The likely tornado was confirmed via tornado debris on radar, per WAVYs weather team. It touched down near Corinth and may have lifted after touching down, but the system was moving north toward Route 460 and Wakefield. The area was under a tornado warning through 5 p.m. A large portion of the area was under a flash flood warning. There was a tornado warning in effect across the state line around Gatesville, with a tornado warning in that area until around 5:30 p.m. WAVYs team says radar showed some rotation there. If youre under a tornado warning, head to the interior of your home and stay away from windows. Cover your head with something like a helmet if possible. A tornado also touched down Friday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, as Helene moved through the southeast, leaving 15 people hurt. Helene overalls caused widespread damage and flooding throughout the southeast and greater eastern U.S., and has left more than 40 people dead. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A day of tornado warnings across the Triangle, with 2 twisters reported on the ground in NC Tornado warnings sent Triangle residents scurrying for cover for just over an hour Friday as a strong band of storms spawned from Hurricane Helene now a tropical depression passed through the area. The National Weather Center confirmed two tornadoes in eastern and southeastern NC, and flash flooding and winds affected much of the Triangle. The National Weather Service issued its first tornado warnings for northern Chatham County and central Orange County at 10:38 a.m. Friday, spawning a frenzy of weather updates. UNC-Chapel Hill activated its emergency siren on campus to let students and staff know to take shelter. The warning expired about 20 minutes later, but was activated within 10 minutes. Another warning was issued at 11:06 a.m. for Orange and Durham counties, as an air siren was heard blaring across central Durham from the N.C. School of Math and Science. Tornado warnings also were issued for Lee, Harnett and Wake counties, followed by another warning for Chatham County at 11:14 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The storm moved through quickly, but weather service officials warned the risk of flooding could continue until at least 6 p.m. Friday. Flash flood warnings were issued for Orange, Durham, Wake, Harnett and Cumberland counties. At least two people had been killed in the state so far, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news briefing on the storm Friday morning. One person was killed in Charlotte when a tree fell on a house, and the other died after a traffic crash in Catawba County. Another 15 people were injured, four seriously, when a tornado touched down in Rocky Mount, hitting two restaurants and other buildings, according to Rocky Mount Fire Chief Darvin Moore. Tornado Warning including Durham NC, Chapel Hill NC and Carrboro NC until 11:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/QkIwFKIGEN NWS Raleigh (@NWSRaleigh) September 27, 2024 Fallen trees, flooding The hurricane was downgraded from a Category 4 storm as it passed over Georgia overnight and turned west, passing through the North Carolina mountains. On Friday, it was downgraded to a tropical storm, and then a tropical depression. The outer bands of the rain hitting the Triangle reached Alamance and Orange counties in the western part of the area around 9 a.m. Friday morning. Weather and utility officials warned that falling trees also posed a major hazard after days of rain before the storm had already soaked the ground in many places. Orange County officials reported two homes had trees on them from the storm, and the basement of a home in Carrboro was flooded. At least four roads in Chapel Hill Umstead Drive, Raleigh Road, Cleland Drive and South Merritt Mill Road were closed because of flooding or downed trees, a spokesman said. All roads in Chapel Hill were reported open as of just after 5 p.m. on Friday. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Raleigh previously told The News & Observer that the storm could bring 1 to 3 inches of rain and sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph to the Triangle. Schools in Wake, Durham and Orange counties were closed in anticipation of the weather, and Duke Energy expected thousands to lose power in the storms wake. Tornadoes touch down in eastern and southeastern NC While the western part of North Carolina was still dealing with major flooding and dangerous road conditions after the storm, Helene only brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to most of the state. But at least two potential tornadoes were reported Friday afternoon in Rocky Mount, an hour east of Raleigh, and in Garland, which is about 80 miles south of Raleigh in Sampson County. The National Weather Service was sending teams to both towns to assess the damage. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Raleigh issued tornado warnings for most of the Triangle as the band of storms passed through the area at midday, including in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Tornadoes arent uncommon with tropical storms or hurricanes, said Jonathan Blaes, meteorologist-in-charge for the National Weather Service in Raleigh. This is one of the threats that comes with them. The threat of tornadoes passed by late afternoon as the sun emerged from the clouds. Wind and flood advisories will remain in effect, Blaes said, noting that flooding could continue to cause issues for several days as rivers crest. Its been so wet of late that much of the rain that fell is just washing and draining into creeks and streams, Blaes said. So that is a worry. A federal emergency declaration will provide Federal Emergency Management Agency money to help pay for evacuations, emergency shelters and other emergency protective measures in the western part of the state, The News & Observer has reported. Make sure youre signed up for emergency alerts in your Triangle county. Heres how How to get internet access even when a storm knocks out power (+ wifi) at home A police officer checks vehicles on the A64 near Trier at the start of border controls at all German state borders. With Germany ramping up border controls and more EU countries contemplating stricter migration rules, the Schengen zone of free movement - and its absence of border checks - seems to be crumbling. But this has not put off those seeking full Schengen membership. Harald Tittel/dpa A long-standing debate in Germany on how to handle migrants has intensified following deadly knife attacks in Solingen and Mannheim this year, prompting Europe's largest economy to expand border controls despite protest from its neighbours. The Solingen suspect, a Syrian citizen, had evaded an order to be deported from Germany to Bulgaria, where he first entered the European Union. And an Afghan citizen is in custody following the Mannheim attack in May, which left a police officer dead. On September 16, Germany expanded controls to the frontiers of all nine of its neighbours in the hope of curbing the flow of irregular migrants, addressing threats from Islamist terrorist groups and clamping down on cross-border criminal organizations. The move, however, has sparked protests from other EU member states. Germany lies at the heart of Europe and of the visa-free Schengen zone, which is designed to allow the free movement of people and goods, a core tenet of the EU. Poland, Austria and Greece have been among countries to complain about the border checks, which are set to last an initial six months. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the move as "unacceptable" and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that an "unilateral abolition of Schengen" was not the answer. German spot checks on the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland were already in place and have now been expanded to France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. With national elections looming in Germany next year, the knife attacks have put major political pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to toughen its stance on migrants and asylum seekers. The issue has dominated recent state elections that have significantly boosted anti-immigrant parties. But this is not exclusive to Germany. The success of far-right parties in elections in key European countries is prompting even centrist and left-wing governments to tighten policies on migration, sparking concern among activists. Experts: Border checks won't curb migration UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung there were "alternatives to restrictive measures," citing faster and fairer asylum systems as an example. "A fixation on border controls will not deter the truly desperate," Grandi added. Migration researcher Gerald Knaus does not expect the extension of border controls to all German land borders to lead to a noticeable decrease in the number of asylum seekers. "Anyone who expects border controls to lead to a reduction in irregular migration is creating an expectation that is unrealizable," he said on German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. Border controls were also not a means of preventing Islamist terrorism, as many of the perpetrators became radicalized in Germany, he added. What is Schengen? The border-free Schengen area allows free movement for more than 425 million EU citizens and non-EU citizens who legally live, work, travel or study in the bloc. Named after a village in Luxembourg, the Schengen zone started as an intergovernmental project with five countries in 1985: Luxembourg, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In waves, the Schengen zone grew and now incorporates most EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland as well as non-EU states Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Today, it is considered the biggest zone of free movement in the world. According to EU figures, 3.5 million people cross internal borders every day. Even though Germany's decision has sparked controversy, it is not the only Schengen member with border checks. Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden also have temporary measures in place. Bulgaria and Romania: Half in, half out? While established members grapple with their attachment to Schengen, Bulgaria and Romania are still trying to complete their membership of the free movement area, in the face of Austrian opposition. As of March 31, Bulgaria and Romania have partially joined the Schengen area. Controls for internal sea and air travel have been lifted, while controls at land borders remain. EU officials expect a decision on full Schengen membership by the end of the year. In December last year, Austria was the only EU country that did not support a complete abolition of border checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders, citing migration concerns. Austria's veto and its new migration portfolio Austria's EU commissioner-designate is Finance Minister Magnus Brunner who is in line to receive the European Commission's migration portfolio. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to nominate Brunner stirred controversy in Brussels, given Austria's ongoing Schengen blockade as well as his lack of direct experience. Romanian EU lawmaker Siegfried Muresan pointed out, however, that Austria will no longer be able to use the migration issue as a pretext to block Bulgaria and Romania from joining Schengen. "The solution to this problem will depend on their own commissioner," Muresan said in the European Parliament last week. The new EU commissioner-designates are yet to pass their "grilling" by the EU legislature before the new commission can be finally confirmed. Historically, not all candidates pass their hearing, in which case their countries need to nominate a new person. The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, AGERPRES, APA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, and STA as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project. Town of Henrietta amends zoning code to help revitalize SouthTown Plaza, others HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) To revitalize some of its plazas and vacant properties, the town board of Henrietta has passed zoning code changes. Those changes would allow some industrial tenants and residential units in plazas and developments in certain overlay districts. Town supervisor Stephen Schultz says these changes came after the developer of SouthTown Plaza came to the town, hoping to put in a major tenant. One of the uses of that major tenant is not allowed in that district, Schultz said. Shortly after, Schultz and the board passed a handful of changes. SouthTown on West Henrietta Road, like a handful of Henrietta plazas, Schultz said, is struggling with vacancy and tenant turnover. Fewer businesses means less tax revenue for the town. With this new zoning change, developers can add certain light industrial tenants think self-storage and affordable housing units to these plazas. With more development options, developers can solve vacancy problems. Marketplace Mall is using a similar model. The new senior apartments have just finished construction across the URMC orthopedic center. Schultz believes other developments can have similar success. Mixed-use developments reduce suburban sprawl, and by unlocking incentive zoning rules for these plazas, businesses will be more inclined to move into these already built spaces. By adding residential as well, Schultz says it can help combat another issue towns face with development: residents saying that theres a need for affordable housing, just not in my backyard. Theyre on the bus loop, restaurants, drug stores Its a good location for affordable (units), Schultz 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 RochesterFirst. Track the money for Prop 5: Contributions for and against housing and infrastructure bonds Proposition 5 would lower the vote threshold needed to pass local bond measures for affordable housing, transportation, parks and other infrastructure. Supporters contend that changing the required majority from two-thirds to 55% will make it easier for voters to approve government financing for needed housing and other public projects. Groups opposing the measure argue it will lead to increased government spending and result in higher taxes. Real estate interests are opposing the measure along with rent control measure, Proposition 33. Overall fundraising Cumulative contributions Read more: Track the money for Prop 33: Contributions for and against California's ballot measure on rent control Biggest supporters The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California have each contributed $2.5 million in support. Read more: Your guide to Proposition 5: Making it easier to pass local housing, road bonds Biggest opposition The California Business Roundtable has contributed more than $1.5 million in opposition. Times housing affordability reporter Liam Dillon contributed to this report. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. AVA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) An early morning accident involving a tractor-trailer in the town of Ava on Thursday has sent one person to the hospital. Oneida County Sheriffs responded to the area of State Route 294 in the town of Ava at approximately 6 am on Thursday, September 26. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the driver of the semi-truck 58-year-old Jeffrey Zehr of Castorland was attempting to back into a logging lot with a trailer attached. As Zehr attempted to back into the lot, a car being driven by 39-year-old Corinda Seelman of Constableville was traveling eastbound on State Route 294. Sheriffs say Seelman failed to observe the trailer due to a lack of reflective material on it, as well as the weather conditions impairing Seelmans visibility. As a result of both of those conditions, Seelman crashed into the side of the trailer, resulting in injuries. As a result of the accident, State Route 294 was closed off for several hours from State Route 26 to Gleasman Road while sheriffs conducted their investigation. That roadway has since been reopened. Seelman was transported to the Wynn Hospital in Utica for her injuries. Sheriffs deemed her injuries to be non-life-threatening. Zehr was cited for Commercial Vehicle Violations, returnable to the Town of Ava Court at a later date. Oneida County Sheriffs were assisted on the scene by: The New York State Police and their Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, The town of Boonville Fire Department and Ambulance Services, The town of West Leyden Fire Department and Ambulance Services, and Cushmans Auto and Towing of Holland Patent. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. 1 dead after road sign falls on car along I-4 near Ybor City during Helene TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) One person died Thursday night after a road sign fell on their car while driving on I-4 near Ybor City during Hurricane Helene, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Traffic cameras in the area showed the sign on top of a car. Please help: Tampa Bay residents take to social media to get help for loved ones Its very dangerous conditions out there, DeSantis said during a Thursday night news conference. No other information about the crash was immediately available. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night as a major Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend region. The storm left behind flooding and damage across the Tampa Bay 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 WFLA. Traffic back to normal in Guntersville after building damaged GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Guntersville Police Department (GPD) says Highway 431 is back open after a building was damaged. According to GPD, US Hwy 431/Florida Short Route/Gunter Ave was temporarily closed for southbound traffic heading towards Guntersville across the Tennessee River Veterans Memorial Bridge. GPD said all lanes were back open as of 3:08 p.m. Police said that southbound traffic will be diverted onto Lurleen B Wallace Dr, then onto Sunset Dr, and finally onto AL Hwy 69/Henry St. Guntersville Police said that the detour will remain in place until further notice due to a damaged building on Gunter Ave near the Marshall County Courthouse. Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox. According to the department, debris from the damaged building has obstructed the roadway which is the cause for the detour. Multiple agencies including the Alabama Department of Transportation are working to solve the issue. Officials are telling drivers to expect delays in the area at this time. The detour will only affect southbound traffic on US Hwy 431 traveling into Guntersville. Northbound traffic from Albertville will not be impacted. According to the Marshall County Sheriffs Office, the Marshall County Courthouse will experience a two-hour delay for opening due to the fallen debris. Please use caution in the area. Stay connected with News 19 as we will continue to update the story 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 WHNT.com. The trans "baby-faced" killer convicted of stabbing to death a New York City antiques dealer was sentenced Thursday to 22 years-to-life in prison, months after receiving jail time for a separate, gruesome killing in Oklahoma in which the victim was decapitated. Alex Ray Scott, 28, who began transitioning into a woman in jail, was previously found guilty of the January 2020 killing of Kenneth Savinski, 64, in his Upper East Side apartment with a decorative plate and kitchen knife. "Alex Ray Scott will serve a significant prison term for the brutal and senseless murder of Kenneth Savinski a beloved, friendly person and respected churchgoer," said Manhattan District Attorney Bragg. "Mr. Savinskis loss not only devastated his friends and family but shocked his tightknit community. Although we cannot bring Mr. Savinski back, I hope the resolution of this case offers his loved ones a sense of justice in their ongoing grief." New Idaho Judge In Bryan Kohberger Trial No Stranger To Brutal Murder Cases Alex Ray Scott was sentenced Thursday for the 2020 killing of a New York City antiques dealer. Scott, who was also sentenced in Oklahoma to 45 years in prison for a separate dismemberment killing of a man with a chainsaw, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and multiple counts of criminal possession in Savinskis death. Scott and Savinski met on a dating app and were sharing a night out together on Jan. 27, 2020 when they went to Savinski's apartment, the New York Post reported. Read On The Fox News App Savinski was found with wounds on the head and neck, including a broken hyoid bone, a slit throat and large, deep lacerations across his face and forehead. He was found covered in blood and pronounced dead at the scene, prosecutors said. After the killing, Scott stole credit cards from Savinski and said he didn't remember the attack, according to an indictment, the Post reported. Fbi Raids Home Of Nyc Mayor Eric Adams' Chief Fundraiser Brianna Suggs, Source Says Alex Scott is pictured in police custody leaving the NYPD's 19th Precinct stationhouse on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, in Manhattan. Scott later walked into a New York police precinct and admitted to killing someone in an unrelated case. He was found with credit cards belonging to Robin Skocdopole, prompting investigators to check Skocdopoles home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma when he was unable to be reached. Authorities found his home empty of all its possessions and pools of blood inside. Skocdopole's remains were eventually found in May 2020 on the edge of a creek in Broken Arrow, federal prosecutors said. He was last seen in August 2019. Scott was renting a room from Skocdopole and told everyone that the landlord had abruptly moved to Dallas for work, in an effort to explain the disappearance. A medical examiner's report said two different saws were used during Skocdopoles dismemberment. Upon his arrest, Scott agreed to take the FBI to the location of Skocdopoles head, but no additional remains were found, the Justice Department said. Original article source: Trans killer sentenced for murder of NYC antiques dealer, decapitated Oklahoma man in separate slaying A visualization shows what the Grain Belt Express transmission line would look line running across a farmer's land. Invenergy has asked federal officials to narrow a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor along Grain Belt's route. (Invenergy) Developers of the Grain Belt Express transmission line have asked the federal government to narrow a 780-mile route energy officials proposed as a transmission corridor of national interest. The Department of Energy is working to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors in parts of the country where officials have found consumers are harmed by a lack of electric transmission and where additional lines would boost reliability and cut costs. One of those corridors runs through Kansas, Missouri and Illinois before ending at the Indiana border, encompassing the route of the Grain Belt Express high-voltage transmission line being built by Invenergy, a Chicago-based clean energy developer. The corridor proposed by the Department of Energy is five miles wide, but Invenergy has called on federal officials to reduce it to 0.5 miles, arguing in a blog post on the Grain Belt Express website that the narrower route will balance the needs of states to access additional power while also addressing the concerns and uncertainty stakeholders along the path of the project are expressing. Over the years, as Invenergy has worked to develop the Grain Belt Express, it has battled rural neighbors and lawmakers over its ability granted by state energy regulators to use eminent domain, a legal tool that can be used in infrastructure projects to acquire property or easements from unwilling landowners and compensate them. According to the Department of Energy, designating national interest corridors will allow federal energy officials to grant the right of eminent domain to projects, even when state regulators have denied a permit. The idea of federal officials granting eminent domain has riled some conservative lawmakers and farm groups, who have been frequent critics of the practice. In a statement Thursday, the Kansas Farm Bureau took credit for persuading Invenergy to request that the Department of Energy narrow the proposed corridor. We oppose the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission being given backstop authority to override decisions made by our state regulators, said Kansas Farm Bureau president Joe Newland, and we oppose the use of eminent domain within these corridors. Newland encouraged Kansas Farm Bureau members and landlowners to share their concerns and opinions as the Department of Energy takes feedback from communities before finalizing the corridor designations. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, introduced legislation earlier this month that would prohibit the use of federal funds in projects using eminent domain to build transmission lines and bar the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from overruling state regulators siting decisions. Invenergy has long maintained that it makes efforts to reach voluntary agreements for easements on landowners property before acquiring them through eminent domain. Owners who refuse to participate and whose land is condemned through eminent domain are still compensated. Also Thursday, the Kansas Corporation Commission, the state agency that regulates utilities, approved two feeder lines that will deliver energy from wind and solar farms in southwest Kansas to the larger Grain Belt Express transmission line. This development milestone provides yet more certainty, said Invenergys director of transmission development, Kevin Chandler, of the economic development and energy reliability benefits that Grain Belt Express will soon deliver for Kansas. Evie Green was able to return home after spending over a year in hospital [Family handout] A girl who lived in hospital for more than a year as she awaited a heart transplant is now "running around... just like a normal five-year-old," her parents say. Evie Green, of Middlesbrough, who was admitted to Newcastle's Freeman Hospital on Valentine's Day last year, was diagnosed with myocarditis aged four months. The condition, triggered by viral infections, can lead to heart failure and saw the youngster attached to a Berlin Heart device as she awaited a donor organ. Placed on the urgent transplant list, she underwent the operation in July this year. 'Joy for our family' Her parents, Chloe and David, said being connected to the device meant the youngster had been "unable to move around without us following her". She battled sepsis, infections and several blood clots, while strong blood thinners also led to worries that "any knock could cause her to bleed out", Mrs Green added. "Moreover, Evie was unable to see her brother, Theo, when he was ill and could only visit on weekends and holidays. "It has been a delight to see our daughter running around without a machine attached to her just like a normal five-year-old. "Watching her going to the beach, visiting her late grandad's tree and having a bath have been a joy for our little family. "Before the transplant, she did not eat well, but ever since her transplant, seeing our daughter have a hearty, full meal has been the greatest pleasure." Evie was attached to a Berlin Heart machine for many months [Family handout] The family are sharing their story to highlight Organ Donation Week. Unless individuals "opt out" on the NHS Organ Donor Register, the law assumes they are consenting to organ donation, although ultimately families still have the final say. Mr Green said: "I urge people to sign up to the register to make their decision known. "Sharing these stories is all we can do as it will get people talking about the children waiting for an organ transplant. Think of the futures that can be saved from the amazing gift of organ donation." Specialist nurse Rachel Eason said: "For lots of children waiting for a life-saving transplant, their only hope is the parents of another child agreeing to organ donation at a time of immense sadness and personal grief. "Losing a child is incredibly tragic and difficult. Families of young organ donors tell us that knowing their child's donation has saved lives can bring some comfort." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Livingston County Sheriffs Office has confirmed a 12-year-old boy, now identified as Declan Carter, was killed after a tree fell on top of him at the Howell Nature Center on Thursday. The department says deputies were dispatched to the Howell Nature Center after a tree fell on a 12-year-old boy at around 3:32 p.m. The boy was visiting the Nature Center with a group from Our Lady of Victory Catholic Parish located in Northville, MI. Declan Carter, 12, lost his life after a tree fell on top of him during a field trip./ Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull While one of the instructors was speaking to the group, a tree broke and landed on the boy. After responders removed him from underneath the tree, he was transported via helicopter to a nearby hospital with what police say are life-threatening injuries. Northville Mayor Brian P. Turnbull released a statement that said he knew Declan and his siblings and said he hopes the community will come together in support of the family during this hard time. Northvillians, It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this morning with sad news regarding one of our young Northvillians who had his whole life in front of him. Tragically, on a field trip from Our Lady of Victory School yesterday to the Howell Nature Center, a tree came down on sixth grader Declan Carter, and he was airlifted to Motts Children Hospital at the University of Michigan. Everyone did all they could for Declan, but his energetic life was suddenly halted. I had the pleasure of knowing Declan, having visited with him and his sister, Georgia, in front of their home many times, especially on hot summer afternoons for a lemonade. He had great potential academically, athletically (as one of the top runners in the area) and socially as a part of the fabric and DNA of Northville. From all of us at City Hall, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, including his father John Carter (an esteemed City Council leader), Mother Liz Carter and his sisters Georgia and Ainsley. It is up to us to keep Declans spirit and memory alive in our hearts and from this day forward, to always have the Carter family in our prayers. All of our Northville staff who are appointed and elected are like a family. A loss for one is felt by all, along with the rest of our close-knit community. I have petitioned the Governors office to allow us to place our flag at City Hall at half-staff in memory of our beloved Northvillian Declan Carter, and I ask all in the Ville to do the same. Northvillians, I urge you to come together in support of the Carter family, and I encourage you to hug all those close to you today life is precious. With a weeping and saddened heart representing all of Northville, we all feel the loss of young Northvillian Declan Carter. Brian P. Turnbull Mayor Northville Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some trees down along state routes in Greene County, EMA director reports GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) Trees were down along some state routes in Greene County early Friday morning, according to the countys emergency management agency (EMA) director. EMA Director Heather Sipe told News Channel 11 that as of 6:20 a.m., crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) were working to remove trees that had fallen over state routes. LIVE UPDATES: Helene makes landfall as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane As of 6:20 a.m., Sipe said 435 people were without power in Greene County. News Channel 11 is tracking outages across the region; a full list of outages can be found by clicking here. Greene County EMA expects the Nolichucky River to continue to rise. According to Sipe, the river levels were at 9.44 feet in Embreeville as of 6:20 a.m., which is just under action stage. The agency expects the Nolichucky River to crest at 15.5 feet by Saturday morning. Emergency officials from across the area have urged caution to anyone driving on Friday as multiple roads have already flooded. Hurricane Helene is expected to impact the Tri-Cities region primarily between 8 a.m. and noon. Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm early Friday as it passed over Georgia after making landfall in Big Bend, Florida around 11:20 p.m. 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. New trial to begin for Harrisonville woman accused of shooting dog last year A new trial will begin in November for a Harrisonville woman charged with animal cruelty after allegedly fatally shooting a dog last year. Amory R. Hilliard, 32, allegedly shot and killed the dog in Belton, Missouri, June 13, 2023, according to court records. She was also charged with a weapons violation. The alleged shooting took place at 9:56 p.m. outside a home on Chestnut St. in Belton, according to court records. It is unknown what motivated the shooting, or whether the dog belonged to Hilliard. However, the shooting did not take place at her home, court records show. Hilliard previously pled not guilty to the animal-cruelty and weapons charges, court records show. However, after failing to appear in court multiple times since June 2023, Hilliard was arrested on June 11, 2024 in connection with the incident, according to Belton police records. She was re-charged with animal abuse, as well as with illegally carrying a concealed weapon, and spent three days in jail starting on September 17, according to court records. Hilliard had been previously charged with felony drug trafficking in June 2023, according to court records. She also appeared in court in April on drug possession charges, according to Belton police records. Hilliard will appear in Cass County court on November 21 at 9 a.m. for the first hearing associated with her new trial. The Animal Cruelty Task Force of Missouri receives more than 20,000 reports of animal abuse or cruelty per year. In 2023, seven of these reports escalated to animal-cruelty cases with the Jackson County Prosecutors office, according to KC Pet Project. They journeyed by bus from the Navajo Nation to push for passage of the RECA. (Photo/Shiala King) WASHINGTON, D.C. On Tuesday, a delegation of community members from Navajo Nation, Laguna Pueblo and Acoma Pueblo, as well as Hopi and Zuni, arrived by bus. They made this long trip to pressure U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson into bringing the extension of the S.3853 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to the floor. First passed in 1990, RECA provided compensation and healthcare benefits to victims of radiation exposure due to uranium mining and nuclear testing. Their demonstration began on a rainy morning, marching to steady drums and a chant of Pass RECA now! Together with Navajo Nation President Buu Van Nygren and Speaker Crystalyne Curley, they carried striking uranium-yellow signs and tribal flags through the gray streets of the nations capital. Their march ended at the Russell Senate Building for a press conference with their representatives. In attendance were U.S. Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM). 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. Photos by Shiala King. The meeting began with commentary from Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, who emphasized the immense effort that has gone into extending RECA, and revealed that Biden has already promised to sign. I believe in the power of prayer, he said. I want you to pray for Speaker Johnson, to give him the strength and the wisdom to allow this legislation to the house floor to be voted on to get this to the President of the United States. The extension and expansion of RECA passed a Senate vote of 69-30 in March, and unfortunately expired in June. Johnson has not prioritized this time sensitive issue. Uranium victims are left behind by bureaucracy, continuing to struggle with their medical needs. Following the Cold War, Navajo miners were 28.6 times more likely to develop cancer, and uranium in the environment has been linked to a staggering rise in rare disorders. Folks, were here because this is about justice, Sen. Martin Heinrich followed, and shared personal experience of his father as an atomic veteran, who also suffered the effects of radiation. At the end of the day, it is gonna be your stories that are gonna motivate our colleagues and the speaker of the house of representatives to put this legislation on the floor, where it will pass. Around the room, individuals held pictures of their lost family members. Veterans who returned from war, only to be lost to radiation; women who worked in the mines to feed their families. Historically, Navajo uranium miners worked under dangerous conditions, with little knowledge of the risk. It was about 3am when the sun rose in New Mexico, said Gabe Vasquz. It wasnt the sunrises that we were used to seeing. It was the Trinity test, and so for too many decades, New Mexicans have suffered generational impacts while being gaslighted they say well its not possible that three generations down you can still have those impacts. Advocates from the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium described the fallout that precipitated like snow and covered the land. The impact of the bomb would be felt for generations. When asked about Speaker Johnsons cost concerns, Sen. Hawley replied, The cost has already been paid, its been paid by the people in this room. You wanna talk about the cost of chemotherapy, the cost of cancer, the cost of lost loved ones, the cost of burials, the cost of funerals, it has been paid by the people in this room The United States government owes a debt to the people in this room. A study in 2022 concluded that 11% of uranium mines are on tribal land, however, the majority of the ore mined came from this 11%. The largest mines were located in Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo of New Mexico, which produced 52 million of the 75.9 million tons of uranium ore that was extracted for defense-related purposes. The far reaching public health hazard of this production amount is immense. Considering the historical undercounting of tribal citizens, the toll may certainly be higher. On Wednesday morning the coalition huddled in the atrium of the Cannon House Building, where they intended to deliver their message, their stories, directly to Speaker Johnsons office. They crowded the hallway, only five at a time let in to speak. Some said prayers to the closed door and the plaque, as their fellows delivered stacks of medical bills showing the cost of exposure to radiation. Sunset heralded a vigil of luminarios in front of the Capitol. Paper lights illuminated pictures of lost loved ones. Each bag carried a name, one of many lost to radiation exposure and fallout elders said prayers and sang mourning songs. Members of the group then read a list of those lost, a haunting ten minute long chorus as they spoke over each other, each reading different names. Pedestrians and bystanders were drawn to the display, moved by the memorial. We represent a silent majority, the unspoken who havent been born, and the dead who can no longer speak Basically what we are here for is to tell them that what theyre doing to us isnt right," said Navajo elder and flag carrier Kee Carl, who lost his uncle, a veteran and an influential code talker, to radiation exposure. The Navajo Nation performed great service for the United States, and Native Americans have the highest per capita rate of enlistment. Service overseas has been met with sacrifice on home soil. With the election on the horizon, time is running short to get this act to Bidens desk. 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 Alaska pollock, shown here from a harvest, make up the nation's top-volume single-species commercial seafood catch. Alaska pollock, harvested mostly in the Bering Sea but also in the Gulf of Alaska, are processed into fish sticks, fish burgers, imitation crab meat and other common fish products. (Photo provided by NOAA) Alaska pollock, shown here from a harvest, make up the nation's top-volume single-species commercial seafood catch. Alaska pollock, harvested mostly in the Bering Sea but also in the Gulf of Alaska, are processed into fish sticks, fish burgers, imitation crab meat and other common fish products. (Photo provided by NOAA) U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason heard oral arguments Thursday in a lawsuit filed by two of Alaskas largest tribal groups against federal managers of the states groundfish trawl fisheries. Two Kodiak trawlers caught 2,000 king salmon. Now, a whole fishery is closed. The Association of Village Council Presidents and the Tanana Chiefs Conference claim the federal government has failed to adjust trawling rules in the Bering Sea and off the Aleutian Islands to compensate for the ongoing salmon crisis on Alaskas Interior rivers. Victory by the plaintiffs could lead to new restrictions on the worlds largest trawl fishery. If plaintiffs lose, the status quo is likely to continue. On Thursday, Gleason asked plaintiffs whether theyre seeking a halt to trawl fishing in the Bering Sea. No, the plaintiffs said. Instead, theyre seeking an acknowledgment from the federal government that ocean conditions have changed since 2007, the last time the National Marine Fisheries Service conducted a full environmental impact statement for the fishery. That document has been incrementally updated since then, but plaintiffs argue that the updates havent taken into account changing ocean conditions, including the arrival and departure of the blob a marine heat wave that struck the North Pacific last decade. They contend that the National Environmental Policy Act requires a new reassessment. A full reassessment could result in new rules for the trawl fishery, and industry groups have intervened in the lawsuit on the side of the federal government, which says that a reassessment isnt needed because the process of setting annual harvest limits includes a regular look at the health of the fishery. NMFS has concluded, based on voluminous data informed by the most up-to-date science, that the new circumstances described by Plaintiffs are not significant in the context of the impact of the harvest specifications decisions on the environment, attorneys for the agency wrote in a court filing. At the end of Thursdays hearing, Gleason took the case under advisement and said she will issue a written order at a future date. If she rules in the plaintiffs favor, an additional hearing may be scheduled to determine what steps the National Marine Fisheries Service needs to take to fix the problem. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A state trooper stopped and released the Las Vegas man suspected of working as a hit man and killing four people hours after what detectives believe was his last murder, according to documents and videos the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Prosecutors filed three new open murder charges against Michael Coleman, 40, last week, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. Officers arrested Coleman in May 2023 for what detectives said was his fourth and final murder in the series. Carl Chester, Jr., 41, who himself was murdered in May, ordered Coleman to commit the murders in retaliation for not receiving his cut of PPP fraud money, police said. The Paycheck Protection Program was intended to help companies pay and retain employees during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. From May 2021 until February 2023, Coleman allegedly killed three men and one woman. He was also accused of injuring a bystander in one of the shootings. An Arizona state trooper stopped Michael Coleman on U.S. 93 between Kingman and Phoenix, documents said. (KLAS) On Feb. 27, 2023 the day of the final murder Coleman is accused of killing Kidada Stewart, 48, outside of a home near Fort Apache Road and Mountains Edge Way in the southwest valley. Video from a neighbor recorded a car matching the descriptions from the previous murders parked next to Stewarts home before her death. When Stewart came home, a person in the car rushed out and fired several shots toward her, killing her, the video showed. Later that day, an Arizona state trooper stopped Coleman driving a similar-looking car on U.S. 93 between Kingman and Phoenix, documents said. The reason why youre being stopped today is because: one, you have a headlight thats out, and two, the lights are supposed to be illuminating your license plate, they are also out, the trooper told Coleman in bodycam video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. At that point in their investigation, Las Vegas detectives had not identified Coleman as a suspect, nor would the trooper have known that Coleman would eventually be wanted. The stop and the video from it would play a crucial role in police work to later link Coleman to the other crimes, documents said. Other surveillance video later tracked the car involved in Stewarts murder to Coleman, even though the license plate was missing during the homicide. During the Arizona traffic stop, the trooper asked Coleman if he had any firearms in the car. Days later, Metro police would stop the car again. Coleman was not driving but officers seized and searched it, finding a gun hidden in the engine compartment. The gun later matched cartridge casings from a previous murder in the series, police said. Police arrested Coleman for Stewarts murder on May 4, 2023. He initially refused to leave his home and surrender, prompting a barricade. A gun police said they found hidden in an engine compartment in a car linked to Michael Coleman. (KLAS) Chester and Coleman served time in federal custody on gang-related charges connected to the Rolling 60s Crips in West Las Vegas, documents said. Coleman shot a man in 2003 in North Las Vegas after the man disrespected him. In 2006, a federal judge sentenced Coleman to 12 years in prison. Coleman wrote a letter before sentencing, asking for a second chance and saying he wanted to apologize to the various communities of Las Vegas and the state of Nevada, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. After his release from prison in the 2010s, Coleman violated the terms of his release and was ordered back to prison for six months. He was last released in 2017, records said. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from owning a firearm. Coleman remained in custody at the Clark County Detention Center as of Thursday where a judge ordered him held without bail. A jury trial in the Stewart case was scheduled to begin in October. 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. At 2:45 a.m. Friday, Port Royals Mark Sutton heard a bang as winds from Tropical Storm Helene roared through the town of 16,000 residents. Sutton jumped and looked out the window in time to see a 60-foot-tall pine tree crash down on his 12-by-24-foot utility shed. It got clobbered, Sutton said of the structure, which is a total loss. But Sutton might get something sweet out of his sour run-in with a tropical storm whose herculean winds turned the Beaufort River and Battery Creek angry and toppled trees by the dozens. The big pine that crashed onto this property, it turns out, was filled with thousands of honey bees. And now, Mike Sutton, Marks twin brother, plans to contact a beekeeper to see if the bees and their honey can be saved. If they can get the queen, they can lure the rest to the box and relocate them and get the honey, Mark Sutton said. As of 1:30 p.m. Friday, thousands of bees continued to stick close to the toppled nest. I think I can see the honey comb in there, Sutton said. They are swarming all around it. I can see them out the window. It was too dark to see the swarm early Friday morning when the winds blew the tree down. I didnt know they were there until the next morning, Sutton said. Sutton has lived in the area all his life and through countless hurricanes and tropical storms. But Helene, a storm that was downgraded Friday to a tropical storm, rattled him. It was actually pretty scary, Sutton said. Sutton estimates the wind was gusting more than 65 mph at the time. The high winds also snapped a cherry tree in his backyard. It snapped off up high, like severe wind would do, he said. He suspects the pine tree that came down had a weak spot because of a cavity inside where the honey bees were living and therefore twisted like a noodle. Downed trees were reported across Port Royal and Beaufort because of high winds from the storm. The storm also damaged the waterfronts of both communities. A section of the boardwalk and Port Royal washed away. And several boats moored at the Beaufort marina ended up on the shore of the Beaufort River. Sutton, a senior construction manager and architect for Beaufort County, is moving into a new house at the 1703 Edinburgh Ave. He had brought the utility shed, where he planned to store his tools, with him as part of the move. It wasnt even in its final location before the tree squished it like a bug. I waited too long, he said. Although utility building was destroyed, a leather couch and chair inside it went undamaged. And the tree missed his house by about 20 feet. Storm John dumps nearly one meter of rain on southern Mexican state By Troy Merida ACAPULCO (Reuters) -Storm John started dissipating over Mexico's Pacific coast on Friday and was downgraded to tropical depression, but its remnants poured a deluge of almost 100 cm (39 inches) of rain on the southern state of Guerrero. Four days of steady rain dousing the home state of major beach resort Acapulco have almost tripled the downpour from last year's devastating Hurricane Otis, Mexican authorities said. Images on social networks showed homes, businesses, roads and vehicles were damaged as rising waters flooded areas in Guerrero and the neighboring state of Michoacan. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that "catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides will continue over portions of southern and south-western Mexico." The head of Mexico's national meteorological service, Alejandra Mendez, said John had soaked Guerrero with more than 95 cm (37 inches) of rain since Monday, while Otis, a Category 5 hurricane, had brought 35 cm (14 inches) of rain. Otis, which last year killed more than 50 and caused damages of about $15 billion, rapidly grew stronger as it neared Acapulco, while John moved much slower, oscillating between tropical storm and hurricane to saturate a wide swathe of coast. Acapulco resident Vianey Reyes spoke to Reuters as relatives and neighbors bailed water from their homes and garages. "We thought there would be some rain, but now we have already seen four or five days of intense downpours," she said. In the neighboring state of Michoacan, authorities said John caused rivers to overflow, bringing flooding and damage in several areas. On Friday afternoon, John was hovering 90 miles (145 km) west of the major cargo port of Lazaro Cardenas, north of Guerrero, while churning northwest at just 5 mph (8 kph), according to the Miami-based forecaster. The slow-moving storm struck Guerrero at hurricane strength twice in one week, after reforming off the coast in a phenomenon meteorologists have called a "zombie" storm. (Reporting by Troy Merida en Acapulco, Diego Ore and David Alire Garcia in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez in Mexico City; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Clarence Fernandez) Hurricane Helene weakened into a post-tropical cyclone on Friday after making landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm. The storm has been blamed for at least 44 deaths, including 19 people in South Carolina, as it plowed its way north through several southeastern states. Authorities continue to rescue people trapped by floodwaters and millions were without power across much of the southeastern U.S. Helene came ashore amid warnings from the National Hurricane Center that the enormous system could create a nightmare storm surge. Tropical Storm John made its second landfall along Mexicos Pacific coast Friday, while in its wake authorities in the resort city of Acapulco called for help from anyone with a boat to deal with the flooding. It has since dissipated over Mexico. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened Friday into a hurricane in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and could cause dangerous waves in parts of Bermuda, forecasters said. Tropical Storm Joyce formed on Friday morning in the Atlantic Ocean and wasn't threatening land, forecasters said. The storm was expected to strengthen gradually through Sunday before weakening early next week. Follow APs coverage of tropical weather at https://apnews.com/hub/hurricanes. Here's the latest: Vice President Harris urges residents affected by Helene to heed local officials DOUGLAS, Ariz. Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday urged residents impacted by Hurricane Helene to pay heed to local authorities as the storm continues to wreak havoc on a significant swath of the southeast. The storm continues to be dangerous and deadly, and lives have been lost and the risk of flooding still remains high, Harris said at the start of a campaign speech in Douglas, Arizona. So, I continue to urge everyone to please continue to follow guidance from your local officials until we get past this moment. 1 dead in Virginia from a falling tree, governor says RICHMOND, Va. In southwestern Virginia, one person died after a tree fell and a building collapsed in Craig County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 44 across five states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Dam near North Carolina-Tennessee border not experiencing catastrophic failure, officials say NASHVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said Friday that a catastrophic failure was not taking place at Walters Dam, also known as the Waterville Dam, which sits in North Carolina close to the Tennessee border. A local mayor had urged residents to evacuate due to the dam potentially breaking, but TEMA said in a statement that the dam has not failed after talking to Duke Energy, which owns the nearly 100-year-old dam. Mother and her two infant twins are among those dead in Georgia ATLANTA Among people who have died in Georgia are a 27-year-old mother and her two 1-month-old twins, who were killed when trees fell on their house in Thomson, just west of Augusta, said McDuffie County Coroner Paul Johnson. The coroner said an 89-year-old woman was killed when trees fell on her house elsewhere in the same county. EVs could catch fire if inundated with saltwater from Hurricane Helene, officials warn Electric vehicles can catch fire if they are inundated by saltwater, so owners who live in the path of a major storm like Hurricane Helene should take precautions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been researching this problem since it was first seen after Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in 2012. But no one seems to have detailed statistics on just how often this happens. Two years ago, Hurricane Ian compromised the batteries of as may as 5,000 electric vehicles, and 36 of them caught fire. Several more electric vehicles caught fire in Florida last year after Hurricane Idalia. It happens often enough that Florida officials were worried about the possibility before Hurricane Helene arrived because they were expecting a potentially devastating storm surge up to 20 feet deep in the northwestern part of Florida. These fires do seem to be linked specifically to saltwater because salt can conduct electricity. Similar problems havent been reported after freshwater flooding in California that was driven by heavy rains early this year. Read more about electric vehicles catching fire from flooding Weather reporter interrupts live broadcast to help a woman stranded in her car ATLANTA A weather TV reporter in Atlanta interrupted his live report about Hurricane Helene on Friday to rescue a woman from a vehicle stranded by rising floodwaters. Standing in the rain with the submerged vehicle behind him, Fox reporter Bob Van Dillen described how the woman drove into a flooded area. In the footage, he said he called 911 and she can be heard screaming as he tries to assure her that help was on the way. Then, he told the camera, Its a situation. Well get back to you in a little bit. Im going to see if I can help this lady out a little bit more you guys. Read more about the reporters water rescue Death toll in South Carolina rises to 19 COLUMBIA, S.C. The death toll from Hurricane Helene in South Carolina is 19 people, with many of the deaths happening from falling trees as the storm moved through early Friday, authorities said. In Saluda County, two firefighters were killed when a tree fell on their truck while they were answering a call, the Highway Patrol said. Five people were killed in Spartanburg County, according to Coroner Rusty Clevenger who planned to release details about the deaths later. In Greenville County, four people were killed by falling trees, Senior Deputy Coroner Shelton England said. Four people were also killed in Aiken County by trees falling on homes, including a 78-year-old husband and his 74-year-old wife, Coroner Darryl Ables said. Two people died in Anderson County when trees fell on their houses, the Coroners Office said. And in Newberry County, a married couple died when their car slid on a wet highway and ran into a tree, Coroner Laura Kneece said. Helene is the deadliest tropical storm in South Carolina since Hurricane Hugo killed 35 people when it came ashore just north of Charleston in 1989. The deadliest recent hurricanes to hit the US Recent major hurricanes that made landfall in the U.S. have left hundreds dead and caused billions of dollars in damages. Since 2020, not including Helene, there have been seven major destructive hurricanes: Laura, Delta, Zeta, Ida, Ian, Idalia and Beryl. Hurricane Beryl was the first of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Exceptionally warm ocean temperatures caused it to strengthen into a Category 5 storm rapidly in early July. When hurricane Beryl hit Texas, it had dropped to a Category 1 storm. Beryl has been blamed for at least 36 deaths. The storm caused an estimated $28 billion to $32 billion in damages, according to AccuWeathers preliminary estimates. Read more about recent destructive hurricanes Rainfall from Helene breaks Atlanta's 48-hour record ATLANTA Atlanta received 11.12 inches (28.24 centimeters) of rain in 48 hours, breaking the citys all-time record since record keeping began in 1878, Georgias Office of the State Climatologist said on X. The previous record of 9.59 inches (24.36 cm) in 48 hours was set in 1886. Hurricane Helene leaves deeps scars where it made landfall PERRY, Fla. The windswept beauty of what residents claim is one of Floridas longest stretches of undeveloped coastline was left deeply scarred after Hurricane Helene crashed ashore in rural Taylor County along the states Big Bend. Its a part of the state where salt marshes and pine flatwoods stretch unspoiled into the horizon, a region that has largely avoided the crush of condo developments, strip malls and souvenir shops that has carved up so much of Floridas coastlines. Its a place where Susan Sauls Hartway and her four-year-old Chihuahua mix Lucy could afford to live within walking distance of the beach on her salary as a housekeeper. At least until her home was carried away by Helene. I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad, she said. This is unbelievable. Friday afternoon, Hartway and Lucy wandered around their street near Ezell Beach, searching for where the storm may have deposited her home. Its gone. I dont know where its at. I cant find it, she said. Born and raised in Taylor County, Hartway said there is nowhere in the world she would rather be, even after Helene. But shes watched as wealthier residents from out of state have bought up second homes here. She wonders how many of them will sell out and what will happen to the locals who have nowhere else to go. Theres so many people down here, they dont have any place to go now. This was all they had, Hartway said. Some people, theyll just make do down here. Rough it. Insurers could pay $5B to cover losses from Helene ATLANTA Insurance data provider A.M. Best on Friday estimated that insurers will pay $5 billion or more to cover losses from Hurricane Helene. Thats not the total amount of loss, some of which is uninsured and some of which may be repaid with federal aid. Instead, it's the amount that insurance companies are on the hook for. A.M. Best said insurers paid $2.5 billion to $4 billion in losses for Hurricane Idalia last year, and it expects losses from Helene to be more severe given its broader wind field and a path that hit more urban areas inland. Curfew issued in western North Carolina community hit hard by Helene ASHEVILLE, N.C. Officials in a western North Carolina town have issued a curfew due to safety risks from flooded streets and downed power lines from what remains of Hurricane Helene. Its very dangerous out there, Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb said. If you dont have to be out, dont go out. Lamb said the curfew would occur over a 12-hour period starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. No fatalities have been reported, although officials said any death count wont be released until family notifications have been made. Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said hundreds of residents were forced to seek safety at shelters. The countys 911 center received more than 3,300 calls over an eight-hour period Friday, and more than 130 swift-water rescues have been conducted, said county Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole. He said it took crews more than four hours to reach several homes that were hit by a mudslide. This is something that were going to be dealing with for many days and weeks to come, Cole said. So please be patient. Former Tropical Storm John dissipates over Mexico MEXICO Former Tropical Storm John has dissipated over Mexico, but its remnants will continue to produce rain over the Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacan. The storm made landfall twice in Mexico, first as a hurricane Monday and a second time as a tropical storm Friday. Helene downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone MIAMI The U.S. National Hurricane Center has downgraded Helene from a tropical depression to a post-tropical cyclone. Helene, a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall in Florida late Thursday night, was 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, at about 5 p.m. EDT. It was moving northwest at 17 mph (28 kph), according to the hurricane center. The storm was expected to continue producing heavy rain in the area and cause severe flash-flooding as a result. Isolated tornadoes Friday evening were possible in Virginia and North Carolina, the hurricane center said. Thousands ordered to evacuate after catastrophic failure of a dam in eastern Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. In eastern Tennessee, a catastrophic failure of Waterville Dam spurred Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis to hand down evacuation orders for all of downtown Newport, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Newport is a city of about 7,000 people roughly 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of where dozens of people were being rescued from the roof of a hospital. Over 1 million customers are still without power in South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. More than 1 million customers remained without power in South Carolina several hours after the remnants of Hurricane Helene left the state and the sun started to come out. Utility officials warned power could be out for many for a long time. Crews were still assessing the damage and in some cases needed to cut their way through debris just to determine what was left standing. You will be frustrated. Tomorrow its going to be 86 degrees and clear. Youre going to say Why cant I watch the football game? Why cant my life be back to normal? Lifes not going to be back to normal until probably the middle of next week, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said Friday. The 1.2 million South Carolina customers without power represent more than 40% of homes and businesses in the state. Gov. Henry McMaster said the storm moved east of where it was forecast and gave the state a bigger blow than expected. We urge everybody to be patient and keep your neighbors in your prayers, McMaster said. 4 people critically injured after a tornado touches down in North Carolina ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. Four people were critically injured and numerous others sustained minor injuries after a tornado touched down in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, officials said. Three buildings received significant damage, including two restaurants and an auto service center, while a fourth building, a cafeteria, received minor roof damage, Nash County Communications Director Jonathan Edwards said Friday. The damage appeared to be concentrated on Wesleyan Boulevard and Tiffany Boulevard. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck also flipped over in that area, but the driver was not hurt, Edwards said. Death toll in Georgia rises to 15 ATLANTA At least 15 people have died in Georgia from causes related to Hurricane Helene, according to Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp. The word that just keeps coming to my mind is just devastated PERRY, Fla. Taylor County, Florida has had a rough couple of years. Since August of 2023, the rural community along Floridas Big Bend has taken direct hits from three hurricanes and seen the closure of its local paper mill, which for decades had been one of the economic lifelines for a county where one in six residents lives below the poverty line. The word that just keeps coming to my mind is just devastated, said Aaron Portwood, publisher of Perry Newspapers, which is based in the county seat of Perry. You get hit with one thing. And you think, This is bad. And you recover from that. And then another one hits, and youre like, ok that stings. But after about four or five, it starts to feel pretty overwhelming. Portwoods house in Dekle Beach on the countys long undeveloped coastline was gutted by Hurricane Helene, though the structure still stands. Beyond his own home, Portwood said hes worried about the future of this county that is steadily having its tax base wiped off the map. 2 firefighters killed in South Carolina were struck by a tree COLUMBIA, S.C. Two firefighters killed during Hurricane Helene in South Carolina were struck by a tree, authorities said. The tree hit their firetruck around 6:30 a.m. Friday about 4 miles (6 kilometers) west of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina Highway Patrol Cpl. David Jones said. The Saluda County Coroners Office has not released the names of the firefighters. At least 17 people have been killed in South Carolina as Hurricane Helene tore through the western part of the state. A mudslide and floodwaters wash out interstate at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line A mudslide and record floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Helene washed out a section of an interstate highway at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line, transportation officials said. Photos and video posted on social media showed at least one lane of I-40 had collapsed above the swollen Pigeon River. The Tennessee Department of Transportation said the interstate was closed in both directions. The National Weather Service said a flash flood warning continued for the Pigeon River, which crested Friday morning about 3 feet (1 meter) above its previous record level set by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Georgia Power to make an emergency water release from a dam near Lake Rabun ATLANTA Georgia Power Co. is making an emergency release of water from a northeast Georgia dam following heavy rains from Hurricane Helene. Georgia Emergency Management Director Chris Stallings said no residents who live near Lake Rabun in the states mountainous northeast corner were in danger of being flooded. But he said the water release would likely flood roads and bridges that some residents use to access their homes. If they dont leave now, theyre going to be stuck there for at least a day or multiple hours, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters at a morning news briefing. The dam is the third in a series owned by Georgia Power along the Tallulah River, which cuts a deep gorge through part of the area. Weve got to get water out so it doesnt cause dam failure, Stallings said. He was unable to say how long the water release would last, saying that would be up to technical experts. Georgia Power didnt immediately respond to phone calls, emails and texts seeking information. Dozens rescued by helicopter from a flooded Tennessee hospital inundated by Helene NASHVILLE Dozens of people were being rescued by helicopter from a flooded Tennessee hospital inundated by Helene. Some 54 people were moved to the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital while water rapidly flooded the facility, according to Ballad Health. The company said on social media that county officials had ordered an evacuation of the hospital Friday morning due to rising water in the Nolichucky River, including 11 patients. Boats ordered up by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were unable to safely evacuate the hospital, which was taking on flood water, the company said. As of midday, Ballad reported that an additional seven people remained in rescue boats as the hospital was engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water. Tornado damages businesses in North Carolina ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. A tornado was confirmed Friday in northern Rocky Mount, North Carolina, along U.S. Route 301, city communications specialist Robin Cox said. There was damage to businesses in the area, but the city did not yet confirm if there were any injuries. Cox said there were emergency workers on the scene as of 2:30 p.m. DeSantis: We are going to bounce back ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that even communities hardest hit by Hurricane Helene would get back on their feet, though it wont happen overnight. The governor said its extremely difficult when someone loses a home with photos and family keepsakes that dont have a dollar value. But he vowed, We are going to bounce back. Its tough and we understand that. We also understand that this is a resilient state, DeSantis said at a news conference in storm-damaged St. Pete Beach, not far from where he grew up in Dunedin, Florida. Were going to get people back on their feet, DeSantis said. Its not easy to go through this. Its not going to be easy in the immediate future, but theres going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Tropical Storm John hits Mexicos Pacific coast a 2nd time MEXICO CITY Tropical Storm John made its second landfall along Mexicos Pacific coast Friday, while in its wake authorities in the resort city of Acapulco called for help from anyone with a boat to deal with the flooding. John came ashore near Tizupan in Michoacan state with sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kmh) after making its initial landfall farther east on the coast on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane. It blew tin roofs off houses, triggered mudslides and toppled scores of trees. After weakening inland, it reemerged over the ocean, reforming as a tropical storm Wednesday and eventually regaining hurricane strength. At least eight people have died as a result of the storm. At least 17 people have died in South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. At least 17 people have died after Hurricane Helene moved across South Carolina overnight Friday. The dead included two firefighters responding to calls in Saluda County, Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Friday news conference. Two additional deaths were reported in Newberry County, according to McMaster, who didnt provide details. Coroners reported 13 other deaths four in Greenville County, four in Aiken County, three in Spartanburg County and two in Anderson County. Were asking keep all of those families and friends in your prayers, McMaster said. The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 30 across four states The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 30 across four states. According to an Associated Press tally Friday, the deaths occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Dangerous rescue situation unfolding at a northeast Tennessee hospital NASHVILLE A dangerous rescue situation was unfolding in northeast Tennessee on Friday as 54 people were moved to the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital while water rapidly flooded the facility, according to Ballad Health. The company said on social media that county officials ordered an evacuation of the hospital Friday morning due to rising water in the Nolichucky River, including 11 patients. Boats ordered up by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were unable to safely evacuate the hospital, which was taking on flood water, the company said. As of midday, Ballad reported that 54 people were relocated to the roof and seven remained in rescue boats as the hospital was engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water. The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and TEMA and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation, Ballad wrote, asking for prayers. Some bridge lanes connecting Florida barrier island communities reopen ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Some bridge lanes connecting barrier island communities on Floridas Gulf Coast started reopening on Friday. The northbound lanes of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge connecting the St. Petersburg area to the Bradenton area were opened Friday afternoon, though southbound lanes remained closed for cleaning up debris and assessing damage, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge connecting the Tampa area with the St. Petersburg area also were opened to traffic, while northbound lanes were still being inspected and cleared of debris. The Courtney Campbell Causeway connecting Hillsborough and Pinellas counties remained closed because of debris. The bridge took on heavy debris, washout, and roadway damage, the agency said in a statement. Bridge inspectors and maintenance clean-up crews are still on-site doing their best to clear the roadway and open it back up to motorists. Helene downgraded to a tropical depression MIAMI Tropical Storm Helene was downgraded to a tropical depression by forecasters on Friday afternoon. The storm was located about 125 miles (201 km) southeast of Louisville, Kentucky, and was moving toward the north-northwest at about 28 mph (44 kph). The center said the storm was forecast to stall over the Tennessee Valley Friday night and through the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Forecasters said Helene was expected to become extratropical later in the day. North Carolina dam overtopped is not expected to fail, officials say RALEIGH, N.C. People living on about 30 streets in a western North Carolina county were ordered Friday to evacuate as water from Tropical Storm Helene overtopped the entire length of a dam in a town best known for the 1980s movie Dirty Dancing. There is no indication, however, that the Lake Lure Dam is about to fail, state Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Kat Russell said Friday. Russell didnt know how many people lived on the 29 streets within what she called the dam inundation area within Rutherford County, where Lake Lure and the town of the same name are located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Asheville. The lake flows into the Broad River and was created nearly 100 years ago. The dam is listed as 480 feet (146 meters) long and about 120 feet (36.6 meters) high. Russell said there is some erosion on one side of the dam caused by the overtopping. Town officials are monitoring it, she said. Downstream communities have been made aware of the overtopping but have been told they would have several hours to alert residents to their own evacuations if needed, Russell said. The North Carolina and South Carolina state agencies also have received emergency action plans if conditions worsen. Waters in the iconic lake used to film scenes for the movie Dirty Dancing, transforming Lake Lure into upstate New Yorks Catskill Mountains. Helene severely damaged Georgias utility infrastructure, electrical group says ATLANTA An electrical utility group is warning of catastrophic damage to Georgias utility infrastructure by Hurricane Helene. The Georgia Electric Membership Corp., which represents the states electric cooperatives, says that the hurricane damaged more than 100 high-voltage transmission lines and that more than 60 substations were out of service Friday morning. Without transmission lines and substations, the cooperatives cant feed electricity to homes and businesses. The group warned Friday that there will be extensive delays in total restoration and told customers, especially those who rely on electric power for medical needs, to make temporary arrangements. Of the more than 1 million Georgia electricity customers without power on Friday afternoon, more than 400,000 were customers of cooperatives. Restoration for customers of those utilities in rural areas can take much longer because customers are far apart. Rain from Helene has helped reduce autumn forest fire risks in West Virginia, governor says CHARLESTON, W.Va. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was thankful Friday that several days of rain, including Fridays arrival of the remnants from Hurricane Helene, helped reduce the risk of autumn forest fires during an exceptional drought in much of the state. Im tickled to death that we finally have gotten this amount of rainfall, Justice said during his weekly news briefing. This will surely, surely assist us in many, many ways in regard to this terrible potential that we had for forest fires. Hurricane Ian remembrance event canceled in Fort Meyers Beach West Palm Beach, Fla. The town of Fort Myers Beach has canceled its Hurricane Ian Remembrance and Resiliency Ceremony due to cleanup efforts from Hurricane Helene. In a post on the social platform X, the town said it had to cancel the ceremony and did not say if it would be rescheduled. The town planned the ceremony for Saturday morning to mark when Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida. A residential street near the Chattahoochee River is completely flooded ATLANTA A residential street near the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta and the parking lot of a shopping center across the street is completely flooded. Flooding in the area is expected to get worse. John Swalm, 17, lives part-time with his dad whose house is on the flooded street. His dad is not in the state and his house is on stilts, but Swalm anticipates devastating damage to the houses yard and wooden patio. He also believes his dads cars are submerged and his kayaks have floated away. Rainfall in parts of the Carolinas and Tennessee reached at least half a foot Preliminary data shows rainfall in parts of northwest South Carolina, southwest North Carolina and southeast Tennessee reached at least half a foot between Tuesday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service office for Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina. Some parts of the region saw more than a foot of rain. Widespread airport delays and cancellations persist ATLANTA Even as Helenes wind and rain move northward, air travel snarls remain at many airports in the southeast. The airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, a major hub for American Airlines, saw nearly 400 inbound and outbound flights canceled through 1 p.m. Thursday, with another 500 inbound and outbound flights delayed, according to flight tracking software FlightAware. Thats nearly half of all flights to the airport. The larger Atlanta Airport saw nearly 200 inbound and outbound flights canceled, while more than 400 were delayed. Thats nearly a quarter of all the flights at that airport. Problems also lingered at airports in Florida including in Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, while smaller airports in Asheville, North Carolina and Augusta, Georgia saw a majority of flights canceled. Water rescues underway in Morristown, Tennessee NASHVILLE - The National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, said late Friday morning that several water rescues and evacuations were happening near the mountains in the northeastern part of the state, with thousands of trees down in the area. Local officials had ordered people in locations such as Embreeville and Roan Mountain to evacuate. 5 people have died in Pinellas County after disregarding evacuation warnings CLEARWATER, Fla. Five people have died in Pinellas County in Florida after Helene blew threw the area overnight, county officials said Friday. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the deaths all occurred in neighborhoods where residents were told by authorities to evacuate, but many chose to stay and then found themselves trapped by 8 feet of storm surge an unprecedented event in the county. Gualtieri said survivors told them they didnt believe the warnings after other residents told them the surge wouldnt be that bad. He said people wound up hiding in their attics to get away from the water. We made our case, we told people what they needed to do and they chose otherwise, Gualtieri said. He added that his deputies tried overnight to reach those who had been trapped, but it just wasnt safe. I was out there personally. We tried to launch boats, we tried to use high-water vehicles and we just met with too many obstacles, Gualtieri said. He said the death toll could rise as emergency crews go door-to-door in the flooded areas to see if anyone remains. Multiple people are trapped in 115 heavily damaged buildings in Valdosta ATLANTA Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp gave staggering numbers to describe the early damage from Helene Friday morning: 1 million meters without power, 1,300 traffic signals out of commission, 1,100 people in shelters across the state, 152 road closures and 2 interstate closures. In one south central city, Valdosta, 115 buildings were heavily damaged with multiple people trapped inside. One shelter temporarily housing Georgians lost its roof. A tree fell on one hospitals generator, cutting the facilitys power. App State cancels football game against Liberty in North Carolina due to Helene BOONE, N.C. Appalachian States home football game against Liberty in Boone, North Carolina, scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to severe weather in the area from Tropical Storm Helene, the school announced Friday. Heavy rains in the North Carolina mountains brought flooding to Boone and the town was placed under a state of emergency Thursday. The nonconference game was scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. EDT kickoff and will not be rescheduled, the school said. App State also canceled a home field hockey game against Bellarmine that was slated for Friday. Tropical Storm John is causing severe flooding along Mexicos Pacific coast MEXICO CITY Tropical Storm John has caused a total of eight deaths in southern Mexico, and five days of heavy rains have generated severe flooding and mudslides in the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco. John, in its second incarnation, was lingering off the Pacific coast just short of a second landfall early Friday. It hit further east on the coast Monday as a Category 3 hurricane. The flooding is so bad in Acapulco which still hasnt recovered from Hurricane Otis last October that the head of the municipal civil defense agency said authorities were starting to use boats inside the city to rescue people from low-lying neighborhoods. Residents posted videos and photos of cars floating away in floodwaters, and people rescued from raging waters using lifelines. We are getting boats to start carrying out more effective evacuations, Efren Valdez, civil protection coordinator for Acapulco, told the Milenio Television station. The situation is very complicated. Several Ballad Health facilities closed across multiple states NASHVILLE In northeast Tennessee, Unicoi County Hospital was closed Friday due to the weather and its 11 patients were being moved to other hospitals, according to parent company Ballad Health. The company urged people who need care to go to the nearest hospital or call 911. Meanwhile, every Ballad Health facility postponed all elective surgeries, including those in southwest Virginia, northwest North Carolina and southeast Kentucky. Some of its clinics and urgent care offices were also closed. Atlanta firefighters rescue a half-dozen people in Hanover West ATLANTA Atlanta Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ronald Slatton said rescue efforts Friday morning helped about half a dozen people who didnt feel safe in their homes in Hanover West, a neighborhood in north Atlanta. A creek behind some of the residences had risen to about four or five feet, he said. Were just here standing by if they need us, he said of his expectations for the rest of the day. Shattered storefronts and mangled awnings dot downtown Valdosta VALDOSTA, Ga. In downtown Valdosta, Georgia, Hurricane Helene ripped the sheet metal roof from a large brick building that houses a furniture and antiques store and blew out the back wall. Bricks, plywood and twisted metal covered the grass outside, exposing old lamps, cabinets and other knickknacks in the stores inventory. Many shops and businesses along the tree limb-covered sidewalks of the downtown area appeared unscathed. But a few had shattered storefront windows and mangled awnings. Electricity was out across the city and traffic moved slowly on many roads, with stoplights blacked out and trees blocking several streets. My neighbors across the street got the full brunt of all of it ATLANTA Stacy Quiros noticed early indications of flooding at her home in Hanover West, a neighborhood in north Atlanta, when she woke up Friday morning. She and her husband went to their basement to move important items to higher ground before it took on four inches of water. Across the street, on lower ground, she pointed out underwater mailboxes and cars with just their roofs peeking out to an Associated Press journalist. She watched as her neighbors with flooded first floors climbed into rescue boats that took them to safety. My neighbors across the street got the full brunt of all of it, she said. Connecticut National Guard unit deploys to North Carolina HARTFORD The Connecticut Army National Guards 1-169th Aviation Regiment is providing one CH-47 Chinook helicopter and a five-soldier flight crew for approximately one week to assist North Carolina as Helene moves through the area. The unit mobilized and deployed to North Carolina on Friday morning. At least 11 people have died in Georgia ATLANTA A spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp says 11 people have died so far in Georgia from causes related to Hurricane Helene. Spokesperson Garrison Douglas could not immediately provide a breakdown of where and how all the deaths occurred. Florida officials warn residents to take safety precautions as they clean up TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Just because Hurricane Helene has passed Florida doesnt mean that dangers are over, the states top emergency management official said Friday. Hazards abound from flooded roadways, downed power lines and debris blocking roads, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Guthrie urged Floridians to take safety precautions as they clean up. Hold off cleaning up debris where power lines are down, wear goggles when operating a chainsaw and put on a hard hat if available when cleaning up in a damaged building, Guthrie said. Just make sure you are being safe if youre out there, Guthrie said. These are all preventable deaths and injuries. We can 100% prevent that. The priority now is saving lives RALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said in a briefing Friday morning that there had been two storm-related deaths in the state and he expected more to come. Close to 300 roads were closed and over 100 swift-water rescues had occurred so far, Cooper said. He added that the storm, particularly in western North Carolina, is causing life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides and power outages from downed trees. The priority now is saving lives, Cooper said, telling people to stay off the roads unless they were seeking higher ground. With the rain that they already had been experiencing before Helenes arrival, this is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of western North Carolina, Cooper said. Portions of Interstates 40 and 26 were closed due to flooding, officials said. Emergency workers in Florida are focused on search and rescue efforts TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Around 1,500 emergency workers are focusing their efforts during the first 24 hours after Hurricane Helenes landfall on search and rescue efforts, Floridas top emergency management official said Friday. In the two days following, their efforts will concentrate on securing and stabilizing affected communities, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. As those sorts of rescue missions happen today, and continue, please do not go out and visit the impacted areas, Guthrie said Friday morning at a news conference in Tallahassee. I beg of you, do not get in their way. Rows of homes gone, a gaping hole in the post office and a supermarket wall missing CEDAR KEY, Fla. After spending the night riding out the storm and checking in on his neighbors, Michael Presley Bobbitt, 48, woke to find his town of Cedar Key littered with debris with rows of houses gone, a gaping hole clear through his post office and the wall to his local mom-and-pop supermarket missing. Were feeling pretty gut-punched here in Cedar Key, he said. When we were fighting this in the night, however bad we thought it would be, its much worse in the light of day. Despite orders to evacuate, Bobbitt, who has lived in Cedar Key for five years, said he stayed behind to help out those who could not leave with his rescue boat and document the storm. All of those people that left are desperate to hear about their homes, he said. Im delivering the most devastating news that they have ever got in their lives. Tropical Storm Joyce forms in the Atlantic MIAMI Tropical Storm Joyce formed Friday in the Atlantic Ocean and isnt threatening land, forecasters said. The storm is located about 1,325 miles (2,130 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands and has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). It was moving northwest at about 13 mph (20 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm was expected to strengthen gradually through Sunday before weakening early next week. More than 50 swift-water rescues conducted in western North Carolina county ASHEVILLE, N.C. In North Carolina, more than 50 swift-water rescues were conducted from floodwaters in Buncombe County. This is the most significant natural disaster that any one of us has ever seen in western North Carolina, said Ryan Cole, the countys assistant emergency services director. Cole said during a briefing that road washouts and closures prevented authorities from responding to some emergency calls. In Asheville, crews were trying to get to a mudslide involving four homes and an undetermined number of people were unaccounted for, he said. Historic building collapses in downtown Savannah ATLANTA A historic building partially collapsed in downtown Savannah as Helene moved through the city. The Savannah Fire Department says the third story of the three-story brick building collapsed into the second floor after 2 a.m. Friday morning. The top two floors hold apartments, while the bottom floor is home to the Ordinary Pub on Broughton Street, one of the main commercial streets in the citys historic downtown. No injuries were reported, but fire officials declared the building unsafe to enter. A falling tree kills a 2nd person in South Carolina ANDERSON, S.C. Authorities are reporting a second death in South Carolina from Helene. A second person was killed Friday morning by a tree falling on a home in Anderson County, the Coroners Office said in a statement. I was so sad, its my first apartment ATLANTA Jalen Cruz woke up around 1 a.m. thankfully at the right time, he said. Water was just starting to trickle into the kitchen of his Atlanta apartment. What started as a little puddle swelled to ankle-high flooding at his ankles within 30 minutes, so he gathered some of his valuables to bring to his neighbors upstairs. At its peak, the water rose to his calves, the 25-year-old painter said, meaning he has furniture thats damaged, unfinished art submerged underwater and paint bubbling formed on his walls. It couldve been a lot worse, he said. Still, I was so sad, its my first apartment. Physical stuff can be replaced but just to see the state of my first home, submerged in water, he said, looking back as brown water rushed downstream. This is my baby. Iconic lake from Dirty Dancing overtops the North Carolina dam holding it back RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. Waters in the iconic lake used to film scenes from the movie Dirty Dancing are overtopping the dam holding them back in North Carolina. Emergency officials in Rutherford County have started evacuating people downstream from Lake Lure and are sounding emergency sirens. Water has been periodically released from the dam this week, but there has been too much rain to keep up, officials said. Authorities did not indicate if the dam itself was in danger. Lake Lure was transformed into upstate New Yorks Catskill Mountains for several of the scenes in the 1987 film, including the dance scene where actor Patrick Swayze lifts Jennifer Grey out of the water. Florida airports will reopen as state inspectors work to clear roadways TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Airports in Florida that closed due to Hurricane Helene will be reopened on Friday, and inspectors were out examining bridges and causeways along the Gulf Coast to get them back open to traffic quickly, the states transportation secretary said. Airports in Tampa, St. Pete, Lakeland and Tallahassee planned to reopen for flights, and 2,000 miles of roadway have been cleared of debris so far, Jared Perdue, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, said Friday morning at a Tallahassee news conference. Some of the causeways were underwater, so we have to inspect them and make sure they are safe to pass, Perdue said. We had a lot of storm surge up and down the west coast. We had a lot of roads underwater. A late-night evacuation in Atlanta with a newborn ATLANTA A neighbor knocking woke Marcus Benson on Thursday night after the rain outside and exhaustion from a newborn baby had lulled him to sleep. The water level was inching closer to the front door of their apartment, about eight steps up from ground level and high enough that he decided it was time to evacuate. Benson said it took focus to get himself, his wife and his three-month-old baby through a flooded parking lot to get to the other side of their Atlanta apartment complex. You have your son in your arms above water trying to keep him up and you just push and try to get to safety, Benson said. Benson doesnt know the status of his familys home but is glad they are safe. Now they just have to let Mother Nature take its course, the Atlanta native said, adding that his hometowns really changed as far as weathers concerned. Georgia Power expects outages to rise ATLANTA Kim Greene, the CEO of Georgia Power Co. told reporters Friday she feared outages would continue to rise for the 2.6 million customers of Georgias only private electrical utility. All of that rain is leading to very saturated ground, and trees, unfortunately, will continue to fall, Greene told reporters during a news conference in Atlanta. So we do expect the number of outages to continue to rise. I assure you that we want to get your power back on just as safely and as quickly as possible. A Florida congregation must rebuild again after Helene PERRY, Fla. The congregation at Potters House Ministries church in Perry, Florida, was just weeks away from moving back into their newly renovated sanctuary after rebuilding in the wake of last years Hurricane Idalia. Then Hurricane Helene peeled back the brand-new roof, scattering sheets of aluminum across the church grounds. Its really heartbreaking, said parishioner Stephen Tucker, moved to tears as he surveyed the damage the morning after Helene made landfall. I know its in Gods will for this to happen. And its by the grace of God that were still here. Tucker said its been one blow after another for the community hes lived in all of his 51 years a one, two, three punch from Idalia last August, then Debby a year later and now Helene, all making landfall within about 30 miles (48 kilometers) of each other in one county in this rural stretch of Floridas Big Bend. Its like it never stops, he said. Why Taylor County? Multiple hospitals without power in south Georgia ATLANTA Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said multiple hospitals in south Georgia are without power after Helene knocked out both their primary power and their generators. Kemp said trees had fallen densely in the eastern part of the state. We know we still have people trapped in homes that were trying to cut our way into right now, Kemp told Fox News. We have a lot of resources that we have on the ground already, Kemp added. Were calling up additional National Guard, and were going to throw everything we got at it. Kemp said wind damage is less severe in metro Atlanta. The storm really stayed straight or either moved to the east a little bit, which spared some of our state from being on the dirty side of the storm. So if theres any blessing in disguise, thats probably it. Were blessed it's still standing' VALDOSTA, Ga. The hurricanes winds stripped away the siding from the steeple in front of Union Cathedral in Valdosta, Georgia, exposing its metal frame and littering the parking lot with shredded foam and plaster. The storm also smashed plate glass windows by the front doors. Inside the entryway, the floor was strewn with thick glass shards, religious booklets and offering envelopes. Pastor Wade McCrae, who preaches to 250 congregants in person most Sundays with hundreds more watching online, said the sanctuary was undamaged. Deacons were running errands to bring plywood and tools to cover the broken window. McCrae hoped to be able to hold services this Sunday. Were blessed its still standing, he said. 20 people in Atlanta rescued overnight by firefighters ATLANTA Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens tells reporters that firefighters rescued about 20 people overnight from cars or apartments imperiled by swiftly rising floodwaters. Residents in Floridas Big Bend region wake up to widespread power outages PERRY, Fla. Residents of Floridas Big Bend region woke up to widespread power outages Friday morning after Hurricane Helene made landfall overnight near the mouth of the Aucilla River. Helene slammed ashore in the largely rural stretch of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, becoming the third hurricane to batter that swath of the state in a little over a year. As the sun rose over U.S. Highway 27 outside of Perry, cars dodged and weaved among downed pine trees that blocked portions of the road, some ensnarled in power lines. Emergency workers were already on hand clearing debris before 8 am. The air smelled of pine needles and fresh wood from the staggering trees shattered by the storm, some snapped in half like toothpicks. Heres the latest on Hurricane Helene Authorities rescued people trapped by floodwaters and more than 3 million customers were in the dark across much of the southeastern U.S. as Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia early Friday after making landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm. Helene came ashore amid warnings from the National Hurricane Center that the enormous system could create a nightmare storm surge. There were at least four storm-related deaths. Video on social media sites showed sheets of rain coming down in Perry, Florida, near where Helene made landfall, and siding being torn off buildings. One local news station showed a home that had flipped over. The community and much of surrounding Taylor County were without power. Catch up on what happened overnight with Hurricane Helene Britain's Maggie Smith, the double Oscar-winner who shone on stage and screen for more than seven decades, has died in hospital in London, her sons announced Friday, prompting a flood of tributes. "It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith," Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said in a statement. "She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning." Over the course of her career, Smith won a Tony, two Oscars, three Golden Globes and five Baftas. And she achieved late-career international fame for her depiction of the acerbic Dowager Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley in the hit television series "Downton Abbey". Britain's King Charles III called her "a national treasure" who was admired around the world. Paying tribute to her "warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage", he posted a photograph of him sharing a joke with the actor. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called her a "true national treasure" while the Bafta TV and film academy saluted "a legend of British stage and screen". Born in 1934 in Oxford in central England, the daughter of an Oxford professor of pathology, Smith made her stage debut in 1952 with the Oxford University Dramatic Society. She won a best actress Oscar for the 1969 drama "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" based on Muriel Spark's novel, and best supporting actress for her role in the 1978 Neil Simon comedy "California Suite". "An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end," her sons, both actors, said. "She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother." - 'One-of-a-kind' - Famed for her scene-stealing charisma, Smith's long and successful career got started with a string of successes in London's West End and on Broadway in the 1950s. She famously appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello" in 1959. This led to her joining Olivier's celebrated 1960s National Theatre company where she earned critical acclaim alongside her husband, the actor Robert Stephens. Smith's marriage to heavy-drinking Stephens, with whom she had her two sons, collapsed in 1973 and they divorced two years later. She remarried shortly after to the screenwriter Beverley Cross, who died in 1998. Despite her serious acting reputation, Smith also appeared in lighter Hollywood hits such as 1992's "Sister Act" and the 1993 sequel "Sister Act 2". Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in both films, wrote on Instagram: "Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. "I still can't believe I was lucky enough to work with the 'one-of-a-kind'," she added. UK actor Kristin Scott Thomas, who appeared alongside Smith in "My Old Lady" said her co-star "saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz" of acting. "She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools," she wrote on Instagram. - 'Thank you, Maggie' - In recent decades, some of her best-known films included "Gosford Park" (2001), "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2012) and "The Lady in the Van" (2015). From 2001, her role as Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" films introduced her to a younger generation. "Somehow I thought she'd live forever," Harry Potter author JK Rowling posted on X, formerly Twitter. "RIP Dame Maggie Smith." Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe also paid tribute. "I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set," he said in a statement. "The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie." - 'Great genius' - It was "Downton Abbey", which ran from 2010, that made her an international star again, unable to go out without being recognised. "It's ridiculous," she told the British Film Institute in 2017. "I led a perfectly normal life until Downton Abbey. "I would go to theatres, I would go to galleries and things like that on my own. And now I can't," she said. Julian Fellowes, creator and writer of Downton Abbey, said Smith had a "marvellous instinctive grasp, she could make you cry your eyes out one minute and laugh like a drain the next without turning into someone different. "I realised I was working with a great genius," he added. Actor Hugh Bonneville, who played the son of the dowager duchess in the period drama, said: "Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent. Smith was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II. bur-jj/st Before finally meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Donald Trump stood right next to the war-weary leader and boasted of his very good relationship with Ukraines worst enemy: Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Before their private meeting at Trump Tower in New York, Trump told reporters during a joint news conference that hes also friendly with the man standing next to him. We have a very good relationship, Trump said of Zelensky, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. Zelensky interrupted, saying, I hope we have more good relations. Trump briefly laughed and said, Oh I see, yeah. But you know it takes two to tango. The tension between the two was clear for all to see. Trump has threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Ukraine if hes re-elected. On Friday, with Zelensky by his side, he promised that if elected, hell work on a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. And I think if we win, were going to get it resolved very quickly, he said. Zelensky said he decided to meet with both candidates running for U.S. president, acknowledging, we dont know who will be the president after Election Day. The Ukrainian leader met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday. Donald Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at Trump Tower in New York. Shannon Stapleton Trump also thanked Zelensky for being like a piece of steel during the former presidents first impeachment for withholding aid to Ukraine in order to pressure Zelensky to investigate then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden. He couldve grandstanded and played cute, but he didnt do that, Trump said. He said, President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. He said it loud and clear, and the impeachment hoax died right there. 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. Donald Trump on Thursday slammed the Justice Department as dirty players for charging Eric Adams with bribery and fraud, as the criminally convicted former president and the embattled New York City mayor suddenly find themselves on similar legal paths. During a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City, the Republican former president suggested Adams, a Democrat, was bound to be indicted after criticizing the Biden administrations handling of the migrant surge that overwhelmed the nations largest city. 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. And I said: You know what? He'll be indicted within a year. And I was exactly right, Trump said. Because thats what we have we have people that use the Justice Department and the FBI at levels that have never been seen before. Adams alluded to similar shadowy forces at work in the DOJ. 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 in a video released by his legal team Wednesday night after news of the indictment broke. And while stopping short of drawing an explicit link to the public disagreements between City Hall and the White House over the influx of migrants, Adams suggested the spat was related to his charges. I put people of New York before party and politics, he said. The White House has denied any coordination with the Justice Department on the case. President Joe Biden largely cut ties with Adams nearly two years ago, amid the mayors haranguing of his administrations response to the migrant influx. But Trump, who was convicted in New York earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records and faces three other criminal probes, two of them federal, drew parallels between the cases against him and Adams criminal indictment. And he suggested, without evidence, that the Justice Department was again acting in bad faith even as the indictment of yet another prominent Democrat threatens to weaken the Republicans argument that his opponents are weaponizing the legal system against him. I noticed the indictments very old. It goes back a long time. Well, I had the same thing, they went way before the statute of limitations, Trump said. That's what they do. These are dirty players. These are bad people. They cheat, Trump continued. These are bad people, and we need an honest Justice Department, we need an honest FBI, and we need it fast. Federal prosecutors have charged Adams with a yearslong conspiracy to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud and bribery, according to a 57-page indictment unsealed on Thursday that detailed lavish trips and other perks the first-term mayor allegedly received from Turkish officials looking to curry influence with the mayor. Adams, the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted, has yet to enter a plea. But he has remained defiant and denied any wrongdoing. Adams was charged on the same day Trumps lawyers returned to the courtroom in New York to ask an appeals court to toss a more than $400 million civil fraud judgment against the former president and his business empire. The former president said Thursday that while he does not know Adams well, the mayor has been fairly generous to me in his statements for a while. And now, as the politically divergent but similarly bombastic politicians face similar legal entanglements, Trump said: I wish him well. Joe Anuta contributed to this report. Trump claims war in Ukraine will escalate into WWIII if Harris wins US elections Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that if he loses the election, the war in Ukraine will escalate into the third World War. Source: Trump on Truth Social, as reported by European Pravda Details: Trump said he had a "great meeting" with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and that if he was elected president, the war between Russia and Ukraine would "end quickly". Quote: "If not, that war will never end, and will phase into WORLD WAR III. Comrade Harris will NEVER BE ABLE TO END THE WAR, and hasnt. Nothing will change except THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION WILL ONLY GET WORSE!" Donald Trump wrote (original spelling preserved). Trump stated that he supports a "fair" peace for Ukraine, but did not say which solution to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would be regarded as such. Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". He immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Friday to discuss plans to resolve the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in New York. Most Read from Bloomberg After the meeting, Trump said he had learned a lot but that their talk had not changed his stance that negotiations could bring an end to the war. We both want to see this end and we both want to see a fair deal made, Trump told Fox News at Trump Tower in New York. The president wants it to end and he wants it to end as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place, he added, referring to Zelenskiy. The meeting capped a tense week between the Ukrainian leader and Trump, which saw the pair trading barbs in the press and the Republican presidential candidate question US aid for Kyivs fight to repel Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. Before the meeting, the former president had offered praise for Zelenskiy while insisting he wanted to help resolve the conflict. Were going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled and get it worked out, Trump said. It has to end at some point, it has to end. Hes gone through hell. The barbs and insults of the prior week hung heavy over the proceedings, though, with Zelenskiy offering a wry smile when asked by a reporter why he was sitting down with the former president. But Trump largely praised the same Ukrainian leader he had spent recent days ridiculing on the campaign trail, repeatedly thanking him for his handling of the controversy over a phone call Trump made in 2019. Trump was impeached over the incident, in which he repeatedly pressured Zelenskiy to investigate political rival Joe Biden and Bidens son, Hunter. He could have grandstanded and played cute, Trump said, lauding Zelenskiy. He was like a piece of steel. He said President Trump did nothing wrong. Zelenskiy detailed his peace plan which he also presented Thursday at the White House to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trumps opponent in this years election. This war shouldnt have been started, Zelenskiy said after their meeting. Putin killed so many people and of course we need to do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war and he is in our territory. Trump insisted his relationship with Putin could bring a swift end to the war. We have a very good relationship and I also, as you know, have a very good relationship with President Putin and I think if we win I think were going to get it resolved very quickly, he said. Trading Barbs Trump had stepped up his criticism of Zelenskiy in recent days, deriding the wartime leader as the greatest salesman in history for convincing the US to provide billions in military assistance to help Kyiv. 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 at a campaign event on Wednesday, berating the Ukrainian leader and accusing him of making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. Earlier: Harris Assails Trump for Pushing Ukraine to Negotiate With Putin Zelenskiy also rankled the Trump campaign after a visit to swing-state Pennsylvania, where he stopped at a munitions plant to thank workers and make his case for sustained military aid from the US and allies, and met with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro. But on Friday, Trump used the meeting as an excuse to criticize Harris, whom he blamed for conditions in Ukraine. Harris also used her meeting with Zelenskiy to excoriate Trump while not mentioning him by name saying that pressure to force Ukraine to the negotiating table would compel Kyiv to give up sovereign territory and forgo security ties with other nations conditions she said Putin seeks. They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, Harris told reporters as she stood aside Zelenskiy on Thursday. Sign up for the Washington Edition newsletter to find out how the worlds of money and politics intersect in the US capital. (Updates with additional details on meeting throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Chinas growing influence in Michigan has brewed into a "huge issue of concern" for voters in the key battleground state, according to a Trump-backed House candidate sounding the alarm on "failed Democratic" policies in the Great Lakes State. "This is a huge issue of concern both from national security and economic security standpoint," Republican House candidate to represent Michigan's Tom Barrett told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview this week. "Here in Michigan, the Democrats are giving nearly $200 million of state tax money to a Chinese-backed, Communist Party affiliated company that's going to come to Michigan to build a battery plant. They've already purchased a bunch of rural farmland to go out and build a Chinese Communist Party-backed battery plant in Michigan, not far from a military installation where I trained for countless hours during my career in the Army." Barrett is an Army veteran who previously served in Michigans state House and state Senate before launching his race to represent the 7th District in the U.S. House. Barrett earned Trumps "complete and total endorsement" for the House seat earlier this year, and spoke to Fox News Digital about the top issues hes highlighting from the campaign trail, including spiraling inflation, border policies, fentanyl overdose deaths, as well as Chinas growing influence in the state. "While families are struggling in Michigan to make ends meet and just buy groceries, pay for their home heating costs, our state government, backed by my opponent, is sending nearly $200 million of their state tax money to a Chinese communist company just so they can come here and spy on us. This is rotten to the core," Barrett said. Michigan Republicans Continue To Spar With Dems Over Deal With Chinese Ev Company In Key House Race Republican Michigan state Sen. Tom Barrett, his party's nominee for Congress in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, speaks to supporters on the campaign trail. In 2022, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Gotion, a China-based manufacturer, would construct a $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in a rural area of the state near Big Rapids. The announcement was met with outrage from residents, including local leaders working to reverse a water supply agreement that would have crippled the plants construction. Gotion sued the township, Green Charter, and notched a legal victory last month when a federal judge upheld a preliminary injunction allowing construction to continue. Read On The Fox News App Barrett's competitor this cycle, Curtis Hertel, worked as Whitmer's director of legislative affairs from 2015 to 2023, before serving in the state Senate. "My opponent signed a nondisclosure agreement to negotiate sending this money to this Chinese company while he was a member of the state Senate and then later went to work as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's chief lobbyist. He's listed in the Foreign Agents Registries Act filings with having secret conversations with this Chinese company about maneuvering through the legislature to get their funding approved," Barrett said of his competitor and Democrats in the state. Hertell's campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for contact. A spokesperson for Whitmer's Fight Like Hell PAC told Fox News Digital that Barrett's comments were "misleading." "This is yet another desperate and misleading attempt by Tom Barrett to distract from his record of voting against 5,000 good paying Mid-Michigan jobs because hed rather them be overseas," the spokesperson said. Barrett pointed to remarks from former Obama administration CIA director Leon Panetta, who warned earlier this year that China would likely use the battery plant for espionage purposes. "I don't think there's any question that they're going to take advantage of that situation," Panetta warned in January when asked about the plant during a House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party hearing. "And I think we have to be very vigilant about what the hell is going on. That's just the way they operate. They'll establish a manufacturing unit, they'll establish whatever they can, and then they will use that for their own intelligence purposes. They will use that for their own economic purposes." Barrett said the deal is not only a national security threat, but also risks American jobs. Michigan Republican Tom Barrett Leaps Back Into Crucial House Race After Slotkin Exit "It is all in the pursuit of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's electric vehicle mandate that will systematically replace and eliminate existing manufacturing jobs in Michigan that make up the very fabric of our economy here. So we have a Chinese company threatening with national security concerns to replace American jobs in traditional manufacturing with electric vehicle mandates that are borne by the Biden administration. So this has so many problems. It's an absolutely horrible deal," he said. "Michiganders are stepping up. They're aware of this. It is terribly unpopular here. And we need to take this fight to the ballot box to make sure that we don't let this go forward." Trump joined farmers during a panel earlier this week in another battleground state, Pennsylvania, where they discussed Chinas recent purchases of American farmland and again enforcing a trade deal against China that benefits American farmers. "My first call, I'm going to call up President Xi. I'm going to say, 'You have to honor the deal you made. We made a deal. You'd buy $50 billion worth of American farm product.' And I guarantee you he will buy it. 100% he will buy it," Trump said Monday during a campaign event in Smithton, Pennsylvania. Senate Gop Unleashes Campaign Blasting Dem Candidate For Hush Agreement Involving Ccp-tied Company Trump struck a trade deal with China in 2020 that included Beijing's commitment to halt intellectual property theft, refrain from currency manipulation, cooperate in financial services and purchase an additional $200 billion of U.S. products over two years, including up to $50 billion of U.S. agriculture. "Second thing I'm going to do is, I'm going to say you have to give the death penalty to your fentanyl dealers who are sending fentanyl. You know, in China, they give the death penalty . They don't have a drug problem because they give the death penalty," Trump said. Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, looks on during a campaign stop to address Pennsylvanians who are concerned about the threat of Communist China to U.S. agriculture at the Smith Family Farm September 23, 2024 in Smithton, Pennsylvania. Fentanyl and overdose deaths are again one of the top concerns for Americans this election cycle, with Trump tying the fatal drug to the influx of illegal immigrants who have poured over the southern border under the Biden-Harris administration. Barrett said his area and district are among the communities across the nation that have been rocked by the influx of the synthetic opioid from across the border. Trump And Vance To Hold First Rally In Michigan "Every single community in America, in every town, not just in the district where I'm running, but every town in America has been touched and affected and devastated by the outcomes of illegal immigration and lax border policies that have flooded every community with fentanyl. And now the leading cause of death of Americans my age is fentanyl overdose. It's a crippling and devastating tragedy. And we have to fix the problem," he said. "We have to secure our border with more structures. We have to reinstate the remain in Mexico policy. We can't allow the exploitation of asylum claims to overwhelm our social welfare system, to overwhelm our border security. We need to put Border Patrol agents on the border instead of processing asylum claims all day as they're doing right now. And we need to get back to two policies that deter illegal border crossing," he continued. Barrett is an Army veteran who signed his contract over the Christmas break of his senior year in high school. He spent 22 years in the Army, serving in the Iraq War, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and at the DMZ separating North and South Korea. Barrett pointed to his military career amid his calls to secure the border. Early Voting Begins In Illinois, North Dakota, Florida And Michigan "I spent a year of my life deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom to Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, where there were terrorists that we were securing in that facility. And they told us straight to our face, that they wanted to come to America and kill Americans. I believe them. We need to keep them out of our country. We've had hundreds on the terror watch list that we already know have crossed into this country just during this administration. We need to remove them and we need to make sure that we don't allow any further terrorists into our country," he said. Barrett is in the lead in his race against Hertell, but underscored hes not taking anything for granted while "I think President Trump is very well poised to win Michigan. We know this is going to be a very close race and absolutely nothing we can take for granted. The seventh Congressional District in Michigan, where I'm running, is also highly competitive. And we also have a very competitive United States Senate race in Michigan," he said. "This really is going to shape the direction of our country. And we can go down the same failed path we've been on already with the high cost of living and groceries that are unaffordable for families, and mortgage rates that don't allow a young couple to begin their own family. Or we can turn the corner. Secure our border. Get our costs of living under control, get crime under control, put our foreign adversaries back in check where they belong, and really forge a new path for America." Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Trump-endorsed House candidate sounds alarm on China's growing influence in battleground state WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Theres less than 39 days until Election Day and former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making waves on the campaign trail. The vice president makes her first appearance at the southern border as the Democratic nominee for president where shell deliver remarks on immigration from Arizona. Trump is in Michigan Friday, but started his morning off in New York with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in its two- and half-year war with Russia and insists that he can broker a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have a good relationship, also have a very good relationship as you know with President Putin, said Trump. Zelenskyy met with Harris Thursday. The vice president assured Zelenskyy the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine and criticized Trumps plans to deal with Putin. They are proposals for surrender which is dangerous and unacceptable, said Harris. The vice president is visiting the Arizona border to talk about immigration and shes visiting the Mexican border for the first time as a presidential candidate. At a rally in Michigan, Trump accused Harris of making the border less secure Polls show voters trust former President Trump more when it comes to the issue of immigration. The Harris campaign says the vice president will use the visit to call for tougher border security and blame Trump for killing a bipartisan immigration bill in 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted U.K. leader Keir Starmer at Trump Tower in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, as the British prime minister tries to shore up his relationship with the GOP presidential nominee ahead of Novembers closely watched race. Starmer, who became prime minister following his center-left Labour Partys landslide win in the July general election, said the meeting was meant to establish a relationship between the two men, who had not previously met face-to-face. Im a great believer in personal relations on the international stage, Starmer said ahead of the meeting. 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. The meeting lasted two hours, according to Politico. The U.K. leader said he also intended to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris as part of his 48-hour trip to the U.S. but the two werent able to get together due to the usual diary challenges. Starmer has never met Harris in person. Trump and Harris are locked in a tight contest ahead of November, according to an average of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight, which currently shows the Democratic presidential nominee holding a narrow lead. Starmer, who visited Trump Tower following the conclusion of his speech at the United Nations, was accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who previously opposed a 2018 Trump visit to the U.K., describing the then-president as a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath and a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress. Lammy has since defended his comments and said he would work with Trump if he were elected to the White House again. Prior to their meeting, Trump described Starmer as very nice and commended him on his performance in the U.K. general election. He ran a great race, he did very well, Trump added. Its very early but hes popular. A majority of Britons favor a Harris win in November, according to a poll released earlier this month. Asked by reporters if a Trump victory would pose a challenge for the U.K. given the former presidents stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, a major foreign policy priority for the U.K., Starmer noted the two countries relationship has been forged in really difficult circumstances. That always sits above whoever holds the particular office, either in the U.S. or the U.K., Starmer added. Trump, who has previously opposed additional U.S. funding for Kyiv, on Thursday did not directly answer whether Ukraine should be prepared to cede part of its territory to Moscow to end the war. We need peace, he said, ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled for Friday. Related... GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump attempted to do crowd control at a Friday rally in Walker, Michigan. Well, he wasnt trying to control the crowd as much as he was trying to control any messaging about people leaving the event early. Rally size is something that is important to Trump so important that he became agitated during a Sept. 10 presidential debate when Democratic rival Kamala Harris bluntly said that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. In Walker, Trump attempted to explain why rallygoers seemed to be leaving his event. The people that you see leaving? Because nobody ever leaves, the former president said. And when they do, I finish up quick. Trump: The people that you see leaving right now... It looks like theyre leaving but theyre not leaving pic.twitter.com/QzbItC1Ydx Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) September 27, 2024 Trump then suggested that his staffers were to blame for the apparent departures, and claimed that people were actually lining up in the back for photos since he couldnt pose for pictures earlier. These stupid people that are with me sometimes, they say, Come on back, Trump said. Thirty people, they get up and they go back. And theyre all lined up in the back waiting for me to take a picture because I couldnt do it before. But Trumps explanation for people leaving his rally wasnt helped by the Harris campaign sharing purported video of (checks notes) people leaving his rally. Not surprisingly, social media users soon mocked the former president for his questionable claim. Narrator: Once again, Donald Trump was lying. It looked like they were leaving because they were, in fact, leaving. Rebekah, Crone for Kamala (@RebekahWriter) September 27, 2024 It's just the concept of leaving... Brent Jacobs (@BAJPortland) September 27, 2024 "They're all just going to the bathroom at the same time" Bill DeMayo (@BDeMayo) September 27, 2024 And they get lost on the way back. Too bad! They miss the exciting ending where he reveals whether hed rather be electrocuted or eaten by a shark. Again. barbara l reinstein (@netbarb987) September 27, 2024 Trump Dont believe your own eyes or ears, just believe me. Phillip-USA (@phillip_USA_) September 27, 2024 Related... Trumps Jan. 6 Coup Attempt Could Be Back In The Headlines Just In Time For The Election WASHINGTON Donald Trumps coup attempt that ended with the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol may be on the cusp of making new headlines, just weeks ahead of the November election. Or not. That decision is now in the hands of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will determine when and how much to make public of a detailed accounting of special counsel Jack Smiths evidence backing up the four felony charges against Trump. That could include material never before seen, such as grand jury testimony from then-Vice President Mike Pence and Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows. Whether and how much any of those details will matter to voters in the campaigns final weeks, though, is an open question. Very, very unlikely, said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. Jan. 6 is already baked into this election cake. Fellow Republican David Kochel, a consultant and veteran of numerous campaigns, said he also doubts that any new information or details about testimony will change many minds. If you care about Jan. 6, youre already for Harris, he said about Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. I guess anything helps. And when Trump is covered wall to wall, its usually unhelpful to him. Jan. 6 is already baked into this election cake.Republican pollster Neil Newhouse That appears to be the view of Trumps defense lawyers, who have been openly arguing that it would be unfair to allow the public to see evidence of his actions undermining the last presidential election in the days before the coming one. President Trump is the leading candidate in the presidential election, which is just weeks away. The [special counsels] office cannot be permitted to issue a massive and misleading public statement, Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and John Lauro wrote in a Monday filing. The filing fails to mention that Trump will have the ability to order his attorney general to dismiss all federal cases against him, should he win the Nov. 5 election and return to office in January. In an hours worth of rambling remarks to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Trump did not address the Jan. 6 prosecution. In the past, Trump has repeatedly attacked Smith, calling him deranged, as he continues to push the lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him the same lie that led his mob to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. More than 140 police officers were wounded that day. One died hours later, and four others died by suicide in the coming months. Amanda Carpenter, a former Republican aide in the Senate who is now with the nonprofit United to Protect Democracy, said that if the details of that day come front and center again, it could turn undecided voters against Trump. What happened on January 6 will only be a factor if voters have the searing memories of the Capitol being breached and officers being assaulted in mind when they are making their decisions about who will lead the country in 2025, she said. Smiths filing was in response to the U.S. Supreme Courts July ruling that Trump could not be prosecuted for official acts he took as president. The ruling specifically mentioned Trumps attempts to coerce Department of Justice officials into falsely claiming there had been widespread election fraud. The six conservative justices ruled that presidents can order their own employees to do anything they want, even if it means breaking the law. They also found that Trumps attempts to pressure Pence into declaring Trump the winner of the election at the congressional certification ceremony could be considered an unofficial or private act, done to benefit Trump as a political candidate, but that Smith had the burden of proving that. If courts made such a determination, it would allow Smith to go forward with his charges and use Pences testimony against Trump. Trumps lawyers have until Oct. 17 to file a response to Smiths Thursday filing, and then Smith has until Oct. 29 to respond to that. Chutkan would likely wait for all of those filings before ruling on whether Smith is correct that the special counsels superseding indictment he filed Aug. 27, by deleting all references to the coercion of DOJ officials, now only addresses unofficial or political acts, not official ones. It is unclear when, if at all, the detailed information regarding evidence Smith has on Trump would become public. But even if all those details remain secret through Election Day, the mere fact that the case is back in the news could help Harris, said Rick Wilson, a former GOP consultant and now a vocal Trump critic. It will re-center Jan. 6 in the dialogue, make Trump promise to pardon the attackers and so on, he said. Net negative for Trump. In a rambling campaign speech that touched on just about everything, Donald Trump on Friday praised foreign leaders as street smart for sending alleged criminals to America, saying he would take it even further if he were in their shoes. These leaders, so street smart, Trump said, speaking at a rally in Walker, Michigan. And I would have been worse than them because actually Venezuela still has some people in their jails. I would have had everybody out into the United States. They probably ran out of buses and planes. And he warned his MAGA followers at the rally: The rest of them are coming. During remarks that were billed to be about bringing back Michigans car industry, he reverted to his habit of favoring fearmongering about immigration over discussing the economy. They grab young girls and they slice them up in front of their parents, he said. Data suggests that undocumented immigrants commit far fewer crimes than native-born citizens. But thats not stopping Trump. Theyre conquering your communities, he said later on. You go out to Aurora, in Colorado, where theyre taking over with AK-47s, real estate. Theyre in the real estate development business, just like me. Except I never got to use guns to do it. The former president called opponent Kamala Harris stupid and incompetent, knocking her on her immigration record. Harris, whom Trump calls the Biden administrations border czar, was heading to Arizona for her first stop at the border as the Democratic nominee on Friday. She was set to announce plans to toughen Joe Bidens border policy, which suspends asylum claims when border crossing numbers get too high. Trump had two scheduled campaign stops in Michigan on Friday and his team planned to launch a statewide bus tour over the weekend. The Great Lakes State is one of three segments of the Blue Wall that will be key to winning the presidency. The latest polls show Harris with a slight lead over Trump in Michigan. A recent Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, for instance, found the vice president three points ahead, within the margin of error. Though he did spend a portion of his speech focusing on the economic issues that voters say matter most, more striking in Trumps Friday speech were his out-there claims, which werent limited solely to immigration. He praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who opened for him, for having good ideas on health care, promising the former opponent would be a big part of making America healthy again. If Harris is elected, Trump warned, she would take your cars, take your money, take your guns. He referred to the storm that hit his home state and killed more than three dozen people as just a little hurricane. 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. Trump Is So Mad About His Bad Press That Hes Unleashed a New Threat On Friday afternoon, Donald Trump called for the prosecution of Google for displaying negative stories about him. The remarks are characteristic of the Republican nominee, who often vows retribution and elevates baseless claims of bias, but chilling nonetheless. It has been determined, the Republican nominee posted on Truth Social, that Google has illegally used a system of only revealing and displaying bad stories about Donald J. Trump, some made up for this purpose while, at the same time, only revealing good stories about Comrade Kamala Harris. This is an ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, he said, adding that, if the Justice Department does not criminally prosecute Google for election interference, he will request their prosecution, at the maximum levels if elected president. The source of Trumps claim appears to be the right-wing Media Research Center, which published a report on Wednesday covered this week by Fox News and The New York Post. MRCs report analyzed the Sept. 6 Google search results for the terms donald trump presidential race 2024 and kamala harris presidential race 2024. The group alleges that the results favored outlets with a history of leftist bias, and that, while Trumps campaign website appeared sixth in his search results, Harriss campaign website appeared third in hers. Dismissing MRCs report, a Google spokesperson told Fox, Both campaign websites consistently appear at the top of Search for relevant and common search queries. This report looked at a single rare search term on a single day several weeks ago, and even for that search, both candidates websites ranked in the top results on Google. Trumps Truth Social post recalls his previous claims that Google search results are biased against him, which Google has denied. It is also yet another example of Trump promising to prosecute his perceived political foes if he retakes the White House. Earlier this month, for example, Trump posted to Truth Social that, if he wins, those people that CHEATEDsuch as Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officialswill be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences. As Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stood together to address members of the press, the former president couldnt help but brag about his cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently leading a deadly war in Zelenskiys home country of Ukraine. We have a very good relationship and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin, Trump boasted. And I think, uh, if we win, I think were going to get it resolved very quickly. I hope we have more good relations with us, Zelenskiy interrupted, gesturing between himself and Trump. Were gonna haveoh, ha ha, I see, Trump said. But you know, it takes two to tango. Trump has previously touted his skills as a dealmaker when promising to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, which has killed more than 11,000 people. When asked more specifically during the presidential debate just how he would end the conflict, Trump said, Ill speak to one, Ill speak to the other, Ill get em together. In reality, Trumps plan would involve Ukraine ceding part of its territory to Russia, a deal that is more or less what the Kremlin is looking for. And Trump is far from a neutral arbiter. The former president has gone from publicly gushing about Putin to flat-out saying that Zelenskiy should just give in to Russias violent invasion. When asked during the debate who exactly he wanted to prevail in the conflict, he wouldnt deign to say. Ahead of the meeting Friday, Trump had begun regularly criticizing Zelenskiy during campaign rallies, calling him the greatest salesman in history for his ability to acquire defense funding from the U.S. While speaking about the war in Ukraine on Tuesday, the former president said he doubted anyone could beat Russia. 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, Trump said. Hitler and Napoleon, of course, both invaded RussiaRussia, in this instance, is the aggressor. Trump also claimed that Zelenskiy had supported the former president during his impeachment hoax by calling him to say that President Trump did nothing wrong. Trump also inexplicably claimed that the Ukrainian president had called Trump to congratulate me on his victory. In a separate interview, Trump said that Zelenskiy was seeking a fair transaction to end the war in Ukraine. The president wants it to stop. And Im sure President Putin wants it to stop. And thats a good combination. Trump meets with Zelensky, says his views on ending the war 'as soon as possible' have not changed Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect comments made by President Volodymyr Zelensky during his evening address. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said everything possible must be done to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky made the remarks on Sept. 27 after meeting with Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City. "This war should not have started. I think that the problem is that Putin killed so many people, and of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war," Zelensky said in a joint interview with Trump for Fox News. Zelensky met with Trump for the first time in five years during his trip to the U.S., where he held a series of high-level meetings with foreign leaders, visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, and addressed the U.N. General Assembly. Ukraine's president also introduced Trump to his "victory plan," which he had presented a day earlier to U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky presented to Biden Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine seeks only a just peace and relies on continued U.S. support in the ongoing full-scale war launched by Russia. Trump said he has "learned a lot" as the war continues but noted that his views on ending it "as soon as possible" have not changed. "The president (Zelensky) wants it to end as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place," Trump said. "If I win (in the presidential election), we're going to have a very fair and, I think, rather rapid deal. It (the war) should stop, and the president (Zelensky) wants it to stop, and I'm sure President Putin wants it to stop. And that's a good combination," Trump added. When asked how he sees the war ending, Trump evaded the question, saying it was "too early" to discuss and that both he and Zelensky had their "own ideas" on the matter. Zelensky and Trump did not disclose whether another meeting between them would take place soon. However, the Ukrainian president invited the Republican nominee to visit Ukraine, and Trump accepted the invitation. Recently, Trump's rhetoric toward Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has become more critical. He has claimed that Zelensky wants Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election, referring to him as "the greatest salesman on earth." Republican leaders on Sept. 25 also accused Zelensky of interfering in the election by visiting an ammunition factory in U.S. President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennyslvania, a hotly contested battleground state. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Zelensky fire Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Makarovka, for her role in arranging the tour. The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee also announced he was opening an investigation into the Biden-Harris administration's alleged misuse of government funds. Zelensky criticized Trump's plans for an end to the war in an interview with the New Yorker earlier this week. He called Trump's running mate, Republican Senator J.D. Vance, "too radical" and said the war should not end at Ukraine's expense. Striking a different tone in his evening address on Sept. 27, Zelensky said he was "grateful" for the meeting with Trump, and the opportunity to tout his "victory plan" to both presidential candidates. "Strong positions for Ukraine will lead to peace sooner. All the key issues for Ukraine are on our partners' table, and everything is being considered. Long-range capabilities, the defense package, sanctions against Russia, steps on Russian assets," Zelensky said. "It is important for Ukraine that America has a direct understanding of Ukraine. And it absolutely does." Read also: Open letter: President Biden, this is how you can uphold your legacy by supporting Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Donald Trump will not let go of his belief that Kamala Harris never worked at McDonalds as a college studentdespite her repeated insistence she has. Speaking at a press conference in New York on Thursday, the former president once again took the opportunity to call out Harris without citing any evidence to prove his theory. Kamala never had a job at McDonalds. Her resume talks about McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds. Trumps criticism came less than 24 hours after the vice president was again asked about the job on Wednesday night, by MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle. 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 and pay rent on that, Harris 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. On Thursday, Trump escalated the feud. When I worked at the French fry counter, it was so tough, so hard, he said, mocking Harris. He later added: She didnt work there. She never worked at McDonalds, it was a lie. In a statement to the Daily Beast earlier this month, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung demanded: Why wont they just provide real documentation and proof? The onus is on them. What does she have to hide? A Harris campaign official told the Beast at the time that she worked at a McDonalds franchise in Alameda, California, in the summer of 1983. Wheres the Beef? Trump Demands Harris Prove She had McJob That hasnt stopped Trump from continuing to talk down the reports. At an Indiana, Pennsylvania, campaign rally on Monday, Trump taunted Harris once again, speculating that she was lying and claiming he would like to work the french fry job for about a half an hour at an unnamed franchise this week because I wanna see how it is. Trump has not been publicly seen working at one of its franchises thus far. She said she worked and she grew up in terrible conditions, she worked at McDonalds, 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. At another rally in Arizona this month, he exclaimed, Shes a liar. She doesnt work at McDonalds. She said she worked at McDonalds, right? Right? She worked at McDonalds. And she was working so hard. Theres only one problem. She didnt work at McDonalds. Shes a liar. Two middle-class kids. One, a daughter of Oakland, California, who was raised by a working mother and had a summer job at McDonalds. The other, a son of the Nebraska plains, who spent summers on the farm. Only in America is it possible that the two of us would be pic.twitter.com/le6xrf55E0 Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024 The beef began after the Harris campaign published a video in August that said: She grew up in the middle class home, she was the daughter of a working mom and she worked at McDonalds while she got her degree. Kamala Harris knows what its like to be middle class. Then, at a Moms for Liberty convention in Washington, the former president told supporters: She also said, I worked at McDonalds. Turned out she didnt work at McDonalds. After an exhaustive study that took about 20 minutes, they found out she never worked there. Theres a lot of fake stuff going on, Trump alleged. Kamala said she worked at McDonalds She never did. Lie! Trump later raged on Truth Social. Harris repeated those claims at a rally at a Harris-Walz campaign rally in Las Vegas. She originally shared the news in 2019 when she joined striking McDonalds workers on a picket line. At the Democratic National Convention this year the subject was also a hot topic, even scoring a mention from former President Bill Clinton. McDonalds, meanwhile, has remain tight-lipped on the issue. 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. Former President Donald Trump has heaped praise on North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in his bid for the governors mansion. But when asked Thursday if hed be dropping his support of Robinson in light of the candidates porn site scandal, Trump suddenly had nothing to say. I dont know the situation, Trump said when a reporter asked about pulling his endorsement. He then walked away. Revelations about Robinsons online conduct have dominated headlines since CNN released a bombshell report on the candidate last week. Its unlikely that Trump, who reportedly watched around eight hours of TV news a day when he was president, truly knows nothing about the outrage surrounding the man he once called one of the great stars of the Republican party. Robinson, according to CNN, revealed on an adult website that he enjoys transgender porn, despite expressing many anti-trans viewpoints on the campaign trail and characterizing transgender people as perverts sneaking into bathrooms. The report also found the candidate admitted in comments that hed secretly watched naked women in gym showers when he was a teenager. In another comment, Robinson allegedly said he didnt care about a celebritys abortion, adding: I just wanna see the sex tape! In public, Robinson has regularly called abortion murder, said hed sign a six-week ban and, in recordings leaked by an opposition group earlier this month, revealed hed actually like to see a zero-week ban. On the porn site, Robinson also referred to himself as a black NAZI! and expressed support for reinstating slavery, CNN found. Vice President Kamala Harris campaign said it was absurd to believe Trump wasnt up to speed on the Robinson scandal. Trump has been to North Carolina twice since the news broke and is still standing by Robinson, even as the people who know Robinson best are abandoning him, spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement. Robinson has both denounced reporting on his posts as lies and has also admitted the posts possibly happened. A wave of senior staffers on his campaign have resigned in the wake of the scandal. Before CNNs report, Trump regularly lauded Robinson as an outstanding person, a friend, the Braveheart of our time and Martin Luther King on steroids. You have to cherish him. Its like a fine wine, Trump said of Robinson in December. The GOP presidential nominee was an early backer of Robinsons campaign, held a fundraiser for him at Mar-a-Lago and gave him a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Shortly after the scandal broke, Trumps campaign said any reports he was planning to drop his endorsement of Robinson were false and that hes focused on winning the White House and saving the country. Related... RACINE Devone Kessler has been charged in connection to bomb threats made to the Racine County Courthouse, City Hall and the Sturtevant Department of Motor Vehicles on Sept. 23. Kessler, who is 29, faces felony charges of making terrorist threats and bomb scares, according to online court records. Racine County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Luell said the Racine County Communication Center received a 911 call from an automated voice on Sept. 23 threatening the courthouse, City Hall and the DMV. Each building was searched, and no threats were found. The courthouse and jail were evacuated. The Racine Police Department also said it received calls from two Milwaukee news outlets indicating they had received similar messages. RCSO reportedly traced the number used to call 911 to High River in Alberta, Canada. Investigators learned the number was associated with a company that sells phone numbers to third parties that are hard to trace. The phone number reportedly was purchased within the City of Racine, and investigators reportedly traced the transaction to Kesslers residence. On Sept. 26, law enforcement searched Kesslers home in the 2800 block of Douglas Avenue and arrested him at his workplace. The investigation required collaboration with international, federal and state law enforcement agencies including the York Regional Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the U.S. Department of Justice and the state DOJs Division of Criminal Justice, according to RCSOs release. While there has been a rash of false threats to government buildings recently, the Sheriffs Office took every precaution necessary to ensure public safety when dispatch received a bomb threat, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said in the release. According to the release, Kessler allegedly made a full confession during an interview at the Law Enforcement Center at 717 Wisconsin Ave. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect Kesslers formal charges. On Wednesday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of saying nasty things about him and criticized him for not reaching a deal with Russias Vladimir Putin to end the invasion of Zelenskyys country. But Friday, both men were, if not all smiles, at least only somewhat visibly awkward as they tried to paper over a central difference in their stances: Trump has declined to say which side he favors in Russias war on Ukraine, and Zelenskyy has insisted on a just end to the war that would preserve his countrys pre-conflict boundaries. The Friday morning meeting in New York City between Trump and Zelenskyy capped off a roller-coaster week for the Ukrainian president, whose bid to keep fighting hinges heavily on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, given the U.S. supply of weapons is allowing the much-smaller Ukraine to remain in the fight. We need [a] just peace, we need [a] just peace. Its so important to have [a] just peace for the people, especially for the families who lost their children. Its [a] big tragedy, Zelenskyy told Fox News after the pair met. Trump said his stance hasnt changed, but he appeared to be softening it slightly. We both want to see this end, and we both want to see a fair deal made. Its got to be fair, Trump said as he stood next to Zelenskyy. And I think thatll happen at the right time. Trumps tone was a marked change from just Wednesday, when he and several high-profile GOP members of Congress attacked Zelenskyy publicly. Its something we have to have a quick discussion about because the president of Ukraine is in our country and hes making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me, Trump said at a campaign appearance in North Carolina, referring to Zelenskyys description of Trump running mate JD Vances position as too radical in an interview with The New Yorker. Vance infamously once declared he did not care what happened to Ukraine and has been one of the Senates most prominent critics of aiding Ukraine. The Ohio Republican has defended Trump, saying the former president would resolve the war before he took office if he won in November, a stance Ukraine supporters have seen as a veiled threat to cut off aid to force Ukraine to accept Russian sovereignty over territory it invaded. Any deal the worst deal wouldve been better than what we have now, Trump said Wednesday. Ukraine is gone. He went on to paint Ukraine as a post-apocalyptic wasteland even as outside of its contested eastern and southern regions, life has gone on much as before the war. Ukraines economic ministry said economic growth was up 3.5% in August compared with the same month a year ago. Earlier in the week, the presence of three Democratic politicians while Zelenskyy toured a Pennsylvania factory that makes munitions for Ukraines war effort sent Capitol Hill Republicans into a conniption. I have heard that 400 people work here, but I wanted very much to come here and to thank you, Zelenskyy said. Four hundred people have saved millions of Ukrainians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump meet in New York City on Friday. Uliana Boichuk/Novyny LIVE/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Zelenskyys visit to the historic Scranton, Pennsylvania, facility included Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. With control of the House and Senate up for grabs in Novembers election and Shapiro once a leading contender as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, Republicans said they smelled politics in the swing state event. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent a public letter to Zelenskyy demanding that he fire his nations ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova. Johnson accused Markarova of setting up a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) also asked the Defense Department to provide details of why Zelenskyy was taken to the event aboard an Air Force plane. Polling shows that support for helping Ukraine fend off Russias brutal invasion remains steady in the U.S. and that support for Zelenskyy in particular is high. A Sept. 21-24 Economist/YouGov poll found 53% of respondents want to continue or increase military aid to Ukraine, compared with 28% who want to decrease it. The issue is polarizing, though, as 44% of Republicans wanted to cut aid. And by a margin of 51% to 25%, those polled approved of allowing Ukraine to hit strategic targets deep inside Russia, a move U.S. officials have been hesitant to allow for fear it will anger the Kremlin. Zelenskyys favorability rating continued to be well above any major domestic politicians, at +17 percentage points. Bidens was at -16 in the poll, Vice President Kamala Harris was even and Trump was at -14. Zelenskyy got a much warmer reception during the week from Democrats, including appearances with President Joe Biden and Harris on Thursday and the announcement of about $8 billion in military aid. The administration pledged additional air defense supplies, including U.S.-made glide bombs that will allow for longer-range strikes, and to support the training of 18 more F-16 fighter pilots. Harris signaled she was firmly in Zelenskyys corner. Putin started this war, and he could end it tomorrow if he simply withdrew his troops from Ukraines sovereign territory, she said. Zelenskyy said Friday that he met with both presidential candidates to show Ukraine could work with either after the election. But the gnawing concern among Ukrainians and their advocates, that Trump will in the end favor Putin in any attempt to broker peace should he be elected, appeared to still hang in the air as Trump and Zelenskyy met with reporters before their meeting. Trump again touted his very good relationship with Putin, leading Zelenskyy, a former comedic actor before he became president, to point between the two of them and interject, I hope we have more good relations. Oh, I see, Trump said, with a small laugh. Related... Trump posts letter on how Zelenskyy asked him for meeting photo US presidential candidate Donald Trump has posted a letter in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for a meeting with him. Source: Trump on TruthSocial Details: Trump did not accompany the post with any comment. Quote from Zelenskyys letter to Trump: "All of us in Ukraine want to end this war with a just peace. And we know that without America this is impossible to achieve. That's why we have to strive to understand each other and remain in close contact." "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 that's how it should be. I can be in New York on Friday, which would be a good time to meet." "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." More details: Zelenskyy stressed the importance of personal contact throughout his letter. The message was conveyed to Trump through Denys Sienik, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States. Background: As reported, Donald Trump said he would hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, which would be their first meeting since 2019. In 2019, the US published a transcript of Zelenskyys first conversation with the then US president Trump without Zelenskyy's consent in an attempt to protect Trump from impeachment. Support UP or become our patron! Before his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump has stated that they shared a "great relationship" and commended Zelenskyy for his actions during the impeachment attempt against Trump in 2019. Source: European Pravda Details: In a brief exchange with the press prior to the meeting, Trump was asked about his expectations. He responded by stating that "Ukraine is going through hell" and described the situation as "terrible". He then praised Zelenskyy for his conduct during the attempted impeachment of Trump, which was related to allegations of Trump pressuring Ukraine for military aid shortly after Zelenskyy assumed his presidency. "He said President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. He said it very loud and clear. And the impeachment hawks died right there. He could have said, 'I don't know'. But he was... like a piece of steel, he said: 'President Trump did nothing wrong'," Trump said. He further remarked that he and Zelenskyy share a "very good relationship" and immediately echoed the same sentiment regarding his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, noting that he sees an opportunity to swiftly negotiate an end to the war. Background: The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at Trump Tower in New York follows a day of heightened tensions, during which Trump supporters accused the Ukrainian president of "interfering in the election" by criticising Trump's peace plan to support Biden. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to meet with Zelenskyy. Initially, the meeting was believed to be unlikely to take place, but at the last minute, Trump agreed to it. Support UP or become our patron! Former President Trump said he predicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams would be indicted within a year, while calling on the need for an honest Justice Department. Trump spoke to reporters inside Trump Tower in New York City on Thursday afternoon, and afterward fielded several questions on topics such as the war in Ukraine, Iran and the indictment of Adams, who was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on federal criminal charges on Wednesday following a campaign corruption investigation. A reporter asked if Trump thought Adams would get a fair trial, and Trump responded that he did not know. Trump said that he did not know Adams very well, even acknowledging that the current mayor has been generous toward Trump in his statements. The "worst mayor ever," Trump claimed, was former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who served the term prior to Adams. New York City Mayor Eric Adams Indicted Former President Trump delivers remarks to the press at Trump Tower in New York City on Thursday. "I will say this. I watched about a year ago when [Adams] talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city, and the federal government should pay us and we shouldnt have to take them," Trump said. "I said, You know what? Hell be indicted within a year. And I was exactly right because thats what we have." Read On The Fox News App "We have people that use the Justice Department and the FBI at levels that have never been seen before," Trump added, wishing Adams luck. Trump admitted he did not know anything about what Adams did to get indicted, but a group in the room told Trump he was right about his prediction. Fbi Raids Home Of Nyc Mayor Eric Adams' Chief Fundraiser Brianna Suggs, Source Says New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion in New York City on Thursday. On Wednesday, the mayor was indicted on 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. Trump continued to speak about the immigration problem that Adams spoke ill of, and called on federal officials to pay New York City to handle it. "He said this is really unfair to make us carry this burden. We shouldnt be doing this This is New York City," Trump said. Adams Office Lashes Out At Fbi Employee Who Might Have Improperly Leaked Details Of Corruption Probe Former President Trump wished New York City Mayor Eric Adams luck in his fight against the Justice Department. The parks are loaded up, Trump, a former city resident, said, adding that he recently passed the Roosevelt Hotel and it was unrecognizable. "[Adams] came out very strongly against it. He was right, by the way, because its ruining our country," he said. "He was honest, and I said he will be indicted within a year. And thats what happened." Trump said the indictments go back a long time, comparing it to when he was indicted in New York City. The prosecution made sure the charges happened before the statute of limitations in both cases, Trump noted. "Thats what they do. These are dirty players. These are bad people," Trump said. "They cheat and they do anything necessary. These are bad people. And we need an honest Justice Department. We need an honest FBI, and we need it fast." Law enforcement agents leave New York City Mayor Eric Adams' residence, Gracie Mansion in New York City on Thursday. 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 alleged fraud 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. Fox News Digitals Michael Ruiz contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump predicted NYC Mayor Adams would be indicted last year; blames 'dirty players' in DOJ 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. Trump says he is for "fair" peace in Ukraine US presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that he supports a "fair" peace for Ukraine, but did not say which solution to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would be regarded as such. Source: Trump in communication with the media after meeting with Zelenskyy in New York, writes CNN, as reported by European Pravda Details: When asked what he saw as a "fair" end to the war, Trump responded that it was "too early to say that". "I have my own ideas and Im sure the president [Zelenskyy ed.] definitely has his own ideas. But, [it] has to be fair," Trump said. Standing next to him, Zelenskyy added that the war should never have started in the first place. "Putin killed so many people and, of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war. He is in our territory. Thats the most important," the president of Ukraine emphasised. Background: Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". He immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at Trump Tower in New York follows a day of heightened tensions, during which Trump supporters accused the Ukrainian president of "interfering in the election" by criticising Trump's peace plan to support Biden. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to meet with Zelenskyy. Initially, the meeting was believed to be unlikely to take place, but at the last minute, Trump agreed to it. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump said he will meet with Volodymyr Zelenskiy Friday morning, after stepping up his criticism of the Ukrainian president in recent days. Most Read from Bloomberg President Zelenskiy has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 in Trump Tower, Trump said at a press conference Thursday in New York. Its a shame whats happening in Ukraine. So many deaths, so much destruction. Trump has criticized President Joe Bidens administration over its military assistance for Kyiv to repel Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. He said that, if elected, he will force Zelenskiy to the negotiating table with Putin. Trump added that 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. Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump earlier Thursday, saying pressuring Zelenskiy to negotiate with Putin would force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory or forgo security ties with allies. Let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, Harris said in remarks that didnt mention Trump by name. Biden announced $8 billion in new assistance for Kyiv on Thursday 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. Hes also met with other world leaders as part of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Zelenskiy rankled the Trump campaign after a visit to swing state Pennsylvania, where he toured a defense manufacturing facility in his bid for more security assistance. Trump assailed Zelenskiy on Wednesday saying, hes making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me. --With assistance from Nancy Cook. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Trump says he will meet with Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York on Sept. 27 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Sept. 26 that he would meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York City on Sept. 27. The previous day, the AP reported, citing sources from Trump's campaign, that there was no meeting planned between the two. Zelensky has been in the U.S. since Sept. 22, where he has held a series of high-level meetings with foreign leaders, as well as a visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania and an address to the U.N. General Assembly. Trump's rhetoric against Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has grown harsher in recent days. He has claimed that Zelensky wants Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election and referred to him as "the greatest salesman on earth." Earlier on Sept. 26, Trump shared a screenshot of a message purportedly from Zelensky on Truth Social. The message, which cannot be independently verified, reportedly carried a personal request from Zelensky to meet with Trump. "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 that's how it should be," the message read. "I believe it's important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%." Trump announced the meeting shortly after he shared the post. During his comments to the press, Trump declined to answer if he thought that Ukraine should cede territory in exchange for peace. Senator J.D. Vance, his running mate, said earlier in September that Trump's plan to end Russia's war could include the establishment of a special demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine would retain its sovereignty, but at the same time, it would have to give guarantees to Russia that it would not join NATO or any other allied institutions, Vance added. Trump has regularly repeated that if elected, he would end the full-scale war within 24 hours. However, when asked by reporters during his announcement of the meeting with Zelensky how he envisioned the end of the war, he said, "I don't want to tell you what that looks like." Read also: Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to make a deal with Moscow Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former President Donald Trump touted a "very good relationship" with Russia's President Vladimir Putin as he vowed to negotiate a "fair deal" for both sides. "I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin," Trump said ahead of his Friday meeting with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower. "And I think if we win, I think we're going to get it resolved very quickly." Zelenskyy quickly retorted, "I really think we will have more good relations." MORE: Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy after Ukraine's leader questioned his claim he could end war Trump reacted: "You know, it takes two to tango, you know, and we will. We're gonna have a good meeting today." PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York, Sept. 27, 2024. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) On the campaign trail, Trump has often boasted that he would be able to stop the war in Ukraine, though he has yet to provide specifics as to how, often showing a willingness to work with both sides. "The president wants it to stop, and I'm sure President Putin wants it to stop, and that's a good combination. So we want to have a fair deal for everybody," Trump said in a joint interview with Fox News on Friday. However, when asked what a "fair" deal would look like, Trump said, "It's too early to say that." Ahead of Friday's meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy publicly criticized each other as Trump has scrutinized U.S. funding of the war in Ukraine and, at times, has hinted at resistance to providing more assistance to the country. MORE: Harris, standing with Zelenskyy, indirectly jabs at Trump and Vance on Ukraine views "Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion. I think he's the greatest salesman on Earth," Trump said at a campaign event on Tuesday in Savannah, Georgia. "My feeling is that Trump doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how," Zelenskyy said in an interview with The New Yorker. "With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it, the less you understand. I've seen many leaders who were convinced they knew how to end it tomorrow, and as they waded deeper into it, they realized it's not that simple." PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York, Sept. 27, 2024. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) This week, Trump quipped that Zelenskyy was "making little nasty aspersions" towards him. Despite the public criticisms, the fact that the meeting occurred highlights the significance of Ukraine having good relationships with both political parties as their country's fate has begun to get more wrapped up in U.S. politics. Throughout their brief public interactions, Zelenskyy attempted to refute some of the languages Trump was using about the war in Ukraine. During a pull-aside interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy emphasized Russia's invasion of Ukrainian soil. MORE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discusses 'Victory Plan' he will present to Biden: GMA exclusive "We need to do, to do everything to pressure him to stop this war, and he's on our territory, that the most important to understand he's on our territory," Zelenskyy said. It comes as, in recent days, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, have left the door open to Ukraine potentially ceding land to Russia in negotiations to end the war. PHOTO:Vice President Kamala Harris, accompanied by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, waves to the media from the balcony of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, DC, Sept. 26, 2024. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Asked by ABC News' Rachel Scott on Thursday if Ukraine should turn over some of its land to Russia in order to end the war as his running mate had suggested, Trump said: "We'll see what happens." During a call with reporters, Vance was asked if he believes Ukraine should cede land in exchange for the war to end, offering a similar openness. "Everything is gonna be on the table," said Vance. "I think nothing is going to be definitively on the table. That's why you have a negotiation, especially with a guy who's as skilled as Donald Trump, is because you actually try to have a conversation between both parties and other interested parties about how to bring this war to close," he added. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Zelenskyy on Thursday where she alluded to these comments from the Republican ticket. "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. Trump says he wants 'fair deal' between Ukraine and Russia originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Donald Trump, and lt. gubernatorial candidate Hal Weatherman pose for a photo over the Memorial Day weekend. (Photo: @HalWeathermanNC account on X.com) Embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has not been invited to appear with Donald Trump during the former presidents last two appearances in North Carolina. And while Trump has avoided being seen with Robinson, he claimed on Thursday to be unaware of the controversy that has been brewing since September 19th when CNN aired an explosive report connecting Robinson to a series of explicit racial and sexual online posts. The comments, made before he ran for public office, appeared on a pornography forum under a username that CNN said it was able to identify as Robinson by matching a litany of biographical details and a shared email address between the two. In the comments, he voiced support for the return of slavery. In other posts, Robinson allegedly referred to himself as a perv and a black NAZI. Robinson has repeatedly denied the CNN report and has retained legal counsel even as Republican politicians have backed away from the gubernatorial nominee and canceled fundraisers. On Thursday, News Nation reporter Libbey Dean asked Trump whether or not he would retract his own endorsement of Robinson. Trumps response: I dont know the situation. Me: Are you going to pull your endorsement of Mark Robinson? Trump: I dont know the situation. pic.twitter.com/Y3orTxf9Ku Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) September 26, 2024 Democrats were quick to say Trumps response amounted to a blatant dodge. Its impossible to believe that, somehow, Donald Trump missed the news about his handpicked candidate for governor calling himself a Nazi. Trump has been to North Carolina twice since the news broke and is still standing by Robinson, even as the people who know Robinson best are abandoning him, said Harris-Walz spokesperson Ammar Moussa in a statement. Moussa said Trump simply views Robinson as a loyal MAGA soldier who would willingly fan the flames of division. Robinson has been off the campaign trail since Monday dealing with the loss of multiple campaign staffers and the resignation of senior employees in the lieutenant governors office, who are not a part of his campaign. On Thursday, Robinson was able to claim an endorsement from the Oil & Gas Workers Association and roll out a new campaign commercial featuring his wife, Yolanda Hill Robinson. Yolanda Robinson In the two-minute video filmed at a kitchen table, Yolanda Hill says her husband is known sometimes to raise his voice and raise a ruckus, but it is all because of the passion he has to protect North Carolina. Hill, who has faced questions about record-keeping discrepancies at a nonprofit she operated, blamed Robinsons Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, for lying and attacking her husband. Former Republican governor Pat McCrory said Robinsons history of inflammatory comments presents the party with a ticking time bomb that could sway the presidential race. Polls show Robinson trailing Stein by double digits. This weekend, Lt. Gov. Robinson is slated to appear at the NC Faith & Freedom Coalition Salt & Light Conference in Marion, NC. That event will also feature Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, and two other North Carolina Republican nominees for statewide office Congressman and state Attorney General candidate Dan Bishop, and Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Michele Morrow. It might have been a difficult encounter, but afterwards, neither Donald Trump not Keir Starmer gave any hint that that was the case. The two-hour private meeting between the GOP candidate and former president and Britains new prime minister in New York could have well have been awkward. Starmer could have been put on the defensive as Trump raised the small matter of foreign secretary David Lammys previous description of him, in a breathless, student-y, not to mention a historic sort of way, as a Neo-Nazi sociopath. Lammy, shortly after Starmer had carried out his threat to appoint him as foreign secretary, went on to justify his words but undertook to work with whoever was elected as president in November, which was very magnanimous of him. Starmer might also have been put on the defensive by the recent comments of Labours other professional Trump critic, London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, who has basked in the adoration of supporters for sticking it to The (Orange) Man repeatedly since Trump was first elected president in 2016. This week, perhaps out of concern that the American election might pass without his playing a central role in the drama, warned US voters that the world is watching and they had better not elect someone of whom Khan did not approve. No doubt Trump was aware, even as he broke bread with Starmer, of the view the Labour Party holds of him. Given his reputation for less-than-diplomatic language, it is extraordinary that ahead of their dinner, Trump had only good things to say about Starmer: I actually think hes very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, its very early. Then, perhaps exposing a glaring weakness in the team who brief him on UK current events, Trump added: Hes very popular. For Starmers part, it is reassuring that he managed to avoid the playground performative soundbites that his party colleagues find too difficult to resist. The prime minister declined to side with either Trump or his Democrat opponent, Vice-President Kamala Harris. Instead he pledged to work with whoever emerges as the victor in November and will seek to strengthen the special relationship between the UK and the US. This is exactly what UK prime ministers are supposed to do. The notion that a prime ministers own political preferences are somehow important enough to express publicly is a quaint and immature one that risks compromising the national interest. On this occasion at least, the prime ministers mantra country before party has been fully honoured. But this will carry no weight with Labours usual suspects, who have dined out on their loathing of Trump ever since he upset just about everyone by winning the presidency in 2016. This weeks meeting at Trump Tower, of all places comes just days after Starmers love-in with Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni and his subsequent positive comments about Italys scheme for processing asylum seekers in Albania. But performative outrage became a core part of Labour politicians prospectus during those long years of opposition. Consider Lammys embarrassing tirade this week to the United Nations, when he turned what should have been a united international condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine into a tirade about the transatlantic slave trade and, more importantly, about Lammy himself. This was taking virtue-signalling to an international level, leaving professionalism at the door but presumably playing better in Lammys Tottenham constituency. And remember when former House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, sought to win the approval of the Labour Party and sections of the public constituencies that Speakers should have no interest in courting by declaring that he would not allow a visiting President Trump to use Westminster Hall as the venue for a speech. We should be grateful that Starmer has resisted the temptation to indulge in similar grandstanding. This is a leader who clearly has little fear of the inevitable criticism he will face from the Left of his own party, and the sensible part will recognise the truth of his judgment that the decision on who to elect lies solely with the American public. Back home, he might take a few moments to consider the implications of a Trump victory for Britain, and how the 47th president might view a government whose foreign secretary is incapable of behaving in as professional a manner as his boss. Or even as professionally as Donald Trump. 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. Drip Drip Donald Trump has a bold and nonsensical plan to solve California's water shortage crisis: by shipping it down from the Rocky Mountains via what he describes as a "very large faucet." As Portland, Oregon's KOIN reports, experts are raising eyebrows at the claim the ex-president made during a campaign stop in the Los Angeles area earlier in the month. "You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north, with the snow caps and Canada, and all pouring down," Trump said between fundraisers in LA's ritzy Rancho Palos Verdes community. "And they have, essentially, a very large faucet, and you turn the faucet, and it takes one day to turn, and its massive." "You turn that, and all of that water goes aimlessly into the Pacific," the GOP nominee continued. "And if you turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles." Speaking to the Portland news outlet,Larry O'Neill, Oregon's state climatologist, pointed out that the mechanics of Trump's "very large faucet" simply don't make sense. "There is indeed no such diversion system," O'Neill said, "and none has been seriously proposed that I am aware of." Treaty Terms While it's unclear who the "they" in Trump's bizarre yarn refers to or what exact mechanism the presidential contender is referring to, Canadian media suggested earlier in September that it's likely he was referencing diverting water via the Rocky Mountains' Columbia River, which runs through British Columbia and into Washington and Oregon. In an interview with the country's Global News outlet, Werner Antweiler of the University of British Columbia said that Trump's idea isn't actually new. "The idea seems to be in the heads of people that Canada has all this wonderful water," Antweiler, who teaches business at the BC university, told the publication. Antweiler noted that there are a number of reasons such a scheme wouldn't work. It would be way too expensive to implement, the professor said, and this sort of resource diversion would also likely violate the Columbia River Treaty between the neighboring countries that "regulates how much water is flowing across the border and what its going to be used for." "Im sure Mr. Trump has never studied hydrology or the economics of water management and the actual, the needs of California," the professor continued, "because what California needs is mostly local water." Between this imaginary faucet and his intense fear of windmills, it seems pretty clear that Trump has not, in fact, studied how this stuff works but that doesn't make it any less funny when actual experts point it out. More on Trump proposals: Trump Says He Can Save America, But He Can't Even Think of an Idea to Save His Dying Startup Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday threatened the Google search engine with criminal prosecution over his belief its search results are biased against him. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday threatened to criminally prosecute the Internet search engine Google for allegedly favoring Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in its search results. Without providing evidence, Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social site that Google is trying to interfere with the 2024 presidential election by purposely displaying only "bad stories" about him. "It has been determined that Google has illegally used a system of only revealing and displaying bad stories about Donald J. Trump, some made up for this purpose while, at the same time, only revealing good stories about Comrade Kamala Harris," he wrote in the post. The former president then threatened to bring criminal charges against the tech giant, writing, "This is an illegal activity, and hopefully the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for this blatant interference of elections. If not, and subject to the laws of our country, I will request their prosecution, at the maximum levels, when I win the election, and become president of the United States." Trump's allegations seem to be in reaction to a study issued this week by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group led by activist L. Brent Bozell, CNBC reported. The study claims Google "very clearly pads its search results about political candidates with leftist legacy news articles, many of which are hostile to Republicans and either neutral or favorable toward Democrats." "Google is trying to stack the deck in favor of Kamala Harris," Bozell told Fox News Digital Wednesday. Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., did not immediately respond to Trump's allegations. The GOP candidate's complaints about Google represent the latest in long line of allegations from Trump and other Republican politicians and conservative activists who perceive a bias against them from social media platforms. He similarly alleged Google's search results were biased against him in 2019 after an Google employee claimed he was fired for being conservative and that company executives used their power "to control the flow of information to the public and make sure that Trump loses in 2020." Google, as well as some independent technology experts, have dismissed claims that its search results are being manipulated for political purposes, not only because that would undermine the company's successful business model but also because its algorithms are designed to highly rank results from news sources judged to be factually "authoritative and accurate." Despite the denials, accusations from conservatives about alleged anti-Trump bias in the search engine have resurfaced as he appears deadlocked with Harris with the election looming. Elon Musk, owner of the X media platform and a supporter of Trump, accused Google of such bias in a series of X posts in July, zeroing in on its autocomplete feature, which provides suggestions based on what users type into its search bar. He claimed Google had a "search ban" on Trump because he didn't appear in some users' autocomplete predictions for "president donald." "Autocomplete is currently not working as intended for some searches about the names of several past presidents and the current vice president," a Google spokesperson told NBC News. "We're looking into these anomalies and working on improvements, which we hope to roll out soon. Our autocomplete systems are dynamic, so predictions will change based on common and trending queries." Former President Trump leads Vice President Harris by 6 points in the battleground of Arizona, according to a poll released Friday. The USA Today/Suffolk University survey found Trump leads the vice president 48 percent to 42 percent in the Grand Canyon State. Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver got 1 percent each. About 5 percent were undecided. Trumps strength is driven by the two top issues in Arizona the economy and immigration, said David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. Trump is winning each issue by overwhelming margins. About 47 percent of Latino voters in Arizona said they back the vice president, while 35 percent said they side with Trump. Arizona has around 1.3 million Latino-eligible voters, according to Pew Research Center. The top two issues among the survey respondents were the economy, at 27 percent, and immigration, at 21 percent, and both topics are seen as key issues in the election. About 52 percent of the polls respondents said they were worse off than they were four years ago. In another recent poll, the vice president had a 3-point edge in Arizona, according to Bloomberg News/Morning Consult. But Harris trailed Trump in Arizona by 3 points in a recently released poll from Fox News. Trump has a 48.5 percent to 47.7 percent in Arizona, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQs aggregate of polls. The former president has a 4-point lead in Maricopa County, a bellwether county, getting 47 percent to Harriss 43 percent, while about 8 percent of voters were undecided, according to the USA Today/Suffolk University survey. The statewide poll was conducted Sept. 21-24 among 500 likely voters. It has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. The survey focused on Maricopa County was done over the same period among an additional 300 likely voters, with a margin of error of 5.65 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. In his first face-to-face meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in more than four years, Donald Trump said hed work with Ukraine and Russia to find a solution thats good for both sides to end the war and emphasized he has strong relationships with both the Ukrainian president and Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have a very good relationship. I also have a very good relationship with President Putin and you know, I think if we win were going to get it resolved very quickly, Trump said. The exchange Friday in New York ahead of a private meeting between the two leaders elicited pushback from Zelenskyy, who interjected: I hope we have more good relations with us. The joint appearance at Trump Tower comes as the former president has criticized Zelenskyy on the campaign trail, saying this week the Ukrainian leader was making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me, and denigrating him as the "greatest salesman on Earth. Zelenskyy, who was in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill as well as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House had spent several days shoring up support for Ukraines long war with Russia, which escalated the conflict two years ago by invading the country. Trump, who often says Russia never would have invaded Ukraine if he was president at the time, emphasized Friday that, if elected, hed work with both sides to get this settled but indicated any negotiation would also benefit Russia. During his debate with Harris two weeks ago, Trump also declined to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. We can work out something thats good for both sides, its time. And by the way, the president wants to get something done, he doesn't want to do this, Trump said Friday, while Zelenskyy stood just inches away. And when Zelenskyy cut in to say that Trump has a better relationship with Ukraine than Russia, Trump replied: Ah, I see. But, it takes two to tango. I think the fact that were even together today is a good sign, and hopefully well have a good victory because if the other side wins, I dont think were going to have victories with anything, to be honest with you, Trump said. The 2024 presidential election could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine. While Democrats have continued to vow support for Ukraine in its effort to defeat Russia, Trump and some of his Republican colleagues have been deeply skeptical of aid to Kyiv. The former president said that he would work to strike a deal between the warring countries. Zelenskyy said to the press during the joint appearance he wanted to share all the plans, all the steps and said we have to stop Putin. We will try on the battlefield with our heroic soldiers. And we understand after November we have to decide and we hope with the strength of the United States we will be very strong, and we count on it. Thats why I have decided to meet with both candidates. After the meeting, which lasted about an hour, a representative of the Ukrainian delegation told POLITICO that everything "went really well. "Trump was really attentive. We discussed our plan in detail, and talked about some key things," a Ukrainian official said, providing no additional details. Republicans have criticized Zelenskyy this week after he made critical comments about Trumps running mate Sen. JD Vance during a recently published interview and toured the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, which is making ammunition for the Ukrainian army, with several Democrats, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, whom Harris considered as a potential running mate. The Scranton visit prompted House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) to open a probe into the trip and Speaker Mike Johnson to call for Zelenskyy to fire his ambassador to the U.S. for arranging the trip. Johnson, who did not meet with Zelenskyy this week, claimed in a letter no Republicans were invited on the visit to the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Ukrainian leader told the New Yorker that Vance is too radical with his opposition to U.S. aid to Kyiv and said Trump doesnt really know how to end the war. My feeling is that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how, Zelenskyy told the 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. Trump and Zelenskyy have had a complicated relationship since Trump was in the White House and withheld military aid to Ukraine to try to pressure the Ukrainian leader to investigate Biden and his son Hunters business dealings. Trump said there was no quid pro quo, but the conversation launched a formal impeachment inquiry by the House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted by the Senate. On Friday, Trump praised Zelenskyy for not being cute and for saying President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong about the phone call that caused the first impeachment. Trump was joined at the meeting with Ric Grenell, an adviser to the former president and the former acting director of National Intelligence, and his top campaign advisers, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles. It was the first time Trump and Zelenskyy had met in person since a White House visit in 2019, although the two have spoken on the phone since then. It is typical for foreign leaders to seek meetings with presidential candidates from both parties ahead of an election. Trump met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a two-hour dinner in New York on Thursday night and also planned to meet with the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. On Sunday, Trump met with the prime minister of Qatar at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Following their meeting Friday, Trump said he learned a lot and claimed that if he wins, Ukraine and Russia will reach a very fair and I think, actually, a rather rapid deal, but said it was too early to share his plans to end the war. Veronika Melkozerova contributed to this report. Donald Trump vowed on Thursday to punish Google for in his mind favoring Vice President Kamala Harris in results generated by its search engine. It has been determined that Google has illegally used a system of only revealing and displaying bad stories about Donald J. Trump, some made up for this purpose while, at the same time, only revealing good stories about Comrade Kamala Harris, the former president wrote on Truth Social. This is an ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, and hopefully the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for this blatant Interference of Elections. If not, and subject to the Laws of our Country, I will request their prosecution, at the maximum levels, when I win the Election, and become President of the United States! he added. https://twitter.com/BadLegalTakes/status/1839735740030431526 The claim likely stems from an article published this week by The Media Research Center (MRC) a right-wing nonprofit that claims to defend and preserve Americas founding principles and Judeo-Christian values that was circulated by prominent conservative outlets, including Fox News. The article, titled Google Up to Same Tricks? Search Giant Pushes Wildly Biased News Above Trump Website, claimed that Google has a long history of interfering in American elections in favor of the most liberal politicians, and was doing so again in the 2024 election. MRC asserted that Google searches for donald trump presidential race 2024 and kamala harris presidential race 2024 provided proof of the tech giants bias towards Harris because Trumps campaign website appeared sixth in search results, compared to third for Harris. The outlet further asserted that the inclusion of left-wing sources like Politico, The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post in Googles Top Stories box in the search for both candidates was proof of bias, because some of the articles were critical of Trump. Google [is] telling the reader that the most reliable sources of campaign news are CNN, NBC, The Times, The Post, Politico and The Economist liberal sources all, MRC NewsBusters Executive Editor Tim Graham declared in the article. The so-called research provided nothing in the way of verifiable conclusions about Googles algorithm and internal processes. Websites are not pegged to a specific location ranking in Googles search results, and their placement can vary significantly day-to-day. But the point is not to conduct verifiable, replicable research in an unbiased setting, but rather to fuel the former presidents victim complex and provide fodder for his long-standing attacks against any outlet that is not outright deferential to his political project. In recent weeks, Trump has become quite comfortable threatening to jail his political opponents, the subjects of his conspiracies, or just anyone he doesnt like. In August the former president threatened to imprison Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over baseless claims that the Facebook founder meddled in the 2020 election by donating $350 million investment in the Center for Tech and Civic Life a Chicago-based nonprofit helping provide election administration resources to thousands of precincts during the Covid-19 pandemic. This month alone, Trump vowed to prosecute anyone accused of attempting to cheat him out of a victory in November, said that anyone who criticizes Supreme Court Justices (presumably only the conservative ones) should be put in jail, and demanded former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be prosecuted over the Jan. 6 insurrection he fomented. Google will need to wait its turn. 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. Trump meets Zelensky and says it's time to end Russia's war Donald Trump met Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at his New York base in Trump Tower on Friday and said it was time Russia's war in Ukraine was settled. The Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly criticised the Ukrainian leader on the US campaign trail, and a meeting between the pair had seemed unlikely until hours before. As the two men stood side by side, Zelensky said he thought they had a "common view that the war has to be stopped and Putin can't win", adding that he would discuss with Trump details of his "victory plan". Despite years of differences, Trump insisted he had a very good relationship with Zelensky. "I also have a very good relationship as you know with President Putin and I think if we win [the election] were going to get it resolved very quickly," he said. Afterwards, Trump and Zelensky spoke to Fox News and the former president said he learned a lot from the meeting. We both want to see this end, and we both want to see a fair deal made, he said. It should stop and the president (Zelensky) wants it to stop, and Im sure President Putin wants it to stop and thats a good combination. Zelensky said: Putin killed so many people and of course we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war. Hes on our territory. Zelensky invited Trump to visit Ukraine, and Trump replied: I will. The Ukrainian president later posted on his Telegram channel that the pair had a very meaningful meeting. We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. Putin cannot win. Ukrainians must win, he wrote. Trump, meanwhile, said on his Truth Social account that if he is not elected president, "that war will never end, and will phase into WORLD WAR III". The pair have long had a tumultuous relationship. Trump was impeached in 2019 over accusations that he pressured Zelensky to dig up damaging information on the Biden family. A rough transcript of the call revealed Trump had urged Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, as well as Biden's son Hunter. Standing beside Zelensky on Friday, he praised the Ukrainian leader's handling of the issue. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Trump has frequently repeated Moscow's talking points about the war. During September's presidential debate, he sidestepped a question on whether he wanted Ukraine to emerge victorious in the conflict. Ahead of Friday's meeting, Trump repeated his long-standing claim that he would be able to "work out something" to settle the war if he won the presidential election, long before Joe Biden leaves office in January. He has refused to elaborate when asked whether he believes Ukraine should cede territory to Russia as a means of ending the war. Although Zelensky has been visiting the US since Sunday, their meeting was only confirmed on Thursday night, when Trump posted a screenshot of a text message from President Zelensky saying it was "important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%". President Zelensky met Donald Trump at the end of a six-day visit to the US [Reuters] There have been tensions all week between Zelensky and the Republican party ahead of November's US presidential election. Some Republicans were angered by Zelensky's visit to an arms factory in Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, with top Democrats, including state Governor Josh Shapiro, earlier this week. Zelensky's trip to the key swing state was labelled by leading Republicans as a partisan campaign event. In a public letter, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the visit was "designed to help Democrats" and claimed it amounted to "election interference". Ros Atkins on... Why the US election is crucial to Ukraine Trump has grown increasingly critical of continued US funding for Ukraine, and in recent days has sharpened his attacks against Zelensky, calling him the "greatest salesman on Earth" for continuing to obtain military aid. In contrast, Zelensky recently told the New Yorker magazine that he believes Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war" and called Trump's running mate JD Vance "too radical" and "dangerous" for suggesting that Ukraine should give up territory to end the war, saying it would spark conflict around the world. When asked about Zelensky's comments on Thursday, Trump replied: "I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn't know me." On Thursday, Zelensky met US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss his "victory plan", which he hopes will pressure Russia into agreeing a diplomatic end to the war. Hours before, Biden had announced a further $7.9bn (5.9bn) package of military assistance to Ukraine. As Zelensky visited the US, drone attacks continued in Ukraine. On Thursday night, three people were killed and 14 others wounded in a Russian drone attack on Izmail, a port city on the River Danube. Russia has targeted Izmails grain export facilities in the past. Prosecutors say two boys aged three and 13, and a girl aged 14, were among those wounded in the latest attack. Romanias defence ministry said it was possible that one of the Russian drones involved in the attack had crossed the border into Romania, a Nato member state, for a very short period. [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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Friday with former President Trump, who lauded his relationship with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he could broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine very quickly. Were going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled, Trump told reporters alongside Zelensky. We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship as you know with President Putin. And I think if we win, I think were going to get it resolved very quickly, Trump added. I hope we have more good relations, Zelensky cut in. Oh, I see, Trump responded. But it takes two to tango, you know. And were going to have a good meeting today. And I think the fact that were even together today is a very good sign. The two, who met at Trump Tower in New York City, shook hands and spoke briefly to the press before sitting down for talks. I think that we can work out something thats good for both sides. Its time, Trump said. By the way, the president [Zelensky] knows that too. He wants to get something done. He doesnt want to do this. Trump, who has often voiced his deep skepticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine, said it was an honor to meet with Zelensky. At a rally Wednesday, Trump joined other Republicans criticizing Zelensky over perceptions that he favors Democrats in Novembers election. Trump also has mocked Zelensky for only coming to the U.S. government for financial help. Every time Zelensky comes to the United States he walks away with $100 billion, I think hes the greatest salesman on Earth, Trump said Tuesday at a campaign event in Savannah, Ga. The U.S. has provided Ukraine about $60 billion in military assistance since Russia first attacked the country in February 2022. At the rally, Trump also praised Putin and Russias military record, telling attendees: They beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon. Thats what they do, they fight. And its not pleasant. Zelensky too has voiced frosty views of his one-time counterpart, telling the New Yorker that Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows. In the piece, published Sunday, Zelensky also called Trumps pick for vice president, Sen. JD Vance, (R-Ohio,) too radical, because he is pushing for Ukraine to make a sacrifice by giving up its territories. Asked Friday why he decided to meet with Trump, Zelensky said the two had a common view on ending the conflict and, regardless of who wins the election, he hoped U.S. support would continue. I think we have [a] common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped and Putin cant win. The Ukrainians have to prevail, and I want to discuss with you the details, Zelensky said. Zelensky is in the U.S. this week for the United Nations General Assembly. He also met with President Biden and Vice President Harris Thursday at the White House, with the administration the same day announcing about $8 billion in military assistance for Kyiv. Trump a day prior said Zelensky had asked to meet with him, again claiming he could broker a deal between Kyiv and Moscow quite quickly. The presidential candidate so far has declined to provide details of what such a deal would include, and his critics worry he is prepared to pressure Ukraine to cede land to Russia. Speaking on Fox News after the meeting ended, Trump said he learned a lot from the conversation and reiterated that he thinks a fair deal is possible, though he declined to say what he thought a fair deal was. I learned a lot, but I think I havent changed from the standpoint that we both want to see this end and we both want to see a fair deal made. And its got to be fair, and I think thatll happen at the right time. I think its going to happen, Trump said. Zelensky then spoke up, pressing that it was Russia that invaded Ukrainian territory. This war shouldnt [have] started, and I think that the problem [is] that Putin killed so many people and, of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war. He is in our territory. Thats the most important. He is in our territory and how to stop the war to pressure him as we can. We have to do it, Zelensky said. Trump and Zelenskys past has been rocky, with the former U.S. president infamously pressuring the Ukrainian leader to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter Biden in exchange for releasing about $400 million in military aid. The call, which took place in July 2019 while Trump was in the White House, led to his first impeachment. Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump brought up the call, insisting he had done nothing wrong and that his impeachment was a hoax The meeting comes as Harris was en route to the southern border. A day prior, after meeting with Zelensky, she slammed so-called Ukraine peace plans from some in the United States as proposals for surrender. 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, Harris said at a media appearance alongside Zelensky. 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 added. Updated: 1:24 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. Sen. Joseph McCarthy rose to prominence in the 1950s as he leveled wild allegations about communist infiltration in the U.S. government. Communism was an international threat at the timeand some sympathizers had indeed gained positions of powerbut his recklessness turned into a witch hunt that destroyed lives and ultimately undermined the cause he was touting. His popularity collapsed precipitously after an exchange during one hearing, where he accused U.S. Army attorney Joseph Welch of having a colleague with communist ties. In one of the most famousand effectiveretorts in political history, Welch said: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessnessHave you no sense of decency?" The last sentence has become a common retort whenever one's political opponents become unhinged. It's one that sprung to mind as former President Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance (ROhio), have continued to repeat baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. As Trump said during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris: "They're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats." Have you no decency, sir? Are there no limits to your cruelty or recklessness? Are you unconcerned about the impact of such allegations on the individuals and families who live thereor the resulting bomb threats and disruptions after you spewed such falsehoods? And why has Vance doubled down on this nonsense even after these stories have been debunked? The whole cat-eating nonsense was first promulgated by actual neo-Nazis, per a Wall Street Journal report. The newspaper did what the Trump campaign was unwilling to dosome basic fact-checking on its veracity before spreading it to a national audience. Vance at one point argued that whatever the specifics, he was focusing needed attention on the problems of immigration in the heartland. There's nothing wrong with sparking policy discussions about immigration, its impact on rust-belt communities, and the strains it places on social services and whatnot. But accusing actual human beings (ones here legally, no less) of falsehoods as a way to illustrate some perceived problemand endangering them in the processis an outrage. It's unconscionable for a man who touts his Christian devotion. Thou shalt not bear false witness, you know. We can lay some of the blame on Miss Sassy. That's the Springfield cat that went missing in August. My long-haired orange tabby Marigold disappeared for a spell a few weeks ago, but I didn't file a police report accusing my immigrant neighbors of taking her, as the Springfield cat owner did. But that's apparently what happened. When pressed on the source, Vance pointed to that police report. The Journal did some basic legwork. The sassy kitty showed up a few days later in her owner's basementand the owner publicly apologized to her Haitian neighbors. Fair enough. An apology from Trump/Vance also seems in order, but MAGA never admits mistakes or backtracks. Now Trump plans a trip to Springfield to stir the pot some more, even as local officials beg him not to come. Some conservative journalists even went on the hunt to confirm pet-eating stories and one published a piece alleging that immigrants from another continent might have been eating pets in a different Ohio city. It shouldn't need to be said, but weak after-the-fact "collaboration" in no way substantiates or justifies cruel allegations against Haitians in Springfield. The Dispatch's Kevin D. Williamson nails it: "The case against the Haitians isn't that they are welfare malingers or cat-eatersor even that they are illegal immigrants who came here thanks to Joe Biden's lax border enforcement, which most of them aren't. The real issue is that by working overtime and investing in the community, they have made life more challenging for a reliable Trump-voting constituency: marginally employed white people on the dole." If you don't think he's onto something, then you're missing the often-abominable attacks on Haitian immigrants published on X and other sources. I got my start in journalism in a small Ohio city (Lima). I understand the difficulties facing struggling rust-belt towns that are losing population and are now besieged by social problems. But an influx of hard-working people can be a boon. Springfield companies are thrilled with the Haitian workforce. Newcomers present challenges, but dying cities endure worse challenges (falling revenues, collapsing home values, crime). As a final note, like Vance my wife took that Hillbilly Highway out of Appalachia. I guarantee these migrants had some unusual habits before assimilating into middle-class culture. Our nation literally was built by "illiterate exotics from distant lands," Williamson added. I'd say it's a core reason for our country's greatness. To politicians and their supporters who disparage people who've done nothing more than come to America for opportunity, I'll repeat Welch's words: Have you no sense of decency? This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post Trump's and Vance's Attacks on Haitian Immigrants Reveal a Complete Lack of Decency appeared first on Reason.com. Comedian Roseanne Barr is all in on the right-wing conspiracy hype train. During a leg of exFox News host Tucker Carlsons tour in Fort Worth, Texas, on Tuesday, the Trump-supporting actress echoed QAnon theories, insisting that Hollywood denizens are gay as hell, and likened liberals to vampires that love the taste of human flesh. You know they eat babies. That is not bullshit, its true, Barr said. All the while, Carlson nodded along and giggled, seemingly in agreement. In fact, Carlson prodded her to continue, echoing a similarly baseless and asinine theory that Haitian migrants in Ohio were eating peoples pets. Its not just the dogs and the cats, Barr said, not joking. They are full-on vampires, and everybody still thinks Im crazy. But Im not crazy. Theyre full-on vampires. They love the taste of human flesh, and they drink human blood. They do. Of course, according to Barr, Trump will be the antidote to all this madness. By the time we go in to vote for Trump, that he will open up everybodys eyes and they will stop pretending to be asleep, she continued. You know what they say. You cant wake people up that are pretending to be asleep. But I pray to God, please wake up. Even those who are pretending to be asleep with the irrefutable truth of what the worst people on this planet are really up to. They are really up to that. Theyre doing it. There are so many victims. There are so many victims! During the same interview, Barr went on a tangent against liberals for accepting the 2020 presidential election results, clamoring that it was Democratsnot registered Republicans supporting the former presidentwho attempted to thwart the results with their insurrection. They overthrew the constitutional republic of the United States of America, Barr said. And then they covered it up with their January 6 bullshit. With their insurrection! President Trump God bless that man, I love him, and everybody knows it, she continued. 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. As Tucker Carlsons tour rolls on, headliner Roseanne Barr tells a cheering audience that the elites are eating babies and are vampires who drink blood and love the taste of human flesh but Trump is going to stop it. pic.twitter.com/ohLDmCm1It Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 27, 2024 Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Ebony Johnson speaks to the Oklahoma State Board of Education on April 25 in Oklahoma City. Johnson and Tulsa district leaders no longer will be required to present every month to the board, as they have done for the past year. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Tulsa Public Schools officials walked out of the Oklahoma State Department of Education to rounds of applause on Thursday, as a yearlong effort to prevent a district takeover appeared to have reached a conclusion. Superintendent Ebony Johnson waved goodbye to agency employees and members of the public who filled the departments hallways for an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting. Johnson and other TPS leaders had become regular fixtures in the building, returning every month for the past year to present to the board about their districts progress. Their presentation Thursday will be their last monthly report at a state board meeting, marking the end of a turbulent chapter that began more than a year ago. It feels like an affirmation that weve been doing the right thing for our young people and our families, our teachers and our staff, Johnson said while walking to her car before the hour-and-a-half drive back to Tulsa. Her remarks to the board made it clear the job of improving Tulsa schools isnt finished yet, as she outlined plans to combat chronic absenteeism, secure financial procedures, accelerate student learning and improve struggling schools. But, the tone of the meeting was a night-and-day difference from the existential crisis Tulsa faced 12 months ago. At that time, the state Department of Education threatened a takeover of Tulsa, the states largest school district, in light of poor academic performance and a financial scandal. Former Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist resigned in hopes of preventing such a drastic outcome. Johnson, the districts chief academic officer, stepped into the superintendent role in the interim before she was later hired permanently. The state Board of Education at the time approved Tulsas accreditation status, which defines its ability to operate as an independent district, on the condition that the districts reading scores improve by at least 5%, that its failing schools show improvement in state evaluations, that all teaching staff be trained in the science of reading and that it improve its internal financial controls. The board also required a presentation every month from district leaders for an update on their progress. The school district has indicated it could meet all of the state boards demands. Tulsa completed science of reading training for all teachers and administrators. It hired an internal auditor to its staff to review financial procedures. New state report cards with grades for each public school havent come out yet, but the district announced 16 of its schools already have shown necessary progress to shed a federal low-performing label. This summer, Tulsa announced it achieved an overall 5% improvement in reading scores on spring state tests. Relieving district administrators of the monthly trek to Oklahoma City would seem a final check mark on the list. However, questions hover around the true extent of reading improvement, not only in Tulsa but statewide. State officials quietly lowered the bar for students to reach a proficient score on reading and math tests this year, creating the illusion of dramatic academic growth statewide. Internal agency documents, which Oklahoma Voice obtained, indicate actual progress across the state has been stagnant. Regardless, state Superintendent Ryan Walters said he is confident Tulsa is in a better place with Johnson at the helm. He recommended that Thursdays meeting be her final monthly presentation. State and Tulsa officials have been in touch weekly, he said, and the district provides everything that we ask of them. That communication will continue, Walters said, but he suggested their attendance at board meetings is no longer necessary. The board agreed with a unanimous vote. I have got tremendous confidence in the leadership team there, the direction there, Walters told the board members on Thursday. I think we can move into a stage thats much more informal. The board then approved accreditation for Tulsa and all other districts in the state. This year, Tulsa will maintain its status of accredited with deficiencies, which is defined as failing to meet one or more school requirements in a way that doesnt seriously detract from the quality of its educational program. Another 420 schools and districts have the same designation, and 1,981 others have no deficiencies, state officials said. Nine school districts were accredited with warning, indicating they have deficiencies that seriously detract from their educational quality. Four districts Billings, Optima, Straight and Western Heights have been placed on probation, the lowest possible designation short of being shut down. Education Department documents show all four districts had financial reporting issues, among other concerns. State officials noted that Western Heights Public Schools is correcting IRS filing challenges and has significantly improved since it first landed on probation in 2021. Tulsas accreditation status is consistent with its label last year this time without any stipulations or storm clouds. Johnson said she imagined no other outcome than to reach this more-stable point. Absolutely it was not going to be anything other than this. Its the way I lead, she said. My priority is to make sure that our students get all the resources that they need, our teachers are supported (and) our support staff, and then my team continues to lead in the most awesome way. And so, absolutely, we were going to get here. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tunisia's parliament votes on a bill stripping the court of election oversight, in Tunis Tunisia's parliament votes on a bill stripping the court of election oversight, in Tunis By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia's parliament approved a law stripping the Administrative Court of its authority to adjudicate electoral disputes on Friday, nine days before the presidential election and fuelling opposition fears of a rigged result aimed at keeping President Kais Saied in power. The Administrative Court is widely seen as the North African country's last independent judicial body, after Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges in 2022. Out of a total 161 lawmakers, 116 voted for the major amendment to the electoral law. The current parliament assembly was elected in 2022 on an 11% voter turnout after Saied dissolved the previous parliament in what the opposition has described as a coup. As a large police contingent erected iron barriers to block access to parliament, dozens of protesters held placards saying "Assassination of Democracy" and "Rigged election". Some protesters chanted, "Dictator Saied ... your turn has come!" Civil rights activists and opposition parties including the Free Constitutional Party, whose leader is in jail, called for protests on Saturday. "We are witnessing the capture of the state days before the vote," political activist Chaima Issa said. "We are at the peak of absurdity and one-man rule." PRESIDENTIAL RIVALS DISQUALIFIED The Administrative Court this month ordered the electoral commission to reinstate disqualified presidential candidates, saying the legitimacy of the Oct. 6 election was in question. But the commission defied the court and has allowed only two candidates to run against Saied. Lawmakers said they had proposed the bill because they believed the Administrative Court was no longer neutral and could annul the election and plunge Tunisia into chaos and a constitutional vacuum. Critics argue that Saied is using the electoral commission and the judiciary to secure victory by stifling competition and intimidating rivals. Saied says he is fighting traitors, mercenaries and corruption. Saied was democratically elected in 2019, but then tightened his grip on power and began ruling by decree in 2021. Presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel was sentenced last week to 20 months in prison on charges of falsifying popular endorsements, and to a further six months on Wednesday on charges of falsifying documents. Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, has been imprisoned since last year on charges of harming public security. Another prominent politician, Lotfi Mraihi, was jailed this year on charges of vote-buying in 2019. Both had said they would run in October, but were prevented from submitting their applications from jail. Another court jailed four other potential candidates in August and gave them lifetime bans from running for office. (Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Leslie Adler) SOMERSET, Pa. (WTAJ) The PA Turnpike Commission hosted a public meeting Wednesday night at the Somerset Church of the Brethren to update the community on where the Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project stands. Right now the project is still in the preliminary planning stage and will be until 2028. Then it will enter the final planning stage that will last until 2032. Hundreds of concerned community members filled the church social hall in opposition to a project that many say could destroy the mountain. Kevin Scheurich, the assistant chief engineer of the Turnpike Commission, said that the project is essential to upgrading the tunnel which would be 100 years old by the time construction starts. I think with every project right youre going to have people that support the project and people that oppose it, Scheurich said. Were spending a lot of money just rehabbing it, keeping it safe so that people can drive through it today. At some point, we need to do something in addition to the fact that it doesnt have the capacity that we need. Our traffic looks a lot different than it did in 1940. State Representative for the 69th District, Carl Metzgar was also at the meeting, after issuing a statement against the project. He said no one wants the project to happen except for the Turnpike Commission. The proposal that they have out here is for a cut that is 1000 feet wide into the mountain, Metzgar said. That huge cut through an uninterrupted mountain face, the tallest mountain chain in Pennsylvania, is just unconscionable from our standpoint. Evan Endres with the Nature Conservancy PA was also at the meeting and raised concerns about how the cut through the mountain could impact wildlife in the region. More from Jordan Mansberger This corridor is going to become a superhighway of species seeking refuge to higher elevations and movement north, Endres said. Its a turnpike for nature essentially. Maybe without the tolls. In his statement, Metzgar also suggested that the project could negatively impact water supplies in Allegheny and Stoneycreek Townships, as well as Berlin Borough. They could turn a town into a ghost town very quickly, Metzgar said. Were talking about hundreds, maybe thousands of peoples water that could be impacted by this project. Scheurich said that they are still too early in the planning process to know exactly how the project would impact the water supply, but said that they will be looking at all of the potential environmental impacts and how to mitigate them throughout the process. Drinking water is a concern, Scheurich said. The aquifer is a concern. We do probably need to hire a hydro-geologist and get them on board. 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. The PA Turnpike Commission said that they will continue to collect public input throughout the entire planning process and host similar meetings in the future. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BARRONETT, Wis. (WFRV) After a multi-county search through northern Wisconsin on Wednesday, two children who had allegedly been abducted were safely found and a suspect was taken into custody. According to the Barron County Sheriffs Office, deputies were notified by the Ashland Police Department about a six-year-old and a three-year-old who were reportedly abducted from the Ashland area. Deputies learned of the possible abduction around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25. 18-year-old turns himself in as fourth suspect in Green Bay homicide case While deputies began their search with help from the Department of Criminal Investigation, the Wisconsin DNR, and staff from the Scout Reservation, information was provided that the children may be in the Barronett area. With additional help from the Washburn County Sheriffs Office, authorities were able to find the suspects vehicle. The suspect was identified as Gage Ackley Dechant, a 30-year-old from Drummond. Shortly after, the two children were found, as well as Dechant. Authorities say Dechant was then taken into custody. The children were taken to a local hospital to check their welfare and to be reunited with their family. Leader of drug trafficking organization in Wisconsin sentenced to federal prison It was noted that Dechant was taken to the Barron County Jail on a probation warrant. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, two Black women who died after trying home abortions, arent the only ones who have suffered due to Georgias abortion restriction law, according to Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, an Atlanta-based reproductive justice group. There are so many other people that have come up to me directly, as Ive been in different events or doing different things, saying, This also happened to me. I almost lost my life, Simpson told Capital B Atlanta on Wednesday. Despite increased restrictions against abortion in Georgia, demand for abortion continues in the state, with Black and Hispanic women seeking abortion care more than others. While the outcomes arent always fatal, the suffering these women have endured has motivated Black reproductive rights activists in Atlanta to work on campaigns to draw attention to Georgias restricted access in the November election. Black Georgians overwhelmingly opposed the states abortion restrictions, which have been in place for two years and limit abortions to the first six weeks of pregnancy with few exceptions. A University of Georgia poll released in October 2022 revealed that more than 86% of Black residents strongly disapproved of the six-week restriction. Simpson and other maternal health advocates with the Trust Black Women campaign will host a vigil and rally outside the Gold Dome in Atlanta at 2 p.m. on Saturday to demand accountability for Miller and Thurmans preventable deaths. The activists have attributed Miller and Thurmans deaths to Georgias controversial law limiting the procedure from being performed after about six weeks of pregnancy unless the life of the mother is threatened. (Georgia law also allows abortions in cases of rape or incest to take place before 20 weeks if the expecting mother has filed a police report or if a doctor determines the fetus suffers from congenital or chromosomal anomaly that makes it unlikely to survive after birth.) The stated goal of the rally is to emphasize the impact of Georgias controversial six-week limit on most abortions and issue a call to action to change the law at state and national levels. State Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta, introduced legislation that would expand abortion rights in Georgia in 2022 and 2023, yet Georgia Republicans defeated both those measures during the last two legislative sessions. Simpson expects abortion rights to play a crucial role in the battleground states upcoming presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. How Georgia leaders have responded to Miller and Thurmans deaths A pair of bombshell ProPublica stories published last week revealed harrowing and graphic details about Miller and Thurmans respective abortion-related demises roughly two years ago. Miller was a 41-year-old mother of three whose chronic health issues threatened her unexpected pregnancy in 2022. A medical examiners autopsy failed to determine the exact cause of Millers death after taking abortion pills, but medical records noted she ingested a lethal combination of painkillers after refusing to see a doctor due to Georgias abortion law, according to ProPublica, which cited accounts given by Millers family along with medical records stating she had no history of drug use. Thurman was a 28-year-old aspiring nurse who died of septic shock in August 2022 after doctors in North Carolina apparently declined to perform a common dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove fetal tissue from her uterus following her taking abortion pills in Georgia. The Tar Heel State has had a 12-week abortion ban on the books since July 1, 2023. Maternal health providers have theorized such bans would cause doctors to think twice before performing some procedures, fearing they could be prosecuted or lose their licenses. Republicans, including GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, have argued that exceptions included in Georgias abortion law, also known as the LIFE Act, allow women like Miller and Thurman to receive life-saving medical care. Last week, Kemps office suggested abortion rights advocates and reporters are partly to blame for Miller and Thurmans deaths. They would likely both be alive today if partisan activists and so-called journalists had not spread such egregious misinformation and propaganda that fostered a culture of fear and confusion, spokesperson Garrison Douglas told WSAV on Sept. 20. Community leaders gather for a picture in front of the Georgia State Capitol in July 2022 following a demonstration through downtown Atlanta in opposition to Georgias abortion law. (Megan Varner/Getty Images) Abortion rights supporters agree that confusion over the law has motivated doctors to deny treatment to patients like South Atlanta resident Yasmein Ziyad, a Black woman from Morrow, Georgia, who told Congress earlier this month that her physician refused to help treat her spontaneous miscarriage due to fear of prosecution. Ziyad said she experienced severe cramping, bleeding, and pain strong enough to stop me from doing anything, as a result of her condition. She said she and her fiance have now given up on hopes of ever being pregnant again. I didnt have to go through this, Ziyad told members of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights on Sept. 16. These laws created so much fear and confusion that I couldnt get the care I needed; that would have spared me so much pain and suffering. Abortions are still happening Maternal health treatment may have suffered in Georgia as a result of the states abortion law, but demand for abortions havent decreased at the states four Planned Parenthood clinics, according to Jaylen Black, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Southeast. Black said more women are seeking abortions earlier in their pregnancy as a result of the law. If anything, were trying to figure out ways to open up more appointments to see more patients, like being open on the weekend, later in the evening, because we want to see more patients and the demand is there, Black told Capital B Atlanta on Thursday. A 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation study revealed 65% of Georgias abortions are performed on Black women, even though Black men and women combined only make up about 33% of the states population. Black, who previously campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, said poverty and disparity in health care coverage are largely to blame for the enormous disparity. Eighty-two counties in Georgia dont even have an OB-GYN, said Black, citing data concerning Georgias maternal health care deserts. This is going to impact lower-income people differently. Its going to impact Black and Hispanic women and birthing people differently. Abortion rights take center stage ahead of Election Day Activists expect more tragic stories like Thurmans and Millers to surface and motivate abortion rights supporters to vote against Trump in the roughly six weeks left ahead of Election Day. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a Sept. 20 campaign event in Atlanta. Harris has promised to sign legislation restoring abortion rights protections previously granted by Roe. v. Wade. (Brynn Anderson/Associated Press) Harris has promised to sign legislation restoring the abortion rights protections previously included in the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark 1973 Roe. v. Wade decision, even if Congress has to end its filibuster rule to do so. We should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, 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, Harris told Wisconsin Public Radio on Tuesday. During his presidential term, Trump nominated three of the six U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, thereafter fulfilling a campaign promise he made to evangelical conservatives. Last year, Trump boasted on social media about his role in eliminating federal abortion rights. Since then, hes sought to distance himself from the issue, saying its now up to individual state governments to decide. Abortion has become a political albatross around the necks of Trump and anti-abortion Republicans across the country. Many GOP candidates have lost races they were expected to win, with political analysts attributing those defeats to public backlash to the overturning of Roe. Former President Donald Trump, shown after the first presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, had boasted about his role in eliminating federal abortion rights. At the debate, Trump said he would not sign a federal abortion ban. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images) Trump, in response, declined to endorse a national abortion ban in April, angering anti-abortion members of his conservative base. In August, his vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said Trump would veto federal legislation banning abortion. Trump declined to say the same when asked about Vances comments during his Sept. 10 debate against Harris. Im not signing a ban, and theres no reason to sign a ban, Trump said during the debate. It doesnt matter, because this issue has now been taken over by the states. Still, Simpson says Trump is partly to blame for Miller and Thurmans deaths for stacking a Supreme Court with anti-abortion values. He is [to blame], Simpson said of Trump. But so are our [governor] and state legislators who vote and create policies against [bodily] autonomy. Mounted up and ready to go Harris and her Democratic Party supporters in Georgia have seized on the issue of abortion since ProPublicas aforementioned stories made national news. The vice president addressed the subject during a campaign rally in Atlanta on Sept. 20, after reportedly meeting with members of Thurmans family. I talked with her mother and her sisters about her, and they described such an extraordinary life of a person, Harris said of Thurman. I promised [Thurmans mother], as she has asked, that we will make sure Amber is not just remembered as a statistic so that people will know she was a mother and a daughter and a sister, and that she was loved and that she should be alive today. The overturn of Roe galvanized abortion rights supporters across the country in 2022, when many traveled to the polls to support ballot measures that enshrined abortion rights into state law in lieu of a federal legislation that would do the same nationally. Voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont all cast ballots in support of constitutional amendments that would protect abortion rights. Even voters in conservative states like Kansas and Kentucky rejected amendments declaring theres nothing in those states constitutions that establishes a right to an abortion. Montana voters rejected a related referendum that would have protected infants born alive from being aborted. (Murder is already illegal in the Treasure State and across the country.) Black and Simpson declined to confirm whether abortion rights advocates are working with lawmakers on a bill to repeal Georgias abortion restrictions during next years legislative session. I dont know that for sure right now, but I do know that we need our people to get mounted up and ready to go [in November], Simpson said. The post How Two Black Womens Preventable Deaths Put Abortion on the Ballot in Georgia appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) Two people were killed in a single-vehicle crash that occurred in Chilton County Thursday morning, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reports. Ronnie G. Smith, 66, and Teasha S. Biggs, 44, both of Dickson, Tenn., were both killed when the 2005 Toyota Tundra they were passengers in left the roadway and overturned. Neither Smith nor Biggs were using seatbelts at the time of the crash. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, Earnest H. Biggs, was transported to St. Vincents Chilton Hospital in Clanton for his injuries. A 12-year-old juvenile who was a passenger in the vehicle was also transported to an area hospital for treatment for his injuries. The crash occurred on Interstate 65 near the 198 mile marker, about one mile south of Verbena, in Chilton County. Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two people shot over line-cutting at Ohio pizza restaurant Two people were shot during an argument over cutting in line at an Ohio Pizza restaurant. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Columbus police told NBC 4 that one person is in stable condition and another is in serious condition after a shooting at the Del Baggio Pizzeria in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: Police arrived on scene around 3:15 a.m. Friday and found one victim with a gunshot wound to the back, NBC 4 reported. There were no available details about the other victims injury. No other injuries were reported. The dispute started after the victims cut in line at the pizza shop, NBC 4 reported, leading to an argument and shooting. It is unclear if any arrests have been made. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) A student from Scituate and one from Cranston were both arrested within the last seven days due to unrelated threatening statements they posted online. Scituate police said they arrested a middle school student last week after an online argument between two boys led to one making a serious threat on Thursday night. One student has been charged with cyberstalking as a minor. Lana Messina, whose 6-year-old daughter goes to school in Scituate, said she was concerned about her daughters safety as soon as she got the notification on Friday. I was even worried about sending [my daughter to school] on the following Monday, because its the day without the threats that are even more scary, she said. It should have been sent out right when it was happening. I think if its a 0.00001% chance, thats too much. Just this past Wednesday, Cranston police shared they had also arrested a student who made an unrelated threat against Cranston High School East on the social media app Snapchat. Major Todd Patalano said the threat was deemed non-credible, but the student was charged with disorderly conduct. In this case, it took us just about four hours, Patalano said. We were notified by the FBI, immediately assigned people to the investigation, started to track down IP addresses and see where this originated from. We were able to identify it from a Cranston residence. Patalano said police take these threats seriously each time, but they do require additional help, especially because these threats are often made after school. Theyll work through the night to make sure that the next morning before school starts, we know who did it, why they did it, and where they did it from, he said. Messina said its tough to have difficult conversations about school safety with her young daughter a sentiment shared by many parents across the country. Shes six years old, Messina told 12 News. How do I explain that to her? Kate Wilkinson (kwilkinson@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was in Little Rock on Thursday as part of the Department of Justices plan to target violent crime across the country. Garland visited the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, meeting with U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross and law enforcement officers at the local, state and federal levels. US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland discusses progress of fighting violent crime in Arkansas Speaking to the media ahead of the meeting, Garland touched on a report from the FBI on nationwide statistics that came out this week. Garland said the DOJ has been seeing results of their work across the country over the last three years. Earlier this month, the Justice Departments Violent Crime Steering Committee received data from across 88 cities that indicates violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024, the AG told those gathered in Little Rock. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders. Garland added that the FBIs report shows an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years. FBI says violent crime dropped last year While 2023 numbers have not yet been made available, the 2023 report shows crime in Arkansas fell in 2022, following the national trend. Violent crime in the state, however, had yet to fall to the pre-pandemic levels seen elsewhere in the nation. This office and Justice Department is working in partnership with the agencies reflected around this table to arrest violent felons, to seize and trace guns used in crimes, disrupt violent drug traffickers and prosecute the individuals and the gangs who are most responsible for driving violent crime, Garland said. This week the DOJ also awarded more than $4 million to Arkansas under the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information. FBI finds violent crime declined in 2023. Heres what to know about the report These grants are part of the more than $26 million that the department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in Arkansas this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives. These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in Arkansas hire more officers, help to prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and other crimes, Garland 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 KARK. A person behind bars. The Alabama Department of Corrections said Thursday that the Department of Justice had scaled back a 2015 consent agreement to address sexual abuse and harassment of women incarcerated at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka. (Getty Images) The U.S. Department of Justice will scale back its oversight into the operations of Julia Tutwiler Womens Correctional Facility stemming from a consent decree. The Alabama Department of Corrections announced in a news release sent Thursday that the state, along with the DOJ, moved to terminate 38 of the 44 provisions listed within the 2015 agreement, reached after the department issued a scathing report that said women in the prison in Wetumpka were subject to the high risk and threat of sexual abuse by staff. A spokesperson for the DOJ declined comment Thursday. The news release did not state which provisions that the parties agreed to eliminate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The release went on to state that the DOC continues to evaluate how it manages the site and remedy the problems that the DOJ identified, but that the department added there was no need for the DOJ to interfere or oversee the daily activities of the facility. I am thankful for the men and women who are dedicated to our mission at Tutwiler, ADOC Commissioner John Hamm stated in the news release. This joint motion to terminate most of the requirements on this consent decree is a credit to our entire team and their dedication to our department and our state. We look forward to ending all court oversight of Tutwiler in the near future. The state entered the consent agreement to prevent a lawsuit from DOJ over allegations of sexual assault and abuse of women in the prison. DOJ, which investigated the prison in 2013, cited reports of sexual abuse at Tutwiler that went back years. The lawsuit, filed just before the consent agreement, alleged abuse and mistreatment of people incarcerated at Tutwiler by staff working at the site. Women prisoners at Tutwiler suffer serious harm from sexual abuse and sexual harassment by staff, including rape, fondling, voyeurism, and sexually explicit verbal abuse, DOJ wrote in the complaint. The lawsuit also stated that the NIC (National Institute of Corrections), an agency within the DOJ Federal Bureau of Prisons, issued a letter to the DOC listing the assortment of issues that contributed to the sexual mistreatment and harm of individuals incarcerated at the facility. It also referred to a report published by the Equal Justice Initiative in 2012, which alleged that staff at Tutwiler were sexually assaulting inmates there. The most visible and striking evidence of Tutwiler staff members illegal sexual contact with incarcerated women is the resulting pregnancies, the report states. In 2010, a woman in custody gave birth to a baby after being raped by a correctional officer at Tutwiler Prison. DOJ said in a 2014 letter to then-Gov. Robert Bentley that a woman at the prison gave birth to a child in 2011 after being assaulted by an officer the previous year. But it said an inadequate investigative process meant there could be others. The report went on to state that complaints pertaining to the sexual assaults were met with scorn. Women who report sexual abuse at Tutwiler are routinely placed in segregation by the warden, the report states. While in segregation, these women are treated no differently from women held there for punitive reasons: they are deprived of telephone, mail, and visit privileges and have no access to recreation, programs, or work assignments. The incidents then became grounds for the lawsuit filed by the DOJ, which alleged that constitutional violations caused grief and harm to those incarcerated at the facility. ADOC and Tutwiler have demonstrated a clear deliberate indifference to the harm and substantial risk of harm to women prisoners, DOJ wrote in its 2014 letter to Bentley. They have failed to take reasonable steps to protect people in their custody from the known and readily apparent threat of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Officials have been on notice for over eighteen years of the risks to women prisoners and, for over eighteen years, have chosen to ignore them. Under the consent decree, DOC was required to train the corrections officers who have contact people in their custody that is has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The state was also required to keep a person on site to ensure that the facility complies with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and that the DOC would be subject to oversight by the DOC when creating policies and procedures for the facility and providing updates to the agency on its operations. About 587 people were incarcerated in close security at Tutwiler at the end of July, with another 250 held in medium security at Tutwiler Annex. The prison, built in 1942, is the oldest state correctional facility currently in operation. DOJ sued Alabama in 2020 over rampant violence and overcrowding in the mens prisons in the state. That suit is ongoing. The legal charges were related to a previous investigation about the January 2023 incident. DOJ says the Dream was traveling to New Orleans when it is alleged the ship's captain ordered the crew to discharge oil-contaminated waste from a residual tank on deck into the ocean. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard/UPI Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A Turkish shipping company and its United Arab Emirates-based partner were sentenced and fined $2 million by the United States after a ship's captain ordered his crew to dump polluted waste overboard into the ocean and allegedly tried to cover it up, the U.S. Justice Department said Friday. On Thursday, Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, headquarted in Turkey, and its Dubai-based subsidiary company Prive Overseas Marine LLC were fined $2M and sentenced to a four-year probation by a New Orleans court as the operators of the shipping tanker "P/S Dream," according to new information by DOJ. That ship's captain, Abdurrahman Korkmaz, was given an eight month prison sentence on Sept. 10 for obstruction of a U.S. Coast Guard investigation and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. As a condition of probation, the two aligned international shipping corporations must adhere to an environmental compliance plan and face safety and inspection requirements over the next four years. In May, the two companies pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and violating the APPS. The legal charges were related to a previous investigation about the January 2023 incident. DOJ says the Dream was traveling to New Orleans when Korkmaz ordered the crew to discharge oil-contaminated waste from a residual tank on deck into the Atlantic Ocean. The seamen rigged a portable pump to empty the contents overboard over a three day timespan. The captain then told his crew to clean the tank with soap, Justice officials said. The defendants then falsified the vessel's oil record book by omitting the discharge. According to the federal government, senior corporate managers were aware that Korkmaz, a Turkish national, had arranged the scheme and multiple crew members came forward to alert authorities as to what took place. In the evidence was a recording of a ship officer discussing the polluted discharge. Given to the U.S. Coast Guard during inspection, the falsified logs were intended to "conceal the fact that the crew had dumped oil-contaminated waste overboard in violation of MARPOL Annex I," which is an international treaty regulating oil pollution from ships, the Justice Department added. But from the big toxic mess came a little good, perhaps. From the $2M criminal penalty will come at least $500,000 in "organizational community service payments," according to the government, to help pay for various ongoing maritime preservation and environmental projects in eastern Louisiana's fragile coastline managed by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, established by Congress. Three Iranian nationals have been indicted for hacking into the campaign of former President Donald Trump, stealing emails and documents, and then sharing them with the news media, according to U.S. officials and a federal indictment filed in Washington on Friday. The three Iranians, identified as members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly hired "malicious cyber actors" to hack into the campaign of an unidentified presidential candidate in May and stole documents from it. U.S. officials have privately said that Trump's campaign was the victim of the attack. The indictment said that the personal email accounts of a former deputy director of the CIA, a former Defense Department official and an individual who appears to be longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone were also hacked. Former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally Tuesday in Savannah, Ga. "The American people, not a foreign power, decide the outcome of our countrys elections," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "Not Iran and its malicious cyber activities, as laid bare in todays indictment." The hackers created fake email accounts where they impersonated current and former U.S. officials, and other publicly known organizations and individuals. They then conducted spear-phishing attacks that duped individuals associated with the Trump campaign into opening emails that contained malware. In June, the hackers emailed the stolen material from Trumps campaign to people associated with the campaign of then-candidate President Joe Biden. The FBI and other U.S. officials have said there was currently no information indicating that the recipients had responded to the emails. The three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members who oversaw the operation were identified in the indictment as Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri and Yasar Balaghi. They were charged with material support for terrorism, computer fraud, wire fraud and identity theft. The State Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrests of, from left, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, Yasar Balaghi and Masoud Jalili. Iran has denied the accusations. Its ambassador to the United Nations called them entirely baseless, lacking any credibility and legitimacy and in no way acceptable, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported earlier this month. The hack against the Trump campaign is the latest example of an increasingly brazen approach by Iran that includes alleged murder plots against dissidents and defectors on American soil and an assassination threat against Trump, U.S. officials and analysts say. Garland said that Russia and China are attempting to sway the U.S. election as well. U.S. officials have said that, broadly speaking, Russia is trying to aid Trumps effort to win re-election, Iran is trying to damage Trump, and China is trying to influence state and local races in ways that benefit Beijing. Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Justice Department on Friday. Earlier this week, Matthew Olsen, the head of the departments National Security Division, said in an exclusive interview with NBC News that the level of foreign interference in the current election is unprecedented. Olsen said that Iran, Russia and China are all trying to influence the election. "Let me just be as clear as I possibly can be: This is not a hoax. Its actually happening," Olsen said. "Russians, Iranians, the Chinese, they are seeking to interfere in our elections in ways that fundamentally undermine our democracy." Olsen said the three countries all ruled by authoritarian leaders are seeking the same broad goals: exacerbating divisions between Americans and undermining U.S. voters' trust in the election results and American democracy itself. "Foreign governments are seeking to undermine our country, undermine our democracy, undermine our national security," Olsen said. "Theyre seeking to promote their own authoritarian goals by sowing discord within our country and undermining our confidence in our elections." A senior U.S. official told NBC News on Friday that no evidence has been found that Iran, Russia and China are directly coordinating their election influence efforts. On a media call Friday, an FBI official declined to definitively state that the hackers had been fully cleared from the Trump campaign or unable to regain access. When it comes to advanced persistent threat actors, you can never be fully confident that you have eradicated them from an environment, the official said. So we remain fully engaged with the victims in this case, which include presidential campaigns as well as individuals associated with those campaigns. First publication of documents On Thursday, an American journalist who runs an independent newsletter published a document that appears to have been stolen from Trumps presidential campaign. It was the first public posting of a file believed to be part of the Iranian effort to manipulate the U.S. election. The PDF document is a 271-page opposition research file on Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio. For more than two months, hackers who stole the documents tried to persuade members of the American media to write about or publish the files they stole. No outlets did. On Thursday, reporter Ken Klippenstein, who self-publishes on Substack after he left The Intercept this year, published one of the files. If the document had been hacked by some anonymous like hacker group, the news media would be all over it, Klippenstein wrote. Im just not a believer of the news media as an arm of the government, doing its work combating foreign influence. Nor should it be a gatekeeper of what the public should know. Reporters who have received the documents describe the same pattern: An AOL account emails them files, signed by a person using the name Robert, who is reluctant to speak about their identity or reasons for wanting the documents to receive coverage. NBC News was not part of the Robert personas direct outreach, but it has viewed its correspondence with a reporter at another publication. One of the emails from the Robert persona previously viewed by NBC News included three large PDF files, each corresponding to Trumps three reported finalists for vice president. The Vance file appears to be the one Klippenstein hosts on his site. John Hultquist, a lead analyst at Googles Threat Intelligence Group, said the IRGC controls multiple contractors who have carried out many of the most audacious cyber incidents we have seen in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S., including activity during this and previous presidential election cycles. IRGC actors regularly leverage destructive attacks, faked content. They regularly assume the guise of hacktivists or criminals and have increasingly targeted random individuals through email and even text messages. Most of this activity is designed to undermine trust in security, and is used to attack confidence in elections in particular. Russia's effort to aid Trump Earlier this month, Justice Department prosecutors indicted two RT employees, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, and accused them of using a Tennessee-based company as part of covert projects to influence American politics by posting videos to TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube. The RT employees sent millions of dollars to prominent right-wing commentators through a media company that appears to match the description of Tenet Media, a leading platform for pro-Trump voices, according to an NBC News review of charging documents, business records and social media profiles. Tenet posted nearly 2,000 videos that got more than 16 million views on YouTube since November 2023, according to the indictment. It is not clear, though, what impact the foreign influence operations are having on American voters. Tenet was competing for attention in an oversaturated online space and among an electorate that, after years of consuming hyperpolarized content online, tends to seek and be served information that reinforces pre-existing beliefs. Justice Department officials said the threat of foreign interference remains serious and vowed to continue investigating foreign government actions related to the 2024 election. Olsen urged Americans to be skeptical of unvetted information. This right to vote our free and fair elections the decisions we make in the upcoming elections those are the choices that we as Americans make and we make alone, he said. And we should be extremely vigilant about protecting that right. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Gov. Janet Mills (left), U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and director of Maines Office of Behavioral Health Sarah Squirrell discuss the dangers of loneliness and isolation at University of Southern Maine on Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recalled asking his daughter what she thinks he should do after his time in the position concludes. One could view asking a six-year-old for career advice as desperate, Murthy joked, but his daughters response underscored a need hes been working to address country-wide. She said, I think you should spend more time playing with me. And that was really good advice, Murthy said. Murthy sees investing in social connection as key to building a more secure, promising and healthy future, a vision he shared at the University of Southern Maine in Portland on Friday in conversation with Gov. Janet Mills, Director of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health Sarah Squirrell and former Commissioner of the Maine Health and Human Services Jeanne Lambrew. When he started as U.S. Surgeon General, Murthy said he had a long list of issues hed hoped to address and social isolation was not one of them. However, as he toured the country speaking with people in rural and urban areas, in the Midwest and the coast, he found it to be the issue that resonated most. You think, Wow, smoking, obesity, these are classic public health issues, Murthy said. But, it turns out loneliness and isolation are just as important. And research supports these qualitative findings. A lack of social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Poor or insufficient social connection is also associated with an increased risk for anxiety and depression, as well as disease, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. This realization led Murthy to issue a Surgeon Generals Advisory last year on the public health dangers posed by growing rates of loneliness and isolation. During Fridays conversation, Murthy and Maine leaders highlighted Maine policy that aims to address this public health issue and what can be gleaned from tactics being used in other states. While social connection is often considered an individual challenge, public policy is critical in creating the infrastructure needed for such support, Murthy explained. Schools and workplaces can help people build skills to understand their emotions and relationships, skills Murthy said cannot be assumed anymore in the age of technology. Physical infrastructure can also be social infrastructure, Murthy added, as roads and sidewalks provide pathways to bring people together. A universal need Mainers have a reputation that may appear at odds with social connection, Mills explained on Friday. Were a hardy bunch here in Maine, the governor said. We pride ourselves on our fierce independence. That public veneer does not mean, however, that Mainers dont value and need social connection, Mills said. And that quality is also not at odds with the notion of social connection, Murthy explained. Loneliness is a subjective state, Murthy said. It occurs when there is perceived isolation or unmet needs between a persons preferred and actual experience. On the other hand, isolation is an objective term because it describes the number of people someone has in their lives, Murthy said. But solitude, Murthy said, is actually a welcome state of aloneness, a welcome state of isolation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Maines makeup does present some inherent challenges to addressing social isolation, however. Geographically, the largely rural state can present physical proximity challenges for gatherings. Maine is also the oldest state in the nation, and research has found the highest rates of social isolation among older adults. In these instances, policy can lay the foundation for filling in support gaps. Addressing social isolation with public policy When the Surgeon Generals Advisory came out last year, Melissa Hackett, coordinator of the Maine Child Welfare Action Network, said it affirmed what shed been hearing from parents in Maine. The parents weve talked to have said, I feel judged. I feel isolated. Im afraid to ask for help, Hackett said, explaining that the Be There for ME campaign was the groups response to that, an effort coordinated with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. This campaign is one of a handful that the speakers discussed as methods to build resiliency through social connection. They also highlighted the program StrengthenME, which offers free stress management and resiliency resources to people impacted by the mass shooting in Lewiston last year. Murthy also described the state governments support of residents following the consecutive storms this winter through infrastructure recovery funding as a means of investing in sustained social connection. Also, Squirrell pointed to newly added supports for schools, such as increasing school-based health centers as well as a program called Sources of Strength, which is a student-led initiative aimed at improving mental health and preventing suicide, bullying and substance abuse. Schools are an important inflection point on the issue of social isolation in Murthys view because they are where kids often learn the social skills that guide the rest of their lives. They are also a place where technology use can be addressed, as research has found technology can displace in-person engagement, reduce the quality of interactions and even diminish self-esteem. Murthy pointed to success schools have had with technology-focused policies. For example, he visited a high school in Lincoln, Nebraska, that enacted a policy restricting the use of phones and heard from students who said theyd forged new friendships with long-time classmates they hadnt thought to introduce themselves to previously. Creating an environment in school where kids both have the skills and training to be able to build healthy interaction, this is just as important as reading, writing and math and science in terms of giving them a foundation for a healthy, successful life, Murthy said. When asked after the event whether she would consider legislation on the issue of phones in schools, the governor said she wouldnt mandate it statewide, though described it as a great practice that should be considered by school boards. Technology at the end of the day is a tool, Murthy said. Its how we use it, design it that determines whether it helps or hurts us. Murthy sought to address technology use by children, specifically when it comes to social media, in another Surgeon General Advisory from 2023, which cited research findings that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health. Surveys have found teenagers, on average, spend more time than that on such platforms. In that advisory, Murthy called for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, and families to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms to create healthier online environments for children. The power of individual action While the speakers talked about formal support to aid social connection, they also highlighted the power of individual action. Sometimes we talk about, Oh this will take an act of Congress to solve. Not this one, Murthy said. This is one where even as individuals we can start to make a difference in the people around us. Hackett with the Maine Child Welfare Action Network said parents also say informal support makes a difference. Weve also heard from parents about the importance of just having somebody who cares and supports them when theyre having a hard time, Hackett explained. During an interview following the event, Murthy often thinks about a time when one of his friends stopped by to simply check in and hold one of his daughters when he was adjusting to life with a newborn. When he first assumed the role of Surgeon General, Murthy said he made the critical mistake of not keeping in touch with his family and friends. A friend came to me one day and said, Vivek, your problem is not that you dont have friends. Your problem is that youre not experiencing friendships, Murthy recalled, which prompted him to make social connection a priority in his own life. The same way that we think about physical fitness as being important, we go to the gym or we eat healthy because we want to be able to remain physically fit, Murthy said, we also have to think about mental fitness and social fitness and being able to be fit in all of those dimensions of our health. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Sirius Analysis, a defense contractor based in the United Kingdom, is launching its across the pond operations in Virginia Beach. Theyre moving into Virginia Beachs International Incubator space at 4525 Main St., Suite 710 in Town Center, Gov. Glenn Youngkins office announced Friday. Sirius is a defense consulting company that provides analysis to enable its customers to make informed investment decisions and deliver effective projects, Youngkins office says. That includes things like operational research and analysis, systems engineering and project management. The initiative is expected to create 105 new high-skilled jobs, with Sirius investing an initial $305,000. Theyve also set goals for future expansion in Virginia Beach, the city says. Following our growth within the UK, were excited to be opening our first U.S. office in Virginia Beach, said Chair of Sirius Analysis Carl Dalton. Establishing a U.S. office is a huge milestone for Sirius Analysis. It will enable us to better service our existing clients in the area across our core capabilities in operational analysis, cost engineering, P3M, business case development and systems engineering, as well as building new partnerships with local businesses. Gov. Youngkin says this showcases the Commonwealths magnetic appeal in global defense innovation. This expansion bridges UK-US defense collaboration, bringing cutting-edge analysis capabilities to our shores and creating valuable job opportunities for Virginians, Youngkin said. Virginia Beach Deputy City Manager Amanda Jarratt said Sirius move to use the International Incubator showcases some of unique resources Virginia Beach has. The city worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance to beat out Massachusetts for the project. Sirius Analysis brings a wealth of expertise and will enhance the defense ecosystem in Hampton Roads and further strengthen our strategic position in the defense and maritime sectors, said President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance Douglas Smith. Michael Feggans and Aaron Rouse, who represent that portion of Virginia Beach in the statehouse, also said theyre thrilled with the news. This initiative will not only create 105 new jobs but it further strengthens Hampton Roads reputation as one of the nations leading supporters of the defense industry, Feggans 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 WAVY.com. UKs first new coal mine in 30 years blocked after pressure from green campaigners The former Woodhouse Colliery site, where West Cumbria Mining had aimed to develop what it said would be the lowest-emission coal mine in the world - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Plans for Britains first new coal mine in 30 years have been blocked by authorities, weeks after the Labour Government withdrew support for it over environmental concerns. Three licence applications were rejected for the mine in Cumbria, which has been a target for net zero protesters, on Friday in a further blow to the project after its planning permission was overturned earlier this month. The Coal Authority, an independent body sponsored by Ed Milibands Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, did not say why the applications were rejected for the Woodhouse Colliery, near Whitehaven. It says it accepts or refuses licences based on conditions such as the financial sustainability of the operations and the damage they might cause. However, the project has been met with fierce opposition from climate campaigners, with both Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change suing the Government to stop the project. The decision was subsequently overturned in the High Court, with a judge saying the decision to grant permission by the previous government in 2022 was legally flawed. The Labour Government had ceased to defend the decision to grant planning permission. Mr Miliband had been a heavy critic of the proposed mine. While in opposition, he said he would seek to prevent the climate-destroying coal mine, and said that people in Cumbria should have green jobs. The mine owner, West Cumbria Mining, had promised to produce high-grade metallurgical coal to power Britains steel industry and expected to produce 3.5m tonnes a year. It had pledged to be the lowest-emission coal mine in the world and employ more than 500 people. West Cumbria Mining did not immediately comment on the decision. The refusal can be appealed. A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: The decision not to grant West Cumbria Minings licence is a matter for the Coal Authority and relates to a historical application submitted last year. We want to bring an end to the countrys dependence on fossil fuel markets, including coal and weve already taken immediate steps to unleash investment in clean homegrown power, supporting skilled jobs across the country. 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. UK Foreign Office expects permission for Western weapons strikes on Russia to be approved by early winter A decision to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range Western weapons against military targets in Russia may be made by early winter. Source: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in an interview with Voice of America, as reported by European Pravda. Details: Lammy stressed that he expected there to be a "very strong position" in the coming weeks to provide Ukraine with everything it needs. Quote: "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," he said. In addition, the UK Foreign Secretary noted that the country's intelligence data shows that the situation for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will be more difficult next year. Quote: "His economy is in trouble. He's going to find it very problematic with the amount of losses and casualties that he's taking," the minister stressed. Meanwhile, he noted Ukraine's successes, including in the Black Sea and Russias Kursk Oblast. "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," Lammy added. Background: The Times has written that the United States and the United Kingdom are likely to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian territory, but this decision may remain a secret to preserve the element of surprise for the Russian side. Recently, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that he does not support easing restrictions on Ukraine's use of German weapons to strike Russian territory. Support UP or become our patron! Climate protesters to be sentenced for throwing soup at Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", in London Climate protesters to be sentenced for throwing soup at Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", in London By Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) -Three Just Stop Oil activists threw soup at two of Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" paintings in London's National Gallery on Friday, just hours after two other members of the protest group were jailed for doing the same thing in 2022. The activists threw tomato soup at the "Sunflowers" owned by the London Gallery the painting targeted two years ago and another from the series that is on loan from Philadelphia Museum of Art for a temporary exhibition. The National Gallery said three people had been arrested and the paintings were unharmed. The stunt came just a few hours after Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, were sentenced for throwing tins of tomato soup on the London-based artwork in October 2022, before gluing themselves to the wall below the painting. The soup caused up to 10,000 pounds ($13,385) worth of damage to the frame in 2022, prosecutors said, though the painting which was behind a protective screen was unharmed and went back on display later the same day. Plummer and Holland pleaded not guilty but were convicted after a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court, where Plummer was sentenced to two years in prison for the criminal damage charge. Holland was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Judge Christopher Hehir told Plummer and Holland: "You two simply had no right to do what you did to 'Sunflowers', and your arrogance in thinking otherwise deserves the strongest condemnation." Plummer said she took part in the protests knowing she could be arrested and jailed, saying she was being made a political prisoner, which the judge said was ludicrous and self-indulgent. "It is offensive to the many people in other parts of the world who are suffering persecution, imprisonment and sometimes death for their beliefs," Hehir said. Plummer was also sentenced to an additional three months in prison on Friday, having been separately convicted of the relatively new offence of interfering with the use of key national infrastructure. Friday's sentencing comes amid a wider crackdown on protest movements in Britain and across Europe. Activists from Just Stop Oil have staged a number of eye-catching protests in recent years and five members of the group were jailed in July for at least four years for a conspiracy to block London's M25 motorway, in the longest sentences ever imposed for a non-violent protest in Britain. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young, Andrew Cawthorne and Hugh Lawson) Naomi Campbell denies any responsibility for the mishandling of donations (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT) (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP/AFP) Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from running a charity after an inquiry found funds raised by an organisation she founded had been spent on spa treatment and room service charges. The inquiry into Fashion for Relief, released on Thursday, identified "multiple instances of misconduct", including use of charity money to pay for a five-star hotel stay for Campbell, 54, in the south of France. The finding means Campbell and two other trustees have now been disqualified from running a charity for five years. Speaking in Paris on Thursday after receiving an honour from the French government, the British celebrity denied any responsibility for the mishandling of donations. "I was not in control of my charity. I put the control in the hands of a lawyer," she told reporters after she was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. The model added that she was "investigating to find out what and how -- as everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities". Campbell's three-night stay at the hotel in Cannes cost 7,800 ($10,400). The UK Charity Commission, which conducted the inquiry, said it saw no evidence the trustees had made sure that such costs were "reasonable". The regulator also looked at additional expenses totalling 6,600 for Campbell's hotel stay, including spa treatments, room service and the purchase of cigarettes. The commission said the trustees had argued hotel costs were usually met by a donor but failed to provide any supporting evidence. Fashion for Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. Set up in 2005, it described itself as "dedicated to improving the lives of those living in adversity by uniting the fashion industry as a force for good". har/phz/gil Naomi Campbell denies any responsibility for the mishandling of donations (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT) (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP/AFP) Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from running a charity after an inquiry found funds raised by an organisation she founded was spent on spa treatment and room service charges. The inquiry into Fashion for Relief, released on Thursday, identified "multiple instances of misconduct", including use of charity money to pay for a five-star hotel stay for Campbell in the south of France. The finding by the UK Charity Commission means Campbell, 54, has now been disqualified from running a charity for five years. Two other trustees also received bans. The watchdog probe found that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5 percent of Fashion for Relief's overall expenditure went on grants to charities. Campbell, who in 1987 became the first black model to feature on the cover of UK Vogue in 20 years, achieved worldwide fame in the 1990s and remains a highly influential figure in the industry. In June, an exhibition dedicated to her opened at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Speaking in Paris on Thursday after receiving an honour from the French government, the British celebrity denied any responsibility for the mishandling of donations. "I was not in control of my charity. I put the control in the hands of a lawyer," she told reporters after she was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. The model added that she was "investigating to find out what and how -- as everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities". - Star-studded events - Campbell's charity held a string of glitzy, star-studded events to raise funds for good causes in London and Cannes. These were said to include projects ranging from supporting child refugees, to helping victims of the Ebola crisis and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. One event in the French Riviera resort in 2017 was attended by over 1,000 guests including stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda and Uma Thurman. A three-night hotel stay for a similar event in 2018 cost 7,800 ($10,400). The Charity Commission said it saw no evidence the trustees had made sure that such costs were "reasonable". The regulator also looked at additional expenses totalling 6,600 for Campbell's hotel stay, including spa treatments, room service and the purchase of cigarettes. It said the trustees had argued hotel costs were usually met by a donor but failed to provide any supporting evidence. "The commission concluded that there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity by the trustees since it was established," the report said. Fashion for Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. Set up in 2005, it described itself as "dedicated to improving the lives of those living in adversity by uniting the fashion industry as a force for good". har/phz/gil (Bloomberg) -- Ukraines military supplies for next year are at risk because some allies are struggling to secure funding and others balk at increasing financing to help Kyiv, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukraine is struggling to convince Western allies to make good on their promises as it confronts its third full winter since Russias 2022 invasion, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private conversations. Moscows war machine, in contrast, is outpacing Kyivs ability to acquire badly needed ammunition, missiles and other hardware to fend off attacks. The dynamic shows that Russias economy is on a war footing, while Ukraines allies are not, according to one of the people, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity. Much of Ukraines military support for 2025 is linked to a Group of Seven deal to provide $50 billion in loans from profits generated by frozen Russian central bank assets. Allies are still haggling over the final details of that deal and the US is seeking assurances that Hungary wont block European Union measures. The final figure could fall short if an arrangement isnt found. But even if an agreement is reached, $50 billion is still not enough to support Ukraines needs through another year of war and allies will need to look beyond that funding framework, according to the people. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in the US this week presenting a victory plan to President Joe Biden. The package hinges on security guarantees such as an invitation to join NATO, which the Ukrainian leader believes are needed to pile pressure on Russias Vladimir Putin to halt the war. But the aid push was overshadowed by friction with Republican nominee Donald Trump, who lashed out at Zelenskiy but later agreed to meet him. Trump has suggested Ukraine should make a deal with Moscow, whose forces are making grinding gains in the eastern Donetsk region and have decimated Ukraines energy system. Those challenges are compounded by a shortfall in funding. The Ukrainian government forecasts a budget gap at 19% of gross domestic product in 2025, leaving some $35 billion needed to fill the hole, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said last month. More than half of that will come from International Monetary Fund and EU aid, leaving about $15 billion required to shore up the balance a gap that may require some of the G-7 loans to fill, officials have said. Beyond that is military funding. The $50 billion that the G-7 is lining up would be roughly equivalent to the military assistance that the US and key European allies provided between January 2023 and June this year. The US supplied about 31.5 billion in that time frame while Germany, the UK, France and Italy contributed some 15.7 billion between them, according to data compiled by the Kiel Institute. Those figures may not include all military support shipped to Ukraine, with some nations not disclosing all help provided. In other cases, pledges have yet to be fulfilled. Among other capabilities, Ukraines military relies on allied assistance for artillery ammunition, missiles and more air-defense capabilities. The looming cash crunch among allies comes at a dangerous moment for Ukraine and could force Kyiv into negotiations from a position of weakness, the people said. Next year will be especially crucial, because Russias economy may begin to face mounting pressure in 2026, a dynamic that would potentially erode Putins belief that time is on his side, according to the assessment of one European government. Still, that presupposes that the outcome of Novembers US election in which Trump is locked in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harris doesnt alter the dynamics of the conflict before then. Moscow, whose production is abetted by shipments from Iran and North Korea, continues to funnel budget funding into the war effort. Russia plans to spend 13.2 trillion rubles ($142 billion) on defense in 2025, putting it at 6.2% of gross domestic product. Spending on defense and security is expected to consume around 40% of Russias total budget disbursement in 2025. Ukraines European allies are facing their own constraints on the fiscal front. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government is hamstrung by constitutional debt restrictions and has whittled direct funding for Kyiv. France has a new government after a tumultuous election season and is under pressure from the EU to narrow its deficit. In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis fractious coalition may be tied down on spending pledges. Tangible negotiations in Brussels on a new EU budget along with any talk of joint borrowing to ramp up defense spending with hundreds of billions of euros will likely have to wait until after the German election, the people said. Assistance from the UK, a stalwart ally thats often been first to provide advanced weapons, has also appeared to tail off lately, according to an official familiar with the matter. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told his voters they face tough times ahead as he seeks to curb spending, although he also told the United Nations Wednesday that Britains support for Ukraine is ironclad. To be sure, pledges from NATO allies continue to register. Biden announced nearly $8 billion in new 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, coinciding with Zelenskiys White House visit, 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. --With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss, Craig Stirling, Alex Wickham, Volodymyr Verbianyi, Reinie Booysen and Ben Sills. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Ukraine-Russia latest: Five things you need to know today Election next year as Zelenskys popularity falls Volodymyr Zelensky is considering holding a delayed presidential election next year, the Economist has reported. He was due to hold an election this year but delayed it, saying that it would be absurd and complicated to hold a nationwide election while Ukraine was at war with Russia and under partial occupation. The Economist said that Mr Zelensky may have changed his mind because he wants to consolidate his power as his ratings fall. In a poll for the American National Democratic Institute, only 45 per cent of Ukrainians said that they trusted Mr Zelensky, down from around 80 per cent in May 2023. Trump-Zelensky meeting amid sniping remarks Donald Trump met Volodymyr Zelesnky on Friday in New York despite a public row earlier this week. Mr Trump posted a message (seen below) from Mr Zelensky asking for the meeting on one of his social media channels. Zelenskys message to Trump Mr Zelensky is in the US to attend the UN General Assembly meeting and to present his Victory plan for the war in Ukraine to Joe Biden. He said last week that Mr Trump didnt understand the complexities of the war in Ukraine, irritating the Republican Presidential Nominee who called him nasty and cancelled a meeting. From the frontline: Three killed by Russian strikes Russian drones killed three people in the Ukrainian port town of Izmail overnight. Izmail lies on the Danube River delta near the border with Romania and has become an important hub for Ukrainian grain esports since the start of the war. A firefighter works at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine - Reuters A Russian missile also struck a police station in the city of Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine. At least one person was killed. On the frontlines, Russian military bloggers said that Russian forces had now captured houses on the outskirts of Vuhledar, once considered an impregnable Ukrainian fortress. Drone violates Romanias air space Romanias Defence Ministry said that Russian drones violated its air space before striking the Ukrainian border town of Izmail early on Friday morning. It said that its radar systems had picked up the drone flying across Romania for less than three minutes. In response, the Romanian military scrambled four fighter jets. Romania is a Nato member and has previously reported that fragments of destroyed Russian drones have fallen on its territory. Russian women can now work in mines, Kremlin decides The Kremlin is preparing to drop a ban on women working in open-pit mines and quarries to make up for a manpower shortage linked to its war in Ukraine. It said that advances in technology meant that women could now do a series of tough jobs that only men had been able to do a few decades ago. Russian businesses and industries have complained of a severe shortage of men because of the Kremlins aggressive military recruitment drive. The Kremlin is offering men inflated salaries and other perks to sign up to fight in Ukraine. 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. Ukraine war latest: Zelensky meets with Trump in New York, shows him his 'victory plan' Key developments on Sept. 27: Trump meets with Zelensky, says his views on ending the war 'as soon as possible' have not changed Crimean bridge defenses being bolstered by underwater drone traps, according to reports US intelligence warns of risks in permitting Ukraine's long-range strikes, NYT reports Ombudsman denies reports on Qatar-brokered Ukraine-Russia deal on 'children exchange' 'Attack on Belarus is World War III,' Lukashenko claims amid calls for changes to Russian nuclear doctrine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said everything possible must be done to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky made the remarks on Sept. 27 after meeting with Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City. "This war should not have started. I think that the problem is that Putin killed so many people, and of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war," Zelensky said in a joint interview with Trump for Fox News. Zelensky met with Trump for the first time in five years during his trip to the U.S., where he held a series of high-level meetings with foreign leaders, visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, and addressed the U.N. General Assembly. Ukraine's president also introduced Trump to his "victory plan," which he had presented a day earlier to U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. Read also: What we know about the victory plan Zelensky presented to Biden Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine seeks only a just peace and relies on continued U.S. support in the ongoing full-scale war launched by Russia. Trump said he has "learned a lot" as the war continues but noted that his views on ending it "as soon as possible" have not changed. "The president (Zelensky) wants it to end as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place," Trump said. "If I win (in the presidential election), we're going to have a very fair and, I think, rather rapid deal. It (the war) should stop, and the president (Zelensky) wants it to stop, and I'm sure President Putin wants it to stop. And that's a good combination," Trump added. When asked how he sees the war ending, Trump evaded the question, saying it was "too early" to discuss and that both he and Zelensky had their "own ideas" on the matter. Zelensky and Trump did not disclose whether another meeting between them would take place soon. However, the Ukrainian president invited the Republican nominee to visit Ukraine, and Trump accepted the invitation. Recently, Trump's rhetoric toward Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has become more critical. He has claimed that Zelensky wants Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election, referring to him as "the greatest salesman on earth." Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Republican leaders on Sept. 25 also accused Zelensky of interfering in the election by visiting an ammunition factory in U.S. President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennyslvania, a hotly contested battleground state. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Zelensky fire Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Makarovka, for her role in arranging the tour. The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee also announced he was opening an investigation into the Biden-Harris administration's alleged misuse of government funds. Zelensky criticized Trump's plans for an end to the war in an interview with the New Yorker earlier this week. He called Trump's running mate, Republican Senator J.D. Vance, "too radical" and said the war should not end at Ukraine's expense. Read also: Open letter: President Biden, this is how you can uphold your legacy by supporting Ukraine Crimean bridge defenses being bolstered by underwater drone traps, according to reports Russia is attempting to bolster defenses around the Crimean Bridge using underwater drone traps, it was reported on Sept. 27. According to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, the metal structures have been put in place using barges and a floating crane for the last month. An unverified photo accompanying the post showed a barge pulling what resembles a large section of metal fencing. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the report, but it comes a day after Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said Russian forces were building a new but unidentified structure near the Crimean Bridge. "It could be a defense structure, it could be another crossing, but it's a bit early to draw conclusions," he added. Construction on the 19-kilometer-long bridge began after the illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014 and was completed in 2018. After becoming a critical supply route for Russian forces after the launch of Moscow's full-scale invasion, it has been attacked by Kyiv's forces on several occasions, and was heavily damaged by Ukrainian strikes in October 2022 and July 2023. Ukraine is reported to have been testing an underwater sea drone dubbed Marichka, but scant details have been made public. The Crimean Bridge is currently the subject of a dispute between Ukraine and Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration Speaking there on Sept. 23, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Anton Korynevych, said Russia "wants to take the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for itself." "So it has built a great gate at their entrance, to keep international shipping out while allowing small Russian river vessels in," he said. "The bridge is unlawful, and it must come down." Read also: After a decade-long battle, Kyiv showcases Crimean treasures that Russia wanted to steal US intelligence warns of risks in permitting Ukraine's long-range strikes, NYT reports U.S. intelligence agencies have cautioned that Russia may respond with increased force, potentially including lethal attacks on the U.S. and its allies, if Ukraine is allowed to use long-range missiles supplied by the U.S., U.K., and France for strikes deep into Russian territory, the New York Times reported. The news outlet cited a previously unreported assessment that also downplays the strategic impact these long-range missiles might have on the war, mentioning Ukraine's limited supply and the uncertainty over how many more Western nations may provide those missiles. The analysis underscores the significant risks and uncertain benefits of the decision, which now lies with President Joe Biden, following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Sept. 26. The difficulty in President Biden's decision-making on Ukraine's request for long-range missiles is partly rooted in concerns highlighted by U.S. intelligence, American officials told the New York Times. Zelensky has been pushing both publicly and privately to gain permission to target Russian territory with the advanced missiles. Vladimir Putin has regularly used threats to deter the U.S. and its allies from sending more sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine. Critics argue that Bidens administration has been overly cautious, claiming their slow, incremental approach to arming Ukraine has hurt their performance on the battlefield. On the other hand, supporters of the current strategy point to its effectiveness in avoiding major Russian retaliation, though they admit this balance may now be at risk. The intelligence assessment outlines a range of potential Russian reactions if the U.S. and European nations authorize Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes with their supplied missiles. These responses could include increased acts of sabotage and arson targeting infrastructure across Europe, and even potentially lethal attacks on military installations belonging to the U.S. and its allies. According to U.S. officials, most of the sabotage in Europe so far has been orchestrated by Russias military intelligence agency (GRU). If Putin opts to escalate this covert campaign in response to missile strikes deep inside Russian territory, officials believe the Kremlin would likely continue to operate in the shadows, avoiding direct and open attacks on U.S. and European military facilities to prevent triggering a broader conflict. Read also: Biden-Zelensky talks: Ukrainian soldiers want firepower to win but question if US wants Russia defeated Ombudsman denies reports on Qatar-brokered Ukraine-Russia deal on 'children exchange' Kyiv did not conduct a Qatar-brokered "exchange" of children with Moscow, Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Sept. 27. Lubinets refuted an AFP report citing an unnamed Qatari official who claimed nine children and one adult had allegedly returned to Ukraine, while four children "will be reunited with their families in Russia." under the agreement. According to the ombudsman, no deals were made between the two countries and the reports are "promoting Russian narratives." Qatar has acted as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow to bring back Ukrainian children illegally held by Russia. International humanitarian law does not provide for such a process as the exchange of children, Lubinets said. "Ukraine has not kidnapped and does not hold Russian children on its territory, nor does it prevent their return to Russia if they are on our territory," he added. Over 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than 400 of them have been returned home, according to the Children of War database. Read also: As Ukrainian children return to school, Russia launches missiles at educational facilities 'Attack on Belarus is World War III,' Lukashenko claims amid calls for changes to Russian nuclear doctrine An attack on Belarus would lead to World War III, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed on Sept. 27, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to update Russia's nuclear doctrine, according to the Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta. Putin proposed a series of changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine on Sept. 25 during a Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence. He announced that Russia could respond to conventional missile strikes with nuclear weapons and indicated that Moscow would treat any attack backed by a nuclear-armed country as a coordinated assault. He also stated that Russia retains the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of an attack, including if an enemy using conventional weapons poses a critical threat to Russia and Belarus. "An attack on Belarus is World War III," Lukashenko said. "Putin recently confirmed this by amending the nuclear doctrine, that in an attack on Russia and Belarus, we use nuclear weapons," Lukashenko added, thanking his Russian counterpart for the recent move. The Belarusian dictator claimed that NATO countries had allegedly deployed troops on the border with Belarus, specifically in Poland. "The red line is the state border. If you step on it, there will be an immediate response. We are preparing for that," Lukashenko said. Russia's decision to modify its nuclear doctrine is a direct response to discussions in the U.S. and U.K. about whether to allow Ukraine to launch conventional Western missiles into Russian territory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sept. 26 that updates had been made to a document titled "The Foundations of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence." While Belarus doesn't have nuclear weapons of its own, Russia has allegedly moved some of its nuclear arsenal to Belarus. Read also: Is Russias new nuclear doctrine saber-rattling or a real threat? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Russian assault near the village of Pishchane in Kharkiv Oblast was repelled, and dozens of vehicles damaged and destroyed, the Achilles drone strike battalion of Ukraine's 92nd Separate Special Forces Brigade claimed on Sept. 27. Commander Yurii Fedosenko said Moscow's forces had attempted to advance toward Kolesnykivka and Kruhliakivka the previous day, using around 50 armored vehicles and troops. Footage shared by Fedosenko show repeated Ukrainian FPV drone strikes on Russian vehicles which reportedly destroyed 14, and damaged 26 pieces of Russian military equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles and tanks. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Pishchane is located some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the town of Kupiansk in eastern Kharkiv Oblast. Twenty engagements took place in the Kupiansk sector over the past day, Ukraine's General Staff said. 0:00 / 1 Another Russian attack was repelled in the Kurakhove sector in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's 79th Tavrian Air Assault Brigade said on Sept. 22. This week, Ukrainian forces also recaptured an aggregate plant in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported. The intensity of fighting in the area has decreased somewhat compared to other sectors in Ukraine's east near Pokrovsk, Vuhledar and Toretsk. Read also: Ukraines 72nd Brigade releases video from Vuhledar, denies claims about withdrawal Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russians have tried to conduct a large-scale assault on the Kupiansk front near the settlement of Pishchane with 50 pieces of equipment. The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled the attack, destroying and damaging 40 pieces of equipment. Source: Yurii Fedorenko, Commander of the Achilles Battalion of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade, on Telegram; the DeepState analytical project on Telegram Quote from Fedorenko: "On 26 September 2024, the enemy attempted a mechanised assault on the Kupiansk front near Pishchane. Approximately 50 pieces of Russian armoured vehicles, carrying troops, were moving towards Kolesnykivka and Kruhliakivka. The Achilles Battalion of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade destroyed and damaged 40 pieces of military equipment." Details: Fedorenko said that 14 pieces of equipment were destroyed, including five infantry fighting vehicles, three tanks, one armoured personnel carrier, one multipurpose tracked armoured vehicle, two Ural trucks, one van, and one ATV. Additionally, fighters damaged 26 pieces of equipment: 10 tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles, two recovery vehicles, three multipurpose tracked armoured vehicles, and one Ural truck. The DeepState reported that at least 9 pieces of Russian military equipment were moving towards Kruhliakivka and about 40 towards Kolesnykivka, with some carrying troops on board. "The majority of the enemy equipment was destroyed; the rest retreated," analysts reported. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraines Embassy in Vienna has received a notification about an alleged bomb threat, forcing it to suspend normal operation on September 27. Source: the official website of the diplomatic mission, as reported by European Pravda Details: A bomb threat was reported at the Ukrainian Embassy in Austria on September 27. "To ensure the safety of visitors, it was decided to temporarily suspend the consular service, to check the premises and assess the potential threats together with the Austrian police. The safety of our citizens is always an absolute priority," the embassy explained. Specialists have already completed the inspection of the buildings and found no explosive devices, but the police recommended that people refrain from visiting the building during the day. In this regard, the consular department of the embassy will resume work after the weekend - on Monday, 30 September. Background: Czechia is investigating whether Russia is behind the wave of bomb threats in the schools in early September. In Lithuania, at the beginning of the academic year, a wave of Russian-language letters threatening to blow up educational institutions was also registered. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's Special Operations Forces revealed their role in fight for left bank of Dnipro River in Krynky in Kherson Oblast video The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of Ukraine have released exclusive footage where they are preparing a bridgehead for the naval entry to the left bank of the Dnipro River near the village of Krynky in Kherson Oblast in 2023. Source: press service of the SOF Quote: "Everyone is familiar with the story of a heroic assault and holding a bridgehead in Krynky by the Defence Forces of Ukraine. It is time to hear the story of the role of the SOF in the battle for the left bank." Details: The SOF released a 43-minute film Path to Krynky the story of combat work of the SOF unit that cleared the path to the left bank of the Dnipro River for the naval infantry through islands and reed beds. The details of a large-scale long-lasting operation, revealed by the operators of the unit, are filled with emotion and memories. The troops crossed the river to get to the left bank, conducted reconnaissance and mine clearance of the territory, targeted the Russians and captured prisoners of war. As shown in the film, the SOF managed to find out information about the front line of Russian defences, as well as the system of Russian observation posts and communication systems, from one of the Russian PoWs. The SOF even approached the Russian rear, destroyed means of communication, cut logistic supply routes and destroyed 10 Russian ships. Since the specificity of their work does not allow the special forces to capture or hold enemy territories, the soldiers applied a hit and run tactic. Reportedly, the SOF conducted their combat work in that area for several months in 2023. Background: In October 2023, Ukrainian troops consolidated in Krynky. Since then, the occupation forces have been trying to drive Ukrainian forces out of the area almost every day, as regularly mentioned in the daily reports of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainska Pravda's sources in the marines reported that the Ukrainian military had withdrawn from Krynky in Kherson Oblast. Suspilne noted that this happened several weeks ago. The General Staff did not officially confirm this. On 17 July, Slidstvo.info reported, with reference to the police, that 788 Ukrainian soldiers have gone missing during a defensive operation in the village of Krynky on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast between October 2023 and the end of June 2024. The number of KIA soldiers who were taken out of the area and eventually buried is much smaller 262 defenders during this period. On 18 July, Lykhovii said on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast that the situation in Krynky was "not as critical as some media and bloggers interpret it". Dmytro Lykhovii, the spokesman for the Tavriia Operational Group of Forces, noted that the Ukrainian defence forces continue combat missions on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, including near the village of Krynky and on the islands in the area. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian forces shoot down 24 Russian attack drones out of 32, one Shahed UAV enters Romania Russian forces launched 32 Shahed loitering munitions, an Iskander ballistic missile and two Kh-22 cruise missiles on Ukraine on the night of 26-27 September. Ukrainian air defence units have shot down 24 of the Shaheds. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Details: The Russians attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile from occupied Crimea and two Kh-22 cruise missiles fired by Tu-22M3 bombers from the Black Sea. The Russians also launched 32 Shahed-type loitering munitions on Ukraine, with the launch area being the Russian city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, mobile firing groups and electronic warfare units from Ukraine's defence forces were involved in repelling the Russian attack. Ukrainian forces shot down 24 loitering munitions during the anti-aircraft operation. One UAV entered Romanian airspace, and three more Russian drones disappeared from radar, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures by Ukrainian forces. Air defence units were responding in Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) has shared footage of the destruction of Russian reconnaissance drones over the line of contact. Source: NGU press service Details: It is noted that the air reconnaissance personnel of the 11th Mykhailo Hrushevsky Brigade of the National Guard skilfully destroy the Russian "eyes" in the air. The video posted today shows the downing of five Zala-421 drones, two Orlan-10s, a Supercam S350 and a Lancet belonging to Russian troops over the line of contact. Background: In early September, Captain Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, noted that Russian UAVs were increasingly being shot down by Ukrainian FPV drones. He said that cases of Russian attack drones being shot down by FPV drones were also recorded. Soldiers of the unmanned forces unit of the 93rd Separate Mechanised Brigade Kholodny Yar on the Bakhmut front hit 49 targets in 17 days using FPV drones. Support UP or become our patron! UN says more than 30,000 have fled Lebanon for Syria 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 Since the beginning of the heavy Israeli attacks in Lebanon, "significantly more" than 30,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Syria, according to UN reports. About 80% are said to be Syrian citizens, the rest predominantly Lebanese, said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria. He spoke on Friday from the Lebanese-Syrian border over videolink with reporters in Geneva. That number had more than doubled from Thursday's official estimate of 13,500 people who had sought safety in Syria out of desperation. "Both Syrians and Lebanese are crossing from a country at war to one that has faced crisis and conflict for 13 years - we cannot imagine what an incredibly difficult choice that is - over 30 000 have made that choice," he said. In Lebanon, 110,000 people had already been displaced prior to the recent escalation, according to UN reports. Since last week, 118,000 more have joined them, said Imran Riza, the humanitarian UN coordinator in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Lebanese Shiite women sit inside a van decorated with a poster of a pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighter, on their way to Beirut after fleeing southern Lebanon. Thousands of families fled southern Lebanon for areas in the capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon, following the expanding Israeli attacks. Marwan Naamani/dpa Scores of cars drive along Sidon-Beirut highway towards Beirut, near the area of Khalde, as thousands are fleeing southern Lebanon. Thousands of families fled southern Lebanon for areas in the capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon, following the expanding Israeli attacks. Marwan Naamani/dpa By Sarah Morland (Reuters) - Haiti has seen nearly 13 people killed on average each day this year, according to data from a United Nations report on Friday, which urged tighter controls on arms trafficking among other measures as a gang war drives a worsening humanitarian crisis. At least 3,451 people have been killed since January, according to a report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights published days before a U.N. mandate for a security force to support Haitian police is set to expire. "No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality," commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement. Haiti initially requested the mission in 2022 and it was approved a year ago, but just a fraction of the troops promised by a handful of nations has deployed and funding remains scant. Haiti has asked the U.N. to consider turning it into a formal peacekeeping mission to secure stable funds and capacity. Turk said it was clear the mission needs "adequate and sufficient equipment and personnel to counter the criminal gangs effectively and sustainably, and stop them spreading further and wreaking havoc on people's lives." The mission's first deployment in June prompted gangs to recruit large numbers of children into their ranks, the report said. In addition, close to 100 children have been killed so far this year - some in gang attacks and other in police operations, the report said. Violence has spread beyond the capital, fueled by arms trafficking, primarily from the United States but also from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, which has persisted despite an international arms embargo. The report said poorly monitored airspaces, coastlines and porous borders were allowing gangs to obtain high-caliber weapons, drones, boats and "a seemingly endless supply of bullets." The number of people internally displaced by the violence has almost doubled in the last six months to over 700,000, while some 1.6 million people are estimated to be facing emergency food insecurity, the worst level before famine. (Reporting by Sarah Morland) As Western North Carolina braces for the impacts of Hurricane Helene, the N.C. Faith and Freedom Coalition is preparing to host its annual Salt & Light Conference at the Nebo Crossing Church in Marion this weekend. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is one of the most prominent figures speaking at this years conference, and as of Thursday, hes still scheduled to address the gathering on Saturday afternoon, according to the coalitions grassroots director, Jim Quick. The conference will be live-streamed on YouTube. It would be one of Robinsons first major public appearances with other Republicans since the scandal broke last week over what CNN says are his old posts on an online porn forum. Organizers said they are monitoring the forecast for Helene, adding that the projected flooding wont impact the church where the conference is being held, or major roads leading up to the church. They urged attendees to travel safely and check drivenc.gov to make their driving plans, and said updates will be posted on their website and Facebook page as warranted. Im Avi Bajpai. Welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. Heres more from the politics team and Stephanie Loder, correspondent. An endorsement for Robinson The embattled GOP gubernatorial nominee announced an endorsement on Thursday from the Oil & Gas Workers Association. The trade association, founded in 2015, has 47,000 members nationwide, according to its website. It has endorsed former President Donald Trump, along with other high-profile Republicans like Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. In a statement, Robinson said he was proud to receive the groups endorsement, and said that if he is elected governor, he will fight to bring down energy costs and create more jobs for middle-class families with a more common-sense approach: like responsible development of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas and clean sources of energy like nuclear power. Matt Coday, the associations founder and president, said that under Robinson, we can rest assured that our workers and our industry will be in good hands. Avi Bajpai Heres what else the Under the Dome politics team has been working on: Danielle Battaglia reports Sen. Thom Tillis remarks that Robinson needs to either prove his innocence or step aside. Tillis didnt hold back when he talked about Robinson, saying he owes it to the people of North Carolina to either prosecute a case against CNN over the explosive report attributing racist, pornographic posts to him, or step aside. Attorney General Josh Stein is getting campaign support from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro , Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan reports. The two Democrats have a campaign event scheduled for noon Sunday at UNC Greensboro. Greensboro is also Robinsons hometown. Wake County school district officials, at a press conference on Thursday, urged state legislators to allow a veto of a bill by Gov. Roy Cooper to stand. The bill, House Bill 10, would provide more than half a billion dollars in additional funding for private school vouchers, reports Lexi Solomon. Its the same bill that would require sheriffs to cooperate with detention requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Heres what our colleagues at other media outlets are reporting: Robinson named Deputy Chief of Staff Krishana Polite to become his next chief of staff in the Lieutenant Governors Office on Thursday, the day after current Chief of Staff and General Counsel Brian LiVecchi resigned, according to a report by the Associated Press. Vice President Kamala Harris campaign is trying to use the Robinson scandal to win North Carolina, referencing him in conversations with Harris volunteers and with voters on the phone and at their doorways, the AP reported Thursday. VOTER GUIDE In the latest candidate questionnaires from our 2024 NC Voter Guide, see what candidates for NC Court of Appeals have to say about the issues, and learn more about their biographies. Six candidates for three seats on the court answered our questions: Seat 12: Seat 14: Seat 15: Check your inbox on Sunday for our weekly edition on the governors race. You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters . Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up. We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter . Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com Dont forget to follow our tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An unidentified man is dead after being struck by a car, according to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, officers were called to N. Davidson Street and Parkwood Avenue, where they found a man, unresponsive in the middle of the intersection The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Helene Timeline: When to expect the greatest impacts for your area in the Carolinas Investigators say the man was crossing N. Davidson Street when he was hit by a Honda Accord which had a green light. The driver of the Honda tried to give medical aid to the man and stayed with him at the site of the crash, CMPD says. The driver was not impaired. That afternoon, the man died from his injuries. Currently, police do not know who he is. Anyone with information on the crash or the identity of the man is asked to call Detective Mercedes at 704-432-2169, Ext. 5. Information can also be left anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or charlottecrimestoppers.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 Queen City News. Union hits out at plan to import water from Norway The idea which would provide Hampshire with 45m litres (11.9m gallons) of water a day from Norway [BBC] The GMB Union has called Southern Water's plan to import bottled water from Norway "farcical". The idea, which could provide Hampshire with 45 million litres (11.9 million gallons) of water a day, comes from Southern Water's Resources Management Plan. Gary Carter, GMB national officer, said: "Can Southern Water be serious?" The water firm said that importing water would be "a last resort contingency measure" in the event of an extreme drought. Flooding caused by heavy downpours and thunderstorms, has affected parts of central and southern England. Mr Carter said: "People up and down the UK are battling pouring rain and floods, Southern are spending bill payers' money on ridiculous plans to ship bottled water in from Norway. "The UK uses just a tiny amount of the rain that falls from our skies. "Private water companies have utterly failed to invest in the infrastructure needed to capture and use more and reduce the need for farcical plans like this." 'A range of other reserve options' In response to the union's comments Tim McMahon, Southern Waters managing director for water, said: "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. "We have a range of other reserve options to call on first, such as temporary desalination plants and water-saving agreements with businesses, to keep Hampshires taps running, so the likelihood of needing to import water is very remote." Several weather records were broken in the summer of 1976. August of that year concluded what was then the driest 16-month period since records began, in 1772. As the world warms, the UK is likely to have hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters, according to the Met Office. Extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy downpours could become more frequent and more intense. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. More on this story Related Links The University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences will receive a contract renewal worth $100 million to continue its advanced trauma care innovations for the U.S. Department of Defense. The 10-year contract surrounds the Linking Investigations and Trauma and Emergency Services (LITES) Network, which not only Pitts research but also about four dozen other trauma centers in the U.S. and Canada. LITES Network began in 2016 and its studies since then have helped to determine the best ways to treat trauma including pain management as well as a trial to use platelets that will help with blood clotting instead of the traditional methods. Its also working on clinical trials for airway management, whole blood transfusion, treatment for severe blood loss and prehospital pain. Trauma remains a leading cause of death in people younger than 45 years old. It is also a leading cause of preventable death, which means that these people do not have to die, said Dr. Jason Sperry, professor of surgery and critical care medicine at Pitts School of Medicine and UPMCs trauma and general surgery section chief. The research and clinical innovation were doing through the LITES Network is saving lives. Click here to read more from the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Loveland man accused of sexually assaulting a client while performing acupuncture treatment out of his home without a license has been sentenced to sex offender intensive probation. Rodney Pereira, now 69, pleaded guilty in July to unauthorized practice of medicine by impersonating a medical provider, a Class 6 felony; sexual contact as an acupuncturist, a Class 1 misdemeanor; unauthorized practice of massage therapy and unauthorized practice of acupuncture, both Class 2 misdemeanors. Pereira was sentenced to five years of sex offender intensive supervised probation on Thursday by Judge Sara Cure. He was also given a 364-day suspended jail sentence, which will only be imposed if he does not comply with the terms of probation. Pereira was arrested in August 2023 after a woman reported to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office earlier that year that she began receiving acupuncture treatment at a man's Loveland home in mid-2022. During a treatment session in late 2022, the woman told investigators the man sexually assaulted her while providing massage therapy treatment, the sheriff's office said in a news release at the time of Pereira's arrest. Investigators previously said Pereira represented himself as a retired medical doctor and offered acupuncture and holistic medicine services, but he had never obtained certification as a doctor and his acupuncture license expired in 2021, according to the news release. Deputy District Attorney Leah Lechuga said Thursday that the victim in this case was seeking treatment from Pereira for anxiety that stemmed from previous sexual violence she experienced, and investigators are "concerned he preyed upon her." Lechuga said "there seems to be diminished accountability," from Pereira, but Pereira's attorney Mark Savoy said his client is "fully remorseful for his actions, and he is ready to take responsibility." Savoy pointed out the woman's delay in reporting these allegations, not to blame her, he said, but as a way to "cast doubt on some" of what might have occurred in this case. He said that "whether (the woman) consented" to what occurred or not, Pereira acknowledges that "his behavior violated the trust that should exist," and was illegal. Pereira said he regretted his actions and apologized to the victim, acknowledging the harm he understands he caused. "I know that what I did was morally and ethically improper," Pereira said. "I'm committed to making sure this mistake is a turning point for me." Resources for sexual assault victims Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA) provides crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling for survivors and anyone affected by sexual violence in Northern Colorado, as well as prevention programs through community outreach and education. savacenter.org Fort Collins location: 970-472-4204 Loveland location: 970-775-2962 ChildSafe supports child and adult victims of childhood abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and their family members. SummitStone Health Partners provides counseling for psychological, emotional and behavioral problems, substance use disorders, domestic violence and sexual assault victims. Resources provided by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Unlicensed Colorado acupuncturist accused of sex assault sentenced Dayton Police were called to Dayton International Airport on Tuesday evening in regards to a disorderly passenger on an American Airlines flight, causing the flight to be diverted. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Once at the gate, police were pointed to a 32-year-old woman who had refused to deboard the plane after she was asked to. Police asked her what had happened. She advised the plane was delayed and she was asleep in her seat. She woke up and believed she had arrived at her destination, but was still in Dayton, a Dayton Police incident report stated. She stated she asked the flight attendant for a drink but was denied. The woman also said she missed her connecting flight and had to cancel her flight to her final destination. Later, police learned that a passenger sitting next to the woman on the plane asked to be moved away from her due to her behavior, claiming she was intoxicated and that she refused to hang up the phone and put it on airplane mode while they were taxiing for takeoff, the report stated. TRENDING STORIES: When the woman was asked to put her phone on airplane mode, she allegedly became irate. The flights captain told police he was advised that the woman was not following flight instructions, forcing the plane to return to the gate to get the woman off the flight. When she was asked to deboard the flight, she refused, the report said. Since she refused to deboard, all passengers were forced to get off the plane. Police were finally able to get the woman off the plane and worked with her to rebook her flights for the next day. While speaking with the woman, an officer noted a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and that her attitude would fluctuate up and down. There were no other contributing factors that led me to believe she was intoxicated at the moment, an officer wrote in the report. News Center 7 checked and have not seen any charges filed in connection to the incident. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] It happened 23 years ago. An elderly widow was attacked in her own home and left for dead by her perpetrators. 73-year-old Ila Mae Clark died in Marshalltown on Aug. 29, 2001. Her killers have never been caught. In the first installment of our Unsolved Iowa series, WHO 13s Katie Kaplan has a new update on the old case. Time can be a fickle thing. Sometimes it is fleeting and at others it seemingly moves in slow motion. For communities haunted by an unresolved crime, it is often a little bit of both. I dont know why anybody would do this, a neighbor told WHO 13 in 2001. It has been more than two decades since that night. Her house is gone. The longtime lead investigator has passed away. But the Marshalltown Police Department said they are not giving up on it. In fact, they are ready to take another look. Something awful happened that day, remembered police Lt. Sadie Weekley in 2024. It was a quiet Summers evening when the call came in just after 5:15. A cheerful display of Christmas decorations left up year-round outside the home was a stark contrast to the horrors of what police found inside. Some neighbors had gone over the house, an officer at the scene told a WHO 13 news crew stationed outside the crime scene tape. They found the occupant there, whos a 72 (SIC) year old lady, injured and non-responsive. (Clark was actually 73.) It was the bloodied and beaten body of Clark, a mother, grandmother and woman fondly known as Sis around the neighborhood. Police immediately deemed her death as a homicide. It was a shocking attack that left the community jarred. She just, she was nice. She talked to you if you went up to her house and stuff. I mean, shes a polite woman, said a young neighbor at the time. Mike Donahey is a veteran reporter who covered the case for the Marshalltown Times-Republican. He remembers the details vividly. It was just such a brutal murder, he said. Here was a woman, 73 years old, just a week shy of her 74th birthday, looking forward to having fun on her birthday. An autopsy reportedly found Clark died of blunt force trauma. The killer, police have told newspaper reporters over the years, used a weapon of opportunity. Robbery is the unproven prevailing theory. Clarks husband had died eight years before and she lived alone in a small, one-story home managing a seven-unit apartment complex that sat just yards away. She often collected the rent in cash. Responding officers found signs of a forced entry and evidence of a struggle inside, with $500 missing from the till, said police. Because of a heavily traversed roadway just yards from the house, investigators believe the attack was premeditated and likely carried out under the cover of darkness the night before her body was found. Clarks home, and the apartment complex she managed, have since been demolished to make room for commercial businesses. A hotel and fast food restaurant now stand where the murder scene once was. Donahey said he knows the crime bothers Marshalltonians, and made a big impact on one particular young officer who was called to the scene the night Clarks body was found. Marshalltown Police Captain Brian Batterson doggedly pursued the case for decades. I could tell by the tone of his voice when I interviewed him about this, that he was still bothered by the fact that due to incidents, his department was not able to connect the dots and find the perpetrator or perpetrators, recalled Donahey. As the years passed and Batterson rose through the police department ranks, he had been able to narrow in on a theory surrounding three people, including a getaway driver. One of the persons of interest allegedly left town for Louisiana immediately after the killing. (Batterson) got a search warrant for the car. But unfortunately, Louisiana authorities did not act on it promptly, Donahey said. In the meantime, the driver of the car, one of the people of interest, rolled (the car) in a traffic incident, and the authorities threw everything that fell out of the car back into it. So evidence was compromised. Police said that at least one of the persons of interest has since passed away. Another has refused to speak with them. Meanwhile, time has proved it waits for no one. Captain Batterson passed away in April of 2023 at 56 years old. He now rests just on the other side of the same cemetery as Clark who was buried on what would have been her 74th birthday next to her beloved husband, Donald. Over the years, Clarks case has been surmised on IowaColdCase.org, the only entity that details the collective of missing persons and unsolved cases in Iowa, and Batterson gave sporadic updates to local media. But in the aftermath of his death not much has been done- until now. Perhaps in a nod to the beloved Captain, and definitely in an effort to get justice for Clarks family, a new set of police investigators are re-examining it. There was evidence left at the scene, said Captain Kiel Stevenson of the Marshalltown Police Department. Im not going to comment, I guess, on exactly what was there or what piece of evidence we have. Stevenson said police believe there is still a chance that evidence could be used to solve the case. He, along with Lt. Sadie Weekly, said they are also exploring how new technology might be used for testing the evidence and that they will plan to track down some of the alleged witnesses. However, a fresh look also means starting back at the beginning- 23 years ago. It is a tough task in itself accounting for the changes in police techniques. Nothing was done on a on a computer-based system at all, said Weekley. Back then, they would have been using actual 35-millimeter cameras. For the first time ever, the Marshalltown PD provided photos from the case file. Stevenson and Weekley will be using the same red binder Batterson put together over the years, hoping that time and advancements in technology will work in their favor this round. It is a tedious process, one that will take more time to tip the scales of justice. If you have any information on the murder of Ila Mae Clark, you can make an anonymous tip to Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 641-753-1234, or speak directly with detectives from the Marshalltown PD at 641-754-5725. If you have a cold case you would like WHO-13 to look into, email repoter Katie Kaplan at katie.kaplan@whotv.com. Heres another story you may be interested in: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US to 'adjust' force posture in Middle East after Israeli strikes in Beirut By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to "assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture" in the Middle East, the White House said on Friday after Israeli strikes in Beirut that Israel said targeted Lebanese Hezbollah militants. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed hundreds in recent days and have raised fears of an all-out regional war. Washington has maintained strong military support for its ally while calling unsuccessfully for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. KEY QUOTES "He (Biden) has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of U.S. objectives," the White House said. "He has also directed his team to ensure that U.S. embassies in the region take all protective measures as appropriate." The White House said Biden was briefed "several times" on Friday about the Middle East. An official added that Vice President Kamala Harris was also briefed. CONTEXT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is defending itself after the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants and from security threats posted by Iran-backed groups like Yemen's Houthis and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Israel's military assault on Gaza following Oct. 7 has displaced nearly everyone there and caused a hunger crisis. This week's escalation has displaced around 100,000 people in Lebanon. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) (Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department announced charges against three people for allegedly carrying out an Iranian-backed operation to hack the campaign of former President Donald Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg The indictment unsealed on Friday claims the individuals gained access to emails, debate preparation material and documents regarding potential vice presidential candidates from people working on Trumps 2024 campaign for president. The indictment didnt mention the former president by name, but a person familiar with the matter said it referred to Trump. We are working relentlessly to uncover and counter Irans efforts to stoke discord, to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions and to influence our elections, Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference Friday. The US government is intensely tracking Irans lethal plotting against current and former US government officials, including former President Trump. Garland said the defendants are Iranian nationals living in Iran. The US Treasury Department also announced sanctions Friday against seven Iranians for attempts to influence or interfere in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, according to a statement. Iranian state-sponsored actors used malicious cyber activities including hack-and-leak operations and spear-phishing, the department said. Microsoft Report The US allegations follow an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that became public after a report from Microsoft Corp. described efforts by the Iranian government to access email accounts of presidential campaign staff members. US authorities said last week the hackers emailed stolen information from Trumps campaign to President Joe Bidens campaign during the summer, as well as to journalists. Investigators said they didnt have any evidence that anyone from Bidens campaign replied to the emails. Irans permanent mission to the United Nations has previously called the allegations fundamentally unsound and that the US hadnt shared any evidence of the hack. The office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the charges on Friday. US officials and cybersecurity experts believe Irans government is seeking to undermine Trumps candidacy after he antagonized Tehran during his first term in office. While president, Trump scrapped an international nuclear deal with Iran, imposed severe sanctions on the Islamic Republic and ordered the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran has tried to disrupt past US elections. In 2020, its operatives impersonated members of the right-wing Proud Boys group as part of a voter intimidation effort, according to the FBI, resulting in charges against two men. That same year, Iranian hackers breached a website that a municipal government in the US used to publish election results, though the they were caught before carrying out any nefarious activity, US officials said. The case is United States v. Masoud Jalili et. al., 24-cr-00439, US District Court, District of Columbia. (Updates with US sanctions, Garland comments.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of FDA headquarters in White Oak, Maryland (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved GE HealthCare's diagnostic drug for use in detection of coronary artery disease, the company said on Friday. Flyrcado, which is a radioactive diagnostic drug for positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), will be available in some U.S. markets in early 2025 before being expanded. PET-MPI is a non-invasive imaging test which uses a type of nuclear medicine called radioactive tracers to asses how well blood flows to the muscle of the heart. The 3D images of the tracer's distribution can then be produced. The company said Flyrcado, which can be manufactured in an offsite pharmacy and delivered as a ready-to-use unit dose, has the potential to expand access to PET-MPI, including improving diagnostic accuracy in difficult-to-image patients such as those with a high body mass index and women. Doctors have underscored Flyrcado's distinct clinical benefits such as higher-quality imaging, greater defect resolution and improved workflow, brokerage Stifel said in a note ahead of the approval. Use of Flyrcado helped accurately classify 74% to 89% of participant scans in a study. GE HealthCare said Flyrcado delivers higher diagnostic efficacy in patients with known or suspected CAD, compared to SPECT MPI which is the predominant procedure currently being used. CAD is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It impacts over 18 million adults in the U.S., and is the leading cause of death in the country, according to the FDA. Flyrcado decays ten times slower than currently approved cardiac PET radiotracers, GE HealthCare said, which can help combine exercise stress testing with imaging. The company also has similar products for detection of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Stifel analysts estimate approval of Flyrcado could add about 0.3% to 0.6% of sales growth for the company in the medium to long term. (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) U.S. intelligence agencies have cautioned that Russia may respond with increased force, potentially including lethal attacks on the U.S. and its allies, if Ukraine is allowed to use long-range missiles supplied by the U.S., U.K., and France for strikes deep into Russian territory, the New York Times reported. The news outlet cited a previously unreported assessment that also downplays the strategic impact these long-range missiles might have on the war, mentioning Ukraine's limited supply and the uncertainty over how many more Western nations may provide those missiles. The analysis underscores the significant risks and uncertain benefits of the decision, which now lies with President Joe Biden, following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Sept. 26. The difficulty in President Biden's decision-making on Ukraine's request for long-range missiles is partly rooted in concerns highlighted by U.S. intelligence, American officials told the New York Times. Zelensky has been pushing both publicly and privately to gain permission to target Russian territory with the advanced missiles. Vladimir Putin has regularly used threats to deter the U.S. and its allies from sending more sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine. Critics argue that Bidens administration has been overly cautious, claiming their slow, incremental approach to arming Ukraine has hurt their performance on the battlefield. On the other hand, supporters of the current strategy point to its effectiveness in avoiding major Russian retaliation, though they admit this balance may now be at risk. The intelligence assessment outlines a range of potential Russian reactions if the U.S. and European nations authorize Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes with their supplied missiles. These responses could include increased acts of sabotage and arson targeting infrastructure across Europe, and even potentially lethal attacks on military installations belonging to the U.S. and its allies. According to U.S. officials, most of the sabotage in Europe so far has been orchestrated by Russias military intelligence agency (GRU). If Putin opts to escalate this covert campaign in response to missile strikes deep inside Russian territory, officials believe the Kremlin would likely continue to operate in the shadows, avoiding direct and open attacks on U.S. and European military facilities to prevent triggering a broader conflict. 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. US intelligence warns of risks to Ukraine due to its possible strikes on Russian territory - NYT US intelligence believes that if Ukraine is granted permission to use long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, Russia could respond with more aggressive actions. This could include "lethal attacks" against the United States and its allies. Source: European Pravda citing The New York Times Details: The previously unpublished intelligence assessment also understates the impact that long-range missiles would have on the conflict, as the Ukrainians currently have a limited number of weapons and it is unclear how many others, if any, Western allies could provide. The assessment highlights what intelligence analysts consider to be the potential risks and uncertain benefits of making this decision to allow long-range strikes deep into Russia. The data received may partially explain why Biden has found it so difficult to make this decision and demonstrate the internal pressure on him to deny Zelenskyy's request. The US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss this intelligence and internal discussions, said it remained unclear what Biden would decide to do. Zelenskyy has lobbied publicly and privately for permission to use the missiles. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has frequently used threats to discourage the US and its coalition partners from providing more advanced weapons systems to the Ukrainians. Critics of Biden and his advisers say they are far too easily intimidated by Putin's hostile rhetoric, and that the administration's gradual approach to arming the Ukrainians has put them at a disadvantage on the battlefield. Supporters of their approach say it has been largely successful in preventing a violent Russian response. UK leaders have been more willing to take risks. They were in favour of allowing the Ukrainians to use the long-range missiles they had provided to strike deep inside Russia, but they waited to see where Biden stood on the issue before authorising strikes, as a potential Russian response could have implications for the overall security of the coalition. The intelligence report describes a range of possible Russian responses to the decision to allow long-range strikes with US- and European-made missiles, from increased arson and sabotage at facilities in Europe to potentially deadly attacks on US and European military bases. US officials say that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Federation is responsible for most of the sabotage in Europe that has taken place so far. If Putin decides to expand this covert action in response to the use of US and European missiles deep inside Russia, US officials believe the Russians will continue to do so secretly, as opposed to launching overt attacks on US and European facilities and bases to reduce the risk of a wider conflict. Background: Support UP or become our patron! A 21-day cease-fire proposal aimed at pausing the conflict in Lebanon has become the latest flashpoint in the strained relationship between the Biden administration and Israel after the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, roundly rejected the terms of the proposal on Thursday. As the prime minister flew to New York ahead of his Friday address to the annual high-level gathering of the United Nations, his office issued a statement saying he "did not even respond" to the proposal put forth by the U.S. and France, and that he had instructed the Israeli military to continue fighting against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah "with full force." Netanyahu's rejection came just hours after White House officials lauded a joint statement issued by the U.S., the European Union and six other countries endorsing the plan for a 21-day truce, a step heralded as an "important breakthrough." PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on Sept. 2, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images | Ohad Zwigenberg,Pool via AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike, Netanyahu vows to continue 'with full force' Washington said Israel had been consulted before the joint statement was released, but struggled to explain the apparent disconnect. "We wouldn't have worked on that statement the way we did. We wouldn't have issued it when and how we did if it wasn't supported by the conversations that we were having with top Israeli officials yesterday," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday. But behind the scenes, several U.S. officials familiar with the negotiations told ABC News they have consistently seen getting Israel to sign off on a truce as an uphill battle. Israel views a pause as beneficial to Hezbollah because it could allow it to regroup and strike back at Israel following attacks on the militant group's communication system last week widely attributed to Israel, according to the officials. They say that the Israeli government also views a truce of any length as running counter to its main aim of allowing people displaced from areas near its northern border to return to their homes as soon as possible. PHOTO: Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, Sept. 26, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Hezbollah confirms top commander killed Israel's permanent representative to the U.N., Danny Danon, told reporters on Wednesday that Israel would prefer to end its conflict with Hezbollah via diplomacy, but that "if it fails to return our residents to the homes, then we will use all means at our disposal." "We are very honest about it," Danon said, adding that he believed the mediators "know exactly what we want." The latest disconnect between the U.S. and Israel appears poised to add additional strain to what was already expected to be a contentious address to the U.N. by Netanyahu on Friday. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the body's Security Council on Wednesday that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon." The U.N. Refugee Agency added on Thursday that in just 72 hours, more than 90,000 people had been displaced in Lebanon. Shortly after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Hezbollah -- a U.S.-designated terrorist organization -- began firing rockets across the Lebanese border with Israel. The low-level conflict continued for nearly a year, repeatedly threatening to escalate before Israel stepped up its military campaign earlier this month. US, Israel at standoff over Lebanon cease-fire proposal. What happened? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com US-led task force to fight ISIS in Iraq to end by 2026, officials say After 10 years, the military coalition of countries working to defeat ISIS in Iraq is coming to an end. The American and Iraqi governments announced Friday a phasing down of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, a U.S.-led military operation to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Previewed for months after U.S. President Joe Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani in April, the decision will close the task force by 2026. The U.S., which has 2,500 troops in Iraq, will then negotiate directly with the government in Baghdad on its military presence inside the country. Since the war started in Gaza last October, American military personnel around the Middle East have been increasingly under threat. Militia groups sponsored by Iran have targeted U.S. ships and bases, including a strike that killed three troops just across the Syrian border in Jordan this January. The attacks, along with Americas support for Israel, have continued to shift Americas military footprint in the region. There are now 40,000 U.S. personnel in Central Command, 6,000 higher than normal. In a call previewing the announcement with reporters, a senior U.S. administration and defense official wouldnt comment on how many troops would remain in Iraq or where they would operate other than to say there would not be a full withdrawal. What will the surge of US forces to the Middle East cost the military? Its time to do that transition. But that doesnt mean every detail has been worked out, the defense official said. The task force itself will end in two phases. The first will arrive next September, when the coalitions military mission inside Iraq will close. Because ISIS remains a threat nearby, the officials said, Iraq will allow the coalition to keep using its territory for missions across the border into Syria at least until September 2026. Launched in 2014, when the Islamic State seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, the task force includes more than 30 countries and eventually secured 42,000 square miles once controlled by ISIS, the defense official said. The terrorist group lost its ability to hold territory in Iraq in 2017, and in Syria two years later. Ending the international mission now, the official continued, reflects two changes: a weakened ISIS and an empowered Iraqi military. The coalition has given local security forces more than $4 billion in military equipment and trained around 225,000 personnel. America has also supported the Iraqi military directly. This week, the U.S. State Department approved a $65 million foreign military sale to Iraq for ship repair and maintenance. During these past years, weve seen very significant improvement in the Iraqi Security Forces capability, the defense official said. In late August, U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted an operation in western Iraq that killed 14 ISIS operatives, including four leaders, as announced by CENTCOM. Seven American personnel were injured in the raid. The U.S. military will end its current mission in Iraq against the militant organization ISIS by the end of 2026 and transition to a new phase that likely will involve a significant withdrawal of American forces in the country, according to senior U.S. officials. But Washington will maintain a military footprint in the country to continue the fight against global terrorism, they added, declining to offer specifics about expected troop levels or how the transition would work. There are presently about 2,500 American troops in Iraq. The move will occur in two phases, with the U.S. counterterrorism mission in Iraq, Operation Inherent Resolve, wrapping up in September 2025 but continuing in a transitionary form until at least September 2026, when it is expected to formally end. A senior Biden administration official said the details will be worked out over time but to expect some change in the U.S. footprint. As we go through this transition into a bilateral relationship, there could very well be changes in the numbers, changes in the activities that we do [to] align ourselves better with the bilateral interests that we have, the official said. A lot of that is going to be an ongoing discussion. The U.S. sent forces into Iraq in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government, which was struggling at the time to counter the growing threat of ISIS that had captured vast swaths of Iraq and northeast Syria. The U.S. has always been subject to Baghdads invitation and a withdrawal if the government demanded it. Iraqi officials announced publicly earlier this month that the U.S. would withdraw its troops in two phases, starting now and continuing into 2025, with the last phase ending in 2026. A small force is expected to remain in Iraqs Kurdistan region. But the senior administration official did not characterize the changing relationship as a withdrawal, stressing there will be a continued security partnership. Id like to emphasize that this is an evolution of the military mission in Iraq, the official said. We are moving towards the type of productive, long-term security relationship the United States has with partners around the world. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has ties to Iran, has called for the U.S. to transition its counter-ISIS mission, recently increasing those calls after American forces have fought against Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq during the ongoing war in Gaza. Al-Sudani has been criticized for being too close to the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of Iraqi security forces, many of which are backed by Iran. But the Iraqi leader has faulted both sides for trading fire on his territory, which he considers a violation of his nations territory, and has also called for a more enduring partnership with the U.S. focused on economic and other cooperation. Al-Sudani visited the U.S. in a high-profile trip in April and met with President Biden, where they discussed the transition to a new phase. His trip came after the start of talks about a transition in January. The U.S. has expressed confidence that Iraq can defend its territory against ISIS and other extremist groups that threaten the country, and officials said they will continue to support Iraqi security forces in the new phase. A senior defense official said the mission was always to support and not replace the Iraqi security forces. Today, the coalitions local security partners are better able to ensure that ISIS can never again cause havoc in the region, the official said, explaining the U.S. has trained and equipped more than 225,000 Iraqis and given them $4 billion in military aid. Through the advise and assist mission, the coalition, during these past years, weve seen very significant improvement in the Iraqi Security Forces capability, the official added. ISIS has lost most of its territory since it swept Iraq and Syria in 2014, but it has rebounded in the past few years since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This year alone, ISIS-K, the branch in Afghanistan, has been responsible for deadly attacks in Russia and Iran that killed more than a hundred people combined. If the U.S. withdraws all of its forces, that could leave a power vacuum vulnerable to being filled by Iran, which already has vast influence over Iraq. It could also push the U.S. to withdraw its about 900 troops remaining in Syria, given they would be isolated from any support in Iraq. But if there is a remaining force in the Kurdistan region, the U.S. may be able to support its forces in Syria. The senior defense official said the U.S. was transitioning its structure in Iraq because the mission environment has changed. We talked about the vast territorial sweep of ISIS and the large population that lived under its brutal rule. ISIS no longer controls that kind of territory, the official said. It no longer has a population under its command. It has fighters, it has cells. It has a presence, and that needs continued effort to ensure its enduring defeat. But that mission, that evolution of the threat, the official said, means its time to evolve this mission. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Navy warships fought off a 'complex' missile and drone attack in the Red Sea US Navy ships operating in the Red Sea shot down a number of Houthi missiles and drones on Friday. A Pentagon spokesperson described the incident as a "complex attack." The Houthis claimed to score hits on the American warships, but US officials pushed back on this. US Navy warships shot down a barrage of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on Friday in what a Pentagon spokesperson described as a "complex attack." Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon spokesperson, said no US warships were damaged or struck by the Houthi munitions, and there were no injuries to American personnel. "We did see a complex attack launched from the Houthis that ranged from cruise missiles and [drones]," Singh told reporters at a briefing. "My understanding is that those were either engaged and shot down or failed." The Houthis said earlier that they targeted three Navy warships with nearly two dozen ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The Iran-backed rebels claimed to score direct hits on the vessels, although US officials pushed back on this and there's no credible evidence to support it. When asked at the briefing whether the US assessed that the warships were the intended targets of the attack, Singh said it was unclear. "Sometimes it's hard to tell whether they're being shot in the vicinity of a US ship or targeting another vessel. We always take measures for our self-defense, so I can't really tell you the intended target," Singh said. Destroyer Michael Murphy is one of five US warships patrolling the Red Sea, where US ships were attacked by drones and missiles fired by Houthi rebels. US Navy photo "We did what we had to do to protect our forces, and at the end of the day, no ship was hit, no damage, and no injuries to our personnel," she added. A US official told Business Insider on Friday that the Navy currently has five warships in the Red Sea: the destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen, USS Michael Murphy, USS Spruance, USS Stockdale, and the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis. Only the Petersen and Michael Murphy were in the Red Sea a little over a week ago, a US official told BI at the time, suggesting that the other three warships moved into the region within the last few days. The increased Red Sea presence comes amid heightened fears of an all-out conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, another militant group backed by Iran. Some reporters identified the Spruance, Stockdale, and Indianapolis as the warships that appeared to come under attack on Friday. The incident marked the latest provocation from the Houthis, who have spent months attacking merchant shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with deadly missiles and drones. The Houthis have previously made up having struck US warships. US warships have routinely been tasked with intercepting these threats and frequently carry out strikes against the rebels in Yemen. However, until Friday, the past two weeks had been relatively quiet. US forces said they destroyed one missile system in Yemen and two drones over the Red Sea during this time period. Read the original article on Business Insider US not withdrawing from Iraq but agreement could lead to troop reductions The U.S. and Iraq on Friday announced an agreement to end the anti-ISIS coalition military presence in Iraq that over the next two years, a move that could lead to a reduction of the 2,500 American troops still in Iraq and maintain the 900 troops in northeast Syria. U.S. officials stressed that the agreement did not mean the U.S. was conducting a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq but a transition to a new U.S.-Iraq military relationship separate from the decade-long coalition. In a joint statement, both United States and Iraq laid out a timeline where the coalition military presence in Iraq would end no later than the end of September 2025 as Iraq transitions to bilateral security relationships that "supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS." PHOTO: U.S. Army Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, conduct a live-fire exercise utilizing the M119 howitzer, in Iraq, May 28, 2024. (Staff Sgt. Bruce Daddis/US Army) MORE: 7 US personnel injured in Iraq raid that killed 15 ISIS members: Officials Under the agreement, Iraq will allow the U.S. military presence in Iraq in order to provide support for the 900 U.S. troops stationed in northeast Syria to prevent a resurgence of ISIS. The removal of American military troops in Iraq has been a main concern for the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani that faced constant pressure from Iranian-backed groups opposed to their presence. Over the past year, Iranian-backed militia groups have carried out more than 170 rocket and drone attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria. PHOTO: Spanish, American, Canadian, and Dutch CH-47 crews stand for a group photo on April 26, 2024, Al Asad Airbase, Iraq. (Sgt. Vincent Levelev/US Army) MORE: 7 US personnel injured in rocket attack on Iraqi base, officials say Earlier this year, President Joe Biden and al-Sudani set up a process for negotiations between the two countries to lay out a future military relationship that could lead to a reduction in the U.S. military troop presence in Iraq. "Iraq thanks the Coalition for the backing and support provided to the Iraqi security forces to confront this common threat and secure ISIS's territorial defeat in Iraq," said the statement. "At the forefront of these countries has been the United States of America, which stood with Iraq in difficult circumstances." The agreement does not contain specifics on how many of the 2,500 U.S. troops will be withdrawn, the pace of the withdrawal of what bases will remain in use over the next two years. "The U.S. is not withdrawing from Iraq," Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary told reporters Friday at a separate briefing. "Our footprint is going to be changing within the country." Ahead of the announcement, U.S. officials emphasized that the agreement was not withdrawal of U.S. military troops but a transition away from the coalition military presence that was established in 2014 as ISIS swept across Syria into Iraq coming as close as 40 miles from Baghdad. "I just want to foot stomp the fact that this is not a withdrawal, this is a transition," said a senior administration official said. PHOTO: U.S. Army Soldiers during an aerial gunnery training exercise with AH-64 Apache helicopters in Northern Iraq, July 2, 2024. (Staff Sgt. Bruce Daddis/US Army) "It's a transition from a coalition military mission to an expanded us Iraqi bilateral security relationship," the official added. "Those members of the coalition that are going that want to remain or continue to talk a security relationship that is entirely up to them." The officials stressed that discussions about the role and size of the future U.S. military presence in Iraq will be the topic of future U.S.-Iraq discussions. How the transition plays out will be determined by ongoing conversations with the Iraqi government over matters such as "what is the situation with ISIS, what is the environment we're working in, and what it what are the capabilities," the senior administration official said. The anti-ISIS coalition of 87 countries will continue exist to prevent a resurgence of ISIS but will no longer have a military presence in Iraq. Some of the countries with troops in Iraq had been pressing for an agreement to end that mission. US not withdrawing from Iraq but agreement could lead to troop reductions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Boeing has come under increasing pressure following a number of safety incidents involving its aircraft (JUSTIN TALLIS) (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/AFP) The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday issued "urgent safety recommendations" regarding the rudder systems on certain Boeing 737 aircraft, highlighting a risk of jamming. It came after a February 6 incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines, whose rudder pedals were "stuck" in the neutral position while on the tarmac after landing at Newark airport in New Jersey. None of the 155 passengers and six crew members were hurt, the NTSB said, with the captain using the nose landing gear controls to steer the plane. Boeing has come under increasing pressure following a number of safety incidents involving its aircraft. It did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. The cause of the February incident was found to be the rollout guidance actuator, one of the rudder control components, with tests revealing it was susceptible to moisture which could "freeze and limit rudder system movement," the NTSB said. The faulty actuator was manufactured by US company Collins Aerospace, it added. "Collins notified Boeing that more than 353 actuators that Collins had delivered to Boeing since February 2017 were affected by this condition," the NTSB said. The part is installed in the tail of some Boeing 737 NG and 737 MAX airplanes. The Federal Aviation Authority said it would convene a corrective action review board on Friday based on the NTSB's recommendations to determine next steps. Boeing has been under close regulator scrutiny since an in-flight incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft in early January. That event saw a door plug blow out mid-flight, leaving a hole in the side of the aircraft. Boeing's quality control and production processes had already been called into question after the crashes of two 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. In March, the US aviation giant reshuffled its leadership, with new boss Kelly Ortberg taking over on August 8. Ortberg had headed Rockwell Collins, the company which later became Collins Aerospace, from 2013 to 2018. elm/cyb/aha/bjt Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 (ATTA KENARE) (ATTA KENARE/AFP/AFP) The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of its kind. Iran's official IRNA news agency said Thursday evening that the tablets, 1,100 in all, were returned with President Masoud Pezeshkian who had attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Found at the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire which ruled from the 6th to 4th centuries BC in southern Iran, the repatriated tablets reflect how the ancient society was organised and its economy managed. The tablets constitute records of "the rituals and the way of life of our ancestors", said Ali Darabi, vice-minister of cultural heritage, cited by IRNA. The tablets were returned to Iran by the University of Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa, formerly known as the Oriental Institute. A large portion of the tablets were returned in three batches between 1948 and 2004 before the rest were blocked by legal action until 2018. More than 3,500 tablets were repatriated in September, 2023. "The American side undertook to return the rest," Darabi said, cited by Iran's ISNA news agency. ap/vl/it/dv US says ceasefire proposal was coordinated with Israel US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House. Oliver Contreras/White House/dpa The US government and other countries behind a joint statement calling for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon coordinated with Israel, a senior US official said on Friday. The White House's National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the statement "wasn't just drawn up in a vacuum." It wasn't only the countries that signed on to the plan who knew of its contents "but Israel itself." But when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York on Thursday for his Friday speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he said Israel would continue to attack Hezbollah until the Israelis evacuated from the northern border could safely return home. Netanyahu said there was a lot of "fake news." The government's press office in Jerusalem said the United States had only informed Israel of their intention to present a proposal for a ceasefire together with others. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the "joint statement was a clear call" for a temporary ceasefire to open up space for diplomacy so residents on both sides of the border could return home. "I would add that the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side," she said. New USA TODAY/Suffolk polling gives Trump the edge in battleground Arizona. What it means With less than six weeks until the general election, an exclusive new USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll has former President Donald Trump in the lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in the key battleground state of Arizona. Its the latest in a string of polls to suggest that though either candidate could win here in November, the former president has the edge in the Grand Canyon State. Trump leads Harris by 6 percentage points, 48% to 42%, the statewide poll of 500 likely voters found. Pollsters disagree on how plausible those numbers are. But if borne out in November, it would mark a much stronger performance for Trump in Arizona compared to 2020. President Joe Biden won Arizona that year with the narrowest margin of any state. Fewer than 11,000 votes separated Biden and Trump four years ago, underscoring how close the contest could be again this election cycle. The result is within the poll's 4.4-percentage-point margin of error, meaning the race is still tight because the result can move in either direction by those points for the two candidates. The poll was conducted between Sept. 21 and Sept. 24. Arizona is one of the few states that is seen as up for grabs by both political parties. It has 11 of the 270 electoral votes needed for either candidate to win. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said he was surprised by the result but believes its supported by the rest of his data. "I think our poll, although it will jolt people, makes sense, Paleologos said. He argued there are three main factors that could explain why Trumps support in Arizona might have ticked up since 2020. First, Republicans' advantage when it comes to voter registration has grown in recent years. Second, both of voters top two issues immigration and the economy appear to be working in Trumps favor. Thats a change from 2020, Paleologos said, when voters top two issues were the COVID-19 pandemic, which favored President Joe Biden, and the economy, which favored Trump. "The number one and two issues are Trump issues. And so that's filtering itself through the numbers in this poll, he said. The USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll suggests that immigration is a bigger concern in Arizona, a border state, compared to other swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. That might explain why Harris is visiting the border this week. Harris is set to visit Douglas, a border city in Cochise County, on Friday. It will be her first trip to the Arizona-Mexico border as the Democratic presidential nominee. The third factor is a shift among Hispanic voters. Harris will win that demographic, Paleologos believes, but not by the margins that previous Democratic presidential candidates have. He thinks thats creating a deficit for Harris in Arizona compared to Bidens performance in 2020. "Hispanics' support is there for her, but it's not enough, Paleologos said. Another recent poll from the New York Times and Siena College found that Trump is leading Harris by five percentage points in Arizona, though some analysts argued the poll should be treated as an outlier. Reached for comment, Jacques Petit, Harris-Walz communications director for Arizona, pointed to the "infrastructure" the campaign had built in Arizona to rally "Democrats, Republicans, and Independents" in support of the vice president. Vice President Harris is the underdog in this election, and we know it will come down to razor-thin margins. Thats why the Harris-Walz campaign is running on a popular agenda of supporting everyday Arizonans and protecting reproductive freedom that will resonate with Arizonans at the ballot box," Petit wrote in a statement. Paul Bentz, a conservative pollster based in Arizona, diagnosed the state of the race as wildly unpredictable. The only thing that really was predictable is, prior to Biden jumping out, Trump seemed to be leading in the state, he said. We've seen, since then, quite a bit of volatility. Harris gained early momentum in Arizona when she first replaced Biden on the Democrats presidential ticket, Bentz said. But a cluster of polling suggests that Trump has started to swing back. That may be linked to the negative spending against Harris, Bentz speculated: Republicans have blanketed the airwaves with ads and political mail criticizing Harris since she became the nominee. "I've seen several mailers, some hitting even the same day, attacking her. There's a pretty hefty media buy going on right now against her," he said. It seems like some of that is working. Bentz suspects Trump is ahead in Arizona but said its hard to believe that the former presidents lead is as large as five or six points. He pointed out that recent statewide races in Arizona have been decided by narrower margins, and that candidates associated with Trump have tended to lose in recent statewide contests. Our population has grown. Our overall electorate has gotten younger. We saw a sizable rejection of MAGA candidates in the 2022 midterm. Those things do not portend that Arizona suddenly is solidly red for Trump, Bentz said. USA TODAY'S Rebecca Morin contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona presidential poll gives Trump the edge in battleground state (NewsNation) The head of the U.S. Postal Service insists the agency is prepared for the 2024 election and said it will undertake heroic efforts to deliver mail-in ballots on time even as election officials raise concerns. Let me be clear, the postal service is ready to deliver the nations mail-in ballots, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told reporters during a virtual news conference last week. DeJoy said USPS will implement extraordinary measures to ensure the mail-in voting process runs smoothly. He said there will be extra deliveries and collections in the lead-up to the election, special pickups and expanded hours for processing facilities, among other efforts. Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: How policies compare USPS will also take measures to rescue ballots at risk of missing state deadlines because they were mailed late, DeJoy said. However, he urged those voting by mail to return their ballot at least one week before Election Day. We encourage the voting public to mail early if they choose to vote by mail, he said. The postmaster generals assurances come after a group of state and local election officials issued a letter to DeJoy earlier this month warning that the postal service had not fixed ongoing problems that could disenfranchise voters. How to register to vote We have not seen improvement or concerted efforts to remediate our concerns, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) wrote in the Sept. 11 letter. When asked about the letter during last weeks press conference, DeJoy said its difficult to address generalties about perceived issues but vowed to fix specific problems as they arise. He pointed out that during the 2020 election, the postal service delivered 99.89% of ballots to election officials within seven days. We will be even better prepared for 2024 and will perform admirably again as we always have, he said. Election officials raise concerns Election officials have been raising concerns for weeks about the postal services ability to handle the flood of mail-in ballots. Specifically, officials highlighted three main problems in their recent letter: Inconsistent training for USPS staff Exceptionally long delivery times An increase in election-related mail being marked as undeliverable The letter said local election officials in nearly every state are receiving timely postmarked ballots well after Election Day. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the past NASS president, recently said about 1,000 mail ballots from the states Aug. 6 primary election couldnt be counted because they arrived too late or were not postmarked. Election officials are also worried that mail is being marked as undeliverable at higher than usual rates, even when a voter hasnt moved. Why the USPS is urging homeowners to fix their mailboxes We implore you to take immediate and tangible corrective action to address the ongoing performance issues with USPS election mail service, the letter read. Failure to do so will risk limiting voter participation and trust in the election process. DeJoy told reporters he talked with the election officials and agreed to stay in closer contact to address problems as they come up. He noted that election laws, and ballot deadlines, vary from state to state. To operate successfully and even legally, we must have consistent policies nationwide, DeJoy said. But there are 8,000 election jurisdictions and 50 states who are far from uniform in their election laws and practices. In a recent audit, the USPS Inspector Generals office found high on-time processing scores of more than 97% during the primary season from Dec. 31, 2023, to Apr. 30, 2024. However, the report also found that Postal Service workers did not always comply with rules and procedures for handling election mail. DeJoy assured reporters that postal workers are up to the task. All 640,000 people are looking at ballots, if they see a stray one, they dive on it and get it into the system, he said. Four years ago, the 2020 election saw a surge in mail-in ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic. Election officials reported sending just over 69 million ballots in the mail, a substantial increase from four years earlier, the Associated Press reported. According to the Census Bureau, 69% of voters cast their ballots nontraditionally in 2020, meaning either by mail or before Election Day. Thats more than double the share that voted nontraditionally in 2012 and triple the level in 2004. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 University of Tennessee student is facing charges including attempted murder after an incident at a residence hall on the University of Tennessees campus Friday morning. University of Tennessee Police released that Michael Francis, 19, was charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of criminal trespass. UTPD said the charges stem from an altercation with another student in a residence hall. Closures in East Tennessee due to severe weather Court records explain that the officers responded to the fourth floor of Laurel Hall around 3:20 a.m. on Friday, where they found a student lying on his back in the hallway being assisted by paramedics. The student reportedly told officers that a man confronted him in the hallway and he was hit in the back of the head as he was attempting to pass. The victim was then thrown to the ground, where he dislocated his shoulder, and the suspect, later identified as Francis, pulled a pink kitchen knife from his pants pocket and attempted to stab him, court records state. The documents continue to explain that the victim kicked the knife away from Francis. A woman attempted to intervene but was cut on the finger, and then Francis fled, court records state. According to court records, another woman reported she had interacted with Francis a few hours before the incident, and he was reportedly acting erratic and upset that the victim was in her room. The record alleges that when asked to leave, Francis stated he would wait on the couch for the victim to leave so he could kill [the victim] and go out in this world with a positive k/d ratio. Thousands without power as storms move through East Tennessee UT Police shared that the victim was taken to a local hospital and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries according to UTPD. UTPD added that Francis was booked into the Knox County Regional Jail. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. People watch from a packed gallery as the Senate discusses a proposed constitutional amendment related to citizen initiatives during a special legislative session at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The Utah Supreme Courts ruling this week keeping Amendment D void wasnt necessarily surprising given it had already made it clear in an earlier ruling the Utah Legislatures powers do, in fact, have limits. However, the ruling does have significant implications for a host of reasons. The ruling affirming a district court judges decision to void Amendment D is unprecedented. Never before has a question been disqualified from already-printed ballots (Amendment D will remain on paper, but votes wont be counted and the constitutional change wont take effect). While the ruling shuts the door on Amendment D this year, its possible the Utah Legislature could try again to ask voters to enshrine its authority to repeal and replace any ballot initiative, even if it reforms the government. Its a debate that may surface during the Legislatures 2025 general session starting in January, to possibly put another iteration of the proposed amendment on the next general election ballot in 2026. But the Utah Supreme Court made clear that constitutional amendments must not only adhere to publication requirements, but be characterized in ballot language thats not misleading. It remains to be seen what lawmakers will do, if anything. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, werent available for an interview on Thursday, according to their staff. However, the two top Republican legislative leaders issued a joint statement Wednesday night after the Supreme Court issued its ruling. They called it 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, Schultz and Adams said. Its a sad day for Utah and voters, whether for or against the constitutional amendments. Anti-gerrymandering groups and Democrats, who have long struggled to contend with Utahs Republican supermajority, celebrated the ruling as one that demonstrated appropriate checks and balances between Utahs branches of government. House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said Amendment D was the result of a rushed and misleading process that wasted time and betrayed the trust of Utahns. She referred to the GOP-controlled Legislature hurriedly calling itself into an emergency special session last month to place Amendment D on the ballot in the first place. The courts decision didnt take away voters rights it protected them from a ballot summary that failed to clearly explain the amendment, Romero said, in response to Adams and Schultz statement. Last months special session came in direct reaction to the Utah Supreme Courts unanimous July 11 opinion remanding a lawsuit over Utahs redistricting process back to district court. All five of Utahs justices ruling that the district court erred when it dismissed the League of Women Voters claim that the Utah Legislature violated the Utah Constitution in 2021 when it repealed and replaced Better Boundaries voter-approved initiative. That measure, Proposition 4, would have enacted an independent redistricting commission to redraw congressional and legislative boundaries after every decennial Census. That ruling dismayed Utahs Republican legislative leaders, who have long believed the Utah Constitution gave lawmakers the ultimate authority to repeal and replace any ballot initiative. Acting under that belief, the Utah Legislature replaced Proposition 4 in 2020 with a watered-down version of the new redistricting process. That allowed Utah Lawmakers to ignore independently-drawn maps and adopt their own versions, which is ultimately what Republican lawmakers did in 2021 when it came time to set Utahs new political districts for the next 10 years. However, the Utah Supreme Courts July 11 ruling in the redistricting lawsuit made clear the Legislatures power to amend certain initiatives has limits, and the Utah Constitution protects government reform initiatives from being overridden by lawmakers without a compelling government interest. The Utah Supreme Court upheld a fundamental principle that never should have been in doubt the government must honestly present the questions voters are asked to decide, Mark Gaber, an attorney with the Campaign Legal Center, which represented the League of Women Voters and other plaintiffs in the case challenging Amendment D. The Utah Legislature failed at every step in this process, and voters will now see their constitutional rights affirmed. Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government, another plaintiff in the case, called Wednesdays ruling a tremendous victory that affirms the right of the people to ethical and transparent government. Were grateful for the clear message this decision sends: constitutional checks and balances exist for a reason and everyone must follow the constitution, Addams said. Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, said she hopes the ruling will open the door to a new day for Utahns. I hope the Legislature understands they represent us, she said. We look forward to working with them in the future on the issues that affect all Utahns. But will the Supreme Court ruling actually push the Utah Legislature to work better with anti-gerrymandering groups in the future? And given now two Utah Supreme Court rulings have strengthened plaintiffs arguments in ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Legislatures repeal and replacement of Better Boundaries 2018 ballot initiative which would have required lawmakers to use an independent redistricting commission to draw Utahs next set of political boundaries what comes next in that case? Whats next for Utahs redistricting process Ryan Bell, a board member of Better Boundaries, said its difficult to predict with certainty what will happen with the League of Women Voters of Utahs ongoing case against the Utah Legislatures repeal and replacement of the 2018 independent redistricting commission. However, he said the Utah Supreme Courts July 11 ruling and the invalidation of Amendment D which would have effectively rendered the courts interpretation of the Utah Constitution moot strengthens their chances in court. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bell said he knows theres so many different ways that a lawsuit can end up going. Plaintiffs now must prove their facts. That could mean the case will go to trial, or he said its possible all parties see the writing on the wall and decide to reach a resolution where everyone agrees. If the courts deem the Legislatures repeal and replacement unconstitutional, Bell said hes confident Proposition 4 will be restored as law, and Utah could ultimately get a new, independently-drawn set of redistricting maps. The question, though, is when. Is it in a month or two years? Its hard to say, Bell said. But the ultimate result, yes. I really do think Prop. 4 now is going to hold. That means Utah could end up with, at some point, independently-drawn maps that will just make it hard to gerrymander people out of their districts, Bell said. And that means theres going to be a fundamental change in the Legislature. It is possible, though, that the Utah Legislature may take another swing at this and try to put another version of Amendment D on the ballot in 2026. Whether lawmakers do that or not, Bell said, depends on if theyre still as fired up about the issue as they are now. Bell predicted there wont be a wave of initiatives that Amendment Ds proponents warned of, so he said it will be harder for them to make their case before voters. However, he said its possible the Legislature could do something no one has even thought of yet. Theres always things they can do, and theyve proven to be both motivated and quite strategic, he said. I have found myself to lack the imagination to predict whatever else they might do. But ideally, Bell said, lawmakers will take a step back and decide to genuinely work with Better Boundaries rather than continue to fight. The wishful thinking is that everybody says, the Supreme Court has made it clear so we should just stop fighting now and just resolve it, Bell said. Romero said she also hopes the ruling on Amendment D serves as a wake up call to her Republican counterparts in the Legislature that theres a reason why we have three branches of government, and maybe this is a sign that we need to slow down. The judiciary has spoken, she said. They were on the side of the law. Romero also said shes hopeful for an independent redistricting process at some point in the future, but she said in the meantime Utah voters need to hold their elected officials accountable. This is a prime example of what will continue to happen unless the voters say we want change. I heard a lot of people say, I dont like Amendment D. Well, lets see if they take that to the polls, she said. Democrats only need to pick up nine more seats in the House to break the supermajority. Romero said another problem that doomed Amendment D was a lack of a robust process. The emergency special session rammed it through with very little public input. That alongside another bill passed earlier this year, SB37, that took the responsibility of writing constitutional amendment ballot language away from the nonpartisan legislative general counsel and assigned it to the House speaker and Senate president caused legal problems for Amendment D, she said. Were in this situation because the majority jumped the gun and they didnt think about these consequences, Romero said. In reaction to what happened with Amendment D, Romero said she and Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, plan to sponsor a bill to return the duty of writing constitutional amendment language back to nonpartisan legislative general counsel. Ruling raises questions for other constitutional amendments on 2024 ballot The ruling voiding Amendment D also raises other questions. It casts uncertainty over the validity of all three of the other constitutional amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot for voters to consider given none of these proposed constitutional amendments texts were printed in newspapers as explicitly required by the Utah Constitution. That was one of the two reasons why the courts invalidated Amendment D: The constitution says the Legislature shall cause the text of constitutional amendments to be published in at least one newspaper in every county of the state, where a newspaper is published, for two months immediately preceding the next general election. The other reason? The district court agreed with and the Utah Supreme Courts ruling upheld Amendment Ds opponents claims that its ballot language was misleading and counterfactual. Critics of at least one other proposed amendment, Amendment A, are challenging the ballot question in court for similar reasons, and it remains to be seen whether the courts agree this one was written with such clarity as to enable the voters to express their will, as the Utah Supreme Court put it in its ruling Wednesday night. But it may very well only take one constitutional violation to disqualify a constitutional amendment, and if Amendment D wasnt published in newspapers as required, neither was Amendment A. Same goes for Amendment B and C. However, Amendment A which would nix the states nearly 100-year-old constitutional earmark reserving the use of income tax revenue for education and allow income tax dollars to fund other state needs is the only other one being challenged in court currently. Third District Court Judge Laura Scott is scheduled to hear arguments for and against a preliminary injunction to possibly void it on Oct. 15. She said her decision will likely hinge on what the Utah Supreme Court decided in the Amendment D case, which spells trouble for Amendment A. Its unclear, however, whether Amendment B (which would increase the limit on the annual distributions from the State School Fund to public schools from 4% to 5%) and Amendment C (which would enshrine in the constitution that all county sheriffs continue to be elected by Utah voters, as they currently are), will be challenged. Neither are controversial and certainly not ruffling feathers like amendments A or D. But House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, told Utah News Dispatch on Thursday she believes all of the proposed constitutional amendments appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot should be voided if they did not meet constitutional publishing requirements. Thats a really good question and I think thats something we all have to look into, Romero said when asked about whether any of this years proposed constitutional amendments were published properly under the Utah Constitution. If were not following the rules, then we need to be held the same standard. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BORDNERSVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) If youve been on Interstate 81 at all Thursday, you may have seen them dozens of utility trucks headed southbound. The vast majority of them are headed to the southeast in preparation for Hurricane Helenes landfall in Floridas panhandle. LIVE: Helene now an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane abc27 News spotted a convoy of well over a dozen Canadian utility trucks headed south through Lebanon County. The trucks were coming from New Brunswick and were marked for Gagnon Line Construction and Holland Power Services. Kaylee Lindenmuth / abc27 News A convoy of utility trucks from two New Brunswick utility companies travel southbound on Interstate 81 in Lebanon County Thursday afternoon. Both companies specialize in emergency power restoration, according to their websites. According to the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, nearly 50,000 utility workers and equipment are being pre-positioned across the southeast where they will work around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. Helene is currently a Category 4 hurricane, as of a 6:20 p.m. update from the National Hurricane 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 ABC27. Utility crews work to restore power across Georgia in the wake of Hurricane Helene damage Electric utilities in Georgia began extensive assessments of transmission lines and other infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27. File photo Tbis post was updated Friday, Sept. 27, at 7:45 p.m. with updated power outage information. Thousands of utility workers from more than a dozen states are assisting Georgias crews throughout the weekend with restoring electricity to more than 1 million homes and businesses left without power by Hurricane Helene Friday. Helenes overnight wrath across Georgia led to the deaths of at least 15 people in the state, caused extensive damage to farmland, and brought widespread power outages that cut electricity to a Valdosta hospital and more than 1.1 million customers of Georgia Power and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Among the people killed Friday was a Pierce County firefighter, who was killed in the storm while he was clearing downed trees and power lines. Vernon Leon Davis, a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear died when a tree fell on his truck, Jacksonville-based First Coast News reported. Helene is the deadliest storm to hit Georgia since Hurricane Michael in October 2018. Both severe storms brought damaging winds, flash flooding, and substantial damage to Georgias farmland. As of early Friday evening, approximately 393,000 customers of Georgias local electric membership co-ops were still without power. The number of customer outages was more than 435,000 just a few hours earlier in the day, with most of the hardest-hit areas located in the south and southeast of the state. According to Georgia Powers outage map, 626,000 customers were still experiencing outages as of 6 p.m. Friday, a decrease of 220,000 since the storm first struck the state. By the time the severe weather subsided late Friday morning, Georgia Power crews and the use of a remote smart grid technology successfully restored power to 120,000 homes and businesses. Georgia Power and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation regularly update online customer power outage maps in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. A map of outages affecting local EMCs can be found at www.georgiaemc.com/outages To report power outages and gain more detailed outage and restoration updates, customers should contact their local EMC provider. For outage information from Georgia Power, visit www.georgiapower.com/about/grid-reliability/outage-information.html Georgia EMC reported Friday that outages surged overnight and early Friday morning as the storm crossed north through the state, causing some of the worst damage on the eastern side of Georgia. In addition to damage to the EMCs distribution lines, Hurricane Helene severely damaged high-voltage transmission lines. These transmission lines are a critical piece of the electric grid, as they feed the substations that provide power to EMC distribution lines, according to a statement from the Georgia EMC. The public is asked to stay away from downed power lines and keep a safe distance from crews as they restore power. Downed lines are extremely dangerous and could be fatal depending upon ground conditions, the Georgia EMC statement said. This is especially true in wet situations and even more so with standing water as a result of this storm. In addition, we ask the public to keep a safe distance from crews as they work to restore power. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Along with ongoing construction work in the Valley, a new ramp closure in Mahoning County will impact drivers on Interstate 680 next week, among other road work. MAHONING COUNTY On Thursday, Oct. 3, the ramps at the Midlothian Blvd. and the I-680 interchange will have various short-term closures for lighting improvements. The $1.3 million lighting project began in Fall 2023 and will wrap up this year. Ramps will not be closed at the same time. All detours will be posted. The project will also include ongoing lane restrictions until the work is done. Work is ongoing on the resurfacing of Route 165 in Beaver and Springfield Townships. There are various lane restrictions between SR 165 and S. Range Road through late October 2024. Reconstruction of State Route 170 is ongoing in New Middletown and Springfield Township. Southbound, SR 170 is closed between Struthers Road and Woodlawn Road through mid-October. The detour is SR 617 to SR 165 to SR 626 to SR 7 to US 224 to SR 170. TRUMBULL COUNTY The $20 million Diverging Diamond Interchange project is ongoing in Howland Township. The following restrictions and closures are in place through November 2024: State Route 46 between Market St. and US 422 has various lane restrictions. State Route 82 between Elm Rd. and Howland Wilson Rd. has various lane restrictions. The ramp from E. Market St. to SR 82 is closed through November 2024. The detour is E. Market St. to SR 46 to SR 82. The ramp from SR 82 eastbound to SR 46 northbound is closed through late spring 2025. The detour is SR 82 east to SR 193 to SR 82 west to SR 46. The ramp from SR 46 south to SR 82 east is closed through late spring 2025. The detour is SR 82 west to Elm Rd. to SR 82 east. Estimated completion, fall 2026. Resurfacing on state routes 46 and 88 in Green and Mecca townships will have lane restrictions through June 2025 between SR 87 and SR 88 and SR88 to Mosquito Lake. State routes 46 and 169 in Niles are being resurfaced. Various lane restrictions are happening between Robbins Ave. and Niles Vienna Rd. for State Route 46 and between State Route 46 and US 422 for State Route 169. That work should be done by the end of next month. COLUMBIANA COUNTY On September 30 and October 1, State Route 46 will close west of East Palestine during daytime hours for a culvert replacement project. The detour is as follows: Beginning at the intersection of SR 46 and SR 7 in Columbiana County, go North on SR 7 to SR 14, go East on SR 14 to SR 165, go East on SR 165 to SR 170, then go South on SR 170 back to SR 46, and reverse. All work is weather permitting. A culvert replacement in Negley will close State Route 154 beginning Sept.23. The closures will be in the daytime only. The detour is SR 170 north to SR 14 east, SR 14 east to SR 51 south, SR 51 south to SR 168 south, SR 168 south back to SR 154, and reverse. A three-mile-long resurfacing project on U.S. Route 30 from the West Point Interchange to just west of Route 7 will close one lane of traffic throughout the project, which is expected to be done by Oct. 31. Major repairs are closing State Route 39 in Salineville. Almost 5 miles of State Route 39, from Salineville to Steubenville Pike Road in Highlandtown, is being rehabilitated. The work is divided into three sections, requiring a 60-day closure per section. State Route 39 is closed to traffic from State Route 164 to Clarks Mills/Steubenville Pike Road for 60 days. Following the completion of this section, State Route 39 will close from State Route 164 to East End Road in Salineville for 60 days. The final phase of this project from Clarks Mills Road/Steubenville Pike Road to Highlandtown will be completed in 2025 and will require a 60-day road closure. A project to resurface a two-mile section of State Route 7 from the southern end of East Liverpool to Campground Road in Wellsville. One lane of north and southbound traffic will be maintained throughout the project, which will be completed on October 31, 2024. These are projects that are handled by the Ohio Department of Transportation and do not include projects at the municipality or county level. Stay up to date on current traffic conditions with OHGO. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A newly opened Fresno thrift store is the foundation of a non-profit designed to help the people who help the public. Resuscitated Marketplace and Thrift Boutique supports the Paramedic Resilience Society, which supports current and former paramedics and EMTs who face unforeseen financial challenges. The idea was to be able to provide for those first responders in the private sector, the paramedics and EMTs, said founder Kimberly DAmico. Since opening in August, DAmicos thrift store at the Bullard and Marks Shopping Center (3087 W. Bullard Avenue) has worked with more than a dozen vendors to raise funds for first responders in the private sector. As a former EMT of 34 years, DAmico says she understands the struggle of being a first responder, especially in the private sector. When I first started, I was 19, DAmico said. About that time I found myself in a situation where I didnt have a place to live. According to DAmico, the majority of her shifts were 24 hours with a two-hour commute. At the end of most of her days, she had just enough money for gas. I started seeing that the providers in the private sector of the EMS system, which is the majority of the ambulance transport in Central California, had a lack of public support. According to DAmico, first responders in the private sector are tied to private companies (such as American Ambulance of Visalia, the Sequoia Safety Council, or Life Star Ambulance in Tulare). Were not responding to other emergencies generally outside of a medical emergency, DAmico said. With the private sector, you dont get the same benefits that police and fire get. So our resources are limited. Throughout her long career, DAmico struggled with PTSD. When she left the industry, she found she no longer had anything to distract her from her symptoms. I think our coping mechanisms as first responders is if we keep going, just keep pushing, we dont have to visit the traumas that we live with, DAmico said. It took me into a very dark point in my life. DAmico says on some days she struggled to get out of bed and drive her kids to and from school until she found the Bridge Back Project and underwent pressure point therapy. When I had my first treatment, I remember I got up in the morning and I looked outside and I said, Its a beautiful day outside, DAmico said. I hadnt uttered those words in I dont know how long. With a newfound lease on life, DAmico set out to raise awareness and funds for first responders in the private sector through her nonprofit, the Paramedic Resilience Society. She partnered with Laura McAtee to open the Resuscitated Marketplace and partnered with dozens of like-minded local vendors. Theyre all great people and offer great treasures, DAmico said. The goal of the thrift store is to support the Paramedic Resilience Society, and the money raised will go to supporting current and former paramedics. If I can help pay a utility bill or something to help them out in my little way, said Kimberly DAmico. To thank them for their years of service and also the services that they provide to the communitywe want to show you that youre valued and that we appreciate everything that you sacrificed to do this 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 CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com. Three climate activists were detained after throwing soup on two Vincent van Gogh paintings in London (-) (-/Just Stop Oil/AFP) Three Just Stop Oil (JSO) supporters on Friday threw liquid over two Vincent van Gogh paintings at London's National Gallery, just hours after two group activists were jailed for a similar act. The gallery said "a soup-like substance" had been thrown over two works -- "Sunflowers" (1888) and "Sunflowers" (1889) -- and that three people had been arrested. JSO posted footage on its X account, adding that three supporters had thrown soup over two of Van Gogh paintings in the gallery's "Poets and Lovers" exhibition. The group said the act was a "sign of defiance" after two activists were jailed earlier Friday for throwing soup at the "Sunflowers" (1888) painting in October 2022. It named the supporters involved in the latest protest as Phil Green, 24, Ludi Simpson, a 71-year-old retired professor, and Mary Patricia Somerville, a 77-year-old grandmother. "We will be held accountable for our actions today, and we will face the full force of the law," said Simpson. "When will the fossil fuel executives and the politicians they've bought be held accountable for the criminal damage that they are imposing on every living thing?" she added. The gallery said the incident occurred at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT) and that the paintings were found to be unharmed after being removed from display and examined by a conservator. "We are aiming to reopen the exhibition as soon as possible," it added. jwp/phz/tw Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' targeted again with soup in UK after activists jailed Protesters Phoebe Plummer (L) and Anna Holland (R) carried out a similar stunt in October 2022 and were jailed on Friday (Handout) (Handout/Just Stop Oil/AFP) Three climate activists on Friday threw soup over two Vincent van Gogh paintings at the National Gallery in London, just hours after two others were jailed for committing the same act two years ago. The gallery said "a soup-like substance" had been thrown over "Sunflowers" (1888) and "Sunflowers" (1889) and that three people had been arrested. The Just Stop Oil group (JSO) said it had staged the "sign of defiance" after two of its activists were jailed earlier Friday for throwing soup at the "Sunflowers" (1888) painting in October 2022. The attacks are the latest in a series of protests by the group, which seeks an end to the extraction and burning of oil, coal and gas, that have prompted an increasingly hard line by the authorities. Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, were convicted in July of criminal damage after pouring tomato soup over the screen protecting the still life masterpiece. Plummer was on Friday jailed for two years and Holland for 20 months. Both had pleaded not guilty. Greenpeace UK's co-executive director, Will McCallum, called the sentence "a draconian and disproportionate punishment for a protest that caused minor damage to a picture frame". Sentencing the pair, Judge Christopher Hehir said the painting could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed". "Soup might have seeped through the glass. You couldn't have cared less if the painting was damaged or not," he added. "You had no right to do what you did to 'Sunflowers'." Supporters of the pair gathered outside Southwark Crown Court in south London, holding banners calling them "political prisoners". But Hehir dismissed the argument. "You think your beliefs entitle you to do anything," he told Plummer. "The suggestion that you and others like you in a democracy are political prisoners is ludicrous, offensive and idiotic." - 'Grim milestone' - The National Gallery said the jailed protesters caused around 10,000 ($13,420) in damage to the frame but the painting itself was protected by a screen and was unharmed. Holland and Plummer also glued themselves to the gallery wall during their protest. Plummer has already spent 58 days on remand in prison for another protest at London's Heathrow Airport in July. Greenpeace UK's McCallum called the sentencing "another grim milestone in the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protest". "Protest is by its nature inconvenient and occasionally messy. These defendants do not deserve to spend years behind bars for standing up for a liveable planet." Holland said before she was sentenced that they would not be deterred by prison sentences. JSO named the supporters in Friday's incident as Phil Green, 24, Ludi Simpson, 71, and Mary Patricia Somerville, 77, confirming they had thrown soup on the art works. "We will be held accountable for our actions today, and we will face the full force of the law," said Simpson. "When will the fossil fuel executives and the politicians they've bought be held accountable for the criminal damage that they are imposing on every living thing?" she asked. - Paintings 'unharmed' - The gallery said the incident occurred at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT) and that the paintings were found to be unharmed after being examined by a conservator. "We are aiming to reopen the exhibition as soon as possible," it added. Just Stop Oil has staged a number of high-profile stunts in recent years. In July 2022, protesters glued themselves to the frame of John Constable's pastoral masterpiece "The Hay Wain", also in the National Gallery. Five activists, including the climate group's founder, were given between four and five years in jail in June for conspiring to plan protests that blocked the M25 motorway surrounding London. JSO activists were also arrested as they intended to protest at King Charles III's coronation in May last year. The group called the detentions "massive authoritarian overreach". jwp/phz/tw Vance to attend town hall with evangelist who accused Harris of witchcraft Vance to attend town hall with evangelist who accused Harris of witchcraft JD Vance is being criticized for a planned town hall this weekend with Lance Wallnau, a pro-Trump evangelical leader who has backed election conspiracies and accused Kamala Harris of using witchcraft. This is Vances endorsement of one of the worst, most conspiratorial, Christian supremacist spectacles in the country, Matthew D. Taylor, a scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, & Jewish Studies, wrote on X on Thursday. He warned the Monroeville, Pennsylvania, event would take on extra significance because its close to where Trump was nearly assassinated, a near-miss Trumps more religious supporters take as divine intervention. The Harris campaign, meanwhile, blasted Vance in a statement for appearing alongside a conspiracy theorist like Wallnau. Speaking to an online talk show earlier this month, Wallnau said Kamala Harriss debate performance was tied to witchcraft. JD Vance will appear Saturday with MAGA pastor who frames Trump as holy warrior (Getty Images) She can look presidential, Wallnau said. Thats the seduction of what I would say is witchcraft. Thats the manipulation of imagery that creates an impression contrary to the truth, but it seduces you into seeing it. So that spirit, that occult spirit, I believe is operating on her and through her. The Independent has contacted Vance and Wallnau for comment. As The Independent has reported, Wallnau is among a group of evangelical Christian leaders backing Trump as part of their goal of establishing what they call the New Apostolic Reformation, an American theocracy. As part of this campaign, Wallnau has popularized an idea known as the Seven Mountains mandate, which calls on Christians to secure positions of influence over politics, education, family, the arts, the media, business, and religion. Vances town hall is a stop on a nationwide campaign of pro-Trump religious gatherings called the Courage Tour. During a Wisconsin Courage Tour event, Wallnau doubled down on Trumps claims that the 2020 election was stolen. January 6 was not an insurrection it was an election fraud intervention! he reportedly told the crowd. The Texas-based religious leader has been an outspoken ally to Trump, using his widely watched media platforms to spread false claims about the 2020 presidential race and claim God had a plan to change the outcome of the election. He also appeared at Washington events in the run-up to January 6 and was at the infamous rally on January 6 itself from which the Capitol insurrection began. Wallnau also wrote a 2016 book about Trump, Gods Chaos Candidate: Donald J Trump and the American Unraveling, which helped solidify evangelical support for the Republican. That relationship has continued to flourish. Exit polls in 2020 showed Trump had 75 percent support from white evangelicals. Still, Harris has a projected five-point lead in Pennsylvania, according to the latest polls. The Texas-based Wallnau has a history of outlandish remarks, including claiming climate activists were controlled by demons. Statement: In Springfield, Ohio, murders are up by 81%. As he repeated unsubstantiated claims about Haitian immigrants, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, linked the recent immigration uptick in Springfield an Ohio city with about 58,000 people as of the 2020 census to rising murders. "The local services are completely overwhelmed," Vance said Sept. 15 on CNNs "State of the Union," adding that people in Springfield have struggled to afford housing. "Homelessness has gone up. Murders are up by 81% because of what Kamala Harris has allowed to happen to this small community." Vance, former President Donald Trumps vice presidential running mate, was one of the first conservative politicians to elevate the falsehoods that Haitian migrants have eaten pets. Local and state leaders have rebutted such claims and said the rumors distract from genuine housing, schooling and health care constraints the city has faced as its immigrant population increased. One thing they havent talked about is rising murder. In fact, the citys immigration FAQ webpage said Haitian migrants are more likely to be the victims of crimes than perpetrators, citing Clark County jail data. A Trump-Vance campaign spokesperson pointed us to data showing that from 2021 to 2023, murders in Springfield rose from five to nine. Thats how Vance gets an 80% increase. Case closed? No. Looking further back, the number of homicides in Springfield fluctuated without a clear trend from 2013 to 2022. In 2018, for example, when there were fewer migrants and Trump was president, there were 13 homicides. A criminal justice expert cautioned against relying on annual changes in Springfield to draw conclusions about crime. "With less than one homicide per month, statistical tests on annual changes are not possible. Homicides are too much of a rare event to determine whether small changes are statistically meaningful," said John Roman, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at the nonpartisan research group NORC at the University of Chicago. Heidi Earlywine talks with a Springfield, Ohio, police officer in front of the Premier English Evangelical Haitian Springfield church. Earlywine, who teaches English as a second language, has been acting as a liaison for the Haitian community. The Haitian church has received threats since the area attracted national scrutiny from conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance. What are Springfields homicide numbers? Springfield has attracted Haitian migrants because of its relatively low cost of living and the job opportunities that city leadership and its chamber of commerce created, according to news reports. Haitian migrants began moving to Springfield around 2017, and the number increased around 2020 and 2021, The Guardian, The New York Times and NPR reported. The city of Springfields website estimates there are about 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants in Clark County, Ohio, where Springfield is located. Of that total, about 10,000 to 12,000 are Haitian, according to Chris Cook, health commissioner for the Clark County Combined Health District. Vance has not demonstrated how Haitians are connected to murders, which have fluctuated over the last decade. Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll, a Republican, told CNN that hed seen no murders where Haitians were perpetrators or victims in his 21 years in office. Vances murder statistic comes from the Ohio Incident Based Reporting System, a state-run program for Ohio law enforcement agencies to voluntarily submit crime data. Springfield police started reporting its figures in 2021. We wanted a longer view, so we looked up homicide data reported by the Springfield Police Department to the FBI over a 10-year period, starting in 2013. The latest data available are for 2022. (The FBI defines "homicide" as "the killing of one human being by another," which differs slightly from the first datasets definition of "murder" for a killing that was "willful.") The number of homicides reached a decade-high of 13 homicides in 2018. In 2019, it dropped to a low of two. In 2020, there were eight homicides. In February 2021, then-Springfield Police Chief Lee Graf told the Springfield News-Sun that homicides in Springfield are often premeditated or crimes of passion with personal motives and rarely involve a random victim. The Springfield Police Department did not reply to PolitiFacts query for information about murder data. Local news outlets in Springfield reported data thats different from what the Ohio reporting system shows, and counts vary among outlets. For example, the Springfield News-Sun reported that there were nine homicides in 2021; WHIO-TV said there were 12 homicides in 2021. The Springfield News-Sun reported at least nine homicides in 2023, as of Nov. 29. Based on that figure, Springfield had no change from 2021 to 2023. Many homes along a tree-lined street in Springfield, Ohio, have flags displayed on Sept. 15. PolitiFact's ruling Vance said, "Murders are up by 81%" in Springfield. Data reported to the Ohio Incident Based Reporting System showed that from 2021 to 2023, murders in Springfield rose from five to nine an 80% increase. Longer-term data, from 2013 to 2022, reported by the Springfield police to the FBI, shows that the number of homicides has fluctuated in Springfield without a clear trend. Data reported by a local news outlet also doesnt show a change in homicides from 2021 to 2023. Vance offered a cherry-picked statistic as he and Trump criticized the effects of immigration into Springfield. But the city said Haitian migrants are likelier to be the victims of crimes than the perpetrators. The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False. Our sources This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: PolitiFact: Vance's misleading claim on Springfield, Ohio, murder rate VANCEBORO, N.C. (WNCT) Law enforcement officers with the Craven County Sheriffs Office Special Investigations Bureau arrested a Vanceboro man on drug trafficking charges. The SIB division of the sheriffs office partnered with the New Bern Police Department and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement to investigate the sale and distribution of narcotics in Vanceboro. The investigation started on Thursday, September 26. A search warrant was obtained for the residence of 42-year-old Robert Brinson Moore Jr. The search resulted in 25 grams of methamphetamine, 8 grams of fentanyl, four guns and $1,083 being found. Moore was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession with the intent to manufacture/sell/deliver methamphetamine, felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moore was taken to the Craven County Detention Center and given a $600,000 secured 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 WNCT. Turning Point USA is pushing to transform itself from a right-wing campus activism organization into an incubator for Republican candidates, with a slate of Turning Point-affiliated candidates seeking public office in the 2024 elections. In Michigans 27th state House District, Rylee Linting, the youth vice chair of the state GOP, is running in the hopes of flipping a seat in the states narrowly divided legislature. If successful, her run could help break the Democratic trifecta in the state, where Democrats currently enjoy a 56-54 seat majority in the House. Theres a decent chance of her winning too in 2022, Democratic state Rep. Jamie Churches won the seat by just a single percentage point. From a birds eye view, Lintings candidacy cleaves to many patterns typical of the modern GOP. She decries the woke student culture at Michigans universities, criticizes globalist institutions like the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum, attacks mass vaccination mandates, engages in anti-trans rhetoric and has described Project 2025 as something I think most Republicans would support. There is something notable about Lintings candidacy, however. She is just 22 years old and has a background as a professional activist at Turning Point Action, the 501(c)(4) often called a dark money group associated with activist Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA. And, shes not alone: Rylee is one of a crop of Turning Point-affiliated candidates seeking elected office this year. In Michigan, Linting is one of two candidates with ties to the conservative organization who ran this year. The other is one-time state House candidate Miguel Pilar, who withdrew his candidacy before the deadline for Michigans 83rd House District and now works with the Linting campaign and for Turning Point. Jack Eubanks also ran for state House in 2022 before losing and becoming a staffer at Turning Point. The other focus of the groups efforts have been in Arizona, where they invested heavily in trying to get failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and failed Senate candidate Blake Masters elected to the Senate in 2022. A senior director of Turning Point Action, Austin Smith, had successfully won election to Arizonas state House, but resigned from the organization and ended his re-election campaign after he was accused of forging signatures on his nominating petition. The chief financial officer of Turning Point USA, Justin Olson, is also running for election in Arizonas 10th state House District this year. By far the most successful of Turning Points candidates is Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who served as Turning Point USAs director of Spanish engagement beginning in 2018. She ran for Congress unsuccessfully in 2020 before winning her 2022 race with former President Donald Trumps endorsement. At a glance, the Turning Point candidates stand out from your average Republican. Smith, for example, touts that he was the youngest Republican elected to the Arizona State Legislature, and Linting leans on her youth to contrast herself from a typical nominee. She often tells a story of leaving Grand Valley State University because of its vaccination policy and campus culture and, based on her Facebook profile, it appears she has since enrolled at the conservative Liberty University. Behind the aesthetics of youth, however, Turning Point candidates are among the most conservative Republicans. Smith was one of the Arizona Republicans who voted to keep the states 1864 abortion ban in place earlier this year. Luna co-sponsored legislation introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green R-Ga., to impeach a slate of Biden Cabinet officials. Democratic Michigan state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, who represents a district that overlaps with the suburban Detroit district where Linting is running, said in an interview that the strong focus on cultural conservatism demonstrates that Linting is a really strange decision in a race to represent a downriver community. We have crumbling infrastructure. We need to continue to support our police officers and our firefighters. We need to continue to invest in jobs on the Detroit waterfront, Camilleri said. The other thing thats really fascinating about her campaign is that shes running as a staunch anti-abortion candidate when regular voters downriver are pro-choice. Camilleri said that strategically it makes sense for Turning Point to focus on Michigan, because of the states low barrier to running for office, and because they have seen that Michigan is the laboratory for what can happen in the rest of the nation. He pointed to the storming of the Michigan capitol in 2020 and the armed protests that followed as a precursor to the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6 as an example. They are finding candidates that have zero qualifications but are willing to parrot right-wing talking points and are using them to infiltrate state capitols, Camilleri said. Weve got to do all that we can to stop them because if they find success here in Michigan theyre going to take it all over the nation. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Protest movements have often been a proving ground for future elected officials, according to Jonathan Hanson, a political scientist at the University of Michigan. He pointed to the late Rep. John Lewis D-Ga., as an example. Lewis led student movements and was a civil rights organizer in the 1960s before running for office in 1977 and eventually getting elected to Congress in 1986. More recent examples of activist movements producing future politicians include the Tea Party movement in the 2010s and the March for Our Lives movement, where Rep. Max Frost D-Fla., worked as an organizer before running for Congress. Hanson also pointed to the 27th District in Michigan as an opportunity for Turning Point to claim credit for flipping a vulnerable seat and potentially control of the state House. According to Camilleri, the race is also a chance for Republicans to show that they can cater to young voters too, despite the fact that voters under 30 overwhelmingly support Democrats. Turning Point is only a part of this operation for conservatives. Groups like Run GenZ are dedicated to promoting young conservatives in bids for public office. In Camilleris opinion, this is the beginning of a push that mirrors other right-wing movements to capture public institutions. Weve seen this with the Federalist Society where they are trying to push their right-wing judges from the local level to the Supreme Court. This is their attempt to do that with the candidate pipeline, Camilleri said. They were successful with the Supreme Court, we need to make sure theyre not successful with candidates in the political system. Lintings campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this story. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is set to receive a $750,000 federal grant, the most a single group is offered under a federal grant program, for services as part of a larger effort in recent years to raise mental health awareness and prevent veteran suicides. The announcement this week came during Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month and as Congress considered other measures to curb veteran suicides, including a bill to provide vets firearm lockboxes, and calls to fix a veterans affairs suicide hotline. Veteran issues are likely to come up as presidential candidates seek votes and wrap themselves in the flag, and both running mates Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio tout their service credentials ahead of Tuesday's primetime television debate. Brian Love, the director of the state veterans agency, called the federal grant vital funding, which, he said, in addition to raising mental health awareness and preventing veteran suicides, will also go to mitigate veteran homelessness. The agency, Love added, is "tremendously excited to accept this funding" from the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program for the third year in a row. Fox, an Army sniper instructor, died by suicide in 2020 at age 25. More: Social media claims of political violence in Michigan stoke public anxiety The grant program is part of efforts unfolding for more than a decade to understand how to help address veteran suicide, a growing problem that the White House called a "public health and national security crisis," adding that "far too many of our nation's veterans and service members have died at their own hands." In 2013, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs released a study looking at suicides from 1999 to 2010 and found 22 veterans were dying a day. On average, thats one every 65 minutes. After that, some organizations began using the number 22 to emphasize the problems magnitude. Army veteran Lance Hoey and his son Connor Hoey, 15, both of Allen Park, walk with their rucksacks toward Ferndale during the 22 Ruck March in Royal Oak, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. The event hopes to bring awareness to veteran suicide. On average, 22 veterans commit suicide per day in the United States. Three years later, perhaps as a result of prevention efforts, another study found the average suicide number had decreased to 20 a day; but in 2022, another study suggested many suicides were overlooked and undercounted, and offered a new estimate of 44 veterans a day, more than double the 2022 number. In 2021, the White House outlined what it called a new strategy to reduce military and veteran suicide. The problem, it said, was complex problem, with no single cause and no single solution, but was one that was preventable. The White House report pointed out that since 2010, more than 65,000 veterans had died by suicide, a number exceeding the total number of deaths from combat during the Vietnam War and the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Moreover, a Brown University study found that increasing rates of suicide for both veterans and active-duty personnel have been outpacing those of the general population, which was "an alarming shift, as suicide rates among service members have historically been lower than suicide rates among the general population." And in a separate statement this week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said that the Army's focus on suicide prevention was not just for September but "something we practice every day and year-round." The Army has the highest suicide rate of the service branches. Research shows veterans have a high incidence of suicide because there are links between service and mental illness, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and access to firearms. Nearly six out of every 10 gun deaths in America are suicides, according to gun control group, Everytown for Gun Safety. To help prevent gun suicides, a bipartisan bill was introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives to provide vets gun lockboxes, Military.com reported. The bill, the news outlet said, has been endorsed of by a firearms industry group in addition to gun control groups. And Stars and Stripes, an American military news outlet, reported this week that Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, asked VA Secretary Denis McDonough to prioritize fixing the technical problems with a crucial veterans' suicide hotline that have caused at least a dozen service outages. The hotline has had problems going back as far as 2017, according to USA Today. As for this week's Michigan's announcement, veterans of any branch or service and families of enrolled program participants are eligible to participate in the state program. To get help, veterans can call the agencys Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center at 800-MICH-VET or 800-642-4838. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan gets grant for veteran suicide prevention, a growing concern Veterans 'let down' by sale of military cottages Residents of the McKay VC Memorial Cottages say they feel "let down" by the sale [BBC/Simon Thake] Residents of cottages built for disabled military veterans have said they fear their community is at risk after the armed forces charity that manages the homes confirmed their sale. Fourteen bungalows known as the McKay VC Memorial Cottages, on Pine Close in Hoyland, were controlled by SSAFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association). SSAFA has completed their sale to London-based Mountview Estates, but resident Susan Speight said the charity had "let them all down". SSAFA said it had agreed a "cast-iron" guarantee that the residents could remain in their homes for the rest of their lives. The bungalows on Pine Close in Hoyland have been sold to London-based Mountview Estates [BBC/Simon Thake] Ms Speight, 64, served in the Womens Royal Naval Service and is the most recent resident on the street, having moved in four years ago. She said: "Weve all been through tough times. "We all have injuries and scars from our time serving. "Many of us have suffered from PTSD. This was our sanctuary." Chris Lloyd, who has lived there since 2006, said SSAFA had broken a covenant and failed to protect its tenants interests. The 68-year-old said: A private landlord doesnt understand veterans. "Theyre a buy-and-sell firm. "Well always worry if theyll change their mind and turf us out." Susan Speight, 64, described her bungalow as her "sanctuary" [BBC/Simon Thake] The site was first opened in 1988 in honour of Wortley-born Ian John McKay, who in April 1982 was Platoon Sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and was deployed with his unit in the Falklands War. He was killed during the Battle of Mount Longdon and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest accolade for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Mr Lloyd said SSAFA had dishonoured his memory. He said: Well fight this. "At the end of the day they were built for veterans. This is an injustice." The site was first opened in 1988 in honour of Wortley-born Ian John McKay, who served in the Falklands [BBC/Simon Thake] A spokesperson for SSAFA, the oldest charity of its kind in the country which provides lifelong support to ex-service personnel, said: For SSAFA to help as many people as possible, its trustees agreed that selling the few residential properties owned by the charity, including the Pine Close bungalows, with cast-iron protection given to those who have made the properties their homes, would free up more financial resources to help more people through the charitys core work. "This absolute, binding legal stipulation that the existing residents are guaranteed their lease for as long as they wish to remain in the bungalows and that there is protection against unreasonable rent increases has been agreed with the purchaser. "Supporting the men and women of UK armed forces and their families past, present and future, including those who live in Pine Close, is and remains SSAFAs priority." A spokesperson for Barnsley Council said: The council is aware of the situation between the residents and SSAFA, our legal team is keeping the situation under review and have assured that all necessary actions were taken in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. The BBC has contacted Mountview Estates for a comment. 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. More on this story Vice presidential candidate Walz headed to Cincinnati to raise money for Harris Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will make a stop in Cincinnati to raise money for the Kamala Harris campaign. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7s coverage of the four candidates for president and vice president will continue through Election Day. TRENDING STORIES: Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney told our news partner WCPO that Walz will be in the city on Oct. 5 for a fundraiser that is not a rally. The vice mayor said anyone who wants to donate to the Harris-Walz campaign is encouraged to attend. As of late Thursday, no time or location has been set for the Minnesota governors visit. We will update this developing report as we learn more. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a novel antipsychotic schizophrenia drug late Thursday, marking the first new treatment in decades for the mental health condition that affects 1.8 percent of the U.S. adult population. It is a major victory for market-driven medication development. Chris Boerner, board chair and chief executive officer at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)the biopharmaceutical company that created the drugcalled the FDA decision a "landmark approval" and "one that has the potential to change the treatment paradigm." Up until now, antipsychotic drugs, which address symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, worked by blocking access to dopamine receptors, according to The New York Times. This mechanism, however, contributed to common side effects like weight gain, social withdrawal, cognitive impairment, and lack of motivation. Cobenfy, the newly approved drug, indirectly influences dopamine levels. Unlike the standard approach of targeting dopamine receptors used by other schizophrenia drugs, Cobenfy targets the cholinergic receptors. The hope is that the new medication can provide similar effects on hallucinations and delusions as the current drugs on the market, while reducing side effects. Gordon Lavigne, CEO of the nonprofit advocacy organization Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance, told Reason that the personal-social effects of Cobenfy "would be difficult to measure," but that "you can reasonably assume that someone is going to have more of an ability to engage in daily life, be social, and be part of the fabric of [their] family." The cost of the Cobenfy is set to be in line with most other antipsychotic medications on the market. Adam Lenkowsky, chief commercialization officer for BMS, told the Times that its wholesale cost would be $1,850 a month. This marks yet another free market win in the healthcare space over government-funded research. Since 2002, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has allocated more than $20 billion to the research of the neuroscience and genetics of diseases like schizophrenia. Yet little benefit has actually come to patientseven by the admission of the person who oversaw the explosion in funding. "I should have been able to help us bend the curves for death and disability," said Thomas Insel, who led the NIMH for 13 years. "But I didn't." He's not alone. "As a schizophrenia researcher, I'm embarrassed to say we've spent literally billions of American taxpayer dollars on genetics, looking to understand what causes schizophrenia to help us develop new drugs for schizophrenia, and we have not been successful," Mark Weiser, the chief of the psychiatry division at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, told the Times. The post In a Victory for the Free Market, FDA Approves New Schizophrenia Drug appeared first on Reason.com. Cuba and Vietnam are among five countries worldwide that are still governed by a single Communist Party (ADALBERTO ROQUE) (ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/AFP) Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam in Havana on Thursday, with the two countries signing several bilateral agreements during the visit. "The world has seen many changes, but the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba will never change," said To Lam, 67, quoted by the Cuban presidency on X. The two presidents visited the commercial port of Mariel, a free trade zone about 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the capital, where several Vietnamese companies operate, the official press reported. Cuba and Vietnam are among five countries worldwide that are still governed by a single Communist Party. They differ, however, in that Hanoi has liberalized its economy while Havana has not. Several bilateral agreements were signed during the visit, notably in the fields of health and agriculture. A rice production program using hybrid seeds imported from the Asian country was also announced. Bilateral trade between the two countries is worth around $340 million. Vietnam exports rice, coal, chemicals, textiles and electronics to Cuba, and imports pharmaceutical products, according to the Cuban Center for International Politics Research. Vietnam wants "Cuba to continue its sustainable development and become self-sufficient in all areas, we must help it overcome difficulties," said Lam, addressing a delegation of Vietnamese businessmen, according to state television. Lam was inaugurated at the beginning of August as the head Vietnam's Communist Party, following the death of his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong. lp-jb/aha/bjt Vikings Sailed to The Ends of Earth to Search For Ivory, DNA Suggests An ivory tusk next to some smaller pieces of ivory The Vikings seem to have gone to the ends of the Earth in their search for precious ivory quite literally. The Norse were trading walrus tusks in medieval Europe that have now been traced to the very top of Greenland well beyond the reach traditionally associated with this seafaring civilization. A genetic analysis of 31 ivory artifacts, kept at museums across Europe, provides preliminary evidence that the Greenland Norse were searching for walrus tusks in the high Arctic at roughly the same time as the Thule Inuit of North America, and possibly their predecessors, the Tuniit (or Dorset). Close to half of all the ivory artifacts analyzed were traced back to a population of walruses living between what is now northwest Greenland and Arctic Canada. The main Norse settlements in Greenland were in the southwest. "We had no idea they were harvesting ivory from such a vast catchment area," said archaeologist Peter Jordan from Lund University in Sweden in a media release. "Our emerging results generated more questions than answers, and we struggled to understand precisely how these Norse ivory harvesting operations could have been organized by the small and remote Greenland communities." Early circumpolar globalization: schematic reconstruction of the Arctic Ivory Road. (Puerta et al., Science Advances, 2024) Archaeologist Greer Jarrett from Lund University explains that before making such a voyage, the Greenland Norse would have had to wait for sea ice to retreat, and they would have had a tight window of just 10 weeks in which to do their exploring before the seas froze again. It would have taken about a month to sail to the top of Greenland, but once there, the crew would have had non-stop daylight under which to hunt or trade. "Our study does not prove a direct contact between the Norse and Indigenous North Americans, but it shows that they overlapped in space and time in the North Water region in search for the same natural resource: walrus," ecologist Morten Tange Olsen from the University of Copenhagen told ScienceAlert. "It is, thus, highly likely that they also met, interacted, and perhaps traded walrus products." Walrus ivory from Greenland carved to look like a walrus. (Age Hojem/NTNU University Museum) A larger and more diverse sampling of walrus ivory artifacts will be needed to support that hypothesis, as well as further archaeological research in the high Arctic. If true, this would be a crucial moment in the history of our species: the first circumnavigation of the planet coming full circle from our origins out of Africa, into Asia, and across the Bering Strait. "The extent of their ventures into the High Arctic suggests that the Norse were not just farmers and settlers but also strategic traders deeply involved in long-distance resource extraction," molecular ecologist Emily Ruiz-Puerta from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark told ScienceAlert. "Moreover, this activity may have brought them into contact with Arctic Indigenous cultures, such as the Thule people, potentially leading to exchanges that have never been considered before." There's a chance the Thule Inuit or Tuniit may have even hunted the walruses to which these ivory artifacts once belonged. Unlike Greenland Norse, who sailed in plank-built vessels, and who probably harvested walruses with iron-tipped lances once they'd hauled themselves out of the water, the Thule Inuit used sophisticated harpoons to expertly hunt swimming walruses from open boats, waterproofed with animal skins. It is unlikely, the researchers say, that the Tuniit or Thule Inuit were harvesting ivory and then voyaging south to trade with the Norse. The Vikings didn't have much of value to offer the Indigenous peoples of the north to warrant such a big trip. The Norse, by contrast, had every reason to push northward. In medieval Europe, ivory was a prized possession for the creation of high-status objects, especially for religious reasons. In Iceland, the disappearance of walruses coincided with Viking colonization, and there are hints of a similar decline occurring when the Norse made it to Greenland in 950 CE. Perhaps resource exploitation is why the Norse ultimately abandoned Greenland in the 1400s, but not before they'd also collected walruses from the very north of the island. Chessmen from Medieval times made from walrus ivory and the teeth of whales. (Andrew Dunn/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0) If a surging demand for ivory in Europe is what ultimately drove the Norse and the Thule Inuit into each other's orbits, then researchers argue these are some of the earliest steps towards globalization of supply chains. "It has echoes of global capitalism sucking up remote resources with devastating consequences," the authors of the study explain. But the Indigenous perspective should not be overlooked, they argue. "Thus far, it is all a very 'Eurocentric' story about Norse expansion and colonization " explains Jarrett. "The reality is more nuanced and interesting. It all needs a big rethink and a lot of new research." The study was published in Science Advances. Related News 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. 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. South Carolina is the lone state that doesnt. But model policy from former Democrat House of Delegates candidate Susanna Gibson provides a blueprint for lawmakers nationwide for stronger protections, which the Palmetto State could adopt too. 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. Rep. Chris Wooten, R-Lexington, speaks during a House session in Columbia on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Former Miss South Carolina Jill Dudley joined the call along with the states deputy attorney general and Republican state Rep. Chris Wooten of Lexington. 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, she said. Like SC Daily Gazette, Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X. How Visit Lindsborg is getting creative in bringing Little Sweden to the world LINDSBORG A city in the middle of Kansas, with a population of less than 4,000 people will soon be known to people across parts of the United States, and even into Canada. This comes after the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau is taking a risk and spending money to reach new audiences with advertising. Visit Lindsborg announced Wednesday that it is the recipient of a $4,000 grant from Kansas Tourism that will be used to place podcast ads with iHeartRadio. "It's a matching grant, so the CVB is spending $6,000," said Holly Lofton, director of the Lindsborg CVB. "We have it available, and we decided this would be a good way to use it." A Dala horse sits in front of an American and Swedish flag at Hemslojd in downtown Lindsborg. Known as Little Sweden, Lindsborg brings in travelers from around the country and around the world to the city. Why did Lindsborg choose podcast advertising? Lofton said she is always looking at new ways to market to every demographic to bring them to Lindsborg, with younger people being a focus right now. This reason is why branching out into podcast advertising was appealing. "Podcast listeners are typically people in their 20s, 30s, 40s ... just a younger generation of travelers," she said. The opportunity to get into the podcast advertising market came about from a bit of chance, luck and a question about one of the most iconic features in the Lindsborg community. "A man from California (called) our office to ask about Coronado Heights, because he was planning a trip for his family across the U.S.," she said. After talking with the man more about the city, he mentioned that he was a sales person for iHeartRadio. This connection allowed Lofton to find out about an ad deal that iHeart was running at the time, three months of podcast ads in five different states, including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Missouri. "We have looked at that five-state area that we know to be our five largest traveled states," she said. Lofton said there are still a few details to work out with iHeart, including which types of podcasts they want to target and the content of the ads, but right now the idea is to have ads that are less than a minute long, which statistics show is the right length. "Most people don't fast forward through them, because they are short and because they are listening and not watching," she said. Opportunity for a Canadian ad campaign as well This isn't the only big ad campaign the Visit Lindsborg is working on right now. Lofton said about a month ago a representative from a Canadian travel magazine who wondered if Lindsborg wanted to put an ad in its October edition. As the time, the pricing for the ad was too much, but as they were getting closer to print, they needed to fill one more space and Lofton said the price came down enough to take the risk for the CVB. "I still didn't know about it, but then they threw in two digital billboard (ads) in Toronto," she said. She said the magazine is mainly distributed in the province of Ontario, which is perfect considering that Lindsborg is know as Little Sweden. "Ontario just so happens to border a lot of the states in the United States that have a large Scandinavian-immigration heritage," Lofton said. "That makes me think (that immigration) didn't stop at the border but went into Canada as well." She said Lindsborg has already seen some travelers from those northern states and Canada, particularly as they find their way south to get away from winter weather. "October is a great time for us because it goes right before wintertime," she said. The billboards will run for a week and Lofton said they will be in prominent spots in the Toronto area, the Gardiner Expressway which the City of Toronto says has around 140,000 weekday average vehicles daily and another in the Toronto Pearson Airport. Lofton said this campaign and the podcast campaign are new and exciting adventures for Visit Lindsborg, with this being the farthest reach it has actively pursued for travelers. "We always are trying to think outside the box," she said. "We take very seriously our partnership with Kansas Tourism and the Kansas Department of Commerce. We are always looking at how we bring people from outside (Kansas) in." She also thinks this is a kind of new venture for any city or town of this size. "I don't know who else is doing podcast ads," she said. "I had this bizarre conversation that was unlikely, and I just thought, 'I wonder if we could do that?'" Now that wonder has become a reality, and people from around the world will know the name of Little Sweden, Lindsborg, Kansas. This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Visit Lindsborg is getting creative in spreading word of Little Sweden ST. LOUIS Visitation and funeral services have been announced for a St. Louis police officer who was killed in the line of duty this past weekend. Officer David Lee had responded to a one-vehicle crash on eastbound I-70 near Grand Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. He was behind his police vehicle and retrieving traffic cones when another driver lost control of their car, spun out, and struck the officer. Lee, an 18-year veteran of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, was rushed to the hospital after the crash in critical condition. He passed away that afternoon in the presence of family and friends. Lee was 44. Kris Kristofferson, country music superstar and actor, dies at 88 Visitation for Lee will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, with the funeral service to follow. Officer Lee is survived by his wife and two children, as well as his mother and sister. Meanwhile, the man who struck Lee, 24-year-old Ramon A. Chavez-Rodriguez, remains jailed without bond. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged him with DWIdeath of law enforcement or emergency personnel, exceeding posted speed limit, and operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license. Chavez-Rodriguez had been on probation for a second-degree domestic assault charge in St. Charles County in 2020. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MANSFIELD, Mo. Hundreds of people visit Mansfield every year to visit The Historic Home and Museum celebrating the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, famous author of the Little House series, following her life as a pioneer. The Museum and Historic Home on Rocky Ridge Farm are a big draw for fans of the books and the Little House on the Prairie TV series, including one woman who came to visit from Indiana. Ive been a lifelong fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, said Linda Krevda who toured the house and museum. Krevda said the historic Wilder home and museum has been on her list of places to visit since she was a child. Life kind of got in the way. And raising my own kids and doing all of that, Krevda said. And now were retired and have the opportunity to do some traveling. And this was on my list and we decided to just come over and do it. Museum director Nicholas Inman said many visitors have fond memories of reading the Little House books inspired by Wilders life or watching the TV series based on her books. What happened this week in SGF 100 years ago It takes people back to their childhood when either they were reading the books themselves or they were read to in their elementary classroom, or maybe they sat around the television set with mom and dad or family time or with grandparents, Inman said. Mrs. Wilder has a way of pulling at our heartstrings and taking us back to a simpler times in our life. People who come to visit Rocky Ridge Farm can tour the museum filled with artifacts from Wilders life and the two homes on the property where she lived and wrote her books in the 1930s and 40s. To walk into her home and to realize it depicts a great deal of what it looked like, of course, when she was living there, Inman said. Its fascinating to people and they really enjoy that. The farmhouse was built by Ingalls Wilder and her husband Almanzo and they added to it over the years. The rock house was a Christmas gift from her daughter Rose Wilder. We actually did go up and tour the white farmhouse, Krevda said. And I think what stood out to me the most there was the scene, her writing desk where she, you know, probably wrote, sat and wrote all these books out by hand, these manuscripts on lined paper. The Museum and Historic Home tours are available from early March to mid-November. Tickets are $18.00 for adults, $8.00 for children ages 6 to 17, and children 5 and under are free. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 'With your vote:' Donald Trump stumps in Michigan while turnout machine looks for voters WASHINGTON - As Republican White House nominee Donald Trump stumped Friday to Michigan, thousands of the former president's supporters are working behind the scenes on a project that will likely decide the election: getting their people out to vote. "By the way, we win Michigan, we win the whole thing ... like we did in 2016," Trump said during a jobs speech to close out the workweek in Walker, Mich. "But you gotta vote!" In Trump's case, his turnout operation is different from the one he rode to Electoral College victory in 2016. It's also the source of angst among some Republicans - for two big reasons. One, the Trump campaign is relying in large part on outside groups to walk neighborhoods, knock on doors, and persuade people to vote. Two, the Trump campaign is targeting people who often don't cast ballots at all, "low propensity voters" as opposed to "swing voters" who could make the difference in a closely contested state. "We will make more voter contacts in the 2024 election than we did in the 2020 election, by the time Election Day rolls around" on Nov. 5, Trump political director James Blair recently said on "The Sean Spicer Show," hosted by the former Trump White House press secretary. "We will have successfully canvassed more voters than we did four years ago," Blair said. Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he makes a campaign stop at manufacturer FALK Production in Walker, Michigan, U.S. September 27, 2024. Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, including a popular vote margin of 81.3 million to 74.2 million. Many Democrats credited their turnout operations, including a heavy emphasis on early voting and mail-in balloting - items that are also a Trump campaign priority in his current battle with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. During his jobs speech in Michigan, which was largely a response to Harris' visit Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump attacked his opponent over migration, economic policies, and support for electric cars. The ex-president also suggested that his support of tariffs is the reason that people in foreign countries want to assassinate him. Trump, who had an evening event in the Detroit suburb of Warren, ended his Walker speech by urging supporters to participate in early voting if necessary: "Thank you very much ... God bless you ... Go out and vote!" Democrats said they are not worried about Trump's turnout operation, questioning the expertise and commitment of outside groups and the wisdom of focusing on low-propensity voters. "The campaign side-idea of asking people to narrowly reach people in their universe theoretically makes sense, but I don't think they're actually implementing it at scale they would need to win," Democratic operative Eddie Vale said. As for using private groups to promote turnout, Vale said "outsourcing it to the outside groups never works." He noted that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tried it during his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and "it was literally an epic disaster." The get-out-the-vote effort is in full swing outside a campaign rally with Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Cambria County War Memorial on August 30, 2024 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Some Republicans have grumbled about the Trump operation, but have not gone public. Reuters, which polled Republican operatives nationwide, reported that the focus on people who usually don't vote is "a high-risk, labor-intensive strategy that could bring in a wave of new voters but could also fall short if their targets ultimately stay home." Trump officials said their turnout operation is state of the art, and will make the difference in the seven key battleground states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. It's easier - and cheaper - for campaigns to work with outside groups because of a Federal Election Commission ruling that allows coordination of canvassing projects and the sharing of voter lists and data. The Trump team is working with political committees of groups that include Turning Point Action, led by millennial influencer Charlie Kirk; the Faith & Freedom Coalition, headed by long-time Christian conservative Ralph Reed; and America PAC, backed by billionaire Trump endorser Elon Musk. Michigan is one of those closely contested states that could be decided by which party has the best turnout machine. The Wolverine State helped Trump win the 2016 election, but the Michigan Republican Party has been in turmoil in more recent years, Four years ago, Trump lost to Biden in Michigan by fewer than 160,000 votes. Asked by Spicer about the use of outside groups in turnout, Blair said: "I feel more confident in some groups than others, shall we say ... But there are ways we can check on what they're doing." Political analysts said there's nothing particularly radical about what the Trump campaign is doing - and, in any case, it's impossible to assess how effective a turnout machine is until the votes are counted in November. "The results in the battleground states will depend on whether one campaign hired and deployed the more competent field operation," said James Gimpel, a University of Maryland professor of government who studies voter turnout. Given the stakes, he said, it's not surprising that people would complain about these kinds of operations. "There is a lot of hand-wringing about the competence of field operations in every close election," Gimpel said. "Mobilization could definitely make the difference in battleground states. So of course candidates, parties and interested observers should be concerned." He added: "In this very close contest, both parties should be very concerned about their field operations." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two reasons why Trump's vote turnout operation is worrying Republicans DENVER (KDVR) A judge ruled Wednesday that a vote to remove and replace Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams was invalid. Republicans have been calling for Williams to step down or be removed from his position after sending an email from the Colorado GOP stating that God hates flags, and then posting to X that Americans should Burn all the #pride flags this June. How to register to vote or update voter registration in Colorado The issue was taken to court and during a meeting on Aug. 24, members of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee voted to remove Williams as chairman, and Eli Bremer was reportedly elected chairman. Williams said the meeting was improper and did not recognize the results. On Wednesday, a judge ruled that the votes were invalid, according to court documents obtained by FOX31. Article V.C required a supermajority vote of the entire CRC voting membership before Williams, Scheppelman, and Ferguson could be removed. It should be clear, in this context, that a minority of members did not have the authority to eliminate the requirement of a supermajority vote and thus give themselves the power to do what the Bylaws forbade them from doing. The vote to remove Williams, Scheppelman, and Ferguson was not in accordance with the CRCs Bylaws, and it is accordingly void and of no effect, the ruling reads. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather The fringe minority that tried to take control did not have the authority to bypass this rule, and their actions are now declared void and of no effect, the Colorado GOP said in a post on X. Bremmer sued Williams because Williams wasnt handing over party control. Williams said in a press release that the trial, scheduled for October, is for other ancillary and secondary questions that will have no impact on yesterdays dismissal. Bremer told FOX31 that he is disappointed with the ruling and is working with attorneys to find a path 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 FOX31 Denver. VSP say roads may be dangerous after Hurricane Helene rainfall PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Virginia State Police has joined in the calls for caution as Hurricane Helene heads to make landfall in Florida. Although Virginia isnt expected to be in direct course of the storm, state police are wanting motorists to be prepared for additional rainfall. Forecasts are currently calling for regions of the Commonwealth to get multiple inches of rain, a release states. Virginia State Police will have all available troopers and supervisors working in advance of and for the duration of the storm as it makes its way across the Commonwealth. Virginia State Police are also pre-positioning swift water rescue teams, drones, and aviation resources to those areas most likely impacted by the storm. If having to travel during Hurricane Helene, drivers are reminded to do the following: Use headlights. Virginia law requires headlights on when your windshield wipers are activated. Dont drive through standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Slow your speed. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Dont tailgate. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you in order to avoid rear end collisions. Buckle Up. Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash. Put down your phone. Do not text and drive or shoot video of the bad conditions while driving, as these actions put you, your passengers and other vehicles at extreme risk of a crash and/or injury. Check Your Vehicle. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc. Continue to check WAVY.com 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 WAVY.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Traffic delays are expected along West Burnside Street Thursday evening after a water main break was discovered near Barbara Walker Crossing, officials said. The emergency repairs will begin at 7 p.m. on West Burnside between Northwest Barnes Road and the Barbara Walker Crossing pedestrian bridge, the Portland Water Bureau said. Person missing after boat capsizes in Columbia River The pedestrian bridge itself and area bus stops along the route will remain open. However, one westbound lane of West Burnside Street will be closed as the repairs take place. Crews are making emergency repairs due to a water main break on West Burnside Street. September 26, 2024 (courtesy Portland Water Bureau). [C]rews will shift the lanes of traffic to ensure travel remains open in both directions, PWB said in a release. The Water Bureau aims to have all lanes of traffic open before the morning commute, but we wont know the extent of the repair until we have excavated and assessed the break. If its determined the repairs necessitate lane closures through Friday morning, PWB said they will send out a public update by 5 a.m. Officials urge drivers to use caution as traffic may suddenly slow or stop during repairs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (HT Ganzo/Getty Images) Prosecutors are warning the Washington state Supreme Court that reducing public defender caseloads could lead to filing of fewer criminal charges and people seeking retribution on their own. This is a social contract. People give up vigilante justice in exchange for the government to administer justice, Okanogan County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Teddy Chow told justices. Vigilantism will not only be limited to revenge or retribution to a particular offender but may also endanger those who work in public and criminal justice, he said. Chow wasnt the only one making a dire prediction to justices in a hearing Wednesday on a request to amend the Supreme Courts standards for indigent defense by trimming the number of cases public defense attorneys handle each year by up to two-thirds. The state has a shortage of public defenders. Prosecutors say reducing defenders workloads will lead to filing of fewer cases to ensure no ones rights to counsel are violated. And if the public defender ranks grow, cities and counties will need to amp up hiring of staff and prosecutors to keep pace and that will be exorbitantly expensive. Without sufficient attorneys or without sufficient resources, it would lead to a de facto decriminalization and an increase in vigilantism, said Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. He added that way too many people have had their cases dismissed or not filed because of a lack of public defenders. Supporters of reducing caseloads say the change is needed to stabilize the system. They contend that large caseloads and low pay are driving people out of public defense and deterring new lawyers from entering this line of legal work. And they, too, pointed to the problem in some counties where those accused of crimes, but unable to afford a lawyer, can wait long periods of time before they receive counsel they are constitutionally guaranteed. Public defense is in a downward spiral. We can fix this, said Jason Schwarz, director of the Snohomish County Office of Public Defense and chair of the Washington State Bar Associations Council on Public Defense. This will be expensive. Justice is not cheap. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Larry Jefferson, director of the states Office of Public Defense, urged the justices to make the change and heaped praise on public defenders for their efforts amid rising caseloads, growing trial backlogs and increasing departures through retirements and resignations of those seeking higher-paying, less stressful jobs. Theyre giving up their lives for this state right now, he said. Crisis of attrition Caseloads of public defenders have been a topic of conversations the past two years. Under standards adopted by the state Supreme Court in 2012, a full-time public defense attorney or assigned counsel should have no more than 150 felony cases a year. Last year, the American Bar Association, the National Center for State Courts and the RAND Justice Policy Program released the National Public Defense Workload Study that concluded public defenders should handle far fewer. Washingtons high court asked the Washington State Bar Association to weigh in on whether the cap needs adjusting. The association responded in March with the recommendation now under public review for new maximums of 47 felony or 120 misdemeanor cases in a year, depending on the severity. The reduction would be phased in over three years. Under the proposal, crimes are assigned a number of credits based on seriousness and complexity of providing a legal defense. A motor vehicle theft is assigned one credit and a murder seven, for example. That means a lawyer could theoretically be assigned 47 vehicle theft or seven homicide cases in a year before hitting their limit. In addition, the bar association wants the court to increase minimum support staff requirements and revise attorney qualifications to enable lawyers to handle a variety of cases faster. Attorneys are resigning from the public defense profession in droves because they cannot continue the work given the volume of cases, bar association members wrote in the summary of the requested amendments to the Courts Standards for Indigent Defense Services. Justices will hold a second public hearing about the standards on Nov. 13 in the Temple of Justice and comments can also be submitted to the court until Oct. 31. They can accept, reject or modify any or all of the proposals. There is no deadline to act. Any decision will be handled similar to a court case where they confer behind closed doors then issue a decision and explanation. Critical issue It will be expensive to reduce caseloads. On that point everyone agreed. But cost is not a concern for the court, justices noted. Jefferson, with the Office of Public Defense, told justices hes requesting $137 million in the next two-year state budget of which $40 million would be specifically to help defray costs of public defense at the local level. The current budget provides $5.8 million to counties and roughly $1 million to cities. He also acknowledged the challenge of complying with the change will vary by county. Reducing caseloads by roughly 60% will require hiring many attorneys. Local government leaders are concerned they wont be able to find them and, if they do, will lack money to pay them. And if the Supreme Court sets new minimum staffing levels for paralegal and other support staff, it will compound the challenge. Candice Bock, government relations director for the Association of Washington Cities, and Derek Young, interim executive director for the Washington State Association of Counties, said during a briefing for state lawmakers on the issue earlier in the week that collective costs could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if the state managed to come up with money, a reduced caseload standard will not result in three times as many individuals being interested in pursuing a career in public defense in such a short amount of time. If these standards are enacted and if these standards are required, well need help from the Legislature, Young said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX WACO, Texas (FOX 44) A vibrant mural honoring Hispanic heritage has recently caught the attention of residents driving along North Valley Mills Drive, adding a splash of color and culture to the citys landscape. Local artist Tony Bryant is behind this captivating artwork, which adorns the exterior of Mexicano Grill #9. Bryant expressed his joy in creating a piece that resonates with the community, It makes me feel good because Im doing it for people that appreciate me. The restaurants owner, Orlando Laon, welcomed Bryants vision to celebrate Hispanic culture. Feels very nice. I love the work that this guy is doing. We do this for us, We trying to bring some Mexico to Waco, Orlando said. Diners have been praising the murals beauty, with one Waco resident, Linda, stating, Its the most beautiful thing Ive seen. It has topped all the paintings that I have seen of her, referring to the portrait of Frida Kahlo. Bryant, whose work is inspired by the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Mexican culture, aims to evoke a sense of comfort and joy through his art. As he adds the finishing touches, he hopes viewers can envision themselves as part of the murals story. If you ever want to be able to express the beauty inside of yourself, hang around people that appreciate you, and appreciate those people. Theyll give you all the energy, all the inspiration, the love, the joy, Everything you need, he advised. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Bryants artistic journey began in childhood when he painted for his aunt. He attended art school during a time when few African Americans were represented, honing his skills and finding his unique voice. After relocating to Waco, his first mural in town was for Poppa Rollos Pizza, and before Waco, he completed numerous projects across Texas. Creating murals can be a time-consuming process; Bryant notes that an 8-foot by 12-foot piece can take him between seven to ten days to complete. His meticulous attention to detail stems from his education in art, where he mastered the intricacies of color, texture, and depth. I get most of my inspiration just by watching the reaction to my work, Bryant said, adding that the joy he brings to others fuels his passion. His murals can even be found in smaller towns like Marlin, Texas, as well as prestigious projects honoring figures like Muhammad Ali and Thurgood Marshall. As Waco continues to embrace its artistic community, Bryant remains dedicated to enhancing the citys beauty one mural at a 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 KWKT - FOX 44. Wales 'should get a lot more' of UK's rail cash Wales' rail investment is run from the Department for Transport in London [Getty Images] The Welsh economy is losing out because of a lack of rail investment, a transport expert has said. Prof Mark Barry said Wales should be getting a lot more money, but because spending was controlled from Whitehall, England was more of a priority. The first minister said she was doing everything she could to get more cash for the country's railways. The Welsh Conservatives said Wales should be getting its fair share of HS2 funding. The Labour UK government said investment was key to its priorities, but rail investment was run from the Department for Transport in London rather than the Welsh government. Prof Barry, from Cardiff University, said that meant Wales was down the queue for cash. He said: "We get about 1 to 2% of the funding available but should get a lot more. "In an ideal world youd be looking at 5 or 6% of the total UK investment in rail enhancement, but if you don't invest in essential economic infrastructure - specifically in energy, transport and housing - then you can't really expect your economy to turn a corner." He said the amount of cash Wales was asking for was tiny compared with what had already been committed to English railways. "The TransPennine Express Group Upgrade is a 10bn capital programme over 15 years," he said. "In Wales we've worked up over the last five years 2-3bn in very good business cases for rail investment, and the challenge is how is that going to get funded?" Earlier this year Welsh ministers confirmed they would not go to court to seek billions of pounds extra to spend following high speed rail investment in England [PA Media] In recent years the biggest argument has been about extra funding for Wales from the HS2 project. In opposition, Labour said the HS2 rail link should be an England only scheme and Wales should get money as a result. First Minister Eluned Morgan said she had spoken to the UK chancellor about a dividend for Wales. Opposition parties want to see Wales press for the cash, an estimated 4-5bn, which they have said would pay for much improvement. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies MS, said: "We need to make sure that happens so that we can spend it on infrastructure and improvement in our transport operations here in Wales, and that needs to happen, and we were told that it was a turning of the page if Labour came into government on 4 July. "Well if that page is turned, let's have that money, and let Eluned Morgan live up to what she's professing to do, which is to stand up for Wales." 'Investment in Welsh rail' But the UK government's Welsh secretary Jo Stevens seemed to close the door on that idea when she was asked about it in Parliament earlier this month. Plaid Cymru's parliamentary leader, Liz Saville-Roberts, told the Commons: "The truth is that the railways are broken and Labour's plan fails to address the chronic underfunding that is the cause, particularly in Wales. "In 2022, the secretary of state - then the shadow secretary of state - said that it was 'utterly illogical' to designate HS2 as an England and Wales project, and called on the Conservatives to 'cough up' the billions owed to Wales. "Will she cough up now?" In response, Ms Stevens said: "We cannot go back in time and change the way a project was commissioned, managed and classified by the previous Conservative government. "They need to accept responsibility for the chaos, delay and waste on their watch. "What we can do though is work closely with our Senedd and local authority colleagues to develop and invest in transport projects that improve services for passengers right across Wales." In a statement, Ms Stevens' department the Wales Office reaffirmed what she had said in the Commons and added: "Following years of neglect, this new UK government recognises the importance of investing in rail infrastructure in Wales. "The Welsh secretary has already met with the transport secretary to discuss investment in Welsh rail." It added that Ms Stevens was working closely with the Welsh government to identify a range of improvements. "Alongside this the transport secretary is currently carrying out a review of the previous government's transport commitments which will ensure our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers." In just over a month, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver a Budget which is expected to set the course for what the government plans to do on investment. The rules are set for Tim Walz and J.D. Vances vice presidential debate on Tuesday, and they promise to give everyone watching a spirited, if not chaotic, contest. For one, both of the candidates microphones will remain on while one of them is talking, although CBS News, which is hosting and moderating the debate, says it reserves the right to hit the mute button. This is a departure from ABC Newss decision to mute microphones during both previous presidential debates. The V.P. debate will take place at 9 p.m. at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, and, just like Harris and Trumps debate in Philadelphia, there will be no audience in the studio. Candidates will have two minutes to answer the questions posed to them, with the opposing candidate also allowed two minutes to respond. Following that, each candidate gets one minute for a rebuttal. At their discretion, the moderators can give candidates more time to continue a topic. The candidates will have lights on their podiums to indicate how much time they have to speak, and theyll each have a countdown clock. At the end of the debate, which will last for 90 minutes, Vance and Walz will each get two minutes for a closing statement. Vance won a coin toss held Thursday, and chose to go second and have the final word. Vance has had a rough time since being named as Trumps running mate in July, with a number of damaging interviews and statements resurfacing in the weeks since. Walz, on the other hand, helped launch the Democrats best attack line in years by calling Republicans and their policies weird. Vance has unsuccessfully attempted to attack Walzs military record, and, along with Trump, egged on a racist lie against Haitian immigrants in Ohio. It will be interesting to see how the Ohio senator will handle any questions about Haitian immigrants, which will almost certainly be brought up, or if he will try to make personal attacks against the Minnesota governor. Vance does not appear to have any issues of cognitive decline, unlike Donald Trump, so his debate performance might be the clearest articulation of the policies proposed by the Republican ticket. But, judging by Vances statements during the campaign, those policies might not sound any better in his words. Two days after Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore was placed on paid administrative leave, the city still has not made a public statement about the reasoning for the decision, and its City Council members appear to be in the dark or unwilling to divulge more information. Phone calls to Moores personal phone number went straight to voicemail Friday, and a city spokesperson said that City Manager Elizabeth Pauli, to whom the police chief reports, was not available to speak. Pauli was apparently at a professional conference, but the spokesperson provided no further details. While we understand the level of public interest in this matter, the City doesnt discuss personnel issues and wont be making any additional statements at this time, spokesperson Maria Lee said in an email. As stated previously, Deputy Chief Paul Junger is now serving as Acting Chief. Mayor Victoria Woodards did not respond to a request for comment from The News Tribune. City Council Member Jamika Scott said she was informed of the decision Thursday in a phone call with Tacomas deputy city manager. Allen McKenzie, the chair of the Community Police Advisory Committee, said he learned about it through an internal email. Both said the news took them by surprise. That was not the phone call I was expecting at all, Scott said. This is a very public-facing department, so its concerning because we have so little information, she added. I understand if its a personnel thing, and there might be things that they cant talk about publicly but the hush hush-ness of it leaves so much room for people to speculate. Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore (right) and Deputy Chief Paul Junger address the citys new crime prevention plan during the Hosmer Business Association meeting at the Tacoma Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Council member John Hines, Tacomas deputy mayor, said that the city took the matter very seriously and he trusted Pauli was approaching it with the attention it deserved. Hines did not expect to be briefed on any particulars until the citys process for handling personnel matters, which includes an investigation, had run its course. I know that the police chief is a high-profile position so the public expects us to respond differently, Hines said in a brief interview. This is the normal way we approach personnel matters in the city, whether youre the police chief or any one of our employees. Hines, who said he viewed Moore as professional and honest, also noted that the city was diligent about not releasing details prematurely in these situations in order to prevent potential misinformation. Bishop Dr. Lawrence White, spokesperson for the Tacoma/Pierce County Coalition, told The News Tribune late Friday evening that he spoke with Pauli earlier in the day about the situation involving Moore. The coalition last month formally requested the Department of Justice open an investigation into the police department for widespread excessive force and discriminatory policing. White said Friday that the issue was a system inherited by Moore and others that has long been divisive and destructive for the Black community. Friday, Pauli told White that a personnel investigation of Moore could be very brief or take up to two weeks, White said. The broad time frame for an investigation and the lack of any specifics about Moores placement on administrative leave frustrated White, who said that it effectively left open the door for assumptions about what might have happened and raised questions of transparency in the city. This just erodes away at trust, White said. Other city leaders said little of substance. Council member Kristina Walker told The News Tribune via email Friday: I am not privy to any additional information. The city manager is managing the internal process. Council member Olgy Diaz provided a longer statement: I remain uninformed about the circumstances surrounding the police chiefs administrative leave, Diaz said in an email forwarded by Lee, the spokesperson. I understand and share the communitys frustration and desire for transparency. The lack of information breeds distrust, not just in law enforcement, but in the city government as a whole. While I appreciate the need for confidentiality in personnel matters, I believe we must strike a balance between protecting individual privacy and upholding the publics right to know. The importance of a position should not preclude open communication, especially when it concerns the leadership of our police force. I will continue to push for more transparency regarding the timeline of the chiefs absence. I urge my colleagues in city leadership to recognize that open communication is essential to rebuilding trust. In the meantime, I ask the community for patience. Jumping to conclusions without all the facts serves no one. Council member Sandesh Sadalge said in an email that he did not have a comment. Other council members contacted by The News Tribune through phone calls and email did not respond. A Police Department spokesperson also did not have information to provide Friday on the reasoning behind Moore being placed on administrative leave. Detective William Muse reiterated that Junger is the acting chief, and the department is going to operate business as usual. Moore has led the department since January 2022, replacing Don Ramsdell. Moore came to Tacoma from the Dallas Police Department, where he worked as assistant chief for the Investigations Bureau. The Community Police Advisory Committee is made up of Tacoma residents and is tasked with advising the city on police policy and reviewing complaints against officers. McKenzie said he would like to know more, but as the chair of an advisory committee, he doesnt feel entitled to more information than anyone else. This isnt something that the city has asked our advice on, nor would I expect them to, McKenzie said. I assume theres some kind of investigation going on. I have no idea what that would entail. And I assume that he would be on leave until that investigation is complete, but thats just pure speculation. McKenzie said hes had great experiences with Moore, and he felt the Police Department has been heading in the right direction under his leadership. Referring to Moores violent crime reduction plan, McKenzie said it isnt just that the chief has delivered good numbers, he also feels that calls for service are being responded to more quickly, and hes noticed that a bunch of homicides have recently been solved. Scott said she hadnt had many in-depth conversations with Moore, and her interactions with him dont tell her much about the validity of him being placed on leave. I feel people can have various opinions on the outcomes of our policing and all that, Scott said. Without getting into the weeds on that type of stuff, Ive never experienced anything but him being professional. He shows up to our study sessions and our council meetings like the other department directors. Scott said she would tell Tacomans that she shares their concern and this isnt something to take lightly but that the city has processes in place for a reason. She said she was sure an HR process was happening, and she was hopeful that she would learn more soon. Scott added that while Moore leads the Police Department, hes one person, and there is a leadership structure to maintain consistent police services. Both Scott and McKenzie said so far they have not tried to learn more information about the decision. Scott said after she was informed Thursday, her feeling was that she didnt want to bombard city leaders because she was sure there was a lot going on, but she made it clear she was concerned and would be interested in knowing more. I really dont know what to think. We havent really been given any specifics, Scott said. Staff writer Shea Johnson contributed to this report. Want to see the SC roads closed because of Helene? Check out this interactive map Hurricane Helene toppled this tree on Greene Street near the University of South Carolina campus early on Friday Sept. 27, 2024. It blocked the street and smashed cars parked there. Driving on South Carolina roads has gotten more treacherous because of Tropical Storm Helene. The South Carolina Department of Transportation on Friday morning recommended residents avoid travel if possible. The department had received many reports of downed trees and debris in roadways caused by strong winds from Helene. SCDOT crews will begin clearing roadways as it becomes safe to do so, the department said in a press release. For those who must travel, SCDOT asks that you use caution and report any downed trees or debris to the department directly at 855-467-2378. Check closed SC roads online To check which roads are closed or impacted by Helene, click here. The link will take you to an interactive map of the state. Click on the red and orange spots on the map to get more information about the state-maintained road closures. The storm Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane late Thursday night. The storm then traveled inland into Georgia and South Carolina. Helene was listed as a tropical storm as of 6 a.m. on Friday. As of 9 a.m. on Friday, more than 1.3 million people were reportedly without power in the state. The National Weather Service in Columbia reported winds at 67 mph at 6:12 a.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport and 82 mph in Augusta. Warner calls on Biden administration to do more to fight election misinformation Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) is pushing the federal government to boost assistance to state and local governments to help them identify and prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. In a letter to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly, Warner emphasized the vital role state and local election offices play in the broader election process. Unfortunately, throughout this election cycle we have witnessed an unprecedented rise in targeted election disinformation campaigns, Warner wrote in the letter, dated Friday. The Virginia Democrat pointed to the wave of robocalls targeted at New Hampshire primary voters earlier this year, during which a deepfake of President Bidens voice was used in a call that encouraged voters to stay home and save their votes. A Democratic political consultant was later indicted after he admitted to creating the deepfake to warn about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). Warner separately discussed the Intelligence Communitys 2024 Threat Assessment, which covered the strategic and international attempts by foreign actors including Russia, China and Iran. I strongly urge CISA to increase its provision to assist state and local governments in identifying, responding to, and mitigating the spread of misinformation and disinformation that could impact the administration of elections and voting processes, Warner wrote. He urged CISA to increase its collaborative efforts to track election interference efforts and called the agency to facilitate communication between election offices and social media platforms. In an election cycle where threats persistently grow but some platforms are dedicating fewer resources towards election integrity and content moderation efforts, this presents an opportune moment to ramp up such collaborations, Warner wrote. He emphasized his concerns about AI, arguing it has supercharged the threats and adjusted the risk calculus. He recommended CISA should adjust with this risk to make sure election offices and the public are provided with the necessary protections against such threats. The widespread presence, expanded scope and increased sophistication of AI technologies, including generative AI, has only strengthened deceptive and manipulative information campaigns, Warner wrote. While AI capabilities continue to grow at a rapid pace, state and local governments IT, public outreach, and cybersecurity teams continue to operate with limited staff and resources, making it extremely difficult for smaller teams to respond to sophisticated AI-backed campaigns targeting elections. A spokesperson for CISA confirmed the agency received Warners letter but declined to comment further. Warner has sounded the alarm on domestic and foreign election interference on various occasions, including just last week when he chaired an Intelligence Committee hearing featuring testimony from three major tech leaders on foreign adversaries attempts to meddle with the 2024 election. The concern follows an increase in action from both social media platforms and the government regarding foreign actors. The Justice Department handed down an indictment this month accusing two RT employees of leading a covert influence campaign by partnering with conservative company Tenet Media to hire various right-wing influencers. The agency also seized more than 30 web domains used by Russia for covert campaigns. Days later, Meta the parent company of Facebook and Instagram announced it banned Russian state media from its social media platforms in the wake of the outlets foreign interference activity. Warner and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) sent a letter last week to the leaders of Meta, X Discord, Twitch and Alphabet Inc., to express persisting concerns over how election-related disinformation can go viral and reach millions of viewers. NBC News first reported the letter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Warren police are currently investigating an incident involving a house and car being shot at on Wednesday night. Police were dispatched to the 800 block of Mason Street NW shortly after 8 p.m. for a report of shots being heard. According to police reports, a neighbor in his driveway saw two males shooting around 20 shots toward a house, then took off running toward Hillsdale Drive. A woman was sitting in her car in front of the residence during the shooting, and the cars windshield was struck, along with the drivers side door, reports said. The woman was not injured. Police found 14 bullet holes on the front of the residence. At this time, there are no suspects. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The suspect in a Washington shooting was arrested in Clackamas County on Tuesday, authorities said. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a shooting in Graham, just south of Tacoma, where two people were shot. Deputies arriving at the scene said they found a man on the ground who had been shot and they were told that another victim had been driven to a nearby fire station. Vancouver man shot, killed by SWAT after late-night armed standoff The man at the scene was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. However, police said he was expected to survive. The other victim was later declared dead at the scene. Officials said they learned that a dispute had started over a motorcycle, which led to the two men being shot and the suspect fleeing the scene. Probable cause was quickly developed and authorities said they issued a warrant for his arrest. 5 arrested after multi-state muscle car theft ring dismantled in Clark County The day after the shooting, Oregon State Police said they were contacted by Pierce County about the incident and told the suspect was believed to be in Oregon. The suspect was quickly found in Clackamas County and taken into custody while waiting for extradition back to Washington. The man faces charges including two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. No further information, including the identity of the suspect, has been released 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 KOIN.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Hurricane Helene continues to cause issues for residents, but also visitors to the areas hit by the storm. One of those experiencing setbacks is Jane Thomas of Washington Twp. Shes currently stuck on a cruise ship until further notice. 2 NEWS spoke to Thomas via phone call, where we learned that as of now its a wait-and-see situation when she and her husband will be able to return to land. Kettering family shares experience in Florida amidst Hurricane Helene Thomas says that on Wednesday, the captain of the ship announced over the speaker that Jackson Port where they were originally supposed to return to has closed. Right now, all passengers are stuck on the ship waiting for any updates but are at the mercy of Helene. Thomas says that the crew has been giving updates to everyone aboard through the loudspeakers. But for now, she is waiting in her cabin hoping to return home soon. The atmosphere is, you know, I think, like a regular day at sea. Everybodys, you know, getting some sun where they can and eat and drink and casinos open. The guest services line is a little longer than normal, I think, trying to help everybody with their travel plans. But I think the atmosphere around here is, is pretty upbeat still, said Thomas. Thomas was able to tell me that she was able to reschedule her flight. Her workplace told her to be safe, and that they would see her when she returned. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Democratic incumbent Brad Pfaff and Republican challenger Stacey Klein have agreed to a televised debate before the November election. The two candidates seeking the 32nd State Senate District seat are set to debate each other Oct. 16 through an event hosted by UW-La Crosse, the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area. While the event will not be open to the public, the televised debate will be taped and made available for broadcast and streaming. It will also remain unedited unless technical difficulties or disruptions from the audience occur. UW-L political science professor Anthony Chergosky said that unlike in years prior, attempts to schedule debates for the state Assembly races were unsuccessful. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska; Jill Billings, D-La Crosse; and Democrat Tara Johnson all agreed to participate in a debate. Their opponents, Republicans Ryan Huebsch; Cedric Schnitzler; and Loren Oldenburg, R-Viroqua, all declined, citing scheduling conflicts. Chergosky also said he was unaware of any current efforts to schedule a debate between U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, and Rebecca Cooke. To his knowledge, neither candidate has called for a debate. The 3rd Congressional District candidates have individual forums scheduled with the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce in October, with Van Ordens set for Oct. 21, and Cookes on Oct. 23. BROOKLYN, New York (KMID/KPEJ) Police in New York released video in the search for a woman they said stole an electric wheelchair from a sidewalk in Brooklyn, and used the device to make a slow getaway. Local media reported the wheelchair belonged to 70-year-old Rosalyn Johnson, who left it while entering a shop on her way to church. WATCH: Texas charcuterie board breaks world record For it to be a woman, youre supposed to help other women. Some women go astray, and its up to the ones not caught up in this worldly life to bring them back, Johnson told local media. NYPD later visited Johnson, delivering a nearly identical electric wheelchair purchased with $1,500 in funds donated to the police 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 Yourbasin. WATCH: Florida crews respond to house fire during flooding from Hurricane Helene First responders in Florida came across an active house fire while navigating Hurricane Helene floodwaters by boat. Crews from the South Pasadena Fire Department and the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office found the scene while responding to water rescues. The area was completely flooded when they found a home that was fully involved in a fire. Watch: Helene weakens to tropical storm after slamming Floridas Big Bend Firefighters said large objects, including dumpsters, were floating through the water and causing additional hazards. Crews said they have been responding to as many emergency calls as possible. See: U.S. Coast Guard save a man and his dog in Clearwater Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SOUTH PASADENA, Fla. (WFLA) While conducting water rescues, the South Pasadena Fire Department and Pinellas County Sheriffs Office found a house on fire Thursday night. Large objects including dumpsters were moving through floodwaters just before midnight, making it difficult for first responders. As the video shows, it was too late to save the flooded home. Crews will continue to respond to emergencies when possible, the City of Pasadena said. Meanwhile, emergency workers in Florida, Georgia and elsewhere rescued hundreds of people from boats, their homes and their cars as Hurricane Helenes winds, rain and storm surge created havoc Friday on the Gulf of Mexico, in coastal neighborhoods and further inland. The efforts of Floridas 1,500 search-and-rescue personnel will be concentrated on securing and stabilizing affected communities through the weekend, said Kevin Guthrie, the states emergency operations director. The Category 4 storm made landfall on the Northwest Florida coast late Thursday, but it created flooding from storm surge all along the states Gulf Coast. As those sorts of rescue missions happen today, and continue, please do not go out and visit the impacted areas, Guthrie said Friday morning at a news conference in the Florida capital of Tallahassee. I beg of you, do not get in their way. The reported rescues ranged from life-threatening situations to people trapped in their homes by waist-high water and unable to flee on their own. Five people died in Pinellas County and dozens were rescued after the storm surge hit an unprecedented 8 feet (2.4 meters), forcing some to seek shelter in their attics. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the deaths all occurred in neighborhoods where authorities told residents to evacuate, but many residents ignored the warnings. Gualtieri said his deputies tried overnight to reach those who had been trapped, but in some neighborhoods it just wasnt safe. Pinellas County includes St. Petersburg. I was out there personally. We tried to launch boats, we tried to use high-water vehicles and we just met with too many obstacles, Gualtieri said. He said the death toll could rise as emergency crews go door-to-door in the flooded areas to see if anyone remains. In neighboring Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, the sheriffs office rescued more than 300 people overnight from storm surge. Spokesperson Amanda Granit said those included a 97-year-old woman with dementia and her 63-year-old daughter, who got surprised by the surge and needed help fleeing their flooded home; and a 19-year-old woman whose car got stuck as she drove in the rising water and couldnt get out. Granit said deputies were conducting rescues in such large numbers they had to request county transit buses to get the people to safety. Deputies couldnt move them fast in enough in their patrol vehicles, Granit said. In the Tampa Bay-area city of South Pasadena, rescue video shows a house burning early Friday amid flooded streets. Other counties along the Gulf reported more than 100 rescues. The Coast Guard said it rescued three boaters and their pets from the storm in separate incidents. In a Thursday helicopter rescue captured on Coast Guard video, a man and his Irish setter were stranded 25 miles offshore in the Gulf on their 36-foot sailboat in heavy seas. The video shows the man putting his dog into a yellow rescue vest and pushing it into the raging sea before jumping in himself. A Coast Guard swimmer helped them into a rescue basket and they were hoisted into the copter. In North Carolina, more than 100 swift-water rescues had occurred as Helenes rains caused massive flooding Friday, particularly in the states western section. Gov. Roy Cooper said the flash floods are threatening lives and are creating numerous landslides. The priority now is saving lives, Cooper said, begging people to stay off the roads unless they were seeking higher ground. With the rain that they already had been experiencing before Helenes arrival, this is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of western North Carolina, Cooper said. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said crews are working to rescue people trapped in more than 115 homes. Helenes rains flooded homes in Hanover West, a neighborhood in north Atlanta. Emergency personnel rescued several people from their homes, said Richard Simms, a resident in a nearby neighborhood. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATLANTA FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen found himself in the middle of a harrowing rescue mission during Tropical Storm Helene. Conditions deteriorated rapidly in the pre-dawn hours around Atlanta, with millions facing the threat of life-threatening flooding. On Friday morning, the city was placed under its first-ever Flash Flood Emergency, as Atlanta endured its wettest three-day period in 104 years. While covering the storm's aftermath, Van Dillen, a journalist from the area, heard a woman's desperate cries for help along Peach Tree Creek. She had driven into floodwaters and was trapped in her car before sunrise. "I just put the microphone down and called 911," he said. "I know that those guys are swamped, so we waited about five minutes. She was getting panicked a little bit more because the water was coming up a little bit higher." Helene Continues Deadly Onslaught Across Southeast, Prompting First-ever Flash Flood Emergency In Atlanta FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen bravely rescued a woman who had driven into floodwaters in Atlanta early Friday morning. Without hesitation, Van Dillen, a towering 6-foot, 1-inch man, waded into the chest-deep water, battling strong currents to reach the woman. He pulled her to safety, carrying her through the floodwaters to a nearby dry area. "The water is like 80 degrees. It's not cold, but I'm freezing right now," Van Dillen said. "She was sitting in there by herself, strapped into her car. So I know she was cold." Despite the dangers surrounding them in the water, Van Dillen remained calm and focused on rescuing the woman. As he carried her to safety, he spoke to his FOX Weather colleagues live on camera after documenting the rescue effort. While his selfless act of bravery did not go unnoticed, he remained humble, insisting that anyone in his position would have done the same thing. "Her husband picked her up, and she's all good," Van Dillen said. "But the story now turns not on me, but it turns to how much flooding we've seen. I mean amazing amounts coming in." Peachtree Creek is at its third-highest recorded level, Van Dillen notes. Earlier in the morning, high-water rescues of dozens of people being pulled out of an apartment complex happened about a mile upstream from the scene of his rescue efforts. The same water is now flowing through Peach Tree Creek and approaching the Northside Drive bridge. Atlanta Sees First-ever Flash Flood Emergency As Helene's Fury Forces Multiple Water Rescues The death toll from Helene in the state continues to rise. In Colquitt County, Georgia, one person was tragically killed when their vehicle collided with a fallen tree. Widespread damage has been reported in the area, and emergency management officials are working to assess the extent of the destruction, FOX 5 reports. Additionally, at least two more deaths have been confirmed in Wheeler County, Georgia. A mobile home was damaged during one of the many Tornado Warnings associated with the storm, resulting in the loss of lives. The heavy rain over Atlanta has mostly moved on as the rain band that was pivoting over the city lifts north. Original article source: Watch: FOX Weather meteorologist rescues woman from rising floodwaters in Atlanta TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Heavy storm surge flooding hit downtown Tampa as Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida. Significant flooding affected roads in and out of Davis Islands, including the area surrounding Tampa General Hospital. Heavy rainfall floods roadways to Davis Islands Video taken by a TGH employee showed the waters near the hospital. However, the hospital itself said it was protected by the high waters thanks to its AquaFence. Designed to protect vulnerable area of our campus, the AquaFence is a water-impermeable barrier created to withstand storm surge up to 15 feet above sea level, the hospital wrote on social media. Since 2019, the technology has worked successfully through multiple rain events to prevent storm water from impacting hospital operations. According to the AquaFence website, the fences are positioned in areas around the hospital due to the different elevation levels across the facility. AquaFence barriers can be deployed around buildings or even city blocks to help keep water away from critical facilities. They can also be used to divert rivers away from urban centers. Tampa police warned residents that the surge would peak before 3 a.m. Friday. Between now and sunrise this is NOT the time to white water raft on Bayshore Blvd or take an amateur adventure through downtown, the department wrote on X. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Vice President Harris will make a campaign stop Friday in southern Arizona, giving remarks from a town along the U.S.-Mexico border. During the visit to Douglas, Ariz., the Democratic presidential nominee will meet with Border Patrol agents. In her remarks, Harris will call for more resources for the Border Patrol and say curbing the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. will be a top priority if shes elected in November, according to her campaign. She is also expected to reiterate her support for the border deal that was negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators but failed in the House after her GOP opponent, former President Trump, urged Republicans to vote against it earlier this year. Trump criticized Harris for the Biden administrations immigration policies in remarks Thursday and claimed the vice president was visiting the border for political reasons. The former president has a razor-thin lead in the Grand Canyon State, garnering 48.6 percent to Harriss 47.6 percent, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQs aggregate of polls. The Harris campaign event is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. EDT. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Friday morning, as tensions in the Middle East continue to flare. His speech comes just a day after Netanyahu rejected a U.S.-led cease-fire proposal between Israel and the Lebanese-militant group Hezbollah and vowed to keep fighting. The agreement, revealed earlier this week, would allow for a temporary 21-day cease-fire. Despite Netanyahus decision, the White House said the agreement had been coordinated with Israel. The Israeli military 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. Israel also announced Thursday that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. for an $8.7 billion aid package to support ongoing military efforts. UNGA speeches will begin Friday morning at 9 a.m. EDT. 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. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Crew Dragon capsule that will fly SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut mission for NASA stands on the pad ahead of its planned Sept. 28, 2024 launch. | Credit: SpaceX SpaceX plans to launch the Crew-9 astronaut mission for NASA on Saturday (Sept. 28), and you can watch the action live online. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Crew Dragon spacecraft and its crew is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex-40 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT). You can watch the liftoff the first crewed launch ever from SLC-40 live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA. Crew-9 , the ninth crew rotation mission for NASAs Commercial Crew Program, includes NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, a cosmonaut with the Russian space agency Roscosmos . The duo are headed to the International Space Station (ISS) for a roughly five-month stay; their mission will conclude in February, when they return to Earth along with NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft generally carries four astronauts for NASA crew rotation missions. While NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were originally included in the Crew-9 roster, they were removed to leave room to bring home Williams and Wilmore , who launched to the space station in June on Boeing's Starliner capsule for an expected eight-day stay. Related: Astronauts, capsule for SpaceX's Crew-9 mission arrive at Florida launch site (photos) But Starliner experienced thruster issues, and NASA extended the capsule's time at the ISS to study the problem. The agency eventually decided to bring the capsule down uncrewed, which occurred on Sept. 7 ; Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS. Crew-9 was originally scheduled to launch on Sept. 26, but that target was pushed back as a precaution due to Hurricane Helene , which ended up striking Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm that evening. You can follow the launch activities online here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency. Here's a rundown of the schedule, which could end up changing; check back with Space.com for updates. Sept. 27: Prelaunch news conference On Friday (Sept. 27) at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), NASA will host a prelaunch press conference at Kennedy Space Center , which is next door to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The participants will be: NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free Ken Bowersox , associate administrator, NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate Steve Stich , manager, NASAs Commercial Crew Program Dina Contella , deputy manager, NASAs International Space Station Program Jennifer Buchli , chief scientist, NASAs International Space Station Program William Gerstenmaier , vice president, Build & Flight Reliability, SpaceX Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sept. 28: Launch day! Launch-day coverage will begin at 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 GMT) on Saturday, leading up to liftoff at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT). NASA will also stream a postlaunch press conference at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT), with the following participants: NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy Ken Bowersox , associate administrator, NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate Dana Hutcherson , deputy program manager, NASAs Commercial Crew ProgramJoel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator, NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate Dina Contella , deputy manager, NASAs International Space Station Program Sarah Walker, director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX Sept. 29: ISS arrival RELATED STORIES: SpaceX Crew-9 dropped 2 NASA astronauts from ISS mission, but they were prepared (video) Tropical Storm Helene delays SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut launch to Sept. 28 Meet the SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts launching to the International Space Station Crew-9's Dragon capsule, named Freedom, is expected to dock with the space station at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) on Sunday (Sept. 29). Coverage of the spacecrafts arrival will begin at 3:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) and run through hatch opening and welcoming of the new crew members at 7:40 p.m. EDT (2340 GMT). COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Four juveniles are in custody and Columbus Police say they are looking for two more suspects in connection to an armed carjacking Sunday. On Wednesday, police released body camera footage of the chase for the suspects. The teens crashed that car near the Ohio Statehouse around 7:30 p.m. I walked out of the corner store and a group of boys walked up to me with like four or five guns, the victim said in a 911 call. They took my car, my wallet, everything. Columbus police said the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. at East Main Street and Lilley Avenue. Police were able to locate the car 30 minutes later near East 5th Avenue and Peter Avenue. Watch: Teens charged in armed carjacking In the body camera footage, the suspects can be seen driving when police pull up behind them. They go on to lead police on a chase across the city for about 30 minutes, with the stolen car blowing through red lights, stop signs, and over speed bumps. Police attempted to catch and stop the car several times. Police say the suspect car crashed into a parked car on East Broad Street. Officers then chased after the suspects on foot. Two 14-year-old and two 15-year-old boys were taken into custody. On Thursday, police said they are searching for two more suspects in the incident. New data from Columbus Police shows there have been more than 5,000 stolen vehicles in the city this year from January to August. Police were not able to say how many of these incidents involved juveniles. Data also shows that as of Monday, there are 162 suspects under the age of 17 in felonious assault cases so far this year. Data shows in all of 2023, there were 155 juvenile suspects in felony assault cases. Columbus Police ask anyone with information about the two suspects to call 614-645-4545. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Former President Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in New York City on Friday morning, just two days after attacking him at a campaign rally. Republicans have ramped up criticism of Zelensky this week after he toured a Pennsylvania weapons factory with Democrats and criticized Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), in a magazine interview. However, Trump announced on Thursday that he would meet with the Ukrainian president, and in remarks ahead of their meeting on Friday the GOP nominee praised Zelensky, and said they had a great relationship. Watch the 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. The United States experienced dramatic surges in crime by the early 1990s. The violent crime rate was up 470% from 1961, and the murder rate had increase 92% from that year. Life in American cities was more dangerous, and punishment was not fitting the crimes. While the median sentence for murder was 15 years, the median time served was only 5.5 years, according to the University of Dayton Law Review. The median sentence for rape was five years, but the median time served was a paltry three. Overall, violent criminals served, on average, 37% (2 years, 11 months) of their sentence. And 44% of Americans said they lived near and area where they would be afraid to walk alone at night, according to Gallup. In response to widespread pressure from law enforcement and residents, President Bill Clinton on Sept. 13, 1994, signed the bipartisan Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The bill injected billions into hiring police, created a grant program to encourage state adoption of "truth in sentencing" laws, added prison capacity and criminalized gang membership. Support for the bill was considerably higher among Black Americans (58%) than among white Americans (49%) likely because Black Americans bore the brunt of violent crime victimization and homicide then and now. After passage, violent crime and homicide rates ticked downward for the next two decades. The results were particularly acute for Black violent crime victims. From 1993 to 2005, the rate of Black non-fatal violent victimization dropped by more than 50%. While it would be foolish to attribute all of this to the 1994 Crime Bill alone, the legislation's policies were influential. Economist Steven Levitt completed the most comprehensive analysis of the crime decline that began in the mid-1990s and found four significant factors of impact. Two of them the increased number of police on the streets and larger prison populations can be directly tied to the 1994 Crime Bill. Evaluations of the bills hiring program found that it increased the number of officers and reduced crime. These results align with public safety research that has demonstrated more police means less crime. Analyses of police staffing levels and crime in Florida and New York City found increasing police levels reduced overall crime. Another study found each additional police officer prevents 0.1 homicides an effect thats twice as large for Black victims compared to white victims. Harsher punishments and more incarceration likely contributed to the decline because incarceration has a significant incapacitation benefit. While in prison, criminal offenders cannot victimize the public. A review by the Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation found that any claims of prison causing criminal behavior cannot outweigh that incapacitation benefit. One analysis found that incapacitating one high-rate offender prevents, on average, 9.4 serious felonies. Two studies from the U.S. Sentencing Commission found that longer sentences reduced recidivism among released federal inmates. The main criticism of these provisions is that they exacerbated mass incarceration a genuinely meaningless term that sounds scary but conveys no information. While it is true that U.S. incarceration rates are higher than Western Europes, we are not substantially more punitive. What we do have is a much higher rate of gun crime, which necessitates longer prison sentences and more incarceration. This isnt to say the bill was perfect, and in the 30 years since it became law, we have found ways to be more targeted in policing and sentencing. Overall, though, the 1994 Crime Bill marked a significant policy accomplishment and helped usher in a 20-year decline in violent crime that yielded fewer victims in neighborhoods previously held captive by violence. The remains of the car in which three people were fatally injured after it was struck by a fleeing suspect during a 2020 pursuit by the Shively Police Department. When a high-speed Shively Police Department chase on the Dixie Highway in 2020 ended with the suspect's vehicle striking another car and killing three inside including a 9-month-old infant The Courier Journal sought records from the investigation. Now, almost four years after The Courier Journal sued SPD over its denial to provide the records, the Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled the department's action was in violation of Kentuckys open records law. This is a really important decision, said Michael Abate, one of the attorneys representing The Courier Journal in the case. It makes clear that agencies cant just say you dont get information because were still investigating it or theres some court case that is pending. They have to do what the open records act says. The public has the right to know basic facts about ongoing cases before years have elapsed, he added, calling the decision a "watershed." Courier Journal Executive Editor and Gannett Midwest Region Editor Mary Irby-Jones also welcomed Thursday's decision. "This ruling is a victory for transparency and reinforces the importance of the public's right to clear insight into actions and decisions that our local police departments are making that significantly impact our communities," she said. "And while we celebrate this victory, there are still many past and current battles that we will continue to fight to gain access to public records." Just hours before the 2020 chase, which saw the suspect's pickup truck race to 116 mph in a 35 mph zone, Shively officers were given an order granting them permission to chase stolen vehicles, but were told they still had to evaluate "risk versus reward" when it came to pursuits. The Courier Journal wanted to examine whether the officers had complied with their department's pursuit policy. But within 36 minutes of the newspapers open records request for 911 calls, video footage, accident reports and other documents related to the crash, the Shively Police Department said it would not provide any records. As there is an active criminal case regarding this incident, all of the above request are denied under the following exclusion rule: KRS 61.878 subsection (1)(h), they wrote, citing a statute that exempts records compiled during an investigation that could harm prospective law enforcement action. The statute cited by Shively Police allows law enforcement agencies to exempt records compiled in the process of detecting and investigating potential statutory violations and crimes if the disclosure of the information would harm the agency by revealing the identity of informants not otherwise known or by premature release of information to be used in a prospective law enforcement action or administrative adjudication. However, Supreme Court Justice Michelle Keller wrote in the courts opinion: SPDs initial denial letter made no attempt to explain how public inspection of the requested records would harm the agencys investigative or prosecutorial efforts. Later, after the case went to circuit court, SPD Chief Kevin Higdon filed an affidavit saying the records posed a concrete risk of harm that could hinder investigation or prosecution. Those, however, were only speculative concerns, Keller wrote, and failed to show how the release of the records to The Courier Journal would cause harm. Kentucky agencies, including Louisville Metro Police, regularly refuse to provide records by using the same statutory exemption in the Shively case while failing to describe what harm would be caused. Responding to an inquiry from The Courier Journal, Sgt. Jordan Brown, a spokesperson for SPD, said the department did not have a comment at this time. As the case made its way through the court system, SPD tried to argue that the records were exempt due to a personal privacy exemption in the open records law, as portions of the video footage depicted deceased victims of the crash. However, the Supreme Court found The Courier Journal made it abundantly clear the newspaper was not interested in footage of the people killed in the crash, but rather footage of the police chase. Similarly, SPD later argued that another statute KRS 17.150(2) also allowed them to deny The Courier Journals request. That statute states that intelligence and investigative reports are subject to public inspection if prosecution has been completed or if a decision not to prosecute has been made. It exempts records that would disclose the identity of a confidential informant, violate personal privacy, endanger the lives of law enforcement or if the information could be used in a prospective law enforcement action. Despite the many years worth of Attorney General opinions interpreting KRS 17.150(2) to allow the categorical nondisclosure of certain law enforcement records before a related prosecution has concluded, this Court interprets the statute to have no bearing on whether public records can be disclosed before a criminal prosecution is completed or a determination not to prosecute has been made, Keller wrote. Reach reporter Josh Wood at jwood@courier-journal.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @JWoodJourno. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Supreme Court says Shively Police violated open records act AUSTIN (KXAN) Mondays water main break on Spicewood Springs Road that had an impact on residents and the nearby watershed is now repaired, Austin Water told KXAN Friday. Five days after the break happened, a city spokesperson said repairs are complete, but they are continuing analysis into what caused it. Austin Water appreciates the incredible teamwork of the dedicated contractors, partner departments, and department staff who have been working around the clock to complete this repair. Their committed efforts are essential in helping our customers receive reliable water service, the agency said to KXAN Friday. Previous: Water line repairs expected to complete Thursday Austin Water crews had to shut off water in the area after a contractor struck a 48-inch water main pipeline near Spicewood Springs Road and Loop 360 earlier this week. They also asked residents to shut off automatic irrigation systems and try to conserve indoor water use, but water remained safe to drink. Roads were also closed nearby as crew worked on repairs. An Austin Water spokesperson also told KXAN that the citys Watershed Protection Department (WPD) team, who they had been collaborating with since the break happened, found around 100 dead fish in the vicinity. That area is also home to the Jollyville Plateau Salamander, a federally protected, threatened species. The spokesperson said that WPD biologists had not seen any impact on the amphibian residents. An adult Jollyville Plateau salamander (Courtesy Nathan Bendik, Austin Watershed Protection) Austin Water and WPD said they notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about the water main break and its environmental impact. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of French people attend the funeral of a 19-year-old university student who was murdered last weekend (ALAIN JOCARD) (ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/AFP) Nearly 3,000 people on Friday attended the funeral of a Paris student who was raped and murdered in a case that has inflamed a French debate on immigration after a Moroccan was named as the suspected attacker. The body of the 19-year-old, named only as Philippine, was found half-buried in a park in western Paris last weekend. The 22-year-old Moroccan suspect was arrested in Geneva. Following a June-July election in which the far right performed strongly, politicians seized on the killing, demanding a crackdown on illegal immigration. Rights groups and left-wingers said the focus should not be on immigration but rather on femicide. Some 2,800 people attended the funeral inside and outside the Saint-Louis cathedral in Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, according to a police source. "We are here to weep, to pray," said Pierre-Herve Grosjean, the priest presiding over the ceremony. "Justice will do its job, this is really necessary but it is not enough," he said according to a statement released to the media. He called on the mourners to "come out of this funeral a little better." Philippine was to be buried in a private ceremony in the neighbouring Paris suburb of Montigny-le-Bretonneux. "I thought it was important to come here to reflect and pay my respects," one 15-year-old girl said at the funeral ceremony, clutching a bouquet of white and purple flowers. Her mother, Anouck B., said many people were affected by the tragedy. "It was important to come and support the whole family," she said. The Moroccan suspect is expected to be extradited to France. French authorities say he had been previously convicted of rape and been the subject of an expulsion order. On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on a visit to Montreal, called Philippine's murder "a heinous and atrocious crime" and added that "we need to protect the public better". The conservative interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has vowed to change immigration rules after the murder. The student's body was found last Saturday in the Bois de Boulogne park not far from Paris-Dauphine University in the city's affluent 16th district. - Weekend rallies - According to prosecutors, the suspect was convicted in 2021 of a rape committed in 2019, when he was a minor. He was released in June, having served his sentence, and then placed in an administrative detention centre. In early September, a judge freed him on condition he report regularly to the authorities. Since the murder, politicians across the political spectrum have urged tough measures, saying deportation orders are not enforced properly. "How many tragedies will France have to endure before our leaders react?" Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, said on the X social media platform. A far-right group said it would stage a protest in Paris on Sunday. Weekend rallies were also set to take place in other cities including Lyon in the east and Nice in the south. But some said the country should focus not on immigration but on protecting women from violent men in general. "Misogyny kills. Let's not have the wrong debate", said the women's rights group CIDFF. In another case that has shocked France, a 71-year-old Frenchman is on trial for drugging and raping his wife for years along with dozens of other local suspects. mlf-dho-tll-as/jh/rlp Weight Loss Is Only The Beginning For Ozempic: The Latest Discovery Could Save Countless Lives Ozempic has been called a "wonder drug," with a growing body of research showing that it may help treat a huge range of health conditions. Now, a new study shows it might have yet another use: lowering the risk of overdose in people with opioid use disorder. The findings are preliminary, but the U.S. has been battling an opioid epidemic for decades. As a result, any promising treatment option feels like a big step forward. So, whats the connection between Ozempic and opioid use disorder? Experts break it down. Meet the experts: Pat Aussem, VP of Consumer Clinical Content Development at Partnership to End Addiction. Medhat Mikhael, MD, pain management specialist and medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Tyler J. Varisco, PharmD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes of Policy and assistant director for Research Development in the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research Center at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Gitanjali Srivastava, MD, chief of obesity medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. What did the study find? The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open on September 25, analyzed six years of health records of nearly 33,000 people with opioid use disorder who also had type 2 diabetes. The researchers discovered that people who were prescribed semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) had a significantly lower risk for opioid overdose compared to people who took one of eight other diabetes medications. The findings suggest that semaglutide has potential therapeutic value for preventing overdoses, the researchers wrote in the study. Does Ozempic lower the risk of opioid overdoses? Possibly. Its important to note that this is one study, and even the researchers noted in the paper that the link needs to be explored more. Pat Aussem, the vice president of Consumer Clinical Content Development at Partnership to End Addiction, agrees. These results are preliminary and primarily based on observational data, she says. We need more rigorous clinical trials to fully understand how semaglutide can be part of treatment plans for opioid use disorder. In the study, semaglutide was compared to a wide array of anti-diabetic medications, including other GLP-1 agonists (a class of medications that can help manage blood sugar), points out Tyler J. Varisco, PharmD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes of Policy and assistant director for Research Development in the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research Center at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. "Additional research, including clinical trials, is needed before we can make any practice decisions from this work," he adds. Aussem stresses that people with opioid use disorder have other proven treatment options. While the prospect of a new medication is exciting, we have medications for opioid use disorder that work but are vastly underutilized, she says. Rather than waiting for the controlled clinical trials needed to understand which addiction profiles can benefit from semaglutides, we need to advocate for the widespread use of the ones we already have. A bevy of "effective, safe, and affordable medications" are out there that "reduce the risk of mortality for people with opioid use disorder," like buprenorphine, a drug that "has been reliably demonstrated to reduce the risk of overdose in clinical trials," Varisco says. "I think we need to pay more attention to improving access to drugs that work by reforming policy and the process of care to better support patients with opioid use disorder." Why is there a link between Ozempic and opioid overdoses? The medication likely impacts the cravings for pain medication that people with opioid use disorder experience, says Medhat Mikhael, MD, a pain management specialist and medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. This is a sentiment shared by Nora D. Volkow, MD, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, who wrote an essay for Women's Health about the bright future of GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic) in treating substance use disorders in March. There's a "lot of overlap" in the mechanisms that drive us to eat and the ones that drive us to take drugsboth involve the brain's motivation and reward systems. Addiction, essentially hijacks those pathways, activating the system more intensely than everyday rewards (like eating food or having social interactions)," she writes. But studies have suggested that GLP-1 may also modify motivational pathways. "It stands to reason, then, that if there are similar mechanisms that drive us to overeat and take drugs, and a GLP-1 agonist works on the one for overeating, then a GLP-1 agonist could also potentially help interrupt the urge to misuse drugs," Volkow writes. When someone takes an addictive medication like an opioid, they get a surge of dopamine, Mikhael says, which can then lead to future cravings. But semaglutide works on the same receptors that activate the reward system, he says. Its likely that the cravings change. Experts are excited at the possibility of using semaglutide to treat opioid use disorder in the future, with Gitanjali Srivastava, MD, chief of obesity medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, calling the study's conclusions "quite promising." If future studies confirm the findings, Aussem adds that semaglutide could become "a valuable tool in a holistic approach to addiction treatment"but stresses that it won't be a standalone solution. Addressing substance use disorder often requires a combination of medications, therapy, and community support, she says. You Might Also Like Mexican police and members of the National Guard help residents of Acapulco after Hurricane John caused major flooding (Francisco Robles) (Francisco Robles/AFP/AFP) Residents of Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco were reeling Friday after a hurricane left at least five people dead and neighborhoods underwater in a region still recovering from a devastating storm last October. Clutching belongings, families waded down streets turned into muddy rivers, nearly a year after Hurricane Otis left a trail of destruction and claimed several dozen lives. Local media showed images of cars being swept away and people clinging to ropes being plucked to safety. "We're desperate," said Barbara Encinas, who was queuing up outside a supermarket. "We haven't recovered from Hurricane Otis yet, and now we're in a situation that seems to be worse," she told AFP. Rocio Parras, who was also in the queue, said Acapulco was enduring "terrible days" yet again. "I feel that it is the greatest tragedy we have ever experienced," she said. "Water, floods, people are drowning. Acapulco is totally destroyed. We need help." At least five people were killed, one in Acapulco and four in the surrounding mountains, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, although local media have reported a higher number. According to the Milenio television channel, 13 people were feared dead, including several children. Acapulco has been drenched by several days of rain "like we haven't seen in a long time," said President Lopez Obrador, adding that 19 neighborhoods were flooded. People were using inflatable boats and even a jet ski to navigate the Pacific coastal city. - Military deployed - John slammed into Mexico earlier this week as a major Category 3 hurricane, causing flooding and landslides. The slow-moving storm has churned along the coast for several days, at times losing strength and intensifying again. Around 25,000 members of the military and the National Guard were in the area helping victims, Lopez Obrador said. Around 1,200 people were in emergency shelters, he said, adding that floodwaters were up to a meter and a half (five feet) deep in some areas. "Food supplies are being delivered and kitchens are being set up," Lopez Obrador said. Acapulco airport was also flooded and closed after a nearby lagoon overflowed, authorities said. John first made landfall on Monday in Guerrero state, packing maximum sustained winds of around 120 miles (195 kilometers) per hour, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center. It was later downgraded to a tropical storm, only to regain hurricane strength temporarily. On Friday, John made landfall again as a tropical storm with sustained winds of up to 45 miles (70 kilometers) per hour, threatening to bring "catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides," the NHC said. "On the forecast track, the center of John is forecast to move along the coast of southwestern Mexico today and tonight," it said. "Gradual weakening is expected today, with a faster rate of weakening forecast by tonight as the center continues to interact with the higher terrain of southwestern Mexico," it added. dr/st/bjt TOPEKA (KSNT) First responders are heading to a crash on I-470 Friday afternoon in Topeka. Shawnee County Emergency Dispatch told 27 News that crews are working the scene of a crash in southwest Topeka. According to county officials, crews were called just before 1:30 p.m. to Southeast Gage Boulevard and I-470 for reports of a crash. This embedded content is not available in your region. Kandrive.gov is showing that the westbound lane of I-470 is experiencing significantly reduced traffic speeds in the area of the crash. Traffic cameras in the area show vehicles backed up, a firetruck on scene, multiple Topeka Police Department vehicles and at least one ambulance. Topeka runs busiest fire engine in Kansas More information will be provided as it becomes available. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) Governor Healey joined dozens of lawmakers and advocates to celebrate the signing of a long-term care industry reform bill at the State House in Boston on Thursday. This bill includes estate recovery, which will prevent some healthcare companies from seizing all of a disabled persons assets to pay back medical costs after they die, leaving some assets to be passed down to their families. Joe Tringali, who was a quadriplegic and an advocate for estate recovery, worked at the Stavros Center for Independent Living in Amherst for over 30 years. Although Tringali died last December, his partner of 22 years came to this bill signing to honor his legacy and lifetime of pushing for the rights of people with disabilities. This meant a great deal to us on a personal level as well as on a social justice level in terms of representing people who are often underrepresented., said Kathy Edgell, Tringalis partner and a fellow advocate. And it means the world to me. The founder of the Stavros Center, Chris Palames, met Joe Tringali when they were in Massachusetts General Hospital together in the summer of 1968. Palames also advocated for the long-term care bill, and he says long term care reform has always come from Western Massachusetts. I think one of the things, just for a long, long time, Western Mass has always been the center for major disability reform, said Palames. Western Mass all the way! Governor Healey told onlookers at the ceremony that advocates personal stories and hard work are what got this crucial bill across the finish line. 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. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) With the two new high schools now in the rearview, the WFISD is ready to start working to elevate other areas of need in the school district. In the first of many upcoming meetings, the Community Advisory Council was brought together to provide ideas for how the WFISD should improve the middle schools. Superintendent Dr. Donny Lee said nothing is off the table. We want to do something thats pretty radical. We want to completely rethink how we do middle school, Dr. Lee said. We know we need to rethink everything in order to get the best possible outcomes from our students. Some of the data the council pored over during the meeting included previous STAAR test results and the socioeconomic breakdowns of the three current middle schools in the district: Kirby Middle School, which is now Hirschi Middle School, and Barwise and McNiel Middle Schools. United Regional introduces new high-tech solution for ER collaboration After looking at the data, several council members, including David Cook, saw that one of the middle schools desperately needed changes to level the playing field. What can we do to raise the levels of success both academically, socially and just from a positive standpoint? Cook said. What can we do in the community to help all three of our middle schools, but with a focus on the Hirschi Middle School situations that were dealing with now. Another conclusion drawn from the STAAR test scores was a noticeable dip in scores for students transitioning from fifth to sixth grade. Many council members perceived the dip to be caused by the heavy transition between the elementary school and middle school routines. Cook and others see a dedicated center for the sixth-graders as a potential solution to the problem. Physically, there is such a difference from a sixth grader to an eighth grader, and its just, we have to find some ways to support that transition from elementary into the middle school because we feel that not only will it help test scores, but also just the mental health of our students right now, Cook said. City accepting bids for Hotel by the Falls to replace with city park All of the ideas presented to Dr. Lee during the meeting will be compiled and presented at later meetings in the hope that a new path can be found to bring the middle schools in Wichita Falls back up to par. More meetings will be conducted before ideas are brought to the WFISD Board of Trustees, but the next meeting time has not yet been announced. 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 AccuWeather RealVue Satellite on Saturday afternoon shows Hurricane Isaac (top right), Tropical Storm Joyce (bottom right) and the mass of clouds associated with what is left of Helene after it combined with a non-tropical weather feature over the eastern United States (top left). The breeding grounds of Helene may spawn a new named tropical storm during the first days of October, AccuWeather hurricane experts warn. "The Central American gyre is very active at the moment, and there is the potential for one or more systems to develop from this broad circulation through the first days of October," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said. Within this tropical gyre, the air is not only rotating counterclockwise, but it is also rising. Rising air generates clouds, showers and thunderstorms, which can then organize into a tropical depression or storm under the right conditions. AccuWeather hurricane experts say there is a medium chance for tropical development in the Bay of Campeche during the first days of October. Should any tropical feature attempt to organize in these waters, a general westward path is expected toward Mexico around the middle of next week. Meanwhile, a high risk for tropical development is being highlighted to the east of there this week. Helene's beginning was in a similar zone of the southwestern Caribbean, in the water south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. According to AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin, an area of high pressure is forecast to be centered over the eastern United States during the second half of the week, which may push any brewing tropical storm farther west in the Gulf of Mexico when compared to Helene's path. "At this early stage, however, it is too early to rule out any possibilities regarding the future track of a potential tropical storm," DePodwin stated. All interests from Mexico to the Gulf Coast of the United States are urged to remain vigilant to the latest developments in the tropical Atlantic given the potential for one or more storms to form in the coming days. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP An uptick in tropical downpours and rough seas is expected across the Yucatan Peninsula and eastern coast of Mexico later this week regardless of tropical development. Heavy rain, gusty winds and dangerous seas would extend toward part of the Gulf Coast should a brewing storm jog to the north. The same Central American gyre may also spawn tropical development in the eastern Pacific Ocean in early October. Any additional development in the East Pacific may be near where John pestered southwestern Mexico and flooded the region for days after becoming a "zombie" storm. Elsewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce will roam through open waters into next week, posing a risk to shipping interests only. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has produced 10 named storms and six hurricanes thus far, with two months left to go before its official end. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Where Is Na'Ziyah? Police Claim Man Raped Missing 13-Year-Old, Then Killed Her After She Got Pregnant Jarvis Butts, 41, "targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," Wayne County, Mich., Prosecutor Kym Worthy alleges Michigan Department of Corrections, Detroit Police Department Jarvis Butts, Na'Ziyah Harris A 13-year-old Michigan girl vanished after getting off the bus in January. Now, authorities arrested a man they allege raped her and killed her after she became pregnant. On Thursday, Sept. 26, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that Jarvis Butts, 41, of Highland Park, was arrested in connection with the death and disappearance of NaZiyah Harris, the Associated Press, WMYD and Fox2Detroit report. Today we are charging Jarvis Butts with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree and one count of child sexually abusive material, Worthy said at a press conference aired by Fox2 Detroit and viewed by PEOPLE. We are also charging Mr. Butts with more counts of criminal sex conduct on two more girls yes girls in two other separate cases, she said. The alleged victims are now 20 and 13 years old, respectively, but both were under 13 when the alleged crimes took place, Worthy said. "Mr. Butts targeted and befriended women to have sexual relationships with their young daughters," Worthy said. "He would have relationships with their mothers, but his true desire was to have sex with their young daughters. Thats what the evidence will show. Related: 13-Year-Old Girl Missing for Over a Month Since January School Bus Ride: I Want My Baby Home He was a classic and expert groomer and pedophile, she continued. "Its incredibly sad and incredibly unspeakable, and we want to bring justice to her and her family." NaZiyah was last seen on Jan. 9 about a quarter mile from her home, according to a bulletin from the Detroit Police Department. Her grandmother reported her missing that day when she failed to return home from school, Worthy 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. The young girls remains have not yet been found, but Worthy said, "The evidence shows overwhelmingly in this case that she is deceased." Text messages show that NaZiyah met up with Butts on the day she disappeared, Worthy claimed. People he knew well also saw the two together in several different locations, Worthy alleged. We have evidence that at 9:30 p.m. on that day that Mr. Butts checked into a motel and NaZiyah was never seen or heard from again," she said. Speaking about a selfie NaZiyah took shortly before she vanished, Worthy said, She is smiling and waving and saying hello, but little did she know that she was really saying goodbye." Worthy later added, You look at that face and you do not see the horrors that she had gone through in her short life: the exploitation, the molestations, the sexual abuse and the pregnancy that she was concealing. Butts has children with Na'Ziyah's aunt, according to a release from the prosecutor's office, He allegedly began sending sexually explicit text messages to Na'Ziyah starting in September 2022, it says. She sent sexually explicit photographs of herself in return. "In November 2023, the evidence shows that Butts knows that she is pregnant," the release alleged. "His phone records show that he searches online about abortions, abortion pills and drinking red anti-freeze." Butts is being held in the Wayne County Jail on a $250,000 bond, where he has been held since April on other charges, online jail records show. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. 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. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, 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. The United Nations is set to vote on a treaty later this year intended to create norms for fighting cybercrime and the Biden administration is fretting over whether to sign on. The uncertainty over the treaty stems from fears that countries including Russia, Iran and China could use the text as a guise for U.N. approval of their widespread surveillance measures and suppression of the digital rights of their citizens. If the United States chooses not to vote in favor of the treaty, it could become easier for these adversarial nations named by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as the biggest state sponsors of cybercrime to take the lead on cyber issues in the future. And if the U.S. walks away from the negotiating table now, it could upset other nations that spent several years trying to nail down the global treaty with competing interests in mind. While the treaty is not set for a vote during the U.N. General Assembly this week, its a key topic of debate on the sidelines, following meetings in New York City last week, and committee meetings set for next month once the worlds leaders depart. We want to affirmatively, definitely do things to drive international partnership on cybercrime, said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology. On the other hand, if there are these elements raising concerns, we have to really put both sides on the scale and say, what's the right approach here? The treaty was troubled from its inception. A cybercrime convention was originally proposed by Russia, and the U.N. voted in late 2019 to start the process to draft it overruling objections by the U.S. and other Western nations. Those countries were worried Russia would use the agreement as an alternative to the Budapest Convention an existing accord on cybercrime administered by the Council of Europe, which Russia, China and Iran have not joined. The new U.N. effort comes as global ransomware attacks are on the rise, and it could give Russia, China and Iran a platform to rewrite a cybercrime convention on their own terms something the U.S. and other Western countries are determined to prevent. Its not a Trojan Horse, its a Russian horse, and it always was, Nick Ashton-Hart said of the U.N. treaty. He is head of the U.N. cybercrime convention delegation from the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, which comprises more than 100 cyber and tech groups including Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce and Oracle. As a result, the U.S. has gotten more involved in negotiating the treaty over a series of sessions in New York City and Vienna over the last three years reluctantly dragged in to prevent Russia, China and others from dominating the process. Its not whether its needed or not, it exists as a thing that was negotiated and countries are going to join it, John Lynch, chief of the Justice Departments Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and a key U.S. negotiator, said at a forum this week at American Universitys Washington College of Law. The U.S. joined a consensus vote approving a draft of the treaty finalized in August, with Neuberger noting this was due to the U.S. working to ensure civil liberties clauses made it in. However, few in the private sector and civil society space are happy about the text as it stands. Among a litany of concerns is that a clause in the agreement could be misused or misinterpreted allowing nations that sign on to request data on potential serious crimes in other nations; label work by journalists and security researchers as crimes; or make it easier to surveil peoples online activities. Katitza Rodriguez, policy director for global privacy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said weak human rights safeguards in the proposed treaty create a patchwork of protections that are not enough. EFF was among almost two dozen groups that published an open letter in July raising serious concerns about the cybercrime convention prior to the committees passage, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International Chamber of Commerce have both described the current deal as flawed. This approach risks enabling abuses, as countries with weaker legal frameworks could misuse shared data for purposes beyond cybercrime, such as political repression, while undermining trust and slowing international cooperation, Rodriguez said. But those involved in crafting the treaty dispute these concerns. U.N. Ad Hoc Committee Vice Chair Claudio Peguero Castillo, cyber ambassador for the Dominican Republic, argued that the country would need a court order to spy on civilians, saying that there is no single provision in the convention that would explicitly allow for surveillance by member states. The aim of this cybercrime treaty is reducing the enemy. Our enemy is not the other state, our enemy is the criminal, Peguero Castillo said. We need to join forces in order to fight this crime. Now, the U.S. faces a decision on how to vote when the treaty is brought up later in the year, likely between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to those negotiating the treaty. Should the U.S. vote no or abstain, some argue that it could severely harm U.S. credibility and give hostile nations free reign to bend the text in their favor. If we walk away we decide to just give up this process, the Russians, the Chinese will use this to amend the convention, the protocol, said Lynch, who argues the U.S. should sign on. Christopher Painter, the former cybersecurity coordinator at the State Department under both the Obama and Trump administrations, was present during the negotiations. He argued that while there are problems with the treaty, the Russians failed to add in language that would have made the text worse though they could easily try again in updates to the treaty. If only non-democratic countries who don't have to go to their Congress and immediately ratify this thing like Russia, like Cuba, like Syria, like Iran if they're the core group in the beginning, they get to shape what might be the second protocol, or the first protocol, Painter said. That means they get everything they couldn't get in [the first time] or may try to go through the back door. Not all agree with calls to push through a treaty while serious concerns still exist. Raman Jit Singh Chima, director of Asia Pacific policy at digital rights group Access Now, was also involved in negotiations, and warned that this is not a win by preventing an even worse treaty. It will actually provide an excuse for many states to justify current repression and constitute a flawed global standard, poisoning the design of national cybercrime laws for decades to come, he said. The Russian Embassy in Washington and the Iranian Mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment on the cybercrime convention. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said that China is committed to "working closely with all parties to promote the early adoption of an authoritative and universal convention that provides practical and effective solutions." Its an issue the White House has been wrestling with in recent weeks. Neuberger last week traveled to New York to discuss the convention, which included holding a call with around 20 groups that oppose the current treaty. We've been engaging key global tech companies as well to hear their concerns, Neuberger said of the meeting. We were really in listening mode, to hear them and to ask for specifics we want to really look at this with an open mind. Ashton-Hart was on the call Neuberger hosted, and while he praised the administration for the outreach toward key tech players, he said this was missing during the negotiation process. He noted that non-governmental groups and multiple defense ministries for foreign nations have gotten involved to express strong concerns in recent weeks. The impression Im getting is, they had no idea, and now are like, what is this? Ashton-Hart said. The White House is being tight-lipped about the administrations final decision on how it plans to vote, and Neuberger declined to give details beyond noting the administration is weighing its options. Top cyber officials at the State Department declined to comment, though the agency said last month it welcomes the adoption by the committee of the treaty. Lynch stressed that while he believes the U.S. should vote yes, it is strictly his personal opinion. A vote in favor would be only the first step for the U.S. in ratifying the treaty, as at least two thirds of the Senate would be required to approve it, a number increasingly difficult to achieve among polarized members. Some lawmakers are already against it. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committees subcommittee with oversight of cyber issues, said this week that he is weighing support for the treaty but has concerns about the current draft language being abused by Russia, China and Iran. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he is working with colleagues to make clear that America must change course and begin listening to human rights activists who have been sounding the alarm about this convention for years, describing the treaty as helping China or Russia justify abusing surveillance to prop up their authoritarian states. The Biden administration has the next few weeks left to wrestle over the issue, but conversations are being had by diplomats on the sidelines of this weeks General Assembly in New York City and at the annual Counter Ransomware Initiative meeting in Washington next week. Regardless of how the U.S. and its allies vote, when the treaty comes up for consideration, the U.N. is almost certain to vote yes, given that the majority of nations already approved the treatys creation in 2019. It's going to get passed in the U.N., so how do you mitigate the potential harms you see there, Painter said. The U.S. government can play a real role here in working to mitigate the potential harms by helping countries implement this. But, he acknowledged, there is a lot of heat around this right now. White House declines to say if Iran killing Trump would be an 'act of war' President Biden is resisting Republican demands to warn Iran in no uncertain terms that killing former President Trump would be an act of war. The White House declined to comment on the specific demands but referred to a statement on the recent Iranian threats to Trumps life. "We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats," National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savitt said. Savitt said Iran has long sought revenge against Trump and his officials for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. "We have ensured that appropriate agencies are continuously and promptly providing the former presidents security detail with evolving threat information. Additionally, President Biden has reiterated his directive that the United States Secret Service should receive every resource, capability and protective measure required to address those evolving threats to the former president." Trump Briefed On Real And Specific' Threats To Assassinate Him Read On The Fox News App President Biden is resisting Republican demands to warn Iran in no uncertain terms that killing President Trump would be an act of war. On Tuesday, top U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump about threats from Iran to assassinate him, his campaign said. On Wednesday, Trump prodded Biden to warn Iran it was risking hot war with the U.S. with such threats. "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 said he and the nation had been "threatened very directly by Iran" and the regime needed to know the consequences of harming a U.S. political 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." The White House said Iran has long been seeking revenge on Trump and his officials for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, center. House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner also demanded Biden warn Iran. "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," the Ohio Republican said in a statement Thursday. But it comes as Middle East watchers believe Iran could be weeks to months away from the capacity to build a nuclear weapon fast approaching the capability to enrich uranium to the 90% threshold and with renewed activity at two nuclear weapons test sites. Trump also called it "strange" to see that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was in New York this week and was offered substantial protection as he attended the United Nations General Assembly. Does Iran Want Kamala Harris To Win? Experts Weigh In "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 U.S. is obligated to offer security to foreign heads of state at the General Assembly under its treaty with the U.N. Iran recently hacked the Trump campaign and obtained information that it then peddled to the Biden campaign and the media, U.S. intelligence officials revealed last week. Pezeshkian, who took office in July, ran on a platform suggesting that he would moderate the regime to get sanctions lifted from the West. Original article source: White House declines to say if Iran killing Trump would be an 'act of war' Gov. Josh Shapiro welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sept. 22, 2024. (Photo by Commonwealth Media Services) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys trip to a Scranton ammunition plant on Sunday has led to outrage, calls for a Ukrainian ambassador to be fired, and an investigation into whether the visit amounted to misuse of government resources by House Republicans. Now, the White House and the Pentagon have weighed in as well. We would encourage the House Republicans to drop this, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing Thursday. This is a political stunt. They need to drop this. It all started Sunday when Zelenskyy visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, accompanied by Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, whose district includes Scranton. The plant makes equipment that is critical to Ukraines defensive war against Russia. No elected Republicans were present for the event, and its not clear whether any were invited. That apparently outraged GOP House Leader Mike Johnson, (R-La) who wrote a letter to Zelenskyy calling for Ukraines ambassador to the U.S. to be fired. 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 the letter. The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. But Jean-Pierre said that the Sunday visit to the ammo plant was requested by Ukraine, and not the Harris campaign or White House. And the Pentagon called the trip official business. Regarding Sundays trip to Pennsylvania, the flight was a U.S. Department of Defense-funded mission, James Adams, a Pentagon spokesperson, said. These officials were conducting official business related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Jean-Pierre added that Sunday was also not the first time that Zelenskyy had met with a partisan group of elected officials since the war began. In July, Zelenskyy traveled to Utah to speak to a bipartisan group of governors with the National Governors Association. While there, Zelenskyy met with Utahs governor, a Republican, and the states congressional delegation, all Republicans. Other House Republicans have echoed Johnsons call, with nine signing on to a letter requesting a Department of Justice investigation. Neither Harris nor the election were mentioned in video and press materials released by Shapiro after the Scranton visit, which was conducted under tight security. In a separate letter, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky) announced an investigation into 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. Other Democrats are pushing back as well. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is playing a critical role bolstering Ukraines forces, and I was honored to join President Zelenskyy to thank Pennsylvania workers for helping defend democracy, Casey said in a social media post. Attempts to smear his visit to our Commonwealth are an insult and a disgrace. Support for Ukraines defensive war against Russia has become a key issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, with the two candidates espousing sharply opposing views. Harris has called for the United States to continue supporting Ukraine with military aid. She delivered remarks on Thursday. Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has criticized American support for Ukraine and frequently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. During a debate with Harris earlier this month, he declined to answer questions about whether he wants Ukraine to win the war. Yesterday in North Carolina, Trump said that Ukraine has been absolutely obliterated in the war, and accused Zelenskyy of making little, nasty aspersions about him. On Thursday, Trump said he would meet with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York. His running mate, J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) has previously criticized U.S. support for Ukraine. Critics say a proposed peace plan he unveiled was effectively a concession to Russia Polling has repeatedly shown a majority of Americans favor providing support for Ukraine, with many saying that the United States should do more to help. Pennsylvania has the second highest number of Ukrainians of any state as a percentage of total population. Update: This article has been updated to add Speaker Mike Johnsons first name and correct the state Comer is from and add the full name of the and House Oversight and Accountability Committee. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby on Thursday discussed the latest cease-fire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel as tensions escalate in the region. He also acknowledged that there hasn't been much progress towards achieving a cease-fire in Gaza in recent days and weeks. VIDEO: John Kirby on US decision to send more troops to Middle East (ABCNews.com) ABC News' Linsey Davis sat down with Kirby to discuss more about potential cease-fires. ABC NEWS: We spoke with White House National Security spokesman John Kirby for more on the latest negotiations for a cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel and the situation in Gaza. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby, thank you so much for speaking with us. Just today in New York, [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu said the policy is clear. We continue to hit Hezbollah with all our might. We will not stop until we achieve our goals. The US is pushing a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. Israel says right now that's not an option. What's the disconnect here? KIRBY: Well, we're talking to them about exactly how to see if we can't move this forward. As you saw in multiple nations last night called for a 21-day cease-fire. And I want to stress a couple of things. It's 21 days. It's temporary. Nobody's suggesting that Israel doesn't have a right to defend itself against Hezbollah terrorists. Of course they do. I mean, the, Hezbollah just launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv just yesterday. But we believe that if the goal was to get families back home up near that border, to restore their lives and livelihoods, the way to do that is through diplomacy, not through an all out war. And so we're calling for a 21-day cease-fire. We wouldn't have issued that statement last night if it didn't come on the heels of what we believe were productive discussions with Israeli leaders at very high levels and those conversations with those Israeli leaders, this is my second point, are continuing today in New York City. ABC NEWS: A senior U.S. official told ABC News, "Israel acts like they are the superpower, not the U.S. The pressure has done no good. They do whatever they want." What's your response to that? KIRBY: I think comments like that are unhelpful and, quite frankly, not reflective of the deep and contextual relationship that we have with Israel. President Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel in his entire public life, certainly as president of the United States, putting F-16s in with American pilots in the air to shoot Iranian missiles and drones down. I think we've proven to a fare-thee-well that that we mean it when we say we take our obligations to Israel and to their self-defense very, very seriously. Now, look, they don't agree on everything. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the president have known each other for going on 40 years. And but, you know, when it comes to a two-state solution, for instance, clearly, you know, we have a different view. But on the big thing, the thing that matters the most, that's the safety and security of the Israeli people -- both leaders believe strongly in that. And so that's why it's important to have these conversations and these discussions. And again, those are ongoing today. ABC NEWS: With regard to the ongoing war in Gaza, what's the latest on a cease-fire to get the hostages home, including Americans, and to stop the bloodshed of innocent civilians? KIRBY: Man, Linsey, I wish I could tell you that, you know, we're on the brink of a breakthrough here. We're not. There hasn't been a whole lot of progress in recent days and weeks on getting a cease-fire in Gaza forward that would allow for those hostages to get home. And the principal obstacle to this progress is [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar himself. He's sitting down there in a tunnel surrounded by hostages and unwilling to have any kind of meaningful negotiation and and move towards a cease-fire that would get those hostages home and get much needed, desperate need to, desperate humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. So we're going to keep at it. The president directed the team to continue to work to see if there's anything we can do to move this forward. And so we're, we're still trying to, to achieve that outcome. ABC NEWS: Should Netanyahu be doing anything specifically to try to move this forward? KIRBY: We are, as you might expect, very much having active conversations with the Israelis about, about trying to come up with a fresh approach here, a way to move it forward. It was an Israeli proposal that started this whole thing back in May that, that really formed the architecture of the, of the agreement. And the vast majority of that architecture was approved by both sides. It's when you get down to the, the last 10% or so, when you're really talking about implementing details, it, that it got very, very hard. ABC NEWS: We spoke with the queen of Jordan [Rania Al Abdullah] earlier this week. And I just want to play you a little clip about what she had to say about America's role in this conflict. RANIA: Today, we are much closer to a regional war than we have been in the past year. And I think it is time for the global community to act. You know, specifically the U.S., I think the, you know, expressions of concern or even calls for a cease-fire really are meaningless when, when you continue to provide arms that kill civilians. You know, the answer is never more arms. That only needs more violence and more escalation. And America's support, the blanket support that's provided for Israel, has exceeded any reasonable political calculus. ABC NEWS: Your response on that? If Israel continues to press ahead on two fronts of this conflict, is there a point at which the U.S. needs to consider adding conditions to supporting Israel? KIRBY: Well, I think, as I think we've shown, we have not been shy about expressing concerns to the Israelis about the manner in which some of their operations have been conducted back down when they were operating in Rafah. We did withhold a shipment of 2,000 pound bombs because the president was concerned that those kinds of bombs could not and should not be used in densely populated areas. So we have been very firm with the Israelis, again, about the prosecution of these operations. We also know it's important that Israel has the means to defend itself. And they're up against, they're in a tough neighborhood, and they're up against enemies that are fully resource and funded by Iran. And so we're also doing everything we can to try to make sure we're holding Iran accountable for these destabilizing activities. ABC NEWS: White House National Security spokesman John Kirby, we thank you so much for your time. We appreciate it. KIRBY: My pleasure, yeah. White House's John Kirby acknowledges challenge of potential Middle East cease-fires originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Prof is pivotal, Matt Hancock observed, as he mused over how to frighten the nation into following Covid rules. Writing about Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty in his Pandemic Diaries, the former Health Secretary noted that the public seemed to like his calm, reassuring manner. The Government needed to make the most of that respect, he concluded and asked Whitty to use his most authoritative voice to make a bossy social media clip about new social distancing rules. The date was March 25, 2020: two days after Boris Johnson gave his historic address to the nation, instructing everyone to stay at home. Prince Charles had Covid and (though he didnt yet know it) so did Hancock. Terrified by Doomsday predictions of bodies piling high, and apocalyptic scenes from hospitals in Italy, the British did what they were told. No government in history had ever attempted anything remotely like it and trust was critical. As Hancock told the House of Commons at the time, the draconian measures the government was taking to stop the spread would change the lives of everyone. The scale of public sacrifice required meant there was no room for doubt about what was at stake. Who better to convey the severity of the situation than a mild mannered distinguished medic like Whitty? Very early in the crisis, Hancock clocked that the man he affectionately called the the Prof was a very powerful asset. For all his legendary arrogance, the then health secretary was sufficiently self-aware to recognise that doctors always get a better hearing than politicians. In the league table of most and least trusted professions, medics consistently rank in the top five (alongside nurses, pilots, and librarians and engineers); while politicians always (quite rightly) languish at the bottom. With his gentle demeanour and unimpeachable professional credentials, the Chief Medical Officer was the perfect person to deliver difficult messages. Hancock had lucked out and exploited it. Privately, the modest Whitty was far from comfortable with his new very public facing role. Recalling how he ordered the CMO to make social media clips repeating key mantras like the hated two metre rule, Hancock writes in his diaries that the Prof found recording these sorts of things terribly embarrassing. Nonetheless, Whitty did it, which means he cannot escape accountability for the terrible mistakes that were made. As the old Whitehall saying goes, advisers advise and ministers decide. But in these unique circumstances, it is no exaggeration to say that the Chief Medical Officer drove the pandemic response. Had he not personally recommended and promoted the lockdown policies we now know were so flawed, they would simply never have happened. Accordingly, he must take full responsibility for the dreadful consequences. Far, far too late in the Public Inquiry that took years to get underway, and still has no end date, Whitty this week acknowledged what so many of us could quite clearly see at the time: that the government went way over the top in its initial pandemic response. Of course, he didnt put it quite like that. What he actually said, giving evidence this week, is that in retrospect, he still worries about whether the government got the level of concern right. Some people would say... if anything we over did it, he conceded. In a further remarkable concession, he went on to declare that in hindsight, ordering 2.3million people to cut themselves off from the world entirely for 12 weeks may have done more damage than it prevented. He now says he is unsure he would go down that route again, because it caused significant harms. Say what? This is extraordinary! If Whitty is no longer sure that the elderly and most vulnerable (around whom the entire response to the pandemic revolved) needed to self-isolate, what on earth is left of the case for anyone else locking down? In his characteristically understated way, Whitty appears to have shattered the case for lockdowns. If even he wouldnt repeat the policy, who would? Sadly, it has taken so long to extract this confession that the significance is in danger of being lost. For just as the criminally wasteful public inquiry is finally starting to get interesting, most ordinary people have lost the will to live, and are no longer affording it any attention. Who can blame them? We have had months and months of irrelevant minutiae from civil servants and other dreary figures nobody has ever heard of. That a government which spends so much time wailing about the state of the public finances nonetheless sees fit to spend 137,000 every single working day simply responding to this charade beggars belief. Shamefully, that official figure 9.285 million in the first quarter of this year on civil servants and lawyers alone - is literally only the half of it. Every day, the Covid Inquiry itself spends almost the same amount again. The whole ruinously expensive exercise may not be of Labours making, but as they wail about great black holes in the public finances, they most certainly have the power to stop it. As many of us have argued ad nauseum, all it need do is answer the single most important question: were national lockdowns ever necessary or justified, and should they ever be repeated? As weary as we may all be of the Baroness Hallett boreathon, the answer to this question could hardly be more consequential. Therefore what Whitty has to say deserves very close attention, especially since he considers another pandemic is inevitable. Bit by bit, the edifice he and Hancock constructed to imprison us is now falling down. From the absurdity of the medically meritless pieces of cloth we were forced to wear over our faces, to the unforgivable sacrifice of a generation of children who were needlessly deprived of going to school, so much of what we were told has now been exposed as a monstrous lie. While youngsters are resilient, and most bounced back, a small but significant number are still suffering and will never achieve their full potential. As Whitty now admits, theres a whole additional group of lockdown victims: those who were condemned to an early death or long term suffering because ministers put protecting the NHS ahead of caring for those who use it. The CMO now concedes that in their desperation to prevent the health service from becoming overwhelmed, those in charge of the pandemic response failed to convey that it was still open for business. The trouble is, it wasnt. The gatekeepers to the system GPs literally shut up shop, posting hostile messages on surgery doors. No wonder people failed to get lumps and bumps checked out. What really rankles is that the architects of this historic disaster are all still sitting pretty. So far from the downfall they deserve, they have prospered. Knighted for his public service, Whitty is still in an almighty position of power, as Chief Medical Officer. Meanwhile his pandemic sidekick, former Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance, is literally lording it, having recently been given a peerage to join Keir Starmers front bench. As for Hancock? Mercifully, since stepping down as an MP, he has temporarily disappeared. Rumour has it that he has landed a plum job in the Middle East. If so, those still suffering as a result of his blunders wont be shedding any tears. 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. Why does Utah have Dark Sky rules and where are these Dark Sky areas? SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Many places throughout Utah have Dark Sky initiatives, many counties and cities have Dark Sky ordinances, and many Utah state and national parks have both. But what is a Dark Sky Initiative or Dark Sky Ordinance? What is a Dark Sky Initiative? A Dark Sky Initiative is a movement to reduce light pollution to protect the natural night sky. Numerous cities in Utah either have initiatives or ordinances though Heber City and the Heber Valley region have been in the spotlight lately. A new temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Heber has received a lot of pushback from citizens of the Wasatch after the Wasatch County Council approved the temple last year. Why is Utah so obsessed with dirty sodas? It may be traced back to LDS health guidelines Dark sky initiatives and ordinances have become more and more popular over the years. The NIH noted that light pollution can suppress melatonin and disrupt a persons circadian rhythm. DarkSky International states that it can lead to sleep disorders as well as depression. Who compiles and keeps track of these areas? Dark Sky Places are compiled by the International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program. This program certifies communities, parks, and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education, the IDSP website says. Utah is home to the most areas certified as Dark Sky Places in the country. Several more Utah cities outside of Heber also have dark-sky ordinances or initiatives going. Some cities and towns in Utah have been recognized by the IDSP as dark sky communities. The Mighty Five Utahs five major National Parks all are certified as Dark Sky Places. Utah alone as a state has almost 30 designated Dark Sky Places. Where in the Salt Lake and Utah Valley region can you experience Dark Skies? If youre in the Salt Lake or Utah Valley area, there are two places you can go to experience the sight of the night sky for yourself and a few more on the Wasatch back. In the Salt Lake area, you can go to Antelope Island State Park. Antelope Island is one of the state parks certified as a dark sky park. If you want to head up into the Wasatch Range and toward the Wasatch back, East Canyon State Park and Jordanelle State Park are your places to be. For those in the Utah Valley, you can visit Timpanogos Cave National Monument the park routinely offers night sky programs during the summer, and the cave system can also be toured by visitors. This partnership is aided by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and local astronomy groups. Other places to go throughout Utah As previously mentioned, the Mighty Five National Parks are certified as Dark Sky Places. According to the IDSP, other Utah state parks recognized as Dark Sky Places, aside from the three previously mentioned, are: Dead Horse Point State Park Fremont Indian State Park Goblin Valley State Park Goosenecks State Park Rockport State Park Steinaker State Park A handful of towns, cities, and counties have Dark Sky Initiatives set up. These five cities are certified by the IDSP as Dark Sky Communities: Helper Springdale Torrey Moab Castle Valley Lastly, a few national monuments, other than Timpanogos Cave, are also dedicated as Dark Sky Places. Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument Rainbow Bridge National Monument Hovenweep National Monument Dinosaur National Monument If youve never seen the night sky in all of its majesty, this is your sign to go and do just that. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When Vice President Kamala Harris visits the border city of Douglas on Friday, she will tour a port of entry being revitalized by $400 million that was signed into law by President Joe Biden. She also will visit a city that sits within the busiest portion of the U.S.-Mexico border when it comes to illegal immigration. The Democratic vice president will make her first trip to the southern border as a presidential candidate on Friday, taking a swing through battleground Arizona to share her vision for border security. Polls show a tight race between Harris and former President Donald Trump in the state, with Trump slightly ahead in the latest surveys. Voters here name immigration as one of the most important issues as they weigh who to vote for on Nov. 5, and more voters say they trust Trump to do a better job addressing the issue than Harris. Douglas Mayor Donald Huish and others who spoke Thursday to The Arizona Republic said they couldnt be sure why Harris chose Douglas as the site of her first stop on the southern border as a presidential candidate but noted the Biden administrations impact on the local port of entry project. Kamala Harris in Arizona: Updates from vice president's trip to US-Mexico border One of the most positive things that is happening in Douglas is the investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It will be the most state-of-the-art, climate-controlled, net-zero emission port in the United States," Huish said. That's critical not only to commerce, free flow of commerce, but it's also going to enhance the security of the border. The project, known as The Two-Port Solution, entails revamping the existing Raul H. Castro Port of Entry and building a second commercial port to ease traffic and help U.S. Customs and Border Protection better accomplish its mission. Douglas is a city of 15,500 people in Cochise County. It sits on the U.S.-Mexico border, some 123 miles southeast of Tucson. The city shares a border with Agua Prieta, Mexico, which has a population of about 91,000. We're excited to have the vice president come visit our community, and the significance of it is enormous as far as I'm concerned. It will give the vice president an opportunity to not only just visit for a picture, but my understanding is, from her campaign, that she wants to listen, said Huisch, who was invited to join Harris during the visit. I applaud her for wanting to do that, and I think it'll be very productive to be able to see that. To see the positives and the concerns, which will allow her to develop her immigration policy as she goes forward. The city is part of what U.S. Customs and Border Protection calls the Tucson Sector, a 262-mile stretch of the southern border that covers most of the state of Arizona. Its the busiest section of the border in the country for illegal immigration apprehensions and marijuana seizures, according to CBP. Crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border reached record highs during the Biden administration, but have dropped significantly since Biden signed an executive order to restrict asylum at the southern border.The Tucson sector, which is part of Cochise County, will come up as the highest encounters on the southwest border this fiscal year, said GOP Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, who was invited to join Harris at the border on Friday. Dannels said hes proud of the innovations that law enforcement has made in his county to combat crime and is happy that Harris will see them Friday. But Dannels noted he has mixed emotions because the visit is happening three-and-a-half years into her term as vice president. Harris will receive official briefings on operations and progress on disrupting the flow of fentanyl through the southern border when she tours the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry. She also will discuss her support for reviving a bipartisan border bill that stalled in Congress earlier this year. Cesar Fierros, communications director for advocacy group Living United for Change in Arizona, said he hopes Harris goes beyond border security and talks about comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship during her time in the state. Many of the residents that work in Douglas also live on the other side of the border, so they come and go across the border through the port of entry every day. Many communities in Douglas, Arizona, also have families that live across the border as well, Fierros said. So I think Douglas, Arizona, is a good place to have that conversation. Aid to communities: 2 Arizona border towns receive millions of dollars to modernize their ports of entry This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kamala Harris in Arizona: Here's why she picked border city of Douglas Michael Smith, a 52-year-old from Cornelius, North Carolina, could be the most successful musician you have never heard of. It is thought that, in a little over five years, songs Smith uploaded to Spotify and other streaming services have been played more than four billion times, netting him $12 million (9 million) in royalties. Only a tiny number of the worlds biggest performers your Taylor Swifts or Ed Sheerans are listened to as much, or make millions from streaming each year. Smith, however, does not belong in such exalted company. Instead, he has been charged by the American authorities with orchestrating a scheme to steal millions of dollars of music royalties from the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon Music. By using artificial intelligence (AI) to create hundreds of thousands of songs, and making an audience of fake accounts to stream them, Smith was able to illicitly steal money to which he was not entitled, according to an indictment brought in New York this month. In an email breaking down his scheme that he sent to himself in 2017, Smith reckoned that he could use more than 1,000 bot accounts on music platforms to generate about 661,440 daily streams. At first, he wrote these songs himself. The royalty rates paid at the time meant that equated to $3,307.20 (2,500) every day, or $1.2 million (900,000) annually. Less than two years later, after he started using AI to create hundreds of thousands of songs, he was earning $110,000 (80,000) per month. Real deal: Taylor Swift is one of Spotifys most successful artists - ANGELA WEISS / AFP His supposed artists had names like Calorie Screams, Calvinistic Dust and Camel Edible, with songs given the catchy titles of Zygophyceae, Zygophyllaceae and Zygophyllum. The claim alleges that Smith set up thousands of fake accounts to stream the tracks, which sounded clunky, rudimentary and computer-generated. Smith faces three charges, including wire fraud and money laundering, each of which could land him in prison for 20 years. He pleaded not guilty in an initial hearing last week, and a judge set his bail at $500,000 (375,000). It is the first such criminal case brought by the American authorities and sheds light on an issue that is one of the biggest affecting the music industry but often flies under the radar. Streaming fraud costs the music industry about 10 per cent of streaming revenues, or $2 billion (1.5 billion) annually, according to Andrew Batey and Morgan Hayduk, co-founders of Vancouver start-up Beatdapp, which helps the streamers combat swindlers. The large streaming services tend to pay artists royalties based on the proportion of total listening that their songs comprise of all users consumption. This so-called pro-rata approach means that each stream of a song (for at least 30 seconds) tends to be worth a fraction of a penny. But it also ensures that every stream has value. If you get enough streams, the windfall can be great especially if you do not have to make real music listened to by real people. Michael Smith has been indicted for fraud Online fraud is almost as old as the internet itself and recent technological advances, such as generative AI and the ability for people to mask their locations, has provided grifters with the opportunity to steal a huge chunk of cash that should be paid to legitimate artists. The scale of the potential problem is mind-boggling, as roughly 100,000 tracks are uploaded to music streaming services, including Spotify, each and every day. That is more than the number of new songs released in the entirety of 1989. Such volume gives canny fraudsters cover for their unlawful activities as it can be difficult for music distribution services and streamers to tell the difference between the real and fake. The fraud we catch is often way more sophisticated than [Smiths alleged behaviour]; that kind of fraud is super easy to spot, says Beatdapps Batey. We see tons of it. Its definitely not unique. He adds that the more complex frauds include criminals buying the login data of real users on the dark web and hijacking their accounts to stream bogus songs, as well as running bot farms that boost the listening numbers on illicit tracks. Privately, music industry executives complain about the proliferation of fraudsters but tend not to make a big deal about it in public out of concern that doing so may strain relations with the streaming services, which provide the bulk of revenues to record labels now. Fraud is a serious issue for many streaming services - Rodrigo Oropeza / AFP [Streaming fraud] doesnt sound particularly serious: it doesnt sound like theft or particularly damaging to the artist, but it is both of those things, says Victoria Oakley, chief executive of the IFPI, which represents the recording industry globally. This is real money being taken away from creators [as fraudulent streams reduce the royalties paid to legitimate artists on the pro-rata model]. If you are deviating sums away from artists and rights holders, it is a serious issue and the labels really care. Artists will care, for two reasons. One is definitely about losing out on money that should rightfully be theirs; the other is about fairness and respect for creativity. Pressure is, slowly, being brought to bear on the fraudsters. A Danish man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for copyright infringement and fraudulently making royalties on several hundred tracks that made him Denmarks 46th highest-earning streaming composer for three years. More than 200,000 of his profits were also confiscated, while streaming manipulation sites have been taken offline in Canada and Brazil. The case against Smith is likely to be the most significant to date, especially as it has been brought by federal prosecutors in the US and could clarify what is a murky area, legally. I think its an easy case for them to potentially win and set a precedent, says Batey. This could be a landmark case, because once you have that precedent you can start going after all the other types of fraud we see. 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. Why are the flags flying at half-staff in Wisconsin on Friday? You might notice flags around Wisconsin flying at half-staff Friday. The gesture, ordered by Gov. Tony Evers, is in remembrance of a World War II veteran whose remains were recently returned home. Here's what to know about the flags at half-staff and the Wisconsinite they're honoring. The American Flag flies at half staff at Milwaukee City Hall in Milwaukee on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. Why are flags at half-staff in Wisconsin on Friday? Wisconsin flags have been lowered Friday, Sept. 27 in honor of U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Ralph H. Bode, a Racine native who died in World War II. During his time in the war, Bode served on a combat bomb squadron. In September 1944, his aircraft was shot down while on a bombing mission over Germany. His remains would not be recovered until 1951, after which they were transported to various American burial sites abroad. In December 2023, Department of Defense officials finally identified Bode's remains and began the process of sending them home to Wisconsin. Bode will be buried Friday in Racine. Staff Sergeant Bode selflessly gave his life fighting for the freedoms of his fellow Americans and our allies abroad, Evers said in an news release. It is an honor to be able to help welcome him back to Wisconsin after 80 years, where he can finally be laid to rest in his hometown of Racine. How long will flags be at half-staff? Flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday. Where will flags be at half-staff? According to Evers' order, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag will fly at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin. Why do flags fly at half-staff? U.S. flags typically fly at half-staff in the wake of national tragedies or after deaths of government officials, military members or first responders. They also fly at half-staff on Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance, including 9/11. "The United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning," USA.gov says. "The president, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are the flags at half-staff in Wisconsin today? (Bloomberg) -- In a world coming apart at the seams, theres arguably nothing more alluring than the golden visa, a Plan B for the wealthy that allows them to effectively buy a second passportor even full citizenshipwith a large cash investment. The European golden visa became popular during the European debt crisis more than a decade ago, when countries like Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy were in dire need of cash. Most Read from Bloomberg Those programs raised more than $25 billion in 12 years, a third of which went to Portugal, well known for its massive influx of tourists, digital nomads and elderly visa seekers. But as these arrangements became popular, blowback over corruption and real estate prices increased, leading many countries to tighten rules. In this Bloomberg Originals mini-documentary, The Golden Migration May Be on Borrowed Time, we explore how the golden visa is being transformed as a result, and why its days may nevertheless be numbered. As golden visas came under scrutiny, governments sought to channel the money into underfunded economic sectors. Several golden visa eligible funds cropped up, offering investments in everything from solar and farmland to wine, self storage and everything in between. Julian Johnson, co-founder of Tejo Ventures, saw an opportunity to offer investment in Portugals solar infrastructure. We are using the Portugal golden visa almost as a Trojan horse for us to invest in climate, Johnson said. Theres a massive amount of pipeline that we are essentially stepping in to finance. To align their efforts with local aspirations of sustainable development, Tejo Ventures teamed up with the Portuguese firm CleanWatts, which aims to distribute excess power to nearby communities. When we heard about Tejo, it was like a match made in heaven. For us as a country, this kind of fund is bringing a lot of value, said CleanWatts Vice President Maria Benquerenca. Despite the shift though, the European Union continues to pressure members to tighten regulations on their golden visas. Spain recently announced a plan to end its program for foreign property buyers, while Greece has increased the minimum investment to 800,000 Euros ($894,000) in some cases. Watch The Golden Migration May Be on Borrowed Time to learn more about the threats to the golden visa. To see more Bloomberg Originals video documentaries, click here.See the latest videos from Bloomberg Originals here. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. 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 entire nation will vote on the next president of the United States this fall, but the election will likely come down to seven key swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With the outsized importance of these states, it's worth taking a closer look at the data we have in each of them not just where the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stands today, but also each candidate's path to victory and what issues could tip the election. Second up: the Silver State, Nevada, which is part of an increasingly purple swath in the Southwest. The history With one exception 1976 Nevada voted for the winner in every presidential contest from 1912 until 2016, when it broke its winning streak by voting for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by just over 2 points. While it has only six electoral votes, those votes have proven decisive in the tight contests of the recent era. Nevada helped elect President Joe Biden in 2020, who carried the state by a nearly identical margin to Clinton's, and in 2022, the purple state helped determine control of the Senate in a close race that took days to call. PHOTO: The results of the last six presidential elections in Nevada compared with the national popular vote. (Katie Marriner and Amina Brown for 538) Presidential margins in the state have been narrow over the last two decades (with the exception of former President Barack Obama's relatively big wins in 2008 and 2012) and in many cases have closely approximated the national popular vote. Despite having consistently tight races, the state has been steadily blue in presidential races since 2008, while also trending right compared to the country as a whole. In 2008, Obama won Nevada by 12 percentage points, compared to his 7-point win nationally, putting the state 5 points to the left of the country. But in each election since then, Nevada has inched right. In 2020, Biden won nationally by 4 points, but only won the Silver State by 2, placing it to the right of the national popular vote for the first time since the 2004 presidential election. The 2024 polls Polls show an even closer race this year. Harris leads by about 1 point in 538's polling average of the state.* That's a little worse than her performance nationally, where she leads Trump by nearly 3 points, but it's an improvement over Biden, who was trailing Trump in the state. PHOTO: 538's 2024 presidential polling average in Nevada showing Vice President Kamala Harris above former President Donald Trump by 1 point. (538 Photo Illustration) The demographics Nearly three-fourths of Nevada's population of 3.1 million lives in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in the state's southern tip, giving the city a dominant place in the electoral politics of the Silver State. Beyond that, the Reno metropolitan area on the state's western bend clocks in with nearly half a million people, while most of the rest of the state is an extremely rural desert. A little over 28 percent of the state's total population is Hispanic or Latino, making it the largest minority group in the state. Indeed, the state is home to the first Latina senator, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, and targeting Latinos in the Las Vegas area has been an important strategy for both parties. A report from the University of Southern California's Center for Inclusive Democracy found that while only about half of Latino voters across the country turned out in 2020 compared to about two-thirds of the general population, they still made up 15 percent of all voters in Nevada that year. And, as we see in polls across the country, Republicans seem to be making gains with these voters; in an average of polls conducted over the last month, Nevada Latino voters said they would vote for Harris over Trump by a 21-point margin (58 percent to 37 percent)**, a slight drop from the 26-point margin Biden had over Trump among the demographic in 2020, but about on par with national polling among Latino voters. The state is also growing and diversifying rapidly. Its population increased 15 percent between 2010 and 2020, driven by growth among minority groups as the white population shrank, according to the Center for Inclusive Democracy report. That included around 40 percent growth in both Asian and Black populations in the state. Overall, one-third of Nevada voters in 2020 were nonwhite a number that could increase this year if those demographic trends have continued. The state also has a slightly lower percentage of adults with at least a bachelor's degree 29 percent compared to 36 percent nationwide. The divide between voters with or without college degrees has been one of the most important political divides of the past few elections, and voters without college degrees have become another battleground demographic group of sorts. Since his first presidential run, Trump has dominated among white voters without college degrees, while college graduates have migrated solidly into the Democratic Party. And while Black and Latino voters still overwhelmingly cast their ballots for Democrats in recent elections, those without college degrees have been trending toward the Republican Party like their white counterparts have been. All of that means that the state abounds with key demographic groups for each party, which helps explain why the elections there have been so close. The issues To a unique degree, Nevada's economy depends on the hospitality industry. It was among the states most impacted by the recession during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic's economic impacts were particularly lasting there. Unsurprisingly, the top issue for Nevada voters going into the election is the economy, which 39 percent of likely voters named as the most important issue facing their state in an Emerson College/The Hill poll of swing states from September. But that's actually a bit less than the share of voters nationally (43 percent) who said the same in a similar poll from Emerson College in September. In fact, with the exception of Arizona, Nevada voters were the least likely of all swing-state voters to name the economy as their top issue. Instead, many appear to be focused on a related issue that has been particularly troubling in the state: housing. Housing affordability was the second most important issue to Nevada voters, with 16 percent naming it as their top issue, the highest of any state in the Emerson swing-state surveys. Nevada's surge of new residents, concentrated in the Las Vegas area, has put pressure on a housing market struggling to keep up with demand. Many new residents are moving in from California, which has a much higher cost of living, making Nevada a bargain for them but helping push prices out of reach for existing residents. According to Zillow, the Home Value Index in Nevada has grown 34 percent since the start of the Biden presidency, slightly faster than the rate of increase nationwide. The median rental price in Nevada is $2,075, which is $25 less than the national median but represents a $75 increase since September 2023. And Harris may have an advantage on the issue: According to a September Bloomberg/Morning Consult survey, Nevadans trust Harris over Trump on the issue of housing by a 10-point margin (49 percent to 39 percent of registered voters). On the other hand, Trump appears to have an advantage on the economy in the state (as he does nationally). Fifty-three percent of registered voters in Nevada trust him more than Harris on the issue, according to an August CNN/SSRS poll. According to an earlier Emerson College/The Hill poll of the state, 71 percent of likely voters also support Trump's proposal (that's also been adopted by Harris) to eliminate taxes on tips, perhaps because so many Nevadans work in industries where they receive tips in addition to wages. Both candidates announced their support for the policy at rallies in Las Vegas. Beyond the economy, immigration is also a big issue for Nevadans, with 8 percent naming it as the most important issue facing their state in the Emerson College/The Hill September poll. A look at the demographic breakdown also shows that the issue is more complicated than topline numbers might indicate. Latinos care more about the economy (44 percent) and housing affordability (16 percent) than immigration (5 percent). White Nevadans were more likely to say immigration was their top issue (9 percent), but it still came in behind the economy (38 percent), housing affordability (15 percent) and threats to democracy (11 percent). The downballot races Nevada is also electing a U.S. senator this year. But while Cortez Masto's reelection was close in 2022, her fellow Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is polling well ahead of her Republican challenger this year, Afghanistan war veteran Sam Brown. State voters will also be deciding whether to adopt a new voting system that would allow top-five, all-party primaries and ranked-choice voting in general elections, similar to a system currently in place in Alaska. PHOTO: 538's 2024 U.S. Senate polling average in Nevada showing Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen with a 9.9 point lead over Republican Sam Brown. (538 Photo Illustration) Another ballot measure will give Nevada voters the chance to decide whether to codify the right to abortion before fetal viability in the state constitution. (Abortion is currently protected in Nevada by state law.) While abortion is not the most important topic for voters in Nevada, the state is among the most liberal in the nation when it comes to wanting to ensure access. A full 80 percent of Nevada adults oppose criminalizing abortion before fetal viability, according to a survey from the University of Maryland Program for Public Consultation earlier this summer. And 64 percent would favor a federal law ensuring abortion access. Nevada is also the most supportive swing state when it comes to access to birth control: 90 percent of Nevada voters support the federal government continuing to require health insurance plans to cover long-term birth control, like IUDs. That's more than any other swing state polled and the U.S. as a whole. Some activists have been hoping that ballot measures like this might help Democrats at the top of the ticket, either by encouraging turnout among sympathetic demographic groups or keeping the issue of abortion (on which Democrats have a big lead) in the news. But the evidence for abortion-related ballot measures juicing turnout is fairly mixed. Footnotes *All numbers in this article are as of Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. **Based on polls of likely and registered voters only (if a poll included results among both populations, we used likely voters). If a poll included both a head-to-head matchup between Harris and Trump and a version including third parties, we used the head-to-head version. Crosstabs among groups defined by pollsters as "Latino" and "Hispanic" are both included. Finally, if a polling organization (defined as a partnership between a pollster and sponsor, or a pollster alone if their work was not sponsored by an outside group) had more than one survey in the relevant time frame, only the most recent version was included. All polls conducted and released between Aug. 27 and Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern are included. Why Nevada is so close in 2024 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A helicopter sprays water over a bushfire on a hill in Quito on September 25, 2024 (Galo Paguay) (Galo Paguay/AFP/AFP) A record wave of wildfires, fueled by severe drought linked to climate change and deforestation, is causing havoc across South America. The blazes have killed at least 30 people, left cities shrouded in toxic smoke and caused millions of dollars in economic losses. This fire season is "completely different" from the one that ravaged forests in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia in 2019, according to Brazilian environmentalist Erika Berenguer, a researcher at Oxford University. At the time, rain helped douse the fires, which in Brazil were chiefly started by farmers taking advantage of lax legislation under then far-right president Jair Bolsonaro to clear land for crops and ranching. This year, the continent is in the throes of a severe drought. The Amazon basin, usually one of the wettest places on Earth, is experiencing the worst fires in nearly two decades, according to the EU's Copernicus observatory. Berenguer blamed climate change for making the Amazon "highly flammable." - How bad are the fires? - Between January 1 and September 26, more than 400,000 fires were recorded across South America, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). "In nine months we have already surpassed the number of outbreaks recorded in all of 2023," Berenguer noted. In Brazil, the flames have consumed 40.2 million hectares (99 million acres) of vegetation this year, far above the average of 31 million hectares in each of the last 10 years, according to Copernicus. A dozen firefighters have died on duty, according to local media. In Ecuador, the mayor of the capital Quito declared this week the Andean city was "under attack" from 27 fires which forced the evacuation of over 100 families before being brought under control. Ecuador had declared an emergency in several provinces, as has Peru, where 21 people have been killed by fires since July. Most were small-scale farmers. Several fires are also blazing in Argentina and in Colombia, at opposite ends of the continent. - What's causing the fires? - Experts and national authorities point to a combination of combustible factors, chiefly droughts aggravated by climate change and slash-and-burn agriculture. "It's a clear example of climate change. If anyone thought it didn't exist, well look, here it is," said Ecuadoran Environment Minister Ines Manzano. In Peru and Bolivia, some of the fires are believed to have been started by farmers burning land to make it more fertile for planting, a traditional practice in the Andean countries that is tolerated by the authorities. In the Brazilian Amazon, fires lit by both subsistence farmers and the agribusiness industry to clear forest for cattle or crops were fanned by the worst drought in the country's recent history. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has pledged to put a stop to illegal Amazon deforestation by 2030, considers most of the fires to be "criminal" in origin. In some places, the fires are started by arsonists. One person has been arrested in Quito and dozens in Argentina and Brazil on suspicion of maliciously starting fires. - How are people affected? - The fires have dramatically reduced air quality in several cities. Sao Paulo, the largest city in Latin America, was ranked the most polluted city in the world in early September, according to Swiss company IQAir. A large part of Brazil remains shrouded in acrid smoke that wafted as far south as Montevideo and Buenos Aires earlier this month, causing a phenomenon known as "black rain." Inhabitants of many of Brazilian cities are experiencing respiratory problems and other symptoms such as stinging eyes. In Bolivia, health authorities have recommended people wear face masks because of the poor air quality. The region's economies are also feeling the burn. Losses in the Brazilian agricultural sector amounted to $2.7 billion between June and August, principally sugarcane harvests. In Ecuador, nearly 45,000 farm animals have died after more than two months without rain. - What are governments doing? - Thousands of firefighters and soldiers have been deployed across the continent to tackle the blazes. "Everyone wants to hire thousands of firefighters, buy aircraft, etc, etc. That's fine but it's too little, too late," Berenguer said. "We need to prevent fires, because once they become big they are very difficult to fight," she said, advocating for tougher measures against deforestation and planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. burs-jss/cb/mlr/acb Discover the wonders of Thailand in its low season away from the crowds and at a cheaper price (Getty) Despite the occasional downpour, there are plenty of reasons to visit Thailand from May to October so pack your mac and sense of adventure, and get ready to see this spectacular country in a whole new light. From rejuvenated landscapes to rich cultural experiences, the rainy season reveals a side of Thailand that is often overlooked. And who knows? The off-season might just become your favourite time to visit. Why you should visit Thailand in the low season 1. Go for the weather This might have high-season purists spitting out their cha yen (iced tea) in horror, itching to inculcate would-be visitors with the well-worn wisdom that summer is the hot, humid, rainy season. And it is, but lets face it, Thailand is hot all year around, with temperatures remaining in the early-to-mid thirties from January to December, fluctuating only by a few degrees. Yes, its humid we prefer sultry from May to October, but you really wont notice if youre spending your days on the beach being fanned by a gentle sea breeze (or a palm frond, if you have the means). When youre anywhere indoors, the air-conditioning is usually set to Arctic blast anyway. For those who love natures drama, however, Thailands monsoon season is an experience in itself. The occasional rains, while heavy, are usually brief and refreshing, sweeping in to cool the air in the late afternoon, and washing the land with a shimmering sheen. The sight of nimbus clouds rolling over the Andaman Sea, the rumble of distant thunder, warm rain showering down upon you as you swim in bathwater seas English drizzle, this aint. 2. Its lush Haew Narok waterfall in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand (Getty/iStock) You call it the off-season, we call it the green season. Well, we dont actually call it that, but we could, and we wouldnt be wrong. One of the most compelling reasons to visit Thailand in the low season is the stunning transformation of its landscapes. The rains breathe life into the countryside, painting fields and forests with chartreuse and absinthe greens, before giddily bedding down on rice paddies that stretch out like Gaias quilts. Waterfalls reduced to trickles in dry months roar back to life, cascading past mossy rocks with renewed vigour, while mountains are cloaked in diaphanous mists. Sure, you might be up to your ankles in mud at times, but Thailands parks feel almost mystical in the rainy season. Read more: Chiang Mai city guide: Where to stay, eat drink and shop in Thailands northern creative hub 3. Spectacular seasonal festivals Bun Bang Fai, or the Rocket Festival, is a folk tradition started by the Lao people in the Isan region of Thailand, in which huge rockets are shot from towering wooden frames high into the sky to mark the beginning of the rainy season. Clearly unwilling to wait around for Halloween, the people of northern Thailands Loei province hold the Phi Ta Khon (or Ghost Festival) each June or July. Locals dress up in elaborate ghost costumes (or simply cake themselves in mud) and parade through the streets wearing painted masks made from rice steamers while making enough noise to wake the dead. Dancers at the Rocket Festival in Thailand (Getty) Thailands off-season is dotted with tons of unique festivals, each worth planning a whole trip around. For example, in July, Asanha Bucha celebrates the anniversary of Buddhas first sermon, followed by Khao Phansa, the first day of Buddhist Lent. During this time, temples across the country hold mesmerising candlelight processions. In recent years, several cities in Thailand have begun hosting candle festivals and, in many cases, those plain old wax cylinders have been upgraded to gargantuan sculpted candles. Starting on the eve of the ninth lunar month, which normally falls in September or October, the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is a jaw-dropping, cheek-skewering spectacle of devotion and endurance. The streets fill with the smoke of firecrackers while participants perform acts of self-mutilation (although they cant take all the credit: they have plenty of help) such as piercing their faces with well, the limits are only your imagination/nightmares. 4. Youre supporting the local economy Visiting during the off-season helps support local businesses that rely on tourism year round. Your visit can make a big difference to local communities, ensuring they thrive even when tourist numbers are low. 5. Authentic cultural connections Fewer tourists means more opportunities to make connections with local people (Getty) The low season is a time when you can engage more meaningfully with local communities. Fewer tourists mean more opportunities to have genuine interactions with locals, who often have more time and inclination to share their stories and traditions with curious travellers. 6. Its cheaper While its always great value for money, visiting in the low season means that you can enjoy Thailands renowned hospitality at a fraction of the usual cost. Luxury resorts, boutique hotels and beach-front properties offer significant discounts and off-season packages that include extras like spa treatments, making it possible to stay in the kind of comfort that might be out of reach during the high season. Flights can also be significantly cheaper, so youll have more cash to splurge on agonising massages, umbrellas, hand fans and elephant pants. Read more: The Thailand island you must visit now before The White Lotus effect hits 7. The surfs up Thailand isnt known as a big surfing destination and youre not going to find the kind of breakers you get in Indonesia here but the Andaman coast is good for beginners to practise on smaller waves. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the monsoon season is the best time to surf, when the swells are bigger, and the beaches are less crowded, giving you more room to ride the waves and more space on those white-sand beaches to take your obligatory surfboard selfies. It's harder to reach, but the island of Ko Phayam is affordable, idyllic, has fewer visitors and has some of Thailands best surf. 8. Amazing wildlife encounters The resplendent great hornbill can be found in Khao Sok National Park (Getty/iStock) With fewer tourists around, wildlife tends to be more active and visible. Visit national parks like Khao Sok, and you might spot leopards, gibbons, elephants, spectacled langurs and exotic birds, undisturbed by chattering backpackers. Read more: Why you should explore congested Bangkok by bike and boat 9. Its less crowded Have you ever tried to strike a pose at the Grand Palace without being photo-bombed by hundreds of irritating tourists trying to enjoy their own holidays? In the off-season, youll have the space you deserve to become the next viral TikTok model without oblivious bystanders blocking your shots. In the low season, you can explore the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya in a tranquil solitude that evokes the grandeur of its past. Coastal areas like Krabi and Phang Nga Bay which are usually teeming with tourists become places of serene beauty. On the island of Ko Lanta, you can explore hidden caves undisturbed, and youll find deserted beaches, where you can walk for miles with nothing but the sound of the waves for company. Even the capital slows down, with locals retreating indoors by day, while the bustling night markets come alive in the cooler evenings. Find out more about ethical and sustainable travel options, and other ways to support local communities and protect the environment during your stay at Responsible Thailand. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 kidnapped three Israeli soldiers who had crossed the border. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.) 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Ohio Division of Wildlife is asking residents to report sightings of deer behaving abnormally, including appearing disoriented or showing little to no fear of humans, to track an outbreak of a disease. Wildlife experts are tracking the spread of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer in the country, which is capable of killing the animal in large numbers. The division typically sees deer with the disease every year; Deer Biologist Clint McCoy said the number of reports so far this year are more significant than average (exceeding 500), but not expected to be as severe as some previous years, such as 2017 (1,397) and 2022 (1,520). Most places that are experiencing deer mortality right now likely havent seen this level of mortality in several years, McCoy said. Along with disorientation and a lack of fear, symptoms include appearing feverish, exhibiting respiratory issues and swelling of the head, neck, tongue and eyelids, according to the agency. Carcasses of infected deer are often found near water. The disease does not affect humans or domestic pets (such as dogs and cats), nor does it impact the safety of deer meat, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. However, the agency advises residents to never kill or eat a sick deer out of caution, since without testing one cannot be certain what a deer is suffering from. It also does not pose a serious threat to livestock, the Ohio Department of Agriculture claims. In central Ohio, Franklin County has seemingly reported the most sick or dead deer suspected to have been suffering from the disease, according to a map shared by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Multiple reports have also been made in Delaware, Licking, Pickaway and Fairfield counties. Reports shown on the map above are from July 1 through Sept. 24. (Photo courtesy/Ohio Division of Wildlife). Not every report on the map is confirmed; the dark-grey shaded counties on the map have had a confirmed case. Confirmations are made possible when the Division of Wildlife can get to a deer soon enough to get a valid sample sent to the lab, according McCoy. Our approach is to try and get at least one confirmed EHD with laboratory testing in every county where it is present, McCoy said. Once we get a positive, we no longer look for samples to submit to the lab and just monitor disease severity using reports from the public. The reports are unconfirmed, however given the patterns that develop in the data we can see where disease outbreaks are most severe. The disease is caused by the bite of an infected midge, a type of fly, and outbreaks are often associated with droughts, which the state has experienced this month. Outbreaks of the disease most commonly occur in late summer and early fall. Symptoms usually appear about seven days after exposure and deer are likely to die within three days following onset symptoms, according to the ODNR. Midwestern deer populations have developed little resistance to the disease which can cause high deer mortality however, populations usually bounce back within a few years. There isnt much humans can do to combat EHD outbreaks, McCoy said. We have to combat the issue with education. We have to assure those that are concerned about the disease that it is seasonal and disease transmission will halt with the onset of cold weather, which inactivates the disease vector. Because of the temporary nature of the disease event, it is not a long term threat to deer populations and they will rebound to pre-disease numbers relatively quickly. The Ohio Division of Wildlife asks those who observe a deer behaving oddly to contact them by phone at 800-945-3543, while carcasses can be reported 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. FILE - Then-Wisconsin state Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, speaks at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis. on May 29, 2015. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) When the elections clerk in Wisconsin's heavily Democratic capital city of Madison announced on Monday that duplicate absentee ballots had mistakenly been sent to around 2,000 voters, it ignited concerns about election integrity from a Republican congressman and others on the right. Every vote is crucial in Wisconsin, a swing state that President Joe Biden won by just under 21,000 votes in 2020 and that former President Donald Trump won by just under 23,000 votes in 2016. The contest between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris is close this year as well, creating a hyperintense focus on how elections are run. Madison is in the heart of liberal Dane County, where more than 75% of voters more than 260,000 people voted for Biden in 2020. Because of Madison's heavy Democratic tilt, any question about election integrity draws intense scrutiny from Republicans. Here are some things to know about what happened with the duplicate ballots and the reaction to the error. How did the public find out about the error? Madison's city clerk who runs elections, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, posted a statement online on Monday night explaining that up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots had been sent in error. The statement blamed a data processing error and initially said that only voters in one ward were affected. The statement also said that barcodes on the ballots used to track them would ensure that only one ballot is counted. Are there barcodes on ballots in Wisconsin? No. There are barcodes on the envelopes that absentee ballots are returned in. Those barcodes make it possible for voters to track the progress of their ballots online. It also allows for election officials to mark off when a voter has cast an absentee ballot, ensuring that they don't vote again at the polls on Election Day. Republican raises questions about barcodes on ballots Tiffany seized on the citys initial statement that did not differentiate between the ballot and the envelope. In a letter to the city, he asked, Are unique ballot bar codes linked to individual, identifiable voter profiles? The city responded by explaining that barcodes are printed on the ballot envelope, not the ballot. These types of barcodes are used across the state and the country, the clerk wrote. Tiffany on Friday defended asking that question, saying he was seeking clarity after the clerk's initial statement did not clearly say the barcodes were on the envelopes, not the ballots. City spokesperson Dylan Brogan said that he altered the wording of the original statement to specify that the barcode is on ballot envelopes after Tiffany asked the barcode question. Kevin Kennedy, who was Wisconsins top elections official for 33 years and is currently a member of three nonpartisan boards that work in elections, said using the term ballot when actually referring to the envelope is commonly done both by election workers and the public. If thats the strength of your argument, focusing on someone misspeaking, thats not the issue, Kennedy said. It probably says more about the motives of the speaker if thats what theyre going to focus on. The city posted its response to Tiffany, which included the barcode explanation, at 6:24 p.m. on Wednesday. Eighteen minutes later, Tiffany posted a photo of an absentee ballot and quoted from the city's initial statement that did not differentiate between the ballot and envelope. Tiffany said, 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. That post generated more than 2.4 million views on X as of Friday. Tiffany said Friday that he was not falsely suggesting that the clerk was lying about barcodes on ballots. Tiffany said he was trying to point out that it was the clerk, not him, who first said the barcodes were on ballots and not the envelopes. Also on Thursday, X owner Elon Musk, who like Tiffany is a Trump supporter, reposted a message to his nearly 200 million followers that suggested Republicans had discovered that duplicate ballots had been sent. Who discovered the error and what is being done to fix it? The error occurred when two data sets were merged, creating a file that listed absentee voters twice, the city spokesperson Brogan said. It was done late last week and discovered on Monday when the city was contacted by a voter who received two ballots, he said. None of the duplicate ballots had been returned before the mistake was caught, Brogan said. The Madison city attorney spoke with the state Republican Party about the incident on Monday before the city made it public and before Tiffany raised questions about it, Brogan said. Tiffany's first public comment about the issue came the day after the city made the public aware of what had happened. Tiffany calls for an independent investigation Tiffany, after the city responded to his initial set of questions, on Thursday called for an independent investigation citing many inconsistencies including the barcode issue. He also pointed to the city increasing the number of wards affected from one to 10 and the number of duplicate ballots from up to 2,000 to 2,215. Democrats accuse Tiffany of trying to mislead, sow distrust Democrats were quick to accuse Tiffany of trying to sow distrust in elections. I cant tell if this is just profound lack of knowledge or the intentional farming of outrage, Ann Jacobs, the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, posted on X. Both, by the way, are bad. Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore also responded to Tiffanys post about the barcode calling it misinformation and telling him to knock it off. Witzel-Behl, the city clerk, told Tiffany in her response letter that elections are conducted by humans and occasionally human error occurs." 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," she said. RACINE, Wis. (WFRV) A 29-year-old Wisconsin man has been arrested in connection with multiple bomb threats targeting government buildings. According to a release, on Sept. 23, 2024, deputies with the Racine County Sheriffs Office received a call from an automated voice making a bomb threat to various governmental buildings in Racine County. Wisconsin Herd assistant coach Joe Wolf dies unexpectedly at 59 Out of an abundance of caution, county officials evacuated and searched the targeted buildings, but nothing significant was found. Immediately after receiving the threat, the Racine County Sheriffs Office started their attempts to identify the perpetrator. Using open-source intelligence-gathering tools, investigators determined that the telephone number came back to High River in Alberta, Canada. Investigators got in touch with the High River Police Department, which had no in-house records of the phone call. Utilizing additional resources, authorities determined the telephone number was associated with an internet provider that sells telephone numbers to third-party companies worldwide. Eventually, investigators identified that the number most recently originated from a specific company, which provides an app that sells telephone numbers that are supposed to be difficult to trace. Despite the difficulty, subscriber information was obtained for the location where the telephone number was purchased, which was Racine. The investigators examined the residences history, developed a suspect, considered a motive, and obtained a search warrant. The Racine County Sheriffs Office identified 29-year-old Devone Kessler from Racine as the suspect. Kessler is a registered sex offender on extended supervision for a felony. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the search warrant was executed in the 2800 block of Douglas Ave. while a separate team contacted Kessler at his place of employment and apprehended him. Teenager narrowly escapes Fond du Lac house fire deemed to be act of arson, suspect in custody Deputies say that Kessler gave a full confession, and he was transported to the Racine County Jail for terrorist threats and a bomb scare. The release says he is being held on a $10,000 cash bail. Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling issued a statement regarding the incident. While there has been a rash of false threats to government buildings recently, the Sheriffs Office took every precaution necessary to ensure public safety when dispatch received a bomb threat. At the same time, our investigators used all their training, experience, and equipment to work with our partners in law enforcement both in the United States and Canada to hunt down anyone responsible for these crimes. The investigators also worked with private international companies to put the pieces together to identify the suspect. Ultimately, the investigators obtained a confession which strengthened an already strong case. I commend all members of the Sheriffs Office for their professional response to this terroristic act. I could not be prouder job well done! Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling Teenager narrowly escapes Fond du Lac house fire deemed to be act of arson, suspect in custody Charges have been forwarded to the Racine County District Attorneys Office for criminal prosecution. No additional details have been provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) A 22-year-old Wisconsin man has been formally charged in federal court, accused of possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm with a machine gun conversion device. According to a release, Jontrae Larsen, 22, of Madison, allegedly possessed a Glock 17 handgun with a machine gun conversion device from Nov. 22, 2023, through on or about Jan. 6, 2024. One dead, another hospitalized from two-vehicle crash on State Highway 153 A machine gun conversion device converts a handgun from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Machine gun conversion devices are illegal, as are any firearms with the devices. Larsen faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on both 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Books by Atlantide Phototravel | Getty Images Creative A Wisconsin nonprofit announced the state Department of Corrections (DOC) had barred them from sending books to incarcerated people, sparking an outcry. The departments spokesperson says the group isnt barred. Beth Hardtke, director of communications for the Wisconsin DOC, told the Examiner that the nonprofit can send books to prisonersthough they have to be new copies, not used books. The department has expressed concern about those who would impersonate the nonprofit Wisconsin Books to Prisoners (WBTP) in order to send drugs into prison. DOC did not specify whether anyone has tried to send drugs into prisons by impersonating WBTP, but a department administrator said bad actors have tried to send in drugs and have also used prison mail to impersonate the IRS and others. In an email to the DOC, WBTP co-founder Camy Matthay said that reading contributes to the safety of residents and staff of prisons and reduces recidivism. Matthay said a large proportion of the books incarcerated people request from WBTP underscore that they are trying their best to prepare to be productive members of society. This includes books on various trades and on how to start a business or nonprofit, she said. Matthays email was part of an email chain between WBTP and the DOC, which the DOC sent to the Examiner. We feel reading is a human right. Access to books is a human right, Matthay told the Examiner. WBTP said that the group was barred by the DOC from sending books to incarcerated people in a statement dated Sept. 16. The group said it has sent close to 70,000 books to prisoners across Wisconsin since its founding in 2006. Its a bad, very, very unfair situation, Matthay said. Especially when a [very] few bad actors if we can assume this really is going on cause thousands of prisoners not to be able to get literature. Media outlets and social media accounts have publicized the claim that the DOC barred the group from sending any books to incarcerated people. The DOC has received backlash, including a petition with 324 supporters criticizing the alleged decision by the department. WBTP said in a statement that the group is pursuing all legal options. Did the DOC bar the group from sending new books? The DOC had already told the nonprofit that it couldnt send used books to prisoners. Security Chief Robert Miller of the DOCs division of adult institutions (DAI) told the nonprofit in mid-January that the department would not accept used publications at that time, according to a timeline provided by WBTP. In May, WBTP proposed that the DOC give the group special permission to send clean copies of used books. The group said Idaho is an example of a state that has a list of approved vendors that can send both new and used books. In a follow-up email in August, Matthay said well over 200 prisoners were waiting to receive books they requested and hoping the DOC would restore the arrangement allowing WBTP to send used books. To us, it simply doesnt feel defensible to withdraw opportunities for the men and women in your care to read and occupy their time in ways that are meaningful to them, Matthay wrote in the email, which was part of an email chain the DOC sent to the Examiner. In mid-August, DAI Administrator Sarah Cooper responded to WBTP and referenced a past decision. We have not made exceptions for any other organizations or entities, and we cannot do so for Wisconsin Books to Prisoners, Cooper said. In fact, since the decision was made to no longer allow books in from your organization, weve had to implement a whole new process for handling mail from the entities listed in the above paragraph. A month later, on Sept. 16, WBTP published its statement condemning the alleged ban on the organization sending any books to incarcerated people in Wisconsin. After speaking to Hardtke, the Examiner spoke with Matthay about the possibility that Cooper had meant the nonprofit couldnt send used books to prisons not that the group couldnt send in any books. The way that message has been interpreted by everybody thats read it our project was barred, Matthay said. According to the timeline provided by WBTP, the group asked the DOC if it could resolve the problem by providing a USPS tracking number for every package of books it ships. Hardtke also said friends and family can purchase books directly from bookstores, which send the books to prisons, along with a receipt, for incarcerated people. Is the concern about drugs a good reason to limit books? In January, Miller said the department, as well as jails and prisons across the country, were experiencing a large amount of sprayed-on narcotics and foreign substances on paper, according to the WBTP timeline. This created a significant risk to the health and safety of staff and incarcerated people, he said. In August, Cooper said there have been many instances of people trying to send drugs into the prisons while pretending the mail is coming from legitimate sources, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Justice. So our concern is not with your organization, but with those who would impersonate your organization for nefarious means, Cooper told WBTP on Aug. 16. In its appeal to the DOC in May, WBTP referenced an article by the Marshall Project, which quoted a former science-to-action coordinator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundations Overdose Response Strategy program. The former coordinator, Jennifer Carroll, said there is little evidence that limiting access to books will help save lives. Hardtke said bad actors in Wisconsin and other states have exploited otherwise positive programs that rely on donations to support incarcerated people. She said donated books have recently been among materials that have tested positive for drugs. Neither the Examiner nor Tone Madison have heard back from Hardtke about the frequency of incidents of books testing positive for drugs. Whats next for Wisconsin Books to Prisoners? Matthay said WBTPs project has been stalled. If the DOC does allow her organization to send in new or used books, she said she needs to see their policy in writing. She said she wants the DOC to tell wardens, staff, mailroom clerks and property sergeants what the new policy is so WBTP doesnt have to ship the same box of books more than once. Even if WBTP can start sending new books again, Matthay said a ban on used books hobbles the project. The group doesnt have the money to buy the amount of books that they send. The ban on used books prevents WBTP from sending used books donated by the general public. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of Tone Madison. MADISON, Wisconsin Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be listed on Wisconsin voters' ballots following a state Supreme Court decision Friday addressing his request to remove his name. In its ruling, the court said Kennedy's briefing was "inadequate." "We emphasize that we are not making any legal determinations on our own regarding the claims made by Kennedy and we are not agreeing with the circuit courts legal conclusions on those claims," justices wrote in the order, which was released late Friday afternoon. "We simply are unable to make such determinations, given the inadequate briefing presented to us." The liberal-majority court on Sept. 20 accepted a petition from the Wisconsin Elections Commission to bypass an appeals court and take the case directly. The court, with some justices dissenting, said it would not hear oral arguments on the case but gave Kennedy's legal team until noon Sept. 21 to file a brief no longer than 20 pages on the matter. Former President Donald Trump introduces independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally in Glendale, Ariz., on Aug. 23, 2024, after Kennedy quit his presidential race and endorsed Trump. Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler joined Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley in voting not to take the case. The two are both conservatives. "Process matters. The members of the majority sometimes enforce a rule against 'premature petitions' but sometimes they dont, without disclosing any standards by which they will choose whether to apply it. Such arbitrariness by courts is antithetical to the original understanding of the judicial role," Bradley wrote. "The majority's arbitrariness in following its professed procedure in one case while discarding it in another sends a message to litigants that judicial process will be invoked or ignored based on the majoritys desired outcome in a politically-charged case." Kennedy filed the lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission earlier this month in Dane County, arguing independent candidates are treated unfairly because they operate under different deadlines from party-aligned candidates when it comes to ballot access. His request to be removed from Wisconsin's ballot, however, came as he asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put him on the presidential ballot in New York. Party-affiliated candidates had until 5 p.m. on Sept. 3 to certify their candidacy, according to guidance from the Elections Commission, while independent candidates had until 5 p.m. on Aug. 6. Kennedy ended his campaign Aug. 23. Election clerks faced a deadline last week to send absentee ballots to voters with requests on file, and hundreds of thousands of ballots listing Kennedy's name have been mailed out by clerks. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 2024. The Kennedy lawsuit came just a week after the state's election board denied a request from his campaign to be removed from the ballot after he dropped out of the presidential race last month and endorsed former President Donald Trump. Attorneys for Kennedy, and several Republican members of the elections commission at the time argued Kennedy should be able to withdraw his name before the commission officially set the ballot. But Wisconsin law holds that anyone who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot which Kennedy did cannot decline nomination. The only exception to that provision is "in case of death of the person," according to the law. "The only way he gets to not be on the ballot is to up and die, which I'm assuming he has no plans on doing," WEC chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, said at the time. "The statute is absolutely clear on this." On behalf of the elections commission, state Department of Justice attorneys argued Kennedy's name has been appropriately left on the ballot. "Kennedy filed nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy to run for U.S. President. Today, he prefers (at least in Wisconsin) to support a major party candidate. Kennedys request to remove his name from the ballot was barred by (state law) and so the Commission correctly denied it," state attorneys argued. Republicans have pushed to have Kennedy's name removed from ballots in battleground states out of concerns his presence could draw votes away from Trump. Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he makes a campaign stop at manufacturer FALK Production in Walker, Michigan, U.S. September 27, 2024. Kennedy's attorneys centered their argument around the differing dates for party-affiliated and independent candidates to certify their declaration of candidacy. President Joe Biden, they noted, dropped out of the race on July 21 before the party Sept. 3 deadline in Wisconsin. The state Supreme Court essentially said on Friday that Kennedy failed to make his case and failed to prove the circuit court had ruled in error. "While Kennedys appellate briefs do mention his constitutional arguments (equal protection, free speech, and freedom of association) in cursory terms, they fail to develop those arguments to even a minimal standard sufficient for us to consider their merits," the ruling read. In Wisconsin, more Republicans than Democrats supported Kennedy, according to data from the Marquette University Law School Poll. Without any changes, there will be eight presidential candidates on Wisconsin's ballot in November, including Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent candidate Cornel West. Ziegler and Bradley concurred with the ruling but criticized the circumstances. "The ramifications in this case are immense," they wrote. "Voters may cast their ballots in favor of a candidate who withdrew his candidacy, thereby losing their right to cast a meaningful vote. Ballots listing a non-candidate mislead voters and may skew a presidential election. In this case, the damage to voter participation in electoral democracy is real." (This story was updated to add new information.) Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com. Mary Spicuzza can be reached at mary.spicuzza@jrn.com This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court keeps RFK Jr. on the presidential ballot Wisconsinites Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. WISCONSIN 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 Wisconsin. 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. Wisconsinites Can Order Free COVID Tests Again. How To Get Yours. originally appeared on the Across Wisconsin Patch Without state law to help, advocates aim to provide legal help for Oklahomans facing eviction Oklahomans facing legal proceedings for a criminal complaint are guaranteed access to an attorney and offered free assistance if they cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. In eviction court, no such guarantee is offered. Oklahoma tenants facing eviction most often arrive at their hearings without legal counsel, leaving them unarmed against landlords who bring attorneys up to 80% of the time. With legal representation, tenants are far more likely to see a favorable result in eviction hearings. Research shows that in Oklahoma, tenants are 75% more likely to remain in their homes after an eviction filing when they are represented by an attorney. Tenant advocates nationwide are pushing for tenant right-to-counsel laws. There are 17 cities and five states where free legal representation is mandated in eviction cases. Advocate groups are aiming to help pass right-to-counsel laws Oklahoma does not have right-to-counsel laws in place, but tenant-rights advocate groups such as Legal Aid Services Oklahoma work to advance the potential for Oklahoma tenants to secure laws to guarantee free counsel in eviction cases. An innovative Oklahoma investing collaborative designed to provide access to funding for social service nonprofits in the state announced recently it will provide financial backing to Legal Aid Services Oklahomas Tenant Right-to-Counsel program, potentially saving millions in taxpayer dollars while helping to keep Oklahomans in their homes. Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative will provide a low-interest loan to Legal Aid Services Oklahoma to underwrite LASOs statewide efforts to provide free legal representation and counsel to tenants facing eviction hearings, or before eviction cases are filed in court. The $2 million loan will pay for legal aid services for an estimated 1,800 Oklahomans, said LASO Executive Drector Michael Figgins. More: Human Rights Commission meets on tenants rights, solutions to high OKC eviction rate Figgins said LASO is running out of money to pay for legal services for Oklahomans facing eviction. The money that weve relied on is pretty much gone, Figgins said. LASO has received most of its funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. When HUD grants funds for eviction prevention in Oklahoma, the money is generally split among LASO, the Oklahoma City University School of Law Housing Eviction Legal Assistance Program and Shelterwell, a nonprofit group that gathers and analyzes eviction data and provides mediators in eviction court, Figgins said. OIIC is a social impact investment collaborative that combines money from philanthropies to provide loans such as the one LASO will receive. OIIC is a subsidiary of MetaFund, a 501(c)3 community development financial institution, one of about 1,000 such institutions nationwide that combine money from private and public sector entities to invest in local communities to create economic opportunities. MetaFund works with nine philanthropies to create funding streams for OIIC projects. OIIC also works with other nonprofits including Pivot and Remerge, which align with its focus areas, said OIIC president and co-founder, Ed Long. Since its inception in February, 2020 OIIC has worked with 18 nonprofit agencies to provide more than $10 million in funding. Oklahoma evictions a growing problem In Oklahoma, 48,278 eviction cases were filed by landlords in 2023. Of those, about half resulted in tenants being displaced from their homes. Many more tenants were likely evicted informally. Informal eviction occurs when tenants move out of their homes after receiving warnings or threats from their landlord without a claim ever being filed in court. Evictions arent just a landlord and tenant problem, said Amy Coldren, executive director of Shelterwell. Ripple effects from eviction threats affect all Oklahomans. Minors represent 40% of people affected by eviction and are at risk for long-lasting physical and emotional fallout as a consequence. More: Women, especially Black women with children, face highest rates of evictions in Oklahoma Coldren said evictions increase the likelihood that a tenant will lose their job by 22%. Evictions cause school absenteeism. They increase a tenants mortality rate, placing an increased burden on our healthcare system. Evictions weaken neighborhoods and communities, increase family separation, and place an enormous burden on taxpayers. Research from LASOs Stout Report shows the number of evictions filed in Oklahoma each year is on the rise but with legal help, about 95% of people who received free legal help achieved their goals, whether that amounted to staying in their homes or a different outcome. The report was released after LASO performed a right-to-counsel pilot program from June, 2023 to June, 2004 in several Oklahoma City and Tulsa zip codes with the high eviction filings. Stout estimated that Oklahoma County and Tulsa County realized economic benefits of $6.3 million from the right-to-counsel program between August 1, 2022 and June 5, 2024. Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state. The positive results of the right-to-counsel pilot and an urgency for relief for Oklahomans facing evictions convinced the team at OIIC to take a deeper interest in funding Right-to-Counsel efforts, Long said. Figgins said that many evictions can be prevented with early intervention from a qualified attorney. Landlord errors are overlooked by county courts that handle as many as 387 cases in a day, especially when tenants face evictions alone. LASO attorneys often find mistakes, Figgins said. For example, certain laws apply to people who receive housing vouchers, known as Section 8, that dont apply to people renting from private landlords who do not receive Section 8 subsidies. One of the first things a housing attorney like those at LASO does when examining a case is to determine what type of rental contract is at hand, Figgins said. If a landlord fails to serve eviction notices properly or evicts for illegal reasons or discrimination, attorneys are likely to catch those case-breaking flaws and help tenants keep their homes if that is their goal, Figgins said. Ultimately, Long said, he hopes that the OIIC financing will encourage Oklahoma City and Tulsa to fund right-to-counsel programs. Long said OIIC used recent media reports on evictions to illustrate to investors the need in Oklahoma for tenants to have access to legal assistance in court. We were able to use a lot of it when we went to our investors and said, Hey, this is, this is a no-brainer, Long said. Reporting on evictions is driving money, its driving interest. Heather Warlick is a reporter covering evictions, housing and homelessness. Contact her at (405) 226-1915 or hwarlick@oklahomawatch.org. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahomans facing eviction could get legal help from these advocates Margarita Clark was previously jailed more than 10 years ago for conning her friends [Hertfordshire Police] A pensioner who was jailed a decade ago for conning friends out of 2.5m, has been sent back to prison after defrauding a neighbour out of more than 100,000. Margarita Clark, 72, of Fourways in Bayford, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation. St Albans Crown Court heard Clark befriended a woman in her 70s who had moved to the area after her husband passed away and managed to take 118,000 from her over a two year period. The victim's family became suspicious and after a google search discovered Clark had previously been jailed for three years and four months for taking 2.5m from friends in 2014. Margarita Clark has previously been imprisoned in 2014 for another scam [South Beds News Agency] In 2018, Clark had fabricated a story about purchasing property in Spain and offered the victim a chance to invest, in exchange for a cut of the interest. Over the next two years she made up stories about the property to acquire more funds from the woman. She used the money to buy high end clothing items, a new car and even persuaded the victim to pay for a trip to Dubai. Hertfordshire Police were contacted by the woman's family in October 2020 as they were concerned that the victim had been scammed. Det Con Emma Cozens said: Clark is a cold and calculating individual. She took advantage of her victim, who was grieving the loss of her husband and had only recently moved to the area. "The victim genuinely believed she had made a close friend and was left shocked and heartbroken when the truth was discovered. Im pleased that Clark is now behind bars." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related internet links Three bodies retrieved from under rubble of police headquarters in Kryvyi Rih photos The death toll from a Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, has risen to three, with two more bodies - a man and a woman - being pulled from under the rubble of the National Police headquarters. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; State Emergency Service of Ukraine Quote from Lysak: "The body of a woman was found under the rubble of an administrative building in Kryvyi Rih. Thus, according to the information available, this morning the enemy killed one person in the city. Five people were injured." Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Details: The search and rescue operation is ongoing. Besides an administrative building, the Russians also damaged 23 houses and three nine-storey buildings, as well as an educational institution. Over 80 cars, including eight official vehicles, were damaged as well. Later, the rescue workers reported that six people had been injured as a result of a Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih. Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Updated: At 16:20, the head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration reported that two more bodies, of a man and a woman, had been retrieved from under the rubble. Therefore, the number of people killed in the morning attack rose to three. Background: Russian troops launched a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on the morning of 27 September, hitting the National Police headquarters. Support UP or become our patron! Women in Belgium travel to the Netherlands for later term abortions More than 300 women in Belgium, including those facing financial hardship, travel to the Netherlands to terminate their pregnancies each year. The Netherlands, which allows abortion up to 22 weeks after conception, provides women with the ability to terminate pregnancies later than in Belgium where the limit is 12 weeks. Over twenty pro-abortion associations in Belgium have drawn attention to complications in the country's legal framework on abortion. In addition to women having only 12 weeks to terminate their pregnancies, a reflection period of 6 days is mandatory between the first consultation and the start of procedure. Women who don't observe this reflection period face significant penalties. Family planning centres say that these legal conditions are incompatible with the lived experience of many women, and call for an extension on the time limit within which a woman can terminate her pregnancy. Frederic Brichau, co-ordinator of the Family Planning Centre in Namur, says that each situation should be understood with "flexibility", and that a reflection period of six days is unproductive as "perhaps the woman has already thought for a fortnight before contacting us or has taken a pregnancy test the same morning before contacting us." Legal limit varies across Europe Belgian women are not the only ones put into the complicated position of having to travel across European borders in order to safely terminate a pregnancy. The legal time limits vary between European countries, ranging from 10 weeks in Portugal to 24 weeks in the Netherlands. The majority of countries have set the limit at 12 weeks. Spain and Austria allow abortion up until 14 weeks and have eschewed a mandatory reflection period. In Bulgaria, the limit is 20 weeks. In Poland, a country with a strong Catholic tradition, abortion is illegal apart from in cases where the pregnancy is the result of a criminal act or the woman's life is in danger. People protest Poland's restrictive abortion law in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday June 14, 2023. - Czarek Sokolowski/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved Lina Galvez, chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, told Euronews that, "those who have enough money can go to another country, but for those who don't have the resources this is not always an option. This prevents abortion being a universal right for all women throughout the world". Non-binding efforts The European Parliament has put forward legislative initiatives to try to ensure free and safe abortion for all women, regardless of their country of origin. Among these efforts is the 2021 Matic Report, which urges member states to "decriminalise abortion" and ensure that it is safe by considering it "a fundamental right" so that its denial can be considered "an act of gender-based violence." Most recently, in April 2024, the European Parliament approved the inclusion of abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, none of these collective initiatives are binding with abortion laws remaining at the discretion of individual member states. University of Michigan Law School professor Karina Bennoune speaks at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Last year on Oct. 4, Rachel Miner had a flight planned to Israel. She was going to see her two friends Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh. Admi and Hajajreh had jointly planned a march for peace Admi is a leader in an Israeli womens peace organization and Hajajareh is a leader in a Palestinian womens peace organization. Miner felt uneasy about making the trip. As the founder and CEO of Bellwether International, a group that responds to genocides with humanitarian aid, she said, Ive traveled to a lot of scary places. I work in genocide communities, but for whatever reason, my spiritual intuition was to not go. Three days later, Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than a thousand Israelis, including women and children. Miner was supposed to stay at her friend Vivian Silvers home. Silver was abducted by Hamas and later confirmed dead. I was beside myself, not really sure how they were going to build peace, said Miner. Miner told this story at a symposium held Thursday in West Valley City, called Bridging Religious Divides: Womens Role in Building Bridges. Sponsored by Utah Global Diplomacy and Bellwether International, the event brought together women of different faiths to discuss what women can do to cross religious divides and build peace. Admi and Hajajreh continued to link arms in their calls for peace, said Miner. Theyre still standing in complete solidarity across religious divides, across political divides, across geographical divides. The two women were planning on being at the conference, she said, but they could not attend. Instead, they had a video message to share. Hajajreh and Admi sat side by side and shared their hopes for peace, that no more mothers have to bury their children amid a war. They clasped hands as Admi recalled their joint pact for peace known as The Mothers Call. It is a call for a resolution to the conflict, asking people from both Israel and Gaza to support the end to violence. We join hands in determination and partnership to bring hope back to our peoples, said the pact. Rachel Miner, Bellwether International founder and CEO, hugs Dr. Debbie Almontaser, Bridging Cultures Group CEO and president, at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Rachel Miner, Bellwether International founder and CEO, speaks at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Felicia Maxfield-Barrett, Utah Global Diplomacy president and CEO, gives welcoming remarks at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Sage Showers, U.S. Department of State foreign affairs officer, takes notes at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Jill Angerbauer, Global Nonprofit Consulting founder and CEO and Harvard Global Healthcare Leaders Program executive, and Sage Showers, U.S. Department of State foreign affairs officer, talk during a break at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Tish Rodriguez talks with Rachel Miner, Bellwether International founder and CEO, at the second annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Applause and some whispered amens filled the room. The symposium was mostly attended by women from different walks of life and different faiths. Speakers included Karima Bennoune, from the University of Michigan, Valerie Hudson, from Texas A&M School of International Affairs, Debbie Almontaser, from Bridging Cultures Group Inc., and Mariah Mercer, from the U.S. State Department. Why does this matter right now? asked Miner at the beginning of the symposium. She said women across the world are engaged in building peace in conflict. There are a couple divides the slew of speakers would try to address how people of faith can build bridges with people of different faiths? And also, how do we bridge divides on a more local and personal level? Hours after the murder of multiple young girls in the U.K., Miner said the man accused of murder was mislabeled as a refugee. The next day, mosques windows were smashed in. Mosques were vandalized. Jewish and Muslim shops both were ransacked. There was a huge spike in crime, said Miner. And for a moment, it looked pretty dark. But local members of the community formed a circle around a mosque, so other community members could pick up the broken glass. Local residents showed up with signs saying refugees are welcome. Thats what it means to bridge the religious divide and thats what it requires, said Miner. It requires that you show up, that you stand up, that you speak out, especially for people who look, sound and worship differently than you. Women waging peace Were living in an era characterized by a resurgence of dangerous international armed conflicts, all of which have a terrible impact on women in many regions, said Bennoune. She is a professor of international law at University of Michigan Law School. She also has served as the United Nations special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights from 2015 to 2021. More countries are involved in conflicts than they have been since the end of World War II, she said. Describing it as a moment to reflect carefully on how people can respond, Bennoune said we are witnessing an extreme repression of womens rights while being told those countries are at peace. As the international community fails to address these problems, said Bennoune, this is the most important time for women to wage peace. The right to peace is primordial, she said. And it is vital to secure all other human rights. But it has to be imbued with more than platitudes to be meaningful in womens lives. It has to be aright that actually offers a remedy in situations that pose grave threats to womens lives and womens equality. Bennoune focused on her work with women in Afghanistan, saying she has learned any meaningful sense of peace needs to be accompanied by a robust protection of womens rights otherwise, it is not peace. Peace does not involve just not being engaged in a war. She said there also needs to be a sense of social peace where people are free from fear their government will come to their homes and accuse them of something at any moment. Ive thought about this again and again since 2021 when the Taliban returned to power, said Bennoune. In the early 2010s, when the U.S. resumed its negotiations with the Taliban, Bennoune said the two sides focused less on gender issues. The result of gender issues not being at the forefront is the situation in Afghanistan today, she said. It is against the law, actually decreed by the Taliban, for womens voices to be heard speaking or singing in public, said Bennoune. But some women in Afghanistan responded by posting videos online of them singing or reading from their religious text. Theres even been a small but courageous campaign of particularly young women going out and clandestinely singing in public and videotaping themselves doing this, she said. In plain view of the whole world, Bennoune said women in Afghanistan have lost their rights to education, to freedom of movement, to have a job and to participate in public life. There have been statements condemning this, she said, but she was critical of the way the United Nations has handled the situation. Most recently, the U.N. bureaucracy was willing to hold a meeting in Doha (Qatar) with the Taliban with no Afghan women present and without Afghan womens rights even being on the agenda because that is what the Taliban insisted on, said Bennoune. The United States Institute of Peace also said there was a significant amount of criticism levied toward the U.N. for these same reasons. A meeting with the Taliban did include discussion of womens rights, but it was kept off the public agenda and no Afghan women were present. Bennoune asked the audience a question what does all of this mean in the context of waging peace? It must be comprehensive, she said, explaining peace has to include dignity, equality and security for women. It also must include the end to gender-based violence. She concluded with the words an Afghan woman told her in 2011 when women were also faced with security issues. She said, optimism is key to survival. It was Labor Day in 2022 when Amy Dishion received the phone call that would change her life: Her husband had died of heat stroke. My entire life just fell apart, Dishion said. I lost my best friend and the father of my child. They had moved to Phoenix for her husband Evans medical residency in neurology. Just a few months before, Dishion had given birth to their daughter, Chloe. Their life as a young family was falling into place until that fateful morning in September, when Evan, who was 32 at the time, set out to hike with a few of his friends. They started early in the morning, but they were unprepared for just how quickly it would heat up. Her husband eventually began to show signs of heat stroke before passing out. His friends left him under a tree while they went in search of cell service to call for help. In many ways, Dishion said, the tragedy was preventable. The friend group was hiking in extreme heat without enough water and didnt turn around when they should have. But high temperatures are also a risk that is growing every summer due to the climate crisis, she noted. More and more people are unaware of the dangers of extreme weather even as it becomes more deadly with each passing year. This year Phoenix broke records for experiencing 113 days in a row over 100 degrees, surpassing the previous city record set in 1993 of 76 days. The heat didnt just take Dishions husband. As a young mother, it also left her in a tough financial spot. She had planned to be a stay-at-home mom and had moved to support Evan. Suddenly she didnt have an income and had to move back to her hometown of Salem, Oregon, to live with Evans family. It feels like being displaced, right on top of losing somebody in a very preventable way, she said. Now shes speaking out through an organization called Extreme Weather Survivors, which aims to raise awareness over the toll of climate change. Shes not the only person sharing her story. Theres Shaunta Floyd, from Houston, whose power went out for a week when Hurricane Beryl hit this July. Beryl was originally forecast as a tropical storm, but ended up making landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane. Floyd spent a night in her sweltering home without any air conditioning before evacuating to a cousins house. Millions of people lost power in the storm. Theres also Rhiannan Ortiz, who is in the third trimester of her pregnancy and lives in Phoenix without air conditioning. She worries about her own health and the health of her baby; pregnant people are considered a vulnerable population for extreme heat, and studies have shown extreme heat has been correlated to a higher risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Recently, Extreme Weather Survivors teamed up with two other organizations Science Moms, a nonpartisan advocacy organization, and All Hands and Hearts, a disaster relief organization for a new campaign called Act of Man. Ortiz is among five other climate survivors in the campaign calling attention to what they refer to as unnatural disasters. Their aim is to make clear the connection between climate change and the escalation in disasters arent an act of God or something outside of human control, but are increasingly being attributed to human-caused global warming due to the burning of fossil fuels. We want to just flat out say it, that unnatural disasters and extreme weather are an act of man, an act of us. And that the unnatural disasters are growing in severity and in devastation as a result of fossil fuel burning and pollution, and are impacting everyone we know, said Science Moms cofounder Joellen Russell, an oceanographer and professor at the University of Arizona. The campaign is airing advertisements featuring people impacted by climate disasters across social media, as well as on broadcast television, streaming services and other digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Its all part of a messaging strategy that has been spearheaded by Potential Energy Coalition, a marketing company that is focused on getting more people to care about climate change. Suburban women are a large focus area. Science Moms was created as one way to reach them. The company conducts its own focus groups and collaborates with Yale Program on Climate Change Communication to gain insight on campaign strategies. It found that moms with politically moderate views were a key group that could take action on the climate crisis if they understood the urgency. The research says that women are more persuadable than our fabulous husbands and brothers and friends [who] once theyve made up their minds that theyre on team anti-climate, its really hard to get them to change their minds, Russell said. On the other hand, women do tend to change their minds when they need to. Potential Energy found that they could accomplish this goal by focusing the messaging on unnatural disasters. According to a report they released in June, they found the term increased support for climate action by suburban women by 8.8 percentage points overall. For Democratic women, that number is even higher at 10 percentage points. For Republican women, it increased support by 7 percentage points. Potential Energy has also found that focusing on individual experiences also helps increase support for climate action. Its why women like Floyd, with Extreme Weather Survivors, share their stories. The narrative in Texas is that climate change doesnt exist, Floyd said. She aims to raise awareness about the connections between climate and carbon emissions, particularly in a fossil-fuel loving state. Its a global issue, and it needs to be highlighted so that we can reduce our carbon footprint and make changes to balance out what has already occurred. Dishion, who spoke at New York Climate Week on Wednesday along with Floyd, said apart from being able to educate others on how to prevent deaths like her husbands, shes also motivated by the prospect of protecting her childs future. I want a safe world for my baby and all of our babies and all of our kids that have, through no fault of their own, inherited a giant problem, she said. I want the world to be habitable for the people growing up on this planet. Its stories like Dishions that can potentially cross the political divide on the topic of climate change. And a strategy that other groups like Moms Clean Air Force or Moms Demand Action have also honed in on motherhood as an organizing force that can deliver a more nonpartisan message by focusing on the health and safety of children. Moms are the sort of way where we thought we could link arms with the rest of our sisters in the trenches raising kids and working at those kitchen tables on homework problem sets and paying our bills, to also think about what we can do to make our families safer now and safer in the future, Russell said. I think, really, the goal is that this conversation should be as American as apple pie, she continued. Its not political. Its about all of us. The post These women are trying to humanize the climate crisis appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. Since its inception in 1967, World Dairy Expo has been held the Alliant Energy Center in Madison and has become North America's premier cattle show drawing over 3,000 head of dairy cattle, it is also home to the world's biggest dairy-focused trade show with over 500 vendors. Former President Donald Trump is headed to southwest Wisconsin this weekend, but he won't be stopping at the World Dairy Expo in Madison next week. According to Lisa Behnke, communications manager for World Dairy Expo, Trump's team reached out to expo officials to inquire about scheduling a time for a campaign stop sometime between Oct. 1-4 during the premier dairy event that draws over 50,000 attendees from across North America and visitors from overseas. "We host an event for cows and people who care for cows and not for candidates," said Behnke. "We're staying in our lane." Behnke says declining such a high-profile visit is not a mean-spirited or partisan thing but rather a matter of logistics and keeping the expo apolitical. "Had any candidate asked, the answer would have been no. We simply can't accommodate it. We are stretched across seven days and still can't get everything in. To add one more thing at the eleventh hour would not have been fair to the exhibitors and attendees," Behnke said. "Can you imagine the attendees stuck in traffic on the Beltline or international (guests) trying to arrive at the airport and the airport is shut down for security purposes? Why would you disrupt something so special to the people who attend it?" World Dairy Expo organizers say passing on a campaign stop for any political party is a commitment to the show's neutrality. Since its inception in 1967, the expo has been held in Madison and has become not only the world's biggest dairy-focused trade show with over 500 vendors, but the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors and over 3,000 head of North America's best cattle. Behnke says the organization respects the government's impact on the health and welfare of agriculture, and that the industry wants candidates and elected officials to be well-informed and supportive of the issues facing dairymen. "The people here would love to share that information, but the dance cards are so full here and meetings and the agenda has already been determined nine months ago, and to rearrange everything was logistically impossible," Behnke said. "There's a lot of preparation that goes into making this a special event." Dane County GOP Chair Brandon Maly told Madison media outlet Isthmus that the former president was exploring a visit to the expo, held annually in the Democratic stronghold Dane County. According to election data, Republicans historically have not done well in Dane or Milwaukee counties. Maly and former Gov. Tommy Thompson believe a visit to Dane County might boost support for Trump, and up the GOP's chances of winning. Wisconsin is considered an important battleground state with Wisconsin's electoral outcomes being decided by razor-thin margins. Trump won the state in 2016 by 0.77% over Hillary Clinton, while Biden eeked out a win by a narrow 0.63% margin in 2020. Attempts to reach Trumps campaign were unsuccessful. Dairy animals get ready to enter the show ring inside the Coliseum for international competition at World Dairy Expo. Organizers have take all precautions to avoid the spread of the H5N1 among dairy cattle. Taking all precautions against H5N1 As one of the premier dairy cow shows in the country, expo organizers are taking special precautions to ensure Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu, doesnt affect the valuable purebred cattle that come to Madison. General Manager Laura Herschleb told Wisconsin State Farmer that she and her staff are in contact with veterinary experts from USDA and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection so everyone understands what requirements must be met to haul cattle into the Alliant Energy Center show grounds in Madison. Since late March, dairy herds in 14 states have confirmed the presence of the virus. California is the most recent state to report bird flu in dairy cattle. To date, 34 herds are currently quarantined, according to the CDC. Behnke said show cattle have already begun filling stalls in the New Holland Pavillion on the grounds. Around 3,000 dairy cattle are expected to compete in the international shows. "We've been working with federal and state animal health officials so that an event of this size and scale could take place safely and minimize risk," Behnke said. "We've employed the people that create the regulations and understand virus transmission and can give the best guidance possible, and we're adhering to all that. "We're just grateful that we can continue to have such a great event and invite people from across the U.S. and Canada to be a part of that for the 57th edition of the show." This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: World Dairy Expo officials: Show is for cows, not political candidates A unique stained glass blue plaque has been unveiled in York to commemorate an acclaimed author with close connections to the area. The plaque honours 18th Century writer and clergyman Laurence Sterne in the location where the first copies of his novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, were sold. Funded by York Civic Trust to replace the original plaque, which was damaged during building works in 2022, the commemorative glass is the only one of its kind in the world. It was installed on 26 September at the Oliver Bonas store on Stonegate, where the book was first published in 1759. The building, number 35, was a bookshop in Sterne's day. The nine Tristram Shandy volumes have remained in print ever since. The great-grandson of the Archbishop of York, Sterne had close connections to North Yorkshire. He became vicar of Sutton-on-the-Forest in 1738, a position he held for 20 years. After a period of time in London, he returned to live in Shandy Hall in Coxwold from 1760 until his death in 1768. The house is now a museum. As well as playing a part in the citys literary history, the building was occupied by renowned stained glass manufacturers J W Knowles & Sons for over a century. Dr Duncan Marks, planning and heritage manager at York Civic Trust, said: There are around a million plaques in the world and none of them has made the connection of making a blue plaque in stained glass. We have around 150 blue plaques around the city celebrating people and places, but the ones that are slightly different are the ones people are particularly drawn to. The plaque was designed and manufactured by local stained glass artists Barley Studio, celebrating the legacy of Sternes most radical work. Dr Marks said: Tristram Shandy is highly regarded and seen as the first modern novel because its very playful and idiosyncratic in ways that novels in the mid-18th Century really werent. To have that cornerstone of English literature here in York is something worth commemorating. Listen to highlights from North 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 on this story Related internet links The world's first 3D-printed hotel is being built in a West Texas desert The world's first 3D-printed hotel is being built in Texas. In the desert on the outskirts of Marfa, El Cosmico is building 43 new hotel units and 18 residentials homes using a 3D printer, Reuters reports. A massive 3D printer is expanding the existing hotel and campground in a West Texas desert, adding 40 acres to its current 21 acres. Company behind world's largest 3D-printed community to build hotel El Cosmico owner Liz Lambert is working with Austin-based ICON, the same printing company currently finishing the world's largest 3D-printed community in the Georgetown neighborhood of Wolf Ranch. The project's architects come from Bjarke Ingels Group. The expansion of El Cosmico is on track for completion by 2026. Unit prices are expected to range from $200 to $450 per night. Read more: World's largest 3D-printed community nears completion in this fast-growing Texas city Icon, an Austin startup focused on 3D-printing technology, is using 3D printers to build 100 houses in Wolf Ranch by Hillwood, a master-planned community in Georgetown. Icon partnered with home-building company Lennar, and the homes are co-designed by the architectural firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. Icon's 3D printers frame houses layer by layer. 'A crazy way to build' The printer, ICON's Vulcan, is 46.5 feet wide, 15.5 feet high, and weighs nearly five tonsthe size of a crane. According to Reuters, it has already begun building two units, single-story structures 12 feet high with curved beige-colored walls. One is a three-bedroom residential space, while the other is a single hotel unit. "Most hotels are contained within four walls and a lot of times you are building the same unit over and over and over again," Lambert told Reuters. "I've never been able to build with such little constraint and such fluidity...just the curves, and the domes, and the parabolas. It's a crazy way to build." How does ICON's 3D printer work? ICON uses a unique concrete-based material called Lavacrete, engineered for strength, affordability, and printability. The blend of ingredients is specialized according to the local weather, ICON CEO and co-founder Jason Ballard explains. "The magic happens in the admixtures that allow us to continue printing," Ballard said. Humidity, temperature and irradiance also influence the material's properties and final color, Ballard added. According to Reuters, ICON's Vulcan has a robotic arm and nozzle that operate over the work site on a gantry, a bridge-like structure designed to support equipment during construction. A print technician oversees the Vulcan. ICON's Vulcan printing technology is being used to create the world's first 3D-printed hotel in West Texas. Despite its involvement in El Cosmico's expansion, the Vulcan has limitations. This year, ICON is unveiling a new printer called the Phoenix. The new printer will have the capacity to build the foundation and roof of homes rather than just the walls. According to Ballard, the Phoenix will remove the barriers the Vulcan faces while still lowering costs and expanding design potential. Like the Vulcan, the Phoenix will also be cranelike. However, whereas the Vulcan's robotic arm is capable of constructing single-story homes, the Phoenix is being designed for larger, building-scale construction. Its extensive range of motion allows it to print in a steady line, regardless of weather or design. The Phoenix 3-D printer and a sculpture it printed are displayed at the Long Center by 3-D printing start-up Icon in Austin as part of South by Southwest, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Is 3D printing better than traditional construction? Some argue that 3D-printing homes are faster, more cost-effective, require fewer workers, and reduce construction material waste compared with traditional construction. In an interview with Forbes, 3D printing company Mighty Buildings Chief Technology Officer Dmitry Starodubtsev said building homes this way could reduce the time needed to produce a single-family home by six months. Were trying to automate the construction process, increase quality and increase factory throughput in order basically to unlock productivity in the regions with high housing demand, Starodubtsev said. The entire system works to eliminate as much labor hours on site as possible in order to reduce pricing and make it more affordable for different generations of people, not only millennials. According to Reuters, the single-story, three- to four-bedroom 3D-printed homes in Georgetown take about three weeks to finish printing. Read more: Austin's Icon unveils new 3D printer, AI tool, building material at SXSW Icon, an Austin startup focused on 3D-printing technology, is using 3D printers to build 100 houses in Wolf Ranch by Hillwood, a master-planned community in Georgetown. Icon partnered with home-building company Lennar, and the homes are co-designed by the architectural firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. How much does a 3D-printed home cost? According to Business Insider, ICON said it could create a 600- to 800-square-foot building for as low as $4,000 in 24 hours. More substantial homes with additional features and higher-quality materials might cost between $50,000 and $150,000. Highly customized or larger homes could cost anywhere from $150,000 to more than $500,000, depending on the design and the level of finishing. How does a 3D printer work? Three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating objects from a digital file by layering material. Heres how it works: CAD software : The process begins with creating a digital 3D model using Computer-Aided Design software. The model can also be created by scanning an existing object or downloading a design from a repository. Slicing : The 3D model is then divided into thin horizontal layers using slicing software. This software converts the model into a file format (such as .STL or .OBJ) that the 3D printer can read, defining how each layer should be printed. Printer configuration : The printer needs to be configured based on the material used, the desired resolution, and other parameters such as temperature, speed and layer thickness. Finishing: Depending on the material and the quality of the print, further finishing processes such as sanding, painting or curing might be needed. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: World's first 3D-printed hotel constructed being built in Marfa, Texas NEW YORK (PIX11) One New York City landlord found himself on the public advocates worst list not once, but twice. Landlord Daniel Ohebshalom is heading to jail for the second time, after repeatedly failing to improve living conditions for his tenants, according to the citys Department of Housing Preservation and Development. More Local News Ohebshalom has accumulated almost 3,300 HPD violations among his 15 buildings in Queens and Manhattan, according to the public advocates website. One building in Flushing had nearly 500 violations alone. Housing officials say the violations included hazardous conditions such as peeling lead paint, inadequate electricity, and mold and as well as rodent and roach infestations. More Queens News Ohebshalom previously spent 60 days on Rikers Island after being charged with using hazardous living conditions to force out tenants from rent-stabilized apartments, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg. He was also accused of filing false documents with city agencies to conceal the buildings he owned. we are living in like no heat or hot water for almost two weeks in the coldest winters, said tenant Bianca L. during a rally in August. One time the boiler was burning in the middle of the night, spewing black fumes everywhere and making the building smell like burnt gasoline. More Manhattan News Tenants say Ohebshalom has refused to make court ordered repairs to their homes despite his 60-day jail sentence. The public advocates list shows that violations against the landlord were up from 2,980 the previous year. The public advocates office advises New York City residents to report bad building conditions to 311, the HPD website, or even the office of the public advocate 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. ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) West Virginias white-tailed deer bow season starts on Saturday, and the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) predicts that some north central West Virginia counties will have a better harvest than last year. Even with the drought, some deer food sources are up from last year, according to the 2024 West Virginia Hunting Outlook and Mast Survey, which is available in full here. For bow season, which starts on Sept. 28, the DNR recommends focusing on areas with white and chestnut oaks, which overproduced this year. However, hunters should try to scout hot spots with a lot of oak trees before their hunts for the best results. Region 1, which includes the Northern Panhandle as well as most of north central West Virginia, including Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, Preston, Harrison, Barbour and Tucker counties, is expected to have a higher deer harvest than last year. West Virginia leads the country in deer collisions, again Statewide, the report predicts that West Virginia will have a similar deer harvest from 2023 for both antlerless deer and buckswhich was slightly above the five-year averagealthough this year, the bag limit for bucks has been reduced. Although deer populations remain strong, the report said that some localized population declines may be possible from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which was confirmed in Monongalia, Marion and Barbour counties. Most other animals will have a similar harvest as 2023, with the exception of wild boar, cottontail rabbits and ruffed grouse, which will likely have a lower harvest this year. Rabbits harvests specifically are expected to be extremely poor, if not the worst in recent history, according to the report. You can see a breakdown of the changes for this years hunting regulations in West Virginia here, and a full cope of the 2024 West Virginia Hunting Outlook and Mast Survey 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. The platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been suspended since August 31 in Latin America's largest country, where it had 22 million users (EVARISTO SA) (EVARISTO SA/AFP/AFP) Elon Musk's X social media platform has complied with orders from Brazil's Supreme Court and is asking for its suspension in the country to be lifted, a source close to the case told AFP on Thursday. The platform formerly known as Twitter has been suspended since August 31 in Latin America's largest country, where it had 22 million users. Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes suspended X in Brazil after its billionaire owner Musk refused to remove dozens of right-wing accounts accused of spreading fake news, and then failed to name a new legal representative in the country as ordered. The high-profile judge has been engaged in a long feud with Musk as part of his drive to crack down on disinformation in Brazil. The company has now, however, presented new documents requested by Moraes and considers that it has satisfied all the court's demands and should have its suspension lifted, the source close to the case said. The company said it was "committed to protecting free speech within the boundaries of the law and we recognize and respect the sovereignty of the countries in which we operate," in a post on X. "We believe that the people of Brazil having access to X is essential for a thriving democracy, and we will continue to defend freedom of expression and due process of law through legal processes." The site had ultimately appointed a legal representative in Brazil. But last Saturday, Judge Moraes ruled that X had still not "duly fulfilled" all the conditions required to have his ban lifted, giving the company five days to provide further documents. The judge had also ordered X to pay a fine of more than $900,000 a day for breaching its suspension on 18 September, when the platform became accessible again after an automatic update to the phone application. X said the return of its service was "inadvertent and temporary," but the government slammed it as a deliberate violation of the suspension. The platform was blocked again the next day. The Pinheiro Neto law firm, which represents X in Brazil, declined to comment when contacted by AFP. The Supreme Court would also not provide further details, citing judicial confidentiality. The suspension has infuriated Musk and the far-right, and fueled a fierce debate on freedom of expression and the limits of social networks, both inside and outside the country. rsr/tmo/lg/lgo/cco/sw/ssy (Reuters) -Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants said on Friday they had targeted the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon along with three U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea with missiles and drones in support of Gaza and Lebanon. The Israeli army said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen which had triggered sirens to sound in central Israel. The Houthis' military spokesperson said operations would not halt until Israel's offensives in Gaza and Lebanon stop. The group attacked Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile and launched a drone towards Ashkelon in southern Israel, Yahya Sarea said. "We will carry out more military operations against the Israeli enemy to triumph for the sake of our brothers' blood in Palestine and Lebanon," he added in a televised speech. Sarea also said, in a separate televised speech, that the group had simultaneously targeted three U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea with 23 ballistic and winged missiles and a drone while the vessels were on their way to support Israel. U.S. Navy warships going through the Bab al-Mandab Strait intercepted a number of projectiles, including missiles and drones, fired by the Houthis, a U.S. official said. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity and citing initial information which can change, said there was no damage to any of the three warships in the area. Israeli strikes have killed more than 600 people in Lebanon since Monday, with the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah at its most intense in more than 18 years. Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel for almost a year in support of allied Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza, according to health officials there. The war was triggered by an attack on Israel by Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom, Mohammed Ghobari in Aden, and Philip Stewart in Washington, Editing by Toby Chopra and Hugh Lawson) Armed rebels of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Osamah Yahya/dpa Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi militia on Friday claimed two attacks including one by a ballistic missile aimed at Israel in support of their Palestinian and Lebanese allies. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said the group had targeted a military target in the area of Jaffa with a ballistic missile and a "vital target" in the Ashkelon area with a drone. "The two operations have successfully achieved their objectives," he added in a televised statement without giving details. Saree vowed further attacks by the group in the days ahead until what he called the "Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon stops. Earlier this month, the Houthis claimed they had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile against an Israeli military target in Jaffa. Earlier Friday, warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv as air defence intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, the Israeli military said. A post by the military on social media platform X said that millions of Israelis were seeking shelter in the centre of the country after the rocket alert. There were no reports of damage or casualties. Explosions heard in the early hours were due to the missile being intercepted, the military said. On Wednesday, warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv for the first time since May as Israel's air defence intercepted a missile fired from Lebanon. It was the first time the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia targeted Tel Aviv, in central Israel, since the war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7 last year. Following a fatal drone attack on Tel Aviv by the Houthis, the Israeli Air Force attacked the port city of Hodeidah in July, leading to a massive fire and six deaths. Houthi leaders subsequently announced a new phase in the fight against Israel. The Houthi militants have also been attacking ships in the Red Sea, saying the attacks are intended to support Hamas and force an end to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. An American flag flies above the construction site of a multifamily housing development last year in Los Angeles. In many places, homeowners are opposing state and local efforts to strip away exclusive single-family-home zoning to allow the construction of more multifamily housing. Mario Tama/Getty Images When Minneapolis, then Oregon, then other local and state governments began stripping away exclusive single-family-home zoning over the past five years to allow the construction of multifamily housing, many development advocates predicted the start of a pro-YIMBY revolution. But the yes-in-my-backyard movement has stumbled even before its really gotten started. In court challenges around the country, opponents have cited spikes in traffic, strains to infrastructure, displacement of low-income residents, hits on property values and changes to neighborhood character. Multifamily zoning advocates, however, counter that opponents are resisting changes that will yield broader societal benefits. The debates are challenging elected leaders, planning specialists, homebuilders and advocates, pitting long-established homeowners against a system desperate to get a handle on the nations growing crisis of housing affordability and homelessness. People want to maintain their neighborhood character, but it should be about ensuring quality of life for everyone, said Natali Fani-Gonzalez, a Democratic member of the Montgomery County Council in Maryland who has endorsed changes to zoning laws. Youre part of a community you dont own it. We need to evolve with society. I dread the possibility The most recent ruling arrived this month, when the Montana Supreme Court issued a decision paving the way for a pair of state laws to take effect over the objections of homeowners. In 2023, Montana lawmakers were lauded for a bipartisan effort dubbed the Montana Miracle, a collection of measures that overrode local zoning ordinances to encourage more multifamily homes and accessory dwelling units, or ADUs smaller secondary cottages or in-law apartments within or on a lot of a single-family home. The laws, championed by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, were supposed to go into effect Jan. 1, 2024. But in December, a consortium of single-family homeowners from across the state called Montanans Against Irresponsible Densification, or MAID, filed a complaint. The group argued that the state had unconstitutionally taken away homeowners property rights and would wrest local control from cities and counties. The lawsuit warned, in part, that the laws meant new construction could begin down the block without notice. I dread the possibility of waking up one morning and finding that one of my neighbors has sold her property to a developer who is then erecting a multi-unit building or a duplex, or an accessory dwelling unit right next to our nice and carefully maintained single-family dwelling, wrote Glenn Monahan, a Bozeman resident and managing partner of MAID, in an affidavit filed with the initial lawsuit and quoted in the courts ruling. If such development aimed at increasing density in my neighborhood happens, I believe it will seriously and adversely affect the economic value of my property, Monahan wrote. More important than economic value is the moral, aesthetic neighborhood values that my wife and I share with the neighbors Representatives for MAID did not return calls for comment. Wealthier and whiter Berkeley, California, first established a residential zone exclusively for single-family homes in 1916 just as racist covenants banning home sales to non-whites were gaining steam nationally and other workarounds to preserve neighborhood segregation were being tested. Today, around 75% of residential land in the United States is zoned exclusively for single-family homes. These neighborhoods are typically wealthier and whiter, according to a 2023 research report by the Urban Institute. Minneapolis is credited as the first major U.S. city to enact substantial changes to increase density when it abolished single-family-only zoning citywide in 2019, allowing up to three dwelling units on any residential lot. People want to maintain their neighborhood character, but it should be about ensuring quality of life for everyone. Natali Fani-Gonzalez, a Democratic member of the Montgomery County Council in Maryland That same year, the Oregon legislature passed a law with two so-called upzoning provisions: allowing duplexes in single-family zoning areas of cities with at least 10,000 residents, and allowing townhouses, triplexes and fourplexes in cities of at least 25,000 residents. Upzoning encompasses a range of policy tools such as building more missing middle housing in the range between single-family homes and apartment buildings, focusing on transit-oriented development, lifting parking requirements, and increasing floor-to-area ratios. But researchers and planners told Stateline that it can take years for these policy changes to address current housing needs or undo the harms of restrictive zoning. The largest challenge is that zoning reform takes a really long time to implement. From the start of reform to actually seeing effects, it takes about 10 years, said Stephen Menendian, assistant director and director of research at the University of California, Berkeleys Othering & Belonging Institute. Even the Minneapolis reforms, which happened at warp speed, will take another four years to fully assess the effects, Menendian said. Its been less a revolution and more of a slow shift. UC Berkeleys Zoning Reform Tracker, last updated in November, provides an overview of municipal zoning reform efforts across the U.S., documenting 148 initiatives in 101 municipalities over a span of 17 years. Other local governments have passed ordinances taking aim at single-family-only zoning in various ways, including Austin, Texas; the city of Alexandria and Arlington County in Virginia; Sacramento, California; and Portland, Oregon. Many have been challenged in court. In Minneapolis, the 2040 plan, as the citys long-term planning blueprint is known, was held up after its passage in 2019 by years of environmental lawsuits and back-and-forth rulings, delaying implementation. Finally, state lawmakers in May passed a bill exempting comprehensive housing plans from environmental review, a measure aimed squarely at preserving the 2040 plan. Even then, a county judge issued an injunction, forcing the city to halt parts of the plan and revise it. Talking it out Diana Drogaris, outreach coordinator for the National Zoning Atlas, a research organization that works to demystify zoning laws across the U.S., thinks city leaders are improving their communication with residents during public hearings and input sessions. However, she notes that leaders must balance transparency with managing valid fears of zoning changes. A zoning change is going to have an effect on the public. It will affect the store they go to, their commutes, what type of resources are available, Drogaris said. And I think community leaders are getting better at having these conversations. The public doesnt need to know every nook and cranny of these outdated codes, she said, but enough to understand how that one zoning change is going to change how that land is being used in their community. Menendian argues that misconceptions on both sides among housing advocates and concerned community members fuel much of the anger. Theres a lot of misnomers about zoning reform, he said. Homeowner groups also are expected to challenge a recent series of upzoning changes in Austin, approved at the end of 2023 and this spring. In 2022, a group of citizens successfully sued the city over a handful of ordinances designed to streamline housing development. When a lawsuit is filed, work toward new housing developments may stop. California enacted a law in 2021 allowing property owners to split their lots and build two new homes in certain cities. In April, a Los Angeles judge ruled the law unconstitutional. In June, the state filed its notice of appeal. Meanwhile, in Northern Virginia just outside the District of Columbia, the city of Alexandria and Arlington County, which also passed zoning changes last year, are facing their own legal challenges. The full impact of Alexandrias zoning overhaul even if it clears its legal challenges may not do much to affect housing outcomes. According to the city managers estimates, allowing up to four units in zones that are currently limited to single-family dwellings would only create a net new 178 units over 10 years. Absolutely some sort of backlash This fall, both Montgomery County, Maryland, and Berkeley, California, will be considering upzoning proposals, following a summer filled with contentious public hearings. Fani-Gonzalez, the Montgomery County councilmember, said that modernizing the countys zoning, in conjunction with other policies such as rent stabilization, will help keep residents in their homes while creating new housing to accommodate the growth associated with being just outside Washington, D.C. We need more housing, but we cannot get stuck with building cookie-cutter houses that only certain folks can actually afford, said Fani-Gonzalez. In California, the city of Berkeleys proposal to end exclusionary zoning in its neighborhoods is part of a broader effort to undo its racist legacy. The Berkeley City Council took its first steps in examining that legacy by denouncing the racist history of single-family zoning in 2021, a largely ceremonial move that gained steam when the city council asked the city for a report on missing-middle housing. The citys latest upzoning plan was scaled back this summer after a five-hour public hearing. Lori Droste, a Berkeley councilmember from 2014 to 2022, told Stateline that she had been advocating for major upzoning changes since 2016 but struggled to get the votes. What changed, she said, was linking the need for zoning changes to the national consciousness raised by 2020 protests around systemic racism and racial injustice. Zoning reform is going to take time. Its probably going to take 20 years before anyone notices real changes. But if we dont start now, the housing crisis will only get worse, she said. When asked by Stateline if she expects any legal action if the upzoning proposal is successful, Droste responded, I imagine there will be. Im not in the city attorneys office, but absolutely theres going to be some sort of backlash. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. The News Mitch McConnell often dodges direct questions about Donald Trump. Not when it comes to tariffs. McConnell turned heads this week when he bluntly declared that hes not a fan of tariffs in response to a question about Trumps proposals to slap huge levies on imported goods. Perhaps it was a sign of whats to come. The Republican leader is soon ending his reign of 18 years atop the Senate GOP, but he will still represent his state of Kentucky for at least two more years. And he has not forgotten that in retaliation against Trumps first-term tariffs, Europe slapped fees on his home states most famous export. Take the bourbon industry, for example. In Kentucky, its really been adversely impacted by European tariffs, McConnell said in a Thursday interview with Semafor. I represent Kentucky, in addition to having this job. Weve had a very bad experience in our signature industry with tariffs. McConnell didnt vow to stop the former president from making good on a flirtation with tariffs that could extend to all US imports; but he did emphasize that I just differ with President Trump on the issue. At a time when unity is paramount for his party its notable hes at all comfortable clearly expressing himself on an idea that many free-traders dance around. And as McConnells career winds down, hes sending a signal that his exit from leadership might even lead to more candid views on hot topics. Hell still be one of the most closely watched Republicans in Washington. McConnell, age 82, has nearly three more months to go as Senate GOP leader, though, and plenty left to do. Foremost on his mind is leaving his successor as party leader with a majority, which would give Republican senators power over the agenda and as he sees it, at least help preserve the legislative filibuster. Know More Most Republicans are confident that they will flip the Senate given their ample pick-up opportunities in red states, even if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the White House and Democrats flip the House. Of course, many Republicans thought the same thing two years ago and Democrats picked up a Senate seat. So you wont find the buttoned-up McConnell making grand predictions that its over for Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, even as polls show the Montanan in the most precarious position of his career: I wouldnt go that far. And McConnells seen his party blow too many races over the years to predict a big win just yet. Hed only hazard that his party has a good chance at taking back the Senate, which would require a minimum of flipping Montana in addition to the sure-fire pick-up of West Virginia. Hes more definitive about Democrats move this week to pour millions of dollars into Senate battles in Texas and Florida, calling it a waste of money. I dont think they have a chance in either Texas or Florida, McConnell said of races in which two of his biggest conservative detractors, Rick Scott and Ted Cruz, are running for reelection. Democrats havent forgotten about the drama between McConnell and the two senators hes predicting will prevail; Scott ran against him in the 2022 leadership race, and Cruz voted against him. Since then, McConnell and Scott continued scuffling; before then, Cruz used McConnell as a foil in his 2016 presidential campaign. (Mitch McConnells well-documented disdain for Cruz and Scott is shared by the voters of Texas and Florida, said David Bergstein, a spokesperson for Democrats campaign arm.) McConnell isnt predicting victory yet for Trump, either, calling the presidential race really competitive. He called the former president practically and morally responsible for the violent Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021. And after a long period of arms-length relations with Trump after the 2020 election and McConnell voting to acquit in the second impeachment trial he has since endorsed Trump and engaged in a handshake at a party meeting. A Trump presidency would mean a possible threat to another of his top priorities, beyond tariffs. He spent much of this Congress advocating for aid to Ukraine, money that vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance opposed and that Trump has shown little interest in. Here, too, McConnell made clear hes not going to shrink away. Im confident that Im going to be arguing that its in Americas interest, our interest, for Ukraine to beat the Russians, he said. No matter which administration. The filibuster makes a third front for intra party friction. As president, Trump repeatedly leaned on the GOP leader to end the filibuster in order to get his agenda to pass through the Senate with a simple majority vote. I had a one-word answer: No, McConnell said on Thursday. If Trump tried again to quash the filibuster, he insisted, I think every single Republican member of the Senate would say no. Burgesss view There are plenty of signs that a post-leadership McConnell would be less restrained and more willing to emphasize his personal perspective, as he follows Nancy Pelosi from party leadership into free agency. That might lead to his old-school Reagan Republicanism clearly contradicting some of his colleagues, or Trump. He told me earlier this year that being Republican leader requires you to keep your mouth shut a lot. So after spending the better part of his 18 years carefully weighing every comment (and non-comment), perhaps McConnell will show a more freewheeling side. Still, its hard for me to believe that McConnell would begin a true YOLO era, particularly if Trump is in the White House. He appears to have at least three issues on which hes willing to break from the former president the filibuster, tariffs and Ukraine. Even that is something few senior Capitol Hill Republicans are willing to do. New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal court Friday to federal charges related to an alleged conspiracy with Turkish nationals that landed him lavish gifts in exchange for beneficial treatment. "I am not guilty your honor," Adams told the judge. The one-time police captain listened as Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker informed Adams of his rights. Asked if he understood those rights, Adams replied, "Yes, I do, your honor." PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams leaves federal court, on the day of his arraignment after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 27, 2024. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters) Federal prosecutors accused Adams of accepting more than $100,000 in improper benefits over nearly a decade, many of which came in the form of flight upgrades and stays in luxury hotels, none of which were publicly divulged as required. The indictment also alleged Adams and a staffer knowingly worked with Turkish nationals to send foreign money to straw donors for his mayoral campaign, and used that money to rake in over $10 million from New York City's matching funds program. MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams charged with fraud, accepting $10 million in improper campaign contributions Adams, 64, who is the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally charged, has denied the allegations and vowed to fight the charges, despite rising calls for him to step down. Longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler, whose district covers central Manhattan, was the latest New York official to call for Adams to step down Friday. Adams was released on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with witnesses or anyone named in the indictment. He is allowed to have contact with staff members or relatives who may have knowledge of the fact pattern as long as they do not discuss the case. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives at federal court for his arraignment after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 27, 2024. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters) The mayor did not make any statements after the arraignment, but gave a thumbs up to the media. His attorney, Alex Spiro, told reporters after the hearing that it was "not a real case." He claimed prosecutors did not have any evidence against his client, and laid blame on an unidentified staff member mentioned in the indictment who allegedly dealt with the Turkish nationals. Spiro claimed the staffer lied to prosecutors. MORE: New York City Mayor Eric Adams' federal probe: A timeline of corruption investigation "There are no emails or text messages or corroboration that the mayor had anything to do with these allegations," Spiro said. Adams will return to court next week for an initial conference before the district judge who will oversee the case. "We will be filing a motion to dismiss on Wednesday," Spiro said. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives at federal court for his arraignment after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, Sept. 27, 2024. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters) Prior to his arraignment, Adams was fingerprinted and photographed and basic pedigree information was taken during processing. The 57-page indictment had several details about Adams' alleged corruption that dated back to his time as Brooklyn borough president. The indictment included several text messages from an unidentified Adams staff member and several unidentified Turkish business persons and an unidentified Turkish government official, who provided gifts such as first-class flights and stays at luxurious hotels in Turkey and other locations. PHOTO: Who's who in the Eric Adams federal investigation (ABC News) The indictment also claimed a Turkish government official tried to open a new high-rise building in Manhattan in 2021 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 and solicited more travel gifts, according to prosecutors. The indictment followed a nearly yearlong investigation that included probes into Adams' closest allies. Federal agents have searched and seized electronics from several officials, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned shortly after the search, and deputy mayors Phil Banks and Sheena Wright. No other New York City official has been charged in connection with Adams' allegations. The investigation is ongoing. Later in the day, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief adviser to the mayor, had her phone seized upon return to the United States from a vacation in Japan, her attorney said. Investigators also searched her Brooklyn home, sources told ABC News. "She will cooperate fully with any and all investigations and Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case of which we are aware," attorney, Arthur Aidala said in a statement. New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to federal bribery, fraud charges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives to appear in court after being indicted on federal charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions (TIMOTHY A. CLARY) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP) New York's scandal-plagued Mayor Eric Adams arrived in court Friday where he was due to answer multiple fraud and bribery charges that have shocked the city. Adams was charged following a sweeping probe, with prosecutors accusing him of wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and bribery conspiracy. The allegations prompted calls for his resignation, but Adams has remained defiant, saying he was looking "forward to defending myself." Accompanied by aides, the 64-year-old mayor walked into the federal courthouse in Manhattan on Friday morning. He made no comments to waiting reporters but gave a thumbs-up. Presenting the charges on Thursday, US District Attorney Damian Williams said the mayor was "secretly being showered" with gifts for years. "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. 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. According to the charges, he accepted luxury international flights, hotel suites and free high-end restaurant meals including from at least one Turkish government official in return for favors. 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. Scandal has swirled around Adams for months with several high-ranking allies resigning as others were indicted or raided by federal agents. 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. Adams is up for reelection next year. md/bgs New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives to appear in court after being indicted on federal charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions (TIMOTHY A. CLARY) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP) New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of fraud and bribery in a case that marks a stunning downfall for a man once touted as a future Democratic Party star. Adams, who appeared before a judge in a Manhattan federal court, is the first sitting New York mayor to be criminally indicted. He is accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal campaign donations and a bribery conspiracy involving Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official. Judge Katherine Parker set the next hearing for Wednesday. The allegations prompted calls for his resignation, but Adams has remained defiant, saying on Thursday that he is looking "forward to defending myself" and urging New Yorkers to "wait to hear our side of the story." Accompanied by aides, the 64-year-old mayor made no comments to waiting reporters Friday but gave a thumbs-up as he entered the courthouse. He wore a dark blue suit and a purple tie. "I am not guilty, your honor," he said in court. Presenting the charges on Thursday, US District Attorney Damian Williams said the mayor was "secretly being showered" with gifts for years. "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. - Luxury travel - The 57-page document accuses the mayor of America's biggest city of crimes going back a decade, when Adams, a Democrat, took office as Brooklyn's borough president. According to the charges, he accepted luxury international flights, hotel suites and free high-end restaurant meals including from Turkish associates in return for favors. 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. Some city and state officials have demanded he resign, including influential New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who said Adams must step down "for the good of the city." 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. 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. Adams is up for reelection next year. md/sms/md By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals, as the Democrat resists mounting calls from within his own party to resign. Adams, 64, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at his first appearance in the case in Manhattan federal court. He wore a dark blue suit with a purple dotted tie, and stared straight ahead as Parker explained the five felony counts he faces, including bribery and wire fraud. "I am not guilty, your honor," Adams said when Parker asked for his plea. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he would file a motion to dismiss the charges next week. Adams is next due in court on Oct. 2. The mayor was released without having to post any bail on the condition that he not have contact with witnesses or people named in the indictment. Parker said there would be exceptions for staff and family members, so long as he does not discuss the details of the indictment with them. In the indictment unsealed on Thursday, federal prosecutors said Turkish diplomats and businesspeople illegally funneled money to Adams' campaign and showered him with luxury travel perks, including business-class airplane tickets, opulent hotel stays and meals at high-end restaurants. In exchange, Adams in 2021 pressured city officials to allow Turkey's new 36-story consulate to open despite safety concerns, according to prosecutors. A Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday that Ankara was following the proceedings in Adams' case closely, and that its diplomats adhered to protocol. "Our diplomatic missions carry out their duties in conformity with the Vienna Conventions and diplomatic traditions," the spokesperson said. "It is out of the question for us to interfere in the internal affairs of any country." After the hearing, Spiro told reporters the accusations rested on the assertions of an Adams staffer who falsely implicated Adams. He minimized the severity of the charges, and said he expected them to be dismissed. "This isn't even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case," Spiro said. POLITICAL UPHEAVAL Adams, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, is the first of the city's 110 mayors to be charged with a federal crime while in office. The largest U.S. city has been in a state of political upheaval for the past month as federal probes swirled around senior officials. The police commissioner resigned on Sept. 12 after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' top legal adviser stepped down. Jerry Nadler, a U.S. Representative from Manhattan and the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, on Friday called on Adams to resign, joining a growing chorus of prominent city officials and lawmakers. But two powerful Democratic lawmakers from Brooklyn, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, stopped short of doing so. Adams 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 on Thursday said she would "review my options and obligations as the governor of New York." 'FIRST STOP IS ALWAYS ISTANBUL' The alleged scheme dates back to 2014, when Adams became Brooklyn borough president, prosecutors said. According to the indictment, Adams accepted free travel from Turkish Airlines 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 Turkish Airlines 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, according to the indictment. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Adams also allegedly accepted foreign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, which is illegal. 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 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. 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. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Aleksandra Michalska; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis, Daniel Wallis and Bill Berkrot) WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A Youngstown man was sentenced in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Thursday on drug charges. According to the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office, Chantelle A. Scott Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of fentanyl-related compounds, third and fourth-degree felonies; two counts of possession of fentanyl-related compounds, fifth-degree felonies; and one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. Scot was sentenced to six years in prison and fined $5,000. Judge Ronald J. Rice said that because of Scotts extensive criminal history, consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public. The case involved an October 2022 investigation by the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force when a large amount of fentanyl was found in Scotts Liberty Township residence, according to prosecutors. Cash and weapons were also confiscated. Scott was also facing felony charges in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He was indicted May 2 on charges of failure to comply, receiving stolen property, obstructing official business and aggravated possession. Those charges were filed in connection to an April arrest in Youngstown when Scott and another man were taken into custody in connection to a December 2023 chase in Youngstown. The case in Mahoning County is listed as closed, but the online docket does not say how it was adjudicated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Volodymyr Zelenskiy finally got his meeting with Donald Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg But it came at the end of a roller-coaster week that saw the Ukrainian president caught up in the maelstrom of the US presidential campaign. The long-sought session laid bare the risks facing his quest for more American support in Ukraines fight against Russias full-scale invasion. At Trump Tower Friday, Zelenskiy stood impassively as the former president repeated his vows to bring a quick end to the war if hes elected, something Kyiv and its allies fear could mean forced capitulation. Trump cited his good relationship with both Zelenskiy and Russias Vladimir Putin, prompting the Ukrainian leader to interject that he hoped his Trump ties were better. A visit that Zelenskiy had planned as a chance to line up more support from allies to force Russia to bring an end to the war was instead consumed by Trumps bare-knuckle political tactics. The audience Friday was granted only after days of public belittling that culminated in the former president posting Zelenskiys plaintive private request for a meeting on his social media. With no sign of a breakthrough on the battlefield as the war heads into its fourth winter, the election in its most important ally is an existential matter for Ukraine. Even before Zelenskiy arrived at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, his trip got off to a rough start. A visit Sunday to a factory making the kind of artillery shells his troops on the front line fire every day was meant as a gesture of Kyivs gratitute but triggered a political firestorm. The plant was in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, and the governor who joined the event was a top surrogate for Trumps rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, called it election interference and demanded Zelenskiy fire his ambassador to Washington. Senator Ted Cruz called the Ukrainian leader an absolute moron. Then there was Zelenskiys undiplomatic criticism of Trump and his running mate in an interview with the New Yorker. Trump doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how, Zelenskiy said. His running mate Senator JD Vance who thinks Ukraine needs to give up territory to Russia - was too radical. Trumps response was quick. In campaign speeches, he mocked Zelenskiys accent and accused him of making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president: me. Aides signaled the hoped-for meeting with Zelenskiy wouldnt happen. Ukrainian officials were taken aback by the ferocity of the response. The plant visit had been arranged with help from the Pentagon. According to people familiar with the planning, Zelenskiy was expected to see only the governor and preside over the signing of a cooperation agreement, just as he had on an uneventful July stop in Utah. What they didnt appreciate was the sensitivity of meeting Pennsylvanias Josh Shapiro, a top Harris supporter, in a contested state so close to the vote. Suddenly, as Zelenskiy was addressing leaders at the UN, his entourage was having to do damage control. For their part, Ukrainian officials remained upbeat even as the controversy swirled. Zelenskiy pronounced the meeting very productive in a social media post Friday. In a conversation the day before, the Ukrainian president was probably a little more optimistic about getting the support hes seeking than hed been earlier this year, Finlands president Alexander Stubb told a conference later. But Stubb conceded, there was bipartisan support but then some pushback from Donald Trump. It was all meant to have gone very differently. After Kyivs daring offensive last month took hundreds of square miles of Russian territory, upending perceptions the war had settled into a stalemate and exposing as empty Putins threats to retaliate, Zelenskiy was riding high. He had come to the US hoping to line up support for his victory plan - a bold appeal for yet more military and diplomatic support that in Kyivs view will finally be enough to convince Putin that Russia cannot win the war. President Joe Biden Thursday announced a surge in US military aid, ensuring another $8 billion would be released before he leaves office. But he had little to say about Zelenskiys plan and gave no indication he was ready to grant Ukraines request to be allowed to use allied weapons for strikes deeper into Russia, something Washington fears could lead to dangerous escalation. On Capitol Hill Thursday, the adulation that had greeted Zelenskiys visits early in the war was nowhere to be seen. With Congress not in session, fewer lawmakers turned out to meet him. With elections looming, there were broad pledges of support but little discussion of the prospects for aid next year. The way Kyiv sees it, a win for Harris in November means predictability and the sense that the US will continue to support its war effort. The United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interest, she told Zelenskiy Thursday. But if Trump is in the White House, things can either improve or get much worse, according to a person familiar with Ukrainian leaderships thinking. It was the risk of the latter scenario that hung over the meeting Friday. Trump had sidestepped a question on whether he wanted Kyiv to prevail in the conflict in a debate. In speeches, he spoke of Russias past war victories and the destruction Ukraine had suffered, echoing Kremlin talking points. Though Trump later called it great in a social media post, the meeting Friday had no shortage of awkward moments. As Trump bounced between describing Ukraine as a wasteland of destruction but also beautiful, Zelenskiy cut in with a smile and an invitation to come visit. Trump twice conceded the meeting was mostly for show since he was out of power - starting the answer to a question about what he hoped to accomplish with a quick nothing - and when another reporter asked why the meeting was happening, the pair struggled to decide who should answer. Asked after the hour-long meeting Friday whether hed changed his mind about how to end the war, Trump had little reassurance for Zelenskiy. I learned a lot but I think I havent changed from the standpoint that we both want to see this end and we both want to see a fair deal made, Trump told Fox News. I have my own ideas, and Im sure the president definitely has his own ideas. --With assistance from Courtney McBride, Daniel Flatley, Natalia Drozdiak, Billy House and Kati Pohjanpalo. (Updates with Trump post in 25th paragraph (an earlier version of this story was corrected to reflect proper time element in second deck and fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Zelensky meets Biden at White House as US election looms over war US President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) at the White House. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa 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 met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee going up against Republican Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Harris said her support for Ukraine was "unwavering" and that any proposal to end the war that would force Kiev to cede territory "is dangerous and unacceptable." "I've been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war," Harris said. "To be safe, secure, and prosperous, the United States must continue to fulfill our long-standing role of global leadership." In a clear allusion to her rival Trump, Harris said: "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." "These proposals are the same as those of Putin," she said. "They are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable." Zelensky's visit comes as the partisan divide in Washington over Ukraine grows, with Trump and many of his Republican supporters expressing deep reservations about sending more aid to Ukraine as it fights Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. Trump is planning to meet with Zelensky on Friday, Trump told a press conference. The meeting between the two had 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. Ukraine and its allies are anxiously watching the US presidential elections. 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. 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 has stumbled into the partisan fray weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, with Republicans ramping up attacks over his trip to Pennsylvania. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called for Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, for organizing the visit with Democrats to a Keystone State weapons factory, while Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, opened a formal investigation into the tour. Johnson refused to meet Zelensky during the Ukrainian leaders visit this week. Former President Trump said he will meet with Zelensky on Friday. Zelensky came under criticism from Republicans for calling Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), too radical in a New Yorker article, because the senator would give up Ukrainian territory to Russia and stop supporting Ukraine in the war. Zelensky also cast doubt on Trumps plan to end the war before he takes office. Zelensky has yet to respond to the criticism, which is unlikely to help his efforts this week to secure support for his country in the war with Ukraine. Who the hell is Zelensky to be trying to interfere in our election? the arrogance of this guy, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday in his Verdict podcast. And the guy, Ive got to say, is an absolute moron for coming to the U.S. six weeks before the election and attacking Trump and Vance. This is just dumb on his part, because if Trump wins, hes got a huge problem that just got bigger, Cruz added. And if Trump loses, you know, good luck trying to get Republicans to listen to what he has to say if he just behaves like a Democrat campaign activist. A number of Republicans, particularly in the Senate, have supported Ukraine in its war with Russia and signaled they would do so going forward, regardless of the political fight. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters Thursday that what happened in Pennsylvania was a mistake, but made it clear he would continue to support Ukraine. Graham was among the lawmakers who met with Zelensky on Thursday as he visited Capitol Hill. At a meeting with about 20 senators, the issues of Zelenskys Vance comments or Pennsylvania visit did not come up, according to several senators. No, it didnt come up, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill. I think he got some bad advice, and Ukraine needs all the friends it can get. Zelensky also met Thursday with President Biden and Vice President Harris at the White House, where he presented a victory plan. Zelensky has not addressed the Pennsylvania and Vance controversies but said in a press conference after the meeting with Biden and Harris that he was thankful for bipartisan support after his meetings on Capitol Hill. He added that it was crucial for us to be fully understandable and to work in full coordination with the United States. Harris in her remarks took a veiled swipe at Trump and Vance, saying some in my country would force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory. These proposals are the same of those of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, she said. And let us be clear: They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. Pressure has been building for days since Zelensky toured the Pennsylvania factory producing critical 155 mm artillery shells for Ukraine in Scranton on Sunday. He appeared only alongside Democrats, including the states governor, Josh Shapiro, and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Matt Cartwright. Republicans criticized the visit for not including any GOP lawmakers and for using taxpayer funds, because Zelensky flew to the state on a C-17 Air Force transport plane. In a letter to Zelensky, Johnson said the visit 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, he wrote, calling it a shortsighted and intentionally political move that should not be repeated and demanding the resignation of Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. Comer sent letters to the White House, Department of Defense and Justice Department demanding information about the visit, and said his investigation would get to the bottom of whether there was a misuse of government resources that allowed Zelensky to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. A U.S. defense official told The Hill that the flight was a U.S. Department of Defense-funded mission. The DoD 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 official said. These officials were conducting official business related to U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. This included a stop at Newark Liberty International Airport, where they linked up with President Zelensky before continuing to Wilkes-Barre International Airport in Pennsylvania. At a Wednesday rally in North Carolina, Trump responded to Zelensky with some of his more pointed comments yet. The president of Ukraine is in our country and hes making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me, Trump said, also hitting Zelensky for what he claimed was the Ukrainian leader refusing to make a deal with Russia. Trump also posted on his social media site, Truth Social, what he claimed was a message from Zelensky to Trump requesting a meeting in New York on Friday. 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, Zelensky wrote, according to Trumps shared picture of the message. 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 Hill has reached out to the Ukrainian Embassy to verify the message that Trump shared. The criticism of Zelensky, who has generally avoided getting involved in U.S. politics, has reached its highest point since war broke out between Russia and Ukraine in 2022. Until now, Zelensky has avoided attracting too much scrutiny for his personal actions in U.S. politics, even when he pushed Congress to pass a security aid bill earlier this year after far-right Republicans held it up for months. But some Democrats this week sought to defend Zelensky from the piling GOP criticism. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told CNN that it was absurd and insulting to Pennsylvania workers to accuse Zelensky of a political stunt when he was thanking munition workers for their work producing artillery shells. I cant say that Im shocked, but its just absolutely pathetic, he said, accusing Johnson of trying to turn this into an issue. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, defended Ukraines ambassador in a social media post, writing that support for Ukraine has historically been a bipartisan effort. I encourage our countrys leadership to resist scoring cheap political points and instead help Ukraine defeat Vladimir Putin, 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. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 27 at Trump Tower in New York City. Zelensky has been in the U.S. since Sept. 22, engaging in a series of high-level meetings with foreign leaders, visiting the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania, and addressing the U.N. General Assembly. Zelensky met with U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris the day prior to present them with a "victory plan." Prior to their first joint meeting in five years, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is currently facing numerous challenges he wishes to discuss with Trump. "I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped. (Vladimir) Putin can't win, and Ukraine has to prevail. And I want to discuss with you the details of our plan of victory," Zelensky said. He noted that Ukraine would be unable to stop Putin until November, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election. As a result, the Ukrainian president chose to meet with both candidates to present a plan aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position against Russia. Trump acknowledged that Ukraine is going through hell and described the situation as terrible. The former U.S. president also noted that he has good relations with both Zelensky and Putin. "I think if we win (the presidential election), we're going to get it (the war) resolved very quickly," Trump said, without specifying how he plans to end Russia's war against Ukraine. The former president also recalled Zelensky's actions during the impeachment inquiry in 2019, when Trump was accused of pressuring him to investigate political rival Joe Biden and Biden's son, Hunter. Recently, Trump's rhetoric toward Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has become more critical. He has claimed that Zelensky wants Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election, referring to him as the greatest salesman on earth. Republican leaders on Sept. 25 also accused Zelensky of interfering in the election by visiting an ammunition factory in U.S. President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennyslvania, a hotly contested battleground state. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Zelensky fire Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Makarovka, for her role in arranging the tour. The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee also announced he was opening an investigation into the Biden-Harris administration's alleged misuse of government funds. Zelensky criticized Trump's plans for an end to the war in an interview with the New Yorker earlier this week. He called Trump's running mate, Republican Senator J.D. Vance, "too radical" and said the war should not end at Ukraine's expense. Read also: Biden-Zelensky talks: Ukrainian soldiers want firepower to win but question if US wants Russia defeated 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. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday presented him with Ukraines Plan for Victory, spoke about the frontline situation in Ukraine and the state of affairs in Russias Kursk Oblast. Source: Ukraines Presidents Office, as reported by European Pravda Details: Reportedly, Zelenskyy briefed Trump on the state of affairs in the combat zone, the activities and advancements of the operation in Russias Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian innovations in the war against Russian terror, and the disproportionately large losses of the Russian army. They went into great detail about the war's effects on Ukrainians and the economy, as well as the country's overall state of affairs. They also discussed the ongoing Russian bombardments of civilian infrastructure and cities, as well as the role American Patriot systems play in preserving human lifes. Zelenskyy also stressed the need to block any opportunities for the Russians to fund the war with oil and gas exports, as well as cut off all supply channels of Western components for Russian missiles. Trump stated that he supports a "fair" peace for Ukraine, but did not say which solution to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would be regarded as such. Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". He immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy downplays comment that Trump doesn't know how to end Russia's war with Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is downplaying past disagreements with former President Donald Trump following a meeting in New York City. Zelenskyy visited Trump Tower on Friday to meet with the Republican presidential nominee, then sat down with Fox News' Griff Jenkins to discuss what seems to have been a good-spirited conversation. "We understand that even in any kind of future negotiations, Ukraine has to be strong. That's what it's about," Zelenskyy told Jenkins when asked why he met with Trump. "We spoke with Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the Congress of the United States." Trump Meets Ukraine's Zelenskyy At Trump Tower, Says Russia's War Must End With 'Fair Deal' Jenkins pressed Zelenskyy about his comments that appeared in a New Yorker article earlier this week in which he was quoted saying that he believes Trump "doesnt really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how" and whether Trump had said anything to change Zelenskyy's mind. "No, I said that I think that we understand much more better than everybody, really, including Donald Trump, what's going on in Ukraine and how to stop him. It's difficult to understand," Zelenskyy responded. Read On The Fox News App The Ukrainian president said his country is now a completely different nation from the one that was first invaded in 2022. Zelesnkyy Says 'Trump Doesn't Know Putin,' Russian Dictator Will 'Never Stop' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. "Ukraine, during the war in Ukraine before the full-scale invasion two different countries. So without this experience, you can't really understand how to stop [Russian President Vladimir Putin]," Zelenskyy continued. "And that's what I wanted to share to president . . . and the price of this tragedy of bloody invasion of Putin." At one point during their meeting, Trump told the press that he had a "good relationship" with both Zelenskyy and Putin. Zelenskyy then interjected to say he hopes the U.S. has a better relationship with Ukraine than Russia. Jenkins asked the Ukrainian president whether Trump's comment about maintaining a good relationship with Putin concerned him. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, takes part in a joint briefing on the 33rd anniversary of the independence of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he was not necessarily concerned, acknowledging that "Trump has relations and had relations when he was the president, during his term" and maintains "relations with a lot of countries and a lot of UN leaders." During the exclusive interview, Zelenskyy lamented the lack of response Putin received from the rest of the world when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 with the taking of Crimea. "Nobody kicked him, and that meant he understood that he can occupy it and go further. He can occupy new territories of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. "He began to prepare to do this his plan and he did it." Original article source: Zelenskyy downplays comment that Trump doesn't know how to end Russia's war with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explained that he deemed it essential to meet with both US presidential candidates, as either could emerge victorious. He emphasised that Ukraine anticipates continued support post-election and believes planning for this cooperation in advance is important. Source: Zelenskyy in a brief conversation with the media next to Trump before their meeting, as reported by European Pravda Details: "It's very important to share all our steps on how we can strengthen Ukraine. And, of course, we have to decide on it now because after November, we don't know who, only Americans decide who will be president. But we understand that we can't stop Putin before November," Zelenskyy explained. "We hope that the strength of the United States will be very strong, and we count on it. That's why I decided to meet with both candidates," he added. Donald Trump commended Zelenskyy's actions during the 2019 Trump impeachment attempt and remarked on their "great relationship". He also expressed a similar sentiment regarding his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump said once again that he could swiftly bring an end to the war. Background: The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at Trump Tower in New York follows a day of heightened tensions, during which Trump supporters accused the Ukrainian president of "interfering in the election" by criticising Trump's peace plan to support Biden. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to meet with Zelenskyy. Initially, the meeting was believed to be unlikely to take place, but at the last minute, Trump agreed to it. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy invited Trump to come to Ukraine, he did not refuse Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended an invitation to US presidential candidate Donald Trump to visit Ukraine. Source: Zelenskyy during his conversation with Donald Trump, as reported by European Pravda Details: When Trump mentioned that many people had been killed in Ukraine and that "many beautiful cities" are in ruins, making it incredibly difficult to repair, Zelenskyy responded with a remark: "By the way, you should come and look at our cities." Trump responded "I will" with uncertainty, and immediately reiterated his belief that "its a beautiful country" and that the war should have never happened. The Republican presidential candidate was also asked if he expected another meeting with Zelenskyy. He had not ruled it out. "It's entirely possible, but I think the president said best: this is a war that should never have happened," Trump stated. Trump also stated that he supports a "fair" peace for Ukraine, but did not say which solution to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would be regarded as such. Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". However, he immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at Trump Tower in New York follows a day of heightened tensions, during which Trump supporters accused the Ukrainian president of "interfering in the election" by criticising Trump's peace plan to support Biden. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to meet with Zelenskyy. Initially, the meeting was believed to be unlikely to take place, but at the last minute, Trump agreed to it. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy after meeting with Trump: US can be the leader of peace talks After meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was counting on the United States' help in the peace process. Source: Zelenskyy during his conversation with Donald Trump, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy noted that the United States is Ukraine's strongest backer and the world's most powerful country. According to him, Ukraine is grateful for the United States' and the American people's support. He is also confident in the United States' ability to lead any negotiations. He stressed that Ukraine had hosted a Peace Summit and will have another shortly, and that it counts on US support. He also stated that the war should not have been started, but the most essential thing is to recognise that Russian troops are on Ukrainian land. "I think that the problem is that Putin killed so many people and, of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war. He is in our territory. Thats the most important. He is in our territory and how we stop the war is to pressure him as [much as] we can. We have to do it," Zelenskyy said. US presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that he supports a "fair" peace for Ukraine, but did not say which solution to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would be regarded as such. Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". However, he immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. Support UP or become our patron! 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump met at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, 27 September. Source: European Pravda; Sky News Details: Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the meeting, recalling that five years had passed since they last met in person. "I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped, and Putin cant win. Ukraine has to prevail. And I want to discuss with you the details of our Plan of Victory," the Ukrainian president said. Zelenskyy stressed that only Americans decide who will become the next US president, but it is important to discuss joint steps after the November elections. "That's why I decided to meet with both candidates," he said. Trump noted that he would try to work with "both sides" to resolve the conflict. "His country [Ukraine] is going through hell... Nobodys ever seen anything like it; its a terrible situation," he said. Background: Before his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump responded to his rival Kamala Harris's indirect criticism of his proposals regarding Ukraine. Earlier, at a briefing with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, Kamala Harris described Donald Trump's campaign policy for ending the Russo-Ukrainian war as "proposals for surrender." Trump rejected Harris's criticism and insisted that he only wanted to stop the "horror show that is going on". Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy to return from US without authorisation to launch missiles deep into Russia The Times President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will end his visit to the United States without authorisation to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia. Source: The Times Details: The Times notes that during his visit to the US, Zelenskyy asked US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to lift restrictions on the use of Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles to strike Russian military targets deep inside Russia. Quote: "However, no shift in Washingtons stance on the use of the long-range missiles was announced, which came less than 24 hours after President Putin warned that a large conventional air attack on Russia by western-backed Ukraine could trigger a nuclear response." Details: Despite this, Biden reaffirmed his continued support for Ukraine, announcing a military aid package worth around U$8 billion, including the first deliveries of JSOW high-precision glided bombs to hit Russian forces up to 70 miles [approx. 112 kilometres - ed.] away. During his visit to Capitol Hill, Zelenskyy also discussed the need for Ukraine to be authorised to use long-range missiles with US senators, including Lindsey Graham, who supported the request. Background: On Thursday, 26 September, US President Joe Biden announced a sharp increase in security assistance for Ukraine, pledging nearly US$8 billion in weapons in the coming months. On Wednesday, 25 September, the US announced a new military aid package worth US$375 million to Ukraine. On 25 September, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that Russia would expand the conditions under which it is ready to use nuclear weapons. Support UP or become our patron! The News Former US President Donald Trump is expected to have a potentially fraught meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Trump recently called Zelenskyy a salesman and criticized him for not making a deal to end the war, while Zelenskyys visit to a Pennsylvania armaments factory accompanied by Democratic politicians angered Republicans, who considered it a partisan campaign event in a crucial swing state. The Ukrainian leader has also previously said Trumps running mate JD Vance is too radical. Ties to Democrats are less fractious: Vice President Kamala Harris, Trumps opponent, promised unwavering support for Kyiv after meeting Zelenskyy, and President Joe Biden had already announced another $8 billion in military aid against Russias invasion. This Fridays meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York lasted an hour. Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the Ukrainian delegation; European Pravda Details: In particular, a representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the United States said the meeting had already ended and lasted one hour in total. Background: The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at Trump Tower in New York follows a day of heightened tensions, during which Trump supporters accused the Ukrainian president of "interfering in the election" by criticising Trump's peace plan to support Biden. Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to meet with Zelenskyy. Right before the meeting, Donald Trump praised the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted during the attempt to impeach Trump in 2019 and said they had a "great relationship". He immediately noted the same about his relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and reiterated his confidence that he could quickly stop the war if elected president. Before speaking with Trump, Zelenskyy explained that he deemed it essential to meet with both US presidential candidates, as either could emerge victorious. Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy works to shore up support in Washington WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is here in the U.S., making the rounds to meet with top leaders. From the White House to Capitol Hill, to the presidential candidates, hes making an appeal for continued support for Ukraine. Former president Donald Trump and President Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet Friday at Trump tower in New York. The two disagree about the way forward for the U.S. and Ukraine causing a tension thats contrasted with the current administrations stance. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail and well continue to stand by you every step of the way, said President Joe Biden. In a White House meeting, President Biden sat side by side with President Zelenskyy as he announced a new $ 2.4 billion security package for the country. Right now, we have to strengthen Ukraines position on the battlefield, said Biden. Plus, he promised he would disburse all of the remaining approved U.S. aid by the end of his term in January, and if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the White House, she says that will continue. My support for the people of Ukraine is unwavering, said Harris. Former president Donald Trump has a different approach. I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelenskyy quite quickly, said Trump. Trump and Zelenskyy are set to meet in person on Friday morning. The sit down is likely to be complicated by Trumps refusal to back Ukraine in its war with Russia. Harris slammed the proposal for Ukraine to give up parts of its territory. They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable, said Harris. Her opponent insists the priority should be ending the war. Its not a surrender. What my strategy is, to save lives, said Trump. President Zelenskyy was also on Capitol Hill, where he met with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the United States in December 2022, he was met with large crowds, standing ovations and a nearly $50 billion aid package. However, Zelenskyy is facing a much quieter reception in Washington as the war drags on and he now faces tough questions from some Republicans, according to The New York Times. Source: The New York Times Quote: "Mr. Zelenskyy is widely regarded as Ukraines most persuasive advocate, gifted in his ability to cut through partisan congressional gridlock with appeals to speed weapons and other supplies to Kyiv. But as the war against Russia drags on, his star power in Washington has noticeably faded, with potentially dire consequences for the future of US military assistance to Ukraine." Details: This was evident during Zelenskyy's reception in the US on Thursday, 26 September, which was far more subdued. Zelenskyy met behind closed doors with several dozen lawmakers, while the Speaker of the House ignored his presence. Ukraine is currently receiving military aid from the US under a nearly US$61 billion package approved by Congress in the spring. President Joe Biden announced on 26 September that the US would send Ukraine US$8 billion worth of weapons, including glide bombs, missiles for air defence and an additional Patriot battery. "But when that military assistance runs out, Ukraines fate will once again depend in large part on Congresss willingness to keep replenishing Mr. Zelenskyys war chest," the article emphasised. The New York Times reiterated that Zelenskyy held two meetings at the Capitol on Thursday: firstly answering questions from a bipartisan group of around 20 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, and then meeting with a bipartisan group of around a dozen members of the House of Representatives, including Hakeem Jeffries. The newspaper highlighted that Zelenskyy, who delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly on 25 September, was unfortunate in that he had arrived on Capitol Hill after both houses of Congress had gone into recess for the campaign season. This resulted in low attendance at events involving the Ukrainian president. "Congressional leaders did little to raise the profile of his visit: neither Mr. Schumer nor Mr. McConnell addressed the news media, in person or via an emailed statement, as has happened after Mr. Zelenskyys earlier visits, nor did Mr. Jeffries," The New York Times wrote. The newspaper noted that almost every lawmaker who attended the meetings had previously voted multiple times in favour of military aid to Ukraine. While some senators still express admiration for Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian peoples will to fight and defend their country, others responded to his visit with anger, particularly Republicans who accused Zelenskyy of showing favouritism toward Democrats and the Biden administration during the election season. On 25 September, Speaker Mike Johnson demanded Zelenskyy recall Ukraines ambassador to the US over his visit to a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a state expected to be a battleground in the presidential elections. That same day, Kentucky Republican and Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer launched an investigation into whether the Biden administration misused public funds by having Zelenskyy flown on a military plane to visit the factory. Republicans also criticised Zelenskyy for some of his remarks. Johnson specifically referenced a comment Zelenskyy made to The New Yorker, where he called Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance "too radical". "The episodes frustrated some of Mr. Zelenskyys Republican supporters, who expressed concern that the Ukrainian president had weighed in on American politics," The New York Times concluded. The newspaper added that this controversy serves as a reminder of the challenges Zelenskyy may face in the coming months if Republicans take full control of Congress and if former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly voiced opposition to supplying Ukraine with weapons, wins the upcoming election. Support UP or become our patron! The Zurich International Film Festival has cancelled all screenings of the film Russians at War. Viewers have begun to receive letters announcing ticket cancellations, and the festival's website has cancelled all screenings. Source: Zurich Film Festival website Details: In letters to festival visitors, the organisers stated that public screenings would not be held "for security reasons". However, the film remains in the documentary competition programme, so it is still eligible for awards. All screenings of Russians at War are cancelled Screenshot: website of the festival The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has already responded to the cancellation. After international festivals began announcing screenings of the Russian propaganda film, the press service launched a hashtag, #NoStageForRussia. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is grateful for the decision of the Zurich Film Festival to cancel public screenings of the film Russians at War. Russia should not be present in the international cultural scene. There should also be no chance for its voices to whitewash war criminals in front of the public," the ministry said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on the festival organisers to remove the film from the competition entirely. "The only threat to the safety of its viewers, guests, partners and staff is the influence of Russian propaganda that justifies aggression and atrocities," the Foreign Ministry concluded. About the film Russians at War Russians at War is a documentary by Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova. Trofimova was born in Moscow. For over 10 years, she has worked in the media and participated in various documentary projects in Canada, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Russia. She has created several documentaries for Russia Today, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet that was recently banned by the US. The film Russians at War tells the story of Trofimova spending seven months with the Russian military in the occupied part of Ukraine. The film does not show the destruction and deaths inflicted by the Russians on Ukrainians but portrays the Russian soldiers as ordinary people. One of the soldiers in the film denies the accusations that Russians are committing war crimes in Ukraine. Trofimova herself says that while she was making the film, she had not seen any such crimes. Background: Trofimova's film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Before the film's screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Ukrainian community in Canada organised a series of protests. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Canada, and others joined the calls not to screen Russians at War. In the end, TIFFs organisers said they would not screen Trofimova's film, supposedly for security reasons. However, after the film festival officially closed, they announced two separate screenings of the film on Tuesday, 17 September. Recently, director Anastasia Trofimova was added to the list of persons who threaten the national security of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Zhaoxin The Zhaoxin KX-7000, one of Chinas latest desktop CPUs, has finally received its first comprehensive review from PC Watch. The review shows that old budget chips from Intel and AMD are still firmly in the lead. Made by Shanghai Zhaoxin, the KX-7000 originally debuted in December. It boasts eight cores, a boost clock of up to 3.7 GHz, support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0, and the companys latest C-1190 integrated GPU. The older KX-U6880A, the fastest member of the KX-6000 desktop family, also had eight cores but only a maximum clock speed of 3 GHz and lacked support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5 memory. Like AMDs Ryzen CPUs since the 3000 series, the KX-7000 uses a chiplet design: one chip for CPU cores and another for I/O functions. Zhaoxin hasnt disclosed what company fabs the KX-7000 chiplets, nor what node theyre fabbed on. Although the KX-7000 slots into Intels LGA1700 socket, its almost sure that the Chinese CPU wont work in 600- or 700-series motherboards since Zhaoxin has likely wired its chips differently than Intel. Instead, using the LGA1700 socket seems to be a move to ensure broader cooler compatibility, an important consideration for a socketed processor. Perhaps the most notable characteristic of the KX-7000 and other Zhaoxin chips is that theyre based on the x86 architecture, just like CPUs made by Intel and AMD. Zhaoxin inherited its x86 license from VIA Technologies when it partnered with the local Shanghai government to form the KX-7000 CPU designer. PC Watch tested its KX-7000 on a generic, unlabeled motherboard that supports DDR4 instead of the newer DDR5 made by ASUS. Strangely enough, only DDR4 clocked strictly at 3,200 MHz by default could get the CPU to boot for the first time. According to PC Watch, this limitation can be changed in the BIOS. The publication raised concerns over the firmware and software support, particularly access to drivers, which the reviewer only got access to thanks to determination. As for performance, the KX-7000 made gains over its predecessor but couldnt quite catch up to old, low-end CPUs like the Core i3-8100 and Ryzen 5 5600G. In Cinebench R23, the KX-7000 could only tie the 8100 in the multi-threaded test and was only 60% as fast as the Intel chip in the single-threaded test. The 5600G, meanwhile, was about three times faster in both single- and multi-threaded performance. The C-1190 iGPU, which PC Watch claims, is based on the Arise GT10C0 graphics card made by Chinese graphics company Glenfly. Given that Glenflys latest Arise 1020 didnt impress , its unsurprising that the review found the KX-7000s iGPU to be pretty slow, scoring a paltry 42 points in 3D Mark Time Spy to the 8100s 469 and 5600 Gs 1440. The C-1190 was similarly behind in other 3DMark tests. When equipped with an RX 6400, AMDs cheapest and slowest graphics card, the KX-7000 could finally match the 8100 in 3DMark and Final Fantasy XIV. However, it wasnt nearly as good in Dragon Quest X, an older game that relies more heavily on single-threaded performance. The KX-7000 cannot battle modern Intel and AMD CPUs, and its unlikely Zhaoxin chips will be able to go head-to-head with Western x86 CPUs soon. However, performance is beside the point for Chinas semiconductor industry, and self-sufficiency is the more important goal as the US government gradually places more trade restrictions on China. Earlier this year, the US government blocked Intel from selling Meteor Lake CPUs to Huawei , making domestically produced chips more appealing concerning supply chain stability. Major energy company uses drones to monitor one of the most potent air pollutants here's how it works French multinational energy company TotalEnergies is one of the world's six or so supermajor oil companies, which are often colloquially referred to as Big Oil. Now, the company says it has come up with a way to reduce the amount of methane that is released into our atmosphere by using drones, TotalEnergies itself reported. Methane is a gas that has heat-trapping capabilities up to 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in the short term. It is produced in large quantities by animal husbandry, particularly by cows. It is also used as an energy source, usually being referred to in that context as "natural gas." TotalEnergies, the company says, halved its own methane pollution between 2010 and 2020. Its goal is to achieve net-zero methane pollution by 2030. In order to accomplish that goal, it worked with the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne to develop "a drone-mounted ultralight CO2 and CH4 sensor for ensuring access to hard-to-reach emission points while delivering readings with the highest precision." The company wants to "develop an unmanned drone navigation system with data automatically streamed to the servers, as well as instantaneous data processing and reporting capabilities." By doing this, the company will be able to deliver immediate results to operators. But, as TotalEnergies is the fourth-biggest oil company in the world (according to 2023 net income reported by the Natural Resources Defense Council), this initiative could be viewed as an act of greenwashing the practice in which polluting companies attempt to win over the public by pretending to care about the environment (or perhaps making efforts that pale in comparison to their impact). In 2022 alone, TotalEnergies generated more planet-overheating gases than the entire country of France, accounting for almost 1% of global pollution, according to company data cited by LeMonde. The actual figures could be even worse than that. According to calculations by Greenpeace France, TotalEnergies' carbon pollution could be almost four times higher than what the company self-reports. Dirty energy particularly, the mining, refining, and burning of petroleum is the single sector most responsible for the ongoing overheating of our planet, which has led to increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the melting of glaciers, rising sea levels, and a host of other environmental problems. Of course, TotalEnergies has known this since the 1970s and has been accused of pushing misinformation in order to secure its shareholders' profits ever since, as the BBC detailed in 2021. "Total personnel received warnings of the potential for catastrophic global warming from its products by 1971, became more fully informed of the issue in the 1980s, began promoting doubt regarding the scientific basis for global warming by the late 1980s, and ultimately settled on a position in the late 1990s of publicly accepting climate science while promoting policy delay or policies peripheral to fossil fuel control," according to a study published in the journal Global Environmental Change. There is certainly still room for optimism that this development is a step in the right direction and that people (and legislators) will hold TotalEnergies to account and prevent it from causing even more harm. 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. The federal government is making a $389 million investment in New England's power grid, with an emphasis on better storing and transmitting renewable energy throughout the region. It will use the largest battery system developed so far in the world in terms of energy capacity, according to a press release on the allocation. The effort hopes to maximize energy distribution from offshore wind farms that are in development. A unique iron-air battery from Massachusetts-based Form Energy is getting $147 million of the funding. The large battery, with unique chemistry, will store the abundant wind energy at a location in Maine, as Canary Media reports. It's all part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Innovation Program, a competitive funding opportunity. Through two rounds, the project has funded 65 projects worth $5.7 billion in the eastern and western parts of the country, according to a DOE chart. "We look forward to working with the New England States as we support projects that will harden systems, improve energy reliability, and affordability all while generating union jobs for highly skilled workers," DOE Grid Deployment Office Director Maria Robinson said in the press release. The overall project is called Power Up New England and involves the collection of states in that region, per Canary. The original description stated a goal to "unlock" as much as 4,800 megawatts of offshore wind, with the battery capacity to store it. A New York-to-New England transmission line called the Clean Resilience Link is also part of the overall effort in the Northeast, per a Massachusetts government press release. The iron-air battery from Form Energy has been making headlines as a cheaper, scalable, and efficient storage unit. The power pack can amazingly store and distribute electricity as rust inside of it turns to iron and rusts again. It leverages chemistry that uses simple ingredients like iron, air, and water, according to Form. The company said it can also more cleanly prepare iron for steel-making sans fossil fuels and hot furnaces, a bonus secondary use for the process. Continuing the metal connection, Canary reports that Form has completed construction on a factory in Weirton, West Virginia, a traditional steel town. In New England, iron-air batteries will distribute up to 100 hours of energy to communities, providing crucial grid support if all goes according to the plans. "Power Up is a big win for electric customers and continues the momentum of federal partnership and regional collaboration here in New England," Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in the press release. It's all a part of the transition to renewable energy sources. Reducing heat-trapping air pollution is critical to avoiding what the Massachusetts Institute of Technology calls worst-case environmental scenarios if planet-warming proceeds unchecked, a bane to human and planet health alike, as medical experts and scientists noted. "Extreme weather events fueled by climate change will continue to strain the nation's aging transmission systems, but [these projects will] ensure America's power grid can provide reliable, affordable power," Robinson said. There are ways to contribute, even if you don't live in a community that is part of a grant-funded program. Washing your clothes on the cold cycle is a great way to save money and reduce energy use. Astoundingly, about 90% of a washer's power is used to heat water. At Form, reusing defunct sites as part of its battery infrastructure is another layer of its efficient planning. The New England battery system will be located at a former paper mill, for example. "This iron-air battery system will have the most energy capacity of any battery system announced yet in the world," Form CEO Mateo Jaramillo said in the press release. 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. The US Department of Justice charged three Iranian nationals as part of an effort to hack into the emails and computers used by President Donald Trumps campaign staff and other political connections. The Washington Post reported that DOJ officials filed charges against Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri and Yasar Balaghi in an indictment filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The indictment alleges the three men prepared for and engaged in a wide-ranging hacking campaign against current and former US officials, political campaigns and the media. According to the indictment Jalili, Aghamiri and Balaghis "activity is part of Irans continuing efforts to [...] erode confidence in the US electoral process." They also face possible charges such as providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The suspects are accused of running a targeted hacking campaign committed in Iran over a four-year period. Their victims include current and former officials with the US State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency, the US Ambassador to Israel and an Iranian human rights organization. Then last May, the three hackers successfully gained access to accounts belonging to Trump campaign officials. (Attempts to breach Biden campaign staff were, apparently, unsuccessful.) President Joe Bidens campaign staffers as well as news outlets like The Washington Post and Politico received unsolicited emails from an AOL account owned by Robert that contained materials stolen from the Trump campaign. They included some internal poll results and the vetting dossier for Trumps running mate Senator J.D. Vance. Because of extradition laws, it's unlikely these hackers will be brought to justice on US soil. United Atlantic Ventures (UAV) has divested over 7.5 million shares of Trump Medias stock, according to a 13G regulatory filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday. The filing reveals that UAV a firm created by Trump Media co-founders Andrew Litinsky and Wes Moss now owns less than 5% of the companys common stock. At the time of merger between Trump Media and Technology Group and special-purpose acquisition firm Digital World Acquisition Corp. in late March, which allowed Trump Media to go public, UAV held 7,525,000 shares, representing 5.5% of the companys stock. As of the filing date, UAVs holdings have significantly decreased to just 100 shares. Litinsky, the managing member of UAV, is considered to share beneficial ownership of these shares, per the filing. In February 2021, Litinsky and Moss proposed the idea of the company to former President Donald Trump while they were contestants on his show, The Apprentice. The duo suggested the concept after he was banned from Twitter (now known as X), and Facebook (META), in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Over the last several months, Litinsky and Moss have been embroiled in legal battles over claims that Trump Media has diluted their share value in the multi-billion dollar company. The pair were also subject to the same six-month share lockup agreement as Trump, which ended last week. Following the 180-day lockup period, major investors in the company were allowed to begin selling off shares. The former president and Republican presidential nominee said earlier this month, however, that he has absolutely no plans to sell his stake of company shares, which comes out to roughly 56%. Shares of Trump Media closed up 4% Thursday, ending the trading day at $14.13 apiece. Since debuting on the Nasdaq in late March, the companys stock has plunged nearly 76%. Rocio Fabbro contributed to this article. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Public Prosecutor Peter Polt has turned to the President of the European Parliament, requesting lifting the immunity of MEP Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, based on evidence that has surfaced against him in an investigation on suspicion of theft, the Public Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. According to the details uncovered, Magyar accosted the alleged victim of the crime on June 21, when he noticed the victim was filming him with his mobile phone at a club. Magyar took the phone, refused to hand it back and denied having it, then dropped it in the Danube before multiple witnesses, including the phone's owner, the prosecutor's office said. The phone was later recovered by the police and given back to the owner in good working condition, the office said. According to the statement, Magyar's conduct had been in line with the legal definition of theft. Further clarification of the case and criminal proceedings would only be possible once the EP has lifted Magyar's immunity, the statement said. Magyar will not take up seat in Budapest Assembly Magyar told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio that he could not fulfil the mandate next to his other positions, as he is already working as an MEP, party leader and the organiser of the party's "Tisza islands" movements. In an interview with news channel M1, Magyar said he had invited every top candidate in the local elections for talks because "I feel the responsibility of the fact that Budapest citizens have elected ten party members into the assembly". Apart from former Fidesz mayoral candidate Alexandra Szentkiralyi, "who rejected the talks with a ridiculous, puerile excuse," Magyar said he had talked to all of them. Regarding his talks with Gergely Karacsony, Magyar said he had warned the Budapest mayor of "a cozying up, a mating dance" with the government, insisting that "there is a coming closer, despite all propaganda to the contrary" between Budapest and the ruling parties. "Karacsony sometimes calls for Olympic Games [to be held in Budapest] louder than the prime minister and they were openly praising each other during the flood," Magyar said. Asked about statements that Tisza party members would stay away from nominating a deputy mayor and from sitting on the board of city-owned companies, Magyar said the party wanted to keep out of the "the corruption in the capital, conducted so far between the old left and Fidesz." Budapest's current internal rules bestow all powers on the mayor, Magyar said, adding that it was not just Tisza that wanted to change this. He said they wanted councillors to also be able to submit amendment proposals and nominate or comment on the appointment of the heads of city-owned companies. "People have had enough of the twenty-year-old back door deals between Orban and [Democratic Coalition leader Ferenc] Gyurcsany," Magyar said. Magyar said people also wanted to know "why the capital is on the brink of bankruptcy, why the government is stealing or taking away 75 billion forints from it, and why the state budget has collapsed". "How is it possible that when Viktor Orban took over the government in 2010, Hungary's state debt was 19,000 billion forints, and that has grown to 55,000 billion forints? Meanwhile, Hungary received 40,000 billion forints from the EU, but even so, public services are falling apart and our hospitals are mouldy..." Magyar said. Asked whether he would attend a debate with a government official on October 3, Magy said he had "an axe to grind" with the prime minister, not a government official. He said he wanted to ask him "how he managed to turn Hungary into the poorest and officially most corrupt country in Europe in 14 years". Magyar willing to waive immunity 'if Hungary joins the European Public Prosecutor's Office Leader of the opposition Tisza Party Peter Magyar has said he would be willing to waive his immunity if Hungary were to sign up to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Magyar addressed the prime minister, insisting that "half of the state apparatus" was filing legal action against him every day, "while you are systematically tearing our country apart". He also suggested that the PM and the public prosecutor were working in cahoots with one another. He vowed that if government were to vote for Hungary to join the European Prosecutor's Office, he would waive his right to immunity. "Do we have a deal, prime minister? Let's see if you or I end up in the cold ... the sun never shines through a prison window..." Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* 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! Hungary is celebrating World Tourism Day after a record summer, Visit Hungary said. Close to 7 million visitors stayed at tourism accommodations in Hungary over the summer, 8.6pc more than last year's record, the subsidiary of the Hungarian Tourism Agency said. In January-August, guest turnover rose close to 11pc nationwide and climbed over 22pc in the capital, it added. Tourism accounts for over 12pc of Hungary's GDP and provides the livelihoods for around 400,000 families. The sector generates more than 10pc of central budget revenue and accounted for around one-third of the EUR 2.9bn surplus in the balance of trade of services in the second quarter. Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. Hungary Today reports: This week, Tourinform offices of various towns across the country are inviting both locals and tourists to exciting guided tours with unique themes. In response to a campaign of Visit Hungary, the national tourism marketing communications agency, 62 of the networks offices have joined the initiative to mark World Tourism Day. In more than 60 Hungarian towns and villages, almost 100 programs, most of them free of charge, will tempt locals and visitors to discover or rediscover the local attractions on offer, Turizmus.com reports. Since 1980, the tourism industry has been celebrating World Tourism Day on September 27 each year at the initiative of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). To join in the celebrations, Visit Hungary has involved Tourinform offices in order to promote the countrys tourism offer and its architectural and natural heritage to the public. This year, Tourinform offices are inviting people to thematic guided tours and a number of interesting events from September 23 to October 6, organized under the slogan (Re)discover Hungary! throughout the country. The 120-year-old Kaposvar (south-eastern Hungary) Town Hall opened its doors on September 23, and the guided tour of the building included old stories, historical events and interesting facts about famous people. The program included a visit to the mayors meeting room and a view of the Main Square from the balcony. In Kecskemet (central Hungary), between September 26-28, visitors will have the opportunity to try themselves at a game of space travel with the help of a solar system model set up in the town. The most clever will be able to win prizes by answering questions related to the town and the World Tourism Day at the bronze model of the Sun and its 9 planets. The Miskolc Tourinform office is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, with a mini-exhibition of Tourinform relics from the past quarter of a century. The exhibits are on display until September 28 and can be viewed even after opening hours. In Tata (northwestern Hungary), visitors can join an unusual guided walk on September 27. The tour will take in some of the towns most famous film locations. The program will be led by Istvan Cserteg, the towns youth officer and author of the book Legendary films, legendary locations Komarom-Esztergom County. The richest offer will be available on World Tourism Day, September 27, when a small train tour will be organized in Balatonfoldvar (northern shore of Lake Balaton) and Komarom (northern Hungary). In Szarvas (south-east) you can take a night bus ride, in Nagykanizsa (south-west) you can visit the synagogue and discover the forgotten treasures of the town. The Tourinform offices offer of guided thematic programs is available here. Most of the programs are free of charge but require registration. ********************************* 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! Maruti Dzire Facelift Details: The Maruti Suzuki Dzire, a favorite compact sedan among fleet operators, is set to receive a facelift featuring design changes and feature upgrades. It is expected to hit showrooms this Diwali; however, the carmaker hasnt revealed its official launch date yet. Media reports suggest that the 2024 Maruti Dzire Facelift will go on sale on 4th November 2024, right after Diwali. The latest spy shots of the compact sedan indicate that it will receive significant cosmetic upgrades, enhancing its road presence. According to the spy images, the model will get a new front grille, revised headlamp clusters with horizontally integrated DRLs, and a tweaked bumper, giving the front fascia a fresh look. The side profile remains largely unchanged, except for a new set of alloy wheels. The model is expected to feature the brands new Z-Series petrol engine, along with several first-in-segment features. Maruti Suzuki's 1.2-liter, three-cylinder Z12E petrol engine debuted in India with the Maruti Swift. Now, the Dzire will be the second model to derive power from this new engine. On the Swift, the engine produces 82bhp and 112Nm of torque and is available with both manual and AMT gearboxes. For the first time, the Dzire compact sedan will come with a single-pane electric sunroof, expected to be available in the higher trims, making it the first in its segment to offer this feature. Other highlights might include a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an ARKAMYS sound system. It is also expected to get a head-up display (HUD), an analog instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch digital MID, rear AC vents, new HVAC controls, and automatic climate control. New Delhi: Dell technologies has announced that starting September 30, its global teams employees who can work from the office will be required to do so five days a week. This change aims to foster a collaborative environment and grow skills, as outlined in a memo shared with news agency Reuters. The memo stated, Working remotely should be the exception rather than the norm. As part of this new approach, field representatives from the sales team are expected to spend five days a week either meeting with customers and partners or working from the office. Previously, the team was only required to be in the office three days a week. Dell said, Remote sales team members who can't go into a Dell office should continue to work remotely. The company also noted that it will share more information about remote workers in the upcoming weeks. During companies, many companies allowed employees to work from home but now tech firms are seeking to have their employees return to the office for two to three days each week. This news follows Amazon.coms announcement that it will require employees to return to the office five days a week, starting next year, as it strengthens its previous three-day work requirement. New Delhi: The government is considering increasing ethanol prices, raising minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar, and reviewing sugar exports for the 2024-25 season, Food Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. "The petroleum ministry is seized of the matter. We are in touch with petroleum ministry. It is well under consideration to hike the ethanol price," Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference here. Regarding sugar exports, Joshi stated, "We will take a decision after looking into next year's production and availability of sugar." The minister also said a committee of secretaries is deliberating on a proposal to increase the minimum selling price of sugar, which has remained unchanged at Rs 31 per kg since February 2019. Joshi was optimistic about sugar production for the 2024-25 season starting October, citing favourable monsoon conditions. Ethanol prices, set by the government, have not been raised since the 2022-23 ethanol supply year (November-October). Current rates of ethanol produced from cane juice, B-Heavy molasses, and C-Heavy molasses are Rs 65.61, Rs 60.73 and Rs 56.28 per litre, respectively. The food minister highlighted that the introduction of sugar MSP in 2018 has significantly reduced cane dues to farmers, with about 99 per cent of Rs 1.14 lakh crore paid. India's sugarcane cultivation area has increased by 18 per cent to 6 million hectares in the last decade, with production up 40 per cent to 491 million tonne, Joshi added. Speaking on the occasion, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the sugarcane crop outlook for 2024-25 is "very good" due to favourable monsoon conditions. In his welcome address, industry body ISMA President M Prabhakar Rao requested the government to increase the sugar MSP to at least Rs 39 per kg and allow exports of 2 million tonne. ISMA has projected gross sugar output at 33.9 million tonne in the 2024-25 season (October-September) with upward revision looking into good monsoon. With diversion of 4-4.5 million tonne for ethanol production and a closing stock of 8.3 million tonne, there will be 2 million tonne available for exports in the 2024-25 season. "Exports should be allowed immediately as the global prices have firmed in the last two weeks on reports of likely drop in Brazil crop. We can regain the lost market," ISMA Vice President Gautam Goel added. New Delhi: Zomato's co-founder and Chief People Officer, Akriti Chopra, has stepped down from her position effective immediately, concluding her 13-year journey with the food delivery giant. The company announced this news to the stock exchange on September 27. "Pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations, we would like to inform that Ms. Akriti Chopra, CoFounder & Chief People Officer designated as Senior Management Personnel (SMP), has tendered her resignation w.e.f. September 27, 2024,"the company stated. Chopra joined the company in 2011 as a senior manager of finance and operations. She eventually served as the chief financial officer until 2020, when Akshant Goyal took over that position. Most recently, she held the title of chief people officer at Zomato. In her resignation email, Chopra wrote, Deepi, As discussed, formally sending in my resignation effective today, September 27, 2024. It's been an incredibly enriching journey over the past 13 years. Thank you for everything. I'm always a call away. Wishing you and Eternal, the very best. This message was shared on the stock exchange. Sometimes your business reaches the pinnacle of success, but suddenly something happens that turns everything upside down. This is often seen in Bollywood movies, but there are many stories in the world of business that can shock you. One such story is that of GP Globala company that was established by a group of traders and was at the forefront of the oil trade, but then something happened that changed everything. An Indian court auction for an arrested GP Global bunker tanker failed to attract an acceptable bid, while another ship of the marine fuel company was also arrested. Six bids for the 6,200-dwt bunker tanker GP B3 (built in 2010) were rejected in the court auction, and the High Court of Gujarat has ordered a new auction. On September 9, the High Court of Gujarat approved a request by Singapore-based Celestial Ship Management to arrest the GP B3 bunker tanker due to non-payment of dues. A day earlier, the same court had granted a request from the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) to arrest the same tanker after GP Global defaulted on a loan payment. According to court documents, Celestial claimed it was owed over $600,000, including interest and fees. Celestial's directors, Prachi Goel and Swati Goel, are spouses of GP Global directors Prerit Goel and Manan Goel, and both companies share the same Singapore address. GP Global, a global supplier of marine fuels, declined to comment as the matter is still subjudice. Celestial informed the court that it had repeatedly requested payment, with the last payment received in April 2019. Despite an agreement with the ship's owner not to cover vendor expenses, Celestial paid the vendors under pressure, according to court documents. In July, GP Global began financial restructuring after losing support from some financial institutions and later revealed internal fraud, filing criminal complaints against certain employees. The Catastrophic Fall of Prerit Goel: From Corporate Titan to Legal Pariah Once celebrated as a key figure in the international oil and energy trade, Prerit Goel, Managing Director of GP Global, has now become synonymous with financial mismanagement, fraud, and deception. His spectacular rise to success in the global energy sector was ultimately overshadowed by an equally dramatic and devastating collapse. Once a hotshot across London, Dubai, and Singapore, Goel was a prominent member of the YPO (Young Presidents Organization) and had what was once a thriving empire, which has now disintegrated into legal battles, asset seizures, arrest warrants, and a tarnished reputation. The Illusion of Success at GP Global Under Goel's leadership, GP Global rapidly expanded its reach from its base in the UAE to markets across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. With operations in oil refining, bunkering, shipping, and trading, the company appeared to be an unstoppable force in the industry. Goel was seen as a visionary, driving innovation and expansion, enjoying the benefits of seemingly endless financial success. However, the company's foundation was shaky, propped up by questionable financial practices that would soon unravel. Financial Mismanagement and Criminal Investigations In 2020, the facade began to crumble. GP Global found itself unable to meet its financial obligations, defaulting on loans, and spiraling into insolvency. This led to a cascade of legal challenges as creditors, including major banks like Credit Suisse, moved swiftly to recover their losses. Multiple lawsuits were filed across jurisdictions, exposing Goel's intricate web of financial manipulations. Internal investigations confirmed widespread fraud within GP Global. Criminal complaints were filed against employees, but it was clear that the issues extended far beyond just a few bad actors. Prerit Goel was not just an innocent bystander but an orchestrator of a carefully constructed house of cards. Arrest Warrants in India In India, arrest warrants were issued against Goel and other key figures, including his wife, Prachi Goel, who held directorial roles in related companies. Their assets were seized, and GP Global's ships were detained, sinking the family deeper into legal and financial chaos. A Global Legal Tangle In the UAE, Goels troubles multiplied. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) court issued asset freezes and prohibited Goel from disposing of any assets unless they exceeded $95 million in value. These actions were taken to ensure that creditors, who lost millions due to GP Globals fraud, could recover some of their claims. The proceedings were a sharp blow to Goels standing in the international financial community, further isolating him from potential allies. In conclusion, Prerit Goels story serves as a stark reminder of how quickly ambition can turn into corruption, leading to the collapse of an empire built on lies and financial trickery. Srinagar: Sajjad Gani Lone, President of the People's Conference, expressed his willingness to align with a secular alliance, provided there is a shift in Kashmir's policy. During a roadshow in Maqam ShahWali, Kupwara, Lone remarked, I will shake hands with a secular alliance, but there should be a different Kashmir policy. Lone reiterated his stance on the abrogation of Article 370, highlighting that the issue would remain a focal point of his political agenda. We will keep alive the issue of abrogation 370 as it was done illegally, he asserted. Addressing the complexities surrounding Jammu and Kashmir's current status, Lone was candid about the limitations of the union territory's assembly. This assembly will not give back the status of Jammu and Kashmir, but a time will come when there will be a federal solution, which might be different but on similar lines. We are in favor of its return, but we will not lie to people that a UT assembly can bring back 370, he said. Lone added, We will keep the memory of its removal alive, as it was illegal and not done within the ambit of legality. On his political positioning, Lone clarified his neutrality while signaling his preference for secular politics. As of now, I am equidistant from everyone, but hand on my heart, I will prefer a secular alliance. However, we must also address human rights violations and ensure that the secular alliance presents a distinct Kashmir policy, he said. Lone also took a swipe at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, accusing him of hypocrisy. He has grown up sitting in the lap of the BJP, and today they are calling the BJP wrong, Lone remarked, adding, I called Modi brother in 2014, but Omar was the External Affairs Minister when killings were happening in Kashmir, and he was justifying them across the globe. Now, they claim the BJP is wrong. Lones comments signal his continued focus on Article 370 while also indicating potential political alliances ahead of the next elections. Bihar has shot into the limelight for the past few months with its multiple bridge collapse incident. Parts of the state are also reeling under severe flooding. Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, who has been visiting and inspecting the flood-affected area, reprimanded a Junior Engineer for not providing power supply to people affected by floods. The video has since gone viral on social media. Pappu Yadav was visiting flood-affected areas in his parliamentary constituency on September 26 when he came to know about problems being faced by the people. During his visit, Yadav learnt that some villages in the Rupouli block had been without electricity for several days. The independent MP immediately called an official from the electricity department. "Why don't you answer their calls? Why has there been no electricity for four days? Were you sleeping with your wife for four days? Now that I'm speaking, you're saying the issue is resolved. What is your responsibility?" After assessing the situation, Pappu Yadav described the condition of the flood victims as dire, with people struggling for food and livestock left without fodder. He also criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that before visiting Katihar, the CM should have toured flood-affected areas such as Bhagalpur, Munger, Lakhisarai, Manihari, Kursela, Barari, Baisi, and Rupouli. On Thursday, Pappu Yadav visited the flood-hit border areas of the Purnia-Katihar Lok Sabha constituency. He toured the region by boat, reaching locations like Kursela in Katihar, Baghmara Maheshpur, Kursela, and Balthi Maheshpur, where he met with flood victims and listened to their concerns. Elections for the final vacant seat on the Municipal Corporation of Delhis (MCD) Standing Committee will take place today, September 27, at 1 p.m., following a tense standoff between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena. The conflict intensified after the LG instructed the MCD commissioner to hold the election by 10 p.m. on Thursday, despite an earlier adjournment of the House meeting. AAP leader Manish Sisodia sharply criticized this decision, accusing the BJP of attempting to undermine democracy by pushing for a late-night vote. In an unexpected move, Saxena overturned the adjournment and directed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to ensure that the election was conducted by nightfall. He further instructed that if the Mayor chose not to preside, the Deputy Mayor or the senior-most member of the House should oversee the proceedings. AAP's Response and Allegations In a late-night press conference, Manish Sisodia called for Saxena to revoke the order, claiming that the Lt Governors instructions were aimed at holding the election in the absence of AAP councillors. He drew comparisons to a similar situation during the recent mayoral election in Chandigarh and hinted at possible legal action against the directive. Amid this back-and-forth, the MCD commissioner announced that the election would now be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 27. The political landscape in the MCD has become increasingly volatile, with three AAP councillors defecting to the BJP earlier this week. This development has reduced AAPs tally in the 250-member House to 125, while the BJP now stands at 113 councillors. This marks the second wave of defections for AAP, following the loss of five councillors to the BJP on August 25. The defections have raised concerns within AAP about the possibility of cross-voting, which could jeopardize their efforts to secure control over the crucial Standing Committee. Importance of the Standing Committee The Standing Committee holds significant power within the MCD, controlling its financial decisions and approving projects valued at over Rs 5 crore. It currently comprises three AAP members and two BJP members. The election today will fill the vacancy left by BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who was elected to the Lok Sabha. High Drama Thursdays meeting witnessed high drama when the municipal secretariat issued an order disallowing mobile phones inside the chamber during the vote. Delhi Police even set up frisking points at entryways, adding to the tension. While BJP councillors adhered to the rule, AAP councillors protested, staging a sit-in demonstration in the lobby. Mayor Shelly Oberoi and other AAP members argued that the restriction on phones and frisking procedures infringed upon their dignity and violated democratic norms. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy cancelled his visit to Tirupati temple on Friday amid the ongoing prasadam adulteration row. Reddys visit was initially scheduled to visit the Tirupati shrine as part of YSRCPs statewide temple ritual aimed at rectifying the sins committed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Earlier, in a press conference, Reddy had denied claims of beef tallow, lard and fish oil in the Tirupati laddoo. Sources close to Jagan Reddy have confirmed the cancellation of his visit to the hill shrine, though the reason for the last-minute decision, made just hours before his planned departure, was not immediately disclosed. The YSRCP chief criticized Naidu for spreading falsehoods, labeling his administration as a 'monster's regime.' The cancellation comes as NDA allies in Andhra Pradesh demanded that Reddy publicly declare his faith prior to entering the temple. On Thursday, Reddys party had urged devotees across the state to participate in temple pooja on Saturday, being organised to restore and purify the sacredness of Tirumala temple, which the party claims has been tarnished by the false claims of CM Naidu about animal fat in laddoo. Reddy claimed that the allegations misled devotees and tarnished the revered image of Lord Venkateswara. BJP, TDP Demand Reddy To Declare His Faith The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) demanded that former CM Reddy must declare his faith before entering the temple on September 28. "As per Andhra Pradesh Revenue Endowments, Rule 16, and TTD General Regulations Rule 136, non-Hindus must submit a declaration at Vaikuntam queue complex before darshan," ANI cited State president Andhra Pradesh BJP, Daggubati Purandeswari. TDP spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram stated that Jagan Reddy must publicly declare his faith before planning a temple visit, warning that he would otherwise be barred from entering the temple premises. J&K Polls: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whether he supports the National Conference's demand to bring back Article 370 and Article 35 A and separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir. While addressing a gathering in the Ramgarh Assembly Constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, CM Yogi said, "I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whether he supports the National Conference's decision to have a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir? Does Rahul Gandhi support the National Conference's demand to bring back Article 370 and 35A and push Jammu and Kashmir into an era of unrest and terrorism?" "Does the Congress support promoting separatism again by talking to Pakistan at the cost of the youth of Kashmir?," CM Yogi further stated. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed Rahul Gandhi and reminded him that the grand old party imposed the president's rule the most number of times in Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, in a public rally in Kathua, the Union Home Minister said, "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 do not tell you the truth. If there is a party that has imposed presidential rule the most number of times in Jammu and Kashmir, it is the Congress." Citing voter turnout, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief said 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. Shah 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 take part in the decision-making for improving conditions in the state," he said. "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?," Shah further stated. He vowed that they will not allow Rahul Gandhi to end reservations (in case Congress is voted to power). "Rahul Baba has said that they will end reservations when they come to power. Rahul Baba, no matter what your intention is, we will not let you end your 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. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key accused in a United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) case related to the planting of IEDs across multiple places in Assam. In a press release, the NIA said that Girish Barua, alias Gautam Baruah, was nabbed from the outskirts of Bengaluru, where he was hiding out. The case was registered by the probe agency in September in connection with the planting of explosive devices across Assam by the banned terrorist organization ULFA (I) as part of an armed protest against Independence Day celebrations in India. "The accused was part of the group of ULFA (I) operatives that had placed IEDs at locations in North Lakhimpur district in Assam at the behest of the top leadership of the outfit," said NIA. The suspect was arrested and produced before the Special NIA Court, Bengaluru, on September 25, and the court passed an order for transit remand and production before NIA Special Court Assam Guwahati. Investigations in the case are continuing. Meanwhile, in another incident, the NIA last week conducted searches at four locations across Punjab in a case related to the promotion of terror-related activities and violence by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader and pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun. NIA teams swooped down at one location in Moga, two locations in Bathinda, and one location in Mohali at premises connected with suspects in the case RC-30/2023/NIA/DLI, the probe agency stated. The searches led to the seizure of various incriminating materials, including digital devices, which are under examination. The case relates to the conspiracy by Pannun with other members of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The NIA had registered the case against Pannun on 17th November 2023, under sections 120B, 153A, and 506 of the IPC and sections 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 18B, 8 20 of the UA(P) Act, 1967. (With agencies Inputs) Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora have arrested six terrorist associates and recovered IEDs, arms, ammunition, and other incriminating materials from their possession. The Awantipora police received specific intelligence that a Pakistan-based Kashmiri terrorist from the JeM outfit was in the process of identifying youths who could be motivated to join terrorist ranks. Once these youths were identified, arms, ammunition, and explosives were being delivered to them to carry out terrorist activities before their formal induction into the ranks. Based on this information, a case was registered at Police Station Tral. During the investigation, the individuals involved in this module were identified. It was revealed that the Pakistan-based terrorist, with the help of an OGW (Over Ground Worker) in jail, had identified several youths in the Tral area of Awantipora and Kulgam district who were motivated to join the terrorist ranks. These youths were provided with pistols, grenades, IEDs, and other explosive materials to facilitate their recruitment, said police. Before officially joining the terrorist ranks, they were instructed to carry out terrorist activities, including targeted killings, throwing grenades at security forces or public places, attacking non-local laborers, and planting and detonating IEDs. Further investigation revealed that the Pakistan-based terrorist handler had selected specific locations for planting IEDs with the assistance of these youths. The handler also sent funds to carry out these tasks and to procure materials for fabricating additional IEDs. So far, six terrorist associates have been arrested, and based on their disclosures, a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives has been recovered. The recoveries include five IEDs with remotes, 30 detonators, 17 batteries for IEDs, two pistols, three pistol magazines, 25 live rounds of pistol ammunition, four hand grenades, and Rs 20,000 in cash. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests and recoveries are expected in the case. New Delhi: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleged that the BJP "stole" 10 elected state governments by misusing the central investigating agencies, the ED and CBI. Speaking in the Delhi assembly during a short duration discussion on the "misuse" of investigative agencies, the former Delhi chief minister targeted the BJP. "From March 2016 to March 2024, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi tried to topple 13 state governments 15 times. Out of that, he succeeded in toppling 10 governments. These governments were not toppled, rather these governments were stolen," he charged. Kejriwal alleged that Maharashtra politicians like Ajit Pawar, Pratap Sarnaik and Hasan Muhrif faced corruption cases but which were dropped when they either joined the BJP or supported its government by breaking away from their parent party. The former Delhi chief minister also attacked the BJP over its relations with the RSS. He said "Sangh pracharaks" give their whole lives to the RSS ideology and asked what they get in return. "I pity the RSS people. They have given their whole lives to the RSS but they do not get tickets. Now the RSS people only spread the mats, sometimes for the BJP and sometimes for the leaders from the NCP and the Shiv Sena," Kejriwal said. The AAP supremo said four-five days ago, he wrote a letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and asked that the leaders who were earlier called corrupt by Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP are now being included in their party. "Does the RSS chief agree with this? Do the BJP people feel even a little ashamed?" he said. Hitting out at Modi, Kejriwal said the prime minister has collected 25 "nagine" (precious stones) from all the parties and who include Ajit Pawar, Hemant Biswa Sarma, Praful Patel, Pratap Sarnaik, Hasan Mushrif, Bhagwna Gavali, Shubhendu Adhikari and Navin Jindal. Delhi's former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said he is addressing the house after being in jail for 19 months. "I am here because there is rule of law in the country. I would have perished in the jail if there were rule of the BJP in the country," Sisodia said. "Am I a terrorist or a drug mafia? Is Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist or a drug mafia?" he asked. Sisodia alleged that the BJP misused agencies to file 50 cases against Kejriwal and 12 against him and other leaders. But all these cases will be rejected, he claimed. The BJP should apologise for betraying the country by misusing the ED and CBI, he said. While speaking for the first time after becoming the chief minister of Delhi, Atishi said AAP's leader Arvind Kejriwal is holy and non-corruptible. "Kejriwal gave free electricity and water to the people of Delhi, gave them excellent schools and hospitals, gave free bus travel to women, and gave free pilgrimage facilities to the elderly, yet Delhi's budget is in profit," Atishi said. This happened because Kejriwal is extremely honest and knows how to work, she added. The Delhi chief minister attacked the BJP and said they have governments in 22 states but they neither provided free electricity and water nor schools and hospitals in a single state and yet their governments run in losses. The BJP could not build schools and hospitals like the AAP in any other state and, therefore, they filed fake cases through the ED and CBI to defame Kejriwal, she added. Kerala Lottery Results Friday 27-09-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Nirmal NR-399" Lucky Draw Result today Nirmal NR-399, September 27, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Nirmal NR-399" 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 Nirmal NR-399 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-399 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 27-09-2024 September: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR NIRMAL NR-399 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: NU 948447 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: NN 157820 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: NN 379439 NO 323231 NP 804573 NR 922841 NS 804446 NT 764448 NU 350911 NV 794420 NW 900775 NX 375225 NY 629723 NZ 412728 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE:NN 948447 NO 948447 NP 948447 NR 948447 NS 948447 NT 948447 NV 948447 NW 948447 NX 948447 NY 948447 NZ 948447 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0525 0619 1766 2400 2510 4291 4296 4316 4393 5272 5383 6120 6262 6340 7550 7827 8052 9880 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0487 0931 0962 1599 2012 2825 2877 3148 3222 3289 3393 3530 4135 4360 4753 5079 5584 5781 5813 5825 5852 5966 5987 6755 7297 7490 7915 8502 8686 8794 8801 8902 9022 9460 9544 9832 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0159 0340 0642 0664 0693 0772 0857 1000 1300 1592 1762 1865 1910 2340 2347 2370 2543 2745 2928 3047 3205 3478 3722 3736 3818 3961 4060 4132 4638 4818 4878 4978 5119 5142 5220 5332 5360 5377 5428 5531 5592 5621 5780 5969 6027 6290 6412 6435 6715 6770 7195 7262 7647 7703 7737 7773 7849 7908 7987 8007 8009 8015 8190 8191 8300 8450 8611 8680 8767 8805 8955 9069 9337 9424 9503 9541 9576 9726 9957 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0017 0161 0215 0294 0463 0497 0625 0630 0740 0769 0777 0808 1058 1305 1474 1521 1615 1811 1915 1943 1959 1966 2256 2615 2670 2763 2783 2876 2894 2918 3054 3087 3149 3262 3314 3329 3433 3469 3733 3948 4000 4035 4044 4340 4515 4569 4587 4591 4707 4739 4781 4906 5110 5150 5161 5203 5283 5407 5434 5514 5578 5652 5769 5821 5913 5951 5996 6000 6020 6128 6161 6168 6191 6203 6258 6287 6288 6369 6608 6610 6662 6841 7020 7036 7055 7079 7152 7235 7290 7379 7484 7556 7706 7940 8100 8106 8156 8239 8256 8337 8370 8535 8610 8615 8623 8756 8935 9351 9450 9467 9469 9511 9520 9521 9737 9768 9887 9889 9924 9933 9946 9990 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 27-09-2024 September: NIRMAL NR-399 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th 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.) The famous reality show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Kaun Banega Crorepatis (KBC) season 16 got its first millionaire, in a thrilling game that aired on Wednesday. The first episode of KBC 16 aired in August this year and Jammu and Kashmirs Akhnoor districts Chander Prakash, a UPSC aspirant, is the first contestant to bag the crorepati title. The show is a popular quiz competition where contestants tackle progressively challenging questions to earn significant cash prizes. According to a local news website, Daily Excelsior, From the moment of Prakashs birth he has battled a series of relentless health challenges, the most daunting being a severe intestinal blockage. Despite enduring seven major surgeries, his journey is far from over, as doctors now recommended an eighth operation. His story is not just one of survival, but of the power of hope and determination. What Was The 10 Million Rupee Question As the episode began the hosted, shot the first question for prize money of Rs 3,20,000, Chander answered in quick and calm conduct. Bachchan posed the question, "In which contact sport is 'Yokozuna' the highest rank attainable?" Confident in his answer, Chander chose Option B) Sumo Wrestling and effortlessly secured the prize. In the KBCs Super Sandook segment, Chander answered seven consecutive questions correctly. After answering half of the questions independently, Chander relied on his lifelines for assistance with some of the higher-level questions in the quiz. Chander successfully answered the Rs 1 crore question on Kaun Banega Crorepati season 16, becoming the first contestant to win the amount this season. The question asked which countrys largest city is a port with an Arabic name meaning abode of peace. Chander used the Double Dip lifeline and correctly chose Tanzania. Along with the cash prize, he also won a Hyundai Venue SUV. Chander then faced the Rs 7 crore jackpot question. Without any lifelines left and unsure of the answer, he opted to quit, securing his Rs 1 crore winnings. During the episode the host praised the determination and tenacity of Prakash after revisiting his ups and downs in life on screen. Kolkata: A minor girl was allegedly raped by her tutor in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district and the accused has been arrested on Friday, police said. Acting on a complaint filed by the victim's parents, District Police officials arrested the accused, a Railways employee, from the government quarter allotted to him. Preliminary investigations revealed that besides working as a railway staff, the accused used to teach local students on weekends. As per the complaint, the victim was in a state of shock for quite some time, following which she was taken to a counsellor. After some counselling sessions, the victim revealed about the ordeal. As per the complaint, the accused had been molesting the victim for quite some time and one evening raped her when no one was his quarter. The accused even threatened the victim with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone. After she revealed the entire incident, her parents lodged a formal complaint with the local police station following which the accused was arrested. The accused has been booked under different sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The incident has left people in a state of shock. The state has been witnessing protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises and allegations of tampering with evidence in the matter. The CBI sleuths, probing the R.G. Kar case, identified procedural lapses in the drafting of the post-mortem report and the process of conducting the autopsy. The CBI said the post-mortem report lacks mentions and descriptions in technical and proper medical terms. The post-mortem was conducted after sunset which is against the general protocol, autopsy process was completed within 70 minutes, which was an unusually short period considering the seriousness of the matter, the CBI said. Weather Update: As heavy rain lashed several parts of Mumbai on Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert predicting heavy downpours in parts of Maharashtra. Besides Maharashtra, an 'orange' alert has also been issued in Gujarat, Goa, Uttarakhand, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, predicting very heavy rainfall. According to the weather department, Delhi is also likely to witness light rainfall in the next two days. In its bulletin on Friday, the IMD said that Maharashtra is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places for the next 24 hours. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Heavy rain lashes several parts of the city. (Visuals from Wadala) pic.twitter.com/Fpry3D8E5T ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2024 Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Madhya Maharashtra on September 27, and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on September 28, it said. Several parts of Maharashtra have been witnessing heavy showers and waterlogging in the last few days, which caused widespread disruptions, including delays in local train and flight services on Wednesday. As far as Mumbai is concerned, areas including Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur were heavily waterlogged. Following heavy showers, major traffic jams were seen on the Kurla bridge due to the rainfall. A landslide at the Mumbra bypass also hit traffic movement. On Thursday, vehicular and rail traffic in Mumbai resumed 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. (With agencies inputs) Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh sparked controversy over his remarks that coincided with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths directives mandating the street vendors to display their names. Following his statement, the Congress leadership on Friday reprimanded him, saying that no individual is permitted to act against the party's policies and ideologies, reported PTI citing party sources. Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, KC Venugopal held a meeting with Singh in New Delhi. During the meeting the party conveyed that they believe in former Congress chief Rahul Gandhis ideology of fighting hatred with love. Singh was instructed to follow the party's ideology and policies, but he responded by informing the leadership that his remarks had been misquoted by the media. Amid backlash over Singh's statement on mandatory name displays for street vendors, the Himachal Pradesh government clarified on Thursday that no such decision had been made. What Congress Vikramaditya Said Vikramaditya Singh, who is the public works and urban development minister on Wednesday told reporters that it would be mandatory to display the names of the proprietor on the street eateries. The decesion he added was inspired by the UP CM Yogis orders. The state government quickly distanced itself from Singhs remark and clarified that no such order is in function. Sources in Delhi indicated that the Congress central leadership intervened, prompting the Himachal Pradesh government's clarification. How The Himachal Government Responded Sources in Delhi indicated that the Congress central leadership intervened, prompting the Himachal Pradesh government's clarification. AICC Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla said he discussed the issue with Vikramaditya Singh and CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, noting it stemmed from the assembly speaker's committee to designate areas for street vendors. The AICC's Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla said on Thursday that he had discussed the issue with Singh and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He had said the matter sprang from the assembly speaker forming a committee to designate specific areas for street vendors, including those selling food and other items. "They 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," Shukla told reporters in Jammu on Thursday. "The aim is to ensure that street vendors have proper locations to operate without disrupting traffic, especially since it is a hilly area and has narrow roads." he had said. (With PTI inputs) PUNE: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said he favoured bringing petrol and diesel under the Goods and Services Tax, but the decision needs unanimous support of the states. Puri was delivering a lecture on `strategy and measures for enhancing India's energy security in the coming decades', organised by the Pune International Centre here. "... There is a suggestion to bring petrol and diesel under GST, which I was advocating for a long period of time. Now my senior colleague, the finance minister also has spoken about bringing fuel under GST on several occasions," he said. The Kerala High Court had suggested that the GST council take this up on its agenda, Puri further said. "My recollection is that at a meeting in Allahabad, it came up....But as you know that GST council works on the principle of consensus and unanimity and the state chief ministers have to agree," the minister said. "We are currently in the situation that BJP-ruled states have reduced their VAT, and non-BJP states are not even willing to forego the additional VAT, so I do not see that is happening," he said. Pune Police made startling new revelations in Pune Porsche crash case on Friday, alleging that several family members of the underage accused were reportedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. The minor, who was also under the influence of alcohol, allegedly lost control of the high-end electric vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two IT professionals. Eyewitnesses reported that the teen was so buzzed he could barely stand after the crash. As per the police, the accuseds father, mother and brother were all drunk when they attempted to bribe the state-run Sassoon Hospital staff to swap the blood sample of the teen. This was done reportedly to lie about the alcohol level in the blood to save the teen. Police revealed that the initial plan was to obtain blood samples from the accused teen's father or brother. However, both were found to be intoxicated at the time, prompting authorities to collect a sample from the mother instead, who has since been arrested. Soon after the incident on May 19, the mother appeared in a video message claiming the viral video that reportedly features her son is fake. She cried on camera and appealed the cops to protect him. Blood Swapping At Sassoon Hospital Two doctors from Sassoon Hospital, Dr Ajay Taware, the former head of the Forensic Medicine Department, and Dr Shrihari Halnor, have been arrested for their involvement in tampering with blood samples. A hospital staffer, Atul Ghatkamble, is also in custody. Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, who served as intermediaries between the teens father and the doctors to arrange bribes for the sample swap, were arrested earlier. Cops Add Charges Of Evidence Destruction Pune police submitted a supplementary final report on Tursday containing fresh charges before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), reported PTI. The final report has fresh charges of destruction of evidence, forgery, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the 17-year-old juvenile. Earlier in June, the police filed a report that contained charges of Culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC section 304. The teenager, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, was driving a Porsche in the early hours of May 19 when it collided with a motorbike in the Kalyani Nagar area of Pune. The crash resulted in the deaths of two young IT professionals, a man and a woman. JAIPUR: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa had to contend with an online backlash after his son appeared in a social media reel driving a modified jeep with a state government vehicle tailing him. Bairwa, who also serves as the transport minister, defended his son on Friday stating that there was no wrongdoing as he was with his friends from school. The Rajasthan government Bolero vehicle with multicoloured beacon on it and registered in the name of transport department, was seen tailing and escorting the jeep, raising questions about the inappropriate use of state resources. The jeep was driven by Bairwa's son on Amber road in Jaipur. The reel showed him with three friends, including the son of a Congress leader. In another reel, the deputy CM's son accompanies the Congress leader's son to a luxury car showroom, where the latter is purchasing a vehicle. Following backlash on social media, Bairwa said that since becoming the deputy CM, his son has had opportunities to associate with affluent individuals and see luxury cars and there is nothing with it. "I want to thank the Prime Minister for making someone like me the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan. After this, if wealthy individuals allow my son to sit with them and give him a chance to see luxury cars then I am thankful," he said. Bairwa said that his son has not yet attained the age of 18 years and that the vehicle accompanying him was for security purposes. "Where were the rules violated? The car was following for my child's safety. If people interpret it differently, that's their perspective but I do not blame my child or his friends. They were just together," he said. Bairwa is a second time BJP MLA from Dudu constituency. The Bolero vehicle seen in the reel is registered in the name of the transport department. Secretary of the transport department Shuchi Tyagi could not be contacted for comments on the matter. A senior police officer familiar with the development said, "We are examining whether the police escort is being misused or not." UP News: In a shocking turn of events, a student of class 2 was killed in an alleged "sacrificial ritual" performed by the owners of his school in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras to make it more "prosperous." Besides the owner and director of the school, the principal and two teachers were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing on Monday, police said on Friday. The body of the student was recovered from school director Dinesh Baghel's car, the police said. The family of the child has alleged that he was killed as part of 'black magic' rituals. According to police, the postmortem report of the class two student revealed that he was strangled. DL Public School owner Jasodhan Singh is said to believe in 'tantrik rituals'. He asked his son Dinesh Baghel, the director of the school, to sacrifice a child for the "prosperity" of the school and his family. Principal Laxman Singh and two teachers -- Ramprakash Solanki and Veerpal Singh -- have also been held by police. An FIR has been lodged under Section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 against five of them, and they have been sent to jail. VIDEO | A class 2 student at a private school died under mysterious circumstances in Hathras. The body of the student was recovered from school director Dinesh Baghel's car, the police said. The family of the child has alleged that he was killed as part of 'black magic' rituals. pic.twitter.com/MqbnbgIoiw September 27, 2024 Speaking to PTI about the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Hathras, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "The student has been identified as Kritarth studying in class 2 of DL Public School." "On September 23, the student was abducted from the school's hostel by teacher Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, and school owner Jasodhan Singh. Jasodhan Singh believes in 'tantra' practice and asked his son to sacrifice a child for the prosperity of school and his family," he said. The victim student was taken to a secluded place for the sacrifice, but the student woke up and began crying, the officer said. "After that, he was strangulated. Another teacher, Veerpal Singh, and school principal, Laxman Singh, were also present at the spot and were guarding the place," he said. Police further stated that the accused told the child's parents that Kritarth was not well and was being taken to a hospital in Baghel's car. Family members of the child, however, stopped the car and informed police about Kritarth's death, police said. Later, the postmortem report revealed that he died due to strangulation. In the police investigation, the accused informed police that the student was killed for 'sacrifice' for the prosperity of the school and the owner's family, the ASP said. (With PTI Inputs) The Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show, which commenced on Wednesday at the India Expo Center and Mart, is proving to be a game-changer for new entrepreneurs. They are thrilled to showcase their products on a global platform and are also appreciative of the Yogi government's support in expanding their businesses. These entrepreneurs believe that presenting their products on such a prestigious stage is a significant opportunity, as it has attracted an excellent response from both Indian and international buyers, marking a milestone in their business growth. The excitement among young entrepreneurs is evident, with approximately 277 of the nearly 400 exporters at the export pavilion being new to the field. Most of these exporters launched their businesses just 2-3 years ago, and their products have garnered strong interest from buyers at the exhibition, setting the stage for future growth. *Left the job as a CA and started a startup* Dilip Chauhan, a young entrepreneur from Siddharthnagar and founder of Divyam Aahar, left a promising career as a Chartered Accountant to launch his startup. His product, "Kala Namak" rice, has received an overwhelming response. According to Chauhan, the government's efforts to promote startups have supported young business owners like him. His product, which is part of the One District, One Product initiative, has gained traction in India and international buyers. Chauhan credits this success to the government's consistent support and encouragement. Gargi Gaur, a resident of Mathura and founder of Chini Mitti India, is equally excited about having the opportunity to showcase her products at the International Trade Fair. She shared that this is the second time her brand has participated in the event and that the previous experience also provided tremendous exposure. "We received visits from many buying agencies last time, and this year, were even more enthusiastic because, along with Indian buyers, international visitors are also attending. The positive response weve received so far makes this trade fair an excellent opportunity for us." Saharsh, a young entrepreneur from Gorakhpur specializing in terracotta products, echoed the excitement, stating that the B2B sessions at the trade show have been incredibly valuable. "Ive had the chance to connect with numerous exporters, and our products have received great feedback. Recently, we began exporting to countries such as Germany, Nepal, and Australia. These exhibitions give us much-needed visibility, which is a massive opportunity for growth." Kirti, a Vrindavan-based entrepreneur from Mathura who handcrafts clothes for deities, expressed her gratitude for the platform the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show provided. "Being part of this event is a significant achievement for me. I had a stall last year, and the response was overwhelmingly positive, and this year is no different," she shared. "This is my second time at the trade fair, and the response continues to be fantastic, whether from international buyers, B2B clients, or wholesale customers within India and abroad. Were seeing visitors from Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, and nearby areas, all of whom are showing great interest in our 'Bhagwan ji' stall. Im deeply grateful to the state government for offering us such a valuable platform to showcase our products on a large scale." Riya Barde, who also goes by the name Arohi Barde and Banna Sheikh was arrested by the Hill line police in Ulhasnagar, for living in India with fake documents. However, the story is more twisted than it looks. This Bangladeshi origin woman is allegedly linked to Raj Kundras production company and has worked in various pornographic films. 22-year-old, Riya overstayed her visit in India by allegedly obtaining an Indian passport using fake documents and was staying with her mother along with brother and sister. According to media reports, her mother married Arvind Barde, a resident of Amravati to facilitate their stay in India. Currently, the police are on the lookout for the remaining family members as Riya remains in Police custody. As per a police report cited by The Times of India, both of Riya's parents are residing in Qatar, while her brother and sister remain at large. Who Is Riya Barde Riya Bardes mother, Ruby Shaikh, a Bangladeshi national, married Arvind Barde, a native of Amravati, and later claimed to be a resident of West Bengal. She subsequently changed her name to Anjali, and the family settled illegally in India. All her family members changed their names: her mother, Anjali Barde (aka Ruby Sheikh), her father, Arvind Barde, her brother, Ravindra (aka Riyaz Sheikh), and her sister, Ritu (aka Moni Sheikh). Reports indicate that Riya Barde worked for Raj Kundras production company and appeared in several films, including projects with performer Gehana Vasisth. She was previously arrested by Mumbai Police in a prostitution case under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The situation came to light when a friend of Riya found about her Bangladeshi origin and reported her to the police, after which the probe was initiated into her residency documents. New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended the premiere of the Marathi film 'Dharmaveer 2'. Earlier, actor and producer Bobby Deol unveiled the poster of the film 'Dharmaveer 2' alongside Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and the film's cast and crew in Mumbai. The sequel, following the success of its predecessor, aims to delve deeper into the life and legacy of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe. The event saw the presence of key figures such as Prasad Oak, reprising his role as Anand Dighe, and director Pravin Tarde, who received acclaim for their work in the first instalment of the biographical drama. Among the producers present were Mangesh Desai from Saahil Motion Arts and Umesh Bansal, Chief Business Officer of Zee. Actor Bobby Deol expressed his gratitude and excitement, remarking, "It's an honour to be part of this celebration. The performance in the first part was commendable, and I congratulate CM Eknath Shinde on his two successful years in government." The original film, directed by Pravin Tarde, was a commercial hit and received positive reviews for its authentic portrayal of Anand Dighe's life. The sequel promises to explore new facets of Anand Dighe's life and political journey, aiming to capture the essence of his impactful legacy. With preparations in full swing, the team is gearing up for a theatrical release on August 9, continuing their cinematic tribute to the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe. Mumbai: Actor Hrithik Roshan, who never fails to shower love on his girlfriend and actor Saba Azad, recently reacted to pictures of her. On Thursday, Saba posted a bunch of pictures on Instagram where she wore a red bodycon dress with a deep neckline. Along with the post, she dropped emojis of Apple in the caption. As soon as she shared the post with her Insta Fam, Hrithik reacted to the post and wrote, "Woah" with heart and fire emojis in the comment section. Dia Mirza and Shibani Dandekar also reacted to the post. Dia wrote, "Hello Gorgeous Human" with heart emojis while Shibani commented, "OH.MY. LORD!!" with fire and heart emojis. Talking about Saba's look, she styled her hair in an open look and completed her appearance with subtle makeup. Hrithik confirmed his relationship with Saba at Karan Johar's 50th birthday celebration, entering the party hand-in-hand with her. Earlier, the actor was married to Sussanne Khan, and they have two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan. They divorced in 2014. Meanwhile, on the work front, Saba has started shooting for the second season of the medical comedy-drama 'Who's Your Gynac?'. Created and produced by The Viral Fever (TVF), the second season brings back Saba Azad, Karishma Singh, Aaron Arjun Koul, Kunal Thakur, and Vibha Chibber. 'Who's Your Gynac? 2' will premiere soon on Amazon miniTV. On the other hand, Hrithik is currently filming in Italy for his upcoming movie 'War 2'. 'War 2' is being directed by Ayan Mukerji, who is best known for his films 'Wake Up Sid', 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' and 'Brahmastra'. The film also stars Jr NTR. It is a sequel to the 2019 action thriller film 'War' which starred Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vani Kapoor in the lead roles. Directed by Siddarth Anand, this high-octane action drama minted Rs 200 crores within seven days of its release in 2019. It's touted to be one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. (ANI) Dubai-based influencer Soudi Al Nadak recently took to Instagram to reveal a luxurious gesture from her millionaire husband, Jamal Al Nadak. In a viral video, the 26-year-old housewife showcased their newly acquired private island with the caption: POV: You wanted to wear a bikini so your millionaire husband bought you an island. The post has since garnered over 2.4 million views, sparking widespread attention online. A Lavish Life on Social Media Soudi, originally from the UK, has been married to Dubai businessman Jamal Al Nadak for over three years. The couple met while studying in Dubai, and since then, their relationship has been a fixture in the social media world. Soudi regularly shares her opulent lifestyle on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where her audience is treated to glimpses of extravagant purchases and high-end experiences. In one notable post, the couple splurged $1 million on a diamond solitaire ring and another $2 million on art all within a single day. Private Island According to a report by Hindustan Times, Soudi explained the reasoning behind their latest acquisition. The couple had been considering buying an island as an investment for some time, but the decision was also driven by Jamal's desire to provide a safe, secluded space for his wife to enjoy. 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, Soudi shared. While the island purchase serves as a financial investment, the personal motivation behind it highlights the lengths the couple goes to ensure privacy and comfort in their lives. The private island now offers Soudi a luxurious and secure setting to relax, away from the public eye. Microsoft co-founder and renowned philanthropist Bill Gates recently surprised the internet when he was spotted buying a hot dog from a street vendor in New York City's iconic Times Square. Gates was captured on video enjoying one of New York's most popular street foods, appearing to relish the simple moment while being filmed by onlookers. The video, posted on Instagram by photojournalist Elder Ordonez, swiftly gained widespread attention online. According to Forbes, Gates holds the title of the seventh richest person in the world, with an impressive net worth of $138.9 billion. Bill gate viral moment in new york Videos of Gates savoring a hot dog have sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with users amused by the billionaire enjoying such a simple treat. Many shared their surprise and admiration in the comments, highlighting their delight at seeing this down-to-earth moment. "Wow, even billionaires enjoy a hot dog!" one user commented, while another added, "Imagine bumping into Bill Gates at a hot dog stand!" Someone else chimed in, "Hes just like us! Who knew Gates was a fan of hot dogs?" Another joked, "Looks like billionaires get street food cravings too." One netizen humorously asked, "Does Bill prefer mustard or ketchup?" The casual moment with the hot dog struck a chord with many, who enjoyed seeing Gates in such an ordinary setting. It highlighted that even one of the worlds richest individuals appreciates the simple joys of street food. Bill Gatess India visit Interestingly, this isnt the first time Bill Gates has charmed people with his love for street food. During a visit to India, Bill Gates appeared in a video sipping chai from a street stall run by Dolly Chaiwala, a social media influencer. The clip showcased Gates fully embracing Indian street culture while enjoying a hot cup of tea. Sharing a picture on Instagram, Gates expressed his admiration for everyday innovation in India, stating, "Innovation is everywhere in India, even in how to make a simple cup of tea!" The video begins with Dolly Chaiwala asking Gates, "One chai, please," to which he responds by requesting her to make the tea in her signature artistic style. While sipping steaming chai from a glass, Gates shared his excitement about returning to India, emphasizing the country's role as a hub for innovators working to enhance lives. He praised how even the simple act of making tea is elevated to an art form. Gates concluded the video by looking forward to more "chai pe charcha" (tea-time discussions) alongside Dolly Chaiwala. Whether it's enjoying a hot dog in New York or sipping chai in India, Bill Gates continues to captivate his fans with his down-to-earth and charming moments. At the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron in voicing support for Indias bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Both leaders emphasized the need for a more inclusive and representative Security Council, reflecting the evolving global landscape. Starmers Call for a More Representative UNSC During his address to the UN General Assembly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged for a transformation of the UNSC, advocating for a more diverse and effective body. "The Security Council has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act not paralysed by politics," Starmer stated. He went on to call for permanent seats for India, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and African representation, along with an increase in the number of elected members. Macrons Support for India French President Emmanuel Macron championed reforms in the UNSC, advocating for the expansion of its permanent membership. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Macron stressed the importance of making the Security Council more efficient and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities. "We have a Security Council that is blocked... Lets make the UN more efficient. We have to make it more representative," Macron remarked. He further emphasized that India, along with Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African countries, should be included as permanent members. Modi's Call for Institutional Reforms The support from Macron and Starmer comes on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis address at the 'Summit of the Future'. Modi highlighted the critical need for reforms in global institutions, including the UNSC, to maintain their relevance and effectiveness in fostering global peace and development. The Current Composition of the UN Security Council The UNSC is currently composed of 15 members: five permanent members with veto power (the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and ten non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms. The Council's core responsibilities include investigating conflicts, launching peacekeeping missions, and imposing sanctions when necessary. Its decisions shape international responses to global crises, underscoring the importance of reforming the body to better address modern challenges. As the Hindu festival of Durga Puja approaches, Bangladesh's Hindu minority faces growing pressure from radical Islamic groups demanding a halt to public celebrations, idol worship, and immersions. Protest Against Durga Puja Celebrations A radical Islamic organization, Insaf Keemkari Chhatra-Janta, recently led a demonstration in Dhakas Sector 13, opposing the use of a local playground for Durga Puja celebrations. The playground has traditionally been used by the Hindu community for many years. However, with tensions escalating between religious groups, several Islamic organizations have voiced opposition to the public celebration of the festival. Environmental and Religious Concerns Cited The protesters, carrying placards written in Bangla, listed a series of demands aimed at curbing Durga Puja festivities. Among their complaints were concerns over environmental damage caused by idol immersion and road closures for public worship. They argued that such disruptions were unwarranted, especially given that Hindus make up only two percent of Bangladeshs population. One of the group's key demands was the removal of Durga Puja as a national holiday. They claimed the festival, despite its significance to the Hindu community, caused unnecessary inconvenience to the Muslim majority. According to a report by India Today, the group called for the demolition of temples allegedly built on "occupied land," further inflaming tensions between religious communities. Calls for Anti-India Sentiment The protesters went a step further, demanding that temples in Bangladesh display anti-India banners to demonstrate loyalty to the country. They argued that Hindu citizens should distance themselves from any perceived association with India, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions between Bangladesh and its neighbour. Increased Incidents of Vandalism and Harassment Reports of temple vandalism and the destruction of idols have surged, leaving the Hindu community anxious about their safety and religious freedom. In Khulna, some Hindu citizens reported being asked to pay 5 lakh Bangladeshi taka to hold Durga Puja celebrations. These incidents have sparked fears of a deteriorating situation for Bangladesh's Hindu minority. Government Assurances Amid Rising Concerns Despite assurances from Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government, the Hindu community continues to face mounting challenges. Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas government, attacks on Hindu citizens and their properties have increased, further straining communal harmony in Bangladesh. New York: Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday (local time) that he would be meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday at Trump Tower in New York around 9:45 am (local time), The Hill reported. This meeting comes on the heels of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meetings with US President Joe Biden and US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Washington at the White House, where they discussed strengthening Ukraine's position in the ongoing war with Russia. "As you know, President Zelenskyy 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 a press conference in New York. "And it's a shame what's happening in Ukraine--so many deaths, so much destruction. It's a horrible thing." NBC News reported Wednesday that Trump had decided not to meet with Zelensky. The former president criticised the Ukrainian president, saying while in North Carolina on Wednesday, "He's making little nasty aspersions towards your favourite president, me," The Hill reported, according to the news outlet. Trump's announcement was made the same day that Zelensky visited the White House. Notably, Trump's stance on Ukraine has been somewhat controversial, having previously criticised US assistance to Ukraine and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. In contrast, Biden has reaffirmed US support for Ukraine, pledging to provide the necessary assistance to help Ukraine win the war. Recently, the US announced a new package of weapons and nearly USD 8 billion in aid for Ukraine. During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support of the United States, highlighting that the two nations have stood together since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "During the meeting with President Joe Biden, 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." Meanwhile, President Biden took to his X handle to express solidarity with Ukraine. He also stated that Ukraine will emerge victorious in the war against Russia. Sharing a post on X, he wrote, "Today, President Zelenskyy and I sat down again to discuss strengthening Ukraine's position on the battlefield and helping Ukraine rebuild stronger than before. Two things are clear: Ukraine will win this war. And the US will continue to stand by them every step of the way." Zelenskyy also shared a post about sharing the details of the victory plan with Harris and said, "I shared the details of the victory plan with Vice President Kamala Harris. It is very important for us to be fully understandable and work in full coordination with the United States." "We must end this war and achieve just peace. We must protect our people - Ukrainian families, Ukrainian children--and everyone from Putin's evil. We are grateful to America for supporting Ukraine throughout this time," the post added. The Department of Defence (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, the Pentagon said in a press release. This security assistance package commits an additional USD 2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defence, Unmanned Aerial systems (UAS), and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. Pakistan and its one-sided love story for Kashmir is unending. During his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again raked up the Kashmir bogey while calling upon India to resolve the dispute through talks. However, when Sharif was talking about India's threat to take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, his voice appeared to have betrayed him. It may be notable that BJP leaders including Yogi Adityanath and Rajnath Singh have repeatedly said that PoK was and remains an integral part of India. During his address, Sharif said, "It (India) has engaged in massive expansion of its military capabilities, which are essentially deployed against Pakistan. Its war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang. Thoughtlessly, India spurned Pakistan's proposals for a mutual strategic restraint to the regime. Its leadership has often threatened to cross the line of control and take over Azad Kashmir," Shehbaz Sharif said. Sharif also went on to say that Pakistan will respond decisively to Indian aggression. "Let me state in no uncertain terms, Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression, therefore, to secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he claimed. Pakistan PM Shehbaz trying to speak against India. Caption it pic.twitter.com/CIJmybnKf0 Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) September 27, 2024 Sharif also said that instead of moving towards peace, India has resiled from its commitments to implement the Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. "These resolutions mandate the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their fundamental right to self-determination. Since 5th August 2019, India has initiated unilateral illegal steps to impose what its leaders honestly call a final solution for Jammu and Kashmir," Shehbaz Sharif claimed. Following the 2019 Pulwama attack, India made it clear that it seeks normal bilateral relations with Pakistan, but emphasized that it is Pakistan's responsibility to foster a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostility. India has consistently voiced its concerns over Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, reiterating that dialogue and terrorism cannot coexist. India will now exercise its right to respond to Pakistan's address at the UNGA. The Israeli military said Friday it struck the central headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, where a series of massive explosions leveled multiple buildings, sending clouds of orange and black smoke billowing in the skies. The strikes in the suburbs south of Lebanons capital came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.N., vowing that Israels campaign against Hezbollah would continue. His comments further dimmed hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire aimed at preventing a spiral into all-out war. Three major Israeli TV channels said Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strikes. But the unsourced reports could not immediately be confirmed by The Associated Press, and the army declined comment. But given the size and timing of the blasts, there were strong indications that a high-value target may have been inside the buildings struck. Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organizationtaking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely. Listen to IDF pic.twitter.com/I4hbN7KkO8 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 27, 2024 To a degree unseen in past conflicts, Israel this past week has aimed to eliminate Hezbollahs senior leadership. In another sign of the strikes importance, Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office said he was huddled with the head of Israels air force and other top commanders at military headquarters, following updates. Fridays bombings were the most powerful yet seen in the Lebanese capital the past year. Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the strikes targeted the main Hezbollah headquarters, located beneath residential buildings. Four buildings in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Dahiyeh were reduced to rubble, Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV reported. The blast rattled windows and shook houses some 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Beirut. Ambulances were seen headed to the scene, sirens wailing. Officials at a nearby hospital said they received at least 10 wounded, three critically including a Syrian child. Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, saying it is determined to put an end to more than 11 months of Hezbollah fire into its territory. The scope of Israels operation remains unclear, but officials have said a ground invasion to push the militant group away from the border is a possibility. Israel has moved thousands of troops toward the border in preparation. At least 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes early Friday, Health Minister Firass Abiad said, bringing the death toll in Lebanon this week to more than 720. He said the dead included dozens of women and children. A predawn strike Friday in the mainly Sunni border town of Chebaa hit a home, killing nine members of the same family, the state news agency said. A resident identified the dead as Hussein Zahra, his wife Ratiba, their five children and two of their grandchildren. At the U.N., Netanyahu vowed to continue degrading Hezbollah until Israel achieves its goals. Netanyahus comments have damped hopes for a U.S.-backed call for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah to allow time for a diplomatic solution. Hezbollah has not responded to the proposal. Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, saying it was a show of support for the Palestinians. Since then, it and the Israeli military have traded fire almost daily, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border. An Israeli security official said he expects a possible war against Hezbollah would not last for as long as the current war in Gaza, because the Israeli militarys goals are much narrower. In Gaza, Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas military and political regime, but the goal in Lebanon is just to push Hezbollah away from the border with Israel -- not a high bar like Gaza in terms of operational objectives, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to military briefing guidelines. The Israeli military said it carried out dozens of strikes over the course of two hours around the south on Friday, including in the cities of Sidon and Nabatiyeh. It said it was targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and infrastructure. It said Hezbollah fired a volley of rockets toward the northern Israeli city of Tiberias. In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, civil defense workers pulled the bodies of two women 35-year-old Hiba Ataya and her mother Sabah Olyan from the rubble of a building brought down by a strike. Thats Sabah, these are her clothes, my love, one man cried out as her body emerged. Israel says its accelerated strikes this week have already inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollahs weapons capabilities and a string of its top commanders have been assassinated in strikes. Officials have suggested its limited fire of missile and rockets the past week show it has been set back. But the group boasted a large arsenal of rockets and missiles and its remaining capacities remain unknown. Hezbollah officials and their supporters remain defiant. Not long before the explosions Friday evening, thousands were massed in another part of Beiruts suburbs for the funeral of three Hezbollah members killed in earlier strikes, including the head of the groups drone unit, Mohammed Surour. Men and women in the giant crowd waved their fists in the air and chanted, We will never accept humiliation as they marched marched behind the three coffins, wrapped in the groups yellow flag. Hussein Fadlallah, head of Hezbollah in Beirut, said in a speech that no matter how many commanders Israel kills, the group has endless numbers of experience fighters who are deployed all over the front lines. Fadlallah vowed that Hezbollah will keep fighting until Israel stops its offensive in Gaza. We will not abandon the support of Palestine, Jerusalem and oppressed Gaza, Fadlallah said. There is no place for neutrality in this battle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected a ceasefire proposal backed by the United States, which called for a 21-day pause in hostilities with Lebanon. The refusal came as Israel continues its military operations against Hezbollah, with no signs of de-escalation in sight. Netanyahu, who was in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, made it clear that Israel's airstrikes against Hezbollah targets would persist until the country achieves its objectives. The Israeli leader stressed that the military's campaign would continue without interruption, despite international pressure to halt the fighting. "We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we reach all our goals," Netanyahu said. His key objective, he added, is ensuring the safety of Israel's northern residents, many of whom have been displaced due to ongoing conflict. Israeli Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Drone Commander Netanyahus remarks came shortly after the Israeli military confirmed the killing of Mohammad Hussein Srour, Hezbollah's drone unit commander, in an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Srours death was later confirmed by Hezbollah, further escalating tensions between the two sides. Growing Civilian Toll in Lebanon As Israeli airstrikes continue, the civilian toll in Lebanon has risen sharply. Lebanons foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, reported that around half a million people have been displaced inside the country due to the bombardment. Lebanons health ministry said on Thursday that 92 people had been killed in the last 24 hours, with 153 others injured. Since the renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began in October last year, more than 1,500 people have been killed, with over 700 casualties recorded since Monday. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dire, with both sides suffering significant losses. International Calls for a Ceasefire U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking from London, emphasized that another large-scale war would have devastating consequences for both Israel and Lebanon. He called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, noting that military actions would only deepen the suffering of displaced civilians on both sides of the border. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed grave concern, warning against Lebanon becoming a new Gaza. He pointed to the high number of civilian casualties as "absolutely shocking" and called for an immediate pause in fighting to avoid further escalation. Risk of Regional Escalation There are growing fears that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional war. Israels plans for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon have heightened these concerns. A broader conflict would have far-reaching implications for the Middle East, with neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar also urging an end to the violence. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had earlier expressed hope for a ceasefire, but Israels continued military action has dashed those prospects for now. Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's former Defence Minister, is all set to assume a new role next week when he will be sworn-in as the Prime Minister of the country. Japans governing party - the Liberal Democratic Party- has picked him as its leader, setting the path for him to become Prime Minister next week. The Liberal Democratic Partys governing coalition controls parliament in Japan. Who Is Shigeru Ishiba? An LDP leader, Shigeru Ishiba is considered a defence policy expert and has already served as the country's Defence Minister. Ishiba, first elected to parliament in 1986, has held several key positions, including defence minister, agriculture minister, and LDP secretary general under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In a surprising comeback, he defeated Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who had aimed to become Japan's first female prime minister. At 67, the former banker was contesting the party leadership for the fifth time, declaring it his "final battle." A Defence Hawk Ishiba is known for his meticulous defence manoeuvres and policy vision. He had proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance in the past for regional peace and stability. On Friday, he said that the idea is to form 'an organic connection' of existing US-led defence networks such as the ANZUS alliance with Australia and New Zealand and its alliances with South Korea and the Philippines. Ishiba has proposed a more balanced Japan-US security alliance, suggesting that establishing Japanese Self-Defense Forces training bases in the United States would help strengthen bilateral ties. A strong supporter of Taiwan's democracy, he also advocates for the creation of a dedicated disaster management agency in Japan, one of the world's most disaster-prone nations. Known for his hardline stance on defence, Ishiba has also stirred controversy among party leaders by advocating for gender equality and supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage. On 26 September families of the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college who were abducted in Guerrero state in 2014 staged protests on the tenth anniversary of their disappearance. 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 On 26 September Bolivias Justice Ministerresigned, three days after former president(2006-2019) issued an ultimatum for Presidentto replace corrupt cabinet ministers. End of preview - This article contains approximately 580 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 26 September Uruguays Presidentdiscussed Venezuela at some length during his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), saying the time has come to act. End of preview - This article contains approximately 390 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Imagine you want to improve your writing skills. Perhaps you would like to take an English test or use English in a business email. Today on Everyday Grammar, we will talk about something that could help you: appositives. We will explain the grammar rules behind appositives and demonstrate how to use them in sentences. Let us begin with a few definitions. Appositive definition An appositive is a word or group of words that renames something else. An appositive is often a noun or noun phrase that helps explain or identify another noun or a pronoun. Take this sentence, for example: My best friend, Ahmed , studies English literature. The subject of the sentence is my best friend. The name Ahmed is an appositive. It adds information to the sentence. What is important is that the sentence is grammatically correct without the appositive. So, our example without the appositive would read: My best friend studies English literature. Another example Now, let us consider a more complex example. Imagine you are reading a crime novel. Perhaps the book has the following lines. Police questioned the next suspect, the victims ex-wife. In this example, the victims ex-wife is the appositive. The words give readers more information about the next suspect. If the sentence did not have an appositive, it would have been written this way: Police questioned the next suspect. Appositives can introduce a sentence Martha Kolln and Robert Funk wrote a famous book on English grammar. In it, they note that if an appositive renames the subject of a sentence, it can introduce the same sentence. Kolln and Funk say the following description, by Michael D. Lemonick and Andrea Dorfman, is a good example of an introductory series of appositives. It is about epithets, or insulting terms, that people used to describe the Vikings of northern Europe. Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, heathens such epithets pretty well summed up the Vikings for those who lived in the British Isles during medieval times. The nouns ravagers, despoilers, pagans and heathens are all epithets, the subject of the sentence. The writers could have left out the list of nouns. Instead, they could have begun the sentence simply with the words epithets such as, or such epithets. Why are appositives important? You might be asking yourself why this discussion is important. The reason is this: using appositives correctly is one of the best ways to improve your writing style. Appositives can help writers change the rhythm or order of a sentence. In other words, appositives help make sentences more interesting. Think back to our first example: My best friend, Ahmed , studies English literature. If you were to write the example as two separate sentences, it might be something like this: My best friend studies English literature. My friends name is Ahmed. These sentences are grammatically correct. But they are repetitive. In other words, they are less interesting to read. What can you do? The next time you are reading, try to find examples of appositives. Ask yourself why the writer might have chosen to use them. When you practice writing in English perhaps for a test or business purposes try to use appositives in certain places. They will help make your writing smooth and clear if you use them correctly! We will leave you with a famous example. In his book A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Winston Churchill wrote the following words about Britains Queen Victoria. High devotion to her royal task, domestic virtues, evident sincerity of nature, a piercing and sometime disconcerting truthfulness all these qualities of the Queens had long impressed themselves upon the mind of her subjects. Can you identify the appositive? Can you identify the subject of the sentence? Write to us in the Comments Section of our website. Im Anne Ball. And Im John Russell. John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story grammar n. the study of words and their uses and relations in sentences ex- prefix meaning former introduce v. to lead to or present sum up phrasal verb to describe or show the most important parts or qualities of (someone or something) in a brief or simple way medieval adj. of or relating to Europes Middle Ages practice v. to work at repeatedly so as to become skilled devotion n. a feeling of strong love or loyalty virtue n. morally good behavior sincerity n. having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way disconcerting adj. unnerving or troubling; concerning A new state law will soon require school districts in California to create new rules restricting student smartphone use. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law recently. The legislation makes California the latest state to try to reduce student phone access. Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, and several other states have also passed laws aimed at restricting student phone use at school. The legislation is aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom. It is also meant to address the mental health effects that social media can have on children. Newsom said in a statement, This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when theyre in school." But some critics of such policies worry the rules will make it harder for students to seek help if there is an emergency. Critics also argue that decisions on phone bans should be made by school districts, and not state governments. The law requires districts to pass rules by July 1, 2026. The rules should limit or ban students from using smartphones on school grounds or while students are under the supervision of school employees. The new law comes after Newsom signed an earlier law in 2019 permitting school districts to restrict student phone access. In June, Newsom announced plans to seek more legislation. His announcement came after the U.S. surgeon general called on the United States Congress to require written warning on social media platforms describing their effects on young people. Newsom sent letters to districts in August, urging them to limit student device use in school. Assembly member Josh Hoover represents the city of Folsom. Hoover introduced the bill with a group of lawmakers. Phones are restricted where Hoover's children attend school. He said many of the students do not always like the policy. He said that is in part a sign of how addictive phones can be. Hoover said, "Any time you're talking about interrupting that addiction, it's certainly going to be hard for students sometimes." Some parents have raised concerns that school cellphone bans could cut parents off from their children if there is an emergency, such as a school shooting. The 2019 law permitting districts to restrict student phone access makes exceptions for emergencies. The new law does not change that. Some supporters of school phone restrictions say it may be safer to have phones off in an active shooter situation. ShaKenya Edison is assistant superintendent with the Santa Barbara Unified School District. The district put in place a ban on student phone use in class during the 2023 to 2024 school year. She said teachers have noted that their students are paying closer attention in class since the start of the ban. Tarik McFall is principal of Sutter Middle School in Folsom. He said that before his schools cellphone ban, students recorded fights, filmed TikTok videos and spent lunchtime looking at their phones. The ban has totally changed the culture of the school, he said. Now, students spend more time talking to one another. To have them put away, to have them power offit has been a great thing, McFall said. I'm Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. _________________________________________ Words in This Story access v. to get or use something distraction n. something that is unimportant that takes attention away from something else that is more important address v. to deal with in some way focus v. to place ones attention on something academics n. (pl.) things related to school and learning that are not connected to the real world platform n. an online service that provides media material and advertisements and seeks a very large number of users addictive adj. causing a strong, harmful need to regularly use something In South Africa, a former passenger train now serves as a traveling medical center to provide health services to people in need. The train is known as Phelophepa. In the Sesotho language, this means good, clean, health. It travels across South Africa to provide medical care to a mix of patients for whom usual heath care is unavailable or rare. The train has been operating since South Africas government ended its racist system of apartheid in the early 1990s. The train carries medical professionals around the country, even to the most rural villages. Officials say the service helps at least 375,000 South Africans each year. The care patients receive is separate from the governments main public health care system. That system serves an estimated 84 percent of the population. But government insurance plans are too costly for many people to pay for. South Africa is also dealing with an unemployment rate of more than 32 percent. The government has taken some steps to help get more of the nations population covered by public health insurance plans. One of those came in May, when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law creating the countrys National Health Insurance Act. The law aims to provide financial assistance to millions of South Africans who do not currently have health insurance. The program gets support from private insurers. However, the National Health Insurance Act has been hotly debated. Critics have said government officials have not yet said how much the program will cost or where that money will come from. Economists have predicted the government will have to raise taxes to finance the law. Critics have urged the government to instead fix the countrys public healthcare system. Thethiwe Mahlangu has used the health train and recently spoke to The Associated Press about her experiences. She said local health clinics in her area in the township of Tembisa, east of Johannesburg cannot effectively serve her needs. There we are not treated well, Mahlangu said. We are made to sit in the sun for long periods. You can sit there from 7 a.m. until around 4 p.m. when the clinic closes. She noted that when people ask about such issues, the medical workers say they simply need bigger hospitals. When the train began in 1994, many Black people in South Africa still lived in rural villages with little availability to health centers. The time was a period of great change in South Africa. Today, the trains assist the growing populations of the capital, Pretoria, as well as Johannesburg, the country's economic center. Shemona Kendiah is the train's manager. She told the AP trains can remain in one place for multiple days to see as many people as possible. Those going to major population centers like Tembisa, for example can end up staying up to two weeks. The major metros are really struggling, Kendiah said. Mahlangus trip resulted in her getting a new pair of glasses. She was among hundreds of people who received health services from the train on its latest stop. Another patient, Jane Mabuza, got a full health examination as well as services for her teeth. She said she hopes the train will be able to reach many more people in other areas. Here on the train you never hear that anything has been finished, Mabuza added. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________ Words in This Story apartheid n. a political system that existed in South Africas past in which the white minority enjoyed government power over Black people who were made to live separately insurance n. an agreement in which you pay a company to cover necessary costs in case there is an accident that causes damage or injuries Recently, many videos about chocolate processed cheese have appeared on social media. For many people, this product has become a real discovery, while others remember its unforgettable taste from their childhood. ADVERTISIMENT Nowadays, chocolate processed cheese is gaining popularity in Ukraine. It is a product with the addition of cocoa powder and sugar. Therefore, it is very important to check the composition on the package to avoid buying a fake. Olena Sydorenko, a professor and product quality expert, told us how to choose quality chocolate processed cheese, journalist Kostiantyn Hrubych wrote on his Facebook page. According to the expert, due to the fact that chocolate processed cheese contains cocoa powder and sugar, it has a much lower composition of dairy products, which is very beneficial for its producers. When buying this product, she advises paying attention to the percentage of fat. The higher this figure is, the tastier the cheese is. ADVERTISIMENT It is also important to understand that chocolate processed cheese contains a very high amount of calories, so it should be consumed in limited quantities. The expert noted that she has not yet come across processed cheese in which milk fats have been replaced with vegetable fats. However, she still advises paying attention to what is written on the package. If anything is clear about Megalopolis, its that Francis Ford Coppola has a lot on his mind. The legendary filmmaker spent decades on this Roman-style epic, set in the present day, about a civilization on the brink of collapse. A wealthy and powerful few of the old guard are running the gilded city of New Rome into the ground, a new generation is embroiled in a stalemate of a culture war between hedonists and puritans and a visionary architect caught in the middle is dreaming up a different future. But none of that captures the wild experience of actually watching Megalopolis, a sprawling, operatic, clumsy and fascinating film that should inspire discussions for many years to come. Megalopolis is not a disaster, but its far from a success. Its a bacchanalia thats bursting with so many ideas, so many characters, so many great lines and truly terrible ones as well that its nearly impossible to digest in a single, baffling viewing. If there is a center to this story its Adam Drivers Cesar Catilina, an artist who can stop time and who believes that a substance called Megalon, a shimmering people mover that can be used to make a translucent (but not naked) dress or reconstruct a face mangled by a gunshot, is the way to a utopia. Driver is a great actor who is utterly misused here as a grief-stricken, alcoholic, Hamlet-quoting megalomaniac aristocrat who spends his days in an art deco ivory tower (the Chrysler Building) fretting about time and what the corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito) is doing to the city. Were supposed to believe that Cesar is a widely desired catch who would attract the mayors beautiful daughter Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel) to his side. But Kylo Ren had more charisma than Cesar. Its hard to stress just how much there is stuffed into two hours and 18 minutes. Shia LaBeouf is Clodio Pulcher, the rich kid son of Crassus, who has Mae West eyebrows and long feral hair. He is in love with Julia, jealous of Cesar and may be having an incestuous relationship with his party girl socialite sister Clodia (Chloe Fineman). He attempts his own political bid, preying on the citys desperate peasant class. Laurence Fishburne is Cesars driver (and the narrator of the film). Dustin Hoffman is a fixer. Jason Schwartzman is around (and delightful, as always). Theres a pop star named Vesta Sweetwater (Grace VanderWaal) who has taken a virginity pledge. Even Romy Mars plays a teen reporter! Megalopolis shines brightest with its crafts, including Milena Canoneros decadent Roman-inspired frocks, Osvaldo Golijovs sweeping, romantic score and Mihai Malaimare Jr.s golden cinematography that makes the feast of the production design glow lovingly. But this is a film that I can only in good conscience recommend fully to cinephiles, who were most certainly going to see it regardless. Its Coppolas first in 13 years, after all. Coppola is an artist whose films sometimes take time to find their place in audiences hearts and minds. No one understands that as pointedly as he does. Whether or not theres a drastic reappraisal somewhere down the line, Megalopolis will forever be a fascination. LINDSEY BAHR, MDT/AP Film Writer Megalopolis, a Lionsgate release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for sexual content, nudity, drug use, language and some violence. Running time: 138 minutes. A Hong Kong court sentenced a former editor of a shuttered news publication to 21 months in prison yesterday 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. 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 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 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 yesterdays 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. 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 defenses 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 movement of that time, he said. 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. Kwok said Lam and Chung were aware of and agreed with the seditious intent, and made Stand News available as a platform to incite hatred against the Beijing and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary. 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. MDT/AP * Head aches Macau is facing a mental health crisis, with NGOs struggling to meet the growing demand for care * Golden Week |Major resorts sold out; room rates surge amid remaining availability * Taste of Edesia * Total merchandise exports grew 17.2% to MOP1.16B in August, driven by strong growth in demand for non-diamond jewelry and perfumes * Finance: Micro Connect launches market structure for SMEs * China redoubles efforts to provide first-aid for its economy with support for banks, workers DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, September 27, 2024 edition no. 4575 The government announced a temporary ban on all unmanned aircraft activities in the vicinity for the upcoming platform announcement of Chief Executive candidate Sam Hou Fai and the elections. Citing powers granted under the Air Navigation Regulation, the Civil Aviation Authority will prohibit drone use within 500 meters of The Complex of Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries on September 28 and October 13. Exceptions will only be made for government operations. Violators could face fines ranging from MOP2,000 to MOP20,000, according to the notice published in yesterdays Official Gazette. Related As the first residents prepare to move into Macaus new residences for the elderly, officials outlined their vision for how the state-of-the-art facilities will help ensure locals can age with security, belonging and worthiness. Addressing the crowd, Elsie Ao Ieong, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, emphasized the importance of this initiative in supporting Macaus aging population. As Macau enters an aging society, the SAR government has been actively implementing various measures under the Ten-Year Action Plan for Elderly Services and has been mobilizing the whole community to help seniors integrate into the community and support them in aging with dignity, she stated. Designed with senior citizens needs in mind, the new government residence incorporates smart home technology and barrier-free facilities to ensure the safety and comfort of residents. Additionally, the buildings are equipped with a clubhouse, health center, emergency support, and social care services to promote community engagement and an enriched quality of life. Ao Ieong expressed gratitude to the community for their support, stating, The timely commissioning of the governments elderly residence is the result of the joint efforts of the SAR government and various sectors of the community. Looking ahead, the government remains committed to the ongoing development of diverse aged care services, with the goal of creating an inclusive society where seniors can have a sense of security, a sense of belonging and a sense of worthiness, according to Ao. Operations to start Oct. 15 As Macau prepares to welcome its first residents into the facility, the General Union of Macau Residents Associations will play a role in ensuring a smooth transition. Leong Weng Lan, a representative from the association, expressed excitement about the upcoming move and shared their plans to support the residents. Weve been involved in promoting policies and managing services for aged care homes, Leong said. Starting October 15, seniors will have a chance to learn more about the care home from the relevant authorities. Weve been supporting seniors in Macau, particularly those living in care homes, including both singles and couples. The association has also arranged for staff to help introduce the facilities and environment, ensuring a seamless adaptation process. Leong also mentioned the associations plan to launch a mobile app that focuses on health management, encouraging seniors to download it and develop healthy habits. The response to the new residences has been overwhelming, with over 4,000 applications received. This time, more than 100 applications have been received, and the first group will include over 700 individuals and couples, said Leong. However, the association is also mindful of those who may not be able to afford the new residences, and are advocating for additional support from the government. High demand for residences Providing an in-depth look at the progress and plans for the new residences, Hon Wai, the president of the Social Welfare Bureau, shared key details. In the first phase, 920 units, or approximately 70% of the total, have been selected so far, with the last batch to be chosen on November 2. Hon also addressed the high demand for these residences, confirming that a significant proportion of applicants currently live in regular residential apartments. Most of our applicants live in residential apartments, which is a significant proportion, he said. One of the key features of the new residences is the on-site health center, which Hon described as focused on prevention and health consultations. Residents can access services through the health centers database. If 2,000 to 3,000 senior residents live here, the health center will track who needs hospitalization. They will also offer remote medical services and door-to-door assistance for older residents who need to visit hospitals for follow-up care. As the government strives to create affordable and accessible senior housing, Hon emphasized the importance of maintaining a sufficient number of residents to cover ongoing costs. We need a sufficient number of residents to afford it. Right now, our expenses include operating costs and property management fees. We believe we can manage these costs based on household income. Victoria Chan Total merchandise exports grew 17.2% year-on-year to MOP1.16 billion in August 2024. Re-exports, which account for the majority of exports, rose 22.1% to MOP1.03 billion, driven by strong growth in demand for non-diamond jewelry and perfumes. However, domestic exports fell 12.0% to MOP124 million, with decreases in pharmaceutical products and bread products, according to data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). On the import side, total merchandise imports dropped 7.4% year-on-year to MOP10.41 billion in August. Imports of gold jewelry and beauty products fell, while imports of casino articles and motor vehicles increased. Year-to-date, external merchandise trade totaled MOP93.68 billion from January to August 2024, down 8.1% compared to the same period in 2023. Total exports grew 7.1% to MOP8.94 billion, though domestic exports slipped 3.2%. Imports declined 9.5% to MOP84.74 billion. By destination, exports to Hong Kong, Belt and Road countries, and the EU increased, while shipments to mainland China and the US contracted. Imports from the EU, mainland China, and Belt and Road countries decreased, but imports from Japan increased. LV As MTel Telecom works to achieve full residential coverage, the companys director Xu Zhancong acknowledged some challenges in older buildings. Due to issues like a lack of management committee or consensus, the network has had to enter houses in parts of the old city, which Xu described as a disaster. He hopes the government will look to neighboring regions for regulatory solutions that will allow telecom providers to install additional equipment in buildings. Separately, MTel has also signed cooperation agreements with two mainland digital companies. The firms plan to collaborate on innovation in telecommunications, cloud computing, big data, and AI. Related When Does Digital Technology Adoption Enhance Firms Sustainable Innovation Performance? A Configurational Analysis in China Cong Cheng, Mengxin Zhang, Jian Dai, Ze-Yu Yang IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management (January 2024) This paper investigates how digital technology adoption (DTA) impacts sustainable innovation performance (SIP) in Chinese high-tech firms, with some focus on firms in the Greater Bay Area. The research categorizes DTA into enhancing, adapting, and substituting actions, looking at how these can be combined to optimize SIP. Data from 94 high-tech manufacturing firmsincluding those in the GBAis analyzed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to reveal patterns that lead to high SIP. Enhancing DTA consistently plays a critical role in these configurations. This study expands on previous research by taking a holistic view of DTA, offering insights on how firms in innovation hubs like the GBA can enhance their sustainability efforts through strategic technology adoption. The findings are particularly relevant to firms in the GBA, a region known for its technological innovation and development. The Time Secret of Chinese A-Share Systematic Risk: Overnight and Intraday Weiqi Liu, Zuojun Wen Emerging Markets Finance and Trade (January 2024) This study delves into the systematic risk in Chinas A-share market, with a focus on overnight and intraday returns. The findings have significant implications for investors operating in key financial hubs within China, including the GBA. By analyzing data from 2006 to 2021, the authors use Fama-Macbeth and panel regressions to explore how market beta interacts with returns. The research shows that overnight risk premiums are negative, while intraday premiums are negligible, affecting the correlation between full-day returns and market risk. The insights provided are crucial for investors in fast-developing regions, where financial markets are rapidly evolving. This paper helps explain the unique risk dynamics in Chinas markets, making it valuable for financial professionals. The Effects of The Multi-Target Policy on Green Productivity: Evidence from Chinas Fossil Fuel Power Plants Yu Zhao, Yunning Ma, Yongrok Choi, Ning Zhang The Energy Journal (January 2024) This paper evaluates the impact of Chinas multi-target policy, focused on energy-saving and SO2 reduction, on the green productivity of fossil fuel power plants. The research includes data from power plants across China, including those in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which is a significant region for both economic and environmental progress. The study uses a non-radial meta-frontier Luenberger productivity index to break down productivity by technological and factor-based perspectives. Results indicate that a 1% increase in energy-saving targets boosts green productivity by 0.50%, while SO2 reduction targets slightly decrease it. The GBAs industrial plants, known for their contribution to Chinas economic growth, are particularly impacted by these policies. The findings offer insights on how policies can drive environmental sustainability in industrial areas like the GBA, which is at the forefront of Chinas push towards greener energy practices. South Korea announced plans yesterday to compensate famers and others in the countrys 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 this 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. Its 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 that around one in three South Koreans opposes the ban, though most people now dont eat dog meat. Vice Agriculture Minster 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. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP Brandon Tseng, Co-founder and President of Shield AI, presented a compelling case for reforming the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition process in his statement to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. Tseng, a former Navy SEAL and engineer, emphasized shifting from a requirements-based to a problem-based acquisition system to foster innovation and maintain Americas military edge. Tseng highlighted Shield AIs achievements in developing AI-piloted aircraft and drones, including the MQ-35 V-BAT and autonomous F-16 flights. He argued that current DoD acquisition processes often result in incremental improvements (faster horses) rather than transformative solutions. The existing requirements-based system, Tseng contended, is slow, inflexible, and discourages innovation from defense contractors. To address these issues, Tseng proposed establishing a new problem-based acquisition system separate from current processes. This system would focus on solving identified problems without specifying requirements, provide flexible budgeting based on value, and target 25% adoption of major acquisition efforts within three years. Tseng also recommended implementing pre-deployment training under electronic warfare conditions to assess the survivability of U.S. military systems. Tsengs testimony underscores the critical role of software and AI in future military capabilities, emphasizing the need for increased investment and a shift in DoD culture to recognize these technologies strategic importance. (Read the complete statement) Forterra Secures $75 Million in Funding for Autonomous Driving Systems The US-based Forterra company (formerly RRAI) has successfully raised $75 million to advance its autonomous AutoDrive vehicle technology, which facilitates autonomous driving systems for military and commercial vehicles. The AutoDrive systems have become central elements in autonomy systems explored or used by the US Army and US Marine Corps, including autonomous convoys (ACE/GEARS), autonomy retrofits, robotic combat vehicles (RCV), small, multipurpose equipment transports (SMET), and remotely operated ground units for Expeditionary forces (ROGUE). Northrop Grumman and Lithuania Partner to Boost Defense Industrial Capabilities Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Lithuanian government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on enhancing Lithuanias defense industrial capabilities. The agreement, signed on September 23, 2024, focuses on supporting Lithuanian industry in producing medium-caliber ammunition for Infantry Fighting Vehicles. This collaboration is expected to contribute to replenishing stockpiles and improving munitions supply chains for allied nations. The project is anticipated to involve the state-owned Giraite Armaments Plant, aligning with Lithuanias broader strategic objective of enhancing its defense industry. Honeywell Finalizes $1.9 Billion Acquisition of CAES Honeywell has acquired CAES Systems Holdings LLC from Advent International for $1.9 billion in cash. This strategic move significantly enhances Honeywells defense and space portfolio, particularly in high-reliability radio frequency technologies. Rolls-Royce Sells Naval Propulsors and Handling Business to FMD Rolls-Royce has agreed to sell its Naval Propulsors and Handling Systems business to Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a leading provider of marine power solutions for naval forces. This divestment is part of Rolls-Royces ongoing efforts to streamline its portfolio and focus on core areas of expertise. Rolls-Royce will retain its Naval Gas Turbines and Generator Sets operations, which provide power-dense solutions for naval propulsion and onboard power needs. Return to: Defense-Update Weekly News Summary 26.9.2024 PRAIRIE DU CHIEN The land where I live is not a level playing field. The Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin and adjacent states presents a topographical challenge to all of us who live here. Walk awhile in any direction and you will most likely encounter a hill, valley or river the land offers no easy passage. Yet we thrive, as do the plants and wildlife that make a home in the folds of this undulating landscape. On this day in La Riviere Park, I am walking down into a ravine, a narrow valley formed over centuries by erosion from water. Ravines and valleys form a natural enclosure that provides shelter from the vagaries of the outside world. A landmass the size of a Mississippi River bluff shuts out the menacing threats emanating from the flatlands, whether they are westerly winds or social discord. It is into this refuge I now descend, gravity serving as my guide. Rounding a sharp bend, I find showy goldenrod and bluish New England aster lining the walking trail. Late in the day, the western ridge blocks the sun, providing a backlit sanctuary. The beauty of the valley surrounds and penetrates me. About halfway down the hill, I come upon an interpretive sign announcing that Ive reached Limestone Gulch. The narrative explains that limestone-loving plants have clinging root systems that enable them to grow in the limestone wall of the gulch. Later, I ask Dennis Kirschbaum, a former Wisconsin conservation warden and now a volunteer naturalist for the park, to accompany me to the gulch. Kirschbaum, a walking encyclopedia of wildlife, points down at white heath aster and gestures up at the sound of a wood thrush as we hike. At the gulch, he shows me a wood fern clinging to the rock face, its roots embedded in delicate moss. Nearby, an interrupted fern spreads its intricate fronds above the outcropping while a mayapple makes a home in the sandy soil. Limestone outcroppings, formed from the sedimentation of ancient marine life, are a typical feature of the Driftless Area. While plants like to bury their roots in the crevices, we like to gaze at their creative shapes. Sometimes, with proper imagination, we find the forms of human faces or shadowy creatures. We are a limestone-loving people in these parts. Elsewhere in the park, I find an Oriental bittersweet vine wrapped around a white oak tree in a firm embrace. The vine winds up along the trunk as might a spiral staircase ascending to the top of the tree for a better view. Tree and vine form a symbiotic relationship, though this invasive vine gets the better deal in the bargain. We are witnesses to symbiotic relationships that inspire and sustain us. We search for our own niche in life, a crevice to plant our roots. We flourish when we return to our roots, which are defined not by location but by avocation our purpose in life. My own purpose is inextricably linked to hiking, an exercise in exploration. If you keep walking, you inevitably find something new and, by inference, learn something new. For me, it might be a limestone gulch, a climbing vine, or an overlook on a river winding its way south. All these observations reveal the natural flow of life apart from human interference, but they are very much a part of my own journey. We are intertwined with our environment as closely as the limestone-loving plants clinging to the rocks. A few years ago, my wife and I visited Death Valley, a name that implies the absence of life. Yet at the bottom of the valley, we found Salt Creek, a shallow stream brimming with tiny pupfish. They darted about like pinballs. The idea that life can flourish in one of the hottest, most barren and inhospitable places on earth gives hope to us all. According to an article in the Washington Post, nature gives us more than hope: Countless studies have shown that people who spend less time in nature die younger and suffer higher rates of mental and physical ailments. Theres a really, really strong case for proximity to nature influencing health in a really big way, said Jared Hanley, the co-founder and CEO of NatureQuant. Our proximity to nature begins with feet on earth, carrying us to whatever awaits us around the next bend. February 20, 1947August 22, 2024 John Johnny Reinhart Bertus graduated to Heaven on August 22, 2024. He was born on February 20, 1947 in Tacoma, WA to Gerhard John Bertus and Helen Joan Funk Bertus, their second son. His birth was a difficult one, and left him with cerebral palsy. There were those who thought Johnny would never be able to do much with his life, but he proved them all wrong. Thanks to his parents and some compassionate professionals, Johnny finally could walk with the help of braces at age 6. His mom helped him memorize the Cub Scout oath, and many Bible Scriptures. He went to school for special needs kids and worked hard to learn to write and read. Later as an adult, he went through training at Magic Valley Rehabilitation Center to work at janitorial services, and served his community of Wendell, Idaho in that capacity. Johnny was an honorary member of the Wendell Fire Department, served as president of the local Kiwanis, and was instrumental in raising money for the construction of the local swimming pool and other charitable endeavors. He was an active member of Living Waters Presbyterian Church in Wendell, and an active participant in Walk to Emmaus events. With a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh, he was endeared by all. But most of all, Johnny depended on his relationship with Jesus. His aim was to have everyone know Him, too. He is survived by his brother David (Jenna) Bertus; sisters Christine (Douglas) Schrenk and Ann (Robert) Fraser; nephews Perry (Michele) Bertus, Christopher Bertus and nieces Megan (Chris) Biggs and Elizabeth (Matthew) Olson; a grandnephew and 3 grandnieces and numerous cousins. A celebration of his life will be held on September 28, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Living Waters Presbyterian Church in Wendell, Idaho. Family and friends are invited to sign Johnnys online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday successfully completed its new rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission for the personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. AFP Spokesperson Colonel Margareth Padilla, however, confirmed the presence of Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during their mission. - Advertisement - The presence posed no threat to our mission, and our personnel were able to complete the mission and sustain our presence in the shoal, Padilla told reporters, noting that up to eight different Chinese vessels were monitored in the vicinity. AFP was able to deliver supplies and rotate our personnel without interference, she added. The AFP said it remains vigilant and prepared to respond to any challenges in protecting its personnel and operations. The mission happened with around 251 reported Chinese vessels swarming in the West Philippine Sea. Last June 17, Beijing and Manila clashed over the said area while the latter was conducting the same mission. The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) on Friday signed the required deed of transfer to construct the planned Martial Law museum. In a program dubbed Freedom Rising held at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, both parties officials signed the document to relocate the Campus Maintenance Office (CMO) to an adjacent lot. This move will make way for the construction of the HRVVMCs Freedom Memorial Museum on the vacated site. - Advertisement - The museum is intended to house artifacts, feature exhibits related to the Martial Law era under the late President Ferdinand Marcos, and serve as a vital educational resource about our nations history. HRVVMC Executive Director Carmelo Crisanto, CHR Human Rights Policy Centers Office Director Mary Joyce Crisanto, UP President Angelo Jimenez, and UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II signed the deed. According to the UP Administration, the ceremony signals the start of clearing old CMO structures, paving the way for constructing the Freedom Memorial Museum in the 1.4 hectares of campus land along Carlos P. Garcia Avenue. The handover ceremony was witnessed by human rights victims and survivors of Martial Law, human rights defenders, party-list representatives, and UP officials, faculty, staff, and alumni. London, United KingdomFormer supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from running a charity after an inquiry found funds raised by an organization she founded were spent on spa treatment and room service charges. The inquiry into Fashion for Relief, released on Thursday, identified multiple instances of misconduct, including use of charity money to pay for a five-star hotel stay for Campbell in the south of France. - Advertisement - The finding by the UK Charity Commission means Campbell, 54, has now been disqualified from running a charity for five years. Two other trustees also received bans. The watchdog probe found that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5 percent of Fashion for Reliefs overall expenditure went on grants to charities. Campbell, who in 1987 became the first black model to feature on the cover of UK Vogue in 20 years, achieved worldwide fame in the 1990s and remains a highly influential figure in the industry. In June, an exhibition dedicated to her opened at Londons Victoria and Albert Museum. Speaking in Paris on Thursday after receiving an honour from the French government, the British celebrity denied any responsibility for the mishandling of donations. I was not in control of my charity. I put the control in the hands of a lawyer, she told reporters after she was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. The model added that she was investigating to find out what and howas everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities. Star-studded events Campbells charity held a string of glitzy, star-studded events to raise funds for good causes in London and Cannes. These were said to include projects ranging from supporting child refugees, to helping victims of the Ebola crisis and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. One event in the French Riviera resort in 2017 was attended by over 1,000 guests including stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda and Uma Thurman. A three-night hotel stay for a similar event in 2018 cost 7,800 ($10,400). The Charity Commission said it saw no evidence the trustees had made sure that such costs were reasonable. The regulator also looked at additional expenses totalling 6,600 for Campbells hotel stay, including spa treatments, room service and the purchase of cigarettes. It said the trustees had argued hotel costs were usually met by a donor but failed to provide any supporting evidence. The commission concluded that there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity by the trustees since it was established, the report said. Fashion for Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. Set up in 2005, it described itself as dedicated to improving the lives of those living in adversity by uniting the fashion industry as a force for good. Manila, PhilippinesIsrael has become the newest non-regional member of the Asian Development Bank, the Philippines-based lender announced Friday, with an analyst cautioning that the move might cause polarization in the institution. The banks board of governors had approved Israels entry in April 2022 pending its completion of the membership requirements, the ADB said in a statement. - Advertisement - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be the countrys representative, a source from ADB told Agence France Presse (AFP). The bank now has 69 members, with Japan and the United States the major contributors to its capital, at more than $22.23 billion apiece. They (Israel) are allied with US, and basically Europe right, but they would want to also have more friends across the globe, not only those that have been traditionally allied with them, said economist Victor Abola, of the Manila-based University of Asia and the Pacific. The greater involvement here means closer strategic ties and trade, Abola told AFP. Security analyst Chester Cabalza, however, said Israel joining the ADB in the midst of its war in the Gaza Strip could lead to other members fleeing the organization in favour of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Or we (may) see polarisation in the ADB as long as Israel will not resolve its security issues in Gaza, Cabalza told AFP. The ADB includes several Muslim-majority Asian member nations that have been critical of Israels handling of the war. Established in 1966, the ADB is owned by its 69 members, 49 of which are in Asia. Israel, which first applied for membership in January 2022, is the 20th non-regional member. TIRANA, ALBANIA Amid the scorching heat at the Albanian port of Durres, 102 containers set sail for Thailand in early July, sparking a high-seas drama that highlighted the perils of the global waste trade. According to official papers reviewed by AFP, the containers were filled with waste material that was set to be processed and destroyed far from Europes shores. - Advertisement - But weeks later, the containers are still adrift in the Mediterranean, following a months-long back-and-forth over what exactly was being shipped and whether it was legal. Enormous amounts of waste are regularly sent to developing countries part of a global industry that sees Western nations outsourcing its treatment to Asia and Africa. The practise has long been denounced by environmental organisations. Despite the criticism, the waste management trade continues to be a multibillion-dollar enterprise. The handling of illicit material alone generates between nine billion and 11 billion euros each year, according to the Financial Action Task Force, a leading watchdog tracking illegal trade. The World Bank estimates that approximately two billion tonnes of waste are produced annually across the globe expected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050. Within those mountains of waste, regulators have deemed a certain portion hazardous. These include substances that can be harmful to human health or the environment due to their chemical reactivity or toxicity levels. To better regulate the industry, the Basel Convention signed in 1989 by 53 countries prohibits members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from sending waste to non-member states. But Albania, which is not a member of the Paris-based economic forum, is free to ship waste abroad. The material stowed away in the 102 containers originated from the Turkish-owned Kurum International steel plant in central Albanias Elbasan, according to Albanian media reports. The waste was first purchased by the Albanian company Sokolaj, which then sold the material to its subsidiary in Croatia, GS Minerals, with the cargo set to be offloaded in Thailand for processing. According to documents seen by AFP, Sokolaj labelled the waste as iron oxide a substance that is not prohibited for shipment or considered hazardous. Manolo Fortich, BukidnonVienovo Philippines, a leading player in the countrys feed industry, celebrated the grand opening of its new feed mill plant in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to significantly contribute not only to the regions agricultural development and economic growth, but in total Philippines. The inauguration ceremony was graced by government officials, industry leaders, and local stakeholders. In his speech, Vienovo Philippines President and CEO Mathieu Guillaume, emphasized the companys commitment in providing high-quality feed products that support the livestock industry and ensure food security. - Advertisement - FOURTH PLANT IN PH. Vienovo Philippines new facility in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon will allow the company to enhance, their production capacity, streamline supply chain, and ensure consistent supply of high-quality feeds across the Philippines, particularly to their customers in the Mindanao area. Today, I am filled with appreciation and gratitude, that I stand here today as we inaugurate our feed mill plant, here in Bukidnon. This moment, marks a significant milestone, on the journey of Vienovo Philippines, and I am honored to share it with all of you. Vienovo Philippines was founded with a vision; and that is to be the preferred choice in animal nutrition, delivering holistic and reliable products that ensures growth on your farm businesses. And as we open our fourth plant, here, in the beautiful province of Bukidnon, we are one step closer to realizing that vision. This plant is not just a testament of our goals, but also to our unwavering commitment to the Filipino farmers, the agriculture industry and the food security of this beautiful country, the Philippines, said Guillaume. Vienovo Philippines mission has always been clear. And this is to accelerate, livestock production by providing consistent high-quality feeds and excellent service. The company leverages on advance European nutritional know-how, to assure that their product meets the highest standard of quality and sustainability. Guillame also added that the company is not just prioritizing their numbers. BEYOND BUSINESS GOALS. More than their business targets, Vienovo Philippines has committed their economic goals to the local community of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Vienovo Philippines officers and board of directors, (from left): Mathieu Guillaume, Joel Jimenez, Nico Bolzico and Jacques Christophe Branellec, during the opening ceremony of the companys Bukidnon feed mill plant. Beyond our business goals, this plant represents our commitment to the local community. We are proud to contribute to the economic goals of Bukidnon, by generating employment opportunities, and supporting local suppliers by sourcing raw materials and services locally, we aim to boost the local economy, said Guillaume. As we look to the future, we remain committed to our vision of becoming an international player in the feed industry. We will continue to innovate, and to evolve and strive for excellence in everything we do. Our priority will always be to serve the Filipino, encouraging new generation to embrace new methods of farming, and in turn, improving the way we feed our nation shared Guillaume. Today, we celebrate not just the inauguration of a new plant but the beginning of a new chapter in our journey. Together we will continue to build brighter future for the Philippines. said Guillaume. As part of its commitment to sustainable practices, Vienovo Philippines has incorporated environmentally friendly measures into the design and operations of the new feed mill. This includes implementing waste management systems and adopting energy-efficient technologies. The African continent remains at the forefront of the terrorist threat, with nearly 60% of the worlds victims reported in sub-Saharan Africa. This alarming fact was highlighted on Wednesday in New York by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, who proposed creating a Global African Support Network for Victims of Terrorism to coordinate efforts between African nations, international organizations, and NGOs. Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, held on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Bourita pointed out that Africa is too often overlooked in international responses, despite the extent of the tragedy suffered by African victims of terrorism. The Moroccan FM stressed that victims are not simply collateral damage but a central lever in the strategies of terrorist groups, which exploit their suffering to spread terror and manipulate socio-political narratives. In response to this critical situation, Bourita called for urgent collective mobilization to alleviate the impact of terrorism on African victims, who are often forgotten on the international stage. Morocco, he recalled, plays a key role in protecting the rights of victims, both internationally and at the African regional level. Bourita also called for greater international cooperation to provide inclusive and effective support for African victims of terrorism and reiterated Rabats commitment to working with its international partners to this end. To strengthen this dynamic, the minister proposed creating a Global African Support Network for Victims of Terrorism to coordinate efforts between African nations, international organizations, and NGOs. This network, he explained, would facilitate the exchange of best practices and resources to ensure comprehensive assistance for victims. He also called for dedicated African legal frameworks to protect victims rights and for global awareness-raising campaigns on their challenges and resilience. Morocco will continue to actively support multilateral efforts on behalf of victims and to play a leading role within the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, Bourita concluded. Cocoa-producing countries are requesting a two-year extension to comply with the EUs upcoming deforestation regulation, which is set to take effect in three months. The regulation, designed to prevent cocoa imports from deforested areas post-January 2021, requires detailed measures like geolocation of plots and a comprehensive traceability system. In a joint declaration signed in Abidjan, the countries argue that the implementation deadlines are unrealistic, noting that the necessary systems are not yet operational, and the European Commission has not provided all required documents or activated the data processing platform. A rushed implementation, they warn, could harm small producers by blocking their access to the European market. To avoid further market disruption, they call for a minimum two-year delay and request technical and financial support from the EU and manufacturers to comply with the regulation without cutting planters incomes. This request follows similar appeals from downstream players, including the European Chocolate Association. The EUs regulation, adopted in 2022, mandates that cocoa placed on the market must be sourced from land not deforested since December 31, 2020. Cocoa operators and traders must implement a deforestation due diligence approach and comply with both national and international production laws. This applies to all cocoa products on the EU market, regardless of operator size or EU membership. Mozambiques timber exports have plunged nearly 75% over the past four years, falling to 2.099 million tons in 2023, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). The INEs 2023 Basic Environmental Indicators report highlights a consistent decrease in timber quotas, with a sharper 12.7% drop in 2023, reducing the permissible harvest to 49,525 cubic meters. Of this, 5,369 cubic meters are classified as precious species, such as chacate-preto and pau-preto. The decline in quotas corresponds with shrinking export volumes, which peaked at 7.923 million tons in 2019 and fell to 3.132 million tons in 2020, 2.276 million tons in 2021, and 2.649 million tons in 2022. Timber processed into logs also hit its lowest level since 2020, reaching 50,027 cubic metres in 2023. The report, based on administrative data from environmental sectors, also notes Mozambiques annual loss of 267,000 hectares of forest. National forestry director Claudio Afonso expressed concerns over this deforestation rate during a July meeting on the implementation of the Maputo Declaration for Sustainable Management of the Miombo Forest. To address these issues, the Global Fund pledged US$12 million (10.8 million) in July 2023 for the revitalization of forest reserves, restoration efforts, institutional support, and the development of a forest monitoring system. An additional US$5 million (4.5 million) will come from the Italian Cooperation Agency. Kenyan President William Ruto assured the UN on Thursday September 26 that his country would complete the deployment of the multinational police mission to Haiti, which is plagued by gang violence, by January 2025. In October 2023, the UN Security Council approved the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MMAS), led by Kenya, to assist Haitian police overwhelmed by criminal gangs. Kenya has already deployed nearly 400 officers, alongside about 20 from Jamaica and Belize. President Ruto highlighted that while Kenya and other African and Caribbean nations are committed to the mission, they are hindered by shortages in equipment, logistics, and funding. He urged all UN member states to show solidarity with the Haitian people by providing the necessary support. Kenya will deploy additional contingents to reach 2,500 officers by January next year, he told the UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently criticized the lack of financial contributions to the mission, calling it unacceptable. On Wednesday, he noted that the UNs special fund for the mission had raised $85.3 million, but this amount remains totally insufficient. Despite some progress, such as the reopening of Haitis airport, the security situation remains dire. 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 Unintentional injuries like falls, drownings and poisonings are the leading cause of death in patients ages 14, and a significant portion of these deaths are linked to unintentional ingestionsuch as swallowing a drug or poison. New research shows racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the emergency management of unintentional ingestions in children. Black patients younger than age 6 with the diagnosis of unintentional ingestion were more likely than white children to have a social work consult, Children Services Bureau referral, and urine drug screen, according to a research abstract, "Disparities in the Emergency Evaluation and Management of Unintentional Ingestions in Preschool Children," presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27Oct. 1. The research also found that children from poorer backgrounds (lower childhood opportunity index), those with higher severity of illness and pharmaceutical ingestions resulted in either a social work consultation, a Children Services Bureau referral, or both. "This study is important in understanding where underlying bias exists in emergency departments and hospital management and where changes can be made to address this problem, thus providing equitable care for all children," said principal investigator Jennifer Allen, DO, FAAP. "These findings could be useful to health care workers in emergency departments to help develop a framework for standardized clinical decision making." Researchers examined the records of 4,411 patients, younger than age 6, who had unintentional ingestions between January 2013 and March 2024 identified by the International Classification of Disease in the electronic health record. They found: Most ingestions were non-pharmaceutical (56%) Patients with pharmaceutical ingestions had higher odds of a social work consult and a Children Services Bureau referral Independent of ingestion type, non-white children were more likely to have a social worker consult or Children Services Bureau referral White children were less likely to be exposed to cannabis Private insurance was associated with reduced odds of social worker or Children Services Bureau referral. "This isn't the only research to find racial disparities in the emergency department," Dr. Allen said. "Disparity has been identified among different races regarding pain management for fractures and appendicitis in the emergency department." More information: Abstract Title: Disparities in the emergency evaluation and management of unintentional ingestions in preschool children Study author Dr. Jennifer Allen is scheduled to present this research from 2:302:40 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, during the Section on Emergency Medicine program during the AAP's National Conference and Exhibition. 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 About 7% of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse at a California hospital reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The retrospective study, "Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assault in Children," found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage12% reported that social media facilitated sexual assault. The authors will present their preliminary findings during the conference at the Orlando Convention Center Sept. 27Oct. 1. "Adolescents are increasingly living their lives in digital spaces," said Miguel Cano, MD, a child abuse pediatrician and author of the research. "Although there are benefits to the use of social media such as connecting with people and keeping in touch with family and friends across the globe, there are many well documented dangers as well." The researchers evaluated children 10 to 18 years of age who disclosed sexual abuse at Rady Children's Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families between 2018 and 2023. They defined "social media facilitated sexual assault" as occurring when social media is used for communication between a victim and perpetrator that leads to sexual assault. Dangers include meeting strangers online or being subjected to various forms of maltreatment including emotional abuse, cyber bullying, harassment, threats, exposure to sexual content, and being victims of online sexual abuse, according to the author. Another emerging risk is "meeting" strangers virtually and then planning to meet face to face, which can often result in dangerous situations, and can at times unfortunately result in sexual abuse, according to the abstract. Instagram and Snapchat were the two most commonly reported social media platforms used, however, multiple platforms were reported. The average age of patients was 13 years old, and 89% were female. The patient was related to the perpetrator 60% of the time. About 80% of perpetrators were adult men. "With few oversights and regulations, parents, pediatricians, and anyone who cares for children need to understand this danger and need better tools and resources to help keep children safe from predators on social media," Dr. Cano said. More information: Abstract Title: Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assaults in Children Study author Dr. Cano, is scheduled to present his research from 1:502pm on 10/27/24. 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 Exposure to vape and e-cigarette residue on surfaces while pregnant could put unborn babies at risk of immune system damage, new research suggests. Vape liquid contains propylene glycol, glycerol, and often nicotine, flavors, and other additives. When heated it can produce toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, a hazardous air pollutant. "When vapes are used indoors, or in a vehicle, the vapor condenses on surfaces forming a thick, oily layer, and this residue can be absorbed through the skin," said study co-author Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver, from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. "Previous research has shown that vaping during pregnancy can cause serious harm to the baby, including increased risk of stillbirth, low birth weight and developmental problems," he said. In a new study, led by Dr. Chantal Donovan and Dr. Richard Kim from the UTS School of Life Sciences, pregnant mice were exposed to e-cigarette vapor residue on towels. Their offspring were then infected with flu, and their immune system response assessed. The researchers found that in the exposed offspring, a specialized type of immune cell, called a CD8+ T cell, became dysregulated. CD8+ T cells are essential for mounting an effective immune response against infections, as well as cancer. The study, "Maternal third hand exposure to e-cigarette vapor alters lung and bone marrow immune cell responses in offspring in the absence or presence of influenza infection," has just been published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Dr. Donovan said the study revealed for the first time that maternal third-hand exposure to e-vapor results in significant, long-lasting effects on lung and bone marrow immune cell responses in mice. "The study supports the growing body of evidence of the dangers of e-cigarette exposure and highlights that even third-hand e-vapor exposure during pregnancy could have long lasting effects," she said. In Australia, vaping is prohibited in enclosed public spaces, including workplaces, public transportation, and restaurants, similar to smoking bans. However, there are still many areas where vulnerable people could be exposed. "Visitors to the homes of friends or relatives who vape might not realize they're being exposed to harmful chemicals just by touching benchtops or sitting on the couch. People who vape need to understand that this doesn't just affect them," Dr. Kim said. New vaping regulations were recently introduced in Australia to restrict vape sales to pharmacies, including non-nicotine varieties, and limit flavors, to protect public health, particularly among young people. More information: Chantal Donovan et al, Maternal third hand exposure to e-cigarette vapor alters lung and bone marrow immune cell responses in offspring in the absence or presence of flu infection, American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology (2024). DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00078.2024 Interior CS Kithure Kindiki insisted that 42 Kenyans died during the anti-government protests between June and August, disputing claims from several human rights groups that the death toll is 61. During his appearance before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee on Thursday, Kindiki explained that the Committee received a report detailing information about 30 individuals who were killed during the protests and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. He requested that the Committee grant him 24 hours to provide information on the remaining 12 cases, assuring the MPs that the government has nothing to hide. What Im pleading is to be given 24 hours to provide the other 12 in supplementary information as Ive said the government has nothing to hide. We cannot hide the fact that a Kenyan has died. What we need to do is to find the circumstances in which they died and if theres a culpability even by a security officer, we ensure that justice is served, he stated. Kindiki defended the polices actions during the protests, emphasizing that the government does not have a policy on abductions. He stressed that there is no evidence linking the police to the 132 Kenyans who are still missing. Myself, including the President himself, have made it clear that this administration does not condone abductions or extra-judicial killings or enforced disappearances. It is unfair to visit the policy on extra-judicial killings unless were provided with evidence of policy pronouncements that support this unlawful behaviour, Kindiki remarked. He further added, If the police had not used lethal force during the invasion of Parliament, we would not have the Kenya we have today. The fact that a Kenyan was shot in the vicinity of police during the protests is not evidence enough that the police are the ones who shot the Kenyans. The CS at the same time informed the Committee that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has evidence that politicians allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua facilitated anti-government protests. I am informed by DCI that high-level prosecutions will ensue anytime from now, including political leaders who financed protests; and we have evidence, they financed people to loot shops, to kill Kenyans, expose them to danger. We cannot continence the kind of mayhem we saw in July and June for whatever reason. And thats why Ive said this job is a very unpopular job. We will do it. We are going to prosecute high-level people who assisted criminals to harm other people, to destroy infrastructure and they have even made an attempt to actually bring down such a serious institution like Parliament to the people of Kenya, Kindiki said. The DCI has since preferred charges against 5 Gachagua allies, namely MPs Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi alias Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central), James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North), Martin Deric Ngunjiri Wambugu (former Nyeri MP), George Theuri (former Embakasi West MP), and Pius G. Munene. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that a plot exists to implicate his allied Members of Parliament in incitement cases, aiming to facilitate his potential impeachment. His remarks follow a recommendation from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to charge five politicians associated with Gachagua for their alleged roles in violent anti-government protests that occurred on June 25, 2024. In a statement on Thursday, Gachagua expressed deep concern over the harassment that his staff and supporters have faced in recent months. He revealed that he had learned of a plan to file charges against three of his staff members, along with two MPs: James Gakuya from Embakasi North and Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donk from Embakasi Central. This evil scheme is to associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late June, in a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me, he claimed. Gachagua further criticized the government for allegedly weaponizing the criminal justice system for political purposes, calling it an outdated tactic. The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is an outdated political strategy that was used in the past. President William Ruto and I, on assuming office, gave an undertaking to the people of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics. I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were, he emphasized. The Deputy President urged the state to act with professionalism, highlighting that Kenyans are well-informed about the underlying reasons for the protests and the countrys true issues. Kenyans are intelligent people. They know what factors made Kenyans take to the streets. Kenyans also know what the real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi is not among them. Let our agencies remain professional, follow the rule of law, and keep off politics, he stated. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for the extension of the Kenya Police Mission in Haiti for an additional year. He emphasized that this extension would enable the full deployment necessary to fulfill the missions mandate. While speaking at the Ministerial Meeting on Building on Progress to Restore Security in Haiti, Mudavadi commended the exceptional efforts of the 410 officers currently serving in the MSS Mission. Their actions have exemplified that this is indeed a Mission Possible, conducted with the highest standards of transparency and integrity, he remarked. He highlighted the missions significant achievements in its first 100 days, stating that it has collaborated with the Haitian National Police (HNP) to secure critical infrastructure. In its first 100 days, the Mission, in collaboration with the Haiti National Police (HNP), has made significant strides in securing critical infrastructure, including the international airport, the national hospital, and the main seaport in Port-au-Prince. Mudavadi noted that these efforts have been vital in enhancing public safety and stability in Haiti. He pointed out that joint patrols with the HNP in key areas of Port-au-Prince have bolstered civilian protection. The Mission has also played a crucial role in clearing roadblocks and reopening access routes, ensuring smoother delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need, he added. With only 410 officers deployed, compared to the planned 2,500, Mudavadi stressed the limitations this places on the missions achievements. He urged the Security Council to extend the Mission for another year and explore innovative strategies for the United Nations to provide the necessary resources to sustain the progress made by the MSS. I call on the Security Council to consider extending the Mission for another year, enabling the full deployment necessary to accomplish its mandate, Mudavadi implored. Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has doubled down on his censure motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, citing the DPs change in character over time. Mungatana believes Gachaguas actions reflect a lack of commitment to the countrys interests in his role as the second-in-command. In an interview on Citizen TVs Daybreak, the senator addressed questions regarding his decision to file a censure motion amid growing discussions of impeachment among Gachaguas critics. Some speculate that the motion could be introduced in Parliament within two weeks. Mungatana clarified that the censure motion does not seek to oust the deputy president from office. Instead, he explained that it serves as a signal for Gachagua to realign his actions with the governments agenda. We were in South Africa for the African parliament session, we go there three times a year, I personally said after watching things unfold, that when I go home on Sunday, Im filing the censure motion, he explained. Theres no correlation really. But we also watched the interview, it wasnt a person whos a principal assistant to the president. I think something has gone off the road. The Gachagua off late is not the Gachagua we started with. So this censure motion is saying let us go back to the line. In his motion, Mungatana accuses Gachagua of making divisive statements along tribal lines. He also claims that the DP has incited citizens to disregard directives from certain county governments, undermining the authority of his office. Mungatana argues that Gachagua violated Article 75 of the Constitution, which requires state officers to act in ways that prioritize the public interest over personal agendas. The Senate, pursuant to Standing Order 101, Section 1, expresses its displeasure and disappointment with the conduct of Hon. Rigathi Gachagua as the Deputy President of Kenya, and therefore we need to censure him, Mungatana stated in the motion. Cardinal Sako Calls on Iraq's Assyrians to Pray for Peace Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, during a celebratory Holy Mass on the anniversary of Saint Meskenta's martyrdom, at the Saint Hannah Monastery for Chaldean nuns in Karada, Baghdad. The head of Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church has urged Christians to work towards engaging in interfaith dialogue amidst ideological extremism and ongoing wars. "Today, Christians do not need martyrdom, but what they need is the testimony of [a] life that positively affects society," said Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Sako gave his remarks during a celebratory Holy Mass on the anniversary of Saint Meskenta's martyrdom, at the Saint Hannah Monastery for Chaldean nuns in Karada, Baghdad, the patriarchate said in a Sept. 25 statement. According to tradition, Saint Meskinta was martyred along with her two children by the Persians during the anti-Christian persecution by the Sassanian king Yazdgerd II (438-457). Meskinta is mentioned in a breviary dating back to 1777, written in Aden--a mountainous village in northern Iraq. The Persian king considered Christians as internal enemies amidst the war against the Eastern Roman Empire, which had converted to Christianity. The prelate reminded his audience that the harmony between faith and morality in the face of indifference, and the decline of morals and values, has become more important than ever before. "The spiritual and moral dimensions [of the harmony between faith and morality] have an impact on global peace and security, disarmament, and conflict prevention," Sako said. Bishop Basilios Yaldo and Father Basman George concelebrated the Holy Mass, which was attended by several nuns. Sako pointed out that the conflicts in the region are caused by many factors. The deterioration of morals, the absence of proper religious education, the loss of trust and fear of others, and inciteful comments laced with ideological extremism, among others, have caused conflict in the region, he said. The prelate urged the faithful to pray for peace in Lebanon, the Holy Land, Sudan, and Ukraine. Lebanon has seen an escalated level of conflict with Israel which resulted in the death of some 700 Lebanese civilians and military personnel, Aljazeera reported. Israel has rejected pleas for a truce from the UN, and its greatest ally, the US, saying that the onslaught is aimed at Hezbollah strongholds or military facilities placed in people's homes. More than 10,000 people have been forced from their homes in the most ferocious attacks Lebanon has experienced since its civil war of 1975-1990, Aljazeera reported. Sako urged the faithful to witness something different and endure pain to produce work of human, spiritual, and social value despite being small in numbers. "Christians should be witnesses to values that are not easy to talk about and embody them in their reality," the prelate emphasized. Iraq's Christian population has drastically declined since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled strongman Saddam Hussein, dropping from more than 1.5 million people to around 400,000 today. Many have fled the violence that has plagued the country over the past 20 years. SIU political, debate experts: Expect contrasting styles in vice presidential debate by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Vice presidential debates often generate little public interest as an undercard to presidential debates, but political and debate experts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale believe Tuesdays (Oct. 1) meeting between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz could be noteworthy. Vance, an Ohio senator and Republican running mate of former President Donald Trump, and Walz, the Democratic Minnesota governor selected by Vice President Kamala Harris, square off in New York City just five weeks before the Nov. 5 general election. While its hard to see how vice presidential debates can alter presidential campaigns in any fundamental way, John Shaw, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute director, noted that current polling shows a tight race in several states. In a race that may come down to literally thousands of votes in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, almost any development can have an outsized impact, he said. John Jackson, a visiting professor with the institute, anticipates there will be a smaller viewing audience than the Sept. 10 presidential debate. How Vance and Walz are viewed, for Trump and Harris, can be a revealing reflection on their decision making since those were their first official moves in putting together a prospective government, Jackson said. Differing personalities and political styles Todd Graham, professor of debate in the School of Communication Studies, believes this matchup, much like the Harris-Trump debate, will show contrasting styles but in different ways. Vance is more informed than Trump on many issues, so he should be able to talk policy where Trump was unable. Maybe he even has more details on the concept of Trumps health care plan, Graham said. And Walz is a terrific speaker, more comfortable with us Midwesterners, who hear people talk like him every day. But hes not as good a debater as Harris his own words to Harris when interviewed were that he was not a very good debater, Graham said. Walz has a more natural and warm speaking style than Vance, but that doesnt always translate into an effective debater. Walz, Graham added, has to avoid looking like hes in over this head, so hes got to be prepped on all the issues well enough to pull this off. Vance is the same but with added personality. He cant continue to be seen as weird, anti-woman, etc. Kenneth Mulligan, an associate professor of political science in the School of Anthropology, Political Science and Sociology, believes this debate will be less raucous and combative than the Trump-Harris showdown. Walz might provide a folksy Middle America contrast to Harris West Coast nasal chattiness, Mulligan said. Vance might lend a cerebral edge to Trumps stream-of-consciousness missives. Vance has the most to gain in this debate by far, having been torn down by Harris allies from being film director Ron Howards Everyman to a bizarre anti-feline caricature. Walz is largely unknown and will have an opportunity to define himself. Vance has an intense, almost smoldering, personality; it seems like he could erupt at any moment. Walz has a friendly and avuncular style, but also a trenchant wit, Shaw said. Political analysts will be watching to see if Walz can rattle Vance and force him to lose his cool. This is going to be a fun debate to watch, largely because of the hugely different political personalities of the two candidates. Defending policies Both candidates will need to advance and defend their running mates agenda. Vance will have to defend numerous Trump controversies, including the most recent imbroglio over the false story of immigrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, a controversy to which he contributed, Jackson said. Walz will need to introduce himself to the nation and fill in some of the remaining blanks on plans for a new Harris-Walz administration. Mulligan adds he expects CBS News moderators to interject themselves less, or at least more even-handedly. If they dont, Republicans wont invite them to participate in future debates, he said. Jackson and Graham each noted that vice presidential candidates must show they are ready to assume responsibility for a nation, if needed. This debate will be important because the vice president is the understudy to the president and can become the president in an instant, as recent events underscore, Jackson said. While vice presidential debates dont usually make much of a difference, Graham said he would make Trumps age an issue with the possibility that Vance has the chance of becoming president very high. If painted that way, this debate could be different, Graham said. Or people could just fall in love with Walz and use him as their excuse to vote for Harris, saving face with their social circle who might not like Harris. Candidate debate roles Graham said there are three roles for vice presidential candidates in debates. Defend the top of the ticket by making them look good and have good evidence that they are an effective leader with strong policies. Attack the top of the other ticket. Demonstrate you would be ready to take over as president, if needed. Former Vice President Mike Pence had difficulty defending Trump in his debates, and Graham said he suspects that will be an issue for Vance. Vance has already been doing clean-up on aisle Springfield, Ohio, but hes making the mess worse, Graham said. So yeah, hes going to have some issues in the debate. Does he tell the truth, or go with Trumps lies? Pence knew the difference and had difficulty defending Trumps lies. But JD Vance needs to make a choice. The key points Vance needs to make are that Im not weird and can be trusted, while Walzs points are Yes, you are, and no, you cannot, Graham said. Its as simple as that. Thats the debate. Media availability Todd Graham is professor of debate in SIUs School of Communication Studies, where his debate teams have won five national titles. He has been analyzing presidential debates for more than 20 years and is a regular contributor and regular debate expert for CNN and CNN Opinion. He can be reached at 314-495-7278 or at tgraham@siu.edu or toddgraham101@gmail.com. John Jackson is a visiting professor at SIU Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and has more than four decades of political expertise and research in presidential politics, campaigns and elections. He can be reached at 618-303-1240 or jsjacson@siu.edu. Kenneth Mulligan is an associate professor of political science in SIUs School of Anthropology, Political Science and Sociology. His research and teaching involve American political behavior, media and politics, and public opinion. He can be reached at 618-201-9634 and kmulliga@siu.edu. John Shaw, director, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, spent 26 years in Washington, D.C., covering Congress and economic issues for Market News International before his arrival at SIU Carbondale in 2018. He has been a guest on the PBS NewsHour and C-SPAN. He can be reached at 618-453-4009 or john.shaw@siu.edu. SIU saluting LGBTQ+ History Month with founder of national celebration and more by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. The founder of LGBTQ+ History Month is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale as part of universitys monthlong celebration in October. With the theme of Reclaiming Queer History, it is a special year as SIU marks the 20th anniversary of commemorating LGBTQ+ History Month on campus and the 30th national anniversary of the month, according to Juniper Oxford, coordinator of the LGBTQ Resource Center. "We are particularly excited to reveal many of our future goals of the LGBTQ Resource Center, share in discussions about reclaiming queer history both on campus and in the local community, and welcome Rodney Wilson to our campus as our keynote, Oxford said. Wilson is the creator of LGBTQ+ History Month and the first out high school teacher in the state of Missouri. Its not just about being here and being queer but also showing that we have been here and have always been around. Our LGBTQ+ campus community is brimming with excitement about these upcoming events; we have something nearly every day of the month this year. Every ally on campus and in our local community is not only welcome but encouraged to show up and support." All events are free and open to the public, with the exception of the Safe Zone trainings, which are geared toward SIU faculty and staff. Kickoff is Oct. 1 The LGBTQ+ History Month kickoff celebration is set for noon Oct. 1 at the John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library. The event will feature remarks from representatives of various LGBTQ+ organizations including the LGBTQ Resource Center, the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Council, the Saluki Rainbow Network and the Lavender Alumni Network. Afterward, there will be an LGBTQ+ Resource Fair in the library rotunda, and two special exhibits will be unveiled in the Hall of Presidents and Chancellors. The LGBTQ+ exhibits, which will be open for viewing all month from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, include a photovoice exhibit by Golden Rainbows of Illinois South and a retrospective exhibit created by the LGBTQ Resource Center and the librarys Special Collections Resource Center. Celebrating the Centers History and Future at 2 p.m. Oct. 8 in the librarys Hall of Presidents and Chancellor will focus on the history of LGBTQ+ History Month and its celebration at SIU, including a retrospective. Wilson advocates for LGBTQ+ rights Wilson will speak at 3 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Student Center Auditorium. Refreshments will follow in the International Lounge. In 1994, Wilson came out to his students at Mehlville High School in the metro St. Louis area while teaching a history lesson about the Holocaust. Then just in his 20s, he explained that if he had lived in Germany during World War II, he would have been imprisoned and killed by the Nazis for being gay. He was nearly fired afterward, but the strong and fast outcry received coverage on national media outlets, including Dateline NBC, Newsweek and the Ricki Lake Show. The short documentary Taboo Teaching tells Wilsons story. Discussion will feature diverse voices, cinema highlights queer films An intergenerational panel comprising queer students and adults will focus on the theme Reclaiming Queer History at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Student Services Building, Rooms 150/160. A series of queer cinema events focusing on LGBTQ+ themes will be shown at the Guyon Auditorium except the last one, which will be at the Sharp Museum Auditorium in Faner Hall. Popcorn, candy, giveaways and a wrap-up discussion will be included. The schedule includes: Jose, 4 p.m. Oct. 7. Jose and his mother live a difficult life in the violent, religion-steeped country of Guatemala, but when he meets Luis, he discovers a new passion and pain. The 2018 Li Cheng award-winning movie explores his journey as a queer man. The Archivettes, 4 p.m. Oct. 15. The Lesbian Herstory Archives, founded in a New York City apartment, is now the worlds largest collection of materials by and about lesbians. The 2019 Megan Rossman film is a tribute to second-wave feminism and intergenerational connection and combatting lesbian invisibility. Monica, 4 p.m. Oct. 23. This Trace Lysette story chronicles the life of Monica, a trans youth kicked out of her home who later returns to her Midwest hometown to care for her dying mother, and it explores their journey toward understanding. A panel discussion featuring Carbondale City Council member Clare Killman, author Heather OMalley and Oxford will follow. Were All Going to the Worlds Fair, 5 p.m. Oct. 30. The 2021 Jane Schoenbrun coming-of-age psychological thriller tells of the mental and physical changes Casey Cobb, a gay teen, experiences as she becomes immersed in an online role-playing horror game alone in her attic bedroom. Pizza will be provided. Variety show, coffee, dinner/dialogue and more Numerous other activities are planned as well in October. Highlights include: At the Table Dinner and Dialogue celebrates the 30th anniversary of LGBTQ+ History Month with discussion focusing on the queer history of the region and state and issues facing todays LGBTQ+ community at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Carbondale Civic Center. The City of Carbondale along with SIUs LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Rainbow Cafe and Golden Rainbows of Illinois South are sponsoring the event. While there is no cost, those planning to attend are asked to sign up online to allow meal planning. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. No Shame Theater: LGBTQ+ Variety Show will give participants the free space to perform without shame. Set for 11 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Moe Theater in the Communications Building, its free, but those attending are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the Saluki Food Pantry. Wear Purple for Spirit Day is Oct. 17. All are encouraged to wear purple in support of LGBTQ+ youth, in honor of LGBTQ+ suicide victims and in opposition to bullying. Find additional information, including the complete schedule of events, on the website for the LGBTQ Resource Center, which is a unit of the Student Multicultural Resource Center. Sponsors include the LGBTQ Resource Center; the Student Multicultural Resource Center; the Office of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Council; the Saluki Rainbow Network; Special Collections Resource Center/Morris Library; Wellness and Health Promotion Services; Counseling and Psychological Services; Student Health Services; Hispanic Latino Resource Center; Career Development Center; Lavender Alumni Network; No Shame Theater; School of Communication Studies; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Career Development Center; Saluki Furry Society; Cine Club; the City of Carbondale; the Rainbow Cafe; the League of Women Voters of Jackson County; the Carbondale Park District, and Golden Rainbows of Illinois South. PRNewswire New York [US], September 27: 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 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. (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) India's aviation industry is poised for significant growth, with domestic carriers expected to add over 150 new aircraft in 2024, a 37 per cent increase year-on-year (YoY), according to a research report by Nuvama. However, the report mentioned that despite this notable addition, the current aircraft numbers in the country is still fall short of rapidly rising demand in the sector. As a result, airfares are likely to remain firm in the coming months due to this demand-supply mismatch. "We believe the aviation industry is set to grow as a whole with passenger traffic surpassing the pre-covid peak in FY19 by 11 per cent. Domestic carriers are poised to add 150-plus aircraft in CY24 (up 37 per cent YoY), not enough to meet the demand" said the report. The aviation industry in India is on an upward trajectory, with passenger traffic surpassing pre-COVID levels, increasing by 11 per cent compared to FY19. As per the data by Ministry of Civil Aviation, the passenger movement in India, both domestic and international, averages around 32 million passengers per month. This growing demand for air travel highlights the need for more aircrafts in the market. According to the report, Available Seat Kilometers (ASKM), a key industry metric, that measures an airline's passenger-carrying capacity, rose by 14 per cent YoY and 2 per cent month-on-month (MoM) in August 2024. "Total Indian aviation domestic ASKM up 14 per cent YoY/2 per cent MoM in Aug-24" the report added. The report stated that IndiGo continues to dominate the domestic aviation market, maintaining a 58 per cent share of the domestic ASKM in August 2024. In contrast, the Air India group leads the international segment with a 54 per cent market share among Indian airlines. The report highlighted that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices have seen a sharp decline, down 18 per cent YoY and 5 per cent MoM in September 2024, driven by falling crude oil prices. This price reduction will be a great relief to airlines, potentially offsetting some cost pressures from the ongoing supply-demand imbalance. India also ranks first among the top ten countries with the highest share of low-cost carriers (LCCs) in overall airline capacity. (ANI) Mediawire New Delhi [India], September 27: ET Young Industry Achievers Awards, an initiative by Optimal Media Solutions (a division of Times Internet Limited), is designed to celebrate the success of rising young business achievers and professionals. The awards aim to recognize individuals from various sectors who have made significant advancements in their respective fields early in their careers. The felicitation ceremony was held on September 3, 2024, at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The recipients were felicitated by Suniel Shetty, a renowned Indian film actor with a variety of roles to his credit. Shetty is also associated with social causes and is known for his philanthropic acts. The lamp lighting ceremony was graced by Sunil Shetty and Baldev Raj, Director Prius Communication. Shubham Gupta, MD Scandia Volvo, said: "Scandia Volvo Cars is committed to providing its customers with the highest level of customer service to build long lasting relationships. We are happy to participate at the prestigious ET Young Industry Achievers award as the awardees have made a mark in making long lasting relations in their respective industry". Methodology i3RC has developed a comprehensive nominee assessment form and analytical framework to evaluate candidates for the ET Young Industry Leaders & ET Young Achievers Awards 2024 in New Delhi. The evaluation focuses on three main areas: 1. General Profile and Background 2. Work and Innovation 3. Contribution to Industry and Society To ensure objectivity, nominees were evaluated through tools such as social media scans and feedback from colleagues, customers, or the public. Data from these sources was analysed to determine eligibility and suitability for the award. Assessment Framework: * Nomination Form: Nominees provide their basic profile and details about their work or business. * Feedback Assessment: A random survey gathers feedback from a sample of 250 individuals, using a 10-point scale to evaluate the nominees. This multi-step process ensures a fair and thorough evaluation of all candidates. Note: Present survey has been exclusively conducted by an independent Research Agency named i3RC Insights Private Limited using stated methodology for arriving at given results. The publication house and its affiliates/employees/authorized representatives/group companies are not responsible/ liable for the said results. Readers are advised to take an informed decision before acting upon the survey results. List of Awardees: * Abhishek Asthana & Imran Khan of Columbus Integration Services Pvt. Ltd. - Excellence in the Field of Logistics Services * Amit Tyagi of Nuberg Industries Ltd. - Young Entrepreneur of the Year * Ankush Kamboj, Krishan Sharma and Vishal Kaushik of Sun Boilers Pvt. Ltd. - Excellence in Steam Boiler Manufacturing * Dr. Ankit Kalra of Kalra Hospital, Kirti Nagar - Cardiologist of the Year * Deepanshu Gulati of St. Teresa School, Indirapuram - Excellence in the Field of Education * Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta of ISAAC Luxe - Excellence in the Field of Cosmetology and Skin Clinic * Josan Ranjjith - Excellence in Literary Eminence * Kunal Gupta of Bal Bhavan International School, Dwarka - Excellence in School Education * Manish Jain of Maetrix Consulting - Emerging Young Entrepreneur in the Field of Leasing * Manish Khurana of Innovations Venture Studios - Excellence in Funding Strategy * Manish Motilal Lalwani of Omkara Assets Reconstruction Pvt. Ltd. - Excellence in Financial Services - Asset Reconstruction * Manvendra Singh Raghav of MFine - Technology Innovation in Healthcare * Dr. Mumta Sindhu Thory of Mamta Akashic Readers - Excellence in Akashic Records & Teacher * Nipun Khanna of St. Teresa School, Indirapuram - Excellence in the Field of Education * Dr. Neha Khuraana of House of Aesthetics - Excellence in the Field of Dermatology * Parimal Shah of Cherise India Pvt. Ltd. - Pioneer in the Industry - Beverage Tech Eco-System * Piyush Chitkara of Accacia - Emerging Brand for Net-Zero Excellence * Pulkit Singh of Estatex Landbase Pvt. Ltd. - Emerging Business Leader in Real Estate * Pyush Lohia of Lohia Worldspace - Emerging Residential Developer of the Year * Sampada Atri of Sarvodaya Hospital - Brand and Communication Strategy * Saniya Shahi of Saniya Shahi Designs - Innovative Excellence in Luxury Bespoke Furniture & Design * Saurabh Gupta of Hamilton Sciences Pvt. Ltd. - Young Entrepreneur of the Year * Vrinda Mathur of Channel PR - Dynamic Women Leader in PR (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 27: Logistics Limited (NSE: KLL), a diversified conglomerate specializing in logistic support to the cement players, has signed a LOI with global quick-service restaurant giant McDonald's to open a restaurant in one of the properties owned by the company. This strategic collaboration marks an important step for Kaushalya Logistics as it continues to diversify its business portfolio, with a growing emphasis to partner with global enterprises. This partnership strengthens its real estate business and diversifies its revenue streams. The entry of McDonald's, a globally recognized brand, signals the attractiveness of KLL's commercial real estate offerings and highlights the company's capability to attract top-tier clients in high-demand locations. The rental income from such high-profile tenants is expected to significantly contribute to the company's financial performance. With this new McDonald's outlet, KLL strengthens its presence in the retail and commercial property segments, setting the stage for additional retail-focused developments. This development complements the company's strong logistics business, further reinforcing its strategy of evolving into an integrated, multi-sector enterprise. Commenting on the performance Mr. Uddhav Poddar, Managing Director, Kaushalya Logistics Limited said, "We are excited to partner with McDonald's, one of the worlds leading quick-service restaurant giants. This agreement highlights the potential of our commercial real estate portfolio and supports our strategy of diversifying into new verticals that drive growth. With McDonald's as a tenant, we expect this to enhance the value of our properties and open up more opportunities in the retail and hospitality sectors. The expected steady rental income from McDonald's will boost our financial performance and strengthen our position as a trusted commercial landlord, aligning with our long-term vision of growth across multiple sectors." (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) The 16th ASOSAI Assembly concluded successfully here in the national capital on Friday, with 200 delegates from 42 countries discussing public audit, governance, and accountability. Hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, the assembly saw the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, a roadmap that reinforces ASOSAI members' commitment to equality, transparency, and innovation. He commended various initiatives by Supreme Audit Institution of Thailand to effectively implement the Bangkok Declaration 2021, by charting a path for the ASOSAI and its 48 members towards greater resilience, innovation and governance in today's New Normal. CAG of India stated that the New Delhi Declaration would build upon efforts made on the Bangkok Declaration and hoped for its progress, taking it one step further. CAG of India expressed gratitude to the previous chair of ASOSAI, SAI Thailand and Secretary General, SAI China. He congratulated seven newly elected SAI members of the Governing Board of ASOSAI (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and UAE) and two members of the Audit Committee (Iran and Vietnam). CAG Murmu also praised the collective efforts behind the Declaration, which will guide future efforts to improve audit practices and governance in the region. The Declaration focuses on leveraging digital public infrastructure to provide equitable access to services, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequality). The New Delhi Declaration is not just a reflection of our common vision but also a guiding light for our future endeavours. The four-day event, inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on September 24, 2024, brought together Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) from Asia to enhance public sector auditing. The event saw the leadership of CAG Murmu, who assumed the Chairmanship of ASOSAI for the term 2024-2027, and is expected to steer the association towards new horizons of public audit excellence. "Our discussions aptly recognized the relevance of advanced technologies in driving the socio-economic milieu across the world. SAIs must strengthen their capacities to audit in this transformed world, especially in light of the inequalities accentuated in the post-pandemic era," CAG Murmu was quoted in a statement. The assembly also saw the induction of new members to the ASOSAI Governing Board and ASOSAI Audit Committee, ensuring continuation of strong leadership and innovation in public sector auditing. As the Chair of ASOSAI, Murmu expressed confidence that the assembly's outcomes will have a lasting impact on the global audit community: "Together, united by our shared mission, we will rise to the challenges of our time, whether they relate to digital transformation, climate change, or economic recovery." CAG noted that key matters such as capacity development, knowledge sharing and strengthening of institutional frameworks were addressed and the Assembly was a resounding success due to the active participation, constructive contributions and unwavering support of the members. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], September 27: Marking a decade of creating impact, the DBS Foundation unveiled the new Impact Beyond Award with an aim to support enterprises that provide innovative solutions to the world's most 'wicked' problems. Each year the Award intends to pose a challenge statement and invite businesses to pitch their transformative ideas. This year the focus will be on ageing and the Foundation will be seeking solutions that will enable everyone to grow old with dignity and purpose. According to the 2023 India Ageing Report by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)[1], the percentage of the elderly demographic (60 years and above) in India is projected to double to over 20% of the total country's population by 2050. While an ageing population can be viewed as a societal challenge, the DBS Foundation believes it can also be an opportunity to be harnessed - both to change traditional mindsets, as well as to scale 'longevity businesses'. The Award is part of DBS' SGD 1 billion commitment over ten years to uplift vulnerable segments of society, and complements the longstanding DBS Foundation Grant. Each of the three Impact Beyond awardees will receive prize money of up to SGD 1 million beyond financial support, the winning enterprises will be mentored by the bank's senior management and other business leaders, and gain access to potential investors. It is open to social enterprises and small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) that have at least SGD 5 million in annual revenue in the most recent financial year. Applications from around the world are welcomed, and the application window is open from 20 September to 30 November 2024. Azmat Habibulla, Managing Director and Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications, DBS Bank India, said: "The introduction of the Impact Beyond Award marks a significant milestone in DBS Foundation's ten year journey. This year's spotlight on tackling the issues linked with an ageing society are a demonstration of the Foundation's commitment to empowering the most vulnerable segments of the population. The complexities of an ageing demographic in India will only keep increasing and we believe that this award will be a catalyst to scale purpose-driven solutions in healthcare, social support systems and financial inclusion to improve the quality of life of senior citizens. With DBS's holistic approach that goes beyond banking, we are looking forward to championing these businesses and fostering long-term inclusivity through innovative solutions." DBS Bank, which is approaching its 30th year in India, recently launched a priority banking program for senior citizens called 'DBS Golden Circle', which has been designed to offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and services, focused on making banking simpler and more rewarding for resident Indian citizens aged 60 years and above. In 2020, the DBS Foundation awarded a grant to ElderAid Wellness, a Business For Impact that provides a range of home-based health and wellness services to support the elderly and enables them to live their golden years with independence, dignity and security. For more information on the DBS Foundation, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world. In 2024, CRISIL Ratings reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AAA/Stable' rating on the corporate credit facility of DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL). The rating on the certificate of deposits programme was also reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named "World's Best Bank" by Global Finance, "World's Best Bank" by Euromoney, and "Global Bank of the Year" by The Banker. As a different kind of bank, DBS is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named "World's Best Digital Bank" by Euromoney and the world's "Most Innovative in Digital Banking" by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the "Safest Bank in Asia" award by Global Finance for 15 consecutive years from 2009 to 2023. In line with its focus on responsible banking, DBS was named the Best Bank for Sustainable Finance - India by Global Finance in 2024. Additionally, DBS Bank was ranked among the top 3 on Forbes' list of the World's Best Banks in India for three consecutive years, from 2020 to 2022. DBS Bank has been present in India for 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. As a trusted partner, DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India, focusing on a seamless customer experience that helps them 'Live more, Bank less'. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. DBS Bank India now has a network of ~500 branches in 19 Indian states. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers as it banks the Asian way and understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting businesses for impact: enterprises with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping underserved communities with future-ready skills and helping them to build food resilience. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com. Media Contacts: DBS Bank IndiaRohini Regorohinirego@dbs.com99305 49207 Adfactors PRChennakeshav ShenoyCk.shenoy@adfactorspr.com9819266998 (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) OP Jindal University Sonipat (Haryana) [India], September 27: The Jindal India Institute (JII) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) hosted 31 foreign diplomats, foreign correspondents and defence attaches from 20 embassies, high commissions, international organisations and new agencies at the third edition of its one-day certificate course on 'Understanding India's Foreign and Security Policy' in New Delhi. The countries and institutions represented in this training event were Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, Finland, Kenya, Lithuania, Norway, Russia Today (RT), Rossiyskaya Gazeta, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zimbabwe and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The day-long engagement consisted of six modules delivered by expert practitioners and academicians in international and defence matters. They provided a nuanced understanding of India's foreign policy objectives and security strategies in an increasingly complex international landscape. Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, Professor and Director General of JII, kick-started the discussion by providing a comprehensive overview of the essentials of India's foreign policy. He discussed how India's foreign policy strategies are informed by its rich strategic heritage, ranging from Kautilya's realpolitik to the idealism of the Upanishads. He focused on the intent and purpose behind core concepts like strategic autonomy, non-alignment, multi-alignment, net security provider, first responder, Vishwa Mitra and Vishwa Guru and showed how India is extracting maximum benefits from foreign engagements to enable its rise as a 'leading power' in the world. The first half of the day also featured a session explaining the detailed organisational structure, functioning and processes of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharya, Professor of Diplomatic Practice at the Jindal School of International Affairs, amalgamated theoretical knowledge with practical insights to address various queries by the participants on the roles, responsibilities and divisions of the MEA. Dr. Hindol Sengupta, Professor and Director of JII, delivered an address on India's changing worldview that has closely shaped its foreign policy since independence. He provided a balanced view of the country's transforming approach to the world under different Prime Ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, highlighting the potential and success of major foreign initiatives under each of them. Building upon this foundation, Ambassador Dr. Mohan Kumar, Professor and Senior Fellow of JII, shed light on the unique aspects of India's economic diplomacy, including trade negotiations and investment strategies. He stressed on the country's participation in multilateral forums and the strong regional component in its connectivity projects. The session closed with comments from a participating diplomat stating, "India is the future. Africa sees India as the hope for a better world order." India's security architecture was the main focus of the second half of the course. Dr. Swasti Rao, Associate Fellow of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, explored the country's defence partnerships with Western powers. She explained key agreements, collaborative technological advancements and joint military exercises with Europe and the USA. Her in-depth analysis of strategic motivations and expertise in weaponry and shifting patterns in India's defence diplomacy enriched the foreign audience's understanding of India's critical strategic partnerships. India's emerging role in the Indo-Pacific was covered by Dr. Pooja Bhatt, Associate Professor of the Jindal School of International Affairs. Using an array of maps, satellite imagery, and flowcharts, she offered a detailed examination of India's strategic priorities such as regional connectivity, maritime security and economic cooperation. The day concluded on a dynamic note with a special address by Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd., Indian Air Force), who talked about the Indian military's vital contributions to national security and the main ethos and doctrines which have guided India's armed forces as they remain prepared to tackle India's main external adversaries. In the context of this one-day event, Dr. C. Raj Kumar, the President of JII and Vice Chancellor of JGU, commented that "as India takes on a more prominent role in global affairs, initiatives like this certificate course can foster deeper understanding between India and the international community. The Jindal India Institute aims to deliver comprehensive expert-led training programmes that spread international awareness of and support for India's extraordinary accomplishments and potential. Our mission is to enhance India's leadership role in the world through thought-provoking and educative courses such as these, which can open the eyes of the international community and win more friends for India globally." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Tashi Wangmo co-chaired the India-Bhutan, Commerce Secretary Level Meeting (CSLM) in Thimphu on Friday, where they decided to expedite development of cross-border and connectivity infrastructure, commerce ministry said in a statement. Commerce Secretary Barthwal paid an official visit to Bhutan from September 27 to 28, 2024. Key discussions held during the meeting include expediting development of cross-border trade and connectivity infrastructure including establishment of an Integrated Check Post in Jaigaon-Phuentsholing and rail-links between Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse. Discussions were held to notify LCS Hatisar and LCS Darranga, as additional routes for import of areca nut in India from Bhutan; to notify LCS Darranga as additional Point of Entry for import of food items in India from Bhutan. India agreed to notifying LCS at Samrang, following upgradation of necessary infrastructure; consideration of notification of LCS Jaigaon for import of scrap in India from Bhutan; establishment of border haats along India-Bhutan border; facilitation of movement of businesspersons; consideration of import of boulders from Bhutan to India; inclusion of three additional species of timber for import from Bhutan to India; In the discussion, the issue of deployment of personnel for Phyto Quarantine Inspection Services (PQIS) at LCS Darranga also came up, besides early operationalisation of Agreement for recognition of official control exercised by Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), signed in March 2024; expedite finalization of agreement between National Seed Centre, Bhutan and Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited, India for supply of fertilizers to Bhutan; The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on all aspects of the bilateral trade partnership including measures to further strengthen cross-border infrastructure, enhance connectivity and facilitate trade between the two countries. The two sides positively assessed the progress in bilateral trade, commerce, connectivity and investment partnership. They noted recent signing of bilateral MoU on general supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL) and related products from India to Bhutan; Agreement for recognition of official control exercised by Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI); finalisation of text of the MoU on establishment of rail-links between India and Bhutan. Both sides expressed satisfaction at bilateral cooperation in ensuring smooth supply of essential commodities to and from Bhutan, including potato, wheat, sugar, non-basmati rice, fertiliser, coal. The two sides reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen trade linkages, boost connectivity and facilitate cross-border movement of goods, services and people. The two sides agreed to hold the next such meeting in India at a mutually convenient date. The visit of the Commerce Secretary to Bhutan is in keeping with the well-established tradition of regular exchanges between Bhutan and India, and to further strengthen the existing close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. (ANI) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], September 27: Reinforcing its commitment to social welfare and community engagement, Fiinovation, a leading research-based consulting firm specializing in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), successfully hosted its 9th Annual Blood Donation Camp in collaboration with Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital at Okhla Phase III, New Delhi. This initiative aligns with Fiinovation's larger goal of driving impactful social change by addressing critical public health needs. The blood donation drive, themed "Blood Donation: Simple Act, Huge Impact," is part of Fiinovation's ongoing effort to contribute to the increasing demand for blood and blood products in hospitals across the country. By raising awareness around the necessity of safe blood donations, the campaign underscores the company's dedication to creating a healthier, more resilient society. Soumitro Chakraborty, Founder and CEO of Fiinovation, expressed his pride in the initiative, "We are honored to continue our tradition of organizing blood donation camps, especially in light of the growing need for blood supplies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India faces a critical shortage, requiring approximately 12 million units of blood annually. This shortage impacts thousands of lives each year, contributing to fatalities in cases ranging from road accidents to major surgeries and pregnancy complications, as well as patients suffering from disorders like sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemophilia. With the current outbreak of Chikungunya adding pressure to blood banks, the importance of such drives cannot be overstated. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Fiinovation team, volunteers, and the officials from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital who made this possible." This year's blood donation drive coincided with Fiinovation's Foundation Day and came at a crucial time, as the national capital grapples with a significant Dengue outbreak. In its ninth consecutive year, the initiative continues to build on its legacy of contributing to society by addressing urgent healthcare challenges. Fiinovation remains dedicated to sustaining and expanding its efforts in the future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) In a heartfelt tribute to its founder, the Yash Chopra Foundation (YCF) has announced the launch of an initiative--the YCF Scholarship Program--on what would have been Yash Chopra's 92nd birthday. This new program is designed to support the children of Hindi film industry workers from low-income backgrounds, ensuring that the contributions of these unsung heroes are recognized and valued. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be children of registered members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), according to YRF's team. The program aims to provide comprehensive financial assistance to deserving students, enabling them to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in a range of disciplines, including Mass Communication, Filmmaking, Production and Direction, Visual Arts, Cinematography, and Animation. Each successful candidate will receive a support package of up to Rs 5 lakh, a contribution toward their educational expenses. Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films said, "The legendary filmmaker and our founder Yash Chopra always believed in giving back to the Hindi film industry in whichever way possible. His philosophy is ingrained in our company's culture." He added, "So, on his 92nd birth anniversary, we are happy to embark on a mission to empower kids of the Hindi film fraternity. We are confident that this initiative will inspire and empower deserving students to follow their dreams and subsequently make a mark in our film industry." The selection process will involve personalised interviews. It was Yash Chopra who redefined Indian cinema by spreading romance and love through his films. From 'DDLJ's Raj-Simran to Veer-Zaara, the late director had given many iconic love stories to Hindi cinema in his career spanning around six decades. Yash Chopra is a name that will forever be etched in the books of Indian cinema. He died on October 21, 2012, just a month before the release of his last film, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. (ANI) From being part of Mani Ratnam's 'Roja', 'Bombay' to Kamal Haasan's 'Thevar Magan', and many others, Nasser has proved himself a pan-Indian actor. The veteran actor is currently in Abu Dhabi for the IIFA Awards 2024, where he talked about the reach of Indian movies and how people across the world are watching these films. In a conversation with ANI, he said, "It's not even pan-Indian films, it's global films. So it has gone beyond the pan-Indian film. It's a global film because I see people abroad, they watch even if it be Malaysian or Indonesian or Britisher they are watching Indian films with great eagerness and so it's a global film." Nasser has worked with acclaimed filmmakers like Mani Ratnam. Recently, he completed a project with him titled 'Thug Life' also starring Kamal Haasan. He shared his working experience with him and said, "I have just wrapped up a film with Mani Ratnam sir. It is called 'Thug Life' with Mr Kamal Haasan." While praising the vision of Mani Ratnam, he added, "He is a great. He has gone beyond the ages. He has been there for very long and he is so mature. It was wonderful to work with him after a very long time. He will be there like his films forever." Nasser made his acting debut in K. Balachander's 'Kalyana Agathigal' in 1985. His breakthrough performance was in Mani Ratnam's 'Nayakan'. He worked in Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's projects including 'Roja' , 'Thevar Magan', 'Bombay' , 'Kuruthipunal', and 'Iruvar'. The new edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) will take place in the Arab city from September 27 to September 29. The three-day gala has started today 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, stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal and Karan Johar will come on stage to entertain the audience with their hosting stint at the IIFA Awards night. Interestingly, the second day will also see Rekha returning to the IIFA stage after a long time. (ANI) Maggie Smith, best known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films has passed away at the age of 89, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Smith's extraordinary career spanned over six decades, earning her two Oscars, four Emmys, and a reputation as one of the greatest talents in film and television history. Apart from her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, the actors was also best known for her role as the sharp-witted Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the hit series Downton Abbey. Her work in these roles made her a household name to a new generation of fans, but her career started long before, and her early accomplishments were equally remarkable. Smith earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1970 for her portrayal of an eccentric and strong-willed schoolmistress in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). Nearly a decade later, she won a second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in California Suite (1978). In this film, she played an Oscar-nominated actress attending the awards ceremony, a role that brought her both critical praise and her second Academy Award. Over her career, Smith was nominated for four other Oscars, including for her work in Travels With My Aunt (1972), Othello (1965), A Room With a View (1985), and Gosford Park (2001). Her performances ranged from tragedy to comedy, showcasing her incredible versatility as an actor. Smith could easily move between dramatic roles that delved into deep emotions and comedies that brought out her characters' quirks and wit. Despite her incredible talent, Maggie Smith was famously press-shy, often avoiding media appearances and promotion tours. This became a running joke at the 2016 Emmys when host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of her absence, saying no one would win unless they accepted the award in person. Smith wasn't there to collect her Emmy that night, but she still won and responded to the joke with good humor. Her career extended far beyond the screen, with notable performances in theater as well. In 1990, Smith won a Tony Award for Best Actress for her role in Lettice and Lovage, further establishing her as a force on the stage. Her ability to perform a wide range of characters, from serious to comedic, made her one of the most admired British actors of her time. In recognition of her contribution to drama, Queen Elizabeth II honored Smith with the title of "Dame" in 1989. In 2014, she received another prestigious title, becoming a member of the Order of Companions of Honor, an honor shared with other notable British figures like Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench. Throughout her career, Smith played a variety of memorable roles in films. She was part of the ensemble cast in Murder by Death (1976), starred as the strict yet humorous Mother Superior in Sister Act (1992), and appeared in Hook (1991) alongside Robin Williams as Granny Wendy. Later in her career, she played a cantankerous retiree in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), delighting audiences with her wit and charm. Her television work was also impressive. In addition to her Emmy-winning role in Downton Abbey, Smith starred in My House in Umbria, which also earned her an Emmy Award. She was nominated for other television roles, including as Mrs. Venable in Suddenly Last Summer and as Betsey Trotwood in the BBC miniseries David Copperfield, where she worked alongside a young Daniel Radcliffe before he was cast as Harry Potter. Maggie Smith's personal life was marked by her long-lasting marriage to playwright Beverley Cross, whom she married in 1975 and stayed with until his death in 1998. Before that, she was married to actor Robert Stephens, with whom she had two sons, both of whom followed in her footsteps and became actors themselves. Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens have enjoyed successful careers in film and television, carrying on their mother's legacy in the acting world. (ANI) Actor Vicky Kaushal is all set to host the IIFA Awards 2024 alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar. While speaking to the media during the press conference, the 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke' actor expressed his excitement about hosting the cinematic extravaganza along with none other than the superstar of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. He said, " IIFA has always been very special for me. The first ever award I received as an actor was with IIFA for my debut film and my first-ever Best Actor award was with IIFA. I hosted IIFA last time and I am hosting this time..but this time it is more special because I am hosting with the most special human being and that's Shah Rukh Khan." The recent press conference held in Abu Dhabi was full of glitz and glam with several stars gracing the event. The attendees included Ananya Panday, Vicky Kaushal, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raashii Khanna, and many more. Kriti Sanon also looked excited as she mentioned, "I am very excited and my speech is somewhat going to be similar to Vicky because this is my third time in Abu Dhabi and...I am excited about performing as well but I am also excited about two other people, ....of course, Mr Shah Rukh Khan hosting...I've seen him performing and hosting multiple award shows from my childhood when I used to watch him on TV and he's doing it after very, very long time and I'm really, really excited to see him. There's no one better than him and another performance that I'm very excited about is Rekha ma'am. I have seen her performing once at IIFA in Bangkok. Abu Dhabi you are going to witness the most magical performance of your life because she is too good like there is no one like her and I'm gonna be there watching her perform from the front seat." Another thing that grabbed the attention of the audience was looking at Vicky and Shahid performing on the stage. Vicky made Shahid dance to the hit song Saree Ke Fall Sa, while Shahid had Vicky sing and perform his peppy track 'Tauba Tauba' from 'Bad Newz'. The video was shared on the official Instagram handle of IIFA. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAaqKgDs5nc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The new edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) will take place in the Arab city from September 27 to September 29. The three-day gala is starting 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, stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal and Karan Johar will come on stage to entertain the audience with their hosting stint at the IIFA Awards night. Interestingly, the second day will see Rekha returning to the IIFA stage after a long time. Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor and Vicky will also be adding charm to the gala night with their performances. IIFA 2024 will be concluded on September 29 with the exclusive, invitation-only IIFA Rocks. Artists such as Honey Singh, Shilpa Rao and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will perform live for the audience. (ANI) A peculiar child custody case has unfolded in the Delhi High Court, where a man claimed that his sister-in-law is the mother of his minor son. The court ordered the production of the child before it today. The petitioner, married and living with his wife in Calcutta, has two children with his sister-in-law. He seeks custody of his younger son, who was allegedly taken from his care in Bihar by his sister-in-law. The child has expressed his desire to live with the petitioner. The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to produce a minor child before it on Friday. The order has been passed in plea of habeas corpus seeking production of his minor son. It is stated that the minor child is son of the petitioner and his sister-in-law. Division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma directed the authorities to produce the child, who is at Children Home for Boys at Alipur, Delhi. The bench also directed the sister-in-law to appear before the court. The petitioner has moved a petition through advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma and Dinesh Kumar. A writ of habeas corpus can be used in child custody matters if it is proven that the detention of a minor by a parent or others was illegal and without authority of law. However, there is no hard and fast rule on the maintainability of a habeas corpus petition in child custody matters. He is seeking issuance of direction for production of his minor son, who is currently residing in Children Home for Boys (CHB), in terms of order dated August 8, 2024, by the Child Welfare Committee-VI (CWC), North-West Delhi. The bench noted in the order that the facts of this case are peculiar. The petitioner is stated to be married and living with his wife in Calcutta, along with their two children. It is stated by the Petitioner that Respondent No. 2 is his sister-in-law. Further, it is also submitted that the petitioner has two sons from Respondent No. 2, and thepresent petition has been filed seeking production of the younger son. The petitioner said that his minor son lived in Kolkata along with him for the past 12 years, and that during summer vacations he along with his minor son were in Bihar, from where the said minor child was removed from his custody by Respondent No. 2 (sister-in-law). Advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma submitted that a complaint was lodged by him on June 1, 2024 and June 4, 2024 at Police Station (PS) Roshara, Samastipur, Bihar. It was also stated that the escort order dated July 29, 2024 was passed by the CWC, Hooglyin West Bengal, and finally, by way of order of August 16, 2024, the CWC, Delhi has directed the concerned minor child to be placed in CHB, Alipur, Delhi. It was argued by the petitioner that the said minor child has always lived with him and wishes to continue living with him. The minor child has, in fact, given a statement to this effect. Standing counsel Sanjay Lao, handed over a status report dated September 25, 2024 authored by SHO, PS Shalimar Bagh, and the same is taken on record. As per the said status report, the statement of the child has been recorded before CWC, Kolkata, stating that he was forcibly taken to Delhi. He doesn't wish to live with respondent 2. After considering the facts, the bench directed that the petitioner and his legally wedded wife shall also appear before the court on the next date of hearing. It permitted the petitioner to meet the concerned minor child at CHB, Alipur. (ANI) Punjab State Women Commission Raj Lali Gill on Thursday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu recommending the immediate removal of the Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Prof Jai Shankar Singh, following the allegations that he violated the privacy of female students at their hostel during his visit. "The Punjab State Women's Commission, exercising its powers under 'Section 10 of the Punjab State Women Commission Act, 2001, is mandated to take 'suo moto' cognizance of matters concerning violations of women's rights, dignity, and safety. In line with this mandate, the Commission has taken suo moto notice of a recent incident involving the Vice-Chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, following media reports and student complaints," stated the letter to the President. The protest was sparked by the VC's unannounced entry into the girls' hostel, prompting students to voice concerns about his behavior, including derogatory comments and discouragement of extracurricular activities. "...The students are demanding that they will not stop the protest till the time when the VC is in -charge. The students want the powers of the VC should be taken and he should be asked to resign. Since the dialogue has failed and VC has not done anything after our intervention, I recommend that he should resign. I have written to President Droupadi Murmu and the copy has been given to the Chief Minister as well..." said Gill. "On 25th September 2024, the Commission visited the university and met with the university authorities, the district administration, and the affected students. This visit was in response to an incident that occurred on 22nd September 2024, where the Vice-Chancellor conducted an unannounced inspection of the girls' hostel without prior intimation to the hostel warden and the students. During this inspection, he not only entered the rooms of the female students but also made inappropriate and derogatory remarks regarding their attire, suggesting they should not wear certain types of clothes," the letter," the letter added. Gill, Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women, visited the campus of RGNUL to hear students' grievances about the VC's unsolicited entry into the girls' hostel building and allegations of misogynistic and sexist remarks uttered by him. "This conduct has caused significant distress among the students and is viewed as a violation of their privacy and modesty. The Commission finds the Vice-Chancellor's actions highly inappropriate and a clear overstep of his administrative role. His behaviour has led to serious concerns regarding the safety, dignity, and rights of the female students, and it has eroded their trust in the university's leadership," said the letter. The state's Human Rights Commission has also filed a complaint against Singh, demanding action and protection of the privacy rights of female students. "From the circumstances, it appears to be a violation of fundamental rights of the female students and this Commission takes cognisance of the same and the inquiry of the same be marked to the Deputy Commissioner Patiala, who may look into the same and submit his report before the next date of hearing," read the order from the Commission. Student protest at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law in Patiala continued for the fifth day on Thursday. Students have been demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Jai Shankar Singh, alleging that he violated the privacy of female students at their hostel during his visit. Meanwhile, the university has announced that it will open today, September 27. "All the faculty and staff members are hereby informed that the university will reopen with effect from September 27 and classes shall be held as per time table," RGNUL said in an official notice. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court on Thursday called for a medical report from Rohini Jail on an application moved for Ranchi doctor Ishteyaque Ahmed. He has alleged that his eardrum was damaged due to the physical torture during police custody. He is an accused in AQIS Training Module case and in judicial custody alongwith ten other accused. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dr Hardeep Kaur called for a medical report from jail authorities and listed the matter on Friday for hearing. Advocate Abu Baker Sabaq moved an application for Dr Ishteyaque Ahmed. It was stated that due to the lack of proper medication and medical care, the applicant continues to face severe health issues, including high blood pressure. The health condition requires urgent and appropriate medical support, the plea stated. He sought direction to ensure that the applicant receives the required medical treatment to address the ongoing health issues, including high blood pressure, spinal pain, and the eardrum of the left side, which was damaged due to physical abuse/blatant hit during police remand. It is also prayed to the court to allow the advocate/family member of the applicant to provide medicines to the applicant in Rohini jail as per the two medical prescriptions of the doctors. Meanwhile, the court extended the judicial remand of 11 accused till October 9. Accused were produced before the court after expiry of judicial custody. The accused are alleged to be members of a training module allegedly headed by Dr Ishtiyaque of Ranchi, Jharkhand. Accused sent in judicial custody are Anamul Ansari, Shanaz Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Hasan Ansari, Arshad Khan, Umar Farooq, Ishteyaque Ahmed, Mohd. Rizwan, Motiur Rehaman, Rehmatullahi and Faizan Ahmed. They were arrested in August. Delhi police sought the extension of judicial custody of all accused persons. Advocate Abu Baker Sabaq appeared for Dr Ishteyaque Ahmed and seven other accused. Accused Hasan Ansari, Anamul Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Arshad Khan, Umar Farooq and Shahbaz Ansari are natives of Jharkhand. In a coordinated, intelligence based operation conducted by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in association with State Police forces of Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and UP, an AQ-inspired module was busted, Delhi police said. The module allegedly was being led by one Dr Ishtiyaque of Ranchi and was aspiring to declare Khilafat and execute serious terrorist activities within the country, the police said. The members of the module have received indoctrination and weapons training at various locations. Six individuals were detained from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, while actually undergoing weapon-handling training. Eight suspects were detained from Jharkhand and UP for questioning. Police have also recovered arms, ammunition, literature, etc. from several locations, including one AK-47 rifle. (ANI) Following the arrest of Abhijit Mondal, the former Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of Tala Police Station, in connection with the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, Malay Kumar Dutta has been appointed as the new Officer-in-Charge. His appointment came through an official order issued by the Commissioner of Kolkata Police on Thursday.. The order read: "Malay Kumar Dutta, Inspector of Police (I-Cadre), Addl. O/C, Shyampukur PS, North Division, Kolkata Police, presently looking after the work of the office of the O/C, Tala PS, North Division, Kolkata Police, in addition to his own duties, is posted as Officer-in-Charge, Tala PS, North Division, Kolkata Police, with immediate effect in the interest of public service." Meanwhile, on Wednesday, both Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College, and the arrested Officer-in-Charge, Abhijit Mondal, were transferred to the Presidency Jail from the Sealdah Court. Mondal and Ghosh were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Earlier this week, the West Bengal Medical Council cancelled Sandip Ghosh's medical practitioner registration. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also initiated a search operation at Ghosh's residence in Chinar Park, Kolkata. This operation was linked to a separate investigation into financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. The ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate alleged money laundering involving Ghosh. On September 10, a CBI court remanded Sandip Ghosh and three others to judicial custody in connection with financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CBI's investigation into these matters followed a directive from a single bench of the Calcutta High Court, which ordered a probe into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement at the institution. Abhijit Mondal, was suspended by the Kolkata Police on September 18 after his arrest by the CBI on September 14. He was produced before the Sealdah Court on Sunday along with Ghosh. (ANI) The Union Health Ministry has released an advisory for all states and union territories on the Mpox disease after India became the third non-African country to report a case of clade 1b Mpox infection recently. The Department of Health and Family Welfare on September 26 in its advisory has directed that all suspected Mpox cases be isolated and strict infection prevention and control measures be put in place. It has provided a list of laboratories operationalized for testing. The advisory includes clinical management protocols, infection prevention and control practices, as well as a risk communication strategy. The Health Ministry stated that the World Health Organisation had on August 14, 2024 announced that the current outbreak of Mpox disease was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the second time such Mpox disease associated with PHEIC has been declared by the WHO under the International Health Regulations, 2005, to which India is a signatory. The ministry has instructed the states to assess public health preparedness at health facilities, with reviews to be conducted by senior officials at both the state and district levels. The ministry has also directed the identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for managing both suspected and confirmed cases, ensuring the availability of required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities and developing an augmentation plan. The Ministry, in its letter, said that as per available information, clinical presentation of Mpox clade I in adults remains similar to clade II. However, the rate of complications may be higher in clade I than with clade II infections. This is the second time such a Mpox disease-associated PHEIC has been declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations, 2005 to which India is a signatory. The previous Mpox outbreak that started in 2002 was caused by Mpox virus clade II. The 2024 PHEIC is related to MPox virus clade I which is more virulent and more transmissible than Mpox clade II, the release further added. The clade has been found Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) only during the current outbreak, and outside Africa, one case each of Mpox clade 1 B has been recently reported from Sweden and Thailand. India is the third non-African country to report a case of 1b Mpox infection recently. As per available information, clinical representation of Mpox clade I in adults remains similar to clade II, however, the rate of complications may be higher in I than with clade II infections, as per the release. The Ministry has listed out key public health actions are required to be undertaken to prevent and minimise the risk of further spread of Mpox in the country. These include reviewing the public health preparedness, particularly at health facility levels at state and district levels by senior officials, identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of the suspects and confirmed cases, availability of required logistics and trained human resources in facilities and augmentation plan. 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, as per the advisory. Samples from skin lesions of any patient with the suspected symptoms of Mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive a sample should be sent to designated labs immediately, and the positive 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, as per the Union Ministry's advisory to states and union territories. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and we will extend all requisite support in this regard to states and UTs. (ANI) The membership drive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Friday witnessed an unprecedented response of 5,18,994 people. Taking to X to make the announcement, CM Manik Saha wrote in a post "Our BJP family is on the cusp of a monumental achievement--5,18,944 members strong & growing! I extend heartfelt gratitude to our Karyakartas & members for their relentless efforts. Your hard work & commitment are shaping India's future. Keep shining!" On September 24, 4,00,000 people here had joined the party. From Dharmanagar to Sabroom, the campaign has sparked enthusiastic participation among the people of the state. Chief Minister Manik Saha is himself engaging with the public to bolster the initiative. This initiative by the Chief Minister, aimed at strengthening the party's organisational base while managing governance, has greatly inspired party workers at all levels. Speaking to ANI, CM Saha said that they are aiming to enrol around 1.2 million members in Tripura, with 500 new members at each booth. He also exuded confidence in meeting the target. "On September 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself launched the membership drive, and the following day I began the membership campaign in Tripura. Previously, approximately 650,000 people accepted membership in the BJP, and this time the target has been increased in Tripura and at the central level," CM Saha said. "This year, we aim to enrol about 1.2 million members in Tripura. We are working at various levels in different mandals, and our target is to ensure a minimum of 500 new members at each booth. I am personally visiting various locations to facilitate the membership process, which is also available online until September 25. Given the enthusiasm for membership, I firmly believe we will meet our target," he added. The Chief Minister further urged the people of the state to join the membership drive. (ANI) The Assam government has accepted 1951 as the cut-off year for implementation of the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma committee for Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. A crucial meeting between the Assam government and the leadership of All Assam Students' Union (AASU) was held on Wednesday at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati for implementation of the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma committee for Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, "The State Government has already implemented some of the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sarma Committee such as having 1951 as the cutoff year for several of schemes. For instance, this has been incorporated in Mission Basundhara." "As per the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma Committee, the state government has accepted 1951 as a cut-off year and it is already in Mission Basundhara and we are doing that for last 3 years itself. We have formally discussed, but on spirit we are already implementing the recommendation. So, we have accepted the cut-off year of 1951 in the context of specific recommendation. It is not that when you go to apply for a licence you have to show 1951, when you have to go to a restaurant you have to show 1951, it is not that, only in regard to the specific recommendation of 1951. But we have not accepted 1951 as a general cut-off date for day to day life of Assam, which we can't do," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He further said that, in last assembly, the state government has passed three land bills where the government has made 1951 as a cut-off year. "We have not mentioned 1951, but we said three generations, three generations mean one generation is 25 years, so it is 1951. But going to voting, apply for job nobody will ask 1951. There is nothing to be created a panic that you have accepted 1951. Because Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma Committee report has not said that you adopt 1951 as a general day to day life, he has only said that, so far as these recommendations are concerned and these recommendations are very few, you take 1951 as a cut-off year," Dr Sarma said. The Assam Chief Minister also said that - "Assam has decided to implement the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma Committee with regards to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Of the recommendations to be adopted - 1. 40 are exclusively in the domain of the State Government. For the implementation of these we have chalked out a roadmap; 2. 12 will require the concurrence of the Government India; 3. 15 are exclusively in the domain of the Government of India. We will take up these matters with the Centre at the right forum." The Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma committee report stated that - "Considering the claims, objections and suggestions of different stakeholders, the Committee formed the opinion that the term 'Assamese People' as it appears in the Accord needs no explanation in the sense it is understood. Assamese People are those (i) who are generally referred to as Assamese; (ii) those who are indigenous tribal/ ethnic groups of Assam and (iii) those who are other indigenous people of Assam having their roots to pre-1951 period. While the first two groups have no problem of identification and need no identification parameters, but the third group will have to be identified in reference to their roots to pre-1951 origin. At this stage, it will be pertinent to refer to the definition of the term 'Indigenous person of Assam' which finds mention in the census report pertaining to Assam, Manipur and Tripura presented by the then Indian Civil Service Officer, R. B. Vaghaiwalla, Director of Census of the Census Report, 1951, which reads as - 'Indigenous person of Assam means a person belonging to the State of Assam and speaking the Assamese Language or any tribal dialect of Assam or in the case of Cachar the language of the region'." "It is on the basis of this aforesaid census report, the National Register of Citizens, 1951 was prepared. This found mention in the address of the then Chief Minister of Assam, Bishnuram Medhi, made to the enumerators (Gananakari) in which he categorically stated that the National Register of Census would be prepared on the basis of the said census report," said in the Committee report. On July 15, 2019, the Union Home Ministry had constituted the High Level Committee under Chairmanship of Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma in respect of Clause 6 of Assam Accord and on February 20, 2020, the committee had submitted its report to the then Assam Chief on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. "As per the recommendations of Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma Committee, protection of land, culture and language rights are with the State Govt and we have already undertaken efforts in this direction over and beyond the recommendations," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the "Parivartan Sabha" organised in Kundhit here for the Nala Assembly Constituency on Thursday. Addressing a huge crow of hundreds of people, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister said that he had come among everyone from the holy land of Baba Kedar in Uttarakhand. He said that seeing the people of the Kundhit region and their love, there is a flow of energy. "The campaign launched by the BJP of Jharkhand should not stop," he said. Further, he added that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and Jharkhand state came into existence together. "Both the states are famous for their ancient culture. 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," Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that after the independence of the country, the tribal society was not taken care of. "Former Prime Minister Late 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. We are proud that the daughter of the tribal society, respected Draupadi Murmu, is the President of the country. All this has been possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi," he said. Further, he added that the Prime Minister Modi had declared the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as Janjati Gaurav Diwas. "Many museums have been built for tribal freedom fighters for 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," Dhami said. The Chief Minister also said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Modi, many schemes are being run by the Central Government, keeping the tribal society at the centre. "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. Work has been done around in Jharkhand for 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, construction of AIIMS in Deoghar," Pushkar Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, cards of one crore two lakh people have been made in Jharkhand state, and houses have been constructed for 55 lakh people under the housing scheme. Further, he said "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 kilometres 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." The Uttarakhand Chief Minister said that on one side there is the BJP under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Modi, 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," Dhami said. The Uttarakhand 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 percent. 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. Further, the Uttarakakhand 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 said. Dhami urged the people to form a BJP government in Jharkhand. (ANI) The newly-appointed president of the Indian Youth Congress, Uday Bhanu Chib, has said that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election is being fought by the people against the dictatorial BJP government at the Centre. "The Congress-NC alliance is going to form government (in Jammu and Kashmir) on 8th October. I hope that we will form government with a good majority. These elections are not being fought by the Congress or NC but by the people of Jammu and Kashmir against this dictatorial government," Chib told ANI. Before being appointed as president of the Indian Youth Congress, Chib was its Jammu and Kashmir chief. He thanked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi for appointing him as the IYC chief. "First of all, I would like to thank Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for giving this opportunity to a man from an ordinary family in Jammu," he said. He said that the IYC will take up the issues of paper leaks and unemployment and make the BJP-led Union Government accountable. Chib said the Congress-NC government will restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. "Our manifesto says that as soon as we form our government, Congress will restore the statehood." Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first and the second phases of voting took place on September 18 and 25, respectively. Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an interesting contest with several political parties and independents in the fray. NCP and Congress have forged a pre-poll alliance in the UT. These elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, are being held after nearly a decade in the Union Territory. 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. 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) . The Bagdogra police under Siliguri Police Commemorate on Thursday arrested two people for allegedly threatening and harassing two young men who came to Siliguri from Bihar to attend an exam.The accused have been identified as Rajat Bhattacharya and Giridhari Roy- residents of West Bengal's Siliguri are known to be linked to Bangla Pokkho, a pro-Bengali advocacy organization. The incident came to light after video of the youth went viral on social media, gaining widespread condemnation.In the video that has gone viral, the youth can be seen sleeping in a room when a group of miscreants enter and asked them whether they could understand Bengali. When one student replied that they couldn't, the miscreants began questioning them aggressively, claiming they shouldn't be taking exams in other states.One of the students attempted to explain that they had been assigned to the Siliguri exam center but was repeatedly asked to show his documents. The group claimed to be from the IB and harassed the youth. Biswachand Thakur, DCP of Siliguri Police, announced that two accused were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening following a complaint."On the basis of a complaint two persons were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening on the charge of threatening and harassing two youths claiming to IB, police officers. Further investigation is underway," Biswachand Thakur said.Meanwhile, the attack on the students has drawn widespread criticism from the BJP, which has expressed concern about the law and order situation in the Mamata Banerjee ruled state. Attacking the West Bengal Government, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "Red carpet for Rohingya Muslims in Bengal and Bihar kid beaten up for taking exam? Are these children not part of India? Has Mamata government taken the contract of only saving rapists?"Questioning the silence of the opposition over the incident, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, in a post on X wrote, "The news of brutal assault on Bihari students in West Bengal is very unfortunate and condemnable. The Chief Minister of that state has once again insulted the Biharis, which cannot be tolerated at all. I want to ask Mamata Banerjee ji, is it a crime to take an exam in West Bengal? Will the opposition party leaders still remain silent?"The LJP supremo asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to get the case investigated an demanded "legal action" against the culprits "I want to ask the Leader of Opposition of Bihar, on what basis will you support the Trinamool Congress now. I request the Honorable Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar ji to get the matter thoroughly investigated and take legal action against the culprits," Paswan wrote on X. (ANI) The Manipur Police is continuing its search and seizure operation in the firing and vulnerable areas of the state, in an effort to ensure peace. Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces. The operations have led to the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunitions. According to a post on X by Manipur Police, in one operation in Tekcham Maning Ching, Thoubal District; the following items were recovered: one 7.62mm SLR along with empty magazine, two SMG carbine along with two magazines, one .32 Pistol along with empty magazine, one 9mm Pistol along with empty magazine, one 51mm Para Bomb, four HE-36 hand grenades without detonator, two Tube Launchers, two electronic detonators, five STARDYNE-90 explosive weighing 125 gm each, twelve live ammunition rounds, one Stun grenade, one Stinger grenade, two 38 mm rubber bullets, three tear smoke shells, one Dummy shell, one Stun shell, two soft nose tear smoke shells, one tear smoke shell and one Baofeng set. The operation was conducted by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police. In an operation in Nalon, Churachandpur District, two Large heavy calibre country made Mortar, two No. 80 Grenade were seized in an operation by the Army, BSF and Manipur Police. In Haraothel and Lambung Hill Top, Kangpokpi District, one local made improvise projectile launcher of approx length 2.5 Mtrs along with tripod, eleven unused Bombs and ten empty cases were seized by Manipur Police and CRPF. In Suangdai (Tuikui Muallum) village Churachandpur District, one 9mm Pistol (Country made), one Single barrel Gun, Myanmar currency 6200-kyat, one BP Jacket, one Caumoflage pant, one Camouflage shirt were recovered by Manipur Police and Assam Rifles. In Salam Patong village under Nongpok Sekmai Police Station, Thoubal District; one IED was recovered by Assam Rifles. Meanwhile security forces also conducted search operations and Naka Checking in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. According to a post by Manipur Police, movement of 95 and 303 vehicles along NH-37 and NH-2 respectively with essential items were ensured. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles. A total of 109 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley. (ANI) Elections for Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) got underway on Friday following the Delhi High Court's decision to allow the university to conduct elections. Voting will be held from 8.30 am to 1 pm for morning shift students, while for the evening shift, it will be held from 3 pm to 7.30 pm. On Thursday, Delhi High Court 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. Counting was scheduled to be held on Saturday. The court has also directed that EVMs and ballot boxes must be safely stored until further orders are issued. Appealing students to participate in elections, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary expressed confidence in winning four central panel seats in the DUSU. "Voting for DUSU elections is being held today. We can see that students are worried about paper leaks and fee hikes. NSUI is going to win all four seats today. DU students are going to vote for the NSUI panel...I appeal to all students to participate in elections in large numbers... I think that counting should be held tomorrow after polling today. Earlier too, we raised questions on DU administration. Who would keep the strong secure? Where would ballot papers be secured? "The court should ensure this too." NSUI national president Varun Choudhary said. Meanwhile, ABVP National General Secretary Yagywalkya Shukla accused the NSUI cadre of indulging hooliganism in few campuses of Delhi University. "Good news in the favour of ABVP is coming in from all campuses. Hooliganism by NSUI is going on at a few campuses and booth capture attempts are being made. NSUI is dejected, so they are indulging in hooliganism," ABVP General Secretary Shukla said. In the 2023 election, the ABVP had won three out of the four central panel seats, including the presidential post. Tushar Dedha of the ABVP was elected president, while NSUI's Abhi Dahiya, the only NSUI winner, was chosen vice president of the Students' Union. (ANI) Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari on Friday, welcomed the gesture of the Karnataka government for withdrawing the general consent for CBI to probe the matter of the alleged MUDA scam. "This is not the first time that a consent has been withdrawn. The Opposition and all the states have been saying that the central agencies are being misused... Whatever we have done is according to the law," he said. The Karnataka government on Thursday 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. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that they don't want the Central Bureau of Investigation to misuse its power. "It is not just Karnataka, the entire opposition parties across the country have taken this decision, given that, the Karnataka government has also taken this decision. We don't want the CBI to misuse its power," Shivakumar told ANI. Meanwhile, The Karnataka CM Siddaramiah has claimed that the BJP and JD(S) are targeting him because he stands for the poor and fights for social justice. On his X handle, Siddaramaiah posted, "They have launched political retribution against me because they can't bear to see the pro-people schemes we have introduced. But I have unwavering faith in the law and our Constitution. Ultimately, the truth will prevail in this fight. I want the people of Karnataka to recognise the truth behind these fabricated allegations regarding the MUDA case. The BJP and JD(S) are attempting to stop the pro-poor schemes of our government. The same leaders now calling for my resignation are the ones who opposed every initiative I introduced for the poor and marginalised.". Earlier, 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). (ANI) Ahead of fourth edition of Regional Industry Conclave to be held in Sagar on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has expressed pleasure over getting significant response from conclaves saying that the state government has signed MoUs of over Rs 2 Lakh crores investment so far. The fourth Regional Industries Conclave of the state is being organised at Jawaharlal Nehru Police Academy Ground in Sagar on Friday. Industrialists and investors across India and abroad will participate in the conclave. Speaking to ANI, CM Yadav said, "Our focus is on the four categories specified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Especially about looking for new job opportunities for youth in Madhya Pradesh and for welfare of the poor, women and farmers and all types of industries to be set up here and people get employment; the state generates revenue, GST increases and all parameters of development go forward." "We have organised regional industry conclaves from time to time so that its impact is seen in all the divisions and regions in the state. The kind of response that we have been getting on a large scale, I can say that we have signed MoUs of over Rs 2 Lakh Crores investment so far. This will continue. I am going to Sagar today. It is a part of Bundelkhand region and it is full of possibilities. We are encouraging all kinds of industries and all sectors," the CM said. "Besides this, the government is focussing on ensuring that students well versed in IT, AI, engineering services and high tech remain in the state itself and their capabilities be utilised. I am satisfied that many industrialists are arriving here who have been in these businesses for a long time. We have received a major proposal for a data centre in Sagar. We hope that with the results, after Sagar will go ahead with Rewa, Narmadapuram, Hoshangabad, Shahdol," he further said. The MP CM said that the focus is on the district level and responsibilities have been allocated to district collectors. "We will further focus on the district level. We have given the responsibility to district collectors to solve the problems in the district so that industries can be set up at earliest. Every person can get work according to their ability and ample opportunities to be created for business. I am quite hopeful that we will double our economy within three years and we are moving forward with the same target," he said. Notably, the Regional Industry Conclaves are being held in the state as a pre-event of the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025". GIS-2025 is proposed to be organised in Bhopal on February 7 and 8 next year. The main objective of the GIS-2025 Summit is to establish Madhya Pradesh as a favourable investment destination and to include it among the leading states of the country by highlighting the capabilities, abundant resources and favourable industrial environment of the state. The first edition of Regional Industry Conclave was organised in Ujjain on March 1 and 2 this year. Later, the conclave was held in Jabalpur on July 20 and then in Gwalior last month on August 28. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday lashed out at the Bhartiya Janata party government for targeting the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam, and asked the party to first probe corruption charges against former Karanataka CM Yediyurappa.Shiv Sena (UBT), an INDIA alliance partner of the Congress, came out in support of Siddaramaiah alleging that the Governor is being "pressurized" by the BJP in relation to the MUDA scam case.Targeting the BJP, Raut said, "The party in which the corrupt from all over the country get royal shelter wants to prosecute the CM of Karnataka because it has a Congress government, it is pressuring the Governor for the same. You jailed the CMs of Delhi and Jharkhand. The people snatched your majority, and you are still not learning. What kind of mischief is this?" Raut further pointed out at the pending corruption cases against Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Yediyurappa, must be first looked upon by the BJP. "Why was Yediyurappa released? He has all kinds of corruption cases against him. First, they should act against Yediyurappa and then speak of justice or injustice with Siddaramaiah," Raut said.Meanwhile, the Karnataka government on Thursday withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state pertaining to the MUDA scam, involving Siddaramaiah.Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that they don't want the Central Bureau of Investigation to misuse its power."It is not just Karnataka, the entire opposition parties across the country have taken this decision, in view of that, the Karnataka government has also taken this decision. We don't want the CBI to misuse its power," Shivakumar told ANI.Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil termed the Central Bureau of Investigation "biased" and said that the government has taken the decision to prevent the 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). (ANI) Superintendent of police (SP City), Pramod Kumar on Friday assured of strict action against those involved in the stone pelting incident at Dehradun Railway station last night. "Yesterday night tensions erupted between two communities, in which stone pelting was also done, some vehicles have also been vandalised. According to this incident, a case under relevant sections of the IPC and BNS have been registered at the Kotwali Police station Bazar. Whoever is involved in this incident will be arrested and presented in the court soon," Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar said. The Police official further said that the situation has been brought under control and the security forces have been deployed at various to avoid any untoward incidents. "The situation is under control as of now. In addition to that, the police conducted a flag march in all areas of mix population. Also, as today is Friday, our security forces have been deployed at the areas of the mixed population," the Superintendent of police said. A tense situation unfolded at Dehradun Railway Station on Thursday night as members of two communities clashed, leading to stone pelting and vandalism of vehicles.According to the information received from Dehradun police, the incident involved a minor girl hailing from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh who had arrived at the railway station and a local man from a different faith.A spat escalated after a crowd gathered and led to arguments resulting in stone pelting and vandalism of vehicles."An incident took place at Dehradun Railway Station where a minor girl and a man were seen in "hot talks". The ground police team of RPF and GRP got suspicious and brought them for questioning. it was found that the minor girl had come from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh and she had called her friend to meet her. The police also found that a missing report had been filed in Badaun for the girl and the police team was reaching based on the location," Dehradun SSP Ajay Singh said.Police arrived at the scene and dispersed the crowd. They have also registered a case against unidentified individuals involved in the unrest."Upon interrogation, it was found that it was a matter related to Hindu-Muslim or different communities. Following this some people gathered and got into an argument. Police reached the spot. There were also attempts at stone pelting and some vehicles were also vandalised," Dehradun SSP said."The police took the situation under control and a case has been registered against unknown persons a the Kotwali Nagar police station," the Dehradun SSP said. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to address a representation within four weeks concerning the inefficiencies of the AirSewa portal. The portal, designed to serve as a grievance redressal mechanism for air travellers, has reportedly become largely unresponsive, leaving numerous complaints unresolved. The Delhi High Court bench, led by acting Chief Justice Manmohan and also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued a directive to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to address concerns regarding the non-functioning of the AirSewa portal. The directive came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought action from the Ministry on this matter. The PIL filed by a NGO Pravasi Legal Cell, highlighted the portal's failure to adequately address grievances, particularly affecting Indian citizens abroad, who depend on the platform for redressal of travel-related issues. This issue particularly impacts Indian citizens abroad, who rely on the platform to address travel-related grievances. The petition filed through advocate Manas P Hameed draws attention to the fact that the AirSewa portal, which initially functioned well, has significantly deteriorated over the past year. This decline in performance has led to a growing backlog of unresolved complaints, resulting in severe inconvenience for air travellers. The inefficiencies of the portal have compelled many individuals to turn to consumer courts in India for redressal, a solution that is especially impractical for Indian citizens living abroad. The petition stresses the urgent need for the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take corrective measures, as the current state of the portal is leaving numerous grievances unaddressed, complicating the process of seeking justice for air travellers. The plea asserted that despite multiple representations to the concerned authorities, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no substantial improvements have been made to the AirSewa portal's functionality. As a result, the petitioner has sought immediate judicial intervention to address these pressing issues in the public interest. The plea highlights that the current inefficiency of the AirSewa portal forces affected individuals to seek redressal through consumer courts in India. However, for those residing abroad, this process is neither feasible nor practical due to logistical challenges, such as geographical distance, time zone differences, and the complexity of navigating legal proceedings from overseas. The petitioner stated that this situation places an undue burden on Indian citizens living abroad, who should be able to rely on the AirSewa portal for swift resolution of their grievances, the plea read. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday reiterated that he will not resign over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. He said that the opposition is making the demand for his resignation in order to destabilise his government. "I will not resign. HD Kumaraswamy is a minister; he is on bail after an FIR was lodged against him. He is a minister in the Narendra Modi government. It's a politics by them to destabilise our government; that is why they are doing it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. "They tried Operation Lotus, but they failed because we are 136 legislators. They formed government without a mandate twice; did Yediyurappa win? We will fight it legally," he added. Senior Minister in the Siddarmaiah government Priyank Kharge challenged the BJP to provide evidence or proof if they have any of any alleged corruption in the MUDA case. "The CM is very clear that he's open to investigation. And we have also set up an SIT with one retired judge at the helm of affairs. BJP is more than free to give any documents of any nature to them. And now that the Lokayukta is also in the loop, they are free to do that too. Instead of talking to the media, let them give all the documents that they have to the investigative agencies," he said. However, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on Friday that the chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, has accepted his guilt of widespread corruption in the MUDA scam. "The CM of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, has admitted that there is prima facie corruption in the MUDA scam. He has admitted that he is guilty. This is the precise reason that he has revoked the general consent given to CBI... The Karnataka HC concluded that the CM was involved in giving an undue benefit of Rs. 55 crores to his family in the MUDA scam... The CM of Karnataka is a corrupt man. To save his corruption, he wants to ensure that no independent agency investigates the matter. The root of the problem is Rahul Gandhi because he promotes the individuals in Congress who are involved in corruption... Rahul Gandhi's Congress is the king of corruption," he said. 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). The order came after Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor's sanction to investigate Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam. (ANI) Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday during an interaction with the media raised strong objections to Delhi's LG V.K Saxena's order on conducting the election for the lone vacancy in the MCD Standing Committee. Kejriwal argued that the MCD laws clearly state that the authority to convene a session lies solely with the Mayor, and neither the Lieutenant Governor (LG) nor the Commissioner can do so. "I am surprised that the MCD has clearly stated in the law that only the Mayor has the right to call the corporation's sitting and the Southern's sitting. No one else has the right. LG Sir cannot call it. The Commissioner cannot call it. Only the Mayor can call it." he said. He further pointed out that the law mandates a 72-hour notice period before any session, allowing councillors adequate time to prepare. He blamed those involved for attempting to rush the election process had ulterior motives. "Their intentions seem questionable. There appears to be a conspiracy to manipulate the situation," he added. He further, said that the Mayor had written a letter to the Commissioner, calling today's election illegal and unconstitutional, urging for its cancellation. The order of the MCD said that the election for the lone vacancy in the Standing Committee by the Corporation was scheduled for September 26 at 2:00 pm; whereas, the said election was not conducted and the meeting was adjourned to October 5 by Mayor Shelly Oberoi on the special ground that the councillors be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the voting hall/polling booth. Meanwhile, Addressing the issue of broken roads in the capital, Kejriwal said that all legislators and ministers would participate in the inspection, and repairs of roads within the next 2-3 days as he called for city-wide assessment of roads. Delhi CM Atishi along with former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday had inspected road conditions. The former CM assured residents that the halted work would resume, referencing the delay that occurred during his recent jail term (ANI) Uttar Pradesh police have arrested five people in connection with the alleged murder of a student at his school under Sahpau Police Station in Hathras, said an official. The accused have been identified as Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, Jashodhan Singh alias Bhagat ji, Laxman Singh, and Virpal Singh alias Viru. The five accused have been booked under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sent to judicial custody, said police. The FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of a man, who stated that Dinesh Baghel and other accused told him that they strangled his son and killed him on September 23. As per the FIR, the child lived in the hostel of the school. According to the police, the boy was allegedly murdered on September 23 at the hostel of a private school in Hathras. Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "On 23rd September, a student was murdered at the hostel of D.L. Public School under Sahpau PS. A case was registered under relevant sections on the basis of the statement of the complainant. Five accused, including the owner of the school, have been arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody. Police will take action by investigating all angles..." Reacting to the incident, Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Anita Agarwal, said that she would recommend to the State Administration to de-recognise this school. "This is a heinous incident. We will take action in this matter. I will recommend to the State Administration to de-recognise this school," Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Anita Agarwal, said. (ANI) The first consignment of Bangladesh's 'Padma Hilsa,' weighing around 45-50 tonnes, arrived in West Bengal on Friday morning. Following its arrival, officials hailed it as a much-anticipated import ahead of Durga Puja. The Bangladeshi interim government is set to export a total of 2,420 tonnes of Hilsa to India, with all shipments expected to arrive by October 12. The wholesale rate for Hilsa fish at the Howrah wholesale fish market is currently priced at Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,600 per kilogram. This fish, known for its superior taste, crossed the Petrapole-Benapole border and reached the Howrah market, where it will be distributed to various retail markets in and around Kolkata. Since July 2012, Bangladesh had banned the export of Hilsa but has granted special permissions for exports to India during Durga Puja since 2019. Syed Anwar Maqsood, Secretary of the Howrah Wholesale Fish Market Association, said, "Like every year, we wrote a letter to the Bangladesh Interim Government asking them to provide us with Hilsa for the occasion of Puja. However, due to some internal issues, there was a delay. But it is better late than never; yesterday, the consignment landed in Petrapole. The first consignment of 45 to 50 metric tonnes of Hilsa has entered India and West Bengal from the border station. This consignment is being sold in the Howrah, Patipukur, Sealdah, and Siliguri fish markets since this morning and has already been distributed to different markets from here." "People here have a different enthusiasm for the Padma Hilsa of Bangladesh. They hope that the price of Hilsa will come down, but the price is a little high because there is less fish available in Bangladesh, which is driving prices up. The small Hilsa of 700 to 800 grams is being sold for Rs 900 to Rs 1,000, while the one-kilo size is being sold for Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,500," he added. Maqsood also explained the urgency of receiving the fish before Bangladesh's fishing ban. "The last deadline is October 12. We must bring it in by then because from October 13, there is a fishing ban that lasts for 22 days. There is always a demand for Hilsa, and we have our local share in Bengal too. But the share of Padma Hilsa from Bangladesh is different. People are crazy about it," he said. He elaborated on the logistics involved in the export, and said, "We handle wholesale shipments. We have different suppliers here who buy the fish and send Hilsa to states where there is a demand, such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Delhi." Maqsood expressed gratitude of the Bangladesh interim government. "I would tell everyone to please enjoy Hilsa, especially during Durga Puja. The festive season is here, and we hope to request the Bangladesh government to relax the ban so that we can continue supplying Hilsa to consumers throughout the year," he said. (ANI) Lashing out at Congress government in Karnataka, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Friday said that chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has accepted his guilt of widespread corruption in the MUDA scam. Speaking to ANI, on the Karnataka Government withdrawing the general consent required for the CBI to probe cases in a state, he said, "The CM of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has admitted that there is Prima facie corruption in the MUDA scam. He has admitted that he is guilty. This is the precise reason that he has revoked the general consent given to CBI... The Karnataka HC concluded that the CM was involved in giving an undue benefit of Rs. 55 crores to his family in the MUDA scam... The CM of Karnataka is a corrupt man. To save his corruption, he wants to ensure that no independent agency investigates the matter. The root of the problem is Rahul Gandhi because he promotes the individuals in Congress who are involved in corruption... Rahul Gandhi's Congress is the king of corruption." The BJP spokesperson claimed that the Karnataka CM wanted to ensure that no independent agency investigates the alleged scam. "The CM Siddaramaiah has accepted in his heart of hearts that there was huge corruption in the MUDA scam. Deep inside, he has admitted that he believes he is guilty. The essence of the matter is that the Karnataka high court concluded that Siddaramaiah was involved in giving undue benefits to his family in the MUDA scam. Ideal and honest man, if he felt that that conclusion of Karnataka CM was not correct he would have resigned from the post and was waited for the higher court to give an opinion. However, the CM is a corrupt man and to hide his corruption, he wants to ensure that no independent agency investigates the matter," Bhandari said. Meanwhile, senior Minister in the Siddarmaiah government Priyank Kharge challenged the BJP to provide evidence or proof if they have any of any alleged corruption in the MUDA case. "The CM is very clear that he's open to investigation. And we have also set up an SIT with one retired judge at the helm of affairs. BJP is more than free to give any documents of any nature to them. And now that the Lokayukta is also in the loop, they are free to do that too. Instead of talking to the media, let them give all the documents that they have to the investigative agencies," he said. Despite opposition calls for his resignation, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has refused to step down. On Wednesday, a Special Court ordered a Lokayukta police probe against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the case, setting the stage for filing of an FIR against him. (ANI) You are here: Arts Tourists visit the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Luanping County, north China's Hebei Province, Sept. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) China has launched a program to raise public funds for the conservation of the Great Wall, which is the country's largest existing cultural heritage site. At an event to launch the program on Thursday, Li Qun, China's deputy minister of culture and tourism, said that vigorous efforts should be made to promote voluntary action to protect the Great Wall, strengthen related public awareness and education, and effectively ensure that the results of Great Wall preservation work benefit the people. Li, also head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), noted the importance of encouraging more people to learn about, contribute to and share the results of the Great Wall's protection. The program was initiated by the China Foundation For Cultural Heritage Conservation under the guidance of the NCHA. Jagtar Singh Hawara, a convict in the former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination case, on Friday urged the top court to transfer him from Delhi's Tihar Jail to any other prison in Punjab. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan sought a response from the Centre, Delhi Government, and Punjab Government on Jagtar Singh Hawara's plea. Jagtar Singh Hawara's plea, filed through advocate Satya Mitra, also sought to direct the respondents to produce in court the entire records of the petitioner regarding his conduct in prison during his incarceration till today. Hawara is a life convict in the former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination case and is serving a life term in Tihar Jail. The petition stated that he is a convict prisoner lodged in Tihar Jail and that there is no case pending against him registered in the territory of Delhi. The petitioner is currently serving his life imprisonment for the rest of his life in a case registered in the State of Punjab. He is a native of the State of Punjab, Fatehgarh Sahib District, and ought to be confined in a prison in Punjab, the petition added. Hawara was arrested on September 21, 1995, tried, and convicted for the murder of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and has remained in jail from the date of his arrest to this day; he has been incarcerated for over 28 years. The trial court, by order dated March 27, 2007, convicted Hawara and gave him the death sentence. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, by order dated October 12, 2010, modified the sentence to life imprisonment for the rest of his life. Appeals have been filed by the prosecution and Hawara in the Supreme Court, which are pending. "His conduct in jail has been clear except for an alleged jailbreak that took place on January 22, 2004, when he escaped. He was caught approximately after one year and returned to prison in 2005. Since then, his performance in jail has been without any blemish. He is 54 years old today. The petitioner was incarcerated in jails in Punjab. After he was arrested in 2005, the petitioner was incarcerated in Tihar Jail, Delhi, where he remains to this day," the petition said. "From the re-arrest of the petitioner after the jailbreak until today, 19 years have passed, and the performance of the petitioner in jail has been without blemish. The petitioner has sought a report of his conduct in prison in Delhi from the jail authorities, which is yet to be provided to him," the petition said. "The question that arises in this case is whether a person who has been accused of committing murder in the context of serious social upheaval, where tens of thousands of young Sikhs were extrajudicially executed by the State Police on the instructions of the deceased Chief Minister Beant Singh--an offence characterised as exacerbated by his unsuccessful jailbreak attempt--but who has, for the last 19 years, led a life in prison that is without blemish, can seek an order from this court for transfer to a jail in Punjab. Also, what is important to note is that there is not a single case pending against the accused in Delhi," the petition said. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Education department has sent a show cause notice to the management of a private school in Aligharh district for allegedly intimidating children with threats of "electric chair" and also failure to renew its permit to conduct classes. Basic Education Officer Rakesh Kumar Singh said that he had received a complaint from the parent of student who alleged that his ward was tortured and "made to sit on an electric chair" as part of punishment. "A parent of a child complained that their child was made to sit on a chair and was threatened. ... This incident was found to be false. We saw the CCTV, the child was sitting and nothing like that was done to him," the Basic Education official told ANI. The official said, however, CCTV footage had shown another student being beaten up. He also said that during an investigation it was discovered that the school had failed to renew its premit to conduct classes from 8. "But in front of that child, another child from class 4 was being beaten up by the coordinator of the school named Dipti. The school does not have the permission to run classes from 1 to 8. They had permission but it expired in 2021. A showcause notice has been issued for the same. I have written to the school administration to terminate the services of the school coordinator," the official said. Singh said that in his investigation, he did not find any electric chairs in the school. But he said that staff at the school used to intimidate children about using using electric chairs as punishment for errant children "Such threats to scare children is punishable offence under the Right to Education," he said. (ANI) The Akhila Bharatha Gau Seva Foundation on Friday launched a Yatra (march) from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to raise awareness about environmental conservation and the protection of the sacred Cow. The Padyatra, which started from the Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, as per ABGSF will cover 14 states, travelling approximately 6,000 kilometres in six months. This foot march , as per the organisation is for the deep connection between preserving the Earth and the sacred cow in Indian culture. The yatra will pass through Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka before reaching Kanyakumari. This journey is being conducted to highlight the importance of saving cows and promoting sustainable environmental practices. Bala Krishna Guruswamy, Founder President of the Akhila Bharatha Gau Seva Foundation, explained the purpose of the yatra. He said, "I am a citizen of this country, and it is my duty to protect the country, its soil, and the future generations. In 15-20 years, nothing will grow in this soil if we don't act now. The farming we do, the land we cultivate, all need protection. Together, we must prevent our land from becoming barren. Cow dung and urine are valuable resources. We must stop foreign organisations from spreading poison in our land, like the Green Revolution did." "Forty percent of our earnings go to hospitals because of the health problems caused by this poison. There is a huge medical mafia we need to stop. We want to save the Earth, our environment, and the health of future generations. Foreign countries have launched rockets using cow dung, and even Pakistan is now trying to save indigenous cows. Countries like Israel and Brazil have taken Indian cows for their benefits. We cannot let our cows and environment be neglected. Our 6,000-kilometre padyatra is a call to protect the Earth." he added The President of ABGSF also stressed on the importance of raising awareness among citizens, urging them to question political leaders about the future of the environment. He said, "This is not about any political party or time. It is about our country, India, and the strength of its people. We are taking this padyatra seriously, sleeping on roads, risking our lives to protect this land. It is our duty as Indians to save the Earth." Jimesh Joshi, a team member of the yatra, said, "Bharat Mata ki Jai! Today, we are going on a padyatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to save the Earth. As our leader Amit Shah said, we want the cow to be declared the Mother of the Nation." he added," Until this happens, our movement will continue. Every person should rear a cow in their home for the health benefits it provides." Sheraz Zaman, another team member from Kashmir, also spoke about the importance of protecting all animals. "This padyatra has one purpose: to raise awareness about the animals getting extinct from our land, which directly affects our health. Chemical fertilisers are harming us, and we want to promote organic methods. We also want to send a message that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are peaceful and want harmony with the rest of India," Zaman said. (ANI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) expressed dissatisfaction over the inconvenience faced by voters at polling stations in Mumbai during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources told ANI. According to the sources, in a review meeting with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and other senior government officials, the ECI emphasised the need to ensure all minimum assured facilities at polling stations, such as benches, fans, drinking water, and shelters. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar stated that the Commission will take strict action on any complaints of voter inconvenience on election day. An ECI delegation led by CEC Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, is in Mumbai to review preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra over the next two days. Sources told ANI that CEC Rajiv Kumar also stressed the importance of proper queue management at polling stations. Additionally, the CEC expressed displeasure over the low volume of seizures during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and emphasised a zero-tolerance approach towards the distribution of inducements during the upcoming state elections. The Chief Secretary was directed to ensure the appointment of vacant assistant returning officers, which are currently pending. Earlier, during a review meeting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, the CEC reiterated the importance of free, fair, and inducement-free elections. He emphasised that all political parties should be given a level playing field and that borders would be sealed to prevent any disturbances from neighbouring states. The term of the Maharashtra Assembly is set to end in the last week of November. (ANI) Union Minister JP Nadda on Friday hit back at National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah over his statement blaming the central government for 'lower voter turnout' in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Nadda, denying Omar Abdullah's claim, said "he is bad in mathematics". Speaking at a press conference, JP Nadda said, "If one wants to see the poll percentage, it used to be 6 to 8 per cent but today it is 58 to 60 per cent. If he was bad in mathematics, what could I do? There was 60 per cent voting in the first phase and 58 per cent in the second phase." On Thursday, Omar Abdullah said that the central government is 'partially responsible' for the 'lower voter turnout'. "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. 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," Omar Abdullah said. The second phase of J-K assembly polls recorded a turnout 57.31 per cent was in phase-2, 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 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) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday criticized the Karnataka Congress for withdrawing its support for a CBI investigation into the alleged MUDA "scam", accusing the party of turning into "Bhrashtachar Ke Bhaijaan" instead of running a "Mohabbat Ki Dukaan." Addressing a press conference, Poonawalla questioned the moral basis for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remain in office, alleging that the Congress party's governance revolves around benefiting their family members through corrupt practices. "Congress is a 'zameen se judi hui' party. Wherever they come into power, they register land in the names of their relatives--be it National Herald, 'Damad' in Haryana, or the wife in Karnataka. They make their family members the beneficiaries and, hence, it is called a 'zameen se judi hui' party," he said. Poonawalla went on to allege that the Congress party's modus operandi is to loot the public after coming into power. "After the MUDA scam worth crores of rupees was disclosed in Karnataka, Congress has acted like a certified 'lootera'. To save themselves from the hands of the law, they withdrew the general consent of the CBI. They are behaving like professional thieves. The Congress party's approach has shifted to stealing first and then acting with impunity. This attitude toward corruption evident not just in Karnataka but has become pervasive throughout the entire country," Poonawalla said. Poonawalla remarked that the Congress party's primary objective had become committing corruption first and then playing the victim card after a court order. "They would oppose the agencies by any means necessary to prevent them from entering, as they believed that looting was their birthright. Congress party being the party of thieves was fleeing like a professional criminal and had withdrawn their general consent for a CBI investigation to keep the agency from entering the state altogether," he added. Poonawalla also alleged that Congress leaders insulted and verbally abused the Karnataka governor. "Recently, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has faced three strikes. First, the Governor characterized the MUDA scam as a significant scandal and agreed to its investigation. The second strike came from an order issued by the Karnataka High Court, while the third strike was from a Special Court that ordered the filing of an FIR against the Chief Minister. Despite these three strikes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress party exhibited three notable reactions. They initially questioned the judgment of the discerning and diligent Governor Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, who belongs to the SC community. A Congress leader went so far as to insult the Governor, verbally abuse him, and issue threats against him," he said. Poonawalla pointed out that despite the High Court's order, the Congress party continues to question the Governor's judgment. "The Congress party, which claims to run a 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' and speaks grandly about freedom of the press and speech, when confronted, arrogantly pushed a reporter's microphone away and questioned who the reporter was to ask such questions. This shows that Congress isn't running a 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan,' but rather is a 'Bhrashtachar Ke Bhaijaan,' a 'Media Ko Dhamki Ki Dukaan,' and a 'SC Samaj Ke Governor Ka Apmaan Karne Ki Dukaan'," he said. Poonawalla further mentioned that the third response, which came yesterday, was that the Congress party, acting like professional looters, directly withdrew the general consent for the CBI. "This move by the Karnataka Congress government reveals a guilty mindset--it's a clear attempt to block the CBI to avoid investigation. The Congress government was formed in Karnataka in May 2023, but now, in September 2024, they suddenly claim the CBI is acting vindictively?" he added. Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. (ANI) Indore Municipal Corporation decided to install an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system in AICTSL (Atal Indore City Transport Services Limited) city buses to monitor drivers' activity like being in an inebriated state, sleeping, feeling unwell or talking on mobile. It will convey a message to the city bus control room. The AI system will be installed in five buses as a pilot project and later on it will be installed in other buses based on the results of the initial pilot project. Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava told ANI, "Safety is the first priority in the vision of Digital Indore and that is why Indore has become the first city in the country to make a CCTV surveillance policy. In the series, CCTV cameras have been installed in the city buses running under AICTSL and now we are going to start using Artificial Intelligence for monitoring the drivers in these buses very soon." "We will take this project forward based on the idea of a Delhi-based company. Under which, breath analysers (Liquor detectors) will be installed and the bus will start only after the test. There will be surveillance on the driver and the conductor, a dash camera will be installed which will read the driver. If it seems that the driver is unwell or he is feeling sleepy or talking on the phone, it will monitor and convey a message to the city bus control room," he said. Apart from this, the camera will also record many other things. So, it is a major step being carried out from the point of view of safety, the Mayor added. Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Shivam Verma told ANI, "We constantly try to provide better and safer travel to the passengers in the city buses. Keeping this in mind, we are going to use AI technology in city buses. If the driver feels sleepy, talks on mobile while driving the bus or driving in an inebriated state, then an alert message will be conveyed in the AICTSL bus control room." The initiative will be started on a pilot basis and an AI system will be installed in five buses initially. After the results, it will be installed in other buses as well, he added. (ANI) Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, hit out at the Bharatiya Janata party-led Centre over what he called a "monopoly model," claiming it has led to job losses, devastated micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and deprived many individuals of opportunities. "Modi ji's monopoly model has taken away jobs, devastated MSMEs and deprived people of opportunity. India deserves better," Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress leader was holding a discussion with business owners and professionals in Jammu wherein he cited the reasons for unemployment in the country. He further said that India has a huge skill set, but the severe attack on smaller businesses from big monopolies is exacerbating the unemployment situation in the country. He added that demonetisation, import duties, and GST were all designed to "hurt" people economically. Rahul Gandhi called on the government for simplifying GST and opening up the banking system to small businesses to promote opportunities and job creation. Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi said, "India has a huge set of skills, India is not the government of India, India is 'you.' The simple biggest reason in my view as to why we are having unemployment is because the basic structure of employment, which is smaller and bigger businesses, is under severe attack from 5-10 really big monopolies." "They are not production monopolies. For example, a country like Japan has large monopolists as well, but their monopolists produce things, they are not simple traders. Our biggest monopolists do not produce things, they simply trade things. These large monopolists have control of the political system and they are organising a systematic attack on you people. GST was designed to hurt you people, demonetisation was designed to hurt you, people, and import duties were designed to hurt you people," he added. The LoP took to his social media handle and shared a clip of the interaction he had at the event in Jammu. "The frustration in the eyes of a young startup owner from J&K reflects the struggles of most entrepreneurs and small-business owners in India. 'Modi ji's monopoly model' has taken away jobs, devastated MSMEs and deprived people of opportunity," Rahul Gandhi posted on X. "The systematic attack on small and medium industries through incompetent policies like a bad GST and demonetisation has turned India from a producing economy to a consuming one. At this rate, we can neither compete with China nor ensure prosperity for all Indians," he added. Adding further, he said, "India deserves better. We must simplify GST and open up the banking system to small businesses to promote widespread opportunity and job creation." https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1839549219784311278 Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi, slammed the BJP-led Haryana government in a public rally for the lack of employment opportunities, leading to youth migration. During his address, the Congress leader used examples from the struggles of children whose parents migrated to America and got stuck there with no prospects of returning. The Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition shared the story of a boy named Dev, who cried out for his father. He said, "Dev's trembling cry - 'Papa, come back!' - was heart-wrenching. "Gandhi noted that while Dev's cry might not reach Prime Minister Modi's heart, it has impacted him deeply. "It is the duty of the Congress party to stop these cries, wipe these tears, and ensure a happy life with their families by giving proper opportunities to the youth of Haryana within the state itself - and we will do it!", the Congress leader said. Ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Rahul Gandhi laid out several promises, including financial support for women and jobs for the youth. He said, "The first step is Mahila Shakti, Rs 2000 per month to women, and a gas cylinder worth Rs 500. The second step is that we will fill the two lakh vacancies that are lying vacant in the government for the youth and give them to you." He also promised a Minimum Support Prices (MSP) guarantee for farmers and provide immediate insurance money for losses. "Housing for the poor will include a 100-yard plot and Rs 1.5 lakh, three lakh rupees for two houses, two rooms, two bedrooms, and 300 units of free electricity," he added. Haryana will go to polls on October 5 to elect a 90-member state legislative assembly to form its next government, with the counting set to take place on October 8. (ANI) India's DRDO was in the process of developing hypersonic missiles for the defence forces of the country, who are now looking to induct long-range cruise and ballistic missiles like the 2,000 km range Nirbhay and 400 km range Pralay missiles. Director General of Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery, Lt Gen A Kumar, said the force was also looking at long-range rockets and looking to extend the range of the indigenous Pinaka rockets up to 300 kms in coming times. The officer said that the Indian Army has got clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council for getting Pralay ballistic missiles and Nirbhay missiles. Giving details of the missile programme at a press gathering, he said, "Development work is also in progress by DRDO for Hypersonic Missiles...Our missile programme is progressing well at the desired pace, wherein research and development is being carried out by DRDO to enhance range, accuracy and lethality of both ballistic and cruise missiles." Lt Gen Kumar further said that the "Pinaka has been the success story of Atmanirbharta drive. The equipment has been extensively exploited and has added more punch and lethality to Artillery's arsenal. More Regiments of Pinaka are being inducted." Speaking on the ammunition, he said a lot of improvements are being undertaken to enhance the accuracy and lethality. "We are continuously engaged with private and public sector industries and academia for the development of Sensor Fuzed Munition (SFM), Extended Range Ammunition using Ramjet and Course Correctable Fuze (CCF)," he said. Lt Gen. Kumar said to give teeth to our precision capability, "We are procuring Loiter Munitions, Swarm Drones, Runway Independent RPAS and the like. He said that due emphasis is also being laid on strengthening our intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance architecture to enhance battlefield transparency, so as to have effective sensor to shooter linkages, also called 'Kill Chains'. On the training of Agniveers, we have taken a number of steps to modernise our training and administrative infrastructure. State-of-the-art physical training facilities have been established, and classrooms have been equipped with audio-visual training aids. The ongoing operational situation along our Northern borders warrants reorientation of training, and accordingly, primacy has been accorded to incorporating operational realities in training curriculum, he said. Due emphasis is being given on training on Niche Technology Equipment to include Runway Independent RPAS, Loiter Munitions and Swarm Drones. Kumar said that a total of 19 women officers have been commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery till date. "All these women officers have been posted to units with different equipment profiles and terrain conditions. We have full faith in their abilities and are sure that they will excel in their service career," he said. On the lessons from the Russia and Ukraine war that has entered its third year with no signs of abating, Kumar said that "a number of lessons have emerged, and these are being given due attention." "Our focus will continue to remain on enhancing our operational preparedness to effectively integrate to operate in a combined arms environment and continual innovations in our technical, tactical and employment philosophies so as to stay ahead of challenges and threat," (ANI) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday postponed his planned visit to Tirumala for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara, after which the Telugu Desam Party attacked the YSRCP chief and called him "anti-Hindu." This comes after the BJP and TDP demanded Jagan Reddy declare his faith before visiting the temple. Addressing the press conference, the YSRCP chief said that "I am postponing the Tirumala visit. Many questions have been raised about my caste. I read the Bible at home, and I respect and follow Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. I belong to the community of humanity. What does the Constitution say? If a person equivalent to the Chief Minister is not allowed into the temple, I question how Dalits will be treated." On being asked if this (Tirupati Laddu Prasadam issue) is a serious blasphemy, he said, "That is exactly what I have been telling. It is worse than that." Reddy also accused CM Naidu of "blatantly lying" about the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam, adding that the ghee procurement e-tender is a routine process that has been happening for decades. "The demon rule is continuing in the state. The government is trying to obstruct my upcoming visit to the Tirumala temple. Police have issued notices to YSRCP leaders across the state regarding the temple visit. The notice states that the visit to the Tirumala temple is not permitted, and the program organised by YSRCP does not have the necessary approval. Consequently, leaders are not allowed to participate in that programme," Reddy said. Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy, TDP National Spokesperson, attacked the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for cancelling his trip to Tirumala. "By cancelling his trip to Tirumala, Jagan Reddy has once again proved that he is anti-Hindu. The only thing that he had to do to have a darshan of Lord Balaji was to sign a declaration, which has been a rule in TTD for more than three decades. Any person belonging to a religion other than Hindu is supposed to sign a small declaration and he has to take permission from the concerned authority to have a darshan of Lord Balaji. So what problem does Jagan Reddy have in signing this declaration? Even people like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who visited Tirmala as President of this country had signed this declaration because he is a Muslim. Many other eminent leaders in our country have done this... Without having faith and reverence towards Lord Balaji, What will you do by having a darshan of the deity? What kind of drama are you trying to play, Mr Jagan Reddy? On one hand, you say that you'll have the darshan of Lord Balaji and pray for forgiveness for what had happened. It is an unforgivable sin. Lord Balaji will never forgive you," Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy said. TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain said that Jagan Mohan Reddy presented a drama of lies or comedy circus through a press conference today. "Jagan Mohan Reddy presented a drama of lies or comedy circus through a press conference today and the public knows about it. He said that today demonic rule prevails in the state, the public can tell what demonic rule is by looking at his 5 years of rule. The way he has done drama by deciding to visit Tirupati temple after hurting the faith and belief of Hinduism and then later deciding to cancel it, it shows his mentality that all this is dramabaazi. He should get the harshest punishment for the sin he has committed," Jain said. The row 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 Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. (ANI) DEFTECH LLC, a cutting-edge defense technology company from Azerbaijan, unveiled a new family of reconnaissance and attack platforms featuring a unique tandem-wing design at the ADEX 2024 arms exhibition in Baku. Originally introduced as conceptual models at ADEX 2022, these platforms have matured through flight testing and are now designed for long-endurance surveillance missions and attack roles. In collaboration with Azerbaijans Ministry of National Defense Production and UAV solutions providers, DEFTECH has made significant advancements with the DT-101 and DT-001 drone designs and their associated loitering munitions. The tandem-wing configuration, a hallmark of DEFTECHs design, enhances the UAVs aerodynamics by providing improved longitudinal stability and lift efficiency, making them highly effective across various flight regimes. The DT-101 is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV built for long-endurance surveillance and targeting missions. It boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 55-75 kg and a wingspan of 3.6 meters. It is powered by a hybrid propulsion system combining a 180 CC internal combustion engine with four electric VTOL motors. Capable of reaching cruising altitudes between 3,000 and 5,000 meters, the DT-101 can remain airborne for up to 10 hours, depending on mission requirements. The heavier DT-001 UAV is runway-launched, with a 75-120 kg takeoff weight, powered by a 360 CC internal combustion engine. It is designed to carry heavier payloads and supports up to two F-1500 loitering munitions under its fuselage. The DT-101 and DT-001 can carry a range of mission payloads, including EO/IR cameras, multispectral sensors, LIDAR, SIGINT/ELINT pods, and jamming equipment. The F-1500 loitering munition, specifically designed for the DT-001, is a compact tube or air-launched system weighing 7 kg. It can loiter for 20-40 minutes and strike targets up to 40 km away. The tube-launched version carries a 1.5 kg warhead with options for high explosive fragmenting, armor-piercing, or thermobaric warheads, while the air-launched version can carry a larger 3 kg warhead. The F-1500 features AI-based target identification, anti-jamming technologies, and an autopilot system for autonomous targeting. The larger F-5000E loitering munition, launched via catapult, weighs 16 kg and carries a 5 kg warhead. Offering greater strike power, it has a range of 250 km and an airborne endurance of up to five hours, providing increased tactical flexibility compared to the F-1500. Azerbaijan has been an early adopter of drone and loitering munitions technologies, widely using these systems in combat. The progress made in domestically developed systems like those from DEFTECH will significantly bolster the countrys defense industry, enhancing resilience amid regional instability. 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. Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India] September 27: Arunachal Pradesh Lt. General KT Parnaik (Retd.) interacted with the students from Tawang and West Districts, who participated in the National Integration Tour to Delhi and Mussoorie at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on Friday. The governor encouraged the students to take to heart the experience of the tour and let it inspire them to become more informed, more respectful, and more responsible individuals. He said that India's strength lies in its people, and the students of the day are the future. With knowledge and a deep understanding of our country, they can contribute to Viksit Bharat@2047 making India even greater, he said. The Governor said that India is truly unique in its ability to harmonize a variety of traditions, languages, landscapes, and lifestyles on the principle of unity in diversity. He advised the students and teachers to take pride in the fact that they belong to a country with a vibrant and timeless culture. Share this pride with others and let it inspire them to contribute positively to our community and country, he said. The Governor commended Gajraj Corps (4 Corps) for organising the tour for students in their area of responsibility. Major Ashish Singh, the officer in charge of the tour briefed the Governor that the twenty selected boys and girls from Government Higher Secondary School, Jang, Tawang District and Government Higher Secondary School, Dirang, West Kameng District along with the teachers participated in the National Integration Tour, named as 'Vigyan Siksha Bhraman', which started on September 18. The students and the teachers visited prestigious institutions and landmarks in the national capital, Rashtrapati Bhawan, the new Sansad Bhavan and IIT Delhi. They also visited the Indian Military Academy and Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and Mindrolling Monastery in Mussoorie. the Arunachal Pradesh Governor visited the Mother's Vision Rehabilitation Centre at Aalo during his recent tour to West Siang District (September 25, 2024). The Governor interacted with the mothers, officials, volunteers and recovered inmates on the occasion. The Governor commended the effort of the Mother's Vision, a non-governmental organisation working for a free society. He said that the NGO is playing a vital role in a process that brings hope, dignity, and second chances to individuals who find themselves in challenging circumstances. Your work goes beyond mere tasks as it touches lives, reshapes futures, and strengthens our communities, he said. The Governor, who has been championing a drug-free society, said that rehabilitation is not just addressing the symptoms, but healing the root causes, understanding the human stories behind the challenges, and building pathways for reintegration into society. Whether it's addiction, mental health, physical disability, or reintegration after incarceration, dedication and benevolent services of the mothers and volunteers have created a bridge to a better life, he said. The Governor appealed to the people to collaborate, understand, and participate in whatever way to create systems that uplift addicted individuals, help them regain their independence, and contribute positively to society. As a token of appreciation and towards the cause of the Mother's vision, the Governor announced a sum of Rs 5 lakh for the rehabilitation centre. The Mother's Vision was established in the year 2013, registered as 'Institute of Rural Development' with 10 light-minded Mothers to work against drug addiction and alcoholism, led by its chairperson Jumde Yomgam Gamlin. Later it was renamed as Mother's Vision. The Mother's Vision started to carry out its awareness campaigns, orientation sessions, workshops, anonymous counseling etc, starting from Aalo town then it extended to nearby Villages and Schools of West Siang district and other Districts. (ANI) A BJP membership campaign program, titled 'National Membership Campaign - 2024' was organised by head priest, Shahid Abbasi in the premises of Dargah Hazrat Matka Shah Baba in Delhi. BJP National President of Minority Front, Jamal Siddiqui, was present as the chief guest in the programme. Under his leadership, hundreds of minorities joined the BJP and got party membership. On this occasion, Siddiqui told the media that the National Membership Campaign 2024 is being run by the Minority Front across the country. The Minority Front has set the target of inducting 50 lakh members. The team of the front is continuously going among the people of the minority community across the country and making them members of the BJP. Through the membership campaign, lakhs of minorities across the country are joining the BJP and getting membership. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the minorities to become members of the BJP. Today in this programme too, a large number of people from Muslim community took membership in the BJP and expressed their faith in the Modi government and its work. He said that today people of the Muslim community are joining the BJP in large numbers and are ready to walk hand in hand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the creation of a developed India. Delhi State Minority Front's State President, Anish Abbasi, said on the occasion, that the membership campaign in Delhi by the Front is progressing towards success in a spectacular manner, and even today a large number of people from the Muslim community have taken membership in the BJP, which shows that only BJP does the real politics of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. Delhi State President of the Front Anish Abbasi, National Vice President of the Front SM Akram, Sajjada-Nasheen Dargah Matka Shah Baba Shahid Abbasi, National Co-Incharge of Sufi Samvad Kamal Babar, General Secretary of Delhi Minority Front Faisal Mansoori, Naeem Saifi, Shabana Rehman, Membership Campaign Incharge Irfan Salmani and workers of the Front were also present on the occasion. (ANI) Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Friday expressed dismay over the brutal assault on the students of Bihar in West Bengal and called it a "shameful incident." "The topic of our meeting was the schemes running in Bihar, but the most important topic was how Bihar students are being cruelly treated in West Bengal... I always raise the issue of how Biharis are treated in other states... This is a very shameful incident, its video has been viral for 2 days... The Constitution of India allows any Indian to go to any corner of the country and get education, employment, or business, despite this, if there is such a mentality in any state then it is a matter of concern. I raised this matter before the Chief Minister," Chirag Paswan told reporters. He also trained guns at former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, alleging him to be silent on the issue. "The Leader of Opposition (Tejashwi Yadav) is silent on this...I discussed this with the Chief Minister. I am happy that the local administration has taken it promptly and contacted the administration there. Chief Minister himself is personally monitoring this matter. I hope that justice will be done to those children," he added. On the incident of alleged beating of a Bihari student in West Bengal, RJD MP Misa Bharti said that RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav took cognizance of it. "We all saw it on social media... RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav took cognizance of it and he spoke to the people there. We got to know that action has also been taken on it. Such incidents should not happen anywhere," Misa Bharti said. Earlier, the Bagdogra police under Siliguri Police Commemorate arrested two people for allegedly threatening and harassing two young men who came to Siliguri from Bihar to attend an exam. The accused have been identified as Rajat Bhattacharya and Giridhari Roy- residents of West Bengal's Siliguri are known to be linked to Bangla Pokkho, a pro-Bengali advocacy organization. The incident came to light after a video of the youth went viral on social media, gaining widespread condemnation. In the video that has gone viral, the youth can be seen sleeping in a room when a group of miscreants entered and asked them whether they could understand Bengali. When one student replied that they couldn't, the miscreants began questioning them aggressively, claiming they shouldn't be taking exams in other states. One of the students attempted to explain that they had been assigned to the Siliguri exam center but was repeatedly asked to show his documents. The group claimed to be from the IB and harassed the youth. Biswachand Thakur, DCP of Siliguri Police, announced that two accused were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening following a complaint. "On the basis of a complaint, two persons were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening on the charge of threatening and harassing two youths claiming to IB, police officers. Further investigation is underway," Biswachand Thakur said. (ANI) Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh NR has lodged a complaint with the Karnataka Lokayukta against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several others, accusing them of land grabbing involving the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, which is reportedly linked to Kharge's family. BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya took to X on Friday and posted, "Ramesh NR of BJP has filed a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others, alleging land grab by the Siddhartha Vihar Trust owned by Kharge's family." "The trust reportedly received free land from the Congress government, raising questions about nepotism and criminal breach of trust," Malviya wrote in his post. Meanwhile, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR on Friday against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment 'scam'. The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B among others, officials said. The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law and others as accused in the case, they added. Earlier in the day, Snehamayi Krishna, one of the complainants in the MUDA scam, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, seeking the transfer of the case from the Lokayukta to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The matter is expected to be heard on September 30. This comes after 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. Earlier today, Karnataka CM's Financial Advisor Basvaraj Rayareddi said that there is no need for the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah. "There is no need for the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah... What wrong has he committed? The High Court has ordered an inquiry. There is a difference between inquiry and prosecution. Anyone can inquire under 17A of the PCA... It is a political game, it is not a corruption case at all. It might be a procedure lapse. But what is the CM's role in this? If anyone has committed a procedure lapse, it is MUDA only... There is no need to demand the resignation of the Chief Minister," Rayareddi said. CM Siddaramaiah earlier reiterated that he will not resign over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. He said that the opposition is making the demand for his resignation in order to destabilise his government. "I will not resign. HD Kumaraswamy is a minister; he is on bail after an FIR was lodged against him. He is a minister in the Narendra Modi government. It's a politics by them to destabilise our government; that is why they are doing it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. On Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's statement, BJP leader CT Ravi said that the whole Congress is scared because they have done corruption. "They should not be afraid of the investigation if they are honest... They revoked (the general consent for the CBI to investigate a state) because they are corrupt... They are scared because corruption charges have come upon them... There is a difference between 'use' and 'misuse'... Did we ask them to do corruption?... The truth comes out when there is an investigation and they are afraid of that," he added. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed happiness after four villages of the state were honoured with the Best Tourism Village Award on World Tourism Day, saying "it is a matter of great pride for 'Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand." Four villages of the state--Jakhol, Soopi, Harshil and Gunji--received the Best Tourism Village Award on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's strong commitment to promoting tourism in Uttarakhand and said that the Home Stay Scheme is proving to be very beneficial in this regard. "CM Dhami said it is a matter of great pride for Uttarakhand that four villages of the state, Jakhol, Soopi, Harshil and Gunji, received the Best Tourism Village Award on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The state government is fully committed to promoting tourism in the state. The state government's Home Stay Scheme is proving to be very important in this regard," according to an official release. The Chief Minister further said that the state government is also promoting adventure tourism activities in the state along with developing new tourist destinations, which is helping generate employment in the state. "The state government is doing the best work in every field by following the path shown by him. With the cooperation of the public, positive results are coming in every field in the state. He said that unemployment has come down by 4.4 per cent in the state," said CM Dhami. "Uttarakhand has come first in the ranking of Sustainable Development Goals released by NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister said that the state government has set an example by implementing strict anti-cheating laws to prevent cheating in examinations. As a result of this, the state government has succeeded in recruiting more than seventeen thousand posts with complete transparency in the recent past," it added. Further, Chief Minister Dhami said that works are underway at a fast pace to implement the Uniform Civil Code. Earlier on World Tourism Day on Thursday, CM Dhami said that Uttarakhand has a special place on the tourism map of the country and the world due to its rich culture and heritage. The diversity of the multifaceted folk culture, handicrafts, natural beauty, folk music, and dances of the state in the festivals, fairs, and celebrations here has always been a centre of attraction for tourists, he added. The Chief Minister said, "The Char Dhams have been the centre of faith for crores of people in the country and the world for centuries. Tourism has an important contribution to strengthening the economy of the state. He mentioned that the expansion of road connectivity and air connectivity will definitely boost the tourism of the state and will be beneficial for the economy of the state." He further said that with the cooperation of the Central Government, air connectivity is also being strengthened in the state. "The dream of rail in the hills is going to be fulfilled. Due to the natural beauty of the state, there are immense possibilities for tourism, industry, and trade here. Homestay is being further promoted in the state. This will also strengthen rural tourism and the economy," he said. The Chief Minister said that tourism is the basis of both development and employment in the state. Tourist places are the symbols of our historical and cultural civilisations and our identity. In Uttarakhand, the centre of divinity and spiritual experience, a plan is being implemented to develop new tourist places to link tourism with employment. He said that Uttarakhand has always been ready to welcome guests along with spreading the message of "Atithi Devo Bhava" in the country and the world. The Chief Minister also appealed to the people of the state to participate in spreading the importance of World Tourism Day to the people while maintaining our glorious tradition of welcoming and hospitality to the tourists coming to the state and preserving historical monuments. (ANI) Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Gurbachan Singh Chhaba on Friday suggested the government should come up with a permanent solution on the stubble-burning issue and said that no farmer wants to burn stubble but they are helpless. "No farmer wants to burn stubble but they are helpless. Preparing one's field (for the next crop) is very expensive...The government invents new machines every year and the machines from the previous year become metal waste. Farmers have to procure machines every year, there is no solution to this. The government should come up with a permanent solution to this stubble-burning issue," Chhaba told ANI. Earlier today, an incident of stubble burning was seen in the field in Chabba village of Amritsar. Earlier on Wednesday, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Dr Adarsh Pal Vig said that from September 15 till September 25, 93 incidents of stubble burning have been reported in the state, adding that in the last two years, there has been a drastic reduction in stubble burning incidents. "From September 15 till today, 93 incidents of burning have been reported in Punjab. Amritsar, Guradpur, and Tarn Taran have early harvesting. In the last two years, there has been a drastic reduction in incidents, with around 36,000 incidents reported last year as compared to over 70,000 incidents in the year before it. In the last two years, a 46 per cent-50 per cent reduction in cases has been reported. We have to bring this number to zero," Vig said. The Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said that with the collective effort of farmers, industry, the energy department, the agriculture department, and the public are working together towards it. "Out of the 6 million tonne stubble, 4 million tonne stubble is being burnt in industrial boilers in different industries today. The Punjab government has earmarked Rs 25 crore in benefits to those who install paddy-based industrial boilers. 4 units for compressed biogas have been set up and 7-8 plants are planned. For storage of stubble, government and panchayat land is also given. Today, farm stubble pellets are being used as fuel in thermal power plants in Punjab and also brick kilns. 18 farm stubble pelletisation plants have been set up and 19 are in the pipeline," Vig added. Punjab Minister Balbir Singh said that the state government has enough equipment to fight against the stubble burning and urged the farmers to come and meet them if they have any issues. "Stubble burning first affects the person burning it, his family members, and people of his village because all of these people are inhaling it directly... It can cause problems like coughing, chronic bronchitis, and eyes burning. It also affects pregnant women and children. Ecology is also affected, and birds and animals die. Invisible and friendly bacteria are killed...This is a collective responsibility. We have enough equipment, and a lot of NGOs are collaborating with us... I request the farmers to come and meet us if they have any issues," Singh said. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh on Friday met with Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in the national capital amid the row over the mandatory display of the identity of street vendors i n the state. After the meeting, Vikramaditya Singh told ANI that during the meeting they held discussions about the party and organisation activities. "Most of the discussions were about the party, how we should further increase the organisational activities, and how we should strengthen the organisation and move forward in that way," Vikramaditya told ANI. "As far as whatever has been reported in the media, I have said very clearly that the interests of the party and the people of the state are best for us, and whatever action is going on in it, whether it is a hearing of the Supreme Court or an order of the High Court, it is our duty to implement it from time to time, within the ambit of the law, so for this (eateries displaying the names of owners), a committee has been formed." The Minister emphasised that it is their duty to protect the interests of the Himachal. "It is very clear that protecting the interests of Himachal and taking it forward is our duty and our responsibility, and we will never step back from this...," he said. On Himachal Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur's statement, he said, "We have definitely formed a committee on this issue. In the all-party meeting, there will be people from the opposition and people from our party, and everyone will discuss and brainstorm..." Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday announced that it will be mandatory for all shopkeepers and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh to display their identity cards. However, the Himachal Pradesh government clarified on Friday that no decision has been taken so far to make it mandatory for street vendors to display their identity cards. Following the statement of Vikramaditya Singh, the government emphasised that the assembly-formed committee responsible for draughting the policy has not yet convened. Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, while speaking to ANI, stated, "The Speaker has constituted a committee that includes ministers from both Congress and BJP, alongside other MLAs. Only after the committee's report is considered will the cabinet take a final decision. So far, the government has not decided that vendors need to display their identity or photos." He further addressed comparisons to policies in other states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, and dismissed the idea of following the "UP and Yogi model." "There is no need for a UP-style model in Himachal Pradesh," Chauhan asserted. He also reiterated that the government is working independently to shape its policies, stating, "We will take a decision on this based on our discussions, the committee's report, and the feedback from the people." Vikramaditya Singh, in his capacity as the Urban Development Minister, discussed the issue with officials. The committee in question includes key members, such as the Health Minister, who will deliberate on the matter before the cabinet makes any decisions. Chauhan further clarified, "The people who work here have licenses. There has been no decision so far to mandate vendors to display their name, photo identity, or registration number outside their shops." He also highlighted the government's welcoming attitude towards workers from other states, emphasizing, "Anyone from any part of the country is welcome to work in Himachal Pradesh. We will maintain records, but under constitutional rights, people are free to work in any state. Our priority is to keep proper records, but we don't see a need to emulate policies from other states," Chauhan said. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in the fourth edition of Regional Industry Conclave held in Sagar district on Friday and said that investment proposals of around Rs 23000 crore received and around 27,875 job opportunities would be generated. The fourth Regional Industries Conclave of the state was organised at Jawaharlal Nehru Police Academy Ground in Sagar on Friday. Industrialists and investors across India and abroad participated in the conclave. CM Yadav also held discussions with the industrialists on the occasion. "Today is a historic day for Sagar. Since, we started the Regional Industry Conclave, we are organising the conclaves in various divisions in the state. When we organise the conclave in any division, it covers all the districts focusing on all the job-oriented sectors across the state. I am happy to say that with the development of industries not only economic growth happens but also it generates local job opportunities. Today, it was the fourth edition of the Regional Industry Conclave held in Sagar," CM Yadav told reporters. Over 3500 industrialists and representatives of six countries which include Magnolia, Algeria, Kenya, Canada, Iran, and Thailand participated in the conclave. Besides, investors from 10 states came to the conclave. Along with this, top industrialists of various sectors which include petrochemical, textile, garments, renewable energy, agriculture, food and tourism also participated in the conclave, he added. "Discussions were held with industrialists. Due to Madhya Pradesh's favourable industry policy and industry-friendly atmosphere, investment proposals are getting passed continuously. I am happy to say that investors came to set up one unit here, but after seeing the atmosphere, the investor wished to take one more proposal," CM said. "In order to increase investment in the state and facilities, we have started our office in Coimbatore today which will work as a mediator between investors of that region and the MP government. Along with this, I have announced plans to open two more offices in Kolkata and Maharashtra as well. Investment of around Rs 23 000 crore has been received from Sagar Regional Industry Conclave and 27,875 job opportunities will be generated from it," CM said. He further briefed about the major industries investment details and job opportunities generated from it. The Regional Industry Conclaves are being held in the state as a pre-event of the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025". GIS-2025 is proposed to be organised in Bhopal on February 7 and 8 next year. The main objective of the GIS-2025 Summit is to establish Madhya Pradesh as a favourable investment destination and to include it among the leading states of the country by highlighting the capabilities, abundant resources and favourable industrial environment of the state. The first edition of Regional Industry Conclave was organised in Ujjain on March 1 and 2 this year. Later, the conclave was held in Jabalpur on July 20 and then in Gwalior last month on August 28. (ANI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is also Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Regional Chairperson, inaugurated the archive cell of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Library on Friday, a press release said. The inaugurated arhive cell of Mizoram Legislative Assembly Library is the outcome of the initiatives taken by Mizoram Legislative Assembly Speaker Lalbiakzama with a limited fund gathered from the office expenses of the State Assembly. The archive room will maintain important old documents and record proceedings from the times of Mizoram being a District Council and UT dating since 1972, it added. According to the release, the room is equipped with several amenities, which will provide easy access to the documents for the member visitors. The arhive cell was inaugurated in the presence of state CM Lalduhoma, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Speaker Lalbiakzama, Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, and Chairman of CPA Indian Region, Zone III, and Speakers and Deputy Speakers of CPA India Region Zone III Member States and other dignitaries. OM Birla arrived on Thursday to attend the 21st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region, Zone III Annual Conference, which has a theme: 'Fostering Legislative Sanctity'. He was also accompanied by the Secretary General of Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, and Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, P. C. Mody. It is notable that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to strengthen the Commonwealth's commitment to high standards of democratic governance and the parliamentary system. The CPA is one of the oldest organizations in the Commonwealth. Established in 1911, the federation is made up of more than 180 legislatures divided between nine geographical regions of the 54 Commonwealth countries. It provides an opportunity for MPs and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and share good practices. CPA India Region was established in 2004 as one of nine regions from the erstwhile CPA Asia Region. It has 31 Member Branches. 30 State/Union Territory Legislatures including the Parliament of India. 10 CPA India Region Conferences have been organized, so far. It is also pertinent to note that 20 Regional Conferences have been organized in the North Eastern States including the programmess organized by the North Eastern Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) and CPA Zone-III. CPA North East Region has been organizing this regional Conference regularly since 1997. Conferences have been organized regularly aimed at strengthening democracy in the North-Eastern region. This reflects the commitment and faith of the common people in the democratic institutions and processes of the nation. Every possible effort is now being made towards a prosperous and progressive North-East. The North Eastern Council was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1971 for the socio-economic development of the region, with the Chief Ministers of all eight states of the region as members. Keeping in mind the development of the North Eastern States, the Government of India established the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) in 2001. (ANI) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Priyank Kanungo on Friday responded to the death of a school boy in Hathras and labelled the crime as 'unforgivable' and a result of 'carelessness'. "The heinous crime that took place is unforgivable and a result of carelessness. The commission has taken cognisance of the incident. A team of NCPCR from Delhi will go to investigate this. Under the leadership of the state commission chairperson, this incident will be probed and a report will be submitted to us. Prima facie, it appears that rules were broken, guidelines of government of India were not followed." Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh police arrested five people in connection with the alleged murder of a student at his school under Sahpau Police Station in Hathras. The accused were identified as Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, Jashodhan Singh alias Bhagat ji, Laxman Singh, and Virpal Singh alias Viru. The five accused have been booked under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sent to judicial custody, said police. The FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of a man, who stated that Dinesh Baghel and other accused told him that they strangled his son and killed him on September 23. As per the FIR, the child lived in the hostel of the school. According to the police, the boy was allegedly murdered on September 23 at the hostel of a private school in Hathras. Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "On 23rd September, a student was murdered at the hostel of DL Public School under Sahpau PS. A case was registered under relevant sections on the basis of the statement of the complainant. Five accused, including the owner of the school, have been arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody. Police will take action by investigating all angles." Reacting to the incident, a Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Anita Agarwal, said that she would recommend to the State Administration to de-recognise this school. "This is a heinous incident. We will take action in this matter. I will recommend to the State Administration to de-recognise this school," Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Anita Agarwal, said. (ANI) 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) 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. The Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, participated in the inaugural session of the 21st Annual Conference of CPA India Region Zone, consisting of north-eastern states, in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Friday. In his address, the Deputy Chairperson emphasised on the focus of Union Government in implementing more infrastructure projects and incentivising economic activity in the region. He also commended the Presiding Officers of the North East for being proactive in discussing various regional issues and meeting regularly. While underlining that the North Eastern region contributes about 2.83% of the country's GDP, he added that in coming years it will contribute a lot more to the nation's economy as more infrastructure projects become operational. "About Rs. 5 lakh crores have been spent by 54 different Union Ministries since 2014. The North Eastern region is a land of immense economic potential. It has a wide array of opportunities that can contribute substantially towards the Prime Minister's goal of a Vikasit Bharat by 2047," he said. "Eight new airports have come up in the region since 2014 and the total number of airports has increased to 17 in this region. This has also led to significant increase in aviation traffic. As envisioned a few years ago, Guwahati is already emerging as a major hub for aviation. And better connectivity has also increased the tourism in the region," he said. "On the Railways front, apart from major projects that are underway, there have been several landmark achievements. In 2022, after a gap of 100 years, Nagaland got its second railway station connecting Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Last year, the first Vande Bharat train was flagged off from Guwahati. In a few months, Aizawl will be the latest capital to be connected by rail network. Since 2014, a total of 1012 kilometres of National Highway Roads have been constructed in the region and another 1982 kilometres of NH roads are under implementation," he added. Singh highlighted that, apart from the infrastructure push, the frequent visits of the Union Ministers are helping in mapping the aspirations and sentiments of the local population and effective implementation of the projects of the Government. The Prime Minister has visited the region for over 70 times. He further added that the Parliament too has been proactive in examining the opportunities in the north-east. "Last year, the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce undertook a study on how to promote trade in the northeastern region and held extensive consultations with Ministries, experts from trade bodies, and academics to make key recommendations," he said. One of the topics to be discussed in the conference is about inclusion of North East in the India-ASEAN vision for trade and co-operation. ASEAN is one of India's most important trading partners with a share of 11% in India's global trade. IndiaASEAN trade had crossed $120 billion last year. Emphasising on the balance between promotion of trade and addressing regional security issues, he said, "There is little doubt that there is enormous untapped potential for better trade integration and the promotion of economic partnerships with neighbouring countries in the East. However, as a nation, there needs to be better synergy between the security priorities of our nation and the benefits of free trade. The Union Government is particularly sensitive to this and has taken various steps to ensure that both these goals are met with incremental and effective steps." (ANI) Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge reacted to the FIR filed by Lokayukta Police against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment 'scam', and said that the "law will take its own course." Kharge slammed the Bhartiya Janata Party-led Centre for "targeting" Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case and said that the BJP's main aim is to defame the Congress party. "Law will take its own course...It is not necessary that the government should respond to it as it is an autonomous body, they can take action on whatever they have done is right or wrong. That is one thing. If Siddaramaiah has personally committed a crime, he is responsible, but he has not done anything like that," the Congress President told ANI. Kharge also said that there is no need for CM Siddaramaiah to resign from his post. "Their (BJP) main aim is to defame the Congress party, it is not fair, there is no question of him (Siddaramaiah) resigning from the post," he said. The Lokayukta Police filed an FIR on Friday against Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged MUDA land allotment 'scam', officials said. The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120-B, among others, they said. The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law and others as accused in the case, they added. Earlier in the day, Snehamayi Krishna, one of the complainants in the MUDA scam, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, seeking the transfer of the case from the Lokayukta to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The matter is expected to be heard on September 30. This comes after 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. CM Siddaramaiah earlier reiterated that he will not resign over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. He said that the opposition is making the demand for his resignation in order to destabilise his government. "I will not resign. HD Kumaraswamy is a minister; he is on bail after an FIR was lodged against him. He is a minister in the Narendra Modi government. It's a politics by them to destabilise our government; that is why they are doing it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in the prime location of Mysuru city. Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. (ANI) Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashok on Friday demanded the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment 'scam' and said that the BJP will start the agitation against the Congress government. "We started this agitation against Congress and the CM because of the corrupt Karnataka government. CM Siddaramaiah must resign immediately...We are demanding the resignation of the CM. We will start the agitation against the Congress government. We want a CBI inquiry, only then the truth will come out. We are demanding a fair inquiry, which means CBI," R Ashok told ANI. Earlier today, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment 'scam', officials said. The FIR has been filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B among others, they said. The FIR mentions CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law and others as accused in the case, they added. Snehamayi Krishna, one of the complainants in the MUDA scam, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, seeking the transfer of the case from the Lokayukta to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The matter is expected to be heard on September 30. This comes after 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. CM Siddaramaiah earlier reiterated that he will not resign over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. He said that the opposition is making the demand for his resignation in order to destabilise his government. "I will not resign. HD Kumaraswamy is a minister; he is on bail after an FIR was lodged against him. He is a minister in the Narendra Modi government. It's a politics by them to destabilise our government; that is why they are doing it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife in the prime location of Mysuru city. Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government withdrew open consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe in the state. (ANI) The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on Friday submitted a detailed memorandum to Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Arvind Panagariya, outlining key recommendations to accelerate industrial and economic growth in Assam and the broader North-East region. The memorandum was presented by Sarat Kumar Jain, Chairman of ICC's Assam and Meghalaya Chapter, and Ishantor Sobhapandit, Regional Director, ICC-North East. The memorandum emphasized the need for targeted financial interventions across several sectors vital for Assam's sustainable growth. The ICC called for special grants to improve industrial infrastructure in the region. This includes enhanced road connectivity, rail networks, ports, and power supply, particularly along the North East Industrial Corridor. The memorandum also advocated for support in developing inland waterways and multimodal logistics hubs to improve transportation efficiency. To ensure a reliable power supply for industrial growth, the ICC urged investment in upgrading the power transmission and distribution network. This would provide a steady power supply to meet industrial demand and reduce power outages. Recognizing Assam's agricultural potential, the ICC recommended the allocation of funds to develop agro-based industries. This includes modernizing technology, upgrading storage facilities, and setting up agroprocessing units. The memorandum stressed the need for incentives for industries that align with circular economy principles and promote sustainability. The ICC urged for incentives targeting renewable energy development, including solar energy parks, small hydropower plants, and biomass energy production. The chamber also requested additional support for research and development in clean technologies to position Assam as a hub for green energy solutions. Addressing the region's vulnerability to climate change, the ICC recommended dedicated funding for climate resilience projects such as flood control, embankment strengthening, and river management. The memorandum also proposed investments in climate-smart agriculture and infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. As the North East has abundant resources such as bamboo, oil, coal, limestone, and a favorable climate for agriculture and horticulture, these resources remain underutilized due to a lack of value addition and processing industries; therefore, the ICC recommended promoting value-added industries in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, particularly in sectors like bamboo processing, rubber, and tea. Encourage public-private partnerships (PPP) for setting up modern processing units for industries such as tea, spices, organic farming products, and natural gas. Also, to provide tax incentives and grants for research and development (R&D) to improve resource utilization and product innovation, particularly in environmentally sustainable industries. The memorandum highlighted the need for specific funds to support Assam's growing startup ecosystem. ICC suggested establishing venture capital funds, incubators, and accelerators to foster innovation in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, providing much-needed resources for local entrepreneurs. With Assam's strategic location, the ICC recommended financing cross-border trade infrastructure, including border markets, integrated check posts, and the development of international trade routes. These steps would strengthen Assam's economy while enhancing regional cooperation opportunities with neighboring countries. In conclusion, the ICC urged the 16th Finance Commission to recognize Assam's potential in the agro-processing, renewable energy, and tourism sectors while ensuring adequate financial support to address climate risks and infrastructure gaps. The memorandum emphasized that these recommendations would enable Assam to leverage its unique strengths, propelling the region towards sustainable and inclusive growth. (ANI) As the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections concluded on Friday, National General Secretary of ABVP Yagywalkya Shukla exuded confidence that there is strong support among students for all four ABVP candidates and confidently stated that the student body was set to defeat NSUI on all 4 posts. The voting started on Friday morning in various colleges and departments of Delhi University amid tight security. The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the left-wing student body All India Students' Association (AISA) and the Students' Federation of India (SFI) were the key players this year. Several left-leaning student organisations also fielded their candidates in the DUSU elections. Attributing this momentum to the organisation's commitment to fulfilling last year's promises, the ABVP National General Secretary said that the party has garnered positive feedback from the students. Speaking to ANI, ABVP's Shukla said, "The way the feedback of our workers is coming, in this election, students are extending great support to all 4 candidates of ABVP. ABVP will defeat NSUI on all 4 posts. Last time whatever promises we made, we worked for that throughout the year so voting is taking place in favour of ABVP." The National Students' Union of India officially announced its candidates for the forthcoming Delhi University Students' Union elections last week on September 20. Expressing confidence in the organization's ability to secure a clean sweep, NSUI National President, Varun Choudhary said the elections point towards a significant shift in the political landscape of Delhi University. "We are confident that the DUSU election will be in our favour and result in a 4-0 win for NSUI. We have a clear roadmap of action for Students' Welfare, which we will unveil tomorrow at a presser. This election is about addressing student issues and creating a better future for the varsity," he stated. In the 2023 election, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won three out of the four central panel seats, including the presidential post. Tushar Dedha of the ABVP was elected president while NSUI's Abhi Dahiya, the only NSUI winner, was chosen vice-president of the Students' Union. As this year's elections draw close, NSUI is confident about its candidates and their commitment to transforming Delhi University for the better. The Plan of Action for Students' Welfare highlights specific steps, it plans to implement for improving the student experience and ensure transparent, inclusive leadership. Rounak Khatri as president, Yash Nandal as vice president, Namrata Jeph Meena as secretary, and Lokesh Choudhary as Joint Secretary will contest the polls from NSUI's side. The ABVP had earlier named the candidates; Rishabh Choudhary for President, Bhanu Pratap Singh for Vice President, Mitravinda Karanwal as secretary and Aman Kapasiya as Joint Secretary. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students' Association (AISA), who are contesting the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections jointly for the first time also announced their candidates on Thursday. The last date for nomination papers was September 12, while the final list of the candidates was published on September 13. The polls will were held today, September 27. More than 1.45 lakh students cast their votes in the DUSU elections at the varsity's North and South campuses till 5.45 pm on Friday, an official statement said. According to the office of chief election officer, DUSU, a total of 1,45,893 students from 52 colleges had cast their votes till 5.45 pm to elect a new president, vice president, secretary and joint secretary. In an order passed on Thursday, the Delhi High Court had halted the counting of votes of the DUSU elections till public property defaced by posters, hoardings and graffiti is restored. As per the schedule, DU election results are scheduled to be released on September 28. (ANI) The parents of the 11-year-old schoolboy, who was allegedly murdered at the school in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, demanded justice for their son and said the accused should be hanged. According to the police, the boy was allegedly murdered on September 23 at the hostel of a private school in Hathras. Father of the deceased, Shrikishan Kushwaha, said that his son was "brutally murdered" and demanded the accused to behanged to death." "My son was strangled, he was brutally murdered, His neck's bone was broken, his lips turned blue, I want them to be at least hanged to death. I want justice." Speaking to ANI, Shrikishan Kuswaha said, "At 5, I received the call of the school manager telling me that your son's health is very poor, come here. The school is 6 km from here. I asked them to bring my son here, but he refused. But when I called him, reaching midway, they told me that they had left the school. I called again, and they told me they are in Shahadabad and then said that they are in Khandoli. They have misled me. After 1.5 hour, Dinesh Bhagel was found with my son's body in a vehicle. He was intoxicated. One more person was involved, Laxman Sing, but he was not in the vehicle." Mother of the deceased, Kamlesh, grieving the death of her son, demanded the school be razed down by bulldozer. "Bulldozer should be run on the school. There should be a CBI inquiry in the case...the culprits should be hanged." Kamlesh said. On the reports of 'sacrifice' of the schoolboy, the deceased's father said, "My son was studying there for 4 years. I don't think there was any ritual performed there. He wasn't sacrificed. He was brutally murdered. I want an SIT team to investigate the matter." National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Priyank Kanungo also responded to the death of a schoolboy in Hathras and labelled the crime as 'unforgivable' and a result of 'carelessness'. "The heinous crime that took place is unforgivable and a result of carelessness. The commission has taken cognisance of the incident. A team of NCPCR from Delhi will go to investigate this. Under the leadership of the state commission chairperson, this incident will be probed and a report will be submitted to us. Prima facie, it appears that rules were broken, guidelines of government of India were not followed," he said. Earlier in the day, UP Police arrested five people in connection with the alleged murder. The accused have been identified as Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, Jashodhan Singh alias Bhagat ji, Laxman Singh, and Virpal Singh alias Viru. The five accused have been booked under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sent to judicial custody, said police. The FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of a man, who stated that Dinesh Baghel and other accused told him that they strangled his son and killed him on September 23. As per the FIR, the child lived in the hostel of the school. Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "On 23rd September, a student was murdered at the hostel of D.L. Public School under Sahpau PS. A case was registered under relevant sections on the basis of the statement of the complainant. Five accused, including the owner of the school, have been arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody. Police will take action by investigating all angles." (ANI) Amid the rising dispute surrounding the alleged illegal construction of Sanjauli Mosque in Shimla, which has sparked tensions in the area, various organizations took out a march in a show of solidarity and communal harmony. The march was taken from CTO Chowk to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the Ridge via Lower Bazaar. It saw the participation of people from different faiths and communities, with the goal of delivering a strong message of peace and unity. The march, which was widely attended by people from different communities, was an effort to prevent further escalation of tension. Leaders and community representatives called for peace, stressing the long history of communal harmony in the region. During the event, Sanjay Chauhan, the former mayor and a member of CPIM, voiced his concerns about the current situation. Chauhan highlighted the peaceful coexistence of various religious communities in Shimla, "People of all religions have been living together in Shimla for a long time, but now efforts are being made to spoil the atmosphere due to the dispute," Chauhan said. He further emphasized the need for collective action, saying, "Today, a goodwill march is being taken out by various organizations in Shimla in which people from all communities and organizations have participated and people are being appealed for peace." Chauhan also recalled how Shimla maintained peace and unity even during the turbulent times of the 1984 riots, noting, "Shimla is a peaceful state, and even during the 1984 riots, people of all sections of society showed unity and brotherhood." His remarks underscored the importance of preserving this tradition of harmony and urged citizens to not let external influences disturb the peace." In addition to political figures, representatives from the Muslim community also participated in the peace march. Mohammad Piru, the president of the Qutub Mosque, shared his personal experiences, having lived in Shimla for over 25 years. "Such an atmosphere has never been created here till date," Piru said, pointing to the uniqueness of the current unrest. He called on the authorities to take preventative measures, stating, "The government and administration should verify all the people coming from outside so that the atmosphere here does not deteriorate," he said. Piru also reiterated the core message of the march, which was to ensure that peace remains intact in Shimla. "The message of maintaining a peaceful atmosphere is being given through the Peace March," he said, reflecting the sentiments of many who participated in the event. This demonstration comes at a crucial time when fears of communal tensions escalating are on the rise. The march not only served as a call for peace but also as a reminder of Shimla's long-standing tradition of unity amidst diversity, appealing to the citizens to remain calm and safeguard the town's harmonious spirit. (ANI) Sirsa had moved a petition in 2022 seeking a direction to further investigate and ascertain the role of Congress leader Kamal Nath in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri heard the submissions of the Additional Standing Counsel, Nadita Rao, who submitted that the investigation officer (IO) seeks two weeks' time to file the status report. It was also submitted that a special public prosecutor has been appointed by the government to pursue the case. Petitioner Manjinder Singh Sirsa appeared through video conferencing. He submitted that "government has not filed a status in two and a half years. How do we expect justice for riot victims?" Justice Ohri, after hearing the submissions, granted two weeks' time and asked the investigation officer of SIT to positively file the status report. The matter has been listed on December 6 for further hearing. An FIR was lodged in the Parliament Street police station in 1984. Advocate Gurbaksh Singh appeared for the patitioner. He told that the petition was filed in 2022. A status report was called for by the court. Since then government seeking time again and again. He also said that this case pertains to the killing of two Sikhs near the Gurudwara Rakab Ganj complex. We have moved the petition and sought a direction for investigation and to ascertain the role of Congress leader Kamal Nath and take action against him. (ANI) Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has called for strict action against those involved in the alleged murder of an eight-year-old school student in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. She expressed concern that the country seems to have regressed in recent years. "I can't believe that in the 21st century, 78 years after India's independence, we are witnessing such things...5 people from school are involved in this incident...we sent our children to school so that they can study and become something, so that they can be safe...there should be strict action against this...now it feels like in the past few years, our country has gone backwards," Shrinate said. According to the police, the boy was allegedly murdered on September 23 at the hostel of a private school in Hathras. Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, said, "On 23rd September, a student was murdered at the hostel of D.L. Public School under Sahpau PS. A case was registered under relevant sections on the basis of the statement of the complainant. Five accused, including the owner of the school, have been arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody. The police will take action by investigating all angles." Based on the complaint, school director Dinesh Baghel, his father, and three others have been arrested for the murder. "On September 23, a student identified as Kirtarth was murdered at the hostel of DL Public School under Sahpau Police Station. A case has been registered based on the statement of the complainant," Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh told ANI. "Five accused, including the school owner, have been taken into custody. They have been sent to judicial custody. We are looking into all angles," he added. Meanwhile, devastated by the horrific incident, the victim's family has demanded that the culprits be hanged. "Bulldozers should be run on the school. There should be a CBI inquiry in the case... the culprits should be hanged," said Kamlesh, the victim's mother. Kishan Kushwaha, the victim's father, demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ascertain the real reason behind the murder. "I received a call from the school manager in the morning, stating that my child's health was very poor... They kept misleading me. After one and a half hours, I found my son's body with Dinesh Baghel. My son's bag was also in his car, and Dinesh Baghel was inebriated at that time," he claimed. "Another person involved, Lakshman Singh, was not present in the car. My son was strangled to death, and his neck was broken," he alleged. "I want the culprits to be hanged and for my son to get justice. My son had been studying at that school for around four years, and over 500 students study in the same school. I do not believe that sacrifices or black magic occur in the school. The true reason behind this should be investigated, and I request the Chief Minister to form an SIT," he said. The victim's grandfather, Mann Singh, stated, "He was killed by strangulation. When we reached the incident spot, they (the accused) fled with the child... We caught them in Agra with the child and the school bag." Soon after the incident came to light, the Hathras Basic Education Officer wrote a letter to SP Hathras and other officials to register an FIR against Dinesh Baghel, Manager/Director of DL Public School. In the letter the Hathras Basic Education Officer asked the SP Hathras and other officials to register an FIR against Dinesh Baghel, Manager/Director of DL Public School for "illegally running a residential school from classes 1 to 8 whereas the department had granted recognition only for classes 1 to 5." The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested five people in connection with the case, and further investigations are underway. Devendra Sharma, President of the UP Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called the incident "sad" and expressed concern for children's rights. "It is a sad incident, as such occurrences due to superstition are still happening in our society. It must be stopped, and the Commission for Protection of Child Rights is concerned about children's rights. Politics should not be played regarding this incident," Sharma said. The victim was a student at DL Public School in Rasgawa, located in the Sahpau police station area of Hathras district, where he lived in the school's hostel. The accused have been identified as Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, Jashodhan Singh alias Bhagat ji, Laxman Singh, and Virpal Singh alias Viru. The five accused have been booked under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sent to judicial custody, said police. (ANI) The Delhi High Court ordered a DNA examination of a minor on Friday after a man, claiming to be the child's biological father, requested custody. The court directed this examination to determine the child's paternity. The High Court passed the direction after noting that the biological mother refuted the claim of the man who is her brother-in-law. A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma directed the DNA examination and to file a report by the next date of hearing. The division bench said, "Considering the overall facts since respondent no 2 (mother) denies the fact that the Petitioner is the biological father of the child, this Court deems appropriate to direct DNA testing to be done to establish the paternity of the child-Master 'X." The bench noted the stand of respondent no 2 (mother) is that the legally wedded wife of the Petitioner is her real elder sister and that she had only permitted the child-Master 'X' to stay with the Petitioner and her elder sister for the child's education. "In view of the above, let the Petitioner visit Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital, Jahangir Puri, Delhi at 11:30 AM on September 30, 2024, to provide his DNA samples," the Division bench ordered. It also ordered that the concerned Investigating Officer shall also take the child-Master 'X' to the said Hospital at the aforesaid time for providing the child's DNA samples. Thereafter, the said medical facility shall provide the DNA samples of the Petitioner and the child to the concerned Investigating Officer, who shall deposit the same with FSL Rohini, Delhi for conducting the DNA test, the High Court ordered. "Let a report from FSL Rohini, Delhi be submitted before this Court by the next date of hearing," the bench said. The next date of hearing is October 14. Before passing the direction the bench interacted with the child-Master 'X' and the Petitioner, as also with respondent no 2 (mother) in the chamber. Respondent no 2 (mother) denied the fact that the Petitioner is the biological father of the child-Master 'X'. The child clearly stated that he has always lived with the Petitioner and his legally wedded wife, whom he refers to as 'Bade Papa' and 'Badi Mummy. Master 'X' and the Petitioner are presented before the Court. Further, respondent no 2, who is the biological mother of the child is also was present. The High Court directed that In the meantime, the child Master 'X' shall continue to stay at CHB, Alipur, Delhi. The Petitioner is permitted to meet the child Master 'X' at CHB, Alipur, daily for 1 hour. The order has been passed in plea of Habeas Corpas seeking production of his minor son. It is stated that the minor child is the son of the petitioner and his sister-in-law. The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to produce a minor child before it. The petitioner has moved a petition through advocates Umesh Chandra Sharma and Dinesh Kumar. He is seeking issuance of direction for the production of his minor son, who is currently residing in Children Home for Boys (CHB), in terms of an order dated August 8, 2024, by the Child Welfare Committee-VI (CWC), North-West Delhi. The bench noted in the order that the facts of this case are peculiar. The Petitioner is stated to be married and living with his wife in Calcutta, along with their two children. It is stated by the Petitioner that respondent no 2 is his sister-in-law. Further, it is also submitted that the Petitioner has two sons from Respondent No. 2, and the present petition has been filed seeking production of the younger son. It is the case of the Petitioner that the said minor son has lived in Calcutta along with the Petitioner for the past 12 years, and that during summer vacations the Petitioner along with his minor son was in Bihar from where the said minor child was removed from his custody by Respondent No.2 (sister in law). Advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma submitted that a complaint was lodged by him on June 1, 2024, and June 4, 2024, at Police Station (PS) Roshara, Samastipur, Bihar. It was also stated that the escort order dated July 29, 2024, was passed by the CWC, Hoogly in West Bengal, and finally by way of an order of August 16, 2024, the CWC, Delhi has directed the concerned minor child to be placed in CHB, Alipur, Delhi. It was argued by the Petitioner that the said minor child has always lived with him and wishes to continue living with him. The minor child has, in fact, given a statement to this effect. Standing counsel Sanjay Lao, handed over a status report dated September 25, 2024, authored by SHO, PS Shalimar Bagh, and the same is taken on record. As per the said status report the statement of the child has been recorded before CWC, Kolkata stating that he was forcibly taken to Delhi. He doesn't wish to live with respondent 2. (ANI) The 2024 Children's Band Battle was held at the NCPA Taihu Stage Art Centre, a complex in Beijing's Tongzhou district, on Sept 21 and 22. Fifteen bands stood out as they showcased their talents onstage. Co-organized by the China Association of Popular Music and the China Society for the Studies of Children Literature, the event was open to youth bands from around China, gathering top Chinese musicians as judges, such as guitarist Liu Lin, music producer Bi Xiaoshi and jazz pianist-composer Kong Hongwei. The event aims to provide a platform for children to showcase their talents, forge new friendships and foster communication through the universal language of music. The participating bands were categorized into age groups from 3 to 8 years old, 9 to 12 years old and 13 to 17 years old ensuring that the competition was tailored to each group's capabilities. The judges also worked as mentors to the youth bands, offering guidance during rehearsals and conducting master classes to nurture their musical prowess. Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh hit out at the BJP over allegations that the TMC protects the Rohingyas and not people of other states after Bihar students were assaulted in West Bengal and said that the border is under BSF and the responsibility is of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to stop infiltration. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "Regarding the Rohingyas, from where are they coming? How they are crossing the border? The border is under BSF and the responsibility is of Union HM Amit Shah...Before making any allegation about Rohingyas. They should criticise the Central government and Amit Shah's department. Regarding this issue, we are friendly to everybody. From our state, our youths are going to different states and youth from other states are coming to our state. The incident has taken place. Police are looking after it." He said that from the border line till 50 km, all the areas are under the jurisdiction of the central government and Home Ministry. Earlier, the Bagdogra police under Siliguri Police Commemorate arrested two people for allegedly threatening and harassing two young men who came to Siliguri from Bihar to attend an exam. The accused have been identified as Rajat Bhattacharya and Giridhari Roy-residents of West Bengal's Siliguri are known to be linked to Bangla Pokkho, a pro-Bengali advocacy organisation. The incident came to light after a video of the youth went viral on social media, gaining widespread condemnation. In the video that has gone viral, the youth can be seen sleeping in a room when a group of miscreants entered and asked them whether they could understand Bengali. When one student replied that they couldn't, the miscreants began questioning them aggressively, claiming they shouldn't be taking exams in other states. One of the students attempted to explain that they had been assigned to the Siliguri exam center but was repeatedly asked to show his documents. The group claimed to be from the IB and harassed the youth. Biswachand Thakur, DCP of Siliguri Police, announced that two accused were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening following a complaint. "On the basis of a complaint, two persons were arrested by Bagdogra police on Thursday evening on the charge of threatening and harassing two youths claiming to IB, police officers. Further investigation is underway," Biswachand Thakur said. (ANI) Waqf Amendment Bill JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Friday said that detailed discussions took place with stakeholders as part of its nationwide consultation exercise on the proposed legislation in Ahmedabad. The meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 with the Gujarat government was held in Ahmedabad. According to Pal, the meeting was attended by the Gujarat Home Minister, Gujarat's Waqf board officers, chairman, minority commission officials and Islamic scholars. "Detailed discussions took place regarding Waqf Amendment Bill, yesterday we were in Mumbai and today we are in Ahmedabad. Today, in Ahmedabad, a meeting of JPC members and state govt took place state Home minister, Gujarat's Waqf board officers, chairman, minority commission officials, Islamic scholars, all were part of the meet...we listened to their views and suggestions...our committee will ponder it," BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Aug 8 and was then referred to a JPC after a heated debate. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi 'briefed' JPC regarding their 'concern' on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. "A delegation of the Gujarat Government briefed the Joint Parliamentary Committee regarding our concerns towards the amendments in the Waqf Bill... These concerns were presented for the benefit of all the citizens of the state and the country. It was my responsibility to present the concerns of the state in front of the JPC. As far as the benefit of the state is concerned, the Bhupendra Patel government will present its points firmly. This is an appreciable step by the central government. The states and the citizens are welcoming this. It is in everyone's favour. The Gujarat State government has already said that we welcome this step," Harsh Sanghvi said The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is holding a series of informal discussions with various stakeholders 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. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Philemon Yang, the new President of the UNGA, and reaffirmed India's commitment to the recently adopted Summit of the Future pact, covering a broad range of themes, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Pleased to meet new UNGA President Philemon Yang today in New York. Assured him of India's full support to his vision of Unity in Diversity, Peace, Human Sustainability and Dignity for everyone everywhere." Yang also shared a post on his X handle and wrote about his meeting with Jaishankar and said that the two discussed key priorities and issues for the upcoming UNGA79. "I had the pleasure to receive India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today. We discussed the priorities and key issues for UNGA79, and building on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future. I also appreciated India's role in advancing the interests of the Global South," Yang wrote on X. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of UNGA, Jaishankar also met with the Foreign Minister of Jordan. In a post on X, Jaishankar shared a picture and wrote, "A warm meeting with FM Ayman Hsafadi of Jordan. Our discussions revolved around the ongoing situation in West Asia." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839400654034612448 In another post, Jaishankar wrote, "Bumping into friends at UNGA79. Quick chat with FM Kamina J Smith of Jamaica." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839400329039016190 Meanwhile, Jaishankar underscored the significance of BRICS for multipolarity and global diversity. He further said that the meeting emphasised the need to reform multilateralism and strengthen development. Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Just concluded the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of UNGA79. Underlined its significance for multi-polarity and global diversity. Focused on reforming multilateralism and strengthening development." Jaishankar also stressed achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets during the BRICS meeting. The discussions focused on overcoming poverty, addressing debt, and promoting fair trade. "Also discussed achieving SDG targets, addressing debt, promoting fair trade and overcoming poverty. Thank FM Mauro Vieira for convening and chairing the meeting," the post on X added. (ANI) In a significant blow to Hezbollah, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of Muhammad Hussein Srour, Commander of the organisation's Aerial Command, in a precision airstrike in Beirut. Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, "Eliminated: Commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command, Muhammad Hussein Srour, in a precise IAF strike in Beirut." The IDF further said that Srour was responsible for advancing numerous aerial terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians. "Srour advanced and directed numerous aerial terrorist attacks aimed at Israeli civilians. During the "Iron Swords" war, he executed several terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers using UAVs and explosive devices," the post said. "In recent years, Srour led the manufacturing project of UAVs in southern Lebanon and established UAV manufacturing and intelligence gathering sites in Lebanon, located adjacent to civilian infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon," the post added. The IDF also said that Srour's role extended to the commander of the surface-to-air missile unit, as well as the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force. It said, "He was also the commander in the surface-to-air missile unit, commander in the "Aziz" Unit of the Radwan Force and Hezbollah's emissary to Yemen and the Houthi terrorist regime's Aerial Command." Meanwhile, amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, the United States has called for a 21 day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent an escalation of war and give diplomacy a chance there and in Gaza. Voicing their support for this plan are US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III, British Defence Secretary John Healey, and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who met in London on Thursday at the AUKUS defense ministerial meeting, the Pentagon said in a press release. "The situation in Lebanon and northern Israel is deeply troubling. Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, began firing rockets into Israel in an unprovoked attack the day after the October 7, 2023, terrorist assault by Hamas, Austin said. "Hezbollah has not stopped since. Like any other state, Israel has a right to defend itself. And almost a year later, tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese civilians still cannot safely return home, and we now face the risk of an all-out war, another full-scale war, which could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon, he added. Austin further said that 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," he said. Calling for an immediate ceasefire, Austin said, "An immediate 21-day ceasefire will provide time for the diplomacy needed to achieve a durable arrangement that will allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes. This time can also be used to conclude and implement a deal to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and to bring all of the hostages home." (ANI) Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, asserted that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urgently needs reform to become more representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable. The remarks by Lal came during the UNSC Open Debate on Leadership for Peace. He said the world is grappling with devastating armed conflicts and the current multilateral response is inadequate, failing to prevent or resolve these conflicts. "Serious armed conflicts are impacting lives, economies and societies across geographies in our interconnected world. The current multilateral response is falling seriously short in ending and preventing such conflicts, in tackling unrelenting threats from terrorism, and transnational organised crimes, and in ensuring maritime security, ," Lal said. He said that the UN Security Council mandated to secure international peace and security was designed eight decades ago in a different era, when three-quarters of today's UN member states were colonies and now the times have changed, the world has moved on. He added, "The UNSC has to become representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable. Text-based negotiations must begin. Those opposing a meaningful change to global governance structure are damaging UN's legitimacy, overshadowing its contributions in developmental and humanitarian sectors." Lal during his speech, also criticised Pakistan for its alleged support of terrorism, emphasising the need for the international community to condemn such actions. He said, "... Their (Pakistan) support for the elaborate terror ecosystem, training and harbouring global terrorists is well documented. It is high time that Pakistan starts working for its own people. Their cynical export of terror in pursuit of their vicious agenda can never succeed. Such continuing threats to international peace and security must be firmly rejected by the international community." 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 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. Meanwhile, Lal also spoke about India's stance on nuclear weapons at the High-level Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations. He said, "Nuclear weapons continue to pose a grievous danger to humanity. India remains firmly committed to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament in a specified time frame." (ANI) The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that the advanced "Arrow" Aerial Defense System of the country successfully intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen. Sharing a post on X, the IDF said, "A missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel and successfully intercepted by the "Arrow" Aerial Defense System." "Sirens and explosions were heard following the interception and falling shrapnel," the post added. Meanwhile, Israel has refused to heed calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Notably, amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, the United States has called for a 21 day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent an escalation of war and give diplomacy a chance there and in Gaza. Voicing their support for this plan are US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III, British Defence Secretary John Healey, and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who met in London on Thursday at the AUKUS defence ministerial meeting, the Pentagon said in a press release. "The situation in Lebanon and northern Israel is deeply troubling. Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, began firing rockets into Israel in an unprovoked attack the day after the October 7, 2023, terrorist assault by Hamas," Austin said. Calling for an immediate ceasefire, Austin added, "An immediate 21-day ceasefire will provide time for the diplomacy needed to achieve a durable arrangement that will allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes. This time can also be used to conclude and implement a deal to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and to bring all of the hostages home." Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has strongly denounced the United States for its ongoing support of Israel's military actions in Gaza, calling on the international community to halt weapons supply to Israel, Al Jazeera reported. Addressing the UNGA, Abbas said, "This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people." Abbas also accused the US of allowing Israel's assault to continue by repeatedly vetoing UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. "We regret that the United States, the largest democracy in the world, obstructed three times draft resolutions of the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire. The US alone stood and said, 'No, the fighting is going to continue,'" he said, according to Al Jazeera. Earlier, in a significant blow to Hezbollah, the IDF announced the elimination of Muhammad Hussein Srour, Commander of the organisation's Aerial Command, in a precision airstrike in Beirut. Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, "Eliminated: Commander of Hezbollah's Aerial Command, Muhammad Hussein Srour, in a precise IAF strike in Beirut." (ANI) Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday (local time) that he would be meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday at Trump Tower in New York around 9:45 am (local time), The Hill reported. This meeting comes on the heels of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meetings with US President Joe Biden and US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Washington at the White House, where they discussed strengthening Ukraine's position in the ongoing war with Russia. "As you know, President Zelenskyy 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 a press conference in New York. "And it's a shame what's happening in Ukraine--so many deaths, so much destruction. It's a horrible thing." NBC News reported Wednesday that Trump had decided not to meet with Zelensky. The former president criticised the Ukrainian president, saying while in North Carolina on Wednesday, "He's making little nasty aspersions towards your favourite president, me," The Hill reported, according to the news outlet. Trump's announcement was made the same day that Zelensky visited the White House. Notably, Trump's stance on Ukraine has been somewhat controversial, having previously criticised US assistance to Ukraine and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. In contrast, Biden has reaffirmed US support for Ukraine, pledging to provide the necessary assistance to help Ukraine win the war. Recently, the US announced a new package of weapons and nearly USD 8 billion in aid for Ukraine. During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support of the United States, highlighting that the two nations have stood together since the beginning of the Russian invasion. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1839408344198787165 Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "During the meeting with President Joe Biden, 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." Meanwhile, President Biden took to his X handle to express solidarity with Ukraine. He also stated that Ukraine will emerge victorious in the war against Russia. Sharing a post on X, he wrote, "Today, President Zelenskyy and I sat down again to discuss strengthening Ukraine's position on the battlefield and helping Ukraine rebuild stronger than before. Two things are clear: Ukraine will win this war. And the US will continue to stand by them every step of the way." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1839417002856784021 Zelenskyy also shared a post about sharing the details of the victory plan with Harris and said, "I shared the details of the victory plan with Vice President Kamala Harris. It is very important for us to be fully understandable and work in full coordination with the United States." "We must end this war and achieve just peace. We must protect our people - Ukrainian families, Ukrainian children--and everyone from Putin's evil. We are grateful to America for supporting Ukraine throughout this time," the post added. The Department of Defence (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, the Pentagon said in a press release. This security assistance package commits an additional USD 2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defence, Unmanned Aerial systems (UAS), and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements. (ANI) The 5th edition of the India-Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najah concluded on September 26 with a grand closing ceremony held at the Rabkoot Training Area in Oman. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Amit Narang, the Indian Ambassador to Oman, and Captain Harish Srinivasan, the Indian Defence Attache to Oman. From the Omani side, Brigadier General Abdulkadhim Bin Ibrahim Al-Ajmi, Commander of the 11th Infantry Brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Masood Mubarak Al-Ghafri, Commanding Officer of the Frontier Force, were present to mark the occasion, the Ministry of Defence stated in an official press release. The ceremony followed an impressive joint live-fire demonstration that showcased the interoperability and joint capabilities of the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman. This demonstration was crucial for illustrating how both forces could work together in peacekeeping operations under a United Nations mandate. Approximately 60 soldiers from both armies participated in this significant display of military cooperation. The demonstration featured a series of tactical exercises, including the simulated isolation and clearance of a village in a desert environment, where joint forces comprising Indian and Omani Armoured Personnel Carrier troops conducted house clearance drills and hostage rescue operations. Snipers from both sides also demonstrated their marksmanship, effectively engaging targets throughout the exercise. A highlight of the event was the deployment of advanced Indian-made equipment, such as drones for real-time surveillance and ballistic shields for room interventions and hostage protection. These technologies underscored the commitment of both nations to enhancing their military capabilities and preparedness. The exercise culminated in a flag ceremony, an equipment display, and the exchange of pleasantries between the contingents. The successful completion of the joint exercise reflects the dedication of both countries to maintaining global peace and security. It not only enhanced the tactical skills of the participating forces but also strengthened the bilateral military relations between India and Oman. (ANI) North Korea is likely to conduct a nuclear test, its seventh such test, after the US presidential elections in November, according to an official of South Korea's intelligence agency, Seoul's state media reported. As per a Yonhap news outlet report, Lee Seong Kweun, a member of the intelligence committee of South Korean parliament, the National Assembly, told reporters following a briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Thursday that 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. The NIS told the parliament intelligence committee that a nuclear test could be accompanied by other provocative acts such as a satellite launch and the test-firing of missiles, according to Lee and Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party. The South Korea's intelligence agency NIS also told lawmakers that Pyongyang possesses around 70 kilograms of plutonium and a significant amount of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which is sufficient to build a two-digit number of nuclear weapons, Yonhap said. The South Korean media outlet cited Lee as stating that "externally, it can be interpreted as a move conscious of the US 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." Earlier this month, North Korean media released photographs of leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a uranium enrichment facility as well as photographs of centrifuges that produce fuel for its nuclear bombs. North Korea's nuclear programme is banned under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. The country, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, has never publicly disclosed details of its uranium enrichment facility. According to NIS, as per the Yonhap report, the facility is likely to be the Kangson nuclear complex near Pyongyang. On September 18, North Korea fired unidentified ballistic missile eastward while earlier on September 12, Pyongyang test-fired a new 600mm multiple rocket launcher. (ANI) In an address to the Canadian Parliament, MP Chandra Arya reflected on the tragic legacy of Air India Flight 182, which was bombed mid-air by Khalistan extremists 39 years ago. Arya has criticised demands for a new enquiry into the bombing which he alleges prmotes Khalistani extremists theories. The devastating attack, which resulted in the deaths of 329 people, remains the largest mass killing in Canadian history and is a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism. https://x.com/AryaCanada/status/1839379716089819590 "39 years back Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistan extremists. It killed 329 people and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. Even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. Two Canadian public inquiries found Khalistan extremists responsible for the bombing of Air India flight. Now there is a petition on parliament portal asking for a new enquiry promoting conspiracy theories promoted by Khalistan extremists. Mr. Bal Gupta, whose wife Rama was killed in this attack told the Globe and Mail "It's deeply frustrating. It opens up old wounds all over again. It's all garbage. It's an attempt to gain publicity and support for terrorist activities" Arya said in his speech to Parliament. Recently in June, on the 39th anniversary of the Air India Kanishka bombing, a Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman's tribute to the victims at Queens Park in Toronto was allegedly disrupted by Pro Khalistan elements. Speaking to ANI Bordman had said, "When the Khalistanis came to disturb and interrupt that service, I felt it was important to stand up against them," the journalist remarked, highlighting the need to support victims of terrorism while unequivocally opposing those who seek to perpetrate such acts. We have to support the victims of terrorism but also oppose those who want to commit terrorism. Standing up to evil is, is I think, an important part of what we do today. They came with their Khalistani flags and aimed to disrupt the memorial site." The Indian High Commission in Canada had also criticised any attempts to glorify the act of terrorism. "Any act of glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of AI-182 in 1985, is deplorable and should be condemned by all peace-loving countries and people. It is unfortunate that such actions are allowed to be routine on many occasions in Canada," the Indian High Commission said in a statement on June 24. (ANI) A series of intangible cultural heritage events will be hosted around the upcoming National Day holiday, to enrich tourism experience and meet the cultural demands of residents and tourists, according to the third quarter media conference by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Hu Yan, deputy director of the ministry's intangible cultural heritage department, said that during the National Day holiday, nearly 1,000 events centered on preserving intangible cultural heritage will be hosted across China, including exhibitions and hands-on experiential activities. Among these will be an exhibition and performing arts shows in Guangdong province, featuring intangible cultural heritage exchanges between the province and Shandong province. In Fujian province, an exhibition themed on landscape beauty will showcase intangible cultural heritage works created by 75 national and provincial-level representative inheritors. Intangible cultural heritage will also be highlighted in a series of events aimed at boosting tourism. The Xiaoxitian Temple in Xixian county, Shanxi province, a recently popular tourism attraction featured in video game Black Myth: Wukong, will organize inheritors to showcase their crafts at the site. Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch has voiced serious concerns regarding the alarming rise in enforced disappearances and violence against Baloch students in both Balochistan and Punjab, Pakistan. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Baloch stated, "The rapid increase of enforced disappearances of Baloch students in different areas of Balochistan and educational institutions of Punjab is alarming." She continued, "Yesterday, Hamid Baloch S/O Khan Muhammad, resident of Buleda Kech and a student in the 7th semester at the Department of Sociology, University of Sargodha, was forcibly made to disappear (an enforced disappearance) by state secret agencies from Bahadur Shah Zafar Road in front of Ibrahim Hospital, Sargodha, Punjab. Till now, he has neither been presented in any court or police station nor has his family been informed about his location." https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1839336399859790081 Hamid, a 7th-semester sociology student at the University of Sargodha, was taken from Bahadur Shah Zafar Road in front of Ibrahim Hospital in Sargodha, Punjab. Baloch noted that, "Till now, he has neither been presented in any court or police station, nor has his family been informed about his location." The Balochistan Post reported that Hamid's family and classmates are calling for his immediate release, but his whereabouts remain unknown. On Monday, tensions escalated at Punjab University when Baloch students were allegedly attacked by members of Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing. Reports indicate that at least five Baloch students were injured in the incident, with some accounts suggesting that firearms were involved. Two students sustained severe injuries, leading the Baloch Students Council Lahore to report that police arrested over 20 Baloch students following the altercation. Baloch students have expressed concerns over regular discrimination and violence they face in educational institutions across Punjab, claiming they are often racially profiled and targeted. Mahrang Baloch further emphasized the significant increase in violence against Baloch students in Punjab's educational institutions. She recounted the attack on Baloch students at the University of Punjab and criticized the university administration and police for failing to protect them, stating that instead of providing safety, authorities harassed the students, resulting in the detention of approximately ten students who remain in police custody. Baloch concluded by urging immediate action to halt the forced disappearances of Baloch students and the violence perpetrated against them. (ANI) Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York and discussed the latest developments and issues on the Security Council's agenda. Their conversation centered around the ongoing war in Ukraine and its regional and global implications. They also discussed UN-Russia cooperation, as well as the implementation of the Pact for the Future. https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1839446383465754941 The Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry shared the picture of the meeting and wrote, "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov and UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres hold a meeting on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly." According to the UN's readout released on Thursday, "The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed latest developments on issues on the agenda of the Security Council. They exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and its regional and global implications. They also discussed UN-Russia cooperation, as well as the implementation of the Pact for the Future." Meanwhile, Lavrov also met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss 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. Lavrov, who is currently in US, met several delegates and diplomats on the sidelines of UNGA. which includes Jordan, Sudan , Uzbekistan, Mali and many others https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1839538458093645921 "On September 25, FM #Lavrov & #UNRWA Commissioner-General @UNLazzarini met on the #UNGA79 sidelines, discussed the current extreme surge of tensions in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone with a focus on humanitarian response priorities in the #GazaStrip," the Russian Foreign Minister said on X after the meet with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on the sidelines. https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1839436205890383899 Following this, he also shared a post of his meeting with Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and stated, "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan @AymanHsafadi hold talks on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly." On September 23, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a "Pact for the Future" designed to address 21st century challenges including climate change, conflict, and human rights. World leaders at the UN headquarters in New York adopted the Pact for the Future by consensus, with a small group of seven countries led by Russia holding out, having failed to pass a last-minute amendment. "The Pact for the Future has been adopted by member countries by consensus at UN Headquarters in New York. The adoption will help pave the way for greater international cooperation for our common future," the UN official account posted on social media platform X. The Pact covers a broad range of themes, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. (ANI) The Consulate General of India, San Francisco, has urged local authorities to take action against the perpetrators of the act of vandalism that took place on the night of September 24 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California. In a post on X, the Consulate stated, "@cgisfo has taken up the matter with local authorities to take immediate action against those responsible." This incident marks a troubling escalation in attacks against Hindu temples in the United States, with this being the second vandalism incident within just ten days. https://x.com/CGISFO/status/1839325037301841976 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. (ANI) On Friday, five individuals lost their lives, and 15 others were injured as ongoing clashes - first reported last week - between rival tribes in various regions of Kurram district entered their eighth day. This escalation has raised the total casualties to 46 deceased and 96 injured, according to a hospital official. According to police and hospital sources last week, the conflict began when the Boshehra tribes in upper Kurram started constructing bunkers on the land belonging to Ahmadzai tribes, rapidly expanding the dispute to other areas, Dawn reported. On Wednesday, sources indicated that at least ten more people were killed or injured in Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, Maqbal, and other locations, noting that the main Parachinar Highway and other routes were closed due to traffic disruptions. Qaiser Abbas Banghash, Medical Superintendent at Kurram District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), confirmed the updated death toll on September 27. Former federal minister Sajid Toori acknowledged that armed clashes had severely impacted daily life but expressed hope for a return to normalcy soon, urging people to resolve their issues peacefully. In a separate event, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) parliamentary leader Engineer Hameed Hussain staged a protest outside the Parachinar Press Club, citing the failure of responsible institutions to establish peace, reported Dawn. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur stated a day earlier that significant efforts were underway to uphold law and order in the province, particularly in the southern districts. "After the improvement of the law and order situation in southern districts, more checkposts will be handed over to the police. However, before that happens, there is a need for enhancing the capabilities of police," CM Gandapur said in a statement issued from the chief minister's secretariat on Thursday. The chief minister remarked that the ongoing conflict in Kurram tribal district involved specific groups and that the provincial government was taking measures to peacefully resolve the situation. He noted that the provincial government was striving for a permanent resolution to the issue. Gandapur mentioned that negotiations were also in progress to address the conflict in Khyber tribal district and that a resolution was expected by Friday, Dawn reported. He added that residents in the Mir Ali area would receive compensation and that the cattle market would be returned to the locals following reconstruction, stating that the relief department had issued necessary directives in this regard. (ANI) Taiwan has strongly condemned China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test in the Pacific Ocean, terming it "an attempt to undermine regional peace and stability," Taipei Times reported, citing CNA. The test, which was successfully launched by the People's Liberation Army at 8:44 am on Wednesday (local time), has raised concerns about China's military capabilities and intentions. Further, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence said in a statement posted to social media that the "missile carried a simulated warhead and landed in international waters." The launch was part of the PLA Rocket Force's routine annual training, the ministry said, adding that it complied with international law and was not directed against any country or target, as per Taipei Times. However, government agencies in Taipei on Thursday condemned the missile test. The Presidential Office said in a statement that the launch was a Chinese attempt to undermine regional peace and stability. It called on Beijing to exercise self-restraint and be a responsible regional actor. Further, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that many countries in the Indo-Pacific region had expressed concerns about China's "irresponsible actions, " adding that Taiwan would continue to work with like-minded countries to curb the expansion of authoritarianism, and jointly safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The range of the missile covers most countries in the South Pacific, but Beijing did not announce in advance its projected path or landing point, the Mainland Affairs Council said, calling it "bad behaviour that seriously endangers regional security." This deliberate display of military force has raised regional tensions, and drawn concern from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, it said. The Ministry of National Defence accused Beijing of "sabre rattling" over the test and live-fire drills by the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command. It accused China of creating the "illusion of peaceful dialogue" by having the head of the PLA's Southern Theatre Command conduct overseas exchanges while the drills were ongoing. (ANI) Activists and human rights defenders continue to express deep concern over the escalating severity of human rights atrocities in Balochistan, where Pakistan continues to ruthlessly inflict suffering on the Baloch community without accountability. Human rights activist Arif Ajakia on Thursday condemned Pakistan for its brutal human rights violations in the Balochistan province. Ajakia raised these concerns through a virtual message during the ongoing 57th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. In his intervention at the UNHRC session, Ajakia stated, "The military establishment appoints its favourite people to the Balochistan Parliament, especially in government, to violate the fundamental human rights of Baloch people. In the name of security, the Pakistan military carries out a massive military operation in the Balochistan region. Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights but has miserably failed to fulfil its obligations. In fact, in Balochistan, Pakistan does the opposite of what it promises to the international community." He further emphasised that despite being a member state of the UNHRC, Pakistan is failing to ensure basic human rights for the Baloch community living in Balochistan province. "Pakistan is a member state of the Human Rights Council, but it leaves no stone unturned to violate the rules and morals for which this August Council stands for. Pakistani security forces muzzle voices who speak about Baloch grievances and injustices committed by the state. Pakistan labels Baloch political parties and civil rights organisations as banned outfits; it doesn't even spare student organisations, whereas religious extremists who openly operate in Balochistan are given a license to kill and are used for the elimination of any voices who speak for human rights," he stated. In another intervention during the session, Baloch rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch also voiced similar concerns, stating, "It has been 15 years since my father, D Mohamed Baloch, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces. I was just a child when he disappeared. Initially, I fought for my father's return, hoping to bring him home. But as time passed, I realised that this is not just only about my father. This is the story of thousands of Baloch people who have been taken away." She further expressed, "Today, I speak not only as a daughter but for all Baloch families who are suffering. Thousands of our loved ones have been abducted, tortured, and silenced. Fathers, sons, and even children have disappeared, leaving their families broken and living in fear. These enforced disappearances are not accidents. They are part of a deliberate plan to silence our voices. This is a crime against humanity, and yet it continues with no punishment." Sammi Deen Baloch also noted that demanding rights and justice in Pakistan is considered a crime, with severe repercussions for those who dare to raise their voices. She claimed, "Raising a voice for rights and justice has been considered a crime in Pakistan, and the person who dares to speak for justice will have to face severe challenges and state atrocities. This time, I could have been there to meet you in person, but I was stopped at the airport by state officials of Pakistan, and I was told that my name is on the exit control list, and I was prohibited from travelling. I am here today to ask for justice for all Baloch people who are forcefully disappeared. We need the international community to pay attention, to hold Pakistan accountable, and to help bring back our loved ones. We cannot do this alone." (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], September 27 (ANI/WAM): Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), hosted a high-level roundtable with the Chairman and representatives of the Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group, to discuss updates and developments in the exchange business in the UAE, in the presence of the CBUAE Assistant Governors. The strategic dialogue focuses on key developments in the exchange business sector in the UAE. The participants highlighted the critical contribution of exchange houses to the national financial services landscape with more than 1000 exchange house branches operating across the UAE. CBUAE discussed its main priorities in prudential supervision, market conduct, AML/CFT, and regulatory developments pertaining to exchange businesses. The participants also recognised the progress of exchange business in Emiratisation efforts and digitalisation of financial services in the UAE. Balama said, "We at the Central Bank are keen to enhance the regulatory framework and develop the services provided by exchange houses to support the progress of the financial sector in the UAE." He added, "Our meeting emphasises the importance of regular open dialogue with various licensed financial institutions, to address initiatives aimed at developing the financial sector and infrastructure, and to follow up on the Emiratisation efforts to increase the participation of national cadres in the financial sector, including exchange houses." (ANI/WAM) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) withdrew its plea requesting permission to hold a public rally in Rawalpindi on Saturday, ARY News reported. In today's hearing at Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench headed by Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz, the PTI lawyer said they are withdrawing the plea seeking permission to hold a rally on Saturday. Justice Chaudhry asked, "You are withdrawing the plea after filing it?" and added, "Tomorrow is your rally in Rawalpindi, right? In response to the judge's question, the PTI lawyer said that the party had moved the plea for holding a public rally in Rawalpindi three days back. However, it is being heard today. The PTI lawyer further said that the deputy commissioner is also 'delaying' the issue. So, the PTI, on its leadership's instruction, has decided to withdraw its plea, according to Geo News report. Earlier, PTI had approached the deputy commissioner's office to seek permission to hold a public rally in Rawalpindi on September 28. According to details, PTI leaders Ghulam Husnain, Owais Younis, and Nabeel Satti filed an application seeking permission to hold a public rally at Liaquat Bagh or Bhatta Chowk in Rawalpindi. Imran Khan-founded party urged Rawalpindi DC to release NoC for a public rally in Rawalpindi on September 28, citing Pakistan's constitution allows parties to conduct their political activities. Rawalpindi DC has received PTI's request. Earlier, in a video message released on September 22, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur said PTI will hold a public gathering in Punjab's Mianwali on September 29, ARY News reported. Gandapur said, "I will come and hold a gathering in Mianwali, followed by another show of power in Pindi and other cities." "What should I apologise for? I have done nothing that warrants an apology, if you want to file cases, file them," he added. Ali Amin Gandapur criticised ruling parties over their involvement in "unconstitutional activities." He said that the people of Pakistan stand with democracy, the constitution, and PTI founder, Imran Khan, who has been in prison for 414 days, according to ARY News report. On September 21, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a rally in Lahore. PTI's rally in Lahore suddenly stopped before many top leaders could speak, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur did not arrive at the venue ahead of the 6 pm deadline set by the city officials in the no-objection certificate (NOC), which included conditions, Geo News reported. After the deadline expired, Lahore police took control of the stage and turned off the microphone and lights, forcing PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders to leave, according to Geo News report. Except for Gohar and Salman Akram Raja, PTI's first-tier leadership did not address the rally participants, the report said. (ANI) An Anti-terrorism court has acquitted all 18 accused, including the workers of Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the May 9 riots case over lack of evidence, ARY News reported on Friday. According to details, the defendants were charged with obstructing the Torkham Road, causing property damage, and damaging an Anti-Narcotics Force vehicle during a protest in Landi Kotal on May 9. All 18 defendants have been ruled not guilty by the court, which found "no evidence" against them. Judge Muhammad Iqbal of the Special Anti-Terrorism Court delivered the decision. According to ARY News, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration had earlier written to Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to propose the creation of a judicial panel to look into the May 9 riots. The letter stated that the commission should be headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Peshawar HC. The arrest of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, on May 9 resulted in violent clashes across the nation. As a result, the protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to their chairman's arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order, ARY News reported. Army posts, including the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore, came under attack during the rallies held by PTI workers. Meanwhile, earlier this week, a Pakistan investigative agency submitted a supplementary challan in the Toshakhana case against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, reported ARY News. A list of the 24 witnesses in the case is included in the challan that was filed with Special Judge Central. According to the FIA challan, there is hard evidence in the Toshakhana case against the founder of the PTI and his spouse. The challenger said that the evidence demonstrated that the husband and wife had allegedly used corruption and criminal ways to obtain financial benefits, and that the "former premier acquired Bulgarian necklace at lower rate from Toshakhana by using his position." (ANI) Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as well as Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) continue to remain on the receiving end of atrocities inflicted by Pakistan to continue its control over the area. During the ongoing 57th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) activists Mehmood Kashmiri and Sajid Hussain raised their concerns over Paksitan-inflicted human rights atrocities in PoGB and PoJK. Hussain in his intervention at the session demanded that the UNHRC must prioritise finding the follow-up on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' reports from 2018 and 2019. He said that the reports by the UN High Commissioner addressed the grave human rights violations in forcibly divided PoGB and PoJK. According to Hussain, "These reports brought to light critical issues such as excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, and severe restrictions on freedoms of expression and association. There is a deteriorating situation in Rawalakot, PoJK, where Islamic radical forces are exerting pressure and issuing fatwas (religious decrees) against activists involved in rights movements. These decrees can result in various forms of harassment, physical violence, or even threats to life, particularly when directed at activists challenging the status quo. This development can lead to significant intimidation, fear, and the suppression of voices advocating for human rights in the region." While referring to the case of human rights defender, Asma Batool from Hajira, PoJK, Hussain mentioned that her poem which caught the attention of extremist groups caused her severe problems. "She was arrested by the government under blasphemy charges, putting her life in grave danger. Similarly, Arsalan from Arja, Bagh, was arrested and detained, and their families are facing harassment and receiving life threats. Freedom of expression is severely compromised in our region under Pakistan's administration, where religion is weaponized against human rights defenders." He claimed that, "Those who raise their voices for the voiceless are targeted by pro-government clerics, who issue fatwas declaring their activities as anti-Islamic. Asma and Arsalan endured more than 10 days of persecution and solitary confinement. In addition, many terrorist groups operate under government supervision, posing a serious threat to secular, democratic, and progressive individuals like Asma Batool. The Council should take urgent note of this situation and call on Pakistan to protect the lives of its people and put an end to extremism and terrorism in our region." Another activist Mehmood Kashmiri also raised serious concerns regarding grave human rights violations occurring in PoJK which he claimed needed the urgent attention of the UN. "The native population of this troubled region is suffering immensely between extremist forces that exploit religion as a tool for proxy war and political gains. Recently, a fatwa issued by religious clerics, including Mawlana Quddus and others in Rabla court, Poonch Azad Kashmir, inciting violence and the murder of the secular nationalist leaders and rights activists have raised serious concern," Kashmiri said. He claimed that some extremists also openly operate in cities. "Masked armed extremists openly operate in cities, indicating a deliberate state attempt to suppress nationalist movement under the guise of religious extremism. These so-called clerics travel to Western countries to raise funds while issuing fatwa calling for the murder of the peaceful people back home. We urge the Western countries to ban such extremist clerics from entering their country," he said. (ANI) China will take a raft of measures to promote the market entry of medium and long-term capital, in a move to invigorate its capital markets, according to a new guideline made public Thursday. The guideline, issued by the office of the Central Financial Work Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, is designed to streamline the entry of capital from social security funds, insurance and wealth management into the market. Key measures outlined include the development of a market environment that encourages long-term investments and the improvement of the quality of publicly listed companies. The guideline advocates the expansion of public equity funds and supports the stable development of private equity investment funds. Additionally, the guideline seeks to refine policies and institutions that facilitate the entry of diverse medium and long-term capital. It aims, among other things, to significantly increase the scale and proportion of medium and long-term capital investments, create a more balanced structure of capital market investors, strengthen the long-term nature of investment behaviors, and enhance the inherent stability of the market, while steadily improving investor returns. The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee held a meeting on Thursday to analyze and study the current economic situation and make further arrangements for economic work. The meeting called for efforts to boost the capital market, vigorously guide medium and long-term funds to enter the capital market, clear the obstacles for social security, insurance, and wealth management funds to invest in the capital market. China's newest nuclear-powered submarine sank pierside in the spring, and the Chinese navy tried to conceal details regarding the loss, CNN reported, citing two US defence officials. The official said that the attack submarine was the first of its new Zhou-class line of vessels, under construction at a shipyard near Wuhan. The Zhou-class submarines have a distinctive X-shaped stern, made to improve manoeuvrability underwater. A satellite image from March 10, captured by Maxar Technologies, shows the Zhou-class sub, with its signature x-shape tail, docked at the port. Furthermore, Maxar imagery reviewed in June shows that the sub did not return to the pier, according to CNN. The senior US defence official said, "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." Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security who routinely studies satellite imagery of Chinese shipyards, was the first one who observed the unusual activity at the shipyard. "I've never seen a bunch of cranes clustered around (one spot)," Shugart said. "If you go back and look at historical imagery, you can see one crane, but not a bunch clustered there." Looking at older satellite images of the same shipyard, Shugart noticed the submarine's larger size and its distinctive tail, reflecting a new class of submarine. "Usually, those submarines, after they get launched, they're there at the shipyard for several months in outfitting. And it wasn't there anymore," he stated Notably, China has made modernisation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and its submarine force one of its top priorities as it tries to build a world-class military on par with the US. The PLA Navy operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, as per the China military report from 2023. The US Navy has 14 ballistic missile submarines, four guided-missile submarines, 53 fast attack submarines, and the entire US submarine fleet is nuclear-powered. The Wall Street Journal first reported about the Chinese submarine's sinking. The senior defence official said it is not clear whether nuclear fuel had already been loaded onto the submarine or if the vessel was unfueled when it sank. A spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, said: "We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide," according to CNN report. China is working on bolstering its ability to make new submarines. Even after the older submarines retire from the PLA Navy, China is expected to have 65 submarines in 2025 and 80 in 2035 due to the growth in its submarine construction capacity, CNN reported, citing the Congressional Research Service (CRS). In terms of the number of ships, China has the world's largest navy. The PLA Navy has 370 platforms, which comprise 234 warships, according to CRS. Meanwhile, the US has 219 warships. Speaking about the Chinese industrial base, the defence official stressed that the incident raises "deeper questions about PLA's internal accountability and oversight of China's defence industry--which has long been plagued by corruption." (ANI) Pakistan has requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide an additional USD 1.5 billion loan to tackle the effects of climate change in the country, ARY News reported. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif spoke about the need for urgent action to control climate change in Pakistan. The loan will support Pakistan's Climate Resilience and Sustainability Facility, which has the goal to promote economic stability and sustainable development in the country Sharif praised the IMF's technical assistance and capacity-building programs, which have helped to strengthen the institutions of Pakistan and improve its economic management, according to ARY News report. Georgieva stressed the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. During the meeting, the two sides spoke about the urgent need to mobilise adaptation financing for climate change. PM Sharif agreed to have the Finance Minister take up the critical issue with senior management at the IMF during the Annual Meetings in October. Shehbaz Sharif and Kristalina Georgieva agreed to boost cooperation between the government and the IMF to promote economic stability and growth, as reported by ARY News. Notably, the IMF released the first tranche of USD 1 billion to Pakistan, which approved a USD 7 billion loan for Islamabad under the Extended Fund Facility, according to ARY News reported. Earlier this year, the Shahbaz Sharif government faced a weak start by securing just USD 436.4 million in foreign assistance and grants in July, nearly 85 per cent less than the amount received in the same month last year, Dawn reported. The USD 426 million in foreign loans and USD 10.5 million in grants during the first month of the current fiscal year seem insignificant against the ambitious USD 19.4 billion target for foreign assistance set for FY25. In July last year, Pakistan received over USD 2.89 billion, largely due to the signing of the 9-month USD 3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF, which enabled Pakistan to secure a significant USD 2 billion time deposit from Saudi Arabia. Total inflows in July 2023 reached USD 5.1 billion, including USD 1.2 billion from the IMF and another USD 1 billion from the UAE. Earlier in August, Pakistan's Ministry of Economic Affairs said that Pakistan received USD 436.39 million in total foreign inflows, compared to USD 2.89 billion in the same month last year. The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) highlighted that the majority--USD 307 million--came from project financing, a 52 per cent decline from the USD 640 million received in July last year, Dawn reported. (ANI) The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scheduled the hearing of the case regarding discrepancies in the intra-party elections of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on October 2, ARY News reported. According to the Election Act of Pakistan, political parties must hold elections within a stipulated time frame in accordance with the party's constitution, failing which they stand to lose their electoral symbol. PTI was scheduled to go for intra-party elections on or before June 13, 2021, but it cited the COVID pandemic as the reason for the delay in elections. This, however, has not been accepted by the ECP due to the lack of provisioning of a formal certificate regarding the same. In its order passed on November 23, 2023, the ECP gave PTI a time period of 20 days to go for fresh elections. Anxious so as to retain its iconic symbol, 'bat', the Imran Khan-founded party went to elections on December 2, 2023, and took less than 10 days to implement the ECP decision, as reported by Ary News. However, the December elections were challenged by Pakistani political leader Akbar S Babar before the ECP, citing 'discrepancies' in the process. The Election Commission held that the elections did not adhere to the constitution of the party, and decided against PTI retaining the symbol. The ruling drew criticism, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan calling it an attempt to "destabilise democracy". PTI said that the ECP's order was "deeply flawed and illegal" and called it "an assault on the integrity of the electoral process." While the PTI has challenged the decision in both the Lahore High Court and the Peshawar High Court, the ECI continues to act on its decision to go forward with the hearing on October 2. (ANI) Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said that he is planning to visit India as soon as possible. He also praised the "very strong" bilateral relationship between the two countries. "I am planning to visit (India) as soon as possible...We have a very strong bilateral relationship," Muizzu told ANI on sidelines of 79th United Nations General Assembly. Notably, if happens, it will be Muizzu's second visit to India, after first making the visit in June during the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is pertinent to note that earlier almost every Maldivian President used to make his first foreign visit to India, but Muizzu changed the trend by first visiting Turkiye and then China, after coming to office earlier this year. The Mohamed Muizzu government in the Maldives took a reconciliatory tone after ties between the two nations soured, leading to a diplomatic row. Since coming to power, Muizzu has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of view of India-Maldives ties. He ran his whole presidential campaign on the lines of 'India Out'. The removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu's party. Last December, the Maldives said it would not renew the Hydrographic Survey agreement made with India. After Muizzu government officially requested India to withdraw troops, the Indian government set up a High-Level Core Group to discuss the matter. The withdrawal of Indian troops was completed in May this year. But the row between New Delhi and Male erupted after three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over his pictures from the visit to Lakshadweep. The matter snowballed into a major diplomatic row, with New Delhi summoning the Maldivian envoy and registering a strong protest against the viral posts. The three deputy ministers were suspended and they remain under suspension with pay. Maldives Tourism Ministry data showed, earlier this year, that the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives dropped by 33 per cent as compared to last year. In August, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited Maldives. He, along with his Maldivian counterpart, Moosa Zameer inaugurated High Impact Community Development Projects and exchanged MoUs in Male. Earlier this year, President Muizzu thanked India for its support of the island nation in easing its debt repayment and affirmed hope that New Delhi and Male would forge stronger ties and sign a free trade agreement. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday once again raked up the Kashmir bogey in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. He called on New Delhi to enter a dialogue with Islamabad for a peaceful resolution of the dispute. "Let me state in no uncertain terms, Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression, therefore, to secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he claimed. Shehbaz Sharif claimed that India was "engaged in massive expansion of its military capabilities," which are essentially deployed against Pakistan. "It (India) has engaged in massive expansion of its military capabilities, which are essentially deployed against Pakistan. Its war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang. Thoughtlessly, India spurned Pakistan's proposals for a mutual strategic restraint to regime. Its leadership has often threatened to cross the line of control and take over Azad Kashmir," Shehbaz Sharif said. Making a reference to the abrogation of Article 370, Shehbaz Sharif alleged that India has initiated unilateral illegal steps since August 5, 2019. "Instead of moving towards peace, India has resiled from its commitments to implement the Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. These resolutions mandate the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their fundamental right to self-determination. Since 5th August 2019, India has initiated unilateral illegal steps to impose what its leaders honestly call a final solution for Jammu and Kashmir," Shehbaz Sharif claimed. India has already made it clear after the Pulwama attack in 2019 that it wants normal bilateral ties with Pakistan, adding that it is incumbent upon them to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostilities. Moreover, India has repeatedly raised its concern over Pakistan's support of cross-border terrorism and has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together. India has also provided evidence at various international forums of Pakistan's support for Terrorist groups. India will now have the right to reply to Pakistan's address at the UNGA. (ANI) The international community continues to raise concerns over the human rights situation in Tibet as it continues to worsen, despite attracting severe condemnation from other countries and human rights bodies. In a recent statement, the representative of the European Union during the ongoing 57th general session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) reiterated its concerns about the continuous dire human rights situation in Tibet, highlighting the obligatory boarding schooling, mass DNA sampling and closure of Tibetan schools, The Central Tibetan Administration reported. In the statement, the EU representative highlighted that harassment, intimidation and surveillance are faced by human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, media workers, writers and intellectuals, including even at the transnational level. The statement delivered by the EU representative at UNHRC said, "The EU remains concerned about political re-education camps, mass arbitrary detentions, widespread surveillance, tracking and control measures, systemic and severe restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, as well as the non-transparent use of the death penalty, the use of forced labour and labour transfer schemes, torture, forced abortion and sterilization, birth control and family separation policies, and sexual and gender-based violence, especially in Xinjiang." During the statement, the EU representative also mentioned that the human rights situation continues to grow dire as China has been conducting obligatory boarding schooling and DNA sampling, as reported by civil society organisations. The EU envoy also stated that it will monitor the preservation of the fundamental freedoms, cultural heritage and identity of Tibetans and call upon China to ensure education in Tibetan language at all levels. The union considered the closure of Tibetan schools a worrying situation. The EU envoy stated that China must cooperate effectively with the OHCHR and implement the recommendations of its assessment report on Xinjiang and of the Universal Periodic Review. It condemned all reprisals by China against entities that seek to cooperate with the United Nations to promote and protect human rights. Additionally, the EU urged China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, to respect, protect and fulfil 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. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], September 27 (ANI/TPS): Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday night in New York, met with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, thanked him for the Netherlands' support of Israel and noted the good relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister also emphasized that Israel's war against Iran's axis of evil is vital not only in ensuring its future but also the future of the West as a whole. The two are in New York for the opening of the new UN session. Netanyahu also reviewed the threats facing Israel, the fighting in the various sectors and its efforts and success in minimizing harm to non-combatants. The Prime Minister referred to the proceeding against Israel in the International Court in The Hague and emphasized that this is a political proceeding based on false libels that endanger every democracy defending itself against terrorism. (ANI/TPS) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has expressed anger over the performance of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and summoned the officials of spy agencies for an in-camera hearing, Dawn reported. An IHC larger bench--Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir were hearing cases of missing persons, including Baloch students. Additional Attorney General Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal submitted an application requesting the exemption of officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, and Intelligence Bureau from public appearance in court. He said the officials of spy agencies might be targeted after their identity and movement are disclosed. He urged the bench to get the in-camera briefing from these officials who were included in the committee on the missing persons. Missing persons lawyers, Imaan Mazari, told the court that 187 persons, have gone missing since August this year and an explanation over the cases of enforced disappearances might be sought from the government, according to Dawn report. When the court asked how the lawyer got the list of missing persons, Mazari said that the Baloch Yakjehti Council had compiled the list. Justice Kayani has said that the government is under obligation to share details regarding missing persons even if they are detained in Afghanistan. The judges summoned the inspector general of Balochistan police to appear at the next hearing and decided to hold an in-camera briefing by the officials of ISI, MI and IB at the next hearing, according to Dawn report. Earlier this month, Sammi Deen Baloch, General Secretary of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, joined the conference virtually and raised the issue of the humanitarian crisis arising in Balochistan due to the actions of Pakistan's armed forces. She made the remarks during the 57th session of the regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Sammi Deen wrote in a post on X, "During the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, I briefed the Council on the human rights abuses and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Despite the unannounced travel restrictions imposed on me, aimed at barring me from attending the event and silencing my voice, I am grateful to Front Line Defenders for ensuring my voice was heard and enabling me to fulfil the purpose of my advocacy." In her video statement, Sammi Deen said, "My name is Sammi Deen Baloch. I am the daughter of fifteen-year-enforcedly disappeared Dr. Dean Mohammed Baloch. I am a human rights advocate against imposed disappearances. I am from Balochistan, and we have been witnessing severe human rights violations and a humanitarian crisis in Balochistan caused by Pakistan's forces and security intelligence agencies. For many years, the people of Balochistan have suffered intense and constant human rights violations, including enforced disappearances on a large scale." She further stated, "This situation has profoundly affected our community.", "This has deeply affected our community. We have reached out to the justice system, but it has failed to deliver justice. We are seeking assistance from the international community to locate and bring back our enforced disappeared loved ones. We urge you to take action against human rights abuses in Balochistan and help the oppressed community receive the justice they deserve." (ANI) The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has cancelled all the domestic flights till Saturday morning due to adverse weather conditions across the nation. "It has been decided that all the domestic flights will be cancelled until Saturday morning. Further decision about the flights will depend on the weather condition. On Friday, many of the flights were diverted and halted due to extreme weather conditions all across the airports and air routes which prompted this decision. High rate of turbulence was also recorded today," Gyanendra Bhul, deputy spokesperson at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed ANI over phone. An estimated 75 percent of the domestic flights were cancelled on Friday alone due to the incessant rainfall that has continued for over 24 hours in Kathmandu alone. On an average, Nepal has 300 two-way domestic flights on daily basis. Nepal currently is witnessing monsoon winds affecting the entire country, influenced by water vapor from the Bay of Bengal and a low-pressure system in the region. The Met Office has anticipated heavy isolated rainfall in some parts of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces on Friday night. Light to moderate rainfall is likely in most parts of Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim provinces, and a few places in the rest of provinces could witness light to moderate rainfall, punctuated with thundershowers. The monsoon season in Nepal generally begins on June 13. The exit, which was usually on September 23, has been extended to October 2. This year, the clouds from the south entered Nepal from the western region on June 10, three days ahead of the usual onset date. Last year, the weather phenomenon started on June 14, a day after the normal onset day. The monsoon period, which delivers around 80 per cent of the country's total annual rainfall, generally lasts 105 days. But, in recent years, it has been taking more time to withdraw. This year, too, monsoon rainfall will be prolonged by at least five days, met officials had predicted earlier. Nepal has already recorded above-average rainfall this season. (ANI) Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus, hailed his countrymen for the massive anti-government protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, and said that the generation Z made the country revisit the values it was born out of in 1971. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Yunus affirmed hope that the collective resolve should define the "Bangladesh of the future." "I stand in this parliament of nations, thanks to a transformation that Bangladesh witnessed this July and August. The power of the ordinary people, particularly our youth, presented to our nation an opportunity to overhaul many of our systems and institutions," Yunus said at the 79th session of the UNGA. "The uprising led by the students was initially aimed at ending discrimination. Progressively, the movement evolved into a people's movement. The world eventually saw how people stood against autocracy, oppression, discrimination, injustice and corruption, both on the streets and online," he added. Lauding the Bangladeshi youth for the student-led protests, Yunus referred the Sheikh Hasina regime as "autocratic" and "undemocratic" regime. "Our people, particularly youth gained us independence from an autocratic, undemocratic regime with an exceptional resolve. The collective resolve should define the Bangladesh of the future and place our nation as a responsible state in the committee of the nations...This was indeed a movement that brought people who were long left in politics and development," the chief advisor said. "We were moved by the wisdom, courage, conviction our youth showed. Young girls were fiercely vocal against illegitimate state power. School-going children laid down their lives, people lost their eyes forever," he added. Recalling the independence of Bangladesh, the head of the interim government hoped that the evolution inspires many across the globe to stand for "freedom" and "justice." "Bangladesh was born because of her people's profound belief in liberalism, pluralism and secularism. Decades later, our generation Z is making us revisit and reimagine the very values that our people stood back for back in 1971 as our people also did in 1952 to defend our mother language Bangla," Yunus said. He added, "We believe this evolution that the world witnessed in the span of few weeks may inspire many across communities, and countries to stand for freedom and justice." Appreciating the 'Pact of the Future' adopted at UNGA, he said, "The Pact of the Future and the declaration of the future could help setting pathways beyond Agenda 2030. Bangladesh believes the summit's outcome will serve as a guiding framework and materialising our shared aspirations and rethinking collaborations for prosperity." Notably, Bangladesh witnessed Sheikh Hasina's ouster amid students' protests turned into a massive anti-government movement, followed by the establishment of an interim government. During this turbulent period, several incidents of violence and chaos, particularly targeting minorities, including Hindus, have been reported from Bangladesh. 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. (ANI) You are here: Business A drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows freight trains waiting for departure at the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua] Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw a yearly rise of 30.9 percent in foreign trade in the first eight months of this year, the local customs authorities said Thursday. The region's total import and export volume in the January-August period reached 285.32 billion yuan (about 40.55 billion U.S. dollars), according to Urumqi Customs. Li Qinghua, deputy head of Urumqi Customs, highlighted that the remarkable foreign trade growth in Xinjiang can be partly attributed to the establishment of comprehensive bonded zones, which enhance logistics efficiency, as well as the successful expansion of international markets. Xinjiang's trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) rose by 28 percent year on year, accounting for 92.5 percent of the region's total foreign trade value in the first eight months. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were the region's major trading partners over this period. Private enterprises in Xinjiang showed a strong performance in foreign trade during the same period, with their trade value soaring 29.6 percent year on year, accounting for 92.5 percent of the region's total. The region has exported more high value-added products, including electric passenger vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. Xinjiang is located at the heart of the Eurasian continent and serves as an important transportation hub in the core region of the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the BRI, which was proposed by China in 2013. Tel Aviv [Israel], September 27 (ANI/TPS): The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) mobilized two reserve infantry brigades in recent days for operational missions in the northern sector as preparations continue for a possible ground assault against Hezbollah terrorists based in southern Lebanon. The IDF said the Etzioni 6th Brigade and the Northern Nahal 228th Brigade, together with a number of other reserve battalions, were called up with the aim of "enabling the continuation of the fighting effort and damaging the military capabilities of the terrorist organization Hezbollah and creating the conditions for the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes." With the mobilization of the reserve brigades, the emergency supply warehouses were opened and logistical equipment and means of combat were distributed to the reserve fighters. (ANI/TPS) The blast took place on Thursday night in the police station's warehouse room, where a large quantity of explosive material recovered from terrorists was stored. Citing the District Police Officer Haroon Rasheed, ARY News reported that the explosion was apparently triggered by a short circuit, causing multiple detonations. Meanwhile, after the blast took place, the Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the scene, escorting the wounded to the nearby medical facility. However, despite the treatment, the second victim of the blast succumbed to injuries at the hospital earlier today. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took notice of the incident and ordered the inspector general and chief secretary to immediately reach the Swabi police station. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with former US President and Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, and described their discussion as productive. Zelenskyy also emphasised that both of them hold a "common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped." Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "I had a very productive meeting with Donald Trump. I presented him our Victory Plan, and we thoroughly reviewed the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of the war for our people. Many details were discussed. I am grateful for this meeting. A just peace is needed." He added, "We share the common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped. Putin cannot win. Ukrainians must prevail." Notably, Trump's stance on Ukraine has been somewhat controversial, having previously criticised US assistance to Ukraine and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. In contrast, US President Joe Biden has reaffirmed US support for Ukraine, pledging to provide the necessary assistance to help Ukraine win the war. Recently, the US announced a new package of weapons and nearly USD 8 billion in aid for Ukraine. Trump assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he could "very quickly" end the Russia-Ukraine war if he wins the 2024 election. "We have a very good relationship (with Zelenskyy), and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin," Trump said. "And I think if we win, I think we're going to get it resolved very quickly," he added. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has concluded his rounds of talks and is now heading back to Ukraine. In a post on X, he wrote, "As planned, today we are heading home after completing all the necessary talks. Every discussion went exactly as needed. The Victory Plan has been presented to America, and we explained each point in detail. Now, our teams will work to implement every step and decision. Strong positions for Ukraine mean a quicker path to peace." He added, "Everything crucial for Ukraine is on the table with our partners and under consideration--long-range capabilities, defence packages, sanctions against Russia, and measures regarding Russian assets. We have covered all these topics. We are now preparing for the meeting in Germany within the framework of Ramstein, where we will move forward with our partners on the Victory Plan's key points. I am grateful to President Biden for the invitation." A day before, Zelenskyy met with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the details of Ukraine's Victory Plan amid the ongoing war with Russia. Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "During the meeting with President Joe Biden, 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." (ANI) Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus, emphasised the need for Rohingyas to return to their homeland, Rakhine in Myanmar, with security and rights. He also reaffirmed the country's commitment to collaborating with the international community to facilitate the safe return of Rohingyas. Yunus' remarks came while he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. He said, "There is a need to pave the way for the Rohingyas to return to their homeland - Rakhine - with adequate security and rights. Keeping in mind the ever-changing situation in Myanmar, Bangladesh is ready to work with the international community to create an environment for dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their country." He added, "We have been entrusted with the task of rebuilding the country and returning to the state system that the people have longed for. Our main goal right now is to correct the mistakes of the past and build a competitive and strong economy and a just society." Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to safeguarding fundamental human rights, stressing the administration's determination to protect the rights of all citizens. "We are determined to uphold and protect the fundamental rights of people. It is our mission that the people of our country will speak freely, assemble without fear, vote and elect the people of their choice," he said. He further said, "We are also committed to preserving the independence of the judiciary and consolidating the freedom of the media, including in the cyber domain." Reaffirming the country's commitment to global cooperation, Yunus said that the government will continue active participation and contribution to multilateral structures, including the United Nations. "Our government is determined to uphold all the international, regional and bilateral agreements that Bangladesh is a party to. Bangladesh will continue its active participation and contribution in multilateral global structures, including the United Nations. Bangladesh is interested in maintaining friendly relations with all countries of the world based on mutual respect, dignity and preservation of interests," he said. The Rohingyas, a mostly Muslim minority in Myanmar, have long been the focus of prejudice and interethnic conflict, according to Al Jazeera. The military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, had notably forced the Rohingyas to flee. After the crackdown by the Myanmar military, at least 7,50,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. This crackdown is also the focus of a 'genocide' case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. According to recent reports, thousands more Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh in August from the Rakhine state in western Myanmar as combat between the military dictatorship and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group that recruits among the majority Buddhist population, has escalated, as reported by Al Jazeera. Notably, Bangladesh witnessed Sheikh Hasina's ouster amid students' protests, which turned into a massive anti-government movement, followed by the establishment of an interim government. During this turbulent period, several incidents of violence and chaos, particularly targeting minorities, including Hindus, have been reported from Bangladesh. 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. (ANI) Israel on Friday carried out a precision strike against Hezbollah's central headquarters, located beneath residential buildings in Beirut's Dahieh. Sharing a post on X, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said, "The IDF conducted a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut." Also, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke regarding the precision strike on Hezbollah's central headquarters. He said, "Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization that served as an epicentre of Hezbollah's terror. Hezbollah's central headquarters was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut." Hagari also reaffirmed Israel's determination to protect its citizens from Hezbollah's terrorism. "As part of Hezbollah's strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields, on October 8, Hezbollah started attacking Israel. After almost a year of Hezbollah firing rockets and missiles at Israeli civilians; after almost a year of Israel warning the world and telling them that Hezbollah must be stopped, Israel is doing what every sovereign state in the world would do... taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely." Meanwhile, an Israeli official said that Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was the target in Friday's explosions that shook Beirut, according to a report by CNN. A senior Israeli official said it is "too early to say" whether Friday's strike targeting Nasrallah was successful. The official added, "it's a question of time...," drawing parallels with the operation that eliminated Hamas leader Mohammed Deif in Gaza. The official further said the decision to target Nasrallah was a "very tough call," and said confirmation could come at any moment, noting it "depends on the intelligence, they usually try to hide it," CNN reported. When asked whether Nasrallah is alive or dead, a Lebanese security official told CNN, "We wait." Also, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that the Israeli strikes on Beirut's Dahieh resulted in two casualties and dozens injured. Notably, Israel has continued striking Hezbollah in Lebanon to counter the 'threats', the Iran-backed group poses to Israel with repeated strikes in northern Israel. As the conflict heads towards escalation, all major countries have called for a ceasefire and hostage deal, while also stressing for a two-state solution as a means to achieve durable and sustainable peace in the region. (ANI) He said that this commitment aligns with India's Neighbourhood First Policy, Vision SAGAR, and Act East Policy. Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Chaired the BIMSTEC informal Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York, in preparation for the BIMSTEC Leaders' Summit." The EAM further said that the meeting focused on improving maritime and digital connectivity. He said, "Took stock of our close cooperation in health, food security, trade, investment, economy and energy. Focused on improving physical, maritime and digital connectivity across the region. Explored opportunities for capacity building, skill development and improving people-to-people ties. Development of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence is a collective resolve. Reaffirmed India's commitment for wider engagement with BIMSTEC in line with Neighbourhood First, Vision SAGAR and Act East Policy." Also, Jaishankar attended the India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) Foreign Ministers meeting on Friday. Taking to X, he wrote, "A great meeting of the India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers today. Co-chaired with FM Dr. Vince Henderson of Dominica. Discussions around upgrading our partnership and deepening cooperation in health, IT, FinTech, capacity building, renewables and food security. Our bonds with CARICOM draw from past experiences, address current needs and aspire towards a brighter future." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839710457663234064 Jaishankar also co-chaired the India-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA. The key issues of the meeting included Digital Public Infrastructure, health, clean energy and capacity building. Sharing pictures on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Co-chaired India-CELAC Foreign Ministers' Meeting alongside FM Enrique Reina today in New York. Our political cooperation and deepening economic linkages advance South-South cooperation. Agenda included Digital Public Infrastructure, health, clean energy and capacity building. Highlighted possibilities for greater engagement in AI, e-mobility, space, smart agriculture and drones. India and CELAC have a shared commitment to reformed multilateralism." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839709022645010539 Meanwhile, on the sidelines of UNGA79, Jaishankar met his counterparts from several nations. He took to social media to share photos and updates from these meetings. "Delighted to meet FM Caspar Veldkamp of the Netherlands. A very open and positive discussion on strategic issues of the day," Jaishankar posted. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839754808829358273 In another post, he wrote, "A warm conversation with FM Timco Mucunski of North Macedonia at UNGA79." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839710885893312978 The post added, "We discussed investment, connectivity, and cooperation with the region." (ANI) Demonstrations erupted outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York as Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, addressed the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Protesters gathered outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York, chanting slogans and expressing strong opposition to Bangladesh's Chief Advisor. Slogans of "terrorist, minority killer, Hindu killer Yunus, go back, step down" were raised outside UN headquarters in New York. During the demonstration, a protestor said that Yunus has no right to speak on behalf of Bangladesh. He said, "We have gathered here. A person who is not elected is unlawfully presenting a constitutionally run country, Bangladesh. He (Yunus) has no right to speak on behalf of the 170 million people of Bangladesh." The protestor added, "Dr Yunus is representing Bangladesh at the United Nations. 50 years ago at the same location, the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, addressed the world in Bengali and today, Dr Yunus delivered his lecture in English..." Notably, atrocities on Bangladeshi minorities, including Hindus, came to light after ex-PM Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Sloganeers also chanted, "Go back, step down, step down, step down" and held up posters that said, "Shiekh Hasina Our Prime Minister." Notably, while addressing the UNGA on Friday, Yunus hailed his countrymen for the massive anti-government protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, and said that the generation Z made the country revisit the values it was born out of in 1971. Yunus affirmed hope that the collective resolve should define the "Bangladesh of the future." "I stand in this parliament of nations, thanks to a transformation that Bangladesh witnessed this July and August. The power of the ordinary people, particularly our youth, presented to our nation an opportunity to overhaul many of our systems and institutions," Yunus said at the 79th session of the UNGA. "The uprising led by the students was initially aimed at ending discrimination. Progressively, the movement evolved into a people's movement. The world eventually saw how people stood against autocracy, oppression, discrimination, injustice and corruption, both on the streets and online," he added. Notably, Bangladesh witnessed Sheikh Hasina's ouster amid students' protests turned into a massive anti-government movement, followed by the establishment of an interim government. During this turbulent period, several incidents of violence and chaos, particularly targeting minorities, including Hindus, have been reported from Bangladesh. 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. (ANI) Receding tidal water is seen along Kristanna Drive in Panama City on Friday. PANAMA CITY It was a sunny day in Bay County on Friday, hours after Hurricane Helene pummeled the Big Bend area Thursday evening. The Category 4 storm landed east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry. Bay narrowly escaped its destruction, with only heavy rainfall, tropical storm-forced winds and minor flooding reported throughout the area. "The areas east of Tallahassee ... got really, really high winds and lots of damage," Mark Wool, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, said. "As far as Bay County, you guys got off a little easy this time." A resident drives along Kristanna Drive in Panama City on Friday, one day after Hurricane Helene passed through the region. According to Wool, more than 5 inches of rain from Helene was recorded in Lynn Haven, Parker and Panama City. More than 3 inches of rain was recorded in Panama City Beach. Wool did not have rainfall information on Friday morning for Callaway or Mexico Beach. A flooded street in Callaway on Friday. The night before, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area. He said Bay County experienced storm surges of just a few feet, as well as wind gusts between 30 mph and 50 mph.. County officials said no instances of local wind damage had been reported as of Friday afternoon. Past reports note Helene had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Areas with widespread power outages on Friday included Taylor, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Suwanee, Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, Gilchrist, and Union counties. Storm surges peaked at about 15 to 20 feet between Carrabelle and the Suwanee River. More on Helene: Live updates on Friday: Bay County, Panama City recover from Hurricane Helene Students of Bay District Schools were scheduled to return to the classroom on Monday, Sept. 30. School was canceled Sept. 26-27 because of the storm. To help with recovery efforts, the Panama City Police Department deployed crews on Friday morning. They traveled to Havana, where they were slated to receive specific location-based orders. Panama City officials said Friday that its fire department also is prepared to send a crew east upon request. Visit newsherald.com for more coverage, photos and videos from the storm. Reporters Dylan Gentile and DeonTay Smith contributed to this story This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County narrowly escapes destruction of Category 4 Hurricane Helene Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Modlins first name. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Chesterfield County man who last week wounded a McBee police officer before engaging authorities in a roadside standoff died by suicide. Lee County Coroner Larry Logan told News13 Wednesday night that Alston Modlin, 27, shot himself in the head. The incident started as a traffic stop around 11 a.m. Thursday morning near McBee High School. Modlin then took off before his vehicle was located on Una Road near the Lee and Darlington county lines. Authorities asked the Horry County Police Department to participate in their investigation, and the agency had the scene cleared by Saturday morning, spokeswoman Mikalya Moskov said. A Lee County sheriffs deputy was shot and K9 officer Mikka was killed during the standoff. I want to thank Horry County for taking the lead in investigating this incident, and all of our partners for their support and assistance. Theres been so much community support from near and far, and each person and agency that has reached out to check on us and offered their prayers is appreciated, Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon said in a statement. * * * 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. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 and some statewide offices are up for grabs, including Delaware's insurance commissioner. Incumbent Trinidad Navarro is up for reelection after securing the Democratic nomination, receiving 74% of the votes in Delaware's primary election held Sept. 10, 2024. He will be facing off with one other Republican challenger in the November election. Here's what to know about who's running for Delaware's insurance commissioner. Meet the candidates The insurance commissioner in Delaware regulates the states insurance industry, tracking the financial well-being of insurance companies and investigating insurance fraud complaints from residents. Here are the nominees for insurance commissioner for the general election in November. Trinidad Navarro (D) Trinidad Navarro was elected as Delawares insurance commissioner in 2016 and was reelected in 2020. Prior to his time as insurance commissioner, Navarro worked with the New Castle County Police Department for 20 years and was elected as the New Castle County sheriff in 2010. As insurance commissioner, Navarro is a member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and was elected by his peers to chair the Northeast Zone. He also co-chairs the associations National Antifraud Taskforce and the Improper Marketing of Health Plans Working Group. He also serves on the Delaware Health Care Commission, the State Employee Benefits Committee and the Plans Management Board. Navarro has stated that his first priority as Commissioner is to protect Delawares insurance consumers. During his time in office, Navarro helped pass legislation that protected Affordable Care Act coverage for Delawareans with pre-existing conditions, and he has aimed to address rising costs of prescription drugs. Ralph Taylor (R) Ralph Taylor is a former Dover city councilman and was unopposed on the Republican ticket for insurance commissioner during Septembers primary election. Prior to his time in public office, Taylor was a police officer for the city of Dover from 1990 until 2010. He was elected as councilman of the second district in Dover in 2019 and resigned in 2023. During his time as city councilman, he served on six committees including the Economic Development Committee, the Downtown Dover Partnership Board of Directors and was the chairman of the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee. He also is president of the Delaware Pest Control Association and is co-owner of small pest control business The Bug Guy. Taylors campaign promises to invest in education, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, embrace new technologies and green energy solutions, and to create an accessible, affordable and high-quality health care system statewide. Voter information A voter casts a ballot in a voting booth at the Middletown Town Council Chambers on Monday afternoon. The general election will take place nationwide on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Unlike Delawares primary election, which took place Sept. 10, 2024, all registered voters will be able to cast their vote, regardless of party affiliation. How to register The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Voters can register themselves through an online application at the State of Delaware Voter Portal, in person at any Department of Elections office, can have an application mailed to ones home address by calling the Department of Elections and more. There are three ways to vote in the general election: during early voting periods, submitting an absentee ballot or voting on Election Day. Early voting information A list of early voting sites and schedules is available on the Delaware Department of Elections website, and a portal is available to find the closest polling place to home. There will be two early voting periods taking place prior to the general election: Between Oct. 25, 2024 and Oct. 29, 2024 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Between Oct. 30, 2024 and Nov. 3, 2024 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Absentee voting information To submit an absentee ballot, an absentee ballot application must be completed and submitted on the states voter portal or manually submitted to a Department of Elections office in your county of residence. The last day to submit a request for a General Election absentee ballot to be mailed is Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Absentee ballots must be received by the Department of Elections by 8 p.m. on election day: Nov. 5, 2024. Absentee ballots cannot be returned to polling places or early voting sites, they must be mailed to the Department of Elections. Election Day voting information Voters will be assigned a polling place based on their registered address. Voters can check the voter portal for information on their polling place. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2024. Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Who's running for insurance commissioner in Delaware's 2024 general election? You are here: China 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. DNC will send Oregon $125,000 to get out the vote in congressional races The Democratic National Committee is sending Oregon $125,000 for get-out-the-vote efforts. (Getty Images) The Democratic National Committee announced Friday that it will send Oregons Democratic Party $125,000 to turn out voters in congressional races. Its the first time the DNC has invested in late get-out-the-vote efforts in Oregon, a Democratic stronghold, and it represents both the states growing importance on the congressional field and skyrocketing Democratic fundraising. The Democratic National Committee and Kamala Harris presidential campaign raised $257 million in August, more than triple the $85 million raised by Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee, the committees latest federal campaign finance filings show. Oregon, meanwhile, is home to three of the countrys most competitive congressional districts. The 5th Congressional District, where Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer eked out a 2-point win in 2022, is one of just 24 tossup districts in the country. And the 4th and 6th districts, represented by first-term Democrats Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, are also close. The Oregon Democratic Party will use the money for its neighborhood leader program, which trains volunteers to convince their neighbors to vote. Each volunteer gets a list of 35 households, or about 50 voters, who are already registered Democrats and live nearby, and then they knock on their neighbors doors with campaign literature and reminders to vote. Oregon Democratic Party Chair Rosa Colquitt said the more than 3,000 neighborhood leaders have contributed to Democratic victories in legislative, statewide and U.S. Senate races. This cycle, the path to a Democratic majority in the U.S. House undoubtedly runs through Oregon, she said. With this investment, our neighborhood leaders will be able to have an even greater impact on electing our Democratic congressional candidates. The Oregon award is part of a $2.5 million national investment the DNC announced Friday. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said the committees spending in Oregon and in every other state and territory show its commitment to electing Harris and ensuring Democrats have the resources to run competitive races in both red and blue states. Oregon Democrats will ensure working families can get ahead, while standing up to Trump and Republicans extreme agenda to rip away Americans most fundamental rights, Harrison said. With Vice President Harris at the helm and record-breaking investments in coordinated campaigns, the DNC and Democratic state parties across the country have the momentum to strengthen coordinated operations in the critical final stretch to November to deliver wins for Democrats and all Oregonians. While national GOP groups including the National Republican Congressional Committee and Congressional Leadership Fund are pouring millions into Oregon races, the RNC and Trump have largely stayed out of the state. Trump doesnt have a campaign office here, and he didnt pay $3,500 to appear in the state-issued voters pamphlet. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Fears for US citizen held by Taliban amid reports he has been handed over to al-Qaeda Mahmood Shah Habibi, a senior official in the previous Nato-backed Afghan regime, was reportedly arrested by the Taliban in 2022 (Photos sourced/The Independent) 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. Taliban Hands Over Captured American to Al-Qaeda: Imminent Execution Awaits Im here today to update you on one of the three Americans I discussed during my last visit to the @shawnryanshow. This American, Mahmood Shah Habibi, was captured by the Taliban some time ago. Despite Sarah Adams (@TPASarah) September 20, 2024 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. 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. Republicans on Wednesday approved legislation condemning a number of Biden administration officials for the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, casting it as an accountability measure for the failed exit. The bill censures both President Biden and Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for their role in the withdrawal, along with 11 other current and former officials. Ten Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill with a 219-194 vote. Rather than admit their failure, this administration continues to this day to celebrate their deadly evacuation, House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said in kicking off debate on the House floor. You cannot fix a problem without first admitting that there is a problem. Thats what accountability is all about. The legislation is the first major GOP bill involving Afghanistan to secure approval, and it does not include what advocates for Afghans say is among the most pressing issues related to the withdrawal: enhancing efforts to aide Afghan allies left behind during the exit or provide a pathway to citizenship for those brought to the U.S. on temporary immigration statuses. The legislation comes after McCauls panel released a more than 300-page report reviewing the decision making and planning involved with the evacuation. While highly critical of Biden, the report spends little time analyzing the role of former President Trump, who previously negotiated the U.S. exit with the Taliban, committing to an earlier timeline. Also under Trump, immigration processing slowed to a crawl, including for those eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), the multi-step pathway for those who assisted the U.S. military or contractors to come to the U.S. The trickle of processing on the lengthy progress hindered the Biden administrations ability to swiftly relocate allies. And while the report condemns the Biden-Harris administrations decision, it struggles to identify specific actions the vice president took in planning the exit. Nonetheless, the chaotic departure resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers and more than 170 Afghans, while leaving allies and others vulnerable under Taliban rule behind. Democrats were quick to blast the legislation as an election-year hit on the president while highlighting the report contained little information on Harris. While the situation in Kabul was chaotic, the administrations response was not. Our military and diplomats adapted quickly to facilitate the largest airlift in U.S. history to relocate over 120,000 people and thats why President Biden said it was a success and pulling out of Afghanistan was the right thing to do, said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the foreign affairs panel. He also blasted Republicans for the timing of their report and its focus on Harris. They wanted to make a spectacle before the November elections, Meeks said, while noting Harris is referenced only three times in the more than 3,000 pages of interview transcripts. McCaul has denied that politics played a role in the timing of the report and has often complained that Biden administration officials slow-walked their responses. He is also moving ahead with plans to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress for failing to testify on the withdrawal. The timing of our investigation and of this report was not of my making. It was not my timing. It was deliberately delayed by this administration, I think in a plan to take it well beyond this election, well beyond this Congress, McCaul said. Meeks on Wednesday closed with a plea to colleagues to back legislation that would support Afghan allies both in the U.S. and still abroad. There is legislation that Congress can pass now to move forward. Something impartial. Something that will have real credibility, he said. The Afghan Adjustment Act and the Afghan Allies Protection Act, which are long-standing, bipartisan proposals, would keep the faith with the Afghans who fought and worked alongside us. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors Note: This article has been modified to add a statement from the Nevada Department of Education. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A class action lawsuit against the Clark County School District (CCSD) and Nevada Department of Education (NDE) alleges a violation of federal law concerning special needs students. In the 58-page complaint, nine families allege a systemic failure of Nevadas education system, pointing specifically to CCSD. Twelve children are identified in the suit, listed only by their initials. For years, the Nevada Department of Education and the Clark County School District have failed to comply with federal laws designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities, said Hillary Freeman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. Because of that, its a constant battle for these families to access the free and appropriate public education children are entitled to under these federal laws. The lawsuit alleges that CCSD and NDE violated laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not supporting students with disabilities like dyslexia and autism, saying that the cause is due to staffing shortages and lack of training. Lead attorney Lori Rogich and her husband Sig were involved in a previous suit against the school district involving her daughter, who had been diagnosed with dyslexia. We were asking for a methodology to be included in their daughters individualized education program, and the school district refused to do it, Freeman said. The Rogich family sued CCSD and said nothing has changed since. The new lawsuit seeks to restructure the Districts special education system with federal oversight, new procedures, and increased staffing and training. In addition, the lawsuit seeks reasonable costs, attorneys fees, and experts fees, along with monetary or other damages as the Court deems just, necessary, and proper. Theyre not utilizing up-to-date approaches or research-based approaches, and as a result of that, the students are not learning, theyre acting out, theyre not learning to communicate, and theyre being excluded from school because the teachers and the school cannot meet their needs, Freeman said. The lawsuit alleges that CCSD pretends dyslexia does not exist despite estimates that 80-90% of students with learning disabilities have it. The attorney said teachers are not to blame, adding that the educators and families appear to be on the same side. Teachers are begging for support, theyre begging the administration for support, and they are being denied that support, Freeman said. The Nevada Department of Education generally refrains from commenting on active litigation, said officials from the NDE. CCSD officials also declined to comment on the lawsuit per district policy. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have scheduled a news conference for Monday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) PANAMA CITY It's a sunny day in Panama City today after Hurricane Helene made landfall last night. The storm landed just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. 99% of Taylor County is without power, and neighboring Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Suwanee, Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, Gilchrist, and Union counties have similar numbers. The storm surge peaked around 15 to 20 feet between Carrabelle and the Suwanee River. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the day. Panama City, PCB fire departments deploy recovery teams According to an email from Kristen Kennedy, spokesperson for Panama City, the Panama City Fire Department will deploy a team to Lafayette County at about 5 p.m. on Friday to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The team's role will be to "support 911 operations in the town of Mayo," which is located east of Perry. "Panama City Beach Fire Rescue (is) also tagging along on this deployment, sending four personnel and one engine," Kennedy wrote. "The PCB team is in route to Panama City's Station 1 ... to meet with the PCFD before all heading out together." Nathan Cobb Panama City extends deadlines for business licenses in light of Helene The city says licenses are normally due by Sept. 30, but they will waive late penalties until the end of day Friday, Oct. 18. The city aims to provide flexibility and support to local businesses as the region recovers from Hurricane Helene. People can contact the Business Services Office at 850-691-4603 or email BusinessServices@panamacity.gov with any questions. Hurricane Helene caused some flooding in Callaway Check out Dylan Gentile's photos: Hurricane Helene caused some flooding in Panama City Check out Tyler Orsburn's photos: Did you have any property damage as a result of Hurricane Helene? AAA shares advice for Florida residents "Once conditions are safe to do so, begin assessing your property, take pictures of any damage, and contact your insurance provider immediately to begin the claims process. Also, make sure your insurance is up to date before filing claims. DeonTay Smith Bay District Schools back in session Monday Bay District Schools students will return to the classroom on Monday, Sept. 30. School was canceled on Sept. 26 and 27 because of Hurricane Helene. DeonTay Smith Hurricane Helene was big. How does it compare with other hurricanes? This story from USA TODAY provides some context. Double red flags on Panama City Beach Double red flags are raised on Bay County beaches as the Gulf of Mexico remains affected by Hurricane Helene. Two red flags means that the water is closed to swimming, as conditions are too dangerous for even the strongest swimmers. Dylan Gentile Local police deploy crews to affected counties The Panama City Police Department deployed a crew of eight personnel about 3 a.m. Friday to assist with recovery efforts. They are headed to Havana, Florida, where they will receive specific location-based orders. Panama City says the fire department is also prepared to head east upon request. Shari Cooper, Panama City Beach communications manager, said that the city police department was also deploying staff and equipment. They are headed straight to Perry, the town closest to Helene's landfall. Dylan Gentile Panama City resumes normal operations A release from the city says that Panama City saw minimal impacts from Hurricane Helene, with only minor flooding observed in limited areas. Fire crews responded Friday morning to the localized flooding in Kristanna Drive. They say there were no reports of flooding in gridded areas, and Florida Power & Light confirmed no power outages across the City. Dylan Gentile Tyndall Air Force Base declares 'all clear' Operations were back to normal today after a delayed 10 a.m. reporting time. They say the base has no significant damage. "I want to extend my sincere thanks to all Team Tyndall personnel for their outstanding work in preparing for Hurricane Helene," said Col. Christian Bergtholdt, 325th Fighter Wing commander. "We were fortunate to avoid significant impacts, but your readiness was key. Our strong partnerships with the Bay County EOC and other agencies were critical in our effort to ensure the safety and well-being of our community." Dylan Gentile How much rain did Bay County get from Hurricane Helene? Panama City received a little less than 4 inches of rain on Thursday. Overall water levels in the ocean and bay peaked around 3 feet above expected levels. Dylan Gentile How high were the wind speeds during Hurricane Helene? The roughest sustained winds were around 32 mph and the barometric pressure at its lowest dipped to 991.2 mb. Dylan Gentile Did Bay County experience any flooding from Hurricane Helene? Two roads in the county, Azalea Street and CR 2321 at CR 2311, were flooded Thursday night. Several residential streets in Lynn Haven were also underwater. Panama City proper also saw some flooded streets. Videos online also show areas of Callaway with some standing water. Dylan Gentile Were there any power outages in Bay County? Bay County is mostly unscathed compared to its eastern neighbors, with only 10 are without power this morning. The Bay County Sheriff's Office is sending teams out to Wakulla County to assist in their recovery effort. Dylan Gentile Friday's focus in Bay County: Helping others The Bay County Emergency Operations Center is returning to normal operations this morning after receiving no reports of infrastructure damage in the county. They say their new focus is on mobilizing teams to our neighbors most impacted by Hurricane Helene. There's currently a coastal flooding and high-surf advisory in effect for the area. Schools should be back in session on Monday and businesses should start opening back up today. The National Weather Service forecasts sunny and clear conditions through Thursday of next week. Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm and is heading north through Georgia this morning. Dylan Gentile (This story was updated to change or add a photo or video) (This story was updated to add new information) This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Hurricane Helene in Bay County and Panama City, Florida. Friday updates 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. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Joseph Amrine, who was exonerated after spending years on death row, speaks at a rally to support Missouri death row inmate Marcellus Williams in Clayton, Mo. | Credit: Jim Salter / AP Photo What happened Missouri executed Marcellus Williams by lethal injection last night after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, with dissent from the court's three liberal justices. Williams, 55, was convicted of the 1998 stabbing death of Felicia Gayle in suburban St. Louis. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) and the Missouri Supreme Court rejected pleas for clemency Monday night from Williams, the prosecutor's office that secured his 2001 conviction and advocates who said he was likely innocent. Gayle's family also opposed the execution. Who said what Williams, who maintained his innocence, got reprieves in 2015 and 2017, but Parson revoked his predecessor's stay of execution and disbanded a board set up to study DNA evidence from the case. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed a motion in January to vacate the conviction, saying none of the forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene hair, bloody fingerprints and shoeprints, and DNA on the murder weapon matched Williams, and the two main witnesses were compromised. Williams' lawyers, Bell and Gayle's family agreed in August to commute the sentence to life in prison, but Attorney General Andrew Bailey challenged the deal and set an execution date. Parson said after the execution he hoped it gave "finality to a case that's languished for decades." NAACP President Derrick Johnson said "Missouri lynched another innocent Black man." What next? Williams was one of four death row inmates scheduled to be executed this week "an unusually high number" after years of death penalty decline, The Associated Press said. "Putting an innocent person to death" is "an inherent risk of capital punishment," CNN said, citing Death Penalty Information Center data showing at least 200 people sentenced to death since 1973 were later exonerated. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) Administrator Youngbin Yoon, left, and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, right, sign a Joint Statement following a bilateral meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. | Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber NASA and South Korea's space agency have agreed to deeper cooperation in space exploration, science and aeronautics, including collaboration on a pioneering mission. NASA and the Republic of Korea's newly created Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) signed a joint statement on advance cooperation on Sept. 19. Areas of potential cooperation include NASA's Moon to Mars Architecture, space life sciences and medical operations, lunar surface science, utilization of Korea's deep-space antenna and future commercial activities in low Earth orbit , according to a NASA statement . "Building on years of work together both on Earth and in space, we are proud to significantly grow our partnership with the Republic of Korea and its new space agency," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a signing ceremony. Related: South Korea creates new KASA space agency, sets sights on the moon and Mars "The signing of the joint statement marks a pivotal moment in opening a new chapter for the Republic of Korea-U.S. aerospace alliance," said KASA Administrator Youngbin Yoon. "It presents a vital opportunity for Korea to emerge as a responsible space-faring nation, and also for humanity to pursue scientific discoveries and pioneer the future." One area of new collaboration will be a mission to the sun-Earth Lagrange Point 4, a hitherto unexplored gravitationally stable point in space where the influences of the sun and Earth balance out. Spacecraft such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have been sent to L2, on the far side of Earth with regard to the sun, while DSCOVR and others operate at L1, around 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) inside the orbit of Earth. But L4, a location 60 degrees in front of Earth in its orbit, has not been visited. Related Stories: South Korea's moon mission snaps stunning Earth pics after successful lunar arrival What are Lagrange points? NASA's Artemis program: Everything you need to know KASA wants to set up a solar wind observation station at L4, aiming to boost understanding of space radiation, South Korean outlet The Chosun reported . NASA and KASA will conduct joint research on data transmission, optical communications and the use of relays at L4, according to the report. There was no indication of a potential launch date for the prospective mission. Further agreements on NASA-KASA cooperation could follow regarding NASA's Artemis program , the report states. The pair have already collaborated on South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter, while KASA is currently targeting its first robotic lunar landing by 2032. Chinese scientists have developed a carbon footprint assessment system which spatializes a carbon footprint by integrating a geographic information system (GIS) into a full life cycle assessment (LCA). This comes as the country has advanced efforts to establish a carbon footprint management program that is both tailored to national conditions and aligned with international standards. Software for the GIS-LCA system was released at a seminar focusing on the construction of a carbon footprint management system. The seminar was held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences] Software for this GIS-LCA system was released Thursday at a seminar in Beijing that gathered representatives from relevant government departments, academia, companies and industrial associations. During his speech at the seminar, Xie Kechang, academician and former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressed how current international standards do not account for variations in carbon footprints of products that are the same but produced in different locations. He went on to add that this limitation does not suit China's national conditions well. Xie offered guidance to the team who developed this new carbon footprint assessment system. Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team who developed this new system, also emphasized the significance of accuracy in carbon footprint calculation, stating that "an accurate and reliable carbon footprint is one of the important foundations for promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society." Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team developing the GIS-LCA system, spoke during the seminar held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS] Both academics highlighted that the integration of GIS with LCA addresses this limitation and enhances assessment accuracy. According to Tian, also head of the Extended Energy Big Data and Strategy Research Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS, this carbon footprint assessment system, built on a decade's worth of accumulated big data, can model real-world scenarios, planning the actual paths of carbon footprints while supporting visualization in the form of flow charts. He added that this system can be applied in a wide variety of contexts and by a diverse array of institutions, including products, services, supply chains, companies, industrial parks, industries and governments. With this GIS-LCA system, Yueqing city in Zhejiang province has developed China's first carbon footprint calculation model for local industrial clusters. It has also created a carbon footprint roadmap for electrical product supply chains. On this basis, the model has identified key points and provided plans for carbon reduction. In addition, the city has developed the country's first spatialized, high-resolution background dataset for the electrical industry, as well as has established a public carbon footprint service platform that integrates products, supply chains, industries, businesses, certification bodies and the government. According to an action plan released in June by the MEE in collaboration with 14 other government departments, China aims to preliminarily establish a carbon footprint management program with national guidelines for calculating product carbon footprints as well as calculation rules and standards for approximately 100 key products by 2027, with the intent to expand this system to include calculation rules and standards for approximately 200 key products by 2030. The national guidelines GB/T24067-2024, titled Greenhouse gasesCarbon footprint of productsRequirements and guidelines for qualifications, are scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1. Looking ahead, Tian said that he and his team look forward to developing their GIS-LCA system into an important component of China's carbon footprint management program, and even part of international rules. The free exercise of religion is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. However, a growing concern about so-called Christian nationalism is the topic of a talk set for noon Tuesday, Oct. 1, during the Lunch with the League meeting of the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The speaker will be Patricia K. Freeland, professor of political science and associate head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She has taught classes on religion and politics and has written numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on this subject. She has also authored many book chapters on her other academic interests. Patricia Freeland The public is invited to attend the Lunch with the League from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. All are welcome to bring their lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for a nominal fee. Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon. In her summary of her talk on religion and politics, Freeland wrote: In todays political environment there is a seemingly mounting effort to merge state and religion, particularly a version of the Christian religion. In a pluralistic and diverse society, as is the United States, this is a major concern. Our founding fathers, many of whom who came from a society that mandated a specific religion, were adamant that this would not be a cornerstone of this new nation. Freeland is currently the reviewer for 10 peer-reviewed journals. She has served on numerous departmental and university boards and committees. She received her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, her M.A. degree in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her B.A. degree in political science and sociology at Central Michigan University. Lunch with the League welcomes League members and nonmembers alike to this informative presentation. The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge is a nonpartisan political organization for women and men. It encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge League talk to focus on Christian nationalism concerns 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 Microvote staff and Tippecanoe County Board of Elections staff test voting machines during Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, Election Board meeting. The machines flawlessly and accurately recorded the test votes. LAFAYETTE, Ind. Approving six hours of early voting at an on-campus site eased criticism of the Tippecanoe County Election Board, but a room full of Purdue voting site supporters didn't let them off the hook. The board added the France Cordova Recreation Center at the northwest corner of Third Street and Martin Jischke Drive will be an on-campus early voting site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24, the board approved. The First United Methodist Church at 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd. two blocks west of campus also will be an early-voting site between noon and 5 p.m. Oct. 22. Sarah Huber, an associate professor at Purdue and former poll worker, spoke to the board during Friday's meeting. Ive always bragged about what a great team we have, our equipment, how much work goes into ensuring our people are able to vote, she said. Admittedly, I was very upset when I saw there wasnt a location on campus," Huber said. I work with these students. I talk with them every day. They dont walk over to Lafayette. They need something right by them. We are modeling civic duty. We talk about civic duty, Huber said as she challenged the board to add on-campus vote centers. Although some people spoke to the board with unsubstantiated cries of voter disenfranchisement or voter suppression, not everyone was displeased with board members. They weren't necessarily happy with them, either. I know when I was here in the middle of August, we didnt have any voting at all at Purdue," Tippecanoe County councilwoman Lisa Dullum, D-West Lafayette, said to the board. "So this is a good improvement. "However, Im very disappointed we dont have Election Day voting," Dullum said. "Im still very, very concerned about the lines on Election Day. Its not just the students who vote at Purdue. The staff vote at Purdue. The faculty vote at Purdue. I vote at Purdue. The board also added an early voting site at McAllister Recreation Center in Lafayette for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19. Last month, the board approved early voting sites, as well as Election Day vote centers. But they did not have any Purdue sites because they could not secure WiFi that matched the state statute. "We had a lot of things to work out," election board staff Mike Smith said of the lack of WiFi provided by Purdue on campus. "When we first came to you in August, we werent able to have that resolved. What we do need is to be able to transmit voter registration data to the sites in real time and have it come back in real time so we dont have people voting multiple times, Smith said of the initial shortcomings of Purdue sites. Indiana law says ... (the WiFi) has to be distinct, separate, secure, private and not available to any other traffic. Tippecanoe County Election Board member Kent Moore said he's appointed by the county's Democratic Party to represent it. He noted that Party Chairwoman Jacqueline Chosnek asked him to propose extending the early voting on campus by two hours. She also asked Moore to propose moving the Election Day vote center from Margerum City Hall to the France Cordova Recreation Center. Moore's motion failed for a lack of a second by the board, which is composed of two Republicans and two Democrats. Smith explained part of the selection for early voting sites and vote center sites include where registered voters are. In 2008,10,660 registered voters were living on or near campus. Today, 3,058 registered voters were living there. Vote centers, by statute, are supposed to be assigned by registration not just population, but registration," Smith explained. "So an area may have a high population but not necessarily a high registration. Pressed about the distance between the campus and city hall, Smith said, Students walk past there all the time to go to Neon Cactus or Panda Express." There also are problems with singling out student voters. Federal case law prohibits you from identifying a particular demographic and prioritizing them over other demographics," Smith said. "Youve got to be cautious about saying youre doing this for so-and-so. Amy Paget also spoke her mind to the board during the meeting. I have no connection to Purdue at all. None," Paget said. "What I do know is there are faculty, staff and students on that campus who need to be able to vote. It just seems unconscionable to me that there is no vote center on Purdue on Election Day, she said. Please consider that. In other matters Friday, the election board tested a random sampling of the voting machine that will be used. Each machine has a serial number, and 5% of the serials numbers were drawn Friday morning by Ball State voting oversight. Those machines were pulled and tested. The machines accurately recorded the sample votes, reassuring the public that the election will be secure. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue voting site OK'd; critics demand more locations for students Sometimes you see or hear something, and you immediately know its a story that needs to be told. Back in the fall of 2022, thats what happened when I came across a post on the University of Delawares Instagram account about a group of women from Afghanistan who fled the Taliban to pursue higher education. As a Blue Hen alumna, it feels a bit magical that a series of seemingly random choices opening Instagram while on my lunch break, clicking on enough posts to bring me to my alma maters social media account led me to what would become one of my favorite experiences as a reporter and one of the most challenging and gratifying stories I have written. I took note of the story of these women, called the Womens Initiative in Service and Education scholars, knowing it was something I wanted to explore further once I finished up a few assignments. As journalism goes, deadlines came, urgent matters arose, and this idea slipped to the back burner. Until an unrelated email with UDs communication department led to one of the colleges media team members pushing the story back on my radar, as they were attending an event where the Afghan women were sharing their stories. Khadija (left) and Shukria (right) work in one of the computer labs at the University of Delaware on March 25, 2024. They felt so inspired that they wanted to share the situation with me immediately in the hopes of a potential story with DelawareOnline/The News Journal, not knowing that same awe is what initially piqued my interest a couple months prior. A few more emails about the women were exchanged, and my reporting on the WISE program took off. From there, UDs media team helped me connect with key people behind the universitys effort to help the Afghan students professors, faculty in the English Language Institute and other UD staff overseeing the WISE program along with experts from Jewish Family Services of Delaware, who helped settle the women in the state. Between my initial outreach about the WISE scholars and the publication of their stories, I spent nearly two years researching Afghanistans culture and social climate, reading dozens of pages of Department of Defense and White House press briefings about the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021, interviewing UD staff involved with the WISE program, speaking with JFS and ultimately meeting two of the Afghan women to hear about their experiences thus far. Navigating their final exams and holiday breaks during the academic semester, my own newsroom workload and the hesitancy of the Afghan women to share their stories so publicly was no easy feat, but in the end, it all worked out. There were many meetings with my Delaware Online/The News Journal team about how we could best tell this story and share it visually, and many hours spent listening to recorded interviews and revising. A two-part package details the cohorts flight from Afghanistan and arrival to the U.S. and UD, along with their lives two years into the program and why they wanted to share their stories. It encompasses not just the harrowing experience of leaving their families at home, but their new identities as college-educated women looking toward bright futures. Just over three years since U.S. troops withdrew, my two-part story about the sacrifices these brave women made, their journey to a foreign land and the dreams they hold onto debuted in early September. Krys'tal Griffin of Delaware Online/The News Journal, March 7, 2023. Hearing the stories of the Afghan women their struggles and triumphs over the last three years has been an impactful experience, and I hope each person who reads their stories is left with a similar feeling. Ive only known the women for a short time, but I already am eager to see how they continue creating the lives they want. I cant wait to see what is yet to come from them. Whether it leaves you feeling inspired, filled with more gratitude or with a renewed sense of hope, I believe their stories are a true portrait of the strength of the human spirit. We could all use a little reminder about just how strong our own power is and how resilient we are. Read the Afghan women series: Part one: The Taliban came, like, overnight: Afghan women flee Taliban to attend college at UD Part two: 'It was hard but we did it: Afghan students who fled Taliban hope to inspire other women Krystal Griffin covers national and local issues across diverse communities, what Delawareans are talking about and various aspects of living in Delaware. She recently began the Random Acts of Kindness column, which highlights Good Samaritan stories and random kind encounters around the state submitted by readers. You can reach her at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How we reported on the UD women who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan Saint Anselm College to offer free tuition to some New Hampshire residents. How it works Some New Hampshire residents will now be able to attend Saint Anselm College tuition-free. The college announced a new program earlier this week that will allow New Hampshire residents with a family income of $100,000 or less to attend the school tuition-free. The program, called the Anselmian Community Commitment, will be available for first-year students enrolling in fall 2025. "With this Anselmian Community Commitment, Saint Anselm is pledging to support New Hampshires students with access to a high-quality, private education tuition-free," the college said in a release. Here's how the new program works. Saint Anselm College is seen on December 18, 2015 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Who is eligible for free tuition at Saint Anselm College? As part of Saint Anselm College's new Anselmian Community Commitment program, some New Hampshire residents can attended the college tuition-free for all four years, depending on their family income and GPA. Eligible candidates must live in New Hampshire, have a family income of no more than $100,000 and a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Applicants must be planning to be a residential student at the college, and have lived in New Hampshire for at least a year. Transfer students are not eligible. College Rankings: U.S. News & World Report's annual college ranking is out. Where UNH, other NH schools rank How to apply for free tuition at Saint Anselm College Saint Anselm College's Anselmian Community Commitment program is launching for first-year students at the college who will begin in fall 2025. To apply, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid no later than April 15, 2025, as well as their application for the college. Aside from tuition, students will have to pay for other costs, like food, housing and books. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Saint Anselm College to offer free tuition to some NH residents 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 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. China is poised to experience an estimated 1.94 billion cross-regional trips during the upcoming week-long National Day holiday, starting Tuesday, Li Yang, vice-minister for transport, said in Beijing on Friday. This translates to an average of 277 million daily trips, reflecting a 0.7 percent increase from last year and a significant 19.4 percent rise compared to 2019. Notably, around 80 percent of these journeys will be made via self-driving vehicles, amounting to about 1.53 billion road trips. The remaining 20 percent will utilize commercial public transportation options, including trains, planes, and ferries. Family travel is expected to dominate domestic tourism, with inter-provincial trips becoming increasingly common. Anticipated popular destinations include major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Chongqing and the provinces of Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan. In terms of international travel, neighboring Southeast Asian countries are forecast to attract a significant number of travelers. As the holiday approaches, Li emphasized that the transportation sector is prepared to meet the anticipated challenges, aiming to fulfill traveler expectations and government mandates. Preparations are already underway to implement effective travel support plans designed to enhance safety and convenience for all holiday travelers. Sep 27 (NHK) - The president of Nippon Steel says he cannot be optimistic about its takeover of US Steel due to opposition from the United Steelworkers union, or USW. The major Japanese and US steelmakers agreed on the deal in December last year. The US Committee on Foreign Investment, which examines acquisition plans, has extended a period for reviewing the Nippon Steel's plan to acquire US Steel. Media reports say the committee may postpone its decision on the takeover until after the US presidential election in November. On Thursday, Nippon Steel president Imai Tadashi, who also heads the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, told reporters that he does not think it an optimistic development that the deal is now being reviewed for an extended period. Imai said that he is still determined to complete the acquisition by the end of the year. He also said that the deal has been drawing a lot of attention in the run-up to the US presidential election because it involves the USW, which represents 850,000 steelworkers. Imai added that his company will place a focus on dialogue with the USW and do all it can. He urged the union to respond to Nippon Steel's call for negotiations. Wahab reiterated that the Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for environmental pollution and degradation. By Channels Television Updated September 27, 2024 The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) today, sealed off Orchid Shopping Centers premises located along Orchid Road, Eti-Osa, for discharging wastewater onto the road and public drains, thereby creating environmental nuisance and endangering public health. This was disclosed in a statement shared on X.com by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Friday. Wahab advised all persons or organisations in the habit of discharging untreated wastewater and sewage into the environment to desist or face sanctions. He said the necessary sanctions will be served to the property, the owner(s) and occupiers in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. Wahab reiterated that the Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for environmental pollution and degradation. Cake Pop is as sweet as her name. She is a female mixed breed large dog that is about 1 year old. Cute, young Cake Pop has colors of brown and black. She is slender and long-legged with an adorable face and super-cute ears. Cake Pops ears stand out straight but off to the side. The ears giv A regional court in East Africa, based in Arusha in Tanzania, started examining accusations according to which Rwanda backed rebels against DRC forces. The case was filed by the DRC, alleging Rwanda has violated its territorial sovereignty and sent troops to back rebels in the east known as the M23. The DRC also accuses Rwanda of contributing to war crimes in the resource-rich east where various groups have been challenging the central government militarily, stoking instability and displacement. 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. Rwanda has often denied any involvement in the ongoing infighting between DRC forces and the M23 rebels. The court was set up 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 Netherlands reiterated, Thursday in New York, its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, deeming it a very serious and credible contribution to the political process led by the United Nations. The Netherlands considers the autonomy plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, as a very serious and credible contribution to the political process led by the United Nations, to resolve the conflict over the Sahara, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told the press. The minister, who stressed the importance of regional stability, reiterated his countrys support for the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to pursue a political process aimed at achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations. The Dutch official also welcomed the very strong and very broad relations with Morocco, which cover a large number of issues, including trade, security, the fight against terrorism, and migration. Moroccos role as a very stable partner in the region is crucial in this regard, said the Dutch top diplomat, adding that his country appreciates the strategic partnership with Morocco, and is looking forward to seeing this cooperation deepen and broaden even more in the future. Mr. Veldkamp underlined that relations between the two countries are part of a broader context between Morocco and the European Union, saying that Morocco is a very important neighbor of Europe. The Moroccan government has launched a $258,69 million rehabilitation program for areas in the southeast of the Kingdom severely impacted by recent floods. The initiative, launched in implementation of the instructions of King Mohammed VI, is meant to address the impact of the unprecedented rainfall that has resulted in significant human losses and extensive damage across several provinces, including Errachidia, Midelt, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Zagora, Figuig, Jerada, Taroudant, Tata, Tiznit, Guelmim, and Assa Zag. The government has mobilized extensive human and logistical resources to address the immediate needs of affected communities swiftly and effectively, according to a press release from the Prime Ministers office. The various ministerial departments have been called upon to ensure the successful implementation of this ambitious program. Key components of the program include support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged buildings and homes, as well as the restoration of essential infrastructure, including roads, telecommunications networks, electricity, drinking water distribution, and sanitation systems. Additionally, the program aims to bolster agricultural activities in the affected areas by repairing small and medium-sized water structures and providing support to livestock breeders who lost their herds during the floods. This assistance is critical for rebuilding agricultural livelihoods in the region. The launch of this rehabilitation program underscores the governments commitment to addressing the needs of the population and exemplifies a spirit of responsibility and responsiveness in its actions. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for consolidating and developing the unity of the Chinese nation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at a grand meeting in Beijing to honor role models for ethnic unity and progress. He urged efforts to advance the building of the community for the Chinese nation. Premier Li Qiang presided over the meeting. Top political advisor Wang Huning announced the central authorities' decision to award the models. Senior leaders Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the event. A total of 352 groups and 368 individuals were honored. Xi and other senior leaders presented the awards to representatives of the models. Addressing the meeting, Xi said the CPC has always attached great importance to ethnic affairs. Over the past more than a century, it has blazed a correct path of handling ethnic affairs with a distinctively Chinese approach. Along this path, Xi said, the CPC has made new advances in developing ethnic relations of equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony, and promoted economic and social development of ethnic areas and the lives of ethnic minority groups to register unprecedented progress. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has taken fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the focus of its work related to ethnic affairs, and achieved new historic success, he said. The Center for Research, Studies, Documentation, and Information on Women (CREDIF) launched on Thursday its first digital publication, Tunisian Women in Figures 2024, a comprehensive scientific document that compiles statistical data from a variety of public institutions and national professional bodies. This report offers a detailed examination of womens roles and experiences across several sectors, serving as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and civil society. The report reveals significant insights into the health sector, noting that women make up 51% of the total number of medical doctors in Tunisia. As of February 15, 2024, there are 13,197 female doctors in the country, with 6,895 of them practicing in the field of general medicine. This statistic underscores the substantial presence of women in the medical profession, highlighting their contributions to the countrys healthcare system. Tunisian Women in Figures 2024 also provides a wide array of data, addressing topics from demographics to the lived experiences of women in Tunisia. It explores issues such as violence, health challenges, unemployment, and womens achievements in areas like medical assistance, education, and leadership roles in teaching. The report shines a light on both the difficulties and the successes women encounter in various professional and personal spheres. This booklet aims to foster greater awareness and drive effective solutions for gender-related challenges in Tunisia. In addition to its utility for academic and institutional research, Tunisian Women in Figures 2024 plays a critical role in informing policy-makers on how to improve the lives of women across the country. As Tunisia continues to navigate social and economic reforms, such reports offer a crucial basis for addressing gender inequality and ensuring womens active participation in all areas of public and professional life. The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has announced an extension for the circulation and acceptance of the first and second editions of its 50-dinar banknotes, providing relief to both Libyan citizens and financial institutions amid ongoing economic challenges. This move aims to mitigate concerns over the potential disruption caused by the withdrawal of the banknotes. According to the CBLs Issuance Department, banks are now required to extend the period for accepting the 50-dinar notes from customers until December 31, 2024. Initially, the deadline for the withdrawal of these banknotes was set for the end of August 2024, before being pushed to October 31. With this latest extension, the banknotes will remain in circulation and continue to be accepted by banks until the end of the year. Additionally, the Central Bank has stipulated that the 50-dinar banknotes will continue to be accepted by the CBL, its branches, and the affiliated departments of commercial banks until the close of business on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. This extended deadline provides banks with additional time to withdraw the older currency from circulation and ensures that citizens have sufficient time to exchange the notes without financial disruptions. The extension reflects the CBLs efforts to stabilize the Libyan economy, which has faced significant challenges due to political instability and financial uncertainty. By allowing the prolonged use of the 50-dinar banknotes, the central bank seeks to ensure a smoother transition for both businesses and individuals, while maintaining liquidity in the economy. The decision is expected to ease public concerns and avoid potential cash shortages, which could have compounded the difficulties faced by Libyas already struggling financial sector. This proactive measure demonstrates the Central Banks commitment to supporting the countrys economic stability during a critical period. Morocco is developing its defense industry to reduce its dependence on foreign weapons purchases and strengthen its military capabilities to counter threats to its national security. After it adopted the legal frameworks governing military industry clusters and established military industry zones, the North African Kingdom attracted India s TATA Advanced Systems, which has become one of the first international investors in the sector that is gaining momentum in the country. Under a strategic partnership agreement sealed between Moroccos National Defense Administration and the subsidiary of the giant TATA group, a plant will be set up in Morocco to produce armored combat vehicle WhAP 88 for the Moroccan army. Tata Advanced Systems flagship product, WhAP 88 (Wheeled Armoured Platform) is Indias first infantry combat vehicle, designed for optimized survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality. This project, to create several job opportunities, will make Morocco an emerging regional player in the defense industry. Moroccan Parliament had passed laws allowing the setting up of joint ventures in the defense industry as the country aspires to reduce arms imports. In April, Israeli company Bluebird announced plans to open a production site of its unmanned aerial systems in Morocco. Several companies from the U.S. Europe, Latin America and Asia showed interests in the huge investment opportunities offered by the Moroccan defense industry offering. In 2019, the North African Kingdom signed with Brazil an investment cooperation and facilitation in military industry. Under this agreement, Brazil pledges to share military science and technology, help in defense product acquisition and train Moroccan officers in advanced military technologies. Several media outlets have published lately a photo of the first Morocco-made armed vehicle, a multi-mission track destined for armed forces. According to Frost & Sullivan group, a research and consulting firm, Morocco is set to become a weapons producing country in the few coming years as the country is set to host foreign factories specialized in arms manufacturing by 2025. Palestinian Prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Mustafa, expressed, Thursday in New York, his thanks and gratitude to King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for his sustained efforts in favor of the Palestinian people. I would like to renew my thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his sustained efforts in favor of the Palestinian people, Mohammad Mustafa told the press, following a meeting with minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly. The Palestinian Prime Minister welcomed the tireless efforts that Morocco is making in favor of the Holy City, through the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency. Mr. Mustafa stressed that his meeting with Mr. Bourita was an opportunity to discuss developments in the Middle East, and the urgency of a ceasefire to put an end to the cycle of violence in the region. Adams with Black clergy at a Thursday press conference. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo Eric Adams isnt going anywhere. For now, at least. On Wednesday, as it became more apparent that the mayor would be indicted, political aides and supporters began talking and texting to map out a strategy: Get through the first 48 hours without major political and civic leaders calling for him to step aside and then live to fight out what is now a daunting reelection campaign. They were at least partially successful. By Thursday afternoon, even as a number of New York lawmakers were calling for Adams to resign and Al Sharpton gave less than full-throated support it became increasingly clear that he would not. They are going to take this thing from his cold, dead hands, said one political strategist close to the Adams operation. On the bright side for Adams, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives who has long sparred with the mayor, has not joined fellow members of the New York City delegation like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and (almost) Nydia Velazquez in calling for him to step down. Like every other New Yorker and American, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Jeffries said. A jury of the mayors peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination. A midmorning press conference with Black clergy supportive of the mayor was held not inside Gracie Mansion, the mayors residence, but outside in the rain and was marred by a loud protester who yelled through a bullhorn, This is not a Black thing! This is a you thing! This is a you thing, Eric Adams! By aligning himself with members of the Black clergy, Adams has been trying to rally support among members of communities of color who have felt victimized by overzealous prosecutors. The Adams approach has been to suggest that the charges are politically motivated and have come from a federal Justice Department angry at Adamss outspoken criticism of the Biden administrations handling of the migrant crisis. Jewish leaders supportive of Adams, meanwhile, discussed circulating a letter that blames the prosecution as payback for Adamss fervent support of Israel. Meanwhile, in New York City political circles, the feeling was that as bad as the 57-page indictment from federal prosecutors is detailing how the mayor solicited illegal campaign contributions and lavish overseas trips and paid back those favors by pushing projects his benefactors supported it isnt as bad as many were predicting, and it follows many of the same lines that were previously reported. People who know Adams say that no matter how many left-leaning members of Congress or City Council members or state lawmakers call for him to step aside, no amount of pressure is likely to make him do so. For one thing, resigning would deprive the mayor of a meaningful chit he could use to bargain with prosecutors. Plus, as a candidate for office, Adams can raise money for his campaign, which he can then transfer to his legal defense. And the Supreme Court has so narrowly tailored the definition of political bribery that what once seemed like cut-and-dried corruption cases have recently been overturned on appeal. And while some progressives have hoped that Governor Kathy Hochul would utilize her authority to remove Adams from office, the chances of that happening are close to zero, particularly if senior members of the House delegation support the mayor. Still, the primary election in New York City is almost exactly nine months away, and all indications are that the Southern District of New York is looking to move quickly, in part so that U.S. Attorney Damian Williams does not face the prospect of putting a mayor running for reelection on trial. Should Adams trade in his office in a deal, it would trigger a nonpartisan special election to replace him while public advocate Jumaane Williams serves as acting mayor but only if Adams resigns before March 27, 2025. If Adams does so after that, the late-June primary would go on as planned and the new mayor would be sworn in after the general election in November. For the candidates and operatives plotting to run in 2025, here is where things get tricky. As of now, the declared candidates are city comptroller Brad Lander, former city comptroller Scott Stringer, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos. Should Adams resign, Williams would serve as a quasi-incumbent in the race, but he has indicated to allies that he is not certain he would run for mayor. Strategists affiliated with the announced campaigns say they hope Adams remains in the race. If not, he would be weakened and it would turn the race into a referendum against him. The labor unions, major donors, and Black and religious Jewish leaders who supported him in 2021 have not yet given an indication of rethinking their support. If that remains true, Adams would have a decent base to build on. And none of those groups is likely to look fondly at the prospect of a mayor who is well to Adamss left, as all of the declared candidates are. Looming over all these machinations, meanwhile, is Andrew Cuomo. Should Adams resign before March 27, the special election to replace him would be a sprint, and even the mayors current rivals admit that Cuomo would have a decided advantage based on name recognition alone. Cuomo has signaled he would be unlikely to challenge Adams in 2025 and would get into the race only if Adams does not. People close to him, however, say that calculation is no longer true, if it ever was. Although Cuomo is said to prefer to run for his old job as governor, people close to him say he is anxious to get back into the political game and is almost certain to declare his candidacy once the presidential election is over. Asked about the likelihood of the former governor jumping into the race, one person close to him was succinct: 100 percent chance. Donald Trump held a photo opportunity with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to bolster his case that he is a respected leader on the world stage who can end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who faces a 50 percent chance that Trump will be in a position to starve his government of the weapons it needs to defend its territory, has little choice but to cooperate with Trumps set piece (especially after having met publicly with Kamala Harris earlier this week). But Zelenskyys humiliation this time included having to stand silent while Trump claimed Vladimir Putin wants to end the war. He wants it to end, and he wants it to end as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place. Looking at Zelenskyy, Trump said he wants it to stop, and Im sure President Putin wants it to stop. And thats a good combination because we want to have a fair deal for everybody. Invoking some undefined fair deal that everybody will love is Trumps preferred method for bullshitting his way through intractable problems, especially ones on which his own position is politically unpopular. Trump has spent years promising a terrific health-care plan everybody will love. He has likewise pitched an abortion compromise that all sides will adore. Hawks sometimes overrate the force of moral clarity as a diplomatic strategy. The world can be complicated, and sometimes leaders have to gloss over ugly details or compromise their ethics. But even where moral clarity isnt always useful, factual clarity is. And the facts of this war are perfectly plain: Russia started the war; the war continues because Russia refuses to leave the territory it illegally seized; unprovoked cross-border invasions are a red-letter violation of international law, and preventing them is the most important basis for maintaining global peace. Trump has never blamed Putin for the war, though. He continues to describe it like a natural disaster, something that never should have happened and whose only identifiable cause was Joe Biden being president. Trumps talk of a fair transaction is not a realistic appraisal of the terms necessary to secure a peace but merely his belief that Putin is naturally entitled to payment as an equal victim of the war. FGIA Panel Addressed Fenestration Safety Products Experts at the 2024 Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Fall Conference discussed trends in ballistic glass, school security and blast-resistant windows. A recent panel at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliances (FGIA) 2024 Fall Conference explored the latest trends in safety-focused fenestration and glazing products, such as ballistic glass, school security measures and blast-resistant windows. According to a recent release, the panelmoderated by Mike Troutman of MI Windows and Doorsincluded Lothar Erkens of Winco Window, Matt Manning from Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope and Vaughn Schauss of Kuraray. Manning discussed the importance of installing ballistic glass to prevent weak points in a buildings security. With Sandy Hook, when [the shooter] first got there, he stopped because the door was reinforced, Manning said in a statement. But all he had to do was step about 2-1/2 feet to the left and he could get in. Similar to framing, the entire entrance needs to be hardened against that attacker. Meanwhile, Vaughn Schauss focused on the role of laminated glass in mitigating school shootings. He noted that ASTM F3561, a new standard, simulates active shooter scenarios to evaluate a window's forced entry resistance. And Lothar Erkens highlighted blast-resistant fenestration, explaining standoff distances and the effect of blast loads. Blast resistance is a very complex topic, Erkens said in a statement. Blast resistance boils down to standoff distances and the range of positive pressure in the air following a blast. The panel underscored the increasing importance of safety-oriented glazing in vulnerable environments like schools, public buildings, and high-risk facilities. Two weeks ago, we reported that a long exploration effort has led to the reportedly massive discovery of oil and gas reserves in Pakistans territorial waters, a cache so large that it is said it could change the economic trajectory of the beleaguered country. Although Pakistan's hydrocarbon resources are yet to be quantified, some estimates suggest that this discovery constitutes the fourth-largest oil and gas reserves in the world. However, the oil majors appear unimpressed: in July, the countrys Petroleum Minister, Musadik Malik, told a parliamentary committee that no international companies were interested in offshore oil and gas exploration in Pakistan,and those in the country largely had the exit door in view. It comes down to security, and risk versus reward with Malik explaining to the committee that the cost of security is a major deal-breaker because in areas where companies search for oil and gas, they have to spend a significant amount to maintain security for their employees and assets. Thankfully for Pakistans neighbor, India has no such baggage. Indias oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has called for oil majors to step up oil and gas exploration in the country to help cut India's reliance on imports and make affordable fuel sustainable. "E&P offers investment opportunities worth USD 100 billion by 2030," he told a conference at Urja Varta. Currently, only 10% of India's 3.36 million sq km wide sedimentary basin is under exploration. However, the country is richly endowed with fossil fuels: back in July, S&P Global Commodity Insights revealed that four largely unexplored sedimentary basins in India could hold up to 22 billion barrels of oil. In effect, lesser-known Category II and III basins, namely Mahanadi, Andaman Sea, Bengal, and Kerala-Konkan contain more oil than the Permian Basin, which has already produced 14 billion barrels of its 34 billion recoverable oil reserves. Related: OPEC+ Confirms it Has No Specific Price Target For Crude Oil Rahul Chauhan, an upstream analyst at Commodity Insights, has emphasized the potential of India's unexplored Oil & Gas sector, "ONGC and Oil India hold acreages in the Andaman waters under the Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP) and have planned a few significant projects. However, India still awaits the entry of an international oil company with deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration expertise to participate in current and upcoming OALP bidding rounds and explore these frontier regions," he has declared. Big Oil Kicks Off India Exploration India boasts significant discoveries in the Krishna-Godavari, Barmer, and Assam basins, but exploration in other areas has been slower to develop. Of India's 3.14 million square kilometers of sedimentary basins, 1.3 million sq km are in deep waters. India had its first foray into deepwater exploration in the Bay of Bengal earlier this year in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, courtesy of India's state run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). ONGC said it was planning to spend over $10 billion developing multiple deepwater projects in its KG-DWN-98/2 block in that basin. Meanwhile, state-owned upstream company Oil India Ltd is looking to start exploration activities in Nagaland We have a total of 30 blocks under the OALP. We have already drilled all wells under the awarded OALP blocks, except in Nagaland. We are pursuing the ministry and they have set up a high power committee involving OIL, ONGC, government officials, to discuss the issue with the Government of Nagaland and resume exploration, the official said. Unlike Pakistan, India is likely to have little trouble attracting the oil and gas majors. Indeed, British energy giant BP Plc (NYSE:BP) is holding a board meeting in India this week, as it hunts for more opportunities in the country. BP has forged a joint venture with Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries to operate 1,900 fuel retail stations across India and produces oil and gas from a deepwater block in the Krishna-Godavari basin. The JV has teamed up with ONGC to bid for exploration rights for an offshore block in India. National oil companies (NOCs) account for 58% of global reserves and 56% of production. However, International Oil Companies (IOCs) also play a major role in the energy sector by contributing to the general economic and social development of the host country. Indeed, IOCs are obliged through Production Sharing Agreement to pay royalty fees to the host country. Analysts have predicted that India is set to become the key driver of global oil demand growth, overtaking China. Chinas role as a global oil demand growth engine is fading fast, Emma Richards, senior analyst at London-based Fitch Solutions Ltd, told The Times of India. According to the analyst, over the next decade, Chinas share of emerging market oil demand growth will decline from nearly 50% to just 15% while Indias share will double to 24%. A rapidly growing population, which has likely surpassed Chinas, is expected to be the main driver of consumption trends in India. Meanwhile, the countrys transition from traditional gasoline and diesel-fueled transport is expected to lag other regions, in sharp contrast to Chinas skyrocketing adoption of electric vehicles and clean energy in general. India was always going to exceed China in a matter of time in terms of being the global demand growth driver, mainly due to demographic factors like population growth, Parsley Ong, the head of Asia energy and chemicals research at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Hong Kong, has told Bloomberg. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The UAE, of course, is leagues ahead of Iran and Russia with this Red Sea agenda. The Emirati has been very busy in recent years building military installations along the Red Sea and In Sudan, external forces are meddling, with the UAE supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At the same time, Russia and Iran are supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The UAE, which already has access to the Red Sea, is supporting the RSF to protect its assets in Sudan, while Russia and Iran are supporting the SAF because they want to build naval bases in Sudan on the Red Sea. Civil wars are much more than civil wars when domestic rivals are being armed by external players. Researchers at Critical Threats recently mapped out various interests in the Red Sea, and how a series of domestic, cross-border, and regional conflicts are all about staking access claims here. Everyone is looking for an advantage, and right now, the entire region is eyeing the Red Sea, which brings the Houthi bombardment into clearer view. If the Houthi bombardment is not catastrophic in and of itself, the plans of external forces beyond the Houthi activities are. Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, and the relentless targeting of Red Sea shipping by Yemens Houthis are not micro conflicts unfolding in a vacuum, and the Horn of Africa is where attention should be shifting as the Russia-Iran axis looks for weak spots to manipulate for ultimate control over the Red Sea. Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, and the relentless targeting of Red Sea shipping by Yemens Houthis are not micro conflicts unfolding in a vacuum, and the Horn of Africa is where attention should be shifting as the Russia-Iran axis looks for weak spots to manipulate for ultimate control over the Red Sea. If the Houthi bombardment is not catastrophic in and of itself, the plans of external forces beyond the Houthi activities are. Everyone is looking for an advantage, and right now, the entire region is eyeing the Red Sea, which brings the Houthi bombardment into clearer view. Researchers at Critical Threats recently mapped out various interests in the Red Sea, and how a series of domestic, cross-border, and regional conflicts are all about staking access claims here. In Sudan, external forces are meddling, with the UAE supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At the same time, Russia and Iran are supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The UAE, which already has access to the Red Sea, is supporting the RSF to protect its assets in Sudan, while Russia and Iran are supporting the SAF because they want to build naval bases in Sudan on the Red Sea. Civil wars are much more than civil wars when domestic rivals are being armed by external players. The UAE, of course, is leagues ahead of Iran and Russia with this Red Sea agenda. The Emirati has been very busy in recent years building military installations along the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, particularly around Yemen, where it wields much control in the south. Ethiopia and Somalia are two more players scrambling over the Red Sea, with Ethiopia desperate for access and trying to get it through the fragile breakaway region of Somaliland. The key external player here is Turkey, which Somalia is using as a bulwark against Ethiopia, which also benefits Egypt and the UAE because it is all about controlling the Red Sea. The next conflict to erupt in the region could easily be Ethiopia vs Somalia, bringing another gaggle of foreign players into the melee. Such a scenario would then embolden the radical Islamist group Al-Shabaab. Simultaneously, US intel indicates the Houthis and Al-Shabaab are collaborating. They know whats coming, and they are preparing to step into the vacuum (Think: Hamas/Hezbollah). Still, the UAE has chosen not to intervene with regard to the Houthi attacks. Its silence is sparing it from being targetedas is its influence in Yemen. Its not a bear the Houthis would do well to poke. For UAE, home of giant DP World shipping, the fact that maritime traffic is being rerouted away from Yemens Bab el-Mandeb strait to avoid being hit by missiles, much of the rerouted traffic is still benefiting UAE. In fact, Clarksons Research told clients on Thursday that the Red Sea conflict was adding some 3% to overall global shipping demand. Those who control the Red Sea and its ports find business is actually booming. There is little motivation to stop the Houthis. (The lead on any move against the Houthis, however, would have to come from the Saudis). Then, there is Russia, which was recently said to be in secret talks with the Houthis to supply them with drones, with Tehran also reportedly helping the Houthis secure Russian anti-tank missiles. Moscow is more or less scrambling for the crumbs of the other players in the Horn of Africa, but it's also pretty good at scavenging. Equinor and DNO have confirmed their Heisenberg oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, estimating reserves between 24-56 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Deepsea Atlantic rig drilled a second well, which proved additional oil and confirmed the discovery's size. While another target, the Angel prospect, yielded a smaller, less profitable find, On the Israel-Gaza front this week, as of late on Thursday, Israel had refused the US-backed ceasefire deal. The deal proposed a 21-day truce on the border with Lebanon. While Washington continues along a path of inaction with regard to Maduros refusal to step down in Venezuela, diplomatic warfare is intensifying in the region, with Venezuela and Argentina issuing arrest warrants for each others respective presidents. This additional spat stems from Argentine President Milieus move to transfer Maduros private plane, which it had seized in 2022, to the United States. Libya remains gridlocked this week, with a UN-mediated agreement between the rival sides on the appointing of a yet-to-be-determined head of the Central Bank that both would support. We have little confidence in a successful outcome for a compromise candidate. There can be no compromise candidate because there is no desire to compromise. The issue of control over the countrys oil revenues remains unresolved, and that makes whoever controls the CB the kingmaker here. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Libya remains gridlocked this week, with a UN-mediated agreement between the rival sides on the appointing of a yet-to-be-determined head of the Central Bank that both would support. We have little confidence in a successful outcome for a compromise candidate. There can be no compromise candidate because there is no desire to compromise. The issue of control over the countrys oil revenues remains unresolved, and that makes whoever controls the CB the kingmaker here. While Washington continues along a path of inaction with regard to Maduros refusal to step down in Venezuela, diplomatic warfare is intensifying in the region, with Venezuela and Argentina issuing arrest warrants for each others respective presidents. This additional spat stems from Argentine President Milieus move to transfer Maduros private plane, which it had seized in 2022, to the United States. On the Israel-Gaza front this week, as of late on Thursday, Israel had refused the US-backed ceasefire deal. The deal proposed a 21-day truce on the border with Lebanon. Discovery & Development Equinor and DNO have confirmed their Heisenberg oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, estimating reserves between 24-56 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Deepsea Atlantic rig drilled a second well, which proved additional oil and confirmed the discovery's size. While another target, the Angel prospect, yielded a smaller, less profitable find, the Heisenberg discovery is under consideration for a tieback to existing infrastructure. This discovery could be coordinated with other nearby developments around key production hubs like Troll and Gja. Oil India is set to resume exploration activities in Nagaland after talks with state and central governments, alongside ONGC. The company controls 30 blocks under the OALP, but drilling has been delayed in Nagaland due to border disputes with Assam. While these challenges remain unresolved, a high-level committee has been formed to negotiate and facilitate exploration. Internationally, Oil India is planning to start oil production in Gabon next year, after a successful oil discovery in its jointly held Shakthi-II block with Indian Oil Corp. Wyoming's latest oil and gas lease sale held Wednesday netted just over $27,000, marking a sharp decline from historical norms as developers show reduced interest. Changes implemented by the Biden administrationincluding increased fees, regulatory requirements, and the nomination process for leasingare major factors in this declineas are the logistical challenges of accessing markets due to its remote location. The oil and gas lease sale offered just 159 acres, a record low under the Biden administration. Expect this to severely impact the state's future oil and gas revenue. TotalEnergies is ramping up preparations for a historic $9 billion oil development off the coast of Suriname, signaling a significant expansion in the Atlantic oil boom. Although formal approval is pending, the company is securing rig leases and reserving shipyard capacity for a floating production vessel. The project, in partnership with APA Corp., aims to tap offshore oil discoveries dating back to 2020, with production expected by 2028. This investment marks a revival of deepwater exploration in regions like Suriname, Brazil, and Namibia as oil majors pivot back to offshore drilling amid a maturing shale sector. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Azerbaijan and a BP-led consortium have signed an agreement to develop a new natural gas reserve under the ACG oil field, bolstering Baku's commitment to doubling gas exports to the EU by 2027. The reserve, estimated at 113 bcm, is expected to start production in 2025, with Socar purchasing all the output. This deal strengthens Azerbaijans position as a key energy supplier to Europe and aids in expanding the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline capacity. The project is crucial for reaching the 20 bcm annual export target within the next three years. Repsol has acquired a 16.67% stake in Mexico's Block 29 from PTTEP, boosting its ownership to 46.67%. This block, located off the southern Gulf of Mexico, is in the exploration phase and spans 3,254 km2. The consortium has made notable oil discoveries in the area and plans to continue its development efforts. Repsol is also focusing on enhancing its upstream operations in key markets like Mexico, the U.S., and Brazil. The FTC will bar Hess CEO John Hess from joining Chevron's board as a condition for approving Chevrons $53 billion acquisition of Hess. This restriction is part of a broader antitrust crackdown on megamergers, similar to the FTCs decision to block Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield from joining Exxons board. Chevrons deal still faces a challenge from Exxon and CNOOC, which allege it is a move to secure Hesss valuable Guyana assets. Hess holds a 30% stake in the Guyana Stabroek block, with Exxon and CNOOC owning 45% and 25%, respectively. Raytheon, an RTX business, is developing an innovative Multi-Mission Launcher to launch a wide range of weapons and drones. This launcher will be integrated into the Lynx XM30 prototype RTX is working on as part of Team Lynx, led by American Rheinmetall Vehicles. The Lynx XM30 prototype is a proposed design to replace the U.S. Armys Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Raytheon plans to have a turret-mounted version ready for testing by 2025, with potential applications extending beyond the Lynx XM30 prototype. The Multi-Mission Launcher boasts three key advantages: compatibility with multiple missile designs, the ability to target adversaries beyond the line of sight, and software that can process data collected by missiles in flight. This gives soldiers a more comprehensive battlefield view and enhanced tactical options. The launcher is designed to fire various effectors, including Raytheons Coyote Block 3 unmanned aircraft systems and Javelin missiles, with future integration planned for the TOW missile family. Diehl Defence and Elbit Systems Partner on Rocket Artillery Systems Diehl Defence of Germany and Elbit Systems Land of Israel have announced a strategic partnership to develop and produce rocket artillery ammunition for the PULS and EuroPULS launcher systems. This collaboration addresses the growing European demand for advanced rocket artillery and deep strike capabilities. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly deliver rockets and advanced training rockets specifically designed to meet European rocket artillery requirements, focusing on the needs of the German armed forces. The partnership complements the EuroPULS launcher initiative, a joint project between Elbit and KNDS Deutschland to meet the technical and operational standards of NATO. This collaboration is expected to enhance local production capabilities, support, and sustainment for European countries utilizing the PULS and EuroPULS systems. Finland Expands Patria 66 Armoured Vehicle Fleet The Finnish Defence Forces has exercised an option to buy 29 Patria 66 armored vehicles, bringing the total fleet to 70. This purchase is part of the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program and follows an earlier procurement of 41 vehicles under the same agreement. The Patria 66, or XA-300, is a versatile armored personnel carrier designed to meet modern military requirements. Enduring Shield System Successfully Intercepts Targets in Flight Test Leidos has announced the successful testing of its Enduring Shield air defense system. The system intercepted multiple targets during a flight test, demonstrating its advanced capability to counter aerial threats. The Enduring Shield system is designed to defend against various aerial threats, including cruise missiles (CM), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS). Its open architecture makes it adaptable for integration with existing defense networks and allows upgrades as new threats emerge. Enduring Shield comprises the US Armys Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) system, which is designed to protect military forces and strategic sites by providing low-altitude, short-range air defense, and bridge the gap between tactical short-range air defense and strategic systems, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot forces. The demonstration highlighted the systems ability to detect, track, engage, and intercept UAS and CM targets in a missile flight test with a surface-launched AIM-9X. The test also involved integrating the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), Sentinel A3, and Missile Datalink, showcasing the capability to neutralize UAS and CM targets through a live fire. Leidos was recently awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting CommandRedstone Arsenal for additional hardware assets in support of the Armys Enduring Indirect Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E). The hardware includes upgrades to the missile remote communications link and software, which supports the Armys Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture. With its successful test, the Enduring Shield air defense system is expected to play a critical role in the U.S. Armys Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 program, designed to protect forward-deployed forces from increasingly sophisticated airborne threats. Epirus to Deliver Leonidas Expeditionary to the US Navy Epirus will deliver its compact RF weapon variant Leonidas Expeditionary, developed as part of a USD5.5 million contract award from the US Navys Office of Naval Research (ONR). The high-powered microwave (HPM) system delivers upon the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm program, or ExDECS, developed by ONR, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL), and the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office. Leonidas Expeditionary is a derivative of Epirus flagship Leonidas system, a modular and scalable system designed to fit on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) trailer and assist Low Altitude Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) in expeditionary operations in counter-drone and counter-swarm defense. Epirus expects to deliver a completed ExDECS HPM system to the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab by the end of 2024. Diehl Defence Develops Missile for Anti-Drone Operations Diehl Defence is working on the Missile (Micro Missile), a versatile anti-drone system for peacetime and combat. The missile can be equipped with a net for non-lethal drone capture or a fragmentation warhead for destroying drones in wartime. It has a range of five kilometers, reaches speeds of 200 km/h, and can be launched vertically from various platforms, including ships and ground-based systems. Series production is expected within two years. Source: Lars Hoffmann reported this first on Hartpunkt. UK Looks for New Mobile Air Defenses As the UK is seeking a replacement for the Stormer HVM performing its best against Russian missile and drone attacks in Ukraine, DVD provided the scene for new weapon systems addressing the need for short-range air defenses. NP Aerospace has displayed a Moog RIwP remotely controlled weapon mounted on a Ridgeback 44 vehicle configured for UK SHORAD / C-SAT. Another system aimed at this opportunity was the Rapid Ranger turret from Thales, which mounted four missile launchers with lasers and optics for target acquisition and guidance. Designed for light vehicles, this turret weighs less than 500 kg and can hold Starstreak or LMM missiles for surface-to-air or direct-fire engagement. Northrop Grumman to Develop First Hypersonic Glide Phase Interceptor The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation to proceed with the development of the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) program, a groundbreaking defensive countermeasure against hypersonic missile threats. This decision follows a three-year developmental effort that produced an innovative, purpose-built design capable of countering existing and emerging hypersonic threats. MDA favored this choice over a competing proposal from Raytheon. In the next development phase, Northrop Grumman will refine the preliminary design of the GPI, which is intended to be launched from U.S. Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense destroyers and Aegis Ashore facilities using standard Vertical Launch Systems. The company plans to demonstrate system performance in hypersonic environments and complete flight experiments ahead of schedule, leveraging its flight-proven systems. Northrop Grumman will employ digital engineering practices to accelerate design processes and develop interceptor capabilities more efficiently. The GPI design incorporates advanced technologies, including a seeker for threat tracking and hit-to-kill accuracy, a re-ignitable upper-stage engine for threat containment, and a dual engagement mode to engage threats across a wide range of altitudes. Wendy Williams, vice president and general manager of launch and missile defense systems at Northrop Grumman, emphasized that the GPI adds critical standoff capability to warfighters in scenarios where distance creates an advantage. Northrop Grumman will also collaborate with the United States to support its role in the GPI Cooperative Development program with the Japan Ministry of Defense. TPY-4 Radar Achieves Milestone in U.S. Air Forces 3DELRR Program Lockheed Martin has achieved advanced milestones in developing the TPY-4 radar system for the U.S. Air Forces Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range-Radar (3DELRR) program. The radar completed risk reduction tests, demonstrating its performance under various conditions and marking an important step toward system deployment. Raytheon Awarded Contract to Streamline SPY-6 Radar Production Raytheon, an RTX business, has been selected for an Office of Naval Research (ONR) Navy ManTech project to improve the manufacturing process of SPY-6 Transmit/Receive (TR) modules. The project, awarded by Penn State University Applied Research Laboratorys Electronics Manufacturing Center of Excellence, aims to streamline production and reduce costs for the U.S. Navys SPY-6 radar system. The new SPY-6 radio frequency TR modules are expected to be delivered in 2026-2027. The initiative will focus on implementing manufacturing advancements such as automation, new material sources, and process yield improvements. These enhancements are expected to result in significant cost savings for the U.S. Navy throughout the lifecycle of the SPY-6 radar. SPY-6 is a family of radars the U.S. Navy uses for air and missile defense across multiple ship classes. The system provides 360-degree integrated air and missile defense, allowing ships to simultaneously detect, track, and discriminate air, surface, and ballistic missile targets. The modular construction and common hardware and software across four variants make the SPY-6 more reliable and cost-effective. Anduril Integrates Lattice into Microsofts IVAS Anduril Industries and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership to enhance the U.S. Armys Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program, enabling soldiers to see real-time threats across the battlespace. Together, they will work on integrating Andurils Lattice operating system with Microsofts HoloLens-based IVAS headsets. Soldiers wearing Lattice-enabled IVAS headsets are rapidly warned of incoming autonomously-detected airborne threats, enhancing survivability in complex, contested environments. IVAS is a platform designed to ingest data from various sensors, including those integrated into the headset, attached to weapon systems, and via third-party devices and software, giving Soldiers unprecedented visibility on the battlefield. With the integration of Andurils Lattice system, Soldiers will have a significantly enhanced capacity to detect, track and respond to threats in real-time while rapidly expanding the mission capabilities available to Soldiers. Bulgaria Approved to Buy Javelin Missiles US approves sale of hundreds of Javelins to BulgariaThe US State Department has approved the potential sale to Bulgaria of Javelin missiles and related equipment, with an estimated total cost of $114 million. Babcock Introduces Project Raven a European ATV Babcock has displayed a locally built all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at the recent DVD event to compete with Polaris Defenses MRZR, offering ITAR-free production at a lower cost, based on the European supply chain. The vehicle was developed under Project Raven and aimed to source a European alternative to the Polaris MRZR. It is designed for two or three passengers. It holds a NATO pallet-sized flatbed for loading up to 500kg payload in the back. The chassis is built in Spain, and the diesel engine is a Japanese unit. Both are far more available in Europe and the UK. It is measured to load internally into the Merlin transport helicopter. Source: @TotherChris reported this first on X. Return to: Defense-Update Weekly News Summary 26.9.2024 Fear of an oversupply of oil on the back of reports that Saudi Arabia is considering returning to its strategy of pursuing market share rather than supporting prices has sent both WTI and Brent falling this week. Friday, September 27th, 2024 Chinas economic stimulus measures and US hurricanes have provided firm fundamental support for oil prices; but the big story of this week has come from Saudi Arabia, with media outlets alleging Riyadh is considering a strategy revamp of retaking market share in the oil markets. Fearing oversupply, market participants witnessed a $3 per barrel drop from a week ago, with WTI dipping below $70 per barrel again. Saudi Arabia Mulls Pros of Higher Production. According to the FT, Saudi Arabia is preparing to raise its crude oil production to win back market share, abandoning its unofficial $100 per barrel oil price target even if that means lower prices, raising hopes that OPEC+ would go ahead with its December hikes. Libya Gets Closer to a Negotiated Settlement. The UN-brokered negotiations between Libyas rival governments have made substantial headway this week, reportedly agreeing on the procedures of Central Bank staffing and decision-making, seeking to defuse the ongoing oil blockade. Eastern US Ports Ready for Strike. Port authorities in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Orleans, Louisiana and Texas have started to inform customers that some operations will stop effective September 30 as a regionwide strike of port workers risks debilitating container cargo traffic. UKs Key New Upstream Projects Derailed by Litigation. The two largest upcoming oil and gas projects in the UKs continental shelf, Shells Jackdaw, and Equinors Rosebank, might be stalled after environmental campaign group Greenpeace initiated a legal review of the two fields in Scottish courts. FTC to Bar John Hess from Chevron Board. The US Federal Trade Commission is expected to prohibit Hess CEO John Hess from taking a board seat at US major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) as a condition of the latters $53 billion purchase of Hess, just as Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield was barred from Exxons board. US Natural Gas Cuts to See Gradual Phaseout. The chief executive of EQT (NYSE:EQT) confirmed that the United States largest gas producer would be reversing some output curtailments implemented earlier in 2024 on the back of lower gas prices, preparing for a surge in LNG feedgas demand. Kazakhstan Wants Billions from Oil Majors. Kazakhstans Energy Ministry said it expects preliminary results of multi-billion arbitration proceedings by the end of this year, launching claims against stakeholders of the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields, worth $13 and $3.5 billion, respectively. Brazilian Major Seeks More Domestic Exposure. Brazilian upstream firm Prio (BVMF:PRIO3) reached an agreement with Chinese state-controlled major Sinochem (SHA:600500) to buy its 40% stake in the offshore Peregrino oil field for $1.92 billion, boosting its proprietary output with the 110,000 b/d field. BP Wants to Lure Investors by Shedding US Wind. British oil major BP (NYSE:BP) has reportedly put its US onshore wind business up for sale in a bid to attract investor interest as it rethinks its vast portfolio of low-carbon assets, selling 1.7 GW of gross generating capacity across seven US states. Copper Surges Past 10,000 on China Stimulus. Copper futures for December delivery surged past the $10,000 per metric tonne threshold as China unveiled wide-ranging stimulus measures to breathe life into its ailing real estate market, settling above $10,200/mt and sending mining stocks up by 6-7% this week. Belgium Calls for EU-Wide Ban on Russian LNG. Belgium, the fourth largest recipient of Russian LNG in 2023, has called for a coordinated EU approach to end the imports of Russian LNG into the European Union, over and above the expected ban on transshipment, set to take effect from the end of March 2025. US Gulf Recovers from Hurricane Helene Impact. At the peak of Hurricane Helene, some 30% of US offshore oil output was offline as 27 producing platforms were evacuated, equivalent to an outright impact of 510,000 b/d, but shut-ins had dropped by Friday as oil companies resumed operations. Sinking Barge Disrupts Venezuelan Production. At least two people died and four were declared missing after an oil barge operated by a PDVSA contractor sunk in Lake Maracaibo, the largest crude production hub in the country, reportedly capsizing whilst carrying out well maintenance services. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Colombia wants to fuel its transition away from oil and gas with an investment plan worth $40 billion that should replace revenues from hydrocarbon exports. These are expected to decline after the Colombian government stopped issuing new drilling permits two years ago, Bloomberg reported, citing the countrys environment minister as saying the money would be spent on what the publication called nature-based climate solutions, along with low-carbon energy, transport electrification, agricultural practices improvement projects, and projects for biodiversity protection. All of this is a huge economic transformation, the official, Susana Muhamad said. The portfolio of investments is around developing sectors that we think could start replacing oil revenues. She added that there were hopes at least $10 billion for the investment pot would come from international institutions and developed countries. Back in 2022, when he came to power, Colombias president Gustavo Petro pledged to shift Colombias economy away from oil, coal, and gas, in favour of lower-carbon energy alternatives. At last years COP28, Petro became the first leader of a large energy producer to vow phasing out hydrocarbons endorsing a call for something called a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Also at COP28, Petro announced Colombias transition policy, which at the time had a price tag of $32 billion. Based on the latest announcement by his environment minister the price of the transition has gone up, which reflects cost troubles in the low-carbon industries. Despite the bold climate plans, Colombia remains highly reliant on hydrocarbon energy. Earlier this year, a decline in gas production threatened electricity supply shortages, forcing the government to consider LNG imports. Colombia is also a large exporter of coal and oil, and it would take quite an effort to change that and replace lost revenues with new sources of state income. Meanwhile, the energy ministry plans to boost oil production in the country to 1 million barrels daily, from about 800,000 bpd this year. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com ConocoPhillips has taken a significant step forward in its long-standing battle to recover payments from Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. On September 27, 2024, a Trinidadian court approved ConocoPhillips' request to seize payments that PDVSA would have received for its role in the Dragon Gas offshore project. This ruling follows years of legal wrangling over compensation for assets nationalized by the Venezuelan government. The court appointed an accounting firm as a receiver to facilitate the process. Judge Frank Seepersad cited concerns that PDVSA might attempt to move assets out of Trinidad to avoid payment obligations, as seen in its past relocation of its European headquarters to Moscow. This latest legal victory for ConocoPhillips builds on previous efforts to enforce a $1.33 billion arbitration claim against Venezuela. Despite partial payments in the past, PDVSA stopped making required payments in 2019, prompting ConocoPhillips to pursue legal action across several jurisdictions. The case is part of a broader trend in the oil and gas industry, where companies like ConocoPhillips are increasingly seeking to enforce arbitration rulings against Venezuela following its nationalization of foreign assets. These moves aim to recover lost revenue through asset seizures or the diversion of payments tied to energy projects. This development is not just a legal win. These court rulings could complicate financial arrangements for partnerships attempting to access Trinidad and Venezuela's offshore gas fields. While this battle is far from over, ConocoPhillips has gained significant leverage in its pursuit of compensation. In 2018, ConocoPhillips embargoed cargoes of crude oil and fuel at a storage terminal in Aruba that was operated by PDVSA's US subsidiary, Citgo, in Conoco's quest to claim a $2 billion court award over PDVSA's forced nationalization of two oil projects by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The Federal Trade Commission has said Hess Corps CEO must not join the board of Chevron if it is to give the green light to the merger of the two. Reuters reported that the regulator did not give reasons for its demand. Earlier in the week, media reported, citing unnamed sources, that the FTC was set to approve the deal, although its finalization depends on the outcome of an arbitration case brought against Chevron and Hess by the latters partner in Guyana, Exxon. Chevron announced its plan to acquire Hess Corp. for $53 billion last year. Exxon, however, said it had the right of first refusal to Hess Corp.s 30% stake in the Stabroek Block in Guyana, where the companies have made a string of major discoveries that could turn the tiny South American nation into a major oil producer. Chevron and Hess have claimed that the first-refusal clause has no relevance to the deal because the supermajor is acquiring the whole Hess Corp. and not just its Guyanese assets. The third partner of the U.S. duo in Guyana, CNOOC, has sided with Exxon. The FTC move against John Hess echoes an identical demand placed on Exxon earlier this year with regard to the former chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, Scott Sheffield, who was barred from joining the board of the new, larger company after Exxon completes the $60-billion deal. For that decision, the FTC gave as reason allegations that Sheffield had colluded with OPEC to restrict oil supply in order to push international prices higher. Through public statements and private communications, Pioneer founder and former CEO Scott D. Sheffield has campaigned to organize anticompetitive coordinated output reductions between and among U.S. crude oil producers, and others, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and a related cartel of other oil-producing countries known as OPEC+, the Commission said in a formal complaint back in May. The allegations prompted a Congress investigation into several large oil companies. The allegations shook the shale oil world, where several large consolidation deals are awaiting the trade watchdogs approval. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com India will not buy liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned Russian project Arctic LNG 2, Indias Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said on Friday. We will not buy (supply from) Arctic LNG 2. We are not buying any sanctioned commodity. Something which has broad-based sanctions, we are not touching it, the official told reporters today, as carried by Reuters. The U.S. and the EU have imposed sanctions on the Arctic LNG 2 project, aiming to stifle Russias revenues from oil and gas. Located in the Gydan Peninsula in the Arctic, the Arctic LNG 2 project, operated by Russian gas developer Novatek, was considered key to Russias efforts to boost its global LNG market share from 8% to 20% by 2030-2035. But Arctic LNG 2 has been basically on ice since the U.S. imposed in November 2023 sanctions on the Russian project. As a result, foreign shareholders suspended participation in Arctic LNG 2, effectively withdrawing from the financing of the project and for offtake contracts for the new plant. Last month, the U.S. State Department intensified efforts to derail Arctic LNG 2 exports by targeting companies involved in the development of the project and vessels found to have loaded LNG from the facility. The project has already seen months of delays after the U.S. sanctions upended the companys plans for production start-up and export timelines. Russia, however, has started to amass a dark fleet of tankers to ship its LNG in vessel ownership transfers similar to the moves that Moscow began after the invasion of Ukraine to create a shadow fleet to export oil and products in the face of Western sanctions. While India is steering clear of sanctioned Russian LNG, it continues to seek cheap oil and gas supply, including from Russia. India will not change its energy policy to buy oil and gas at the lowest possible price and will continue to purchase cheaper Russian crude supply, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Reuters last week. If an entity is not under sanctions, there is no question I will buy from the cheapest supplier, the minister said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Mitsubishi Corporation is boosting its equity stakes in one of the worlds single largest LNG-producing facilities in Malaysia after signing agreements with Malaysian state-owned oil and gas giant Petronas. On Friday, Mitsubishi and Petronas announced the signing of agreements under which Mitsubishi Corporation will invest in the Malaysia LNG units Dua and Tiga over the next decade. The Japanese firm announced an extension of its 10% equity shareholding in MLNG Dua, and the reinvestment of a 10% equity shareholding in MLNG Tiga in ten-year deals beginning in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Mitsubishi has been a key trading partner of Petronass LNG deliveries to Japan, the worlds second-largest LNG importer after China. The Petronas LNG complex through partnerships and alongside Mitsubishi Corporation began LNG supply to long-term Japanese contract buyers in 1983. Petronas LNG comprises four joint ventures of MLNG, MLNG Dua, MLNG Tiga, and PETRONAS LNG 9 with a production capacity of 29.3 million tons per annum (mtpa), making it one of the worlds largest LNG producers in a single location. The LNG complex has been a main LNG supplier to public and private sector customers in Japan. Elsewhere in Malaysia, Mitsubishi Corporation has also participated in total of 10 gas upstream blocks in Sarawak and expanded its areas of investment in the country to the automotive, food, petrochemicals, metal, and steel sectors. Mitsubishi Corporation looks forward to providing continuous support in growing and nurturing access to global LNG market for PETRONAS future volumes with LNG being the fuel of choice in the age of energy transition, the Japanese corporations president and CEO Katsuya Nakanishi said. Earlier this month, Petronas reported a decline in its first-half profit amid continued market volatility, lower natural gas prices, and higher taxes paid. Petronas is also faced with the prospect of lower earnings from natural gas as Sarawak, the biggest state in Malaysia, is set to take control of its natural gas assets as the state on the Borneo island is now looking for more autonomy from the federal government. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices were trending down earlier today, extending a two-day losing streak as bearish news crowded out any bullish signals. Earlier in the week, news emerged that the rival governments in Libya had struck an agreement about the appointment of a new central bank governor, signaling oil production and exports would soon return to normal, alleviating supply squeeze concerns. The latest blow to prices came from Saudi Arabia. On Thursday, the FT reported citing unnamed sources that the kingdom considered dropping its oil price target of $100 per barrel and instead focusing on regaining lost market share by boosting supply. The price target is not official but it is the level that the IMF earlier this year said Saudi Arabia needs oil prices to be in order to balance its budget. This balance is based on all the high-ticket projects that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is spearheading as a way of diversifying the local economy away from oil. The FT report suggests the Saudi leadership has rearranged its priorities and is now resigned to lower prices for longer. The effect of the Saudi news was amplified later on Thursday when Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia planned to stay on course with OPEC+ plans, meaning it would start bringing some supply back in December, like Saudi Arabia. The OPEC+ alliance is not discussing any proposals for changes to its current oil production plan, which envisages the group starting to add supply to the market in December, Novak told media, suggesting other members of the group were also resigned to lower prices and were about to prioritize market share now. The big-ticket items on the market's radar this week have been Libya and OPEC+, FGE Energy said, as quoted by Reuters, as Brent crude looked set to end the week close to 5% lower than where it started it, and West Texas Intermediate was on course to book a loss of over 6%. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Mexicos oil firm Pemex saw its oil production decline by 6% in August compared to August 2023 as outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has failed to turn around the fortunes of the heavily indebted state-owned company. Pemex produced a total of 1.77 million barrels per day (bpd) of liquids, which include crude oil and condensate, last month, down by 6% compared to August of last year, according to company data cited by Reuters. Crude oil production only averaged below 1.5 million bpd in August, as Pemexs crude output has been falling in recent years and has hit the lowest level in more than 40 years. The Mexican state oil firm has also failed in Lopez Obradors pledge to significantly reduce fuel imports with the start of his flagship petroleum project, the Olmeca refinery, also known as Dos Bocas. The project was designed to reduce Mexicos dependence on fuel imports from the United States and was billed by Lopez Obrador as a key step toward energy independence. The Olmeca refinery, which began commercial operations in early August, has a crude processing capacity of 340,000 barrels per day (bpd). Pemex said at the start of the refinery operations that the facility would produce 175,000 bpd of gasoline and 130,000 bpd of ultra-low sulfur diesel in August. But the refinery produced only 28,400 bpd of gasoline and 1,100 bpd of diesel last month, according to figures reported by Reuters. In June, sources familiar with the Olmeca refinerys operations told Reuters that the facility is unlikely to be ready to produce commercial quantities of fuels by the end of this year. While the refinery struggles with the ramp-up, Mexicos imports of fuels remain at high levels, much higher than Pemexs leadership and the outgoing president have promised. Lopez Obrador leaves office next week and will be succeeded by his ally, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum has vowed to continue the policy of government support to the state oil firm. Continued support for Pemex remains a key challenge for Mexicos new administration, Fitch Ratings said after the election in June. Pemexs debt, equivalent to almost 6% of GDP, remains a material contingent liability for the sovereign, the credit rating agency noted. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com TotalEnergies on Friday announced a deal to buy a 45% stake in dry gas-producing assets owned and operated by Lewis Energy Group in the Eagle Ford basin in Texas, growing its gas production business and boosting its LNG portfolio. The assets that TotalEnergies is buying are located in Southwest Texas and have the potential to be developed to reach a sustainable gross production of around 400 Mcf/d by 2028. TotalEnergies, which is the leading exporter of U.S. LNG, is further increasing the integration across its gas value chain in the United States, the French supermajor said. The deal is the second such transaction announced this year after TotalEnergies in April agreed to buy the 20% interest held by Lewis Energy Group in the Dorado leases operated by EOG Resources in the Eagle Ford. In the U.S. natural gas sector, TotalEnergies also operates a technical production of around 500 Mcf/d in the Barnett. This acquisition further strengthens our upstream gas position in the United States and contributes to our integrated LNG position with a low cost upstream gas supply, said Nicolas Terraz, President, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies. The French group exported more than 10 million tons (Mt) of LNG from the U.S. in 2023, which makes it the largest exporter of American LNG. This is thanks to TotalEnergiess 16.6% stake in the Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana and several long-term purchasing agreements. The company aims to have its U.S. LNG export capacity reach 15 Mt per year by 2030, after the start-up of the Rio Grande LNG plant in South Texas. However, the Rio Grande LNG has recently suffered a regulatory setback. Last month, a U.S. appeals court vacated the authorization of NextDecade Corporations Rio Grande LNG export project issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the ground that the FERC should have issued a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during its remand process. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The benchmark crude prices at Houston have seen increased trading volumes as the rise in U.S. crude oil exports out of the Gulf Coast is making regional prices more important for physical and futures traders, analysts and industry officials have told Reuters. Surging U.S. crude exports, particularly WTI Midland, have dominated global markets in recent months, with record export volumes and a significant portion being sent to Europe. Before the U.S. allowed in 2015 crude oil exports to international markets other than Canada, soaring American production during the first shale revolution in the early 2010s was capping the price of WTI oil, which traded at a $15-$20 per barrel discount to Brent, the benchmark price of the oil pumped in the North Sea. Significant midstream bottlenecks and the fact that U.S. crude was being exported only to Canada meant that Brent Crude commanded a wide premium over the price of American oil. But after the U.S. allowed crude oil exports in 2015 and after midstream operators seized the opportunity to build pipelines in Texas and Louisiana leading to the U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals, American exports soared and made WTI a more influential benchmark in the oil markets. So influential has the U.S. oil become that WTI Midland, produced in Texas, was included last year in the Dated Brent part of the Brent benchmark as one of several grades underpinning the contract. Earlier this year, CME Group announced that trading in its U.S. Crude Grade futures, which are Argus-settled and trade as a differential to the global benchmark WTI Crude Oil futures, reached several records in April 2024. So far in September, average daily volumes on the WTI Houston contract on CME more than doubled from September 2023, to a record high, CME representatives told Reuters. The physical market for U.S. production has already moved to the U.S. Gulf Coast, and now the futures market is following suit, Jeff Barbuto, global head of oil markets at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), told Reuters. The growing importance of WTI Houston contracts has spared oil prices from spikes because crude stocks at the Cushing hub, the delivery and pricing point for the WTI crude futures on NYMEX, fell to the operational minimum earlier this month. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Flash 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. Lebanese soldiers are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ten years after becoming the first Ebola patient to be treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Richard Sacra returned to Omaha Thursday to reunite with the team who made his recovery possible. Sacra spoke at an event commemorating the anniversary of his release from UNMCs Nebraska Biocontainment Unit as one of the first patients with Ebola to be treated in the United States. Sacra, who lives in Massachusetts, last visited Omaha in March of 2015 to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the biocontainment unit. Sacra, a longtime medical missionary, was working in Liberia during the Ebola crisis a decade ago. During that outbreak, there were nearly 30,000 cases of the virus in West Africa and more than 11,000 people died with the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While working to provide care to patients when thousands were infected and hospitals and clinics were closing, Sacra noticed he had a fever. After waiting the required 72 hours to be tested for Ebola, Sacra tested positive on Sept. 1, 2014. Four days later, Sacra arrived in Omaha and was admitted to the biocontainment unit, where he spent nearly three weeks. On Sept. 25, 2014, Sacra was released and got to meet the medical team who cared for him without all of the personal protective equipment between them. That was a real wonderful blessing of a day, he said. I consider these people, even though I dont see them all the time, I consider them lifelong friends. They did an amazing job, and they gave me my life back. In a video message shared during the event, University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold remembered the moment when Sacra was released. At the time, Gold was the chancellor at UNMC. No one will ever forget the moment we knew that he made it, he said. His radiant smile spoke to all of us about this success. Shelly Schwedhelm, who now works at UNMCs Global Center for Health Security, reflected on her and other members of the biocontainment units decision to accept Ebola patients as she spoke at Thursdays event. While the unit was established in 2005, Sacra was its first patient. These are our fellow Americans, and weve trained for nine years to do this mission, she said she remembered thinking at the time. Tim Uyeki, chief medical officer of the CDCs influenza division, said the work done at UNMC to treat Sacra and the two other Ebola patients who were brought there was essential to understanding how to treat the virus. This really contributed to optimizing supportive care of patients with Ebola viruses everywhere, he said. Uyeki said the CDC continues to see UNMC as a leader in handling highly contagious infectious diseases through its continued development in the last decade, including work to treat COVID-19 patients. Its really good to know that UNMC, Nebraska Med, has this capability and training and will always be a resource for the U.S., he said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of September 2024 The Omaha Police Department is investigating a fiery crash that killed three people and injured three others near 10th and Douglas Streets early Friday. Police officers responded to the two-vehicle crash shortly before 1:30 a.m., according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. Investigators determined that the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee was headed east on Douglas Street when she hit a Subaru Outback from behind, according to the release. The driver of the Subaru had just turned left onto Douglas Street from southbound 10th Street. The crash caused both vehicles to be pushed to the east. The Subaru hit a light pole, and the Jeep hit a tree and then rolled, the release said. Both cars caught on fire and were engulfed in flames. The driver and lone occupant of the Subaru was found dead at the scene. Two passengers in the Jeep, both children, were also declared dead at the scene. The driver of the Grand Cherokee, another child passenger and the front-seat passenger, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for initial treatment. They were later transferred to a specialized burn unit at a hospital out of state, the release said. The names of the deceased have not been released, pending positive identifications of the individuals and next-of-kin notifications, police said. Police are consulting with the Douglas County Attorneys Office on pending charges for the Grand Cherokee driver. Speed and alcohol are being investigated as contributing factors, according to the release. Photos: Police investigate an accident in downtown Omaha The battle line is drawn as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the APC leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu fire at each other. First in a statement titled Tinubu Focusing On The Issues Of Today: Tomorrow Is The Master Of Itself the APC leader accused Saraki and Yakubu Dogara of hijacking the budget process for the last four years. Tinubu said they continually padded, distorted and delayed all for their personal benefits. He also accused them of diverting funds meant to alleviate the masses sufferings. In a swift response, the Saraki team has fired back. Bellow is a statement released and signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity to Senate President) : Here is Sarakis reply: Saraki to Tinubu: Despite Your Smear Campaign and Hatred for Me, You Should, At Least, Dwell on Facts Yesterday, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, released another of his now well expected quarterly vicious attack on the person of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate. In the statement, one could see the master of media spins getting ensnared in his own game as he struggled to extricate himself from the narratives about the contest for leadership positions in the Ninth National Assembly. 2. Since we have taken it for granted that Tinubus attack on Saraki every three months (Quarterly) will come as expected, we would just have ignored his statement but for the fact that it was filled with untruth, fallacies and misrepresentations. The statement was another effort to sell a concocted narrative about the Eighth National Assembly and its leadership. 3. First, he alleged that national budgets were delayed, distorted, padded, new projects introduced, funds for projects reduced, to halt progress of government. It is unfortunate that a man like Tinubu who had been in the Senate (though for 22 months and under a military regime) should have a better understanding of how the legislature works. The passage of budgets is definitely not the exclusive responsibility of the leadership of the Senate. Most of the work is done in the various committees. These committees are headed by Senators representing different parties. It is the level of co-operation between the committees and the MDAs in the timely defence of the budget proposals and the ability of the two chambers of the National Assembly to reconcile their figures that usually determine how soon the budget is passed. To put the blame of budget delay on the Senate President or Speaker can only be mischief, or at best, playing to the gallery. 4. It is also a known fact that any so-called delay in the passage of budgets under the Eighth National Assembly is traceable to the refusal of heads of MDAs to defend the budget proposals for their agencies on time. Last year, the President himself had to direct the Secretary to Federal Government to compel heads of MDAs to appear before the National Assembly committees following the report made to him by Dr. Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara. So, if a man like Tinubu is spreading this falsehood about budget passage and delay being deliberately orchestrated by the National Assembly leadership, one wonders whether he tries to even understand what happens in the federal legislature at all or is that the only thing that is of interest to him is. jockeying and manoeuvring for influence, as he puts it. 5. To further make the points here clear, we invite. Tinubu to look at the records of the time of submission of budgets and their passage since 2010 and he will see that with the exception of the 2013 budget which was passed on December 20, 2012, all the budgets have been passed between March and May of the same fiscal year. This should give him a better understanding of the fact that the date the Appropriations Bill is submitted to parliament and the readiness of the MDAs to defend the proposals submitted as well as timely agreement on the figures by both chambers of the National Assembly are the main determining factors in when the budget is eventually passed. So, Tinubu should see that the facts cannot support his spins and fake narrative. 6. In all the three budgets already passed by the National Assembly, we challenge Tinubu to make specific reference to where Dr. Saraki and the leadership of the National Assembly sought to pad with pet projects as. he alleged. Tinubu should be graceful enough to substantiate this allegation. We consider that allegation careless, irresponsible and callous. We therefore demand that he should withdraw it. 7. However, there is need to let him know that it is the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to review the proposals sent by the executive and where it deems necessary, it is within the power of the legislature to make changes. A good example, is the decision by the National Assembly to include in the 2018 budget the one percent of the total budget, amounting to N33 billion, as allocation for Universal Health Coverage as provided by an extant law, which had been hitherto observed in the breach. Is this what Tinubu considers as budget padding? And this was a decision which was praised across the world as a real benefit to ordinary people across the country. 8. Tinubu also claimed that the Senate leadership stymied APC legislative initiatives while attempting to hoist noxious reactionary and self interested legislation on the nation. We wonder what these legislative initiatives are because in the four years of the Buhari administration, it has only forwarded 11 bills to the Senate, apart form the routine annual appropriations and supplementary budget proposals. Two of these bills, the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the National Minimum Wage Bill, have been passed. One of the bills, the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act (amendment) Bill was withdrawn by the executive following the disagreement between the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also, another one, the National Water Resources Bill was rejected because it infringed on the rights of states to develop their water resources. The remaining seven which are the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Establishment Bill, Federal Institute of Industrial Research for the Development of Micro, Small and Large Industries Bills, the Suppression of Piracy Bill, Communications Service Tax Bill, 2015; Federal Institute of Industrial Research Bill, 2017; Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2018; Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (Establishment etc) Bill, 2018 are at various stages of passage. 9. As a leader of the Eighth National Assembly, Dr. Saraki is proud that under his watch, the Senate has surpassed the records of all previous Senates in the number of bills passed, the significance of these bills to the revival of the economy, the fight against insecurity and corruption, improvement in the provision of health service and the education sector, as well as better social service delivery. to the generality of the people. The bills passed, motions moved, interventions made and frequent engagement with the people were all directed towards addressing the day to day issues that affect the lives of the ordinary Nigerians. This Senate has passed 282 bills (the highest any Senate had passed is 129 bills recorded by the 5th Senate), among which is the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, Public Procurement Act (amendment) Bill, Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, Electoral Act (amendment) Bill, Police Reform Bill, Police Trust Fund Bill, Nigeria Railways Authority Bill, Company and Allied Matters Act (amendment) Bill, Secured Credit Transactions Act, Whistleblowers Protection Bill, constitution amendment bills, Discrimination Against Persons With Disability Bill, Electronic Transaction Bill, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, North East Development Commission (NEDC) Act, Witness Protection Programme Bill, Credit Bureau Reporting Bill, Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institution Bill and Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill, National Financial Intelligence Agency Act, Federal Audit Services Commission Bill, among others. It will be good to know which of these Bills Tinubu believes is self interested and not in the interest of Nigerians. 10. We will like to point the attention of Mr. Tinubu to the fact that most of the bills listed above got international and national endorsement from stakeholders who lauded the Senate for the move. For example, the Financial Intelligence Database Agency (Ultrascan) commended the Senate for passing the NFIU Act which enabled the country to be re-admitted into the Egmont Group. Also, the Nigerian Police leadership have praised the Senate for passing the Police Reforms Bill and the Police Trust Fund Bill. Again, when the National Assembly in the 2018 budget gave effect to the law allowing one percent of the budget to be devoted to Primary Health Care Delivery, it got kudos from Bill Gates, Bono, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO, and various national groups who believe the move would bring health care delivery to the poor people across the country. The passage of the UBEC Act (amendment) Bill was praised by Pakistani child education campaigner and youngest Nobel Laureate, Yousafzai Malala. When the PIGB was passed, APC led by Tinubu, National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), among others, hailed the Senate for a good job. Even, the World Bank commended the National Assembly for the passage of the Company and Allied Matters Act and Secured Transactions in Movable Assets and Credit Bureau Reporting Act. Of course, all these initiatives will be ignored by a man who is still sulking because his vow in 2015 that Saraki and Dogara will never lead the National Assembly did not materialize. 11. Tinubu and his mob have been sponsoring the narratives in the media that the emergence of the present leadership of the National Assembly was a mistake. We hereby submit that Dr. Saraki and other leaders of the National Assembly were democratically elected by their colleagues. And it is because they are the choice of their colleagues that they have remained in office for the past 46 months, despite all the plots hatched by anti-democratic, reactionary and fascist elements pretending to be progressives. In fact, Tinubu should know that if there was any mistake made on June 9, 2015, it was the miscalculation by himself and his small cabal in the APC who felt they could decide for the Senators-elect and House of Representatives Members-elect. When they failed after their grand-standing that they could always get whatever they desired, they resorted to undermining the institution of the legislature by waging a campaign of calumny against the law making body. It is now clear that those who took Senators away from the chambers contrary to the directive contained in the proclamation signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 9, 2015 are mistake personified. It is obvious that if they repeat that arrogance during the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly, they will fail again because Nigeria is greater than them. The institution of the legislature is bigger than the over-bloated egos of these power mongers and dirty schemers. 12. Let us repeat again that we know that a Machiavellian politician like Tinubu will forever agonize over his erroneous belief that Dr. Saraki frustrated his ambition from becoming running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari through a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015. In his usual cavalier manner, he will stop at nothing to punish Saraki for that. We know that this attack is not about the interest of the nation or that of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is about his 2023 ambition and it is obvious in the statement as he struggled to explain this away. 13. However, Tinubu should leave Dr. Saraki out of his schemes and manipulations towards 2023. It is obvious his arbitrary and tactless interference in the process for the emergence of the leadership of the Ninth Assembly is already falling through. The frustration from this experience might have been responsible for this needless and baseless outbursts. Our only advice for him is that if he is interested in the stability of the National Assembly, he should allow the members to elect their leadership in consultations with the party leadership. He should stop treating the legislators like hapless pupils receiving orders from a cane-wielding headmaster. A situation where he, Tinubu, is dictating to elected legislators and ordering them to either comply with his directives or get out of the party will not augur well for the legislature in the next dispensation. History should have thought him that only a leadership that truly enjoys the support of members can help the President and his administration to achieve their objectives. It is a good development that the candidates for the various positions are already reaching out to their colleagues and forging alliances. We can see that after he realized that he has misfired, he is trying to retrace his steps and in his usual devious manner, he is looking for scapegoats. We advise him to leave Dr. Saraki out of his manipulations and jockeying and maneuvering for influence and power, as he termed it. 14. The Eighth Senate has done very well and will leave a good legacy. Despite all the underhanded tactics to undermine the legislature by outsiders and the public posturing, members have always worked as a team on critical issues that benefit our nation. That is why hitherto unachievable legislations like the PIGB, Police Reform Act and other bills or amendments to existing laws were passed with ease because the members and the leadership know that they are elected as Senators of the Federal Republic not as party representives. 15. Tinubu should know that while we await his attack for the next quarter, we can only advise him to stay on facts. The Nigerian Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over what it termed Unwarranted attacks by the coalition of United Political Parties(CUPP) led by Ikenga Ugochinyere. The court, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Festus Akande, attacked the CUPP for attempting to blackmail the court in its handling of the appeal filed by PDP and its Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The statement read; In the light of the blatant falsehood, misinformation and malicious rumour being generously peddled by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) through its spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, we wish to state clearly that the association is not and can never constitute itself into an agency of the Nigerian Judiciary or assume the role of an alternate Supreme Court of Nigeria. We have been watching rather cautiously the drama of the absurd being exhibited on daily basis by this association which sadly debases our collective morality and sense of decency as people from a civilized and well-cultured society like Nigeria. Sensitive issues like the presidential election appeal should not, in all honesty, be taken to the altar of frivolous drama and misguided oration that is displayed on the screen of our national television with reckless abandon by people who ought to be some sort of role model to the younger generation. It will be recalled that even weeks before the presidential election appeal was filed at the Supreme Court, the CUPP had already, in its characteristic manner, constituted its own panel for the Supreme Court and aggressively brandished the list on television and newspapers. Shortly afterwards, when the appeal was eventually filed at the court, the coalition came out once again with another imaginary list of panel members and followed it with yet another malicious allegation against the Chief Justice of Nigeria of handpicking them in contrast to the tradition of selecting the most senior justices of the court. Let it be known that the Supreme Court is not an assemblage of individuals with no defined purpose, vision and modus operandi. Our operations are strictly guided by the Constitution and extant laws. We are not an appendage of any individual or group of people, and we dont pander to the dictates of anybody or association. The Supreme Court, and by extension, the Judiciary, is an independent arm of government that can never be intimidated or dictated to by anybody. The CUPPs action only amounts to naming a baby before it is born. We should be mindful of our utterances to avoid inflicting devastating harm on the nation. This exhibition of unbridled utterances and prevarication will only endanger the progress and cohesiveness of our country. The Supreme Court has been entertaining presidential election appeals over the decades, but the unnecessary hysteria and superlative drama being woven around this particular one calls for caution and moderation. The constitution of any panel to sit on a matter in the court is the sole prerogative of the Supreme Court and it is never an issue for the court to debate on the television or pages of newspapers. We are not a political party or social club and should never be dragged into any form of baseless pedestrian discussions that will drive valid reasoning aground. Enough of this orchestrated falsehood and campaign of calumny. We are here to serve the interest of the generality of the Nigerian masses and not a select individuals or groups with inordinate ambition. As soon as the presidential appeal panel is constituted, the public will be duly informed as Supreme Court is not a secret society. Let us always observe caution when disseminating information to the public. The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and Abuja has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the February 23 governorship election. Mr Buhari was declared the winner in the early hours of Wednesday, beating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Abubakar has since declared his intention to challenge the election in court The northern CAN chapter in a letter to the president dated March 1, 2019, said the re-election of the president was a testimony of Mr Buharis uprightness and transparency in governance. The letter, signed by Yakubu Pam, the associations chairman, urged the president to unite the country and fight security and corruption challenges. Aware of this victory at a time the people of Nigeria are looking up to you for quality leadership, we urge you double your effort in the fight against insurgency, internal security and corruption in the country. The association called on the president to run an inclusive government as you promised under the new dispensation to unite the diverse of people of Nigeria now, more than ever before. Mr President sir, the Bible says to whom much is given, much is expected. We wish to appeal that you continue to be father to all in Nigeria as we look forward to seeing prosperous nation in the next 4 years of your second term in office, the letter partly reads. BLOOMINGTON A Chicago man is detained in McLean County on seven drug and firearm charges. Burundi A Martin, 34, was seen for an initial appearance in custody before Judge William Yoder on Thursday afternoon. Martin is charged with: armed violence, Class X felony; two counts of unlawful use of weapons by a felon, Class 2 felonies; aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Class 2 felony; unlawful possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, Class 3 felony; unlawful possession of between 1-15 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver, Class 1 felony; unlawful possession of a controlled substance, Class 4 felony. The prosecution, represented by Assistant State's Attorney David Fitt, filed a petition to detain Martin on these charges. In filing his petition, Fitt noted the defendant is eligible for an enhanced penalty on the Class X if he is convicted. Typically, an armed violence conviction earns 15-30 years in prison, but with the enhancement, Martin is eligible to serve 30-45 years if he is found guilty. According to the probable cause statement which was read by Fitt, these charges stem from a Sept. 24 incident in Bloomington in which a driver was pulled over for committing a stop sign violation and two failures to signal. A Bloomington police officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was operated by an Uber driver, and a K-9 unit indicated positive for presence of drugs. Three defendants were identified in the vehicle, two in the rear seats and one as the front passenger. Fitt said police found all three passengers were found to be in possession of cocaine. Each defendant was found carrying clear plastic baggies containing a substance that field tested positive for cocaine, individually packaged for sale, Fitt said. Officers located a plastic baggie with 10 units of cocaine on Martin's person, weighing a total of 3.1 grams, and Martin, who was riding on the passenger side of the backseat, gave a fake first name to officers, Fitt said. Additionally, police recovered a backpack in the rear seat. Inside, police found a 9 mm pistol with an extended magazine and ammunition, as well as three digital scales and a glass dish, all of which tested positive for the presence of cocaine. Fitt said police believe the backpack belonged to Martin. In arguing for his release, First Assistant Public Defender Matthew Koetters said the backpack could have belonged to any passenger in the vehicle. He noted the other defendant who was in the rear seat had not been cooperative with police and suggested the backpack may have belonged to that individual instead of his client. "There was nothing other than the backpack (was) in the backseat with my client that identifies it belonged to my client, and he denies the backpack was his," Koetters said. Fitt disagreed and said the backpack was located resting under Martin's arm, leading police and the state to believe it belonged to him. He also clarified that there was cocaine found on Martin's person, located in his pocket. Koetters said his client has family residing in Bloomington who would allow the defendant to stay in the area pending trial if released, arguing this reduces the risk of willful flight. He said Martin would abide by court orders including home confinement or pretrial monitoring if ordered by the court. Fitt argued Martin would not abide by court orders, citing his criminal history which dates back to a 2002 Cook County case in which Martin was adjudicated as a juvenile and tried as an adult. Furthermore, Fitt argued since Martin has previously been convicted of a felony and has a history of Illinois Department of Corrections sentences, he never should have been in possession of a firearm in the first place. Fitt argued this proved the defendant would not abide by court orders. Koetters said Martin had spend seven years in custody pending trial for a murder case in which he was acquitted. Because of this experience, Koetters said Martin is fearful to be held in custody for a crime he didn't commit. Ultimately, Yoder agreed with the state and ordered the defendant be detained. The judge noted the defendant's criminal history in making this decision. Martin is set for an arraignment at 9 a.m. Oct. 4. Flash 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. It was always inevitable, and now its official: The new era of relentless political intrusion into personal medical decisions is killing women. A state medical review board in Georgia has concluded that the states extreme abortion ban contributed to the deaths of at least two women there in late 2022, shortly after the ban was imposed. Given the relatively small sample of reviewed cases that revealed the two tragedies, its a mathematical certainty that there are many more today. And not just in Georgia. And how is the political party that has created this deadly threat responding? By doubling down on its efforts to not only deny women their right to decide what happens in their own bodies, but to deny voters at large the right to weigh in on the issue at all. Those voters arent helpless. Nov. 5 is around the corner. As recently reported by ProPublica, the two Georgia cases both involved women who had taken abortion pills, the only viable option in the state for women determined to end unwanted pregnancies due to the new ban. Both encountered a rare event in which the fetal tissue failed to be entirely expelled, requiring what would normally be a routine medical intervention. In one of the cases, the woman hesitated to go to the hospital because, as she told her family, she knew the state prohibited virtually any abortion procedure. She died at home. The other woman went into the hospital but was made to wait some 20 hours before doctors finally operated a crucial delay apparently driven by fear of inadvertently violating the states abortion ban. By then, it was too late for her. Those who try to parse the details for fuel to blame the women themselves They shouldnt have taken the medication! They should have sought emergency care sooner! miss the point by miles: Women and doctors facing personal and complex reproductive medical issues should be able to make their decisions based on medical factors, not based on the extremist fervor of a political minority determined to impose its ideology on others. Polls consistently show strong majorities of Americans favor reasonable abortion rights as they existed under Roe. Of the seven states that have put the question to statewide votes since Roe fell, every single one has come down on the side of those rights, including red states such as Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio. In Missouri, the Republicans who have a stranglehold on the states political system are well aware of that dynamic. Which is why they embarked on one shameless legal stunt after another to try to prevent Missourians from being allowed to vote this fall on Amendment 3, which would restore reproductive rights to their state. Among the more recent attempts was from a group of anti-choice activists that included two state legislators, who launched a last-ditch effort to get the question pulled from the ballot on a technicality. The Missouri Supreme Court this month ruled against them. That means the states voters will be allowed at last to decide whether the lives of Missouri women will continue to be put in jeopardy by an abortion ban even more extreme than the one in Georgia. Meanwhile, other GOP efforts to mislead Missouri voters continue. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is fighting in court to post in polling places a blatantly false and inflammatory description of what the amendment would do. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley this month falsely told an audience that the measure would mandate constitutionally transgender treatments for minors. It does nothing of the sort. Such is the state of the post-Roe abortion landscape: Republicans are lying while women are dying. Voters in Missouri and other states considering abortion-rights ballot measures on Nov. 5 have the power to reject the lies and protect the women. The University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) has indefinitely postponed the start of the 2024/2025 academic year due to the ongoing strike by administrative workers unions across public universities in Ghana. The striking groups include the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), and the Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG). The strike, which commenced on Monday, September 16, 2024, stems from unresolved issues such as the failure of the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) to implement approved vehicle maintenance and off-campus allowances, despite receiving approval from the Ministry of Finance in August 2024. In a statement issued on Thursday, September 26 2024, UniMAC confirmed that the academic year, initially scheduled to begin on September 30, 2024, will be delayed until further notice. Management deeply regrets any inconvenience this may cause and assures the UniMAC community that we are closely monitoring the situation, the statement added The university confirmed that admission processes for prospective students, short courses and special programmes will continue as scheduled. Source: Graphiconline 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 government should allow stakeholders in the educational space to support the financing of Free Senior High School (SHS) education instead of insisting on exclusively funding it, panelists at the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) Annual Engagement Series have advocated. They said the government should leverage the goodwill of old students of SHSs, religious organisations and companies to support the Free SHS policy and education in general to ensure a sustainable means of funding education. One of the panelists and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law, Dr Kweku Ainuson, however, said such support should be institutionalised with incentives for those willing to help. I think the government should put its money where its mouth is. There should be tax incentives for us to contribute to education. There are companies willing to help fund education, but there are no incentives, he said. Dr Ainuson said other countries had diversified funding for education, with many educational institutions having endowment funds that had more money through the support from the government. Such endowment funds, he explained, were mostly supported by old students of such institutions, who were willing to donate because of the existing frameworks for their establishments. Fortunately for Ghana, affinity to schools is more at the SHS level, with old students willing to go all out to support their schools. Unfortunately, organising alumni is done at the school level. There are no rules and no encouragement or support from the government, he added. Source: Graphiconline 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 State attorneys have charged Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the accused persons in the Democracy Hub case, with stealing. He is one of 13 people charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assault on public officer, and defacement of public property. According to the prosecution, Barker-Vormawor in particular was seen forcefully entering the Police towing van and without authorization, turned off the engine and removed the ignition key to the towing van. This action demobilized the Police to tow away the vehicle that the accused persons had used to block the public roads, the prosecution led by Nana Akosua Kusi told the court. The court presided over by Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah remanded in police custody, the accused persons who have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Remanding the accused person, the court ordered the police to ensure that the accused persons were fed twice daily with adequate medical facilities. Food In their submission for bail, defence counsel argued that their clients were not flight risk, had fixed places of abode, were gainfully employed and had people of substance to stand sureties for them. They further alleged that the police were starving their clients. Opposing the bail application, a state attorney, Nana Akosua Kusi told the court that the police go to the extent of buying the accused person meals from Papaye. The accused persons are being fed, the police go to the extent of buying them Papaye, the state attorney told the court. This was corroborated by Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, Head of Legal at the Ghana Police Service who told the court that he supervised the investigative team. When it comes to feeding, budget has been made for feeding. And I personally supervised the distribution of the food, he added. But the defence counsel maintained that their clients were being starved by the police. The state attorney told the court that none of the accused persons had demonstrated to the satisfaction of the court they meet the grounds to be granted bail. Prosecutions facts Narrating the facts of the case, Ms Kusi told the court that on July 9 2024 the Police service received a notice from a group known as "Democracy Hub" informing them of their intention to hold a protest dubbed *#Wetaya #ReoccupyJulorbihouse Demonstration." She added that by that letter, the group requested the police to provide them with security and protection for the intended demonstration. The group, she said indicated that they intended to protest at the Revolutionary Square, opposite the Jubilee House. She added that after several meetings with the Police, the group was advised by the Police to propose an alternative venue as the chosen venue was considered a security zone and likely to affect public order and lead to violence or endanger public defence. By an order of the High Court dated 18" September, 2024, the group was prohibited from embarking on the intended demonstration at the Revolutionary square. The Police thus communicated to the convener of the group and suggested seven different locations to be used for the protest in the interest of public order. The group however rejected the proposed venues and elected to protest at the 37 roundabout which was rejected by the Police, she said. On September 21, 2024 the state attorney said the group embarked on their protest and gathered around the 37-roundabout insisting to proceed to the revolutionary square. She said the Police mounted barricades around the 37 roundabouts in a bid to maintain security and order. The barricades, she disclosed restrained the demonstrators from proceeding to the Revolutionary square. The demonstration suddenly turned chaotic as the accused persons resorted to blocking the major roads with stones and vehicles delaying access at the roundabout. This caused serious traffic within the Liberation Road, the El walk stadium, the Kawukudi road and its environs. This caused significant traffic, delay, inconvenience and annoyance for commuters, she said. The accused persons, Ms Kusi said also pulled down billboards and burnt electoral posters and flags of political parties adding, Again, the suspects forcefully pushed down the police barricade that was used to secure the area obstructing the effort of the police to maintain peace and security. On September 22, she told the court that the accused persons again brought in vehicles to block the major roads. The police quickly moved in to remove the said vehicles for easy flow of traffic for commuters. The accused persons however fiercely resisted the attempt by the Police to tow away the vehicles. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A claim that the police have been failing to provide food to members of the Democracy Hub pressure group, that participated in a a street protest at the weekend and were arrested and detained by the police has been rejected in court. In court on Thursday, the prosecution in the trial of 13 members of the Democracy Hub pressure group rejected the claim of not feeding the suspects. Opposing arguments for bail in court on Thursday [Sept 26, 2024] the prosecution, led by Nana Akosua Kusi told the court that the police go to the extent of buying the accused person meals from Papaye. The accused persons are being fed, the police go to the extent of buying them Papaye, the state attorney told the court presided over by Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah. This was corroborated by Superintendent of Police, Mr Sylvester Asare, who is the Head of Legal at the Ghana Police Service who told the court that he supervised the investigative team. When it comes to feeding, budget has been made for feeding. And I supervised the distribution of the food, he added. But the defence counsel maintained that their clients were being starved by the police. Meanwhile, the court has remanded the 13 accused persons who have pleaded not guilty to six counts of Conspiracy; unlawful assembly; causing unlawful damage; offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assault on public officer, and defacement of public property. The leader of the Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, is facing an additional charge of stealing and has since pleaded not guilty. The case has been adjourned to October 8 this year. Remanding the accused person, the court ordered the police to ensure that the accused persons were fed twice daily with adequate medical facilities. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The U.S. Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer to Ghana along with the Chief of Naval Staff, Issah Yakubu, and senior officers from the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces has visited the Ghana Navy Training Command (NAVTRAC) in the Volta Region to deliver security assistance announced last year. This new equipment and facility, with a value of over 24 million Ghc ($1.5 million), will enhance Ghanas maritime security capabilities. The two 38-foot DEFENDER Class Safe Boats are in addition to the two boats that were delivered last summer to the Ghana Navy Special Boat Squadron. During the ceremony, Ambassador Palmer remarked, The United States takes immense pride in our long-standing partnership with Ghana, a partnership rooted in shared commitments to security, democracy, and prosperity. This ceremony is more than just a handover; it symbolizes our joint efforts to ensure the Ghana Navy is well-equipped to safeguard its waters and sustain these critical assets. The boat storage facility was constructed by Seabees from the United States 22nd Naval Construction Regiment and their 1st, 11th and 133rd battalions working alongside Marines from the Hershel Woody Williams Marine Detachment Engineer Platoon. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[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 Flash Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a long round of applause as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday, insisting that "we will not leave, Palestine is our homeland," and "if anyone were to leave it would be the occupier." He proceeded to accuse Israel of perpetrating a "full-scale war of genocide," dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Israel didn't kill civilians in Gaza. "I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children?" he said. "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," Abbas said. Sanction and exclusion During his speech, Abbas called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel and also its exclusion from the United Nations following the "genocide in Gaza." "We call for sanctions against Israel. Israel does not deserve to be part of this organization. I don't know how the United States can insist on depriving us of our rights," Abbas said, adding that Israel must be stripped of United Nations membership for failing to accept a two-state resolution to the conflict and allowing the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes. "We are going to submit an application to the UNGA on this matter," he said. "We regret that the U.S. administration -- the largest democracy in the world -- on three occasions obstructed draft resolutions at the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire," Abbas said, accusing the United States of encouraging Israel's military actions by repeatedly using its veto power and supplying Israel with weapons used in the conflict. "This is the United States -- the same country that was the only member in the Security Council that voted against granting the state of Palestine full membership in the UN," Abbas said, expressing disbelief over what he sees as the U.S. consistent opposition to Palestinian statehood and rights. He also touched upon the situation with settlers in the West Bank, specifying that 600,000 settlers currently live there. "We want ICJ (the International Court of Justice) ruling on Israel to be implemented," he noted. Crime and genocide Highlighting that Palestinians have endured nearly a year of what he described as one of the most heinous crimes of the time, the leader said that "it is the crime of a full-scale war of genocide that Israel is perpetrating. A crime that has killed more than 40,000 martyrs in Gaza alone, and thousands remain under the rubble. A crime that has injured more than 100,000 to this day." He pointed out that whole Palestinian families have been annihilated, their family names completely erased, stressing that amid the onslaught, diseases are spreading, clean water and vital medicines are in scarce supply, and over two million Palestinians have been displaced, many forced to flee multiple times in search of safety. The deaths and injuries continue unabated, not only in Gaza but in the West Bank and in Jerusalem. Abbas underscored that he was not speaking today "to respond to the lies" of the Israeli prime minister, who claimed before the U.S. Congress in July that Israeli forces did not kill innocent civilians in Gaza. "I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children of the 40,000 and an equal number of women and elderly persons. And who is it then that is continuing to kill them, I ask you?" he said. "Palestine will be free, despite anyone who objects. Our people will live in the land of their fathers and grandfathers ... The occupation will end," concluded Abbas. Strike and ceasefire Right after Abbas, Gambian President Adama Barrow addressed the UNGA that "the Israeli occupation, expansion of settlements, blockade of Gaza, and restrictions in the West Bank, together with the threat of intensifying the war to a regional conflict, continue to worsen the ongoing tensions in the Middle East." "Accordingly, I call on the United Nations, the international community, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States to join forces and urgently bring about permanent peace in Palestine," he said, adding that "we call on the international community to prioritize support for the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza and the improvement of economic conditions in the West Bank. Even though the situation in that region is extremely serious, the intense destruction of lives and property continues." In the meantime, Netanyahu instructed his military to keep fighting "with full force" on Thursday, as high-stakes international diplomatic efforts were underway to pause the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Netanyahu is heading to New York for the UNGA, as members of his government dismissed a ceasefire proposal that the United States, European allies and several Arab nations put forward. Israel's military carried out new strikes in Lebanon, including one in Beirut, the capital, that targeted the commander of Hezbollah's drone unit. The UNGA adopted a resolution on May 10 supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member and recommending that the Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably." The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution. The resolution states, "The State of Palestine ... should therefore be admitted to membership" and "recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably." The Mo Traditional Council has reacted to alleged tensions with the Nkoranza Traditional Council, following an earlier address by Nana Kwame Baffoe IV, Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, and Nana Awiti Kuffour, Chief of Nnwoase in Kintampo. Nana Kwame Baffoe IV had warned guests not to attend the Mo Kingdom's upcoming Pedia/Yam festival, citing an alleged court injunction against Mo leaders. However, the Mo Kingdom, under the leadership of Nana Kwaku Dankwah III, has denied any such injunction exists. Nana Dankwah III at a press conference on Thursday, September 26, 2024, reassured the public that the festival, slated for October 4-6, 2024, will proceed as planned. The event he stressed, is expected to foster unity among the Mo people and support the development of the Mo region, which has long been affected by chieftaincy disputes. The Mo Traditional Council insisted that the festival will take place on Mo territory, specifically at the Presbyterian school park in Kintampo, and not on Nkoranza lands, as claimed by Nana Kwame Baffoe IV. They urged guests to disregard the misleading statements from Nkoranza officials and confirmed that preparations for the festival are well underway. Furthermore, the Mo Kingdom acknowledged a pending legal case related to a chieftaincy dispute but clarified that the filing of an injunction does not prevent a chief from performing their official duties unless they are formally destooled. Nana Dankwah III expressed confidence in the legal process and emphasized the Mo leaderships commitment to moving forward with the festival as planned. This Pedia/Yam festival is seen as a key cultural event for the Mo people, showcasing their rich heritage while promoting peace, unity, and progress within the Mo region. Read details of their press conference below; IN RESPONSE TO A PURPORTED FRIVOLOUS INJUNCTION APPLICATION BY NKORANZA MANHENE * Per the Laws of Ghana, no Chief in Ghana can be stopped or Injuncted whilst performing his legitimate Customary and Traditional rites * His Injunction Application has only been filed but not granted by the court * His Purported Frivolous Injunction Application seeks an Injunction on the celebration of any festival in Kintampo in the Nkoranza Traditional Area. Meanwhile Kintampo is never and can never be under Nkoranza Traditional Area but rather under Mo Traditional Area * Nkoranzahene is estopped by his conduct when he conceded to allocate an entirely different venue for Nana Fanyinama when the latter was prevented by Mo Manhene last year from celebrating his annual Benkadi Festival on Mo Lands * The purported claim by Nana Awiti Kuffour (a sub under Nkoranzahene) that he has a gazette as Kintampohene as far back as 18/05/1979 was rendered impotent, null and void soon after the 1979 constitution which came into effect sometimes in September 1979 and remains impotent under the fourth Republican Constitution as a government recognition is not a precondition for becoming a chief. The authority to appoint is vested in kingmakers in accordance with the customs and practices of the people. We are by this notice making it emphatically clear that, our impending Pedia Yam Festival slated for October 4 to 6 is taking place in Kintampo by the grace of God whether rain or shine. Thanks so much and God bless Mo Traditional Council. Signed ...................... Nana Kwaku Busi GbereYaw II For Mo Manhene 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 Cenpower Generation Ltd (Cenpower), owner of the Kpone Independent Power Plant (KIPP), has successfully held the second edition of its KIPP Clean Project at the SegaBeach on 21st September 2024. This event reaffirms the companys commitment to environmental sustainability through the protection of marine ecosystems. The clean-up event, held at Sega Beach in Kpone, brought together over 200 volunteers, including employees from Cenpower Generation Ltd, Cenpower Operations and Services Ltd.(Cenops), Ecostar Limited and members of the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA), as well as local community members. To maximize the collection of waste from the Sega shoreline, the services of Ecozoil, a company with expertise in mechanized beach cleaning and waste management services was also engaged in this years event. The initiative is focused on addressing the persistent issue of plastic and waste pollution along the shoreline of the Sega Beach. During the exercise, a total of over 200 tons of waste, including plastic debris, bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials was collected from the Sega Beach. The KIPP Clean Project is aimed at fostering environmental and social well-being in the Kpone community where Cenpowers operational activities is situated. Speaking at the event, Mr. Samuel Nana Brew-Butler, the Board Chairman of Cenpower, highlighted the companys commitment to sustainability and community engagement. He stated that Our mission goes beyond powering Ghanas future. We are committed to making a lasting, positive impact in our host community, Kpone. For nearly a decade, Cenpower has been a key player in the energy sector, and through initiatives like this, we reaffirm our dedication to environmental sustainability and the well-being of the communities we serve. This project reflects our long-term commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen and a true partner in community development. Mr. Theophilus Sackey, the Chief Executive of Cenpower reiterated the significance of the exercise, saying, This initiative is part of Cenpowers corporate and social responsibility to our community. This project is not only about cleaning a beach; our goal is to build a legacy of care for our environment and engaging with our community in meaningful ways. He added, We are grateful to our stakeholders, including employees and partners, whose invaluable contributions demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving positive change. We hope to inspire others to join us in protecting our natural resources for future generations. Mr. Kwaku Asiedu Larbi, Acting Plant Manager of Cenpower Operations (Cenops), spoke on Cenops' support for the exercise. Supporting the KIPP Clean initiative aligns with Cenops commitment to operational excellence and corporate responsibility. As the operational arm of Cenpower, our responsibility goes beyond energy provision. Itencompasses the well-being of the communities in which we operate. Environmental sustainability is central to our mission, and initiatives like the Sega Beach Clean-Up allows us to actively demonstrate this commitment. Representing the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA), Mr. William NuerteyJosiah, Presiding Member, commended Cenpower for its leadership in driving environmental sustainability. We are grateful for Cenpowers initiative and proud to partner with them on this important project. The environmental challenges we face require collective action, and Cenpower is setting a strong example. There is a growing need for more partnerships and greater public awareness to tackle these issues, and this initiative is a step in the right direction. In his closing remarks, Dr. Jimmy Heymann, a Non-Executive Director of Cenpower, thanked all participants for their dedication to making the 2024 edition of the KIPP Clean Project a success. Todays success shows what we can achieve when we come together as a community. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to make a meaningful impact for future generations. In addition to the beach clean-up exercise, key executive and management members from Cenpower together with representatives from Cenops and the KKMA took part in a coconut tree planting ceremony along the shoreline. This effort symbolizes Cenpowers commitment to long-term environmental restoration and the enhancement of coastal resilience. The coconut trees will help combat soil erosion, foster biodiversity, and create a sustainable, green coastline for 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 The Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially responded to the petition of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), over their request for a forensic audit of the voter's register. The EC acknowledged that there were errors in the provisional register, but quickly added that errors being found in a provisional register are not alien to the electoral process. The crux of the NDCs petition to the EC is that the discrepancies discovered during the exhibition of the voter register in August 2024, do not make the voter fit for purpose, hence the need for a forensic audit. This was contained in a letter submitted to the EC by the NDC and a follow-up nationwide demonstration on September 17, 2024, to re-echo the call for a forensic audit. The Electoral Commission, however, explains that, as required of them by Regulations 23 and 24 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016, Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91 as amended by C.I. 126, enjoins the Commission to display the PVR at all Polling stations (Exhibition Centres) nationwide to allow for an inspection and revision and correction where necessary, something the Commission did without fail. Excerpts of the ECs response read, Indeed, cognisant of the fact that a PVR is bound to contain discrepancies, C.I. 91, Instituted the of the credible and robust for an election. The register is, thus, displayed in all polling stations (exhibition centres) and via electronic media to allow for inspection and correction where necessary. A response form the EC signed by the Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensa revealed that all the concerns raised by the NDC had already been resolved by the Commission. The EC further explained that, there was a call on the NDC to present data on the discrepancies detected during the exhibition exercise, but the NDC failed to produce the data. It is for these reasons that we assured you during our meeting on the 6th of September, 2024 that the category of issues you presented had largely been resolved. We indicated that the issues you had detected were the usual issues that arise from every Registration Exercise which find expression in the PVR, the commission explained. The Commission pointed out that, should the NDC had followed through by providing the EC with the data on the discrepancies detected, the NDC would have realised that there was not need to request for a forensic audit. "As you will recall, there was an agreement that you would provide us with data to allow us to investigate and report back within a week. We believe that had you followed through with this process, you would today, attest to the credibility and integrity of the Register and rescind your call for a forensic audit," Jean Mensa said. 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 National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Program, Hajia Safia Mohammed, has urged all school feeding caterers to actively campaign for Dr. Bawumia to become the next President of Ghana. She emphasized that only an NPP government can ensure a smooth and progressive administration of the school feeding program. Hajia Safia Mohammed highlighted the significant increase in the feeding grant from GH 0.70 per child to GH 1.50 per child since the NPP assumed office, attributing this positive change to President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo. These remarks were made during a courtesy call by the Caterers Association of the School Feeding Program at her office in Accra. She assured the caterers that a Bawumia Presidency would lead to a substantial improvement in the school feeding program and promised that plans were well underway to secure funds to pay them their 3rd term arrears. The leadership of the caterers association commended the National Coordinator for her effective and progressive leadership since taking office. They acknowledged that in the past, caterers associations were seen as pressure groups formed to revolt against the secretariat but expressed their unity behind the secretariat and the government to collaboratively build a better school feeding program. 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 Dr. Gideon Boako has accused the largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) of being the mastermind behind the Democracy Hub protest. Some group of persons hit the streets of 37 Military Hospital days ago to register their displeasure with the government regarding galamsey. The protesters, during their demonstration, blocked major roads leading to the 37 Military Hospital and other areas causing huge gridlock, destroyed party billboards and posters and engaged in other acts of destruction. Their provocation was extended to the Police as their leader, Oliver Baker-Vormawor, stole the keys of a Police vehicle and threw it away. The behavior of the protesters compelled the Police to arrest some of them who are currently facing prosecution. Analyzing the protest during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, the Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako stated that the demonstrators were politically influenced by the National Democratic Congress but hid behind galamsey to make Ghanaians think they were demonstrating in their interest. He stressed, in reality, it was all aimed at making the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government unpopular so the NDC wins the election. "If you are doing demonstration against galamsey, why do you burn NPP properties?", he queried and answered; "It means you have a special target against the NPP. So, it is political. So, let no Ghanaian sit down and be deceived by NDC's latent attempt to cause a bad image for the government." He added, "All these people who led the demonstration, we know them. Oliver Baker-Vormawor, typical NDC boy; who doesn't know him?...All these people hold positions in the NDC. If you like, let us go into the election and, perish the thought, NDC wins the election, Oliver Baker-Vormawor and all these people leading the demonstration will be given positions in NDC government." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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 Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has sent strong signal of his determination to win the presidential election as his campaign continues to gain momentum. An essential feature of the Bawumia campaign is he personally interacting with people at their homes, markets and on the streets. Since he was elected NPP presidential candidate, the Vice President hasnt for once backed down on engaging the grassroots. He ensures that he goes down to the people to seek their mandate to become Ghanas next President. In his latest round of campaign, Dr. Bawumia has been focused on a "meet and greet" campaign where he makes surprised appearances at shops, offices, markets, lorry parks and on the streets to interact with people. Dr. Bawumia started his Western Regional campaign tour on Thursday, September 26. He stepped up his street-to-street campaign with a renewed energy beginning at Daboase Junction in the Region. To the amazement of commuters and residents, Dr. Bawumia, as usual, exhibited humbleness towards them and exchanged pleasantries with every person he encountered at the vicinity. He did same in Daboase and Shama townships, walking into the markets, shops and lorry parks to have one on one sessions with drivers, traders and commuters. He continued his tour to Ahanta West engaging in rigorous street campaign at Apowa and Agona Nkwanta lorry parks. Remarkably, Dr. Bawumia shows no signs of tiredness as he, at all occasions, walks for over 30 minutes even defying the rains to meet the people which tells of his readiness, seriousness and commitment to move Ghana forward. 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 Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeats artiste, Kelvynboy, has spoken about the attempts he has made to patch up his differences with Stonebwoy. Speaking to Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz, he said "I've been trying for years. It is not the first thing I think about when I wake up from bed but when it comes to my issue with Stonebwoy, I wish we thrashed it out." Any time, we've tried I don't think he's ready. But me, I dey, he noted. In 2019, Stonebwoy severed his work relationship with Kelvynboy after the latter had been signed to the Burniton Music Group. A press release from Stonebwoy's Burniton Music Group that announced the separation stated that "Mr Kelvin Brown (Kelvyn Boy) and the Company entered into an agreement dated January 22, 2018, which, to a large extent, governed the relationship between both parties (the Agreement). The Agreement had an initial term of one (1) year, and provided the Company with an option to extend the tenure for a further period of four (4) years (the Option)." It further indicated that the contract extension period under the Agreement did not take effect after the Agreement expired on January 21, 2019. "The above notwithstanding, the Company has continued to work with Kelvyn Boy until now under the terms of the Agreement. Following the audit, the Company has considered the expired status of the Agreement as well as the conduct of Kelvyn Boy during its tenure and has decided not to trigger the Option. Consequently, the Company has decided to release Kelvyn Boy from the Agreement and he has been duly notified of this decision. Accordingly, Kelvyn Boy ceases to be an artiste under the Company and will no longer be associated with the Company and/or the BHIM Nation brand. We wish him success in his future endeavours," the record label noted. Before that, Kelvynboy had apologized to Stonebwoy after the latter had complained that the 'Sugarcane' hitmaker had disrespected him. After the separation, Kelvynboy released hit songs and albums, invading foreign music industries and chalking huge successes. At the moment, he is out with a new song titled 'Man Down' which features Lasmid. Source: Graphiconline 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 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 Earth will capture a miniature, "second moon" this week, according to NASA scientists. The new moon is actually a tiny asteroid dubbed 2024 PT5. It will start orbiting the planet in a horseshoe path and stick around for a little less than two months before escaping Earth's gravitational pull and going back to its regular orbit around the sun. "According to the latest data available from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Horizons System, the temporary capture will start at 15:54 EDT (on Sunday) and will end at 11:43 EDT on November 25," mini-moon event expert and Universidad Complutense de Madrid professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos told Space.com. 2024 PT5 is part of "the Arjuna asteroid belt, a secondary asteroid belt made of space rocks that follow orbits very similar to that of Earth at an average distance to the sun of about 93 million miles," Marcos said. He added that the asteroid, which poses no threat to the planet, will travel about 2,200 miles per hour while maintaining a distance of around 2.8 million miles from Earth. By comparison, the average distance between the Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles. The moon is also considerably larger, about 2,159 miles in diameter compared to the asteroid's slim 37-foot width. Unlike the moon, 2024 PT5 won't be observable to the casual stargazer because of its size. "The object is too small and dim for typical amateur telescopes and binoculars. However, the object is well within the brightness range of typical telescopes used by professional astronomers," Marcos said. NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System first spotted the asteroid Aug. 7. Mini-moons have occurred in the past. The 2022 NX1 asteroid joined Earth's orbit in 1981 and 2022, according to BBC News. "This story highlights just how busy our solar system is and how much there is out there that we haven't discovered, because this asteroid was only discovered this year," astronomer and podcaster Dr. Jennifer Millard told BBC News. 2024 New York Daily 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: Sensitivity of AGR to tropical MAT over 25-year moving windows (see Materials and Methods) between 1959 and 2020 (T). Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl6155 A recent study challenges previous assumptions about the connection between CO in the atmosphere and temperatures in the tropics. Between 1959 and 2011, the CO content in the atmosphere responded twice as strongly to temperatures in the tropics than before. This has often been attributed to increasing droughts in the tropics and to changes in carbon cycle responses caused by climate change. However, the new study conducted by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and Leipzig University suggests that a small number of particularly strong El Nino events could be responsible for this. Their findings are published in the journal Science Advances. Both tropical and non-tropical ecosystems absorb large amounts of carbon that were previously released into the atmosphere through human CO emissions. Globally, land surface ecosystems act as a carbon sink and absorb on average around a third of human CO emissions. These ecosystems are therefore a natural buffer for climate change. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, researchers observed an increased fluctuation in global carbon storage on land, and it appeared that the CO growth rate was particularly sensitive to temperatures in the tropics. Researchers from Jena and Leipzig found that this "doubling" of sensitivity was caused by the increased occurrence of El Nino events in the 1980s and 1990s compared to 19601979. This also includes the extreme El Nino events of 1982/83 and 1997/98. El Nino events cause severe droughts and heat waves in the tropics, which affect plant growth and thus reduce carbon uptake. In times of El Nino, vegetation even releases large amounts of carbon that would otherwise be sequestered in the soil or forests. This causes the CO content in the atmosphere to increase. Schematic process to define the doubling sensitivity event. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl6155 Internal climate variability as the main factor for changes in the carbon cycle The authors of the study emphasize that this CO increase is due to internal climate variability rather than a systematic change in the carbon cycle caused by climate change. "Our results show that this doubling of sensitivity is not necessarily a sign of a fundamental change in the response of the carbon cycle to climate change," says Na Li from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, first author of the study. Instead, it is caused by the combination of extreme El Nino events and their global impact. "Through our work, we were also able to show that this phenomenon is related to the 'slow-in, fast-out' dynamics of the carbon cycle. This means that carbon is only slowly absorbed by ecosystems, but can be suddenly and quickly released again during extreme weather events such as strong El Ninos," explains Professor Ana Bastos from Leipzig University, senior author of the study. The results of this study are important because they highlight uncertainties in future climate projections. To date, it was assumed that a heightened sensitivity of the CO increase to temperatures in the tropics is caused by long-term climate-related changes in the carbon cycle, and thus in the global climate system. However, the study shows that extreme events can cause short-term fluctuations that do not necessarily indicate permanent changes in the carbon cycle. "These new findings could help to develop more precise climate models and reduce the uncertainties in predicting future climate scenarios," says junior professor Dr. Sebastian Sippel from Leipzig University. He also stated that we need to better understand how extreme climate phenomena such as El Nino affect carbon dynamics in order to make more reliable forecasts for the future. More information: Na Li et al, Enhanced global carbon cycle sensitivity to tropical temperature linked to internal climate variability, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl6155 Journal information: Science Advances Flash Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib condemned on Thursday Israel's recent military actions along the Lebanese-Israeli border and called for urgent international intervention to prevent the situation from escalating. "We are facing a crisis that threatens Lebanon's very existence. The future of our people and our prosperity is imperiled," said Bou Habib when addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly. "This is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis before the situation spirals out of control... which will transform into a black hole that will engulf regional, international peace and security," he said. Bou Habib condemned Israel's recent military actions, accusing it of escalating the conflict. "One of the gravest challenges Lebanon currently faces is this increase in aggression. The war has expanded and spilled over into Lebanese regions. We reiterate our warning against this aggression, which will continuously intensify." The foreign minister identified the unresolved issue of occupation, particularly regarding border disputes with Israel, as the root cause of Lebanon's ongoing instability. "So long as the occupation persists, there will be instability and there will be war... we have striven to resolve border disputes with Israel. However, Israel has continuously eluded the issue or disregarded the matter," he said. While underscoring Lebanon's right to defend itself under international law, Bou Habib stressed that the solution to the crisis lies in diplomacy, not war. Bou Habib welcomed a recent declaration of the United States and France which offers a potential path to restoring calm and ensuring stability along Lebanon's borders. He urged all parties involved to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. 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: Floodwaters in Atlanta in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene knocked out power for millions of customers across the southeast United States on Friday and left at least four dead after it slammed into the Florida coast. As it weakened into a tropical storm, Helene moved inland across Georgia and South Carolina, flooding roads and homes, and officials warned of flash floods and landslides from up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. "This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant and record river flooding," the National Hurricane Center said. "Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians." Four people had died from conditions caused by Helene as of early Fridayone in Florida, one in North Carolina and two in Georgia. One person was killed when a sign fell on a highway in coastal Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis said. Two people were killed in Georgia, according to Governor Brian Kemp, with local media reporting the man and woman were killed when their trailer was picked up by a tornado. One person also died in Charlotte, North Carolina when a tree fell on a home, the fire department said. Images on US media showed ripped billboard signs whipping in high winds and sparks flying from power lines. More than 3.4 million homes and businesses were without power across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us. Homes submerged The storm lost strength rapidly after making landfall on the coast about 30 miles (20 kilometers) south of the Florida state capital Tallahassee as a powerful Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 140 miles per hour. Youtuber Mark Peyton holds a US flag as he poses for his brother Matt Peyton on the shoreline ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Alligator Point, Florida. In the impact zone, residents had been warned of "unsurvivable" storm surge. Tampa Bay resident Matt Heller told CNN his home had been submerged in four feet (1.2 meters) of water within a half hour of the storm hitting, as he took refuge in a kayak in his flooded living room. "This is definitely the biggest flood we've ever had," he said. President Joe Biden and state authorities had urged people to heed official evacuation warnings before Helene hit, though some chose stay in their homes to wait out the storm. "I am going to hunker down" and ride out the hurricane, said Patrick Riickert, as he did in 2018 when deadly Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 mega storm, blew through the Florida panhandle. He had refused to budge from his small wooden house in Crawfordville, a town of 5,000 people a few miles inland. Most residents had bolted, but Riickert, his wife and five grandchildren were "not going anywhere," the 58-year-old told AFP. Rescue workers were deployed in Lee County on Florida's coast, the sheriff said on X, sharing videos of men in high-vis gear battling against high winds to launch a rescue boat. DeSantis had mobilized the National Guard and ordered thousands of personnel to ready for search and rescue operations, urging residents to take precautions. "We can't control the track of the hurricane, but what you can control is what you can do to put yourself in the best chance to be able to ride this out in a way that's going to be safe," DeSantis said. Georgia's Kemp, in a message of condolences for the two killed by the tornado, urged "all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant, and pray for all those affected" in a post on X. Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because there is more energy in warmer oceans for them to feed on. 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: Loops forming when one of the branches reaches the boundary of the systema phenomenon that researchers describe in the recent publication they first noticed in the canal network of the Aurelia jellyfish gastrovascular system. Credit: Stanisaw Zukowski, Laboratoire Matiere et Systemes Complexes, Universite Paris Cite & Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw An international team of researchers described how loops, crucial for the stability of such networks, occur in transport networks found in nature. The researchers observed that when one branch of the network reaches the system's boundary, the interactions between the branches change drastically. Previously repelling branches begin to attract each other, leading to the sudden formation of loops. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The process described appears in a surprisingly large number of systemsfrom electrical discharge networks to instabilities in fluid mechanics, to biological transport networks like the canal system in the jellyfish Aurelia aurita. Nature offers us a wide spectrum of spatial, transport networks, from networks of blood vessels in our bodies to electrical discharges in a storm. "Such networks take various shapes," explains Stanislaw Zukowski, a Ph.D. student from the University of Warsaw and Universite Paris Cite and lead author of the publication. "They can have a tree-like geometry, where branches of the network only split and repel each other during growth. In other cases, when branches attract and reconnect during growth, we deal with looping structures." Networks with many loops are widespread in living organisms, where they actively transport oxygen or nutrients and remove metabolic waste products. An important advantage of looping networks is their reduced vulnerability to damage; in networks without loops, the destruction of one branch can cut off all connected branches, whereas, in networks with loops, there is always another connection to the rest of the system. Recently, researchers from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw described the mechanism responsible for the stability of already existing loops. However, the dynamic process leading to their formation remained unclear. How are loops formed? Many transport networks grow in response to a diffusive field, such as the concentration of a substance, the pressure in the system, or the electric potential. The fluxes of such a field are much more easily transported through the branches of the network than through the surrounding medium. This affects the distribution of the field in spacelightning conductors attract electrical discharges precisely because they have lower resistance than the surrounding air. The large difference in resistance between the network and the medium around it leads to competition and repulsion between the branches. However, the attraction of branches in growing networks, leading to loop formation, remained undescribed for a long time. The first attempt to understand the formation of loops in such systems was made a few years ago by the group of Prof. Piotr Szymczak from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw. "We showed that a small difference in resistance between the network and the medium can lead to attraction between growing branches and the formation of loops," says Szymczak. The work led to a joint project, in the form of Zukowski's joint doctorate, carried out in Szymczak's group and that of Annemiek Cornelissen, a researcher at the Laboratoire Matiere et Systemes Complexes. "In our laboratory, we study the morphogenesis of the gastrovascular network in jellyfish. It's a beautiful example of a transport network with many loops," says Cornelissen. "When I saw Annemiek's presentation at a conference in Cambridge a few years ago, I immediately thought that our models might apply to the growth of canals in jellyfish," adds Piotr. Breakthrough in loop formation "The formation of loops when one of the branches reaches the boundary of the systema phenomenon we describe in our latest publicationwas first noticed in the network of canals of the jellyfish gastrovascular system," says Zukowski. "Analyzing the development of these canals over time, I noticed that when one of them connects to the jellyfish's stomach (the boundary of the system) then the shorter canals are immediately attracted to it and form loops." The same phenomenon was observed by scientists in gypsum fracture dissolution experiments conducted at the University of Warsaw by Florian Osselin; in the so-called Saffman-Taylor experiment, in which the boundary between two fluids is unstable and transforms into finger-like patterns; and also encountered in the literature on electrical discharge. "The wealth of systems in which we discovered very similar dynamics convinced us that there must be a simple, physical explanation for this phenomenon" says Cornelissen. In their publication, the researchers presented a model describing interactions between branches. They focused on how these interactions change when one of the branches approaches the boundary of the system and a breakthrough occurs. "The competition and repulsion between branches then disappears and attraction appears," explains Stephane Douady. "This inevitably leads to the formation of loops." "Our model predicts that the attraction between neighboring branches after a breakthrough occurs regardless of the geometry of the network or the difference in resistance between the network and the surrounding medium," says Szymczak. "In particular, we showed that near breakthrough loops can form in systems with a very large difference in resistance, which was previously thought to be impossible. This explains why this phenomenon is so prevalent in physical and biological systems." "In cases where the growth mechanisms are still not clear this will be a strong indication that the system dynamics are controlled by diffusive fluxes," adds Zukowski. "We are extremely curious to see in which other systems we will observe loop formation near breakthrough. The team includes researchers from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw, the Laboratoire Matiere et Systemes Complexes, and the Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orleans. 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: Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project teams. Credit: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, PMDP Endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other marine life have benefitted from 25 years of large-scale marine debris removal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), according to the cover story in the current issue of Science. Scientists from NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) have been studying the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and coral reefs for more than 40 years. To reduce harm to Hawaiian monk seals, as well as the broader marine ecosystem, large-scale, multi-agency, and multi-partner marine debris removal efforts were initiated to decrease impacts of plastic marine debris, primarily abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear. A team of researchers from PIFSC, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project, and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (Hawaii Sea Grant) examined Hawaiian monk seal entanglement records spanning more than 40 years, both before and after large-scale removal efforts were initiated, and found a substantial reduction in the rate of entanglement where the debris removal effort was most concentrated. Jason Baker, marine biologist with the NOAA PIFSC Protected Species Division and lead author on the study, said "Now we know that all the hard work and dedication of so many people and organizations that contributed to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine debris cleanup did achieve its aim of reducing monk seal entanglement, saving seal lives and improving nearshore habitats." Mary J. Donohue, affiliate faculty with Hawaii Sea Grant and co-author on the study, has spent her career researching the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on marine mammals and coral reefs. In Hawaii she served as chief scientist on the first systematic at-sea expeditions to document, study, and remove marine debris from the NWHI. "We've shown that you can, in fact, clean up at least parts of the ocean, and it can be consequential, particularly for species of conservation or cultural concern," said Donohue. "For lasting solutions we also need to reduce the input of fishing gear that becomes derelict, both from legal and illegal fisheries." The team's work, "Four decades of Hawaiian monk seal entanglement data reveal the benefits of plastic debris removal," is published online in Science. Plastic waste poses a triple threat to living organisms and the environment: the physical material itself, the chemicals associated with it, and disease-causing microorganisms that hitchhike on it. The longevity of plastic waste and its fragmentation results in impacts on multiple scales, from marine mammal entanglement in derelict fishing gear to tissue and cellular interactions with the tiniest nanoplastics. As stated in the paper, "Large-scale and sustained removal of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear meaningfully benefits marine ecosystems and has the potential to be transformational in restoration efforts." More information: Jason D. Baker et al, Four decades of Hawaiian monk seal entanglement data reveal the benefits of plastic debris removal, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado2834 Journal information: Science 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: New research by Darren Williams, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Behrend, pictured here, and Michael Zugger, a senior research engineer at the Applied Research Lab at Penn State, offers a new possibility for how the moon formed: a binary-exchange capture as two objects passed near a much-younger Earth. Credit: Penn State Behrend / Penn State. Creative Commons Over six missions to the moon, from 1969 to 1972, Apollo astronauts collected more than 800 pounds of lunar rock and soil. Chemical and isotopic analysis of that material showed that it was similar to the rock and soil on Earth: calcium-rich, basaltic and dating to about 60 million years after the solar system formed. Using that data, the planetary scientists who gathered at the Kona Conference in Hawaii in 1984 came to the consensus that the moon formed from debris after a collision on the young Earth. But that might not be the moon's true origin story, according to two Penn State researchers. New research published in The Planetary Science Journal by Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Behrend, and Michael Zugger, a senior research engineer at the Applied Research Lab at Penn State, offers another possibility: That the moon was captured during a close encounter between a young Earth and a terrestrial binarythe moon and another rocky object. "The Kona Conference set the narrative for 40 years," Williams said. But questions still lingered. For example, a moon that forms from a planetary collision, taking shape as debris clumps together in a ring, should orbit above the planet's equator. Earth's moon orbits in a different plane. "The moon is more in line with the sun than it is with the Earth's equator," Williams said. In the alternative binary-exchange capture theory, the researchers said, Earth's gravity separated the binary, snagging one of the objectsthe moonand making it a satellite that orbits in its current plane. There is evidence of this happening elsewhere in the solar system, Williams said, pointing to Triton, the largest of Neptune's moons. The reigning hypothesis in the field is that Triton was pulled into orbit from the Kuiper Belt, where 1 of every 10 objects is thought to be a binary. Triton orbits Neptune in a retrograde orbit, moving in the opposite direction of the planet's rotation. Its orbit is also significantly tilted, angled 67 degrees from Neptune's equator. Williams and Zugger determined that Earth could have captured a satellite even larger than the moonan object the size of Mercury or even Marsbut the resulting orbit might not have been stable. The problem is that the "capture" orbitthe one the moon followsbegan as an elongated ellipse, rather than a circle. Over time, influenced by extreme tides, the shape of the orbit changed. "Today, the Earth tide is ahead of the moon," Williams said. "High tide accelerates the orbit. It gives it a pulse, a little bit of boost. Over time, the moon drifts a bit farther away." The effect is reversed if the moon is closer to Earth, as it would have been immediately after capture. By calculating tidal changes and the orbit's size and shape, the researchers determined that the moon's initial elliptical orbit contracted over a timescale of thousands of years. The orbit also became more circular, rounding its path until the lunar spin locked into its orbit around the Earth, as it is today. At that point, Williams said, the tidal evolution likely reversed, and the moon began to gradually drift away. Every year, he said, the moon moves 3 centimeters farther from Earth. At its current distance from Earth239,000 milesthe moon now feels a significant tug from the sun's gravity. "The moon is now so far away that both the sun and Earth are competing for its attention," Williams said. "Both are pulling on it." His calculations show that, mathematically, a binary-exchange captured satellite could behave as Earth's moon does. But he's not certain that's how the moon came to be. "No one knows how the moon was formed," he said. "For the last four decades, we have had one possibility for how it got there. Now, we have two. This opens a treasure trove of new questions and opportunities for further study." More information: Darren M. Williams et al, Forming Massive Terrestrial Satellites through Binary-exchange Capture, The Planetary Science Journal (2024). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ad5a9a Journal information: The Planetary Science Journal 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: Percentage of respondents who scored above the middle of the scale on the ESS items concerning populist, nativist, authoritarian, liberal- and social-democracy attitudes, in descending order. Credit: West European Politics (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2024.2359841 A novel study from the Center for Britain and Europe (CBE) highlights a significant shift in the political landscape of Europe, revealing that populist radical right (PRR) politics is moving from the fringes to the heart of mainstream political discourse. This collaborative research, co-authored by Professor Daniele Albertazzi and visiting postgraduate researcher Mirko Crulli, has been published in the open-access West European Politics journal. Professor Albertazzi, Co-Director of CBE, asserts that the findings challenge the prevailing belief that PRR parties can be overlooked as peripheral entities in European politics. "The radical right is no longer the outsider; it's shaping the core of political debate and is already increasingly taking part in government coalitions across the continent," he stated. The study emphasizes that while nativist and authoritarian values may not have become mainstream yet, the rise of populism has undeniably altered our understanding of what mainstream politics entails. "Populism has become a defining feature of contemporary politics, influencing party strategies and ideologies across Europe," Professor Albertazzi explained. This research not only underscores the evolving nature of political norms in Europe but also showcases the CBE's commitment to fostering opportunities for junior scholars. Mirko Crulli's contribution and collaboration as a visiting postgraduate researcher in 2022 exemplifies the CBE's role in supporting emerging voices in political research. As PRR ideologies continue to integrate into mainstream parties, the implications for democracy in Europe are profound. The study calls for a reassessment of how political entities engage with the public and each other in this rapidly changing environment. More information: Mirko Crulli et al, The 'mainstream' in contemporary Europe: a bi-dimensional and operationalisable conceptualisation, West European Politics (2024). DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2024.2359841 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: About two million years after the formation of the Solar System, the first carbonaceous chondrites made of dust, chondrules, early condensates and iron-nickel grains agglomerated outside the orbit of the still young Jupiter. About two million years later, the CI chondrites were formed by photoevaporation. They incorporated a particularly large number of iron-nickel grains. Credit: MPS (Fridolin Spitzer) Asteroid Ryugu possibly did not travel as far from its place of origin to its current near-Earth orbit as previously assumed. New research published in the journal Science Advances suggests that Ryugu was formed near Jupiter. Earlier studies had pointed to an origin beyond the orbit of Saturn. Four years ago, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 brought samples of Ryugu back to Earth. Researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for solar system Research (MPS) in Germany have now compared which types of nickel are found in these samples as well as in typical carbon-rich meteorites. The results show an alternative to previous ideas about the birthplaces of these bodies: different carbon-rich asteroids may have formed in the same region close to Jupiteralbeit partly through different processes and around two million years apart. Since December 2020, when the samples of the asteroid Ryugu were brought back to Earth, the few grams of material have been through quite a lot. After initial examinations in Japan, some of the tiny, jet-black grains traveled to research facilities around the world. There they were measured, weighed, chemically analyzed and exposed to infrared, X-ray and synchroton radiation, among other things. At the MPS, researchers examine the ratios of certain metal isotopes in the samples, as in the current study. Scientists refer to isotopes as variants of the same element that differ only in the number of neutrons in the nucleus. Investigations of this kind can help to understand where in the solar system Ryugu was formed. Ryugu's journey through the solar system Ryugu is a near-Earth asteroid. Its orbit around the sun crosses that of Earth (without risk of collision). However, researchers assume that, like other near-Earth asteroids, Ryugu is not native to the inner solar system, but traveled there from the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The actual birthplaces of the asteroid belt population are probably even further away from the sun, outside the orbit of Jupiter. Ryugu's "family relations" can help shed light on its origin and further evolution. To what degree does Ryugu resemble the representatives of well-known classes of meteorites? These are fragments of asteroids that have made their way from space to Earth. Investigations in recent years have yielded a surprise: Ryugu fits into the large crowd of carbon-rich meteorites, the carbonaceous chondrites, as expected. However, detailed studies of its composition assign it to a rare group: the so-called CI chondrites. These are also known as Ivuna-type chondrites, named after the Tanzanian location where their best-known representative was found. In addition to the Ivuna chondrite itself, only eight others of these exotic specimens have been discovered to date. As their chemical composition is similar to that of the sun, they are considered to be particularly pristine material that was formed at the outermost edge of the solar system. "So far, we had assumed that Ryugu's place of origin is also outside Saturn's orbit," explains MPS scientist Dr. Timo Hopp, co-author of the current study, who has already led earlier investigations into Ryugu's isotopic composition. The latest analyses by the Gottingen scientists now paint a different picture. For the first time, the team has investigated the ratios of nickel isotopes in four samples of the asteroid Ryugu and six samples of carbonaceous chondrites. The results confirm the close relationship between Ryugu and the CI chondrites. However, the idea of a common birthplace at the edge of the solar system is no longer compelling. A missing ingredient What had happened? Until now, researchers had understood carbonaceous chondrites as mixtures of three "ingredients" that can even be seen with the naked eye in cross-sections. Embedded in fine-grained rock, round, millimeter-sized inclusions as well as smaller, irregularly shaped inclusions are densely packed together. The irregular inclusions are the first material to have condensed into solid clumps in the hot gas disk that once orbited the sun. The round silicate-rich chondrules formed later. Until now, researchers have attributed differences in the isotopic composition between CI chondrites and other groups of carbonaceous chondrites to different mixing ratios of these three ingredients. CI chondrites, for example, consist predominantly of fine-grained rock, while their siblings are significantly richer in inclusions. However, as the team describes in the current publication, the results of the nickel measurements do not fit into this scheme. The researchers' calculations now show that their measurements can only be explained by a fourth ingredient: tiny iron-nickel grains, which must also have accumulated during the formation of the asteroids. In the case of Ryugu and the CI chondrites, this process must have been particularly efficient. "Completely different processes must have been at work in the formation of Ryugu and the CI chondrites on the one hand and the other groups of carbonaceous chondrites on the other," says Fridolin Spitzer from the MPS, first author of the new study, summarizing the basic idea. According to the researchers, the first carbonaceous chondrites began to form around two million years after the formation of the solar system. Attracted by the gravitational force of the still young sun, dust and the first solid clumps made their way from the outer edge of the gas and dust disk into the inner solar system, but encountered an obstacle along the way: the newly forming Jupiter. Outside its orbit, the heavier and larger clumps in particular accumulatedand thus grew into carbonaceous chondrites with their many inclusions. Towards the end of this development, after around two million years, another process gained the upper hand: under the influence of the sun, the original gas gradually evaporated outside Jupiter's orbit, leading to the accumulation of primarily dust and iron-nickel grains. This led to the birth of the CI chondrites. "The results surprised us very much. We had to completely rethinknot only with regard to Ryugu, but also with regard to the entire group of CI chondrites," says Dr. Christoph Burkhard from the MPS. The CI chondrites no longer appear as distant, somewhat exotic relatives of the other carbonaceous chondrites from the outermost edge of the solar system, but rather as younger siblings that may have formed in the same region, but through a different process and later. "The current study shows how crucial laboratory investigations can be in deciphering the formation history of our solar system," says Prof. Dr. Thorsten Kleine, Director of the Department of Planetary Sciences at the MPS and co-author of the study. More information: Fridolin Spitzer et al, The Ni isotopic composition of Ryugu reveals a common accretion region for carbonaceous chondrites, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp2426. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp2426 Journal information: Science Advances 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 proportion of annotated compound classes detected in agricultural field soil between 2019 and 2021. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70873-x Maintaining soil health is crucial for sustainable agriculture. Recently, soil volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have emerged as promising indicators for assessing soil health. A new study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of soil VOC profiles as indicators of soil health in soybean fields. Over the past three years, a research team led by University of Tsukuba conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles in soybean fields in Fukushima Prefecture to assess their potential as indicators of soil health. These samples, which exhibited diverse soil conditions, were analyzed for VOC content in conjunction with data on soil physical properties, soil metabolome, soil ionome, and soil microbiome as well as rhizosphere chemicals and root microbiome to provide a comprehensive soil health assessment. The results are published in the journal Scientific Reports. For the first time globally, the analysis revealed that soil VOC levels increased during the soybean flowering period. Furthermore, the soil VOC profiles exhibited a strong correlation with soil-related omics datasets (soil ionome, soil microbiome, soil metabolome, and soil physical properties) but not with the rhizosphere chemicals and root microbiome datasets obtained from soybean-growing fields. The findings of this study indicate that soil VOC profiles can function as reliable indicators for evaluating soil health in agricultural environments. More information: Hikari Kuchikata et al, Soil volatilomics uncovers tight linkage between soybean presence and soil omics profiles in agricultural fields, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70873-x Journal information: Scientific Reports 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: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 takes to the skies to deploy observational buoys in front of Hurricane Helene's projected path on Tuesday, Sept. 24 providing real-time forecasts to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts (NHCI) team for timely prediction and operational readiness. Planned deployment sites depicted above are where the team dropped 29 buoys in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida and Alabama coastline this week ahead of Hurricane Helene. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by AWF1 Gapinski U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 takes to the skies to deploy observational buoys in front of Hurricane Helene's projected path on Tuesday, Sept. 24 providing real-time forecasts to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts (NHCI) team for timely prediction and operational readiness. "This is the second gulf hurricane the Warlocks have flown on in two weeks and the most buoys we have ever dropped on a NHCI mission," said Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts. "We just finished showcasing the mission at the Oceana Airshow before flying on Helene. I am impressed by my team's ability to adapt to the unpredictable and rapidly developing hurricanes this year." During the 7.8 hour flight, the team dropped 29 buoys in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida and Alabama coastline. Four different variations of buoys were used for data collection, including four submersibles, six spotters, three Directional Wave Spectra Drifters, and three Surface Wave Instrument Floats with Tracking. "The array of air-deployed drifting buoys and submersible instruments was designed by the NHCI team, including scientists from the Marine Meteorology Division who provided real-time forecasts from NRL's Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System for Tropical Cyclones, or COAMPS-TC, and insight into the observing strategy for Hurricane Helene," said James Doyle, Ph.D., Senior Scientist for Mesoscale Meteorology from the Marine Meteorology Division. COAMPS-TC is a specialized version of the Navy's mesoscale numerical weather prediction model, designed to predict tropical cyclone track, intensity and structure. COAMPS-TC was named the world's most accurate in predicting hurricane strengths during the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season by Jeff Masters, Ph.D., in Yale's August 2020 Climate Connections. The drifting buoys will record the height of the waves and direction the waves are headed, and how these wave characteristics change as Hurricane Helene moves through the array. The submersible instruments will sense water depth to measure the height of the storm surge produced by Helene. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 "Warlocks" are on call to deploy environmental observation buoys in advance of hurricanes along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico during throughout June to November hurricane season. From left to right: Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts, Mr. Jacob Davis, Mr. Eric Stackpole, Maintenance Officer Lt. John Leyba, Quality Assurance Officer Lt. Sean Carpenter, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Gapinski, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Gavin Naughton, Operations Officer Lt. Ben Cumberland and Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Petty Officer (AWFC) Fred Lewis at the top of the stairs. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by AWF1 Gapinski U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 takes to the skies to deploy observational buoys in front of Hurricane Helene's projected path on Tuesday, Sept. 24 providing real-time forecasts to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts (NHCI) team for timely prediction and operational readiness. The view from the cockpit of the NP-3C Orion, an all-weather, medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft as the teams heads towards the Gulf of Mexico to deploy information buoys. From left to right Operations Officer Lt. Ben Cumberland, Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Petty Officer (AWFC) Fred Lewis, and Maintenance Officer Lt. John Leyba. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by AWF1 Gapinski From left to right, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Gavin Naughton, Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts, and Quality Assurance Officer Lt. Sean Carpenter from U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1. The squadron deployed 29 buoys ahead of Hurricane Helene's landfall including four different variations of buoys used for data collection to include four submersibles, six spotters, three Directional Wave Spectra Drifters, and three Surface Wave Instrument Floats with Tracking. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by AWF1 Gapinski "Understanding how a hurricane interacts with the ocean to generate waves and surge is key to understanding and predicting coastal impacts of land falling hurricanes" said Mesoscale Modeling Section Head (Acting) Jonathan Moskaitis, Ph.D. "The ocean surface waves generated by the hurricane also provide drag on the storm's low-level winds, which is an important feedback to simulate in specialized hurricane prediction models like the Navy's COAMPS model. Observations of waves in the extreme environment of the hurricane inner core will provide unique insight into how account for surface drag in COAMPS-TC." The "Warlocks" of VXS-1 are on call to deploy environmental observation buoys in advance of hurricanes along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico during the June through November hurricane season. The squadron quickly responded Tuesday morning to the rapidly evolving storm conditions of Helene. The aircrew are comprised of Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts, Maintenance Officer Lt. John Leyba, Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Petty Officer (AWFC) Fred Lewis, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Cassandra Gapinski, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Gavin Naughton, Operations Officer Lt Ben Cumberland, Quality Assurance Officer Lt Sean Carpenter, Project Specialist, Mr. Jacob Davis, and Project Specialist, Mr. Eric Stackpole. 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 male and a female wall lizard lie in physical contact during the experiment, sun-basking on the log associated to a high-quality site. Further, another female lies close to a brick. Lizards were painted numbers for individual identification during behavioural observations. Credit: Javier Abalos A study appearing in Behavioral Ecology shows that in male wall lizards, certain behaviors have a greater influence on the way they resolve territorial disputes than their size and coloration. While darker male wall lizards are more aggressive and often win, their color does not seem to affect how rivals react to them. More than their color and size, the lizards' behavior influences territorial disputes: males use behaviors like hunching up and extending their throat to show they are ready to fight, while foot shakes are used to signal submission and avoid aggression. The international research group that carried out the study included researchers from the University of Valencia in Spain, the Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE) in Moulis, France, and the University of Turku in Finland. They observed the social behavior of 180 common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) kept in artificial enclosures designed for such experiments. "Natural scientists have long been puzzled by the fact that males rarely fight to the death. You might expect competition for limited resources to be fierce, however, animal battle is often more theater than brawl. Aggression is risky, with potential for both opponents to get hurt. Therefore, rivals benefit from resolving their disputes without resorting to harmful fights. This is where signals become crucial," explains researcher Javier Abalos from the University of Valencia. One poorly understood aspect is that, in many species, aggression levels are more strongly associated with the size and signals of the losing party than with the mismatch between both opponents. "One could imagine that weaker individuals would retreat earlier when facing increasingly stronger rivals, while opponents with matching signals would fight longer and escalate aggression. However, time and again we find with different species that the losing party persists until they reach a fixed, self-imposed threshold regardless of their mismatch with the opponent," notes researcher Guillem Perez i de Lanuza from the University of Valencia. The reason for this may lie in the way animals transmit different types of information through different signals during contests. Color patches that become fixed when the animal reaches adulthood, such as the orange chest of a European robin, are good signals if they are linked to stable traits such as body size, strength, and hormone levels. In contrast, behaviors that can be used selectively during interactions seem better suited to communicate more changeable traits, like how motivated an individual is to fight. "Our research compared the impact of these fixed traits and flexible behaviors on the outcome and intensity of lizard contests. We also explored why there often seems to be a mismatch between signals and contest intensity," says researcher Oceane Liehrmann from the University of Turku. Territorial disputes are crucial for the reproductive success of male lizards Springtime in the Pyrenees marks the start of territorial battles among male wall lizards, as they compete fiercely for the best sunbathing spots, crevices for shelter, and bug-rich vegetation. "During these contests, male wall lizards use a fascinating suite of signals, like revealing hidden color patches and performing behavioral displays. Adult malesand some females have UV-blue spots on their belly sides often surrounded by black," says researcher Enrique Font from the University of Valencia. The researchers released nine males and nine females into each of ten experimental enclosures at the Terrestrial Metatron research facility (SETE-Moulis, Caumont, France). Within each enclosure, they created three high-quality sites and three low-quality sites to encourage the male lizards to compete for the best territories. Credit: : Javier Abalos "When males approach each other, they often adopt a raised-body posture, extend their throat, arch their back, and flatten their body. Additionally, they often perform rapid forelimb movements in the air. Interestingly, this is just one of the several distinct types of foot shakes shown by the species, with some being broadcast, some being directed at other lizards, and some at potential predators." In the study, the sites in the artificial enclosures were set up to encourage territorial behavior in male lizards. The researchers placed six wooden pallets in each enclosure and created three high-quality and three low-quality sites by varying the number of rocks, bricks and logs stacked on top of them. During the experiment, there were clear differences in the male and female behavior: 80% of females settled in the high-quality sites, while only 20% of males did the same. The males that occupied these prime spots won more fights, interacted with more females, and fathered more offspring than those in the lower-quality sites. Behavioral displays, such as raised-body postures and foot shakes, were far more decisive than the fixed color patches in determining the contest outcome of male lizards. Interestingly, the researchers found that while male lizards who exhibited more black coloration tended to be more aggressive and prevail in contests, their coloration did not seem to affect how their rivals behaved towards them. "Black coloration was the only fixed trait associated with winning, but its impact was much smaller compared to the effect of behavioral displays. Black coloration seems to be associated with aggression but not with signaling; dark male lizards were always aggressive, even when encountering even darker males," says Abalos. "Interestingly, we found little evidence that the UV-blue patches influenced the contest outcome, despite being associated with bite force and tuned to lizard vision. This raises questions about their roleperhaps they provide categorical information, such as the sex or maturity of the lizard. Such information could help lizards assess the threat posed by potential rivals before any contest even begins." Social interaction of lizards is complex The study found that the behavioral displays affect the outcome of contests by triggering different reactions in opponents. Lizards that used raised-body posture were much more likely to win a contest, chase their rival away, and provoke bites from their opponent. In contrast, foot shakes were linked to a much higher chance of losing, but they also reduced the likelihood of being bitten or chased after retreating. This suggests that raised-body displays and foot shakes serve as threat and appeasement signals that help lizards assess each other's intention to escalate and avoid unnecessary physical conflict," says researcher Alicia Bartolome from the University of Valencia. "The findings of the study have broad implications for our understanding of animal behavior and signaling. They challenge the idea that animal contests are settled based on fixed traits, like color or size. Instead, animals use specific behaviors to assess each other's aggressive intent in real time and retreat when they recognize their opponent is more determined to continue the fight," says Fabien Aubret from SETE. The research group hopes that their study will help change misconceptions about the social lives of lizards, often seen as simple and ruthless creatures. "In nature, lizards often alternate between the roles of resident and intruder as they go about their daily lives. Evolution has given them a sophisticated set of social signals to communicate aggression in context and navigate a complex social environment. This nuanced understanding reveals that lizards are far more sophisticated than we often think, and we are only beginning to uncover the depth of their social communication," concludes Abalos. More information: Javier Abalos et al, Behavioral threat and appeasement signals take precedence over static colors in lizard contests, Behavioral Ecology (2024). DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae045 Journal information: Behavioral Ecology John Jay Hoffman, a former state attorney general who most recently was Rutgers Universitys chief counsel, is expected to be confirmed Monday as the newest associate justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court after the Senates judiciary committee unanimously approved his nomination Thursday. Hoffman, 59, is slated to replace former Justice Lee Solomon, a Republican who served a decade on the bench and retired last month when he turned 70, the mandatory retirement age for judges in New Jersey. I could never have imagined in my life that I would have the opportunity to serve my state in one of its most respected and challenging jobs, Hoffman told committee members during a 10-minute speech Thursday at the Statehouse in Trenton. Hoffman discussed his long career in public service, which started in Washington, D.C., where he was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. He joined the U.S. Attorneys Office in Trenton in 2004, and he called that job in which he prosecuted violent and white-collar crime his most formative. There, he said, he learned that justice was not measured by a statistic, and justice was not measured by a conviction. Rather, it was measured by doing what was right and what was fair. It was here that I gained a healthy appreciation for a principle that must be a guiding light for any judge, especially one who sits on this most esteemed court, he added. Our system not only survives, but thrives, if we respect the separation of powers in government that we rely upon to check and to balance the power and the authority in our democracy. In 2010, Hoffman joined the state comptrollers office to serve as its director of investigations. He moved in 2012 to the state attorney generals office as executive assistant attorney general, and a year later, then-Gov. Chris Christie named him acting attorney general, a post he held until 2016. Since then, he has worked at Rutgers. Galloway Township to restart its foreclosure program for non-taxpayers Galloway Township will soon restart its foreclosure program for people who own property in the municipality who failed to pay their taxes. Murphy announced Hoffman as his nominee in June, calling him a pillar of New Jerseys legal community. Hes the fifth person Murphy has nominated to the states top court since he became governor in 2018. As acting attorney general, Murphy said, Hoffman fought the opioid crisis, reformed procedures for investigating police-involved shootings, and mandated the use of body-worn cameras by state police. Thursday, Hoffman sailed through his confirmation hearing with none of the confrontational questions or pushback endured by some other state Supreme Court nominees. Justice Rachel Wainer Apter, a Democrat, faced two hours of testy questioning in 2022 before the panel approved her in a vote split largely along party lines. Committee members gushed about Hoffmans accomplishments and applauded his nomination. They noted his humanity, impeccable credentials, and charity work. After his son, Johnny, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 11 in 2021, the boy started a foundation bringing blankets to sick kids in hospitals. Johnny who Hoffman called my idol, my hero accompanied his father to Thursdays hearing and sat smiling behind him, along with Hoffmans wife, Mary Jude, daughter, Maggie, and father, John A. Hoffman, senior partner at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer. Were very fortunate to have you to be nominated to be an associate justice on the Supreme Court, somebody with your experience, somebody with your character, said Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson), the committees chair. Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union) called Hoffman an excellent pick who has a deep concern for mankind. John Hoffman is a sensitive human being, a person who, and you can see he is, has that emotion, Bramnick said. We have a candidate with the intellect, the experience, the sensitivity, and the ethics needed to be a Supreme Court justice. NJ high court will hear reporters challenge to law meant to protect public workers New Jersey's high court will weigh whether a law shielding addresses of judges and others tramples First Amendment protections. The full Senate is expected to confirm Hoffman at a voting session scheduled for noon Monday. This story first appeared on the New Jersey Monitor. Moline was awarded $11.5 million from the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to make needed repairs on the 16th Street bridge to the Rock Island Arsenal. According to a city press release, the project will replace the current bridge deck and parapets with modern updates. Beams, beam bearings and seats will all be rehabilitated, and new street lighting will also be installed. The project will ensure that large vehicles, such as emergency vehicles, can access the military installation, assisting critical readiness at the Arsenal. City staff and elected officials, Rock Island Arsenal leaders, and federal elected representatives all expressed their appreciation and support of the award. This grant will provide all the funding necessary to replace the critical 16th Street Viaduct bridge to 14th Street at no cost to Moline; something we did not dream of three years ago while planning the capital improvement plan. The city has built a close relationship with the US military on the Rock Island Arsenal and this project will continue to support this most significant employer in Moline and the greater Quad-Cities, Moline City Administrator Bob Vitas said in the release. Defense Community Infrastructure Program grants are competitive awards, that, among other things, are designed to address community infrastructure that deficiencies in community infrastructure, supportive of a military installation, to enhance military value, installation resilience and military family quality of life. The grant provides full funding for the needed repairs. Work is expected to begin in August 2025, with an anticipated completion date of December 2026. The viaduct will be closed to traffic during the construction. Two Trapper Creek Job Corps students are facing charges related to an alleged sexual assault that apparently took place at the Darby Job Corps facility last week. Kodiak Mashkiki Selt Hoskins, 18, of Washington, was charged with felony sexual intercourse without consent in Ravalli County Justice Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Kaden Anthony Canono, 19, from Colorado, was charged with a lesser count of misdemeanor sexual assault in Ravalli County Justice Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24. According to court documents, a deputy from the Ravalli County Sherriff's Office responded to Trapper Creek Job Corps near Darby on Sept. 20. after a student at the facility reported that they had been sexually assaulted in their bunkroom by two other students. The student first reported the incident to a staff member the night the alleged assault occurred. The student who reported the assault told law enforcement that they had been rough-housing in the bunkroom with Hoskins and Canono prior to the incident. The student also reported being called gay and a pedophile by Hoskins and Canono. Hoskins bail was set at $7,500. Canonos bond was set at $585. Built in 1939, this stately and charming duplex, located in one of the city's most desirable Northside neighborhoods, is an investor's dream home. The current owners are generating income by using both two-bedroom units as Air BnB destinations, and have currently made it available for a 1 month short-term rental, and the unit that was made availalbe rented immediatey. Located just a mile from the exciting new Diamond District, as well as the popular Scott's Addition, this property offers the prospects of even greater income potential in the near future. Combined, this versatile duplex offers 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2092 square feet. As you approach the home, you'll be greeted by a charming brick walkway leading from the sidewalk to the welcoming front stoop. Inside, the first floor features a cozy family room (leading to a side deck), with a fireplace and ceiling fan, a dining room, perfect for gatherings, and a kitchen with gas cooking, a refrigerator, and access to the rear deck. The upstairs unit virtually mirrors that of the first floor. An HVAC system downstairs and two mini-split heating/cooling systems plus a window air conditioner in the upper unit ensure comfort and convenience on each level. This lovely property is situated on a large lot and offers a beautiful backyard offering an oasis-like area in which to enjoy an early morning cup of coffee or the gentle breezes in the late afternoon. The backyard also offers a privacy fence. There is also an unfinished basement, which is accessible through the foyer as well as a separate entrance in the backyard. The basement has a rough-in for a bathroom, a mini kitchen, and potentially one bedroom to provide additional income. Parking is easy with both off-street and on-street options available. Don't miss out on this unique opportunityschedule a showing today to experience all that 2938 Northumberland Ave has to offer! View More The remnants of the powerful system that caused extensive flooding and damage across the southeast U.S. churned northward Friday, triggering widespread power outages across western and central Virginia. Weakened from hurricane strength overnight, Tropical Storm Helene also touched off multiple flood and tornado warnings across the state. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday the storm had caused at least one death in the state, from a tree fall in Craig County, northwest of Roanoke. Youngkin also said there had been 50 swift water rescues so far, mostly in Southwest Virginia. High winds slowed helicopter rescue operations earlier in the day, but as the winds eased, helicopters were able to retrieved people from danger, especially around the town of Damascus. Meanwhile, just across the state line in Tennessee, Virginia State Police helicopters helped evacuate approximately 54 patients from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital. Dramatic video posted to Facebook by VSP showed helicopters hovering above the hospital surrounded by water with patients on the roof. #VirginiaStatePolice aviation units out of Abingdon are currently assisting with rescues at the Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, TN. 58 patients and staff have been trapped on the roof by flooding. pic.twitter.com/zYwqJMwki7 VA State Police (@VSPPIO) September 27, 2024 The National Weather Service in Blacksburg issued about a half-dozen tornado warnings on Friday. An apparent tornado hit the Dry Fork area of Pittsylvania County on Friday afternoon. Fire and rescue crews reported multiple roads blocked by downed trees. The governor said flooding has been severe in the New River Valley, and there have been five voluntary evacuation orders in the city of Salem and the counties of Augusta, Giles, Pulaski and Wythe. Earlier, Youngkin told The Times-Dispatch that new technology provided real-time monitoring of flood gauges, which allowed state and local officials to position themselves in flood-prone areas and help people before rising waters started closing roads. Youngkin said the storm and flooding remain a risk. He urged Virginians who live in flood-prone areas to seek higher ground, and he also asked residents to keep off the roads if they do not need to travel. Quieter weather near Richmond At the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell, light showers fell on tents and displays Friday morning, the first day of the annual event. The soggy conditions didnt stop crowds from turning out. Were not concerned about the weather, said Paul Carey, from Montpelier, while enjoying some ribbon fries. 1204pm: Current radar shows steady rain moving into areas west of I-95. We will continue to monitor the cells moving north out of NC for any tornadic potential over the next few hours. #vawx pic.twitter.com/6gIPcqoB6C NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) September 27, 2024 It always rains at the fair, his wife, Alesia, added. Karen Ray and her mother, Janice Keaton, both from Bumpass, braved the calls for rain on Friday with Karens kids, age 5 and 3. My 5-year-old loves the fair. He counts down to it every year, Ray said. Weve sat through the rain all day once at the rodeo, Keaton added. This isnt our first time dealing with a little bad weather. The grey skies at the fairgrounds were in contrast to the dangerous conditions in other parts of the state as Helene moved through. Gusts of up to 50 mph downed trees in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee overnight Friday, with more than 5 inches of rain falling in about 48 hours, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown, Tennessee. Ballad Health postponed all elective surgeries, including those in Southwest Virginia, northwest North Carolina and southeast Kentucky. Some of its clinics and urgent care offices also were closed. Stormwater and travel delays In Charlottesville, a makeshift pump station was being used to remove massive amounts of stormwater. A Jan. 9 storm damaged the Rivanna Pump Station near Moores Creek south of the city. The system was designed to pump up to 50 million gallons of wastewater a day, and it has been doing that, said Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority spokeswoman Betsy Nemeth. Richmond International Airport also reported multiple delays, as airlines canceled flights in the wake of the storm. The biggest delays involved the airports in Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; and Tampa, Florida. Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm, which crashed onto the Florida Panhandle late Thursday with sustained winds of up to 140 mph, before barreling through Georgia and the Carolinas. Multiple deaths have been reported. Thousands without power in wake of Tropical Storm Helene Widespread power outages, flash flooding and downed trees marked the path of Tropical Storm Helene, which passed through this region Friday morning. Abi Youngk and Jessica Gillis visited the State Fair with their young kids in tow on Friday and said they were keeping an eye on the forecast. My sisters in South Carolina, and they got hit really hard. Lots of trees down. They had to stay at a hotel, Youngk said. Im not worried about it here. I think well just get rain. Im more worried about travel. We were supposed to go to Georgia tomorrow, but now were not because of the hurricane, Gillis said. Concerning rain volume AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said the volume of rain is especially concerning in certain areas. Extreme rainfall rates of 2-4 inches an hour can quickly cause life-threatening flash flooding in the mountainous terrain in parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, he said. Some locations in the highest terrain could see as much as 36 inches of rainfall. This is an extremely dangerous situation. Helene is expected to dissipate over Kentucky and southern Indiana through the weekend. The forecast for the Richmond area calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 84 degrees for Saturday, according to the weather service. No schedule changes have been announced for the Richmond Folk Festival or the State Fair of Virginia. Sunday has a 30% chance of showers and a high of 82 degrees expected. Thousands across Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee were in the dark Friday in the wake of widespread power outages while travel was impacted by downed trees and flood waters caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Packing wind gusts over 50 mph in some areas and driving rain showers, Helene roared through this region early Friday bringing down trees, closing roads and knocking down power lines. The greater Tri-Cities region received more than five inches of rain over the past 48 hours, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown, Tennessee. Appalachian Power reported over 250,000 customer outages at midday Friday stretching from Duffield and Hurley in the west to east of Lynchburg, plus its Tennessee service area in Kingsport and Sullivan County. In far Southwest, outages were greatest in Russell, Scott, Smyth and Washington counties in Virginia plus Sullivan and Hawkins counties in Tennessee. BVU Authority reported about 1,500 customers were without power Friday morning at the storms peak, according to Chris Hall, customer operations and IT director. About 70% were in four large outages. We are currently addressing outages ranging from a few hundred customers to individual service locations. Due to the number of outages, no estimated restoration times will be provided at this time. We are prioritizing outages based on safety and community impact with the safest and fastest possible response times, Hall said in an email. We are focusing first on identifying and securing any downed power lines. Please assume all downed lines are energized and dangerous and consider any objects in contact with them as hazardous. We encourage the public to report any downed lines immediately to BVU Authority or local emergency authorities, Hall said. We appreciate patience and understanding as we work diligently to maintain and restore services. Bristol Tennessee Essential Services reported about 2,700 customers without power at midday Friday. Our crews are working to restore services as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience as our employees fight strong winds and heavy rains to make repairs, according to a BTES social media post. Some customers may not have power restored until Saturday, according to the provider. Downed trees and flooding also impacted travel across Southwest Virginia, according to Michelle Earl of the Virginia Department of Transportation. Since Thursday, we've had over 200 call outs for downed trees. Crews are working to move those items to the shoulder and will return in the coming days to take care of the debris located on the shoulder, Earl said. At midday Friday, U.S. Route 11 in Smyth County was closed due to high water near Atkins Elementary School; Route 16 in Smyth County near the Grayson County line had one lane open due to flooding; and Route 21 near the Wythe/Grayson County line was closed due to a slide. VDOTs interstate maintenance team was working to help clear multiple crashes on Interstate 81 on Friday morning. Crews will be out this weekend working on any needed repairs and removing debris. Motorists should pay close attention to signs warning of highway workers as well as any high-water signs turn around don't drown, Earl said. Washington County Virginia declared a local emergency Friday morning, citing widespread flooding and downed trees. It closed all its solid waste stations and the government center, which also halted early voting for the day and urged residents to stay home. Ballad Health temporarily closed Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin due to power outages and rising flood waters and transferred its 11 patients to other facilities. Elective surgeries scheduled Friday were postponed and several area clinics and urgent care offices closed due to the weather. As a former state legislator, former member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors and current professor of practice at the Schar School of Government and Policy at George Mason, I bring a unique perspective to the ongoing debate over the role of Virginias public university governing boards. Recent exchanges at Inside Higher Ed, an online publication, have underscored the complexity of these discussions. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares recently argued that boards have a paramount duty to serve the interests of the commonwealth and he is correct. However, the increasing politicization of these roles raises significant concerns, as explored in an earlier Inside Higher Ed article, The Politicized Governing Board." Such politicization threatens the independence and integrity of higher education, a challenge that requires thoughtful navigation to preserve the mission of our public institutions. Governing, not rubber-stamping Historically, many members of Virginias boards of visitors have approached their roles more as visitors than as active governors. Too often, they simply attended quarterly meetings, enjoyed campus events and rubber-stamped the university presidents agenda, failing to engage fully in their governance responsibilities. The reality is that these boards are meant to be more than ceremonial bodies; they are charged with steering the university in alignment with both the institutions mission and the broader interests of the state. However, this governance must not devolve into political puppetry. Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the General Assembly, but their duty is not to act as political agents or to advance the governors agenda or ideology. They are trustees of the university, and their foremost obligation is to the public it serves. Virginias public universities are not partisan tools; they are pillars of education and research that must remain impartial to fulfill their missions effectively. Genuine oversight and reform To ensure boards fulfill their intended roles, the General Assembly must be more active in vetting and confirming board appointees. The current process often falls short, allowing political considerations to outweigh qualifications and genuine interest in higher education. Appointments should be based on a demonstrated commitment to the university and an understanding of the complex challenges facing higher education today. Furthermore, changing how we reference members from boards of visitors to boards of governors could reinforce the shift from passive participation to active governance. Training is another critical area in need of reform. Currently, board members undergo a basic one-day orientation, which is grossly insufficient. Intensive, ongoing education should be mandated, covering not only the nuances of higher education but also the fiduciary and ethical responsibilities that come with board service. Understanding the complexities of academic governance, financial stewardship and institutional autonomy is essential for board members to make informed, balanced decisions. Strengthen accountability, independence Requiring board members to commit a defined amount of time to their duties, beyond attending a handful of meetings, is crucial. Active participation should include regular campus visits, engagement with students and faculty, and deeper involvement in university affairs. This would foster a sense of accountability and ensure that board members have a genuine connection to the institution they govern. Additionally, boards need independent staff who work directly for them, not the university president. Currently, boards often rely on the presidents staff for administrative support, which can lead to conflicts of interest and undermine independent oversight. Establishing dedicated board staff and a board ombudsman would ensure that the board has the resources it needs to operate independently and hold university leadership accountable. These reforms aim to create a governance system where board members are committed, knowledgeable and independent qualities that are essential for protecting the integrity of our public universities. By enhancing oversight, training and accountability, Virginia can foster boards that truly serve the interests of the commonwealth and the universities they govern rather than acting as mere political proxies. As someone with deep ties to George Mason University and a history of public service in Virginia, I believe that these changes are not only necessary but urgent. Its time to ensure that those appointed to govern our public universities have a genuine stake in their success and a clear understanding of their roles. Only then can we safeguard the future of higher education in Virginia against the creeping influence of partisan politics. From the Archives: RPI and the early days of VCU Mexico displays cultural pieces at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum Mexico City, Mexico In an unprecedented cultural exchange, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum in the United Arab Emirates is exhibiting Mexican pieces. Five exceptional archaeological pieces, loaned by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), will remain on display until April 2025. The objective is to showcase Mexicos cultural heritage in the Middle East through archaeological objects from different Mesoamerican civilizations, said the National Coordination of Museums and Exhibitions (CNMyE) of the INAH. The selected works were temporarily integrated into the museums rooms dedicated to displaying the cultures of America and Mexico. To highlight this historic loan, an opening ceremony was held led by the Mexican Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Mercado Perez, and the Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, Manuel Rabate. The objects on display include a ceremonial mask from the ancient Mayan city of Calakmul in Campeche (600 BC-1521 AD), which was part of the elites burial practices as offerings. A colossal head, called No. 5, of Olmec origin (1200-500 BC), from the Anthropology Museum of Xalapa, Veracruz. This sculpture weighs around 4,200 kilos and is carved from a large block of basalt. A theater type censer, belonging to the Teotihuacan culture (100 BC-800 AD), which included charcoal and copal, abundant materials in Mesoamerica. An anthropomorphic mask, also of Teotihuacan affiliation and from the same period as the censer, which represents a conventionalized humanoid face, associated with agriculture and fertility. And an atlantes from Chichen Itza, in Yucatan, (600 BC-1521 AD), from the National Museum of World Cultures. Atlantes are anthropomorphic sculptures with their arms raised above their heads, commonly used on altars or other places of worship. We are honored to host these precious objects to showcase significant chapters of Mesoamerican history to the region, said Louvre Abu Dhabi Director Manuel Rabate, stressing that this collaboration highlights Mexicos rich cultural heritage while extending its reach to the Middle East. The loan, he said, is part of the Ambassadorial Objects Program, which is a central pillar of the museums strategy, with which it has managed to enrich its collection, made up of nearly 700 pieces and sets of representative works from all periods (from prehistory to the present) and from all civilizations. The partnership has also strengthened cultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the UAE and Mexico, as well as the role of the Louvre Abu Dhabi as a centre of intercultural exchange and a forum for the diversity of creativity and human history, he said. Louvre Abu Dhabi Chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said One of the most essential functions of culture is to enhance mutual understanding and respect among societies around the world. Since its opening, our museums ongoing cross-cultural outreach and collaboration with prestigious regional and international institutions has introduced the emirates community and visitors to a variety of global treasures and a wealth of knowledge, he continued. Various specialists from the CNMyE of the INAH and from this Arab world center worked on this project for a year and a half, selecting pieces and meeting shipping requirements, in a long-term collaboration that is materialized with this historic exhibition. NOAA monitors new disturbance near the same area where Helene developed the week before Riviera Maya, Q.R. A new disturbance is being monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) that developed Thursday. The system is currently in the western Caribbean Sea and is expected to continue developing into next week. The area of low pressure has shown signs of further development in the 24 hours of NOAA monitoring. The new disturbance has appeared near the same area where Disturbance 3, which became Helene, formed the week before. Initially, Disturbance 3 was forecast to cross over the Yucatan Peninsula on September 22 and enter the western Gulf of Mexico. A wet weather advisory was issued by local authorities September 21 regarding the heavy rain that was to accompany the system as it passed over Quintana Roo, however, that never happened. Within 24 hours of the weather warning, Disturbance 3 took on a new northern trajectory, becoming quickly organized in the tropical Caribbean Sea and eventually passing the coast of Quintana Roo instead. Disturbance 3 became Helene, passing the northern tip of Quintana Roo on September 25 within 70 kilometers (43 miles), soaking the region and felling trees as it passed through the Yucatan Channel. According to the NOAA, this new system in the Caribbean Sea, which is still an area of low pressure, is expected to further form and develop into the middle of next week. Image: NOAA An area of low pressure could form over the western Caribbean Sea by the middle of next week. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for slow development thereafter, while the system moves generally northwestward, potentially entering the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week. Woman busted at airport with more than $150,000 USD Guadalajara, Jalisco A woman heading to California on a flight out of Guadalajara has been detained. The woman was arrested by National Guard after they located the equivalent of nearly 3 million pesos in cash. An inspection of her baggage revealed over $150,000 USD, equivalent to approximately 2.9 million pesos, without declaring them to the corresponding authority, National Guard said in a statement. The inspection and subsequent arrested took place at Guadalajara International Airport where members of the National Guard were conducting random inspections of passengers who were about to board their flights. In the baggage screening area, National Guard made contact with a passenger who intended to travel to the state of California, United States. Upon searching her backpack, they found bundles of foreign currency bills in the amount of $152,823 dollars in cash, equivalent to approximately 2 million 960 thousand pesos. When asked if she had the declaration in the official form approved by the Tax Administration Service (SAT), she stated that she had not processed the document, thereby violating Article 9 of the Customs Law, for which reason she was detained. Dear Mr President 2.0: the discovery of the Greenhouse Effect - in Tweets Posted on 3 April 2017 by John Mason Here's another in our occasional series where we explain aspects of climate and planetary science in tweets. For this one, we've picked the history of the discovery of Earth's greenhouse effect, a topic we covered in detail a few years ago in The History of Climate Science. If there's a single take-home point, it's simply that we have known about Earth's greenhouse effect and the important role of carbon dioxide for a long time. A very long time. An awful lot longer than some people seem to realise. Some climate change contrarians, when presented with facts, simply dismiss them as an "appeal to authority". Brexit enthusiast Michael Gove is so famous for stating, people in this country have had enough of experts, that if you type his name into Google the second thing that appears in the dropdown below is "experts". But you can bet your bottom dollar that the moment he needs specialist advice in his private life, he goes and finds a specialist. We all do. Talking of specialists, many have come and gone in the decades before the present generations of scientists and long before the first automobiles appeared in numbers on our roads, some remarkable things had already been accomplished. This post is something of a celebration of such accomplishments and the people who made them possible. So, without further ado: @RealDonaldTrump 1/49 This time we want to tell you all about the Greenhouse Effect. It's such a wonderful thing, it really is. @RealDonaldTrump 2/49 It's all about energy transfer between the Sun, Earth and space. How did we find out? It's such a cool story! @RealDonaldTrump 3/49 The Sun's a stable kind of star. That's good, but you don't want to be too close to it. Or too far away. @RealDonaldTrump 4/49 The ancient Greeks tried figuring the Earth-Sun distance. They had some great ideas but got it wrong. Such losers! @RealDonaldTrump 5/49 By the 17th & 18th Centuries, they had better telescopes. They had better clocks. Better accuracy. @RealDonaldTrump 6/49 Does the name Cassini mean anything to you? No? Halley? Kepler? Hirst? Lalande? Well they were smart guys. Real smart. @RealDonaldTrump 7/49 They timed Venus as it crossed in front of the Sun, from different places around the world. @RealDonaldTrump 8/49 The different line-of-sight measurements allowed them to get calculating. They got 95 million miles. Not bad! @RealDonaldTrump 9/49 Today we can measure the distance with radar and stuff. It's 93 million miles. So they got real close. Clever! @RealDonaldTrump 10/49 In the 1800s, more smart people realised there was a problem. Earth was too far from the Sun to be as warm as it is. @RealDonaldTrump 11/49 Know what the average temperature of Earth should be, 93 million miles from the Sun? Minus eighteen degrees Celsius. @RealDonaldTrump 12/49 In the 1800s, these smart people figured that energy flows into Earth from the Sun. That's one part of the deal. @RealDonaldTrump 13/49 They also figured that energy must flow back out. If it didn't, the heat would build up until the planet boiled. @RealDonaldTrump 14/49 So they knew there was an energy balance. But they also knew that Earth was still warmer than it should be. Tricky! @RealDonaldTrump 15/49 They figured sunshine (luminous heat) is one type of radiation & heat from hot things (non-luminous heat) is another. @RealDonaldTrump 16/49 Luminous heat could get through the air just fine. It warmed the ground which gave off non-luminous heat. @RealDonaldTrump 17/49 But some of the non-luminous heat got trapped. Couldn't make it back out to Space. Something was messing with it. @RealDonaldTrump 18/49 They figured that since non-luminous heat left the ground OK, something up above was doing the messing. @RealDonaldTrump 19/49 Not much up there apart from gases, clouds, a few birds & flying critters. Last three vary all the time. Unreliable! @RealDonaldTrump 20/49 Gases, they figured, are always there. Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, CO2 & so on. But which ones did the messing? @RealDonaldTrump 21/49 They found water vapour could mess, but it jumps about like a bronco. Needed a gas that didn't jump about. @RealDonaldTrump 22/49 Turned out CO2 did a perfect job. It was just awesome at that job. Oxygen & nitrogen & Argon were just crap! @RealDonaldTrump 23/49 It was still the 1800s when these smart guys nailed it. They did some math. If you doubled CO2 what would happen? @RealDonaldTrump 24/49 5-6C of global warming. Earth-Sun distance, the Greenhouse Effect - they were pretty darned right about the lot! @RealDonaldTrump 25/49 More smart guys worked on this through the 20th Century. Ended up with pretty much the same results. @RealDonaldTrump 26/49 We got to dig infra-red in the Cold War. Heat-seeking missiles chase after it. Shoot down bombers. Job done! @RealDonaldTrump 27/49 So we got to figure it out even better. And we had the first computers. We could do even more math. @RealDonaldTrump 28/49 By 1956, a real smart guy did something awesome with all this history, science and math. Called Gilbert Plass. @RealDonaldTrump 29/49 He put it all into a landmark science paper. Called it, The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change. @RealDonaldTrump 30/49 Hell, that's more than half a century ago. Amazing how time flies. You, Sir, were ten years old at the time. @RealDonaldTrump 31/49 Funny how some folk like to make out climate change was made up in around 2005, to replace global warming. @RealDonaldTrump 32/49 Are they dumb or what? And what about the IPCC? Founded 1988? What do they think CC stands for? Chip cookies? @RealDonaldTrump 33/49 People were still smart in the 1950s. They started monitoring CO2. They found it was steadily going up, right then. @RealDonaldTrump 34/49 They knew pollution was a BAD, BAD KILLER. Britain passed the Clean Air Act the same year as the Plass paper. 1956. @RealDonaldTrump 35/49 That was smart but there was still lots of smoke to deal with in the air. Such a mess. @RealDonaldTrump 36/49 Some folk worried that the smoke was enough to block out sunshine. That could cool down the planet. @RealDonaldTrump 37/49 It was only a few folk but the MEDIA ran with it. Tried to make out the next ice-age was round the corner. FAKE NEWS! @RealDonaldTrump 38/49 Fake News is nothing new, Mr President. They've been at it as long as there's been newspapers. @RealDonaldTrump 39/49 Science is different. Fake science gets called out. Quickly. It just doesn't survive. Except among a few cranks. @RealDonaldTrump 40/49 In 1988 the IPCC was founded. Worth sayin' again. 164 darned years after the first ideas about the greenhouse effect. @RealDonaldTrump 41/49 164 darned years. Worth sayin' again. We knew. We knew all along that something was messing with that heat. @RealDonaldTrump 42/49 Today, satellites confirm what those smart guys figured out in the 1800s. They have measured the Greenhouse Effect. @RealDonaldTrump 43/49 1997 world leaders wake up. Sign Kyoto Accord. Aim to stabilise CO2 levels. Make planet safe. Smart move. @RealDonaldTrump 44/49 1998 American Petroleum Institute brings out Global Climate Science Communications Action Plan. Anti-Kyoto thing. @RealDonaldTrump 45/49 Basic idea: if we say enough bullshit then 174 years of scientific research can be ignored. Nice guys, huh? @RealDonaldTrump 46/49 And so climate science denial began. It's still all around us. All around me. All around you. Especially you. @RealDonaldTrump 47/49 Betting with your kids' and grandkids' future. Making out decades of science don't exist. Sons of bitches. @RealDonaldTrump 48/49 Science goes back a long way. It's got pedigree. These guys should be honoured by all of us. We should be PROUD. @RealDonaldTrump 49/49 So when an oilman tells you how climate science is only 20 years old, tell him to go take a history class. above: American Petroleum Institute's Global Climate Science Communications Action Plan, 1998. Nice guys, huh? Further watching: The greenhouse effect: https://youtu.be/PTfnuX-HVk8 Measuring from space: https://youtu.be/wEuSfMRB7pU Increasing the greenhouse effect: https://youtu.be/we8VXwa83FQ Reinforcing feedback: https://youtu.be/dHozjOYHQdE From the experts - Greenhouse effect: https://youtu.be/H4YSwajvFAY Structure of our atmosphere: https://youtu.be/LM_sKZCv26A Dear Mr President-elect: a message from across the Pond Posted on 29 November 2016 by John Mason, BaerbelW Dear Mr President-elect, On 6 Nov 2012, at 11:15 am, you tweeted: The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. We'd like to take you on a quick tour back through the ages, because the early understanding of Earth's climate - and the role that carbon has to play in it - came from the West, not the East. Let's run through it quickly. In 1800, British astronomer William Herschel first measured the heat that occurs in the warm now known as infra-red (IR) part of the spectrum. In 1824, French engineer Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier calculated that Earth should be colder than it is, at its orbital distance from the Sun. Today, it is common knowledge that outgoing IR radiation is emitted by the Earth's surface in response to heating by the Sun. But Fourier was the first to figure out that the IR was being slowed down during its journey back out to space. The air, he said, must act as a form of insulating blanket, keeping the planet warm. Smart guy. This was just two years before Samuel Morey patented the first internal combustion engine. In 1861, Anglo-Irish physicist John Tyndall observed that some atmospheric gases were transparent to IR radiation. But he found that others, like water vapor and carbon dioxide, were powerful IR absorbers. He was the first to propose that changes in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could influence the Earth's climate. In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius took it further. He made the first detailed calculations to see what a doubling of carbon dioxide levels might do to temperatures. His answer was a 5-6C increase in the average global temperature. His hot-house theory was set out for the first time in 1908 in his popular book Worlds in the Making. In 1909, American astronomer Andrew Douglass developed the techniques of studying tree-rings and was the first to find the connection between tree ring widths and climate. In 1931, American physicist E.O Hulburt ran calculations to determine the effect of doubling carbon dioxide with the added burden of water vapor. His figure? 4C of warming. In 1938, English engineer Guy Callendar discovered evidence of a warming temperature trend in the early twentieth century. He also found that CO 2 levels were increasing and he warned that over the coming centuries there could be a climate shift to a permanently warmer state. Mr President-elect, you were born in June 1946, in the early years of the Cold War. It was a time that saw a surge in atmospheric research. The properties and behaviour of IR radiation came under even more scrutiny in the quest to develop heat-seeking missiles. By the 1950s, the advantage of computer-power, something we take for granted today, made it possible to dissect the atmosphere in ever-greater detail. 1956 - when you were just ten years of age - saw the publication of the landmark paper, 'The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change', by Canadian-American physicist Gilbert Plass. The paper confirmed that more carbon dioxide would have a warming effect and that doubling levels of that gas would result in a warming of 3-4C. The very title of the paper tells you that "climate change" is not a term made up in recent years for political reasons, as some try to claim. Mr President-elect, we've known about this stuff for decades. None of the above is "politicized science". Even the youngest milestones along the climate science timeline above are now more than half a century old. Most of them are older than you. They were all attained through the hard work and dedication of our best American and European scientists. These guys and others laid the solid and vital foundations for the modern understanding of how Earth's climate works. They got all the basics right: it is organisations like NASA that are still filling in the important details. The more we end up knowing about how this planet works the better, especially if the USA plans to continue its exploration missions to other planetary bodies. Atmospheric CO 2 levels have now gone past 400 parts per million. That's up 40% from the pre-industrial level of 280ppm - thanks in great part to the burning of the fossil fuels. Now, as a businessman, you can understand numbers. Some folk like to downplay the importance of gases occurring at, they say, small concentrations. But we think that if we knocked on your office door with details of a whole mountain containing an average of 400ppm gold, you'd sit down and listen. We cannot look anywhere within the geologically recent series of alternating ice-ages and interglacials to see an Earth with more than 400ppm carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. We have to go back a lot further. To see a 400ppm-plus planet, we need to time-travel to the mid-Pliocene, 3.5 million years ago. Back then, Arctic Siberia, today a barren tundra, was shrouded in boreal forest. That might sound OK, but such warmth has its price. Due to less ice at the poles, it was also a time when sea-levels were around twenty metres higher than those of today. That's not good if you have beach-front real estate. Such changes can take many years to bring about, but Earth's physical systems always move towards balance. Earth systems obey the laws of physics, not economics. They take no notice at all of electoral cycles or partisan politics. They don't care which guy you voted for. Mr President-elect, we have to work with the Earth, not against it. For a full account of the history of climate science, please follow the link below. The History of Climate Science Understanding the long-term carbon-cycle: weathering of rocks - a vitally important carbon-sink Posted on 2 July 2013 by John Mason above: the processes of the long-term carbon-cycle that this post explores. Graphic: jg. This post delves into the long-term carbon cycle that involves the interactions of the atmosphere with rocks and oceans over many millions of years. Because of its length, I've broken it up into bookmarked sections for easy reference: to come back here click on 'back to contents' in each instance. Contents Introduction: what is weathering? Carbon dioxide and rock weathering: the chemistry Limitations to the precipitation of calcium carbonate: the Carbonate Compensation Depth The significance of weathering as a carbon-sink Deep weathering of rocks: an illustrated example from Mid-Wales, UK How breaking up minerals affects their weathering-rate: mountain-building as an accelerant Picking up signals of major weathering episodes in the geological record Introduction: what is weathering? Weathering is a familiar process to us all. It involves the chemical reactions between chemical compounds in the atmosphere and chemical compounds on the planet's surface. When your car's exhaust pipe falls apart noisily, it is because the steel from which it was constructed has, over several years, reacted with oxygen and rainwater to form rust. It has weathered. But that's a relatively fast example involving a relatively unstable compound. The compounds making up the vast majority of Earth's land surface - the minerals that make up rocks - are, by and large, very slow to react. As a consequence, large-scale weathering is a process that takes place on a timescale of millions of years, over which periods it constitutes a critically important carbon-sink. Why a carbon-sink? Because, via weathering of rocks and reprecipitation of weathering products as carbonate sediments (e.g. limestones), huge quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide end up locked away for a very, very long time. The process begins when CO 2 dissolves in droplets of water, up there in the clouds. The resulting solution, which reaches the surface as rainwater, is weakly acidic: CO 2 + H 2 O = H 2 CO 3 (or carbonic acid - the old name for carbon dioxide was carbonic acid gas) Rainwater containing carbonic acid is able to react with most minerals at varying rates according to their chemical stability. Now, some naturally-occurring minerals are extremely stable. Think about gold, eroded mechanically from ore deposits and then recovered by prospectors, maybe hundreds of thousands of years later, from river-gravels by panning. Or quartz (silicon dioxide), found as hard, white pebbles on beaches. They're both pretty bomb-proof. At the other end of the scale are the very unstable minerals, such as sulphides, compounds of various metals with sulphur. Sulphides readily weather in the surface or near-surface environment, so that most ore-deposits have near-surface zones in which the products of primary sulphide weathering - the secondary minerals - are to be found. The copper carbonates, azurite and malachite, are examples of secondary minerals that will be familiar to most readers. Such minerals can occur in large quantities where the weathering has been prolonged - over a few million years - but the relative rapidity of the process is demonstrated by the fact that thin films of often colourful secondary minerals are a common sight along the walls of mine-tunnels only a century or two old. above: primary (left) and secondary (right) copper minerals. The common primary ore, chalcopyrite, is a sulphide of copper and iron that reacts readily with air and moisture at the surface. Prolonged weathering forms colourful secondary minerals in large quantities, like the blue and green copper carbonates, azurite and malachite (the illustrated specimen is about 6 inches long). These copper carbonates constitute a localised, and therefore relatively minor, long-term carbon-sink, compared to the very widespread occurrence of limestones. Photos: author In between these extremes, from the bomb-proof to the downright unstable, there exists a whole spectrum of mineral stabilities, but an important point is that most of the numerous mineral species that make up rocks lie towards the stable end of that spectrum: whilst they do react with carbonic acid, they do so at a very slow rate, on geological rather than human timescales. So let's now take a look at what happens. Carbon dioxide and rock weathering: the chemistry back to contents When carbon dioxide dissolves in droplets of water to form carbonic acid, it dissociates (splits into reactive charged particles or ions): H 2 CO 3 ? HCO 3 + H+ The two ions that occur as a result of this process are the bicarbonate ion, HCO 3 and the hydrogen ion, H+. Put simply, hydrogen ion activity within a solution is a measure of its acidity: the more active hydrogen ions in a solution, the more acidic it is and the better at dissolving other compounds. The 'H' in pH - the scale by which acidity is measured - is hydrogen. The pH value of 7 (pure water) is neutral, values of 7 up to 14 are increasingly alkaline and values of 7 down to 0 are increasingly acidic. Carbonic acid is a weak acid: ordinary rain thus has a pH of around 5 to 5.5, but there is lots of it available in the environment, so that over prolonged timescales it does a lot of weathering. Other acids may also be present: for example, sulphur dioxide, outgassed during volcanic eruptions or released by industry, likewise dissolves in droplets of water in the atmosphere to produce sulphuric acid, hence the term 'acid rain', with a pH of around 4 to 4.5. However, over geological timescales things like major eruptions and human industry are mere punctuation marks in a long sentence. Rocks that contain carbonates - limestone and dolomite being common examples - react rather more quickly too because the minerals they are largely made from, such as calcite (calcium carbonate) are more reactive than silicates. Carbonate dissolution leads to the formation of karstic landscapes complete with cave-systems lined with deposits of reprecipitated calcium carbonate forming stalactites and other features. The dissolution reaction goes as follows: H 2 CO 3 + CaCO 3 = Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 carbonic acid + calcium carbonate = calcium bicarbonate (in solution) Silicate minerals occur widely in nature. Some globally-abundant rocks - such as basalts - are mostly composed of silicates. There exists a great variety of different silicate minerals - for example the feldspars, micas, olivines, pyroxenes and amphiboles to name but a few groups - that combine silicon and oxygen with potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron and many other elements. Silicates weather via rather more complex reactions, but let's simplify things with a generalised equation for the process using the calcium silicate CaSiO 3 , which occurs naturally as the mineral wollastonite: 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O + CaSiO 3 = Ca2++ 2HCO 3 + H 4 SiO 4 carbon dioxide + water + calcium silicate = calcium ions + bicarbonate ions + silicic acid (in solution) The dissolved calcium and bicarbonate ions travel in groundwater to the rivers and thereby find their way to the sea, where they are reprecipitated as calcium carbonate. The reprecipitation is mainly biogenic - it involves various creatures making their shells or skeletons from calcium carbonate: Ca2++ 2HCO 3 = CaCO 3 + CO 2 + H 2 O calcium ions + bicarbonate ions = calcium carbonate + carbon dioxide + water above: a hand-sized cut slab of limestone, dating from early Carboniferous times (~340 million years ago), with fossil exoskeletons of ancient corals, consisting of calcium carbonate obtained by the organisms from the seawater back at that time. A classic example of an ancient and long-term carbon-sink. Photo: author. The silica from the silicic acid is used similarly by organisms such as the abundant planktonic diatoms: H 4 SiO 4 = SiO 2 + 2H 2 O silicic acid = silicon dioxide + water Significantly, via the calcium carbonate-generating part of the chemical process, there is a net loss of readily-mobile carbon: we start with twice as much as we end up with. That's why weathering of silicates is so important. The missing carbon is locked up in the calcium carbonate in the following way: as shelled creatures die and their remains accumulate, we get a carbonate-rich sediment. As the sediments continue to accumulate, our carbonate-rich layer will be progressively buried under new layers of sediment and in time it will turn into solid rock - limestone. Globally, limestones are very common and often occur in great thicknesses (think of the White Cliffs of Dover, for example). That carbon is thereby locked away and immobilised for a very long time. The overall process may be expressed as follows: 2CO 2 + 2H 2 O + CaSiO 3 = CaCO 3 + CO2 + 2H 2 O + SiO 2 carbon dioxide + water + calcium silicate = calcium carbonate + carbon dioxide + silica + water The basis of the equation written above has been understood since the middle of the 19th Century. A more complex version could be written involving magnesium too: that element can be coprecipitated with calcium to form dolomite, calcium magnesium carbonate with the formula CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 . Because of their natural abundance and their chemical properties, calcium and magnesium are the two vital elements in this long-term carbon sink. It is important here to point out that weathering of silicates containing e.g. only potassium or sodium does not trap carbon in the same way, because the carbonates of these elements are water-soluble so they do not precipitate to form sediments. Calcium and magnesium are the key. above: limestones of upper Cretaceous age forming the famous White Cliffs of Dover on the south coast of the UK. Think just how much carbon is locked up in these cliffs! Photo: Remi Jouan. Limitations to the precipitation of calcium carbonate: the Carbonate Compensation Depth back to contents An important factor regarding the precipitation (or otherwise) of calcium carbonate in the oceans is the Carbonate Compensation Depth (CCD). The reaction: Ca2++ 2HCO 3 = CaCO 3 + CO 2 + H 2 O is reversible: if the physical conditions favour precipitation over dissolution then you will get carbonate precipitates accumulating. But if calcium carbonate dissolution is happening at a faster rate than calcium carbonate precipitation, there is no net gain in solid calcium carbonate: instead calcium carbonate that is already present in solid form starts to dissolve. What are favourable physical conditions for precipitation or dissolution? Calcium carbonate is more soluble in water at a) lower temperatures, b) at higher pressures and c) in the presence of increased dissolved CO 2 . These conditions are all satisfied in the world's deeper oceans, at depths below ca. 5000m, which in broad terms is the Carbonate Compensation Depth. Sediments on ocean floors below this depth contain no calcium carbonate. As the image below shows, such depths are not uncommon. above: ocean depths worldwide. Many of the major ocean basins are deeper than the Carbonate Compensation Depth at ~5000m. Graphic - NOAA. There is a slight complication to this because, like many substances, calcium carbonate occurs in nature as two minerals - polymorphs - that have different crystal structures. These are calcite (trigonal) and aragonite (orthorhombic). Aragonite is also precipitated in the oceans - molluscs use it to build their shells and corals their endoskeletons - but it has a much shallower compensation depth which varies from less than 1000m in some low latitudes to over 3000m in the North Atlantic. One effect of increasing dissolved CO2 in oceanic water (ocean acidification) is to lessen the compensation depths of both calcite and aragonite. Whilst such a shift places a further limit to marine carbon sequestration, it also impacts severely on the marine ecosystem. Organisms that need to precipitate aragonite in order to build their skeletons or shells will clearly find themselves in dire straits if the aragonite compensation depth shifts upwards, so that their habitat now lies beneath it. Such a point applies particularly to fixed or benthic faunas that dwell on the sea-bed because such communities cannot simply up sticks and move: hence they are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in the chemistry of our oceanic waters. The significance of weathering as a carbon-sink back to contents The weathering of rocks is estimated to involve the drawdown of about a gigaton of atmospheric carbon dioxide a year. That sounds a bit hopeless when compared to the ~30 gigatons emitted by humans burning fossil fuels every year. Over geological timespans, however, the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere via weathering is huge, at around a million gigatons per million years. Globally, limestones and other carbonate-based sedimentary rocks are a phenomenally important carbon sink that is relatively stable in nature: they are estimated to hold over 60 million gigatons of carbon - compared e.g. to the estimated total of 720 gigatons carbon dioxide that is present in the atmosphere and the 38,400 gigatons present in all of the oceans. Limestones do not give up their carbon again readily. The key processes by which they may yield it up include metamorphism (recrystallisation under heat and pressure during mountain-building episodes), subduction (being forced down into the Mantle at a tectonic plate boundary, where the carbon is liberated during melting, leading to CO2 making its way towards the surface in magmas and being outgassed by volcanoes) or industry (people heating limestone to high temperatures in order to make cement). However, compared to human industry, the processes of metamorphism, subduction and volcanism operate over geological timescales, so whilst there is a flux of carbon dioxide going into weathering and thence to limestones, there is also an outward flux going back into the atmosphere. Just as well: it is thought that with no geological resupply, and even with ocean outgassing, the weathering process would remove all atmospheric carbon dioxide in less than half a million years. Just as a rapidly-forming excess of the gas is very bad news, losing it all like that would be disastrous. The long-term carbon cycle makes sure that this isn't going to happen! Deep weathering of rocks: an illustrated example from Mid-Wales, UK back to contents On a year-to-year basis, the process of rock-weathering is a slow one. How slow? Well here in Mid-Wales, where I am based, we have a useful example of weathered and unweathered rocks outcropping at surface that demonstrate the time factor as well as anything. A short crash-course into the geology of Mid-Wales is needed to get this story into context. The rocks of the district consist of slate-grey mudstones, siltstones and sandstones, which were originally deposited as muds, silts and sands on an ancient seabed in late Ordovician and early Silurian times, some 445-435 million years ago. They were then uplifted and folded during a phase of mountain-building and the area has probably remained land ever since. There - done and dusted. above: slate-grey, relatively unweathered late Ordovician mudstone, typical of the rocks of Mid-Wales. Photo: author Now we come to the weathering. We know that these mudstones, siltstones and sandstones underwent massive-scale weathering. Why? Because, at scattered localities here and there in the Mid-Wales hills, we find remnants of the weathered rocks. Instead of the normal, slate-grey colour, rocks at such localities are instead various pale pinkish or buff shades. It's not just a surface thing either: if you whack a piece open with a hammer, you will see that it pervades right through. above: a broken boulder of pervasively weathered Silurian mudstone from Mid-Wales. The slate-grey colour has been changed to pale pinkish and buff shades. Photo: author Why are there only remnants of such rocks left behind? The answer is almost certainly glaciation. Glacial ice is a remarkably efficient agent of mechanical erosion. The series of glaciations that took place between 2.5 million and 12,000 years ago fashioned the modern Welsh landscape. Ice-caps over a kilometre thick and valley-glaciers carving their way down to the lowlands are estimated to have eroded away tens to hundreds of metres of strata. As a consequence, in most places in Mid-Wales, the rocks outcropping at surface are the normal, unweathered slate-grey colour, the glaciers having eroded away the deep-weathered stuff. In the 12,000 years since the end of the last glaciation, these rocks have remained visibly unweathered - there hasn't been enough time for the slow chemical reactions to have had anything more than superficial effects. How breaking up minerals affects their weathering-rate: mountain-building as an accelerant back to contents In the same area of Wales, the rocks contain numerous mineral-lodes that in the 17th-19th Centuries supported a respectably-sized metal mining industry, with lead, silver, copper and zinc being produced. As with the rocks of the area, the deep-weathered zones of these ore-deposits have (barring a few notable exceptions) been eroded away during glaciation and metal sulphides can often be found quite close to the surface. The old mines neatly demonstrate another critical principle concerning weathering which is that the greater the surface area available to weathering agents, the greater the amount of weathering that can take place in a given time. Let's visualise this first with a simple example: imagine a cube of something nice and reactive - iron, for example, 10 centimetres on edge. To calculate its surface area, we first obtain the area of one face: 10cm x 10cm = 100cm2. As a cube has six identical sides, we multiply the area of one face by six, thus getting 600cm2 of iron waiting to react with moist air and go rusty. Now let's saw the cube up into 1cm cubes (OK, before anyone says, there'll be some wastage from the saw-cuts but let's forget about that). The cube's volume is 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000cm3, so once the saw has done its work, we have a thousand 1cm cubes. Each will have a surface area of 1 x 1 x 6 = 6cm2. The total surface area of all the cubes will be 6 x 1000 = 6000cm2. By dividing the original cube up into all these little ones, we have increased the surface area available to react by a whole order of magnitude. Cut those centimetre cubes into millimetre cubes and we now have 60,000cm2 of surface available to react, and so on. Now let's see the process demonstrated in those mines. When they were being worked, mostly between 100 and 200 years ago, tunnels were driven into the ore deposit and the ore was blasted into small fragments for removal. Invariably, quantities of debris, rich in freshly broken sulphides, were left behind when the mines were abandoned. Both air and moisture then had access to a much larger surface area of reactive sulphides to get to work on. The result was that in just a century or two, the debris became coated or even cemented together by secondary minerals. It's a good example of a major uptick in the weathering-rate caused by surface area changes. The wide range of secondary minerals present in such coatings and cements (mostly complex sulphates) is indicative of an unstable and immature chemical system that is constantly evolving. above: small amounts of recently-formed secondary minerals, the result of a few centuries of weathering of freshly-broken sulphides in the metal mines of Mid-Wales. (L): sky-blue rosettes (~2mm across) of the copper zinc carbonate-sulphate schulenbergite with deep blue crystals of the lead copper sulphate linarite. (R): bottle-green crystals of the copper zinc sulphate, ramsbeckite. Photos: D.I. Green Now, let's apply the same principles to rocks in general. What processes in nature break up rocks to create a massively increased surface area? Many, but let's think about the really obvious ones: volcanic eruptions and mountain-building episodes. Both build elevated piles of rock that are prone to collapse by the actions of gravity, earthquakes, rainstorms, explosions in the case of volcanoes and frost action in the case of mountain ranges. In each case, there is a big increase in the surface area of rock available to weathering agents. Weathering may not, however, take place to any great extent in a high mountain-range like the Himalayas. Temperature is a critical factor: when a landmass is uplifted into a mountain range it will enter a colder climatic zone due to the increase in altitude. Although frost can force rock faces apart and cause rockfalls making a greater surface area of rock available to weather, if it is so cold that there is little or no liquid water available, weathering is inhibited. The most intense chemical weathering of silicate-bearing rocks instead occurs where temperatures are well above freezing for prolonged periods and rainfall is high, conditions that are especially satisfied in the Tropics - where deeply weathered profiles can extend down from the ground surface to well over a hundred metres depth. Higher temperatures speed up the rates of the chemical reactions and higher rainfall delivers more weathering agents per annum. Combine such parameters and the answer to the riddle of why mountain-building may lead to enhanced carbon dioxide drawdown becomes clear. Mountain-building episodes facilitate the creation of a vast supply of fresh-broken rock. That rock is constantly being transported away from their cold heights, firstly via gravity (rockfalls), then by glaciers and finally by rivers to a warmer, lowland climate, where the weathering takes place. The Himalayan foothills and the Ganges basin are a good example of such areas where enhanced weathering of rock debris, transported from the mountains and deposited as fine-grained sediment, occurs. Picking up signals of major weathering episodes in the geological record back to contents Mountain-building episodes occur due to continental collisions that are driven by the slow process of plate tectonics and they typically take place on timescales of millions or tens of millions of years - far more slowly than, for example, the Milankovitch cycles that swing Earth in and out of warm or cool periods on scales of tens to hundreds of thousands of years. For this reason, perturbations to the rate of weathering - and thereby the flux of carbon dioxide being consumed by weathering - typically occur slowly, although they may be quite profound, to the extent that significant past changes to climate may have, at least in part, been due to them. Basaltic weathering is a particularly strong candidate in this respect - basalts are rich in calcium-bearing silicates like plagioclase feldspar and magnesium-bearing silicates like olivine. A major period of basaltic eruption (with much attendant carbon dioxide outgassing) followed by prolonged intense weathering could potentially create a corresponding peak and dip in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels as outgassing falls and weathering-related carbon dioxide drawdown rises. Can such weathering episodes be detected in the geological past? The answer is quite possibly yes, by studying the ratios of isotopes of the alkaline earth metal, strontium, part of the same group of elements as calcium and able to substitute for calcium in minerals such as calcite (in limestones) and feldspars (in basalts, for example). Strontium has four stable, naturally occurring isotopes as follows (abundances in brackets): 84Sr (0.56%), 86Sr (9.86%), 87Sr (7.0%) and 88Sr (82.58%). Of these, 87Sr is radiogenic, which means that it has been formed by radioactive decay of an unstable isotope of another element, in this case rubidium 87. The ratio of 87Sr and 86Sr is the one used in the context of weathering: in igneous rocks like basalt it is typically around 0.704 but in other rock-types it is a little higher. Therefore, a period of intense weathering of basalts ought to show up in the isotope record: weathering feldspars release Sr2+ ions in solution which, like the calcium ions, are reprecipitated in limestones, which should then show lower-than-usual 87Sr/86Sr ratios. This is work-in-progress, but results are promising, taking into account parameters including signals of major erosion, which manifest themselves as upticks in the rates of sediment deposition, and the different weathering-rates of different rock-types. The modelling of fluctuations in the carbon and sulphur cycles for the whole of the Phanerozoic, taking weathering episodes into account, gives plots like the following: above: ratio of mass of atmospheric CO 2 (RCO 2 ) at a past time to that at the pre-human present, calculated via the GEOCARBSULF model, with (volc) and without (no volc) volcanic rock weathering. From Berner (2006). Several things stand out in this plot, of which the most drastic is the precipitous fall in CO 2 levels beginning around 375 million years ago during the Devonian, this marking the wide colonisation of the land by photosynthetic plants. It marks an important divide in atmospheric chemistry between a land-plant poor (or plantless, before the Ordovician) world and the richly vegetated world that has existed ever since. The decline in carbon dioxide levels from the Hothouse of the late Mesozoic and early Cenozoic to the cooler world of the past 15 million years is apparent at the RHS of the plot. Older glaciations - the Karoo at 360-260 million years ago and the Andean-Saharan at 460-430 million years ago, are both marked by sharp declines in CO 2 . That atmospheric carbon dioxide acts as a key driver with respect to global temperatures is without doubt: it is the detailed reconstruction of atmospheric chemistry that becomes more difficult the further back in geological time one goes. By getting a sound grasp on major, unusually intense episodes of past silicate weathering, another piece of the jigsaw will go into place and those reconstructions will continue to improve. "The climate has always changed" has been a favourite arm-wave of the contrarian brigade for many years. What they don't tell you is why, by how much and what were the consequences. In some cases, the consequences were dire, including some of the greatest mass-extinctions this planet has experienced. Causation and magnitude of these events is a major field of research, but perturbations to the long-term carbon cycle, including major outgassing and weathering episodes, are an integral part of the overall picture and may be, in some instances, a prime cause. That we are causing one such major perturbation right now is an indication of the footprint we ourselves are going to leave in the geological record - and given our current track-record, it is not going to be something to be proud of. Indeed, I wonder what the rocks might tell, say 200 million years from now? Perhaps readers might make that the focus of the discussion! We'll return to some of these disastrous climatic changes of the past in future posts. Further reading: For a good in-depth discussion of weathering, the following book is well worth finding: Berner, R. A., 2004, The Phanerozoic Carbon Cycle: CO 2 and O 2 : Oxford, Oxford University Press, 150 p. The figure above was taken from: Berner, R.A. 2006: Inclusion of the Weathering of Volcanic Rocks in the GEOCARBSULF Model. American Journal of Science, May 2006 vol. 306 no. 5 295-302. Acknowledgement: My thanks to Bob Berner of Yale for helpful discussions and additional reading material. From Robert Goulet to Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrell has thrived on embodying a particularly oafish brand of American masculinity, sending up and serenading loveable dopes who dont realize that their time has passed. And at times, he did it with the help of Harper Steele, a former head writer for Saturday Night Live who came out as a trans woman during the pandemic. Ferrell, who started at SNL the same week as Steele in 1995, has long considered her one of his closest friends. But neither was sure how Steeles announcement would affect their relationship. So in Josh Greenbaums documentary Will & Harper, the two set off on a cross-country road trip, using their hours behind the wheel to forge a new understanding of who they are to each other, and testing it out at stops along the way. Harper, who, as she now puts it, previously performed as a character named Andrew, has a lifelong love of crisscrossing the country, stopping at dive bars and diners and sleeping in cheap motels. But shes not sure the places where she once felt most at home will welcome her newly visible self. Where she wouldnt have thought twice about walking down a dark alley while presenting as a man, shes learning to be a little more afraid of that stuff. The course she plots with Ferrell takes them from New York City to Los Angeles, with a stop in her hometown of Iowa City, and it leans heavily toward stereotypically American settings: a dive bar in rural Oklahoma, a Texas steakhouse where the 72-ounce cut is free if you can eat it in less than an hour. Steele wants to know if she still fits in these places, which have given hera person whose core personality Ferrell describes as Iowa born and raised, 501 jeans, shitty beerso much joy, and whether shell even still feel safe. Do American institutions have a place for her? And in how many of those institutions have trans people already found their place, whether or not the people around them know it? After all, Saturday Night Live had a trans writer on staff in the mid-90s. She just hadnt come out yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferrells celebrity forms a penumbra around them wherever they go, attracting goodwilland attention, not all of it good. Hes used to being recognized, so much so that he cracks a joke for the camera on the rare occasion when his name draws a blank look, but he realizes that hes never felt the kind of scrutiny that falls on a visibly trans woman in a deep-red crowd. As much as Ive been in a fishbowl at various times in my life, he says to Steele, this trumps all of it. When Steele takes her first tentative steps into a roadside bar in Meeker, Oklahoma, she leaves Ferrell in the parking lot to see what it feels like to go it alone. But she keeps her phone handy, ready to call him the moment she needs backup. Advertisement Related From Slate Netflixs Star-Studded New Movie Is Transcendent Read More As it turns out, the patrons of the Full Moon Saloon are perfectly hospitable to Steeleor at least as hospitable as theyd be to any New Yorker with a camera crewdespite the ominous cutaway to a Fuck Biden flag the instant she walks in the door. (Left unremarked-upon is the fact that, even when Ferrell waits outside, shes never really alone.) At an auto-racing track nearby, a man with a young daughter makes the invitation explicit: Dont be afraid. If you enjoy it, come out. Although it finds more islands of open-mindedness than some might expect, Will & Harper doesnt idealize the heartland, and it points out how some of the people who appear to at least tolerate Steele in person behave quite differently when they dont have to look a trans person in the eye. At a Pacers game, she and Ferrell shake the hand of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, only to find out in the car afterwards that he supported a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors and other anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. They make it out of that Texas steakhouse unscathed, but when the video of Ferrells heroic meat-eating goes viral, the internet floods with transphobic responses. Perhaps theres no conscious hostility in the Dennys waitress who addresses the pair as gentlemen, but you can see Ferrell learning as the trip progresses, jumping in to correct misgenderings and seizing opportunities to head them off in advance. Advertisement Advertisement No road trip in the company of Will Ferrell can pass for mundane, but he works to present himself as an avatar of cis male ordinariness, a loyal and big-hearted friend who nonetheless has a lot of questions: When did you know? Do you still want to have sex? And how do you like your new boobs? At times, watching Will & Harper feels a little like being led by the hand, even if you feel like youre ready to walk on your own. But the movies intentions are pure-hearted, and you get the sense that a lot of the people Ferrell and Steele encounter on their journey could benefit from an entry-level course. Ferrell might be one of the bigger stars in the country, but hes also a guy sitting in a Walmart parking lot with an old friend, chomping down Pringles and sipping on a Natty Light. (At times, the movies fondness for showing off brand logos evokes the product-placement gags in Talladega Nights, but if Dunkin Donuts wants to lend its name to the story of a middle-aged trans woman, so much the better.) Its as wholesome, and as American, as it gets. Ryan Murphys done it again (derogatory). Fresh off the popular success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the man behind American Horror Story, Glee, and Nip/Tuck is back with another deeply questionable true-crime series. This time, its about the 1996 murder of Kitty and Jose Menendez by their sons Erik and Lyle in Beverly Hills. The case was a media sensation at the time, with the prosecution arguing that the brothers committed their crime in order to secure a massive inheritance and the defense arguing that they killed their parents in self-defense after years of grotesque sexual abuse at the hands of their father. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is true crime made for a mass audience, so it is inevitably sensationalist. Just as inevitably, Ryan Murphy and his co-creator Ian Brennan have been doing the rounds justifying the shows existence, assuring people that they had the best intentions, making copious noises about handling things sensitively. This season is about abuse, Murphy said at the shows New York premiere, who is believed, whos not believed. In Brennans words: We finally have a vernacular to think about and discuss sex abuse and mental health that did not exist at the time. Related From Slate How Netflixs Dahmer Is Landing With the Communities He Hurt Most Read More And inevitably, too, the show has received significant backlash. When Dahmer came out, the families of the victims came forward to say that Murphy and co. never contacted them during the making of the program and that they found the series retraumatizing. The Menendez family has condemned this new show in the strongest possible terms for being both salacious and slanderous, and critics have widely panned it, with specific focus on a scene of the brothers incestuously enjoying a shower together. This does strike me as particularly eyebrow-raising, given that there is no evidence to suggest any of that happened, and one thing about true crime is that it is at least supposed to be true. But laxity about facts isnt really the core problem with The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The problem with this season of Monster is that it has no idea what portrait of the people at the center of the story it wants to paint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Ryan Murphy knows that the right way to tackle a story where it is unclear whether or not certain things happened is to leave it ambiguous. Surely that was the reasoning here: that in a court case, a jury is given two wildly different perspectives on the same events and must navigate holding the two possibilities in their head at the same time. It doesnt work here for several reasons, the first of which is that Murphy is not a good enough storyteller to pull it off. The series is a mess in general. There are bafflingly long dinner party scenes that seem to exist purely so that Nathan Lane as the journalist Dominick Dunne can dish out some vague expositional background on the sociopolitical goings-on of 1990s L.A. Its a shame that they put O.J. Simpson in this, partly because they decided not to show his face and so all scenes featuring him bizarrely show us his legs or back instead, but also because it meant I was thinking of the excellent O.J.: Made in America documentary series whenever he came up. Murphys exploration of this period was very much the inferior one when he produced 2016s The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and its even worse here. Advertisement Advertisement The second reason The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story doesnt work is that the specific nature of the two possibilities youre being invited to hold in your headwhether two boys brutally murdered their parents in cold blood for money or whether they did it because of a lifetime of horrifying sexual abusemeans that, in a show where the brothers are the protagonists, and in which we are mostly following their perspectives, characterization is a nightmare. Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez), in particular, is a cartoonish devil wholesale inventing the brothers abuse at some moments and a pitiable little boy at others, with little to no framing to help the audience understand whose viewpoint of him we are seeing at these different moments. Advertisement Advertisement It is headache-inducing watching this show and trying to understand what tone it thinks its striking. One episode is 29 minutes of sincerely harrowing testimony by one of the brothers about how his father raped him, shot in one take. Elsewhere, Milli Vanillis Girl Im Gonna Miss You plays as the two brothers are driven off to separate prisons for the rest of their natural-born lives, or we get Dont Dream Its Over as the boys walk toward their house to murder their mother and father. The show tries to lean into the Tarantino-esque, aestheticized-violence appeal of a pair of young, rich, conventionally good-looking boys wearing 80s prep gear and wielding shotguns, while at the same time sensitively portraying the devastating effects of generational sexual trauma. It is a doomed enterprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the third, and the most important and obvious, reason it does not work is that the Menendez brothers are real people. This is about as big a true-crime minefield as one could imagine. The accused are alive, still in prison serving life sentences, and still maintain their innocence and allege that they were subject to some of the most stomach-turning abuse Ive ever heard of. But rather than go gingerly as a result, Murphy has decided to merrily stomp straight through that minefield and take it in stride if the mines go off and he gets slaughtered by, say, the real people involved in these cases, or by critics, or by viewers. Already, Erik Menendez has slammed Murphy, accusing him of disheartening slander and vile and appalling character portrayals. Advertisement Related From Slate What HBOs Sleeper Hit Does Better Than Anything Else on TV Right Now Read More Cynically, though, Murphys approach makes sense. Why not do things this way, when experience tells him that hell come out the other side miraculously unscathed and able to get the backing to make another show just the same? It seems that the lesson Netflix and Murphy learned from Dahmer wasnt seems like the real people involved in these cases were pretty traumatized by the tastelessness of what we did, perhaps we oughtnt to have made it, but rather, loads of people watched, lets go again. Not surprising, I guess, but gross nonetheless. If that was the calculation, well, theyve been proven right. Loads of people have indeed watched Monsters. Not as many as Dahmer, but it was still the No. 1 show on Netflix the week it was released. So, tastelessness and moral questionableness be damned, I guess well do this all again in two years time. During the first week of September, when the bubble of humidity finally cracked over New York City, my autumn booked up in the blink of an eye. I received birthday invites for three dates in late October, one after another, on a single afternoon. Later, another friend, clearly pressured by the rapidly gridlocking itinerary, scouted out the 26th for what she described as a party for my dog. Others quickly claimed a few listless Tuesdays and Thursdays for more low-key affairsa bar crawl; a trivia night. Oh, and weve had a loose Halloween itinerary penciled in since late August. October has historically been one of the busiest months in the social calendar, but this was a feeding frenzy like never before. Saturdays are precious cargo, but they went flying off the calendar like Polo Bar reservations. Apparently, you now need to be hatching plans with eight weeks to spare, or risk being left in the dust. For most of my life, this was not the case. I used to exist in a social scene where party invites were dispensed, on average, a fortnight before the event itself. Two weeks was ample time to clear out a night in service of someone elses celebrationits an interval thats simultaneously at the top of your mind and comfortably far off in the distance. But since the pandemic, and particularly in the past year, something has shifted: Party invites have begun to function like Save the Dates or travel bookingstheyre arriving months ahead of time, locking up remote weekends that have yet to even materialize in my consciousness. The dynamic has given way to a certain butterfly effect within my community: a brinkmanship in the art of scheduling. Once one invite drops, the rest topple onto each other like dominoes until the unreachable Arctics of my docket are accounted for. I may not know what Ill be having for dinner tomorrow, but I do know that I have a house party on Nov. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just me whos noticed this trend. One friend of mine recently received five party invites in the span of three hoursso many that he felt strong-armed into planning his own autumn birthday party long before the leaves began to turn. (He is unlucky enough to possess a birthday in the eye of the maelstromOct. 20, to be exact.) I needed to crowd out my opponents, he told me, half-jokingly. I had to throw something up in 30 minutes. Sure enough, right after, another invite came through. I have dubbed this new organizational norm invite creep, and Im well aware that my experience is not universal. I am 33, I dont have any kids, and I live in a highly concentrated urban area, which means invite creep is likely an accessory of that precious sliver of adulthood where people are still throwing parties. Still, I wanted to see if there was any objective evidence to my observation. Thats why I reached out to Partiful, an event-planning app launched in 2019 that has become the de facto method to quickly plan a birthday. (Partifuls best attribute is its ease of use: Click on a date, set a time, and the RSVPs are immediately beamed out to everyones phone.) To my relief, Shreya Murthy, the companys co-founder, told me Im not making things up. People are sending invites earlier. The numbers speak for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen a 14 percent increase in the median time between when someone creates an event and when an event actually happens. And if you look at this on an overall average, that number jumps to 20 percent, said Murthy. Its first come, first served when it comes to dates. If you can lock in a date, and get people to commit, that gives you more time to plan. You gotta do what you gotta do to make it happen. This seems to be especially true for busier times of year. Its October, its Libra birthday season, she added. Were type A about our birthdays. Advertisement Murthys data actually clashes with the default assumptions of our post-COVID norms. By and large, Americans are less social now than they were before the pandemic, with almost half of those surveyed in a 2023 Newsweek study claiming that they simply do not go out as much as they used to. There are a lot of theories about our nationwide cloistering, from lingering anxieties about getting sick to the pernicious emotional dulling of cellphone use, but I think both of those points miss the forest for the trees. For the past decade, it was oddly cumbersome to quickly invite a lot of your friends to a single event. Social media veterans might remember the utility of Facebook Events, but after that platforms fall into dysfunction, we were all forced to circulate invites via unwieldy group texts and bulbous email lists. Technology had untangled so many snags in the civil strata, but for whatever reason, occasions were still vexing software developers. Mercifully, Partiful has streamlined the processmaybe thats why were seeing more events hitting our calendars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are always concerts and other events coming up, so I think part of the motivation is to block out the dates so I can remember them myself, said Tabitha Nichols, a 29-year-old in D.C. who has taken invite creep to the next level. The Partiful RSVPs for her mid-September birthday went out on July 19, while her Thanksgiving feast was officially scheduled in late summer. (Nichols isnt even the worst offender in her group: One pal made sure that her Indigenous Peoples Day hangon Oct. 14was solidified in the group calendar in June.) She tells me she has witnessed the indignity of someone waiting too long before dispatching a Partiful, condemning the unfortunate soul to the ultimate indignity of a sub-50-percent RSVP ratio. Shed never let that happen to herself. Advertisement Advertisement Consider Pride month this year, she continued. If you were going to throw a Pride party, you better schedule a date quickly, because theres a chance more interesting things are coming down the pipeline and youll have a lackluster turnout. For what its worth, Murthy agrees with Nichols observation. Partiful, by design, is extremely lo-fi, with almost zero barrier to entry. The platform keeps stock of the roster of people who have been wreathed with invitations in the pastremoving the need to listlessly scroll through your contacts to properly CC everyone. It is not an exaggeration to say you can schedule an event in under a minute. Jasmine McAlister, a 31-year-old data scientist, told me that she threw her birthday on the itinerary a month beforehand with basically no info, not even a location. According to Murthy, McAlisters flippancy is all connected to Partifuls intuitiveness. When the app is functioning as intended, she continued, hanging out with people in the real world is easier, more fun, and stress-free. Advertisement Advertisement Nadira Goffe, my Slate colleague, agrees. The likelihood of me attending anything with less than two to three weeks notice is less than 15 percent, but the likelihood of me attending something with four to eight weeks notice is 85 percent or higher, she told me, explaining that these long-tailed invites make it easier to anticipate the shape of her social duties. (Goffe did concede that, by admitting this, it might make it easier for people to slyly disinvite her from various functions by giving her an extremely late heads-up.) Of course, not everyone jibes with that vision. Katie Way, a fellow journalist, has carved out a stringent anti-Partiful position specifically because of the way it has wrecked her personal agenda. I think its rude when people plan out their shit way too far in advance, she told me. In a sense, she believes that Partiful has made planning events a bit too easy, and that shes been reflexively added to the dockets of occasions that do not deserve such formal, regimented treatment. The problem is exacerbated by another function built into Partifuls apparatus. After RSVPing to a party, the app will send text messages in the weeks, days, and hours beforehand unless it is muted, reminding the patrons that they are due at whatever obligation they have made. Its a problem that has obviously intensified in our invite-creep era, and it makes Way feel surveilled in a way she does not care forespecially for social duties she was already lukewarm on in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like, OK, you invited me to the last three picnics in the park, so now Im automatically on the list for the next one, explained Way. It bogs you down. Why am I here? What is this? Release me. Im not down to get booked out like that. Way wants to go back to the methods of old, where party invites were disseminated through decentralized, scattershot channels. Maybe a screenshotted Close Friends story posted to Instagram, orget thisa text message sent out of the blue. It gives a lot more weight to the invitation, said Way. I take it a lot more seriously. She isnt alone here, either. Rachel Connolly took to the Irish Times to articulate her own policy of refusing to respond to any invite that doesnt reach her within a sensible, tangible time frame. I find the whole idea of it claustrophobic and dreary. I dont make plans more than about a week in advance unless its a birthday or a wedding, she wrote. There is almost no social occasion you truly do have to appear at. Nobody will die. Probably everyone will forget you arent there after an hour or so. Perhaps theyre both right, and eventually we will further refine these new norms of scheduling. The A-listers might enjoy prestige treatment, while everyone else is shuttled off into the rank-and-file Partiful queuephones flickering with scheduling minutia every couple of days. The good news is that people do seem to be hanging out with each other again. As long as you give us three months notice. New York City Mayor Eric Adamswho truly believes that God put him in that jobwas indicted this week on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, and accepting straw donations from foreign officials. The acts detailed in the nearly 60-page indictment from the Southern District of New York span a full decade of Adams political career, dating back to his tenure as Brooklyn borough president and extending up through his current mayoral reelection campaign. (He pleaded not guilty to the counts on Friday.) Despite being the only mayor in NYC history to be charged during his tenure, Adams is still doing what he does best: refusing to budge an inch and clumsily making his case before a city thats long tired of his shenanigans. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city, he declared during a rainy Thursday morning press conference, sheltering under a pavilion with members of the citys Black clergy. 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. Eric Adams' press conference this morning ends with incredibly loud chants from the crowd of "RESIGN! RESIGN! RESIGN!!" pic.twitter.com/cDzMH7hll2 Read Abolish Rent (@JoshuaPHilll) September 26, 2024 Advertisement It was another wild moment from a mayor who is perhaps best recognized outside the city for having a long history of wild moments. You know, like claiming his favorite concert experience was the 1990 Brooklyn live show where Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed, or downing two beers at a Midtown Irish pub before noon on St. Patricks Day and deeming himself Eric OAdams, or wearing a lettered bracelet sporting the word HUSTLE while visiting holy sites in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since he entered Gracie Mansion in 2022, Hizzoner has invited mass vitriol for slashing municipal public services while coddling the brutal, corrupt police department and demonizing the citys immigrants. But now, with the feds pursuing several probes into his inner circle and spurring some of his highest-ranking lieutenants to step down well, lets just say its difficult to imagine how even a mayor as defiant as this one manages to last in the political realm. Advertisement Well probably learn a lot over the coming months about just how closely intertwined Adams was with Turkeys government, which will surely provide us with much more fodder in evaluating the mans legacy. But in the interim, lets enjoy a trek down memory lane with a highlight reel of his most ridiculous moments. The Early Years Before Eric Adams entered politics, he served with the New York Police Department throughout the 1980s and 90s. Some highlights of his time on the beat: Adams put a poster with his headshot on a traffic-light pole that made an appearance in the video for Juicy, the rap classic from fellow Brooklynite the Notorious B.I.G. Has anyone noticed that an Eric Adams poster makes a cameo in the video for Biggie Smalls Juicy? (h/t: my son.) pic.twitter.com/xjDPU1LIIy Jesse Drucker (@JesseDrucker) October 22, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He hung out with the Nation of Islam and its virulently antisemitic leader, Louis Farrakhan, while encouraging then-Mayor David Dinkins to place some of the controversial sects members on the citys payroll. He claimed that comptroller candidate Herman Badillo, a Puerto Rican, was not actually concerned about New Yorks Latino community because Badillo was married to a Jewish woman and not a Latina. Adams traveled to Indiana with other NYPD members to act as a police escort for Mike Tyson, who was serving time after being convicted on rape charges. He registered as a Republican and hobnobbed with his onetime ideological enemies before switching back to the Democratic Party on the advice of his political advisers. Advertisement All very normal stuff, already. But Adams would not relent on the outrageous behavior even after getting elected to the New York state Senate in 2006. His four terms in Albany, throughout which he wore a thin mustache and enhanced his statewide profile, saw him take on some, well, extremely interesting campaigns. Even if you werent in New York at the time, you may recall the national coverage of his 2010 Stop the Sag campaign, a $2,000-dollar effort that saw Adams upload videos and put up billboards across Brooklyn encouraging the citys Black youth to forgo the often-tut-tutted practice of wearing jeans that sank below their waistline and revealed their underwear. The slogan: Raise Your Pants, Raise Your Image! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That wouldnt be state Sen. Adams only foray into online virality. In 2011, he filmed a five-minute PSA ostensibly aimed at preventing gun violencebut really, he was offering local parents thorough instruction on how to profile their children at home. Over a soundtrack of drab violins, Adams taught concerned guardians how to IN-spect what you EX-pect, explaining that a gun could be hidden in a jewelry box or a pillow, a used crack pipe in a popular knapsack, bullets behind a picture frame, weed inside a baby doll, and cocaine on a bookshelf. The First Amendment does not apply to the right of parents to go through their homes, to remove contraband or any other unsafe item, he concluded. Advertisement Advertisement His time in the state Senate also included his first bout of legal trouble while in public office: He was named in a 2010 governmental probe into local lawmakers who accepted money from a company that wanted to build New Yorks first casino. Adams was, however, not formally charged. Advertisement The Borough Presidency, and the Mayoral Campaign In 2013, Adams departed the New York Legislature and became Brooklyns first Black borough president, serving two terms. According to the new federal indictment, it was around this time that Adams allegedly began glad-handing with government officials from Turkey (a country to which he traveled a lot) and accepting funds in exchange for personal favors. During that time, Adams also fell under city investigation regarding allegations that he was funneling money earned renting out space at Brooklyn Borough Hall toward his nonprofit. (He denied the allegations and was not ultimately charged with a crime.) He also earned notoriety for granting unofficial parking spaces outside the hall to city employees whod racked up extensive records of traffic violations, and for telling city transplants to go back to Iowa and go back to Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement As borough president, he made a big show of sleeping at the Borough Hall in a makeshift bed and constructing a small gym to go along with it, and encouraged off-duty cops to carry their guns while attending church. Perhaps most notoriously, he presented the public with a rat bucket trap that could drown more than 100 rodentsand showed off the corpses to a crowd of shocked reporters and animal-rights activists. Advertisement Advertisement Nobody: Mayor Eric Adams: The rats may be listeninghttps://t.co/8KTT1egyCw pic.twitter.com/NFLOFjksJk Gothamist (@Gothamist) December 15, 2022 Advertisement But the chaos really ramped up when his campaign for mayor kicked off in earnest. Where even to begin? The time he claimed that the Golan Heights are part of Israel, instead of Syria, and that he wished to retire there? The video where he stated that his favorite New York movie is Taxi Driver but only referred to it as Taxi? The victory lap he took at Claires after winning the Democratic primary, getting his ear pierced to fulfill a promise hed made to young New Yorkers on the campaign trail? Advertisement Well, there was the point when people began to question whether he even lived in New York City, considering that he kept sleeping at Brooklyn Borough Hall while campaigning for a different position. None of the residents who lived near the Brooklyn properties registered in his name had ever seen him around, and he also owned a place in New Jersey with his partner, Tracey Collins. To clear things up, Adams granted a tour of his Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment to local reporters, although it appeared that his son resided there more often than he didthere was only one bed (??) and Adams never seemed to pick up any of his mail. Advertisement Advertisement There was also only one bed in the apartment so the implication was that yes Eric Adams and his 25 year old son slept in the same bed pic.twitter.com/RFzKd0FKTU Gina Raimondos Wins (@RaimondosWins) September 26, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Live From Gracie Mansion Eric Adams may not be a well-liked mayor, but hes certainly never been an uninteresting one. From Week One, he promised to bring back swagger to the citythen garnered controversy by dissing low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people and appointing a controversial deputy mayor who resigned just this week after being investigated by the feds. Advertisement Adams kicked off his time as mayor with frequent stops to a Manhattan restaurant run by two convicted felons, dining with such upstanding characters as the now-imprisoned Sam Bankman-Fried. (One wonders whether that was the location of the table of success, where he claimed that all my haters become my waiters.) He partied at a club with Cara Delevingne and ASAP Rocky, suggested that Kansas doesnt have a brand, waxed poetic on the magical properties of crystals, received his first three mayoral paychecks in cryptocurrencies (losing a lot of actual monetary value in the process), and proclaimed himself the hip-hop mayor while demonizing the citys drill rappers (whose ranks include Adams own son). Cara Delevingne dances to ASAP Rocky next to New York City Mayor Eric Adams is a lot for a Monday night. pic.twitter.com/YVGhi2RiRG Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) March 29, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that was all just in 2022! The following year, he utilized city funds to launch an infrequently updated podcast titled the Get Stuff Done-Cast, awarded a key to the city to one Sean Diddy Combs (yikes!), and got exposed for mocking up a photo of a fake cop that he carried around in his wallet and presented to the public as a former NYPD colleague. He began rolling out robot cops in Times Square (an initiative that, thankfully, didnt last too long), got his phone snatched by the feds, and capped off 2023 with a real humdinger of an interview: When a PIX11 anchor asked Adams to sum up the year in one word, Adams responded, New York, and described it as a city where you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person whos celebrating a new business thats open. Advertisement Mr. Mayor, describe 2023 in one word. "Ugh, New York. This is a place where everyday you wake up, you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person celebrating a new business that's open...And that's why it's the greatest city on the globe." pic.twitter.com/0jjv9DMzJ6 Just one person (@Newyorkist) December 18, 2023 Advertisement Advertisement That finally brings us up to 2024and you better believe Adams had a lot of weird shit to say even before he got indicted. This was the year when he told a schoolkid that betrayal motivated him to run for mayor; tossed a trash bag into a wheelie bin while Empire State of Mind blasted in the background; addressed the influx of immigrants into NYC by referring to the newcomers as excellent swimmers who should be lifeguards, and engaged in a heated, viral debate with criminal justice attorney Olayemi Olurin on The Breakfast Club, where he referred to himself by the third person pretty much nonstop. Advertisement Advertisement Adams also defended a city-funded A.I. chatbot that frequently told its users to break the law in myriad ways, touted faulty A.I.-powered gun-detection systems that police began rolling out in certain subway stations, and got baptized by Al Sharpton on Rikers Island. And Hizzoner kept on, for whatever reason, referring to New York as the Lima/Islamabad/Mexico City/Istanbul of America. Mayor Adams: New York City is the ___ of America pic.twitter.com/sXv3X4Gad5 Gothamist (@Gothamist) March 22, 2024 Advertisement To take the cake: Earlier this month, as the FBI kept poking into members of his administration, Adams played a game of catch outside City Hall with a representative from 30 Catches in 30 Days, an initiative to raise awareness around prostate cancer. As part of the public campaign, he asked his catching partner if women get prostate cancer as often as men do. the tail end of the exchange here pic.twitter.com/uYFEwi9NbL katie honan (@katie_honan) September 18, 2024 Greatest city in the world, baby. The city and the principal have distanced themselves from the event. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share On September 17, a Russian propaganda event reportedly took place at a primary school in Nitra. It was highlighted by the platform Nie v nasom meste (Not in Our Town), which focuses on supporting democracy and countering radicalisation in society. On September 26, the Education Ministry also responded to it. Milos Zverina from the Slavica association brought panels on the 1944 Slovak National Uprising (SNP) to an event involving a military veteran at Skultetyho 1 Primary School in Nitra. They reportedly described the Soviet army's contribution to the SNP in adulatory and misleading terms. Slavica is a "Slavic" group that interprets history from a pro-Russian persepective. Ministry reacted After an article titled "Russian Propaganda Directly at a Primary School" appeared on the news website tyzden.sk, the Education Ministry responded. "The ministry strongly condemns the exhibition on the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) and World War II, which included elements of political propaganda, that took place at the Nitra primary school, and it emphatically advises schools against hosting similar exhibitions," stated the ministry. It described the exhibition as including political propaganda, and advised schools against hosting such events. The ministry praised the quick response of Nitra town hall, which highlighted the importance of communication with the school and parents to prevent similar incidents. The ministry also announced it would investigate Slavicas involvement. City apologises to students and their parents Henrich Varga, communication advisor to the mayor, stated: "We consider such events in public spaces to be absolutely unacceptable. We need to check the facts and determine if the organisers misled the school under the guise of a discussion." The City of Nitra apologised to the affected children and parents. Varga added that the school was a victim of a hybrid threat, and further assessments and systematic measures are being taken to prevent future incidents. The event was likely organised by "Women in Skirts," a nationalist group that purports to promote traditional values. They boasted on social media about a "successful meeting of a military veteran with students," with Peter Andreansky, the veteran, discussing "peace". Panels brought by Milos Zverina commemorated the 80th anniversary of the SNP. An image from the school event; in the background are panels praising the Soviet army and its "huge" contributiion to the SNP in 1944. (Source: FB Zeny v sukni (Women in Skirts)) School distances itself from propaganda The principal of the school, Henrieta Martincova, clarified in a statement: "We became victims of unwanted propaganda and online disinformation." She distanced the school from Slavica's ideologies, asserting that the talk was about the veterans missions, not the SNP or pro-Russian propaganda. Martincova also acknowledged that the responsible teacher, described as young and inexperienced, had failed to inform her about the event in advance, leading to the propaganda material being displayed. The school has now implemented measures to prevent a recurrence. The unnamed teacher added that with conspiracy theorists in high places, its difficult to manage such situations. He rhetorically asked, "Imagine inviting someone like [MP and conspiracy theorist Peter] Kotlar to speak about his Covid theories. Would that be educational or spreading conspiracy?" Slovakia ranked 17th in the theft of email addresses in 2023, credit bureau reports. What passwords were most commonly stolen from Slovaks last year? (Source: Pixabay) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share In 2023, there was a significant global increase in the number of leaked login credentials for email accounts, combined with the theft and resale of passwords, usernames, telephone numbers and other data. In the case of stolen email addresses along with passwords, Slovakia ranked 17th worldwide. This is based on an analysis by the CRIF (Slovak Credit Bureau), which operates credit registries and systems in Slovakia, state broadcaster STVR reported. Beatrice Rubini, executive director of the CRIF's cybersecurity domain section, explained that cybercriminals use malware and various fake applications to steal personal data. These can be difficult to distinguish from genuine ones. When targeting consumers, they also exploit artificial intelligence tools. Fraudulent emails, often phrased in a trustworthy manner, are very common. Many internet users are careless. They repeatedly use the same password for different accounts and services, and store their login information directly in their browsers. This increases their vulnerability, she warned. In terms of email address thefts along with passwords, neighbouring Czechia performed even worse than Slovakia, ranking 11th due to the theft of .cz domains. The unwanted top spot goes to the USA and global email accounts with .com and .net endings. Russia follows in second place with .ru, then Germany with .de, and Italy with the .it domain. The most commonly stolen Slovak passwords in 2023 included simple number combinations like 123456, 123456789, and first names such as martin, monika, and dominika. Other terms included onedirection, wattpad, mamina (mother), and password. In 2023, approximately 7.5 billion exploitable pieces of information circulated in online spaces and communication platforms, nearly 45 per cent more than in 2022. In 2023, attackers most frequently targeted passwords, email addresses, usernames, names and surnames, and telephone numbers. Compared to 2022, passwords overtook email addresses to secure the most-stolen position. Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams steals third base during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday his long-term view of CJ Abrams has not changed after the teams decision to demote the All-Star shortstop last week. Abrams was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday for the final nine days of the regular season for what the team described as an internal matter. The 23-year-old reported to Washingtons training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, this week. Hes still our guy, Rizzo said during an end-of-season conversation with reporters. We love him and hes going to be a great player for us. Optioning him out wasnt the end of the world. We have a standard here and we have to keep people accountable. He still has a great upside and still in our minds is going to be a great major league shortstop. Abrams hit .246 with 20 homers, 65 RBIs and 31 steals in 138 games this season, earning his first All-Star selection in July. Rizzo said the demotion was family matters while declining to address a tweet that claimed Abrams was at a Chicago casino until 8 a.m. on Sept. 20, hours before an afternoon game against the Cubs. Rizzo then referenced the tweet when asked about the alternatives he weighed before making the decision to send Abrams to the minors. It became public because of the tweet that came out, Rizzo said. It was an internal decision that I made for the betterment of the organization. Abrams is one of the cornerstones of Washingtons rebuilding project. The Nationals acquired him as part of an August 2022 deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego, and Abrams quickly became a fixture in the lineup. The Nationals (69-90) have three games left in their fifth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series. Washington will finish fourth in the NL East after four straight years in last place. Rizzo said the franchise needs to be active in the trade and free-agent markets during the offseason while also continuing to develop players. I think its time to spend, at a point, Rizzo said. Were going to see whos available and what fits what we have out there. I think its time for us to add to the roster because we have a good, young core group of guys, and some veteran leadership, I think, is warranted. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/denmark-fears-nord-stream-facts-that-compromise-support-for-kiev--russian-ambassador-1120306608.html Denmark Dreads 'Inconvenient' Nord Stream Facts Bound to Damage Ukraine Support Russian Envoy Denmark Dreads 'Inconvenient' Nord Stream Facts Bound to Damage Ukraine Support Russian Envoy Sputnik International Danish authorities are not interested in completing an investigation into the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines because they fear the facts will compromise aid to Kiev, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin said. 2024-09-26T22:49+0000 2024-09-26T22:49+0000 2024-09-27T07:04+0000 world germany denmark russia nord stream europe vladimir barbin dmitry peskov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/09/1119695249_0:280:3072:2008_1920x0_80_0_0_0c7edc7a11792bc3620a3394f8818676.jpg "Only Germany and Russia are continuing the investigation. German investigators have found the Ukrainian trail in this criminal case. Suspects in carrying out this terrorist attack have emerged. Nothing is known about the reaction from Copenhagen. The Danish investigation has not been resumed. The Danish authorities are apparently seriously concerned that inconvenient facts and evidence could emerge during the investigation that would compromise both Euro-Atlantic solidarity and calls for further arms supplies to the Kiev regime," Barbin wrote in an article for the Politiken newspaper. The text was published on the diplomatic mission's website. He said Denmark is apparently satisfied with the lack of results in the probe into the sabotage on the pipelines and apparently wants to forget about the undermining of the European energy infrastructure. Russia will seek an explanation from Denmark regarding its failure to fulfill its obligations to combat terrorism under international conventions, Barbin added.The head of the Russian diplomatic mission recalled that the Danish authorities had not classified the Nord Stream bombing as a terrorist attack, which would have been in line with the provisions of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, to which Russia and Denmark are parties."This legally binding agreement also stipulates that its participants provide each other with maximum assistance in the investigation. However, the involvement of Russia, the most affected party, was not part of Copenhagen's plans," Barbin said.The Nord Stream pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, were hit by explosions on September 26, 2022. Denmark, Germany and Norway have left Russia out of their investigations into the attack, prompting Moscow to launch its own probe on charges of international terrorism.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/20240926/nord-stream-pipelines-must-be-restored---german-lawmaker-1120302757.html germany denmark 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 bombings, who bombed the nord stream pipeline, nord stream investigation, denmark nord stream https://sputnikglobe.com/20240926/trump-publishes-alleged-zelensky-letter-asking-for-meeting-in-new-york-on-friday-1120306344.html Trump Publishes Alleged Zelensky Letter Asking for Meeting in New York on Friday Trump Publishes Alleged Zelensky Letter Asking for Meeting in New York on Friday Sputnik International Republican nominee for president Donald Trump published a letter on Truth Social allegedly from Volodymyr Zelensky, requesting a meeting with the one-time and possible future president. 2024-09-26T22:29+0000 2024-09-26T22:29+0000 2024-09-26T22:29+0000 americas donald trump us volodymyr zelensky ukraine new york city truth social republican 2024 us presidential election new york https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/10/1120164729_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_551dd0924cb69ae3bbacef6c3543800e.jpg "Days ago, we requested a meeting with you, and I really want to hear your thoughts directly, and firsthand. You [Trump] know I always speak with great respect about everything connected to you, and that's how it should be. I can be in New York on Friday, which would be a good time to meet," Trumps post quoted the apparent Zelensky letter as saying on Thursday. "Let me know if you are in the city at that time - I would really like for our meeting to take place." According to the letter, which was allegedly passed to Trump by Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine Denys Sienik, Zelensky believes that it is impossible to achieve a "just peace" without the help of the United States. In the letter, Zelensky also notes that he always speaks with great respect about everything connected to Trump. Relations between Zelensky and Trump have worsened amid statements made by the former during his visit to the United States, which has been going on for almost a week now. Over the weekend, Zelensky visited a munitions factory in Scranton with Pennsylvanias Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and Democratic Senator Bob Casey, leading Trumps allies to accuse him of election interference. In an interview with The New Yorker, Zelensky also criticized Trumps running mate J.D. Vance as "too radical" and Trump himself as unable to stop the war in Ukraine despite his claims to do so if elected president. Trump slammed Zelensky on Monday and Tuesday as wanting Democrats to win "so badly." US media reported later in the day that Trump planned to meet with Zelensnky on Friday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240924/donald-trump-jr-slams-zelensky-for-disgraceful-move-to-attack-gop-presidential-ticket-1120268407.html americas ukraine new york city new york 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 zelensky letter to trump, trump meets with zelensky https://sputnikglobe.com/20240927/african-energy-chamber-calls-western-funding-withdrawal-from-key-projects-immoral-1120313482.html African Energy Chamber Calls Western Funding Withdrawal From Key Projects 'Immoral' African Energy Chamber Calls Western Funding Withdrawal From Key Projects 'Immoral' Sputnik International The withdrawal of Western funding for key projects in Africa is outrageous and constitutes "financial apartheid," NJ Ayuk, the executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber, told Sputnik. 2024-09-27T11:43+0000 2024-09-27T11:43+0000 2024-09-27T11:43+0000 economy africa insight russian energy week natural gas europe joint projects https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/1b/1120313670_0:0:3169:1784_1920x0_80_0_0_b731f0d64e996e2d9f627efc7599b65a.jpg "One of the key things you have to see is that the exclusionary rule, which we call financial apartheid, that you've seen from Western countries when it comes to financing Africa and really providing funds, it is wrong. It is immoral. It is outrageous what they're doing," Ayuk said on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week International Forum. The official pointed to energy projects, saying that natural gas powering Europe was described as green, which was not the case for Africa. 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 russian energy week international forum, russian energy week, african energy projects, joint african western projects, western funding in africa, western funding withdrawal from africa https://sputnikglobe.com/20240927/algeria-accuses-morocco-of-sending-israeli-intelligence-agents-to-country---reports-1120308933.html Algeria Accuses Morocco of Sending Israeli Intelligence Agents to Country - Reports Algeria Accuses Morocco of Sending Israeli Intelligence Agents to Country - Reports Sputnik International The Algerian Foreign Ministry accused Morocco of sending Israeli intelligence agencies into the country and introduced mandatory entry visas for all foreign citizens with a Moroccan passport. 2024-09-27T04:03+0000 2024-09-27T04:03+0000 2024-09-27T04:04+0000 africa morocco algeria sputnik foreign ministry polisario front western sahara israel mossad https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0a/0d/1089904783_0:0:2048:1153_1920x0_80_0_0_a86546ee0c110e1c1d3e9df4ba706212.jpg In addition, the Algerian Foreign Ministry accused the neighboring state of organizing numerous crime networks, drug and human trafficking, smuggling, illegal migration and espionage, the report said on Thursday. Thus, the Algerian government has decided to introduce mandatory entry visas for all foreign citizens with a Moroccan passport, the report added. The two countries have been at odds over Moroccos claim to Western Sahara, where Algeria supports the Polisario Front, a group that has been fighting for Western Saharas independence for decades. Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021 after accusing it of spying on Algerian officials and supporting separatist groups. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230507/entry-into-brics-to-help-algeria-more-than-other-organizations---president-1110157468.html africa morocco algeria western sahara israel 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 mossad agents in algeria, morocco uses israeli agents, morocco algeria relations https://sputnikglobe.com/20240927/china-suggests-creating-friends-of-peace-platform-to-resolve-ukrainian-crisis-1120309464.html China Suggests Creating 'Friends of Peace' Platform to Resolve Ukrainian Crisis China Suggests Creating 'Friends of Peace' Platform to Resolve Ukrainian Crisis Sputnik International China, Brazil and other countries of the Global South intend to create an open platform "Friends of Peace" to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. 2024-09-27T06:25+0000 2024-09-27T06:25+0000 2024-09-27T06:25+0000 world china wang yi brazil ukraine un general assembly https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/0a/1118894030_0:0:3070:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_13831a56390cab32d53138cbe291aa30.jpg "China, Brazil and other like-minded countries of the Global South are planning to create [an open platform] 'Friends of Peace' on the Ukrainian crisis in the near future. This is an attempt by China, Brazil and the countries of the Global South to achieve peace," Wang Yi said at a meeting with Brazilian Presidential Adviser Celso Amorim on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.In May this year, China and Brazil published a joint six-point plan for a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, which received positive feedback from more than 100 countries. china brazil 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 ukraine crisis, china's plan for ukrainian settlement, china and brazil on ukraine crisis, friends of peace platform https://sputnikglobe.com/20240927/finland-proposes-to-host-nato-ground-forces-hq-near-russian-border-1120311444.html Finland Proposes to Host NATO Ground Forces HQ Near Russian Border Finland Proposes to Host NATO Ground Forces HQ Near Russian Border Sputnik International The Finnish Defense Ministry proposed on Friday to place the headquarters of the NATO ground forces in city of Mikkeli near the border with Russia. 2024-09-27T09:58+0000 2024-09-27T09:58+0000 2024-09-27T09:58+0000 military russia finland sweden nato nato expansion https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/1b/1120311284_0:160:3076:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_ca370db1ca23c578603e984f6dce19f5.jpg The Finnish Defense Ministry proposed on Friday to place the headquarters of the NATO ground forces in city of Mikkeli near the border with Russia. "Finland's defence administration proposes Mikkeli, the town where the Finnish Army Command is based, as the location for NATO's Multi Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC)," the statement read.Finland joined NATO on April 4, 2023, along with Sweden. In an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, Vladimir Putin stated that the accession of these countries to the alliance was a pointless step in terms of their national interests, as Russian troops and strike systems would now appear near their borders.Russia has repeatedly pointed out NATO's unprecedented activity near its western borders in recent years. The alliance claims it is expanding initiatives as part of "deterring Russian aggression." Moscow has frequently expressed concern over the buildup of NATO forces in Europe. The Kremlin has noted that Russia does not pose a threat to anyone but will not ignore actions that could potentially endanger its interests. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240214/ball-and-bastion-how-russia-protects-border-with-finland-after-helsinkis-nato-entry--1116779761.html russia finland sweden 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 finland, nato, nato hq in finland, russia, us, nato expansion https://sputnikglobe.com/20240927/food-prices-in-somalia-impacted-by-ukraine-conflict---foreign-minister-to-sputnik-1120308757.html Food Prices in Somalia Impacted by Ukraine Conflict, Calls for Negotiation - Foreign Minister Food Prices in Somalia Impacted by Ukraine Conflict, Calls for Negotiation - Foreign Minister Sputnik International Somalian Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi told Sputnik that food prices in the country have been impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. 2024-09-27T03:40+0000 2024-09-27T03:40+0000 2024-09-27T03:44+0000 africa africa insight somalia sputnik ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/1b/1102765817_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9e5c9c32d0f568970245a3eec5b231c8.jpg Yes," Fiqi said when asked whether the Ukrainian conflict has impacted the prices of food in Somalia. "[Food prices have been] very, very impacted. In addition, many other areas have also been impacted by the Ukrainian conflict, Fiqi added.The resolution of the Ukrainian conflict lies in negotiations and dialogue, Fiqi continued. Fiqi further added that no one can force others to do anything.Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that Russia would cease fire and start talks with Ukraine as soon as Kiev withdrew troops from Russia-controlled regions and abandoned plans to join NATO. Zelensky rejected the proposal, calling it an ultimatum.Somalia faced its worst drought in decades from 2021 to 2023, resulting in a food crisis for about half of its population.Somalia collapsed in 1991 with the fall of the dictatorial regime of Mohamed Siad Barre. The federal government, which controls the capital city of Mogadishu and several other areas, is recognized by the international community as the only legitimate authority in the country. The remaining parts of Somalia are under the control of unrecognized state entities or are self-governing territories. The northern part is the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland and in the eastern part is the Puntland region, which declared autonomy in 1998. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/whats-behind-russias-drive-to-provide-africa-with-grain-1115358187.html africa somalia 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 affects of ukraine war on africa, somalia food prices, somalia famine@sarkodie you're quite oooo man the nation is full of surprises no nyinaa? pic.twitter.com/ZDMCi8WejS
MAYEBI (@Mayebi688707) September 26, 2024